The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: Trunk Greeting- Alex Heffes

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Lucy sat in front of the dressing table where her hair was combed by one of her maids. The maid combed the hair from the top of her head to the ends. A few pins had been fixed to the side of her head so that the hair wouldn't come out loose and hover in front of her face, while the rest of her hair had been let down on her back.

Her thoughts went to the time of last night that she had spent with Theodore. It felt nostalgic to be spending time with him alone as if they had moved twenty years back.

Though it was unexpected, Lucy didn't mind Theodore's company, but she didn't openly tell him. Once she got ready, she left the room to go to the dining room, where everyone was seated.

Once she entered the room, Lucy caught sight of Calhoun and Madeline and her aunt, who was present in the room. With them, there were other people like Ethan, Lady Elizabeth and the guests who were alive after that unfortunate and chaotic night, who had packed their things after realizing what terrible things could happen if they continued to stay in here. But more importantly, Theodore was sitting at the table. In the past, when her parents were alive, they had never invited him to the table and always made him stand near the wall, waiting for Calhoun, and it had bothered Lucy.

"It is so good to see you here with us after so many days, Lucy," chimed Aunt Monique. "Come here sit next to me so that I can take a better look at you."

"Good morning," Lucy bowed her head, greeting everyone as she went around and sat next to her aunt, where the maid had pulled the chair for her to sit.

"How are you feeling now, Lucy?" questioned her brother Calhoun.

One of his hands affectionately held his wife's hand on the table without caring what others would think about him. As far as Lucy could remember, Calhoun had always done what he wanted without holding himself back.

"I feel like I have almost recovered now, brother Calhoun," replied Lucy, her gaze was gentle and her words polite.

"That's good to hear, but it would be better if you get more rest until you turn fit for riding a horse with us again," responded Calhoun, his voice calm. "It has been a while since we last went hunting. The last time we went, it turned into a mishap."

Lucy didn't forget the day, nor did the others as it was one of the times where she had seen Calhoun furious. At first, the suspicion had fallen on her cousin Sophie, but everyone finally found out that it was Samuel who shot the arrow at Madeline.

"I would love to join you children, but with just one arm, it is going to be difficult to hunt," said Lady Monique. "That damn Samuel, I curse him every morning and night."

"Can't Reginald do something about it?" asked Lucy, as he was not a person from the living world and an angel. If Madeline tried to heal it, it would only end up costing her life, and Calhoun would never approve of it.

"I would have asked him, but from what I heard from Helena, he hasn't returned to the High House after the night of the fight," explained Calhoun. "He must have gone back with the others from where he came. I know a person who works in creating artificial limbs. If you want, I can tell him to come and look at your arm, Lady Monique."

Lady Monique waved her good hand, "That's fine, my King. I think I have spent enough time of my life working for the royal court. I believe it is time that I retire and you hand the position to someone else."

The room filled itself with a murmur, and Lucy noticed how much the atmosphere in the dining room had changed over the years. Gone was the stiff room where it was now filled with a conversation where one could easily be part of.

"What about you, Lucy? Are you still planning to get the mansion renovated?" questioned Calhoun, and the room turned silent as if wanting to hear Lucy's reply.

Her initial plan was to leave the castle to get some new perspective in her life before she decided how to spend the rest of her life. But as she had been injured, Calhoun had asked her to spend some more time here until she turned better.

"Yes," replied Lucy, and Calhoun gave her a nod.

"You do not have to worry about Lady Lucy, milord. I will make sure to see that she will be safe and in good company," said Ethan, who sat on the other side of the table from Lucy.

Lucy could feel Theodore's gaze on her, and he said to Calhoun, "My King, if you permit, I would like to look after the renovation work with Lady Lucy."

"I think it would be not right to take Advisor Theodore's help when he has more important matters in the castle," replied Lucy. "And I am going to have Ethan to help me with the renovation."

Lady Monique had only picked up her fork and brought it to her lips, slowly putting it in her mouth, while her eyes looked at Theodore and her niece.

On the other hand, Calhoun's eyes shifted to look at Theodore, who subtly raised his eyebrows, and the King said, "I am sure you can make use of an extra helping hand. It isn't very often where Advisor Theodore volunteers himself to help someone's work which isn't mine," he smiled looking at Lucy. "I will be more at ease if Theodore is there with you. Who knows if there are other demons who might come to hunt."

Lucy looked troubled at Calhoun's words.

As if Calhoun's words were not enough, Madeline added, "Calhoun is right, Lady Lucy. The demoness named Jennine didn't leave Beth for a very long time." Everyone preferred Lucy to stay in the castle, but she wasn't a child but an a.d.u.l.t who could decide things like these herself.

"We are not doubting Mr. Moryett's fighting skills, but a demon can cause more damage to a vampire," stated Calhoun.

Unlike Lucy, Ethan didn't mind their suggestion, and he nodded his head, "Indeed the King is right. It would be better to have Advisor Theodore with us until the renovation work is done."

"Then that's settled," chimed Theodore and Lucy threw him a small glare to which he only smiled.

After breakfast, Lucy left the dining room to roam around the castle. She wouldn't be able to leave right away, and it would take some more days before she was completely healed. Her feet that wore shoes clacked against the floor, and on the way, some of the servants bowed at her. She offered them a smile before she stepped towards the undercrofts as if someone had called her name.

Her feet had the mind of their own, and she came to stand in front of the undercrofts walls where she had discovered her parent's dead bodies. The pain of seeing her loved one's die had hurt her that day, and it took so many weeks and months before she felt better.

One would have thought that her life would have gotten better by not living in the Hawthrone castle under the influence of her parents or her grandmother, but it hadn't.

She heard someone's footsteps that were light on the ground as they made their way to where she stood. "The maid's told me that I would find you here," said Lady Madeline.

"I don't come here often. In truth, this is possibly the first time I have come here after finding my parents dead bodies down here." said Lucy, her voice soft to one's ears that didn't change its frequency.

"Do you miss them?" asked Madeline, looking at the pillar and then at the ground.

"A little," Lucy smiled before turning her gaze at Madeline. "I miss the little things, but then I find out more about their true nature and it makes me question. I don't think it is the right subject to speak about right now."

"Please don't feel that way," Madeline placed her hand on Lucy's arm. "You are the same as my sister Beth. We are sisters now and you don't have to feel that way."