The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: On the Road - Jay Wadley

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Lucy stared at Theodore, waiting for him to say something or anything, but he looked a little taken aback by her sudden words. Her lips pressed against each other, wondering if it was a little strange of her to be coming here at this hour in front of his room.

He looked at her with his unwavering eyes and emotions that didn't come to pass through his face. As a few more seconds passed in silence, Lucy started to doubt if Theodore had changed his mind.

"You are asking me if I am still going to the fair?" questioned Theodore with a straight face.

He watched the anxiousness in her eyes, seeing how she waited for him to speak, and he wanted to make sure they were speaking about the same thing, and he wasn't just imagining it. There was a slight awkwardness in the way she had placed her feet while standing in front of his door.

"Yes, I am asking about the same thing," replied Lucy.

A few days ago, he had seen Ethan take Lucy away from the castle, his doubts only increasing, which was why Theodore wanted to listen to what Ethan wanted to speak, but the distance had been a lot to eavesdrop on. As if that wasn't enough, Lucy had turned even friendlier with Ethan Moryett, something he didn't approve of.

"What changed your mind?" questioned Theodore because something didn't feel right here.

"Just a few things," Lucy cleared her throat as if something was stuck in there. "So, are you going?"

"I thought about it, but then I cancelled the plan," came his words.

"Oh," Lucy's shoulders drooped. She had come here thinking she would speak to him, but it seemed like he was busy…

If Lucy could see herself through Theodore's eyes right now, she would have known how precious she was to him. She looked like a cute puppy that had been scolded for something that it didn't do. Her eyes had lowered down in disappointment and a small frown formed on her forehead. She was readying herself to leave the place when she heard him say,

"I cancelled the plan because the person with whom I wanted to go with hadn't given me the answer whether she wanted to go or not. So I decided to instead go and finish some of the work so that I will be free when I travel to the town where your mansion is, milady."

Lucy's eyes immediately snapped to look at Theodore's eyes, "I said I wasn't sure. I never said anything about not being interested," she said to him. "But you chose to do your work," she murmured to herself.

"You didn't tell a yes either," pointed Theodore, and Lucy sent a small glare at him.

"Fine," she tipped her chin up and said, "I guess I then I will ask Ethan if he's willing to accompany me to the village fair."

When she started to leave, Theodore caught Lucy's arm and pulled her right into his arms, hugging her back. "Really, I should discipline you for trying to taunt and provoke me when you know exactly how I disapprove of you spending time with him."

Lucy's eyes widened by Theodore's sudden action, and at the same time, she caught sight of a maid who was walking from one side of the corridor to another. When the maid noticed them, she quickly ran away from there so that she would not be caught peeping something that she was not supposed to look at.

"You shouldn't have changed your schedule. You know how much I love the village fairs," complained Lucy while being caught in Theodore's arm, and she demanded, "Now let me go."

"Never," whispered Theodore, and blood rushed up through Lucy's neck to settle itself in her face. "If you like it so much, you should have agreed on it before."

Lucy, who had noticed the maid running, closed her eyes, not knowing what other rumours were going to spread in and outside the castle. "I was angry at you. You know that...for everything you did."

"Shall I take it that you aren't angry at me, princess?" Theodore's words fell right against the shell of her ear. A shiver ran down her back, which she had forgotten.

"I came here to speak to you. To go to the village fair. Aren't you getting too ahead of yourself?" asked Lucy, and Theodore smiled before letting her go from his arms.

Though she was the one who had demanded him to release her, she now felt sad that he had let her go that quickly. An emotion of loneliness fell back into her heart, but it disappeared when she turned to look back at him.

And though she believed she had concealed her emotions, Theodore read her well. The serious expression on his face was gone and was replaced by a smile that was a mixture of cheekiness and impenitent.

"My apologies, princess," said Theodore and Lucy could detect the lack of apology in it. The way he smiled at her now, something fluttered in her chest, its wings flapping to cause a tornado within her.

"It's fine," replied Lucy, and she cleared her throat. "So are you going to the village?"

Theodore took a deep breath before releasing it, "Who else will I go with if not you?" he smiled at her.

Lucy felt like the cupid of arrows were being shot with the words that came out from Theodore's lips, and she tried to hold her ground without being swept by it. With her face still red, she said, "Alright then. I will be waiting," and she turned around to leave the front of his room with her heart beating loudly that only broadened the smile on Theodore's lips.

"That idiot," muttered Theodore under his breath, his words filled with love. "Such a princess."

Theodore knew everything about Lucy because she had opened her heart so wide that he had known everything he wanted. He knew her strength and her weakness. He knew the village fair would be something she wouldn't be able to refuse, and he had taken the opportunity to take her there.

In the meantime, Lucy walked stiffly back to her room. Her feet were quick and muttering something under her breath while her cheeks were red.

"Stupid stupid girl," whispered Lucy such that only she could hear what she was saying.

Lucy's face felt warm, and she entered her room, closing it before bringing her hands to place it on her cheeks. Suddenly a smile appeared on her lips which was mixed with shyness, and her body swayed to one side. She then quickly shook her head.

"I should get myself together. We need to speak," she said to herself, but the smile unconsciously returned to her lips.

The people in the castle right now were the ones who cared about her, and Lucy was thankful that there were no people who were against each other or trying to plot someone's death. Times like these were rare, something she had not been able to experience in the past. It felt like there was finally peace.