The Crown's Obsession

Later that night, a maid came to refill the water jug in her room while asking her if she needed something before she could retire to the servant's quarters. Lucy, who hadn't questioned Theodore about it, decided to ask the maid,

"Have you heard about the village fair that is being set up? The one regarding the winter," asked Lucy.

"It is going to take place in the next five days, milady," informed the maid, and Lucy nodded her head. Now she knew when it was, and the little bubbles of excitement had started to hit the surface.

"I see. You can go now," said Lucy, and the servant bowed her head before leaving the room.

When the day of the fair arrived in the village, Lucy had been barely able to catch her sleep because of the bubbling anxiousness. There was a lot of nervousness in her heart as she got dressed.

While walking in the castle's corridors, she met Madeline and Elizabeth, who were walking in the corridors.

"Good afternoon, Lady Lucy. Are you going to some specific place?" asked Madeline, her eyes curiously looking at the vampiresses attire.

Lucy turned a little worried and asked, "Is it not right?" she looked down at her dress.

Madeline shook her head, "No, it is not that. Um, they are clothes that one would wear in the village." She had never seen the vampiress in such clothes before, which was why it was surprising.

Hearing this, Lucy turned pleased, and she beamed with a smile on her lips. She had chosen to wear this dress so that she wouldn't stand out and would be able to mingle with the crowd as a commoner. This way, she would enjoy the fair to the fullest without people being too wary about who she was.

"I got this stitched a long ago. I am just glad that it still fits," a small laugh escaped Lucy's lips.

"I think you look wonderful, Lady Lucy," complimented Beth, offering a small bow to the vampiress.

"I should get going now. I will see you both later," said Lucy before going on her way to where the carriage was waiting for her.

"I don't think I have ever seen any high lady so happy to wear clothes like that," murmured Beth.

"Lady Lucy is one of a kind," Madeline smiled and then said, "Come, I was going to show you something," and the sisters walked away from there.

Lucy continued to walk until she came to stand at the top of the stairs. She saw the carriage that had been pulled in the front entrance with the coachman, and there stood Theodore, waiting for her. His eyes were quick to look at her, taking in her presence, a faint smile appeared on his lips. Theodore's attire didn't change and was the same as the usual days in the castle, but he would still stand out even without it because of his presence.

She made sure to keep her feet firmly on each of the stairs so that she wouldn't fall down. Once she reached the last flight of the stairs, Theodore had come, stretching his hand. She placed her hand in his for him to kiss its back.

"I never knew a person could look this beautiful in clothes that the commoners wear," said Theodore to her, a gentle smile on his lips, and he looked at her through his glasses.

"I didn't want to stand out in the fair," replied Lucy to his words, her other hand tucking the piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Fair," he responded to her, barely fazed that Lucy had chosen to wear clothes that the lower people mostly wore.

Lucy stepped inside the carriage, Theodore was soon to follow her, and the coachman closed the door. Even though Lucy didn't wear fancy clothes, he couldn't help but look at her while she fiddled with the handkerchief that she held in her hand. The journey to the village was a quiet one, and when they reached the place from where Lucy could see the fair, her eyes brightened like one of a child's.

They got down, and Lucy was the one to walk forward-looking at the series of stalls that were placed in rows. Looking at it, it brought back memories.

"Have the carriage parked at the other side of the road," Theodore ordered the coachman before following the vampiress so that he wouldn't lose sight of her.

Lucy went looking at stall after stall, looking at everything one had to show and give. Even though snow covered the ground, it didn't deter the commoners from not coming to look at what the fair had to offer. Some places were crowded with either a.d.u.l.ts or children.

Theodore walked behind her, watching her expressions that changed from curious to excitement and then to fascination. With his hands in his pockets, he saw the way she stood behind the people, standing on the tip of her toes while trying to look at another stall from where the smell of roasted food drifted in the air.

Compared to the commoners, who were more aggressive, the princess stood at the side, hoping someone would move aside so that she could move to the front. But seeing her continue to stand there, she turned startled when a woman pushed her. Theodore appeared to her side.

"Are you alright?" Theodore asked her.

Lucy nodded her head. "I guess we can come back later to look at this place. Probably once it has less customers," she muttered.

"That would be a wise choice, but do you think the vendor would have all the items then? He might have sold and closed the shop," stated Theodore, and Lucy nodded her head in agreement. He placed a hand on her head, "Don't go anywhere. I will be back soon."

Lucy watched Theodore leave her side while he easily made his way through the crowd in front of the stall, speaking to the vendor before returning with two sticks that had fried meat on it.

"Is this what you were looking for?" asked Theodore, and Lucy smiled.

"You were so quick," praised Lucy as she stood there without making it through the crowd. "Thank you," she said before taking a bite from the meat that tasted delicious, mostly because they were outside and because of the waiting time.

"You know if you tell the servants in the castle's kitchen to prepare it for you, they would do it within a heartbeat," said Theodore as they walked towards the next stall.

Lucy nodded her head, "But it wouldn't be the same. How did you turn out to be so smart?"

"When I was a small boy I used to steal things from people. It must be practice of pushing through," came the casual words from Theodore, and Lucy turned to look at him and wondered if he was joking with her.

Lucy watched him walk next to her. She had to crane her head to see him properly as he was a couple of inches taller than her.

But if he was serious, it meant Theodore didn't have enough food to eat when he was small, while she had abundant food to eat on the table.