The Crown's Obsession

Lucy wondered how hard Theodore's life was, and though she hadn't asked him anything in the past, she now wanted to know more about him.

She had given a lot of thought to what her aunt said, and she came to believe that it was her time to be happy. All this time, she had put other's feelings and wishes first, but now, she wanted to live for herself. She wanted to be happy, to be able to love the person for whom she had carried her feelings for so long.

"Did you not get caught?" she brought the meat stick near her mouth as she asked him.

Theodore replied to this, "So many times. I believe I lost count after a dozen of times."

If anyone looked at Theodore, no one would ever guess the background that was part of him before he even entered the castle.

"What happened after that?" she asked curiously, yet knowing how one would be punished for stealing things.

"Hm," Theodore hummed in response before saying, "I would be beaten until I would not be able to walk or sit or stand. People on the streets are rough but then it might be because we don't learn." His words didn't hold any emotion, and instead, they were empty.

"I see," murmured Lucy while returning to her thoughts as they continued to look at the other stalls.

"Here, take this," Theodore offered the stick that was in his hand, which he hadn't taken even a bite and had been saving it for Lucy so that she could eat it once she finished her own portion.

Lucy shook her head, "Eat it."

Theodore had been the one to get it for her, and she didn't want him walking with her without enjoying the fair. They had come here together. Theodore stared at her for two seconds before taking a bite, and he said, "Let us get some more after looking at this side. You didn't tell me what changed your mind."

"You didn't tell me what happened in the past," retorted Lucy, placing both her hands behind her back and looking around the stalls while feeling his gaze on her.

"I thought you would have forgotten about it," murmured Theodore.

Lucy didn't forget anything that was related to Theodore. She had always tried to keep him close, not caring if it was love or hate.

He then said, "Maybe later. Why don't we enjoy the fair, would you like to play mark?"

"Mark?" asked Lucy, and Theodore slipped his hand to hers, pulling her with him. "I-uh-"

"I don't want you getting lost in here," said Theodore, his hand warmer than hers, and Lucy quietly followed him.

Lucy watched Theodore's broad shoulders and his clothes that stood out from the rest of the commoners. He didn't care about the people who were watching them as if their thoughts and words didn't matter. She, who had grown up under specific constraints, couldn't help but shy from the people's gaze around them.

Theodore had always been a handsome man, and today he seemed more perfect than usual, stealing the girls and women's hearts who were present in the fair. People around them couldn't stop looking at the couple, wondering who the lucky commoner was, who had caught the rich vampire's attention. By his clothes, it was obvious that he was someone of a very high status.

On the other hand, Lucy's feet were quick enough to close the gap, and she tried to hide their hands from people's eyes.

Theodore held her heart, but somewhere in the corner of her mind, she was scared of people judging her. After all, it had been only a few weeks since she had separated from her husband. But at the same time, she told herself that it wasn't her who had broken the marriage.

"Come here and take a shot. Five nickel coins for one round!" shouted the person who owned the stall. "Only for five coins of nickel!"

Lucy came to stand next to Theodore, watching a board placed on the back side wall of the stall, and there were stuffed toys placed at the side.

The vendor continued to shout, "Aim at the centre point and you can take the toy, but make sure it should be at the centre!"

Theodore pulled out the coins and placed it on the table, "Take this," he picked the long metal like sticks that had magnets on the ends of it.

"I am not good at this," Lucy shook her head. The last thing she needed was to throw it at someone's head.

But Theodore placed the black sticks in her hand, "You will be fine. All you need to do is focus," he advised her before giving her the way."

Lucy smiled at the vendor, who smiled back at her. The man was more than happy to get coins without losing any toys as he believed she wouldn't hit the mark. Taking a deep breath, she brought her hand up while concentrating on the board and the mark. Some of the people who were around turned curious and started to look at Lucy, waiting to see if she would fail like the rest.

As if that was not enough, Theodore placed his hand on her waist, and he whispered, "Have fun whilst you are here. You can worry about things later."

Lucy wet her lips before throwing the stick that fell on the board but not at the centre. "That wasn't bad at all," hummed Theodore.

When she used the other three, leaving her with just one more stick in her hand, Lucy turned to Theodore and gave it to him, "It's your turn now. You forgot about doing it together."

The smile on Theodore's lips widened at Lucy's words. Bringing her to the village fair had dropped her guard down, and she had fully opened her heart. "Alright then," he said, taking the stick from her, and he said, "Why don't you pick the toy from the lot?"

The vendor, on hearing the confidence in the vampire's words, rolled his eyes at the couple who were behaving like newlyweds, "Sir, please finish it quickly. There are other customers who are waiting for their turn."

"Of course," Theodore offered the man a smile, and while he was still looking at the person, he threw the stick at a speed that left a hole in the board, letting one see the other side of the stall. "There. We are done."

Lucy's eyes widened when she noticed the force Theodore had used in not only hitting the mark but also creating a hole where the vendor would be forced to pause his service.

"Isn't that a little harsh," murmured Lucy while leaning towards Theodore.

"Not much, considering the way he was smiling at you," replied Theodore and picked up the toy made out of cloth and stuffed cotton inside it before passing it to her.

Lucy and Theodore spent some more time in the village fair until evening started to approach. They had picked a place away from where the stalls had been set up and took time to rest their legs by taking a seat near some big stones that were covered in snow.