The Crown's Obsession

On Calhoun's questioning glare at Madeline, she didn't know what to say. Not that she didn't know the answer to it, but she wasn't sure how she was going to save any person because she could feel the King's wrath from where she stood. The brewing anger which he was trying to keep under the lid, but she didn't know for how long and somewhere she knew she was going to be the one to face the consequences.

"I would like to see the letter," said Madeline and Calhoun's eyes narrowed even further.

"Bring the letter to me," Calhoun demanded, his voice hard and cold that made everyone look at him warily. Sophie, who was the one holding it, walked to the King and she handed the letter to him.

Madeline wanted to read it. She wanted to confirm that it was Beth who had written it herself before she would take Beth's name but would it be wise to take her elder sister's name? Asked Madeline to herself. She didn't know in what state the King was because he was already ready to breathe fire, that Madeline had somehow sneaked the letter under his nose that reached James Heathcliff.

She knew some contents of the letter as James had spoken about it yesterday when they had met in one of the rooms of the castle. But she didn't know the other lines that were in there. Madeline noticed Calhoun whose eyes fell on the letter, starting to read the lines and he threw it on the ground.

"Did you write this letter, Madeline?" asked King Calhoun, and Madeline's hands started to sweat.

To stop her hands from shaking, Madeline clenched both her fists together. Sophie tipped her chin looking at Madeline who was nervous. She couldn't stop but smile, her lips twisting in amusement to see the plight in which Madeline had been placed in.

"I didn't," Madeline whispered, but Calhoun was not satisfied with the number of words she used.

"I didn't hear you. Speak louder," he ordered, and she looked down at the ground.

"It wasn't me...who wrote the letter," she said loud enough this time for the entire courtroom to hear. She didn't have to look at James to know that he looked utterly shocked and taken aback by her confession.

Calhoun's glare had not been tamed yet, and he continued to speak with the same tone, "So you're telling that this letter, which the tailorman has brought along with him, is not written by you. Yes?"

"Yes," Madeline's words were firm, but it was painful. She wished she had written the letter, but at the same time, she was glad she wasn't the one to write it.

James finally recovered from Madeline's confession, and he said, "Why did you not deny it when I brought it up yesterday when we met?"

Calhoun's expression turned from anger to one which was of amusement. This was what he wanted, the actual confession, and he waited for the foolish human to utter more words on it.

Neither Madeline nor James knew what trap had been laid for both of them. James didn't understand why Madeline was refusing to acknowledge the fact that she was the one who wrote the letter. He knew there was less chance with him against the King, but if Madeline proved that she had indeed written the letter, the King would only be called a barbarous man to pick a woman and place her in the castle against her real wishes.

Though James had not spent enough time with Madeline in the past, he had noticed her, noticed her enough to know that she was a simple girl who was like a breath of fresh air in the meadow where the light fell. He didn't want her to be scared,

He was a simple man, a man whose occupation and bread of living was making clothes for men and women, and it was a reputable one. And compared to the King, who was not only handsome, the man held the crown. The absolute power who could have anything, which could either be by money or by force. But then at the same time, Lady Sophie, the vampiress, had put a doubt in his mind.

"Why didn't you tell me yesterday that it wasn't you when I spoke about the letter?" James iterated his question, wanting an answer from Madeline who looked into his eyes with a pleading expression to not go any further with his questions.

Calhoun, who stood close to her, said, "The man is asking you something. Answer him, Madeline."

Madeline wanted to stab this person. He was pushing her into a corner, "I was in shock yesterday when I found out about it. I am sorry for causing you trouble," she apologised, hoping James would not speak further, but it didn't stop.

"You are scared of the King, and so am I," Calhoun smiled at James' words, "But you don't have to hide the truth," James' words were also limited because he remembered how the letter spoke about not bringing up her family into it as it would cause trouble He could ask Madeline's elder sister to testify, but he didn't know how far things would go in their favour.

Calhoun stood up from his throne and took a step down from the platform to stand next to Madeline,

"I think you have received the answer you have been seeking, Mr. Heathcliff. Madeline didn't write the letter nor is she being held in here against her will." He then put his hand around Madeline's waist and said, "It would be wise if you stop pursuing the woman. I am sure there are plenty of other women who fancy you. Don't go for something that belongs to the crown," came the low, threatening warning, which was clear.

When Madeline tried to leave his side, Calhoun tightened his hold on her waist to stop her from trying to escape.

James stood there with his eyebrows furrowed, and he looked at Madeline who didn't utter a word of protest. It was only yesterday they had shared a moment, and now she acted as if she didn't meet him. This only told him how much the King might have threatened her.

The wisest thing would be to be quiet so that he wouldn't make an enemy of the King. James bowed his head.

Calhoun continued to glare down at the man and then said, "My man will lead you out of the castle. I will be expecting that garter to be made soon," he added and noticed how James's jaw ticked, but he couldn't say anything.

Good, thought Calhoun. At least he had the sense not to keep talking unless he was fond of his tongue. He had told Madeline he wouldn't do anything to James by beheading him, but it didn't mean he couldn't use other means to achieve his goals. The entire time the tailorman was in the courtroom, Madeline had an anxious look on her face, and most of the time, she couldn't keep her eyes off of the human.

"Thank you for seeing me," James bowed his head like a true gentleman, and Madeline's heart ached when James didn't spare her another look. Turning around, he left the room with Theodore and another minister of the King who had been standing outside the courtroom.