The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Angst - Jorge Mendez

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Theodore didn't know why, but he had decided to keep an eye on Samuel the same way he did with the rest of the ministers who worked in the royal court. Trust was an issue which he didn't depend on and didn't believe in.

With Calhoun, who had taken possession of the throne in dire condition by killing the previous King, the queen, and the lady, many wanted Calhoun to fall from his position.

But Theodore kept a closer watch on Samuel because of his behaviour. It wasn't because it was suspicious, but because his behaviour was spotless in the royal court room and outside the castle. No one ever could have such a clean reputation, and it only made Theodore suspicious and kept an eye on the man.

Calhoun was suspicious about Samuel, too, and it gave Theodore the leverage to find out what Samuel was up to.

"Also, the number of women he has been sleeping with, mm," said Kruger as he took another gulp from the mug, "I would have to say I am surprised that he isn't scared of the King's wrath. Does he know about it? The King?"

Theodore only stared at Kruger for his words, without going to reply to the man if Calhoun was aware or unaware of Samuel's debauchery.

"Did you find anything else? Any murder or body around him?" asked Theodore.

"None that I found. He sleeps with the women, and then cleans up and leaves. Sadly none of those women agree to speak against him. Are you waiting to frame him, Theodore?" asked Kruger with a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Samuel Grivelle is hiding something from all of us and I will get to the bottom of it. For someone to have women who are unwilling to speak about him, it makes it much more suspicious even when threatened under the King's name," said Theodore in a thoughtful tone. "I would prefer to catch him red handed but the timing matters."

"Timing?" asked Kruger.

Theodore nodded his head. He and Calhoun were aware of Samuel's affairs, and they would have brought it up in front of Lucy, but with the way he saw it, she blindly trusted her husband, and Samuel was her family now, someone who looked after her.

"Any news from the Grivelle's mansion?" inquired Theodore, and Kruger shook his head.

"Nothing of importance. Even though he has many affairs with the women, the man has been looking after his wife," replied Kruger, and this was what Theodore was worried about. Samuel had a gentleman-like attitude in front of everyone, and he was cheating on Lucy. "You seem to be more interested in the man than the King does. Calhoun is a lucky person to have someone like you have his back."

Theodore smiled at the man's words, "I just like to take care of the things that I care about and are close to me. I would terribly feel guilty if I didn't look through things. Thank you for the information. I will meet you again sometime in the next month. The castle is going to be busy for a few days."

He then fished his hand into his trouser pockets and placed the coins for his and the man's liquor. He then pulled a pouch that had coins, throwing it at the man.

"Shouldn't it be easier with the Hallow celebration over now?" Kruger asked while keeping the pouch safely in his pocket.

Theodore stood up and said, "I would like to think that but Calhoun has his own plans. I believe he wouldn't like to be disturbed in the next few days as his hands are going to be full," he offered the man a smile.

"Hmph, I will see you around," replied the man to see Theodore leave the place.

On his way, Theodore's lips twisted into displeasure that no dirt had been found on Samuel. If he could, he would arrange for Lucy to catch Samuel red-handed, and he knew he was petty about it. It wasn't because he was jealous about Samuel having Lucy next to him, but it was that there was that smug look in the man's eyes whenever he spoke about Lucy, and his eyes often met Theodore's eyes at that time. Somewhere, Theodore felt Samuel had his doubts that there was something between Lucy and him in the past.

He knew it was in the past and he had lost chance. Not that he would be able to do anything. If he got to turn back time, to fix things again, Theodore knew he would do the same things all over again because today was the reflection of what had occurred in the past, and every step they took had been necessary.

Not to forget, out of all the suitors, Lucy had picked Samuel when she could pick someone else, thought Theodore to himself.

Theodore started to head back to the castle to inform Calhoun about James Heathcliff and Madeline Harris. He would have never thought that yesterday was the day where Calhoun would be smitten by a human. He wondered how well the family would take in the information because he knew Calhoun didn't like to waste any time and did things quickly.

Back in Grivelle's mansion, Lucy was in the midst of the garden looking at the flowers that had bloomed this morning when the maid came running near her.

"Milady, the newsletter for the ball has published a new scroll. Would you like to read it?" one of the maids asked Lucy.

"Did it get written so fast?" asked Lucy, surprise in her voice. "Yes, bring one of it here. I wonder what has been written today. The ball must have been mentioned, even though it is mostly the same things."

"Yes!" The maid quickly hurried herself to leave the garden and run past the gates before she returned with a rolled paper in her hand. "Here it is, milady."