The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Lucy nodded her head, "I know the infrastructure is probably weak but Ethan offered to help me with it. I can get it done while living there."

Theodore's eyes subtly narrowed on hearing Ethan offering his help to Lucy.

Lucy caught sight of Theodore entering the room before Calhoun gestured to him to take a seat. She tried not to look at the man so that it wouldn't shake her resolve from what she had decided before coming here to meet Calhoun.

"Seems like Mr. Moryett and you are good friends," Calhoun smiled, his words holding unspoken questions in it, and Lucy nodded her head.

"Ethan has been very kind to me. I wouldn't have agreed if he didn't mention about him going to be on leave from his work for a couple of days," replied Lucy. "He said he knows the right architect and said he would drop the letter once I would finish speaking to you."

Calhoun rubbed his chin, "It saddens me that you don't want to live here in the castle with us. I am sure Madeline would be more than happy to have your company. Not to forget I and Theodore too, isn't that correct, Theodore?" came his nonchalant words, looking at the vampire who sat on another seat.

Theodore's eyes met Lucy's, but none of them said a word.

Noticing the silence, Calhoun hummed and then said, "If you truly wish to do that, then I cannot force you to stay now, can I?" he offered his sister a smile.

Lucy clutched on to the side of her dress. She hadn't expected Theodore to appear here when she was speaking to Calhoun, and she said, "I have too many memories here to leave it completely behind me. Some of the memories haunts me," she paused before saying, "I will come visit the castle as often as I can."

Calhoun nodded his head, "Then I will have the things there arranged."

"Thank you, brother Calhoun," thanked Lucy, and she stood up, bowing her head at him and then bowing at Theodore before leaving the room. When the door shut close, Calhoun used his hand to support the side of his head and asked,

"What happened between you two that made up her mind to run away from here this fast?" There was a curious smile on Calhoun's face. Even though he didn't like meddling in Lucy and Theodore's personnel matters, he couldn't help but feed his curiosity now. With Samuel gone, he thought things would get better, but it didn't seem like it. "She wants to go live in the mansion that Laurence gifted her," he added so that Theodore knew about it.

A frown appeared on Theodore's face. She was running away. He wondered if he had overwhelmed her by speaking to her in the afternoon. He wouldn't have spoken if Ethan had not shown up and words had slipped one after another. His jaw ticked.

"I didn't know Ethan was off duties," stated Theodore.

"I can send him back to work at this very instance but I don't think Lucy would be pleased to know that we men are trying to manipulate her life," stated Calhoun before adding, "And I am her brother, who has the perfect image on her mind. I wouldn't want to tarnish it," he shook his head.

Theodore rubbed his temples, "I only told her how I felt."

"Seems like you are as bad as me when it comes to courting the person you love," responded Calhoun, picking up the glass that had previously been placed on the side table.

"She hates me, Calhoun. For breaking her heart and most importantly for the words that I uttered that day," Theodore got up from his seat, making his way to the little trolley that had bottles of alcohol placed in there and he picked up one of the bottles.

Calhoun stared at Theodore, who hadn't spoken much and looked as if he was thinking of what Lucy had said before leaving the room.

"I wonder what Madame Fraunces would have to say if she were alive, to know that her boy couldn't woo the girl," commented Calhoun in a calm voice and then said, "Lucy only knows why we came here to the castle and about her parents."

Theodore returned to his seat with a glass in his hand, "I know."

He knew if he were to tell Lucy why and what happened with Madame Fraunces before he broke her heart, she would have another view, but he didn't want to win Lucy's affections through pity.

Right now Theodore saw some of the options ahead of me, one was to break down the mansion that the previous King had given so that it would be inhabitable for anyone to live in. Another was by having Ethan out of the picture by sending him as far as possible from Lucy. The last option was for him to let go of Lucy, parting ways to never meet at the same point as they did in the past.

Back in her room now, Lucy closed her windows and the doors including the patio doors. Lying in bed now, she had placed her hand over her eyes to cover them while her heart flipped every time she remembered Theodore's closeness to her and his finger on her skin.

A soft sigh escaped her lips. She needed some time for herself, and she would do that by going to the mansion and, if needed, live alone there.

When the day of the wedding arrived, Lucy was helped by the maids to wear the gown that had been made for her, wearing her shoes and the maids helped her with her hair. Once she was ready, she went over to check on Madeline if she needed any help.

She was walking in the corridors when she heard a familiar voice call her from behind, "Lucy dear, look at you all dressed as pretty as a flower."

The smile on Lucy's lips widened on seeing the woman, and she exclaimed, "Aunt Monique!" They were quick to exchange hugs with each other. "I thought you wouldn't be coming."

"How could I miss Calhoun's wedding you silly girl. It is good to see you after so long," said the older vampiress. "I heard what happened a couple of days ago about the Wilmot's and Samuel. I am sorry I wasn't here when it happened."

Lucy shook her head, "None of us knew it would happen. You don't have to feel bad, Aunt Monique. I am just happy to see you here. I am sure brother Calhoun would be delighted to see you."

"Mhm," Aunt Monique then curled her hand around Lucy's arm. "The castle looks different every time I come visit it," said the woman, looking around the place.

"Is that so?" asked Lucy, surprise in her voice. "I don't think apart from some of the paintings much has changed."

Aunt Monique smiled, "The people in here have changed, Lucy. It feels lighter than the last time when I visited. Tell me about the bride before I meet her. How is she?"

"She is fantastically lovely. You will adore her as much as you adore me," Lucy praised Calhoun's bride to be.

"Looks like you get along well with her," murmured her aunt and Lucy smiled.