The Crown's Obsession (WN)

To stop her hands from shaking, Madeline clutched the sides of her skirt.

The truth was that she wanted to answer James' question, but how far would her truth save James' life? It was apparent with the way Calhoun was trying to bring up the subject that he was trying to instigate James, to do something that would be considered enough treason against him to land him in one of the King's many prestige dungeons.

All the eyes were on her, and the most intense was not from Calhoun but James as he wanted her to speak up. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to say,

"I am staying here willingly."

James appeared hurt by her words, and he could only think that Madeline was scared in the King's presence which was why she answered that way. Even when he had arrived yesterday in here, to meet her, she had refused to come with him.

He said, "You don't have to worry about anyone, Madeline. I am here. I will support you. Don't fear anyone." But James didn't know there was no support when it came to stand against the King of Devon.

The smile on Calhoun's face didn't leave, and he said, "Mr. Tailor is right here. You are free to go. Nobody is going to stop you."

On Calhoun's words, Madeline stared into those dark red eyes wondering how much he meant it. For a person who had put her in the maze for his amusement and brought her back to the castle after a small escape, he had no intention to let her go since from the very beginning. Madeline found it hard to believe that he would free her.

Sophie had taken herself to walk towards the tailorman who she considered to be a fairly handsome man, "Maybe the lady doesn't feel that way towards you," she conjured. The vampiress had not been there when the Harris' family had been invited and what discussion went down in the dining room of the castle between the family and the King.

She didn't like Madeline, and she wanted her out of the castle, but Sophie was the kind of person who enjoyed looking down at people. Even if there was a little truth that the human girl liked this man in here, then she would definitely speak and be kicked out by the King himself for two-timing the men. She wouldn't blame her as when it came to a lowly tailorman and the King; any sane person would pick the King.

James furrowed his eyebrows, and he spoke to the vampiress, "Believe me when I say this that we do like each other. Forgive me, but who are you?" he asked politely.

"I am the King's...cousin," replied Sophie, "By the looks of it, I will say that she has had a change of heart and has decided to stay in here. Maybe she caught someone's fancy?"

Madeline who was about to speak heard Calhoun's words, which was only for her to listen, "He seems like an idiot. Not knowing when to speak and blabbering words. Try speaking for him and I will make sure he's treated better than any other guest this castle has ever had." He warned her, the smile still in place.

Madeline slowly asked, "Why are you doing this?" She had listened to him. At least since from the time, she had been caught and brought back to the castle.

Calhoun gave her a look of confusion and asked, "What am I doing? I was only asking him questions."

"No, you're trying to get him to confess," she whispered to him, and Calhoun leaned forward from his seat.

"Such accusations. I don't see any harm in asking the questions. Maybe I should let him see the painting I made of you. Hair sprawled and your body facing me as I had painted you. Hem up your beautiful thighs that showed the length of the stockings," his words were casual, but Madeline feared, "What do you think James will think when he sees it? To have the person he likes to be displayed in front of another man, and the woman agreed to it."

"I didn't agree to it, I was forced and threatened!"

Calhoun clicked his tongue, tching at her, "You try so hard to protect him, I cannot help but bring him to light where you won't be able to do anything."

Calhoun was the epitome of evil.

"If I am not wrong, I don't have to do anything. Watch," said Calhoun, shifting his gaze to look at James, who was speaking to Sophie.

"That is not possible," disagreed James.

Sophie looked at Calhoun who had a bored look on his face now, with his hand supporting the side of his temple, "People change their feelings, Mr…." Sophie had not bothered to register his name as she didn't feel the need to do it, "Who knows it might be Theodore who she likes. He is a handsome man after all."

James had hoped that Madeline would step in and clear the claims, but she stood there next to the King mum. He then remembered something and pulled out an envelope that he carried today with him.

"Here's the proof!" said James waving the envelope in the air, "Here it states how she is unhappy and is being forced to stay here because of the King," he didn't know he was going to do this today, but the King and Madeline had not left him with any other choice. He was going to fight for Madeline's freedom.

"Who is the letter from?" asked Calhoun, his eyes narrowed at the piece of envelope.

"It's from Madeline," answered James confidently, "You can see there clearly that she wants to go home. And if she took the time to write the letter, it only shows how much she cares for me. Read the last lines," he said. Sophie took the envelope and started to read the letter that was inside it.

Calhoun's eyes shifted to Madeline with a hidden glare. He had made sure that no letter would be passed in and out for Madeline, which was why he didn't understand how the letter came to reach the man.

Madeline's eyes widened, and she gulped. James was digging his grave further and further into the ground by every word he spoke. When James had mentioned about the letter last morning, she had believed it was Beth as it was what he had said. That it was her sister who had brought the letter to him, but she still wasn't sure if Beth would go so far to write a letter in her name. What if her sister had mentioned it to him and had never given him the letter?

She wanted to retrieve the letter and confirm it.

"Looks like a love letter from a departing person who entered the castle," stated Sophie, who read the letter, "If you love him, you should go back to him, Lady Madeline. Poor man," the vampiress shook her head.

From behind, Madeline heard the King say, "You have the nerve to send a letter to the man. Makes me wonder if you want to see his head on the spear."

Madeline snapped her head and said, "The letter is not mine!"

"Then whose, is it?" asked Calhoun, raising his eyebrow wanting an answer from her.