The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Watching Sophie's retreating figure, Madeline was glad that she had left the front of the kitchen so that she could talk to the head cook. The kitchen was on the other side, which was how Madeline confirmed that Sophie had not come just strolling through the corridors but she had come looking for her specifically. By now, Sophie's apparent interest in King Calhoun was no mystery to Madeline, and if the vampiress felt threatened by her, she was a plain idiot.

Not giving much thought to her right now, Madeline's gaze shifted back to look at the head cook. Once the man was done iterating the ingredients that were used in the broth, Madeline thanked him. Her head bowing at the man who was ready to leave but she asked,

"I had something else to ask too," she stopped the head cook from leaving, "I am new here; therefore I don't know where to get or whom to ask," she whispered to have the head cook frown wondering what the lady wanted to ask. Madeline then asked, "Do you know if I can get something small to put salt in?"

"Like a container?" asked the head cook.

Okay, maybe that was a wrong question to ask because the head cook had a look of suspicion in his eyes as he looked at her, "No," she shook her head. Her head turned around to see if anyone was around and she asked, "How long have you been working here? I mean, how long does it take to be the head cook of the castle?"

"I have been here since from the time the King appointed me to be the cook. Since the start of his reign," answered the cook, "I used to work in Rutland, and the King, who was still young used to visit the shop."

She now knew that this man didn't come from Yorkshire, unless he decided to go to Yorkshire and bring the bottle along with him. It was tough to pinpoint the culprit who had tried to poison the King because the path wasn't a straight one and one little information led to many different possibilities.

Madeline had never done something like this. Finding answers on if the person was innocent or not because her life had always been simple. There were only three people who were important to her- her parents and her elder sister, Beth. That had been her life. Helping in the chores, if needed going to get house supplies with her father, carrying the log of woods, and for years that was what her life revolved around. Not this castle, not the King, and not knowing there were people in this very castle who wanted the King to be dead.

This itself brought the question of why someone wanted their King dead? Maybe the person had been teased and tortured by Calhoun too, and they thought this was one way to take revenge? She knew the severity of the punishment when it came to attempting to kill the King.

"That must be nice. To be shifted from Rutland to the castle to work in. I think many dreams to work for the King?"

"They do!" replied the cook, "To be moved from the hut to the castle and get the benefits. I couldn't be happier."

Madeline nodded her head, "I see."

While Madeline was thinking something, the man said, "Was there something else you wanted to ask me before I head back and continue my work?"

"One last question," said Madeline before asking him, "Do you know if there's someone from Norfolk or Yorkshire? I wanted to ask if they get good wool from there."

The man was quick to nod his head, "There's one maid, Josian who comes from Norfolk. You can ask her."

Madeline was looking for a person who came from the later town, "Thank you for the information," she said, ready to leave as this was all she could get from the man and before she could leave, the head cook said,

"There's Nicola's subordinate maid who is from Yorkshire. Maybe you can ask her."

"Ask what?"

Hearing the strong male's voice, Madeline turned her head to see Calhoun walking down the corridor towards her. What was he doing here? It seemed like the King barely had any other work as he was found either teasing or torturing her since the time she had arrived. Madeline tried to think as quick as she could, to make a lie, but then she realised she had already made the lie when she was speaking to the head cook.

"What are you doing here talking to the head cook?" asked Calhoun. His eyes were looking down and demanding an answer.

"I-uh, I came here to ask the cook something," she answered.

"And what is that?" his gaze shifted from Madeline to look at the cook who had his head bowed in respect and Calhoun whispered to her, "I am glad that the cook is not handsome else I would have suspected for an early affair," Madeline's eyes widened hearing this to have Calhoun chuckle at her reaction, "It was a joke, Madeline. What are you doing here though? Planning to cook something delicious for me?"

When the King's eyes met the cook's, the servant answered, "My King, the lady wanted to know how to make the broth which was served for breakfast this morning."

"Such a sweet girl. Wanting to impress me, by cooking for me," smiled Calhoun looking at Madeline and the girl stared at him. How did he do that? Asked Madeline to herself. To turn and twist things by making it about him and her, "If you are eager to cook, I would like to have some of your very own favourites to be cooked. Let me see how good you are at cooking."

Madeline blinked her eyes, and then bowed her head, "Pardon me, my King, I don't think I am as skilled as the people in your kitchen. My food might not appease to your taste."

"I will be the one to pass the judgment once I have eaten what you have made," Calhoun was not going to leave the opportunity of eating something which Madeline made, "I need some change of food. Pick a fine day so that we can enjoy your delicious food. You can go back to your work, Javier," the King dismissed the cook.

In the corridor, it was only Calhoun and Madeline who stood there alone, Calhoun staring at Madeline and the girl who was looking at the wall.

"Did you get your suspects?" on Calhoun's question, Madeline's eyes snapped to look at him.

"What?"

"You didn't expect that it wouldn't come to my notice now, did you?" Calhoun raised a single eyebrow of his, "So what did you find so far? Any information to prove the man's innocence?"

Madeline had been extremely careful, but she should have known that Theodore would have brought up about him finding her in the dungeon. She shook her head to his question, "Does it mean you believe he is innocent?"

"I told you, I need proof. A judgement cannot be passed on a person without solid proof, and so far the only proof was that the servant was found with the bottle of poison," Calhoun observed the frown on her face, and he said, "You should be careful in the castle, Maddie. Don't trust anyone and everything that you hear. Sometimes even sight is deceiving."