The Crown's Obsession (WN)

AN: I have placed an aux chapter at the beginning of the book (before chapter 1). Please take time to read the note.

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Calhoun stared at Madeline, who was eating her breakfast, across the table directly facing him where he didn't have to turn his eyes to the side but only to lift his head to look at her. He had agreed to her condition for the day with the thought that she would see that he was willing to allow a few things to be in her favour. The air that she so much craved was controlled, but it was there for her to breathe.

Her blonde hair had been brushed and tied with braids again, and he liked her this way. Simple and nothing over the top. Her movements were gentle and poise, without making her presence known to be too deliberate. Calhoun knew that Madeline could feel his eyes, across from the long table where they sat. She should have known that no distance would be more for him to reach her. She was trying hard not to look up, to meet his eyes and let him know that she could sense his eyes, but the King already knew.

"Are you happy?" he asked her, and she finally lifted her head, "Your sister will have her happy life which she's been looking forward to."

Madeline who couldn't deny, nodded her head, "I am. I am thankful for your kind gesture," she bowed her head from where she sat. Convincing her was not hard at all, Calhoun thought to himself.

After years of experience, the King knew what must be done, and how to seize her heart for himself. Madeline was unaware of the change in the letter, which he had done it for her sake. Keeping good intentions towards Madeline, so that her family would get the message to step away from her.

With the King's eyes on Madeline, one would think that the family would have come to its senses not to try to irk the King. He was not pleased with what Madeline's mother had written in the note. It made him think that if she were to visit her family, her mother might one day come to openly tell her younger daughter to run away and Madeline was standing at the tip of her toes. When they were in the forest, he had noticed the gleam in her eyes, looking around the forest to see what could turn to her advantage in the future.

If Madeline was smart, she would not try to run away. But the girl slightly fell on the scale of naivety by thinking she needed freedom just because she didn't get the choice. Therefore, even if it was just for one day, what he was doing was giving her a choice.

"There should be a letter by evening or maybe tomorrow," came Madeline's voice that was like wind chimes during the time of Christmas that was celebrated. He could sense eagerness in her voice as if waiting for what more the letter would bring.

"I don't doubt that," commented Calhoun, picking up his glass and taking a sip leisurely while looking at her. He then placed it back down, "Especially when the family is talented and eager when it comes to writing things."

The words were lost by the time when it reached Madeline, and she gave him a questionable look as she missed his words.

Calhoun gave her a wide smile, "I was asking how you are doing over there."

Madeline stared back at him, "I am doing fine," far away from him, yet reachable to his eyes. She wondered if there was any point in having herself seated far back in here.

She was glad that the maids had left after serving them.

It was because it seemed that she had only made it difficult for them, which she wasn't happy about. When Calhoun went back to eat, she sneaked a glance at him. Did he have a change of heart last night? Or maybe it was because of what she had vented out to him in the forest. One minute the man was trying to seduce her to her wit's end, and the next minute, he had decided to let her go, just like that.

The rest of the day, Calhoun had not bothered Madeline.

She used her time in walking inside the corridors of the castle before moving to the open garden. It had turned out to be a peaceful day, but not everything was well as the young maid Agnes ,who was assigned to her didn't meet her eyes and was quick to leave her presence.

Madeline didn't blame her, but she did feel bad. Any and every servant would think more than ten times before talking to her. Though the King had told not to speak anything about Madeline, rumours went around the castle, passing through one ear after another by word of how Lady Madeline had complained to the King and had got the two maids in the castle beheaded.

By the time of the evening, the letter from her sister Beth had finally reached the castle. A response that Madeline was eager to read. And it came to be delivered by Theodore.

"Milady," he bowed his head. Madeline was sitting out in the garden of the King's quarters now, and she saw how his hand was outstretched, holding the letter for her, "You have received a letter from your family," said the man.

Madeline quickly got on her feet. Taking the letter from him and bowing in greeting. She noticed the envelope had been opened.

Theodore noticed how the human stared at the opened seal, and said, "Any letters that come to the castle are inspected before being handed over to the respective person."

She gave him a nod. She should have known about it as the last time she had tried to send a letter, the letter had gone straight to the King, and she had only written it as a test to see if it would go reach the person she had addressed to.

"Was it the King who read it?" she asked to confirm if it was Calhoun or Theodore. Theodore seemed like a tattle-tale person who went to tell everything to the King so she would have to be careful.

"Your letters are read only by the King. He wouldn't like it if someone else tried to read them," there was a hint of a smile in the man's voice, "Have a good evening, milady," Theodore greeted before leaving her in the garden alone.

Madeline watched the man leave, the sky had turned dark, and it was closing in on time for supper. Sitting down, Madeline pulled out the letter and read what was written inside.

"Dear sweet sister Maddie,

Thank you for your kind thoughts about me. I have conveyed your thoughts to mama and papa, and they are pleased to hear that you are doing well in the castle. Coming to the matter of alliance, I would not want to disturb Mr. Danvers as he is seeing another woman, Ms. Jenney. I have been receiving some decent proposals who had tried to woo me, since the time of the ball. Please do not worry about me.

Love Beth.'

The letter was concise but then so was hers and Madeline had hoped she would hear more from Beth on what was going on in their house. If there was anything new, so that she could stay in touch but it seemed that Beth had addressed only the questions that were asked in the letter.

Taking in a deep breath, she sighed. "I miss everyone," she whispered, her eyes staring at the letter.

"Even me?" came the voice from behind her and Madeline snapped around to see Calhoun who had appeared out of nowhere. When did he even come here? It was only five minutes ago that she had spoken to Theodore.

"I saw you in the morning," answered Madeline, her eyes sceptically looking at him.

"Would you say you would miss me if you didn't see me for a week?" he asked her, his lips twitching. She looked around, seeing no one except for the two of them here. Her heart shuddered when he walked towards her, "How has your day been? I will take it that it has been less eventful because of my lack of presence."

"It was peaceful," she said, starting to fold the letter of her sister.

"How boring," he chimed, taking a seat where she had been sitting earlier. And he said, "Come sit."

Madeline didn't see any harm in it and took a seat next to him, keeping a gap which was enough for another person to sit. Calhoun couldn't stop the smile on his face, "What a cute little thing you are," saying this, Calhoun moved closer towards her, "Have we not established a few things?"

She changed the subject by saying, "You wouldn't need to help my sister with Mr. Danvers."

"Because he is seeing someone?" asked Calhoun, crossing his legs and placing both his hands behind him so that he could look at the sky, "That can be fixed. It is not hard to make someone stop seeing the person."

"You don't need to do that. Beth doesn't seem interested in him," she frowned, at the thought of the King threatening Mr. Danvers, "Is it all you know? Taking things by force?"

Calhoun, who was staring at the sky, turned his head to look at her, his expression calm now, "Why, is it bad?"