The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Madeline stared at the girl, seeing how she had a pleasant smile on her lips, and she couldn't stop comparing herself to the girl. She wondered why, because Madeline never did it. Was it because she wanted to know if the girl was someone very dear who couldn't be Calhoun's woman? She pursed her lips before she realised she had been staring without a word.

She quickly bowed her head and said, "I am Madeline Harris," Madeline introduced herself to the girl who gave her a nod.

"I have heard about you. It is good to finally meet you," the girl named Lucy stepped forward and hugged Madeline which took her by surprise.

When her wide eyes moved to look at Calhoun, she noticed how Calhoun's eyes were much calmer than it usually used to be. Was this the effect of first love? She didn't know how to feel about it. Somewhere Madeline felt sad about it, that he loved someone before her and the girl was already married. She had seen Lucy's husband in the court and heard Calhoun subtly warn the man. By Calhoun's words, Madeline couldn't help but think that maybe Lucy's husband was cheating on her and Calhoun was being protective about the girl.

This was truly an awkward situation for her, thought Madeline to herself. Someone liked someone, and the chain of like or love continued. Did Lucy get married before Calhoun had a chance with her?

But then...Calhoun told her that he loved her...

Lucy finally pulled away from her sudden hug, and Madeline put up a polite smile, "It is good to meet you too," said Madeline. From where they stood, they could hear the wolves barking and howling.

"Oh, are they left out open right now? It feels like it's been so long since I was last here," commented Lucy, "Can we go and have look, Calhoun?" asked Lucy.

Just name? No King or milord? Questioned Madeline to herself. They must have been very close when they were young.

"Do you want to meet them?" asked Calhoun to Lucy. The girl nodded her head, her demeanour sweet for a vampiress.

"We can?" asked Lucy, and Madeline felt like she was interrupting the space between Calhoun and Lucy.

"Sure. Before the guards have them sent into the kennel you can go and meet them," answered Calhoun. They walked out of the castle to make their way to where Madeline was all this time, "How are things at home?" questioned Calhoun. Madeline tried to detect if there was some longing in his voice, wanting to find if Calhoun missed Lucy.

"It has been good. You sent Samuel on work, it was a little lonely, but he's back," smiled Lucy, the girl smiled a lot, thought Madeline to herself. Even Sophie was not this excited to meet the wolves when they had gone to meet Calhoun's pets.

"Is he treating you well?" asked Calhoun and Madeline's eyes slowly moved to look at Calhoun who had nonchalant look on his face.

Lucy's smile faltered on her lips, but she smiled back again, "Yes, he's been treating me well. I know I know, if something ever happens I must let you know," she laughed at the end.

Madeline walked beside Lucy as the vampiress was in the middle while Calhoun walked on the other side. How odd, thought Madeline to herself. Brushing those thoughts away, she came to stand next to them when the wolves quickly surrounded Calhoun. One wolf which was brown in colour hovered around Lucy's legs, and the vampiress sat down without any care to pat the wolf's head.

"Sir Howard, how have you been?" asked Lucy to the wolf. She might have been the only person who shared a friendly relationship between the wolves apart from Calhoun, noticed Madeline. Lucy continued to talk with the wolf while the wolf acted nothing less to a cat that moved around the vampiress, and it appeared to be pleased to get head pats from her.

Somewhere along those lines, Madeline couldn't help but admire Lucy Greville that she could pet a wolf. As if sensing Madeline's gaze, the vampiress turned around to look at the human,

"Won't you come and pet?"

This was a hard question for Madeline. She felt that if she were to go pet right now, one of the wolves would chomp on her hand like a dangling piece of meat.

"Madeline is still in the process of getting acquainted, Lucy," stated Calhoun who left the wolves and walked to where Madeline was, "You have been very quiet," he said to Madeline in a lower tone.

Madeline looked into Calhoun's eyes, gone was the mellowness that had appeared tame before, which was now replaced with a glint of wickedness as he asked her, "I have been listening," replied Madeline. She had been doing it very keenly.

"Does my voice sound enchanting to your ears?" Calhoun teased her. She looked down at Lucy who was talking to the wolf, and her eyes darted back to Calhoun.

"Just like the devil's," she answered to see him smile.

"I love that you feel that way about me," said Calhoun, "It is said that the devil has a mesmerizing voice." Then it must be true; she thought to herself. Lucy was finally done playing with the wolves, and she stood up and Calhoun went to talk to her. It had Madeline wonder for how long Calhoun and Lucy knew each other, and for how long he must have been in love with her.

The trio headed back to the castle and went straight to the dining room to have lunch together. The King sat at the head of the table while both the ladies took their seats on either side next to him.

"How are you finding the castle, Lady Madeline?" asked Lucy, her voice kind.

"It has been very hospitable," answered Madeline and Lucy nodded her head.

"I see," what a strange reply thought the vampiress but she smiled at Madeline, "I hope the King is looking after you. Not that I doubt he would not take care of you," she added, her eyes moving between Calhoun and Madeline.

"Madeline is not shy when it comes to expressing herself if something is not right," stated Calhoun, "You will be pleased to hear that she cooks delicious food," Calhoun praised.

"That must be nice, one day I would love to eat something that you have made," came the eager voice of Lucy.

"It would be my pleasure to cook for you and the King," Madeline bowed her head. Politeness and subtly was the key, said Madeline to herself.

Lucy took one bite of food from her plate before saying, "I never got to learn how to cook. As a vampiress, I got to drink blood directly from people," her words were direct, and she raised her hand to chuckle, "Pardon me, if it shocked you. If nana was here next to me, she would have scolded me for speaking like this." Madeline smiled before going back to eat.

"Did you go to visit her?" Calhoun asked casually.

"I will be doing it once I take my leave from here. I have asked the coachman to take me to the cemetery," answered Lucy, the excitement in her voice lowered that came to be normal, "It would be rude not to go see her."

Calhoun hummed, "Indeed. What do you do going there? Ask her for her forgiveness because mama killed her?" Madeline didn't raise her eyes too high, but she did notice how Lucy held on to her fork and knife tightly, "Don't worry, it's good to see you do that. You visit them while I don't."

"Would you want me to speak on behalf of you?" asked Lucy, her head turned to look at Calhoun.

Calhoun exhaled air, "Anything that pleases you. Would you do that to your mama and papa too?" he put the fork into his mouth, to pull the food with his teeth. Madeline didn't know what exactly was going on because the room turned tense but still breathable.

"Okay..." replied Lucy and they continued to eat.

Lucy had later excused herself to visit the powder room in the castle, leaving Calhoun and Madeline behind.

"You have been quiet since Lucy arrived, feeling neglected?" asked Calhoun.

"Why would I feel that, you can spend as much time as you want with any girl," Madeline responded without looking at him, whilst they waited for Lucy to return. Calhoun chuckled at her words,

"You shouldn't be telling that to someone who claimed your first kiss and will be stealing your other firsts as well. I can sense your jealously," he said before adding, "Lucy is my half-sister."