The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Lucy didn't know what she was even expecting in her heart. She was not only causing harm to herself, but she would also cause harm to Theodore if someone were to see him walking near her room.

"You have done a lot for me, by bringing me blood and keeping me company when I have been locked. But I think such things need to stop and I need to stop depending on people. The last time I depended on someone...that person…" Lucy couldn't complete her words as a lump formed in her throat by thinking what happened to Nana. If she could rewind the time, somehow, she would fix it and make sure the woman was still alive.

A warm drop of tear slipped from her eye, and before she could move away from him by turning her back against him, Theodore caught hold of her arm and pulled her to him.

For a moment, Lucy was startled by what just happened, and without another exchange of words, Theodore placed his lips on her cheek where the mark was. Everything stopped still around her, and all she could feel was his lips pressing against her cheek.

The pressure wasn't too much but gentle, and even though it seemed like an innocent kiss, her heart skipped beats, and her lips trembled. Out of shock, she placed her hands on Theodore's chest, ready to push him away, but instead, he caught them in his hands. He pulled his lips away from her cheek for a second before pressing them back again to let her know this was not a dream.

His lips brushed against her tender skin, and a gasp escaped her lips.

"You have a bad way of coaxing a person to answer your question to only push them away," whispered Theodore against her cheek. "Is it something you developed after knowing me?"

He had left her tongue-tied as this was more than she had bargained to hear, and her heart couldn't stay still by hearing his words.

"W-why did you do that?" Lucy questioned with wide eyes.

"I wonder that myself now," replied Theodore, staring deep into the young vampiress' eyes.

He didn't mean to involve himself with the royal family members, at least not this way, because he knew it would come in between the plans of what he and Calhoun had. But his feet and his mind often drew to this place.

It wasn't his intention to involve himself with Lucy, but something seemed to be budding between them without his knowledge. With the questions, she had been asking since this noon, and with the way she looked hurt, he wanted to comfort her. He didn't want to defile her, and therefore, he had kissed her cheek, but it had not gone as expected.

Like a bee being beguiled by a flower, his lips followed the proximity of her pale skin.

"You wanted answers to your question. I didn't know how to express myself, Lady Lucy," explained Theodore.

"Why do you call me, Lady Lucy?" whispered Lucy.

"Like I said, I am not the person you think I am. I cannot build a relationship with you, milady," said Theodore and Lucy's heart broke.

"Is it because I am a princess?" questioned Lucy, the sweetness that she tasted a moment ago started to turn painful now.

Theodore nodded his head, "Undeniably you are a beautiful girl, and I am attracted to you, but it is better we do not mistake and forget who we are." If Lucy was some other girl, he would have already bedded her, but she wasn't anyone.

"Why did you kiss me then?" demanded Lucy, her words laced with hurt. Theodore had offered her a delicious fruit, and before she could even take a bite, he had snatched it away from her.

Theodore had made an error, but seeing her so heartbroken over the maid's death and wallowing in pain, he couldn't resist himself but comfort her. Lucy bit her bottom lip, noticing Theodore looking slightly frustrated, something she had never seen before. As if to repay him, Lucy stepped towards him, placing her hand on his shirt and pulling him down while raising herself to stand on the tip of her toes.

Lucy kissed him. Not on the cheek but on his lips, taking Theodore by surprise.

She didn't know why she had to hold back her feelings when he was right here and trying to drift away from her. She had never done something bold like this before, but then she had never fallen in love either.

Theodore was the one to place his hands gingerly on her shoulders to break away from the kiss that wanted him to push Lucy on the bed and kiss the very life of her.

Theodore wasn't a guy who jumped into things. He wouldn't jump without thinking, even if they looked as enticing as Lucy did. He was more mature and rational for his age, not wanting to be influenced by emotions without considering the consequences.

Lucy didn't need Theodore to tell her how he felt about her taking him by surprise by kissing him. It was obvious that they were both attracted to each other, and even though Theodore had pushed her away, there was a moment where she felt him surrender to his feelings, just for a moment before he regained back his composure.

A small chuckle escaped Theodore's lips, and he said, "Where did you learn to do that?" his eyes fell on her lips for a fraction of a second before they moved back to look at her eyes.

"I think when you fall for a person... you learn things automatically," whispered Lucy, her heart thumping in her chest and her cheeks slightly red.

Theodore didn't know if the princess was trying to test his patience by provoking him with such words, but she was still a lamb, and he was a man. And as much as he was experienced, a man could resist only for a certain extent, and this was the first time his control had slipped.

"I love you, Theodore with all my heart," confessed Lucy, and she softly gulped before looking away. "If it is the status that worries you, I will leave this place, everything behind me."