The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Timeless - Jorge Mendez

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Lucy didn't know how to take the lie that she had heard regarding her husband. Samuel was her husband, someone she relied upon after her parents and Calhoun, and her lips set itself in a thin line, wondering why he didn't return to the room after finding out there was no meeting taking place in the royal court room.

She decided to not jump into conclusion and instead confront Samuel about it. There must have been a reason, thought Lucy to herself.

At least that is what she initially had decided, but before Lucy could even question on it, Samuel had returned back to say,

'I had to go to Baudeux town to tell the magistrate to release the water to the next village that has been blocked there.'

Maybe Samuel had mistaken it by thinking there was a meeting, but instead he was supposed to go elsewhere, thought Lucy to herself. Until now, he had done no wrong in her eyes, and he had behaved as the perfect husband. Except for showering affections when they were alone and spending time to love her, he was perfect, and many young women wished to have a husband just like him.

When Lucy had heard things like those from other people, it made her happy that she had at least ended up with a person who cared for her, but then she remembered the way he drank blood from the maids. Her hands gripped themselves on the railings of the balcony where she stood now viewing the grounds of the castle.

"Lady Lucy," appeared a maid behind her. "Lady Rosamund wants you to have tea with her and with the Harris family."

"Hm," responded Lucy, but before the maid could take her leave, she realized this was the same maid from whom Samuel had taken blood. "Wait. I have something to ask you."

The maid stood in her place, both her hands holding each other with her head bowed down.

Lucy pursed her lips before asking, "You know my husband Samuel Grivelle, right. Have you spent time with him?"

The maid, who was looking down at the ground, her eyes widened. "Yes, milady."

"How many times have you given your blood to him?" questioned Lucy. "Raise your head."

The maid did as she was told, and she looked at Lady Lucy, "I don't remember the number of times."

"Do you know if there are other maids from whom he drinks blood?" Lucy continued with her questions.

"Not that I know of, milady. We maids don't discuss such matters with each other," the maid looked slightly nervous, and Lucy stared at the maid.

It wasn't a big deal for a vampire and vampiress to directly drink blood from humans, but there were certain ways blood was drawn out. "Did you ever kiss him? Samuel I mean."

The maid shook her head, and Lucy nodded her head. "You can go now," ordered Lucy before making her way to where her aunt and Madeline's family were having their afternoon tea.

When she reached the room, Lucy put up a smile on her face, something she had practised over the years.

"Good afternoon, Aunt Rosamund, Mrs. Harris and Elizabeth," Lucy greeted as she entered the room. As the wedding day was approaching, both Madeline and Calhoun had decided to invite Madeline's family to the castle.

Like Madeline, her parents were polite and kind with their words, somewhere a little nervous at the fact that their daughter was going to get married to a vampire. Though Lucy was not sure if she could tell the same about Madeline's sister Elizabeth.

"Good to see that you have come to join us, Lucy dear. Take a seat," said Aunt Rosamund with a smile on her face.

"Our apologies if you were busy, Lady Lucy," Mrs. Harris was quick to follow, and Lucy smiled.

"There's nothing much to do in the castle other than sit idly and take rest while having tea. I was only looking at the castle grounds when the maid came to inform me about the tea gathering," replied Lucy, taking a seat next to Mrs. Harris so that she felt more at ease.

The Harris' family were the bride's family who was important to Calhoun, and it automatically made it important to Lucy too.

"That is very kind of you, Lady Lucy," replied Mrs. Harris.

"It is nothing at all," chimed Lucy before looking down at Mrs. Harris' teacup, and she said, "Let me pour you another glass," she offered.

On the other side of the seats, Lady Rosamund stared at Lucy and the old human who had no class or status. Her eyes then fell on Elizabeth, who sat with a straight back and her features far more poised than her younger sister.

"You should let the maid do the job, Lucy," stated Lady Rosamund. "If you do all the work, the maid will have nothing to do. It isn't duchess' job to pour tea for another woman."

"I am pouring it for Mrs. Harris, who is our important guest, I don't think pouring tea puts my status down. Instead it strengthens the relationship," smiled Lucy, who had picked up the kettle.

"Would you say the same if your mother had asked you the same question?" asked Lady Rosamund to see her niece freeze at that question. The older vampiress in the room then raised her hand at the maid to come to do her job. "I guess people in the castle have lost the touch on how to work. Don't worry about it, Mrs. Harris. You will get used to our lifestyle, isn't that right Elizabeth?"

Mrs. Harris' other daughter, Elizabeth, smiled at Lady Rosamund and nodded her head, "You are right, Lady Rosamund."

Lucy didn't like why her aunt always threw her mother's name to remind her how she was crossing lines and forgetting her status by not behaving how she was supposed to behave in front of everyone.

Days continued to pass, and Samuel turned only busier and was often away from the castle. This led to Lucy spending more time with her relatives. After what happened in the forest, Sophie had stopped speaking about Madeline as she was too scared to speak anything related to the human or about her affections towards Calhoun. But with one problem solved, another had opened where Sophie and Madeline's sister didn't get along.

But Lucy tried her best in not getting involved in their matters as she had her own to handle, not to forget, she often crossed paths with Theodore, and now that she was in the castle for a longer period, the previous memories she had tried to block had started to rush through her mind.

On one of the mornings, Lucy had found the place next to her empty on the bed, and she wondered if this was the life she was going to lead for the rest of her life. As Samuel wasn't here and the rest of the family members were yet to wake up, Lucy called one of the maid's and ordered,

"Ask the guards to get the carriage ready for me. I will be heading out soon."

"Yes, milady," the maid bowed her head and left the room to follow up the order.

Not soon enough, Lucy was in the carriage that travelled towards the royal cemetery.