The Crown's Obsession

When Madeline reached the room where the King was, Theodore took his leave right away so that it was only Calhoun and Madeline in the room. Calhoun stood with his back against her while standing in front of the tall window that was draped with maroon curtains at the sides to be tied for one to see the world that was outside.

Madeline noticed, the room was big, and the furniture took less space. She had not been to this room before. There were too many rooms in the castle that she had not even covered half of it.

"How has your day been?" Calhoun asked, who was yet to turn around.

"It was okay," she answered, and he finally turned around, his eyes meeting hers.

"Only okay? Perhaps you were missing me and that is why it has not been fantastic?" he asked with one eyebrow-raising at her.

Madeline noticed the way Calhoun walked towards her, each step of his slow towards her, "How was your day?" she asked him, not wanting to give him an opportunity to tease her. Calhoun was pleased with her question because Madeline never asked him anything except for her freedom, but she had stopped speaking about it since the day they had visited the forest.

"I missed you," replied Calhoun, picking up her hand when he came to stand in front of her. With his red eyes still on hers, he kissed the back of her hand, his lips lingering on her skin that left a burn while also sending a jolt through her body.

His lips were not on hers and he hadn't teased her with his words but Madeline remembered the time when those same lips were on hers. Kissing her as they moved- she took a deep breath and brought her thoughts back to the present where they were standing.

"I can see that I have been occupying your thoughts. I can see it in your eyes," a grin appeared on his lips before he let go of her hand.

Madeline didn't comment on it, and the grin on Calhoun's lips broadened, "Did you have something to ask me?" he had summoned her, and she could only think if there was something she would have to be wary about.

"I wanted to ask how your delicate ankles have been doing," saying this, Calhoun's eyes trailed down from her gaze to look at her neck which then moved to her chest and down to her waist before it fell on the hem of her dress.

Madeline quickly answered, "It is doing great. Good as a horse."

"Good," Calhoun had a satisfied look on his face, and when he noticed her frown, he cocked his head to the side, "Are you upset that I won't be massaging your ankles? We can do that even if your ankles are not paining," he offered, and she shook her head, "Let's take a walk outside in the garden. I was thinking about getting some air and which best person to walk with, at the time of the evening?"

She didn't refuse, instead played along. She had to learn quickly if she was trying to keep up with the King. The more she would deny, the more enticed he was with her. The sky had turned orange with inky hue, and she walked next to Calhoun in silence. Calhoun didn't seem to speak, and it gave her more time to talk to herself in her mind that went in circles.

"How long have you been living alone in the castle?" asked Madeline.

"Without the family or with family?" Calhoun shot another question at her.

"Without family," she cleared. She was curious about the King's past, especially after he had made up a story only to tear it down. It made her question if it was the truth what he had spoken or if it was far worse.

"Nearly two decades," Calhoun answered with a smile on his lips as he was happy to see Madeline ask about him.

"Doesn't it feel lonely?"

Madeline wouldn't know, how she would have lived in this huge castle without having anyone as her own, "Do you?" she heard Calhoun ask her.

She pursed her lips at his question whether she was feeling lonely, "Would it matter if I said I am feeling lonely?" she asked him.

"Initially, everyone feels lonely, because of the new people and new place. You feel foreign at first, but then you start getting familiar," he answered her, "I don't think I have ever felt lonely. Never felt there was a need to feel such an emotion. I have been a self-sufficient person, Madeline. I grew up that way."

Was he speaking about it after his parents passed away?

Calhoun's eyes moved to the corner to take a look at Madeline who appeared to be in a deep thought. Yesterday, he had asked her to be patient as she was drunk, but she appeared to be back to normal, "You know…" he drawled, catching her attention before saying, "I have a liquor room. If you ever feel the need to drink, we can always make a trip there."

"I don't want to drink the wine," replied Madeline, her hands twisting the long beaded chain that went past her chest.

"Aww, I am going to miss the sloppy person," he teased her, "What a shame. I thought we could drink and pour out our hearts to each other." Madeline didn't know how to revert from what happened, but her gut said to let it rest without bringing it up in front of him. She felt Calhoun's eyes on her, but she didn't turn to meet his gaze. The blood started to rush up through her neck, making way up to her face because of the unbroken gaze from the person beside her.

When Madeline didn't turn to look at him, he couldn't help but decided to trick the girl.

With a small snap of his fingers, something appeared near Madeline's feet to make her trip, and Calhoun caught her in his arm. He doubted he would be able to keep his hands to himself anymore because it felt like a clock was ticking to come to its end, which was near. Madeline looked more beautiful under the moonlight.

"Thank you," Madeline murmured, her eyebrows furrowing and she turned around to see what she had missed, but there was nothing.

"Tripping on air," chuckled Calhoun and once Madeline stood straight, he moved his hand gingerly away from her waist, "I am delighted tonight."

"Why?" came Madeline's careful words.

Calhoun cocked his head to the side, "Are you saying I shouldn't?"

"No! That's not what I meant," replied Madeline, she came to doubt if there was anything good to other people when the King was happy. It was something to worry about.

She heard him hum and then speak, "Someone I know, will be getting married. A love marriage with the approval of parents. Don't you think it's fantastic news? Parents rarely approve of such things."

Madeline nodded her head, having no clue of who Calhoun was talking about, "It is good news," she agreed, "Not everyone's love is accepted." Madeline and Calhoun had started to walk again in the garden of the castle.

"Who are you speaking about?" asked Calhoun with a hint of curiosity.

"There was a girl who fell in love with a boy, but she was married to another person who hailed from a town. I remember seeing her cry."

"Did you cry at the thought of you being torn away from your infatuation?" she hadn't expected him to ask her this question. It made her ponder, and she only gave him a stare. She did cry, but it was mostly at the thought of her being forced into something she was not ready for, "Shall I take your silence to be a no?" asked Calhoun, wanting a clear answer.

"I think my condition was different compared to the girl from my village. They both were in love, and I was one of the few people who knew about it," and she looked away from him, "Yes, it's an infatuation, a beginning path," she said talking about her.

"Thought I would never get to hear that," chuckled Calhoun, and Madeline wished she could stab this vampire as she sensed the words that felt like he was mocking at her.

"How did you turn the fork into petals?" more than curious, Madeline was fascinated that something like that was possible. The village used to have an annual fair that took place close to the market, and the towns held them too. She had witnessed people trying to do magic which was nothing but tricks, but nothing came close to what Calhoun had shown her until now.

She noticed how Calhoun moved away from her, picking the rose that was yet to bloom.

"What do you really want to know?" he asked, going back to her.

Madeline responded, "The truth. Only the truth."

"You won't be able to digest some things," replied Calhoun, "You are like this rose, soft and unopened, who doesn't know the ugliness of this world."

"Why did you bring me here, then? If you think it is ugly?" she demanded without raising her voice.

Calhoun's smile broadened as he looked down at the bud of the rose that was yet to bloom, "Because I was attracted to you and I was intrigued. Will you disagree that you weren't intrigued by me the day you met me at the ball?"

"I was intrigued for a different reason than yours."

"But you were," he said, and her eyes went down to look at Calhoun's hand that was playing with the rose, which slowly started to bloom in his hand. He moved his hand towards her hair and pushed it in, "I thought you would be my salvation."