The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: Murahachibu by Jigoku Shoujo

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Sophie glared at her brother after he said what he wanted her to do, "You must have lost your mind, brother, if you think I would listen to something so childish. And I am sure you are more than capable of doing something like that."

Markus stared at his sister, knowing how upset she had been since the time Elizabeth Harris had been announced to be the one, who he would be getting married to. But if there was someone whom he could trust here in the castle apart from his mother who was possibly sleeping now, then it was his sister, Sophie.

"Why don't you go and ask that human of yours. If I am not wrong, she will help you out in that matter," said Sophie and turned around to walk away from Markus, "If that is all you came here for, you can leave. I am tired."

"It is not for my benefit, Sophie. It is for both of us. Our family," Markus tried to sway his sister's mind, "Elizabeth wouldn't be able to do this, and I believe you can do it. It is just for ten minutes."

Sophie snapped around, the vampiress looked as if she was fuming, "Both? You are the one who wants to use the elder girl for your advantage, not to forget mother's partiality. How is that in my benefit? And why do you even want me to go and speak to the guards at the dungeon?" demanded Sophie.

Markus had out of bizarre reasons asked her to come along with him and distract the guards so that he could step inside the dungeon. "I told you it's for your benefit. I overheard Calhoun order Theodore to keep people away from the dungeon. That only means he's hiding something or someone in there." Markus then walked towards where Sophie stood, and placed his hands on her shoulders, "If we find out what is being hidden in there or who is there, maybe we can do something about it."

Hearing this, Sophie looked at her brother with intrigue.

"The dungeon has always been kept away from everyone. No one is allowed to step inside there," Sophie reminded Markus. It was because when she was young, Sophie had gone halfway into the dungeon to be pulled and escorted back into the castle. She had many times tried to get inside the dungeon in the past, but it wasn't possible, and the only time she was able to take a look was in the presence of Calhoun. It wasn't like she was interested to see the peasants and their scummy face, thought Sophie to herself. She had then stopped bothering to take a look at the dungeon as she had better things to do than associate herself with criminals.

"It is just this one time, Sophie. All you need to do is keep the guards distracted," Markus continued to persuade his sister.

"Will you leave that little bitch?" Sophie folded her hands across her chest when she asked the question.

Markus' eyes narrowed, "You know she's an essential key to our plan. Elizabeth is Madeline's sister. Not to forget, her beloved sister."

"Yes, I can very well see that. You should know that I don't do things for free. If you want a favour from me, then you will need to return it," Sophie tried to bargain a deal. It looked like Markus was desperate and eager to take a look at what was inside the dungeon. This was the right time to trade favours, "What do you say?"

"Mother will be upset if any one of us try to disrupt her plan," Markus warned Sophie. His sister's pettiness often had caused them trouble which needed to be fixed later.

"Alright. How about I ask the favour later?" Sophie smiled to have Markus nod with agreement.

And with that, the siblings went to the dungeon where Sophie tried to distract the dungeon guards with her words, keeping them busy to let Markus slip inside the dungeon. With her being the King's cousin, the guards were much more lenient when it came to conversing with the lady.

Markus quickly walked and slipped inside the dungeon. Most of the rooms were locked, some open with the criminals who had gone against the King who had been tied with chains around their necks, legs and hands so that they wouldn't escape.

When his ears picked on a growl, Markus quickly walked in the direction where he heard the animal-like sound. Did Calhoun get a wolf? Questioned Markus to himself. He reached the room which was locked. He tried pushing the door back and forth, but it never opened. Peeking in the thin gap of the door where he flinched his eyes to take a better look, he found there was indeed an animal inside which had fur on it, but oddly this one was bigger.

He wanted to take a better look, but the thin gap restricted him from taking a better look. When he pushed the door again, the little action caught the animal's attention, and a series of growls were heard coming from the room.

On the outside of the dungeon, Sophie stood talking to the guards,

"How many of them are often tied in here?" she questioned one of two guards.

"We have two or three of them in a week, my lady," answered the guardsman who had a big belly and moustache.

"I thought people would know not to go against the King. The poor people sure don't know what to do and what not to do," Sophie gave them a pleasant smile. Noticing her brother Markus who had not stepped out of the dungeon yet, she continued to speak, "I will ask brother Calhoun if he can tell the maids to serve you something. It must be hard to guard here."

"Not at all, my lady. It is why we are here," the guard bowed his head.

"You know I made some excellent food the last time when I was in the castle. You must have eaten it," came the prideful voice of Sophie. Even though it was never her intention to cook for the lowly servants, Calhoun had dismissed her food only to be served to the servants. She wondered what was taking her brother, Markus this long. Here she was wasting her time with the guards who she had no interest with.

"Thank you for preparing such a delicious meal, Lady Sophie," the guards thanked her and Sophie lifted her nose in the air.

She was the best cook, yet Calhoun had picked that human's food over her food. More than Elizabeth, Sophie had to do something about Madeline because she was the reason why her mother was entertaining Elizabeth even if it was for their gain. Sophie knew well that if she were to ask for poison from her brother, he would let her mother know, and she would never be able to poison the girl.

But her goal wasn't just poisoning. She wanted to make sure Madeline was out of their lives so that she would be the one who Calhoun would turn to. It was considered to be ideal for a vampire to marry another vampire. Sophie didn't even understand why a vampire was getting married to a human. Maybe she should drop a letter to the High House. If they were to find some issues going on, it would be easy to get rid of the humans.

And as Sophie continued to think while the guards spoke to her, someone arrived from the back. The guards were quick to bow their heads, and Sophie's head snapped around to see it was Calhoun's trusted servant, Theodore who had arrived at the front of the dungeon.

"Lady Sophie," Theodore offered her a bow and Sophie pursed her lips.

This was not good, thought Sophie to herself, "Theodore," Sophie greeted the vampire back, "What are you doing here?" she asked him.

Theodore replied, "I was here making my rounds. What are you doing here at this hour of the night when you are supposed to be sleeping? I mean to catch your beauty sleep."

Sophie's lips twisted into a frown. Markus was still inside the dungeon doing who knows what. Was he building a new room for himself to stay there? She asked herself. If Markus was caught, she was not going to help him out of it.

"I have been unable to fall asleep," answered Sophie, "I thought...to take some fresh air."

Theodore gave her a nod, "It must be very polluted near the guest's room."

Sophie's eyes narrowed at Theodore's words, "The guards were praising the food that I made. Now only if the King ate what I prepared. You should put in a word, Theodore."

"Absolutely, my lady," Theodore obliged, "You should perhaps get back to your room as the dungeon is not a safe place for a lady."

Sophie let out a girly laugh, "Don't be silly, Theodore. I am just talking to the guardsmen. I will leave in some time. You should instead go and take some rest. I know how much brother Calhoun makes you work."

Theodore and Sophie both smiled at each other. Sophie knew she would have to send this man away if Markus was getting out of the dungeon today. As angry as she was with her family for ditching her and changing their plans to get their hands on the throne, they were still her family.

On the other hand, Theodore knew Sophie had come here, snooping around.

He would have come here earlier if he weren't caught up with Lucy, who looked as if she had broken her heart all over again. Calhoun had given him the order to make sure no one entered this place or knew about their prisoner who had been caught tonight.

When Theodore began to walk towards the entrance of the dungeon, Sophie felt her hands turn clammy.

"Let me come with you," offered Sophie to see Theodore offer her a smile in return.

"I am not going to meet the prisoners, Lady Sophie," Theodore cleared her thoughts, and she felt a sense of relief but then why did he step forward? Her eyes widened when Theodore pulled the gates together and locked it from outside, "This will let the guards rest much more easily. Would you want me to walk you back to your room? Please," he pressed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, waiting for her.

Sophie's eyes darted towards the locked gates and then at Theodore. The dungeon was not to be entered without permission and with Markus who was in there, she doubted it was a good idea to let Theodore know that someone was still in there without permission.

"Okay," Sophie put on a smile on her face.

"Lovely," Theodore said to walk her away from the dungeon before they made their way towards the castle.

The guards decided to take a seat on either side of the entrance of the dungeon. When Markus was done peeping and peeking at the animal which was shackled in chains through the small slit, he made his way back to the front of the gates only to notice them closed.

Markus' eyes widened at sight. Moving his eyes left and right, he saw his sister was missing, and the guards were not here.

Markus gritted his teeth in anger. He was furious to be locked in here!

When Markus heard a sound from the front as if the guards were returning, he quickly went back inside the deeper part of the dungeon so that they wouldn't see him. It looked like he would have to wait for the gates to be opened.

How the fuck was he supposed to get out of the dungeon!