The Crown's Obsession

Madeline who was lying on her front with her head being supported by the pillow, her eyes were closed as Calhoun had continued to massage her back after speaking too kindly to her. In a time like this where she felt lost, he stood next to her, and she was grateful to it. With a light pink splashed on her cheeks, she let Calhoun move his hands back and forth like a cat kneading with its paws.

She didn't know what hour of the night it was and if they were in the hour of midnight.

"Tell me about your dream," Calhoun coaxed her, his fingers trailed on her back where the bruises had formed. He had taken the liberty to move his hands where the bruises were not formed, touching and tracing her soft skin

In the morning after breakfast, Calhoun had asked her about it, but she had told him that she would tell to him once he returned to the castle.

"I was in the village. The one where my grandparents live right now. I visited one of the graveyards that are present in there," started Madeline, placing one side of her cheek on the surface of the pillow while looking at the fireplace, "I don't know if it happened in the past. I am unsure, but…" she paused for a moment before continuing, "I saw a grave there which had my name on it."

Calhoun's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Did you see what was in there?" He got up from the bed and picked out the dress which she had earlier taken from the closet.

"It was empty. I thought I wouldn't be able to open the coffin lid, but I did, and there was nothing in there. I don't know if it was real or not," she replied. Thinking about the grave that was awaiting her, Madeline didn't know how to feel about it. Her loving family had a grave prepared in her name, ready to make use of it. "There was another coffin next to mine, one that belonged to a girl. And the way they spoke, it made it feel like I was responsible for her death."

Calhoun was more than intrigued by Madeline's words. A dream was the depiction of what one worried and felt about. Figment of imagination mixing with reality to bring in dreams that weighed on one's mind. But this was a strange one.

"Have you ever been to that grave before?" inquired Calhoun, walking back to her holding the dress in his hand.

"I think when I was small, Beth and I entered it. It must be several years ago."

Hearing Calhoun return near the bed, Madeline sat up again while having her hand hold the front of her dress. He had torn the back of her dress effortlessly, and she had earlier opened some of the buttons in the front, leaving most of her skin exposed on her upper body.

Calhoun then said, "Stand on the ground, sweet girl."

Was he planning to help her to wear it? She had gone to stand behind the closet door to change her clothes, but that hadn't stopped him from coming there and touching her. Madeline asked, "Will you close your eyes?" She had never been naked in front of him. Scarce clothes, yes, but not bare.

"Okay," he took a step away, giving her space to stand in front of him. Calhoun didn't see the point of it because he would still be able to see her. But if it was going to make her less shy, then so be it.

Madeline waited for Calhoun to close his eyes and she wondered how he would help her to wear the dress. She was capable of wearing it herself.

Calhoun bent down near the hem of her dress, bunching it, he said, "Raise your hands." He pushed the dress she was wearing upwards with his eyes closed. Madeline did what he asked, and the dress quickly came off because of the lack of resistance. Having her this close and in this vulnerable state, all he wanted was to keep skin contact with her. He had been counting the days to the wedding while trying to keep his enemies at bay, "Continue with your dream."

Madeline didn't know how well she would be able to concentrate on what she was supposed to say because right now, she stood there wearing only her undergarment. Her eyes didn't leave Calhoun's face, making sure he had his eyes closed. Her hands had moved to cover her breasts.

"In the dream, my grandfather said to my father to move out and away from the village. To start a fresh life and I didn't see Beth." There was a sliver of nervousness in Madeline's voice as she spoke.

Deciding to wear the dress herself, she turned, and her hand went to reach out for the dress which Calhoun had placed earlier on the bed. But Calhoun's hand was the one to shoot from behind and grab it before her.

Her eyes snapped to look at Calhoun, who had opened his eyes. Madeline's face turned bright red, and she quickly tried to grab something to cover her body with her back facing him. But at the same time, Calhoun's hands moved on either side of her body to pull and hold her in his arms.

"Y-you lied!" Madeline complained, "Let me go."

"If I do now, I will see more than what you want me to. Consider it me keeping you safe," Calhoun whispered the words next to her ear. Madeline didn't know how it was safe! He never missed an opportunity to touch her and having her in his arms. She couldn't move her hands because she was covering her chest while Calhoun's hands were still around her. "My apologies, sweet. It is hard to keep my head straight when I haven't had you. Stay like this for some time. I promise not to look more than what I have now."

Madeline turned her face to take a look at him and noticed he had indeed closed his eyes.

"Would you like to go and visit your grandparents tonight?" he asked her.

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. She wasn't sure she would be able to look at them without having doubt that they would do something to her, that they were hiding something.

"No," Madeline replied.

"How about the infamous grave from your dream?" Calhoun's hands tightened around her waist, but the hold didn't hurt her. He placed his chin on her bare shoulder.

"Okay," replied Madeline, her face still holding embarrassment. Before she could ask him to release her, Calhoun said,

"I will let you wear your dress," and he pressed his lips on her neck before letting her go.

Madeline didn't wait for a second, and she started to wear the dress which she took from Calhoun. Buttoning her dress and making it proper, she finally felt relieved that she was covered. She closed her eyes at the thought that Calhoun had seen her from behind. Though he had caught and seen most of her, he had not commented on what he saw, and she was glad.

Turning around in her pale beige looking dress that wasn't heavy without having too many layers, she stood in front of Calhoun who looked straight into her eyes. Madeline waited for him to comment on something, but the comment never came. The way he looked at her, it wasn't as daunting as the first time her eyes had met his eyes.

She would have never thought that the silver masked man who was walking past her would be this kind of person. Madeline had never aspired for things that were out of her reach because it looked impractical. She had never imagined having someone as handsome as Calhoun standing next to her.

"We can go tomorrow morning if you want," Calhoun offered as it was late. He didn't want her staying up without having the needed sleep. The bruises were fresh, which was why the colour wasn't dark yet. But if it had formed, it meant it had hurt Madeline when she received it.

"Now is fine. Someone might let them know we were there if we go in the morning," Madeline knew Calhoun didn't fear anyone. But at the same time, she didn't know what she was or what her grandparents were.

Madeline watched Calhoun saunter his way to the stand in the room and pick up a coat. Helping her into it, he asked,

"What did you mean when you said you didn't see your sister? Did something happen to her?"

"I don't think she was born at that time." Hearing Madeline's words, Calhoun raised one of his eyebrows.

"I thought the tales of the royal families were interesting, but compared to them, yours is turning to be the most intriguing one," stated Calhoun. Hearing the words 'Royal Families', she remembered something, and she quickly picked the dress from the ground and started to look for the pockets before pulling the folded parchment out of it. "What is that?" he asked curiously.

Madeline stretched her hand towards him, "It is from your cousin."

"And which one is that? I didn't know you were close to them," joked Calhoun to take the parchment from her hand to read what was in there.

Madeline watched the expression on Calhoun's face that didn't change until he finished reading it. A smile spread across his lips,

"Where did you find this?" he questioned, his eyes looking at her with an amused expression.

"In the dungeon, when I went to see James," replied Madeline. Calhoun went through the letter one more time, "The girl that is mentioned in there. Is that me?"

Calhoun gave her a nod, "Yes. A rumour was spilt from the castle into the towns and villages. Of how I am torturing and keeping you like an animal. Of how I am abusing the power that has driven your sanity to kill yourself. This is a very useful parchment."

He wondered how Markus had been reckless enough to leave the parchment back in the dungeon. There was a saying in the village from where he came from before coming to stay in the castle: When a person's luck ran out, that person did foolish things only to bring more trouble to his life. It was a sign. Calhoun had already laid traps, and if the Wilmot's were trying to frame him, he would flip the blame back to them. He folded the parchment and put it in his pocket.

Just like he thought, Markus was snooping along with the others where their noses didn't belong.

"They are using me to bring you down," Madeline stated in realization, "What will happen if Beth marries him?"

"I think you already know the answer to it."

A sigh escaped her lips. She didn't want Beth to be brainwashed by the sight of the money.