The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: Philip by Martin Phipps

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Madeline couldn't herself believe that she had done something so bold and out of character in front of everyone. Her cheeks burned once everyone left the courtroom and her knees had turned weak to walk. Calhoun had supported her with his hand resting on her back so that she wouldn't stagger behind.

She turned her head, making eye contact with Calhoun who looked down at her with a satisfied and extremely pleased look on his face.

"You did well today, love," he whispered those words only for her to hear. As courageous she had turned in that spare moments when the High House woman had questioned and demanded proof, she could feel her heart thudding in her chest, her eardrums ringing. It took five more seconds to calm her heart as she stared into Calhoun's eyes.

When she had pressed her lips on Calhoun's lips, he hadn't kissed her back the way he usually did. And Madeline was thankful as it helped her not to lose her mind.

They walked towards the dining room. The guests at the front, in the middle were her family and Calhoun's relatives while she and Calhoun walked keeping a few distances away from others at the back. Madeline couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen at the dining table. Though the man named Dimitri said they would continue to discuss other matters later, she had a feeling that it was not going to be a peaceful supper.

Reaching the dining room, everyone were led to take a seat by the servants, and Madeline took her usual seat, which was right next to the King. It was good to see that just because the guests they had were from High House, they were not made to sit close to the King. Instead, they sat on the farther side from where the King and Madeline sat.

"How is your work with the Warrings going on, Weasley?" Calhoun initiated the conversation to a lighter subject which in truth wasn't, considering how the previous King of the Devon didn't hold a good relationship with the Warrings' and vice versa.

Weasley was letting the maid spread the napkin for him when he heard the King's question, "We have been trying to control the werewolves, My King."

"I heard from my men that there had been some recent sightings of werewolves in the outskirts of the villages and some in the forest," said Calhoun, "For the last one year, we haven't had any of them, but suddenly there has been an increase in their number. An increase, due to the probability of mutation change of one single werewolf."

Dimitri, who heard this, asked, "Werewolves in Devon? When was the last you heard about them?"

"Less than a week ago," came the casual reply from Calhoun, "It would be quite troublesome if the Warring's don't take precautions of what they do now and in the future. Have there been any more rules that were broken by them? Considering how important the rules set by the High House is."

"So far, none of it. We are keeping a close watch on them," responded Dimitri, his eyes moving to look at the people who were at the table before it fell on the girl who sat next to the King's right-hand side.

"I spoke to King Warrings, and he showed us his castle. So far we haven't found any suspicious activity," it was Lilith who spoke and she continued, "I should perhaps stay here in Devon for some more time, to make sure to tackle the situation of werewolves. I doubt any vampires would want them multiplying," the smile she offered insinuated a secretive meaning.

Calhoun didn't return the smile, instead, he picked up the glass of red wine that was placed next to him, "Here I thought the High House would tackle it beforehand. There wasn't supposed to be any slip-ups, Lilith. I think I will have Daphne on my lands as you are getting a little out of touch. You should, perhaps take a vacation."

The people who were trying to eat from their plate or taking a drink from their glasses paused their movements awkwardly in midair for the words that were said to the member of the High House.

Lilith was a smart woman, who had been working in the High House for quite some time, and she didn't throw a fit. She said,

"You should know that the werewolves, though once created and changed by the Warring's years ago in their very own castle, there were some werewolves who escaped from that tower. Though most of them were caught, there are some who went into hiding and some who turned feral without any point of return."

Unable to resist, Madeline asked, "What do you mean by no point of return?"

It was apparent by the look on Lilith's face that she didn't like Madeline's question, but she still answered it, "Werewolves have a time period when it comes to change. When a human is bitten, they turn to werewolves, like an infection being spread. And when a werewolf bites a vampire, it is equal to poison that can lead to the vampire's death. Some werewolves switch between their human and werewolf form. At the same time, there are others who reach that saturation point by turning completely to a werewolf without any trace of them being a human in the past."

"Why not find out an antidote?" questioned Madeline.

Lilith's lips twisted in displeasure, "Do you think we are some doctors to make it for the mistakes done by someone?"

"I think what Lillith here means is," Dimitri cut in, giving a look at Lilith who subtly bowed her head and lowered her eyes on her plate, "There is no cure for werewolves. The High House have tried it, but we haven't found a cure for it yet. All the project that was started turned to be a failure."

Madeline gave the man a nod.

On the other side, Markus and Lady Rosamund couldn't help but wonder why Calhoun brought up about werewolves with the High House members when there was a werewolf right in his dungeon. Lady Rosamund sipped wine from her glass, her eyes sweeping across the people who sat at the table before it fell on her son who sat on the opposite side. She raised her eyebrows, and he then turned to look at the senior person of the High House.

"Sir Dimitri, will you be staying here for the wedding of our King and the future Queen?" asked Markus.

"We didn't have any plans to stay for the wedding. As Lilith said, we came here only to have some words. We don't know if the wedding will take place on the assigned day because of the charges against the King," replied Dimitri. The air in the dining room turned cold and heavy. "But we hope it is not true and is nothing but false information."

Calhoun raised his hand forward as if to cheer before taking a sip from his glass.

As supper proceeded, Madeline could feel eyes on her, but every time she lifted her gaze, there was no one looking at her, but the gaze fell back again at her. It was unnerving to have a meal with people who were strangers, less when they were people who many believed were the one's who carried power.

After everyone finished a quiet and civil meal, Mr. and Mrs. Harris were escorted back to their rooms by Lucy. The King was busy with the High House people and Markus, Lady Rosamund and Madeline stayed behind while the rest left. Thedore stood outside the room.

"Getting back to work, what are the other allegations that have been directed at me?" questioned Calhoun while standing next to Madeline.

"Don't you think the lady should leave too?" asked Weasley, his eyes falling on the human who looked fragile, "I don't think she would like to hear it."

"Madeline stays," Calhoun's words were firm. Weasley nodded his head without going to argue further on it.

Dimitri opened the file which he took from Daphne, to read it. The sky had turned dark, and candles that were lit continued to burn in the dining room. The food and other containers had been already cleared from the table.

"King Calhoun," began Dimitri, "There has been word that you have been holding a werewolf in your castle dungeon for your benefit. Making use of the werewolf to kill. You have been accused of killing Miss Lipton four months ago, along with the recent murder that took place in the village of East Carswell of Lady Layla. Also, it was told that you have killed maids and thrown them in the forest."

Madeline felt her hands go cold and she stared at the Senior High House man who was speaking to Calhoun, "The accusations are not one but too many which is why we are here to inquire. For a King, you have committed too many murders."

"That's like telling a vampire drinking blood from humans is wrong," murmured Madeline but Lilith who heard this, glared at Madeline for speaking out of line. The human might be someone who Calhoun chose, but that didn't mean she was above her status.

"Are you agreeing that the King has committed the murders?" Lilith questioned the human.

"Just because a bunch of people sent you the letters, that doesn't prove that I was the one who killed them," Calhoun replied, barely fazed by the accusations that were iterated to him, "Jealousy and hate makes people do a lot of things."

Dimitri said, "It would not have been considered if everything came at a time, but the information has been sent to us from the last three months, and the murder that took place is not of any ordinary person, but the duchess's daughter. That places you in a bigger problem. Maids are something that you can get off the hook from, Calhoun Hawthrone. You have been playing tricks for long but not this time. It also includes the past accusation to what happened to the previous King and Queen."

"What about the previous King and Queen?" questioned Lady Rosamund with a deep frown on her face. The vampiress then looked at Calhoun.

Calhoun laughed loudly at their words, taking everyone by surprise and one side of his lips continued to be pulled up.

"I must say, it feels like everyone is trying to frame me for the murder I had no hand in. Miss Lipton's case was already solved and closed. I wasn't even anywhere near Miss Lipton when she died, and my alibi was given by Lady Julianne and Mr. Humphrey, who was with me that week. And coming to my parent's murder, you should ask Lady Lucy and the Wilmot's as they were the first one to reach the scene," said Calhoun, his red eyes staring back at Dimitri.

Lady Rosamund raised her eyebrows, "You are not emphasizing that I was the one to kill my brother and sister-in-law, do you, my King?"

Calhoun smiled at his aunt's words, "I am using it as an example of how easy it is to fabricate against one another." He then turned to look at Dimitri, "If it helps, I already found who the culprit is, the one who killed the duchess' daughter."

This raised people's eyebrows in the room.

"Who is it?" questioned Dimitri with a frown.

Weasley was the one who questioned next, "Why wasn't the matter resolved if you already know who is the murderer?"

"It would be nothing less to what we have here right now. Strangely, people jump into conclusion that the helper is the culprit. I decided to wait to collect facts. Theodore," Calhoun called Theodore, who was standing outside the room. He entered the room with a bow, "Get the men here."

"Yes, milord," Theodore bowed his head and left the room.

"I would like to know what sparked the closed murder case. Wasn't the minister held guilty?" Calhoun inquired.

Dimitri pursed his lips, sharing looks with the other three High House members before his eyes fell on one of the Wilmot's, "Sir Markus Wilmot wanted to reopen the murder case which took place here in the castle."

Calhoun turned his gaze on his cousin, "Did he now," he hummed with a faint smile, "And was he the one to send the anonymous letters to you?"