The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: String Theories - Jordan Gagne

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As decided, a letter was sent to Wilmot's mansion with the news of the High House's final verdict. When Rosamund read it, she rushed the letter in her hand in anger.

Back in Hawthrone's castle, Theodore looked for where Calhoun was in the castle.

"Have you seen Advisor Calhoun?" Theodore asked a maid who was walking in the corridor.

"He must be in the King's study room," replied the maid, bowing her head before she went on her way to continue with her work in the castle.

Theodore knocked on the door before entering the room and saw Calhoun sitting behind the desk where King Laurence used to sit.

"I received the letter from the High House," informed Theodore, and he stretched his hand to pass the letter to Calhoun.

Calhoun took it before opening the seal that had been unbroken, and he read through the contents in it. His eyes took a sweep across the writings before a slow smile started to rise on the corner of his lips.

"Is it done?" asked Theodore, and Calhoun looked up with a bright smile on his face.

"Perfectly done," replied Calhoun. "Seems like they took the bait that was offered to them."

As much as Rosamund opposed Calhoun taking her brother's place, she was no idiot to send a letter to the High House by writing ill about Calhoun and asking them to check for his background.

"One of the advantages of being able to copy a person's handwriting is the other would never come to find out about it," stated Calhoun, pulling an old letter that Rosamund had written to his now-dead father. The High House believed Rosamund was the one who had written the letter and sent it to them. But in truth, it was Calhoun who had written words against himself, making it look like Rosamund was desperate.

"It reminds me to never write anything in front of you," Theodore raised his eyebrow before a smile appeared on his lips. He then bowed his head at Calhoun, "Congratulations to the new King of Devon."

Calhoun got up from his chair, walking around the table to stand in front of Theodore.

"I wouldn't have been able to complete this without your help. Thank you," Calhoun appreciated Theodore's help and support over the entire process.

Theodore knew that even without him, Calhoun would have found a way to bring things the way they were right now, and he offered Calhoun a smile. "The pleasure was mine. Do you plan to keep the crown?"

Calhoun nodded his head, "Before that, there is some cleaning I need to do with some people. Right now, I cannot touch Rosamund because of their eyes on me, but that doesn't mean I cannot finish the job with the other small fish."

After speaking in the study room, Theodore asked, "Going to meet her?" when he saw Calhoun walk towards the door.

"Yes," a peaceful smile on Calhoun's lips, and he stepped out of the room.

The sound of his shoes were sharp on the floor, and he walked in the corridors before stepping out of the castle. He then made his way towards the dungeon. As he walked inside, his footsteps echoed in the cells and rooms of the dungeon.

He then pulled out a key that he carried with him. Pushing the key inside the slot, he turned it before hearing the click sound, and he stepped inside the room before closing it behind him.

"How are you doing, grandmother? I thought you might be feeling a little lonely in here," said Calhoun, looking at Morganna, who had the rod still stuck in her mouth.

Morganna didn't look healthy as before. Her skin had started to wilt, and her complexion had turned dull like the walls she was surrounded in. The woman couldn't move an inch from her place since Calhoun had pushed the rod into her mouth. Her body looked frozen except for her eyes. Calhoun had not offered her a drop of blood and had her starved.

A gurgle of incoherent voice was heard in the room that was feeble to the ears, and Calhoun leaned his back against the wall while watching the woman.

"The weather today is exceptionally good, isn't it? Can you feel the heat?" he asked her before pushing himself up and walking towards the small window at the top of the wall. He opened it, and Morganna made sounds as if the rays of the sun were hurting her.

"I wonder if you already heard it, but Laurence and Samara are dead," informed Calhoun, and he saw Morganna's eyes widen. "You told me that he would find out about how I framed you? I thought it was better to get rid of them before trouble follows me. Don't you agree I did the right thing?" he questioned her before he laughed, and he exhaled the air out of his lips. "People think you are dead and resting in the coffin, but here you are, very much alive."

Morganna glared at Calhoun with hate-filled in her eyes.

"Unlike you, I decided to kill them off. There was no point in keeping them alive," said Calhoun, coming back to his place so that he could look at the shrivelled up woman. "You see, I love you much more than I loved and cared about Laurence and his petty wife. You are the apple of my eyes, grandma," and the smile on his lips only broadened.

"You didn't think I would let you go that easily now, did you?" he whispered to her.

Morganna had no energy left in her body, and it was only a matter of time before her body would crumble into dust because of the lack of blood in her body. She couldn't call anyone for help because, in the beginning, no one was around to hear her, and now, she had no strength.

Her lips trembled, and she tried to speak. With great difficulty, a word came out of her lips, "W....w....w-why?"