The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Jingle Punks - Path To Follow

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Supper at the table was odd because nobody spoke except for asking each other to pass something while they continued to eat in absolute silence. Mr. and Mrs. Harris didn't look up from their plate, and Beth quietly continued to eat her food while occasionally raising her gaze to look at every one.

Madeline sat next to Calhoun and on his other side sat Vladimir, who had a bright smile that made Madeline's parents queasy. After all, it wasn't every day the Devil came to join to have food with them.

"What a delicious cooked duck this is," complimented Vladimir.

"Mama cooks the best roasted duck. She always has," Madeline chimed so that her parents could ease into the current situation. Her parents were nothing less to a pair of scared bunnies in front of Vladimir who knew he was intimidating them. But asking him not to would only provoke him to do it further.

"It must have been wonderful growing up in a loving family of yours," hummed Vladimir. Calhoun looked barely bothered by Vladimir's presence next to him, and he had a bored expression on his face. "They did look after you even though your parents are Paschar and Marina. I forgot to mention this earlier when you visited Hell, but I met your grandparents," Vladimir's eyes had moved to Mr. Harris. "They are quite some people. I made sure they were well taken care of."

Everyone around the table knew that people didn't go to Hell to walk in the gardens but to be tortured on the burning coals. And by Vladimir's words of 'well taken care of' it translated to him torturing them to his heart's content.

When the front door of the mansion was knocked, Vladimir's head snapped in its direction. He smelt something in the air, and his eyes narrowed. Just when Mrs. Harris stood up from her chair, Vladimir said in a polite tone,

"Why don't you sit and continue your meal. Let me go and see who it is."

Apart from Calhoun, the people at the table were shocked that the Devil had offered to do something. Seeing the back of Vladimir as he left the room, Calhoun slowly chewed his food.

"See, mama. He isn't that bad," Madeline whispered to her mother, and Mrs. Harris nodded her head.

As Vladimir walked towards the front door which was closed, he caught sight of a maid who was making her way towards the door. When their gazes met, Vladimir dismissed her such that the maid turned around and went back inside in the direction she had come from. Bringing his hands towards his shirt's collar, he straightened it. Cracking his neck, while running his tongue across the front of his teeth, he opened the door.

The person who stood outside and in front of the door was Dimitri from the High House, but this wasn't for whom Vladimir had opened the door for. His eyes shifted to the woman who stood with her back facing them as if she was looking at the mansion's garden. The Devil's red eyes caught sight of the woman's long blonde hair that had curled at the ends.

Dimitri cleared his throat as it seemed like the man who had opened the door, his concentration was somewhere behind him. Vladimir's gaze shifted to look at the unattractive man who stood in front of him.

"We would like to speak to King Calhoun," informed Dimitri.

Vladimir stared at the man, his eyes slightly narrowed, remembering he had met this one the night he had met the lady who stood outside. It looked like this one was a demon too, what did he want with Calhoun?

On the other hand, Dimitri wondered if the man didn't understand what he said because he continued to stare at him. Perhaps he was deaf? Believing he didn't hear it the first time, Dimitri went to repeat his question,

"Is King Ca-"

"He is. What business do you have with him?" questioned Vladimir, his eyes going back to admire the woman's back.

"It is something we would like to discuss with his majesty. Could you please notify him that the High House members have arrived to meet him and that it is urgent," Dimitri continued to be polite with his words. He slowly turned behind him to see Helena who was facing their carriage that stood outside the mansion.

"He's having supper with his family. Do you know how important it is to spend time with your family?" came the bored reply of Vladimir, whilst trying to ignore the man who talked to him. "Is that your wife?" he jerked his head at the woman, and Dimitri's eyes widened.

Helena, who was looking at her pocket watch, her ears picked up the question, and her eyebrows drew in together with a slight annoyance. Today's meeting at this town's headquarters had consumed all her energy and patience, and all she wanted to do was to get back to the inn and rest.

She turned around to come face to face with the man at the door, and her eyes narrowed.

"You."

"Good evening, milady. How have you been?" asked Vladimir, taking a step down and towards Helena.

Helena didn't take a step back and only stared at the man she had met where the demons' mass massacre had taken place. "All you had to do is call my name, and I would be there next to you."

"What?" Helena's expression turned into a scowl for the man's audacity.

"I mean, you did come to meet me."

Helena looked at Vladimir through her monocle. "I don't think you heard what Dimitri said, but we are here for the King of Devon."

"So cold. I was joking. Are you always like this? Or do I bring out this trait in you?" Vladimir asked with a charming smile on his face. Helena looked at the man as if he had left his brain somewhere behind and had forgotten to pick it up.

Right on time, Calhoun who had heard the interaction walked through the door. "King Calhoun," Helena greeted and walked past the crazy man.