The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Another young maid, who was a vampiress, arrived at the scene and glared at them, "What are you both whispering about? Do you want to be thrown out of the castle too?"

The maids quickly dispersed from the spot, leaving the young maid staring at them. The girl started to walk away from there, and in time, she caught sight of Calhoun, who stood in the corridor.

She bowed at him with a pleasing smile on her face.

"Was there something you needed, Advisor Calhoun?" she asked, looking at the handsome vampire who was going to be the future King of Devon. It was only right that she build a good impression for her future, and she asked further, "How can Nicola be of your help?"

Calhoun looked disinterested in her antics, and he asked, "What were those two talking about?"

"The maids?" asked Nicola, turning back to look at the place where the two maids were earlier standing, and she turned around again to look at Calhoun, "The maids are always talking unnecessary things. You do not-"

"Answer my question," his words were stern, and the maid bowed her head again.

"Lady Lucy's former maid, Ruby has been taken out to be executed for crossing Lady Samara. The Queen doesn't like to have any gossip circling in the castle as it will create an unhealthy atmosphere in here," informed Nicola.

Calhoun rolled his eyes. The castle was already unhealthy because of Morganna's presence in the castle, but it would turn healthy once he would get rid of the woman.

The maid hoped that Calhoun would stay there and talk to her, but instead, he turned around and left the corridor.

Outside the castle, Lucy continued to travel in the second carriage, not caring about the scoldings she would receive when her family would come to find out that she was outside and not inside the castle. Right now, she was worried about Ruby and the way Amice had told her that she had seen guards dragging her Nana out of the castle. It broke Lucy's heart.

Lucy held both her hands tightly together on her lap as worry continued to mar her face.

"I am not going to the town, but will be passing near Broadeux," informed the woman who had given Lucy a ride.

"I will get down on the way. That will be sufficient, thank you," Lucy thanked the woman who didn't seem like she knew who Lucy was, and Lucy decided to stay quiet.

Lucy prayed to God, hoping nothing would happen to Ruby. Her mind filled itself with anxiety and nervousness, not knowing what had triggered her family to punish Ruby. The town of Broadeux had long ago been plagued, and now no one lived there except for the crows and vultures that scavenged in hope for food.

The carriage stopped, and the door opened for Lucy to get down.

"If you take the small path from here, you will reach the heart of the town faster than the main road," advised the woman and Lucy was grateful for the ride. "Wait! Take this!" the woman offered an umbrella to her. "It might rain and you might need it."

Lucy looked at the black umbrella that the woman offered her. Bowing her head, Lucy took the umbrella and thanked the woman again. The carriage went on its way, leaving Lucy standing in the deserted path near the town she intended to go.

She could only hope that Ruby was alright, and she took the path that the owner of the carriage had suggested to her. She didn't walk but ran as fast she could, almost tripping twice on her way. When she discovered Ruby being taken away from the castle, more than half an hour had passed, and she prayed with all her might.

When Lucy entered the town, she frantically searched around the place before her eyes fell on the scaffold and air knocked out of her body. She stood still as her eyes looked at the woman whose body was hanging on the gallow with a rope.

"No," in shock, the whisper left Lucy's mouth as she didn't want to believe what she saw.

Lucy's feet that had stopped earlier slowly moved forward towards the scaffold. Her lips trembled in disbelief, and her eyes started to well up with tears that slowly slipped down to fall on her cheeks.

Ruby was hanging in midair, the noose tight around her neck. The wind's force in the town increased, and the dark clouds got even darker as if it was hovered by a shadow of death. Because of the wind, the maid's body swayed, and it only put Lucy in further shock. Her knees gave away, and she screamed,

"NO! Bring her back!"

More tears fell from her eyes, and even though she screamed, there was no one to hear as the guards who had come to execute the maid had already left the town, leaving the place only with Lucy and Ruby.

"Bring her back," screamed Lucy. "You cannot die!" she whispered before sobbing back again. "Don't leave me here! Please, come back!"

Soon the clouds started to drizzle, and the sobs that escaped from Lucy's lips were hidden by the sound of thunder that struck above in the sky. When it started to rain, Lucy didn't get up from where she sat, staring at Ruby's body that gently continued to sway in the direction of the wind while getting drenched because of the drops of water that fell on the woman's body.

How could they do it?! Questioned Lucy in shock.

Ruby had never done anything wrong!

She was there when Lucy needed her, and her grandmother had decided to take the one person who cared about her. Just like that, Ruby, her Nana, was gone. The woman who had listened to her worries, the pain and loneliness that she felt in the castle, all the memories came back, which made Lucy feel empty.