The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Samuel had been waiting for Lucy to arrive at the room as she seemed to have disappeared on one of her walks. Since the last few days, Lucy had been extremely quiet, and he couldn't help but wonder if something had happened.

He still needed her to get information in the castle to continue looking for the dark angel. Noticing Madeline's presence, he put the loving husband's facade on his face and stepped forward to greet Lucy, which was when her handkerchief slipped from her hand, and she bent down to pick it up.

Before Samuel could say something, Lucy decided to spin a lie, "Lady Madeline and I were going out. And I came here to change my clothes."

For a moment, Madeline was confused if they had a conversation on it but seeing Lucy turn around to her, she decided to go along and nodded her head.

"Yes," Madeline replied with a smile, "I needed something for the wedding and Lady Lucy was kind enough to spare her time for me."

Samuel didn't know why, but he felt something to be amiss here, and he questioned his wife, "Where are you both going?" He wanted some time with Lucy, but it was hard to talk to as she would either be in some corner of the castle or talking to the guests or resting in the bed. Somewhere, Samuel was irked with the thought that Lucy was secretly meeting Theodore without his knowledge.

Lucy was such a good wife, listening to every word of his. But lately, since they had arrived at the castle, she had failed to listen to him. Right now, he didn't want her to leave the castle, and with a smile on his face, he said, "I thought I told you before that we are going out? Not that I mind you going with the future Queen."

He saw Lucy frown before she said, "I don't remember you asking me. It must have slipped out of my mind."

"Of course, it must have. You have been sick. That's alright, dear," said Samuel with a warm smile on his face, and he said, "You can go with the Queen, and we can go out some other day. We wouldn't want to upset the Queen or the King, considering what happened to the Wilmots."

Lucy's hand clenched, and she walked past Samuel before opening the cupboard. Her temper had raised, and she doubted if she could hold back the words that had been brewing in her mind any longer.

With her back facing Samuel, she said, "You are right. We shouldn't upset the King or the Queen, but I think it would still hold the same value when it comes to the King's parents or sister, isn't it?"

She was tired of people treating her like a showcase doll who was just pretty to look at with no other value. She was no puppet, and today she was going to cut those strings that held her arms, legs, and her very mind.

Samuel, who was unaware of what Lucy meant, asked, "Did someone upset you? Tell me, and I will deal with it. Is it that, Theodore?"

A dull smile appeared on Lucy's lips. It was funny how Samuel worried about Theodore, when in truth, he was the one to commit those unlawful sins, tainting their marriage.

She couldn't believe her marriage had come to this state. Her mother and grandmother had been eager to get her married to Samuel, and now she was bearing its consequences. But as angry as she was with Samuel, she was hurt by Theodore too, for not doing something before it was too late. Everyone had turned her into a laughable fool.

Out of anger, she murmured, "He sometimes annoys me."

Hearing this, Samuel's temper reached its peak. He knew it! Indeed, something had been brewing between them, which was why Lucy had been distant!

"What did he do?" Samuel demanded from Lucy.

"Nothing. He did nothing," said Lucy. If only he had done something, she wouldn't be in this situation.

She had lost so many precious years between them, and at that thought, Lucy shook her head.

She was tired of everything going on, and she couldn't put up a pleasing face for people anymore. Samuel didn't understand her. She thought he did, but she was so wrong and blind with anger and pain that had consumed her, and now she felt sorry for herself.

Samuel took Lucy to sit on the bed, but his actions did not move her.

On the other hand, Samuel was more than pleased to hear that Lucy was annoyed by Theodore's presence, and it made him internally smile. Finally, there was a reason to throw Theodore out of this castle and away from Lucy forever.

He placed his hand on her back and said, "I will deal with Theodore. You don't have to worry about it. People like him are nothing less to insects. He is the servant of the castle, of the King. I will speak to Calhoun and make sure Theodore is punished."

Lucy could feel her skin crawl at Samuel's touch, and she said, "I need some time, Samuel. No, I need time away."

Hearing Lucy's words, Samuel's mood brightened even more than before. He had been waiting to leave the castle as it was hard to move in and out of the castle with Calhoun and Theodore present here.

Samuel then said to the vampiress, "Of course! I have been thinking about it myself. With Markus' death, I am sure you miss home. It has been quite long, and you must be missing home which is quite understandable as you never go out anywhere and stay out long."

In excitement, Samuel started to pull out their clothes and other things from the cupboard so that he could start packing them. When he was done packing both their trunks, her things in a different trunk and his in a separate one, he said,

"I will have the carriage ready so that we can leave-"

"Samuel," Lucy called his name. "I meant time away from you. I want some time alone by myself."