The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation for 2nd half of chapter: Last Dance by Scratch Massive

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Back in the Hawethrone castle, Mary walked with her sister-in-law Frances taking rounds in the garden. The weather had turned colder as the dark clouds came to hover in front of the sun that slowly started to spread to create a gloomy atmosphere.

"Have you thought about with whom you would be getting Elizabeth married to?" asked Mary to Frances, who was looking at the flowers.

"Beth is still getting over the shock of what took place," replied Frances, "She cared for Mr. Wilmot, and it might not be fair to push her."

"Hmph, if I am not wrong, didn't he create treason? It would be best to get her engaged before the news spreads about her involvement with the treason that took place. And with the way I see it, she keeps dilly-dallying, waiting for the next best and she might never get married in time," said Mary.

With her second niece who was normal, Mary thought it was only right for her niece to get married than waste her time on useless people who had already passed, "Didn't you mention about that person who was going to visit the house? Dan something was it?" asked Mary.

"Mr. Danvers?"

"Yes! That man" affirmed Mary.

"He did visit the house, but things didn't go well," Mrs. Harris murmured at the end. It was because of the whole confusion and they trying to push Beth and not Madeline for the wedding with the King. "Let's give her some time before dropping anything."

"How are things at home? I thought your family would be visiting the castle. I mean as the wedding is around the corner," asked Mrs Harris, trying to deviate the topic from her own family.

"Oh, they will be here for the wedding. They won't miss something like this," Mary offered a warm smile, and Mrs. Harris returned it. The woman then shifted back the conversation, "I find it rather strange that mother and father still haven't arrived here. I was hoping to meet them."

Mrs. Harris' smile faltered, "Yes. They haven't arrived yet." Killing people was not something she or her husband were part of. When Madeline was put in the coffin, it had broken her heart.

When Mary stopped walking, Mrs. Harris stopped too. Mary placed a hand on Mrs. Harris arm, "Frances, you know we are family, right? And you can tell me anything, and I would do anything for you, my brother and the girls." Mrs. Harris nodded her head, "My parents, they have always protected us. I know something is strange with Madeline."

Mrs. Harris felt herself stop breathing, but she tried to keep a calm face, "Strange?" she asked.

"Like how she was a few years ago. I can see it in her eyes and the way she moves. I saw her break a glass," stated Mary, looking straight into Mrs. Harris' eyes.

"Glass? It must be out of coincidence. How many times have I dropped glasses or broken them in the house," laughed Mrs. Harris in response, "I broke one in the castle too, and so did Beth. You shouldn't take minute things like these into consideration. And you are right, Mary. Madeline is showing so much strength when she speaks. It is good to see that."

Mary had lied about Madeline breaking the glass to test if Frances would give in the truth, but there was nothing, and she was filled with disappointment. Madeline had stayed with her parents since the second time she had returned, and Mary had kept a close eye to see if there would be a sign, but she had found nothing.

"Are you sure about it?" Mary pressed for an answer.

"Yes, Mary. You worry for no reason. Madeline is not like that anymore. Whatever was in the past, it is long gone, and we are just humans," Mrs. Harris assured the woman with an encouraging smile, "Madeline is just like Beth. A human." Mrs. Harris didn't want Madeline getting hurt, and the truth still held, that she hadn't seen her daughter hurting anyone.

Mary felt discontent. She couldn't believe she had missed her chance as her niece had turned to a human. Maybe she was wrong, and the King had indeed drank blood from Madeline, which had turned her unconscious. Her lips were set in a thin line, broke into a smile.

She let out a small laugh. "I just worry about our family. I would never want anything bad happening to any of us. Even Madeline."

"I know, Mary," Mrs. Harris said. After a few seconds, she said, "The King got our clothes stitched for the wedding. Come, let me show it to you." On their way back, Mary wondered where both of her nieces were as she hadn't seen either of them after breakfast.

Back in Madeline's room, Calhoun and Madeline laid on the bed, facing each other.

Madeline was worried that she would end up opening the wounds on her back which was still healing because of Calhoun. She had heard about the story of a kiss from the prince that woke up the princess, but she had never heard about a kiss that could heal a wound.

"Can you heal anyone?" questioned Madeline in curiosity.

"Just humans I think. It only closes the wound while it still needs time to heal," Calhoun answered her question as he stared at her. He hadn't left the room and had decided to spend his time with Madeline, which was far better than anything else, "I never healed anyone until now except for myself. You are my first."

"That's interesting," she whispered and mindlessly, her hand had moved closer to him to play with one of the buttons of his shirt, "You haven't told me what happened," she said looking into his eyes.

Calhoun's lips twisted, and he said, "I don't know what happened before the guards or I found you in the room, which is why I don't want to give you wrong details because of false assumptions. If you remember it by yourself, you will remember every detail." He doubted Madeline would be able to handle the truth that she had killed a maid without any reason, and he would like to believe it was because there was a reason. Not for his sake, but for hers, "Okay?"

Madeline wanted to know, but seeing the serious expression on his face, she gave him a nod, "Okay."

"Let me show you something," said Calhoun before putting his hand in his pocket to pull out a pocket watch. Madeline's eyes fell on the watch that looked old and rusted, "This one was gifted by my mother. To tell me the importance of time."

Madeline didn't have to meet the lady to know that she was a good mother to Calhoun despite what she had gone through in her life. His mother loved Calhoun, and she taught him certain things, while most were picked by himself.

She saw Calhoun press the top of the pocket watch, and it opened to show the dial. Trying to have a better look, she carefully tried to raise her upper body. He tapped on the pocket watch for the dial to come out, and he gently picked something out of it.

He said, "There might be a time where you may doubt or question, but remember you brought me luck," and Madeline saw a dried four cloverleaf on Calhoun's palm.