The Crown's Obsession (WN)

By bringing this question up, Calhoun was changing the way he would address Morganna and, more importantly, checking the leverage he had when it came to King Laurence.

King Laurence stared at Calhoun as well as his mother. Silence filled the room once again, and the King finally spoke,

"Even though all of us are aware of your relationship with the Queen, addressing her as your grandmother in here isn't right." Hearing his words, Queen Morganna smirked at Calhoun. "The royal court room is a place where important discussions and decisions are taken. But," he paused, gaining everyone's attention, "You can call her grandmother when you aren't in this room."

Morganna gritted her teeth as she couldn't go against the King's words, but it didn't mean she wouldn't bring this matter up when it was just her and her son alone.

Calhoun's smile widened, and he bowed once more, "I cannot tell how grateful I am to have a family here, my King."

"You didn't answer where your guard is," Morganna went back to her previous question again. "It isn't good to have your guard away from you, unless you want to be suspected of doing something you are not supposed to do."

At the same time, Theodore stepped inside the royal court room, offering his greetings. He came to stand behind Calhoun.

"I do not understand what you mean, my Queen," Calhoun feigned ignorance.

"There have been people, who have gone missing since you arrived at the castle-"

"Mother," warned King Laurence. "Aren't you placing a baseless accusation here."

Morganna responded to this, "My two maids, Lucy's two maids, and some others have gone missing. I am not accusing my dear grandson, but I am suspicious of his guard. I wouldn't trust people that easily."

Calhoun could see what Morganna was trying to do here. She had first attacked Theodore by having Madame Fraunces killed, and now she was slowly trying to frame Theodore.

"Why has there been no mention about the people going missing until now?" demanded King Laurence with a frown on his face.

"People go missing in the castle and it wasn't brought to my notice even once?"

As it was Queen Morganna who had brought the matter up, she answered him, "We didn't want to bring such miniscule things when you have other important work on your hand, my King. At first I thought people were just leaving the castle, but now that I think about it, they have gone missing."

King Laurence frowned further, "Let there be a search in the castle and people be interrogated."

"Of course, milord. It is the right way to deal with such things, and I was only bringing up my concern. I wouldn't want someone else going missing," replied Morganna.

Though it was true that Calhoun and Theodore were involved in some of the people going missing from the castle, they weren't responsible for all of it. As Theodore had entered the castle being Calhoun's guard, he didn't hold the authority to speak to the King, and Calhoun was the one to speak.

"I would like to mention that I doubt it is Theodore who is responsible for it. Considering how we share the same room, I have never seen him leave my sight," said Calhoun to the King. "I would like to request for the other guards to make a through check before accusing my man here to be the culprit for something he hasn't done."

King Laurence nodded his head and then looked at the guards who stood near the back of the room, "I want to have the castle checked in and out, including the castle grounds to see if you find something," he ordered them. "Also mother," he turned to look at Morganna, "I would appreciate that when it comes to things like these, you inform me sooner than wait until the tipping point."

Queen Morganna bowed her head.

Soon King Laurence got up from his throne, and he stepped down before leaving the room with the other ministers following him.

Queen Morganna didn't stay back, and she left the room along with the others until it was just Calhoun and Theodore in there.

"Where did you put the maid's body?" asked Calhoun, staring at the entrance of the royal court room.

"Away from the grounds and the forest. They wouldn't be able to find the bodies," replied Theodore. Calhoun's eyes fell on Theodore, and he said,

"You should go and rest. I will handle things here."

Calhoun wasn't unaware of Theodore's mood with what happened today. Though he didn't show his emotions, Calhoun could tell it still affected his mood.

"I am going outside to finish something, I will see you later," informed Calhoun. He left the castle knowing that even if Morganna planned to trap Theodore, she couldn't do it in the next hour.

Seeing Calhoun leave, Theodore started to make his way to his room. His mind was filled with Madame Fraunces' death, and while he continued to walk, he caught sight of Lucy, who was walking from one end of the corridor to another, not noticing him, which allowed him to look at her.

When Madame Fraunces told him that it was possible to have both things, he was coming to believe it. That he could help Calhoun while letting things grow between him and Lucy. But right now...

Not staying there for one more second, Theodore continued to make his way to his room, and he laid on the bed. But this didn't prevent Lucy from trying to find where he was, and she knocked on the door, not knowing what had happened.

Lucy stood outside the room, looking left and right to make sure no servant had seen her yet. Her eyes looked slightly anxious and excited at the same time.

Theodore didn't have to open the door to know who it was. Not wanting to draw the inevitable time with what he had on his mind, he walked to the closed doors of the room and opened it to see the young vampiress, whose smile appeared on seeing him.