The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Lucy quickly ran away from the tower so that no one would catch her. She could hear her heart beating loudly in her ears. Did her grandmother really put Calhoun's mother through pain and humiliation? It was hard to believe and digest, and instead of going to her room, Lucy's feet had their own mind.

Her breathing had turned to gasps, and when she reached the servant's quarters, she came to stand in front of an old door. Knocking on it, she waited until the person opened the door for her.

"Lady Lucy?" Ruby looked surprised to see Lucy standing outside, and before any of the servants would see, she had the young vampiress step inside the room. "Is everything alright?" she asked, worried.

Lucy shook her head. It had been weeks since she had last spoken to Ruby as her mother had kept the maid busy and away from her. Lucy hadn't even got the chance to see Ruby as the maid was always working in some corner of the castle, and Lady Samara had particularly ordered the servant not to talk to her daughter. The pressure of her family to behave the way they wanted, and the things she came to know, along with the loneliness that had crept into her heart, she went straight to the woman and put her hands around the maid. Hugging her.

Ruby didn't know what happened because Lucy had not said anything, but she put her hands around before patting Lucy's head from behind.

"It is going to be alright," the woman consoled Lucy. Even though Lucy didn't shed any tears or sniffle, Ruby could tell that something was bothering the young vampiress, which she couldn't share with anyone.

"What if it is not?" whispered Lucy.

"Then one can only hope that it will get better. And it always does, dear," said Ruby while patting the back of Lucy's head. "We all go through trials of life. The pain, hurt, disappointment, but then comes the happiness, laughter, contentment. It is only that sometimes it takes days for it to show up."

Lucy pulled away from Ruby, dropping her hands and looking at Ruby, who seemed wise and offered her the warmth that she craved in this castle.

"I am too tired, Ruby. There are days...where I just want to run away," confessed Lucy and the woman looked surprised by the vampiresses thoughts. "I wished I was never born into the royal family, and instead born in a normal family."

A mother who would spend her time with her, give her love and care, and not watch her in the judgement of what she did wrongs. A father who would spare his time and look at her unbiased without thinking of how she wasn't the male heir he wanted.

"Things will get better, dear. After the darkest clouds, there is nothing but sunshine and rainbow. Even if it takes a long time, hold on to it and that will help you survive," Ruby offered Lucy a warm smile.

And though Ruby smiled, the woman could tell that Lucy felt trapped in the castle. The girl was born in the wrong family, and it was something that worried the woman. As much encouragement she provided, Ruby knew from here on things would turn difficult for Lucy.

"I missed talking to you," said Lucy, and the woman smiled.

"Me too, milady. It has been long since I sat down and was able to speak to you," responded Ruby.

"I must go now," said Lucy, standing up from the bed where she had taken a seat along with Ruby. Before she could leave the room, she turned around and said, "Thank you, Ruby. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Lady Lucy," Ruby wished the vampiress, who went back to her room.

On her way back to her room, Lucy couldn't help but wonder how her half-brother and Theodore would be able to come out from the situation they were in. It seemed like her grandmother disliked Calhoun's presence in the castle and had framed him. She wondered what her father was going to do about it. Usually, stealing things from the royal family resulted in people being severely punished by being beheaded. But if Calhoun was in the tower, it meant there was still a chance.

In the Royal court, King Laurence sat on his throne with a grave expression on his face. He hadn't spoken a word since he had returned from the tower, where Calhoun was locked right now.

"What are we going to do, my King?" asked one of the ministers in the room.

Queen Morganna, who had joined the discussion, said, "What's there to do? The boy went so far as to steal something that is precious to me. It is only right to throw him out of the castle."

"But what about the current situation with the neighbouring kings and queens?" asked the minister in worry.

"We will not speak anything about it. Everybody believes that the male heir is here, so let us make them continue to believe it," stated Morganna, "Our situation has already been solved-"

"When did your jewel go missing, mother?" King Laurence interrupted his mother's words.

Morganna suppressed her annoyance from showing up on her face, and she answered, "It was a few days ago. But I am glad it is back in my possession."

"Few days, yet you didn't utter a word about it until today," questioned the King.

Morganna stared at her son, "It is not like I wear the same jewels every day. Some of them are meant to be preserved for best occasions. It was presented by your father, and I would like to value his feelings."

When the news about what happened reached King Laurence's ears, he had straightaway gone to the tower and had stopped the guards from punishing Calhoun.

He wanted to gather information on what happened before taking any action. "Calhoun is my son, mother. That makes him your grandson, and you were eager to punish him. I don't see you doing the same thing to Sophie, Markus or Lucy. I am sure if it was someone else in Sophie's place, who threw water in your face, the action would have warranted them death, yet, this is just a simple jewel."