The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Through the Trees- BPMoore

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Lucy had not gone back to her room and had stayed away from people for long hours because of what had happened to her cousin Markus and what she heard from Calhoun. Until now, she had hoped none of the family members would get at each other's throat, but one of them had already been executed because of treason.

The first treason Lucy had come to see was her grandmother who had tried to kill her father and...she finally found out that it was Calhoun who had killed her parents.

When Calhoun revealed the truth to her after so many years, Lucy knew she should be angry at him, that she should go to the High House members and tell them what she just heard. It was the most right thing to do as she was the previous deceased King and Queen's daughter. But she didn't.

She didn't forget that day when she had found her parents bodies surrounded in their own pool of blood. The horror had shut her down. She loved her parents dearly, and she had cursed the minister whom she believed had killed them. It was only right to show her ire back at the person who had killed her parent's, yet now Lucy wasn't angry at Calhoun. It wasn't because her anger had simmered down over the years, but it was because it was Calhoun who had killed them.

At first, Lucy had only heard the rumours, but she had later found out from other people regarding Calhoun's past and his mother.

She wasn't ignorant about the sins her parents had committed, especially not with Ruby's death either. Her grandmother had been punished, but Lucy knew her mother was the reason behind Ruby's death. It was her mother who had informed the previous Queen on the maid's mistakes. If her mother had not gone to tell her grandmother, her dear Nana would have still been alive.

Lucy was conflicted with her thoughts, and she wanted some time alone for herself. The castle had turned a little empty with Markus dead, and her aunt and her cousin sister were ordered to never step inside the castle or meet any of the royal members of the Hawthrone family.

Calhoun was her big brother. Even though they didn't share the same mother, they did share the same father, and to Lucy, the King was her own brother and the only one whom she believed in.

Lucy now sat in the garden, away from the people and the maids so that she wouldn't be disturbed with anything. She wanted to be left alone with her thoughts, and another reason being, she was avoiding Samuel.

'Are you alright, Lucy? We should head back to the castle,' Samuel had said to her on the day her cousin had been executed.

As days had passed by, the reality only struck harder over what Samuel did and how he behaved in front of her as if he had done no wrong. The lies continued to pile, and she watched it.

After spending some more time in the garden, Lucy started to feel a little faint under the sun, and she got back inside the castle. On her way, she caught sight of Madeline, who was coming in the other direction. A look of concern appeared on Madeline's face, and she asked,

"Are you alright, Lady Lucy?"

Lucy had been avoiding people from meals, giving them reasons for her being sick. She felt guilty for lying and making people worry about her.

"I...I will be alright," answered Lucy with a soft smile on her face.

"Would you want me to accompany you to your room? I am not doing anything in particular right now. Please," Madeline offered her help.

Lucy nodded her head, "Thank you, Lady Madeline," and as they started to walk, she asked, "How are you holding up with everything?"

Lucy was aware that Madeline was having her own problems to deal with because her parents had that look of worry on their face.

Madeline tried to muster a smile, "My parents are disappointed with Elizabeth, and she...I am hoping she will come around."

Lucy nodded her head. It was hard to think Madeline's sister had attempted to kill Calhoun on Markus' words. Even though Calhoun had killed her parents, he was there for her when she needed him, and even though they came from different backgrounds, Lucy realized she did trust Calhoun's decisions over anyone else's.

Madeline then continued to speak, "I didn't expect her to do it, and hopefully she will come around. I spoke to her a few moments ago."

"We all commit mistakes, Lady Madeline, the only question we need to ask is if the person will commit the mistake again without a guilty conscience," stated Lucy as she stared ahead of her. This wasn't about Elizabeth, but about Samuel, who continued to lie to her face.

Madeline pursed her lips before asking, "Are you angry at Calhoun?"

Lucy was surprised by this question, and she turned her head to meet Madeline's eyes. She wondered if Calhoun had told Madeline the truth about her parents death or if Madeline was speaking about the actions he had taken on their relatives.

"The loss of our dear ones are often hard to digest, but if they are going to cause more damage, it is only right that we be protected from it," replied Lucy. "Calhoun did what he is supposed to do as the King."

When they reached her room, Lucy had not expected Samuel to be there.

"There you are! My beautiful wife!" exclaimed Samuel. Lucy wouldn't have returned to her room if she knew he was here. Every touch and word that came from him had started to repulse Lucy, and when he was about to hug her, she dropped her handkerchief on the ground.

Madeline, who had accompanied her till Lucy's room, caught sight of the little action which seemed far from being noted as coincidental.