The Crown's Obsession

Madeline had raised her hand to cover her mouth from the apparent horror she had got to witness right now. What had started as a pleasant day where she was looking forward to her sister Beth meeting and allying with him, it had ended with a man dead on the floor whose head was separated from the body.

Blood continued to flow out of the body, staining the white marble floor.

She had been upset with the way she was treated right now, a powerless girl who was looked down because of how she looked and where she had come from.

Not a word was spoken in the room after the King had uttered the words about her. Had he killed a living breathing person for her sake? Her eyes moved away from the blood to the man who had ascended the throne. Like Madeline, his men looked shocked but had covered it immediately who couldn't help but want to look at the girl who the King had commanded not to see or touch but they couldn't. Nobody wanted to be the next in line to be beheaded by the King!

"Why did the room turn quiet?" she heard the King ask as if he had not beheaded a man a few seconds ago, "Welby," he called a man who was lean and of average height, making the man's heart leap out in worry that the King had chosen him to be the next piece of wood to be cut. After all, Welby was the one who had started the conversation.

"Milord?" Welby gulped softly before going to stand in front of Calhoun, who leaned back and crossed his leg.

Calhoun glared at the man, "Stop acting like a drunk duck and speak what you came here for."

"Yes!" answered Welby, picking up the parchments in his hands, he shuffled it as quick as he could, "There's a complaint that is going on about the taxation in the village where farmers and other men who have been profiting have not paid their assigned taxes. Some went as far as to riot and chased the Shire Reeve. It has been nearly a month, but they have been trying to chase the ones who go to collect that has been causing us problem, my King."

"Where are the guards for the village?" asked Calhoun.

"This village is located in the outskirts of Lakeshire," answered the man.

"That is a little problematic," replied Calhoun with a hum before saying, "Jeurel will assist you in collecting the tax," a man who stood far away with a stoic expression bowed his head. Calhoun turned to look at another servant who was short in stature, and used his hand in a come hither motion and whispered something before saying loudly, "Take the lady to her assigned room."

Madeline would have gone against him if he hadn't killed a person in front of her eyes. She was still in shock that she had temporarily lost speech. She looked at Calhoun who gave her a smile,

"See to it that she is well attended in the attention of the maids," when Madeline left the room, Calhoun said, "Welby, if the men don't listen and don't give the tax, you need to know to get things done by force. Jeurel will make sure that the people will not revolt in the future."

Madeline, who had stepped out of the courtroom, followed the man without a word and the man didn't try to converse with her. Only a man who had a death wish would try speaking to her.

She stepped into the parts of the castle she had never been or seen before. She hadn't ventured too far during the night of Hallow, and somewhere she wished she didn't venture at all. If she hadn't, she wouldn't be here like this.

"Nicola," the man called a maid who was walking past the corridor carrying clothes in her hand, "Take the lady to the West Wing of the castle."

"Which room would you like me to take her to?" asked the maid, her eyes falling on the girl who stood behind him who was looking at the walls and creepers that crept up the walls.

"The one in the Atticus garden view. The bed chamber that falls at the right," the man informed the maid who gave another look at the girl. The Atticus garden barely had any guests in there even when the King had many guests in the castle, it was always left unavailable as it came in the same quarters as the King's chamber, "Lead the way to Lady Madeline," said the man who bowed his head and left.

By the quick glance of the girl's clothes, the maid could tell she was a village girl. What was she doing here? With pitiful clothes and look on her face, she wondered if she was the King's new conquest because in no sense did she look like a lady.

"Please follow me," said the maid, turning around and starting to walk.

Madeline felt out of place when she started to follow the maid. Even though the castle was huge and spacious, she felt as if this place had already begun to suffocate her. This was a place where her parents and her sister could not be reached. She had no family here, and she was left all alone.

She had to keep up with the maid's footsteps as they were quick on the floor. They took many turns before Madeline was led to the quarters where she could see a decent size of a garden and fountains of water built in the middle of the castle. There were beautiful flowers and plants that decorated the garden. The room was unlocked, and the maid pushed the doors for Madeline to step into the luxurious room that contained a bed that could fit in more than four people in it. There was a fireplace in the room, the logs of woods waiting to be lit and burnt. A table with chairs around and another room which was to be used for the bath as it contained a bathtub.

"Is there anything else I would be of service to you?" asked the maid.

Madeline gave some thought before she asked, "Do you deliver letters?"

Taking the ink and the parchment that was available at the desk, Madeline used it to write something before folding it and handing it to the maid who had been waiting at the door, "You can deliver it to this address," said Madeline. The maid bowed her head and left.

"How do I get out of here?" asked Madeline to herself.

Remembering the scene of Calhoun cutting the man's head, made her blood freeze and her breath short. She had been a free bird which was now caged. It was ironic how she had ended up here when in truth, it was Beth who wanted to live life in the castle, with the King. She didn't have to step outside the room as she remembered well how far the gates were that surrounded the castle.

Walking towards the window, she stood there looking at the gardens and other scenery when she caught sight of a forest that was located at the back of the castle. From where she stood, it looked as if the forest touched the ends of the horizon like a never-ending scenery.

She then heard the sharp sound of shoes walking that made into the room, and she turned around to see Calhoun step inside the room, walking towards her, "I was busy in the court when I received this," he said pulling up the envelope from his pocket. It was the same envelope that she had written and sent through the maid, "You are worse than the devil to keep a person as a prisoner," he said, reading the letter before throwing it on the ground.

His lips pulled up to a smile, "You were testing to see if the letter would reach me or the assigned address. You are much smarter than I presumed you to be," and he was right. She wanted to make sure her letters wouldn't be read and would be sent to the address she had written to. Not to the King, but it seemed that letters would not reach the people she wanted to write to.

"You cannot keep me in here," said Madeline, her brown eyes looking at him stubbornly and furious for keeping her here.

"Why not?" he cocked his head to the side. He closed the large distance between them by walking and standing in front of her.

"Because I am not yours to keep! I am not a doll but a person," she gritted her teeth, and though Madeline wanted to yell and shout, she knew her limits. Especially after seeing how cruel and cold he was in the courtroom.

Madeline saw Calhoun smile, a smugness in his eyes since he had stepped into the room. He took a step further towards her, stepping as close as to be in her breathing space, "You are mine to keep, and I will keep you as long as I want. It is our little misunderstanding, wrong foot perhaps? You will come to care and love one day, Madeline," he whispered her name.

She had to hold her breath not to move as he was too close, and she said, "Over my dead body."

"Why kill when there are so many things that can be done to your body. I definitely would not want it dead," Calhoun chuckled, looking into her brown eyes which now stared back at him, "Since I have laid my eyes on you, spoken and heard you speak, I cannot help but think why I feel that way. I have had plenty of women in my arms but the need to hold you," he dropped his voice, "It drives me mad. Don't look so scared; I won't do things you don't like," he said, bringing up his hand to push a piece of hair behind her ear.

Calhoun could see the fear lingering in her eyes, the fear that was carried from the court to this room. With it was the anger of him having her confined to this castle.

"Will I ever get to see my family?" asked Madeline, "Are you going to keep me away from the things I care and love?"

"Once I know we have made some progress I will arrange for you to meet your beloved family," replied Calhoun to take a step back away from her.

"You must be delusional to think there will be progress. I am not an animal for your amusement," Madeline just wanted to go back home, and the thought of staying here alone was pushing her to a corner.

"You are far from it. Should I prove it to you by taking you to my bed of what exactly I think of you," a shiver ran down her spine as he said those words. A smile appeared on his handsome face that made Madeline question if he meant it or not, "The cupboards are filled with dresses and jewellery. The maids will help you to get ready. You won't have to lift a finger to move or do anything."

"I am perfectly capable of doing those things myself."

Calhoun's eyes twinkled, "Well, at least you are willing to use it by yourself. That's some progress!" his smile then died down on his lips to say, "In my presence, you will be treated the way I think you deserve to be treated. Don't try your trickery here like what you just did with the letter, though I must say I was very amused. I am not very patient, but you must know that already. Have some rest. I will see you at dinner."

She saw Calhoun leave the room, and her shoulder sank.

She had to do something...