The Crown's Obsession

Madeline felt herself gulp at the voice that spoke to her. The hand was stopping her from opening the door, and she wondered why she even stepped inside this room when she wasn't willing to have dinner with this man.

Staring at the door, she demanded, "I want to go back to the room."

"Is that how you speak to your King?" his words demanded with an edge in it, his hand that was on the door moved towards her.

Madeline closed her eyes, forgetting in her anger and desperation that this man was not only the King, but he could kill anyone he wanted, and no one would ever hear of it.

"Please, I want to go back to the room," she added her request, her eyes eyeing his hand to make sure it wasn't going to get closer.

She felt Calhoun step even closer and heard him take a deep intake of breath, "You know, Madeline," she heard him speak in a low voice behind her, "If you run I am going to chase you. Like it or not that is going to happen, and if you run and I catch," his words were slow and deliberate, "You won't like the outcome after it. So why don't you join me at the table, hmm?"

Madeline moved her head to the side to notice that if she turned around, she would be able to see his red eyes even more clearly, "Okay…" she didn't like the position they were in.

"So easy, yet you decide to make it difficult for yourself," chimed Calhoun making Madeline think that if it weren't for him keeping her, she wouldn't be making anything complicated.

When Madeline felt him take a step back along with his hand, she finally released her breath to turn around and see him walk towards the table. The table was set with a red cloth spread on it with a candle burning brightly at the centre, and plates laid down along with fork, spoons and knife. Food was placed in a trolley next to the table.

Calhoun pulled the chair, waiting for her to take a seat.

"Is it normal for a King to do this?" she asked him, as she looked at him to have his eyes staring at hers.

"What do you think?" one side of his lips pulled up to a smile, "Sit," he ordered, and she made her way to the table and sat down gingerly.

With the tight corset, she was made to wear, Madeline wondered if she could really eat anything in here. Seeing Calhoun sit opposite to her, she glared at him.

"What would you like to eat first? There's sizzling crabs or spiced lamb which has been roasted in the fire," he said to her in a charming tone, but Madeline was in no mood to be charmed by her captive.

"Are you going to serve tonight?" asked Madeline, a certain challenge in her eyes.

Calhoun smiled, his eyes holding amusement, "What is the point of being a King if you cannot make use of the available resources around you," and as if on cue, a maid stepped inside the room, bowing her head before she started to walk towards the table and served them dinner.

When the lid to the food was opened, Madeline's anger dissipated and all she wanted to do was eat right now. Being angry and not touching the food would be her loss. And if she did plan to run away, she would need the energy to do it. Madeline looked around the room, her eyes taking in to realize that this was how the King's bedroom looked like—made of lavish things.

And while Madeline was ogling at the room, Calhoun who sat in front of her drank her appearance. Her eyelashes were long, fluttering every once in a while as they blinked before continuing to look at whatever it could find. Her lips were delicate and pink in colour, and he wondered how it would feel under his lips.

"I didn't get to hear from you today," said Calhoun to bring her attention back at the table where her sweet expression turned back to a guarded one.

The maid was almost done serving, and she left the room for the time being.

"All I heard was your sister speak about her achievements and what she does and likes. I was utterly bored with her. I would like to hear from you," he said, and it was right because it was Beth who kept talking to prove her worth, that he had done right by choosing to see her today but who knew that it wasn't Beth who the King was interested in.

Madeline stared at the food and then shifted her eyes back at him before standing up and bowing her head,

"I don't know what caught your attention and what word of mine gave you the feeling that this is going to work, but please consider when I am saying this that, this won't work. I have no feelings for you, and I have no interest to live in this castle of yours. My dreams are small. Beth will be more suited to be your partner," she said, trying to persuade him as it wasn't too late to turn things back.

Calhoun stared at her with his collected eyes right now, "Your sister might want to live and be part of this social circle and society, but she doesn't suit my taste, Maddie," he saw the way her face hardened at the short name he called her, "Beth might be a good girl but is she? I overheard the conversation that took place at the ball that night. The way she belittled you as a village girl, wanting to steal your partner. I am sorry, but I don't take scrapes. I prefer things that are untouched and not defiled so that I can do the work myself."

Hearing this, Madeline looked into his eyes and said,

"What makes you think that I have not been defiled?" the smile on Calhoun's lips slowly fell, his eyes piercing her.

"You're not a good liar, darling," responded Calhoun to her claims.

"You do not know anything about me. You don't know who holds my heart and who I wish to be with. I-" the table that was in front of them, was suddenly pushed away to the side to make a screeching sound.

Calhoun had stood up, his eyes smouldering at the words she uttered.

Before Madeline could make a dash towards the door after seeing the anger in his eyes, she was pulled by her arm and thrown on the bed. Her body bounced on the bed, and she tried to scramble her way out of there, but Calhoun was quick to climb and hover over her body. He was holding her small hands single-handedly as she struggled to get out of his grip.

"Get off of me!" she tried to set her hands free but his grip was tight enough to keep them down.

Calhoun smiled down at her, enjoying her continuing to glare at him and having her like this, "If I were you, I would choose my words wisely before I speak, my sweet flower," his voice had dropped low, and he looked right into her eyes, "Are you trying to get me jealous? It is very effective in getting my attention. I told you, you would fall in love with me in no time."

How in God's name did he conclude that to fit his perception?!

This crazy King!