The Crown's Obsession

Madeline walked next to Lady Sophie, the daughter of Lady Rosamund who was the King's aunt. They walked in the garden with the sun shining bright above them. The ladies were accompanied by two servant girls who held an umbrella each for them.

"It seems like brother Calhoun has taken a liking towards you," commented the young vampiress, her head held high as she walked playing with the long beaded necklace in her hand, twisting them between her fingers.

"I wouldn't say that," Madeline denied, hoping they could get into another subject instead of speaking about Calhoun, "The weather is warm even though Winter has arrived."

"Indeed but then the snow is yet to arrive. You know brother Calhoun hates the poor," chuckled Sophie, bringing the King back in the conversation, "He won't spare a look at the one who is weak and poor. Not even let him touch. I mean no offence but it is surprising that he's talking to you," she smiled looking at Madeline and Madeline returned the smile back.

Though this girl was referring to Calhoun as her 'brother', it made Madeline wonder how far Sophie considered to be his sister and if it was just for show. Not to forget the way she was overstepping her lines by apologizing after throwing an insult at her.

"I think you are wrong there, Lady Sophie," stated Madeline to have the young girl turn around to take a look at Madeline.

"Am I?" asked the girl with a surprised look on her face.

Madeline smiled at the girl, "If the King was truly allergic to poor people, he wouldn't be having maids, servants waiting on him with one single word of his."

Lady Sophie then raised her eyebrows, "You don't expect that the higher people in the society wait on him now, do you?"

"I don't think I have to expect it because it's already happening, and wasn't it your words on how he didn't like keeping poor people near him? Either he has the rich in waiting or your words are wrong," Madeline stated, sparing only a glance at the vampiress to see how she stared at her with her red eyes.

"Do all the poor people have a smart mouth?" asked Lady Sophie with a soft sigh as if she was tired after taking a walk for ten minutes.

"Some of us have better and kinder mouths than the rich, milady that some of the higher people lack."

Madeline didn't have to look at the girl to know that she was glaring at her quietly. It was easy to understand that Sophie was not used to hearing someone talk back who was beneath her in status. Right now Madeline had the liberty to do that. With Calhoun's impartiality towards her where he had made a point of having her sit with them at the table, Madeline took the opportunity to serve the girl the same dish that was given to her.

"Oh, look!" exclaimed Sophie looking at the fountain where the water was splashing out, "You should look at this at the time of night. It looks absolutely beautiful with the cool breeze and the quiet atmosphere."

Madeline noticed the water that fell down from the sculpted woman's pot that was placed on her shoulder. The sculpted woman looked like she wore a very thin sheen of cloth to cover her body in a way that one could clearly see the outline and curve of her body. It wasn't just one woman but there were four more who were sculpted in a similar fashion in different poses.

"Brother Calhoun has good taste, doesn't he? He's the one who remodelled a lot of things that now makes the castle one of the best ones compared to the others," praised Lady Sophie, "Come let me show the other things in the castle."

In the courtroom, Calhoun was listening to one of the magistrate's speak about the crops that have been getting saved and giving out the value about it.

"Milord, the farmers have been complaining about a feud that is taking place in between the two villages. One of the villages has stopped the water flow which has caused quite some ruckus where there was a fight," said the magistrate.

"And what were you doing when the fight took place?" asked Calhoun, his words lax as he stared at the magistrate who stood in front of him.

"I tried to stop them, milord, and that is how I ended up with a black eye," answered the magistrate.

Calhoun hummed, looking at his nails and then at the magistrate, "Is that a complaint I hear?" the magistrate quickly shook his head, "There shouldn't have been a need for you to get a black eye if you had been looking over the condition between the two villages. Isn't that why you were assigned as one of the magistrates? Unless you think you were appointed there to sit quietly and look pretty. You should know about the affairs of the villages that are taking place and minimize the feud that was arising between them by supplying the water which was blocked."

The magistrate said, "Milord, I did try to solve the feud but there is a village man who runs the place and doesn't listen to any word spoken."

"Why didn't you bring this up before?" Calhoun paused, looking at the magistrate to receive no reply and he rolled his eyes, "Capture and bring the man here. If he refuses, kill him and have his body hanged for everyone to witness so that people know what happens when the word from the castle is not followed. But," he said, calmly looking at the magistrate, "Don't give me reasons by directly killing him for your own pleasure before you get to speak and bring him to me. One of the men from the court will accompany you."

The man bowed his head to fall back at the sideline.

Calhoun raised his hand, turning his head, for Theodore who was standing behind him to come forward, "Send someone to find the man before this one does."

"Yes, milord," Theodore bowed his head, "You said you would be sending an official."

"The magistrate is corrupt and is alive until he brings in the gains. It is easy to tell that more than the feuds between the villages, the feud is between the magistrate and the man he was talking about," Calhoun remarked to see the next man come and stand in front of him, "Where's Madeline?" he enquired with Theodore.

"She's with Sophie out in the garden. Would you want me to bring her in?"

"That won't be necessary. A little fresh air might help the girl change her view that being stubborn," Madeline might have thought that she could get away but the girl needed to know there was no escape from him. It was only the second day, so he decided to give her some time with Sophie.

"Pardon me, Calhoun, but is it safe to have Sophie guide her?"

Calhoun chuckled at the concern, "Sophie might think highly of herself but she's just another fish in the pond. And the girl knows not to screw up when it comes to things that belong to me."

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