The Crown's Obsession

"That's understandable," replied Madeline.

The tailorman then continued, "This wedding gown just happened to be an exception. It was probably two or three years since I started working. A girl came here, who was very excited and she wanted to get the wedding gown stitched. She was excited to marry him and she said she would invite me. If I am not wrong, she was a beautiful girl, and I remember she had given me the full payment. I felt she would come back, which was why I stored it, but she never did."

Madeline didn't know why, but the story tinkled something in her mind, and she asked, "Do you know what her name was?"

The tailorman tried recollecting it, but he shook his head, "I think the names should be in one of the old registers. Give me a moment, milady, while I look for it. I have been writing down the customer's names and the amount they have spent and what they like. It makes it easier for me to understand what my customers are particularly keen about."

He walked towards the corner of the shop, pushing the clothes away from the table, pulling out various collected parchments that were bound together.

"Found it!" said the man. "Wedding gown made out of silk without any stones or pearls except for thread work. Simple fittings without too much bufness in the skirt. Sleeves until wrist with circled cut and neck with a heart design. Her name was Constance. Constance Leigh."

Hearing the name, Madeline felt her body turn slightly cold.

This was Calhoun's mother. This was the first time she had heard about the Lady's wedding gown, and she asked, "Did she say anything in particular? To whom she was getting married to?"

"No, milady," answered the tailorman. "But, I do remember she seemed very excited. She said she wanted to get the gown with her own money and not from her lover's money. I suppose her lover didn't know that she was getting a wedding gown."

Madeline couldn't believe that years ago, Calhoun's mother had come here to get her wedding gown stitched. The worst thing was that it was obvious whom Constance believed she would be getting married to, but the man had broken her heart even before she had the opportunity to look at the wedding gown.

After two more minutes, Lucy appeared wearing the gown that had been pinned so that it would fit her well. Madeline didn't know how Lucy looked in her last marriage, as it seemed like it was the same time when she was lying in the coffin.

"You looked beautiful, Lucy," Madeline smiled at her sister-in-law.

Lucy smiled back at Madeline. "Why don't I give you some time for you while I look for the other wedding gowns that might be there in the room," said the tailorman before getting inside the side room.

"I would have never guessed it was her gown," whispered Lucy, who had heard what Madeline and the tailorman had spoken on the other side of the door.

Lucy didn't know how to feel, knowing she was wearing a wedding gown made for Calhoun's mother. A gown that the Lady had prepared in the hope to marry her father, but her father had broken Constance's trust and love by marrying her mother Samara on her grandmother's word.

"We should give this dress to brother Calhoun," said Lucy. "It doesn't feel right wearing a gown that belonged to his mother."

Madeline placed her hand on Lucy's shoulder, "You don't have to feel that way. I believe Calhoun would be more than happy to see you wear his mother's wedding gown. It would be a pity if someone else wore this gown that was made for a particular person, if the person doesn't know to treasure it the way you know."

Madeline had spent enough time with Lucy to know the vampiress wasn't like the other night creatures. If there was anyone else in women apart from her and his mother, whom Calhoun cared about next, it would be his sister Lucy. She had heard from Calhoun how some of the things Lucy did reminded him of his mother.

"Do you like the wedding gown?" she asked Lucy.

Lucy looked down at the gown that she wore, running both her hands over her waist and to the sides, "It is too beautiful that I worry I might stain it."

Madeline smiled at Lucy's words, "Mr. Abel, we'll be taking this one here."

The tailorman quickly walked outside, stumbling one step before he got back on his feet, "You don't want to take a look at the others?"

Lucy shook her head, "I think this is what I was looking for. This is the right one," she said to him.

The man looked slightly dejected as they didn't pick an expensive one that would profit him, but at the same time, the tailorman believed it was the bride's choice decision. He politely bowed his head.

"Let me take the measurements and do the final alterations that need to be done," said the man and Lucy went back to change herself into the clothes that she had worn when leaving the castle. While removing the gown, Lucy caught sight of something that was stitched inside the gown with a white thread that was hard to notice.

'Love & Happiness'

After waiting for two more hours, the wedding gown was ready to be taken from there, packed inside a box and handed to them.

Lucy pulled out her pouch that held more than fifty gold coins which she carried with herself, and instead of opening it, she placed the entire bag on the table for the tailorman.

The tailorman didn't know if he was being tested, and he politely asked, "Milady?"

"Thank you for preserving the gown for such a long time and not reusing the cloth for another dress. The dress might appear to be a simple one, but it is an important one," said Lucy.

The tailorman, as well as his assistants, were quick to bow their heads, "Thank you for your generosity, milady!"