The Crown's Obsession

"Seriously, Vlad. It is her choice to decide on where she wants to stay and you cannot have her choose like that," said Helena with her hands folded as they walked through the woods. 

Vladimir rolled his eyes, "Constance is my daughter, of course, I would like to spend time with her." 

"Which can be done in the Hawthrone castle," Helena pointed out. "You could go back and live in the Hawthrone castle, instead of moving back here. And everyone has a family now, you should find other hobbies to do."

The Devil was not pleased, but at the same time, he decided to drop on that matter before moving to the subject. "Did you see how much time she spends with Michael? I would think he has other things to do but he always shows up every weekend."

Helena rolled her eyes at this. Vladimir had been suspicious by thinking something was going on between Constance and the archangel Michael as the archangel visited her. "At least, unlike someone, he meets her once in every seven days, and not once in seven hours."

Vladimir chuckled at Helena's words, "You are my soulmate, I couldn't let you go just like that."

The head of the High House shook her head at the Devil's words. Once they reached the castle that was in Belmount, Odin was quick to greet them at the door. 

"Good evening Master and Lady Helena," the demon bowed his head in greeting and took each of their coats to place and then hung on the stand. "Would you like to have some blood tea?"

"Yes," replied Helena, and Vladimir waved his hand as if he was not in the mood to have tea now. The walls inside the Devil's castle now had been decorated with large paintings of him sitting on a throne in Hell and a few more with his servant and one that was the family portrait as well as one in which he and Helena had been painted. 

"I know he has something to do with Constance going to Heaven," muttered the Devil with his eyes narrowed. "Michael knows he won't be able to meet our dear daughter if she were to come and live here."

Though Helena knew Vladimir was right, she didn't speak on it and instead said, "So what if there's something going on, isn't he much better compared to Lawrence? He took care of her and brought her back to the living world."

"I will never approve of him for Constance!" fire blazed in Vladimir's eyes, but Helena was barely fazed by it. 

"She's not a child, Vlad. She has a son and a grandson. And, she deserves good people around her and peace," Helena sighed before saying, "Stop being selfish."

Vlad's mouth parted, and his eyes narrowed, "You want a person who used to be called as my brother to be approved for her?"

"It isn't like you both are blood brothers," she gave him a look. "I have important documents to read and sign, don't disturb me," said Helena, taking the blood tea in her hand from Odin's hand and starting to climb up the stairs. But even though Helena had told him not to disturb her, he climbed up the stairs to follow her as the matter was not over. 

Back in Hawthrone's castle, Madeline was helping her son in teaching him how to write when Constance arrived at the room. 

"I hope I am not disturbing you both," said Constance and Madeline quickly stood up to greet the woman. 

"Of course not, Lady Constance. Was there something you needed?" asked Madeline earnestly to her mother-in-law. 

Constance said, "I was going to the old house and was wondering if you would like to accompany me," came the polite words of the woman. "But I see you are teaching Morven, we can go later."

"That's fine," Madeline shook her head. "We are almost done and I was going to send him to Cal." Though they were the King and the Queen of Devon, both Madeline and Calhoun had taken up the tasks to be close to their son by involving themselves, instead of not keeping a governess to look after their son. 

The little boy had been learning something from every family member, some from his parents, some from his grandparents, and some other relatives. "Come, dear. It is time to go see your papa," said Madeline, giving her hand to Morven, who held her hand. 

Only two months had passed since Constance had returned to the living world. And life in the castle had turned even more peaceful than before, where it was filled with a serenity like the clear sky without the clouds. 

Walking towards the royal court room, they entered it and saw Calhoun talking to one of the ministers. "I will be going out with Lady Constance," Madeline informed him. 

"Take the guards along with you," said Calhoun, not wanting any harm to occur on his family. Madeline nodded her head. He then offered his hand for his son to take, bringing him to sit on his lap. "I guess it is time for both of us to spend time and for you to learn what happens in the royal court room."

Madeline and Constance left the castle in the carriage while being accompanied by the two guards. Reaching the village, they stepped down. It seemed that the lady wanted to take a look at the house where she once lived with her son, thought Madeline to herself. 

Constance stared at the house that was filled with precious memories. To others, it was a place that was looked down upon but for her, it was her home which was warm. When her memories had come rushing through, it hadn't felt as painful as people had thought it to be. And the reason might have been because before she had even died, she had made peace with reality. 

"Cal was small, probably around Morven's age when we moved to this place," said Constance to Madeline, and as she said this, there was a smile on her face. "We had moved a lot, every time moving one village farther away from the castle. Back then, he always had this frown on his face. I think he acquired it from my father."

Madeline smiled at Constance's words. She held respect for the woman, who could see the good things from the bad things. 

"He must have been smart since he was little," said Madeline, and Constance nodded her head. 

"He was. Smarter and sharper," responded Constance. They then started to walk away from the house, while the carriage had been parked far away, with the guards keeping some distance from the two royal women.

Madeline had learned many more things about Calhoun from Constance, learning about his childhood that made her smile and think about the hard life. 

They now moved near the market, taking a stroll at the side of the road, when her eyes fell on two familiar people in their tattered clothes. 

Rosamund and her daughter stood at the side, looking at people who passed in front of them while begging them for help and food. 

**

Please read this: 

I request everyone to switch your votes to the book 'The Fourth Mistress' (TFM) from today onwards. The book is going to have around 60-80 chapters (current plan). 

New book: Letters to Romeo. The book doesn't have a voting option enabled to it yet. 

With TCO's end around the corner, when a book is marked complete, it disappears from the ranking list. By providing your votes to the other ongoing books, it helps in providing exposure for new readers to find the book. 

Also, I have tried to remove the privilege for the new month, so everyone should be able to access the next released chapters in the normal way.