The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Crossing Paths by Lake Isabel

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Madeline stood at the side, when the food was brought forward to be placed on the dining table, where Calhoun sat at the head of the table. The dishes were of stark difference as it appeared that they were made by two people. When Calhoun's eyes fell on the dishes, his red eyes observed what was there before looking up to see the head cook who had accompanied the ladies and the maids.

"I ordered you not to cook and to let Lady Madeline take over the kitchen," said Calhoun, his eyebrow raised in question and the bald man bowed his head.

"Milord, the kitchen staff, weren't the ones who cook the meals today," answered the man who held his hands together in front of him.

"Then why are there two different types of meals?" asked Calhoun, his hand coming to support his chin while looking at the head cook. Post noon today, Calhoun's words were clear with instructions of how he wanted the meals to be cooked by Madeline.

Mr. Jamer, the head cook, bowed his head again, "Lady Madeline has made some of the dishes, and some dishes have been made by Lady Sophie," and this was enough for Calhoun's mood to turn sour.

The King's eyes shifted to look at his cousin sister who was overstaying in the castle. He allowed it only for certain reasons. But today he wasn't in the mood to humour Sophie, "I thought I told you to get back home," came his curt words that made Sophie's cheeks burn.

"Lady Madeline wanted me to cook with her," said Sophie, trying to wiggle out of the embarrassment and putting the blame on the human, as she had indeed provoked her to cook in the kitchen. At the same time, Sophie didn't want Madeline winning Calhoun's heart when she could do it. The human was nothing but an imbecile servant whom she wished to throw in the dungeon. After they were done cooking, Sophie had looked rather pleased as her dishes looked so much better than what Madeline had prepared for the time of supper.

Calhoun didn't look at Madeline and instead continued to stare at Sophie for a few seconds, "Nobody asked you to cook, cousin sister. The order was for Madeline only."

"My apologies, brother Calhoun," Sophie bowed her head, "I didn't think about it when Lady Madeline had asked me to cook with her. I thought she could use some company. You can ask the head cook," saying this, she turned to look at the bald man, her red eyes trained on him who bowed his head.

Sophie had been living in the castle in and out visiting the King, while making sure the servants knew who she was, enough to make them listen to her. She smiled when the bald man bowed and turned back to look at Calhoun as if to tell him that what she said was true.

"Is it true?" asked Calhoun, and this time, his question was directed at Madeline, and she nodded her head.

"Yes, milord," she answered.

Madeline didn't know why but something told her that Calhoun was in an irritated mood and his patience looked like it was wearing thin. Upon her reply, he gave her another look before turning his eyes back on the dishes that was placed on the table.

Calhoun then asked, "What did you make, Sophie?" The vampiresses eyes brightened, and she stepped forward.

"I prepared the ones on the left side, my King," she was glad that Calhoun was not shooing her away. Once he would taste the food, he would know that Sophie was not only going to be a good wife next to him, but she also had the talent when it came to cooking, "I made sure that I prepared your favourites. From the meat to the vegetables, the tenderness is just as you prefer," explained the vampiress.

The King didn't say anything for a minute. And then another minute passed, that had the maids who were in the dining room along with Sophie, Madeline, Theodore and the kitchen head cook wonder what was going on in the King's mind.

Sophie took to speak, "Brother Calhoun, the food might get cold and might not taste as good as when it is hot." Even if there was a competition between her and Madeline, Sophie would ace it any time as she knew the King longer than the human who was new to the castle. Being a close relative, she knew what Calhoun liked and didn't like, includong some of his habits while also knowing he couldn't treat her the way he treated other strangers.

"It would be a pity if that happened," agreed Calhoun, a smile appeared on his face. He then said, "I wouldn't like to eat something that has turned out of taste because of the temperature. Theodore, offer the food which was made by Sophie to the servants. I am sure they would love to taste what she has cooked today."

The vampiress' eyes turned wide in shock, "Wait, we can heat it again!" She had cooked the meal for the King and not for the damned servants, "I made it for you," she said, looking at Calhoun.

"I don't remember asking you to prepare my meals," came the curt reply from Calhoun, "Are you not aware that the King only eats the food that is cooked from the head cook? Or have you forgotten how the castle runs?" He had a bored expression on his face.

Sophie couldn't believe that her food was being dismissed this quickly. She had truly put her heart in making the food especially when Madeline had mentioned about gaining a place in a man's heart through food.

"Won't you taste it?" smiled Sophie.

"Maybe next time when the food is still hot," Calhoun replied before turning to look at Theodore who bowed his head. The head cook and the maids started to take away the food which was cooked by the vampiress, while leaving the food prepared by Madeline on the table. Sophie, who still had a look of shock on her face, stood there, unmoving, "Let us see what Madeline had prepared."

Madeline saw how every item that was prepared by Sophie was taken off the table and out of the room. She didn't have to look at Sophie to see that she was not only shocked, but she was seething in anger where the anger was directed towards her. After all, she was the one who had taunted and tricked her into cooking for the King which was now going to be served to the servants. Madeline came to doubt that this might be the first time where Lady Sophie was going to do something for the people whom she felt was beneath her.

The chairs were pulled, Madeline, Sophie, and Theodore joined Calhoun at the dining table.

"Is this what you eat?" asked Calhoun, his eyes meeting the brown-eyed girl who gave him a nod. And the food was soon served on the plate.

While Sophie's food was undoubtedly attractive to look at, Madeline had purposely picked up dishes that would look dull. This way, Calhoun would know and understand the difference in what he wanted. Madeline was a simple girl, and she was more than content with the simple life which she had a week ago. She wanted to convey her thoughts, about how she didn't belong here and how she was not of his taste, that it was a mere attraction and infatuation.

Calhoun who took the food with his fork to take a bite, didn't comment. Not a single complaint or praise left his lips. Everyone came to believe that he found the food to be rather pale compared to what he was used to eating.

Madeline, who was used to eating the same food continued to eat in silence, and when she sneaked a glance at Sophie, the girl was glaring at the food.

"This is not the type food one offers the King or his subjects!" came Sophie's complaint, "Lady Madeline it looks like you will need to have cooking lessons which you cannot afford for," Sophie had not dared to take a bite from the food as it looked strange. The vampiress came from a high family, and she couldn't believe that she had to eat something like this!

Calhoun didn't bother to comment on Sophie's words, and he continued to eat what was on his plate, so did Theodore.

"My apologies that the food is not up to your liking," Madeline took no offence, and she was happy to hear that it looked terrible, which would mean even Calhoun would view it the same way. But with the way he was eating it, she doubted that was the case. She then continued to say, "I don't cook to impress but to fill the stomach of my family," and this had Calhoun raise his eyes to look at the human.

Sophie pushed her chair behind and stood up, "I will be going back home, brother Calhoun." She was humiliated by the thought that her food was disregarded to be given to the servants.

"Theodore will accompany you out," came the curt words from Calhoun. This had Sophie grit her teeth.

Sophie had hoped for Calhoun to ask her to stay because not only had he shooed her away at noon, but also he had not taken a bite from the food she had prepared. She gave him a bow but stood there for a mere second, before turning around and left the room to be followed by Theodore whilst leaving Calhoun and Madeline alone at the table.