The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: The Execution by Paul Cantelon

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Upon the night's arrival, Calhoun walked through the passage of the dungeon as he made his way to where Markus was held in the cell room. It had been barely a few hours since Markus was kept in here, and he already looked like his soul had left his body.

"Did you come here to mock me?" questioned Markus.

"About what?" Calhoun feigned ignorance with a straight expression on his face until it finally cracked into a grin. "You are right, I did come to mock you. But more importantly, I thought I should return this to you." He put his hand in his trouser pocket to pull out a small bottle and threw it at Markus, who caught it.

Markus gritted his teeth upon seeing the same bottle which he had asked Beth to use on the King. By its weight in his hand, he could tell it was empty.

"I thought you were smarter than this, Markus. You disappoint me in so many ways. All you had to do is ask," said Calhoun, putting both his hands back in his trouser pockets.

"Would you have left the throne if I did?"

Calhoun tsked, "I would have told you to move on from the feelings that you and your family have had over the throne for so many years. How does it feel? To be stuck in your trap that you thoughtfully placed it for me?"

"You might kill me tomorrow, but that doesn't mean things will sail smoothly from now on," Markus threw the bottle down on the ground. He walked towards one side of the iron rods where he could look at Calhoun closely. "My family is going to make sure you will not rest in peace until they are done with you."

"That's alright. I don't sail in the sea but walk on the land. Thanks for the caution though," the smile on Calhoun's lips broadened, "You should have thought twice before conspiring against me. Treason never sits well with anyone. If your family does anything, they will receive the same end as our dear grandmother did and you know how she died. Poor little thing."

"You bastard!" Markus tried to push both the iron rods away from each other so that he could step out of this cell and kill Calhoun. "You were never meant to be the King. A son of a whore who slept with half of the village and nearby town, for money."

The smile on Calhoun's face didn't fade, "If you think that is going to make me angry and want to kill you, it doesn't. I have heard it so many times that I have turned deaf to it. Maybe you didn't know who my mother was, but I do. I wonder how grandmother would feel now that her beloved grandson is going to hit the dust next. Your father went to speak to the High House, but what do you think is going to happen?" he gave a pause and said, "Nothing."

Markus knew it, and that is what frustrated him. He had hoped at least the human would be of any use, but she had failed.

"How sly of you to ask Elizabeth to do your dirty work, instead of your mother," Calhoun clicked his tongue, "Is there anything you would like to say before you die?"

"When did Catherine decide to go along with your lie?" demanded Markus. He still had hope until the very last thread, but Catherine had taken that away too.

"I didn't tell her anything. But I hoped she would," smiled Calhoun. He then yawned, "I had a very long day and tomorrow is something I have been looking forward to. Have some good sleep, Markus. I will be right outside so that you don't feel lonely."

Markus glared at Calhoun, but the King didn't bother to look back, and he walked away from there.

Late at night, Rosamund came to the dungeon gate, trying to get it open which was closed and there were no guards around. She pushed the key that she had with her into the lock, trying to turn it around, but it didn't work. The last time Rosamund had used it with ease. Realizing she couldn't open it, she decided to break the gates open.

"It won't work."

Rosamund was quick to turn to see Calhoun, who was standing not too far away from where she stood. She hid the key she was holding.

"I got the locks changed to a newer one after I realized one of the keys went missing from the set of keys I found in the East Wing that comes after the cellar room. Did you perhaps steal from it? You should throw that key of yours as it's of no use," informed Calhoun to see Rosamund's face harden at his words, "If you wanted to visit Markus, all you had to do was let me know. I am not so cruel to stop a mother from seeing her son, who is going to die in a few hours."

"You are cruel enough to let him die," said Rosamund, her eyes staring at Calhoun.

"One or two mistakes can be forgiven, but when they are repeated, it is necessary to draw a line. Even if it means putting an end to a person's life," replied Calhoun, "We could have lived peacefully, but bloody ambitious people never let us live in peace. Do they?" he shook his head in disappointment.

"How dare you try to frame him when he is innocent-"

"Rude," Calhoun cut Rosamund's words, "You should be glad that you aren't in there with him. Or is it your wish to join him in tomorrow's execution? It will be an easy run if I say that you tried to help Markus escape from the dungeon. Going against the High House, I wonder."

Calhoun's expression then turned serious, the smile on his lips falling.

"I don't like repeating myself, but hopefully this little act of yours wanting to get back at me will stop. Unless you don't care about yourself or your family, let's consider it to be even. For what you did to my mother and what she had to go through. If you try to pull something again, you will not even have a trial to save yourself," warned Calhoun, his eyes darkening as he spoke every word clear enough for her to hear.

Calhoun knew what happened in the castle during the time his mother was living as his father's mistress, and how Rosamund and her mother got his mother kicked from the castle. He liked keeping account of every action and detail, making sure to return it in twice the amount. Markus would have been an easy kill because of his stupidity, but the pleasure he found in seeing Rosamund anxious and desperate now, it soothed his soul.

When the rays of the sun touched the ground, bringing light to the land of Devon, carriages left from many houses and from the castle to witness the execution that was going to take place today in the nearby town. To a lot of ordinary people, the execution gave a sense of excitement and fear as it wasn't often a royal family member to be beheaded. To the family members, their hearts were filled with dread because of the loss that was going to take place in an hour.

The scaffold was ready, and so were the spectators, waiting for the imprisoner who was guilty to be brought on the platform.

Madeline stood next to Calhoun, her eyes followed the carriage that now arrived not too far away from the scaffold, where everyone were waiting. The guards got down, and Markus was pulled by them. The chains around his hands and legs made noise with every step he took, and for a moment, Madeline felt her heart go still by the scene in front of her.

The Wilmot's put on a brave face, standing at the side and watching Markus being dragged up the stairs of the scaffold. He had been reduced from a nobleman to a criminal. Mr. Wilmot had tried to get a hold of the High House members last night, in the hope that they could reconsider their verdict but the people had already left, and no attempt could be made to change their mind.

"Execution of Markus Wilmot for the treason he committed against our King and for the involvement of murdering two young women," announced a man who stood on the scaffold.

When it came to greeting death, many brave people shook in front of it. Especially people with ambition, who came to realize their dreams shattered and Markus was no different from them.

Markus was made to sit on his knees, and his eyes moved in the direction where the royal family stood. His eyes met his mother's. Madeline saw the executioner pull out a sword, it's color different from the normal ones. The blade was made of silver, something that was often used to harm the vampires.

The executioner pulled his hands far away from Markus before driving it back towards Markus' neck. Madeline didn't wait to see the beheading as she turned her eyes away from Markus. She and the others didn't stand too far away from the scaffold, which was why she heard the sound of the head first fall on the platform before the body fell slack.

Some people stayed behind, while some left. Calhoun placed a hand on Madeline's back as if an indication that they were leaving.

"H-how could you do it to him," asked Lady Rosamund seeing Calhoun and Madeline starting to leave. Her eyes held unshed tears, "Have you no heart," she spoke the words through gritted teeth.

Calhoun paused his footsteps, looking at Rosamund who looked devasted, "I don't. I forgot to give you this," he said taking a scroll from Theodore and handing it to Rosamund.

"What is this?" she asked, a confused glare passing through her expression and she opened it to read. "You cannot do this!" she exclaimed after reading the first two lines.

"You will no longer be allowed to enter the castle, nor speak to any of the family members. And the name that you have been so proud about, I strip it away today and turn you to nothing less to common people," stated Calhoun.

Lady Rosamund's eyes turned wide, and she said, "I will reclaim it ba-"

Calhoun took a step forward towards her, "Don't forget who you are speaking to, Rosamund," his threat was clear in his voice, "Your family has caused enough trouble. Unless you want to join your son right this instant, refrain from acting rashly."

Rosamund shook in anger along with her husband next to her. They had not only lost their son moments ago, but Calhoun was even taking their status and reducing them to an average family. She wanted to speak, but she knew what consequences her words would bring to her. In hate, Rosamund turned her eyes to Madeline.

Before Rosamund's hand could get to Madeline, Calhoun had stepped in the front, and he held the woman's neck.

"Don't. Even. Think. About it," warned Calhoun, glaring down at Rosamund.