The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Madeline could not forget the man's face. He had a lean face, his cheeks were on the hollow side to emphasize the kind he belonged to and his eyes a little droopy. Though the colours had not been filled and it was only a sketch, she could tell what colour his hair and his eyes were and that behind the man's lips, there were fangs. But now as she thought more about it, he appeared to be less vampire and more of a demon.

When her eyes met Calhoun's, he realized that she knew the person and he walked towards her, "This person, he," she whispered to him, "It's Walter."

Her eyes moved from the drawing to look up at Calhoun, "His name is not Elias but Walter."

Helena, who stood not too far away, who had a better ear than most of the people in the room, she stopped her questions to Lady Aubree and turned to Madeline, "How can you be sure? Do you know this man?"

Madeline didn't know how much information was to be given and how much was to be withheld as people were not trustworthy. "I remember seeing him where my grandparents live. In the Carnivals village."

"Carnivals village?" questioned Helena, her eyes narrowing down.

"Yes," answered Madeline, "It must be a long time ago and not recently, but I remember him. His name is Walter, but I don't know his last name."

"Was he close to your family? With your grandparents?" asked the head of the High House.

If it was in the past, Madeline would have tried to hide the fact of what her grandparents did. It would be the sanest thing to do, to protect and honour the family name, but she believed they were long past gone with the word of honour. "I used to see him in the village. He once came home to speak to my grandfather when my aunt Mary had come to visit us for the holidays. It must be during the time of Christmas." By involving Helena, her possible relatives who were still working in finding the dark angels would be weeded out.

Calhoun cut in the conversation by saying, "If the Harris' family knew about the man, there must be other people from the village, who can identify him. We should have someone go and check, isn't it?" he tilted his head.

The whisperings started in the room, questioning about who the merchant was and Dimitri walked forward to retake a look at the person who was drawn on the parchment, "Lady Helena-"

Helena raised her hand to silence the member of the High House. From Madeline, she looked at Beth, who stood next to her, "If Lady Madeline has seen the person, you should have seen the man too, isn't it?"

Lilith who stood not too far away, voiced her opinion towards Beth, "Perhaps the chain was orchestrated to enter the mansion by you, milady? You must be very angry with the Queen, your very own sister who did nothing, but stood by the side watching your fiance be beheaded."

Hearing this, Beth frowned, "I had nothing to do with the jewellery."

"We don��t know that," said Lilith, trying to push the blame slowly towards Beth, who could be one of the suspects out of the people who was near the Queen now.

"Beth had nothing to do with the jewellery," came the firm words from Madeline. Both she and Lilith stared at each other intensely.

"Of course, my Queen," Lilith bowed her head, "But we cannot strike out the possibility."

"The reason why Beth doesn't remember is because she was fast asleep that evening. My parents often left us at out grandparents or our aunt's house to stay in there. I was the one who was awake and who saw the person apart from my grandparents and my aunt," said Madeline.

Helena then said, "We aren't sure who this man is, but the Queen says she has seen this person, which is better to have something than nothing in our hands. Lilith and Weasley, go find out about this man named Walter in Cranvial's village."

Lilith looked taken aback, "I think Luther is much more familiar with Carnivals village than Weasley-"

"Do you have a hearing problem, Lilith? Go take Weasley with you right now," interrupted Helena with a pointed look that had Lilith shut up right away. Lilith didn't understand how Madeline knew Walter. The last time Walter might have possibly met her was when she was small, and children often forgot things.

It looked like Lillith wanted to say something, but the younger vampiress held her tongue. Bowing her head, she left the courtroom with Weasley.

"On the same note, we'll be taking the jewellery back while also trying to find out who got it out of the High House towers. We'll be back if something is needed," stated Helena, and Calhoun gave her a nod.

"Please do."

The High House members continued to stay in the courtroom, and when Madeline caught sight of Luther and Reginald making their way out of the room, she turned to Calhoun to say, "Calhoun."

Calhoun turned to her, and he gave her a nod before turning to Raphael who was in the room to see the card reader smile, "Don't go too far," he advised, and Madeline nodded her head.

"Is the Queen going outside the castle? I would be more than happy to offer my carriage," said Lady Aubree, who was feeling guilty for presenting a cursed object to the Queen.

"Thank you for the kind gesture, Lady Aubree, but the carriages that belong to the castle are working fine. If we do need to borrow your carriage, I will let you know. You can now leave," Calhoun dismissed the woman with a charming smile on his face. He trusted Madeline would be safe in the company of Raphael as he still didn't completely trust her sister.

More than people bringing harm to Madeline, the issue to worry would be if the other people would be left unharmed. His beautiful rose had bloomed, and it now had thorns around to protect itself.