The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Wishing well (feat. Lucy Tops) - Stomper

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On hearing Theodore's words, Lucy felt her heart shatter into little pieces. When she had come knocking on the door of his room, she had hoped to move their relationship forward and not cease it instead.

The hand that she had used to slap Theodore to stop him from speaking more turned into fists on seeing him offer her a smile of indifference compared to how she felt. Was that it? She refused to believe that he held no feelings for her when he had kissed her cheek or when he had consoled her after seeing the bruise on her face that had been inflicted by her grandmother and mother.

"Please take back your words," she said to him.

Theodore didn't change his words nor his expression for the young vampiress, "What I said, every single word is true and if you want to punish me, I shall take it without any complaint."

Tears finally rolled down her cheeks, but Theodore made no effort to move from his place and console her. Instead, he bowed his head as if he was ashamed, and it only broke Lucy's already broken heart.

"Complaint…" Lucy whispered the word looking away from him. "How would you have any complaint when you are the one to step back, telling me you don't like me and wish to see me with another man," her voice cracked in the end.

"I heard from some of the ministers that your parents are speaking about your marriage to the Duke's son. You have been having pleasant conversations with him. You-"

"Stop it," ordered Lucy immediately, and she looked back at him. "I thought you were different, not like the other men. That you understood, but you don't…" he was hurting her by speaking such things, and it only ached her heart that much more. "You don't have to explain anymore."

And Lucy turned away, walking towards the door, and her hand reached for the door, but she paused to turn back and look at Theodore, who had the same expression on his face. She felt as if his hand had reached out for her heart, and though initially she had been happy, and she now felt as if he was squeezing it. Lowering her gaze, Lucy finally pulled open the door and ran towards her room.

When Lucy had stepped outside, and in the corridor, Theodore could hear the sob that escaped Lucy's lips, and he felt his heart shake. The smile on his face fell, and his eyes that looked bright in front of the princess turned dull.

Theodore knew Lucy would never forgive him, he believed what he did was for the best.

In the princess' eyes, what he did was the cruellest thing she had ever been through, but the pain was inevitable when revenge came into the picture. Madame Fraunces had died because of him, and he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

Right now, he had to prioritise, and if he was going to focus on building a relationship, either he, Calhoun or worse, Lucy would die under the instructions of Queen Morganna, and he wouldn't let that happen.

"Forgive me, Lucy," he said when she was long gone, where she wouldn't be able to hear him.

When Lucy reached her room, she closed and locked the doors. The sobs didn't stop escaping from her lips, and with every passing second what Theodore said only sunk in her mind. She brought her hand to cover her mouth so that the people who would walk outside her room would not be able to hear her.

Her body slid down against the door, and she finally sat down on the floor. After a while, the sobs stopped, and Lucy stared into space in front of her, unable to think more. Pulling her knees closer to her chest, she hugged them to keep herself calm.

As the evening approached, Lady Samara appeared at Lucy's door, knocking on the door, "Lucy? Open the door, the maids need to get you ready. The Greville's are joining us for dinner. Did you forget it? Lucy?"

Lucy could feel the vibration of the knocks as she was sitting with her back against the door. She felt numb, like the emptiness she had been trying to escape from had opened wide and was now swallowing her up.

People around her...they lied, they were cruel, and they did what they pleased without considering her feelings.

"Lucy! Open the door, right now. I know you are in there!" Lady Samara's voice lost its cool, and a smile appeared on Lucy's lips, that didn't reach her eyes.

She got up from the floor and wiped the remnants of possible tears on her cheeks that had already dried. She finally opened the door.

"What were you doing?!" demanded her mother.

"Nothing," came the bland answer from Lucy/

"Get her ready and make sure she looks presentable. Your future in-laws are coming to meet you along with Samuel. Isn't that wonderful? I cannot believe you will be getting married soon. I will miss you dearly," said her mother, making her sit in front of the mirror, and the maids started to swarm around Lucy.

"If you are going to miss me, why are you even trying to send me away from here?" whispered Lucy. Hearing this, Lady Samara rolled her eyes.

"Have you forgotten all your learning given by Ms. Lewis?" asked the woman before turning to look at the dresses that were being taken out from Lucy's closet that were now neatly being placed on the bed.

"I don't understand how a woman who has not been married can explain the importance of marriage to me," Lucy was in an irritable mood with her heart and mind troubled.

Lady Samara turned to look at her daughter with a frown, "What is with these absurd questions? For once, can you not listen to me?"

Lucy's hand gripped on the long petticoat that she wore, "I have been doing that since I learned to speak," she muttered under her breath.

Lady Samara let out a tired sigh, and she asked, "What are you trying to do, Lucy? Don't try to push me by thinking I won't reprimand you for your behaviour just because the Greville's are coming to see you."

Lucy's eyes lowered down to look at her hand, before she let go of the white petticoat she had been clutching.

During the time of dinner, everyone was seated at the table. The royal family members as well as the Greville's. The Duke was busy speaking to Lucy's father about his trade and how he could help Devon in its progress.

Lucy, who now sat next to Samuel hadn't touched her food and his mother questioned her,

"You haven't touched your food nor your drink, dear. Is everything alright?" On the woman's question, everyone's eyes fell on her immediately and Lucy put up a smile on her lips.

"Yes, Mrs. Greville," replied Lucy.

"You're such a beautiful girl. Because of my sickness, I barely step out of the mansion and prefer to spend my time in my room, which is why I wasn't able to attend the soiree. But I am glad to finally met you," said Mrs. Greville, her tone polite.

"I hope you are doing better now, Lady Delilah," said Lady Samara, trying to be a good hostess and making the woman feel comfortable and welcomed as she was soon going to be Lucy's mother-in-law.