The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Demons by Jacob Lee

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When news reached Lucy's ears about Theodore being thrown into one of the dungeons, she had tried to look for Calhoun to ask what happened. Even though he had broken her heart, she still loved and cared for him.

"Do you know which town's dungeon he has been placed in?" asked Lucy in a nonchalant tone to one of the maids who was combing her hair.

"I heard it was the town near Neulle. But it can be the nearby dungeons too, milady. I cannot believe he could kill someone. He even killed people in the castle, how shocking is that," whispered maid.

The more Lucy thought about it, the more sense it made. Amice...she didn't run away from the castle, but she was killed by Theodore. But why? Did something transpire in her absence that she wasn't aware of?

"That will be enough, I will do the rest," said Lucy, taking the comb from the maid to brush her hair.

Hearing a commotion that was taking place in the castle, Lucy wondered what it was, and the maid was the first one to go and take a look before she came back inside.

"Oh, milady! It is the murderer!" informed the maid.

Lucy felt her heart skip a beat, and she ordered, "Tie my hair."

Once her hair had been braided from behind, she quickly made her way to look where Theodore was. She walked in her bare feet. When she saw him, she waited until there was no one to catch sight of her or him. She followed him, watching him from afar. He looked worn out. When she took a second to look away from him, Theodore had disappeared from the front, and Lucy frowned.

Stepping away from the shadows that the evening sky had created, she wondered where he went when suddenly someone spoke behind her.

"What are you doing?" came Theodore's question, and Lucy was quick to turn around, and she took two steps away from him.

"You startled me," complained Lucy, feeling her heart skip a couple of beats as she looked at him. He was standing right in front of her. How did he come to stand behind her? "I was walking in the corridor, am I not supposed to do that?" she demanded, her tone defensive.

It felt like years had passed since they had last spoken to each other. The strings of her heart pulled towards him. His eyes stared back at her, his face cleaner than how the maids had described. The windows were casting a shadow on the walls and the floors of the castle, and the corridor that they were in, was a quieter one.

"I never said you shouldn't walk, milady," he offered a bow to her before raising his head.

Theodore knew someone was following him for some time now, and he had decided to walk in the deserted corridors where no one would come to stumble in the evening. He was surprised to find it was Lucy.

He could sense the pain in her eyes, and he said, "I hope you enjoy your stroll. I shall take my leave."

Unable to contain herself, Lucy asked, "Do you like that woman? Lady Selena?"

Theodore, who was about to start walking, turned his head to the side, "You should concentrate on Mr. Greville and not who I speak to."

Lucy gritted her teeth at the hostility she received from Theodore. "You shouldn't worry how much concentration I put on Mr. Greville."

Theodore's lips curled before it went back to set itself in a thin line. He enjoyed the spark in Lucy's words, and right now, it was filled with fire that could burn him too.

"You are brother Calhoun's guard. Don't waste your time on unimportant things when there are things to do," stated Lucy, not happy by finding out somehow that he had spent his time with that woman yesterday.

Theodore gave her a nod, "Of course, milady. Is there anything else you would like to ask from me?"

Lucy could sense the way he was putting space between them and reminding her who they were and the gap between them. Her eyes then fell on his neck to catch sight of a red line that she had missed earlier. From what she had heard, Theodore had visited the dungeon for the murder, and she gulped.

"I do," said Lucy. "Did you have anything to do with Amice's disappearance?"

Her eyes didn't leave his even for a moment, and she wondered what torture he had been put through in the dungeon. Theodore didn't seem like he wanted to answer her question right away, and it only weighed her mind with the questions of why, wondering if she were to ask, she would receive the answer to it.

"Why do you ask that, Lady Lucy?" asked Theodore, his expression calm and unwavering.

"Isn't that why you were taken away by the guards today? Because they claimed you to be the murderer," said Lucy, wanting an actual answer than being stalled by him.

"It was told that I killed the woman named Madame Fraunces, and the servants of this castle. Do you think I killed them?" questioned Theodore and Lucy didn't know. She didn't know what to think and what to not. If Theodore was back in the castle, it meant he was still innocent.

"Forget it," whispered Lucy. Questions like these were pointless, and Theodore would only question her back.

Lucy was ready to leave when she heard him ask her, "Did you get your wedding gown prepared?"

Her hand clenched together, and her head snapped around. "Not yet. But I am sure it will be a beautiful one."

"I am sure it will be," he was standing next to the window and looking outside, he said, "It seems like your future husband is here for you."

Lucy looked mad at him, gritting her teeth. She turned on her heel and left. The smile on Theodore's lips fell, and he placed one hand on the window sill before clutching on it.

He watched Lucy meet Samuel outside. "Somethings are hard to let go," he murmured to himself.