The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Lucy noticed how nothing had changed when it came to Ethan Moryett nature, and he seemed as calm as before. His words possibly kinder, but then Ethan had always been kind, she thought in her mind. Catching up with him like this felt like old times.

"Are you going to stay in the castle for some more days or are you just here for the wedding, Lady Lucy?" inquired Ethan as they continued to walk in the corridors of the castle.

"I might stay a little longer," replied Lucy. Ethan had not questioned a word about her marriage or Samuel, and she could only guess that word on what happened had reached him, and he was being thoughtful by not intruding on those matters. She was grateful for his gesture.

Ethan replied, "I am sure the King would be more than happy to have you here. I think it was only two months ago when he had mentioned he had not seen you for a very long time."

Lucy wondered herself why she hadn't come to visit the Hawthrone castle, but then it might have been because of Theodore. Their pasts were slightly complicated because of the feelings that had been carried over all these years.

She smiled at the vampire's words, "That I have been told."

With Samuel out of her life, where she was free from him, Lucy wondered what to do next with her life. The Hawthrone castle might be her true home, but that didn't mean it was right to stay here. She needed some time for herself, alone and away from people. She had decided to think about it once the wedding was over.

"How about you, Ethan? Will you be staying here longer?" questioned Lucy.

"I came here to attend the wedding and to make sure you to see you were alright," Ethan's words slipped from his mouth, and he bit his tongue before he would say anything more. "Pardon me for my words."

Lucy shook her head, "You don't have to be careful around me, Ethan. Don't apologize for something you aren't responsible for," and they both turned quiet.

Ethan looked at Lucy, who offered him a sweet smile, and he couldn't help but wonder how her bastard husband had the heart to cheat on a person like her. Lucy was everything a man would dream of having, and she deserved nothing but happiness. If he found Samuel in the future, he wouldn't leave the man without a fight, he thought in his mind.

As cheerful as Lucy appeared to be, he could tell she was hiding her pain from everyone, and that was why he had come here. Hoping she could rely and lean on him as a friend.

Lucy then said, "It is surprising sometimes, isn't it, to realize what we chose to be wrong."

"People are deceptive, milady. And some lowlives don't know what they have next to them, living their lives without any morals. I am sorry to hear what happened," said Ethan and Lucy had a tight smile on her lips.

"It's fine. I am fine, Ethan," she assured him. "It is better to be told the truth than live in a palace of lies. I am glad that I found out what kind of man Samuel was." Lucy didn't know why, but she felt like an unlucky person when it came to receiving love. Her parents had never given the attention and care that she had sought, and strangely she had received it from other people who were not her family.

"I know it's too soon, but if you ever want a change of surroundings and people, you can always come and visit the Moryett's mansion. The mansion is built near the river and it might be something you might find to your liking," offered Ethan.

"I remember you telling that. Maybe I will," she smiled at Ethan, and he returned the smile to her. "Actually, my family had gifted me a mansion before they passed away of course. By my father, it is probably six to seven hours of journey from here. I was thinking about speaking to brother Calhoun about it and spending some time there," said Lucy, raising her hand to push the piece of her hair behind her ear.

The mansion was a birthday gift to her that had not been used and had been now left in the dust as no one lived there. Getting it suitable to live would take some time, but Lucy believed it would be worth it.

Lucy hadn't spoken to Theodore since the time she had left his room, and she didn't know if she was ready to forgive him. She had held on to the pain for so long that her hand didn't want to let go of it.

"Maybe I can help you with it," Ethan was kind in offering his help, and Lucy's heart went out for him. "I don't have anything in particular to do as I will be taking a vacation from my duties."

"Thank you, Ethan," she thanked him.

When she was young, she hadn't realized it, but now she wondered why she hadn't fallen for a person like Ethan. He was a good man, someone who respected and showed his concern towards her, and she then remembered why. It might have been because Ethan had someone he already loved, thought Lucy to herself.

Lucy wondered what kind of girl Ethan had or was still in love with that he himself had decided to not get married. How strange, she thought to herself. Neither Ethan had married the person he wanted to, and neither did she marry the person with whom she was in love.

Considering how Ethan had not married, Lucy guessed that the girl was married to someone else now. "Didn't you find anyone else to fall in love with again?" she asked him.

Ethan took a deep breath, a faint smile appeared on his lips, "I didn't find a person like her again."

Lucy pursed her lips, "Well, people are different but they still have a little amount of similarities. I feel bad that a handsome person like you didn't marry the girl or anyone else to heal your pain. I can find you some suitable girls on the wedding day," she proposed and Ethan laughed at her suggestion.

"I think I am fine, milady," replied Ethan. "Oh look, there's Advisor Theodore," and Lucy turned her gaze away from Ethan to find Theodore busy talking to a woman.