The Crown's Obsession (WN)
Chapter 37: At the table

When Madeline entered the room, the guests in the room who were the relatives of the King didn't bother to spare a look at her. She was non-existent, and Madeline didn't mind it. Instead, she was glad that they were not looking at her and that their attention was fixed on King Calhoun.

The woman and her two children stood up to bow their head, waiting until the King sat down in his seat, and he waved his hand for them to sit.

"Good morning, my King," the woman was the first one to greet him. A smile on her lips and Madeline noticed her thin eyebrows on her face.

"Good morning, Rosamund, I wasn't expecting you today," Calhoun commented, picking up the napkin that was placed at the side to put it on his lap.

"We were passing by the castle and thought to give you a visit. It has been a while since we last saw you," the woman answered, touching her blonde hair that was twisted and tied around to the side.

"Three days. I must be very loved to have my aunt and cousins come to meet me," smiled Calhoun, his lips pulling up as he looked at his aunt.

"Of course, you are, my nephew," his aunt Rosamund responded.

"Thank you," Madeline murmured when a maid came to put the napkin on her lap which she hadn't taken, busy looking at the people at the table.

She glanced at the woman and then Calhoun to notice how both of them were smiling at each other. She could only hope that no one would see her.

"Brother Calhoun, we were actually on our way to hunt. Would you like to join us?" asked the girl who had short straight black hair with eyes that were red, similar to the other people who sat at the table except for Madeline who was the only human.

"Maybe some other time. My schedule is full, and I was going to take Madeline out to show the castle. I don't think you have met her," Madeline bit her inner cheek, taking a deep breath when Calhoun turned to look at her, showering all the attention to her along with the other three.

"I don't think I have heard or met her before. I am Calhoun's aunt, Rosamund Wilmot," the woman had turned her gaze to look at Madeline, her smile toned down as her eyes observed the girl who looked out of place even though she wore clothes and jewels that were of high taste.

Madeline's already straight back turned stiff, and she bowed her head, "It is good to meet you, Lady Rosamund," and once she looked up, she could tell the woman was judging her with her eyes.

"You have a guest. We didn't know," the girl named Sophie commented, her own eyes gauging the girl like her mother.

"That is because you decided to barge in without any prior notice," said Calhoun without holding his tongue on the matter. He raised his hand for the servants to start serving the food which was brought into the room and placed on the table.

"You don't mean that," Sophie laughed.

"I do," Calhoun's eyes met Madeline's, and she stared back before her eyes shifted to look at the food in front of her, "Anyways, I heard your servant was caught stealing things from your mansion. What did you do with him?" his eyes moving to his plate without sparing a look towards his relatives as he questioned.

"Sent him to the scaffold. Letting go would mean other servants thinking they can get away by doing things like this," came the nonchalant words from Lady Rosamund, "These servants come from such deep poverty, they need to be taught what is right and wrong."

Sophie, who was looking at Madeline, turned to look at her mother, "Not to forget what happened a week ago. One of the maids thought it was alright to be wearing my gown. We had to strip her to make sure she got the point."

"That is right," Lady Rosamund chuckled, "Anyways, what does your father do, Madeline?" she asked the human who was seated in the same table as them. The Lady didn't share a meal with the lowly humans as they were not worth her time and below them, she looked at the girl curiously.

Madeline didn't like the Wilmot's, but then she didn't like to be in Calhoun's presence either. She had expected Calhoun to intervene and answer, but instead, he seemed least bothered with the question that was directed at her.

Feeling the eyes of Lady Rosamund and her children on hers, Madeline parted her lips to answer, "He is a woodcutter."

Lady Rosamund and her daughter Sophie stared at the human for a good two seconds before they broke into a laugh, "You have a good sense of humour, girl," Lady responded,

"I am serious," stated Madeline, seeing the way the woman's smile died down on her lips and she turned to look at Calhoun to ask,

"Is it true?"

Calhoun was cutting the meat on his plate, bringing the fork towards his mouth, "If she's being serious it must not be a lie unless it has a different meaning," and he put the food into his mouth.

Lady Rosamund dropped the knife in her hand on the table, the metal clattering against the table, "When did the lowly labourers have the fortune to come and share a meal in this castle. Not to forget with the King."

"Since today," Calhoun chewed his food, his appearance composed, "Isn't she beautiful?"

Rosamund didn't agree to this. Her eyes had caught the girl in the very first moment, knowing the clothes that she wore didn't go along with the way she appeared, and she said, "I think it is good that we are here to provide you company in the dining room. This is a place for only deserving people. You can leave the room, Madeline," the woman gave her a bright smile, raising her hand for the girl to leave the room, "Go on."

"I thought she was from a high family," whispered Sophie to her brother.

"Clothes changes a person. This is why they say looks are deceiving," remarked Lady Rosamund's son.

"Are you playing dress-up with her, brother Calhoun?" asked the young vampires who appeared to look two years younger than Madeline.

"Dress up is all good only outside the main rooms. It seemed like the girl tried to enchant you in three days?" asked Lady Rosamund with a tch in the end, "Let me take the responsibility as your aunt to discard hussy like these."

Madeline didn't like the woman, but at the same time, she was glad to leave the table. She would find more peace away from this room and with that thought, she started to get up when Calhoun asked,

"Where do you think you're going?" Calhoun who had been busy eating moved his dark red eyes to look at Madeline. The smile on his lips had fallen down as he stared at her,

She gritted her teeth, feeling the awkwardness around her, "She said to-"

"I didn't ask you to leave. Sit," he ordered.