PHYSIENTS WILL ALWAYS OFFERS BEST STORIES AND LIVE STREAMING ALL TIME
I see you- Part 2
Wearing just petticoat and stockings that went up to her thigh, Madeline felt as if she was barely wearing any clothes on her body because of the fabric thinness of the petticoat. She had never been placed under this kind of situation. For someone who had not been touched, or kissed, or hugged by a man who was a stranger, her face had turned red, and she stared at the ground of the gallery room.
The couch she was sitting on was cushioned, soft, that sank down when she sat down but no matter how comfortable the couch was, she was far from being comfortable where she was half-clothed. The maid didn't ask or speak to her, she did what she was asked by the King and left Madeline alone in the room. Madeline had turned her body while covering her front with her hands by bringing them forward.
If one day the wicked King were going to die, it would be because she would have stabbed him, but then that was only in her imagination.
She then heard the footsteps back in the gallery, and she didn't turn her gaze to look at Calhoun. Calhoun had merely glanced at her before he went towards the wall to pick up another stand and fresh piece of canvas. Positioning the canvas, he started to bring out the paint and the palette, getting them ready.
"How are you feeling?" she heard Calhoun ask.
"Mortified and angry," she gritted her teeth, not hiding the discomfort he had placed her in.
"That's good. Next time you try to lie to me, remember this," Calhoun said without looking at her while he stood in one side of the corner of the room mixing the colours.
Madeline wanted to know if Calhoun ever got punished for his actions and at the same time she had to remind herself that he was the King. The King made and broke the rules. He was the exception to the rules.
While Calhoun was doing something with the palette, Madeline continued to sit on the couch unmovingly like a statue. She tried to calm herself. Turning angry would only feed to the twisted mind of the vampire King. To most, her actions would appear to be irrational after all. Girls were often married to the Lords, Dukes, Kings and other men who held a closer seat to the King, therefore, it was nothing new. Women had been getting betrothed for centuries.
Marriages were often formed to create alliances or for peace which was merely out of love. Girls even younger to her were forced into marrying the men, forced in bed, and thinking this Madeline closed her eyes. She came to realise the difference between those other girls and her was that, they were married to the men immediately while here she was only being held captive, waiting to be married. And as the thought sank in, she tried to think over things, but it didn't stop her from seeking her freedom that she cherished.
Her eyes moved slowly towards Calhoun, who walked back to the Canvas that was placed in front of her. His demeanour relaxed like he was not angry with her.
Calhoun left the palette near the stand and walked towards Madeline, his eyes darker than before, and she didn't know if it was because of the light coloured shirt he wore that accentuated his eyes.
"Have you painted people before?" asked Madeline, who had been holding her breath before she had to remind herself to breath.
"I have," he answered her, his hand reaching her ankle and he pulled it so that it stretched across the length of the couch, "Both men and women."
"Men too?" came out Madeline's honest question. She couldn't picture a naked man being painted by Calhoun.
Calhoun's eyes met her eyes that was not looking at him, "When it comes to art there's no man or women. But if it helps, men were often drawn with the women," Madeline had only been curious about it, "Are you not uncomfortable sitting like that?" he questioned her, noticing how she had twisted the top of her body.
"I am uncomfortable wearing just a petticoat," she muttered under her breath.
"If it's uncomfortable we can take it off to make you feel more comfortable," his words had Madeline's eyes go wide, and she snapped her head to look at him. When his hand reached close to her shoulder, Madeline was quick to say,
"I am fine," she didn't know why she even tried to wiggle her way out.
She saw how Calhoun smiled. The smile was slow and gradual that made to his lips. His eyes holding mirth in them knowing he had her just where he wanted her- here with him.
"Let me know if you find something to be uncomfortable. I will be sure to help it," meaning to make it worse, thought Madeline in her mind, her eyes staring at him and she felt him pull pieces of her hair and push them behind, "Okay?" he asked her, waiting for her reply.
"Okay," she answered. This was like if she were drowning, she would have to flail her arms by herself because asking for help from this person would be like being pushed deep underwater. Calhoun left her side and walked back to the canvas.
"Relax, Madeline," she heard him say, "I will capture what you will show me, and I will take what you give me," there was promise in his words and Madeline broke her gaze away from him to look away to one of the paintings hanging on the wall. She wanted to glare, but at the same time, she didn't want to look at him.
Calhoun who stood behind the canvas was tall enough where he didn't have to step away from it to take a look at Madeline as his eyes could perfectly and clearly see her from where he stood. She looked delectable sitting like that. Painting came like second in nature to him and he was used to people's naked bodies but with Madeline, it was different. It wasn't the nakedness that alluring to his eyes but the way she looked right now, trying to cover her modesty which he had seen when he had dressed her before.
He was used to women showing off their womanly parts, trying to lure him but they were nothing but objects to be drawn. He wondered why even though Madeline was dressed in her petticoat, she appeared to be the most beautiful girl. An art he just didn't want to capture on his canvas but to capture her in his arms. She looked better than his imagination. Pale skin, red cheeks and pale pink lips that were parted while her eyes had been lowered, she was too perfect in his eyes.
Madeline didn't know how long she would have to sit here like this. As Calhoun had pointed earlier, the position she had opted to sit in started to turn one of her legs numb, and her back started to ache, but she didn't complain. Madeline had her own pride! And she wouldn't admit defeat when it came to Calhoun.
With the space she and Calhoun shared, she could hear the strokes of the pencil against the canvas.
Minutes turned and added up to an hour when Madeline had lost count of the time. All the while, she could feel Calhoun's eyes on her, and neither of them spoke. She sat there on the couch while he continued to draw her. She didn't know when it happened as her eyes had started to turn drowsy as it felt like hours had passed when in truth only an hour had passed, her body slightly swayed and her eyes finally closed to fall asleep on the couch.
Calhoun, who had been outlining her with the charcoal, shifted his gaze to look up from the canvas to find the girl asleep on the couch. One hand was placed below the side of her head, and the other hand had moved to place on the surface of the couch.
His red eyes stared at her, leaving the canvas he was working behind as he walked to where she was and he sat down to level himself to her. Madeline looked defenceless sleeping on the couch.
"Are you trying to make me fall for you more?" he asked in a whisper that didn't reach Madeline as she was asleep.
Calhoun then stood up, walking back to replace the canvas with a new one. Restarting the art that was in front of his eyes that was precious, which was the girl who was sleeping on the couch.
_________
The coat- Part 1
Calhoun had changed the canvas he had been making use of which was before Madeline had fallen asleep. He had been looking forward to painting her earlier, but what he saw right now was something that he wanted to capture and paint on the empty canvas with colours that surrounded the girl on the couch. The tips of his fingers were dusted in black because of the constant touch of the charcoal that he was holding to draw her.
Madeline was the art he could draw thousands of times and would never tire out of it. For someone who kept her guard up since the time she came to know who he was, she right now slept on the couch, defenceless and vulnerable without knowing the dangers of the castle or Calhoun.
He took his time in drawing every line and curve as the girl continued to sleep in the quiet room. His red eyes moved between the canvas and the girl. Unable to keep his eyes off of her where for once she wasn't glaring at him, he stopped his hand from moving on the canvas. His feet padded on the ground to where she was, the piece of charcoal turning to dust because of the pressure of his fingers. Black pieces of dust fell on the ground.
Madeline had somehow curled herself on the couch, and it made Calhoun wonder if she had not been sleeping well in the night. It could also be because of the exhausting day, and the thought itself made Calhoun angry. His jaw clenched together at the notion that the man had come here to meet her. He was no fool to believe that it was a coincidence.
"Were you hoping to leave today with him?" he asked in a whisper, his eyes raking in her sleeping form, "You looked anxious when you met me, what did you do with him? I won't let anyone take you away from me," said Calhoun.
When Madeline turned around in sleep to have a much more comfortable position to sleep in, the oblivious girl didn't know she was only enticing the King further with her current state.
Madeline had moved to sleep with her front facing the ceiling. One hand placed on her stomach and the other that rested on the surface of the couch next to her. The petticoat was not a long one, but of the length that reached just below her knee which now had raised itself to show the pale lace-like garters around one of her thighs. Her hand that was placed on her stomach pressed the upper part of her petticoat to show the curve and colour of her tips because of the fabric pressing against her body.
Calhoun's hand itched, and he clenched, his eyes turning darker than before when his eyes fell on it.
His anger had not dissipated, not because the man had come here but because of the lie that was uttered to him. He couldn't let it pass, and it appeared that the girl forgot the point of punishment. He was no kind King.
"Madeline," he called her name loud enough to have her eyes snapped open from sleep.
"I am sorry," she whispered quickly. Madeline didn't know when she had fallen asleep but when she heard Calhoun call her name, her eyes were wide open, and she suddenly sat up and pushed the petticoat down that had risen up to her thigh.
"I didn't know I asked you to sleep while I was painting you," Calhoun's words were sharp, his eyes even more intimidating as if he were upset about something, "Did I?" he demanded.
In haste, she didn't realise that the petticoat had moved from the top of her shoulder- covering one side until her neck and the other giving a view of her smooth shoulder. When it came to her notice, she was about to make it right, but Calhoun had got to it sooner as he took hold of one end of the petticoat from where her skin started to be seen and he pulled it back in place.
Madeline had tried to keep herself awake, but her eyes kept closing, and she decided to close her eyes for a few seconds, but she had fallen asleep in this man's presence!
"You must be very stressed. With the man coming here and getting caught," Calhoun said, straightening both the sides of the petticoat even and Madeline wished he would let them go, but he didn't, "This is why they say not to lie and come clean. I should have preferably had you with the bedsheet to paint. It would have kept you awake," he taunted.
She moved back into the couch she was sitting in to have his hand finally retract to his side. Seeing her still drowsy where she was trying to get her out of sleep, Calhoun said,
"Anyways, I got the painting I was looking forward to. I didn't know you could have a sensual look on your face while sleeping, not to forget where your hands were and the legs," his words were slow and deliberate so that every word of his would sink into her mind. Calhoun's eyes shone with an evil look in them, and Madeline could feel her heart drop in dread, "Was way better than I imagined," and he looked downwards from her neck suggestively and Madeline crossed her arms in front of her.
Seeing him stand up and turn around to go back to the canvas, Madeline's lips pursed. The way he spoke, and the way her petticoat had risen up her thigh, she didn't know what he had painted.
"C-can I see it?" she asked, curious to confirm her suspicion on what outrageous painting he had made of her.
"No."
No? thought Madeline to herself.
Calhoun's reply was quick and short that held no explanation of why she couldn't see it when she was the person he had drawn or painted.
She then realised she had used a polite speech with a question. Changing her words, she said, "I want to see it," and this earned her with Calhoun who turned around to meet her eyes.
"You want to see it?" he cocked his head to the side. The way he asked her, Madeline wasn't sure if she was to nod her head or not, "Yes?"
Madeline tried to search through his demeanour if this was a trap or if he would allow her because the first time she had asked he had refused with a no.
"That's what I thought," Calhoun noticed how she was fretting to see what he had drawn with her in it. He relished the anxious look he brought out in her face. Seeing Madeline stand up, Calhoun took slow steps towards her,
"For someone who fell asleep in front of the King, give me one reason why I shouldn't punish you further? Falling asleep," he walked around, pausing his footsteps behind her, "... were you expecting me to hand down another punishment to you?" his words fell right next to her ears, "You know what? You can go back to your room."
Madeline would have been relieved that he was dismissing her from his presence but she was wearing only a petticoat and the dress she had been wearing was nowhere to be seen in the room.
Was he purposely asking her to leave the room in this state? When her eyes met Calhoun's, she saw him grin at her.
________
The coat- Part 2
She saw him walk around her, his eyes not breaking eye contact with her until he came to step in front of her. Because of his height, Madeline had to crane her neck up to look at him, "You are free to walk back to your room," said Calhoun looking into her brown eyes.
"Where are my clothes?" she inquired, her eyes breaking away from him to search the room but it seemed that the dress she had been wearing had disappeared.
"On your body," came the nonchalant answer from him. He knew what she was speaking about, but he behaved like he had no clue.
"The dress that I was wearing earlier before you asked me to be your muse," she asked him by keeping her patience.
"That one, they got dirty because of the paint. I had it sent to get it cleaned," he informed as if it was nothing. He playfully pushed her buttons, watching her struggle to keep her sanity. She parted her lips only to close them. Calhoun had tried to rile her emotions, and it seemed that it had worked when he had mentioned about him painting her provocatively. Explaining about her body and looking at her suggestively.
"I cannot leave the gallery like this," informed Madeline. No sane woman would step out in the open for others to see the woman in nothing but petticoat and stockings. It would give the wrong impression of her, especially when she was with the King, "People will get the wrong idea."
"Like what?" he breathed the words and placed something in his pocket.
"That something transpired between us."
"Let them," came his quick reply as if he didn't care about it. His hand reached her face, his thumb running across her bottom lip, "The only person you should care about is me and not what others think." A shiver ran down her body when he spoke to her with his thumb that gently brushed her lip and then smiled.
His hand slipped away from her lips, and he walked towards one side of the room, pulling out the coat he had been wearing earlier that was hanging. Returning, he put the coat around her shoulders. The coat felt utterly loose and it reached just above the hem of her petticoat.
Madeline had a look of surprise on her face when he was done putting the coat on her.
"Better?" he asked her before lowering his voice, "Go on before the big bad wolf gobbles you up in this empty room where no one is there."
Calhoun was angry a few hours ago, and now he was being gentle with her even though it was his fault that she wasn't having her dress on her right now. She didn't know how she would be able to make it to the room in this state, but she took what she got. Madeline didn't have to be told twice and left the gallery room.
Her shoes made sounds with every footstep she took against the white marble floor. She walked quickly, trying to get back to the room while her eyes skimmed the corridor in front of her, hoping there was no one to witness her in such a state. But even though the castle was a closed one, Madeline came to walk past the maids and other servants. When they heard the footsteps, they turned to see who was coming before quickly lowering their eyes. Even though they wanted to look at the human who was coming from the gallery who had spent time with the King, they knew better than ogle at her rudely.
Madeline clutched the coat that was around her tightly, making sure she was covered while her legs were covered in stockings. On her way, she met the King's right-hand man, Theodore who was coming from the other end of the corridor.
She continued to walk without stopping to talk to him. He had informed Calhoun about James even though he said he wouldn't. If she knew this was going to happen, she would have...She didn't know what she would do, but at least she wouldn't be wearing scarce clothes. As they crossed each other, Theodore didn't stop to talk to her and Madeline continued to walk until she reached the room. Stepping inside, she closed the doors.
Back in the gallery, Calhoun was covering the canvas he had worked on before cleaning his hands with a wet cloth as it was covered in charcoal and paints when Theodore arrived at the door. The man bowed his head to hear the King speak,
"Where does your loyalty lie, Theo?"
Theodore, who had raised his head, looked at Calhoun who glanced at him before throwing the wet cloth on the ground, "It lies with you, my King," the man bowed his head again.
"Then is there a reason why you didn't tell me that you saw the low-life in the castle?" Calhoun had raised one eyebrow of his in question. He picked up the covered canvas and placed it to face the wall.
"I didn't see them talking to each other, milord," answered Theodore, which was the truth. Calhoun was not someone who missed things, and if his eyes were on the girl, it meant he would find out the truth.
"If I didn't know you better, I would have taken that you have formed a liking towards the girl, but I know that wasn't your intention," said Calhoun who turned around to meet Theodore's eyes.
The man bowed his head, "I apologise, milord. I thought you would have him killed and it would strain the relationship that you are building with her. Also, I thought you would notice it. I didn't mean any harm. It won't happen again."
"'Course you didn't. If you did, we wouldn't be standing here now, would we?" Calhoun's lips twisted to a smile. He knew Theodore since they were young boys; therefore if there was someone whom he trusted, it was the man who stood in front of him.
Calhoun didn't want anyone coveting Madeline because to him, she was already his since the first time his eyes had fallen on her in the ballroom. He wasn't someone who cared about little things like rumours. Even if it did spread in the castle, it would only solidify the words that were relayed to the servants and other ministers in the castle.
"Did you have a good time?" asked Theodore as Calhoun had made sure no one would disturb his time with Madeline.
Calhoun ran his fingers through his thick locks of black hair, "Wonderfully torturous one." It was too hard not to touch her. He wanted to give her time to ease into the castle life, but he lacked patience. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and treat her the way he wanted to, to not let her out of his bed.
Theodore didn't know what that meant, but if he wasn't sending people to fetch the man who had come to meet the lady in the castle, he took that Calhoun was in a good mood. But he thought wrong as the next moment he heard Calhoun say,
"Call in the tailor man. Tell him the ministers need a new pair of clothes."
_________
Back- Part 1
Calhoun was in the gallery along with Theodore. Theodore didn't dare to ask Calhoun on what had transpired in this room between him and the lady which had resulted in the girl wearing just a petticoat and the King's coat. It wasn't just because he was scared of crossing lines with Calhoun but because it had nothing to do with him.
Theodore had spent years with Calhoun, and he knew the man not only because he was his King but because he was his friend. The man who worked for the King had nothing but best interest in his mind when it came to the person holding the crown right now.
"You stopped painting," said Calhoun, who was leaning his back against the table and supporting himself while looking at Theodore who was looking at one of the many paintings Calhoun had made.
"I lost interest in it a long time ago. I don't think I have it in me to paint anymore," answered Theodore. He walked to look at the same painting which Madeline had come to stand and stare earlier. The portrait of the crowded market that was dark and bustling with people. It was too compact with so many of things in it, and the man said, "I don't have the talent like you, my King."
Calhoun looked at Theodore's frame, who was looking at the painting before he tore his gaze away and looked at him with a smile, "Maybe this is why you are the rightful person to have the crown on your head. I am not strong enough to relive the memories."
"Those memories are what has made us be today," drawled Calhoun. He pushed himself from the table and walked to look at the painting, "Those were some memories," said the King whose lips pulled up from one corner, his eyes calmly looking at what he had created.
"Do you ever dream of it?" asked Theodore, his lighter coloured red eyes looking at Calhoun.
"Every time I close my eyes. You live the dream to the point where it doesn't affect you anymore. It is just a numb feeling that eventually comes to pass or stay."
Calhoun and Theodore were not related to each other, but they had met each other when they were young men—having each other's back in the world they lived where it was survival of the fittest. Theodore sat down on one of his knees. His head bowed to express his gratitude to the King.
"I owe you my life. I am at your service at any point in time," expressed Theodore.
Calhoun stared at Theodore and said, "I will be wise to use it when I seem it to be fit," and then Theodore finally stood up on his feet, "What did you find about the poison that has been circulating?"
"So far the servants appear to not know anything about it. Oswyn has not answered the questions that have been asked, but he fears for his life and his family," Theodore informed him as they made their way out of the gallery room, "He seems to be hiding something but refuses to speak about it. Especially with him in the solitary room…"
"If that is so, have him back in the dungeon. Being polite and kind gives you nothing in this world, does it?" chuckled Calhoun and he knew this by experience, "Sometimes being cruel gets the result faster. Shift him today and treat him the way you would with any other criminal. Hiding and covering a conspiracy is also another part of treason against the King."
"Yes, milord," Theodore obliged to the words that were spoken by Calhoun.
As they continued to walk, they found his relative walking towards them who was part of the Wilmot family. His cousin, Sophie Wilmot was here.
"What is she doing here?" asked Calhoun with a bright smile on his face.
"Her ankle must have gotten better?" replied Theodore looking at the vampiress who headed in their way.
Calhoun couldn't help but smile over the words because they both knew Sophie had not hurt her ankle, and it had been nothing but a ploy to get his attention. The two men had grown up in the worst part of the land, and it was not possible to not recognise white lies that were easy to catch on.
Sophie had a look of upset on her face, making her way to where Calhoun was. Once she was close, she smiled at Calhoun, "Brother Calhoun," she greeted, bowing her head and lifting it.
"Sophie," Calhoun greeted her, "I didn't know you were visiting the castle. How is your ankle?" he asked with polite words. His eyes filled with mirth in them as he looked at her.
Sophie gave him a warm smile, "It is much better now. Thank you for asking," she looked down to her leg and brought her foot forward, rotating her ankle to show it was all better.
"I thought it was your left foot that had twisted itself," Calhoun stated, and Sophie looked as if she were caught before she smiled.
"Is that so? This was the ankle, brother Calhoun," answered Sophie. Her eyes moved to his shirt, which was etched with spots of paint on them. He wore a pale white shirt with the top two buttons that were left unbuttoned to let one have a view of his smooth and hard chest.
The vampiress would have blushed and acted coy in front of Calhoun if she hadn't seen the lowly human wearing a coat that belonged to the King. She had reached the castle three hours ago and had been wanting to meet Calhoun, but the ministers and the servants had mentioned about him being in his room, resting, which was a lie.
Earlier when Sophie had stepped out of her guest room and walked towards the King's quarters where his room was located so that she could talk to him. It was then she had noticed the human walking in one of the corridors across from where she stood. She and her mother had dropped her out of the castle so that she would not return to the castle ever again, so how did she come back?!
The human clearly lacked a proper dress underneath the coat that belonged to the King. She was furious when she saw her enter a room and go behind the door to close it. Had the King bedded her? She was curious.
"I wonder which one of our memories are bad," hummed Calhoun, a hint of sarcasm in it, "Unless you are implying that mine is bad."
Sophie laughed softly, placing her hand on Calhoun's arm, "Stop teasing me, brother Calhoun."
Theodore, who was with them, turned his head away, his eyes looking at the walls and pillars of the castle when he heard Calhoun say, "Am I? Theodore, do you agree with Lady Sophie's statement?"
The vampire pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose, "You have an excellent memory, my King. No one can compare you to it," Theodore was the King's most trusted and loyal man who would call the crow to be white if the King asked him to testify for him.
"You need to eat almonds. They say it is good to retain memory," said Calhoun and Sophie wondered why she could made the error of forgetting which ankle she had shown to have hurt before.
When they started to walk, Sophie walked right next to Calhoun's side. Though young, she was a vampiress who was looking forward to turning to be the queen of these lands, and she had grown up with the thought of how she should behave and sway people. And maybe it would have been easy if the King wasn't Calhoun but another man.
She didn't know how, but Sophie had noticed many times on how he was able to look through her or anyone, which was why she had to be careful with what she uttered to him.
"Were you painting?" asked Sophie with an enthusiastic voice.
Calhoun nodded to her, "I was."
"Can I see it later? It has been a while since I last went to the gallery. The last I saw was you working on the stag that we hunted. My King, I have a request," said Sophie, her red eyes looking into his darker ones, "I would like to be painted too," her words were slow enough so that it wouldn't be lost.
__________
Back- Part 2
Calhoun chuckled at her words, taking it in a literal sense, he said, "I don't think you would need me for it, Sophie. The paints are there in the room. Just take the can and pour it on yourself."
For the first two seconds, Sophie blinked and looked at Calhoun, waiting for him to say something more but he didn't say anything. She nervously laughed again, her hand around Calhoun's arm,
"That is so mean, brother Calhoun. You are always teasing me," said Sophie to him.
"I cannot help but want to tease you," he smiled looking at her and she returned the smile back.
Both Calhoun and Sophie were treating each other nicely for their means. If it was someone else who had taken the audacity to speak about her having to pour paints on herself, she would not have stopped herself from slapping the person who would try to make a joke. But Calhoun was no regular person. He was the King, and if she were going to be his queen one day, she would have to keep him in her good grace.
Not to forget, Calhoun had his own charm. Every word he uttered was mesmerising enough that she didn't like it when he paid attention to other girls. She wondered if Calhoun had done something to the human that had her walking in such a state.
When Calhoun's eyes met Theodore's, a quiet stare passing between them, Theodore took it to himself to ask, "Lady Sophie, shall I get the room prepared for you if you are staying here tonight?"
"That wouldn't be necessary. I already asked one of the servants to get me the room," Sophie didn't look at Theodore as she said this, but she glanced at Calhoun with a smile on her face, "But when I asked for the room, I was assigned in one of the guest rooms of the castle."
"Isn't that where guests stay? Unless you are asking to share my room," Calhoun raised his eyebrow, "How scandalous."
Hearing him say those words which were what her heart and mind desired, Sophie couldn't help but blush over it. Calhoun's charm was not immune to anyone and at the end of the day, Sophie was just another girl who was trying to get his approval in what she did, showing him how much she respected him and did things he wanted her to do.
"That's not what I meant!" Sophie quickly covered it up by saying, "I am your relative. It is just strange that I am being added in the guest rooms and not in the quarters. I didn't get to stay there even once."
Calhoun's intelligent eyes looked at Sophie, the subtle smile on his lips had not left from his face, "The King's quarters is only for the King. Did you see something you were not supposed to see, Sophie?" he asked.
Sophie shook her head.
"I will tell the maids to treat you well, just like you deserve it," it wasn't what Sophie wanted to hear, but she put a smile on her face, and she bowed her head.
"Thank you for looking after me, brother Calhoun," she thanked him before asking him, "Where is Madeline?"
"Lady Madeline," corrected Calhoun and Sophie felt a jab in her chest, "She's possibly in her room. Resting now. You can talk to her once she comes down for dinner."
"Resting? Is she alright?" asked Sophie in concern which was not how she truly felt.
"She's fine. Where is your mother? She will be upset if she sees you hanging out with men, especially when you are yet to find a suitable man and settle down. How are the suitors?" asked Calhoun, flipping the whole question to her side.
"I don't think there's anyone in the suitors who are worthy of me so far. I thought perhaps I should join the court. I will maybe find someone here in court. What do you think?" asked Sophie, her words indirect as usual.
"Suit yourself," Calhoun replied with a bright smile and a spark in his dark red eyes. Theodore, as usual, only moved his eyes without being too obvious and keeping his words and thoughts to himself.
Back in the room, Madeline had removed the coat and started to change herself into something much more decent than what she was wearing since from the last few minutes and hours in the gallery. Until she had reached the room, she had tried to hide her face behind her blonde hair, but that had only brought more attention to her. If the word were to spread about how she was barely clothed in front of the King, her modesty would be lost.
When women associated herself with a man who was not her husband, it was always the woman who had to take the burnt end of the situation. The people were harsh, and they called women names that were hard to digest. Here, Madeline was dealing with the King, and everyone knew how much of debauchery went down when it was the man who was of high status.
She had pulled out the petticoat, and she was about to wear a new one when she noticed her thighs and the stockings that went past up to her knees. One of the lacey garters that were used to hold the stockings that she wore was missing. Her eyebrows knitted together and she looked around the room where she had walked to see it was not here.
Had she lost it on her way from the gallery to the room? Or had it come loose to slip and fall in the gallery without her notice?
She finally dressed and stayed in the room until she was called by the maid to join the King in the dining room. Calhoun had created enough anxiety in her by looking at her suggestively back in the gallery and telling her that he had painted her while she had fallen asleep. When Madeline had woken up from her nap on the couch, the hem of her dress had come up and God only knew what the crazy King had painted or drawn her.
Reaching the dining room, when Madeline took one step, she was greeted with the sight of Sophie sitting at the table with Calhoun.
"Lady Madeline, how are you doing?" asked Sophie looking at her, "I heard you were resting in the room."
"I am doing good," Madeline stared at Sophie. The last time she had seen the girl was when she and her family had ordered her to get out of the carriage in the middle of the forest.
"That is good to hear. I was worried if you made it safe as you asked to stop the carriage in the middle," Sophie was a smart girl who had subtly pushed the blame on Madeline so that she wouldn't be questioned, "Come sit here," she patted her hand enthusiastically on the chair next to her.
Before Madeline could move, she heard Calhoun say,
"Your seat is here," he pulled the chair next to him, his eyes on hers.
Cautiously, she went to the seat which was further pulled by the maid and she sat down next to him. Sophie was seated right in front of her and though Madeline was looking at the food on the table, she could feel the glare coming from across the table.
________
Scraps- Part 1
Madeline had not bothered to look or make another eye contact with Lady Sophie, who sat directly in front of her at the table. The glares were too obvious, but the one time she did make eye contact during a conversation, she noticed how they looked mellow and sweet like she had meant no harm.
But she knew better than to believe the facade that Lady Sophie was adorning right now. After all, she was the same person who had dropped her down the carriage when they were halfway away from the castle.
If only the Wilmot's had dropped her in the town or the closest village, she would not have been here.
On the other hand, the vampiress, Sophie, couldn't stop thinking about how Madeline had come to stay in the castle, again. When her mother had agreed to stop the carriage and drop the human had brought immense pleasure to her heart and mind. Looking at the girl who had given a distressed look that had made her laugh, and she would have still been laughing if the girl was not here in the same room. How did she manage to get back to the castle?
Sophie couldn't stop glaring at every opportunity she found when Calhoun was not looking at her way, and she knew Madeline could sense her gaze from across the table as it appeared that she was trying to not look at her.
But Sophie wanted to know about Madeline. The King had taken an interest in the human girl which had come to her notice, "How did you get back to the castle?" asked Sophie, "I was worried when you asked us to stop it in the middle of the forest, and it is such relief that you are alright. Brother Calhoun, I hope you are not upset with me," the vampiress asked for forgiveness and Madeline furrowed her eyebrows on what Sophie meant by her words.
Calhoun, who had been enjoying his meal, looked up at Sophie, looking utterly oblivious of what she was speaking, "I don't know why I would be upset with you," he smiled at the young vampiress, and this had made Madeline confused.
"Lady Madeline must have wanted to visit the town first, but she changed her mind and wished to stop the carriage so that she could get down," said Sophie with a concerned look on her face.
"Did she?" asked Calhoun with apparent fake surprise, and he looked at Madeline, "Is that so?" he asked testingly even though he had heard Madeline's version of the story.
Madeline wished she could throw the glass of water at the vampires, but she doubted she would be satisfied with just water being thrown. This vampiress was playing the King and Calhoun was humouring her.
Having both Sophie as well as Calhoun's eyes on her, Madeline took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I wanted to take a walk in the forest. Thought I could find some rabbits and serve them to you," her words were polite. Madeline had always been a respectful girl, and it wasn't in her nature to poke and twist words.
"Such a sweet and thoughtful girl," praised Calhoun as if she had already brought him the rabbits, "Isn't she, Sophie?" Calhoun put the question back to his cousin who didn't understand how Madeline's little escape had turned to Calhoun praising her.
"Yes," came the clipped answer with a smile upon Sophie's lips. When her red eyes met the brown one's, the smile on her lips grew, and she then asked, "Did you find the rabbits? You should probably join us when we go hunting. Brother Calhoun never misses his mark, he's excellent," Sophie flattered Calhoun in return, but the King didn't heed to the words.
"I don't think Madeline is ready for such hunts yet," Calhoun replied before picking up a piece of meat which he placed in Madeline's plate, "Try this," and he went back to eating to leave Sophie's mouth agape.
Madeline didn't react to anything and quietly ate her food along with the meat Calhoun had placed on her plate. She then heard Sophie say to Calhoun, "Brother Calhoun, why are you cutting the sides of the meat and putting it in Lady Madeline's plate? If you want to put the scraps that you don't want to eat, you can put it here," Sophie picked up a fresh plate and placed it in the front.
With Sophie, who put it like that, Madeline stopped moving her knife and fork, and she looked up to look into Sophie's eyes that seemed somewhat pleased.
Calhoun chuckled at Sophie's words, "Madeline is not a night creature like us to eat the barely cooked meat. The sides of the meat is better cooked and would be easy for her to consume than eating the whole uncooked meat," was his response.
Madeline was unhappy that she was being caged in this castle, but she didn't possess a cold heart not to take a look at him when he uttered those words to Sophie. He was being considerate by looking over what she was eating while also making sure she wasn't uncomfortable or repulsed by the food that was being served to her.
"Thank you," she murmured. It went unheard by Sophie, and Calhoun who was looking at his cousin smiled. Not for Sophie but to hear Madeline thank him without him having to push her for the words of gratitude to be heard from her.
"That is very considerate of you, brother Calhoun," claimed Sophie, who switched sides very quickly from insulting to praising, "Lady Madeline," came her words and Madeline knew something was waiting ahead of her, "I think we should share a room so that we can talk. I never had a sister of my own and some of my cousins…"
Now that Sophie had seen Madeline enter one of the rooms in the King's quarters, she wanted the human out of there. When she, the cousin of the King was not allowed to occupy a place anywhere close to the King, she didn't see it to be of any reason on why Madeline should take the privilege. The young vampiress then turned to Calhoun to ask, "What do you think, brother Calhoun, about Lady Madeline sharing room with me?"
Calhoun had just lifted his hand to pick up the glass of wine and he didn't stop himself from taking a sip from it when Sophie asked. After putting the glass down, he said, "It would be better if she used the same room, alone. I wouldn't want to worry where you might suck her dry when she is fast asleep or help her escape from the castle, like the last time," there was a sweet smile on his lips.
Sophie didn't utter another word as it seemed like Calhoun had an inkling of what had happened.
When they finished their meal, Madeline said, "I will be taking my leave first," but Calhoun was not having it.
"Stay," came the order from the King.
Madeline pursed her lips, "I think I dropped my kerchief back in the gallery," she said not wanting to say that the garter around her thigh had been lost.
Sophie was ready to dismiss the girl but then Calhoun was quick to say, "Let us help you look for it."
________
Scraps- Part 2
At Calhoun's friendly suggestion, Madeline quickly shook her head, "No, that won't be necessary. I mean, I wouldn't want to impose on you."
Even Sophie was with Madeline on this as she wanted to get rid of the human away from Calhoun so that she could speak and spend more time with him, but with Madeline around them, the King was distracted, "If Lady Madeline is insisting on going alone, I think it should be fine. Surely, she wouldn't be able to run away if that is what you're worried about, brother Calhoun," her words came out sweet and polite as if she meant no harm to anyone.
"Rubbish," said Calhoun, who had stepped in front of Madeline, "It would be rude to let a lady go by herself without someone accompanying her. Especially when it's a pretty one."
At his subtle compliment, Madeline looked into his red eyes that were staring at her. She wasn't going to run away at this hour of the night from the castle. She was not an idiot to try it again in less than a week. If they were to going to come along with her, she couldn't tell them that what she had lost or dropped was not a mere handkerchief, but it was a lacy garter.
"I insist," Calhoun was persistent as if he knew there was a speck of lie in the words she had spoken, "Come, Sophie. Let's accompany Lady Madeline," now that Calhoun had already decided, Sophie had no other choice but to oblige, and she nodded her head.
Madeline clutched the sides of her dress before giving them a nod, "Okay," she bowed her head to appreciate his kind gesture even though she didn't want it. All she would have to do was find the garter first and exchange it with the handkerchief so that everything would look normal.
And so did the three of them leave the dining room to step out and walk towards the gallery which was where Madeline assumed to find the lost item. As the night had prevailed the sky, the corridors of the castle were lit by the help of the lanterns, leaving a golden glow on the walls and the floor.
On their way, Sophie said, "If it's a kerchief, you can make use of the other ones that are in the room, or maybe one of the servants will find it and return it to you," the vampires had a valid point there.
"Sophie is right," agreed Calhoun to his cousin's words, "I can call the tailor to sew and make new tailored kerchiefs to your liking. Would you like that?" he asked her.
Madeline's eyes turned wide when Calhoun mentioned about the tailor. She turned herself to look at Calhoun who had no smile on his face, where he was looking at the corridor in front of them. How many tailors did the King have? Maybe there was more than one person, and the person Calhoun had spoken was someone else who was not James. But then, Madeline didn't know how petty the King could be.
At the time of noon, he had mentioned how he hadn't asked his men to bring James back into the castle, but that was noon, and this was night. While she continued to stare at him, he finally turned to look at her.
"Did I say anything wrong?" asked Calhoun to her. Though Madeline wanted to say yes, but that would only bring out more conversation than being vague about the matter.
Sophie then said, "Brother Calhoun is always right. What is with looking for one handkerchief when you can have more than ten or twenty of them?" she then looked at Madeline by quickly taking two steps forward to say, "I think Lady Madeline sometimes forgets that this is not her village where people have only one handkerchief with them, but this is the castle."
"No need to be like that, Sophie. Madeline will slowly learn to accustom herself to the castle life. After all, she will be the future queen of this castle," Calhoun's words were like a slap on Sophie's face, and for seconds she was shocked by how firm the King was in his decision, "It's barely been a few days. She will turn to a fine lady."
Both the girls didn't say anything, and they continued to walk towards the gallery, and it was Madeline who had started to look for the piece of fabric. Sophie was furious at the thought that Calhoun was planning to turn this lowly human who knew nothing about their world to be queen. She was the rightful person to be next to Calhoun. Sophie had grown up with the thought that she would be the one to stand next to the King. She looked quite irritated at the moment and didn't bother to look for this human's stupid kerchief.
On the other hand, Calhoun didn't help Madeline to look for the handkerchief. Instead, he stood with his hands in his pocket, looking at the girl who bit the bottom of her lip with her eyes searching on the ground.
"Are you sure you dropped it here?" asked Calhoun to her. The man knew precisely what Madeline was searching for, and it wasn't her handkerchief, "It must have been taken away during the time of painting."
Madeline wondered if one of the servants had probably taken it and it would be returned tomorrow to her. She was the only walking lady in the castle apart from Sophie now.
Upon hearing about painting, Sophie said, "Brother Calhoun, what were you painting earlier? You said you would show it to me later."
"I don't think those were my words," corrected Calhoun and Sophie smiled.
"Of course. I have wanted to look at your paintings. Especially the one you created today," responded the vampiress who was eager to see what had caused this human to walk with the King's coat around her body.
Madeline didn't want anyone to look at it! God forbid for such painting to come out in the public where there would be nothing but ill rumours about her involving the King. She was not the kind of woman to present herself lewdly in front of others.
Calhoun turned to Madeline who had turned pale, "Lady Sophie is asking to take a look at the painting," why was he asking her when he knew she didn't want anyone seeing it! He then said, "It is still work in progress. Once it is done, I will have it placed in the courtroom for everyone to see," Madeline gave him a pleading look.
Was he serious right now?! It was hard to tell if he was testing and teasing her, or if he was being serious.
Sophie wanted to see it. Therefore she decided to take a look at it later. The vampiress was talking about something to Calhoun while Madeline searched and was almost going to give up when she heard,
"You won't get what you're looking for, sweet girl," came the whispered words of Calhoun, who had left Sophie to admire one of his recent paintings.
Madeline turned her head to meet his dark eyes and his lips that had pulled itself up into a wicked smile, "Why do you say that?" she asked him softly.
"Silly thing. It is because I have it."
_______
Souvenir- Part 1
Madeline had been frantic while searching for the garter as it was an intimate possession of any lady and to drop it and to be found by another person was embarrassing. From the time she had realised it to be missing she had been trying to think where it could have been dropped but who knew Calhoun had it.
Her brown eyes glanced at Sophie, who was busy looking at the paintings, and Madeline looked back into Calhoun's eyes that were filled with amusement. Gulping down softly, she asked him, "D-do you mean y-you have it?" it was hard to keep her head straight at the thought that the piece of fabric was in his possession now.
"It?" asked Calhoun, ready to twist her around with his words as he enjoyed seeing those pink lips stutter out words.
Madeline pursed her lips and came to realise it was true. The King had it, and she didn't know how it came to be with him, but the most decent thing for him to do was to return it to the person whom it belonged to. In this case, she was the owner of it.
"Could you please return it to me?" asked Madeline, but in response, she heard Calhoun chuckle and her eyebrows furrowed.
"How can I give it to you when what you are looking for is not that but your handkerchief," stated Calhoun to the point. He put his hands into the pockets of his trousers and continued to look at her—a small smile on his lips which was subtle as if he was enjoying it.
It was true that Madeline had spoken about a missing kerchief but when he knew she was looking for it, it was unfair how he was making her search for something he had already picked. Calhoun leaned forward to have his lips against her ears as if he didn't care if Sophie were to turn and witness their current closeness, "How careless of you to drop something like that in the middle of the castle. Careless people don't get the right to keep things." His breath was warm against the shell of Madeline's ear, and she quickly stepped away from him with her face turned red.
She was worried where Lady Sophie had seen them, but the vampiress was in her own world, "You cannot keep things that don't belong to you!" she whispered to him and saw his lips twist.
"Watch me keep it," he replied back to her and Madeline's heart sank in her chest.
The amount of anxiousness that he made her feel, she doubted she had ever felt it to be so much if she were to consider her entire life. What was he even going to do with her garter?! He was a man and not a woman to steal it from her!
Madeline closed her eyes, trying to calm her heart when she heard him say, "You have a very reactive heart and its good to see how much my words affect you, but then you wouldn't want Sophie to know that it wasn't the kerchief you were looking for but something that was on your thigh, holding the stockings snugly."
She would have never thought that one could describe a garter in such a way, and for a moment she felt the words affect her.
The wicked smile appeared on his lips when Madeline stared into Calhoun's eyes. Madeline had not dropped the garter anywhere on the ground, but Calhoun had taken it away from her when she had turned around while she was sleeping on the couch in the afternoon. With the hem of her petticoat that had moved up to her thigh, it had left one side of her thigh to his view where the stockings rode up her leg and to show the frilly and lacy innocent garter.
"What are you going to do with it?" asked Madeline because she didn't find any actual reason for him to keep it with him.
"As a souvenir," was his simple reply and at the same time, Sophie had turned around to see King Calhoun and the human standing in front of each other.
"Souvenir?" asked Sophie, who had not heard the short conversation that took place between the two of them in the room.
Madeline didn't want Calhoun to speak out loud about their conversation, and she gave him a quick look and then at the Lady to say, "I was saying how I would get a souvenir for everyone here if I go back home. There are a lot of things that one might find to be nice in the village market that people might like it here."
Sophie rolled her eyes, "I don't know what good would be there that people like us haven't seen yet."
"Maybe, if I go there tomorrow I can buy some for the King," her words came out careful, and she saw how the smile on Calhoun's eyes faltered while his eyes continued to be fixed on her.
Madeline knew she was not supposed to test Calhoun, but he was being difficult and doing things that were embarrassing by taking away things that didn't belong to him! He was the one who spoke about souvenir, and she had only continued to talk about it.
The vampiress shook her head, "I definitely don't want any part of it. No offence but I have seen the people there and God it is so crowded and sweaty. I mean I didn't go there obviously," she laughed by placing her hand on her chest, "I heard it from Lady Jules. She said the market looked like animals going back and forth. So, no, thank you."
Calhoun then said, "If you want something, you just have to ask." That is what she did! Thought Madeline to herself when it came to the fabric, "I will have Theodore or someone to go get it for you."
Madeline had never met a person like Calhoun before, which was why she could not just ignore him apart from him being the King. He did things that pushed her buttons and expected her to sit put without reacting. But the truth what Madeline didn't know was that Calhoun pushed and tested her because he liked to see those reactions from her.
Sophie had wasted her time on the human which she wouldn't have done if it weren't for Calhoun being here. Her own eyes looked around the gallery to find the handkerchief which was not here. She had to be under good light. Therefore, she asked Madeline, "Do you remember where else you might have dropped it?"
Madeline, who now knew where the garter was, shook her head, "I will look for it in the room."
The vampiress rolled her eyes at this, "I guess we can all stop looking then," she said turning to Calhoun and say, "We can ask the tailor to get some new ones made for her. This way, she wouldn't have to worry about a single piece of handkerchief."
"I have asked Theodore to call the tailor to get some of the clothes stitched. He will mention about it." Hearing Calhoun's casual words, Madeline's eyes turned wide in fear.
"No!" Madeline exclaimed to have both of their attention. The last thing she wanted was to have James brought back here in the castle in front of the King.
_________
Souvenir- Part 2
Sophie looked startled at Madeline and slightly surprised that she wasn't taking the rare opportunity of taking favour from the King. Men and women often jumped when it was the King himself who was offering something, but it appeared that this stupid human didn't know she was rude by declining the King's offer.
"I think Lady Madeline doesn't know how to behave with our dear King. Do you even know what your refusal means?" asked Sophie who stepped forward and crossed her arms looking down at Madeline, "You must be taking the King's words too lightly-"
The vampiress stopped talking when Calhoun raised his hand, an indication for her to stop from speaking any more than she already did.
It wasn't like Madeline didn't know what it meant by refusing the King's help because it was considered to be rude, but it was James life here, and she couldn't stay quiet while the King called James to the castle and did something unspeakable. She saw how Calhoun's eyes intimidated her.
"Can you explain why you don't want the newly made handkerchiefs? They will be made of the finest silk," asked Calhoun even though he knew exactly why she said no. Madeline didn't want to ask if the King was still furious about her lying about James as she had tried to protect the man she shared affections with.
Sophie stood there with her furrowed eyebrows, waiting for Madeline to speak while Calhoun's eyes didn't falter away from her. Madeline said, "There is some present in the cupboards of the room which I will make use of. The handkerchief I was looking, for now, was just something I had picked for myself in the past, which was why I was looking for it. I can make use of others."
"It is just a handkerchief," Sophie shook her head.
Calhoun and Sophie were the first one's to step out of the gallery. Madeline who was behind glared at the head of Calhoun. When the time came to part away, Sophie was the one to leave Calhoun and the human as she was given the guest room, unlike the room which Madeline was present in the King's quarters.
Calhoun and Madeline walked into the quarters quietly with only the sounds of their shoes against the floor that didn't go too far as Madeline was the first one to break the silence, "Where is it?" she asked him.
The man paused his footsteps when she had stopped, turning to her with a questionable look, "Where is what?"
Madeline's lips pursed tightly as she tried to get the word out of her mouth, "My garter."
The questionable expression on Calhoun's face changed, and he stared at her, "Didn't I say it was a souvenir. Something to remember by."
"I am already here, you don't have to steal-" Madeline stopped speaking when Calhoun took a step in front of her, "You cannot do that. It is impolite!"
"Don't patronise me about what is polite and what is not, Maddie, when you were the one who fell asleep on the couch when the painting was about you being punished." His eyes quietly narrowed down at her, "Consider this to be your punishment."
"What about the painting?" asked Madeline, "You said you already painted something, that should be a punishment to suffice. No person in the sane mind would take an unmarried girl-"
"Earn it then."
Madeline blinked at his words, "What?"
"Take it from me. If you are a good girl, I will think about returning it to you until then it stays with me. Safe," Calhoun was the definition of evil in Madeline's mind. With the time she had spent and known the man, she knew he had no intention to return it, which was very similar to the freedom that would never be granted to her.
She stared into his red eyes for a long time, to have him stare back at her, "Lies," she whispered.
Calhoun's eyes softened a little, he said, "Why do you try when you know then?"
"In the hope that one day my side of the bargain would win," she answered to him and his lips twisted.
"Hope is good only when you are uncertain about a thing. And a King is never uncertain about what he wants," stated Calhoun. He took a step in the direction they had come walking, "Go sleep, sweet girl. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day."
Madeline was worried about tomorrow, "Is it true? That you have summoned James to the castle?"
Calhoun sighed, tilting his head to the side, "Am I not supposed to ask my tailor to come to take mine and other men's measurements?" If it was going to be just about clothes, Madeline would not have been worried like now, but she didn't know what Calhoun had on his mind. The King had found it to be too convenient to call James tomorrow.
"Don't do anything to him. He hasn't done anything and he's a good man." She pleaded softly but her words instead of appeasing to him, it added fuel to the anger that had only simmered down in the evening.
But Calhoun didn't show it, instead, he smiled at her, a smile that was unnerving to Madeline, "You think very lowly of me. I am hurt."
Madeline tore her gaze away, "The last time something happened you cut the man's head in front of me."
"My bad," was his response.
Madeline blinked at his response.
"What did you want me to say? That I am sorry?" asked Calhoun who held little to no remorse for beheading the man, "You surely didn't expect me to let go of the man without giving him a decent punishment, now, did you? Not when he was speaking to you in such a tone...Don't worry, I won't harm the poor man tomorrow."
Madeline wasn't so sure about Calhoun's words. She would only know about it when James and Calhoun met each other tomorrow.
________
King and the tailor man- Part 1
After exchanging some words with Calhoun, Madeline made her way back to the room. Removing her shoes, she went to stand in front of the mirror. The girl in there wore rich clothes that she would have never dared to dream in the past as she knew how much she was limited to things like that. Even the rented dress would not be able to give such quality to be worn. She started to take the jewels off her neck and ears which were handpicked by the King,
It was taken that she was living a life of riches, after all, the King was courting her, and it made her question how happy another girl would be if it weren't her in the current position. Girls or women like her elder sister Beth would have been happy. Her sister had been overjoyed that the King had taken a liking towards her when the invitation had been sent out.
But Madeline had stolen the limelight and the King's attention from Beth, which made her think if her sister was still angry about it. Madeline had no control over what had happened, and she had tried to explain it to her sister. She missed her parents and her. To Madeline, Beth was her sister, a friend, someone who she deeply cared and loved no matter what.
She pulled out the dress that she wore to wear the nightdress. Picking up the hairbrush that was lying on the dressing table, Madeline started to unknot her hair by running the comb from one side of her head to the other side.
She let out a shuddering breath. She was worried and anxious and nervous. Every fibre in her body dipped in the thought of what was going to happen tomorrow. With Calhoun who had finished painting her, she had thought that the King would let go, but she should have known better.
The King of Devon was a petty man, and he would go to any length to make a statement.
That night Madeline barely slept, and she kept turning in her bed now and then, trying to see what the possibility of tomorrow could be.
When morning arrived, Madeline had a light headache in the back of her head, and she looked tired. Even with a comfortable bed and a quiet room, she couldn't fall asleep worrying herself with what was going to happen to James today. When she did fall asleep for a spare few minutes, she had dreamt of Calhoun holding an axe in his hands and James who was placed on the wood of the scaffold to see Calhoun raise the axe that had woken her up.
Rubbing her temples, Madeline pushed the covers and started to get ready. If James was going to arrive early, it was better to be in the court than having King Calhoun deal with the man before she had an opportunity to do anything.
She got ready quickly and stepped out of the room before the maid had an opportunity to step into the corridor where her room was located. Her feet quickly made its way towards the courtroom to see that Calhoun was already here, talking to Theodore but the other ministers were yet to join or maybe the King didn't summon them here yet.
Calhoun's eyes were quick to move towards the entrance of the court to see Madeline who had woken up early and had dressed, "Good morning, Madeline. I didn't know you were eager to meet me today that you have readied yourself faster compared to the last three days."
Madeline didn't have the energy to retort at him, nor did she forget her manners in front of the King. She stopped her footsteps right away and bowed her head to pay her respects and said,
"Good morning, King Calhoun."
She noticed how Calhoun turned towards Theodore to say something to him and dismissed the man. Theodore bowed his head at Madeline to greet her, and even though she was upset with the man for telling the King on what he saw, she returned his bow to see him walk past her.
"It looks like I don't have to worry about Theodore holding your interest in the castle," commented Calhoun, his hand going to support the side of his face where his elbow rested on one of the arms of the throne. Madeline didn't know what the King meant to hint and he continued to talk, "You glared at Theodore."
Madeline frowned to say, "No, I didn't."
This made Calhoun smile. His lips pulled up wide and his eyes shining with mirth, altogether the expression was somewhere scary or daunting to her.
"You must be upset that he told me about your little meeting that took place yesterday," said Calhoun, his words echoing in the courtroom with no one there except for the two of them, "Am I wrong?"
No, the King was never wrong, and Madeline had the urge to say yes, but then she would only look like an insolent child. She didn't even understand what he liked about her. Was it the face? There were many girls and women of the higher class from his status that he could pick. Daughters of Lords or the Dukes, or a minister, he could have any of them who were more beautiful than her.
"What time is the tailor going to come?" asked Madeline, and she noticed how the smile on Calhoun's lips twisted in amusement.
"Eager, aren't we?" he asked her, "Did you wake up early so that you wouldn't miss meeting him?"
"I thought you were not going to summon him back to the castle," she answered to him. Calhoun stared at her, with the constant maddening smile that made Madeline want to know what was going on in his head. For a few seconds, he just continued to look at her and the nerves in her body only turned more errant.
Calhoun let go of his face that was resting on his hand, and he leaned back against the throne, looking at her, he said, "Why are you worried? Didn't I say he is the castle's tailorman? I don't know what got you nervous. Come here," he commanded.
For a second or two, Madeline felt as if her feet were glued to the floor and she had to push herself to start walking to stand in front of him.
"Closer," said Calhoun when there was still a reasonable distance between them. When Madeline took two steps forward, the King was still not satisfied, and he said, "More close."
Madeline wondered if the King wanted her to sit on his lap and she wanted to glare at him, but he would know that too. Cooling her expression, Madeline took one step further as her body touched the other side of the armrest of the throne where he was seated.
Both Calhoun and Madeline stared at each other. The brown eyes staring intensely while the dark red eyes were calm and unaffected when Calhoun's hand reached Madeline's face to surprise her. He ran his thumb just below her eyes to murmur, "Looks like you barely slept last night."
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