By the time Calhoun had finally decided to get him and her out of bed with reluctance, Madeline felt like her soul had indeed slipped out of her body and entered heaven. The first three times they made-love she remembered, but after that, she had lost the ability to think. Her body trembled, and her lips left a couple of sighs, cry’s of her calling his name over and over again that echoed in their quiet room.
Calhoun had left Madeline more than satisfied, that she was floating in the clouds as he carried her into the bath and helped her wash her body that was surprisingly warm even though it was the time of the winter. Spending some more time in the bath, talking to each other before they finally left the room dressed for the day.
When they entered the dining room, which was located in another room of the castle to accommodate all the guests with a long table and chairs. People in there had stood up from their seats on the arrival of the King and the Queen to greet them.
“Good morning to the King and the Queen!” greeted people at the table.
Madeline sat right next to Calhoun, a place she was given since she had started to live in the castle.
“It’s so good to see my nephew with his wife. Especially one that is so beautiful,” chimed Monique, raising a glass to toast at the newly married couple that had taken place yesterday, “As a wedding gift, I have gotten one of the mansions rebuilt for it to be in your disposal.”
Seeing Lady Monique present the King with a gift, another relative who was not too far away from Calhoun’s father’s side, said, “I have something for the Queen.” The woman snapped her fingers at her standing lady who followed the vampiress everywhere she went. The standing lady was a young-looking vampiress, who walked around to where Madeline sat, and she bowed her head before presenting a box to the Queen. When the box was opened, Madeline caught sight of ruby red stones glittering under the candles’ light.
��Oh my! Lady Aubree, that is a beautiful wedding gift,” commented one of the vampiress’ at the table.
“Isn’t that one of the rare pieces of Hanima?” said a man at the table on seeing the rare piece of jewellery that had many stones in it.
Calhoun looked slightly surprised at the sight of it.
“I was able to acquire it from a merchant, and I got it polished again. My Queen,” said Lady Aubree, addressing Madeline to gain her attention, “It is told that it once belonged to the Queen of Hanima. A small land that used to be rich in jewels.”
Curiosity in her eyes, Madeline asked, “What happened to the Queen?”
“She was killed brutally,” Calhoun deadpanned, leaving the room silent.
“Killed?” asked Lady Aubree, “I was told that the Queen had fallen sick.”
“And do you know when she fell sick, Lady Aubree?” Calhoun’s eyes narrowed, and he raised his hand for the servant to place the box of jewellery in his hand, “It was soon after she wore it. She fell ill in health, unable to get out of bed. She spewed blood, who almost looked corpse-like before breathing her last breath.”
Madeline wondered why it felt like she knew what effects the necklace would bring if she were to wear it? Her eyes went back to look at the vampiress who looked like she didn’t know much about the neckpiece.
Some of the High House members like Lilith and Weasley had stayed back in the castle. Lilith had been waiting to see Madeline try out the piece of jewellery so that it could unleash Madeline’s powers in front of others. This way, the girl would be executed for being a harmful creature, that was worse than a werewolf.
Lady Aubree stuttered, “M-My King, I made sure to have a good check before buying it from the merchant. He said whatever curse had been placed was lifted from it. It is just a piece of beautiful jewellery.”
But Calhoun didn’t look pleased with his far relative’s words, “Guards, take her to the dungeon.” It had been barely ten minutes since they had entered the dining room and many people’s blood turned cold at the King’s order, “Did you think I would overlook your actions that might cause harm to the Queen.”
Even Madeline looked slightly alarmed. While looking at the vampiress, her eyes fell on Lilith, who was looking straight at her with concentration, a look in her eye as if Madeline was beneath her.
When the guards arrived at her side, the woman said, “Milord! I would never bring any harm to the Queen. I was only wanting to present a gift today, something that might be memorable-” Aubree’s pleading words were interrupted by Calhoun,
“By killing her?” came his dull voice as he stared at the vampiress. The vampiress’s eyes turned wide, and she quickly shook her head.
“It was never my intention to do it-“
“Who was the merchant who sold it to you?” Calhoun demanded, and the woman didn’t know what to say, “I will show you why,” and he called one of the servants who was still in the room, “Wear this.”
And before the neckpiece could be worn by the servant, Madeline stopped Calhoun, “Don’t,” she whispered, shaking her head. She had seen the side effects on both him and her, but at the same time, something clicked in her mind. She turned to look at the woman to ask, “From whom did you get it? The necklace.”
Everyone’s eyes fell on the vampiress who stood there in fear. All she had wanted to do was gift the Queen and have a better relationship with Madeline, who knew it would cost her neck! She bowed her head deep down and answered, “It was from the market that is situated not too far away from the closest port from here. It was from a man named Elias. I can take you to him! I swear, I would never do anything to harm the royal family!”
And Monique who had been watching and listening to the conversation, said, “I wonder how many times one has uttered those words to only be found guilty for it.” Monique stood up and then turned to look at Madeline, “My Queen, it would be best if you don’t wear anything from people unless it is tested by others. Be it clothes, necklaces or perfumes. Now that you are the Queen, it would be better to take care of yourself as many will want to have you dead.”
Madeline felt uneasy by Monique’s words, but she nodded in agreement, “Let her go free,” she whispered to Calhoun, speaking about the woman named Aubree. It didn’t look like she had anything to do with the gift except for giving it to her, punishing innocent people didn’t sit well with her. Calhoun gave a hard stare before dismissing the guards and Aubree felt like she had been granted another life.
After the not so peaceful breakfast, Madeline took hold of Calhoun’s hand and pulled him to an empty corridor where it was just them, “Is something the matter or did you pull me to a lonely corridor to steal a kiss from me?” asked Calhoun.
“I wanted to ask about your mother. Did she have traces of being a demon in her?” questioned Madeline, her voice anxious.
Calhoun tilted his head with a questioning gaze.
She then said, “It isn’t like everyday people start throwing up blood. Is it possible that someone tried to poison her? Similar to the chain?” What if Calhoun’s mother had not died out of disease, but someone had intentionally tried to kill her?
