Calhoun stared back at the old hag, who he knew was responsible for his mother being thrown out of the castle. Even though his mother had never brought the topic up with him, he had gone around to find as much as he could to know what had transpired, and he wanted to know more about his mother’s time here.
A smirk appeared on his face, and he noticed the older woman, Queen Morganna, pop a nerve on her forehead. They could dig all they wanted about him, thought Calhoun to himself, but they wouldn’t find a speck of dust on him. He had come here to send every single person to Hell, who had made his mother shed tears.
Queen Morganna stepped down from the throne, walking past Calhoun closely while not leaving her gaze from him until she crossed him to step out of the royal court room. Rosamund closely followed her mother along with her son and her family.
“Lady Lucy?” The maid named Amice called Lucy’s attention as the princess appeared to be in a dazed state.
“Hm?”
Startled, Lucy came out of her thoughts, and she realized the room had almost turned empty. Her eyes fell back on the man who wore the glasses. With her family who had stepped out, her feet had their own mind, and it took her to where the stranger stood with another person whom her father had introduced him as his son.
“I am Lucy Hawthrone, a pleasure to make your acquaintances. I guess you will be my brother now,” said Lucy, with a smile on her lips. Calhoun stared at her for two seconds before making his way out of the room. She wondered if she said something she wasn’t supposed to say.
“Give him some time. He will warm up to you,” said the stranger who had stayed back, and Lucy’s eyes snapped back to look at the man. “I am Theodore. Theodore Chauncey.”
What a strange last name, thought Lucy to herself. So that was her saviour’s name.
“I was just thinking about you yesterday,” she blurted before a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. Theodore looked at her curiously. Even her maid looked alarmed by the choice of Lucy’s words, “I mean, I wanted to thank you for saving me back in the alley.”
Theodore offered her a smile, “I did what any other gentleman would do. To help a lady. I am glad that I could be of your service,” and he bowed his head to her. Lucy couldn’t help but feel the air around him had changed compared to the time she had met in the alley. The roguish look in his eyes had been replaced with utter politeness.
Lucy bowed at him again and started to walk away from him before turning behind and taking a look at him as if he would disappear like last time. Theodore had that constant gentle smile on his lips, and Lucy returned it.
When Lucy stepped out of the room, the smile on Theodore’s lips fell, and the light in his eyes darkened. As he made his way out of the room, Calhoun, who was leaning against the wall, stated,
“You have met the princess before,” looking down at his nails.
“I met her in the town a few days ago, and she needed some help. You should smile a little,” said Theodore.
Calhoun rolled his eyes, “I don’t have time for people who are of no use.” She seemed clueless compared to the other royal members. “Anyways, the King said he wants to talk to me. I am going to meet him. Can you stay by yourself?”
“I will be fine,” Theodore assured him, and he saw Calhoun leave.
With his hands in his pocket, Theodore made his way through the corridors, looking at the surroundings and also feeling the eyes of the servants who were possibly loyal to the Queen.
He walked until the very end, finding his way to one of the rooms in the first floor and walking to the patios. The life in the castle seemed much better than the one he lived. Who would have thought that the boy who once lived in the dirty alleys near the marketplace would one day enter the castle, less live here.
He caught sight of the young vampiress, the princess who entered the garden accompanied by her maid, who followed her. She continuously spoke as if she was excited about something, and Theodore tried to zero his eyes and ears on her.
“Can you believe what would happen if pumpkins grew up in the trees? The pain it would cause on breaking on top of a person’s head?” asked Lucy. “Mama said the governess is coming tomorrow, which would mean I will get to spend less time outside and more time inside,” she looked unenthusiastic about it.
“It seems like Lady Sophie’s action has caused great offence to Queen Morganna,” the maid responded, and Lucy nodded.
“You are right. But then Sophie is still a small girl. I wouldn’t throw water on grandmother’s face. I feel if I did something like that, that might lead to my hands being chopped. I know what to do!” exclaimed Lucy, “I am going to befriend the governess, and together we both can step out of the castle.”
An idle chatter, thought Theodore to himself. All the women and girls that belonged to wealthy families were stuck up, and spoilt who had no regard or concern for others, doing what they pleased. It wasn’t anything new to him.
To Theodore’s surprise, he caught sight of the vampiress pulling the front of her dress to show her slender and pale legs. Bending down, she unbuckled and removed her shoes. He heard her sigh before a bright smile appeared on her lips.
“Milady, I don’t think it’s a good idea to walk barefoot,” said the maid in concern.
“But it feels so much better to walk like this,” frowned Lucy, and she started to walk bare feet, “I can feel the cold floor, the stones and the gras-” she stepped on a bee that stung her sole, making her yelp loudly.
