224 In the night- Part 3

He knew how families worked, and he knew how Madeline was. But it was hard not to agree that Madeline had never felt hurt over her elder sister's words in the past. Madeline's sister, Elizabeth, was not like her. She possessed the qualities that were opposite to Madeline. Calhoun was aware that Madeline had never planned or eyed the crown before; it was why he found it to be more of a reason to have her next to his side. 

The truth was when Calhoun was a child, he was trying to survive. Calhoun didn't have plans to have the crown until his mother's health started to deteriorate. The thirst for power had surged so high that he had begun to scheme and eliminate people who stood in his way.

He was about to leave when Madeline had spoken those words. Turning around, he walked back to where Madeline was, by closing the distance between them with a few steps. 

Madeline stared at Calhoun. His eyes continued to look at her intensely, and he said, 

"It might sound strange and rude, that you might feel that I am trying to separate you from your family or your sister. I only want to give you a word of caution," Calhoun leaned forward and kissed her cheek, "It is alright if you don't want to heed to it." It was because he would have his eyes wide open to keep a watch over her. No one ever left their treasure out in the open, unprotected. 

Madeline felt the tingle on her cheeks where Calhoun's lips came in contact with her skin, pressing his full lips on hers before pulling away, to look at her, as he withdrew himself back.

She wondered why Calhoun was warning her suddenly about her sister Beth. Being the closest person who had spent most of her time around Beth, Madeline knew her the best. She had seen both the best and the worst qualities. 

"Is this because of her interest with Mr. Wilmot and his interest in her?" asked Madeline to Calhoun. The most offendable thing, Beth had done was speak a lot and interrupt the conversation between her father and Calhoun at the table, which Calhoun had later dismissed telling he was only joking. 

The first time when Madeline and her family had met Calhoun, she would have never guessed that Calhoun would come to dislike Beth with only a few meetings. 

The only reason she could think about was the Wilmot family with whom Beth was associating herself with. With Lady Rosamund who had been sweet to her sister, Madeline wondered if she should warn about the Wilmots. But what if Markus liked her sister?

Madeline frowned, hearing this, "Markus orchestrated the destruction of the shop?" 

"There's no confirmation about it, but I have my doubts," replied Calhoun. Madeline had her suspicions, but she didn't have anyone to discuss it when she had heard it from her mother except for Calhoun where their discussion had turned to something else. 

"I should probably warn my sister to stay away from the man," Madeline proposed. But she saw Calhoun shake his head.

"Sit with me, Madeline," he said, catching hold of her hand, he tugged her towards the bed before taking a seat at the edge of the bed, "Do you think your sister will listen to you? She didn't listen to you when you warned her about Maddox and the others. What makes you think she will stop talking or avoiding Markus?"

She was right. Calhoun was listening to her and Beth speak before Beth had been bitten by Maddox. 

"I know she can be unreasonable at times but isn't it my responsibility, to warn her if something bad is going to happen? Beth," Madeline paused for a moment before saying, "Beth seems to really like Mr. Wilmot."

"Doesn't it give more reason that she won't listen to you? I don't mind if you want to give it a try, but if my guess is right, she will only turn against you," Calhoun remarked before letting his feet to rest on the space of the wood that raised his legs slightly up. 

Madeline didn't want that. Remembering Calhoun's earlier words, she asked, "Was Senior Mr. Wilmot, your father's brother?" Wait but they had different last names, thought Madeline.

"That's the trick question for the public. A lot of them think Markus' father was my father's brother. It is what most of us have got used to saying. I was wondering when you would figure it out," said Calhoun because some time ago, he had spoken about them being brothers. 

"Lady Rosamund is your father's sister," Madeline uttered in disbelief. Calhoun smiled at this. No wonder the woman was hellbent in having her to leave the King's side so that she could turn Sophie as the Queen. "Did they find out about you killing your father?"

"Rosamund knows, but she has no evidence for what I did. I have Lucy as my alibi," replied Calhoun. 

Madeline didn't understand the chase for the throne. Didn't being the King and the Queen have more responsibility? Compared to that, an ordinary villager's life was so simple, Madeline thought to herself. 

She turned to look at Calhoun, wondering how he would have lived the rest of the years till now, after killing the previous King and Queen. Madeline didn't know if it was right or wrong, but she wanted to warn Beth. After all, Beth was her sister and Madeline had the responsibility to drop a word of caution without being too obvious about it. 

"You still haven't shown me your mother's portrait," Madeline reminded him. 

Calhoun dropped his feet on the ground before standing up, "Let me introduce you to her then." The choice of his words was strange, but she got up from the bed and followed him, leaving the room empty with candles still burning in there. 

Instead of taking her to the gallery room, Calhoun took her out of the castle, riding on the horse. Madeline didn't question him and she remained quiet, waiting to see where he was taking her at this hour of the night. 

When Calhoun pulled the reins of the horse to stop after both he and Madeline had come far away from the castle, he was the first one to get down. He then helped Madeline in dismounting the horse.

The time was almost reaching midnight. Madeline for a moment didn't know where they were. They were surrounded by nothing but trees that were tall and dark. There was no grass on the ground. Apart from the chirping of the crickets, an occasional hoot coming from owls who were hidden behind the many branches of the trees, no other sound came to fall on her ears. 

"Hold my hand," Calhoun said to her, outstretching his hand in front of her, "So that I know you won't get lost in the forest." 

Madeline placed her hand on his for him to enclasp it before starting to walk beside him.

Walking some distance, Madeline noticed a grilled compound that had dry and fresh creepers tangled around it. The gates were left open as they passed through that had been left unlocked. As they entered, she noticed, there were many graves present in there. 

Calhoun and Madeline continued to walk until the King finally stopped in front of an old cemented coffin. Her heart squeezed at the thought that Calhoun had brought her here to literally introduce her to his mother.

Calhoun turned around to meet Madeline's eyes, "This is my mother here," he introduced, his words calm and collected as he said it. 

Madeline had asked to see his mother's portrait, but Calhoun had a whole different idea of making her meet his mother.

"My father didn't care enough to come to see my mother when she died. Without bothering about the woman whom he had bedded in the past. This is an exclusive grave, I got rid of the previous owner who resided in here before I placed my mother," explained Calhoun to her. 

The graveyard was not like the ones in her village where the coffin was buried, but this cemetery was different, noted Madeline to herself. The graves here were built outside, with no mud over them but dust and dirt with dried up leaves that must have come to settle because of the wind.

"You didn't have money to buy a place to bury her?" asked Madeline as Calhoun was not born in the castle, even though he was part of the royal family. 

Calhoun who had a severe look until now, a broad smile appeared on his face, "Money was not an issue. It was my father's beloved father, who was resting here earlier. I thought he wouldn't mind offering his resting place."

Madeline's eyebrows furrowed a little, "Where is he now?"

She saw Calhoun give her a thoughtful look before shrugging his shoulders, "I placed him somewhere here, but I don't remember anymore."