Music Recommendation: Courage Endures by Trevor Kowaiski
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Everyone present in the dining room looked back and forth between Queen Morganna and the young man, whom the King had claimed as his son, Calhoun. Until now, no one dared to interrupt or question the Queen's words, which was why it was quite a shocking surprise for them that Calhoun questioned her decision of punishing her granddaughter.
Queen Morganna furiously looked at Calhoun. The boy had only arrived today, yet he had the audacity to speak. Seeing him not utter a word, she harrumphed and-
"I find it to be strange that you would deny a meal as punishment to someone who is young and is barely taking her time away from the dining room," stated Calhoun, and if people's eyes hadn't turned wide-eyed earlier, it did now.
Queen Morganna tried to compose her expression, and she demanded, "Am I now supposed to ask someone like you to know what I am, and I am not supposed to do with my granddaughter? Leave the dining room!" she shouted, her words echoing in the room.
Laurence didn't say anything because it was the Queen's words over anyone else's words all these years. His mother was the one who sent out orders, and everyone followed them without opposing as a sign of respect.
Calhoun stared back at the old woman, his eyes piercing through and into her, "It seems like people here are not allowed to give their opinions."
This was enough to irk the Queen even more than before, and she stood up from her seat and pointed her hand towards the door, "And it seems like people who come from streets don't know the rules that need to be followed, which the royal family sets. If you are so much against what I have decided. Victor!" She called the person in charge of meals and the kitchen, "See to it that even he is not offered food. And as a punishment, even his bodyguard won't be allowed to have food from the kitchen tonight until tomorrow morning. They will be provided with food only after I am done with eating my breakfast!"
"Yes, my Queen," the man bowed his head, obeying Morganna's instructions.
Calhoun dropped the cutlery he had been holding right next to the plates that clattered softly, and when he got up, the chair screeched against the floor, making the vampires and vampiress' flinch at the sharp sound.
Without another word, Calhoun walked out of the room, but Theodore didn't leave. Seeing this, Morganna's glare fell on Theodore.
"Did you not hear what I said? It applied to you too," she tried to control her anger.
Theodore bowed his head, "King Laurence has ordered me to protect the future King Calhoun. I am doing my duty seriously, my Queen, and it is my responsibility to see it that no one is speaking ill towards the prince."
Listening to Theodore's words, a vein popped on Morganna's forehead.
"Theodore, you can leave now," ordered King Laurence, and Theodore bowed his head, offering them a pleasant smile before making his way out of the dining room and searching where Calhoun had gone.
Morganna didn't take her seat, and she gritted her teeth, trying to simmer her anger that the two young men had tried to flame since their arrival.
"I cannot believe this is happening, Laurence," Morganna turned to look at her son, "Make sure that the boy knows how to speak and doesn't disrespect any of the elders' words. The last thing you know, he will try to teach us what is right and wrong."
Instead of taking it seriously, Laurence chuckled, "Don't worry about it, mother," and Morganna wanted to glare at her son, but he was the King of Devon. He told her not to worry, but Morganna could tell that this young man was bad news. She had thrown his mother out of the castle. He would receive the same fate soon. "It is only his first day in the castle. Before tomorrow's supper's time, he will be well-versed in what to do and what not to do. How about now we all have meals in peace. Please take your seat, mother."
Morganna offered her son a smile, and she then sat down. At least Calhoun was not here right now, thought Queen Morganna to herself, she would need to do something quickly.
Outside the room and in one of the corridors, Calhoun was walking when Theodore caught up to him.
"Why did you do that?" asked Theodore.
"Refusing a meal?" Calhoun questioned back, and Theodore chuckled.
"You know what I am speaking about. Don't let your emotions take over, my future King. The woman is obviously a serpent who has people coiled around her old finger, including the King," said Theodore.
"I am aware of it," said Calhoun. Every time he saw Morganna's face, he wanted to strangle her, but that was too easy for a person who had tortured and humiliated his mother in front of everyone. Making it such that his mother couldn't raise her head in front of the people.
"You know…" Theodore drawled, "I keep thinking you are emotionless, but you do things that make me question my opinion. Helping your future sister, what a kind brother."
Calhoun's eyes shifted to look at Theodore, and he replied, "I didn't do it for her. The things in the castle are worse than what is on the streets." Calhoun stopped walking, and he turned to look at the sky from the open corridor. "It is good to irk the old woman though. It gives me some sort of satisfaction," and a slow smile appeared on his lips that pulled up, stretching it wide.
Calhoun couldn't wait to turn every single person's life into his own personal living hell, who were responsible for his mother's misery. All these years, because of his mother staying next to him, he had not done anything. But with his mother no more alive, all he felt was the emptiness and how hollow his life was.
All these people were responsible for stealing his mother away from him, and it was time for revenge.
"You know I am hungry," murmured Theodore, and Calhoun turned to look at the four eyes, and he offered him a smile.
"I know where to get food."