Jotham, Silveran Capital
2030
To say that Hazel was tensed would be an understatement. She couldn't stop pacing back and forth in her room. She needed to act quickly, but a couple of guards were outside her room. She wouldn't be able to sneak out of her room without being noticed. Hazel had a hunch that among the men standing in front of the door, one of them was a spy that the queen had put in place to monitor her. Negative thoughts invaded her mind.
What if she eventually told Yuka to help her and he refuses? What if he agrees to help her, but ends up being too late. She swallowed hard and shook her head, trying to ward off these ugly thoughts.
Just before dinner, Hazel decided to sneak out of her room through the window. It was a strenuous task, but she did it anyway. She managed to sneak into the East wing of the castle and found Yuka in the garden. He was dressed completely in black with his hair in a neat ponytail. His eyes looked darker and they shimmered mischievously.
"Couldn't wait until nightfall?" He asked with a smile on his face. She grinned. "Yeah, I guess"
"Hazel, it's three minutes before dinnertime" he pointed out and she shrugged.
"I came to get you to have dinner with us" she said and he raised a brow.
"Has it never occurred to you that there must be a reason why I don't eat with the others?"
"No?"
He sighed.
"Hazel, I'm not allowed to even show my face unless my presence is requested for. I'm not even allowed to be a part of the meetings with the council members. Caden does all of that. I'm just supposed to...."
"Live like a ghost?" she said and he lowered his gaze.
"Yuka, I don't know about you, but I don't appreciate being controlled"
He smirked.
"Oh, I know that, alright"
"You know what I think?"
"What?" He said, even though he knew what she was going to say.
"I think the queen needs to be put in her place"
"Wow, Hazel. How did you suddenly become so... fierce? I remember you crying in my arms a few days ago because you thought the palace life was too much for you"
She turned away from him.
"Yes, at first...that was what I thought. But, I realized that maybe I'm here for a reason. After seeing what the queen does, I realize that maybe I was chosen to right the wrongs in this kingdom. I'm not going to let anyone use me for their selfish desires and I won't bow to anyone. I might be a red blood, but that doesn't mean that I am weak. After what the queen said to me earlier today, I realized that I need to survive"
Yuka frowned.
"What did the queen say to you?" She turned to look at him.
"It doesn't matter, Yuka. I know that you also want the queen to be put in her place and maybe that's why I'm here. We can help each other out. I know this sounds like trouble. But, the thing is, I...seem to attract trouble wherever I go. Really, I don't mind" she said and he nodded.
"Well, that doesn't sound so bad-" he froze when he noticed the tears on her face.
"What's wrong? You're confusing the hell out of me"
"I overheard the queen"
"What did she say?"
"She wants my brothers to be assassinated"
His eyes went wide.
"I need you to help me warn them. I really don't know what else to do. I can't- I can't loose them"
It was then Yuka understood. The rage in her voice, the determination in her eyes, her sudden decision to put the queen in her place, it was because the queen had started to mess with her. He suspected at once that the queen wouldn't hesitate to get rid of Hazel soon. He clenched his fist, a new rage boiling within him. He could already see a pattern forming. First it was Lyraine, now it was Hazel. He wouldn't let any other person die because of the Queen's selfishness. Especially not Hazel.
"I will help you" he stated and Hazel smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"You know what this means, right?" She said and he nodded.
"It is the beginning of a new era, Hazel"
....
The members of the royal family had just settled down in the spacious royal dinning room and dinner was about to be served. Hazel sat beside Caden, glaring at the queen as she mercilessly stabbed her steak. The mere sight of the queen seemed to make her angrier by the minute.
"Hazel, are you alright?" Caden whispered.
"I'm fine" she said, through gritted teeth.
"Did my mother do something-"
Caden was interrupted by the sound of footsteps heading towards them. They all looked up to see who the newcomer was.
Prince Yuka had just sauntered in, his expression stoic. The king's eyes widened and he desperately wanted to ask his son to leave before the queen decided to punish him again. "What are you doing here, black blood?" Clarice demanded.
He blinked at her and sat down beside Hazel with Caden sitting on her right.
"I'm here to have dinner, of course" he stated blankly and Caden clenched his fist.
"Yuka, you shouldn't be here" the king said and Yuka ignored him.
"Have you gone deaf?!" the queen demanded and he ignored her still.
"Why don't we all relax? He's not here to commit murder and he's still not feeling well. So, will you just let him eat with us?" Hazel suddenly said and everyone went silent.
"Now, that's better" she said and the queen glared at her.
Hazel rose to her feet and grabbed a bottle of wine. Then, she moved to stand beside the Queen's chair.
"Here, let me pour you some wine" she said and the queen frowned, wondering what she was up to. As Hazel handed the glass of wine to the queen, she purposefully allowed the glass to slip from her hands and fall right on the Queen's lap. Everyone except Yuka gasped, their eyes wide with horror.