"Don't. I am not in the mood to be at odds with my sister again. Why does it feel like we're being pushed to compete?" Hazel asked, pinching the bridge of her nose. It was like the world wanted siblings to be at each other's throats. "Please keep this between you and me."
"Again, why should I do that? Why do you want to keep attention on her when I have no interest in your sister? Picking her was a mistake. I could have you be the centre of attention if you want. Your sister argued with you after you were picked and you want to keep this from her. You're better than me," said Tobias.
He'd throw this in his little sister's face to see her cry.
"I want to avoid arguing with her. I don't care to be the centre of attention like she does, especially so early to be dealing with petty fights. I can let her think that you wanted to dance with her. Mother will yell at us if we argue," Hazel muttered.
Hazel sighed, feeling that she and Helena would be at odds again. From this point on unless someone was trying to bully her sister, Helena was alone. She had to stop Helena from thinking that she was here to help her.
"Your sister should be grateful to have an older sister like you. Putting her before yourself now when I have something that could help you have my mother's interest. When I pick you again, you better not turn it down to give her a chance. I don't want your sister-"
"You're picking me again?!" Hazel exclaimed, surprised to hear he was already thinking of picking her. "You don't mean tomorrow, do you?"
"I do," Tobias replied.
"You," Hazel said at a loss for words. "We were never good friends. We saw each other in passing and we used to argue from time to time. We still do. How can I not believe this is nothing more than a game to you? I'm sorry for not dancing with you. Will that end this?"
"I admit that I planned to tease you and make you panic about my mother possibly knowing, but that's not the only reason why I picked you. I picked your friend because her family is rooted in the army, but I picked you because I am comfortable around you. I'm so comfortable that I am not going to have you thrown into the dungeon for kicking me," said Tobias.
"Is it because I frequented the palace in the past? Or that I am not hopelessly in love with you like you said the others are? I'm trying to forget the boy I knew in the past to get to know the man in front of me, but what I am hearing concerns me," Hazel said, continuing to walk to explore the palace.
"Stop listening to rumours about me. There's so much said about me in the palace that isn't true. I'm just not bothered to clear it up because there would be something new the next day," said Tobias.
"I've seen for myself how much of a flirt you are, but as you said, what you did in the past is none of my concern. What are we to talk about now? Do you want to know my hobbies? Favourite colour?" Hazel asked, wanting to do what they were meant to in case the queen would ask her questions.
"You used to walk around with a book in your hand so I would say you like reading and you used to have a yellow ribbon in your hair all the time so I will say that's your favourite colour. Am I wrong or right?" Tobias questioned, looking down to his right at Hazel. She seemed impressed so he assumed he was right.
"Have you been stalking me, Your Highness? Should I get my father to give me a guard? The book I could understand, but I don't see why you would remember the ribbon. I've worn plenty of other colours. Were you counting? Had a little crush on me?" She teased.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say I had a crush on you. When I and the other boys were playing in the palace garden, we would get a glimpse of you walking by with your father so I knew what you wore. You were like a puppy behind your father back then. Happily following him. Are you closer to your father or mother?" Tobias asked.
Hazel thought about it for a moment and then answered, "I think I am a little bit closer to my father, but do not for a second think there is something wrong between my mother and me. I've just always loved following my father wherever he went."
"It was surprising that he would bring you to the palace. I never saw your sister with you back then. That's why I cannot understand why your parents allowed her to enter the selection with you. When I returned and heard the names of the women picked, I was shocked that you were on the list. That you weren't married yet. Before I left, I remember everyone had their eyes on you for who you would marry," Tobias said.
Hazel stood out among her peers and coming from a good family helped.
"It is all thanks to you not returning sooner for me to take part in the selection and marry someone else if I wasn't picked. My parents thought I would have a good chance if I waited. I had many offers and I could have been married by now," Hazel said, still against her parent's decision.
"Well, I am glad they made you wait until I get back just so I can see you frustrated. Do not kick me again, Hazel. You are not going to like the way I punish people like you. Or maybe you might," Tobias said, smirking as he would enjoy it.
"You're thinking something dirty, aren't you? You have not changed. I'm going to ignore all that I heard or saw with you being a flirt. The selection is about you courting groups of women. I hope we can move on from what happened at the ball. Please?" Hazel requested as she did not want to be a part of any games he was playing because of it.
"Only if you accept each time I pick you. Just know that I will always be picking you so don't think about running away. I'll enjoy the chase if you do," Tobias warned.
"Picking me each time means you won't be able to spend a lot of time with everyone unless it moves from two to three. Their time will be wasted," Hazel said, not liking where this was going.
"Is it wasted? Some of them wouldn't get to walk around the palace if not for the selection. It's an experience they won't forget. Stop thinking about others and worry about yourself. Also, read between the lines about what I'm telling you," Tobias replied, wishing she would get upset with him picking her for another reason.
"I had my time wasted waiting for you. It's hard to be happy knowing someone else will feel what I felt. You should try to speak to everyone who came here to court you. We've all been made to practise for this moment. Too much," Hazel whispered.
Tobias walked ahead of Hazel to block her path to have her stop. "With all of these favours you want from me, it's only fair that you do something for me, right?"