Logan returned to his palace to find the butler pacing around, looking flustered.
"Your majesty," he hurriedly bowed to Logan when he saw him approaching. "How is the king?."
"He isn't dead," Logan replied, taking off his coat, which a servant nearby collected.
"Oh! My king must be in a bad condition," the butler sorrowfully cried.
While Logan just shunned him, taking a seat as he stared at nothing in particular.
"Leo," he called out, and it didn't take long for Leo to arrive in his chamber.
Leo was his head guard, and he was more than devoted, his relationship with Logan was deep and it grew to something more than a soldier and a prince.
Some soldiers talked badly about Leo, saying he wanted favor from the prince, that's the reason he was acting so diligent, but he cared less.
"A girl was arrested a few minutes ago, and she has a sister lying in the servant quarters. I want you to investigate the situation," Logan spoke, writing something with the ground ink.
"Yes your majesty," Leo bowed and hurried out.
"My lord, I hope there was no accusation this time?" The butler asked, knowing that's how things always turn out whenever bad things happen in the castle.
"I'm already used to it," Logan waved it away.
"Your majesty," the butler cooed. "You look stressed out."
"Do I?," Logan asked looking at the huge mirror from where he sat. "I guess I need Ashley, it's been a while."
"That'll be a good idea, your majesty. But princess Ashley's kingdom is far away, it'll take a while before she gets here. I suggest I get Hazel who's not so far away," the butler humbly suggested, making Logan see reasons with him.
"It's okay, then send for Hazel then," Logan unanimously said.
"Yes! Your majesty," he bowed leaving Logan's chamber using his back.
Logan exhaled deeply with his eyes closed, he moved his eyes to the crown and staff that was lying on his table.
This was his destiny, and he was prepared for anything that comes with it, even if it was death itself.
**
Tom's contract with the royal family has been terminated and he could only blame his daughters.
But anyways, there was no loss for Tom. He had found another client who was almost as rich as the royal family; And lucky him, this client doesn't need the fishes to be smoked, thus Tom need not worry about anyone sharing his income with him.
He just finished having his bath from a very stressful day at work, then sat outside waiting for his new mistress to serve his food.
His daughters left him to die, but he decided that he'll live.
His brows arched as he heard footsteps and noises of horses, he strained his eyes to have a better look and he could see that they were soldiers from the castle.
He immediately stood and set out to run away, before they'll mistake him for any of his daughters.
But the sharp arrow that pierced into his leg made him stop, he groaned and fell on the fall. He now understood how stupid he was for running away.
He could have just denied that he didn't know his daughters.
"Get him," he heard one of them say with a gruff voice.
"What? I'm not my daughter, I don't know where they are right now," he cried as both soldiers pulled him from the ground roughly.
"Your presence is needed at the castle"
They informed him, placing him behind the horse as they rolled away.
When they already left, the neighbors came out murmuring, they were all hiding from the royal soldiers, and they wondered what the greedy Tom must have done to attract them.
Tom sat behind the horse with his heart throbbing, he never stopped saying his prayers. The arrow was still deep inside his flesh, but he was barely feeling the pain, his main focus was how to overcome the trouble ahead.
***
Hazel watched her mother practice on the dead snake, most times she wished to be like her, to have powers not only to be able to heal.
Hazel's mother was the only surviving witch in Rafera kingdom. When the witch hunters visited, many died, while many ran away, but Eve was a corny witch and she was able to hide her identity.
Hazel was the only child of her mother, she had lost her father a long time ago. Eve treasured her more than anything on earth.
One evening Hazel had gone into the forest to get herbs for her healing practice when she was mistakenly shot by lord Logan while he was hunting.
She could remember clearly like it was yesterday, he had taken her to his palace and his servant had tended to her wound.
She acted innocent and didn't heal herself, she allowed her wounds heal gradually so she could keep seeing lord Logan's blue eyes, even if it was just once in two days, cos he had made her remain in his palace until her wounds were healed.
He took interest in her when they first had a proper talk, and he realized how experienced and intelligent she was.
Logan took a liking to her and allowed her visit him in his palace, even if it was once in a blue moon, it meant a lot to her.
Coz the almighty Logan had gone in between her legs and made her feel special, even if she had heard of the story about him and the princess of Algae, she still thought she stood a chance; just because she knew that except for the battle field, the princess wasn't better than her in any other way. She was prettier and was often sent for.
"Mom, what would you love to have? Soup or rice?," Hazel asked her mother and she shrugged, meaning she would have anything.
Hazel nodded and left, going in to make something for her mother.
Eve didn't bother to turn around when she heard the sound of the horse, she could already tell who it was.
"Greetings," the soldier climbed down from his horse and bowed.
"That uniform made me know who sent you, you aren't the regular guard that he always sends here," Eve spoke without even sparing the soldier a glance.
"My daughter is busy; return and inform his majesty that she isn't his slut."
"But his majesty requested her presence...."
"Not another word," Eve lifted her hand to air.
The soldier bowed and turned around about climbing the horse, but paused when he heard Eve laughing so hard.
"Won't I be stupid to refuse his majesty, it has been centuries since he last sent for her," she said, making the soldier's brow arch.
He returned to stand close to the woman as she called out to her daughter.
"Hazel dear."
In no time Hazel was out, her eyes beamed as he saw Logan's guard standing in front of her. Noticing that it wasn't Leo, she asked to be sure.
"Did lord Logan send for me??."
"Yes, he requests your presence at the palace," the soldier spoke like a programmed robot.
"Mother," she turned to her mother who nodded, giving her a go ahead.
"I'll be right back," she flustered, running into the house.
How much she has missed lord Logan, she wondered what good she had done in her previous life that made such luck shine on her.