62 Chapter 62 : Confused

"Hazel?"

His voice made the fairy snap out of her world. Startled, the fairy opened her eyes quickly. Her emerald eyes wide open in shock as she gaped at the person standing in front of her. 

Usui stood there wide open staring at her for a few seconds as he collected his thoughts. Hazel squirmed uncomfortably as she saw him staring at her in wonder. 

Sensing her discomfort, Usui cleared his throat and looked away, silently chiding himself, 'What's wrong with me today?! It is not the first time he's seeing a beautiful lady.'

His eyes travelled back to hers and then slowly shifted downwards to her hands. He wanted to see what she was holding onto which made the beautiful tune turn lonely.

On seeing his eyes slowly shift towards her hands. She hurriedly used her cloak to cover the dagger from his piercing eyes. 

'W-Why was he here? How did he find this place?' 

Hazel thought panicking as her one hand gripped around the hilt of her dagger.

After a moment, she slapped herself mentally as she realized who the culprit was.

Usui marvelled at the beauty of the place, "Wow... Now I understand why you like to spend your time here. This place is so breathtaking. I can't believe you kept this place to yourself."

His eyes sauntered around the magical heaven slowly as he kept the details of the place ingrained deeply in his mind. Soon, he forgot the reason why he came here in the first place. 

Hazel pursed her lips as she stood up promptly. In her haste, she slipped on the hem of her dress causing her to trip but luckily a pair of hands caught hold of her. Usui looked shocked at their sudden closeness but what surprised him more was how soft her body was. 

The light fragrance of the flowers mixed in with her natural scent filled his nose. He closed his eyes reliving the moment before opening them briefly when he heard her gasp.

Embarrassed, she looked up and realized his face was closer to hers, their lips just an inch away from brushing each other. She blushed and turned her head away. Similarly, Usui coughed as he let her go when she stabilized herself. He stared at his hands which caught her soft body and wondered just what the hell was he doing.

Coughing awkwardly Hazel peeked at him and mumbled thanks before walking past him in a hurry to leave. But she stopped when he pleaded her to stop.

"Hazel, stop. Please just listen to me."

Hazel bit her lips as her eyes wandered about frantically wondering what she should do next. 

Noticing her halt, Usui's heart bloomed in happiness but in an instant, his face scowled as thoughts brimmed in his mind.

'Why was he happy at that moment? Was he the person Hazel said to be? Was he uncertain of the woman he loved? Why did he feel attracted to both Hazel and Freya?'

"Please just listen to me. I only want to apologize for last night. You don't even have to answer but just listen to me, okay?"

Hearing his voice which was close to begging her, she closed her eyes and sighed. 

'Just once. Let's just listen once and leave.' and Hazel turned around halfway and nodded her head.

Seeing her turning around once again, Usui gawked at her as he remembered about the scene just as he arrived. His face flushed when he realized that his heart thumped hard for her.

Even now, looking at her, she was like the Greek goddess Persephone amidst the sea of white flowers. A gust of wind whipped at her dress and tossed her long shining brown hair into the air. The wind shook the flower field that butterflies which were taking cover under the flowers escaped into the skies.

A smile lit upon Hazel's face when her attention was turned to the beautiful scenery. She chuckled softly as she watched the butterflies hover around her. 

By now, Usui had to agree on the fact that Hazel was the beautiful princess he had ever seen. His eyes softened unknowingly as his warm gaze fell upon her happy face. She looked like a small child who was enjoying her half-eaten chocolate. Hazel chuckled sweetly when she saw a butterfly perched on top of her hand.

She moved her finger and watched as it flew into the skies towards its friends. Her gaze shifted to the smiling prince who was watching her in warmth. Hazel flushed deep red as she composed herself and kept her hands hidden under the cloak.

She waited for him to speak but after a few minutes, hearing nothing she tilted her head and sighed, " If you don't have anything to say, I will take my leave." and turned around to leave.

"Er... No wait...well I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have ki-kissed you and made you uncomfortable. But all I can do is apologize sincerely. If you want you can even slap me for my behaviour but you have to take one thing back."

Raising her eyebrows she turned to him and found him bowing his head deeply in her direction. As she was about to refute his words, her eyes met with his hard gaze, and was momentarily spellbound.

Usui kept his eye on her as he enunciated each word, "You have to take back what you said last night." 

Hazel furrowed her brows in confusion but her expression cleared up when he explained further, "I do not see everyone has Freya. She's the only one for me and I do not know why I allowed you to touch me when I was in that state. Normally, I would stay away from the ladies and the only person who has managed to enter my heart is Freya."

Usui stopped for a moment and sighed, "But... I don't know why my heart keeps telling me to be close to you. Like something in me wants to be there for you, protect you."

He looked tormented by his mind. Hazel's heart winced when she glanced at him. She couldn't help but feel sorry for confusing him when both the people he referred to was one.

Usui looked at her sadly and sighed, " Honestly, My actions might be because of your scent."

Seeing her furrow her eyebrows, he clarified, "Both of you bear the same scent. I do not know why my heart kept saying it was Freya in front of me even though it wasn't..."

His voice dropped at the end of the sentence. He looked up at her and smiled sadly, "I know I can't brush this away like that, so I'm willing to take any punishment you offer."

Hazel looked at Usui, trying hard to figure out something but sighed deep inside her heart when she couldn't find any reason.

Her heart was troubled as she thought, 'Why?! Why was he into her? Why can't he just give up?'

Just as Hazel was about to speak up, Usui raised his finger and said, "Anything except Freya." and winked at her.

Hazel rolled her eyes but a small smile made way to her face.

'Ah! I can't win against him. Looks like making him stay away from me is close to impossible.'

Hazel sighed before tilting her head and asked, "Is it alright for a prince to bow down?"

"Prince or not, one must apologize for his mistakes." Usui smiled at her and later added, "That's what my mother taught me. Do you not agree?"

Hazel chuckled, "I do... Queen Lily is a wonderful mother. I hope you can convey my regards to her and apologize on my behalf for not fulfilling her wish."

"Wait..you know my mother? And wish, what wish?"

"You didn't know? Your mother and my mother are best friends. I heard them talking about our engagement and how your mother, the Queen, wanted me as her daughter-in-law. Even when my father opposed her wish, they were adamant about their decision. Finally, he had to surrender upon losing a bet. He surrendered by agreeing to the minister's decision on hoisting a competition. And that's how the entire circle came about."

Usui gaped at her for a moment before he started laughing loudly.

"All of this for the sake of getting us engaged?! Lord! the king must have been livid once he heard my rejection. It must have been a slap to his face."

"I agree but I remember him rejoicing secretly later." And she chuckled.

"But-"

Usui didn't complete his words because Hazel shook her head and said, "No need to apologize. I know I went a little too far last night, for that, I'm also sorry."

Usui smiled but his smile faltered when he heard her say, "But don't go after Freya. She won't fall in love with you, it's better for you to leave without confessing to her."

"Can you tell me-" Usui didn't complete his words before Hazel rejected, "Sorry, I can't."

Usui nodded his head understandingly but immediately as if sensing something moved towards her, startling her. He pulled her towards him and Hazel gasped as she was wrapped in his embrace. She struggled but Usui murmured in her ears, "Don't move, stay still."

He spoke this as his eyes stared at the spot she was standing previously on. But now, there was a glaring black mark indicating the attack which sprung upon her.

Instantly he buried Hazel in his arms as his eyes inspected their surroundings. He was so lost in the beauty that he didn't notice the unusualities in the area. Hazel hit his chest repeatedly making him let go of her but he didn't leave her hand. He pulled her behind him and stood in front of her protectively while backing up towards the pavilion and asked ominously.

"Who's there?"