125 Chapter 125: Hezekiah -1

A brown-haired guy walked out from the pillars and looked at the empty hallway. He glanced at the soldiers who immediately fled from the scene before he shook his head. He raised his toned arm and brushed through his hair with his fingers before he sighed heavily. 

His thin lips curled up as he tilted his head and looked at the empty hallway. He waited for a couple of minutes for her to arrive but upon seeing the silent hallway, he couldn't help but sigh again.

"Freya... Let's go out to play in the garden. Look, it is a bright day for some picnic. What do you say?"

He was met with silence making him press his lips into a thin line. He started walking through the hallways but didn't see the person he wanted to see. He called out, "Freya, you know we are doing it for your good, right?"

He was faced with the silence again that a pin drop would appear loud in the hallway.

He shook his head as he said, "Okay... I will take you out of the castle grounds today."

Right after he said that he heard an adorable sweet voice say, "That's what you always say but you never take me out."

The brown-haired guy smiled before turning to the pillar from where he heard her voice. He saw a girl peep out from behind the pillar, those familiar emerald eyes watching him. He knelt down and opened his arms for her with raised eyebrows.

He watched her hesitantly step out from her hiding spot and watch him warily. He encouraged her with his eyes and smiled widely when he saw her run towards him.

Hazel crashed her soft body against his hard body and hugged him tightly, "You never keep your promises, Big brother Hezekiah"

Hezekiah chuckled and rubbed her head affectionately, "I will keep my promise today. Okay?"

Hazel laughed making him look at her dotingly. You could hear her sweet, joyful laughter from a mile away, it would echo through the halls and into each and every room in the house, and would cheer everyone up, it was at times like this that he loved having a baby sister. He would never stop treating her like his baby sister even if she grows out of her teens. 

He pecked her forehead as he brought her back towards the hall.

....

"Delia.....Delia..."

The older maid who was in her late thirties smiled at the ten-year-old Princess and said, "Yes, princess"

Hazel smiled and said happily, "My brother promised to take me out today."

Delia smiled brightly and clapped her hands, "That's good, my Princess. Shall we dress you up prettily?"

Hazel nodded excitedly as she waited for her maid to take her dress out. 

"Take out the blue one, Delia. My brother loves to see me in blue."

The older maid laughed as she took out the blue dress and hurried to prepare the Princess for her little adventure.

Delia smiled and gushed, "My dear Princess, you look so beautiful."

Hazel touched her hair and smiled at Delia in the mirror, "No, Delia. You made me beautiful. Thank you"

"Oh! you sweet child!"

Delia shook her head at the politeness of the princess. Everyone thought that the princess would be a haughty one especially when the King, Queen, and Crown Prince pamper and spoil her rotten but fortunately, the Princess was kind towards them and was generous and thanked them for their services making the entire palace fall in love with his happy child.

A knock was heard again, making Delia turn towards the door. She opened it and saw the Crown Prince guard waiting outside making Delia frown.

If he said some excuse for not coming, then the Princess would be so sad.

Right as she thought, she saw the Princess's face fell upon seeing her brother's guard.

"My apologies for disturbing you, Princess. Crown Prince has addressed me to convey a message. He said he was sorry for breaking his promise again. He had urgent business to deal with which made him cancel his plan with you."

Hazel waved her hand excusing the guard before she looked glumly at her reflection in the mirror. She pressed her lips into a thin line before she tried to smile at Delia.

"Delia looks like Brother Hezekiah won't be able to fulfill his promise again."

Delia looked at the princess sadly, "Princess..."

Hazel smiled at her and said, "It's okay, Delia. You can leave now." She turned away from the mirror and said despondently, "I want to be alone now."

Delia nodded her head sadly before she left the room. 

Hazel collapsed the moment she heard the door close. Tears trickled down her cheek as she muttered, "He broke his promise again."

She wiped away the tears from her face as she stared at the ground sadly. She didn't know why her father and brother were adamant about not letting her out of the kingdom. Even when she had expressed multiple wishes to visit the people outside the castle gates, they have refused. Only her brother promised her that he will take her out but he has broken so many of his promises that she was losing her hope in her brother.

Hazel drew her knees towards her chest and buried her head inside the silent room.

....

Hours passed when Hazel finally stepped out of her room. She looked around and noticed the guards stationed near her room. She called them and asked, "Have you guys seen Delia?"

The guards bowed their head as they said, "Yes Princess" and then one of them proceeded to say, "Delia was just about to leave the castle grounds-"

Her eyes brightened, "Leave? Why?"

The guards looked at each other and shook their heads, "We don't know, Princess."

Hazel dropped her smile and said, "Thank you" before walking towards Delia's room. She wanted to ask Delia where she was going and to buy her something if she can along the way.

Upon reaching the room, Hazel lifted her eyebrow when she saw the door was left ajar. Hazel pushed open the door and called out, "Delia?"

She pursed her lips when she saw no one inside. She shrugged was about to turn around when she saw a huge basket lie on top of the bed. Feeling curious, she closed the door and went near it. She opened the lid to find some clothes arranged neatly. 

Hazel widened her eyes when she heard footsteps approaching the door. She heard Delia say, "Fred, Can you take the basket and wait for me at the gates? I will go check on the Princess before I meet you there."

Hazel didn't hear what Fred said and noticed the footsteps leaving. She heard the doorknob being turned when she hurriedly got inside the basket and hid inside. Hazel covered her mouth when she heard loud thuds approaching her and then stop. 

She squinted her eyes and suddenly covered her yelp when she felt herself being lifted.

She heard Fred muse, "That's strange, why is this a little heavy?"

Hazel covered her mouth and gulped nervously. She didn't know why but her body reacted before her mind could when she heard Delia say castle gate.

Only one thought ran through her mind, 'Finally, I can get out'

She buried herself inside the basket and heard Fred greet everyone on the way. Her heart fluttered when she heard Fred greet the guards at the castle gate.

"What have you got there, Fred?"

Fred laughed, "Some clothes of Delia's"

The guards whistled, "Ooh... when will you stop doing all these chores and just ask her out for real?"

Hazel widened her eyes when she heard this. 'Ooh...Fred likes Delia?'

She grinned as she thought of how to make Delia finally focus on someone else. Her face fell when she heard the guards say, "Ooh, Delia is coming."

She intertwined her hands and closed her eyes tightly as she prayed hard. 

'Please.. just this once'

Delia smiled at the guards before getting out of the gates. Fred tilted her head and asked, "What's wrong, Delia?"

Delia rubbed her lips as she pondered, "I didn't see the princess in her room. The guards said she was searching for me but I didn't see her."

Fred patted her shoulders, "Don't be worried, Delia. I'm sure the Princess would have gone to her brother to give him an earful like she always does."

Fred laughed making Delia relax her tense jaw. Hazel pouted as they were right about giving her brother an earful.

Suddenly, her ears perked up when she heard the bustling of the people. She slowly got up and peeped from the lid. Her eyes twinkled in excitement when she saw a lot of people walking around them.

Hazel smiled as she thought, 'So this is the Crystal Kingdom.'

She looked around and wondered why her brother and father said the place was dangerous. She couldn't understand why but soon her eyes wandered around the place. She noticed Delia and Fred pave their way among the crowd. Her mouth watered when she saw the street stalls and she almost yelped when she saw her favorite snack which Delia always used to bring her.

Hazel suddenly frowned when she felt a curious gaze on her. She turned her eyes and her body almost froze when her eyes met with chocolate brown eyes who was watching her curiously. Given that only her emerald eyes could be seen, the chocolate brown eyes were giving her the creeps that Hazel suddenly covered the lid and hid inside the basket.

'Who was that?'