129 Chapter 129: Protect her happiness

Somehow she had turned a little cold and indifferent to whatever happened, unlike her usual self. The Princess now had a close resemblance to the Crown Prince. Even though she graced them with her kindness and a smile, she didn't have the usual cheerfulness.

And, the most important fact was that she had stopped bothering her with her usual question. Even when people mentioned the activities happening in the city, she remained mute as if she accepted the fact that she was meant to be only a beautiful vase.

Hezekiah slammed his pen on the table thinking about his sister's actions. His guards were unperturbed as it has become a usual occurrence every day since the day Princess returned after her little adventure. 

The Crown Prince had a dark expression on his face when he remembered his sister's actions. She was doing nothing yet she was making others worry about her. He sighed when he thought of what she said when he asked her

"Would you like to accompany me to the annual festival?"

Hazel raised her eyebrow and stared at him making his lips rise slightly. She looked around the dining table and asked softly, "Am I allowed to?"

Her question stunned everyone inside the hall that they didn't see her excuse herself and return to her room. 

Gritting his teeth, Hezekiah barked his assistant, William to come inside who bowed respectfully and waited for his orders.

Even after minutes passed, William didn't hear anything letting him take a peek at the Crown Prince. 

William heard the prince whisper, "Do you think I'm wrong?"

William didn't need any more details to know whom the prince was referring to. The only person who could make the prince worry was his sister.

He shook his head and said, "No, my Prince. You have only been protecting her."

Hezekiah muttered, "But she's suffocating"

William sighed and said, "We have received news that the enemies have started to move. Most likely they would act on the day of the annual festival. It is only safe to keep the princess inside these walls lest they should know about your weakness."

Even though Hezekiah knew what his assistant said was the truth, he couldn't quite forget the image of her indifferent look. 

"But she is sad. She must be hating her life as a Princess of this kingdom."

The assistant lowered his gaze and remained mute. It was obvious to everyone that the Princess has changed. No one could make her return to her old self. She was like a lost soul wandering in the beautiful garden.

"Prince-"

Hezekiah interrupted him and asked, "I will be going to the annual festival too. Make preparations."

William gaped at the Prince before his eyes shifted to the pile of paperwork on his table. He cried in his heart and looked at the Prince, " We can't take the chance -"

"I will protect her."

William rubbed his temples and said, "I'm not talking about the Princess, Hezekiah"

Hezekiah turned towards his old friend and glared at him. 

"You can't go to the city. Not now..."

Hezekiah rolled his eyes and said, "Just assign a few more guards and I will be armed too. I want to see if they can take me out that easily."

William frowned and was about to reprimand him when he heard the Prince say, "It's decided already, William. I will make her happy."

He left the room with his words echoing, "Even though I promised not to show her the ugliest part of the world. I also promised not to make her unhappy."

....

Hazel was inside her room sketching while basking in the sunlight through her window. Her lips pressed together once she perceived that she had drawn Audrey again. She couldn't understand what made her rebel against her family.

Even when she knew she couldn't blame him. But when she looked outside her window, she was reminded again of her duty - to be a beautiful vase. Angrily, she crushed the paper in her hands and destroyed the beautiful sketch.

Sighing heavily, she threw the paper into a basket that held a lot of her crushed drawing. She started to sketch again when a knock was heard disturbing the silence inside the room. 

She looked at Delia who was waiting aside in her room. Delia nodded and answered the door while Hazel continued drawing.

Delia opened to see the Crown Prince standing in front of the door. When his eyes glanced over to hers, she flinched and staggered a step back. Even though the Princess had protected her last time, the fear she experienced that day was instilled deep within her.

Hezekiah looked at Delia amusedly before shifting his eyes towards his sister who was sketching by the window. Hazel frowned when he felt a deep gaze and looked up to meet her brother's eyes.

Almost suddenly she raised her eyebrow and tilted her head at the clock which said it was almost dusk.

'Isn't he supposed to be in his study?'

Shaking her head, she bent down and continued with her sketch. She waved her hand towards Delia who instantly got the hint and left the room. Hezekiah smiled before he approached her and looked at her sketch from above.

"Your drawing has improved."

Hazel nodded her head and continued sketching ignoring him.

Hezekiah sat down opposite him and right before he opened his mouth, Delia entered the room again and placed some tea and snacks beside her sketching pad, and retired to the corner of the room.

Hazel kept aside her sketches and leaned back against the chair, sipping the tea, all the while ignoring her brother.

Hezekiah grumbled under his breath, "Wow..look at her being so not adorable."

Hazel's lips twitched as she looked up from her cup and asked, "What brings you here, brother?"

Hezekiah sighed once again when he remembered how his sister used to greet him. He pursed his lips and said, "Now there are no hugs and kisses also."

Hazel rolled her eyes and placed the cup down on the table and tapped her fingers impatiently. 

Hezekiah sulked visibly, "Now I can't even meet my sister"

"She is all grown up now"

Hazel scoffed softly ignoring her brother's dramatic words. She had an inkling of what he wanted to say but still waited for him to speak.

"I'm going to attend the annual festival."

Hazel nodded, "Good for you, brother" and took her cup to take a sip.

Hezekiah widened her eyes and asked ridiculously, "That's it?"

Hazel paused her movement and tilted her head at him with a big question mark above her head.

Hezekiah exhaled and asked, "You don't have anything to ask?"

Hazel shook her head amusedly at her brother.

"You don't want to come with me?"

Hazel pursed her lips and shook her head again enjoying the shock on his face. 

"I don't want to leave these walls."

Hezekiah narrowed his eyes at her obvious stubbornness. He gritted his teeth, "I will be there so I will be able to protect you."

"Still not going"

Hezekiah stood up angrily and said, "Freya, what is it now? I'm offering you to get out of these bloody walls. Why are you being stubborn now?"

Hazel looked coldly at him and said, "I thought I didn't have the right to think of going out. Shouldn't I be safe from the ugliest parts?"

Hezekiah slumped his shoulders helplessly as he gazed at his stubborn sister. Why was she so like him?

He went closer to her and knelt beside her chair, "Please Freya, forgive your overprotective brother for once. We have never thought from your perspective. So, we will try to give you the freedom, little by little. Okay?"

Hazel bit her lips as she looked away from her brother's face. Hezekiah grasped her hands and said, "Just give us time to change our overprotective tendencies. We are all worried about you. You are our weakness, the sole weakness. If they have you, we will do anything and everything to save you."

He grabbed her chin and turned her to look at him, "Even if it meant to lose our royal status. We will do it."

Tears welled up in her eyes that she had to blink to clear her vision. She didn't want to cause them pain, she only wanted to let them know that what they were doing was wrong.

"Freya, please?"

His voice broke through the last string of her resilience that she let the tears flow down freely. Hezekiah was surprised to see his little sister crying that he was trying to wipe away her tears.

"No..No...Freya, don't cry... your brother is at fault."

Hazel's tears fell harder when she saw how flustered he was. He was apologizing to her and soothing her at the same time.

Hezekiah wrapped his arm around her and hugged her, "Freya... don't cry.. you know how I don't know to comfort crying woman." And he kissed her hair.

Hazel sniffed as her hands clutched on his clothes and wailed loudly making Hezekiah sigh. He rubbed her head as he embraced her tightly. 

He swore that he would protect her sister from his enemies.