134 Chapter 134: "Goodnight"

'Ah! they must be in a hurry to inform brother'

Hazel smiled before she glanced at the garden in front of her. She took a deep breath as she waited for those familiar footsteps. And, it didn't take that long for her to hear his footsteps.

Hazel glanced to her side and found Hezekiah standing there, a few steps away from her, staring at her. She smiled at him which made him knit his brows.

He started taking steps towards her and asked, "You don't have any plans on telling me, do you?"

Hazel's lips twitched at her brother's question. 

'Was it too obvious?'

She tilted her head and said innocently, "I was in shock"

Her answer made Hezekiah scoff at her but he refrained from doing so.

Seeing that, he didn't believe her, she diverted his thoughts by asking, "Did you know that the chief was monetizing the funds which were meant for the citizens?"

Hezekiah stopped in front of her with a frown and answered, "That isn't something you should know." 

Hazel pressed her lips and glared at her brother. She asked persistently, "Did you know?"

On seeing that she had no plans on relenting, He rubbed his forehead and answered, "At first, I didn't but now, I have my doubts after seeing the city's state. I have asked William to check into this matter."

Then he looked at her suspiciously, "How did you know about this?"

Hazel ignored his question as she leaped towards him excitedly and asked, "So, you will solve it quick, right?"

Frowning, Hezekiah asked again, "Freya, where did you hear this from?"

Hazel slumped her shoulders and pouted, "I might have overheard someone's conversation."

Hezekiah narrowed his eyes as he asked, "Who's?"

Hazel shook her head indicating she didn't know. He looked at for a few seconds and just sighed. 

'Whatever! I'm just going to believe her words.'

On seeing that her brother believed her, Hazel smiled brightly even though she was slightly guilty for hiding it.

Hezekiah went forward and hugged her tightly.

"Don't worry, I will take action soon. He won't be pardoned."

Hazel nodded as she hugged him tighter. She was glad that she could help Audrey this way.

.... 

At night,

Audrey and Hazel were playing together in her room as usual. This was the normal routine now where Audrey would come three days a week and play with her. It was very surprising that the guards have never caught her trespassing into her room. Hazel was worried even after Audrey's repeated efforts to calm her.

"Checkmate"

Hazel stuck her tongue out and both the girls fell into a round of laughter. But soon their laugh faded when they heard a knock. 

Hazel and Audrey stiffened before both of them snapped out of their daze. Hazel started looking around for a hiding spot in her room while Audrey bit her lips.

When she saw Hazel urge to hide under her bed, she obliged. Then she felt the top sink under the weight of Hazel jumping on the bed. Before she heard Hazel's call, "Come in"

Audrey waited for the visitor and frowned when she didn't hear anything for a while. She wanted to check it out but she couldn't. 

Hazel tilted her head at her brother who raised his eyebrow at her. 

"I was playing by myself"

"Isn't that boring?" Hezekiah flopped on her bed beside her almost making Audrey groan. "Next time, call me and I will play with you."

Hazel smiled, "Aren't you busy?"

"Not for you, Princess"

Hazel giggled which made Hezekiah smile broadly.

"Will you tell me why the late-night visit, brother?"

Hezekiah chuckled and nodded. "Ohh...I wanted to share with you what we found about the chief." Then he looked at her and her dress before he ruffled her hair, "But, since you have gone to bed. We can do this tomorrow night."

Hazel asked amazedly, "Are you going to share it with me?"

Hezekiah tilted his head as he asked surprised, "Don't you? I thought you would want to be informed about this."

Hazel immediately said, "I do...I do." She was very glad that she could reduce one difficult task in Audrey's life.

"Now, it's time for you to sleep." Hazel nodded and allowed herself to be tucked in the bed. She looked at her brother who caressed her hair and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Freya"

"Goodnight, brother"

Hazel waited till she heard his fading footsteps before she hissed in the darkness, "Audrey"

She was nervously waiting for her to respond when she heard a shuffle and felt her bed sink. She stretched her hand to turn on the small lamp and saw Audrey's grave expression.

Hazel asked worriedly, "What is it, Audrey?"

Audrey drew her brows together as she asked Hazel, "Freya, did you tell your brother?"

Hazel relaxed knowing the reason behind her restlessness. She nodded, "I could only do so much to help you."

Audrey looked at her, frowning when she realized what she was referring to. Hazel hurriedly said, "Don't worry, I didn't say anything regarding you."

Audrey visibly relaxed as she leaned her body towards the bedrest. She looked at Hazel and smiled, "Looks like your brother found evidence related to the chief's monetizing."

Hazel nodded and said proudly, "Yeah... he is the best." Then she looked at Audrey and said, "Don't worry, I will make sure the citizens get enough compensation for their lack of resources."

Tears welled up in her eyes before she rubbed it. She sniffed and grasped Hazel's hand and said, "Thank you"

Hazel patted her hand and said, "We are friends, this is the least I could do for you."

Audrey bit her lip as she asked hesitantly, "Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure go ahead"

Audrey looked at Hazel who was giving her utmost time making her insides churn guiltily. 

"Um... Is there any way you can bring me along with you when you visit your brother tomorrow?"

Hazel looked taken aback as she asked, "You want to be there tomorrow?"

Audrey nodded.

"I want to believe in your brother as you do. So, I would like to know what he found out."

Seeing Hazel's hesitating face, Audrey added, "I can also give him extra pieces of evidence."

Hazel rubbed her chin, "Umm... That's understandable. Okay! I will bring you along with me"

Then she looked at Audrey and cheered, "Yaay!!! you are finally meeting my brother"

Audrey smiled slightly at her before her face contracted in worry. Due to her excitement, Hazel didn't notice her expression. If only she had, then she could have avoided the following circumstances.

"So I will leave now and meet you tomorrow night."

Hazel nodded and waved at her excitedly.

Audrey looked at the princess for the last time before jumping through the window. Hazel sighed upon seeing her jump so casually from her window as if her room was just one story above the ground.

She shook her head as she snuggled into her pillow when she thought of tomorrow.

'Finally'

....

The next day, Hazel frowned when she noticed dark clouds forming, hiding the sun from blasting its mighty rays. She grumbled to Delia, "Why does it have to rain today of all days?"

Delia chuckled, "Don't worry, Princess. It would pass by soon."

Yet, things happened in the opposite as always.

The rain bore down mercilessly upon the heart of the city, pounding on the rooftops and turning the cobbled streets of the Kingdom into a warren of slick stones and muddy waters. The downpour was so heavy that to be caught unawares meant being drenched to the skin. Each drop was as large as a cartoon tear and they fell like gravity had been turned up a notch.

Hazel glared at the rain even though she loves it. She loved the aroma of the rain, sharp and fresh, which made her always enjoy the cold weather with a cup of tea as she watched the trees and birds enjoy their time. Sometimes, her brother accompanied her as they talked about random things.

Hazel pressed her lips as she glanced outside to check whether the sun would be out anytime soon when she saw lightning streaks in the skies.

'Great...just great... now it's going to rain all day long.'

Hazel shook her head as she glanced at the time. Even though it was evening, the cold weather made it feel like the day was approaching the night promptly. Hazel fidgeted with her fingers as she thought whether Audrey would be able to meet up with her at the designated location.

Since Audrey didn't want to come through the guards, Hazel had told her...no mapped her the secret tunnel way which led to her brother's study. Audrey was worried whether her brother would be there when she arrives but Hazel had reassured her that her brother would only come by at night.

Hazel looked at the time and her eyes brightened when she realized the meeting time was soon approaching. She excused Delia before she skipped towards her brother's study ignoring the roar of the thunder in the sky. 

'Hehe... it's finally time for her to meet.'