171 Chapter 171: Shifting

Why was she so euphoric upon her realizing her feelings that she forgot the fact that he didn't love her anymore? 

She pressed her lips into a thin line as she gritted her teeth, hating herself for forgetting. 

Jinha who was observing her every expression, frowned when he saw her looking horrified.

'What happened now?' 

He started to move towards Freya but stopped when he heard Lily sigh, "We will come back later at noon, after greeting Merlene and Julian."

Julie nodded, "Yeah... it is indeed rude to march into the medical ward without greeting them."

Lily shook her head as she forlornly said, "Zel, tell me how bad is Hazel's injuries? I heard she was gravely injured by Usui."

Zelal stared at his mother dumbfoundedly before looking at the person in question. Lily tilted her head, confused by his actions before she followed his gaze and saw a person standing behind them.

She gasped when she saw a beautiful girl standing behind her, with her lips pressed into a thin line. 

"Hazel?" she asked doubtfully 

Freya snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Lily with a small smile.

"Her Majesty" she bowed making Lily suddenly wave her hands. 

Lily looked at the girl who had grown up so beautiful. Her heart ached when she thought about how his son had rejected her. 

'When did she arrive?'

Zelal answered her unspoken question, "She was right here from the start."

Lily turned to him with wide eyes.

'What?'

Zelal raised his eyebrow in return, provoking her.

'Don't you remember?'

Lily furrowed her brows until a gasp escaped her lips. She vaguely remembered pushing a person aside in a hurry to check on Stella.

Lily embarrassedly turned to Hazel to apologize for her behavior when she saw the girl smiling at her kindly. She sighed in her heart, 'Too bad'

She approached the girl and held her hands, "Why are you being so formal with me? Call me Aunt Lily like you always did."

Freya smiled, "Aunt Lily, how have you been?" 

Lily smiled, "I have been well" she tugged at her hands before her face scrunched up in worry, "How are you? Are you even allowed to walk now? Come on! let's get you to your room."

Freya sighed helplessly at everyone wanting to treat like a weak woman. 

She smiled as she patted the older lady's hand and said playfully, "Don't return me to those demons. I have escaped from their hands painstakingly." 

Lily laughed at her words and asked her again whether she was really alright. 

" I heard you were injured gravely" 

Hazel shrugged, "I was but now I am all good."

Looking at the beautiful girl, she said, "I apologize for my son's actions-"

She stopped when Hazel covered her mouth and shook her head. Her words stunned Lily as she gaped at the girl.

"I should be grateful to him."

On seeing her puzzled expression, Hazel continued, "If it wasn't for him, I would have lost my family by now." She raised her head and said, "I should be the one to apologize instead, for he lost control due to the promise he gave me."

Lily smiled at the beautiful girl standing up for her son and thought sadly, 'Only if Usui was interested in her... only if he loved her instead of some other woman.'

Now thinking about the person his son loved, wouldn't she be able to meet her? Her eyes lit up as she looked at Hazel and thought, 'If I can't get her for my Usui then I would let the other two blockhead son of hers meet Hazel.'

Lily was not giving up on making Hazel her daughter-in-law. 

She looked at Hazel and asked, "Do you know any girls who conversed closely with my son when he came here?"

Hazel was taken aback by her question. Her face paled as she thought of her question.

'Is she referring to me?' The only girl who conversed closely with Usui in her knowledge was her. 

'Did she hear about the kiss?' Her eyes widened when she thought of the possibility of Aunt Lily seeking justice for Stella. 

Hazel stuttered as she asked, "W-why?"

Lily looked at her for a moment before her face softened. 

'It seems like she loves my son.' her heart ached for Hazel as she cursed her cold son. 

'Why didn't he choose Hazel?'

She shook her head as she decided to just follow his son's wishes and since Hazel didn't seem to know about the girl, she didn't want to tell either.

"I wanted to check on something." Lily smiled and waved her hands dismissingly, "But if you don't know, it's fine."

Hazel pressed her lips nervously and looked at Jinha for help who returned a puzzled expression.

Before she could call him to her side, she heard Princess Julie shout, "Stella!.. darling!"

Lily quickly turned around and asked, "What is it? what happened?"

Everyone approached the bed and saw the sweat forming on her forehead. 

"What happened to her?"

Julie looked at her sister and cried, "I don't know... she suddenly started to sweat out of nowhere."

Hazel frowned as she took her pulse. Slowly, her face smoothened as she said, "Don't worry, she is fine. She is only caught up in her nightmares."

Julie gasped, "Nightmares?"

Loki furrowed his brows before he sat beside her and caressed her cheeks. His warm hand went back and forth caressing her as if saying that he was right here. He held her hands tightly in his as he continued doing his task. 

Lily and Julie were stunned when they saw Stella calm down at the young man's actions. 

Hazel smiled slightly as she moved back and stopped when she met with a sturdy chest.

"Where are you going?" a soft voice asked above her head.

Hazel peeked at Jinha from the corner of her eyes and whispered, "Let's leave"

Hazel moved backward step by step before she fully turned around to leave. Her feet halted when she heard Loki furiously ask, "Castle?"

Her eyes widened when she saw Loki glare at the two ladies as if they were stealing his treasure. They might as well have as they were discussing shifting Stella to their kingdom. 

Right, when she thought the ladies would reprimand him, they took her by surprise when they ignored him, which obviously irritated him.

The temperature fell inside the room, making Hazel rub her arms to warm herself up. 

She shook her head when she saw his enraged countenance. Before he could say another word, a weak voice sounded inside the room, "Loki?"

Loki froze for a moment while the ladies quickly turned to see Stella staring at them in confusion. They shouted happily, "Stella!!"

"Darling"

But Stella's eyes remained glued to Loki who didn't turn around. She furrowed her brows as she called out again in a raspy voice, "Loki?"

Loki blinked his eyes rapidly before he slowly turned towards Stella stiffly. His heart raced as he met with her golden eyes that had always mesmerized him. He clenched his jaw as he felt his body tremble weakly.

'Finally!'

Stella tilted her head to a side as she gazed into his red eyes.

"Is everything okay?"

Loki gazed at her and hummed softly letting a smile appear on her face.

She reached her hand out which he immediately held as he sat beside her. She peered into his eyes and murmured softly, "I thought I was dreaming"

Loki furrowed his brows quizzically at her.

She looked down at their intertwined hands and mumbled, "I thought I was dreaming when I saw you amidst the battle."

She smiled, "I wasn't sure whether it was you but I could feel it."

Her thumb caressed his hand as she said, "This is the second time now, Thank you"

Loki felt his heart race rapidly with her soft whispers. He squeezed her hand gently and smiled at her. Right when he was about to speak, they heard a scream which broke them from their bubble.

"Stelllaa!!!"

Stella furrowed her brows before she turned her head aside. Surprise flashed through her eyes when she saw the faces she didn't expect to see anytime soon.

Quickly, she glanced around the room thinking, 'Was she back home?'

But then the thought disappeared as soon as it came when she noticed the clothes on the ladies.

'They must have rushed over'

Her heart was filled with warmth as she was surrounded by her loved ones. She never thought there would be a day where she would have people whom she could call family by her side.

Julie hugged her tightly as tears trickled down her cheeks. 

"Oh my dear child, don't scare me like this next time"

Loki knitted his brows when he saw the lady almost crushing Stella in his arms. He was about to reach out and separate them when he heard Stella say weakly, "Mother, you are crushing me"

Loki halted his hands as his eyes drifted towards Stella, almost asking her, 'Mother?'

But before he got the chance to voice out his question, a startled voice echoed inside the ward.

"Mother?"