179 Chapter 179: Future King

"WHAAAT?" 

Jinha shouted at Hak and Liz who were standing before him with a face full of worry. 

"How the heck did you lose the prince?" He groaned as he clutched his hair thinking about how he would inform Hazel.

Liz bit her lips, "We didn't notice anyone suspicious, it just took a moment for him to disappear."

Jinha rubbed his forehead tiredly as he thought about what to do.

"Zeno already went with the search team to look for him," Hak mumbled making Jinha glare at him.

Shaking his head, Jinha said, "That won't be enough. Let us all go before the devil arrives"

But before they could move an inch, the door was kicked open and a figure stood by the door, panting furiously.

"How did it happen?"

Jinha sucked in his lips, 'Too late'

On her question, Liz and Hak who was originally conversing with Jinha froze. They slowly turned around and saw Hazel staring at them with an indescribable look.

Liz lowered her head as she couldn't face her seeking eyes. 

Hazel narrowed her eyes as she slowly straightened up and walked forward. Her footsteps echoed sharply, sounding overly loud in her own ears, like her thumping heart.

As she walked towards them, Hak noticed the sweat visible on her face and her slightly trembling hands.

'She is furious' Hak thought as he pressed his lips.

He knew... he fully understood why she would be angry. They are to be blamed. He was grateful that she didn't unleash her wrath the moment she saw them, due to their friendship but he could see how close she was to explode.

Stopping a few feet away from them, Hazel breathed as she asked in an eerie calm voice, "What happened?"

Hak shuddered at her voice before he slowly looked at Liz who was biting her lips.

Slowly they started to explain what transpired and saw how her face darkened at each sentence. There was a moment of silence after their explanation, all of them waiting for her to respond.

Jinha quietly inched towards her and whispered, "Zeno has already joined the search team. They are searching every corner of the city as I speak"

Hazel shifted her eyes towards Jinha who almost flinched at her blank stare. He couldn't read her. For the first time in his life, he couldn't read her.

Hazel stared at Jinha blankly before her eyes shifted to Liz and Hak who were standing behind him. She clenched her hands tightly, knowing fully well that she couldn't lash out at them.

But she was burning in anger and frustration.

She should have known. Even after highlighting the danger to her brother, he wouldn't be able to avoid it if the danger was adamant on knocking on their doors.

Her heart was hanging by a string thinking about all the possible wrongs happening to her brother. She pursed her lips remembering the vow she had taken years back. 

She turned her head away from her parents as she was sure she wouldn't be able to hide her fury. She walked towards the main door when she felt Jinha stop her.

"Where are you going?" 

Hazel paused before she said nonchalantly, "Searching for my brother"

Jinha let out a breath as he calmly said, "We were just about to search for him too. Let's go together."

Hazel turned her head and said, "I will go alone" 

Her cold voice sent shivers down everyone's spine. It was dry, emotionless as if someone precious to her had already died. Her eyes reminded him of her state back in the days.

He remembered her daily routine which consisted of only fighting and getting strong until Rin appeared in her world. He appeared like the sun shining brightly in her life, the light she was searching for many months.

When Hazel saw baby Rin in Jinha's arms, her body froze as her eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't quite believe that he was real, that the baby was real, that the blood of Hezekiah flowed through his veins.

It was just a tiny flicker but Jinha had seen the hope behind those melancholy eyes. He saw her eyes coming back alive when baby Rin opened his eyes and gazed at her lovingly with his emerald eyes, she let out a hearty chuckle. A chuckle which made everyone tear up. 

She was finally showering them with her laugh after months. When baby Rin giggled at her, Hazel cried. He had her brother's smile, the smile she missed for months. Baby Rin knitted his tiny brows making Hazel smile widely through her tears. 

She hugged the baby tightly in her arms as if he was her only salvation. 

Jinha had seen how the appearance of Rin changed Hazel's life and how Usui had made her life better. If Rin was keeping the darkness at bay, then Usui helped her step out of it completely. So, he couldn't quite stomach the fact that she was returning to that devoid state.

Without another thought, Jinha hugged her in his arms tightly as he whispered in her ears, "He will be fine, Freya"

Hazel stared blankly at the floor as he embraced her. She couldn't quite grasp what was happening. Her vision was blurring but her heart was fighting.

She needed to find Rin immediately. She has to make sure he is safe. She would never let anyone take her brother's son away from her.

But when she heard the silent plea behind Jinha's words, her eyes flickered. 

"Are you sure?"

Before Jinha could answer her, he felt her body lean completely against his making him panic.

"Freya"

"Sssh" Hazel hissed as she held her forehead with her hand. Her head was throbbing and her vision blurred. But she couldn't afford to rest now, not when he wasn't found and when they are coming here.

Jinha disregarded her protest as he pulled her back and gazed at her. He pursed his lips in anger when he saw her pale complexion. 

He snarled, "When did you last sleep, Freya?"

Hazel let out a small smile as she said, "I don't know" 

She shook her head when she saw him glare at her furiously. 

"I am fine"

Jinha snorted, "Oh, are you?" and he let her go startling Hazel. She took a step back but stumbled as she fell forward. Before her face made contact with the ground, strong arms pulled her up. She heard a snarling voice, "Are you fine, now?"

Before Hazel could answer his question, the sound of footsteps made everyone silent. The approaching footsteps had no rhythm as if they were scared. She turned around to the main door, forgetting all about her body state as she asked Zeno straightly, "How is it? Did you find him?"

Zeno looked up at the princess before his eyes met with Jinha, making the latter grit his teeth. It was all for naught!

Zeno shook his head and saw Hazel's eyes dim at his information. 

"We went through every corner and even asked the crowd, but all of them never saw a blue cat nor the prince."

Hazel's lips parted as she stared at Zeno thinking about the next step. 

"Freya, we are sorry. We didn't do our role well. We are willing to get punished after we find the prince."

Hazel turned towards her friends who had their heads lowered making her gaze soften. She sighed as she rubbed her forehead and said, "Inform the crowd about Rin's identity"

Everyone looked at her in shock as if she decided to wage a war. 

"The only way we can go forth with this search is by letting the crowd know his identity." she looked at each one of them and explained.

Right then, she saw her father appear along with her worried mother. She looked at them and said sternly, "By identity, I mean the future king of Crystal Kingdom"

Julian pressed his lips at her words but nodded his head in acknowledgment. They couldn't hide it forever, Rin had the right to know the truth as does the people of their kingdom.

Hazel sighed and looked at Jinha, who immediately ordered the soldiers to do the necessary arrangements. Today was a good day, after all, it was the day her brother had taken her out after months of persuasion. 

But before the soldiers reached the main door, a sudden explosion made the soldiers crash against the walls. Everyone narrowed their eyes as they stared at the intruder by the door. 

Dust swirled around the entrance masking the intruders, covering them well. Hazel narrowed her eyes when she saw a blue tail amidst the dust. Her face paled when she saw the infinity symbol hanging on one of the intruders, the danger they were dreading to encounter.

"HoHo... looks like we are right on time" a loud voice echoed inside the room as the guy stepped forward. 

His huge foot stomping the floor loudly accompanied by a cat's purr. Hazel knitted her brows when he saw a red-haired guy step out from the dust with a horde of people behind him, staring at them with a grin. A blue cat was resting on his shoulders with its tail wrapped around his neck.

But that wasn't what caught her attention. It was the child in his arms. 

Her eyes widened as she gasped, "Rin"