Chapter 23 - Proud, Beautiful And Insane

"I think I should listen to him first before making any decision." replied Hazel as she finally looked back at the man whose eyes had been stilled on her since the start.

Her father's face formed into a scowl but he could not say anything in front of the messenger, especially when all of them were in support of this decision.

"Of course, I will ask the maids to escort both of them to the garden." replied Amelia with a nod before her father could deny once again.

"I do not want the intrusion of maids too!" came the quick reply of the messenger whose face was so grim that others did not even know how to deny him.

"But.." if the maids did not follow then how would the countess and Amelia know what they had talked about. They both exchanged glances and tried to find a way to deny them.

"Is there any problem with that?" asked Richard but not to others, but Amelia who looked back at him with confusion. She understood that he had brought the offer of the prince but in the end he was just a messenger. How could he be so arrogant? Even her family was getting tired of his tantrums.

But Hazel knew by the worried faces of Amelia and the countess that they both were trying to spy on her, so she shook her head when she got the chance.

"No, if my family wants me to discuss the matter with you, how could I deny it!" she continued to reply in a meek voice. She would never accept that she was doing all this on her own accord!

They wanted to retort but they could not when the man was looking at them as if he would take their soul if they denied. His aura was so strong for them to go against him. Before anyone could deny or devise an excuse to stop them. Richard had already reached the door and opened the door.

He held the door for Hazel, who looked at her family for one last time and then followed him.

"After you, my lady." Finally his grim face relaxed a bit and a smile formed on his face.

Hazel nodded and walked out of the door. Her eyes were still looking around, trying to make a plan if things did not go in her favor.

Small journey from room to the garden felt like centuries to Hazel, who was still not sure if she had taken the right decision.

"I did not know how to talk in a roundabout manner. Do you want to marry that joker?" he asked as soon as they reached the garden. Hazel did not even get the chance to sit and offer him a seat.

The moment they entered, he turned and looked straight at her as if his patience had already worn out.

Hazel was stumped for words when he asked her straightforwardly. She was still not sure if she should tell the truth to a stranger or not!

"Why did your prince want to marry me?" she asked back in a sharp tone. She did not want to act if there was no one to see her acting. She knew that he had an idea that she was not upset as she was showing.

Her face filled with pride. She sat there leisurely, folding her one leg over the other as she looked at him.

"Who are you and how do you know me?" she finally asked when he did not reply to her first question.

"The prince had seen you in the woods and he fell in love with you. So, he instructed me to come and ask for your hand. But he did not know that you are already betrothed to someone.`` Hazel tilted her head but she was not able to see his face clearly that was still covered in the cloak. So, she was not sure if he was telling the truth.

She did not assume herself to be ugly like others but she was sure that she was not a stunning beauty to catch someone's attention for the first time. And could a prince marry to a woman from another land on that basis? Did he not need to follow the norms of nobility and their culture?

"Our prince is of extreme power." as if sensing her doubts, he explained that he had the power to do anything.

"What was I doing when he saw me there?" asked Hazel, everyone knew that she was spending most of her time in the woods these days. So, the story could be made easy even when they have very little knowledge about her. But no one knew what she did there, so, if it was a lie then he would not have any concrete answer!

"You had saved a wolf, you were shouting at the beast as if it was your pet dog. And then you even took two arrows just to save him." his voice was calm and his shoulders were relaxed but she only continued to look at him without replying and he sighed.

"Even I relent when the person shows kindness. Do not be rude enough that you have to lose your life. Now stay put, let me take out those arrows first." you scolded a wolf but then took all the arrows out of the wolf's body. You did not seem to care about his canines and claws.

Our prince found you brave, beautiful and insane. But the way you took the risk to help a beast showed him you are a kind hearted woman who was selfless. So, he wanted to marry you. I can assure you that your every wish would be fulfilled if you marry him and you would be the strongest woman in your empire.

But if you still want to marry that joker, I will explain to my prince and I was sure that he would understand. So, who do you want to marry?"