Chapter 281 [Bonus chapter] Hazel or Bella?

“So, you have no idea who mixed poison in your food. But the behavior of your brother Vincent was kind towards you?” asked the baffled councilmen as he raised his head and his gaze exchanged between Hazel and Rafael

Rafael had a blank expression on his face as if he was lost in his own thoughts while Hazel nodded her head.

“Yes, he even asked me to meet him whenever I needed someone to talk to or burden my problems with.

Lord Vincent had been kind to me. He even visits me every time Rafael is busy with his work.” she replied with a naive look on her face when the councilman’s face turned grave.

“That.. my lady, that’s all i wanted to know. Why don’t you rest in your room while I take your husband’s statement?” he asked in a polite tone when Hazel nodded her head.

She nodded back towards Rafael who was looking at her with his jaws tickled and nerves popping out of his head and stood up.

She walked out of the room when she saw Lucian waiting for her there like a loyal servant.

Worry and longing could be seen on his face while filling her with guilt.

It was Hazel who had promised him that she would spend life with him. But now Bella has taken over. She was still not able to decide whose life she wanted to continue.

He did not say a word. when she started to walk away, he followed her.

They ended up in her room. She sat on the sofa and he stood in front of her.

“You are looking worried. Did something happen?” he asked still with feigning ignorance when she raised her head but shook it.

“No! I just want to sort everything out and rest for a while. I am getting exhausted.

What happened to the rumors?” Lucian tried to observe her reaction and felt a strange rejection coming from her but only nodded his head.

“After a strange fire broke out in the palace. A rumor spread that Vincent had set the fire to kill his father and you.

And then, the maid whom you have saved gave her statement. She had a lot of letters that Vincent had written.

He must have asked her to burn them once the work was done but she had kept them safely as her security.

Many noble ladies come out that he was having an affair with them and took many favors from their father to raise his personal army but never fulfilled his promises.

Rumors of him killing women and doing fraud in accounts to show the amount was spent on the public while transferring all of it in his account and much more came forward.

He is swamped from everywhere. I am sure that this is his end.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Using the public to kill her enemies was Hazel’s style anyway. She would rather burn them to crisp so that she did not need to look at her back all the time.

“What about my father and mother?”

“Lord Rafael had proven then that your father and Vincent were trying to start another war by smuggling Beryllium when it was already banned.

All his allies had given a testament against him too. He is not emperor and more and his whole family was taken away for investigation.

Now the council is looking for the new emperor. I think they have asked all higher nobles to meet them later.

A higher noble family that would support peace and accept the presence of witches and vampires too would be selected.” ha! Another charade.

“What did they think, the nobles would speak out loud what they feel in front of the vampires and councilmen?” she sneered when her eyes snapped open again and she lagged.

Lucian tilted his head with confusion when she looked at him with twinkling eyes.

“I think i should fulfill a wish of councilmen since they were so worried about me.” he raised a brow at her sarcastic comment but knew that she was not going to tell him.

He had thought that they had come closer after that kiss but suddenly he felt like they were distant apart.

“Hazel!” he called her softly, almost pleadingly when she looked back at him.

?[0)??? “Hmm? You do not need to worry about anything. Once it ends, I will come with you.“ He should have been happy after listening to her words, but it only made his heart bleed.

Insecurity and longing increased when he stared deep into her eyes. Was he asking too much when he expected that she would look at him lovingly?

That was not the time, he reminded himself. She had just faced a life and death situation and here he was, thinking about himself only.

“Nah, we will discuss it later. I wanted to ask you, have you realized that you have powers now?” she blinked as she was not expecting him to change the subject of discussion when he was looking like a puppy that would be abandoned anytime by his master.

She nodded her head unsure of how to explain it to him. She could not say that she was the dark witch since birth but her sister had sealed her soul so that she could be kept safe from the enemies.

“But you are not a witch, are you? I heard my aunt calling you a demon.

It reminded me of the dark witch who had started a massacre and killed all the witches with Rafael but ended up dying in that war too.” is what others knew about her story.

She scoffed at their version and closed her eyes again. But she could see a sense of doubt in his eyes that made her curious was right in choosing him instead of Rafael.

“What if i am that dark witch, would you not love me anymore and wanted to run away from me.”