When Hazel arrived at the tea party, she was escorted by two maids into the large garden that was full of roses of all shades.
There were four average tables with the capacity of six to twelve members.
Two were taken by men while the other two were taken by women according to their power and position in the empire. They were having a firing conversation about something but they stopped when they heard the sound of footsteps and craned their necks to see who came.
All the gazes fell on her when she reached there.
Celina stood up with a bright smile and hugged Hazel as if they were old friends.
“I am glad that you have decided to come. You will not regret coming here.” She looked at Hazel with a meaningful gaze and then held her hands and took her to the smallest table in the room that only had three women sitting.
“It is our honor to meet the sacrificial princess!” said one of them with a mocking tone as she sat while other just chuckled but nodded their head to show respect.
“That is it! The princess is here to support us. You should be more respectful towards her.” chided Celina but others only kept their mouths shut.
They did not look guilty at all when Hazel laughed.
“Oh, you do not need to be too stern on them. After all, I am a sacrificial princess. But then… not everyone can sacrifice to save their race. Most of them just sit and talk as if their words would change the world. Right?” with a bewitching smile on her face and her eyes full of arrogance, Hazel crossed her legs and sat there like a queen.
They were not able to match her eyes.
“Oh.. I know that. And I have faith in you, princess.” said Celina with a nod and sincerity on her face, “that is why I was telling everyone that we should not look for a new ruler among us.”
When she turned to look at hazel, her eyes were filled with hope that stirred something in hazel.
“Ha! Do not start that again in front of the princess. We have already told you that you should not be too wilful. This decision is not only about you but for the safety and future of the whole empire.” the oldest of them who have mocked hazel before chided Celina in a harsh voice forcing her to bite her lips and lower her head and then she looked at hazel.
“I am sure the princess is not going to stay here for long. She was going to follow her husband back to his empire, right?” Hazel feigned ignorance behind her warning that you are not one of us, so you should not meddle in our affairs and shook her head.
“I will not leave until I am sure that this place is in good hands. I do not want vampires to rule this land and neither….. Witches.” her eyes glowed when she added the last part while staring at the man who was walking towards her.
He had a slight smile on his face, a charm that she could not deny. He winked at her when she did not take her gaze away.
Anne coughed while standing behind Hazel, only then did Hazel take her eyes away from the man.
“I am with you when it comes to the welfare of the land where I have taken birth.” The sound of applause took the women on the table off guard.
They turned to look at the other side and a look of surprise passed their eyes.
“Oh, lord Luhan. We were not expecting that you would partake in the meeting.” a lord!
“Lady Celina told me that the princess is going to come. How could i let go of this chance to curry favor. ” he turned to look at hazel with a spark in her eyes and then turned to another woman with a smile on his face, “it is not everyday that the princess sits with us and hears our problems!” he added in a soft voice.
He was not only handsome, fair and tall but his voice was enchanting and with that perfect smile on her face, he was no less than the prince charming for them who blushed while looking at him in spite of not agreeing to him.
“You will not mind if i sit here, will you?” Everyone shook their heads at once as he sat there and smiled at all of them.
“Even I want our problems to be heard, Luhan. But we need someone with powers. What could a puppet who is dependent on others for her life do?” she said in a mocking voice as she looked at hazel with disdain but the smile on her face widened when her eyes turned to look at Luhan who looked displeased with the comment but did not show it on his face.
“If that is the case, then I should be leaving. But time would tell who had the powers and who could have changed your future but you let go of the chance.” Hazel stood up at once, surprising Celina and Luhan who were thinking that she would give a strong comeback.
Without nodding or bowing, she turned to leave when Luhan stood up and ran behind her, earning gasps and a look of shock from many women there.
“My lady! Princess!”
“Hazel!” He kept calling her but she did not stop. Her gait was poised and elegant but her pace was fast that it took him a few seconds to reach upto her.
“Why are you leaving?” he asked as he blocked his way. A look of anger in his eyes, “you should have shown her your power and shut her up for good. What would leaving do?” he asked with anger and confusion as if he was the one who was insulted.
“For what? Do you think they have the right to judge me so I spend all my time continuously proving myself to everyone around me?”