Capítulo 3: Chapter 3 - Royal Palace Gardens
The royal palace gardens had a variety of flowers, with large trees in the surroundings and having a grassy layout. Everyone was beside the wide lake at the center, watching the different species of animals in it. Behind them was a long table, filled with extravagant foods that only the royalty and nobility could afford. The gazebo by the lake side was left unused, as they preferred the current set up more.
"You looked as marvelous as a ferocious dragon yesterday. I wonder if you could teach me the moves you used?" Said Azula, princess of the fire nation and sister to Prince Zuko. She stood beside Haji as they talked, and she sweetly looked at him.
Donning a Royal Academy for girls uniform, and her black hair tied up, Azula looked very lovely. Haji felt sucked by her golden eyes, and they both stared at each other for a moment. A passionate kiss would be shared already if she wasn't a little too young, Haji controlled his impulses.
He extended his arm around her shoulders and said, "Thank you, Azula, being cheered on by such a pretty princess probably caused me to win yesterday's match. And I'd gladly teach you, alone."
"Can we do it tomorrow?" Azula blushed at his touch, she had a wide grin and held his arm that was on hers. The people around them did not give mind to Haji's intimate advances on the princess as they had been ordered by her to stand down prior to the party's start. Their circle of friends was also used to this kind of act between the two, and they were also busy interacting with each other.
Haji showed a reluctant look, and answered, "How about the day after? I have plans with Ban tomorrow." When Azula heard this, she secretly glared at Ban before nodding at Haji. The victim himself did not know that he garnered the princess' ire.
While chatting up with Ty Lee, Ban glanced at the two, looking very intimate, and he couldn't help but mumble, "Just a little kid, he says…" Then continued buttering up Ty Lee. This was the only thing he'd find Haji a hypocrite on, the man would disregard Azula's feelings for him but he would foster intimacy with her every time they meet.
Azula and Haji walked towards the table full of meals, Azula's hand sneakily touched Ban's buttocks while she passed by him. Not noticing anything, Ban continued to talk until he smelt something burning. "Hey, smoke is coming from behind you!" Ty Lee exclaimed, her hands were placed on her lips.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Ban touched his butt and felt a searing pain from it, he shouted in pain and tried to put out the fire by patting it. In panic, he ran to the lake and jumped, making a loud splash that attracted everyone's attention. Zuko and the others knew the culprit already since they were once a victim of Azula's so called pranks. They could only look at Ban with concern and help him. Meanwhile, Ty Lee assisted him in standing up while Zuko passed on a towel to him.
"I'm sorry, Ban, Azula's pranks are really too excessive." Zuko said, looking at his sister who was laughing very loudly. "I'll try to talk to her later."
Ban shook his head and said, "It's fine, I just wish to know why she did this."
"She might have been jealous of you due to your closeness with Haji, who knows." Ty lee answered, to which Ban replied with an, I see, look.
Haji's eyebrows furrowed at the sight of Ban's humiliation. Azula's laughter annoyed him so much, he would have shouted at the princess if the guards were not to pounce at him. "That was too much, princess." He said, clenching his fist in anger.
Her laughter stopped when she felt Haji's anger in his tone, looking at him innocently, she asked, "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, please, I hope this won't happen ever again." Said Haji calmly, he stared at her with indifference, contrary to his warm gaze earlier.
Still, Azula gazed at him innocently but her next words proved her offense, "Go out on a date with me tomorrow and I promise, this won't happen to him again." She had a fatal, attractive smile while awaiting Haji's answer.
The request bewildered Haji, he had an 'are you kidding me' look. Racking his brains for a bit, he said, "Apologize to Ban later and I'd even spend the whole day with you tomorrow."
Azula looked very reluctant but nonetheless agreed, having her wish granted, she stayed silent and watched as Haji stood from his seat to console Ban from this humiliation. Ban couldn't be angry at the princess, nor was he qualified to voice his complaints. He agreed when Haji cancelled their plans tomorrow, with the man bringing up the deal he just had with Azula.
"Don't worry, this won't happen again. I'll make sure she'll apologize later, as well." Haji assured him, and patted his back. Ban smiled, then followed Haji, sitting at his right side while Azula sat on the seat left of Haji.
After all the pranks and such, everyone ate happily but the two, Ban and Azula, were a bit awkward with each other, with Ban avoiding the glares she would send from time to time. Haji knew what was going on but acted oblivious to it. Zuko's attention was fully focused on Mai, causing Azula to tease the both of them, making them blush fiercely.
I should have known this would happen one day, knowing her sadistic and possessive personality... Haji sighed, immersing himself in the food to ease his stress.
After the meal, everyone was full and they comfortably sat on their chairs, chatting amidst one another. The sun had almost set, making the guards light the torches, illuminating the garden, making it a tranquil scenery.
"Everyone, let's call it a day, we don't want our parents worrying since it's almost night time." Said Haji, then he looked consequently at both Ban and Azula, "You two come with me first." Grabbing their arms and dragging them away from the group.
"I wonder what Haji would say to them." Ty lee said, her arms were placed behind her head, "Do you think Azula would get angry at him, Mai?"
"Probably, never." Mai answered, looking at the three that were far away from them.
At the same time, Ban felt uncomfortable being near Azula, how he wished to leave right after they finish this business.
"Apologize, Azula." Haji sternly said, gazing piercely at Azula.
When Ban heard him, he wanted to beg the guy to stop, but Haji extended his hand, forcing him to stay silent. He could only look at Azula and observe her face, hoping that she wouldn't lash out at them.
Azula's face distorted and she reluctantly said, "I'm sorry, Ban." It was a very short apology with a forceful tone, but it was enough, considering her personality and stature.
"It's fine, princess, it was just a harmless prank." Ban said while shaking his head, wanting to not spend any more time with her presence.
Haji sighed at Ban's pushover nature against the princess. I should teach him how to act strong next time, he thought.
"Very well, I guess everything's fine now." He said, and the three of them returned to the table. Although Azula's glare at Ban intensified, she kept silent since their return and everyone felt her restraint. The four visitors bade their farewells to Zuko and Azula, and the two walked them off until the palace gate, where they saw the carriages that belonged to the four. Before stepping inside his carriage, Haji felt a hand tugging behind his clothes, he looked behind and saw Azula.
"Goodnight, Haji, I'm looking forward to our date tomorrow." She said, "I'll be at your house tomorrow morning."
Haji nodded and smiled sweetly at her, "I feel the same way. I'll make it a day to remember for you." He felt very weird going on a date with an eleven years old, but a man must uphold his promise, in case the princess does something excessive again. Sadly, this situation was something he had wanted to avoid, being too involved with Azula would restrict his movements very much and he thought to brainstorm later in his room on how to prevent this.
With that, the carriages set off, and the silhouette of the two royalty had left his sight. After reaching an intersection, he saw Ban's carriage and Ban was sitting outside. Ban waved at him when he saw Haji's face at the carriage's window.
Apparently, Ban waited there for Haji so that he could enter his carriage and talk with him. Inside Haji's carriage, he hugged him and said, "Thank you for earlier, I'd feel like crying if you weren't there."
"No problem, Ban, I wouldn't let a friend be humiliated to that point." Haji patted Ban's back, and Ban had let go off him, and returned to his seat opposite of Haji. Haji jokingly said, "Why must I be so handsome that a princess is so infatuated with me."
"What a narcissist! You won't be able to ogle at girls when you're with the princess, gouging your eyes is probably the least amount of damage she'd do." Ban said, gazing slit eyed at Haji.
They then conversed about the party earlier. Of course, his main topic would revolve around Ty Lee and how far they had talked about. This went on until they reached Ban's family manor, where he bade his goodbye to his friend, and the carriage became silent once more.
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