Chương 17: Bleeding Heart Pt.2
"So, you're saying she was in love with you and not the other way round?" the king said and Yuka nodded.
"I don't know how I ended up in her room. I don't know what happened that night and I suspect that someone set me up"
Yuka's father gazed at his son with sympathy in his eyes.
"You were branded and forced to drink seven cups of the flame of the forest. It almost killed you-"
"But, it didn't"
"I feel like a failure, son. I am your father and I let you down. You are so strong, Yuka. You're the only one who has what it takes to defy Clarice. That's why I want you to take over when I die"
Yuka's eyes went wide.
"Father, you don't mean that. Caden is the crown prince. I can't-"
"You can and you will. For that to happen, you have to get married before Caden does. Your bride will be arriving soon"
"Father, I'm not...I don't..."
"Please, Yuka. Do it for your mother"
....
"...getting married"
Hazel snapped out of her daze, her gaze resting on Caden who was sitting beside her, a smile on his handsome face. They were both sitting in the garden, having a picnic. Despite how lovely and romantic it was, Hazel found herself getting lost in her own head.
"You weren't listening to me, were you? " Caden asked.
Hazel looked away.
"What's on your mind?" Caden asked, a smile tugging at his lips.
"My family" she blurted out immediately, not even stopping to think. She wasn't happy with the way she'd been lying recently. But, telling him the truth didn't seem easy.
"You miss them?"Caden asked and she nodded.
"Did you have a favourite sibling?"
Hazel smiled sadly.
"I was always very close to Shade, one of my brothers. I wish he was here"
Caden placed an arm around her and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"You have me now. We're going to rule Silvera together, Hazel. I'm going to marry you, with or without the scepter because you mean so much to me. You know that, right?"
Hazel nodded stiffly, her thoughts wavering again.
She couldn't help but imagine how Yuka had probably murdered Lyraine even when she didn't want to believe it.
"You're doing it again"
Caden's statement snapped her out of her daze again and he let out a sigh.
"You don't have to worry-"
"What if I'm not enough for you? What if I'm not a good queen?" she asked.
He gently stroked her cheek with his thumb as he gazed into her eyes.
"You are enough for me, Hazel. Don't ever doubt that" he rasped.
Hazel closed her eyes and for a second, Yuka's face flashed in her mind. She sucked in air sharply and opened her eyes, her gaze locking with Caden's silver ones. He started to lean towards her, his gaze falling on her luscious lipstick coated lips. Hazel swallowed hard and the closer he got, the more she panicked. By the time his lips brushed hers, she thought of Yuka again, a sick feeling settling in her stomach. She quickly pulled away and rose to her feet in a hurry. Hurt crossed Caden's features and her heart stuttered.
"I'm sorry" she mumbled and walked away, tears filling her eyes.
Had Yuka screwed up her mind already?
...
Dejected and conflicted, prince Caden stared at Hazel's retreating figure, his lips parted. He couldn't understand why she wasn't warming up to him, despite how considerate he'd been. What was it about him that she didn't like?
He was clueless and it bothered him a lot.
"Your majesty?"
He looked up at the sound of Nazi's voice.
"What's wrong? You look disturbed" she said with a slight frown creasing her brows. Caden looked away, letting out a small sigh.
"I'm fine, Nazi" he responded. She sat down beside him and gazed at the flowers in the garden.
"I don't believe you" she breathed. The prince turned to look at her, the expression on his face, unreadable.
"Nazi-"
She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly.
"Listen to me, Caden. I know our relationship ended roughly and it was all my fault. I accept that. But, that doesn't mean that I don't care about you. Seeing you bothered makes me feel bothered too. You can talk to me, you know. I won't judge, I promise" she stated and opened her eyes, her gaze locking with Caden's.
He remained silent for a while, a distracted look in his eyes.
"Is this about your fiancee?" Nazi asked.
"I'm worried" he rasped.
"Worried about what?"
"I'm worried about loosing her to Yuka just like I lost Lyraine"
"Don't say that. You know you are far better than the black blood, right?"
"I know" he sighed, running a hand over his face.
"I just- feel like Hazel is detached from me. She's not comfortable around me and she keeps going to the East wing. No matter how hard I try, she won't stay away from my brother" the crown prince said.
Nazi looked disgusted.
"She is a low life, Caden. What did you expect? People like her will never be faithful to one person. Caden, she doesn't deserve you. It is the bitter truth"
"I like her, Nazi. I really do"
"You're going to loose at the end if you don't put her in her place. If she eventually falls for your brother, there's no telling what might happen. Think about it, your majesty. Make her loose before she decides to turn against you, Caden"
....
Hazel headed towards Yuka's chamber in a bid to find out the truth about Lyraine's death. There was no way she could fully accept what Nazi had told her. So, she needed to hear it from the horse's mouth. On her way to the second prince's chamber, she ran into Kai who was heading towards the main court.
"Hazel? Where are you going?" He asked.
"I need to talk to Yuka" she responded.
Kai frowned.
"Can't it wait until some other time? His majesty isn't really in a good mood at the moment" he said.
"Did something happen?" She asked, concerned.
"Nothing you should be worried about"
Hazel's frown deepened. She desperately needed answers from Yuka and she was determined to get them.
"If you really need to talk to Yuka, you have to be brief" Kai said and she nodded.
"He's in his chamber"
She nodded curtly and walked away, leaving Kai to stare at her retreating figure as he wondered what she was up to.
When Hazel finally got to the door of Yuka's chamber, she let out a sigh and knocked on the door. When she didn't get a response, she knocked again, this time frantically.
"What do you want?" came Yuka's gruff response.
"Will you please just let me in? We need to talk" she said. She heard a shuffling sound before he replied.
"I'm not in the mood for a conversation, Hazel. I want to be alone" he said, his voice tinged with weariness.
"Please, Yuka. I need to talk to you and it's really driving me crazy" she stated.
After a few minutes of an awkward silence, the door creaked open. Hazel walked in and found Yuka sitting by the desk in his chamber, a blank expression on his face.
His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was a mess.
"What happened?" She asked as she approached him, concern on her face. He lowered his gaze, swallowing hard.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked, his voice hoarse.
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