Sticks And Stones

     "Your highness? Can I come in?"

Hazel sighed and stroked Yuka's fur one more time. She watched him as he jumped down from her bed and was soon staring at her from the window.

"Come in" she said, still staring at Yuka's cat form.

"I'll see you later" she whispered and he jumped out of the window right before the door was opened.

Violet stepped in. She was dressed in a white blouse and white pants, her blue hair in a ponytail. Hazel's eyes widened when she saw her. "It's good to see you, Violet" she said and Violet grinned. "How is the royal life treating you?" Violet asked, smiling at her.

"Adapting to it isn't as easy as I thought"

Violet squeezed her hand gently and set to work. A bluish glow appeared on the tips of her fingers and spread further to her upper arms. She gently touched Hazel's black eye and healed her. By the time she was done with healing the future queen, Caden walked in.

"How are you feeling?" He asked and Hazel shrugged.

"I feel great. Thanks to Violet"

"Wait, you two know each other?"

"Yes, your majesty" Violet said and Caden nodded slowly. After Violet had left, Caden sat down beside Hazel's bed and gazed at her.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked, giving him a smile. "Yes, there is" he said and she sat up.

"What is it?"

"Your beautuful eyes, your pretty nose..."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"I really don't know what to say to you, Caden. For a prince, you're so weird" she said and he chuckled.

"We're all weird in our own unique way. But that's beside the point. I want us to go on a date" the prince said and Hazel stared at him, wide eyed. 'Oh no, please no. A real date? I've never been on a date before. It's going to be a disaster!' she thought.

"When are we..."

"Right now" he said and she blinked.

"Now?"

'This is not good' she thought.

"Wait, have you never dated anyone?" the prince asked and her cheeks turned pink from embarassment.

"I haven't dated anyone" she responded and he grinned.

"It means, I'm going to make sure your first date is going to be memorable" he said and she forced out a smile.

"I'm excited" she said, even though she was no where near excited.

A few minutes after Caden and Hazel's conversation, they both went to the garden for their date. Hazel was wearing a yellow dress that accentuated her curves and was long enough to cover her feet. Just as they began to eat, a royal servant walked up to them and bowed. "What is it?" Caden asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.

"Your father is presently having a meeting with the generals and the seven council members" the servant said and Caden frowned. "The council members? Why would he be having a meeting with them?"

The seven council members were the pillars of the kingdom. They were young men with shaved hair and bright silver eyes. They didn't have pupils but they could see beyond.

They all lived isolated in the center of Silvera. But they were also the eyes and ears of the king. They had strong psychic powers that could bend the will of a whole army. This was what made Silvera very dangerous. The king wouldn't have a meeting with the council members if whatever that was going to be discussed was something of meagre importance. 

"What's really going on?" Caden asked and the servant bowed again.

"Your majesty, the royal sceptre has been declared missing"

Prince Caden went pale instantly. Hazel stiffened in her chair, nervously fiddling with her fingers. When Yuka had told her that he was going to steal the scepter, for a moment, she hadn't believed that he would take such risk. But now, she realized what kind of person he was. He was brave, fearless and formidable. How was she supposed to hate someone like him? How was she supposed to stay away from the man who was so selfless, he'd stolen the scepter just to help her.

"Hazel, I'll be right back" the crown prince said and stormed off with the servant who was struggling to catch up with him.

A dreadful thought came to Hazel's mind and she rose to her feet, panic quickly overwhelming her.

What if they found out that Yuka had stolen it? Would they kill him this time?

"Hazel Spiers?"

She froze when she heard the queen's frosty voice coming from behind her. She slowly turned to look at her with a blank expression.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" the queen asked.

"I don't understand. I did nothing wrong" Hazel said, clenching her fist.

"I can't believe my son chose someone like you. You do not deserve to be queen, Rubian. I've been watching you. You have been going to the East wing very frequently, haven't you?"

Hazel's fingernails dug into her palms as her annoyance began to surge within her.

"I don't see why I should be ashamed of that. It's not like I am having an affair with Yuka" she said and the queen slapped her across the face, hard.

"Don't you dare say his name in front of me. What do you think Caden is going to do, if he finds out that you've been visiting his brother a lot more than you hang out with him?"

"I don't see why any of that is your business, your highness. I do not appreciate you treating me like trash. I might have red blood in my veins but that doesn't mean that I'm a nonentity. If you're so upset about Caden choosing me as his bride, why don't you talk to him about it?" Hazel said, refusing to get intimidated by the queen.

"You're playing with fire" the queen spat.

"Oh, am I?"

Hazel looked like she was enjoying herself.

"I could kill you right now, you know that, right?" the queen hissed.

Hazel let out a humourless laughter, her eyes flashing with anger.