FAZER LOGINLOUIS“The meeting is scheduled for tonight?” I repeated, staring at the royal physician as he folded the message and slipped it into his pocket. “And someone has information about Hazel's original transfusion records?”The physician glanced towards the corridor before answering. “That is what the message claims. I cannot confirm the person's intentions until we meet, and I will not discuss sensitive medical information with anyone who has not been authorized to receive it.”“I'm her brother,” I reminded him, struggling to keep the frustration from my voice. “I have spent the entire evening discovering things about Hazel that I should have known years ago. If someone has information that could explain what happened to her, I want to be there when you hear it.”“I understand your concern, Your Highness, but this meeting must remain private until I know what information is being offered,” he replied. “I don't want to alarm Hazel with possibilities that may prove false. Once I have verif
HAZEL“No royal specialist will be permitted to examine documents belonging to my family,” the king declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. I watched my parents exchange a brief glance, and something about their reaction unsettled me. They looked less surprised by his refusal than relieved that he had finally spoken.Tommy stepped forward, his expression hardening. “Your Majesty, the relic responded to Hazel and remained dark when Margaret approached it. The specialist needs those records to understand why. Refusing access does not make the evidence disappear; it only prevents us from discovering what it means.”“My family's history is not yours to investigate,” the king replied, lifting his chin. “You have already caused enough disruption in my household tonight. I will not allow an unexplained reaction from an ancient relic to become an excuse for outsiders to question every decision my family has made.”“Then perhaps you should have considered that before demanding proof
TOMMYThe relic remained dark after Margaret stepped away, leaving the nobles whispering among themselves. I raised my hand before anyone could turn the strange occurrence into another argument. “Nobody will draw a conclusion from what just happened,” I announced firmly. “We will repeat the demonstration under the specialist's supervision before anyone makes another accusation.”Margaret spun towards me, her expression offended. “Why must we keep repeating everything until Hazel gets the answer she wants?” she demanded, clutching the heirloom against her chest. “My birthmark and my family's records have always supported my claim. How many more demonstrations must I endure before you accept what has been known for years?”“Until the evidence is properly examined,” I replied, keeping my voice even. “You demanded proof when Hazel's bloodline was questioned. Now that something unexpected has happened, you cannot suddenly decide that proof no longer matters.”The royal specialist approache
HAZEL“Hazel must be tested first,” Margaret insisted, standing beside Mother with her chin raised. “If she truly belongs to the Dark Moon bloodline, there should be no reason to delay. Unless, of course, she already knows the results will expose her lies.”I looked at her, struggling to understand how she could accuse me of stealing an identity I had never claimed. “I haven't said I'm part of the Dark Moon bloodline,” I answered quietly. “I only agreed to the examination because everyone keeps arguing about who I am without asking me.”“Then you should have nothing to fear,” Margaret replied, smiling as she turned towards the royal specialist. “Please proceed. I want everyone to see that the truth is on my side.”The specialist, an elderly man wearing the silver insignia of the royal medical order, adjusted the gloves on his hands. “Before we begin, I need both young women to understand that this examination concerns ancestry. It will not determine whether either of you deserves to b
TOMMYMargaret lay on the ballroom floor while her mother screamed for the physician, and Hazel remained beside the couch, watching the commotion with the same frightened silence she had worn all evening. I turned towards the royal physician before anyone could demand that he abandon Hazel again.“Examine Margaret if she needs immediate attention, but Hazel's examination will continue,” I ordered, keeping my voice firm. “Call another qualified healer to assess Margaret. Neither woman will be left without care because this family has decided their suffering must compete for attention.”Mother Larkspur stared at me as though I had insulted her. “How can you speak like that while Margaret is lying unconscious?” she demanded, kneeling beside her adopted daughter. “You claim Hazel is your destined mate, and now you care about nobody else. Is Margaret's life worth so little to you?”“Her life is not worth less,” I answered, refusing to raise my voice simply because she had raised hers. “But
HAZELI stared at Tommy, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap as everyone waited for my answer. “I don't know what to say,” I admitted, struggling to meet his eyes. “I've lived here my entire life. Even when things were difficult, I never imagined leaving. Where would I go if I walked away?”“You don't have to decide where you'll spend the rest of your life tonight,” Tommy replied, lowering himself slightly so he wouldn't tower over me. “I'm asking what you want right now, Hazel. Do you want medical treatment somewhere you can speak freely, without anyone deciding your needs for you?”“Of course she wants treatment!” Mother interrupted, stepping forward with an offended expression. “Nobody has denied her medical attention. We have always taken care of Hazel, and now you're making us look like monsters because she became weak while helping her sister.”“Mother, please,” I whispered, looking at her pleadingly. “I'm not saying you never cared about me. I just want someone to listen wh







