Chapter 2

“You are getting married tonight, and my decision is final.” Hazel’s father said as he stood at the entrance of her room.

“But father, you can’t force me to get married to a man that I do not love nor have seen.” She angrily said as she walked towards her father.

“You do not have the right to make decisions for yourself, this is my home, and I detect what stands and what not, save yourself the stress and do exactly what you are told to do.” Hazel’s father walked away after saying those words. She stood there, confused on what to do next. A slight knock came at the door,

“And who could that be?” She asked.

“Rita my lady, may I come in?”

Hazel glanced at her wedding dress on her bed, and muttered, “how could my father do this to me?”

She slowly walked to her door and opened it, she adjusted for Rita to come in.

“My lady, are you prepared for tonight?” Rita asked, concerned evidence in her voice. Hazel paced round her room like an angry lion, ignoring Rita’s question.

“My lady, please slow down, your father might be making the best decision for you.”

Hazel paused her pace to catch Rita’s gaze. “He doesn’t know the best decision for me, I am a grown woman and not a child, I am grown enough to know what’s best for me and what not, do you understand that?”

“Yes my lady, but…” she was cut.

“There’s no but Rita, I am not getting married to that man, I can’t get married to a man that I do not love, don’t you understand that?” Silence enveloped the room that you could hear the sound of a pin if dropped on the floor.

“I have a plan.” Hazel breaks the silence.

“What plan, my lady?” Rita asked calmly.

“Come closer” Hazel said as she whispered into Rita’s ear.

“My lady, may I speak?”

“Of course you may.” Hazel replied without hesitation, she needed an answer urgently.

“Your father’s armies are everywhere, how do you intend running away from home my lady?”

“umm.. umm..” Hazel stuttered. “It’s very simple, I would use the back-door that leads to the garden, no one dares to go there at night, with that, they would never find me, and you would go to my father and tell him that I am nowhere to be found, for him not to suspect you, about my plans, okay?”

“But my lady, your father left you under my watch, should he know about this, I would definitely be hanged to death.” Rita said with a heart race.

“You have nothing to be scared of Rita, my father would definitely believe you, because he trusts you.” Hazel urges Rita.

“You have to do this for me, please!” She implores Rita. Rita Bent her head down as if searching for something, after a few seconds, she lifted up her face to look at Hazel and said to her,

“I have never seen you sound this weak since I have been serving you for years, you are known for your bravery Hazel, you never give up without a fight, nothing I would say will change your mind,” she inhales deeply, “I will do it.”

“I owe you my happiness Rita, you’ve been a shoulder to lean on since I was a child till date, I am never taking it for granted, I promise.” They both hugged Each other tightly, while at that, they heard foot steps approaching.

“Those are the armies, they are coming to get you, now you have to run as fast as you can, jump through the window, and find your way out, don’t look back, now go.” Rita said hurriedly.

Hazel quickly jumped off the window as she ran towards the back-door that led to the garden. Three armies walked in, only to find Rita alone in the room. “May I ask where our lady is?” one of the armies asked with all seriousness. Rita stood still, short of words, fidgeted.

“Her father asked to see her.” His colleague added, as he flashed her a contemptuous glance.

Meanwhile, outside the garden, Hazel ran as fast as she could, not paying attention to the darkness that covered the garden, slowly her pace reduced as she heard a footstep approaching her, she quickly stopped, not knowing what to do next, or who it was. Suddenly a light illuminated all over the garden, her father must have instructed his armies to switch on the garden lights just to find her, she heard horses and armies matching towards the garden, she knew it was her father who was after her.

“I hope Rita is fine wherever she is?” she whispered to herself, her pace increased, her father and his armies must not find her. She has ran as many kilometers she could from home, not counting her steps of how far she has gone, just as she was about to cross entirely from the garden, a hand gripped her and she fell to a masculine chest as her hand crossed his broad shoulders, he held her tightly round his arms. He smells like mint and rose, his body as masculine as ever, she was braced by his aura, his physique and his voice.

“What are you doing alone in the dark?” He asked with a genuine interest. Hazel was lost at the handsome creature who stood facing her, while holding her tightly round his arms. She salivated, but, hadn’t found her voice to speak. “Where are you running to?” He asked again, this time, his voice was more intense and passionate.