Masked Girl And Her Prince - Chapter 176 Chapter 176

Hazel sighed as she walked towards the window and gazed outside. The cold had started to pick its pace marking the beginning of the winter season. Winter has taken her first step upon her month’s long journey.

Standing by the window, Hazel sighed and saw a puff of mist escape her lips, making her smile. She looked outside and thought, ‘Soon, it will start to snow’

She closed her eyes when the breeze drifted through the window, caressing her face. Her nose was slightly red from the cold but she ignored it as she watched the beautiful day with the birds chirping.

Soon, the place would be covered in snow and she will miss this warmth for some months.

Her eyes shifted to the man sleeping on the bed, his white skin pale as snow. His lips slightly red while he slept peacefully.

‘How long has it been?’

She slowly turned around and walked towards the bed.

“Seasons have shifted since you barged into my life”

She held his hands and smiled softly, “Would you be able to witness the winter glory with me?”

Her eyes shifted to the window suddenly, distracted by the cold breeze. Her body shuddered slightly before she wrapped her cloak tightly against her. She pulled the blankets towards Usui and successfully converted him to a human burrito.

Hazel looked at his face as her hands slowly caressed his cheeks. She leaned forward and knocked her forehead against his and closed her eyes.

With a slightly trembling voice, she asked, “When are you coming back?”

Hazel sighed. She wasn’t too worried about him as she knew he was okay. His vitals were good, a sign that his body was healing. But when the days started to grow with him sleeping soundly, her worries were gradually taking over her heart. It was confusing her from what she believed making her wish for him to wake up soon.

Some part of her brain still had some rationality left that he wasn’t ready to wake up. But it wasn’t easy.

She opened her eyes to gaze at his long eyelashes.

She murmured, “I miss you”

Knock Knock!

“Hazel?”

Closing her eyes and sighing, Hazel straightened up and glanced at the door annoyedly. Liz glanced helplessly at her making Hazel shake her head.

“The king wants a word with you”

Her forehead creased as she thought about what her father was up to this time. Nodding her head, she leaned forward and kissed Usui on his forehead.

“I will be back soon”

Liz sighed as she watched Hazel pat him and proceed to close the windows. Her small body seemed to have withered staying inside this room. As soon as the dawn breaks into the horizon symbolizing a new day, Hazel arrives at his room and stays till nightfall.

The only time she steps out of this room was when a meeting required her or when they force the little prince to bring her out. She has forgotten about her meals, about everything as she waited for Usui to wake up.

She was returning to how she was back in the days when Hezekiah had died. But this time, she was holding onto hope, unlike the time where she had nothing.

“Liz?”

Liz blinked as she looked at Hazel’s puzzled face.

“Are you okay?”

Liz smiled and nodded at her.

She had made a full recovery, resting inside the castle. But people fretted about her, making her groan initially.

An annoying face came to her mind when she remembered how an idiot stumbled inside her room with bandages on his arm. He had a worried gaze making Liz furrow her brows. He caught hold of her and shook her as he checked her body for injuries. And, when he saw that she was alright, he smiled gratefully stunning her.

He had a pure smile, unlike the ones she had so far. He was like the sun shining at its peak.

Liz pressed her lips when she realized she was thinking about him. She slowly shook her head and looked at Hazel, who was watching her curiously.

“I should be the one asking you this”

Hazel broke into a smile as she nodded. As they made their way towards the king’s room.

Looking at the thin figure, Liz asked worriedly, “Do you want to eat before you meet the king?”

Hazel frowned as she looked at her and asked, “I thought it was an emergency”

Liz rubbed her forehead as she said, “Eating is also one.”

Hazel smiled wryly as she walked but suddenly her vision blurred making her sway on her feet. She reached out and supported her body against the wall as she blinked rapidly.

Her vision cleared soon making her furrow her brows.

Liz shouted anxiously, “Princess”

Hazel tiredly rubbed her forehead wondering when she had a full meal and good sleep.

She glanced at Liz and said tiredly, “I am okay”

Liz glared at her, “You are not. Come with me, let’s get you something to eat.”

Hazel shook her head, making Liz glower at her.

“Do you want Jinha to come here and ban you from entering his room again?”

Hazel furrowed her brows when she remembered what he had said the last time they argued.

Jinha glowered at her, “If something happens to you, you are not allowed anywhere near his room.”

“We don’t want someone who can’t take care of herself to take care of a sick person.”

Hazel pressed her lips into a thin line. She looked at Liz who spoke before she did, “I will tell him.”

Hazel sighed and rubbed her forehead. She was beginning to think whether bringing her friends here was a good idea or not.

Liz’s gaze softened when she saw her troubled expression.

“You do know that we are worried about you, right?”

Hazel rubbed her forehead as she nodded.

“I will eat after meeting with the king, okay?”

Liz protested, “But-”

Hazel looked at her and pleaded, “Please, Liz?”

Liz furrowed her brows as she stared at Hazel for a minute before sighing.

“Fine”

Hazel let out a breath as she straightened up from the wall.

Sigh!

He had turned her life upside down. A wry smile played on her lips as she entered the king’s room, closely followed by Liz.

As soon as she entered the room, her eyebrows knitted together at the tensed atmosphere. Her demeanor changed as she glanced around the room.

Her father, King Julian was sitting on the throne with his hands folded on the table while her mother, Queen Merlene had a worrying expression on her face. Her eyes shifted to the person standing by the corner.

Even if they had numerous arguments between them, a single exchange gaze was enough for them to understand each other. Seeing Jinha’s grim expression, Hazel could fathom that something grave happened.

All of the thunder squad members were present in the room making her frown. Looking at her father who hadn’t noticed her arrival, she asked softly, “What happened?”

Julian froze as he looked up slowly and saw his daughter staring at her worriedly. Words left him as he wondered how to convey the news. He knew how devastated she would be but he couldn’t hide it from her either.

Hazel knitted her brows together when she saw her father looking at her in worry.

She repeated her words, “What happened?”

Again silence was met with her question making her fret. Her heart thumped hard against her chest as she gazed at her friends repeating her question in a shrill voice.

“What the heck happened?”

Jinha looked at her with pursed lips making her frown. But before he could say anything.

Julian glanced at Hazel, who was watching everyone with caution in her eyes.

How many times had he let her down now?

“Father-”

He interrupted her and said, “It’s over, Hazel”

Hazel widened her eyes as she asked in horror, “W-What?”

He gazed at her sadly and said, “They know”

He clenched his hands as he saw how much damage those words had on her. Her body trembled as she staggered back with a shaking voice, “N-No”

Julian sighed. Maybe this time, they were a little too careless.

Hazel glanced around the room as she mumbled shakily, “We could take him away from here”

Julian shook his head, “We can’t hide from them, Hazel”

“It’s too late”

“NO” Hazel yelled as she ran towards her father and held his shoulders, “There must be something we can do, right?”

Julian gazed into her worried eyes and cupped her face. He hugged his daughter tightly in his arms as he spoke.

“They are coming for him”