Chapter 21: A walk together (1)

"Forget it then," Hazel said, walking around him. "Then I will remain silent during our time together."

"I am fine with that, but what will you say when my mother asks what we talked about?" Tobias asked.

"I'll say we asked about each-"

"Look at you already talking again," Tobias snickered, stepping back when Hazel turned around to avoid getting kicked again. "I don't think I can save you if someone sees you kick me again."

"I'm not going to kick you. That was a mistake the first time and I apologise. My mother would not let me have peace if she knew that I hurt you. If we're going to talk, I don't want to hear about if you plan to spend time with the other women or your reasons for picking someone. I want to be left in the dark so I don't feel guilty about knowing something," Hazel said, holding her hand out for them to make a deal.

She wanted to be as clueless as the other woman so she could truly say if asked that she had no knowledge of what Tobias would do. She had a feeling that the queen was going to ask about her time with the prince after she and Tobias went their separate ways.

Tobias looked at Hazel's hand. "You're a weird one, Hazel. Anyone else would be jumping for joy that I am telling them I am going to pick them over and over again. I am not going to tell anyone what was said between me and you. It'll be you, miss goody two shoes who want to be honest with my mother or your sister."

"Goody two shoes? Do you have a problem with me trying not to get in trouble sir I don't want to get married so I hid among the palace army and had to be dragged back here? Life is so much better when you are honest and just behave," said Hazel.

Her parents gave her the freedom to do what she wanted and trusted her because she never misbehaved and spoke honestly when asked a question. She was this way because her parents were always open to talk and listen so she never tried to hide something.

"I like honesty. I like to be honest with the people around me because it is what I expect-"

"Aren't you trying to hide the fact you turned down a dance from me?" Tobias interjected.

"No one asked if I received an invitation to dance. I already told my family about it. The queen asked if I was sad that it was only Helena dancing with you. I like to be honest, but I am not going to overshare. I'll answer what you ask me, nothing more," Hazel answered.

"Then let us test your honesty. Did you like me when we were younger or-"

"No," Hazel answered before the full question was asked. "I might have been eager to see you because you are a prince, but I never liked you the way my sister or other women do. I know nothing about you other than the fact you are a prince. I'm not trying to insult you. The time I started being interested in boys, I was nowhere near the palace or you."

"I will take that answer. Then, who was it that suddenly had you interested in boys? If it is one of my friends, I'll have them thrown in the dungeon," Tobias said jokingly, but there was a small part of him to consider doing it.

Hazel smiled, amused by how interested he was in this. Surely, this was not what the queen wanted them to talk about. "It is best that you do not know, Your Highness," she answered.

This only made Tobias think that it was one of his friends. "Is it really one of my friends? Is it someone I am close to? Is it fucking Edgar? Your friend already likes him so it would be wrong for you too."

Hazel shook her head. It was fun for her to have him guessing.

"See, you are not honest. You liar," Tobias muttered. "You're still sneaky and I am going to make sure that rumour spreads."

"I suggested that it is best you do not know and answered that it is not Edgar. I told you that I would answer but I do not want to overshare. Honesty has its limits in my eyes. Would you be open to sharing who made you notice girls were intriguing?" Hazel asked, flipping it to get to know more about him.

Now that they had moved on from the ball, she was seeing that spending time with him was not so bad. He still had a playful side to him that she saw in the past.

"It was a palace maid. Pretty woman. It's a shame that she no longer works in the palace. I loved seeing her walking around, but a few were jealous of her beauty and work became so hard for her that she left. She used to ignore my attempts to sneak out of the palace and not tell my mother. I wonder what life is like for her now," Tobias said, looking off to the side at the paintings of past kings.

"I'm going to refrain from asking what age you were back then when you were intrigued by a palace maid. Aside from that, I am getting that the young prince had a good friendship with her. It might brighten up her day to know the future king still thinks of her. I hope you two will cross paths one day. Now, where do we go from here?" Hazel asked, looking back and forth to the two paths they could take.

"Tobias," Hazel called as he didn't give her an answer. "You are the one who knows the palace. I could do with your help right now. What has your attention?" She asked, turning around to look down the empty hall where only maids were passing by. "Are you trying to find another maid to have a crush on? I will give you the space you need to find one."

Tobias looked away from where he knew someone was following them to Hazel who was smiling so beautifully before him. This was probably the first time she had ever smiled his way and it wasn't forced. "You should go down the right to see a smaller garden with ponds and fish. I hate to be a terrible partner but do you mean going there alone for a moment? I will be there before anyone can stop you from entering. It is mostly for royals but I will make an exception for you."

"You are starting to worry me. Is something wrong?" Hazel asked, looking again to see what got his attention. "Are we in trouble for not walking with Linda?"

Tobias tapped her nose with his finger and was rewarded with her glaring at him. "Of course not. There's just a little pest I need to get rid of," he answered.

"This seems to be one of those times I need to be left in the dark. I will go ahead first. Do not be long," Hazel said and then walked off to find the private garden.

"Do miss me," Tobias said as she walked away. He knew she had to be calling him an idiot for thinking he would miss her.

Tobias waited for her to get far away so that she wouldn't hear his conversation and then turned around to find the little rat that was sneaking around. Another one of his mother's little spies.