Chapter-7

Hyacinth slowed her pace when she reached her cottage. A familiar figure was rested against her doorframe. Regal raised his head slowly when he saw her. He waited for her to walk in his direction before he spoke.

"I brought you what you asked me to bring." He said handing her a brown leather pouch. She took it and examined the fresh herbs in it. It surprised her how he found them quickly. "Thank you." She but he was making his way out. "Regal wait." She called out.

He stopped and turned his head back with raised brows. "Don't you have anything to tell me?" She asked. He gave her a pointed look and then turned his head away. She bit her lip frustratedly and spoke catching his attention.

"Why are you avoiding me? Is there something I've done?" She asked placing the pouch on the wooden floor. "I'm not avoiding you, I've just been busy these days." He answered with a shrug.

"Stop lying Regal, you know I can tell when you lie in my face." She said walking up to him and stopped a few meters away from him. "It's the prince right?" She asked even though she wasn't hoping for an answer. Almost immediately he whipped his head back in a second.

"I saw you throwing glares in his direction this afternoon." Her answer drew a scoff from him. "Then you saw wrong Hyacinth." He shot back in anger.

He was tired of seeing the two together he passed. The whispers and gossips added salt to injury. His heart throbbed painfully anytime he thought about it." Are you jealous of the prince? Or perhaps you have feelings...."She began but he cut her midway.

"Why would I be jealous of him and why would I have feelings for you?" He asked clenching his fist angrily." I never mentioned who you had feelings for Regal." Hyacinth said staring at him with a soft smile.

"I...I.." He began and Hyacinth quietly looked ahead with questions flooding her mind. She knew asking him now would fluster him, so she kept mute. "It's alright you can leave now." She said.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out. "Excuse me, Hyacinth." He bowed and left. She stayed rooted in her position in disbelieve. Faust's hissing brought her to reality. "It's about time we go for vacation, right Faust?" She asked earning a delighted nod from it. A dangerous vacation to the land of the undead. The thought of it brought chills down her spine. There was someone she really needed to visit.

She turned and walked into her cottage. Three days was enough to travel, she smiled.

***

Giselda stomped her way through the Palace halls. She cared less about the maids yelling her name and the pairs of eyes that followed her every move. The only person she needed to see was her father.

After running through the familiar hallways, she came across a hall not far from her. Her fathers study stood meters away from. Luckily those idiotic guards were not around to stop her this time.

If they were, she'd fight her way in as usual. She slammed the door open and stepped in furiously. "Father o need to have a word with you!" She yelled. Her father tilted his head to the side and groaned tiredly. "When will you ever change that brazen attitude of yours? Can't you see I'm talking to a guest." He glared at her.

Guest? She thought staring at the stranger in front of her. The only thing she could see was the stranger's back. She took notice of the stranger's broad shoulders. A gasp left her lips when a pair of grey guys stared at her. Regal had a scowl on his face and not hiding his disdain for the princess.

"Sorry father, I'll return when you're done with your guest." She said emphasizing the last word. Giselda walked through his office grimly remembering the gaze he gave her.

She spotted her two ladies -in-waiting from the corner of her eye gasping for breath. Margret, the short one eyed her the whole time but dared not to utter a word. Meanwhile Sonia, the older one, had an annoyed expression and proceeded to chide Giselda.

"My Lady please refrain from running around. You're a grown woman not a child anymore. For goodness's sake you're the Crown Princess!" Sonia exclaimed taking hurried steps to her side but because of the heavy gown she wore she had to lift the hem of her skirt.

So much for etiquette, Giselda rolled her eye. "It's not my fault you guys are slow." Giselda added tapping her feet on the ground impatiently. "Are you listening to what I'm saying my lady?" Sonia said swallowing the anger she had for the princess.

"I'm I supposed to listen to you? Besides we both know listening to others isn't my forte." Giselda replied with an air of nonchalance. "And quit yapping already you're starting to annoy the hell out of me. I came to see father, and no one can stop me." She added waving her hand in the air.

The door to her father's office opened and Regal stepped out. His gaze fell on the trio especially Giselda. Who would have thought she had a bratty side. He felt pity for Cassien for betrothing her.

Giselda brushed past him into her father's office with a scoff. She found herself turning her head to have a look at him but the only thing she saw was his back. A cough brought her to reality.

"So, what brings you here?" Her father asked his eyes giving her a peculiar look. It seemed old age was catching up to him slowly. He managed to maintain his youthful appearance. The only thing that betrayed him were the greys in his hair.

"I hope you haven't gone blabbing to the Prince, have you?" He asked his gaze turning sharp. She gulped in air and shook her head slowly. He gave her disbelieving look in return and turned to door. "No Father." She replied with her eyes fixated on the ground.

How could she forget she had her own problems- thinking about the whole ordeal sent chills down her spine. "You know I have trust issues concerning you so i brought Felix to check up on you." He added pointing to the door.

Surprise was evident on her face when she noticed the dark-haired mage leaning against the door with a disgruntled expression. "You nearly hit me no scratch that, you hit me with the door when you barged in my princess. Because of you we nearly got exposed."Felix said staring at her intently before taking long strides in her direction.

He shrugged his cloak off and pulled a seat for her then changed course to stand beside her father. "It's better you sit quietly so we get this done quickly."He pointed out earning a nod of approval from her father.

She watched him approach her slowly like how a predator would do to its prey and gave him a nasty look. "Don't you dare touch me." She hissed and took a seat. "Getting feisty aren't we, my princess." He muttered standing behind her. She swore she felt the hairs on her neck stood up when his fingers massaged her scalp.

"You know I love it when you scream." Felix grinned sending shockwaves into her head. Rippling force through her mind like a zap. She held the edge of her seat for support. "Nothing Your Grace. She has behaved herself but there has been a change of plans." Felix said stepping away from her.

Giselda shivered in fear feeling the effects of his mind manipulation. Her father rose his brow questioning. "Enlighten me, Felix."

"The amulet we switched got broken for unknown reasons, but it did its effect greatly. Just that.." Felix paused staring at her father. The old man looked interested in what he was hearing. "Some pesky fly ruined it by healing the Prince." He tsked in annoyance. He had worked so hard for that amulet only for it to get broken.

HE sent Giselda a suspicious glance, but she looked away. "Who was that woman?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know. All I know I Regal knows her and she's a witch."She replied and grinned at Felix's surprised expression. "A witch? What kind of witch just heals that. My magic is the strongest!" He exclaimed earning a sort from her.

"Your Grace may I have the permission to see this witch?" He asked. Giselda had a feeling he had a deeper meaning to what he said, and it wouldn't end up well for him because he was going to have his ass kicked.

She wondered what a mage like him was doing working for a creature like her father. She felt he had no sense of dignity. "Don't think you're free. I'll be watching you too. Wait till I'm done with that witch."He said darkly. "Just be careful, she's not an easy opponent." She warned with a shiver.

After seeing that grotesque image she'd began to question her sanity. The thought of it made bile rise to her throat. "Excuse me." She said clasping her mouth. "I think she's pregnant, she's been at it for weeks." Her father said. "Then that's good news. It makes seizing the throne easier. But I thought Garnet was on our side what happened?" Felix asked pacing.

"I tried convincing Regal but his loyalty to the Prince is unshakeable." Her father said annoyed. "Maybe getting rid of him is the best option. I'll pay him a visit myself." Felix grinned ."Be careful not to get caught." Her father said watching him. "Don't worry Your Grace, I'll be back with good news." Felix replied and stepped through a portal. Giselda's father clasped his hand together with a satisfied grin.

Everything was going according to plan.