Do not Blame me!

Hazel sighed as she looked at Jonathan. Her eyes were filled with regret and hesitation when she replied in a low voice, "Father, lord Jonathan had thrown the messenger out of the palace!"

"......"

They all looked at him with a stunned face! As if they have heard that the ghost had arrived in the room!

"What nonsense are you talking about?" hollered the man when he glared at the young girl. Hazel trembled! She shook and took a step back as if she was afraid that he would beat her too.

"I.. i.. I did not know. I am sorry, I did not know!'' she shook her head and then curled herself into a ball. Everyone exchanged eyes. Even maids and servants looked at each other. They had seen how furious he was when he had come back.

"Hazel! What are you talking about? Tell me everything clearly!" asked the count whose eyes had turned red! Hazel trembled more and sat on the bench. Her voice was low and trembling,

"I had accepted the offer as you wanted me to father. But when we were coming back, lord Jonathan came and blocked the way. He asked the messenger a few questions. But before he could reply to the lord, he started shouting on the messenger!

He asked the messenger if he would go out by himself or the lord would throw him out! I did not know why but he was too furious and continued to shout at the messenger! The messenger looked at the lord with rage and then left the palace. I did not know what to do?

I wanted to ask why he was doing that but I got afraid of his anger. Even when he asked me if I was fine! I only nodded my head as I was too afraid of his anger! What if he had shouted at me too." she shook her head and trembled again and stayed in the form of a ball!

The count was astounded by the reply! He looked at Hazel and then at Jonathan who was standing there with a stunned face. Though what she had said, wss true. But the way she told it, it felt like he was responsible for his absence.

"Did you ask the messenger to leave, my lord?" the voice came out through gritted teeth by the count.

Jonathan nodded, as he was the one who had told the man to leave. But he had no idea that the girl had already accepted the marriage. But when he realized that he had accepted his mistake. He shook his head!

"No! Wait! I can explain! This was not what I meant." but it was already too late. Everyone was looking at him with an aggrieved face and the fury of count had no bound.

He had decided that if Hazel would not accept the marriage, he would force her. Even if he had to beat her or torment her, he would make sure that the marriage would happen.,

But who would have thought that sending Jonathan to check on them would be his biggest mistake! Why did he even let that man go there? Could it be that he was jealous and did not want to break his marriage with hazel? That was why he did everything?

"My lord, though you are higher in status than me. You had no right to make a decision on behalf of us. When I had asked you about the annulment of the marriage, then you had accepted it. Then what right did you have to chase the messenger away?" there was no respect or sincerity left in the voice of count. In fact, his glaring eyes and fuming face were proof that he wanted to shred Jonathan into pieces for what he had done.

While Jonathan was confused. He did not understand what was wrong? How did he become the enemy suddenly? He just wanted to show his superiority in the matter. Who would have thought that the messenger was proud enough to leave like that even break the marriage offered by his master, the crown prince!!

"My lord, why did you do that? Is it because you did not want to break the marriage with hazel?" asked Amelia as she wiped the lone tear from her eyes. Her aggrieved eyes were making Jonathan feel guilty. He knew that she was blaming him for not breaking the marriage when he had got a chance.

What would happen if she decided to end the relationship between them due to this confusion! No! He could not let that happen! She had promised to spend the night with him if everything went well today! He had dreamt so much about it that he could not let the opportunity go!

"No! That's not it. The man was staring at her in a strange way! I only asked him to keep his gaze away or I would throw him out. But he turned and left! I .." he had only started when Hazel started crying again.

Everyone's attention turned back to her. Even Jonathan, who wanted to blame her, was stunned when he saw her crying again!

"Why are you crying now?" asked Jonathan as he felt fury towards her. She was the reason why everyone was blaming him when he had done nothing in reality.

Would a messenger have enough guts to break the marriage on his own. He wanted to tell everyone that if Hazel had accepted the marriage, then he did not think that a mere messenger could do anything about it except passing the message correctly! Hazel looked at Jonathan with fear when she spoke in a low voice.

"Yes! My lord is telling the truth. The words that he would throw him out and that he would never let the marriage happen would have been my illusion. The lord was just trying to protect me from him.

I.. I apologize for the confusion. Please do not blame my lord. It is completely my mistake!!!"