Game (2)

To Linda, it sounded like the prince had taken a liking to her friend, but she couldn't see how that was possible when so far the two were bickering when they saw each other. Wasn't Hazel picked today for him to talk about her turning down the dance? Or was it something more?

Linda thought the prince would be a fool not to like her friend. Hazel was who Linda wanted to win the selection and become queen. Not because Hazel would be able to set her up with Edgar, but because she knew her friend's heart. She trusted that Hazel would do what was best for the kingdom.

If Hazel was the one to become queen, Linda would make sure the Hensons kept her protected. 

"If you play with my friend, I will have my father and brothers come for you," Linda said, using her family for once. 

Never had she thought of using her family's power in the palace army to her favour, but now it was the only thing she could use to protect her friend. She had also heard the rumours about his flirtatious ways and didn't want Hazel to be with someone who would entertain other women. If he was just looking to play with her friend, he had another thing coming.

Tobias was amused by the fact she was threatening him here in the palace. She was bold. Unfortunately, she could be because of the influence her father and grandfather had in the palace. Then her three brothers followed in their footsteps. 

This was the sole reason everyone in the palace was pushing for him to marry Linda. Everyone else was just a second option. 

"You do realise Edgar will never like you if you try to get his friend killed right?" Tobias asked. As much as his friend liked to joke, an enemy of his was an enemy of Edgar's. He could end her little romance with one word to Edgar.

"I love my friend more than I love Edgar. Now promise me that you will not hurt her and I will try to help you in the future with my family," Linda said, holding out her hand for them to seal their agreement.

"Well, aren't you a loyal friend? Do you think I could hurt Hazel? She looks ready to throw a shoe at me when I see her and I'm not looking to get on the bad side of the family who makes our weapons. You have nothing to worry about as long as you disappear right now. She's getting suspicious," Tobias said because Hazel was now looking at them. "I'm not going to shake your hand because that will make her more suspicious."

"Edgar might be in the palace tomorrow. Run along," Tobias said, shooing Linda away. She was wasting precious time he could have alone with Hazel. 

There was a sudden excitement to be around Hazel and if he knew it was going to be this fun, he wouldn't have left her last night. He would have used his power to get her to dance with him or at least make her not run off.

"That is not enough. If we are to work together, you must tell me where he will be and find a way to bring him to where the queen will have us tomorrow. I am leaving you alone with my friend. That is not cheap," Linda said.

She would have to hear from Hazel later about leaving her alone with Tobias.

"Fine," Tobias said and then walked off to join Hazel. He wouldn't be able to get Edgar anywhere near the selection group because his mother would be telling Edgar about marriage and Edgar was never in the mood to here about getting married because of his family drama, but Linda did not need to know that.

"Where is Linda going? Is it over already?" Hazel asked, confused as to why Tobias was walking toward her and Linda was walking away.

"You look disappointed that it might be over. I didn't know you were so eager to spend time with me. I'm touched," Tobias said, touching his chest.

"My eagerness is to leave. If it is over, excuse me," Hazel said, curtsying before she would walk away.

Tobias grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving. "It is far from over, Hazel. I need to take turns spending time with you and Linda. She will come back when it is her turn."

"That doesn't sound right. The queen said you were to spend time with the two of us. I'm sure she meant at the same time and why did it look like Linda was going to shake your hand? Please don't tell me you two made a deal," said Hazel. She hoped it had nothing to do with Linda's crush.

After a moment of silence, Hazel asked, "Why aren't you talking?"

"You said not to tell you," Tobias replied.

Hazel stared at him and then walked off to get away from him. "Do I really want to be here?" She muttered.

"Why not? You don't want to be my wife like everyone else does? I thought all the women coming in here were hopelessly in love with me," said Tobias. He followed Hazel to wherever she was going. He wondered why she wasn't going where Linda walked off.

"They are hopelessly in love with you because they don't know you. I've heard about your past and present with women. There was a big scandal from the first group that you were caught with a lady. I also knew you when we were younger. You're a-" Hazel stopped herself before she further insulted him.

"What do my past and present have to do with you when we are not together? Be the one I get married to and I just might tell you," Tobias offered. 

"No thank you. I'm only concerned about your habits after you get married. Will you stop being a flirt?" Hazel asked. She didn't want a husband who would be sleeping around and as the king, there would be nothing she could tell him.

"I act as I do because I am not engaged or married. I plan to be a loyal husband which is why I will not marry someone I won't have feelings for or attracted to. I don't care what woman the palace thinks would make the best pick. That is my decision," Tobias answered. 

"I hope that remains true for whoever you married," Hazel said, wanting his ways to change.

"Speaking of yourself?" Tobias teased, putting some space between them after Hazel glared at him. "Did you have a little disagreement with your sister?"

"How did you see when you were out of the garden? My sister doesn't understand why you picked me today after dancing with her at the ball. Only her. To be honest, if not for knowing you want to tease me for not dancing with me, I wouldn't understand it either," Hazel said.

Tobias regretted the dance even more now that it was causing these problems. "Now that this is happening, I regret not going straight to you. The only problem was you standing near Linda and her brothers."

Hazel stopped upon hearing this. "Your first pick wasn't Helena? If I was not standing with Linda, would you have truly picked me?"

"Yes. Why would I lie about it? I wasn't in the mood to approach you two to deal with her brothers so your sister was the next best thing. Unfortunately, my mother has her eyes on Helena now. I wonder why your parents put you and Helena together to have you compete. I'm not interested in your sister. You on the other hand," Tobias said, looking down at her.

Hazel was so distracted by thinking about what he said about his first pick that she did not hear what he said at the end. If Helena were to know this, Hazel would have more whining to hear. "Please do me a favour and never tell her that," she begged.

"And why would I do that? If I revealed you were my first pick, I could get rid of the younger sister and focus on the older one. What the fuck, Hazel!" Tobias exclaimed because Hazel kicked his foot.