He paused, but then sighed! “It is the loss of humans, then. But if you are leaving, then I will leave too.”
“Evertone, I want your attention.” Hazel turned to look at Celina who looked back at her apologetically.
“I have not invited you here for tea only. But to give a chance to everyone to contribute in saving the empire.” she smiled wryly as she looked at the stunned and fuming face of her partners.
Hazel was sure they have a long time relationship to be that blunt to each other.
“And I have invited Princess Hazel to help her.” she looked back at hazel with hope, “she is our last hope. If she would not help us we would not have anyone to help us. Since the council only had a few humans left, I still did not trust vampires.” many gasps were earned and so as the shocked face of the nobles.
One of them stood up to shout but Hazel stared back at the man coldly. Her eyes were so cold and dominating that he stopped in his tracks and looked away.
With an embarrassed face, he sat back when the girl continued,
“But if you are here to laugh at me or sneer at my efforts, then I do not need you here.” Hazel wanted applause for the bravery of the girl.
She knew a lot of strength was needed to stand and speak like that in front of everyone.
“So, those who want to help in getting a better future for our children, please stay.” she stared at each of them directly in their eyes, “but those who only wanted to criticize or looking for their own benefits…” she stopped so that her words sank in their mind.
“This place is not for you. I apologize but you have to leave.”
“Wait a minute, young lady!” stood another man who looked in his fifties. His face was red due to anger too.
“Have you invited us to insult us here or do you want to use us as your stepping stone to get a favor from the princess?” he chided with a look of disgust on his face.
“Let me tell you, you are still a novice when it comes to politics. What do you know?” he rebuked and then looked at hazel.
“Of course, we respect princesses. How can you challenge our actions in front of everyone?” he took a step towards hazel and then bowed his head.
“Princess there must be some misunderstanding. None of us hates vampires. The girl is too young to know what to speak and what not to.” he said in a flattering voice when she smiled, relief washed over his face.
“And we are sure that the lord would choose a good ruler among us.”
she could see that he was trying to curry favor from her but only nodded.
“We all are patent men and know that lord Rafael and the council are trying their best to choose the new ruler. And if they need any support we are there.” he said, beaming like a proud peacock.
“By authority and power, I am the archduke, the second in power. You must have seen me in the palace a few times.” he said, with his baldness increasing when she did not stop him.
“If you come with me. I will introduce you to many who can guide you more in politics.” he assured when a few of the men stood up behind him with the same look of flattery on their faces.
Their eyes were shining like predators who had found easy prey.
“If you have been to the palace, then I am sure you were closer to my father and brother too.” finally she broke the silence with a bright smile on her face but that instantly froze the man who was sure he had won the battle.
“The vampires, you were surprising, I wonder have you ever realize as an archduke that my father is planning a war against them?” she asked with a raised brow when a look of panic crossed his face.
He shook his face abruptly and took a step closer to her.
“What are you saying, princess?” his hands reached to his chest as if he was going to have a heart attack.
“If i would have known then i would have stopped him or complained about him in the council.” he nodded his head self righteously. “I would never support a crime that would start the war again.”
His acting skills were commendable. She had that itch in her hands to clap for his act but she resided.
“Then I am afraid you are a poor politician!” the smile on her face only widened as she continued, “since you can not know this much even with such a good post, your observing skills and the power to rule is worse.”
Then she looked at the pale faces of the men behind him whose smile was frozen on their lips, “and so as all of you. The making of the empire did not need men like you!” she claimed earning more whispers and mockery from others.
The woman who had insulted her before stood up with an indignant look on her face and walked towards the man who was insulted by hazel and rubbed his hands gently as if assuring her that nothing had happened and then glared at hazel.
“What do you mean? My husband has been supporting your father since ages!” she claimed in a loud voice for everyone to hear, “you are ingrate to not support your own family and now you are biting other nobles too.”
Then with a smirk on her face, the old lady continued, “if not for you who would be able to rule the empire. You?” she laughed. “Don’t tell me you are trying to usurp the empire thinking that you can rule it by yourself.” her voice was full of mockery when Celina came forward and many others followed her.
“Why not? Princess Hazel could be our new ruler.”
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m