There was a short pause before Xavier spoke
"I killed you?"
"Yes"
"That was just a dream, rabbit"
"I know, but it felt so real"
"I wouldn't do that, you know"
"I know, but I'm scared"
"Don't be, maybe its some kind of manipulation. I can't hurt you"
Hazel gave a tight lipped smile before staring at the empty space at her front for some time, later, she came to notice two towels by the side table
"Why did you bring out two towels"
"One was for cleaning your sweat" he said pointing to the slightly damped one "and the other was to carry to to the bed"
"What? Why will you need a towel a towel to carry me to bed?"
"I didn't want to touch you, you said no physical contact remember?"
"You're so funny Xavier"
"I didn't want to cause something that'll make you extend the days, I'm already suffering much from this"
"Keep this up and I may change my mind"
"Really!" He asked excitedly
"Yeah"
"Ok" he said noting it down "so would you tell me about your dream?" He asked.
"Its scary to tell"
"Just tell, no need to be scared, I'm here"
Hazel explained the whole dream to him and Xavier listened carefully with full attention
"Who was the person that tried saving you from me"
"I didn't get to see his face, but the person's voice seems familiar"
"Was it Elliot?"
"No"
"Who else might it be then?"
Hazel went into deep thought, the voice was playing in her head and somehow, it was fading away also, making her not being able to recognise who had it.
"If you can't remember now, don't stress yourself, it'll come on its own"
"I hope so"
"Now go back to sleep"
"And you?"
"I'll be here till you fall asleep"
"And you'll leave?"
"Yes"
"No, stay with me"
"You wouldn't want me to tamper with our deal now, would you?" He said and she regretted why she even brought about the deal in the first place
"Can't you hold yourself?"
"I can't promise that"
"I can't stay here alone" she whined
"No worries, rabbit. No twin of me will hurt you here, now sleep" Hazel obediently laid down and Xavier tucked her in "we'll be going to Bougreve tomorrow"
"To do what?"
"You'll see"
"I don't think the people there will take your visit well"
"I'll handle that"
After breakfast, which was unusually quiet as neither Dorin nor Mrs Decron started a fight, Hazel prepared to goto Bougreve as Xavier had said before, all the way wondering what would have made him want to come there. She put on pants with shirts deciding that a dress will weigh her down since they were most time heavy, later on, Lucas led her to where the carriage was with Xavier already in it and they headed to Bougreve. They passed through the same forests where they first met
"I thank the day I met you here" Hazel smiled happily remembering the incident that cause their first meeting "I'm sure if you hadn't come at that very time, I would gave been dead"
"I'm your knight in shining armour" he grinned
"Whatever... when did you notice you had feelings for me?"
"I have been expecting that question for some time now" he started "what attracted me to you were your brown eyes, I wouldn't say it was love at first sight but when I left that day, I wanted to see you again"
"That's weird"
"I know... now the question is to you"
"You kept invading my breathing space, and I couldn't stop the feeling"
"So, that's it, you fell in love with me cause I invaded your breathing space, there's no other reason?"
"No, that's not what I meant, I didn't just fall for you because of that but you doing that made it quicker"
"So you did like me being clingy?" He asked teasingly
"Why ask when you know the answer" she answered shyly
"I want to hear it from you, men do like their women telling them how they feel about what their men do, so?"
"I do" she said blushing, she looked cute with the way she sounded and unknowingly to her, it was a turn in to Xavier
"Why do you make things hard for me" Xavier groaned
"What did I do? You wanted me to say it out long d and I did"
"The way you look now makes me feel like capturing your lips"
"Just a day remaining"
"I hope I can endue till then"
"You sure will"
"And by next tomorrow, you'll get your punishment"
"What punishment" she asked confused
"The one for making me worried when we first went to meet Connor" (for those that have forgotten, yes, go check again, he had promised to give her, her punishment) it was then Hazel realised what he was talking about "did you think I forgot about it"
"I didn't think you meant it, I do don't want another fever"
"Not a fever this time, rabbit"
Hours later, they had already reached the lands of Bougreve. Hazel had surely missed this place as its been some months already since she left. The carriage they were in, looked fancy and people recognised it as one used by only the elites which drew attention to them
"You haven't still told me what we are doing here" Hazel noted
"Yeah, that's right. We are going to your town, Baruve" he said
"And how did you know that, cause I can't remember telling you"
"I told you, there are many ways to find it out"
"Pecks of being Lord Xavier Decron, I guess... anyways, what are we going to do there?"
"When I confessed to you, you gave me an excuse of not being up to my standard and I promised to change that"
"Your changing my status to a 'Lady'!" she asked wide eyed
"Yep"
"Oh my! You're serious right?!"
"Of course" he said liking the way she looked happy while giving a small smile
"Thank you!!" She squealed and hugged him then she withdrew
"You just broke the deal" he reminded sounding smug
"Nope, I said you can't initiate physical contact but I can" she defended
"Oh... so… can you hug me again?"
"Nah" she said facing her window smiling.
Soon, they were already on the streets of Baruve and at the magistrate office. Xavier noticed Hazel's nervousness as he knew she was trying to prepare herself seeing familiar faces
"Don't be nervous" he said with which she replied with a small smile
He came down from the carriage and with a napkin in his hands, he stretched it to help her down. As soon as some people saw her, some recognised her and gossiped
"Isn't that Hazel, daughter of Vivian"
"Yeah"
"What's she doing with that demon vampire?"
"Maybe as his mistress, with no parents she decided to whore around with those creatures"
"I thought she was a good girl, seems like it was a facade"
Has could hears most of what they said as some didn't bother to whisper, she held Xavier arm tightly to which he responded by holding her tight also and they both walked into the magistrate office
"Lord Xavier" the magistrate said as he bowed
"Mr Calhoun"
"Its a pleasure to have you here, Milord"
"Hmmn"
"I didn't receive any letter about your coming"
"That's because I didn't send any, I wanted a surprise visit"
"Oh… your welcome … and…" he turned to Hazel using his eyed to run up her figure, trying to figure out why she seemed familiar "may I know the name of my lady"
"Ms…" Hazel started but was interrupted
"Lady Hazel Harlow" Xavier completed
"Hazel Harlow? Daughter of Lionel?" Calhoun questioned and Hazel just nodded slowly "yes, I remember, I was trying to so all the while you came in, pardon me,but its been long I last saw you, maybe that was when you were younger"
"Well, you know her then" Xavier stated
"Yes"
"Then we came here to change her status"
"Status?"
"You heard me right"
"Cause she wants that, any problem?"
"Ahh no. But pardon me to ask, is she your woman?"
"Yes, she is. Now, hurry up with it"
"Yeah yeah I_I_ will… but that will take a lot of time as I need to find her papers"
"Looks like you need to hurry up then"
"Sure" Calhoun started searching the shelves at the side of the office, it took a while though but he actually found it at the end, he brought some new papers, signing some stuffs in it before giving it to Xavier
"That all Milord" Calhoun said
"Okay" he said collecting it and going through it before turning to Hazel "so … Lady Hazel…" he said and Hazel smiled
Calhoun who was staring couldn't help but ask
"How did you two meet, cause if I were to think, there's no way you could ever come in contact with a girl like her, no offence Lady Hazel"
"You're right Calhoun. I didn't meet her here but if I knew she was here all along, I would have come a long time ago to take her"
"I don't think she would have agreed" Calhoun joked
"Good thing I don't take no for an answer"
"You wouldn't have forced me" Hazel butted in
"You sure?" Xavier said