Chapter 101: New instructions

“I…” Hazel tried to speak, but found out that there was nothing to say in her own defense. She had really almost killed him and that truth couldn’t be denied.

She didn’t deny it and replied in a trembling voice, “Yes.”

For a second, Damien simply looked at her, but she had her head lowered, unable to meet his gaze.

“If I had taken the poison, would have regretted it?” He asked again.

Hasel didn’t reply for a while.

But at the end, she let out a sigh, “I don’t know.”

She really didn’t know. But she knew that, she just couldn’t bear him taking the poison. Would she be happy after he died? No. Would she regret it? She had no idea.

Damien turned around and spoke without looking at her, “Go back to your chambers.”

Hazel looked up in shock and asked out loud, “That’s it.”

No punishment?

Why wasn't he even angry? Shouldn’t he flare up and have his guards imprison me or even execute me?

Hasel remembered that the punishment of scheming against the Alpha was death by beheading? So, what does he mean by sending her back to her chambers? Was it for house arrest or was it to wait for her sentence?

Damien said nothing and walked away.

But as he did, Hazel felt something heavy settling on her chest. She remained rooted to the same spot, staring at Damien’s silhouette until he disappeared completely.

With a downcast expression, she began walking back towards her chambers.

At the entrance, Matilda was already waiting for her.

“Hazel, where have you been? Your lunch…”

“Matilda, can I be alone for a while?” Hazel cut Matilda short in a dull tone and Matilda studied her for a second before nodding.

“I will be here when you need me.”

With that, Matilda left.

Hazel walked into her chamber and swiped the latch to the door to close it. As she did, her body slid down the wall and she sat on the ground.

Hazel buried her face in her hands and like that, burst into tears.

She remembered how Damien had punished those three maids who had bullied her back then and how he had imprisoned Mireya without even caring of her status, just for her.

She remembered how he had almost killed Roman who almost assaulted her under the influence of an aphrodisiac and how Damien never really treated her like a slave.

She even has the privilege to dine with him, was that something a slave would do? If she did not know better, she would have thought that the label of the slave was just to have her close to him.

Could that be it?

Was she wrong all along?

But she couldn’t get past the thought that he had killed her entire family. But what if he has a reason?

Yet, what reason could there be?

Hazel was confused. She didn’t know what to feel, complex emotions churned within her.

But the emotions that prevailed were still guilt.

Would Damien revert back to the person she knew him as before? Would he no longer treat her differently?

But….

Hasel realized that she didn’t want him to be cold towards her. She didn’t want to be ignored by him, she wanted his attention, she wanted him to care and worry for her.

She…she has fallen in love with him.

Hazel cried harder. The truth hit her hard and stripped the air from her lungs.

She should have known earlier that all her contradictory emotions were because she was already in love with him. When she hesitated earlier, it was because of her feelings for him.

Outside the chamber door, a tall figure stood silently.

Damien’s hand rested against the wooden door, in an attempt to push it open, but his wrist seems to have lost all strength.

He had arrived a few moments earlier, intending to speak to Hazel. But the moment he heard her sobbing, he stood still, unable to take a step forward.

For a long moment, he simply stood there, not moving an inch.

Inside the chamber, Hazel was still crying. If she had been her usual self, she would have realized the presence of someone outside the door, but at that moment, she couldn’t feel anything.

She was completely unaware that someone was standing jist a few steps away and it was the same person that occupied her thoughts.

Damien slowly lowered his hand from the door. For the first time in years, his usually calm eyes displayed a rare trace of uncertainty.

Then he quietly turned around and walked away.

Actually, he didn’t know what he was feeling as well.

At the dungeons, he almost could not suppress the urge to send those people away, probably to a far away town. They were affecting Hazel's emotions too much and he didn’t like it.

But when he realized that he would no longer have a leverage to keep Hazel close to him anymore, he gave up.

Hasel didn’t know how long she remained sitting on the floor while crying. All she knew was that when she attempted to stand, her legs felt weak and lacked any strength.

And her mind felt exhausted.

If Damien had been furious, if he had lashed out on her, maybe she would have felt better. Hazel slowly pushed herself from the floor and made her way to the bed.

A single glance at the window surprised her. It was already so dark outside?

A soft knock came from the door then.

“Hazel?” Matilda’s soft voice sounded from the entrance and a hint of disappointment flashed in Hazel’s eyes.

It wasn’t him.

What was she expecting? He would never knock and he definitely wouldn’t want to see her right now.

“The kitchen sent dinner, should I bring it in?” Matilda asked.

“You can leave it outside.” She replied.

She had no appetite.

There was a brief silence before Matilda continued, “Hazel, the Alpha has given new instructions. From now on, your meals will be delivered to your chambers.”

Hazel froze, then her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach.

She already knew what that meant before Matilda continued.