Two days later, Robert awoke from his unconsciousness. Mason attended to him, administering medicine to help him recover. Queen Lucida, overjoyed, watched her son regain consciousness. She quickly ordered the maids to bring him food and water. Robert ate only a small amount, his appetite still fragile.

As the hours passed, Robert slowly regained his awareness of his surroundings. Memories returned, and his thoughts turned to his wife, Hazel.

Where was she? Why hadn’t she come?

Frowning, Robert turned to his mother, who was still speaking to him. “Where is Hazel?” he asked, his voice thick with concern.

Lucida’s brows furrowed slightly. She cleared her throat before replying, “Why don’t we talk about that later?”

Lucida hadn’t seen Hazel since she had locked her away. To avoid any chance of her sudden reappearance in the palace, Lucida had ordered her men to search the kingdom inside and out for Hazel. They were to find her and kill her on sight.

But Lucida’s suspicions didn’t end there. Stacy’s sudden disappearance also caught her attention. She feared Stacy might know something about Hazel’s whereabouts. Her absence raised questions. Lucida had instructed her guards to search for Stacy, questioning her about Hazel before eliminating her too.

“She should be here,” Robert insisted, scanning the room as though searching for Hazel. “I know her. She’d be here by now. Didn’t she hear I’ve woken up?”

“Robert…” Lucida’s voice trembled. “I didn’t want to tell you, but... Mason confirmed you were dead three days ago. We mourned, but then he found out you were alive and... apologized.”

She swallowed hard, her eyes glistening. “I was overjoyed and sent for your guards to find Hazel, but… they came back saying she drowned in the river. They couldn’t find her body. I’m so sorry, Robert. I should have been more careful...”

“What are you talking about?” Robert chuckled bitterly, disbelief in his eyes. “Is that true? It can’t be true…”

“I’m so sorry, Robert. It’s the truth,” Lucida sobbed. “Please, forgive me.”

“That can’t be!” Robert shouted. He turned to Maxwell, who stood silently nearby. “Where’s Julius?” he demanded.

Maxwell stiffened. “Your Majesty, Julius isn’t here.”

“Where is he?” Lucida’s voice turned cold with suspicion.

“I don’t know, Your Highness,” Maxwell replied uneasily.

Robert, trembling with fury, gripped Maxwell’s collar. “Tell me the truth. Where is she?”

“Your Majesty, please be careful,” Lucida urged, her voice strained. “You need to rest. Let the men search for her.”

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“No!” Robert jerked his arm away from his mother’s grip, his strength weakening but his resolve unwavering. “I need to find her.”

“Please, Robert, sit down. You’re not well. You’re pale and exhausted. Just wait here,” Lucida insisted, her tone more commanding than concerned.

But Robert shook off her words. “I have to go to the river,” he muttered, his mind set.

“Mason!” Lucida called desperately. “Someone stop him!”

Robert was too stubborn. The moment Mason entered, he was fed a sleeping pill and fell into a deep slumber. When he awoke later that night, he found himself alone, the palace silent. His body ached as he struggled to sit up, his head throbbing with pain.

He hobbled out of bed and opened the door. No guards were at their post.

“I have to find her,” he thought, his desperation growing. He called for Maxwell, ordering him to bring a lantern and accompany him to the river.

Upon reaching the riverbank, Robert grabbed the lantern from Maxwell, his eyes scanning the dark waters.

“Hazel!” he shouted, stepping into the water, calling her name as his heart raced.

Maxwell, torn between loyalty and fear, watched Robert with growing unease. He wanted to reveal the truth to him, but something stopped him. He opened his mouth to speak but then hesitated.

When Robert waded deeper into the water, calling Hazel’s name with growing panic, Maxwell feared the king might lose himself to the river’s cold embrace. Just then, Julius appeared, his sudden arrival catching both men off guard.

“Hazel is alive, Your Majesty. I know where she is,” Julius declared.

Robert froze, his face lighting up with hope. Maxwell blinked, unsure of how to react, and silently stepped aside.

Robert rushed to Julius, his heart racing. “Where is she? Where is my Hazel?” he demanded, his voice trembling with urgency.

Julius pulled out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Robert. “She sent this for you, my king,” he said quietly.

Robert tore open the letter, scanning the words with disbelief. His hands trembled as he read:

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Dear Robert,

Since you’re reading this letter, I know you’ve woken up, and I’m so relieved. Please take care of yourself and be strong for me.

You’re probably wondering where I am. I’m in the Forest Land. My mother lives there. It’s strange, isn’t it? But I found her.

How, you ask? When you fell unconscious, and Mason said you were poisoned, your mother accused me of poisoning you. She forced me to go to the Forest Land to find an antidote, as Mason said we had two days before it was too late.

I went with Raymond, Mason, Crest, Reed, Goltha, Joseph, Dav, and Lailack. Lailack and I are the only survivors. He was wounded, and I left with my mother. I returned with the antidote, believing your mother would be pleased. Instead, she locked me away and ordered my execution for attempting to kill you.

Thankfully, Stacy saved me. She urged me to leave and start a new life, far from the palace. Though I didn’t want to, I had no choice. I’ve gone to the Forest Land to begin anew, Robert.

I miss you terribly. Every night, I dream of you. Every day, I think of you. But I’m doing fine, and Lailack is recovering. I hope one day we can be reunited. Please, don’t worry about me. I’m well, and Julius will help you find me.

I’m waiting to hear from you, my love.

Yours,

Hazel

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Robert’s eyes widened as he finished the letter, disbelief clouding his thoughts. He looked at Julius, his voice filled with anger and confusion. “My mother sent Hazel to the Forest Land?”

Julius nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. And she ordered Hazel’s execution. But thanks to Queen Stacy, she was saved.”

Robert’s jaw clenched. “How dare she?” he muttered, his hands balling into fists. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before speaking again. “Is Hazel truly all right?”

Julius gave him a reassuring smile. “She’s fine, Your Majesty.”

Robert’s gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening as a storm brewed within him. “I have to see her,” he muttered, urgency thick in his voice. The thought of Hazel alone in the wild, surrounded by the treacherous forest, twisted his gut. Even if she told him she was fine, he couldn’t shake the image of her out there, vulnerable and far from safety.