Robert leapt from his horse, his heart hammering as he spotted Hazel standing by the waterfall. His legs moved before he could think, racing toward her with desperate urgency. Without a second thought, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her against him, as if afraid the very air would whisk her away if he let go.

“Hazel!” he panted, his voice raw with emotion. His grip tightened, as though to anchor her in this moment, in the safety of his embrace.

“Hazel, Hazel…” He whispered her name over and over, burying his face in the curve of her neck, drinking in the familiar scent of her hair. “I thought I’d lost you.”

Hazel froze in surprise. Her breath caught in her throat. “Robert?” she gasped, attempting to turn toward him, but Robert held her in place, his arms a steady fortress around her.

“Just let me hold you for now, my dear Hazel,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her neck. Hazel let out a quiet chuckle, the sound muffled by the tightness in her throat as her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

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Later, they sat together on a quiet hill, away from the noise and chaos. The world around them seemed still, save for the soft rush of water that echoed in the distance. A rare tranquility settled between them, the kind that only comes when everything else falls away.

Robert held Hazel’s hand gently, his thumb brushing over the back of her palm. He studied her face, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, his heart breaking at the weight of everything she’d endured.

“I’m so sorry, Hazel,” he said softly, his voice laden with regret. “It’s all my fault for leaving you alone.” He paused, his eyes dropping to their joined hands before meeting her gaze again. “When I heard you drowned... I thought the world had crumbled. I thought I’d lost you, and the fear... it tore me apart.”

Hazel gave him a small, bittersweet smile, shaking her head gently. “It’s not your fault,” she said, entwining her fingers with his, her gaze falling to their hands. “You couldn’t have known.”

She looked up, her eyes searching his, and her voice lowered. “Stacy... she advised me to leave you. She told me to run, to get away from you because your mother would do anything to separate us.”

Robert’s heart lurched. He squeezed her hand, his voice trembling as he asked, “Are you leaving me, Hazel?”

The silence between them stretched painfully, and his pulse quickened. His eyes locked onto hers, searching for an answer. Her silence was a blade to his chest.

“I don’t want to leave Mazi, Robert,” Hazel said at last, her voice breaking as she met his gaze. “This is our home. I always wanted to be by your side, and you by my side. But...” Her voice cracked, and she shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I’m scared to go back. I’m terrified of what your mother might do to me. If I return now, she’ll beg for your forgiveness as she always does, and I know you’ll spare her, because she’s your mother. I’ve tried to cope, tried not to let it cause trouble for you.”

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She paused, biting her lip before continuing, her voice trembling. “I never told you what she’s been doing to me, even after you appointed Raymond and Mask as my guards. Every time we crossed paths, she mocked me, laughed at me, ranted at me. She made me feel like I couldn’t even leave my room.”

Her voice faltered, and she took a shuddering breath. “I promised myself I wouldn’t tell you, Robert, but I can’t take it anymore. I can’t stay silent any longer.” She wiped her eyes, her voice breaking again. “Your mother... she tried to accuse me of poisoning you, Robert, but it was her who poisoned you. She did it to frame me. Then she sent me, my guards, and my maids into the forest to die. I... I was the only one who survived. Lailack and I, we were the only ones left.”

Tears poured freely from Hazel’s eyes, her chest heaving with emotion. “She killed them, Robert. She killed those men...” Her voice faltered, breaking into sobs.

“Shh... Hazel,” Robert whispered, his voice full of sorrow as he gently cupped her face, wiping her tears away. “I know. Julius told me. He overheard her confessing on my way here. She prayed, and he found out everything.”

Robert’s expression hardened, and he pulled her closer, speaking firmly. “Not this time, Hazel. Not this time. She’s gone too far. She’s taken lives, and I won’t forgive that.”

Hazel’s heart fluttered painfully in her chest. “Will... will you lock her up?” she asked, her voice small.

“I’ve already made arrangements,” Robert replied, his voice resolute. “I’ve ordered Julius to send her far from Mazi. She’ll be taken to Remzi Kingdom, to her father’s mansion. She’ll be out of our lives, Hazel. She won’t be able to hurt us anymore. By the time we return, she’ll be gone.”

A rush of relief flooded through Hazel, and without thinking, she threw herself into Robert’s arms.

Robert chuckled softly, his lips brushing her forehead in a tender kiss. “I love you, Robert,” Hazel whispered, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.

“I love you too, Hazel,” he murmured, pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her. “I love you, my wife.”

Suddenly, Hazel’s attention shifted, and she gasped as she saw Lailack approaching them.

Hazel pulled herself up and met her, scanning Lailack’s face with concern. She grasped her hands gently. “Are you alright? How are you now?”

Lailack chuckled softly. “I’m fine, my Queen. I’m glad you’re well, too.” She turned her gaze to Robert and bowed slightly. “My King.”

“I’m glad you’re alright now, Lailack,” Robert said with a smile.

Lailack smiled back, a warmth in her eyes. “Liza wanted to speak with you about the cure for the disease affecting the children. She told me to bring you the news.”

Hazel’s eyes widened with interest. “Is there really a cure?” she asked, her voice hopeful.

Lailack nodded, her smile growing. “Yes, your Majesty. There is.”

Hazel exchanged a surprised glance with Robert, both of them grinning.

“This is wonderful news!” Hazel exclaimed, her voice full of excitement.

“Then let’s go see it, my Queen,” Robert said with a grin, lifting Hazel effortlessly into his arms, cradling her as though she weighed nothing.

Lailack smiled to herself as she walked behind them, the sound of their laughter and soft conversation drifting into the peaceful air. As she watched them, she couldn’t help but feel a quiet joy in knowing that, despite everything, love had won.