HAZELI am walking around town outside the palace, enjoying the cheerful atmosphere. The children are playing in the streets, and their laughter fills the air. I have a bag of candy with me, and I start handing it out to the kids who gather around me, their faces lighting up with joy. “Thank you, Princess Hazel!” One of the little girls says, hugging me. “You’re welcome, sweetie!” I reply, smiling warmly at her. Suddenly, the sky darkens, and a large thunderstorm comes out of nowhere. The first raindrops hit the ground, and I feel a chill run down my spine. I look up, worried. “Everyone, inside! Quickly!” I shout, trying to usher the kids into the nearest building. The rain starts pouring heavily, and I notice some people getting hit by it. To my horror, they collapse instantly, lifeless. “No! What’s happening?” I cry out, panic rising in my chest. I grab the children and push them inside, my heart pounding with fear. The rain seems deadly, and I can’t understand what’s g

ETHANI can tell Arnold and I are at our breaking points. The stress is getting to both of us, and it's showing in our tempers. When Arnold suggested taking a break and spending some time in our man cave, I agreed without thinking twice. We both need to unwind and clear our minds. We head down to the man cave, a place we created for moments just like this. It's a place where we can just relax and forget about the troubles of our kingdom, even if only for a little while. The room is filled with everything we love, which includes a pool table, a foosball table, and a large screen for gaming. “How about a game of pool?” Arnold suggests, grabbing a cue stick. “Sounds good to me.” I reply him, trying to force a smile as I grabbed another stick. “We could both use the distraction.” We start playing, and the familiar click click of the balls provides some kind of relief as the sound it itches my brain in a good way. For a few minutes, we are just brothers again, not kings burdened w

HAZELI sit in my room, staring out the window at the sun setting over our kingdom. The sky is a brilliant mix of oranges, pinks, and purples, and I would have appreciated it under normal circumstances, but there were pressing issues. This illness sweeping through our people is unlike anything we've seen before. The anxiety was deafening, not just for the kingdom but for our child growing inside me. A soft knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts. It's Ethan and Arnold. They enter, their faces looking a mixture of emotions. I can tell immediately that something is wrong or strange somewhere. "Hey, you two," I say, trying to sound cheerful despite the weird energy in the room. "How was your day?" Ethan tries to smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. I wonder what must have happened. "It was good. We played a game in the man cave. We needed the break." Arnold sits beside me, taking my hand. "Yeah. But we need to talk to you about something important." My heart sinks. "What is

ARNOLDI pace the length of the room, my mind racing. Hazel should have reached the safe house by now, but there was no correspondence on the machine yet. My stomach churns with worry. I look at Ethan, who sits by the window, staring out at the darkening sky. His face mirrors mine, full of anxiety. “Any word yet?” I ask, my voice tight with tension. Ethan shakes his head. “Nothing. It's been too long, Arnold. Something's wrong.” Just then, a messenger bursts through the door, his face pale. “Sir, there's been a problem.” My heart stops. “Who do you think you are to burst in here like that, and what is it?” “The safe house... her majesty never arrived. There's no sign of her or the guards.” The room spins, and I grab the back of a chair to steady myself. “What? Send out men to search the route. Now.” I beak at my guards and they all run to do their duties. The messenger also nods and rushes off. I turn to Ethan, my eyes wide. “What have we done? We should ha

ETHAN I go into my brother’s room, the weight of the worry still heavy on my shoulders. Arnold stands by the table, his brow bent in deep thought. I can tell something's bothering him, even from across the room. “What's on your mind, brother?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. Arnold looks up, his expression grave. “We need to talk.” I approach him with concern. “Uh-oh. What's going on?” He leans in close, his voice low. “I overheard Frederick talking. He wants to bring us down.” I raise an eyebrow, trying to hide my surprise. “Frederick? That old snake? What's he up to now?” Arnold sighs, running a hand through his hair. “He thinks we're unstable, a threat to the kingdom. He's planning something, Ethan.” I place a hand on his shoulder. “Don't worry, Arnold. Frederick's bark is worse than his bite. We'll handle him, like we always do. We should send him away for good this time.” Arnold nods, but I can see the worry lingering in his eyes. I decide t