CHAPTER 244: THE QUEEN’S UNHINGED BEHAVIOR (II)

Primrose should’ve known that it’s never easy to earn the trust of someone who’s been hurt so deeply.

Just like her husband, who often didn’t believe her whenever she said he was handsome, Hazelle couldn’t bring herself to believe Primrose’s words. Or maybe ... she simply chose not to.

Fair enough.

If Primrose were in Hazelle’s shoes, she wouldn’t trust anyone either.

However, there was no way she could tell Hazelle that she reminded her of an old friend. Because let’s be honest, a reason like that wouldn’t be strong enough to reach her heart either.

How about saying she believed Hazelle had the potential to be a great doctor in the future?

No, what nonsense. Primrose didn’t know anything about medicine. She had never seen Hazelle save a life or do anything with those so-called "healing hands."

If she used that reason, Hazelle would probably think the same thing she did, ’what a load of nonsense.’

So ... what kind of reason could Primrose use to reach her heart?

"Ah, just as I thought," Primrose sighed, folding her arms across her chest as the smile slowly disappeared from her face. "You’re not someone who can be won over with pretty words."

If kindness and sweetness didn’t work ... then it was time to act.

Within seconds, her whole demeanor shifted, and she now looked like someone who had just revealed her most cunning villainous plan.

"You’re right," she said in a low, clear voice. "I don’t intend to set you free for nothing."

She continued, "I want to make a deal."

Hazelle blinked, startled by the sudden change in Primrose’s behavior. She didn’t speak, she just stood there, acting like a small animal waiting to see whether the predator would strike.

Primrose took a slow step closer, lowering her voice. "You see, I don’t need a sister just for appearances’ sake," she said. "What I need is someone who understands how Silas thinks. Someone who can outsmart him."

Hazelle’s brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"I’m talking about you," Primrose replied. "You’ve been by his side for years. You know his routines, his weaknesses, his obsessions. If there’s anyone who can help me bring him down, it’s you."

Hazelle’s lips parted as if she wanted to protest, but no words came out. Instead, she thought quietly to herself, [I do know all that ... but what’s the point? The slave seal won’t let me speak badly about my master.]

[If I try, I’ll be punished.]

[That last punishment ... I still feel it sometimes. Like needles piercing my chest. I couldn’t sleep for three nights after that.]

Primrose fell silent too after hearing Hazelle’s thoughts.

At the end of the day, no matter what excuse Primrose used to gain Hazelle’s trust, she still wouldn’t be able to get any real information about Silas while that cursed seal remained on Hazelle’s body.

Not that she needed much more information about him anyway. The truth was, Primrose already had the perfect plan in place to ruin Silas. She just needed a little more time to set it into action.

Still, since she had already claimed that she wanted to know more about Silas, there was no harm in using that as part of her approach.

Unfortunately, before she could get anything truly valuable ... she would need to free Hazelle from the slave seal first.

"You don’t need to say anything bad about Silas right now," Primrose said softly. "I know the seal won’t allow it. That’s why I won’t ask you to betray him today. The only thing I want to know for now is ..."

She paused and extended her hand again. "Would you be willing to be my friend?"

The word friend was the safest term Primrose could use for now, something that the slave seal hopefully wouldn’t register as disloyal or harmful.

But Hazelle didn’t react right away. She stared at Primrose’s hand in silence, then asked quietly, "What if I don’t want to be your friend?"

Primrose narrowed her eyes just a little. She understood what Hazelle really meant. ’What if I don’t want to help you?’

"Then I won’t force you," Primrose answered calmly. "I truly want to help you, Hazelle. But if you keep pushing me away ... then there’s nothing more I can do."

Still, she didn’t lower her hand.

She just stood there and waited, offering Hazelle something she had never been given before: A choice, a chance, and even freedom.

Hazelle stared at the queen’s outstretched hand as if it were a blade, not a gesture of kindness.

It shouldn’t have been so hard, to reach out, to accept something so simple. But to Hazelle, it felt like the most terrifying thing in the world.

What if it was a trap? What if this kindness was just another lie, dressed up to look soft and safe?

Her hands trembled. Her throat felt dry, but there was something in Primrose’s eyes that made it hard for her to turn away.

There were no expectations, no pressure, and most importantly, none of those looks that made Hazelle feel small, like she was being judged or pitied.

Primrose looked at her with nothing but warmth, a kind of gaze that, for some strange reason, calmed Hazelle’s restless heart.

It was a peace she hadn’t realized she’d been searching for.

She still didn’t fully trust the queen’s words. The doubts were still there, whispering warnings in the back of her mind.

But even with all of that ... before she realized it, her hand reached out and gently took Primrose’s.

She was hesitant, but it was a start, a small step toward trust. "I can try to be your friend, Your Majesty," Hazelle said softly, doing her best to meet Primrose’s eyes. "If ... if you really don’t mind."

Primrose’s face lit up with the brightest smile, and she squeezed Hazelle’s hand with both of hers. "Of course, Hazelle," she said. "I’m really happy to have a friend like you."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Hazelle didn’t feel like just a slave.

At first, she couldn’t even name the feeling blooming in her chest. But slowly, she understood.

In this moment, she felt like a human being.

Not someone to be used, not someone to obey every of her master’s commands, but someone who deserved a life.

Someone who deserved kindness, freedom, and maybe, just maybe ... a future.

"Well ... I guess it’s time for me to step into the bathtub," Primrose said quietly, turning to look at the water.

She looked down at the green surface, her fingers brushing gently over the warm ripples. The steam rising from it carried a surprisingly sweet scent, something soft and relaxing.

"It actually smells nice," she murmured with a faint smile. "What a pity ... something this peaceful has to be poisoned."

Hazelle stood frozen nearby, her eyes wide with worry. "You could pretend, Your Majesty," she said quickly. "You really don’t have to go through with this ..."

[I told myself not to care before,] Hazelle thought to herself. [That I was just doing my job. That I didn’t have a choice.]

[But now that she knows I poisoned the bathwater ... how can I just stand here and watch her step into it?]

[I still don’t trust her completely. But ... maybe she’s not as heartless as I thought.]

After all, Primrose had never punished her—not even when she caught her stealing food from the palace kitchen.

"Silas will find out," Primrose said, still facing the bathtub. Her voice was calm. "He’s a skilled doctor. If I only pretend to be paralyzed, he’ll see right through it."

And more than that ... the slave seal wouldn’t let Hazelle lie.

If Silas asked whether the queen had stepped into the bath, and Hazelle said yes when she hadn’t ... the seal would punish her.

Primrose didn’t need to do this. She could’ve walked away. But deep down, she believed that sacrificing a little comfort now might bring her one step closer to Hazelle’s heart.

"Will it hurt?" Primrose asked quietly. "Once I get in ... will it be painful?"

Hazelle hesitated, then answered quietly, "No. It won’t hurt. It’s more like ... your legs just won’t respond. You’ll try to move, but they won’t hold your weight."

Primrose nodded slowly. "So, I’ll collapse the moment I try to walk?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Hazelle said, a flicker of guilt in her voice. "But it’ll only last for three days. After that, your body will return to normal."

"Three days ..." Primrose whispered to herself. "That’s not too bad."

She turned to Hazelle and smiled softly. "I’ll be alright. But I want you to promise me something."

Hazelle looked confused. "What is it?"

"Don’t feel guilty," Primrose said gently. "This is my decision. I’m not doing this because you forced me or because I have to. I’m doing this because ... I believe in you."

Primrose then stepped into the bathtub. The water rippled around her legs as she slowly lowered herself into it. The warmth wrapped around her like a soft blanket, masking the danger hidden beneath its surface.

Hazelle stood frozen nearby, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. "Your Majesty ..." she whispered, her voice trembling.