ROYAL AFFAIRS (MXM) ✔

Three

Sebastain has decided to spare a few minutes of his time to get to know princess Hazel. Afterall the princess of Neverland was soon going to be his wife and the next queen of his kingdom. He wanted to at least get to know the princess a bit more. While he was busy with paperwork and foreseeing that all was well, Hazel had been busy shadowing Queen Elizabeth. She was also being accompanied by Queen Roseline. She had to know her requirements, and also start forming a bond with the locals.

"You have such a beautiful town. The people here have also been very welcoming," she said, as they stroll around the market place.

Larmont was indeed very beautiful. Most days were sunny, the rain would grace them every now and then. It was not like Neverland, where it always snows and rains.

"I'm glad the people have been treating you kindly. Afterall, it is important for the people to adore their queen as much as they adore the king," he said in the most general form.

However, it managed to make Hazel blush profusely. She smiled, biting her lip, as she kept her gaze on the pavement. They continued to stroll, greeting and waving at the local. They even conversed a bit with others that were willing to do so. The people were civil with the princess, but Hazel seem a bit distant when it came to receiving them.

"So, tell me about yourself Hazel. Your dreams and aspirations," he inqured, as an attempt to know more about the lady.

Hazel giggled, blushing again. Her foot slightly grazing the pavement.

"What is there to tell? I'm just a princess from Neverland. Raised to be domesticated and submissive. To hold no opinions of my own, but support those of my husband," she said.

"Well then, forget about those lessons for now. Tell me, if you were a queen, what would you do for your people? I ask about your kingdom, because you know their struggles a lot more better," he said.

Hazel frowned looking up at Sebastian.

"My father looks after his people pretty well. They do not struggle," she sounded more defensive.

"I didn't mean to insinuate your people are actually struggling. I just meant that there's always room for improvement. For instance..." he said, gesturing around him. "...I would like to build more boreholes for my people. I would also like to have more carriages travelling in the deepest villages, so those people can also have access to towns more easily," he said.

Hazel nodded, seeming to think deeply.

"Honestly, I've never thought much of it. All I've ever wanted was to bare my husband children and stay home raising them," she shrugged.

Sebastian sighed silently, but nodded. It wasn't the answer he had wished for. He wanted a queen, that was smart, brave, strong, kind, and had half a brain to come up with solutions, rather than being spoon fed all the time. The women in Larmont were educated and independent. They weren't like in Neverland where they are told house chores were all they were good at. His mother was one of the smartest queens to have ever ruled upon Larmont. He kind of hoped to get at least a woman who was half the woman his mother is. But then he recalled Augustus words.

You might not love her, but you'll respect her and make her happy.

That was all that was needed to make a marriage work. He remembers his uncle Bob once telling him, Love fades at some point. What makes most marriages survive is resilience. He wondered as to how much truth lies in that. His parents seem to be happy still. But knowing kings and queens, they would make their relationship appear strong just to save their kingdoms. Just to save their family. And knowing his parents they wouldn't hesitate on it.