Hazel's Royal Plight

Chapter 3

My maids sat on the sofas that were in my sitting room. They were all here to help me with my 3 wishes. My brain was racing with thoughts.

Father's advisors told me to use his wishes as a means to escape the mirage to my father and that was what I had planned. I needed two things: one I needed clothes and two something to hide the clothes in.

Hide the clothes... an idea struck my head. I've heard of it I didn't know if it was possible. I turned to my maids, "Have you ever heard of the Fairy trinkets?" I ask them.

"Yes." said Pearl. She was the oldest of my maids. Her hair was sunshine yellow pulled up in a tight bun, her eyes gray, and she was always smiling. "It's a nutshell then can hold a single outfit with a magical words. It's like a locket,but it could be a necklace, bracelet, or a ring."

"What do you mean?" asked Emerald, the 2 oldest of my maids. She also had blond hair, but blue eyes and always asked questions. I liked her for that. "How can a nutshell hold a whole outfit? Most nuts are no bigger than my hand. How does one get shoes, socks under items and a corset in it?"

"It's magical. But Princess Hazel what do you want with such an item?" ask Pearl.

"I don't want one. I want a whole set. A necklace, a ring and a bracelet."

"I have another question," says Emerald "How do you get items in the nut?"

"Magic words," said Ruby rolling her eyes. "Pearl just said that." She is my youngest maid with red hair and eyes to match. She is also the only one who knows of my plan to leave to castle. She looks at me trying to figure out what I have come up with.

"Wish one Magical Fairy Nutshells." said Pearl as she writes on a scroll in front of her. "I shall take this first wish to King Leopold."

"But does that count as one wish or 3?" asked Emerald.

"One! It's a set of 3." I said with a smirk, "They are hard to find, I am not sure if they even exist. It should take him awhile. It will give me time to come up with my other 2 wishes."

Pearl nodded and left the room with my first wish in hand. I was nervous at first but then I got extremely excited. This plan was going to work. Now I just need to figure out my other two wishes. They have to be outfits. I need something to wear can't walk around the kingdom naked. Even if I am just running away.

***
Pearl stood outside the kings council room. She was a little nervous but she knew she had to go in. She had Princess Hazel's first wish. She's under obligation to have the princess come up with all three wishes. Once she handed the king the last wish she would be free.

The King had promised her some land and a small house for her and her husband. She grew more exciting each day as the possibility of owning a farm, it was just 3 silly wishes away.

Pearl slowly reached her hand up and knocked twice on the door. "Enter!"

Pearl had just barely opened the door when the King dashed towards her. "Is that her first wish?"

Pearl handed the paper to the king only to have him sanch it out of her hands. "May I be excused?"

"Yes. Yes." Waved the king. Pearl half ran from the room glad to be out of the Kings presents.

"My daughter is magnificent. She has come up with her first wish. She wishes for a set of fairy nutshell?" Questioned King Leopold.

"Pardon your majesty?" asks Robert.

"It's a magical fairy item." says John "Maybe we should ask a fairy."

"Where do you think we will find a fairy this time of year?" asks Robert. All heads turn to the king. He is looking at his advisors like they all just lost their heads.

"That's your problem not mine. GO! Find my daughter these fairy things! Ask all the people in my Kingdom and the next kingdom's. It's her first wish. Find them or heads will roll!" said the king. William and Christopher ran from the room quickly. John shook his head at Robert.

"Is that all?" asks John.

"Yes. You both may leave. Now." Said King Leopold. He sat in his chair at he desk, but looked distant. His eyes focused on the painting of his wife and daughter.

"May I speak my mind sir?" asked Robert.

"If you must." sighed King Leopold not moving his gaze. He started to play with a ring on his pinky. It was his wife's wedding ring.

"Please reconsider this marriage. I beg you please choose a new bride." pleaded Robert.

"No, I will marry my daughter." whispered King Leopold lost deep in thought. "and she will give me a new heir to rule the kingdom after I am gone. Just like my late wife did."

***
I walked through the crowd banquet hall. I stopped to talked to a few people. At breakfast father said he had filled my first wish. It had been a month. At noon he would hold a banquet and present it to me. He found a set of fairy nutshells. I was hoping it would take longer to get them.

During the last month, I had to pick out the food,the colors, the flowers, the crystal and invitations to be used at my wedding. So what did I pick? I chose all the ugliest ones I could think of. The whole time I kept telling anyone who was around "My father has gone Mad!! If it were any other man they would be put in the asylum or killed."

Some would nod and agree with me, some would shush me, and some would roll their eyes when I turned my back. It was a fun game to play and I let them. I never yelled at them or told them to agree with me. I let them think.

Once I asked what one of the male servants thought, in response I got "I agree with every word you say Princess Hazel." he bowed and left. He was shaking so bad, and when he left it was the fastest I had seen anyone run. I giggled at him as he ran into a side table. If I told him the sky was green he would have agreed.

"Princess Hazel!" called Rose one of my best friends. Rose looks like a rose. Her hair is as brown as dirt, eyes a brown almost black, with long eyelashes to hide them and her skin is the color of fresh cream. When she puts red on you can not hold a candle to her. Today she had on a beautiful floor length red dress with a sweetheart front. Green heels peeked out and a little green on her waist, in her hair and her jewelry. "I feel so sorry for you. What is your father thinking?"

"Good afternoon Rose" I say coming to her I place an air kiss on her cheek. "you look beautiful."

"Thank you." Rose blushes. "I must tell you this." I come close as she whispers. "we are leaving the kingdom."

My breath escapes me. "You're leaving?"

"Yes." Rose nods, "after you receive your last wish. My father wants nothingness do with this. Oh Hazel! I am so sorry."

"Rose don't be." I pull her into her hug. "Don't feel sorry me. You father is doing what is best. I wish mine would. But I have already asked."

She pulls away looking at me."You are not mad?"

"We have been friends for ever Rose. I knew one day you would have to leave." I smile letting her know I understand. She squeezes my hand and those are all the words I need.

There is a sudden clink of glasses and my father is ready to present me with my first wish.