The prophecy of a blind heiress

Love amidst revenge

Hartson's words echoed in his mind as he gazed at Princess Hazel, who sat serenely, unaware of the conversation between him and Prince Hendrick. She trusted him implicitly, and he knew she felt safe in his presence. His brother's ambition and lack of empathy for her situation weighed heavily on his conscience.

"Brother, she's innocent," Hartson pleaded, trying to appeal to Prince Hendrick's humanity. "She's been through so much already. Can't we find another way to resolve this without using her as a pawn?"

Prince Hendrick's expression remained unyielding. "She's a valuable asset, Hartson. Her blindness makes her vulnerable, and her people will be easier to control once she's under my power. We'll use her to secure our kingdom's future, and that's final."

Hartson felt a pang of guilt as he looked at Princess Hazel. He had grown to care for her deeply, and the thought of betraying her trust was unbearable. He knew she had fallen in love with him, and he couldn't deny his own feelings for her.
Prince Hendrick's eyes gleamed with ambition as he outlined his plan to Hartson. "We'll use Princess Hazel to gain control of the Arie Kingdom, and then... we'll eliminate her. With Lady Victoria out of the way, the kingdom will be ours for the taking."

Hartson's face twisted in disgust at the thought of killing the innocent princess. He had grown to care for her, and the idea of using her as a mere pawn in his brother's game of power was unbearable. He knew he had to think fast, to come up with a plan that would save her life and perhaps even use her to their advantage without sacrificing her.

"Wait, brother," Hartson said, a sudden idea striking him. "Why don't we consider an alternative? Instead of killing her, what if we train her, support her with our men, and help her reclaim her throne? She could remove Lady Victoria and rule the kingdom herself. Once she's in our debt, we can use her perfectly."

Prince Hendrick raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion. For a moment, he seemed to consider it, weighing the pros and cons. But then his expression hardened. "No, it's too much of a risk. It's a long process, and there's no guarantee it'll work. We can't afford to wait that long. Lady Victoria won't give us the luxury of time, and if we don't act quickly, she'll consolidate her power and we'll lose our chance."

Hartson knew his brother's mind was made up, but he couldn't help feeling a sense of desperation. He had to protect Princess Hazel, no matter what it took. He decided to push his luck, to see if he could persuade Prince Hendrick to reconsider.

"But think of the benefits, brother," Hartson pressed on. "If we help Princess Hazel reclaim her throne, she'll be eternally grateful. We can use her as a puppet ruler, and she'll do our bidding. We'll have control over the kingdom without having to lift a finger. And who knows, she might even prove to be a valuable ally in the long run."

Prince Hendrick snorted. "You really think she's that naive? She'll turn on us the moment she's back in power. We can't trust her, Hartson. She's a means to an end, nothing more."

Hartson knew he was fighting a losing battle, but he refused to give up. He would do everything in his power to protect Princess Hazel, even if it meant going against his own brother. The fate of the kingdom, and the princess's life, hung in the balance, and Hartson was determined to be the hero of the story.

As he stood there, torn between his loyalty to his brother and his duty to protect the princess, Hartson realized he had a difficult decision to make. Would he follow his brother's orders, or would he find a way to protect Hazel and help her reclaim her rightful place as the ruler of the Arie Kingdom?

The weight of his decision hung heavy on his shoulders, and he knew that whatever path he chose, it would have far-reaching consequences for everyone involved.