The Cold Northern Princess

chapter five

A Z U L A

CHAPTER FIVE:

|  wonder over yonder |

•••

I was being stupid— all this time, I was being so stupid it took me three years and a little boy to smack some sense into me.

Why on earth was I clinging to 'Princess Azaleah Frost' identity? I was not Azaleah, at least, not the original one. I was someone from the modern times, and from a world with technology, not magic. Why was I stupidly clinging onto this... Role as if I was playing a role in a theater ? Why was I letting them hurt me? Poison me? Kill me?!

Stupid.

So, so, so STUPID!

I was letting myself get hurt again. I thought I was past from that? Pathetic. I really am pathetic, aren't I? And using Original 'Azaleah' as an excuse against the King Northern... Might as well be honest and spit it out.

I actually thought that I had got a new shot in having a dad in this new life. I actually hoped to feel a father's love— to have a dad who would also love me, protect me, and guide me. I had Mum, and Aunties, and my extended families— but I had never had a father. Not even a father-figure.

I want to laugh, hard, but I can't. Not because of happiness. Oh no, I was not happy with myself. I wanted to laugh at the fact of what an idiot I was! But I just settled inside this hollow tree, a few miles from the Palace, and put myself in a strong notice-me-not charm. I held my knees close and with my magic, made myself warm. I let myself sob quietly.

Pathetic.

I wished that I had spent more time with Brother Callix...

°°°

I was avoiding human settlements like cities and towns, especially the ones that had a lot of nobles. I only came to visit the market to buy whatever I needed, and even bought myself a long faded-green shawl that I had used to cover my head and half of my face. I made sure the hood was longer to hide my distinctive gold eyes from view.

Princess Azaleah Frost was abducted— people would be searching for me.

I frowned.

Sooner or later, someone will get suspicious and send some of their lackeys to me. That is not good. I will not waste Miss Hilda, Satur, and Brother Callix's efforts.

I will not be found. If I have to leave this lovely North Country, then so be it.

The people might have been cold to her, didn't mean they were all cold to each other... The North was beautiful, though a harsh cold land that anyone, outside of the northern people, would have struggled to live in. But the northern men and women thrived in this beautiful cold place, with tamed bears and wolves at their sides. Their fascinating igloo-like houses and castles, if not, beautiful houses made of stones.