The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 57: Surprise (3)

There was nothing more frustrating for Hazel than having to move around her feet to avoid Tobias trying to touch her. She was surprised, yet glad that no one had noticed how she jumped when Tobias first touched her.

The queen was still going on about sharing rumours without knowing if the story was true, but Hazel failed to properly listen to what was being shared.

All that was on her mind was being able to kick away Tobias’s foot without anyone noticing it. It angered her that Tobias sat still as if he were not bothering her. She regretted thinking about him. Worrying about if him not showing up last night got him in trouble. All she wanted to do now was stomp her shoe down on his toes.

"Moving on. Today we will be walking around the palace. Looking at the history of this land. You might be tested here and there but it is about things a child should know. You don’t need to go running off to the libraries to catch up on your studies. I’m sure your parents gave you the best tutors money could buy," said Tabitha.

Tabitha noticed the growing worry on some of the women’s faces. Surely they did not think they had a chance of becoming queen when they didn’t know the history of the kingdom. It mattered here that they were well taught about the land as there would always come a time when someone in the palace would try testing the queen.

"You are all free to ask some questions, but please keep in mind that we cannot answer certain topics. I am passing the floor to any of you," Tabitha said, interested in knowing what was on their minds.

"If I may, Your Majesty," Helena said, putting up her hand. "Can you tell us about your court? How the women were selected."

"Well, during my time in the selection when I was your age, it was made known that those not chosen to become queen are likely to join the queen’s court. It is a circle of women you will need by your side. The palace tends to get involved sometimes to warn you of who not to pick, but mostly, you decide," Tabitha answered.

She picked women married to men who would help her husband. It was all very strategic.

There were a few true friends she lost because she thought of her husband and son. Unfortunately, their husbands did not hold enough power to help keep Tabitha’s family safe and there was tension when others were picked.

Tabitha didn’t regret her choices back then because her family’s safety mattered then and there were still friends to understand why they were not picked and visit the palace when she summoned them. They were not fools to ruin the relationship they had with the queen. Now their daughters and sons frequented the palace.

Hazel gritted her teeth, angered by the fact she could never get Tobias’s foot before he moved it. Before she would be caught fooling around with his foot under the table, she gave up and retained her earlier position to listen to the queen.

"Tobias," Tabitha warned. She noticed his smile and how frustrated Hazel appeared for a moment before it disappeared. The feeling of being annoyed by the two was coming back as she was in the dark about their relationship.

It was time for her to intervene and have a word with them before they got out of hand. The last thing she needed was for Hazel to get too deep into Tobias’s charm and meet with him in secret. Or as she warned Helena, she didn’t need Hazel getting too in love with Tobias. She would only come to regret it in the future.

"It seems none of them have something to say. Should we move on to picking the women I will go off to the side with?" Tobias asked, ready to be alone with Hazel. From the looks of it, he should find a nice quiet room so that she could hit him.

"Impatient aren’t you? Since no one besides Helena is jumping at the chance to ask questions, we will move on. You are only to blame for being too shy to ask what you wish to know. I will pick two women to join the prince and myself for a private tea," said Tabitha.

Tobias frowned, disliking this because his mind was already set on Hazel. Hadn’t his mother learned enough from last night?

"Hazel and Helena Wallace. The two of you are to join us," Tabitha said, standing up as she was ready to take her leave.

Tobias stared at his mother, confused by her choice. Why Hazel and Helena together? She praised Hazel for trying to avoid being compared to her sister only to turn around and pick them together. He could not understand what was going on in his mother’s head.

"Right now," Tabitha added as no one meant to be following her got up from their seats.

Helena was the first to snap out of her shock and stood to follow the queen. She thought she had heard wrong, but the many eyes on her told her otherwise. She couldn’t hide her smile as she stood up. She was owed a special time with the prince and got it.

Hazel touched Linda’s shoulder after standing up, comforting her friend because Linda would be left alone with no one to speak to. She then joined Helena to walk behind the queen, prince, and the maids who tended to the queen.

"This is exciting," Helena said.

"It is," Hazel replied.

Helena remembered the tension between her and Hazel after the short response. "I don’t wish for us to keep fighting. I hope we can move on," she said.

"I have long moved on, Helena. It is you who goes around in circles. I do not want to speak of this right now," Hazel whispered in response. She caught one of the queen’s maids looking back at them. "If you truly wish to move on you must prove it with your actions."

Helena frowned as she expected Hazel would have taken this offer to forget everything and move on like she always did. Why let this go on any longer when it could be solved now? They should act as one before the queen. Jumping in to save each other when needed.

"Very well," Helena muttered, deciding to be on her own for this challenge. So far she had done a job answering the queen’s questions so she didn’t need Hazel.

Ahead of Hazel and Helena, Tobias was trying to understand his mother.

"What are you up to now, mother?" Tobias asked, keeping his voice low for only his mother to hear.

"I said that I would enjoy a private tea with them. If you were focused at the table, you would have known. I talked with your father and realised my mistakes. I don’t want us to be like this anymore, Tobias. I will fix the mistakes that I made," Tabitha promised. By now her guest should have arrived. "Since you show interest in her, I will help Hazel go far."

"And how does inviting her younger sister along help her? It still feels like you are playing games-"

"Relax," Tabitha said, holding his hand to calm him. "You will see shortly that I am done with doing what will upset you." frёeωebɳovel.com