The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 60: New favourite (3)

Tobias smiled, enjoying Hazel’s compliments. He didn’t fully believe that it was all that she wanted to say. She had to be nice while the queen was seated before her. "Mother, as fun as this is to sit before you, I think that it is time you leave us for me to speak with Hazel. The days are going by quickly and it is hard for me to speak with her when you are present."

Tabitha thought differently to Tobias."You’re spending so much time with Hazel that we can only think she will be the future queen. It seems your mind is already made up. I know that you need time alone, but I think you’ve had enough time."

"I won’t keep the two of you long. Just know that an hour from now another young woman will come to sit here with you. And another," Tabitha said, informing him of this being the next event. frёeωebɳovel.com

"I thought they were to go around exploring the palace and be tested? Tobias asked. Why did this other task have to be thrown in for the day?

"I am granting you an hour with Hazel but it will be less for her peers. There will still be a tour of the palace. The head maid will be waiting around and coming inside to see if you are alright. You are reminded of the need to act properly," Tabitha said, speaking mostly to Tobias. "Any accidents that happen in the palace will not guarantee a spot on the throne."

"Mother," Tobias said, wanting this to end. She should just say that he shouldn’t try having sex with Hazel in the room when they were alone.

His mother had a lot to learn because if he was foolish to try something, Hazel might find a way to dangle him out of the window.

"The door will be open at all times. I am not looking to create a scandal that all the women were in a room with the prince with the door closed. It is to protect all of you. I know that my presence is no longer wanted here so I will be going to speak with her parents. I owe your family a fact-to-face apology for what has been done," Tabitha said as she stood from her seat.

She worried about leaving these two alone more than leaving Tobias with any other woman because what Jeffrey said was starting to get to her. Her husband made a joke she didn’t like.

Jeffrey was already betting on Hazel becoming the next queen so knowing that her father would be in the palace, Tabitha wouldn’t be shocked by her husband showing up despite being busy.

Tabitha reluctantly left the two alone to deal with the matter of Helena. "Check in often for when their tea turns cold and bring fresh snacks for when each young woman arrives. Keep the door open and do not allow her to be here for more than an hour. All the others are half of that. I am counting on you," she told the maid.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the head maid Valerie replied.

Tabitha trusted the head maid to keep an eye on the two and not let any accidents occur. Whether it be Hazel or another woman, making the mistake of offering yourself to the prince would not make you queen. Showing up months later pregnant or when the child was here would not make them the heir to take the throne in the future.

Tabitha took one last look at Tobias and Hazel who were both yet to move from their seats. To get back into his good graces, she had to trust her son. She knew their relationship wouldn’t be back to normal yet because she hadn’t sent Helena out of the palace, but it was something he would need to get over.

Inside the room, Hazel sat looking down at the tea which she had not taken a sip of.

"He is a gentleman."

Hazel sighed, already annoyed by Tobias repeating what she said. "It is not too late for me to change what I think of you. I should let you know that I find you annoying just as you are a gentleman."

"It doesn’t matter because the memory of Hazel Wallace saying sweet things about me will always be here," Tobias said, tapping his head with his finger. "I’m a little sad that it took my mother asking for you to say nice things about me. Did you like the flowers?"

To not be rude, Hazel looked away from the tea to Tobias. "I did. I’m surprised that you were listening to which ones I liked most. I hope you know who won’t get in trouble for bringing them to me. That was risky for all of us. I appreciate what you did, but please do not do it again."

"So, you are saying that I should come to you so no one else gets in trouble. The tricky part is finding out which room is yours. Had I stayed in the palace last night, I might have learnt which one it is," Tobias said, turning to have his body face Hazel.

"And how is that oh smart prince?" Hazel sarcastically asked.

"You must have spent some of your night looking out at the garden. I do listen to what you say, Hazel. Even when it is something I have no interest in. That’s why-"

Someone clearing their throat interrupted Tobias’s attempt to touch Hazel.

They both looked at the door to see the head maid standing with her arms folded.

"It is only her hand. A baby won’t come from it," Tobias said, moving his hand away from Hazel.

"I’m sure you would find a way to make that possible. Should I be concerned that they are all so concerned? The maid coming to check in on us and the door wide open. I wonder what you have done for it to be this way. Don’t worry. I won’t call you a flirt," Hazel said, knowing he would dislike it.

"You already said it without having to say the word flirt. I told you that I am not one. The person my mother thinks I am would have been making inappropriate jokes and trying to touch you where you don’t want to be touched, thinking nothing of it because you can’t go against the prince."

"I don’t do that and believe me, I wouldn’t stoop so low to try doing something with you if you wanted when the maids are standing out there. I happen to like privacy," said Tobias, wishing they all grasped this soon.

Tobias wished to remind his mother and everyone else that his encounters with women usually happened outside of the palace. He never brought women he wanted to bed here for his mother to give him a lengthy speech about mistresses and bastards.

Any women he was accused of courting in the palace were playful interactions to annoy his mother or piss off the men who were angry their daughters might have lost the chance to be the one to seduce him.

"You have standards. Wonderful," Hazel said, clapping for him. "I do like that you are not one to abuse your power and make me uncomfortable. You only annoy me."

"I see it more as helping you bring out your fun side," Tobias replied, leaning forward to get one of the treats on the table. "You’ll need me now more than ever since you’ve become mother’s favourite."