The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 69: Sneaking around (3)

"I think we are even now for you seeing my grandfather and not telling him to come save me from this torture. Why didn’t you?" Linda asked, wanting to shake Hazel’s shoulders. "Why? Why? Why?"

"Because it means we’re even now as you said. Besides, I can’t let him help you out of the selection and I am still here without a friend by my side. You only need to suffer for four more days and then you are out of here. It’ll be over soon," Hazel said, putting her thumbs up to cheer Linda on.

"I wake up every morning and cross off the days. I am waiting impatiently for the seventh day to come. Meanwhile, you are enjoying yourself and I know it because the prince is coming this way and it is not for me," Linda said, slowly stepping to the side to get away from Hazel.

Hazel, like everyone else, watched as Tobias made his way to her. She wanted to join Linda in getting out of the way, but her body was frozen in place. Why was he coming right for her when they were all here? Was there something behind her that he wanted to get to?

"Hazel," Tobias greeted her, picking up her right hand to kiss the back of it.

"Prince Tobias," Hazel returned the greeting with a curtsy. "What are you doing?" She whispered.

"Giving you affection. Have you forgotten that I told you that I like you?" Tobias asked, letting go of her hand and placing his hands behind his back.

"I meant in front of the group. Greet someone else the same way. I don’t want to have four days of their jealousy," Hazel spoke softly.

"No," Tobias replied, turning down her request. He was not going to fake anything with the others. "No one here would be so foolish to target the woman I want to get to know more about," Tobias spoke loud enough for those eavesdropping to hear. "They must want to ruin their families if they try to bully you over jealousy."

Hazel wanted to slap her face. On one hand, she couldn’t stop him from pursuing her when others were around for long, but on the other hand, Hazel would have liked a few more days of peace. There was going to be the one person who would let their jealousy out on her.

There was that and the fact Hazel liked the secrecy of their relationship. If she could even call it that.

"You can hit me later," Tobias said for only Hazel to hear. "Stay close to me, Hazel."

"But the queen," Hazel said, looking ahead at the queen.

Tabitha was not paying any attention to the two of them and instead conversed with the man who had already introduced himself as a historian.

"Knows and doesn’t care. It’s about time I get to court you when I want and not in secret. If anyone troubles you, come to me," said Tobias.

"For what? I can take care of myself. So far their games and banter have all been childish, but I will take up the offer," Hazel said, referring to hitting him.

It was always on everyone’s minds that Tobias liked her. It was why Helena was lashing out at her and Jasmine was so quick to tell the queen what she heard. Rather than think about more childishness she would have to deal with, Hazel decided to enjoy Tobias by her side.

This gave her more time to get to know more about Tobias.

"Why the fuck is she back?" Tobias questioned, annoyed by Valerie’s return. It wasn’t long that the woman had left his sight and now she had returned. He could already hear her clearing her throat. It was bound to haunt him tonight.

Hazel looked around for who Tobias spoke of and made the guess that it was either the head maid or one of the maids behind her. "Uhmm," she cleared her throat, mimicking the sound Valeria made.

Hazel chuckled, enjoying how annoyed Tobias looked. If looks could kill, she would have dropped dead. It had bothered her having to hear the sound of someone clearing their throat, but not to the point Tobias was bothered.

Hazel did it once more to get under his skin. Now she knew the trick to have him be annoyed and maybe leave her side.

"Attention ladies," Valerie said, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention. "You are to follow Mr. Burch around the history room and answer what he asks you. Myself and the maids will be keeping track of your answers. You are advised to think of your answers before you speak."

"Did you study, Hazel? I can give you a few answers. A kiss on my lips will be owed for each answer. It is a fair trade," said Tobias.

Hazel waited for the women to follow behind Mr Burch so she could have room for her conversation with Tobias to not be overheard. It was hard to have a bit of privacy in the palace so she had to do what she could.

There were a few women to try lingering at the back to be close to Tobias, but they were quickly escorted in by one of the maids.

Hazel was surprised to see that the queen was allowing them to stay at the back, away from the group. "What a gentleman you are to suggest the lips and not start on the cheek first. I am not doing either one. I am not in need of help since I paid attention to my tutors growing up."

"Of course you did. I wouldn’t expect for perfect Hazel to be any different. Are you ready for tonight?" Tobias asked.

"I was until I did some thinking. To do that I would need to go out my window and I am not fond of falling from that height. Someone would have to be crazy to go out a window so I suggest that we get rid of that plan and follow what was already planned by the queen," Hazel suggested.

She was not looking forward to dangling from her window after failing to climb down. She was not looking forward to falling and breaking something that would have her need to be lifted around the rest of her life.

"I knew you would back out. Little miss perfect Hazel would never sneak out."

"You are very wrong about that. I have done it plenty of times, but I used a door instead of a window. I am not that brave. I could only do it if my life depended on it, but even then I would ask that someone push me," Hazel said, imagining it happen.

"Also, I wish that you would stop calling me miss perfect. It makes me think of our childhood and how much I disliked you then. You don’t want to hear an old nickname I have for you," said Hazel.

Tobias leaned down to whisper in Hazel’s ear. "On the contrary, I’d like you to hear anything you’d call me."

"Get away from me," Hazel muttered, shooing him away with her hands. She stopped when Brooke turned around to look at them.