The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 135: Wallace (1)

’You must have been lost in studying seeing that you forgot to get dressed for dinner. I recall seeing you in that dress this morning," said Tabitha.

"Well, I was going to get changed, but while I was away, someone rummaged through my room so many things were missing. Things that I cherish so I could not get changed for dinner," Hazel replied, drawing close to Tobias as she spoke.

"What is missing? Have you questioned the maids and guards about who visited your room?" Tobias asked. This was exactly why he should pick the guards who would protect Hazel.

"They are missing? I will look into the matter as soon as dinner is over. I find myself having to apologise to you over and over again, Hazel. It is a terrible welcome into the palace and I hope it can all turn around before you think of leaving. What are you missing?" Jeffrey asked, needing to know what to get the guards to search for.

"Dresses, shoes, and upon further inspection, a necklace gifted to me by my father is missing. The trunk I brought with me yesterday is open. It seems someone might be a little upset that I brought to light the dresses made for me by the palace could not fit. I’m sorry," Hazel apologised.

"So? That doesn’t mean anyone outside of this family should take it upon themselves to steal your things from you. It might have been a maid ordered by someone. I will fully investigate this," Tobias declared.

"It might have been a misunderstanding. I instructed Hazel not to bring anything from outside the palace as all she needed would be prepared. The head maid might have gotten rid of what doesn’t belong in Hazel’s room-"

"And the necklace?" Tobias interjected. "Why did the necklace need to be taken?"

"My books and other necklaces also remained," Hazel added.

Hazel had carefully looked through both trunks to see what had been taken and missed the necklace. Something else could be missing from the trunk with the items brought for the selection, but she knew the necklace was missing because her mother had given it to her to bring here two days ago.

"It is very dear to me so I would like it back and see who took it. I must add that I left out that I had not changed since none of the new dresses fit. I was not measured for the new dresses so that is where the first issue lies," Hazel said, looking right at Jeffrey and not Tabitha’s way. "If you have some time to spare, I would like to speak to you alone, Your Highness."

"Me? I can put aside a few minutes for you after dinner," Jeffrey agreed.

"We are all family here so what needs to be shared can be said now," Tabitha spoke up, against the idea. Jeffrey would share it with her later, but she preferred to be present to cut in when needed. What would Hazel have to say to Jeffrey in private?

"I don’t want dinner to be taken up by my problems and I have been waiting patiently to speak to the king alone. I hope you do not mind that it is a private matter," Hazel answered.

Hazel took her seat and during each step, she could feel Tabitha’s gaze on her. She didn’t have to look Tabitha’s way to know the queen was giving her a good stare-down.

"Why is everyone getting to be alone with Hazel, but me?" Tobias muttered, envying his father.

"I have not sat with her alone," Sofia jumped in to remind everyone. Having a sister wasn’t so fun if she didn’t get to sit with Hazel. Hazel was on one side of the palace while she was on the other and her maids would not take her to Hazel.

"You will in due time," Tabitha responded to Sofia and Tobias first. "If there is something or someone that is troubling you, as the queen I must know so that I can help you."

Hazel resisted the urge to laugh at the show Tabitha was putting on. The problem was offering her help. "Thank you, but it is a small matter I wish to speak to the king about."

"Leave it," Jeffrey said, motioning for Tabitha to end it. "I will speak alone with Hazel and get to the bottom of what was taken from her room."

"Dealing with the maids is my duty," Tabitha said, not needing Jeffrey poking around in her business. She was the one to order the maids to take the dresses and though they knew better than to reveal this, Hazel bothered her. It felt like Hazel had some sort of plan to ruin her night. "I will find out who took her belongings."

"It sounds like a thief so they should be punished," said Tobias. "The dresses were already in the palace so why take them away when Hazel is not in her room? Why hasn’t she been measured for new dresses?"

Tobias knew that preparing Hazel with her studies was important, but so was having something to wear. "Why not measure her to have the dresses fit perfectly instead of guessing? The dressmaker and Hazel’s time is being wasted."

"It is fine. Should more dresses not fit, I will wear this one again. Hopefully, no one thinks that the palace is going poor," Hazel joked.

She was quite serious in wearing this over and over again until what was meant for her was placed in her room.

Tabitha was appalled that a woman of Hazel’s standing would want to wear a dress so many times. Had she no shame? Was her fake claim about Hazel losing her mind true? No young lady with a family like Hazel’s would ever want to be seen in the same dress more than once let alone all day.

"Do you know what would be said if you walked around wearing that dress tomorrow? Three days into your engagement and this is what you would be doing? We wouldn’t be able to stop the maids from spreading this around the town. Hazel," Tabitha stopped to calm herself. She called Hazel’s name sweetly though she wanted to yell.

"It will take some time to have the new dresses made perfectly for you. The new dresses I sent are a little bigger so just wear them for now. Think of what would be said about you if you walked around in that dress again. Honestly, I think we should throw it out as soon as you take it off," said Tabitha.

"Why would you get rid of the only dress she is comfortable in? Send to her home for a few of her dresses to wear until the dressmaker is finished. Most of the dresses you are sending her were made before the selection started. Sell them so it won’t be a loss," Tobias suggested.

Tabitha bit her tongue as this wasn’t something she wanted to do, but she could not continue to argue. She glanced at Hazel and was unsettled to find the young woman smiling. Hazel arrived causing a scene to their normally pleasant dinner.