The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 145: Moving on (1)

’How did he time this so well? Is he around?’ Hazel wondered, looking around the garden for Tobias.

His timing was wonderful to save her from having to turn down sharing their love story once more. Tobias made quite a statement by sending her a bigger bouquet than his mother.

Hazel smiled, touching the petals of a flower she had not seen since the private dinner Tobias had prepared for her. Now she had more petals to add to the one that had withered. "He is lovely," Hazel commented for Tabitha to hear. "Isn’t he?"

Tabitha smiled to not let her displeasure over the difference in sizes show. "He is lovely. The prince has never done something like this so it shows how much he cares for you. We should send the flowers away to be placed in water."

"Soon. I want to enjoy looking at them a little bit more," Hazel answered.

Hazel wouldn’t help Tabitha by sending the flowers away. Hazel wanted to see that anger and jealousy a little more. It was a bit funny to see Tabitha upset over the flowers. Surely, she should have expected that Tobias would spoil his future bride a little more.

Tobias showed that he cared for them both by sending bouquets for each, but he displayed his feelings for Hazel by sending her the bigger one.

Hazel slipped the card under the table to read later as she wouldn’t put it past Tobias to write something that would embarrass her. She made a mental note to thank him later.

"It is just as they say that the prince and Hazel are deeply in love with each other. How wonderful."

Hazel looked up after hearing one of the women speak of her and Tobias. She opened her mouth to speak but was beaten to it by Tabitha.

"Oh, yes. The two are in love. You have seen for yourselves today that what the palace announced wasn’t a lie. I hope all of you can forgive me that the selection ended so soon. We couldn’t keep the two love birds away from each other," said Tabitha.

The women nodded their heads, understanding why the selection ended as it did.

"She is controlling when you speak," Helena whispered.

Hazel moved her hand from her lap to hold Helena’s under the table. What Tabitha did was annoying, but nothing to be too bothered by. As long as Tabitha didn’t say anything to embarrass her, Hazel could put up with this.

It would be bad for her to argue with Tabitha over something small and appear to be at odds with the queen.

Tabitha glanced at Hazel, expecting her to be rattled, but Hazel looked calm. Too calm. What was it that gave her so much confidence? Was it the flowers?

It was hard to get under Hazel’s skin because of how Hazel took every hit and did not complain. There was more Tabitha wished to do to get under Hazel’s skin, but with Hazel so calm, she would look to be the one causing drama.

Tabitha’s mood was soured by the garden party not going as she imagined. Women she invited to pry into Hazel’s life were keeping quiet, more interested in speaking to other guests than questioning Hazel.

’Are they already moving to her side?’ Tabitha wondered. She was still the queen therefore they should look to please her, but it seemed some of them were trying to be on Hazel’s good side. It was only because they didn’t know she would be staying queen a little longer.

As the party continued, Tabitha did not pay any attention to Hazel unless someone addressed both of them. When the party came to an end, Tabitha followed Hazel on her path back to her room.

"You did well at your first party," Tabitha said to get Hazel’s attention.

Hazel looked over her shoulder at Tabitha walking behind her. It was interesting to see the queen following her. "It was. There were no tricks as I anticipated. You put together a good party with wonderful guests. I’ve made new connections with women I shall keep around for the future."

"Are you not afraid their loyalty is to me?" Tabitha questioned as she had known many of the women present for years.

Hazel wasn’t worried as she had pointed out who was loyal to the queen after a few remarks she knew were to insult her on the queen’s behalf. "I am not afraid of their loyalty to you. I have no plans of bringing them to my side to go against you. You are not someone I shall worry about anymore."

"All of you, leave us alone," Tabitha ordered the maids and guards.

Hazel sighed, annoyed by the queen sending her people away. All she wanted to do was retire to her room to enjoy the flowers Tobias sent and read the card in peace. What now was Tabitha going to be upset about?

Tabitha and Hazel were left as the only ones standing with Hazel backing Tabitha.

"Again, you speak to me as if I am not the queen. Turn around to face me," Tabitha ordered. She was owed respect regardless of whether Hazel liked her or not.

Hazel turned to face Tabitha so they could have a proper conversation. "Forgive me. What was it I said that troubled you? That you are not someone I shall worry about anymore? I thought that was something positive."

Tabitha was angered by Hazel declaring she was no longer a person for her to worry about. "I hold influence here. Since you’ve arrived you have not had a moment when I think you are suited to become queen. Rather than ignore me, you should look to get on my good side. Start proving that you are worthy of my seat before it goes to someone else."

"Your Majesty, I was prepared today to put up a fight against whatever you might have planned. I was prepared to fight each time you would come after me, but today I have realised that it isn’t worth it anymore," Hazel revealed.

"I will put my attention to fighting other enemies and loving Tobias even more. I’ve been troubling myself thinking of how to win against you and it has made my time here far from fun. I am moving on so you should try to do the same," Hazel advised Tabitha.

After receiving the flowers from Tobias, Hazel felt a bit foolish for being so occupied with Tabitha when there were other things deserving of her attention. Like Tobias or her studies.

"As for what you said about the seat of the queen going to someone else, that won’t happen. I will be marrying your son so before it is too late get rid of your unwarranted anger. Excuse me," Hazel said, curtsying and then leaving.

She had nothing more to speak about with Tabitha. Nothing more to argue about. What Hazel wanted was to see Tobias.