The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 174: Queen Hazel (2)

"You’ll need to have your face tended to before you get back to work. I apologise on her behalf that she hit you. It wasn’t her place and I will make sure she doesn’t do it again. What was it that she claimed you did?" Hazel questioned, needing the full story.

Tabitha might speak to her for slapping Jane and when that time came, Hazel needed all the puzzle pieces.

Julia opened her mouth to speak but then opted to run away from Hazel. She couldn’t let it be shared what she was tasked to do. She had already failed one job and now the princess had spotted her. She might be punished for this.

"That woman," Mary said, preparing to go after Julia but Hazel stopped her.

"It is fine. I’ve started to notice that my presence has become a little intimidating to some and it might be a little embarrassing to face me with the bruise. I will let her run off this once," Hazel said, watching as Julia ran off. "I will keep an eye on her. Others might try to bully her for my intervention."

"Still, she could have offered thanks before running away. I don’t recall seeing her before. Then again, there are many maids to keep up with. There is still a chance that she is new. I commend her for putting up a fight," Mary said as she was never bold to push away one of the queen’s maids.

"So do I. Perhaps it is time to head back to the room. I’ve walked enough and I don’t want to make anyone panic at the sight of me. Should you ever come across the maid again before you leave, please tell her to come to me. I must see that the bruise is being treated," said Hazel.

"Are you considering making her one of your maids because she fought back?" Mary asked.

"It is too soon to choose her because of this one incident. I need to put careful thought into who is around me. I wonder if I was mistaken or did it seem like there was an old bruise on her neck? How many times has someone laid their hands on her?" Hazel questioned, fearing the worst.

The treatment of the maids not tending to special guests was something she needed to look into. She wouldn’t put it past some of the people here to treat the maids poorly or abuse them.

It was disappointing that she could not get involved with matters concerning the kingdom, but Hazel looked forward to making a change in the palace.

Hazel turned around to return to the room that was close to the church where the coronation would be held.

"Princess Hazel, it is that man again," Mary whispered, pointing to the man who had once scared Hazel.

Hazel followed where Mary was pointing and found the doctor. He was on a different path eating an apple once more but this time he wasn’t alone. There was a maid with him.

Hazel couldn’t look away from him. He was dressed the same as she had last seen him with clothes which looked like they could easily tear. She wished to know where he stayed in the palace so she could avoid going there or better yet, know how to get rid of him.

The doctor hadn’t done anything to her, but Hazel didn’t like the eerie feeling she got the last time they spoke. Like if given the chance, he would do something to her even if it was not an order from the palace.

For some strange reason, Hazel wanted to go and yank the maid away from his side.

"I’m overthinking this," Hazel muttered, realising she might be getting ahead of herself about a man she didn’t know. Maybe her fright came from the thought of what the test might have been like. Still, she was going to keep her distance. "Have you heard anything more about him?"

"I’ve overheard a few things as the maids often bring him up. Much isn’t known about where he came from, but among all the special doctors here, he is said to be the scariest. He doesn’t shy away from speaking about his experiments. I’m told they are gruesome," Mary revealed.

"He never turns away from treating any of the badly injured guards. Oh! I hear he is always requesting to have prisoners sent to be tested and it is sometimes allowed. I would never get close to him."

"So, they keep him because his talents are unique, hoping it could bring about some great discovery to heal someone. My first order should be that if something happens to me, I am to be treated by anyone other than him. It is rude to stare so we should carry on," Hazel said, looking away from the doctor and maid.

Hazel soon returned to the room given to her and waited out the hour for the long-awaited moment of being crowned queen. It came faster than any event Hazel had to attend in the palace and soon she was on her way to the church.

Hazel walked with the guests coming to see the new queen be crowned and conversed with those giving advice or once again congratulating her for achieving a grand title.

Hazel looked around for any sight of Tobias who spent the morning working with his father and looking for her family. Now that she was married, the attention was back to Helena. From the letters, it seemed like Helena was well on her way to becoming engaged.

Hazel’s worrying could stop now as she didn’t have to think of how she had gotten in the way of the queen helping Helena find a man. It all worked out for everyone.

"Hazel, you already look like a queen," Tabitha said, inspecting the dress Hazel put together for today’s event. She could not deny that Hazel already stood out amongst the crowd and screamed royalty. "The dress was an excellent choice."

"Thank you, Queen Tabitha. The lessons paid off in the end. I must thank the tutor for his careful attention to my lessons. There is a special glow to you," Hazel said, trying to make small talk.

Hazel didn’t know what to make of her relationship with Tabitha now. They had no reason to speak to each other nor see each other unless at breakfast or dinner. Their relationship would do well if they continued with short conversations.

They were two people not meant to become close.

"I am enjoying the last moments of my time as queen before it is passed to you. The crown felt heavy during these last days, but there is also a weight that has been lifted off my shoulders. I wish you luck as queen, Hazel. I’m told you may need it as you are already striking the servants. It is not a good look," said Tabitha.

Tabitha wasn’t happy to learn that Hazel slapped Jane for dealing with a maid they believed to be eavesdropping on her conversations.

"I agree that it would not be a good look just as it is not a good look for a queen’s maid to go around hitting others. There are other ways to punish someone you think has done wrong. Let them stand before the court. I hope you have corrected your maid’s actions," Hazel said, looking for Jane only to not find her.

"She is not here. You’ve been greatly embarrassed and turned her face red so she cannot accompany me. I will offer you one last piece of advice, Hazel. Do not meddle," Tabitha warned. Too much meddling may end with Hazel being the person struck or worse.

"Do you not feel ashamed today? That for the years you have spent as queen this is the way you end your reign? Cruel to the next queen instead of working with me to make our position here worth something more?" Hazel asked, curious as to whether there was a small change.

"I have tried-"

"No," Hazel interjected. "I hope one day you will see that your actions were wrong. Not so you can apologise to anyone not wanting to follow your commands, but so you can make efforts to bring about some change. Excuse me as today isn’t a day for fighting and repeating words that fall on deaf ears."

Hazel had stated enough times that Tabitha was not helpful. She was no longer going to waste her time telling Tabitha and hoped the woman would snap out of her ways in time to help make a difference for the next queen.

Tabitha had brought a valuable lesson as Hazel saw why it was best to say quiet and not waste your breath. Should someone not listen Hazel would pay them dust.

"I am the queen. You were to follow my commands but you were rebellious. You shall understand my feelings when it is the selection and it doesn’t go as you want it," Tabitha replied, willing to bet Hazel would one day be angry over losing her crown to someone she didn’t think was the right fit.

"When the selection comes around, all I want would be for my child to find the person who completes them. Now if you would excuse me, there is a crown awaiting me," Hazel said, curtsying to be respectful before leaving Tabitha.