The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 175: Queen Hazel (3)

Hazel faced the greatest challenge as she sat in the church, watching as the priest spoke. It was to not yawn because of how tired she suddenly became. She had sat through events like this but none had left her bored like this.

She dared not cover her mouth to try hiding it as she sat at the front with Tobias and his family. They were in perfect view for everyone in attendance to look at.

Hazel scolded herself many times as it was rude to the priest who was passionate with what he spoke. Unfortunately, the sudden history lesson about the Castro’s was a tad bit boring at times. Hazel had learned so much of history since coming here that she might have started to dream about it and didn’t want to hear about it anymore.

Hazel turned to Tobias to see how well he was sitting through it and to her horror his eyes were closed. Hazel slowly moved her left hand to his right hand to pinch him.

Tobias opened his eyes, looking at Hazel who didn’t seem pleased. "I wasn’t sleeping," he whispered. "I listen better when my eyes are closed."

"You are not to have your eyes closed," Hazel spoke softly.

It would be the talk of the town if someone noticed and with how dreadfully boring the ceremony was at the moment, Hazel would bet the attention was now on them.

"There wasn’t it a rule that I could not close my eyes-"

"It is an unwritten rule," Hazel argued. "I’m sorry," she apologised to Jeffrey when he looked to them for speaking.

"You must admit that this is boring, Hazel. Not long ago I saw your lips trembling. Are you holding back a yawn?" Tobias teased.

Hazel turned away from him as she wouldn’t admit to being bored. She looked around at the people sitting on the opposite side of the court. Hazel was told it was distant relatives of the Castro’s. Tabitha’s family and families of those who married into the Castro’s.

Hazel looked forward to meeting Tobias’s uncle but was already told he wouldn’t return to the palace unless it was to make him king.

Hazel then looked at the men from the court. Some were deep in conversations and among them was Grant. "Tobias, will Grant become a member of the court?"

"There is an unwritten rule about not talking," Tobias replied solely to annoy her. "But not that I am aware of. There is a test that he would need to take. Unless is offering his time to help solve cases."

"I see," Hazel said, watching as Grant spoke with court members. It was nice to see a familiar face there. Hopefully, if Grant stuck around the court long enough she could get him to help her increase the power she had in the palace.

"...the exchange of crowns."

"Oh," Hazel said, turning back to the priest after hearing something she was meant to listen for.

Hazel stood at the same time as Tobias and his parents to go to where the priest stood. It was finally time for the crowns to be taken from Jeffrey and Tabitha.

Though Hazel would wear Tabitha’s crown at this moment, there was another crown made perfectly for her to wear from tomorrow onward and Tabitha’s crown would be stored elsewhere.

The nervousness came back as there was no going back to a simple life now. Once the crown was placed on her head her life would change more than it did when she married Tobias.

Hazel stood arm’s length from Tobias and Jeffrey as the king’s coronation was the important part of the event. If possible, Hazel wouldn’t put it past anyone to suggest that she be crowned another day to have all the attention on Tobias.

Despite Tobias being the star of the day, Hazel wasn’t saddened by this. She was happy for Tobias. The start of his reign was something worth celebrating, not making a fuss that he would have all the attention.

Tabitha glanced at Hazel, finding her to be captivated by Tobias becoming king. It was evident that she wouldn’t have been able to come between the two in the past and as they grow to love each other, it could become harder. Tobias would pick Hazel over her.

Tabitha thought of Hazel’s earlier words. She was a bit like Hazel in the past for a small moment, wanting to work with Jeffrey’s mother who stayed in the palace rather than leave to live a peaceful life in the early years.

Tabitha realised that beyond the duty of preparing the young lady to be queen, who wanted to make life easier for the person now in your shoes? How would it be fair for the young lady after you not to suffer? Then who wanted to be kind to the person taking your power from you? All that mattered was the son.

Though Tabitha wanted Hazel to be a good queen for the kingdom, Hazel had to suffer a little to know what it was like to be queen in this palace. Only then could Hazel truly be part of the long history of queens who had sad stories to share.

"Bow before your King, Tobias Castro."

Tabitha stopped thinking about Hazel to put her focus back on Tobias. Her eyes filled with tears as she had fulfilled her duty by having a child with her blood be the one to become king. All her efforts during the schemes had paid off.

Tabitha would die happily knowing that Tobias was now king. She clapped for him as those in the church stood and bowed for Tobias.

Tobias held out his hand for Hazel to come to him to receive her crown and stand beside him as his queen. This moment right here was what made the day special as he had a woman he loved by his side and not just someone he had picked to get the selection over with.

"May your reign be as glorious as the queen’s before you," the priest said as he lifted the queen’s crown from the cushion it was placed on. "Queen Hazel."

Hazel curtsied for the priest to be able to properly place the crown on her head then stood up straight when it was secured. Hazel turned to face the guest who came to witness this moment. She looked at Tobias when he held her hand.

"To the king and queen. May you live long!" Cheers filled the church.

"To King Tobias!"

"To Queen Hazel!"

’Finally, I can relax," Jeffrey said, rubbing his hands as a life of peace awaited him. He could already feel the stress leaving his body and passing to Tobias. "Good luck," he said, smacking Tobias in the back.

Tobias glared at his father for hitting him now. "I’ll need it if you seek to kill me with how hard you hit. You should be careful with hitting the king. I might just throw you into a dungeon which needs to be turned bigger. I have a few people who need to go in there."

Jeffrey started to worry already as Tobias might turn the palace upside down. "You promised me no killing on the first day."

"I am not killing anyone today. I am imprisoning them to have them killed another day," Tobias corrected his father. "Now go away from so close to me and Hazel. This is our day."

"I am not king anymore but I am still your father. Don’t test me," Jeffrey warned. Tobias would never be too old or too powerful for Jeffrey to hesitate in smacking some sense into him. "But go greet the people."

"We should open the palace gates," Hazel said, changing her mind now. Rather than greeting the people with a gate in between them, they should be open for everyone to celebrate.

"That’s ridiculous. You must think of our safety," Tabitha said, greatly disliking the idea. This was a joyous moment that the important people of the kingdom got to share with them. There was no telling who would be amongst the crowd outside.

Hazel did a quick look over the nobles and wealthy families that were given invitations to attend this moment. "Anyone can be a threat to us. A lord or someone in the court. It is hardly fair that they wait outside in this weather to see us. We should go to them without a gate in our path."

Tabitha had the answer to the problem and said, "We were never to go to the gates to greet anyone. Who gave you that idea? We have guests here to greet and portraits to be done to remember this moment. Perhaps another day you could take a stroll through the town in a carriage to wave."

"Perhaps not," Hazel replied, grabbing a handful of her dress to lift to head to the doors. "We should greet all the people. I will take the risk of going to them. Excuse me, Lady Tabitha."

Hazel was not like Tabitha in the sense that it wasn’t long ago she travelled all over the town so there might be many familiar faces outside who came to celebrate with her. The crowd didn’t have to be brought inside, just the gates opened to avoid leaving a bad impression about how the palace viewed by those who were not nobles.

"That girl," Tabitha said, turning to Tobias to get him to stop Hazel only to find him following her.