The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 177: Pressure (2)

After nearly an hour of greeting the people who came to the palace, Hazel returned inside with Tobias.

"I have never lifted so many children," Hazel said, reaching behind to touch her now aching back.

"It will make a good story to one day tell their children. That they were lifted by a queen in their youth. It hadn’t crossed my mind to go to those wanting to see us at the gates. It was fun to speak to them. You did well," Tobias complimented Hazel.

It wasn’t so often he got to converse with a crowd like that unless he was speaking to the men in the palace army. It was fun to hear what the people had to say and they were given many gifts which were being brought in by the guards to be inspected before Hazel or Tobias opened them.

"I have always loved going around the town or other towns with my parents and speaking with the people there. We must do it more often so there isn’t a disconnect between us and the people. Nobles and wealthy families should not only be our focus. I must admit that before now, such a thing would not have crossed my mind," Hazel confessed.

Hazel was raised in a wealthy family so there was never a time she had thought families without titles or wealth were not frequently invited to the palace. It was only now after hearing of the kingdom celebrating but only seeing one group of the kingdom in the palace did she realise.

"There are so many things I missed because of the house I was raised in. I was living in a bubble like many of my peers. When I host parties, I intend to invite different young ladies. What their parents do for work will not matter. There will be some protests," Hazel sighed.

"There will always be some protests. Many with titles will not want their daughters around those without. Still, they will not turn down an invitation from the palace as they enjoy being here. All you need to do is properly seat the women. While you have fun with that, I am to deal with trouble at the border," said Tobias.

Hazel inched close to him to hold his arm. "I am always ready to speak in private to offer advice. I will keep it a secret."

"Thank you. We must hope that I won’t need to ride out with the army to fight there. As much as I enjoyed war since it was my escape from the palace, it is too soon to leave you here. I might send someone to my place. Perhaps Edgar since he has not come around to greet us," Tobias said, knowing news of this would bring his friend here.

"I wish for you to live so I don’t recommend you doing that. Leave Edgar alone."

"Since when have the two of you become close?" Tobias questioned, jealous of her defending Edgar.

"We are not close. It is the same as it was before I married you. If I see him in the palace, he stops to speak to me to offer condolences," Hazel revealed.

"Someone in your family died? You didn’t mention it to me," Tobias said, fearing he was already a bad son-in-law for not knowing.

Hazel chuckled as Tobias was way off from what Edgar meant. "He offers it because I no longer have a peaceful life being with you."

’That bastard."

"I used to think that he sort of bullied you but now I see how you two are friends. Though he is easily annoyed by you or those in the palace, he comes on his own time to visit you. It lessens my worries knowing there is someone you trust around. If only he would join the court," Hazel wished.

"Edgar would never join the court as he does not want to follow his father’s steps. Edmund is stepping away from the court so I can’t lean on him. However, Edgar will soon be granted the title of duke. I shall have him help me when needed. No need to worry," Tobias said, catching her hand before she could pull away from him.

"My only task is to host a party soon to start getting well acquainted with my peers. Other than that, I don’t know what to do with myself. Oh! I am wrong. I want to look into how the maids are treated. I would hate for anyone to be abused right under our noses," Hazel said, once again determined.

"Don’t put too much on your plate right away to tire yourself out. We have many years to make changes so while you are eager, go at a pace to not stress yourself out. I am already stressed and don’t want you to experience it. Smile, Hazel. We have guests to greet," Tobias said as they returned to the church.

Hazel smiled despite the aching feeling in her jaw from having to do it so much. Before she knew it, Tobias was being tugged in the direction of a group of men while she was surrounded by women.

"Congratulations on becoming queen."

"Thank you," Hazel replied, trying to find who said it.

"When shall we hear announcements of a prince?"

"It is too soon for one to be made," Hazel replied, turning to Lady Kingsley. "When the time is right you will know about an heir. Right now is to celebrate a new king and queen. I will soon be inviting young ladies to the palace."

"Oh, but you must be thinking of having a child already. It will be something more for the kingdom to celebrate. It would be good for you to have a son quickly so the kingdom wouldn’t worry about an heir. Then many will be trying for baby girls to one day marry the prince."

Hazel could only smile and nod her head as the talk of children from anyone other than Tobias was not something she wished to hear. She knew they meant well, but she wasn’t married long enough to have news about a child to share.

Hazel was already starting to feel the pressure to have a child. To have a boy.

If her first child were to be a girl, would the kingdom be disappointed? How was she to handle their disappointment?

Hazel started to block out the conversation about children and just smiled. She was not going to say something to get anyone’s hopes up.

"A boy-"

"Would you care to see the garden? There are still a few decorations from my wedding there," Hazel said, changing the topic."Follow me if you wish to see."