The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 178: Pressure (3)

"Hazel. Why are you frowning?" Renee questioned, watching as Hazel walked to her to rest her head on her shoulder. "Who has troubled you?"

"I have been talking since the coronation and having to listen to why I should have a baby in a hurry. I need a break from all the baby talk. I have not had a proper conversation with Tobias about it," said Hazel.

If one more person mentioned having a prince, Hazel was close to telling them to have one. She could not magically announce she was with child tomorrow like they wanted her to do. If they were all so excited for babies, why didn’t they get pregnant?

Renee laughed as she remembered this annoying part about the beginning of marriage. "I remember when your grandmother used to badger me about having a son for your father as soon as possible. Giving me many bad-tasting drinks the morning after. It was the first time murder was on my mind."

Hazel chuckled as it was funny knowing her father ended up with two girls. "Grandmother must have been upset when I was born."

"She was a bit disappointed at first but then quickly came to love you. A boy is desired but should you have a girl, it is not the end of the world. How would you like it if I was upset with your existence?" Renee asked.

"I would not hate having a girl. It’s just no one here is hiding how I should have a little prince first as if I can control getting one. Tobias just became king. Why must we plan for the next king already? I know, I know,’ Hazel said before her mother could give the answer. "It is should the child not live past a few winters. Then I would be expected to have another quickly."

"Do you feel like a cow? What?" Helena questioned, confused by the stares. "I don’t mean with the shape. I mean like how we milk a cow to have something to drink over and over again."

"Must it have been a cow you want me to think of? I hope you aren’t going to run off to have a secret wedding as I am planning a gathering for young ladies. One where any young lady can attend and you must be there," said Hazel.

"Run off instead of having a big wedding here? You’ve lost your mind, Hazel. It would be odd for me to not have a proper wedding. If only you could come home for dinner as I am finally introducing him to father. Mother already knows who he is," said Helena.

"It is Viscount Wayne’s son," Renee revealed to the mystery man. "They are in town for the season but will return to the countryside. We shall have dinner and start planning a wedding if it goes well. Helena will have to move to the countryside."

"It will be hard to get used to being there every day but I will try to think of it as home quickly. There are still grand parties there and places for me to roam around. Many have started living in the countryside so I wouldn’t be bored,’ Helena said, excited for the new start.

Hazel was surprised to hear Helena was so excited to move away from Lockwood. Life in the countryside was far different than here so she hoped her sister was well prepared for the change. "You should take a trip there before getting married. See how it is," she suggested.

"I wish to do it in a few weeks. Hazel," Helena said, holding her sister’s hand. "If it goes as planned, mother and father will be taking the trip with me. Just to visit the Viscount’s home and where I will live once the wedding is over. If you don’t want me to take mother and father, I will go alone."

Hazel wasn’t happy to hear her parents would be more out of reach from her, but this was important to Helena so she didn’t want to voice that she wanted at least one of them close.

Now that she was queen, Hazel looked forward to inviting her parents to sometimes stay in the palace overnight for dinner. That would now have to wait.

"It is fine," Hazel answered. "I have a lot of work to do here."

"See. I told you that Hazel would be fine with it. She probably won’t notice that we are gone. I hope to have a small wedding here so you can attend and then I will have the big one in the countryside with his family," Helena said, already making most of her plans.

"Do not get so ahead of yourself, Helena. He might have spoken to you about marriage but you must not start planning too much before there is a ring on your finger. Now, how are you feeling now that you are queen? Aside from hearing about a child," Renee said, focusing on Hazel once more as this was her day.

"I don’t know how to explain what I feel. I feel ready to do a lot for the kingdom, but at the same time, I am worried about the queen I will be. I am hoping that a new day will remove the conflict I am feeling. You two must tell me when I seem to be going wrong," Hazel requested.

She needed the people around her to be honest.

"I will," Renee agreed. "There were a few complaints about you leaving the church but I think it was nice you went to the gates. We’ve been closed off from a different class over the years but as queen, you must pay attention to them. Do what feels right in your heart all the time."

"I will. Do you mind giving me a moment to speak to Linda? She is calling me over with her eyes to rescue her," Hazel said, watching Linda who was stuck beside her father.

Hazel left her family’s side and went to save Linda from being glued to her father’s side.

"It is an honour to be in the presence of the queen."

Hazel smiled upon hearing Kenneth’s greeting. "You don’t need to greet me that way. I give you permission to speak comfortably just as my father would when it is just us."

"It is a great honour, but I prefer to be respectable to the royal family," Kenneth replied. There was a difference in how he had to treat Hazel now. Less relaxed and more serious.

"Do as you wish. May I speak to Linda alone?" Hazel requested.

"Of course. I need to find my father. Do not leave the queen’s side," Kenneth said to Linda.

"Yes, father. Why does it seem like he has become so much more protective since you are now queen? Queen Hazel," Linda teased, curtsying.

"Please stop. It makes me freak a little to see everyone curtsy when I look at them. Please tell me that you have no plans for the next few days and will be able to visit the palace. My family will soon be going out of town," said Hazel.

"My brother Liam had a sparring match he wanted me to watch, but I can drop it for you. What is the point of watching handsome men fight if my other brothers will try to block the view?" Linda asked, reaching to hold Hazel’s hand, but then she remembered she could not now and stopped herself.

Hazel initiated hooking her arm with Linda’s. What harm could it cause to walk like this for a moment? "Then I will invite you to the palace tomorrow. I am sending Mary home with my parents so I don’t have a lady by my side yet. Do you think your parents would mind if I brought you into my court?"

"My father might be against it at first, but since it is to help you, his mind can change. He’s been active in speaking about the palace although he was not long planning to put down his sword and leave it to my brothers. Is it me or is the queen- Lady Tabitha watching us intently with a smile?" Linda questioned after accidentally meeting Tabitha’s eyes.

Hazel didn’t look around for where Tabitha was. They had already bumped heads for the day and it didn’t need to happen again. "She favours you over me," she said.

"That is nonsense. You are far better for this than I am. From the beginning, I believed that no one would make a far better queen than you. I will be here when you need me and I won’t go to her should she call upon me. I don’t need you thinking that I am plotting with her," said Linda.

"I am not concerned about that. Little does she know that you are far more rebellious than she thinks I am. It is soon, but I hope you don’t mind me needing your help asking your father and grandfather for a favour. They are more involved in the court than my father is," Hazel said, hoping Linda wouldn’t feel like she was starting to use their friendship.

"Ask away," Linda answered. "I might even join you in going up against the men here.