The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 185: Followers (2)

"Goodbye, Lady Tabitha. I must see to my maids," Hazel said, excusing herself before this could become worse.

Tabitha would soon be out of the palace again and it would be then that Hazel would seek out the princess and not allow anyone to stand in her way. Before Sofia could get too deep into believing the words of those around her, Hazel would let it be known that she did not hate the princess.

Hazel could only imagine what Sofia was thinking, believing that her sister-in-law didn’t want her around. Next time, Hazel would confirm that Sofia was still in the palace.

"Valerie, warn the maids not to gossip about anything they overheard. It is a misunderstanding and should they let it spread, there will be a consequence," Hazel ordered.

Doing this wouldn’t keep the maids quiet as some would still find ways to pass it around, but Hazel had to warn them. By nightfall, it was going to be passed around that she was treating the princess poorly and those who were caught doing it could be dealt with appropriately since there was a warning.

"Please follow me," Hazel instructed the six maids. She hoped that this group would not disappoint her. "You can relax your shoulders around me. Whatever you have heard about me please forget it and make your own judgement of me as you serve me."

"It is because of me that there is a misunderstanding," Julia said.

Hazel stopped to hear what Julia had to say. "What do you mean?"

"It has been going around that you struck the queen’s maid for no reason. Since I didn’t speak up to explain it, the others are a bit afraid of you. I’m sorry," Julia cried, dropping to her knees.

"I see. I won’t place the blame on you when someone else is scheming so get up. Throwing yourself to the floor before me isn’t going to help," Hazel said, offering her hand to help Julia up. "You’re only dirtying your dress by being where others walked."

Though it would help for Julia to explain what had happened yesterday, how many people would believe her? People were going to think what they wanted even with someone speaking the truth. What needed to be done was to let the maids see first-hand that she was not out to hurt them.

Clearing up the misunderstanding with the princess needed to happen fast as her efforts to show her kindness would seem like she was trying to clean up her act after being caught.

Julia got to her feet with Hazel’s help. It was surprising that the queen offered her hand, but Julia dismissed it as Hazel putting on a show. "I have a way to make it up to you, Your Majesty. I know where the princess sneaks out to play with children. I can take you there."

"That would be helpful," Hazel said, taking a liking to Julia for her quick thinking. She looked away from Julia to the other maids who were still a bit uncomfortable. "I shall give all of you a choice. I don’t want anyone to work where they are not happy. If you don’t want to be my maid, you may leave."

The five other maids looked at Valerie. Hazel’s words sounded like a trap. Should any of them try to leave, they would be punished. It would not be the first time it happened.

"No harm shall fall upon you. You have my word. Should I reach my room and you are not behind me, I shall know your decision," Hazel added, starting off the walk back to her bedroom so they could have a private talk.

Though she picked the maids after carefully watching them, Hazel wanted them to accept her as someone they wanted to serve. Only then could trust start to happen and their loyalty to her would grow.

As she walked, Hazel heard footsteps behind her but she couldn’t make out how many people were following her as she had been walking with two guards. She couldn’t bring herself to turn around to see how many maids were choosing to stay with her. It would be embarrassing if she had gathered all the maids to pick only for the ones she selected to turn away from her.

Hazel tried not to give in to the growing feeling she had these days. Sadness she had never felt before. Something needed to be done to get rid of it as this was only the beginning and she did not want to worry Tobias.

After a long walk, Hazel stopped and the sounds of those walking behind her ceased. She stood outside her room and before she could enter, she wanted to see who was still around. To her surprise, the six maids remained.

Hazel would have bet for at least one to take the chance to run away.

"It will be a great honour to serve you, Queen Hazel," a maid named Lynn spoke up. She had been worried about the gossip of the queen striking a maid for no reason, but seeing Hazel offer her hand to Julia, the person in the rumours and the queen before her could not be the same person.

Julia peered at the maid beside her. She had been hoping the others would leave Hazel’s side so she would be the only one the queen would lean on for help. She could not allow anyone to outshine her and Hazel to turn to them for help more than her.

"You have saved me from the former’s queen’s maid. I shall spread the truth and as a thank you, I will do whatever you need from this moment on," Julia said, wanting to keep herself above the others. "Feel free to use me as you wish." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"It is good to hear that you are giving me a chance. I shall not disappoint any of you and do my best to protect you. You may all come inside. I will not accept any visitors unless it is the king," Hazel told the guards.

She had much to discuss with the maids who would now be her eyes and ears in the palace.

Hazel led the maids inside her bedroom. It was the only place Hazel felt she could speak without someone eavesdropping.

"My first task as queen is to make the palace safe for all of you. No one should ever place their hands on you and get away with it. Most of you might have had bad encounters with someone in the palace or witnessed it happening to others. Please help me create a list of those harming the maids. Your names will be kept out of it so no one will harm you," Hazel promised.

Julia saw the plan as the perfect way to get back at the queen’s maid. She asked Grant to get rid of the woman but since she had become Hazel’s maid, he might not go through with it. "I will help," Julia said, putting up her hand.

Lynn was reluctant because the ones to harass them were men from the court or some of the palace guards. Then what about the ladies who would hit them for making a mistake? Those ladies came from good homes.

It was good to have someone finally acknowledging the cruel treatment some maids received, but if those doing the harming used their power to get the queen to stop meddling, what would happen to those who spoke up?