The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 40: Disappointing (2)

"I knew you would be this way, but I said nothing so you wouldn’t miss out on this experience," Hazel said, regretting not having a longer talk with her mother about Helena coming to the palace.

She had another good time with the prince and instead of getting to look back on her time with Tobias and enjoy it more, she was here arguing with her sister who forgot how to be happy for her.

"What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying that mother and father shouldn’t have let me join the selection?" Helena said, clenching her fist.

"Yes! They should have only sent one daughter so you and I wouldn’t be at odds right now. I believed for a moment you would not be this way, but after one dance with the prince, you have turned insufferable. He does not belong to you," Hazel said, hoping this time Helena would understand it.

"And he belongs to you? Because he has picked you twice now?" Helena asked.

Hazel released a dry laugh. No matter how she explained it, Helena’s jealousy would not let Helena understand what was being said. "Mother is the only one to talk some sense into you. It’s a shame that we cannot speak to her. I am going to my room to prepare for bed. You can stand here and be upset if you wish."

"You are speaking to me as if I am a child. You fail to understand why I am upset. The prince danced with me yet I have not had a single second alone with him. What sense does that make? It couldn’t possibly be that he forgot about me. I am a Wallace," Helena argued, walking after Hazel as she wasn’t finished yet.

Hazel kept walking, no longer entertaining Helena. There were eyes and ears all around the palace and no doubt they were here too. There was no telling if like Helena waited for her there was someone else waiting. Someone who was not a friend.

What Tobias said about the maids sharing what was said stayed with her so she was going to keep her problems hushed as much as she could. Or as much as Helena allowed because her sister was still speaking and not softly.

"Helena," Hazel called, turning around to face her sister. "Stop it this second. Does it make sense to still speak of this in a place where anyone can hear us? Think for a second how embarrassing this would be for it to spread that we are arguing. Think of how mother would be if this were to reach her ears. We promised her that we would not let this ruin our relationship."

"I only need an answer to why you are spending time with him when he dances with me. There has to be more to it when you said he asked you for a dance," Helena said, wanting to hear the truth and then she would have no reason to question Hazel like this.

"He wasn’t," Hazel stopped herself from revealing that Helena wasn’t Tobias’s first pick at the ball. Revealing this wouldn’t send Helena away, it would have Helena looking for answers. Demanding that it was a lie. "I am going to bed."

"See! It is because you are like this that I get angry. You are not sharing the full truth with me. Just be honest like you used to do. It is annoying how you conveniently have secrets now that we are here," Helena said, standing still as she no longer wanted to follow Hazel.

If Hazel was going to be this way, Helena had no choice but to follow her sister and use tricks to get further ahead in the selection. Why should she be open and honest with Hazel when Hazel was not doing the same with her?

"Think what you want," Hazel said, continuing to walk ahead of Helena. It made no sense to respond to Helena so from this moment on she would not waste her time.

Hazel could only hope that Helena would not stoop low by talking about her with the other women. Fallen victim to their traps to get gossip and then push her to the side. Rather than it coming from her, Hazel wanted Tobias to be the one to tell Helena what was meant to happen at the ball, but even then, Helena might foolishly think she had gotten in the prince’s ear.

"There must be something in the water to make her act this way. Did I drink water?" Hazel wondered, trying to think back to what she consumed thus far. "I did. Maybe there was something in the air and it has not reached me yet."

Hazel continued to walk toward her room whilst hearing Helena behind her.

"Wonderful. Another one awaits me. What do you need, Linda?" Hazel asked as she spotted Linda standing in front of her door.

"I thought we could have a little late-night talk before bed. Did you two fight?" Linda said, looking behind Hazel at Helena. "I pray you didn’t argue where the others are. Some are walking around the wing of the palace. The maids said we could as long as we don’t exit the door to take us outside."

"Then I should anticipate that someone heard us. I wish I could trade places with you to be here without a sibling," said Hazel.

"Hmph," Helena purposely made the sound out loud so it would be heard as she stormed by them. Since Hazel was willing to be open with Linda, she should have her as a sister instead of her blood sister.

"Sorry about that," Hazel apologised as she opened her door.

"Don’t. I might have been a little upset with Helena at dinner. She might not be so happy to see me with you. If you want to vent in secret with no one to hear you, I am here to listen. I will be like a wall not repeating anything," Linda said, pretending to button her lips.

Hazel chuckled. "Then I can’t turn it down. I might have some candy I brought from home hidden in my bags."

Linda drew closer to Hazel to show a bag she had hidden in her dress. "I brought us candy."

"Come inside quickly. Do you think we’d be judged if you spent the night here?" Hazel asked, stepping inside so Linda could quickly follow.

"We must be secretive. We are always together so they might take us for lovers," Linda joked, closing the door behind her.

As Hazel settled in with Linda, Tobias returned to his room and found guards outside his door, which meant his parents were there. He’d take a bet that it was his mother because he was ruining her plans.

Tobias turned around to try to escape another talk with his mother and leave the palace to visit Edgar and perhaps spend the night at his estate. If not for dinner with Hazel, the palace would be looking for him right now.

As Tobias turned around, he was met with guards blocking his path so he would not leave.

Tobias sighed, looking down at his arms as he rolled up his sleeves. "I was looking forward to going to bed after a good day, but I wouldn’t mind fighting all of you. This would count as my training for the day."

"The queen wishes to speak with you. She is inside," one of the guards informed Tobias.

Tobias listened as the door behind him opened.

"Tobias. I want to speak with you in private," said Tabitha. She was informed by a guard of his arrival.

"You’ve been seeking me out for all the wrong reasons recently. The queen should know that you need to request an audience with the prince when you want to speak to him. I would have made an exception for my mother, but I don’t think she’s here with us today. Move your guards," Tobias said, ready to fight if needed.

He was not going to be locked in his room again as if he were a child. Locked away because she didn’t like who he was picking.

"Leave us," Tabitha ordered the guards. Here wasn’t her first pick to talk with him, but it would have to do because she was not ending the day without speaking to Tobias. He had disappointed her by not following what she asked by picking Helena.

The guards quickly left to be away from the prince and queen. No one wanted to be around when two royals were going to be at each other’s throats.

"I am your mother-"

"Since this selection started, I’ve been seeing you more as my queen. You’re losing your touch on how to be the queen in public and my mother in private. Do not ask me again to pick a woman because you like them. This is my marriage. Try to get in the way and we’ll be speaking less in the future. I’m spending the night out of the palace," Tobias said, starting to walk off as there was nothing more to discuss.

"You disappoint me," Tabitha said, shaking her head at her son who had changed since he returned from war.