The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 48: Punishment (2)

When Hazel exited the room, she wasn’t surprised to see Tobias outside, leaning on the wall. The way his eyes widened and he rushed to her was all she needed to know that he was here for her. What made him look so distressed? What was he expecting the queen to do that he looked so panicked?

"Why did she send Jasmine and keep you in there? Why do you look so sad?" Tobias asked, concerned about how all life seemed to have been sucked out of her.

"I am not sad. I am happy. Can’t you tell?" Hazel replied, forcing a smile. She didn’t know why she was trying to pretend like there wasn’t a lot on her mind now to not worry the prince. This had everything to do with her and nothing with him.

Tobias should have gone about his day and not been standing before her.

"Hazel, I am not a fool. What did she say? Better yet," Tobias said, walking around Hazel to hear it from his mother.

"No!" Hazel grabbed his hand to stop him from going inside. She let go of his arm after realising her mistake of grabbing royalty. "I’m sorry," she apologised for her mistake and because the guards outside the queen’s doors had stepped forward.

Hazel took a step back, scared because of how the guards eyed her. She had held onto Tobias without thinking. She didn’t want him to storm into the room to ask the queen about something which didn’t concern him especially when the queen gave her a message to pass on.

Tobias looked to his right at the guards who had frightened Hazel. They were only doing their jobs, but they could see that she wasn’t a threat. Only trying to stop him from going to his mother. "Then tell me what was said. Not here," he said, leading Hazel away from the door.

Tobias still had to speak to his mother when this was all said and done. He would keep it a secret from Hazel.

"The queen knows that I turned down your invitation to dance at the ball. Jasmine brought it up," Hazel revealed as they walked, causing Tobias to stop and look at her. "She said that it upset her, but she is only giving a punishment because Jasmine will tell the others. I admitted that it was true rather than lying and getting you wrapped up in a lie."

"Hazel," Tobias spoke softly. "What is the punishment?"

"It is only that I have to stay in my room while the others spend time with you today. I cannot leave my room or the punishment will be extended. You will need to find someone else you can be comfortable around for the day, but you are in luck. Maybe this punishment will make me regret not dancing with you. You should look forward to that," Hazel said, trying to be positive.

"Look forward to that? She gave you a punishment over nothing. My mother could have told Jasmine not to say a word because a dance not accepted is not a big issue as she might have made it. I’m sure you will be met with mockery by the other women and if it gets out you were made to stay in your room, even old men will talk. No one ever received such a punishment. There’s a-"

"Thank you for worrying about what will come from this, but it is my actions which led to this. I have no choice but to obey the queen. I will ignore whatever rumours will come from me being made to stay in my bedroom. My bedroom has a good view of the garden so it will not be so terrible to stay there. Prince Tobias," Hazel said, snapping her fingers because he just stared at her.

"You don’t have any idea of what will be said if this spreads around. When it does spread around because your peers will twist this to make you be in a bad light," Tobias said, wanting her to understand why this punishment had to go away.

If his mother felt forced to give a punishment, something lighter could have been done. One of the women missing from the group would cause a lot of gossip even if the reason was that they were sick. Hazel could have been made to join the others later but stayed at the back. Write something or simply apologise.

"I know. I’ve witnessed how gossip starts from nothing to destroy someone. This doesn’t worry me. However, your wanting to go to the queen is making me nervous. So, if you are my friend and wish that I am not worried, I ask that you do not go to the queen. Let this pass over peacefully. Sometimes creating a fuss fixes nothing," Hazel said, trusting that something else would happen to take everyone’s eyes from her.

"Besides, you will choose me again when I return so it will shut them up," Hazel added only to make him happy. "Or will you change your mind now that I might have a lot said about me?"

Tobias chuckled though he was angry. He couldn’t believe how Hazel was so calm about all of this, but what could he do when she was asking that he do nothing? "Fine. As your friend, I will do you a favour and give them something else to talk about."

Hazel frowned as this wasn’t what she wanted him to do. "You don’t-"

"If you don’t want me going to my mother, you can’t be against what other plans I have in mind. You won’t be missing out on anything while you are in your room so enjoy the view of the garden. I’d love to walk you back, but there is somewhere I must be. Follow the path back to your room and don’t wander off from it to be out of sight of guards," Tobias advised Hazel.

"Yes father," Hazel jokingly replied. She knew to stay where the guards could see her and be quick on her way to her room.

"It would have been better if you said yes Tobias. Since I am not going to my mother, you should make a deal with me," Tobias said, taking his opportunity to get something he wanted.

"Why do I have to make deals with you when this is my problem? I’ve allowed enough by letting you spark other gossip. Honestly, you’re going out of your way to help me. Do I have you falling for me already?" Hazel teased.

"Since when were you the joker between us?" Tobias asked, enjoying how playful she was at a time like this. Not only did she entertain him, but she wasn’t letting his mother get to her. Hazel will survive whatever her peers will say after she comes out of her room.

Tobias had to deal with Jasmine because not only did she share Hazel’s secret, but she had also shared his. He also thought about who would have been the one to let Jasmine catch wind of the dance when only a handful of people knew about it. He, Linda, Hazel, and Helena were the only people he could say knew about it.

If he had to take a good guess, he would say the annoying little sister might be the one to let it slip.

"I have my moments. What is it that you want?" Hazel asked, wanting to hear it first and then she would agree to it if it wasn’t something foolish.

"You must stick to addressing me as Tobias when we are alone and not let prince come from your lips. It’ll be our little secret that you can address me this way," Tobias said, placing a finger on his lips.

Hazel couldn’t believe he wanted this again. "It is hard to not address you as I was taught. I will always go back to saying prince. I shouldn’t get comfortable."

"Then, I will have no choice, but to punish you when you mess up. Luckily, I am different from my mother by having punishments we can enjoy together," Tobias replied.

"Goodbye," Hazel said, walking away.