The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 266: As a mother (1)

"I was starting to think that you two forgot about us. I heard there was trouble in the palace today. Is that the reason you are late?" Jeffrey asked, watching as the couple took their seats.

Tobias led Hazel to her chair and pulled it out for her. "No one told you to come so early. We had something important to do."

"So important that when I arrived and sent for you, you were not to be found?" Jeffrey questioned. He knew what might have happened but didn’t mention it so Hazel wouldn’t be embarrassed.

"You are not the king so I do not come when you call," Tobias answered.

"I am still your father," Jeffrey reminded Tobias.

"What you need as my father doesn’t require much urgency. It was not urgent because you didn’t bring it up as soon as we came. Or was I wrong?" Tobias asked, looking at his father.

Having a father and son talk to catch up could wait until he was done with Hazel.

Jeffrey found that everything had stayed the same. "Since Hazel joined this family, it is her and then the rest of us have to fight for your attention. Would it hurt you to run to me when I finally return to the palace? Show that you miss us a little bit."

"I came to sit and have dinner with you. Doesn’t that show that I want to see you? I missed you," Tobias said to please his father. "You are quite needy tonight. Is mother not giving you any attention?"

"I don’t want to hear it in that tone. Of course, your mother has been showering me with love. She doesn’t have a son who causes trouble to look after these days. Her attention is only on me," Jeffrey announced.

Jeffrey was in a much better place in his marriage now that Tabitha wasn’t giving all her attention to Tobias. Sofia was the more obedient child and with her time to wed not for a few more years, he didn’t have to worry about Tabitha acting unusual anytime soon.

"I wouldn’t say he isn’t causing trouble," Tabitha said.

It wasn’t Tobias who was causing trouble but Hazel. There was much she had to do during this short visit.

Hazel shared a look with Tobias. "What trouble has he caused?" She asked.

"We overheard that no one could have an audience with him for the last few hours and then there are all the complaints that have reached us about there being no heir. I have put in a good word for you by saying we should wait-"

"Mother," Tobias warned as now was not the time to speak of this. It was worse that Sofia was present to listen. "Not now."

"It is fine. It is not something I haven’t heard," Hazel said, holding Tobias’s hand to calm him. "Go on."

Hazel knew that it would eventually come up from Tabitha. Tabitha wanted the best for Tobias so when Hazel wasn’t giving him an heir, Tabitha would be the protective mother who stepped in. Over three years had gone by so Hazel expected the lecture.

Hazel wanted to get it over with now so Tabitha wouldn’t bring it up again.

"I have stressed over and over again that the king must have an heir. Even a daughter would satisfy the kingdom right now," Tabitha added.

Sofia frowned as it came off to her that daughters weren’t worth much for the palace. She knew it as she was not so young that she didn’t know what was happening in the palace, but to hear from her mother that a daughter would work for now hurt her feelings.

Sofia had started to wonder if her mother’s lack of attention to her in recent years came from her not being a prince. While her parents were now free to spend time with her, most of her mother’s attention still went to what was happening in the palace with Tobias.

’Must I wait until my marriage to be important?’ Sofia wondered.

"We have been trying. It is not that I do not want to have a child right now. My body just will not allow it. I have done everything the doctors have suggested. I have tried my best to be careful of what I eat. I stay in the palace like I was told to do. What more is expected?" Hazel asked.

Hazel could understand all the questions if she was not making an effort. Their tone always came off as if they didn’t believe that she was trying. Having a baby was constantly on her mind. Not just to have an heir for the kingdom but to experience what it was to be a mother.

"I don’t enjoy it but it is time to consider bringing another woman-"

The sound of glass shattering stopped Tabitha from bringing up what the court wanted for years.

Hazel was horrified by the sight of Tobias’s bloody hand. She immediately took her napkin and dipped it in water. "Your hand."

"If you have come to the palace to speak of a child, then I ask that you leave. That is not why we have gathered here for dinner. How dare you sit here and tell her to welcome another woman into her marriage when you wouldn’t like it?" Tobias questioned, speaking low as he tried not to raise his voice.

His mother wasn’t like she claimed when she said that should his father want to take another woman, she would be silent since she had no right to argue. Tobias knew his mother well. He could not sit quietly and let her push something on Hazel that she would not have done.

"I would have done as I was instructed," Tabitha replied. "This isn’t about me right now."

"So stay out of it and keep your opinion to yourself. We are trying as Hazel said and I have been dealing with more to this matter," Tobias revealed.

Hazel looked up from Tobias’s hand she was trying to clean up. What did he mean by more to the matter? Did he think that there was another reason she wasn’t pregnant?

It had crossed Hazel’s mind once before but there was nothing suspicious about anyone that she could use to find out who might stop her from having a child. Her circle was quite small with the servants who cared for her. She had sent away who didn’t seem to care for her but the issue continued.

What had Tobias found that she didn’t?

"Yet it isn’t enough since we are still here without an heir to announce," Tabitha continued.