The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 269: Decision (2)

"You’ve been smiling since we got into the carriage. Have you forgotten what outside of the palace is like?" Tobias questioned, enjoying the view across from him.

"What outside the palace looks like is not something I will forget. It is a beautiful day with all the snow. This is better than the walk I suggested that we take. I am surprised there wasn’t any noise," Hazel said as she had anticipated that there would be a few men to try to stop them. "Does the court know where we are going?"

"I’ve entrusted our location to one of them. Kenneth knows where we are going as well as Liam and Edgar. They will come to us should we be needed, but I’ve instructed them that it is only for important matters," Tobias replied.

"Though Liam is in the palace, I haven’t seen much of him. Every day I look forward to him bringing news about what has been happening to the maids. I want the answer soon. Maybe when we return, we might finally have the answer we seek," said Hazel.

With that answer, she might find out what happened to Lynn.

"Don’t think about the palace right now," Tobias advised Hazel. The only thing on his mind now was Hazel.

Hazel found his request to be hard. Already her excitement was being replaced with worry. Was it all right for them to be leaving the palace? Wouldn’t Tobias have more work to do when he returned? More importantly, Hazel couldn’t stop thinking about whether being away from the palace might give her the peace she needed to have a child.

"I know that it is still on your mind. You can read a book if you like. You said that you got a new one you were eager to read," Tobias said, opening the small bag that contained two books.

"It is a gift from Eleanor. Books she thought that I would enjoy. If I read, you will have nothing to do and I want to continue looking out the window. I’ll save those books for later unless you want to read them. What?" Hazel laughed as Tobias shook his head.

"I don’t want to read your dirty books. You’ve found another friend with the same dirty interest as you. Why turn to books when you have me? I can do whatever you are interested in. We have days to ourselves for me to show you," Tobias proposed.

"I might read books that I can’t leave around but you have a dirty mind as well. Did you take me out of the palace so we can fool around all day?" Hazel questioned, having a feeling that was all he planned.

"I brought you here because you needed the time away but if that is what you want to do, I would gladly join you. Do not shake your head as though you wouldn’t like it. It is not a trip to see your sister but I hope for you to enjoy it," Tobias said.

He couldn’t take Hazel so far out of town just yet. She had to be near the people he trusted to protect her.

"I love us just being together. You’ve done well with planning this. I should be the one planning something grand since your birthday is coming. I might need to plan another trip. I will need to- Nothing," Hazel stopped herself.

She almost said that she had to make up for upsetting him.

"Is that the mansion that we will be using? How many homes must Edgar have?" Hazel asked, distracting Tobias from her mishap. "No wonder it is always so hard to find him."

Hazel played with her fingers, trying to distract herself as well because she started to have negative thoughts of them being here like they were to return to the palace as they had no time to enjoy themselves.

"It is one that he rents out. I don’t recall him ever staying here. Hazel," Tobias called, reaching forward to hold her hand. "Relax."

"Please believe that I am trying," Hazel softly spoke. She wouldn’t be able to relax until she told Tobias of her decision. "I can hardly wait to see the inside. It would have been nice to take a couple’s trip."

"We can do that next time. I will help her out," Tobias said, stopping the guard who opened the door. "I’ve been here once before so I can show you to our room. This is where I hid once before to get out of my duties as the prince."

"And your parents never found out?"

"How could they? It was a well-kept secret between me, Edgar, and Rafael. The benefit of having a wealthy friend. When you want to get away from the palace, you can come here. It is better than the homes owned by the palace. More privacy for us. Let me show you the room," Tobias said as he helped Hazel out of the carriage.

Once it settled that they were far away from the palace, Tobias believed that she would be able to enjoy where they were now. If she didn’t, Tobias didn’t know what else to do.

The few servants who looked after the home in the duke’s absence greeted Hazel and Tobias as they entered. The servants would leave shortly as they were told to leave the couple alone.

Hazel relaxed a little since it was even more apparent that they were no longer in the palace once she saw the inside.

There were no portraits of royals and art she could not understand. No men from the court walking by her or women looking to steal her husband.

Tobias took her upstairs and pushed open the door of their bedroom, turning around to get her reaction to it. Unfortunately, Hazel wasn’t as happy as he wanted her to be yet. Her changing moods these days made it hard for him to please her.

"Comfortable? There is no one here but us. We only need to send a guard for a maid when we need one. You’re too quiet Hazel." Tobias needed her to say something so he knew what she felt. "Do you want to go home?"

Since they stepped inside, she was too silent for his liking. It could be that she was just enjoying looking around but he wanted to hear her speak.

"No, I am excited. I am still in disbelief that you managed to get us out of the palace," Hazel said, amazed that they were away from the palace. She pinched her hand to be certain this wasn’t a long dream.

It had happened before when she had dreams that they were not in the palace only to be woken up by the maids getting her ready for a new day. The pinch hurt so it was real that she was standing there.