The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 274: Calm before the storm (3)

"Once again, I am sorry. I didn’t mean for it to hit you so hard. Though you are the one to start it," Tobias threw in to take some of the blame from himself. "You hit me dead in my face and I said nothing."

"I didn’t throw it at you like you were the enemy. You threw it at me like you forgot I am your wife. At least I know now why you were successful in your fights. How fitting that I need ice for the wound," Hazel said, placing the snow Tobias wrapped up in a handkerchief on her arm.

"Still, it was fun. I might consider doing it again once this bruise stops hurting. This time, I will not go easy on you."

"I think we’ve had enough of fighting in snow," Tobias said, foreseeing them arguing should he throw another at her. "We can go back outside to build something after you eat. I wouldn’t have minded bringing Sofia along. She and my mother had a small disagreement."

This was news to Hazel as she thought Sofia and Tabitha were on good terms. "What happened?"

"Something about my mother favouring one child. Sofia is growing fast like you said. It’s time when she lets her feelings be heard and unfortunately for my parents, they don’t know how to take what she is saying. Next time, we’ll bring her along," said Tobias.

While this was meant to be a break for him and Hazel, Tobias worried for his sister. He didn’t have much time to spare for Sofia outside of when they sat to eat. He used more of his free time to be with Hazel and then a little to see how Sofia’s studies were going when she was inside the palace.

"I would like that. Bring her here to enjoy the last years of her youth. When she doesn’t need to worry about suitors. I like the snow. We should take a small trip out of the palace around this time each year. Just change it around a little so we are not attacked," Hazel said.

Tobias kissed her hand, hoping he was back in her good graces now. "Then I shall make it happen. Would you like me to get a fire started for you and to bring one of your books? You can have your moment alone. I will find something to do with my time."

"Very well. I will only read for an hour and then we can sit down to eat together. The guards must eat as well. They’ve been protecting us since we arrived. Don’t cause any trouble," Hazel said, kissing Tobias on his cheek after. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Hazel parted from Tobias to get the book she wanted while he moved to start a fire. The mansion was already warm enough to not need the fireplace, but since she had told Tobias of liking to read before a fire, he kept doing this.

While spending time with him was wonderful, Hazel looked forward to getting to start another book. This felt like before she was married and had no responsibilities. How she would stay in her bedroom without any disturbances so she could finish the book.

Hazel enjoyed that with each step she took here, there wasn’t someone to curtsy or bow before her. Someone addressed her as the queen every three steps. There were no eyes on her other than Tobias. No one is coming to complain about something.

This was truly peaceful.

Her day going so well started to worry Hazel as it might mean that something terrible was coming. Tobias seemed to have secret plans he was hesitant to share so when this trip was over she might learn of what was giving her a bad feeling now.

"Once we share what we have agreed to, we will have a month without too much chatter," Hazel said to herself.

There was going to be one month of silence as men all over the palace carefully picked which young lady of their family they were going to bring to let Hazel pick. With that done and settled, the men in court should have nothing more to request of her.

"What am I doing?" Hazel questioned herself, shaking her head to try to get rid of her thoughts. "I am not to think of the palace. I will only make myself sad. What book is the best distraction?"

Hazel returned to the bedroom and went to one of the trunks packed with her things. She looked at the number of things Tobias had Daisy and Julia prepare for her. Unless they were to attend a lot of parties while they were here, Hazel didn’t see why he had so many trunks packed for her.

Hazel had five while she only found two belonging to Tobias. She tried lifting all of her trunks and found them heavy so none were empty. "Did they panic and pack too much? They are too cute," Hazel smiled.

If she could, Hazel wanted to find small gifts for her maids. They worked so hard and even though they were already paid for it, Hazel tried to find ways to spoil them. An extra thank you for all the things outside the duty of their job that they did for her.

Hazel picked up the book Eleanor had suggested and made her way back to where Tobias should be working on a fire. However, Tobias was not inside the waiting room when she returned.

"Did he forget about the fire?" Hazel wondered. She could do without it but it wasn’t like Tobias to just forget it.

Hazel decided to leave it be and sit. Just as she walked by one of the windows, she spotted Tobias outside speaking to a guard. She worried that there might be trouble, but her fears went away when Tobias turned to her and smiled after the guard gave away her return. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she assumed that he was going to return to start the fire.

Hazel sat down to wait for him. Hopefully, it was nothing important and Tobias only went outside to tell the guards to eat soon.

"I’m sorry," Tobias apologised as soon as he returned. "I’ve arranged that tonight we will take a walk around outside. We would have to wear cloaks to hide our faces and we can not stay out long for safety reasons. I’m sorry you can’t walk around normally."

"It is fine. I prefer a short walk. Is it odd to think that this is going a little too well?" Hazel questioned.

"A bit. Do you want our trip to be ruined?" Tobias replied. He thought this would be perfect since they weren’t disturbed thus far.

Hazel shook her head. "No. I’ve just gotten used to life being too calm means trouble is close. I am probably overthinking now."