The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 99: Advice (2)

"Hazel, when you return to the palace you must come right to me because I need to have an important talk with you. One about being a queen, wife, and mother. It is important that you come listen to what I have to say as it will help you," said Tabitha.

Hazel needed the same conversation that she was not to seek out Tobias for all of her troubles. Before the wedding, Hazel should understand that Tobias was not her husband alone and she was sharing him with the kingdom.

Only when Hazel understood that would she be able to put up with the marriage she was getting herself into.

At this point, Tabitha didn’t think she had to worry about Hazel not following her words because she didn’t see yet that Hazel truly loved her son. Hazel seemed to be following her duty and since Tobias liked her, she knew to accept the proposal.

Tabitha had yet to understand who Hazel was because she had not seen much of Hazel’s personality with her own eyes.

Hazel was a fine lady, but the idea that she might have let Tobias touch her still lingered at the back of Tabitha’s mind. You could not put anything past someone when they entered the palace. Many with innocent faces had pulled some of the most foul tricks.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Will my lessons to be queen start as soon as I return?" Hazel asked.

"Yes, they must so we can ensure that you are perfect. You have shown to be smart but there is much for you to learn. Should it be too much on you and you wish to leave, there is no shame in speaking up to say so," Tabitha said, leading Hazel back up to the thrones.

Hazel didn’t believe that because running away from this engagement would bring shame to her and her family. There wouldn’t be any peace afterwards as the town would not let her forget running away and it might be hard for her to marry even with her family name.

Again, if the queen or whoever was teaching her could remember that this was all new to her and go a bit easy on her, Hazel would succeed. She was always a quick learner so she didn’t fear not doing well. The only way she could see herself stumbling was if someone was purposely trying to trip her up.

"Do you love my son or is it the thought of becoming queen that you love?" Tabitha questioned when they returned to standing before the thrones.

There wasn’t anyone to listen to their conversation or eavesdrop on it. "Forgive me. I am still trying to understand since you are not the usual woman I hear my son spending his time with. It is something good. That boy needed to grow up."

’The usual woman?’ Hazel thought.

Tobias had a type and the woman he was planning to marry did not fit it?

Hazel turned to the crowd, something she found to be more pleasant to do than look at the queen. On such a day she did not want to hear about Tobias and any woman he had in the past. Even if it was a compliment of how much better she was than the others.

"My feelings are toward the prince. Not the throne as the throne cannot love me. Did you have the same thought before?" Hazel asked.

"Of what?" Tabitha replied, not understanding what asking her.

"That among the other women the king once spent time with, you were the best though you weren’t like the others?" Hazel questioned, making it more clear this time.

Tabitha couldn’t believe the question Hazel would ask her. "My husband did not have women before me and that is not something you should be asking me. I am the queen and soon to be your mother-in-law. You should bite your tongue on certain things you wish to know."

"Forgive me. I shouldn’t have brought up other women on a day like today. I just got engaged after all. I’m sorry," Hazel apologised though she didn’t mean it. It was ridiculous that she could be questioned about many things but she could not return the questioning.

Respecting those older than you or with titles was sometimes insufferable.

Tabitha felt some hostility from Hazel. "Do you not like that I brought up my son’s other women before? It is well known that the boy was a flirt. I was merely saying that you stand out. That attitude of yours will be a problem in the future."

"I do not have an attitude, Your Majesty. It was a question in the spur of the moment. You asked it so calmly so I thought it was fair for me to also ask. Forgive me, I didn’t know it was rude to ask," Hazel said.

"There it is again," Tabitha said, put off by the attitude.

Hazel built up the courage to ask, "Do you not like me, Your Majesty? I don’t recall ever doing something to you."

I have felt time and time again that you do not wish for me to be near your son and I do not know why. I have been looking forward to your help because I respect you, but I don’t think you care for me. If you do not want me as the next queen, please say something," Hazel pleaded because she would not be able to put up with the queen’s hidden dislike for her.

"I do not dislike you. What on earth made you think such a thing? I like you, but my two issues are the attitude you have and the fact you never seem to want to be here. There were other girls with more fire to become the queen. I saw it when I looked in their eyes, but you were always just standing there," said Tabitha.

"I apologise for my earlier comment. I was trying to understand why you were picked and compliment you for being different but it was poorly done. Please forgive me for that one. I was surprised by your questioning and didn’t see how wrong my words were," Tabitha said, seeing the mistake she made now.

"Hazel, this is not a place for you to do any fighting. Perhaps with the women you will need to invite to the palace, but that is the only time you shall fight with your words. You cannot be so quick to return what you think is an insult to those in a higher position than you. Having an attitude will make many dislike you."

Hazel didn’t think she had an attitude she could not control. It was just in the moment that she felt like an attack was coming from the queen so she defended herself and threw back the attack. She was normally reserved like her parents raised her to be.

"You asked for my advice and I have already told you that I will turn you into a queen of my liking. I see that there is a lot of work to do. It will come off as harsh, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like you," Tabitha continued, turning to Hazel.

She had come to like Hazel for Tobias. It would be hard to control Hazel at first so that she could in turn keep Tobias in order, but it would happen in the end as she was the only person Hazel could turn to. No one understood what it meant to be queen other than Tabitha. Who else would Hazel turn to?

"For the selection, I had to be hard on everyone to make you work harder. Now you will get to see the woman that I am since we’ll be spending a lot of time together. I hope that you see me in a better light then."

Hazel hoped for the same that this tough side of the queen would go away soon and she would be able to understand her. It wasn’t good for Tobias if they were to never grow closer.