The Duke's Masked Wife



"Alessandra!" Hazel's eyes lit up when she spotted the woman she had been missing dearly. When she heard the news from Tobias that Alessandra was also pregnant, she wanted to meet with Alessandra to congratulate her, but she was told by the palace doctor not to move around too much. She had to be extra careful not to lose the child she was finally blessed with.

"Queen Hazel," Alessandra curtsied, smiling along with Hazel.

"What was with that greeting? I told you to be normal when it is just us," Hazel said, hugging Alessandra. "Should we bump stomachs? Make the children acquainted with each other before they are out. They'll be good friends in the future I hope."

Hazel wanted the Castros and Collins to continue to be close to each other just as Edgar and Tobias were now. She wanted her child to have a friend they could trust like how Tobias could always lean on Edgar and all his other friends. Her children will need it to survive all the schemes in the palace.

"That is unless we move," said Edgar. He was seriously considering moving someplace where there weren't too many fools and using the home they had now whenever they wanted to visit Lockwood.

"I will not allow the two of you to move. You have land to look after, Edgar. And you," Hazel held Alessandra's hand. "Cannot abandon me. Friends like you and Linda are rare for me."

"I am not going anywhere at the moment. Edgar and I have not talked much about moving. Maybe taking more trips outside of town so the drama in Lockwood does not bother us so much. I will always be near," Alessandra promised. 

"Wonderful! What do you think the child in your stomach is? Are you hoping for a girl or boy?" Hazel asked, touching Alessandra's stomach. She enjoyed the fact there was someone she could share this journey with. Her sister already had a child, but they bickered over the smallest things, and Hazel had to use her power as Queen to shut her sister up. It would be different with Alessandra.

"Both at the same time," Edgar answered in place of Alessandra.

Alessandra sighed. When would Edgar give up? This was one of the many things out of their control. "Please ignore my husband. I have not thought of what I am hoping for. I've mostly thought about the pain."

"I hope it is not terrible of me to say this in case I have a daughter, but I am hoping for a prince. Go away, Edgar. I want to speak with your wife," Hazel said, shooing him away. "Go find Tobias. I don't know where he walked off to."

"I was also hoping your first child would be a prince so that pressure would be off your shoulder," said Alessandra. It wasn't only the men in the court who were restless, but also the people of the kingdom. 

"That is what I want. To give them the prince they desire so I do not have to worry about what my other children will be. Honestly, I hope I never have a princess. When it comes to marriage, it is not always easy for princesses to marry the man they want. I would never be able to sit back and watch my daughters have to marry for all kinds of reasons. If I do have a girl, I will have to fight tooth and nail to protect them. First from their grandmother," Hazel rolled her eyes. 

Though the former Queen liked her, Hazel didn't like many of the things told to her when she was picked to become Tobias's wife and the next Queen. For a woman once in her position, Hazel didn't find her to be understanding. At times it seemed that because the former Queen suffered, she thought Hazel needed to do the same, and did not offer much help.

"If it were possible, our two families should take a trip together, but it is not safe for me to leave right now. I thought of visiting my father and Tobias wanted to send the entire army with me. He's reached a new level of being protective after the Grant situation," said Hazel.

"Sorry I am late," Eleanor announced as she walked into the room behind a palace maid.

"What is happening here?" Hazel whispered to Alessandra, confused by the man standing beside Eleanor. After Eleanor had helped figure out why she was not having a child, she was welcomed to the palace many times. Hazel extended an invitation for Eleanor to bring a partner, but why was Reed next to her?

"A new couple has quickly formed. Eleanor has stolen my guard," Alessandra answered. 

"That is not true. I simply borrowed him for the day.  Everyone coming today will have a man beside them so I did not want to be alone, looking lonely," said Eleanor. 

"Right," Hazel replied, not believing Eleanor's words. She knew a new couple who'll be picking out a wedding date when she saw one.

"Congratulations on your child. The two of you are pregnant and as much as I care for both of you, please keep the whole getting pregnant to yourself. I do not need it in my life at the moment," Eleanor said, keeping a good distance from the two. Many of the young women who got married the last season were slowly announcing they were pregnant. 

"With a man like that by your side, I don't know how long you can stay away from it. It's hard to think about becoming pregnant when you're caught up in lust. Your neck dear. I can lend you a scarf," Hazel teased as she walked by Eleanor. 

Eleanor placed her hand on her neck to hide whatever was there. "What-"

"She's teasing you. There is nothing there," Alessandra said, saving Eleanor from panicking. "But why would you assume there is something there?" Alessandra eyed Reed. It wasn't that long ago that Eleanor decided to give in to Reed courting her. 

"Oh look! The king," Eleanor pointed to distract Alessandra. 

Tobias paused and smiled, enjoying Eleanor's excitement. "Glad to know my presence was missed. All of you should be more like Eleanor when I enter a room. Look who I managed to get to attend today," he stepped to the side to let in a rare face.

"More like you harassed me with letters days before, telling me to attend or you would assign me to another feud after I told you that I needed a break," Rafael glared at Tobias. Whenever he wanted to rest, Tobias would pester him with some task. 

"Now now. Don't get too upset. Today is meant for celebrating Hazel and me having a child. Plus meeting with friends we don't see often. Dominic and Heather should be here soon. Then there is Linda with her escort. Benjamin and all his children might be coming. Everyone is getting married just as I planned," Tobias credited himself.

Most of his friends said they were never going to settle. Now look at them. A woman they would go to war for in their arms.

"Uhmm," Tobias heard someone clear their throat.

Tobias looked beside Rafael at his little bride-to-be. "He is so tall that I didn't see you there. Welcome," he greeted Annalise.

Annalise curtsied before the king. "Thank you for the invite. I hope you can forgive what happened between us."

"You trying to kill me? Hardly, but if I want to keep my friendship with Rafael, I have to get over it. You are like Alessandra. Ruining all my plans," said Tobias.

Alessandra frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, my plans were for Edgar to marry Linda, but then you came along. That was quite upsetting. No offense, but it was just that I didn't like your father. I hadn't picked out a woman for Rafael yet since getting Edgar to marry took up so much of my time, but you weren't my choice. No offense, but I hated your father too," Tobias said to Annalise. There was bad blood between them.

"Tobias," Edgar and Rafael warned. 

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