Hazel knew that it was coming for Tobias to call her name. Of course, he would do this to have them spend time together so he could get back at her for not dancing with him. How much had she hurt his feelings that he needed to do this?
She would rather he picked her because he genuinely wanted to spend time with her. Not because he wanted to get back at her for turning him down.
Hazel smiled despite the fact she wasn't thrilled to be his second pick. "I look forward to spending time with the prince," she said.
Tabitha unknowingly shared Hazel's displeasure in her getting picked right now. She couldn't understand why Tobias would go for the sister he hadn't danced with. Was it because he spent time around Hazel as a child? Was he interested in finding out what had changed about her since they had not seen each other until recently?
Tabitha wasn't happy that they weren't thinking the same, but she smiled, pretending to be happy with his pick. "Wonderful. I will arrange for some maids to follow the three of you on a walk and you are not disturbed. Hazel and Linda, you are to make the most of this because it is not guaranteed you will be picked again. First conversations are important," she said.
Tabitha looked away from the two young women to the rest of the young ladies at the table. Some masked their jealousy with a smile while others couldn't do well with hiding it. Particularly the young Helena. It had to be a big shock that her sister who did not dance with the prince was picked before her.
There was nothing Tabitha could do now but wait to influence Tobias's decision for the next time he was to spend time with a young woman again. Now that Tobias picked who he wanted to be alone with, it was time for her to leave. She would see the women soon. Those who weren't picked could sit around to enjoy the treats in the garden.
"I must take my leave now. I will have the maids call upon all of you when it is time for us to meet again. Please enjoy the treats at the table and get to know each other. There will be one queen, but that queen will need women around her. I advise you to build friendships because you will need each other one day. Excuse me," Tabitha said, getting up from her seat.
Two of the queen's four maids rushed to follow her out of the garden while the other two remained to walk with the prince and the women he picked.
With the queen gone, everyone relaxed a little but they were still concerned about the prince.
"Prince Tobias, I've been hearing of your time out killing bandits who have been disturbing travelling merchants. I'm told you rode ahead to slaughter them alone," Jasmine said, using this time to get his attention so she would be picked next.
Unlike many of the women present who had no interest in hearing about war, Jasmine took it upon herself to listen to every story about the prince so she had something to talk about. He must love to have others compliment him.
"I wasn't there alone. My friends were ahead of me while the guards tried everything in their power to keep me from having to fight the enemy," Tobias answered.
His friends, Rafael Callahan and Edgar had more fun since there was no one blocking their path. Thanks to Jasmine, he was reminded of how boring the battlefield could be sometimes. He liked it when he could join the fight. Though it was boring sometimes, Tobias liked that he was away from the palace walls.
Jasmine wasn't ready to give up as she had much to talk about. "When you are king, I am certain you will be the one to end our biggest war. Those nasty barbarians at the border."
Helena glanced at Jasmine, wondering when she was going to shut up. She was so focused on figuring out why Hazel and Linda were picked first that she could not jump in to take the attention from Jasmine.
"Perhaps. I don't want to talk about war right now. All of you don't need to sit here with me. You are free to roam the garden to explore it. I've heard that it is popular. Go on," Tobias said, urging them to leave.
He was ready to leave with Hazel and Linda, but first, there was something he needed to do to get rid of the eyes his mother left behind.
Her maids.
He didn't need them repeating whatever he would talk about with Hazel or Linda.
"I will be back shortly for us to spend time alone," he said as he stood up.
After Tobias was far away from the table, Hazel stood up first to leave so she wouldn't have to listen to what the others had to say. She didn't care if they were upset or curious about why she was picked. What she wanted was a moment alone to calm her anger from Tobias toying with her.
They weren't on good terms for him to want to spend time with her first along with Linda.
Linda stood up to join Hazel on a walk to get away from the eyes of jealous women who wanted to be in her spot. If only they knew that it wasn't the prince's attention she wanted.
Before Linda reached Hazel, she was startled by Helena passing by her to get to Hazel first.
"Hazel!" Helena called out to her sister.
"Not now, Helena. Now is not the time for whatever questions you have when they are watching us. Waiting to see if we will argue," Hazel said, slowing down to enjoy the flowers in the garden.
Helena looked over her shoulder at the other women watching them. Some began to get out of their seats since it was boring to just sit around while others remained seated. She followed Hazel until they were a good distance from the table and the queen's maids.
"I do not understand how I was not picked first. The prince danced with me at the ball. Is there more that you didn't tell us when you spoke to the prince last night? Have you not been truthful about your relationship with him?" Helena asked.
It didn't make sense no matter what way she thought about it.
"This is the prince having fun with me for turning him down. It is nothing to get upset over. You've always wanted to see the palace garden up close. Forget about the prince and walk with me," Hazel said, more interested in the pretty flowers than the foolish prince.
"If you don't like that he picked you just to mess with you, you should speak up to let him pick someone else," Helena said, hoping Hazel would take her advice. She wanted to be happy for Hazel, but she couldn't help the feeling filling her body now.
Helena would not have minded if it was she and Hazel picked together. At least she would have been among the first pick. She couldn't get Linda to change her mind, but maybe her sister who would do anything for her would.
Hazel sighed and stopped walking. She turned to Helena who was stopping her from getting rid of her anger. "And why would I do that? It is still a competition and as the queen said, I must make the most of this time. You need to get out of the clouds and realise you are not the only lady here. You won't be picked when you want to."