Tobias sighed as he neared his room and found guards outside. It had to be either his mother or father. He was willing to put his crown on the line that it was his mother because he had not followed what she wanted by speaking with Linda or picking who she had in mind.
After walking around with Hazel, he wanted to end the day on a good note since he had surprisingly enjoyed himself. He was looking forward to teasing Hazel, but once they decided to start over, he enjoyed his time with her.
Tobias stopped in front of his bedroom door and stared at it, contemplating if he wanted to go inside to speak with his mother or find another room to spend his time in. After giving it some thought, Tobias decided to enter to see what his mother had an issue with.
"I can open it myself," Tobias said, stopping the guards when they started to reach for the doorknob to open it for him. "Make sure no one disturbs us."
Tobias opened the door himself and entered the room. It was quite spacious so he didn't see his mother right away when he stepped inside. Tobias closed the door and locked it first before walking further inside to look for his mother.
"You spent your good time not following what I instructed you to do," said Tabitha.
She sat at the table in Tobias's room drinking tea she had prepared to pass the time while waiting for Tobias to come to his room.
"I said you were to spend time with both young ladies, but you somehow managed to only spend time with Hazel. A young woman you were not to pick first. It is her sister-"
"I told you that I wasn't going to follow how you wanted to do this selection. I am not going to play into how you want to have a favourite and make them shine all the way through the selection so you could make the other women jealous. This selection is for me to pick a wife," said Tobias.
"A wife of my choosing. Do you truly think I would sit back and allow you to pick just anyone to take my seat?" Tabitha asked, refraining from raising her voice.
"You were the one to choose the women I have to pick from. If they are not worthy of taking your seat, why did you bring them here? Always putting on appearances," Tobias said under his breath. "Why didn't you just pick the woman you wanted instead of going through this selection?"
"I am following tradition. A tradition everyone else has followed. I also took part in the selection and had to watch the queen have a favourite. There is a way to do this and you are not listening to me. I am helping you make a decision that will benefit the kingdom and you in the future," Tabitha said, standing up to walk over to where Tobias stood.
"I don't need anyone to pick a wife for me. I can make the decision on my own," Tobias said, moving back to put some space between him and his mother.
"I cannot allow you to do that after all the terrible decisions you have made. Spending nights with women not worth your time. How do I know you will not pick a wife because you wish to sleep with her as opposed to one who will help you rule this kingdom?" Tabitha asked.
She disliked his relationships with women and she was still not happy that it took so long for him to return to the palace to start preparing to wed and for the time when he would be named king.
"I love you so much, Tobias. If only you would tell me what is happening with you these days. Is there something that I have done to you?" Tabitha inquired, taking small steps toward him. "Why did we need to have someone bring you back to the palace when you knew there was so much for you to do here."
Tobias stayed silent as he wasn't ready to bring up the fact he didn't want to be king to his mother again. It would only end with her telling them that because of his blood, he had to accept his fate to become king. He knew his mother was trying to help him but she didn't understand him enough.
If she did, she would know how much he hated feeling like he was in a pretty bird cage and now with this selection, he had to pick someone to sit beside him in that cage.
Since he could not escape his future role as king, what he wanted to do was pick a wife of his choice to make life easier in the palace. Life as king would just be more hell than it already was if he didn't have someone who would listen to him or love him.
"You have done nothing," Tobias answered.
"Then I do not see why you are against working with me. I have diligently prepared how this selection will go and as your mother, I know which young lady will make a good queen and wife for you," Tabitha said, placing her right hand on his shoulder. She was able to do this since Tobias did not move this time.
Tobias smiled, not because he was grateful for what his mother was doing for him, but because like always she placed queen before wife. Just as she placed the queen before mother. He loved his mother but as he got older, she was less like a mother.
Even in private moments like this, he didn't feel like he was standing with his mother. At some point, the kingdom and his duties would come up then she wondered why he preferred to be on the battlefield.
He would give up anything to go back to the time when she was his mother and there would be laughter filling the room.
"I need you to make up for lost time by picking Helena and Linda tomorrow. Those are the two I like most for you," said Tabitha.
She already made up her mind that of the two Wallace sisters, the younger one was best. There was something about Helena that reminded her of herself. Hazel was a refined lady, but it might be hard to control that one in the future.
"I already told you that I will be picking my wife. Dancing with Helena was a mistake," Tobias said, stepping away from his mother to stop her from straightening out his clothes. "Change your plans because I won't be picking her again."
"She is all everyone is talking about and she carries herself as I expect of the future queen. What she lacks, I can fix. Do not tell me that you have already fallen for her sister. You are yet to see it but the younger one will outshine the older. I witnessed it today," Tabitha said, needing him to change his mind so her plans would all fall in place.
"I witnessed something today to know that you are wrong. I've enjoyed my time with Hazel more than Helena. Move on, mother. It is not up for debate. I want to rest now before having to continue seeing those women," Tobias said, starting to unbutton his shirt.
"Pick the older one again and I will-"
"You will do what, mother?" Tobias asked, turning to his mother. Her presence here already dampened his mood and now she wished to do something to Hazel.
She couldn't. Not when he had just enjoyed his day.
Tabitha flinched, surprised by the way her son looked at her.