The Duke's Masked Wife

"Thank you," Alessandra took the plate of food from Linda. 'We've only just met. I won't think too much about it until,' she decided to push the issue of Linda's smile to the side.

Whether it is due to the rumors about her face or something else, Linda would have to open up and say if there was something she disliked about Alessandra. Alessandra did not want to continue playing the guessing game when she was meant to be enjoying the palace.

"What would you like to drink, Alessandra? I prepared tea if you were to feel cold because of the weather but there are some nice juices that pair well with the cakes and pastry. Which do you prefer?" Hazel questioned, excited to have Alessandra try everything. She wanted Alessandra to enjoy the palace as much as possible so that she would keep wanting to visit.

"Hazel, she is not a child. Let her look around and pick around something herself," Linda chuckled.

"I am being a nice host, Linda. Do you feel like I am pestering you, Alessandra?" Hazel asked.

"Not at all. I want to try your favorites. If it is possible, I would like to invite you to my home for you to try what I enjoy," Alessandra replied, personally extending an invitation out to Hazel.

Hazel clapped her hands happily. "After all these years, I am finally receiving an invitation to Edgar's home."

"Edgar's not the type to like people in his home. Shouldn't you talk about this with him first?" Linda asked Alessandra. "You shouldn't get ahead of yourself and do what you please with his home."

"Hey," Hazel playfully tapped Linda's hand to stop her from ruining her invitation. "What on earth are you doing? Don't ruin this for me."

"Edgar won't mind. It's a house we share now that we're married and he's told me to do as I please. I will organize a day for you to visit," Alessandra quickly intervened.

"Thank you. Alessandra, please excuse us for a moment," Hazel stood up from her seat. "Come with me, Linda."

Hazel knew her friend well to know that in the short time they were all conversing something was wrong. Before it could ruin the day and make Alessandra feel uncomfortable, she was putting an end to it now.

Hazel walked Linda to a corner of her bedroom, far away so that Alessandra wouldn't hear them. "What is your problem, Linda? It's like there is some underlying animosity to my guest. What is it?"

"What are you talking about? There's nothing going on-'

"Linda," Hazel cut her off before she could lie. "We've been friends for a very long time. I know you better than you realize and there is something very wrong here. What is your issue with the Duchess? As far as I am concerned, the two of you never met for there to be a problem."

Linda found Hazel to be unbelievable at this moment. Shouldn't her best friend be on her side and immediately realize where the problem stemmed from? "Hazel, do you honestly not know why I am upset that you invited her here and did not mention a word of it to me?"

"Hello, that's why I am asking you what the problem is and I don't need to be sending you a message about who was invited to the palace."

"You don't have to but when it comes to Edgar's wife you should!" Linda exclaimed but then quickly realized her mistake as Alessandra turned to look in their direction. In a low tone, she asked, "Have you forgotten that I once used to like Edgar and now you're being friendly with his wife?"

Hazel could believe this because of a crush she thought vanished years ago after Edgar showed no interest. After Hazel became engaged to Tobias, she and Linda thought it would be wonderful if Linda could marry Tobias's best friend and they would all be close to each other. Edgar quickly rejected Linda and stated the fact he was no one's best friend.

Hazel pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "This is so childish. You have not mentioned that crush for such a long time and the man is freaking married. Edgar is close to Tobias and after meeting his wife, I like her. I can't help it. It's wonderful that I can be close to the wife of the man my husband trusts with his life. Excuse me for not once thinking about an old crush. You need to get over that right now because I will not stop getting to know Alessandra and as my friend, you should not get in the way."

If Alessandra had truly done something to Linda, there was no way Hazel could continue to try getting to know her as Linda was her good friend and Hazel had to put her feelings first. However, being upset that Edgar was now married and acting weird around his wife was completely childish. Alessandra had nothing to do with Linda's failed crush on Edgar.

"If you have to pretend you like being in her presence to sit at that table then you need to leave. I'm sure the Duchess has felt awkward judging by how she reacts when you speak to her. What are you going to do, Linda? Will you make a new friend with me or will you linger on the past while everyone else has moved on? There's no reason for you to be fake around her."

Linda bit her lip and glanced at where Alessandra sat eating the treats she picked out. "I suppose I was a little bit childish and I did intend to get under her skin at some point. I'm such an idiot. You're absolutely right."

"Luckily, you didn't do anything petty or lowdown to leave a sour taste in her mouth. The aura at the table was just weird. Come on my little lamb," Hazel pinched Linda's cheeks.

"I told you to stop calling me that. Do not make me pinch the queen and call her a ridiculous nickname. I do not want to be thrown in prison," Linda chuckled.

"Oh please. With a father as the commander and best friend being the queen, no one would dare throw you into prison. Come on, it's time for you to start over with Alessandra," Hazel pulled Linda back to where Alessandra sat all alone. "I hope we weren't gone for too long, Alessandra. Thank you for pouring us some juice," Hazel picked up a cup of juice placed in her spot and took a sip.

"You weren't gone for long. Is everything alright?" Alessandra asked. It was clear Hazel had also picked up on the awkwardness but Alessandra would continue to feign ignorance about it until the person behind the awkwardness addressed it.

"Everything is alright now. I'm sorry if I might have made you feel weird or maybe you did not feel anything at all. I was a little taken aback by your presence because I used to love your husband," Linda declared.

The juice Hazel was drinking seemed to have gone down the wrong way as she started coughing and sniffing after almost choking. 'I didn't mean to start over like this!' She internally screamed.