CHAPTER 177: TWIST (3)

"I hope to see Penelope soon. I enjoyed our last talk, and there is more I want to ask her. Perhaps it is time I see your home. I have heard of it from Alessandra. Leave us for a moment," Hazel said, sending away the maids following her.

"You are welcome to visit us any time. Your husband seems to be making arrangements for us to visit the palace once the court is done. I will return when all of them are tossed out of the palace," said Tyrion.

"Will that be after you kill them? You’ll have to act fast since another man is eyeing their necks for speaking about his wife and daughter. Don’t look so surprised," Hazel said,

Hazel added, "It has always been others who want men in the court to die. They’ve not just created a headache for our families, but for others. Once they are out of the palace, they won’t have any power. Anyone they offended over the years will go after them."

"This is not what I expected to speak about with my mother," said Tyrion.

Tyrion thought he was walking into a conversation where all they would speak about was Penelope.

"Well, we are speaking of an important matter. I know all that goes on in the palace, and I will not shy away from it. I know that you seek to kill some of those men, and I have had my fair issues to want to see them dead," Hazel replied.

Despite being the queen, Hazel knew that there were men both in and outside the court who didn’t care for her well-being, so why should she care if they were to die?

"Someone started a lie that one of my children might not belong to your father. It is foolish and worthy of them losing their tongue," said Hazel.

"How did men so ignorant find their way into the palace? In your marriage, I wouldn’t place you as the one to cheat-"

"Tyrion!" Hazel gasped, playfully tapping his arm. "I know your father had a reputation before me, but he has always been loyal. Your father has his flaws just as I have mine, but I can confidently say that he has never so much as glanced at anyone."

"Do I think he is a little too invested in Edgar’s life? Yes," Hazel chuckled. "I have grown to ignore it."

"I’m sure he has now placed you above the duke. He worships the ground you walk on so much so that he once tried to kiss it. A public execution of those who trouble our family would work well to silence a few people for a while," said Tyrion.

"It would make the townspeople fear us," Hazel replied.

"They should. We are royals. They should not speak to us so casually, which reminds me, there needs to be more punishments for anyone who speaks about the Callahans. Too many years have gone by for anyone to speak of them as savages," Tyrion said, thinking of Rue’s struggles.

"As far as I know, there are still punishments set for anyone who says such a thing. It could affect the truce we have with the border. I have become close to Annalise, but there is only so much she can take concerning her people. Who has said it? Was it reported?" Hazel asked.

"It wasn’t, but I will deal with it so no one is so bold as to talk down on anyone from the border again. We must make examples out of some people to silence others. We cannot have the town think we are going weak. What?" Tyrion asked, noticing his mother’s smile.

"We. It is good to hear you still consider yourself a royal. Part of me thought you would only concern yourself with matters of Penelope and what becomes of your new family," said Hazel.

"Is this your way of asking about children?" Tyrion replied.

"No. I have not thought about the two of you having children. I don’t want her to face the pressure that I faced. All I am saying is, it is good that you are still so concerned about us," Hazel said, holding Tyrion’s hand.

Hazel didn’t want to let go of Tyrion’s hands or any of her other children’s hands. Why did they need to grow up so fast?

"I will always be a Castro royal. Living outside the palace doesn’t change this. Since you miss me so much, I should steal you away from the palace for a day," Tyrion plotted.

"I would love that. I am yearning for a life where I am not the queen. Has your brother told you that there is someone he is smitten with? His bride will soon be announced. Is there trouble, Tyrion?" Hazel asked, worried when she noticed Tobias coming toward them.

Hazel could always read Tobias’s expressions to know that she should start worrying.

"Tobias, what is it? Is it another young woman?" Hazel questioned, hoping it wouldn’t be so.

Tobias stopped before his wife and son to pace back and forth. "No, it isn’t. It is something that boggles the minds of all of us. A young man was found dead, dressed in nothing but a mask to cover his face."

Hazel gasped.

"There were the same bruises as if he had been tortured, and I can’t find it in me to repeat what else might have been done before you. We had been seeking to protect young ladies, but now it extends to men," said Tobias.

It had felt in recent days that the town guards and members of the court were taking one step forward with this case, only for them to take two steps back with what was shared today.

"We were trying to follow what Simon did during his time, but this changes so much."

"Does it?" Tyrion inquired, thinking there was no need to panic. "Look into who the victim was. Was he in need of money recently? It’s what tied the others together. If he didn’t need money, then we would need to look for a new angle," Tyrion agreed.

Tyrion understood his father’s concern since this could be a murderer picking off anyone using other tactics than offering money, or they were picking up people at random. The latter was cause for concern since there was no telling where the next victim could come from.

"I’ll have the town guards look into it. I’m waiting for him to be identified. There aren’t many people who were reported missing, but the ones we are finding are people who aren’t on this list. What is becoming of Lockwood?" Tobias wondered.