The Duke's Masked Wife



"Are they thinking of letting her keep her title?" Edgar asked.

"It was brought up. I am not for it, of course," Tobias answered. Many would call him biased since Edgar was his good friend, but he didn't see why Kate should hold her title after the things he was hearing she had done. 

Many were forgetting that she wanted to plot to have her sister taken by Simon. Kate was spilling the truth about all the horrible things done to Alessandra. Tobias didn't see why Kate wanted to hold onto the title. She was already entitled to what Simon owned, so she could drop his name, the title he gave her, and move on if the court would not punish her.

'That settles it. I will just kill her," Edgar decided. 

"You will not kill anyone. If the court doesn't want to punish Kate, even if it is just taking away her title, we will not hand over Katrina, James, or Randall. I am in need of food, and I don't want to spend my day thinking about Kate. Please move on," Alessandra said in a firm tone. 

It was bad enough that she was losing Edgar during the night and morning as he became so busy taunting Katrina. She did not wish to spend this time talking about Kate any further when it seemed like nothing was coming out of Kate's confession. Alessandra preferred the days when she didn't think about Kate or Katrina. 

Until what happened with Simon, Alessandra had forgotten that Kate existed. Life was peaceful, and regardless of what decision was made about Kate, life would continue to be peaceful.

"The men are just ruining this special day for us. Tobias, take your friends and go somewhere else to enjoy a chat and do whatever makes you happy while I speak to the women. I have not seen them for long, so I want a moment alone to catch up," Hazel said, motioning with her hand for them to hurry up and leave. "I'll let the others know when they arrive. We can meet with each other in an hour."

"You mean you want an hour alone to talk about us behind our backs? I know you, Hazel. You've been itching to gossip.  Only an hour, and then we will be back. There's a special gift I have for Edgar, so this works out. Come along, men," Tobias said, kissing Hazel on the cheek before leading the men out.

"Be careful," Edgar said to Alessandra.

"I will be sitting in this room, Edgar. How much more careful could I get? Try not to kill anyone while you are away. And by anyone, I mean Tobias. You mustn't hurt the king," Alessandra reminded Edgar. 

Arguing was Edgar and Tobias's way of getting along, but Tobias didn't seem to realise how much Edgar hated talking about their children marrying, and Edgar was so easily annoyed that he would strangle Tobias and not realise what he had done until there would be guards running all around.

"No promises. He needs a few wounds once in a while."

Edgar kissed Alessandra goodbye and then reluctantly followed behind Tobias with Reed and Rafael. Just like Alessandra had not met with her friends in a while, he had not seen his. It was easier for them to visit each other when they were all still bachelors, aside from Reed, who saw Edgar every day.

"It feels like yesterday Edgar sneaked off from school, kidnapping you and bringing you here to meet me," Tobias looked at Rafael. 

Tobias was bored in the palace, and somehow, Edgar, who was supposed to be away at school, showed up with Rafael. That ended with Rafael's mother almost flipping the kingdom upside down when she was told he was missing, while Priscilla didn't bat an eye since it was common for Edgar to run away from school.

"I met Reed and Caleb because of their parents, and for some reason, you two decided to pledge your loyalty to Edgar instead of me. It wasn't that long ago that we were watching the young ladies who wanted to become my wife fill the palace. Me judging them. Rafael and Edgar not caring while hiding in the dark to avoid your names coming up in conversations about marriage," said Tobias.

Edgar remembered the long, boring night. "Did you ever tell Hazel how many of those women you fooled around with-"

"Do you want to tell Alessandra that you somehow got a candidate for my wife to visit the gardens with you where you had a bit of fun?" Tobias counterattacked. There were many good memories in the past, but then there was a handful that should be buried and not revealed to their wives. 

Reed smiled, but unfortunately for him, it did not go unnoticed. 

"What are you smiling about? I remember the trouble you caused your mother with the palace maids. You were banned at one point, weren't you? The three of you were promiscuous in your youth. Luckily, it has stopped now. I hope," Rafael added as he wasn't sure what was happening in their marriages now.

"Now that I am older, I regret a few of those moments in my youth. Hazel has only been with me and with the number of women that I entertained in the past-"

"I don't think I can count them on one hand," Edgar said, trying to count Tobias's past relationships in his head.

"Are you sure you are healthy?" Rafael commented as with the number of women Tobias entertained, there was bound to be something wrong with him.

"What the fuck is wrong with the two of you? To think I planned something nice and you two are bringing up the past," said Tobias.

"You were the one to bring up memories, your highness," Reed reminded Tobias. For once, he wouldn't mind going to do his job guarding Alessandra so he wouldn't have to be a part of this conversation, and he would be near Eleanor now.

"I don't want to hear from you, Reed. I should have left you and Rafael behind. My gift is for Edgar since, besides me, there will be someone calling him father in a few months. Father," Tobias frowned as he repeated the word. "I am starting to feel old now," he muttered. "We need to enjoy our youth, Edgar."

"I will still be a young Duke with children. I see no need for you to get sentimental, and if you are about to cry, I will go back to be with my wife. I can only handle one person crying in a day," said Edgar.

"We are here," Tobias said, waiting for the guards to open the door of the room where Edgar's gift was. "After all these years, I kept them for this moment," he said, walking into the room filled with his old toys. From wooden horses to balls, he used to throw around and break windows with.

Edgar was pleasantly surprised to see so many toys from his time visiting the palace to play with Tobias. Coming to the palace to play with Tobias was a great escape from his parent's marriage and when he had left school. "How are they all still in good condition?" He asked as he walked around the room.

"I had them taken care of to regain their glory. We've all shared so many memories as children in the palace. I'm glad to see that we stand here as men, still strong as ever. The young prince grew to be a king. The boys who played with wooden sticks became a knight and a guard. And you," Tobias looked at Edgar. "You've made a good Duke. Soon, a good father."

"As will you," Edgar patted Tobias's back. There was no denying that Tobias would make a good father. 

Tobias appreciated the kind words. "As boys, we promised to stick together when we would become great men. I hope that as the years go by, I will look and see all of you still by my side."

"We have no choice. You keep abusing your power as king and making us come to the palace," Edgar said, but even if Tobias wasn't calling for him as king, he would still make his way to the palace to see his friend. "As long as you never speak of our children getting married to each other, I will always be here," he promised. 

Rafael folded his arms. "As a king's knight, I have no choice but to be by your side."

'I don't want to be here,' Reed thought. He didn't have memories of playing with the toys in the room. It was Caleb who would listen to their mother and play with the prince while he found a tree with enough shade to sleep under. 

Edgar suddenly had a brilliant idea that would make them feel like they were back in their youth. "For old time's sake, how about trying to hoist Tobias out the window and shake him?" 

It would always end with more than one of them almost falling out of the window and then the entire group being scolded.