The Duke's Masked Wife

"Duchess, I have been trying to hold it in but I can't anymore. Where is your mask?" Eleanor asked as she reached the limit of holding back her curiosity. "Do you only wear it at gatherings?"

"Oh," Alessandra touched her face only now realizing she was without it in front of Eleanor and Linda. She was already so comfortable with not having it on at home that she did not pay attention to putting it on around unexpected guests. "I started to not wear it at home."

"I see. You look beautiful without it," Eleanor gave her a thumbs up.

"Thank you. Eleanor, are you sure you can fix what happened to Hazel?" Alessandra asked.

"Yes," Eleanor nodded her head. "The red light district is where these herbs float around the most so there is a lot of knowledge about them there. The women must take it regularly to avoid becoming pregnant because the effects wear off if they do not keep up with drinking it. Someone at my father's business got pregnant because she secretly stopped taking it. The medicine helps to fully get it out of your body or something."

"There are some which have long-lasting effects but I have never heard of it being in this kingdom. The red light district owners would have been the main ones to get their hands on it to guarantee their workers don't become pregnant. A lot of dangerous people set up markets in the red light district and that must be where her grandfather got the herbs.  I doubt the queen was giving one to last forever because her maid seemed to keep feeding it to her constantly," said Hazel.

Alessandra released a sigh of relief. "So you would be able to get your hands on the medicine quickly?" She asked.

"Yes, I only need to ask my father but I hear the palace has the best doctors. Will they really need my help?" Hazel wondered.

Alessandra knew they would because they could not trust too many people in the palace at the moment.

"Alessandra, I only hear you mentioning what is happening with Hazel but what about yourself? Aren't you worried that you have drunk the tea with something in it?" Eleanor asked as they were so fixated on Hazel that no one really asked Alessandra how she was feeling.

"I am worried about it but Hazel has consumed more of it than I might have. I don't remember finishing all of the tea and as you said, you must be given the herbs frequently or it will wear off. I like to believe that I am fine so I am more worried about Hazel. There is more pressure on her to have a child than there is for me so I worry about what is going through her head," Alessandra replied, looking at Hazel still seated by the window.

Alessandra wouldn't be surprised if Hazel no longer wanted to be queen and stepped down to live a normal life. Palace life seemed to be taking a toll on Hazel.

"If I were in her position, I would be thinking about the people I think crossed me in the past. I would start planning the ways I would punish them right now. I feel bad to just sit here and watch her sit far from her friend," Eleanor pointed at Linda who had not left. "I hate when the actions of men ruin friendships among women. In this town, it is not easy to find women you can trust. I hope they can move past this. We need something to get everyone's mind off this."

"Like what? I don't know what would make Hazel take her mind off Julia and Grant. It must not be something to annoy her," said Alessandra. She wouldn't want to hear ridiculous ideas to have fun in a moment like this.

"She needs to take her anger out on something. Do you have anything around here she can destroy?" Eleanor suggested.

Alessandra thought about it for a moment and then came up with something she had in one of her rooms Hazel would be able to destroy easily. "I do. Hazel," Alessandra stood up and Eleanor stood up behind her. "Do you mind leaving this room to go somewhere with me? I know it will be hard since you have much to think about but we would like to kind of distract you and help you release your anger. You don't have to-"

"Let's go," Hazel quickly stood up. The more she thought about everything the more negative her thoughts became. She didn't want to think about it anymore until she saw Tobias again.

Linda slowly stood up as she was not sure if she was also invited to tag along on what they were going to do but until Hazel sent her away, she would stay.

Alessandra led the three women to a nearby room that was assigned for her to paint in. Edgar had bought her many canvases that she would not be able to use anytime soon so she did not mind if Hazel destroyed a few to release her anger.

"You certainly love to paint. What is this?" Eleanor pointed to one of the paintings hung up in the room.

Alessandra looked at the painting Edgar had done when they painted together and said, "I am still trying to figure it out. Edgar painted it. The others were made by me and the big ones will be going downstairs on the walls," she said as she cleared a space for them to break a few of the canvas. "I have more canvas in another room so you are free to break the ones that are in here. As long as they do not have paint on them."

The room became silent as Alessandra, Eleanor, and Linda watched Hazel to see if she would like to break the canvas or go back to her room.

Hazel didn't think twice about it and walked over to the blank canvas stacked against each other on the floor to pick up one. Hazel lifted it in the air and brought it down against the floor as hard as she could to try breaking it. Only one of the corners cracked. It felt better than she thought it would.

Hazel looked at the others who were just watching her. "Do not just stand there. I'm sure all of you have something you need to release anger for," she said, not wanting to be the only one with issues or see their concerned looks.

"Of course I do. My aunt wants me to consider getting married to someone who made my childhood hell," Eleanor said as she walked over to get a canvas. "As a child, I had to keep hearing about my parents' business as if I told them to sell girls' bodies for money. Every single time I get close to someone they throw it in my face like I had something to do with it," she added, hitting the canvas against the floor as hard as she could.

Hazel was wide-eyed and stepped away from being close to Eleanor as the canvas she picked had easily broken from her repeatedly hitting it on the floor.

"I really hate my aunt trying to portray me as some refined lady when everyone just whispers how hypocritical it is for me to have a good life when there are girls in my parents' business being used. I didn't sign up for this. I just want to write books and live my life how I want. If I hear one more word about Hayden I'm going to..." Eleanor trailed off, continuing to destroy the already broken canvas.

"Okay," Hazel awkwardly smiled, trying to look away from the murder happening beside her. "I didn't think anyone else was that angry but I like it. Alessandra, I'm sure you've got something to make you want to destroy a couple of these canvases. Now is your chance when no one is watching you."