The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride - Chapter 448

Chapter 448: For the sake of peace (3)
“Milady, the prince has arrived.”

Tabitha sat on a bench, staring at her garden. She was waiting patiently for the servants to finish gathering her belongings so she could return to her home.

A visit from Tyrion did not surprise Tabitha. She expected Penelope to tattle.

“Allow him inside and show him to me. Is my son not with him?” Tabitha asked, expecting Tobias to show.

It was long overdue for Tobias to come to visit her and apologise.

“I was told it is the prince and a few of his guards,” the maid answered.

It bothered Tabitha that Tobias did not come to see her.

“What are you waiting for? Escort him inside,” Tabitha snapped at the maid.

Tabitha went back to enjoying the view of her garden and thinking of how wonderful it would be to have her husband around. She would have had his support when it came to who should be king.

With the way Tabitha spoiled Tobias and her grandchildren, she expected someone to be on her side now. To understand her reasoning.

It was a bit unfortunate that the court was no more. Those men would have shared her feelings.

Tyrion soon arrived with the maid, but sent her away since he didn’t need an audience.

“You only come running when your wife cries to you. Have you forgotten that I am your grandmother?” Tabitha asked, her eyes still fixed on the flowers.

“No, but you have forgotten that I am your grandson and she is my wife. You’ve angered me in a way that no one else has ever angered me,” Tyrion said as he sat down beside Tabitha.

Tabitha smiled. “I angered you because I pointed out what you did wrong. A prince belongs in the palace. Your father had a moment of wanting to leave, but he stayed.”

“He stayed because there was no other heir, and you wouldn’t have pushed for my aunt to become the next king. I don’t want to think of what would happen to her if my father left her in your hands-”

“I raised my daughter,” Tabitha argued. “I have loved her like any mother would love their daughter.”

Tyrion didn’t agree. “Yet she left with her husband and doesn’t write to you. It isn’t a secret that she grew distant from you. You may have been a good queen, but a good mother you were not.”

“You’re far from being a good grandmother, and you won’t live to make a change to your great-grandchildren,” said Tyrion.

“Is that a threat?”

“No, it is a promise you won’t live to make that change. You should have changed after your troubles with my mother. There are four women I love most in this world. My mother, my wife, my aunt, and my sister. You’ve singlehandedly gotten to each,” Tyrion said, taking the moment to look at the garden.

“Tell me, what did I do to Hailey? What happened with your mother was inevitable. She wasn’t suited to be the queen since she never listened, and my daughter was swayed by your mother. What did I do to Hailey?” Tabitha asked again.

“I am not giving you the chance to disappoint Hailey. You’ve troubled enough women in this family. I wish you had learned from your mistake with my mother. Then you would have supported Teo. What a shame you won’t see the king he will become,” Tyrion said.

“You’ll pick that woman over me?” Tabitha asked, but she wasn’t surprised.

Tyrion already picked Penelope over Tabitha.

“You could ask me a thousand times, and the answer will always be her. You made that quite easy for me to decide. I promised to protect her from the dangers that follow my name. I didn’t think that would include you. Go quietly,” Tyrion advised Tabitha.

Tabitha chuckled. “Go quietly? Are you asking that I harm myself? We both know that I wouldn’t do that.”

“I am giving you the gift of taking your life,” Tyrion said, retrieving a small bottle from his pocket. “There will be no blood, so my father and aunt will be well when they see your body. The townspeople will think you died of old age. You will go peacefully and keep your pride.”

Tabitha glanced at the bottle in Tyrion’s hand. “If you’ve come to kill me, then do it. Don’t be a coward, Tyrion.”

“When I leave here, you’ll be dead either way. For the sake of your children, who will have to view your body, I suggest you go the peaceful way. I will take your head clean off your neck if I must do it. It is how you will be remembered. Do you want pain in your final moments?” Tyrion asked, waiting for the bottle to be taken.

“I want my grandson to have sense and be on my side-”

“I love Penelope. It didn’t matter who you placed before me since I would never be swayed, but the mere fact that you made a lady so bold to think she would have a chance upsets me. What if someone did that to you and my grandfather?” Tyrion inquired, knowing Tabitha would not have allowed it.

“I don’t regret one bit of my actions when it comes to your wife. You were born destined to become the king of this kingdom. Your father had other dreams, but he set them aside to fulfil his duties. Now, he can do as he wants,” said Tabitha.

Tyrion chuckled, his head falling back slightly as he looked to the sky. “He gave his youth to the palace, and now you would think he should feel good now that he may do whatever he wants?”

“You never hated the palace when you were spoiled by it. You enjoyed a life that many wished they could have. When it came time for you to repay the palace, you turned your back on us. You were born a prince, destined to rule the kingdom,” Tabitha said, uninterested in dreams that did not concern the palace.

“I never once said I wasn’t grateful for the life I had. I have said that it is too dangerous for me to have a family there, and I know that I wasn’t suited to be the king. None of that matters now. Take it,” Tyrion said, offering the bottle once more. “I won’t ask another time.”

“If I don’t, you’ll shove it down my throat? Or, take my head off? Your father isn’t at my side now, but he will never forgive you if you kill me. Your aunt will never forgive you, and my servants will have noticed you killed me. Do you want to be at odds with your father for the rest of your life?” Tabitha asked, knowing Tyrion didn’t have it in him.

“For peace with my wife, I could bear it.”