The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride - Chapter 450

Chapter 450: Grief (2)
Tyrion remained inside as the maid with the water went out to give it to Tabitha.

A single scream announced that the former queen was dead, and servants started to flock to where she sat.

Tyrion stopped the butler just before he could exit the door. “Send for a doctor and my parents. The two of us must keep ourselves together to handle this matter quietly. It mustn’t get out that something happened until the doctor tends to her. I will see what is wrong.”

The butler nodded his head and walked away to do as he was told.

Tyrion walked out of the home to the crowd of weeping maids who were trying to get his grandmother to wake.

“Step away to allow her to breathe,” Tyrion ordered the maids. He noticed the bit of blood seeping from her mouth.

The maids were startled by Tyrion’s voice and stepped away to give him the privacy he was owed.

Tyrion sat down beside Tabitha and lifted her head to lie in his lap. He used his handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

Tyrion was ready for her to be gone, but as the moment was here, part of him still mourned her. He hadn’t forgotten that Tabitha was once his beloved grandmother.

“She must be moved. Find the guards and tell them to come to me now. She needs to be lifted to somewhere more comfortable. Wipe your eyes,” Tyrion said, looking at the maids. “She is not gone unless the doctor says this.”

Some of the maids wiped their eyes. Those closest to Tabitha were puzzled by how quickly she had fallen.

The maids soon scattered to gather guards to help the prince, or to prepare a bed, and only Ines remained.

“She was in good health,” Ines said, unable to take her eyes off Tabitha. “She had requested to sit alone while I gathered her things so she could return home. Tell me, how does she suddenly die after your visit?”

Ines gritted her teeth after Tyrion wouldn’t answer. She was confident that Tyrion had something to do with Tabitha’s current state. She wanted to take Tabitha from Tyrion’s hands, but couldn’t.

Tyrion was the royal and Ines the maid.

Ines had to bear with Tyrion holding her lady until the guards arrived to ask questions.

“The lady was well-”

“Go prepare a bed for her to lie on. Your time is better suited there,” said Tyrion.

“I know that she was well and able. I have been serving her for many years,” Ines said, standing her ground.

Ines knew well that Tabitha would not want the prince holding her now, especially with their strained relationship.

“You served her for years, yet you don’t know how to behave before a royal? I would get out of my line of sight if I were you. I have not forgotten your visit to my home,” Tyrion said.

Ines was still reluctant to leave, but there was nothing more she could do. She lowered her head and walked away from Tyrion.

If Tyrion was the one who killed Tabitha, then Ines prayed he would be exposed.

Tyrion listened closely to Ines walking away. He planned to send her away once Tabitha’s death was settled.

Tyrion stayed close to Tabitha until the doctor arrived, and not long after, his parents were present.

Tobias rushed into the room where his mother lay.

Tyrion was gazing out the window as the doctor gathered his things.

Tobias knew from the setting in the room that his mother was gone, but he still looked to the doctor for answers as he walked over to his mother.

“What happened?” Tobias asked, taking hold of Tabitha’s hand.

Hazel was more focused on her son. She didn’t need to be told what occurred since she made a good guess at what happened.

Hazel was present to be at Tobias’s side, and that was all. She would help with the preparations for Tabitha’s funeral and wish Tabitha a good send-off, but it was all she had in her heart.

It was only through Tabitha being Tobias’s mother that Hazel would take part in the preparations.

“Thank you for looking at her. We will have the prince inform us. You may all leave,” Hazel instructed the servants.

Tobias looked at Hazel, puzzled by her sending the doctor away when he wanted to hear what had happened. Still, he didn’t question Hazel’s order and allowed the doctor to leave with his helpers.

Hazel waited for the door to close to then walk to Tyrion’s side. She placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

“All is well,” Hazel whispered. “She will have a proper sendoff and be placed at her husband’s side. I am not angry with you.”

“How did you do it-”

“Tobias!” Hazel snapped and looked at where he sat. “That isn’t a concern right now.”

Tobias held onto his mother’s hand, taking in the last of her warmth. “It matters because the town guards will soon come around, and the court will want answers.”

“They won’t have any way of finding out how she died. I did it as best as I could so you wouldn’t walk into a bloody mess. She went without most of the pain she deserved if that was your concern. My hands were tied,” Tyrion said, facing his father.

“We know. It shouldn’t have come to you needing to do this. We should have dealt with this properly the first time instead of sending her out of the palace. Our failure to control your mother led to this. You mustn’t be angry with him,” Hazel said to Tobias.

“I am not angry with him, I am simply mourning the loss of my mother,” Tobias answered.

Tobias felt a mixture of anger and sadness. He was too cowardly to end his mother’s life, so Tyrion was forced to do it in his place. If it wasn’t Tyrion, it would have been Hazel.

“Thank you,” Tobias said, meeting Tyrion’s eyes. “Thank you for keeping her in a state where I could look at her. It’s not easy to harm a parent, no matter how awful they are. I’m sorry you had to be the one to do it,” Tobias apologised.

“I wouldn’t be able to go through with it if asked to harm either of you,” Tyrion said, not bearing any anger toward his father.

Since it was dealt with, Tyrion was willing to let it all go.

Hazel left Tyrion’s side and went to sit beside Tobias. She rubbed his back. “I’ve faced this pain before and will be at your side as long as you need me to help you through it. I am going to send someone to bring your sister. She shouldn’t be too far away.”

“Have her brought here quietly. We cannot let news of this get out yet while the coronation celebrations are still ongoing. We will bury her tonight once my sister arrives and let the kingdom know of it days after,” Tobias decided, trying to keep the kingdom in good spirits.

The town was finally back to normal after Quinn was imprisoned. The people deserved a break from bad news, and news of Tabitha’s death would only disturb the happiness the town felt now.

Tyrion watched from where he sat at the window as his father wept over the loss of Tabitha.