The Duke's Masked Wife

"So that's the reason," Alessandra felt relieved by Linda's confession.

"You're not upset?" Linda was deeply confused by Alessandra's reaction. "Why aren't you laughing at me or rubbing it in my face that you are married to him? Why don't you seem the slightest bit upset that I was going to act poorly toward you because of an old crush?"

"Is that really how someone in my position would react?" Alessandra asked as it seemed dramatic but she found hazel shaking her head. "That's a little bit over the top. Truthfully, I thought it was because of the rumors about my face," she touched her mask. "I thought you might not have liked my presence next to your friend but then I let it go until you would be ready to speak up."

"Even as queen, I could never be that mature," Hazel muttered.

"I'm not upset with the fact you once liked Edgar. I saw at the ball how many admirers he has and they did not look happy to see me by his side. I can't help my husband being such a sought-after man and women being upset that I am in the spot they think they should be in. It is a trivial matter to me unless they try to harm but thank you for telling me about the feelings you had for him," said Alessandra.

"There's a lot more I needed to explain to you, Duchess but I am a little mind blown right now," Linda found it hard to explain more to Alessandra when Alessandra had brushed the situation off with a lack of care.

"I am also a little mind-blown right now. Do you see why I like her?" Hazel asked Linda. "Honestly, taking a situation like this with a grain of salt might severely annoy women who come to you stating they once liked Edgar. I can imagine how they would react to you not caring. I hope that I am around to witness some of their facial expressions. Somehow," Hazel tapped her chin while she inspected Alessandra. "I see a bit of Edgar's personality in you."

"Really?" Alessandra found that to be surprising. She spent a lot of time with Edgar but found them to be nothing alike. "I don't think it's possible for there to be anyone else with a personality like Edgar's. No one can handle that."

"I agree with the Duchess," Linda said. "I wouldn't want to have to deal with two Edgars. Can you imagine what our social circle would be like if there was a female version of Edgar in it?" Linda shuddered just from imagining it.

Alessandra and Hazel shared a look.

"I think it would be highly entertaining and it's just what this town needs. Sometimes without realizing it, our partner's ways can rub off on us. You might notice it yet and maybe I have because I've been around Edgar many times, but you seem a lot like him. I can't put my finger on it yet in what way you remind me of him," Hazel continued to stare at Alessandra.

Alessandra was just as curious as Hazel to find out in what way she was similar to Edgar. "When you find out, please let me know."

Meanwhile, Edgar entered a private study that once belonged to Tobias's father when he was king. After looking for Tobias where Hazel said he was, Edgar was told Tobias had long left and went to visit the study.

"Tobias, do you think we are still children playing hide and seek? I would have gone home instead of searching for you if not for my wife being here," Edgar told Tobias who stood by a window looking at something.

"Those were good times when you and I would run off to hide while the servants tried to find us. First one to get caught would have to jump into the river from the high rocks. I always ended up losing unless I ran and hid with you. I swear you were trying to kill me by having me jump into that water," Tobias recalled the pleasant memory even though he had always been scared to jump.

"I never thought you would be foolish enough to jump each time but you proved me wrong. Have you called me here because you are bored or is there something important?" Edgar closed the door to have privacy from anyone spying on Tobias.

"Can't I just want you here as a friend? Is that so bad?"

After silence fell upon them Tobias said, "How rude. Do you have any leads on the girls who have gone missing? No one has been missing for a while now which is a good thing but I'm afraid things have been silent because there are girls taken but no one has realized yet. Some of the victims' families are given peace when a dead body shows up in town but there are some who have been waiting for any sign of their loved one whether dead or alive."

"As you said, it has been silent. Whoever this person is, plans out their attacks and when it is time to place dead bodies around the kingdom. There are no leads except for the flower placed on all the bodies and the way their face looks as if someone had been dressing them up. Based on the bruises, it seems like their captor killed them in a fit of rage. That's the only clue I can go by."

"Hmm, if that is all you can do then so be it. We've already investigated all the people these girls interacted with but nothing seems odd. Why the hell did there have to be such a maniac right after I became king? I'm telling you, it has to be one of my deranged relatives," Tobias sighed and left the window to take a seat. "I should let the guards search their homes but it'd be a pain if nothing is found."

Tobias sat down in his father's old chair and placed his feet on the table. "Who do you think it is, Edgar?"

"If I knew that I wouldn't be wasting my time searching for clues when I could be focusing on my own matters," Edgar snapped. The only reason he was on this case was because of Tobias and his freaking royal order. There were plenty of guards and other men with titles to handle this. "Every chance you get, you annoy me. Even now by having me tag along with my wife."

"Isn't it obvious I would want my best friend around?" Tobias asked.

"Then why the hell didn't you invite that person instead of me?"

"You," Tobias stared at Edgar in disbelief."After all these years, you do not see us as best friends? Must you crush my heart so much?"