Chp.24: Convenience

Meanwhile Claudia and Duncan were trying very hard to have a very civilized chat.

Claudia went ahead with her questions and was waiting for Duncan's explanation and that's when Duncan opened his mouth to speak.

"Duchess, I wish you take a proper appointment with me to discuss the state affairs." He coldly rejected it.

Claudia wasn't even fazed by his rudeness. "How is this a state affair? The ball will also be for welcoming the new queen." Claudia went ahead to state her questions once more. "And by new queen, I mean your wife, Duncan. Then how is she a state affair?" Claudia asked.

The question was itself very cunning and moreover there was no right answer to it. Either ways and Duncan would still end up hurting someone or the other. Knowing this very well, Duncan had to figure out a middle way.

"This damned...." Duncan thought to himseld as he looked at Claudia with hate in his eyes.

Claudia on the other hand was getting ready to just enjoy the drama that would probably unfold the moment Duncan opens his mouth. And since she asked the same thing twice it was more than obvious that she was intentionally doing it.

Neither of the three sitting there, apart from Claudia herself were stupid enough to talk about such a thing in a private meeting.

Duncan looked up in Claudia's eyes and said, "Of course it is a state affair. I was put into this situation by the state. By your husband, sister." He said without even once stuttering or thinking twice.

Claudia and Gordon, both instinctively looked in Regina's direction. But as for Regina the situation was different. She would never give the reaction they expected her to.

And the reason behind that was only known to her - and it was, that she wasn't Rachel. She was a replacement of the woman who was supposed to get married to the king. She was a mere shadow.

Nobody would even know that she isn't the one they think she is.

She did feel a little bit awkward though since Duncan suddenly mentioned it was nothing more than an arrangement. Arrangement for convenience.

She knew the truth but the awkwardness came due to the fact that she knew the truth. That there will he no feelings involved in this mission what so ever. Even though she once looked at Duncan and thought he would be perfect.

"If someone ever decided to draw a perfect man, it must have been Duncan." She thought whenever she looked at him.

But now the situation was different.

When Claudia and Gordon suddenly looked at her, she knew very well what are their intentions. She knew the reason why Claudia looked at her, and maybe perhaps the reason why Gordon looked at her as well.

"This is going to be a tough battle ground for Rachel." She thought as she let out a slight sigh and continued munching the biscuits she had in her hand.

"Why isn't she even a bit affected?" Claudia thought to herself. "Wow, that means she really is shameless." Claudia made her self satisfied by labelling this thought as the conclusion.

On the other hand, Gordon was only worried about Regina since he didn't want Duncan to go through anymore crisis due to his sharp tongue.

But Duncan was also looking at Regina. He was surprised to see that Regina was unaffected. He became upset watching such a dead reaction from her.

"She is certainly different. Does she not even consider me anything?" He thought as he decided to ignore the topic and go ahead with snacking.

The atmosphere suddenly became cold and the maids standing there were even more scared now. Gordon decided to stay quiet and Claudia also lost her mood after watching Regina's reaction.

Regina finished her biscuit and looked at Claudia. "It's really very abstract for the duchess to ask his majesty about this wedding. Weren't you also one of the many people who participated in the decision making of this marriage?" Regina's question landed on Claudia as a bomb.

"Hmm?" She was caught offguard. But Regina didn't want to take an effort to make the explanation so she just stared.

"Your majesty you took me the wrong way. But it's fine, maybe you aren't familiar with the traditions here." Claudia twisted the question.

Reegina looked at Duncan and their eyes met. She looked at him once more to indicate that they have to leave now with her eyes.

Duncan quickly picked up the signal and said, "It was great having a tea with you duchess." He said an got up.

Along with him, Gordon and Regina got up too and started walking behind him. They were all proceeding towards the door when Claudia said - "If it was a state affair, why did you..."

"I wish to end this conversation duchess. That's what I meant when I got up from that table." Duncan said with a cold expression as he interrupted Claudia.

Claudia stopped. "Yes, your majesty. I apologize." She said as she bowed.

They left the room and Regina's maids immediately called for her carriage.

Regina stopped for a moment, "I will now be taking my leave, your majesty." She said as she bowed to him and was about to leave.

"Um.. uh.." Duncan wanted to say something but she had already turned around to leave.

"Say it now. This is the time." Gordon whispered im Duncan's ears and left the premise.

"My queen.." he called out for Regina. His voice was authoritative, it was as if he was ordering her to turn around right away.

She turned around.

"I have a question to ask." He said as she turned around.

"Yes?", She asked in a polite voice.

Duncan walked upto her.

"I demand you to have a dinner with me tonight." He said.

She looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"But I will be having tonight's dinner with you your majesty." She said in the most obvious tone.

"Huh?" Duncan couldn't recall anything what she was trying to say, until he realised the letter he had sent her in the morning.

His expressions went from being stupidly forgetful to instant embarrassment in a moment. Regina did enjoy it but she couldn't react much since she was standing in front of the king after all.

"If so, then I will see you at the dinner." He said in a distant cold tone as he would speak to any colleague. There was no hint of feelings, moreover Regina wasn't even expecting him to show any feelings. It was convenience marriage after all and she had a mission to complete.

"I am honoured your majesty. I will be taking my leave now." She made a bow and left.