Chp.38: Wise

"Then what may be the reason?" Regina asked as she took the last bite of the cottage cheese from her plate.

"It was the document regarding your welcome ball and our wedding reception." Duncan said with a little disturbed expression, he was having a weird gut feeling like a gut feeling ringing inside his head. Regina's expressions on the other hand remained constantly confused.

She wasn't able to understand why he was telling her this suddenly. Until Duncan said, "You gave it to him Lady Rachel. You handed him the fully written plan of the ball along with the blueprint." Duncan explained.

"This is your next course, your majesties.", a chef with a white hat and uniform placed the next dishes in front of Duncan and Regina.

"No, I didn't." Regina shook her head declining the situation.

Duncan felt a sudden thump inside his heart as he heard those words from the queen. "She certainly isn't joking." Duncan looked at her expressions.

"You invited me. So I'm here." The chef left a note as he served Duncan with his next course. And Duncan looked at the face of the chef.

He knew something bad was going to happen. He felt it inside his guts.

And when he looked at the face of chef, he could see that poisonous smile brimming with victory. "Desmond?" The word itself felt very heavy as Duncan looked at him with a shock.

Desmond smiled at Duncan and then turned around and left.

Regina was oblivious of why Duncan's expression were so abstract and shocked. She did notice it, but she couldn't exactly make out the reason.

"What is he so shocked about?" Regina thought as she continued to cut her peice of steak.

Until she realised, "I gave him the documents? Me?" An alarm ringed inside her. She looked up at Duncan and Duncan also locked eyes with her immediately , that's when they heard a commotion outside.

"Your majesty, there is an internal attack on the palace." The guard yelled from outside the room. Both Duncan and Regina got up rapidly and rushed outside the room.

"Greetings your majesties..." the guard made a hurried greeting and proceeded to tell the important news. Duncan could see Hilton rushing towards them from a distance.

"Your majesty, the queen's maids just received a mail and they opened since there was a horrible smell to it. But..." He was almost panicking but both Duncan and Regina were calmly listening. "But what we found was a nightmare. We found a body of man, but two different heads. The heads seemed to be of two similar looking people." The guard explained. Shivers ran down Regina's spine. "Is someone trying to point this directly towards to me?" Regina's thoughts couldn't help but flow. "But it's been only three days here. Who would know? It was Count D'Azure's plan afterall." Regina was thinking constantly. Fidgeting with her sleeves as she pretended to stay calm and composed.

Hilton reached to where Duncan and Regina were standing. But didn't interrupt the guard.

"Yes your majesty, the body was same but there were two different heads detached from the body and placed there as a show peice." The guard narrrated.

Duncan looked at the guard, and then at Hilton. He took a deep breath and then said, "Take me to where the box is kept. And Hilton escort the queen to her chambers." He gave out a straight order.

"Yes your majesty." Both the guard and Hilton said togther.

"Wait, no." Regina stopped Duncan.

"I must come with you too." Regina said in an anxious and high pitched voice. Duncan was amazed by her courage to speak up.

Since generally, he had not seen many or rather very rarely, noble women who speak up against men. It's like an unwritten rule to always go ahead with the directions that are given to noble women.

But Regina couldn't care less about those things, all she could do was just try once and see if Duncan allows. Anyways he, being a king wouldn't punish the queen for such a mere reason of 'Speaking Up.'

As for Duncan, he had no reason to punish Regina instead he nodded his head without much thought. Regina was a little surprised by his quick acceptance but then she quickly got along as the three of them rushed to the place the guard was guiding them to.

And as soon as they got a little farther from the dining room, it caught fire.

"Immediate announcement : The Dining room has caught fire." The guards announced.

Duncan could feel the storm coming.

"Desmond. Why?" Duncan thought as a deep frown appeared on his forehead. Moreover this was the first time Regina had seen such a commotion.

"Your majesty we mustn't stop in between. I'll do as you order henceforth as quickly as I can." Hilton said.

Duncan looked at the people around.

It was indeed a big commotion and that too out of nowhere. Duncan yet again took a deep breath.

"Deport the emergency guards from the palace itself and send a message to royal knights." Duncan gave his orders. "Don't let anyone escape the Eastern palace and seal all the doors that lead anybody out." He specified.

"I know who might be the culprit." Duncan mumbled.

Hilton bowed as he agreed and took his leave. The guard continued to guide the king and the queen to a room on the ground floor itself.

Duncan didn't panic but there was no doubt he was indeed shocked. Regina couldn't help but pay attention to all the little details in his expressions. And even though most of the times, Regina couldn't understand what Duncan mumbled, but this time she heard it well.

"So you know who is behind this Duncan? Is that why you are so calm?" Regina kept on thinking as she was walking beside him.

"Are you also one of the peope who will be a harm to Lady Rachel?" A quick question appeared in her mind.

"Your majesties, we've reached." The guard pointed at a door which led to one of the rooms.

"Open it." Duncan ordered.

"Wait." Regina stopped him.

"Hmm? What happened my queen?" Duncan asked with a genuine look of confusion.

"I havr never seen you in this palace before. Whose guard are you?" Regina asked the guard.

The guard stood there, blank look on his face.

Duncan looked Regina and Regina stared at the guard.

"Who are you?" She asked once more.

And the guard started laughing. He was laughing hysterically.

"So you finally noticed." The guard said as he removed his hat.

"You aren't that dumb after all, your majesty the new queen. Although you aren't that smart as well." The man in front of her scoffed at her face.

"Duncan, guess you've got a very good wife for yourself." He said.

"Who are you? That's my question." Regina said trying to stay composed with one of her hand on her waist belt, specifically on the dagger she won against Lara. Her sharp gaze could easily cut through the man's arrogant smirk.