Chapter Fifty-Two: Anna’s wedding, the TV show

Clair let out a breath and placed the cup down. She clenched her hands together and responded, "We met before. He was a mission of mine in the past. I was bitter about not accomplishing it for so long. When I saw him the first thing I did was try to kill him. Anna, you know I hate losing. I completely detest it. His offer was too tempting"

"I'm so stupid. I bet he wanted to entertain himself watching me try to kill him. He knows I won't be able to do it and therefore this marriage will never end unless I die."

"Exactly." Anna placed her hand on top of hers to comfort her. "I want to help you. I will help you. I don't how, but I will. If you don't want to be with him, I will do what I can. I also expect a talk with this assh*le."

There was silence after that. Both of them understood that James had a hidden intention he never disclosed.

Clair wanted to trust, she really did. Was he really just using her? Taking advantage of her foolishness? Were the past few days a lie?

"You might be upset, but I'm proud of you. It shows how much potential you have. Clair- no.. Ainara you are 25 years old, still learning, still growing. We all make mistakes, but admitting them is a game-changer. Personally, I believe you would make a great queen. We can overthrow that bastard and you can rule the country by yourself. We don't need no man... what do you say?" She grinned.

"Pfft, that sounds interesting…"

"I'm serious, you know. We can always do that." She shrugged and started eating as soon as the server put the food on her plate.

Clair waited for him to leave before speaking again. "There are a lot of things I would change. The kids, the underworld. There are so many things I want to bring attention to. Secrets that only a few are aware of. I doubt I could pull it off, though. I tend to have a very panicky reaction to things related to the royals. Besides, it's not like I can."

"Hmmm, but you can." Anna placed some food in her mouth and arched an eyebrow, trying to hint her something.

"In terms of the 'right' to the throne...you definitely have that." She added after she finished chewing.

Clair was quiet. She continued eating, pondering on her words.

"It doesn't matter. Let's scratch that off the list. I need to solve this minor problem. Other than him, his father is a bigger obstacle. I'm almost 100% sure that he knows a lot of things about me. I have this feeling he knows something he shouldn't, and it bothers me a lot. I mean, he is the one pushing me into his son's arms, so there has to be a reason."

Anna nodded with a 'hmm.'

Clair and Anna decided to continue their conversation in another because of the delicacy of the topic.

After their meal continued Clair couldn't get it off her head. Countless possibilities ran through her mind. When the server put away their empty plates, he brought them some extra drinks they ordered.

"Don't think about it or you'll end up stressed. Maybe we are misunderstanding him. Who knows, he might not be a bad person." Anna gave her a 'sweet' smile. Clearly, she herself didn't believe her own words, and she was already holding a grudge against James.

Anna changed the topic while they shared their drinks.

"Anyway, if you ever get a wedding ceremony I don't feel like attending," Anna pouted her lips.

"And why is that?"

"Because you didn't attend mine. It's not fair."

"I did," Clair claimed innocently.

"Lies humph!"

"Oh, I did you just didn't see me. I was…." She pursed her lips when she wanted to say where she was.

Will it be too weird?

Back then:

Ainara chewed on her energy bar while she watched the wedding ceremony take place from the roof.

They made the hall of glass so she could see what was happening, and from the device in her ear, she could hear what everyone was saying.

"Ha….." She let out a soft chuckle when she heard what they were discussing.

Apparently, the bride was too nervous and locked herself inside her changing room.

After that, one of the groom's friends saw that he sent an interesting text to his bride. He swore to drag her ass to the altar if she didn't do it herself.

It was like a whole tv show. A romantic comedy.

"I should have brought more snacks…." She mumbled.

A few minutes later, the bride finally came out and walked down the aisle. She watched the cold, ruthless woman break into tears, and her eyes glittering when she reached her husband's arms.

When she heard their vows she arched an eyebrow. "Are these really the two rulers of the underworld? Aren't they supposed to be at each other's throats?"

'Love is something I will never understand.'

"Plot twist." She huffed when the groom kissed the bride before the master of ceremonies could even finish his sentence.

When she heard the bride admit that she was the first one to drag him into marriage because she was interested in him, Clair gasped. "More plot twists."

"Spoiler alert, the crazy ex walks in, kills the groom, and runs away with the bride."

When she watched the dancing start and nothing like that happened, she shrugged. "Change of plans, I guess?"

*******

"The roof? You are surely crazy! You could have at least come down to congratulate me for a few minutes."

Clair raised an eyebrow. "Hey, I sacrificed my lunch break to watch your wedding. Besides, I was going to talk to you afterward, but you two started your honeymoon right after…."

Anna blushed a looked away in embarrassment.

"You saw nothing, right?" She asked.

"Don't worry, I have already erased it from my memory."

"You did!"

…..

Throughout the entire day at work, Clair could not get it off her head. The possibility that she drove right into a scheme and became a pawn for someone hurt her pride.

How could she of all people let it be? No way in hell would she allow someone to use her like some chesspiece. She would definitely uncover everything and push it back at their face.

It all made sense now. Why would they allow an assassin to sit on the throne? If it's not to control her, then what else? What other hidden intentions do they have?

The Queen and King have equal power. Back then, the Queen was just used for birthing an heir. Now, if the King wanted to make some new law or make a major decision, they would hold a meeting with important officials and the Queen would have to agree to the plan. If she agreed the officials on her side would cast their vote and so on.

Still, in some ways, the King still held more power. The reason the Queen must agree now it's because of the family behind the Queen. There is a history of the Queen's families rebelling against the royal family because the Kings would cast the Queens away after they birthed an heir.

To avoid losing important support from the Queen's families 300 hundred years ago, King Leto gave the Queen more power and freedom.

After his actions, the next generation of Kings formed a system that would be fair, and the current proportions of power results from that system.

It would make sense if James only needs her, so she agrees to all the plans he proposes, and she has no powerful family to back her up, which makes it less troublesome for him to do what he wants.

"Wait, would father really rebel? His house is the most loyal and the one who has collaborated with them the most to create the peace there is between the kingdoms right now. I doubt it! But knowing father he probably would…."

Clair sighed. No, if they used her and offended her father they would lose their most powerful house and the corrupted houses would overthrow the current royal family.

"There would be a change to everything, and I don't think James would risk that…. So then what? Just what do they want from me?" She wondered lightly, banging her head on the table, because of how annoyed she was.

"There is someone outside wanting to meet you. She said she's the ex-girlfriend of your husband." Yaci told her with a dark expression on her face.

She let out a creepy chuckle. "Does she come here to bully you? Haha, as If I will allow that. I will be back soon let me handle it."

Clair frowned. "Calm down. No one should know I have a husband, so she's probably here to create drama for me."

(At this point I had to tell her I married.)

"I'll handle it."