Walking around the guests in the large banquet hall her husband hand resting on her back, Katiandra eyes was alerted at everything going around like an hawk. There were nothing she let slide like the clothes people wore to the way they reacted seeing the royal couple, she may have been used to it but exceptionally she knew to be on her guard.
One thing that she spotted immediately was Amara Killian gawking at Eva Malone who was not far away from her, she was clearly following her every move seeing as the young woman was near the ambassador nodding at something he was saying.
What triggered the Queen attention was the spark in the brain surgeon eyes, it wouldn't take even a blind man to know she was jealous.
Trying her best to have her attention, Katiandra, who in a way understood and could relate to her, kept her eyes on the surgeon enough for her to look around wondering whose insisting gaze it was.
having good reflexes she did just that just to meet none other than her Queen gaze, which immediately caused warmth to spread all over her neck at the remembrance of the woman words in her office and what she had witnessed.
Straightening her posture she held her gaze courageously even if she knew it was prohibited, having nothing to lost at that point may at least keep the dignity she have been left with she thought, aware the woman already saw her in more compromising position.
What she didn't know was the points her boldness earned her in the Queen mind. Taking her in for a moment the Queen closed her eyes then opened them giving her her approbation before shaking her head subtly from side to side like to show her disappointment. Dr Killian who frowned at that was quick to do at the woman next move.
The Queen kept her eyes in hers before looking toward Ms Malone making sure the woman still had her eyes on her, then shook her head again like she was doing it at something her husband was saying then looked back at the surgeon who looked like she had seen a gosh, visibly showing she understood the message.
A positive nod of the surgeon to one of the server as she took a glass of water from one of the trays he was presenting her appeased Katiandra who had confirmation her message passed.
No one could imagined they where interacting with each other at the sight of how they reacted differently or even the difference in the layer of society that separate them. In fact for doctor Killian to be here was an act of charity as many of the royalty would voice it. A one time thing.
Turning her attention to what was going on with her husband Katiandra nodded at whatever he was talking about in autopilot.
After taking a sip of her champagne thinking hard at the perspectives she had, it was clear she wasn't the only one enamoured with a young woman, and it was evident that Killian was as head over heels for Malone who when she didn't felt the weight of her crush stare on her anymore felt distraught.
Glancing toward the direction of the surgeon, Malone could see the woman already had her back to her, frowning at it she was about to set her eyes on her boss when the Queen eyes met hers in a way that had her breath caught in her throat for a moment, the intimidating woman arched her eyebrow in a way she could have missed if they didn't had a mutual past encounter.
It was rather the kind of stare that one would address a child when they were not happy of them, then she shook her head 'no' before turning her attention to the king who was saying something in her ear that made her laughed like it was the most enchanting thing he murmured to her.
Feeling her mouth dry all of a sudden, Malone, whose heart was hammering at the fear of being caught by someone more for Amara, who could lost her life, than her she her nationality protect her. The fact there she didn't know what the Queen could do was frightening.
Refocusing her attention on the ambassador doing her best to keep her hands from trembling, Malone was surprised to see the man already staring at her concerned.
"Everything is okay, Malone? You look like you've seen a gosh."
"I'm fine Sir don't worry,"Smiling to her boss she shook her head to confirm her words, not convinced the man kept staring at her hesitant. " Really it's fine. You know we had to much work lately, after this I'm happy I could rest during my vacation."
Apparently her last words did the trick making him smile at her.
"You are right dear you work too much, I have to admit that I don't know how I will do without you around. But you need those vacations if we want you to come back rejuvenate. Oh thanks you for coming today even if you were tired, it will be over soon." Nodding at him she breathed out happy he bought it.
After making a round of the room, the king finally stopped in front of the Minister of the health and life insurance, they started the usual chatting formalities while Katiandra who just let go of Malone gaze, wondered if she was like Lorelei. The amount of love that poured out of the two women was sickening.
Smiling sweetly at the man that bowed in front of her after shaking her husband hand she patiently waited for them to finish with formalities that could be long in the patriarchal society they were in.
After they finished she her gaze met the man's for a spilt second before he looked down.
"Mr Coley, tell me good news, is everything done with the doctor that will be our new representative in europe?"
Knowing where she was going with that question, she patiently waited for him to explain the basic.
"Ah every thing is going good my Queen. Doctor Anahy dead was a sad new but we found someone to replace him. He will be traveling...."
Frowning at his words she held her hand up playing the one who didn't knew. Grabbing Arthur arm she looked at the man her mouth slightly opened like she couldn't find her words, then closed it shaking her head in disbelief.
The poor man was didn't knew where to put his eyes anymore trying his best to not meet none his monarchs opted to way for them to call his attention again.
"What is it honey? Is there anything wrong?" Worried at how his wife seemed speechless Arthur Zurow looked at his wife who always had something to say for her to be out of words wasn't good.
Looking at him for a moment she nodded before directing her gaze to the minister.
"Yes there is a problem. I'm chock... How we still had people reacting with sexism in our country which always does it best to promote equals chances."
Never averting her gaze from the man that she could feel was gathering his courage to explain, she didn't let him time to do so pushing the issue.
"How is it possible that it is a 'HE' who has the place?....When we all know we have THE best brain surgeon that could pretend to that place and represent the country there as Anahy did... Is that person not a SHE? I believe Amara Killian is the right person to succeed Dr Anahy. I know it because just in case it could be need, I requested only the best for the young boys transplanted and her name was in the list Anahy recommended me. He talked highly of her, she even helped in the procedure."
At the rhetorical question that made the royal family looked his way the wife in wonder while the king kept a calm face with his eyes asking for answer his wife filled, the minister was forced to look at them knowing he had lost the bet, he knew what the Queen wanted she always gets the fact that she was a nerd like it was well-known didn't make it better the king always does what she proposed.
"Yes my Queen, Mrs Amara Killian is the best, but..." His famous royal smile on, Arthur Zurow, who already heard what he wanted, met the minister gaze making him shut up cutting whatever he wanted to say.
" I believe that if that time is passed, we are not getting back there. The one going will be Mrs Killian then. You said it yourself she is the best. I hope you will make that happen. As I did to have the place that I have today, she proved herself by being the best not only nationally but also internationally. The best reviews in the matter had her name after Anahy name. I believe if she wasn't a 'SHE' she would have been the one chosed decade ago."
"My queen... I, we, the decision was already taken we consult the ki..."
Turning to face her husband, she met his gaze already on her, then he nodded at her to confirm what she didn't let the man finished. At that her face hardened before looking back at the Minister
"Oh , I see. But only to know... You told him that Killian was the one they wanted or I can only guess right you didn't even took her name into consideration. What is sure is that the king decision wouldn't have been impartial."
Playing it hard a sweet smile on for the audience that was around to not know she was angry, the Queen finished her sentence in a due tone never breaking her stare off of the man face.
"My queen this was the best to do, she has a family..." His poor excuse just made her emitted a little laugh like they had the most pleasant conversation making the man blood pressure to raise making him felt cold while the king appreciate his wife public abilities.
"So do I and it doesn't make me a lesser mother or wife. So also do the person you choose too." Arching her perfect brow she fired back.
"It is not correct..." Understanding what just left his lips, the man was about to close his mouth when his Queen jumped in almost choking him with her words.
"Are you trying to tell me wrong Mr Minister ? I will no let you fool my husband. Look around you, what can you see?"
Doing as said they all looked around following the direction of her well manicured index finger that pointed to the international press they have invited on the behalf of the USA to report their thanks for them helping their fellow citizens.
Everything went smooth they had find nothing irregular and had already brought the children back in America to be monitore by their own doctors, the day gathering was the celebration of that success with the parents and the strengthening of the relationship with the others countries.
"What will it looks like if the day after a victory like the one we have today, a scandal about sexism throw out country name in a mudd we could have avoided. What you are about to do, Mr minister, is bad news. And I will not have the name of my husband mix with that."
Trusting his wife analysis as always, the king Zurow gaze at that point could makes hole in his minister eyes, he knew he wasn't that stupid to not remember that a ' Killian's name was pronounced in his conference room when the decision was made.
Looking at the journalists that tried to not make noise but was still doing it, he knew he didn't wanted bad publicity, to have Katiandra for wife he knew always get him out of trouble like this, she could be a terror in private but her intelligence was an asset for him that was always useful.
Making his mind he looked at her concerned a little frown disturbing his perfect smile for a moment his eyes finding the woman's making it seemed from afar like they were having lovers episode in front of the minister who knew better.
"In fact I never knew about doctor killian..."
"My king I thought..." Rushing to save it while he could, the minister forgot who he had in front of him, the change of the king facial expression made him closed his mouth respectfully almost bowing with his head down.
" No. You are not here to think. That decision was to be made or not by me. I'm still the king. Try to not forget that next time."
Looking at his wife he smiled at her then at the health minister, like they were having a really relaxed conversation for people were already wondering how it was they stopped to talk to him for so long.
Meeting the frozen man eyes, he who was looking down to not have the king wrath for looking too long at her, he stood there feeling all of a sudden not giddy to be the one speaking to them, if he could redo the morning he would have avoided them.