Seeing the group hurry back, Peony giggled, "Who knew that just a little bit of intimidation would get them all to scurry away like this. It's time for me to go back then."
As she returned back to her mother, she discovered that the fairies was left in a dilemma!
As the fairies looked to one another in confusion, Peony greeted her mother formally before addressing her with a look of confusion, "If I may, Queen Mother, what has gotten everyone so disoriented? Don't tell me the humans stole something else?!"
"Of course not." She shook her head calmly, "It's just... The craft fairies are disheartened that the staff made to make feature the stone now looks so empty. I said it was fine just the way it is, but..."
Maisey approached Peony with a rather glum mood, "However, the staff was not only meant to feature the stone but to be fitting enough to grace her majesty... Now that the stone is gone, so has that capability."
Hearing this, Peony shook her head and sighed, "I asked you to be more careful with how your design should function, but I certainly did not expect this occurrence to happen. Mother, may I see the staff?"
"Of course." The queen handed her staff to her daughter with a worried expression.
Peony glanced at the staff and carefully went over the grooves and texture. When she was done, she nodded her head, "As expected... This concave area leaves an open space, thus everyone feels the staff seems empty. There is a stone I have in my possession that should fit. Robin-"
"Here it is, princess!"
The wild fairy appeared out of thin air with a box held casually in hand. Everyone shuddered in fear but their awe fascination in this mysterious aura of his left their eyes glued to him yet unable to shoo him away. Peony shrugged and took the box, "You read my mind. Perfect."
She opened the box revealing the beautiful radiant opal stone radiating with mana! It was by far more radiant and beautiful than all the other stones they have witnessed by far in the gala! Seeing the stone, the queen was mesmerized by its beauty before she noticed some similarities to a nostalgia memory she remembered. Surprised, she opened her mouth, "Oh my! Is that the stone we cultivated together with your father when you were but the tender human age of seven or ten?"
"Yes. It's a relief mother remembers this stone. After that, we lost the stone when a pack of flying monkeys and pegasi started another argument, but the truth is that his majesty and I recovered the stone. However, it had been damaged and, with you upset over the loss of it, his majesty asked that I find a way to fix the damage. So, while you were busy with work, his majesty and I tried to figure out how to fix it and surprise you with it on your birthday..." Peony smiled in embarrassment, "Though... it would probably be a little awkward to wish you an early happy birthday..."
"Oh dear!"
"Well, I know it's early, but this definitely would be the best time and place for this little fella. So..." Peony placed the stone snug into the socket where the former mage stone sat and handed the staff back to the queen.
"Oh, this stone certainly fits this beautiful staff the best!" The queen smiled warmly as she touched it, "Though I do feel some strong mana emitting from it. Is it a magic circle?"
"That's correct. His majesty treasures her majesty a lot, so he wanted a magic circle placed on it. I had the circle finished while I was away from the kingdom and just got it back from my retainer before the gala began. I didn't think I'd have to present it to you before your birthday, but..."
"The king will understand." She smiled warmly as a tear fell from her warm cheek, "This beautiful staff created by the efforts of my beloved family and our beloved people. It is truly mesmerizing! I love it and shall treasure it! Thank you, everyone!"
A loud thundering applause echoed as the queen rose from her seat and announced with a big smile across her face as she announced, "Come! Let us celebrate this joyous occasion together!"
Music once again filled the air as the fairies began to dance and frolic onto the stage. She watched in relief and sat down with a dry smile across her face. However, the moment she sat down, she could hear her mother whisper into her ear, "It's wonderful that we finally got you into a dress in public now, and even more so to have received this beautiful stone from you and your father. By the way... how was the talk with those young humans?"
"Huh?"
"Is there anyone you are interested in?"
Peony turned around as she saw in horror the earnest side glance from her beautiful mother!
"... No." She shook her head as she grumbled this with unhidden annoyance in her voice, "To begin with, we are talking about the friends of my dorm mates and a retainer of Briar Valley's crown prince. Chances are that word of any union with their retainers would set off quite a commotion. The last we need is another foreign political commotion and putting our people into concern again."
"But you should give it some more thought."
Peony held back a sigh as she remained quiet in deep thoughts as she recounted her past experiences with THAT person. Thankfully, she did not even liked him one bit. She opened her mouth calmly, "The last time you tried to get me to open up with another child of the opposite gender, the results were disastrous. Unless I go back and set them straight, there will always be a strong likelihood of it to happen again or worse. It'd also be a good idea to remember that father forgot to double check the gender of the heir or Queendom of Roses before he decided to have the two of us to meet."
There was a time when her father decided to do her mother a favor by aiding their daughter with finding a future spouse. However, upon deciding to meet with the family in private, they soon realized that the heir to their throne was actually a princess and not a prince. Then there was a time when they attempted to bring her to Afternoon Savannah to meet with another candidate. However, during their play date, some assassins from her world appeared and tried to kill everyone in the room. Thanks to that, her parents realized early on how different her life was compared to the other human children of their world. Yet, luckily or not for her, it only made her all the more special in their eyes.
"Peony!" The queen scolded her quietly, "You know your father and I only want the best for you. Still... If you don't want marriage, at least give the idea of having a partner some thought. It'd pain me if the world was too ignorant to realize how talented our child is to not want her hand in marriage. Must you really return to your birth world?"
Hearing this, Peony finally shrugged, "Did you read more romance stories again, mother?"
"Oh! But the romance fantasy of humans can be so enticing!" She giggled, "Not being human ourselves, we never had to worry over the concept of a limited time by a few decades of love and beauty! It makes things sound so exciting and new!"
"Seriously…" Peony frowned in defeat before a thought came to her, "Wait… Where did you come across human novels?"
"Oh I simply found it in your father's study when he was contemplating building connections with humans."
Peony was left dumbfounded upon hearing this as she mentally sighed in her head nearly drowned by the roaring laughter of Xiao Li and Ying Hui. Peony shook her head in dismay before she opened her mouth, "Dear mother… For our sanity, please do share with us the titles of those novels?"
"Oh my! Are you excited to read it too?" The queen giggled excitedly as she began listing off the titles which further made the girl speechless. Amongst the novels her mother read, some ranged from classical plays to pure fantasy and children romance books! With a plastered smile on her face, Peony bit back a groan as her glance towards their retainer caused Igni to flinch as he looked away instinctively. From the numbers of titles listed, she can already tell that she had become so addicted to the novels that it must have become her secret indulgent past time! It was already a miracle she did not land on a Spring Palace Illustration book! Struggling to hide her horrified expression, she opened her mouth, "Oh! It seems the flowers are getting festive as well, mother! It would seem this year, spring might be more beautiful than the decade prior."
"Ah! You're right!" She cheered with joy as she noticed the flowers all bloom and the floral scent drifting in the air.
Having successfully distracted her mother, Peony quickly turned to Igni and hissed a whisper nervously, "Browse through dad's research sources and make sure there aren't any sort of… content that is not even appropriate for children… understand? Also, let father know that, if he plans to do anymore dates with mother, he needs to start cleaning up his tracks. Otherwise, mother's expectations will reach a point not even he can impress her on and he can start by putting his plans and references in his own hidden compartment. Then, take mother to a human book store. Last we need is a repeat of what happened six years ago after I started working in the outside society."
"I see. So we keep her the withdrawal signs under wraps like this." Igni sighed, "I never thought I'd hear of the day her majesty would experience withdrawal symptoms from romance novels…"
Peony grumbled, "It could have been worse…. Much worse. Thankfully, it's just romance novels. Those books have become a popular trend for centuries too. So it's not unusual to find young women absorbed in reading such novels and indulge on their own fantasy… However, it's another problem if it's a book featuring pictures of the process leading to reproduction. Mother is a wise and gentle person, but she still has her moments of naïveté, especially around father. Please pass on another message to him, Igni."
"Yes?"
"Tell him, if I learn that she has gotten her hands on such illustration books in our library, I expect a younger sibling and a new heir to his throne, as compensation. Hmph!"
"Huh?!?! B-B-But-!"
"No buts! If mother gets influenced by that sort of book, then father will have to give up his 'honeymoon' time with mom! Besides, it was his own fault for not putting his things back properly while hoping I would return and clean up the table after him."
Hearing this, the poor retainer stammered in horror as he could barely imagine himself utter these exact words to his majesty without risking his fury!