It is now the time to court Maculata;
Shadow is the first one to Court the Queen, early in the morning Shadow appeared in front of Maculata.
"Good Morning, your majesty"
"Good Morning, Shadow"
"This is the day that I would be courting you, please bear with my attempts"
"Alright"
Shadow just stood around the Queen.
Maculata raised a brow looking at Shadow, she looked at the seat across from her.
"Why don't you sit down and eat breakfast with me?"
"Pardon?"
"You are not just my protector you are also my Suitor, meaning you are allowed to eat with me, be with me, and accompany me without lurking in the Shadows"
"I...see"
Shadow never understood how courting works, he never experienced courting, since he has always been a 'Shadow' of the royal family.
He never interacted with anyone before except for the people inside the Palace, sometimes he interacts with people, but that is just called for.
But he never really 'talks' to people, his blade has been the one that does the talking for him.
"Shadow, what are you standing around for?"
"Oh..."
He sits down, Maculata gave a curious expression towards him, he never lowers his mask to anyone even her, when he was about to take a bite Maculata had her focus on Shadow.
"Hm"
When Shadow DID NOT pull his mask down, Maculata was a bit disappointed, it looks like there was a hole on his mask that lets him still cover his face without interruption of eating.
'I never did see his face even before I was young'
"Your majesty? Did I do something wrong for you to stare at me like that?"
"No, I was just curious"
"Curious...?"
"Your face, I never saw it even before I was young"
"I see...I apologise, but I cannot lower my mask even for you, your Majesty"
"Haha"
Maculata covered her mouth when she made a noise of what seems to be a laugh, Shadows' heart fluttered in his chest when he heard her laugh once again.
"You laughed..."
"That was not a laugh, that was more of a scoff"
Maculata corrected him, Shadow gave a smile under his mask, he is happy to have made the Queen laugh or as she says a scoff.
"What happened to the vow telling me that you will do anything for me, Shadow?"
Shadow tensed up, he looks down in guilt when he heard those words from the Queen, he indeed said those words. But for some reason an exception to his mask being revealed is not one of those 'anything' for her.
"I am just jesting..."
"This mask" Shadow started, Maculata was surprised at how Shadows' expression is "This Mask has kept my identity and for some reason it is part of me that I do not want to reveal, I do not remember why, but I just cannot reveal my face to you"
"How will we kiss when we have our honeymoon then?"
"Kiss...? H-Honeymoon?"
Shadows face started to become bright red, his ears especially.
"I am just jesting once again"
Shadow stared at the Queen, she is toying with his emotions, Shadow always remembers the innocent little girl that could never play with peoples' emotions, but when she ascended the throne, emotions of people became a toy for the Queen.
"Maybe if we really did have a honeymoon, then I will show you my face, My Queen."
"I am looking forward to it"
"What is your agenda for today, My Queen?"
"The Crystal Mines, an inspection is in order"
"I will accompany you"
Just then Peachy and Penzilvana entered the room without knocking, Maculata gave a disapproving expression towards the two, that DID NOT knock.
"You just blatantly stride inside my room without knocking"
"We know of that but when you were little you said we could come in, anytime we want"
"What if my suitor and I were having an activity, would you really want to witness such a thing?"
Peachy, Shadow and the maid on standby blushed, Penzilvana shrugged at Maculatas' words.
"This is why there is a lock, on your door, unless you really want to be seen, then I don't care seeing such human activity, it is your method of reproducing"
"Are fairies not the same as us?"
"Flowers are the ones' that give birth to us, they do not need to have such interactions since they are both the male and female"
"Lucky for you then"
"Sister, let's stop this conversation shall we?"
"Yes, what did you come here for?"
They gave the reports for each single thing that they did, the reports of Maise and Yella, Peachys' report on what happened at the noble tea party.
"What about the ledgers?"
"I'm not done yet, I'm sorry sister"
"You don't have to attend any noble tea party today but do submit it in time later, before lunch"
"I will, thank you for understanding, sister"
"What will you do later on?"
"The Crystal Mines, I need to inspect it"
"I'll be joining you then"
"What about your punishment?"
"I can do it tomorrow, I had enough watching those two, I don't even know why I am watching two siblings when I'm already babysitting another two"
"I will let you go this once"
'I know Maculata will just let it slide, she does so almost everytime'
"We will go after lunch, right now I need to assemble and do my paperwork that you have interrupted last night"
"You were already tired, don't push yourself too much"
"We are stealing your time with your suitor, come on Penzilvana"
"Alright, let's have breakfast"
"Good Luck Shadow!"
"Make sure you take care of Maculata"
"Yes, your highness and Lady Penzilvana"
The two exited, they continued eating, Maculata had a question that she wanted to ask Shadow for some time now.
"Where do you eat, Shadow?"
"...Where? I only eat fruits that I take in the kitchen, I must always be by your side, My Queen"
"You only eat fruits?"
"Yes"
"How are you not thin?"
"Exercise"
"You should eat more, Shadow"
Maculata knows that Shadow has super human strength but he needs more food in him.
'He does not need to constantly protect me'
"Have time for yourself as well, Shadow, you cannot constantly protect me if you get-"
"I will never become ill your majesty, as long as I need to protect someone, and that is both you and her highness, I will not allow myself to become ill"
'Such dedication'
"Take care of yourself"
"I should also be the one saying those words to you, I observe that you are constantly overworking yourself"
"You sound like Penzilvana now"
"I apologise but both Lady Penzilvana and I, always see you buried in work, we also notice that you are very stressed out"
"I must work so that this Kingdom may run"
"Your health is also important"
"Thank you for your concern"
Shadow nods, after breakfast, Maculata went to her office and continued working she had the paperwork from last night in her hands.
The paperwork is exportation of crystals and products made from it, there was NO problem, but she wanted it finished, since she will inspect the Crystal Mines later.
Time went by quickly, and it was already time for lunch, Shadow is a little self-conscious when he was dining with the royals.
Penzilvana on the other hand is on Maculata's shoulder eating what seems to be a drop of honey.
"You are eating with your mask on"
Duke Ivan mentions, Shadow tenses at the mention of his mask, not to mention Duke Ivan was the one that said that.
"Yes...well, I apologise, but I cannot reveal my face"
"Let him be, Duke Ivan"
"Shadow has always been lurking around, I apologise if that may have offended you Shadow, I never really saw your face even in the beginning"
"It is fine, Duke Ivan, I know a lot of you want to see my face, but I cannot reveal it"
"He has his reasons"
"Let's be respectful to him and let him keep his privacy"
After lunch, Maculata bid farewell to the Duke and Peachy since she was going to the Crystal Mines.
"Safe travels, sister"
"Protect her with your life, Shadow"
"I will, your grace"
"See you later"
They enter the Carriage, and it drove away from the Palace, Penzilvana finally transforms into her human form.
"I don't really want to interact with the Duke too much"
"Did the Duke do something to you, Lady Penzilvana?"
"No, I just don't like him, why? You know of those people that you don't like for no particular reason? That's one of those times"
"Apparently Penzilvana is intimidated by the Duke more than me"
"You are a cute girl, Maculata, the Duke looks like he is about to rip my wings off"
Maculata chuckles at her demeanour, Shadow understands that the Queen keeps Penzilvana close is because she can make her laugh.
Or keep her amused because of her personality and demeanour.
"Sorry if I'm intruding on you two"
"It is fine Lady Penzilvana"
"Shadow is already used to you always intruding"
"Wow you make me sound like, I'm always a third wheel"
"Are you not?"
Penzilvana puffed her cheeks crossing her arms, Maculata chuckles once again, covering her lips with her hand.
(Crystal Mines)
They finally arrive at the Crystal Mines, all the miners who were working greeted the Queen.
"Chief, how have you been?"
"I am well, your majesty please this way"
"Please continue working, I am here to inspect the mines not your work"
All the miners bowed their heads and nodded, the Chief Miner gave them hard hats for protection.
All of them wore it before they went inside the mines, the mines were still as beautiful as Maculata remembers the first time she saw it.
"It looks like the crystals are healthy"
Maculata touches one of the Crystals, she felt and heard the crystal sing when she touched it.
"Same as before"
"The crystals really like you"
"Everything is in order your majesty, we let the Crystals rest once we have harvested them already"
The Crystals in the Mines had different colours, it ranges from, blue, light blue, purple, red and yellow, with their corresponding colours is their corresponding properties
Blue = Water
Light Blue = Fire
Purple = Wind
Red = Plants
Yellow = Earth
Each crystal have healing properties, and it has different uses.
"I want to see the colourless ones'"
"Right this way, your majesty"
They went deeper down the mines, the colourless crystals are the most valuable, piece of crystal in the Veritus Kingdom.
It can change colour depending on what it will be used on, but in its initial state it had no colour.
With no colour means no properties of any kind, Maculata touches the crystals once again, and it sang on her touch.
The crystals light up the moment she touches it.
"Healthy as well"
"Just by your touch they sing"
The only one who can hear the crystals sing is Maculata and Penzilvana, Penzilvana gave Maculata the gift to hear the crystals.
The Queen is already gifted with the sixth sense of sight, but Penzilvana saw her potential to have one more ability and that is to hear the crystals sing.
"Lets go deeper in the mines"
In the last section and the deepest part of the mines are the Black Crystals, these Crystals are tricksters, and they take pleasure in hurting people.
"Thankfully no one has been hurt, or no one perished in these Mines, everyone is very careful and cautious especially in these parts"
"Look Penzilvana, it's one of you"
Maculata says to the fairy, Penzilvana shrugged at her attempt to be funny.
The Crystals here does not sing, they shriek when they are touched, the shriek can break your ear drums.
Maculata is not the one to touch these Crystals but Penzilvana, the fairy is immune to the shriek of these crystals.
She touches it and the Crystals begin to shriek in unison, Maculata did not hear the shriek since she did not touch it
She can only hear the crystals when they are touched.
"Be careful, these things are plotting something"
Penzilvana warned, for some reason Maculata is mesmerized by that one crystal chunk above them.
"There is something about that crystal..."
"Maculata! I told you to be careful!"
Penzilvana can hear the crystal above them giggle.
Maculata squints her eyes to have a better look at the crystal but then Penzilvana heard a cracking sound.
"Shadow!"
Shadow immediately disappears and Penzilvana spreads her wings going towards Maculata who is just below the large chunk of black crystal.
"Protegere. Dome glacialis"