Chereads / Maculata and The Five Suitors / Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: [PAST] Luna vs Maculata

Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: [PAST] Luna vs Maculata

Both Maculata and Ouran woke up early, Ouran bowed to Maculata bidding her good morning and then left.

Peachy actually slept with them, she was at the centre of the bed while Peachy was at the side, of course she held Peachys' arm while she slept to support her and make sure she does not fall off the bed.

Maculata woke Peachy up, she did not complete her whole story because of the sobbing and crying.

She wants to know what the full story of what happened in the noble tea party is, but first she urged her to wash her face and go back to her room to brush her teeth.

After they were both done, she asked Peachy what happened she told Maculata the whole story, she was thoughtful, she gave a faint smile to her sister and patted her head.

"I will be the one to attend today's' noble tea party, you should go and rest"

"No! I want to go too! I should redeem myself from yesterday"

"But they will say that I told on you, so I cannot accept you being there without me, sister…!"

"I should tell you, Peachy, what Luna did was just proper, as the belle of society she must be strict on us royals and the nobles, do not take it to heart, she is not an enemy, know that"

"Okay…"

"Lets' have breakfast first"

It was the maid and the suitor, she told them to come in, Nick was a nervous mess, when the gaze of Maculata dropped on him, he froze, Peachy noticed and waved her hand so that he gets distracted from the gaze of her sister.

"Your morning, good majesty"

"Ah…"

"It seems like our suitor here is confused on his words"

Nick blushes, he apologise and bows, Maculata waved her hand and told him to sit with them, Maculata's arms were folded, she told the maid that anything was fine, and she gets them their food.

"I apologise for intruding like this, on your day of courting Sir. Nick"

"It is fine, the more, the merrier"

"You are one of my suitors that is afraid of me I see"

"I apologise your majesty"

"Sir. Nick" Maculata calls out

"Y-Yes?!"

"Calm your nerves and listen to me, I will not bite nor harm you"

"Y-Yes…"

"You are struggling financially to support your family, are you not?'

"…"

He became quiet, he had a pained expression on his face, he then looks at the Queen with a determined expression on his face and nodded.

"It is all taken care of"

"W-What…?"

"As long as you complete being my suitor, I will support you and your family, without worries"

"Your majesty…! Thank you!"

"Why did you even decide to work here?"

"A lot of rumours surrounding the Veritus Kingdom says about wealth and riches when you work here, but…I prove that to be wrong"

"Does the Amaryllis Tea Shop not give you minimum wage?"

"They do, and sometimes they give me a bonus, but it wasn't enough, the high paying job here needs you to become experience in something, I only know how to serve or help…"

"You were lucky to try out the flyer that my sister has posted then"

"I had my doubts at first, but since it was located in the Palace, I told myself why not? So I pursued the opportunity"

"Then you are a man of tackling opportunity"

"My thoughts were on my family when I applied"

"You are noble"

Their food arrived, and they all eat, Nick immediately became at ease when he found out the Queen was very kind, although her expression is not desirable, her heart is in the right place.

(Grace Estate)

Maculata, Nick and Peachy is well-dressed for this tea party, they were earlier than the allotted time, much earlier than the allotted time, they were the first ones' to arrive, the servants in the estate panicked when the Queen made her appearance.

They waited at the lounge, while they wait they were served tea, Maculata relaxes while they wait, the ones' who were tense were Nick and Peachy.

"Relax both of you"

Maculata had a black long elegant dress on, it was a mature style that she has picked, Nick had a suit on, while Peachy had a long light blue dress, both the sisters had their hair up in a ponytail.

"Your majesty, it is an honour for you to visit our estate once again"

"Lady Rose, it is my pleasure to be here today, as you can see I am here with my sister and my suitor"

"Suitor you say?"

Nick stood up and kissed her hand, Lady Rose blushed, he had a lot of charm on today, he smiled at the mother of Luna.

"How charming"

"It is nice to meet you, Marchioness Rose"

Marchioness Rose gave her title to her daughter when Maculata became the Queen, she saw that Luna was ready to inherit her title both being the belle of society and the seat in the Amaryllis Council.

"I am very happy that you finally have a suitor, Queen Maculata"

"Thank you, where is Luna?"

"She is still preparing, I apologise"

"Take the time she needs"

"Let me be the one to entertain you now, your majesty"

"But of course"

They talked about politics, economics, what was happening in the social circles, the trends of the Kingdom as well as the Hexagon Empire.

Peachy and Nick couldn't comprehend what they were saying, just then the nobles from the social circle arrived, they were shocked that the Queen was here, they all greeted the Queen, bowing to her.

"Well now, I guess you all remember greeting me, even the banquet from five years ago"

They paled and sweated when the Queen suddenly mentioned that, it looks like Peachy reported the thing they have been saying about her and the Queen.

"I apologise being tardy"

"Lady Luna, it seems that you have slept well"

"…Yes"

"Shall we start so that we could also go home early?"

"Yes, your majesty"

She leads them to the garden where the pastries, tables and chairs were already set up, they sat down Maculata was the one that took the seat at the head.

"Thank you for accepting and arriving in the Grace Estate Villa, we are honored by the presence of our Queen today, her highness Princess Peachy and her majesties suitor, Nicholas"

'Luna didn't announce my presence when I was here yesterday, how very bias'

Peachy wanted to puff her cheeks, but she just had a smile on her face, everyone bowed to the Queen and the Queen prompted for them to sit down.

"Might I ask what changed your mind in having a suitor, Queen Maculata?"

"I've been thinking and at this age, I should have married but work keeps me from doing so, taking care of a Kingdom is no easy feat, not to mention looking out for the enemies"

"Might I ask what title your suitors holds?"

"His title IS my suitor, Lady Lee"

'Sister really knows how to counter their questions, I am amazed'

"May we ask your suitor questions?"

"You may"

"What is your occupation before you became a suitor?"

"His occupation does not matter Lady Jacque"

"What did you like about her majesty, Sir. Nick?" Lady Sophia asked

"His majesty is very caring and kind, that is what I liked about her"

"Where did you meet?"

"When she was inspecting the Amaryllis Tea Shop we met by bumping to each other, I immediately recognized that she is the Queen, but my heart has already been captured when she told me that it was alright, I expected to be shouted at, but it turns out looks can be deceiving"

What he is saying is already scripted, Maculata already told him what to say and what not to say to everyone in this tea party.

He gave a loving smile at Maculata, he touches her hand bringing it to his and kisses her knuckles, the noble ladies swooned at her actions, Maculata already knows that this nobles always likes to hear love stories the Queen knows how to manipulate them already.

"I do have a question, your majesty"

"Yes?"

"Why is the Amaryllis Council not informed of this sudden courting?"

Maculata smirked at what Luna said, the noble ladies looked at each other and wondered, the Queen already predicted that Luna would bring this up.

"Did the Council not get informed? You are not informed?"

"Yes, I did not get informed of this"

"…I guess Duke Ivan forgot to inform all the Council Members, pardon the highest ranking member of the council, Luna"

She became flustered at Maculata's words, she cannot believe that the Queen humiliated her, but then she remembers that Peachy got humiliated yesterday.

"Are you taking revenge on me, Princess Peachy?"

"Revenge?"

"For yesterdays' events"

"That is not a befitting thing to say of one of the BELLE of society, 'revenge' is such a dreadful word, you are supposed to set an example in society, if I am not mistaken, Luna"

Maculata easily silences her, she successfully redeemed peachy and diverted the attention away from her, the Queen has had enough and stands up, all of them stand up as well, no one even touched the food in front of them.

"Why don't we catch up some time, Luna? It seems our relationship has turned a bit sour"

"Alright…your majesty"

"I have a lot of things I need to do, as well as my sister, it is already mid-afternoon, we will be going now, why don't you all enjoy yourselves now"

"Yes, your majesty"

All the noble ladies saw the three out of the estate, they entered the carriage and bid farewell to them, the last one to enter the carriage is Nick before the carriage drove away.

"You acted very well both of you"

"Thank you sister!"

"I apologise for touching you, your majesty"

"It was called for, that was very good acting"

They returned satisfied of the outcome of the tea party, Maculata went to work once again and Peachy rested in her room, Nick on the other hand asked for a maid food, he was very famished on all that happened.

But Nick is impressed by Maculata, he took in the words he said, 'Looks can be deceiving'