Maculata is fully dressed even if it was still early morning, she didn't have breakfast since she will receive Luna in the Palace.
She was wearing a crimson red formal straight dress her back exposed and her cleavage being revealed, the suitors has been told that they should stay clear of the Palace and stay in their rooms.
Penzilvana is also dressed up despite not being part of the meeting, Peachy is inside the Palace diligently reading up on Politics and Economics, she wants to prove to her sister and the noble ladies that she can interact with them and talk to them about their topics, she is also advised to stay in her room.
She waits for Luna at the gates of the Palace, as expected she was VERY early, she steps down on her carriage and the two faced each other.
There are two high ranking nobles staring at each other, but there is only one that is above the other noble and that is Queen Maculata herself.
"I am honoured to be in your presence, Queen Maculata, I am grateful that you have accepted my request to meet you"
She also had servants with her, they bowed before the Queen she nods, and turns around, they automatically follow her, and she leads them to the lounge, the servants are ready to serve them at any moment.
Reymond is also on standby if Maculata needed someone trustworthy to run her some errands in this meeting.
"It's like a battlefield here"
"Please, be seated"
"Thank you"
The maids serve them food and explained the food to them since, Luna is the belle everything needs to be up to her standards, it was a formal setting.
The Duke of Bijoux despite being the one that is on top of the Amaryllis Council, he is not formal with the Queen all the time especially if they are alone together.
But it seems like the Belle is not that case.
They started eating silently, they were eating with grace and elegance, Penzilvana looked at them awkwardly, is this really necessary?
"How was your trip here, Lady Luna?"
"Very tiring"
"I hope you are well rested in the Palace"
Both of them were done eating at the same time, they dabbed the kerchief on their lips and had tea, everyone was silent, the whole Palace was very silent.
'You could hear a needle drop because of the silence'
"How is your mother? Lady Rose?'
"She is well, she was surprised that you have visited last time, and you left just as fast"
"As you may have already known, I have a lot of work, a Queen does not rest"
"What about today?"
"My work is done as you can see, that is why I am playing with you"
"Playing, is not proper words for this meeting, you are the one that invited me here"
"Is this not playing? We are in a formal setting despite being in the last day of the weekend"
Luna did not have any retaliation to the words of the Queen, she just sips her tea, Maculata notices that she is not drinking the tea she has been served her tea cup, is almost half empty already.
"One point for Maculata!"
"Is the tea not to your liking?"
"No-"
"You should have spoken if you did not have a liking to the tea, Lady Luna"
Maculata waved her hand and the servants quickly clears the cups from the table making new tea, just then Penzilvana noticed something strange from one of the maids.
"The tea was hot, I could have drank it, I just waited for it to cool down"
"Is that so…?"
"Yes"
"I apologise"
Luna started coughing, Penzilvana flew towards one of the maids and went inside her skirt, Maculata ignored Penzilvana and asked Luna if she was alright, just then, her coughing intensified, Maculata stands up and went towards her.
"Luna!"
Penzilvana snatches the vial from the waist of the maid and hurriedly went outside, to transform into her human form, Luna started coughing blood, while Penzilvana burst inside the room and subdued Lunas' maid.
Shadow on the other hand called for the royal physician already they were on time when they arrived, Luna has been poisoned, the doctor made her drink an antidote and Lunas' coughing calmed down.
Penzilvana held one of the maids down who was the one that poisoned Luna, she pressed her body on her arms, the other maid was innocent and didn't know why her companion was being subdued.
"This maid poisoned the Marchioness, she needs to be locked up, she had poison with her"
Knights were also inside the room now, with Shadows escort as well they take the maid away in chains, Luna passed out and is taken to the infirmary of the Palace.
Maculata had blood on her clothes and her hands, but she was unfazed, she asked the doctor if she was alright.
"The blood accumulated from her lungs and stomach, she will be fine, but she has damage already, it seems like she has been poisoned little by little for some time now"
"I see…"
"What grudge could that maid be holding for her?"
"You should change clothes, Queen Maculata"
"We will watch her, go and get dressed again, Maculata"
"Alright"
She hurriedly changed clothes and then went back and stayed by Lunas' side, she ordered for Reymond to write a letter to her mother and father, the butler immediately complies and went out of the infirmary.
"There was almost another death in this Palace"
"Maculata?" she was shaking, Penzilvana hugged her and calmed her down, it looks like even with a heavy emotionless mask, it still slips off.
"If all of you were not quick enough…"
"Its' okay she is alive, that is all that matters, you saved her"
"Your majesty"
The doctor went towards them again, informing them of why her behaviour is very irritable, and she has mood changes very frequently, it was all because of the poison.
"So she changed because of the poison"
"She will recover within two years if she keeps drinking the antidote, it is very bitter, and she needs to endure it"
"She will do so, you do not have to worry doctor"
"I will see what I can find more"
"Please do"
"Mm…"
"Luna?"
Maculata held her hand, she whispered 'sorry' to Maculata, she squeezes her hand and told her that it was alright.
She stayed with Luna, Peachy was curious on what was happening, so she asked a passing servant, what was happening right now, the servant informed of her of the events that took place, she immediately rushed to the infirmary.
"Luna!"
"Sh"
"Is she okay now?!"
"Yes she is okay now, you don't have to worry, Peachy"
"Thank goodness"
Maculata told her what happened earlier, Peachy was very angry towards the maid that poisoned her, she knew that Luna was a good person.
"The maid is now being questioned by shadow and the Knights, Duke Ivan should be informed of this as well"
"I have already done so, your majesty"
"Thank you, Reymond"
"Will you be staying by Lady Lunas' side, sister?"
"She needs someone to be by her side"
"What about the doctor?"
"I trust our doctor, but I want to see her recover"
"It seems that you care for her because of the bond you two share"
"Both of us took our duties at the same time, the difference in us is, I had no parents to support me, except for you, but you didn't know what was happening yet"
"I'm sorry that I was still naive back then sister"
"Being young and innocent isn't your fault Peachy, we all went through that once"
Maculata says to her sister, Peachy thought that she would stay by her sisters' side and stop reading for today to keep her company.
"But you were still young at that time too"
"Yes, I was, but the Kingdom needed a leader, an honest and smart and capable one, and that all fell into my category, I was honed to have those skills so that the Kingdom, in case something bad happens, in which it already did, to keep it standing tall"
"That is why you are an amazing sister!"
"In all honesty, even though that was the case, Luna here had it more tough than me, why? Everything top to bottom must be perfect, the pressure on her parents as well, they were breathing down her neck"
"Does mom and dad do that to you?"
"No, they were different"
"Lady Lunas' parents are strict?"
"Yes, they were, not just strict they needed Luna to be the most perfect, the epitome of perfect, they needed her to outshine the Queen"
"But, you are perfect sister, they are no match"
"Apparently Peachy, in reality, no one is perfect, the nobles only made that concept because of their pride and ego, people have a lot of imperfections even me, and forcing someone to become perfect could lead into this"
"Someone holding a grudge on you?"
"Yes, that is why it is okay to be imperfect even you"
"You are perfect in my eyes' sister, even if everyone says it otherwise"
"You as well, we only have each other after all"
Maculata hugs her sister and Peachy nuzzles her head on Maculatas' shoulders, she loves her very much, she has become the Mother figure of Peachy ever since their parents has passed away.
The warmth, love and care of her sister is the only one for her.
But the known warmth she knows of, will soon fade.