Luna stayed in the Palace and rested, she hasn't waken up yet, Maculata wanted to stay until she waked up, but the doctor told her that it is not good to stay up and sleep on a chair, and she needs to work the next day as well.
She reluctantly went to her room and rested, but she was still worried about, Luna, she did not sleep well last night.
Today, Shadow is courting her again, Shadow is very worried about Maculata and wants to help her, but how? He then remembers that talking is part of soothing someone.
"Your majesty"
"Hm...?"
"Are you alright...? Did you sleep well?"
"Unfortunately Shadow, no I did not sleep well, it's your job to amuse me and take my stress away"
"Um...you are beautiful your majesty..."
"..."
Both of them stared at each other, but then Shadow was the first one to look away, his face red from embarrassment.
"I don't know how I would feel better with an abrupt, compliment, but thank you"
"You are welcome, your majesty"
"I remember that you do not give compliments often, but you do give very good life advice"
"I have experienced a lot of things, your majesty"
"Apparently, courting is not one of those experiences"
"I have observed how it is done...!"
"You are still very awkward"
"Please, do not tease me about being awkward, your majesty, I do remember that you were also one, as well"
"I was a kid then"
"A very energetic and always smiling child"
"I apologise for the shenanigans I caused when I was a child, Penzilvana is a demon that taught me of a lot of pranks, she is just in disguise she is still now"
"Lady Penzilvana loves pranks, but I am impressed that you were able to tone down her mischievous ways"
"Heh"
"You have grown beautifully, your majesty, and you also became smart and wise along the way"
"I still have a lot to learn"
"I will be by your side, always, your majesty"
"I feel very reassured, with you, Shadow"
The two ate a peaceful breakfast, when Maculata asked about the maid, that they were questioning.
"The maid passed out...the information we have extracted is; a noble has instructed her to poison and kill Luna in your presence, so that word spreads that you are the one who killed, Lady Luna, but because Penzilvana thwarted the maid that had the poison she failed"
"I noticed Luna was acting strange as time passes, being with her, but I never would have expected this would happen, and a noble was plotting this, who did Luna anger, I wonder? Not only that but who is that noble fool, that dares frame me"
"I will investigate further, your majesty"
"Have the names in a list, and also, why would they target Luna...?"
"Yes, your majesty"
A knock on the door caught their attention, Shadow got up and opened the door, a maid brought a package and gave it to Shadow, she bows, and he nods to the maid.
Maculata dismissed the maid that is usually stationed on standby, for them to have privacy, Shadow checked if the box is safe before he gave it to the Queen.
"Sense anything unusual?"
"It has mana, but I do not believe it is dangerous, your majesty"
She opens it, inside was a rainbow crystal, and a chain, Shadow looked intrigued at the objects inside, Maculata showed the chain to him.
"Do you know what is the use of this?"
"I do wonder what it is, what is the connection between the rainbow crystal and the chain"
"The chain is for you"
"Did I do something wrong, your majesty?!"
"You will be chained on the bed, so that I can have fun"
Maculata narrowed her eyes, Shadow looked at her with a blank expression, the slow realisation dawned on him and his eyes widened, his ears were flushed red.
"I am jesting"
"Your majesty, if you are feeling a bit lonely..."
"Hm?"
"You may call upon me, and do anything and order anything you want from me"
"Remove your mask"
"Except for that...!"
Maculata laughs, Shadow looked down very embarrassed, it was strange, Shadow felt something when she laughed, once again.
"It is a chain for the crystal"
"Why would you chain it?"
"This is no ordinary chain, when wrapped like this, the mana is not detectable any more"
"What is this, chain?"
"The dwarves made this chain, I requested this from Penzilvana a long time ago"
"Really...?"
"She boasted that she had dwarve friends that could easily give me a magical chain, this chain was meant to have a sharp arrow tip at the end of it, Penzilvana gave this to me incomplete since, the dwarves does not want to make weapons, and the tip is a weapon"
"Why would you want a chain with an arrow tip, your majesty?"
"Because of a book, it was interesting, for self-defense too, but I just learned wielding a bow instead"
"What about the crystal?"
"This crystal is important, but the importance of it cannot be told, so I need to ship this out so that it is taken care of"
"Where?"
"To a friend"
"I see"
Maculata wraps the crystal and closes the box, she locks it first inserting the keyhole and then padlocks it, Shadow looked at the Queen.
"She has a spare key, for precious items like this"
"Interesting"
"This key only has two pairs, this in which I hold and the friend of mine"
"Who...is that friend of yours?"
"She lives southeast"
'A she' Shadow breathes a sigh, I don't need any more 'rivals'
"What...?"
"Hm?"
"N-No your majesty"
"Are you alright? You look quite red"
'What do I mean by rivals?! What?! The Queen is my master, I should not think of developing feelings for her!'
Maculata stood up and leaned towards Shadow, touching his forehead, he was startled and leaned back on his chair resulting in both of them falling down.
"Your majesty, are you alright?!"
"I'm fine"
Shadow was about to move when he felt the Queen's knee on his abdomen sliding down as she moves.
"Wait...!"
"Please don't move!"
"Why?"
"J-Just don't move"
Shadow reaches out his hand shaking, Maculata looked at him curiously.
'Maybe he is embarrassed because we are in this position...?'
Maculata remembered Penzilvana's words
'It's okay to tease people once in a while, right...?'
"Excuse me for touching your arms-"
Maculata grabbed Shadows hand, he flinched at her touch, he then pushed it down on the floor.
"Y-Your majesty?!"
Maculata lowered herself, Shadow had a good view of her cleavage, so he looked away and closed his eyes, Maculata then whispers his name.
"Shadow~"
Shadow tensed up, his breath hitched, Maculata hummed and leaned back from her position with a confused expression.
"I feel something bulging-"
Shadow disappeared in the blink of an eye, and Maculata slightly dropped to the ground looking even more confused.
"That was strange"
Maculata stands up, she sits herself on the chair, she was thoughtful.
"Did I went overboard in teasing him?"
Shadow was outside, he was at the fountain cooling down, his face is flushed red and his whole body is shaking.
"What the hell was that...?"
He splashes cold water on his face, he takes deep breaths.
"My body was about to grab her majesty, if I didn't do anything before then, I would have broken the rules"
"Shadow!"
"!!!"
"Shadow...!"
"The Queen is calling but...I do not think I have the-"
"Sha~dow~"
Shadow appeared before the Queen, kneeling, his head bowed to hide his flushed face, he couldn't resist the calls of the Queen. He is so loyal and responsive that he also does not want to disappoint the Queen.
"I apologise if I teased you too much"
"..."
'He is angry, isn't he...?'
"You are dismissed"
"NO! I WANT TO BE WITH YOU, YOUR MAJESTY!"
"Shadow...?"
Shadow stood up, pulled Maculata's chair to face him and cornered Maculata by trapping her in his arms...
That moment Penzilvana, entered in human form, she always does this so when she entered she paused, but not entirely surprise.
"Oh, are you going to do it? Just ignore me then, I'll just drop this"
Shadow fled, his whole being embarrassed, Maculata was shocked but felt her whole body become numb for some reason.
"N-No need"
"Hahaha..." Penzilvana chuckled, it became a full-blown laughter.
Maculata stood up, her whole face becoming red, for the first time in a while she is embarassed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, Did I really interrupt something? This is why you should lock the door!"
"Get out of here Penzilvana!"
"You're also embarrassed! LOOK AT YOU! YOU ARE SO CUTE! HAHAHAHA!"
Maculata was about to throw the papers on the table, but then she stopped since it was important, she clenched her fist, biting her lower lip in anger.
"Should I call the other suitor, so that they could see you flustered?"
"P-E-N-Z-I-L-V-A-N-A...!"
A tick mark appeared all over Maculata's head, she shouted for penzilvana to get out already.
The fairy waved her hand still laughing exiting her room, Maculata covered her face with the papers.
"If Penzilvana...didn't arrive"
She shakes her head and went to her desk, but first she rang a bell to let a maid attend to her.
"Your majesty...?"
The maid was genuinely surprise that the Queen was flustered, she also blushed and thought she was cute in this way.
"Ahem!"
"Yes?!"
"Water..."
"Of course, right away!"
"Cold, put a lot of ice"
"Yes! Your majesty!"