When Luna woke up, the Queen went by her side, Prince Calcifer just waited inside her office while Maculata was with Luna.
Luna was crying when she saw the Queen, she apologised repeatedly to her, Maculata soothe her and calmed her down.
"You couldn't control your actions, don't be too hard on yourself, Luna"
"It was disgraceful! I could not believe that I acted that way to you, your majesty, as well as Peachy...but I know I was still rational...then"
"You look confuse"
"I am...a little"
"You are still under the poison's effect"
"I think so..."
"Luna, I need to ask you, did you anger a noble or any other servant?"
"Anger...?"
"The maid that Shadow interrogated, informed him that a noble ordered her to poison you, continuously poison you up until this point, so that I am framed to have killed you"
"Frame you...?"
She held her head in pain, Maculata looked worried, Luna shakes her head.
"I apologise, my Queen, but I don't remember having angered anyone, or angered any maids, that maid that I was with, has been in the grace household for ten years already, the second maid is new, she has been around for only three years."
"The older maid, is the one that betrayed you, despite serving the grace family for more than a decade, you need to question your servants' loyalty, Luna"
"Ugh..."
"Are you alright?"
"Mild pain in my head"
"I see..."
"Queen Maculata, what about my parents? Did they disown me already?"
"No, they did not, do not worry, Luna, I told Reymond to write a letter to them, explaining what happened, they wrote back, understanding and saying that you should rest here for now, they will interrogate every servant in your household"
"I know that they are enraged, not only that, but they will also give me an earful"
"Don't let it get to you, Luna, you are a strong person, and I know you have endured a lot"
"I must apologise, first, to you, Queen Maculata"
"Why are you apologising?"
"Well...I have been defending the royal families image, for a while but, my words shifted...I regret that, I also betrayed you at some point, Queen Maculata"
"How long have you been, doing this?"
"Just recently"
"It's the poison"
"Are you certain that this actions of mine are the poison's doing?"
"Yes"
"You have faith in me, I see"
"Luna, you told me once that when I become Queen, you will help the royal family in any way that you can, when you become the Belle, I have held onto what you said until now, I believed in your loyalty to me and my family"
"Queen Maculata..."
"I do not think that you have betrayed me, do not think that you have"
"I humiliated Peachy and I attempted to humiliate you...!"
"No one can humiliate nor degrade me, and I would never let that happen, accepting an insult would be a defeat to my reign and the royal family, that is why I must deflect it in every possible way"
"That moment it was my defeat, I apologise, you are just to firm and stern, you are an impenetrable fortress, so it would seem"
"I am not..."
"What do you mean?"
"When you coughed blood, I was so scared, I couldn't bear someone dying again, but I needed to be calm despite the raging panic of my whole being, I am thankful that I had Penzilvana and Shadow with me, they immediately acted in that situation"
"You are lucky, Queen Maculata"
"I was afraid of loosing my childhood friend, I was in so much relief when you turned out okay now"
"..."
Luna lowered her head, sniffling, Maculata's expression softened, the two felt like children once again, showing their emotions to each other being vulnerable.
"My parents wanted me to be like you, I needed to outshine you in every possible way that I can...but I never wanted that, because you are my childhood friend, Queen Maculata, despite being aggressive or stealing the spotlight, you were still understanding towards me"
"You didn't have a choice"
"I feel so horrible, that's why whenever we are not together, I show to everyone that you and the royal family are in a good light despite all the people being afraid of you"
"So you weren't the one that spread rumours about me?"
"I would never!"
"I see..."
"I have so many regrets, your majesty"
"This is how we are build, you may not like your families' idea of outshining me, but that is their idea of your family name being in the spotlight" Luna was just quiet. "But you had your own way of still being you, despite your families' ideology that you must follow"
Maculata smiled at Luna, Luna cried and hugged Maculata, she returned the embrace of the Queen.
"You and Peachy are important to me too and both of you are like sisters to me, I would never want to hurt you, or your reputations, but I already did so...!"
"You won't do it again, correct?"
"Yes...but I also do not want to disobey my family"
"Then just do what you always do, put up appearances but at the same time, be you, Luna"
Maculata rubs her back, Luna tired herself crying so much, and fell asleep.
Maculata exited the infirmary and went back to her office where, Prince Calcifer is waiting, she had her usual blank and cold expression on her face once again.
"How is Lady Luna?"
"She is fine"
"Thank goodness"
"Did you sort the paperwork out?"
"Yes...!"
"...You are here because of your regret, Luna got poisoned because it maybe because of her regret as well, that is just my speculations"
"Did you ask if anyone wanted to take her life?"
"She doesn't know..."
"I see..."
"This is how royal life works, in every corner of the Palace or household, fifty percent of the people with you, will try to kill you, that's how this life works"
"It's very...tough"
"The investigation is still on going...I need to meet with Duke Ivan soon, as well as the Amaryllis Council"
"...Now that I think about it, I have never seen the Amaryllis Council, before"
"You were too drunk to see who they are"
"Er..."
Maculata looks at the papers on her desk, she nods at how neat the pile of sorted paperwork is, she proceeds to read it.
"Your majesty"
"Hm?"
"May I ask you to have a stroll with me at the Palace Fountain?"
"Later, this afternoon"
"Alright, what might I assist you with?"
"You are speaking like a servant"
"Haha...I apologise"
"Speak casually, Prince Calcifer"
"A-Alright"
"Sit at the table, so you wouldn't get bored"
Maculata brings out a ledger, she gives it to him and instructs him to transfer the things written in the ledger to a new one.
"Let's see if you still know how to do this"
"I'll do what I can do, Queen Maculata"
"When you are done bring them to me"
"Alright"
'Peachy wouldn't need to do this later...I guess she could rest, there won't be any noble tea party for now since, Luna is incapacitated, it is going to be quiet in the social circles, but gossip will circulate around once again, when tea parties resume'
The two worked silently, but Maculata notices Prince Calcifer, having trouble, she stands up.
"Your majesty! Did you need something?"
She went behind him, and leaned at his work, her hand on the table, she hummed and pointed out the things that were wrong.
"Sorry..."
"It looks like, it's been a while since you've done this, but you still know how to sort paperwork in contrast to doing this"
"Yes"
Maculata puts a hand on her chin, pointing the things he needs to change, Prince Calcifer looks up, he unknowingly stared at the Queen.
"Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes..."
"You didn't listen"
He gave an awkward laugh at her, she sat next to him, and both of them worked together on the ledger, Prince Calcifer couldn't help but be drawn towards the Queen.
"Your majesty..."
"Any questions?"
"I've listened to you, yes, but I couldn't help but stare at you, you look very beautiful"
"That is not going to work-"
"I may be a flirtatious buffoon, but I speak the truth, why haven't I noticed your beauty before?"
"Because I am boring"
"Hahaha..."
"That aside, we should have lunch, then a stroll at the fountain let's go"
"Ah, but your paperwork"
"I can do it later"
"I apologise for keeping you from your work"
"It's fine, let's go"
The two had lunch first before they walked around the fountain, they had some distance from the people that were looking at the fountain.
"I am in public and yet, no one is realising I am the Queen"
"Maybe because you are with me?"
"They are too distracted admiring either the view or their significant other"
"I, too, am distracted being with you, your majesty"
The Queen just hummed in response, Prince Calcifer is questioning himself if he does not have any charms any more.
"Prince Calcifer"
"Yes?"
"Let me say this to you"
'I need to brace myself with another insult'
"Prince Calcifer, I have never seen anyone as handsome as you"
Maculata touches the side of his cheek making him, blush.
"Will you be mine forever?"
His face was now painted red, Maculata takes her hand off of the side of his cheeks and covered her mouth, looking away. She snickered in amusement from his reaction.
"H-Huh...?"
"It looks like, I need to be the man in this situation, your words does not sway me but, my words make you swoon"
"Wait-"
"It won't be awkward now would it?"
"It will...!"
"It's amusing, seeing you flustered, Prince Calcifer, I'd do that again some time soon"
The Prince inwardly groaned, 'why did the tables turn so suddenly?'
"Let me take your hand, Prince Calcifer"
"No...!"
Maculata grabbed his hand and intertwined, her hand to his, to Maculatas' surprise, he held her hands tight, wrapping it around the Queen.
Maculata had a slight tint of pink on her cheeks, Prince Calcifer noticed.
"It looks like, you, making the first move, slightly backfired"
"...I guess"
Prince Calcifer brings their hands up and brushes his lips on her knuckles, the slight pink became redder.
'In the end she is still a woman, and I must find a way how to please her'
"I thought that we need to obey the rules, your majesty?"
"I just tried holding your hand, and will let it go quickly, I did not expect you to intertwine yours as well"
"Of course, I will, and it's interesting that your hand perfectly fits mine"
"Let's go back already..."