Maria's POV:
My mind swirled as we finished dancing and sat back down to actually eat. I finished my food fairly quickly, and was back to jamming to songs. These were truly vintage, dating back almost a hundred years, and I couldn't help but smile at the fact that this playlist was listened to by anyone but me. The song that was playing was from 2020 and it was called Mad At Disney. I had heard this song so many times, my mother loving the song, and singing parts as she moved about the castle when I was a child. I hummed it as Ray finished his food and looked at me with a kind expression.
Addressing the question he asked earlier, properly this time, I spoke up. "Rupert is not my father. Not by blood. He adopted me, but he never treated me like his child, and I never saw him as my father." He seemed surprised by that answer. "What? You think I got my green eyes from him? Or my dark hair?" I laughed, but stood up as more songs came up and I started dancing again, leaving him to his thoughts. It was on some song that I didn't care to really listen to in the moment. He stopped the music, making me turn to look at him, finding him behind me. "Follow me." he said simply. I followed him through the palace and out of a set of doors in the back I didn't even know existed. He led me to a small garden at the back of the palace. I wasn't allowed in the back of the palace lands as a child. I didn't know about this place, and it was absolutely gorgeous. I stared at the roses, running my hand over their petals. I felt hands on my waist and turned to look at Ray behind me. He smiled and pulled me back into him, as I melted into his embrace, turning my head back to the roses. He laid a kiss on my shoulder before letting go of my waist and backing away, leaving me feeling cold.
I sat on the ground, laying down and looking up at the night sky. Ray joined me on the ground a moment later, taking my right hand into his, and stargazing with me. I started pointing out different constellations I had seen in my astrology books. I sat up after maybe 10 minutes and looked at him. "Thank you." He looked at me and smiled. "Of course Ria." I nodded before standing up and dusting off my dress. "I must head off to bed. I have much to discuss with my advisors tomorrow." He tilted his head. "I didn't know we had a meeting?" He asked standing up. I shook my head, "We don't. Just work to do." He sighed and started walking back to the palace, leading me by my hand once again. He led me all the way to my door, stopping right in front of it. He pulled me into a chaste kiss before turning and leaving, with a simple "Goodnight my queen."
The next morning I went down to my office. I was followed by a servant giving me a run down on the daily news. They started to read a headline, but then stopped short and started reading another one. I stopped walking, turning to them. "Don't hide things from me, what was that last headline?" They took a deep breath, then said the one headline that I never thought I'd hear. "The Queen is Caught Holding Hands With A Peasant." I stopped breathing for a moment, before taking that specific paper from them and walking swiftly to my office. I called a few people and in three minutes my main advisor, Ray and a PR specialist were in my office. Ray sat to my right in a chair that looked very uncomfortable for him. I looked at my advisor. "How can I fix this?" My advisor looked at the PR specialist. "The best I can give you is either to cut ties with him, or find a suitor." I must have shown a lot of disgust, because he immediately backtracked. "I mean it would cover up this whole scandal." I sighed, looking at Ray. "They called you a peasant. You don't deserve that treatment. No one does." He shook his head. "It isn't your fault my queen." I nodded and looked at the advisor. "We could announce a relationship between the young man and yourself, it could diminish the bad image it has set on you." I didn't know if I was ready for that, but I would have to make do with it anyway.