Lady Aria's mother, Countess Camille, decided to come in. "Princess Olivia, we heard that you returned late last night. Where were you?"
Of course, no one can pass up a good opportunity to gossip. the ladies all turned towards them. Some started to whisper amongst themselves. Luna didn't mind. The more, the merrier.
"I merely went for a stroll." Luna looked the countess in the eyes. Countess Camille felt a chill.
"I see." Countess Camille replied in a daze. "We are happy to see that you are well."
Both mother and daughter were flustered. This was truly a shocking revelation. They thought they had a fool proof plan. How did it go wrong? They wished to ask it out loud, but swallowed their words.
"My, how did you come to know?" Luna pretended to play dumb. "I did not tell anyone of my comings or goings."
"Yes, it was not widely known that Olivia was unaccounted for." Queen Regina chimed in as well.
Luna cocked a brow. She could see both squirming. They were trying desperately to come up with something on the fly.
"I heard from Prince Ren." Lady Aria said the first thing that came to mind.
"He was out on a hunt yesterday." Queen Regina frowned.
"My daughter meant that she spoke to him when we arrived." Countess Camille covered for Lady Aria. Queen Regina frowned, but she didn't counter them again.
Luna felt a little disappointed. She was going for a better show. She had to settle for a little puppet show. But who pulled the strings.
Though there was quite a lot of chatter, the tea party went along without incident. Luna found it a bore, but could not just walk out. She did her best to play the part, but it was obvious that her etiquette was somewhat lacking.
Once the ladies started to leave, the queen called her aside. They went for a walk in a gorgeous garden. The flowers were in full bloom, and their bright colors could lift anyone's mood.
"My dear, I hope that you were not affected by their words." Queen Regina held Luna's hands as she looked at her full of motherly love.
"Do not worry, your majesty." Luna assured her. It felt odd to be in this situation, so she tried her best to think of comforting words.
"I know it is not easy to be where you are." Queen Regina sighed. "I brought you here, and I will do everything I can to care for you here as well. If only your mother were still here"
Luna felt that all the queen spoke to her sincerely. There was a warmth in her eyes, and Luna accepted Queen Regina as she wrapped Luna in her embrace.
They walked a little more, and then they parted ways. Luna went back to her chambers. She wanted a quick moment to herself to gather her thoughts. Today was not as fruitful as she had hoped.
There was a series of knocks on the window behind her. She was so lost in thought, this she didn't notice. The visitor changed tactics. Now it was loudly cawing. Luna sprung up and moved to the window.
In came rushing a black void. It swooshed around the room a few times before coming to a stop on the back of a chair. It was a scruffy looking crow. One of its eyes was disfigured.
Luna nearly burst into tears. Her dearest companion Midnight had returned to her. She gingerly stroked his head. She also fed him a few pieces of fruit that were sitting in the table.
Midnight was basking in the affection from his owner. It was as if he had not seen her in a long time. He made a few happy noises, and rubbed his face into her hand.
A maid happened to enter the room at this moment. She was caught off guard, seeing a crow in the princess's room. She put down the basket of laundry she held, and rushed to shoo the bird away.
"Wait!" Luna cried out. "I'd like to take this bird in as a pet. He is rather harmless."
The maid had a stunned expression on her face. It seemed so undignified to keep such a beast, much less one that looked as though it had been through the ringer. But she could not go against her lady's wishes, so she gave a small bow, and continued on about her business.
When they were along again, Luna smiled widely at the bird. "Midnight, my darling." She affectionately called the bird. "I hope that I didn't leave you for very long. But I am overjoyed that you have remembered to come back to me."
The bird cawed in response. When the bird settled down, Luna prepared to rekindle the link between them. Often in the past, Midnight had been her eyes. Now she wanted to see what she missed. She had no control on when or where she would return, so she wanted to see the past through the events witnessed by the bird. It would be a limited view, but perhaps enough to know more about the current state of the world.