Chapter 87: Whispers Under the Moonlight
The night had already fallen, and the moonlight shone brightly. The Queen and Lady Stephanie sat in the garden as the soft wind blew gently around them. Lady Stephanie spoke quietly.
"I’ll just tell you the tea, and then we’ll head to our rooms. I wouldn’t want to disturb your sleep schedule—I’ve already disturbed you quite a lot with my talking today.
Ariana nodded softly. At this point, it was the tea she was waiting for. Lady Stephanie had been meant to tell her earlier, but given their surroundings, they had decided to wait. Now, almost alone, this was the perfect time.
Lady Stephanie, noticing the eager look on Ariana’s face, couldn’t help but decide to tease her a little. She scratched the back of her head and said quietly, "My Queen, it seems I forgot the tea."
Ariana gave her a sharp glare, and Leah giggled softly at how cute the Queen looked just then.
"Okay, okay, let me tell you," Leah whispered. "But please, my Queen, do not tell anyone about it," she said pleadingly.
Ariana nodded calmly, and Lady Stephanie finally decided to spill the tea.
Meanwhile, Leah stood at a distance, wondering what the two were discussing. Normally, she stayed about five feet away—just close enough to overhear bits of their conversations, even if she wasn’t directly involved. It was part of her duty, after all, to ensure the Queen’s safety.
But today was different.
Ariana had specifically ordered her not to come close. That alone raised suspicion. And the way the Queen and Lady Stephanie leaned toward each other—it clearly meant they were discussing something private.
She was curious, yes, but she also respected the Queen’s command. Orders were orders—and it was her duty to obey them.
Stephanie spoke quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s not really a secret or tea, as it would be known soon... but I’m not supposed to tell anyone. Still, I wanted to tell you, my Queen. It’s nothing too big, but it means a lot to me."