As everyone picked up their embroidery, and began working on it, Jupiter was the first to bring up the subject.
"You know, I just heard something very interesting from one of my personal maids."she began.
Serenity, and Venus looked excited. They were always eager to hear a new bit of gossip, even just servant's gossip, though it wasn't court gossip, but just as good, when there was no ball for days. Mercury kept her eyes fixed on her embroidery, and Mars frowned and shook her head.
"You guys really can't get enough gossip, can you?"she asked.
"You can't tell me you don't gossip on Mars?!"said Venus. "We've been at Phobos Deimos before! And it there were ever people who enjoyed gossip it was there!"
"Nothing like it was at Magellan!"said Mars, disapprovingly.
"Unlike at Titon! Or Solaria! Ugh!"said Venus. "You're not telling me you enjoyed yourself there!"
"On Solaria!"asked Jupiter, putting down her embroidery. "Well, it wasn't that bad. It was bad in the sense that there was no one to talk to but ourselves. No balls, no nothing. It was luxurious, and practically unspoiled for a nature lover."she smiled, remembering that aspect of Solaria. "And the food was all right, but…I did miss seeing."
"Amaterasu was pretty nice."said Mercury. "And the libraries were unmatched!"
"Everything,"said Mars. "except people."
"But like I was saying,"said Jupiter.
She couldn't wait to tell everyone, especially Venus, that she heard that someone, probably the Saturnian, had spread around rumors that Venus was fast. It would be fun to see the expression on her face.
"Well,"she was about to begin, and put her needle down. "it turns out that-"they were interrupted with a knock on the door.
Serenity and Venus frowned.
"Ugh, who could that be? Who is it?"Jupiter called out. "We're not receiving anyone right now! They'll have to wait until tea!"
The door opened, and an under maid walked in.
"I'm sorry, Princess, but it seems to be a matter of absolute urgency. A message for Princess Venus."
The maid handed Venus a piece of paper, and left. Venus took it and read it. She frowned.
"What is it?"asked Mercury, looking concerned. "Anything bad?"she asked.
Everyone else looked up, worriedly.
"It's….it says that Kunzite would like to speak to me to apologize."she said.
"Apologize?"asked everyone in unison.
She nodded.
"Yes."
"For?"
Venus shrugged. Jupiter put her hand over her mouth.
"Oh, my! Don't tell me it would be for that? I was sure it was the Saturnian!"
Everyone looked up.
"Well, that was the bit of news, really. That someone was spreading rumors, that should we say damaged your reputation."
"What?!"Venus's embroidery fell to the ground.
Jupiter shrugged.
"Oh, my! What did they say?"asked Serenity.
"What kind of a sick-o would be spreading stories about me?! It's because I'm a Venusian, isn't it? It's just the kind of prejudice we face! There isn't anyone who doesn't think ill of us in that respect! It's not my fault people are so ignorant!"
"Well, maybe he wasn't the one who spread them around."Mercury put in. "Perhaps it was the Saturnian after all. Perhaps he heard, and feels bad about it. Maybe he just wants to let you know he thinks that it is wrong, or something. Really, I don't know why he would do something like that. He doesn't seem like someone who would. I'm not telepathic, but he strikes me just as introverted as Amaterasu, and she wouldn't do something like that."
"Amaterasu was Solarian. Of course she wouldn't. She probably wouldn't even know what a reputation was."Mars put in. "But I'd be willing to bet that he would."
"But why?"asked Serenity.
"I demand that you speak to your husband, and that he take charge in this at once! I want this individual punished, for destroying my reputation!"Venus yelled at Serenity, her face turning red.
"You can't demand anything from the Queen!"said Jupiter.
"Oh, I can't, can't I?"
"Maybe we should all calm down!"Mercury interceded. Why did she always have to act as referee? "After all, the note only says he wants to apologize, perhaps not because he said anything, but because he tried to put a stop to it, or something! I mean, maybe he wanted to let you know, to see if you knew who would commit such a low atrocity against you, and see if he could put a stop to it. He does seem like quite a gentleman."
"Perhaps Mercury is right."said Jupiter.
Venus wiped her tears with her handkerchief, and snipped.
"Do you really think that's so?"
"Of course."
Venus sat down, and blew her nose.
"Well, I guess so,"she said. "I hope so. I still don't understand who would spread such things!"
"Whoever it was, is no gentleman!"said Jupiter furiously. "And believe me, when I find out who it was, he will never set foot inside this castle, or anywhere on Jupiter again. And if it was someone from Saturn, I will personally speak to Princess Saturn about that! Or whoever it was, wherever they're from!"
"Ooooh, when I get my hands on them!"growled Venus.
Mars shook her head.
"What if it wasn't a man, but a woman spreading those lies? Maybe out of jealousy?"she suggested. "There'd be nothing we could do then. If it was a man that's one thing, if it was a woman, well…"she shrugged.
"But why out of jealousy?"asked Venus.
Mars rolled her eyes.
"Isn't it obvious?"she asked.
"Uh, she's got a point there."said Serenity.
Venus groaned.
"Well, if it was, I will speak to her personally!"
