Minako sat in the garden after lunch the next day, helping Maria mend an old dress. She pursed her lips and looked up at the older woman. "You know, the servants would do this for you."

Maria nodded curtly and kept on stitching. Minako shrugged and kept working on her part, ignoring the chattering youths that came out and settled themselves around her feet. Only when Jezibiah was there did they both put their work down and look expectant.
"Well, everyone's here," he said, looking around. The voices silenced and looked up at him. "If you have something to ask Janie, ask her now," he said, and a flurry of questions exploded from the small crowd. "Raise your hands!" he yelled, then nodded to a girl.
"Who are you really?"
Minako nodded and told them: "I am Minako, Princess of Venus and leader of the Moon Princess' private sect of Sailor Senshi." She paused. "That is, if I still have a job," and smiled wryly, picking someone else.
"Why did you come to our town?"
"I was running away from something," she said softly and her smile faltered.
"What?"
Her reply was to smile again and choose another waving hand. Before the girl could speak, though, Maria cut in.
"Who is the father?"
Minako blinked and suddenly no one would look directly at her. They all seemed to find the grass very interesting, or the birds overhead, and she wondered if they had all been dying to ask this particular question, but had deemed it too intrusive. She shook her head and didn't answer.
"I have a question," Jezibiah growled, brooding at the grass. "Does the father know?"
Minako looked up at him, at his pale hair shining in the sunlight. "Yes."
He turned to look at her. "And will he do something about it?" Do I have to do something about it? he was asking. Like beat the guy up and make him accept the baby, or take care of you myself?
Minako sat back and closed her eyes briefly, as if the sunlight was hurting them. She was silent for a long moment and then spoke, and everyone leaned forward to hear her. "He is a respectable man. He will accept his role and take responsibility for what is his – I do not, in any way, fear that he will let me down in this. Duty is very serious to him."
She opened her eyes and looked up at Jezibiah, who was scrutinizing her with a worried expression. "But he's not doing anything right now?"
"He's angry with me," was all she said.
And the questions continued.