Maria's POV: It's been two weeks since the attack from Will. No one has heard anything else from him since then. I have resumed my lessons with Mrs. Heliotrope. Robin has also continued his lessons to be the heir of the De Noir Catle. After our lessons, we babysit the pup and a few other rescued animals so Loveday can go into the village or meet with Uncle Benjamin. They have already started talking about wedding preparations. Sometimes when Loveday didn't need us to babysit, Robin would show me the safest ways to get around in the forest.
It was morning, and I had just woken up. I got up and ate a few cookies the Marmaduke had laid out. I made my bed and got ready for the day. I put on a dress that Loveday had set out for me earlier this morning with flowers on top that matched the dress's light violet color. The dress was more of a float one which you don't wear a cage with. I got an empty vase, filled it with water, and put the beautiful flowers into it.
I hurried downstairs to eat breakfast this morning. I got excused from lessons because Uncle Benjimen, Robin, Couer De Noir, and I will meet up with some of the villagers. Robin and I are coming along because the villagers have been waiting to meet me and ask me a few questions, and Robin's Father thinks it will be good for him to know what to do and how to act when he has to meet up with the villagers. I'm so excited but nervous at the same time.
"Good gracious, Maria! Slow down, child." I heard a voice behind me say. It was Mrs. Heliotrope.
"Sorry, Mrs. Heliotrope," I said, slowing down. When I sat down for breakfast, Mrs. Heliotrope and Uncle Benjamin wouldn't stop discussing and making plans for my upcoming birthday. I wasn't focused much because all I could think about was meeting the villagers. As soon as Uncle Benjamin and I finished breakfast, Digweed brought the carriage to the front of the manor. We were to meet Robin and his Father outside the village and ride in together. I looked out the window for the most part, taking the beautiful valley. To my surprise, Uncle Benjamin looked relaxed instead of very serious.
We met Robin and his Father outside the village. They were also riding in a stagecoach. Robin looked annoyed about something, but then he saw me, and his face lit up. We rode in, and after a few seconds, we stopped. Digweed opened the door and helped me out first, then Uncle Benjamin. Robin and his Father were getting out too.
We walked to the town square together. Uncle Benjamin and Mr. De Noir chatted amongst themselves. Then Uncle Benjamin turned to Robin and me and said, "Mr. De Noir and I were talking, and we want Maria, for you to stay with Robin and for you, Robin, to stay with Maria. No need for you both to split up. It would be harder to find both of you when were are leaving." Robin and I nodded, and Uncle Benjamin returned to talking to Mr. De Noir.
"So I heard that your birthday is coming," Robin said. I noticed some girls pointing at us, whispering. I started getting nervous.
"Yeah, I suppose it is."
"Well, shouldn't you be excited?" Robin asked.
"Birthdays have never really been a big deal to me. I've never really had anyone other than Mrs. Heliotrope to celebrate with me. Mrs. Heliotrope would bring a cake with candles; sometimes, if she could put aside some money that year, I'd get a gift."
"Oh, well, what about your Father?" Robin asked.
"He was usually deployed. He was never really home for birthdays or holidays." I said with a sigh.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Robin said.
"It's fine. I'm okay." I said. We were now in the town square. Uncle Benjamin and Mr. De Noir started talking to some adults. A girl and boy walked up to us. They looked to be around our age.
"Hi, I'm Evelyn, but everyone calls me Eve, and this is my older brother, James," Eve said. James just gave a quick wave. He seemed to be shyer than his sister.
"I'm Maria," I said.
"And I'm Robin."
"We know who yall are. We have been so excited to meet yall!" Eve squealed out, which made me giggle. Robin started talking to James, and I began to speak to Eve.
"Everyone is so grateful to have a princess again finally and that there is peace once again in Moonacre," Eve said merrily, then continued, "The village has been having some problems that we need sorting out. It hasn't been easy for this town because the De Noirs and the Merryweathers have never been able to agree, but now we have our princess, who brought peace, and Robin, the heir to the De Noir Castle. The villagers want you and Robin to now be kind of in charge of Silverydew. You would oversee any changes we may want to make in the town."
"Wait, is that what's going to happen? No one has told me. Are those the roles of past moon princesses?" I asked. I'm so confused and upset that no one would think of telling me, but I'm sure that won't happen anytime soon. Uncle Benjamin and Mr. De Noir would probably want to stay in charge until we were old enough.
Eve laughed a little and said, "Well, no one knew. That is why my Mother and Father wanted to meet with all of y'all. We met with many villagers over the past few days, and almost all said the same thing."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"How about I show you around town? It shan't take long, and I could introduce you to some of the towns folk. Everyone has been eager to meet you." Eve said.
"Alright, as long as it doesn't take too long. Let's go!" I said excitedly.
We took a few steps forward before hearing two voices say, "Wait." It was Robin.
"Where do you two girls think you are going?" James asked.
We slowly turned around. "Oh, come on," I said under my breath.
"Can't we girls just have fun? I'm just going to show Maria around, that's all." Eve said, sounding a little annoyed.
"Maria, don't you remember what Sir Benjamin said about us sticking together?" Robin said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes. Oh, come on, I was hoping he would forget.
"Eve, don't you remember what Mother and Father said to us? I have to watch you." James said.
"Well, we won't go far. We are just going to say hi to a few people." Eve said.
"Also, the village isn't that big. We will just go around and come right back." I said.
"We will keep out of your way," James said. Eve and I both shook our heads. "Ugh, girls," James said under his breath.
Robin whispered something in James' ear and said, "Well, it looks useless."
"Fine," James said, giving up, "We will be here waiting for you both. You have an hour to come back, and if you aren't back within an hour, we will look for you both and bring you back here. If anyone asks where you both have been, we will say you went to the bathroom."
"Okay, thank you!" We said excitedly. We merrily walked away.
Robin's POV: "So, will we follow them?" James asked.
"We have to wait a few seconds so we won't look too suspicious," I said as I watched the girls find their way through the crowds.
"What if we lose them?" James asked. He looked concerned.
"I'm an expert tracker. There is no need to worry." I said.
"Okay, that's good because I've already lost sight of them," James said, laughing.
"They are stopped at a jewelry shop at the end of a street." I pointed at it, and after a few seconds, James saw them. "So we are going three shops down from where they are. From that, just follow me." I said, trying not to lose the girls.
"Alright, I'm right behind you," James said.
Maria's POV: I followed Eve to a jewelry shop called Jules Jewelry. "Hello, Mrs. Jules. How are you doing today?" Eve said.
"Hello, Eve. It's always a good day when I see you!" Mrs. Jules said.
"This is Maria. Maria, Mrs. Jules, and Mrs. Jules, this is Maria. The moon princess."
Mrs. Jules gasped and said, "Moon princess, however, can I be of service?"
"Oh, thank you, but I'm meeting some people in the village. And please, call me Maria." I said. We all talked for a few minutes. I looked around at everyone and saw someone like Robin a few shops down. No, it can't be. He is back at towns square. Eve took me around all the shops in town. We have one last shop that Eve wants to take me to. We have fifteen minutes to get to the final shop, look around, talk to some people, then go back to Towns Square.
We got there in about two minutes. "This is my favorite shop!" Eve said. "It has all the latest fashion in London, Paris, and a few different places in Italy. Over there is the grocery part of the store, and over here are the books, and over here are the toys for kids, oh and over here is all the latest fashion in women's and men's clothing. Isn't this place so cool? Oh, on."
"What's wrong, Eve?" I said.
"It says that the owners won't be here today on a poster right here. I wish you could have met them. They are delightful people."
"It's okay. Maybe next time we'll see them."
"Yeah, hopefully. Anyways what do you think?" Eve said.
"I think that this is my new favorite store. Thank you for showing me around today!" I said. I'm happy that I was able to make a new friend today.
"Of course! Anything for my new friend!" Eve said cheerfully.
"I think we better head back before the boys rat us out," I laughed.
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," Eve said. We barely made it out of the store before we were stopped by two guys who looked to be around our age.
"Hey, Eve." One said he seemed shy. I looked at Eve. She looked nervous as her face slowly reddened.
"Hi, Matthew," Eve said, speaking softly.
"I'm Edward, but everyone calls me Ed." I shock his hand.
"I'm Maria." We all continued talking, forgetting that we should have returned by now.
Robin's POV: "Robin, is it time to go and get them? I don't like Eve talking to him."
"Why?" I asked, not paying much attention to what the girls were doing but watching everyone jump and squeal as a squirrel ran past everyone.
"He is just way too shy, and it's always awkward when he is around. He just gets on my nerves. Oh, hey, do you like Maria?"
"No, of course not. She is just a friend." I said, a little annoyed.
"So, then, you wouldn't care that Ed is talking to her."
"Ed, Ed, who?" I asked, turning my attention to Maria. I watched her. Why is she talking to him? How does she know that she can trust him? It made me sick and mad, and annoyed. He looks like he is a full-of-himself, good-for-nothing type of guy.
"Why does it matter who he is?" James asked with a smirk on his face raising an eyebrow.
"Don't look at me like that. I don't like Maria like that. I'm supposed to keep her safe, and how do I know she can trust him?"
"Ed is someone who is known for getting all the girls. All the girls fall for him. I'm just lucky my sister has half a brain. He doesn't cheat, but every time he gets a girl, he will make her fall in love with him and break her heart. Oh, and he always gets the girl he wants. Right now, it looks like he wants your girl."
"She isn't my girl, James. Anyways, so he isn't someone to trust."
"Not yet, she isn't," James said with a smirk. Then continued, "I don't trust him, and he is known for being full of himself."
"That's good to know, and also, how often do I have to say that I don't like her in that way? Let's just go and get them," I said. I'll be more than happy once Maria is away from him. Not because I like her, though, but because he isn't someone to trust.
"Alright, I'll get you to admit it some other time," James said, laughing. I slapped his hat off his head. "Hey! Come on!" James said while bending over to pick up his hat.
Maria's POV: I was still talking to Ed, and Eve was still talking to Matthew. I found out Ed's parents are the owners of Summer Moon. Ed is friendly and funny, but he only talks about himself and won't let me get a single word out. I would say we better be heading back, but Eve seems to enjoy talking to Matthew.
"Maria."
"Eve." It was James and Robin! Finally, I wasn't sure how much longer I could stand to listen to Ed go on and on about himself.
"Come on, you two, it's time to go back," James said. Robin looked really annoyed for some reason. Eve glared at her brother, but he just shrugged and started walking away.
"It was nice talking to you, Maria. I hope to see you again soon." Ed said while helping an older lady pick up her glasses that had fallen from her bag.
Robin rolled his eyes and said, "Maria, come on." He seemed angry.
I glanced at Robin briefly before looking back at Ed and saying, "Umm, s-same to you." I had to think for a second because the way Robin acted completely caught me off, guard.
When I went back to ask Robin why he was acting like that, I realized he had already walked away, and I couldn't tell where he was.
"Goodbye, Eve," Matthew said softly.
"Hope to see you soon, Matthew!" Eve said.
"Come on, Eve!" James said, starting to head back.
"I'm coming!" Eve said. She seemed to be annoyed with her brother. Eve and her brother were in front of me, bickering.
I noticed Robin he was slowly following behind Eve and James. I tried to catch up with him, but I couldn't. It seemed like the closer I got, the more people got in between us.
After a few minutes of trying to catch up, I gave up. I wondered if I had done something. He was acting so weird. I don't know. Maybe something happened when he was with James.
After trying to find our way, we were back at the town square. Uncle Benjamin and Mr. De Noir finished their long conversation with Eve and James' parents, and we said our goodbyes to Eve and James.
"Goodbye, Eve! I hope to see you again very soon." I said, hugging her.
"Bye, Maria!" Eve said. Robin and James just nodded as a way to say bye.
"Bye, James," I said.
"Goodbye, Maria." I shock his hand.
"Bye, Robin," Eve said. He nodded his head, and she shook his hand. I watched as Eve and James hurried to catch up with their mother and Father just as they started to walk away.
"Goodbye, Robin!" I said as we walked back to our carriages. Maybe, he is in a better mood now that we are leaving.
"Uh-huh," Robin murmured. I just stared at him. He didn't seem to notice, though. I wish I knew why he's acting like that.
"Hurry up, child!" Sir Benjamin said as I went to enter the carriage. "Maria, we are going to the De Noir's for lunch to discuss some things."
"Okay, Uncle." Maybe I can figure out why Robin's been acting like this.
"Maria, would you like it if we went into town on your birthday? I could bring some money to get a few things you would like. Or we could have a big celebration back at the Manor and invite many people from Moonacre."
"Thank you, but you don't have to do that, Uncle," I said.
"Of course we do, dear girl. We have to celebrate in some way. Your birthday can't be unacknowledged! You are turning fourteen, for crying out loud! If that isn't something to celebrate, then what is." He slapped his fist down to indicate that that was going to be the end of that conversation. I looked out the window. The De Noirs were in front of us.
Within a few minutes, I could see the De Noir castle. Memories flood my mind. The last time I was here, I was thrown into the Dungeon and escaped only in my undergarments. It will always be an embarrassing memory. I looked down at the carriage wheels watching it go over the grass and dirt. I've gotten quite used to the carriage rides, even if it isn't the same as the ones in London.
My mind trailed off from London to Robin. He seemed fine when Eve and I left, but he was annoyed and mad about something when he came to get us. Hopefully, he will be in a better mood when we reach De Noir's castle. He is my friend. I just wished I knew how to help him.