Were they really just going to let this go? Luna thought. Victoria seemed to be so desperate. Luna grumbled and played with her hair in frustration. Even if she wasn’t being entirely truthful, Luna believed that Victoria needed to be helped. After some time, a slight knock on her bedroom door broke through Luna’s concentration. Luna had gotten bored and began sifting through various books sitting on a small bookshelf pressed against the corner of her room. 

Most were boring books on various currency exchange rates, trade routes for merchants, taxes, and other topics Luna couldn’t quite understand or found dull. The book she had been reading before being interrupted was an exciting story about the lives of the beast races in Asa. The wolf-beastman race seemed the most interesting to Luna.

After the light knock, a maid stepped in, bowing slightly. “Excuse me, your Holiness. Your bath is ready.” 

“My bath?” Luna looked up from her book in surprise. Luna hadn’t expected the workers of the mansion to go that far for them, considering they were only guests staying for one night. 

Oh, the life of a noble, Luna thought as she put her book down and followed the maid out of her room. 

The bath was an absolutely blissful paradise. The washroom was huge, with various candles surrounding what Luna initially thought was a pool in the middle. The beautiful crystal blue water was filled with a cacophony of minerals and scented oils, giving the room a flowery aroma. Flower petals floated gracefully in the water as Luna soaked in its warmth. The only thing that made Luna uncomfortable was the maid washing and brushing Luna’s hair gently. She had insisted that she could wash on her own, but the maid insisted and refused to take Luna’s no for an answer. 

Luna relaxed and released all the stress she had been holding on to with her breath. 

“Is there something wrong, your Holiness?” The maid spoke up while continuing to brush Luna’s hair. 

“No, there’s nothing wrong,” Luna replied gently before pausing. “Actually, I do have a question.” 

The maid smiled gently, “What is your question, your Holiness? If I can answer it, I’d be more than happy to.” 

Luna sat in the water, pulling her knees up to her chest, and began fiddling with a rose petal that floated up to her. 

“Is this how all nobles live?” Luna couldn’t help but wonder. It all seemed so perfect that it felt entirely alien to her. 

The maid paused momentarily before answering Luna’s question in a softhearted but respectful manner. 

“While I’m not sure for all nobles, your Holiness, I can say that those of House Almini pride themselves in presentation.” 

“Presentation? Like how you’re seen in public?” Luna asked inquisitively. 

“That’s correct.” The maid brushed Luna’s hair and dried it gently in what Luna would have bet was the world’s softest towel.

“A long time ago, House Almini controlled the merchant sector and became incredibly wealthy as a result.” The maid’s voice grew quiet as she began to whisper to Luna.

“But because of a corruption scandal, the Emporer stripped the House of this privilege and created the merchant’s guild.”

“What kind of scandal?” Luna questioned the maid as she felt the soft thumping of the towel press against her head. 

“No one really knows,” the maid replied gently. “After the scandal, the House did their best to bury their shame and behave as properly as possible.” 

Suddenly the maid halted, and her voice cracked slightly, 

“That was until Lord Richard…” 

There’s that Lord Richard guy again… Luna thought to herself. Something truely dire must’ve happened. 

Suddenly the maid twitched and plopped the towel to her side. “Ah, sorry I’ve said too much!” 

The maid stood up and continued. “I’m finished with your hair. If you’d please step out of the bath, I’d be happy to dry the rest of you.”

Luna did as she was asked, and the maid dried her off before placing her in a soft white nightgown, rubbing some moisturizing oils into her skin and tying small braids in Luna’s hair. After the nighttime makeover, the maid pulled up a small mirror that had been laying against the bath’s rim and showed Luna her reflection. 

Luna’s eyes grew wide with surprise. If Luna hadn’t known better, she’d say she could’ve been a noble herself in a past life. At that moment, a memory flashed in Luna’s mind. Luna and Victoria bathed in this bath together as kids, playing together. Luna pushed Victoria into the water, laughing.

Luna stared at the mirror, replaying the memory in her mind. As Luna stared, she could have sworn her pink eyes glowed a bright green. 

“That’s not possible,” Luna mumbled to herself. 

“What’s not possible, your Holiness?” The maid questioned, in concerned confusion.

Suddenly, Luna snapped back to reality and stumbled over her words. “Ah, uh. N-nothing. I just can’t believe how good a job you did.”

The maid laughed and replied, but Luna wasn’t listening. She glanced back at the mirror and only saw her pink eyes staring back at her. The memory that was so vivid had faded so much so already Luna was questioning whether it even happened. 

Had I just imagined it? Luna thought.