The Baroness Returns Chapter 14

Chapter 14


"Momo, I need you to take these to the supply hut." the castle's steward told her, gesturing at the many different colored bottles which contained different liquids and substances in them.

Momo flinched at the mention of the supply hut and nodded reluctantly and took all of the items that had been placed in a crate.

Walking down the halls, her arms full, she struggled to keep her balance as she found the exit.

Still struggling, she made her way outside and to the supply hut, but paused when she was within a few feet of it.

Eyes lowering in sadness, she sighed and opened the door and stumbled inside.
She rested the crate containing the bottles on the floor and gave a sigh of relief.

"Better do this quickly, I can hardly stand being in here. . ." Momo said aloud, picking up a few bottles and putting them on shelves, quietly.

She continued to put the bottles in place, when a familiar bottle caught her eye.

She stared at the words "Rat Poisoning" intently.

She shivered and quickly turned away from the bottle.

'What on earth possessed me to try to commit suicide?' Momo thought in disbelief.

'Master Kuro hasn't given me any reason to doubt him . . . except. . .'

Momo's mind trailed to the smiling faces of Lune and Yuki staring into each other’s eyes full of love and happiness.

Momo felt a tinge of sadness in her heart.

'Lune already looked so happy with Yuki. . . I couldn't help but feel Lune would never have a place in his heart for me. . . let alone ever be as happy as he is with Yuki than with me. . . but Kuro keeps saying he will. . . I want to believe him but. . . I can't help but doubt his words. . .'

Momo shook her head.

'No. . . I've known Lune, way before we both met Yuki. . . I know. . . that he truly loves Yuki. . . there’s no way he'd-'

Suddenly she heard Kuro's voice echo in her head.

"Momo. . . you know I wouldn't do this. . . without looking at the consequences. . . Of course both Yuki and Lune are feeling a bit sad now, it’s only natural, but in the end, they will be very happy. . . I assure you. . ."

'But at the same time. . . Master Kuro wouldn't do anything reckless. . . he already knew this was all going to happen. . . I just. . . don't know what to believe anymore. . .'

Hurrying to put the bottles away and get out of the place she once decided to end it all, she scurried out of the hut and took a deep breath of air once she was far enough away from it not to make her feel uncomfortable.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Oh Lune. . . why does it have to hurt to love you?"

"Lune?"

Momo's eyes abruptly opened and turn to the mysterious voice, to see the human girl that saved her, Haru.

"Oh uh. . . you didn't just hear that did you?" Momo asked bashfully rubbing the back of her head with her paw.

Haru realizing Momo didn't mean to say that out loud, smiled softly at her.

"I'm afraid so. . . so . . . Lune huh?" Haru said.

Momo sighed and nodded.

"Yeah. . . why is it the person you can't have is the one you fall for?" Momo said rolling her eyes.

Haru rolled her eyes also.

"No idea. . ." she responding smiling, thinking of an aristocratic friend of hers.

Momo looked at Haru suddenly.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Please excuse me!" Momo said ready to run away, before she felt a hand on her arm holding her back.

"Oh, please wait! I'm sorry if I upset you by hearing something you didn't want to be heard." Haru said.

Momo stopped trying to move away and sighed.

"No, I'm the one that blabbed it out in the open. . ." Momo said pouting.

Haru smiled, but then saw they were close to the supply hut and a nervous look appeared on her face.

"You. . . wouldn't be trying to recreate what happened last time are you?"

Momo's eyes widen immediately catching her meaning.

"No! No! Of course not! I've learned my lesson. . . in fact it wasn't until now that I realized that my whole reason for doing so, was stupid." Momo assured.

Haru raised her eyebrows in curiosity.

"And what was that?" Haru asked without thinking.

Her eyes widen.

"I'm sorry if I'm being noisy, I tend to stick my nose into other people’s problems." Haru said giggling half heartily.

"Aww don't worry about it." Momo said waving a paw.

"I understand your curiosity."

Haru sighed in a bit of relief.

Momo sat on a nearby small brick wall, joined by Haru shortly after.

Momo stared at Haru from the corner of her eyes in wonder.

‘Could I tell her about everything? Maybe talking about everything will make me feel better, and Haru seems like a reliable person. She didn’t tell anyone about me trying to kill myself. . . maybe I can trust her. . .’

Taking a deep breath, Momo spoke.

"Well. . . you did hear what I said about Lune earlier right?" Momo asked still embarrassed.

Haru nodded slowly.

"Just so you know, I've always felt this way for Lune. It's not something that developed randomly, like a fling. I've loved him since we were both kittens." Momo said firmly.

"Oh, so you've know Lune for a while then?" Haru asked.

Momo nodded silently.

"But. . . of course. . . despite the fact I've known him longer, or the fact that we've been the best of friends, he still chose her. . ."

Haru listened to Momo, understanding who 'her' was.

"I mean, I didn't mind Yuki at first, in fact, we got really close, and Lune, her, and me became the three musketeers. We were inseparable and we stayed like that until we got older. . . and he proposed to her."

Haru's eyes softened.

"I. . . I had no idea how to react to the proposal. I wanted to be happy for them, I did. . . but I guess my selfishness got in the way and I just felt sorrow for myself. . ."

A gust of wind blew past them, causing their hair to sway to the side.

"I love Yuki. . . she’s my best friend. . . but. . . at times. . . I can't help but. . . hate her. . ." Momo said with what sounded like a quiet hiss.

Haru looked at Momo with dumbfounded shock.

"I hated the fact that Yuki is almost perfect for him. I hated the fact that Lune loves and adores her with all his heart. . . but most of all. . . I hated the fact that Lune chose her, my best friend. . . of all people. . ." Momo said her eyes darkening.

"I know that. . . if Yuki never came to the Cat Kingdom. . . Lune and I would have been together. . ."

"You sound confident about that. . . is there a reason?" Haru asked.

Momo snorted.

"Yep, you bet there is reason!" Momo said rolling her eyes.

"It’s the whole reason I got my hopes up and caused my love for him to grow. . ." Momo said, her eyes distant.

ooo

"Mo! Mo!" cried a voice.

Momo turned to see Lune running at her and smiled brightly at him.

"Hey Lune!" Momo said waving her small paw.

Lune finally made it to Momo and smiled at her.

"I finally escaped my father" Lune said with a cheeky smile on his face.

Momo giggled.

"Did he give you the ‘how to run a kingdom’ speech again?" Momo said rolling her eyes.

Lune rolled his eyes as well.

"Yeah, I really don't see what the big deal is. . . From the way I see being a king is, all you have to do is sleep, eat, play golf, and boss others around with silly demands. I never see father act the part of a king. . ." Lune said.

Momo gave Lune a sympathetic smile.

"Well to take your mind off all that, want to play ball?" Momo said holding up a bright red ball.

Lune smiled and nodded.

The two of them tossed the ball at each other for hours and hours on end, laughing and having a great time. Finally Lune collapsed on the ground panting.

"Time out! I need a break!" Lune said.

Momo smirked at him.

"Okay, okay your highness." Momo said in a teasing fashion, earning a playful glare from Lune.

The sat there, catching their breaths for some time, until Lune gave a deep sigh.

"Hey Mo. . ." he said quietly.

Momo turned to Lune.

"Yes bud?" Momo asked.

"Father. . . he didn't really talk about the same things he usually does. . . he talked to me about very different things, what I'm going to have to do to be ruler. . ." Lune said frowning.

"Oh? Like what?" Momo asked curiously.

"He told me that I'll have to have a queen and kittens of my own, when I grow up. . ." Lune said.

Momo's eyes widen.

"You mean like. . . get married?!" Momo asked.

Lune nodded solemnly.

"Yeah, horrible huh?"

Momo didn't say anything. . . just stared at Lune in shock.

"I don't want to get married! I don't want to marry some girl, I rather rule by myself and have an heir all by myself too!" Lune said pouting.

Momo smiled.

"But. . . father and Natori told me I'm going to have to. . ." Lune said bit sadly.

Momo's eyes also sadden.

"That’s why. . ." Lune said seriously and turning to Momo suddenly.

Momo watched Lune with wide eyes.

"L-Lune?" Momo said hesitantly.

"Momo. . . when that day comes. . . when I have to marry. . . will you be my queen?" Lune asked.

Momo's eyes widen even more, a soft blush showing under her vermilion colored fur.

"W-what?" Momo muttered out.

"I know, I know! Stupid huh? But. . . if I am going to have to marry, I rather be married to someone I'm close with and not some stranger. Mo your my best friend and I, rather be with you then, a stranger. . . so. . . will you be my queen when that day comes?" Lune asked with hopefully eyes.

Momo stared at Lune with a frozen look and nodded with a faint smile on her face.

"Of course. . ." Momo said softy with a blush still visible on her face.

ooo

"Even thought we were just small kittens when we agreed on that. . . It meant the world to me. . . and I believed that we would one day be married and living a good life. . . but I got my hopes up. . ." Momo said looking at the ground with a look of sorrow.

"When Yuki came into the picture, our agreement was suddenly forgotten. Lune fell in love with Yuki and forgot about me in a way. . ."

"That’s why I wish we never meet Yuki. She's my best friend, but I can't help thinking these terrible things. . . I can't help but wish Yuki was out of the picture. . . That’s why. . ." Momo said hesitantly.

Haru looked at Momo and gestured for Momo to continue.

"That’s why. . . I tried to commit suicide. . . I hated my mixed feelings toward Yuki. I hated my two-faced act whenever I saw Lune and her together. . .I. . . I hated myself. . ." Momo said burying her face suddenly in her paws.

As soft muffled sobs came from Momo, Haru thought of this whole situation.

'I see. . . no wonder she tried to commit suicide. . . she was heartbroken and upset. She loves Lune, but knows his heart belongs to Yuki. . .' Haru thought.

Haru's mind drifted to Baron.

She thought of how much she loved Baron, but he belonged to another, which caused her depression previously. But after her last talk with Baron, she decided she didn't mind the fact that he has a fiancée, she just wanted Baron's happiness. He deserved that. . . even though Haru accepted that Baron would choose a whole different path from hers, she still couldn't help but love him, even now. But she still wished for his and Yuki's happiness-.

Haru's eyes widen at a sudden thought.

"But Momo, you do know about what’s going on do you?" Haru asked.

Momo lifted her head from her paws and looked at Haru.

"Hm?" she responded.

"Yuki. . . right now she doesn't even think she wants to marry Lune anymore. Yuki found out about her past and found out she was engaged already, and she now feels like she belongs with another. . ." Haru said.

Momo turned to Haru.

"Yeah I know about that, but. . . do you think she really wants that? To marry her old fiancée instead of Lune? Do you think that’s what she truly wants?" Momo asked Haru.

Haru paused.

She thought of Yuki insisting that she be with Baron and how Baron isn't so much objecting to the idea. But at the same time, the two of them look. . . reluctant. . . in some way. . .

'No Haru. . . it’s probably just me. . . they must be happy with each other. . . why would they not?' Haru told herself.

"Yes. . . I think it’s what she wants. . ." Haru said hesitantly.

Momo's expression changed. She had a look that appeared to be relief on her face.

"So. . . you really think that Yuki will be happy?" Momo asked again.

Haru didn't respond for a while till she finally did.

"Yes. . ." Haru said with a bit of uncertainty behind her voice.

Momo sighed and jumped off the brick wall they were sitting on.

"Hmmm. . . I feel better. . . knowing Yuki will be happy. . ." Momo said her back facing Haru.

Haru looked up at Momo.

"Huh?"

"Oh nothing. . ." Momo said waving a paw.

"Thank you Ms. Haru. I'm glad I got to talk to someone, you really helped me feel better." Momo said turning to Haru and giving her a smile.

Haru nodded at her slowly.

"No problem. . ." Haru said.

Momo bowed at Haru and left Haru siting on the brick wall.

'So Haru says Yuki and her fiancée are glad the way things are. Thank goodness. . . but as for Lune. . . '

'He is still in love with Yuki. . . but he will learn to accept that Yuki and her fiancée belong with each other. . . and in time. . . maybe he will notice me instead. . . and he can grow to love me. . .'

Momo looked up smiling.

'Maybe Master Kuro is right. Maybe everyone will be happy in the end after all. . .'