Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 26: We Shall Know If This Stranger Is Staying

**Tiana's POV**

With a final look in the mirror, I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. I opened the door to find Theo waiting for me, his expression softening as he saw me. "Are you ready?" he asked, taking in my appearance. "I'd like to think you are."

I nodded, "I am ready."

"You look stunning, by the way," he smiled and held my hands. "And I'm quite surprised by your speed. Layla would have made me wait three more hours."

"Come on," I giggled. "It can't be that bad."

"Trust me, she has done it before," he laughed. "It has gotten to the point that whenever there is an important event that we are not hosting, my father and I make sure to tell her the wrong time. You know, make it a few hours earlier."

"Really?" I smiled.

"Yes," he nodded. "It baffles me though. Because she has a ton of maids to attend to everything, so I wonder what takes her forever."

"Oh well," I sighed. "We are ladies. It is kind of a necessity."

"Right?" He laughed.

As we walked to the dining hall, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, wondering what was going through his mind. Was he also thinking about the confrontation? Or has what happened yesterday completely skipped his mind?

As Theo and I entered the dining hall, the buzz of conversation quieted slightly. All eyes turned to us, and I felt very much scrutinized under their gazes. Theo gave me a reassuring squeeze, his hand warm and steady around mine. We made our way to our seats, and I tried to ignore the anxious fluttering in my stomach.

Theo had kept a seat for me beside him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fiona glaring at me, her lips curling into a disdainful scoff when she noticed our intertwined hands. The malice in her eyes was clear, but I held my head high, refusing to let her intimidate me.

"Theo?" Fiona asked with a questioning gaze.

Theo met her gaze evenly, his expression impassive.

"Theo, you know it breaks the heart of many ladies when you lead them on," Fiona said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Theo's smile was tight, strained because he knew Fiona was referring to me.

To be honest, I felt hurt. Was Theo like this with other women?

"I'm not leading any lady on, Fiona." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. He seemed slightly annoyed at her but did not want to show it.

Fiona, who was oblivious to this, rolled her eyes dramatically, clearly unimpressed. "Of course not," she muttered under her breath.

Amara, who was seated nearby, turned to Fiona with a pointed look. "Do you have a problem, Fiona?"

Fiona plastered on an innocent smile, shaking her head. "Of course not, Amara. Why would I?"

The tension at the table was so thick that I doubted a knife would cut through. I had to thank the moon goddess internally for the arrival of the maids with breakfast because it provided a much-needed distraction. The maids moved gracefully, their movements practiced and efficient as they set the table with an assortment of food.

The table was packed with silver dishes full of roasted meat, glazed fruits, and fresh bread. There were bowls of thick porridge with honey, nuts, and dried berries. Pastries filled with spiced custard and fruit preserves sat next to meat pies. Jugs of fresh milk and pitchers of spiced wine finished the feast, making the air smell amazing.

As the maids served the food, I couldn't help but stare, my mouth watering even though I still felt a bit weak. I took a little bit of everything, my appetite careful but excited to try all the delicious food.

Layla, seated to my right, gave me a warm smile. "How are you feeling, Tiana?" she asked, as the maids began to put food on her plate.

I took a moment to compose myself, hoping the conversation would not head in a certain direction. "I'm feeling much better, thank you," I replied, my voice steady but soft.

She nodded, her eyes sympathetic. "I'm glad to hear that. You gave us quite a scare yesterday."

I glanced at Theo, who was watching me intently, and then back at Layla. "I'm sorry for worrying everyone," I said, my heart heavy and beating fast.

Layla reached over and squeezed my hand. "There's no need to apologize. Just focus on getting better."

As we continued our meal, Theo's eyes scanned the table, a small frown tugging at his lips. "Where's Peter?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. "I haven't seen him since yesterday. I expected him at court."

Amara set down her fork and met Theo's gaze. "Peter had some business to sort with the ministers yesterday," she explained. "There was a border dispute he didn't want to burden you with, so he'll be joining us much later."

Theo's frown deepened, but he nodded in understanding. "I appreciate him handling that, but he should have told me. It wasn't even mentioned in court yesterday."

"I think it happened just before court, so there was no time to fill the others in," Amara sighed. "He did not even tell me the details. He just said border issues and something about rogues."

"Rogues?" Theo appeared alarmed. "That sounds dangerous. We'll catch up when he arrives, I guess. I just hope it is nothing too serious."

"I hope so too," Fiona said, her voice breaking.

Theo squeezed her arm gently. "If there are rogues. It will be taken care of in due time. You have nothing to worry about," he whispered, and she visibly relaxed.

Layla sighed and then turned to Theo with a serious expression. "Theo, our father wrote to me," she said.

Theo looked up, his interest piqued. "What did he say?"

"The letter was dated a few days ago," Layla continued, "and he mentioned that he would be arriving tomorrow."

Theo's brows furrowed in surprise. "I haven't received any correspondence from him."

Layla nodded. "He sent you a letter as well. Maybe it got delayed or lost. But he will be here tomorrow."

Theo's expression turned thoughtful. "I’ll make sure to prepare a feast for his arrival. Everything needs to be perfect."

Fiona, sensing an opportunity, interjected with a scornful edge. "Well, we shall know whether this stranger here is staying or not.”