Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 64: Women Of Noble Houses 1

**Theo's POV**

The dining room was quiet except for the soft clinking of silverware and the faint hum of servants as they were still arranging snacks and some tea. I was glad my father was at least sensible enough not to force me to eat a full meal with them.

I mean, he had a ton of ladies on that list and if they were the ones meant for today.

The lady seated at the table stood up the moment I entered, her face lighting up as if she’d just seen the Moon Goddess herself descend in my form.

"Your Majesty!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands together dramatically. "I’m honored, truly honored to be in your presence."

I barely acknowledged her as I took my seat at the table, nodding curtly. "You’re…?"

"Oh, forgive me!" she gushed, her voice unnaturally high-pitched. "Lady Mariah. My father is Lord Gerand, who oversees the trade routes to—"

I held up a hand, cutting her off. "I didn’t ask for your resume or that of your father."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but the smile didn’t falter. She sat gracefully, folding her hands in her lap. "Of course, Your Majesty. I just thought you’d like to know a bit about me. After all, I’m sure you must meet so many people, and I’m just one of—"

"Mariah," I interrupted, leaning back in my chair, "are you always this… enthusiastic, or is this a special performance for me?"

Her smile wavered for the first time, but she quickly recovered, letting out a soft, nervous laugh. "Oh, no, Your Majesty. This is just who I am. Naturally optimistic and full of energy!"

"Naturally," I murmured, picking up my glass and taking a slow sip of water. "Tell me, Lady Mariah, do you always put on such a grand show for people you’ve just met?"

Her eyes widened, and she laughed again, though it sounded more forced this time. "Show? Oh no, Your Majesty, I assure you this is all genuine."

"Genuine, you say? Then tell me, Mariah, what exactly do you think would make you a suitable mate for the future Alpha?"

She blinked, clearly unprepared for the directness of the question. "Well, um," she began, fiddling with the edge of her napkin, "I’ve been raised in a noble family, trained in diplomacy and etiquette. I’ve also been told I have a kind heart and a nurturing spirit—"

"Kind heart?" I asked. "And what does that look like in practice?"

"Pardon?"

"You say you’re kind. Give me an example of when you have been kind."

Her mouth opened, then closed again as she fumbled for an answer. "Well... there was this servant girl at home who—"

"I say the word kindness and you immediately think of a servant?" I asked, cocking my brows.

"Well... I..."

I raised an eyebrow. "A servant girl? Go on."

"She… um, spilled wine on my dress last week, and instead of having her punished, I simply dismissed her for the day to recover from her clumsiness."

I stared at her, unimpressed. "How magnanimous of you."

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Let me ask you this," I continued. "If the pack were under threat tomorrow, what would you bring to the table? Diplomacy? Etiquette? Or would you simply dismiss the rogues to ‘recover from their clumsiness’?"

Her face turned red and for a moment, she was utterly silent.

"I... suppose I’d…" she began to stammer before keeping quiet.

I leaned back again. It was almost enjoyable, watching her squirm.

"Let me save you the trouble," I said finally. "You wouldn’t bring anything. Because this," I gestured vaguely at her, "is an act. And a poorly executed one at that."

Her lips parted as if to protest, but no words came out.

"Thank you for the lunch, Mariah," I said, standing abruptly. "It’s been… enlightening."

I didn’t wait for her response as I strode toward the door, my irritation with my father renewed tenfold. If he thought parading women like Mariah in front of me would change my mind, he was mistaken.

Behind me, I heard her chair scrape back as she stood.

"Your Majesty!" she called after me, desperation creeping into her voice.

I didn’t turn around. Some things weren’t worth the energy.

She left the room flustered almost at the same time I did but the guards were quick to usher me back in and there was another lady that walked in just then.

"Good afternoon," I said, offering a polite nod as I took my seat. The lady looked a lot like lord Fabian who I had seen at the council meeting this morning. I could bet that she was his relative.

"Y-Your Majesty!" she stammered, her voice barely audible.

I raised an eyebrow. "You don’t have to stand for me. Please, sit."

She dropped into her chair with such haste that I half-expected the furniture to break under her. She kept her eyes on the tablecloth as though it held the answers to all her problems. She was really avoiding any form of eye contact.

"So," I began, leaning back in my chair. "Tell me about yourself."

She swallowed audibly. "W-Well, um… I’m Lydia. My f-father is Lord Fabian."

"I’m aware of who your father is," I replied evenly. I had been right. "I’m asking about you. What are your interests? Hobbies?"

She blushed In embarrassment and she began wringing her hands like a child caught in a lie. "I-I like embroidery… and, um, gardening."

"Embroidery and gardening," I repeated, resisting the urge to sigh. It was almost too generic. "Impressive. Do you have any particular plants you enjoy working with?"

She blinked at me like I’d just asked her to solve an advanced mathematical equation. "P-Plants? Oh, um, roses. I like roses."

"Roses," I repeated after her. "They’re a popular choice. Do you grow them from seeds or cuttings?"

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. "C-Cuttings, I think?"

"You think?" I tilted my head, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "You must have an impressive garden, then."

At this, her face turned even redder, and she began fidgeting with her napkin. "I… I don’t really… I mean, the servants help."

"Ah," I said, the smirk fully forming now. "So, what you mean is, you enjoy supervising gardening?”