The group of older greying men stared at her as if a particularly unwelcome ghost had materialized in the corridor.
There were five of them. Tall, broad-shouldered, and had the kind of authoritative posture that said they had been making decisions for other people for a very long time and enjoyed it immensely. The eldest of the group recovered first. His head had shock white hair pulled back, along with a neatly trimmed silver beard and deep-set eyes that reminded Aya of a hawk.
His robe looked to be the richest of the group, a deep burgundy with gold threading along the collar and a large crest embroidered over his heart.
He smiled at her, but it didn't reach his eyes. It was basically the kind of smile Aya had seen on every corporate executive who had ever told their team that "restructuring" wasn't the same as "layoffs."
"Luna Aya," he said smoothly with a nod, but his eyes were unable to conceal the surprise he felt at her being there. "What a surprise. We rarely see you in this part of the house."
The others rearranged their faces into similar expressions of fake pleasantry. They smiled politely and also in a completely dismissive manner, as if she were a child who had just wandered into an adult conversation.
The others followed his lead, offering small nods that looked respectful even if they were not.
Behind them, through the open door they had just exited, Aya caught a glimpse of the room inside.
It was a grand circular chamber. A large round table dominated the space, with a hollow centre and chairs arranged around its circumference. Most of the chairs were identical with dark wood and modest cushioning.
But one seat was different.
It sat slightly elevated, its back taller than the rest, carved with intricate wolf motifs and upholstered in deep red. It was clearly the seat of authority. Her seat. And from the looks of it, it hadn't been sat in for a very long time. She could see other elders still seated inside, some gathering papers, others mid-conversation.
"What were you all doing in there?" Aya asked, turning her attention back to the group in front of her.
The question was simple enough, but the way they all stiffened told her it clearly wasn't something they were used to hearing from her. Then again, Aya no longer cared.
The man was quick to maintain his smile. "Oh, nothing for you to worry yourself over, Luna. We were merely discussing some administrative and routine matters concerning the kingdom. Nothing for you to concern yourself with. Terribly boring, really. You would have hated it."
He waved at the air beside him dismissively and he chuckled.
The others chuckled along with him like hyenas following a well-rehearsed chorus.
Aya immediately noticed it.
It was the same tactic. The servants that morning had used the same sweetness and misdirection and it matched the patronizing dismissal these men were giving her.
Smile at the stupid Luna, pat her on the head, and send her on her away before she asks questions.
Aya marvelled at the audacity.
She was also surprised at just how spectacularly stupid the original Aya must have been to fall for this. These men weren't even subtle about it. They were standing outside a meeting room, clearly having just concluded official kingdom business, and their cover story was routine affairs that were boring.
'Just how braindead was the original Aya that this actually worked on her?' Aya thought, genuinely baffled. 'Did she just hear "boring" and wander off to go shopping?'
She probably did.
'I can't believe I entered the body of a stupid idiot!'
Aya smiled innocently at the men, as if she was joining them on a very funny joke. "Without me?"
The silence that followed was delicious.
Two words. That was all she had discovered with a calm expression as she watched the effect of it ripple through the group like a stone dropped into still water.
The silver-bearded elder's smile faltered for half a second. Another one, a thinner man with sharp, calculating eyes, actually blinked. Someone's eyes widened just slightly, and another council member with a funny hooked nose opened his mouth and closed it again without speaking.
A brief silence hung in the air.
"I... beg your pardon?" the blue eyed leader finally managed.
"You were discussing matters of the kingdom," Aya repeated, her voice light and pleasant. She fought the urge to widen her smile. She was enjoying the look on their faces a little too much.
"Without me. The Luna of said kingdom." She glanced at the open door behind them. "In there. At that table. Without me." She looked back at them and let her smile widen just a fraction. "Isn't that a bit... unusual?"
Silence.
The elders exchanged glances. Quick, darting looks that said what is happening right now more clearly than words ever could.
"Well…" The older man's smile tightened at the edges. "These were preliminary discussions, Luna. Very early stages. You have never showed interest in council matters before. Please rest, we wouldn't want to waste your valuable time with—"
"Will you be holding another meeting tomorrow?" Aya cut him off.
His mouth stayed open for a second before he recovered. "These meetings are—we typically convene on a... regular basis, yes."
"What day?" she asked again.
Another exchange of glances. Longer this time.
"Ah..." He cleared his throat. "The council typically meets on a weekly—"
"What day?" Aya repeated, still smiling.
The elder beside him, a stocky man in the navy robe, stepped in. "Luna, these proceedings are quite complex. Perhaps we could arrange a summary for you to—"
"That is very kind of you, but I would prefer to attend myself." Aya folded her hands across her chest. "So… what day?"