"How did it go?"

"What was he like?"

"Did things go like you'd planned?"

"Did you have a nice meal together?"

"What did you two talk about?"

"Think you'll go out with him again?"

These, as well as a barrage of other probing questions, had been shot Celestia's way from pretty much the moment she set hoof back in her chambers at the Royal Palace. The day was coming to an end, and she'd once more arrived back home without anypony other than the other two alicorns realising that she was who she was. The magical amulet again lay unused on its cushion, and Luna and Cadence were looking to the elder Princess with a curiosity that could only have been matched by colts and fillies looking at their Hearth's Warming Eve Presents. But, being the very model of class and proper etiquette, Princess Celestia merely sat in her prim and proper way, enjoying a few sips of her tea while her onlookers waited for her answer. Then, after setting her cup down and wiping away a few stray drops from her lips with a nearby handkerchief, the mare of the sun considered some of the questions that had been given to her thus far, before, of course, deciding to answer them all at once.

"It went well, he was pleasant company, plans changed, the meal was splendid, we discussed a great many things and...no, I don't think I'll be going out with him again."

As soon as that final answer had been given, both of the mares looked to her with supreme disappointment.

"What? I thought you said you had a good time with him?" Cadence enquired.

Celestia nodded to that.

"Indeed I did. It was a good time, and I enjoyed being with him for the afternoon. But..."

She paused briefly, thinking hard on how best to explain matters.

"...as much as I was having fun...I don't think this is the kind of thing I'm likely to want to keep doing. Eclipse was a fine fellow, he has a good heart, and he was most respectable to me."

She took another sip of her tea, a fond smile coming to her as she considered her date.

"I'm sure that whatever mare he ultimately ends up with will consider themselves quite fortunate."

Stepping forward, Luna raised an eyebrow.

"So...you do not wish to pursue a relationship for yourself then?"

Again, Celestia shook her head.

"I do not. Such a thing was fun...with the face of Sunny Smiles. But, as Princess Celestia...I believe it would not be wise. There would be too many complications, too many..."

As before, there was a brief moment where she seemed to struggle putting her thoughts into words. But, at the end of it, she merely let out a long sigh.

"Look...it's just not for me. It was fun, and I consider him to be a worthy stallion...but I simply...do not feel it."

The other mares looked to her, and then to one another, and as they did this, there was a long silence between them. Then, after a while, Cadence let out a long sigh.

"Very well, Auntie. If that's your decision...we'll respect it."

Luna nodded.

"Indeed. This was never a guarantee to begin with after all. You merely went out on this date for fun...and that was exactly what you had, so..."

She cracked a small smile.

"...perhaps we should consider this occurrence a success all the same."

Smiling back, Celestia raised her tea-cup to her sister.

"I'll definitely drink to that."

They shared a brief laugh, and Cadence and Luna got themselves comfortable on the other side of the table, taking sips of their own drinks. But, after a minute or two of this, there was a knocking upon the door of the chamber, prompting Celestia to turn towards it.

"Come in."

With the door slowly creaking open, the mares all looked on to see that it was one of Celestia's aides, a white earth pony mare with glasses and a mane tied up into a bun.

"Apologies for the interruption, Princess Celestia, but I have the paperwork you requested?"

Smiling, Celestia got up, heading on over while the other two mares continued with their tea.

"Of course, Miss Inkwell. Thank you."

Using her magic, Celestia levitated a few of the papers up to her face so she could look them over. Everything appeared to be what it needed to be, but there came a point where she looked at one sheet of paper in particular, and she ever so subtly moved so that her fellow Princesses could not see it. It was a simple document, one meant for transfers of members of the Royal Guard, and on that paper was a particular name that Celestia couldn't help but smile to. After nodding at those papers, she handed them back to her aide.

"Thank you, Raven. These appear to be in order."

The other mare nodded, adjusting her glasses slightly before glancing briefly at Luna and Cadence.

"Would you like me to involve the other Princesses with this paperwork as well, your Highness? I mean, transfers to your personal Guard squadron usually warrant..."

Before she'd even finished, Celestia had already considered that, and then, after bearing a knowing smirk to herself, she gave a quick shake of her head.

"Thank you, Raven, but...I think not."

Raven tilted her head slightly in confusion, prompting Celestia to glance over her shoulder, looking to her still-in-the-dark colleagues.

"After all...a Lady should be able to have some secrets, right?"