"Are you two not going to wish Celine a happy birthday?" Halley asked, handing Zarah and Iris a bundle of herbs.
The girls were helping her grind them. Time had taken its toll on the older woman — her hands were not as steady as they once were — but that did not make her any less skilled as a nurse.
"I don't think she would like it if we did," Zarah said plainly, her attention fixed on the flax seeds beneath her pestle.
Iris nodded in agreement. "We would rather not upset her on her birthday," she added, grinding cumin in her mortar.
She paused before scoffing lightly.
"Though it isn't our fault she's a tattletale who loves sucking up to Miss Jennifer and obeys whatever nonsense Melody feeds into her inferiority-complex-filled mind."
Zarah stifled a laugh at that.
Halley shot her a look before turning to Iris, her expression hardening.
"Iris," Halley said in a scolding tone, "mind your words. Only a week remains before you are sent to the Imperial Palace. If anyone overhears such open insults, they may reprimand you."
Iris stiffened, exchanging a wary glance with Zarah.
"But we are already Flower Maidens," she argued quietly. "They cannot possibly punish us now, not with only a week left… can they?"
"Not physically," Halley replied with a sigh. "But they may withhold your meals."
"Oh."
Iris's gaze drifted. "Wouldn't be the first time."
Her expression tightened into a grimace. The memory of that dark room from years ago made her hands tremble.
Zarah noticed the shift immediately. She moved closer and placed a steady hand over Iris's shaking fingers.
"Hey," she murmured, "it's alright. That won't happen again."
Iris offered her a weak smile, gripping the edge of the table as she forced herself to breathe steadily.
Zarah rubbed her back gently.
She hated this place.
Only a week remained before they would leave for the palace. She only needed to endure a little longer. Patience would bear fruit soon enough.
Halley, observing them quietly, opened a small drawer and took out a wooden box. From it, she retrieved two mint leaves.
"Chew these," she said gently. "They may help ease your nerves."
Iris took the leaves and placed them in her mouth, chewing quietly as Zarah guided her toward the narrow bed at the side of the infirmary. Iris sat down carefully.
Once she was settled, Zarah returned to her place at the table and resumed grinding the herbs.
"I apologize. I did not mean to drag you down memory lane, Iris," Halley said quietly, her gaze drifting toward where Iris sat.
Iris shook her head. "It's fine, Miss Halley. I know you meant well," she replied with a small, reassuring smile.
Halley sighed before walking over and taking a seat beside the younger girl.
"But why do you think Melody is the one influencing Celine? She's much kinder than that girl," she said thoughtfully.
Zarah swallowed a scoff and rolled her eyes, though her back was turned, sparing the other two from seeing it.
Iris's eyes narrowed.
"Right… Melody is better than Celine," she said dryly, with the same skepticism one might use if told fish had learned to walk.
Halley sighed again. "What's with that expression? Melody is kinder, sweeter, and helpful. She is nice to you both as well, isn't she?"
Her eyes shifted between Iris and Zarah expectantly.
Zarah let out a dry chuckle.
"She is about as genuine as a sunflower that refuses to face the sun, Miss Halley," she said at last.
Halley raised an eyebrow, amused. "Well, you may think what you like, but the girl has been nothing but lovely to me."
Iris sighed. "As unpleasant as Celine already is, Melody seems to edge her hostility toward me and Zar even further," she said quietly.
"How can that be?" Halley replied in disbelief. "Celine reported the escape plan to Jennifer, whereas Melody is the sweetest thing. She even helped me gather herbs the other day."
Iris looked as though she wanted to argue further, but Zarah cut in.
"It's fine, Miss Halley. Perhaps it's Iree's and my lack of judgment. Maybe we are misjudging Melody," Zarah said with a thin, practiced smile.
But she knew the truth.
And so did Iris.
Zarah had told her about the webcomic.
Melody was meant to become a murderer.
And Zarah would not allow that future to unfold. She would never let Melody kill the Empress.
In that sense, Celine was indeed better. Petty, perhaps. Spiteful, certainly. But not a killer.
Halley gave an exasperated scoff. "You two agreeing that Melody is sweet? Now that would be a miracle."
Shaking her head, she rose and dusted off her skirt before returning to the table, carefully separating roots from the herbs.
"Back to work, ladies. Enough chatter," she said lightly.
Zarah resumed grinding, and Iris rose to collect more herbs from Halley, carefully plucking the leaves free.
The room was dimly lit by the fading rays of the setting sun, slanting through the window and stretching across the floor.
Outside, the autumn wind rustled the browned leaves clinging to the trees.
Celine stood by the window, staring out into the distance.
Eighteen.
That was how old she was today.
Was she excited? Yes.
Was she nervous, knowing that only a week remained before they would be sent to the palace? Also yes.
Was she happy it was her birthday?
Maybe.
Was she bothered that Zarah and Iris had not wished her?
No…
Well.
Maybe a little.
The thought made her fingers curl into a fist, anger flaring — not at them, but at herself for caring.
With a sharp exhale, she pushed away from the window and kicked the wall.
"Ah!" she hissed, immediately regretting it as pain shot through her toe. She dropped onto the bed, clutching her foot.
"Damn them."
"Damn who?"
Melody's overly sweet voice drifted into the room as she stepped inside.
Her eyes widened when she noticed Celine clutching her foot.
"Oh my, what happened?" she asked, hurrying over. "Did you hurt yourself?"
Celine looked up at her and took a slow breath.
Right.
She had Melody. Melody cared. She did not need Zarah or Iris. She was better than them.
"I'm fine," Celine said, averting her gaze. "The bed leg stabbed my foot."
Melody caught the lie immediately but did not press. She had no interest in enduring Celine's whining tonight. There were more important matters to attend to.
She softened her expression.
"Oh, Celine," Melody murmured, taking the girl's hands in hers. "I hope you know how much you mean to me. You're the most precious friend I have ever had."
Celine's eyes warmed instantly.
Melody resisted the urge to scoff.
The things she had to say to keep her pawns obedient were exhausting.
"I know," Celine replied, smiling.
Melody smiled back — though it did not quite reach her eyes.
"I was hoping you might know where Miss Halley keeps the belladonna flowers," Melody continued sweetly. "I searched earlier but could not find them. You have been here longer than me — you must know."
Celine frowned slightly. "Why do you need belladonna?"
"I thought I might make a perfume," Melody said with a light laugh. "A gift for you."
Celine's expression brightened.
"Miss Halley grows the belladonna behind the willow, near the pond."
Melody gave her a quick hug, winking playfully before standing.
"I'll show you soon," she said.
Then she left the room, heading toward the pond.
Once out of sight, her smile faded.
That girl truly was easy to manipulate.
She had lied.
She had no intention of making perfume — why waste effort on someone she would be discarding soon?
She needed the belladonna for something far more useful.
A love potion.
She would enchant the Empress.
Get close.
And when the time was right—
She would fulfill her duty to Grand Duke Alexander.
She would kill Ines.