Lena walked over after hearing her words, her eyes fixed curiously on the specimen as Hong Meiling continued her explanation.
"Although the two flowers appear visually identical at a casual glance, you can easily discern the fundamental structural difference in their leaves."
Lena leaned in close, carefully observing the leaf structures. They indeed lacked the broad, lush surface typical of temperate species, presenting instead as narrower, thinner, and far more dense. When the shipment had first arrived, Lena had judged the plants to be severely malnourished based on her previous agricultural experience—which was precisely why she had transplanted them into the most fertile, nutrient-dense plot within the entire garden.
Of course, it wasn't a matter of whether these wilderness plants from Ursus deserved rich soil. Rather, this specific variant was so exceptionally efficient at absorbing nutrients that it could thrive and flourish even in the barren, unyielding earth of the tundra. In over-fertilized soil, however, the plant absorbed excess nutrition, diverting all its physical energy into rapid stem growth. The result was a towering stalk that stubbornly refused to bloom.
"Thank you so much. Your deep insight into these botanical traits is truly remarkable," Lena said, looking at Hong Meiling with genuine gratitude after confirming the diagnosis.
Hong Meiling waved her hands with an easy smile. "It's really nothing special! Back home, I was simply in charge of tending the gardens and floral beds around the estate, so I've naturally developed a keen sensitivity to these little green guys."
"Is that so? That is wonderful," Lena replied, her eyes brightening with sincere enthusiasm. "The Convalescent Garden was only recently established, and I am still diligently researching the growth habits and environmental needs of many exotic plants across Terra. I wonder if you might be willing to assist me?"
Hong Meiling turned her head, glancing over at Flandre for approval.
Flandre grinned cheerfully. "Go ahead and help if you'd like, Meiling! Sister won't mind at all."
Hong Meiling offered a polite nod to Lena. "Though I won't be able to stay aboard Rhodes Island for very long due to the travel itinerary set by the Eldest Miss and Second Miss, I'll do my absolute best to help you fine-tune the garden beds during our stay."
Lena nodded with delight. "Then I am deeply in your debt!"
When the group finally returned to their living quarters that evening, Flandre curiously asked Hong Meiling how she had recognized the plant's origin, given the vast differences between the flora of Terra and those of Gensokyo.
Hong Meiling let out a warm chuckle, explaining that whenever she had downtime while driving the carriage, she enjoyed studying the wild flowers and vegetation growing along the roadside. Across their long journey across the wilderness, she had quietly observed and categorized countless local plant species. While her cultivation techniques might not match the legendary botanical scholars of Gensokyo, she certainly didn't feel lacking when it came to practical plant knowledge.
Only then did Flandre realize that Hong Meiling hadn't simply been dozing off at the reins all day. Occasionally, her sharp mind was actively observing the world around them.
While Hong Meiling remained with Lena to reorganize the garden soil, Amiya took hold of Flandre's hand and led her into an adjoining workshop.
"This is the room where Sister Lena specifically crafts natural incense and fragrant sachets! She taught me the process a while ago. Shall we craft some sachets together?" Amiya asked, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement.
Flandre looked at the eager Cautus girl and nodded happily.
By the time Lena and Hong Meiling stepped into the room to check on them, they found the two girls each holding a small bundle of hand-stitched sachets.
"Let me inspect the sachets you've created," Lena said, stepping closer with a gentle smile.
Examining their work, Lena quickly noted that the sachets fell into two distinctly different creative styles.
One set was meticulously organized and precise, with the exact weight and ratio of every fragrant herb matching her previous instructional formulas to the microgram—clearly the diligent work of Amiya.
The other set was far more wild and free-spirited. Some sachets contained only a single, bold aromatic herb, while others held a chaotic blend of several contrasting spices. Yet, as Lena brought them closer, she was pleasantly surprised to discover that despite the seemingly haphazard combinations, the resulting scents were surprisingly harmonious and deeply soothing.
"Wonderfully done, both of you... Here, these are fresh Flower Cakes I baked earlier. Consider them a sweet reward for your hard work!"
Lena opened a nearby wooden cabinet and retrieved two beautifully crafted, sugar-dusted floral cakes, handing one to each girl.
"Wow, they're so pretty!" Flandre stood on her tiptoes with delight, inspecting the delicate pastry in her palm.
"They're not just pretty—the Flower Cakes Sister Lena makes are super delicious!" Amiya added happily from the side.
"Thank you, Sister Lena!" the two young girls chimed in unison.
Stepping out into the wide corridor with her arms full of sachets, Amiya looked over at Flandre with curious eyes. "Flandre, who do you plan to give all your sachets to?"
Flandre pointed down at the colorful pouches nestled in her arms one by one.
"This one is for Sister, this one is for Patchy, this one is for Sakuya, and this one is for Meiling—hehe, I'll give Meiling hers when she gets back! This one is for myself, and this one is for Clever. And this very last one..."
Flandre picked up the final, brightly stitched sachet and gently pressed it into Amiya's hands. "...is for you, Amiya! Because I guessed you definitely didn't bother preparing a sachet for yourself!"
Amiya froze for a moment, staring at the sachet in her hands before a radiant, touching smile bloomed across her face.
"Thank you so much, Flandre."
Flandre didn't ask who Amiya's own hand-crafted sachets were intended for, but she could easily guess they were meant for Dr. Kal'tsit and the other hard-working senior staff of Rhodes Island.
Amiya escorted Flandre all the way back to the VIP residential quarters before they reluctantly parted ways. Before leaving, Amiya promised to take Flandre out to the ship's massive upper observation deck to play the following day.
"Okay, okay! See you tomorrow, Amiya!" Flandre waved enthusiastically, watching the young leader disappear down the hall.
Stepping back into their private suite, Flandre found Remilia sitting alone by the desk.
"Sister, Sister!" Flandre pounced forward like a playful kitten.
Remilia opened her arms with a fond smile, catching her younger sister in a warm hug. "My, what a lovely floral scent you're carrying. Is there a grand garden aboard this steel ship?"
"Yes, yes!" Flandre eagerly recounted their entire adventure in the Convalescent Garden, mentioning how Hong Meiling was currently deep in conversation with Doctor Lena about plant care.
Then, Flandre pulled out the sachet and the delicate Flower Cake from her coat. "I made this sachet all by myself! And the Flower Cake was a gift from Sister Lena," she declared proudly, presenting the sachet to Remilia.
Looking at Flandre's beaming face practically begging for praise, Remilia reached out and gently pinched her soft cheek. "My sister truly is the best."
While the two sisters were playing, Sakuya Izayoi stepped into the room carrying a freshly brewed pot of black tea. "The timing is quite perfect. We now have warm black tea to accompany Miss Flandre's snacks..."
Remilia lifted her teacup, taking a graceful sip of the rich brew. Flandre eagerly followed her sister's lead, sipping her tea before settling down on a nearby plush sofa to flip through her book.
Once the rest of the household gathered in the suite later that evening, Remilia suggested they all head down to the Rhodes Island central cafeteria to sample the local cuisine and observe the daily life of the ship's crew—a proposal met with unanimous agreement.
On their way through the corridors, Flandre proudly distributed her hand-crafted sachets to the rest of the party. Everyone who received one felt a warm wave of surprise. Patchouli gently stroked Flandre's golden hair, a deeply satisfied smile gracing her lips.
"Our little Flandre has truly grown up."
"Hehehe!" Flandre giggled happily, nuzzling her head affectionately against Patchouli's hand like a contented kitten.
Upon arriving at the bustling cafeteria, the group located a spacious empty table, while Sakuya Izayoi and Hong Meiling headed toward the service counters to select a variety of dishes for everyone.
Scanning the room, Flandre spotted Clever sitting quietly at a small table not far away.
She immediately bounced up from her seat and skipped over. "Clever! How are you settling in?"
Clever looked up, spotting Flandre's cheerful approach, and offered a warm, relaxed smile. "Very well indeed. Dr. Kal'tsit personally arranged a private living quarter for me—it comes complete with its own private washroom, feeling quite like a high-end hotel room."