Of Flowers, Innocence, and Pattern || Turning (Novel&Manhwa) Fanfiction

(✿⁠)(☆⁠)(✿)

Take three flowers with longer stems, cross their stems over each other, then begin to braid them together.

Slowly, carefully.

Add another flower by laying the flower on top of the main braid.

Then braid it together while holding the new flower stem onto the center stem.

Continue braiding until the new flower becomes one with the main braid.

Then repeat the process over, and over and over again.

Slowly, carefully.

"Do you think this is long enough, Miriam?"

A woman, kind with her smile and gentle with her hands, looks up at the question.

"I think it will need more than that to properly fit, Your Highness"

Beside her, the child hums. Pursuing his little lips in thought-not quite a pout, but enough to draw a soft chuckle from her.

"This is hard"

She smiles, "Indeed it is. Are you having a hard time, Your Highness?"

"No"

The tangle of flowers in his little hands indeed seems to be a little messy. A bit of leaves are sticking out here; a little stem needs to be pulled there. Yet it's sturdy, and the flowers are just enough not to make it too much.

"This maybe hard, but this is not difficult. See! I've gotten this far!"

The declaration is followed by a grin so bright it rivals the sun shining above them. Those with faint hearts might need to take a deep breath and straighten their stance at the sight of this child.

At least, that was what she was feeling back then. When she first assigned and trusted to be the wet nurse and helper to take care of this child. So beautiful and perfect inside a warm bundle of highest quality blankets, held tightly in the embrace of his parents. She was nearly moved to tears when she was greeted with a grip on her fingers and a cheerful smile of a babe the moment she held him in her arms.

"I'm just worried that i can't finished it"

Four years have passed since then, but the affection she holds never wavers. If anything, along with the years of his growth, respect slowly began to worm its way into her heart. Growing bigger whenever the child does or says something of brilliance above his age.

"You need no worry on that, Your Highness. It is why i am here, yes? To tell you how and help you with this pretty idea of yours"

The smile on the child grows, showing off a glimpse of his white teeth.

"What should i do after i get enough?"

"Let's see. Ah, later we only need to tuck the end of the braid into this tiny gap at the beginning, and then we will have a crown!"

"I see.. It will not fall apart?"

"From what i remember, My Prince, it won't. But if you're worried, i can tie it with a piece of thread to make it more secure and sturdy", she smiles reassuringly.

================================

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Do you like flowers?"

A scene of a room full of flowers's petals flashed through his mind. The ridiculous amount of it was able to morph a regular room into a pool of bright and brilliant colors.

He chuckled. The memory never failed to bring a smile on his face. And the story behind that scene never failed to make the memory feel so tender and sweet.