Messenger

Chapter 18

 Why is time like this? Events creep up on you and absolutely smack you over the head with how unprepared you are. Flower was experiencing that big-time with the whirlwind of cleaning and prep work that swept through the ball's venue and how fast things were put in place. She did have to credit these guys with their efficiency, but she still wasn't ready for the pageantry show that was about to unfold before them.

There once was a time that Flower looked forward to these parties. The twinkling candles and lights were magical and the graceful music could almost put one into a trance. Of course, any seven-year-old would love it. None of those things really changed, but now Flower knew the logic behind it all, and typically, logic tends to bleach the wonder out. Sad, but true.

Nowadays, the magical stuff came from the moments right before the party where all of the atmosphere was there, but the overwhelming decadency was yet to be found. Flower found herself there at this point; watching from the side and hopefully not calling attention to herself. The ballroom was a circular space in the heart of the palace that vaulted up to a yellow and green slain-glass skylight with a chandelier hanging from the center. Gently gilded arches segmented the walls and made a place for clusters of candles starting to be lit and led to small, higher up windows bathing everything in afternoon light. Flower was never much of a sentimental type, but dang, was everything pretty.

A familiar figure entered, probably meaning to check on the staff's progress, but was now coming over to the lanky girl's area on the floor. "Are you enjoying the sights?" Maika asked.

"I guess."

Maika took a spot against the wall. "Might I ask where Piko is?"

"He said he had to go do something." He most likely shouldn't be running off right now, but Flower didn't want him to have to deal with her tendency to sit and think in atmospheric places for no reason. "Where's our lovely guest?"

"He's already been whisked away to get dressed and you and Piko are very good at defeating the point of a bodyguard." Maika noted.

"I think we'd figured out by now that the whole bodyguard thing wasn't necessary even though I appreciate the company. This guy has more anger management issues than we thought, but there still isn't much he can do." Flower stated more to herself. She'd been trying to convince herself of that since this guy first lost it. He looked like would have hit Hime if Flower didn't intervene and she didn't know if she could step in after it got that far.

"Better safe than sorry. At least, we can say that he wouldn't do anything tonight. No one would want to ruin their standing with that many important figures."

If anything, Flower was more worried about him getting along too well with nobles. "I don't have much I can do there. My standing with those guys got killed when I gave myself a new haircut."

"That's their problem." Flower looked over at the women more than a little surprised. "Not that I liked your choice there, but what's done is done."

"Umm..Thanks?"

Maika was always very good at keeping things professional and having everything on track. After all this time, Flower and Yohio were able to see a more personal side of her, but she wouldn't let that cross her work. If something needed to get done, Maika wasn't about to let things slide especially when it came to keeping Flower in line.

"I thought you hated my hair." She admitted.

It was Maika's turn to look surprised. "I never hated your hair. It...made things difficult, but you honestly seemed happier to have a bit more of your own style."

"It is easier to take care of." Flower noted. It most certainly crossed her mind that she wouldn't have to go through whatever concoction people thought was quality hair care.