Jennifer had called Iris, Zarah, and Celine into their dormitory bedroom.
Iris and Zarah exchanged a quiet glance. This was probably it – the introduction of the new girl.
This was the moment Iris would find out whether that girl was truly Melody.
Whether everything Zarah had told her was real.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Zarah. She did.
But everything she had heard still sounded a little… otherworldly.
Jennifer walked in first, Julie following closely behind with a large ledger, noting down whatever Jennifer dictated.
Jennifer stopped in front of the girls. The three of them bowed in unison.
"Greetings, Miss Jennifer. We wish you a prosperous morning," they said harmoniously.
Jennifer looked over them with a proud smile. "Finally," she said approvingly. "Proper manners and no fighting. Maybe my morning will actually be prosperous."
The three girls felt a quiet sense of satisfaction at the praise. No matter how at odds Iris and Zarah were with Celine, approval from Jennifer was like candy after bitter medicine.
Julie stifled a laugh at Jennifer's remark.
Jennifer turned sharply, fixing her with a warning look.
She sighed. "And there goes the prosperity – thanks to Julie's lack of manners."
Julie lowered her head, her expression falling.
The other three carefully kept their faces neutral. No one wanted to be scolded right after being praised.
Celine's chin lifted ever so slightly, satisfaction flickering across her face.
Zarah and Iris exchanged a quick glance toward Julie before schooling their expressions and focusing back on Jennifer.
"Anyways," Jennifer said, turning toward the girls, "the reason I called the three of you here is because a new girl will be joining your… extremely small group–"
Zarah's heart rate spiked. She gently brushed her hand against Iris's.
Iris took a slow, steady breath.
This was it. The moment of the reveal.
Celine opened her mouth to speak.
Jennifer raised a hand without looking at her, silencing her instantly.
"Her arrival changes nothing. All of you are still in line to become Flower Maidens." Jennifer continued smoothly. "I hope that answers your question, Celine. And next time, wait until I finish speaking."
Her tone carried a note of clear dissatisfaction.
Celine pressed her lips into a thin line and lowered her head.
Being scolded in front of Zarah and Iris – while they stood there untouched – burned.
It was a harsh reminder that she needed to polish her facade even further.
'Damn them,' she cursed inwardly as she apologized to Jennifer for speaking out of turn.
Jennifer dismissed her with a curt warning not to repeat it.
Zarah and Iris had done nothing to her.
Yet somehow, Celine found a way to blame them for every reprimand she received, nurturing her resentment until it grew far larger than the slight itself.
"Now, back to where we were," Jennifer said, turning toward the door. "You may enter."
Zarah and Iris exchanged a nervous glance.
The door opened.
A girl stepped inside – dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes, a pink dress that looked far too expensive for this place. Her lips curved into a soft smile.
She looked like an angel.
Zarah's hands clenched tightly around her skirt.
Iris felt her heartbeat quicken.
"This is Melody. She will be joining you in the dorms," Jennifer declared.
Jennifer's words barely reached Zarah.
Her thoughts had begun to spiral, her head spinning.
She had known it would be Melody.
But seeing the female lead up close?
Who wouldn't feel nervous?
'The webcomic was right,' Zarah thought. 'She really does look like an angel. But only a few know the demon she hides inside.'
Iris's heart thundered.
Melody.
That was the name Zarah had said.
Which meant Zarah had been telling the truth.
But if that was true… then her life was a webcomic?
The thought made her stomach twist.
Even as she felt herself unraveling, Iris steadied her breathing and pinched the inside of her wrist to ground herself.
Then she glanced at Zarah, who looked moments away from collapsing.
She gently rubbed Zarah's back in silent comfort.
Zarah turned toward her. Seeing Iris's reassuring smile, she understood — Iris had her proof now. She believed her.
Zarah managed a small smile in return before looking back at Jennifer and Melody, making sure no one had noticed their exchange. Jennifer was still speaking, and any distraction would earn them a reprimand.
Celine's expression darkened at Melody's arrival.
She waited until Jennifer finished speaking before stepping forward. "Miss Jennifer," she began carefully, "the last time the Madam brought someone in, she became the reason an escape occurred. Isn't this risking another one?"
There was a sharp edge beneath her polite tone.
The pink of Melody's dress was far finer than Celine's own. It gleamed softly in the morning light.
Celine's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
She didn't like feeling inferior – especially not to someone who had just arrived.
"Celine!" Jennifer snapped. "Are you questioning the Madam?"
Celine immediately lowered her head.
"What happened last time will not happen again," Jennifer continued firmly. "Melody has expressed her desire to earn the title of Flower Maiden and serve Her Majesty."
Zarah had to fight to keep her face straight.
'Serve the Empress?' she thought dryly. 'More like get close enough to kill her.'
Iris spoke up this time. "Miss Jennifer, did the Madam take her in simply because she showed interest in becoming a Flower Maiden?"
Iris already knew the answer. Zarah had told her everything – how the Grand Duke had paid for Melody's entry, how he had convinced the Madam that Melody possessed the qualities of a true flower… and noble blood.
Jennifer's expression hardened. "That question borders on doubting the Madam's judgment," she said sternly. "If you continue speaking in such a manner, I will not be able to protect you should punishment follow."
In truth, even Jennifer had her own doubts. But questioning the Madam was not something she would ever allow openly.
Iris's eyes widened at the word punishment, and she stepped back immediately.
Zarah glanced at Iris before turning to Jennifer. "What Iris meant," she began carefully, "is that we've trained our entire lives to qualify as Flower Maidens. Yet Melody arrives and joins us without training. Is that… fair?"
"You had no objection when Jia joined your group," Jennifer replied sharply. "And if I recall correctly, you even assisted her in escaping."
Zarah lowered her gaze but pressed on. "Jia joined us before we became candidates. She still had time to train. But Melody is–"
"Pardon my interruption," Melody cut in smoothly, her smile soft and perfectly composed. "I assure you, I have trained my entire life as well. I am well-versed in every skill required of a Flower Maiden."
Zarah's fingers curled into her skirt.
"Well," she said coldly, "Perhaps you missed the most basic skill – knowing when not to interrupt someone speaking."
"Enough!" Jennifer snapped.
Her sharp gaze fell on Zarah. "I did not expect this behavior from you."
Zarah bowed stifly. "I apologize. It was a slip of the tongue. It will not happen again."
"It had better not," Jennifer warned before turning her attention to Melody and beginning to explain the duty assignments and timeslots.
Jennifer left after assigning Melody her bed and handing her the daily routine the girls were expected to follow.
Throughout it all, Celine remained unusually quiet. The moment Jennifer stepped out, Celine left without a word.
Zarah and Iris were about to leave as well when Melody approached them.
"Hello," she greeted sweetly.
Zarah returned the greeting with a polite but strained smile. "Hello."
Iris simply nodded.
"I was wondering if you would like to–"
"No, we're busy. Sorry," Iris cut in smoothly before she and Zarah walked out together, whispering under their breaths.
Melody watched their retreating figures, her smile never faltering.
"Those two are interesting," she murmured to herself as she walked over to the bed Jennifer had assigned her and sat down gracefully.
"The other one… emotional. Impulsive. Easy to provoke." She tapped her finger lightly against the mattress. "Celine, was it?"
A soft hum escaped her.
"The first two are sharper. If they truly helped someone escape, they're not fools. And they weren't swayed by me…" Her smile thinned slightly. "I'll have to do better."
She smoothed the pillow beneath her hands.
"But if they become obstacles…"
Her fingers tightened slowly into the fabric.
"Obstacles are meant to be cleared."
Her smile deepened – no sweetness left in it now.