A new day. A new month. Autumn’s Eve had passed. The total balance between Day and Night had occurred; equality on that day. Now, however, began the drifting transition towards Night’s supremacy, coalescing towards Winter’s Solstice two months from this newly arriving month.

Indeed, this day was the first day of Autumn’s Feast, the tenth month of this aging new year. Unlike the preceding special month of merely twenty-three days, this month was to be a long thirty-four days.

Neither Sir Berrybottom nor Billhook—nor Earl Walnut for that matter—had returned yet. Likewise, many propers and seniors had yet to return in kind.

Such was to be expected. The days after such festives dedicated to a divinity always had a couple or so days ‘refractory period’, where things slowly but surely returned to normalcy. Thus, for many groups of juniors it was a more relaxed day still, with not much oversight or demanding expectations…

Besides, of course, for one group of unlucky juniors in particular.

Indeed…

Snip. Snip. Snip.

So many snips this late afternoon.

Trim. Trim. Trim.

Blossom trimmed and trimmed. And with each snipping trim, she hoped to distract her mind from the happenings of the day before.

“Hmm…” she mumbled, staring at the creation before her eyes… “Mammoth… Such a beast cannot feasibly exist…” Although she had seen this specific animal-shaped decorative bush countless times before, this tentacle-faced creature still left her astonished so. It was the largest of all the bushes here, requiring a wooden ladder to even get to all the parts; it was the trickiest to trim, most especially alone.

“I admit. This is an improvement…” so abruptly remarked from behind, a voice that alone was enough to trigger Blossom’s now conditioned flinching responses. “However, do not believe I am not watching you, Pink, especially when Melon is not.”

Indeed, it was her stricter-than-bitchingly-possible overseeing maid, who was making certain that her group of juniors had not become lazy or lost their diligence from the day before.

Consequently, this new day upon this new month felt needlessly laborious for all of them except everyone else.

Nevertheless, Blossom timidly turned; “Thanks, and…I know” she mellowly replied.

The overseeing maid, however, then lanced her eyes to another animal-shaped bush… “Now, the next one. And get to it, quickly.” she so ordained. “Whilst everyone else slacks off this day from the Sir’s absence, he and perhaps even Earl Walnut may return at any moment, and we must ensure everything is to quality!”

“Repeating yourself; said that times uncountable…” Blossom’s thoughts escaped…

“What was that?” The overseeing maid immediately glared.

“N…nothing, I will get to it…” Bowing respectfully, Blossom made way to that bush needing to be trimmed. However, she paused, having noticed…

“What is this?!” The overseeing maid’s stomping heels stabbed into the grassy ground as she promptly stormed right to… “Apple?!”

Indeed… Apple, and she was alone for once. By Fortune’s scheming luck, that girl happened to be assigned to the bush right next to Blossom’s newly assigned own. Since Burgundy and Black were assigned to distant bushes, Apple was alone.

Although Blossom had believed herself to have overcome her…fear, this initial sighting nevertheless froze her so. However, with a deep breath, she quickly overcame it and approached that newly assigned bush.

Hmm… It was a kind of big cat with big teeth, seemingly; it reminded her of Miranda, for some reason. Blossom began to trim and snip… However, such was difficult to focus on, considering…

“Have you become lazy, girl?!”

Indeed, naturally, Blossom glanced at the relevant animal-shaped bush next, cautiously eyeing the chastising scene to her left.

“Your trimming is off, and”—the reprimanding lead so piercingly noticed—“The paw!” she shrieked; “You have completely…”—she nearly pulled her hair—“Ugh! This is ruined! Ruined! What is wrong with your hands, girl?! Why this trembling! Can you not hold?!”

Indeed… It looked as though Apple’s hands could not hold the trimmer despite being able to, as if her hands had forgotten how hold; as if…her fingers had forgotten how to clutch. And despite the reprimands befalling, Apple appeared barely present.

“What has become of you lately?! I have tolerated this long enough! These last weeks, you have been nothing besides a buffoon, and now this… You had performed expectedly before!” the overseeing maid only continued; “Are you listening to me, girl? It is disrespectful not to look me in the eyes!”

Apple’s attention finally meandered to the overseeing maid… “Huh? You’re being t-too…l-loud” she thus spoke, as if more annoyed than worried; “I can’t…understannd… Wh-wh-what are you you…even even saying? W-w-when did did you eeven…”

“…” the overseeing maid just stared… “What is this nonsense coming from your mouth? Becoming lazy in speech too?!”

“…I don’t… I-I d-d-d-d-don’t know…” Apple seemed confused. “I-I c-c-can’t hold… C-c-can’t c-c-cu-cUt…”

Blossom just stared… Apple was even weirder than…the last time; it was almost…unsettling.

However, the overseeing maid was clearly unamused by this display. “You are a girl, not a senile old man!” She yanked the trimmer out of Apple’s hand. “You are done. Return inside and wait for me in the office, now.”

“…w-w-what? W-w-where? I d-did-did…no-nothing wrong??” Apple was only more confused.

“I do not want to hear it. Get out of my sight, now.” Yet the overseeing maid reiterated, even more stern.

Apple’s nerves jolted in a jerk… She immediately, clumsily, acquiesced.

Blossom, as with before, struggled…to describe what she had just observed, only that…no matter how weird she had found Apple before, it seemed as though she was only becoming weirder by the day…

Hm.

To be continued…

-||-

Blossom sighed, gazing out the windows as she so usually did; strolling down these elegant halls of this manor-estate as she so often found herself aimlessly doing.

The first day of this new month, and it was already ending. It was high evening and the cusp of sunset.

Blossom was rather…bored, frankly. Although this day had been needlessly laborious, she now had nothing to do, or rather…she struggled to find anything to do, and she wanted something to do. Ironically, all of the chores this day had made for the perfect distractions.

A lot of the juniors were mingling amongst their own cliques, and now that her group of juniors had been dismissed, they did much the same. Quite the friendship groups had formed since their first day, it seemed. Yet besides Miranda, Blossom had no other so-called ‘friends’ to mingle with. She had not seen Moon in a while—relatively speaking—, and Melon was still nowhere to be found.

Blossom would think herself to be one above such affairs; to not care that she had no one else to…even casually talk with. Yet it appeared she cared far more than…she wanted to. Most especially so, indeed, considering that she did not want to be alone strolling through these halls—not with a certain him still lurking about…

Indeed, although she quite frankly wanted to doze off so that this day would simply end already, it was impossible to relax. Although she was not scared or worried, she remained…alert nevertheless; her attention remained tense. Every sound seemed to…attract her ears’ fixation, especially towards those footsteps mistaken. A constant feeling haunted her spine, telling her that shadows were creeping up from behind.

Truly, it appeared yesterday’s happening had affected her far more than she wanted, more especially subconsciously. However, terror and paranoia were not the only affects to result from that…incident. Indeed, Blossom was left with more the…anger and spite, frankly.

Blossom did not want that highborn and noble man-boy to control her with fear, anxieties, and…traumatized apprehension; the fact that she was so apprehensive to strolling alone only added to her resent.

Suddenly, however, her ears twitched, her limbs sharply halting as she began to hear…

Footsteps.

Pacing fast and swift, echoing closer and closer from behind as if emerging from shadow.

“Turn… Turn around and stare him down; turn around and…tell him to sodomize himself…” her quiet breaths began to jitter on repeat, yet it was as if the shock she had experienced the day before reemerged in flashing memory, freezing her still.

However, these footsteps were not manly boots, but rather…

“Hey… Pink!”

Indeed, they belonged to gracious heels of a more girlish kind.

Blossom immediately sighed out in relief… She spun herself around and saw… “Moon?”

Indeed, Moon. And she was quickly yet…cautiously approaching. Her breaths seemed a fatigued as she arrived; although, Moon…in general…seemed quite fatigued, eyes evidently tired.

“I’ve been…hoping…to bump…into you…” Moon panted, though quickly caught her breath, straightening her posture… Yet she deliberated on words… “Would you mind if we…walked?”

Blossom deliberated in kind… “pSure, I suppose…?”

And thus the two began to…walk, Moon trailing behind Blossom in silence…

“So, what do you…want? Why did you…” Blossom finally asked.

Moon’s eyes shifted aside… “Oh… Well… We have not spoken in some time, so…I wanted to…simply walk and…discourse…” She obviously wanted something but was too apprehensive to speak it.

Blossom just sighed… “Finely enough, I suppose…”

Yet an awkward silence ensued as the two continued aimless strolling, until…

“Melon…” Blossom abruptly spoke… “She’s supposed to…be with me always, but…I haven’t seen her… Do you know where she is?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Oh, Melon?” Moon began to answer… “She overworked herself and has…become sickly; so, she has been…resting, from what I am aware…”

“Oh… Huh…” Truly, such made all the sense; such was the only way Blossom could conceive of that golem of a girl forgoing her duties. “Hope…she gets better…” Indeed, it would be…perhaps…nice to have those watching eyes again.

Though, the speaking of others’ states…

“Apple…” Blossom thus brought up; “She got in…bad trouble today… Uhm… I have you seen her by chance?”

Moon’s eyes fell down… “Oh, Apple… Yes, I saw her… She was a sore sobbing mess, needless to say…” Moon was slowing in her walk… “An ugly slight…”

“Oh…” Blossom…did perhaps genuinely feel bad for that girl. However, before another word…

Moon suddenly paused and abruptly, yet gently, gripped Blossom’s sleeve.

“Huh??” Indeed, Blossom jerked with some surprise, having been perhaps more…startled than not from the sudden motion.

Moon’s beleaguered sight remained withdrawn, her breaths more…tense. “I lied, I…” Her words deliberated… “I actually…wanted to ask you…something…”

“Uhm… Alrightly…?” Blossom…allowed, she supposed?

“…might you know…when…you will be seeing…Miranda again? If at all?” Moon inquired; “I… I would…like to talk…to her, so I was…wondering if you could…”

Blossom looked… It was evident that Moon seemed…desperate. Yet… “I… I don’t know… Sorry…” she replied… Indeed, Miranda had not specified after their…balcony talking when she would ‘snag’ Blossom again.

“…oh…” Moon seemed…saddened… “…I apologize for…taking your time, then… It was…a foolish idea, anyway…” No doubt, her scheme was to have Blossom lead Miranda to Moon or something.

“Though…” yet Blossom began to say, “Miranda…has a habit of…randomly happening upon me… So, if you…stay with me, she…might just…appear…” Frankly, Blossom just did not want to be alone.

Moon, nevertheless, seemed a little more relieved… “Oh… Certainly, that is…fine…”

-||-

The sun had been vanquished. The night reigned supreme as the stars twinkled their cold gaze from the sky up high. The atmosphered moon, now closer to full, shined its power with quite the gleam. Indeed, it was late night yet not too late.

The manor-estate was rather quiet, despite the fact Sir Berrybottom had finally returned, and in quite the frenzied hurry. Although the two were not present to bear witness, they had noticed the abrupt tumult amongst the proper maids. Blossom did not know if…Billhook had returned with him or not, only that Earl Walnut had certainly not. Not that she wanted to think about such anyhow.

“The moon is seeming brighter this night… Such a bizarre thing, it is…” Moon softly remarked, eyes gazing out a large window as she simply stood in place.

Blossom herself was standing similarly, though more facing the hallway than the window. “I suppose, yeah, it’s weird…”

“Sometimes one can see its grand haze shift, particularly in the…tips?” Moon continued to remark, her voice…mellow yet a little gloomy.

“The poles?” Blossom finally turned her head, looking at Moon so lost in lunar gaze.

“Yeah, that; I think…” Moon did not know.

The two had not done much these past couple hours, besides attending to mindless leftover chores here and there, such as cleaning the windows and organizing…random things, really. Although they had not actually…talked much besides task-related banter, throughout this there was something about Moon that Blossom had felt was…different than how she was priorly.

Tired, gloomy, oddly mellow, and most of all…

“I’ve probably asked this before, but… Why did we stop, again?” Moon inquired.

Indeed, it appeared things did not necessarily stick easily in mind, Moon needing to be more reminded than not.

“…you wanted to look at the moon…” Blossom answered.

“Oh, evidently yes…” Moon thus replied, an odd sorrow in voice… She sighed, eyes withdrawing from the window… “Well, it is late and… Miranda has yet to appear…” She looked at Blossom; “Thanks, Pink, but… I should…probably give up; this is pointless…”

“I wouldn’t…say…that…” Blossom interposed, a bit awkward… “…I appreciated…the company…”

“…” Moon stared… “Really?” She was a little surprised, frankly; “We did not even…discourse much? We merely lingered among each other…”

“We didn’t really need to talk; I just didn’t want to be alone…” Blossom was honest.

“But you were fine with…my company?” Moon emphasized.

“I suppose… You haven’t hurt me or anything, and… Honestly, I think…” Blossom struggled to communicate… “…there are worser things that could happen…”

Moon seemingly resonated with those words… “Certainly, that is true… There are worse things that may befall…” her voice seemed reflective.

“Anyway, yeah… I am tired, so…we should head to the dorm…” Blossom said, though her eyes then drifted, curious… “If I may… What did you want to talk to Miranda about, anyway?”

Moon…deliberated, before sighing; “She is an elf, so… I was wondering her ‘expertise’, I suppose… Regarding certain esoterics…”

“Expertise?” Blossom tilted her head…

Yet abruptly, as if so conveniently timed, the two began to hear…

Footsteps, bouncing and echoing down from the hall to the left. Slowly yet firmly, step by step, as if emerging from shadow; heels, most evidently.

“You two.” a voice came piercing.

Their heads immediately turned and peered…

A figure could be discerned down ahead, an oil-lamp held in hand and illuminating around. A maid, most obviously; yet one rather mysterious.

“I think that is a senior…” Promptly, Moon straightened herself and respectfully awaited. Blossom did the same, though more in…mimicking of Moon.

This arriving mysterious maid approached and stood before them, staring them down in effect as they looked with respect.

Black hair, and…amber-yellowish eyes of which seemed…baggy as if perpetually exhausted. This mysterious maid was somewhat taller, though typical adult woman height… She seemed much older but not…so old… Perhaps mid-thirties in age? She seemed to be a senior maid, though not one Blossom had ever seen.

Quite frankly, there was something about this maid that creeped her out.

“Hi…” Blossom…timidly greeted.

“Do you…need something, ma’am?” Moon…respectfully asked.

“Hm.” Yet this mysterious maid did not reply initially; her peering eyes focused more on Blossom than Moon… “You must be Pink, then.” she more stated than inquired.

“Yes…?” Blossom…confirmed?

“Sir Berrybottom has requested you in his study.” the mysterious maid stated, eyes then shifting to Moon… “I apologize, deary, but it seems your friend must be borrowed…” She donned a warm smile, tone completely changing.

Nevertheless, Blossom instantly froze, her breaths tensing… This could not possibly be good. So many possibilities flooded her mind… Did Swordstaff finally…squeal to his father?

Yet without further elaboration, this mysterious maid departed off; “I would not keep the Sir waiting, missy…” she simply waved.

Moon immediately glared at Blossom; “What did you do this time?” She was quite struck as well.

Blossom remained frozen, breaths…extremely nervous… “…nothing… I didn’t…do anything…”

“Well.. Do you need me to take…” Moon…tried to ask…

“No…” Yet Blossom spoke… “It’s not far… I’ll… I’ll go on my own…” She did not want to, but she felt…she had to.

-||-

Sir Berrybottom’s study—that suite in which he did his official doings and businesses. The door was before her eyes. Blossom stood there, nervous and tense. She could see that the lights beyond were ignited.

Voices echoed, beckoning her ears…

“Now you stand there and be silent! I have had you in this house since you were a girl—I practically raised you, yet you kept something like this from me?”

He seemed…upset. He was talking… Yet to whom, Blossom knew not.

Taking a deep gulping breath, Blossom finally knocked at the door. “Hello?” she spoke loudly; “I am…Pink… I was…summoned?”

“Huh? Oh, yes! Enter!”

Blossom proceeded to open the door, the light immediately hitting her eyes requiring an adjustment as she timidly stepped in, the door shutting from behind.

Sir Berrybottom, that head of this house whom she had never spoken with prior, was seated at his large desk, eagerly awaiting. “Ah. That was remarkably fast! I had just sent Grassheart out, in fact… Yet another of Fate’s signs…”

Blossom eyed around… It was obviously a nobleman’s office and study. She immediately noticed, however, her who stood submissively next to his left… The head maid, whose own eyes remained cast down and away, as if ashamed and riddled with treason’s guilt…one of which was evidently blackened and swollen.

Blossom’s apprehension only intensified, especially as her eyes slowly returned to the Sir’s own which stared her down.

“Where is Grassheart, anyway?” Sir Berrybottom inquired.

“Huh?” Blossom was confused.

“The green-haired maid I sent to fetch you… Why is she not with you?” Sir Berrybottom clarified, being conveniently specific.

“I was…left to go on my…own?” Blossom answered.

“Were you now…” There was ire in his calm voice; “No matter. I will deal with her later, for now there is you…” Sir Berrybottom refocused; “Please, take a seat, my dear.” He merely gestured to the two elegant and soft chairs in front of his desk.

Blossom…timidly and cautiously…proceeded to take a seat… “Am…I in…trouble?”

Yet Sir Berrybottom leaned forward from his seat, peering closer… “Trouble? No, no… Absolutely not, my dear. Quite the opposite…”

Blossom did not like the way he said that… Her breaths tensed more, her eyes glancing at the head maid once again… “Uhm…what happened to her?” she finally asked… “Why is…”

The head maid flinched as if she had been abruptly placed into the spotlight… “Oh, do not mind me, I just…fell…”

Yet Sir Berrybottom’s eyes lanced; “Do not bother lying, Glory…” His eyes then shifted back to Blossom, honestly; “I had lost my temper and struck her.” He outright…said.

“…I see…” Blossom was perturbed.

“She had, after all, kept quite the secret from me… One that I was only made aware of from Earl Walnut’s disclosure” Sir Berrybottom thus openly stated; “Sir Walnut, you see, was actually looking for someone on behalf of the Central Trade Company… And, to his discovery confirmed by her words…and to my disbelief, it seems that House Berrybottom has been harboring a special guest of honour…”

“…huh…?” Blossom…just stared…

The Sir’s eyes lanced to the head maid; “This is her, correctly?” he sternly interrogated.

The head maid slowly but nevertheless ultimately nodded; “Y-yes… That is her…” She remained ashamed and evasive.

“Thus, the truth is confirmed… Blossom Coastfield-Sunnycloud…” With that name uttered, Blossom’s eyes widened as all tension froze within, hollowing completely.

The Sir began to chuckle weirdly… “Oh, those foolish Sunnyclouds…” he smirked; “I had expended so much effort in gaining their attention during their visits to Huckleberry, only for them to reject this house as unworthy despite everything I did for them… But look at what has been delivered to us…” His eyes returned to the head maid… “To think she had made important friends where I had failed… I truly did lose my temper shortsightedly…”

Blossom…just looked at the head maid with a type of stare, her shocked eyes declaring more than anything that could be said.

“Do not place blame onto her…” Sir Berrybottom’s eyes returned to Blossom; “For this was clearly a machination of Fate.”

Blossom’s eyes drifted back to him… “…oh?”

“Earl Walnut and I, you see, have struck quite the accord… An exchange, if you will… His disclosure of his discoveries had left me in shocked disbelief, but I promised…that, if they proved true, he would have my full consent to the suitrage… He can have Billhook” Sir Berrybottom spoke, breaths somewhat unhinged; “And he will…regretfully inform the Central Company that he has lost interest in his trip, and that he was unable to find you…”

Blossom sat there hollowly without words; listening, processing… accepting…

“I understand, Sunnycloud,” Sir Berrybottom continued, invigorated, “you are in a terrible situation… I cannot fathom the weight that is crushing you… Bastard or not, you carry the last embers of an entire sovereign continuum, and many consequently seek you or your life…” he thus remarked; “But, rest assured, House Berrybottom will do everything we can to safeguard your identity, and I shall take every step to ensure your safety with us—even hiring mercenaries if I must…” His voice was…emphatic and genuine.

Yet Blossom found no reassurance whatsoever…

“You will remain employed as you are, and I am willing to go as far as to grant you an early promotion, in fact…” Sir Berrybottom continued; “You see, my son Swordstaff… He is of a…peculiar age, and I had to…reassign his previous attendants, leaving the position vacant. It is a job most prestigious and the safest—his safety is your safety, after all. Thus, you shall be promoted from a junior in training, to my congratulations, and become an attendant to Swordstaff and be afforded all of the privileges and pay appertaining. The work is relaxed compared to the others; he should be able to do much himself now.”

Blossom remained quiet… Given everything her mother had told her; given everything she understood of the nobility; a part of her already knew…where this was going.

And not just her, for the head maid was giving the Sir quite the unsettled stare.

Indeed… “However…” Sir Berrybottom’s voice drifted… “In exchange for this house’s hospitality, I merely ask that you…be willing to provide…something for us…”

“Sir, respectfully!” The head maid immediately interjected; “You cannot be… She is only—”

Yet, “Can the girl bleed?!” Sir Berrybottom, temper snapping, raised his finger as his eyes sharply glared; “Then she can breed! Why else would Fertility make you women ready at that many years had she other intentions?!” Breaths calming, his eyes fell away… “Ever since Earl Walnut appeared, I have been pondering… Fate’s Oracles told me; they assured me… Swordstaff is the one… But I realize now… I misunderstood… Swordstaff is not the chosen, but the progenitor… Only half… And through Earl Walnut, Fate has delivered the other…most important half…” His eyes looked into Blossom. “I will not circle around this, Sunnycloud. Once my accord with Earl Walnut has confirmation, you must attend to Swordstaff…and let his seed bear you fruit.”

In this moment… “…ah…” Blossom’s soul left her body as all the life fled from her eyes, a numbing sickness entering heart and stomach…

“Do not misunderstand,” Sir Berrybottom continued forth, “I am…not…a wicked man; this does not come…easily… But your blood carries far more than ours and can usher this house’s future… Claims to a sovereign line… You will bear us that child; one, maybe two, that is all we need… And I promise you, afterwards you will be…”

Words continued, yet at some point they became unintelligible. All Blossom could hear was an endless ringing from a world losing color; dreams rent meaningless. She could not move, respond, or bother to do anything more than detach, nothing feeling real. Her head drifted astray, only a single silent tear dripping down.

In the end, her only lament was that…she could not punch her past-self in the face for all those moments she had ever believed things could not get worse… For indeed, things could always become so much worse.

Ah… So that is the card you decided to play, sir earl

Three birds, one decisive stone…

Fascinating

I would be surprised, shocked even…

Had I not already known well before this scene

Thus, all have played their cards

And now the turn swings to us to play ours

Hive to Deployed: Outcome D. You may move to establish contact; let the shepherd collect her sheep.

Perhaps, borne by Fate’s weaves, drawn and stitched…

Outcome’s determination

Yet held by waking graves, aimed to heart’s tips…

Fate’s termination.