As she stepped over the Misty Garden’s threshold, the welcomed scent of moist earth, greenery, and a tinge of sulfur filled Lorelei’s nose, calming her racing heart somewhat. Before her eyes, a painfully familiar scene revealed itself.

Standing straight like a young tree, with a head held high, Pricilla towered over the slightly shorter Milly like a descending goddess of wrath and just retribution. Despite not wearing the usual exquisite gowns of silk and brocade, her sister exuded the haughtiness and grandeur of a Limerian high noble lady. Everything, from the twitch of her nostrils to the squinted eyes, gave Pricilla the expression of a queen who had seen something dirty rotting in her feet. To dare disagree with her, raise your voice in reprimand, or look at her with anything less than servile devotion and admiration was a sacrilege, and Lorelei knew painfully well what the punishment of such a crime was.

Trying to ignore the burning itch that spread across her back, Lorelei concentrated on the poor Milly - the victim of this altercation. As expected, there was a clear scarlet slap mark on her cheek. Well, as a member of House Orten, Pricilla was not someone to hold her punches when it came to disciplining the lowlifes. But something in the whole picture made Lorelei blink and slow her charge. On second glance, Milly was far from cowering before the wrath of the noble guest. Puffing her chest like an angry sparrow, her little maid glared back at her opponent with the tenacity and ferocity of a knight challenging a dragon. What was more, her right hand was firmly outstretched to the side, successfully barring the way of Rish who was baring her teeth and ready to prance at her target.

With a sigh, Lorelei pinched the base of her nose and swallowed a chuckle. Her dear sister might have just found her match in the hot-blooded retainers of House Norden. Still, it was unwise to leave the situation fester any further, lest she wanted to bandage scratches and bruises all afternoon.

“Stand back. Both of you.” Lorelei raised her voice again and wedged herself between the two.

Her words and appearance startled all parties who, fully engulfed in their feud, had missed her arrival. Milly’s face immediately brightened up as she beamed a triumphant smile at her opponent, while Rish looked like a scolded puppy caught in the act of mischief.

Turning her back to those two, Lorelei faced Pricilla.

“Would you care to explain the commotion and the injury to my maid’s face?” She managed to keep her voice clear and polite, despite receiving a death glare.

“You…”

Lorelei could almost see the word ‘mutt’ crashing against Pricilla’s teeth as the usual address almost rolled off her tongue. Still, she managed to restrain herself just in time. Before Lorelei’s eyes, the strained, disdainful features of her sister’s face melted away and morphed into the ones of a doll with big teary eyes and trembling lips.

“You don’t need to question me like a prisoner, sister.” Even her voice had become meek and trembling, yet its volume was still high enough so that all curiously eavesdropping servants could hear her. “I know we have been estranged for some time-”

“Get to the point, Pricilla.”

“Yes! Yes, of course.” Her sister shrank half a step back like a scared puppy. “I’m sorry, sister. I was just taking a stroll and saw this beautiful garden. As I came in and saw all these beautiful flowers, I just couldn’t control myself. I’m sorry! I didn’t know I was committing a crime until these two maids came to me abruptly and attacked me. I was just acting on instinct-”

“What a heap of crap!” Rish growled. “Who attacked you? Let me go, Milly! I’ll show her what an attack looks like.”

“Calm down!” Lorelei lifted her hand, her eyes remaining peeled at Pricilla. “First, you should know that Lady Rish is not a maid but one of the guardians of this castle. Second, there is no way that Milly or Rish would lift a hand on one of my guests for plucking some flowers.”

“I didn’t attack nobody!” Milly chimed in. “I only said that one isn't allowed to pick flowers from Lady Nelini’s garden without her permission. Mir-mama, they were plucking hands-full!”

Now, hearing Milly’s comment, Lorelei noticed the hunched figure behind Pricilla. Straw-like strands of black hair fell around the maid’s gaunt face, partially covering a pair of dull blue eyes. The girl trembled and averted her face when their gazes met, a jolt running through her body. In her hands was a bundle of beautiful purplish-blue flowers with long stems and clusters of helmet-like bells hanging from them. A few droplets of green liquid still oozed from the broken stalks, leaving some sticky stains on the maid’s sleeves and fingers.

Without a second thought, Lorelei sprang forward, ignoring Pricilla’s surprised shout. With a strong slap on the girl's wrist, she sent the flowers falling on the ground. Before the maid could even understand what was going on, Lorelei grabbed her arm and dragged her towards one of the waterways flowing through the Misty Garden. With strength she didn’t know she possessed, she pushed the servant’s hands into the warm current, oblivious to the shouts of the onlookers.

“If you care about your life, keep them there!” she commanded, before jumping up and darting to Pricilla. “Quickly! Have you touched any of it?”

Not waiting for a response, Lorelei pulled her sister towards the gutter. This time, however, her tug seemed to be too strong. With a whimper, Pricilla stumbled to the ground where she remained half-sprawled, her left hand remaining stretched up, held by Lorelei’s grip.

“I a-am sorry, s-sister!” she sniffled. “P-please, don’t hurt me! I’m sorry for plucking the flowers! I know my wrongs!”

“What?” Lorelei blinked at her, feeling Pricilla’s weight pulling her down like a sack of rocks.

“Now this is a sight I didn’t expect!” Noah’s deep, melodious voice sounded over the gurgling of the waterways and the commotion created by the servants.

In the span of two heartbeats, the ruler of Norden was standing next to them and bending down to help Pricilla on her feet. And in the span of those two heartbeats, Lorelei wished to be anywhere else but here. She wasn’t ready! She couldn’t face him with her mind and feelings so disarrayed. His mere presence was enough to make her whole being numb and throbbing, and the prick in her chest became even more painful as she watched him gallantly tending to Pricilla.

“Now, who is going to tell me what happened here?” His velvet voice caressed Lorelei’s ears, making her unable to move a muscle. Instead, Pricilla took the initiative.

“Oh, my lord! Forgive me! I have gravely sinned! Please, be lenient and show benevolence in your judgment!”

“You sound like you’ve committed a murder, Lady Orten!” Lorelei felt his heavy gaze on her but remained silent.

“Gods, no!” Pricilla gasped and leaned weakly against his shoulder. “Although, you could indeed call picking a flower murder. In that case, I’m guilty as charged, my lord.”

“A flower?” Even though she didn’t lift up her gaze, Lorelei could imagine his brows flying up in their usual frown and his lips thinning as if sealed, lest they divulge his thoughts and desires. “I find it hard to imagine all this drama is because of some flowers.”

“Alas, it is, my lord. I was oblivious enough to gather some flowers here without permission. One of the Duchess’ maids caught me in the act. She jumped before me and startled me and, I’m ashamed to confess, I slapped the poor girl in my bewilderment. We exchanged some harsh words, of which I’m truly ashamed, and then the Duchess appeared.”

There was a sudden silence. Unable to postpone it any longer, Lorelei lifted up her head. Only a step away stood Noah, clad in shining black and midnight blue, holding sobbing Pricilla in his arms. They were the perfect picture book image of a valiant knight and a damsel in distress. For a moment, Lorelei’s eyes crossed with Pricilla’s and she could see the hidden glee in them.

“Oh, my lord,” her sister sniffled and pressed herself even tighter to Noah. “I know, I might have overreacted by slapping the Duchess’ maid, but I was genuinely startled. Yet, when I tried to explain myself, the Duchess ignored my words and chose to vent her anger on my maid…”

“Lies!” Milly and Rish shouted at the same time. “Your Highness, the truth-”

“Silence!” Noah barked the order, gagging their mouths. Then, with a much gentler tone, he turned to Pricilla. “Continue.”

“Yes, my lord. The Duchess… She slapped my poor Bessie and then dragged her over the gravel before dumping her into the gutter. And then… she attacked me!”

“My Duke!” Suddenly, Castor Firmon stepped forward and stood next to Lorelei. “Don’t be fooled. There is a misunderstanding. The Duchess would never act so low and petty-”

“Stay out of this, Master Castor.” Noah’s voice was cold as steel. “This is neither your time nor your place to speak.”

“It is a man’s duty to protect a lady’s honor, Your Highness, no matter the time or place.”

“Step back, Master Castor.” Lorelei pulled at the young man’s sleeve. “All is fine.”

“Finally, you speak, dear wife!” Noah gave her a deep look. “Would you enlighten me why your sister is sobbing and her maid has gone fishing in the gutter?”

“My lord,” Lorelei forced a smile on her lips, “my sister is sobbing because she has always been of frail body and spirit and startles easily.”

“Did you push the maid into the waterway?”

“Yes.”

“And did you attack your sister?”

“No.”

“You grabbed me and tried to drag me, just like Bessie!” Pricilla wallowed. “You wanted to drown me!”

“I wanted to save both of your lives.”

When Lorelei said that, everyone in the garden became silent. Even Pricilla had forgotten to sob and was now glaring at her. With a light step, Lorelei approached the flowers that had been strewn over the walkway and kicked one with the tip of her shoe.

“This is Wolfsbane. It is so deadly that it can seep even through a person’s skin. Depending on the quantity and the time it has remained on the skin, it could be life-threatening. The best action in this situation was to wash the juices away as soon as possible.”

“Dear Fathers!” Pricilla paled and this time it wasn’t pretended.

The crease between Noah’s brows deepened. He guided the half-fainted Pricilla towards the waterway and carefully helped her to the ground. Kneeling on the stones next to the splashing water, he dipped his handkerchief and began rubbing Pricilla’s hands.

“I understand the reasons for your actions, Lady Norden,” he said without looking Lorelei in the eyes. “But acting excessively without giving any explanation only worsened the situation.”

“Yes.” She mumbled in response, trying to remain calm. “I made a mistake.”

“I hope you reflect on it,” said Noah and stood up. Quickly looking around, he spotted a lone flower with pink bells sprinkled with dark purple nearby. Plucking it, he returned to Pricilla and pulled her up. “Don’t worry, Lady Orten. Thanks to the Duchess’ insight, a tragedy has been prevented. From now on, please, limit your floristic endeavors to roses or daisies. But since you seem to like the color purple, allow me to gift you this.”

“W-what is this?”

“It’s called Foxglove. According to Lady Elvira Corvus’ guide on the flower language, it symbolizes protection and the healing of a broken heart.”

“Oh, my! Thank you, my lord!” Pricilla’s eyelids fluttered like a pair of butterflies. “I’ll cherish this gift. But… if it isn’t too impudent of me… Could you please accompany me to my chambers? I fear that my knees are still weak…”

“I’ll call…” Noah stopped mid-sentence and crossed eyes with Lorelei. The two stared at each other for an excruciating moment before their gazes separated. “I’ll call a servant to assist your maid. Lean on me, Lady Pricilla.”

With a slow step, the two walked away. For a brief moment, blissful silence reigned in the Misty Garden, before a shout interrupted it.

“Star-hounds bite me! What was that just now!?” Rish stomped around fuming. “Did the Duke’s brain break or something?”

“Right! Right!” Milly huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “It was his order that no one is allowed to gather flowers here! And now this!? I’m dreaming, right?”

“Calm down, you two,” said Lorelei quietly.

“No, how can you be so calm?” Rish trampled over the Wolfsbane. “You save their lives and get reprimanded instead! This is unfair.”

“What was done was done.” Lorelei lowered her head. “Please, I… don’t want to discuss the matter any further.”

“But all this… it feels very strange. Not only the Duke’s words but also his actions… might not be what they seem.” Castor frowned slightly and turned to Lorelei. “My lady, are you familiar with the Foxglove flower?”

“Why are you asking?” Lorelei felt a sudden chill seeing the sternness in the young man’s eyes.

“I’m not acquainted with the latest trends in the Capital, and I’ve certainly never heard of Lady Corvus, but my mother is from Limris. I’ve learned a bit about flower symbolism from her.”

“And?”

“There is a little poem she used to recite. It goes like this:

Red roses giveth flaming love,

Forget-me-nots are bonds to last,

Duplicitous the foxes’ glove -

It giveth shield and death nefast.”

Pressing her lips together, Lorelei looked at the flaming eyes of the young noble.

“You see, my lady, the Foxglove is a symbol of protection but also of danger. I believe that the Duke meant it as a warning-”

“Master Castor,” Lorelei cut him coldly, “please, refrain from interpreting the Duke’s behavior as you please. He said the flower was a gift for protection and healing. Leave it at that. Now, excuse me, I have to finish some important tasks. Rish, Milly, let’s go!”