"Red, you received all perfect marks again. Excellent work. I'm not at all surprised—" Yellow Diamond's Pearl came forward, and presented the noble with a gift. "Even so, I want you to have this. It's a reward for your dedication."

"I humbly thank you, My Diamond. Belonging to you is reward enough."

"Well, aren't you a charmer? Go on, open it."

The box was expertly wrapped with a neat, red ribbon tied into a bow, which Red gently pulled apart. She removed the upper lip and inside lied three barrettes of different colors, all of them types of flowers. A sunflower, a poppy, and a blue tulip.

"They're appearance enhancers you can pin in your hair. Do you like them?"

"I love them, My Diamond. Thank you." Red bowed low.

"Good. Keep up the splendid work. You're dismissed."

When the noble returned to her apartment, her Pearl accused her with skeptical blue eyes the moment they caught the box in her hands.

"What? What is that look for?"

Her charcoal hand squeezed around the duster. "Lady Red, is there another Pearl in there?"

Laughter. "What would you do if there were?"

She pouted. "I would accept it, but I wouldn't like her and I would do anything in my power to convince you that I'm the only Pearl you need. I know you better than she ever would and I'd do just about anything to make you happy, Lady Red. But I also understand that you can't turn down a gift from Yellow Diamond, so if there's another Pearl in that box, so be it."

"Well…I have to tell you something." Red looked to the floor in a moment of faux pensiveness.

"My Lady, please no—"

Those rainbow eyes, now with three colors and mostly black, looked up into Pearl's face. Red scrunched her eyebrows and pursed her lips.

"Oh, it is another, isn't it?"

A pause. Slowly, those crimson hands opened the box, to show her.

"No. It's just some barrettes Yellow Diamond gave to me."

The servant nearly fell over. Relieved, she placed her hand over her iridescent black gem, with wide eyes and a full scale heart attack happening inside her chest.

Red expelled rich mirth. "You should have seen the look on your face—"

Pearl gasped. "Lady Red, I was so worried—"

The mistress cleared a tear from her eye. "Why would you assume there was another Pearl in here?"

"That looks like the box I came in when Yellow Diamond gave me to you."

"Oh." Colorful irises smoothed it over a few times. "I suppose it does. I'm sorry, Pearl."

"That's alright, Lady Red. I'm just glad it's only barrettes. They're quite lovely."

"They are. Why don't you come here a moment?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

And Pearl stood before her mistress, who pulled out the tulip and placed it in her slave's bluish-green hair. The panic of potentially having to deal with a younger servant melted away from her, and her pretty face made a happy grin.

The flower blossomed right in the middle of her part.

Red was smiling too.

"Do you want for me to have this clip, My Lady?"

"Yes, Pearl. It looks charming on you."

"I love it; thank you, Ma'am."

"Of course."

And then Red, whose body moved in a knee jerk reaction, kissed her servant right on the forehead, causing a violent azure blush to invade these normally dark cheeks. They looked one another in the eyes and a breeze of cold, brutal logic made the noble realize what she had done.

Her crimson face too, became incredibly hot. "I wasn't thinking—that was inappropriate. I'm sorry, Pearl."

"It's quite alright, Lady Red." The warm breeze from her direction intensified. "I didn't mind it at all. It was pleasant, actually. If you wanted to do it again…" But Pearl stopped speaking. "That was rude of me to say. I'm sorry, My Lady."

"No—I'm glad you didn't mind it. I thought I might have…"

Gulp.

"Lady Red, can I speak liberally?"

"Yes, Pearl. You may."

Her dark index finger pointed to the poppy. "I think you should wear this one. It would suit you."

So the noble took it between prints and pinned it upon her tight bun, right in the front.

"It does suit you, Madame. You look lovely."

"Thank you, Pearl." And Red stopped her lips from afflicting her servant again.