p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongThe Flower of Varley/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 17px;" /p
p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongFirst Day of the Blue Sea Moon, Year 1174/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 17px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The sun shone intensely like an oven, baking the arid grasslands. The grass was bleached a golden brown under the inferno. Vultures soared overhead no doubt looking for rotten prize of carrion. A young, lilac-haired young man, Yuri, walked undeterred, though the sweat on his forehead contrasted his composure. He arrived at a series of tall, iron gates along with thick, stone walls. This was the Varley Manor./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Seems a little excessive," Yuri scoffed remarking on the fortified barrier. He walked up to the gate and rung the bell thrice./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Soon, a middle-aged male servant exited the manor and arrived at the gate. His short, black hair was speckled with grey. Time's never-ending passage was beginning to show on his face. The man's eyes were a gentle, ocean blue, but his smile seemed to be forced./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Welcome, young man. Are you the new gardener that the Countess hired?" The servant greeted through the bars./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, sir. My name is Yuri Leclerc," Yuri answered giving a small bow./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Ah yes, Count Varley has been expecting you! Follow me, please." The servant opened the gate and guided Yuri inside the manor. "My name is Harold. Can I interest you in something to drink? You must be parched after waiting outside in that infernal heat."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'd appreciate it, thank you," Yuri class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'll go let the Count know of your arrival. Have a seat in the foyer, if you wish." Harold then disappeared around the corner into the class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Yuri could not help but look around at the room. On the wall facing the foyer, a large portrait hung on the wall. The portrait depicted a man with a pompadourspan class="Apple-converted-space" /spana small mustache, and stern grey eyes. His attire was fitting for a bishop, based on what Yuri learned of him./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You must be Count Grégoire," Yuri commented to himself smirking. "You seem like a pleasant fellow."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"To Grégoire's left was a woman around the same age as him - ebony hair tied up in a bun, her dress befitting a government official. Glasses rested on her face, her expression gentler. But she gave off an uncomfortable aura./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"In the middle of the portrait was a nervous, little girl around Yuri's age. Both of her parents' hands were placed on her shoulders. Yuri's expression intensified recalling why he was at Varley Manor in the first place./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta von Varley," he whispered to himself focusing on her visage./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Young man." Yuri turned and saw the Count himself. He appeared slightly older in-person than in the portrait. "emYou/em are our new gardener?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, sir, I am," Yuri answered class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The man looked over Yuri and grimaced./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I am Count Grégoire von Varley. Come, I will show around." Count Varley quickly turned not waiting for Yuri to follow. Yuri walked briskly after his employer. They walked past some doors. A door slowly creaked open. When Yuri turned towards the source of the sound, a small squeak and a door slamming shut. "Hurry up," Count Varley ordered sharply./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"As the two walked down the hall, Harold walked briskly after them, a glass of water in hand./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Young man! I have your drink!" He called as he breathed class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Should you not be doing something more important?" Count Varley said annoyance rising in his voice./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I simply wanted to give the young man his water," Harold replied nervously. Yuri took the glass from Harold, gulped down the water, and handed it back to him./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thanks." Yuri wiped his mouth with his sleeve earning a disgusted look by Grégoire. Harold nodded and then quickly excused himself./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Come," Grégoire said abruptly turning. They exited through a clean, spotless glass door into a large greenhouse. It was lush, tropical jungle filled with a dazzling array of flowers, trees, and class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Wow, got any leopards in here?" Yuri asked with a hint of sarcasm masking his awe at the well-maintained foliage./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This is my wife's treasured collection. You are to tend to the plants here every day. Water them, kill any vermin, lay down more fertilizer, and keep the tools in working order. Outside, make sure that you trim the hedges. Understood?" Count Varley asked unamused by Yuri's wit./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes sir," Yuri answered. "emYup, great sense of humor, /emtoo."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Beatrice!" Count Varley barked suddenly. A tired, blonde woman soon appeared from the tool room./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, Count Varley?" She asked catching her breath./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Show this boy where the tools are and put him to work right away. I must depart for the Empire." Without another word, the Count left./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Refreshingly, Beatrice was a much friendlier face like Harold. She showed Yuri the tool room and tasked him with feeding the pitcher plants. Yuri scattered some mulch underneath the bell-shaped plants. Yuri never saw such strange plants. He curiously looked inside the openings and was immediately repulsed. Inside the plants were the remains of dead flies, spiders, and beetles. One plant had a spider squirming frantically as it swam through the liquid inside./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What the hell? Who would like these things?" Yuri said to himself turning away from the gruesome class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Then, he heard a door open and two people enter. First came Bernadetta, looking around the greenhouse with girlish glee. She was followed by her mother who admired her collection with pride./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Ah, Countess Viola! The new hire has arrived!" Beatrice greeted with a bow./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Yuri immediately stood up, cleared his throat, and hastened over to his employer. The little girl timidly hid behind her mother./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Greetings, madam. Thank you for the opportunity to work for you," Yuri addressed while bowing respectfully./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Welcome, Yuri. I appreciate your willingness to work for us," Viola acknowledged appreciatively. "You are Count Rowe's boy, are you not?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, he's my adoptive father," Yuri clarified pursing his lips bitterly. "emAnd a total piece of shit./em" He would rather not have to deal with that man, but his hands were tied at this point./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Curious that he would lend us a gardener." Viola raised an eyebrow. "From what I heard, he is a Kingdom noble with no allegiance to the Empire. Nevertheless, I trust that you will take care of things here. These plants mean much to me. Your payments will be sent to Count Rowe at the end of the month."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Understood, Countess," Yuri class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The girl peeked out from behind her mother as a shy kitten class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta, please come out to say hello to Yuri," Viola encouraged gently nudging Bernadetta out. Bernadetta looked up at her mother pleading as to not be forced to interact with the strange boy. "It's not polite to stare, you know." Bernadetta groaned dejectedly./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I-I'm Bernadetta. Nice to m-meet you," she class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Behave yourself, Bernadetta. Do not bother Yuri unnecessarily. I need to go fill out some trade agreements with Bergleiz territory." Viola caressed Bernadetta's cheek eliciting a smile from the both of them./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, mother! Please come back when you're done!" Bernadetta responded taking her mother's hands in hers./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'll do my best to finish my work soon, my dearest Bernadetta." Viola then tightly embraced her daughter. Bernadetta held her as if she was afraid she'd never return. Bernadetta stared longingly at the door, class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Yuri returned to his work looking for pests crawling along the ground. Bernadetta ambled over to the plants ignoring him. Seeing the exotic flora seemed to brighten her mood. Yuri shrugged. emMight as well chat her up/em, he thought./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you know what these…things are?" He asked gesturing towards the object of her interest. Bernadetta immediately scowled at him, puffing her cheeks like a chipmunk. Yuri raised an eyebrow curiously. "What?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""These 'things' are called pitcher plants! See? Because they look like pitchers and have liquid inside them!" Bernadetta traced along the bottom half emphasizing her point. "My uncle told me that the liquid inside them are digestive fluids that kill bugs!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""How charming," Yuri rolled his eyes disgusted. "Thanks for making me lose my appetite." Bernadetta then stuck her tongue out at him and resumed looking for something. "What are you doing?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Looking for bugs to feed my plants!" She answered matter-of-factly. Bernadetta then saw a small house centipede scuttling along the ground, and snatched it like a cat grabbing a mouse. She then dropped it into an awaiting acid bath inside an empty bowl. "You're welcome, Georgie!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Yuri then guffawed heartily./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You emname /emyour plants?" He asked through his laughs./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yeah, so?" Bernadetta responded defensively as her face turned class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You sure don't act like other noble kids I've met," he said shaking his head walking class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Boys," Bernadetta sighed resting her head on her harms./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"As Yuri moved towards another part of the greenhouse, he looked back at Bernadetta. She casually searched the dirt for more bugs to feed the pitchers. He resumed his work before he could be accused of slacking off./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emWhy does he want me to kill her?/em/p