âOh, come on Gen!â said Lunia, exasperated, âItâs just one small thing!â
Gen sighed. He was already tired with his work and the meeting and had no energy to keep bickering with Lunia. He turned around and walked away.
âGen!â said Lunia following down the hall, âWait! Where are you going?â
âThe conference hall, where else?â retorted Gen, âI donât have time to waste on you.â
âJust do it alright?â asked Lunia, âAnd I will leave you alone.â
Gen glared at Lunia. âFind someone else!â
âI canât!â
âWhy the hell not?â asked Gen, âPeople would be lining up for this. Go find anyone else.â
âMadam told us to pick the most handsome person among the staffs,â explained Lunia, trying to keep in pace with Gen. âYou should be grateful. Everyone unanimously voted for you!â
Gen scoffed. âYou and your one personage vote, I presume?â
âNo, me and Roman⦠and Madam!â
âGet lost from here before I lose my temper.â
âI canât! I have been instructed to carry out this task and I will see it done.â
âLunia, get the hell out of my face. I simply donât have time for your petty tricks.â
âWell, then,â said Lunia, âIf it is going to be like that you leave me no choice. Madam said you owe her a favor.â
âWhat the hell?!â cursed Gen, halting in his tracks and turning to Lunia.
âI donât know anything about it, alright,â said Lunia, âBut she said you would understand and agree to our request if I said that.â
âWhat gibberish is this?â shot back Gen, âNow you think you can blackmail me into doing whatever stupid thing you want me to do?â Gen turned to go.
âCard! Stamps!â shouted Lunia from a few paces behind.
Gen froze and walked back to her, glaring. Here I thought Amethyst was nice, he thought, she seems to be not a housecat but a lioness. Goddamn it!
Gen cursed and scowled. âGive it here!â he said and snatched the roses and the notes from Luniaâs hands.
âBe careful!â said Lunia, âDonât break the stalks! It suits you, you know.â
Gen stabbed his fingers at her. âNot another word!â
âI am most certain that they would prefer the man over the flowers.â
âLunia!â roared Gen.
âDonât shout!â said Lunia with a smirk, âCongratulations on becoming the flower boy!â
Gen ignored her and tried to stomp away. âOi, flower boy!â called Lunia, âDonât forget your outfit!â Gen turned to Lunia and directed her a deadly glare. He was doing his best to control his anger. He snatched the outfit that Lunia was shaking in front of him and stomped away.
Roman came out from behind the pillar. She had been hiding there because she had no intention of facing Genâs wrath. âRoman!â squeaked Lunia. She was laughing hysterically. âDid you see his face?â
âAre you sure it is safe to tease him so blatantly?â asked Roman. âHe looked very angry.â
âItâs fine!â said Roman, âThis is nothing compared to how he has treated me!â
âWhat did he do?â
âHe always gives me hell for making the smallest mistake. He is so rude to me every time. He said I should work hard and efficiently if I want my head on my shoulders instead of it rolling on the ground. Threatening me every single time! He deserves this!â
Roman chuckled seeing Lunia laughing uproariously. âI am curious how he will look,â said Roman, âI think it will suit him very well.â
âWe probably wonât be able to see that,â said Lunia, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.
âWhy not?â asked Roman.
âHe is an elusive guy,â said Lunia, âHe will find a way to carry out the chore when nobody can see him. Him with those flowers, thatâs all we get to see.â
âSuch a shame,â said Roman.
âMy, my, Roman,â said Lunia, âThe minx you are, you want to see him humiliated further?â
âNo!â said Roman.
âHa ha ha, only joking!â said Lunia, âLetâs go tell madam. We need to sort out the flowers. Lots to do!â
A few hours later, the mansion was awash with rumors that a very handsome and mysterious thief had appeared with flowers. He had delivered these flowers to the lady guests in the mansion.
A soft lavender rose for the gentle Countess of Onslow. Lovely pink rose to the amiable Countess Citri. Brilliant red roses delivered to Baroness Hours, and sweet, orange roses to Viscountess Renove. And mint, green rose to Baroness Zephyr, to match her calm countenance.
Gen might complain high and low, but he was always one to deliver the most efficient work.
*
âMadam, itâs time to choose the flowers for the tea party decoration for tomorrow.â Lunia entered the room with the merchant.
âGreetings, Lady Skad. I am Flora, a merchant specializing in flowers.â
âNice to meet you Flora.â
âLady Skad, you plan to have the tea party tomorrow?â
âAh yes. Itâs a small party and we would like to use flowers for decoration. Do you have any recommendations?â
âFor how many?â
âA total of six people in the glass house.â
âDo you have an overall color in mind?â
âYes. A pastel tone would be perfect.â
âAh, thenâ¦why donât we use chrysanthemums with hydrangeas?â
âThat sounds nice. Well you know better than me, Flora. But will it be ready by tomorrow?â
âOf course, my lady.â
âAlright.â
âIf there are any other flowers you would like, please let me know. Having a variety will make it look colorful, so itâll look good for a small tea party.â
Amethyst thought about it. âWhat flower do you like most, my lady?â said a maid, âperhaps we can use that!â
âThatâs a very good idea Habe!â said Lunia, âWhat sort of flowers do you like, my lady?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om