They glanced at each other, "a flower maiden?" Gabbie repeated her words.
'Is that why she keeps emitting flower scents?' Eiden asked inwardly.
DoHyun nodded "flower maidens aren't supposed to leave the night bloom garden for whatever reason but I can't train inside so I created this secret passway"
"Creative", commented Derrick.
"Outsiders apart from nobles and the imperial family are not allowed in" she added
"And if we get caught?" Jason asked
She stopped smiling "if we get caught, I'll be hanged and you four will be decapitated for encroachment".
Her words changed their expressions but she assured them "but that won't happen, I'll make sure it doesn't".
Still feeling uneasy, Derrick forced a smile "haha, we trust you flame princess", the rest nodded in agreement…. the rest except Jason.
One at a time, they went through the secret passage. DoHyun kept her word, although they kept running into guards and other maidens of the garden.
The evening was already close and the wind blew strong. The scent of flowers enriched every nook and cranny of the place. Roses, lilies, jasmine, lavender, etc, the scent of different flowers filled the area.
They got into DoHyun's room safely without getting caught.
She locked the door once they were in and heaved a sigh of relief.
She turned around to find them checking the place out.
"Your room is really pretty" said Gabbie, her fingers trailing on the table.
"And smells good too" Derrick added, "being a flower maiden sure pays out, doesn't it?" He faced DoHyun.
Her face was calm, she expected their complimenting reactions. Sure everyone who sees how a flower maiden lives would assume life to be good for them, yes they had rich meals and wore fine silk and linen
But look at it this way, you give your livestocks the best feed so that you can get the best meat from them. Life as a flower maiden wasn't all chocolates and rainbows.
"I beg to differ," she muttered under her breath.
"Hmm?" They looked at her.
Before she could answer, someone called out loudly "DoHyun!"
They all froze and looked at each other. No one said a word, they stood still. The sound of the woman's footsteps were closer and closer.
"Jie!" DoHyun gasped at the familiarity of the voice, she opened the door before the woman did and closed it quickly. She faced her while smiling nervously.
"Jie Lan, ni hao!" DoHyun called out hastily. Lan reached out to touch her forehead,
"Are you okay?, You're sweating a lot" said Lan with creased brows.
The woman, Lan Li was a flower maiden just like DoHyun. Twenty five years of age, tall and an elegant beauty. Her purple short hair rested on her shoulders, she preferred them lose, unlike DoHyun who loved braids.
Ever since DoHyun was brought to the night bloom garden, she has been like an elder sister to her, thus, the reason DoHyun calls her Jie Lan.
"Are you sure?" Lan asked again after DoHyun nodded in response.
"I'm sure Jie Lan" she smiled.
"Good. The imperial family has permitted the nobles to visit today for drinks, everyone is obliged to attend, everyone including the underaged just like your self" she announced
DoHyun frowned, "let me guess….. it's so I can learn from you older ones"
Jie Lan nodded with a polite smile "go get ready DoHyun, you know how the nobles get when we're not prepared. It is their money after all". She pat her head and walked away.
"Okay Jie, xie xie" DoHyun waved her.
She opened the door, still frowning and locked it.
"Who was it?" Gabbie asked
"My Jie" she replied.
Gabbie saw the confusion in the boys eyes and whispered "Jie means older sister" and they nodded in realization.
Derrick reached out to his chest while laughing "ha… for a second there I thought my heart would beat out of my chest. The thought of being beheaded though"
"The nobles are soon to come, all maidens must gather at hall. I can't leave you guys here, it's way too risky" said DoHyun, while pondering
"Where would we stay then?" Jason asked
After a thought, she sighed in defeat, "you'll have to attend the meeting as well. With the right attire, you should be able to blend it properly"
"Oooh almost like playing spies" said Derrick excitedly, "I call dibs on being a guard" he said
Gabbie folded her arms "you talk rubbish, I'll make a better guard than you"
Jason furrowed his brows "not now, not here you guys", if someone hears their squabble they would all be doomed.
"Hah! Girls can't be guards.." said Derrick, he looked at DoHyun "girls can't be guards right flame princess?"
Her expression was uneasy, "you….. don't get it" she said uneasily
"Huh?"
"Other than the flower maidens and nobles, no one else is allowed in the hall and…. I don't have access to guards clothings" she spoke reluctantly
There was lengthy pause, her words needed time to sink in.
"Wait, what clothings do you have access to?" Eiden asked, his gut knew where the discussion was going but he didn't want to believe it.
She smiled politely, "We are all going to be flower maidens tonight" she declared
"Eh?" Jason, Derrick and Eiden chorused simultaneously, their faces edges with unbelief.
Gabbie held a cocky smile "are you saying they're going to dress as girls?" She asked amidst chuckling
DoHyun nodded and Gabbie burst into laughter.
"I'm not wearing a woman's cloth" Derrick folded him arms
"Yeah me neither" said Jason
"Isn't there anything else?" Eiden asked and she shook her head.
Gabbie's laughter only grew with their sunken faces, the thought, no the image in her mind of them wearing dresses kept making her laugh nonstop…. especially Derrick, she planned to tease till he dies.
"There's nothing else that can be done" said DoHyun.
"No way!" Derrick objected, "I'm a man!, I can't been seen in a flowery dress…..MY DIGNITY!" He said louldy.