Wisher's Death: Quadruple leveling

My dignity!

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", Derrick nodded with an acknowledging smirk.

"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 chambers 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 livestock 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 was closer and closer.

"Elder sister!" 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.

"Sister Lan Li, you're here!" DoHyun said hastily. Lan Li reached out to touch her forehead, "Are you okay? You're sweating a lot" said Lan Li 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 short purple hair rested on her shoulders; she preferred them to 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 sister Lan Li.

"Are you sure?" Lan Li asked again after DoHyun nodded in response.

"I'm sure, sister Lan Li," 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 yourself self" she announced

DoHyun frowned, "Let me guess….. it's so I can learn from you older ones"

Lan Li 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 patted her head and walked away.

"Okay, sis, Xie Xie," DoHyun waved to her.

She opened the door, still frowning, and locked it.

"Who was it?" Gabbie asked

"My sister" she replied.

Derrick reached out to his chest while laughing nervously. "Ha… for a second there, I thought my heart would beat out of my chest. The thought of being beheaded though, haha"

"The nobles are soon to come; all maidens must gather at the 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 heard 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 the guard's clothes" she spoke reluctantly.

There was a lengthy pause; her words needed time to sink in. "Wait, what clothing 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 edge with unbelief.

Gabbie held a cocky smile "Are you saying they're going to dress as girls?" She asked while stifling a chuckle.

DoHyun nodded and Gabbie burst into laughter.

Derrick folded his arms, his forehead puckering, "I'm not wearing a woman's clothes"

"Yeah me neither," said Jason

"Isn't there anything else?" Eiden asked and DoHyun shook her head.

Gabbie's laughter only grew with their sunken faces; the thought, no, the image in her mind of them wearing dresses in her head, kept making her laugh nonstop…., especially Derrick, whom she planned to tease till he died.

"There's nothing else that can be done," said DoHyun.

"No way!" Derrick objected, "I'm a man! I can't be seen in a flowery dress…..MY DIGNITY!" He said loudly.