Cough Drops

 "Why do you think nature is so beautiful? Who do you think changes the scenery as the seasons come and go?" Sebek lectured them with a scowl, "Spring happens because the fairies of the Faeland melt the snow that falls in winter. I suspect your outfits are white to evoke the winter snow. And then you're adorned with budding flowers and springtime creatures, suggestive of the season's arrival. I daresay Professor Crewel was aware of fae tendencies when he designed them. Which means-ABSOLUTELY NO STRING LIGHTS!"

  Hearing this, Lotus smirked. What Sebek said was absolutely right. Just one look at their outfits made their point across loud and clear. Their desire for spring was loud in the outfit. However, all must remember that the desire for something so universal must stem for their own personal wish and greed.

  "Okay..." Deuce's and Epel's shoulder drooped in disappointment.

  "So Professor Crewel's familiar with what fae like, huh? He sure knows his stuff. Vil was really impressed too." Jack muttered in surprise, "He was talking about how the white fabric represented the future of something. I don't remember the details."

  "I've heard that Faelanders all wear white in their infancy." Sebek nodded in approval, "So yes, the white also serves to symbolize the future."

  "Oh, I get it. So that's why our outfits are entirely white and metallic, even the flowers, I was kinda wondering why we weren't wearing something more colorful with all these flowers." Ace noted in surprise.

  "The white snow gives way to color as the fairies make the flowers bloom. It's a truly beautiful concept." Sebek nodded in approval.

  "The white snow gives way... to color?" Ortho tilted his head in confusion.

  "Yes. The fairies' hearts stir when the snow melts and buds blossom into flowers." Sebek explained.

  "White snow... Blossoming... Hearts stirring... Change and growth... Something only I can do..." Ortho muttered to himself in deep thoughts before exclaiming out loud shocking everyone, "That's it!"

  "Whoa, geez! Way to scare a guy, Ortho." Grim muttered in shock.

  "I think I have an idea!" Ortho exclaimed excitedly.

  "Huh?!"

  "Something that screams "evolution" and "original"?" Yuu spoke up curiously.

  "Yeah!" Ortho nodded eagerly before giving a confident sneer, "Wanna hear it? Okay, so, to start with..."

  As they listened, Ace nodded his head as his expression brightened eagerly with expectations, "Yeah, I get it... That'd be a flowery performance, all right."

  "Definitely fits the theme." Jack agreed confidently.

  "It's something only you can do!" Deuce nodded excitedly.

  Epel smiled, "And it's very original!"

  "What do you think, Sebek Zigvolt?" Ortho looked to Sebek nervously seeing that Sebek had remained silent the entire time.

  Slowly, Sebek opened his mouth, "...I think it would make the fairies most eager to take part in your show. EXCELLENT idea. You've earned my praise!"

  "Dude, his ego could fill a bus..." Acr grumbled in dismay as they were blinded by his overwhelming sense of pride.

  "I dunno, though... Can you really pull it off?" Grim looked to Ortho in confusion, "You used a buncha words I'd never heard before. The explanation alone made it sound real tricky."

  "You're right that if I go with this idea, I'll need to be very thorough with my prep. There's no way I could be ready by showtime tomorrow if I did all of it myself. Which brings me to my next idea..." Ortho smiled, "Getting help from all of you!"

  "Aww, man! I don't wanna!" Grim complained as he stomped his feet angrily.

  "There might be something in it for you." Yuu reasoned.

  "Of course, I shall make Ortho the most evolutionary presence at the gala and earn my liege's commendation!" Sebek declared confidently.

  "See, that's what I'm talkin' about. I'm already puttin' in overtime here. The guys who roped me into this are gonna pay up big time later." Ace sighed in disappointment.

  "Okay, guys! Let's make this a real showstopper!" Ortho cheered eagerly.

  From the corner of the room, Peony silently watched the warmth and excited chatter before she huffed a small smile and left the room.

  "Are we not going to help them, master?" Ying Hui questioned curiously.

  "Idiot!" Xiao Li spatted, "It's already suspicious enough that they didn't think to ask master for help and you want her to go helping them now?"

  Xiao Li was right. As others know she is affiliated with the fairies, their first thoughts would be to come and ask her for advice as well. However, they didn't. Perhaps they thought that having Sebek, Lilia, and Malleus on their side would be enough to succeed in their mission. Regardless, she cannot step in if this really was a trap to lure her out. After all, she already put herself out there when she offered Silver to go instead of Sebek. Who knows if that really wasn't a trap set up by them or not?

  She honestly wished to believe that this was all just a misunderstanding and that she was simply forgotten or they didn't want to alarm the fairies by coming to find her so openly. Regardless, the only one who knew the truth was Malleus. Yet, if he goes back on his words and potentially harms the fairies, she will not hold back anymore. He's old enough to start practicing control of his magic and emotional state, but here he is still playing. Who knows if they really could get along in the end…

  She left for the greenhouse quietly with her eyes at work again. She also secretly avoided all the security cameras before magically changing into a dress and entering the greenhouse. This time, nobody stopped her as she entered the room. She found her caretaker hard at work and he was surprised to find her. He talked with the craft fairies one more time before returning to Peony.

  "Princess." Maisey said worryingly, "Are you all right now?"

  "Yes," she nodded, "I'm getting better now. I should be in better condition tomorrow. Where is mother?"

  "She is in her room."

  "How is she feeling?" She questioned with a frown, "I wasn't able to ask about her condition. However, I've heard from my sources that she seems to be getting better enough to come out."

  Maisey nodded, "Yes. I shall guide you to her room."

  Maisey took Peony to the Queen's chamber and let the queen know of her arrival. The door bursted open revealing the golden fairy queen with a big smile on her face as she smiled in relief, "Thank god you are all right, my daughter!"

  She pulled her in and touched her forehead anxiously, "I've heard what happened from Maisey. Are you feeling ill? Does your tummy still ache? I've told the fairies not to serve you any cold food for the gala tomorrow."

  "Mother, I'm feeling much better already." She grumbled exhaustively.

  "But you were uncomfortable before then!" She concluded nervously.

  "I'm fine, mother." She reassured her, "There's nothing to worry about-!"

  "You silly child! You nearly lost you life because of me before you left! How can not be worried! I-! I-!" She suddenly started sobbing hugging her daughter making Peony very worried and uncomfortable.

  It wasn't that she was upset to see her cry about her, but that her mother rarely ever did so. So whenever she did start to cry, especially in public, she and her father gets very flustered and unsure of what to do! There was nobody who raised her mother before and all of her friends almost never seen her cry before. Yet here she was crying again!

  "All right! I'm very sorry I left so suddenly last time and to make you so concerned, mother…" She responded nervously, "Please, mother. Stop crying… It would be uncomfortable for you if you attended the gala tomorrow with puffy eyes!"

  "Just because I'm the queen, it does not mean I can't be a mother at all! I can still cry for my child sometimes!" She scolded her as she still shedded tears and sniffles, "Do you realize how horrified I saw you dying?! You silly girl! For once, I finally get to see you wearing a dress and the first thing you did was nearly get yourself killed! And to make matters worse, I was the reason for it! What parent wouldn't get sad for putting their child in danger?! Now, you sit here right now!"

  Hearing her tone not getting any better, Peony realized she messed up and was forced to sit through a very long lecture from her tearful mother through out he entire two hours. When she was done, she had finally stopped crying and Peony, tiredly, called a servant for a few small blocks of ice for her mother. After her mother finally calmed down and stopped crying, she gave her mother some of the nectar candied cough drops.

  "What's this? It's sweet but it's making my mouth and throat a little numb." She noted in surprise.

  "I saw the humans have produced something called cough drops. They take it when their throats are not feeling well or sore. I figured out how to produce some candies with similar results but I made the anesthetic effect light enough so it only numbs the throat and mouth. You know I recently contracted some new contract beasts and one of them agreed to help me gather some nectar from the spiritual fruit trees to make these cough drops. Without them, it would be too difficult for me to harvest the nectar by myself naturally. You can only take one every one hour so it does not give you the tummy aches." Peony sighed in despair, "Father and I always worried that we would damage your health by making you worry so much and making you cry. I made some of these for you so you don't harm your voice. Honestly, I've hoped I don't have to use these because of those reason, but I've still made you worry. Sorry…"

  "Oh… You are always so caring! We are always reminded of how fortunate we are to have you and your father by my side!" She cheered with a bright smile and finally gave her daughter another tight hug, "Tell us you will stay for the night. I will have Igni and Maisey prepare you a room!"

  "Eh? Well, you see-!"

  She was cut off upon seeing her mother's glistening and expectant gaze. Finally, she heaved a heavy sigh and nodded, "Fine... I'll stay, just for tonight..."

 "Yes!" She cheered and quickly called the two in.

 The look on her face gave them all the information they needed to know what was going on.