Mourning Flowers

The chief maid should be somewhere on the first floor. She'll know the queen and prince's favorite flowers for sure. A word of warning, though... She tends to ramble, so you might be talking to her for a while.

You can get the flowers in Acteul's marketplace. Feel free to ask the chief maid again if you forget which ones you need.

What was it again? No, it's no good, I can't remember at all...

You there! You wouldn't happen to know the queen and prince's favorite flowers, would you?

Huh? How would I know something like that?

This is hopeless... The chief maid will have my head if I don't get the flowers for their graves... Oh! Perhaps you could go and ask her for me? If I go back without fulfilling my duties I'll get lectured like you wouldn't believe.

Wouldn't want that. I just have to ask what flowers to put on the graves, right?

Yes, that's all! Easy-peasy. Oh, but don't tell her you're there at my request! The chief maid should be somewhere on the first floor. She'll know the queen and prince's favorite flowers for sure. A word of warning, though... She tends to ramble, so you might be talking to her for a while.

What do you want with me? Oh, interested in the royal family's tastes in flowers, are you? It's a funny story, really. It happened in spring, just as the plants were starting to bud. The queen and prince were taking a walk, and noticed some lovely flowers in a corner of the royal garden. They were exquisite Corinda Baby Roses, a vivid shade of blue. His Majesty was quite taken with them. I dare say you wouldn't find them on the Corinda Plains now. They're out of season. We searched all over for more of them... The prince and queen spent a great deal of time looking at the flowerbeds with red, white, and pink blooms. And there they were, blue flowers right among them, each with eight brilliant colored petals.

It turned out Grin, the old gardener, had been taking great pains to cultivate them. He's getting on a bit now, but if I remember rightly, his son became a confectioner. He makes delicious sweets. Have you heard of Zol Saffron Cakes? They're a rather famous product hereabouts. The combination of their mildly sweet aroma and striking colors is simply divine!

From what I hear, Grin's son is courting one of our own maids. No accounting for taste... I sent her to get flowers a while ago, I wonder what's keeping her? If you happen to see her, tell her I want her to clean the corridors next, would you?

Huh? What?! I-Is it finally over? Uh, right. What was that? Tell her to clean the corridors?

If you'd be so kind.

Gosh, I didn't ask for her life story... At least we found out what we needed to know. I can always ask her again if I forget. Of course, it'll mean sitting through all that again... First, I'd better give the maid on the second floor the chief's message.

Excuse me, I have a message for you from the chief maid.

From the chief? Is it new orders?

Yeah, she said she'd like you to clean, um... somewhere else when you're done here.

Corridor cleaning, understood! I'll get right on it.

Oh, but I still haven't done anything about the flowers... Wh-Wh-What do I d-d-do?

I'll get 'em for you if you like. I know what kind you need now.

You're a lifesaver! A thousand times, thank you! You can get the flowers in Acteul's marketplace.

Great. I'll head over to Acteul now.

Feel free to ask the chief maid again if you forget which ones you need.

I don't know if I have the time for that all again... Better make sure I'm 100% certain before I leave.

Oh? But I've already cleaned there today... Did she mean the corridors, perhaps?

That's it! Corridors! Yeah, she wanted you to do them next.

Oh, but I still haven't done anything about the flowers... Wh-Wh-What do I d-d-do?

I'll get 'em for you if you like. I know what kind you need now.

You're a lifesaver! A thousand times, thank you! You can get the flowers in Acteul's marketplace.

Great. I'll head over to Acteul now.

Feel free to ask the chief maid again if you forget which ones you need.

I don't know if I have the time for that all again... Better make sure I'm 100% certain before I leave.

Excuse me, do you sell flowers? One of the maids from Palsifal Palace sent me.

Sure, sure, step right up! What kind of flowers did you want?

Let's see...

Ah, Corinda Roses, excellent choice. Particular favorites of the late queen and prince.

Hmm... Sorry, I don't believe we stock any flowers like that.

I must have remembered the details wrong... Am I gonna have to go back and hear the story again?

Y-You're back! Did you get the flowers?

Yup, I hope these are the right ones.

Thank you! The truth is, I don't know whether these are the right ones or not, either.

The florist said the queen and prince liked these. I think it's a safe choice.

You there! Have you finished cleaning the corridors yet?

Hyaaargh! Ch-Chief! I'll be done any minute now...

Pick up the pace, will you, girl. What's this? Haven't you taken those flowers to the memorials yet?

No, well, I-I'm sorry... You see, well...

Come now, don't dilly-dally any more than you already have. At least you got the right flowers, just like I asked you. Well done for that. There may be hope for you yet.

......

Looks like we got away with it. Now you just have to take them to the graves.

...I'm so happy.

Huh?

I feel like my heart's going to burst! That's the first time the chief maid has ever complimented me!

Oh, uh... That's great. Things're looking up, huh?

Yes! I just knew I made the right choice when I asked you for help. I wish I could share this happiness with the dear departed queen and prince...

Everyone likes getting flowers. I'll bet they're very happy, wherever they are.

Now there's a lovely thought! I'll lay these on their graves right away. Thanks again!