Rita stared at Byme's gentle face for a moment, then turned to Nivalis.
"See that? That's a Vineborne. The prettier they are, the more careful you need to be."
Nivalis widened her eyes and stared at Rita's Vine.
"Got it!"
Rita placed a hand over Nivalis's face and pushed her off her shoulder.
"You've heard of me, which means Deceitful Bloom visits you often, right? Haven't you asked her directly?"
"If you annoy her that often, then you must know her well," Byme replied. "Do you think, with her personality, that if she set something this firmly, she would explain the reason to me?"
Rita had no comeback.
She took the Flower of Deceit from Byme.
"Fine, I'll do it. How do I connect?"
"Just place your Vine on it."
As she spoke, the black, sand-like Vine drifted toward the flower. Just before it could land, Rita pulled the flower slightly aside and asked,
"Before that, can you tell me what kind of gift you're planning to give me?"
