A Blossoming Flower (Falling Petals)

Best Friend.

Uriel quickly took a few steps back while holding Sakura close and using one of his hands to cover her face.

"She is her highness, Sakura Serenity so I would advise you to watch your manners High Priest Nicolas."

"Now Uriel, no need to act like a stranger, just call me Nicolas, or even Nick for short."

The man smiles while still having his eyes on Sakura, his hand lightly patting the hand that was swatted away by her.

"So this child is her highness Sakura, I heard great this about her from Caspian. He said she was a smart and lovely child, he was sad that he wasn't able to meet her in the grand celebration a few months ago."

"Her highness didn't feel so well, so his majesty decided to have her stay and rest. A child her age need a lot of rest to grow healthy."

Uriel tried to find a way to walk past the priest but can't find one where he doesn't end up having any contact to the man.

"Uriel."

Uriel frown a bit hearing his name leave this man's lip and quickly looks at the butler who brought them here, a type of understanding appeared from between them that the butler quickly tries to get everyone's attention.

"I believe everyone must be hungry, please, do enter the dining area."

The butler opens the doors and moves to the side while getting the guest to enter first and then Uriel with Sakura.

Priest Nicolas smiles and seems to know what was happening but decided to just ignore it and enter. 

However, when both him and the holy knights entered, they stopped and didn't seem to want to take another step inside.

Sakura narrowed her eyes and curiously looked at what they were staring at. What met her gaze was Hedwig and Phelan sitting there waiting for the rest. When they noticed the people who entered, they quickly went on their guard.

'Ah! The Divine kingdom look down on the other species, I forgot about that shit.'

She sneered in annoyance but quickly smiled, thinking that they would leave after seeing the beastman there. 

"Why.... There seems to be other guests staying over."

The man glanced behind toward me and Uriel, raising his eyebrow as if to indicate they need to do something about it.

The holy knights seem disgusted at the sight and had their hands in the hilt of their sword, as if they were waiting for some type of attack.

"Yes, an old friend of his majesty came to visit with his grandson, they would be staying for few days."

Uriel was hoping that their dislike for beastman will get them to leave, but he underestimated their shamelessness.

"I wonder... if we can have a private breakfast, I feel more comfortable speaking to the emperor if it was a private dining area."

He was smiling an seem to expect something to happen after saying that.

'Is he.... trying to get us to kick out Hedwig and Phelan just because he doesn't want them there?'

Sakura scoffed at the man, which got his attention.

"Is something wrong your highness?"

Nicolas smiled at Sakura, which caused her to feel disgusted being in his line of sight.

"I wanna eat with Grandpa Hedwig and Phelan. You can talk to papa after breakfast."

Sakura didn't want him to stay, so she wanted Phelan and his grandfather to stay so the priest guy leaves in discomfort and repulsion.

"You eat with this beasts?"

One of the knights spoke before anything else was said. 

"Mind your words! They are his majesties honorable guests so I advise you to watch what you say."

Uriel spoke of his disapproval and glared at the knight who spoke.

"Now, now Uriel. Please forgive my dear knight. It just... we like to be safe, rather than sorry. We don't know what they can have or do."

Hedwig and Phelan's expression wasn't well, but they decided not to speak out, well Hedwig grabbed Phelan's shoulder and held him in place and sign for him not to speak or act.

'This asses think they can say what they want in my home? Fuckers have another thing coming.'

Sakura didn't really care about Phelan's feelings, but she didn't like how this man comes and speaks as if he has a right of who gets to eat in the table or not.

"Phelan is my first friend, so he is very important to me. If I can't eat with him, then I won't eat."

Sakura pouted and glared at the man.

Before the priest can say anything, another voice appears behind them.

"What's this about my daughter not eating?"

Mihkael arrived just after Sakura spoke and did a quick glance around the room, his eyes narrowed when he saw who was the reason the entrance was blocked.

"High Priest Nicolas. I have heard of your arrival, but it was so last minute that I couldn't meet you when you showed up, I do appolagize for that."

Mihkael gently grabs Uriel's shoulder and slightly pulled him behind. Uriel with Sakura are now blocked with Mihkael's back from the high priest's view. Gabriel and Raphael stand side by side of Uriel as well, as if to protect them.

"I do appolagize that there does not seem to be enough seats, how about you and your knights eat in the second dining area, its view is more magnificent and grand that this shabby place."

Sakura quickly hid her face and covered her mouth so she doesn't end up laughing out loud.

'Heheh. I love how he use that theres not enough seats when there is as much of 10 chairs unoccupied right now.'

The holy knights frowned and wanted to speak out for the treatment they are receiving, but stopped when the High priest raised his hand.

"I see, well it is our fault for arriving with no prior notice, so I can understand the trouble that occured because of it. Then me and my knights will eat in the other dining area and come and speak with you after."

Sakura tsked in her mind, dissatisfied that they aren't just leaving from shame of being tossed to the side for the beastman they look down on.

'Bastard has thicker skin that I thought.'

Her father was a bit disappointed to but didn't show any of it, he had the butler who brought them there take them to the other dining area.

The moment they left the doors, Uriel sighs in relief and loosen up.

"Are you ok Uriel? Do you want me to call Azrael to stay beside you?"

Gabriel looks on at his friend in worry and notices the cold sweat that he was in.

"Yes, I'm fine. I didn't expect to meet them, much less that he was the one who came. And please don't call Azrael, I worry of how he'll react when he learns it's that man."

"Ok, but I didn't think the moment I left you guys, you would meet that man."

Gabriel sighs and wonder what type of luck they had this past few days.

"Hedwig, I'm sorry that you had to experience something like that."

Mihkael look at him with an apologetic gaze and turn to Phelan.

"I hope this doesn't leave a bad memory for your grandchild. I'll make sure to have them send anyone from the holy empire to a place opposite from here."

"That is fine Mihkael, from what I can tell, you didn't expect them to visit out of nowhere. It was just an incident of bad timing."

Hedwig laughs and ruffles Phelan's hair.

The boy was finally let out of his seat and he got off running toward Sakura. He stopped right beside Uriel and looked up at Sakura.

"It seems your best friend can't wait to see you."

Uriel chuckles a bit and then bends down to put Sakura down. She pouts a bit but allows it. When she just touched the ground, Phelan quickly held her hand and smiled happily at her.

"Am I really your best friend!?"

Seeing as that was the first thing the boy asked, Sakura had to hold in her need to roll her eyes.

'No, I just said it because it was of convenience at the time."

However, Sakura noticed something of great importance. She didn't have that need to shake him away like she usually did. Rather, she felt the repulsion and dislike she normally had diminish to just finding him a bit annoying.

'Ho~ seems that that mini talk with my inner demon worked well in my favor.'

Sakura smirked and found the situation much to her favor. Since she was in a good mood at the discovery she made, she smiled at the boy and decided to amuse him a bit.

"Yup!!! Your one of my first friends and will treat you as an important friend from now on."

She giggled in joy and dragged him to sit so she can eat.

Everyone watching felt a sense of relief and delight that she finally opened up to someone, even calling them her best friend.

Raphael walks closer to Mihkael.

"It seems that she is finally opening up to others. Looks like the idea of having her spend time with others her age will get her to enjoy life as a child."

"Yeah."

Mihkael smiles warmly at the sight but quickly hid it since there was other servants around.

"Ivy and Daisy are free for this week since it's the birthday of their children."

"Yes. We actually made a joke of it, saying that they planned the pregnancy to be at the same time and the birth."

Gabriel chuckles and joins the two in the discussion.

"Jonathan even wondered if it was considered a nice or bad coincidence. Which earned Ivy's ire. She told him it was thanks to her he ever met Daisy so he shouldn't anger her."

Gabriel laughs at the memory and it caused a few chuckles between the men.

"If I think about it, both children are 7 right now. And since their mothers each are Sakura's caretaker, wouldn't they make the perfect childhood friends?"

Mihkael noticed a very important point.

".... they would, wouldn't they? And Sakura quite likes Ivy and Daisy, so maybe she will be quicker in opening up to their children?"

Gabriel started to think about this too and found it very likely that she would be more kinder to them because of their mothers.

".....should we get them to invite Sakura to their children's birthday?"

Raphael thought the quickest way to get close is buying birthday presents for the kids and have her join in playing with them.

"Let's discuss more later, I think Sakura noticed something by how she is looking at us."

Mihkael quickly straightened his back and sat in his seat, while Gabriel sat down too.

Raphael watched over the servants placing the meal down and leaving one by one. Then he sat after when no other servant is around.

"So your highness, how was your morning?"

"....it was..... ok?"

Sakura recollect the memories of her father's bleeding hand and slightly glanced at the hand but then looked away and grimaced when remembering the high holy priest.

"Doesn't seem you really had a good one hahaha!"

Hedwig laughs at the different expressions that filled her face.

"Sakura what should we play today? Wanna play hide and seek again or maybe read another book?"

Phelan turns to her and held a look full of expectation. His tail was wagging in anticipation.

Sakura stared at him and was in a good mood again because she still doesn't feel any type of anger at seeing his face. 

"How about we play a game you would like, I still can't think of a good one."

'I feel like being extra kind today, so I'll play along with him.'

She happily took a bite of fresh melon that was sliced in her plate, the juicy and cool feeling of the fruit gave her a soothing taste and brought her to another height of joy.

Phelan wasn't expecting this answer, nor was the anyone else. Phelan tail quicken in pace and his face held astonished glee.

"Really!? We can play anything I pick today!?"

"Yup."

She agreed happily and took another bite of her sliced fruit.

"Then let's play tag!"

"Tag?"

"Yeah! You, me, and the two caretakers, Mrs.Ivy and Mrs.Daisy!"

Before Raphael can tell the bad news that Daisy and Ivy won't be here this whole week, Sakura was the first to bring it up.

"Well that might be difficult, Daisy and Ivy have to prepare their kids birthday party this week, so they won't be here to play."

"Oh...."

Phelan tail slowed down to a stop and his ears dropped down too.

"....I don't think you guys have to worry for long, today you'll have more companions to play with."

"Really!?"

"Ha?"

Phelan sprang up in joy while Sakura let out a confused noise to Mihkael's words.

But the only answer he gave was a slight smile.

Sakura narrowed her eyes a bit and found this a bit strange.

'What's my old man planning? He never brought up about getting me more companions to play with? And why do I feel like it's going to be even more bothersome than having just Phelan around.'

"But since right now Sakura doesn't have any caretakers, how about having Gabriel and Uriel watch over her."

"Wait Mihkael that's-"

"Its fine Gabriel. You need a break, I bet your wife is already planning our murder by keeping her away from her husband for so long, and Azrael looks like a sad puppy who was abandoned by his owner when you have been away from this past few months Uriel."

Mihkael lightly joked with them and was thankful for their dedication to finding the issue with Aurora, but he wants his friends to rest and spend time with their family, he doesn't want them to miss any time them have with them like he is was doing months ago with his child.

"Haha now I'm quite scared to face my beautiful wife."

Gabriel felt a chill go down his spine and felt he will get an earful when he returns home.

"Sapphire truly is a firecracker of a women, very different from her calming blue hair."

Uriel pats his friend in the shoulder and does a light prayer for him.

"You shouldn't be speaking. I bet you won't be able to walk for a while after receiving all the pentup love of your fiance."

Uriel quickly started to smack Gabriel's arm in embarrassment, his face flushed red.

"You became a such a brute over the years Gabriel, what if Sakura hears!?"

"Hahaha! I don't think she'll understand what he said until she is older."

Hedwig laughs looks at this group of men joking and fooling around, reminding him of his own sons.

"But it's best to be safe then sorry."

Raphael sighs at his friends jokes and looks at Sakura. Noticing her hand stopped moving.

"Sakura? Is something wrong?"

It seemed that hearing his voice snapped her out of whatever she was thinking about, she turn to him and said everything was fine and continued to eat.

Unknowns to them all, she was imagining some of the type of pentup love Uriel would receive and let out quite the abnormal laugh at the image.

'My BL heart bleeds in joy.'

She quickly checks to see if she got a nosebleed but was thankful she didn't get one and joyfully continued to eat her fill.

Just when everyone finished their food, they recieved a knock on the door. Raphael quickly stood and headed there to open it. He headed out and seems to be discussing something and enters after, his good mood looked to be ruined.

"Seeing your face, I can tell you recieved no good news."

"Those from the Divine kingdom finishes their meal and wish to have a discussion with you."

Raphael appeared annoyed that they still stayed and waited for what Mihkael will say.

"Looks like there us nothing else to do but to meet them. However, Uriel will not, tell them to wait in the guest meeting area and not the throne room, Azrael may snap at them if he sees the bastard."

"Mihkael! Children are here."

Raphael reprimanded Mihkael since no one else but trusting friends are there.

And knowing he did wrong, Mihkael quickly appolagizes.

"Then I'll head to the throne room with Uriel, and explain to the others that you'll be a bit occupied this morning."

"Thank you Gabriel. Then I'll head to speak to our other guests and lead them to the meeting area, we will wait for you there, your majesty."

Raphael opens the door and lightly bows goodbye and went to tell the holy high priest and his knights.

"Well then, I'll go and follow this two with your daughter, they are all heading to the throne room right?"

Hedwig stands and did a light stretch. Gabriel turns to Mihkael and receives a nod of approval.

"Then sir Hedwig, please follow us, we will meet the others today."

"Haha! That's great, been a long time since I've seen the rest of your g**g, I wonder how those little brats are doing."

He chuckles a bit and ruffles the hair of his grandson.

Phelan was just happy he didn't have to leave Sakura's side and followed them to the throne room, while Mihkael went to the opposite way, to meet with the Holy empire's people.