Chapter 2

The sound of glass falling wakes Blossom from her sleep. Her clock displays 3:45am. She grumbles before heading to her kitchen.

"Zero?" She wanders over to her dog and he whines. She stares at the broken plate on the floor.

"Aish, thanks for waking me up though" She pats him gently and cleans up the remains from the broken plate. Zero whines again and Blossom smiles.

"Now what shall I have for breakfast?" She opens her fridge to the sight of her remaining fruits and milk. She opens her pantry to find flour. "Crepes perhaps?"

Blossom gets to work. The sun rises quickly. By the time that Blossom had finished breakfast, she had half an hour to get to the set on time. She calls her chauffeur and let's her manager know that she's on the way there.

"Good morning Miss Blossom!" One of the staff greets and Blossom nods.

"Good morning" she settles down in her seat and checks the makeup compartments. Everything necessary was there, she had a little bit of time before recording. Well, it wouldn't hurt to start her makeup early.

She gets to work and decorates her face. Concealer, sunscreen, moisturizer, foundation, aish it really was a pain being an actress. The clock strikes 4:00 when she finally finishes. It was exhausting to be two people at once.

"Good morning Blossom!" Aegis sings and Blossom smiles.

"Good morning Aegis" she smiles lightly and goes over her lines.

"Good morning Aegis!" Cyra sings. Aegis nods and their makeup artists get to work. Blossom goes through her lines for the day and Aegis scrolls though his phone for any subtle ways to show romance. It had been a pain that the director and producers hadn't written anything cheesy for the two to act out. He didn't even have enough time to get to know her. Maybe asking her would be a better decision.

"Ah, scene one starts in 20 minutes" the staff calls and they nod. "Miss Cyra isn't needed for this scene."

"Alright" Cyra grumbles. She opens her phone to call someone.

"Good morning!" Blossom stares at the man that had just entered. Ah, manager Chen, Cyra's manager. Blossom nods and leaves her seat. That man meant trouble, and he also meant sexual harassment. What a disgusting man. Blossom gets up to leave for the set. The palace was gorgeous after all.

"Leaving already Miss Blossom?" Manager Chen speaks up.

"Being in the same room as you feels like living in the home of a pedophile" Blossom sneers.

"You don't need to play hard to get darling, I know you want me" he winks and Blossom leaves.

Aegis gets up to follow her. "I'll be getting to know Blossom. We need to make up our own romance scenes for the drama"

"Tch, chasing after the girl? She only has eyes for me anyways" the manager smirks.

"Blossom!" The girl turns her head to see Aegis running over.

"Ah Aegis, did you need something?" Blossom tilts her head and Aegis smiles.

"Were there any scenes that came to mind when you thought about the romance we need to fill in?"

"Ah, well the only thing I can think of is the emperor going to see the concubines. Perhaps sending gifts or inviting them to afternoon tea? Oh and of course promoting the concubines and consorts"

Aegis nods and smiles. "Thank you for your input Blossom! I'll be sure to let the director know"

"Mhm" Blossom stares at the scene for the time. It's inside the imperial garden, supposedly where the emperor first meets the maiden. She was a servant back then, and less than a day after she had been promoted to consort. No wonder she had been wearing rags for the scene.

"Ah Miss Blossom! Aegis!" The director grins. "Ready for the scene?"

"Of course!"

"3"

"2"

"1, and SCENE!"

Huaer sweeps the leaves on the ground and smiles. "What a lively day" she hums a soft tune as she sweeps the petals on the ground before the nobles came by.

Hantian strolls through the palace and sets eyes on the young maid. She looked so ethereal under the petals of spring. Her blonde hair fell down her back like a waterfall, her blue eyes mirrored the prettiest of summer skies. Her voice was straight out of a fairy tale.

"Ah Miss" the emperor stops in front of the maid. Huaer flinches and kneels.

"Y-your highness" Huaer stumbles over her words.

"You may rise" Hantian nods. "Are you new here?"

"Yes your highness" don't look him in the eye, that was a sign of disrespect to the son of heaven himself.

"How are living quarters?"

"They're well your highness. They provide much for us"

Hantian nods, "Very well."

"Thank you for your time your highness" Huaer bows and heads off to sweep somewhere else.

"Wait what's your name-" he sighs. "I guess I'll have to promote the blonde servant girl in my palace grounds then"

"SCENE!" The director calls and everyone cheers. "Good job everyone! You are all welcome to head off to grab something for breakfast!"

"Thank you!" The staff and crew head over to have breakfast. Blossom stares at the broom in her hand.

"It's unrealistic" Blossom sighs.

"What is?" Aegis pops up beside her and she jumps.

"A-ah how there's a blonde girl on palace grounds. The europeans didn't enter Chinese courts to marry especially not the women" Blossom stammers. "If anything it would be better to set the timing in the Qing dynasty"

"I suppose. But haven't you heard? This is a mythical legend we're acting out"

"True" Blossom sighs. "I supposed I'm looking too much into it as usual"

Aegis looks at his coworker. She really didn't seem to be the girl that everyone always chastised. She was so empathetic, so passionate about her job. Why was she painted to be the villainess of everyone's lives then?

"All roses have thorns Aegis" Blossom smiles and Aegis blinks back awake. "Don't forget that"