After washing Polly, Flora Bloom cleaned herself up as well. Before coming out, she refilled the water storage bucket inside. To avoid arousing suspicion, she put her old, filthy clothes back on.
And yet, when Flora Bloom appeared before them holding Polly, everyone stood frozen in place.
The sight of her—with supple, delicate skin and a beauty that seemed to rise unstained from the filth—left every member of the team utterly shaken.
It took a few coughs from Lance Holland and Melanie Lawson to snap everyone out of it. Then, Melanie pulled Flora Bloom aside. "Flora Bloom, over here!"
Flora Bloom asked, confused, "What is it?"
"You can't go walking around the base looking like that! You'd better stay here and not go out!"
"Huh?" Flora Bloom touched her face. "Am I ugly? That can't be right. I'm supposed to be beautiful!"
