Because there's an entire walkable hallway to the left and she comes in from outside behind them instead. and seemingly only interrupts them when it seems like they're not going to say anything interesting/are saying something annoying.

Because a pack of bloodthirsty hunting cats that don't give up unless they are bored sounds suspiciously like Bernkastel and her fellow cats.

Now, Bern's worn a number of hats over the years in other When They Cry series appearances. But in Umineko specifically, her and the cat horde's job is to "tear out the guts" of the mystery. Cruelly ripping characters apart, tauntingly using their traumas against them, all in service to dragging the other characters' deepest and darkest secrets out into the open for the sake of her master's voyeurism.

She's kind of like a Genocide-route Frisk/Chara equivalent, actually.

And Bern and the cats are also a meta-commentary on players who would ignore the "heart" of Umineko's mystery (i.e. ignoring character arcs and motivations) in favor of obsessive and absurd theorizing.

Will FRIEND(s) play a similar role, I wonder? Does the FRIEND horde represent the very kind of voracious theorizing of people who obsess over FRIEND's importance?

Last but not least, Bern is a character that mostly stays in the margins/shadows/"Secret Tea Party" chapters for the first half of Umineko's story before becoming much, much more important and villainous in the second half.

and then told her not to say anything or let on about it?

''someone dared us to hang out (positive)'' is a very kris and susie version of ''someone forced us to hang out (negative)''

after all how does Susie expect them to know without apparently telling them that the home Susie wanted to be walked to was Castle Town unless they walked her there the night before?

resembles the most like peonies but could also be pink carnations.

in china and japan they're seen as the king/queen of flowers, with the former as honor, good fortune, love, affection, feminine beauty, and the latter as righteous, noble spirit, courage, strength and bravery. though both interpretations are commonly shared by both.

-pink carnations often mean gratitude, love and admiration. though i found some sources listing them for fascination and distinction.

pretty abstract? but since the petals look round and susie ate a similar one in chaptor 4, I have to assume its edible? unless susie is immune to toxins, my best guess is either pansies or violets. both commonly used for culinary dishes.

-in hanakotoba, pansies mean thoughtfulness, kind love and consideration.

-violets for sincerity, humility, small happiness and honesty. also has ties to sapphic culture.

good ol buttercup, can't go wrong with buttercups.

from victorian floriography- sarcasm, ingratitude, childishness, riches and memories of childhood. pretty bad to consume, but apparently some species can be used in traditional medicines against fevers,rheumatism and rubefacient. that's not related to this,i just thought it was neat.

Edit: i just realized that this could be a japanese kerria which symbolizes prosperity, wealth, rejuvenation and renewal. also connected to wabi-sabi and poetry.

white lilies or sakura.

lilies- purity, innocence, dignity, and iconic symbol for girls love(yuri). commonly used at funerals to symbolize the departed's soul returning to innocence.

sakura -mono no aware, exceptional beauty, elegance, refinement, wabi-sabi, love, hope, vitality and rebirth.

white daffodils

Hanakotoba -vanity/self-love, respect, good fortune, and happiness

victorian floriography- evanescent happiness and deceitful hopes, chivalry, new beginnings, regard and unrequited love.

Bonus phone background ratio for your phone background needs:

The shop in the Cliffs has new dialogue in an extremely obscure circumstance.

I don't know what the exact conditions are, but I loaded up my save, spoke to the shopkeeper, and triggered the new dialogue immediately (screenshots under readmore):

inchresting characterization moment. she does seem pretty okay with checking bunches of things with Kris