Help! Get Me Out of My Sister's Chapter 35: ’Talk Of The Palace’

Florian let out a long, exhausted sigh as he sank into the worn couch in his quarters. He yanked off his appearance-changing glasses, tossing them onto the nearby table with a mix of relief and annoyance. His feet throbbed, the dull ache a testant to the endless hours of walking, cleaning, and, more importantly, skulking about between Princess Bridget’s and Princess Camilla’s lessons.

"Ah. I’m so exhausted," he muttered to himself, stretching his legs out and rubbing his sore ankles. He leaned back, letting his head fall against the cushion, his mind replaying the day’s events.

After the chaos with Lancelot and Lucius, Florian had begrudgingly returned to his task—spying on the two princesses assigned to him. It had been a grueling effort, and though he was drained, he couldn’t deny that the day had been... enlightening.

For Bridget, Florian had uncovered a surprising side of her. Despite the icy, distant persona she typically displayed, she seed passionate about constellations and alchemy. She wasn’t as cold, arrogant, or detached as she liked to portray. In fact, watching her delve so eagerly into her lessons had been oddly refreshing. ’She almost looked... human,’ he mused, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

As for Camilla, Florian found himself even more taken aback. She was always early for her lessons—punctual, prepared, and enthusiastic about Concordian fashion. These were qualities he hadn’t expected from her, especially given the way she carried herself around Scarlett.

The fashion instructor had even complinted Camilla’s eagerness to learn, which was a stark contrast to the carefree, slightly haughty image she projected.

’I like her better without Scarlett by her side,’ Florian thought. Without Scarlett’s influence, Camilla seed softer, more approachable. Even her maids were considerably kinder than the sharp-tongued ones in Bridget’s service. But those little observations were only part of what Florian had learned.

The palace was abuzz with gossip. Heinz summoning Florian twice in one day—once to his office and once to his room at night—had beco the latest scandal. And, as Florian discovered, the princesses were far from thrilled about it.

Earlier in the day, while Bridget had been reviewing her scrolls of constellations, her maids had been all too eager to discuss the situation.

"I heard His Majesty summoned him once to his office and then later to his chambers. At night!" one of the maids whispered with a scandalized expression. The professor had montarily left the room to retrieve so tools, leaving them free to gossip.

Bridget didn’t look up from her scrolls. Her calm, aloof voice cut through their whispers. "And do you know why? It is unlike His Majesty to summon anyone twice in one day...or to summon him at all."

The maid lowered her voice further, though her excitent was obvious. "No one knows, Your Highness. Even Lady Delilah wouldn’t tell us! But so say His Majesty has taken an interest in... him. Of all people!"

Florian had to stifle a groan as he quietly wiped down a nearby shelf, pretending to be engrossed in his cleaning. ’An interest? Oh, give a break.’

Bridget shook her head dismissively. "I don’t think so. His Majesty did not seem pleased when he called for him during breakfast. If anything, this has to do with his plans to find a bride."

’Oh, she’s really smart.’

"That’s true, Your Highness!" one of the maids gushed. "And surely, if His Majesty is planning to choose a bride, it will be you. You’re the smartest among the princesses and, of course, the loveliest as well."

Florian snorted inwardly, biting back a sarcastic comnt. ’Sure, because that’s totally how this works.’

Later, during Camilla’s fashion lesson, Florian found himself surrounded by an entirely different tone of gossip. Camilla and her maids were much less subtle, and the royal seamstress was happy to chi in.

"What if Prince Florian bewitched His Majesty?" one of Camilla’s maids speculated dramatically as she adjusted a hemline on a gown. "I heard his kingdom is full of strange, secretive practices. Those creepy glowing butterflies of his? Definitely magic. Maybe he used so kind of enchanted flower to seduce His Majesty."

Florian rolled his eyes, scrubbing the floor harder to distract himself. ’Bewitched? Enchanted flower? Please. If I had magic, I would be out of here.’

"Or perhaps His Majesty is secretly punishing him," the seamstress added with a sly grin. "I heard he’s fed up with that prince’s constant begging for attention. A man loving another man? Preposterous!"

Camilla laughed, the sound light and lodious. "Oh, it’s all so curious, isn’t it? Scarlett was fuming when she found out. Especially since he hasn’t summoned any of us since his Majesty announced his plans to choose a bride."

"None of you?" The seamstress blinked in surprise. "Why not?"

Camilla tilted her head thoughtfully. "We assud it was because His Majesty wanted to be fair to all the princesses..." She trailed off, exchanging puzzled looks with her maids.

"Then how will he choose his bride?" the seamstress pressed.

Camilla frowned, furrowing her brow. "I... didn’t think about that."

Back on his couch, Florian sighed deeply, his fingers massaging his temples in small circles. Between the constant gossip, the surprising discoveries about Princess Bridget and Princess Camilla, and the sheer physical toll of pretending to be a maid all day, he felt utterly drained. Despite everything, though, he had to admit the day had been enlightening.

’Here’s to hoping that Lucius and Cashew co back with good news,’ he thought, though even that hope felt like a distant wish. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a knock echoed from his door, startling him.

Florian blinked, raising his head from the couch to glance at the door. "Co in," he called out, his voice soft but laced with exhaustion. The door opened almost imdiately, and to his surprise, Lucius stepped inside.

"You’re here early," Florian said, sitting up slightly. "Aren’t Scarlett’s and Alexandria’s lessons supposed to go until lunchti?" He tilted his head, his tone curious. But as soon as he got a good look at Lucius, sothing in his chest tightened.

’Huh? Is it just , or is sothing... off with him?’

Lucius didn’t answer. He didn’t flash his usual sly grin or make so sarcastic quip. Instead, he walked forward in silence, his steps deliberate, his expression unreadable. No—scratch that. It wasn’t unreadable; it was wrong.

The familiar blank detachnt or playful amusent that usually adorned his face had been replaced by sothing Florian couldn’t quite decipher. Fear? Disgust? Whatever it was, it sent a shiver crawling up Florian’s spine.

"Hey, did sothing happen?" Florian asked, his voice now tinged with concern.

Still, no answer.

Lucius continued his slow advance, his eyes fixed on Florian as if searching for sothing—or soone. The intensity of his gaze made Florian’s stomach churn, a strange, creeping unease settling over him like a heavy cloak.

Florian sat up straighter on the couch, watching Lucius approach until he was standing directly in front of him. His towering presence suddenly felt oppressive, and Florian shifted uncomfortably under the weight of it.

’I feel... uncomfortable,’ Florian thought, his fingers fidgeting against the fabric of the couch. "Lucius, what—"

Before he could finish, Lucius moved. With a sharp motion, he shoved Florian down against the couch cushions, his hands pinning him in place. Florian’s eyes went wide, his mind scrambling to process what had just happened.

’What the fuck?’

"Lucius, what are you doing?" Florian demanded, his voice rising with alarm as his heart pounded in his chest.