"Your Highness! I just heard what happened!"
Cashew’s voice cracked slightly as he rushed through the door, nearly tripping over his own feet before throwing his arms around Florian. His grip was tight, desperate.
Florian blinked, montarily stunned, before slowly wrapping one arm around the trembling teen.
"I can’t believe... Lady Delilah died," Cashew whispered, pulling back just enough to look up at him. His pale violet eyes were glassy with worry.
"Kraa!" Azure fluttered in through the window, the little dragon letting out a distressed cry before nestling atop Florian’s head. It gently pressed its cool snout into his hair, the weight strangely comforting.
"Careful," Florian murmured gently, shifting slightly so Azure wouldn’t fall. He lifted his other hand—his fingers carefully cradling the fragile, broken-winged butterfly. "Look."
Cashew gasped. "That’s... that’s Luluwing, right?" His eyes widened in horror. "What—what happened to it?! How did he get there?! I... I didn’t even notice it was gone!"
"Soone took Luluwing," Florian said quietly, voice laced with bitterness. "They broke its wing. Then they used him to poison Delilah."
Cashew took a step back, as if the words themselves had struck him. "W-What...?" he breathed. "No... no, that can’t be... who would do sothing so cruel?" He clutched his own hands tightly, trembling. "D-Does Sir Drizelous know? Did he bla you?! Please tell His Majesty didn’t bla you—you would never—!"
"Cashew," Florian interrupted softly, his voice warm despite the tension in his eyes. "He didn’t. He believes ."
Cashew visibly sagged with relief. His shoulders dropped, and he exhaled shakily. "Thank goodness..." he whispered. "Thank the stars..."
"Kraa?" Azure tilted its head from atop Florian’s curls, its wings twitching as if asking what had happened.
Florian gently reached up to scratch Azure beneath the chin. "It’s complicated, Azure. But we’re safe, for now."
Cashew stepped closer again, glancing nervously between Florian and the injured butterfly. "But... what’s the plan now? I an... soone snuck in. Soone actually took Luluwing out of here—without noticing—and hurt him. That’s terrifying."
Florian nodded solemnly. "Yeah. That’s what scares too."
He turned toward the cluster of flowers near the window where the rest of the butterflies lingered. Their wings shimred faintly in the light, but strangely—they didn’t flutter toward him like they normally did.
They were avoiding him.
’Why...?’ His chest tightened.
Florian knelt beside the blooms and carefully placed Luluwing in the soft petals of one of the central flowers. The mont he did, a small wave of motion stirred. The other butterflies hesitated—then slowly gathered around Luluwing, as if inspecting him, comforting him.
Watching them made Florian’s throat tighten. There was so much he didn’t understand. And it was starting to wear on him.
"They’ve been... acting weird," he said slowly, eyes still on the butterflies. "More nervous. More aggressive. They don’t land on anymore."
Cashew furrowed his brows, thinking. "I-I didn’t think much of it at the ti... but maybe since before your presentation, Your Highness?"
Florian looked over his shoulder. "Yeah... that’s right."
The mory of the day before the presentation returned to him vividly—his room was full of movent, butterflies flying in frantic, moving around.
Then mory of earlier with Heinz, and his plan.
✧༺ ⏱︎ ༻✧
"What do we do now, Your Majesty?" Florian asked softly, turning toward Heinz.
Heinz wasn’t looking at him—his crimson eyes were cast downward, brows furrowed in thought. Sothing was brewing. Florian could tell just from the silence, from how the man’s jaw tensed slightly, from how his thumb lightly tapped against his forearm.
Then, slowly, Heinz lifted his gaze and t Florian’s eyes. He held it.
’He’s planning sothing. I can feel it.’ Florian thought, breath catching in his throat.
Heinz’s gaze shifted to Lucius and the two knights.
"Lucius," Heinz said, his voice sharp. "Go inform Drizelous of his mother’s death."
Lucius blinked. "Pardon? I thought you said—"
"Let Drizelous know," Heinz cut him off. Then he added, almost casually, "Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Let everyone in the palace know that she died."
A beat of stunned silence followed.
Even Florian froze. ’Wait... what? Earlier, he specifically said to keep it quiet... What the hell is he doing now?’
Confusion flickered across Lucius’s face. Gareth and Elias looked at each other, clearly lost. Florian stepped forward, lips slightly parted, but Heinz continued before anyone could speak.
"As for you two," Heinz said, addressing the knights, "go find Lancelot. Tell him to et in my office. I’ll be there shortly. Lucius, you go as well."
His tone left no room for argunt. Cold. Controlled. Commanding.
Lucius gave a slow bow. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Also," Heinz added, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Lucius."
Lucius stopped mid-turn, glancing back. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Tell them," Heinz said, "that Prince Florian is being held in his room... under suspicion of killing Delilah."
The air turned to ice.
"What?" Florian’s voice cracked, and his heart thudded painfully in his chest. "W-What did you just say?"
Even Lucius’s composure faltered. "Your Majesty? Pardon , but—"
"Did I stutter?" Heinz snapped, not even glancing at Florian.
Lucius hesitated, clearly unsure whether to follow the order, but one look at Heinz’s face told him it wasn’t up for discussion. Gareth and Elias, just as hesitant, gave a deep bow.
"...Yes, Your Majesty," Lucius murmured, his voice tense. The three n exited the room, sparing a second glance at Florian—twice, in fact—once out of respect, and once out of worry.
Then the door shut.
Florian stood still. Frozen. Fists clenched at his sides.
His teeth gritted as he glared at the door. ’What the hell is he thinking?!’
"Don’t look like that."
He turned slowly, seething. "Like what?"
"Like I just betrayed you."
"Did you not?" Florian snapped, his voice low, but trembling with hurt. "You just told everyone that I’m a suspect. You’re literally making them think I killed Delilah."
Heinz let out a breath, rubbing his temple before running a hand through his long, raven-black hair. "It’s part of my plan."
Florian scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Oh, of course. And let guess—your plan ends with dead?"
Heinz stepped closer, unbothered by the bite in Florian’s voice. Again, closing the distance like he always did—so close that Florian could sll his faint cologne, feel the warmth of him.
But this ti, Florian didn’t move away.
"I’m not in the mood for your gas, Your Majesty," he said tightly.
Heinz raised a hand and cupped Florian’s cheek, gently, almost too gently for soone who was acting so cruel monts ago.
"You’re being quite rude to soone who’s mourning the woman who raised him," Heinz said, though the faint smirk on his lips gave him away.
Florian narrowed his eyes. "My condolences, then."
Heinz chuckled, a low, amused sound. "My, what an attitude."
He leaned in slightly, his breath grazing Florian’s cheek.
"Just for making laugh, I’ll let you in on a little secret."
Florian’s brows furrowed. "Secret?"
"Have you not noticed?" Heinz murmured. "The one responsible... they’re not far. They’re not hiding in so corner of the world. They’re here. In this palace. Among us. Among people you and I know."
’He’s serious...’ Florian thought. His heart started to race again.
"And if their goal is to fra you," Heinz continued, "what better trap to set... than to give them exactly what they want? Let them think I’ve turned my back on you. Let them believe they’ve succeeded in making believe their lie."
Florian’s eyes widened. "Then... you think they’ll act?"
"I don’t just think," Heinz said, lips curving faintly. "I know they will. They’re too agitated. Too sloppy. Whoever it is—this wasn’t their plan. They panicked. They made a move too soon. And now... they think they’ve won."
"And if they think I’m done for..." Florian said slowly.
"They’ll show themselves to you," Heinz finished. "Maybe to gloat. Maybe to ensure you stay quiet. Either way... they’ll co. And we’ll be ready."
✧༺ ⏱︎ ༻✧
’If Heinz is right... I just have to stay here long enough for the rumors to spread.’ Florian thought, gripping his sleeve for a second. His fingers twitched, restless. The plan was bold—risky even—but it was all he had right now.
He stood up and turned to Cashew, who was still hovering nearby with worried eyes. Azure rested on the corner of the couch, swishing his tail, sensing the tension but staying quiet.
"Cashew," Florian called gently. "Can you get a change of clothes? Sothing comfortable."
Cashew blinked. "Right now?"
"Yes. And after that..." Florian hesitated, trying to find the gentlest way to say it. "...I need you to stay in your room."
Cashew’s brows furrowed. "Why, Your Highness?"
Florian walked over and placed a hand on his head, giving him a fond pat. "His Majesty’s orders," he said softly, offering a smile even though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’m not allowed to have company for now. It’s... part of the plan. So don’t worry, okay?"
Cashew bit his lower lip, clearly reluctant. "But—"
Florian gave his head one more pat. "It’s alright."
The young servant looked uncertain, but his eyes briefly flicked to Azure—still perched nearby, alert and protective. That seed to comfort him.
Florian noticed. ’Did he just look at Azure because... he knew the little dragon would protect ? That’s... sweet.’
His chest tightened a bit. ’He really cares, doesn’t he?’
Cashew nodded at last. "Okay, Your Highness," he said quietly, and then walked into the walk-in closet to get the clothes.
Florian exhaled, the quiet dragging into the room like a weight. He moved to the nearby couch and sank into it, pressing his head back against the cushion as his muscles slowly relaxed.
For a mont, he simply sat there, letting the silence wrap around him.
’God... I hope this works.’ His green eyes stared up at the ceiling, not really seeing it. ’And I hope nothing goes wrong.’
But deep down, a bitter little voice whispered:
’When have my hopes ever been heard?’
Florian closed his eyes.
And waited.
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