"Prince Florian, happy birthday!"
The cheerful voices rang across the royal gardens, carried on the soft breeze that rustled through hedges of roses and the faint spray of the fountains.
After a morning of rest and relaxation—courtesy of Drizelous and Cashew—Drizelous had slipped away to check on Heinz's outfit for the ball.
Cashew, meanwhile, had eagerly guided Florian to the gardens where he usually took tea with Athena and Scarlett.
The moment they stepped into the clearing, Florian saw them: Athena, serene with her long brown hair tied neatly back, her gown soft, and beside her Scarlett, radiant in a swirl of red curls, practically glowing with excitement.
Their smiles widened at once when they spotted him.
"They also wanted to give you a gift, Your Highness. I'll be leaving you with them," Cashew said dutifully, carefully lifting Azure from his arms and settling the little dragon onto Florian's shoulders.
