Lucius's golden eyes lingered on Florian, sharp yet clouded with concern.
The way he studied him felt almost invasive, like he was peeling away the layers Florian fought so hard to keep intact.
Florian stiffened under that gaze, the weight of it pressing on his chest.
'He probably sees my emotions… no—he most likely already sees all of them.' He held the butler's stare anyway, refusing to let himself look away, even as his heart quickened.
"Did something happen, Your Highness?" Lucius asked at last, his voice calm but edged with tension. His words carried more than politeness—they carried the faint tremor of someone already fearing the answer. "Your… emotions."
The subtle pause made Florian's throat dry. He could feel it—the way his emotions were bleeding too strongly, but he was trying to
"There's something I need to know," Florian said, his voice quiet but carrying an iron thread beneath it. "And I feel like you might have the answers."
