"No way... NO WAY! I KNEW IT!"

Scarlett’s voice pierced through the room like a thunderclap. Her shriek was so loud it made the windows tremble and Florian nearly drop the teacup in his hand.

In an instant, the red-haired princess—who was usually poised, regal, and perfectly mannered—turned into a whirlwind of chaos.

She bolted from the couch where she and Athena had been lounging, practically tripping over her own gown as she rushed toward him.

"NO WONDER HE WAS SO OVERPROTECTIVE THAT NIGHT!" she exclaimed, grabbing Florian’s hand with a dramatic gasp. Her eyes were wide with excitement, her grin borderline feral.

"Oh, Florian, does that mean you’re the next queen? Are you getting married? Are we having a royal wedding—HAH!" Her jaw dropped as realization hit her like lightning. "CAN I PLAN IT? PLEASE TELL ME I CAN PLAN IT!"

Florian blinked, utterly stunned by her speed of thought.

Athena, still seated on the couch beside the untouched tea set, clasped her hands together, her expression a mixture of surprise and genuine delight.

"Congratulations, Florian! We were wondering when you and His Majesty would finally confess to one another."

"RIGHT?!" Scarlett turned to her dramatically, eyes sparkling. "I told you, Athena! I told you I felt the tension in the air!"

Florian couldn’t help it—he laughed.

Even though the conversation revolved around Heinz, the heavy ache in his chest lightened just a bit.

With Scarlett’s unrestrained energy and Athena’s gentle warmth, it was impossible not to feel some kind of comfort.

But then came the moment of truth.

"I rejected him," Florian said casually, though his voice carried a teasing edge.

He wanted to see their reaction.

Scarlett froze mid-gesture, her grip on his hand loosening. Athena’s eyes widened slightly, her lips parting as if she couldn’t decide whether to gasp or stay quiet.

The room fell utterly silent.

Florian could almost hear the sound of Scarlett’s thoughts breaking.

Then—

"Athena... Athena..." Scarlett whispered dramatically, pressing a hand to her heart and staggering backward. "Am I dreaming? Tell me I’m dreaming. Catch me, quickly!"

Athena, with impeccable timing, sighed but moved instantly—catching Scarlett just as she dramatically fell into her arms.

’What a show,’ Florian thought, his lips twitching into a small, genuine smile.

’They’re ridiculous. But... it feels nice.’

Scarlett whimpered into Athena’s gown. "WHAT REASONS COULD HE POSSIBLY HAVE?! WHO REJECTS A KING LIKE THAT?!"

Athena giggled softly, stroking Scarlett’s poofy red hair with surprising tenderness.

"It’s okay, Scarlett. Calm down. It’s not a dream... but maybe," she looked at Florian with a small knowing smile, "maybe Florian has his reasons."

Scarlett peeked up, eyes glassy and dramatic. "Reasons?! Unless those reasons include temporary insanity, I don’t want to hear them!"

’They’re talking as if I’m not here.’

Florian chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "He will tell you the reasons—if you two tell him what exactly happened between you to make you so... affectionate with each other all of a sudden."

Both women blinked at him in unison.

Then, as realization dawned, color flushed into their faces.

They looked at each other.

And then immediately away.

"Ah. I see." Florian’s smirk widened, enjoying their synchronized embarrassment far too much. "The only reason I told you about His Majesty’s confession was to get some information out of you. You want details? Then give me yours."

Scarlett huffed, her cheeks crimson, crossing her arms in return. "You’re evil."

Athena hid a smile behind her hand, her eyes bright with a shy, blooming confidence Florian had never seen before.

"It all happened the night of your birthday, Florian," she said softly—yet boldly enough that even Scarlett straightened in surprise. "After His Majesty dismissed us... after the fear of dying at the hands of the rogue... I confessed to Scarlett."

Florian choked. "ATHENA CONFESSED FIRST?"

His eyes flew to Scarlett—Scarlett, who had clearly been the one pining first.

Scarlett’s face went crimson as she covered it with both hands. "I WASN’T EXPECTING IT EITHER!"

Athena laughed quietly. "I... was honestly terrified. Scarlett is from a very wealthy and powerful kingdom, and I..."

Her smile faltered, dipping into sadness. "I’m just... me. I was fully prepared to be rejected. But with everything that happened that night... I couldn’t let myself stay quiet and meek as I usually am. Even if she rejected me, or ignored me, or ridiculed my feelings... I just wanted to be brave. At least once."

’Oh shit,’ Florian thought, heart squeezing. ’That’s... unbelievably sweet.’

Coming from quiet, timid Athena—it hit even harder.

He wasn’t the only one moved. Scarlett’s red hands slowly peeled away from her face, revealing shining eyes.

"You..." Scarlett swallowed, stepping closer. "I should’ve been the one rejected. I... I know you’ve forgiven me, and told me to forgive myself, but I was awful to you. I lashed out because—even just at first sight—I was..."

She hesitated, then continued, voice trembling:

"I was already enamored. And I hated it. I hated that I liked another princess. And no matter how wealthy my kingdom is... none of it compares to the kindness in your heart, Athena."

Athena’s eyes widened. For a moment Florian thought she might cry—her lashes glimmered, her lips trembled.

But instead of crying, she smiled.

She raised a gentle hand to Scarlett’s cheek.

"I... don’t know what to say to that," she whispered.

Scarlett giggled softly, mirroring the gesture by cupping Athena’s cheek. "You don’t have to say anything. It seems we both had reasons to be afraid... I’m just glad you feel the same."

They gazed at each other—soft, warm, glowing with something tender and painfully innocent.

Florian should’ve been happy.

He was happy.

He wanted this for them. He rooted for this.

But...

’Okay, this is really sweet but why am I—’

Why was he suddenly tasting bitterness on his tongue?

Why was his chest tightening?

He shouldn’t feel this way.

Not now.

Yet as the two princesses sat there—hands touching, emotions open and honest—Florian felt something cold crawl up his spine.

Because the scene reminded him too much of last night.

His tears.

Heinz’s tears. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Two people on a brink—reaching out, begging, hurting.

Both situations so similar.

But the results...

So painfully different.

Athena forgave Scarlett, because Scarlett truly changed.

Because Scarlett admitted everything, apologized, grew, meant it.

But Heinz...

Heinz hadn’t changed.

Heinz lied.

Heinz hid things.

Heinz manipulated.

’No matter how similar the setup... the outcome could never be the same.’

Because Florian’s situation wasn’t as soft, simple, or sweet as Scarlett and Athena’s.

There was the original Florian’s pain.

And his own pain.

And he was the one forced to carry both—alone.

He shouldn’t even be thinking about—

"We’ve given you the information, Florian. It’s your turn."

Florian snapped out of his spiraling thoughts. Scarlett and Athena were both staring at him—wide-eyed, curious, and far too perceptive for his comfort.

"Huh?" he blinked.

"Why did you reject His Majesty?" Scarlett asked, crossing her arms in perfect imitation of Florian. Her expression was dramatic, suspicious, and undeniably nosy.

"I’m also curious," Athena added softly. "Truthfully... I’ve seen the way you look at His Majesty. Sometimes you look annoyed, but... there’s always something else too. A spark."

"And come on," Scarlett huffed. "You used to be madly in love with him. I doubt that just vanished. Maybe you accepted that he’d never be yours, but deep inside?" She pointed at him accusingly. "The love remains."

Deep inside, the love remains.

That was the problem.

Florian already knew that.

Despite everything Heinz did—the cruelty, the lies, the damage that could never be undone—something still trembled in his chest whenever Heinz looked at him.

That was why the original Florian endured.

And that was why Florian hated himself.

But...

"Because I’m smarter," Florian said flatly.

Scarlett blinked. "You’re... smarter?"

"Yes." Florian tucked a loose strand of lavender hair behind his ear, voice steady, gaze cold. "Realistically, we can never be happy. Need I remind you—he destroyed kingdoms that didn’t give him princesses."

’And he is actively trying to crush Athena’s kingdom.’

He didn’t say it aloud.

"The reason rogues even exist is because he was a tyrant," Florian continued. "He may be trying to change, but that kind of damage doesn’t just disappear. You can’t apologize for causing that much pain. You can’t undo entire kingdoms destroyed. You can’t erase lives ruined."

Scarlett stared at him, her brows knitting. "I’m sorry if this sounds ignorant, but... how does any of that affect you personally? Like—directly?"

"It doesn’t need to affect me, Scarlett," Florian said, uncrossing his arms only to cross them again tighter. "Our ideals clash. I don’t want to be with a tyrant."

"Yet you fell in love with him," Scarlett countered gently, frustratingly logical. "Which means you honestly didn’t care about that at the beginning. If you did, you wouldn’t have fallen at all."

Florian opened his mouth—then closed it.

Scarlett sighed, softer this time. "I know you care about justice. I know you care about people. But you can’t erase someone’s past, Florian. And at the same time... you can’t keep someone who’s trying to make things right chained to that past forever."