After Florian’s talk with Athena and Scarlett, the two princesses immediately descended into chaos.

Scarlett was already barking orders—her maids scrambling in every direction, gathering outfits, traveling gear, accessories, even snacks for the road—while she shouted over them about color palettes and matching cloaks.

Athena’s maids, upon seeing the commotion, joined in without hesitation.

Within seconds, the quiet corner of the palace had transformed into a whirlwind of fabric and excited squeals.

Florian could only watch, amused.

Scarlett was...Scarlett.

And Athena, though gentler, somehow matched her now.

So he left them to it, slipping away with a faint smile.

And surprisingly—he felt better.

Lighter.

Almost...warm.

Still, as he crossed the halls, Scarlett’s earlier words lingered behind his ribs like a splinter.

He wanted to dismiss them.

To brush them off as naïve, romantic nonsense.

But the more he tried, the deeper they sank.

"You can’t keep someone who’s trying to make things right chained to that past forever."

Florian clicked his tongue quietly.

’It’s not that I want to chain him to the past. For me, it isn’t even the past yet—maybe for the original Florian, but not for me. All of Heinz’s...choices, every single decision that put me in danger, happened within these very months.’

But even in his thoughts, the protest felt weak.

’Was I too harsh?’

No—was he?

’I don’t know anymore.’

But he was mad.

He was still mad.

There was no excuse—none—for everything Heinz had done.

Not just to the original Florian, but to him.

Not when he supposedly loved him.

Not when he was still making secret deals with Asher behind his back.

There was no excuse for that.

Florian let out a long, tired sigh as he walked past another empty hallway.

He shouldn’t think about it.

Not right now.

He had one more person to talk to.

One more person to convince.

Someone crucial to his plans—plans to retrieve the original Florian, and to eventually get himself back home as Aden.

He needed them.

He needed this.

’I just need to find a secluded spot.’ Florian thought, glancing over his shoulder.

No servants.

No maids.

No knights.

Especially—

’Not Heinz. Absolutely not him.’

Florian tightened his cloak around himself and continued deeper into the palace—toward the older, quieter wings where no one dared linger unless they were assigned to clean.

His footsteps echoed softly on the marble floor.

He kept walking—

—farther,

and farther,

and farther—

until he reached the farthest corridor.

A place where no one would overhear him.

Where no one would see.

Exactly the type of place someone would slip away to...

...for a secret meeting with someone they definitely weren’t supposed to be meeting.

Florian exhaled slowly, breath curling faintly in the colder air of the unused corridor.

The stone walls here never warmed, even in daylight. Dust lay untouched on the window sills. The silence felt thick—like sound didn’t know how to exist here.

No guards.

No servants.

No Heinz.

Perfect.

"Hendrix? Hendrix, are you listening somewhere?" Florian called out—not too loud, but sharp enough, a little bite under the words.

’Come on. You always show up when I say your name. Don’t make me look stupid now.’

For a heartbeat, nothing happened.

Then—like the world inhaled behind him—

A shift.

A warmth.

A presence slipping into the edges of reality.

Florian didn’t even tense.

"That was quick," he said, gaze still forward, unimpressed even as Hendrix’s grin practically radiated behind him.

"Well, of course. It was you who called," Hendrix replied, voice dripping with that signature smugness.

Florian rolled his eyes before finally turning to face him.

Hendrix leaned casually against the wall, looking like he’d just strolled in from a picnic instead of a city-wide crisis.

Relaxed.

Bright-eyed.

And visibly excited.

Far too relaxed and excited for someone half the palace suspected was some kind of divine error.

If Florian didn’t know better, he’d think Hendrix genuinely didn’t care about any of it.

But Florian did know better.

Hendrix never takes anything seriously unless it involves him.

"How’s your mother?" Florian asked, voice shifting to something calmer—controlled. "I never got to see you...after that night."

The silence after those words felt heavier.

After the blood.

After Lucius being carved into like meat.

After Florian killed men with his butterflies and bare hands.

After hearing things in dreams he still wished he didn’t understand.

But he kept his face steady, shoulders straight—because Hendrix seeing him break was the last thing Florian could afford.

Hendrix blinked in surprise, the smugness melting for a brief, genuine moment.

"She’s fine," he said softly. "She was able to hide with my uncle and cousin before things got worse."

Florian nodded, a thin breath escaping him. "That’s good."

"I heard what happened," Hendrix continued, stepping a little closer. "You risked your life annd saved Athena again."

His smile softened—no theatrics, no bravado. Just sincerity.

"You have my gratitude. My whole family’s gratitude."

Florian’s throat tightened, just slightly.

"Y-You don’t have to thank me," he muttered. "Athena’s my friend. I would’ve done it for anyone."

"Which is why I admire you."

There it was—shameless, unfiltered, tossed out like it was the easiest truth in the world.

Florian felt irritation prickle up his spine—but not purely irritation.

Something tighter, more restless twisted beneath it, like Hendrix’s ease was rubbing salt into a wound Florian didn’t realize was open.

He clicked his tongue quietly, lifting his chin.

"Alright, well... there was a reason I called you." Florian said, deliberately cooling his tone. "I have something to ask you. And I’m sure you’ll be surprised and have many, many questions, but—"

He looked off to the side, jaw tightening.

"I want you to not ask anything until the day comes."

Hendrix blinked. "That day? What day?"

"You’ll know once you agree to my terms." Florian replied curtly, patience thinning by the second. "Do you agree or not?"

Hendrix stared at him for a beat—then let out a low, amused chuckle.

"Oh dear."

Florian’s eyes narrowed. "What?"

"You do realize this is incredibly unfair to me, yes?" Hendrix asked, smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You’re asking for blind loyalty without explanation. It’s... amusing."

Heat shot up Florian’s neck—mortifying and infuriating all at once.

’He’s acting like he doesn’t even need me. Like he isn’t the one who keeps popping up every time I breathe his name. Oh, for fuck’s sake, calm down—’

"This is no laughing matter, Prince Hendrix," Florian snapped, trying to sound stern despite the twitch in his voice. "I’m being very seri—"

"I accept."

Florian froze.

Hendrix said it gently. Affectionately. Like agreeing to mysterious, possibly life-altering terms was as natural as breathing.

"I accept," Hendrix repeated, smile widening just enough to make Florian’s stomach twist. "No questions. No conditions. If it’s something you’re asking of me... then yes."

Florian stared at him, incredulous.

’If he was going to accept from the beginning, why—why does he always have to make everything so dramatic? So impossible? Is this some kind of Obsidian-family trait? Are all of them born with the instinct to be as unreasonably difficult as humanly possible?’

His expression soured.

"...You didn’t have to make it complicated," Florian muttered under his breath.

Hendrix laughed softly—warm, delighted.

"I did," he said. "Because watching you get flustered is worth the trouble."

Florian glared at him.

And Hendrix only smiled brighter.

’Just ignore it.’ Florian told himself firmly, crossing his arms over his chest as if that alone could shield him from Hendrix’s smirk.

He inhaled, steadying his voice.

"Since you accepted, I wanted to ask you to come with me." His tone was clipped, businesslike—anything to stop Hendrix from teasing him again. "Duke Elara assigned me a task, and it requires me to stay in Celestial Peak for a few days. She allowed me to bring anyone I want. So I want you to come."

Hendrix blinked.

Then blinked again.

For someone who always spoke too quickly and smiled too easily, Hendrix looked... genuinely stunned.

His eyes widened, pupils dilating slightly as though Florian had just said something scandalous.

"You... want me to come with you?" he repeated, slow, cautious, almost disbelieving.

Florian nodded. "Along with Athena and Scarlett. I want the three of you with me."

Hendrix’s brows furrowed. "Is there... a particular reason you want me to come with you?"

"Yes," Florian answered immediately. "But as I said—no questions yet. You’ll know when we get there. So be prepared."

"And... my brother agreed to this?" Hendrix asked.

"Nope."

A beat.

"You’re taking me without asking him?"

"Yes? It’s Duke Elara’s assignment for me. He doesn’t get a say." Florian shrugged, already mentally done with this conversation.

Hendrix stared at him...

Then—

"Pfft."

Florian’s eye twitched. He turned his head sharply.

’Is he... laughing again??’

Hendrix covered his mouth with the back of his hand, shoulders shaking slightly. "My apologies. I’m not laughing at you—it’s just... gods, Florian. You’re bold. Bold enough to kidnap me under royal orders. It’s—"

He snorted again, trying and failing to swallow a full laugh. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Florian’s expression darkened.

He did not find it funny.

He didn’t have the emotional stamina for this right now—not after Asher, not after Heinz, not after crying in a hallway like some character in a tragic opera.

"I’ll talk to you again once I know when the dukes are allowed to leave," Florian said crisply. "Until then, let’s avoid running into each other. For your sake."

He turned, intent on marching back to his room—his bed—anywhere that didn’t involve a smirking Obsidian descendant—

But Hendrix’s hand suddenly closed around his wrist.

"Wait. Please wait a moment."

Florian froze.

His pulse skipped.

"What?"