Florian didn’t have to wait long.

Cashew soon returned, bringing two women with him.

Dahlia and Rene stopped a short distance away, standing stiffly before Florian, who remained seated on the couch.

’They look nervous.’

He studied them quietly. He didn’t recognize either face, which wasn’t surprising—Diamond Palace housed more maids than he could ever remember.

They weren’t assigned to the princesses either, nor were they among the servants he saw regularly.

That alone made their unease understandable.

"I apologize for calling you here without prior notice," Florian said gently, keeping his voice soft on purpose. The last thing he wanted was to intimidate them further. "I know you must be very busy, especially with all the guests staying in the palace."

Both maids bowed at the same time, movements practiced yet tense.

"It is an honor to speak with you, Your Highness," the one on the left said. Cashew had already told Florian who was who. "I am Dahlia."

"And I am Rene," the maid beside her added quickly.

"It’s truly nice to meet you both," Florian replied with a small, reassuring smile. "Please don’t feel so nervous around me. I want this conversation to be as casual as possible."

The two exchanged a glance.

Rene nodded, forcing a polite smile, but Dahlia turned slightly away, rubbing at her forearm as if grounding herself.

"Forgive us," Dahlia began hesitantly, her words stumbling at first. "It isn’t that we’re nervous to be around... you." She stiffened, panic flickering across her face. "P-Please don’t misunderstand! We respect you very much, Your Highness. It’s just—"

Rene gently placed a hand behind Dahlia’s back, steadying her. "It’s just that we know you wished to speak to us about Farah," she said carefully. "And... we aren’t very comfortable speaking about her with nobles."

Florian’s expression softened immediately. He bowed his head, the gesture instinctive.

"I’m sorry," he said sincerely.

Both maids startled.

"I know this isn’t easy," Florian continued, his tone earnest. "But I only want to understand what might have caused your friend—Farah—to leave."

"N-No, please don’t bow, Your Highness!" Dahlia exclaimed, her hands flailing in alarm. "We—we’re willing to help! Truly. We trust you, as we said."

"That’s right!" Rene added quickly, nodding with more confidence now. "We really do. Please don’t apologize. We know you mean well." She glanced at Cashew, smiling softly. "You care about servants like us. And Cashew... is proof of that."

Florian lifted his head, something warm settling in his chest at her words. ’At least they trust me enough to speak.’

"Thank you for thinking that," he said gently. "I won’t keep you both here for too long. Please... tell me about Farah. Anything you know."

The two maids nodded in unison, both drawing in a steadying breath, as if bracing themselves.

"Farah was a close friend of ours," Rene began, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "We grew up in the same village. Originally, all three of us worked for Baron Geisler. When Dahlia and I were offered positions at Diamond Palace, Farah stayed behind."

She paused, swallowing. "Baron Geisler was old, but he was kind. He knew he didn’t have much time left, so he made sure his maids would be taken care of. He personally arranged better opportunities for us before he passed."

"So Farah wasn’t part of the Diamond Palace invitation?" Florian asked.

Rene shook her head. "No, Your Highness. Farah was personally requested by Lord Eldrick. She had served his daughter, Lady Elianna, when the young lady stayed with Baron Geisler during her studies."

Dahlia lifted her head then, her expression softening. "Lady Elianna was kind. Very kind. Farah adored her. Even though Diamond Palace was an incredible opportunity, Farah was genuinely excited to serve Lady Elianna again."

Her voice trembled slightly. "She left earlier than we did. She was smiling the entire time."

’Then something went wrong,’ Florian thought.

Dahlia continued, quieter now. "That’s why it shocked us when, just a day after she left... we received a letter."

"What did the letter contain?" Florian asked.

Rene let out a slow breath, reaching into the pocket of her dress. Her fingers trembled as she pulled out a folded, worn piece of paper and stepped closer, carefully placing it into Florian’s hand.

"She said she had to leave the kingdom," Rene murmured. "She apologized for not being able to say goodbye in person. And... she said she was fine."

Florian unfolded the letter and read it slowly.

It was short. Painfully short.

The handwriting was uneven, hurried—nothing like what he expected from a maid trained in proper correspondence.

’This wasn’t written calmly,’ he thought. ’She was rushing... or afraid.’

"But why?" Florian murmured under his breath before looking up. "How did you receive this letter?"

"A lady delivered it," Rene replied. "The head maid of Lord Eldrick’s manor."

Florian’s gaze sharpened. "Did she say anything? Did you ask her questions?"

Dahlia let out a strained sigh. "She was mute, Your Highness. When we tried to ask, she refused to answer. She only wrote on her notepad." Her fingers tightened against her skirt. "She said Farah had simply received a better opportunity in another kingdom, but..."

"But you don’t believe it," Florian finished quietly.

The two maids nodded, their eyes lowered.

’Neither do I,’ Florian thought.

"Not only does Farah write better than either of us," Rene said, her fingers tightening around her apron, knuckles whitening, "she was the smartest among us. The most educated."

Her voice wavered, but she didn’t stop.

"And we were like sisters," she continued, swallowing hard. "She wouldn’t leave without showing herself. Not in a million years. Not without at least letting us see her face one last time." Her grip tightened further, as if grounding herself. "We’re not even sure if—"

"Rene," Dahlia cut in sharply, her tone edged with warning. "That’s not... That isn’t—"

"No," Florian said gently but firmly. "It’s fine." He met Rene’s gaze, steady and open. "Say what you want to say."

Rene hesitated, her eyes flicking between Dahlia’s tense expression and Florian’s calm reassurance. ’If I don’t say it now, I never will.’ She drew in a deep breath.

"Sorry, Dahlia," she murmured, then lifted her head. "But no matter how much you don’t want to think about it... it’s the only thing I can think about."

Florian gave a small nod. "Go ahead."

Rene’s voice dropped, each word heavier than the last. "I... I don’t think she ever left."

The room seemed to still.

"I believe she’s still there," Rene continued, her eyes glistening. "Maybe... maybe she never even left this kingdom."

She clenched her hands together. "And if that’s true..." Her voice cracked. "Then something is very, very wrong."