That was something Florian had been trying very hard not to think about.
When Cashew had woken him earlier that morning, the first thing Florian noticed was the empty space where Heinz should have been—and the absence of the little blue dragon as well.
He'd asked Cashew if he had seen them, but Cashew shook his head. He explained that when he entered the room, it had been just Florian, asleep and alone.
'Maybe they just left early…' Florian had told himself. But the uneasy coil in his stomach whispered a different possibility—maybe they never came back at all.
"Well…" Florian began, forcing a calm tone. He rose from his seat. "Excuse me for a moment, ladies. I just need to speak with Lucius privately." His gaze flickered to Athena and Scarlett, who exchanged a quick glance before nodding.
"Of course, Your Highness."
"Go ahead, we don't mind," Scarlett added.
Florian gave them a small smile, masking the faint tension in his expression.
