'Did Athena really call Hendrix… cousin?' Florian thought, unsure if he had heard correctly, a faint pulse of disbelief tightening in his chest.
"P–Prince Hendrix… what are you doing here?" Lucius asked, bowing quickly, his eyes darting between Hendrix and Florian as if unsure which of the two he should be watching more.
Hendrix's lips curved into a smooth smile, the kind that seemed practiced yet effortless.
"I heard my dear cousin was having tea with some friends in the garden," he said, his voice warm but carrying an undercurrent Florian couldn't place. "And I thought I'd take the chance to introduce myself." His gaze slid past Lucius—calm, deliberate—landing squarely on Florian.
Florian's breath caught for a fraction of a second, his eyes widening.
Lucius noticed. "Oh… right, uh—Prince Florian, this is… Prince Hendrix Obsidian, he's—"
