Florian and Scarlett talked for a while longer. To his surprise, she wasn't all that different from before—still sharp-tongued, still quick to scowl—but in a way that felt less hostile and more... familiar.
Less like an adversary, more like an exasperating younger sibling.
Kind of like Kaz, his little sister.
An annoying little sister. A bratty one.
That realization made it easier to tolerate her quirks, though it didn't make her any less dramatic.
As they spoke, Florian learned a few things about her—things that painted her in a different light.
Scarlett was the youngest of three princesses in her kingdom, Prospera Dominion. That alone explained much of her resentment. She had been the easiest choice for her parents to send away, the most disposable piece in their game of politics.
No wonder she held so much bitterness—it wasn't just about being here; it was about being chosen to be here, as if her value had never mattered in the first place.
