"Hah."
The soft sigh escaped Florian's lips before he could stop it, muffled by the pillow he was half-buried in.
"Your Highness, are you okay?" Cashew asked gently, his voice almost timid as he set down the watering can.
He had just finished tending to the plants near the balcony—Florian's plants. Ones the young royal barely looked at these days.
Florian didn't respond right away. He remained sprawled face-down on the bed, cheek pressed into the sheets. Azure, the small blue dragon curled beside his head, let out a soft puff of smoke, almost like he was sighing in sync.
Cashew stepped closer, hesitant, watching him carefully.
Florian had been like this for hours.
Quiet. Still. Sighing more than speaking.
Lucius had left earlier after yet another long, tense conversation.
