CHAPTER 442: ’INVITE THE OTHER KINGDOMS?’

"I heard your tea time was successful."

Florian looked up at the familiar voice, his eyes settling on Heinz, who was now seated at the edge of the bed.

The room was dimly lit, soft candlelight dancing along the gilded walls. It had been hours since the tea with Scarlett and Athena ended—long enough for Florian to have bathed and slipped into his nightclothes.

Azure lay curled on his lap, already asleep, his small breaths steady and warm.

"It was, Your Majesty," Florian replied softly. "I’ve already asked them to host the ball and help prepare for it. I’ll be meeting with them daily to go over the details."

He gently scooped Azure into his arms, shifting carefully as he tucked himself beneath the thick duvet. The warmth of the bedding was a comfort, but it couldn’t chase away the strange, lingering awareness of the man nearby.

’I wonder how long he plans to keep me sleeping in his room...’ Florian mused silently, his gaze drifting toward Heinz’s back.

Heinz had clearly just come from bathing—his dark hair was still damp, droplets occasionally sliding down the nape of his neck. He was shirtless, clothed only in satin pants that shimmered faintly in the low light.

Florian tore his eyes away.

"And the guest list?" Heinz asked, his voice casual yet firm. "Have you decided who to invite?"

Florian hesitated.

"About that, Your Majesty..." he started, his tone careful.

Heinz turned then, facing him fully. His eyes—deep crimson and unblinking—fixed on Florian, as if peeling back layers he hadn’t offered.

Florian stiffened.

’Why is he looking at me like that?’ he thought, heart picking up speed. ’It’s strange...’

He couldn’t name it. Not yet. And maybe he didn’t want to.

Still, he had to ask.

"I was wondering..." Florian began again, more softly this time, "if we could also invite the other princesses’ families? Since we’re already inviting mine... it only feels right. I imagine the princesses miss their families just as much. I don’t think it would hurt, would it?"

For a long moment, Heinz said nothing.

Then his brows drew together, ever so slightly. "What brought this on?"

"Well..."

"His Majesty allowed it?" Scarlett asked, her voice a mixture of surprise and restrained hope.

Florian nodded. "He did."

"Oh... wow," Scarlett murmured, blinking. "That’s... that’s great."

"Good for you, Your Highness. That’s lovely news," Athena added softly with a polite smile.

Florian smiled back, or tried to—but something felt off.

Their tones were supportive, their words sincere enough... but there was a shift. Something muted in their expressions. T

he excitement that had lit up Scarlett’s face earlier was gone, and Athena’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Florian tilted his head slightly. "What’s wrong?"

"N-Nothing, it’s nothing, Your Highness," Athena said quickly, her voice a little too light, a little too rehearsed. "It’s nothing at all."

Florian’s frown deepened. He glanced toward Scarlett, who had gone uncharacteristically quiet.

"Scarlett?"

Scarlett hesitated, her gaze dropping to her lap. Her hands fidgeted slightly with the lace on her sleeve, and her voice, when it came, was quiet.

"I... I think I’m speaking for both of us. And honestly, probably for the rest of the others as well. But we... we’d also really like to see our families. Even just for one day."

Athena turned her head aside, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She didn’t add anything—but she didn’t deny it either.

"I-I mean," she said after a moment, "it’s your party, of course. I wouldn’t want to impose. But... I’m sure you understand why we’re... a bit envious."

Florian didn’t answer immediately.

Because yes, he did understand. Very well, in fact.

’They miss their families... and they’ve been trapped here, not even knowing why anymore. Unlike me... ’

He wasn’t really Florian. The original Florian’s family—the ones everyone here thought he missed—weren’t his to miss.

The only reason he even agreed to invite them was to find a way to reunite them with the real Florian, whenever that became possible.

But Scarlett, Athena, Mira, Bridgett, Camilla—all of them... they were real daughters, real sisters, real friends to people they hadn’t seen in months.

And they had no choice but to smile through it.

"I can ask His Majesty," Florian said suddenly, looking between them, "to invite all of your families too."

Both Scarlett and Athena’s eyes widened in perfect sync.

"Y-You don’t have to do that, Your Highness," Athena said quickly, her voice trembling slightly. "Really."

"Especially if it’s a burden," Scarlett added, visibly flustered. "We really... we don’t want you to do anything you don’t want."

Florian let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "It’s not a burden. Really, it’s not," he assured them, his tone light but earnest. "If anything, you both just gave me a really good idea."

"Idea?" Scarlett asked, curiosity flickering behind her eyes.

"I’ll tell you after I’ve spoken to His Majesty."

"Hm. I don’t mind," Heinz said easily after Florian told him about what happened earlier.

But then those crimson eyes narrowed just slightly. "But judging by your expression... there’s more you want to ask. Something beyond just inviting their families."

’He’s really sharp.’ Florian sighed inwardly.

Of course he’d catch on—Heinz always did.

This was the easy part. Florian had known Heinz likely wouldn’t object to the families being invited. That wasn’t what made his palms sweat under the covers.

It was what came after.

"Well..." Florian began cautiously, shifting and using his elbows to prop himself up a little straighter. He fiddled slightly with the hem of the duvet, eyes darting between Heinz’s face and the floor before finally meeting his gaze. "Your Majesty, I was wondering..."

He swallowed. "I heard that you already told the princesses that you... weren’t interested in them. That you’re no longer looking for a queen."

Heinz’s gaze didn’t change, unreadable and still.

"Yes," he said calmly. "And?"

Florian hesitated, but he had already started this. He had to say it. Gently, but directly.

"I was wondering," Florian said, taking in a small breath, "since the world already knows your strength... You’ve made your point. You even had a foreign princess executed. No one doubts your power anymore."

He looked Heinz square in the eyes now, his voice quieter, more deliberate. "So... I was wondering if you could let the princesses go."

There it was.

A harmless question, at least on the surface—but it was layered. Dangerous. Florian knew it.

This wasn’t just about letting the ladies go home. This was about disbanding the harem—the very symbol of other kingdoms’ forced allegiance. The princesses weren’t just guests or courtiers. They were trophies. Pawns. Reminders of war and surrender.

But Heinz... Heinz had changed. Or at least he was trying to.

And this was the test.

’If he lets them go... maybe one day he’ll the original Florian go too.’

There was a long silence.

Heinz didn’t respond right away, but he didn’t scowl, didn’t grow cold or violent the way Florian half-feared. He just... stared at him, almost blankly.

Not in anger.

More like disbelief.

"You..." Heinz began slowly, his voice quieter than usual, "want me to make the princesses leave?"