It was nighttime.

Or at least, that was what Cindy had told him earlier.

Florian couldn’t really tell.

Time had felt strange since everything happened.

Hendrix had left not long after their conversation.

Apparently, he had only excused himself briefly from Eldrick and the others to check on Florian. He couldn’t stay long without raising suspicion.

But before leaving, Hendrix had promised they would talk again.

Soon.

Florian clung to that promise more than he wanted to admit.

Perhaps Hendrix had returned to keep Eldrick company. Considering Hendrix hadn’t come back yet, that seemed likely.

Florian had also insisted that Cindy stay away.

He practically forced her not to return to his room.

He simply couldn’t face anyone right now. Especially not someone who knew his secret.

Pregnant.

The word alone made his chest tighten.

He had skipped dinner entirely and asked Cindy to tell Eldrick he was feeling unwell.

Very unwell.

Sick enough that he needed to rest and would make up for his absence tomorrow.

Fortunately, Eldrick hadn’t seemed bothered.

Most likely because Hendrix was still present to keep him occupied.

Now the manor was quiet.

Late.

Too late for most people to still be awake.

And Florian still couldn’t sleep.

So he decided to walk.

Partly to clear his head.

Partly to snoop.

Because despite everything that had happened, he hadn’t forgotten.

The looks on Cindy’s face.

The way Elianna’s maids had stiffened.

The strange tension when he mentioned Farah.

And Elianna herself claimed she thought Farah had left for the Diamond Palace.

None of it made sense.

’Something happened to her,’ Florian thought. ’And someone here knows what it is.’

So now he wandered the halls, hoping to find something. Anything.

He was only wearing his night clothes and a fluffy jacket Cashew had packed for him. The jacket was soft and warm, but it wasn’t quite enough against the cool air of the manor.

"Maybe I should’ve worn more than just this," Florian muttered quietly, rubbing his arms.

The stone floors carried the cold easily.

He could turn back.

But he had already walked quite far from his room.

And going back meant passing by the guest wing again. There was a chance he might wake someone.

He would rather avoid that.

As he walked, his footsteps echoed faintly in the empty hallways.

The manor looked different at night.

Quieter.

Almost hollow.

Florian glanced around slowly.

The halls were as empty as his ideas.

As empty as his plans.

’Did I really come out here to investigate?’ he wondered. ’Or am I just looking for an excuse to move?’

Maybe both.

Either way, he needed to stop thinking about the bigger problem.

Because every time his mind wandered back to it, panic followed.

And yet...

His hand kept drifting to his stomach.

Without thinking.

Without meaning to.

Florian was painfully aware of his body now.

Every small sensation.

Every strange shift.

The faint nausea that came and went.

The heaviness behind his eyes.

His heightened sense of smell.

Even the way the cold air felt sharper against his skin.

’I’m noticing everything now,’ he thought uneasily.

Before today, all of it could have passed as exhaustion.

Stress.

But now he knew.

And knowing made everything feel different.

’God. Now I want to throw up again,’ Florian thought, pressing a hand over his mouth.

Maybe leaving his room had been a mistake.

Maybe he should have stayed in bed. Cried himself to sleep and hoped tomorrow would somehow be better.

Maybe he should just stop.

Maybe he didn’t want to look for Farah anymore.

Maybe—

"Are you sure the guests are asleep?"

Florian froze.

The voice came from the hallway ahead.

Without thinking, he quickly stepped back toward the nearest wall. Fortunately, there was a tall window there, covered by a thick curtain. He slipped behind it, holding his breath.

"Yeah," another woman answered from across the hall. Her voice sounded young. Florian didn’t recognize it. "The two princesses said they were exhausted. Prince Hendrix is either asleep already or hiding from Lord Eldrick’s endless conversations."

A quiet laugh followed.

"I’m sure the knight is either resting or keeping to himself. But he did seem worried about Prince Florian."

Florian stayed very still.

"Cindy mentioned that Prince Florian was feeling sick," the woman continued. "So he’s probably still asleep."

Well.

At least now he knew Cindy had kept her word.

"Y-Yeah," another voice said nervously. "Prince Florian’s dead to the world right now. So we don’t have to worry."

Florian’s eyes widened.

’Cindy?’

He hadn’t expected her to be here, too.

"Good," another woman said with a soft scoff. "I hear he’s very perceptive. Haven’t you heard the rumors? The prince is so clever that he even made the king fall for him. The dukes couldn’t even keep up with him."

Her voice lowered conspiratorially.

"That’s why Lord Eldrick is wary of him."

A pause.

"Is he really that smart, Cindy?"

Florian leaned slightly closer to the curtain.

"Yes," Cindy answered after a moment. "He does seem very perceptive. He looks around a lot. He observes everything."

Florian felt strangely exposed hearing that.

"Do you think... he knows something?" another maid asked quietly. "It’s been a while since we’ve had guests, and things have gotten worse than before—"

"Shh."

The sharp interruption made the others fall silent.

Florian recognized it, but he couldn’t place who it was.

"Mama Juno."

Juno?

As in mute Juno?

As in the head maid?

"I told you not to talk about that outside our quarters," Juno said firmly. "Even if no one seems to be around, someone could still hear."

Florian’s brows slowly furrowed behind the curtain. ’She’s been pretending to be mute?’

’So there really is something going on then,’ he thought.

Even that short exchange was enough to confirm it.

Then Juno spoke again.

"Cindy, you said the prince mentioned Farah earlier. Do you think he’s investigating her?"

Florian’s heart skipped.

"I... don’t think so," Cindy replied uncertainly. "I’m not sure. It felt strange when he brought her up. Like he knew something but didn’t want to ask while we were all there."

"Pfft."

A different voice cut in, amused.

"That’s just because you can’t focus on anything. That’s why you didn’t notice."

A quiet groan followed.

"Mother, Amethyst is being rude again—"

"Do not call me mother here, Cindy," Juno said sharply. "How many times do I have to tell you?"

Florian’s eyes widened behind the curtain.

’Hold on...’

Mother?

His mind raced as the realization settled in.

’Juno... and Cindy...’

Were they mother and daughter?