Cindy didn’t stop them.

She couldn’t, not without making it obvious.

And from the way she reacted, it didn’t seem like she found anything strange about it either. Florian mentioning his pregnancy should have been a problem, but instead, she just looked surprised for a second... then let it go.

To her, it probably looked simple.

The prince felt unwell.

There was another pregnant woman nearby.

Of course, he would ask for advice.

’She’s easy to redirect,’ Florian thought. ’Good.’

He took full advantage of that.

As soon as the bathroom door closed behind them, the air shifted.

Quieter.

More contained.

Garnet stood a little awkwardly near the door, her hands hovering over her stomach. She looked unsure, like she didn’t quite know where to look.

Florian moved toward the basin and began unbuttoning his nightwear.

"I know this might be surprising," he said casually. "A prince... pregnant."

"It’s not really that, Your Highness," Garnet replied, still hesitant. "I’ve heard... about you. About how you’re His Majesty’s favorite concubine. And that he even disbanded his harem for you, so I was wondering if—"

"Yes. It’s his," Florian said, turning to face her.

Garnet froze.

Her face paled, eyes widening.

"S-So... your child... that means..." She swallowed. "The next heir...?"

Florian let out a quiet breath.

"Maybe," he said. "Or maybe just the king’s bastard."

Garnet looked even more startled.

"Bastard? But I thought he already—"

"We have a complicated relationship," Florian cut in gently, offering a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Complicated...?" Garnet echoed.

Florian nodded and looked away for a moment.

"That’s why I keep asking about you. About the others here," he said. "The king... Heinz... he didn’t like me before."

"I’ve heard that rumor," Garnet said softly. "That you... did whatever you could to get his attention."

Florian gave a small, humorless laugh.

"Yeah. I did."

He rested a hand against his stomach, his expression going blank.

"I hurt myself a lot," he said quietly. "He ignored me. Looked at me like I was nothing."

Garnet’s gaze softened.

"But then... how did you..." She hesitated. "If you don’t mind me asking."

Florian let out a slow breath.

"Promises," he said. "Sweet words. Things that made it seem like everything would change."

His lips curved slightly, bitter.

"They didn’t."

He didn’t say everything.

He didn’t need to.

There was already enough truth in what he shared.

And maybe... just enough to make her understand.

Florian lifted his gaze and met hers.

"I can’t take it back now," he said. "But this child... my child..."

His fingers tightened slightly against his clothes.

"There’s a chance they won’t grow up happy. Or safe."

Garnet stilled.

"If I had known," Florian continued softly, "I would have done something. I wouldn’t have let it get this far."

Silence filled the small space.

"I think that’s why I keep asking," he added. "About you. About the others."

He let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh.

"I may not be a woman... but I think I understand what it means to suffer like one."

He shook his head lightly.

"Well. Maybe not everything. I heard menstruation is worse than a heart attack, so I guess I’m lucky there."

The attempt at humor didn’t last long.

He gestured vaguely downward.

"But I’ll probably have to give birth one way or another."

Then he looked at her again.

More serious this time.

"There’s something about this place," Florian said quietly. "A feeling I can’t ignore."

He forced a small smile.

"So if I seem nosy... It’s not because I want to cause trouble."

A pause.

"If Lord Eldrick really is taking care of all of you—"

"He..."

Garnet stepped forward slightly.

Then stopped.

Her eyes flicked toward the door.

Her whole body tensed.

She took a slow, careful breath.

"Would you like to take a walk around the manor after breakfast, Your Highness?"

Garnet spoke carefully, one hand resting over her swollen belly as she rubbed it absentmindedly.

"I think it might help," she added. "You could hear from the other women. Their experiences."

Florian tilted his head slightly.

’Oh?’

"Do you all have some kind of... mother’s group here?" he asked.

Garnet hesitated, then gave a small nod.

"You could say that," she replied. "We’re all in the same trimester right now."

Her smile flickered.

It looked strained.

"If you don’t mind them knowing about your pregnancy," she continued, "I’m sure they’ll keep it to themselves."

Florian turned slightly, reaching for a towel and draping it over himself.

"That would be nice," he said quietly. "Being pregnant and going through all of this alone..."

He let out a soft breath.

"It’s frightening."

He adjusted the towel, his movements slower now.

"I think I’d feel better hearing how other women deal with it."

Garnet nodded, though she still looked uneasy.

"Yes, but..." she started, her fingers tightening slightly over her stomach. "Please don’t tell Cindy. Or anyone else. Not even Ms. Juno."

She lowered her voice.

"And especially not Lord Eldrick."

Florian’s gaze flickered back to her.

"Our group is... private," Garnet said. "Very private."

There was something in her tone.

Not just caution.

Fear.

Florian held her gaze for a second.

Then he gave a small, reassuring smile.

"Don’t worry," he said.

’Of course it’s private,’ he thought. ’I was hoping for it to be private.’

Though he was originally hoping for only Garnet, being able to talk to all the pregnant women in the manor right now is even better.

"I’ll keep your secret," Florian said, his tone steady. "Mine isn’t exactly something I want spreading around either."

Garnet’s shoulders eased, just a little.

"Thank you, Your Highness," she murmured. Then, after a brief pause, "Is there anything else you’d like to know?"

Florian shook his head.

"That’s enough for now," he said. "I’ll get cleaned up and prepare for breakfast."

Garnet nodded and bowed, stepping closer to assist him without another word.

Florian let her.

His mind was already moving ahead.

’First step done,’ he thought quietly. ’Now I just need to get through breakfast.’

Then—

’Phase two.’