"Prince Florian!" Scarlett exclaimed the moment her eyes landed on him.
Florian had barely knocked before she pulled the door open, her movements unusually frantic. With a sharp gesture, she dismissed her maids from the chamber, not even waiting for them to fully leave before she tugged Florian inside.
Her grip was firm, almost desperate, and Florian's brows furrowed as he allowed himself to be dragged into the lavish room. Scarlett's usual air of confidence was nowhere to be seen—instead, her expression was riddled with worry.
The sight of it immediately set a weight in Florian's chest.
"Did something happen? Is it the ball? Your family? What is it?" Florian asked quickly, his voice carrying more urgency than he meant.
Deep down, his stomach twisted. The last thing he needed was yet another problem piled onto the mountain he already carried.
