"Your Highness..." Cashew's voice was soft, hesitant, like a knock on a fragile door. His violet eyes, wide with concern, searched Florian's face. He didn't need to say it—Florian could feel the weight of Cashew's worry even without looking at him.
But Florian didn't have the strength tonight to pretend. He stayed sprawled on the bed, eyes fixed blankly on the ceiling. The room was dim, lit only by the moonlight slipping through the balcony curtains. Azure, his tiny dragon companion, was curled beside his head, peacefully asleep on a silk pillow, utterly unaware of the storm in Florian's chest.
He hadn't moved for hours.
"I'll be going to my room now... Are you...okay?" Cashew asked carefully.
Florian turned his head just slightly, forcing a smile that felt brittle, like porcelain held together by hope.
"I'm nervous," he admitted, his voice hoarse from the silence. "There's a lot riding on tomorrow, and I've already messed up twice today. I... just—"
