"I'm so glad you're doing well, Your Highness," Athena said softly, a warm smile gracing her lips as she folded her hands neatly in front of her.
Florian smiled back—tight, practiced. His shoulders, however, remained stiff, his posture far too straight for comfort.
'Keep it together. Just smile.'
But it was getting harder to pretend.
Scarlett tilted her head, arms folded over her chest, her eyes sharper than Athena's. "Are you really sure you're okay now, Prince Florian? You seem so…"
She trailed off, narrowing her gaze slightly, like she was inspecting something beneath the surface.
Florian's smile twitched.
"Seem so what? Haha," he let out a laugh—dry, hollow, and so painfully fake it echoed awkwardly between them.
Scarlett didn't even blink. "You seem so tense."
Another forced laugh escaped Florian's throat. "Haha. Tense? Me? Why would I be tense?" He shook his head quickly, trying to brush it off with false humor, but even he knew how transparent it sounded.
