CHAPTER 427: ’KRAA?’

"Your Highness, are you sure you’re feeling alright?"

Florian blinked, still dazed. The conversation with Heinz earlier clung to his mind like fog, thick and disorienting.

He hadn’t expected the king’s sudden proposition—much less his own response.

He had nodded.

Just like that. Without thinking. Without hesitation.

Because the memories had come flooding back from the night before—the images, the sounds, the weight of everything he had tried to forget.A wordless, instinctive agreement had slipped past his lips before he could even catch himself.

’Why did I say yes?’

He had braced himself for something—anything—to happen after his acceptance. He truly thought Heinz would take him then and there, that there would be no room left for hesitation or words.

But then a knock at the door had broken the moment like a cracked mirror.

"Your Highness?" Cashew’s soft voice called again through the heavy silence, pulling Florian back to the present.

He turned to see the boy looking at him with worried purple eyes, and only then did he realize Azure was curled on his thighs, blinking up at him with concern.

"I’m...fine," Florian murmured, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Just tired."

Cashew didn’t look convinced. He shuffled forward on his knees, expression troubled. "Mhm. I was really worried. His Majesty didn’t call for me yesterday, and I thought maybe..."

He hesitated, sighing. "I thought maybe you started having episodes again."

The words halted Florian’s thoughts like a slammed door.

’Episodes?’

He blinked, startled. "I don’t remember anything before waking up yesterday. Can you tell me about the episodes, Cashew?"

’I should stop thinking about Heinz for now and gather as much information as I could to distract myself.’

He reached out, gently placing a hand on Cashew’s cheek—comforting him as much as himself.

"Kraa..." Azure croaked quietly, rubbing his tiny head against Florian’s other hand, clearly wanting affection too.

’How adorable.’

Florian smiled softly and gave in, stroking Azure’s head. The little dragon leaned into the touch with a quiet purr-like hum.

Cashew, now sitting beside Florian, rested his head against his thigh—right next to Azure. His voice came out in a near-whisper, barely holding back emotion.

"It was... sad."

Florian’s heart clenched. He looked down to see Cashew’s eyes shimmering with unshed tears, his voice cracking as he continued.

"You didn’t move. You just stared at the wall like you weren’t even in your body. And if I—or any of us—got close, you’d cry and scream and beg us to stop or go away."

Cashew gripped at Florian’s clothes. "It hurt to watch. You didn’t even look like yourself."

’God... what happened to me?’ Florian thought, dread twisting in his stomach.

Even his first kidnapping didn’t affect him this much.

His hand gently threaded through Cashew’s pale blond hair.

"I’m sorry, Cashew," he whispered. He glanced down at Azure too. "I’m sorry as well, Azure. You both must’ve been so scared... It must’ve been awful."

Cashew shook his head fiercely. "If I’d been with you sooner... If I hadn’t left... Princess Alexandria never would’ve gotten near you."

"No," Florian said firmly, his eyes hardening. "I should’ve seen it. I should’ve noticed how strange she was acting from the start."

’I was too wrapped up in the novel... in who I thought she was. I trusted her without hesitation. Like a complete idiot.’

That blind trust had cost him.

Cashew said nothing, simply cuddled closer, his head still on Florian’s lap, seeking whatever comfort he could get.

"Kraa... kraaa..." Azure echoed softly, mournfully.

Florian’s chest ached. The pain he’d caused them—without even remembering it—was unbearable. He couldn’t imagine what it was like for Cashew, a child, and Azure, to watch him break down like that.

His brows furrowed as a sudden thought sparked.

’Wait a moment...’

"Cashew..." he asked, voice cautious, "if I didn’t let anyone near me... who took care of me? Was it the maids? And why did I wake up here... in His Majesty’s room?"

His gaze swept the room again, now realizing once more where he was. Still in Heinz’s chambers. Still in his bed.

Heinz had left earlier, saying he needed to catch up on work he’d postponed for days. But he had told Florian to stay.

Cashew blinked, confused. "You really don’t remember anything, Your Highness?"

Florian shook his head slowly.

Cashew hesitated before sitting up straight, his voice barely above a whisper.

"His Majesty took care of you, Your Highness."

’Heinz... did?’ Florian frowned, the words echoing in his mind like a dropped stone in still water. "Why would he do that?" he asked aloud, more to himself than to anyone in the room.

As if sensing his confusion, Azure chirped and crawled up his robe with practiced ease, tiny claws hooking gently into the fabric until the little dragon perched on Florian’s shoulder.

With a flick of his forked tongue, Azure licked Florian’s cheek affectionately.

Florian let out a soft laugh despite himself. "What does that mean, mhm?" he murmured, nose brushing against Azure’s snout in a playful nuzzle. The dragon purred, a content, rumbling sound that vibrated through his tiny body.

Then Cashew’s quiet voice cut through the moment.

"Well... Your Highness asked for him."

Florian froze.

"I asked... for him?" he echoed slowly, as if trying to taste the words, unsure if they were his own.

Cashew gave a small, timid nod.

"I asked for him?" Florian repeated again, more forcefully this time, his brows knitting together.

Another hesitant nod.

"You... you were crying," Cashew explained gently, hands wringing in front of him. "You didn’t recognize anyone at first. Only His Majesty. You would only calm down when he was around. Sometimes, only when he or certain maids were nearby. That’s why... you’ve been staying in his room for the past few days. His Majesty even helped soothe your nightmares, every night, without fail."

Florian stared, stunned. His heart thudded unevenly.

’I cried for him? I—let him near me?’

He couldn’t imagine it. Didn’t want to. Not after everything. Not after what he had spent so long trying to bury.

But the image began forming anyway—broken pieces of memory surfacing—flashes of warmth in the dark, a hand brushing his hair back, a voice whispering calm reassurance while his mind thrashed and drowned.

’Why would I ever...’ Florian stopped himself, considering he had practically, willingly thrown himself to Heinz when he came to.

"No kidding?" Florian muttered under his breath, disbelief creeping in like a slow chill.

Cashew tilted his head. "Your Highness?"

Florian blinked and cleared his throat quickly, pushing the shock down. "I meant... that’s just... very surprising."

Cashew didn’t question it. He straightened up, eager to report the rest.

"Everyone’s talking about it, Your Highness. There’ve been rumors since even before Princess Alexandria was executed. They say..." He paused, lowering his voice. "Azure and His Majesty destroyed several guilds while searching for you. Ruthlessly. They didn’t stop until they found you."

’Heinz did that?’

Florian’s gaze dropped to the little dragon curled against his neck.

Azure met his eyes with a soft croon.

"Kraaa...?"