Florian barely had time to process the maid's gasp before he saw him—Heinz, walking towards them with that same composed gait, his long black hair swaying with every step. His crimson eyes, sharp as ever, were locked onto Florian, unwavering and unreadable.
'Again? Why the fuck is he here again?'
Florian resisted the urge to sigh. Was Heinz about to pull him away from the tea party—again? The last time had been abrupt enough, but if he did it twice, Florian was going to start thinking the emperor had a personal vendetta against his social life.
As Heinz approached, his lips curved into a faint half-smile. That alone set off alarms in Florian's head.
Still, protocol was protocol.
The moment he drew close enough, Florian, Alexandria, and Athena immediately rose from their seats. The maids followed suit, dropping into graceful curtsies, their heads bowed.
Heinz came to a stop before them, his gaze briefly flicking over Alexandria and Athena before returning to Florian.
