As soon as they stepped into Florian's room, he felt a brief wave of relief wash over him at the sight of the empty space. No Cashew. But that relief faded just as quickly as it came.
Cashew should've been here.
The boy was practically always waiting, either with tea, a shy smile, or a flustered apology. Yet now… silence. Emptiness. It unsettled him.
'Maybe he just had something to do… something came up…' Florian tried to reason with himself, but his chest felt tight. 'Still… he's been acting strange lately. And now that strange man has gotten close again. That can't be a coincidence.'
Florian didn't give Heinz a chance to settle. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, he turned sharply, voice tight with urgency.
"Your Majesty, I saw the strange man again."
Heinz, who had just begun lowering himself into the couch, froze halfway through the motion.
