Spring Court had never been this loud before noon.
Birds scattered from the gardens in startled flurries, petals drifted down like confused snow, and somewhere near the central fountain there was a very loud splash followed by an even louder groan.
Lyssara froze mid-step.
“That sounded expensive.”
Eira blinked slowly beside her. “It sounded like Florin.”
Ember didn’t even turn around from where she was leaning against the railing. “It is definitely Florin.”
—
Moments earlier…
Florin stood on top of the marble fountain.
Why?
He wasn’t entirely sure anymore.
But when he saw Lyssara walking toward the gardens earlier, laughing softly with her sisters, something inside him had gone feral and decided he needed to do something impressive.
Something memorable.
Something heroic.
Which somehow translated into climbing architecture.
Sylvan stood below with his arms crossed, already regretting being awake.
“You’re going to fall,” he said calmly.
“I am demonstrating balance.”
“You are wobbling.”
“I am not wobbling.”
He immediately wobbled.
Kael stood beside Sylvan, absolutely unhelpful.
“This is the worst idea he’s had this week,” he said.
Sylvan raised an eyebrow. “It’s barely morning.”
“Exactly.”
Florin straightened, spreading his arms dramatically.
“This,” he announced to no one in particular, “is a display of agility and grace.”
He slipped.
There was a splash.
A very large splash.
—
Back in the present…
Florin dragged himself out of the fountain, hair dripping, tunic clinging, dignity nowhere to be found.
Ember finally looked over and burst out laughing.
“Oh this is going to be a good day.”
Sylvan’s lips twitched as he walked over, offering a hand. “You alright?”
Florin took it, grumbling. “The fountain attacked me.”
Kael snorted. “Clearly.”
Lyssara approached slowly, eyes wide.
“You’re soaked.”
Florin immediately tried to stand straighter like this was intentional.
“Yes. Cooling technique.”
She blinked.
“That is not a thing.”
“It is now.”
She smiled faintly though, clearly amused, and something warm sparked in his chest despite the humiliation.
“Be careful,” she said gently. “You could get hurt.”
Florin immediately forgot every coherent thought.
“I would wrestle the ocean if necessary.”
Sylvan choked on a laugh behind him.
Lyssara tilted her head slightly. “Why would you need to wrestle the ocean?”
Florin paused.
“…No reason.”
Ember leaned toward Eira, whispering, “He’s trying to impress her.”
Eira smiled softly. “It’s kind of sweet.”
“It’s kind of tragic,” Ember corrected.
—
ATTEMPT TWO
—
Not even an hour later, Florin reappeared in the gardens holding a bouquet.
Not a normal bouquet.
An enormous one.
Wildflowers, glowing blossoms, vines curling dramatically around his arms like he had personally defeated a forest to obtain them.
Lyssara looked up from the bench.
“Oh.”
Florin cleared his throat, suddenly unsure how words worked.
“These are for you.”
She gasped softly, eyes lighting up. “They’re beautiful.”
Mission success.
For approximately four seconds.
Because the vines suddenly tightened.
Then grew.
Then lifted him slightly off the ground.
“Oh no,” he said calmly.
Then less calmly, “Oh no.”
Kael laughed so hard he had to sit down.
Sylvan stepped forward, grabbing the vines and cutting them loose.
“You picked enchanted ivy,” he said.
Florin dropped back onto his feet, hair now full of leaves.
“I meant to do that.”
Lyssara was giggling now, covering her mouth.
“They like you.”
“They tried to strangle me.”
“Affectionately.”
—
ATTEMPT THREE
—
By late afternoon, Florin decided physical feats and plant offerings were clearly unreliable.
So he chose music.
This was a mistake.
He sat beneath the blossom tree with a lute.
Sylvan immediately walked over to Ember. “This is going to hurt.”
Ember grinned. “I can’t wait.”
Florin began playing.
The first note was… fine.
The second was questionable.
The third offended nature itself.
Birds flew away again.
Somewhere in the distance, a window slammed shut.
Lyssara tried very hard not to laugh.
“It’s very… expressive.”
Florin stopped immediately. “That was tuning.”
“It sounded emotional.”
“It was.”
Kael leaned toward Eira, smiling softly. “At least I didn’t try music.”
She nudged him gently. “You don’t need to.”
Sylvan watched Ember laughing and shook his head fondly, slipping an arm loosely around her waist.
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
“Absolutely.”
—
ATTEMPT FOUR
—
Evening approached, golden light spilling across the gardens, and Florin made one last attempt.
He approached Lyssara more quietly this time, no props, no dramatic gestures.
Just him.
“Would you like to walk?” he asked.
She smiled softly. “I would.”
Progress.
Actual progress.
They walked along the flower paths slowly, the chaos of the day settling into something softer.
Florin rubbed the back of his neck. “I know I’ve been… weird today.”
“A little,” she said gently.
“I just wanted to make you smile.”
Her expression softened. “You don’t have to try so hard.”
He blinked.
“I don’t?”
She shook her head slightly. “You already do.”
For a moment, words almost happened.
Almost.
But then Florin panicked internally and said the worst possible thing.
“Good because the fountain is dangerous.”
Lyssara laughed softly, shaking her head.
“You’re impossible.”
“But charming?”
She pretended to think. “Occasionally.”
—
Across the garden, the others watched like they were witnessing a theatrical performance.
“They’re ridiculous,” Ember said.
Sylvan smiled faintly. “Yeah. But they’ll figure it out.”
Kael nodded, squeezing Eira’s hand gently. “Eventually.”
—
As twilight settled, lanterns flickered to life across the court, warm light glowing through blossoms and leaves.
Florin walked Lyssara back toward the courtyard steps, neither quite ready to end the moment.
“Today was… eventful,” she said.
“I regret most of it.”
“I don’t,” she said softly.
That caught him off guard.
“You don’t?”
She smiled. “It was fun.”
His heart did that stupid hopeful thing again.
“Good,” he said quietly.
They paused at the steps, the air warm and calm around them.
For a moment, it felt like the world was holding its breath.
But Florin just smiled awkwardly instead of saying what he felt.
“Goodnight, Lyssara.”
“Goodnight, Florin.”
—
She walked inside, glancing back once with a small smile.
Florin stood there a moment longer, exhaling slowly.
He had absolutely no idea what he was doing.
But for the first time…
It didn’t feel like a disaster.
From the shadows, Sylvan clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
Ember grinned. “The fountain didn’t.”
Kael smirked. “Progress though.”
Florin smiled faintly despite himself, watching the lantern light glow warmly through the windows.
Yeah.
Progress.
Chaotic, embarrassing, vine-infested progress.
But progress.
✿ ✿ ✿
