Chapter 95

"First things first—you need to button your shirt properly."

When we arrived at Solara Palace, I pointed at the crooked buttons and said so plainly.

Truthfully, even that looked somehow fashionable—intentional, even—but for the imperial palace, the state of his shirt was entirely inappropriate.

Friedrich glanced down at himself, apparently genuinely unaware, and laughed.

"I dressed in a hurry."

"Do you go around outside without your shirt on?"

"When I work out. Everyone does."

"Well, I suppose it does get warm—oh!"

I'd been answering without thinking when Friedrich abruptly began unbuttoning his shirt.

I shrieked. Friedrich looked at me with genuine puzzlement.

"What's wrong?"

"No—you—why are you just undoing buttons anywhere you please—?"

"This isn't anywhere—it's Solara Palace."

"There are people watching. You should do that in your own room!"

I flustered, and hurried to seal every button back up to his collar with a quick flick of magic. Friedrich…