Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 247: ’Flustered and Flustered’

"I... I can’t believe I slept that long," Florian muttered, staring at the plate of food Lucius had brought him. His appetite felt dull, his body sluggish despite the long rest. He shifted his gaze toward Lucius. "Where’s Cashew?"

Lucius let out a sigh. "He’s been panicking since last night. I made him stay in his room and assigned him a few tasks to keep him occupied. I told him I’d summon him once you were awake." He placed a napkin neatly on the table before adding, "The trip to the village really took a toll on you, Your Highness."

’It did... and that nightmare...’

Florian pressed his lips together, his fingers tightening slightly around the fork. The nightmare had felt short—just flashes of something sinister, a creeping presence that refused to leave him even now. But somehow, it had stolen an entire day from him. That was... concerning.

Lucius’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. "I asked Lysander about your check-up. Aside from the healing head wound, you should be fine. So, we didn’t make too much of a fuss."

As if on cue, a sudden weight settled onto Florian’s shoulders. Soft, feathery scales brushed against his cheek as Azure nestled against him. Florian sighed, but a small, sleepy smile tugged at his lips as he nuzzled the little dragon back.

"Kraaa," Azure croaked happily.

Lucius arched a brow at the interaction, his golden eyes flickering with something unreadable. "...May I ask what that is about?"

"What?" Florian took a bite of his food, glancing at Lucius.

"Azure. His Majesty’s dragon." Lucius leaned slightly forward, his sharp gaze narrowing. "Why is he here? Why is he small? And why," his tone grew even more perplexed, "is he acting like a pet? Shouldn’t he be inside His Majesty’s crystal?"

Florian chewed slowly, lifting a hand to signal for Lucius to wait as he finished his bite. He took his time, mulling over the questions.

’Did Heinz not tell him?’

Lucius remained silent, watching him expectantly. Finally, after swallowing, Florian pointed toward a note resting on the bedside table. "Azure and I got closer in the village, and according to that note from His Majesty, Azure didn’t want to return to the crystal. He was making a fuss, so... I’m taking care of him."

Lucius stared at him, completely deadpan. "Taking care of... the ferocious dragon?"

Florian quirked a brow. "Does he look ferocious to you?"

Lucius didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to Azure. The dragon, sensing the scrutiny, narrowed his sapphire eyes and let out a deep, guttural growl—one that was meant to be threatening but, given his tiny form, only came off as mildly menacing.

Lucius blinked. "...Yes."

Florian let out a short laugh, placing his utensils down to scratch behind Azure’s horns. "He’s a unique little creature, no?"

"Of course," Lucius murmured, adjusting his glasses. "He’s the only one of his existence. That is why His Majesty is considered the most powerful being."

Florian’s fingers froze momentarily against Azure’s scales.

’And yet he died in his first life...’

A sigh slipped past his lips as he picked up his utensils again. His movements were slower this time, his mind briefly clouded with thoughts he didn’t want to dwell on. Lucius, sitting across the table, remained still. It was clear he had more to say.

Florian had always found these moments exhausting. He hated being alone with Lucius for too long—the man always had something to say, always found a way to make their conversations longer than necessary. Normally, he’d make an excuse to end things quickly.

But now... after that nightmare, after waking up to an entire day lost...

He didn’t mind the company.

And besides—Cashew wasn’t here yet.

’I still don’t know who might have spoken to him.’

"So," Florian spoke between bites, "besides checking in on me, is there anything else you want to talk about?"

Lucius’s expression flickered—first surprise, then something more subtle.

Then, slowly, he smiled.

A mischievous smile.

’Now, I’m starting to regret making conversation.’

Lucius rested his cheek against his hand, watching him with a glint in his eyes. "It’s rare for you to want to make conversation with me, Your Highness. If you keep this up, I might end up having hope."

Florian scoffed. ’It feels like even if I reject you, you still have hope.’

"It’s been a stressful couple of days," he muttered. "And it seems like you have something to say but don’t want to say it."

He turned away, almost huffing. Lucius let out a quiet chuckle at the reaction, but the amusement didn’t last long. His expression turned serious—sharper, more intent.

Florian immediately took note.

’Oh? So he did want to talk about something serious.’

Lucius straightened in his seat before speaking. "I want to talk to you about what happened in the village."

"Eh? But I already—"

"I want to ask you." Lucius’s voice softened, but his eyes held something deep, something unreadable. "You only gave us an overview of the village, but I know how much going there meant to you, Your Highness."

Florian stiffened.

The concern in Lucius’s voice—earnest, heavy—made something twist inside him.

He hated this. Hated when Lucius spoke like that.

Lucius had always been direct. Always romantic in a way Florian found suffocating. He had never liked it. Not before. Not now.

’Why the fuck would I ever like it, right?’

And yet—

His ears burned. A rush of warmth crawled up his neck.

Florian felt flustered.

Lucius’s gaze flickered with something unreadable. Then, after a pause, he tilted his head slightly and asked, "Are you flustered, Your Highness?"

Florian’s back straightened immediately. "NOPE."

Lucius blinked, clearly amused.

Without another word, Florian turned his head away, feigning indifference. His fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his sleeve as he cleared his throat, forcing his voice into a steadier tone. "If I’m being honest... I’m just disappointed."

Lucius didn’t speak, merely waited.

Florian’s jaw tensed. He hated how patient Lucius could be, how he always gave him space to talk—it made him feel like he was being gently pushed toward something he didn’t want to face. But still, the words came before he could stop them.

"I wasn’t able to help Leila. Or the villagers." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I saw what happened to her."

Lucius remained still, but Florian could feel the weight of his gaze pressing against him. Heavy. Expectant. Waiting for more.

A lump formed in his throat. He swallowed against it.

"And..." His breath stilled. A single moment from the village flashed in his mind, vivid and nauseating. "I... I ate the meat they gave me."

Lucius’s brows furrowed slightly. "What?"

Florian barely heard him. His own thoughts felt too loud, too suffocating. The realization crawled back into his head, cold and unshakable.

His stomach twisted. His breath hitched as his hand shot up to cover his mouth. The words left him shakily—barely a whisper.

"They... They served her to me."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Lucius didn’t move, didn’t blink. It was the first time Florian had ever seen him truly—visibly—taken aback.

Florian forced out a laugh. A bitter, strained one. "Hah. It’s fine, though. I passed out before I could fully process it. Got hit in the head, and after that, His Majesty handled everything."

Lucius’s expression smoothed back into neutrality. He nodded, a glint of something unreadable flashing in his golden eyes. "It must be a shame, then." His voice was level, almost casual. "That His Majesty had to kill all the villagers to save you."

Florian blinked.

Then, he frowned. "No, he didn’t."

Lucius raised a brow.

Florian leaned back against his chair. "He let them go."

Lucius’s expression didn’t change, but for the briefest moment, something flickered across his face.

Surprise.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

Florian expected him to say something—to ask, to argue, to react. But Lucius simply adjusted his glasses and nodded.

Nothing more.

The silence stretched between them.

A minute passed.

Then another.

Despite himself, Florian noticed—Lucius still had something to say.

But this time, Florian didn’t ask what.

He let the silence settle.

After a few more minutes, Lucius finally broke it. "How was it?" His voice was calm, yet there was something calculated behind it. "Spending time with His Majesty?"

Florian’s entire body tensed.

His eyes widened slightly as memories rushed back all at once—

The tense moments with Heinz.

The way Heinz had stared at him.

The closeness. The heat.

The dream—

His face suddenly felt unbearably warm.

’Why the fuck am I getting flustered again?!’

His emotions were everywhere, all over the place, completely uncontrollable. It was infuriating.

Lucius, ever observant, caught the shift in expression immediately. His gaze sharpened, curiosity evident.

His lips curled slightly. "Did anything in particular happen with His Majesty?"