Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 258: ’Tea Time’

"Your Highness... are you okay...?" Cashew’s small voice carried a note of hesitation, his brows furrowed in concern. "You’ve been staring at the butterflies for quite some time..."

Florian blinked, his dazed mind barely registering the words. "I’m fine," he murmured, though the distant look in his eyes said otherwise. He didn’t notice the deepening worry in Cashew’s expression as the young servant kneeled beside his bed.

Azure, curled comfortably on Florian’s stomach, let out a soft croak, golden eyes watching him intently. The small creature’s warmth was a grounding presence, but even that wasn’t enough to steady Florian’s swirling thoughts. He wanted to reassure them both, to tell them everything was fine, but his mind had reached its limit.

The village visit. Heinz. Cashew’s unusual behavior. Lucius becoming bolder. Lancelot’s confession. Cashew lying to him.

And then there was Scarlett’s request. Florian’s growing suspicion that one of the princesses might have killed Heinz. That Heinz might have suspected it too.

But that was still a theory.

’I’ve managed to avoid some nuisance plots, but they’ve just been replaced with even bigger headaches.’ His gaze lingered on the blue butterflies flitting above him, their delicate wings almost too serene against the chaos in his mind. ’There’s a God in this world—it’s canon. So is He doing this on purpose?’ His thoughts drifted, the weight of his predicament pressing down on him. ’I barely even had time to process the fact that... it was me who got sent here instead of Kaz, the actual author.’

But then again, Kaz would have stuck to the original plot, and chances were, he would’ve ended up executed. So maybe Aden was the only real choice.

Still...

Everything was so confusing. The worst part? He could feel his own emotions beginning to blur with the original Florian’s. It was getting harder to distinguish which feelings were his own and which were remnants of the person he had replaced.

And God, that dream. The nightmare of three people pulling at him—it felt like more than just a dream. It felt like a warning.

"Your Highness..." Cashew’s voice broke through his haze, soft but insistent as he inched closer.

Florian turned his head slightly. "Mhm?"

"It’s almost time for the tea party with Princess Alexandria and Princess Athena... Should I cancel?" Cashew asked, his bright purple eyes searching Florian’s face for an answer.

Florian blinked, momentarily caught off guard. ’Right, the tea party. I almost forgot.’ He let out a quiet sigh before carefully sitting up, mindful of Azure still perched on his stomach. "No, it’s fine. I will go." His voice was steady, but his body still felt weighed down by exhaustion.

Cashew hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave him alone, but nodded nonetheless. "Please prepare a change of clothes. Something light."

Another small bow, and then Cashew was off, disappearing into Florian’s walk-in closet. Florian exhaled, kicking his legs over the side of the bed, letting his feet touch the cool floor.

"Kraa..." Azure croaked softly, climbing up to his shoulder and pressing his head against Florian’s cheek.

Florian let out a breathy chuckle, reaching up to scratch behind Azure’s ear. "Do you want to come with me?" he asked, his voice softer now. Azure gave a small nod, his tiny claws flexing against Florian’s shoulder. "But you’ll have to hide again, okay?"

He still wasn’t sure if anyone besides Lucius and Lancelot was allowed to see Azure. It was a risk he couldn’t afford.

Azure nodded again, understanding. Florian smiled. "Alright, you can come with."

His gaze drifted toward the closet, where Cashew was busy selecting an outfit. ’I haven’t had the chance to ask him what he was really doing earlier... but the fact that he took so long—’ Florian frowned slightly, his fingers absently tracing patterns against his sheets. ’I can’t shake the thought that the traitor or that so-called savior found a way to contact him.’

Cashew was a smart kid, but the traitor was someone cunning enough to outmaneuver Heinz and infiltrate the Diamond Palace.

’I need to follow him at some point. Watch him carefully.’ Florian’s lips pressed into a thin line. ’If I confront him now, he might just deny it again. And I don’t have the heart to threaten him...’

His thoughts were interrupted when Cashew stepped out of the closet, holding a neatly folded set of clothes and a pair of shoes. "Here, Your Highness. I chose a lighter fabric and a softer shade so you won’t feel too hot—it’s airy and comfortable."

Florian met Cashew’s gaze and offered a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Cashew."

He carefully lifted Azure from his shoulder, placing him gently onto the bed before taking the clothes from Cashew’s hands. Despite everything weighing on his mind, he appreciated the boy’s thoughtfulness. But as he dressed, one thought remained clear:

He couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

✧༺ ⏱︎ ༻✧

"Prince Florian!" Alexandria chirped happily, her golden curls bouncing as she waved from her seat. Beside her, Athena offered a quieter smile, her wave more reserved but no less polite.

"Hello, Ladies." Florian greeted formally, lifting a hand in a subtle wave. Behind him, Cashew followed in silence, his usual meek presence blending into the background.

The tea party setup was just as he remembered—an elegant table draped in pastel linens, delicate porcelain teacups resting on golden saucers, and an array of sweet confections artfully arranged on tiered trays. Alexandria and Athena sat with practiced poise, their maids standing attentively behind them, ready to pour tea or refill plates at a moment’s notice. As Florian stepped closer, he took in the familiar scene with a sense of detached amusement.

’I suppose it’s nice to have some consistency in my life.’

"I apologize for being late," Florian said smoothly as he took his seat, though his voice lacked any real concern. It was a mere formality.

Alexandria waved a dismissive hand, her violet eyes bright with warmth. "No, no, it’s fine, Prince Florian. You’re not really late—we just arrived ourselves."

Cashew, ever efficient, pulled out the chair adjacent to Alexandria and held it for him. Florian acknowledged him with a small smile before sitting down. The moment he did, he felt a subtle shift in weight against his back, followed by the light sensation of something settling onto his lap.

Azure.

The small blue dragon had crept from his hidden perch beneath Florian’s cloak and now curled contentedly atop his legs, his warm body a comforting presence. Florian glanced down briefly, just enough to catch the glimmer of golden eyes peering up at him before looking back at the two princesses, who were both smiling at him expectantly.

"Are the other princesses not joining us today again?" he asked casually, though he already knew the answer.

Alexandria laughed lightly, a melodic sound. "Unfortunately, no. They were all too busy."

’Alexandria’s too kind. We both know they just didn’t want to come.’

Florian returned her smile, though his was laced with something more knowing. "That’s fine. It’s much more peaceful this way, no?"

"Yes," Alexandria agreed with a nod. "And Athena is much more comfortable this way."

Athena, as if on cue, shifted slightly in her seat, her soft voice barely above a murmur. "It’s... much quieter."

Florian resisted the urge to smirk. That was true enough. Had the other princesses been present, there would undoubtedly have been sharp words exchanged, perhaps even veiled insults hidden beneath layers of noble decorum. Bridget and Mira were tolerable, but even they had a sharp edge to their tongues.

Alexandria picked up her teacup, sipping delicately before setting it back down. Then, her voice dipped slightly, becoming more conspiratorial. "So, Prince Florian... how was your trip?"

Florian hesitated, his smile faltering for just a fraction of a second. "Eh?" He flicked his gaze toward Athena, confused. He was certain he had told Alexandria that his trip was meant to be private.

Alexandria must have caught his glance because she clapped her hands together apologetically. "Oh, I forgot to mention... I’m sorry, Prince Florian. I told Athena about your trip yesterday."

’Oh?’

Athena’s fingers curled slightly over her teacup as she glanced toward Cashew. "B-But it’s only because I was looking for you yesterday and saw Cashew..." she hesitated, her voice quiet, "...and he was just standing outside your door, staring at it. So I wondered."

’...Something like that happened? Really?’

Florian’s fingers tensed slightly against his lap, barely brushing against Azure’s soft scales. ’Cashew knows he can go inside my room anytime, even when I’m not there... why was he just standing outside?’

Another red flag.

One that he would have to ignore for now. Keeping his smile perfectly in place, he nodded. "The trip was nice. Very... productive."

Alexandria and Athena both looked pleased, nodding in approval. The conversation smoothly shifted into lighter topics—Alexandria animatedly discussing her latest lessons in politics, and Athena quietly mentioning a book she had recently started.

Florian found himself relaxing, if only slightly. The atmosphere was pleasant, the tea warm, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn’t immediately bracing for another impending disaster.

A maid stepped forward, silently refilling his cup. He reached for it absentmindedly, half-listening as Alexandria began describing a heated debate in her class. He lifted the teacup, the steam rising in soft curls—

Then—

A sharp gasp.

The unexpected intake of breath from one of the maids made Florian freeze, the porcelain cup hovering just before his lips.

’...Wait.’

A strange feeling of déjà vu slithered up his spine. The last time this happened—

"H-His Majesty—!" one of the maids stammered, her hands trembling. "His Majesty is approaching!"

The entire tea party fell into stunned silence. Alexandria’s eyes widened, Athena instinctively straightened, and the maids behind them hurriedly adjusted their postures to appear more presentable. Even Cashew stiffened in surprise, his head snapping toward the entrance.

Florian exhaled sharply, setting his teacup down with a little more force than necessary as he turned toward the source of the disturbance.

’What is he doing here?’ His brows furrowed slightly. ’Again.’