Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 579

"Oh my," Elara murmured, her tone laced with intrigue as one delicate brow arched upward. "That's quite…"

She didn't finish the sentence, but the way her gaze lingered on him made Florian's pulse quicken. He tried not to fidget, though his hands were already slick with sweat.

"I know it's… a bit presumptuous," he began quickly, his words tumbling over themselves. "Maybe not even a bit, but I assure you—whatever I request in the future, I'll make sure it's within reason. It won't compromise your position as Duke, nor bring harm to your—"

Elara raised a graceful hand, silencing him before he could finish.

Florian froze mid-sentence.

'Oh no. She's about to reject it, isn't she?'

But instead—

"I accept your terms."

Florian blinked, certain he had misheard. "You… accept?"

Elara's smile deepened, smooth and deliberate. "Yes," she said. "Truth be told, it's quite bold of you. But that only proves further that you're the right person for this task."

Her tone softened for a brief moment, but then amusement glimmered in her eyes like the flicker of a candle flame.

"And," she added, "I'll admit—I'm curious. What could you, the object of the strongest king across the land's affection, possibly need help with from a mere duke like me?"

She laughed lightly behind her hand. "I'm sure His Majesty would give you anything you wanted."

Florian's lips twitched, but not in humor.

'Not everything,' he thought bitterly. 'Not what actually matters.'

But he didn't say it out loud.

God, everyone knew.

It was like Heinz's feelings for him were an open secret—something whispered behind fluttering fans and smirks over tea.

Florian knew, of course he did, but he had tried so hard to ignore it. Deny it.

And yet now, hearing it from Elara's mouth made him want to vanish into thin air.

It was cursed knowledge—useless and heavy and painful.

Because that same love, the one everyone romanticized, was the reason the original Florian died.

That love was poison. Heinz's love was unstable. It always had been.

"Oh?" Elara suddenly said again, tilting her head with that same sharp curiosity.

Florian blinked, startled. "Yes?"

"Perhaps it's just me," she mused, setting down her teacup with a soft clink, "but judging by your expression, it seems you're finally aware of His Majesty's… feelings for you."

Florian went still.

Heat surged to his cheeks before he could stop it. He turned his face away immediately, hoping she wouldn't notice.

"That's…" He swallowed. "…not something I'd like to discuss."

He could feel Elara's eyes on him, studying, assessing.

He hated it.

He didn't want to talk about Heinz—not his love, not his guilt, not the storm behind his eyes that made Florian's chest twist every time he looked at him.

Everyone acted like it was inevitable, like they were meant to end up together.

But Florian knew better.

That kind of fate only led to ruin.

So he inhaled deeply, forcing his voice steady as he redirected the conversation.

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