Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 588

"You seem… upset."

Hendrix's voice was slow, hesitant—so unlike the smug, teasing prince Florian had come to expect.

It was awkward in a way that made Florian blink.

'What a sudden change to how he usually acts.'

But then again… in the original timeline, Hendrix was shy. Awkward. Kind.

The sort of boy who blushed when the original Florian smiled at him.

So maybe this—this quieter, gentler version—was closer to the real him.

"Well… more upset than the other night we spoke," Hendrix added cautiously.

Florian stiffened.

Right.

That night.

The night in the gardens.

Before Charles appeared.

Before the blood and the blades.

And just after Heinz confessed.

He had spoken to Hendrix then. He'd been emotional, desperate, unguarded.

Florian did not want to remember that.

Not now, at least.

"I'm not upset," Florian said flatly, yanking his arm free. "And please forget about that night."

Hendrix frowned. "But you seemed to want to talk about something, and—"

"Whatever we need to talk about," Florian cut in sharply, "we'll talk about it during the outing."

Because right now?

He was exhausted.

Emotionally. Mentally. Physically.

He didn't want to peel open another wound.

And he certainly didn't want to risk Heinz appearing again.

"We don't know who could suddenly show up," Florian continued. "We're not sure how long we can speak without Heinz suddenly appearing."

Hendrix opened his mouth—as if he wanted to argue, or ask something, or say something too honest—but Florian raised a hand.

"Please," he said quietly. Tiredly. "I want to go back to my room. I only called you to tell you about Celestial Peak."

Hendrix's expression softened. He stepped back, nodding once.

"Alright," he murmured. "My apologies. Then… I'll speak with you when the time comes."

"Yes. And let's avoid meeting until then."

Florian turned.

He waited for Hendrix to call out to him—Hendrix always called out, always pushed boundaries, always insisted on the last word.

But this time?

Silence.

Hendrix didn't chase him.

Didn't tease him.

Didn't say anything more.

And somehow… Florian felt a small flicker of relief bloom in his chest.

'At least someone respects my boundaries.'

It was pathetic that such a simple thing could feel like a luxury, but it did.

And beneath that relief…a pricking sting of guilt settled in.

Because Hendrix—despite how cryptic, stubborn, and suspicious he could be—

…was the only person whose feelings toward the original Florian had been genuinely kind from the start.

Though, weird and sudden.

It was also...

Pure.

Uncomplicated.

Unselfish.

And Florian knew it.

He knew Hendrix wasn't pretending.

He knew Hendrix wasn't planning to use him as leverage.

He knew Hendrix wasn't lying to him "for his own good."

For a moment, the knowledge made his chest tighten painfully.

But he didn't let himself linger on it.

He kept walking.

Step after step down the dim corridor, each footfall making a quiet tap against the polished marble.

His heartbeat steadied. His breathing evened. The palace lanterns flickered overhead, their warm glow brushing his skin with a softness he didn't feel inside.

Because the truth was simple:

Florian wasn't Hendrix's Florian.

He wasn't the prince Hendrix remembered, the prince Hendrix fell in love with.

But he could help fix what had been broken.

He could help bring the original Florian back.

He could help Hendrix finally get the person he had held onto for so long.

'That's for another day,' Florian reminded himself, forcing his mind forward. 'When we get to Celestial Peak. One thing at a time, idiot.'

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