Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 595

"Lucius!"

Florian exclaimed the moment Cashew opened the door, his eyes widening at the familiar white-haired butler standing in the doorway. "You're— you're okay? Should you even be out? Shouldn't you be resting more?"

Lucius smiled softly as he stepped inside, posture calm despite the faint stiffness in his movements. "Your Highness, it has been some time. Thank you for your concern, but our dear healer worked miracles—and I've already been absent from my post far too long."

Florian let out a weak laugh. "Only you would get stabbed half to death and think, Great, time to clock back in. Most people would take that as a sign to enjoy lying around with no responsibilities for a while."

He gestured toward the sofa. Cashew, sensing the mood had shifted, quietly bowed and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Florian watched the door shut before turning back toward Lucius.

"I won't be long," Lucius said, politely declining the seat.

Florian rolled his eyes. "I insist. Sit. You and I have a lot to talk about."

Lucius blinked, then gave a small amused chuckle. "Very well. How could I possibly refuse?"

"You already did," Florian said dryly as he dropped onto the couch. "Indirectly."

"My apologies, Your Highness. A lapse in my impeccable decorum," Lucius replied, matching his humor with a gentle tone.

"You're forgiven," Florian muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Lucius finally took a seat on the opposite sofa.

For a quiet moment, they faced each other.

Florian wasn't really looking at his eyes, though.

His gaze kept drifting to the bandages visible at the edge of Lucius' collar, the faint white wrappings peeking from beneath neat fabric. Evidence of what he took instead of someone else.

'You idiot…'

"Don't worry, Your Highness," Lucius said calmly, noticing his stare. "I truly am much better now."

Florian finally lifted his eyes to meet Lucius', narrowing them. "Stop reading my emotions."

Lucius didn't deny it.. His gaze softened, golden eyes faintly glowing with that familiar perceptive edge. "I apologize. It isn't something I can switch off entirely. Your feelings were…quite loud."

Florian scoffed softly, but decided to let it go. At this point, he barely cared about having his emotions read—he'd grown used to it long ago. There were more important things left unsaid.

And he was tired of holding them in.

So he spoke.

"You were absolutely stupid," Florian said quietly, the words sharper than he meant. "Risking your life like that—what if you had died?"

The anger bled into his voice before he could stop it. Beneath it lurked something else. Fear.

The memory surged up again.

Steel flashing.

Lucius stepping forward.

The daggers meant for Cashew.

Meant for him.

Lucius started to answer. "I did it bec—"

Florian raised a hand abruptly, cutting him off.

"I'm not done."

He took a steadying breath, forcing the tension in his chest down. "But… I know if it were me, I would've done the same." His gaze dropped to the floor. "I was ready to take every one of those daggers for Cashew."

His fingers clenched at his side.

"As stupid as that is… it's the same stupid choice I would've made." He looked up again, eyes steady now. "You did it for me because you cared. I don't need your creepy emotion-reading ability to know that."

Lucius froze.

"Your Highness…"

Florian smiled—a small, sincere thing that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Thank you, Lucius. Really. I just wanted to thank you." He exhaled softly. "And don't say you shouldn't be thanked. And don't say it's your job. It is not your job to die for me."

He tilted his head. "If it were, you should be getting paid a lot more."

Lucius blinked—then snorted.

"Well… a salary increase would be nice."

Florian laughed despite himself, the sound lighter than he felt. Lucius joined in, the tension between them easing just a bit.

"You're welcome, Your Highness," Lucius said warmly. "And truthfully—I'd do it again. I'm certain Cashew would too. Lancelot as well."

His voice softened.

"You matter to all of us. Not because you're a prince. But you once said it yourself…"

Lucius smiled faintly.

"Because we're friends."

Ah.

Friends.

The word echoed quietly in Florian's chest.

Lucius.

Lancelot.

Scarlett.

Athena.

Cashew.

They really were his friends.

'No, the original Florian's friends.'

Florian didn't know why hearing it out loud made his heart ache.

It wasn't supposed to.

He felt relieved. Truly.

Relieved that Lancelot and Lucius seemed to have moved forward from their feelings for him. That they weren't trapped in something painful anymore.

That maybe… they even had something forming between themselves.

Everyone was finally healing.

No one would be left heartbroken.

And Florian was closer than ever to fulfilling the promise he made—to return the original Florian to a life that would be gentler than the one he'd lost.

Still…

"Your Highness, your—"

"I know," Florian whispered, eyes lowering as he shook his head. "I know what my emotions are right now."

'Too many of them.' 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I don't know what came over me."

Lucius studied him carefully, his ability no doubt already peeling apart every layer. "Did… something happen while I was away?" he asked gently. "I heard that His Majesty was also—"

"Lucius," Florian cut in quietly, lifting his gaze again.

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