Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 603

"Your Majesty," Elara said lightly, a knowing smile on her face, "are you giving us a special goodbye?" Her tone carried a hint of teasing. "Or…"

Her gaze shifted to Florian.

Florian stiffened instantly. He was already tense enough, already braced for departure, for distance—for not having to face Heinz again any more than he already had.

'Please don't make this harder,' he thought.

Heinz didn't answer right away. His eyes lingered on Florian for a heartbeat too long before he turned back to Elara.

"Out of all the dukes," Heinz said calmly, "you have my trust."

The words landed heavier than expected.

Elara blinked, clearly surprised. Eleonor looked up at his uncle, eyes widening. And Florian—

Florian froze.

"King Heinz…" Elara said softly, visibly moved.

"So I trust you," Heinz continued, his voice steady, "to keep Florian safe."

The moment the words left his mouth, a sudden wave of cold air swept through them.

Florian's eyes widened.

Elara's smile deepened, something almost satisfied flickering across her expression. Eleonor glanced between Florian and Heinz, curiosity written plainly on his face.

And Florian—

Florian felt overwhelmed.

Because it wasn't just the words.

It was the implication.

Despite Prince Hendrix being present. Despite Athena and Scarlett—still technically under Heinz's care. Despite all of that—

Heinz had singled him out.

'Why me?' Florian thought, heart pounding. 'Why say it like that?'

Heinz turned fully toward him.

Florian lifted his gaze just as Heinz stepped closer, the space between them shrinking far too quickly.

'His eyes…' Florian thought.

They were soft. Unguarded. Nothing like the king who ruled a kingdom, nothing like the man Florian had argued with, pushed away, tried so hard to distance himself from.

Florian expected words. A warning. A quiet goodbye.

Instead—

Heinz raised his hand.

His fingers brushed Florian's cheek, warm and gentle, as if touching something precious.

Florian felt his face heat instantly.

'What is he doing?' his thoughts spiraled. 'Here? In front of Elara?'

Before he could react, Heinz leaned down.

Florian heard a sharp intake of breath—someone gasped. Maybe everyone.

Maybe just him.

Then everything else vanished.

Lips pressed against his.

Soft. Careful. Certain.

Florian's breath was knocked right out of him.

'I should push him away,' Florian thought frantically. 'I should stop this. I should—'

But he didn't.

God help him, he didn't.

Instead, his body betrayed him completely. His tension melted. His fingers curled slightly, as if grounding himself in the moment.

He closed his eyes.

And for that brief, dangerous heartbeat—

Florian kissed him back—and the moment it happened, he hated himself for it.

Not for the act itself.

But for how much he missed it.

For how easily his body remembered the warmth of Heinz's lips, the familiarity of it, the way it made his chest ache instead of settle.

He had been so close. Far too close.

To staying.

To telling Heinz he forgave him.

To believing, just for a heartbeat, that maybe they could try again. That maybe this didn't have to end here.

'It's just a kiss,' he told himself desperately. 'It's just a kiss… it's just a—'

God.

'Please. I don't want to give in this early.'

Stupid Drizelous. Stupid story. Stupid timing. All of it tangled together, blurring Florian's resolve at the worst possible moment.

Thankfully—mercifully—it was Heinz who pulled away.

Their foreheads rested together, breaths brushing, the space between them still humming with everything neither of them dared to say. It felt intimate in a way that hurt more than distance ever could.

"I don't care whether or not you pass this task," Heinz said quietly.

There was no authority in his voice. No command. No king.

Just him.

"What matters is you," Heinz continued. "Come back. And let's have a conversation."

The words sank deep.

Too deep.

Florian didn't answer.

He couldn't.

Not when Heinz sounded like that. Not when he was being so unbearably sincere. So… annoyingly charming.

'Stop,' Florian thought. 'Please, just stop talking.'

Because if he opened his mouth, something reckless would spill out. Something honest. Something he wouldn't be able to take back.

So instead, he stepped back.

He broke the closeness before it could break him.

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