Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 364

Chapter 364: ’Why Else?’

The final day of the summit passed like a dream too fleeting to hold onto.

One moment, Florian had been quietly sipping tea between discussions and playing the polite prince; the next, he found himself standing beside Heinz at the grand entrance of the Diamond Palace, the soft breeze tugging at the edges of his cloak as they watched the dukes prepare for their departures.

The first to leave—predictably—were Duke Alaric and Alexandrius. No one was surprised, least of all Florian.

Florian’s gaze lingered on Alexandrius’ retreating figure, his jaw tightening with a quiet sense of frustration. ’I didn’t get the chance to help Lancelot... Not even a word. And that bastard’s still holding his mother over his head like a noose.’

A bitter taste curled at the back of his throat.

Andrew, of course, was still as insufferable as ever—loud, smug, and entirely too self-important.

But Alucard, the youngest, stood in stark contrast. Florian had only spoken with him briefly over the course of the summit, but even in those short interactions and careful observations, the boy had struck him as surprisingly soft-spoken, almost timid.

Compared to his father and older brother, Alucard seemed like a misplaced puzzle piece in their family.

Then there was Alaric—eyes sharp, speculative—as he looked at Florian not with scorn, but with calculation. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Still as terrifying as ever, but Florian could feel the shift. It wasn’t animosity anymore.

’He’s really drawn to the idea of making me Lucas’ duchess.’ The thought made Florian want to shiver.

Lucas, at least, was decent—kind, even. He had offered Florian an apologetic smile, the kind that came from secondhand shame, and spoke to him gently before entering the carriage.

"Please tell Lucius to come visit my manor once in a while," Lucas had said with an embarrassed chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "He does not even reply to my letters."

Florian had only nodded, smiling politely. But that moment stirred something deeper.

’Lucas seems to really want to connect with Lucius.’ The realization stung.

The pang of regret most likely settled heavy in Lucas’ chest for what happened to Lucius.

Next came Duke Roland, ever formal and dignified. His farewell leaned more toward Heinz—expected, really—but his son, Rodrick, had turned to Florian with a small smile.

"I heard from my father that you handled yourself exceptionally, Your Highness. Well done."

Florian had returned the compliment, though his feelings about the two remained neutral. Not enemies, not friends. Simply... tolerable.

Then came Duke Cedric.

To Florian’s dismay, the man hadn’t dropped his flirtatious airs. In fact, he might have dialed them up.

He gave Florian a wink and a flourishing bow, making the younger man suppress an audible groan.

’God, is he really flirting again?’

And yet—surprisingly—Florian found himself no longer flustered. Just vaguely amused, and a little exhausted.

His twins, Nividea and Nevideus, were next. Unlike their father, the two seemed genuinely drawn to Florian. There was a warmth in the way they spoke to him—earnest and unguarded.

"I heard you adopted a boy our age!" Nividea chirped, her eyes shining. "Well... I heard he was your servant, but you don’t treat him as such."

She giggled softly, and it made Florian’s lips tug upward.

"I would’ve loved to meet him! We rarely meet people our age who actually want to befriend us."

Nevideus, standing slightly behind her, nodded. "We... would love to invite you to our manor sometime, Prince Florian. If you’d like."

Their sincerity caught him off guard. He smiled, genuinely this time. "I would love that."

It was a short moment, but a sincere one—and that made it rare.

Finally, came the last of the guests—Duchess Elara and her son, Eleonor.

Florian straightened almost instinctively. He hadn’t expected this parting to strike such a chord, but it did.

Eleonor approached first, reaching out to shake Heinz’s hand. "I am sure my mother mentioned that I requested to oversee the project when it comes to our duchy. I look forward to taking part, Your Majesty. It’s truly a wonderful endeavor."

Heinz returned the handshake with a measured smile. "Preparing to take over the mantle, I see?"

Eleonor laughed, boyish and bright. "Mother’s been planning to retire for years now. Says she wants to travel the world before she gets too old."

"Ah, but you still have much to learn," Elara said as she stepped forward, her eyes twinkling with both pride and mirth.

"Oh my, but you still have a lot to learn," Elara said with a gentle smile, her gaze drifting to Heinz. Despite the warmth in her tone, her words carried the quiet wisdom of someone who had seen and endured far more than she let on.

Her eyes softened. "I am glad you hosted this summit, Your Majesty. Truly. I know there had been tension between us... and perhaps I’ve given you much reason not to trust me." She paused, her voice faltering briefly before regaining its strength. "But this—this might mark a new age for our kingdom."

She bowed low, with grace that came not just from etiquette, but sincerity.

Florian blinked, tilting his head ever so slightly. ’Elara and Anastasia were best friends... but didn’t all the dukes agree on Hendrix becoming king? Why did Elara support that decision, then?’

’What is this about?’ he wondered. ’And why do I feel like this isn’t something minor?’

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