Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157: ’Moonfire Ambrosia’

"Cashew!" Florian called out excitedly, breaking away from the two bickering male leads without a second thought.

At the sound of his name, Cashew’s head snapped up, his eyes widening slightly before they lit up in recognition.

"Y-Your Highness," he greeted, bowing his head quickly, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Florian practically ran over to him, disregarding the curious—and judgmental—glances from the surrounding nobles. Then again, they had already been staring ever since he’d been sandwiched between Lucius and Lancelot earlier.

Stopping in front of Cashew, Florian’s gaze immediately flickered down to the empty tray in his hands.

’He just finished serving drinks. He seems okay... That’s a relief.’

"How are you doing? Did any nobles give you a hard time?" Florian asked, his voice carrying a hint of concern.

Cashew shook his head. "No, Your Highness. Everyone’s too busy looking at His Majesty." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "H-How about you, Your Highness?"

Florian couldn’t help but smile.

’He’s becoming more expressive each day. So cute.’

"I’m already exhausted," he admitted with a dramatic sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly.

Cashew’s brows furrowed with concern, but before he could say anything, his gaze flickered past Florian—where Lancelot and Lucius were still going at it, locked in their relentless argument.

"Did you have a fight with Sir Lucius and Sir Lancelot?" he asked curiously.

Florian shook his head, exhaling another soft sigh. "No, they’re just bickering with each other. Again."

Cashew hummed, tilting his head slightly. "Is... Is it about what they were saying earlier?"

Florian blinked. "What do you mean?"

Cashew shifted uncomfortably, hesitating before answering. "I-I don’t know. Before coming here, they... they were talking to Your Highness, right? I-I couldn’t really understand."

Florian’s face immediately heated up as the memory resurfaced—Lancelot and Lucius, both blatantly flirting with him, cornering him before the ball even started. And now, they were arguing over him.

’I know Cashew is still young, but I’m surprised he didn’t pick up on what was happening... Then again, that’s a relief. Makes it less embarrassing.’

"Don’t mind them. They just like messing with me," Florian said dismissively, reaching out without thinking and ruffling Cashew’s hair in a familiar motion.

Cashew’s lips curled into a small smile—brief but genuine.

The moment didn’t last long.

A hushed murmur spread through the nearby nobles, their voices dripping with intrigue and judgment.

"Why is the prince holding that servant’s head?"

"I heard that’s his personal servant."

"But why does he seem so familiar with him? It’s as if they’re close."

"Prince Florian’s a weird one, isn’t he?"

’Oh, come on. Seriously?’ Florian barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. What was so scandalous about being close to his own servant? Did every single thing he did have to become an issue?

Then again, in novels, nobles lived for gossip—especially when it concerned the main character.

Florian didn’t particularly care. It was just irritating.

Cashew, however, seemed to care.

His body stiffened, and he took a small step back, the warmth from earlier vanishing in an instant. His posture straightened, more guarded, more hesitant.

’Eh?’

"What’s wrong, Cashew?" Florian asked, frowning slightly.

"Uhm... n-nothing, Your Highness," Cashew mumbled, his eyes darting to the side. "Uhm... Maybe I should go back to serving drinks and, uh... d-do you need anything?"

Florian wanted to pry, to reassure him that it didn’t matter what the nobles thought—but something about Cashew’s expression stopped him. Now wasn’t the time. He already had a good idea of why Cashew was acting like this.

So, he let it go.

"Hmm... Come to think of it, I’m kind of hungry. Can you get me something to eat?"

Cashew immediately nodded, almost too eagerly. "Y-Yes! Of course, I’ll get you some food right away, Your Highness." He gave a quick bow before turning and hurrying off.

Florian watched Cashew disappear into the crowd, his steps hurried, almost eager to escape. A quiet sigh slipped past his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest.

The murmuring nobles hadn’t let up. If anything, their whispers only grew louder, like a storm of speculation swirling around him.

"Is it not strange that the prince took such a young servant?"

"Well, I heard Prince Florian has... unique preferences, right? He likes men, so maybe..."

"You don’t think—?"

"It might be. The servant does have the face for it. Perhaps he’s the prince’s... plaything."

’Excuse me?’ His eye twitched. ’Have they not been paying attention to anything I’ve done today? Everything I’ve accomplished? Gods, these people are determined to twist things into the most absurd rumors.’

"I mean, just look at him. I wasn’t going to say anything out of respect, but... A man who looks like a woman."

"He’s even wearing makeup."

"I wonder how he got His Majesty to trust him."

"Even Lord Lucius and Sir Lancelot seem awfully close to him."

"I heard a rumor that he seduced the king and his aides. I wasn’t going to believe it, but..."

"Seeing it now, it makes sense, doesn’t it?"

’Honestly... with how Lucius and Lancelot act around me, and how I’m dressed tonight... I can’t really blame them for believing those rumors are still true.’

’Even if I saved the princesses. Even if Heinz showed some level of trust in me. None of that actually disproves the rumors.’

Because at the end of the day, before he took over this body, the original Florian had seduced them.

"Hah. What a mess," he muttered under his breath. "How do I fix thi—?"

Florian nearly jumped. _{ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com}