Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 249

Chapter 249: ’Beating Heart’

Florian pushed his plate toward Lucius with an air of finality, his expression firm. "If you got all the information you needed, you should leave," he said, crossing his arms. "And call Cashew."

Lucius didn’t move immediately. Instead, he smiled—slow, deliberate, as if savoring something particularly amusing. His golden eyes gleamed with a dangerous playfulness, like a predator toying with its prey.

"You’re trying to get rid of me already, Your Highness?" he mused, his voice light but laced with something deeper. "How cruel."

Florian turned away, scowling. "I just don’t need you hovering over me. Now go."

Lucius chuckled, the sound low and rich, effortlessly unbothered. "You’re quite easy to fluster today," he noted, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves with a practiced elegance that only made him more insufferable. "I can’t possibly waste such a rare opportunity."

Florian snapped his gaze back to him, irritation flaring. "There is no opportunity to take."

Lucius hummed as if unconvinced. Then, before Florian could react, he reached forward, brushing his fingers against Florian’s cheek.

Florian froze.

The touch was featherlight—barely there—but it sent an electric jolt down his spine. His breath hitched, his entire body locking up as Lucius withdrew his hand.

Their gazes met.

Lucius held up his thumb, revealing the tiniest speck of food. He examined it for a second, then—

Slowly. Deliberately.

He brought his thumb to his lips, his golden eyes never leaving Florian’s. His tongue flicked out, licking it off with an ease so confident, so shameless, it was downright criminal.

Florian felt his brain short-circuit.

’What the hell—?!’

Lucius tilted his head, smirking. "Messy eater, Your Highness," he murmured, voice smooth as velvet, wicked amusement curling at the edges of his lips.

Florian shot up from his seat so fast his chair nearly toppled over. "You—! You’re insane!"

Lucius leaned back in his chair, entirely unfazed. His smirk deepened, his expression the very picture of calm amusement. "Oh? But you seem rather affected."

Florian clenched his jaw, but the heat creeping up his neck betrayed him. ’Stop it. Stop reacting! He keeps doing this because there’s a reaction!’

Lucius let out a quiet chuckle, rising to his feet with a fluid grace. He picked up Florian’s plate as if indulging in some grand act of benevolence. "You’re lucky I’m busy today," he mused, as if letting him off easy. "But I’ll come back later."

Florian didn’t respond—still trying to remember how to function.

At that moment, Azure, who had been curled up in his lap, stirred with a sleepy chirp before lazily climbing onto his head. His tiny claws gripped Florian’s hair like a crown, settling in with another soft peep.

Lucius chuckled, watching the sight with something... strangely fond in his eyes. "You wear him well, Your Highness."

Florian groaned, rubbing his temple. "Just tell Cashew I’m awake."

Lucius gave a small nod, turning to leave—but then, he hesitated. _{freēwēbηovel.c૦m}

His steps slowed just as he reached the doorway. He tilted his head slightly back, just enough for Florian to catch the glint in his golden gaze.

Florian furrowed his brows. "What?"

Lucius exhaled through his nose, as if weighing something in his mind. Then, finally:

"About Cashew..."

Florian’s stomach twisted.

’No.’

His expression remained composed, but internally, his thoughts raced.

"What about him?" His voice was calm, measured—but he already knew where this was going.

Lucius didn’t answer immediately. He studied Florian, his gaze sharper now, as if dissecting him, reading between the lines of his expression.

Florian knew Lucius could sense emotions.

If he was bringing this up, then he must have felt something... off.

And if he suspected Cashew had spoken to the traitor... and he told Heinz—

Florian swallowed, forcing himself to stay still.

He could not let Lucius interfere.

A long moment passed.

Then—Lucius’ eyes flickered with understanding. His smirk softened, his posture shifting just slightly. After a pause, he let out a quiet sigh.

"Never mind, Your Highness," he murmured. "I trust your judgment. I always will."

Florian stiffened.

’What?’

For a brief second, the air between them felt different. Not playful, not teasing—just something real.

And Florian barely had time to process it before his mouth moved on its own.

"What are you? My lover?"

The second the words left his lips, he regretted them.

Lucius stilled. It was brief—just a fraction of a second—but Florian caught it.

Then, slow and deliberate, that damned smirk curled at his lips.

He turned fully this time, golden eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"Might as well be," Lucius murmured, his voice smooth, rich—unapologetically teasing.

Florian’s stomach flipped.

’No. No, what the hell was that supposed to mean?!’

His heart slammed against his ribs with alarming force. His body felt both too warm and too still—like he’d been rooted to the spot, but his blood was racing too fast.

Lucius simply held his gaze for another lingering second, eyes gleaming with unspoken mischief, before stepping out of the room.

The moment the door shut, Florian collapsed back onto his chair, dragging both hands down his face.

’Is this body broken?!’

Azure chirped sleepily atop his head, shifting to get comfortable, completely unaware of the absolute chaos raging inside Florian’s mind.

Florian sighed heavily, pressing his fingers against his temples.

’Okay. I need to lie down. Maybe the stress is finally getting to me.’

’Yeah. This is probably just another side effect of being stuck in this body.’

’No way in hell would my own heart be reacting like that over a man.’

Since ending up in this world, he had never had a normal dream. And the fact that he had been fully aware inside it—conscious, running, feeling—meant it wasn’t something he could brush off as a random nightmare.

’Yeah. Thank God I dodged that mess.’