Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258: ’Tea Time’

"Your Highness... are you okay...?" Cashew’s small voice carried a note of hesitation, his brows furrowed in concern. "You’ve been staring at the butterflies for quite some time..."

Florian blinked, his dazed mind barely registering the words. "I’m fine," he murmured, though the distant look in his eyes said otherwise. He didn’t notice the deepening worry in Cashew’s expression as the young servant kneeled beside his bed.

Azure, curled comfortably on Florian’s stomach, let out a soft croak, golden eyes watching him intently. The small creature’s warmth was a grounding presence, but even that wasn’t enough to steady Florian’s swirling thoughts. He wanted to reassure them both, to tell them everything was fine, but his mind had reached its limit.

The village visit. Heinz. Cashew’s unusual behavior. Lucius becoming bolder. Lancelot’s confession. Cashew lying to him.

And then there was Scarlett’s request. Florian’s growing suspicion that one of the princesses might have killed Heinz. That Heinz might have suspected it too.

But that was still a theory.

’I’ve managed to avoid some nuisance plots, but they’ve just been replaced with even bigger headaches.’ His gaze lingered on the blue butterflies flitting above him, their delicate wings almost too serene against the chaos in his mind. ’There’s a God in this world—it’s canon. So is He doing this on purpose?’ His thoughts drifted, the weight of his predicament pressing down on him. ’I barely even had time to process the fact that... it was me who got sent here instead of Kaz, the actual author.’

But then again, Kaz would have stuck to the original plot, and chances were, he would’ve ended up executed. So maybe Aden was the only real choice.

Still...

Everything was so confusing. The worst part? He could feel his own emotions beginning to blur with the original Florian’s. It was getting harder to distinguish which feelings were his own and which were remnants of the person he had replaced.

And God, that dream. The nightmare of three people pulling at him—it felt like more than just a dream. It felt like a warning.

"Your Highness..." Cashew’s voice broke through his haze, soft but insistent as he inched closer.

Florian turned his head slightly. "Mhm?"

"It’s almost time for the tea party with Princess Alexandria and Princess Athena... Should I cancel?" Cashew asked, his bright purple eyes searching Florian’s face for an answer.

Florian blinked, momentarily caught off guard. ’Right, the tea party. I almost forgot.’ He let out a quiet sigh before carefully sitting up, mindful of Azure still perched on his stomach. "No, it’s fine. I will go." His voice was steady, but his body still felt weighed down by exhaustion.

Cashew hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave him alone, but nodded nonetheless. "Please prepare a change of clothes. Something light."

Another small bow, and then Cashew was off, disappearing into Florian’s walk-in closet. Florian exhaled, kicking his legs over the side of the bed, letting his feet touch the cool floor.

"Kraa..." Azure croaked softly, climbing up to his shoulder and pressing his head against Florian’s cheek.

Florian let out a breathy chuckle, reaching up to scratch behind Azure’s ear. "Do you want to come with me?" he asked, his voice softer now. Azure gave a small nod, his tiny claws flexing against Florian’s shoulder. "But you’ll have to hide again, okay?"

He still wasn’t sure if anyone besides Lucius and Lancelot was allowed to see Azure. It was a risk he couldn’t afford.

Azure nodded again, understanding. Florian smiled. "Alright, you can come with."

His gaze drifted toward the closet, where Cashew was busy selecting an outfit. ’I haven’t had the chance to ask him what he was really doing earlier... but the fact that he took so long—’ Florian frowned slightly, his fingers absently tracing patterns against his sheets. ’I can’t shake the thought that the traitor or that so-called savior found a way to contact him.’

Cashew was a smart kid, but the traitor was someone cunning enough to outmaneuver Heinz and infiltrate the Diamond Palace.

’I need to follow him at some point. Watch him carefully.’ Florian’s lips pressed into a thin line. ’If I confront him now, he might just deny it again. And I don’t have the heart to threaten him...’

His thoughts were interrupted when Cashew stepped out of the closet, holding a neatly folded set of clothes and a pair of shoes. "Here, Your Highness. I chose a lighter fabric and a softer shade so you won’t feel too hot—it’s airy and comfortable."

Florian met Cashew’s gaze and offered a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Cashew."

He carefully lifted Azure from his shoulder, placing him gently onto the bed before taking the clothes from Cashew’s hands. Despite everything weighing on his mind, he appreciated the boy’s thoughtfulness. But as he dressed, one thought remained clear:

He couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

✧༺ ⏱︎ ༻✧

"Prince Florian!" Alexandria chirped happily, her golden curls bouncing as she waved from her seat. Beside her, Athena offered a quieter smile, her wave more reserved but no less polite.

"Hello, Ladies." Florian greeted formally, lifting a hand in a subtle wave. Behind him, Cashew followed in silence, his usual meek presence blending into the background.

The tea party setup was just as he remembered—an elegant table draped in pastel linens, delicate porcelain teacups resting on golden saucers, and an array of sweet confections artfully arranged on tiered trays. Alexandria and Athena sat with practiced poise, their maids standing attentively behind them, ready to pour tea or refill plates at a moment’s notice. As Florian stepped closer, he took in the familiar scene with a sense of detached amusement.

’I suppose it’s nice to have some consistency in my life.’

’Alexandria’s too kind. We both know they just didn’t want to come.’

Florian hesitated, his smile faltering for just a fraction of a second. "Eh?" He flicked his gaze toward Athena, confused. He was certain he had told Alexandria that his trip was meant to be private. _{freēwēbηovel.c૦m}

’Oh?’