Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 202: ’Walking Out’

Florian had fully expected Heinz to brush him off as usual, especially after their earlier argument. Well, it wasn’t exactly an argument—more like Florian getting on Heinz’s nerves while the other remained as unbothered as ever.

Now, he sat there, painfully aware of the heat pooling in his lower abdomen, cursing his own subconscious for planting such vivid images of Heinz in his dreams.

His body felt hypersensitive. Every creak of the old house echoed louder than it should. The rough texture of the scattered hay scratched against his exposed skin, and even the soft, rhythmic rise and fall of Azure’s small body atop his knees sent shivers down his spine. He hugged his knees closer, desperate to hide the humiliating evidence pressing against his pants.

’Ah. This is a first. I have to think of bad things. Bad things.’

Florian squeezed his eyes shut, summoning every disgusting image he could think of in an effort to will himself back to normal. He barely had time to focus before he felt something—no, someone—moving closer.

His breath hitched.

It was Heinz.

Florian opened his eyes just in time to see him shift nearer, his presence commanding even in the dim light.

"Y-Your Majesty—" Florian stammered, instinctively trying to scoot away, only to be met with the unforgiving wall against his back. His pulse quickened. "Please... move away."

’Why is he suddenly getting closer? I told him to stay away.’

Heinz’s crimson eyes flickered with curiosity, a sharp contrast to his usual unreadable demeanor. "You’re acting strange."

’I’m acting strange?! He’s the one suddenly invading my personal space!’

Florian clenched his jaw, tearing his gaze away. Even Azure, seemingly oblivious to his owner’s turmoil, nuzzled his head happily against him.

"L-Like I said, I... I had a nightmare." He tightened his grip around his knees, his voice barely above a whisper.

But Heinz didn’t back off. Instead, he leaned in even closer.

Florian nearly swore out loud. Fuck, fuck. Is this his revenge for everything I said earlier?!

"You don’t seem scared for someone who had a nightmare." Heinz tilted his head slightly, his long black hair falling over his shoulder like silk. His voice was calm—too calm. "You seem embarrassed. That’s quite an interesting emotion for someone who just woke up from a supposed nightmare."

’This guy... what is he trying to prove?’

"It was an embarrassing nightmare," Florian muttered.

"Why?"

"Why do you want to know?!" He snapped before he could stop himself.

He expected Heinz to be startled, maybe even irritated, but the man merely studied him with an unreadable expression. And then—he smiled.

A slow, knowing smile.

Florian’s stomach twisted.

Why was Heinz amused?

"It’s unusual to see you act like this," Heinz mused, his eyes never leaving Florian’s face. "I’m curious what kind of things you fear that could make you act like this."

His gaze was piercing, unrelenting. Florian squirmed under its weight.

"...And you’re a very bad liar."

’Fuck.’

Florian’s mind raced, scrambling for something—anything—that would get Heinz off his back. But before he could speak, Heinz moved closer again, his voice dropping slightly.

"You’ve been disrespecting me since earlier. You seem to forget that I’m your king."

His tone wasn’t sharp, nor was it his usual authoritative drawl. If anything, it sounded—

Teasing.

’Nope. Absolutely not. I refuse to entertain this.’

"Shall I punish you?"

Florian’s breath caught. His entire brain short-circuited.

Yeah.

No.

Before Heinz could say anything else absurd, Florian shot to his feet.

"I-I feel hot! I need fresh air!" His voice cracked embarrassingly as he practically stumbled toward the door, doing his best to cover himself as casually as possible. His face was burning, and he didn’t even dare look at Heinz.

He didn’t wait for a response.

He threw the wooden door open and bolted outside.

’Why... why is he acting like that?!’

His boots crunched against the dirt path as he walked—no, speed-walked—away from the house. He kept going, not stopping until he was sure the suffocating presence of Heinz had been left behind.

’He’s teasing me. That’s unlike him... It’s as if—’

Florian stopped abruptly. His hands instinctively reached into his pocket, pulling out his enchanted glasses. He slid them on, letting the magic alter his appearance. Then, he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

’It’s as if he knows what I dreamt of.’

But that was impossible.

If Heinz knew—if he even had the slightest idea—he would be disgusted. Horrified, even. He was straight. He hated doing anything romantic with the original Florian. There was no way he knew.

’This is absolutely his revenge for everything I said. And for making him stay here longer than he wanted to.’ Florian groaned.

He took another deep breath, willing his thoughts to settle.

"Fuck. I have to calm down." He muttered under his breath, glancing around warily. There might be villagers—

He blinked.

That was odd.

When they arrived in the village, Augustus had given them a brief tour. Even before dawn, there had been quite a few people outside. But now?

Not a soul in sight.

Florian frowned. ’Did they all go back to their houses? Wait... what time is it?’

It should be dawn by now. He was sure of it. But the sky remained a deep, endless black. There was no trace of sunlight. No distant glow on the horizon.

’Maybe I didn’t sleep that long?’

His instincts told him otherwise.

Shaking off the unease, Florian continued walking.

’I need to clear my head.’

Yet, something about the village felt different now. Without Heinz beside him, it felt eerily silent—almost like a ghost town.

’Hah. I have to convince Heinz to help them... maybe we can relocate them. There are so many ways to help.’

But convincing Heinz was a battle in itself.

’I know he hates his father, but it seems like he did a much better job taking care of his citizens.’

Though, not enough.

The Obsidian kings and queens had only ever offered temporary relief. They never seemed to think of a long-term plan.

Maybe because that would mean losing the spectacle. Florian thought bitterly. ’That’s why the moment the handouts stopped, these people were left with nothing.’

His thoughts continued to spiral, shifting from the village to Leila—the girl he had yet to meet.

’Mhm. I hope she speaks to me soon. I really want to help her.’

His jaw clenched at the memory of Levi.

’I can’t believe he left her without a word. No wonder she’s upset.’

Florian kept walking, deep in thought—until something made him stop dead in his tracks.

A sharp, familiar stench filled his nostrils.

His stomach churned.

"...Fuck."

He clamped a hand over his nose, his gaze flickering toward the storage unit just a few feet away.

’What did they say was in there again? Ugh. I feel sick.’

He hesitated. His body screamed at him to turn away—to ignore it. But something... something compelled him forward.

Because if there was one thing Florian knew—

A stench like that never meant anything good.

And if he was the only one who could smell it—

Then he needed to know why.