Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!
Chapter 199: Challenge

Chapter 199: Challenge

As the sunlight gently fell on Leon’s ethereal face, his eyelashes fluttered, refusing to open. He lay on his bed, still clad in yesterday’s clothes. The relentless sunlight fought him and won, he had his eyes open, staring at the ceiling emptily. Well, he did learn to appreciate it. Riven pointed out that they had very beautiful ceilings.

The peace of the moment was interrupted by a familiar knock.

"Rise and shine, your highness," came Riven’s chipper voice from behind the door. "You’re no longer king today, remember? Time to get back to your noble duties. Chop chop!"

Leon groaned inwardly. Of course. Back to being Riven’s so-called ’servant.’ That didn’t mean much in the traditional sense, but it certainly meant he was at Riven’s beck and call again. He dragged himself out of bed with the kind of energy only resentment could summon.

He eyed the black shirt Riven always insisted he wear. It was finely tailored and hugged his form, the kind of outfit that made him look more like a mercenary.

Leon reached for it but paused. A small frown tugged at his lips.

He did not want to look like a king today. If Riven had some humiliating plan in store again, it would be better to look plain. Unremarkable. That way, when the crowd laughed, it wouldn’t be "King Leon" they saw, but just some stranger.

Suddenly determined, Leon moved to the side cabinet and opened a hidden drawer, retrieving a small container. He poured a dark, herbal dye into a basin and mixed it with water until the liquid turned the right consistency. He looked in the mirror, then leaned in closer.

His golden hair, long and regal, the mark of his royal lineage—gone in minutes, buried beneath a temporary black that dulled its gleam. His reflection stared back at him, he still looked good.

"Hah, a mere dye could not hide my brilliance." He felt satisfying knowing he rocked black hair, but he was still eye-catching. He shrugged, well he couldn’t help it if he was just too handsome and everyone wanted to look at him.

By the time he stepped out of his room, his transformation was complete. The black shirt hugged his lean frame, his trousers tucked into dark boots, and a silver pin held his collar closed. With his now-black hair falling over his eyes, he looked like an ordinary man. A very handsome, but regular guy. He was a chill guy.

Riven stood in the hallway, hands on hips, wearing a smug smile. But when he saw Leon, he let out an exaggerated click of his tongue and tilted his head.

"Well, well, well," he drawled. "If it isn’t a whole new man. Leon, is that you? I could almost mistake you for someone hot."

Leon scowled immediately, turning his head to the side to hide the light flush creeping up his neck. "Shut up," he muttered, clearly regretting his outfit choice already.

Riven stepped forward, inspecting Leon up and down with open amusement. He leaned in, their faces only inches apart now, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You know, with that hair colour, we match. We both have black hair. We’re twinning."

Leon’s eye twitched. "I’m going to burn this outfit," he grumbled under his breath.

But Riven only laughed and spun on his heel, gesturing for Leon to follow. "Come on, Leon, we have got a city to explore!"

Leon sighed but reluctantly trailed after him. They exited the palace through one of the side gates, avoiding the usual fanfare or royal procession. Riven had arranged for a day outside the castle walls—no guards, no escorts, just the two of them and the bustling life of the city beyond.

The palace gates closed behind them with a soft clang, and for the first time in what felt like forever, at least to Leon.

Leon walked slightly ahead, his black-dyed hair tucked beneath a hood, the heavy cloak swaying with his movements. Riven, on the other hand, strolled beside him with casual ease, tail flicking behind him, a pleased glint in his eyes.

It was the first time either of them had stepped into the capital’s Grand Market.

And it was nothing like they imagined.

The market wasn’t just a gathering of stalls and vendors—it was a spectacle of opulence. Smooth white marble tiles on the wide streets beneath their feet, so pristine that it reflected sunlight like a polished mirror.

Enormous silk canopies stretched overhead, dyed in rich colours of crimson, gold, emerald, and sapphire, filtering the daylight into a kaleidoscope that danced on their faces. It was simply magical.

Even the street performers wore brocade and velvet, their costumes trimmed in gold thread as they juggled crystal orbs and danced with fire that shimmered in unnatural hues.

Leon slowed, eyes wide despite himself. "This is..." Very fun! Something he never experienced, most of his childhood was filled with classes and training, and he never experienced this.

"Extravagant?" Riven offered, equally speechless. The display of wealth was on par with Soren’s shopping district, but this was more lively, and it didn’t seem so elitist, ’only for the rich’ as it was in Soren’s land.

Instead, the scent here was a blend of rare spices and expensive perfumes. Rosewater mist sprayed from enchanted urns, cooling the air as nobility and commoners alike wandered the stalls.

A woman walked past in a gown of moon-thread silk, her lion mask adorned with sapphires. Even the children running through the crowd were dressed in miniature tailored coats, laughing as they chased bubbles.

"I lived in the palace my whole life, and I’ve never been here," Leon admitted quietly.

Riven turned his head. "Same. I’ve never seen anything like this. I always imagined it would be gaudy and loud, but this is... Absurdly pretty." He sniffed the air, then blinked. "Did that bakery just cast an aroma spell?"

Leon followed his gaze. A floating sign above the bakery displayed ’if you finish the 6-foot-long baguette in 20 minutes, it’s free’.

See now that- that was a deal. Riven was ready to go there and accept the challenge.

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