Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 158: ’Athena’s Request’

Chapter 158: ’Athena’s Request’

’It’s Alexandria and Athena.’

Florian’s lips curled into a small smile as he took another sip of his drink, the cool liquid doing little to ease the warmth in his chest. The two princesses stood together, their dresses shimmering under the soft glow of the chandeliers.

He stepped closer, his presence drawing their attention. As soon as he reached them, he offered a polite yet warm smile. "Did you two enjoy yourselves? Dancing, conversing with the nobles?"

Alexandria returned his smile with ease, the corners of her lips curving in amusement. "Yes, actually. It was quite pleasant. I danced with a gentleman who seemed very interested in my kingdom’s religious beliefs." There was genuine delight in her expression, a rare sight for someone as composed as her.

"That’s great to hear," Florian said before shifting his gaze to Athena. "How about you, Lady Athena?"

At his question, Athena’s face immediately turned a shade of pink. "I-I, um... I danced with a noble, and he kept complimenting me," she admitted, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her gown. "It’s my first time hearing so many compliments in so long."

’Really? She’s so cute, though. And she’s a princess. I would’ve assumed she constantly received compliments back in her kingdom.’

"Did you not often receive compliments in your kingdom?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

For a moment, Athena hesitated. Then, something in her expression changed—her usual bashfulness giving way to something far more somber.

"...My kingdom has been going through a lot these past few years," she said quietly. "Many of our people suffered, and my parents... they were too busy trying to save them. I—I was preoccupied too. So there was never really room to think about something as trivial as... compliments."

Florian blinked.

That escalated quickly.

Even Alexandria seemed momentarily taken aback, her smile faltering just slightly.

’Wow. I was expecting her to say something flustered or cute—not drop a heartbreaking backstory on me in the middle of a ball.’

For a few beats, he didn’t know how to respond.

Athena must have noticed the sudden tension because her face turned bright red, and she quickly shook her head. "I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make it awkward. I just... I couldn’t help but reminisce about my kingdom..."

"It’s fine, Lady Athena," Florian said gently, his voice softer. "I understand. Sometimes, I miss my home as well."

"I do too," Alexandria added, offering a small, knowing smile.

A quiet understanding passed between the three of them. For a moment, the lively atmosphere of the ballroom faded into the background, replaced by the shared weight of longing for their homes.

Then, Florian clapped his hands together, snapping himself out of the lingering melancholy. "By the way," he said, drawing their attention once more. "You two approached me for something, didn’t you? It seemed like you had something to say."

Alexandria’s eyes widened slightly before she let out a small, amused laugh. "Right! Athena and I were actually going to ask you to dance, Prince Florian."

"Oh..." Florian blinked, caught off guard. That was the last thing he expected.

"Actually, it was Athena’s idea," Alexandria added, her gaze flickering toward the other princess with a teasing glint.

’Athena did?’

Florian turned his attention to Athena, who was now twiddling her thumbs, eyes cast downward.

"I-I haven’t properly thanked you... for saving me, Prince Florian," she murmured. "And I... I don’t really know how to properly express my gratitude, so I thought... maybe we could dance?"

Florian stared at her. His eyes brightened.

’Girls... princesses... want to dance with me! Finally!’

After spending the entire night surrounded by men—enduring flirtations, playful teasing, and far too many close encounters—this was a breath of fresh air.

’I have to act natural. I have to act chill.’

He took a deep breath, composing himself before flashing them a charming smile. "I would love to dance with you, Lady Athena. And with you as well, Lady Alexandria."

Both princesses lit up at his response.

"That’s wonderful!" Alexandria said, her amusement evident. "You can dance with Athena first, and then it’ll be my turn."

’Ah. This is amazing.’

Florian nodded before turning to Athena. "Shall we?" He extended his hand toward her, his movements smooth and practiced.

Athena hesitated only for a moment before placing her hand in his, her fingers delicate against his palm.

Just as he was about to lead her onto the dance floor, a thought struck him, and he turned back to Alexandria. "Ah, by the way, would you mind waiting here for my servant, Cashew? He went to get me some food."

Alexandria smiled, nodding. "It’s no problem at all, Prince Florian. Now go ahead—have fun." She made a small shooing motion, her tone light and encouraging.

The moment Florian and Athena stepped onto the dance floor, the murmurs swelled, threading through the ballroom like an undercurrent beneath the elegant rise and fall of the waltz.

"Prince Florian is dancing with Princess Athena?"

"I heard she was the one who was held hostage, and Prince Florian saved her."

"They look... rather stunning together, don’t they?"

Florian swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. The weight of a hundred gazes pressed down on him, a familiar suffocating pressure he had long since learned to endure. Still, tonight, beneath the dazzling chandeliers and the piercing eyes of the court, it felt heavier.

’Here we go.’

He pushed the sensation aside as the first notes of the waltz shimmered through the air.

His body moved instinctively, his hand finding Athena’s as he guided her into the first step. Their movements were fluid—seamless, as if they had danced together countless times before.

A turn, a step forward, a graceful twirl—Athena moved with the quiet elegance of a princess trained for the ballroom, her presence soft yet assured. Her gown spun like mist caught in the moonlight, the delicate embroidery catching the glow of the crystal chandeliers. In contrast, his dark attire stood stark against her ethereal grace, grounding her lightness with steady precision.

And then, Florian noticed something.

The way the noblewomen watched him.

They had always looked at him, of course—whispering behind lace-gloved hands, sometimes flirtatious, sometimes dismissive. But now, as he led Athena effortlessly across the floor, their gazes held something different.

Softer. More intrigued.

"Prince Florian... he’s quite the dancer, isn’t he?"

"I never noticed before, but he’s rather charming when he’s not surrounded by men."

"He handles Lady Athena so well. How graceful."

Florian’s fingers twitched slightly against Athena’s hand. ’That’s new...’

It had never been like this before. The glances, the subtle shift in perception. Before, he was an oddity to them—entertaining, but not to be taken seriously. Yet now, for the first time, he saw something else reflected in their eyes.

’Is it because I’m dancing with a woman? Because I seem... normal?’

But the thought barely had time to settle before something else demanded his attention.

His body was betraying him.

His pulse was too fast. His breathing, uneven. A deep warmth had settled into his skin, crawling from his chest outward like slow-burning embers. The sensation was... unnatural. Clinging. Drenching him in a heat that didn’t belong.

His palm was damp where he held Athena’s hand.

’What... is happening to me?’

"Prince Florian?"

Athena’s voice barely reached him over the music, but he forced himself to focus. Her violet eyes were scanning his face, soft concern pooling in their depths.

"You’re sweating..." she murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

Was he?

Florian exhaled slowly, forcing steadiness into his limbs as he guided her into another twirl. Their steps remained flawless, each movement as precise as before, but beneath the effortless facade, something was unraveling.

"I’m fine," he assured her, his voice steadier than he felt. "It’s... just the heat from the ballroom."

Athena didn’t seem convinced, her lips pressing into the faintest line, but she didn’t press further. Instead, a small, knowing smile touched her features.

"You’re a wonderful dancer, Prince Florian," she said lightly, perhaps in an attempt to distract him. "I didn’t expect you to be so skilled."

Florian huffed a quiet chuckle, his grip adjusting ever so slightly against her waist as he led her into another graceful spin. "I had quite the persistent instructor growing up. I didn’t have a choice but to be skilled."

’It’s mostly because I had a sister who would drag me to her dances.’

Athena giggled, a sound like silver bells—light, genuine, untarnished by the court’s cruelty.

And despite everything—the unnatural heat crawling beneath his skin, the erratic pounding of his heart hammering against his ribs—Florian found himself smiling.

If only he could ignore the nagging feeling that something was very, very wrong.

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