Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 182: ’You’ve Done So Well’

Chapter 182: ’You’ve Done So Well’

Florian felt his breath hitch, his entire body tensing as a cold shiver ran down his spine. His fingers twitched slightly against the table, but he barely noticed.

The memory—or whatever it was—lingered in his mind like a phantom whisper, slipping between his thoughts like grains of sand through his fingers.

’What... was that?’

It felt too real to be a fabrication of his imagination, yet too distant and unfamiliar to be something he had actually lived through. Heinz’s voice echoed in his ears, low and deep, carrying a strange finality.

’You’ve done so well, Florian. Just let it happen.’

Florian swallowed hard, his pulse hammering against his ribs. ’What did he mean by that?’ What had he supposedly done well? He didn’t recall ever hearing those words from Heinz before. But it wasn’t just the words—it was the way it felt.

Like a memory buried just beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.

"Prince Florian?"

A gentle voice pulled him back to reality.

He blinked rapidly, realizing Alexandria was watching him with slightly furrowed brows, concern flickering in her golden eyes.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly.

Florian forced a smile, pushing the strange memory to the back of his mind. ’I shouldn’t dwell on it now.’

"Ah... yes. I just spaced out for a moment."

Alexandria didn’t look fully convinced, but after a moment, she let it go. "If you say so," she murmured before brightening again. "Actually, I wanted to ask if you’d like to join me and Lady Athena for a tea party tomorrow!"

Florian raised a brow. "A tea party?"

"Yes! We usually have one every week, but lately, the other princesses seem to have stopped coming. It’s just Athena and me now," she explained, a slight pout forming on her lips.

That was... odd.

’Why did they stop all of a sudden?’ Florian tilted his head. "Why did they stop?"

Alexandria sighed, shaking her head. "I have no idea. It just happened all of a sudden. But Athena and I decided to continue, so I thought it would be nice if you joined us."

Florian smiled at the invitation, genuinely considering it. He wouldn’t mind spending time with them. However—

"I’d love to," he said, "but I’m afraid I won’t be able to tomorrow."

Alexandria’s hopeful expression faltered, disappointment flashing across her face. "Oh... I see."

Florian hesitated. He had been about to lie and give her an excuse—something vague, something unimportant. But the look on her face made him pause.

’Would it really hurt to tell her the truth?’

With a quiet sigh, he relented. "Actually, I’m visiting the Village of Forgotten Waters tomorrow... with His Majesty."

Alexandria’s eyes widened in shock. "The Village of Forgotten Waters? With His Majesty? Why?"

Florian exhaled slowly, his fingers absentmindedly tapping against the table. "There was a boy who helped me escape when I was kidnapped. He... died protecting me." His voice softened at the memory, a flicker of guilt settling in his chest.

’If it weren’t for him, I might not even be standing here.’

"I found out he had a sick sister, and I want to help her. His Majesty offered to come along for safety and to check on the village since it hasn’t been visited in a while."

Alexandria’s expression softened, her golden eyes filled with quiet understanding. "I... I didn’t know that happened," she murmured. Then, after a moment, she gave him a gentle, approving smile. "That’s very kind of you, Prince Florian. And of His Majesty as well."

Florian wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he simply nodded.

Alexandria clasped her hands together. "I will pray for the boy’s sister, then. I hope she recovers."

Florian’s chest warmed slightly at her sincerity. "Thank you. I hope so too."

"When are you leaving?" she asked.

"Tonight," Florian answered simply.

Alexandria’s eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn’t expected such an immediate departure. But instead of questioning it further, she nodded in understanding.

"Then I wish you a safe journey," she said with a smile.

Florian and Alexandria fell into a comfortable silence, the warmth of candlelight flickering softly in the dimly lit room. He let his gaze wander, taking in the ornate carvings along the furniture, the elegant drapes swaying slightly from the breeze slipping through the open balcony. The air carried a faint scent of flowers, delicate and soothing.

Yet, despite the quiet, he could sense it—Alexandria still had something on her mind.

She fidgeted slightly, her fingers grazing the edge of her sleeve before she finally spoke.

"There’s... something I’ve been meaning to ask," she admitted hesitantly, her golden eyes flickering up to meet his.

Florian raised a brow, tilting his head slightly. "Go ahead."

She hesitated for just a moment before asking, "Why did you stop liking His Majesty?"

Florian froze.

"You used to like him a lot," Alexandria continued, her voice gentle, as if she were reminiscing. "You would always cry whenever you saw him, always cling to him. But then one day, it just... stopped. You stopped liking him."

A chuckle slipped past Florian’s lips before he could stop it.

’If only you knew,’ he mused. The truth was simple—he wasn’t the real Florian. The boy who had once adored Heinz, who had clung to him desperately, no longer existed. In his place stood someone else, a stranger in this body, looking at Heinz through different eyes.

But, of course, he couldn’t say that.

"It was just a fleeting affection," Florian answered smoothly, leaning back slightly. "I was scared back then. He was familiar, so I latched onto him. But now... all I want is to go back to my kingdom."

Alexandria studied him for a long moment, as if searching for something in his expression.

’Why is she asking this?’

But whatever she was looking for, she seemed satisfied with his answer. Her lips curled into a small smile, and she gave a slow nod.

"I see," she murmured.

With that, she straightened, brushing off her dress. "I should let you rest now," she said kindly.

’She’s just leaving after that question?’

"You have a long journey ahead."

Florian stood as well, walking her to the door. "Thank you for the concern," he said, his voice light.

Alexandria paused at the doorway, giving him one last look before offering a graceful curtsy. "Good day, Prince Florian."

"You too, Lady Alexandria."

With that, she turned and disappeared down the hall. Florian shut the door behind her, leaning against it with a quiet sigh.

His day had been... too eventful.

His head ached slightly, his thoughts still tangled with the memory he had seen. Heinz’s voice echoed once more in his mind.

"You’ve done so well, Florian. Just let it happen."

It gnawed at the edges of his consciousness, but in the end, it was nothing more than a fleeting glimpse—too vague, too incomplete to mean anything.

’It’s not important,’ he decided.

And with that, he finally let himself rest.