Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 185: ’Be Careful’

Chapter 185: ’Be Careful’

After the, rather awkward, encounter with Lucius, Florian managed to get himself back to his senses and ask him to help prepare whatever he needed to go to the village.

Lucius raised an eyebrow at him. "You request to go to the village without any sort of plan? What were you planning to do with that boy’s sister? Take her to the palace? Or just inform her her brother’s dead?" He was making a joke.

However...

That made Florian come to a horrific realization.

"You... You’re right. I don’t even know if she knows her brother’s dead." Florian said, almost dropping the satchel that Lucius had given him to bring.

Lucius’ brows furrowed. "That means... you will actually be the one informing her of her brother’s passing."

’Fuck, fuck, fuck!’ Florian thought. ’I just wanted to help her! I don’t want to be the one who breaks her heart! And I’m... I’m the reason why her brother died!’

Lucius already knew what Florian was thinking because he could see his emotions—Florian knew he could—so Lucius waved a hand at him dismissively. "Do not worry, Your Highness. A week has passed since the kidnapping and his death, there’s a possibility she might have already known if she knows her brother’s occupation."

"But... but what if she didn’t? What if she’s still expecting him?"

"Then, it would be best if she knew that her brother died a hero, rather than a rogue, no?"

Lucius had a point.

Though, Florian really hadn’t thought this through. He only wanted to help Levi’s sister, he only wanted to repay the favor he did. Levi saved Florian’s life.

"It’s going to be fine, Your Highness. You can’t have second thoughts now."

"I’m not having second thoughts... I’m just..."

Nervous.

Florian didn’t have to say what he was feeling. Lucius let out a sigh of sympathy. "It’s okay to feel nervous, Your Highness. Actually, I am not sure if this will come at a bad time, but I do have to warn you..."

’Huh?’

"Warn me?" Florian looked up at him, tilting his head. ’What can be worse than telling a poor girl her brother died because he sacrificed his life for me?’

Lucius seemed to hesitate for a bit, then took off his glasses. He tilted his head slightly. ’Must really be serious if he has to take off his glasses before speaking.’

"Your Highness, the state... of a lot of unfortunate villages isn’t good. Especially the village of Forgotten Waters. They... they usually have to prepare for royals to arrive, to at least look presentable. You will be dropping by unannounced, and now, we couldn’t help them due to the kidnapping... I’m sure a lot of them are angry and dissatisfied as well. So, I want you to be extra careful."

"Have... they been neglected for that long?"

Lucius didn’t answer. He didn’t seem to want to answer. After all, Heinz was still his king.

’I don’t understand Heinz. If he wanted the throne so badly, why did he close everything off? He’s basically only king on paper, but doesn’t do the work.’ Florian thought, crossing his arms against his chest. ’He explained it, but the explanation didn’t really make any sense.’

Florian exhaled slowly, pressing his fingers to his temples. His mind should have been on the village, on Levi’s sister, on the weight of what he was about to do—but no matter how hard he tried to focus, something else kept gnawing at him.

Or rather, someone.

’Cashew.’

A quiet, nagging worry settled deep in his chest. He hadn’t seen Cashew since their fight, hadn’t even caught a glimpse of him lingering in the halls like he usually did. That wasn’t like him. Cashew never avoided him.

Never.

’Was he angry? No... not angry. That’s not like him either.’

Florian closed his eyes briefly, recalling the way Cashew had looked at him that day. Wide eyes, filled with something Florian couldn’t quite place. Not quite fear, not quite sadness, but something deeper. Something that made his stomach twist uncomfortably.

Cashew had never raised his voice at him before.

He hadn’t yelled—not exactly—but he had been distressed. He had tried to say something, his hands trembling at his sides, but in the end, he had just... stopped. Shut down completely, his lips pressing together, his shoulders curling inward as if he wanted to disappear.

And then he had walked away.

That was what unsettled Florian the most. Cashew never walked away from him.

"...Lucius," Florian murmured, barely realizing he had spoken aloud.

Lucius, who had been adjusting his gloves, turned to him with mild curiosity. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Can you check on Cashew for me?"

Lucius paused, his fingers stilling over the fabric of his sleeve. He tilted his head slightly. "Cashew?"

Florian nodded. "We fought."

Lucius blinked. He didn’t say anything at first, only staring at Florian as if waiting for him to take it back. When it became clear he wouldn’t, Lucius pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, expression unreadable.

"You and Cashew?" he echoed. "Fought?"

There was no amusement in his tone, only surprise. Genuine, quiet surprise.

"You two never fight," he pointed out, stating it like a fact rather than a question.

"I know," Florian muttered, shifting his weight. "But we did. He suddenly got upset with me, and I don’t know why. It wasn’t like him at all. He wouldn’t even explain, just... shut me out."

Lucius’ brows furrowed slightly. "That is odd."

"Right?" Florian huffed, arms crossing over his chest. "It was like he wanted to tell me something but couldn’t. And then he just... left. I don’t even know if he’s okay."

Lucius was quiet for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. Then, finally, he nodded. "I’ll look into it," he said. "If he won’t talk to you, perhaps he’ll talk to me."

Before Florian could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

Both men turned as Richard’s voice rang from the other side of the door.

"Your Highness," the knight said, his tone firm and professional. "His Majesty has arrived."

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