Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 189: ’Up High in The Sky’

Chapter 189: ’Up High in The Sky’

After a rather awkward first hour of flying, Florian had managed to calm down—for the most part. The initial terror of soaring through the sky on a living, fire-breathing beast had worn off. His heart no longer threatened to claw its way out of his throat, and his grip on the saddle had loosened considerably.

It had been two hours now.

And yet, there was still something freaking him out.

One: He had touched Heinz’s... third leg.

Two: Heinz was still holding onto him.

Florian had gone through every logical reason why neither of these things should bother him.

First reason—Heinz didn’t even seem to care. If anything, the king had just coughed, muttered something about taking things too far, and then moved on. No awkwardness, no anger, no teasing. That should have been a relief.

Second reason—Heinz was only holding onto him to make sure he didn’t fall off. That was all. Nothing more.

’So why am I still losing my mind over this?!’

It didn’t help that his thoughts kept circling back to the way Heinz had murmured—

’You’re... really sensitive.’

His voice had been low, almost to himself, but Florian had heard it. And now, it was stuck in his brain, playing on loop like some cursed melody.

’You’re sensitive.’

The words made his stomach tighten in a way that had nothing to do with fear.

Florian gritted his teeth, willing the heat creeping up his neck to go away.

’It’s fine. It’s nothing. He doesn’t like me. He wouldn’t even care if I—’

...But if it had been Lancelot or Lucius who he had touched like that...

Florian swallowed hard. ’That’s where I should be worried.’

It was a horrible thought. A torturous, frustrating, and absolutely stupid thought. And yet, it refused to leave him alone.

Even worse, Heinz was unusually quiet.

Not in a bad way—Heinz was always quiet around him. But lately, he had been chatty. Teasing him more, testing his patience, always saying something.

But now?

Nothing.

Florian had tried to start a conversation. A distraction. Anything to clear his mind. But for some reason, the words wouldn’t come.

Heinz’s presence behind him felt too close. His warmth too noticeable. The arms bracketing him on either side—resting lightly yet undeniably there—felt like a cage Florian shouldn’t have minded.

But he did.

’Ah. Whatever. I’m sure we’re almost near the village. I don’t have to think about Heinz much longer.’

He let out a slow breath and turned his attention to the sky.

It was... breathtaking.

The stars seemed impossibly close, scattered like shards of shattered crystal across an endless stretch of ink-black sky. The moon cast its silvery glow over the world below, bathing the landscape in a pale, ethereal light. Up here, above everything, the world felt vast. Infinite.

For the first time since this whole ordeal started, Florian felt... at peace.

A small, barely-there smile tugged at his lips.

"I see you’re finally enjoying yourself."

Florian nearly flinched at the sudden break in silence. He inhaled sharply, schooling his expression before responding, gaze still fixed on the sky.

"I must admit, after getting over my initial fears..." He let out a breath. "This is amazing."

"Flying feels freeing, no?" Heinz’s voice was softer now, carrying something almost nostalgic beneath the usual coolness. "I remember the first time I flew on Azure... I never wanted to go back down."

Florian turned his head slightly, just enough to glimpse Heinz from the corner of his eye.

"Then... why do you keep him inside the crystal, Your Majesty?"

In the novel, Azure was barely mentioned. More of a myth than an actual presence.

Heinz didn’t answer immediately.

Florian braced himself.

’God. Please don’t tell me to figure it out.’

Heinz had an annoying habit of making him guess things instead of just saying them outright.

’I still don’t understand why he chose Scarlett over any other princess to accompany him to the ball...’

But to his surprise, Heinz actually answered.

"Azure, as you saw earlier, is quite hostile toward others. Keeping him out would cause unnecessary destruction that I do not want to be bothered to fix. So, I usually keep him hidden."

Florian frowned.

’Hmm. Why is he nice to me, then?’

"You must be wondering why he’s kind to you."

Florian froze.

’How—’ His eyes widened.

Heinz chuckled. "You are an open book. That’s how."

Florian exhaled sharply, feeling uncomfortably exposed.

"I do not know why he’s kind to you," Heinz admitted, voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity. "He’s unpredictable. Perhaps he senses you are not from here. When the god gave me the dragon along with its powers, it did not come with a manual."

For the first time that night, Florian laughed.

It was small, but real. A rare moment where something Heinz said was actually funny.

"You’re laughing?" Heinz sounded almost surprised.

Florian tried—and failed—to suppress it, covering his mouth with one hand. "M-My apologies. I didn’t mean to laugh, I just... I understand that." He sighed, shoulders finally relaxing. "Dying and waking up in a different person’s body doesn’t come with a manual either."

Silence.

A heavy silence.

Then—

"You... died?"

Oh.

Right.

He never actually explained that part.

It hadn’t seemed like a big deal.

So, he answered calmly, "Yes, Your Majesty. I forgot to mention—I died. I was hit by a car—carriage," he corrected, remembering where he was. "When I woke up, I was in Florian’s body."

Silence again.

Longer this time.

Then—

"Mhm. That’s an interesting piece of information." Heinz’s voice was unreadable. "You died and went to someone else’s body. Like how I died and went back in time."

Florian blinked.

’Ah. Right.’

Heinz had died once before too.

Florian nodded, looking back toward the sky. "Sometimes, I still wonder how this is all real."

Heinz let out a small hum. "Your old life must have been boring if you think a life like Florian’s doesn’t feel real."

Florian huffed a quiet laugh.

’You have no idea.’