Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 393

Chapter 393: ’Lure Them Out.’

"Your Highness! I just heard what happened!"

Cashew’s voice cracked slightly as he rushed through the door, nearly tripping over his own feet before throwing his arms around Florian. His grip was tight, desperate.

Florian blinked, momentarily stunned, before slowly wrapping one arm around the trembling teen.

"I can’t believe... Lady Delilah died," Cashew whispered, pulling back just enough to look up at him. His pale violet eyes were glassy with worry.

"Kraa!" Azure fluttered in through the window, the little dragon letting out a distressed cry before nestling atop Florian’s head. It gently pressed its cool snout into his hair, the weight strangely comforting.

"Careful," Florian murmured gently, shifting slightly so Azure wouldn’t fall. He lifted his other hand—his fingers carefully cradling the fragile, broken-winged butterfly. "Look."

Cashew gasped. "That’s... that’s Luluwing, right?" His eyes widened in horror. "What—what happened to it?! How did he get there?! I... I didn’t even notice it was gone!"

"Someone took Luluwing," Florian said quietly, voice laced with bitterness. "They broke its wing. Then they used him to poison Delilah."

Cashew took a step back, as if the words themselves had struck him. "W-What...?" he breathed. "No... no, that can’t be... who would do something so cruel?" He clutched his own hands tightly, trembling. "D-Does Sir Drizelous know? Did he blame you?! Please tell me His Majesty didn’t blame you—you would never—!"

"Cashew," Florian interrupted softly, his voice warm despite the tension in his eyes. "He didn’t. He believes me."

Cashew visibly sagged with relief. His shoulders dropped, and he exhaled shakily. "Thank goodness..." he whispered. "Thank the stars..."

"Kraa?" Azure tilted its head from atop Florian’s curls, its wings twitching as if asking what had happened.

Florian gently reached up to scratch Azure beneath the chin. "It’s complicated, Azure. But we’re safe, for now."

Cashew stepped closer again, glancing nervously between Florian and the injured butterfly. "But... what’s the plan now? I mean... someone snuck in. Someone actually took Luluwing out of here—without me noticing—and hurt him. That’s terrifying."

Florian nodded solemnly. "Yeah. That’s what scares me too."

He turned toward the cluster of flowers near the window where the rest of the butterflies lingered. Their wings shimmered faintly in the light, but strangely—they didn’t flutter toward him like they normally did.

They were avoiding him.

’Why...?’ His chest tightened.

Florian knelt beside the blooms and carefully placed Luluwing in the soft petals of one of the central flowers. The moment he did, a small wave of motion stirred. The other butterflies hesitated—then slowly gathered around Luluwing, as if inspecting him, comforting him.

Watching them made Florian’s throat tighten. There was so much he didn’t understand. And it was starting to wear on him.

"They’ve been... acting weird," he said slowly, eyes still on the butterflies. "More nervous. More aggressive. They don’t land on me anymore."

Cashew furrowed his brows, thinking. "I-I didn’t think much of it at the time... but maybe since before your presentation, Your Highness?"

Florian looked over his shoulder. "Yeah... that’s right."

The memory of the day before the presentation returned to him vividly—his room was full of movement, butterflies flying in frantic, moving around.

Then memory of earlier with Heinz, and his plan.

✧༺ ⏱︎ ༻✧

"What do we do now, Your Majesty?" Florian asked softly, turning toward Heinz.

Heinz wasn’t looking at him—his crimson eyes were cast downward, brows furrowed in thought. Something was brewing. Florian could tell just from the silence, from how the man’s jaw tensed slightly, from how his thumb lightly tapped against his forearm.

Then, slowly, Heinz lifted his gaze and met Florian’s eyes. He held it. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

’He’s planning something. I can feel it.’ Florian thought, breath catching in his throat.

Heinz’s gaze shifted to Lucius and the two knights. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Lucius," Heinz said, his voice sharp. "Go inform Drizelous of his mother’s death."

Lucius blinked. "Pardon? I thought you said—"

"Let Drizelous know," Heinz cut him off. Then he added, almost casually, "Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Let everyone in the palace know that she died."

A beat of stunned silence followed.

Even Florian froze. ’Wait... what? Earlier, he specifically said to keep it quiet... What the hell is he doing now?’

Confusion flickered across Lucius’s face. Gareth and Elias looked at each other, clearly lost. Florian stepped forward, lips slightly parted, but Heinz continued before anyone could speak.

"As for you two," Heinz said, addressing the knights, "go find Lancelot. Tell him to meet me in my office. I’ll be there shortly. Lucius, you go as well."

His tone left no room for argument. Cold. Controlled. Commanding.

Lucius gave a slow bow. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Also," Heinz added, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Lucius."

Lucius stopped mid-turn, glancing back. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Tell them," Heinz said, "that Prince Florian is being held in his room... under suspicion of killing Delilah."

The air turned to ice.

"What?" Florian’s voice cracked, and his heart thudded painfully in his chest. "W-What did you just say?"

Even Lucius’s composure faltered. "Your Majesty? Pardon me, but—"

"Did I stutter?" Heinz snapped, not even glancing at Florian.

Lucius hesitated, clearly unsure whether to follow the order, but one look at Heinz’s face told him it wasn’t up for discussion. Gareth and Elias, just as hesitant, gave a deep bow.

His teeth gritted as he glared at the door. ’What the hell is he thinking?!’

"Have you not noticed?" Heinz murmured. "The one responsible... they’re not far. They’re not hiding in some corner of the world. They’re here. In this palace. Among us. Among people you and I know."

’He’s serious...’ Florian thought. His heart started to race again.

"I don’t just think," Heinz said, lips curving faintly. "I know they will. They’re too agitated. Too sloppy. Whoever it is—this wasn’t their plan. They panicked. They made a move too soon. And now... they think they’ve won."

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify