Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 519

Chapter 519: ’The Only Kingdom That Mattered.’

Florian was already exhausted.

The weight of his silk garments and jeweled crown seemed to drag on his shoulders as much as the expectations placed upon him.

And the worst part was—the ball hadn’t even truly begun. This was still the opening ceremony, just the tedious introductions of the first few kingdoms.

He forced a polite smile as yet another family approached, his body moving on instinct—smile, nod, accept, repeat. ’God, I’m not even halfway through and I already want to crawl under a table.’

After Alexandria’s kingdom, Sanctus Regnum, the next delegation stepped forward: the Cogsworth family of the Ingenium Realm.

They were precisely what Florian expected—stiff-backed, bespectacled nobles who looked like they spent more time bent over drafting tables than enjoying fresh air.

Known across the continent for their ingenuity and brilliance, they carried gifts that reflected their kingdom’s pride.

First, a crystal orb glimmering faintly with stored light—an invention capable of recording both speech and images. "With Concordia’s crystals and our mana stones, Your Highness, it can capture what the eye sees and the ear hears," the king, Regulus Cogsworth explained, his tone dry but proud.

Then came the masterpiece: a clockwork timepiece, small enough to rest on a desk, its inner gears ticking with unnerving precision. "This device never errs," the man continued, "not by hour, not even by minute. A gift centuries ahead of its time."

Florian accepted both with the same polite smile, though his eyes glazed over.

’Amazing. But I cannot understand a single word he said.’

There were more trinkets, more baubles, but his fatigue blurred them all together. He simply nodded along.

The next kingdom was easier on the eyes—Eleganza Dominion, represented by the Couturé family.

Camilla’s family.

A burst of color and fragrance followed their entrance. Silks in shades Florian had never seen before were laid before him—cloth so fine they shimmered under the chandeliers, some imported from distant, exotic kingdoms.

Drizelous practically bounced in his seat, his booming voice carrying across the hall. "Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!"

Florian’s lips twitched. ’Of course he’s excited about fabric. He’ll probably have me fitted for a dozen new outfits by sunrise.’ 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Eleganza Dominion’s reputation was clear—they were the masters of fashion, and their gifts reflected it.

Then came the Prospera Dominion, Scarlett’s family.

The Opulenti royals entered with the pomp of people who knew exactly how rich they were—and wanted everyone else to know too.

Prospera was the second most powerful and wealthy dominion after Concordia, and they flaunted it shamelessly.

Jewelry that sparkled like captured stars was piled high; chests of rare fruits and exotic plants followed; custom-tailored garments embroidered with gold thread were presented with a flourish. The procession seemed endless.

’If they give me any more, I’ll need another palace just to store it all.’

Finally—mercifully—the last delegation entered: the Coralcrest family of the Aquaterra Dominion.

Their gifts carried the salt of the sea. Boxes of glittering pearls and sea-stone jewels were laid out like treasure dredged from a mermaid’s chest. But what caught Florian’s attention wasn’t the gems.

It was the food.

Platters of glistening seafood—lobsters, crabs, fish dressed in spices unfamiliar to Concordia—were offered up, their aroma drifting tantalizingly across the hall.

Florian’s tired façade cracked ever so slightly as he reached out. "Thank you," he said, and for once his gratitude wasn’t just formal.

’Finally. Something good.’

"You seem exhausted already." Heinz’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but close enough that Florian felt the warm brush of breath against his ear.

The king leaned in lazily, strands of his long black hair slipping forward and tickling Florian’s cheek.

’Ah, seriously.’ His thoughts tangled as warmth rushed unbidden to his cheeks. ’What is with him tonight?’ His chest tightened with an unfamiliar flutter, and it made him restless, vulnerable.

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