Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 213: ’The Sun Is Up’

Florian’s breath was shallow, the weight of unease pressing against his chest like an iron grip. The knock at the door felt heavier than it should have, reverberating through his bones with something close to dread.

"Your Majesty, what do we do?" Florian whispered, his voice tight with urgency. His fingers curled into the fabric of his cloak, as if steadying himself. His gaze darted toward Heinz, who stood eerily still, only his golden eyes flickering toward the door.

For a moment, Heinz didn’t answer. Then, without a shift in his tone, he responded loud enough to be heard, "Yes, we are awake. Is there a problem?"

He stepped forward, his movements unhurried but deliberate, heading toward the door. Florian’s pulse quickened.

Heinz turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder, and in a low whisper, he said, "Stay there."

Florian nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at him. Azure let out a low growl from his perch on Florian’s shoulder, his small, clawed feet gripping tighter. Florian felt the warmth of the tiny creature pressing against him, a silent warning.

Without a word, Heinz adjusted his glasses, the magical enchantment shifting his appearance. Florian followed suit, slipping on his own disguise-changing glasses. The familiarity of the action brought little comfort.

A voice came from behind the door, calm and measured. "Leila is willing to speak to you now."

’What?’

Florian’s brows furrowed, confusion sparking in his chest. Heinz had hesitated, too. He could tell—Heinz rarely hesitated. Their eyes met briefly, both trying to decipher the meaning behind those words.

They had already spoken with Leila. She had been awake, coherent. There was nothing stopping her from speaking then.

Unless...

But before Florian could chase that thought further, the chief’s voice carried through the wooden door again, this time laced with something almost amused. "Mhm? Suddenly?" A brief pause. "You have been sleeping for quite some time. The sun already rose hours ago."

’Huh?’

’HUH?’

Florian’s breath caught in his throat. His fingers instinctively tightened around Azure.

No. That wasn’t right. That wasn’t possible.

Not even five minutes ago, he had looked outside. The sky had been dark, the village cloaked in night. Before that, they had been walking outside under the moonlight.

And now... the sun was up?

Heinz’s expression remained unreadable, but Florian knew. He knew Heinz was thinking the same thing.

"The sun is out?" Heinz asked smoothly, his voice void of alarm.

"Yes. Open the door," Augustus said, his tone almost indulgent, as though entertained by their skepticism. "The village is quite lovely in the morning, if you look past the state of our village." The chief let out a deep, hearty laugh.

’This doesn’t make any sense.’

Florian’s mind reeled, grasping at possible explanations, but every single one felt wrong. His heart pounded against his ribs, the sound deafening in his ears.

Heinz moved to place a hand on the door, his fingers grazing the wood, but before he could go any further—

"Wait, Your Majesty." Florian reached out, his hand clutching the back of Heinz’s cloak, stopping him in place.

Heinz turned, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. "Florian?"

Florian swallowed hard. He was never the type to show hesitation, let alone fear. And yet, something was screaming at him from the pit of his stomach.

"Should we... Should we really open the door?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "I... have a bad feeling about this."

Heinz’s expression shifted, his golden eyes flickering with something Florian couldn’t quite place. The king rarely looked surprised. But now? He was studying Florian as though seeing something unexpected in him.

His hand twitched at his side, fingers slightly lifting, as if about to place a reassuring touch on Florian’s shoulder. But he hesitated. Instead, he sighed, his gaze lowering for just a moment before flicking back up.

Azure, who had been letting out small, distressed noises, suddenly quieted. Instead, he pressed his head against Florian’s cheek, a rare show of affection meant to soothe.

"Craah," Azure murmured softly.

Heinz exhaled slowly. "Azure’s here. No amount of magic can hurt him because he is out of this world." His voice was calm, steady. "That is why his senses are high. He won’t let anything happen to me, and he won’t let anything happen to you." Heinz’s gaze was unwavering, holding Florian’s own. "I assure you."

’Wow. Heinz is actually reassuring me?’

Florian blinked. It was... strange. Heinz wasn’t the kind to offer reassurances. He was always composed, calculating, but this? This was different.

Still, despite the pit in his stomach, Florian nodded. "Alright, Your Majesty." His voice was firmer this time.

He took a deep breath and glanced down at Azure, who had curled back into his lizard-like form, small and deceptively harmless-looking. Florian nuzzled his face against him briefly before straightening.

Heinz gave a small nod, then finally—he opened the door.

The moment the wooden door creaked open, Florian’s breath hitched.

Bright. It was bright.

Not the kind of bright that signaled an early morning, where the first hints of sunrise painted the horizon with gold and orange hues.

No.

It was blindingly bright. As if night had never existed. As if someone had flipped a switch, and suddenly, the world had been thrown into daylight.

Florian’s stomach twisted.

"Good morning, Anastasius and..." The chief tilted his head slightly, his gaze sliding toward Florian. "...Aden. I hope I did not interrupt your rest. I was delighted when Leila approached me to tell me she was willing to speak to you."

Florian forced a smile. "Is that so? We’re delighted as well."

Heinz’s posture remained carefully neutral. "Is she coming here, or are we going to her house?" His voice held an edge of caution, subtle but there.

Augustus hummed. "As I’ve mentioned, she’s quite frail and sick. The poor girl could barely stand, so you would have to go to her."

’Frail? Sick? Could barely stand?’

Florian’s breath stalled. ’I was just with her moments ago.’ She had stood. She had walked. She had spoken clearly.

This wasn’t just strange anymore.

It was wrong.

His body tensed involuntarily, his instincts screaming at him to take a step back, to get away—but before he could move, Heinz’s hand settled lightly against his back. A gentle, steadying touch.

’What is he doing?’

Florian’s fingers curled into his cloak as Heinz spoke again, his tone casual, unbothered. "We would love to speak with her. Can we have a moment to freshen up first?"

Augustus smiled, his wrinkled face clearer now in the unnatural light. "Of course. I will wait here while you both prepare."

Heinz nodded, stepping back into the house and closing the door just enough to give them a sliver of space.

Florian’s pulse was still pounding in his ears.

Heinz’s voice was quiet, but firm. "Something isn’t right."

Florian exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on Azure. "Yeah," he whispered. "I know."