Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 214: ’Like A Fever Dream’

’What is going on? What is going on...’

Florian exhaled sharply, his fingers curling against the hem of his cloak as he paced the confined space of their room. His heartbeat hadn’t settled, his breath uneven as if his body itself refused to accept the reality before him. The eerie brightness outside, the chief’s words, the time that had seemingly slipped between his fingers—it gnawed at him, whispering of something unnatural.

Heinz sat by the worn wooden table, one leg crossed over the other, arms folded neatly against his chest. He observed Florian with that ever-calm expression, golden eyes flickering with unreadable thoughts. His stillness was in stark contrast to Florian’s restless energy, but that was always the case, wasn’t it?

"You need to breathe," Heinz finally said, tone almost lazy, as if the weight suffocating Florian wasn’t worth acknowledging.

Florian shot him a brief glare but obeyed, inhaling deeply before exhaling through his nose. The action did little to ease the tension in his chest.

"We need to act natural," Heinz continued, adjusting his glasses. The magic within them shimmered faintly, ensuring their disguises remained intact. "For now, the chief doesn’t appear to suspect that we’ve noticed anything. That means we still have an advantage."

Florian slowed his pacing, glancing at him. "You’re sure, Your Majesty?"

"As sure as I can be, given the circumstances." Heinz’s voice remained even, but there was a weight behind his words—something Florian couldn’t quite place.

He swallowed. ’Act natural. Right. Easy enough.’

Except it wasn’t.

His hands still trembled faintly, and he had to fight the urge to glance at the door, half-expecting something—someone—to force their way inside at any moment. He could still hear Augustus’s words echoing in his head.

"The sun already rose hours ago."

’That doesn’t make sense. It was night. I know it was.’

But then, why did it feel like the more he thought about it, the more distant the memory became? Like something was pressing against his mind, trying to convince him otherwise.

Florian clenched his fists and turned to Heinz, voice tight. "Your Majesty, I... I have to tell you something."

Heinz turned his head slightly, golden eyes gleaming as he regarded Florian with a knowing look. "I already know what you’re going to say."

Florian blinked. "Huh? How could you?"

A smirk ghosted across Heinz’s lips. "Like I said, you’re an open book."

Florian scowled. "You say that like it’s a bad thing."

"It is a bad thing," Heinz responded, unbothered. "Anyone who knows how to read you can manipulate you." He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

"But... I did not anticipate that the Arthur fellow might have lied and tried to gain your guilt to lure you into the village."

Florian’s breath hitched.

’Arthur...’

The man who had killed Levi. The man who had almost sexually taken advantage of Florian, and did so successfully to the original Florian.

How could he have trusted his words so easily?

"It seems I’ve neglected things enough, as you said, to still be caught off-guard if your thoughts are correct," Heinz continued, voice cool. "In that case, it will be my fault."

Florian exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. Heinz rarely admitted faults so openly. That in itself was unsettling.

’And yet, here we are.’

"...What do we do, Your Majesty?"

Heinz stood, brushing nonexistent dust from his coat before adjusting the cuffs. "Follow my lead."

Azure, who had been unusually silent, let out a soft trill and burrowed into Florian’s cloak, disappearing into the fabric.

Florian felt his tiny claws press against his chest, the warmth grounding him in the moment. He reached up, gently stroking where Azure had curled.

With one last glance exchanged between them, Heinz turned and opened the door. Florian followed a step behind.

As expected, Chief Augustus stood waiting.

But this time, he wasn’t alone.

A man stood beside him, his posture rigid, his sharp gaze cutting through them like a blade.

Florian’s stomach twisted. He knew that face.

It was the man from before.

The one who had nearly run into him when they arrived. The one who had moved too fast, too aggressively—like he had wanted to hurt Florian.

The moment their eyes met, the man’s scowl deepened, his expression twisting into something close to disdain.

Augustus let out a hearty chuckle, the sound far too casual for the atmosphere that had settled between them. "I trust you both are ready? Ah, before we go—do you recall my nephew?"

Florian clenched his jaw.

Beside him, Heinz remained perfectly composed. "I recall him."

Augustus gestured toward the man, a pleased look in his eyes. "This is Kane. He doesn’t speak much, but I assure you, he is family."

’He spoke a lot when I met him.’

Kane didn’t greet them. Didn’t nod. Didn’t acknowledge their presence beyond that silent glare.

’Asshole.’

Florian felt the weight of it press against him, thick with unspoken hostility.

Heinz, as always, did not react. "Shall we?"

Augustus smiled, his wrinkles deepening. "Of course. This way, then."

With that, he turned and began leading the way.

Florian inhaled deeply, forcing his heartbeat to slow.

Kane lingered for a moment longer, his eyes burning into Florian’s before he finally turned and followed after his uncle.

Florian exhaled through his nose and stepped forward, shadowing Heinz as they walked.

He didn’t know what awaited them at Leila’s house.

But he had a feeling they weren’t going to like it.

"I was happy. When I came to check on Leila again, she had asked me to call upon the two of you to inform you that she was willing to listen to what you have to say." Augustus’s voice was steady, his expression unreadable as he glanced at Florian. "I have not told her about her brother’s death. Don’t worry."

Florian forced a polite smile, though it barely reached his eyes. ’I’m not worried about that anymore. I’m just... worried more about what Leila is even planning, and if the chief really doesn’t know anything.’ His fingers twitched at his sides, but he quickly curled them into a loose fist, steadying himself. "Thank you, Chief Augustus."

"It is my pleasure," Augustus replied smoothly, the deep timbre of his voice betraying no hidden motives, yet something about it made Florian uneasy.

The air felt heavier as they approached Leila’s house, each step echoing like an unspoken warning. The village, eerily still, seemed to hold its breath, as if it too anticipated whatever was about to unfold behind that door.

Florian and Heinz exchanged a glance, silent understanding passing between them.

’Here we go.’