CHAPTER 436: ’BIRTHDAY BALL?’

Florian froze.

Heinz’s fingers—still inside him—froze too.

"...That’s Lucius?" Florian whispered, voice barely audible, eyes wide as saucers, his heart hammering against his ribs. "What... What is Lucius doing here?"

Another knock. Firmer this time.

"Your Majesty? Your Highness?" came Lucius’ unmistakable voice through the door.

Heinz’s crimson eyes lit with sudden realization. "The birthday ball planning," he muttered. "I forgot I asked him to come."

"Birthday ba—ah!" Florian gasped as Heinz suddenly pulled his fingers out. The abrupt emptiness left him breathless, body twitching in response.

"Get under the covers." Heinz said, already moving. He gently lifted Florian off his lap, placing him back onto the bed before pulling the thick duvet over him.

Florian obeyed, still stunned. He could barely wrap his head around what was happening.

Before rising fully, Heinz leaned down and placed a soft, lingering kiss on Florian’s forehead. "We’ll continue this tonight," he whispered against his skin.

’W-Wha... What the fuck?!’ Florian’s face burned, his ears ringing. ’Did that just—? We didn’t even—? Fuck.’

He watched, frozen, as Heinz crossed the room and opened the door.

Lucius stood on the other side, holding several documents. He gave a polite bow. "Your Majesty. I was about to leave, thinking you’d fallen asleep. May I come in?"

Heinz gave a simple nod and stepped aside.

As Lucius entered, his gaze immediately landed on Florian—lying stiffly under the covers—and his expression shifted, just slightly. A flicker of something warm in his yellow eyes.

Right. This was probably the first time they were going to have a proper conversation with each other since Florian had been rescued.

"Your Highness," Lucius said with a small smile, bowing toward him. "I’m glad to see you well."

"Hello, Lucius. It’s been a while," Florian replied, clearing his throat. His voice was hoarse, and his heart still hadn’t calmed down.

’God, this is awkward.’

Lucius had been the one in love with Florian, and was supposed to be the one to have sexual relations with... and now Heinz’s fingers had just been inside him moments ago.

’Managed to avoid Lucius and Lancelot.’

And fell right into the arms of the man he least expected to catch him.

"Indeed it has," Lucius replied with that ever-composed demeanor. "Everyone will be glad to hear you’re recovering—especially the princesses. They’ve often asked about you."

Florian stiffened at the mention of them.

’The princesses...’

His stomach turned. After what Alexandria had done, he couldn’t trust any of them.

What if they were all just playing some game he didn’t understand?

Florian knew it might’ve been a stretch, but was it?

"Haha. That’s great. Please tell them I’m alright now," he said, forcing a chuckle. It sounded wrong even to his own ears.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Heinz giving him a look—but Florian ignored it.

Lucius clearly noticed the tension, but chose to ignore it with practiced grace.

"I won’t take up too much of your time," Lucius continued. "I’m just here to collect the information about the ball so we can begin preparations. Actually, Princess Scarlett and Princess Athena wanted to know if there was anything they could help with—they’ve been reminding us frequently."

Heinz took a seat on the couch, silent, while Florian remained awkwardly nestled in the bed. Lucius stood between them, professional as always.

Florian blinked, confused. "We’re... hosting a ball? For what?"

Lucius’s eyes widened slightly. He glanced between Florian and Heinz.

Heinz simply answered, "Your birthday."

’My birthday?’

Oh.

Right.

The original Florian’s birthday. That was coming up.

’I completely forgot...’

But wait...

"Why are we hosting a ball for my birthday?" Florian asked, eyes drifting to Heinz, tone caught somewhere between confusion and suspicion.

Heinz offered a casual shrug, too casual. "Why not? You’ve suffered, you’ve done a good job worth commemorating again, and it’s your birthday."

’But you never did this for the original Florian,’ Florian thought, brows drawing together ever so slightly.

The original Florian—the real one—had spent his birthdays alone, sniffling quietly into his pillow, muffling sobs as music and laughter echoed from distant halls he wasn’t allowed to enter.

He remembered reading about it in the novel. How the original was neglected, his birthday no more than a passing footnote in the palace logs.

Sure, things were different now. Heinz was different. Less cruel. More attentive. Gentler, even. But...

’Isn’t this a bit unfair?’

This wasn’t really his birthday.

The name might be Florian, the body too, but the soul inside didn’t belong to this world.

And Heinz knew that.

Heinz knew.

’So why... why pretend like it’s something worth celebrating?’

"I don’t think it’s necessary," Florian said, arms crossing firmly over his chest. "I’m okay with not doing anything for my birthday."

There was a pause. Barely a heartbeat, but Florian caught the twitch of Heinz’s brow. That slight shift of expression, almost like irritation. Or disappointment.

"You don’t want a celebration?" Heinz asked, his voice calm, but there was tension underneath it. Strained, barely concealed.

"Why not?" Florian shot back, mimicking Heinz’s earlier tone. "It’s a waste of time, and the last ball was already for me. People are already talking. This will only give them more to whisper about."

From the corner of his eye, Florian saw Lucius glance between them, eyes sharp behind his glasses, lips parting slightly as if to speak—then hesitating. Holding back.

He always held back.

"It’s just a simple ball," Heinz replied, his voice firm, almost pointed. "Athena and Scarlett were the ones who suggested it this time. They want to celebrate with you. Be involved."

He paused, then added quietly, "I don’t see any harm in that."

’Of course you don’t,’ Florian thought bitterly. ’Because you’re not the one being watched. You’re not the one being tested, or getting hurt.’

It wasn’t fair.

He wasn’t even the real Florian, and yet here Heinz was, pushing for this public spectacle like he had something to prove.

’Is this another test?’ his thoughts whispered. ’Are you using me to observe the rest of them again? Just in case another one turns out like Alexandria?’

After all, there was still the strange man.

A cold weight settled in his chest.

"Your Majesty," Florian said carefully, his voice softer now but heavy with restraint, "as much as I appreciate the sentiment... I’ve just been through something. I don’t really see my birthday as anything special right now."

Heinz’s gaze lingered on him.

"You have been through something," Heinz said, his tone oddly gentle, "which is why a ball might do you good. You’ll be surrounded by people who want to celebrate you. People who care."

Florian stared at him.

’No. You’re definitely planning something,’ he thought darkly, narrowing his eyes, the weight in his chest tightening like a vice.

The feeling wouldn’t go away. Heinz was too insistent. Too calm. Too in control.

Something wasn’t right.

So Florian cut straight to the point.

"Is this just another test for them?" he asked, voice sharp and steady. "Are you using me as bait again?"