CHAPTER 428: ’NOT THIS TIME.’

’How far did he go for me exactly?’ Florian stared at Azure, gently stroking the small dragon’s smooth scales. ’And why?’

Why?

There were so many why’s spinning in his head now. Questions without answers. Emotions he didn’t know how to name.

And it all came back to one person—Heinz.

The king was starting to mess with his thoughts—twisting them in ways that made Florian deeply uncomfortable. He wanted to say it was all just leftover feelings from the original Florian. That it wasn’t his.

But... it didn’t feel that way.

It hadn’t felt that way since he woke up. Since that night.

Since they—

Florian shut his eyes for a moment. ’I should feel more regret. I should be shocked... furious even. I lost my virginity to Heinz.’

Well, his virginity using Florian’s body.

But he wasn’t furious. Or maybe he was, just not in the right ways.

Heinz had asked him for sex—in exchange for helping him communicate with the God who had once helped him. And Florian had agreed.

He had agreed.

Worse, now he finds out the king had done more. Things no one expected from someone like him.

Heinz had destroyed guilds for Florian. Had kept him safe. Let him stay in his room. Took care of him.

Looked at him like—

’Like I meant something.’

And it left him more confused than ever.

"I’ll go get you some clothes from your room, Your Highness," Cashew said gently, standing up from where he sat. "His Majesty said you’d be staying here a bit longer since you’re still healing. Just wearing a robe must be cold... and your face is pale."

Florian gave a slight nod, still dazed, his eyes never leaving Azure who looked back at him with what could only be described as adoration.

Cashew bowed politely, then made his way to the door and left, the quiet click of it closing leaving Florian in silence.

He sighed.

"What’s wrong with your master, hm?" he asked Azure softly, the corners of his lips tugging down. "Why is he suddenly treating me like a human being?"

Azure tilted his head as if trying to understand, then affectionately licked Florian’s cheek again.

Florian chuckled lightly, though it sounded a bit tired. "Hm? Why do you keep licking my face, you silly thing?"

"Kraa... kraa..." Azure croaked cheerfully in response.

Florian smiled despite himself but couldn’t stop the sigh that followed. "He used to ignore the original Florian," he muttered, gently picking Azure up and cradling him in his arms. "Didn’t he?"

"I’m... pregnant?" The original Florian’s broken voice echoed in his mind.

’He was pregnant when he died.’

Even now, Florian struggled to fully understand it. To believe it. To grasp how tragic it all truly was. But at least now—without Heinz looming nearby—he could finally think.

Still holding Azure close, Florian walked over to the massive bed and lay down slowly, his body still sore, his back aching from everything it had endured.

"Kraaa... krrr..." Azure let out happy little noises as he curled against Florian’s chest.

Florian buried his face into the dragon’s soft neck. "Why didn’t he ever tell Heinz? Why did he only say it right before his execution?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe... maybe that could’ve saved his life."

"No... in the first place... why did Florian never tell anyone? Why didn’t he tell Heinz directly that, when he was drunk, he... had sexual relations with him?" Florian whispered, his voice barely above a breath as he stared up at the high ceiling.

’Did he think that desperation alone would somehow make Heinz listen?’

The thought twisted something sharp in Florian’s chest.

The original Florian had acted so helpless, so openly desperate. It was painfully clear now—he hadn’t known what else to do. He must’ve thought that if he clung tighter, if he gave more of himself, if he endured just a little longer, Heinz would care.

But he hadn’t.

’That wasn’t love. That was survival.’

And now that Florian was here—now that he was living this life—he couldn’t make sense of it anymore. The novel was useless now, a fantasy laced with too many lies.

If Heinz was really trying to help him communicate with the God who granted his wish, Florian needed to understand the truth.

Not the BL novel posted on a Webnovel site. Not someone else’s version of Florian.

But his truth. Their truth.

Florian turned his head slowly, his gaze drifting toward Azure, who was curled up nearby, sleeping soundly.

The tiny dragon’s breaths were soft and rhythmic, its blue scales rising and falling like tiny waves.

Florian exhaled. "I feel bad for him..." he murmured. "The original Florian, I mean."

He had seen it—through brief glimpses, aching memories, scattered whispers left behind. He had felt it, too. That constant fear. That loneliness. Even back in Floramatria, the original Florian had carried too much sadness for someone so young.

’I don’t even know if he’ll get his body back after my soul is gone...’

But Florian hoped—he hoped—that no matter what happened, he could leave this world knowing the original Florian had a chance to be happy.

Even if it wasn’t with Lucius, Lancelot, or even Heinz.

Relationship-wise, things weren’t so complicated anymore. Lucius and Lancelot weren’t a concern at the moment.

And Alexandria was gone, her manipulations buried in the past which was a relief for Heinz as well.

There was breathing room now—space for a different ending.

’I just want to make sure that when I leave this world... everyone’s going to be okay. Not like the novel. Not like how it ended—’

Where Lucius and Lancelot had stood helpless as Florian was dragged to his execution. Where Cashew had sobbed until he passed out.

Where no one could save him, nor his unborn child.

Even Hendrix who was unjustly executed.

No. Not this time.

"But... where do I even begin?" Florian whispered, turning slightly to face Azure’s sleeping figure.

The tiny dragon snored quietly, its tail twitching. Florian’s expression softened.

He smiled faintly and shifted to lie on his side. "I guess I could start by making sure Heinz treats him better. Treats me better. Or—wait..."

His words trailed off.

His eyes caught something. A flicker of ink against parchment, resting on the ornate bedside table beside him.

A stack of letters.

And among them—his name.

His name, written clearly on one of the envelopes.

Florian froze. His heart skipped.

"...What is that?" he whispered.