CHAPTER 443: ’DISBAND THE HAREM’

"You..." Heinz began slowly, his voice quieter than usual, almost unreadable. "You want me to make the princesses leave?"

His heart was thudding violently in his chest. That wasn’t a question he’d ever expected to hear. Not from Florian.

He stared down at him, studying the boy who suddenly looked far more tense than usual—nervous even.

And Florian barely got nervous.

’What is this?’ Heinz thought, his chest tightening.

He stood there for a moment, unmoving—then something inside him snapped.

He stepped forward and leaned over, caging Florian beneath him on the bed, arms planted on either side. The sudden motion made Florian blink, startled.

"Y-Your Majesty?" Florian’s voice cracked slightly as he turned his face away, pink blooming across his cheeks. "What are you...?"

Heinz didn’t answer immediately. His eyes scanned every detail of Florian’s expression—the hesitation, the stiffness in his shoulders, the fluttering in his throat as he swallowed.

He was nervous. Why?

He wanted answers.

"Why do you want to make the princesses leave?" Heinz asked, voice quiet but intense.

"Oh..." Florian murmured, still not meeting his gaze.

But Heinz wasn’t looking away. Not even for a second. He waited—watched every flicker of emotion on that delicate face.

"I-I mean..." Florian finally began, his voice soft. "Do you still need them here? You’re not looking for a queen anymore, and I heard you told them that you’re no longer interested... so I was wondering if maybe... we can give them the option to go home? To disband the harem?"

’He really wants me to disband the harem...’ Heinz felt something flicker violently in his chest.

It wasn’t anger.

It was something far more dangerous.

Possibility.

Hope.

Florian hadn’t included himself in them.

He’d said them—the princesses. Not including him.

Did that mean what Heinz thought it meant?

’He wants to be the only one?’

Heinz’s heart began to pound faster, something hot curling in his stomach. The real Florian—the one he had known since they were young—used to throw tantrums at the very idea of Heinz being with other women. Heinz hadn’t understood it then, but now?

’He was in love with me.’

And now, this Florian, the one who took his place... he wasn’t saying it outright, but Heinz had learned to read between the lines.

’He cares. Maybe even... feels the same.’

Florian was trying to act like this was for the princesses. But Heinz could see it now.

He didn’t want to share him.

"Your Majesty?" Florian’s voice wavered again, panicked by the silence. "Are... are you mad? Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re just staring at me like—like that—"

Florian quickly brought his hands up to cover his face.

Heinz’s breath hitched. ’God, he’s adorable.’

Without a word, he gently took hold of Florian’s wrist, lowering the hand shielding his face.

"Your Majes—" Florian barely got the words out before Heinz silenced him with a kiss.

Soft, firm, possessive.

Florian tensed beneath him for a second, startled—but then, like instinct, he melted into it. His lips moved back, shy but eager, and that alone sent shivers down Heinz’s spine.

’Fuck. He’s kissing back.’

Heinz deepened the kiss, growling low in his throat. His hand slipped beneath Florian’s satin top, warm skin meeting his palm. Florian gasped.

Heinz took the opportunity, slipping his tongue inside Florian’s mouth and tasting him. Sweet. Addicting. Too good. Florian whimpered, and Heinz swallowed it hungrily.

’I can’t get enough of this.’ He really can’t.

He’d had sex before—plenty. The princesses, other noblewomen. It had all been physical. Mechanical. Pleasure, but nothing more.

But this?

Just kissing Florian had his entire body on fire.

He didn’t need anything else.

He could come undone just like this.

But not now—not yet.

Heinz forced himself to pull away.

It wasn’t easy. No—he had to physically command every part of his body to stop, to pull back from the warmth, the temptation, the softness beneath him.

"Hah...ah..." Florian was breathless, his chest rising and falling beneath his satin top, lips parted, a faint sheen of sweat on his flushed skin.

His eyes were glassy, half-lidded with desire, and a delicate trickle of saliva clung to the corner of his mouth. He looked dazed, completely undone. "Why...did you stop?"

Heinz’s heart thudded hard. His eyes widened just slightly, his grip tightening around the sheets as he grounded himself, clinging to that last thread of control.

’Don’t tempt me like this.’

God, the way Florian looked right now—so submissive, so confused, so inviting—Heinz had to grit his teeth and look away for a second.

’He acts like such a different person when he’s under me...’

There are people who act different when their minds are clouded with lust, it was natural. Either that, or Heinz’s assumption may be correct.

This Florian may also have feelings for him.

He steadied his breath. Then turned back to Florian, who was still watching him, lips trembling slightly, waiting.

"I’ll agree," Heinz said finally, voice low and husky. "We can invite the other kingdoms. The princesses may leave, if that is what they wish."

Florian’s eyes widened with quiet hope—but Heinz wasn’t finished.

"...But I want something in exchange." His tone was gentler now, quieter, as he reached out and cupped Florian’s cheek with one hand.

Florian leaned into the touch instinctively.

His skin was soft—so soft that Heinz’s chest ached from something unspoken.

And his eyes, shimmering now, met Heinz’s own.

"Of course," Florian said, without hesitation. "Anything, Your Majesty."

’Anything.’

Heinz couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle at that word, amused and slightly wicked.

’He doesn’t know how dangerous that line is... not when it’s said to me—especially right now.’

His gaze lingered on the flushed, dazed prince beneath him, but he forced himself to step away, to restrain himself.

He still had something to do tonight. He couldn’t allow himself to get carried away, not yet.

He leaned down once more, letting his face hover just inches from Florian’s, his crimson eyes locking with the other’s widened gaze.

"I will be your escort during the ball," he said, voice firm but smooth.

"Eh?" Florian blinked, stunned. "W-What?"

Heinz raised an eyebrow, lips quirking slightly. "What, do you have any complaints?" he teased, watching Florian fumble for a response. "You said I can ask for anything, didn’t you?"

He couldn’t help but recall the first ball—how he had wanted to choose Florian then too.

It wasn’t just because Florian passed his test with such ease and grace.

No, if Heinz was being honest with himself, maybe his feelings had already begun to stir long before he realized.

The only reason he’d chosen Scarlett was because she had acted suspiciously. It was strategy, not preference.

But now?

Now, Alexandria—the real threat—was gone. There were no more problems, besides the strange man, restraining him.

And what he wanted... was Florian.

To walk beside him, not just as a prince, but as something more.

His queen.

Florian’s cheeks flushed once again, his body curling ever so slightly into the sheets as he averted his gaze. "W-Well... if that’s really what Your Majesty wants... then... okay...?"

His voice was small, uncertain, but so clearly hopeful.

’He wanted this too.’

’He just couldn’t ask.’

Heinz’s expression softened. He leaned down gently and placed a kiss on the top of Florian’s head, lingering there a moment longer than necessary.

"That settles it then," he murmured, his voice far quieter now—almost tender.