CHAPTER 450: ’PAINFULLY AWKWARD.’

It was awkward.

Painfully awkward.

"You know, I was so... so surprised when I found out you were staying in His Majesty’s room! You’ve changed rooms at least twice this month." Drizelous said with a light laugh as he draped fabric over Florian’s shoulders, eyes gleaming with his usual dramatic flair.

It was so, so awkward.

Heinz stood to the side, completely still. Beside him was Cashew, quietly holding a very stiff, very oddly upset Azure.

And Heinz?

He wasn’t even looking at Florian. Not once.

"I’m leaving this to you, Drizelous. All the outfit choices and designs will be decided by you and Florian, since it is his ball."

His tone was dull—monotone, almost robotic. You wouldn’t think he was the same man who, just minutes ago, cracked the entire floor with a burst of explosive magic.

Magic he then wordlessly repaired with a flick of his hand before opening the door to let everyone in, as if nothing had happened.

"Oh? Leaving already, Your Majesty?" Drizelous chirped.

"Mhm," Heinz hummed flatly. "I have a lot of work to do."

And then he walked out—no glance, no pause, no expression.

Not even one look at Florian.

And honestly?

Florian couldn’t blame him at all.

Even he didn’t know how to handle everything that had just happened. The shift had been so fast, so sudden, it left him reeling.

As soon as the door closed, silence returned to the room.

Then—Drizelous turned to him.

Florian blinked. Drizelous was staring.

"...Yes?" Florian asked, trying to keep his voice light despite the tension hanging in the air.

Drizelous didn’t answer. He narrowed his eyes in a slow, dramatic squint, as if analyzing Florian under a lens of suspicion.

’Why is he staring at me like that all of a sudden?’

The stare dragged on a little too long.

Then, with a sudden clap of his hands, Drizelous spun toward Cashew.

"Little lad, would you be a dear and get His Highness something to eat? This is going to take a while, and I absolutely refuse to let him leave this room until his outfit is nothing short of spectacular!"

Cashew blinked. Slowly. Then looked to Florian for confirmation.

Florian gave a small nod. If Drizelous wanted time alone with him... it was probably best.

"O-Okay... I will be back, Your Highness," Cashew said quietly, gently setting Azure on his head before giving a proper bow and heading out.

The door closed behind him with a soft click.

Now it was just the two of them.

Florian could feel it then—that weight in the air. That quiet pressure that had nothing to do with fabric or fitting.

He looked at Drizelous, and only then did it really hit him.

Right.

This was the first time they’d seen each other since Delilah’s death.

Delilah... Drizelous’ mother.

A pang of guilt struck Florian’s chest.

Was he... angry at him?

Did Drizelous blame him for what happened?

Florian opened his mouth, unsure of what to say but knowing he had to say something.

He’d forgotten about Drizelous in the chaos—someone who had always treated him with kindness and grace—and now his mother was dead.

Dead because of Florian.

"Drizelous, I—"

"So what happened between you and King Moody?"

The sudden question hit like a slap.

Florian flinched back slightly as Drizelous leaned in, completely invading his personal space.

His eyes widened.

"Huh?"

Drizelous placed a hand on his waist with flair, the other flicking up to jab a finger against Florian’s nose.

"He’s in a bad mood more than usual, and he walked out of here like he couldn’t survive more than three seconds in this room."

Florian stiffened. He kept his face still. Calm.

Or at least, he tried to.

’Three seconds.’

It was almost enough to make him burst out laughing right then and there.

Almost.

"Ah hah! Something did happen... that face says it all, dear prince." Drizelous clapped his hands together in delight. "When I heard His Majesty practically tore the capital apart looking for you—riding his dragon, no less—I almost couldn’t believe it!"

Florian blinked.

’Does everyone just know about that?’ Florian wonders what kind of rumors that was circulating regarding that.

Before he could ask, Drizelous looped his fingers into the fabric wrapped around Florian’s waist and tugged him forward.

"So... is there development between you two?" His tone turned giddy, conspiratorial.

’Development?’

What?

"Though I did anticipate there would be—especially since it’s already going around that he’s been personally taking care of you. But I never thought he’d change this much, and so quickly. Now I’m dying to know what happened that made him so broody..."

Oh.

Oh...

That’s what he meant.

Florian’s stomach dropped.

’Drizelous thinks something’s going on between me and Heinz.’

And the worst part?

There was.

They were having sex. But it wasn’t romantic.

Still, it was something.

It was transactional. Purely physical.

And how in the world was he supposed to explain that the most powerful man in the continent had stormed out because he couldn’t last more than three seconds inside him?

Which—also—was extremely surprising to Florian.

"Uhm..." he stammered. His tongue felt like it was made of sand. The words wouldn’t come out properly. He couldn’t decide where to start—what to say, what to leave out.

"Well?" Drizelous leaned in closer, eyes wide and glimmering with delight, clearly savoring every ounce of tension.

"T-There’s nothing going on," Florian blurted, waving his hands a little too frantically. "His Majesty just...feels guilty about what happened to me. He’s trying to make up for it."

Even as the words left his mouth, he knew how hollow they sounded.

Heinz? Feeling guilty?

But then again...why was he still in Heinz’s room?

’For the sex?’

"And...and honestly, I-I should be the one asking you questions." Florian turned away, flustered. His cheeks were burning. "How are you, Drizelous? Aren’t...you angry at me?"

Drizelous blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift.

"Huh? Why in Concordia would I be?"

"Because..." Florian swallowed hard. "Delilah... she... she died because of me."

He dared to glance at Drizelous.

The stylist’s face dropped for a heartbeat.

But he still smiled.

"Oh."