Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!

'Azure's here.'

Florian's arms tightened around the little dragon, his tears soaking into the cool shimmer of Azure's sapphire-blue scales.

His chest ached, every sob tearing out of him with the force of someone who had been holding in too much for far too long.

The sound of his own crying seemed too raw, too fragile, echoing faintly in the quiet of the room.

"I missed you," he whispered hoarsely, pressing his cheek against the tiny creature's warm body. His voice cracked as if the words themselves had been buried for years. "Gods, I missed you so much."

"Kraaa… Kraa…"

Azure answered with a soft trill, the little chest vibrating against Florian's palm. It tilted its head and leaned forward, licking the salty trails off his cheek.

The rough, ticklish sensation startled a broken laugh out of Florian, though his breath still hitched with each sob.

The sound came out jagged, like he couldn't decide whether to cry harder or smile through it.

'After… after a nightmare like that, to see you again… God…'

But it wasn't just a nightmare, was it?

His hand trembled as it stroked down Azure's back, fingers brushing over the dragon's tiny ridges and the translucent wings that fluttered faintly at his touch.

Azure made a sound almost like a purr, pressing closer to him, but Florian's mind was far from calm.

'Was that really him? Was that the original Florian I just saw? Why was he trying so hard to warn me…?'

The memory replayed in his head with unnerving clarity—the shock in those green eyes, the desperation in his voice—cut off so suddenly.

And then the shadows.

Hands that weren't really hands. White eyes staring out of endless black, dragging them apart.

A chill clawed its way down Florian's spine, leaving his skin prickling.

'And who were they? Why did they want to keep us apart?'

Another tear slipped down his cheek before he realized it, and he pressed Azure tighter against his chest. The dragon shifted but didn't protest, its warmth seeping into him like a fragile shield against the storm of questions closing in on him.

It was only then that Florian noticed something else—something that made his chest seize. He reached out blindly, laying a hand on the other side of the bed.

Empty.

Heinz wasn't there.

Florian froze. A part of him sagged with relief, but another part twisted with unease.

'If he were here… he would've seen me like this. He'd have asked, pressed for answers, refused to let it go.'

And right now, Florian couldn't deal with that. Not after that dream. Not after seeing him.

Not when he was still trembling.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

The sharp sound tore through the silence, making Florian jolt. His arms instinctively tightened around Azure, holding him close against his chest.

'Who's that?'

His heart hammered, every second stretching too long. He barely had time to breathe before the heavy wooden door creaked open.

"Happy birthday, Your Highness!"

Cashew's bright voice rang out as the young servant pushed the wheeled tray into the room, silver lids gleaming, the faint aroma of honeyed bread and spiced meat filling the air.

Trailing just behind him was Drizelous, flamboyant as ever in a vest of emerald silk embroidered with golden thread, every button catching the morning light like a gem.

He carried a neatly wrapped box in his hands, humming some tune only he seemed to know, clearly proud of whatever surprise he bore.

But the moment they stepped inside, both froze mid-motion.

Cashew's cheerful expression shattered, his eyes widening as he caught sight of the prince—tear-streaked, shoulders trembling, clutching something tightly to his chest as though his life depended on it.

"Y-Your Highness?!" Cashew blurted, almost tipping the tray over. His hands gripped the handles so tightly the wood creaked. "You're—crying?"

Drizelous, on the other hand, gasped so violently it could have been heard down the corridor. He nearly dropped the box, clutching it to his chest like it was a wounded lover.

"Crying?! On your birthday?!" he exclaimed, staggering back a step. "This is a calamity! A catastrophe of the highest order! Look at you—red eyes, blotchy cheeks—this is not how a prince greets his special day!"

He fanned himself with one hand, visibly distraught, muttering something about "emergency remedies" and "the desecration of beauty."

'Right… Florian's birthday.'

Florian's throat tightened. Today wasn't just his day—it was the original Florian's birthday. The weight of that thought pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating.

He quickly shook his head, wiping at his face with trembling fingers. "N-No, it's not what you think," he stammered, his voice cracking. "I… I just—"

But before he could finish, something small stirred against his chest. A tiny head poked out from the folds of his nightshirt.

Azure blinked up at the two newcomers with round, curious eyes, letting out a soft "Kraa?" as his forked tongue flicked.

Both Cashew and Drizelous went utterly still, their gazes locked on the shimmering little dragon.

Cashew's jaw nearly hit the floor. "Wait—is that… Azure?!" His voice pitched upward, disbelief and joy colliding all at once.

"Azure!" His whole face lit up as though someone had set the sun inside him.

Drizelous clutched at his chest and staggered backward again, his voice rising to the ceiling. "Ohhh my stars, the fabled companion returns! And looking more dazzling than I remember! That sheen, those wings—positively radiant!"

Despite the dampness still clinging to his lashes, Florian let out a small laugh, soft and almost embarrassed.

He gently lifted Azure into his hands, letting the dragon perch on his arm.

"I just… missed him," he admitted quietly, his voice steadier now, though raw around the edges. "That's all. That's why I was crying."

Azure tilted its little head proudly at that, then gave a confident chirp as if confirming his words. Its wings fluttered in agreement, sending a faint breeze across Florian's cheek.

Cashew's lips curved into the warmest smile Florian had ever seen from him. "Welcome back, Azure," he murmured, wheeling the cart closer.

Before Florian could react, Azure launched himself with a flutter of wings, landing neatly atop Cashew's head like a jeweled crown.

Cashew froze, then laughed—bright and genuine—as Azure's tail curled lazily against his hair.

"It seems he missed you, too," Florian said with a small smile, watching the unlikely sight.

Cashew's grin widened, his eyes glowing as he looked upward at the dragon perched on him. "Why were you gone for so long?"

Meanwhile, Drizelous had recovered enough to sweep forward and set the box carefully on Florian's bed. He then turned to Florian, hands planted on his hips in a dramatic flourish.

"As lovely as this reunion may be, we cannot have the star of the day looking like he's been weeping in a storm gutter."

Before Florian could protest, Drizelous swooped down, grabbed his chin between long fingers, and tilted his face up.

With his other hand, he pulled a pristine silk cloth from his vest and immediately began dabbing at Florian's eyes with brisk, determined strokes.

"Ow—ow—ow, that—!" Florian winced, squirming in his grip.

"Hush, darling," Drizelous chided sweetly, not pausing for a second. "As much as I sympathize, beauty is pain. And pain is fleeting, but beauty—ah, beauty is eternal." He smiled down at Florian like an artist fixing a canvas.

Florian groaned but let him fuss.

"Why are you even here so early?" he muttered, unable to hide the suspicion in his tone. "The ball isn't until a few hours from now."

"Indeed," Drizelous replied, stepping back with a satisfied little hum as he tucked his cloth away. He and Cashew exchanged knowing looks, twin smiles tugging at their lips.

"But preparation takes time," Drizelous continued, his voice rich with excitement. "And today, my prince, you will have the full royal experience."

Florian's brows knit, his stomach giving an uneasy twist. "Full royal experience?" he repeated slowly.

Both Cashew and Drizelous only smiled wider.

'This sounds suspicious…'