Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 340: ’Laughing At The King.’

"Those are the plans..." Florian concluded, his voice calm but firm, the confidence in his tone unshaken.

After his earlier outburst, the chamber had fallen into a heavy silence. None of the dukes had dared to interrupt again, and now that he had laid out everything, the atmosphere had shifted from mockery to contemplation.

’Easy part’s done.’ he thought, eyes sweeping across the grand roundtable where each duke sat with their own brand of judgment.

Cedric—who had laughed the loudest—was now quiet. His face, though still relaxed, had grown serious. He leaned back, arms crossed, gaze unfocused like someone deep in thought.

Roland, ever the stoic, hadn’t reacted much during the presentation, but now Florian noticed him quietly jotting something into his notebook. Of all of them, he was probably the one who would scrutinize the fine print the most.

Alexandrius looked... unimpressed. His arms were folded and his brows slightly furrowed, as if holding back a sigh. But tellingly, he made no move to challenge or even speak.

And Alaric?

Alaric looked utterly baffled. His mouth was slightly open, brows drawn together like someone trying to piece together an impossible puzzle. It seemed Florian had thrown him off completely.

But none of them asked the question burning in all of their minds.

No—he knew exactly who would.

At the far end of the table, Lady Elara raised her hand gracefully, her expression serene, the ever-present soft smile resting on her lips like a petal balanced on water.

’Here we go.’

If he had a preference, it would always be her who asked. She was poised, measured, and most importantly—fair. She was one of the few who hadn’t treated him like some foolish prince playing at politics.

"Yes, Lady Elara?" Florian said, the tension in his spine relaxing just a little. He smiled and gestured toward her with practiced ease. "Do you have any questions or comments?"

Her smile widened slightly, delicate fingers folding together as she rested her hands on the polished table.

"Yes. Your ideas are quite unique," she said, her voice light but not dismissive. "I find myself rather intrigued."

"Thank you." Florian dipped his head respectfully, though inwardly—

’However?’

Elara’s eyes sparkled as she turned her gaze briefly toward Heinz, then back to Florian.

"However, a project of this scale... is monumental. It will require a significant amount of resources and funding. I have no doubt that His Majesty..." she gestured gracefully toward Heinz, who had yet to speak again, "...has reserves. But this is kingdom-wide. Do you have a plan for acquiring the necessary funds?"

Florian’s smile sharpened—pleased, but not smug. This was exactly the question he had anticipated.

’Textbook. Perfect opening.’

"I do. In fact, it’s something I considered from the start." He straightened and spoke with assurance. "The Obsidian family will be providing initial funding, of course. I would also expect that the ducal houses will contribute—proportionately. But beyond that, we will be organizing several charity events: balls, auctions, galas designed to draw in noble sponsors."

He paused to let them digest that, then added with a slightly playful lift of his brow, "And as we all know, nobles can never resist a well-marketed cause... especially if it means being seen."

A few of them nodded—Elara and Cedric, most notably.

"But those are short-term methods, are they not?"

The interruption came from Roland, eyes still on his notes, tone cool and inquisitive. "This isn’t a one-time endeavor. There’s construction, but also long-term management. Salaries, maintenance, security—ongoing needs."

’He seemed so disinterested before. Now he’s taking it seriously.’

"A good point," Florian said smoothly. He raised his hand and formed a gesture, thumb touching index to create a ’money’ symbol. "But consider this—many of the businesses will be established under royal patronage, but run by locals. With the right branding and endorsement from the crown—" he tapped the table lightly, "—they’ll attract attention. Especially from nobility."

He let his words settle for a moment before continuing, his voice dipping just slightly with emphasis.

"Exclusive shops, artisan goods, seasonal markets. Fashion houses. High-end cuisine." He glanced briefly toward Alexandrius, who blinked and looked away. "And since these businesses are tied to royal and ducal territory, their success becomes your success."

Roland and Elara exchanged a glance—something had clicked.

Florian folded his hands in front of him. "Most of the profit will be directed back into the village—salaries, public services, healthcare. But of course..."

’There will be a small percentage for us.’

"...a portion will naturally be set aside for future development and noble coffers."

Cedric leaned forward now, no trace of sarcasm in his tone. "Impressive," he said. "You really thought this through."

There was something else behind his eyes—a question, maybe a challenge—but he didn’t voice it.

’Hm. I wonder what that was?’ Florian mused, but kept his expression warm. fгeewёbnoѵel_cσm

"I appreciate that, Lord Cedric. I made sure to research the current trends in noble spending. I wanted to design something sustainable and appealing."

"Like fashion?" Cedric asked with a teasing tone, though not mocking.

Florian chuckled lightly. "Among other things."

"But," Cedric leaned back, his fingers tapping on the wood, "what benefits do we get from this? Beyond easing the struggles of the villagers. These are our lands. Surely there’s more incentive than just moral victory?"

’Ah. Yes. Of course they weren’t just thinking of the villagers.’

"Absolutely," Florian said, meeting his gaze. His tone shifted—cooler, sharper.

"Firstly, reputation. These reforms will start in your territories. Imagine the narrative: dukes who turned years of decay into prosperity. Who revitalized their regions. That kind of legacy is immortalized. It’s not just leadership—it’s legend."

He let his eyes move slowly across the table. One heartbeat. Two. Letting it settle.

"Secondly, revenue. These ventures will generate ongoing income. Taxable businesses, expanded trade, reinvestments from nobility. You won’t just oversee land—you’ll oversee thriving economies. You’ll gain influence in every direction."

Then he leaned in slightly, voice dipping just enough to draw them closer.

"And third... loyalty."

The room stilled.

"When people see their dukes fighting for them—not just giving orders, but investing in their lives—they won’t just obey. They’ll believe. They’ll follow."

His gaze swept again to Elara, Cedric, and Roland. "We all know nobles are struggling right now. Bandits, rogue attacks, stolen goods. But those things? They’re symptoms. Symptoms of dissatisfaction. Of hopelessness."

He straightened once more, and there was something fierce in his eyes now.

"You want to end that? Start here. Ease their lives, and you ease their unrest. Uprisings don’t begin in comfort—they begin in desperation."

A beat passed. Then he softened his tone.

"In truth... the villagers aren’t the only ones who stand to gain."

"Mhm." Elara touched her chin with a thoughtful grace, her eyes soft but discerning as they flicked toward Florian. "I knew from the moment I saw your proposal that there was something... different about you, Prince Florian. Is it your kingdom? No... perhaps it’s you."

Florian blinked, momentarily stunned by the sincerity in her voice.

"I agree," Cedric added, his earlier playful demeanor replaced with a quiet earnestness. "Though I did have my doubts..." He turned his gaze to Florian with a faint, apologetic smile. "Which I now realize were unfounded. My apologies. I’m very much on board with this."

"I, as well," Roland spoke up, brief but firm, his voice steady as he closed his notebook with finality.

Florian’s heart fluttered, a wave of validation washing over him like warm sunlight. He turned slightly toward Heinz, eyes glittering with quiet triumph. Heinz met his gaze, his smirk subtle but proud. He gave the faintest nod of approval.

’I did it!’ Florian thought, barely able to hold back the grin rising to his lips.

Heinz turned to the dukes, lifting his chin with regal poise. "Then, I believe we shall waste no time further, no? I’ll have the finalized documents sent for your review and approval."

The majority of the dukes gave a nod of agreement, their expressions ranging from satisfied to contemplative.

But, of course, the peace wouldn’t last.

As expected—predictably,—Alaric and Alexandrius weren’t ready to let things proceed so smoothly.

"Hold on," Alexandrius drawled, leaning back in his chair with a calculated indifference that reeked of entitlement. "We haven’t been convinced yet."

Florian’s brow twitched, but he kept his smile firmly in place. ’Of course not. You’re always the last to understand, aren’t you?’

Cedric turned to Alexandrius with a sharp look, his patience thinning. "Really? And why is that?"

"What more do you need, Alexandrius?" Elara asked, her tone unusually crisp—cold even. She didn’t even bother to use his title. Her eyes had lost their warmth.

That small omission struck harder than any insult. Alexandrius visibly flinched. Alaric looked just as stunned, the two of them clearly not expecting the other dukes to begin turning against them.

’Pfft. Serves them right,’ Florian thought, watching with amusement as the air shifted. ’The plan is airtight. Everyone benefits. It’s only their pride that’s bruised.’

Alaric groaned loudly, slumping back in his chair like a sulking child. "Why do we have to change anything?" he said, his voice rising in irritation. "King Henry—may his soul rest in peace—already established yearly provisions for the kingdom. Have we all forgotten that? Why does the new king and his so-called representative want to change something that was already working just fine?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Florian couldn’t hold back the scoff that slipped past his lips. He let out a soft, incredulous laugh.

It was quiet... but in the tense room, it was deafening.

Heads turned.

"What’s so funny, Your Highness?" Alexandrius asked with narrowed eyes, his tone sharp, biting. "Are you laughing at the late King?"

Florian didn’t flinch. His gaze met Alexandrius’ directly—calm, confident, and glittering with something almost challenging.

"Yes," he replied. "And I’m laughing at you both as well."

The room froze.

Heinz’s head snapped toward him. "Florian?" he said, his voice somewhere between warning and confusion. He likely expected Florian to be sharp-tongued.

Even Alaric looked taken aback. "Pardon?" he asked, his brow furrowing deeply.

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