Lancelot Flameheart.
The captain of Heinz Obsidian's army and the man who led the charge alongside Heinz during the war that ended with his father's overthrow. His reputation as an unparalleled warrior preceded him, but his story was far more complex.
The youngest son of the illustrious Flameheart family, Lancelot came from a lineage entrusted with the royal family's defense, knights, and weaponry for generations. It was tradition for Flameheart knights to have high magical affinities—essential for wielding the enchanted weapons that defined their status.
But Lancelot was born with a weak affinity for magic, a fact that immediately marked him as a disappointment in his father's eyes.
What his father didn't see, however, was that Lancelot's physical strength was extraordinary. Stronger than most men, with a pain tolerance that bordered on inhuman, he had the raw power to rival even the greatest warriors.
Denied formal training by his father, Lancelot took it upon himself to learn. He watched his brothers' training sessions in secret, hiding in the shadows near the capital, determined to carve his own path.
In the present, however, Lancelot was a far cry from the neglected boy of his youth. His confidence and charm reflected his meteoric rise, but his attitude toward Florian was... complicated.
Initially, Lancelot found Florian insufferable—annoying, vain, and everything he despised in the world. As far as Lancelot was concerned, he was straight, loyal to Heinz to a fault, and wouldn't dare have sexual relations with a member of the king's harem.
Even if Heinz barely tolerated Florian, Lancelot wouldn't cross that line.
Which was precisely why Florian should have avoided him at all costs. But now? Now, Florian needed to see him.
"Oh? I didn't even know you were aware I was gone, Your Highness," Lancelot replied, crossing his arms over his broad chest. A smug smirk played on his lips. "My, my. It seems you've been paying quite a bit of attention to me."
"You're the only one who speaks to royalty like that. Does being head of the knights excuse your behavior?" Florian shot back, his voice sharp but steady.
That response caught Lancelot off guard. He raised a brow, momentarily surprised, but his confidence didn't waver. "Looks like the promiscuous prince has grown a backbone while I was away. Not just in how you speak, but in how you present yourself." His eyes roamed over Florian deliberately, head to toe.
'He's talking about my clothes.'
Florian felt irritation prick at him but forced himself to stay calm. Unlike Lucius, who seemed infatuated from the start, Lancelot would take time. And Florian knew that time would never come.
"Just answer the question, and I'll be on my way," Florian said curtly, refusing to let Lancelot's antics provoke him. "You see, I'm rather busy."
"Busy?" Lancelot let out a low laugh. "What now? A new knight to seduce? Or has the butler finally given in?"
'Was he always this annoying in the novel?' Florian thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He hadn't expected a straight answer, and Lancelot's armor and disheveled appearance were enough of a clue. It was clear he had just returned today.
Florian's real interest wasn't in the specifics of his arrival but what it signified. In the novel, the pivotal kidnapping event happened just a few days after Lancelot returned from a week-long absence.
As captain of the knights, Lancelot's primary role was to oversee the safety of the king's harem—a duty he took seriously, even if he approached it with his usual disdain for drama. Florian, of course, had been no exception.
The original Florian's relentless attempts to seduce Lancelot had irritated him to no end. Lancelot would flirt with the princesses occasionally, mostly out of amusement, but Florian's boldness was a completely different story.
And yet, the trajectory of their relationship had shifted drastically after that event.
Lancelot fell for Florian when he saved him from his assaulters. What began as begrudging responsibility turned into a savior complex, and soon after, an unhealthy obsession.
Florian clapped his hands together, a tight smile on his face, deliberately ignoring Lancelot's previous comment. "Well, it was nice seeing you again. Always such a pleasure," he said through gritted teeth, his words dripping with forced politeness. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel, heading toward the direction of his etiquette class.
"That's... it?" Lancelot's voice rang out behind him, a mix of disbelief and irritation. Florian, however, didn't bother turning back. He had already gleaned the information he needed from the irritating exchange.
All he wanted now was to complete his tasks for the day and start planning. With the confirmation that the visit to the Village of Forgotten Waters would happen in a few days, time was of the essence.
But before Florian could take more than a few steps, a hand grabbed his wrist and spun him around abruptly. His balance wavered, and the world tilted slightly as he stumbled, blinking up at the figure before him. Of course, it could only be one person.
"Yes, Sir Lancelot?" Florian asked coolly, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve as he steadied himself. His gaze met Lancelot's, unimpressed. "Do you need something else?"
Lancelot seemed momentarily caught off guard by his own impulsive action, releasing Florian's wrist almost immediately. His orange eyes flickered with something between confusion and suspicion. 'Mhm. Deep down, you probably enjoyed being chased by the original Florian,' Florian mused, raising an eyebrow at the knight. 'And now that I'm indifferent, you can't figure out why.'
"Is this a trick?" Lancelot asked, narrowing his eyes. "Is this some convoluted scheme to get my attention?"
Florian's expression morphed into one of pure incredulity, a clear what the hell are you talking about? etched across his face. "Excuse me?"
"You ruin my time with the maid, you ask me if I just returned, and now you're acting like you don't care about me—as if you haven't spent weeks chasing after me, trying to seduce me!"
Florian tilted his head, exhaling slowly as if explaining something to a particularly slow student. "Do you see me chasing after you now?"
"No, but—"
"Then how did you come to the conclusion that I'm seeking your attention? Let me break it down for you, Sir Lancelot," Florian said, his tone sharp and precise. "I stopped your shameless public display because it was indecent. I asked if you just returned because, as the harem's guard, your absence was noticeable. Anyone with eyes would have realized that. And now, I'm leaving because this conversation is pointless, and I have etiquette class to attend."
He took a steadying breath, stepping back as he locked eyes with the knight. "And one more thing, Sir Lancelot," Florian added, his voice low but firm. "I may have done... questionable things in the past, but do not forget that I am a prince. Do not grab me as you please, and do not speak to me as though I am beneath you. Is that clear?"
'You were supposed to get an apology like Lucius, but now? I officially dislike you.' Florian's thoughts churned as he compared the two. Lucius, despite his overly enthusiastic interest, always maintained a level of respect for Florian. Lancelot, on the other hand, had crossed a line.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a class to attend. If you're looking for someone to entertain you, perhaps you should stick to your quarters. You're supposed to respect the king—start by respecting this palace." Without another glance, Florian turned and strode away, his posture impeccable, his head held high.
Behind him, Lancelot stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape, clearly dumbfounded by the sharp turn of Florian's actions.