Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 155: ’Scarlett’s Fear’

Chapter 155: ’Scarlett’s Fear’

"What are you doing here, Lady Scarlett?"

Scarlett visibly flinched at Florian’s voice, snapping out of whatever thoughts had consumed her. For a moment, she looked disoriented—like she had been dragged back into reality too suddenly. Normally, the second she laid eyes on him, she’d have something sharp to say. An insult, a scoff, or at the very least, an exasperated sigh.

But this time, she did none of that.

Instead, she cast a quick glance around the ballroom, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before grabbing Florian’s wrist and pulling him aside.

Florian blinked. ’Now, this is new.’

"Where are we going?" he asked, though he didn’t resist.

Scarlett didn’t answer, her grip firm as she weaved through the thinning crowd. Only when they reached a secluded corner of the ballroom—far from the prying eyes of nobles and the ever-watchful servants—did she release his wrist.

For the first time, Florian got a good look at her.

She wasn’t angry.

She wasn’t annoyed.

She was scared.

Something cold coiled in his stomach. Scarlett, of all people, wasn’t supposed to look like that.

’What happened to her?’

He debated speaking first, but Scarlett beat him to it.

"Did you tell His Majesty about everything I told you?" she whispered. Her voice was barely above a breath. "About... about..."

Florian already knew what she meant.

’About her not wanting to be here.’

He exhaled through his nose and shook his head. "No. I was supposed to, but I didn’t. All he knows is that you ran away after thinking you poisoned him."

It was the truth.

As much as Scarlett grated on his nerves, as much as he would have enjoyed watching her get what she deserved... he hadn’t told Heinz the full story. He couldn’t bring himself to.

Because in some ways, Florian understood.

Hell, he didn’t want to be here either.

Scarlett’s breath hitched. "You’re... You’re not lying, right?"

Her fingers curled into the silk of her gown, wringing it between her hands. "I-I know I was mean to you. I know. But please... why did you choose me? Why did he act like that toward me? I know for a fact that my actions shouldn’t have gotten me this position. I shouldn’t have been his partner today."

She was rambling, her voice uneven.

And that was when it really hit him—Scarlett wasn’t just scared.

She was unraveling.

Something had shaken her badly, and for the first time, it wasn’t rage fueling her words. It was fear.

Florian’s brow furrowed. "How did he act toward you?"

Scarlett hesitated, as if trying to gauge whether he truly didn’t know.

"Y-You really don’t know?"

He shook his head. "No, I don’t. So please, explain so I can try to understand."

Scarlett’s gaze darted around the room again, checking to see if anyone was listening. Only once she seemed satisfied did she whisper:

"When His Majesty and I were together earlier... before we entered the ballroom, he kept asking me questions."

Florian tilted his head. ’Questions?’

"Like?"

Scarlett swallowed hard. "He asked if I was satisfied with the kingdom. If I was mad at him. If I loathed him. If..."—her voice cracked—"if I wanted to go home."

Florian frowned.

That was odd.

But it didn’t necessarily sound bad. If anything, it sounded like Heinz was just trying to gauge where she stood.

Then, Scarlett’s next words made his blood run cold.

"And then... he asked me if I poisoned him on purpose to get home."

Florian’s stomach dropped.

’What the fuck?’

His thoughts came to a screeching halt.

’Why the fuck would he ask her that?’

The poisoning was a test. Everyone knew that. The princesses had been told that. They weren’t actually at fault.

So why would Heinz—

Nothing made sense.

First, he chose Scarlett despite her lackluster performance. Now, he was interrogating her like this?

Scarlett’s entire body trembled. "It wasn’t just the question. It was the way he asked it. He was... frightening." Her voice wavered. "It felt as if he was threatening me. Like if I answered wrong, he would kill me. Or worse—destroy my kingdom."

Florian’s lips parted, but no words came.

What the hell was he supposed to say to that?

"I... I’m sure it wasn’t like that," he muttered, though even he didn’t believe himself.

Because the truth was, he understood Heinz’s intentions less and less with each passing day.

"His Majesty’s goal is to intimidate you all," he said finally. "Being queen is tough. I’m sure he was just trying to shake you up."

Scarlett inhaled sharply. Then, as if drawn by some unseen force, she took a step closer.

"But... what if I did poison him?" she whispered. "What if I really caused it?"

Florian stiffened.

She was pleading now. Her entire being was cracking at the seams, and for once, she wasn’t bothering to hide it.

"Prince Florian," she murmured, her voice barely holding together. "As I told you before... I don’t want to be here."

’She’s saying it again.’

And she was saying it to him.

Florian wasn’t sure which was more unsettling—the fact that Heinz had rattled Scarlett so thoroughly, or the fact that Scarlett was trusting him with this.

Before he could say anything, a shift rippled through the ballroom.

More voices.

More movement.

More attention.

’Fuck.’

Florian turned and saw that the crowd around Heinz had dispersed. The tension in the room was lifting, and music had begun playing again, as if nothing had happened. Nobles resumed mingling, laughter bubbling up in their conversations.

And then—

"Your Highness. Princess Scarlett."

A cool, familiar voice.

Florian turned, and there stood Lucius.

’Why is he here? Shouldn’t he be with Heinz or his father?’

Scarlett tensed beside him, her breath catching in her throat.

Lucius’s expression remained unreadable. "His Majesty is looking for you."

Florian exhaled and glanced at Scarlett. She was rigid, her fingers clutching at the folds of her gown again.

He sighed. "You should go. I’m sure His Majesty still has plenty of nobles to introduce you to. Or perhaps you two will dance again?" he added lightly.

Surprisingly, that seemed to ease some of her tension.

Scarlett hesitated, then offered a stiff curtsy before turning and walking away.

Leaving Florian alone with Lucius.

And his thoughts.

’Heinz was trying to intimidate Scarlett. But why? And more importantly... why the hell did he choose her?’

And perhaps even more unsettling than that—

’Scarlett absolutely trusts me right now.’

It was an odd realization.

For all her sharp remarks, for all her snide smiles, in this moment—she had chosen him to confide in.

Which meant one of two things.

Either Heinz’s behavior had truly terrified her.

Or Scarlett had always been like this.

And she just never had anyone to show it to.

Florian exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. ’What a mess.’

As much as he wanted to dwell on it, he didn’t have the luxury of time right now. Someone else demanded his attention.

His gaze flicked to Lucius, who stood there with his usual unreadable expression. His posture was relaxed, hands clasped neatly behind his back, but there was always something unnerving about him—something Florian had never quite been able to put a finger on.

Suppressing a sigh, Florian crossed his arms. "Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your father?"

Lucius tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "How cold." He placed a hand over his heart, feigning injury. "You danced with Lancelot earlier. I was thinking it must be my turn, no?"

’Huh?’