Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 54: ’An Explosion’

Chapter 54: ’An Explosion’

The screech of metal, the splintering of wood—chaos exploded all around them. The carriage rocked violently as panicked horses reared, their frantic neighs cutting through the thick smoke that had begun to seep into the air. Hooves pounded against the dirt in a frenzied rhythm, their terror matching the rising shouts of knights and servants outside.

Another explosion rumbled in the distance, sending a fresh shockwave through the earth.

The acrid scent of burning filled Florian’s lungs.

His pulse roared in his ears as he struggled to sit up, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His heart pounded against his ribs—too fast, too erratic. The nightmare—no, the memory—had barely left him, and yet now, reality itself had twisted into something just as terrifying.

Cashew, wide-eyed and deathly pale, clung to the seat for balance, his entire body trembling. "Y-Your Highness—! S-Stay inside! I-I’ll go check—"

"Wait, Cashew—!"

But before either of them could react, the door of the carriage was wrenched open with brutal force.

A shadow loomed, blocking out the dim light.

Florian’s breath caught. His entire body locked in place, every muscle tensed as cold fear curled around his spine.

And then—

A gloved hand lunged toward him.

His body reacted on instinct. Fight.

He didn’t know how to fight, not really—but he had some knowledge. Karate. His parents had forced him into lessons before they passed, drilling techniques into him that he never thought he’d need. His hands clenched into fists, his body moving before his mind fully caught up.

"Let go of me!" he shouted, twisting, ready to strike.

But then—

Golden eyes. Silver-rimmed glasses.

"Lucius?!" Florian froze, his mind stuttering over the sudden realization.

The head butler—someone he was close to, someone he trusted right now—was gripping his wrist with firm but careful hands. His expression was unreadable, but urgency burned in his gaze.

"What the fuck is going on?!" Florian demanded, heart still racing.

"No time. You need to move, Your Highness." Lucius said, his voice calm despite the urgency crackling in the air. He pulled Florian forward, barely giving him a chance to find his footing. "The princesses are being evacuated."

"Evacuated—?!" Florian barely had time to process the words before a knight’s sharp voice cut through the chaos.

"Keep your eyes open! We don’t know where they are!"

"Protect the princesses at all costs!"

Another explosion cracked through the air. Florian flinched as Cashew let out a yelp, gripping his arm tightly.

"Y-Your Highness!" Cashew’s voice was high-pitched with fear, his fingers digging into Florian’s sleeve. "Wh-what’s happening?! Why is this happening?! I—I don’t—!"

Florian turned to him, trying to ground both of them. "Cashew, breathe. Just breathe." He gripped the boy’s wrist, steadying him. "You’re safe. Just stay with me, okay?"

Cashew nodded shakily, though his entire body still trembled.

Florian forced himself to focus as Lucius dragged them forward through the chaos. Everything is moving too fast.

"What the hell is happening?!" he demanded again.

"Explosion magic," Lucius answered briskly, his grip tightening. "No one was hit, but whoever cast it wanted to make themselves known. It’s too dangerous to stay in the carriages."

Florian’s stomach churned. This wasn’t how the kidnapping in the novel played out. The carriages were supposed to be surrounded. A coordinated ambush. But this—this was different.

"What’s the plan?" he asked, trying to suppress the rising dread.

"Lancelot wants all the princesses together, surrounded by knights. It’s safer that way. He’s at the front."

Florian’s gaze darted toward the gathered figures ahead. His breath caught at the sight.

The princesses—the harem—were already being guided forward, their reactions as chaotic as the scene around them.

"LET ME GO!" Scarlett shrieked, struggling wildly against the knight trying to escort her forward. Her face was streaked with tears, her red hair wild. "I AM NOT STAYING OUT HERE LIKE A SITTING DUCK!"

"Scarlett, stop it!" Camilla sobbed beside her, clutching onto another knight as if her life depended on it. "W-What is happening?! Why is this happening to us?!"

"Calm down, Your Highnesses!" one of the knights snapped, barely holding onto Scarlett as she tried to break free.

Alexandria had her arms wrapped around Athena, who was trembling violently, eyes wide and brimming with tears.

"Athena, breathe," Alexandria murmured, her voice strained but steady. "We’re okay. Just stay with me."

"B-But what if we aren’t..." Athena hiccupped, gripping Alexandria’s cloak.

Bridget and Mira were the only ones trying to keep composed, but even they were shaken. Mira’s hands were clenched into fists, her lips pressed into a thin line, while Bridget’s usually poised demeanor cracked slightly—her knuckles were white, her eyes darting to every shadow.

Florian barely had time to process everything before a knight shoved him forward.

"Move!"

The force nearly knocked him off balance as he, Cashew, and Lucius were ushered toward the front, merging with the others.

It was too much.

Too loud.

Too fast.

Nothing was happening the way it was supposed to.

The rogues should have attacked by now. The princesses should have still been in their carriages.

But now, they were out in the open.

’Everything here changed as well... How... How could that even happen?’

Florian’s thoughts whirled as his gaze landed on Lancelot, standing at the front of the assembled knights. The commander of the royal guard had just dismounted from his horse, his stance rigid, his grip on his sword tight. His expression was grave—more serious than Florian had ever seen before.

"Your Highnesses, stay in the center of the formation," Lancelot ordered, his voice sharp and commanding. "The knights will form a perimeter to ensure your safety."

There was no room for argument in his tone.

Bridget, ever the composed one, was the first to step forward, her piercing gaze locking onto Lancelot. "What is the meaning of this? What exactly is happening?"

Lancelot exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on his sword. "We believe someone capable of using explosion magic is lurking within the forest. And whoever they are, they likely don’t have good intentions."

A fresh wave of panic rippled through the group.

Camilla let out a wail, her already tear-streaked face a mess of running makeup. "T-Then why are we out here?! We’re in the open!"

Even their maids looked on the verge of breaking, struggling to keep their composure.

A knight stepped forward, answering in Lancelot’s stead. "Because it would be more dangerous if all of you remained inside the carriages. Explosion magic is far deadlier in enclosed spaces. Out here, we have more mobility. And with all of you together, we can better ensure your protection."

"B-But why is this happening...?" Alexandria asked, her voice eerily calm despite the clear tremble in it. She held onto Athena, who was still crying softly against her shoulder.

"We don’t know yet," Lancelot admitted. "For now, we keep moving. The village is up ahead."

Florian, still reeling from how drastically events had deviated from what he knew, finally spoke up. "We’re still going?"

Lucius, standing beside him, tensed slightly as if he wanted to silence him, but Florian held up a hand.

Lancelot, already burdened with frustration, turned to him. "What choice do we have, Your Highness? If we turn back, it’s a long and dangerous way to the capital."

"But His Majesty and his knights are on their way as well," Florian pressed, his mind racing. "Would it not be wiser to regroup with them rather than march straight into an unknown threat? We don’t even know who the rogues are."

Lancelot’s brow furrowed slightly. "Rogues?"

Florian’s heart nearly stopped.

Shit.

His slip-up had been too obvious. ’The harem wasn’t supposed to know about the rogues. Hell, even Lancelot doesn’t seem to know about the rogues.’

He scrambled for a way to cover his tracks, but before he could say anything—

BOOM!

The explosion ripped through the air, much closer than before. The ground trembled violently beneath their feet, sending dust and debris flying.

Screams erupted from the princesses. Knights drew their weapons, forming a protective barrier around them.

Florian instinctively grabbed Cashew, shielding him as the younger boy clung to him in fear.

"Y-Your Highness—! What’s going to happen?!" Cashew’s voice was filled with sheer panic.

Florian swallowed hard, his pulse thundering. "Hopefully nothing." But even as he said it, he knew better.

Fate had never been kind to him.

And then—

A chill ran down his spine.

From the corner of his eye, deep within the trees, a figure emerged.

Tall. Cloaked. Familiar.

Florian’s blood turned to ice.

"Squirming like a little rabbit. Does he actually think he can get away?"

The voice from his nightmare—his memory—echoed in his skull, merging with the reality before him.

He took an unconscious step back.

"L-Lancelot..." he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

But Lancelot was already moving, his body going rigid as he scanned their surroundings.

The realization struck like a hammer.

They weren’t alone.

All around them, shadows emerged from the trees. Figures stepped out, their presence suffocating, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.

A cold, sinking dread gripped Florian’s chest.

They were surrounded.

’How... How did we not notice until now?’

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