Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20: 'Kill 'Em With Kindness'

"You..."

Before Florian could fully process the situation, Scarlett grabbed a nearby candleholder, its green flame flickering ominously, and charged straight at him.

"The only reason you're acting like this is because of your face! Without it, you're nothing!"

Her words echoed in Florian's mind. 'She's saying exactly what Aden wrote... word for word.' His eyes widened as realization struck. She was following the script of the novel—his novel.

"Y-Your Highness, no!" one of the maids shouted, panic lacing her voice.

"Let's see how arrogant you can continue to act if I burn that disgusting face of yours!" Scarlett screamed, her words venomous.

'She's actually going to do it.'

Florian braced himself, adrenaline surging through his veins. He sidestepped swiftly, narrowly avoiding Scarlett's lunge. The candle's flame licked at the air, but it was too close.

"Y-Your Highness, Prince Florian—your hair is on fire!" Cashew's terrified voice rang out, his small frame flailing as he looked around frantically for water.

Florian froze, the scent of burning hair reaching his nose. A part of him wanted to panic—wanted to scream like the original Florian had in the novel—but he forced himself to stay calm.

The fire wasn't large, only a section of his long, lilac hair catching the green flames, but it was still a dangerous situation. Around him, the princesses erupted into chaos.

"Lady Scarlett, w-what did you do?!"

"Someone help him!"

Unlike the original Florian, who had panicked and run in circles, prolonging the incident, this Florian kept his composure. Ignoring the hammering in his chest, he reached for a nearby chalice of water. The cold liquid doused the flames in an instant, extinguishing them before they could spread further.

'That was too close.' He exhaled, the tension finally easing as the fire sputtered out.

When Florian opened his eyes, the room had fallen silent. Maids and princesses huddled together, their faces pale. Scarlett stood restrained by her maid, her own expression a mixture of fury and fear. Cashew and Lucius were both at Florian's side in an instant.

"Your Highness, are you alright? Can you answer? Are you in shock?" Lucius's voice was steady but tinged with urgency as he carefully examined Florian.

Cashew, already in tears, clung to a singed lock of Florian's hair. "Y-Your Highness... your... hair..."

Florian offered Cashew a gentle smile, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine. It was just a small flame, and I managed to put it out before it got worse."

He turned his gaze to Lucius, his calm demeanor unwavering. "I'm not in shock. I saw it coming and reacted in time."

Lucius studied Florian intently, his piercing eyes searching for any signs of lingering fear or distress. When he found none, he sighed heavily and turned to Scarlett, who was still thrashing weakly against her maid's grip.

"Princess Scarlett," Lucius began, his voice icy, "this behavior is beyond disappointing. I will report this incident to His Majesty immediately—"

"Don't bother," Florian interrupted, his tone light but firm.

Lucius froze mid-sentence, his sharp gaze snapping back to Florian. Even Scarlett stopped struggling, her wide eyes darting toward him.

"What?" Lucius said, his voice low with disbelief. "Your Highness, she—"

Florian raised a hand to silence him. 'It's pointless. Heinz won't do anything. Reporting this will only embolden Scarlett further.'

He took a deep breath, crafting his expression into one of serene composure. 'If I take the high road here, it could work in my favor. It's all about the long game. Kill 'em with kindness.'

Florian rose from his seat, ignoring Cashew's whispered pleas for him to stay put. Giving his loyal maid a quick thumbs-up, he walked toward Scarlett.

Though his lips curled into a polite smile, Florian knew his eyes betrayed none of the warmth his expression implied.

"D-Don't come any closer to me, you freak!" Scarlett shouted, her voice cracking.

Stopping a few steps away, Florian inclined his head slightly. "I recognize that I may have taunted you earlier, which seems to have caused this... tantrum."

"Tantrum?!" Scarlett shrieked. "How dare you—"

"I forgive you," Florian said simply, cutting her off.

"Inform me of what?"

Not just Florian, not just Lucius or Cashew—everyone.

'Why... is he here?'

'This is bad. This is the worst-case scenario. If Lucius tells Heinz, he'll dismiss it in front of everyone. And when he does, Scarlett will take that as a green light to torment me even more. Damn it!' Florian's thoughts spiraled into panic, even as he kept his head low.

"Your Majesty, please!" Scarlett suddenly interjected, her voice desperate as she took a step closer to Florian, even daring to touch his arm. "Florian... he provoked me! He was mocking me and Camilla! Isn't that right, Camilla? Tell him!"

'Ah. Well, I'm screwed.' Florian lifted his head slightly, his gaze meeting Heinz's cold, calculating stare. 'He's definitely not going to consider my proposition now. I might as well brace myself for months of bullying while I figure out how to escape this mess.'