Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 303

Chapter 303: ’Jealousy, Jealousy’

"Quite a lot of times," Athena answered, placing a thoughtful hand against her cheek. "She always seems so happy afterward. Right now, I believe she’s in His Majesty’s office."

There it was again.

The sting.

A sharp, quiet burn deep in his chest—unexpected and persistent. It wasn’t loud, but it was there, spreading like an invisible bruise.

Florian told himself he should be happy. He had been rooting for Alexandria and Heinz to grow closer. Wasn’t that the plan? Wasn’t that what he wanted?

This was good news.

So why did it feel like someone had shoved a fist through his ribcage?

Florian’s expression curled upward, a practiced smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was convincing—pleasant, even.

But his heart wasn’t in it.

That could only mean one thing.

The original Florian was jealous.

’I’ve been wondering why it didn’t feel like I was losing control of this body around Heinz lately...’ Florian mused bitterly, ’Maybe Florian was just... happy Heinz was spending time with me—with him. His body.’

His mouth twitched, as if it wanted to frown on its own, to reveal the crack in the illusion—but he fought to keep the smile intact.

Especially with Scarlett watching him like that. She wasn’t just glancing—she was analyzing. Her bright eyes narrowed slightly, assessing every shift in his expression.

’Why is she staring at me like that when she’s the one on a date with Athena right now?’ Florian thought, annoyance blooming beneath the ache in his chest.

It was still surreal.

Scarlett and Athena—together.

Two prominent members of the king’s harem, clearly entangled in something soft and secret and warm.

Florian should be more focused on that, should be teasing them, maybe even mildly amused. But right now, all he could feel was that aching weight in his chest growing heavier by the second.

"I think out of everyone in the harem," Scarlett suddenly said, still not taking her eyes off him, "His Majesty really favors Princess Alexandria."

The words hit harder than they should have.

Why was Scarlett bringing that up?

She never liked the idea of Alexandria becoming queen. She always acted dismissive when the subject came up. Alexandria had always been her last choice.

So why now?

Why say this now?

"Y-You think so?" Florian forced out, but his voice cracked slightly on the first syllable. It sounded off even to his own ears.

Inside, his mind was screaming.

’No, she isn’t.’

’He’s not interested in her.’

’He only needs her for the test.’

’Heinz prefers me.’

It was loud—too loud. The words bounced around inside his skull like shards of glass, turning thoughts into headaches.

He wanted to make it stop. He needed it to stop.

Athena chimed in, nodding gently, "It really seems like planning the test brought them closer. If all goes well, she might become His Majesty’s favorite. Isn’t that wonderful, Prince Florian?"

Wonderful?

Was it?

It should be.

It was.

Right?

"...Mhm," Florian hummed, because that was all his body could muster. Anything more and the mask would crack. It already felt like it was splintering at the edges.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes again, flipping her unruly crimson hair back over her shoulder with a flick of irritation.

"You seem very overjoyed," she said, her tone pointed and sharp, as if she could read every thought he was trying to bury.

"Of course, I am," Florian replied, each word measured like stepping stones over thin ice. "I wanted nothing more than to dismiss the rumors between me and His Majesty, and I..."

He paused.

He tried again.

’Say it. Say you’re rooting for Alexandria.’

The words wouldn’t come.

His mouth refused to move the way he wanted.

He could speak—but not that truth. Or maybe it wasn’t the truth at all.

’This won’t do.’

His gaze flickered to Cashew, who looked increasingly concerned, then back at the two princesses.

The pressure in his chest felt unbearable now. Like a dam threatening to burst.

"Well, uh..." Florian said, voice strained and awkwardly cheerful, "I’ll let you two go about with your walk. I still have to do stuff... for tomorrow."

✧༺ ⏱︎ ༻✧

Scarlett’s eyes followed their retreating forms as well, her brows knitting together. Something about the whole exchange—it lingered in her chest like a breath she couldn’t quite let out.

"Oh, he definitely was," Scarlett replied, her voice dropping an octave, her eyes narrowing in thought. Her lips pursed slightly. "It’s as if..."

’It’s as if he was jealous.’ Scarlett thought, but she didn’t say it aloud. It felt too presumptuous, too strange. After all, Florian never acted like he liked Heinz. If anything, he always looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

Feelings changed. _{frёewebnoѵēl.com}

’Yeah. Things could change.’ she thought again, more quietly this time, and a warm flush crept up her neck. She turned her head quickly before Athena could see.