Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: ’Yet Another Cliche’

’Shit. Why is he here?’

Of all the people Florian could run into, it had to be him. His jaw clenched as he forced himself to turn slowly, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. His gaze met Lancelot’s, who stood there smirking with infuriating confidence, his piercing eyes gleaming with amusement as if he had already won a game Florian didn’t even know he was playing.

Florian swallowed hard, his mind racing for a response. ’Just act normal,’ he told himself, though the very idea seemed laughable under the circumstances.

"I..." His voice cracked, coming out weaker than he intended. He quickly straightened his posture, forcing himself to stand taller despite the ridiculous frilly uniform and his trembling nerves. "Kaz," he blurted, repeating the name he had given the maid earlier.

Lancelot tilted his head, his smirk widening as if he could see right through the facade. "Kaz, hmm? Interesting. I don’t recall seeing someone like you around before. And trust me, I would’ve remembered."

"I-I’m new here..." Florian stammered, his words fumbling as he avoided Lancelot’s gaze.

"New, huh?" Lancelot’s voice dropped an octave, his tone dripping with intrigue. Without warning, Florian felt a hand slide around his waist, pulling him slightly closer. His breath hitched as Lancelot pressed himself against him from behind.

’This... this is harassment, right?’ Florian’s mind screamed, but his body froze, unsure how to react without blowing his cover.

"That’s interesting," Lancelot murmured, his breath hot against Florian’s ear. The proximity made Florian’s skin crawl, his face flushing—not out of pleasure, but sheer mortification. The unwanted touch, the closeness, the audacity—it was all too much.

Lancelot’s free hand slid down to Florian’s thigh, his grip firm and uninvited. Florian’s panic spiked as his thoughts scrambled for a solution. ’Think... think... What do I do?!’

Before Florian could act, Lancelot roughly spun him around and shoved him against the wall, the impact jarring and painful. Florian winced, a sharp ache radiating across his back as the memories of a far gentler Lucius flooded his mind. But this? This was entirely different.

"Fuck," he hissed under his breath, trying to steady himself, but Lancelot’s piercing glare was locked on him, cold and unrelenting.

"Who are you," Lancelot demanded, his voice a low growl, "and how did you get here?"

"W-What?" Florian stammered, his breath hitching as Lancelot’s hand moved to his neck, squeezing—not hard enough to choke him entirely, but enough to make the threat clear.

"Do you think I’m an idiot?" Lancelot hissed, leaning closer, his voice venomous. "Princess Bridget’s maid alerted us to an unfamiliar face cleaning the astronomy room. I am entitled to know if there are new hires, and you are not one of them."

’Fuck. I thought Lucius said no one would notice a new hire?!’ Panic surged through Florian as he tried to think of something—anything—that would buy him time.

"I-I don’t know what you mean... I-I’m really a new hi—"

"Bullshit." Lancelot’s grip tightened, cutting Florian off as he winced. "Who are you, and what are your intentions?"

Florian’s head was spinning, the lack of air making his vision blur slightly. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Finally, through sheer desperation, he croaked, "G... Glasses..."

Lancelot blinked, momentarily confused. "What?"

"T-Take..." Florian rasped, his fingers twitching as he weakly gestured to his face. "...them... off..."

Realization dawned on Lancelot’s face, and with his free hand, he yanked the glasses off Florian’s face. The effect was immediate. The enchantment broke, and Florian’s disguised appearance melted away, revealing his true features.

Lancelot froze, his hand instantly releasing Florian’s neck as his eyes widened in shock. "Prince Florian? What in the king’s name are you doing?!" His tone was a mix of disbelief and anger, his brows furrowing as he stepped back.

Florian coughed, clutching his throat as he gasped for air, his head still spinning. Before he could form a coherent response, another voice rang out.

"Your Highness!"

Florian’s eyes darted to the source of the voice, his heart sinking with relief and dread all at once. Lucius strode toward them, his expression equal parts panic and fury. His usually immaculate demeanor was disheveled, and the tension in his shoulders was palpable.

"Lucius?" Lancelot said, his voice laced with confusion, though his stance remained defensive.

Lucius ignored him, immediately moving to Florian’s side. "Are you alright, Your Highness?" His tone was gentle, but his eyes were sharp with concern.

Florian shook his head weakly, still catching his breath. ’No, I am not fucking okay. Lancelot just tried to choke the life out of me. What the actual fuck.’

Lucius’s expression darkened as he turned his glare to Lancelot. "Did you not read the memo I sent you?" he asked, his voice cold and clipped.

Lancelot raised an eyebrow, his confusion quickly replaced by irritation. "Memo? What memo? And what in the king’s name is the prince doing dressed like a maid and using an enchanted disguise?"

Lucius’s glare could have pierced steel. "His Highness is carrying out a task for His Majesty. You would have known that if you’d bothered to read the briefing I sent you, Flameheart."

Lancelot’s frown deepened, but then, as if to antagonize further, his lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Is this really a royal task, or just some perverted fantasy of dressing the pitiful prince in a maid’s outfit?"

Lucius’s eyes widened in fury, his voice sharp. "How dare you—His Highness is right here! How dare you call him pitiful?!"

"Because he is?"

"You...!"

Lancelot raised a brow, his arrogant smirk remaining firmly in place. "And what in the name of Concordia did His Majesty order you to do that requires you to dress up like..." He gestured vaguely at Florian’s maid uniform, his tone mocking. "...this?"

’Ugh.’