Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 386

Chapter 386: ’Admit it.’

"W-What?!" Florian practically shrieked, his voice cracking into a pitch that physically made him cringe.

Scarlett only rolled her eyes, her expression falling somewhere between amused and fondly exasperated. "Why are you so surprised?" She crossed her arms, letting her hips cock to the side with practiced ease. "Sure, I may have hated you at first—loathed you, really—but even a blind man could see you’re the perfect one for the role. And that’s exactly why the rest of them are threatened."

’Why...why is she telling me this?’ Florian blinked at her, brain scrambling to catch up. Then it hit him—like a brick to the face.

The test.

"Oh. I get it." He snapped his fingers and lightly slammed his fist into his palm, eyes narrowing in realization.

Scarlett tilted her head, blinking. "Huh?"

"This is part of the test," Florian declared with a forced, breathy laugh, waving his hands dismissively. "Yeah, of course. You’re trying to throw me off. Make me think you actually want me to be queen. You’re gauging my reaction." He nodded, as if convincing himself more than her. "Of course, I don’t want to be queen. And, let’s be real, His Majesty doesn’t want me as queen either. I don’t even know why he’s...entertaining the idea."

’Also, he’s only doing this to test all of you.’ Not that he can say that out loud.

The moment the words left his mouth, he caught it—the sudden drop in Scarlett’s playful expression. Her smile faltered. Her brows pinched.

’See? I knew i—’

"I forgot how painfully in denial you actually are." Scarlett let out a heavy, dramatic sigh, dragging her hand down her face.

"Excuse me?" Florian’s jaw nearly dropped. "What?"

Before he could even process, Scarlett closed the distance between them. Florian instinctively tried to back away—but his back hit the cabinet behind him. Nowhere to run. His breath hitched as she leaned in, her sharp golden eyes practically slicing through him.

"Has anyone ever told you that you are somehow both very clever... and unbelievably stupid?" Her tone was flat.

Florian blinked. "Uh... once or twice, yeah," he admitted, reflexively.

"Good. At least you’ve been warned." Scarlett pinched the bridge of her nose like she was physically restraining the urge to knock his head against something. "Because—newsflash—this isn’t part of the test, you absolute walnut."

’Walnut?’

"I am genuinely telling you... that I want you to pass. I want you to become a queen candidate."

Her eyes softened—just a little. "Because I think His Majesty wants you to be queen. Maybe even... more than that."

Florian’s lips parted—whether to argue or gasp, he didn’t even know—but Scarlett steamrolled right through him.

"And frankly?" Her gaze sharpened again. "I think you want him too. No—don’t open that mouth to deny it." She pointed a finger at him before he could even make a sound. "I knew it the moment I told you that Alexandria was spending more time with him. The way your face dropped? Oh, Florian..." She smirked. "It was so obvious you were jealous."

"Jealous? Me?!" Florian practically exploded, laughter bursting from him far louder than necessary. "Oh, please! As if I’d ever be jealous! I told you—I do not have feelings for him." He flailed his arms slightly. "Not... not anymore!" That last part tumbled out, forced and awkward, like shoving a pillow into a box that’s too small.

Scarlett just stared. Then she grinned. "Mhm. Out of everything I just said... that’s the part you react to?"

Her smirk grew. "Very defensive."

"I—I’m not being defensive!" Florian sputtered, crossing his arms tightly over his chest, cheeks burning.

Oh, but he was. He absolutely was. And the worst part? He knew it.

’It’s not me. It’s not me being jealous. It’s this stupid body. It’s the original Florian. This body still loves him. That’s all. That’s the only reason.’

His hands fidgeted at his sides, tugging pointlessly at the frilly apron bow like it could somehow shield him from this conversation.

Scarlett sighed, this time softer. "Florian." Her voice dipped, far more genuine now. "I may have acted clueless before. Hell, I might’ve been downright cruel. But I’m not blind."

She tilted her head, watching him carefully. "You still love His Majesty. And that’s fine by me... because frankly, looking at him?" She gave a knowing smile. "It’s pretty obvious he’s fallen for you too."

Florian’s eyes widened, his heart practically slamming against his ribcage. "N-Now you’re putting things completely out of proportion!" he sputtered, voice shaking as much as his hands were. "You’re stretching so far, you might as well pull a muscle! I—I do not love him! And he does not love me!"

But even as the words left his mouth, his mind betrayed him.

Flashes of memories—memories that weren’t even his—rushed in uninvited. The hazy recollection of warm arms, lips against his temple, and Heinz whispering... "I love you."

His chest tightened. A dull ache bloomed somewhere deep inside him like a thorn piercing flesh.

’Even if... even if he did somehow feel love... even if there was something real... he loved Florian. Not me.

"How about you, Lady Scarlett?" he shot back, voice tight but laced with challenge.

"Oh, don’t play dumb." Florian’s green eyes gleamed. His own arms crossed over his chest now, mirroring how Scarlett had stood earlier. "What’s going on between you and Lady Athena?"

Her jaw slackened. Her lips parted to speak... only to close again. Then, as if the realization finally hit her, her porcelain skin erupted into crimson—redder than her hair, redder than her gown, redder than any shade Florian had ever seen her wear.

"W-W-Wh-What—?! N-Nothing—Pshh—Wha—" She stumbled over her words so badly it was a miracle she didn’t trip over her own tongue. The usual sharp, confident lilt in her voice was gone. Completely obliterated.

’It’s my turn now.’

"Like you said..." He leaned in slightly, just enough to invade her personal space the way she always did to him. "I may be dumb sometimes, but I’m also smart."

Florian leaned in further, his lips curling. "You like her."

Scarlett’s entire body stiffened, like a cat caught mid-crime. Her fingers fidgeted, gripping the folds of her skirt as her gaze darted—anywhere but him. "I—I... I don’t—You—!"

"Why are you flustered then? The great Scarlett Opulenti?" Florian shot back with a teasing grin, folding his arms. His tone was smug, biting back the satisfaction bubbling in his chest at seeing Scarlett—Scarlett, of all people—trip over her own composure.

Scarlett huffed, visibly flustered, but she couldn’t hide the deep pink dusting her cheeks. Her lips parted, then closed, then parted again. She struggled—struggled—to form a retort but ultimately clicked her tongue in frustration.

"Okay, you know what? Fine. Maybe I do." She flung her hands up dramatically.

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