Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 439

Chapter 439: ’Quite Terrified.’

"I’m so glad you’re doing well, Your Highness," Athena said softly, a warm smile gracing her lips as she folded her hands neatly in front of her.

Florian smiled back—tight, practiced. His shoulders, however, remained stiff, his posture far too straight for comfort.

’Keep it together. Just smile.’

But it was getting harder to pretend.

Scarlett tilted her head, arms folded over her chest, her eyes sharper than Athena’s. "Are you really sure you’re okay now, Prince Florian? You seem so..."

She trailed off, narrowing her gaze slightly, like she was inspecting something beneath the surface.

Florian’s smile twitched.

"Seem so what? Haha," he let out a laugh—dry, hollow, and so painfully fake it echoed awkwardly between them.

Scarlett didn’t even blink. "You seem so tense."

Another forced laugh escaped Florian’s throat. "Haha. Tense? Me? Why would I be tense?" He shook his head quickly, trying to brush it off with false humor, but even he knew how transparent it sounded.

Scarlett wasn’t amused.

She sighed, crossing her arms tighter. "You were right, Athena. We shouldn’t have pushed too early."

Her voice was low, like she hadn’t intended for Florian to hear it, but he did.

Athena’s smile faltered, her brows drawing together in gentle concern. She turned to Florian and bowed her head slightly, her voice sincere.

"We’re very sorry. We truly didn’t mean to push you into speaking with us, Your Highness. If you still need more time, we don’t mi—"

"No, no!" Florian said quickly, voice louder than intended. Both women blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden outburst. "I... I agreed to meet with you both. This will be good for me."

’I need this. I have to do this.’

He cast a quick glance over his shoulder.

Lucius and Lancelot stood at a respectful distance, speaking quietly but keeping a watchful eye on him. He was certain Heinz was somewhere nearby, hidden but ever-present.

Cashew was on standby too, resting beside Azure, while several knights were discreetly stationed along the garden’s perimeter.

They were in a public space. Open. Guarded.

’If anything happens... I should be safe. I am safe.’

Still, the weight pressing down on his chest didn’t ease.

Across from him, Athena and Scarlett exchanged a glance. Concern flickered in their eyes—not fake, not calculated. Real.

And that was the part that stung.

Because despite the walls he’d built, the distrust curled tightly around his heart, Florian had been the one to ask for this meeting. He was the one who reached out, who opened the door.

And now here they were—trying. Gently. Patiently. Not pushing him, not cornering him.

Just... waiting.

’They’re not even doing anything wrong. So why does this still feel so hard?’

He sighed quietly, looking down at his hands as they rested on his lap, fingers curled just slightly.

"I was wondering," Lucius continued, his voice still calm, but now carrying a bit more weight, "if you would like to let Princess Athena and Princess Scarlett help... or be involved in the planning with you."

"Oh... right," Florian murmured, blinking as the question finally sank in.

He hadn’t thought that far ahead.

If he was being honest, when it came to the princesses—specifically the ones he was somewhat close with, the ones who remained close with him—Athena and Scarlett, he truly didn’t know how to deal with them.

’They’re not like Alexandria... right?’

Scarlett, at least, was obvious. Her affections leaned toward Athena—Florian could see that clearly. Her boldness, the way her eyes lingered a little too long. That unspoken tension.

And Athena... Athena hadn’t done anything to betray his trust. Not yet.

She was reserved, respectful, even gentle in her way.

’Still... what if I’m missing something? What if I ignored the signs with Alexandria too?’

That thought haunted him.

He remembered Alexandria’s smile—warm, playful, familiar. And how quickly it all turned into poison. He’d trusted her. Laughed with her.

Rooted for her.

And she had almost killed him, had unspeakable things done to him.

’I can’t make that mistake again. I won’t.’

But at the same time, a small part of him whispered something else—something quieter, harder to ignore.

’They were fooled as well.’

The more he thought about it, the more that seemed plausible. Alexandria was manipulative, calculated.

She had the skill and power to fool even the sharpest people in court.

Athena and Scarlett... they might’ve just been caught in her web too.

’And if the real Florian stays here... he might need friends. Someone. Anyone.’

He couldn’t do what he needed to do if he pushed everyone away.

Florian hesitated, then looked back at Lucius. "Mhm... can I... have tea with them first?"

That surprised both Lucius and Heinz. The former blinked, the latter lifted a brow.

"Tea?" Heinz echoed, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why would you want to have tea with them?"

Florian took a breath. His hands were fidgeting now, but he kept his tone steady.

"I... want to know if I can trust them. I want to... decide for myself."

Lucius stepped forward a little, concern gently lacing his words. "Are you sure you want to do that, Your Highness? You don’t need to. If you’re not comfortable, we can simply tell them you’d prefer to plan alone. You’re still—"

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