Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 252: ’Between You Two?’

Florian’s body moved before he could think. His heart pounded against his ribs, breath caught somewhere between his throat and lungs as he shoved the door open and stepped into the dimly lit hallway.

’Scarlett’s scream—’

It could only mean trouble.

His eyes swept over the corridor, searching frantically for any sign of danger. Was it an assassin? An ambush? Some hidden threat lurking in the shadows? His muscles tensed, ready for a fight—

Then he saw her.

Scarlett stood just a few steps away, one hand clutching the fabric of her gown, the other resting over her chest as if trying to steady her heartbeat. But she wasn’t hurt. She wasn’t even panicked. She just looked... stunned.

Florian’s brows furrowed. Confusion replaced urgency.

"Scarlett, what happened? Are you okay?"

Scarlett didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze was fixed on someone standing in front of her, lips slightly parted in what could only be described as sheer disbelief.

Florian followed her stare—

And there she was.

Athena.

Her soft brown hair framed her delicate face, her deep hazel eyes wide with surprise—mirroring Scarlett’s expression. She stood still, almost hesitant, as if she hadn’t expected to be here any more than Scarlett had expected to run into her.

Florian blinked. "Lady Athena?" His eyes darted between the two women. "What are you doing here? And Scar—Lady Scarlett, why did you scream?"

Scarlett, still holding her chest as if trying to push her heart back into place, huffed, visibly flustered. "I was just—" She exhaled sharply. "I was just surprised! I bumped into her the moment I stepped out, that’s all!"

Athena nodded slightly, voice barely above a whisper. "I... I was also surprised to see Lady Scarlett."

Florian let out a deep breath, shoulders relaxing.

’So that’s all it was...’

His mind had already conjured worst-case scenarios—a hidden blade, a shadowy figure lying in wait, another attempt at his life. But no. It was just Scarlett being startled.

And yet, his heart was still hammering.

Shaking off the lingering adrenaline, Florian turned back to Athena, curiosity replacing concern. "Did you need something, Lady Athena?"

Athena hesitated for a moment before nodding, her hands folding neatly in front of her. "I... I wanted to talk to you. I couldn’t yesterday."

Florian gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I see. Well, do you want to come in?" He stepped aside, gesturing toward his room.

But as he did, he caught something—

A brief glance.

Scarlett and Athena exchanged looks. Not hostile. Not cold. But... something.

An unspoken tension lingered between them, subtle yet unmistakable. No biting remarks from Scarlett, no nervous shifting from Athena. Just silence.

Florian’s brows knitted slightly.

’What... is this?’

Athena was the first to break it. She lowered her head slightly and murmured, "I-I’m sorry, Lady Scarlett. For scaring you."

Scarlett stiffened.

Florian fully expected her to scoff, brush it off with a sharp remark—because that was how she was. Dismissive. Unbothered. Unapologetic.

Instead—

"I-It’s—" Her voice cracked. Scarlett cleared her throat, her usual confidence slipping for just a moment before she quickly turned away. "It’s fine! I was just caught off guard! That’s all! So—so it’s nothing! Really!"

Florian stared.

Was she... embarrassed?

Scarlett, of all people?

Athena glanced up, as if considering saying something else, but before she could, Scarlett abruptly grabbed the hem of her gown, spun on her heel, and—

Ran.

Florian blinked, dumbfounded.

No parting words. No dramatic exit. No final remark.

Just. Ran.

Athena, on the other hand, didn’t seem fazed. If anything, a faint pink dusted her cheeks, but her expression remained composed, quiet.

Florian was still staring at the empty space Scarlett had occupied mere moments ago.

’What just happened?’

He quickly shook his head, remembering Athena was still standing there. Clearing his throat, he turned back to her. "Ahem, um—Lady Athena, please come in."

Athena looked mildly surprised but gently shook her head. "I only wanted to check on you... to ask how you were."

Florian paused.

His chest felt warm. Full, almost.

Out of all the princesses, Athena—along with Alexandria—had always been the kindest. She didn’t play games, didn’t have hidden motives or secret ambitions. She was just... genuinely thoughtful.

Florian smiled softly.

"Thank you, Lady Athena," he said sincerely.

Athena’s lips curved into a gentle smile—small but sincere, like a whisper of warmth on a cold morning. Yet, after that fleeting moment, she didn’t speak.

She simply stood there, hands clasped delicately in front of her, her fingers resting lightly against the fabric of her gown. Her expression, usually so composed, was unreadable—like the surface of a still lake, concealing its depths.

Florian tilted his head slightly, studying her. The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable, but it felt... uncharacteristic.

’She’s thinking about something.’

Athena was never one to hesitate. She was soft-spoken, yes, but her words always carried intention. She didn’t linger without reason.

Curiosity tugged at him, the need to unravel the quiet mystery settling in the air.

"...Can I ask you something, Lady Athena?"

She blinked, as if pulled from distant thoughts, and her light pink eyes met his. There was a flicker of something there—uncertainty?

"Yes?" she said, her voice as gentle as ever, but Florian didn’t miss the slight shift in her posture, the way her shoulders tensed just a fraction.

He hesitated for a heartbeat before crossing his arms, his gaze never leaving her. "It’s just... you and Lady Scarlett." His tone was casual, but there was a sharpness in his eyes, quietly observant. "The way you two interacted just now—it was different."

Athena’s breath hitched ever so slightly. A blink, a barely-there tightening of her clasped hands—small, fleeting tells, but Florian caught them all.

He pressed on, carefully threading his words. "I mean, usually, Lady Scarlett is... well, Lady Scarlett. She never misses a chance to throw a jab at you. And you—" He hesitated, searching for the right phrasing. "You always seem a little uneasy around her."

Athena lowered her gaze, lashes brushing against her cheeks like the soft fall of autumn leaves. "That’s true."

"But this time," Florian continued, his voice quieter now, as if speaking the words aloud made them more surreal, "you weren’t nervous. And she wasn’t cruel. If anything, she seemed... flustered?"

Saying it aloud made the realization settle deeper in his chest. It didn’t make sense. Scarlett never got flustered. And Athena—

His gaze flickered downward, catching the way Athena’s fingers curled slightly against her dress, gripping the fabric just a little too tightly. Her expression remained composed, but there—right there—

A dusting of pink bloomed across her cheeks.

Florian narrowed his eyes slightly.

’What is going on?’

His curiosity was now an undeniable force, tugging insistently at the loose threads of the moment.

"...Did something happen between you two?" he asked, his voice laced with something between intrigue and amusement.