'How could this happen to me?'
The man towering over him—Heinz—stared down with eyes that seemed to pierce straight through Florian's soul. His imposing figure was clad in regal armor, adorned with intricate black and silver detailing.
A flowing black cape billowed slightly behind him, giving him an almost otherworldly air of authority. Long, jet-black hair framed his sharp features, cascading forward as he leaned down, one hand gripping Florian's hair firmly, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"Florian, tell me." Heinz spoke, his voice deep and commanding, like a blade cutting through the silence.
"Are you a king?"
"H-Huh?" Florian managed a weak, trembling sound. The question threw him off, but the fear gripping his chest left him unable to think clearly. He knew, without a doubt, that this man was the same character from the novel. The one who wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he said the wrong thing.
Heinz's sharp gaze narrowed. "Since you and I were the only ones not bowing, I'll ask again. Are you a king?"
"N-No," Florian stammered, his voice quivering. His entire body felt small and fragile under Heinz's intense scrutiny. He could feel tears threatening to form, though he wasn't sure if it was the body's emotions or his own. Either way, the humiliation and fear were overwhelming.
"Is that so?" Heinz continued, his tone cold and calculated. "Then, do you know who the king is?"
"You?" Florian answered meekly, barely above a whisper.
"Yes. And who am I?"
This was the moment of truth. The confirmation he dreaded.
"K-King Heinz Obsidian," Florian stuttered, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.
'Please deny it. Please say no. Please let it not be you.'
"That's right," Heinz said, his tone as cutting as ever. His crimson eyes flashed with something Florian couldn't quite place—a mix of disdain and curiosity. But Florian was too busy panicking to analyze it. His blood ran cold as the truth settled like a stone in his gut.
'Fuck. That means I'm in my sister's BL novel… And not just that—I'm the fucking main character.'
"I should punish you for your insolence—" Heinz began, his grip on Florian's hair tightening again.
"Your Majesty, forgive me for overstepping."
Lucius's calm, steady voice cut through the tension like a lifeline. Florian blinked as the silver-haired man appeared at Heinz's side, bowing slightly as he placed a hand on the king's back.
"What?" Heinz snapped, his voice sharp enough to make both Florian and Lucius flinch. Florian's mind reeled. In the novel, Heinz was typically indifferent, rarely showing such overt emotion unless provoked. This anger felt… off.
'This isn't quite how I remember it,' Florian thought, panic mixing with confusion. 'But then again there's bound to be a difference between what Kaz wrote and my new reality.'
Lucius didn't falter, maintaining his composed demeanor. "Prince Florian had an accident yesterday, Your Majesty. He struck his head, and when he awoke, the doctor reported signs of confusion. I believe he is still recovering. Perhaps it would be wise to show leniency."
Heinz's crimson gaze flicked to Lucius, then back to Florian. For a brief moment, something like hesitation—or maybe curiosity—flickered across his face. "An accident?" he echoed.
"Yes, sire," Lucius affirmed smoothly. "It would not reflect well on the crown if the prince were further harmed."
Slowly, Heinz's grip loosened. Florian's scalp ached as the tension eased, but he didn't waste a second. Bowing his head low, he forced himself to steady his voice, despite the tremor that lingered in his chest.
"M-My apologies, Your Majesty," Florian said, carefully choosing his words. "Please forgive my mistake. As Lucius mentioned, the accident has left me… hazy." He did his best to mimic the royal tone he remembered writing, trying to channel what little knowledge he had of this world.
For a moment, Heinz stood still, his expression unreadable. Then, with a dismissive "Whatever," he fully released Florian and strode past him, his cape billowing as he moved toward the towering throne at the far end of the room.
'Thank God,' Florian thought, exhaling a shaky breath of relief.
As Heinz's imposing figure receded, Florian glanced up at Lucius, who was already watching him intently. For the first time since he arrived in this nightmare, Florian allowed himself a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Lucius," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Lucius blinked, momentarily taken aback. A faint flush crept over his cheeks as he quickly turned away. "I only spoke the truth," he murmured before retreating into the shadows.
Florian's expression turned serious as he watched Heinz ascend the steps to the massive throne, the sheer weight of his presence suffocating the room. As the king seated himself, the princesses and Florian remained kneeling, heads bowed.
'So this is him,' Florian thought grimly, his eyes flickering to Heinz. 'Kaz went out of her way to make him a complete asshole, but not this kind of asshole.'
Once Heinz was seated, Scarlett dared to lift her gaze. Her lips curved into a coy smile as she purred, "Your Majesty, you look even more handsome today than the last time I saw you."
Scarlett's flirty voice lingered in the air, and, as if on cue, Camilla chimed in with a bright smile. "She's absolutely right, Your Majesty. Your presence is simply dazzling today."
Her voice was soft, melodic, and purposefully calculated, a stark contrast to Scarlett's more forward approach. Florian observed as Camilla's head remained slightly bowed, her lashes fluttering demurely.
Heinz didn't respond immediately, his piercing red eyes scanning the room, settling momentarily on each of the women still kneeling before him.
'He's staring at them like they're prey,' Florian thought, suppressing a shiver.
In the novel, Heinz had always been portrayed as cold but devastatingly charismatic and flirtatious towards the women of his harem. He wielded his charm like a weapon, using it to manipulate and control those around him.
Yet, there was always an underlying detachment to his behavior—a predator's instinct to keep others at arm's length. Florian remembered this aspect of Heinz well. He also remembered how the main character, Florian—the original Florian—had fallen head over heels for him.
Florian's stomach churned at the memory. In the story, Heinz never reciprocated Florian's love. He was a king focused on power, not sentiment. And yet, Florian—the foolish, lovesick protagonist—spiraled into heartbreak and scandal, decided to sleep around in hopes of making Heinz jealous.
First, it was the king's head butler, Lucius. Then, one of the knights, Lancelot. Then Heinz's younger brother. It all culminated in his ultimate execution, with Heinz snapping at Florian's promiscuity and sending him to the guillotine.
'I don't have to worry about that,' Florian reassured himself. 'I'm straight. No way am I sleeping with men, even if I'm stuck in this ridiculous situation.'
But a sinking feeling nagged at the back of his mind. Lucius's earlier words echoed in his ears: "You've already been in the harem for a month."
Florian swallowed hard. That explained Lucius's awkward behavior and the lingering looks he'd been giving Florian. Worse, if Lucius was acting this way, it likely meant Lancelot had been seduced as well—or was in the process of it.
'Great. Just great. Not only am I in a BL novel, but I've apparently been acting like a shameless flirt before I got here.' Florian clenched his fists, desperately trying to steady his spiraling thoughts. He needed a plan, and fast. Maybe there was still a way to fix things. Maybe he could find a way back to his world.
'Or maybe I'm just dead and this is some kind of purgatory. Or maybe I'm in a coma, and none of this is real. There's no way to know for sure.'
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Heinz's gaze settle on him until it was too late.
"Florian," Heinz's voice cut through the room like ice.
Florian flinched, his heart leaping into his throat. Slowly, he looked up, only to find Heinz staring at him with narrowed eyes, his expression unreadable.
'Why'd he call my name like that and then not say anything else?' Florian quickly lowered his gaze, unwilling to hold eye contact.
After a tense silence, Heinz straightened in his seat, his voice cutting through the room again. "The reason I called you all here so suddenly," he began, his tone cold and authoritative, "is because I have an important announcement."
Florian blinked, confused. 'An announcement?' His mind raced. He couldn't remember this from the novel. Then again, there were plenty of gaps in his memory.
The princesses around him perked up, their expressions lighting with curiosity and anticipation. Scarlett's eyes gleamed, and even the usually composed Camilla seemed intrigued.
Athena shifted nervously, glancing around the room before quickly lowering her head. "An announcement?" she whispered under her breath. She clasped her hands tightly, as if bracing for the worst.
Mira stood with her arms crossed, her expression impassive. "His Majesty is taking his time before making the announcement," she murmured, her voice low enough for only Bridget to hear.
"Patience," Bridget replied with a smirk, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "His Majesty's proclamations are always worth waiting for. No?"
Heinz leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over the room. "I have been thinking," he said, his voice slow and deliberate, "that I cannot truly call myself a king without a queen."
'Wait, what?'
Gasps erupted from the princesses, followed by hushed whispers of excitement. Florian's eyes widened. Even Lucius, who had been standing stoically by Heinz's side, raised his brows in surprise.
'Did this happen in the story? I don't remember… fuck. There's so much I don't remember anymore,' Florian thought, his panic rising.
Heinz continued, ignoring the commotion he'd caused. "On my twenty-second birthday, I will choose my wife."
The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into murmurs of shock and delight. Scarlett's face lit up with a dazzling smile, and Camilla's hands clenched the fabric of her dress in excitement.
"Oh, Your Majesty!" Scarlett exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. "You've made the most wonderful decision. I'm certain we will all do our utmost to prove our worth to you."
Alexandria clasped her hands together, her voice soft and reverent. "What a noble proclamation, Your Majesty. May the Gods guide your choice."
Athena glanced at Alexandria, then back at the floor, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's...wow..."
"Interesting." Mira raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smile. "At least it will separate the pretenders from the deserving."
Bridget chuckled, her tone as sharp as ever. "Well, I agree. This just got interesting. Let's see who embarrasses themselves first."
Florian stayed frozen in place, his mind racing. 'This is good, right? Fuck. I'm getting confused, if he's trying to find a way why'd he kill Florian for sleeping around?'
Heinz's expression remained unreadable as he raised a hand, silencing the room. "Choosing a queen is a matter of utmost importance," he said coldly. "I want you all to prove yourselves worthy of the role. You will have your chance to show me who is fit to stand by my side as queen."
The words hung in the air like a decree, heavy and unyielding.
"That is all," Heinz said flatly. He stood, his cape flowing behind him as he turned to leave.
The princesses immediately bowed, murmuring their goodbyes and thanks. Florian, still kneeling, bowed as well, his mind racing with questions.
He didn't say a word as Heinz strode out of the room, his figure disappearing beyond the towering doors. Instead, he kept his head low, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to piece together what this meant.
With Heinz gone, the princesses began chattering excitedly amongst themselves, their voices buzzing with anticipation. Florian, however, stayed quiet, his mind focused on survival and trying to recall what little he could of the novel.
'I need to figure out my next steps before I do something stupid.'