Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 219: ’Every Villager Available’

Kane’s grip on Florian’s collar tightened, his knuckles white as he shook him, his face contorted with pure, unfiltered fury.

"WHAT DID YOU AND YOUR ARCANIOR DO?!" Kane bellowed, his voice ragged and raw with rage, echoing through day.

’He’s fucking angry.’

Florian’s head jerked back slightly from the force, his pulse pounding in his ears like a drum. His vision blurred at the edges, but he forced himself to stay calm.

’Okay. Okay. Don’t panic. Keep it together.’

"I—I don’t know what you’re talking about!" Florian gasped, his voice cracking just enough to sound believable. His wide, desperate eyes flickered with the perfect blend of confusion and fear. "Why are you blaming me? We didn’t do anything!"

"Liar!" Kane’s face twisted even further, his eyes narrowing with burning suspicion. "That fire started right when your so-called ’friend’ went to get your medicine—how convenient." His tone dripped with accusation, and he shook Florian again, hard enough to make his teeth rattle.

’Shit. He’s putting it together too fast.’

"Stop it!"

The voice cut through the tension like a knife. Though weary and aged, Augustus’s tone carried a surprising authority that commanded attention. The old chief stepped forward, his wrinkled hand grasping Kane’s arm with unexpected strength.

"Kane, release him."

"Uncle, they—!"

"I said, release him."

Augustus’s voice was low, but the weight behind it was unyielding.

Kane’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring, but after a tense moment, his grip loosened. He shoved Florian back with a grunt of frustration, sending him stumbling. Florian barely caught himself, his hand instinctively brushing against his throat where Kane’s fingers had been.

’Great. Now I look even more pathetic.’

"Why would we do something like that?" Florian demanded, his voice sharp with just the right amount of frustration and hurt. "If we had bad intentions, wouldn’t we be less obvious about it? Why would Anastasius leave right before a fire if we were planning something? That makes no sense!"

Kane’s eyes narrowed, his jaw working as the words sank in.

’Good. Plant that doubt.’

But just as Kane looked ready to retaliate, a sharp voice rang out.

"Aden!"

Florian barely had time to turn before a strong arm suddenly pulled him back—away from Kane’s reach.

He stumbled, but the grip was steady, familiar.

’It’s Heinz.’

His heart skipped a beat.

Florian blinked, and sure enough, there he was—Heinz, or rather, Anastasius—standing between him and Kane. His expression was cool, controlled, but his sharp, piercing eyes... they were fixed on Kane with thinly veiled warning.

’Damn it, not the time to get giddy, Florian!’

His pulse hammered, but for all the wrong reasons. Heinz was too close. Too warm.

"Is everything alright?" Heinz’s voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it. His grip on Florian’s arm lingered, just a little too long.

Florian’s cheeks heated instantly.

"I’m... fine," Florian murmured, averting his gaze and pulling away, but not too quickly. His fingers brushed lightly against Heinz’s as he stepped back. "What took you so long?"

"Apologies," Heinz replied smoothly, holding up a small glass vial between his fingers. "The vial was harder to find among all the others. I didn’t expect it to be buried so deep in the satchel."

Florian’s eyes narrowed.

’Liar.’

That wasn’t true. And Florian knew it.

A brief flash of memory surfaced.

"The plan is simple... we’re going to start a fire to distract the villagers." Heinz had said, his tone quiet, calculated.

"Eh? But your majesty, won’t it be too obvious that we started it?"

"I’ll pretend to go search for some medicine," Heinz had murmured, his tone cool and precise. "While I’m gone... Azure will handle the distraction."

The faintest sound of a croak echoed in his mind.

’Azure...’

Florian didn’t need to ask where the tiny blue lizard was now. Somewhere, hidden in the chaos, Heinz’s dragon—disguised in its smaller form—was ensuring the fire spread.

’It’s all going according to plan... but Kane’s too damn suspicious.’

"Why did you take so long, huh?" Kane’s voice sliced through Florian’s thoughts like a blade, his eyes narrowing at Heinz. The hostility in his tone hadn’t faded.

"Like I said, finding a vial is harder than it looks," Heinz replied smoothly, but Florian could tell—Kane wasn’t buying it.

Kane’s fists clenched. His body tensed, ready to lunge.

"Liar."

He took a step toward Heinz, but this time—

"Enough!"

Augustus’s voice echoed with finality, cutting through the chaos. His hand came down heavily on Kane’s shoulder, halting him.

"Look at him," Augustus said firmly, gesturing toward Heinz. "Anastasius came from the opposite direction. The fire just started. There’s no way he could’ve been involved."

Kane’s jaw tightened, his gaze locked onto Heinz, but the logic was undeniable.

For a moment, it looked like he was going to argue.

But then—he didn’t.

Kane’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes burning with reluctant frustration.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue but finally took a step back.

Florian released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

"Are you alright?"

The whispered question was almost lost in the noise, but Florian heard it.

His head snapped up, and Heinz was leaning in slightly, his eyes scanning him with barely concealed concern.

Florian’s face went red.

’WHY am I reacting like this?! Stop it, Florian!’

This was all the original Florian’s fault.

"I’m fine," he mumbled quickly, looking away. "What really took you so long?"

Heinz’s lips curved into a barely-there smirk, his voice low enough that only Florian could hear.

"I was... being thorough."

The playful edge in his tone made Florian’s ears burn.

’That’s not helping, damn it!’

But Florian wasn’t fooled. He knew exactly what Heinz had been doing.

Azure was out there. Somewhere.

’I know he’s a strong dragon but... I hope he’s doing okay.’

Florian’s gaze flickered to Kane.

’I’ll worry about him later. Time for the next part of the plan.’

"Let Anastasius help. He knows a lot of magic... he can help." Florian’s voice was steady, but there was a subtle urgency behind his words as he pointed at Heinz.

"What?! Why would we ever ask—"

Augustus took a step forward, and in the distance, the growing screams and cries echoed louder as the fire spread.

"Please." His voice was strained, but sincere. "I would not normally beg for help, but our water supply is too little to handle this. If the fire continues... our village is doomed."

Florian’s jaw tightened. As much as he suspected the village of hiding something... one thing was clear.

They were still an unfortunate village.

"I am willing to help," Heinz said calmly, his gaze flickering toward Florian, then back to Kane. "But I need more men. To make the magic work."

Kane’s jaw clenched. He was visibly conflicted, but as he glanced at the terrified faces of the villagers, his resolve crumbled.

"What do you need?"

Heinz’s eyes met Florian’s for the briefest moment before he turned back to Kane.

"Every villager available."