Florian’s eyes were cold, his posture rigid as he faced Scarlett. Her earlier arrogance faltered, her shoulders tensing as she crossed her arms defensively. A flicker of unease danced in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a sneer.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" she taunted, lifting her chin defiantly. "It’s not my fault you got yourself kidnapped. Maybe next time, don’t be so careless."
Florian’s jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together as the words sank in. A sharp, hot anger surged through him, boiling beneath his skin. ’She really thinks it was that simple? That it was just some minor inconvenience?’ His fingers curled into fists, nails biting into his palms.
"Careless?" His voice was dangerously calm, the kind of calm that came before a storm. "You think it was easy?" His eyes narrowed, gleaming with fury. "Do you have any idea what I went through? What I saw?" His words were sharp, each syllable dripping with restrained rage. "All of that... just so ungrateful little brats like you could keep living in your sheltered, perfect world."
Scarlett’s eyes widened, just for a heartbeat, before her expression hardened. "Did you just call me a brat?"
"Aren’t you acting like one right now?"
She scoffed, rolling her eyes as if his anger were nothing more than a childish tantrum. "I never asked you to save me," she snapped, her voice rising. "Athena was the one who needed rescuing, not me. You could’ve let her die, for all I care."
For a moment, Florian just stared at her, his chest rising and falling as he tried to process what he’d just heard. A bitter laugh escaped his lips, low and humorless. ’Of course. Of course she’d say that.’
"You really are a piece of work," he said, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "You think that makes you strong? Acting heartless, pretending nothing affects you... does that make you feel powerful?" He took a step forward, his shadow falling over her. "Pathetic."
Scarlett’s face flushed a deep red, her fists trembling at her sides. "How dare you—"
"How dare I?" Florian’s voice was sharp, cutting through her words. His eyes blazed with a fierce light as he stepped even closer, his presence overwhelming. "No. How dare you. I saw someone die. Someone who helped me died." His voice wavered, just for a moment, but his glare never softened. "I had to stab people just to survive."
Scarlett’s eyes widened, the color draining from her face. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Shock flickered across her features, raw and vulnerable. It was the first time Florian had ever seen her speechless.
’Of course she didn’t know. None of them do.’ Florian felt the bitterness rise, a familiar burn in his chest. ’She thinks it was just some way to gain favor, for attention.’
His gaze was unrelenting, a cold fire burning within. "I don’t know where you get the nerve to look down on me, but let me remind you of something."
His lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. "I’m the one judging these tests. I’m the one who gets to decide who’s worthy to stand by King Heinz’s side. And if all goes well," his voice dropped lower, more menacing, "I might even be the one who decides who becomes his wife."
Scarlett’s face went pale, her eyes widening as his words sank in. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. For a moment, she looked truly shaken, the haughty arrogance wiped clean off her face.
’Good. Let her believe it,’ Florian thought, resisting the urge to laugh at her stunned expression. ’She doesn’t need to know it’s a lie.’
Scarlett’s bravado shattered. Her mouth fell open, her eyes wide with shock. Her shoulders stiffened, her earlier confidence crumbling right before his eyes. Florian felt a twisted satisfaction at the sight. ’So she’s not as untouchable as she thinks.’
"That’s right." He crossed his arms, his posture unyielding. "You can either keep clinging to the past—to the Florian who followed the king around like a lost puppy, desperate for his attention—or you can face reality." His eyes were cold, piercing straight through her. "Because the Florian standing in front of you now? His opinion actually matters to the king."
He watched as Scarlett’s face contorted, her lips pressing into a thin line as she struggled to find her voice. Her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white, but she didn’t say a word. Her eyes dropped to the floor, her shoulders trembling.
’She’s quiet. Finally.’ Florian’s anger was still simmering, but there was something else beneath it—a sharp, bitter pain. ’She really thinks it was that easy. That none of it mattered.’ He could still see it. The darkness. The blood. The faces of people who didn’t make it out alive.
His chest tightened, and he quickly shoved the memories away. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing his pain. Not now. Not ever.
"So tell me," he continued, his voice firm and unyielding. "Are you going to keep acting like a spoiled child who thinks the world owes her something? Or are you finally going to grow up and show some respect?"
Scarlett’s shoulders trembled, her head still bowed. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. She looked small. Fragile. For the first time, she didn’t look like the arrogant princess who thought herself above everyone else. She just looked... lost.
After a long, tense silence, she finally spoke, her voice so soft he almost didn’t catch it. "...I understand." Her eyes were downcast, her defiance shattered. She looked like she wanted to argue, to scream at him, but she didn’t. She couldn’t.
Florian watched her, his expression cold and unyielding. "Good," he said, his voice like ice. "Because I won’t tolerate this behavior again. You’re not as high and mighty as you think you are."
He turned sharply, his cloak billowing behind him as he strode away, his steps echoing down the corridor. His heart was pounding, adrenaline still coursing through his veins from the confrontation. But he didn’t look back. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
Behind him, Scarlett stood frozen, her eyes glued to the floor, shoulders trembling as the weight of his words sank in. Her earlier arrogance was shattered, replaced by a stunned silence that echoed louder than any retort she could’ve thrown at him.
’Serves her right.’
A triumphant smile played on his lips, his chest swelling with satisfaction. ’She finally shut up.’ After everything she had said, all the insults and condescension, it was gratifying to see her brought down a peg.