Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 119: ’She’s Lying’

Chapter 119: ’She’s Lying’

"I must admit, they really do seem like the perfect fit," Lucius remarked, his tone cool and deliberate as his gaze remained fixed on the pair seated across the garden, their lighthearted conversation punctuated by soft laughter.

"Is there any way we can figure out what they’re actually talking about? I’m supposed to judge how well they fit together, but just watching them isn’t enough," Florian said, crossing his arms tightly against his chest in frustration. "It’s been about thirty minutes of us standing here doing nothing."

"I-I can tell you what they’re saying, Your Highness," Cashew offered, his voice timid but earnest. Florian turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

"How?"

Cashew fidgeted, wringing his hands nervously. "I can read their lips... It’s, uh, something I learned back at the orphanage. Whenever someone came to adopt us, we weren’t allowed to speak to them right away, but I’d watch them—uh, their mouths—to figure out what they were saying. It’s... it’s creepy, isn’t it?" His voice trailed off, and his face flushed with embarrassment.

Florian blinked at him, then smiled gently. He reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Cashew’s head. "It’s not creepy at all. That’s actually an incredible skill. Can you tell me what they’re saying now? Or at least what they’ve been talking about?"

Cashew’s eyes widened, his mood visibly brightening at the praise. He nodded eagerly, turning his attention to Heinz and Alexandria, who were still chatting over tea and biscuits.

"Princess Alexandria has been talking about her kingdom. His Majesty keeps asking her questions about it," Cashew began, his voice gaining a little more confidence.

"Taking an interest in something she loves," Florian mused, jotting it down in the notebook he carried. "That’s... surprisingly charming of him."

Cashew continued, his focus unwavering. "Now he’s asking about her parents—if she misses them."

Florian nodded slowly. ’He’s making an effort. That’s good, right? It’s not just about finding someone who fits the role on paper. It’d be better if Heinz actually likes who he marries. It’ll save both of them the pain later.’

"That’s actually very impressive, Cashew," Lucius chimed in, a hint of approval in his usually detached tone. "You should have told us about this skill earlier—it could be useful in many situations."

Cashew flushed deeper, his voice barely above a whisper. "T-Thank you, Sir Lucius."

Florian glanced at Lucius and nodded in agreement. Lip-reading wasn’t just a useful skill; it required remarkable attention to detail and mental agility. He couldn’t help but admire Cashew’s resourcefulness.

Turning back toward the pair in question, Florian squinted slightly. He had been too focused on taking notes to notice before, but now Heinz seemed to say something that caused Alexandria’s bright smile to falter for just a moment. Her shoulders stiffened briefly before she recovered.

’She seems... hesitant?’

"What did His Majesty just say?" Lucius asked, his sharp eyes not missing the subtle shift in Alexandria’s demeanor.

Cashew frowned, his brow furrowing in concentration before turning to Florian. "His Majesty asked the princess if she’s ever hated him, even a little, for taking her away from her family and kingdom."

Both Florian and Lucius froze, caught off guard by the weight of that question.

"Why would Heinz ask something like that?" Florian said, his voice low and filled with confusion.

Lucius adjusted his glasses, his expression thoughtful but tinged with unease. "Perhaps... to ensure there are no hidden grievances? Let’s be honest. Most of the princesses—and even you, Your Highness—had lives before coming here. It hasn’t been long since you all started living under the king’s roof, and while they may seem content now, who’s to say that will last in the long run?"

Florian sighed, his thoughts spiraling. ’He has a point. How many of these princesses secretly bear grudges against Heinz for taking them away from their homes? Their families? Someone they might have loved? And how many of them are just adapting to their situation because it’s expected of them?’

Still, he couldn’t imagine Heinz intentionally causing them pain. Heinz could be blunt, sometimes even naive, but he wasn’t heartless.

"What did she say?" Florian finally asked, watching as Alexandria straightened herself, seemingly steeling her resolve.

Cashew hesitated before speaking, his voice soft. "She said... at first, she was sad. She misses her parents dearly and hopes to see them again someday. But she’s grateful to His Majesty for giving her the opportunity to be more than just a princess. And that..." Cashew’s voice faltered slightly, but he pushed on. "That she could never hate His Majesty. In fact, she adores him very much."

Florian’s eyes widened. ’Oh damn.’

"That’s... basically a confession," he muttered, almost to himself.

"Y-Yeah," Cashew agreed, his face turning red, clearly not used to witnessing such intimate declarations.

Florian couldn’t help but be a little impressed. ’Way to go, Alexandria. I didn’t think you had it in you, but good for you.’ He was half tempted to cheer her on in his head, though he wisely kept it to himself.

However, when he glanced at Lucius, the older man’s expression had darkened. His usually calm demeanor was replaced with a furrowed brow and a tense jaw as he stared at the scene before them.

"Lucius? What’s wrong?" Florian asked, feeling a flicker of concern.

Lucius finally turned to him, his silver eyes cold and unwavering. "If what Cashew says is accurate—and I have no reason to doubt him—then..."

’Then?’ Florian thought, his heartbeat quickening.

"Her Highness is lying about something," Lucius stated bluntly, his tone devoid of doubt.

"What?" Florian’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. "That’s impossible. She’s supposed to be holy and whatnot. I’m sure you just... read it wrong?" His voice faltered slightly, but he held onto the shred of hope that Lucius was mistaken.

’What would she even lie about? It’s probably not a big deal... right?’ Florian tried to steady himself, but doubt crept in like a slow chill.

Lucius shook his head, his expression unrelenting. "She’s nervous. And it’s not just fleeting—her nervousness isn’t fading. I can tell she’s hiding something. But you’re right; it’s... curious. Why would she lie?"

Florian frowned, the knot in his chest tightening. He turned to Cashew, who had been quietly observing. "Cashew, what is His Majesty saying right now—wait, hold on." His eyes snapped back to Heinz as he noticed the king’s fingers tapping the table rhythmically.

’Oh.’

"That’s the signal," Florian murmured, a flicker of understanding flashing in his gaze. "He wants us to proceed with the next part of the test."

Lucius gave a curt nod. "Understood. I’ll inform the chef that they’re ready for the meal." Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away, his figure stiff and deliberate.

Florian exhaled and turned to Cashew. "Stay here. You don’t need to come with me."

Cashew blinked, his timid gaze searching Florian’s face for a moment. "O-Okay, Your Highness," he said quietly, bowing his head.

Florian softened, watching him for a beat longer than necessary. ’Someone as young as you doesn’t need to see this. You’ve already seen more than you should—me getting kidnapped, knights dying. That’s enough.’

Straightening his posture, Florian turned his attention back to the garden. Heinz and Alexandria sat in serene contrast to the turmoil brewing within him.

"I’ll inform them lunch is ready," Florian said to no one in particular, shaking off the creeping unease as he started walking toward the pair.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.