Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 121: ’The King’s Poisoning’

Chapter 121: ’The King’s Poisoning’

The silence in the room was suffocating, heavier than the air before a storm. Alexandria’s fingers hovered above the two sheets of paper on the table, her hands trembling faintly as her gaze darted between them. Her lips moved silently, whispering a prayer under her breath.

Florian could see the faintest sheen of sweat on her brow, her usually composed expression crumbling under the weight of the decision before her.

She glanced up at Heinz, searching for reassurance, but the king’s expression was as impenetrable as stone. His red eyes held no warmth, only an eerie calm, as though this situation—a gamble with his own life—was nothing but a casual afternoon pastime. He was the picture of unshaken confidence, a man who had faced death too many times to fear it anymore.

Alexandria swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your Majesty... how am I supposed to know which one is correct?" Her fingers twitched over the papers, the weight of the moment pressing into her chest like an iron fist.

Florian’s eyes snapped to Heinz, hoping for some kind of hint, some explanation, but all Heinz did was lean back in his chair, the faintest of smirks tugging at his lips.

"You’ll know," Heinz replied smoothly, as if the answer were obvious.

’What kind of answer is that?’ Florian’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his jaw tightening. He glanced at Lucius, who stood beside him, calm and composed as always, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his usually unreadable eyes.

Lucius leaned closer, his voice low as he whispered to Florian, "Do you know anything about this?"

Florian shook his head, his voice equally hushed. "No. He didn’t tell me anything about this test. Did he tell you?"

Lucius’s gaze didn’t leave the scene unfolding before them. "No. He’s always been the one to prepare it himself. I’ve never seen anyone else do it."

Florian frowned, his unease deepening. ’Hah. Seriously?’

He glanced back at Alexandria. Her lips had stopped moving, her whispered prayer replaced by a nervous silence. Her hands remained suspended over the papers, her brow furrowed in concentration, her breaths coming faster. The ornate tea set gleamed beside her, mocking her hesitation with its polished elegance.

"You’re telling me there’s no trick here? No safety net?" Florian muttered to Lucius.

Lucius’s expression hardened. "As far as I know, it’s real. The tea can kill him if it’s prepared wrong."

Florian’s stomach dropped. ’What the hell is he thinking? This is insane, even for Heinz.’

He could hear the soft rustle of fabric as Alexandria shifted in her seat. She was staring intently at the papers now, her fingers brushing the edges of each one as if trying to feel for an answer. The sweat beading on her temple betrayed her growing panic.

"She’s nervous," Florian whispered.

Lucius nodded subtly. "She should be. One wrong choice, and..." He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.

Florian’s chest tightened. His mind raced, recalling every interaction he’d had with Alexandria so far. She was smart—he had to believe that. He had to trust that she could figure this out.

"Be smart," he had told her earlier. The words echoed in his mind now, louder with each passing second.

’Please, Alexandria. Be smart. Figure this out.’

But as the minutes ticked by, her nervousness only seemed to grow. Her hands began to shake, her breaths coming faster. She glanced up at Heinz again, desperation creeping into her expression.

"Your Majesty, are there any clues? Anything at all?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Heinz’s smirk widened ever so slightly. "There are clues," he said simply. "You just need to see them."

Florian resisted the urge to groan aloud. ’I swear, he’s a jerk.’

Alexandria’s gaze dropped back to the papers, her brows knitting together as she scrutinized the instructions. One was written in elegant, flowing script, the other in blocky, precise lettering.

Both contained similar steps, but there were subtle differences—different steeping times, varying measurements of the ingredients, and one mentioned a particular sequence for brewing that the other did not.

Florian leaned toward Lucius, his voice barely audible. "What do you think? Is there anything in there that stands out?"

Lucius shook his head, his expression grim. "I don’t know. But if His Majesty says there are clues, they’re probably there. You just have to know where to look."

Florian bit the inside of his cheek, frustration mounting. His eyes flicked back to Alexandria, who was still staring at the papers as if willing the answer to reveal itself. Her earlier confidence was fading fast, replaced by a growing sense of panic.

’Come on, Alexandria. Think. Don’t let him get to you.’

Then, almost imperceptibly, her hands stilled. Her eyes widened just a fraction, and Florian thought he saw a spark of realization flash across her face.

’Did she figure it out?’

She hesitated for a moment longer, then reached for the paper with the flowing script. Her fingers trembled as she lifted it, her other hand moving toward the tea set.

"Are you sure about this?" Heinz asked, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

Alexandria froze, her eyes darting to his. The weight of his gaze was palpable, but she straightened her spine, her grip on the paper tightening.

"I... I think so," she said, her voice steadier now, though still laced with uncertainty.

Heinz tilted his head, watching her with an intensity that made Florian’s skin crawl. "Then proceed."

Florian held his breath as Alexandria began preparing the tea, her movements careful and deliberate. Every clink of porcelain, every rustle of fabric, every soft exhale felt magnified in the stillness of the room.

Lucius crossed his arms, his expression unreadable as he watched. Florian, meanwhile, couldn’t tear his eyes away.

’Please be right. Please.’

The minutes stretched on, each one an eternity as Alexandria followed the steps outlined on the paper. When she finally poured the tea into a delicate cup and set it before Heinz, the tension in the room was almost unbearable.

Heinz regarded the cup for a moment, then lifted it to his lips.

Florian’s heart pounded in his chest, his pulse roaring in his ears as he waited for the outcome. Alexandria clasped her hands tightly in her lap, her lips moving once more in a silent prayer.

Heinz took a slow, deliberate sip.

The room seemed to freeze.

Heinz’s throat moved as he swallowed, and for a moment, everything seemed still. Alexandria’s breathing hitched, her wide eyes locked on his face, searching for any sign of reaction. Florian could feel the knot in his chest slowly loosening.

’She did it... Didn’t she?’

The faintest flicker of hope lit Alexandria’s face. She pressed her hands tightly together, her lips parting as though she wanted to say something, but no words came. Florian exchanged a glance with Lucius, whose guarded expression softened ever so slightly.

"It worked," Florian whispered, almost to himself, relief flooding his tone.

But then, Heinz’s body stiffened. A harsh cough broke through the silence, so sudden and jarring that Alexandria flinched. The sound echoed in the room like a thunderclap.

Another cough followed, wet and guttural. Heinz pressed a hand to his chest, his red eyes widening in shock.

And then, the blood came.

A violent spray of crimson stained his lips, splattering onto the polished table. Alexandria let out a strangled gasp, her face draining of all color.

"No," Florian breathed, horror gripping him as Heinz swayed in his seat, his hand clutching at the edge of the table.

Everything seemed to slow.

’No. No. This isn’t happening.’

Florian’s legs moved before he could even think, his heart slamming against his ribs as he rushed forward. Heinz’s body jerked, unsteady, and then began to tilt.

"Your Majesty!" Florian cried out, his voice cracking as he dove toward him.

Heinz’s larger frame collapsed into Florian’s arms, the sudden weight nearly knocking him off balance. Florian stumbled, his boots scraping against the floor.

’Damn it, he’s too heavy!’

He strained to hold the king up, his knees buckling under the pressure. Heinz’s face was pale now, his bloodied lips parted as another cough wracked his chest, sending more blood spilling down his chin.

"Help me!" Florian shouted, his voice desperate as he sank to the ground under Heinz’s weight. His back hit the cold floor with a dull thud, the king’s body slumping against him.

"Your Majesty!" Alexandria’s panicked voice rang out, but she was frozen, her trembling hands clutching the edge of the table.

’Fuck!’

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