Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 132: ’The Most Suspicious’

Chapter 132: ’The Most Suspicious’

"What... happened between you and the princess?" Lucius asked slowly, his eyes never leaving Scarlett’s back as they followed her and Heinz through the gardens. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the stone path. The air was crisp, the scent of blooming flowers lingering, but the tension between them was palpable.

Cashew wasn’t with them, so they couldn’t read Scarlett’s emotions directly, but it didn’t take a mind reader to notice the way she clung to Heinz, laughing a bit too brightly, her voice just a little too cheerful. She was trying too hard.

Florian shrugged, his expression indifferent. "We just got into our usual arguments. Nothing new." His voice was casual, almost bored, but Lucius didn’t buy it.

"You’re lying," Lucius stated flatly, his piercing gaze flicking to Florian’s face.

Florian rolled his eyes, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Fine, believe what you want. Just tell me what’s wrong with her."

Lucius glanced back at Heinz and Scarlett. She was smiling, leaning in a little too close, her laughter echoing through the garden. But Lucius’s expression remained grim.

"She’s been lying this whole time," he said quietly.

Florian’s brow furrowed. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"From the moment you both arrived. Every conversation, every smile, every time she spoke. It’s all a lie."

"What are her emotions?" Florian asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Regret... and sadness."

Florian blinked, his eyes widening slightly. "Really? She’s hiding it really well."

"Hence why I think she’s the most suspicious," Lucius replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "Nobody lies and hides their feelings this well. Not even you."

Florian shot him a warning glare. "Watch it."

Lucius merely chuckled, a sly grin playing on his lips. "His Majesty won’t be thrilled about this. He doesn’t seem too pleased with how the other princesses did during this test either." His eyes flicked back to Scarlett, his gaze thoughtful. "But Princess Scarlett... she’s quite something. She always seemed the most honest about her personality, always voicing her opinions without a second thought. To think she lies this much..."

"You don’t look at her emotions?" Florian asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Towards me or you? Sure. But this is the first time I’ve actually observed her with His Majesty, just like you. Normally, she visits him in his chambers, or he goes to her." Lucius’s expression darkened. "She’s different around him. Completely different."

"Oh." Florian’s eyes narrowed as he watched Scarlett giggle at something Heinz said, her eyes sparkling with fake admiration. ’She’s putting on a show.’

He wondered if their argument earlier had anything to do with it. Had he rattled her so much that she was resorting to lies? But no... that didn’t make sense. They’d argued plenty of times before, and she never cared about his opinion. If anything, she always seemed to enjoy antagonizing him.

No, this was different. This was about Heinz. ’So, she acts like this when she’s with him... interesting.’

"I wonder how she’ll react to the test," Florian murmured, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

Lucius let out a small sigh. "I assume she’ll cry like the rest. Sobbing, shaking, falling apart. They always do."

Florian nodded, his lips curling into a faint, humorless smile. "Yeah... probably." But unlike the others, he wouldn’t feel even a shred of sympathy for her.

If anything, he was looking forward to watching her break.

’Yeah, I’m petty. So what?’

─────── ·𖥸· ───────

It was time for Scarlett’s test.

They stood inside the grand dining room, sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows, casting fractured colors across the marble floor. The air was tense, heavy with anticipation. At the center of the room, Heinz sat calmly at the table, his expression unreadable as he gestured to the two pieces of paper before Scarlett.

Scarlett stood frozen, her face pale, her hands trembling as she looked between the two options. Her fingers twitched, hesitant, as if the papers themselves were poisonous.

"I... I don’t understand, Your Majesty," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted between the instructions, her brows knitting together in confusion. "I’m not knowledgeable about tea."

Heinz leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady and cold. "You don’t have to be knowledgeable about tea to know."

Scarlett’s lips parted, then closed as she swallowed nervously. "And... and the other princesses passed this test?"

Heinz’s mouth curved into a faint, humorless smile. "I’m still alive, aren’t I?"

Florian had to fight back a laugh. ’Good job, Heinz. For once, I’m glad you’re such a bastard.’

Scarlett’s shoulders slumped. "O-Okay..." she muttered under her breath, her voice shaky. Her fingers tightened around the papers, her knuckles turning white.

Watching her unravel was... satisfying. There was no trace of the arrogant, flirty girl who always acted like she owned the room. Now, she was just a trembling mess, completely out of her depth. ’Looks like she’s finally realizing that being from one of the richest kingdoms doesn’t mean she’s smart.’

Florian leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he watched her struggle. It was petty, he knew that, but after everything she’d said and done, he didn’t care. ’If anything, this is long overdue.’

It took nearly thirty agonizing minutes before Scarlett made her choice. Her hand shook as she placed one piece of paper back on the table. "I... I choose this one..." she whispered.

Heinz’s expression remained unchanged. He simply nodded and gestured toward the tea set. "Then follow the steps and prepare the tea."

Scarlett swallowed hard, her throat bobbing as she moved toward the table. Her hands fumbled as she measured the leaves, her shoulders tense as she poured the hot water. Even from where he stood, Florian could see her trembling.

It was... almost pathetic.

’I wonder if she regrets acting so high and mighty now.’

When she finally poured the tea into Heinz’s cup, she looked like she was about to collapse. Heinz took the cup without hesitation, his eyes never leaving her as he brought it to his lips and drank.

Florian watched with bated breath, his heart thudding in his chest. ’It’s showtime.’

Heinz waited a beat, his face expressionless, then two beats... his eyes locked on Scarlett. Relief flickered in her gaze, her shoulders beginning to relax.

’And now... blood.’

Right on cue, blood trickled from the corner of Heinz’s mouth. His eyes widened, his body going rigid before he collapsed, his chair toppling over as he fell to the floor. His limbs twitched violently, his body convulsing as if seized by poison.

Florian’s eyes widened in mock horror. "Your Majesty!" he shouted, his voice ringing out in the room. Lucius moved quickly, rushing to Heinz’s side, his movements precise, practiced.

It was all an act, of course. The same test Heinz had given all the princesses. They would brew the tea, Heinz would pretend to be poisoned, and then they’d see how the girl reacted. It was a cruel test, meant to see who would panic, who would try to help, and who would only think of themselves.

But Florian hadn’t expected this.

"I... I didn’t mean to..." Scarlett’s voice was barely a whisper, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at Heinz’s ’dying’ body. Her whole body was trembling, her hands shaking so badly that she nearly dropped the empty teapot. "I... I didn’t mean to... oh, what... what have I done? I... I have to... I have to get out of here..."

She took a step back, then another, her eyes wild with fear. Her breath came out in sharp, ragged gasps, her chest heaving as she looked at the door. Her whole body was shaking like a leaf caught in a storm.

’Is she... seriously trying to run away?’ Florian’s eyes widened.