Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135: ’Did You Hate Florian?’

Florian’s fingers moved with practiced precision, delicately handling the unique ingredients laid out before him. The Selûr en’Vareth petals felt feather-light, almost fragile in his hands, as though a single careless touch might crush them.

Meanwhile, the Moonlit Dew shimmered like liquid starlight, its silvery hues catching the soft glow of the garden’s ethereal light as he carefully heated it over the flame. His movements were steady, his breathing even, the rhythm of his actions almost meditative.

He wasn’t nervous—if anything, he felt oddly detached. Exhaustion clung to him like a persistent shadow, the kind that seeped into his bones and weighed down his limbs, but his hands didn’t falter. They moved methodically, following the recipe step by step.

The faint aroma of Emberroot, earthy and smoky, mingled with the sweetness of Honeyvine Nectar as it dissolved naturally into the mixture. The scent curled around him, calming in its simplicity.

When he finished, the tea glowed faintly in the black porcelain cup, a deep garnet-red with a golden shimmer rippling like sunlight across its surface. It was beautiful, almost mesmerizing. Florian straightened, carefully lifting the cup and setting it down in front of Heinz.

"Done," he said simply, his voice devoid of inflection. Neutral.

Heinz raised a brow, his piercing gaze settling on Florian like he was trying to read between the lines. "Are you sure?" he asked, his tone smooth, edged with intrigue. "How can you be so confident that both instructions were correct? What if they were both wrong?"

Florian didn’t flinch under the scrutiny. He held Heinz’s gaze, unshaken. ’Because the answer was so simple it practically screamed at me,’ he thought, though he kept the words to himself. Instead, he met the challenge head-on.

"I trust my judgment," he said plainly. Then, without hesitation, he picked up the cup and brought it to his lips.

The tea was warm and sweet, the floral undertones dancing on his tongue in delicate waves. It wasn’t overpowering, but balanced—comforting, almost. As he swallowed, a faint spark of energy coursed through him, spreading from his chest outward, easing the fatigue that had been dragging him down. Florian let out a soft exhale, setting the cup back down.

’Not bad.’

For a moment, Heinz’s expression faltered. Surprise flickered across his face before he masked it, amusement curling at the edges of his lips. A small smile broke through his usual stoic demeanor.

"You’re quite bold, aren’t you?" Heinz remarked, his tone laced with something that felt like approval.

Florian shook his head, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Not bold. Just confident, Your Majesty."

Heinz chuckled—a low, rich sound that seemed to reverberate through the quiet night. It caught Florian off guard. He’d never heard the king sound so... unguarded before. "Fair enough," Heinz said. He leaned back slightly, gesturing toward the tea. "Pour me a cup, then."

Florian nodded and obliged, carefully pouring the glowing liquid into a second cup. The soft ripples of golden light reflected against the porcelain as he slid the cup toward Heinz. He couldn’t help but study the king as he did.

’Why is he acting so different tonight?’ he wondered. ’What’s the catch?’

Heinz took the cup, his movements as measured and deliberate as ever. He sipped, his eyes briefly fluttering shut as he savored the taste. A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the distant chirping of crickets and the gentle rustle of leaves in the garden.

The luminescent flowers surrounding them bathed the paths in hues of blue and purple, their glow soft and surreal. Above them, the sky stretched wide, a sea of stars glittering like scattered diamonds.

Florian’s gaze drifted upward briefly before returning to Heinz. The king was unusually relaxed, his sharp edges dulled. He almost looked... human. It was unnerving.

’What is going on in his head?’ Florian thought. ’He’s been testing me since day one. Is this just another test?’

Then Heinz spoke, shattering the quiet. "What’s your favorite color, Florian?"

Florian blinked, thrown completely off guard. "My favorite color?" he repeated, his brow furrowing slightly.

’What the fuck?’ Florian thought, caught entirely off balance by the randomness of the question. After a moment, he shrugged. "Green. I’ve always liked it. It’s calming."

’Is this twenty-one questions? It feels like we’re on a date,’ Florian mused, carefully keeping his face neutral. "Anything sweet. Any dessert, but specifically cake." _{ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com}

"Then you must be aware of his... relationships," Heinz said, his tone as unreadable as his expression. "With certain people in the palace."

’He’s talking about Lucius and Lancelot, isn’t he?’

Florian froze, his thoughts flashing to the memories of Lucius and Lancelot. A faint heat crept up his neck, and he let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah. I have some idea..."