Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137: ’And The Winner Is...’

It was finally the day of the announcement—one day before the ball. The castle was alive with restless energy, tension crackling in the air like an impending storm. By now, word had already spread throughout the Diamond Palace: Heinz would choose only one partner for the ball.

And that wasn’t just any choice.

It was a declaration.

A single decision that sent ripples far beyond the castle walls, shaking the very foundations of the nobility.

Because now, the entire kingdom knew.

Heinz wasn’t simply selecting a dance partner. He was choosing a queen.

The moment the invitations were sent, the aristocracy erupted into an uproar. After years of sitting on the throne, Heinz had never once hosted a ball within the Diamond Palace. This was the first. And with that first came expectations, ambitions, and silent wars brewing beneath every polite smile.

The throne room was steeped in anticipation, the air thick with unspoken thoughts and barely contained nerves.

The princesses gathered, but no one spoke of it outright. They didn’t need to. The weight of what was coming pressed down on them all.

"Prince Florian, good morning. It’s rare to see you in the throne room this early."

Alexandria and Athena approached, their voices breaking through Florian’s thoughts.

’They look better than the last time I saw them,’ he mused, studying their expressions. There was still tension in their eyes, but something had shifted. They seemed steadier—more composed, as if they had accepted whatever fate awaited them.

He offered a polite smile. "Good morning, Lady Alexandria." He turned his gaze to Athena. "And to you as well, Lady Athena."

Athena, ever soft-spoken, gave a small, hesitant smile. Since Florian had saved her life, she had grown more comfortable around him, though she remained reserved. Even during her time with Heinz and the test, she had barely spoken. But she always smiled when Florian was near.

"Good... morning, Prince Florian."

Another voice joined the conversation.

"Good morning."

Florian turned just as Mira entered the throne room—alone. A rare sight.

Bridget was nowhere to be seen.

His gaze flickered to Mira’s eyes, catching the exhaustion buried beneath her carefully composed mask. Her test hadn’t been long ago, and the weight of it still clung to her shoulders. She was trying to conceal it, but Florian had learned to recognize the subtle signs—the faint tension in her jaw, the way her fingers briefly curled into fists before she stilled them at her sides.

"Good morning, Lady Mira," he acknowledged.

Mira forced a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

From the corner of his vision, Florian caught movement. Lucius stood near the far end of the room, watchful as always, his sharp gaze flickering between the princesses. He wasn’t just observing—he was reading them, noting every shift in their emotions.

Judging by the grim set of Lucius’s mouth, Florian didn’t need to guess.

Most of them were barely holding themselves together.

"I’m nervous to find out who won," Mira admitted after a beat of silence, her voice quieter than usual. "I just hope... it doesn’t create too much of a rift between us."

The words weren’t really meant for Florian—they were meant for the other princesses.

Alexandria, ever the diplomat, responded with a kind smile. "Of course not. Whoever won, earned it. I’m sure Prince Florian chose carefully."

Right.

They still believed he had been the one making the decision. That he had the final say.

But in reality—

’I have no idea who Heinz picked.’

If he had to guess—

"Good morning, everyone."

A new voice cut through the air.

"Oh? Prince Florian is already here? And it’s... surprisingly quiet."

Bridget strode in, the picture of composure. If she felt any nerves, she didn’t show it. Her gaze flickered over the room, taking in the unusual stillness, before she arched a brow.

"That’s a surprise."

It was. _{freewēbnoveℓ.com}

Why?

Florian’s eyes moved across the room.

Scarlett and Camilla were already here. Normally, they were the loudest—always the first to pick a fight with him, the first to speak their minds without hesitation.

But now?

Silence.

For Camilla, it was obvious—she was struggling the most. Her usual mask of indifference was slipping, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

And Scarlett...

’I haven’t seen her since she cried and passed out.’

His gaze flickered toward her.

’She admitted to me that she didn’t want to be here... I’m sure she’s being cautious.’

Scarlett stayed close to Camilla, the two whispering in hushed tones.

"That is a surprise," Mira murmured under her breath. "Scarlett is quiet."

Alexandria followed Mira’s gaze.

Scarlett stood apart from the rest, a shadow against the grandeur of the throne room. Unlike before, she wasn’t running her mouth or glaring at anyone. There was no fire in her stance, no defiance in her eyes. Instead, she looked... small.

’Bridget and Athena are my top candidates—they managed to somewhat pass Heinz’s test. But in terms of chemistry...’

’She had the most chemistry with Heinz. He actually enjoyed speaking with her. Her reaction to his test wasn’t bad either, so she’s probably the top contender.’

The only one Florian was certain wouldn’t win. For obvious reasons.

"Oh, Prince Florian..." Bridget mused, her curiosity evident. "Which reminds me—why aren’t you the one announcing the winner?"

Right.

That was what they had all been waiting to see. Heinz’s test had been ruthless—a cruel, calculated performance where he pretended to be poisoned by them. A test that had forced them to confront the possibility of his death at their hands.