Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 260

Chapter 260: ’Just you, Florian.’

Florian’s fingers twitched against the napkin as he desperately searched for a way out. His mind raced through every possible excuse, grasping at anything that could save him from the situation unraveling before him.

’I have a sudden emergency? No. I suddenly remembered an important letter? No, I don’t handle correspondence. Maybe... I could just collapse? Pretend to faint? No. Cashew would worry again. Would Heinz actually let me leave if I did?’

The more he thought about it, the more suffocating the atmosphere felt. Gods, he wanted to melt into the ground. Just disappear. Vanish. Maybe, if he willed it hard enough, the chair beneath him would open up and swallow him whole.

Unfortunately, reality was cruel.

When he finally dared to glance up, he immediately regretted it.

Alexandria was beaming at him, her bright blue eyes filled with warmth and something like encouragement. Athena, on the other hand, was peeking at him shyly, almost as if she were taking mental notes on his behavior.

The maids, standing dutifully behind them, wore expressions of barely concealed awe—some even seemed... pleased?

Florian quickly averted his gaze, deciding he would rather look anywhere but at the sea of curious eyes analyzing every move Heinz made toward him.

Sensing his discomfort, Alexandria took it upon herself to shift the conversation.

"Your Majesty," she started, smoothing the fabric of her dress as she composed herself. "May I ask about the next test for the selection?"

Florian blinked.

’Damn. She just went straight for it.’

Even Alexandria’s maids seemed impressed by her boldness, their chins lifting ever so slightly in silent approval. Athena, however, immediately turned red at the mention of the selection, her fingers tightening around the hem of her sleeve.

Florian hesitated before glancing at Heinz, expecting him to turn his attention to the princesses. After all, this was about them.

But Heinz wasn’t looking at Alexandria.

He wasn’t looking at Athena, either.

His gaze, steady and unwavering, remained on Florian.

Florian stiffened. His stomach twisted unpleasantly, and he instinctively looked away. ’Oh, for fuck’s sake.’

Then, Heinz spoke.

"It’s up to Florian."

Florian’s eye twitched.

’Knew it. Knew he was going to say that.’

Dragging in a slow breath, Florian schooled his features, forcing himself to push down the immediate wave of irritation. He refused to let Heinz get the reaction he was likely waiting for.

Instead, he smiled—calm, collected, like he hadn’t just choked on tea moments ago.

"Your Majesty and I," he began smoothly, "are actually planning to help the villages after seeing the state of the one we visited." He let his voice dip just slightly, just enough to make the weight of his words noticeable. "They were quite unfortunate. Truly, terribly unfortunate."

’Let’s see how he’ll react.’

Heinz’s lips twitched, just barely, but it was there. That glimmer of amusement in his crimson eyes.

Florian knew it. He had immunity now.

The game had changed.

Athena, seeming to gain a bit of confidence, hesitantly leaned forward. "Then... what is the plan?"

Florian opened his mouth to answer, but—

"We’re still in the process of planning," Heinz cut in smoothly. "We’ll announce the details once it’s set."

Florian narrowed his eyes slightly. ’Why cut me off?’

But then he remembered.

Scarlett’s request. The way Heinz had interrogated her so intensely.

His own theory—that Heinz suspected a princess of killing him in his past life.

And now, another realization crept in.

Every single time Florian had attended a tea party—first with all the princesses, then with just Alexandria, and now with Alexandria and Athena—Heinz had appeared.

Every. Single. Time.

Florian’s fingers drummed lightly against the table.

’Why? And how?’

Alexandria, ever composed, clasped her hands together and smiled brightly. "That sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to see what the next test will be like. I do hope it will be something meaningful."

’What?’

’Her courage knows no bounds.’

’She really must like him, huh?’

’Huh?’