Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 106

Chapter 106: ’What Are You Gonna Do About It?’

"Oh? You seem upset," Heinz remarked casually as he snatched the papers from Florian’s hands, his sharp, assessing gaze lingering for a fleeting moment before flicking to the first page.

Florian felt a vein pulse on his forehead, his restraint hanging by a thread. He had stormed into Heinz’s office after that infuriating conversation with Lancelot, his steps heavy with frustration. Still, he thought he had masked his emotions well enough. Judging by Heinz’s comment, though, he was sorely mistaken.

"I just found out about something... unpleasant. Something I’d rather not talk about right now," Florian replied stiffly, his teeth clenched. He already knew how this would play out. Heinz wouldn’t press for details—not out of politeness but sheer disinterest.

True to form, the king merely shrugged, his focus shifting back to the documents. ’Stupid Lucius. Stupid, conniving pervert,’ Florian fumed silently. ’He’s been reading my emotions this whole time, knowing exactly how I felt. And he never told me. That bastard...’

The thought gnawed at him like a persistent itch. Lucius hadn’t just withheld some trivial fact. No, this was a deliberate choice to exploit Florian’s vulnerability. Every moment of frustration, every flicker of doubt—Lucius had been aware, fully cognizant of emotions Florian himself hadn’t fully processed. ’He used it against me. God, how long has he been doing this? How much of our relationship was him manipulating me?’

"Florian..." Heinz’s sharp voice cut through his spiraling thoughts, commanding and slightly irritated. Florian jolted, his head snapping up as if doused in cold water.

"H-Huh? Sorry, what were you saying?" he stammered, blinking rapidly to reorient himself.

"I’ve been calling your name for the past minute," Heinz said, his tone flat but tinged with annoyance. His piercing eyes bore into Florian. "Why are you zoning out?"

Florian straightened instinctively, a flush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I was... distracted. Did you need clarification on something?"

Heinz didn’t answer immediately, his gaze dropping back to the papers as he tapped a finger on one of the pages. "Explain this section in detail. What’s the setup for these activities?"

Florian glanced at the indicated passage and took a steadying breath. Focus. Keep your head in the game, he reminded himself. "Well," he began, "the plan is for you to spend time with each princess individually—one per day. You’ll engage in activities with them, dine with them, and interact casually. During these moments, we’ll set up hidden tests to evaluate their character and reactions without their knowledge."

Heinz hummed in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable. "Why are the activities for each princess different? Wouldn’t it be more consistent to keep them the same?"

Florian had expected this question. "Each princess has unique strengths, temperaments, and interests, Your Majesty. Judging them based on identical activities could lead to unfair assessments. However, the tests themselves will remain consistent to ensure fairness."

"Mhm." Heinz nodded again, his lips curving into a faint, almost amused smirk. "Surprisingly, this is a good idea."

Florian’s eye twitched. ’Surprisingly?’ He forced a polite smile, though his jaw tightened as he bit back a retort. ’Don’t glare. Don’t glare. He’s still the king.’

"That said," Heinz continued, dipping a quill into the inkpot beside him, "I have a few tests of my own I’d like to add."

"Oh? Of course, Your Majesty," Florian replied quickly, gesturing toward the blank page at the end of the proposal. "I left space for any additional input or suggestions. Just... ensure the tests are subtle enough that the princesses won’t suspect anything. Their genuine responses are what we’re after."

Heinz offered a curt nod and began writing, the faint scratch of the quill filling the room. Florian remained standing awkwardly, unsure of whether to speak or wait. The silence dragged on, broken only by the rustle of parchment as Heinz flipped a page.

Florian stiffened, caught off guard by the question. ’Wait. He’s actually asking?’

Florian sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. ’He’s not letting it go?’