Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 250: ’Would I Kill Him?’

Florian’s grip on the door tightened for a split second before he schooled his expression back into neutrality.

"Yes, it’s me. Don’t look so surprised, it’s insulting."

The voice was unmistakable—sharp, self-assured, with just a hint of irritation.

The person standing before him was none other than Scarlett.

Scarlett. Of all people. Of all princesses.

Florian’s lips parted, searching for the right words. "Lady Scarlett, it’s... a pleasure to see you."

He wasn’t sure how else to respond. Out of everyone in the palace, she was the last person he expected to come knocking at his door.

Scarlett tossed her unruly, deep red curls over her shoulder, her golden eyes flickering with something unreadable.

And she was alone.

No maids. No guards. Nothing.

That was odd.

"Yes, yes," she waved a hand impatiently. "I need to talk to you."

’What?’

"Oh... okay," Florian said hesitantly, stepping aside. "Come in?"

Scarlett huffed as if she had been expecting him to invite her in sooner, then strode past him with the elegance only someone of noble birth could pull off, her gown swishing behind her. Florian shut the door behind her, watching as she surveyed the room with a mild look of disapproval.

"Why so many plants and flowers?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.

Florian forced a polite smile. "They’re from my kingdom."

Then, realization struck him—Azure.

His gaze flickered subtly around the room, searching for any sign of the spirit beast. But he couldn’t spot him.

’Huh... maybe he’s hiding. Which is good.’

He wasn’t entirely sure if princesses were even allowed to see Azure, let alone interact with him.

He moved ahead of Scarlett, gesturing for her to sit on the chair Lucius had occupied earlier.

Scarlett hesitated, narrowing her eyes slightly as if questioning why he was offering that specific seat. Still, she sighed, adjusted her gown, and sat down, her posture stiff and proper. Florian took the seat opposite her, the small table between them feeling like a silent barrier.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Florian wasn’t sure what to say. The last two times he had interacted with her, she had been crying or panicking. Not exactly the best impression of their relationship.

Awkwardly, he glanced around the room, his eyes landing on the floor—

Azure was curled up under the bed, along with the blue butterflies that always followed him.

’They’re following him?’

That was... odd.

Before he could think too much about it, Scarlett suddenly cleared her throat.

Florian flinched slightly. "Right. You said you needed to speak with me?"

Scarlett’s usual sharp expression wavered, replaced by something else—something uncertain.

’Hmm?’

He watched as she took a deep breath, her fingers clutching at the fabric of her dress.

"Are you sure you didn’t tell His Highness that I didn’t want to be here?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "You know it’s a grave offense, and I... I know I’ve been mean to you, but I cannot afford to go to the dungeon. My family—my kingdom—will be ruined!"

Florian blinked, caught off guard by her sudden shift in demeanor.

Desperation.

It wasn’t something he had ever associated with Scarlett before, but there it was, plain as day.

"Princess Scarlett, really..." Florian gave her a small, genuine smile. "I would never tell His Majesty that."

Either way, the fact that you ran away was already suspicious... but you won the test, so...

Scarlett still didn’t look convinced. "Are you sure?"

Florian nodded. "If he knew, you’d already be in the dungeon. I’m sure he doesn’t know."

Scarlett’s shoulders slumped slightly, but the tension in her hands didn’t ease. "Then... why did he interrogate me?"

Florian frowned. "Interrogate you? How exactly?"

Scarlett bit her bottom lip, her hesitation evident. "His Majesty kept asking me if I hated him. If I had... some grievance against him. If I were given the chance..."

She trailed off, lowering her head.

Florian leaned in slightly. "If you were given the chance...?"

Scarlett’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt.

"Would..." she hesitated, then inhaled sharply. "Would I kill him?"

Florian’s body went rigid.

His mind blanked for half a second before his thoughts began racing.

"What?" he whispered. "Why... would he ask you that?"

Scarlett looked up at him, her golden eyes glistening with barely restrained fear. "I don’t know! But lately, you’ve been getting along with His Majesty, so I was hoping you would know!"

Florian tried to think, tried to piece it all together—

Heinz had been looking for his killer. But he never said who. Only that he knew certain characteristics.

Heinz was also supposedly looking for a wife, but he wasn’t taking it seriously.

And the test...

The test had revolved around poisoning.

Poisoning.

Heinz had been caught off guard when he died, despite being powerful. That could only mean—

’Could it be...?’

No.

Yes.

’It couldn’t be, right? He wouldn’t keep something this big from me if it was...’

But what if he had? What if Heinz had wanted Florian to figure it out on his own?

Was that why Scarlett was the one he chose?

Because she had run away from the test?

Because that could have been a sign—

That she had wanted to kill him?

No.

Yes.

’Could a princess really have killed him?’

Florian’s head started to ache.

Florian stared at Scarlett, his thoughts still spinning. He had barely begun to process what she had just told him when she suddenly leaned forward, her golden eyes gleaming with a rare mix of frustration and vulnerability.

"You don’t know why, then?" she pressed, her voice lower now. "Then... could you figure it out for me?"

Florian blinked. "Figure it out?"

Scarlett exhaled sharply, as if irritated by her own request. "I really need help, alright? If His Majesty is suspecting me of something this serious, then I need to know why."

Florian studied her carefully. There was no arrogance in her voice this time—no veiled insults, no superiority. Just unease.

’Is she serious?’

His fingers drummed lightly against the table as he considered her request. After a moment, he tilted his head.

"I thought you hated me," he said bluntly. "And now you’re asking me for help?"

Scarlett stiffened, her lips parting slightly in surprise. Then—

"H-Hah?! Don’t be ridiculous!" She turned her head away sharply, crossing her arms. "I don’t hate you, per se."

Florian raised a brow. "You literally insult me every time you see me. You called me out when I was trying to get closer to you, and at the last tea party, you practically drove me away."

Scarlett scoffed. "That was—! Ugh, that’s beside the point!" She flipped her curls over her shoulder, avoiding his gaze. "I just saw you as a threat, that’s all."

Florian frowned. "A threat? To what, exactly?"

Scarlett was quiet for a moment before exhaling, her arms still crossed tightly. "...To my place here."

Florian blinked. That wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

’Why does everyone see me as a threat?’ Florian thought frustratedly. ’Florian was barely a threat to anyone except those who are in love with Lucius and Lancelot.’

Scarlett scowled at his silence, clearly irritated. "I know I should have no reason to feel that way. You’re a boy, for crying out loud. It’s not like you’re actually competing for a real engagement. And yet..." Her grip on her arms tightened. "It was obvious. Everyone could see it."

Florian tilted his head. "See what?"

Scarlett hesitated. Then, grudgingly, she muttered, "That you didn’t seem to mind being here."

Florian stilled.

’What?’

He had expected something else. Maybe that she thought he was scheming or that he was too favored by Heinz. But this—

Scarlett huffed. "I don’t like that," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "Because I don’t want to be here. I told you before, didn’t I? But my parents forced me."

Florian remained silent, watching as she dropped her arms and clenched her hands into fists on her lap.

"And it makes no sense," she continued bitterly. "Our kingdom is just as rich and powerful as Concordia. My parents could have fought for me to stay. They could have refused. But they didn’t."

She laughed dryly, shaking her head. "They just let me go. Like it didn’t matter."

Florian’s chest tightened at her words. She was spitting out words like word vomit, as if she had been waiting for so long to say that.

’Ah.’

So that was it.

She wasn’t just angry at him. She was angry at the whole situation. At her family. At the way she had been treated like a disposable piece in a political game.

And despite her usual arrogance—despite her temper—there was a part of her that was just... hurt.

’So Scarlett is the type of character who is only mean and arrogant to hide how they really feel.’ Florian thought, gazing at her with pity as she avoided his gaze. ’Still, this is kind of hard to take in. It’s such a surprise but I guess... a pleasant one.’

Florian sighs. ’I guess it won’t hurt to try and ask...especially since...’

He thinks the killer Heinz is looking for might be a princess.