Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 390: ’Make Them Leave.’

Chapter 390: ’Make Them Leave.’

The room went still—so quiet that even the sound of someone breathing felt like thunder against the suffocating silence.

Florian’s stomach twisted painfully. His hands trembled at his sides.

’I should’ve let the princesses leave... I should’ve...’

The weight of everyone’s stares pressed down on him like iron chains. Every pair of eyes was on him. Watching. Waiting. Judging.

Of course, they would. _{fr\eewebno vel .c(o)m}

Because in this entire kingdom... the only person who possessed blue butterflies—magical, ethereal, unmistakable—was him.

Florian’s throat closed up. His mouth opened, ready to deny it. Ready to demand how exactly they thought a butterfly could kill someone. But before he could even speak—

A sharp gasp.

"Oh... right. Prince Florian’s butterflies... they’re poisonous!" Alexandria’s voice rang out, high-pitched with horror.

Florian froze.

’What...?’ His chest tightened. His breath hitched. ’What the hell is she doing?’

He turned toward her, disbelief etched across his face, frowning deeply.

"...Poisonous?" Lucius echoed, his gaze narrowing as it flicked between Florian and Alexandria. "And... how did you know that, Princess Alexandria?"

The room shifted. All gazes snapped to Alexandria.

Her fingers twitched as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glancing quickly—too quickly—at Florian.

"Prince Florian and I were... talking about it a few days ago," she answered, her voice unnervingly smooth.

Florian’s heart dropped like lead in his chest.

’No... no. That’s not how it happened. You told me. YOU told me. I didn’t know until you told me!’

His nails dug into his palms.

’Why are you making it sound like... like I was the one who brought it up?’

Lancelot’s frown deepened. His voice took on that clipped, calculating tone Florian had come to recognize when the knight slipped into investigation mode.

"What does this mean, Prince Florian?" Bridget asked from the side, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and suspicion.

"You... knew they were poisonous?" Lancelot pressed, his tone sharper now.

The air felt thinner. Florian’s vision blurred at the edges.

Every gaze stabbed into him like knives. Suspicion. Doubt.

’They think I did this.’

But—no. No. Lucius was here. Lucius knew him. Lucius would—

"I didn’t know... not until Alexandria told me," Florian said quickly, his voice shaking despite how hard he tried to keep it steady. His eyes darted toward Alexandria, hoping—praying—she would say something, anything, to back him up.

But instead... her brows lifted. Her lips parted slightly, as if surprised—as if she hadn’t expected him to say that.

Scarlett was the one who spoke up first. "Wait... hold on. How exactly did you know that, Alexandria?" she asked, crossing her arms, sharp and suspicious. "Because I don’t remember anyone ever mentioning that before. Ever."

For the first time, Alexandria’s composure cracked. "I-I read it! I read it in the archives... about Floramatria. It’s in the history records! It said... that kingdom was well-known for their poisonous butterflies. The blue ones specifically... they’re supposed to be the most lethal."

Florian’s eyes widened.

’That’s not... that’s not what she told me before.’

No. Back then, when they were talking, she gave an entirely different reason. She said it was her interest, her hobby.

’Why is she lying?’

His chest tightened painfully.

He had always trusted Alexandria. She and Athena... they were the two people he felt safe around. The ones who made him feel less alone in this suffocating place because they were well-known to be the kindest of the princesses.

But right now... something about her was off. Something was wrong.

"Then..." Mira spoke, voice hesitant, "if it’s part of Floramatria’s history... isn’t it strange that Prince Florian himself didn’t know that?" Her gaze flicked toward him. "That’s... suspicious, isn’t it?"

A sharp stab to his gut.

’Damn it...’

She was right. Whether he liked it or not, whether it was fair or not—the original Florian would have known.

And there was no way for anyone here to know that this wasn’t the same person.

His lips trembled. "I... I..." He felt his throat close up. "I really... Are you sure it was mine?"

Lancelot and Lucius exchanged a look, then nodded.

"It was glowing, Your Highness," Lancelot said grimly. "The knights have it secured. And..." He sighed heavily. "You are the only one in this kingdom who has summoned blue butterflies. It... can’t be mistaken for anyone else."

Florian’s fists clenched. His nails bit into his palms.

He couldn’t look at anyone anymore. Not at Mira. Not at Bridget. Not even at Athena.

But especially not at Alexandria.

Because... her face wasn’t matching her words. She didn’t look worried. She didn’t look panicked.

She looked... careful. Controlled.

’Why... Alexandria... why are you doing this?’

His breath trembled.

And the worst part—

Heinz.

Heinz still hadn’t spoken.

’Why isn’t he saying anything?’ Florian’s chest tightened, panic rising fast. ’Does he believe them? Does he think I...?’

Lancelot finally broke the tense silence, turning toward the king. His voice was formal. Cold. "Your Majesty... what are your orders?"

Florian’s breath hitched. His vision blurred. His knees wobbled.

’No. No, please... please don’t...’

His hands shook, curling tighter into fists.

Scarlett’s voice suddenly cut through the tension. "I don’t believe it." Her tone was defiant. Firm.

Florian snapped his head toward her, eyes wide.

Even the others—Camilla, Mira, and the rest—turned, clearly shocked.

"Seriously?" Camilla whispered, disbelief coloring her voice.

Scarlett ignored her, squaring her shoulders. "I don’t believe Prince Florian would ever do something like this."

Athena swallowed thickly and nodded, stepping forward. "I... I don’t believe it either. There... there has to be another explanation. Please..." Her voice cracked. "Please investigate properly... before deciding anything."

’Athena...Scarlett...’

Lancelot sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. "Your Highnesses, I understand your concerns. But ultimately..." He turned back to the king. "It is for His Majesty to decide."

The room fell silent again.

Every gaze turned to Heinz.

Waiting.

Terrified.

Especially Florian.

Because the next words from Heinz’s lips... would decide everything.

Florian stared at Heinz, desperately searching for something—anything—in the king’s expression. But there was nothing. No anger. No rage. No softness. Just... blank.

And that—that—was the most terrifying thing of all.

’He’s not mad... but that’s worse. It’s worse. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. Is this it? Am I going to die... again?’

Florian’s throat tightened. His hands trembled, curling at his sides. His heart thudded so violently it hurt.

’Is he... is he going to believe them? Is he going to listen to them instead of me? Without even hearing me out?’

The suffocating silence dragged on. No one dared to speak. Not the princesses. Not the knights. Not even Lucius, who usually had something to say.

And then—

Heinz’s crimson eyes, cold as bloodied rubies, slowly lifted. They locked onto Florian’s.

Florian flinched. His breath caught in his throat.

’Don’t look at me like that... please...’

The king’s lips parted. "Lucius, Lancelot."

What was he going to order?

"...Make the princesses leave."