Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!-Chapter 361: ’Cold Treatment.’

Heinz was right.

Heinz was so, so right.

As the final day of the summit unfolded and Heinz made his formal announcement—solidifying the partnership between the royal court and the four ducal houses—Florian found himself completely distracted. Everyone applauded. Smiles bloomed across noble faces. The dukes approved his proposals. By all accounts, he had succeeded.

And yet...

All Florian could think about was the same lingering question that had plagued him since morning:

’Who the fuck is the perpetrator?’

He watched the room with tight, unreadable eyes as nobles raised their glasses in cheer. The golden morning light filtering through the throne room windows should have made things feel warm, celebratory.

Instead, it felt like it illuminated too much—like it peeled back the curtains and left everyone exposed.

Florian’s mind was restless, racing.

’Is it someone who wants Heinz dead too? Are they the same person who’s been riling up villagers, terrorizing the nobles?’

His fingers clenched slightly under the table, unseen.

’The one who had me kidnapped... who nearly got me killed—is it the same person? Or just someone working under them?’

A cold knot formed in his chest as he realized the full weight of the damage done over just a month or two. His suffering. Heinz’s impending death. The sheer mess that had unraveled their lives.

And suddenly, Florian had to ask himself something he hadn’t dared until now.

’Do Lucius and Lancelot really have it under control? Or... are they under someone else’s control?’

The thought made his blood run cold.

He hadn’t questioned them—he’d been too busy trying to stop Heinz from hurting them, too busy feeling guilty, too busy trying to be kind. And now, the cracks in that kindness were starting to show.

Florian swallowed.

He wasn’t even sure if the perpetrator would make another move today, but with all the dukes and their heirs in the palace—the perfect audience, the perfect opportunity—they could strike again.

And worse?

Florian didn’t know who to trust anymore.

Besides Heinz.

Not even the princesses were safe from suspicion. Lucius and Lancelot had taken their punishments without argument, and that silence said a lot. They’d protected the final day of the summit like it was sacred.

Which meant whatever—or whoever—they were shielding... could shatter everything.

"Prince Florian?"

The voice jolted him. Florian flinched hard, the sudden motion causing the silver fork in his hand to fall onto the porcelain plate with a loud clang.

The sharp noise cut through the quiet hum of conversation. All heads turned. Every gaze landed on him.

A wave of heat climbed up his neck and ears.

They were at the farewell feast. The last gathering before the dukes departed the palace. It was supposed to be a calm, casual brunch.

Instead, Florian sat in silence, barely touching his food, casting suspicious looks at everyone around him like a hunted thing.

The girl who had spoken was Nividea, the poised and soft-spoken daughter of Duke Cedric. Her twin brother, Nevideus, sat beside her, both wide-eyed with concern.

Even the dukes and princesses—and several curious servants—were now watching him. The tension prickled against his skin.

But Heinz’s stare...

That was what froze Florian in place.

The king sat across the table, calmly chewing a bite of roasted meat, eyes narrowed ever so slightly, fixed only on him.

Florian swallowed hard, heart thudding.

’He’s watching me again. Like he’s waiting for something. Or expecting me to say the wrong thing.’

He tried not to look at him. Tried to focus on anything else. Anything safe.

Nividea leaned forward slightly. "Are you okay? You barely touched your food... do you feel sick, perhaps?"

"I was thinking the same," said Duke Cedric with a concerned frown. "Your face is quite pale. Perhaps you should get yourself checked."

Florian cleared his throat, forcing a weak chuckle as he shook his head. "N-No... I’m fine. Just excited, I suppose. I stayed up too late last night thinking about the summit’s success."

That part, at least, was true.

Though not for the reason they thought.

He hadn’t slept. Not because of joy or pride, but because every time he closed his eyes, his mind conjured faces—Lucius, Lancelot, Alexandria, Bridget... Heinz. All of them, tangled in layers of doubt.

"Ohhh, now his face is red," Nevideus pointed out, blinking.

Florian laughed awkwardly again, lifting a hand to his cheek in a half-hearted attempt to play along.

"Are you truly sure you’re okay?" asked Duke Elara gently, her brows furrowed in maternal concern.

"It’s also unlike you to be this quiet," Alexandria added, casting him a curious glance. She was sitting right beside him, her posture relaxed, but her gaze sharp.

Florian laughed once more, softer this time. "Really, I’m alright. I’m just... really happy. And maybe a little overwhelmed."

Duke Roland raised his cup with a smirk. "I suppose the prince still can’t believe he actually succeeded in convincing us."

"Indeed," said Eleonor, Elara’s son and heir, turning his gaze toward the princesses. "I heard from my mother that Prince Florian was exceptional during the summit. Seems like you’ll have to step up your game, Your Highnesses," he teased lightly.

The princesses laughed—sweet, polite laughter that echoed through the room like bells. Even Bridget joined in with a cheerful grin.

"We’ll have to show off when we start helping the villages," Bridget said warmly. "We can’t let Prince Florian carry all the royal duties alone, after all."

The table laughed again.

Florian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His hand trembled slightly as he lifted his cup.

He felt like a lamb among wolves.

’Eleonor didn’t mean anything by that joke... but what if it did trigger someone?’

He didn’t want to spark jealousy. Didn’t want to make himself more of a target than he already might be.

’If the motive really is the crown... or Heinz... then it makes sense why someone might want me gone.’

His gaze dropped once more to the plate in front of him. The food was vibrant and decadent—the kind of brunch that would’ve made anyone else in the room smile.

Plump berries glistened with honey glaze, slices of seasoned meat gave off mouthwatering aroma, and freshly baked bread steamed gently in the morning air. It looked divine.

But Florian couldn’t even taste it. Not when his stomach had twisted into a tight knot of unease.

’Heinz is still staring at me.’

He didn’t need to look to know. The weight of Heinz’s gaze burned against his skin like a brand. Still, curiosity got the better of him. He peeked to the side—subtle, almost like a twitch—but their eyes met the moment he glanced.

A sharp flick of surprise passed through him.

Heinz didn’t smile. Didn’t tease. Didn’t do that smug little smirk he always wore when he caught Florian looking.

He just stared.

And then... looked away. Coldly. Like he couldn’t even be bothered.

Florian’s eyebrow twitched.

’He definitely knows I’m overthinking.’ His fingers tightened around his fork. ’He knows I’m spiraling, and he’s just letting me sit in it.’

Was Heinz going to confront him? Was he waiting for Florian to admit he was right—that they should’ve dug deeper to find the real perpetrator instead of playing it safe?

Maybe.

But Heinz said nothing. No smirk. No snide comment. No biting sarcasm masked with playful affection.

Just silence.

’What the...?’ Florian blinked, brows slightly furrowing. That was not like Heinz. Heinz was the type to be blunt about it—to throw your mistakes in your face, laugh while doing it, and then offer you a drink afterward.

Not this. Not... passive coldness.

’He’s not the type to be dramatic like this. Right?’

Still, just to make sure, Florian leaned slightly closer. He lowered his voice to a whisper, soft enough not to catch any unwanted ears. "Your Majesty..."

No response.

He blinked again.

’Did he just... ignore me?’

No way. Heinz might be annoyed, yes, but never this petty. Florian frowned. He tried again—this time subtly stretching his hand beneath the table to poke Heinz in the thigh.

"Your Majesty, I have a question," he whispered once more.

Nothing. Heinz shifted his leg away like Florian had brushed up against something filthy.

’What the fuck?’

Florian’s brows knitted tightly. ’Is he... actually serious right now? The silent treatment? Really?’ His heart gave a small, awkward lurch. ’All because I wanted to spare Lucius and Lancelot? That’s not—no, Heinz isn’t that childish.’

But ever since the summit announcement, Heinz had barely spoken. He sat like a dark shadow beside him, looming and silent, letting everyone else make the noise and hold the light. People rarely approached Heinz unless they had to, and he made no effort to change that.

’Is he still tense? Or pissed off? Or both?’

Florian wasn’t given much more time to reflect before Alexandria’s voice cut in softly, only loud enough for the two of them to hear.

"Your Majesty, come to think of it... when are you going to start helping the villages? And which dukedom will you go to first?" freewebnσvel.cøm

It was an innocent question. Small talk, really.

Florian expected Heinz to ignore her, too.

But—

"The closest dukedom, of course. The Obsidian Summit," Heinz said smoothly, not even looking at Florian. "I’ll start sometime next month."

Florian nearly choked on air. "Are you kidding me?"

’He answered Alexandria and not me?’

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