The first call of get_key receives the following key listing from gpg:
2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: sec:-:256:19:C4A24EB0B5F2E025:1746474606:::u:::s 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: cESCA:::D2760001240100000006180489130000::brainp 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: oolP256r1:23::0:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: fpr:::::::::DEC0948C398A6E7B50746EC6C4A24EB0B5F2 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: E025:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: grp:::::::::06BDACFBDEDBC5783A75AE5E7251FA3369C4 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: 0FF4:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: uid:-::::1746474606::2222D8E2F373B9BDEE0DEA2A20A 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: 9402214E9F984::Eric <eric@bktus.com>::::::::::0: 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: <LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: ssb:-:256:19:EAFC5EA29B758B22:1746474606::::::a: 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: ::D2760001240100000006180489130000::brainpoolP25 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: 6r1:23:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: fpr:::::::::1AD596DDEC9B8CF3C1AC6C41EAFC5EA29B75 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: 8B22:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: grp:::::::::52F0797C0B0439BBD718E2534D46656A6C45 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: 6A78:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: ssb:-:256:18:A874804DB497B91C:1746474606::::::e: 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: ::#::brainpoolP256r1:23:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: fpr:::::::::33B273C7BD46E4EB63DD6874A874804DB497 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: B91C:<LF> 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: grp:::::::::34A1F8D9B2AA0CF07C2E042D70E10F9D4EBE 2025-05-05 21:50:23 gpgme[57059] _gpgme_io_read: check: E734:<LF>
Note the line
ssb:-:256:18:A874804DB497B91C:1746474606::::::e:::#::brainpoolP256r1:23:<LF>
where the # marks the subkey as stub.