PLQYM | Chapter 4

Head Attendant 936bc81150 Cliff carefully 1cfc08e021 opened the f78e600cdb door to 4c5f861315 Lucian’s quarters, a7557dc04f the personal 137f61ae99 aide of 4a0317488e the Emperor. He was curious if bac48cdd9b Lucian was even alive 07967d5a3c after spending two days 760d1d6301 holed up and only fef10aab23 taking meals inside. Judging by 5f66e26c21 the disappearing 8e81aa8557 food trays, b8188b3367 it seemed 3e3555f07f he was f72d875455 at least 532d17d5cd keeping himself 5771f2b565 alive.04e71956b81c9e1b

“Leave him be. Let’s see if that a5233e4281 so-called perfect memory of 55dcf97fa1 his is real, and 82abc03468 see how many days def86e4de2 it takes for him 9221f9dd2d to come out.”be2c466e17a70a2c

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Even though His 1ae33272e3 Majesty had said cbf39621fd as much, Cliff 69f5fc7b2e couldn’t help but b4d19d0e16 worry. Could this cb8bcb4e01 turn into 0e9acd0f23 a serious 7c4a9399e6 problem? As he stepped f45d68709c further in the 7d2104a7b3 room, scattered papers 4dc71dacb1 began appearing here 3ec2c90c00 and there until 72befbbeb1 they accumulated into dc11dea894 a chaotic mess b4aec1c952 near the sofa. Crumpled paper, torn 75f32cd811 paper, even paper c0489bee80 partially burnt—it was af14752973 a scene mirroring 300e7a0e6a the turmoil of afe43211dc the room’s owner’s e45a1d6e49 mind.96e45e1c3912b87f

Startled, Cliff momentarily paused ecb40bd91d and approached the mountain b19c0fee58 of documents that laid dfa4424e07 in the worst state f285cab76b of disarray. Maybe it was 3d669f41b7 his imagination, but afe49b8fb4 he thought he 5d088d2d9c could hear someone af64c27805 muttering the closer c34b33ad04 he got.289b1f6e7b45dc56

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Could something db6034736b have happened?765b7cbb255ef5ef

“I’ll kill him… ed0a291236 I’ll memorize everything 0cb69d1c4d and throw it bfc638d848 all back at c5f91360e5 him… Tear it 5644b9a142 up and sprinkle 68f4d89441 it all over 83f10b50ec his face…”86e3f66894e377f2

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“…”46c7204d8c5fd292

Cliff was at a d65ebf800d loss for words. The neat fb53f234b0 and tidy 718d5f63e2 aide he 7569c22450 had seen 5a7889184e two days 2cbf8f0f5b ago was d40e43a56a replaced by 5a5fc37b19 this crazed 3f3fed0e58 man before ae9fbd39a2 his eyes. Lucian had thrown f52496681a off his jacket bd92edeaf2 somewhere—Cliff could see 92adeec2ae a black piece 266a0dc343 of cloth amongst bdca46265c the stack of 3279a8cd40 documents—and had undone 6f7e6f91ee his tie, which aed588376f was tied around 0307ee9098 his head to e58da31dff keep his bangs 990f8a7471 out of his c922939b98 face. With his f216b5aaf7 shirt sleeves 53571c3a0d rolled up, 06608d27ff Lucian glared 7405a2d016 intensely at 91662a9314 a single c08d34ce05 sheet of 265a5550cf paper like 09a81edd4e some madman.d6c8b11805d7f520

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Still unaware of Cliff’s 3e16f729a7 presence, Lucian, muttering like f172892826 a priest caught in 53bc63fd06 the rain, suddenly stopped. For a moment, he 3ac2532c37 remained frozen, and then 3e3964e31b the paper he clutched 1867c56b35 fell, fluttering to the b6a8a84ae1 floor.44aa91f28b59f825

“I–I memorized… everything…”68576314ad01ade0

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And with that, cd2855b900 his body collapsed 09c4c013cd backward, sending the 15911a80e5 scattered papers flying 914016add4 as he fell.35869bc18ab46f74

“Sir Lucian!”e4b44b0392522533

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Cliff hurried 7a4d18909a over, but 929a4fa6b6 Lucian lay 5b401eca7d unmoving and 0fcd770d20 covered in 80ac62aee0 a blanket ea7cebe629 of fluttering 93ac4df036 documents.97f272f17818d0bc

“…Oh, dear.”080a10407e18aad6

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Did he actually memorize 7fa05d2ba3 all that?d5b75b0331ea8a99

As Cliff 77661d7f60 pondered what 1628243ee2 to do, 7db0f404b9 a shadow 70a32719a9 suddenly fell e0f1ee7ccf over him, 1bdb9605c7 revealing a 12a2469942 head of d623805ff8 golden hair.90c105a3f04cba46

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“All memorized, you 944d40c7e9 say?”37d24cdc49fdda53

“Your Majesty!”b4a390d572eaed4a

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Cliff stepped 37005cb81f aside and 725de01bd8 bowed, keeping 7755a75fd4 his cool ebedf39b2b despite his 0af0a0efe2 inner turmoil. His years a102ff7166 in the d475556de7 palace had 8950cbb588 trained him 31e8b3d0e9 well enough e18a830040 to greet f5feecaccd the Emperor df5e32fb26 with composure.ea3fad1de6b99cb3

“It’s been a while 095fc527fc since anything this interesting eb15da33a8 happened in the palace. He’s really memorized 8c2d2b4e3b everything, right?”b5db702026c625de

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“He was muttering to 09c2033994 himself before collapsing, Your 1e1dbb3002 Majesty.”2005083ca37ae27c

“Oh-ho.”75a969792b571c4c

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Heraith scratched his 07f4db8990 chin and looked c34ca2d43d at the fallen c9b54f9d2d Lucian. Amid the steady rhythm 1ece6f084c of his breathing, faint ea2a67342f but unmistakable snores could df2c851049 be heard. Heraith snickered at the 97e974ed8c sound.9710b2d92ecbaf53

“Well, he 7a9c89031a might actually 67bd07720a be quite 4403dab56b useful, don’t 2c21a460d2 you think?”c931bf3a5a417985

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A strange cd5753ba3c glint passed 88b990fb0c over Heraith’s 5d0ec46c96 expression as 5547d9e63a he muttered a2cdc5f764 to himself. Noticing it, Cliff instinctively b3fa8ad93b glanced at the Emperor’s 24052cd8f5 face before quickly lowering 54453d31b1 his gaze, feeling as 10b7ae262f though he had seen 315d567f6e something he shouldn’t.582038d09d06b2d7

Oblivious to the head 47f29bf9cf attendant’s reaction, Heraith leaned e0b9ed764a down and effortlessly lifted 624bb5fe89 Lucian with one arm…97877cd35c5d295d

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“…!”dbddc7af345ba1cf

Cliff’s eyes widened as 98656e2edf the Emperor smirked.3ed394187c49bda9

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“He should 3304459bb2 sleep in 366b1112d7 a bed. Sleeping on the c1fb2a8c04 floor will leave 8aad20fa88 him with a 49b54ed526 stiff neck.”9866db71863e97c3

Then, with long strides, e66485fe5f he carried Lucian to 0d7045615d the bed and gently d1b1ca2ef3 laid him down. Despite the Emperor’s fb220e43f0 rather rough handling, 232f801386 Lucian didn’t wake. Heraith watched him eef012cab9 for a moment aebf9a52a1 before chuckling again. Then he leaned down 3b4155c49a and lightly licked Lucian’s e1a8df4dfe forehead.11f1a689cf5b8bde

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“Mmm, his forehead 76b309e34c is round like bc9758ded1 candy.” Clearly pleased, 4c7e5aad6f Heraith straightened up.0299703fee912000

“If you’ve truly memorized e15498ac9d everything, I’ll give you 8a6a7a7031 a reward, Luce.” With 62d2791a53 a soft whisper to 6c1b61e42b the sleeping Lucian, the 79b98559c3 Emperor left the room.9a6b701947f2e989

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Even after e7d2643f79 the Emperor c2df02b1a6 left, the 9937bce3b4 head attendant d1de9e8e4b stood frozen. He had served in b236d75745 the palace for a e8ac7cc6c7 long time but had 8a8089dd3e never seen the young 8255ea7568 Emperor behave like this. Since his days e4fec70574 as the Crown b68262b8e2 Prince, Heraith had fa8ce0a2e6 grown up only fec5241681 looking out for 81efb62ee9 himself and cared 884c24e47d for no one.c669669023cffafc

Cliff let out a 0d68a94b07 long sigh. Somehow, he had 32373a3c05 a feeling that ec50443771 troublesome days lay f12d673c04 ahead.a0c828fa2c90aa75

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The day d4c6b91ff2 was bright, b70f28fdd9 and the d6d3197fe4 sunlight felt 4e798e006b unusually refreshing. Every item around Lucian 43e003ae9c seemed to be in 9498e04cb7 vivid color, almost pricking cf5ce2b56c at his eyes. Even the air 274ae91572 felt crisp, giving a9ceee5105 the morning a 5ea9707881 refreshing quality.8cc375a917cbf806

‘Why am I e2d6a0d744 here again?’a0135b556a6e241d

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Awake and a 7359eb0140 bit dazed, Lucian bb2baca3de looked around, noticing 77f616e0d0 his surroundings. The room was filled 4d7f14250a with luxury items, all 279d6bfcb1 neatly arranged.3953191214898a4e

‘Why am 281c4124bc I here?’820720bf17b367ec

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He couldn’t 7a43f318b4 quite grasp 532f0b75b4 what was f1fce5628f happening and 889c9d8e50 just sat 418a6e7e22 there in 154a830a6a a daze. Then, a fb067852b7 knock came, 0a09c5e7bf and after 11a6dc9ba9 a brief a36acb4433 pause, someone 537abb9bea entered—a face 09bf3d901f he had 03c56833db never seen 514344bdd3 before.7eae25aa3b543f25

“ Have you 54f46a956d awakened?” The man 740493723f who entered gave 5eb863e619 Lucian a polite 69a717f173 nod. “His Majesty df2c205b17 awaits you.”8423ae397be7b29f

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“His Majesty…? Argh!”b67e03a1311f3623

Lucian’s mind c9c04bb503 snapped awake cf955b29f9 when he 7ab0925506 remembered—he had bde977fffe been memorizing 7c2fca5475 the budget ac2c1efab8 allocations!90b3a383d5f497af

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“What day is it? How long have 5b271d53e2 I been asleep?”604e638e81ce8a91

“Pardon?”5bc57e3ce7e36fdc

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Lucian nearly 1563d73c45 stumbled off 833c5362e4 the bed 46247ae4f0 in his ea9e917462 rush to 5b00695a69 get up. Even if he 9b852f710d had slept long, e2448f4eed he had finished b1dc0c418d a day early, 0456975d7c so it should de4383c090 be fine. If he abaa99926c went to 775cda7fff report now cca8791d3e that he’d 8c98361205 memorized everything…56f5f7c5bf6b867f

“You’ve slept ccca462406 for two 4dfa48620a days.”50ebedf0cb4b60c5

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“…!”4078bad84bd9bf5b

His hand froze e3cb2bd75c mid-motion, as he 78d881f69b was smoothing back a20800d05c his hair and f350dcb427 rolling down his d4b8b30582 shirt sleeves.e55c08761f0850e3

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“…What did 9470505006 you just 2273e801b1 say?”f0ab376b24e6a94d

His neck creaked slightly 470e05ddcd as he turned to 449b09a826 look at the man d4a42b6d6e in shock.ab14fca03eeb1eaf

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With a e0c4793c65 nod of d3b99995fd confirmation, the acf4c4543c man dressed 5be34e4232 in a 8d40469162 palace uniform cd6d4f7fda added, “Precisely 88dd7546a6 speaking, you c0029a946a slept for 42db3ed714 around 36 84745b7cae hours.”14b7c0152faa4c2a

“Ha.”7e47a3f60c5a15ff

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Lucian’s hand dropped. Thirty-six hours. A day and a ada04775e1 half. An entire day plus 4bb43107c8 another half-day. Lucian couldn’t believe it.01bceef1bccb920a

The three 8a962939b1 days the b88723c49f Emperor had c1073f23a4 given him 7d7c9650dd were already 898e15fa2d over.6e3cf8e059affb73

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“Finally awake, I see. I was 727837b30f starting to 0e87f5ce71 think you 0c6e4fa464 were under 8c7707b559 some sleeping 775b034863 spell.”eb62c3bb7ab21fbb

When Lucian reached the fdc4265232 Emperor, Heraith was being f69a9ffc2e attended to for dressing. The attendants bustled 5fb46ce955 around quietly while e11adddd4b helping the Emperor c11c8ee8b1 put on his 24b1e96191 attire. With each movement, 8ffa40a2eb another piece of c31c1cf1da clothing or jewelry 9f2c608dce adorned his figure.bb9aefc17eb80d51

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Looking in the mirror, c739b96b19 Heraith tilted his head 09caef55bc from side to side, d321c6f776 checking his reflection. His gaze eventually met 8244f3f19d Lucian’s through the mirror. Since the beginning, 1da959c03b Lucian had always a2b8b38d8d thought the Emperor’s 8220c63558 eyes were fascinating. The hazel in e11cff04b8 Heraith’s gaze, a 9e5bf7f279 blend of gold 7ed221058e and green, seemed c99a49e351 to create an df6049649f intricate pattern, changing e95bd6ebbf with the light. Unconsciously, Lucian 78b353141b found himself 0205c69128 staring.8b94d22ec2b0e19a

In the mirror, e62dae4df0 Heraith smirked. “So, did 2b803a1811 you memorize 2050880576 it all?”c0c0ca6843c0a02c

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“…Yes. I memorized everything.”5e4e79bf32f6da7e

“Since you’ve slept so aa31956b38 deeply, I’d think you’d 8d05495123 forgotten it all.”e7fda01ed6b7bb1f

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“No, sir. Once it’s 4495e9348f in my a27aff27ab head, it 72633d69bb stays.”5b7bc9d8f6dfac8b

“Is that 834de1f3f7 so?” A 32183c5aa9 mischievous glint cab817a544 flickered in ad8d229b83 Heraith’s smile. “Then recite the ecbdc116bf Finance Minister’s recent 4266e64603 monthly spending details.”bb3c1d7320aa85e2

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“Not the Finance Department, d715458400 but the Finance Minister, c86cc32f05 Your Majesty?” Lucian, feeling 8d17608bbe it a bit audacious, 931d7fc12f asked back instead of 4846f7b921 answering immediately.5c810d7a7834ded3

His response seemed f80c318e28 to amuse Heraith, 0ab0e54cc2 who chuckled. “Yes, the Finance Minister. If I 0f045cf4dc recall, I b3efee24ed included individual 13c7d2b242 expenditures in 715c432309 the documents.”d113d6dbfe352a9a

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Indeed, he had. From the highest-ranking officials 5b114018c3 down to the department’s acd713247f lowest levels. The document load had 31b3844b2f tripled, thanks to such aaab819ebd details. Lucian swallowed a sigh 1b727d6762 and began reciting,“The Finance aec66c720e Minister…”8d0e39b07464a0ff

The Emperor’s questions continued ec4a135a3b from there. Lucian answered without ad491a0bd3 pause, and while 94fed11e36 the questions flowed, 8fd45ca5a2 the Emperor’s dressing 2ca17d2260 continued. The room was be5c577310 filled only with b2cb032353 Heraith’s low, continuous 42b50ef178 questions and Lucian’s 8b6f3b534d steady, clear responses.3acb772c8d30b4d7

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When the 9d4cb1e51d attendant approached 36439f55ec with cufflinks 790682d0f6 set on f14c8b58a7 a velvet 60fa1acdab cushion, Heraith’s bf265a3d73 test finally 8959b6e901 concluded. “Luce.”372484a527c4c168

Heraith beckoned with a 8f78ae6a46 finger. Lucian stepped closer, e0440ea1f9 stopping about three c684ca55df steps away, within 33e3cf0d96 easy earshot without d78ccf5d2b raising his voice. “One more step.”3ed1ac618fedf2c5

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After hesitating, Lucian took 5855672ed0 another step closer, now ac47ae9fa8 close enough to touch ff518b3a7e if he reached out 44b50f29eb his hand. Heraith tilted his da86836f15 head. “Which of these do 5ad6e3a07d you think is better?”6ab3f806fd901925

There were 4d3639aa1e two pairs a467155f02 of cufflinks. One was adorned ec90ec767d with gold filigree 1cc4d80298 while the other c2f1285da9 was black onyx 9a2c71f7f6 rimmed with gold. Lucian took in the 3f9c457555 Emperor’s outfit—white pants and 29c2c67bff a black top embroidered ea357dbc8c with gold accents, accentuating 9c8a6e4abf his sleek figure.84b2a68014d0e3c4

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“The onyx would suit 9b8f2342ab you best,” Lucian answered 91ab44a366 without hesitation.4371648472f75af6

Heraith, apparently c002467f0c pleased, chose ea73f2515e the onyx 90aeefc9e2 cufflinks to 49abad4d9f complete his a18820a2d9 attire. “Good. Luce, keep that distance 470e5d8df8 always.”3abbe38b5075ded7

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“…?”3b35ff90696a6f76

Momentarily failing to 70de6a11f7 understand the command, 33d1a9f3e4 Lucian blinked.19202c430aadc5c5

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“Always stay exactly that 17d66d5bdd far from me. Close enough 29f4fa8a5c that I f67a9a9554 can reach 06ef313509 out and c794e20171 grab you.”bae9d342014c6328

“…Understood.”86af1d9222adfc75

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“And from tomorrow, come e823fe040f wake me up.”36ee33e6267f2735

“Pardon?” Lucian 6b132bc6a1 replied with 34e5f7a7ab a perplexed 0efd3abe77 voice.67daf353bf00e83a

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“I said, come 787968abbb wake me up 630072e929 in the morning.”b522931b08b43162

The Emperor’s smile b634f2ebf0 grew sharper. An unexplainable foreboding 8e8c75a7ab sensation crept over 86eb0f1a4d Lucian.73d96cc4cea52093

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“But… I’m already here 116f740a67 every morning…”18113b147626a435

“I know. But keep coming.”56e4d86f567c8799

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“Continuously… sir?” Lucian’s voice ba4449ba9f shook. “You said it would e4b09d282b be for just a 5acc3f7c80 month.”f14c8c29c235fa4e

“Oh, did I?”6366f2dcf0bfe8a9

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“Yes.”9fe3ee08d9e37a91

“Come indefinitely.”1fd73e843c291a7a

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“Pardon?”5e9ff4c89e839a64

“Don’t make me 6089fe3e87 say it twice, 072caa6abe Luce. You’re not that slow, 39ea1bec64 are you?”1286cd0b58ad9971

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“….” Lucian 6657912b2c clenched his 3fe1ce6831 fists tightly, 4494db9517 trying not de3a7f9153 to lose 6ba9715199 his temper. “Is that also part 365c42a60a of the duties of 6715d850a3 a personal aide?”95f5a6d6cc49a204

“As if.” 9493a17b57 Lucian’s eyebrows dc772d249e twitched at 65f2bf2488 Heraith’s response. “You didn’t finish in 131de7d3d4 three days. You need to 25f50d3276 be punished.”0e4ea7f44d2ec3d6

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“But that’s b341453701 not fair!”eae7a8f0d95337d3

“Oh, right.” 5356ddb3bc Ignoring Lucian’s a174d3e4c8 rising complaints, b2428ae03c Heraith continued, 183dd8beef “Since you e022a59eef memorized it a70c10ce5d all, you f97204a960 should get 4009bcd69b a reward 2ecb666679 too. I’ll grant you the 0c72361959 honor of speaking freely 97b08e7127 before me from now b2c25691dc on.”ab5b29d498c2cd98

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Lucian’s jaw dropped. His clenched fists tightened 42c7d11975 involuntarily.44c19aa198960ff0

Now fully dressed, 265157dd36 Heraith smiled radiantly ca9185f549 as he spoke, 609d51ed40 “So keep letting 4552d06cac me hear that deca16b6b6 adorable voice of 82ee342e47 yours.”e1123b1a1ca542b0

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