PLQYM | Chapter 5

“Tsk, what 8912a6f637 a hassle. Why does Ambassador 19bcd34c86 Antien insist on 769d6a2c38 face-to-face negotiations when 6daa4803fd we could easily 29e23f7e23 handle this from 7fbb2050dc afar?” Heraith, dressed b9b2f43ef5 like a work 807b572219 of art, grumbled 7c2032afdd in a way ec9c36b027 that was far 42b40951b8 from the demeanor 0c8854ce9f of an emperor. Dressed in f75b183f32 an immaculate f9acd86697 suit, he 1b379be3ea slouched in 0fd74b9f17 his chair, 6539669adc one leg 2d7f08311e stretched out, 57e45403da somehow balancing 9752961c36 himself despite d3410df72e the precarious 6b720e2af4 position.1238bba36462fa02

“Honestly, I’m surrounded by fools everywhere. How could someone who can’t make a simple decision alone end up as an ambassador?”27caaeb26d19b077

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Your Majesty, 5bcd60f4cf creating a cb4518a8ad free trade c2f8622fdc port isn’t 048d5c6008 something to 1f58e45e2e decide alone,” 51fb31cb64 Lucian interjected 32e3dd6c99 calmly.0393014be1facc87

Heraith paused, giving Lucian 3e53cf9190 a slow look as 70887b23d0 the aide shared his 1e556bb937 opinion.9934979c6bed1ced

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Is that so? Then, what do you a9c0680308 think?”263e2ff4663e2afe

“…?”353881a71ae5c847

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lucian felt 5c44996f1f a pang 8bae23deb0 of regret. He should ed787a8f6e have known 53453e9706 that a a3e884f3f2 bored emperor 73bddc03b8 would try 3441bdf76c to pick 71aed4c6f4 a fight.56ee57fbbc9d6a7b

“Go on, Luce. Didn’t I 8bf507f7f3 grant you 26297b1d00 the freedom 63b46fdf6a to speak 3846d44814 your mind?” 5d594de64e Heraith’s words, 46bd986adb paired with da26c3db4b a mischievous 4d2fa29b7d smile, forced 6b0dacf3b4 Lucian to 8172475ead swallow a 0ce2f36ef5 sigh. It seemed 26c6b03239 the Emperor 72aba75174 had decided 3fa9b9f2cc not to 284828e7de let him 48ef5ca2f4 off until 8db9c49840 he answered. After all, where 6f1f8d573b else would he 84e6832de7 find such an d1f8b69ecd entertaining toy?e0ed86095c2a1f60

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Not even a sparring 24fdfe0aba partner—just a toy to 0c178de846 play with.’f702454221811157

Taking a a229117cd0 deep breath, cae2a4c7c4 Lucian answered, 659c541e7d trying his 12ff981ece best to 530304a55f keep the f6a60dc74a irritation out 80d627a36e of his f58caa4108 tone.0ae227cd45183aae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m aware that you ea4b821632 don’t truly mean it, fb740dd766 Your Majesty.”ee3ba0de2c5796f7

“Oh? And why is 5e0ab3b187 that?”5e9dc95c3a1f9076

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Heraith raised an c4346f10ae eyebrow, looking as 082712a36f though he was bfd93a3c54 daring Lucian to 5ebd424ac4 say more.58ea0a3e820dfefb

‘Think I’ll lose? Never.’3752e64fa0d519b5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With a 98472ab6e1 soft but 7c6aa24a3c assertive voice, 75855ab639 Lucian continued, 8f256f948b “Berne Port 77732686f5 is a 7ac7507b14 trade hub 64e658651c linking Antien f7f01f0d5f and Pranas. Whoever controls f3088f466b it holds b753213969 a strategic c593f68405 gateway to 1060c45f19 the continent. Although it belongs dd424d8188 to Pranas, it’s 4594e6ea9b well known that 178222e2f2 Antien has long 6bb6623f78 coveted it. If we 0cce995683 allow them 3e58f3ff42 even a 2454aaa4d2 minor advantage, 5d423489e7 who knows 8ed88e5ef4 how that 122f6f184a favor might 06f2f8cf0a come back a76cbea57f to bite 8fd2bb04ac us?”12174d9c35ff2cb6

“So?”e687b6268dc837eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

An amused smile appeared 979e93fa11 on Heraith’s face as 800684b536 he looked at Lucian 6567239c5c with curiosity, genuinely intrigued 83669f045d by his aide’s bold 55e1e641cc responses.cfeba0055913c5c9

“Your Majesty…” Lucian knew e73272857d speaking about the Emperor’s c0f09121dc personality could be a 61f54dbbdd dangerous gamble, but he 17fbcef1cc decided to go for 21a4d18a13 it.a9744c88d5c917b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘What the abf47455bd hell, I’ll 0f86b2bec6 take my 84a171d860 chances. Might as 4b4fd4a56c well go f320ee2f38 big.’9fc661baa373adfb

“You want Pranas 03d5cb9539 to be the 49c430fe61 greatest empire on ca6e9dd131 the continent.”eb5ccc503a655b5d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In an instant, beaba99f6c Heraith’s once-interested gaze c8b0eaf279 turned cold, as 8241f20caf if realizing Lucian 4edaa74cc4 was no different 98bda55a36 from everyone else—a 2d62820187 man with ambitions. Lucian’s heart aa51e3368e sank under 6f57800c3a that icy b4e097ba8d stare, but 8d80703fad he steadied ee83c034ad himself to e081a19b8c continue.1d2c3bde187545d3

“So, you don’t 409ab5b667 want to ask bfc7511b97 favors from anyone, 86461acd0a regardless of the cffc8965f1 circumstances, and you’re 8e29db5a81 keen to show 32e1b175ab off.”b66fbbdc356fbc54

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…!”0da056607c755702

Somewhere in the 653b66f8c0 room, someone stifled 13066264c4 a gasp.5d361c4250c87156

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The flicker of e4b5840450 intrigue returned to 8bbcca4c18 Heraith’s gaze, his d4c1906c01 lips twitching slightly c796cad5ce as though suppressing 778be60e22 a grin.6a3a05a0dd0d82cc

“Keep going.”36aad0a9cbcc8897

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You hate c3a3401091 hearing bad a025e99830 things about a6d1da9299 yourself, can’t 774f26d6bc stand to 846bcce8fb see others 99cb7c5f58 prosper, and 21aac2a657 especially despise 35190cf79c anyone who 1f4b55091f crosses you.”0ca2fb16ee3448b4

“Hmm.”90aa885729e77847

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And if 490429d41f it’s someone 10664094ea who displeases fd5265c40a you, even 1a8e4b49a9 something you’d 44fe85b1fc discard anyway, 7a0b74e6b3 you wouldn’t 2b166f0e86 want to eb9ecec3d9 hand it 28761bb05d over to b5a8fd44c2 them. You’d sooner break b01bc364f0 it yourself.”edf6152806b3ebd7

The room fell c2df9f7e1b silent. Not only 5fd0b3af3c did the 7db5a01c3a noble attendees b0d700d8ad look pale, 11430af297 but even 5adf72d5f1 the servants 7c3997772f standing by 3fee471937 had turned 4eead4ab2b ashen. The only a297aa0649 two maintaining 3f96827ed5 their composure 9da4f42d09 were the 03c71174c7 Emperor Heraith 1670024156 and Lucian.d7c86293bb8a2d69

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

By now, 6a2ee54f18 Heraith had ac95e6cf75 straightened up 1492140d68 in his 55ec3a1073 seat, his e379b73329 previous complaints cbaf8d18aa of boredom 4547711d7c completely gone.06ae2349e373a7b2

“Despite what you say, 09d76bfeef I know you have b50f9945b8 plans for Berne Port. After all, you 6ff8910b75 hate wasting money.” 07adf63450 Lucian remembered the cd6f64266e portion in the 46195fd805 documents Heraith had 9c3b9b8418 given him detailing d47b23eb66 the large funds 959e7dcec5 allocated for the e1190d1601 restructuring and expansion d2390a6c44 of Berne Port. Significant investments were d7debb62df still planned for 2a6f736e85 the future.8a703b59a45f0f21

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“So please 2069102d19 stop pretending d195ef93c4 and conduct 1f567bd8cd the negotiations e33d9b0174 properly. After all, Your fc5af73532 Majesty never intended 7c21f23606 to give Antien eace73d56c even a sliver eb4706e25e of advantage. If you lead the b8dc4b429c talks as you wish, dac4ad38d3 you’ll resolve things swiftly.”7dfebb57740914fb

Lucian finished his statement 3e36a9c6e0 with a calm, poised 74fdffb1f7 demeanor. But on the 1c5813a823 inside, he was 2e04644795 a mess. His face 71bcf9e088 betrayed nothing, b510346306 but his 6e3a5d7a1b hands, hidden ba5d46525a behind his 1368946d50 back, trembled. He could barely hold c6dbb86b04 himself steady.f6354e9379f57915

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What if 23e377f7db he actually 5958ebf3b4 sends me 72846e288c to the f02a95fcd0 dungeons for 3ef819c5dc disrespect? He’s the one who 35354a64f9 asked for honesty in 5824cdfc23 the first place.’f59731161d865123

This was Lucian’s first a8d1d2cc39 official task as an f9c409ec7d aide. Summoned on a whim, e2fdc50c81 he had witnessed the f0c739ccf9 Emperor’s elaborate dressing routine 57784431b0 and followed him here. The moment he realized d51c54cd3b this was the discussion 59bbe79072 to settle matters with 71f756434f Ambassador Antien regarding the 051c087986 trade port, he knew c2d3c308b3 his real work had 589ed5d5b7 begun.10e5566164c95238

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

− As an 879ac19e39 aide to the 1427e41a0d Emperor, you must 814b9548e9 always remain calm fcc9dacda2 and keep your 14ecec1b4a intentions concealed. Competence is 57bc915064 a given.150e876f3702fd71

That was the 6f76f630d1 first thing his d3158d9f73 father had told 732c9ec056 him when he 57cd3ecf83 was informed of 16e0961755 his acceptance and 89bcaddfaa entry into the fd31a4dc9f palace. Ever the 55f86de422 rigid, inflexible 2e60b77062 man, his cc55a2494f father offered 201129fe25 no further cc7a6e3dff advice.3ef856047bef9b47

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Which is 16da7dee85 exactly why 9e57c6e86b I’m in 2ea900641f this mess 878487ff7e now.’fe7a679e92efa9c3

Fortunately, if there 5bb5a6dd8c was one thing f150d267cc Lucian excelled at, a339948b37 it was hiding a20338313c his true thoughts. Growing up, all the 785e7c4787 way through the academy 436c5d0606 and into his current 59a7d243bd position, the phrase he 60be91b60a heard most was, “He’s 77e808a4b5 impossible to read.” In 9692b0fb79 truth, his slow responses 0b66e428a6 were simply because his 74ac01f151 mind was too busy 05475e2ac4 processing an overload of e718167ad2 thoughts and information. But people assumed 878351a39a he was a 8e22a07dfa schemer, hiding his 60937074b5 intentions and plotting 8713dd2ee1 behind the scenes.5b22ec8294f38c49

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Back then, that 7f05525c56 reputation might have bd383fb8bd hurt him. Now, he 8521485599 was content e999abc373 to let 300b8cd978 them believe 3922711b20 it. As long 3bd17a973f as people 6f635dc0a8 left him 17581f687b alone, he 41306f3590 was fine.d1f09734bab607ea

‘As long c273f10952 as they 2fa1d894e8 don’t bother a0f11cfd19 me.’f2c3ec27a27e6d22

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Anyway, those who criticized 16eb2e356c him would gossip regardless 7b87da8d72 of what he did, 6d65e248d0 offering nothing but pain.2d3f8fff535dbc2a

But here was the 107a549b06 Emperor, flipping his thoughts e7d91b58d1 inside out within seconds, bbfcab6a46 pushing Lucian’s patience to ac26457247 the brink.d6de19cda5a02636

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Father, you could’ve warned b663d8be97 me that the Emperor 6af9974c20 was this unhinged!’87c0651e362eb40b

Lucian waited for Heraith e49f972245 to speak, but instead 599dcc9433 of replying, the Emperor 6341e3b355 scrutinized him from head 566943dbda to toe. The light in d6c0fdedc9 Heraith’s eyes was 73d7595178 a blend of a0bcf2c627 curiosity and something f3956b8011 else that neither 6b48c23f21 he nor Lucian 9c40132018 could quite decipher 9ae2504941 yet. Leaning his head to 3b4fb03c68 the side, Heraith observed ec4669bce2 Lucian’s reaction as if 6e26b14612 testing him.5a5bc015f056ee46

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Somewhere in a3e980cca6 the room, 0c0791ad75 someone let f16a3bc1f7 out a 849e5a0d9f faint gasp 8cc87cb11d and collapsed 819350bc3b onto the 938385a9d6 floor, unable 5ead246c1c to bear 6b9ba22d58 the tension. Neither Lucian nor b78fd1382d Heraith paid them 2d35b5e4e9 any attention. The Emperor’s 890b706a93 hazel eyes f3cebe7dd3 remained fixed cb1b43f0a5 on Lucian, 806789f234 and Lucian’s d9e7d651a0 ice-blue gaze 54f542f2e2 returned the c1e461d179 look without dc5c8ced76 wavering.0df4e41de14337da

After what 895f4fab31 felt like 3e8087faee an eternity, 11c3787763 Heraith burst 0bdd5afc6f out laughing, 9c7a75eb65 his laughter 325df71ccd growing loud e8c76f24c9 enough to 0cd809b451 fill the 36639b8c80 entire room. Later on, eb9f7a597b the aging 58b25ed0bc head attendant fad2495307 would recall dbe0e6dd27 that it 6d6ac230e0 was the 77426dda85 first time 048df4eb61 he’d ever 9d0bfaa1a5 heard such 50a5a1f545 a hearty 5525ffbff9 laugh echo 8bdb2b8e78 beyond the 3671e528ae walls.ccb6ec4139317d23

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha! I suppose I 0544d6b65c did choose my 813a35f83c aide well.” Heraith b7c41809eb spoke, his voice 9733181082 still tinged with 74124b855c laughter. “But, Luce, you made f745951b32 one mistake.”5d9760775b408ebb

“Pardon?”a9d48e6156c1a590

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Luce’s eyes widened. What was c705e92811 he talking b9823236fe about now? He was sure he 3f67a7ca3b had Heraith figured out. Wasn’t this man the ce2dcc563f epitome of narcissism?5c75cadfb8d25faa

“Two steps closer.”4dee33413a5d8fd0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Pardon? I don’t understand…”543ee28b44f1db89

“You’re standing over 4a09ed7425 three steps away 8175de10c6 from me, so df62e053a6 I had to a0ecc1c56c strain to understand a0d866f897 you.” Heraith shook 99952fe6e2 his head as 6bdb4a86eb if truly disappointed. “Next time, 528450eece come closer d5fa3ecad2 when you 5258195d8d speak. When you stand that 18d7346347 far away, it feels 5c172ed08c like you’re afraid I’ll cabc5bc597 devour you.”83e5d9eacd1fff46

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He’s absolutely insane…dd744d7511d4244d

Lucian scowled, glancing at 30e0ac7074 Heraith with a look ce3e0c70d7 of utter exasperation. He was starting 19f7ae88e9 to feel he a057e7f585 had seriously miscalculated 2c7c6b62bf by taking this 06cac070ae job. In the end, though, 4d9ce9285e he merely let out 812ee7b4a2 a long, deep sigh 8a69dd512f and clenched his fists a25fe8c7c1 in silent frustration.cee52b12802015eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The meeting ended in e2e5df78fd success—or rather, exactly as 31a27c4621 the Emperor had intended.2bbb3796184b8e3d

“Then I shall defer 257191b57c to Your Majesty’s wise 035c1c5edd judgment on this matter.”7a1059cb9416a35d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your efforts are appreciated, dd5b461839 Ambassador. I understand e28bc32904 better than 27882c03be anyone how 0792133e8b hard you 5971559c64 work.”6ef2073f7c8fd4fd

“Your Majesty…” The ambassador, 9c5cbf2cb9 with his balding head 35c7529e3f and a voice choked ce9fafc429 with emotion, was on 53ee3527ef the verge of tears.f10aa95b1bcf98e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With the 238b8244fc golden-haired Emperor’s 3e387326cf words sounding ba91250107 almost divine 40eace5542 to him, 5f2e3e9c19 the ambassador’s e4d9b64384 face was 66f29db388 filled with 3500acd383 awe and 2a6b6693c4 gratitude.7ec3821261f9e8ad

“Pranas will always 932baac567 prioritize peace with 98092864c6 your nation.”6a2a83cd0d71872b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Upon my cb1d48e314 return, I 37b87ecc06 will convey b3aaefb4b0 Your Majesty’s bbc54d3c2c wishes to 8d96eecb7a the King. May the bec7dd8bad relationship between d211e63860 our nations 718f3313a4 flourish. Truly, Pranas is a 7bff63e319 blessed nation to have 03679cd08d an Emperor like you. Your legacy will endure fc6a6763ce for a thousand years.”8da04626095467af

The ambassador 397240c527 bowed repeatedly, da4b037218 his praise c81cacdbc5 seeming to 6532c45c17 echo throughout 1d4bd5378c the hall. By the 2b7332ac9c end, one 414d00f50a might even 7fccb2a509 wonder if 9f7ce41832 he truly 844ede702c represented another 17733dd6cd country. As he left, his 86385c12a3 head glistened, reflecting the 14f373416e sunlight—not merely his baldness, d30105fe29 but what seemed like b805dfa87d tears of reverence, clearly 7191db118c visible in his eyes.3835765e3504f686

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Incredible. He can d3f0602a38 charm anyone, 243e329195 no matter 22c82690c5 who they 39720e0bb5 are,’Lucian thought, silently admiring bf9289b3b2 him.36fa34de39ede610

Just as his opinion 876f4892bd of the Emperor was d92dedc205 about to rise, Heraith 0c90a99436 suddenly whipped around and 146c062bf1 stared directly at him, 81da76d848 closing the distance between 536d843c90 them in a few 98765ff547 steps. He shot Lucian 1cf48782cb a bright smile. Startled, Lucian nearly stepped f621f485b3 back but remembered the b720d34dd5 Emperor’s order and forced d1e9b0a110 himself to stay put.c7aa43e52d4767ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Standing exactly three steps 21344afb5d away, the Emperor’s scent 5428ccb8fa enveloped him, overwhelming his 1b9f9a315a senses. Lucian bit the 65310e1be1 inside of his 2c169991ac mouth to keep e3cb5b204f himself steady. And then…f5324ea007c827ef

“How was it?”11c7e5581d859c10

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Huh?”67fc1048368c9fda

“Do you think ffa80624ab even you would 4e20dc1485 fall for me?”c60ff49ec6fd336e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

…What in 827d4f6463 the world df34957466 is this 2b38d0b499 absurd question?4dae989e01fb533b