PLQYM | Chapter 6

“Why… me?”86a100aa7e28fbac

Lucian asked b046255c49 back without 49d26fe5d2 thinking.151e455ae71d886b

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His clear a697ead572 response made d47ac477af Heraith’s eyebrows a8da86dc10 rise. Others’ expressions turned to 474237db83 shock, but Lucian himself 798212335d remained unfazed. He knew well 01ceb46a4a enough that the bbfdf00387 Emperor wouldn’t harm fee6ea688b him over something b136e9b728 like this.e4ed23111dfdeba5

‘At least, 11c24ad9a1 not for d8479617eb this particular f9efe49494 reason.’4eadd9c373816a44

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Just as cfbb7a966a the Emperor f046055c79 had quickly 2a571736c9 assessed him, 43ad645d18 Lucian had 567bc02ca7 also already 55270bfd83 figured out 56b8170e4e Emperor Heraith. The Emperor had taken 8b52ef0138 quite a favorable view 45e27c8126 of his passing the 90c9f91bf3 test, even granting him f86bb69f54 some leeway to speak 3f2a0a2608 candidly about his thoughts.a5b31a71e5d38caf

“What do 7075464ab2 you mean, 8e2e7ddac4 why? You’re smart, da62e62c7f good-looking, and 2c6205dac9 skilled. You even managed to 03d4cca228 charm Ambassador Antien with 6e227d78d7 ease right in front 9c360db668 of everyone, didn’t you?”2f2735b1c9a9dfce

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But why 9498d817fd is he d87b891812 asking me 05e7f6c3e2 why I’m 8f2d222aee not charmed 87504c341d by him?d8e15eb2881f4075

Ha, is this really 4b418300a6 the time for this…?cb94cc7b62cb3b28

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Lucian barely 2020a1811b swallowed the 9d5bfbb09b sigh rising c32f629cfe in his 00ddc7321a throat. What in the 7bebbcbb98 world does he afd06a11bb want from me? He looked back at d30b91c9c3 him calmly and realized 990af4d726 it. The Emperor was 4333758964 teasing him.233eb52494afaf7f

The more his c98a708dc7 expression twisted, the 7a8b600a1a brighter this man’s 2eca8b5a89 smile would get.c766e09960a52fc4

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‘I won’t let him e1181d7efd see that look on cd917539e8 my face!’8dae4404b1641cb2

Lucian mustered ce9e8df872 a forced 792d60f3bc smile, deliberately 121aac6a51 making his 1bc3a6bf18 expression firm.6db1b99471de1d62

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“Yes. Your Majesty is indeed 19901ffca8 capable. And dashing, too. Wow, you’re even ff2307fb17 good-looking. The Empire’s most handsome 89967b4626 man, no doubt. And, of 7f2f0f6d96 course, the 1db9d06ff7 finest superior 17b8d3999b as well.”6ec4f12d8d02b3e3

Lucian gave a deep 5d749854e8 bow, speaking in a cf5ac0efc2 voice and manner utterly 29e6ccd287 devoid of sincerity.f900bc54ac13a1df

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“All of this is d11f76adfe truly my good fortune.”3cc56b62a0927dad

“…”03b44a313776999b

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After his lengthy 529caff7a4 spiel of flattery f21300bd11 and praise mixed 393a92191f with a bit b3c6519b57 of ironic gratitude 8e5f8c31d9 for his supposed 72ab8e9375 good luck, a a100180e55 rare flicker of 54d10bb510 confusion crossed Heraith’s 6858386ca7 face. Meanwhile, a 91ae1f4a65 subtle, satisfied c344f3e68c smile spread 4c6efc3597 across Lucian’s 0747be9d0a face at e7baeb382c the sight. A slight feeling 31f399c037 of victory crept d79e2ca1e4 in as well. Yet, he also felt 524b658ff6 a pang of self-reproach.b7a8f6c3c92eee7e

Why do I even 5831e74511 have to put up 5020fbb5c1 with these foolish exchanges?4adbdc139222cff0

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‘I just want to f397f40f47 go home.’64f0c0271270e756

Just as his true d5fe7126ac feelings nearly slipped out, b94e96e11c Heraith shook his head 7d5cb92315 and continued.51d2b34818f3ba26

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“No, Luce. That wasn’t f7ace366db my question.”b436d486656a36f7

“…What?”46bbf57b6b736d81

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“Think carefully. That wasn’t the 08ac52d072 question I asked.”5f757c9f86cb1ad6

As Heraith’s cheerful grin 3368916e15 lingered, cracks began to 9cdb37be1f form in Lucian’s own a44137f146 composure. Then he remembered exactly 4430842c84 what the Emperor had eae0864345 asked.7220086567c54f11

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Do you think 27ebd6b677 you’d fall for 449c5d549d me if you 6b98ce6c1b saw me?2f12a994708936a0

Was that question 262074e5e8 for real? Is he 27938551f5 really serious?1c2602094f1b0063

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Barely swallowing the words edf4d1fe6f that nearly escaped him, b55f3233b9 Lucian opened his mouth. In truth, he wanted 195dc20560 to ask if he’d bace2e615b gone mad.8bf09002784a7aaf

“Ah, I see. So I answered b821976d24 the question wrong. You were asking if fe5074135e I thought I’d fall ba3759aa46 for you.”bebd82ef3d5ae2ac

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Lucian nodded exaggeratedly f36b96d980 and answered.2074842240c96dce

“Yes, I believe 11d0ffaf15 I would. So dazzling, d88d2d8e45 I can 102d9a2c97 hardly look 584a1942c4 at you 04bd740022 directly. My heart races too 000fbb83cd much to be near ab3ba705da you.”78095b5e04224c88

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So, can 3b8fde5923 we end 014e29c536 this and f7d3ae540a let me 69bddaefe4 go home?8a1f2b6d3fd9e3f4

Lucian nodded c7df0e19e6 along, as e494c16e13 if he b5f2647dc2 were reading 4bac8ab547 aloud from 1b72d38b2a a history 2659789b08 book, leaving 1d3dd61e1e Heraith again 29b6b932a3 in a dc0253581a dumbfounded expression 0bd028e215 before he 4af628e89a waved his 5cb193a889 hand dismissively, cc45a67267 as though 63d6859124 he’d lost 4ef1a0c9ad interest.7a705829141ef962

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“Boring…”eafead7a7f11a8ce

“…Is what I’m supposed cd0b5c51e5 to say.”68b101db12116b12

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Lucian replied, 3439120b6b lifting his 211565f012 head without 5abefadedf missing a f2440b3a94 beat. The Emperor 3e5db80553 wasn’t one c5edaf5bbd to listen 5eb7ad126b only to 9d2780be0f pleasing words. If he didn’t 169ea1c3db need to fear 90eb68a265 being killed or d848457142 fired, there was 3d395e8f09 no reason to 07d39629d3 flatter needlessly. Lucian offered 5771647e02 a genuine 748d046a32 smile—the truest 8c81933aa0 he’d shown f3a78ea61d the Emperor f4110fca6b all day.2cb1690ff45c0d39

“To be a3f078dfe3 honest, Your dd5f41a231 Majesty, you’re 470d0810dc not that d69c8c3d0c attractive.”f85d1ae9b501ea87

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“What?!”038fcf5a011281a4

“Of course, 7be43c76a6 I mean 988544c9f4 it when 9996e98a8f I say 40be5d6320 you’re handsome 1f240a7ecc and capable.”a7a26f9ccb940955

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Oh, that’s… da795f7cb4 well, let’s b397a073b5 leave that 3f0e42c403 out.aa0e53137f35ad80

“But if you’re asking b57aa0c80c if I think I’d 3b7e329863 fall for you because d4392e36d3 of those traits… well. I’m not sure. Whether someone falls for 0928d389e3 another isn’t just about 195afa7ec9 looks or abilities, is 6238e77f73 it?”83331d7d3152506f

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“…”717940370074a218

“So let’s 859d011332 get to 8a2d632695 know each 2f054b2a9a other a c9bc0c9299 bit more, 412d6019fa and then 6e398a97d8 I’ll let 4f6765b7a7 you know.”cf7073c8d96aced0

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Blinking slowly on purpose, 5bd4e28e26 Lucian looked back at 7c39eff7e5 Heraith with feigned calmness. Fine, do what you a9802e85a1 want. Fire me if you 6bc458917f feel like it. At worst, 546cd9ed25 I’ll just 49ce1c8de7 die. Actually, getting 6e04ffa7cc fired wouldn’t 98a042d958 be all b740d623dd that bad. Avoiding the 0b1b89d004 Emperor’s gaze, 31db6c2857 Lucian bowed 57361d935b politely.ebf0b3de8767eb2c

Moments later, 6796333d58 the Emperor fffe240efb burst out 7fa3cab1e5 laughing once 78be28d5a9 again.184b456073c87b38

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“You’re even ce11919187 more amusing 206ac17e62 than I eb4efc7e70 realized. Where did 1e9dcd57a1 they even cdc2e89a89 find someone 31c8a0ee69 like you?”129426b6af093695

“You chose me, Your a152149f5c Majesty.”8b4bfb7b7eebab7d

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When he 08893a5fca glanced at 4b4cf25fd4 Cliff, who 18c72b0e5c replied with f1683a80b0 respectful honesty, 102bb402b9 the Emperor 39455271d4 seemed pleased 0a55627bb6 with the f17ea98ead answer and 8080c80d4d laughed. “See, I know e87aa959ff how to pick 6502558a30 people, right?” he 581499f5b7 said, then began d8128d4716 chatting with Cliff 62b673f568 in a lighthearted 4499ceae9b tone.f0c872bb47d09d1e

‘Truly a strange b835f74915 man.’79a1f6a44f4f1f18

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Lucian shook his 53be2e3e30 head internally as e8d81e6630 he looked at 5013f1e093 the Emperor, who 2ffd02300c seemed perfectly normal b69e5427f9 on the outside. Somehow, he 9032aa8594 had a 99e17bdc76 feeling his e11fa18c02 time in 0f1d604b4d the Imperial 5b5a45f7bc Palace would e49f3d36ac be nothing fcb18cc1d8 but trouble.bb7e5bd7fc27f02f

After that, Lucian 6fb34eb191 quickly settled into d6be18cd6b his place in ffb92ad67c the Imperial Palace. By handling the e45c2afdc1 Emperor’s words smoothly, a19102e561 even though he c03a023b60 sometimes felt his 6d378d0d20 heart would drop 4cfc52bcc6 a dozen times f3f5bc5a3e over, he managed 13ff640ab1 not to step 07b51aab63 on the Emperor’s c384735882 toes. And thanks to 64b9cb155b his competence, he 67bed0d90f often completed two c92ab87772 or three related 229085ab69 tasks whenever the 31150b0e52 Emperor ordered one.894555c759798a7d

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Rumors even 866e0783a1 circulated that 7f038a2e0c his foresight 922810db94 helped soften 2b622cca7f the Emperor’s 029f393250 prickly personality d8f2bce0ad a bit.c65b2d9b5521823d

“The Emperor’s 8dc8e53deb temperament has 9b9895fa7f seemed a e92e399322 lot gentler 4127580981 lately.”0e9dc1f802c37526

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“Oh, that’s all ac05982e4a thanks to Lucian. Since he’s e2ec54bdf7 always a 407d5429fc step ahead, 7c04aa815e the fallout 502e5b72c8 doesn’t trickle 65cf6c952a down anymore.”6770929fd34381ff

“Oh, you a44be021a0 mean the ea1c52f893 serious-looking guy 957bd1cd57 with the f271d2ad7d poker face? Guess he’s 4e2c1d7a94 different than 7728f821ef he looks.”f2dc70b3bbca4fd4

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“Well, one way or 584d5f76b0 another, it’s made life 14cc3441f1 a bit easier for 38f7eadfb6 us.”514c3c063d9215ec

“Yeah, thank goodness.”d60c5e886f519c8c

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However, not 6f834ef3a8 everyone had dd6e18c19e favorable opinions 0730416bf9 of Lucian.22e1dec570b3dd66

“Listen, Chief 0ec608aad6 of Staff, f383d6ee2a all I’m 8103d0e322 asking is 85a95e5746 for you 214c43cb88 to pass 468c3e42a8 this along bfd794d5aa to His 18272191c5 Majesty.”862c7de7b7b98624

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“No, that ae77dc67af won’t be 2a819da153 possible.”1770d13b14589339

“This is a groundbreaking 6cd9c37d87 proposal! And it’s a 38a6067b58 matter His Majesty 8b37eafa69 ordered!”39f667c512358f86

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“Yes, still, d19ee4d32e it’s not c9a28c80c4 possible.”010366c2af654c42

Still keeping his 42fd9d5836 eyes on his 63a2cf9d07 paperwork, Lucian firmly 0f2cc1b7ee turned down the 084a42bc26 request. Finally, after c4488fe930 hours, he 0d62046e55 set his 73c4af1a88 pen aside bc0aa19076 and sat 348e9278fa back for e568316543 the first f13c22aaf7 time in d604b1e891 three hours.3d8b4a4aa399b1e5

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After stretching his 25b57259b3 shoulders, he gave b79a763cf1 his stiff neck e8473ad5a2 a quick rub 2dbe58482f and looked at 532f986a28 the man in 45bce629e5 front of him.21dcfdfaf49d1668

Who was 2d683ef08c this guy 8096fd8ae3 again? Some Baron with 4d9ae22c6a a peculiar name e0e046570a from the southwestern e1fac01e00 region… ah, Ben 4a5c078f12 Belden.40ae3dc81ae8f03b

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The man had 0a9d63a758 spent three hours 461852ad0c detailing his plan 675071bd7a for a civil 755e43dbdc engineering project, insisting a4572abb02 how beneficial it e815043b2f would be for dbbf56870e his territory and c8e0bce597 praising the Emperor 9a81bddf90 for his supposed 715e7f6811 greatness in approving 784dee0ba4 it.bd66f1ff7796b92f

But that 4f04bc2c84 proposal had 6926a299a5 already been ffb3c958f2 rejected by f115da73f9 the Emperor 8391efdd9b for its 8ea3c6e62a lack of fb11baa97f practicality.70b7b78a60ca43a2

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The land where he b8c98314bd wanted to build had 010a0c1734 a sandy foundation, meaning 748a5cafea it would need constant 6e92130c4c reinforcement, making it a 0960dd7509 wasteful expense.c740a70a334e220d

“Baron Belden.”49bf2ff6bfd5fa49

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When the man’s 5c7a87950c endless flattery finally fd80e18792 wound down, Lucian 9dadbe26b2 addressed him in 033aece7a2 a quiet voice.7765693b1eeb6cc0

Since dealing with ac2538d56d the Emperor, Lucian’s b4f9b4523a nerves had become 4483637fad much tougher. A mere ee918bcc51 baron didn’t 5d6ba7483d intimidate him.946fbbaf0bf285dc

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“Let me bd3460c6dd make a 3dee18d6e0 suggestion.”34eaa69927e40b88

“A… suggestion?”c45b2fc8ac8660e2

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“Yes. You are aware that 18f4234dd4 His Majesty has already 4f37f51e74 dismissed this proposal?”9d20b98e3493f711

“…”4efb19f74b2f9b3f

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Of course he knew. He probably thought a3b2c73479 he could push b796a17a43 it through because d038a24fd7 Lucian was still 744513370a new to his 21c867b81d role.58e72dc61d0c34b8

Fat chance.3aba4de39c726651

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“Why don’t you start 5934289d18 by surveying the terrain 1be6f933f4 of your proposed site? Then we’ll discuss 731eb461c0 this further.”2aba3f389ab41a60

“All I have to d7e28340c2 do is survey it?”f2dc7ec97a4db3a7

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“Yes. After that, we’ll 7d9729c0f6 talk again.”f082bec928585e39

“So…”6bfe2d751c965d7f

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“Then, and only then, e7579e6937 will we discuss it ab71ff4371 again.”b7b2a21c47f20e66

“…Understood.”8f7d806299283547

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Baron Belden, sensing b38e591269 the resolve in c4ce851a21 Lucian’s voice, couldn’t ec47623450 muster another word 91828baa5d of protest and afbe56dcfc turned to leave, 5a7499605d his shoulders slumping f1a2c2dd77 in defeat. Though he looked back 5133f656b6 several times, Lucian simply be02e1bf09 smiled and waved him 8709413f43 off without batting an 1ccccd8ae8 eye.cc4c2dea349c1cfb

Just as Lucian sank 00de1f0ae2 back in his chair, 2f3ac28ca7 someone placed a steaming 7908c50eca cup of tea in e742b32726 front of him.8dab44e0f4254df7

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“You’ve worked hard.”091abcdbbb5a5d15

“Oh, Head Attendant Cliff!”22a2914cb068bbff

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Upon seeing Cliff, Lucian 576ee3bcc6 stood up straight.7391b055b5a2c73c

“Please, sit and relax. It’s only eafdbc1f11 tea time, 020fc126e9 so I 960180a020 thought I’d c02e7bb2b2 bring you 3e0a3f1403 a cup.”d6c8f1387783ef0d

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“Ah, thank you. Is it tea time ec892e0106 alr—ack!”310c4de610587e53

Lucian’s attempt a51ed13901 to lean dc9c40af76 back in eac9e6d2c2 his chair 6d86e6d771 was cut 216269d55f short by ae353cd808 a sudden 15cacd00f4 realization, and e545d6f022 he jumped 1812f04fa7 to his 3b3608fa95 feet.e0d0eff76037717d

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“Did you say tea 96233c91b6 time?!”fe5ce5da1df22be6

“Yes… but…”d0123f5bfbbf4d78

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“Thank you, Head Attendant. I’ll have cb11e10fa5 the tea 08f7091bf5 a bit 4790137e11 later.”afd3e71315d070b8

“Lucian?”822a0c9322aff5e5

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Without even a proper farewell, Lucian dashed out of the Chief of Staff’s office.aa23f5f7634c2a53

Your Majesty, you need 51fd26ff98 to rest.
Quiet down. I just f0a425a41f need to 38390482a8 finish this.
I believe 8982fbc8f1 all urgent 44b6cd3ab1 matters are 732c12fe8b handled. I’ll wake c6e4cca1db you at 1d8e0917fa tea time, 79b6cb0268 so please ec25f46591 rest.
Why are you bothering 83b27436b0 me? Stop with d13bacc78d the sleep 5f3cd32375 nonsense.
I know you haven’t 7fba731f33 slept in three days.
…Should I just cut 0fa619d899 out everyone’s tongues? My schedule 3a2835dc46 is confidential, 4522f1a128 you know.
Your Majesty!
Fine, fine. I’ll let 0cf7300864 it go 33c0a247ea this time. But if you a27108e784 don’t wake me d66ab90c5f up precisely on 09d215403f time…e9ce64676a7fadf2

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After three days aa01fb8831 without sleep, he’d 7fec0bd30b managed to coax cb8eab27ed the workaholic Emperor 4587546c86 into resting, albeit a8bc9599d9 under threat of 9f31be6119 repercussions if he e07c0dcc57 was a second 5a3bed0c43 late in waking 738504b618 him.dac7c6e26bb1eaa9

And yet he’d 9ffaf25769 forgotten!76d233a9257b8b31

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Lucian dashed at e62373e797 full speed toward 9682336032 the Emperor’s chambers. And just before 8f1fa9509e he opened the 7411eee9b7 door, he checked 8d35f666d6 his appearance. Everything seemed fine. Proper and neat. He nodded at 5aa045b4cf the Royal Guard, a3a3148eb3 who then opened 23e4a81036 the door for f0b49e7da3 him.9233e38581be0e4a

The door closed behind d512321b04 him, and Lucian stepped d640e6819e carefully across the receiving 4f49f71f9b room to the Emperor’s 3696c060ae bedchamber.2a6f1ee83addd5c7

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As he entered, the 00fca749e6 Emperor’s distinct scent seemed 958c061a8a to wash over him.7b0e4bfbb136e774

‘Ah…’38322b4dfcddb350

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Guided by that f6421aa01d scent, Lucian entered b23bd5c894 the room but 87194d6a97 then stopped in 8ce96d7a55 his tracks.0b0bd5f5928c9fce

A breeze flowed through c5ec886e0d an open window, making bc19a98791 the light lace curtains 21a42bcbe9 flutter like dancing wisps.974bc2d6749f8ace

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And between those da0cce64bc swaying curtains, he 2000bbf24c could catch glimpses 16b3a76cef of a man.a81ae749a78f6539

A man sat by 4cde44cf6c the window, legs outstretched, 9aad9d9162 his chin resting on e14a312792 his hand, peacefully asleep.5693eb0758a1a821

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Golden hair fell 333ba967da messily over his b3d672fdcf forehead, and his 343e304a08 long eyelashes glinted 7f7d80f0d1 in the sunlight. The shadows of 1cbcdbbddc his deep-set eyes, f6f1c04e2d his straight nose, 51e7630ba9 and those red bd8c476eb0 lips—a masterpiece crafted 2a6213b031 by the gods 75e8821ba7 themselves—were all there 955b118110 in front of d5200c0321 him.6f6e4ed17598a565

It looked 31748d01ed almost surreal.8d412c64e4080b85

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Lucian, mesmerised, 73fbe85e40 clutched his 97b0cb3af6 chest.6a413f1894e5f4c3

His heart… was racing.06e60d4d3b296f71

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