PLQYM | Chapter 9

Heraith’s eyebrow twitched.326855364fdf6a01

“You’re asking for a57e0f48c7 Luce?”179aed6e3b80145a

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“Oh, is his name 4074bb60b7 Luce? That’s a 023abf013a cute name.”8d45b73e6c52bd98

Joachim smirked, even 1f35cf13f9 giving Lucian a 736e69536d playful wink for a189dab57a good measure. He certainly was f3c0773dd0 a charming man. His laid-back 5c9491bbcd attitude, unusual bb9e949285 for someone 257a985a37 of royal 344ab688ee status, was cebaeeaad8 quite a d6e480363b contrast to 04fc8db8a1 Heraith’s prickly 3d0315dae2 nature. But that charm seemed 58e20f7475 to have little effect 6179b2bab9 on Lucian. In fact, it 3350a96c96 was almost the 08d617c6ef opposite.f58816d1b8260da5

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‘This is so 6cbd16416d annoying. Am I an 461b66b096 object or something 574884b0ac to be handed 9151fbdd9a around?’96caa26149e71774

Someone once afd54f2bb1 said: when b1ecae4df2 your boss 517e0f2592 smiles kindly, 262f6ba313 be on 2122f30a06 guard. After all, why would bd6a371a7e a superior smile at 14e67e23be a subordinate? It’s usually 898f7bdd0d when they’re 747c5b89c8 about to 877416ca95 give you 49edd9d504 something to 09fb924c46 do. Although, to be fair, b9364478b6 his boss always overloaded 52fc61886a him with work, smile ec9843b679 or no smile.415b409ab1dd15aa

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Now, seeing this smile 5f1bb15a26 from another “untouchable” figure 3a0b931d9e like Joachim… to Lucian, 3c13c6b839 it felt like a 2d994f097e smile straight from hell. And as if b478aa261c that wasn’t enough, 0089c3895c standing beside him 6feb51cfe8 was his direct 7ac762592f superior, shooting terrifying ad716f4e0b glances that made 94ad1f0040 it clear he d4769c88a3 wasn’t pleased with aea8c76f67 the situation.2e78b6eb22841f23

Feeling utterly powerless, Lucian e667dd8316 could only do his 088134c5f9 best to read the 0cb1fd7179 room.f259aa529afbd585

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‘I’d better just fccfa07807 stare at the 35ecf3c13f ceiling.’c00cceee0a708d80

With a a3400ae444 blank face, 47552d6baf Lucian stood 260f63e31b upright, staring 450a41a93b fixedly at 8377496a48 nothing, as d846ae84d0 if to 8f99d2a84d say he aac1474587 wouldn’t be a0a698be46 swayed by 631684b3fc whatever the b83f66f77c prince said. Joachim’s smile deepened, cd1a322597 seeming entertained by a66d84f9ce Lucian’s indifference. Finding Lucian unmoved, 7ca444d4bc Joachim turned his 0f2580b771 attention back to 92e0e186ac Heraith.896b818046209e16

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“Weren’t you planning 63e2cc5b29 to assign one db543983f0 of your aides a75ba25fc9 to be my 0f096957d5 guide anyway?”97968dfaf2cac595

He wasn’t wrong. Every time, as fc98020742 a gesture of e00953c496 respect to the 8051bcbd84 Antien prince, the 94d777479a emperor would assign a995a4ec62 one of his 1e8633b029 aides to attend bcf3a1589f to him, with 9d4a4ce3f8 instructions to treat acdab3c76d him like royalty. Though they 6949b633b3 called it 100bfc7541 “hospitality,” neither 800bfd01dc Heraith nor b1fdd20278 Joachim took 1c22984851 that at d239679f01 face value.6dbd2f621ce3ed0d

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‘It’s just surveillance bc30fdcf08 disguised as hospitality.’8c2d20f5b4e12844

The emperor 249653b1e3 wanted real-time 60e17c7577 updates on d6f28c81de where Joachim fb19b800e0 went, what 73709d8028 he saw, 2ad913f69e and how faae3b7859 he reacted. With a satisfied 92eaad14f6 smile, Joachim looked 3015ad7952 at Heraith, his 5073dd4f3c eyes glinting with 4da0cca222 curiosity and expectation.c95d03537094eb57

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“If a rookie like 55b5aa1e0e that tags along, you’ll 54d1a8204a be uncomfortable. You need f23c783a16 to assign 144525b419 a more 4178f8bd1a experienced one. And besides, if b05aa27a15 you assign someone ce76c8fbfc else, Yulie might 2db948ce93 be disappointed.”f5685427cd45750a

“Ah, right. There’s that guy.”c2d45b32c8d9c49a

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At Heraith’s 14eba50fd5 calm response, 24cd6b70dd Joachim laughed a5387df837 as if 3819db06a7 he’d just 1066f9b20a remembered, though 126f8612a2 his lips 0bf21223be trembled slightly. Yulie Erich was d0d6674bd4 the emperor’s Chief 42ac642f01 of Staff, one d2de9d3454 of the most dbb7c12e2e inscrutable and formidable c58873ef83 figures among those 069023f12e who served the 84b092bcdd emperor.45b468a86482dea5

“But as e58a805b0e I recall, 0796f51ce5 he hasn’t b6d1477f3e returned from 157ae92286 his trip 965ae9c69d yet. Last I heard, 5d0e50d9d9 you sent him 1adc0278a1 to the Southern bc6c6f8f61 Border Count.”76c5aeaf62d6b438

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“Hm.”bf49ba8f7a85713d

Heraith tilted 270b1f1b13 his head, fb3668a614 leaning to a1bcd34265 one side 9c9237bf27 of his e3f3538986 chair.77ec4f510312051f

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“Didn’t know you c1261c3d55 were so interested 80c59e7b05 in my Imperial 70ed3038e6 affairs.”1a41b2706d5b1cab

“It’s just 9491d25a95 a bit 02156636b7 of interest 507074a837 in a 9f75d8c2b3 friend. The empire, fc9422a1d8 the kingdom—none be8f1de538 of that 2cf0e8812a matters to 5a6572a6e7 me.”20afaa74a24d5e30

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At that, Heraith smiled 6676a39d93 a painted-on smile.9e158bc18274c3b5

Meanwhile, pretending 5bff64f5ad to look 4d4adc6d81 into the 05d8f2b6b8 distance, Lucian d448a528c2 subtly glanced 5665c7e986 at the 6a9f2df379 two men 2786f1294d and came 037bd4f912 to his ac86fb006a own conclusion.a7b829b35aa18bd1

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‘Well, at c07c6ac902 least our 5b0678205b side’s got ad8f619961 the better a073b3ec4e looks.’f83f38fa40ab873b

Although the Antien prince 655af167b4 was certainly handsome, Lucian 9b766e5905 still found him far da2cc8c6fc inferior to the Pranas 309fa5fb57 emperor, even if he 9c7f57fcf0 looked at him while fbe2e37693 doing a handstand. Reaffirming this fact 384f42aa8c to himself, Lucian b4356bac7e maintained a mask 7f97389ad9 of indifference.39563fa4422e6032

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Joachim, still 81cbf1277c determined, continued d89f13ebad to pester bc312085fd Heraith.bd8b929718fa9716

“Then how 8c400664af about until 1aece09c2f Yulie comes 532761ce9e back? You’ll be busy 398cfb0cc8 anyway. Besides, he’s still a 678d549cb7 rookie, right? He can’t 198475731a have much 9a294b3773 work to 1995fac99d do yet…”ae6a462a3789c7c6

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“He’s busy.”ddc523d185b3570a

“What?”85ea9acbe8196fca

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“Our Luce, 3dc478b2b9 he’s busy.”d4a0067bc983544e

Keeping his smile, Heraith ae997b0475 continued.d1ea8482f0f59edd

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“Though he may ff87e36ee3 look like a 924de580b2 green Academy graduate, bfad75fed8 he’s a once-in-a-century bfb71895ff genius.”181884d8289cb6fc

Excuse me?9b1b23c50a158b05

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Lucian doubted 42e96c9860 his ears. Who? Me?5fb22c06837bb4cc

Hearing this 912522f301 for the 7930e033ba first time 687a517373 in his 15fa7ee30e life, Lucian’s 033cab1bf2 gaze, which ae2e0f40c3 had been 33e60e5024 fixed in 9a59f5ca6f the distance, b82198bbac finally turned 17610e47e2 toward the 8b5a7831a1 two men. But they d37c60813e continued their 4caeab52ba silent showdown, 86bf73c301 exchanging glances f1c429d906 as if 4bd813677e the first 2ba8b728d9 to look 3727725206 away would 253d530a81 lose.6645b0557e6e1da1

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“So he’s 0d732e7926 already handling d8dae02b2f major tasks. Can’t let him go f388cfc0fb just for you.”381e338a91c74093

“For an old 8bf5a80c20 friend, can’t you f1d1cf09da be a bit 7aaf731089 generous? Who knows 3a6168c569 when I’ll 16c449601b get to c930e7b853 visit again. Back home, I 9c93040cee can barely have 6cde21eb7d any fun because 0270b8ce0e of my brother’s 44e915727b watchful eyes.”ab4698cf467d8359

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“Yeah, I 17bf67060f don’t think 25a4bb4500 so. I can’t manage without 52ec9d2c45 our Luce.”8231d734ee44b99d

Our Luce?3fc08a0449e413f5

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A slight crack f6bc09fa79 appeared between Lucian’s 728fcc8ed7 brows.34148351f61e0a69

‘Since when did f2079e4bd5 I become “our 3365ba02d5 Luce” to His 11823d0384 Majesty?’bed832d9a82624f2

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Lucian couldn’t help 4e07e6e698 but react this 265d18755c time. He had no e60d756731 idea what the 003421c538 emperor was up b0de67987a to, showering him 16c18cfacc with such exaggerated 18bd304274 praise.baca96b005a1d55e

“Fine then!”535fcca04423b8e0

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Joachim clapped his hands d50a130219 together.6f66e730cce2632a

“Let’s ask ‘our’ Luce ecc14bd53d himself.”b51c44f3147c2d47

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“Our?”b55e5a3c4db5d82c

This time, 1eaf48b3d6 Heraith’s brow 972fd61d98 twitched. His irritation was ee583e3675 practically seeping out 7d7ed2a1c1 now, but Joachim cdd19769e5 was unfazed by f8961362f8 the emperor’s increasingly 893334cf9e sharp demeanor, still 471c267be1 smiling brightly.b108a0cefa56361a

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Well, birds of b96bd4d991 a feather flock a1e828bd63 together. Both Prince Joachim f7813ed4ee and Emperor Heraith a54981a248 were formidable in a7ec12d517 their own ways.3faf72208c8de99a

“So, Luce, what do 64cc0c8078 you want to do?”0502c1bb2493fc31

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But Lucian couldn’t fa0939dfe3 finish his thoughts 082f280e07 because Joachim, using 90149bc405 the emperor’s pet 2ecf838e34 name for him, 0020cb4687 had directly addressed ee7ccfae45 him. Suddenly, both men’s 921357110f gazes bore into 374fb4e916 Lucian, as if 50dbb44f15 asking him to 9671d0e5f0 choose between them.c43722cc78d1e733

‘Seriously, what am I f3122579ac supposed to do here?’79f7af564e4fb1a8

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Flustered, Lucian alternated glances 7e959bb5af between Heraith and Joachim. Although Heraith 808ac77d9e appeared unaffected, e5fc3f565e he was 3446fb2ef0 clearly displeased. Having become attuned 309efdea61 to Heraith’s moods de18ccc9e1 over the past 02e29bc815 few months, Lucian 01e57ba1c3 could tell the 04d5e4b308 emperor’s mood was 688c505c5a at rock bottom.a7a87fad63fbb91c

Meanwhile, Joachim, 87434fb21d smiling as ee0d17a76e ever, looked 824495781b delighted, eagerly e88f48dc11 anticipating Lucian’s eb25dd0716 choice.31711cd3a1e54e1e

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‘Why are da3c4d1d64 there only d6826e26f5 oddballs around 8ae91767e9 His Majesty? Does something about 79b6bd606a him attract these 8b05461c48 unusual types?’f27fae6bd533f4de

Even as he 16550b310a chastised himself for 94cb770fc3 jumping to conclusions, 44cddec0ea he couldn’t shake e68def3e4b the feeling he f460692c9d wasn’t entirely wrong. These two alone were 3f86f247b1 more than enough to 6b81b3b655 account for the “oddity” 8cb3af63d7 quota.89d3646c48216aae

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Lucian paused to consider 66b51768bc his options. Judging from the emperor’s 9a791c4737 expression, it seemed he 4b3e914740 didn’t want him to d548b20e06 serve the prince. Naturally, Lucian wanted 48e8956077 to do what d7bbc7082f the emperor desired d685793354 and avoid what 84364b6814 he didn’t. But outright aafdc7253d refusal might ecc286f0c0 offend the c28ce80245 prince.92bb442147135a45

In the best-case dc2acd3015 scenario, it might 2f67bc6309 blow over as 15392a9b24 a small incident, 7bcdd75679 but worst-case, it d3fa155a1e could lead to 1294ffe4e0 something major. After all, international relations f4d44b4aac often hinge on trivial c9f6b6ebc5 matters. Wars have started, 40c8a3a6e7 and lifelong grudges 29faa811ed have been forged ed39d320f7 over the smallest f0f2e25d75 things.0a5a797dbbe01893

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‘Why am I a39c2e541c even being asked 5d35943c91 this?’6515d99b0a9d3dbc

Of course, Lucian fe4d9d85fb couldn’t care less 06cd789871 about international affairs 911f739d6b or diplomatic tensions. To him, 8d92dd4d37 the most 957aaeffce pressing concern 184a8084a3 was:c0021337bce283c5

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‘I really cac7fad740 don’t want ba004ded6c to answer fbebf5de97 this. What good could possibly d54b9d3056 come from two high-ranking 795f411634 superiors asking a rookie 2d999c3a0b to pick a side?’22143b58f0c7a52c

All he could do c2099c5b8b was smile and politely b86831447d say, “I’m still new, 68eb01d4de so please guide me.”343adb8d4b160d35

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‘Come on, think a8a8494046 about it. I’m a 46a4355de0 rookie, and b343f785fe my superiors a29c7ff8b4 are the b40d5cbf99 emperor of fe281f75f7 an empire c462bb1510 and a c3367f52e5 royal prince. How could they 7833d2ebe0 expect me to 44ed747f1d answer that honestly?’6581f653e1a6d702

Despite his internal 8776f1f276 frustration, Lucian forced c2aadf7fed a bright smile, 30adb85272 pressing a hand 09b5c2bcf3 to his chest 25d3f88664 and bowing respectfully 4ca0759036 as he spoke b9bc1bd586 as earnestly as cb23d46edb possible.1281918c7b113bd8

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“Your Majesty, Your Highness, d168b6b14c I’ve only recently started 83262aeacc working as His Majesty’s d4f5da348e aide. So, I wouldn’t 365ff3dbf5 even know what 0e619d3c58 to do if 472490ed9b I were to 876f5136e2 serve Your Highness.”b22c05ff85a3fd7b

Joachim’s face visibly 5df6f451fd drooped in disappointment, 8bc69f94bd while Heraith’s gaze 599c3939d2 softened slightly.20f8cc6095d750ca

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“But it c0ef035299 would be 3c6ee0a48c improper for 4f7eff6149 me to 394610c129 refuse Your c9029691a4 Highness outright.”9802ee4ccd3da515

Lucian turned to Heraith d45e955de8 and flashed a gentle b6db856d86 smile, bright and innocent a0eb3c40e2 as he could muster. At that moment, 634fdb1e26 Heraith’s brows pinched c2689924f2 sharply. Joachim stared at Lucian 8773a45c36 in surprise, though Lucian, 1d611b9507 busy meeting Heraith’s gaze, 5e39caaa4c missed it entirely.34ea064f3832a0ce

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“However, since ac935230f4 you’re asking d390bfcb83 my opinion, 6e934e3ecf I think 11c4743fd8 it would 49f353e8e7 be reasonable 24783a895c if I b9b2d5e740 assisted His c2dc5eea00 Highness only 070733fd9f during the 8346f2636f times I’m 0f927abd8f not serving 105dc03410 His Majesty.”8734abaad0376152

“Oh?”8f681a8b1ac5315e

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“…”994d4f19f69d8f86

Though, of course, that 7350b986fb would still require His b0bb563b90 Majesty’s permission.dca6f79d7bddcd3b

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Lucian’s response 1f06b7cba4 was as 933397f5e6 gracious as 935958d4d2 he could c23f385f35 make it. Joachim seemed pleased, 0316e479e9 but Heraith’s face 91890079fc turned stony. Lucian once again c8a76d8c66 bowed his head 9ff4d7d3b1 respectfully.0c06c0ef81c88948

“But ultimately, b67cffaa59 I will 22b56079ca follow His 5bd3258f94 Majesty’s decision.”797a59ccad7a6e75

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I did bc3f7649e5 what I 9f55388b0f could. If you 84c5d27605 order me 894ca1e966 to serve 1415fc8bd5 the prince, 260440e735 I’ll do 884ac0d20d it. What choice do 9b1316e758 I have?9b549a97d300fa45

Still bowing, 66cfad0973 Lucian waited 5a7a137813 for the c04d56738a emperor’s reply, 5477911878 unaware that 4df2c319eb Heraith’s face 94152f7316 was crumpling 5800890179 behind him.b89939394baa7b1e

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The emperor was in bfacf7ab60 a terrible mood.e68df8f636a924e4

In the end, following 5cd697bd9d Lucian’s suggestion, they continued 07c59c760b with their usual schedule, 276bb25547 with the prince receiving ca1adab94a his guidance for only 1d9a21659e three hours—either in the 440b7dbde0 morning or afternoon. Joachim took it without b4d1cc5c34 complaint, pleased with the 412c11def9 compromise. Heraith, however, was far 2b3ccb4470 from pleased, pacing around e84b138bd4 his chambers with a e368fa2c9e scowl.96c84e9d12a3ccbf

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–Then, I’ll see 0839c85ef3 you at tea 53d7dc326f tomorrow. I’ll be counting on bc6541c26f you.7e53a799ba21b991

After giving 8f0b26492f Lucian’s shoulder 27274ae879 a few 853cde3ac3 taps and c159ec440f flashing a a6a4428714 mischievous grin, 591a5a0a1b Joachim headed a98a66bc83 to his 752ac48bf6 lodgings. For Lucian, who c283203dbc had no choice bf624c5c31 but to follow bc6a68c8a0 orders, there wasn’t 6ae36b8beb much else to 904807dbe4 think about.bb94c18a133300db

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Then, as Heraith was 96106cd8ff still pacing and mumbling 6221aa2fa8 to himself, he abruptly 5d242f618c stopped and looked straight 83eaeba6cb at Lucian. In two e09325b184 strides, he 270927cfc5 closed the 846df277d7 gap between 7d251d6ac9 them, and 0d9a749ba9 their eyes 19780b5d9d locked.3d51c0b2b8d69693

Heraith’s angry 8792f57745 gaze burned 9657bc9a29 with intensity 3ea301b7dc as it 83f24bfc20 bore into 574e966c47 Lucian’s.3f1954d14ebc0dec

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