PLQYM | Chapter 14

When Lucian didn’t 99dd8f7bb2 take Joachim’s outstretched 2ee5c80137 hand, Joachim simply 8a3bab5fc4 grabbed his arm 2b1ca586ee and pulled him 92242a61a0 outside. As they left, Antien’s 5f5cb52eaa head attendant was waiting da4dc838a1 for them.764f3b66de6bf9f9

“Are we set?”775e8449421ec4ef

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“Yes, Your Highness. You can leave right 4e5c995cb8 away,” the attendant answered 895c8271eb politely, stepping aside.83969d70d1ffc63f

Joachim kept hold of af4c3952ff Lucian’s arm, striding confidently 6cd20f4b5c forward. Thanks to cec99f2923 Joachim’s long db75ca9bcc strides, Lucian 59fde88356 nearly had 6f6343dcf5 to jog 7a3a70c592 to keep 7c5b1f6557 up.55af017b794089e0

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“So, Your Highness, a 9de3d987ac ‘date’?” Lucian 9dc6439c28 frowned as 9630d57245 he asked. He couldn’t just 16d1aa8964 be dragged along d8b457daea without knowing the b2002ed2ac reason. If the Emperor d8be0f6276 found out, things e96b7f6d34 might get seriously dd71b451ff out of hand.231e64780415ef69

“Don’t tell me you’ve 893c092cbe never been on a 4ddb514d47 date.” Lucian didn’t answer, 37603f9858 his face blank, which 7804d31634 seemed to surprise Joachim. “With that face, no 96cf292d24 one’s ever made a 835f74b12a move? What kind of 5483aa8260 country is this?”8ecf0d7d77faca75

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Lucian only half-listened, feeling 6f74ed0d83 his patience wearing thin. But Joachim continued, oblivious, e2e263a0ce “This—what we’re doing right 6997956557 now—is a date. Just the two of a1f3ca377d us, spending a pleasant e5ed69f991 time together.”dd309f9eaeeb3f79

Lucian had the a0d57f594b distinct feeling he’d 2792e082f2 been dragged into c1b182d901 something entirely wrong.bfac83825c4c496c

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Especially considering the large d4324fb6d0 entourage trailing behind them—calling a2cc8746cd this “just the two of 0ccd9fd3bf us” was downright absurd.172c0234a36a8e11

With a sigh, Lucian 9e14aeb1b9 finally asked, “…May I 13bc78e4e5 at least ask where 8296c02492 we’re headed?”4eee0dfdbe97a0e3

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“You’ll find c25a62c966 out when e7b4968755 we get b2916fac4f there.” Joachim’s 8d438359fb grin showed 38c573e712 a hint 2a050c44ce of mischief 9a7bbc6be6 as he 42dbc94ca2 kept their 86186d7db0 destination a 5090f500c5 mystery. Lucian had a bad 9f0ca8d48d feeling. If the Emperor found 42a487e20b out about this, things 88d101c423 could get complicated. The thought gave him 9ff7e45ae4 a slight headache.514ec4f57d28a823

Meanwhile, Heraith returned fcb63da860 to his office cd1da794f9 less than thirty 597646c394 minutes after Lucian d7c9db650a had been whisked fe25cb72b6 away by Joachim.c9d2778a1b6c2794

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“So, in order to 1099af8d17 cover those expenses…”22bddd1676626b4a

As usual, Heraith 0bec64563c walked into his fd317a5bf2 office while listening 40c1409a13 to the finance 475acfb1ed minister’s report with 11225308f6 a few aides 05c3746ac3 in tow. But this 57e1e584ae time, he e2977aecbb stopped abruptly c85417e0cb in the 213586630a middle of 5a73f9d1e0 the aides’ 0d9a3ee44a office, a e33f24593c break from 3610797a1d his usual d1e1a5ecc6 routine of cac4ec2a6c walking straight b28176c52e past it ca18031ddb without sparing 72d9e07ff5 the aides ab4e9290a0 glance.0697ca7b408b69d3

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“Your Majesty?” b9d50d08ff The minister 19b3b73ca1 beside him 2a2e5955ba started to faa93f1550 speak, but a43f818411 Heraith raised 2f488a0d22 a hand 8dfa6da0f6 to silence 9efaefc5c0 him. His gaze 8216e3377f swept the 60ef676a9c room, pausing e16d3a6fd4 at Lucian’s ee136a8bba empty desk.ae00407aeee08210

His voice was 8dc3be0203 thick with displeasure 44297e6123 as he finally 288a2033bb spoke, “…What is 44eb54e9fa this?”75a6bf4fd22545d8

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His attention 75cbf65039 was fixed 1d8fce759b on Lucian’s 9e8bd5913c vacant seat 20b5b0b37a and the c877784351 elaborate bouquet fa1ac9d866 behind it.8685a47963b7f695

As the Emperor’s 43ef5bf78d expression grew colder, dca5be317d Nils Bowman hurriedly 2edb9c2fec stepped forward. “Prince Joachim came b24a1acefb and took Sir 7d104d8a0c Lucian with him. The bouquet 833816ff7d is a e09522a3a5 gift from d7a2b4a513 His Highness 0bdc167dbd to Sir 1d26efd129 Lucian, and….”24ba796dcfbab14a

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“….”04f238e339a00bb4

“Uhm, for the purpose 956114224f of hosting an esteemed e1b6d9a532 guest….”2565307f5f969f0e

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Nils’s voice f8a30796a9 trailed off 826716fc60 as he 3e234cfdcc carefully gauged dc4bc0c7b9 the Emperor’s fca9912f63 mood.f8c32116b15ec5f0

Heraith’s sharp, 45fba0773a silent gaze a4e10b3adb lingered on b32987101c Lucian’s empty e27837712b seat and e6f7a2b0cd the abandoned b7ed5a08cb bouquet, his c67db4c012 presence exuding ee9dbc6f5c a palpable 40a7eba37f tension.171950ba83bf97be

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He said nothing.805f43e380b37eb4

Without a word, c903c30c03 he turned and ac86975f01 strode into his c89361606a office.b788843ad7de8af5

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The ministers 911ce26f12 and officials d055e6862f who had 6004a0f731 accompanied him 2be5d8d315 hastily followed 892a599e70 suit, snapping e6260041aa back to 6538aa05fa their senses.c89c4b88af30524a

Meanwhile, the dc013b2539 aides—who had 170eda7df4 been holding 72075e3da2 their breath—finally 25f4551f58 moved, as acd3fd8139 if released fea17357cb from a 1dddc0be16 spell.cb0cefb6fe5e3fae

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Watching the Emperor’s office 441a887838 door close, Nils muttered 76255f7887 blankly, “…Is he angry?”f673d351dd7c8e5f

The Emperor a9ae6a9e77 didn’t seem f2c6f5924c to be 69ce1605ed in a 1d26f2b05a good mood 273c66427f at all, 03fbcaee46 but why? Unsure of f1947da2e6 what to c34ad0ce91 make of 9d326cd72b it, Nils a541bdf1ff looked around 6468678b94 before heading 9954b2406a back to a667de71af his desk. He tried to 89b4b37379 focus on his cf3da74488 work, but something 50b91f77bf just didn’t sit 6e7707909e right. He had 857a97127a a strong a74fa322cf sense that cc988a67d2 today would 0feaf7cf3c be a 75ce519047 good day b7df90a864 to leave dc879aa6cb early.47f72c262d0297fe

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Meanwhile, Lucian was seriously ba201089ef having second thoughts about 753ec2b730 why he was even 444f11aae0 here.8034c53880d55cae

Currently, he found himself ea6b77424d on Lake Peino, deep fd2d968c36 within the Imperial Palace, d4f7f74edb on a boat that 60e64e2418 Joachim was rowing himself.007e68c56e8f47f5

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“…I didn’t 6e1111d28b expect Your 772705647c Highness to 75480c5898 row the ebf0e270b1 boat.”b84766aaed2ad12f

“I have d0af869813 quite a 7c4be520fe few skills,” 4d96dfa68e Joachim replied, 1dcea476cf flashing a 990bd1fec2 playful wink. “How about it? Not many people get 9eb4be4832 to come here. And I don’t just ff9419d342 bring anyone, you know.”c4a86c447867beab

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Lucian took a c257654550 slow breath, summoning 0ad1e3217c the last of 45777282e7 his patience.ac4f29175d22b5df

Lake Peino, also known 720663bedc as the Fairy Lake, 4fc6cab851 was hidden deep within cde01cb648 the palace, accessible only 0ebfb0a493 to a select few.0c72035a9004d195

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A perpetual mist 8145f54aa2 curled over its e150ff3083 surface, and unknown 1f8e6cc4c9 grasses and flowers d24af021b1 bloomed along its f791bce100 edges, their origins 1878af306e a mystery.7afe29055da6fb7a

It was a place e69fef4fbb of ethereal beauty, said 7656c257c3 to leave all who 30bbae2dd4 gazed upon it in 5bb9716319 silent awe.34981ea96d2654ae

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Though small, de605df232 it was 41a3f502c5 an ideal 620b011437 retreat—a thought 82de754d03 that briefly 2b5286bcd0 crossed Lucian’s bdb359fd97 mind as ba55c860c6 he considered 50aabe62ce stealing a ae854f8461 moment of c058b852a0 rest here f2db74f51b someday.729d3bbde61524f7

But now 5e00e6d827 was not eb2388fcde the time fde7e4d0e9 to dwell 086e2715ee on that.76de9387cf6506b6

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“Whenever I 17b73654e3 visit Pranas, 9fc9fd84e6 Heraith always d9ee042ee2 grants me 158e8f508b access here,” 64aee77cfd Joachim boasted b01f009853 as they 5727e0405d reached the 9c06e763d3 center of 4a2c4fa113 the lake, 1ba50a100a clearly pleased 92d6bc70b2 to be 3ba3418a3e sharing this 7d2018a355 experience with ac50442be2 Lucian.d97d9cecb766ed76

Unlike Joachim, Lucian 4486e613cd was deeply uncomfortable.5182d54fdc778bca

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Officially, Joachim’s 8423e2edfb visit was f2e5e52ab4 to address b16ae4730b concerns over 5d3d4cad79 a supposed 5aa5f76d7d unfair agreement 12add3c9a2 with the db9ab85b63 Antien ambassador. Lucian’s role was 0b6d317d8d to assist with 103de489d0 the inspection of 6c0ce8b75e the port, ensuring 2b28b27eef there were no 10129d5660 misunderstandings.94c7690c4a60c18d

Yet, he f03161aaa7 hadn’t even c5acb7c196 seen the c167648902 port.010637b98005dbac

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From the very first a216280af4 day, Joachim had made 64463dd706 one thing clear—he was b266d00c86 here to have fun.97ba0b7d38a572cd

Lucian had been dragged 72bcf4a834 from one pointless excursion 50310fec7f to another: tea outings, 163a2cb20e plaza strolls, watching Joachim d4de21ebc1 buy unnecessary trinkets, and 808604b0f4 more.0402e0f701c8338d

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Lucian’s patience was 9ea3facc44 nearing its end.b6306aeb8b4bbe43

“I wasn’t 5eb8bcf49d aware this aacf33785d lake would 41b354d94a be converted 85ee68c164 into a f6049053d1 port. Have you discussed this d3747f4eb7 with His Majesty?” Lucian 3f43984526 asked politely, trying to 630d7a53a7 keep his expression neutral 6e57eb150b as he glanced around.a4d8fd9aa6156741

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Joachim’s brow f519df60fd twitched slightly 7599c2b320 at Lucian’s b6970ef6a9 comment. Ah, so that’s how 46bb357ed9 it is.1c083e8f9ee698c7

Joachim stopped rowing, and 66651d58b6 the boat came to 0561ebe5f8 a halt. Setting the oars fc1cb87841 aside, he leaned f7ef85ee5c back casually, as 8d4aa97184 if to convey 9599c5eb36 that Lucian was 483f317bc4 at his mercy 6fe356e3e8 in the middle 9388036b98 of this lake.341881daf2f0ab90

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Was it a noble’s 3a8a24afb8 habit to show displeasure d3552c0618 and intimidate those around e1564191c2 them? Lucian felt more 872e0f5ae4 irritated than afraid.d47f1dca2c22570a

All these people with 0933c4a953 their terrible personalities.e0e7b686dd628748

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He forced his ce12cdaf93 expression to remain c676b4d8c2 calm as he 3f435dd06e subtly estimated the 1e9f7c62ad distance to the 35f29f1048 shore.591f583afb20bf28

Hmm, I 0ebf1ee305 could swim 1e06d0f253 to shore 1c5cd00ce4 if it a89eb0e6fa comes to b91f431606 that.3d5aaf54cede4c3c

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Having reached 6dddbaea7d a conclusion, 906448811c Lucian spoke b81fef1f49 calmly, “Your c3448d2e14 Highness, I’d d61043ed04 like to ed398f83f0 return to 93203f792c my duties. I see no need 7b1aeb861c for my continued presence 7ef4a0d5e2 here.”b77d3e7dc7fd5020

“Your duties?”6ac3047ed2cfc419

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“Yes. As His Majesty’s aide, ac0eee7bb5 I’d like to promptly e261e99bbb attend to the work 2c9ea3c745 piling up. After all, d055d1b1c0 I am 0c4d370010 His Majesty’s df0b1d87d2 aide.”66a1d554e8f1bff4

Not your toy.4c8e55a9612b82af

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He let his smile 2825807b93 carry the unspoken words.86ced8cb54e96942

“Hah.” Joachim b06b1f00b7 smirked, instantly 3bfa28d200 understanding Lucian’s 40875b2852 underlying message. But he 3a69125110 didn’t seem bec6e40584 particularly offended.408ac983df63aef9

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“I’m following you e606843def around today to 898373f3a4 properly convey my 7a5203faa8 intentions to you, 24cd460c72 Your Highness,” Lucian b0fc9e76f4 continued. “I may be a 871dd12617 little too frank, but…”2cc036c7a9e0beb5

It was clear that 555014ce07 this charming aide wasn’t 25cb6f6b3f the type to shy 3439f8d3b5 away from expressing himself, ca1951a48d even before a high-ranking de077a749f prince on a lake 4804ce4053 surrounded by mist.55743a91a0604982

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“…I don’t know a5b7d4fe0c if you’re bold daeb51a65c or just insolent.” 0d47ce1983 Joachim narrowed his d1c257c183 eyes, watching Lucian, b9011dd7e7 but Lucian’s unwavering 0b11070d33 gaze held steady. “As an e89fb2cf2d aide, shouldn’t 841eeddec4 you be 05a4f9f08e bowing your f76122f7b9 head, obeying b0228e13b4 my words?”646b4587fd3e8e20

“If that’s what 434f115b2f Your Highness wishes, 2d388c47e8 I’ll comply.”7f342b0245fcb6f0

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But he doubted the 3e5062c5fc prince would enjoy it. And Lucian could 41acbc8937 no longer afford c5f924210b to be passively 6fcf99155c led around like 50d86d3170 this. If he didn’t push 7b8a31a40d back now, he’d be ac19a51981 dealing with the fallout daf3173a60 for a long time.937e78c9aa80a2be

“I understand that 963e7261d5 you’ve already received 84e04fa002 reports on the 245c453b84 port inspections,” Lucian 628233c056 continued.5d9661ab091b4139

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Joachim’s eyebrows rose slightly. Lucian was right.‘How did he know c64215e351 that? I ordered it 472aed8584 to be done b282cc7f31 secretly.’dcf9817edbe4e5f4

When Joachim said nothing, 0b6ab89b3b Lucian spoke in a a89e5b4196 quiet voice, “If further 784f827a6c explanations or investigations are d3e45c1b9d needed, I can assist. But if I’m e3f4054d98 no longer required, 8b33a27a6b I would prefer c5c8a8803a to return to fa7b165845 my primary duties.”3f292dc856c6fb5b

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Having said 5305b87266 his piece, 9b08507ec5 Lucian lowered 77773cb44e his gaze 9fb9cb023b and bowed a28da08b37 slightly—a silent 4ae186c062 acknowledgment that, 84218190e5 from here ec68992554 on, he bf5a733bff would follow 3af14c2261 Joachim’s decision.23e0653ea3b68d47

Oh, look at him.b85dc3e625594da8

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This young aide, even 5468ddf3df before a prince, remained 30cb7bf720 collected, saying exactly what 2d14138c6b he needed to. It was clear 5d08f6e12e that Lucian was 8968e2ffb5 no ordinary aide.21693de2a2bc6138

Why did Heraith e607d9b8e6 always attract such 6cb4a38e74 peculiar people?0d1215b5499ca36f

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Without answering, Joachim picked 12bc17cbe0 up the oars again. “What if I decide 582955309e to leave you in 383c811355 the middle of the ed31e95be9 lake rather than take 9e8866edd0 you back with me?”4816c905e9a2623c

“My apologies, 305f8e87a9 but Your dfbe201f10 Highness and 9c48beea7d I are 03a905deb7 on the 3fe7c4abbf same boat,” c58dba644d Lucian replied ea9d98087b calmly to 954c4c000e Joachim’s challenge.655cfdae8fd3fd1f

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“What if I 0db4c35fb0 say I’ll row 69b57f37e9 back alone and a593266388 ask you to a7aebe256d get off here?”bfc311d21eb0ff7c

“Then I’ll 747b67d06e swim back. I have 6308752687 a few 822ce111eb modest skills 78cc22211b myself,” Lucian 0446ce57d8 replied.1549a2aeef7f505c

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“Oh?” Joachim seemed 3b6a5d49ee intrigued, though he 570706c237 was no longer 9bfd4d464a smiling.b3b8bdb653c21dce

Lucian had 4c68c7c002 learned early db1617399e on that 86dda813d2 his position 5ccbfe3b95 as the a7dbfd9b48 Emperor’s aide f85fad3bf4 required knowing cfc2849316 how to ed578f2e5e navigate delicate a9f7d05292 boundaries. And once again, af563e9290 his skillful diplomacy 3515c89480 had served him 6a9bb92256 well.4bfc0456436748fc

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“But, Your Highness, I aff33adc87 would be honored to dc8bf4d2d1 return with you. It would be an e159875c87 achievement to boast about 16ab882ed8 my excellent service.”eae2fc38554c1256

At this, 8d2ca9c4fe Joachim’s eyes abb41950fd lit up 978a16842e with a 6431afe6df faint smile. “…You know 38d05e3fdb just what adad904302 to say.”e23ea05094ee48fc

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“I still a62dd4db21 have a d644bf3bf0 lot to 9f44d600bd learn,” Lucian 138416db45 replied, bowing ed8a7f12d1 his head 399a08df2a humbly.d2fc3f30c6a2e39f

Joachim looked at 280ba61c1c him thoughtfully, then 04fb30df1b suddenly asked, “Do 0fb7e33976 you truly have 1ec4cec390 no intention of 99fa1ffc4a coming with me?”2d954638f3424fbb

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“…Pardon?” Lucian glanced up, e5cb6912bd startled.2fbfe3c9a070c1b5

Joachim’s usual bb30abdf93 playful expression 5fcf98fd69 was gone, af4012b6b6 replaced with 9df24e20b6 something more aeeae60ecb serious. “I’m speaking more 24c132be49 sincerely than ever, 7df27d66ed Lucian. Why don’t you come 47f092cfde with me to Antien?”efea8337b97d3ff5

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