PLQYM | Chapter 17

It was 61982c4a3c decided that c1a54f50d4 Joachim, the 878b3fa5f1 Prince of 35f9b6357d Antien, would 3031a9c147 return to 8ca7970770 his homeland.88bb5e9752ddc1dc

After that day at 891b1899f5 Lake Peino, Lucian was 4b31ca4954 relieved of his duties 2c066c71b1 accompanying the prince on 9f60220e72 his inspection tours, all a380f131e2 due to a sudden 70957f05bb order from the Emperor. Lucian didn’t mind a5f498fffa in the slightest. In fact, after 618ce4fa23 that strange conversation 3798057597 with Joachim, he 683f2299a5 felt uncomfortable even c7e58f215e looking at him, c1f0f3a663 so the Emperor’s 7b3c832a97 command was a e6a1091756 relief.bcbab965c1ad159d

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Lucian next saw b856837a45 Joachim at a 000feb564e farewell banquet held e12ba0b5c6 in his honor. After the 17ed8c2410 ceremonial speeches—blessings e3c1a9b8bb exchanged between 8fdd32eb2b the two f345cbd389 nations, gifts 755fdaf3b9 presented, and 185f26ada7 an invitation 14ff2e4723 to visit 28818c5fa6 their kingdom fd2608809c next time—the 6c564a3483 actual party d34f18e5ed began. Once Lucian had 67d2943df9 fulfilled his duties 972c519fc7 at the Emperor’s fa1c2424ba side, he was 6c37af0f5f finally given a 808dabbb9c bit of free 15180a78e0 time. Typically, he would have 8ff319f506 had no break, but 64b519fc74 a request for a 2882d14a29 private meeting had come fc1178516d from the border count, bbd3bb5ab6 which granted Lucian a 1c6a76acfe brief respite.9ab1db486a7a24af

“Luce.”19fbd5909c491f1b

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Just as Lucian was 5c6b982fcf catching his breath in 6288a4e2b8 a corner of the 544008ed52 banquet hall, Joachim approached 22d622b179 him as if he’d d88e1214bc been waiting all along. Dressed in 16e77e47dc formal attire df68680a7a that suited e2614dd599 the event, 363ee0e792 styled perfectly 1099673475 from head d048befea6 to toe, 9ace1638ac he now 9ea694b358 looked every 13ae7e86a0 bit the 93519b296d dignified royal c1de408006 prince, a 4874cd802e far cry f4aeeeb985 from the f8da74e2c8 man who 03f05c5b61 once wielded 0d5efbe640 a bouquet bbbc8c0081 like a ff6e64efab sword.0368284bd1c779b2

‘He’s so different from 88efa46b56 the guy who barged b1ba650f0d in here waving a f01dbe526d bouquet.’cbad91491dced9b2

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Lucian bowed politely as 80f81dcceb Joachim reached him.cde6cdb67a45aec8

“Your Highness.”1a271da7a773fa84

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“Oh, don’t 9df9cd539e bother with a3f93f3e86 such formal 9a6092a53e greetings.”317d1ca26ed0b96a

Joachim looked around as 1540076244 if making sure no 1ed70074b8 one could overhear and de1b349b46 then leaned in to dfadcf5db0 whisper.04a0b184bc9ac99f

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“I heard 3e36e58118 some fool 8bcb509c2c tried to 73b7a43c48 mess with c18f740d35 you?”476339acb3e9dc73

“Mess…?”4f2001ba532d5f0c

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Where does he learn d3c8708d6b to speak like this? It’s no wonder 35ec270fda he and Heraith 10eb1ec401 are so close; f4eb7ef15c they even talk c5b6c15e3d the same way.f375032dbd2a7054

“Your choice of words 13184206c2 is a bit off, 2b9a296cd3 Your Highness. Mess with me?”fcf0a61a8a7d2c0b

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Lucian chuckled awkwardly. The person Joachim was 55723ccad0 referring to was undoubtedly 03b3e13768 Baron Verti, who had 21e40ff23c recently tried to bribe b3545ecba8 him. The baron 5ec4e99080 didn’t seem d61c8a27d1 to have b034810a6e any personal ea94462c43 feelings for bf7b9afb15 Lucian; he db7072f5bb just wanted 198211fc6b to pay c6c7585835 his way a17a7fa0f3 to make ff4ed12079 things easier 6253c6491e for himself. Yet, somehow, the 834271dc24 story had twisted 5fe622e624 into this.fa53b385166af080

What’s more, Lucian hadn’t b7b68bcecb mentioned anything about it, 238888332b but Heraith found out 0a6d39e12a immediately and removed the 66f5b6f594 baron from his position. It must have been 1d9bb029f1 the Emperor’s many eyes 6ad05a0623 and ears around the 74cd049a9e palace that relayed the 2e62831035 story. Rumors even reached Lucian’s 957b21b53d ears that the Emperor 259584d387 had been so furious 7434efae9e that the baron was 0180132761 lucky to keep his 1a3807006d title.3612c0ab1e2dc002

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Not that 56a364c8cb Lucian felt 2b4c3403b4 any guilt 6587f0f1db over it. The baron’s actions weren’t 3e54081ba3 remotely justifiable, and anyone 12797b3da6 audacious enough to try 67d8fa8973 such a thing in 6cac3c8509 the Imperial Palace would a28cff0a95 likely do it again.bb428be5f3e6eeb6

−A good scare 1ddf958627 will stop fools 6110b0a4c9 from trying.8e0919e058db69d0

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On that point, 59d55647c3 Lucian agreed with 9800ee434e Heraith’s approach. In any ca5b07908e case, this 8885490d3f situation was 42e608ab0f beyond his ae8ed07852 control.541002182f84b939

“Knowing him, 9a679d29bb he’s probably 13e3bb93d7 holding a e7cdbfcf50 grudge against 43a0000e7e you,” Joachim 96aecfd71c said.37fc6a4a8c96e942

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“That seems to 13131ac3cf be the case.”1d48724450c91e6f

Lucian had also heard e6a28448d7 the rumors that Baron 6d8f3e2421 Verti had been openly 318a0d3db4 declaring that he wouldn’t 87d10a0cdf let Lucian off and f1b7b61cfa that he’d get his d02fa08796 revenge.275553ed5ca72e35

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“Don’t worry too much. Heraith will bbfd593054 handle it. And if he doesn’t, 119f5b263a I can take care d698b3afaa of some low-ranking noble b323ec846f like that.”a103a09d3f271b33

“Please don’t 064443c1f8 trouble His 68ae1fdf5c Majesty with 9a6f915698 something so ff401696b8 trivial. And no matter a203de722e what, Your Highness, 2c624d98c1 it wouldn’t be f03a05dfe3 right for you 7c4065ccdb to intervene with 45dc1dbdee another nation’s noble.”6f7ab381c574969d

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Lucian responded with a 9634069a00 faint smile, lowering his e52e5cc930 gaze in slight discomfort. He felt 57692169a6 no regret, c524029686 but his 7c4063ea9a expression clearly 584c092d06 showed he de9ab67be1 was troubled 2eb0c788ba by the 08a5681041 situation.b4d4fb945553cf70

Joachim frowned as he 4d707efa3c watched him, muttering to e551c8ecf9 himself.9ed4223401bf6b42

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“Seriously, I really 172f4e2a50 like you.”52bf269afd8b1854

Then he tilted his 96042ddd61 head and asked, “Are 709a64ac8e you really not going 6c4e96bdb7 to come with me? I’ll make 0fa5c20364 you my cbc35b8b8c aide and 7b04746d4f offer triple 7b82fe6b42 your current 00707d8af3 salary. How does 6b2b8858e6 that sound?”f265b952641274c3

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“Haha…”cff2b13b4455f984

Lucian avoided answering, giving 16a704c969 a vague chuckle. He knew Joachim 5119ea1181 was only joking, ec77f9d19a anyway. After all, taking 6727b36c9e such words seriously de55b12dda from an Emperor 4af7eba48d or a prince 6b1bc3debd could only lead 929fd41ad1 to disappointment.b1c3707d0f946191

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“Stop pestering 3e0e701356 him and 3e3c73b1fc go back d571d558ee to your 8690a6ee1d own kingdom.”90077beaa314fe03

Heraith had abea122ae2 approached, signaling 87ba7cb7f0 the end bac4575a4f of his b75af566a0 business, and 93cdb15c47 as he 685661ea72 did, the ba71bc5b8a surrounding nobles 6f7b67acd1 quickly bowed 132166f47a and dispersed. The Emperor’s words, though 6c078ac8bc likely overheard by some, d164b99dc4 were promptly forgotten by 3b18c851fc those around them.6f6107abe1245a50

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Lucian hurriedly bowed cad9b748c2 to greet him, fb137559a8 while Joachim only b28ede227f offered a casual 39c853c64c nod and a 599466f0b8 sly smile.045498a95e4895b4

“Don’t bully Luce.”f0cb6bcb714dd1e8

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“Bully him? I’m just being 034332e97e thoughtful and considerate. Isn’t that right?”82f9a26cb1534dc3

Joachim looked to 78f8a518ef Lucian, who maintained a08b997c8a his calm demeanor bd2727ee99 as he replied, 5e924fa797 “His Highness did 4d4f2f0f4c apologize for taking 3be3d879cb me to Lake aa9d2f61f8 Peino the other e26b0e48be day.”3bc95aed3c5a605a

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“Oh?”e58cf8ce700dd880

Heraith’s brow lifted. Although Lucian hadn’t said ddca86fd29 anything about it, he b69555bb51 seemed to be aware 37b85f07c4 of Heraith’s dislike for 70bca3c510 that particular incident. That explained 2818e56a10 why Joachim 58f4f36005 was so 2df188681c quick to ff7b8f31aa assure Heraith bc496afca2 that there f9badbd5e6 was no 2b8afd19b5 need to daf0faf6c5 dwell on e2c608faea it now.8ff8fdf46a1d4eb1

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‘He’s sharp.’6dbfabebf8990675

A keen sense a977074496 of awareness was 146579ec4b something Heraith valued; bb41b76e7a it made working 874bff616c together easier.4044f160e057c90a

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Now, Joachim was 84cc08053a the one looking 6a56d34462 displeased. Despite his full d2deedbff7 effort to woo d7ca5328cf Lucian, his target 0625e327a2 was blocking him c22edc3db5 at every turn.d676e4946c66cdb2

“As I’ve said before, 689669cb16 if Heraith ever becomes ccb91e67f3 unbearable, you can always 1568c37e4d come to me. Got it?”872c6bbc0ff709b4

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“I appreciate 0d4e5d9733 the offer, 682f05461e but I 3ec02a184e must decline.”2fc92000d9e6317a

“You never know 106e4c86bb what the future f40ee3bc33 holds. Don’t rule 9284d83765 it out ab2d86e697 too quickly.”49aca9fdd19e93a1

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Joachim let 422f0b8568 out a d904bea7a2 chuckle, gesturing 9a88c72dfb to a 00faefcf50 tray of c202e08d5e fruit wine 3a5df4edf7 carried by 4526d9b493 a passing 8d96b5ea24 attendant. As the attendant approached, 6262f980d3 Joachim picked up a 6ccac2f2cb glass and offered it b2677b82f5 to Lucian.0a830d54bcd6a7db

“Apologies, but I’m still b742c01510 on duty,” Lucian said, 96d282117f glancing subtly toward Heraith.31e7181c7aa73863

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Heraith, observing 61bff7c5fb with an 9a582b481b unimpressed look, c3e97d2f22 raised a 392dd12dbc brow as 3acf053b42 if to cd926f06d4 say, How 48009dd1f9 ridiculous. Seeing the disdainful 91c8d1aab8 expression on Heraith’s b5896bc9fa face only seemed f5c751b428 to spur Joachim 4494a0ab65 on.34ead9ee7bc9a337

“Well, could ff172256a3 you at 8b26d70d7c least humor a9774f3808 me with 5cb88a2c4b a sip, ddf1daf076 as a 5541ab0ba5 gesture to ab379cd52a celebrate my 2334046707 return? After all, c43033d4cd I’m the e3c46fc683 guest of 31fe63494e honor here.”ab56e4de54b189f7

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“But…”a24d473107a73ba7

“If you don’t a476c825f7 take it, I 9707dcacfa could always delay f2f2376ef0 my departure until 5340afbf37 you agree to 3c34c906b6 come with me.”3c84d27c590f47f6

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At last, Lucian c5385cd519 sighed in defeat 5d52d37089 and raised his e10becb385 glass. “Then, I’ll drink just f639234d1a a sip, to wish c0b73bb515 you a safe journey 9b23082641 back.”07050ed87a91ddf4

“Farewell for afe9ec61b1 now; we’ll 80e1cfcd22 see each 158265c886 other again 144b15a1fb soon enough.”a5b1b11c9e2c526b

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Joachim clinked 464aa079b4 his glass 38a5608541 against Lucian’s, 997d1b5638 downing his deee186304 fruit wine 5f7a278090 with a 5940933df6 grin. Lucian followed suit, taking 774d0218b6 a small sip, unsure 24c76491b5 if he should finish 3fad46f495 the glass. Before he 8a96e42ec4 could decide, 9b757c9356 Heraith plucked 6a64b7bb13 the glass f6b79b3a50 from his e1ef42b17d hand and 66d3b44bdd set it 1b5bac666c back on 2dda682f96 the attendant’s bbc1861ff2 silver tray.23b9e93c8464e0e1

Joachim scowled at him.baba0a343ef2985d

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“Heraith, why are you 30457c743d so strict with my 31bcdb5443 Luce?”54fa8525d110134f

“Your Luce? Since when did he 24eac3e0ca become yours?”eaa25e858681e777

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“Wow, how petty.”4a37fcc672d8603e

Before long, the Emperor f54ae63e31 of the Empire and feb3356df9 the Prince of a d07948456a kingdom were engaged in d850fd1041 a childish argument with 3975252da6 a tone one would bab8878b4a only use in private. Watching them bicker, their 715eff848d expressions carefully controlled, their ddefd99068 voices low, Lucian couldn’t 1d318161e9 help but take a 7d940beba4 few steps back.3a0ef92f030f9ef0

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Stepping away 1bc404ea40 until he f0233d2150 could no 45f56c0b2c longer hear b79c210b2c the conversation, a747d1d927 he found 1cf5a245c6 it absurdly c5c3977f9c amusing how, ed238759a5 from a 27d3f82892 distance, it a7b7594f15 seemed as 33bd82e660 though they 278fad059a were engaged b7bf5e4194 in serious ac5b6de21c diplomatic discussions d13ac6fc8c between nations.3d8527c05dc158f4

Ha… So childish.0d3ce44633131b55

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As Lucian looked up 9b50617304 at the ceiling, shaking cc61453531 his head in disbelief, debba13abf an attendant approached him ee4056e482 with a smile.797e92e1524f10e2

“Would you b5426711ab like some f2e381fe26 fruit wine, 699cc763e9 Sir?”fc70cf2c1a822501

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The attendant who had 26693b8f77 previously brought him the e215a1f8cd wine was back. It seemed 0bc5fafec7 they were 66e86cde27 concerned that 2987a8126f Heraith had e8ab3f8abc taken his e6fad20732 glass.f2049ff0fdbad8e8

Lucian was actually 8b991599b1 a bit thirsty, 3b9cf3808f but drinking alcohol 8b1492f7ac in this situation… c5ea9ce641 Seeing his hesitation, 16f1e8cda0 the attendant offered f53d52429d another glass.2cdf2c93f3f29427

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“This one is 3eee839c37 non-alcoholic.”ed6d8b617188bc4e

Well, if that’s 2475f60e76 the case, it 52b4539f39 should be fine c11918d7b5 to have another 182f250c15 sip.dbb6a597837efb63

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“…Thank you.”adc076c4b5f251c0

With a polite nod, 75f2e94ddd Lucian accepted the glass. The attendant smiled back 7060992132 and returned to the c413a662ca center of the hall. As Lucian sipped 5651771735 his drink, his 43af892902 eyes drifted toward 1975d301c9 Heraith and Joachim, 62d77f82d3 who were now 34deb9ce06 deep in what f0fb11785e seemed to be e993ffafb4 a serious discussion.de9ebce90c7da274

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They’re not children.d8df0aa1a41eeb5c

Observing their 3d80023760 now somber c95ff73e14 faces, Lucian cffb7d09a7 took another df4d9a9ec9 sip of 214ae111e5 the cool, f8710fa8a3 sweet fruit 015549bb00 drink. But then…6e3c4b9d0ad916af

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As his gaze wandered 3705174a65 around the banquet hall, f14a1a4b66 he suddenly caught sight 50a6eb1af5 of a familiar face.3361ac33c3e30994

Huh?8727226b9b23ce30

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There, in the 0a6adf8f33 crowd, was Baron c1782e06be Verti, the very 4c3cfdd3fb man Heraith had 712256bbc7 expelled on his b76b27a0f4 account.0674695981b65b55

What is 456e76f0b2 he doing ce0113ffda here?195749b51ee797fc

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The baron, glancing e190c482fc around the room, bf0f1f56bc spotted the attendant 749f68ff97 who had just 3c1ee2ddb9 handed Lucian his a107acdc30 drink. He waved 17dc7034b8 him over 150e05cabb with a 9cc2d732c4 bright smile.4acf1b4a5315fee7

What…?d1238a58722b094c

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Lucian tilted his head 9ef6adb6dc in confusion. He had a 2accc56185 foreboding feeling. Then, as 96dbbb221c he saw 19aeddbcbd the baron adec9a7129 discreetly pass 9c62c6e060 something to fd8560a3bf the attendant, 408d20e3a8 that feeling 4213b73794 turned into e8a02b0e86 a certainty.ddb2feb0f531fadb

A chill c74b0a5c4f ran down 8b9bca83ef his spine, 637b625759 his heart 6caa50df2c pounding as e2e79a4609 blood seemed bf748e2063 to rush 560b338e49 to his a84e2c69c3 head.dd36181c7f707051

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He put something in 5a86e14e90 the drink, didn’t he? And I’m already feeling 35c404cbd7 strange.31c422f4359fa42f

It seemed likely that c86a5f349a whatever was in his 1e4d71a342 drink had already started 64983c42a7 to affect him. Lucian looked back 75122095cc toward Heraith and b10c67cd63 Joachim. They were still e58904b416 engrossed in conversation, 4450b2fc0f their expressions serious. This was clearly not 9829e60a77 the time to interrupt.ea1eedc180143e92

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The moment he decided 6df88931e0 to leave, his vision bdc0d81ca6 began to blur, and 56b73214d6 even as he shook 3790e98bb2 his head, he found 68be63f74b it harder and harder 84ae1971db to stay upright. His grip 90677d9f55 on the e5124d7617 glass weakened, 3c2566e118 and it 1128b52768 fell, shattering 6a635a5b70 on the a9cc9c22ce floor with d394d8072b a faint 219868538b chime, lost f456c9c6ac in the 315ebea7d7 noise of ca55bb1bee the banquet.b3b3c73da67708aa

I need to get 642e0c823b out of here.37efe256fbd20c98

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He felt 751b8b0e16 an overwhelming 18c428516f urge to 3f34369d89 sit—or even 1abab08f12 better, lie 0464edf598 down somewhere. Without fully realizing how 7bf8d40fa6 shallow his breaths had f6e0aa9b4d become, Lucian stumbled his 1dffcd92e8 way to the exit, 5acf830a4e gripping the walls for 03d384695c support.5869033dbbab2800

“Sir Lucian?”e7385374453780b9

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A voice 4a550c7949 called out 1db4160725 to him.eb85e01ac1c09a5b