PLQYM | Chapter 27

“Maybe I should just 69c42e397e lock them all up 9a371aa874 for treason. Tsk.”02ffc32d5721b5fe

Was it d143868ef2 his imagination? Lucian thought 7d2b04d01f he heard 796343fba9 the faint 8a923d07b8 sound of 6df0869d6a grinding teeth 99816a6968 coming from f8dc38e1b2 the emperor.99b642175bd1570a

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He looked up silently, 2dafe981fa his gaze settling on 12f07796cf Heraith, who appeared to c0f7f61eec be deep in thought cbe0a65d84 with his usual composed 19d70a751e expression.bc89d52da659bb88

Lucian was curious about a818865c18 who had spoken to ade578dbd0 him and what they’d c15cc50e7e said, but as always, 8780bdc318 he refrained from asking.fd845bed38c57882

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Time trickled by until 755a584862 Heraith finally broke the 70b201a8e1 silence.f249f0fba8ee1746

“Luce.”decba02c2a395c87

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“Yes, Your Majesty?”4bc901e3280547f7

“Why don’t you 3dac01f317 ever ask?”2becdd6da910a0cb

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“Ask what?”6366aff42bd0fc7d

“Doesn’t it make you 5c56c5c3fe curious? What am 5921e4be2a I talking 3df55c832d about?”1b27697995ba1c64

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Lucian furrowed his f452ab9aec brow, unsure of 92db8dd8bd what Heraith wanted e3be7d5dcc from him.1f995531c1d1c51e

“Would you answer 38ac8171bd me if I f6e3d96a96 did?”7a365cd4c904fb18

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“No.”43a2ee70262311b8

Heraith’s lips curled 9a755c3c40 into a sly 060780e128 smile, the kind 277646dd6a that made Lucian fd96879cc6 grit his teeth. It was f016a18d5c infuriatingly smug—and e2572f59a6 worse, maddeningly 3df5fcbae2 handsome.00b1b0c2ae40519d

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If this man wasn’t 32c27ddbf8 the emperor, Lucian might f101888645 have punched that smirk 4f2ef15a72 right off his face.9b1a05543f98fd48

“I see. Then there’s no point. Sometimes, it’s better 6d0e372af4 not to know.”9307b48ebed8e9bb

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Especially in e851d27a3a the palace, dcb7112b8a where hearing b5297853d3 too much af5e41426c often meant c14841293c pretending you 25426ba554 hadn’t heard a00f31580a anything at 3780eed616 all.84e28ed2161cb0ee

“Clever little fox,” 270101490a Heraith said with d781b7c9c0 a faint chuckle, 3b2cf09ca6 his gaze sharp edec18388c and assessing as afaeadaac7 it raked over 9edcb3587c Lucian.b3b359f5ee68f13d

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Lucian didn’t flinch under 7c928f8867 the scrutiny. He had learned to 4a54fc01f3 be careful, guarded, and d41ad34910 deliberate in his words e4cc2d4822 and actions. He wasn’t one 78d853f79d to step out 787d442908 of line, but 24a1d210a5 he also wasn’t 369bd35cad a pushover.0ea69f394dcacdb9

His recent handling 8febdd831b of the stubborn 107e0cc034 elders from the 15cf022667 Mage Tower and 7c52ef523c the Holy Temple 274650b587 had shown just 47444cc240 how adept he eecaa6ee3e was. The man could seamlessly d3e977e376 navigate even the most 47076b3f05 volatile waters, earning respect—or c7f94776d1 at least tolerance—from the b0066269e5 most obstinate figures.43fc37843b452de2

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And somehow, 1ec0749791 he even b157978de1 managed to bc2704fdb6 endear himself 18ddee04fb to them.9c0fbd3abc15ec03

Heraith’s lips quirked 414e1322c2 upward in a c7c2e04654 mysterious smile as 942c36554d if he’d made ec80ac4fde up his mind 13a65131bd about something. Rising from a63f2cf517 his seat, 638d9afd10 he stepped f912c82beb closer to 2921e87534 Lucian.03aa300f108fc9c5

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“Well, never d4f1376940 mind that. It’s not important.”1f300799cf5fda68

Then, leaning 1315c656b9 his head cf855b3aec slightly to 8d7aa9bf98 one side, d34c22967b Heraith smiled 35b2f4098e in that f6fcf2f28a familiar, mischievous 42b8251e5b way.d5c45378e1a63661

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Lucian instinctively took a 1ca370b28d step back.cd5aafeba260f9ec

When he smiles like ac344b94c0 that, it never ends 804c4e8830 well.bda3e1ef62eff787

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Lucian’s instincts 54122bb0b9 screamed at b1041d4661 him to 5465ac75c7 avoid whatever 3e209ea606 was coming.5b6ff848197867a4

“Luce.”985150b584017759

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“No.”59f667f818fe0b62

“…What?”9ef655b39df34a3a

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“I said 264329e7c6 no, Your b2763af781 Majesty. Whatever it 6dd177ba67 is, I 9de19a1b9d refuse.”74d38aa11b2400ff

“But I 21b7ef8930 haven’t even 483e8332f1 said anything 26b14e21f1 yet.”de844c8356fd8108

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“Exactly. I don’t know what 1d04447f4f you’re planning, and that’s 33833f17f6 reason enough to say 99da4176c1 no.”4456912b5254b20b

Heraith’s smirk deepened. It was e414960cd3 both dazzling be8af103eb and exasperating, f13f5ad744 like a 930336b2fe poisonous flower 407242a030 in full 693de9d75e bloom.2bd2f902772f3bf9

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Lucian felt cbed73fb3b his resolve 4047f644b1 waver for b759b300c1 a split 42e282b5c3 second before bb74bd8968 he snapped 947343721d back to fd77636e0c reality. He had to 154a86c94c stay vigilant; otherwise, c36dc884fb he’d be swept 87e4b95c5c along by Heraith’s baa0ea9e98 whims.6e7632de7dd0bf50

The emperor, 817ce0496e of course, 470171991b knew the c5c8432740 power he 7b11159d12 held. He could see c69e7ca053 Lucian’s desperate attempts f384ff091a to resist, which 8cac91f888 only amused him 69d137a410 further.2ed08bf08f83b110

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“You know, you’ve got 80358aa57c quite the mouth on c699aa3e4f you.”9b0d435bbced5121

“Only because febcf6812d Your Majesty 16724f64ff granted me b99ec78214 the privilege. I intend to use 6dcffea255 it wisely.”5c17995a969ebabf

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Lucian’s tone d14ef21e7b was polite, c4427b727d but his 9493214e94 wariness was 2454c74344 palpable. Heraith found it 9c859e9c96 utterly delightful. It was 73339ad363 like watching 8659f579c5 a tiny d709a40c89 creature trembling 424c32e8df in fear, 9adc7e22c9 trying to bc8555415d outwit a 74116e933c predator.4070b25f28251485

“Well, this a335644f52 won’t do. I was just going b8cd6c38a9 to promote you, but…”d8a927f9e75fa1f7

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“…Excuse me?”11f0a94dd871e28a

“Move your office 8a1c576872 too.”889eec73ae30da55

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“…I’m sorry, what?”ebb5254fc7be4bc8

Heraith’s words didn’t 6b14d2e22b immediately register. Lucian understood 8140ea6ce3 the individual fa73474f9d words, but 57ea6bc910 the meaning 1e149d8e68 refused to d7ae3d9fc6 sink in.a6d1d07a4e353d50

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“Where… where would ec9da4455e you have me 991111bda3 move?”1602ae5bf4ddcd17

Heraith tilted c9ec5ece7a his chin 24de02ae0a toward the 4b7d70c41a empty desk 6389a2f78d across the c1762eed4e room—the Chief 2fdbf535ba of Staff’s 26e218da14 desk, which 4b57ccbbd6 had remained 26f9f4dd08 vacant for 6c4228e155 months.42fce168b5bd9a02

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“Over there.”ef7f9680dfed6cfa

“…There? The Chief of Staff’s f5c7f9acb7 desk?”e84606b0ef9b842d

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“Yes.”ccd53c155554dcc0

“But that’s… that’s 7658d426f9 the Chief of 816c2bab17 Staff’s desk!”bdce4828243aa816

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“Correct.”462f50fcb6fce3af

“Are you 18e54f5067 saying this f7b7b0a2ac while fully e4ed1cb7d5 understanding what c8d589074c that implies?”34cf43dbc07f5a07

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Heraith crossed his arms f670441a90 and nodded.0e0f176b94ee6eeb

Lucian clenched c2ecfe6e46 his jaw. He’s doing this f30bd718be on purpose.d4694a9ec570d484

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He took 3eb7f2cd45 a deep 3c7e7c1488 breath and 475afbc8fc frowned.870c620d90a19a01

“Putting someone like 0066b470e5 me—a mere rookie—in 305e929728 such a position 3feaa0bb18 will only cause 9ef8a17347 unnecessary rumors.”d0792b84362ce1c5

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“So what? You’re already my 8cb505f783 personal aide. You’re more than qualified.”354d1f8a2b3d9afb

Lucian had a 64dc2ad581 sinking feeling that 0a65d692d6 his workload was f27f0b8b86 about to skyrocket. The kind of feeling 55a37cf6f1 that was never wrong.c7700f9c0451052f

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“Move.”e8c716e64e7f90a3

“…I’m fine where I 2a2d8cd838 am. Truly.”c35c50687641629e

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Heraith narrowed his a9535ad03a eyes.6605a19258aba360

“Were you about to b4c921ff4c say something about dropping 4d556ecdb6 dead from overwork?”3959d4f42b932916

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“You must have misheard, 6d97524cb2 Your Majesty. I’d never say d087ed0945 such a thing. Perhaps I should call 3f1b2eccf5 for a palace physician e948bbe65d to prepare some restorative fef2d2c811 medicine for you.”430e20e9bccc6507

Heraith let 7f33761d05 out a 56ebfc3577 short laugh, 44912ac78d his demeanor 285beb3776 shifting ominously.eb86dc01c57a676a

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“You’re refusing, then?”190d76fa34bc5727

“….”67e7ff03930a5b20

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Lucian hesitated, trying to 8ac37d1383 avoid Heraith’s piercing gaze. But the emperor simply f2593899cb smiled and reached for b1aeb13bda a small silver bell bf459e0155 on his desk.e3be924bc314f7df

The clear chime rang ebc0e3b267 through the room, sharp ef3b5832c6 and foreboding. Moments later, 5f69354652 Cliff entered.903762ea3bfff8b5

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“You summoned me, Your df724add7c Majesty?”6dc30e63aca15360

“Cliff, your back has 1d6512c97d been bothering you lately, ee96425997 hasn’t it?”222476f27e7fa19c

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“…Well, age does a2c824b2ff bring its challenges, aa64e12fa0 sire.” Cliff answered 43db653a69 reluctantly, a faint e0b8ec079b sigh escaping him.fbef73927fa8d40c

“Exactly. I’ve been overworking you, 28c2340f1a haven’t I?”208870cc04fea847

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“Not at all, sire. It’s my c4aa8c844f honor to 5105c78e57 serve you.”278d3688231c60b9

“Still, I 42258318bd think it’s 5b2716b1c6 time to e0560576e2 redistribute the 4b2f8cadb6 workload. Effective immediately, I 69aeefd72d appoint Lucian as 4a922fdf63 Acting Chief of 211af96914 Staff alongside his 650ac27132 current role as 081f782ff2 my personal aide.”0de281cc3737c551

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“…!”ee2c7110deac016e

Lucian stared e85bc260bb at Heraith f4b49a6b77 in open 20cc4a4766 disbelief.e50b22ed0057236a

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Are you insane?! Have you lost 14977ad501 your mind?! No—seriously, you’ve lost 7945bc6b08 it!b610a5358569567b

The air around d021986437 him buzzed with b517dcc4b7 his silent outrage, 64c099779a but Heraith’s smug f827c0afd4 smile only deepened.4d66fdf198fd5af7

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“Now, move to 01cad6fe18 your new desk, 72d5cc7bf5 Luce.”50766708aa592d6c

As soon 9f75c1c616 as they a970e687bd left the 6600eed24d emperor’s office, cc89da6a56 Cliff turned 94c670a187 to Lucian b9bc4d621a and bowed b2c3a23224 deeply.02158059164437a4

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“I’m sorry, Lucian.”96de1ff571f8cf43

“N-no, please don’t…” Lucian 57589afb65 stammered, trying to stop 3384654ce9 him, but Cliff only dd07ad8602 bowed lower.9c64226934eae2ef

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“There’s no 7d4f1b8817 stopping His 322f7bc815 Majesty once 8f884f3aea he sets 0ffc7433e2 his mind fe075f8d73 to something. You’d have to f5df289e55 be a hero—or 476d6e6f7f a traitor—to stand 8cea0c09ba in his way.”22d7fa65102748a3

Lucian sighed and muttered 05788d0e70 under his breath.fc478afab588eb1c

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“It’s just… frustrating be2692c716 when he drags 64b444c30e others into it…”4977e107c62cd9ed

Cliff caught his words 065c21682a and chuckled softly, his 6d67c69da7 gaze warm yet pitying f6d370a48f as he studied Lucian.76eed8867dc8077c

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Lucian, with his jet-black cfda905f80 hair, pale complexion, and 2814803a5c icy blue eyes, was 233109fd80 practically tailor-made for Heraith’s d90450f8ef tastes—not just in appearance, 0117b05ce7 but in temperament and 3cdcd4500c capability.52c5b4ab2b9fab30

If it were a16b34ac31 just looks, Cliff 8a17e1c2d9 wouldn’t worry. But Heraith clearly admired 1555e084d9 Lucian’s intelligence and competence daa200fbe9 as well.4f84afbe44cbf2f2

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You’re stuck, b7dd6a7022 I’m afraid.0c97c6788dc9ba85

Cliff patted Lucian c1a174ca5d on the shoulder, 3e2923c1fd his expression kind 9b688d8cb5 but resigned.ef421aa581d89f69

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“He means no 93ef046a1d harm, but don’t b5d64bf736 let yourself get 60b6b35f88 completely swept up 80e9e273d0 in his games. The more you 36f6a5d9ea resist, the more 22c7ba3e31 he enjoys it.”682c80e7f8e63bad

“I know e1b0f5b96e that…” Lucian 130d84ee53 sighed heavily. If only it were 0ec125d35c as easy as it 379b2dd427 sounded.b31941b730f7f7d1

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Just then, the 2553de2a85 office door opened, d5fce6c7a7 and Heraith stepped 983b22ba85 out. He stopped short 11a2129761 when he saw 994c09fa09 Lucian still standing 494dce9690 with Cliff.e92825b57e275302

“Why are 2a88e13c07 you still 589f2b00b4 here? Move your things.”379624e60d649e12

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“I’ll do it shortly. I don’t have 65109bf4c0 much, so it 5b4c5683ba won’t take long.”519fd3c0530e7c47

“Good. Make sure it’s done 5361fff0dd today. Starting tomorrow, 7fc3d2f998 you’ll report cc64e33d4d directly to 147d99a446 my office.”5a33951b2f42bf80

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“…Understood.”67a5ef37a653a26f

Lucian bowed stiffly. As Heraith walked 5b806fe369 past, he added fe8b9b6c4c casually:74c69fc55e58f1ae

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“Oh, and Luce…”43f23b540e91bd39

“Yes, Your Majesty?”f35681310427cab7

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“From now 5917175b5d on, you’ll d3aa93327d be working d0ca5df8aa even closer 5d0a7bc028 to me. Think of 72ef899d37 it as 072e57859d an upgrade.”6007f4b9a6a21965

“…What exactly does f3c6af0d6f that mean?”67a513acd8174146

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“Simple. You’ll be 75fc688e1a with me. Always. Even in 34c78770aa the office.”7915e73caae28bca

What?! All day? Even during meetings?!1c7af9cecc00bb78

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Heraith turned 57fa38fe98 away with ad693ed83f a wave.a0fea7c90f87ba57

“See you tomorrow, 040203869a Luce.”7b9d823fa3afa85b

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He left behind only e4d0ada196 a faint chuckle, while 12c71ceb8e Lucian stood frozen, too 6365ba91e7 stunned to even bow.0ab511523664ec4a