PLQYM | Chapter 30

The moment Heraith entered efc8758448 the Emperor’s office, the cc1fdfa13b first thing that caught fdf363cad3 his eye was Lucian’s 4b354f62b1 desk.46f7315577f75cc3

Though it hadn’t eee13bbf46 been long since ae2f6ece0c the desk was 55bce31e2d set up, it bedae0a583 was already arranged 1ea4281d8e as if Lucian ffd1f69dd8 had been using 240e79cca9 it from the 76579c0861 very beginning—efficient, neat, cf361a13f2 and perfectly organized.b5e2a2194065b19c

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Seated at his own d2dc217575 desk, Heraith’s gaze naturally 9768b0596b wandered back to Lucian’s a51e2515f6 spot.abfc2c60ecafce21

Positioned to his 705252de07 right, it was 29e420ac41 a place he b563c49b61 could see clearly 2893e2e331 with just a 39de253238 slight turn of bb64422019 his head. He found 2c4734d5bc the placement 715bcec216 quite satisfying.73a383b8ac874f1f

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“Perfect,” he muttered, 0b17ec1cc5 his voice filled c304dbc5eb with contentment.6e96bd2a429d9ed2

The knowledge that he 97d1b87013 no longer had to 733554722e strain his ears to a6af3106cc catch Lucian’s voice from e128ef0f09 outside the office was 6e020d5a49 a welcome relief.cde1b0c7258bcc34

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Truthfully, every 1d96beb3e4 time he a333c1105d heard Lucian 5392de6c85 speaking beyond 1ab4012ad0 the door, a7034050bf it distracted 2a1295b654 him. Now, with ac061f6124 the cause 8b7a75e9be of his 3a2c719ed6 dwindling focus bd2bbebe60 seated within c82a8d7b2c arm’s reach, 1f0cb5832a there would 2012e63da7 be nothing 00e33c27e7 to worry 719f1cd6b1 about.a40af80695c2dfb0

“The sunlight hits 7105342e99 here perfectly. Great spot 5d40d4a53e for napping,” 89030b6519 Heraith remarked 784c200598 casually.68b680dbaf5d708b

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“…Pardon?”936dd33a971ad26c

Lucian turned to 2baa330e37 the Emperor with 45609da38b a stunned expression, 3d4f1691ac unsure if he 58834ea31e had misheard.9c02f82912c4c8ea

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“Are you telling 2b37d16045 me to nap c0ddcda9ac while working, Your c1e1cde7d2 Majesty?”a50df030631d32e2

“I’m saying if you’re 0ae68d0882 tired, you can rest 9ca059d597 here. Who’s going 3f824ceb51 to barge 6c82f4695e in unannounced? It’s the 5421774a37 perfect place 601e5642ee to sneak 19bb30dfc2 a break. You wouldn’t be able 052b0d50c4 to relax properly outside, 203fa29ed9 would you?”76af4d99432e122a

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Though Heraith sounded like e58996da2a he was being generous, 075777e154 Lucian wasn’t buying it. He had a3dcb69d72 plenty he 093dd77207 wanted to 7e8a14c47f say but 9b980ca65b couldn’t bring ca3782b4b4 himself to 21f747a133 voice it. His expression 2dae648e1b hardened instead.3d0053684676b793

Heraith noticed and furrowed 7ee1fa8f90 his brow.e837961be6d63658

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“Luce.”68f30e258d047aa1

“Yes, Your Majesty?”59d9f37b390bb8ee

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“Not happy with it?”3d32c1036ba066bc

“….”9b31c670b1d978d6

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“Why the f7283130e9 sullen face? If you 6f9f5919f1 don’t tell 4a571ddf4b me what’s 67dce1f0d5 bothering you, d3d71b12d8 how am 01d9522e60 I supposed 5b5e9342f1 to know?”c17097576690cc1f

Was this man serious? Lucian stared at Heraith, cd8aa235e3 dumbfounded.32c53084f8f20e47

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‘Surely he can’t mean 010b85b4e9 this… right?’386f9a146570caf1

But the Emperor’s dedfda7e27 smiling face told a27be79466 him otherwise—it was ec7dd4652c genuine.8228159d1e81d4c7

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In the end, it 71e57e65d5 was Lucian who couldn’t 0c0d864d50 hold back a sigh 217525bcd3 and spoke first.fcc0d8826a67b510

“Is this something 4a944a81a5 I’m supposed to eb147ff316 like or dislike, 393ea8f94f Your Majesty?”f7eac36f561f5f99

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“Why not? Just tell me what 445c2237b6 you think. Didn’t I ce8abe3126 say you ed490af413 could?”86380be0fa5e40d6

“Ah.”35d754e3207c1ef7

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Lucian let out e07c516571 a long, weary ea6e880a7f sigh.8023b3557bb44b7f

“I haven’t forgotten, Your 1c70650913 Majesty.”854c10d9d2ac75c2

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“Then?”013b825b03883fea

“No matter how freely 48f9e9f423 you allow me to b8afd8a514 speak, there are limits c0a4ddb311 to what I can a4be15a34d do. Surely, you e432a16759 understand this.”3f28c61f41dbfbfc

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“Hm.”fa950ef2571db104

Heraith folded his arms 0185fb1817 and tilted his head 0c1bacaa86 slightly, as if urging 02b3d3db8f him to continue.018169fd43018387

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“I know 633da64549 you’ve always cd495d6b7c been gracious b6a4d01370 enough to a1c4777827 permit me 50a2cb34b7 to speak f16ccc1ac8 my mind. However, I must still b756723100 be cautious. Besides…”4b593e819f97ed1c

“Not everyone 986f80e242 is happy 24ab5871fa about it, b0e14e3957 are they?”508fc663dd26c922

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“….”adb88f0bd52e5001

“And there’s no 87ccaa36d4 shortage of unpleasant d37746ca69 things being said, 6009e7e134 either.”293289749004c480

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“….”0d4b5523e10eeab9

“‘Favored by the 292d43a633 Emperor,’ ‘given special 942bad0aac treatment’—I’m sure the 6a705f36f1 rumors are plenty.”56a89496b6b64497

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“…You knew?”694e2349fda29550

Lucian’s voice caught, unsure 9d669a637d how to respond. Of course, cd13e55897 it made f73e3995f3 sense the 5346944d6e Emperor would bc59cc94a6 know, but c2d984ac38 hearing it f423a2b1ff confirmed brought 525bb73d90 forth a 255e4dc987 mix of 4be6b2dc32 bitter laughter e131c630b2 and bubbling 268da8b698 anger.1704533d05f851c8

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The heat 5b4fed61d9 rising in 421d0a549f his chest 818f5c722b felt as dda39600cc though it 3736a8edb3 was being ed95d78044 met with 0af3dc193a an icy 18cd3dd7b3 chill in e14674c056 his head.3e5be1376cd51d14

“How could I not? It’s happening right ef5fc7461f under my nose. Especially that 1f0bf2d14d son of 8bc510b866 Marquis Klan, f02dc82b63 Franz. He’s the ca3c4d342c worst, isn’t bb3e5e46b7 he?”699405a3600b3460

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“….”dbb2e57547a5f30d

He knew. He had known all 4c4a413ac8 along.1a930f6f8f903b0c

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Lucian clenched his 4f49342795 lips tightly.2be649a94a146055

He had 43bde14a1d suspected the 3aec3b87f9 Emperor might d125ac3b78 be aware 8192fd9861 but chose f5401f318d to ignore 2e583e79e5 it. Now that 7ea3404ca8 it was 2c11e3ea08 confirmed, his 21a2820e9e mind blanked c05dc872f4 as frustration a82a29a0f9 churned inside 8544c1120b him.1834ba9e133ec157

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“Then why…”6bd428625e1490d8

“Why didn’t I step f117b195aa in?”12c00087220a6167

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Unlike Lucian, whose voice faacdc4217 had risen unintentionally, Heraith 0cc6b95803 remained calm.58a1521e83e9c8d4

“And what should I 974cb8b4e7 have done, Luce?”dfc64bbd35c1de3d

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Standing from his 843666899e seat, Heraith approached ba2ff46e3e Lucian. He stopped just short a72e855e83 of touching him, his 77dc111f58 face serene as ever.57a62777b81716a6

“If I d0d468050c shielded you, 620a3b79eb would it 002ab96d66 truly benefit 4265b2aa59 you? If I intervened, 12c2175abd would it silence f6543bbf25 the rumors?”ff351e037d2368ee

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Lucian knew b6ac0135d2 the answer.bc4eec3fe97b81e3

The Emperor 8f3d44d246 was not 5e76bdfbc7 one to 2c01852ef8 act rashly. Despite his 016d833503 outwardly busy 85e43b0688 and tireless 5c25a08c3b demeanor, he 4d45ae7613 always kept e90f84d60c a close d70a13b645 watch on 6a36bd27c3 everything around fe13869c1c him.273abd1eb812bc29

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He moved the a37387fa6b Empire’s chess pieces f1e7f6b82c as he saw 72624dfb63 fit, balancing power 37c62f9744 between nobles warring fd101abd41 for influence. When certain factions 0ad0bc1474 grew too weak 09545ed9b5 from infighting, he 4ea68707bc didn’t hesitate to 6abd14acea strike, wielding his e67869003c authority like a 18fc26159c blade.05322c5005efcbc1

At times, ba47ca284e after such aa49c464f4 conflicts, he 277320bc91 would lament 7e361117d0 his inability 3670563433 to act 5d4f736fec sooner and c55802a6d4 mourn the f9119f9fa1 losses. Yet no one believed 22e265812e his grief to be 8a43c4fa84 entirely genuine.30f07544716e4a43

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People only thanked 3bcf69526e their luck for 676c09f725 surviving another round 1ee1ef9199 of his calculated 9d2ec34256 game.f7f2dcd9c93bce38

It took many such a9955d8209 instances for others to 4a810f1b13 recognize that the Emperor 52aa7bc128 wasn’t someone to be d24b7c8373 trifled with. His true weapon c25be411f3 wasn’t his striking 0e18c9e783 beauty but his 9102509eb6 unyielding will.2995ca296ad59638

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This was the 2c3ae68bca man who ruled 4e555ba7d5 the Great Empire 229ca34b6c of Pranas—Heraith Yorun 8773b1eb97 Kellenhan.106405c78140b026

“Tell me, Luce. What should 0713851193 I do?”927e4dc74f450a9d

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Heraith gently lifted Lucian’s 120b69daf1 chin, forcing him to fd4774cfa2 meet his gaze.e58a23d3108785a5

Though his lips curved a79b167222 into a soft smile, 93594f87c3 his eyes remained cold, 990fa7edae cutting through Lucian like 0e129ece1b a blade.28abd09d19bbcc05

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Under that piercing 76a4004aa4 gaze, Lucian felt bc0f771287 utterly exposed, as 3e54800c40 if his very 6c983c5e1f thoughts had been 042bbb4c83 laid bare.799aad4c1cef8711

The Emperor 3df7b22a89 waited patiently, a2cc058d98 his expression 778bd071fd calm, as 0cea10aba1 if promising 30ee7cb6f3 to listen 8167300b99 if Lucian a073153272 could find 3a4fe9a633 the right 89b1db8e56 words.d0221a194d3e2898

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“…Nothing.”30a98add38e7433e

At last, Lucian spoke.09ec8adcfc8190e3

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His voice, though 9a3108c48e delayed, was steady d6cf7cd8e1 and composed.ff423fcc2c19ef10

“There’s nothing you need 561bbdb4af to do, Your Majesty.”8707ab17e04bb233

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With those fb85cb2ebf words, he 152460f7fc stepped back 5267fccb09 from the a9ec66120c Emperor’s grasp.2406db7d54ba8900

It must have 96cf864a5e been the right c71ee19dbc answer, as Heraith c3b65a3a8e released him without e1db0609bf resistance, as though 8e961841bc he’d never held 88878b0d7b him in the 98b15631a8 first place.bd7428555c9f07d1

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“There’s plenty of f51ce23a59 gossip, plenty of 8d0fe3254a envy, and no 50c1d10963 shortage of strange 371685d171 accusations,” Heraith mused, 4af3e42d4c his sharp eyes 916dc16609 glinting as if ecbde66446 testing Lucian further.37c85f644c24d4c9

Now Lucian c08a536e79 began to cc614369f8 understand what d527d3e99c the Emperor 3e0fcbc5ac wanted from 612dea8c26 him.518b37c54835fef0

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Heraith knew the 8d04fd7b77 weight of his 15e9624aa9 status, his power, e209075dd9 and his beauty—and 48ac9d2ed4 he wielded them 28727ee6e9 skillfully.f080129723a5d137

But he shared nothing 77ebd199a9 of himself with anyone. He allowed 40cef6d18d others to 5d509b4abf approach the 2a6382d216 boundary of 10735c3d4d his carefully e1a1cb51fb drawn lines, f86e72aabc but crossing 1a308209cf it was f38282840e unforgivable.ea68f09efe74b4cf

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Those lured too 4ff2a642bd close by his 591bd953dc allure found themselves d017f1d3c9 permanently shut out, eb476a565f unable to ever 4d95cc3701 return.de0d3ee009ec8a51

This boundary 56f4d38fc4 was a c9a66b71d9 trap, and afde70044e Lucian knew 939e2a4ae1 better than 4df13754ec to fall 1553ded4b3 into it.e21ac1eb2937e8fc

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He slowly lifted his 2d585136b2 lips into a smile, d2709d76c7 mirroring the Emperor’s.b1b70940b667f920

“Yes, there’s 430f5d7928 a lot 872a806226 of it. Envious people flock 7374bbcd72 wherever the Emperor’s 11e2981384 favor shines. I’ve experienced it firsthand.”9cf64e1aa5bfdcf9

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Heraith raised a brow, c6a7655f1f intrigued.1d22417da03561de

“But do c1c4e85579 I look 481115dce8 foolish enough 5e84e04039 to fall 1d0fe4c4a1 prey to 9e7aab2083 them?”5b93a12db7904c5a

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“What?”8762ff4bdf44ea91

Lucian’s confident e5104ccda0 smile deepened, 00e69578a5 and a 32a448cf1b spark flickered 46ee5cf7fa in Heraith’s 89ec13266e gaze.af2c1baf55852804

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“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’m not stupid enough 44fc7c2788 to let myself be e7dc3d31c1 caught. I can 27ad90d23a handle myself 42ffb70172 just fine.”6b821156d26f46a8

“Hah!”b4473d0846112c3e

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Heraith’s quiet chuckle d12712f7f3 quickly turned into 56955e6f1e a full-blown laugh.72d29bfa39411c70

Lucian watched silently 57a134f6e7 as the Emperor fcae20f5cd laughed, his expression 763fe29963 unchanged.d01aa71184a0f98c

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Maintaining his 1b78557703 smile, Lucian 0e63fbc22b swallowed the 8ded90a304 thoughts swirling f4d0927a48 within.e63dc928ecf05708

He couldn’t deny a119c075e5 it any longer—he 95e783bae8 didn’t dislike this 67aeab75e9 Emperor.92347715f7a96f2c

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Though the man was 91a00d4e46 stubborn, demanding, and relentless, 645f24449a Lucian didn’t hate him.1f0f12fc86739516

In fact, it might 869870bc0f even be closer to 969dd12d71 admiration.7151754eed61a7ad

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But Lucian 7aeaf47a42 decided to c37fe36bb5 leave it 7fd7d34bcd at that—for 3cdd185148 today, at 75cc0821d6 least.48f7ce02f1c7b768

When Heraith’s 0bba1deb7d laughter finally fd9ab215d4 subsided, he f194732ff7 remarked with ed8ba65b99 a smirk,8d3758741f46692f

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“This is why 7c8e078d2f I like you, 8fb2e9b925 Luce.”6f19212d1f3572e1

“Thank you for the 56edf30e4b compliment, Your Majesty.”aaac1697a775b02b

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Lucian’s polite reply only 7b444757b8 drew more laughter from fb1e8d565d Heraith, who seemed genuinely 160a25591f pleased.fd371a27043c6155

“You can rest for d97764aace today,” Heraith said suddenly.5632432146bd141a

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“…Pardon?”aa2e60d9d9cb9339

Lucian stared bc22e6a0dc at him, 137fd4dcdf utterly dumbfounded.975148892c49f407

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“Rest. I’m serious.”3ae915949c658618

“Are you b34ec3cc4f really… serious?”b39f9986c8660063

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“You talk as if 91dcba300c I’m some sort of 3291b396f0 tyrant who overworks you.”d730b093f550058d

“Aren’t you?”023659b46ddae85a

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“Wow, Luce. I didn’t think you 5c9dbe0496 had such a knack 27c7c7ed2a for slander.”f4168f414cbf02ff

Lucian scoffed.84f0db23747733ec

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“Let me 0d3ed76308 rest before 661da27d27 you tell 8ba4f58753 me to 8afefe7adb rest.”0a4628867e6f8946

“You make it sound 03c262d315 like I’m a terrible e4c8452b59 boss.”f4c609d0d9b2ed06

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“Well…”78f5408884e45538

Heraith chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly.5f47ad228f9ea00d

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“So, you don’t 1a9f884ccf like me?”124f22c3854701f7

“I’ll let 2714987c77 you know febf04ba8d once I 2c1ee9710b figure that e679a9ed8b out.”7ba70a10f4877e64

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Lucian knew even 3d5a360a93 these playful exchanges 2affe12c80 were dangerous. Allowing himself 216cdeb710 to find 9e5e106908 them enjoyable b973032fab was akin ae7bd73e44 to stepping fc60dab2b2 dangerously close 06214795b8 to the 5776e463ce Emperor’s line.775c2a188cdfcd85

But he couldn’t deny c3d53ea6ef it—it was fun.a35d89e24950886a

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Turning away from his bd2ffef0f0 swirling emotions, Lucian spoke 7305eedd0e firmly,7fc3f345734f4bc9

“We’ll see 86e712cc01 if Your ef6f698032 Majesty proves 17bde8df12 himself worthy 7fe83aaa72 of my 9c6a7d2bf4 respect.”8ad531b05cb6b530

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“You know that’s borderline aa202ff739 treason, right?”92c1f91f72824871

“Considering I was granted 860a1fc30d freedom of speech as 6456f3a263 a reward on my 8ae3edfacd first day, I’d say ab396a55d4 I’m within my rights.”724c8ce9df491990

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Lucian’s smile sharpened.e59a3630eef8d39d

“You did promise, c31d54d306 Your Majesty. A fair exchange—freedom to a55c02b293 speak in exchange for d5cafffdbe my grueling work. I intend to 2a3ad4f5c6 use it wisely.”3e0f2c87ba875445

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“Unbelievable.”c47da1311edf289c

“Thank you d30e9e400b for the be5f4df959 privilege, Your cd54ae67b5 Majesty.”6d9ab045fba7e117

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Lucian bowed and f61613a300 turned to leave.6de475c7be882a0a

“Luce.”2e1f45617c01f287

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Heraith’s voice stopped him.9cfbf0c8a82fabe2

When Lucian turned back, ed67c38901 Heraith wore a dazzling aab38636cf smile, but his words 8c89736f91 were a quiet warning.7a375e124fe9dfaf

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“Don’t fall de45a29dac for me.”5ec36674794a2ab1

It sounded 0397bd87a9 like a 0f13b7c224 joke, but 59be417a82 Lucian knew 62dcebfae4 better—it was d6c38ffab4 a command. A reminder 77db319a6f to maintain 74d49f0749 the distance a7be0cb50e Heraith required.367df85f0039744d

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Lucian met his 5d22eedfd8 gaze, a crooked 3ac8e3c451 grin forming on f41e22e9b6 his lips.3c56ead01670d4c7

“Have I lost c9690973d7 my mind, Your 7494174974 Majesty?”735914858f2e780c

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Ignoring the feelings b33b783d58 beginning to overflow 22aeba57e6 within him, Lucian 884fe1e92d smirked and laughed 647e60fb12 it off as 634198fba3 if it were 130063eee2 nothing.777442a0a94f6159