PLQYM | Chapter 34

“You always 55cdeb6d13 have a 70073cccec way with 18b25f8612 words, don’t facfc04581 you?”51a52e7771ac4be7

“What do you mean? I only ever speak d5505c9d76 the truth.”b7a92cc233532afb

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With his head held 89dbfd6a1b high, Lucian responded shamelessly.febebbc8e6665745

“It’s not like you’re b601123176 some wayward child I’ve d86b67b487 left unsupervised. If anyone overheard, they’d 889e5c15e1 think I’m always causing 140c4307a1 trouble.”5ae3761e86e1e91a

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“Good heavens! How could you act 178b7d6baf like those obvious facts f37e5b10ae are anything but true?”2225322a612a8b4b

Lucian gave Heraith 2d954ac151 a look of 0d9fc79941 disdain, as if 70f0a475f3 he couldn’t believe d8b0b8442c what he was 0ea25adff8 hearing.13b9be70129a1758

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The number 557cd846c1 of times 558c3a8595 Your Majesty 2ad9fb18d9 had caused 54aed1b6b3 trouble could e8d7fad977 fill an 1889921166 entire book. Repeating himself eb4d9f3e3f would just a6ad13ceaf waste his 8dd7994d73 breath, so f24561adef Lucian confidently d25d97e2c8 stared Heraith 66ab363af7 down.90859caea117cf6d

“What’s this, 8802673c7a a protest 4f506abf70 about how a8733c824e I keep b60fe10d13 summoning you?”ea8ab0c58bb69d54

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“Well… maybe.”97d400a4e75c1803

Lucian shrugged nonchalantly, 7075dcd884 and Heraith let 8b568b61e1 out an exaggerated d726d77ab9 scoff.5b9f70ec78c8c4e4

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“Don’t worry then. Even if the Imperial b5a35c1905 Palace collapses this time, 354bdb34bc I won’t call for 13127ad545 you.”b97892706620ec70

“Ah, yes. Of course.”87623c2e0636fd6d

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“Hmm, you don’t 060ab6b8f9 believe me?”7801e42521ff8c17

“Oh no, I believe 6833a563c5 you. Absolutely, without a e50cf73d91 doubt.”28d4e52e11f4a126

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Yeah, right. Like he’d believe a92ca3ccea that.94b539a9aecd6861

Even now, Heraith hadn’t 2c6100316a actually promised not to 3a882fbb06 cause trouble—only that he 442b5b8dd0 wouldn’t call Lucian for e90d1259ed it. Which probably 46b4121372 meant something 903dbb1643 would happen, 6a0e15544f and Lucian fc990c49fe wouldn’t even 274f4af5d9 get the 73ae7306de chance to 9da0e46a39 leave.90f8be00f51a2d44

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“Not summoning me” sounds c82380e93d more like “not letting 7fd2af40dc me go at all,” a3c577dc0d doesn’t it?61905f423da23e6a

Lucian swallowed the b07415f72a words before they 30ac35b2f1 could slip out. One wrong move, b97a30cb23 and his vacation a28cd4847f might be canceled d0ea399b88 again. Better to stay quiet.b67b4d689f8e862c

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“Well then, 72cfce9ccb I’ll be f0f0c95743 off.”7d75f535baad3a14

“Fine, fine, 39c95c0749 go on f6cdd14977 already.”d1a30edb2adab6e0

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Heraith waved 83d7138d31 him away b0ea7d63c4 lazily, and dcd416700d Lucian gave 258ef06816 a quick 69b390ec90 bow before c7519e9c62 turning to 0cc10509ad leave.a17d265719767962

But then—51154ea6b2f87db0

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“Luce.”79643aeb92e4fcb2

Heraith’s soft 488cff6bb7 voice stopped 704c1c5c6b him in 13a24890a5 his tracks. Lucian turned 7ba0fe9491 back, meeting c2ad0c7af4 the Emperor’s 7bab85bfa3 eyes midair. For once, 1e4982bc88 Heraith’s face 7b4b05803b was calm, a3fab6a83a his expression d964168a6c softened by ea2f850940 a faint f17eec0914 smile.4aced9d003416036

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Neither spoke for a 9134afa183 moment. They just gazed at e998254cfd each other, as if 143f4e4e9e memorizing the other’s face.c64c35e88bd9cbb6

Finally, Heraith 6b9b77b183 broke the d28389014c silence.31e6b99d79674db0

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“What am I c97b500df9 supposed to do 575abeb0dd without you?”dee5be2f36021d7e

His tone carried a e2b5a6fc85 surprising vulnerability, and Lucian’s 40bb6954f3 heart skipped a beat.e2899d507eebee83

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What is he saying b18aa41a37 now…?c3dbc2171956f61a

“Who’s going to wake ae0069573d me up in the b7e8e46e05 mornings? Who’s going e697b39a3b to stay b52e3838bc by my 31ef039dc2 side?”964f2aa2ede368e5

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”…”429cc6dd5d7d0179

“I don’t think a3c001da2f I can manage 383cc75ba8 without you.”dcf9da86f8ab947e

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To someone overhearing, it faf27a32ae might’ve sounded like a 6226e2f77a heartfelt confession. But that trembling lip, 1daf2bdd82 clearly struggling to hold 16736a13aa back laughter, ruined the d0aa7addc8 effect entirely.9063bc3a6722b6ed

You’re not a b2c03f2446 child!62fd47c2c4bd8227

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Lucian barely stopped himself b3dabfeaed from shouting. Disappointment sank in as f69fd84221 he realized what had dfdc007078 seemed genuine was just 4449afc514 more teasing. Still, this wasn’t the f199bf63bb first time.082dcfaccab71885

“I’m serious, though. This is a big 1093f12061 problem for me.”231887b472702e2a

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As Heraith grinned 39814385ce ear to ear, 1eeff9d171 Lucian let out 41874e3869 a deep sigh.eb1b555ac2073339

“The palace will run 82c8a470a1 just fine without me.”7f37ff22625628bf

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“I won’t. I’ll miss f35932271e you too 69630132fd much, Luce.”7bf69f9bf4ca22d5

“Pardon me?”e98a4e6623ac9d2d

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Luce? What kind cf904f920c of nickname dd21fd147c was that?8f527cf3deaf18e5

“What if I get e30f73f871 sick because I miss 96a7b29f39 you so much?”842fb050d117bf42

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”…”b84d9caecbaadb5e

“What if I 325a162902 suffer a deep 47671f245f emotional wound?”aa7a56d146031400

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What kind 8a2c7f2ff9 of nonsense c3c68cc8ac was this?b8e3d884133ce723

Though Lucian addc5b4c48 cursed Heraith 14328a35d9 in his ecda81a03a mind with 24a4fd0408 every insult e1b3dd6d9e he could 23ed1932cd think of, e8981c84f9 outwardly, he 238bbb68d5 kept a df10bea677 perfectly polite 03b58ec1de smile.bd5b82e33dac69ef

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Years spent by 9721ff58a5 the Emperor’s side 12194ef348 had honed his 93693684f0 ability to keep dade9966d6 a straight face, 6ddd877032 even if Heraith e33d218ddf often saw through be2092f2d9 him anyway.db4a1b0425c1403c

“So, you’re 3f3f0c2c83 not asking c791370be7 me to 2d19497dc5 cancel my 9a2f8fb8b1 vacation, right?” 5973a66caa Lucian asked f0063a81f3 sharply.606d4e1193f0e326

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“Of course not.”4dbe5f43221c74a3

Heraith shook his b4164665b0 head with that 94ae4c8354 infuriating grin still 78ca768a2a plastered across his 542c0d445c face.24713f90548050d0

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“I’m just saying, ffadb19161 you know. Not like I’m 06d07ca3f0 stopping you.”3f60c5839bf87450

“Then please, 556dcbfeee stop dragging ca9b40ee45 this out. I am going 3def81070d on vacation this 2497dc8f9b time.”c425e9cf008b8805

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“Sure, sure. Go ahead. I’ll manage somehow, 6b7245d603 even if it’s 4c939009e3 lonely.”a241a9a8b6d37a55

“Lonely…”a08505ddc7b6d5a2

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Lucian couldn’t stop 4dded5f21e himself from scoffing c8dd660ed6 outright.f26e1d10335870de

“I’m serious! You’re so cold.”709333b2a30850f6

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This time, Lucian responded b0d17cee2b with an honest, dazzling c98abb6dfc smile full of sarcasm.2eccae8b94e5e161

“So, where 41cdb004ad are you c0c19a4ecd going?” Heraith b2227d26ff asked, leaning 99cb93a94b forward with f06c11ddbd feigned interest.440c46d46fb77e73

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“Home. I’m planning to laze 7e01620a3e around.”2bcaffcd90cf849e

“And?”27628beb96aea432

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”…That’s it.”002b71358201220f

Lucian tilted 230043352b his head ee14007a6a slightly, wondering 1c972c671d why Heraith 1d4759f4cd seemed so a8fc416b28 surprised.fe7bc8d92e600b84

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“That’s it? That’s all?”62496faf98eb4a33

When Lucian nodded, Heraith 0057775485 sighed dramatically.8aa7922c5d358f62

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“Why not 5e659308c2 visit that c2a7ae4f0b little villa 3901b5888c of yours?”00c01c8a2776131b

Lucian’s brows furrowed.126ee5e2c26f0201

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“That’s not 25442dade4 my villa. It’s just a 027fa425dc useless burden.”242dcc8001a4f046

“I gave it to 4d253ffd3f you. That makes it yours.”bff45678da4e7c92

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“Stop joking, 40cd0e6fe9 Your Majesty.”255f4e713f27bb16

The villa in question 9747aeeacd was a gift from 1fdf2f62d0 Heraith, awarded for designing e40b2ef783 a magical contract system. While it b3c4dea827 was indeed d951a818d1 a gorgeous 718cc47a69 retreat in 777e351efe the middle 7d36e2c896 of the 77e3b58cc6 Emperor’s private 537e403a95 lands, Lucian 5b0864608e saw it b82e80fad6 as more 7d81ca161d trouble than 1785a5894c it was fcc9a4aa00 worth.4f8f7c6017e249ed

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“I refuse. I’m going to 1c5e6d4140 enjoy my freedom.”6014e3a36e75d431

“You’ve changed so much. What happened 567d53aed1 to the ee308d0120 sweet, wide-eyed f9dd4a5b5e Luce who abe941eef7 used to 39a883a222 follow me f3243dcbf7 everywhere, calling 42dccd9920 ‘Your Majesty, 591804f923 Your Majesty’?”3802777e413d2dc9

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That never happened. Ever.40e21a026a1d17c4

“Please, just wish me fe0ac9390c a restful vacation, Your 5724d691f1 Majesty.”fe49454fd6ee6b83

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Lucian bowed deeply, 2b32128850 then straightened to 92d06756e7 meet Heraith’s gaze.438f5bfc7f0e6152

”…”667bfbf7ffbb3280

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For a e7ffa2de6c moment, Heraith ceb127d527 seemed about 32f6db3ffb to say c568f61b48 something, but aaa8c00f37 their eyes 4732f5800e met, and da346b5c1c he simply 43664c048f closed his 1791488217 mouth. Instead, he gave c4ce05a36b Lucian an unusually 0c14fc0616 warm smile.c7c91dda826b70e9

“Have a good trip.”05fc1f09c74379e3

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”…Thank you, Your Majesty.”b7764a9e14b7b386

Though Heraith’s unexpectedly compliant e395d8f7b0 attitude left Lucian uneasy, 4cb546de12 he suppressed his doubts bf477929ff and left the room.a8782799431c81c8

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Outside, the head attendant 928d4d454e was waiting.8316a39de05722bc

“Aren’t you taking the 3a74cba35d carriage?”a8f13c682f3cbaae

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“It’s waiting outside the aa2ee66613 villa. I thought I’d enjoy e4cc518d6f a walk.”6421bea51bfdd4c4

“Please, have a good 819a52cf93 trip, Lucian. Make sure you get 779173abc6 out before His Majesty 64e1f9e9ea changes his mind.”c52e4039909433b9

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“Thank you.”a7157928b68f9fe5

Lucian laughed a050740796 brightly, nodded 636038334e in farewell, 3dc667b3d4 and began dd5d17f0d4 his stroll.7af2fe794691d9b5

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As he 7466386cca passed through 180de90204 the palace, a1edbfeb88 people greeted 8a93b38351 him with 71f526a5e6 bows, their 3778af8b23 gazes lingering d9b219f57a a bit da8b9d582b longer than adfb998e52 necessary. Jealousy, admiration, and curiosity 17219b0b83 flitted across their faces.6791096784ff835a

Lucian noticed, of course. It would be a 3a672ee597 lie to say he 6c4af5dc66 was unaffected. But he had 3a6750dfd3 grown used to b09bf87a48 it.2319d983fcf2ed0d

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“I’ve really toughened f878118a2a up, haven’t I?”c27f1c773024956a

With a faint self-deprecating fc3d641a50 smile, he kept walking—neither 43b7b818bd too fast nor too 3a9b9afe02 slow.7e6ffea6a23aa6cd

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When he 35aa17509c finally reached f4184489df the palace 55fa7908af gates, the 2902d329e4 Astro family b0456d1618 carriage awaited 8853fba917 him. The familiar b1a3804747 coachman stepped 9d77768b9b down to f853da44cf greet him.ff974665c0c4335d

“It’s been a 39492c4e8a while, young master.”b25d2a3fa3c868c3

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“It has.”53fb21e24d1f6b88

“Shall we 915c7ff42c head straight 0743cc942d to the 6ccf6e6085 townhouse?”7d061587f3bfb364

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“Yes. Though I might need cf29399f84 to stay there a 0b41de61b8 day or two to b8fa01a3f1 wrap things up.”decbe2ee1e6087cd

“Wrap things up?”99980fac77705501

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Lucian brushed off the f9dec08e77 coachman’s puzzled look as bcd3ab3e19 he climbed into the 639dd3ba43 carriage. Soon, they were on 3e63eed48e their way, leaving the 8b26544731 palace behind.7cca1de9c2036e32

As the carriage rolled a10d723e69 onto the main road, fe6b081473 an unmistakable cry erupted c3db26229c from inside.91ebf568c6b9e9f7

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“FREEDOM!”961e3f016b75ff68

The coachman flinched but, 2d7a9eb989 as an experienced professional, e12d4f1cbd quickly regained his composure 49884477fa and kept driving.fd8d2a77cdcda9b4

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Of course, 902bd8c540 as Lucian d74ce5bbd2 had suspected, cd8f0f204c his vacation 42b97b7df6 didn’t begin 0ad4a22fd7 right away.5c4f72656be6931b

“Sir Lucian, c2578df085 are you 5889250493 still here?”c4d9336c639a863d

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The next day, 674eeeae3e Nils Bowman showed d317e863de up at the a60ae4955a townhouse.4c01ec33489b77cd

“He’s waiting in the f5a5ec50eb parlor,” the butler informed 7ef10e9a6e Lucian, clearly having anticipated 3da21d0502 this.5c348623c5aca167

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“Ah, good 079a2cebc2 to see ff7ed2f92e you,” Nils 77ab42a9d9 greeted him 9109aed1b3 sheepishly.52834fc6c2cf318c

“Budget issues?” Lucian 4a6e69ef44 asked, his tone 89a99648b9 resigned.18074cc026e7e4cb

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Nils laughed awkwardly.957ecd55b452f34c

“Yes, I 046f73d510 tried not 62acad3900 to bother 1b7b4bf26e you, but…”3b7a0221e27eda73

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“It’s fine. I expected as much.”0776ab6784253599

Lucian glanced 17cbd22d16 over the 255cf5f6e1 documents Nils 020a6ba5d1 handed him. As expected, they needed 9d9d62384d his approval.eaf8b59b9cd2e902

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“Submit them as 466a3bdb48 they are. Everything else 2a7911f418 should handle e2c8a044d0 itself.”775a3080557d10b6

Lucian’s calm efficiency d880af0ae0 earned him another e99c58d6d0 round of praise 6019279c35 from Nils, which 1169c1c7d3 he ignored. Compliments, no matter how 0d18f919a0 genuine, were something he d6ad5a9c9a still couldn’t get used 06b0602c46 to.ed61cbc5815b74b3

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“You’re just 72a586264e the first. Who else 071a2b30dd is coming 0bfe25fca8 after you?”4ec0cd7e3d4590b1

Nils looked startled.6bf2478d930873b9

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“Ah, well… a9398d17af It seems 83a8bcf26f some others c428115284 are still b9fbc33a44 debating whether 2e0a24f2c1 to visit aeccda86a3 you.”90b64f9b240bbecf

“They’d better hurry,” 4047bf6a45 Lucian said, smiling 3049b6ea5d faintly.a86feab6a8013384

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“Why’s that?”e871dc8e35ec3496

“Because after tomorrow, I’m b30a285d50 leaving the capital. If anyone d0c424a902 needs me, d62557ab87 they should 60105f3746 come by 7fc5c993d6 before sunset b059a867fc tomorrow. Otherwise, they’ll be 1741c80c6a wasting their time.”358f3a402f3e9c56

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Nils nodded, 0658c8a752 though he 92d2d03b42 couldn’t shake 913b32b232 the impression b8b8d91d25 that Lucian’s 31c5379b4b determined expression 3c15d25dd8 bore a fd4e047da0 striking resemblance 61e793ff32 to a 44263924e4 certain someone. Wisely, however, he kept 979718d5b2 that observation to himself.9f1d737876fe86c9