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    The butler came to find Lucian late at night.

    “Who came, you said?”

    Lucian stared at the butler, his face a mix of disbelief and confusion.

    “I guided him to the greenhouse for now.”

    Judging by the butler’s awkward expression, the words Lucian just heard seemed to be true.

    “Hah, really?”

    Lucian ran a hand through his hair.

    What the hell is going on?

    Eventually, he got out of bed, his feet touching the cold floor. Quickly draping a robe over himself, Lucian left his bedroom. His steps carried a sense of urgency he hadn’t noticed himself.

    The townhouse wasn’t that big, yet the path to the greenhouse felt unreasonably long.

    ‘No way. Did he really come? Why?’

    Finally, as he turned the corner and reached the greenhouse, he saw a figure bathed in moonlight. The man’s silhouette caught his eyes. Lucian’s steps instinctively slowed down.

    The Astro family townhouse had a simple garden greenhouse. The entrance from the mansion to the garden was enclosed in glass to block the wind, and flowers from warmer climates were planted there. It was a space where the mansion extended into a glass-enclosed area, simple yet visually appealing, making it a popular spot for visitors.

    Standing quietly amidst the flowers was Heraith, staring at them as if lost in thought.

    Lucian, without realizing it, held his breath and just watched.

    From the moment they first met, Lucian had thought Heraith was a stunningly beautiful person. And now, the moonlight breaking through the glass fell on his head, making him glow.

    What was he thinking about? His profile, perfectly composed, seemed even sharper tonight.

    Thump.

    His heart raced again.

    Lucian had prided himself on becoming somewhat desensitized to Heraith’s looks. Yet, at times like this, it hit him out of nowhere—a single moment that made his heart skip.

    It was like rediscovering the heartbeat he had forgotten.

    The first one to notice the presence was Heraith. Realizing Lucian was there, he raised his head.

    “Luce.”

    The atmosphere shifted instantly.

    The moonlight that shimmered mysteriously disappeared, replaced by a golden brilliance radiating from him.

    “You rushed out to greet me dressed like that? I’m honored.”

    “Ah…”

    At his words, Lucian finally glanced down at himself.

    The sight of his messy attire—a hastily tied robe over indoor clothes—made him spin around in shock. He quickly pulled his robe tighter as he turned away.

    Seeing Lucian fumbling, Heraith burst into laughter.

    “Why so shy? I’ve seen worse.”

    “What?”

    Hearing something that didn’t quite register, Lucian blinked his wide eyes. Heraith clicked his tongue softly.

    “Ah, nothing… Just saying it’s not so bad. Although, I’ll admit it’s a bit strange seeing my aide out of uniform.”

    “…I see.”

    Lucian wasn’t sure how to take that, so he let it slide. Prolonging a conversation with Heraith rarely ended well.

    “May I ask why you’ve come at this hour?”

    “Why?”

    Heraith tilted his head as though he had heard something unexpected.

    Lucian assumed there must be a big reason for Heraith’s late-night visit, but judging by his expression, it didn’t seem to be anything significant.

    ‘No way… Did he just come? Without any particular reason?’

    Lucian’s brows began to twitch when—

    “You’re leaving for your estate tomorrow?” Heraith suddenly asked.

    “Ah, yes. That’s the plan.”

    “Why didn’t you leave yesterday?”

    At his words, a slight crease formed between Lucian’s brows. He stared at Heraith with a face that seemed to ask, What are you even saying?

    “Obviously because there were delayed reports and unresolved issues to review. You expect me to handle that from the estate?”

    “Ah, so that’s why you requested an extension for another week.”

    “Yes. I’ll still be working for a few days before and after anyway. Think of it as working remotely.”

    “You’ve gotten quite cunning.”

    “Please call it being resourceful.”

    Lucian straightened his back and looked at Heraith confidently.

    “That’s a kind of illness, you know. Workaholism.”

    “And who do you think I learned that from? It’s all thanks to Your Majesty.”

    Heraith chuckled softly, an amused glint in his eyes. His gaze was fond, which only deepened the lines on Lucian’s forehead.

    “Don’t frown. It’ll ruin your pretty face.”

    After saying that, Heraith lightly poked the crease between Lucian’s brows, laughing softly to himself.

    “Don’t touch me.”

    Startled by the sudden contact, Lucian covered his forehead and backed away, which only made Heraith laugh louder.

    ‘Huh?’

    It was then that Lucian noticed something strange.

    There was something off about the way Heraith laughed. It felt exaggerated, as though he were trying too hard to cover something up.

    Lucian couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer and asked, “…Your Majesty, is something wrong?”

    “Hm?”

    He studied Heraith’s face carefully, but there was nothing unusual. Still, despite Heraith’s seemingly normal demeanor, something felt off—an unexplainable, strange feeling.

    “When did you say you’d return?”

    “Next month.”

    “I see…”

    Heraith dropped his gaze, falling into thought.

    Lucian wished he would just tell him what was going on, but Heraith said no more.

    When Heraith finally looked back at Lucian, the odd atmosphere was gone, replaced with his usual self.

    “Alright, have a safe trip. I’ll miss you while you’re away.”

    With that, Heraith reached out and ruffled Lucian’s hair before walking off, just like that—like someone passing by.

    For a moment, Lucian felt an inexplicable unease.

    He stood there, his hair still tousled, staring blankly at Heraith’s retreating figure. His behavior felt off, but Lucian couldn’t pinpoint what exactly.

    It was like being bewitched by moonlight; everything felt slightly surreal.

    And so, Lucian stayed there, staring at the spot where Heraith had disappeared. For a long time, unmoving.

    Lucian Astro finally left for his long-awaited vacation.

    As expected, the palace felt noticeably emptier without him.

    Lucian wasn’t particularly warm or kind-hearted. He spoke his mind bluntly and didn’t hesitate to point out what he disagreed with. Yet, when someone did well, he would offer a brief compliment and convey his opinions clearly to the Emperor.

    More importantly, he had an uncanny ability to read the Emperor’s mood and handle it accordingly. In short, he was like a shield, tempering the Emperor’s intense emotions.

    But now that the shield was gone, the full force of the Emperor’s storms fell directly on everyone else.

    “So, let’s wait until Sir Lucian returns to confirm this decision…”

    “Ah…”

    And whenever disagreements arose, the first instinct of the hesitant staff was to glance at the empty spot where Lucian used to be.

    Without realizing it, his absence was becoming a source of discomfort for everyone. Even the Emperor seemed unsettled by it.

    “When does he return?”

    “Next month.”

    “Next month…”

    “That’s going to be a very long month.”

    The comment resonated with everyone present.

    Unlike everyone else, the man himself was thoroughly enjoying his first real break in two years.

    “Ahhh, this is the life!”

    Lucian sprawled out on the luxurious carriage floor, shouting joyfully.

    “Man, it’s been forever since I felt this free.”

    He basked in the happiness of his well-earned vacation inside the plush royal carriage.

    On the morning Lucian was set to leave for his estate, the Astro family mansion was visited by a grand royal carriage.

    “What… is this?”

    “It’s a gift from His Majesty.”

    “From His Majesty?”

    Why is he doing something so out of character?

    Lucian instinctively frowned as he inspected the extravagant carriage.

    It was one of the finest royal carriages, one Heraith himself often used. Lavishly decorated and equipped with the best of everything, it was a symbol of the Emperor’s personal taste.

    ‘What am I supposed to do with this?’

    Lucian glanced between the carriage and the coachman, then turned to the butler. Even the usually composed butler looked flustered.

    “Am I supposed to actually ride this?”

    “If you refuse, the Count will be more upset than His Majesty.”

    “Ugh.”

    Lucian let out a small sigh. Rejecting the Emperor’s generosity would undoubtedly upset his father, the Count, a loyal servant of the crown.

    “This trip is going to be unbearable.”

    “Your body will at least be comfortable. Enjoy it, young master.”

    The butler spoke cheerfully, not bothering to hide his amusement, which only added to Lucian’s frustration.

    And so, Lucian Astro boarded the grand carriage sent by Emperor Heraith and set off for his estate.

    “Freedom!”

    The long-awaited vacation had finally begun.

    Meanwhile, Heraith sat lazily on the throne in the banquet hall, looking utterly bored.

    The Imperial Palace was hosting a rare banquet. It was a reception to commemorate the visit of Princess Eloine from the Kingdom of Alosa, one of the Empire’s allies.

    The banquet was held to allow officials to meet and assess one another before the princess officially entered the Imperial Court. Heraith had not been expected to attend, yet here he was, seated in the hall, observing everything with a detached air.

    It’s all thanks to me.

    Franz Klan, who had been covering Lucian’s duties in his absence, internally patted himself on the back for this unexpected development.

    It was then that the head attendant approached Heraith.

    “Your Majesty.”

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