PLQYM | Chapter 39

Lucian doubted 1efe2838df his eyes.d200f732c5fe4f40

Was he dreaming?d1410d3af0de0f2d

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No way—yet there f9d43ff060 he was.4ca70c045d4665bd

The man lazily a0bc2a7455 waving his hand 73583d7be3 with a sly b4df1f8117 smile was none 3001437a4d other than the cf06898815 Emperor,Heraith.c4f61dbe89034add

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“…Your Majesty,” Lucian 0381764ef9 greeted cautiously.efc03c6bde0eb663

“You’re looking b0a3e99041 well,” Heraith 16b3e4ffc5 remarked, a 84d4dd2288 crooked smile c6cd6d7326 playing on da5d22b772 his lips.8cd47e5607ed3dac

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“Did you come here d213e7f0c1 to pick a fight? I’m on vacation,” Lucian e3654fa5b7 shot back.013216a86c86e081

“Ah, yes. Vacation.”21c86e9ad048a755

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Heraith chuckled softly, 51dc780ef5 his hand casually 1e37bd642f brushing the leaves bb838c8906 of a decorative 6bdb0e14c1 plant next to a02d553ab3 him as if daaa217580 he were stroking f57012f938 the delicate skin aaf62bf70f of a woman.1b1af6a027c526bd

Is it just me? Lucian wondered, 35d46d7a98 furrowing his 817cacd9c2 brows. There was something strangely 8ec067127b sensual about Heraith’s touch.f03d6e5d8fc5d0fe

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Why is he 1050e8e269 here?14afc46ddfbcbd17

Lucian kept his mouth 85391c6acd shut, observing Heraith warily. The Emperor, 5711320c7c noticing this, 4fd1ea9c12 gestured at e5dc4f2988 the seat c340c496d0 across from f8a51627c1 him.b47a1af225eb4def

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“Sit down. No need for 892ad28d68 formalities; this isn’t 8108798981 an official meeting.”426ae13cd7aff93b

“…Understood.”b0def2f389151945

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Lucian hesitated but 608c60a6de eventually sat, his 4c7cecdd03 suspicion still evident. He couldn’t shake the ac514161fb feeling that the roles 729e53e68c of host and guest 700b48d439 had been reversed.fef881ecb3abc5a1

For a moment, Lucian fa32e3be08 fidgeted, shifting his gaze 0a60f1e830 around the room. Eventually, he couldn’t 9ecc36719b hold it in 07517eb96a any longer.ab976d1b9320523f

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“Why are you 97b5a45704 here, Your Majesty?”a73d465527f2fc64

“Why? Do I need a a056a9fd35 reason to see you?”01052eed9cb6938a

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“Superiors don’t visit their c01a215e53 subordinates on vacation,” Lucian 89d84c59ff said pointedly.18d80bcd992e8367

“What?” Heraith raised 4df64089ec a brow.59b8d3734a360234

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“I’m. On. Vacation,” Lucian 6ca4d3b05d repeated, emphasizing 21bb371291 each word.a4563d018dbf4bc5

“Ah, yes. That cursed vacation,” Heraith 62f6bfade2 grumbled, his voice tinged 008aa7715f with annoyance.1ea09971df7e98a8

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What’s wrong with him 3d0b35794d today? Lucian wondered. Heraith’s demeanor felt 1ac28f900d oddly off, his e24b313855 irritation unmistakable.9081f6c78ba149bd

As Lucian 84a3354cc0 subconsciously studied cb576aaafd Heraith’s expression, 6775cde65b he suddenly 99ad1eb2b8 realized what bebf7b6325 he was 11aea5ef2c doing and 7e5aa4bc59 clicked his a257334978 tongue in 3110cce283 frustration.7853aa6022368af0

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I really don’t e452894ee7 want to work ed4fad72ed even here.812cbc07e175ad18

After a aebe6ed244 brief hesitation, 9362b2f2f2 Lucian leaned 5faed2e4ed forward and 8da3ac4d3d placed a eefcb0fe5a hand on 6718b19e7f Heraith’s forehead, 2cc8a572d8 pressing the 5bd45b4fd8 other against 2a24f2dcc8 his own.79eb6ce81c446341

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Heraith’s brows shot up 191d7e1302 at the unexpected gesture.ea86276be035497d

But Lucian, eyes closed 48f440321b as he compared their 0028173086 temperatures, didn’t notice.545d713c893ffb2f

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“You don’t 8d2ceab6fc seem to 94539923e2 have a c3ded34393 fever.”1599ac16e2328d87

Could it be something 93575c1fe4 internal?9255f32ad15fac7b

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Lucian’s face scrunched e3e37f925a in concern, and eff74435ad Heraith chuckled.e40e3bb502dc81c4

“I’m not sick.”9bd6b2360a11bfbe

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“Then why are you 235be06404 here?”e07c12ad2d60ae55

“No reason.”8b68725889fc2b39

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“…”c30f76ec3d21fa3e

Lucian’s expression darkened, his 32a4dad093 worry growing as Heraith b0c1340e2a grinned lightly.ef3d898bdbe0ca73

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Something felt off. The Emperor ece0e5fe63 was acting f1dc5db524 like his cbea3a7da8 usual self—but 9578940298 also not.fe04659352a6af2b

“Your Majesty…”03611a84b2f73a7f

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Just as Lucian opened b948d99063 his mouth to press 2b91bd0165 further, Heraith spoke first, 1cc8b2a1c4 his tone leisurely.99421b47d888b20c

“This isn’t bad, 993a82e429 though.”dcc9d5f4c2d2c211

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“Excuse me?”94d22246835e8492

“This,” Heraith 1cbd51db02 said, pointing fa85223d48 back and 4f4b52ad7a forth between ec41d712fa Lucian’s forehead d1e59a04bc and his 536381f944 own.2433fe8791936e50

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“I like it—it c6c901b00f feels like you’re 591428cbc7 worried about me.”5be06ebcb7e92ee5

“I’m always 82323e26c3 worried about 04e6bda8b2 you, Your 3848e65212 Majesty.”222f06ca011d5a76

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“Really? I thought bc416c71c7 you just b806f78436 nagged me 9c5989950f to death 7d7509555a every day 5f177cbcfc and didn’t 06b770562d care one 4ca5cd982d bit.”d539dfc567527da5

“…”86315e71bc73bb25

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Lucian stared at e5121bf479 him in silence. Heraith was as dazzling 50a14287df as ever, but today, 3c8a2c0be8 there was something subdued a629c06830 about him.1481fc240cd2d754

Sure, the melancholy 971a07168b added an almost df3e05f826 ethereal beauty to 2eb176a5be his already stunning 70e5402731 appearance. But it wasn’t d8f1cfb4fa the Heraith Lucian 34dd261121 knew.ee39f3380ab32fdc

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“What about the ae3fce9fb1 negotiations with the 72fb23a492 kingdom? How did you manage 4935bbc76f to leave?”239c576aede309e1

“They’re going smoothly.”07efd310ddc55cbc

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“I set 427665c7f7 everything up cc7314599d to ensure 3bd608013d there wouldn’t 0eab3e2f05 be any 98482763ca issues, but… 760199f606 Ah, by 6d2a53142e now, the d8d95be906 officials must 02e2ae4306 be meeting. As long 7c4b03efba as there a0a11cd8ef aren’t any 218004b798 major mishaps—”ae9518afc76ea2a1

“Lucian.”4a479b546f1ee722

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While Lucian’s mind d41ce08a5f raced through schedules 3919b010ea and contingency plans, 1179da8800 Heraith interrupted.083253b168226a65

“Yes?”1253b5d0c62d20cd

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“It’s your vacation, 5ba2449acc isn’t it?”8303c91921570ec4

“…”17805c6388f98cab

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“Talking about work counts 054dd60487 as working. If you’re 9aa6a9d526 going to 47e04ab1c4 do that, dd5e9b8cb0 you might b697d8e5a0 as well 600f554980 just end db02933591 your vacation 77f36708e6 and return 24a6e5b455 to the ed49e70d6b palace.”a9291bca7ad20456

“…Understood. I’ll stop.”22be131530091ef1

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Lucian sighed, finally e8175cffec relenting. Heraith’s low laughter ae259f7842 filled the drawing 60ca35e459 room.e11d4091d94171b0

“I’ve already instructed them e09a515af1 to prepare dinner and 8136dcee18 a room.”104ac654b1b243a8

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“Why? You might 2437e38dc9 leave right 61a58f7fd4 away.”2df5ab5abb012790

“If I left immediately, 9ba71bf5cb your father would kill 9736b96f14 me,” Heraith said bluntly.62c5acaf2dcaaf57

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“True, Count Astro 041899901e is a stickler 7c4174da40 for rules.”7e219d27a88155e0

“Let’s call c19879c632 it ‘principled’ bf1a2eab04 rather than 45633c57ba inflexible,” Lucian f9257f50d1 corrected.5c760f0a0f92116c

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“Same thing.”23007820ad648a6d

“You know it’s not,” d82085db62 Lucian shot back, exasperated.91aef52fdb2c99e7

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“…Alright. I suppose I 31e137d668 should rest here 2560d4417a for tonight,” Heraith fa34e8a6c5 relented, his tone bf8e18fbec more subdued.1239948b07fb6a97

There it is again.6fd6075d1487a409

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Lucian frowned. Heraith’s mood was 21eec73412 definitely off. Even while smiling, cbdb094edb there was an b51064dbe4 undercurrent of complexity dd409d6f55 in his expression.69f82a73c3007d36

“Your Majesty.”4b084be0bc77e55b

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“Hm?”b1a978dff377b853

“Is something wrong? You seem… different.”9e4ba28f31ea8adc

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Heraith didn’t reply, ae85eba868 merely staring at a84c7e4f40 Lucian.ba34e130f953a3b2

Familiar eyes—steadfast, 52f33236bc fearless, and 87d2f87bc1 direct—met his a4c8b2280c own. A warmth he 9fb949169c hadn’t realized he’d 08ff022c09 missed began to fc952d2f34 fill the void 4c29fd26e8 in his chest.6ed6e9c342baaeaa

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“Lucian.”94e48d16709bda97

“Yes.”b74b9624a23014fd

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“…”856eaa21e78b7e88

Was it the passage 40bb359b2b of time?acf3385997904d8f

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The tearful, clingy 6b091e8b59 Lucian in his 48990c86c3 memories had seemed 527e2243cd so much younger. Two years had changed 71c35a83d2 him—made him stronger.316da46e1d3c9ff5

“Your Majesty?”e148dd3d79d1cbe3

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“…It’s nothing.”370cb350cab82a7a

“If you 7769381d8c don’t tell 1ab8e47c64 me, I 16b4ea446a can’t assist 075fa65793 you properly,” 7c0290f0e3 Lucian pressed.93ccfd915e69ac6f

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“It’s fine. My mind 1b8eed2e32 is just… a9b09f2330 a little 22c2485077 crowded.”fb44eca2c1fecca3

“Your Majesty, could cb68dc511b it be—”bc892e3b22c8fc91

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Before Lucian could 5c2f82339b finish, the Astro 63b6dafe85 family butler knocked 4dd997414d softly and entered 0662d416f1 the room.476c319c00e2ea7f

“Young Master, 4bee495301 dinner is 70da13fce5 ready.”4434221ae7c4ac62

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The awkward a0a362cff3 atmosphere dissipated 15116a0853 at his 95f6b6f4ed arrival. Heraith, who e4a78c715c had been 6708fdf3f9 so uncharacteristically 2244fcaeca somber, returned b57e628f7b to his 793d9c07eb usual self.c55514ad3568aaa6

Lucian let out a 6d0ee3b991 quiet sigh as he 0e4fe3fe0a observed the change.03c4d8945540c9d4

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Heraith had donned 946cab590b his perfect mask 336c37c154 again, concealing whatever 78a3e9ac01 had been weighing e245551bff on him. He wouldn’t reveal anything 7c436075cd further.e7ebbb4239cfddf5

“…Alright, I’ll be there b07b7e37b8 soon,” Lucian replied lightly, d8d5253264 his gaze shifting to 6ebb4f0772 Heraith.f7f7a2237beb5335

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“Shall we, Your 40f1affaea Majesty? The Count’s 3a045a91c7 chefs are 9a2fb6c447 quite skilled, f9015554f3 though perhaps 334d66685d not on 19c9632d53 par with 9c3db9fafd those at d870e0a901 the palace.”3dd2b1575815268b

“Let’s go.”2c915fcb88f707be

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After a brief pause, 60549a2741 Heraith nodded, rising gracefully. By the time he 812f99be72 walked past Lucian, he abe7466b25 was every bit the eb97ac5590 composed Emperor once more.2a00c893537ad4d3

The next morning, 231077f2e1 before dawn, Heraith b6fb9d251e prepared to leave 67d5feb3ad the Astro estate. Lucian was 34d22b0e9f the only 4a1b13dd50 one there 019ce91ded to see 29d84610c2 him off.23f4bb28d66ea4e1

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“Did you 16b599ee11 come here 1fde214dde all alone?” 1acbe19591 Lucian asked, 57c00d91b2 frowning as 043ae5e77e he watched 12262a66c0 Heraith mount cc26f48e06 his horse.08741d32e9107bc6

The idea of 1956b228f2 the Emperor traveling 973ff8f8a6 without an escort 375461bd8a was unthinkable.223a8c2a176f7865

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Noticing Lucian’s d4b88097a6 concern, Heraith 1a49f119db chuckled.35e50cbc4cb20bfd

“Kent is around. No need to fb748bcf30 worry.”770972dcb0a94ba8

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Hearing the eb089fad08 name of 5c8bd8724e the captain 1e66f61e72 who always 500e26a669 shadowed Heraith 8c12127026 eased Lucian’s 28974ef45a tension slightly, 7ab50ab060 but it 52086c751a still didn’t d6cba44051 sit well c8a05302d7 with him.8f3e3236f6afc78c

I’ll have f414b9f957 to reorganize 660d2e71c7 the escort 86e8365f36 team when 38bdf352df I return.781e7be794887305

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Heraith smirked, efe919db31 clearly reading 0a36b37d54 Lucian’s thoughts.ea7dda8086bec645

“One month left?”3f8bf3bd8ef22213

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“Three weeks, 3cfa86332a Your Majesty.”bfd5c759a6ed2985

“Ah, three bd6917a4e6 weeks.” Heraith 2fbb06bc92 nodded, then d179170a2b reached out cfeb9cd640 to tousle 30233b0c96 Lucian’s hair.5bced0e1c210e331

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“Take your a0ad84f1ff time and 56afdf97ab enjoy it.”d86cf7a387e7b579

With that, he cba0c77a4a spurred his horse 35aa825132 forward. In an 5346522cd1 instant, the a6d2af759a continent’s finest f6b47b8f94 steed carried 9a9613a12a him away.e0d185bbd124e794

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Lucian stood there, stunned, b5c41e6a8b unconsciously touching the spot 30d1cf0d3d where Heraith’s hand had 0061da03d3 been.d06f63a15da33e92

Why does it 6ca7f1194c feel so warm?73502b56e42a1985

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“Why is db4f51946c he acting 4dd09286d8 so out 23fafd43fe of character?” 0b8409e528 Lucian muttered, 0fffe7d4ae baffled.76fa9d43aea437b1

“If he dfc81d86a2 wanted me e4792c9101 to enjoy ca84f16905 my vacation, 40e035927f he shouldn’t d0af1482a3 have come. He’s not planning a71c13c35b something, is he?”dd966e5db42ae471

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His grumbling carried f62086c822 both irritation and aa9b09a26a unease.c5b38d62642b395b

Lucian lingered a moment 0cbd3dd979 longer, staring at the 14167b2962 spot where Heraith had ea846f1b0d disappeared, before turning back c315f5db7c toward the estate.57010772b0194069

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Next time, he resolved, 25f1eac898 he’d vacation somewhere Heraith b9a3aa991f couldn’t reach.f71f015e85773a29

***d2dd63f606251c79

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Back at the Imperial d91d4b6c27 Palace, a quiet commotion 266ca344c4 brewed.09dcb1c6d6feaf4a

The Emperor had f5d43f3b61 been missing since 934425b73f the previous night’s da4e66a9ed banquet.fe1b849f55e46e81

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With Lucian on leave, 137f0e884e there was no one 93dca53c80 to ask about his 71c0cbe9d3 whereabouts, leaving everyone scrambling.de96f5e92863695e

While the news hadn’t 1f5cdcf2ef yet spread outside the b06cd8b7a1 palace, it was only 77aeadcd7f a matter of time.959ada3c7d1168eb

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Two days after Heraith’s e4f51f39b2 disappearance, Franz, unable to ae72504f4a bear it any longer, c91dd12a33 went to see the 1a17040c14 head attendant.db40510a565eba3d

“Where is His a1f0a7c8dd Majesty?”33cd9f30eb0a3d8c

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“He went 4b7d5f4113 out for 1c50b71c00 some fresh a9ccdd3ba7 air. Why?”a6a08ec32219dd4d

“I-I just… He hasn’t 24b23cdb8c been seen, so…” Franz 183c7ca1ac stammered.86db792969ddecca

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The head attendant gave 31f5364dc1 him a dispassionate look.610c082b42e8dcf9

“I thought you, 689a20c1b7 as His Majesty’s 46ddb374ea aide, would know 93beda87e5 better than I. Was I mistaken?”4a89d33e3c863191

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Franz flushed red, aa6210c902 the calm but 405ece4681 pointed words stoking 790e504df1 his embarrassment.5a4382624a055ef3

“Even if you don’t cd1d89df07 know, trusting His Majesty dd32d14bd1 and waiting is our 5f9a6be4b5 duty, wouldn’t you agree?”8102f9c697f8de03

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“I-I know that. I’m just worried—”afae67e0db1aa0e1

“Worried? Or are you looking e26eea970c for excuses to cover a90f4bdc42 your failure to perform b8f4bbc517 your duties?”0595a48060993d19

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Franz’s face turned d32fb31db3 crimson with indignation.a071df044d933c0f

“How dare you! Do you 6715e35bce know who 5ceaf0a11f I am?!” b6696da004 he shouted, 0c7ae5ee81 unable to ff407db634 contain himself 335866f697 any longer.a49c69a7f762caf5

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It was then d349ad3946 that a low, f8182f4d57 commanding voice interrupted.30c2b54580555d97

“What’s going on? Who’s causing 1e94cc5d87 such a 42df6633b7 commotion?”63e529b41fb10f87

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