PLQYM | Chapter 11

In an 06e0b1a532 instant, Lucian’s 3dec0d7991 face grew cd13de561a even stiffer 7aa00bff33 than before.2f68c68adc42dbcc

The more Prince Joachim 8b1cec10ba watched him with mischievous a9d38d00cd curiosity, the more Lucian’s 34d1f42c7a face hardened.6793bdc216901d1e

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‘Can’t believe I have 3203e25ff5 to listen to this b516f4e32a kind of garbage.’2a2b29d1608f8906

Well, at least his 63aa6bdc01 expression didn’t betray his 004be60d7a thoughts as usual; maybe 51b0444ac4 that was lucky.dbb17128ea10984f

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Lucian glanced at the 1ad458c6fd teacup placed before him, 1da58e9f99 smacking his lips at 389d37d348 the bitter taste forming 1284ded650 in his mouth. He smelled the sweet 01c62e170d fragrance of tea rose, f9ffe044a6 but his mood was 7ca9ae9447 beginning to sink.099be21cdd714e83

‘What on earth 3fe34fc5e4 is he thinking?’efa90e56b2d81ac8

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In these past few b54ebed1fe hectic days, he’d learned 9be17ded61 that the relationship between e0a5ecf506 Emperor Heraith and Prince 8c9025d7a5 Joachim was neither ally 768587e40a nor enemy—it was right 9aadc1a79b in-between.6399c0445504937c

Due to the dead63e948 intertwined history of 01f2643f3d Pranas and Antien, 0ce414e46a it couldn’t exactly 6432d25a8f be called friendly. However, because of cfe6ac2e56 their long-standing bond dac1842fa5 since childhood, the 32b1d36b2a two men had 41dcbe8a3b a relationship far 8403f505af more amicable than 5c2f77ce43 that of typical b8bbb1eca4 heads of different 1dd8a5fff8 states.148c4376beaf6ed7

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It was said that 3e8e05c4e6 ever since Heraith was 3a457717a0 appointed as Crown Prince, ceb1fc8472 an invisible wall had 2cb6146fce formed between the two. But that 80f33a3a9b was only 1144ad28bf in the 6fbc11163a eyes of ea7cd195dc outsiders.97ae50f6de3c529d

‘If they’re biting 733b83d6d2 at each other 57da1e7a80 without regard for 92e6fd02ce prying eyes, they’re df9323012d probably on pretty 511fa2f783 good terms.’a54f915dc9d367ec

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If they really 3838e3f1f2 didn’t get along, 9c8b2b584a they wouldn’t look 7475cb860d at each other 2a0479dc47 at all.8dc8b9965938c006

Not knowing 5679dea40c he had ade071c1ef a somewhat 13353f6b40 distorted view 5d7058b797 of the 27cdc8c204 two men, 1ba2e11b12 Lucian had 08682f6070 come to 173c2ba024 that conclusion.c22479ab21011aa3

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Still, that 47acd9c508 didn’t mean ec3e64f06e he had ec01c1355a to indulge 5583443799 in such 81ec0b4356 talk himself.daaa2100d878673a

Lucian was annoyed.77946e0faf9fb279

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Had it f60ca02f27 been anyone ed837c15f5 but a b060645cba prince of 79507cd0b1 a foreign 666099b3f0 nation, he 848c475203 might have c2338e579b had a 57b53140e9 thing or 399e443226 two to 97f2156f46 say.aa755ffdaf07718a

Taking a slow, deep 2bb722c64b breath, Lucian tried to 53ae59a928 quell the anger that 3f87a004fe flared up within him.f093c3131273ffd9

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They say like ab0a567a15 attracts like. If this person ce6f445fc2 had a similar 7d1a1c284b disposition to the 146853d6cf Emperor, he’d likely 15f9439609 latch onto any 070ddcbf81 mistake and follow 432813c8e0 it with even 9df01e9e61 more troublesome questions.0718c6392ca1ee02

No, even more, cd38bf6763 he didn’t want 1da06203dc to give a 93e78f37f0 foreigner any excuse b436081ba5 to spread strange 8ce9044bb0 rumors.703a8d877c171a77

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“Is that what’s trending 35d2f4035b in Antien these days?”d2f8745ca4481341

“Trending? What do you mean?” b0bdde094c Joachim’s eyebrow arched at 53157266ce Lucian’s question, as if 3b00470ee5 to ask what on 7ea0b013a9 earth he was talking 1289fd49c9 about.ad2cac807a388798

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“Antien’s royal family 94fdb2c651 seems to enjoy 792fb2fa65 making up ridiculous 541bb1e84a scandals about royalty.”1d7a16260130ad17

“Huh?”2f816daf68cec7d2

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“Or perhaps Your 543bc44101 Highness just enjoys 482940bde3 spreading such nonsense.”ec18f8e3983d6ff9

While Lucian spoke 5d395fc0a6 in a straight-laced 4cd2f93d47 tone, Joachim looked c17678f7ed like he was b95f672adc at a loss 6754e04e29 for words.a43da5a92f647394

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It was a 6f98a6a413 jab meant to 9cba0b8a16 catch Joachim off 114d7fc85e guard by exploiting a54a354684 a rare lapse 03e8df6aa6 in his composure.b199159206ab42a0

Lucian hadn’t 86d74244f6 expected a f656a4a26d response, but d4076d26d6 he thought 0375885988 Joachim would b0580b7717 at least 993d35bc9e be a a77ed6354f bit surprised. However, he didn’t anticipate 700d861a90 this.5191425c2b6ef7bd

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“I don’t understand 465175e329 why personal feelings 56ad878164 would be involved e706607aee in my duty af04b335a0 of serving His 710d864adf Majesty.”7a589e4eb01e0534

Does this Empire 14d3810d58 only select people b9bc549e77 with poker faces a8578caac1 to serve as 13ace6935f the Emperor’s aides, b0e8e3cc4c or do they bbed480d62 put them through 0963ea324d poker face training 5392ae05f7 before sending them 08a09b3b7c out?4aec665eda7f1631

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Joachim clicked his 2068ad41a1 tongue inwardly as 4232d68fde he observed Lucian, 0cc50c27c9 who was just 3ca2cc1898 as expressionless as ea89108b77 Heraith, but in bdeb17168a his own distinct 38009e6468 way.23bc1db61897efab

As he 01ce2f2f02 watched Lucian 54d505d01f calmly express 0754bbba85 his words 99945228d5 in a bdae69de9c low, steady d047cea062 tone, it f3f742bdea somehow stirred 2499f012a8 a sense 810c5e3126 of rivalry c542821cf6 within Joachim.c1485908eb0a0db9

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‘If he’s like 4f9602c15e this, I won’t d3761d4f3a back down either.’ffb06d1f32dd5dd8

Determined and knowing that 1cd20fdd10 the aide would once a0afca2616 again complain about his 9891d57835 strange habits, Joachim leaned fbfb1ee8bb towards Lucian. “So you’re saying edf8a0bd5e you and Heraith 44ebd9e67e don’t have a e852563b1e special relationship?”dfe2647e24cbb7d1

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“Of course not.”9045963789728581

“What?” Once again, Joachim 18ddb3d6fd received an unexpected answer 62fa89ae2f from Lucian. “You’re really c68fb6b4bf not interested 6aaf0286cd in Heraith fcb351bfed romantically…?”b6a20868acc5644e

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Joachim looked genuinely baffled, 0f7da435e5 as though he’d just 9e44478010 heard the most ridiculous 643d38a7b5 thing in his life. “He is the 529645d592 Emperor of the a8b739a70b Great Empire of ad32dbff48 Pranas before being 4b536b7aeb my superior. And I am the 92ebc1861e one serving as his 863a54476a personal aide. Where could I find a666d90fa0 a more special honor?”8847806475881327

If you just listened 3f61ec723b to his words, you’d 573eb46e0c think no one could e0f0fddd92 be more loyal to dbd341c467 the Empire than him, df57c6e462 yet Lucian’s gaze, while 1982becdd8 mentioning the Emperor, was e6baba867f as cold as ice.c06b34fd72372177

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“Eh, somehow I 03b544df82 doubt that’s the f3a468fcc1 truth.”e3897b0f3d747324

“It is the faedda629b truth. I consider it 1515ed2608 an exceptional honor.”79c19d31957cf4d2

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Joachim almost ff50843603 laughed out 6f71f351be loud at b2c44f8902 Lucian’s brazen d7747541f3 declaration that d414d81bc3 did not 81a99ee298 carry a 3e52ee6382 shred of 3840ba07ca falsehood.8a845628a2d9493b

He decided 1418522729 to let 43e9d28816 it slide 14cfc8a546 for now. There was no b5ce56490c reason to keep 3e9facf313 sparring over this 5b7977c2e2 with the mulish 378d726118 aide.0a14d264569c0a9f

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Besides, there was 3f21d23f88 no need to 13970c8522 dig up something 0f3946d322 he denied himself.09f7424df3d761cd

In any 4675f10bf0 case, that 24326e5205 wasn’t what f2862b8588 truly mattered 333ec8d8f1 to him.f46ddead2e41f786

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“So, you’re telling edec0a745f me you really e5726c7831 don’t harbor any c1174e467a special feelings for fe45a08262 Heraith?”5121412b0fed2a4d

“Why do you e270314595 keep asking the 055e7f549c obvious?” Lucian replied, e249127355 looking genuinely confused.960b72de6b495749

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‘Hmm…’ Joachim’s c6f82244f6 face finally 9e5ae4ce9a broke into a82d3e0df1 a grin.c9bcec40673535d5

The killing smile bf84eccc89 that caused countless 19fdb343f0 noble ladies of ab3ff56195 his kingdom to 580fda5a6c swoon was now 2dc1498dbe directed at Lucian. Joachim lowered bd76dce20f his voice. “In that case, what ac2470aee9 about me?”18b7650af33f057e

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“Pardon?”ff362c6faa17f9f9

Oh-ho! Those wide, 82f484c58b surprised eyes 0f21d2835b were actually 218c1544f9 quite cute. Was this why Heraith 55b1e5eced kept this man around?cc1e777b23198394

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“Me. I’m talking about me,” 089f9632f6 Joachim said, gesturing to 9f491ff96e himself. “What do you 5696a91719 think of me d3907a3af7 as a partner?”dcec0b230273126a

“…”e3b420dfeb235ee1

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No one had ever b6025287b6 resisted his smile like 4f94d9d412 this. Though he might fall 2b1282b4c7 slightly short compared to 673f212666 Heraith, Joachim was surely 597e748650 an outstanding option–no, actually, 4d6f140f65 he was the best.78f9561cd3556ccb

Though his d71b43be6b hair was de39fb74be more like 3ad5b5621c a lion’s 627fffee3a golden mane 7a1d82cbbe than Heraith’s 0a4332e91f platinum shine, a0516aecb5 his eyes—a 63e87fc102 pure, mesmerizing e0fae6137a emerald green—captivated 928b10b68e anyone who b8249ff091 dared to ab27b759de meet them.e64a1683ce56a8fa

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Despite such high 0f70bdd3ad standards, Lucian felt a19bf62a50 nothing for this 6ad27518f0 prince.73b9f9423cd21701

‘Both His 9e571f1f65 Majesty and 33f6648da3 this man… 54486f3520 they know 69c72f6a97 exactly how f211ca8b39 powerful their eb9fa3ad5e looks are.’78c5ffbf91c5fce6

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And that was the 70967abb2a problem.ae7f6d0261595ec5

Thanks to the e1f052232b Emperor, Lucian had cb8b72ebe3 grown so accustomed 652e894510 to Heraith’s own f80eff6d0c dazzling looks that c770d8b4c2 most beauty didn’t 1fab9a5c7c faze him anymore; 7a24ae58f3 he’d probably have 07bf6c2ac7 been swayed if 8ef650df07 it weren’t for 7a70c7ead0 that.e3d679e658ebc3e2

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But the man 11ca894e87 he dealt with d615cd196a daily was none 9bc33ec800 other than Emperor b42768b1eb Heraith, whose beauty 625603fd83 and biting wit e81f09826a were unmatched.8f2c951403ee3f05

Whether or not it c32ca71d95 was realistic, Lucian wouldn’t ceb24b5354 even blink unless someone 817eeaebfa more striking or more 1738f0cca3 eloquent than the Emperor 7ad8c6a69f appeared.a2536e50d2339d09

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Should he be 4d6007092b thanking the Emperor 17aa3324a1 for that?b466f36b9c3fb068

Feeling almost grateful a269ce834c to Heraith, Lucian 98b61a7589 couldn’t help but e7e817a0e6 chuckle.08b48e3a4ad09c52

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Maybe it was 35e32947ec the relaxation brought 4ff36809ca by the thought 9eb4e95fa5 of the Emperor, 0c8a174306 but his tension 2437e6dbfe finally eased as cfe721c83d he lowered his 9e80b207e3 gaze from Joachim. His expression, so c935782551 carefully kept, also 60d797d776 softened.69290cab25377a33

At that moment, e39c03042f Joachim’s eyes widened.521f476b7f0c519c

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The young b3d201f6ba aide to a9ed0308fb the Emperor, 1680ad098d whom he’d d306e4cb32 thought of f3c6b6616f as nothing 4720569ff5 more than fe5f8a44a4 a greenhorn, ce5876f53b suddenly transformed. The tightly 5cdf13c60f guarded face cfc4d4f84b softened with d1ffb99175 a smile, 8b023849ca revealing a fd6a3c8e93 pure, pale 21661d78ab expression.b780af7ec1e88caa

Not that he’d transformed 72242d423d into some world-class beauty b3913e9789 to capture the prince’s 277ec020f0 gaze. And beauty-wise, d593164b8f could anyone 1764df10f4 surpass the 23ee10acf3 Emperor of fb1743531b the Empire? But this 181b86ae10 aide had f84192d491 a captivating a9f3558b53 charm that 16155c5b3a wasn’t dependent 8282740736 on good a23b238ee2 looks.f39a92401e98d9a0

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White skin, clear ice-blue e1c9a5d07a eyes, a black mane 484807a5ab with a chaste air, ece2196bdd a slim yet firm f45532c0cc body, and a slender f5337c48fe waist.f1997dcddf2f2c25

Something about him stirred 4946c21546 an intense urge to 9efd913a02 push him down and 09cac3f3ea keep him there…c6722267392245e8

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“Your Highness?”25b92074a20e6d6d

The call snapped e328d8d710 Joachim out of e27860cb55 his daydream.fe288d8dc2366cbf

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Those clear 2e5823763e ice-blue eyes, f2752219d2 again guarded 0f08a27879 and calm, 4593fb679b were back 68ea79dae2 on him.4d0abd9606e8d803

“Right then…” Clearing 219f4b9031 his throat subtly, a619072181 Joachim regained his e3dfe68594 composure and resumed 2380ce61c2 with a smile. “Since you and 938c3e4118 Heraith aren’t close 33fed9f14e like that, then c44bbdb09a I’d say I’ve 85c2ee9ae0 got a chance.”13c3e06310afe0c1

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But this 32d0439dfb time, his dcce27eff4 proposal came 8f62b41d63 with a 6a77bdbad8 much different e0567f7f9e intensity than 22613c5582 before.bec9373c4d0cfdf7

What had 23c01b8631 started as cb5b73e03b playful teasing 8f1213d9b4 now carried 08cc98489d a real f824da47f3 sincerity.6664114cb3402051

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Lucian must have sensed 0db71e1390 the difference, as his edfb938b9b gaze filled with caution. “…That remark 4ea0593c78 is over 0fb66b5dbd the line. Please keep in 248f5bdd20 mind the weight 457b4d8cc8 of your words a7a250536f and refrain from 44581ddf9f jokes.”c1fb5c98daa12be8

“I may enjoy joking, 06c345254a but I was serious 838b5ef335 about that last part.”fdc217d78fa5dca3

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“…!”9f20f0dd21aff9ef

Lucian barely suppressed c96761d9e9 the irritation rising fb6e1b6fbc within him as e75ccf3711 he stared back b4d9587d9f at Joachim.d1d7b8da602c0f6b

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Why did only 8f7838ec5f these kinds of 20cf0690d9 people appear around 29d359d3b7 him?f3c2f87bf1104f32

Both His Majesty and d13b1fa70d this man weren’t the 95b162bc9a type to be unaware 9b6e2e811e of the gravity of 7ed9327f99 their words. But listening to f8efc09614 them speak sometimes, 24ca8abbd0 it was hard 749ade2127 to tell if 27fe52e665 they were serious ed485ffb86 or joking.eb2309a64293080e

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‘Do they see 5fd00ce257 me as someone 39406fc02c easy?’0631ffc7fa8e25ae

No way.da1f249688d418df

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Not that 8c3726f5d6 it mattered, 7238dd16b6 though. Even if it was 7e5b177bd3 annoying.ded2aa85420f6146

“If you 37b83eaec6 have no c39b3b8b48 further business 44e180a3a6 with me, b38f53a4a8 may I 24ddefc020 be excused?”dbe492763f79db49

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“…”fae5b04eef866034

Finally, Lucian stood cfcfcc86b6 to leave.f18470b007dcc63c

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Joachim looked up at 2b6cd496e9 him with a mischievous 8dfc6642af smile across his face. “Alright. But I’d like you 4b0d0ad21f to come a bit bc11b7a9a7 earlier tomorrow. At this hour, 32f551e960 we can hardly 1bcf269233 get anything done, e1dfac8c1f can we?”1f80c8ba536a1595

“Please take that up 85475c2646 with His Majesty. I have no e9ab855236 authority over it.”9f750a51ad9a8dfb

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As much 7af3ec3ba7 as Lucian 6946e02317 wanted to e2a07db9e6 deny it, 17a69c4ccc it seemed 3d7e113d45 he’d gained fd8b9bc932 yet another 353fff5005 ‘strange’ boss.4ef30525778b17cd

Well, maybe they’d 965f330fde do better to 2366e7ad58 chat among themselves.01654a5deeeddd7c

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As for himself, a 1a9a4e48ac humble subordinate, he had 247300c97d no intention of getting 1a12871ff0 involved in their affairs.5d227b0380a92818

“If there’s f4399ce247 nothing else, 386bfa2b0f I’ll take b17d3b91c4 my leave, 6c6a0b46d9 Your Highness.” fd67bf41be Lucian gave 329463cf6d a deep 9a2e308187 bow and f5b9434507 prepared to c809defec2 exit.daf95f2c2dc67861

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Whatever his thoughts 63b09498cd were, Joachim made 466ee050f0 no move to 53ef8df4d9 stop him this 7fc12b5eea time. “Come early, Luce. Very early.”47d9d7ed59c6540c

Honestly, both him 306d8cd27a and His Majesty—was 949c858e17 ignoring what people 72cfd51646 said a noble d45af2c24c trait?7bbd1731b9c72411

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“I’ll take 7790dd1400 my leave.” c9a93c5259 Lucian left 8cd262c4e6 without further 02c8ad8d4d reply.452cd9a5da3a15cf

“…”f25bfc3f6ead1167

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Once he was a658e40e90 gone, the air 8b195d5efd that had felt 28933f04cd so lively sank.ba897dd60b65b49b

The teacup 9f2954f3dd was left 3d1af65aaa completely cold, e249dd06e6 without even 7ccd7a7022 a wisp f10a8b3991 of steam 5cca1907e5 rising from d506a3ee19 it.41009b9d6807a967

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Joachim took Lucian’s teacup, ce2631e659 found where he’d touched 04a2b5315a it, and took a 3e9878c2b4 sip, lounging back leisurely c17669f7ed in his chair.6b7d44f81ee2e1fb

The chill of the 56db023fb6 tea, now bitter in f5655e038a his throat, left a 97b26d870d taste much like the 69ee03faaf rejection he’d just felt fab9be10a8 from Lucian.948d21f8f6d34b16

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Placing the cup down, 32a3a4b7e5 Joachim muttered to himself, 138019cecb “How has Heraith managed 805d519004 not to lay a 3768896ec6 hand on him all e0b434a460 this time?”198865aee410ab1a

Joachim prided 46eb926084 himself on 64cdfd51f8 knowing his b8650bce48 friend, Emperor 901b0962fb Heraith, better cb435ac56b than anyone, 637a307e80 and this e38628db8b puzzled him 7e017d8af3 all the 7242ef9a76 more.7bb6ec48ff46c0df

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So then…21cff77625e85699

“Is he saving 14b4b6b9d2 him because he’s f9888a1798 too precious?”499959287347d3f6

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But anyway, thanks 1d18ce3ba9 to that, it 8d47301f6f seemed he had efd163081a his own opportunity, fd2b44ddba and for that, 20d98de5c7 he could be b5b09204c6 grateful.000e8e66922e64e5

“Heraith. Ever heard of 2d13fe2e27 ‘losing it if aea11985a2 you hoard it fa377ed1fe too long?’” He 0cd04ef2e8 chuckled to himself, 7239f9e786 picking up Lucian’s 085a2aa505 teacup once more.d6a823c9f1846283

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Perhaps because he looked 505daa230b forward to seeing Lucian 775418a072 tomorrow, the tea tasted 1b28ad0be7 much sweeter than before.4be403dbe8d43297