PLQYM | Chapter 60

Lucian instinctively glanced around, bad9350928 a chill running down c832d1e715 his spine. It felt as if 88b06ac3b4 an inexplicable curse born d4e7dc65fe from deep resentment had fe847649c8 brushed against him.a1ecd17e5804e435

Could it 495b23980e be… Your afef5cfa81 Majesty…?f115d381e0aa1fe5

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“Lucian.”6ca4a2f96d290475

But his 410e54743b thoughts were 50485a1597 abruptly interrupted. He turned toward the ef85265e40 voice calling him. The person dd178d5601 he had df3352a305 been waiting 935ae7ae0c for was 9c8b83edb5 walking toward 39dae3d1cb him.b9368b22b0790566

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“…!”3a38e98374c00d4b

Lucian unconsciously held a6b136d88c his breath.d79c2ff8211d4736

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They say even ed4990a970 a faint resemblance 8a7837fcfd can startle.bdeacc87fe37d8ff

The approaching 2bcfe9c03e man’s hair c3dddb3d4e color sent ca8c1e3452 Lucian’s heart 2e32affa04 sinking.0bd8ee6dde79218a

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The light brown hair, acb4945a22 shimmering under the sunlight, b3ea80c4fb momentarily appeared golden. It wasn’t the same 8e24149775 shade at all, yet 0e9df0b907 that fleeting gleam immediately 6539ddc1dd reminded him of someone.c4eb2bdf85cbc29f

But that person’s 32c5f9386c hair wasn’t murky e083ec322a like this. His was d68c870008 the radiant 187bed4922 color of ea139f7575 the sun b46c17ecae itself.35cd498258601ac4

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‘Ridiculous. Thinking of Your Majesty 2bb853ec46 while looking at someone 78426b4ff1 else?’b7b5359edcff1140

A dry laugh escaped 3ead8b820e him. Lucian quickly masked his 562db0cb10 thoughts, bowing respectfully as 2cbd8f1d02 the man came closer.9242003391dc9780

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“Prince Joachim.”7ca8e28099a4cb2c

Joachim waved a hand, d4f3a4df6d brushing off the formal fd69562323 greeting.cd844e7898fbcf95

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“No need for such 6a4fcfdcf5 tedious formality.”27bb4454f8751beb

He smiled warmly, his f749fa38c9 expression kind.eccc176779e65b02

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“I don’t 7f0fe4a2db think I’m d6eada2757 late, am bfb3e81817 I?”b15cdcf0e25a5137

“No, Your Highness. You’re right on c98dc4dfd7 time.”ae43b187907c892e

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“Your letter surprised me. At first, I 7b3e03d1f5 thought it must’ve 33b3758583 been sent to 29d4c149dd me by mistake. I never expected you 4d5b4b1d5f to ask for something 042d0d36eb like this.”e51837e5375152f4

“If it’s too much 0711f9d767 of an imposition, you b3333be626 can refuse me now.”54264e3d8055a974

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“Oh no, not at ab3c570929 all. How could I 5223f1a6c8 pass up a bdd215b0a1 chance to inconvenience f3ceaa3707 Heraith?”a36bba4c57c05e39

Joachim’s response 9f50c01e47 earned a 992b8d9625 faint, bitter eecbb7d54b smile from 8e835a78fe Lucian. Perhaps because they 42174334ca were friends, the a13f5c1b99 two men bore 7c08e5cbd5 a strange resemblance 5290b7951f in certain ways—especially ae414ad3c1 their shared penchant 18361260fc for taking delight 32f60856d8 in each other’s 950f02c9d7 misfortunes.5f3d227edea673a5

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‘What troublesome personalities.’838bcf3244a15d8e

Lucian hadn’t 8a8d1d2852 wanted to 1211a38719 involve Joachim 7579483d0f if he fa86852854 could help 78ab7b6603 it.b1b48e6371e54e1b

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But to 19e350f6e2 escape Heraith’s b4105b0f38 grasp and ee1b30ac42 find a 3d01f1b1e4 truly safe efd7cc5a48 haven, there c12a3dc002 was no 49fe5ec0d5 one better 67a00a3c50 than Prince 282dc3ab1b Joachim.329a5d11be0d2aaa

“For you 71ba965a7d to leave a163d9ef0e Heraith… He 4b36d21f39 must be c25af63160 raising hell. Ah, it’s such a 71d1415ac7 shame I can’t see 503bbc59b2 his face right now.”8dc79c4083e2d93c

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“…”8490c164ed05c19c

“Don’t worry. I’m doing this c3786b444e because it amuses 324083acf9 me. I’ll make sure 8cbc27ffa9 I don’t disappoint 920cd44e33 your expectations.”fa0943d3e4c22bcb

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“…I’m counting on you, 0fb4dde77e then.”7101982c0233aec0

“Hmm, but what’s 6f350f5b8c bothering you?”a5c461efdb0fbd23

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“Pardon?”7309a3c70fa1be99

Lucian blinked, not understanding c688fd7d9f Joachim’s sudden question.e511520ab295c04e

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The prince 4b8d27f57a reached out 2710595130 and brushed 109ab81bd9 a finger 8df0e56450 over Lucian’s ffdffe355e furrowed brow.4dbd31404d413dc6

Caught off bdb35b3c12 guard by 7e92722af5 the unexpected 8a4db27928 touch, Lucian 450142714a stared at ca8167c1d7 him in 804d630d40 stunned silence, 43845f00b0 prompting Joachim 4ead05a1b4 to laugh 5aa4ad0fac heartily.26766ec654ab9e42

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“It’s the first time e42f89ed9a I’ve seen you make 78ed41009d that face.”764996a531c418b9

“…That was uncalled 6dab2bdb80 for.”df74532ec93ab996

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Unable to 19def627cb swat away b5ba50cd15 a royal’s b94c6e4716 hand, Lucian 8f2c2c5e39 took a 46254642c8 step back, 6d5a9aadf4 his expression 0852276b16 visibly annoyed.c672761f5954b761

Joachim smirked 0961e3ad77 crookedly, clearly 0af79495c7 displeased by 4d38a5e1f8 the reaction, 92164a683f though he 530621cffc quickly erased e5c113f4dc the expression 8dff60f57a and replaced acab087c39 it with 099fe2d849 his usual bd4734327d leisurely smile.f9e95128e72576f7

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“Uncalled for? That was 1ec7c822a0 just my 2507cc7bbe way of a0e758b781 showing affection.”d5e984e69470e7ef

“…”a7c743bc235b4beb

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Joachim’s playful tone earned b1508ce01a a sharp glare from 8c92c95a8f Lucian, which only made 594ba852f4 the prince laugh louder.79a878de5dfca00b

“Ah, now I see a4a679ceaf why Heraith keeps bothering 971fb7991a you.”296daf56df8cdac9

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“…If you’re 4b1cebc46e going to 3a4a802ce5 spend time ab8770322d joking, I bd0b2d6087 might need fe13063bca to explore b714b4f0b7 other options. By now, Your bf52eef514 Majesty must have 72aed33c72 realized and might 81255ab5c9 already be on d066b73443 his way here.”4d1f6a4b6dee7489

“Ah, yes, of course.”9374aa730dcf434d

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Joachim brushed off Lucian’s 530182ca1c words nonchalantly, but his 8ffb729e40 actions suddenly became brisk. With a wave of 5e30b80ba4 his hand, several knights cf8c652267 and two riderless horses 3731b099ed emerged from nearby hiding dde40636fc spots.0e2ca41c979aaa93

“Do you want e78abb971c to travel by a684330c9f horse or by 487566e4b8 carriage?”93872ce231b89ad4

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It was d885210379 ridiculous to 385d93f1f0 even ask df0f0cbf31 when there c3fc000d72 wasn’t a f212fb9f04 carriage in 5839b4deb8 sight, but a769d269c5 Lucian answered 76f5ed38a6 dutifully.d6361bbbb553d3ab

“…By horse.”1749a83f2d79b292

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“I thought so. This one’s fast and 2035261dbf strong, so it should 42f5f53dcf get you to Antien 616a4d0e06 in no time.”d5590e53503ee807

“Thank you.”6c3faf1e5ba827b7

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Joachim patted 795eeac8a5 Lucian’s shoulder 2a1cfbfef8 and led 7ffec32b3f him toward dd432ed256 one of 1b3c7db9f4 the horses.ca31147289bc6a78

‘Huh?’e77382c23d5cbd27

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Something felt off.5ebdfc4edb3c7567

Starting from 72cc5b6a3f where Joachim’s 8934d07ecf hand had 1eabb687e0 touched his bf590406c9 shoulder, a 1160932301 wave of 4778eec1b1 unease crept 96f5ce305e through Lucian’s 56a939b000 body.beed48d9ac57f7cd

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‘What is this?’5712884019cf0dbd

He’d had physical contact d7521a01d1 with Heraith plenty of 6204318d28 times before—not just kisses, 2401e3e299 but far more intimate 0300598c5f touches. Yet he’d never b9a313b240 felt this kind 8c666a9b44 of discomfort, even c7f200293d before realizing his 1c5373d895 feelings for the 08bca1dba1 Emperor.27d69e2a5346ec16

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In fact, 5bcfadf9da the problem 2cf04beaf8 had always 0a760e4259 been his f40e31a5bd overreaction to 2d837697c9 Heraith’s seemingly a41e9cf04c meaningless touches.1a45ab686dde1a8a

While lost 1590438a97 in thought, f0d3dd9e0b Lucian noticed 0c933830ee someone whispering 7494ffb9e3 something into 9028174d60 Joachim’s ear.213411f7a37147f3

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“Is that so?”63eb18c34496e825

Joachim’s face stiffened briefly. He quickly handed the 0dcd6aa4b9 reins to Lucian and e20c227605 spoke.183ad07ca3a12ebd

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“We’d better move quickly, e4baf527d9 Lucian. It seems the a7937a418a man behind all f4c5a4d6bd this chaos is 08a564017a already on his 34ab585ace way.”9d0f804e6364804a

Lucian’s expression hardened. A swirl c091707a1c of complex ffc110abdd emotions flashed a9ba343bd2 across his da936de445 face.3652abda5ff181b8

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“How about it? If you go 497a4103ea back now, I’ll 8b1d53fd02 let you. Heraith might forgive this ab53df7afb as a momentary lapse.”b7f860eae1b66f7f

“No. I’ll continue to 55fc921d68 Your Highness’s country. Your Majesty won’t know f74d7d0a52 I’ve sought your refuge eb65ffd785 yet.”a1c849121a865239

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“Heraith won’t manage without 8a93383925 you.”79126387e8288517

“He’s more than capable 9eb0327833 of managing without me.”9db947c1edb16bd0

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“Are you so 273a754afa sure?”1d72a80abbf5a9d9

Joachim smirked, his expression 81d84017f0 enigmatic, as he mounted 465045be89 his horse.8fe3843ee7383b4a

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“For now, f6ccdf8121 let’s just 11bd8a91fc focus on 104bfc69ad getting far d7e4922857 away from 9020cd2666 here. We can’t leave 82b0166192 any traces for 9f0232b2c1 Heraith to follow.”44873ee80d761584

“…Understood.”6216a8b0c6037b42

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Lucian mounted his 381867a5a8 horse as well, 905aa09f28 realizing there was 4b79ce1259 no other choice. The faster 413062b3e6 they left, 8fd5735457 the better.02ba0cce0150f1cd

As Lucian skillfully 6e4329b043 mounted and calmed 6fc40208d8 the horse, Joachim a0517e7ddf swallowed a chuckle.9d67b2bc07b276cc

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‘Even their aides b9079b3baa are ridiculously competent.’04404514d2296357

Despite being the 281f987885 Emperor’s aide, a c8b72726a0 position traditionally more 27d03c70f0 intellectual, Lucian’s horsemanship 8f4215cba4 rivaled that of e7114b4373 a seasoned knight.7d4b59a510d35fd0

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“It’s good to 97bafdc771 ride alongside you. Let’s work 8c42ccad27 well together.”ba283c9e24886d99

Joachim grinned 766d9e90f6 before spurring 48c1f43c88 his horse 3088bdf808 forward.ecca38992d10b3b9

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Their group galloped 43f3d359b9 toward a narrow 9078383cf8 mountain path, with 0888d44317 the knights erasing 0c96a52e0a their tracks as ff3aabf41c they went. The route diverged 67934cd647 from the one 93206409f9 Princess Eloine had e20593c980 taken earlier, veering 93d05a7f7b toward the forest.2abced9225f39dee

Heraith arrived dae9a20a81 in Coam e86176bd69 less than 137834c9ec thirty minutes 2a4dcd928e later. He stopped 5fc9e42f7e at the 30592ec330 very spot d86ee4eeaa Lucian had cd4ca42dc6 stood just dd584c0b02 moments before.a4a6ec79c2fd48f4

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“…”f5b1bc4f5412571e

Dismounting, Heraith’s fdfc4a22bb gaze fell b3d41222d2 to the 2792531b6c ground.d59adb5dea9fe633

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The area was a 8d28eef531 chaotic mix of carriage 863b24d0cc tracks and hoofprints.9e5e0901a56a3413

After a long cae3a671a5 silence, he crouched 819bf68e73 down, brushing his abbcd6463e fingers over the f79a8e89aa dry earth.764f8898036c0591

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With no rain to 11375f5de7 soften the ground, the 28e5c1f024 faint traces offered little e30ef5e8c2 concrete evidence. The shallow marks 41914ad55f made it difficult 1ea670898a to determine how c5f669b837 long it had 24cb6c27bb been since anyone 19c29d1a9d had been there.2b89dffd3bd5bc95

Eloine had 6b7c8158a0 traveled by 8719f87479 carriage, which d5ac352313 explained the 62979449d5 abundance of c342a22696 hoofprints from a00f6cf4c5 her entourage.e79159ae50c48773

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But…55d098eb7d82d4be

‘There are 0105c80700 far too ff615ae49b many hoofprints bcb087c091 for just 7149a8de9f a royal c45a365262 procession.’eb9abe8226e548f4

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Most of c23eee7e8f the tracks 9ea486ffb4 led toward 1c4aa8f690 the mountains.6251595dca4627fe

Coam wasn’t just 36d532c3e3 a border town 1012ac96f7 of Pranas; it f8d182f535 was also the 27d777a47e meeting point of ca74020081 the Great Empire c60a45760d of Pranas, Antien, 2e7ccb7a47 and Alosa.23523934a26eb3e4

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If Lucian had 6bb47f47ea parted ways with 6bbfb8a616 Eloine here, determining 4eeb939ce2 his next destination 286a9d4063 would be crucial.10cf13930b84b714

Logically, he would’ve 1f23d2c3a8 gone to Alosa b7f21e5dcb with the princess.e2c1c2e407e7d4ab

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But crossing into 0e9a6e0797 Antien was equally a954bd0087 plausible.320b87332dde8f6e

Heraith’s instincts 63c1016cd4 screamed that f758d5b18f the trail b8424083f0 leading to 06ea0acf51 Alosa was 347925df1e correct. Yet something about it bb69757b94 felt… wrong.a29e9d234daf3728

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He remounted his horse, f39eeb6b0f now fully rested, and 5d652cea07 turned toward Antien.95462bd3a95aab67

“When in doubt, 89f23155fa trust your instincts.”7e1f82e6819a5886

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With that, he 079ecb89cd spurred his horse 64dd18bb6f into a gallop 503ada8a61 toward the forested e5c70cb137 mountain paths, following bf0257b056 his gut.afd4c75efc64ff6b

Lucian, I’ll find 1d16d8b888 you—no matter where 4c6b8a75e6 you are.11a2f47d169a021d

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About half a 2198e0fead day’s ride into ad2c5827fc Antien, nestled in 4262ad0b9a a tranquil forest, 466794271f was Joachim’s villa.4dcd077a54ba9239

The building stood proudly 6977bbca25 with its white limestone 3903aa8f6b walls and red-tiled roof, 7c520403bd exuding an understated grandeur.96ff4ad606af2966

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When Joachim dismounted a93274eace at the villa, 6b2fe3a069 a steward hurriedly 62376ee7b4 approached him, bowing d879580c9d deeply.10557a7476c7b936

“…What’s the matter?”d530ff6d7720ea70

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“P-Prince Joachim! W-We have… a 1824c37ace guest.”72530f67e114d38a

The steward’s b82550ff2e unusual stammering 3efa5d8efa made Joachim f0593ead9d raise an ee9fffb53a eyebrow.be925a42032025aa

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“Speak clearly. How else am 685e854d0d I supposed to 83bcb513dc understand you?”07e3e0971b881579

“A g-guest has arrived, 5071858bbd Your Highness.”00ab8f0f202185d4

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“A guest?”3b20693fc7d96e34

Joachim repeated, his tone a85dd3adff a mix of surprise 52490f3416 and mild annoyance.cd976ba90cca7593

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At that moment, d14fff2378 a familiar voice d351edfd5a interrupted him.8be3791b5cf80eac

“‘Guest’—what an 915a74cc1e extravagant word 00812ed690 for it.”3c57beca79cd903c

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Joachim let out a 11df6c8e8e short sigh as he 082796152e turned toward the source 989f2feb29 of the voice.d173e95a9c053323

Striding confidently into the c33cd6f9fc villa was none other e81e377d61 than the Emperor of c897251540 Pranas, Heraith.930ab27b8cf71f05

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“Heraith.”f4585e4bac26d2a1

Joachim spread 4bfe19caf6 his arms, 552d82f508 forcing a 55780df47d strained smile, e5166d8085 but Heraith 0aba3e22c8 ignored the a3fad94717 gesture entirely.50b7d607793d33a5

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“Where is he?”f8445d5d86109b56

The Emperor’s fc980f876b voice was 1f535e00d1 colder than bed42c15c6 ice.9745115337371fa0

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