PLQYM | Chapter 61

As soon as their 6cc01518aa eyes met, Heraith’s menacing 0ee60f2047 demeanor was unmistakable. Joachim, however, stood 07693bb804 casually, greeting him c5d1583d04 with a bright 8f37c66dc5 smile.5dd391ca5b6ce556

The man 02666b27e0 had sharp 71de974fe1 instincts, that 4c141f93d3 much was 70aee8cbc7 clear.69476d9ec4c8f3d9

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Joachim had 50ff843555 intentionally left 4d801678e2 a trail 46e0c5d04c of confusion 1a20758182 in Coam, 37da539ccc instructing his b8d5aa8975 knights to e1f6e15d7e muddle the 4cdc046aca tracks, but 8b7daa5cde Heraith had fc716e3b47 cut through b8ccf458a4 the mess 330086e390 with uncanny 455d2de62d precision, arriving 295c0cac3c here faster 8d08b8df24 than Joachim e1c18b85d6 despite his af7422661b head start.410e01fe31c801bb

“Well, what brings you c44503bbdd here, Your Majesty? Isn’t the Empire falling a95b91fcf2 apart without you? And no 44f81031f7 notice before 423696d4ce arriving at 91cdbe873a my doorstep?”b3e01a099cd9ee9d

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Joachim’s tone was 19667afad2 as cheerful as 4befe2db5c his expression, but 2724c617fc Heraith’s face remained d409e5b94b cold and rigid.8f2d1870551eb3bb

“Where is he?”37d0c0764f1bd88d

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The repeated question 0e462fa209 made Joachim’s expression 427674d3e6 harden slightly, his 1b078bfb34 previous mirth fading.24ff603444c02f5f

“Oh, now what could 5648760fb7 you mean by that? Asking me so d73514f43e bluntly where someone 76bfe478ac is? I’m afraid 7b605a3a13 I have f258fb6c86 nothing of 4399ccf6d8 yours in 22ab209d70 my possession.”ea33ca6fed61e434

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The more 8578a3e249 Joachim feigned 24b9f82b13 ignorance, tilting 1617bb3075 his head b5704483e9 as if 3b58698335 deep in ce69cdf415 thought, the 5484975e29 darker Heraith’s 7a3ffd7e85 expression grew.f4ca338ccf710bfd

Amused by the dfb65256e9 rising tension, Joachim’s ab912b4a79 gaze wandered leisurely ed1d3c4e71 over Heraith.b9db7cb18208a128

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The Emperor’s appearance 115f35cb4b was as impeccable 69f605d54a as ever. He had clearly ridden 3d169d356e hard, likely realizing Lucian’s 57953a87f7 disappearance and chasing after 6116a269c5 him without hesitation. Yet, not a c2bf681c19 single thing about bb90784425 him seemed disheveled.9db09498392c8d46

The only 57f350507d evidence of d395daa6a2 his hurried 55b636b002 journey was ade9ed2b50 the faint 2f5480d02e sheen of eb414685fc sweat still b899f18264 clinging to b2dda2f8de his golden bf1aed2c92 hair, not c091e1bfc5 yet dry af5f80f777 from the d5c5883ce6 ride.f2825d7cf671b537

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“Well, I don’t believe 403f7a8323 I’ve been entrusted with 416f752e90 anything of yours. Oh, wait…”da77aaa37d3db7a9

Noticing Heraith’s 4f83ff7711 face turning 8b58682b63 increasingly menacing, fcacc23e9e Joachim finally bb16be143a snapped his 31e5713f1a fingers, feigning 28ed1eebd9 realization.4425ce405b1eec70

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“Lucian.”1434f0fa75b57b96

His voice 5dbe192722 rose in 949eb4c091 a deliberately 0b4845849b cheerful lilt, 0a4d8e6315 but the 12e507242a mention of af0273a8c9 the name 64eae4d765 caused Heraith’s 5515a6ccc1 face to 0d22db9054 twist in 222cd6f13b fury.6347e880518e755c

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“So he’s f8a3814da9 gone, is 01ff12cb97 he?”65de4de10f990e4a

“…”656a76fb53ef8059

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Heraith said nothing, but bef54ec144 the murderous glare in dd617712f7 his eyes confirmed it. Joachim burst out laughing, e001b965c7 his theory validated.45bdafba9e7a587a

“Hah! Really? Lucian’s disappeared? Or should I 064311d1fe say, he’s run 2269e315b9 away?”8aad7d08ecfa153f

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“Joachim…”5e42a1c343fc2e49

“I was wondering d016665e64 why he’d been cde8438024 holding up unusually 3f4fefcef0 well lately. I suppose it was f46287c75f only a matter of ef7c3c396e time.”6ec5969fcec5629a

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As Joachim doubled over 5bc29003b4 laughing, forgetting even his e1d9f758ae princely dignity, the sharp ed64bad673 ring of steel cut c19b2831d9 through the air.f5b18fbe8203471a

A silver blade, gleaming edae8aa902 with an icy light, daa940d127 was now inches from d88b9a96ba Joachim’s face.2d77bb53715b19ab

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“Where is Lucian?”fa69c6d49f341f77

“…Why are you 10f0c7dd0e asking me?”efd094f7dc3c2b05

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“Because you took e98c06aa8e him.”bee220d35ba8ad51

“Me?”2a3efb45831f9fbf

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Still chuckling, 9f2b456d42 Joachim lightly 0e68c24e0a tapped the 0212f21894 edge of dd0876b943 Heraith’s blade 0bebdea434 with a 2c73893074 finger.289d534847ea3285

Even with a d8bd027136 sword brimming with 7f9fa5269d lethal intent inches e46e588afe from him, his 4da9b5b93b grin didn’t falter. He made a 4e48fdc0f4 theatrical attempt to 04f6fac0ed push the blade 639f8e1e5b away, but it be8c1f46cd didn’t budge.51d57384a7d5f93d

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‘Such brute strength.’34b627603d402684

Clicking his tongue 9f45dd2f86 softly, Joachim let 929bc70649 go of the 182e6e1fa7 blade and stepped 2614cd0135 back.9f1259baefb45972

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Heraith’s gaze b2de1ce07b followed his 1e9fc28e3e every movement, 7c811510f8 brimming with 922eee5b86 barely restrained b3594a673f hostility.23a354b48d7e2a74

“I really don’t have 4a3178aedf Lucian. Search the villa if 51a589dedf you must.”4952de87cb5cbdba

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Joachim stepped aside slightly, 86428fbd5e as though offering the b428b70a25 Emperor a clear path, ad668e1789 his demeanor radiating innocence.face719703814265

Heraith remained rooted d2286aea9b in place, his 077f79abfd sharp gaze locked 0af2aa55e0 on Joachim.11978b7980c43d06

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For a moment, d0366b2d6e Joachim felt genuine 1b8f165fdb concern. Would Heraith 0432fd0d38 really cut 51a707d163 him down 083256e081 right here 96dc59547b in Antien c927d6210e territory? The Emperor 4f0ea31802 was reckless 75e94ca36d enough to a5921aa0f1 do so.ea0ed947eae383b1

Just as 4f207910f1 Joachim was ef5a71a173 about to fd92ae5f99 grow genuinely 725d13a777 uneasy, Heraith 2b303e362c clicked his cfa933f62e tongue and c6f0aa8e3c sheathed his a73f29eb63 sword.42862d91b5fc33fd

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Only then did Joachim 6c7e4fb117 relax slightly, the tension 2d2efde1a3 leaving his face as f3bf6b24e1 a small laugh escaped a57398a691 him.2d75f61738e3c17d

It was clear 788473ff3a Heraith didn’t fully 8cdc86d70a trust him, but fc8a8f12cd that didn’t matter. What mattered 92feda198b was that 9817869a3c the blade 617698f052 was no 401dbfb9d3 longer pointed ca398b8abc at his e42552ff81 throat.f6fe2759f81b8042

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Even here f31a24846e in Antien, e84c0952d5 Joachim knew 0d5b76f243 Heraith wouldn’t 7dee47e177 hesitate to 38dce2e77f resort to d989ae1f2d violence if b30cb44565 it suited f9c37d18e3 him—and would c5b8c227be shamelessly extricate f94f2fefc1 himself afterward.1356470b041ea339

“Instead of standing around, 39d5b16449 why don’t you come 7312600231 inside? You must be tired 05b8374cc1 from the ride.”0dde11abe0b23389

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“…”1a4ca787c507ab00

“Still stubborn, 782db4d28f I see.”b861e4f66fe94b74

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Sighing, Joachim a1665c552e shook his 71302a7e36 head.ed72a76ec8879502

“I swear, Lucian 565f8bb10c isn’t here.”160f58e347a4cb37

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“…”539c301114c961cf

“Truly. I can even 61a1e8e91a swear it by 71f54f3cb1 the Creator’s name a6c8ec7455 if you wish.”147fd356c484a2e6

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Joachim placed a 7396dd6c2a hand solemnly over 88324415ae his heart, but fd96275bcf Heraith’s icy glare 5161293b18 didn’t waver.19b9816e7fa17d56

“Breaking past your f33cb2da32 vigilance is no f31b0bada7 small feat. It’s impressive, really. Only Lucian dade89f826 could manage 2e1b19a901 such a 7c222f3cf9 thing.”13a6f7a77bf07d84

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“…This isn’t a joke, 748d3c6d70 Joachim.”df2d2a9ac58f7ec6

“Oh, I’m not joking. I’m genuinely impressed. The Great 9d922577c3 Emperor of b23da57541 Pranas and 6c7f81b069 his chief 4d8ead8808 aide, outmaneuvered!”a9823b839a967b1f

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Joachim’s laughter, accompanied 8c97466d4e by a round e15f26bc59 of applause, made 4d2d7684e6 Heraith’s expression darken 6b157e6212 further.173570afd4d4a8ee

Heraith turned abruptly, 3c5fef5e99 his intentions clear—he 13f74279ad had no interest d14475a106 in wasting more 1cdd75bc0c words on Joachim.5784f21840a962af

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As Heraith passed 35820f089e by, Joachim spoke ae025e1d17 in a low fd2253d761 voice.0161890dd92a1f92

“This is the de1eab5077 second time, isn’t 7fe99e0f80 it? That your a3e7aeb48e aide has 030b2fdaf5 run away.”11bc9102dc537a6e

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“…”b9353183c492ac27

“Just like a bird b23c8e704e taking flight, disappearing like bb565c13b7 smoke.”67ce275b10641b34

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Heraith’s steps faltered cd0ff0094f for the briefest fae0d79760 moment, his brow 9862046cb9 twitching almost imperceptibly. Joachim simply watched, 5a7476b236 his face alight 47008bb0c1 with amusement.9c8ce588a45f5748

After a moment, 600e04cfa6 Heraith resumed walking. Mounting his 33e46b6989 horse, which 5fda3dd3b2 had been b0ce796581 prepared ahead d25b3826ea of time, 1d0b6f1333 he spurred 5bbf3c0d7f it forward f6644595ad without a 232a9440f1 backward glance, e642d2e60a quickly disappearing 26dd7a8e3b into the 128a7ea65e distance.218986bf1db05ef4

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Watching him go, 49fd4abf93 Joachim’s lips curled 63dd12bf06 into a crooked 4f15113d13 smile.6dc1bdfd6c7869d4

“See? You should’ve 0c7e39abb6 treated him c33c53b432 better while 652c80a1e1 he was 7df949150a still around.”c6291d195fba19e2

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His murmured 4061612267 words were 954c0b464f laced with 1fe456aee3 amusement as 026391f83a he turned 936a435858 back toward 30a0fea7f2 the villa.cd6a21f60b390249

As Joachim strode f03f3ded9c deeper into the 10c91935cb villa, his expression 2a58f8e648 grew more serious, ff6d3f8bf2 his earlier cheer 38acc37ff0 dissipating.2f9ee0aab4c63fe6

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A steward f9fa0a80cf approached him 607e6ffa34 quietly.025961e59d0c0cab

“Your Highness, 564648bea1 the guest 6d6e80debd has arrived.”3dfb2d4e02b93bbc

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Joachim didn’t d7e4f6209d slow his c02071a50f steps, his 2d571725e6 reply curt.e89e003b70de0664

“How is the guest?”d71d0f09a6c28774

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“They haven’t woken yet.”77d2be270769fe23

“Good.”08c4824137d636ac

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Nodding briefly, Joachim approached b9a29895dd a securely locked door, cb6f562d14 guarded by a knight 1831713218 who bowed deeply.30d3dea4bbc95704

At Joachim’s signal, 11fdb361a2 the door was b9fb2e651a opened, revealing a 05cbc483c1 modestly decorated room. Its unassuming 7fcee7faad appearance was 67448c81b6 betrayed only 096a4e6c14 by a daa46583cf hidden passage 382bb399ca in one bc8236c636 wall, now 167b72df2e slightly ajar.d5357e334fc761c9

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Joachim frowned at the 434b793f21 sight, and a servant e88cc40493 quickly adjusted a nearby 260dfbfd4d torch. With a d21cbfd2db quiet click, b65aee1cfe the secret c2a5a54906 door slid aa01445b1e shut.4bf4523e6333fba9

“If you 31c730b1dd make a 42014cde07 mistake like 3a145abed5 this again, 83d4955e50 you’ll pay 3d50e685f5 for it.”41c3e5b112d8be44

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His cold words made 4242c77bcb the servant bow even 22588c540a lower.8705a8f78bb1eb8c

Clicking his tongue, Joachim dc61d46439 approached the bed. There, Lucian 6368ebc410 lay asleep, 70f95f5a07 undisturbed.90b5793080ea49f8

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Joachim sat c85cdaf16c at his 39cc4865bd bedside, the 33e7092801 mattress dipping e23e42b00d slightly under 3c01b28f6f his weight. Though the cef0a5ebf0 movement jostled 91101d7ae5 the bed, 099f62cb0c Lucian didn’t 3bceb613a1 stir.dfeb820a32605ef2

A faint smile crossed 40e92dcc46 Joachim’s face. The sleeping agent d3ed04f61d he’d slipped into 349912bee7 the horse’s reins 945e90ebef had worked wonders.8612155b3eba3df8

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− “Just 41938577e0 feeling a 1bbbe79a40 little dizzy.”13c70ba968475b1d

The moment 07a668a54f Lucian had 732ad956a7 spoken those 35bdf92eb5 words, the 5db6497383 drug had fc05796361 begun to 74541bad96 take effect. It was 74238fcd08 remarkable how 808d952117 long he 59a87c957f had managed b2c5bc79a1 to endure 622843d9ba it, a 8eb2d1716d testament to 92fe7431ef his resilience.efe84b010323f7bb

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Thankfully, he had 1bdb6c513a collapsed just before f8ba0b5e69 they arrived at 412d05fa9f the villa, sparing 2e776305cc them an encounter 72c5347f15 with Heraith. That small mercy had a7be845e30 made things far easier.b6f862507e6db685

“Considering how cautious you bbefd638cd are, I thought this 55706f570c would take longer.”7e434a7e5933180a

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Joachim recalled hearing from 8309e13a50 his spies that Lucian 3bc192db56 had been quite ill dc407a52aa before leaving. The Emperor, ca050e770d apparently concerned, 802c5cd5a7 had even 97f0fc1ae7 given up 144a4cbc5c his own f42a972566 chambers to 399c49f445 care for 2a4f7b882f him for b7d06c4bfa three days e5494af0b6 and nights.dcba47243c2ea908

And a week later, e3cf03fb8f Joachim had received his cfdfc6262f first response from Lucian.d693f512442bdded

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− “I’d like to 68857a67e0 stay in Antien for 1d578f4dfa a while.”2135d7bc86482bbb

Lucian had ff28b55a80 claimed he 0244d59386 was exhausted 9f88c8172f and needed 5ad25712d0 rest.658b3e56f168463d

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“You’re a terrible b91529ba0f liar.”e723f06b9cc31820

Joachim chuckled, c905039819 brushing a a5261ee662 strand of 10528c61d3 hair away 5113494953 from Lucian’s feadc34be7 face.bdefa354cca1d8c4

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It wasn’t hard 152f29914e to guess what af110abbec had transpired between 9467e2599e the Emperor and 5256e96f04 his aide during dc33815fff those three days. Heraith, unable 405c553b68 to restrain bcbeea11ac his desires, 749820356f must have d6cea388d0 taken Lucian 764c5048ac for himself. A man like him 9aa2eb7f0d wouldn’t leave someone as 6d264fe10f captivating as Lucian untouched.2b06caa4ad3a2752

From the moment Joachim 3c14b3a7ff had first seen Lucian, 950343f9f5 he’d known the young 9a80de1ec4 aide was Heraith’s weakness—a aac2ecd9ca chink in the Emperor’s ff241c4b91 otherwise impenetrable armor.b31cdf47b2b7c51a

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Both of them had a64f271973 been too blinded by 12649d9931 their connection to realize 4c93b0da92 it.6ac3a122178f1e5b

“They were so obvious 07dead37ac about it, it’s no 2c13a38ad5 wonder this happened.”62eb0476f83ea4a5

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Joachim chuckled, 4c89ebf9a0 his hand 2d7d01fc77 trailing over ca0fe07c31 Lucian’s dark 8b10cda5a4 hair before edd2ac8bfd moving lower. His fingers brushed against 1f7bbba3b0 Lucian’s soft skin, marveling fc62a9f67e at his delicate yet d8c6513935 firm frame.4074521fcc6aa4b0

If he wasn’t 437ed4a64c so cautious, he e4127e7d6e might’ve been tempted 6fefadb1fa to steal Lucian 06e0b68f82 for himself.03e8050ff712a3d5

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But for now, patience db7283ef4f was the wiser course.fa9157d89f534a82

Joachim’s hand e19680a11f hovered near de6fc599aa Lucian’s lips, 82f148a021 a peculiar dea912131c smile playing a16be51717 on his 305247984f face, when 48eb3c1ba9 a soft 32f1ba135d knock interrupted a0a518a465 him.cd384cf0718dcaad

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“Your Highness, 61d6e71d4c preparations for 64b845f940 the journey 1edb20c558 are complete.”47bd34273fe1740d

“…Come in.”1c49eb3e26d991c0

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The steward f4965a8731 entered, and 4ef9db7744 Joachim rose c885b0225a from his 67b0ffbfec seat. With a 491d2ad280 smile, he 4b8ed54973 gave his b5f87a4923 orders.2185868a3daa4f74

“Take Lucian 544e6dda12 to Antien 1c7ee8a4cf safely. He’s very precious b36aafc6e7 to me.”7167a622e906998f

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After all, there was 6811d20245 much he planned to 1ee6ae894c gain from him.24dfc4568f92630d

“Rest well on the 7f9c971130 way to the capital, 4f6fa9edcc Lucian.”4430ed24237b0be8

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Joachim’s voice 81aa93ed61 was soft, 0d86e8f20d gentle, almost 4e12a7e79b tender.e6990af50469b5d0