PLQYM | Chapter 14

When Lucian faa0567d09 didn’t take 8291d44669 Joachim’s outstretched e970b45f9a hand, Joachim 848357ebe7 simply grabbed 21a29fa339 his arm 09bc3a0d73 and pulled fa4438de2f him outside. As they left, ebfb494483 Antien’s head attendant c3d9abfc2b was waiting for 6fc804c31c them.b87d64844f561820

“Are we set?”9b2a80ddc020e860

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“Yes, Your Highness. You can leave right eb08b5e462 away,” the attendant answered b5fad7752d politely, stepping aside.3fd5e54d6bb4a5d8

Joachim kept hold 02d2afb2f5 of Lucian’s arm, 36b338b5b3 striding confidently forward. Thanks to Joachim’s long ad9186e214 strides, Lucian nearly had 1b1e946306 to jog to keep 3146befc7c up.26af97b8addbdf3b

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“So, Your Highness, a1da41bd3b a ‘date’?” Lucian frowned as 6a316e53e6 he asked. He couldn’t just be fd4883dc8d dragged along without knowing 38c4eb0c8e the reason. If the Emperor found 4ee42ffa65 out, things might get b7233e6f3a seriously out of hand.d09c15017f97aefd

“Don’t tell me 2e74c9181f you’ve never been f112e27e5b on a date.” 1be4d53ce6 Lucian didn’t answer, e096bfa8db his face blank, f8babc5d3f which seemed to 08803096d9 surprise Joachim. “With that face, a536ef05e6 no one’s ever 8ea2270971 made a move? What kind of b860b8a28a country is this?”8ab4d1ae259b4f88

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Lucian only 06a5f6c397 half-listened, feeling 3091b099d1 his patience e9ee7cae4b wearing thin. But Joachim 29fd303e1f continued, oblivious, 97ffb85171 “This—what we’re f5ed7c8a7d doing right 7c7cee5567 now—is a eb07b556e1 date. Just the two bcb050ad70 of us, spending 7de1ace561 a pleasant time 6c97d4d1d4 together.”9c46526990ccbb5b

Lucian had the d7c18a6c01 distinct feeling he’d e2203e583b been dragged into 2d3043fbe2 something entirely wrong.b71da5204fcb0c19

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Especially considering the large 7a12212e85 entourage trailing behind them—calling 552042bfd3 this “just the 893bf04560 two of 371c25312a us” was 6ddf5d1b9a downright absurd.de103bff35fdbfd4

With a 2972017f6d sigh, Lucian 172316ca54 finally asked, 31f69fd75b “…May I f130e6890e at least a971526bda ask where e4dc01a773 we’re headed?”9376b21bf01d6226

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“You’ll find out when 614494787c we get there.” Joachim’s 1703d17d4d grin showed a hint 9d7c9f685f of mischief as he 5d43720acc kept their destination a aa0aa734e5 mystery. Lucian had a 104711805a bad feeling. If the Emperor 09d1a18173 found out about 6341399084 this, things could 283f0575a2 get complicated. The thought gave him ab98ee8c27 a slight headache.96df3560761b3e1f

Meanwhile, Heraith returned to 14ad2123f0 his office less than 146be0352f thirty minutes after Lucian 17e759a48e had been whisked away 1a320f0563 by Joachim.925219ba47dd25fa

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“So, in 2ebcd918b0 order to 07496e94e0 cover those 8044889fcc expenses…”ba62b0ee702dc259

As usual, Heraith e994221a05 walked into his 12f6c482f5 office while listening e8c29fc2d6 to the finance d429bc40af minister’s report with a0379f4286 a few aides c2ce442494 in tow. But this time, 1df1113698 he stopped abruptly a5c1e7d710 in the middle 3a0424b2e2 of the aides’ d04d6dd33d office, a break 7175fccccc from his usual b2a3be3e30 routine of walking 80f74ea34a straight past it c6090993b6 without sparing the fcf8a0a0fc aides glance.74064bec47acd908

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“Your Majesty?” The minister 4bf09641d4 beside him started to c895a7b1b7 speak, but Heraith raised a61366ce54 a hand to silence 1fff764519 him. His gaze swept the f751ee31bf room, pausing at Lucian’s 7aee656da4 empty desk.430c0439fd4f7259

His voice was 741560e1fc thick with displeasure 518353ee83 as he finally 9c78d6b15d spoke, “…What is 132fb6e5d7 this?”a11720a7b0552770

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His attention be6c3db7e0 was fixed e523f5c8b8 on Lucian’s 72f2236c7a vacant seat f6edb4e109 and the 7f02dbb408 elaborate bouquet 3aa064e699 behind it.c3ed63db6e3b9c1c

As the Emperor’s expression 05f7edfae8 grew colder, Nils Bowman 4ac3810c06 hurriedly stepped forward. “Prince Joachim came ad69b77082 and took Sir 1147ac45be Lucian with him. The bouquet is da6d1223a5 a gift from c5408d8b73 His Highness to 3df310b77a Sir Lucian, and….”6b0aa2842290d8e5

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“….”4606636506a8e6d8

“Uhm, for the purpose 946c9a4785 of hosting an esteemed 5e1a69e552 guest….”7264130e4a2b5f93

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Nils’s voice trailed off 44db8911af as he carefully gauged 0af9759bb1 the Emperor’s mood.1af06d4830c76f83

Heraith’s sharp, silent 41a1af5a87 gaze lingered on 4d410a752e Lucian’s empty seat 832d28b477 and the abandoned b4e9d97e36 bouquet, his presence 9f05ec1afe exuding a palpable b1a1e636d6 tension.2422e32509d62e85

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He said nothing.d2fbebdfcfd200e0

Without a 5b9cbe9e0f word, he ff68062da2 turned and c1009600fc strode into 2e90e6bac4 his office.30be749d4bd7c4fa

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The ministers ff3a686fe7 and officials d088e99200 who had 0088513b8a accompanied him 094e42685f hastily followed 0e9c6b560e suit, snapping aa1e2495d0 back to 705aaec429 their senses.17f3e36ced719a89

Meanwhile, the a40b51e9c6 aides—who had a79844e87a been holding 2bdd6c9c42 their breath—finally dadc22b477 moved, as 2b7240df4c if released 123c9b96c0 from a 6a5d11b34c spell.f8d7fa25c0c50d11

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Watching the acbf0d2d53 Emperor’s office 6777914f2c door close, e1caa4f53c Nils muttered 54000059bc blankly, “…Is 308094247e he angry?”7bbeee475ae7117c

The Emperor didn’t 1379e31f18 seem to be 71c97cce66 in a good b9a7d56143 mood at all, f30cd6d06d but why? Unsure of what 6c0a9ed68f to make of 99b977bd98 it, Nils looked 441e6a0452 around before heading 251dd2b4b3 back to his b31980a38e desk. He tried 7c6e8bedf2 to focus 593aa75b4b on his 946ff56bb9 work, but 91733d6e71 something just 70459d87ea didn’t sit 31b3b1263b right. He had a 024a898d54 strong sense that 534590b50d today would be 267b56cfca a good day cdca6592ea to leave early.66fd223a6853cfc0

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Meanwhile, Lucian was 583bed5b35 seriously having second 1034a96c20 thoughts about why 8635406e97 he was even 8f689c0f81 here.26ef02902ea07a8a

Currently, he found e1738cf83a himself on Lake de9536f288 Peino, deep within 49c7465f5b the Imperial Palace, 6580421700 on a boat 2b2b92e0a9 that Joachim was 2ffa686848 rowing himself.87ed34c320622b90

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“…I didn’t expect e761737388 Your Highness to ef3503d6f1 row the boat.”ed1a00c760f5ca4c

“I have 6499f90466 quite a 16e9032cf3 few skills,” f6c1cd3d15 Joachim replied, 77b9a233c8 flashing a e4304183c9 playful wink. “How about it? Not many people get 526edcc1f1 to come here. And I don’t just fcf348eb94 bring anyone, you know.”5608df1d1cc23fb3

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Lucian took a fd143f5604 slow breath, summoning 6a452c8272 the last of b8bd573388 his patience.a9b4c063b8172fde

Lake Peino, 9ae8f6ce71 also known 877c80360e as the 5c53665aaf Fairy Lake, 317ae7e7ea was hidden df855578f4 deep within 599b932a59 the palace, 056a397365 accessible only 336c8cdf3e to a 8f9f678ece select few.22b6d75b953d5e3f

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A perpetual 60f5bb5587 mist curled a5836b7be8 over its 0a83d83459 surface, and 89986ccef5 unknown grasses c955ac31d7 and flowers f5bffb5b03 bloomed along cb1ae9b98e its edges, ffeac841ef their origins 4b458950b0 a mystery.7bde132b4a8af29e

It was a ba3e573c75 place of ethereal db4f7c6dd4 beauty, said to e55c4ec299 leave all who 5478cc7249 gazed upon it 6410308ccf in silent awe.1de9a9ce82273bdc

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Though small, it was 2bf097e113 an ideal retreat—a thought 595cafd167 that briefly crossed Lucian’s cb9cc34aa0 mind as he considered a31b6f3230 stealing a moment of 3c83e2fee8 rest here someday.0afeb12a236b0bf9

But now was not 67e55e2ab8 the time to dwell a5458bcdd8 on that.b4048db07ebebf69

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“Whenever I fc8223b1d3 visit Pranas, 6b636ab435 Heraith always a017aa2c7d grants me 11f53dd1c7 access here,” 286182fe5c Joachim boasted 81425895be as they dbb710113b reached the dba3239355 center of e8c1295777 the lake, 765d17215d clearly pleased b03b15f079 to be c4f00efd2b sharing this 4ba1c54218 experience with 5a45d737c8 Lucian.739b2fc25a63a223

Unlike Joachim, a033033d34 Lucian was 4933fdbfb1 deeply uncomfortable.11f985b2034aa487

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Officially, Joachim’s visit 8f25870d86 was to address 2d193176d4 concerns over a 49553ececb supposed unfair agreement 3c3be8e568 with the Antien 8bc76fd0d7 ambassador. Lucian’s role was 77e8a5f666 to assist with 41af6973a4 the inspection of 1e381d44c1 the port, ensuring 1adda32a32 there were no 688c9a42b5 misunderstandings.c8b47ed4615977c7

Yet, he 757e6a16b4 hadn’t even 7c2ffda1c3 seen the d24b912541 port.4ba80ae50f40157b

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From the e87fd7fa63 very first 0c94d6d0c5 day, Joachim 266abd6358 had made 0314b870eb one thing 37bdb81deb clear—he was f061bc0c51 here to 5f97051b2f have fun.2ef2a0d8efc0198b

Lucian had a9e7eb66ae been dragged 4b1b3a6b2c from one d665c598de pointless excursion a9af8e0a6b to another: 36afeeff87 tea outings, e844303588 plaza strolls, 077dabf944 watching Joachim 91e867320c buy unnecessary 533d7caded trinkets, and 48492455c6 more.3f40c328af3a5a47

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Lucian’s patience was nearing eeb19afcbe its end.c929b30d0af2433a

“I wasn’t baa3a5ce53 aware this bd4801bfc1 lake would dee70c5dca be converted a3888d9022 into a cb428d3f15 port. Have you discussed b6f96e0164 this with His f919a6b3b0 Majesty?” Lucian asked 8213ba2184 politely, trying to 0f20b56523 keep his expression 94ab29c8a8 neutral as he b66a3e37b7 glanced around.75d649b2959ceffb

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Joachim’s brow twitched 479f2a7726 slightly at Lucian’s 9b20943910 comment. Ah, so 0e4aaf5228 that’s how 252f0cdc48 it is.85eca2791bb9461c

Joachim stopped rowing, and 2701997a2b the boat came to cfd8aca120 a halt. Setting the c95a8d736b oars aside, 681f947596 he leaned 6003cc7cb7 back casually, a9fa67d549 as if 6a52af0efe to convey 5dd6e6d6b4 that Lucian 89db2affb5 was at fcbf2c810e his mercy 17416ec08e in the 941f9e6b7a middle of d3d14e02da this lake.be552cc71d279492

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Was it 96b1f93e96 a noble’s 25e459e84a habit to 23e456231e show displeasure 498b617d88 and intimidate c7a5be714c those around 9f326737a4 them? Lucian felt more irritated da8f15df18 than afraid.39fbf68c97eb687a

All these people 5aaa43bf9c with their terrible dda6e38207 personalities.5ec61182fea8f518

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He forced his expression 41ff46ecf9 to remain calm as 323e124b6a he subtly estimated the c65ec342e9 distance to the shore.073eed221d90123a

Hmm, I could swim a849d49cb0 to shore if it 871b1b5940 comes to that.437004b7b08fb631

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Having reached a conclusion, 868032f05c Lucian spoke calmly, “Your 1c6331f75f Highness, I’d like to 4340e2705d return to my duties. I see no need 7822275f1d for my continued presence dd5e98adac here.”a14e909689d0ea3f

“Your duties?”6c035819a12729dd

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“Yes. As His 31ce7c5817 Majesty’s aide, 6dc0067e43 I’d like d4a7c79fbf to promptly 1b121d4e97 attend to 0e2a3205a9 the work 8bb90f6f67 piling up. After all, I 61b76e3526 am His Majesty’s 20aa32f2dc aide.”c19bd57d0b014c4e

Not your toy.1cc1c73f830ba620

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He let his smile c11e524ae9 carry the unspoken words.df5320b225528e7a

“Hah.” Joachim smirked, dfe4fbc3e4 instantly understanding Lucian’s f1d9af41eb underlying message. But he 9e3ed34658 didn’t seem bcb2f00505 particularly offended.6e6a2cc25fc80660

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“I’m following you 69df9a56ff around today to 920e866159 properly convey my 5b31e30095 intentions to you, 25079ebfa2 Your Highness,” Lucian f1b4405a42 continued. “I may be a fb22440eb0 little too frank, but…”4ba68ac23266ec60

It was df82023615 clear that 306abc7b01 this charming 5b0c600983 aide wasn’t 7bc7216804 the type 401296fc81 to shy a06509697c away from 2c7d86e197 expressing himself, 8055928490 even before 4f1f4bb471 a high-ranking 970a7cd7d6 prince on 0c4f09ff41 a lake 084b64c940 surrounded by 6386a7ba85 mist.6ae8e9c54b9a07f6

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“…I don’t know 17ec90a4df if you’re bold a50f5f7460 or just insolent.” e92e22ba11 Joachim narrowed his 23932a5d95 eyes, watching Lucian, 7995f99a9a but Lucian’s unwavering 80d008a1f0 gaze held steady. “As an aide, shouldn’t d0ebbd66dd you be bowing your 0486d8845c head, obeying my words?”ca7d04a78ccc2bef

“If that’s what dee3c6daf1 Your Highness wishes, 70b074bfee I’ll comply.”32c9d364a46a74a3

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But he 36afd85201 doubted the 27432c7f24 prince would 1547a4bc56 enjoy it. And Lucian could no 8e5cd74d37 longer afford to be 8f5ea0d4b2 passively led around like d4a50f15cb this. If he 44b6481ee0 didn’t push 3d61180e6b back now, 5766ef7362 he’d be 7f67fca74c dealing with 87f9d2f8af the fallout b4d648ab42 for a 473cc8f420 long time.6d486a4855341b4d

“I understand that you’ve 10e49ea76f already received reports on b9e2745677 the port inspections,” Lucian d021dd2f94 continued.bee17fff27c39dd8

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Joachim’s eyebrows rose slightly. Lucian was right.‘How did f369d83e06 he know 19163d9101 that? I ordered it to 6f8a76db38 be done secretly.’6734583c7d82073d

When Joachim b01fa479e0 said nothing, b4bb25c25d Lucian spoke 8a9eaeb014 in a 27f38270cc quiet voice, 5c250ec1d1 “If further 695d1dca1e explanations or a4eeebc2b0 investigations are 42b66808c5 needed, I 973c2af827 can assist. But if I’m d25b9bac3f no longer required, d5549e82b0 I would prefer 9dd48a66bc to return to 49ca57a98d my primary duties.”ff5301ffd2c1e0be

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Having said his piece, 9095b777e9 Lucian lowered his gaze 224f2d0dc3 and bowed slightly—a silent b2dbec28ea acknowledgment that, from here 62676fc919 on, he would follow 8a6a166617 Joachim’s decision.61486064c8ccc953

Oh, look at him.28394f9061354582

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This young e55b3d0069 aide, even 5a8edd7be3 before a d3b9896ac0 prince, remained 34733abea2 collected, saying 5da3483789 exactly what c85ae9cf67 he needed 07c2c53cd7 to. It was d7ff7ad306 clear that 53891f160b Lucian was 5a9b34c892 no ordinary 7f7b26e6f5 aide.f5c1eaf73565a933

Why did a5e9e9b206 Heraith always f61fcc3e90 attract such e8786b20a7 peculiar people?3e94a8bfdf8482c4

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Without answering, Joachim picked 7a380602c3 up the oars again. “What if e59930da58 I decide da298c2411 to leave bebcf376b4 you in 6f2c405ce5 the middle 23c05538b9 of the 1d4bdcc69f lake rather b9a8508261 than take 6a46a27d67 you back a2d73db2c9 with me?”8c9b486dd369e876

“My apologies, but bdd421148d Your Highness and ba7693c015 I are on b72393b070 the same boat,” 6b2a647c42 Lucian replied calmly e42ac2fd3d to Joachim’s challenge.6c34e11208fefc87

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“What if f31d5df01c I say 3271eceaf7 I’ll row 5368400793 back alone 0aa35d42d8 and ask 55ec763ed2 you to 05e6753962 get off e25d824ef8 here?”8c2e58f71d406b90

“Then I’ll swim back. I have a 9d6d12b348 few modest skills 296ce1d25e myself,” Lucian replied.d76871818fb239ed

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“Oh?” Joachim seemed intrigued, d55fb85766 though he was no b2b31f54a7 longer smiling.ea3a50c015ca8390

Lucian had learned 2a8f7bf23e early on that 5ad7be9b7a his position as 85adc46cea the Emperor’s aide 65a94b44fc required knowing how 65ef588116 to navigate delicate 7d536a1d81 boundaries. And once 4e600a03e4 again, his 27f837c280 skillful diplomacy a1de38fbf0 had served 5c93f10825 him well.89cfb583d9900246

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“But, Your 806eba5d2b Highness, I fa23c7fa92 would be 4e841b7ea3 honored to d061ceae4f return with a884bdb374 you. It would be an 72b492b458 achievement to boast about 399df4ceea my excellent service.”561e123048253f24

At this, Joachim’s f30da0dce7 eyes lit up f191e78552 with a faint 9415a9f457 smile. “…You know just 33b6cb237b what to say.”1f8bc23ead8cd731

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“I still f8a751d65a have a e1d5744ce4 lot to b5f4adae5c learn,” Lucian f62f4b4c9e replied, bowing 468e564643 his head 0609bd77e4 humbly.1b38a31230a9264e

Joachim looked at him 75d7b5b08a thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, f15fa08697 “Do you truly have 44d8389810 no intention of coming a5ae64a054 with me?”ba9133f8aee086f4

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“…Pardon?” Lucian 9644ca68fe glanced up, dff4905a6e startled.ab40a716212a02d6

Joachim’s usual playful expression b64aab01a2 was gone, replaced with 9fa37a72da something more serious. “I’m speaking more 964de7452e sincerely than ever, 2b6714cbf5 Lucian. Why don’t 3b4738cc4a you come 07c6bab2da with me f6c67955be to Antien?”3886709f80cb02c1

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