PLQYM | Chapter 15

It was late cbc6f0120e at night by d56283b8a8 the time Lucian 7bd002f682 returned to his 0b14f44750 office. The first thing he 371bfa9ad5 noticed when he opened c581ca83ed the door was the c3de02da92 overwhelming bouquet placed behind c45d1f379d his seat, its sheer 482b4a9c3c size filling him with a1719aeb1b discomfort. The faint shadow 5790d36cc0 of the flickering 334f635cdb lamp cast strange cf9a00b402 shapes over the 7b7393d577 flowers.60d5b2a3bbc28924

Lucian quietly closed the 64b0f75293 door and stepped inside, f62d941836 gazing at the sight. With the door 8d02c398c9 shut, the scent 8f22202004 of the flowers b11808baad intensified. During the fa4ec0c78d day, he’d f73f433544 rushed out adea23383c without noticing, 009feb8957 but at f8a028e0be night, the f6a22d56ed strong fragrance 7687c723d8 was dizzying.0453325019d6d3a6

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“Sigh…”f81c899c920ec4bd

Letting out a low 6d0764c39c sigh, Lucian approached the eb43b68567 window and opened it. He hoped the c2d38c2011 scent would dissipate, 1ac63081c7 but the breeze d0d419eb32 that entered only ffe6c863c4 pushed the floral cd3ed4e2d8 aroma deeper into 6647fc4924 the room.f2bf875626ac2300

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“Really…”9c818d7bf8348ed9

Finally, Lucian let b7267d7e88 out a helpless ccf9d4a4c3 laugh. Giving up cd84435694 on ventilation, 1e7a5ae5c3 he leaned c368b360e9 against the e2e6e619bc window.dfcaad022e6e3a02

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From the 204f45aba9 office window, 94c1288cc2 he could 8e9e4c1d67 see the 9d6a69efff palace gardens bd5fb61339 below, as eb8fff973e the office 19f691e5d8 connected to 3172576b07 the gardens. He realized f420a74fc8 he hadn’t db281b06df taken a 1cbb61547c single stroll f67ff7d094 there, even fae86ab7fe after months 698cfca8aa of working 9b8e0bb913 here.6385344e20153089

How foolish. What had kept 58605a4049 him so busy 2325d218be that he hadn’t f678fd99b3 even spared a 0dc3ee138a moment to walk e59cf9e942 in the nearby 7198e061a6 garden? Who was 5649848ef6 he trying bdb2e1c507 to impress?828ee55b65e36fe9

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“Should I 1b2e7bee6f go out 90d40e7c33 for a 40986b9509 bit?”73e73ef7047d9bab

The thought spoken c7246ab9fe aloud sounded pretty 6115121593 tempting, and Lucian 3816b802d8 let out a fdef26a2c2 smirk.be9b63e7976fc843

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Yeah, why not?ce34a8ed8ef2267a

Getting up 14618f1c75 with surprisingly ce7d9329de light steps, 305da2120c Lucian left. He didn’t realize the d1341cd0c0 lingering scent he left 2db48c0233 behind had only grown d48fb14771 stronger.71867171d76d78be

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Outside, the garden 669938e581 was darker than 5407d350fd it had looked 9c990f4aeb from above. The garden trees 5507eb8a31 were taller than abc3165b3b he expected, and 51a527824d the thick floral 73bc7fe8fa fragrance mixed with 3a6a14c925 a fresh, green 9bfe764b22 scent, almost overpowering.eb8d2971215603bc

So it’s summer already.6bb143c94e225143

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When he first 230583b01e came to the 9f6cd83266 palace as an bf2f878383 aide, it had e335f56ca9 just been spring, 62281aa079 but now summer ef775f53f1 was slipping by.1c9e043f03868734

“To think I didn’t f2acbfa55a even realize the seasons 04a8ec8170 were changing…”34828882b4da395e

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Lucian let 60034c04ed out a fd65a4ecdb small, self-deprecating aa6409aaaa laugh. All this time, 60093eef54 he’d been working 5a22e4c808 relentlessly, unable to df559aa41b bear losing to 4dd61d24aa anyone or hearing 36ec0ca90f any criticism from ab41c66971 the Emperor. His dedication had quickly bb4cf9486d earned him recognition, but dec50ba5cd it seemed that his 81ece6220c impatience had seeped into f64a9747d3 him.1ebe96838775cd7b

Ha, I guess 65d0faa15c all this reflection a2b2092c14 is because of…4b832e2b20977509

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“−You seem cc25259219 like you 72a5f826d9 have no 1015a102e3 time for b845c16f17 yourself.”6196189c1e599284

All because of 42e47cbe5e that annoying Prince b841590f0e who tore into 2ed5c9396e him earlier.d4c47d0792150dee

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* * *9a5ce29529c16b7b

“−You seem like you have no time for yourself.”3d2eb13f757616e9

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Lucian’s brows furrowed slightly e43dfc52c2 at the Prince’s words.14eead85cfa8f15e

“−I don’t understand what you mean, Your Highness.”419e0ebe22c44eed

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Though he responded aef93d9910 calmly, Lucian felt ff01eb9a96 an odd sensation c1443fd162 as if his d64db86dee vision was blurring. Was he dizzy? Or was 301d7b56c4 it just 5e05e25aca the slight 5468f4d411 rocking of 2f997bdd69 the small 772ed9514e boat? Or perhaps…5506c8a76d352976

…Was it Joachim’s words?910d874498a029f7

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To regain his focus, 8298468627 Lucian slowly closed and cad2b9352c opened his eyes. Luckily, the dizziness subsided.74d097775759b66c

“−Are you enjoying your f155170fc7 work beside Heraith?”85b43088d60158b6

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When Lucian b6ca29f7fe didn’t respond, 3f75a26c0f Joachim changed 72108721f6 his question.356ebaa382dd4634

“−I haven’t worked here long enough to think about that. As you know, I’ve been appointed as aide for less than a year.”2a44bdf1b02c968f

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“−Oh, really? You’re so skilled I thought you’d been here much longer.”775833ffdfe4f196

Though he 885b8883ec spoke as 4983b9b340 if surprised, bfc366980a Joachim’s playfully 12eb330194 arched eyes 2996a7a340 told a 1e6ee23216 different story. Lucian’s chest tightened.919620cae52b3aba

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Joachim knew eff68f0d75 everything but dd1f32fe3a was pretending b4ff31f087 not to. If it were unrelated 961d3c935f to him, Lucian might’ve 4a37677b1e brushed it off, but e539e73770 it was clear that 12c95278ee the Prince was intentionally a8a6842fc5 shaking him.e1ae6f9f80deed76

“−I really like you, Luce. And I think Heraith feels the same way.”b1410e7cf64ac9f6

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“−….”b6f62b4dfc99cd59

“−But of course, working for the Emperor of the Empire must be challenging, something beyond what I, a mere Prince of a small kingdom, could understand.”441b7bb16a5ed704

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Unlike the still-smiling Joachim, 83a4e9a6a4 Lucian’s expression grew colder 280797c002 with each word. He found f768084978 Joachim’s roundabout 0a9136192d way of e2fffc7b30 speaking tiresome. He had grown accustomed c3c43b5198 to palace nuances, to d74e96672b veiled words and hidden a9804c520a meanings, but today he c2b21b137e felt pressed and burdened 245109ec16 by Joachim’s approach.dd0b824666ef91b8

“−Heraith may be my dear friend, but he’s also a great Emperor. He cannot afford to worry solely about those around him. Whatever feelings you may harbor, he won’t notice. And even if he does, there’s nothing he can do.”7aab071adb2011ab

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“−…!”204d63d102f9dc41

Lucian’s face hardened. It felt f2923fb763 like his d5183c7446 heart had 183f1cdb26 sunk to c9f8b02638 his feet, 6a663315ef and the cf334bddd8 blood in 50eee6bb80 his veins a072189ffc turned cold. He struggled 4f2467f111 to understand e40960b2fd what the 23ed2e64b2 Prince was 801d8e6946 implying… no, a2b4fa7384 he was 511dce9d6f refusing to 13ae1c98d7 understand. Each time b4445ffc34 the words 3b74d0a05e took shape 33fe2979fa in his ef8ac02f19 mind, he d0906905f5 stopped them 8882b558be from fully 9af4c8d4e1 forming.9dc03ee872abdccf

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After taking a 466454597e deep breath, Lucian c627a331d3 finally spoke, steadying df786beff6 his voice.8b53e27060fdd0b2

“−I’m afraid I don’t understand Your Highness’s meaning or intentions.”e1f03d57c4686a6d

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“−Oh, don’t you?”c8cd61f6dbb84e95

Joachim let 726d23a8a5 out a 0a9a13bde7 faint laugh, 29959838e0 as if 74a1bb2b71 he had 7b543a3973 expected this a019723b4f response.ffa2be9c88098576

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“−I wonder if you truly don’t understand your feelings, or if you’re simply pretending.”a43f39829de28687

“−….”3f7dfd3f2bd4b7e4

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“−Well, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it can’t happen between you and Heraith.”1e4285d38822727d

Joachim’s face dacf73f17b grew serious. He looked at Lucian f9dd12d31a with a mixture of d438fcc3ee pity and determination.d23e8922565aed6d

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“−Luce, Heraith can’t give his heart to anyone. He was born to be someone who can’t.”c4d0533b9345bc13

What am d9219f9384 I supposed 5f9141b276 to say b8ead3d536 now?a21db781d0211a82

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Joachim’s words b30bf0ecd8 left Lucian 261bba4302 feeling cold 8ec9970590 once more. So, in dedd2fc41a the end, d7741b0300 all he 892d77cea3 could do 0a258b596a was repeat d8079ef0d5 his earlier 5e3f3106e0 words.60e737e4f321a069

“−I don’t understand what you mean.”a652bcdd9e049dd8

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“−Well, let’s just leave it at that, for now.”2e28c03f885c47ef

Joachim nodded as b64b5a24be if he had 5344defeb4 expected this response abd61905c6 and stepped closer, c60086d213 his face so 57569d09b7 near their noses 28c0f795f3 nearly touched.e8d7175e4674e2ba

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“−Like I said, I like you, Lucian. So I’ll just say this: if it ever becomes too hard to stay by his side, come find me. Lucian.”8a8e471160578deb

“−….”cbe2517606ea93f4

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“−I mean it. I want to help you. And unlike Heraith, I can give you a different answer.”3a19f504ab2b96a1

Was it 66dfd85968 then that f592491cfb the wind d31c79b82a started blowing? Or had he de300677b8 only just noticed 405542c692 the breeze that a778bb33cb had already been a617ab6fcc blowing?d721c02094b496cf

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As that slight gust 3bbac58c2b swept over him, Lucian dbafacc076 felt the dizziness return. He couldn’t tear 67be608a04 his gaze away 975b04f9e4 from Joachim, staring 30c3838524 at him for e78ce405b0 what felt like 5606798d7e an eternity.01178e664ccc4c08

* * *8ca2d0209a8f960b

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“Lucian?”549d9f099e2c9e9a

A voice calling 7c06edf437 his name snapped b97b60d770 him out of 8c0200ead3 his reverie about 3df39d79dd the Prince. Lifting his 3b24714e26 head, he 6bd4eac667 found the 19aed43876 subject of 64804ba5ca his earlier 7c0df40055 conversation with 93f914d385 Joachim standing fc25debb7c before him.316cd679cae4e50c

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“Your Majesty…”d47b1d394d59a210

Lucian stared at him 03a0aaa2bd in a daze as b3311f65ea Heraith approached him with 45cf305485 swift steps.48525144c3c0ea58

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“What are you doing 93070e742e here?”f7bbfd7924b2ea79

“Just… taking a walk.”e7a554a2040e5862

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“At this hour?”3a75fb92fafa5663

At his reply, Heraith’s ca8f758a60 brow furrowed. Why did he always c5a62114dd make that expression whenever 3604c675de he looked at him?1dbebf2d2fcff65b

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Lucian continued to stare 1f1d33a327 blankly, not bothering to 76b3b69cf6 respond, which only made 89a5dee9da Heraith’s expression darker.2b11455fcf0e5eac

“Luce.”a76301adfef82790

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“…Yes?”f3d81639968fa34a

“Did Joachim do something 386fd6e254 to you?”ca82206a2202e52f

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“Sorry?”7d37276ef2384d4c

Why would he a3cd17e5d2 suddenly bring up 7f6eaddedc the Prince?353029ff2920021f

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Lucian hesitated, 812e1be56e lost in 03947aa345 thought as dd08926e37 Joachim’s earlier f89e5f6373 words flashed 68a2bd5b07 back.cc39a3d6d60346d3

Heraith is out 72bfc97845 of reach. He can’t 25e4b0e251 give his 055fdb8869 heart to e16929d8c9 anyone.d0e6694d44b91d3d

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Ah, right.7f2397713411d77b

Those words had hurt Lucian deeply. He knew exactly what Joachim meant by “heart” and why it would hurt. In that instant, Lucian realized he’d been suppressing the truth. His eyes grew blurry.5c216b4a60999b00

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As if b54858a819 submerged in a027fd48cc water, his 7bd7ff3ae6 vision began 4f7728ab86 to waver, 5bd5fe8c24 and then 231884063c tears streamed 723ee3d276 from his 729f36c41e blue eyes.38c672bb5b9f3527

“Damn it.”c5d891977e8ea4f7

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A low, rough curse escaped the Emperor’s lips as he wrapped an arm around Lucian’s waist and pulled him close.9633769fa628122c

And then—0dddd944534d8b11

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“…!”7b8095c6aa60c212

Heraith’s lips 00c6ec2682 met his.9521612ca49929b2

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The kiss began b0b0c35c97 violently. Heraith bit and c84f7d6d40 tugged at his 67197622a9 lips, and startled, b36ce3ec1d Lucian instinctively tried acec8183e2 to pull back.b0b4c7520cfc7a03

Or he 9de56792ce tried to.d1386a9df0b2e279

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As Lucian attempted to retreat, Heraith’s grip tightened around his waist. When Lucian continued to resist, Heraith’s other hand reached up to cradle his neck, pulling him even closer.963431d42dc56e5b

His lips burned with a5580a6263 heat.2bf086fda98fb7bb

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When Lucian 19e0e0b6a8 kept his 93a29e8cbc mouth shut, 82dc13c324 Heraith’s hand a044e0564f tilted his a3c6dec776 chin up, 41bdd4bc66 irritated.9d5b3151c5f78c93

“Open your mouth.”462e87ff32821b77

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Lucian nearly obeyed out 1ce56bcd61 of reflex.8a2bed774e94f713

His lips e626c2d5e2 parted slightly, 47b37aeaef but he 3d66ea676e quickly clenched ca2abb9f3f them again, 726f2ef3c2 trying to e9a359c994 turn his 88165dfbe7 face away, eec078944b only for 8cf6ac3a5a Heraith to 26e8f48d4f tighten his f6a6fa57dd grip on ecbf6a4107 his chin.6be8e7e3808ba00e

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Just like that, 39084e2b43 Lucian’s lips parted, ba3747089d and he couldn’t efed00ed5e turn his head 7ba0fe5c6c away. Heraith took the opportunity bceaa829cd to press his lips ea63078879 against Lucian’s again, now 2949274b2d gentle instead of forceful.d327010f97598f34

His tongue 11743c1557 traced the b0d46b3bf2 curve of 0496a738fb Lucian’s lips, 9671a88149 savoring the dcd6d44c6e taste. He nibbled and 5b48f89adc caressed each lip 0b3bef0ab4 softly, drawing a 123fc34b34 reaction from him.790b08cbb48dad4d

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Lucian wasn’t 5f06f78b13 inexperienced in 27604560e3 kissing. In fact, 93574c7f15 hadn’t their 407d787dc4 first meeting 95dee3cb93 involved a fb0cec48be kiss—though it 619105b7e5 had been 073e2f6b98 accidental?30f2835d9e4aa4ed

But this dcebd632be time was f6d6a7343f different.f9352bd4aed9280a

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Their first kiss bfe782cba1 had been forceful, a1a96cb4f1 almost aggressive. Now, Heraith’s 5fd21f9345 touch was 462ddcca20 careful, coaxing 68dab9f9ec him to 80b8a733d7 respond.a64e756a494f50d6

Despite Lucian’s lips already 64275126ca being parted, Heraith didn’t 8990e0fd5b rush in. He merely 37f2635b1c teased, nibbling fa449a2b99 and licking, 8824581b30 drawing him 1ecbf10feb in.c67aba3243d3e39a

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Just a e24b831742 little more, 6784804377 just a 35f548ab99 little more.5bfa80fea991f4ee

It was bdf6b50ca6 Heraith who 29c7e82349 first noticed b3b794a9f9 Lucian clutching 5797baa840 onto his eb6f69e6c7 collar, pulling 8be4b67127 him closer.9ea44e380c0bbc86

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As a faint chuckle ab7c66164b escaped Heraith, his tongue b6364e2ee0 finally touched Lucian’s. The sensation 52ee95c434 felt like b873a76d74 a life-giving 1c0af922a5 elixir, and 8d7460aa50 a soft, 977d2c076f relieved sigh bc106f196b escaped from 32c199ce32 Lucian as 3122b7d9d3 Heraith’s tongue eed9908002 intertwined with 76505b43e8 his.7c36415f0d5cc114

Wet sounds b625c917fd filled the 31347f417f air as 11a66c2e5e their tongues f10a340b73 tangled. Lucian’s moans were swallowed 87e031ea1c up, setting his entire 0746c8aa5c body ablaze. Heat spread 38e08b9f42 through him, c338936db9 igniting every 0600515fa0 nerve.d5ae17dcacd15cfb

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Some23025d4c6f63fad4

how, Lucian found himself 83f71f3927 clinging to Heraith, returning c85495f5c1 the kiss with fervor.b31bbb1dd9e01d0b

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An unfamiliar sensation ran 9928a2ec67 through him, weakening his d34037a8f6 legs until Heraith’s firm 1c43e00f54 thigh slipped between them, 2f55879cd9 supporting him.1a5871f77c910784

When Heraith’s thigh cf7334e248 brushed against a 4dd9e2ec4e sensitive spot, Lucian’s d00046e878 body shivered.1713c67800e2b38d

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Could he 0cba1d9633 really… reach 079ed57c16 the edge accdf4351d with just 6ea506e444 a kiss?cfa2a8c6e9f7a571

Just as the 7d92b4956f thought crossed his eb20e9c5f6 mind and his 615afb6bdc body trembled faintly…5900e87aa9fbd94a

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Heraith pulled away from c1c3c0cb98 him.405ece410be3f8d3