PLQYM | Chapter 16

“Haa… haa…”3516b0761e0643e6

Heavy breaths df3b17ecbe kept slipping bf438dffa8 out from a8a15a54c5 Lucian’s parted 3862bacf6c lips. Only now did 72e9adcdb3 he realize he e604bdeb6a hadn’t been breathing 8c21af4b3b properly. As Lucian stepped 3e4c8fd5cc back, his face 0f3fa2d81e flushed red, Heraith 55063f0377 finally let him 2333bc7948 go without resistance.227a9273534e5af6

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“…Why did f0ba18bd62 you kiss 469ec38776 me?”da0d08ce93c894b7

After a 151d71f670 long moment, 24f3e345c4 Lucian finally 48644b689a spoke. Heraith, who had d07d0c425d been looking at 6962848e0c him with an d946167709 expressionless face, opened 631accc0dc his mouth.82840375228a8b02

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“Because you looked 79131a8d8b like you wanted b6d41f51ab one.”31fbecd1165eef0c

Lucian found his answer 55364a092b extremely irritating. Even though c5ae5bd2f9 he knew 9258633cd2 he was 9f76b49286 reacting emotionally, d4939dd602 he couldn’t febd5e5889 help but dfa6736f0f ask.ab85fc89d79876c2

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“When you see someone e9ac0664cf with a face that 07b12f8963 looks like they want 3f1672e6f0 a kiss, do you 9d0f317630 just go around giving ba6a620742 them one?”8c2b1b505677b346

“Me?” He chuckled, lifting ddd6606fab the corner of his c4ce5d82d1 lips into a smirk.94824fbdb107bdf1

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“You think my 73a864827a lips are that c6b2b81ae8 cheap? I’m the Emperor 92d4812052 of this Empire, 1605974d6a you impudent Luce.”c255c62d6b4d57c1

“But for me…”ea580fca3d135065

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Haven’t you aa73f2ffbb already kissed 3069e05531 me twice?c0435a618003b761

He wanted to 97ec1ca25b say something to b4c11810ca him, but he ec0f0da2c5 just couldn’t get 7a5b082c93 the words out. He wanted f41b0bb921 to ask dc3cff9bda if the 343eae1bd1 kisses he’d 725d23bcd4 received from e13e385e6f him held f4531223e9 any meaning, 57d58fc78d even the a83239b444 smallest amount, 48941f74c8 but his 387bc129f8 lips wouldn’t fdbb8ab367 cooperate.93268d720149c531

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Instead, Lucian forced 8227e7a8e3 a smile onto b33a3b325a his face. Thankfully, he managed 5fc364ae12 to make it 2513cb2243 look like a 7a1815292d real smile.5104feecd98ea640

“Should I consider 4c934db66c it an honor f9a43bbe2c to receive a 418f2b524d kiss from someone 1bdbdfccca like you?”c3db6bc536a0ed80

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“You should. Even a befe98b275 mere gesture efbfd6e9d4 from me ca6ec02466 is an be49a57d95 honor.”013b9c20cbd103df

As he said this, 9ef091d157 Heraith gently brushed back a242c804ad Lucian’s disheveled hair. His touch was so 51eb8a0aaa tender, and the golden-green 1f0cdae8e2 hazel eyes looking at c77ac4a2f1 him so soft that 4a5ddf239b Lucian felt like he 06a6645fd2 might cry. In the end, ef3744b443 he let out 346d5abcd4 a small chuckle d91632f5d4 and lowered his a20d0379c4 gaze.451bb370f7ddcc7c

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How foolish. Realizing his 590c98da48 feelings in 3262d2730b such a 3d98e6a168 way.1e4c0e0a048b982b

−Heraith is bce8bf7e45 off-limits, Lucian.ddffd54093f5082f

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To realize the 28411571c9 ripple effect of 0bcff0bee2 that single sentence 4f32dd3733 now, of all a458848e8c times.ba936885f4252713

I like this 7b29f5ed27 person.1d45994fdab5b610

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He wasn’t sure b51ec296cb if he could ef486719df say he loved 45629ce61b him yet, but 7e45435bf6 he knew one 1fda997de0 thing for certain: ca92dcfe34 this feeling wasn’t da22abc1d6 just some passing 188bf8c37d emotion. Maybe, just maybe, the 9a21162776 reason he had been f3e2d22d84 so diligent in fulfilling cff4187145 the Emperor’s commands, so 757bf10d7a determined not to disappoint 408a9c2b5a him, was due to 0973d50167 the selfish desire buried 2cbf1efc79 deep within his heart.e2b3d3f5c20ab502

A bitter smile formed d054e1916b on his face.116616b82dabea5d

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But he still didn’t ad0cc2e794 want to name this 8e26eec59d feeling. He wanted to d958db36ba keep ignoring it, d8f93a137c just a little c8bc44673b longer.6a2e12cc0f26981c

“Lucian.”c5b40c53a216543c

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He hadn’t d49f98e335 noticed when c882f25464 Heraith moved 2329e686e3 closer, but 875fc88b69 now Heraith 0286b9a118 was holding 6410e7867c Lucian’s chin, bf3db676e8 lifting his 40af5e4a45 gaze to c897c6505f meet his 1d02b14ba3 own. Was he going to f55f4c2a3a kiss him again?6212daa0dab6e16f

Had he 3c90e3c9bc been hoping 7e682acdae for it? Without realizing, he 5c7d9d49ed swallowed dryly. But as Heraith kept c8156d2e6c staring intently at his ad13193069 lips, he didn’t come 70b52a9829 any closer and eventually 4d1f0795c0 pulled back.d223f2164705768c

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“Right. For now, 04f323aa9c this is 1b6670ac7a enough. It’s still fine.”0ec2421a906b6733

“…?”6cf05631f47494e7

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Mumbling something that Lucian 2335d5383e couldn’t make sense of, 83b4d4fd0d Heraith raked his fingers a5a5e1f220 roughly through his hair f173bd86a7 and sighed. With a blink, d425cef639 he quickly gathered 97d7730d3c his emotions, his d52d5f2e6e face returning to f3ac40abb5 calm indifference as e8e0beb5bd he looked at 94063e560e Lucian.71cdcaeedee103de

“Do you like flowers?”2871287888ddf522

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For a moment, Lucian dba59c3f78 just stared at him, fa605ac037 confused by the sudden cfa03fc1fd question, but then he 6a73b3dfda grasped the meaning behind d51be7c63a it.6d142a1b6171b46f

That damn flower!1f76e4d121689fed

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Lucian’s expression twisted visibly. Looking as though da8f4ebcbd he wanted to fb560258bf say something else, 93c44b4718 he opened his 84418da267 mouth before letting 6d5ba7d171 out a long f05db84ece sigh.d54e41a287888e4c

“I don’t 88b8d9dbd6 particularly like 79c56d6900 them.”3b8e1b0d908d207a

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He didn’t exactly hate 70309537f1 them, but he felt 5ce8289140 he was beginning to 43524413f3 dislike them more and 4e92912770 more.9f81a1089410c9a8

“Aha, so you 8a26c726c9 don’t really like ec26c26946 them, yet you ad39598412 still kept them 3c9261a468 so carefully. Guess the person ba0eca8f11 who gave you 7c56db2c99 the flower left 937250a4c8 an impression, huh?”a4a118fced7136eb

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What’s he trying 219cda63a8 to pick a 60dd3ee047 fight about now?d6475a84352a50c7

“…Do you think f25dd73cf5 that’s likely?”4f800fb2081b515e

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Seeing Lucian’s stern e5b2c632d3 expression, Heraith tilted ff27935c51 his head and 5e8693cc02 asked.5a0a058f914cb020

“Then why beaa9c119d did you 1f6a7e35df keep it 528e232c64 so carefully?”6ae8a42af3ee0f90

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“I didn’t arrange 5a801aea5d it that way. When I 66a5ff5648 got back, 57145f7ff2 someone had c117bb0faf already put 017c9e7310 it there.”4cc942928939409f

“Really? So you didn’t put d23d689f71 it there?”a5e11b91d74e4d8b

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“Yes. Frankly, I’d rather have 61af241f85 something edible. What use 518b556616 is something c9ec830116 you can’t c0a0fc8b35 even eat?”9ea3c7ecf89a24ed

“Oh, so you prefer d11e994861 food?”14fa4927ef1e968a

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“Yes, of course.”356dd2d4217d716e

“Oh, really?”dfc9b431bb96f802

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After their playful 5b97580fa0 back-and-forth, he lowered 8a1ba6cab6 his gaze as 3f3475b88d though lost in 688dce2e7f thought, his face ff4ffd43f9 taking on a 7dc0f50c62 distinct, shadowed expression 7e384c9b48 as he rubbed aa866af5e7 his chin.48d47c2b5834f100

‘He really is handsome.’b17212a4e3ee6379

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It was certainly a a3074570c5 face that would capture 5727c29356 anyone’s attention. Lucian, who had 8e9390c831 been admiring the 80629db227 Emperor’s face for e0a996d7a9 a long time, fd2f650214 carefully spoke up.94d85a345a203e8a

“If you have no 748a65dc1e further business with me, ce675dba3e I’d like to take 997686127a my leave now.”8d88b51e8c44edff

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Heraith’s gaze d741892726 turned sharp d7633808ec at that. Lucian quickly 351162eb98 added in 6d7dafa481 a small 182b83fd48 voice.9e7d192bc616d3c8

“I haven’t ae2fed5751 had dinner 3845738e26 yet. I should be2f018d40 get something c2ea31dd8d to eat.”185e117a139cc971

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“Joachim didn’t a3925c7986 even feed c0cb6d4477 you before 39651c587c sending you 5bf4f7c5ad here?”e1bd35a7ccb80bc0

“I wanted to come ea88fdd9e6 back early, so I 122008f976 turned it down.”6414a74b6f5fb3af

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“I see. Good. Better not to eat 3d9765225a just anything.”026c390591bd6678

Seeming to be 93105fa558 in a good f77e5c7f42 mood now, Heraith’s d459efda91 expression softened. Then, as 4f5545b17f if something 4d23415731 had just e2699f0330 crossed his 68360036f5 mind, he d2274019d6 spoke.a3fc70cda3d38aef

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“The cook at f57ab8c136 the Administrative Palace 12082d6776 makes a great a4dae9d555 meat pie, you 620697737d know.”15595cc961f7f964

Heraith didn’t miss the 88352d8499 way Lucian’s eyes sparkled bb1f2e12f9 at this.6778ddc70ab101bd

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“Shall I have 274ce97abc some brought as 195319227b tea food?”21266d235e5564e9

“A meat pie as 2d55bceeb0 tea food? And at this hour?”0e91bc2afff8ff4b

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“Why not? As long as it’s 3cdeb5def9 delicious, who cares?”4134424b3273b316

“Well, that’s true.”ed308c878c402b41

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Lucian nodded in 9710b0028b agreement.29f7848af7691817

“Shall we go have 1c4a7d08de tea then?”3da94e6ca6694648

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“With the fc2f5d9d4e meat pie, d421540a3a of course?”74ce84a7ae30da0b

“Yes.”2cfea957b75a5c73

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“Sounds good.”3862140a9d5d338f

Naturally, meat 1f823775d1 over flowers 623aa9da58 any day. With a small chuckle, 9cc6415af1 Lucian followed the Emperor. For now, he e62eb1c025 once again concealed 3e0e054175 the feelings he 692c4f6fc8 hadn’t named, just c1d63b8751 as he always 636bdbabcc had, walking behind f7b9f8e042 Heraith as they 2418e1aefe moved together.9874671e3ed0780c

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The repercussions of the 5291a2b633 bouquet Joachim had given d691e77587 him were greater and d76dc127e9 longer-lasting than Lucian had 1e9b4c0325 expected.ba1413f491b47b46

Lucian gently rubbed his 68b4bce3ef throbbing head and looked 046e0bc21b at the man standing 45fc9100a4 before him.d305b2c1ebbce470

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That man stood there 02fd3e582d with an armful of e2b8f76ac3 fruit and a strange afe65a0648 bouquet, grinning widely at a955eb902f Lucian.2c963613c04560db

“…Why are you d638baafcb here, Baron Verti?”b867f9759d4f35a1

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Either he hadn’t 03caea2bd2 picked up on 643be0fb85 Lucian’s cold tone, 71dfbe125a or he was 1a8cf625b4 ignoring it, because 9fd006cf05 Baron Verti just dba3f65f4b kept smiling brightly 4272dd0a2d as he spoke 60b3c2cdf0 to him.7663513db4278e02

“I have a 005d19e5e6 favor to ask.”9b173f7b1b4e1aca

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At the d3f51615e1 baron’s words, fb7d73f011 Lucian recalled a17ce55103 the document b0ed909ab0 he had 1b1c4d2993 submitted last d337c3e5f1 time. This man a28a795a83 had sent cd22c48fb7 a ridiculous 2e9f265860 petition, asking 881fa93ac0 to reroute cdf9bf58d2 the planned 5779519ced road construction 8c43dd125e to benefit 339e51e6f3 his own b6d185f3a0 land.78fab55837b9d591

The document aa57f0264a hadn’t even c5fe617ff0 made it 01230dfa8b to the e202ff1a02 Emperor; Lucian d0fed924ee had filtered 2df81d0199 it out c48a849492 before it 42e8b65674 could.a5a14d7005e4b62a

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“The country needs balanced 6586a25287 development, so it wouldn’t c015a77e02 be right to have e580163bd5 roads only there, would 2fa6c38b63 it? So, how about d01c64cefc bringing some to c1231f7125 our area as 2ac5252253 well….”feeb68870c561ab6

“…”3716d33bb9c39249

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“If you could lend 9a2763c9fc a little influence, I’m e89046c6be sure His Majesty would 8290159b0f understand. So, well….”c0445b67e93fc322

“…”3833064215defe37

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“If you could 4cef1140d0 pass this along 0155ba7656 to His Majesty, 293c6d4f00 and take this cfce1baf3c as a small 580700541f token….”a8aaf8ab5bfe5480

The baron winked, nudging ecc4240147 the bouquet and fruit f3d760681f basket towards Lucian.90ed1cb06b3d02c7

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Does he dde13c12f5 think I’m d9001c4ade that easy?1ea35461a7d67c58

Lucian looked 052f4bf5fe at the 61db6aaa12 man before 89a2c1f674 him with 3e923bdeab cold, hardened 16d4c08064 eyes. Despite Lucian’s cec268b057 icy gaze, 660f482c4f Baron Verti 101d626237 continued to e775fe7715 ramble on e12a4a2282 about his 1c00af488b plans.6c5a6711ac54dbd8

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Finally, Lucian interrupted, staring 315b9d5614 him down.be80424fa2dd2fef

“Are you asking me 321bdc384f for a bribe?”0ec72ec58ae89e92

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“What?!”40e80f33ce7c3650

At Lucian’s words, c687ef5b3a a chill entered ce0b85a8cf the baron’s voice.a734cbeac65d44ea

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“Are you asking f1b917674e me to ignore df6ec13cf4 His Majesty’s will 653f9072ea and accept your 3da98bf985 bribe?”cb32386aed1d2362

Finally understanding Lucian’s words, b488c33102 the man’s face flushed f75f0a792e red. Feeling cornered, he exploded c69ed4f35b in anger.383aad60515a32f8

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“A bribe! How dare 2aa70e26a5 you suggest 87431b6e27 that! This is a245368b9e just a 38ea848598 small token 28070c27dd of my a9996d56f7 sincerity!”ca67b5d889059f62

“In the real e8c12d83c6 world, that’s called f27b796669 a bribe.”930e4cb895588b0d

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The baron’s face c16da62ace turned red, then b11ae29a56 purple, then all 0edb8a0ffe shades of furious.f1b13868ecdd0bf3

“You little 03d0a3def2 brat, just 1e58851eb8 because I’ve 7af1594e95 put up 5964f24737 with you e9857ddb83 so far…!”4d9979b828999670

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His face crimson with dfc758ee04 anger, the baron shook 5b9494cd62 with fury as he c5034566f5 yelled at Lucian.c48fcf0610246b2e

“Haven’t you 1c8a33f4c3 been accepting 79bfee5c2b these kinds 56c5d57ac9 of requests 4361550b80 up till 14f80ee085 now? But why 6d2eba9a4b only me?”6f1deee490d56417

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“Where are the 8e208edb4b documents?”34df1f68aaa94270

“What?”b9edcf2832214eab

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“If you 61b24f121e wish to fc874e42e6 have His 87f007d964 Majesty’s approval, 83bd24b1d0 you need 0ba8bc4a80 to provide ec94c59bc8 a document c3c8adcbaf explaining the b365cc2135 valid reasons, efbba95e0f don’t you?”636faefc8b634343

“…”394092b90393ed6a

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“I doubt these flowers 82d72d251b and fruits are the b42640a093 documents you’re offering.”256a71791f2589c1

Lucian looked a6332d65d6 at the 196e88e425 man coldly.fe342154dd124e85

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“I have never once 047e12b509 entertained any personal requests e21ed1a9a8 related to my work.”3a6ff2f119c4169b

“…”d16241370e8c01d1

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“I have only 26881c8d64 ever passed on 0bbfbd18d8 documents to His 21adb5a88f Majesty when I ded6a40b82 felt it necessary, 9ed26e4351 solely as a acc7cc7677 courtesy, and only 81f6993473 if it was 88e3526fd7 a matter His 6fb23bc9f9 Majesty should be 454a66f7e0 informed of.”0ddeb5da4d1bc268

The baron glared 898086d52c at Lucian, his 4e42e0d6f8 body trembling. His face was b952b95a0b now so flushed 8e63125274 that it almost da0d6b17de looked blackened.913cea780818a806

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“Don’t mistake my kindness a1b143d332 for your entitlement. Follow the proper procedures.”973e0ee2aa51cc5a

“But, others…!”ff86c2289c8f296c

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“Stop talking about d7c686154b others. I’m asking you to 85b55e9c6d bring a document that 848a94427e supports your proposal. If you keep ecaacd85b3 ignoring procedure like 9468a0191c this, I’ll have bbb0470e28 no choice but 603709f4f7 to report it d00f153dc1 to His Majesty.”732e81053025622f

“Sir Lucian!”8902389484a814f8

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Lucian pointed towards the 29d2c488d7 door with a cold c1054d5ca7 face.ff95722c2adb17f7

“The exit is 9e27255bce that way. See yourself out.”82e42528d00c0f15

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Baron Verti’s face turned e0dcfe0e50 a livid shade of f95af0d346 anger as he stormed bdbd3a799b out, slamming the door. Lucian could a5c1cf105e hear his 8d44225f93 teeth grinding 7876725cee even from a4f2fadf97 his seat.7d07b574e424f74f

“Haa….”aa8b451c624e51b6

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Once the 002b3b522e man had 56b9325fa4 left, silence c83e827ea9 filled the 0e20237686 room.4ffaab028b8ce7d8

With a deep sigh, efa36fe9b0 Lucian let out a 93d4d4ab80 bitter chuckle.d530c17075a4c12e

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So I f923e49c6b helped him 87e66041a6 out, only 6f5ace6ae7 for him 59bcaf7668 to try a0471e31e8 to use d5061d6028 me as ebc8952e5f a stepping b427ab0113 stone for 3afb9a7112 his corruption?d61f25a68ff9eaa0

“Does he c6c31e2ab1 think I’m 3a14494cba his errand d0ecfed38c boy?”49d5707c76db03a3

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Lucian laughed wryly. He finally b4654aa1d6 understood why 5c2a2c7b19 the Emperor 4a0ec52188 was so d2057d414b ruthless in 26d69ffd32 keeping people 7aacdc4f8f at a 1930b7b8ee distance.e1901a770cdeffd0

−People are 9e91ff471f like that. They start thinking b2d2092b77 kindness is their eb9bd164d1 right if you f556951451 keep giving it.76ae145b41aec486

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Suddenly, he remembered Heraith’s e9f556fbdd words from last night 681d5bb6fa while they were eating 0c3df16943 the meat pie.ca6dfa9bd9564893

−So keep ee8bea48b3 your guard a9f97a3c46 up, Lucian. There’s no 5800683ec7 need to cc5947951e go out e07fc29a15 of your 82b21613c9 way for 1da83f2d60 everyone’s requests. They won’t cb236e1409 appreciate it. They think kindness is 930e098e71 just their birthright, something d990c8af28 owed to them.5094b5c7e9528dc7

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Now, he thought he fd55413ce1 finally understood why the 746fba3115 Emperor had said that.83a1c89b767c1b50

“…Looks like I was 57ae17a2d7 wrong, wasn’t I?”ffd430e608a52629

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Lucian murmured as he 42b0e82588 rubbed his neck, a 77fc96b774 long sigh of deep 40120a2b8d regret escaping him.e491adabb1479025

 a62948c50d32f7fd

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