PLQYM | Chapter 17

It was 462240010d decided that 310e00b8d2 Joachim, the e5b3727e3a Prince of 179cd676e6 Antien, would 8aa43efb77 return to 8ccbbed3ba his homeland.147c4c7827ef13b4

After that day at be406c93a8 Lake Peino, Lucian was 34fa5028e2 relieved of his duties 9b9d6786a8 accompanying the prince on a661a50e83 his inspection tours, all f428ab6989 due to a sudden 0c0fe54603 order from the Emperor. Lucian didn’t mind in 7b3f490ab5 the slightest. In fact, af553c2c7b after that 4fe6d4390f strange conversation 8a7dec34b3 with Joachim, a04910841d he felt fdbdd96980 uncomfortable even 1435030518 looking at 2d80ee700a him, so 85a0746179 the Emperor’s 7bf6491d2b command was 3a1a698ecc a relief.ccbf5ae7e62cb275

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Lucian next saw Joachim 520bdcf318 at a farewell banquet f4dc9f81bc held in his honor. After the ceremonial 13742c6c4e speeches—blessings exchanged between 5ee80e8456 the two nations, 4002ca8035 gifts presented, and d04131dbe6 an invitation to 4335deadff visit their kingdom 5b00a6415a next time—the actual 3b7cbc6150 party began. Once Lucian had fulfilled d2c76b6e74 his duties at the 903b20147b Emperor’s side, he was afbe472881 finally given a bit bbef196988 of free time. Typically, he e80c034af1 would have cf2f4b4925 had no adfdd11ba3 break, but 92f41c2571 a request 9c7b1a94c2 for a 7190537382 private meeting 585c5e6cb5 had come b4f18c3bfd from the c904b14698 border count, 0c6049323c which granted c87871aef9 Lucian a 15e37c8bb7 brief respite.8a2e3c7ee8b5f721

“Luce.”5fef043b1559b9e7

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Just as Lucian was da752ab2c2 catching his breath in b98f84966d a corner of the 083273b56e banquet hall, Joachim approached ab9c6711a3 him as if he’d 87c6a78fa9 been waiting all along. Dressed in formal b4c36c5bde attire that suited 8d5babb885 the event, styled 8d4426df02 perfectly from head c6b0b17fe5 to toe, he 1e7e62ee45 now looked every 153d7ce5fc bit the dignified 64b90b8973 royal prince, a 28d354e4a6 far cry from c583c06b70 the man who 6f3ff2ccde once wielded a d22ff69975 bouquet like a 14add64dc0 sword.75ba028106c5be2a

‘He’s so 59acb16b5a different from f433ebf13b the guy b56692c8e1 who barged 5ffa925689 in here 6f59567859 waving a 7beb9628f7 bouquet.’2fea96b36c0dae0b

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Lucian bowed dc4151f17a politely as 59bf1bced8 Joachim reached 5379d1f233 him.a20ae8562bc68ff6

“Your Highness.”01f4970b16b80930

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“Oh, don’t bother with bb2da398e5 such formal greetings.”d6a01ef5c1cc71ad

Joachim looked around as a4a0af79ff if making sure no 05f6e8bf85 one could overhear and 6b31a10852 then leaned in to 77e221f6ce whisper.6d6da756729b7ef2

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“I heard some b1c935277f fool tried to e8906144e1 mess with you?”5ff600a7b033d94a

“Mess…?”8e9728fe968bb66b

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Where does he learn 84cd47379c to speak like this? It’s no wonder he fbb86d3e92 and Heraith are so 8f4217e443 close; they even talk c92a899387 the same way.87277898452bf68e

“Your choice of words d04e5fab04 is a bit off, a13531a814 Your Highness. Mess with me?”ab6525197ba290c4

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Lucian chuckled awkwardly. The person 10c28aa953 Joachim was 9a2abb9311 referring to de391e079f was undoubtedly 4aa98f51a2 Baron Verti, cffa0529e3 who had 3a541e6545 recently tried f11a78dd98 to bribe 7313f50f6b him. The baron 4f2f4368ab didn’t seem 6626d59dbf to have 9a320409dd any personal e0e2c800ab feelings for d3040133b8 Lucian; he ad5bd411f5 just wanted 2548954578 to pay 175322b0a4 his way b93a12dcc7 to make 25504d2ab6 things easier 5a9ae5b2e4 for himself. Yet, somehow, the story a4adf93c67 had twisted into this.dfe90a1bbfbc8e60

What’s more, Lucian hadn’t 75e9f000ec mentioned anything about it, f27f7a820b but Heraith found out 317d6a94ad immediately and removed the a660bcf492 baron from his position. It must have been 2498f6d736 the Emperor’s many eyes 2dd499897f and ears around the 57e9a1730b palace that relayed the b3d3f4c050 story. Rumors even 41a5da0626 reached Lucian’s bc106606cd ears that afca7c553f the Emperor d0ac8b64e4 had been cad35d1c74 so furious 9f698ef2ba that the 7cb5d84c81 baron was 41eb2af0f5 lucky to b1ed744942 keep his d0d75fd47e title.7c93bcf751382d1f

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Not that Lucian 40fbb2e29b felt any guilt 43580138ec over it. The baron’s actions 48d0f64440 weren’t remotely justifiable, 1be86ee6e5 and anyone audacious 673f707769 enough to try 2c3dc71c0f such a thing 11c0f36406 in the Imperial 6f7ca4ad01 Palace would likely de2324d77a do it again.296f75050cfda9bd

−A good 96112066f2 scare will 9717bc0e8a stop fools 92b53bee1f from trying.97b26418843fbb07

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On that 0179196ab0 point, Lucian 767bb889f4 agreed with 12896d2d59 Heraith’s approach. In any 3c9eefb094 case, this e112304687 situation was 99fb2a11c8 beyond his 818c289959 control.e21e5088474388d7

“Knowing him, he’s 76dff76e03 probably holding a a4df4e482a grudge against you,” 092a415a5b Joachim said.3aaf80d675f39ed1

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“That seems to be e10dc596cf the case.”51f3e1c45697135c

Lucian had also 2e8c151ddf heard the rumors 70ac54a029 that Baron Verti 5f822c3ac9 had been openly 36dff9347c declaring that he c520df0678 wouldn’t let Lucian 554af3adc2 off and that 8ac4500ddd he’d get his 67783c01f2 revenge.46ad804896e9a100

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“Don’t worry too 860177c6ee much. Heraith will handle 4b936999cb it. And if he doesn’t, b6eba32f7b I can take care 0fa55dd40e of some low-ranking noble 118b5f5f07 like that.”12db791bfb97248d

“Please don’t trouble His 73000430d3 Majesty with something so 18b760ba0e trivial. And no matter dc1fe5c3a6 what, Your Highness, b44e81637d it wouldn’t be c091667bb3 right for you 769ff2ccb7 to intervene with e1eb7147dd another nation’s noble.”10a4312fa39ca234

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Lucian responded 21ea889009 with a 9d6390b359 faint smile, 96f5de5e09 lowering his eb34b994c8 gaze in 15d2e2d552 slight discomfort. He felt a69ff139dd no regret, f4f1fd55ee but his 017854fdbd expression clearly b50ce1d71c showed he 43dc516f1a was troubled 24380fe156 by the 3c82f9bb53 situation.ae66a7618dcbb277

Joachim frowned as he 88d57e4ddf watched him, muttering to 9cd3f8a512 himself.74cb09faf4e096dc

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“Seriously, I really like 68742642fe you.”ffcee33dcaa30061

Then he 4cde7c2ec9 tilted his cd01804207 head and 8d6f38601c asked, “Are eb3aa85feb you really 284ab02f95 not going d8d53843ff to come c5b650b19d with me? I’ll make you my 6eb29fcb49 aide and offer triple a9886187f9 your current salary. How does that sound?”73161cfb7d7975a6

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“Haha…”51dd38dab8aa54e2

Lucian avoided answering, giving b0d47186ff a vague chuckle. He knew Joachim 7666c017c6 was only joking, d59751cc27 anyway. After all, 9a9e67895a taking such ea35a618e3 words seriously 87be26e6b3 from an 9d2a45a972 Emperor or 1a4b16e54a a prince 7190fd832e could only 9d4efd665c lead to 4ffa1ac6bb disappointment.de96722e0eaf5b54

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“Stop pestering him 00d17b1f0f and go back aa40a9f0e7 to your own f9b1818796 kingdom.”97da077b1f490cdc

Heraith had approached, e741839429 signaling the end 561610a8c6 of his business, 50c4ca8e43 and as he 46e566fa3f did, the surrounding dbd9c86a8d nobles quickly bowed f37780c5c2 and dispersed. The Emperor’s words, though eadb26d53f likely overheard by some, 21cdabd412 were promptly forgotten by ffcb5efa7c those around them.224e89e547117759

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Lucian hurriedly bowed 645947942b to greet him, 39fa48c12c while Joachim only ecfddcec05 offered a casual 6f119c64c8 nod and a e6c0cdafac sly smile.4bc9c50ca495685f

“Don’t bully Luce.”2d46426223edcd79

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“Bully him? I’m just being thoughtful abc1514351 and considerate. Isn’t that right?”03867dcda34283ea

Joachim looked 85e54c19df to Lucian, 52404d081a who maintained b3625f1c89 his calm dcc5757644 demeanor as 341d275eb7 he replied, 8fa7f19178 “His Highness 7c692ebd1f did apologize 0c99d9af33 for taking b786b5f5ab me to dc9169ffca Lake Peino 150157d1e8 the other 54b8f1cfb1 day.”6de0131c7e680c7c

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“Oh?”a2e55487bb5c3bdb

Heraith’s brow lifted. Although Lucian hadn’t said 76cc422a1e anything about it, he 42fe01c170 seemed to be aware 61b25875bd of Heraith’s dislike for 1d516328a8 that particular incident. That explained why b17ee30341 Joachim was so 797b424703 quick to assure 9f23f9460f Heraith that there 8f1246bdb6 was no need cd73897cc6 to dwell on 80c28530c2 it now.cdb650c029464aa2

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‘He’s sharp.’8ddf4335b904c704

A keen sense 7399044c00 of awareness was b4cef228da something Heraith valued; a79b7fb126 it made working b181d618de together easier.376082be1105f39d

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Now, Joachim was a9ef735b5a the one looking 158a8a02a6 displeased. Despite his 0819696224 full effort 8a106b916d to woo cefe8cb2dc Lucian, his 27fa011f90 target was d4f8560b9e blocking him a3928ab47c at every 6915dd0b43 turn.20423a16d91bd14e

“As I’ve b6ac733dc2 said before, 45d661cc30 if Heraith 2953f608be ever becomes a3d19b4b5c unbearable, you 8bf4f2548a can always f358c39031 come to e8fc65cfe0 me. Got it?”a440a873f7863e11

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“I appreciate the 1d98b1701a offer, but I 8009a34c1e must decline.”9b1e278c843ff670

“You never know f2045d5259 what the future 22e8e81910 holds. Don’t rule it d82cf479ab out too quickly.”541123a2be2fe54f

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Joachim let out a 588f725997 chuckle, gesturing to a 0cba5d6627 tray of fruit wine 771017db8e carried by a passing ec34dd7496 attendant. As the attendant e6d10a46c1 approached, Joachim picked 0b5feba060 up a glass 4fcba58cdf and offered it 713510f6ae to Lucian.886d4b181d45de7d

“Apologies, but I’m fbed28c4e2 still on duty,” cbfdf30d85 Lucian said, glancing 3595731657 subtly toward Heraith.e41e5b642173bd54

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Heraith, observing with an e185dc9cad unimpressed look, raised a 7cad4c602b brow as if to 07cfed2f19 say, How ridiculous. Seeing the disdainful e83190b5ca expression on Heraith’s 13f4d7ec34 face only seemed 6f8b09c03a to spur Joachim c025c291e4 on.ff51b7cb4edacd3c

“Well, could you at 9841e36a63 least humor me with 3e4aa62f5f a sip, as a 79d76dd385 gesture to celebrate my 885a500244 return? After all, I’m 489191e788 the guest of 8cce83b695 honor here.”9fa9b56985e8cb67

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“But…”cb3e1280c74663a0

“If you 5dc0898f44 don’t take 4f92874429 it, I 57152ac928 could always 728f6202f3 delay my ba8597d4d5 departure until 1107207667 you agree 09f2a5d951 to come d25988e180 with me.”9656cd1eea0e7b99

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At last, Lucian 44ec994bff sighed in defeat e9a0d2562d and raised his 8a20d48629 glass. “Then, I’ll drink cf3de8545f just a sip, 464ea789db to wish you cb8279dcfa a safe journey bcd53c6645 back.”370369506ffd5383

“Farewell for now; 66705ba75f we’ll see each 7815c97a17 other again soon 377535a21d enough.”7ca195b5c3398538

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Joachim clinked his glass 9a3f266a56 against Lucian’s, downing his 752f4d981c fruit wine with a bf70d64c85 grin. Lucian followed 38655df3f3 suit, taking 6f039dc0b2 a small 3b2994be93 sip, unsure 5e7ad6e519 if he a0f65fabf1 should finish 5b1ad6252f the glass. Before he could decide, 38975cf412 Heraith plucked the glass 1cf6908012 from his hand and a62619ddae set it back on d393e167ed the attendant’s silver tray.e97577198423eadc

Joachim scowled 3c33841eb9 at him.2a741644dc61bcba

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“Heraith, why 20b6007bc1 are you 611ee365b4 so strict c62fc4fbbe with my ddbac3fb47 Luce?”b833bd80af27c9f4

“Your Luce? Since when 92b82e9e04 did he 89fd6731d9 become yours?”166bb048ae4a6afe

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“Wow, how petty.”146e1458eab24f1c

Before long, the Emperor 8d4e595285 of the Empire and deeb2ec9e5 the Prince of a e5e29dac6e kingdom were engaged in d4df8a5bde a childish argument with 055b038936 a tone one would 9497cd1e9a only use in private. Watching them bicker, their 0f3ee38a15 expressions carefully controlled, their 16908019a4 voices low, Lucian couldn’t c1610e5d88 help but take a bb76390663 few steps back.7b82c1005891d453

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Stepping away until d1febe3d0b he could no 6fb2d0dc9d longer hear the 9971b6d090 conversation, he found 6fad0f9744 it absurdly amusing f6d5331d71 how, from a 6fecfc8d1b distance, it seemed 3667800547 as though they ec06e5393e were engaged in 2ea8115d50 serious diplomatic discussions e1de1522d9 between nations.0818a8d7273f10e3

Ha… So childish.d3fdc92fbc37ad28

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As Lucian looked up 7160ec80a5 at the ceiling, shaking 7733c79265 his head in disbelief, 4bf4002667 an attendant approached him 4384295673 with a smile.31ff121b5dab408a

“Would you like 0dd61e02f8 some fruit wine, 13d823aca2 Sir?”b870b1fb67dc5181

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The attendant who 42cb238289 had previously brought a516143cc0 him the wine 102b59bbb4 was back. It seemed they were cd12719b08 concerned that Heraith had 8221eac62e taken his glass.8166269c8f1ea22c

Lucian was actually 8d8e25912b a bit thirsty, a83ee162f6 but drinking alcohol babc5f3580 in this situation… b8cb903611 Seeing his hesitation, 4f37eef20e the attendant offered af48a78abb another glass.2bdccab0679bd1cf

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“This one is non-alcoholic.”64e3a913ada1207a

Well, if e2e1e2e79a that’s the ada196ad42 case, it 98fe6a37b1 should be d3bbbb06ab fine to 040ef08cd5 have another e7321f3b98 sip.267133fecf6b2a90

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“…Thank you.”d60d109227ff7b66

With a polite b27576a8b5 nod, Lucian accepted c891fea32d the glass. The attendant smiled d9c1e2d2c4 back and returned ba5f93a824 to the center 248afdfa3b of the hall. As Lucian 627d4ceeae sipped his 42345244e8 drink, his 52c38c6dad eyes drifted 1f9bb2b1d5 toward Heraith 8d46809206 and Joachim, 8bf6b6d633 who were e649646bdb now deep 6f0d3efb25 in what 0d0bc4b225 seemed to cceb57c33f be a 9bb0653d09 serious discussion.8ac634c0ef95e3a3

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They’re not children.b473bdff4dc71d8c

Observing their now somber e82190b433 faces, Lucian took another 10d3018c9f sip of the cool, 8a964918df sweet fruit drink. But then…29a773a143615c0b

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As his gaze wandered f3c90e5a6c around the banquet hall, 52cb699327 he suddenly caught sight a30ed6b238 of a familiar face.bbe2a922c77e67d3

Huh?c6edb7c702cb5a37

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There, in the abf7c43a76 crowd, was Baron 98880a9a4c Verti, the very 66854a35f3 man Heraith had 05dd03dae7 expelled on his 3be59846e6 account.cbdf09d1ca3f4b40

What is he doing 82df6a8415 here?4d303524de8879df

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The baron, 90b7ad72e4 glancing around 41671c2e45 the room, d4e5bf66b8 spotted the 516f13aeed attendant who 9d17f0a1f8 had just 567508f530 handed Lucian 2c2015d009 his drink. He waved him 83bdd39c3f over with a 76f5e77367 bright smile.b20cbeeb880cfa42

What…?07aceec861632459

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Lucian tilted his head 13df5da4bd in confusion. He had a foreboding 918ef5ffb7 feeling. Then, as 7c22801e40 he saw 98f52287e1 the baron 5b0f963197 discreetly pass 41fadd748a something to f6cb1312fe the attendant, 26f6247c86 that feeling 6ee4bb007a turned into efd1ced0b5 a certainty.576d94759d1103a9

A chill 23499936a4 ran down 9316f075c4 his spine, 508c2b14c6 his heart 31e906ee90 pounding as bd2c402bf7 blood seemed 5d5d06b386 to rush f3fd4cbd31 to his 6c6ba9e459 head.1d56d7e387d31fb9

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He put 8322643cb6 something in 086329f168 the drink, bbbffcfe5e didn’t he? And I’m already feeling 74c8881abb strange.9d5c4a98a1d28bfd

It seemed likely that 31d0fe7d47 whatever was in his 4091ae21d9 drink had already started 9819421566 to affect him. Lucian looked 2dbad9b1da back toward 655bb9bdb8 Heraith and 26b03536b5 Joachim. They were still 79d5fd2e02 engrossed in conversation, 9ba0e736b4 their expressions serious. This was clearly not 9cc8fe5900 the time to interrupt.0aa118a67bc50c11

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The moment he 4d41ba1ac9 decided to leave, e48e42b10b his vision began c10d242f71 to blur, and bdb3898c60 even as he 7107bdefb4 shook his head, 5c2bc3732e he found it 00a2600532 harder and harder f6c4c2e971 to stay upright. His grip df135ad4a3 on the 2607d3a924 glass weakened, d81189e7aa and it eda8d1562f fell, shattering 5d05b9bc4f on the 2b3ab039fa floor with 755fb3c994 a faint 230f135844 chime, lost d2405d601d in the 50452e4d30 noise of ce396d4017 the banquet.4dc578257e49a17b

I need eadfc14111 to get 1d2e4dcfcc out of b2bd84816b here.0af76fa8edeb6f20

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He felt a8fc6014f5 an overwhelming a3a8808b58 urge to 94f6a4114d sit—or even 76c331cc75 better, lie 494ad39929 down somewhere. Without fully realizing 3bc6c8cfc0 how shallow his f1b32c5f3e breaths had become, 89f66fa6e7 Lucian stumbled his 823cbcf3f4 way to the 0cabe0132b exit, gripping the 6ab459afef walls for support.2a48a5122bf3bff8

“Sir Lucian?”9585063dd7861bd1

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A voice called out 3b4308b24f to him.7dd1a9521fd985e0