PLQYM | Chapter 21

Waking from last night’s thoughts, Heraith gazed quietly at the sleeping Lucian. Curled up like a baby, he looked utterly exhausted. His eyes were still red and swollen. If he lifted the blanket and looked between Lucian’s legs, it would probably be the same there. Well, after a whole day of being tormented, he was bound to be tired. Unlike Lucian, who had collapsed from exhaustion, Heraith felt entirely refreshed. He felt invigorated, better than ever. And he knew precisely who was responsible for this.

Yes. He couldn’t deny it any longer.

Lucian was special.

Still, Heraith didn’t want to name that specialness or define his feelings for him just yet.

…Not yet, anyway.

“Lucian.”

After watching Lucian for a long while, Heraith called him softly. Naturally, there was no response.

But when he reached out and brushed Lucian’s hair away, he saw a slight crease form between his brows. As his hand wandered over Lucian’s soft earlobe, traced down his neck, and brushed his collarbone, Lucian’s body flinched, his breathing quickened, and his neck flushed slightly. Heraith let out a low laugh.

This sensitive body still reacted to his touch. The changes had only taken one day.

The thought pleased Heraith more than anything.

“Just stay like this. Don’t change.”

Steady. Constant.

Like that, by my side.

With a gaze filled with deep emotion, Heraith leaned down. Like a passing breeze, his lips brushed Lucian’s forehead.

Sleep well, Lucian.

It hurts…

The first thought that floated into Lucian’s mind was just that.

His head hurt, his back hurt, his hips hurt, and his groin hurt.

He tried to open his eyes, but they hurt too much to manage it.

Oh, even his neck hurt.

It was hard to find a single spot on his body that wasn’t sore.

“Ugh!”

When he tried to turn over to lie flat, a deep pain seemed to split him from his hips.

“Urgh…”

Grinding his teeth to swallow his scream, Lucian slowly managed to right himself, drenched in cold sweat.

Why… why am I like this?

Lucian tried to remember. He’d finished his duties, attended the farewell banquet, and, oh right, he’d had a conversation with Prince Joachim.

“Nothing was wrong until then.”

After that, he’d had a sip of wine, then something to drink from a servant.

And then… that man who had caught his eye…

“Berty, you bastard!”

Lucian sprang up in anger.

“Hah!”

Well, he tried to get up, but in that instant, his back and everything below it were wracked with unfamiliar agony, making him double over with clenched teeth.

Breath heaving, he waited for the pain to subside.

His memory stopped at leaving the banquet hall and meeting Nils Bowman. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t remember anything beyond that.

Could it be that drink?

No, it wasn’t the drink itself. There had to be something in it. Just one sip wouldn’t have done this.

Lucian took a deep breath and lifted his head. The next moment, he realized his surroundings were unfamiliar.

“…Where am I now?”

It was clearly not his room. The luxurious blankets, the four-poster bed, and the surrounding drapery all felt alien.

A sudden unease made him want to move and leave right away, but…

Just then, someone entered the room and immediately approached the bed.

“Are you awake?”

It was Cliff, the head attendant.

“Head Attendant…?”

“Yes, Sir Lucian.”

The head attendant smiled softly at him, as if relieved that Lucian had finally woken up.

“If you’ll excuse my asking…”

Even as Lucian began to speak, his mind was in a whirl. No way, it couldn’t be. Right? But still, this room was too luxurious. …It couldn’t be. Or could it…?

— Lucian.

Cutting through his confused thoughts was a low, gentle voice that echoed in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine.

No way, right?

Lucian lifted his head to confirm the reality.

“This… this room, it wouldn’t happen to be…”

His voice came out scratchy.

“It wouldn’t happen to be… His Majesty’s chambers, would it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…”

His mouth hung open as if he’d been struck by lightning, and seeing his expression, the head attendant addressed him with a kind smile.

“Do you not remember?”

“…Remember? Remember what?”

While Lucian’s expression grew more and more despairing, the head attendant’s face remained bright.

“Hmm…”

With an awkward smile, Cliff continued.

“His Majesty carried you here himself.”

“He… carried me?”

“Yes, just like this.”

The head attendant mimicked a princess carry, causing Lucian to squeeze his eyes shut as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t.

Ah, what did I do last night?

“Your condition seemed poor, so we summoned the palace physician.”

“Even the palace physician…?”

“Yes. He said you’d consumed something strange. Do you remember what you had?”

“I only had a little wine and some fruit juice…”

That was it. He hadn’t eaten anything else.

The head attendant nodded knowingly.

“Yes. It seems something odd was mixed into that drink.”

“Oh…”

“Anyway, we found the culprit and administered an appropriate punishment, and His Majesty gave him a suitable scolding as well.”

“Suitable… scolding…”

Why did the word “suitable” sound so chilling?

He wanted to ask what had happened to Baron Berty but decided against it. It felt better not to know, just this once.

‘No matter what, he’s still a noble, so His Majesty must’ve handled it with discretion, especially since I wasn’t severely harmed.’

Watching Lucian lost in thought, the head attendant clicked his tongue inwardly.

It seemed this young aide was oblivious to just how terrifying His Majesty’s mood had been while Lucian was unconscious.

‘Best not to mention that the entire Berty Baron lineage lost their chances of rising in the central court. This gentle young man would only blame himself.’

And from the looks of things, he clearly didn’t remember what had happened with His Majesty, either.

‘Perhaps that’s for the best.’

The head attendant looked at Lucian and began to speak.

“Sir Lucian.”

Lucian’s ice-blue eyes had regained some calm, which relieved him.

“His Majesty ordered you to take a break from your duties until next week. Since he’ll be away for a few days for inspections, he said you’re welcome to stay here.”

“Oh, no, I should return to my own quarters. I can’t possibly stay here.”

Hearing this, the head attendant tilted his head and muttered to himself.

“It will still be difficult for you to move, though.”

“Oh…”

Lucian’s face turned beet red.

His gaze darted around, unable to settle, as if the head attendant knew exactly where he hurt the most.

“Do you, um, know why I’m… this sore?”

“…”

The head attendant simply smiled softly, wordlessly advising him not to remember if he didn’t already.

“Just relax and stay here. Consider it a holiday.”

“…A holiday?”

Please, not an unpaid holiday…

“It’s paid. You won’t have any deductions from your wages, so rest easy.”

“Oh, I see.”

“And honestly, even if it were unpaid, what would it matter? His Majesty will cover everything.”

“Cover everything?”

The head attendant’s smile deepened at Lucian’s question.

“Though it may not mean much, Sir Lucian…”

Having spent his life in the Imperial Palace, Cliff, the head attendant, had always taken a liking to this young aide. Lucian was a rare young man who could stand firm and speak his mind before the Emperor, always staying within the bounds of respect and performing his duties flawlessly.

Lucian might be one of the few who could influence the Emperor.

So, the head attendant decided to be a bit nosy.

“In the future, if His Majesty ever demands something absurd of you, or you feel it’s too much, just say this.”

“Say what?”

“Tell him to take responsibility. That you remember.”

“What?”

What kind of advice is that?

“It’s a magic spell that only you, Sir Lucian, can use.”

Seeing Lucian’s confusion, the head attendant winked mischievously.

“Yes, just say that, and His Majesty will dig his own grave.”

“Oh, um… his grave?”

That grave His Majesty would be digging isn’t for me, right?

“Remember this well. There’s no way you’ll come to any harm.”

Lucian wanted to ask why but sensed the head attendant wouldn’t answer. Still, he decided to heed his advice.

After all, when elders gave you advice, good things tended to come your way.

‘And if I won’t lose anything by it, well…’

Lucian nodded instead of answering.

Finally, the head attendant handed him a small cup. Lucian recoiled at the strong, bitter smell wafting from it.

“It’s medicine. Drink it all in one go.”

The head attendant’s determined expression left no room for refusal, so Lucian gulped it down. Despite the bitterness, it left a strangely sweet aftertaste.

Lucian returned to work five days after King Joachim left the Empire, exactly a week after the banquet.

When he entered the aide’s office, the first to greet him was Nils Bowman.

“Sir Lucian!”

“Sir Nils.”

He recalled that it had been Nils who helped him when he collapsed outside the banquet hall.

“Thank you for helping me that night.”

When Lucian expressed his gratitude, Nils waved his hand.

“No need. I could only get you as far as the Imperial Chambers. As you know, not just anyone can enter there.”

Nils Bowman was right.

Due to his position as a personal aide, Lucian could come and go from the Imperial Chambers freely. Still, it was rare for someone to have their own quarters there.

“Luckily, His Majesty arrived quickly and brought you inside.”

…Wait, what?

Lucian’s brows knitted together.