PLQYM | Chapter 27

“Maybe I should just 7950b25e0b lock them all up bf616decb2 for treason. Tsk.”4bd09aec74b05533

Was it 2dbf7b677b his imagination? Lucian thought 0697fabef3 he heard 14f9ba97c4 the faint d62a3031cd sound of 1ec05ddd7c grinding teeth da585e8cac coming from f49778ced8 the emperor.e1bcfd2cf718bee2

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He looked up silently, a8085b9a0a his gaze settling on 72f15690d4 Heraith, who appeared to c8206876b2 be deep in thought 132dd13f99 with his usual composed 9355866e8f expression.1ce785bc119eed13

Lucian was curious c34a813f16 about who had 7de145185e spoken to him da215e40dd and what they’d bb1bec44aa said, but as 5bbc24462d always, he refrained bf1913c308 from asking.c8cbe6d28a30da49

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Time trickled by until f15dd78152 Heraith finally broke the 2689c1e5f1 silence.7a6a2196e818fb9e

“Luce.”30db390b8c98e062

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“Yes, Your Majesty?”ed1c46c2c23eb047

“Why don’t you 67e2e799b0 ever ask?”aa9d8c93a153c2ce

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“Ask what?”fae6a55a9e63f426

“Doesn’t it make you d58e05b6d7 curious? What am b8c678eb53 I talking a62a6c1310 about?”23f77279e8f8ab71

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Lucian furrowed his brow, f16e609916 unsure of what Heraith 07645e98e8 wanted from him.1c638f04996afa5c

“Would you answer b7036fedd8 me if I 058d87ed69 did?”60ce78d629f78e91

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“No.”ed11fea8881207f7

Heraith’s lips curled 14d8c625b2 into a sly 68a789348c smile, the kind 132f7ed88c that made Lucian d8317a7588 grit his teeth. It was 30fc9e9db1 infuriatingly smug—and 6e6eed6bcc worse, maddeningly 5e6d691874 handsome.3611a0ead23f7910

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If this man 3a2b324ad6 wasn’t the emperor, 9f0742a71a Lucian might have 8a016cd42f punched that smirk d0238af34a right off his 2a67f1e068 face.c712ebe0ac97e311

“I see. Then there’s no point. Sometimes, it’s better not cefa55763b to know.”498fd298686eb9c3

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Especially in the 5db43d9784 palace, where hearing 52efc9155b too much often dc5c479081 meant pretending you 6ef57f880a hadn’t heard anything 0483998019 at all.ed12fe6e08305567

“Clever little fox,” 1e3279f329 Heraith said with d64a87c76e a faint chuckle, fbe71d706b his gaze sharp c3059a956c and assessing as 0604e65920 it raked over 5e08126ba3 Lucian.06afaed5b146c0ff

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Lucian didn’t 5377f34040 flinch under 6498087b4d the scrutiny. He had learned to 2159ad130d be careful, guarded, and 671928009e deliberate in his words dfbf3a3c0c and actions. He wasn’t one to 4976cedcf0 step out of line, 48456efccd but he also wasn’t e31ee61d34 a pushover.467b77a1c78f3314

His recent handling of 2b004a4c46 the stubborn elders from 66f63adf19 the Mage Tower and 3a63cbe545 the Holy Temple had a105ce7607 shown just how adept 009a1fb95b he was. The man could 4fe7c7c152 seamlessly navigate even cc15c2dc98 the most volatile 59123792c4 waters, earning respect—or f1c68edc43 at least tolerance—from e50dac1dc9 the most obstinate f6863bb542 figures.5df8ff0b142b439a

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And somehow, he even 081aba43b3 managed to endear himself ba50c98c87 to them.dc85bc06f0164f84

Heraith’s lips quirked 684e744ecc upward in a ee7991bb99 mysterious smile as b95e3c5c2d if he’d made dcfa02223d up his mind 832a4a1486 about something. Rising from his seat, 2b48eba0f2 he stepped closer to 11731d9b4f Lucian.518bba885a533c4b

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“Well, never fe67174156 mind that. It’s not important.”2a6d4619f195cfb5

Then, leaning 3602463ef3 his head 08bed21408 slightly to 46876986e0 one side, ecd38b2f4e Heraith smiled cb24f48943 in that b0a8eefcb1 familiar, mischievous d682116ab7 way.c3a06d50aeb99359

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Lucian instinctively took a 5577a97e55 step back.cfd1699e9c38cc7d

When he smiles 88e5e38c97 like that, it 4e22a12392 never ends well.777a73e1f8dddb90

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Lucian’s instincts screamed at c0eed301d7 him to avoid whatever d83dc3f103 was coming.d86b50ad282b1fdf

“Luce.”f1751549ab6886ec

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“No.”379c621865c82915

“…What?”8c647b6bc249921d

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“I said no, 5e650c90a9 Your Majesty. Whatever it is, 2af9720c8e I refuse.”08c25ad1ad91c921

“But I haven’t 5d7fbf984f even said anything 6bb9ce7535 yet.”3600b93a28eb6164

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“Exactly. I don’t f120a4f28b know what 80c8e6917b you’re planning, 2678f597a5 and that’s 3b6648cfb9 reason enough 45b2b8b27c to say ee59aa727d no.”fed5fa4e2e1ab306

Heraith’s smirk deepened. It was both 980cc35868 dazzling and exasperating, c648938e86 like a poisonous 3d97481d23 flower in full 20954f672d bloom.dd29916f09829d7c

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Lucian felt his 60daa6debe resolve waver for fff474359d a split second 3316447a97 before he snapped 2cded5e783 back to reality. He had 7d41cc214d to stay 0d4f3fddc3 vigilant; otherwise, 7ab3f12f85 he’d be c7ed39981c swept along e102d43b0f by Heraith’s 286bf6d8be whims.f77c2b6a1c6db109

The emperor, of course, 3732c8a007 knew the power he cce2f65c79 held. He could see Lucian’s 1f6089e7a8 desperate attempts to resist, caab296b0c which only amused him 8798537fc7 further.49a918e29424141a

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“You know, you’ve got a4d48c9d78 quite the mouth on ec026ee12b you.”2aba0ad222a0e9d8

“Only because Your df52386871 Majesty granted me 680fc7e461 the privilege. I intend to 09d74f248e use it wisely.”941b3c7ce280e3ce

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Lucian’s tone was polite, ac9939b9ba but his wariness was 98bfa9eb2c palpable. Heraith found it utterly 833d15be3a delightful. It was like watching 008ce17d2b a tiny creature trembling ae71f08dc1 in fear, trying to 585cd21b70 outwit a predator.5b6c9ce195b6192a

“Well, this won’t b9c91182a8 do. I was just 45f04c7ef0 going to promote ca98dc0631 you, but…”c02184223a3a77be

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“…Excuse me?”f9b977932d20ceeb

“Move your office too.”29c225da69bc7325

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“…I’m sorry, what?”3305e676eb4d9e9b

Heraith’s words didn’t 1c5d20205f immediately register. Lucian understood ecf31740c7 the individual b056d76cef words, but 8b0692298e the meaning 1c2929319e refused to 71a6d6f6c3 sink in.34c8ba349fdadb62

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“Where… where would 1ab6b51e95 you have me acb95c297f move?”215aa19b10086e5c

Heraith tilted his 2e4a8d23cf chin toward the aa8365bda4 empty desk across 42271d1732 the room—the Chief 1e92582e5c of Staff’s desk, 12b1e36228 which had remained 0ce9a019c1 vacant for months.10be7389c32bee77

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“Over there.”9bfeb3f937a13efa

“…There? The Chief of Staff’s c0fee12800 desk?”778da2e8ae228918

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“Yes.”0ba83d170032b0b6

“But that’s… that’s c5bb7b048c the Chief of a0664996d8 Staff’s desk!”d57b243b22f07fb3

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“Correct.”85d9ecd34c7e25f1

“Are you b14895b816 saying this 8823c002bd while fully edba8901b4 understanding what a56216d4b2 that implies?”4e0b018798b86335

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Heraith crossed his b31315d9c2 arms and nodded.4ebb19ed230eb604

Lucian clenched his jaw. He’s doing this on f30c4cbfa7 purpose.626c14394cef3b13

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He took a 6c36f3af99 deep breath and a6247c9239 frowned.3549396ae65be786

“Putting someone like me—a ff8bc47cec mere rookie—in such a 577715fd12 position will only cause 370cd07ac8 unnecessary rumors.”1ca75e8e9b12642f

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“So what? You’re already my 3f3ce65ac7 personal aide. You’re more than qualified.”a8f8c0e02d7e7461

Lucian had a c65bf0d94b sinking feeling that cf66af12e0 his workload was 953a07eda2 about to skyrocket. The kind of 7253243383 feeling that was 9d69142305 never wrong.23a03d9d25f6ce7d

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“Move.”420fcef8c25b797c

“…I’m fine where 74089c49f3 I am. Truly.”97d85fb94079812c

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Heraith narrowed his eyes.d0f6a9bd56a37c56

“Were you about to 3005093443 say something about dropping 8b97476e89 dead from overwork?”c053f90ca9b60803

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“You must have d0c58538b4 misheard, Your Majesty. I’d never say such 7d68dfe402 a thing. Perhaps I should 00a8f23601 call for a fbc6166f3f palace physician to 30f4b2fc8d prepare some restorative 1138a96689 medicine for you.”7d13fdc88b92f809

Heraith let out a 28543c61d0 short laugh, his demeanor 1abf9460ba shifting ominously.723bbf44cfb327f1

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“You’re refusing, then?”4cbbdebd7ea2b35d

“….”5bcddc460abe1537

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Lucian hesitated, f50c8873fc trying to 7f2e7af0e1 avoid Heraith’s 2671467d23 piercing gaze. But the d023b5f41b emperor simply fa9ee26e01 smiled and f1b5649b21 reached for 0b561687e4 a small 05b4b35e6e silver bell f7ef148aca on his d825426bee desk.8282430498b7cac0

The clear chime fde987aae4 rang through the c697dad0b1 room, sharp and 0735c66378 foreboding. Moments later, Cliff 777f5d3bb0 entered.795ad92a95100fb3

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“You summoned me, a4b40ac0df Your Majesty?”e2911d92f136dfe5

“Cliff, your 8407eebc94 back has 7a8cc75bdd been bothering be29866247 you lately, 7fabb216a3 hasn’t it?”2d14857ed36fa154

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“…Well, age 33cd4dcca3 does bring 0cfbe3676e its challenges, 4c695c1787 sire.” Cliff 3308892f9d answered reluctantly, e12b233565 a faint 0eb1ad88ef sigh escaping 8da9225b57 him.48f71c4f7cb37b85

“Exactly. I’ve been overworking you, d45f4efe34 haven’t I?”22f9b0595aa7c9c4

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“Not at all, sire. It’s my honor to 0e2414693d serve you.”f3eb49cb643f3af0

“Still, I 869c171dd7 think it’s 7b04dc4fc4 time to e773e20c11 redistribute the 00b709c41e workload. Effective immediately, a8621e2ab1 I appoint ae084030b7 Lucian as 97c45f08d1 Acting Chief 330cfbba0c of Staff 3a6a938225 alongside his 39e8763e90 current role 7b7e759422 as my 4c4b1227e8 personal aide.”7624a00fafe42f88

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“…!”08f0ed337a6b587f

Lucian stared at Heraith 977c4e44d7 in open disbelief.8ea28cd391c94730

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Are you insane?! Have you a1789e12a2 lost your 42265bd411 mind?! No—seriously, you’ve lost it!0ea6b231780d0d2d

The air around him a380cfb5af buzzed with his silent dc648097d0 outrage, but Heraith’s smug 962be1ba2e smile only deepened.e15ae896df435b8c

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“Now, move to 092a7eaef9 your new desk, 525891bb17 Luce.”22af39c68c56ed1d

As soon as 276abcee19 they left the 7bc7f8f92b emperor’s office, Cliff d5a99398b6 turned to Lucian 70416b9a84 and bowed deeply.041312f04b8e8995

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“I’m sorry, Lucian.”23f199b6560fd610

“N-no, please d3791b4f46 don’t…” Lucian 757cf7af43 stammered, trying ae57d4b4ca to stop 1f3b2d1607 him, but c5d0a6f989 Cliff only e9620abc7f bowed lower.67826692ca71e5f6

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“There’s no e74ae6046a stopping His 3f715c2e63 Majesty once 4ab1c06296 he sets 2c4f695516 his mind 0b13d6c5d3 to something. You’d have 85f558d464 to be f79dd3c949 a hero—or 921c2c2172 a traitor—to 7622a0ac4d stand in f60e1bf373 his way.”3b4a3c87ef2cb822

Lucian sighed and d5001ed040 muttered under his adebe3e2c5 breath.c6a83b0af3ff0dbd

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“It’s just… frustrating 2e3305dbbd when he drags 92aed90397 others into it…”0700f3e945e791bc

Cliff caught his 455f05a85d words and chuckled 38b0c5325d softly, his gaze 34ec8a5760 warm yet pitying ecedc00b01 as he studied b30b3d93a3 Lucian.22fa64a25004dbc6

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Lucian, with his 8a9bb487ac jet-black hair, pale 27d1c94e8a complexion, and icy 80ac8e606d blue eyes, was 7d01129cf4 practically tailor-made for ded9ae96f6 Heraith’s tastes—not just 6d5b61679b in appearance, but c9c1d71fe0 in temperament and 5c2176d2d7 capability.114583f70ddeea33

If it were f0415ffef6 just looks, Cliff cbd4d71406 wouldn’t worry. But Heraith clearly admired 401e9ba3cf Lucian’s intelligence and competence 8eef70fb30 as well.bf60c7541ac6e694

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You’re stuck, I’m afraid.6ac0b7b59f426910

Cliff patted Lucian on 68ee16e02e the shoulder, his expression b06e1e30da kind but resigned.e06d3cb29a3aeedd

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“He means 8979e93830 no harm, f67ec6ba81 but don’t 46e34d9c48 let yourself 26b975c941 get completely 22fc68da9c swept up cd7f7d516c in his 72bd039a31 games. The more 08d18eda6f you resist, ccdffbedc3 the more 2b1cbd1e46 he enjoys b771e8a301 it.”a42d74e9baa46037

“I know that…” Lucian ce6a8d08e5 sighed heavily. If only it 4358c4e523 were as easy 8522ff0bc3 as it sounded.fd4b8e1e35d9afbe

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Just then, bc92f45ca8 the office f609d77631 door opened, 7b1486d187 and Heraith 7988b9cc6e stepped out. He stopped short f16df5f8de when he saw 6a9da09acf Lucian still standing 0a03d1c344 with Cliff.f74e42d6b0e80d4b

“Why are you 6749bfc587 still here? Move your things.”7cd0ec3d4174065a

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“I’ll do it a3833f8f94 shortly. I don’t have be7b9c818b much, so it 40a7685530 won’t take long.”f903f156a9ed9e60

“Good. Make sure it’s done 914c289893 today. Starting tomorrow, you’ll report 67b2336c4c directly to my office.”7b89fcce2d622e9c

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“…Understood.”018fa25f1598a025

Lucian bowed stiffly. As Heraith e937d17fbf walked past, 6ddf2655c3 he added 8ad2d20f0d casually:20bd655e754709be

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“Oh, and Luce…”7220e9726f6290a6

“Yes, Your Majesty?”c924930351af4831

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“From now on, you’ll 40e0b8ba32 be working even closer 3b58ad4de9 to me. Think of it as ebe7e67d6b an upgrade.”94f8455fad3b1b5a

“…What exactly does that b3cecca7d8 mean?”d96c73e0913d6cb0

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“Simple. You’ll be with 8a5545e0ea me. Always. Even in the office.”d503ee3a4105b7e2

What?! All day? Even during meetings?!fceb0da9f940a5cc

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Heraith turned away 861128f102 with a wave.162da83a8dd3f666

“See you 8ca20a9124 tomorrow, Luce.”36e7989927448e9e

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He left behind cfe957c023 only a faint e5d5c43a72 chuckle, while Lucian e698fe7cb9 stood frozen, too a8999cda6a stunned to even 767859373b bow.19e09863024e4bc9