PLQYM | Chapter 39

Lucian doubted his fc93e57390 eyes.bef4cc911c842c74

Was he dreaming?c069ada1fb8e925c

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No way—yet there he 42189903fe was.823a29950a8f29e1

The man lazily b443b407b9 waving his hand edf5345fc6 with a sly 89538e8937 smile was none 1b8e7499d2 other than the 81f6507fab Emperor,Heraith.de5e8a2bde940f30

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“…Your Majesty,” Lucian 34eb7e72b1 greeted cautiously.c8524b9456356c6f

“You’re looking c3f3930431 well,” Heraith 6a5bc71163 remarked, a 2676b5c837 crooked smile b8c2cfdfcf playing on 6f5de85b5b his lips.8358206f81ad7d14

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“Did you come here 108be26326 to pick a fight? I’m on vacation,” Lucian 2f3637223f shot back.2be3c5103ff212a2

“Ah, yes. Vacation.”cba4b3cc271334e8

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Heraith chuckled softly, 02b6189338 his hand casually aca8a1abed brushing the leaves ed921f2c5a of a decorative 6231ff006d plant next to f5585e3462 him as if 457b734f3c he were stroking c29c95bb97 the delicate skin 04f1e35857 of a woman.27ecf1d06c9643e9

Is it just me? Lucian wondered, 988692ced6 furrowing his 05c9550748 brows. There was 913c15c3ee something strangely 43a8055cd0 sensual about 526d8d7ec2 Heraith’s touch.57259102105939f8

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Why is 76b12aa7d4 he here?07a3584cfa5bd151

Lucian kept his mouth 3c515deacd shut, observing Heraith warily. The Emperor, noticing 5110400b9b this, gestured at b434de5538 the seat across 0e35e40712 from him.e906cf4732ebfc5d

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“Sit down. No need for formalities; 9f4f4252fa this isn’t an official 92fe6a0861 meeting.”3ff14042e26cdbd7

“…Understood.”5a94363282743c0f

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Lucian hesitated but 84c3932fc7 eventually sat, his 931d0eedc2 suspicion still evident. He couldn’t 7de93a4e26 shake the 0c4994b89b feeling that 93332a6bd1 the roles 7c636a2d21 of host a93dfa6f94 and guest 8a34aa1328 had been eedc1a12c6 reversed.20c453565161ab67

For a 755e6ae150 moment, Lucian d7a8407db6 fidgeted, shifting 9b915c043f his gaze f842fc287b around the 779e3ba7b9 room. Eventually, he couldn’t hold d6fbb50b5c it in any longer.c2c9ff45ac909664

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“Why are 502c847d06 you here, edc2bd7e3e Your Majesty?”b1f502b60c645f9a

“Why? Do I 112c4a559f need a 1fc381967c reason to 214e0ce421 see you?”d36aa1b254f7b16e

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“Superiors don’t visit their d2913c10de subordinates on vacation,” Lucian bf018ffe00 said pointedly.e118631b68d82485

“What?” Heraith c4f69c36ac raised a f931b7d2f3 brow.5f502b20d0f971a5

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“I’m. On. Vacation,” Lucian 2ce8721db0 repeated, emphasizing d8532556e7 each word.586cc1af5ee5660a

“Ah, yes. That cursed vacation,” Heraith 3106b28009 grumbled, his voice tinged 68f4838e8b with annoyance.08e9a5082ee82217

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What’s wrong ffbd20d934 with him 9eacd36e14 today? Lucian wondered. Heraith’s demeanor felt 24686a3f09 oddly off, his ec90a09a9d irritation unmistakable.fbe6299cc0a080c1

As Lucian subconsciously studied 3fa512958b Heraith’s expression, he suddenly e2fa67637a realized what he was 47a4cc5dd3 doing and clicked his 603b68b66e tongue in frustration.e775633917c49dd2

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I really cca8321596 don’t want cea622b8c2 to work e0b47d56cb even here.82484f72095e42d9

After a 13940f26d6 brief hesitation, f1c583003b Lucian leaned 1760552fe1 forward and 4c95f6ef8e placed a c173ed75a5 hand on 760c64df79 Heraith’s forehead, 4d606e1332 pressing the d8d2070dac other against 271c61a3fd his own.092246881cd2004f

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Heraith’s brows b4049cb162 shot up 2e9b29c972 at the ee6e5a6c3b unexpected gesture.2d43d8a2c496effb

But Lucian, eyes c031d0aaef closed as he 1e56abdd0a compared their temperatures, 1e12b270cb didn’t notice.20d0d78ad67f4fe4

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“You don’t seem to 3b06796e02 have a fever.”90e12e0d9f660da2

Could it be dfed5eb1e2 something internal?d15d5823e12529be

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Lucian’s face 4442d0ad05 scrunched in c6b78a2ccf concern, and a2d789482e Heraith chuckled.398b0bac5a1ba42f

“I’m not sick.”be829e8bb57d0740

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“Then why 7e5d41c350 are you 5681cd52f6 here?”982b51387f5a9951

“No reason.”f35f726a13c71f91

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“…”c46b1dc5f8ec64d7

Lucian’s expression darkened, his a8c5f34c95 worry growing as Heraith 5f6a984cfb grinned lightly.90855e64ba305094

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Something felt off. The Emperor was acting 5d9698672b like his usual self—but 8f09c8fa82 also not.4df0c7d62073540b

“Your Majesty…”34ce25a452592ef7

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Just as f04dd12cd2 Lucian opened 1c7996733e his mouth 7dfa616b77 to press 8a30f31ce6 further, Heraith 3a1e644ad5 spoke first, 1962f792d0 his tone 30fec50d8e leisurely.1e4c6b63b511f6f3

“This isn’t 5816c469c6 bad, though.”f0a77cd8e3ed2f0a

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“Excuse me?”61e96dd0d9014979

“This,” Heraith fffbc8ea65 said, pointing bbfb1852fe back and fd9a1fb77e forth between 2f0b577546 Lucian’s forehead 6cf6e788eb and his f2c0a29c18 own.b3c410320a6c25b1

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“I like it—it c03cd64a20 feels like you’re 396ed26ef9 worried about me.”b43bcc6283b4ce3d

“I’m always 0d6b716e9a worried about c2b8b3b8e2 you, Your 5e20359fd8 Majesty.”20f5da68da4927e6

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“Really? I thought you a2b38ac524 just nagged me 4fe6bbfaa6 to death every 8f1b8fefda day and didn’t 8c0a0434fd care one bit.”eed7b2e564d60d60

“…”56d768e3805fcab2

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Lucian stared at 0a8ad08778 him in silence. Heraith was as 7c772ecc75 dazzling as ever, f8879c47cb but today, there f72963c220 was something subdued 230fa38fe9 about him.e72df5333b536cb9

Sure, the melancholy da2a89a356 added an almost 2c63ce0558 ethereal beauty to bbf1532765 his already stunning 12178697cf appearance. But it 8abdd87ec4 wasn’t the 5c2d8848cc Heraith Lucian 2e9b604f6e knew.b2141dbcc286b7b1

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“What about 572449b764 the negotiations d8c2cb7944 with the 845ab30f8d kingdom? How did 12113c6b64 you manage ffc9fec51d to leave?”0b0505e136598d4f

“They’re going smoothly.”849f1db481006871

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“I set everything up 4cadbabb85 to ensure there wouldn’t f29e9bf236 be any issues, but… 75bf03c59c Ah, by now, the 2770c5327d officials must be meeting. As long as there 9bed6d8102 aren’t any major mishaps—”44051cef61226f12

“Lucian.”b318df3e55a90fb6

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While Lucian’s mind raced d88845375f through schedules and contingency c91af31e35 plans, Heraith interrupted.a542898323252b14

“Yes?”f59aa4dc6a9fccc2

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“It’s your 064965cba9 vacation, isn’t f524754878 it?”e4b90a07ae053dd0

“…”2a6c1c09833346c0

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“Talking about 24a6618784 work counts 32633cdc5d as working. If you’re going d2f4aff55f to do that, 778c3f7c6a you might as 3518f7ab1d well just end 2c1635854c your vacation and 5a629e752f return to the a119f6082f palace.”55d3bc3467c1bd75

“…Understood. I’ll stop.”bf5a9ce0c5224ec3

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Lucian sighed, finally 5e3ecaf7e8 relenting. Heraith’s low laughter filled 5af52db093 the drawing room.1f30c3f21ef82e20

“I’ve already instructed 220e3a709b them to prepare 33b4136f8f dinner and a 5e2138d9b4 room.”d19142e9047ed548

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“Why? You might leave 0efe388ab7 right away.”2ca3df1ae9fbcede

“If I 67f15611ac left immediately, fdefd86481 your father 0377c84dcc would kill a19b12765a me,” Heraith 1508c0e1ef said bluntly.5c282fdb49545bdb

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“True, Count Astro d1082df17c is a stickler fb59c511d6 for rules.”6bf559d6f1b21092

“Let’s call it 87f7c43e9d ‘principled’ rather than b5c0ddc18e inflexible,” Lucian corrected.653a58a41a7aa130

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“Same thing.”7605d0cfd7e5540d

“You know 86bbd71003 it’s not,” fbf39bc196 Lucian shot fe7552171f back, exasperated.376d6569d72c52ed

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“…Alright. I suppose I should 6a8172cc2d rest here for tonight,” 064e5036a3 Heraith relented, his tone 6c59983a39 more subdued.8b8fc67f7b3ffc25

There it is 0b2144f443 again.c59913052b0ce7a4

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Lucian frowned. Heraith’s mood was ce2b694278 definitely off. Even while smiling, 3c38f88de4 there was an cc97f3a3ac undercurrent of complexity 090624d62b in his expression.f6ee161c37590482

“Your Majesty.”6a6ea85596f90c46

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“Hm?”595f653e773f98a2

“Is something wrong? You seem… different.”ac05899a4c3b7b26

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Heraith didn’t reply, a8cb242fad merely staring at 4aa7ca51e9 Lucian.0f6e7754da1aee0d

Familiar eyes—steadfast, a83fcfaa5e fearless, and cc347fbe5b direct—met his a8ecd9c472 own. A warmth he 8c1bace255 hadn’t realized he’d 136cca020a missed began to 4008820e7c fill the void 93bba63ec4 in his chest.5594fc8fe7c71cec

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“Lucian.”2f9ed1524ac0b61d

“Yes.”7706f0d79c7f8768

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“…”782c14ae6fb64c13

Was it the e3064359af passage of time?ffc65e61f3208990

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The tearful, 7375472ec7 clingy Lucian 54317b9c80 in his e6e41f07bf memories had 2a0490fb6f seemed so 44b2b37b7b much younger. Two years 80eb6d2d52 had changed c1260e8bbd him—made him c9d9a958a9 stronger.0624fbe307e37669

“Your Majesty?”8bfaec2f132e5076

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“…It’s nothing.”93d7773b3ca8bbb3

“If you don’t tell 2fca424198 me, I can’t assist eb4efbb221 you properly,” Lucian pressed.3ebe3bcb25105b57

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“It’s fine. My mind is just… 3ec6aba63f a little crowded.”b7d287e229b4364d

“Your Majesty, 4a21a1412f could it b47367c5a7 be—”29aca2d1e0cc5876

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Before Lucian could finish, ff5da84883 the Astro family butler 5718522a96 knocked softly and entered c2ee92191f the room.af8d76f090cfd7ae

“Young Master, dinner ee9f3817ec is ready.”a1054af757841d4f

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The awkward atmosphere dissipated fdd7a9f4cd at his arrival. Heraith, who had 02acdb113a been so uncharacteristically 547762300d somber, returned to 62cfc4ee34 his usual self.79eab3393933d74a

Lucian let 693ad84c76 out a 5b08e2ec1f quiet sigh 407a192462 as he 90b395bd85 observed the 48c5eccd77 change.9115246b05f2d7de

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Heraith had donned his c4f9dc6098 perfect mask again, concealing cc3bc062a8 whatever had been weighing f4c01cc1e3 on him. He wouldn’t reveal anything 8aeee7af3d further.204e511e19e50b40

“…Alright, I’ll 61839e8c8b be there 0e5bc71d34 soon,” Lucian 789383cffa replied lightly, c439344964 his gaze 7b91c090fc shifting to 817bf0db22 Heraith.57122b66a5dc9bd8

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“Shall we, Your c341688943 Majesty? The Count’s chefs d2856fbca3 are quite skilled, 5c88617529 though perhaps not a4087e23db on par with b9f09bccac those at the 046a2231af palace.”301957a0eb061d68

“Let’s go.”532da9ec6b660b4a

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After a brief pause, 3309f48694 Heraith nodded, rising gracefully. By the time 3fde2a74b6 he walked past fb558a4e92 Lucian, he was c3e1030df0 every bit the d17df58faa composed Emperor once 9acf1fef1c more.3dec06054f84967a

The next morning, before ab9c205a07 dawn, Heraith prepared to aad0638c31 leave the Astro estate. Lucian was 51244cc740 the only cb37d00074 one there 3c9e1e5dc1 to see 90a07916f9 him off.33e449cfa288ef21

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“Did you 2cce0f8329 come here 2388f14bee all alone?” 5bbf0f89f0 Lucian asked, 039e1c18eb frowning as 3c6a0d9a51 he watched e49a194589 Heraith mount 065caa98f3 his horse.423bd9f076f81dd9

The idea of fca607b144 the Emperor traveling eb6941f37a without an escort 84f55b24a4 was unthinkable.af8e599e41227073

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Noticing Lucian’s concern, f1cd6df27f Heraith chuckled.701d62c861f1582e

“Kent is around. No need a3632e2a7c to worry.”064de244a4782c28

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Hearing the name b34d821f96 of the captain 4a57944730 who always shadowed 2f0643a3d7 Heraith eased Lucian’s 06fc28af8b tension slightly, but 82acaece6d it still didn’t d76dee8dc8 sit well with 2680629023 him.caf9d98375149e74

I’ll have c6435fce53 to reorganize a4f97262f4 the escort 6335cfc2ec team when 05616740f5 I return.aed0e78585a2a059

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Heraith smirked, 356f1c711a clearly reading 72e58aa2e5 Lucian’s thoughts.23a9a6d61e36be3f

“One month left?”fa45146a6de85ea9

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“Three weeks, Your 35b913379f Majesty.”d7dc7abe3fc2456c

“Ah, three 3cc5dfb356 weeks.” Heraith f10853802e nodded, then 06d910c4f9 reached out e7e860cb1e to tousle 80a307d23b Lucian’s hair.d110ee9e62bf8a8c

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“Take your d1131920be time and c69ee1be1e enjoy it.”f4cc80cb902ab282

With that, 1f2033feae he spurred 571cfc166b his horse c2885ce868 forward. In an instant, 84aea06e06 the continent’s finest dc89df9d96 steed carried him 5fecd76e49 away.28f017463c3c8a00

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Lucian stood 782aebb836 there, stunned, d5c4d21f9f unconsciously touching 8f398e45f9 the spot 2d113f8d9e where Heraith’s 2398106553 hand had 74ca697255 been.d8b17c0435c17ee5

Why does it 258b99562d feel so warm?2feef6ad77a59cc3

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“Why is 288d9ae7e6 he acting 02e9274425 so out bd0bb572b9 of character?” fe1c52c47a Lucian muttered, 7e4d6f8cbf baffled.3e545932453043c5

“If he wanted 6f1c0da11f me to enjoy 80540d7460 my vacation, he db4dff0728 shouldn’t have come. He’s not planning eecd73a8cc something, is he?”78ae6b7f0602abe3

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His grumbling c60bfd3684 carried both 0ab38f1784 irritation and e852242fc0 unease.2493fcd626959d66

Lucian lingered a moment 404c4c3a17 longer, staring at the bdc668cd41 spot where Heraith had 06b5f61c6a disappeared, before turning back f96806cac5 toward the estate.279f246588f2a266

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Next time, he 569095116d resolved, he’d vacation 044f498335 somewhere Heraith couldn’t f88afa8ebb reach.be8137955e43d7da

***1a68ce88790b9cdc

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Back at the Imperial bcede6c1b6 Palace, a quiet commotion 9afc5e6bf8 brewed.12adaa555aa700ab

The Emperor had e44d4d2475 been missing since 3c0ec2143a the previous night’s 97770dffeb banquet.cfa550cfa5806667

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With Lucian 72038f238e on leave, db359085cc there was 6181c4212c no one c9a9982ad7 to ask 0b0e7fd8d3 about his 7fefbdcce5 whereabouts, leaving 73f85bed29 everyone scrambling.d73ad69cd2179691

While the 4cca338cf1 news hadn’t c17eeb5bde yet spread 7bfb32d8e0 outside the ce7c6b64e0 palace, it 2428c181f9 was only 00d9eb24e7 a matter ef5d621cee of time.226338c81f24753c

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Two days 1385d5e803 after Heraith’s a564ba6fb2 disappearance, Franz, ca6eba0271 unable to ccfd1c5e64 bear it 9a80cd4d12 any longer, baa12c22f5 went to a747cdab4b see the 47b6751238 head attendant.5826f0a88da54df8

“Where is 5e76ea730e His Majesty?”23d341daeb16949f

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“He went out for 0b0c6d1071 some fresh air. Why?”b1a533dd612af594

“I-I just… He hasn’t 91c22c2d2d been seen, so…” Franz 64e9514a9d stammered.94bf20940c9421c6

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The head 8ba1c73d46 attendant gave 3ad7dab9f7 him a 9ccac6f124 dispassionate look.fc7ad30f3a428a80

“I thought you, as 196f199475 His Majesty’s aide, would df4cfa20d5 know better than I. Was I mistaken?”42c18684df27a108

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Franz flushed 45ceb12fe5 red, the 767fefe82a calm but 509b8e09ef pointed words 1733d6e3d2 stoking his 5df5e1467c embarrassment.9b4ed00972102559

“Even if you don’t f104ace9b7 know, trusting His Majesty 6f56113bc3 and waiting is our 2fa183aa22 duty, wouldn’t you agree?”188ba973012b6af6

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“I-I know that. I’m just worried—”21c68574a38e2d21

“Worried? Or are you f70ec33a36 looking for excuses e26e2bc39c to cover your d9e95913ec failure to perform 15846f3ebb your duties?”37fb0470bff19fa2

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Franz’s face turned befd9089e7 crimson with indignation.7c1338cd030ef8d9

“How dare you! Do you know who bced1b8000 I am?!” he shouted, d2244811f4 unable to contain himself 51ce38023d any longer.e80cf9cb07a9e870

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It was then db31514d63 that a low, 551ef3f0ea commanding voice interrupted.6ec2fcae08a6621b

“What’s going on? Who’s causing such a d4e024d7e3 commotion?”721bf812acb13e09

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