PLQYM | Chapter 41

A few days later.

In the back alleys of the capital, a man staggered along, barely able to walk. His body was a wreck, covered in bruises and cuts. His staggering steps reeked of alcohol, so potent it was nauseating just to be near him.

As he stumbled through the alley, mumbling curses about the Emperor, a passerby, unable to ignore the disruption, shoved him angrily.

“What’s your problem, you drunk fool? Can’t you stop causing trouble for others?”

The man fell to the filthy ground, his hood slipping off to reveal a blood-matted mess of black hair and a face swollen beyond recognition.

It was none other than Rudi Osman, the man who, until recently, had attended the glamorous banquets of the Imperial Palace and shadowed the Emperor.

When the passerby cursed him out, Rudi barked back, his voice hoarse but defiant.

“Do you even know who I am? You’ll regret treating me like this!”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“He started it! He’s the one who looked at me first, told me I caught his eye! He stared at me the entire banquet, said he liked me!”

Rudi’s shouting only enraged the passerby further. A harsh kick followed, and as Rudi screamed louder, the man’s attacks became more violent.

When Rudi had been expelled from the palace, it hadn’t been quite this bad. Sure, there had been interrogations, complete with torture, to determine if his approach to the Emperor had malicious intent. But compared to his fears, he’d escaped relatively unscathed.

“His Majesty has shown you mercy. Should you appear before him again, your family will not escape ruin.”

The warning from the captain of the palace guards had been chilling but clear. Yet it was after leaving the palace that Rudi’s real troubles began. His constant conflicts with people on the streets left him battered—just like today.

With a dull thud, Rudi was sent flying a few feet before collapsing, motionless. Only then did the man stop beating him.

“Is he insane or what?”

“Let’s go. Crazy people aren’t worth dealing with.”

Cursing, the passerby and his companions spat at Rudi before scurrying away, as if afraid of being dragged into more trouble.

“Crazy? I’m not crazy. The Emperor is,” Rudi muttered, laughing hollowly as he curled up on the ground. “He’s the one who seduced me. Then he turned it all on me.”

He could still see that golden hair, those eyes gleaming with green and gold, and those lips that always held a mocking smile. How could anyone not be drawn to such a man?

Rudi laughed bitterly. He had come so close to death. If the Emperor hadn’t changed his mind at the last moment, he would have been executed.

“It is His Majesty’s mercy.”

Those words from the guard still burned in his ears. Mercy? He couldn’t accept that. His family didn’t know yet, but it was only a matter of time. A family that had incurred the Emperor’s wrath could not survive. Just recently, an entire noble family had been annihilated and stripped of their lands for offending him.

It was over. Everything was over.

As despair clawed at him, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Care to repeat that story?”

Startled, Rudi looked up. A man stood before him, his face hidden by a deep hood. The stranger crouched, lowering himself to Rudi’s eye level.

“I’d like to hear more about your story,” the man said, his voice smooth and coaxing.

“M-my story?”

“Yes. What happened that night at the palace. Take your time and tell me everything.”

The stranger’s lips curved into a chilling smile.

***

Had the air in the Astro estate always been this pleasant?

Lucian lounged on the balcony of his room, lazily flipping through a book, before gazing up at the sky. The clear blue expanse seemed endlessly tranquil, the atmosphere filled with a sense of peace.

No responsibilities. No endless stacks of paperwork. No dealing with an onslaught of troublesome individuals.

He could sleep in as much as he wanted. And best of all, he didn’t have to rush to the Emperor’s chambers every morning, waiting for His Majesty to wake up.

Even as the Chief of Staff, he had never wanted that part of the job. But somehow, it had become his daily reality, and there had been no going back.

Now, though, for this precious month-long vacation, he had no obligations and no one to meet.

“I’m happy,” he sighed contentedly. “This is what living feels like.”

“You’re getting too comfortable.”

“Brother!” Lucian shot up from his reclined position. Standing before him was Ronen Astro, heir to the Astro Countdom.

“Aren’t you being a bit too laid-back?”

“Vacations are meant for this, brother—doing absolutely nothing.”

“Well, you’ve got a point.” Ronen chuckled as he sat across from his younger brother.

“I’ve heard plenty about you from the palace. They say you’ve gained the Emperor’s trust.”

“Well, if you can call that trust, then I suppose I’m lucky.”

Or maybe just overworked. Forced to stand by every morning, manage His Majesty’s every move, and attend to even the most trivial matters. If he failed at something, he’d at least get yelled at, but no—he couldn’t even manage that.

As Lucian’s frustration seeped through his words, Ronen smirked knowingly.

“His Majesty isn’t one to entrust responsibilities lightly. If he’s delegated so much to you, it means he values you more than you realize.”

Lucian sighed deeply. “I wish His Majesty would tone it down a bit. Keeping up with him is exhausting.”

“Complaining already?”

Ronen grinned at his brother’s dramatic groaning.

“Why not go on a trip? Surely you’re not planning to spend your entire vacation at home.”

“This is the best vacation, brother. Staying home, eating, sleeping, and doing nothing. Why would I want to go out and suffer?”

“Ha, you’ve become such a recluse.”

Lucian shrugged with a grin.

“…I’m glad you’ve adjusted well. I was worried when you left for the palace.”

“You don’t need to worry. I’m surprisingly adaptable,” Lucian replied with a confident nod.

“That much I know.” Ronen smiled warmly, his concern for his younger brother easing slightly.

It was then that a servant entered the room and bowed.

“My lords, the Count wishes to see you both in his study.”

“Hmm?” Lucian and Ronen exchanged puzzled looks.

It wasn’t like their father to summon them so suddenly.

“What’s this about?” Ronen asked.

“He said he’ll explain once you arrive.”

The unexpected summons left Lucian with a gnawing sense of unease.

Why is it that bad premonitions always come true?

“It seems there’s been an incident, Lucian.”

As soon as they entered the study, the Count handed Lucian a newspaper without a word. It was a tabloid—a publication the Count usually wouldn’t even touch.

“What’s this…!”

Lucian’s heart sank as he saw the headline. Plastered across the front page was a picture of the Emperor, Heraith.

“‘His Majesty seduced me and then abandoned me. But I don’t blame him. I only wish for his happiness.’

The interview ended with the man’s tearful confession.

The Emperor’s romantic escapades are no secret. But now, even men? Can this continue unchecked?

One can only wonder if a certain aide from a prominent Count’s family has also endured unspeakable things.

Whatever the truth, His Majesty’s scandalous affairs are undeniably a stain on the glory of the Great Empire of Pranas.”

“This is madness,” Lucian muttered, tossing the paper aside in disgust. His fingers trembled with frustration as if he’d touched something filthy.

“His Majesty would never stoop so low. He’s a workaholic! Besides, he’s not someone careless enough to leave such openings.”

“That’s true,” Ronen agreed.

From what he’d seen, the Emperor was meticulous to the point of being almost inhuman. Everything about him was calculated, as if perfection was his sole purpose.

Even so, Ronen glanced at his brother, who stared down at the discarded tabloid with a furrowed brow.

“He’s such an infuriating boss, but he’s also… kind of amazing.”
“I want to quit, but it’s weirdly fun. What do I even do with this?”

Despite his complaints, Lucian had always spoken about his work with a subtle glimmer in his eyes.

That aide and that Emperor.

Ronen couldn’t help but think his brother was starting to share in Heraith’s notoriety.