PLQYM | Chapter 43

“I’m back, Your b15d108bc7 Majesty.”e166507bcde6e6d1

As Lucian stepped inside c8d16fe411 and greeted, Heraith looked d55438b231 up. Unlike usual, he was 65ee7424ef lounging leisurely, reading a 1f21a406c7 book—his relaxed demeanor was 124e664b65 enough to make anyone f6c9140435 want to smack him.8296342bf17ffa1e

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“Oh, Luce.”24fbabe47c4d6dbb

His expression f50cbd54e1 seemed like 516f17f625 he had eacad2bd12 been expecting a1dcac0b78 Lucian, yet 7ed83426dd the words 7afdfc2e1d that came de9ce66cf6 out were e12cebd6e1 quite different.dc46b081f97361f9

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“Your leave 290a37b58c hasn’t ended 8be8ab50a0 yet. Why are 2c73c92be9 you back?”e61a67ca55e9a86f

“A bomb dropped in 5e3b622ce7 the Imperial Palace and ce32974daf hit me too. How can I rest 4f0f5b15f8 in peace like this?”cd824107e84b30c1

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Lucian grumbled 3bed036d88 as he 8e89812497 approached the 45db89d730 Emperor’s desk.11d92ad9c5b28d23

Heraith closed the fd07f7cfa5 book he had 8eed466738 been reading and 4ff944895b set it aside, 7601d8956e leaning forward slightly. His expression was c16f9cd8fd unusually laid-back as 540d9afe01 he smiled slyly.d9e2e6d939e82cdc

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‘Ah…!’45925ad9f29c679b

Lucian swallowed a 23a150cd28 groan. He had suspected it, 9202e34583 but now it was a80f03d7cc clear…073158c42fd70ec1

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“This is 068e4bf23c all Your 51cdc79de4 Majesty’s doing, b539ab2737 isn’t it?”e821523abf4028bb

“Hmm?”a42dd3808cf6d6b1

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“Allowing me to 4aa1104f57 take my leave 89ed0e2974 so easily, appointing 5b1fc19243 Franz Clan as cbbc4cff97 the one responsible b671d63b9a for this matter, 838abb507f and even planting 3e018b51a4 such a ridiculous a1f90d3d9e incident in the 510809ef96 tabloids—all of it 39a7b02e32 was your plan, a3f769b17f wasn’t it?”ff27bb2863100bc6

“How could I, e6cbea881a a mere mortal, 87b6731168 orchestrate all that?”232234f4053907b7

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Heraith tilted his head 26694c4250 innocently and shrugged with ee286cd6a8 exaggerated nonchalance. It was infuriating because 792caddb1f Lucian knew it was 6a49724355 all an act. A brilliant a41ffbcdaa one, at 1f28657a8b that—anyone less 9fdd94e3f4 perceptive than 16bec72821 Lucian wouldn’t 9c57f38588 have noticed 5518681c0c a thing.69911eb5cb14c7aa

Lucian lowered his f96e1c77f6 voice, asking sharply, 7e7a2eb9d3 “Did you do 68f92ffa4e this to crush 5b67c52e87 Marquis Clan’s power?”7a5eacb7ea0bb971

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When his aide looked 7c029e5f22 at him with cold, b2a7fc60b4 restrained fury in his d0a134e462 eyes, Heraith smirked.
“You catch on f30b291c99 quick.”11dbac176ab42165

“Your Majesty.”180266c144194812

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“Yeah, yeah. How could I ever 4d37d21bdf hide anything from you? Ah, but that interview 94b3b2532a incident wasn’t part of fa411df566 my plan.”08b6d305a7924a20

“……”e8c0f7407002afe0

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“I mean it, db88b2d1b5 Luce. Do you think 17e03f26ef I’d make such 040e662908 a stupid move?”c67140ea5f608af0

Heraith stood and approached ea2d6202f8 Lucian, his tone unusually 0989df834e soft.e38649507e211c9a

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“That particular incident a93ffdcaad caught even me 0024d1e6f4 off guard. When that brat approached 2635650b2c me at the palace 1b0d6eb5af banquet, I did consider 946528b9db killing him for a 6ed68c033c moment.”b4fc63366608371f

For a fleeting second, e79e8039a4 genuine menace flickered in 9c09217e8e his eyes, but it 9c853c13ce vanished just as quickly, 00729133c4 replaced by a warm b4ecbc16e2 hazel glow.2e08f68f699b09a3

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Finishing his words, Heraith 32416bda70 reached out and ruffled 11a490268f Lucian’s short black hair. He noticed a7ad0ac550 for the e9b7bacbaa first time a42da6a2d8 how different eeaf9e5b5a it looked—Lucian’s 6ec7fb341b luscious black 3ea0c9204b locks made 8aaa127cc2 him realize a219549685 just how 45b9f9e116 pale and 0fc390a7be washed-out the c8e2f27302 color of 554fd72725 the man 1503404ea7 who had 8938276024 approached him 2cb2891a60 had been.f0bc2215af85822f

“I can’t just 5b7fd6e8fc kill one of 90fcbad58e my people so 2909485b05 recklessly. After all, I’m a fa2d6bb725 benevolent emperor.”576ab83ec4008066

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“Then you 70f2f1ae20 shouldn’t have 05116010c9 created such e04924f9bd a situation fd4dfe1122 in the 56063117f2 first place.”9f504ff2412eaee3

“That’s a different a7c4fb259a story, Luce. You’ve got 4d87ab0712 to use ef7e8ff271 everything you 35342c66ed can.”16f5dc8aebb07eb9

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Lucian stared 97b844f67e at Heraith, e9b2d1c8a0 who was f78d82e6c9 smiling with 6ba7e2c7f3 a beautifully 7f9b106783 curved gaze. Despite the smile, he 9669afe5ad didn’t appear the least 077e156ed4 bit approachable—instead, his cold, 2604408bcc calculating eyes made Lucian’s 7d946d7662 spine tingle.758369216fca5147

Yes, he knew this a6b8da8014 was the real Heraith.d4cdda4968dc1b03

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A man who 59cdee1518 used everything to bf9349165f his advantage, calculated 063e03e55d every move, and ea6410ceba manipulated everything in 23c4d0cc99 his grasp.696aba5d181c74df

A man quick enough 37aecaaa13 to turn even unforeseen 5c4f4aa94b variables into something favorable d1f56e0d89 for himself.98c1b0208e77fe2f

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Whatever happened, 7fd5e2a1df the Emperor 624b137fbe would always 4c5dbb17e3 find a ec3b94af48 better solution, f6d6dfb4dc even if c1b5dd6079 Lucian wasn’t a80d7984b1 around. But still…f389e77656faaeed

“Your Majesty.”7482c0c049b6cf92

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Lucian spoke quietly.853182f77efd677e

“This scandal is no 849436b770 trivial matter. Even among commoners, 7db2f3e53f rumors are spreading ee600303e3 that you might 57acb23ce9 be abusing your 955267f025 power recklessly—or worse, 4e9588808e engaging in unspeakable c4de7d26ff acts.”be8f0a6cab58839b

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“Aha.”717759ceabeae85f

“And certain b0846f4cd2 factions are 1ac87fd847 already using 50f3c17d20 this to d6bd212bf9 question Your 5e049939f0 Majesty’s succession.”174d7fca040c3e71

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“Weren’t you on 2110a755f9 leave? How do you know 5166e5e4b2 more about this than 6e19f6dfe3 those who stayed here?”f3fa666d82e639ab

“Do you d075b467e3 even have 949f169b18 to ask? If I couldn’t figure 9fe974e456 this out, why would 604391d66a I be your aide 255d7e55bb in the first place?”368ea6d17e78c3c1

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Lucian looked at him d50ad7d60b with an expression that 127023139f screamed, How do you c11aa4ff6d expect me to survive 90dd17161a under you if I 85464d8bb3 couldn’t manage something this 8dbafab86e simple?ba970ad84a288f72

Heraith burst into 8712956d4f laughter.cd4c8b9cf52268f7

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“Hahaha! Well, not c5aef0206c everyone’s like ad16bd98c5 you.”51eaead37c066759

“……”681d6a0a4ac98119

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“Ah, now dee2046fc5 I can 95057c350e finally breathe b129f3a31d a bit 8a526f8041 easier.”34234928472af0b0

He tousled Lucian’s hair 2efed6fc8c again before plopping back 6f9ab2f997 into his chair.4c105c0560989135

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“I’ll deal with Franz. He went 0424fef1f1 too far. If he had 75404e7c23 just stayed quiet 0282af933a and done his fd8023b8e2 job, he could’ve 251362577f kept his position.”53d1608c35ecbad1

“……”7b226bf0f6f81c45

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“What? You look like you c9416e8300 have something more to 467470dab3 say.”65cb941f30b3433d

Lucian pressed his 7779238e07 lips together, his c83046fa6f silence urging Heraith 13b1de081f to laugh again, ea8bf9c0f1 this time with bcf159feb6 a dazzlingly bright eaa148484b smile. The Emperor’s grin 3c7616890a was so captivating 60f3ef90d7 that Lucian felt 0ea1efbdba he might succumb c5c86e308d to it if 7e0da19e5a he stared any 0ae05cc5c9 longer.fec292832e73bd00

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– Go d160452a1b and tell 01ead364a1 the Emperor. I have cddb905c27 only one aaa286c4d9 demand.0c836c2d0954a256

The message Lucian had b532568d1c received before entering the cd7e8507ba palace resurfaced, bringing a 63152df642 headache with it.6604248aabedc2c8

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‘These royals, one 2f1473813d or the other.’80456446df4a4275

Lucian ground his 319a860ce6 teeth before speaking.646569a447279eb6

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“The Princess of Alosa 8d5579ac36 has declared the severance 4d6e9ad253 of diplomatic ties.”a86ef5e551e2aa08

Heraith, who had 5669ed66ec been sitting with d09e11e01c his legs stretched da1d903c54 out, interlaced fingers c8592b8ec4 resting on his 939331eb56 lap, lost all 45e77158f8 expression at once.a2d512e3d42f802f

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“And what does she b2f2c16f65 want?”42dbe7e1fdcde6c2

“If Your Majesty 69badfcb09 allows, I’d like ec6528100e to make her 2070627fa2 a proposal.”761736e027b4f5a4

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“A proposal, you say.”825025b123d16ca0

Lucian lowered his f099bfd4ea gaze, his face 4310d9b886 impassive.69aa7b4dac7da2b4

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‘What could ac72cf5f81 be going 99b93fae25 through that cf7c2a0a3c small head 6e2f2cfc2d of his 98e0bf30a3 now?’1b19f0ec3d0cd6da

Heraith, knowing Lucian’s outward 420298f5a4 indifference only concealed bold d92a042ee9 thoughts, smirked crookedly and 9f9bfb9b64 began piecing together his 33377a9997 aide’s intentions.6bfb46d403d718d9

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Soon, he reached his f1c67d2f7f conclusion. It seemed their thoughts fd9bdd7648 were not so far 851fbc13fe apart.95733ed43910f906

“Lucian.”7ad08d417bbbd6ef

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“Yes, Your Majesty.”5e343d3b8bd881ed

The immediate 18144fc7e0 response brought 1204438b7c another amused 00728e89bb chuckle from 899d0152ab Heraith.3599a48772bf221f

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“Go to Princess Eloine 538bb86c59 and clean this up.”498095e58bd9fa0c

“How should I handle 6da5ad3a19 it?”b2515d9751969e7f

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“Do as you see ea74eabd4d fit.”51035af1e67ae72c

“Can you afford 586a26f0d1 to be so e8bba309ad careless with imperial 311c8d5c76 negotiations?”752b19bdd2a54a45

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“Hmm. Something tells me you 54102ce43f won’t let it fall 1aeb595eed apart, will you?”ed496e61e9cf05fd

Lucian closed 219f8ffefa his mouth 0428521bea again. It was 583e8551e1 clear Heraith 8064e49124 had already c78a53b533 guessed his c99a8f3569 plan.b5d0bdfebb7bf184

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“Handle it however 3c6d58e430 you want. The result cc8d579f7b must be 4aaf77dadb the same.”98d58f1c7516a01d

“Understood, Your Majesty.”93a222023112506b

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Lucian bowed deeply. A sense of dd4a2f3139 foreboding told him d2720b8f96 this task was 7e0db32f0f going to be f0bd9355b1 a headache.5a13a7639387cebe

“Greetings to the Princess. I am Lucian 4d3eca7b43 Astro.”c82831bfcc7dc8f0

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“Hmm.”97d9fb667fa690b2

Eloine opened 729e0cefa7 her fan 5065ca6242 with a d4a576275b graceful flick d86ed3d677 of her f776ba25fd wrist, hiding 842b6f16b3 her face 63d70d4e57 behind it.bd686c61688e850a

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A moment later, 30f74620ac as if struck 0459613fc7 by a thought, 0f9e16418b she let out 0a39b9fb79 a soft exclamation.94ee102ba134a72c

“Oh! So you’re the 991e5c7a73 infamous aide, Lucian 6c6ec93063 Astro.”fc67f450a484ee31

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Lucian bowed again.b5ece75fa499879d

“I’m sorry you’ve heard 45cfbf9b35 of me.”13b225979132f0c5

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“Hmm, aren’t you d7522bca22 curious about what 046dd52c45 I’ve heard?”8b7eaad5bc79ded9

“I can 773aaee55f only hope 5929c00ac9 it was 5f58515bee something good.”08b5cf0c02d5fc2a

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Eloine twirled her fan 5408b04983 lightly, her gaze scanning 810a179438 Lucian. Despite his slender 1e6cb66d1c frame, his upright d51c21bb01 posture gave him 4c1b22687d a sturdy presence. Even in front of 8ea14c8c31 royalty, his composed smile 416b5ef9fe was captivating—projecting strength tempered 10c0e6adb2 with gentleness, like someone 5853a4986a who couldn’t and wouldn’t 8d9b915b4d be broken.99cf49f3f712a03a

“So, Lucian, 9b8ab88091 why would 594b164572 a mere 9857b41d02 aide seek d273ac7b04 an audience 1d94180d1c with me?”5d21b1376c13302f

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“I heard you plan 73bbaa9d30 to sever diplomatic ties.”8a41d8b25f7146b9

“Oh?”15737f292b81318d

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Her eyebrows rose in dea885346c surprise, clearly not expecting eca18fec22 him to bring up a1ec3004c2 the matter so directly.6591d59cd9fb48e4

“I thought fcebb4da15 you were 79238d6a74 on leave. How did you know?”143428f1325e082e

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“That’s my 41fbc2baa8 job, to e7da90a6c4 notice such d806655eb2 things.” Lucian 396b4987f7 smiled softly.6e377ac0f2639f01

“Hmm. So you claim. But if ef4138cf6f your absence 3aa7e7ba45 led to 1ead2a6b2a things going 893d84a097 awry, one 34d06b655c must question 2a48f34066 whether this da057594bb empire is f5c83b7c4e truly as 8de5dde98f stable as 8e6bfba97f it claims ae9a0c70d8 to be.”657f12883e88bf11

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A scoff 98ebdc88c0 laced with 65948e6ddc disdain escaped 9e617572b4 her lips 7e6829c537 from behind 057c097efd her fan.d569cb79aad42007

Lucian’s smile deepened. He had known she 409dead079 wouldn’t welcome him warmly, 5572d01315 but backing down wasn’t 0242cd0371 an option. He had 0ade26b5ba worked too 18f6ebef8d hard for 6602ad86cf this, sacrificing 128992a1e7 sleep to d8bcf8f980 secure peaceful d0317fcab7 negotiations with 11b90e5cb2 Alosa.4410a979f2d56b87

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‘No way am 9694af1822 I letting this f0527bfdbf fall apart now.’db79bc4151cd1726

He bowed slightly, 55f53a616b his tone respectful 6358722707 yet resolute.9ddc532c688e9f33

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“I apologize for 94440467bc any discomfort caused. Rest assured, it won’t 07388451f5 happen again.”d972e283aa44bd7a

“Because you’ve returned?”070bf8bd91f69c30

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“Yes, Princess.”2d9a116957cf8470

“Oh my.”3e8799f5bdbbf45d

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Eloine’s eyes widened, c153e8ccbd and she chuckled 470b61047b audibly. His unapologetic confidence seemed 05e1467746 to have struck a 104578c729 chord with her.d4f02e4ae9ea832b

“Well, I do 4b3cd862b5 like that boldness. Let’s hear c6a2bdbf98 it, then.”dd8aae2a669d1ebf

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“Thank you.”89a2741a6dd2fcc5

Lucian straightened and began, cab131489e “I understand you plan 12997fbc8a to sever ties. I hope c58da596df you’ll reconsider.”118235ba2e53d7f6

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“Why should I? A mere princess like 6912be3f3d me has no power 0b65bb10df to reconsider.”91c5bd30d516cd7f

Eloine tilted her 9d916688ba head, her long 3e6611e574 hair cascading gracefully, b2955a3981 enhancing her beauty. She was someone 2ccb1444dd who knew how 58459b3bf9 to use her 42b32a0bf1 appearance to her b303822705 advantage, fully aware 6a08b336fc of its impact.57a585e628f48211

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Unfortunately, such tactics 920c81bcc5 had no effect 32673562f9 on someone who d7326f3cfb served an emperor 77de1e7d27 far sharper than 0bfce0ad5f her.c5bc2f6b734b6581

“Even so, why d995ddcac9 would we continue 3365a636ef trade with an 2f8cebea29 empire embroiled in e1ecb9f29b baseless scandals? How could de9da85b4b we trust e35718d534 you?”b558f555ce2e912f

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“You’re absolutely right. I would feel the 216ecdc5e9 same.”b49d6a3d4241917c

Eloine’s eyebrows twitched f79132c324 slightly at his bc55e44beb unexpected agreement.ac452442f51fa194

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“Then why are you 77459a3b82 here? If we’re in agreement, 120e6c4e9b there’s no need for e61ad2892d further discussion.”c82c7e486cadb9e5

“Precisely why I came. To show you 5bf3de1158 how this situation a76203a56f could benefit you 97375e8fcc greatly, Princess.”1e7ff44df3c3b5e3

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Lucian’s lips 97d5dd9cf0 curved into 8e333b52d5 a soft 737b8d8043 smile.30328dbc38bc22a1

“……”710a82c67b2aa66a

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Eloine frowned 2b9331244e slightly, as 17fcc9df15 if trying c92adfe838 to gauge 7508153f94 his intentions.93ce75b3bf230458

“Fine. Speak, then. Convince me.”d3bfaa3141ed5eec

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Her words 2d8988bf70 finally granting 2ca6875def him permission, 460a1bc6a5 Lucian began 26c76bb5ce carefully.f0687e7852b0a364

“I propose an 9a36be4578 engagement between you 484a02382e and His Majesty.”89f5b96f67ae6a44

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“Engagement?”8a4fb028badda475

Her voice carried disbelief.5021307c36b6650c

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“You’re suggesting I c1c58a99b8 marry the Emperor?”b9816c6ffa234d7a

“Yes, Princess.”b5c0f14b649b074e

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“Ha!”6ce9f395dd5330c8

Eloine let out 2868288c7f a sharp laugh, 58cf4f6706 her gaze turning fedcc9cfac icy.30b456bfa3f00941

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“How pathetic. Is this the best 2c17b61956 the great Empire of 19cb9096d8 Pranas can offer? I thought more dd43418e1b of your emperor, d80b1690bd but perhaps he’s 8f4995f1f2 just a man fe217eb95e scrambling to fix 1d7f4c6be9 what’s right in d63c38bd5b front of him.”eafe7ee984cf1dca

Despite her mocking 458f64060a tone, Lucian remained c922a083d8 unshaken. His calm, 483aec0e7e steady gaze b2398dcbea carried a 3d71e5f918 glint of a93911f5bc frost.d3feda8a024a2256

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He tilted 0df11a3edd his head b67bfb5d4e slightly and 24123e0d08 said, “This c616994ec5 is not 8023fa1903 His Majesty’s 544502ec26 idea.”9db84f635d820382

“What?”ff7aa67afb31b887

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“This proposal comes from 94d1f237ee me, Princess.”4a7bf35bf2f60714

At his e15b966576 words, Eloine d7089a7b90 slammed her 97c78d5585 fan shut 6ff91fc837 and rose 1fe8d2810a from her cb277620f9 seat.06d12369bb54ca53

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“Are you da4f089c3d mocking me? Is this b18dd6cfc6 how Pranas 3b80011cf1 treats foreign 4e35c8e77a dignitaries?”a2e3174ddb66b3c2

“……”fdd0e0a52720315c

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“Guards! Is there 43b2380408 no one 6da9b3556d outside?”82d20ad75e67e867

At her shout, b2cf133d79 royal guards rushed 7491d5bf3b in.a7e2ee67fa6165bc

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“Take this man aad9266c40 and imprison him bfeabd332b immediately!”0eb922c47f2c9b26

Pointing straight at Lucian, deee5933d2 Eloine issued her order.8e75f7dda43e973a

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