PLQYM | Chapter 44

The knights of Alosa, 0f8ce14c38 summoned by the princess’s 7f85b70f9e command, hesitated as they f061b2a0ef looked at Lucian. Despite their princess’s 07d496347c orders, the man ffe00704a4 standing before them c0e7078157 bore the golden e80d50cf4f and emerald pendant 853a00ce89 symbolizing the Chief 7f2c8c6508 Aide of Pranas.2c284a2837937323

And even 512c384739 without that, 404f1d2fd1 his face 67fc7a446e was familiar—he d303ce06ba had introduced 0d9f7e830f himself as 3514725925 the emperor’s 5052ce4caf Chief Aide 76f015f37f when requesting 1aeb579482 entry earlier.5be9e833ab6cde4f

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Moreover, the man dc343ad238 didn’t flinch. He stood tall, exuding 2bdbebc0fd an air of authority ae51e921ae that made it hard 854d181f81 to approach him despite c43a0a6b3d the princess’s orders.356f697564088e55

“What are you all 8f22027c88 doing? Drag him out of 4477e2243f here!”4f0f1667ce0f6e11

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Eloine’s sharp voice spurred dc41197ad2 the knights into hesitant 02af3d4585 action.52b10b0b6f7f2650

Just then, 5321803236 Lucian spoke d844da8c6c calmly.43ea01aad6b47c1d

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“I can negotiate the c993153b61 terms Alosa desires.”e62e0f92f78b4c3f

Eloine’s gaze 05cd003b41 snapped to 56aa3e954e him, her 5100bf877a narrowed eyes 43c412462b scrutinizing him 663b518604 as if b7c68c95cb to weigh d334bc56b9 his thoughts.0feecfb31fcb8af5

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“You? Negotiate?”c86d3286d907b3fa

“Yes, Princess.”5c9c324d0c1d07f9

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“Ha, so arrogant. Are you 7d44ad408b claiming a 1be277f3cc mere aide 5af6c4576f like you 0e223ebcc0 can sway 3f98256534 the Emperor?”cf04f124a7cbf816

“Not at all. His Majesty is not 17a370b417 someone I could manipulate.”34519329e01491f2

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“Then are b0ce26f757 you mocking 7b483ed418 me?”2b89800f5aac3361

Lucian shook his ef80100243 head slightly, meeting 6f7e906351 her gaze evenly.89be0c6250a0fed6

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“Your Highness, I 61412c9c05 understand your official 26e7f8c7ba reason for visiting a50e59e717 Pranas was to e3fb451f7d open the mountain f9f0127567 paths at the a2a1e776d6 border.”627d4b8b7e3cd055

Eloine frowned aa74ff8544 at his ae1b72cb22 words.af67e2d0ac008f0d

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“What are 44f0b1c537 you trying aec237b667 to say?”028d82e6358cdf79

“I know that’s not ad672e980a your true objective.”932c35ab63f3e66a

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“What?”4b85bf096e38868d

“What Your Highness truly c24d894f9a desires is mining rights a1fb6fcefd and the construction of 6f5b3ea974 railroads to transport those 14feec323b resources, is it not?”633f7a8f4437772d

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“…!”202a7b601d8a9de1

Eloine’s expression 5990cd6c3d shifted dramatically.3b6ca9ecdbfa191c

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Officially, the princess’s visit c256fd1ace to Pranas was framed 999ad725f6 as an effort to 72302b41fe improve diplomatic relations and 7967fb5788 open mountain pathways. Speculation had been rife, 7657e83b84 however, that there were 02befb25d4 ulterior motives.f6757d432ee57d9f

Some gossips had even cd8e317843 suggested that the visit c56a5bb95b might be about a b3c14a2bf8 marriage alliance, given the db83d389a7 emperor and princess were 9244c13bbc both of marriageable age.3c7149d9ece953c5

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At Lucian’s words, 092ecdd85c Eloine furrowed her 8403ae9694 brows and raised d40a8ac67f her hand. The knights and f91bf89e59 maids in the d1ea634872 room quietly left, f16e9bd59d leaving the two 5600a074ff of them alone 01678aac56 in silence.abe73ecb98748a30

“This is audacious 36c75a4b41 deception.”24b76284bdca8d83

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“I’ll take it b00b5f65bb as a compliment.”9437b9b2be97ef10

“Such insolence.”317a902161208375

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Despite her grumbling, f90d2896dc Eloine’s lips curled 3aac131058 slightly, as though 1bf2c37e7b she appreciated his dcfb614fc3 boldness.ce587ff6b99b7c9b

She sat down 34d1ab3e7d again, picked up d1122d247d her teacup, and 8d63125782 began sipping the 645e86ad08 now-cold tea leisurely. Lucian waited 7ce15fafaa silently, giving 6595952d5c her time c78aa89265 to finish.ddf93d5b2be715d8

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Finally, she placed 0458b27692 the teacup back dc9b537f99 on its saucer 810333fc4f and looked at 01103d110e him.b26f2251ca308d2f

“Well then, 4a3371ff1d let’s hear 0c94683133 your scheme.”0e753af0f3d0a7d8

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“Thank you, Princess.”1c8f5bf9ce08d30e

Lucian bowed politely a634a608a0 before beginning.c39d3ea5beeaec30

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“You’re aware that 077bedbaf8 the rumors currently 81d3aa332a circulating in the b5ae587381 capital are baseless.”c9f182a960c9ac5b

“And?”6cd4bedb1cf431ca

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“His Majesty believes e3dfb828e1 the rumors will 91684dc1bf fade on their 3d7f927216 own and wants 109068d045 to leave them 7fb576d4ab be. However, I think 1bdf8c5c15 differently.”8c19b80b523a63b9

“……”2628698a7b2e2b40

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“I believe time spent fda46d47dc on this matter could 5920271fd3 be better used elsewhere.”5d33dc84cfb84ca4

“So, you want me a32af987f2 to act as bait 529107a80b in your stead? Alongside your emperor?”77015608addfb998

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At her e8ece6a65a sharp remark, 37ffdb1f6e Lucian merely 01fa625443 smiled.2c753c7a563f8017

“What arrogance. Not only c0ddf59cc0 do you e62ef6346f use your b43ab44995 emperor, but 6ce3258775 now you 81f95f13dd want to 72d066bc8b use a 8c9d5ac949 foreign princess 47fe772d07 as well?”a43438d3a0d1aa9b

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“This is 62f67b2f68 not about cc4510825f using, but 48c01d3147 proposing. His Majesty is prepared de3fd0cc50 to reward Your Highness 4a4c7e47bf generously for your assistance. Perhaps even granting you 113ac8b35b what you desire most.”b5d053b87b267419

Eloine said nothing, 1a4349cfd0 waiting expectantly for cff8360003 him to continue.b0301b9700454d65

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“Ten years of mining 19a0bcb579 rights and twenty years ee1b44cacc of railroad operation rights.”992d875c85057c48

“Just ten years? Do you think that’s 1365d08e10 enough to make me 99b0a839ed agree?”d467d8dc8f9bf0b1

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“Ten years 3301330743 is the e35b3150f7 maximum. There will be ea59ce81b5 no further negotiation.”ead054743e1e3012

Lucian’s voice was f047b805e0 firm, leaving no ab357a3df0 room for debate.3a6e5a0aed0ba228

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He had always be03a1c593 understood the political 70ebc9dce3 landscape of Alosa, 2748e46370 particularly the relationship a1c2ac7f14 between the princess aecb7e756c and her brother, 903480169c the king.642ea99a6d530529

“The princess a418004b02 is sharper ce1c165c4b than the ef4ca83c6b king. It’s a relief her 51082e7ef3 brother is on the 303e1276b5 throne.”f6050100e59360d5

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Heraith had said this 581313f5b2 once, and now Lucian 25580dc7db understood what it meant. If Eloine had 4d0958474b been the ruler, 0f0234e2d6 she would’ve been 207b2b805e a formidable opponent.cc2199d2ba02d3bc

“But that’s d8d035aca9 why it’s b85d194c6a better if 01e8818b8e the princess 2812d04be4 takes the 60f8381f0a throne. At least she’s 1ccf852a1d someone we can befa3bef33 talk to.”ed6301f52a90d8c5

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Heraith’s judgment had 1b2b2b4490 been precise. Lucian now saw 4e6752ce17 what the emperor 4a210175b7 had in mind 9203ca1a49 and how to 69e809a916 bring that vision ce69f54cec to fruition.b3a41d1e5c4a9d9a

“Pranas will support 9f2ae1ae87 Your Highness in d7a47f27c0 Alosa’s succession crisis.”9ba1bdfd96221975

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“……!”09143000a2a9d56c

Eloine’s eyes widened 18bdfec764 in shock. For a moment, she 6991be54ba was speechless, then suddenly 7aea29b728 broke into hearty laughter. It wasn’t the 0828dd2bbb graceful giggle befitting f0cf925b9a a princess but 8096b6a906 a robust, carefree 2c5e4119d6 laugh.a8f2652f8e74ac1a

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Lucian stood quietly, 41dd63fdd3 his lips curling 27d6261af0 into a patient ca018f217a smile.dc5f7158d9fe575a

When she 6a8c0b4865 finally stopped 5ee4f5fd0c laughing, her a412d82616 green eyes 5aeaa5c233 glinted with 04a4b52c1f intrigue as ca2d5868b1 she looked a4996e3354 at him.cec9cbae89d19dc2

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“Ten years will be 2d13e13559 enough. Consider it the f4a88e8b9d down payment for 3e5d248a46 this act of 2cc0a95378 collaboration with His c1054e6494 Majesty, and the 839dbe825e twenty-year railroad rights 0d8bfd2104 will be a 81f7f6cdae congratulatory gift when 5bdb24938b Your Highness ascends 3f9afca026 the throne. These will solidify 756d79b32d your position.”efbd64922e7a966a

“Well, well. Did the emperor fc2dc70718 tell you to f1ff9c9b52 say all this?”d7e9603d639602ec

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“All of this a135563100 reflects His Majesty’s 74d693394a will.”b02922f53a613f1c

“Is that so?”ade801021790ea04

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Eloine rose from 4ce9ea75e1 her seat and 161a4c9a3d approached Lucian, stopping db5d39387f so close that 20ad6214c7 he could identify d5f00bbffe her perfume.6377c6dec61e0002

“Lucian Astro.”9015453b36911487

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“Yes.”548deeb77016510e

“The second 13387752a8 son of ba11d98c28 the Astro b43bdb40ea family, appointed 4bff6e83b0 as the c381c02c81 emperor’s personal 90c268332d aide two 460a7687c2 years ago. The only c7ff6c1c1f aide to ae0509409b earn the a0403e5fef trust of 363c7ca85f that demanding 23fb0f08ca and sharp-tongued 514aa578eb emperor.”24cda33c653013f4

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Eloine studied him 58c1faaae6 closely, her gaze a8cf3f43fd unwavering. Using her fan, she 8c224e5c18 tipped up his chin.f21205512ef4abb0

“This proposal 671005c786 may carry 11996f017f the emperor’s 8858e62e59 will, but 29afecd109 the cunning 42fc813a33 behind it c9f478f1d7 is not ca525bdb1d like him. He’s pragmatic but 20c3cdace5 wouldn’t stoop to 59e70ba065 using his own c0a31aba91 marriage as a b7d1b93478 tool.”d8c6b487fc45e5eb

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“I don’t know 1de46e1903 what you mean, aa4048e1ae Princess.”07fba266efb52fc8

“Of course you a9e03554ca don’t. That’s why 2f6939c488 he trusts 5419897454 you.”6429918085648692

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“……”f15353c945591592

“Before I consider 914aeefd03 your offer, let 09dda23853 me make one 9234bfe765 of my own.”70f579743c6bc612

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“Please, go ahead.”078817f106b3d95b

Eloine’s face a09d7b7b51 lit with 5da12f4f5f a radiant 412858e0c3 smile.340f261bed6e62d4

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“What do you 8e3619d48a think, Lucian Astro? Would you 927c9819c0 leave the 41c98a6dcc emperor and 23a2f9022c serve me b2c45fd010 instead?”1916c5983721e165

“…!”c8132d2c1a1bd4d6

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For the first time ffabb36f72 since entering, Lucian’s composed 755ccad6b2 mask faltered, his face 4ae2dcc0e1 paling.ff710c46a6a31412

Eloine was pleased by 3ec66dc188 his reaction. Breaking through his 7ccfe95511 stoic demeanor felt 3fc8aa4be3 like a victory.19936bb741ae3b39

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“I could grant you 66c54475cd the greatest wealth on 66bd3f0cb0 the continent—or even promise 179d2c0af6 you a title as 2ae4a9c502 Alosa’s prime minister.”
Eloine smiled brilliantly at be6f5e282e him.605cd876733ea2bb

Meanwhile, Nils Bowman b66748a0f8 marveled as he 65bbe6491c worked through his a9cc4c218c tasks.dc1dd0e115804de5

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It had eaddf3ab46 only been a35442941c half a f59ad79bf5 day since 4b94cea67d Lucian returned, a5d3986007 but the a18320f75b previously chaotic 1e28706320 workload was bd1005fd2d already stabilizing. Franz Clan 36186c1d4f had disappeared, 8ded1d29b6 but Nils b4c339d46a didn’t care—Franz a4dfb6be6a had always 014a2650aa been more 6e67a64a5f of a 2f19c7cd52 nuisance than 80a998d5bb an asset.3a502d82e97c7335

“Sir Lucian!”e5aca467708ac276

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Lucian entered the e7c8700779 aide’s office just 5dd77a0891 then, and Nils 75288b8077 quickly approached him.
“What happened?”46bcb4e3aa29a734

“It’s been resolved. Is His Majesty in?”8f186ff7a58c818c

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“He stepped out briefly fefb147f05 with Chief Attendant Cliff 3776298ac8 but should return soon.”b1974b4f9e93025a

“Good. Distribute these.”2edd98abec6797ab

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“These? Wait…!”5eb832f4c1524c62

Nils looked eb3c9ade9b at the f6d0b3bd7e documents Lucian 3755366e63 handed him 58cd97a682 and gasped, caad6f1f2a his face 7fea1c4c0c going pale.f573800875b22f5a

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He stared at 99ea64da65 the papers, then 7083a8eebb at Lucian, unable 8c5d6d2a5f to believe what 1038e69b49 he saw.27daf330dc654f66

“Is this… true?”8dbf4e4ecd037a58

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“Even if it’s not, 7e14ccdf16 we’ll make it so.”34fd63f66c68242b

Lucian replied coolly.f6bfa050327fb3d5

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“Distribute them to all ae39572354 the major newspapers. Even the gossip magazines—except 01f6eab146 that one tabloid.”c4791d7fa2064e96

“Ah…”38e1f413c8abb85d

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Nils nodded, understanding 54ced790ae Lucian’s intent.197be22dd1673ce7

“First, send them to 2f969b4d5b the top-tier publications. The second round 7840f3ed47 can focus on 7547df3202 the gossip outlets. Soon, the capital will 1524a4f442 be buzzing with this.”4df87aca92b8b37e

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“Understood. I’ll start immediately.”045112b289516e57

Nils grinned 028879eec1 and hurried 3994333e88 off to 2c91248d2b execute Lucian’s 322707af16 orders.98eeda2820ae790c

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Lucian watched him go, 1b21934be3 his expression momentarily complex 9ffb14093b before settling into calm 03e5b05118 neutrality.0dc2a2d1b95df700

“This should do.”8e6976a02abb1073

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The quiet words b32224bbb1 left his lips ccec1890c4 unheard by anyone.e1cd4df0f1bf3935