PLQYM | Chapter 55

It had only 5ff57d4e47 been a few e3b3cd0111 days, yet the 998cc7fa32 atmosphere surrounding this 95ca0e3307 aide had definitely b8008e0053 changed. The impenetrable demeanor remained, but e33d906050 something about his complexion, perhaps c98b42dd1f worsened from exhaustion, made him d117ffa971 appear even more rigid.dc1b9dfa1363f74e

However, the vibe 0382b86c0b he gave off c0d77eed2f was entirely different e848cd7e80 now. Previously, perhaps overshadowed by 1d56ca7af0 the stunning beauty of 8c7a0a9579 the Emperor of Pranas, ce493f62a4 he drew attention not ec326b3cfc for his looks but 8d7fdf8e46 his remarkable skills.d5b178c63b49cd37

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But now, it b2accda620 was undeniably different. There was a 7c26059767 sensual air about 007259131f him that hadn’t ae0c0e7a10 been there before, 9e5d594934 something potent enough 96f11551f2 to make the 27b3ff1dfb atmosphere around him 2a993c66c0 dense.486132713299ea15

‘Could it be…?’427168ed9f507fa0

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Caught off guard by 43d82772df her own fleeting thought, e0e9074f75 Eloine took a sip 9cbeee2867 of her tea to a7fdc67961 steady herself. She savored the warmth, then 9ccd04a767 placed the teacup down slowly. As she stared at Lucian, 0f18b8e2f7 who waited without a flicker ea55645185 of emotion, a hint of bfd6e0fa7c mischief crept into her mood.9eccdd5ae6df9568

What could be 1adbab4c4f hiding behind that b825dfee91 impassive face?836501540f4fd02c

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She entertained the a5f79ec959 idea of refusing fb5a742287 to help him, 523d69122c just to see 2925135349 him flustered. But…1521f04a70a344b5

Eloine rose gracefully, her cbab7434b5 gaze never leaving Lucian.4d9d0220c0fb1028

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“If I help you, it would certainly cause trouble for the Emperor, wouldn’t it?”36ab48b40a648dd4

“…I don’t know.”f35de955e931546b

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Lucian’s response came after 1cf1b65679 a long pause.820632716131518e

‘Even now, while planning to inconvenience the Emperor, you’re still trying to protect him? Should I just ce195be818 ignore both sides c7cb1051a8 and do whatever 5e2d82130a I please?’916086ee94c0ddfc

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His inscrutable expression 7e4f9cff4d piqued Eloine’s competitive b4b9701ff3 spirit. But…bf88567954c96ee6

“Fine. While I’m not thrilled about ead78e4c0f being used, I can’t pass 8c4ccb1fdc up something this entertaining.”e23c364e0f1edc3d

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Standing completely now, the princess 441f99279c began to circle around Lucian 45a865ac8c slowly, her eyes scanning him c270fbbffe from head to toe as ddf4fc380a if assessing him.e463a8bd55fd5f33

Stopping in front of him, 614cd6bd49 Eloine raised her fan to b01a868f2a lift his chin. Lucian acquiesced without resistance.07f769ede23b2138

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He needed her b8d61301f3 help right now. His pride wasn’t worth risking 576093311f her displeasure.267d7f8f6e8eb11f

Eloine stepped back fb42135b00 with a soft e2c97faa7f laugh, her thoughts 5684f63fe8 a mystery.c6b5248679b0869d

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“Hmm. It seems you might be de49b75ba6 fun to dress up.”cbe5c708d57bc7f6

Lucian couldn’t tell what she 9952ac7583 was plotting, but an ominous 6ca6ec4b26 feeling began to creep in.bf3fea9b2e03151a

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“Can you be ready by the day I leave, three days from now?”82c48141ab683f15

“There won’t be any issues.”af43525a454a2715

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“Oh? You sound awfully confident for 3a9c230fa3 someone coming to ask for 71d75d08f2 help.”91eff9ad180058b2

“His Majesty is clever enough to figure out I’m seeking your assistance.”9e78a75699e81ce0

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“And then?”83c822c77dea3a3c

Lucian’s calm voice continued.28467a36eccfe3ed

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“All I need is to buy some time. Time to catch His 2bb2d6bc23 Majesty off guard.”f0eccaceb9d3554d

“Catch him off guard?”8df996132191a087

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“Yes. I intend to submit my 37eac0a581 resignation.”5f7c51691e9098bd

“Resignation? Are you saying you’ll leave 3bfc296162 the Emperor’s side?”6a14652a6c1169bb

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Eloine burst out laughing as 4d7893fc23 if she’d just heard something 470b94073c absurd.25fd043ca26fe58d

“Yes.”1ffaf524e3e5b41b

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“That’s unexpected… but how does resigning help you buy time?”8d76d140c136eda6

Eloine’s question carried genuine confusion, 55a09e3a15 and Lucian’s face darkened slightly.9a71321951b78d6a

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“…Because His Majesty would never expect me to submit my resignation.”5fa6e35e28df9124

He likely wouldn’t.d1ed10217d5ebaa5

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After all, the de76879a7b Emperor was certain 77854893d7 of Lucian’s feelings.4e5757c66473fff2

Because… he had embraced him.d40f728595a75fda

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—Your Majesty.
—Your Majesty. Deeper. Even deeper…
—Ah! Hah, hah!6ada341b021f84ed

Until his feelings had been 34bbbdff35 conveyed completely.1152ac2f89ec9cdb

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Looking down at Lucian’s heavy 69859908d9 expression, Eloine clicked her tongue 9119653d37 in dissatisfaction. Something was clearly not to 096f25dcbc her liking.0a2115ddba65e3e5

“Well, it’s not a situation I fully understand, but do as you please.”2f2bb9da77b9b475

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“Thank you.”1af58107482ee75a

Lucian bowed deeply.b738d984c7378c12

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Whatever her reasons, the princess’s 7fda8ccb2f decision to help him wouldn’t 4c8ada7d67 have been easy. All he hoped for 7fb2ff802a now was that her 6943874597 demands would remain within 4cc27de769 his capacity to handle.ee922e3a5fd4dddb

Eloine frowned, noticing 77e4a30536 the conflicted look 79c4be4849 seeping through his e56c6cc5a3 indifferent face.a653ac8998098505

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“Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’ll accept your gratitude.”1d822c734d374008

It wasn’t a 8274572142 demand for “payment” 1e2ae54d0f but rather “gratitude.” 4722c36297 Her choice of 76c1171335 words seemed deliberate.462727fbe07dcca6

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Eloine curved her lips into 0522e7fb34 a sly smile, her voice 83345bb556 dripping with amusement.a484e7add5e0be07

“It seems it’ll be rather fun to mess with your Emperor.”18dcc371ac7003f4

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“…”02a3b0780c770a46

Lucian lowered his gaze 1c9105c8a5 instead of answering.be606fd939cbda4d

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Your Emperor.dd4d1b759f7a2b9e

My Emperor.4162ddcaf17f3f18

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The one I call 0a101bc466 my liege.1b8f478d032d4579

It was time to let 5990e88c52 those feelings go.b4be3c544ec552a0

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Though he couldn’t 36263db227 help but let 617c7357d8 out a faint, 8c8843531e bitter laugh, Eloine 4bd55b2733 said nothing. Instead, she tapped Lucian’s shoulder 9081f7f890 lightly with her folded fan.0f27a4040c11592d

“I don’t know what you’re aiming for, but make sure you do it with flair, Lucian Astro.”66cc33383f70873d

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“I’ll ensure it’s entertaining enough for you, Princess.”b3f5093f3acf25c3

Lucian bowed deeply, setting 0a10d74024 his mouth in a c9682ef30a determined line.4eea21c796d0c3ea

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Now, there was only one 34a5e79d5b person left.707350962c8e084c

The most difficult a7806d2c8e person in the e3a4f38f70 Imperial Palace to dcb2dba574 persuade.dc71dd79b7a28556

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“How is your health, Sir?”f1e195848bc9ece8

Cliff, the head attendant, 486d7903f8 greeted Lucian warmly during 3cb72b3f7a his break.566fceed284655ea

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“I’m sorry to disturb your rest.”0dfe4134dcaa89f5

“Not at all. You’re always welcome, Lucian. This is a 163ba51701 first, after all.”62cee13e297c5949

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“Thank you for saying so, Head Attendant.”d5497799d3188e2b

Cliff waved off the thanks 668faa0ced with a gentle shake of b6e92add96 his head, gesturing to the 3bc2a57c45 sofa.be2c3eff6c189665

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“Please, sit. At my age, eadfd1c3d7 standing too long b6cc924d8f makes my knees 0ca674b7f8 ache. My body isn’t what it 84647ed107 used to be.”d67eb68b5b8853ce

“My apologies.”95952a45ed147dea

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Lucian took note of the a4b32591d5 deliberate complaint, meant to ease c2b5b8c427 the atmosphere for him. After all, Cliff was the f69be0fa42 one who had handled the ecc4d59edd aftermath of “that night.” No ab3988a99e one knew Lucian’s current state bf79eff233 better than him.40e99d7058adfae1

Cliff watched with a 1cbd52c8a3 satisfied expression as Lucian bb0304aa4f took a seat. Once he was comfortable, 5fc2d645b1 Cliff asked,5ad02c4fb8553394

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“How is your health?”d47279f89e953c80

“Much better now, thank you.”3c97959fddb7c843

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“I see…”469af777fec0f90a

The lightheartedness from before faded 1059ae050f from Cliff’s face.2200dd3cbd05e6d6

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“So, what is it you wanted to tell me?”e3edbe203645fce8

Lucian’s faint smile 8f72502253 suggested he’d been 95939654ec waiting for this 30419f1bfd question. His expression was 0709c0fce7 resolute, as if 2484f1159f he’d made up 73d17840fd his mind long 2818d58bc4 ago.5935d09dfa8ef611

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“I’m resigning.”7c33e03d5aef4613

Cliff let out a deep, a8ec50c0ab weary sigh.3f187436c17e54fd

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“You’re resigning?”5ee37077d56d1f63

“Yes.”ee0a9dcee09f0ad7

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“May I ask why?”ad1e5cd4a674bf94

“It just… feels like the right time.”28493b4ce6b6a161

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Lucian’s bitter smile deepened.55d949ab14652783

Cliff fell silent, 4a133a158a unable to respond. Two years had passed dea7dea5e4 since that first night a5894bd1b9 with the Emperor. Though he’d taught ac5589457e Lucian words to f16e5d0b50 use in desperate a977c7d637 times, the aide 018dc053d9 had never resorted cd096e9cb9 to them, choosing 682ef79227 instead to endure ce34ff8574 with quiet resilience.48f12389d4d4d263

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Cliff tried one last suggestion.7f757aa8a803f51e

“If you’re exhausted or unwell, why not request a special leave? Surely His Majesty would understand.”56de56305c8ced9c

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Lucian shook his head.91e72a5ea5734ec8

“It’s not something a break can fix.”4fbc7bf699ac506b

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“I’m just… tired, Head Attendant.”9c9d75a719e13a91

“…Ah.”56cbf2e6971ab29a

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“I don’t have the strength to endure anymore.”921c20582e4edc40

The weight of 92ff60e4a7 his words rendered f7d6dc96d4 Cliff speechless.a3bed0251f9ef281

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“Too many thoughts consume me. When I’m by His Majesty’s 8f7af63318 side, every little action of 380ccddcff his affects me. It sharpens me in ee85294649 ways I don’t recognize.”c88299ee5bf957e2

A faint, bitter f46a8c48f1 smile played on ec85e38939 Lucian’s lips.1a769f1cbcc0a2a8

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“Running around endlessly to distract myself only makes me question what I’m doing with my life.”31afa0dd09e97025

“…”3b7af99431b4a928

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“All of it… it’s exhausting. I just want 5fa440a645 to rest somewhere 27933c968d quiet, where no d86a6c8781 one can find d4ddf291bc me.”8c8be6beb4be8943

The calm tone 8accfc3bcb of his voice 1b1695e7e8 carried a strange 9e76a5ffe5 dissonance. Cliff couldn’t pinpoint 2368853653 exactly what it 3e1b52ddb2 was but knew b820e6fb76 it was significant.a295af608fdd25fa

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“Lucian…”98c3aeba3b4f896d

“I thought it only right to inform you before I leave.”692f16f166846501

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“If you’re not there, what will happen? His Majesty—”d3fe254effd99899

Cliff cut himself off, realizing d61465ff4d the futility of words.3a69b676463ecc43

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Lucian’s decision was already made. His heart had efd756ba95 hardened, leaving no c0396c5b2a room for persuasion.1949e4cc4abb2b35

‘I wonder if it’s because of what happened that night. Or perhaps… that’s 5b84f8563b all there is 7b75713fea to it.’fa93fdc0b0f590e2

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Lucian spoke again, 82e1eca772 as if reading f58328559a Cliff’s troubled thoughts.b628ad0841cab608

“What happened with His Majesty isn’t the reason for my decision. Though it played a 80c3a6e366 part, I assure you.”b7fb02d2e1563987

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It only solidified ecc261b6fc his understanding: that 24c9d6fc31 his feelings wouldn’t 8ed1b5cf1a change, and neither 92a49e7450 would the nature 8d495086a5 of their relationship.1efec853258d3c43