PLQYM | Chapter 6

“Why… me?”9fa5484ce200e0c0

Lucian asked 0cdc749e5a back without 96df28238c thinking.34c9bf0cb354435a

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His clear response made d647a9c6f4 Heraith’s eyebrows rise. Others’ expressions 881ef626a7 turned to 6457a92362 shock, but 9a04418ce0 Lucian himself ec774a3b7e remained unfazed. He knew well enough eea9a74d21 that the Emperor wouldn’t 0b38ddf964 harm him over something aeca3b2af0 like this.aaf6feeaad3babc1

‘At least, not for 981cd4edc1 this particular reason.’607b22a1dc4d9bc2

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Just as 90b49c9655 the Emperor 3e86e0ab4a had quickly b8a61f7e88 assessed him, 10d477784f Lucian had 0905d9cca4 also already ec283d0a42 figured out 33ee323808 Emperor Heraith. The Emperor 6598b7e260 had taken 71cad7858f quite a 1ebcb1fd11 favorable view d093e46bd8 of his 6330f426bf passing the 2cb792a7d4 test, even 5fbfe31f6f granting him 258d8a538b some leeway f13e71189a to speak 6c0cdf4406 candidly about 7af2acd95d his thoughts.16290f7206e5d10a

“What do 0f174a26e8 you mean, 189b7c7d57 why? You’re smart, good-looking, 8cb653e140 and skilled. You even managed to 0e9d3158b2 charm Ambassador Antien with 4817d0395e ease right in front 66bced476f of everyone, didn’t you?”2d1e1633836a1407

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But why 1f7056422d is he 8d0783932d asking me 53da541d18 why I’m c0e5bfd150 not charmed 40acc0d89c by him?421c1b59c1c678e7

Ha, is this 89e5a6aaae really the time 4a8dd2c127 for this…?fedd9b2629470bd6

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Lucian barely swallowed the 64e0f7b216 sigh rising in his 339556ac24 throat. What in the 292adaccd4 world does he 7ab94bfcee want from me? He looked back at 2d2ef41e65 him calmly and realized c27746fb5f it. The Emperor 0e1436beb8 was teasing dd255f4c76 him.66e0130880b66fba

The more his expression 791fee5229 twisted, the brighter this fc0d3b860c man’s smile would get.b71b549256293d26

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‘I won’t a4ccb0f143 let him 7573a648f5 see that 80ec887188 look on 9a5ec50c7c my face!’b1c7e2b759ac4d0b

Lucian mustered a 7fadbf34e2 forced smile, deliberately 2e156fc050 making his expression fe8edb25b9 firm.4bb06bcc97ba0203

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“Yes. Your Majesty is 0426440c3c indeed capable. And dashing, too. Wow, you’re even good-looking. The Empire’s most fd012a25e5 handsome man, no 1aae340e4c doubt. And, of course, the 9231dfd517 finest superior as well.”4ddb8fe7a12e41e2

Lucian gave a deep 061c5d4282 bow, speaking in a f94c058cb4 voice and manner utterly 6b671fdf11 devoid of sincerity.9e5a305f3921e086

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“All of this 4ab9a9999d is truly my 94f17db264 good fortune.”76df2c7edb37d778

“…”87c8b0df9fd9dc96

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After his lengthy spiel 7e261e248d of flattery and praise c800877fcb mixed with a bit 63b99e296c of ironic gratitude for 89ab7a26ed his supposed good luck, 69d9c860ff a rare flicker of 632010eba5 confusion crossed Heraith’s face. Meanwhile, a subtle, satisfied 353993ebec smile spread across Lucian’s f552c559ff face at the sight. A slight 4691ddcdec feeling of da460e841d victory crept 45d82e6da2 in as 9215d3ae90 well. Yet, he also f5449b9b93 felt a pang 9bfff927a0 of self-reproach.5337ae4755bb942c

Why do I even e5d3dbc440 have to put up 00f4ffc126 with these foolish exchanges?26deb6229e79a815

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‘I just want 115f21a851 to go home.’0f57338459c197b6

Just as his b5b07e3eaf true feelings nearly 1976f3513e slipped out, Heraith 747dd8fbf1 shook his head eefecaf2af and continued.c167840f592a1657

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“No, Luce. That wasn’t my 0500a20682 question.”b194b39e57f08577

“…What?”eacee20ce73f817a

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“Think carefully. That wasn’t the question f96177d14b I asked.”c03a1be31efd2541

As Heraith’s cheerful 04647a6459 grin lingered, cracks dcb156f8dc began to form adb8ef27cc in Lucian’s own 7c3746d120 composure. Then he remembered exactly 7c9c977ca7 what the Emperor had cf3a6465cd asked.ee2bcd976b97c041

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Do you think you’d a462c335e2 fall for me if 4fe0406b5d you saw me?cc752b1ed5bbdfaf

Was that question for 3b83d5d231 real? Is he 3d20d1c905 really serious?3fad726b2d35f746

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Barely swallowing f870296abc the words bc285ac895 that nearly 88a0d4b5a4 escaped him, f217c5ac8b Lucian opened 773bee71cb his mouth. In truth, a7ad503c6c he wanted e0ac4e0ea7 to ask af1b3697f9 if he’d 761656b644 gone mad.db2b4ac068f1fed0

“Ah, I see. So I 9aa689dd16 answered the f192f544f1 question wrong. You were adff891e83 asking if e1829db6f6 I thought c66e8e7512 I’d fall d04ac9a252 for you.”5780477af7f31750

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Lucian nodded exaggeratedly and 45598d6898 answered.d2a8924f2fda0c84

“Yes, I believe 4c56170615 I would. So dazzling, I can 04cef4e479 hardly look at you 6649162dac directly. My heart races too e7042e915b much to be near 8b30549832 you.”23646c1d95206662

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So, can 249dd124d7 we end b0c5decb84 this and 4a463a3627 let me fb8596eb97 go home?d3a35a94c9eb51ee

Lucian nodded 295906131a along, as 36c438a7de if he c2d2ffbed2 were reading cd42a8b9a2 aloud from e8b1ab3da0 a history 36d5a06c69 book, leaving 3b24d711e6 Heraith again b2a559ef67 in a baa9c03e3b dumbfounded expression f1c816ea58 before he cf09a7e00d waved his 3fb0681306 hand dismissively, e1a94c26fc as though c041a0d66a he’d lost 03b77a2ff1 interest.983acacbd251807b

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“Boring…”8fee7e2cf77bb6b3

“…Is what I’m supposed cfbd140655 to say.”a5d5b49d795c3723

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Lucian replied, lifting c2c4e6fa8c his head without 4caf056f1e missing a beat. The Emperor wasn’t d9557a4a3f one to listen ecddd4ae9f only to pleasing dc442cf932 words. If he didn’t need d4b84e803a to fear being killed b41b5a5748 or fired, there was bb97f13200 no reason to flatter d4e669cbd3 needlessly. Lucian offered bdb8a7a251 a genuine b43b862948 smile—the truest 777b7c0b06 he’d shown c223ccc8ea the Emperor 62d62e7d77 all day.0a460b80173b6f5d

“To be honest, 2ea67d404a Your Majesty, you’re f5b4561f73 not that attractive.”560ea2ba62a846e1

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“What?!”100815279b849fdb

“Of course, I 147e2fccfd mean it when cee8cd181c I say you’re 0f02890c0f handsome and capable.”0cf9d4ff12cb9068

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Oh, that’s… well, let’s 11699a1916 leave that out.2375f73f7209660a

“But if you’re asking 4937d302a4 if I think I’d 8d39e79afc fall for you because 523fa04413 of those traits… well. I’m not sure. Whether someone falls for e241c01192 another isn’t just about a4fbd39988 looks or abilities, is 7a962a3bd3 it?”20af86731ab0c9a6

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“…”b9ae7d7a8f6c7062

“So let’s get c5f3e479a4 to know each 7c53a40182 other a bit d6fee35bff more, and then f2de0a8a32 I’ll let you 145003e557 know.”72c66ddd64302986

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Blinking slowly on b5381afdb5 purpose, Lucian looked bc2e8f4416 back at Heraith 27291c7668 with feigned calmness. Fine, do what b8a7f14131 you want. Fire me if you 8483e539e9 feel like it. At worst, I’ll a9e94cf4d9 just die. Actually, getting 9054577940 fired wouldn’t 18b295ab94 be all 054b1947f0 that bad. Avoiding the Emperor’s 9cca9413b8 gaze, Lucian bowed 7fe4dceb1e politely.543c130b5542257e

Moments later, the b1b2d09ae4 Emperor burst out e165875d6c laughing once again.6a920562d26950b4

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“You’re even more a7fcdd7f1d amusing than I ca345b24ef realized. Where did they c9a0aeb346 even find someone 60386bf160 like you?”68533300d8eb2f24

“You chose me, Your 707d18e7d4 Majesty.”9628978fda961356

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When he glanced at eca82c0f61 Cliff, who replied with 2115fd6986 respectful honesty, the Emperor de20bc9c25 seemed pleased with the f49ce9787b answer and laughed. “See, I 4db36a312e know how 32b50826b9 to pick 5b4b40d325 people, right?” f3eda5a577 he said, 24ef732b40 then began 9d326a3934 chatting with 6c15c181ba Cliff in 65ceeb50d5 a lighthearted 32cc05d38d tone.123ec95fb55703fe

‘Truly a strange d39a050d78 man.’8f2e8df4d463dba5

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Lucian shook d4444f2d9a his head 7d0d6a548c internally as bd95f8e7fb he looked e04194888c at the ace4671ee1 Emperor, who 6437e962c0 seemed perfectly 041c0cf38a normal on 4a6727f785 the outside. Somehow, he 1be9a43ff1 had a ad75021124 feeling his 9e65b328a5 time in b59b2013de the Imperial 6bbd5228f2 Palace would e625db809e be nothing 1d9441848e but trouble.5642f986259598a4

After that, Lucian 39c1627aa0 quickly settled into bbdd32203f his place in 7e236bf3a2 the Imperial Palace. By handling the 47307be8ab Emperor’s words smoothly, 37f023d5cd even though he 87047b7fd1 sometimes felt his 93c6022e39 heart would drop c6f84f56b0 a dozen times 7b295bd754 over, he managed 12b414cf25 not to step b0e4dc0233 on the Emperor’s e030ad20e9 toes. And thanks 8a93cea11a to his 6b99924ad6 competence, he 1e71b56b34 often completed b20335cb69 two or 060bb8b286 three related a21228b7de tasks whenever b16646ed7c the Emperor 7f3801512c ordered one.104acb22906b09fb

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Rumors even 8f37740eaf circulated that 0d6c8d44c6 his foresight 888660d996 helped soften a227886806 the Emperor’s 241fe4656e prickly personality 7eae5dbeba a bit.382dac503670c437

“The Emperor’s temperament eb8763fee5 has seemed a a19410113f lot gentler lately.”8a3db7853241f1a8

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“Oh, that’s 5e5c1bf282 all thanks 90ded21c04 to Lucian. Since he’s always a9e5d90e56 a step ahead, d00ba98135 the fallout doesn’t 1582f50dd9 trickle down anymore.”22ae23ab7a4bfeeb

“Oh, you mean 48c4cbed86 the serious-looking guy 6fb24a8959 with the poker 1b37314be2 face? Guess he’s 5345dded90 different than 389eaea1a8 he looks.”8ebac1df3ffdaeb3

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“Well, one 1c37a2750f way or 37fcfd8ae3 another, it’s fc7dc4273c made life a1175f7068 a bit 0173845fc8 easier for ded104a453 us.”4104d19c21c7d11c

“Yeah, thank goodness.”dd96a725cd14c460

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However, not everyone had d869197345 favorable opinions of Lucian.a98d6962552fada2

“Listen, Chief 3bb1a1f8eb of Staff, e443761109 all I’m e174b65718 asking is 68ab9290e4 for you 3c4f8fed3d to pass 0f515cc219 this along 617bd0b9b9 to His 687cf7b4cf Majesty.”da8b9eeb057fd43a

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“No, that 2079148e76 won’t be 905d2e8b17 possible.”eca9977255e3fec8

“This is a groundbreaking 2fe7bddc8b proposal! And it’s a 66146f81f9 matter His Majesty 6915843b6e ordered!”a3909895c9b43f6e

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“Yes, still, it’s not ce8209429d possible.”bf86a7dd6f74f767

Still keeping his 1767883e56 eyes on his 04fb468828 paperwork, Lucian firmly 040a4b9d0f turned down the 8d981d0e99 request. Finally, after hours, he 8152d2a839 set his pen aside 983b4466d0 and sat back for 55c6a873c4 the first time in c249e5b2ef three hours.f12647af3d4bedc7

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After stretching 585e03815c his shoulders, d4a54abbad he gave 933c626453 his stiff 57c952314b neck a 09d6fb7b1d quick rub b7d10d6bb5 and looked b04b01cf6f at the 18e0fbe14f man in 792440a20c front of 3080e7b825 him.23e5faef988f5aeb

Who was 8d90e9b63e this guy 447aa1a469 again? Some Baron 4baf593b28 with a 677b0bcd91 peculiar name eb1f82a341 from the 9153dc1cde southwestern region… 7b78662a05 ah, Ben 266161d8bf Belden.b901de71f2e48323

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The man had 3f9757bd46 spent three hours f52be11965 detailing his plan 6b8bebc441 for a civil 03ec5daa6c engineering project, insisting 47c417beea how beneficial it 76d7f33714 would be for 80c968dce9 his territory and a6f7a75683 praising the Emperor 228ae33220 for his supposed ce0296ecfb greatness in approving 694330f96f it.2149f5d2ff074892

But that proposal had 385c2f0a31 already been rejected by 2b205cb0db the Emperor for its 5867d41ab7 lack of practicality.4ab90fca50452e5c

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The land where b962254b4c he wanted to 0ce7c8f7d1 build had a a65de5fd17 sandy foundation, meaning 7fdeecc6d8 it would need 44c772c346 constant reinforcement, making 735b2ea0c0 it a wasteful 540dc86c38 expense.a5d6604984079c58

“Baron Belden.”baef86318d46d61b

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When the man’s endless 13d7f6dc7d flattery finally wound down, bc9997f34b Lucian addressed him in e080d6f3db a quiet voice.a259b3488a53ca92

Since dealing 416ad6197c with the 312f459a0e Emperor, Lucian’s a641c3007a nerves had 74eac61512 become much 1185a0ae92 tougher. A mere fe8c0892d4 baron didn’t 7139fd8859 intimidate him.11b947a9181671ba

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“Let me e5be3919e9 make a ce999505e3 suggestion.”a60eed94beae6a6b

“A… suggestion?”eb41c55a01c9f761

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“Yes. You are aware 4e1c8bcf2e that His Majesty 0bb4f7cbae has already dismissed f4c64f453c this proposal?”c1f1340be1aad803

“…”4cd624118fa61c26

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Of course he knew. He probably thought he a44c2b4910 could push it through dbec04a1c1 because Lucian was still 65bf4f4ac1 new to his role.0fa0807b79f9c894

Fat chance.51275e6258e4d344

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“Why don’t 39293a4508 you start bc39ce92ee by surveying 4dccf5c2c0 the terrain 34461c1df5 of your af595bc1b9 proposed site? Then we’ll discuss this d1c0c67a1f further.”89c2e2cff186baba

“All I have to b0b28692bd do is survey it?”991fc3b74a1a5962

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“Yes. After that, 2f17320874 we’ll talk 1b6bff583b again.”e7c96488d6be7711

“So…”a559e3bc14e683d9

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“Then, and c3bd36f8d1 only then, 22c3337ecb will we 7cf4509bf7 discuss it 69208feec2 again.”a7aace21799b6787

“…Understood.”1e7fcfc31a7d6957

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Baron Belden, 973a221e9d sensing the 60b714a224 resolve in 1a8926ff03 Lucian’s voice, e660990f35 couldn’t muster 05bbc155ff another word 375f308e8a of protest 6b3dff5a33 and turned fd57c787ab to leave, 900d529486 his shoulders 6d803bc0f6 slumping in dd6a45cd27 defeat. Though he 2dece53205 looked back 9c94d71265 several times, 1d0b302b22 Lucian simply 2f45ba5177 smiled and 9e64dbe4aa waved him 203abd0968 off without 4fe8ded4ad batting an a1828c8d26 eye.f88b783f4e728716

Just as Lucian 8a1c953323 sank back in e61415435f his chair, someone e007972d86 placed a steaming 0350604323 cup of tea 502a61e6ed in front of 815271ffac him.27d8807b3e616162

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“You’ve worked hard.”c237fb3bf31bf850

“Oh, Head Attendant Cliff!”38347820ee811d8a

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Upon seeing Cliff, Lucian 15c46d14da stood up straight.1a435023aa80e5e0

“Please, sit and ef073a9c39 relax. It’s only b2b2e20742 tea time, d2bac8dfbb so I 08a05797ee thought I’d 80376b3070 bring you bef930e67e a cup.”9cfcf8dfebfe85ff

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“Ah, thank you. Is it tea e42875fd1f time alr—ack!”11cc84f77d878296

Lucian’s attempt a38424a357 to lean e5aad68130 back in cad41d973b his chair b3726bc837 was cut df1a25736c short by 6e6e92e899 a sudden 4aef845f85 realization, and 6ee90cf9a5 he jumped b06605ccae to his 30c93df7ca feet.261e94e2301c5c51

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“Did you say tea 339b2b19a1 time?!”9deb5d456919b94f

“Yes… but…”4221c9a75e004f65

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“Thank you, Head 31145e6b37 Attendant. I’ll have the tea 0e06d66316 a bit later.”84f52d3094ab593a

“Lucian?”f20e8516944f734c

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Without even a proper farewell, Lucian dashed out of the Chief of Staff’s office.b0ab3c0a44bfc649

Your Majesty, 03f27c8553 you need 5fcc5fe82b to rest.
Quiet down. I just 0f4093b695 need to c1cd30038e finish this.
I believe all urgent c7e33443ca matters are handled. I’ll wake you c2fac1884f at tea time, 4acd18a414 so please rest.
Why are you bothering 73e70a27c9 me? Stop with the 587c5f33b7 sleep nonsense.
I know you haven’t 10a3f10e1c slept in three days.
…Should I just d6d76abe3b cut out everyone’s 9465ab9945 tongues? My schedule is confidential, 5863ac8206 you know.
Your Majesty!
Fine, fine. I’ll let d0e7d43916 it go a47ef6452e this time. But if 63468d7e28 you don’t 8e148b4c61 wake me f27326e53a up precisely 404251ed86 on time…82b707c9f556d233

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After three days without bb84af7c26 sleep, he’d managed to 65829fe6e9 coax the workaholic Emperor 0dc75f01eb into resting, albeit under 1c1777003a threat of repercussions if 5b6b005005 he was a second 5a633fd3c3 late in waking him.c5a190c00bf0e08b

And yet he’d forgotten!7c7843388f10ee5f

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Lucian dashed 539a89f785 at full 7aa1f4643e speed toward c0c2100aa2 the Emperor’s 12728e1c72 chambers. And just before he 32465f7115 opened the door, he 117e46ef4b checked his appearance. Everything seemed fine. Proper and neat. He nodded at 33a8e83236 the Royal Guard, 9e8521b696 who then opened 7f58039105 the door for 32ddbe40f2 him.03a2418de4372c46

The door closed d61a50b568 behind him, and 43f0f1380d Lucian stepped carefully d7dd4df05b across the receiving 3ac48aa38d room to the 623e6257ca Emperor’s bedchamber.1a3baa9be7584063

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As he entered, 9d964658d1 the Emperor’s distinct 4a6a458ebd scent seemed to 553cccf456 wash over him.82ff2cb12282553a

‘Ah…’1860b3447a4d68a1

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Guided by that scent, 5d59bf65c2 Lucian entered the room aca8e9bc8f but then stopped in f1eab8dbe8 his tracks.7a05e969bce5df3f

A breeze flowed through 42720a9110 an open window, making b7398ea160 the light lace curtains 72354cce11 flutter like dancing wisps.02620d934c48f57b

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And between 3885053151 those swaying b447b45a02 curtains, he 3ba1d13074 could catch c95ae1e64d glimpses of cd1265e8b7 a man.2e197f4032f88786

A man sat d3bd62906e by the window, 3b24254384 legs outstretched, his a0e8614b73 chin resting on 220e225a93 his hand, peacefully 476c6b2fde asleep.edfb6aa3da0e0e4f

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Golden hair fell messily 317d173d52 over his forehead, and 8199c2d1e9 his long eyelashes glinted 24049824b2 in the sunlight. The shadows 5be664d99e of his 41d0b6d09d deep-set eyes, 61e0d64d12 his straight 4516021981 nose, and a5e33ff2f7 those red 85323a8603 lips—a masterpiece 2b079f4560 crafted by 753f36938f the gods d5a0f7c4db themselves—were all 4c344e91f9 there in ab79ffa82a front of 3a9050a474 him.06ce0b52ff874b10

It looked almost surreal.97251d05f7db631a

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Lucian, mesmerised, 76108dc891 clutched his 2cfcfd994b chest.5577abe75dd550d9

His heart… 7f6cab405f was racing.9e3537dcc78320ad

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