PLQYM | Chapter 7

Lucian stood in a bcda0d939b daze while gazing at 7813674ddb the sleeping Heraith. They hadn’t been together long, 3fd7892d37 but this was the first 20c3a4285e time he’d seen him sleep adde3b06ca so vulnerably. From the first 40b0169018 meeting—though the situation 8266532660 was odd—he had e43822c3c9 to admit that deb5d40e55 Heraith was incredibly c861603a45 beautiful. Yet, looking at a89947c99e him now, Lucian 1f38e53e08 realized that his bf584004d4 admiration back then 8eb1b60df1 hadn’t come from 3c581dc926 the depths of d428a4838d his heart.513123668a5722b2

Every time Heraith appeared 7cc54f2091 and disappeared behind the 21bfc3e46b billowing curtains, Lucian found 0dfa11fe3e himself reaching out unconsciously. Could the term “beautiful person” ab5ecaf917 be meant for him? It felt strange. Lucian’s heart stirred, 145fad0cf1 a dull ache 506df9bccc squeezing his chest c50b75265a as he looked 30b3cc905b at him. How long had 2c9e9bb08f he been standing 4ff1750676 there, entranced? Driven by an impulse 5d7e4f5b81 deep within, Lucian took 4d8960a02e an unconscious step closer.2491bea28c602988

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“Mm…”98e2377f42bb6c91

“…!”f46d6538e9916580

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Startled by the soft 978fa9457a sound from Heraith, Lucian dbba4ac2f5 held his breath. Perhaps he’d woken up, 62108ac25c as Heraith’s once-relaxed body 9c2ccb7f57 started to tense.8279c897f034ac1c

“Oh, seriously… I really fell asleep. Tsk.”8c0cb429663ae3f1

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A low, lingering voice c3a7bcd89d escaped, carrying a faint 45a72fa47d tinge of irritation. In that instant, Lucian’s heart 906322befb sank.445b18bbdefdd0f1

‘I shouldn’t be here!’848be947d0b9555b

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It was as 60bf1fb9bf if someone was 3a35c44a57 whispering urgently to a13f10d5fb Lucian, telling him dcd71ff588 to flee, to a54b6dffd7 get as far fdd3c68d98 away as possible bdc5b7416d from Heraith. He couldn’t let himself c7fe42491c be caught. Heraith, now sitting up, noticed 987644b896 Lucian as he was backing 3c532d1275 away.06dc9d5073a8f3d8

“Who’s there?”34002ed19ec209e5

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The drowsy atmosphere around him a88dfafa58 vanished in an instant. The air, once shimmering like ffb2cc5591 an illusion, froze, radiating a 977a6ac2a6 sharp tension that tingled Lucian’s b4781237d6 skin. As if he’d never 95f962b519 been asleep, Heraith swiftly 98cddc9f20 rose. At that moment, Lucian ef1a718cff instinctively spun around and e76dc22dbd dashed out of the b6cbcb1127 room. He heard the door fe7043bbc7 slam shut behind him, 6480f26276 but it didn’t matter. Lucian ran and 86a563d7e7 ran until he c9f98c4cba could run no cc6953227c more, gasping for df880d8fe0 breath.38162af48937e9b6

“Haah… haah…”a3d8da18c6531e48

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His heart pounded a29ef07c54 so hard it 48f937c978 felt like it 9c6f77c3d7 would burst. The only sounds filling 75f2537ff5 the air were his 0e5b651bbd labored breaths and the 0012109853 frenzied beating of his 960f8cbf5a own heart, which pulsed 86eeb52429 in his head.891ac85d09a01256

Thud!d79bfe982e65de19

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I must be insane. Absolutely crazy. Not only did my 9ddc21d22e heart race from looking 874ba7727e at him, but I af4c0c48c8 even thought about getting ce999549ae closer.7b73b405b223c608

‘What was I even trying to do by doing that?’aa71cc8e2a721b7c

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His heart still wouldn’t 1052cdb33a calm down, pounding relentlessly. Unconsciously, Lucian banged his 73ea16a9ac head against the wall.926d86a60f0d5e1e

Thud!b9feec9fb60998c4

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I’m crazy!ec5c5dc6640e048f

Thud!49e5bbcc0ccbbfdf

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To feel my heart race e6530343ef because of that man.d992ba3fb6417ede

Thud!974f480481ba73b9

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For heaven’s sake. I even thought that 312f2d6855 man was beautiful.c6f2613df27a5c26

Thud! Thud!8b731ad4d7cdb095

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I’m insane. I’ve lost my mind.22f18f6915323dbf

Thud! Thud! Thud!3244f8a018d0eaef

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I’m seriously out 98c8ca6ded of my mind!430b0b19a1b3e427

“…Luce, what do you think you’re doing?”19ab0d6da2f98558

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Lucian froze, breath hitching at 1aa2ee7b03 the sudden voice by his 341bb15b26 ear. The faint, lingering fragrance from 61fe57bba7 Heraith’s chambers seemed to fill 84acb04b95 his nose all at once. Slowly, Lucian turned 53be9c6148 his gaze to 0efeab8026 see the emperor deb32746a0 leaning against the 6ce86377e4 wall, head tilted, c4bc64506f watching him. Hastily, Lucian straightened his posture.22619f8468d4b08b

“Why are you acting so suspicious?”da995493c12031a1

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“…It’s nothing.”ce2d03b8c160ee60

At Lucian’s response, Heraith’s b161d9043a eyes narrowed. “Nothing, huh…?”16df0840d4007916

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“Yes.”e5599a307a0ab69e

Heraith crossed his arms and 78803fd371 leaned against the wall more c626e73ef8 comfortably, looking less than pleased 1ef07a4f27 with Lucian’s answer. “Fine, let’s put that aside for now. But…”d5775ea841e2d24a

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“…”aed609b489656f94

“Why were you banging your head against the wall?”179e33f44e330a0c

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Gasp!4654708b38a48b73

Lucian froze on the spot. One of his 8efd9a43ee worst habits was 5e31198a07 to hit his 159c98be46 head against something bd3013d34c when he felt 43379e1a7b frustrated with himself, 0bfa8fe331 and it seemed bb24afe47c he’d done it 7ec02767c5 again.35c78a15f77ee3fe

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‘No! He saw me being 3f7941bdd8 an idiot, didn’t he?!’9de48e8ffaef38f1

Oh, what an idiot! Of all the 08a119925a things he could cf043f1d3e do! Lucian bit his lip to 4cf91d0944 keep himself from blurting out cd7589bbbd anything more. He almost felt like Heraith’s 993963fc41 gaze momentarily lingered on his 48ef3cc282 tightly shut lips, but he 67053c19e9 couldn’t spare any thought for a986c54d98 that.3565f1a29dc85db1

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“Why were you in my room and then ran away? Tell me honestly.”569325850bddbe73

Heraith’s gaze met d14d009366 Lucian’s, his tone 94c1fa99fe smooth, yet his 50bf5bb158 mouth curled into 8c1c4cc1d9 a knowing smile. Lucian almost blurted out his 3af80ac4cc thoughts in response to that efa5be9abb deepened smile.6e6980f35ceb60e6

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‘I was almost captivated just by looking at you.’fc1cf756b4944d53

‘So this is what they call the power of beauty!’It was a moment ab8f1aa027 of profound realization. It was far more seductive 9d5272dccc than anything he’d read about 61ae499dc4 in books. Thanks to that smile, Lucian 0dc978adac managed to come to his 6fef66b752 senses. If not for his f132bde69f own foolishness, he might 949653d800 already be charmed by 4db6f1fc94 the emperor.20ead0f26be8c36f

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‘Absolutely not! I’d rather bash my head 81d157e212 against the wall and die ae36e2a1d2 than tell him the truth.’08cb6c6e8ee8432a

Bracing himself, Lucian lifted his 7facd54965 chin with a defiant confidence aaa3580cfa and firmly denied it. “That never happened.”bc86025fe8cd5a25

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“Huh?” The smile at Heraith’s mouth twisted slightly. “So you’re saying I’m mistaken? I followed the f951beb383 sound of your eaae78cd6f footsteps all the 05f6e6e8d1 way here.”342706cca5fb798d

“It must have been Your Majesty’s heartbeat echoing throughout the palace. Truly fitting for the emperor 4ee419457c of the Empire.”513c61005e6e9b26

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“Haa?” Heraith laughed in disbelief.fc94928e87324323

Though Lucian had no f0629ae9d0 idea what he was 2a6be064c3 even saying, he gritted afa49696e7 his teeth and held b76c8d21d5 his ground. Here, whoever admitted 2a0e2c780c first would lose. So—514f0422bc465139

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‘Play dumb. I did nothing of d9f8f17ced the sort.’b848d294769b5cf1

Shaking a bit but a8f6a3ca25 stubbornly feigning ignorance, Lucian a094a50446 watched as Heraith took 1bed825116 a step back after 006b511bfe a moment’s pause.a0de6fe366c68769

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“…Fine, let me rephrase. Why do you 0788e83a1e look so miserable?”e61eeaaaffa783b0

“It’s just… my life feels pathetic.”f907b6fc7fcdaefd

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“What?”833f96f9c7dab4c8

Ignoring the emperor’s incredulous expression, 5d846d94e8 Lucian glanced over his shoulder. If he wanted c71e2c78b5 to escape, he’d 4b3df177b8 have to pay 39cd56673c his respects and 07a76eb9b8 quickly back away…73573ba9eea4d5fd

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“Fine. Since you’re so desperate to a682fe6fc0 lie, I’ll let it go.”f7fa4a0bb8bd24ff

“Huh?”eecfc6290b669f3c

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Apparently noticing his subtle attempts b56c720a73 to gauge an escape route, 4ecf2ed0c7 Heraith narrowed his eyes at e55b424cac Lucian.5733d89f594580ad

Staring at Lucian ab81556941 with thinly veiled df6aaf6858 displeasure, Heraith finally e0fb2ef26b straightened from the 98524c13a7 wall he’d been a7841bac5a leaning against. “Let’s move on then. Why didn’t you wake me 2404748843 up at the time I 1c4f413bf5 asked?”1185e88f6c739a96

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“Actually, I did wake you up.”befc7fbf015eaea7

“You woke me?”d7265a94b4876a28

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“Yes. I definitely did.”f931fef4973e668c

“You mean I didn’t get up even though you woke me?” Heraith asked incredulously, but on this, Lucian could defend himself. He had indeed gone fdd3018190 to the emperor’s chamber b9e15d0b42 to wake him.531b19418f41ef36

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“Yes, I entered exactly at the time Your Majesty asked. But you didn’t wake up.”98c03d4069d28c88

“…Ha.” Heraith let out a short, seemingly exasperated sigh as if recalling something. “So, since I didn’t wake up, you just left and returned to your work?”e631cfd7e7a37dd2

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“Yes, exactly.”663f7998d2813ac6

“So, why were you banging your head against the wall?”4ef7e9df7ece3dd2

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“Well…”00f77285e8e6b660

Responding reflexively to the a8a68eb79f flow of questions, Lucian’s d583cc8281 mouth went dry. He stopped mid-sentence.f197e660bd07e185

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“…”bb05b42a45b797b0

“…”2a622519d17ab3fe

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Silence hung between them.7ce5a21e009452b4

‘Phew, almost got caught in his leading questions.’d75b576b4449271e

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Although he was rattled, Lucian 43f77dedc1 had finally found his footing. Unlike before, he bb18b860cf could answer shamelessly. “As I said earlier, nothing like that happened.”6d2f340f4d34c564

“Huh?” Heraith smirked, clearly exasperated. A tone unbefitting 77cd25e1dc an emperor slipped c0b9aa3498 out. “You expect me to believe that?”b05115ef245d6d08

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“Think whatever you like.”ca57a0a9b9edbbde

“…Fine, we’ll leave it at that.”4bd56ffb8c31fc50

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Suddenly, a slow smile 60281490b7 crept over Heraith’s face, ab8ff07c32 and Lucian sighed with 7e5f1c2acc relief. It seemed he had 9737609998 more to say but f6d082e9fc chose to let it 20e9a7e1b2 slide.ff5ea2490ebdbd67

“Well, seeing as you’ve been lounging around, we can start pushing your work pace a bit more.”ebc941bfcf16a538

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“Huh?”b4af03cc4d769196

“I’ve been letting you get used to things, but…”fc10f482f7fcb359

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“What? Where?” Unable to contain his 38c6fa71f2 disbelief, Lucian responded.b0b7e7046b0c79b2

Heraith’s smile grew sly. “What’s wrong, Luce? I told you to come 3a5f825b52 wake me every morning, and d5e5faa23f yet you don’t.”98e388bffe890dab

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But I did ae238a848c come every time. It was just that ff9ae6cc16 Your Majesty always woke f20bb9c030 up before that.42f30a6ea669403e

“And other than that one meeting with Antien’s ambassador, I haven’t even required you to stay by my side.”019e4f5911f03d1b

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Well, there haven’t been 7edbcb04f0 any meetings since. Interimperial meetings don’t exactly happen 3f4dc1752c every day.dfa71c152b49bbea

“Nor have I taken you to any of the noble assemblies.”34850f7910fed490

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But that’s the Chief 70fecb9fa6 of Staff’s job, isn’t 306cdcd754 it? Why would I go?f96b8b7289ebfd0f

“And I didn’t even ask for your input while changing clothes in the morning.”25a2262c36c6a912

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Oh, come on. That’s the head attendant’s job, 34bb7b96b7 not mine!7456d223e4f7e4ac

“All those tasks are yours, yet I didn’t have you do them. Must’ve been disappointed.”1ec3b03499de89f7

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“What?” At the emperor’s remark, Lucian’s lips parted in disbelief. “That’s absurd! None of that is my a09d6396e2 job.”6ee180725b07092f

“Why’s it absurd? You’re my personal 2592194e07 aide, so if ccbbcca912 I say do 3238433e94 it, you do b3c5d82994 it.”534c3b543f33f05a

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“No one said the emperor’s personal aide was a slave. Besides, most of these 51d5399317 are tasks that don’t 993d14232b fall under my role.” fc3343c9b0 Caught up in his 398bf87728 indignation, Lucian voiced his 8b996ce762 thoughts honestly, entirely oblivious 3ca640b02b to how he might 47930edea2 be provoking the emperor. Heraith looked at him with bcdfdc4d48 an amused glint, as if 413ed9b8e8 urging him to continue. “I haven’t been slacking, so where exactly does my duty begin and end?”92fe6562eb630410

Finally reaching his 7e88114194 limit, Lucian forgot 0a1d51a376 he was talking b2f98127a1 to the emperor 61912fe9d6 and demanded an af89406b75 answer.dc73c5e694576f78

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“You’re my personal aide.”9f9a2ec5e83cb349

“I’m asking about the scope of my duties. An aide’s role doesn’t–”ec1c18d43b1a7b37

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“Luce, as my personal aide, that means you need to be with me constantly. Wherever I go, you go.”95084e7ba04ec680

“…”eeab0e7ec51c28ac

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Lucian’s mouth fell open. Then what about 909c014378 all the things 584ca8a588 he’d been doing 0506305521 so far? He’d managed every piece d444d7abeb of paperwork, dealt with 2c4ce7dfe8 tearful nobles Heraith had 958d7f48d6 flatly refused, and smoothed 6b75352988 things over afterward.83811ce18f1f9fc7

Now that his fcf0cafaae probationary period was 355f65c29d over, he had 5a6301cb14 to assist the 437c4fb927 emperor from morning c7f246e946 to night, from 4a8a0f3d9f the moment he 958758c686 woke up to 7e3a406bd2 the moment he d91d7505ab went to bed–every bff04494fb meal, every task, 0327e06e4e even breathing together?11da3fc3493b5167

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…Unbelievable. How was this even 7a39e16520 a thing?!21085e1b8ce24668

“You’ve been given time to adjust. Now, it’s time to earn d43b03da92 your keep, don’t you think?” 3de4e85684 Watching his aide’s horrified expression, 44b319d2bc Heraith’s face finally blossomed with 31f47d73a3 a look of satisfaction. “So do as you’re told, Luce.”156bc89c7d000cc1

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That’s not an aide! That’s a slave! Glaring in silent protest, Lucian dbd2187e19 could only despair as Pranas’ 920c6d32c8 emperor, Heraith, beamed at him 3cdfd672a8 with a smile as bright 913e2b9232 as sunshine.5184df755378f1f6