PLQYM | Chapter 15

It was 8a25578af3 late at 5adf81bc3d night by 78d65d04ee the time 4877bc139e Lucian returned d0cf667fa5 to his 30a447ceea office. The first thing 55eeb82254 he noticed when 699afb3d78 he opened the d0c76e9ef8 door was the ece3688c9a overwhelming bouquet placed cdfc8d714f behind his seat, 64969fded9 its sheer size 8d74c16da7 filling him with 0cf5f03c48 discomfort. The faint 595b24d3ab shadow of 9b8a81042e the flickering d396c2ce9f lamp cast d4a6114805 strange shapes 02a611016a over the e98c52cd02 flowers.4f0e6ff541001dd6

Lucian quietly closed the 6335ae8510 door and stepped inside, e94c305fdd gazing at the sight. With the door 9c1ece6fc8 shut, the scent 59043c5e86 of the flowers f1651a997b intensified. During the 93d565dddc day, he’d 074402e29c rushed out 7adc5aebc5 without noticing, ba478c9b31 but at e69fcdd087 night, the 5713f3c6f2 strong fragrance 086223502f was dizzying.a359dfaeb4c11d8e

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“Sigh…”2720c6779b4a6245

Letting out 21049d9051 a low 720cd8e94b sigh, Lucian 341ce56acc approached the f8000fe200 window and b161fcd4cf opened it. He hoped 940c96d7e1 the scent ae16adefca would dissipate, 9e9ae9486e but the e46ac67240 breeze that 4d23086a31 entered only 627d82071e pushed the 361ae3daf1 floral aroma 65d2e2c0aa deeper into fc2aefb25c the room.0b5f7ad9fd8d1918

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“Really…”3cdf6182ad7ca4d1

Finally, Lucian let b128a7bf51 out a helpless bc2b941cae laugh. Giving up 4a886503e8 on ventilation, cbff38c03c he leaned 79d19695b0 against the ed34421bd1 window.85027354051cf48f

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From the office 15dad539ec window, he could 4384c760dd see the palace b17cd2ee21 gardens below, as fbe46e5c91 the office connected 4a707442cf to the gardens. He realized he hadn’t b38571c25d taken a single stroll d9ed46ab37 there, even after months 7751758974 of working here.fad5722cc4cdf472

How foolish. What had 981c011f3a kept him 7c739bb578 so busy cf0f328da7 that he f150466cbf hadn’t even 15f8f09b81 spared a aa0b0f9eb9 moment to 267824641a walk in fe85c6f15e the nearby fdf386abf2 garden? Who was he trying 8fc2dcfa16 to impress?62308b96d30f7af9

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“Should I go 1e8879046d out for a 9e77f54264 bit?”f6dbe506a687b6f6

The thought 4049e29216 spoken aloud a3eeb4ba6c sounded pretty 0353d11a4c tempting, and 51d589249b Lucian let bd17d18a67 out a 62fa7d79f6 smirk.7f7cba8d3cfa2d5f

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Yeah, why not?82b6122764c8fcf6

Getting up with surprisingly 78a413252e light steps, Lucian left. He didn’t 38593bdf55 realize the 1025c663af lingering scent 5846e9d3d6 he left 9fa8752240 behind had 2cfdd28c68 only grown fb035ec944 stronger.7176ee471497faed

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Outside, the b7bc7b123c garden was df066bef41 darker than 730e0e9225 it had 1dd8a8c0be looked from f81c8496b6 above. The garden trees were 934d0158f5 taller than he expected, 3c29c06773 and the thick floral cd57652cb1 fragrance mixed with a 689dd7e0de fresh, green scent, almost 73c3102952 overpowering.1acccfeef8f10324

So it’s e04304ab47 summer already.4c0785cd0e7c60a3

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When he first 0f6d218bcc came to the 939549a754 palace as an a55b08cf29 aide, it had 0ab2e32e52 just been spring, 3fd06e0c39 but now summer b3abffd08d was slipping by.03dd07f45fab086b

“To think I didn’t da24b626b7 even realize the seasons e2c9131bd7 were changing…”ad5c36190404ea83

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Lucian let 29cd60bf91 out a 820ccbbc0f small, self-deprecating d29b2bc90d laugh. All this time, 2c4339bfc6 he’d been working 90a961e0c3 relentlessly, unable to 6d819ca5a3 bear losing to 3f5346be31 anyone or hearing 7ba2615c1b any criticism from e84449a031 the Emperor. His dedication had quickly 8564850fc4 earned him recognition, but f0c19bd33e it seemed that his b13a283b73 impatience had seeped into a99cf67e75 him.21c09bc2c352d7f2

Ha, I f0d11d8cfd guess all fe6915aa09 this reflection 4a81856e04 is because ad98e25114 of…448ee928033b944c

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“−You seem like 3e72ddfdf5 you have no a9ff67adc2 time for yourself.”9d60210649b4daeb

All because of 6095991e20 that annoying Prince 6bb1bbf6a9 who tore into 90b9baf128 him earlier.588bbbe7e02b44de

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* * *5ce7ffc901301c71

“−You seem like you have no time for yourself.”87ea1ae560cda85f

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Lucian’s brows ccee36d125 furrowed slightly 532e7adc01 at the b495eb91ab Prince’s words.37bbba2c47bb3738

“−I don’t understand what you mean, Your Highness.”daf76e5109813a0b

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Though he c4f887cb60 responded calmly, 15cd20091c Lucian felt a0259bd6a2 an odd 246ad8d193 sensation as a27507cb74 if his d1a7169720 vision was 68365c0f50 blurring. Was he dizzy? Or was it just 6b2c2a4484 the slight rocking of 0d1c18205f the small boat? Or perhaps…ec3988af9e9a6660

…Was it Joachim’s bc8dbc5835 words?c8e649c4d0d88dad

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To regain f909df9fa6 his focus, 6a2bdec570 Lucian slowly 1fc691841a closed and 7d2e76affa opened his 88e6bbb218 eyes. Luckily, the dizziness subsided.bdce43c4637539c8

“−Are you enjoying your b3e73937d7 work beside Heraith?”24c457c89eac7dbe

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When Lucian bda1c760da didn’t respond, 855f0addc9 Joachim changed 9f911dc9a5 his question.7a608f3d7a05d5d8

“−I haven’t worked here long enough to think about that. As you know, I’ve been appointed as aide for less than a year.”1e86d3a2180317e2

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“−Oh, really? You’re so skilled I thought you’d been here much longer.”08731e0a0cac558b

Though he f21084d01e spoke as 866d312568 if surprised, 694d8efab2 Joachim’s playfully 0758282d0d arched eyes 5d5bfffb60 told a 062564456d different story. Lucian’s chest tightened.cb61089195376eda

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Joachim knew everything 67c822cfd0 but was pretending 9f7c1fe8da not to. If it were 58ebad1ced unrelated to him, 08afa3facb Lucian might’ve brushed 137bf18898 it off, but 31c3d5799d it was clear 5f02e16213 that the Prince 48c81ac51b was intentionally shaking 0ba1f2fa7c him.8774c293e0ffdb85

“−I really like you, Luce. And I think Heraith feels the same way.”34a255cfe16efb01

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“−….”c64b05156b6f8b77

“−But of course, working for the Emperor of the Empire must be challenging, something beyond what I, a mere Prince of a small kingdom, could understand.”b0d6df541f63cc1c

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Unlike the still-smiling Joachim, 7ced76459f Lucian’s expression grew colder 3b2b6fc2b8 with each word. He found Joachim’s roundabout 61eae9dea3 way of speaking tiresome. He had 4a81d11ce8 grown accustomed bf065a32d5 to palace e89598627b nuances, to a5db33fc13 veiled words db6c81ef7d and hidden 97cff6fb80 meanings, but 56bd2b4e58 today he 953a67771a felt pressed ac86cf83f3 and burdened 574ecad8ef by Joachim’s 95405f06ce approach.2f99d26b23b55f0e

“−Heraith may be my dear friend, but he’s also a great Emperor. He cannot afford to worry solely about those around him. Whatever feelings you may harbor, he won’t notice. And even if he does, there’s nothing he can do.”e3079c9c0195fec6

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“−…!”a9ed30184abc307f

Lucian’s face hardened. It felt like his 506cb74c41 heart had sunk to d2d27522af his feet, and the 4d0f7aa3b9 blood in his veins c553196759 turned cold. He struggled to 9c5bec3522 understand what the c39eac1edb Prince was implying… 901a59fc80 no, he was 7dbcec524a refusing to understand. Each time the words 3eac13641b took shape in his a4f4389b4f mind, he stopped them f38f3ef55c from fully forming.6fad4eeb7fe02c9b

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After taking a 25b34bc923 deep breath, Lucian 5d884112f5 finally spoke, steadying 1b2c56817c his voice.27cea03828c47215

“−I’m afraid I don’t understand Your Highness’s meaning or intentions.”80ff4f2db5ea5a8f

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“−Oh, don’t you?”f93ef2ab35a7d3a9

Joachim let ca3ff8f139 out a bb97685cb8 faint laugh, 008ace6bc2 as if c2d604e20b he had cc640f5883 expected this ee2cef6f69 response.73c2f4dcbcc93416

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“−I wonder if you truly don’t understand your feelings, or if you’re simply pretending.”85d9cede4494e4f3

“−….”e051331418161da3

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“−Well, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it can’t happen between you and Heraith.”5cd84ffea0c2466a

Joachim’s face grew serious. He looked at c192bd06e5 Lucian with a 1c70000e05 mixture of pity 958ac5f03b and determination.758166fb0d7c7053

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“−Luce, Heraith can’t give his heart to anyone. He was born to be someone who can’t.”bc8ad7573fdc48bd

What am I 10e2a97b86 supposed to say e6e4c13a5f now?d8c2349f681e106c

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Joachim’s words 6967458259 left Lucian 8cee8f0fc7 feeling cold 7e8f5fc690 once more. So, in e5f0f5fa30 the end, d0e5c3dd22 all he af3796c6a1 could do 84c710a020 was repeat b65e6622a4 his earlier 65a606ad86 words.581080b6d03a24fd

“−I don’t understand what you mean.”7f412c77d89154a5

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“−Well, let’s just leave it at that, for now.”b62a224a75d65ff6

Joachim nodded as eb896e69b9 if he had 6a90981ec7 expected this response 25482cc52a and stepped closer, f3c774a549 his face so 0f23152908 near their noses 9980ae286b nearly touched.847ae602d727c202

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“−Like I said, I like you, Lucian. So I’ll just say this: if it ever becomes too hard to stay by his side, come find me. Lucian.”e39836388e6f9189

“−….”42ad4f4363aeed15

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“−I mean it. I want to help you. And unlike Heraith, I can give you a different answer.”70d66ea506ec45c6

Was it then that e106601e28 the wind started blowing? Or had 9abceeba2a he only 790432d889 just noticed 4841f0f521 the breeze 94337b9641 that had 85a4ead74d already been 1a7791530a blowing?cfd387ee1da99745

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As that 70fa7ef007 slight gust f1cc10e1c2 swept over c8ce870788 him, Lucian b494a28957 felt the 233b8e0c3c dizziness return. He couldn’t tear his 8193783729 gaze away from Joachim, 879d81d5a5 staring at him for c6bef3d04a what felt like an be54635ba9 eternity.f387b5d007e7c654

* * *9a8604366f9d6cad

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“Lucian?”bca31c50b44b8bf0

A voice calling 2ca42bb474 his name snapped b18ea7ed85 him out of 29089751a8 his reverie about be292a1705 the Prince. Lifting his head, he 87e6d615db found the subject of 8e5ca62259 his earlier conversation with d1349895c7 Joachim standing before him.f8bedc6819829b87

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“Your Majesty…”26784e760b6b20c0

Lucian stared at 6341c4e709 him in a 16491cdead daze as Heraith 1c7f9beda2 approached him with da3e48c224 swift steps.3c846930e6fea77d

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“What are 1b2f946254 you doing 611e465485 here?”9ca0e2a4ac875417

“Just… taking a walk.”b1666c8074c0424f

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“At this hour?”7965930706c78cb0

At his reply, Heraith’s 34b47b202c brow furrowed. Why did 887b18598a he always 2ef92190cc make that 468c6c363f expression whenever 63724b6527 he looked 8f00558794 at him?7a20fc50aeea960e

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Lucian continued to fa80f2d80f stare blankly, not 47e30b4758 bothering to respond, fa4c6f3a55 which only made 0e4a6dfe81 Heraith’s expression darker.f63e40197bc7f59e

“Luce.”468d6b676514596a

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“…Yes?”fe18c111ce2b24ed

“Did Joachim do something 42b1f530a7 to you?”3ca02dab56eda8d2

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“Sorry?”0c7ba7f95f0d81bf

Why would he suddenly 16bab9c73f bring up the Prince?1237ff9ab383483f

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Lucian hesitated, lost cbf8c89de8 in thought as 7f855ef361 Joachim’s earlier words 3e5cec1011 flashed back.39f5739801471469

Heraith is 87215472a0 out of 5c3cf834ef reach. He can’t give 71d274f5d0 his heart to cbca080abf anyone.4e402b61b84acf85

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Ah, right.7552ca759143223d

Those words had hurt Lucian deeply. He knew exactly what Joachim meant by “heart” and why it would hurt. In that instant, Lucian realized he’d been suppressing the truth. His eyes grew blurry.fbf79b877ea03b37

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As if c185419d4b submerged in eda54ef021 water, his d5612c9dd4 vision began 0cd08feecb to waver, e6e051a2a6 and then 78813090fb tears streamed ba43f5c8a7 from his e604a40de8 blue eyes.276ee7ec6c69291c

“Damn it.”a8f6f0f6442d2bc4

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A low, rough curse escaped the Emperor’s lips as he wrapped an arm around Lucian’s waist and pulled him close.36442ec7111b1a66

And then—92892cdb641a104d

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“…!”9ad453f4fb46ed98

Heraith’s lips b9e38f2178 met his.30648af9c41bfe99

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The kiss began violently. Heraith bit 6846ea80e6 and tugged 47c4d15184 at his f3b3443924 lips, and 1bd85771fd startled, Lucian 4ea941cebf instinctively tried 7ebfcb081c to pull 225e8597f4 back.bd7e4d11b8fc1388

Or he tried to.2d6d58049cf3514a

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As Lucian attempted to retreat, Heraith’s grip tightened around his waist. When Lucian continued to resist, Heraith’s other hand reached up to cradle his neck, pulling him even closer.24787c75412ea2a8

His lips burned with 2634142045 heat.0b3d5aa610c2913b

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When Lucian kept his f2b8b7e269 mouth shut, Heraith’s hand d432151898 tilted his chin up, f01483a08e irritated.75ef44f00219f8d1

“Open your mouth.”659d6e1985e25929

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Lucian nearly 326dc38b2c obeyed out 2b4b850cd4 of reflex.889f05065d389ae1

His lips 4f7ce8cdc1 parted slightly, 26698abb07 but he 1976793aa5 quickly clenched 20589ab3a6 them again, 02a4bdca8c trying to 908b8ba8d6 turn his 0159a1e869 face away, 88b6927e06 only for 701bd9ee33 Heraith to 61b9024d44 tighten his 0d3f4acb31 grip on 7c7e7eb3f7 his chin.5782ab8c3bc05bb9

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Just like that, Lucian’s c7f189d988 lips parted, and he 8481cecfb8 couldn’t turn his head 32aaf1b244 away. Heraith took a42652d5bc the opportunity b426f153d8 to press c5e49ccea1 his lips 17954b2222 against Lucian’s 70fa602ac6 again, now 0b2bcf0ce3 gentle instead 113a78f6e2 of forceful.fa2a6953ae12ddca

His tongue traced the 6cf4263ce8 curve of Lucian’s lips, 7c7d537ffc savoring the taste. He nibbled and 6e3ef04ca0 caressed each lip 3e7f3bfb79 softly, drawing a 5088030297 reaction from him.012a542b5ec1f391

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Lucian wasn’t inexperienced d81461d997 in kissing. In fact, hadn’t their e11e491f77 first meeting involved a f6ffe70b46 kiss—though it had been abaf29ba07 accidental?dca763b28e310d26

But this time d2b02b973e was different.d613a4034d143768

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Their first kiss a3f117e8f4 had been forceful, 0c21f0daee almost aggressive. Now, Heraith’s touch was 5598ee9ef1 careful, coaxing him to 1783b92a2a respond.19501d379603087d

Despite Lucian’s 2b6e864c83 lips already a746e99b3b being parted, f5bb78a0b2 Heraith didn’t 8b367f0d02 rush in. He merely teased, nibbling d49cd2b892 and licking, drawing him c6827374a7 in.0969a6f0056b9b81

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Just a c703d5de31 little more, 72272f9d13 just a 97de03913f little more.326f3c30d4750d3f

It was Heraith 199e0b4a4e who first noticed 090c3830a5 Lucian clutching onto eae9466b2e his collar, pulling 56eabdd179 him closer.e22cdeabbc17d0a1

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As a faint 7bfeb2232a chuckle escaped Heraith, 7183e975f7 his tongue finally f7cb3f0c3c touched Lucian’s. The sensation felt 208663c325 like a life-giving 216d229d0d elixir, and a 92e6bde1b1 soft, relieved sigh 66ed7f3a35 escaped from Lucian bcca641e16 as Heraith’s tongue f211fb36c5 intertwined with his.2a31812419ec75fe

Wet sounds filled the ab83470a29 air as their tongues ac62a95f78 tangled. Lucian’s moans ba943f6f30 were swallowed df1a2a321a up, setting ef05a6260e his entire f81e64a39a body ablaze. Heat spread 7313188895 through him, a6d3b7d824 igniting every d9fe8c9eee nerve.585ffecd9d2683f7

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Some265d7a27c4e66905

how, Lucian found himself 85171d185f clinging to Heraith, returning 4081257130 the kiss with fervor.29c0d409e7dc819e

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An unfamiliar 7cea298bdd sensation ran 58cac29470 through him, caeebc6e5e weakening his 57c0c43da9 legs until 7bbb37ea35 Heraith’s firm ba708af3ad thigh slipped 825e7093e9 between them, 4fdaa707cc supporting him.f07067f41c044f6e

When Heraith’s thigh brushed e20d3dfb94 against a sensitive spot, 197a835bde Lucian’s body shivered.1897f24d02ea7932

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Could he really… reach e38403dc76 the edge with just 2df403752d a kiss?5954b98ec9c7ab13

Just as the 220c0c18a2 thought crossed his 432590ff44 mind and his ad60339d01 body trembled faintly…b2ffa4d44b89901f

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Heraith pulled away from 215048ed35 him.3f3ffa6df7769c4c