PLQYM | Chapter 16

“Haa… haa…”

Heavy breaths kept slipping out from Lucian’s parted lips. Only now did he realize he hadn’t been breathing properly. As Lucian stepped back, his face flushed red, Heraith finally let him go without resistance.

“…Why did you kiss me?”

After a long moment, Lucian finally spoke. Heraith, who had been looking at him with an expressionless face, opened his mouth.

“Because you looked like you wanted one.”

Lucian found his answer extremely irritating. Even though he knew he was reacting emotionally, he couldn’t help but ask.

“When you see someone with a face that looks like they want a kiss, do you just go around giving them one?”

“Me?” He chuckled, lifting the corner of his lips into a smirk.

“You think my lips are that cheap? I’m the Emperor of this Empire, you impudent Luce.”

“But for me…”

Haven’t you already kissed me twice?

He wanted to say something to him, but he just couldn’t get the words out. He wanted to ask if the kisses he’d received from him held any meaning, even the smallest amount, but his lips wouldn’t cooperate.

Instead, Lucian forced a smile onto his face. Thankfully, he managed to make it look like a real smile.

“Should I consider it an honor to receive a kiss from someone like you?”

“You should. Even a mere gesture from me is an honor.”

As he said this, Heraith gently brushed back Lucian’s disheveled hair. His touch was so tender, and the golden-green hazel eyes looking at him so soft that Lucian felt like he might cry. In the end, he let out a small chuckle and lowered his gaze.

How foolish. Realizing his feelings in such a way.

−Heraith is off-limits, Lucian.

To realize the ripple effect of that single sentence now, of all times.

I like this person.

He wasn’t sure if he could say he loved him yet, but he knew one thing for certain: this feeling wasn’t just some passing emotion. Maybe, just maybe, the reason he had been so diligent in fulfilling the Emperor’s commands, so determined not to disappoint him, was due to the selfish desire buried deep within his heart.

A bitter smile formed on his face.

But he still didn’t want to name this feeling. He wanted to keep ignoring it, just a little longer.

“Lucian.”

He hadn’t noticed when Heraith moved closer, but now Heraith was holding Lucian’s chin, lifting his gaze to meet his own. Was he going to kiss him again?

Had he been hoping for it? Without realizing, he swallowed dryly. But as Heraith kept staring intently at his lips, he didn’t come any closer and eventually pulled back.

“Right. For now, this is enough. It’s still fine.”

“…?”

Mumbling something that Lucian couldn’t make sense of, Heraith raked his fingers roughly through his hair and sighed. With a blink, he quickly gathered his emotions, his face returning to calm indifference as he looked at Lucian.

“Do you like flowers?”

For a moment, Lucian just stared at him, confused by the sudden question, but then he grasped the meaning behind it.

That damn flower!

Lucian’s expression twisted visibly. Looking as though he wanted to say something else, he opened his mouth before letting out a long sigh.

“I don’t particularly like them.”

He didn’t exactly hate them, but he felt he was beginning to dislike them more and more.

“Aha, so you don’t really like them, yet you still kept them so carefully. Guess the person who gave you the flower left an impression, huh?”

What’s he trying to pick a fight about now?

“…Do you think that’s likely?”

Seeing Lucian’s stern expression, Heraith tilted his head and asked.

“Then why did you keep it so carefully?”

“I didn’t arrange it that way. When I got back, someone had already put it there.”

“Really? So you didn’t put it there?”

“Yes. Frankly, I’d rather have something edible. What use is something you can’t even eat?”

“Oh, so you prefer food?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Oh, really?”

After their playful back-and-forth, he lowered his gaze as though lost in thought, his face taking on a distinct, shadowed expression as he rubbed his chin.

‘He really is handsome.’

It was certainly a face that would capture anyone’s attention. Lucian, who had been admiring the Emperor’s face for a long time, carefully spoke up.

“If you have no further business with me, I’d like to take my leave now.”

Heraith’s gaze turned sharp at that. Lucian quickly added in a small voice.

“I haven’t had dinner yet. I should get something to eat.”

“Joachim didn’t even feed you before sending you here?”

“I wanted to come back early, so I turned it down.”

“I see. Good. Better not to eat just anything.”

Seeming to be in a good mood now, Heraith’s expression softened. Then, as if something had just crossed his mind, he spoke.

“The cook at the Administrative Palace makes a great meat pie, you know.”

Heraith didn’t miss the way Lucian’s eyes sparkled at this.

“Shall I have some brought as tea food?”

“A meat pie as tea food? And at this hour?”

“Why not? As long as it’s delicious, who cares?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Lucian nodded in agreement.

“Shall we go have tea then?”

“With the meat pie, of course?”

“Yes.”

“Sounds good.”

Naturally, meat over flowers any day. With a small chuckle, Lucian followed the Emperor. For now, he once again concealed the feelings he hadn’t named, just as he always had, walking behind Heraith as they moved together.

The repercussions of the bouquet Joachim had given him were greater and longer-lasting than Lucian had expected.

Lucian gently rubbed his throbbing head and looked at the man standing before him.

That man stood there with an armful of fruit and a strange bouquet, grinning widely at Lucian.

“…Why are you here, Baron Verti?”

Either he hadn’t picked up on Lucian’s cold tone, or he was ignoring it, because Baron Verti just kept smiling brightly as he spoke to him.

“I have a favor to ask.”

At the baron’s words, Lucian recalled the document he had submitted last time. This man had sent a ridiculous petition, asking to reroute the planned road construction to benefit his own land.

The document hadn’t even made it to the Emperor; Lucian had filtered it out before it could.

“The country needs balanced development, so it wouldn’t be right to have roads only there, would it? So, how about bringing some to our area as well….”

“…”

“If you could lend a little influence, I’m sure His Majesty would understand. So, well….”

“…”

“If you could pass this along to His Majesty, and take this as a small token….”

The baron winked, nudging the bouquet and fruit basket towards Lucian.

Does he think I’m that easy?

Lucian looked at the man before him with cold, hardened eyes. Despite Lucian’s icy gaze, Baron Verti continued to ramble on about his plans.

Finally, Lucian interrupted, staring him down.

“Are you asking me for a bribe?”

“What?!”

At Lucian’s words, a chill entered the baron’s voice.

“Are you asking me to ignore His Majesty’s will and accept your bribe?”

Finally understanding Lucian’s words, the man’s face flushed red. Feeling cornered, he exploded in anger.

“A bribe! How dare you suggest that! This is just a small token of my sincerity!”

“In the real world, that’s called a bribe.”

The baron’s face turned red, then purple, then all shades of furious.

“You little brat, just because I’ve put up with you so far…!”

His face crimson with anger, the baron shook with fury as he yelled at Lucian.

“Haven’t you been accepting these kinds of requests up till now? But why only me?”

“Where are the documents?”

“What?”

“If you wish to have His Majesty’s approval, you need to provide a document explaining the valid reasons, don’t you?”

“…”

“I doubt these flowers and fruits are the documents you’re offering.”

Lucian looked at the man coldly.

“I have never once entertained any personal requests related to my work.”

“…”

“I have only ever passed on documents to His Majesty when I felt it necessary, solely as a courtesy, and only if it was a matter His Majesty should be informed of.”

The baron glared at Lucian, his body trembling. His face was now so flushed that it almost looked blackened.

“Don’t mistake my kindness for your entitlement. Follow the proper procedures.”

“But, others…!”

“Stop talking about others. I’m asking you to bring a document that supports your proposal. If you keep ignoring procedure like this, I’ll have no choice but to report it to His Majesty.”

“Sir Lucian!”

Lucian pointed towards the door with a cold face.

“The exit is that way. See yourself out.”

Baron Verti’s face turned a livid shade of anger as he stormed out, slamming the door. Lucian could hear his teeth grinding even from his seat.

“Haa….”

Once the man had left, silence filled the room.

With a deep sigh, Lucian let out a bitter chuckle.

So I helped him out, only for him to try to use me as a stepping stone for his corruption?

“Does he think I’m his errand boy?”

Lucian laughed wryly. He finally understood why the Emperor was so ruthless in keeping people at a distance.

−People are like that. They start thinking kindness is their right if you keep giving it.

Suddenly, he remembered Heraith’s words from last night while they were eating the meat pie.

−So keep your guard up, Lucian. There’s no need to go out of your way for everyone’s requests. They won’t appreciate it. They think kindness is just their birthright, something owed to them.

Now, he thought he finally understood why the Emperor had said that.

“…Looks like I was wrong, wasn’t I?”

Lucian murmured as he rubbed his neck, a long sigh of deep regret escaping him.