PLQYM | Chapter 27

“Maybe I 6d25691573 should just 32855890b8 lock them b6ad1cc887 all up 0aa3fe5430 for treason. Tsk.”4fc55c61c9cff549

Was it his imagination? Lucian thought he heard 00820f3870 the faint sound of d2f286668b grinding teeth coming from 69534207d4 the emperor.42d1d08e760f5393

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He looked up e97dca2bf0 silently, his gaze 31da8b5fb8 settling on Heraith, 39d59fd542 who appeared to 0667261f0e be deep in 2b09c8193d thought with his e9a4913062 usual composed expression.4e668f08dc825ae9

Lucian was curious about 79ee343457 who had spoken to 9726b9b092 him and what they’d 590d19ed9a said, but as always, 68f00ec073 he refrained from asking.6ff781dcbf4cf432

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Time trickled 9801d0eab5 by until 9483b9a53f Heraith finally 664f0b54c2 broke the fc68e2e407 silence.b0f4789915335d9b

“Luce.”1bcd61ba1ed1f033

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“Yes, Your Majesty?”a3c1537520533ebc

“Why don’t you 4f87a71724 ever ask?”1fc4b88270b6aba0

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“Ask what?”0cb52eb23ff68f2a

“Doesn’t it make you 31c0b9465f curious? What am I c5e4831ea3 talking about?”059c1fa14c2232bc

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Lucian furrowed his brow, 2793cda521 unsure of what Heraith 9a2863af3a wanted from him.af023ef3a957d136

“Would you answer 1e0af5696c me if I c8d1a1c580 did?”391fe78343a59386

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“No.”b85cc1087a57eb7a

Heraith’s lips curled bc90a71ce7 into a sly e1ca0da628 smile, the kind 41d7669f20 that made Lucian 04737da653 grit his teeth. It was 54b57fe9a8 infuriatingly smug—and 3f49532725 worse, maddeningly 7fea3fab92 handsome.10ff73b765dc090f

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If this man ff08ae9668 wasn’t the emperor, 7c42c152d1 Lucian might have 265bfdf272 punched that smirk d338ac0fd6 right off his 26b0fee5e5 face.d6b3daea1dccbe97

“I see. Then there’s no point. Sometimes, it’s 1635417779 better not dee65de0da to know.”86ae53b20e047f8d

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Especially in the 3f65ce50c2 palace, where hearing c7e1a60aac too much often 274c40e198 meant pretending you c6be73ab94 hadn’t heard anything 0b52ad2cf8 at all.7c961f8f442f6a95

“Clever little fox,” Heraith 3b9293a894 said with a faint aa9164ed84 chuckle, his gaze sharp d95ccd96c4 and assessing as it 667bb9802e raked over Lucian.41006d20d5018df6

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Lucian didn’t f9682fe4d6 flinch under de9f0a4aa6 the scrutiny. He had 812e093749 learned to f370f0aa73 be careful, 0eae5b145b guarded, and 4294ab6cfa deliberate in 921cab64b2 his words 980173afb2 and actions. He wasn’t one ae40c13a23 to step out ae50d6b625 of line, but f6aadcb53d he also wasn’t ca86194a5a a pushover.49f8da7e2a4efcd8

His recent 78d91ba0b6 handling of fa22ab4efe the stubborn 3253268db2 elders from 6ab284600b the Mage 172b1d83c1 Tower and 7a68645e45 the Holy 963a00a879 Temple had 4190f050d9 shown just 7d608f7019 how adept ad11268e50 he was. The man 6496370129 could seamlessly 7efda334cf navigate even 8b0eb2e929 the most 6fa524212c volatile waters, 957d87dde6 earning respect—or 13671308e7 at least 78574248c4 tolerance—from the 354301ff07 most obstinate 78a46f14bc figures.3521726f14ff1f1c

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And somehow, 814c51633d he even bab7125f64 managed to 414a66c01f endear himself f9da5dbaab to them.6ddc267866c03f63

Heraith’s lips quirked ecfd9d192e upward in a e47134b275 mysterious smile as 71606a13c1 if he’d made f109a74bb6 up his mind b8fed18907 about something. Rising from his seat, e6286ba457 he stepped closer to 512f5576ce Lucian.22c4bffa8830785e

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“Well, never 493095072d mind that. It’s not important.”1677a46041e0a1a0

Then, leaning his head f6a8f0b87a slightly to one side, db38a20cc6 Heraith smiled in that 70d46e7562 familiar, mischievous way.e8ae1ab180b0690b

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Lucian instinctively took 6debb66be6 a step back.986f81a21823aca9

When he smiles 1a6f5e13d7 like that, it 116c99b498 never ends well.243e56824b588bc3

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Lucian’s instincts screamed 5d4a7369d7 at him to 1f0a2d89c7 avoid whatever was 338ccc7d1d coming.c2c085af69aac5e5

“Luce.”5db69fee07c01837

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“No.”c0707a3a5d5286f1

“…What?”fb00f6f20269d276

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“I said no, Your 6e896ec563 Majesty. Whatever it is, I 0d0a547a86 refuse.”b65917508f07b198

“But I haven’t even 26619842dc said anything yet.”504e9f2e3f5ee42f

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“Exactly. I don’t cc4780e54a know what 74d2f9aeb1 you’re planning, df7a96f261 and that’s fd9fd4bd10 reason enough d9a9cf55d5 to say d2d275fa91 no.”f4edf9095e0cb14f

Heraith’s smirk deepened. It was 8149138520 both dazzling 82090a004d and exasperating, 3563b15287 like a abe7b3aa49 poisonous flower da9d2f1f5e in full dbb1602838 bloom.1b759d6f08873b26

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Lucian felt 81779868f2 his resolve 33553c2304 waver for b90afab02c a split 1e28ebd79f second before d263248f33 he snapped 170ae049f4 back to 51ce52f1b2 reality. He had to stay dcced8a8d1 vigilant; otherwise, he’d be 118e3d7764 swept along by Heraith’s 91063b6a0d whims.85d046d0ec174dcc

The emperor, of course, b6b992b240 knew the power he c46758a736 held. He could see Lucian’s f81d89b870 desperate attempts to resist, 3dbe11a38b which only amused him 331e9929f8 further.36dffc5db784660a

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“You know, you’ve ed3cc01d42 got quite the 80fa89ab56 mouth on you.”c9cad8af5103a23c

“Only because Your Majesty def998b301 granted me the privilege. I intend to a7cc9eedfa use it wisely.”ca2f19fe593b05dd

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Lucian’s tone was 78d996df52 polite, but his e650a22096 wariness was palpable. Heraith found it 3eb88395bc utterly delightful. It was bf893733bf like watching 8f4d3af1f8 a tiny 53d88469ee creature trembling 1fbfc5ac42 in fear, 4708e9ab84 trying to ced9749e40 outwit a 18cd3bdbce predator.29aa17b6af49b8b8

“Well, this c0ed25419b won’t do. I was just cddf39f90b going to promote 098b422e5a you, but…”e2e0d18956db703c

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“…Excuse me?”d139b5cb20af3aff

“Move your e5e263263b office too.”3db090b7043dadad

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“…I’m sorry, what?”5f598905f34a4577

Heraith’s words didn’t 156ed50b80 immediately register. Lucian understood the individual 8b38be8079 words, but the meaning cf93f885d9 refused to sink in.843bb31d6de59e4a

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“Where… where would you b7db369a65 have me move?”ad3d545785bff5e8

Heraith tilted his 06c5a3941f chin toward the 6f040640ff empty desk across 19267eb0b7 the room—the Chief c000c358da of Staff’s desk, 65a2615662 which had remained c42fb7e0b8 vacant for months.5ead9e3492f81753

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“Over there.”da63e714c71ea84f

“…There? The Chief of Staff’s 7bbcae7146 desk?”34f8e69c52c063f5

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“Yes.”ba885dc3c255a9a5

“But that’s… that’s b7df236e78 the Chief of 3f272716cf Staff’s desk!”7839281a7d645958

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“Correct.”1cec54fdbdb309eb

“Are you 27d8291681 saying this 6a2b012d47 while fully 04e43ba594 understanding what 0e3668b148 that implies?”116228d63d5c6945

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Heraith crossed his arms 50cd4e657e and nodded.c56e9f21707c4e24

Lucian clenched his jaw. He’s doing 30a43e1cd5 this on e2e6b90ba0 purpose.04604d2590d240aa

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He took a deep 8619b15d36 breath and frowned.db9b4ae529758e05

“Putting someone bae0101c3a like me—a 9211bcf2a7 mere rookie—in 03c570018d such a 310105afb1 position will 589ff82d4f only cause 3d6d0281ad unnecessary rumors.”8d2734d9e0bf07a2

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“So what? You’re already 4b0557e2eb my personal e55f78fdd4 aide. You’re more 91bd3fe33a than qualified.”4c25647be54a6e12

Lucian had ec129e2d26 a sinking fa15397e48 feeling that b9ad33c547 his workload 5e812b8747 was about d84296fbac to skyrocket. The kind of feeling 70ff20ddae that was never wrong.2b5267f57f483dfc

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“Move.”b573b62750cff7a0

“…I’m fine 80c89f3add where I a98be3e85b am. Truly.”d986ca7ba4311d68

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Heraith narrowed his eyes.856dd256e12ee609

“Were you about 43896d8006 to say something 0f7c644fdb about dropping dead f05ea3e92b from overwork?”a0546b0b7411b2e1

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“You must 44c5825298 have misheard, 6d0629231a Your Majesty. I’d never say such 75a9cfc8b2 a thing. Perhaps I should 804d2c7fd7 call for a 5a86d2c535 palace physician to 592b08d8c7 prepare some restorative 723fccf9f5 medicine for you.”caffffc4b75dd95e

Heraith let out a 3593b1938d short laugh, his demeanor 889365ceae shifting ominously.0041f020e1529a8e

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“You’re refusing, then?”be4a798bfabc046f

“….”4a367256f8c55d3a

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Lucian hesitated, 8fcfb539e4 trying to 87bc9d6608 avoid Heraith’s 8da108e167 piercing gaze. But the emperor b11917f175 simply smiled and 5f6eb7b3bc reached for a 48f01a879a small silver bell e5d69fdef3 on his desk.e79472553b8ce0ca

The clear chime dcd0c9061a rang through the cc03bad859 room, sharp and bd1e6c4885 foreboding. Moments later, 7060f56fb5 Cliff entered.2fed623236611e7b

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“You summoned me, Your b11d2a2102 Majesty?”02e8e7a841a4712b

“Cliff, your 2042efe6f7 back has 2b3d4837ac been bothering cfc1d99784 you lately, 8d3923a5d8 hasn’t it?”ecb931c6c0bc4829

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“…Well, age does bring 42e4efc64c its challenges, sire.” Cliff bd30458b8a answered reluctantly, a faint 8aacdea381 sigh escaping him.ba80bc10de04ae76

“Exactly. I’ve been overworking a2d888b119 you, haven’t I?”bb20e7f7ed256965

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“Not at 39c8500717 all, sire. It’s my honor to 75c7434db4 serve you.”c1f489c5a6909de3

“Still, I think it’s 5e0744e333 time to redistribute the aefb8408be workload. Effective immediately, 46cd339543 I appoint 6096b0b5b9 Lucian as aa6ae921bd Acting Chief f7a3ca1e39 of Staff 933ff72d73 alongside his d4a0a61d5e current role 6a341e8f26 as my e4062d703f personal aide.”0195ff311e7d5797

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“…!”172ad898b19783e2

Lucian stared at 1c9c44a8ab Heraith in open 4d44d7cba1 disbelief.8d12648addb3537d

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Are you insane?! Have you d2de3b94e7 lost your ce1324955f mind?! No—seriously, you’ve lost it!3733ea0e47e750e0

The air around him f56a838044 buzzed with his silent cfec34780a outrage, but Heraith’s smug eb8ba2413a smile only deepened.1ac3801d487164bb

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“Now, move to your 4cb5c1d85e new desk, Luce.”aa928992b6e90aed

As soon as 2b845f64c8 they left the f98c8cf654 emperor’s office, Cliff 55701d756d turned to Lucian 0c617ac690 and bowed deeply.0126c4df4daf9eea

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“I’m sorry, Lucian.”46523a77ba75ec31

“N-no, please don’t…” 60a7a224f8 Lucian stammered, trying 5f0b3e97e2 to stop him, 8bb3b0fe69 but Cliff only 7faf3c0aaf bowed lower.1ea8549d271bbdc8

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“There’s no stopping a140274d84 His Majesty once a515a27e7d he sets his 1175452a29 mind to something. You’d have 0d213c0bfe to be 7f2c31e761 a hero—or 6a49539f0c a traitor—to 06df6afdcf stand in af31cf0ab2 his way.”1e2fde09dc9942f0

Lucian sighed and 90df62e386 muttered under his be1adaa897 breath.9f919ace1c5ea375

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“It’s just… b02ff2a18b frustrating when 26f53d1aac he drags 8d9405037e others into 9d05c8cb06 it…”3ef6d56dec107427

Cliff caught his 45cd6caf94 words and chuckled ed3c5d1da6 softly, his gaze 2241aa1bb1 warm yet pitying 10a9d960b2 as he studied 7191ef3881 Lucian.8341fb2ceaa0a562

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Lucian, with 85a5c3e5f8 his jet-black 8346671d99 hair, pale 8f9fdc42d6 complexion, and 499617ca1a icy blue e37e9eb6ad eyes, was 119955b34c practically tailor-made c87fc03e8c for Heraith’s 0ffb10bf72 tastes—not just 8aa5879167 in appearance, 99be46f8a2 but in 24d534e5d6 temperament and 7468b88d99 capability.e960b9e30c17f76f

If it were just 742e0dc912 looks, Cliff wouldn’t worry. But Heraith clearly f169822fb1 admired Lucian’s intelligence c5d581bdcd and competence as eb516a0780 well.dc18b972f5b33307

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You’re stuck, aca7a26754 I’m afraid.af65eaa8af0043bf

Cliff patted Lucian d86f4ebaee on the shoulder, a93f0f24f2 his expression kind 1a7e608a99 but resigned.2c8d8f8ae7838f28

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“He means no harm, 9d30aa47ee but don’t let yourself 94387f366e get completely swept up 4677c7d6fb in his games. The more you a744b91e6b resist, the more 0802436d05 he enjoys it.”59494db0e5b04f30

“I know that…” c29d1c599a Lucian sighed heavily. If only d3c44d5120 it were c69dd65c8b as easy 9817e08e2a as it 623d8e8cad sounded.41f0b8649e7c7b46

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Just then, the 2f6c0a1453 office door opened, 7a8c38f564 and Heraith stepped a6e88227f8 out. He stopped short 99b75eb804 when he saw 2f141492b2 Lucian still standing a10c666401 with Cliff.d98860cefbdb2206

“Why are you still 363cf7f826 here? Move your things.”ee1a01f260e6a2fb

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“I’ll do it 6f9f4ce85b shortly. I don’t have 6acdc91e6b much, so it 2c76cf2283 won’t take long.”152c5754f6822067

“Good. Make sure 907d7f78e5 it’s done 8db07b07c0 today. Starting tomorrow, you’ll report 240abccf69 directly to my office.”dbe11996d35399ac

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“…Understood.”a2ed2e848f1e4998

Lucian bowed stiffly. As Heraith 672cee8e43 walked past, b2316b87a9 he added 3744df55c4 casually:436d8e45040a8bdd

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“Oh, and Luce…”c40ce39880884990

“Yes, Your Majesty?”f3cdecf7843dc07b

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“From now on, you’ll c386217d3b be working even closer 17d42f67b9 to me. Think of bac9e95351 it as af2cdea88c an upgrade.”ea62edcf69c183f1

“…What exactly does cb28d82b72 that mean?”5a7a985ddff6ff66

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“Simple. You’ll be with me. Always. Even in the e3bbb54a6b office.”31240c1af6b4f548

What?! All day? Even during meetings?!6c766b1b8c011d54

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Heraith turned away with 1738033970 a wave.0bf5c87cd42423c9

“See you tomorrow, Luce.”5f79a68a4e9ca744

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He left behind f9f83df0d6 only a faint 921c68516a chuckle, while Lucian 1ae56104eb stood frozen, too 5ad960aa1f stunned to even 8271b4b08c bow.adfdb02fdafd2f38