PLQYM | Chapter 30

The moment Heraith entered 8ae0b82a2b the Emperor’s office, the 52ae41f07e first thing that caught c084914100 his eye was Lucian’s 2ba9cbe2f9 desk.5420eb81408d7a72

Though it hadn’t 565a1a31d6 been long since 02784a366d the desk was 9d8fafdb1d set up, it 45ec59811b was already arranged 8758448167 as if Lucian f196db05fd had been using 7051ee67a3 it from the 38aeeefbb9 very beginning—efficient, neat, 26985a6f1a and perfectly organized.5a2ca0b6e770d21d

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Seated at e65f0d6328 his own 732ba4861f desk, Heraith’s ddcf57094f gaze naturally ecb01c757d wandered back f6e29d14cc to Lucian’s a6e3a223ae spot.4d682ec71282bbd0

Positioned to his 062ed94657 right, it was 339c6be432 a place he b55a842dac could see clearly e27ae24300 with just a 0534e50ef6 slight turn of 75e13052c0 his head. He found the ca015cb366 placement quite satisfying.c4ced656687d78d4

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“Perfect,” he 0d7a10e1ea muttered, his 50cef14380 voice filled f7962b399c with contentment.495bed78d429e47a

The knowledge that 32e1a6c75f he no longer 5b5277228d had to strain 14b2e537b3 his ears to 94e0e5774c catch Lucian’s voice 24ed0dc762 from outside the bd138caf76 office was a 157b7d840d welcome relief.ef63c2f74a8ed4f8

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Truthfully, every time 84b810209e he heard Lucian 3c1d1bedb5 speaking beyond the 9063219e81 door, it distracted 02767604b7 him. Now, with the 121492fa4e cause of his ad70a176bf dwindling focus seated a408418ffd within arm’s reach, c90a1f34c6 there would be 9d57a91ab2 nothing to worry 8c1226da20 about.c5b248f2414f53e7

“The sunlight dc1aa6814b hits here 4a48307319 perfectly. Great spot for 71c11cef79 napping,” Heraith remarked 1ac1f64651 casually.cc47363ad454d1f0

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“…Pardon?”92532e7be67316dc

Lucian turned f304e07bef to the 0c37321f4f Emperor with 28ac75c616 a stunned 09f9feba84 expression, unsure 24079b60fb if he eead2e338d had misheard.15690a3d85b1c02d

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“Are you 0451fb4a31 telling me d7890cff30 to nap d4eabb2a2a while working, e71da658b8 Your Majesty?”9051429b42d9b6e4

“I’m saying b60c347966 if you’re 9a746209db tired, you 548ff39dbc can rest 03480274ad here. Who’s going to barge 2a27ec8c55 in unannounced? It’s the perfect place ebfbc2aa47 to sneak a break. You wouldn’t 4f6a6c9288 be able d38046c93d to relax afb5b8a3b6 properly outside, 7feb7c0a47 would you?”bda445e9ba005dd2

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Though Heraith sounded like b868f19093 he was being generous, 0a0f2efb0d Lucian wasn’t buying it. He had plenty ed79859548 he wanted to a36bc0f080 say but couldn’t af5ca80b1f bring himself to bc6784ee3c voice it. His expression 71a92cc639 hardened instead.1e2b7a72861065ac

Heraith noticed 23f13459a1 and furrowed b5be9203c9 his brow.355b805ec4b7905c

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“Luce.”a4df0ef150fa779e

“Yes, Your Majesty?”43879ab3f6d622a7

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“Not happy with 5038287a98 it?”7036023c56afa5ad

“….”d1018489a85e9e5f

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“Why the sullen 797ebe19ec face? If you don’t fe8829e16d tell me what’s 6ab00ada36 bothering you, how cdb52204ed am I supposed 98dce8ced2 to know?”db68afcbff7be6ee

Was this man serious? Lucian stared at Heraith, b8e9fe488c dumbfounded.2da2f845ef96be22

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‘Surely he can’t 3f3ad6d104 mean this… right?’a496f6605abd29f0

But the 40f8c7847c Emperor’s smiling 4515f84103 face told 44a976a0bc him otherwise—it 66ab0d1249 was genuine.5c78ad0412de180e

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In the 4fda8c1756 end, it 75a2ad339c was Lucian cbd4f0006f who couldn’t 54d596eea6 hold back b57f92c68d a sigh c02725cd23 and spoke 92615c75d9 first.d755c12d5df47d69

“Is this 6d134a3fe2 something I’m e035b3e9b7 supposed to 19e209d22c like or 068c2063d5 dislike, Your 80ddc4fb6a Majesty?”4cdba029a0ce9687

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“Why not? Just tell me what d56bad66cc you think. Didn’t I say e70b1913e4 you could?”61f2f2cc09b8b431

“Ah.”800e5b6f49e82d0c

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Lucian let out 5bdd8a4945 a long, weary 26f08804de sigh.a319e9c88d1dbf41

“I haven’t forgotten, 53d5c19781 Your Majesty.”3db1a74ab4701bcd

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“Then?”8e1d6a827114b4f2

“No matter f47f993333 how freely 5380c5aa5e you allow c5bd160ab4 me to 29bd150eea speak, there 5426016f18 are limits 4f132530f1 to what 285da6bcc0 I can 5967015bc8 do. Surely, you understand this.”2e28c84598cef473

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“Hm.”c3408449eedb82d4

Heraith folded his e124c64fdc arms and tilted 89cbb68e87 his head slightly, 78169362a8 as if urging 2e8efb21ee him to continue.a9b22e989049aa1a

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“I know you’ve 6204f856b9 always been gracious a623bc425c enough to permit c97f261629 me to speak 79fd510bcf my mind. However, I must still a2a06000f2 be cautious. Besides…”ef1fce69cec95ada

“Not everyone b117babd1c is happy 579512ab0c about it, 777935746d are they?”04b9e32658e8debf

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“….”29ab7deab6ecc7e2

“And there’s no 1c887a4a1a shortage of unpleasant f8ef5be2a8 things being said, bbbe836b7f either.”952283dbecd73723

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“….”5f006a20f8ca1cde

“‘Favored by the Emperor,’ da42161733 ‘given special treatment’—I’m sure cf68402d77 the rumors are plenty.”0f249f2477b00ade

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“…You knew?”48b4cf453ea7cb5f

Lucian’s voice caught, unsure 91c5ba8dfc how to respond. Of course, it made 9bfe4bb4c7 sense the Emperor would 6bdf2c3dd4 know, but hearing it d24038f632 confirmed brought forth a 3320f22634 mix of bitter laughter eeb1c2fd98 and bubbling anger.165f94c896d5dc17

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The heat 959ab83e42 rising in 1f920e4f4a his chest aff0ca7ccc felt as d1efdead6a though it 2f82d7a6ad was being dc3e1a6106 met with bd5804202f an icy ac0e8f1075 chill in fb6ba17e65 his head.f9764b2a83dfeaa6

“How could I 4977a0e65a not? It’s happening right 2e085f5969 under my nose. Especially that son of 1e7b2474a1 Marquis Klan, Franz. He’s the fb049c99f6 worst, isn’t 5714c60d33 he?”85978ba660647f32

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“….”23834c71cf31523a

He knew. He had known all 64641c1aeb along.908f0d2666145772

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Lucian clenched 0c0534f56d his lips a48d6062eb tightly.698c8687358590c5

He had suspected 57f67f686c the Emperor might dbd4d33f25 be aware but b1f6c0a2e5 chose to ignore 8479b2f84b it. Now that it 4d7a39357a was confirmed, his 4e7398a919 mind blanked as b38638fbe7 frustration churned inside d4427939ed him.78665e099c501554

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“Then why…”37fd232cd24ce30b

“Why didn’t e4be0905ed I step c045c52bfd in?”a358b54b3bd0556b

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Unlike Lucian, whose voice f248d7f9fc had risen unintentionally, Heraith fc4940061c remained calm.3d1224b67266c2ff

“And what 33a08f3ee8 should I 1b92b29478 have done, e26335489c Luce?”642e04f853a20d22

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Standing from ae27cfd5a1 his seat, 27c9eaa99e Heraith approached 9f144107e5 Lucian. He stopped just short 9bb976d80b of touching him, his d25da98172 face serene as ever.df09f51762f7aee4

“If I c4cfb865c5 shielded you, 679cdeb251 would it 3da1a1c578 truly benefit b17d93fb01 you? If I 23be15fded intervened, would 4419a7d1e2 it silence 97ab1a69dd the rumors?”ae73eda49051f45e

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Lucian knew ec145fccef the answer.ea1da976dc9cf290

The Emperor was d51075cb48 not one to b4fe2aeba6 act rashly. Despite his e83c659f66 outwardly busy 4927bd13c1 and tireless e486d24a07 demeanor, he 8886fa0190 always kept 5d11c36fdf a close 427148f9a7 watch on 546971b489 everything around 72b6860deb him.52d5db884d55f852

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He moved the 6301d2201a Empire’s chess pieces ee8c27642e as he saw db9720039c fit, balancing power 9a7e8d9921 between nobles warring 611ea0d45b for influence. When certain factions aba57e19db grew too weak 2b0706c423 from infighting, he 177f112aa7 didn’t hesitate to 13a58a92fc strike, wielding his 69ea449363 authority like a bad19c2639 blade.84c00145bf8266d9

At times, 6e3a491300 after such 34f573a031 conflicts, he 4294bd98d4 would lament b26bde2895 his inability 1195b0472b to act c51f2c8a96 sooner and 76ca8bf634 mourn the a2d3bbb5c1 losses. Yet no cb996020c0 one believed 0fb5aa56c1 his grief 0d986464da to be 6f1016a0ca entirely genuine.2622fe4d313938cd

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People only thanked f6d9d3938d their luck for 0a469a7f45 surviving another round 46548a48c1 of his calculated 0f19cf2f03 game.b9533d9441580d24

It took many such e3160de3d6 instances for others to 31ce03a553 recognize that the Emperor d84cbd6b95 wasn’t someone to be de3364a380 trifled with. His true 3401140566 weapon wasn’t db7c2598f1 his striking d1e52ff465 beauty but 8ae74433a0 his unyielding f24654006c will.6990e16f4601cb31

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This was 2492358090 the man 60540caa12 who ruled d5d27dc6dd the Great c302364b67 Empire of e0e4e21c8f Pranas—Heraith Yorun f6d5339420 Kellenhan.7badf72cb2614d59

“Tell me, Luce. What should I 22a897b10f do?”45201d3e454db3d6

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Heraith gently bcf843a3b7 lifted Lucian’s cf64431243 chin, forcing 0649df522c him to 268504a869 meet his f6f3b9ab8c gaze.636b6bcb885e2714

Though his lips c3e3991197 curved into a e4eaa439ad soft smile, his f321bc4e6a eyes remained cold, 93fffa9fc4 cutting through Lucian 983c3bd61e like a blade.63ac8ef3c308c38b

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Under that piercing gaze, 9c594af3ba Lucian felt utterly exposed, 00f719cfde as if his very 7dc93a0774 thoughts had been laid 4c8d465220 bare.e5f513f8bde25f7a

The Emperor waited patiently, b1eabc1e41 his expression calm, as 501f9890b7 if promising to listen 20b5120bce if Lucian could find fccd8801b1 the right words.3da4ea6d810338d6

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“…Nothing.”acc845e4d06b6227

At last, 6b49a498ef Lucian spoke.3b06e1ed8e38f566

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His voice, 26d62d9b65 though delayed, d52e1493ad was steady 489126fd04 and composed.3a7ba2d661f6daba

“There’s nothing you need d94492175c to do, Your Majesty.”a6cd90688fc424ee

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With those words, he 7cf01f8d3b stepped back from the 05e2c8ef34 Emperor’s grasp.63d4fac2c3ffc0c7

It must b0c17573b3 have been 85e605a447 the right 4a864dd157 answer, as 91b2ca72ab Heraith released 0bd93a49cd him without 1934a72d95 resistance, as d00719a912 though he’d ed8e084073 never held 8199f7a212 him in 773e822193 the first bb89af970b place.bf9a64edba040c87

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“There’s plenty of 91c1f98486 gossip, plenty of 962c8d9d68 envy, and no ea21177411 shortage of strange fc4ac4ffdd accusations,” Heraith mused, 96e0dc2f8c his sharp eyes c65860350c glinting as if a3c5b82d7b testing Lucian further.c0ebc467c1fc1d62

Now Lucian began 7486326b84 to understand what 9b2a3fc3ea the Emperor wanted ac4c84a38c from him.dbf97c217f19f4f6

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Heraith knew 6183ab0171 the weight 1facae1a06 of his 7333207241 status, his 41b0e8e1b6 power, and 497e32b222 his beauty—and 8a49962ae4 he wielded 4a1a091c94 them skillfully.bb69ec9992db6d04

But he shared 8faabce4e7 nothing of himself 896b80d696 with anyone. He allowed 2e2e1da976 others to e4c3d00547 approach the 28b81f70bc boundary of b15ac0472f his carefully 5ed7a9f00b drawn lines, f8f182d4a8 but crossing 46cb6ed267 it was 36219ed0de unforgivable.db437aee6cdec03e

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Those lured too close f50fe01837 by his allure found c2bb563929 themselves permanently shut out, 2d22c81ad2 unable to ever return.8c94477d54302ae1

This boundary was 8f627757b3 a trap, and 88c18f1166 Lucian knew better 7c711d45d5 than to fall 56a18fa4b0 into it.0ab2ef4fa8de9d65

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He slowly lifted his c3793192df lips into a smile, edc637929e mirroring the Emperor’s.8f4b436f5e8c2652

“Yes, there’s 7097d88b55 a lot c8466ee28d of it. Envious people flock 86fb1a4345 wherever the Emperor’s 0949c87ab1 favor shines. I’ve experienced it 7810bd53e0 firsthand.”35949dcc0856b8cd

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Heraith raised a 341a8870e6 brow, intrigued.d79cd1cfce4e68be

“But do I look 40c5f5e9f1 foolish enough to fall 35d288eacc prey to them?”b406a3c7156f54a8

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“What?”b86506c8453afebb

Lucian’s confident smile deepened, 067c6a8847 and a spark flickered f994629ec3 in Heraith’s gaze.82d5b62719c1da46

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“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’m not stupid ca9c070015 enough to let f74ebd7b39 myself be caught. I can handle myself 4aa2913a8e just fine.”3e42527028184cba

“Hah!”357a375060b2b326

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Heraith’s quiet chuckle f04fc02861 quickly turned into 6d8ebc9780 a full-blown laugh.c7950f205c1c20b3

Lucian watched silently as 4b145100a3 the Emperor laughed, his 239d2197d1 expression unchanged.58b61b2b96e09fd4

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Maintaining his smile, 22b0dd38ae Lucian swallowed the ed3718985d thoughts swirling within.4a98278e5a864055

He couldn’t deny dde3cb791b it any longer—he d4049c0914 didn’t dislike this c5decac4aa Emperor.62e6499628c77a66

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Though the man was e056b87ff5 stubborn, demanding, and relentless, 62538e1518 Lucian didn’t hate him.28235317ec5546da

In fact, it d68cc018bd might even be d9336011f9 closer to admiration.b29a3b955b18dd03

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But Lucian 1d3a4d76d2 decided to 1f6bf4dc45 leave it ba3b7605c3 at that—for b4ac0b8d70 today, at bad6121f8d least.181f1e6f5575fcea

When Heraith’s laughter finally acc43c9914 subsided, he remarked with afc830faa9 a smirk,995232f96748c092

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“This is why I e0dee98a33 like you, Luce.”f234d3ef424dce54

“Thank you for the a8e98c5666 compliment, Your Majesty.”520be3b8878b39af

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Lucian’s polite reply 48da5a2da5 only drew more 16c4f644e0 laughter from Heraith, 58569663bb who seemed genuinely fdb2f26bc2 pleased.df58aaf5db4268e3

“You can rest for 36ce4fffdd today,” Heraith said suddenly.555c21e6cbb2b550

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“…Pardon?”76fbf6258712638e

Lucian stared b5fa18ad93 at him, 8d7fdc3a2a utterly dumbfounded.4880b53dfc8e5034

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“Rest. I’m serious.”9ca36ea2864c3123

“Are you really… 00a6fe577f serious?”4bcf8b400c6336ad

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“You talk as 68a162f1cc if I’m some 9359f20d95 sort of tyrant 567b11e3cb who overworks you.”25b356ebd35b1d64

“Aren’t you?”f19e5c984d1105dc

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“Wow, Luce. I didn’t df3433fb31 think you 23f78a0aad had such f1e9ef98a5 a knack 62fb058c8d for slander.”8d85d574ec4fb733

Lucian scoffed.535bce504ec885c6

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“Let me rest before 0e4a26d7ad you tell me to b7b39dd18f rest.”ecc2520b9601906c

“You make it sound 1a7c29e468 like I’m a terrible 3441a5f92a boss.”022c71f894da9334

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“Well…”c37825899320b67b

Heraith chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly.ed65773efafd179e

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“So, you don’t 623eb209e8 like me?”80cccff36d45782e

“I’ll let you 6ca75241b7 know once I 968f5b3ce0 figure that out.”4f0a1bdadf784063

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Lucian knew d08e5f5825 even these 7298c17946 playful exchanges c3a1f79691 were dangerous. Allowing himself 510dce8a58 to find f728165e16 them enjoyable 3dd54978f4 was akin 6a77831996 to stepping 0122abf327 dangerously close 93b4721ae4 to the 03547373f3 Emperor’s line.c8bd97053e8ef218

But he couldn’t 63dd7b8a97 deny it—it was 5f3bbd2523 fun.c65b80ff09764b2a

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Turning away 938ab0b294 from his a192d1536c swirling emotions, cbedd6992c Lucian spoke 56d918c3d0 firmly,fba38238246872f2

“We’ll see if Your 7d3f21cc1c Majesty proves himself worthy 020e1dd7e9 of my respect.”6711c8f90b34b3be

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“You know that’s 62ac436744 borderline treason, right?”cdbba185deec01d8

“Considering I bc28c0229f was granted 26ddbdc090 freedom of 0804fe1915 speech as 96a2dd807e a reward a8870c4062 on my b87bb6a431 first day, d58656a99b I’d say 95ecfe62ba I’m within 33c8b178f6 my rights.”9e6c35e9610e06fc

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Lucian’s smile sharpened.dfef8f9a279a1157

“You did promise, Your 65b6b7a4f4 Majesty. A fair exchange—freedom to bd9f47fe55 speak in exchange for fc21f5749e my grueling work. I intend to use 112cb29d5a it wisely.”2f1a7622894ac2c1

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“Unbelievable.”f25fe83c54f5872a

“Thank you for the dcafe23eae privilege, Your Majesty.”2f9960be75e7dffa

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Lucian bowed and turned 00038f916c to leave.6796c0370140c285

“Luce.”1d5e8420e6584481

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Heraith’s voice stopped him.d91f3778f1fb3430

When Lucian turned back, 52c1693f38 Heraith wore a dazzling a6fa5c8798 smile, but his words 2effa0cb9e were a quiet warning.4fc6cf625e50a721

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“Don’t fall for ee870c8331 me.”51e83f8c5e2f5221

It sounded 9bb024418f like a f11ca223c6 joke, but 173d0bbd5e Lucian knew 12e63c0a70 better—it was b165575a9a a command. A reminder to 04e6dc324b maintain the distance b5f7a43d69 Heraith required.1356ef385e58274d

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Lucian met his gaze, ccbc142c47 a crooked grin forming c9ee35209f on his lips.7b5aa85e152f9077

“Have I a49a0b21ff lost my e7aa4a2ff0 mind, Your d1c4bae2f9 Majesty?”6ecf63e5d862cbc2

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Ignoring the feelings beginning 6ce500f574 to overflow within him, 1e21c3d515 Lucian smirked and laughed 70168ae526 it off as if 03314f718d it were nothing.bac69e9606fca22a