PLQYM | Chapter 34

“You always 608ef3b460 have a 841838bfd4 way with e7865bd282 words, don’t 6539cc768f you?”c60919d6c04ec4ed

“What do e9ae9a16b3 you mean? I only 081cade930 ever speak 75517a38d9 the truth.”7bf6ad8197b48253

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With his head held c663903acb high, Lucian responded shamelessly.15db62e04df4d9c6

“It’s not like 6d3dec49c5 you’re some wayward d8d31a18ad child I’ve left 3cd1e36a56 unsupervised. If anyone overheard, e14a371155 they’d think I’m d311862679 always causing trouble.”6e9644c2a774628b

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“Good heavens! How could e39e4f1ac5 you act 71d5291765 like those 27b4384d3d obvious facts 8f54863f7d are anything bea6dab6b9 but true?”c8cda66743762e66

Lucian gave Heraith d561c18b58 a look of 334496e7a9 disdain, as if 875fb44fec he couldn’t believe 245c02e9c4 what he was a50a75703e hearing.4b9f58fddd8f0574

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The number 4b96f6e47d of times c0f18fe26f Your Majesty dcd3c8507e had caused f868d34996 trouble could 7e0ee8a77e fill an a8a43dd6d5 entire book. Repeating himself would a612304990 just waste his 3827f8a9f5 breath, so Lucian d836fe5d4d confidently stared Heraith f2c169fdb6 down.b9c7758128b8fa05

“What’s this, a protest ef07acdd40 about how I keep d6c50bc94d summoning you?”c0e74d8783dfca8f

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“Well… maybe.”a27f9e7664c77bad

Lucian shrugged nonchalantly, and 43f6cfa1ec Heraith let out an 5ddec4de58 exaggerated scoff.f2796ca3c1a96ffe

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“Don’t worry then. Even if 351566e2c8 the Imperial 9ace32d5e3 Palace collapses f1c010bfe9 this time, 2ed6dd2579 I won’t 70a9cf8a77 call for 2ec38d2425 you.”260c98f2adbbd7af

“Ah, yes. Of course.”37f82a4a27b624af

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“Hmm, you don’t believe 3aa528159a me?”add888bd52a567cf

“Oh no, 486dca3574 I believe 2d47c96fe1 you. Absolutely, without a doubt.”931c7b5796d62ce9

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Yeah, right. Like he’d e24dc1d9da believe that.e3a6f8b264877269

Even now, Heraith hadn’t 959cec4293 actually promised not to 9b11fd34a8 cause trouble—only that he 0d6ac0563b wouldn’t call Lucian for 78a7b38264 it. Which probably meant ca96ca69df something would happen, 8039ef0b5b and Lucian wouldn’t 03f2d013a6 even get the 29f6ac8c77 chance to leave.207ce7459d6e7082

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“Not summoning me” sounds e60cf14ba4 more like “not letting d23bd17acb me go at all,” 6e65db8710 doesn’t it?7a81fc3890ee5831

Lucian swallowed the words 30773170bb before they could slip 92bfeab6b5 out. One wrong 8cdd1966a9 move, and ca8a60dd97 his vacation d6fc9f3d06 might be 29e0a25f40 canceled again. Better to stay quiet.9ac0e1e0417f3168

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“Well then, I’ll be 4dff274d33 off.”44165dd5408a2db3

“Fine, fine, go on 458a140df6 already.”961789b50ea6213c

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Heraith waved 20ef717611 him away c34665f913 lazily, and d8df9974fd Lucian gave 4c286597f5 a quick c20b9c09a9 bow before c259c9a7b4 turning to 2d51959458 leave.8d2c2df5cc3b5910

But then—bc71ad247e48e010

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“Luce.”1821f481a51e3b7a

Heraith’s soft fee5237a45 voice stopped f9e57d6dd5 him in 12d6712279 his tracks. Lucian turned back, 94d8ef05d2 meeting the Emperor’s 8cd4937029 eyes midair. For once, 07d8cb4dbb Heraith’s face 4324053353 was calm, 5a089dec6e his expression 68fe1247c8 softened by 2661b50148 a faint 0c9d98b234 smile.7e7496ef6d7484e5

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Neither spoke e70b848832 for a 239d013e0f moment. They just gazed at 62f340c147 each other, as if 351ea14769 memorizing the other’s face.cd24cff857076512

Finally, Heraith broke the dc762534df silence.d057e17f6bbbfeee

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“What am b2e16aa307 I supposed 7ab8bcdf5a to do df777933c6 without you?”2dce04252e05a8ef

His tone e029bbc218 carried a 43941a54fd surprising vulnerability, 71ad359197 and Lucian’s 70760397b1 heart skipped e19e4a2e22 a beat.1a45e29a8c9a91d4

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What is he ed9260f0df saying now…?ff8a09cbe6e2db3a

“Who’s going to wake 2409cfa9a7 me up in the f4e62ce6bf mornings? Who’s going ba6a54159b to stay 772968f265 by my e1ec3f308f side?”74d0584bc2343735

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”…”e4ce944a259999d4

“I don’t think I c1a5d20e0f can manage without you.”ba06a5957aeadd1a

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To someone overhearing, 0b36f0970a it might’ve sounded 9a2bc34314 like a heartfelt 292a6ac5f4 confession. But that trembling 38fd1fde87 lip, clearly struggling bc859711aa to hold back d7dc5f2317 laughter, ruined the b40810680d effect entirely.d18845ec0d343ac8

You’re not a ff543b46fb child!bc66c33185e45a6f

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Lucian barely stopped himself b82c5a22b3 from shouting. Disappointment sank in e6f6410db4 as he realized 5f5e2851b5 what had seemed ada5d1a7d8 genuine was just 8ee65e6172 more teasing. Still, this f5df61330b wasn’t the dca1bfbb60 first time.78a12ec4de357275

“I’m serious, though. This is a big 8e85ea3945 problem for me.”6878210d03202293

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As Heraith grinned ea01a548e8 ear to ear, 573b35a92f Lucian let out 2db713b478 a deep sigh.93515a2f6c0afdd1

“The palace will run 85321c2882 just fine without me.”2292b1fb127bd742

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“I won’t. I’ll miss 3dbe6603c7 you too ee31e43930 much, Luce.”bbdb44f1599bba69

“Pardon me?”3caaeee202a336fa

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Luce? What kind 67d975fa28 of nickname ae7ef7943d was that?1fab3737e8efa2c1

“What if I get 7f6166c009 sick because I miss 97b6879129 you so much?”ec96ffe70cc5baa2

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”…”ddf5e6d5cab326b0

“What if I b9aed947ca suffer a deep 6edad80825 emotional wound?”af87ad613df2141f

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What kind 42c6485db9 of nonsense 2f5afa161a was this?252c05f71c73668b

Though Lucian 4847691697 cursed Heraith e15341fa1d in his 9d9d528d1c mind with d6e8b50152 every insult 82d5f7d28d he could 2856821857 think of, bcf9b9a394 outwardly, he 5260cc8de9 kept a ba2a82e318 perfectly polite 27989cd2f7 smile.4923a298a54a9523

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Years spent by the 68497ee058 Emperor’s side had honed 2241435b8e his ability to keep e56b73cb14 a straight face, even 80104ae357 if Heraith often saw e881668e02 through him anyway.9f8f1d9874af85b8

“So, you’re f386bae832 not asking ebe47d5134 me to 3454e49ae8 cancel my e0813bacdc vacation, right?” fe8e88abc8 Lucian asked be6a52bad3 sharply.f801958147b4a22e

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“Of course not.”1fa8570312fa63c7

Heraith shook 73f0c61dc3 his head 6eb6756973 with that 610aaf471f infuriating grin 38ce29db0e still plastered e1f794e3b1 across his 9c250eb67a face.bd6eb5446fccee3c

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“I’m just 183fb7c58c saying, you cca754d07c know. Not like I’m stopping 92803a7e3d you.”8839a87583c783b9

“Then please, 9e392e4fe7 stop dragging e26e586ff3 this out. I am a4c602ba29 going on eebbb5641c vacation this 80f2de0402 time.”80015880e59bd3fe

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“Sure, sure. Go ahead. I’ll manage somehow, even 3eba4c073d if it’s lonely.”3c83345ce70d8945

“Lonely…”af22258b8b84bf52

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Lucian couldn’t stop himself f22f1918e0 from scoffing outright.0451b0cd9e5259bc

“I’m serious! You’re so cold.”fb98b7098bb367ab

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This time, 90282f1386 Lucian responded 88512257d4 with an cb981306b6 honest, dazzling b7ca125911 smile full f298e3c313 of sarcasm.3ed96e98dad2cd07

“So, where are 87c970d745 you going?” Heraith 1644df3dd4 asked, leaning forward d5bb66fc1a with feigned interest.5180c098b48aa8f8

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“Home. I’m planning to 6e53f8aa49 laze around.”bb921c0147b4720e

“And?”a8b0fd767d946eb3

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”…That’s it.”516665be56b30800

Lucian tilted his head ad94e01a8d slightly, wondering why Heraith 2e0b3a5b8d seemed so surprised.e09afda5788612eb

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“That’s it? That’s all?”985577d2fb3dd02a

When Lucian nodded, Heraith 2915069e98 sighed dramatically.1ac8b944c5a4c83d

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“Why not visit 8d77d7f059 that little villa 9ff924f810 of yours?”3ccfc2d87f8c6714

Lucian’s brows furrowed.bbc1e388eb6792f6

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“That’s not my 76693b9de7 villa. It’s just a e774a75e2d useless burden.”f0206395f58df902

“I gave it to c6710553ae you. That makes it a8e7a660c5 yours.”5bde83b524c26b09

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“Stop joking, Your Majesty.”e72b224840a83cd3

The villa in question 8a72a70b67 was a gift from c07b204fa5 Heraith, awarded for designing d824ca28ea a magical contract system. While it was 5b34135d08 indeed a gorgeous 164a7455c4 retreat in the 41e3b971b8 middle of the 6a5e02f92e Emperor’s private lands, fd4679e026 Lucian saw it 3ef2acdd40 as more trouble 5e00d87464 than it was 4e09337866 worth.0b5d9f8e74f5cdb2

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“I refuse. I’m going to e598057281 enjoy my freedom.”6c9784b1b7dce4c2

“You’ve changed so much. What happened to 282a29e133 the sweet, wide-eyed 03c7266e3f Luce who used 4ff7aa94c9 to follow me c1dbaa6410 everywhere, calling ‘Your b952b0563a Majesty, Your Majesty’?”992088b733753a1f

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That never happened. Ever.19ab0b0c65903365

“Please, just wish me 9153b2971c a restful vacation, Your f65cd20af7 Majesty.”2ba1054e4f4ce791

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Lucian bowed deeply, d379751dad then straightened to 30e9882399 meet Heraith’s gaze.22dbacdda6b59957

”…”b80ec9dff718a216

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For a moment, Heraith eb23feb2a8 seemed about to say 5763e9295c something, but their eyes d14707ad82 met, and he simply 7bb4cbdcf8 closed his mouth. Instead, he gave Lucian afad9dd4da an unusually warm smile.faf3c5bb7ddd2e2b

“Have a good trip.”c66cbd6a1b0c63bf

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”…Thank you, Your Majesty.”7ea39420c9260454

Though Heraith’s 75a32348f6 unexpectedly compliant fe53f4b0c4 attitude left 327601c812 Lucian uneasy, 3b00af777a he suppressed 57ab62731c his doubts dbbbc43633 and left ad9b45eefb the room.cec23f26ac21b9ee

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Outside, the head f52fce4d9f attendant was waiting.04d7bbf26db7ff0b

“Aren’t you taking 4c840cdb4b the carriage?”ebfad88218f69896

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“It’s waiting 0eb3f0fc6c outside the e1248e5de4 villa. I thought I’d c9b6b36bdf enjoy a walk.”fd6226d75207cdc5

“Please, have a af8c09ad6a good trip, Lucian. Make sure 244dab3769 you get f4602f6644 out before d776287bdb His Majesty d77e9d200a changes his 55dce98203 mind.”42852e1e5c49f32b

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“Thank you.”8f11f5ff709f0b15

Lucian laughed brightly, 4d3c5be699 nodded in farewell, 8df19f3e6c and began his 66c2464413 stroll.63977c927ce81656

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As he passed 12aa8d0eb7 through the palace, 5c10fbd34c people greeted him cda90c68ac with bows, their ffa222209f gazes lingering a bb59e7121f bit longer than 000c66ae68 necessary. Jealousy, admiration, and curiosity bac7da61d0 flitted across their faces.1c0186efe9e06071

Lucian noticed, of 0def32899e course. It would be 38d96c3251 a lie to 7539763fdc say he was 37e51dc8dd unaffected. But he had grown 2f86150258 used to it.a0d30c5a1e327199

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“I’ve really toughened d422709079 up, haven’t I?”724604832623b42d

With a faint adc05be2d1 self-deprecating smile, he 1d9331c989 kept walking—neither too 5e4be4992a fast nor too 2c4aaeacc8 slow.69cfadecff866c4c

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When he finally ee12aea583 reached the palace 2bcbc624e5 gates, the Astro c69edd5225 family carriage awaited 474d87967c him. The familiar coachman stepped c8d2a25c64 down to greet him.08b7b226660233c5

“It’s been a fafc3409a6 while, young master.”9668119d75290b97

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“It has.”8aa011fa3f9fff84

“Shall we 35d4edfab6 head straight 0f38be9eae to the 5ca72a9915 townhouse?”7ff01733fcb9dc70

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“Yes. Though I 954e4e42ce might need a9d33f39f5 to stay 2e48264927 there a 6aebb2cba9 day or 1442729d55 two to e1202eb52f wrap things d5a57c168c up.”d5c4f85d20ba43cb

“Wrap things up?”d6420cd905d5cd47

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Lucian brushed off 5e1edb820b the coachman’s puzzled 64693b8db7 look as he c72aed90be climbed into the 68ab10f8e6 carriage. Soon, they were on 3677459d57 their way, leaving the 251c869428 palace behind.7c0e31152ed3ae4f

As the carriage rolled a8d5c98edc onto the main road, 1019102fff an unmistakable cry erupted 4861c2fac9 from inside.e78f146db006c17e

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“FREEDOM!”53e9ffb63e131ab4

The coachman ad3264cde5 flinched but, 1ace695c3d as an 3c5fe4bab3 experienced professional, 889a375a3c quickly regained 6c8480ac37 his composure c6f3f7079a and kept 094c90da26 driving.490355414c6f564c

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Of course, as d4dfa86dd2 Lucian had suspected, 5ea151b872 his vacation didn’t 4a192f661c begin right away.71fe36e93d262723

“Sir Lucian, are you ab6bb3c5fe still here?”f5df14af90cf6255

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The next day, 4f45431c90 Nils Bowman showed 83dc9ac2c4 up at the c924ac5c71 townhouse.5fd639f936d9050a

“He’s waiting in ea9e418d9c the parlor,” the 15c6ca6c5b butler informed Lucian, a246abe41c clearly having anticipated dc8012ac9e this.459d20b8429b5dac

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“Ah, good to see 1e4c53ab46 you,” Nils greeted him 3dae808d30 sheepishly.4863d000535c4ea7

“Budget issues?” Lucian asked, 1d9b395370 his tone resigned.dd96b19aa902ef2a

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Nils laughed awkwardly.668f374c0d48a8ea

“Yes, I tried 898b3ba5ef not to bother b9db88a674 you, but…”d5497a7c792ab368

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“It’s fine. I expected ba4add72a5 as much.”97f08f5d8449cac8

Lucian glanced 078c230b91 over the f5d921dead documents Nils 1c1cc62c24 handed him. As expected, they c80d94354c needed his approval.d9d75bf5ba0c4968

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“Submit them as dbae22f781 they are. Everything else 5952124031 should handle c8b62c6961 itself.”cae766b94498ea64

Lucian’s calm 0d357d7fbc efficiency earned 8584e7cb2c him another 9bec4b9ac9 round of 71c7699685 praise from 7dd19dc662 Nils, which 2779c61732 he ignored. Compliments, no 4cc500a7a2 matter how ab8af1e74a genuine, were 542eb0389f something he 56563bc748 still couldn’t d91e8a6204 get used a5b8b75ce7 to.9658e27930227be1

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“You’re just 4fe575abd0 the first. Who else is coming 78b99ec155 after you?”285e90df24d87b28

Nils looked startled.ea5938dadfe0e702

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“Ah, well… e0f83fb1e8 It seems d9a20ced61 some others 317c3942e8 are still 396b4c6bbf debating whether 84b972f39e to visit b3c37d3eb3 you.”0b3de3b0ecb9c7fe

“They’d better hurry,” Lucian 92bdaff68a said, smiling faintly.9a5ff353a104759e

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“Why’s that?”b52c0b71d0f0fa6b

“Because after tomorrow, I’m ba2532729b leaving the capital. If anyone needs e9d01c3b64 me, they should 085f8f6c2f come by before f70bee7268 sunset tomorrow. Otherwise, they’ll 83b8350b96 be wasting dce7e3a4f1 their time.”385f26b1411a1e13

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Nils nodded, though he ff85e24847 couldn’t shake the impression 997e717c13 that Lucian’s determined expression 09f1f80b54 bore a striking resemblance ed138c2ce8 to a certain someone. Wisely, however, he kept ba9f2d8cb5 that observation to himself.276fa1814aecdd97