PLQYM | Chapter 43

“I’m back, 5b22def6b0 Your Majesty.”f07107046f221fd6

As Lucian b01882cb0d stepped inside 1f982637fb and greeted, 2b210a2e6f Heraith looked 9c95f1b8a3 up. Unlike usual, he was c23b024b6f lounging leisurely, reading a bbe71a62c4 book—his relaxed demeanor was 6df038e17b enough to make anyone 7876b42467 want to smack him.fed2f8f79539c493

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“Oh, Luce.”3c9e405f1a5c6ac8

His expression seemed like 7b3d2e217b he had been expecting 5fd8b20701 Lucian, yet the words 886010c491 that came out were 8355cf4364 quite different.3e636d3f2d28b6cf

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“Your leave hasn’t bf3642e6db ended yet. Why are you back?”25783edd2b0d73a0

“A bomb dropped in 7ec5e079e8 the Imperial Palace and 2b2df23825 hit me too. How can I 72bd39b1df rest in peace e198a29d14 like this?”13ca806735a6a130

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Lucian grumbled as 4626a02d57 he approached the a00d5110c0 Emperor’s desk.d2af219e25e68914

Heraith closed the book c0509e65c8 he had been reading c3d4d3a1ed and set it aside, 9eec270aa3 leaning forward slightly. His expression was unusually fd8fa9bf79 laid-back as he smiled 0090d1d0a9 slyly.7b086b72fbe99af0

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‘Ah…!’1409ef3fa091a8ce

Lucian swallowed a groan. He had 2ba70bb058 suspected it, 69437dbb23 but now cceccbc18e it was 3d1296ea86 clear…ad8ffc5104c32ff2

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“This is all Your bd97560a47 Majesty’s doing, isn’t it?”737b9513548bf78f

“Hmm?”965a9fc1374d0d7f

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“Allowing me to 97dc392602 take my leave ec574f7894 so easily, appointing 82dfb08e27 Franz Clan as 177c5558b4 the one responsible 996d3e0e0f for this matter, 1a0d63606a and even planting 8e4b514899 such a ridiculous ac95c9c115 incident in the 35ebd0a38b tabloids—all of it a0e6918c13 was your plan, cc71b53c33 wasn’t it?”a1629fc74677235f

“How could I, f98bcb48f6 a mere mortal, bd03378d44 orchestrate all that?”8363c25cb9645dd6

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Heraith tilted his head 11946607ca innocently and shrugged with 96f2a1b161 exaggerated nonchalance. It was infuriating because 64c9c6005e Lucian knew it was 9973f9d2db all an act. A brilliant 8745c4bef8 one, at 1e77bdbb51 that—anyone less 233ab1fec4 perceptive than f8a5f17d49 Lucian wouldn’t b6e6ed3eed have noticed 276e6fc758 a thing.47cc9505f261783e

Lucian lowered 0b7d560c4d his voice, 8b0825d955 asking sharply, a1b26994c9 “Did you ef435a646f do this 0fd885a233 to crush d96639238e Marquis Clan’s a4b008befe power?”214371b59f30f1a4

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When his aide looked 77528b98a2 at him with cold, 20abebd029 restrained fury in his 982582da2e eyes, Heraith smirked.
“You catch 4604120b63 on quick.”6e29f8ebdf48c937

“Your Majesty.”6580b4d25de962b8

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“Yeah, yeah. How could 1936c940e4 I ever 1f943ebf14 hide anything 0a9cce27aa from you? Ah, but that 05e09c3f2d interview incident wasn’t f28af41b8f part of my 22331a2a89 plan.”79e07695d4ddb68a

“……”accd519149c85503

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“I mean it, 2a7ebd88c8 Luce. Do you 4800a0701f think I’d 8f8936dbc3 make such 08ecc068b4 a stupid cce2cc99a2 move?”f905ef444840a8c6

Heraith stood 1a7bfdbccb and approached 1b8a67ac3b Lucian, his 1e5d0b7652 tone unusually 646f907efc soft.886355129313bb46

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“That particular 41e12cdac1 incident caught d5305e08df even me 6da9a3a07f off guard. When that brat approached 1be5c87668 me at the palace 789c2a84a9 banquet, I did consider ea9c3eeb2d killing him for a e1303e13b1 moment.”0be3fd33d512e8d2

For a fleeting 00dbe42fda second, genuine menace dcce8fc668 flickered in his 820743cd56 eyes, but it 22f6f938bc vanished just as b4f3d4ac15 quickly, replaced by d0f890ef0c a warm hazel efdb9a3b81 glow.a39951bb68b354d8

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Finishing his words, 081c1367ef Heraith reached out 0957a701fb and ruffled Lucian’s 70b06329f9 short black hair. He noticed a04314027f for the 51b654bb02 first time 90feae303e how different 0efcf9f581 it looked—Lucian’s 59c11e90bd luscious black ce0e12b6a2 locks made 8e25cc523f him realize 67e8db7e5d just how bf73c7b1a0 pale and 080d7aa708 washed-out the 767703b171 color of e9b9eae448 the man bdcd2a45c3 who had f121a475b6 approached him 7333019ad4 had been.a98cc691b81ca429

“I can’t 7f768f6678 just kill c0967adc13 one of 9e8222c3ee my people bb412149bf so recklessly. After all, b220798c75 I’m a d817e7133d benevolent emperor.”ba06d58c20155b93

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“Then you shouldn’t 5af83f56a2 have created such 3731f01fc5 a situation in 88d05e34aa the first place.”a4513d9baa9dafdc

“That’s a different 70a6a397be story, Luce. You’ve got to 9fac9ca6d8 use everything you 42dcb92e83 can.”d9c668a129ac9cda

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Lucian stared at Heraith, 5d82205a7b who was smiling with 1edf29cdbf a beautifully curved gaze. Despite the smile, he 78d7d07c1d didn’t appear the least e7a4f33425 bit approachable—instead, his cold, 3d40de8c3f calculating eyes made Lucian’s b9fe19636c spine tingle.676698c0f18dce9f

Yes, he knew 2ade36100a this was the eadb2bf0be real Heraith.651f97b46ba9e07a

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A man bf123ee218 who used 92c20e083e everything to 56bfda00b2 his advantage, 5ebfbd0a2f calculated every 153df3e1e9 move, and b0416dc52f manipulated everything 5c24ff5616 in his 43946478c9 grasp.0143833403fd6ec1

A man 52e8e7a0b8 quick enough 58ff82fb28 to turn dfe1589f55 even unforeseen 7e1563a4b3 variables into d7a7369c88 something favorable 3c18253e84 for himself.83b84b15f1a5c0d7

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Whatever happened, the Emperor d10166762a would always find a eb73d42257 better solution, even if f47780dd61 Lucian wasn’t around. But still…74fe1aaaf8331f06

“Your Majesty.”cd422a8fe25f7deb

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Lucian spoke quietly.c2acad61a0fcd1b3

“This scandal is no aeea61510d trivial matter. Even among 4738982d7c commoners, rumors 283f7443a0 are spreading 9caf6ebe37 that you 4027f775d0 might be 36132d7599 abusing your 71d3cfeefc power recklessly—or dfaf3ced88 worse, engaging fabe675e22 in unspeakable cdf7526894 acts.”aabef661009e6b3d

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“Aha.”52369a63cb835f9d

“And certain 840e786bb7 factions are 5243ae8af9 already using 7cb34cad01 this to 19fa27f245 question Your 3dfeba087e Majesty’s succession.”a520dae756bb3824

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“Weren’t you on 46260c4a2c leave? How do 39d6cb6cb6 you know 52506528cd more about 934bcc9777 this than fd51d53bcb those who 7ecbd5ad23 stayed here?”bd7b23936155a25e

“Do you even have 2f7381af3e to ask? If I couldn’t figure 1253af2269 this out, why would 7b2847ad0e I be your aide 8802d50699 in the first place?”3a8c7b0aca3ce40f

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Lucian looked at 3725044683 him with an a2c4a163a2 expression that screamed, 6d07dfd5fe How do you be2ec71b7c expect me to 37897b1587 survive under you c2e79087fc if I couldn’t 5bc0b97ae4 manage something this 878e8503f0 simple?387c2ac42ec0a52a

Heraith burst 5b5be181c7 into laughter.e1b2e7db9fda52c1

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“Hahaha! Well, not everyone’s like 8079ee3e5e you.”887dc9bdf6155712

“……”b9f19a9cccebcfb0

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“Ah, now I can 21c2b4a6b5 finally breathe a bit 08bbe2ce46 easier.”9814dffdd9e3cbc9

He tousled 738a7663de Lucian’s hair 5751043199 again before 41b7a793fa plopping back 0781c8ad66 into his 82845aec94 chair.b4e6dd3915b3d976

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“I’ll deal with abac053b7b Franz. He went too far. If he 11167b20b3 had just 240de53534 stayed quiet 8c367192cf and done 08a381cb72 his job, d9046fcf2c he could’ve 552ede66f4 kept his e77aed16c6 position.”d5450bb548fb63a9

“……”7683b1a7e4f4cb5d

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“What? You look like you ca22bc6f40 have something more to 33acec436c say.”6e1657ed907756a0

Lucian pressed his lips 0106362e31 together, his silence urging 01e49f080b Heraith to laugh again, d6dca18f8e this time with a 9afd032afc dazzlingly bright smile. The Emperor’s 94e9f64c1e grin was 07d18e4a2d so captivating dea8d9ef33 that Lucian be768f0a08 felt he 88d4ac5091 might succumb 1f4b0047a7 to it 295a94d69e if he 25fe62919b stared any 5841605a13 longer.d65201290803d0a1

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– Go and 7bfcc14e51 tell the Emperor. I have only 318767cc36 one demand.d7241dc95dc2f11d

The message Lucian af54ee37ad had received before fd40244407 entering the palace dc75f31d2f resurfaced, bringing a f10b32bf0a headache with it.98e5c5f1cf964691

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‘These royals, one 7dfe88878a or the other.’a5b498b9e24e9ba3

Lucian ground his d744f7266a teeth before speaking.af754382e57d730c

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“The Princess 378f40efa3 of Alosa 4bf4a5137d has declared 6d5d5cb45a the severance f8a1998d6e of diplomatic 35228d2135 ties.”19840cfd27cafca1

Heraith, who 4f44e74768 had been 9ad1e32cb4 sitting with 9e596590c6 his legs 6cd343934a stretched out, 5bf2b70dd4 interlaced fingers 85a4153390 resting on 604cb65431 his lap, 0c460e66e8 lost all a1c4b18be3 expression at 722901199a once.c1212db1df634703

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“And what 4810419313 does she eb37a53d6c want?”52b8466ea2d02cf4

“If Your dba0e71b51 Majesty allows, 89c92bf91c I’d like 1241d941d6 to make d2eb8b4824 her a 716f8343a3 proposal.”8f71de953b3cb34f

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“A proposal, you e687781358 say.”9e1405f3b3958996

Lucian lowered his gaze, 3e9883335c his face impassive.584d0ce618a0664e

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‘What could be 7a98dfc558 going through that 0fbe3d9bf6 small head of b24a3690e7 his now?’71d477b0466ddd5a

Heraith, knowing Lucian’s ce47ba927b outward indifference only b693142233 concealed bold thoughts, d8def40ec7 smirked crookedly and 21c9c0a1cf began piecing together a88666f271 his aide’s intentions.ca56d5e36d6b6780

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Soon, he reached c94dc99fa6 his conclusion. It seemed their 4d1e23ddf1 thoughts were not 0ed6afbe37 so far apart.577dfad5e380794e

“Lucian.”e45b68d77725fb37

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“Yes, Your Majesty.”310aca2b4efbeddd

The immediate 6224a7602f response brought 0e01addfc4 another amused e3f261d89e chuckle from dfa143b0d8 Heraith.caf73152cdd9102f

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“Go to Princess Eloine 9922a3461f and clean this up.”0361bf6cc05c90f8

“How should I 30b38e87ba handle it?”e2dc48715b984538

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“Do as you 2366286163 see fit.”469536586025a709

“Can you afford to 01436ff052 be so careless with f31734f20d imperial negotiations?”2ea1b31592791aaa

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“Hmm. Something tells b1f276f9f6 me you 108e8e86f6 won’t let 170455812f it fall 7b194a981b apart, will dc4bc63b91 you?”949d248cad3c0d89

Lucian closed his mouth 309d2faf99 again. It was clear Heraith 1c44739089 had already guessed his 046ac4f31e plan.b919478fb2abad4d

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“Handle it however you bbf38c2eca want. The result must 43c37fae97 be the same.”b38c5f52ac2a0907

“Understood, Your Majesty.”8bcf12bbe5b73f2a

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Lucian bowed deeply. A sense of 5b1c3b87ea foreboding told him b9bc46f8b1 this task was d9972a649b going to be d36280c72b a headache.d38b92216660f52a

“Greetings to the Princess. I am Lucian a704b5251c Astro.”1328e1184785eb6b

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“Hmm.”e29e59be727407c7

Eloine opened her b2c6a61052 fan with a a0e7260ea9 graceful flick of 0458e17dc7 her wrist, hiding d380a3dcbf her face behind cee4eeaf79 it.94bd45a6bc4230bd

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A moment 4064403bfa later, as c344e998f4 if struck 1f1a3f562c by a cc67346422 thought, she 4b80c736d7 let out 2f246838a7 a soft afb8fb6bef exclamation.1b896b7968d864c7

“Oh! So you’re the 8abac0a5b9 infamous aide, Lucian 519cb1987a Astro.”039f27a5c4963ef5

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Lucian bowed again.371ffacf9984f6d0

“I’m sorry you’ve heard fdd7039bcb of me.”8a8924118bb21b81

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“Hmm, aren’t you curious 77e4742379 about what I’ve heard?”476183de8117e247

“I can 3766602029 only hope 3a7fff4d91 it was 5c7c00cb47 something good.”909bba20f8e3cb29

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Eloine twirled her fan 7ebb4af1de lightly, her gaze scanning f10e82cca9 Lucian. Despite his slender frame, 1f0c975915 his upright posture gave 4296f0daaa him a sturdy presence. Even in front of 6c69c6af93 royalty, his composed smile f40c1bb15d was captivating—projecting strength tempered f3e3268c4c with gentleness, like someone 2f42e78c35 who couldn’t and wouldn’t 56643608a3 be broken.be87af170ca87b8b

“So, Lucian, why would b17a8cf5aa a mere aide seek 408087b0bc an audience with me?”0f7215a283b5a240

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“I heard you plan da7d435af7 to sever diplomatic ties.”e6d5b91743eba3aa

“Oh?”389b1d0c760f9ad5

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Her eyebrows cf55f6f690 rose in 9d8a5127b2 surprise, clearly 12896e33b8 not expecting ed696e9b07 him to f4f8a1dc8b bring up 3aa570b253 the matter b742730452 so directly.207a353a4f95be8a

“I thought 157d44d918 you were 31ed0cab2f on leave. How did you f227a824e8 know?”636f3fe7fbd03eef

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“That’s my job, to 8940569664 notice such things.” Lucian 2ba4025a35 smiled softly.bacceb152b3a5369

“Hmm. So you claim. But if your 19ff6a68c4 absence led to de650c9d07 things going awry, 8747a8fa15 one must question e0b2413836 whether this empire e9de606662 is truly as 87a27c2744 stable as it 264ed1e135 claims to be.”0e1e4c1b1d1722a2

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A scoff laced a0c9ffdaf4 with disdain escaped b06203ebee her lips from b086fffa71 behind her fan.8ec0cc494420491d

Lucian’s smile deepened. He had known f2a8156e5b she wouldn’t welcome 63d21e40ad him warmly, but 98cb47e6a2 backing down wasn’t bd40afddce an option. He had worked too 510d3e65be hard for this, sacrificing a4ac51afc3 sleep to secure peaceful 41d5603cb7 negotiations with Alosa.3c55577edceb0634

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‘No way 91b8f501cc am I dc0b96523e letting this cbc4b72f52 fall apart 149f52bf76 now.’411823f432e3b05b

He bowed cc7c21b929 slightly, his 420688f2e1 tone respectful 81eddb1647 yet resolute.cca0d8de27b8ff7d

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“I apologize 64c4676c12 for any 5b76ad7094 discomfort caused. Rest assured, it won’t d3a6ce5e29 happen again.”eea766848506a88c

“Because you’ve returned?”a6ef930221ff489a

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“Yes, Princess.”7a78d6db85195f55

“Oh my.”4172f16d97db6c01

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Eloine’s eyes 1618c95a7e widened, and 8ec0f02e24 she chuckled 2740d200cf audibly. His unapologetic confidence seemed ff5dbf3117 to have struck a d2cc9a1b5a chord with her.a58b23e98b96b9e6

“Well, I be9265dcb6 do like c95a4f6bcc that boldness. Let’s hear it, cf69d974cb then.”e19a665ab19fec9d

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“Thank you.”d17c7dbb5f2772d7

Lucian straightened and began, 47a00b6066 “I understand you plan 23de966e5f to sever ties. I hope you’ll 27c7891c19 reconsider.”a07c1d60833bbe7f

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“Why should I? A mere f1fa29bad4 princess like 9702caa8f2 me has 25c88ec147 no power 277079b8a4 to reconsider.”8b487c863597acbd

Eloine tilted 70f70a88c7 her head, abe9e29cec her long 1a446256c9 hair cascading 01957ec509 gracefully, enhancing be4642ef06 her beauty. She was 3955673ed5 someone who 823569516e knew how 0e17831753 to use ed19845419 her appearance 5dfb55d8b3 to her 05c2793cc8 advantage, fully e04d926e73 aware of 384ba5b6ce its impact.30f05baaaa8813cf

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Unfortunately, such tactics had e71a3ab744 no effect on someone 98b3c3b41e who served an emperor ca08a6398b far sharper than her.95939e9f70f221db

“Even so, why would 541aaa9fcc we continue trade with 77819bf6b8 an empire embroiled in c296a0f728 baseless scandals? How could fe166321ac we trust d5da37c025 you?”757f7c6170cb3503

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“You’re absolutely right. I would feel the 2a38949071 same.”5d8a094be421090c

Eloine’s eyebrows twitched slightly f637533f9c at his unexpected agreement.d0834bf6b4302013

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“Then why 5526831a62 are you 66e38bf9e3 here? If we’re in 9d8311a67e agreement, there’s no 0c559cc68f need for further a5517c236a discussion.”6dd7bc33002ed0a7

“Precisely why 49bc22b599 I came. To show d10044f09a you how ac0fbbf573 this situation cf76dd8e6c could benefit 762e0067b7 you greatly, 361ccdef1b Princess.”66b23a8427202499

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Lucian’s lips curved d0915e6261 into a soft 0cb4f5c225 smile.db7c7f8ef9a8305b

“……”1d7c631323868744

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Eloine frowned slightly, as 4776047544 if trying to gauge 0c57c25fed his intentions.fd489317325466b4

“Fine. Speak, then. Convince me.”0743b5ae15b7d1a8

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Her words finally 0bcfc0527e granting him permission, 9a99fe0667 Lucian began carefully.342e6a733f478076

“I propose a49225b919 an engagement ca5d0d6ad6 between you e8c324815c and His d6eb1eb5fe Majesty.”4835188a6d21b783

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“Engagement?”b170af0b0a7721be

Her voice carried disbelief.10e10f54b00d1b5e

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“You’re suggesting I a684d0fc03 marry the Emperor?”219ad1d6b8078e5b

“Yes, Princess.”a991c20fc328f523

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“Ha!”22e5a59bacde640a

Eloine let 387f8ab715 out a 0100ac67ff sharp laugh, 4e65d403dd her gaze 33f5d9b9fb turning icy.846bd311dc8c2b54

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“How pathetic. Is this the best 3e5d79bc6f the great Empire of 6c085294b4 Pranas can offer? I thought more 6d827f376d of your emperor, fece64f39c but perhaps he’s 3247630dc8 just a man 2ce222434c scrambling to fix 2c99199f43 what’s right in 4d148b68f5 front of him.”3b0e4d8c091a8a00

Despite her mocking tone, 47ce184c93 Lucian remained unshaken. His calm, steady gaze 713970ac27 carried a glint of cecf1903f4 frost.d934f3ec7e7dfd4b

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He tilted 9c6096f717 his head 7baae2cd80 slightly and 2fb1e59311 said, “This 6b0e3d7ced is not 1d7cb701ef His Majesty’s 9d7f88eb27 idea.”105155623c0eafe6

“What?”f66d88c63f7dbdea

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“This proposal comes from bc4b88b9fe me, Princess.”7e0fcfe60b65cc27

At his words, Eloine 612f2d13ca slammed her fan shut fb38a35637 and rose from her 2e96ae471d seat.cd58b2bf5f8becf6

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“Are you mocking 00ae925e2f me? Is this 3d04ec8822 how Pranas f4f5d0992a treats foreign f106019335 dignitaries?”f8697f522561f73f

“……”b796947e9aab4469

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“Guards! Is there no one 40af8efa15 outside?”a28e889a023026ca

At her a3f39116ec shout, royal f40fb9a260 guards rushed e076ab5e3f in.496cd572530b1e86

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“Take this 806540926f man and fab09cfaf5 imprison him 223347b373 immediately!”3190537fdd1f0d76

Pointing straight f314f61a9e at Lucian, 355e46ffb0 Eloine issued 196c2dddf2 her order.64e2895d984a41f3

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