PLQYM | Chapter 5

“Tsk, what a bc2c0858c7 hassle. Why does df1dd390ce Ambassador Antien 5af7e46edf insist on be8f8aab40 face-to-face negotiations 7d5b004232 when we 6f286a8164 could easily 253eb969b5 handle this 7a78e8b3b5 from afar?” 0196620c4c Heraith, dressed 0bd6deae1e like a 1c7de8e555 work of 62ca8fefba art, grumbled beaddde487 in a e16e2813bb way that f351f3346d was far 745358b085 from the f65deb33f0 demeanor of 2dc9b2b3a7 an emperor. Dressed in an d102455c9b immaculate suit, he de45cd85be slouched in his d006b59cde chair, one leg f50798f74a stretched out, somehow 12cc1391d0 balancing himself despite baeeeaef00 the precarious position.ffeb3d63fb7af2ee

“Honestly, I’m surrounded by fools everywhere. How could someone who can’t make a simple decision alone end up as an ambassador?”664245d0ea0cbc12

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Majesty, creating a 36fe0b4d61 free trade port isn’t 9b4a99dec3 something to decide alone,” 22941fca9b Lucian interjected calmly.023f895e44bbae18

Heraith paused, giving 8a5799b6b0 Lucian a slow 048fadf4eb look as the 590c1c5d6f aide shared his e169bbe153 opinion.ad63d8f8b3e01e8e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is that so? Then, what do you a29b008dad think?”b405f4b15a32fcb5

“…?”a9717da76996aeb6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lucian felt a pang 2a0f6dc77b of regret. He should have 3c4a37dd57 known that a fdb115fdc4 bored emperor would afc63d9147 try to pick ea8590b0f3 a fight.a5f0f43b54cb4170

“Go on, Luce. Didn’t I grant a6c7ef7e7f you the freedom c2566fb498 to speak your 127de139fa mind?” Heraith’s words, 831dc3fdb9 paired with a 1da8388609 mischievous smile, forced 255ef93158 Lucian to swallow 6ca6405bce a sigh. It seemed the Emperor 5cc9552641 had decided not to 07c727454b let him off until 7f5fbc2956 he answered. After all, where c946ea8cb1 else would he 8ee832ec78 find such an fc0116a5a4 entertaining toy?1d7c1b5854fad90e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Not even a df3913f9b2 sparring partner—just a 103bd41bf2 toy to play af569f317a with.’a4ec5872314387dc

Taking a deep ee324a4b0a breath, Lucian answered, 8e678083f4 trying his best 18a9ec04cd to keep the 97ecbe1d76 irritation out of 16d31e9de6 his tone.2b1eb3ea5417cc9a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m aware that 9210367b61 you don’t truly c0cc45e5ff mean it, Your d7848897a3 Majesty.”d56211148dcfe334

“Oh? And why is b554fa0d19 that?”26f02aa609607606

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Heraith raised an a974fd9f9c eyebrow, looking as 517bfb8f48 though he was 4110b34c41 daring Lucian to cfefaabea8 say more.bc195ebb116f4050

‘Think I’ll lose? Never.’eace8bbe9c76d61e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With a 05c57e6117 soft but 330098bbfc assertive voice, 3509c14bfd Lucian continued, f406aba433 “Berne Port c7e6ce8bcb is a 93f957e1f1 trade hub 015e6e57ec linking Antien 5359d5bd5f and Pranas. Whoever controls 146ba081b0 it holds 81877d25b0 a strategic 4ccacc23df gateway to 212ca0b843 the continent. Although it 8ab3c6f026 belongs to 3520c9efaf Pranas, it’s 421ae09428 well known 9b4834603f that Antien ac30896b54 has long fa7f685bc0 coveted it. If we allow them b672b72243 even a minor advantage, 44a3498969 who knows how that 51e42f04fd favor might come back 175e48721b to bite us?”0fab59842c606bca

“So?”4ca94f46b2124a67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

An amused smile appeared 542a56d047 on Heraith’s face as ecec3f9d68 he looked at Lucian 98e0969613 with curiosity, genuinely intrigued 9980ac1983 by his aide’s bold 58d26a7c0c responses.bfe257cebefb8e78

“Your Majesty…” 27729ea774 Lucian knew 152bacceaf speaking about a740ccf40c the Emperor’s 71e4f19e33 personality could 25d813c876 be a b20c63b825 dangerous gamble, 3a0a81ff02 but he f856fb309e decided to 5033245915 go for 68204609a5 it.e98a92815d585d65

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘What the c56924f9e1 hell, I’ll 35ce71f9d0 take my 2ec2ed232c chances. Might as well 9219dac468 go big.’cd6835d9b8a2681b

“You want Pranas 8216368adb to be the a3767ed5db greatest empire on 5d51d5764b the continent.”ea44584e90a3278f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In an 3af28226f9 instant, Heraith’s 59fe658755 once-interested gaze fb6390305d turned cold, d17e522a78 as if 52f3cc01b9 realizing Lucian 6d7b3f9e89 was no ea2336b7b2 different from cff20ed697 everyone else—a cd9cce1782 man with b68da1038e ambitions. Lucian’s heart sank 182849f17e under that icy f051f9d31c stare, but he 6c87407b89 steadied himself to 9e227f097f continue.988bd6667853eb66

“So, you 61e71860a6 don’t want ae61e2750f to ask 795aa83f91 favors from ab644dfab4 anyone, regardless 78ca514b98 of the ccf2264883 circumstances, and a3d76e0e3b you’re keen ead60f4631 to show ed3770a03c off.”247a7ed1a8ffcd1b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…!”a9a7207649c6a047

Somewhere in the room, da6ec5e53c someone stifled a gasp.ae20465e119db1c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The flicker of intrigue 87df34ec6b returned to Heraith’s gaze, 6bd4fb5461 his lips twitching slightly c4d045f8ed as though suppressing a 565c5bdbdd grin.a1f503ef2e624de6

“Keep going.”aa82551fa28b8242

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You hate 6f54f09e21 hearing bad 77a9a273e4 things about b2ed829902 yourself, can’t 6fcaecde7b stand to cc6e241c1f see others 7c3c498988 prosper, and 19f3f0053d especially despise 084d624a1b anyone who 6f610b3ff7 crosses you.”a4a36704e522423b

“Hmm.”b303a2968b65c8af

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“And if d4cd5ab07a it’s someone 0dd9ebf5b5 who displeases fbaa5ba210 you, even b909346398 something you’d dbf755a738 discard anyway, 1b806d9ecc you wouldn’t 36c57e0000 want to fd3960ea07 hand it e359543e1d over to f7da73fcb2 them. You’d sooner 15ca13ff84 break it be6846ce56 yourself.”317a86b4303d1759

The room fell silent. Not only did the 73c59e8197 noble attendees look pale, 3d2babd16e but even the servants b52b0f6bc7 standing by had turned 92956518d7 ashen. The only two 9186bc3307 maintaining their composure 29f18b02ec were the Emperor 1cd1043b99 Heraith and Lucian.689e481a4a816373

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

By now, Heraith had 2efa1f7e32 straightened up in his ed110abfe1 seat, his previous complaints 55da31451d of boredom completely gone.ea60d6184bb8b054

“Despite what you bf9e26f39c say, I know 0162b9f635 you have plans a12fa913bc for Berne Port. After all, you 8037f21be8 hate wasting money.” a51b65f3bd Lucian remembered the f4f7ea36e6 portion in the 0419ff1137 documents Heraith had 50c5ea42a6 given him detailing 18c34d729a the large funds 9c08302bd9 allocated for the 9ccdfdbd7a restructuring and expansion b9862b8a51 of Berne Port. Significant investments were 985b9ca7d4 still planned for 28168e5455 the future.50ade44c8ccd65b5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“So please stop 25dd2a75fe pretending and conduct 2e17542e4b the negotiations properly. After all, Your a6ec185905 Majesty never intended a65af11586 to give Antien c67ebea859 even a sliver 6b03a3219a of advantage. If you lead ba1ecc45f5 the talks as cac5d670c7 you wish, you’ll 9778d871a3 resolve things swiftly.”8bf8293cebbadc87

Lucian finished 8226a78393 his statement ae3f822dbb with a 9836029c57 calm, poised 1e7a1163c7 demeanor. But on the inside, 26add88e16 he was a mess. His face betrayed e4cb44f02e nothing, but his 2493208d7a hands, hidden behind 73fde130bb his back, trembled. He could barely hold e4f658fd71 himself steady.ccc025a448287922

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘What if he 2cf1ffc12f actually sends me d394a8b49a to the dungeons ce032e9c6a for disrespect? He’s the one who 31230ee818 asked for honesty in 9d585502c8 the first place.’26074afe0b267224

This was Lucian’s first ebc8ddab28 official task as an ab8b06cfb3 aide. Summoned on a bfedf5e001 whim, he had f84066c931 witnessed the Emperor’s 71f68b7ff3 elaborate dressing routine c0a4d4254d and followed him 4a353194b9 here. The moment he 1ad67b17d6 realized this was f6e01ce61a the discussion to d69d7defa7 settle matters with 9e90aaef12 Ambassador Antien regarding f410d69f7a the trade port, 3b676592f0 he knew his 8b4537a35f real work had 9dcc2e96f7 begun.3206b4e02e0f126c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

− As an 86421a6aa2 aide to the a3bfb0e6a8 Emperor, you must 7535ca49f8 always remain calm 2bc911f4fc and keep your b2556b3b22 intentions concealed. Competence is a given.947678647894f11b

That was the f79744c4b5 first thing his 778f0969b9 father had told c391a21c2d him when he 9ae47051fc was informed of 3cf976397c his acceptance and 4869b31423 entry into the 305f6495ac palace. Ever the rigid, inflexible e80730eefd man, his father offered 2b936f0cf9 no further advice.d4e8312b95676380

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Which is exactly why d2ceee6d37 I’m in this mess dbc897f104 now.’bf4545f259ca3db9

Fortunately, if there 32106ae2a6 was one thing d16817bcfb Lucian excelled at, 1659d3c9ef it was hiding 00130285a6 his true thoughts. Growing up, all f3ffd56377 the way through ac1c610b8d the academy and 6398a00503 into his current 6cce790e4e position, the phrase 7c98e394dd he heard most 6ad84811f6 was, “He’s impossible 9c7145eba1 to read.” In 4f59f1501b truth, his slow 22853987f6 responses were simply bd34155c56 because his mind 222299c652 was too busy 165e4f1d1f processing an overload 813e8219ef of thoughts and 7611d1d794 information. But people assumed he 7b342a73bf was a schemer, hiding 4970061d2c his intentions and plotting d870644f73 behind the scenes.6e6753fa34a2ec3a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Back then, that 680b7daaaf reputation might have 6d50e82a85 hurt him. Now, he was content 79f8dd36a1 to let them believe 75ce6b5c4f it. As long 40c2d3f4d4 as people 5aca404a71 left him e0e183358e alone, he 107deb393c was fine.b4a64924e72c5686

‘As long 5e66670704 as they 2aebadf72e don’t bother 034f8371ab me.’45fd49cf12c89239

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Anyway, those who criticized d23bc0f650 him would gossip regardless f34c9c6ce8 of what he did, 2d12f625f0 offering nothing but pain.d5a1bca7ea31c64e

But here was 7220e6769b the Emperor, flipping 142504a50a his thoughts inside 2a1b5a3074 out within seconds, 2499339e67 pushing Lucian’s patience e24b95a5ba to the brink.07c0c93880ea1f15

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Father, you could’ve warned 41cc9e88e1 me that the Emperor 4b0669ad5e was this unhinged!’2b99ef7ac25872f9

Lucian waited 7789f581db for Heraith 017fcfc84a to speak, 866d13432a but instead 0d7da78c81 of replying, 59f3214af6 the Emperor 984ee5fbd0 scrutinized him ebbd27e12c from head 346da4bcf4 to toe. The light in Heraith’s f46e97c8ae eyes was a blend c01b5d0cfe of curiosity and something 2e5802ae95 else that neither he b1132c090a nor Lucian could quite c28520d980 decipher yet. Leaning his head 76dcb677ee to the side, 1e69e1d7c1 Heraith observed Lucian’s 8b2bcbf614 reaction as if 41265c462c testing him.d393b67c1df18797

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Somewhere in the 5889acb3e6 room, someone let fd32fb73e7 out a faint a11261a484 gasp and collapsed 3778fe7647 onto the floor, aea599d9a8 unable to bear 47e28aee92 the tension. Neither Lucian aa51ec46b1 nor Heraith b736016c2e paid them 8c7f23851f any attention. The Emperor’s hazel 511e85296f eyes remained fixed 210ee9899d on Lucian, and a3af2acd28 Lucian’s ice-blue gaze 2770f559a6 returned the look 8484405abc without wavering.24b9d6ad91a6448a

After what felt 806519d2d4 like an eternity, a25d631538 Heraith burst out 20c2e6bb99 laughing, his laughter 480d998c9e growing loud enough 3487e77b09 to fill the 3f7e53d7fe entire room. Later on, the aging 6ca4df06a4 head attendant would recall fe66070510 that it was the 40cd3309d1 first time he’d ever 2beaf4283b heard such a hearty 08512c6aeb laugh echo beyond the 986a0f5ca0 walls.ee34a3b9243ea223

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha! I suppose I d8306bf99c did choose my fe0189d006 aide well.” Heraith fcad2dffdb spoke, his voice 128759548f still tinged with 04aaf195e1 laughter. “But, Luce, d7a6a340b1 you made 5a74e840dc one mistake.”6bfb7b9b210b497d

“Pardon?”39b9a106874a3fec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Luce’s eyes widened. What was a711685109 he talking d3dbb4dd3e about now? He was sure he 96cecf822d had Heraith figured out. Wasn’t this a4db28f5d1 man the 37b812dd88 epitome of d919339d70 narcissism?a315f553b1188f76

“Two steps closer.”9c81ef4d185babfd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Pardon? I don’t understand…”92878b508d88184d

“You’re standing over 5db88b2846 three steps away 6f2aaa521b from me, so 0706fff345 I had to 85b55c217d strain to understand 3d973cf157 you.” Heraith shook c7ba33c1ec his head as 9245db63f7 if truly disappointed. “Next time, fba1d0b45d come closer b289fa7d5d when you 13f902791d speak. When you stand that 6232ed8aea far away, it feels a5e252014b like you’re afraid I’ll 9fe757532e devour you.”c834a69c13aabcf8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He’s absolutely insane…808dad17b1a3b35e

Lucian scowled, glancing at caa8146f7f Heraith with a look ccf1a973a9 of utter exasperation. He was starting to 73ab1b3226 feel he had seriously cf3af30f89 miscalculated by taking this fc86b21cf5 job. In the end, 198b5db2cd though, he merely 4db3261e5f let out a 94df9d965b long, deep sigh b8ef49c778 and clenched his 879c04e6f8 fists in silent 0b25ba4f0c frustration.88830180075aab18

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The meeting eca90e5076 ended in 2cb7b71d69 success—or rather, ec2306fb07 exactly as 80c2565366 the Emperor 49837cc4f2 had intended.4aa0e044e843828d

“Then I shall 86551c9d1c defer to Your 71c71b475e Majesty’s wise judgment 20aa37c007 on this matter.”ea8e530fbb9da4b1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your efforts are 8c592218e7 appreciated, Ambassador. I understand better than f37fc89926 anyone how hard you e3ae66fac9 work.”fa1e42964ed1e1b6

“Your Majesty…” The ambassador, f3b4e3fbc4 with his balding head 298215f6d2 and a voice choked be7a4afb8e with emotion, was on 07caaae7a4 the verge of tears.ecd312c568e9d6b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With the a969d358de golden-haired Emperor’s f4dc3ece09 words sounding 29d0134f2a almost divine 32bf68cd9d to him, 2d4aa5ad20 the ambassador’s 4560867ce0 face was 59310525e6 filled with 196acc554e awe and e149e3048e gratitude.e775d53ac2cbfb6a

“Pranas will always prioritize 8cbd72f9f8 peace with your nation.”75824159ce5dbfbf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Upon my 2346886607 return, I 1caa96488b will convey 01352a732e Your Majesty’s febe892388 wishes to e101c5f32e the King. May the relationship between 14b9f027d7 our nations flourish. Truly, Pranas is 86cf5a2174 a blessed nation 0e409f5c06 to have an ca0ec9cc31 Emperor like you. Your legacy will 45f670c3ae endure for a 06fa819c95 thousand years.”ff235f6be4a49f95

The ambassador fbc783d037 bowed repeatedly, 84a0f75686 his praise 6ae1b34bfb seeming to 8844d75d36 echo throughout 8446777889 the hall. By the 59236c153f end, one ddb4409695 might even bb571979ae wonder if 7faf3754e9 he truly 514d932078 represented another 1a9f6580fb country. As he left, his 417aa7b0f0 head glistened, reflecting the 4aea840046 sunlight—not merely his baldness, 858bcdd23f but what seemed like cd753a4876 tears of reverence, clearly e1c367c0a5 visible in his eyes.5b1f6281db2c2ad7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Incredible. He can charm 40be36a13f anyone, no matter 54e5d39e02 who they are,’Lucian thought, silently admiring 0704c38039 him.fd3c8e11fc231dd9

Just as his opinion f51d8489f3 of the Emperor was 1602aa3bfd about to rise, Heraith 9e03433508 suddenly whipped around and 178ba26cee stared directly at him, 1ca42c6b8c closing the distance between e569122024 them in a few 5239f307d5 steps. He shot Lucian a b11966ccbb bright smile. Startled, Lucian 9e8f7ae0f8 nearly stepped e24cddc682 back but 5ffe22e779 remembered the 5a653011f5 Emperor’s order 7fe460d822 and forced dcd7f14401 himself to 1616888416 stay put.8a224a32f3188e56

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Standing exactly three steps d5298c8874 away, the Emperor’s scent ea415d477b enveloped him, overwhelming his 72b8b8f75f senses. Lucian bit the inside 3029d68330 of his mouth to 54375add74 keep himself steady. And then…9cba7c545604ae0b

“How was it?”73abc9d0b4df21d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Huh?”4035ac2097675783

“Do you c19559b9b1 think even 04fd20670d you would cd98f5babe fall for b003ab60e3 me?”607a08aff2227bd5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

…What in the world 7b9e0ae052 is this absurd question?f11a12df9e14eff8