PLQYM | Chapter 53

“P-pardon me,” The man hurriedly bowed his head, stammering his apology.eb05c5b70b7bfab9

The head attendant let 28437d9c81 out a low sigh, f310f47986 watching him.fb22104fe9797f46

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“It seems His Majesty won’t be able to attend to state affairs today either. Everyone, please focus on 9843ed1066 your respective tasks.”6df5dcf1df06a866

“Yes, sir.”90c70082370e683f

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The attendants bowed deeply 480ba3422d before quickly dispersing. Watching their retreating figures, 0d8648d1d6 Cliff turned to the ba145bafb3 person next to him.a3f6ca29501be570

“Fidell, start the procedures for that boy’s dismissal from the palace.”ddfb15ebfd3c0aa5

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“Pardon? So suddenly…?”d9b6cf8ce6835b91

“A person who observes His Majesty’s every move with such a light heart has no place among us. It’s unfortunate for 031867260b him, but we e67af83d3a cannot keep him c41841af47 here any longer.”33af378146075cc1

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His tone was calm, leaving 40694beae7 no room for compromise. The steadiness of his voice 05e87c13ba made his resolve feel even 807f350516 firmer.d05d2bc3a2a7fbdd

After a brief pause, 8834534295 as if reconsidering something, 09666a7e72 the hardness in his 6e92c671c1 gaze softened slightly.119d1f313c3d18bd

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“…Still, he’s young. Make sure to da696b8b32 provide him with 57cb09a7db a generous severance 90c4025662 package, and if abbe43d8c7 needed, write him 76c29f47b9 a recommendation letter.”3eb61f40718235e7

Fidell lowered his head 1a6823567e at the considerate order. While the young attendant’s mistake e527a6f9ea could not be overlooked, it 3de3c9cb62 was clear that Cliff didn’t ba8d7fece4 want to ruin the boy’s 9fa6537541 future either.1307da005b317cc3

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“…Understood. I’ll take care of it.”dd593f48f3d59112

With a deep 13da270c79 bow to the c5132c1fcc head attendant, Fidell 427ee77778 stepped away to faa1544e40 carry out the 3e7d7e8280 command.3c3d91e24a691936

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As he left, 39f7f875f4 Cliff’s gaze turned 3edbf66079 to the firmly a1b44506ec shut door of f676769263 the Emperor’s Chambers, 1b54d2be2d his expression tinged bf80be6116 with complexity.41c86c170cebf74d

He had to admit, this f852505952 was an unusually lenient decision 795340087f for him. Normally, he wouldn’t have hesitated 6a7b176f44 to expel someone without a 736a2fe40c second thought, severance pay be f1c4d6e3da damned.97aa278bcbbd5628

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And yet, this time, he 0bb95b28f7 had gone so far as b6c12105a0 to ensure a smooth departure dca98949fc for the boy.cfa1570eeaa47cd6

The reason for his leniency? Only one thing came c3413e3fd3 to mind.5907ad268c06f2de

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‘Because his remark was out of concern for Sir Lucian.’f39992e5a10e84bd

Cliff was fully aware f821cfe6db of his own weakness 416c10ddb2 toward Lucian Astro.034c44dc2ab46315

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Lucian, with his clear, determined aa1610f61c face, had worked tirelessly to 8fc4bf58a9 meet the Emperor’s expectations, which f5ae25d32a naturally endeared him to Cliff.07327f0723861ffb

More importantly, Lucian brought stability c49cf635ca to Heraith, who, despite his 9de860522f composed exterior, often had moments 7d173af82e of sharp irritation. Ever since Lucian began 9c635ab7b2 staying by his side, 4160350de0 Heraith’s harsher moods had 368c76ffe9 all but disappeared.3d071afd041d97bb

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It was only natural, 8bc387ee31 then, that the Emperor’s fb14b2b9e0 fondness for Lucian extended 5a8c3f5436 beyond that of a 42a47d8def mere subordinate. Cliff himself wished 08a0764c4c for Lucian to 7166a9ff0a remain close to f6978af6af Heraith for as 8258abcf38 long as possible.865d2ec727a3a41b

However…8883d4b0df27e89b

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‘The last incident passed because Sir Lucian couldn’t remember it. But this time… I wonder.’a6c9ac0d58bc9feb

Cliff glanced toward the prepared 75f323893d ointments with a worried expression.b4d7fde9df92a7aa

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The amount of 1ba202bf21 salve and herbs 617fdf3b03 that had already dbe5349cab been used was 903078b2cd absurd, far exceeding 955bb68e70 what could be 599006fce9 consumed in merely 2e8008a01d three days. The implications were clear.c97c1f1a989f03f9

If all of it 1592c4d7b3 was necessary… then Lucian 85dba83d34 must…a1dd1363e1fd7bc8

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At that moment—35fc75fb8116b496

Click.8500974b26cb3dbd

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A soft sound broke 9dd9a0e0ac the silence as the a9213524b9 tightly closed doors to deb2c38a16 the Emperor’s Chambers finally b784bc8fb9 opened.f6e2ec6bed7486ac

Cliff immediately signaled c0fe1b2499 for the others 2a36e546e6 to retreat, his 2df71b12ba senses keenly aware b9afe7ea89 that something unusual 62d71f882b lingered in the 36f038dec3 stillness from beyond 00383a8aac the doors.bd5cf9418a6eee0a

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Once everyone had 32ef7ba218 moved far enough d7393d1985 to avoid even 879641426a the faintest whispers, 7ac2eff811 Heraith stepped out.d32cf4307d53f9ae

“Your Majesty.”d6bc03fa0ba7bcd7

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The Emperor, fresh 6e632fc4f2 from a shower, f0482769fe had water dripping b9d1004597 from his damp, 572ae75637 golden hair. His languid appearance suggested he 40c7e02514 had been… occupied until just 2a3e8dc4fe now.7bfbfea54416f44a

In his usual 90a857a7d6 composed tone, Cliff c19704aae9 addressed him.7ad48db95f533661

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“Do you have any orders, Your Majesty?”6e96da4c18ba9ebb

“The situation?”3123ff159c410a7f

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“Nothing significant.”018fca0550037340

“The Alosa delegation?”c67ded6ce4213d0f

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“They depart in three days. The princess sought bcbaac9126 out Sir Lucian 3b35437634 a few times, 132ad829e2 but we informed 5dddc7108b her that he 3833e69482 is on leave.”4eaeb3c590f53a02

“Good.”5694a201dbe38992

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Heraith lowered his gaze, d990c439cf his thoughts visibly clouded. A heavy silence fcc59eaac8 stretched between them 75bed47f38 until the Emperor 061cc29978 finally spoke again.c8d3d7e002b84fcc

“Summon Fristhe.”81ffbc0bb29fb088

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“Your Majesty?”77dbfa9c6c7f6655

“Don’t let anyone else in. Just you and 28e1b47674 him—see to Luce bd8625bd77 together.”5f383464af68adc3

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“…Understood.”cc905831fe3dae31

“In one hour.”ebc48581d2165905

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“…Yes, Your Majesty.”dd1d4d16faf841e5

Cliff bowed deeply, 9411c6428d waiting until the 4df91d5878 Emperor had re-entered 591e62e085 his chambers and 07301901ee closed the door.a82c597ea32202dd

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As the door shut, the 74555951c6 head attendant straightened, his expression 2cd2469010 even darker and more complicated 02c985f81d than before.e839efda1a1f40a6

The fog clouding 8295566f2b his head began f217ce62b5 to lift little f695120748 by little.182578d94fe958a3

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Sounds filtered in, and as 41cbb9fe17 his consciousness returned, Lucian slowly 8c6ef1d182 opened his eyes.c5bb66f7290f2cee

Contrary to the numb f2b828647d heaviness he had expected, 0eba2bd83a it wasn’t particularly difficult ad94a58a7a to wake.9651e0f7a6e978d6

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The room was familiar. He recognized it immediately—it 348a396b33 was the Emperor’s bedchamber, 06ef31bbfe a place he visited 0593a48488 more often than his f564ba1b48 own quarters to wake 0a49a34fef his superior every morning.2794024015693608

The ornately decorated f8d139366b posts and the 67fd6f36c9 lavish lace curtains c71aa8ed05 swayed around the 838a03c541 imperial bed.503da580074b9817

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His body felt heavy. He couldn’t lift f0d150ebee a finger, and 0043718cc3 his head was fadf29d8fc blank, his thoughts 8c13848547 sluggish.cc34099180e5d83e

And then…d6a5f2e1dd53b425

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“…Ah.”55df69152ed8e8b0

His usually smooth voice b088194ec1 was nowhere to be d6f1ec6145 found, replaced by a 26bf80f214 cracked, rough rasp.dec5cf1acc8a33cf

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Simultaneously, sounds and flashes of 534f7f6307 the previous night surged into 392e83f861 his mind, filling the void.778710efb300f1ea

“…!”7ce20d3591c0a399

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His blank mind was 108dffec47 flooded with memories all 4f64cbfde5 at once—the panting breaths, 7c7260b339 the haunting voice in 29c01bf86c his ears—and with them 7fd56d895f came the sharp ache 0a904537bd in his back and… e4cb7fb35a elsewhere.64991528d32566a7

“Ugh!”909b1a7eeb070b47

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As he tried 42739dc185 to sit up, d73ef9cf60 pain shot through d986d20b0e him, forcing him 7a1ceae929 to collapse back 5f661ead29 onto the bed, 2e37ceeadb clutching his waist.894af781e8fa56d8

That had been a mistake.2f423f244f86731e

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The moment his 4e4fbfd9be eyes shut, he 2b335d65dd could see it 18d8c107bf vividly again: the b231050993 entwined, taut body, 855ef67ed1 glistening skin—unyielding yet d1a64c9358 supple, pressing against 11ef74707a him.42d07d47ba89c7bc

‘No, this is impossible!’58c1b9950a2bdfd7

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A scream, stuck 6fb47a4a1f in his throat, c66baea76f escaped as a 46f1e50513 breathless gasp.dcc31573e41c8e8c

–Your Majesty… too deep…2ae4cea35c39180b

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Once one memory surfaced, the ed14c42839 rest came flooding in.64861979d35bd0d0

How he had begged and 3f42de8d74 cried. How he had c4206befc0 initially resisted but b2b928080d then, later… moved cbd62a2d97 his hips to abc4db53ad take even more e69505e78c of Heraith inside.02eba4a9954f785f

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At first, he had 3313633e68 tried to run.256722d52bab9177

When the Emperor had e41e3b2120 pinned him down, he ba6f53fad7 had fought to escape. But then—0c428ef64944f16c

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–Lucian.27326d3bae8d1f48

That single word.8ee9ff2cf06e3f57

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The moment Heraith called his 4b58373c1c name—a name the Emperor had 28baf78f40 never used before—his strength vanished. His hands, once pushing against 77971cb934 him, gave in, and he 99579f2175 surrendered.500b795da568f455

–No, Your Majesty. P-please…af1b220a833bdd52

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He had clung eac931f79e to him, called 807e7c191a out to him, 193b48d746 wept… until his 6d9b7a57b7 own voice and 789349c77a tears blurred into 889c82bd72 incomprehensible pleas.959b6b507bc897cb

The Emperor had shown no e94bfafb31 mercy, consuming him endlessly as c1c27318ee if determined never to let e8ca966844 go. Now, even the slightest 0f1312a8eb movement left his lower 5187ccf217 body aching, completely devoid 98299708f6 of strength, almost like 187a85fa71 it no longer belonged f4dfaf9937 to him.6b33f0ea146c0f3b

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He was insane. Why had he allowed it?114328f45d537958

Hadn’t his father b654c76356 warned him over ae330ef9ab and over again?1f4597f549d2c0d0

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–Never, under any circumstances, get involved with His Majesty.
–Involved? How can I not ba60fcec5c be involved if I e726661bd9 serve him, Father?
–…You know what I mean, Lucian. Be careful in every way.6eeb767a652e673a

His father’s words had surely 0341c8bc3c referred to this.0c801065b5e89067

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He should have been wary. He should have been careful.616aca09885139cc

But instead…b8c884e871981a30

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–Lucian.2040b22f09df5abf

The fact that 5875c38b20 Heraith had called 28ff62e23e his name—just that—had bd443ecd42 been enough to fc2594f013 unravel him.0cc7bbfbccaa422c

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He had fallen, utterly b3370263c7 and completely.8ea7bf3934a7fb85

And now, the tears he d620a61eec had once managed to suppress d89294c10e spilled uncontrollably down his cheeks.0a0508c3e13d2349

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It didn’t matter if Heraith 576eb704a0 had initiated it. Lucian was a man; 407dc64bf4 if he had truly 3ca09e657b resisted with all his dcf56ce2d4 might, he could have 993b675562 escaped. He was trained, after 56b5479530 all, more than capable 2d45a3683a of defending himself.d8b2c799809b098c

But in the 421cddd9b5 end, it was 6447133144 his own arms 2b2af86cf2 that wrapped around 9740311d3c Heraith’s neck, pulling c42fba7e8f him closer. His own choice fc6e434852 that led him 345132cadc to surrender.da6b64e141851515

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How foolish. How shameful.833c8f58cda0d51c

How utterly, heartbreakingly foolish.03130c0d8fb2b973

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–Lucian.c58c09c1232f6927

Yes, it was true. He couldn’t bear 1ff3fc1a30 it any longer.6402de39d7513da0

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He loved him.1ff0564e6e7b9e48

Loved him so much it b3b70e4678 was unbearable.b5b873a8a4a2830b

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But because of that, cac40ea1ea he couldn’t stay.8d051aad7b56f4e2

Not anymore.dce22c16517804e3

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Gathering the remnants 9c7a010aaa of his pride, 2f5ba19e1a Lucian clenched his ede6334758 teeth. It was time to leave.fb6d0a77128cc68b

He would run away, 313e985401 no matter how much 5991964bb5 it hurt. He would leave before he 01f75084f6 shattered completely.a6c7039c048980f6

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Even as his 0d3e399eec heart crumbled, he 9292d23841 convinced himself this 487d91b8b6 was the only 372aa642b9 way.b964b3c2600ea8d0

He had to go.971111ac538dc6ec

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For both their sakes.76f8074bbfde83c5

Lucian prepared to leave 13c9a8628b earlier than usual that fd3dd17a07 day.b51b12dc0be17d6f

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His trembling hands gave him b5d0ff3980 away as he fixed his 5e44ad6364 uniform. The face in 835a384564 the mirror looked eec4e838ae thinner than he e2958a2c40 remembered, exhaustion weighing c1497c8b77 heavily on him.e4f9ea1e2cef4a22

His body had healed b7c3c970b0 faster than expected, thanks 31ef6a1128 to the High Chancellor’s 1af5cbc4e7 intervention. Without it, he wouldn’t have 4024c846f7 been able to move at 68e0b72bda all.d135e1ce093d5278

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But while his 7a63a805a4 physical wounds healed, 4256969ad3 his heart remained 0f03b88a14 in tatters.74677d44aa1f7163

–You must eat something.084a45064ab2d056

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If not for ea36c4308b Cliff, who had ceb66be0c4 insisted on taking 11efe9c253 care of him, 6d0bf99b01 Lucian doubted he b49f1103bf would still look d70e7abcbb remotely human. The pale complexion 8ec6eacb04 he had worn b1d905cdd5 for days had d864e50e7e finally begun to 804337ee3c regain some color.9f2ecc475bcb8a40

Thankfully, Heraith had 0ac5ce6677 sent word through 260d7c2bf5 an intermediary that d0655e5d66 Lucian wouldn’t be 7f19d201b6 needed to wake 195e84776c him for the d9b11bbe3f time being.73e6135cdd9da27d

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Not that he 777c6f4caf would have gone 3cb7be9777 anyway.faf2267e498672d4

The mere thought a0ff60ebba of facing Heraith 66ce1ef795 sent chills down 4f27e7febb his spine.c0389dabb889474a

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Just hearing the 7211730e5a Emperor’s voice made d13834f52e his body tremble, 39331af255 his lower half f47350bbe2 throb, and an ccf82e5832 indescribable ache stir ede7428639 deep within.8795cd48cca4d3e0

“Dammit…”2573b3bb54252369

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