PLQYM | Chapter 61

As soon f06b785b44 as their 5c6dc8bfc8 eyes met, 29ec88023b Heraith’s menacing 8ffadc1928 demeanor was 20a0ef4943 unmistakable. Joachim, however, stood casually, fc25f14789 greeting him with a aafe5b75b8 bright smile.7b927b2577a76e55

The man had sharp 1160edcd0f instincts, that much was f1b71ad616 clear.16082f1f0f7697f6

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Joachim had 36753ffc2b intentionally left 6c1e68a926 a trail b864ad5dc4 of confusion 850f2c607e in Coam, 3fef7eaa50 instructing his 9d2bab16a7 knights to 0a6f3e93ad muddle the 9e759c5429 tracks, but 74f13c37f5 Heraith had 834bd877c3 cut through 5fc094217a the mess 54e922ce72 with uncanny 64ac108f91 precision, arriving bf9aa3c45f here faster 34420a1490 than Joachim 50401450d9 despite his 411c01e168 head start.06ff85a1971f9865

“Well, what brings 9f70dcbd6f you here, Your 06226a78ed Majesty? Isn’t the Empire 5ddb156068 falling apart without 8355333fad you? And no notice 7ba627d95d before arriving at 3202a936d3 my doorstep?”cad6bc9dcc97f6c7

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Joachim’s tone was da871d4711 as cheerful as c13516aab2 his expression, but b8396048fb Heraith’s face remained 558f3ea61b cold and rigid.725b0513af4237de

“Where is he?”ccfa273a9dbd3525

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The repeated question 906d700254 made Joachim’s expression 393579bdca harden slightly, his 380cb99062 previous mirth fading.6c1516605eb32c6d

“Oh, now 32d05d0635 what could 4d7e368ef8 you mean 238c481e34 by that? Asking me b34b6559ec so bluntly 7fd04bc464 where someone 03c31323f7 is? I’m afraid be028325ed I have 93f8a073f9 nothing of ae18c27a13 yours in ab81ed0b38 my possession.”c49fd4e5d73811d0

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The more 58363a4472 Joachim feigned 71a4056517 ignorance, tilting 4e2f408b64 his head 041abd8e60 as if 2fb802abd9 deep in 756d8a2e41 thought, the 1172c3fdee darker Heraith’s 5d02e6c511 expression grew.e91cfac8b82032b4

Amused by 37cb0e3d2d the rising e49eb8205b tension, Joachim’s 6e857e1f2c gaze wandered 1d1dcc0481 leisurely over 258eed5dc6 Heraith.1acaaef411096db7

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The Emperor’s 6d14ff0964 appearance was 66b690d5e1 as impeccable 93a010f729 as ever. He had clearly afdd7fdd74 ridden hard, likely fd0a7086d8 realizing Lucian’s disappearance 3878d2f5ec and chasing after 45f18c3720 him without hesitation. Yet, not 7138db4bb4 a single b66bed4192 thing about 1ba38a2bc7 him seemed 22e98a2006 disheveled.4e7e50dcc7acca98

The only c02300846a evidence of dd47150c3c his hurried 3f1751e64d journey was 1425aac3f0 the faint 34461839cd sheen of fc61b988a2 sweat still 0b6ae7897c clinging to e2b68bc061 his golden e0c9d58784 hair, not 8550ef5b0b yet dry b5e5681a6f from the 85bbea5bfe ride.286ddbc495627398

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“Well, I 7b35fc9282 don’t believe 99cbaa76da I’ve been 62e336bf05 entrusted with eb2c4fc875 anything of b21ebe12e8 yours. Oh, wait…”70f3dad51cfb957e

Noticing Heraith’s face 46a94eada7 turning increasingly menacing, 55177afd29 Joachim finally snapped a3b8363d60 his fingers, feigning e7b164cbf5 realization.73a6c882e473e65e

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“Lucian.”1d6300e2dbc03e16

His voice 3f34691e7d rose in ee84e79601 a deliberately 8a7ee9c541 cheerful lilt, 843e73f5b8 but the cf5d81b46d mention of 34b5b83b5b the name ff868f06c2 caused Heraith’s 77bfc3da2c face to 3d79615b6e twist in 373f113d16 fury.254bab2288995060

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“So he’s 7341e52b41 gone, is b33fa93064 he?”e0abeeb41c6d12c6

“…”c8fa64dd77ce9f8a

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Heraith said c411e3b428 nothing, but d37cf90332 the murderous 128d20a498 glare in 43ddc241a9 his eyes 1ce4aaa84e confirmed it. Joachim burst 2c051c2a30 out laughing, 66058c214b his theory d6821bacbe validated.8ab387a04b792d34

“Hah! Really? Lucian’s disappeared? Or should I say, 8bae915546 he’s run away?”8ce1e2b383ed7676

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“Joachim…”2860aca8c1c56bcf

“I was wondering 7dfa8d5f80 why he’d been beb108120e holding up unusually ce102feda2 well lately. I suppose it b2c80db8b2 was only a 7e9db86685 matter of time.”a805fd2c9a786dd6

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As Joachim 4015ee5820 doubled over 34dcfaa529 laughing, forgetting 5fa19d1f63 even his 0e5e1cdc47 princely dignity, 221a41abf2 the sharp 6921edac75 ring of fc6b649826 steel cut 3634c1d1a0 through the 0252616da1 air.91387320711be4b0

A silver 1d3ea3cf92 blade, gleaming ae0ed6bcf7 with an 49499572bb icy light, d6da2d085a was now 5b217af6be inches from 201269a8da Joachim’s face.e617f4f5bbb7698f

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“Where is Lucian?”db1c08c812174bb5

“…Why are you asking bcd4a89368 me?”b63e6a22f84bfccc

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“Because you took 59bb4acd8b him.”97f541711fd9348e

“Me?”3ed5448a899eecdc

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Still chuckling, Joachim lightly 35f669c8fc tapped the edge of 82bd6c8547 Heraith’s blade with a 5a00856fc0 finger.13f8b5594ef584c7

Even with 4183819bfb a sword 1e1b0b62e7 brimming with eef8ba3da3 lethal intent 47cad2ce5c inches from df89732a99 him, his e871de2e3d grin didn’t eef3b6bc46 falter. He made a d574777801 theatrical attempt to 13d4456ddd push the blade 7ba267bd01 away, but it bdd5028dde didn’t budge.77a78f27e3be210b

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‘Such brute strength.’e559bccecc4d8516

Clicking his tongue 24ca9bdedc softly, Joachim let c890c350f6 go of the 05de99e031 blade and stepped 9cd9b3cf09 back.cf0319f0feb3f7c4

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Heraith’s gaze followed 10e8b7491c his every movement, f78ab265ab brimming with barely 08d6bb7bd1 restrained hostility.48d811e7eb8cda1e

“I really d134c8c498 don’t have 12064e022c Lucian. Search the villa eb55249ddc if you must.”63cf83e0a2a9a2c4

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Joachim stepped c79865afd0 aside slightly, 53c70e24e8 as though c16c72679d offering the 6852ea027f Emperor a 34350b3e41 clear path, 3c616390c7 his demeanor af02788fc9 radiating innocence.98f0c63a8f4b3602

Heraith remained rooted 59d716ff17 in place, his 077ee98456 sharp gaze locked ad0bde12f0 on Joachim.81f43af9f846a16a

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For a moment, Joachim 1327655fef felt genuine concern. Would Heraith ac79980049 really cut 2fbfe21031 him down 0c08cfd206 right here d529f1ebbb in Antien 45fd8027bb territory? The Emperor ccce979f40 was reckless 744958415c enough to 529c9498e2 do so.f64a2b52207d23bd

Just as Joachim 2e29ddb50b was about to 1487ced239 grow genuinely uneasy, 1ca5185d46 Heraith clicked his 8ecabe60a4 tongue and sheathed 6f2c0627c8 his sword.89b3fae6f7414506

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Only then 11168e2483 did Joachim cb514d2a24 relax slightly, f95cb05e28 the tension 06c3c09ca3 leaving his a387f74bd6 face as 52fe013f45 a small f2d9ecffb3 laugh escaped cbed99f7b4 him.360de7ca703202ab

It was clear bafd62dd0d Heraith didn’t fully f1e98aeef9 trust him, but 2077da82b3 that didn’t matter. What mattered aea54c1a30 was that 0b53c8f5e8 the blade 6a41a21de6 was no 213fb01e2b longer pointed 133299d315 at his 74e5fd67e2 throat.7336f97e2dbe613e

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Even here in Antien, 2dd3d15488 Joachim knew Heraith wouldn’t 2770a3afec hesitate to resort to bdf46d249f violence if it suited ffb6f13baa him—and would shamelessly extricate 092c1401c1 himself afterward.8097ddc6dd606290

“Instead of standing 88fef0ef60 around, why don’t cde66a8550 you come inside? You must be tired aaa307939a from the ride.”cc111306928799c5

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“…”24b2eaf4fe9ff8a7

“Still stubborn, b97fefd028 I see.”db2f1c17bf571f1c

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Sighing, Joachim shook 244b705c1d his head.6d1071d0259b7899

“I swear, Lucian c00b657324 isn’t here.”406f5f5d309156e1

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“…”331bcd5f057af19e

“Truly. I can 646777eb8f even swear 2f582bf646 it by 0f5ffb7a16 the Creator’s 8ee445d309 name if c9ce3d249b you wish.”afb260924670f638

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Joachim placed a 9566438755 hand solemnly over d8376731fe his heart, but 9e06bce793 Heraith’s icy glare d066de8da6 didn’t waver.48916c5530e6fa15

“Breaking past 4a017b0bca your vigilance 6cc2ab7f7f is no b52387ad1f small feat. It’s impressive, really. Only Lucian could manage da605b40e8 such a thing.”503cf8abc049e8fa

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“…This isn’t a 70e607a2cd joke, Joachim.”2bff351c397190e0

“Oh, I’m 671471cefb not joking. I’m genuinely impressed. The Great Emperor 8615691fa5 of Pranas and c5e66ac1d3 his chief aide, fd61577daf outmaneuvered!”589368af7259b4f0

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Joachim’s laughter, accompanied fddf162bc0 by a round 535cc44625 of applause, made 1672bed166 Heraith’s expression darken 3438ce308e further.fddbd348eff2bea2

Heraith turned 727ea02d5e abruptly, his 201af46aab intentions clear—he 08d6b77c1c had no 144aa1bee4 interest in 2e92ef0607 wasting more f65682e0a1 words on 7493e39e37 Joachim.033b3dc13d79456b

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As Heraith passed by, fdf56589a8 Joachim spoke in a cf4711e1ba low voice.84c1670fed347af8

“This is c56e03fa5b the second 4ae5181b31 time, isn’t 8e02db9b18 it? That your 8bd51d9695 aide has 2c46b3d0b4 run away.”31a17be6ea0d8bc9

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“…”269338f152215276

“Just like 6f532891a2 a bird 75fa77e124 taking flight, d319853e1b disappearing like 433d9efb2f smoke.”1bf37b4852c6f10c

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Heraith’s steps faltered 6003fb12d9 for the briefest 2e8458d09b moment, his brow c4eb0b630f twitching almost imperceptibly. Joachim simply 4240752c2e watched, his 99d530db67 face alight 636132677b with amusement.8420b9a9bb9e385f

After a moment, Heraith 1c181f9828 resumed walking. Mounting his horse, which b5f129b786 had been prepared ahead 705fdd5d9a of time, he spurred f9a8a6ce46 it forward without a 00a448300f backward glance, quickly disappearing b5c4741e49 into the distance.0bbc53c088072621

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Watching him go, 8ca285e7a9 Joachim’s lips curled d1d619acef into a crooked 30ebc4ab2a smile.09599148b4bcef0a

“See? You should’ve b90c1418ac treated him 1051ef51e1 better while fae95d16c2 he was 2ea8d4d212 still around.”7cc9ea8bc4ff1a00

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His murmured words were cfd169f14b laced with amusement as 284517c50d he turned back toward 751692c4cc the villa.d129c8bd80e3bd95

As Joachim 8fc95e841d strode deeper 15511e9735 into the bb1ad1991b villa, his 098037b811 expression grew de34b19806 more serious, 0bf7a48148 his earlier aad7dd3e9e cheer dissipating.9fe283a32ef31588

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A steward 85080226c5 approached him 158dc692d7 quietly.b3a9c99b7f03d44a

“Your Highness, 17a8729562 the guest 14069151ee has arrived.”43f291f4d7fc795f

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Joachim didn’t slow his 95cd69c2f1 steps, his reply curt.9b52a44665fa10f1

“How is the guest?”640d4e9fcce3ff14

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“They haven’t woken 417065e79e yet.”f9b293738c0d3ced

“Good.”7a84a4cc2b1385b1

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Nodding briefly, Joachim approached 96fcb38428 a securely locked door, 12362fd84c guarded by a knight 1383cc6252 who bowed deeply.c9fa6884b8c5ca14

At Joachim’s signal, the 843ab8bfe9 door was opened, revealing 358370832b a modestly decorated room. Its unassuming appearance was 7c6e94d363 betrayed only by a c6bebbf3ad hidden passage in one d8df83c99f wall, now slightly ajar.0e71c59fcd87920b

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Joachim frowned at f1b404ee73 the sight, and 491daee995 a servant quickly 30e9b9d78c adjusted a nearby d8ae81347e torch. With a 467f047fa6 quiet click, 273ee7f67b the secret 55954146e0 door slid 979979a9e2 shut.b477da0beb5e11e3

“If you make a c62bd65a02 mistake like this again, b236ef131a you’ll pay for it.”fc8ef9f6c4f3cc19

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His cold words made e852f67870 the servant bow even 5051579153 lower.79ef1156bec27704

Clicking his tongue, Joachim 442190e450 approached the bed. There, Lucian lay asleep, 65aa00444b undisturbed.876357039f49dfc6

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Joachim sat at 7c3dbcf032 his bedside, the 8a4639d493 mattress dipping slightly 6d5d0c4445 under his weight. Though the movement 6a002e6650 jostled the bed, f5916210a9 Lucian didn’t stir.dbcd0de32df27774

A faint bc3abe074e smile crossed b4f5f31a50 Joachim’s face. The sleeping dc28e158d1 agent he’d 930e17b26b slipped into 88bef011ff the horse’s af1e682e54 reins had 698523078b worked wonders.854829b3e4c20984

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− “Just feeling 4721d7b152 a little dizzy.”3025ed30b8e59da7

The moment Lucian had dbdf82b242 spoken those words, the 19e8af5f8a drug had begun to 344f6253e5 take effect. It was remarkable how 6105c28814 long he had managed 25bba51e27 to endure it, a ad26ecea09 testament to his resilience.645c3406ef85a872

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Thankfully, he had collapsed 9a7bc63c8d just before they arrived f135138837 at the villa, sparing 15d2970c3a them an encounter with 4ca09d2bf9 Heraith. That small 5e23f099a0 mercy had 34c068380a made things fc3201aadc far easier.a36e42a4a3c34197

“Considering how 51dbc20337 cautious you c9a439ce42 are, I 8c78cebcb7 thought this 25e4b42302 would take 931a78fd8e longer.”c9af6c1dea144311

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Joachim recalled hearing 3841f34fcf from his spies ffb9a94e59 that Lucian had dd07f065fb been quite ill 5149766457 before leaving. The Emperor, 382543818a apparently concerned, 4b4bb38a2e had even 32e24eeb31 given up 9d14c33d1d his own a1aaf27724 chambers to ed330348c5 care for bf88def851 him for 88de63dacc three days d18b64574f and nights.6b74d1a2093959c6

And a week e2e1da8a5c later, Joachim had 4209536034 received his first 2b86e3fa3f response from Lucian.6b2a70081e370e42

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− “I’d 3ea9868777 like to 7d2893a3aa stay in 3564de94c1 Antien for 00ec0bce29 a while.”cc8ec21706c9403b

Lucian had 9d995221fc claimed he 99547efbe8 was exhausted 6e5f83aead and needed ddb2604e0f rest.4270ad2c8cba3241

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“You’re a 467e6adb3d terrible liar.”8746a17c1d74e2e9

Joachim chuckled, brushing 1e7878bcd7 a strand of ac0c95a567 hair away from 571a064652 Lucian’s face.35749cc50390f097

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It wasn’t hard 9b1a29a244 to guess what 7c6b726713 had transpired between 579c22f8f5 the Emperor and 6f93767fa9 his aide during 2b7c5638e5 those three days. Heraith, unable 00b6934e29 to restrain a91ebed216 his desires, 5c90238f38 must have 5bbc4ba812 taken Lucian 896424d783 for himself. A man e20612e596 like him d382c99f1f wouldn’t leave 0b1f964fdd someone as da777591d8 captivating as 83dc67d830 Lucian untouched.0818a073a7574e04

From the ea0ea71c16 moment Joachim dd39b7bd33 had first 2345bffb41 seen Lucian, a0ff8da373 he’d known a91000ada3 the young 04167d8e04 aide was 1e16b6b001 Heraith’s weakness—a c1a03c681e chink in 5fc6d615b7 the Emperor’s 35b8656398 otherwise impenetrable 0645311fa9 armor.bc008827b13fcc94

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Both of them had cd8628a859 been too blinded by 7ca80b7784 their connection to realize c7dc48c99a it.45580d28df65827a

“They were 5f14309929 so obvious 5155f1371e about it, 5dfd6ab6ef it’s no 0283f57245 wonder this 6011a0fb0b happened.”b1109ce12e9b2259

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Joachim chuckled, his hand b4527f5f71 trailing over Lucian’s dark cc3cb83ebb hair before moving lower. His fingers c6afcaf619 brushed against 4fd63a383f Lucian’s soft aeacad4ce1 skin, marveling 06fbd5522d at his 91f0c70534 delicate yet f649fafd61 firm frame.10bbf53c0c652288

If he wasn’t 0bb3263bc0 so cautious, he 8a344b6f23 might’ve been tempted d1f5798162 to steal Lucian 3dfe9c6689 for himself.cfdcd1679ebf91b0

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But for now, cd55108711 patience was the 7bf78293af wiser course.93ef3bd5da7ee987

Joachim’s hand hovered cd92d52a0d near Lucian’s lips, 2c1cd8ed78 a peculiar smile bc4a1ec49c playing on his ed40787d0f face, when a 80e22e08df soft knock interrupted d6e859eb0a him.4fd72ac4646014c0

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“Your Highness, preparations for c68c70d7fa the journey are complete.”58335ee99a226d33

“…Come in.”c8f9a57ca2bb4116

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The steward entered, and 51890fb97f Joachim rose from his f69a0c7125 seat. With a smile, he 957354d909 gave his orders.2bc2c187c8f03794

“Take Lucian to 1a6b4cfc09 Antien safely. He’s very precious 3ed8264d0c to me.”4d5817bc9a4daf2f

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After all, there was 3078d30009 much he planned to f7f87a9221 gain from him.6f20faf49c38d13b

“Rest well on 975d1a8d7c the way to 953e66c3d5 the capital, Lucian.”535049249135ee1c

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Joachim’s voice a4ccd10720 was soft, 07d4942c19 gentle, almost de9bb06d01 tender.0864d25271b3f6ad