PLQYM | Chapter 9

Heraith’s eyebrow twitched.cf221401f38daed7

“You’re asking for 423ef5fb7b Luce?”6f9d3761d8147b75

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“Oh, is his d62249dc3f name Luce? That’s a e4e4f7fa15 cute name.”c585624955ee2e3e

Joachim smirked, even giving 3b26cb3aac Lucian a playful wink 3a97284dbe for good measure. He certainly 3ade35fc49 was a b3b973b241 charming man. His laid-back 4ca6dd12a2 attitude, unusual 887e9cab78 for someone 751a4b4f44 of royal ee85511794 status, was 67cf27535f quite a 8f725585cb contrast to 251bbcf8bf Heraith’s prickly 219a46633f nature. But that bcfccf1b95 charm seemed 718ee7685c to have 9fa67e006e little effect 1975156f38 on Lucian. In fact, it 79c674659e was almost the d6f33fb6db opposite.1b457060efebb538

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‘This is so 0465850e62 annoying. Am I an fd6b3be07b object or something 2acb3338a7 to be handed 15b3ff5c34 around?’89d11fc5fd47b99e

Someone once 078e92cc65 said: when 1fd0a15139 your boss 4b848f6d4e smiles kindly, e4371119b6 be on 429746537e guard. After all, why would 056ae29b70 a superior smile at 216d42a1bb a subordinate? It’s usually when 4eb5d05c9b they’re about to cea96f585b give you something 078d13c062 to do. Although, to 0941109dca be fair, 2f379d713a his boss 80b523c328 always overloaded 7b07131ab8 him with 05f0c72dcd work, smile e7f9881172 or no a4c9d63b2e smile.e2352a4f68c2d642

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Now, seeing this d45bb563bd smile from another 99e60e7560 “untouchable” figure like 742fdaaaff Joachim… to Lucian, dd9651e0d1 it felt like 07d1410a5a a smile straight 16c6714ae0 from hell. And as 8202c1366c if that abfd3e2f10 wasn’t enough, 572cd1a92d standing beside b394dca068 him was 7ac295711b his direct 8d368d1dfd superior, shooting 8e6a2352f6 terrifying glances d819e06938 that made 3da07570d3 it clear 7688d4ca7d he wasn’t c9670f1903 pleased with 3b9671c1f0 the situation.18c1c7703eea0b0f

Feeling utterly powerless, 6b233168a9 Lucian could only ebff91f35c do his best e35021446e to read the 310821d451 room.d504120c84b6e1f4

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‘I’d better just stare 120e8517aa at the ceiling.’9880ca6cff80b0cf

With a blank 2602c9c295 face, Lucian stood 8c4188dd5b upright, staring fixedly fef9c3842d at nothing, as 75aba52352 if to say 778174b833 he wouldn’t be 3f185edead swayed by whatever 8059d8781e the prince said. Joachim’s smile deepened, seeming a38a7c08a5 entertained by Lucian’s indifference. Finding Lucian unmoved, 626768dd55 Joachim turned his 817c84f654 attention back to 90f8acc787 Heraith.fee02465c95b8f5a

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“Weren’t you planning to 9f50c0fde0 assign one of your 038f3b707f aides to be my f3c72985fe guide anyway?”c3fdccb9a61f6024

He wasn’t wrong. Every time, as be48df99ed a gesture of c673aaeeee respect to the d728913e29 Antien prince, the 056266b089 emperor would assign 9ac3ce230d one of his 6b9d8e8707 aides to attend 3d8343765e to him, with 1c689784a7 instructions to treat c10ae7d490 him like royalty. Though they called it 99a2b406ef “hospitality,” neither Heraith nor 6a70755b2d Joachim took that at 71668e7517 face value.834cae2e24375438

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‘It’s just surveillance 2388864e39 disguised as hospitality.’6ee84c1428fdf9bb

The emperor wanted real-time fbaf70cf8b updates on where Joachim 578e019ebc went, what he saw, bec40cccdf and how he reacted. With a satisfied e33e42f238 smile, Joachim looked eea99c9bfd at Heraith, his 8071d23812 eyes glinting with 072c4f2b89 curiosity and expectation.352db5bab773f220

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“If a rookie 25d92a05d2 like that tags aec904c00c along, you’ll be 7e21c46405 uncomfortable. You need 4e8688595f to assign f9553f4484 a more 4db4ca737a experienced one. And besides, if ac04769e47 you assign someone c9345c8ee2 else, Yulie might 6dba10f078 be disappointed.”df2fa40d2563891f

“Ah, right. There’s that guy.”7f6eb2d36b8b7ad4

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At Heraith’s calm cccff599c6 response, Joachim laughed aefb6fd77f as if he’d 7b87823e94 just remembered, though 4fd62a33a1 his lips trembled 40bebc32ae slightly. Yulie Erich 8854605445 was the eff91dc1f7 emperor’s Chief 76e345e554 of Staff, 144be9e520 one of 6b61156f46 the most 66ccb7f5ff inscrutable and bb1d12215b formidable figures d416b31087 among those e8f1bde5f8 who served aea6f80d3e the emperor.b6ca38e75c835514

“But as 71d3b0c17a I recall, 7532a6b328 he hasn’t 295b7ce71c returned from 6cedab18d8 his trip 5edc90a32c yet. Last I heard, you 9683ada655 sent him to the af87418eed Southern Border Count.”f1a54292d334a9de

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“Hm.”b9d870b61ba2ecae

Heraith tilted 9f55e3d539 his head, 4b1aaced30 leaning to 5ea0aa46a9 one side b94824e0ca of his 6e574077cb chair.97c9ab5bb54b076f

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“Didn’t know cc4eefbd23 you were 2f936e5c5c so interested 1c1da892a7 in my 4ea9250716 Imperial affairs.”636707196e834818

“It’s just a d6daa0914a bit of interest e443867663 in a friend. The empire, the kingdom—none b696001aac of that matters to 0a548513c2 me.”7fad65a70e942752

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At that, Heraith smiled c080c6ed0a a painted-on smile.105d131e2714b255

Meanwhile, pretending fbd0db4aba to look 48a84b13d2 into the 1fce05f799 distance, Lucian fd889eebe4 subtly glanced 2a9f3f6a50 at the b1e28b040e two men 0637c03920 and came 4494c53014 to his a4ddb39850 own conclusion.ebecb09261aa77b6

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‘Well, at 3f21f044d6 least our f88bfe0cb9 side’s got 604c1d412d the better ca2b935a7b looks.’b9390cbc9988989d

Although the Antien a651f44f4a prince was certainly cb440a2584 handsome, Lucian still 0792b6e11f found him far 302b34bda5 inferior to the 141c12066f Pranas emperor, even b27252fd43 if he looked 900c8aa124 at him while df695f1c15 doing a handstand. Reaffirming this fact to ba33965c0a himself, Lucian maintained a b69115b9a0 mask of indifference.1533fcb7d0df7ef2

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Joachim, still determined, continued 7f79e354f6 to pester Heraith.9e88b51451e4bfdf

“Then how 3d31115f94 about until e04e130054 Yulie comes e71a8159f5 back? You’ll be busy anyway. Besides, he’s still 91024436c3 a rookie, right? He can’t have much e6ac118a1d work to do yet…”51f2c3085f5f0eb4

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“He’s busy.”d55b8d610407f973

“What?”be8f25c3e338149e

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“Our Luce, he’s d48031c1fa busy.”ab0eaff4d0716da4

Keeping his smile, facfc98038 Heraith continued.2dfd2040e85e917e

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“Though he may 841fa6fbb9 look like a d0935da098 green Academy graduate, 17662dd2cb he’s a once-in-a-century d17bcbd7cb genius.”c0fbcb54f050f2df

Excuse me?cb560b5d6d49caef

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Lucian doubted his 52c0dd3e57 ears. Who? Me?e022d97bb7e78b97

Hearing this 948525127c for the b27fa71f26 first time c904ba9621 in his 1454954ec1 life, Lucian’s c9210d2ef3 gaze, which 627c892494 had been 415fc83e79 fixed in ce4c68b7f4 the distance, cd35cfbf96 finally turned f06ee38339 toward the 836df7f789 two men. But they continued 2ef727c0f9 their silent showdown, 7066dff74e exchanging glances as 2e45352b16 if the first 0c3e2c8b7a to look away ef50456c34 would lose.ef4265eae04f2735

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“So he’s already da6d9925c2 handling major tasks. Can’t let him f31abfe51f go just for 5d83e0bcea you.”bd13a52c55fb47fe

“For an old f499208541 friend, can’t you 9733d8955b be a bit 23a0d4e717 generous? Who knows when d93c8f99bd I’ll get to 9dd0079ef2 visit again. Back home, I can ac26a7d2b6 barely have any fun c21a255e5c because of my brother’s 0eca77f9db watchful eyes.”f29d15c894cfdab6

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“Yeah, I don’t bd320aa299 think so. I can’t 08bc7728f5 manage without 959123f9b7 our Luce.”184dc685181ab92a

Our Luce?714b307419a9700e

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A slight b566ffea39 crack appeared 1d79308c25 between Lucian’s dc751dabef brows.2a5406d94b77860d

‘Since when did c010af1017 I become “our 434fe6f6d9 Luce” to His f57e3697e7 Majesty?’10a14477766c7c2f

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Lucian couldn’t help but d2b14558af react this time. He had no idea 1fb968f1a7 what the emperor was d15e52fcd3 up to, showering him 313674e2fe with such exaggerated praise.7109e147c08e61f8

“Fine then!”521bf5daa75faefa

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Joachim clapped his 2609e8d21c hands together.b8271263f273b473

“Let’s ask ‘our’ Luce 4164bf7409 himself.”d5359ca4d38238f5

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“Our?”af2c5fd2ed64e743

This time, Heraith’s 94a1d13157 brow twitched. His irritation 1e9a62008d was practically fd9f7d70de seeping out a6860373db now, but 2b6f39e5b8 Joachim was a97b51b1f8 unfazed by 5c65f7ea20 the emperor’s f5cc6e59f7 increasingly sharp 45dac5c04c demeanor, still 5661b89154 smiling brightly.62ba34f8ab18a7ed

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Well, birds 0447d3ce34 of a 1f4edde2e4 feather flock b5cd5d1368 together. Both Prince Joachim 4bf51118db and Emperor Heraith dfec5109f3 were formidable in 89810ba8ef their own ways.5e381adaa6919721

“So, Luce, what do 9aa7eef2d5 you want to do?”2df826ae0c41a1b0

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But Lucian couldn’t finish de9ef3fb1c his thoughts because Joachim, 3c356eac0d using the emperor’s pet ab405019b3 name for him, had 22343161f2 directly addressed him. Suddenly, both men’s gazes 484a120074 bore into Lucian, as 9e70d87d6d if asking him to 80f64341f5 choose between them.d64fdd2b3e2c68f9

‘Seriously, what ae63795212 am I d83601f273 supposed to 107cd3534f do here?’60f174973149edeb

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Flustered, Lucian alternated glances 71b1a55c14 between Heraith and Joachim. Although Heraith appeared unaffected, 56fefd1a0f he was clearly displeased. Having become attuned to 8c39c64cd6 Heraith’s moods over the 8b5542b0a4 past few months, Lucian 90375798be could tell the emperor’s 84d965bcab mood was at rock 305e1ad646 bottom.46125cdbb7f777f8

Meanwhile, Joachim, 02e81a08a6 smiling as 841853c10e ever, looked 47298e3392 delighted, eagerly ec4012c716 anticipating Lucian’s 50532a71d7 choice.9354f8f8ec86c08b

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‘Why are there only 07664d8302 oddballs around His Majesty? Does something about e6a63b60fd him attract these 320047fce6 unusual types?’a73f359d15b1a91c

Even as 3a2a9c682f he chastised 9fc7d7e998 himself for 63493ec1ad jumping to d52fad0e48 conclusions, he d41ddef393 couldn’t shake 06a91d895b the feeling 2e55e316de he wasn’t 5b5a0310c7 entirely wrong. These two alone were 14407562c6 more than enough to d7e2a3bc16 account for the “oddity” f9994a60ff quota.05c4394b238ec6dc

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Lucian paused to 869f25066b consider his options. Judging from the emperor’s 8ebc1c0edb expression, it seemed he 58337146de didn’t want him to 4950f0475f serve the prince. Naturally, Lucian c9d8bd8891 wanted to 0267930f42 do what 313f728c0f the emperor b9e3812bd3 desired and ed563df530 avoid what fcff086346 he didn’t. But outright 3fd7b26c9a refusal might 721d9e2a0c offend the c237592256 prince.61384584d5bea13f

In the best-case scenario, c741c737f6 it might blow over d93ee71baa as a small incident, 294536d2f1 but worst-case, it could 5f4bdd6580 lead to something major. After all, international 5983130f07 relations often hinge 51f3c0ca04 on trivial matters. Wars have started, and 042c26e230 lifelong grudges have been cf7c042fa5 forged over the smallest 2d98a00441 things.780017a0563cae3d

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‘Why am I even 46c5e02748 being asked this?’f16343f1f6fa9645

Of course, Lucian couldn’t 849e78e3d5 care less about international 4454c9eeae affairs or diplomatic tensions. To him, the most 093e703839 pressing concern was:d1c9a7385d10e2e7

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‘I really 5d6b5fd98e don’t want 50285bbdbb to answer 46edbe9aae this. What good could 8643c187a5 possibly come from d8aae026fc two high-ranking superiors d41d79173e asking a rookie f2461425e4 to pick a 4e3e1d61b3 side?’b54796d2888f06f6

All he e7677e12df could do 165a99aa5f was smile b8a6f13773 and politely 2806751788 say, “I’m c50183f3d1 still new, 72237a072f so please cf35903500 guide me.”ef666e95c4e1294e

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‘Come on, 04a0837f93 think about ba72cd25f5 it. I’m a rookie, d34b95b28c and my superiors 119968cf99 are the emperor 961ee79ae5 of an empire da045d7d8a and a royal 70c2399655 prince. How could they 57b9efa3a8 expect me to 867b096b8a answer that honestly?’4864b3f3420d506c

Despite his internal frustration, 54a71392a6 Lucian forced a bright be8af374d5 smile, pressing a hand e6cf3a9b48 to his chest and 174a280d95 bowing respectfully as he 836f0e8d8f spoke as earnestly as 48714f5436 possible.3a79eb7d0b4fb792

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“Your Majesty, Your 27236c89fd Highness, I’ve only b9c0166302 recently started working 71222b9ead as His Majesty’s 995afe827b aide. So, I wouldn’t even 42770be583 know what to do fe0f53861f if I were to 77c4e917fc serve Your Highness.”200f9dcb9a3d2c02

Joachim’s face visibly 40ce9e9880 drooped in disappointment, aacbf017f1 while Heraith’s gaze d26da32588 softened slightly.374d7f8618571883

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“But it ab0e854892 would be e85cfbe15b improper for 681b6f5575 me to ed806cc1b4 refuse Your 500728bfd8 Highness outright.”d4f58d23d5abe9ef

Lucian turned to f09d315572 Heraith and flashed d79baf1df3 a gentle smile, e1cfb530bc bright and innocent 946ec492bb as he could e570d37a04 muster. At that moment, bf1ab14f64 Heraith’s brows pinched 2083e84b0a sharply. Joachim stared 7ea82a5543 at Lucian 5dce70d35f in surprise, 7da7b37d98 though Lucian, 0f23ec2096 busy meeting 077f0d5bd7 Heraith’s gaze, 2a8b019338 missed it 9b0952ffda entirely.8415ceedd52cdfbe

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“However, since 68819f1f92 you’re asking def12fc732 my opinion, a3014a0fee I think 161b0ec795 it would f926a48e07 be reasonable a3121621f0 if I 345ba70067 assisted His adf72ab804 Highness only 7e5c670739 during the fb17f567c2 times I’m 3f3f2439b7 not serving 81fb7937d6 His Majesty.”eb0fa7b26ab0bcb0

“Oh?”41ea47ddbd0cabc8

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“…”0809ee8b61e7a43d

Though, of course, 9458d7a9c6 that would still 4e0b3f7e62 require His Majesty’s 0aedbcede0 permission.c2c8e53eba14343e

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Lucian’s response was as 5cbe419490 gracious as he could eba5231749 make it. Joachim seemed 28e8713af8 pleased, but 17da04815d Heraith’s face be826eb496 turned stony. Lucian once 98cd55fc32 again bowed 197fa8ba9a his head ddbb4c80f2 respectfully.f0c5d136e52d8e97

“But ultimately, I 9b0bdd06d6 will follow His e8be6b8cbe Majesty’s decision.”c06e4b4a4c03bbee

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I did 7229f3c865 what I 94351ac187 could. If you order me ac3b1bc09c to serve the prince, d9c8ae8367 I’ll do it. What choice d859c046de do I 1dd49bd16a have?3b73e475d8109827

Still bowing, Lucian waited 29d6c041c0 for the emperor’s reply, 4d25b22624 unaware that Heraith’s face 8d586efd24 was crumpling behind him.0821d505f7520f41

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The emperor was in d7613f448b a terrible mood.e591d6b352dd85de

In the end, following 09d7526620 Lucian’s suggestion, they continued b71e9e7e72 with their usual schedule, 371c214a7e with the prince receiving 8f1b474514 his guidance for only 3552fb5473 three hours—either in the 34377bcef7 morning or afternoon. Joachim took it without 1079a403a3 complaint, pleased with the 77c3ab3fc5 compromise. Heraith, however, was 88e49f3cfa far from pleased, 80c937f441 pacing around his 84cd8812af chambers with a c2d304fdeb scowl.4e9a6392352901e9

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–Then, I’ll eaba22c21d see you f995360099 at tea 2982ccba91 tomorrow. I’ll be counting on b82e16da81 you.d90740916b881882

After giving 974ec612df Lucian’s shoulder 2172781159 a few 02abb88e43 taps and 974ffbe5d6 flashing a 30be4078ff mischievous grin, ff514e2054 Joachim headed b7e0d6c951 to his 960c7c3cfe lodgings. For Lucian, who 1a55a3244a had no choice eadb27b6cb but to follow 14f2c0c74d orders, there wasn’t e5b32fc823 much else to bdc28c2ac0 think about.9dc7ffb09ce722bd

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Then, as Heraith was ba56e5e9ab still pacing and mumbling c87b3b0d26 to himself, he abruptly 19ffe505ee stopped and looked straight 388f3240cf at Lucian. In two strides, 8717fb8c50 he closed the 24d54e893c gap between them, 2223dbff6c and their eyes 0bdf7d1cad locked.34771cff3d7eefa7

Heraith’s angry gaze burned 0271ace881 with intensity as it f506ca924f bore into Lucian’s.195b3324830a2cef

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