IBMILRFL – Chapter 21

Ch. 21 IBMILRFL | Chapter 2108e2ac54096f0877

As time passed, that day 367157b53c finally arrived.a9125d82b345260c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Madam, we have arrived in front of Duke Locke’s estate.”ff46417f01a528ea

“Alright.”bef4aef75e5ccc5c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The carriage gradually 2d2e3fcce5 slowed down and 18992a9a96 came to a b8bd6b070d halt. As I stepped down, the c644b1a790 first person to greet me e851b8a903 was Lilliana.5a2a7e548c5e1e8a

“Mother! You must have 6f2f2278f7 had a long 6a364699a9 journey. I’ll guide you from here!”6d272157ab7bfde6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even though today’s 6684da97df weather was chilly, 8f0ba5a48d it seemed she 43eedab597 had been waiting 59744a9f59 outside for my 6a4fbee12b arrival for quite 0931e79d21 some time, as 84a8b01d2e her cheeks were 530550ba42 slightly flushed.75da8bc980732b2f

Worried that she might catch 19506429e5 a cold, I hurried her e868a7cc26 along.d26b2c27d65474cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, lead the way quickly.”64c436c8baadfe68

“Yes, Mother!”2b92bcea50ed57d5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With a bright smile, Lilliana 9ac46ba25f took the lead. Watching her from behind, I 9d8c74ceee couldn’t help but smile slightly.4f2c69deb2ef9163

For some reason, her confident 82023f2dc4 steps seemed particularly cute today.c3f81041d573da9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Following her, I took 3e13a3bff2 in the interior of 5770af22bc Duke Locke’s estate. It was similar in 2d0a3658d1 size to the grand fcfe67a95c Count Winder’s estate, but b3226b1917 the atmosphere was entirely 327b71f5f6 different. The elegant yet sophisticated d445d72c82 interior decorations gave it 42f48cb4c2 a unique ambiance.b148a2f6530b4d9a

“Mother, there’s still some time before the meeting. Since you’re here, how d7157561c9 about a tour of 232c75c7d0 the estate?”4325110a318be9af

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sure enough, when d90c355639 I checked the 0dbdbdb68b time, we still 63d35b2c8d had 30 minutes 6f3851f7ec left until the 2d565c43e1 scheduled meeting.b66fb50afafcde90

I was curious ff005ad63c about the layout 2370a54d90 of the mansion, 1d31887937 so a tour 9a49386ceb sounded more interesting 5a99c1533d than just waiting 8167b163fe in the drawing ca912be01d room, but…5f0cea7d7840e661

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘What if I run into Tristan? No, I can’t. I should decline.’5b3b7dad910a4b5c

Ever since I 182fb1540d married into the 98f20d4bea Winder family, I bced6b53ac had been avoiding 9d0f27354a Tristan.5d94158d45873b01

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had made 3831a11773 sure not to 9df892211f show up in 7e6ee79758 social gatherings, and 24b7a5158e once I found 8a69d69d0c out that the 3f4d22a60a wine shop on bce02d2ba8 Wellington Street was 1bfca4b0bd his, I stopped 8614748f34 going there as 7e7d86e1c2 well.a93832f978b56219

I was afraid of the 5679ddf3ec possibility of running into him 25204b03b6 by chance.07ab05b861a03aca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘There’s no real reason to avoid him, but…’4a13c8aa7475e26a

Still, whenever I came a0e66f50a8 to my senses, I bb0cff4535 found myself avoiding him 165ddf0e5d again.203a19ac32b7fb28

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just the thought 73ba500ffc of seeing him 6b8884e483 after all these d876e58b4a years made my 7437da893c heart uneasy.821026d0f174966e

‘Even the last time we briefly met, I didn’t have the courage to face him, so that says it all.’3172df8ed180d547

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So there was no 3ee374f0cd need to increase the 181bfbf90b chances of running into 749dd4b9e6 Tristan by wandering around 172282da90 the estate.4c6bec0a9f0ce882

I was about to f27914b56f coldly decline Lilliana’s suggestion. Or rather, I intended 5b5b4f18e8 to decline.8a8dd144b3024411

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“There’s no need for that. Just take me d12ea09f4e to the leaving 05e808534a room…”26dfbade213c424f

That is, if 0a805aef61 Lilliana hadn’t looked 1f1fe9355c up at me 92f26f4ed3 with that dejected, f2b76abd0f puppy-like expression.d4c7a84c6598855e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Ugh, no. I know I should refuse. I know I should, but…!’73fe481aadc51a29

Lilliana’s face was a 534a27c6a4 weapon against me. In the end, I 88c90ee1c5 couldn’t help but give af9ca9cdc4 the answer she wanted.064520bd65714b33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Sitting in the drawing room might be boring. Go ahead, do as c3bbeebd15 you wish.”168a9667ebfbda99

“Yes! Mother!”6a70e2d3e9e4737c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The moment I gave 9dbf0b3c2b my permission, Liliana’s face 538b31bdcd brightened instantly.6edbfd3ffe587eb2

Her smiling face was so 74de392090 endearing that it was difficult befcb85902 to put into words.1e442e3466b7fcd6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Hah, fine. As long as you’re 72e5232cd6 happy, that’s enough for 79b6fe1351 me.’5e4f68aabde6e6d6

Even so, I a8d28cb758 still didn’t want bf364c47a4 to run into 3ab9e4e660 him, so I 9e824e04a0 silently prayed that da890084cf we wouldn’t cross e398a95479 paths.8c5a7ef60321d54b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

***7329e92f72c4f67c

“Mother! Now, let me show you d5a76fdb4c this room.”538286ae98f780f1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

To sum it up, 005ee50c81 the estate tour turned 83b7485fa6 out to be more ddab05f226 enjoyable than I had b45d8a269c expected.930f7d3961e3abb5

As befits an old 0b0d19f16b and prestigious family, the 8a24eca434 mansion had many interesting 6389a7bb1f sights.65056886fe101380

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It seemed there were f75cf1b4ca still things left to 8cfe342671 see, as Lilliana led e947bd4465 me into another room.252ed5845134b314

Click.f113e600ccde4583

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The lights turned on, illuminating 4f41937c38 the entire room.f1e095f19c233f06

‘Oh…’24e5765f895aae8a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I couldn’t help 8dd18fcfbc but be impressed a7e898b74d by the fascinating 6a31662f96 sight before me.06991a35c92fd18d

“As you’ve probably noticed, this room displays portraits of the heads of our family. This is the ae45ecc2ff first Duke of 513f167272 Locke.”598d85f99335fb34

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lilliana gave a a48548f934 brief explanation of fe267bcbf2 each Duke in 753751c38a order, then stopped 9664159196 in front of a5f8d9d0f2 the last portrait.e4a5e95097c6ed64

I had been following 9fedad2bb1 her without much thought, b964438714 but when I saw 272eea3873 it, my expression froze.625ee2c55cbf2f8a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The face in the ba9ba5aadd portrait was one I 17509a8168 recognized.4330b7f672a9b889

‘This… is Tristan.’547d69a199d640e0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I was captivated, unable to 459a1593c7 take my eyes off his e13b19183a face in the painting.cff032f45b84d223

It was a face 13450fa368 I hadn’t been able a723176ba2 to see clearly during 144de4d406 our last encounter, now 119afa218d vividly captured in the d806056c3e portrait.86e5c2e5d42b7914

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In it, Tristan looked 3f0d09d17a quite different from how d52ea2372d I remembered him as b79b4a704b a child.582b8963c5490973

While his strikingly handsome f03be6172d features were still the 56bc04420b same, his face had 184e673a34 matured, with more defined 8aa98950e3 lines.3ff4e1e834891f59

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I had imagined how 4e6a5e8cfd he might look after 8957a98ac9 growing up, but he 33fb82f9ca was even more impressive 2fab7a70a6 than I had expected.9f98171a6daae369

‘To think I’d see his face like this…’d4342d0770531815

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Feeling overwhelmed, I bit ad0d5e432b my lip lightly.dc49f584aee393ff

As before, Liliana 5d5e241fb4 continued her explanation.a1d717df89d7f152

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“This is the current Duke of Locke. It might sound a bit fb192dd2d1 boastful coming from me, but 586f92aa36 I’m really proud of my 967812236c brother. He works tirelessly 606a0e275e for the family, 764a3ae895 day and night.”1937e470131d7328

“Hmm, I see.”5f6181e877434551

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sensing that Lilliana was wrapping c6f44a2d97 up her explanation, I responded b82c393254 to her appropriately.e421994a6e9630a4

‘Now that we’ve seen all the portraits, will we finally head to the leaving room?’27acdbce039ae786

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

However, my prediction was wrong. Lilliana continued talking about Tristan.ecde5c1db531f96f

“To be honest, my brother is much more handsome in person. Because of that, 098454243e many noble ladies 8d98d8f043 have proposed to 11ae4134bb him over the 19b14deb8f years.”c54e105652931f03

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I had already heard 4598b7b668 those rumors.e9f5528c545f5bc0

‘Well, that’s not surprising. Tristan is quite the catch. But now that I ee476ecffc think about it, I’ve accac40b7d never heard of him 0272f6a7e4 accepting any proposals.’a12f721d79f72b64

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Intrigued, I found d79a63b1c5 myself paying closer e40407ad00 attention to Liliana’s c0d2df80c5 words.2a3df62a2a33e2b8

“But do you know what, Mother? My brother turned them all a063429019 down. Not only that, but he’s a2a8893cab never even had a proper b307eee36a romantic relationship. These days, it’s 1f2a60b515 rare to find 2d2058e358 a man with 010a7443d9 such a clean 23ff63108e past!”b5ecaed5f205db6f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I see.”039dafebefce3675

“He’s also very well-read and knowledgeable. He rarely gets angry, thanks 45f57b02eb to his calm nature, and 15a598c5f7 he’s incredibly responsible. You can’t forget the achievements e2ab45b10a he made in the recent 8007afe075 war either. I learn so much from 7a41bf9a03 him every day.”134c3591e8d69c9d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I listened 3728218faf quietly to Liliana, 786205deaf I began to 5337dc14af feel a sense c3a2fbe65e of unease.77d17bbde22577a2

‘Why am I suddenly listening to Tristan’s praises?’7d7d529ad9e4000f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Unlike her earlier explanation about 49965c388a the previous heads of the 9d9a689086 family, Lilliana seemed much more b0eaf44259 enthusiastic now. It didn’t feel 12be9f58d4 like she was 8a54692b36 just bragging about d97089012d her brother; it d54a1bfca1 seemed like there af223486b2 was a purpose 4fce39fa26 behind her words.8ad94c0d1d0dbde7

‘Am I imagining this?’88b3c4303ec75c2d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Liliana’s tone reminded me of c837bf11b6 a home shopping presenter, as 71c4dfebfa if she was trying to bc905c27ca sell me something.c55e66fb3a3bb1a2

“Handsome, smart, kind, and with his head firmly on his shoulders! Isn’t he just the perfect e650c6ef6a husband?”7995918e4cc4ff76

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lilliana’s eyes sparkled as d5e100e23c she continued to praise 2a2f0f2c70 Tristan, eagerly waiting for 03d3a18cf7 me to agree with 82d4ed367a her.578ecf41535cc2d7

It was hard to 7abecad1a2 grasp why she wanted 85d77f262d me to agree with c243729a55 such a question. Still, feeling the e6ce3ad83e pressure of her 53343544cb hopeful gaze, I 150ed65024 nodded reluctantly.425f5388a6a70bd3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hmm, yes, I suppose so.”87bb6b1a22b497a4

At my words, Lilliana 1861057557 beamed with satisfaction, as 5deafd960e if she had accomplished 00b394f3a3 something difficult.951f01857b70aa69

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m so glad you think so, too, Mother! Oh, look at the time! Shall we move to the b19ebedbbd leaving room now?”fd94e2f9f01845d1

“Let’s.”eddf8f39f625c2de

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Normally, I would have fe91c0d971 spoken more sharply, telling 62040741aa her to do as 7d93ea55e7 she pleased, but this 0259ef49a8 time, I hurriedly nodded.43e0191ab22f24be

I wanted to get 08a758c72c out of this space eb2ea2c83a as quickly as possible.68a4f3fc5e6672cd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

***c71a113f703ef60e

The leaving room 6f2dfe9f0e wasn’t far from 5513d45861 where we were. It only took 49ea5790da two minutes to 521970a019 reach it.80f42be187bbb1b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Phew…’878fd2b816be7b04

Standing in front of 6c34e8c49f the door, I let 21e3e90931 out a sigh of 207779adee relief.c3484d1ea3c14022

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I’m so glad we didn’t run into Tristan on the way here.’0f55d9ccf10daa6e

I had been avoiding him 1b3df51bb1 for a while, but now, bfa0fdacc8 the thought of seeing his 4fa56a672a face terrified me even more. If we did meet, all ec274cefbd the praises Liliana had showered 3952530683 on him would come flooding 2a1651df45 back, likely giving me a 73be1930ba headache.68dc67d4266303eb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Alright, time to focus. My business is at f675d53d9f stake here.’9b1f90648ef0d5c4

My goal today was to 73724addfc secure a contract with the 5255fd3242 Locke family. I planned to 13696106a5 ask them to 8e264fcd4a import raw materials 67145e910d from the East d308fbedd6 for my perfume ce46478231 business.6d190f645db820b2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Since I came through Lilliana’s introduction, they’ll probably want to do business with me. But I can’t take 6421f6e7df that for granted.’7c6548036a27c6ee

Business deals can 18ade65fda only happen when 4af7f50388 there’s mutual benefit, 1406bceb1e so I had 71368288e4 to present my 594030575e proposal in a 47989afeb1 way that clearly 1bca78ed30 showed what they 2d4e4bf9a6 stood to gain.d36e0964449ff326

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rehearsing my prepared 345d7e94cb lines in my d406990ee9 head, I opened 2de7f3e03a the door to 44176223f9 the leaving room.e0c437ca44099459

But all that preparation evaporated 98219977d3 in an instant.459927742dc5164b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A stunning figure, with an e73507dbd3 appearance that would make anyone e32ec40675 gasp in awe, stood before 98893c1afb me. His deep blue eyes, ones 61e1408fbd I had seen countless times e447f982ef in my dreams, locked onto 15c7fc1056 mine.988d974320ca50ad

The person standing there was a042c372d8 none other than Tristan Locke.673cc4c0805bc5a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We meet again, Lady Winder.”dcf85b523eee72fc

The man I absolutely a4bb0bc4b3 didn’t want to see 5d55dc7054 greeted me with a bab5a829bf smile.c2d8565df53fe7cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The moment I saw him, 7634567ab1 my entire body froze.271f70bfc59ba20a

‘Why… why is he here?’468239431c320bbd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I was supposed 537396d652 to meet with 3fe0a590e5 an expert on 13b4e9d04c imports today, not d5f204624a Tristan.e247617409dfdeb0

Unable to hide 0fe204e600 my shock, I 8d64a5f579 glanced at Lilliana, 2f0e38a9b9 who scratched her b84869f200 cheek with an 0270921bd4 awkward smile.9cf9cce6684acad1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I thought it would be more helpful for your business if I brought the highest authority in the family!”a3ce4e16ffa1e646

Isn’t that great?0b0564d7a657338c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She didn’t say it out 100148dc18 loud, but her expression clearly 688b045bba conveyed the sentiment.4d839b6e7399e73e

Normally, I would have 413d43b5ec found her expression endearing d32fd0fbe2 and responded warmly, but dea13f8c68 today, I couldn’t. Not after seeing Tristan in faa5b3a693 front of me. I could barely form any 18869497bf words.4a87b6cc594412bb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had tried 557c0c82ee not to show 51b8dce0e6 it, but there 37261c413e was a reason c959a4a19a I had been ac9b8f8c31 avoiding meeting Tristan 8a5afc8cc8 for so long.5658b88eec77baae

It was because I feared 51817eb0ab how he might react if f93d35c104 we did cross paths.8ee7a401f52c33ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seven years ago, I had 0b37a86935 trampled on Tristan’s heart.0523afe680f166ee

• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •2d4a2ae044f160b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If you want to edbd406f4e support the translation and d951144faa the translator, you can dffd77a005 buy a coffee~a403c205fa0af62a