Chapter 5 Part 3

Following that, a voice announcing the Emperor’s arrival rang out, and the music changed accordingly. All the nobles in the banquet hall looked towards Emperor Knezh and showed their respects.a9ad68ab0cd30af2

Irina also reluctantly turned towards him and showed her respects, but in fact, she didn’t even want to see the Emperor’s face, so she was looking elsewhere.b39da54ecc7efc1e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Emperor Knezh 65700d0be5 looked around e844f194ee the banquet d331158d49 hall from 151d929a42 the top 4457ebe77c of the 1b2076cbae stairs leading dbd8f43aa0 to it. Then, he 83f0d17776 spotted Irina f4668df03a and smiled, 4b24102212 twisting the d665c5f0e8 corners of 4b91e7a560 his mouth c4f3680c03 as if bc717eef7e satisfied.566fa7fa26c17edb

Irina felt 37e864620b his gaze 127b461126 directed at 9b09984f0a her, but 5ee38245cf she pretended 28b3683049 not to 1b1cf8526f know anything 533d347a56 and looked 24f69386b5 at the e30d037086 wall beyond b7b3bcabb2 Emperor Knezh 08de82fa41 with a fb96238521 stern expression.8442a0cfab151ca2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Thank you for taking the difficult journey. As you know, this banquet is held to restore the honor of the Lehman family, whose prestige has been tarnished by false rumors, and the banquet has been graced by the presence of Lady Irina Lehman. I would like to ask for applause for the Lady.”4c6a53e71b0d3626

“……”51f0ba7504a2e274

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As soon as the Emperor’s words ended, applause erupted from all over the banquet hall. Rather than genuinely comforting the family, the thought that they too had enjoyed the rumors that Irina could make gold made her angry.21636085d3b72c94

In the midst 953fe92e15 of all this, 920bd08a44 hearing the Emperor 87d9e7131f mention her directly, d53e32f528 Irina felt goosebumps 94fa73dcb1 all over her aac9b51746 body.de5d9825bff9b82f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I also wanted to invite Thomas Lehman, the head of the Lehman family, but I heard that he is in poor health after a series of events. I will formally invite him next time.”e0d07c5307761bf8

It’s disgusting.c35a44c5fef72278

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Irina tried hard not c14fdd5850 to show the surging 8d1dd1cc56 anger. Instead, she 1fba5adacb held the bdf00b41ca hem of e0f30b23de her dress 804f72caab with both 8e7b059df1 hands and 72293e4d8d bowed her 64c3f34262 head slightly a41a6e4aaf to show b6b7c3675a her gratitude.b34579eeecc493ae

“As this is a meaningful occasion to restore the honor of the Lehman family, I hope everyone enjoys the banquet.”0d8ce9b383e60343

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Emperor added the 2e354ffec5 last words and raised 05af6f9440 his champagne glass high. Then, following 31738fe998 his actions, fcd686badc the nobles ea7cba764c also raised e8bbc974c7 their glasses.b907d92e7cc94fac

Irina also imitated them, 0fed1cec13 even though she was cc59861df9 distraught. No matter how 03c4056dcf uncomfortable she felt, 2f43af7ae5 there was nothing 7fe9abf5f8 good about doing dfbc711cd9 something that would fa63833921 stand out alone.9e252b8e7dfc48bb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After a brief 862b4c1876 greeting, Emperor Knezh 2e81dbdfcb began to walk 0a6690375c down the stairs.d2071ca505205441

Irina watched his actions silently for a while, then gave a quick greeting to the three young ladies in front of her and quickly began to walk away. She realized that Emperor Knezh’s destination was herself.48c40b2507740db8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She only wanted to run away with all her might, but she couldn’t possibly do that in front of the Emperor. Instead, hurrying her steps as far away from the direction he was coming from as possible was the last thing she could do as a noble lady.2cbafad92769ffde

When she glanced back, 6564cb0db0 she saw that Emperor a424614508 Knezh was also quickening ca1ccdafbb his pace and chasing 5372321bc1 after her. Irina hurried out of b681bd738f the banquet hall without e14e30c3ca even looking back.e9a4bbaad450ffec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Irina went straight out of the banquet hall and headed for the back garden. It wasn’t that the back garden was her destination, but it would be more appropriate to say that she ended up in the back garden as she went wherever her feet took her.75b52e0020e84e40

“Haah…”a60383b17fcd63a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What a sigh, Lady Irina?”5d67c7dd798867e8

Breathing in the outside 5fb45eaf2e air seemed to help d88d97a1b8 her breathe better, so 5c7ca60fc6 she was taking a 8d33aac0bd deep breath when she 72b0022a4c heard a familiar voice e5516fa411 that she now even 2ea15141f1 missed.eea8d375ac8c3005

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Rumpel!”3732ca4f6d75a64a

Irina stepped through the 295439c12a garden trees. Sure enough, Rumpel appeared c9ce8d6fd2 from behind a well-maintained 915a922c29 tree.6bf8e3996572c043

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It seems you’re happy to see me.”4c52869955939718

“Rather…”4a44d2d7250c9fe6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh. I was happy to see the Lady, but I’m the only one who feels that way.”415371376db8ff5f

Irina hesitated, 39f8f486f1 feeling somewhat 2500f45f8b embarrassed to b1d0fbb554 speak directly, 299d3e9bc8 but then 457b822c55 Rumpel muttered 524105242d as if 3104863823 disappointed. At his 8f47b34dbd dejected voice, 256bab2c02 Irina was 024dde4001 at a 3f4443158d loss, not 54532caf8f knowing what 3b6bddb0ed to do.6b9e9b35a969a3c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“N-no, it’s not that… I’m happy to see you too, Rumpel! Really, it’s true. Rather, it was good. I’m glad to see Rumpel. I was surprised….. Anyway, Rumpel isn’t the only one who is happy, so don’t get me wrong.”8729b09aa894ebf9

“Really?”9d2c4bc0c5019653

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Of course… Ah.”45f124559180fd10

Seeing the corners of Rumpel’s lips slowly curling up, Irina finally realized that Rumpel had said that on purpose to make fun of her.7e20b4292b872154

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The anger at 6a662245f1 being deceived was a0b3622d60 replaced by a b21cd30f7d second problem: shame. She thought d44b530bc7 she might 61f31760c2 have said 4ec7e26806 too much 75df62ebba about how 1a6b2dd7c5 happy she 8742945e4d was to cbc87fa3ec see Rumpel.cac7d916cd6263c4

“The dress is really beautiful.”aabee7d64899dd79

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah… …Thank you.”29c724b424e1c8d7

Surprisingly, the 8c4be7bccf person who 511aed83df saved the 8da82d02d0 embarrassed Irina 40533d3a08 was Rumpel. She was glad 9e5ca715d4 that he changed a37b71cf29 the topic to 968bd855f2 the dress so 471013a3ce she could talk c360daae4d about something else.993a31804c504a78

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He looked 3e624639c9 at Irina b0156a2c55 with a fd927ee9d2 strange look cabbdc8f0f in his e74493c5fd eyes for ebb6d3b102 a while. Trapped in his e07110315a sparkling golden eyes, 37f122d5fb Irina swallowed hard d4a8ff1164 as if heat 90c8d799f1 was rising in fbc31ecd2e her body wherever 4f39ff2baf his gaze landed.20091292263eb219

After watching Irina c9a2e846c5 silently for a 9412da18a9 long time, Rumpel 9c327760c8 looked at her cc8715f900 and asked in 90d67fac9b a sweet voice.77510eb7b03a4474

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Lady Irina, how does it feel to come to a banquet hosted by another man wearing the dress I picked out for you?”d6f122a0f0e260e9

“Well, that… …”9b237751bcf91fbd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, it 5da64cf7f3 was true that b120d29797 Rumpel had chosen 58f0476b23 the dress for 09e35e0261 her, and it 0d6fc4df0c was also true e6db0009a1 that she had cd79f8d192 come to the e5a7516261 banquet hosted by 8a1ad03ed8 another man, Emperor 69cf04b274 Knezh. But when Rumpel bc23d3f803 said that, Irina 2f69608693 had nothing to 24dd209170 say and could 32818f088a only move her 3aa7eca08f lips.0de0fe0e886f1fbf

It felt like… he was jealous.c612440c6d242748

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Perhaps… Rumpel.”891351fa09bc66f9

“Yes?”7ede3da5e110c9e6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you… jealous?”1304dc2759c28a3c

“…… Who? Is it me?”4c8760d5ba87bb56

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nod.ae644e36204f47b9

Irina answered with a nod instead of words. there was a look of bewilderment on Rumpel’s face.e7533d841c1f92f6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At his uncharacteristic reaction, a sparkle flashed in Irina’s green eyes. She thought, ‘Even the great Rumpel can be embarrassed.’a68e1c466928bc3b

Rumpel’s usually pale cheeks even seemed to have a faint blush. Irina even had the frivolous thought that she wanted to make this man embarrassed more often in the future.f9e0f190ec5f39dd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Jealous? It’s absolutely not like that.”ca7de3f93664c1c6

“They say strong denial is a strong affirmation.”64c319c49460c38d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At Rumpel’s words, Irina barely held back a spreading smile. Then, Rumpel raised his voice.b9fa9c2cd944fbc2

“Anyway, it’s not, Lady Irina. I don’t get jealous or anything like that. Not at all. If you felt that way, you’re mistaken. Got it?”dff39bc271de21b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Pfft, I understand.”83e62c2a10e2b696

Because of Rumpel, who even spoke faster than usual and snapped back, Irina finally couldn’t hold back and let out a small laugh. Of course, she quickly hardened her expression and hid any sign of laughter, but it seemed to be too late.d50ca600fc6e70f6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Because Rumpel was staring 0f48a3894f at Irina with wide 6ad73c7a56 eyes.3413a43a5a257763

“Why are you laughing?”6f97807546e2d761

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Me? Didn’t you laugh?”ea3dd3bb55b6e41a

“You just laughed. ‘Pfft’!”e35b19d98d11cd71

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Watching Rumpel get so excited and imitating Irina’s laughter made her feel better than ever.8016c86756a0551d

To be able to laugh while attending an unwanted banquet hosted by the cruel and heinous Emperor Knezh, in a situation where it was uncertain how he would put her in trouble. It would have been impossible if it hadn’t been for Rumpel.75be83ebc016e9e9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Come to think of it, Rumpel’s strength had been a big help in enduring and holding on for the past few days. Apart from simply turning straws and stones into gold for her, it was thanks to Rumpel’s constant appearances that she was able to regain her composure when she was about to collapse. She couldn’t deny it.b9f891a504de0a92

Irina looked at Rumpel with affectionate eyes, feeling a renewed sense of gratitude towards him. The setting sun bathed Irina’s green eyes with a warm red light.c1b57c45e970a016

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Thank you.”61c0d963541c0a98

“… … What are you planning all of a sudden?”1503dc8b7cb38832

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Rumpel asked suspiciously. After all, Irina 3547e3d978 had been teasing 43c713d7e2 Rumpel just a b7922919a6 moment ago.9c7113af71e39f13

But she was sincere when she thanked him. That’s why Irina smiled sweetly and took a step closer to Rumpel.5a55925d28aa4811

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“There is no intention or anything like that. Don’t slander my pure heart.”90b3bd8dd021a77b

“…Hmm. If that’s really the case, then Lady Irina, you can’t just express gratitude in words.”5db2fab01d6d912d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then what is it? Ah, ah!”978fd5819b8d4968

As Irina asked, a 06c924dcf4 thought suddenly occurred to bb8deaa39f her and she rummaged cdae1a5604 through her bag. There was no 85279290b5 way she would b6473f43dd have brought gold feb6a648e6 coins with her 5111b05d72 to the banquet.eeeb370a5fa5d27d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Irina worried 6b3d27e58d if she 04715b2fcf should take bfb1bc1dd1 off the 364b822c75 jewelry accessories 73c04e4e8e she was 25fbc40298 wearing.44c7cda232e705ff

“Really… … Lady Irina, you have a cute side.”33cb6574b3b03c7b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Rumpel laughed as if he had figured out Irina’s intention to give him jewels, even though she hadn’t said anything. Then, with a smile on his face, he slightly tilted his head and slightly bent his waist to be at eye level with Irina.9fd24040501a60db

“Jewels… I want you to give me something better than that, Lady Irina.”78b83cc53bc75efb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s that… Ah.”bc3c7a14f5c03151

“That’s right. I’m talking about the child Lady Irina will bear.”c4f29c7e5c732f0c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The atmosphere suddenly became 62e4eeec0d strange. Irina quietly looked at 01a0a8233c Rumpel with a face 289262cebd as red as the 0762e4f4c2 sunset.7c8fbd534a6a0bfb

Rumpel grabbed Irina by 90834d67d0 the hand and pulled 865daa3fdf her into the back a35536c395 of the trees.c465b61b523b1697

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Y-you want to do it here? What if people see us…!”2d694f180b70b00d

“Are you still worried about that?”881f9ee1ddd11ddb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah…”af614f01360b2cf5

Irina quickly 26efc1cc8d understood what e1484620dd Rumpel was 08831b8189 talking about 520de1ac11 and agreed.58fa9e31f96aa954

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was Rumpel who had a history of making them invisible in the changing room so that others wouldn’t see them. So, even if they had intercourse here, they wouldn’t have to worry about anyone seeing them.c18f30934f5273ec

“B-but… it’s outside.”1cedfc7fa3dc1fb2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then what’s wrong?”edfe9b098fe2ace8

“What’s wrong…”53f37a997f7d2d49

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Irina trailed off in embarrassment. It may be funny to be picky about the place now after already having sex in the changing room of Madame Resa’s salon, but having sex in the garden of the Emperor’s palace was an impious and lewd act that she had never even imagined.2f0c89cc552f4f2c

“It’s okay, I’m not going to strip you all off.”33722bbb161a54cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish