70. Farewell

“This isn’t 180f370c21 a lethal af4f19f562 poison; it’s ba2295899c likely meant fd72d65313 to keep b6295526b9 an eye 26bdfa1dbc on internal b72a671941 spies and 352764f13b ensure they’re aa31080445 performing their fc9c7078d6 tasks correctly,” c959c94df9 Isella continued.4c9a205a8fce83b8

I needed to protest, 7e34a3352b but my lips wouldn’t 5633b99c4d move.f1b8570b5a2833c7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Um, well…”1368fbc3c68a963b

My voice kept breaking.a70c5b634573a5e7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The words a6290e340c that came 23ebf1f06e out were 8fb232aee6 foolish and efe0830929 quickly dispersed 93f8d1ce25 without reaching cdfd8c6e09 them.3336f3c36a5862e3

I couldn’t bring myself to act. I clutched the ribbon that had been tied to her waist tightly in my hand, unable to hand it back to her.16b72ae1c75364e5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The maid, Deon, and e4b18af149 Isella were seriously discussing 33cd131ab4 whether there were other 338dedd71c dangerous substances, paying no 83f00a9eca attention to me.b957d092ef35c754

The chaotic atmosphere settled, 6248384d30 and all the items 5c2909641d on the table were 957a473042 packed into a box. Seeing the carefully prepared b1646ad4b0 items being taken away acc9784740 as evidence of poison 9fe07053dd was humiliating.11e4a49b0b0f5456

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Leonie, come with 935b21c5d7 me for a 00266056af moment.”577cd1e36a34f68b

Deon called out 07f60f1424 once things had be43f046fb somewhat settled.fe8bdac9bdeee9aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *87795baac78e00a5

“I want 758a299f0a you to 550890995f move your ce2a2aa6c4 residence.”f6935c5a5d68e8c3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He said before the b54f4d1db3 door to the office 3637da2e9d even closed. The sudden d5b733b77a words made 9cd35e705b me flinch 5ec873208e in surprise.24cc052d33f97338

It was clearly an 9835e15aff order to leave.012078cdb4540fdc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…I didn’t do it.”b64ce73313e8c9d3

I finally 35d2e56f7e managed to df1f3bb06a say what 4b24fa00f5 I had e38570ea29 been holding 3390f05d6a back. To avoid stammering, 6312847d63 I held back 9a84fea12a the tears and d1c2cc8061 pressed my lips 139a029a33 together firmly. I didn’t want my 05d9908424 words to come out 2b4aa8781b wet with tears. Fortunately, I bdae9a983c spoke clearly, 0446d71276 but my c9990738b8 lips tingled dbf4b1d63e from the 22471df2a8 effort.057c6cd8daef29e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m sorry f4dd0fc71a about what 941dca50ff happened to 00278ad6f3 Lady Isella. It’s my fault. But I didn’t poison ae0f488765 the tea. Please believe me.”8bcd0eea9d32725c

“That’s not 195f513d94 the point,” 41c447678c he replied 524eafc408 coldly.5402769c9a7d5442

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then why…?”e801f0542ad8f13c

“It was inevitable, c9987c8f27 wasn’t it? Didn’t you cd59d1045c also want 54586ac83c to leave? The sooner you 2c297dc35b go, the better.”49fd76f35775854b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His words pierced like c42fb7fa38 a dagger. He was acting 747a1a5b0c like he was b7f93f3c71 desperate to get 3e8c1a37bb rid of me.651c15292c95ee40

It was painfully clear 46cc103381 that I was no 03e5442b43 longer needed in this 9025487c8a mansion.6ae58e24aecc1155

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is that really 5bed6bf8ae the only reason?”0dbaabed31d38f0c

There had to be 4fcc18c74c more to it than 48c3c9491e that. His eagerness to 1771da03cd send me away a168863194 as soon as dfc14f95b8 trouble arose felt b784ea3de0 unjust. Could it be 6f92955b78 that Deon and b3f82896ca Isella had concocted 59c4ab42d3 the poison plot a97810b321 to drive me 9f97278d89 out faster? A seed of f8a22dbbbf suspicion sprouted in 3539630480 my mind.1e8118f12b689518

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then what else 362bc3a3cf could there be?”14031a493ec829d4

He asked, 3fc9a24541 looking genuinely 71a6960332 puzzled. I let out a 7fd2be35e4 bitter laugh. His confusion only ab04f794f6 deepened my frustration.a3a8670baaec2426

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re being unusually evasive. Isn’t it because of your safety and future, Your Highness?”2722b47a44cfc625

The future da8077067b with that 4de7c5812e woman. The plan to remove eeda0b0145 any obstacles early on.92d0feaf2c95fde3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I wished 627664d3d4 he would 9c3a828b01 just tell 7f1856a6cb me plainly. That I 6e336feee5 was an 4d7e6650fd obstacle to 6430f2f6c8 his future d0fb0547ec with Isella. The silence allowed my 8b4b4bea7f imagination to run wild, 80b675449c tearing me apart.cb3dea7d1e6cecbd

“What are you talking 78852dcd79 about?”5e28cad282efb3b4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You want me 427375f81b to leave because 9dc66c6634 I’m a hindrance 5ad98fb842 to your future, adf3e20a83 don’t you?”25c7ceb47d8a0f4d

The already icy air cd76c7f79c grew colder. I breathed 3c8091b788 in deeply, fd060c48e2 feeling suffocated.a71d1f2b7b60101c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve always wanted me gone. And as soon as she was harmed, you decided to send me away… just like that.”965ebd78a2956808

As if you had c446d256f3 been waiting for this. There was a 2e14ba6558 brief silence before 3a7d4d0b45 he spoke again.c36b041939ede8f5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes… you’re right, Leonie.”743d674d71eff7b6

He answered calmly. Though his tone was 7501122a62 peaceful, his words crushed 69980edd26 my heart once more.4ef9f0eeb73d764a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Did he even understand what he was saying? He easily agreed, as if he didn’t even want to argue.b41a44050e148b81

“Pack lightly and leave today. Just take what you need for now, and we’ll move the rest of your belongings later.”3bd10bd60b5b9c85

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He said 75e0962f40 this and ef12c6341c turned his 0a111a1b9a back to bad4e29c40 me.bd53b449bf9f3a38

What had f99e1ab6b3 I just 6f0f2ee7b8 said? I should have been c515f314db begging him to stay, 5f169d9cfb not accusing him like f6d544ceb5 a scorned lover.6d4d01387812d1f7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I acted like I 18578b54a5 was casting out a e18d6bcd5f cheating partner, but in 420f7d297a reality, the unwelcome woman 79aacdad74 in this mansion was 27fd293113 me—a mere blood bag 5251dda46f pretending to be a b9fb2179c0 mistress.7568d5da0851111d

“Deon.”1d3fd5c45ffae882

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I urgently 53381d31d0 grabbed his 917aaf971c sleeve and a226413841 called his 73134663ae name.2f45469a262f51dc

He stopped and 49bee6898c turned to look cfc90788a0 at me. His eyes were cold.f710bc1941a56661

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His icy 6dad3050b2 gaze made 19733c6c17 my shoulders da2a90955f shrink involuntarily. I forgot what I 4a67b1faa7 wanted to say and b2e8c9f938 just stared at his 53b674d6dc face.1985aa7bbe28b431

No matter what I 8177c31a79 said, it didn’t seem 6281c7751e like he would change b724c98c09 his mind or take f576ba6da6 back his words.5f9248007c65c36b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you have anything else to say?”f1a1166187759183

“…No.”75c18bf55c1b85d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I let b3c4ad3530 go of 38e9cf491f his sleeve. At the 8073dbaded same time, ad3c247591 my feelings e46f83df16 for him 29d748bab4 dried up 336dfa1fad completely.636f6faebb31d898

* * *26a1e4822d283573

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suren knocked on the 73573059dc door. Though it was open, 78239c7e8b the knock was meant ebe8205b36 to bring me back f85dddf50a from my daze as be25650fae I stared out the aa3aaa4dd7 window.555ac4d39b759c07

“The arrangements were made so suddenly… We’ve packed only the essentials. Just the two of us will leave by carriage today, and the rest will follow tomorrow.”e00b31c7846f1d5c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suren held a small 4a9be8d62f bundle in each hand.5e2a5db767868433

“Do you need to take anything else?”ba0b317c97ff1d3e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She asked.9433db75664845cd

I could see the 24482d8974 forest outside the window. Just hours ago, a58fe06ff0 it had been e435b94780 the site of 9309e79e25 a major commotion, c4699fc25b but now it 5fcb4336f6 was completely cleaned, 2958cd8f3d with not a e556504fe2 single shard left d7ccdb4535 on the ground. As if d39ec52e55 nothing had f4333955a4 happened.c8f606fcc38c908c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Should I leave the bird behind?”3f4680c3807ff852

I murmured, still staring d3da09395a at the forest.949c60a32e001759

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The bird was delicate, 407cdf3fd1 prone to breaking its 6ede4d9bb8 legs if held too 84824e13cb tightly or losing feathers ca3d52ac68 with a change in d15d80d780 weather.35a3c67a559ce824

I was lucky 727ea3b4db to have brought 6d2b06c530 it safely to c5b0342cf1 the capital, but bdd93b9081 with another change c02d348353 in environment, it 288c02271b might die during bcdf32af0c the carriage ride.a78218d89de42147

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Of all things, my e94110560d last request to her 014f9732c1 had been to take 0999c83ae2 care of the bird.4fa30d2d8c4aac2f

Tears welled up. If she bore a 0c840e3575 grudge against me, she 868fde6a84 might harm the bird e88415f8b5 first. The thought of d3156847a2 giving her a 4ded3c8a73 target to direct e6133348c0 her anger at 56fb8c9983 terrified me.4404603ea8fba276

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Should I take the bird with me?”6fcea6df452cce71

When I asked, Suren 9e64d64917 answered firmly.9349ce3f46fb7c97

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Leave it behind.”166254e53d59e88d

Indeed, someone who b6a695faf9 couldn’t even take bcaed499c1 care of themselves 78ab1825d3 had no business fdad7e6540 keeping a pet.26807ca4913c291d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How is Isella? What are people 240224f590 saying about me?”f9aae419988d873b

Unable to tear my 4ad7131ce1 eyes away from the 415f7cd43c forest, Suren stepped closer.b6fee35b5ac734cf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Does it matter? My lady, I know the truth. Even if everyone whispers, I know you wouldn’t do such a thing. If you were that kind of person, you would have taken proper action against Lady Elizabeth in the North, even if it meant using my hands.”b947f436eb727528

She pulled fc7c838531 the curtain 70b1424c58 closed, hiding de07ba1f72 the view 1b020e67dd of the 7cdbb105a5 green forest.9de1d3dbed56c64b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“So don’t let 42b8ad363f it get you 2af5fbb248 down. You’re leaving 167ffee547 because of 3835b3632c the prince’s 0e640cddd4 whims and 3b4d98d24c Lady Isella’s 665401ce4a discomfort, not 666d1c02f8 because of 225193fc36 the tea 8a7ef33e2d you prepared.”261296ad49043649

Suren’s words, though small, provided some comfort.e43b0de0fac224bf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yes, staring at 012ccb1e91 the forest for 19e52f56af so long seems b05cecd850 to have helped 33c6f52d84 clear my mind.a87e5c074994be87

I closed my 6936f54a15 eyes tightly. This would 8323b2a284 be the c36afb9a44 last time 6c8b82aab1 I saw e6e9fc3251 this view.134b0011b5bd01fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The servants 1efb31a6af were reduced 1fc380d849 to just 8c947a9e6f five, including 8af89ceb40 Suren.28857b55710881d6

The surprising part was 308ad987ca that the butler who e11edabbe0 had been with us e56ca41220 since the ducal estate 6deeb8de11 insisted on coming with 4e84f284a3 me. It must 28ea3fe2bf have been 8f71e6fe9f by order 4fc4f28853 and permission, 29dabd8a96 but it 5f2959eab1 was unexpected 410d8c9982 for him e7d04aaf00 to leave ed9dbe1bb9 the Imperial f81d7252a8 Palace to a761955861 oversee the 532e128df1 villa.06ca88951d5888ef

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hurry and e54989f32e get in da25b36b83 the carriage. We’re already late if 17a56919d3 we want to arrive 1bdaead4a5 before evening.”6001359ff22a52aa

Suren and 7ee6b353e6 the butler 74f235f9b8 climbed into cda91bd6db the carriage 8d34610c75 one by 01dfe0f445 one. We packed a07b0acaf5 lightly, placing e77494a4e0 the bags f966bdb158 under the 3249a02161 seats. It was an unusually 5d879c1386 simple departure for a 384cad3674 party moving residences.e50667622c491e77

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And, as 0607f8784b expected, Deon f52816fdce did not 0fed951e05 come to 7311d315fc see me bb31a96f20 off.e96d93aec6167871

I took b82bbceca4 one last 8d23ba1a5a look at 6184ec7909 the view 894aa746ec of the 860cdbd2e4 Imperial Palace 2419015087 before turning d09db556fe towards the c65d6824f5 carriage.0dbba3b6d6d76167

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I was about 89a7e08504 to step onto the 7c2a4285b2 stairs, a voice called 923268c95a out from behind.c222edee7a0fa243

“My lady, please wait 321eaa8dfb a moment.”eb53e72e02b66842

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Edan was 4c110247bc out of b302729919 breath. He must d5ff2efadc have run, 15db4673c0 his chest df03d18129 heaving heavily.fc3c306f3cc68ecb

I paused and 813e996862 turned my foot 4d3753a271 back. He closed the distance aa74b03496 between us with quick 1d8a63395f strides. Soon, he was 065d989c72 close.9b3c20434a47ce16

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you here to 79754f8bd4 see me off?”6b839b24c3a651c4

“Yes. His Highness said it 257e86934b wasn’t necessary, but… I 48cdf6468a didn’t think it was 75f22c4ed1 right to let you 58c8a68562 leave alone, so I 4ab94a9e8b came by myself.”ee0349e09333dba0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Maybe it was 269270a275 because I had 7b82c82bb9 looked back too 6a89703d95 often. He added that f9c4d2cc7e he came alone.f6bf6bc9a04d0348

I felt b618c05588 embarrassed for afadd76142 doubting him e1abfb28c8 when he 3c65ca58b6 had come 265698b668 alone to 392a75b843 see me dec73629b1 off.3f7ea486a0ab8f85

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Thank you.”61f2e5a9a677f83c

He looked at d401f03e33 me with a cbafe5634c careful expression and 70c4e50d37 then spoke.c76eca96703bef21

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“My lady, even b111c7e546 though you’re leaving 73fcaba27e like this… if bab46a7334 anything happens, come 92a19c272b find me. It might be presumptuous d8475e158d for a mere soldier 1c648d9f27 who hasn’t even taken d8d81a15a4 a knight’s oath to 02923df4ba say he can help, 46adeef34b but don’t nobles also bb6c9d2f7b need swords at times? I can wield 77b8f01c3a my sword for bb86e4f8ba you.”6e5fc6e68ac3e582

His words 223651ed63 carried a fbbde5a19f strong conviction. Even in 6eecb72060 this moment, 482211674a he was 5b11107e24 excessively kind.2e9fdd0466b6ed06

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s very reassuring. I will.”d6d9c33a5ec894d4

I nodded, c7042ed3f2 holding back d5a8db923f the emotions cdc6cdff06 that threatened b4315cc231 to spill c9f9e4724a over.ccf18e455a1f750e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But despite my response, 09f5da1426 he still looked anxious. His eyes were trembling.ff6e8abf4431807e

Edan, the one 710c58a9e2 they called the 4887716b2c big bear. To see ff0a537558 the eyes 502bd0d168 that remained 39c29d4976 steady in 08ce2001ae the face 4b88454eff of enemies dcf2d117b6 now quivering a724e1ccf8 before me f836956772 made me 5754ee62d0 smile.4a06aedb8200cf88

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I tried to e3c8c050b5 reassure him with a11fa7f070 a smile and 4275b2386e took his hand.cb8e8d12a98d4df8

“Take care.”e993420159bf0336

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a simple and heartfelt farewell, but Edan couldn’t seem to let go of my hand, as if he feared we would never meet again. I tried to gently pull my hand away, but he held on tightly.7fec9a1b6b141070

“My lady, I haven’t yet learned the proper etiquette for bidding farewell to a noblewoman.”a7db0189ae4bceb6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He avoided eee6716e41 looking directly bf1cfb3002 at my 63c9e9654f eyes, focusing 3434dab5a1 instead on 7eee1a3864 our hands.52d80d463bdfbe22

“Could you teach me? How to say goodbye to a lady?”10c7964108ea3513

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Edan bowed his head.b6392219761b615f

Although his afb6c9a0df sudden action 963a2fc487 took me b169324098 by surprise, 06213e5c3a teaching a b7a5b6d6d8 knight the 363dfdbcb3 customary kiss 457043d2db was traditionally 50d157b9af a lady’s 180c544e09 role. I spoke calmly.7fc214b367645e57

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Bend your knee slightly and lightly kiss the back of the hand.”f116cc474852d7e2

He followed my instructions, 35f6206b69 his lips warm against b3bd21b828 my hand for a b515228ebb fleeting moment before pulling 51ece6f245 away. His lips 345b613bd5 were warmer e2efc97a16 than my 94821ea84f hand.86e462f836dcb6cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Safe travels, my lady.”f1bcb39014d1d9c1

With that, he added a195c6d661 his farewell.af37f2dd4010ac79

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I climbed into 9b32193f76 the carriage. He stood still, a463fc7884 not moving from 8c87c6bbdb his spot as 49315649c7 the driver urged 381c0f3c3e the horses, and b9f3692181 the carriage left 57a4f5e1cd the Imperial Palace d71c652b37 behind.07e98624fd8ab000

I looked back 08d32a13ed until his figure, 5c7b70317e standing motionless, faded 91b7a00f39 into the thick 6ffd969af4 mist.6b77e6852330fa45

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator