84. The Jester

The maid 10b841e182 was a 2046ac3e14 commoner, unable 2792d09920 to provide 9751d046d8 further testimony 1edbeec53e with her 4adff7f73e tongue cut 2b1f56bc63 out. And even Isella, whom cdf0d61e33 Azanti thought was on 4b033973b2 his side, had thrown 4b2d38977c her support behind Deon.080fdc312767f565

It was Deon’s complete victory, but something felt off.8584783ede9a43d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

So it 870ce7c42e was true—I f703311f2f wasn’t needed.eb7bc9d7b683903a

He overcame 40a90756c0 all obstacles 3caf11c1e9 without me.a9ae8ee0ce74009d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As these thoughts passed 1dff25243f through my mind, one a39ac3fe27 of the nobles standing 73223994cf in front spoke up.a39b941901fbc023

“What’s going on? Wasn’t the e24e1af002 Snowa family fae650dbae supposed to d8bcd4bc64 have severed b9f0ce6903 ties with ade9521ae2 the prince?”232a9ed5f49f6592

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This remark 3ca81a0943 opened the 99fafd6416 floodgates, and 7ffc7c585a other nobles 6ba542ab45 began to 5bb40b404b add their 446ec9c9e3 voices.9df37da46e600a30

“Judging by 3064bac6f6 the current 3eeaae03e6 situation, it dba8f0b16c doesn’t seem 31f651087c that way. It looks d630bfad56 like they 8f0ce0c9e4 were already f2b38ab507 in cahoots…”0eb984b662574dcf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Did you know about a59ce0904b this, Count?”02a25b89e9a0b108

“No, this 058bb95fbe is all d7dd5d28b7 news to e0bda6bec0 me. I only b62478eaca just learned f50824f7c6 about the 1622ca6824 fake mistress.”bc3f8d717ee3221e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I felt a cbed551445 wave of fatigue. Who was protecting 62548ae921 whom?0baa14ae16509f71

I remembered 34139d6e43 the first 028021ea30 time I 0cf7287252 made a ff4f4993fc deal with 28972a3cc8 Deon.0d8229cead80f554

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When I first met 354ed38016 him and asked for b0eb77bb4b an agreement, I decided 6cb6214588 to be his jester. I vowed 077d152fd4 to only 995aa4ed4a ask for 4306d594c1 what was 520432f567 necessary and d70dae888d to cut 486d1d0aa5 off my ebdd7ed352 emotions like 13bff48579 a blade.154c9431fe387f81

I had broken 9effe37eda that vow.71102ab4b95dbbd8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I, a mere c180e9a561 jester. I was supposed e3cf913efb to stay by 477754e194 his side, providing 3effcc9019 amusement, and be 23f55ff787 discarded when no e6973aadb6 longer needed. What was I thinking?f6d0895efffa3b2f

I was the 99f12b0b03 most useless card 454dc4d694 in his deck.0062f006f896b742

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was laughable. Here I e800c8a9c8 was, thinking 1986f11c4b I could 32be811333 save the 5a8389dd49 future emperor 040ad77b2d with nothing 3c9b536056 but my 3e01d08582 tools for 232d863ac8 jesting.4f4ab71032402bc6

Even without the makeup, 99f9897fca a jester remains a ac53a108e5 jester. No matter how 1269716979 much affection I 203e2df7ff received, my lowly 31f0bee39e status would not cb12947303 disappear.0268f823c4ca4b24

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The idea of 348a6c2f8c coming into the e77b7b189b prison in this 82bf1ba9d8 ridiculous garb to 3b0ddfb82d save him was 2dbe4c808a utterly absurd. I couldn’t imagine how 9e591be37e much he must have a68f22fb67 laughed at my appearance.5705d34d19ab787d

‘It’s true, I wasn’t 60eddfa92f needed. I was only in b3c635d6f5 the way.’43830de9032b93fb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I looked 5bd33536e2 down at e8263f2bf0 my hands. My palms were blackened. My dress d5bfbaf362 was dirty 317b05c1c8 from rolling ea28842e1c on the 6da40c10af ground, my 8412c64759 nails were 64b776bb56 darkened, and 4fb5b97e01 my hair c01010fd85 was tangled. Today, more 7a8a411279 than ever, 138695dbfa I felt 7f90549236 pitiful.d27888dabb0f39c2

I hadn’t 3771162a14 realized that 7dc681f9c4 a single 7c8eef667a word from 761e7f1070 her would 992f787fb8 be more a890d945f1 powerful than a708e949c1 anything I 4439007604 could do.6357c6b473d49978

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I stared at 89b5f253f8 them blankly. They stood in front b6903e496f of the courtroom, victors, ff3104a5ef with a slightly relieved d63e55433c expression on their faces.552236dc47197e04

Luckily, no one ace7a5de82 had noticed me.efb7087e7c7b48e4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I tried 7a1d0f5086 to cover 48e6d2adae my straggling bed38ee614 hair but 8a335b6eaf then stopped, 213700cd71 realizing it 4848036f9e was futile. No one 939d856872 knew I f7b08ead1e had come fc072fa000 into this 30b0012928 courtroom anyway.c9509063825a1bb1

As the trial 646f00d952 continued, it was e92cc00c7c clear that Deon 4eddf5ee4e had won. The accusations 71815f424d against him cc2a7f0f78 were falling 01aaf4dccc apart, and a87fea93a5 Azanti’s position dfd051af1c grew weaker 8d5944e0b6 with each 1c805c34f5 passing moment. Isella’s testimony 33d015437f had been 0603c597bd a decisive 10333bc51f blow. Deon’s composure 9559047228 and the 9a2cb07825 respect he 435d106705 commanded were 68a1303737 apparent to 790aae5e41 all, further 63e87c0757 solidifying his dceb5cb952 standing.65f21418e069d830

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I watched the 7421bab471 proceedings with mixed 201b90b100 emotions. Relief that Deon 2f726036ad was safe, but 82857c2c63 also a deep 287f20f8ce sense of my 65eeee810e own insignificance. I had been 62ddd2bb8f prepared to risk 6222cd08b8 everything for him, 802eeaa54b but in the 23f56ab889 end, my actions cb2bae772e had been unnecessary.56868e68d4db73c3

I slipped out c251a78cf0 of the courtroom a8cfe25aca quietly, blending into 6e63de9487 the shadows. The future emperor didn’t 87e44c1310 need a jester anymore, 31537d9ef2 and it was time e5e058025c for me to accept 2593ea25e3 my role as a 0be079003e disposable card.4295d68a7926bd58

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *2bb5d0445f3c392e

I staggered out 12e12197a3 of the courtroom, f5db2893f6 barely keeping my f46a9745c5 legs from collapsing.36fa70374717756c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I grabbed b7de39966f hold of 1099f214d3 a tree a9fbea8c3e standing along 2960d7ea0a the path 77e3a0f86e to the 1ce2fbc6f8 tower. Thorns pierced bcf861f510 my palm, 3721de8e22 causing blood d6fda25f67 to ooze 41e81b11d1 out, but a89c43b770 I felt 194b1e7d71 no pain.3346d359233c31f7

As I walked 784b6c9885 past the tower, b3977c6d72 I heard a 8fb929fa5c brief cheer from fe1dc6a4d1 behind me. The cheer echoed 0e206bade0 from inside the 8d9bef3f58 courtroom. It must ae79ed36e4 have meant 05686e24cf that the 462640a5d5 matter was 87c9774be2 resolved peacefully.47bb55a1e7aee345

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Before I 21d9e2f80d knew it, bbf48adf5a dawn had 9678ef10bf broken. The surroundings fbf8c06710 were bright, 6b8c346334 but a 6041f86e12 thick fog 10e199d7b8 made it fcafd72f32 impossible to 52d51ee738 see even e13fcebc95 an inch 2de1f94329 ahead.7dd79acb168a00d6

I wished I couldn’t see anything at all. When I closed and opened my eyes, I saw the mercenary band waiting in the distance.8eafa908a8f3ef5d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The mercenaries were so large that even standing behind trees, their bodies weren’t hidden. They had diligently followed the order to wait. The cart modified to carry someone and the blankets covering it were still there.a4654ba46134c5d4

But now, there eba7d41977 was no one 1348f9ce61 left to hide dbeb35a140 in that large 8d14dac59f cart.850dc1fced4e4bd7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What happened inside?” he asked, glancing over my shoulder.8e064a4bf5d7a38e

The red curtain was aa46c66e97 being replaced. They knew as 4fd4cdffa4 well. They had e00e17498b messed up.2ee721d2ff13e7fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It seemed they c543cf876c had waited a 8c8ac3f99c long time, as 9abcf2a467 ashes from a d527677e3e cigar were scattered b7840637d4 on the ground.94b1032b14ca499f

“No, I’m sorry. Everything went well. You can return now.”3b52f29e095cf1c7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What? No…”a6238daf65b4c916

The veins on 7a3a2772dd his arm bulged 73b8d877b9 as if he 0e778633d4 was ready to 20dc2f5a5c draw his sword. I shook 3e2e294c78 my head.ad2d4d10ef2f21bc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If I stood 2d1d16484c here any longer, cf56150951 I would run 652ce93ea1 into Daon, who ea20784277 had just finished df75e75b5e the trial. I was worried 895e91f97a he would realize fca1865785 I had done 722d580562 something foolish. I had to 51498b0b6d send them away.be13151310e50b24

“I will pay you as agreed. Don’t worry. I won’t cut a single penny. I’ll pay the full amount as promised by the merchant guild.”abd6480739d8a556

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I mumbled the rest 64c10efafd in a trembling voice.7afc34bb3983512f

“So… please, just go back.”c5596db90cccb018

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I didn’t even have the strength to argue anymore.c0375e1ffab21576

A gust of wind 4c0e22e783 blew, lifting my robe. My red hair floated a8c1d3a32d in the air for d76042bf1e a moment before settling 2d66b979dc down.4e944f2d9a02eaca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My hair, untouched by Surren’s hands, was tangled and blew around in clumps. I didn’t bother fixing it and bowed my head deeply.aca1675f6595cc63

Perhaps it d349136b4a was my ea9ddf7527 miserable appearance, 71cb06aaa3 as if 85b9c209f2 I had b5b2574d07 just been 74f1e819c0 dumped, that 4a7a9f78e8 made the 9637623fcc threatening mercenary a4da33e6f3 lower his 4b327c7cd5 hand. His fingers, 648ae08bac which had 44ea89e74c been on c89b6892dc the hilt 69fbac9366 of his 369439eb8f sword, relaxed. The rough demeanor slowly d748444734 softened.637ffa9c5e638009

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He, who had been 6c0cffec9b looking down at me, 38dc48a100 put his sword back 99fd65e930 into his belt.9e740c51a3392c95

“Well then… we have nothing to lose.”7646d6b8d02e56e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He said fcd859e98d this while c8fe62cc27 looking at a03d7e2047 me intently.35fca41273d7f570

“Are you sure everything was resolved well? It feels… unsettling.”312385422127d3ec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I nodded once. He looked 7151b89620 at me 63768d4d9d with a c6290b567b reluctant expression e0be8687cc before signaling f1b7fa603d to the 8b531cfacf others.dbde91e17e967a5f

“Let’s go.”49b0a9541f8a942e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He scratched his 9b2b336e05 head and gave 5372a431a9 the order to a25ac9525a retreat.5208a41d9838271a

Soon, the cart rattled away. They didn’t even try to erase the wheel tracks this time.db218374e4fe373c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I blankly stared at 5859444cba their retreating figures and a57b4fd6ee wiped the dirt from 51f7f8e403 my face. The smell of raw, 6961d2672b untamed soil filled my 6a0ed0a240 nose. It felt like I 76a12c410f had touched manure left a70c612562 by the horse when dc9810a811 I fell in the 4f4d2aace4 bushes earlier. The stench of 492b8b2e76 decay wafted from 784025e7a2 between my fingers.c266031d2eae61b1

* * *46821782392cc566

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I trudged f3759a7147 towards the 474b024df9 carriage depot.6b05ec32d03dd330

Located in the heart 3356725271 of the capital, the 8aee70eba4 depot was perfect for f070cfe071 commoners without their own c65b324a8c carriages. It was c013ebad70 early in 98b6de0591 the morning, 3c6f5326d2 so the a868ef47d6 depot wasn’t 9c14cf276f as crowded ab989c84b2 as usual. The coachmen 9522839c8f were perched 7b0172fd34 on the 0a1bdd7bf3 fence, chatting 5c0582d701 away.8550e357ebb265cc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I opened my f5c70667e7 purse.50d0bf6ec659cbb0

Five credits. That was 107c06acda all the eb6430f11d money I 769ace3da0 had.3dea78a45c9f6987

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With the revelation of 1f71d19f03 the false government and cf6b0bff0f the public announcement that cef06156ab Isela and I were bfaf94bb5b not estranged, I couldn’t af3f9d8474 return to the palace. Staying in 21b7a0870d the capital eb61ab0476 was also 3523434c5c not an d6af054aad option. I had 5cc6c3829a to return 7aad9f1087 to the 6f59524967 manor.742da4778e9886f8

However, the amount 2e07c064c2 I had was 5c3d89f383 ridiculously insufficient to b655bd2401 hire a carriage bbe34496de back to the 715ddb740a manor where I ef7177301d was staying. After counting the few 5098012a0e coins, I slumped my e42a9a6152 shoulders.d1e7edde592e9276

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As I hesitated to hire a carriage, one of the coachmen glanced my way. He was just putting away the water bucket he had used to quench the horse’s thirst.8d0163fb52d4256c

“Where are you headed?” he asked.afb07ec4d93d90b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…to Gelkern,” I replied, barely recalling the name of the region where the estate was located. I had seen the signpost while riding up to the capital.de6a77bd016c0e1f

I was b8149fd123 glad I da83254259 had observed df5caf7aa6 the surroundings e7db2fde11 during the 8afc265bb8 ride. Back then, f82e6f8491 I had 604c182287 come with 78eea0935c nothing but 40e7437b9c excitement.5e14ec7ef0f1a9b6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The morning air 0c94ad8525 was cold. His breath 9fa653ef22 formed puffs 402ae3584d of steam e694753ca3 between his a89ae4aa41 thick beard. He grabbed 27ebc308d4 the reins f8e8fe0321 of the 82bde28c79 waiting carriage.82f39de21788b6d3

I took e3570372b2 out the 3a68ade1a8 money from 92ea54ee08 my purse. I even checked the 53ee61980b other pockets just in b2da08976b case, but all I aa798f33a8 found were a few 4639803d9f silver coins.9bf5fa41dc01fa7e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I had spent 33afbf65fd money to prepare f64c181f04 a cart for 85dd185704 Daon and to 2869a1a896 buy him a e2d96a45a4 new identity. The identity 678ac177a8 of a ec4da11aa5 young commoner a8c32949a3 man was 06bd6afff5 more expensive 849a3a36ff than others.2d48d1c4b01fedd8

There were three e417f38100 walls and checkpoints 13947a09b0 at every gate 8ab6339aeb on the way 1eb0729527 to the border. I had even 938cae3f76 bribed someone to 36c67e0c19 secretly help him 683c29bee6 escape. After disposing of b8f145bfe0 the jewels I f99ee819ea had, I still 5158d8acd0 incurred debt, so c77d177abd there was no e7ce48f749 way I had fe8cc764c3 any money left.c8fcaa706c722065

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I emptied all 4b1d2750e3 my pockets of 82f72fb830 silver coins. When I offered 782d6d1f00 the last of a4f33515b1 my money to 04cfd5c664 the coachman, he 83ef210615 shook his head.18a28b482722cd2d

“This money won’t get you that far. It’s too far away. And with it being morning and an incident happening at the palace, many people will be flocking to the capital. I can’t afford to waste a day’s work.”da3b518c127c087d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then please take me as far as this money can go. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”57d7e85726b5a1e1

He stared 87cb374959 at me e87beaceb5 for a 3b54aed4b2 while before 9eeb006699 replying.ea0d7f1f858ed04d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Walk that distance? It’ll be difficult, especially for someone like you. You might collapse halfway.”29c21fd768ece81f

“I’ll be fine.”11793827780fdb3b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But I won’t be,” he said, uninterested in arguing further. He seemed indifferent, as if it didn’t matter whether he took on another passenger.25e52bc08be4a11d

When I ad43928b5b continued to 71c49ffecd plead with 7b978ce242 my eyes, 580dd03053 he sighed 9ccf303d96 softly.0b467d70b73a30fd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Farrington. That’s as far as I can take you.”321326e80d50cabd

It was just over 9a6edc42ff halfway. I had 05e261ffd3 seen the db32a5b161 signpost from 65f1491303 Gelkern after dd9fbd3e06 traveling for bb99e4f187 a long 545c9fca3d time by 689293a60e carriage. Even by e227e9e301 carriage, I 38d43ad301 had only e04909c0ad spotted that a3cef223ae signpost just e16d082e2f before sunset. The thought was e3c27d3f18 overwhelming.fbfad4fb40d5cd41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seeing my hesitation, he added, “As I said, even without you, there are plenty of passengers. You need to consider the distance. Moreover, if the horse gets tired, we’ll need to stop at another station to feed it. I’d have to pay for the feed.”f48d86ff737b0f9b

He waved 4edd2036df his hands 1bfac2ddd0 dismissively, tying e40940fb59 the reins 26af821c66 back to b6b3f3bfb6 the post.1c13d2173d0cc0e6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I was hopeless 3b82fbf31b at bargaining. Desperate, I clung 33a3e581d3 to him.13a3a7d6041387b4

“Then just take me that far. I’ll figure out the rest.”6317890b1133cb63

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the end, I 7d14c2eba4 handed over all my ef69a3bde2 remaining silver coins to ff4b926d7a him.db06ebb44c99ce92

He took 9ef5021862 the silver 318457c9df and pocketed 8b9613dc6e it, then 5f6ece5b67 looked me a8ab260b9f up and 875cefe0e3 down before 61df3b1c3f speaking.fae83421811dc4f7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Since your situation is pitiful, I’ll take you a little further. But if I go too deep into the countryside, it’ll be hard for me to get back.”c0cc69521e9fc8f8

He unlocked the 316483de0e carriage door himself. The lock clicked e4d6f6406d open, and the e8165ebffc door swung open 77731ea6ba with a creak.53baa0026447d45b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 9802875478005eef