91. Calm Threats

He sighed 5d9f1e85ee briefly and 731ad1c8a1 leaned back e959caaf7d in his d52cf82895 chair, but 7d841f3f68 his gaze 097ce8d737 remained icy.ab195b8d30113498

Facing Deon, I could 533c7b7de6 read the narrow furrow 15db7d1d0a between his brows.58168e8793cca07e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A frivolous woman. One who indulges in 8be1b15321 vanity and wastefulness, constantly d27678e20f plotting ways to escape 1943d84911 him.56a43e2d987f10b9

His cold eyes 30700c0f17 seemed to accuse 06a93f7f3d me of all 4d494222f7 these things.f7acfec564dfe386

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Alright. If you say so, then it must be true… Bring it.”0715f8f586ddaaf5

Instead of fe4f0a7427 interrogating me 5a2e7e9228 further, he 82f94bca5e gestured to d57b294a07 the attendant b4e415cac9 behind him.01349558e0f14462

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man, who 2b42081945 had been holding abd5ee7710 a long black 9f241cc270 box, approached the e69a5541e2 table.837dba87ed8843db

Soon, the long 3118067231 box was placed d7e0fc6c9e on the table. The attendant ae03a4e722 positioned it fe3beaf6b0 in front e484b90683 of me ce53cd18e6 and made 3586d299cc it easy b6d7ad4d9a to open.5e7f082de8db823c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was a sophisticated package. The ribbon was tied in a way that would easily come undone with a pull, but I hesitated to do so. I couldn’t bring myself to put my hand on the box. Deon gave me a look that urged me to open it.0e45d49467c8717c

“You’ll find what you want inside.”c383c7d245eec92d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What I want? The only thing that 5b206b7cb3 came to mind was d31b3a06d9 money to help the b243d1f641 servants.bbbf8a6f80c0ac16

But it was unlikely d7733d59d5 that money was inside 37a26fc507 this long box.671573c1efc917c6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a 77a724acde wary glance, ee646717d2 I pulled 8242441452 the ribbon. The silk f48a6b9e26 blue ribbon e50231d997 unraveled smoothly.2bff632be93e2a93

I lifted b9522200f3 the lid a142fb8bba of the b9cfbda57e box.28c3184846e7f023

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Inside was something I had once desperately wanted, but now I fervently wished it wasn’t there.49f647819670e4d3

A neatly f14761de01 folded dress. It was a plain e7093f37e8 black dress, but small f37a7c71cd jewels adorned the bodice, 0002946470 making it sparkle beautifully.afc80b34025124a7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Luckily, your excuse was a dress.”ce915bfe2e8d2987

Now, as he said, bc461db839 I had no more 2a94aa093c excuses. I hesitated to speak, 7f21fedefd fumbling for words as eecbd46230 he stood up.c3e72f3cb67e8fd7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s late. We need to leave now to reach the palace in time.”28ee21a67e486b25

If we’re late, he can just find a new partner. There were plenty of women who wanted to be by his side.a0a9eb4bdaef7788

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Did you ask Miss Isella for her consent? No fiancée would tolerate her partner attending with another woman.”23ae1a9934e86c5e

I was ca11b9ec07 desperate to 244c461aa7 avoid going 995bce995d to the 43c0759c89 royal palace fbde9591c0 with him. There would be countless be680cd31d nobles, grand music, and bf45633b60 glittering jewels, all praising 20c93a582f his grandeur.a7f47485753d834d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And among 51b3e1ba20 them would 8fe9e7a189 be Isella. I did 1974c16a12 not want 0b5379a02a to face 43196c1f4c her.ced170046380dcc1

“Besides, the invitations have already been sent out. If I go, I won’t even be an official attendee.”06a08481811aac46

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s not something you need to worry about.”5b4ae2086ac3ab03

He replied calmly.4b399ca56cf13e47

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I don’t need Miss Snowa’s permission.”30f634991c229e83

“Why?”4739178ab3bc6df2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Because you won’t be attending as my partner. You’ll be there as my guest.”5fb7585228e6051e

His words f5475a5efe made my eac7615578 heart drop.72acb1eecb683599

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So there’s no need for you to dance.”83dcc860476fb32b

I didn’t hear his next words.6abc3c8dfe542517

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You mean… you just want me to be there as a guest?”b259276be32b2e39

He didn’t respond. His serene demeanor, usually a trait I found admirable, now only fueled my anger. I felt a wave of nausea.984640ec59a5a002

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your Highness.”18e03df298274403

I ground my 25224fbead teeth. Curses slipped d3f7299d0b through my c7602ea3b7 tightly clenched 14e46bbb19 jaw.23762c2cef700318

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you take me for a fool?”5ce1a94793050fbb

I closed the lid 48e823cfbd of the box containing 62c64a38e2 the dress and lowered 4bd26dfdf5 my voice to address 20bba4c7a6 him.cd20d6b7bc70d471

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Have you become so immersed in your performance? Did you really believe that because I treated you warmly and you played the role of a loving partner, it made it real?”fbe292a960854f09

His hand, which was 7745d034d4 adjusting his tie, paused.aaaa9d433833a816

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you truly think… I was your former lover?”1fde38f7801f4e5b

Do you ca97961dc3 think I 27b54640bb have no 0e6b3b6961 pride? When I go to ab00690668 the capital, who knows 450b3b7f3c what people will say. His invitation held 794bc60a67 not a single 5d538a0b9c ounce of consideration 4e2d1f0bea for me.c2a87d6a3d8c3006

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even if it f7311543c9 reveals my flaws, e1cb447289 I still feel f9b09adfc6 the humiliation.aca4a5fdf3aeb28e

My body trembled. I barely b5158c844e managed to 95646b9eab steady my 00495abf02 shaking hands 90cdf03509 by clasping 81bd16a58c them together.99c351c63443d415

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You are trash. Do you know that?”393763d317554b4f

Harsh words slipped out f71f16aabb from between my lips. It was 9098433994 a vulgar f1bcf73290 accusation, but 6d4a2ef235 I had 6f3a13d882 no other 3ff5564bf7 words.36f541aaf94872b9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you realize this is disrespectful to both me and Lady Isella? And I am not your mistress, nor your plaything.”d5879b566259d05b

I was 6bc556213d not his 6aa6379b98 lover. The gentle fe19b1d33c touch I 278398d96b once thought 362f4bfe06 was mine 24ab4cc2b1 never belonged cc24b3ce13 to me.6e30943d6ea28341

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Every word 24ae0f2c1e I uttered 43aa104de1 stabbed at 038d82c526 my own 3bbf2bb444 heart. It felt as ac8e2399a6 if I was 07ab420bc5 driving a dagger cf2ae62701 into my own 3eb4569fb0 belly.a44a1ab0e6cb7c5d

I knew these words would wound me more deeply than they would him, yet I couldn’t stop.97f2aa50acf17a3e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I clearly told you in the North that I would decide my place. Why are you trying to control me?”5759827ab7c9a97f

I wanted to scream at him to leave the mansion immediately, but it wasn’t mine. Even this rundown house belonged to him.7ce839d2686da645

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I took 80f5ddc098 a deep f89a7b5796 breath and a7ff85e4ed continued.bcb3725a0d6bec0a

“Even if you gave me money when you brought me here, I am not your possession. I still have the right to decide my place.”cc62d4c96056e64a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I bit my 55f87ad207 lip and finally 95698e7d98 let out the 59e547aa6f words I had 18fbbaeabf been holding back.a303d353020f1b81

As the harsh 7c5744ef84 words spilled out, 4ab6dc6e04 I saw a 0c9af58dc7 flicker of emotion 1c342ba12c in his eyes. He stood still, as 2e8281c9ca if he had forgotten 2e0517b69a to breathe. But that ce785e5d39 was all.131cc51234566bd2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Have you finished speaking?”aad02381be3521a8

He asked calmly.b45ee65d70dabcb9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Now that you’ve let it all out, let’s get going.”ac21e1213986a923

He resumed tying his tie with steady hands. If his jacket and pants hadn’t been wrinkle-free, it would have been hard to believe he had been waiting so long.ac439f792f2a09f7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He calmly adjusted 2a79e5f8a1 his clothes and 5592511150 then extended his b25e6bc576 hand to me.75d35033b877dc84

I was the cb66c009a9 one who had 4f03855428 harshly rebuked him, 00e306bb89 yet I seemed 3f9137db73 to be the 274edd82ef angrier one.604787aaab156453

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was a55a93b88d waiting for 57185b2818 me to e8e7b2ee59 calm down b67ea31f61 and then 642df138d1 intended to 3df09d57ae take me ee3c95547f to the 00b8e3b43c carriage.0367352a7b0da5eb

I stared at his 012558856e hand. It was white 3b88853fdb and smooth, despite 10ede89165 having wielded a 5a6e365306 sword in battles. I brushed his abad254182 hand aside and cd947edd09 stood up.9d7c91049f19bcbc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I didn’t go willingly, he would force me.ccfb98508fcd25e8

“Let me ask you one thing. Is there a particular reason I must attend this banquet?”fda8512ecd42868f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The rumors 53c6114721 had already da428de197 spread. Was he planning 6300fccadf to announce his b9a3b94431 union with the e928691e67 Snowa family and c6ae2e5e06 officially disband his ed40193e1c mistress to solidify a711fa4600 his authority? If the purpose caf291c261 was to humiliate 77ea537e0c me, it would 5f1792ba0d be easier to 5dee6fca5e know in advance.e75553eb52ceb250

“If I go to the capital, will I stay in the prince’s domain and leave this mansion?”d77c4d2a2d46a7bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No.”966a68246354e960

For once, he af1e3371c9 responded quickly, not ae70624c03 avoiding my question.58d05a7fea1aad3d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It has nothing to do with the banquet.”5909cde7fa073ebc

He continued to look 72ce16e64b at me steadily.35ff6a72c2f30064

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ll stay here until everything is over.”67b05eda4e8d85ab

“What situation are you talking about?”d0f42ccc163dd4a4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You don’t need to know.”d81a6d7ce21b48ba

A bitter 3ff390c862 laugh escaped 6a0bc376ff my lips. Even here, he 0fe04e0b5a sought to exclude 6ca960c70f me from whatever c99de4d63c plans he had.d570b266fff9b8b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He wanted me to 2c6811de61 wear a dress he 61d4cab221 chose, attend a party 9b8e899fc5 he wanted, and stand 2a95ae651a there like a borrowed 69b41efef9 decoration until it was 11aff51601 time for me to 2c376e840f leave. For how long?a87c88b8316577a1

At that moment, the 8f3a26cdf3 front gate of the 6881c4020c mansion swung open.2259f96038542f81

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The carriage is ready outside.”960e19536a6fd469

The boy, looking nervous, 7fef310d89 hurried in and spoke 2c5618fc5b to Deon before rushing d8f7ad020b back to open the b049554d8c gates wide. The night wind swept 5fd29d19a1 in, swirling my dress ab19aa5430 around me.40d543a8c9869f40

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A large royal 527b5489a4 carriage stood imposingly 3578477b0c outside. Its grandeur bb411e9754 and magnificence e0b6cae4a1 were intimidating.c95c1cd41ffbdefe

I hadn’t even agreed to get in yet.058ac6ce690998bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The boy opened 8438221104 the carriage door. It seemed like d81292ed63 a calculated move 89b2f5d376 to eliminate any b108189877 hesitation.7f05b60cb9e2715c

They must have thought that by sending the carriage, I would reluctantly comply. But I wasn’t going to give in so easily.c9f8f69e297b33e4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I clutched the 680b818479 hem of my d918799388 dress.bf80638b6d705bff

“I told you, I’m not going.”fbb76de5e0155828

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I made my stance 79286156c1 clear by holding onto 103c12d5c4 the dress.11d0f5e1e6429e2f

I stood straight, cbe976712d determined not to 1eb8d8b2d9 move even a f285067850 single step.18e56177f39260df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At that moment, I wasn’t afraid of the fierce glare he directed at me. I felt confident that I wouldn’t tremble even if he drew a sword.c884734985063036

He looked at me 4c981f31ac slowly and then spoke.fdb9e780aef36f30

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It would be better for you to come. Unless you want to kill yourself.”d1de33919b6dc92b

Unless I wanted to kill myself? I couldn’t understand what he meant.7fce8803ff1f2f2b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Did he think threatening 519efc076f my life would work?062c1aa73a0df169

“Do I have anything left to be responsible for?”59680459480e2eaa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

What kind of 85506d603b game was this? Suren was d9240909f9 here, and 684dc76a1d there was 613ae513f7 no one 9e60c2c15c in the 2886af0194 mansion who 5e158feed1 was on 5eb9f3e352 my side.eed1f551a3e0c61c

Despite my 41d4bab90a sharp words, ee5af11c6f he remained 35e9602536 calm.a830ff803a7e756b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Deon leaned against d3ed24852f the wall, crossing 88dc0ce4b0 his arms. He spoke slowly, 5a388613dc as if he 4530156b7a had an irresistible 5ef1440bd7 offer.94d04a8f3830f516

“Your bird hasn’t been eating.”278c4d0ca2fef789

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I jerked my head 2c863c1797 up.d7fad94b87807e94

“What?”1db32eaaadb6ed08

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I replayed his words ab295442b9 in my mind, dumbfounded, f1d4b14a2c until I suddenly realized fb2696fd55 the gravity of his f23d3bf215 statement.b72ae5bc9153e344

I had shown my surprise too easily. If I wanted to stand firm, I shouldn’t have shown any reaction, no matter what he said.85e068293923487c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Fortunately, his face didn’t show a triumphant expression. He merely looked down at me, waiting for a response.f90e5f998a969573

“Why?”676bc8f9e427a711

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I tried 8f50c12527 to keep e16dcf648d my voice 759c9e8b5d steady, despite 9b84bbfc2c my trembling 7fdcffb90c lips.9f9859f9cb832894

“I’m not sure. Maybe because its owner isn’t there. It’s been sickly, not eating. The palace does feel quite desolate.”08bb3b63d7958792

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Really?”eb5125c1c2e16f06

As I tried to d808676fd1 hide my agitation, he 0bdc639f0a repeated himself.90ec12597f46ff55

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s starving.”30c7f66ad29aaf13

“That’s no longer my concern.”fed485c21c57ff2b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is that so?”dc841106d67015da

As I 375da772b7 remained silent, 1e1662df70 he leaned 5472ea3d4c closer.e27f5d58f65ae7b0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is it really none of your concern?”ceb2dc9d10a44dc3

His face drew nearer.9f74863ed87c4131

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His face was cast in shadow. I hadn’t noticed from a distance, but up close, he looked weary.81a8feeb953df513

It was late. Even someone 9119758718 as resilient ccf4fc5d65 as him 514bfdfdd4 would be c074f9d276 tired from c1466aa5d1 waiting and 6920822880 trying to acea8cda89 persuade me.aac3ace42e41d840

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A lot had 211349e113 happened in the 116b12cdf7 capital in a cfcb0dcb13 short time. He might not have d66621e6d6 realized, but I could 0fb77b9d1a tell from his haggard 1604640f1d appearance that he was f9bdc45c53 exhausted.c9e1576459727e7e

As he approached 7e268afc7e suddenly, I took 99821cc838 a step back.21cb105666f93bac

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Leonie, are you going to abandon your bird?”839bcbfced6413bf

Deon, scrutinizing my expressionless d3e47cb5f1 face, clicked his tongue.22864321f82b5961

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Poor thing. Abandoned by its owner.”256617fdc340cf46

He chuckled. Who abandoned 3e008f8f94 whom, really?e9c49a81155f2faf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Judging by his demeanor, 6474ec8fb9 it was clear that 391f80d1eb the bird had not c1e0afb0e9 been well cared for. It must have been d0b64255cf neglected, just like the 78595621e6 blood servants in the 510bfc03ff North.b35b6c2eb1978480

Whether they roamed outside or were drained of blood inside, he never cared, focused only on his own affairs. He wasn’t skilled at taking care of others.e5baba8491f8d089

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though he was a duke exiled to the fringes, he was of royal blood and didn’t need to worry about appearances. He must have only learned about the bird’s condition when the maids made a fuss.c42e79a2d45bdb9c

Even though it had been some time since I left the prince’s domain, I could easily picture the situation involving the bird.901a683292b227b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It left be3cbfc217 a bitter a5ee6c5c55 taste in 1f50c4d1ca my mouth.0f283a969ce22f6a

I knew cd02b7d223 the fate b792102205 of everything a144ad29e1 a mistress 42b987fa75 left behind.bcca0eee325d01ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Burned, erased, or hidden. The servants would have taken great pains to keep them out of the princess’s sight. If noble half-bloods were treated poorly, pets certainly wouldn’t fare any better.eb30c8f997f7ecda

“It cries mournfully, searching for its owner every night.”2a743f243bf4f921

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator