96. The Uninvited Guest

The banquet was teeming d8b85612db with nobles. Although the separate fe07a863c7 palace was large, c474c07ef6 the number of bdb53037dd attendees was far e6ec077b4c greater than those 9a8ba3fcea at other banquets b5378a6934 held on different 01cef118cc days.4a99c6eeb2b36a2d

It was difficult ece63d213b to keep my 86cea44406 eyes open amid c9d1332704 the myriad of fb34ff7c55 lavish dresses and 60bd166f78 glittering jewels.6ccd5a12c36e06c3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The reflections from bd794a8b23 the lighting made 37e5e72eee the jewels sparkle, 894fd7c636 causing my eyes 7c67bb043c to hurt. When I closed 7cd632ce4f my eyes, the a7cca0a778 mingled and mottled cc703f3d24 scent of various 9de7a3d6fa perfumes filled the 2bfe00cf6a air.f103d6f4a087cf5d

Chandeliers hung throughout 7bbad88ca9 the hall. To create cb0486ad5c an intimate 8ce584088b atmosphere, only ba823b15f9 the center d5208f21a1 was brightly 7a1e4fe8dd lit, with b798391071 no lighting 75a824e881 near the 2b79e58865 walls.92435997187db0db

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This left the terraces 1a87ff2b10 along the walls shrouded 57978f837b in darkness, providing a 3eb443954d place for private, secret baae785c38 meetings behind the curtains.eb3a2bcae1e13dfa

The murmurs 8d61aca02a of lovers 7b078918a8 could be 8804efb496 heard from 6fe3cf7236 each terrace. Feeling embarrassed, 59aa14258c I moved 9518aef9f1 away from 946f8f82c6 the terraces c67f4b4219 and leaned 90ccedf83f against a 5a1ef97d9c wall.e2dab946b81326bb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I looked around. I didn’t see any familiar faces. Although I wasn’t well-acquainted in high society, I considered this a blessing.6c3fd9dc1df63f7a

I was currently under cc2174349b the stigma of being c49095daf3 a fake mistress. Rather than become a 8b6d6d2db4 subject of gossip, it 41443b9b33 was better to quietly eccbf153ed enjoy the music and 502186992e then return to the 875d9b3854 mansion.619027129a8b3aa9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

People might either mock db14ef8ecb me for pretending to c0a002a6be be a mistress or 953a4e65e0 pity me for foolishly f435543b08 believing I was a ce8539c3ba beloved lover. Neither scenario was 38a5906778 desirable.ebda28402effc77e

As I continued to a8873aa1e3 survey the hall, I aa1bd971ad spotted Isella in the 8a645bd254 distance.e7b90851d0810188

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The rumors about Elizabeth’s poor health seemed true; Isella’s smile wasn’t as radiant as usual. Her eyes appeared slightly red and puffy. Despite this, she still greeted the approaching nobles warmly and responded with politeness.294692bee029edca

One noble, 777027a596 who had 3b83447182 been sharing f5ec82044b a glass d32ca6e772 of champagne 32b1d73515 with her, d6e9f86d11 bowed and 68b751845a moved to 05ebe5b43b another spot. I thought it might 058f6f21d6 be a good time c7fff6e5c2 to approach her. She was 8722ad4583 catching her 0fe515e21f breath after 2405f31ad6 finishing her 4a7473cd83 conversation.88e9b3e6fd3a5c79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Isel…”d46662c27c4a0e73

I started to call d2728f8c00 out to her but c90189cb81 stopped mid-step.b17f0cebb755c4c4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

An odd sense 24b2d598c9 of familiarity washed bffb26b943 over me. Her attire seemed c239f5fde2 strangely familiar.2c4c1959078f3774

Even though it was 895df01d23 the first time I 4d292d1012 had seen her today, b2fc1f32ea it felt like I d84db32e4a had seen this scene 77de34b32c before.84a944f786473185

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I watched her closely. She was ffc55d70ca greeting a 388bb50855 noble and 3d8a15f273 extending her 3ec9046e68 hand.7dc510ac6b96d7bf

The more I looked, 2d2fc11ea9 the clearer it became. Then, certainty dawned on 65081966d0 me.378ccd86478b874c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The fabric folded a03bed7c09 neatly in the 6d2e1228d7 box. The gift Deon had cee30a5b69 given me.06bc84f94c20f9ae

And now, the black dress I had worn hastily with the maids’ help…3b009f981d096200

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Isella was wearing the 2f4b97b010 exact same dress as 2bd3e95d49 mine.6317e9d1c8a06589

Instead of 0363e4c549 calling out 7634f5f33f to her, 97f62963e1 I naturally bf234b8381 picked up 8d22b4d2f1 a glass 4b47c9ab71 from a 490bb722d1 tray held 1fe856e220 by a 5cfa575982 servant nearby. I leaned against the 410a0fc7d4 wall of the hall, ae899ed330 watching her as I 8c8182aa85 slowly turned. I tried not to 2ee76dd299 stare blatantly, but it 93c5fcad85 was hard to take b3dc42dc55 my eyes off her 1087c955e0 as she stood there, a96af7fd08 receiving greetings with a f10ffbd3ce smile.40b4bf5622705bd5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The more fbbe6935aa I looked, 6119a61115 the clearer ae8977e9dd it became.763243cefb4f698e

The wrinkles on 8b5cbc051d the collar, the a8c09d9f4d translucent waist details, 0962fa7e12 and the rows b76d25d381 of pearls from 6f42ccc3b0 the neck down fd27fc77de to the waist. Even the subtle ecc8a9ba9a black shell embellishments 55084ff771 that became visible ea6defdeaf when she tilted f34faac8a3 her head down 50d526c107 to hold the 8e7f8ad354 hem of her 5d8c6942c3 skirt were identical.dd22c07e2abeb852

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What is going 78735ef42a on here?b0f9da7c83abb963

I was 5df7141c99 utterly dumbfounded.a6232ee7a0ec9f58

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Deon had personally 312cc91573 chosen this dress. What shop’s madam would ccdb2162bb dare give the same 8b9336329d dress to another lady, 45f8906fab especially for an important 971432eb34 banquet? Care was usually taken 9ff898d0a3 to ensure designs didn’t 421d3191fd overlap.4c0bfb599f30b80a

It was too much c1a7d9818c to be a mere 0923ed314e coincidence.406bc5e74303d7a8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If it had cc4ad16fa0 been another lady, 1c53ec66da I might have 5624461c97 let it go. But she c3f29d33f1 was Isella 2c770e3b1d Snowa. Despite rumors of 2eb23c2cbc a rift, her 1d8bc68e36 family and Deon’s 55f0bc4020 remained closely allied. She was b4b6ddf858 Deon’s fiancée.dc2ebc25b66adc24

Realizing she wore 5c54a56d9a a dress identical 23fae51312 to mine made 6b8018dea8 me feel like aecdd503cb I had turned 6ad0a0e452 to stone.4aa65bf9c412099a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The glass in 9c2c517590 my hand tilted. The cold champagne spilled 65a8f1afe9 onto my shoe, jolting a0755879f8 me back to my 068f92547c senses. I almost lost fb97947537 control and spilled f118c94ad5 the entire glass.4c7dd9bed39de629

Champagne dripped down the glass’s surface and bubbled on the floor. Droplets splashed onto the carpet.f45df1adad00fd7f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I rubbed a614d8ea19 the carpet 91ce74e265 with the a7f0d359a1 toe of c2ac656e71 my shoe, 2a705f8d2e but the ffa27b8e16 quickly absorbed 8d528f1092 stain wouldn’t f9802411ac come out.ccbc4ec03c5c45fd

Isella hadn’t noticed me; ed9f0a737d she continued greeting nobles. Unfamiliar laughter and conversation c25d5b9c74 buzzed around me, filling 64f8336b79 my ears.b0b4ca6ffcc67ab4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I turned my gaze 5b83a5956f to find Deon. He stood far from ae4ca1ca66 Isella, surrounded by key 9ab3f8adda officials.b543f8e2d2295a3d

Suppressing my pounding 159b8283c5 heart, I steadied ada933c044 the champagne glass 2dc0394afd and refocused on 36897dbe31 Isella.8dcd611ba6bca119

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Standing under the d1bf42c988 bright lights, she 2133655673 was dazzling.80b809936a0c5961

Her half-up hairdo, 135b0e9948 decorated with a b0cb7ba108 pin, shimmered with 26744f5d03 every turn of 773bf888cb her head.ee2f36ef1efc1b7e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I thought it 85597604f4 looked familiar, and 0b141338d2 it was. The same decoration 1adaa0d298 was sparkling atop 4bceba3a52 my head.839d9dd368e3ca81

Even the butterfly-shaped hair 97b636b7bb clip was the same. It was blatant mimicry.6fe8f25cb0fdae83

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Of course, it 2cd29ff464 wouldn’t be Isella 6e59e4e8a8 doing the imitating, 0e465d4394 but the vulgar c7a40df758 mistress coveting the 6163126bd5 main wife’s position.e56de8a71e673b06

I had heard from 0cb839f5c3 the maids that such f3c54cb50a scenes weren’t rare. Historically, emperors and 7d8fe58bb4 high nobles always 4109eb83b4 had mistresses.e321a11f881d1206

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Mistresses were usually younger 0a71bd4a56 and more beautiful than 6062519e0a the main wives. Sometimes, they 9dc399abe5 would secretly f5f7e96488 inquire about 403e0f6cfc dress designs 9b5e217340 at shops 5c146206fa and wear f247de69a7 similar dresses ab6c66c603 to spite 9d52d58f15 the wives.3d77cf8ea2f085e5

The reason a f1acbac2bd mistress would choose a68a7b7b5b the same dress e6e54f1f04 was simple. To flaunt her superior e7b55c4f4c beauty and youthful allure, b2aeca4da5 even in the same 1814db71a9 attire.adbe625000f88cbf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was a low 6db122ae79 and disrespectful act, the fda0e4d40f petty scheme of a 3091da4d83 lower-status mistress.751c9ae48602ebb1

But my appearance didn’t a916b75302 provide the desired effect. I wasn’t more d41e1f0e29 beautiful or noticeably 15b186b11f younger than her.060a6b2bf47d9034

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Still, anyone seeing 40f2f0f427 me now would 786f5358e9 misunderstand and think 6330fe2dcd I was copying 991d549fa6 her.96166ecac705626f

I sighed.6520f775efbde83b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was fortunate I hadn’t mingled with the nobles and was standing alone.7f547f7aedde3390

Luckily, I 85973d2582 hadn’t entered 07118da2e0 with Deon cd37677708 or danced, 03ae7f290d avoiding the 6b5dde986e eyes of 60b782002f others.48a1616ccdafe786

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I had been with Deon or hadn’t noticed the identical dress before calling out to her…4ccd057d1621af35

I would have 516327fba0 been surrounded by 4ea0a77240 people constantly comparing 9f4151df8c and gossiping about b0dc99e6f8 us.19b07b0badbab858

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was a good 43e67a45a0 thing I had made d080463ac9 the excuse of being 70bff528f2 unable to dance due 36373da5ea to an injured foot.c521f6406acf737d

Was this f42fad08fa the plan da02776277 from the 8ccc62754c start?0084505c57d53958

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The thought struck 9e55db740d me suddenly.998a42d08a6671da

I recalled deaed6ea91 the knight 1c9b4e5c7a blocking the 260f1e5626 gate, Deon 77faff559c coming down 3a625f5395 to the b9fe444793 separate residence c12bb522cd to give 0bff9787ce me this 2ac4832718 dress.ac3ffc536752415e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was a 4c76e19075 dress Deon had e7a9e9d075 personally selected. There must cc8c1ae8f3 have been 2af636b517 an intent d25a1f3f48 behind it.ab44b10d46fc18e0

Moreover, although I had ecc943a4c7 let the maids handle ca9bbc02d7 the hairpin, the usual c9a2c1a6fd protocol before attending a 8984213663 banquet was to choose 7545db1c3f from various accessories laid 73616067ec out beforehand.e23821c198608949

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It seemed like he had planned it, knowing that I wouldn’t refuse the maids’ suggestions. He must have predicted that I wouldn’t be picky about the accessories and would leave it to the maids.3f15fe3f29804971

Even though e4e4e8a8e2 the handmade 09803eb8f8 hairpin was 85ec9676f1 a luxury 4f7f80cb2a item, the 689319e884 one in 48e1b484e8 Isella’s hair 62912f74ee was identical eda69e7898 to mine, dd7c5121d1 down to afdb5c1451 the pearl-encrusted 73d242bab3 design.cd1689ea69f57d47

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was as a0d6d38fb8 if they had a9d96ffa82 been commissioned from af5a2e73a1 the same artisan, d5d7f33ccc matching in color 5aaca548fb and size.917129c928f1bac3

What was 3d7a28d28c he thinking?8326e6ddc38757ff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A chill ran down 45986ed16f my spine. Cold sweat trickled 7c06b08501 down my back.b3f39492982f0d4d

I had no intention 3fbbb00fb8 of standing out at d527fc7ad0 this banquet, and he e5c38f09d9 ensured I couldn’t. It was 0c0ecaac2a obvious the fc4fbf94f8 dress was 6121ada91a meant to ec784134f8 target me dff181b97a since I 5a570eb3ea was the 0f8399f272 one who 11596914df wouldn’t step 690e9b53ab forward.ebfae0be2bd1a5de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Deon. What were you thinking…”cef332e16d3b85fd

He was smiling c172eb158a at the officials.5e32af0facc041ce

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What was so 1c35fc5b0b amusing?b0462929c31bed54

Even though 7e739cf8c7 it was 2131a60010 just a 047b23fca5 social smile, fbedb4584f it looked 43dd939867 far from 3ed299ce6a pleasant to d1ab00103b me.414d9e843b6427f7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Why invite me 9f575eddea here just to f7ab4735e6 leave me standing 860fdbaf98 like a mannequin? What did you want 5bcd330156 to show?d6e1d5490273652b

I hadn’t drunk anything, but my stomach churned. The questions that had been bubbling up inside me were now overflowing.efc1f7b94039be9c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I glanced towards the 28c3c64d5f terrace. The reflection in the 1eb29c8b3e transparent glass showed the 2a85d87804 image of a mistress 5b218ee680 being mocked.36fe4d32b8979f09

My cheeks burned af0748601b with embarrassment.5f73bed0fbc4a6e3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I quietly d19ca706e6 retreated, not fb2edd5792 wanting to 0657931c2f attract any f8f9734a37 attention. I wanted fcedbcaba6 to sink 2fc00fd3f8 into the e6921674c4 floor like 41b9e98bcf a shadow, 5aeb3c5c1c to bury b280f3c26b myself in b999ab6341 the darkness a8854098c5 and escape 19a2cd8538 the lingering b81d452e15 shame.cc16f2ec9f7b8143

I pressed myself eaee0828fe against the wall, bcf025b4f8 watching them from 349047447c a distance.de7d9d6b0adcd7b7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even while putting me 496a147f66 in such an awkward 782f4b87f2 position, they continued to dac2e1128e smile.013e0260353f8bbe

I yanked the e998b596ba pin from my 048a48c982 hair, letting my 9a93b789ff locks fall.2d36fee42225b8c5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Covering my flushed b5c01dde0b cheeks with my 432245fd1b hair, I slipped 282f601055 out of the 04b15445e9 hall.c063d5819e0200aa

* * *9913f0f812d55bc3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I leaned ebf915f334 against a d8ff08e359 tree, bending 0ca3051d12 over and 28f35cb2f6 gasping for 717e1bf068 breath. The tight dress constricted 2cc4383edf my chest and waist 2e63a68343 with its laces. I had felt 96ecad97bf suffocated before, but 8aa2d4501a now it was 74168c76fc unbearable.5ce3afa556aa1039

I gagged and then 7d34cb0f84 filled my empty lungs 01e9efb69d with air. The cold air d6570d3ee1 was refreshing.e0deab368058c235

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In the tall maze c4f6efc7ac garden, the sound of a0e868bd1d insects chirping filled the 91224f0517 air. I sat 0b3608a4c1 down, leaning f9a700f4f2 against the 583eb81943 well-trimmed grass. The hedges, taller d22143dbd3 than a person, 0f37328bac provided good cover.a81738aba187f6b2

“Where did she go? She was in the hall just a moment ago.”9a53424b00e91590

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I was calming my 54ed59069c breath when I heard 8be8e250c9 a woman’s voice from 463949f941 the other side.800d69a996ef4ee0

Peeking through the bushes, e335413137 I saw a knight 65048b0fb4 in white pants and b327dbd5a8 light armor searching for b996859415 someone.3e92a1f860d62b9b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I crouched lower 8db2389497 and held my 2935c874a8 breath. The knight’s cloak f62e1e6641 bore the crest 62e4eb9f6a of a duke’s 6a56af2cc6 house—Deon’s knight.e53ea3347de36658

“We lost her. I told you we should have increased our numbers. If the lord finds out, we’ll be in for it.”26a0716ae0b5966b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The woman grumbled softly.86b653853082f9b5

“She can’t have gone far. You check over there. I’ll look around the garden.”ae32d5846d0b0124

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If you find her, signal. We must find her. Don’t forget why we’re here.”22a435709dd76045

The four knights split d1ea09c6b8 up with military precision.10d8e63e4e507b65

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What was 99ea241001 odd was 39d2856902 that among 54605a2dfe Deon’s knights, cd3db2a940 there was 4d8037912c also a b9057612d1 man in fa35b46aa9 a different 798a9ba383 armor. The scabbard de14e66b42 and the ed7bb987a4 cloak draped 6f9448d5db over his 634fd473b6 shoulder bore 6bf3968aca the blue-embroidered 466ae00078 deer insignia.14e5f41127875f39

The Snowa family. Why were they f93e6ced61 looking for me 7df4126cb6 along with Deon’s 84cd305e74 knights? I had never heard 105eb2886f of the two families 96930eb02e combining their forces.f5e62cd2c88686da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com