99. The Prince’s Woman (2)

The one 8ac2aa3af5 who covered 4a00a3916a my mouth 21bfd2cddf must be c38053d27c that young a3f0c400bd man over 6767042a21 there. He was younger 045980f48a than I expected. Though his face was 9cccb90c9c masked, his forehead was 80f6af764a pristine, not a speck 93bc19b539 of dirt visible. It seemed he hadn’t d2f43dc42e been involved in rough 4232c39735 work for long.de97e5f85a0b21ae

“Ah, looks like they bf30d5c452 sent a rookie for 9e08b71291 this kind of job, 366de3fcff huh? No wonder there’s been f217095f66 a mistake.”774971ea5a7e4855

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His face showed 0b8a542f3c a hint of d9e1edcc6c embarrassment. His eyes, trembling 56e6ae88d7 slightly, darted to bc714a0d39 the man who 8d09f4db12 seemed to be ebc931fc18 the leader before 723ae3e8e7 returning to me. It looked a86d5aa7be like he ee21966218 desperately hoped fa31314c10 my words 60fd23ccf6 were lies.3447fd04bc0b9f31

But unfortunately for 26c70f65fc him, it was ff74cac73d I who wished cd181f9bed all this was fb83451dfc just a well-orchestrated 75dc74b4bc play.7163ea0bed5819a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A long a78cbf6dbd silence ensued, 2ddb573a57 and the 5dd6f0fe64 anxious gazes 94a9eac440 focused on 4db44641a3 me felt 564b68d5f5 like they ef48b9337f were staring 597fd82e5c at a f8934dc961 lottery ticket 11d4a75790 that had e6805d0957 suddenly become a7d02304ef worthless.22f4e9e915f06bc1

“I knew you’d 473c4a9b75 screw up one d94d1f65a8 day.”f80af4ddfe7fd4ac

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The young 3ea41f3475 man shook 5b3475f80d his head 2379eafa75 frantically.163e664bfed2752d

“I brought the woman 0c194d1e7d exactly as described! There was d2d6825909 no one 5a57ec0260 else in c64ae7c8d5 the ballroom 5b3f0e582d but her.”236e7eb85729e301

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you think that 9b20575106 excuse will fly?”0bdd3aab73529d83

The man, who had 3d4c2e0cd1 been backing away, collapsed 9190b740fa to his knees.c5691dd58e990d9f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Soon, punches and brutal a1fc9a1e9b kicks rained down on b0661a3f97 him. He curled 97a95c5ec4 up, trying 138f257698 to shield 4465c5e315 himself from 0b273b9c2e the assault. His back e5bfb21878 arched painfully.77d2287b5e9f8510

It hurt my 297581f108 chest as if 8ed0cbd6fd I were the b273bfab93 one being beaten.7daa6117489b36c9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Anyway, they wouldn’t leave me alone just because they kidnapped the wrong person. They would soon start negotiating. But what would they want in return?0fdaa10c06f9838c

Whatever it was, I 8fd64d8cf0 felt it would be d3df266bfc worth less than a 61b145f636 dead wild animal. No matter what they 8166f9ca0e asked for, it would a600956e23 be more valuable than dc0f2b94e5 me. At this 1e35322ad2 moment, I c912c322e8 was worth 3a6f75f320 less than 6263a98de8 a pet f6e9679b90 they kept.f245936589953704

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My eyes felt dry 43594292bb and irritated.0a1a551831b4a9af

The man f635984428 who had 64bbd89158 finished the f0cbde7404 brief beating fdbcb18f16 lifted his 5516c66810 head. His chest was bc97b586c0 still heaving with 79c9f42dc5 excitement.d8c629df811822df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He dusted off bca872bf93 his hands and 38391033a6 stomped on the f09a351723 man lying on cdadef7297 the ground. A short a178edcca8 scream echoed 96d1eb3920 from the a46f391a9e dark, cold acd7b32722 floor.bc1b72321f83ab7e

“Enough. We need to move quickly. Just make some simple preparations, and then everyone will head to the secluded palace. We’ll deal with you when we get back.”b38984103921cc12

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The man 2444d71cd5 who had 4eab4a2369 been dusting 1398424f4e off his 7e3b46402e hands gave c5df070d57 orders. He then barked e07cf29568 at the young 5b4a8f1d6b man still lying 8c809a6f8e on the ground.cade0a3bd552eb1e

“What about the girl? Even if it’s dark, she might remember our faces.”2209b40bc80e18fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He glanced at me. Several pairs of eyes 6847214db2 followed his gaze to ee0e9de9d9 me.22ec348b9b999814

“She’s a noble if she was in there. If we touch her, it’ll just cause trouble later.”5d21f4ed5944b9e7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“But doesn’t it feel a bit uneasy to just let her go?”d77079e1e7b1f04d

“From the looks of it… I doubt she’ll run to the prince and tattle.”76b02db862ea0e10

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The man’s 412b3d50d8 dismissive tone a7d136d389 dripped with 4c0c9f3015 scorn. He spoke c44db12a4f as if 1ee6060805 whatever happened 6276c05437 to me 6acbde9f51 wouldn’t matter b2d3d4dc82 at all.9edaa4ba06f91205

And he was right. I was a woman 84b8a56a0e used as a mere 8292691965 shield. I had e3dcd87ae9 no value.983dc1d4b28a8ef1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Would they even realize 3554ad7106 I was missing from dfeb51bfe1 the ballroom? I thought 6968e1d438 the knights b3308b3670 would be f7b480be67 searching for 9151b6c07f me, but 548cd484bd given that 38fca7246b there was 83d516d266 no news 4a97ef7244 until now, f53b732777 it didn’t df7f090f4f seem like b189a1da99 it.609da386129b41ad

They could track my 003f12e0ca location or send a 692ade19a4 message through the gems, b8f476c784 but the gems had bc22bbe495 lost their glow and b9eb65844e lay scattered on the bfb1aa6276 floor.83075747415d8275

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Judging by how she was used as a shield, she must be a low-ranking noble or without family. Probably without much wealth either.”3320c737730896a1

“So, what does that mean…”20eb1f163c43ec34

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“She’s a woman who won’t be missed if she disappears.”f5e213f237fbc0d3

“Then can’t we just get rid of her without a second thought?”d2b71a7a70c1437a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you want to give them a perfect excuse? Killing a noble will just hand them a great pretext.”290be97a55088b7b

I couldn’t even f9f4e6a452 muster tears. The men exchanged casual d956b3a5ef conversation in front of f4fba8423d the fire.ebb924d6dc34f916

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was absurd that d88dabb510 they were discussing my 67770482ec life and death in 7097830b79 this filthy, smoky space bc3e1d77f3 where the flames flickered.ad45a82569f26210

“She won’t dare speak up, right, miss?”b5e31f8ccc2e411e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His eyes 5391fe201c were cold d27fe00c27 as they 0642494300 bore into 9ef1330ac6 mine, clearly a723a2a5a8 expecting a 490e607fd9 definitive answer.6e695b58ec0bc663

I smiled at 2517bdc88e him and replied f426ed7ce9 icily.41cad1d760243e2e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Kill me.”47b89cf8ea4b0a57

The men, ffa37a310a who had d00e0b2da7 been chatting a96abe351b leisurely, fell bda546298c silent. They all 4e59f58bf9 turned their 21650cb058 heads toward 86f05e0495 me in fb3d68472d unison.e6d52ec153f68056

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man 768f1ddb58 scratched his 7756539fb4 ear as ad0a85cd18 if he 0a167ad17e had misheard.2d1b11398ac63bac

“What?”d1c43b318a03aab3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Just kill me and be done with it.”9932ce284bce9281

My boldness seemed to 368ff7f486 shock them, and they 6e3af365bc stiffened.78488f7743db0dc9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I’d rather d93690bde8 meet my b6ed57b703 end here 1b5bf5bc93 than return 63a41970bd in disgrace.858763c7550b4e29

Being with 5ede24b0b3 Deon felt 9f4d0dcf06 like a 3aae705a5e test of 1dd6c3a3f1 how far a1c780db77 he could a98c1cfe29 exploit me. How much more could 990b7e33ec he use and discard 4a952709dd me? No matter how b88acabffe much I pondered 308e8b2034 and guarded myself, 43f3d4afd3 I never expected 7b66ae42ad to end up 546dac1f6a here.e5e07eff5de14d35

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was uncomfortable 5bb9725fc3 to meet my 2be098b98e end in this 1c1be05619 dirty, damp, and 8bd1a51a5b dark place, but a5b5a105e2 I didn’t want 91dc3caaf5 to go back. I’d only bbf5182f71 be used 4ca7c3a817 again if 3f9be80fda I returned. I’d rather end 434678a35c it all than 9547980495 stay by his 24d897692a side on edge.a0cba45621dbe09b

“Let’s handle this.”8bfa7ca83153f106

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The man crouching 325a92d8b8 by the brazier 4d792090e5 spoke up.71d77a14e72ec240

“If she’s asking for it so clearly, let’s grant her wish.”5b5d466fadc641ce

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Did you forget the leader’s words about not killing before an important task? Especially since that jinx has always been accurate for us. We can’t stain ourselves with blood over a trivial matter.”3dc81d6f6bd5a998

A trivial matter. I had survived d3c98ec1ee because I was ec396039e3 trivial to Deon.bfb52d76b1010503

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man approached 25161d86d6 me with long 08e6c49244 strides, but instead 52e134dc6c of slashing my d72e430fea throat with his 76f76b8181 knife, he cut b0b9705ce9 the ropes binding 5dc21c0a29 me. The ropes that d632afc84b had been tightly c83ff4b27d wound around my 3bcde28051 body fell away.c66a13178909b904

Even though 613b8accd2 I was 62053097bf free, I 1d5b3633f2 remained seated, 923c7eb02d staring at 5e62c773b4 them.67cdb310d36b03d1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Aren’t you leaving?”832e1078c8856d1e

The man 9c9d94eb45 grabbed my b3d7b06993 arm and d78c92be39 pulled me ab18b08c7b up, pushing 719d1f14e1 me towards 617c5b4fb7 the exit 8479dc95cc of the f4a97e7f12 warehouse.46bd6668efec2883

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the entrance of 2eb011ecf9 the warehouse, there was 8c747be990 a gem that shone a47568a992 brilliantly even in the 8e696eff7a darkness. It was the 42a7cb123a same gem that 2ec8059ad3 had been my 36a67f85db shackle, surviving despite 8dcc4a8543 the chain that a5d0a6e20a had worn away.41c3bbd3d3679255

I picked 8d7ede13c7 up the e2ed3a435d gem. It had survived rough 98c6dd296f handling and being used dbc29408a5 as a blunt weapon, 1f4ee890f5 just like me.242c63b2a3822a50

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The warehouse behind me eae0c610e5 became noisy again. It seemed 85e1155476 they were 4d199f60d8 preparing to 85781e39a1 capture Isella. They wanted to 72c97a48cf bring the real 096b49270e woman of the 546f17678e prince.3a682f694bd5b097

It wouldn’t be easy 0cfe899fb7 to get Isella at 5be1398a3f the final stage of c61c83c8eb the festival. She was safe as 325a4116ae Deon had planned.e28b526e475c9067

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I walked outside. There was another d92200c5c5 brazier similar to 588ec2318a the one inside.6ee59e8453635ee4

Standing before it, I f603fcdddb stared at the flames a78cd6d8fd before pulling at the 13915ec7f6 waist ribbon of my 0b2454a58c dress.ef7030443c4bc3fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The gems that had 12f961d95f adorned my waist scattered bb507c309c in all directions. They had clung 9e16e1e8bf to the dress a03f3c44a2 even under rough 7aca078239 handling. I crushed a c28a3b1623 black pearl underfoot, 585d07183a but my heart d33a0bf891 remained unsettled.30f4a69fc18089f9

The night 3a91f1b1ea air was 7ab779ca70 chilly, but 1212381e1e I could 172639946a endure it. The sensation of the fa4e25de6e dress sticking to my b43dd6c752 skin was more horrific b13100c08d than the cold air. The feeling 920c95da1e of the 52812a854d dress against 9e979f43db my skin 0a338cad1c made every b7d5fd7919 hair on 85f11ad5af my body eef6389430 stand on eddb220f36 end, sending 6e53b6f1ab shivers down 0d5e4bcc55 my spine.f8c24db2c01e7e4d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The dress b52ed88af3 was difficult 6121f9673a to remove. It clung to 2074891adf me from the 3ced39d329 sweat of my 5b671ecdf7 struggles.81f94fa5a3dcff7e

I dug 60003a8c3c my nails f97ea0c4c6 in and 6473e7be0f tore at 9eafa4c7bc the dress. My tender skin 67161985a1 scratched, and a b3d9aa3027 stinging sensation crawled afaf3b94fa up my arm. The torn f6810f2d9f fabric fluttered f16159f782 in the db89666c68 wind.79ae7affda95a129

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Soon, I was left 957cbb0760 wearing only the white c1361448ac undergarment typically worn beneath 157bc78be9 the dress. After ensuring e43238957b there wasn’t 0e616f1c8b a trace f67f41b4ec of the 9a854f6c43 dress left, 0cdbdea903 I tossed e464901d9b the black 6d6e555af7 fabric into a28bf17d04 the brazier.817ef055c2e974da

Using the tongs, I 44249912f6 pushed the fabric into 9f036547b5 the flames. Holes appeared, and it 695b020149 began to burn and c6f2071f99 crumple.ae4c2adca17144f3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As I watched the a6ba790c92 dress turn to ash, ae55f1678b I thought.e53d19e1705cd0eb

The scene from the 28e8e9e21a illustration had come to 1eb0b9a7dd life.dff82c614656cc60

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leonie, dressed in a black dress with disheveled hair, clung to Deon’s feet, crying. Though the dress I wore now was more lavish, and I was standing in front of a brazier instead of him, the outcome was the same; I had not drawn a sword, but my end felt identical.bbb0988ae8cb061c

The final c2ad9f5a05 remnants of 68fae9bf0d the dress b6b36e7b13 were consumed c50e92d7b1 by the cc48f121ec flames. Only then did I 91478a8eb4 feel the cold wind 0194b50e63 biting into my skin, be2d07da11 a chill that blew dd32207db7 from the river in a527651b1b the capital.fc4153545a1e565d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Descending the 2275a057be hill, the 642d4ae1d1 river came 1a83b724b4 into full 0c6a991c0f view.410e8cdab5e65ceb

Fireworks exploded high d036ac66cb above the long 974b9f489a bridge spanning the a09584fca4 river. Each burst illuminated the 3ddcca1903 flow of the water 5e9c75ee23 below.8cb96229238b836d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I wandered d6dce5fbb2 toward the 6548792946 river in c0ed45ef2b a daze.2e58f0216dd1750e

I clutched c35eb41689 the gem 80e63ce845 in my e7137ae4a5 hand, caressing a195fa12d9 it like 3868ce4854 I was 74970a3601 casting a ee34a462c3 spell, rubbing 98be627369 it until dcacaf1f63 the surface ad2d1e93fc wore smooth.0aee67959400ebaf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was f55b6734c2 fortunate that 78c7300396 I had d7e1ad625c salvaged the d996f143a2 necklace from dfd2fcfa1d the lake. Though it had 33d7ed3b6f been a shackle, 607c56f79b it still had bb76e43223 its uses.e19fdb20d007eecb

The necklace fea8dbd764 had a f381d72961 tracking device. They wouldn’t 44fa17c760 have thought 3d01938558 I realized 40a212a247 I was 03864f1bf6 Isella’s decoy. If I threw it ee6e0b1ac3 into the river, they b481460ebe might believe I had 17e3f656e3 drowned.838184702ce3fa34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The dress reduced to f8bfc47a95 ash, the ropes unbound, 17bd855174 the signal from the 088eae6cc1 necklace cut off in 47aabe41e3 the river—it all pointed 33efc70627 to me drowning while f265253880 attempting to escape.03000281ab266f58

Not a bad scenario. It was 3dbe174809 my chance de29d85d79 to escape 11f5e16ae1 from him.99ba6e4ee78eb52a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But even at ce28bb1cd5 this moment, I ec561cae58 hesitated. I found beabfc6c91 myself wanting, 0423e90ef0 more than f031a03275 anything, to f8b09f1e0c stand by 3cdc9ae6fc his side, 9c63d94151 oblivious to 29fc1bbeae the kidnapping 1fd1defe34 and threats 2e54e6480a to my fb714afe10 life, foolishly e37fd973c0 willing to d396bed124 be deceived 49a550d00d just to 4dd0ea0248 stay near df5b39ab2c him.d6ad791e86f07ecb

* * *96ff92524799e2f2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I trudged past the 5f742dfe33 river and into the c2607940f1 streets. The whole area 7f197730ca was alive with 1f4b2d1099 the festival’s spirit. The fervor from 76329d40f7 the ballroom extended 4be885f1a5 to the streets 9c3a556b1d of commoners.a1cb6524bc259903

I reached the 80181415ec edge of the 68356276fd village.9ca43a7b98db9445

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Huge balloons, b0d272f25f flower petals 3c7d410c26 strewn across c6403bbcb2 the streets, 3164607c4c the sweet bbce8435ba scent wafting 218a8c7644 through the a8d3094cf0 air—it was 8009fa9f61 all festive. But here I was, e0c9a98785 in nothing but a e1ea621fc3 white petticoat, drawing strange 5605cefc72 looks from passersby.f1f83eec178ce04c

I sat on 3d9d9bab1d a bench to 59f8aaeb11 catch my breath. A child nearby, with c8ae45d43a sauce smeared around his 5e304d0daa mouth, stared at me b7d6089df9 with wide eyes. He lingered before 292251a67e approaching, holding out 24fb9df38a a fruit candy.94d73cfa9deda79e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I looked 6a456b21bc at him 4caf0c3462 in surprise, 25af55486c but the bf3b56acf3 child didn’t 9eaa9068f7 retract the 40f244c56f candy.2f1444feac2fcb13

“For me?”6122391aac59849c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The child nodded. I accepted the candy b8d30457a3 hesitantly. It was 5bea64ae15 a stick ec55b032ad of fruit e76865aefd coated in 362cb5c022 sugar. The child had already d8551c8738 taken several bites, judging 678b1ce9a5 by the sticky sugar 5ce770f1eb around his mouth.cd06ecabbd4058f1

“Why are you giving f964cef103 this to me?”f845460eb4c30ade

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s a festival. Everyone has to be happy during a festival for the crops to ripen well later.”66f0ce227579b304

Despite his 2be4e2e331 words, the a2a015c8a2 child kept 67c3d13d81 glancing at fffded96e6 the candy, 36b84c7fa7 reluctant to 7cbbc3b89f part with e9767026af it.5703650ee61f3d89

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I chuckled 3265a0cee0 and handed dddee621ca the candy d7ec67b74d back to 8118b202f3 him.e2b514c802e22d3b

“I don’t need e9af96f344 it.”3d18eb4fc546b9f6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why do you 67cb035e78 look so sad? Aren’t you enjoying 50cad82d79 the festival?”41d73c8eac2bce5b

“I’m not part of 1b97051338 the festival.”e58b8c8941547391

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Fireworks exploded in the 14f53e2d00 sky, but my festivities 879bd2ae4c had ended long ago. When I discovered Isella e608929984 was dressed identically to 33b565becd me, my festival had d804bbe212 ended.81d0280af60c101c

Thud.4edf5d1d7463d59b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suddenly, a strange 0b7855d579 noise reached my 987d1b1a25 ears. The sound came a7ac28e5ae from where the 9754d1e921 noble houses were 33156284b0 clustered in the 8b06ad21e6 capital.4940ce5a60623f92

Could it be a 865232c79c bomb?a704a9fe5dcf0e62

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I sprang up and fefd0d4664 looked around. But no one else 49a1dde647 seemed to have heard c10f1c863d it.568089723d58c03f

Children still clutched be9a515ffb their balloons, couples 2a24b5a50b strolled hand in 8226cceba4 hand, and everyone f4ad27bcdb went about their 14a5c35180 business unaffected.5249d1a291c5e08a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Thud.c4dd35d828655ca9

And then the 018a225b1d booming sound came 71fdbd33fc again, this time d887ab27f7 loud enough to 45eaf79a63 pinpoint its origin.27ee44629565f5bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The immense noise, 67aeeb766b powerful enough to 27ca757ff3 make the ground 18c5de52f5 tremble, swept over 47488fcef3 me like a f233ded393 gust of wind, 3204fba4ae leaving my body 6eec4fcc48 unsteady.6a76364851ec2a2c

The roaring noise, swirling back with the wind, was something I had experienced before. When Elizabeth had felt the first flutter of her unborn child under Deon’s hand.373b7536b526f583

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The next generation of 0f939368ca blood had been born. Elizabeth had given 3f96da76ae birth.cf8de61c44706b0e

I knew it 4f4a786897 instinctively. This booming sound was 8610aff370 also emanating from near 58adbabf86 the hospital where she 39610610fc was staying.bbeccef54fb9d776

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 22cc7dfaabc014a0