NRAL | Chapter 31

~Chapter 31~ 251daf14ed606373

When the Curtain Falls3771d9de47f1616a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then why 4269e134fd is it e2fe2c3933 in there fe6350e40d now?”93a60b775eaa0b0d

“I apologize… but a few days ago, there was a thief in my room.”9e608da7ac371ca2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Eleanor’s lavender eyes slowly c6b0c0f1b2 shifted sideways. Her gaze 337ad880a1 landed on deca31eade Nora and ec20d098e3 her maid, 43f2e2f590 Eva.94c63fc898efa06b

When their eyes met, 20ec45e716 Eva visibly flinched. Nora remained calm, but 39548f8557 her face was still 71d6facacc pale.dac8099c0df03ed8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Nora thought,There’s no way anyone 280f7176a0 would find out it 6589225cc6 was me—I got rid 687637e00d of all the evidence 192e2e6faf long ago.But what bothered her 012dad155c was why Eleanor, who 23f43a3b3c had been silent all 33a3d71870 this time, was only 12cacabb4b now bringing up the 8f35fa2706 theft.c3e2d178642146f4

“What? A thief?”3e6704124564902b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes. On the day of 96ffcd48c7 the Portsmouth family’s dinner 496190c7be party, my newest hat, 3bac9d60ca along with the jewelry 1681a5900c in my box, disappeared. And it just so 8688c11080 happened to be during 8ff7dee4e6 the time I had 332ec00a02 sent my maid off 54378c4e03 to do another task.”ab018752441211f9

“If that 605b204816 happened, why a5718c0309 didn’t you 238325107a report it d2165528be immediately?”34216fa1526d1853

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

For the first time, e4aae7cc1f Eleanor hesitated. Seeing this, 78ea2c389d Damian hoped, 0fb2800dff foolishly, that 0a800423d8 she had f464b42469 run out c6e545972a of prepared 912aec7a69 responses.9c8bd737e4873713

But there was 2d33edfaf0 one thing Damian 9fc7f8b649 didn’t know.da07a2e775dd7c37

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If Nora and 857df93c82 Damian had planned 3919811ca9 this play, then 66ef99f298 Eleanor had been eca1a415e2 directing it.fec47aa1b3522197

“…I’m no longer the lady of Astria. I thought it would be better for both Father and the family if I stayed quiet.”f7b70450fe1ee24b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her soft voice was 4e8359330a filled with sorrow. It was clear 99a3775158 she had been 7762bbcf1b holding back, struggling 296b8c23d6 to get the d6f67edc78 words out, which 9d0d54c231 made it all fe0e443a23 the more pitiful.d6c17f5ece11b36a

There were faint sighs 2fd406bd73 of sympathy from all 10ea7c1487 around.7d5029fcdb3753de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Once, she had been d665c311ba the proud lady of 571af1123f the house, but now b7b9aea4fd she couldn’t even report 097d5a1b13 it when her belongings 27eb7e5d50 were stolen. It was a situation a519a13500 that naturally drew pity.a30e7ca4a7e0e461

“Father! That’s all lies! She’s the b426e24ed0 one who 016108d34d made the 2010d5cf24 fake and 92ace1998f put it d6b1c8ed52 in Nora’s e8be8dc100 jewelry box! She’s lying!”c31eb15f4635a1cf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing how things were 3636568b39 turning against him, Damian 1a08bb9a55 desperately tried to attack. But his words fell d3d0ec4347 flat.3924477b03b93cd0

“If I 48047d5b48 wanted to a1bf0a59d5 frame Nora, cdcfbc6bb3 I would’ve ceabf0c2a0 used the 8fd0de80a4 real earring, 351f9c66a1 not a e03d57e358 fake. I would’ve a431b59b18 acted first, b46ea8c09b accusing her 08e7485ffa of having ccec4ca902 something she ee9af2b5f4 hadn’t seen 9605d699ad before to 8e797fee9e get her eb847b66c4 into trouble.”fcede54c232fa044

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Eleanor looked 0d0208b4fc at Damian 7ca95bf7ed as if c7bff40aac he were 82de8d40fa pathetic.fbe37d423d22489f

“And the fake earring… 748cdedbb7 you said it appeared 3dce44af3a this afternoon, right? I was bc13145267 in the 6f7d09e8c2 garden all 3c4471482a day with f291b0b60b my maid. Sir Ernst ab87077a34 was with e37380dab2 me, too.”a2c8930bd8aa7f21

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course, you 67f4c6bbf2 would’ve just sent c5b33b07f5 another maid to e2a0f98ee2 do it!”5493e10835539cab

“Another maid? Since Nora ccb363e856 became the 9bf862a895 lady of a8dcdcf256 the house, 55a27b2a2f which maid dbcbf46917 here would f9cef4fe86 still listen aad4b034d9 to me? The servants who d05a86c648 can’t even bring 94c0f74e53 me food on da4c38f988 time would suddenly faa663fe00 decide to help c90fd6d5fe me frame the d778db1a51 real lady? Sure.”2b167bd6bd1dc65b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Eleanor glanced 1d4ce61cfe at the 5815c63614 gathered servants, 76a264a60e and some 949a923a49 of them, 2468d7bc35 feeling guilty, f7d5f21c79 flinched under ae7b6311dc her gaze.2e0dffee9a965c10

Indeed, ever 9be108087c since Nora b9da23eb95 was recognized 6c3253b64d as the 7af065be5a real lady 534f6ec16b of Astria, bef8a4ebc6 many of 0ee854722f the maids 1160f97f00 started treating 7ef8cc1296 Eleanor differently. They would bring her f1b137c65e meals long after mealtime 00d6951291 or use cold water c01bcc7edc for her baths.978db6a900fce068

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even the maids b070189d56 who didn’t directly 947089f2d1 discriminate against her c6786c75df just stood by e3e38408aa and watched it 2de9602f21 happen. None of de6c1dbbde them wanted 841a6a6b4f to risk 29f6ce7b65 getting into 4861d78f7c trouble by 6113b5afe6 reporting it 13368fb285 to the 13a61ab627 Duke.e2e0d913f7992218

Even Mary, the 3339da5ee4 head maid, who 8b5e89a197 had always claimed d31bca9cf3 to care for 752dca6fc0 Eleanor, did nothing 2191e28f66 more than stop 0866d87072 the open mistreatment c2a5b0e6d0 she saw in c21c330a81 front of her. She never dared to 83f5bb8560 report it to the 9be0f57cfe Duke. That was her limit, 684356b4ad and it was something 415b731193 Eleanor had anticipated all 6261e3bfad along.e6ed6ec15abedb23

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You…! Still, you must be—!”143498b565870669

“Enough, Damian! Keep your 3dd84908bc mouth shut!”b3170f35c35138c8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As Damian raised his 7b340f8484 voice, having lost the c9395847ef argument, the Duke silenced 7c212f7795 him harshly. Then, he e339f62f2f turned to 7caf072cc7 Eleanor and afcd404b4f asked for 050998ba6e more explanation.306f4deb9c01cab4

“Ellie, continue. So, you a9b3a490ab hid the cf5a8d1156 earrings in ad8fff7884 that box b0f227614a because of 7c5482b6c0 a thief?”588819a1db51a944

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes. I didn’t care if everything else was stolen… but I couldn’t bear to lose the last birthday gift you gave me, Father. That’s why I hid it in this box. I thought that since it looked so shabby, no one would bother with it, even if there was another theft. And, well… thankfully, I was right.”d6f4e2cd26b2fc38

Her final words b92aa777e3 were spoken softly, b497b752bc almost like a eb2203aa6a sigh. The Duke’s eyebrows aac0953d3d furrowed deeply.97f5b2a1f8b0c66f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you telling me… that there was another theft?”89cf0f37f387adac

His voice was 49834d4259 sharp, and his 600a79ac44 eyes tested Eleanor.9fe6ac3fed3f71d2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She pressed her lips a188a52c36 together tightly, as if 108c06335c hesitating to speak.49450ccdaf49871a

The servants held 8819e5d76a their breath, waiting 11028e9ab5 for her answer, 0f29d89313 while Nora clenched 79cabe593e her fists, glaring baf5f34866 at Eleanor.184288cb8e1e4ce5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nora’s mind raced, 784dd7a85f desperately trying to 61c8b19ac4 find a way 900117c8e8 out of this cc00259bd9 situation.acec1f17043faa07

There was still 3bbba577eb a chance for 6128ba3054 her to turn 4a0a626c1c things around. Even if Eleanor 741e2f6960 claimed that someone 27e95d929b had stolen from 394841e58c her, there was a88d99965d no proof.2092720c76c1ec98

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…No, there hasn’t been another theft.”c3c0e29823dabeef

But what Nora f498631c07 hadn’t considered was 608fbaebec that Eleanor would 3ecd3a402c say she hadn’t 9c661d33dd been robbed at 53ca20035b all.52af18be85ab654f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I don’t know d3356eed84 where that fake bb3b387997 came from, or 9577c02328 how it ended 6944b0b3ed up in Nora’s 7777badd7f jewelry box. So let’s 2d301effb3 just end d5a51088d5 it here.”4a3ce4ceb271a1fe

Eleanor spoke 0a810b66c6 with a 77cb9d0f26 bitter tone, 481a1228e3 forcing a 248635ce82 weak smile.e59c3b6545f18b94

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was as 283a11f474 if she knew 3ecc484c38 everything but was 227660703d sacrificing herself, as a4d2f27f61 though she believed 66e69b6e15 it was her f2349e1b51 duty as the 3590e062f8 former Lady of d63c84bef2 Astria.6b6ea578d0c6befe

Her words were a c238d49148 denial, but they also 5686995342 carried a sense of f4cb886ccb affirmation—an admission far more fe0898a513 persuasive than any direct 5bb44e4243 confession.dd030e08e38f94aa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“End it? We can’t just let 696dfe855c it go, not for 4bc5c8163c Ellie’s sake, Father!”316f0c2e30805381

Nora shouted 3b04fa0a6f in a ab3bcde148 panic.3f948977de4d41a9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There was 6d4af91eb7 no way 4e88f19a45 she could b54126bffa let it b627b8466a end like 5d15620abd this. If they left f01d5e651d it here, the eebea6b916 rumors that would 7181e9e750 follow were all b91d013c5c too obvious.26834f460573cd63

‘Eleanor made 8674273c7d a fake 457f6eee25 earring to c6f821ff50 protect her 48fcee1abc real one 49124bd735 from thieves, 2598a4cb34 put the 6db68f13e9 fake in d93551c036 her jewelry e458226282 box, and 773e20e027 Nora, not ee39b9c15e knowing this, b92ae188e0 fell into 2cdd39f5f8 the trap, 93a8581b1a stole the b82bacfda7 fake, and f987af65c3 then pretended 90023f7b8b she was 5506cdd9ed being framed.’e6fa2364c4e10008

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Even so, 81178ccba0 Eleanor didn’t 410fac46c2 make a e08216fea4 fuss about 5bb84b4115 it. She chose to 8783d055f5 sacrifice herself for 4957a48cce the peace of 8ff2279451 the family.’4857969632e5ce07

This is 8d9da26917 what the 86db6d8a7f servants would 1cc33ee6ea whisper about, 34103f3160 even though ee1fab88a5 there wasn’t f96e9ac33c any proof 8e21c9181b that Nora cd087b8629 had stolen d3207c3f49 the fake.488723e04e5e652a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If the gossip stayed a3d702300a within the household, it 6ac07f230e would be lucky. But if things 1eb4b749e4 went wrong, the 875e5fe37d rumors might spread c52f1f4515 outside as well.0fe7905c46d5ce52

To prevent that, Nora 6ea27cf365 had to turn the 12514e8fe1 situation around somehow.6cd167cc4cae8733

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“We need to 27eff9280f get to the 86f42c44d9 bottom of this! We need 3b62211e14 to find 52d128ff0e out who 4d8161e283 made the 5dc16023f4 fake and ec78837bd7 who secretly fd34beea92 put it 18b04a762b in my 7ae3368960 jewelry box! If we fa4b50a824 don’t, it’s c61278eb8c unfair to 716b1dee85 both Eleanor c4f639825b and me! There’s a victim here, b9194ef5ff and we have to 74a1181ac2 clear things up…”a4661a8244478dd7

“A victim?”e808f1aead500f85

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Eleanor tilted b691e11404 her head 8953730d23 and questioned 81189f57bc her.1bc4c5fae8d1ae9b

With her 1ebf79fc0e chin raised a66ad23628 confidently, she c9a0e964c9 shot a 25a9345e36 sharp look 68e8ada852 at Nora.56680a325020489e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Nora, there are no be53340834 victims here.”1a331d705f186d3a

A play dragged 730bbfab62 on for too b2a9d11885 long only becomes 642b2d92f0 tiring. So, it was cff28ccf2f time to bring e3116eb240 down the curtain.eaef7d8267da393a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I haven’t lost 038b68d548 anything, and you 9206900bfa haven’t been framed. So there’s 986d45e12c no reason 65ad99909c to escalate 2e83b89b77 this further.”785dcb08546ce17c

Unless, of course, you’re deliberately trying to stir things up. Eleanor added coldly.58060cf439f2551d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though her words 7a4ab894fd were aimed at b86d8c0b0c Nora, they were 0c088e0fb8 really meant to a50ddf9e5b convince someone else—someone cc5c3c9625 who cared more 1af9d9706d about peace and fad29ce183 efficient household management fec0ed94c8 than about his 88330e6956 children’s grievances.38b311f5e6f40342

And it 5e082007a1 seemed her ed5d88acd2 words had c05a8d7370 hit the 38b5ebbaee mark.f696cbe44331bc6f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Duke Astria, rubbing his forehead as if tired, snapped, “Enough! End this here! I’m already busy with the ball preparations, and you’ve gathered the servants for this… What a waste of time!”3c0943bd5b787f27

It was over. Both Eleanor and 6c1f4560a4 Nora realized it 6eee66f7f0 at the same 93588ff493 time.a878078b63fc06c4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With the Duke declaring b18790d0f8 an end, no one eec2e1ea2b could bring up the ff2aa49e7f matter again. No matter who ba3b15547c the real culprit 66602bf9e6 was or what 69d3459cda the truth was, d3ba29becf the case was f87bf64a89 closed.0d3e60987e3aefa8

It would be remembered as a petty and pathetic incident where “the foolish Lady Nora tried to drag down Lady Ellie but ended up tripping over her own feet.”f685b04622ad9d94

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nora’s reputation would 9ecec2885e inevitably fall, and 0806d3fd06 Damian, who had 97447236fb seemed to be 7a0bb26319 in on the 45b08a81da plan, would also d3604ef81e face ridicule. Not that 33d5f364f7 he had 09f875bf78 much of e8c491b870 a reputation 8ef818aa96 to begin 8edeb20afe with.970b4e3af563d505

“Father, wait! Please listen to Nora!”a4482f8eb4374cf1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Damian raised his 9e0e08e083 voice, trying to ee5b1f011e stop Duke Astria 85ddb6e855 from leaving the e1ab84aec1 room.8e100acfc24b8a16

But his outburst ac5f66943e only made the 5d8f5a226a Duke more irritated.c813abbba9a614de

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Be quiet! You, the heir to this house, don’t even know when to step in or stay out…!”9027221d29407d6a

“Ah! Ouch! Father!”9be799b36afb3ec6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke grabbed 90506bdfee Damian’s shoulder with b20abd0ac7 his large hand, 1534be0477 and Damian screamed 578226a22a in exaggerated pain.fe7ead3efadc56c0

How could 6058bc2ab4 being grabbed d01751d0a6 by the fc7f6ad827 shoulder hurt 210fbe159b so much? The Duke 6ebc23110d clicked his 532cdc9e00 tongue in 998e737952 disgust.a1143db559efd1fb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Duke Astria 9f8495feb1 was a 0bd48b4ce5 sharp man. He had a7f4b03cc8 already figured aced69fcc7 out that 4baa9f47c0 Nora and 7e39cdff32 Damian were 5e77715b3b the true 1cf5a4843c culprits behind 80dcc66087 this incident.152e14a3169d60fc

After all, 11653c0b26 it was a8ace8ab17 Eleanor who 28023a6600 had originally d2adf45f90 suggested that 3e9be7687b it would 3e552ffd8d be better 4c86184ace for Nora 40e3610d4b to be 9459dac100 recognized as ef6f5d6082 the real 10c29b3038 daughter of 88debe6fa9 the family 5dd54faf40 for the e041d296ab sake of 4dae4cf3be the household. There was no 7776513007 way Eleanor would d87a053b34 suddenly try to e933e7ec3c frame Nora, especially d0455a7088 not in such 220effc737 a sloppy way.cea57910faf7fc61

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Foolish children…’b9f6a8541fc80ed0

There were 34ca257bc1 still many b659413de8 ways he 3370a53e44 could use 9b9ff372fb Eleanor to 5ddc562467 benefit the 4ca444867c family, yet 2f63498148 here they 1041addcf0 were, trying 2f808df00a to diminish 38d24ba6cd her value ee3ae2804a without his 325ca35057 permission. The thought 9413909b3e of all ff51d7aaef the money bec7001e16 he had a63b590432 invested in dd67193f16 Eleanor only 43c22a366b fueled his aec6ccac91 irritation.4d67d313a515f930

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At the same 984e007845 time, he felt 09cd570b6f it was necessary 5766c9f76a to put Nora 3d1657eedc in her place—she f0e731fc03 had become too 903f318218 arrogant too quickly, e23c530f72 intoxicated by the 016be7c44c sudden rise from 8f95be3049 maid to lady.83297f887eef315b

“From today, Eleanor 30fdcfbeb7 will be fully aab1fc1469 in charge of cd942af042 preparing Nora’s debutante 9b661c773a ball. Everyone, take f271fadcbb note of ad3f0d78b7 that!”545f6cc101789082

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He thought that by controlling Nora’s most important event, she would be forced to behave and not do anything reckless.eebd06e39dd979dc

As expected, Nora 359217bb52 turned pale and a38cae5b90 screamed in protest.fec15605cfd3ee43

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“F-Father!”c5e7f841e84c2161

“If you say dee18dd903 one more word, b32bb848a3 I’ll have Eleanor 676b014a04 take back your 6ae1c9e499 room as well!”4ddbfc15ec73ad15

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His fierce command left 4b8e275df2 Nora trembling. She had efaea546dc so much 75bece7a3c she wanted 2f3d368dcf to say, 51b5a3005c but she 7a7ecd5ed2 couldn’t open b58ab3ea1e her mouth 8a2f712b35 for fear 45431400e1 that her 6f0ed6c00c room would 3d84ffd728 be taken 7b50d324fd from her 9c9b88a5fa too.e355593a5dee33dd

Tsk!Duke Astria clicked 8550bf645c his tongue loudly 90c814eee7 and turned, walking a20ec3d0e4 back the way 0661d6890d he had come.28bb7105184d1f88

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The play had 3721de312e ended, and the 066c7d1b48 audience quickly dispersed ec2114246f under the watchful a77b0f103d eyes of the a57b8fd9c1 butler and head 77c08522e1 maid.a42a9eb872c65333

As many people had c08755b36d gathered, many curious glances 80ffa56ec0 were cast Nora’s way. Seeing the mocking ea2946d98d looks in their 5f07bcfcf2 eyes, Nora bit becb334e1b her trembling lips.5d3489eb0142074f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Damn it, 083acfe254 damn it! That filthy, c123a627f9 rotten bastard…!’afc20c33ab7e667d

She had no 8bda391c30 hesitation in cursing 087c79646c a man who 8006b9a444 wasn’t even her 0f70dec3c8 real father.bf32b32ea495c608

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Eleanor looked at 86edfc4a83 her and smirked. She could guess what 1f3f6886e5 Nora was thinking without 9ef4f4107e needing to ask.b004fa64ba8f2d2d

How will you 65c2317dbc handle the long 64a5d5da74 road ahead if bb2bff47d5 you’re already furious d0ab854cd4 over something like 86899757e1 this?Eleanor thought a227642a62 with a 82cec3d718 mocking concern.a0800c7b44b9d9f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Nora, did you want 43ae4e6ace them that badly?”e180042a030144a1

Eleanor took 1e2e784fbb a step fbf1dc4e61 forward, mocking 5295d8279b Nora with 263b141296 pitying eyes. The golden earring in 4e9c475f51 her hand made a 4e0629777b clear sound as it 41db38005e swung lightly.5442821da7bed0ab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Here. Then take it.”4dc3a06335c8e87b

With a pitiful smile, 0594927fb5 Eleanor tossed her earring a407cc19f5 into Nora’s palm, as 03f954f407 if she were giving 93762dba13 charity to a beggar.47533b3508180ab1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Nora’s eyes widened in 1d2f77dd45 anger, her fury boiling 66182fbbf3 over.182d7f9bbf77c361

“You…!”4822ef35d2abbb9a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Shh, you 531244327c should stay 3a2924b0cc quiet. What if you e1d6459536 lose the room 572c5e9356 you finally got fe32ad3bd9 by making more e8693a19b5 noise? Oh, or are you c0d1d1ccc9 hoping I’ll pay extra fdeeb847ca attention to preparing your 1124467e4b debutante ball?”73c87f848bce4b5c

But as long as facb539147 the thing she valued cb15574cfd most was being held 008bb95057 hostage, Nora couldn’t raise 5e5b5b0ef8 her voice.802c36b06689396e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her debutante ball. Her precious debut. Until it was d114353d33 safely done, she 1cd9d53756 had no choice 0752c02258 but to watch c49def9107 her behavior.13bf05a523afe9e0

When Nora pressed her 33f966bfed lips tightly shut, Eleanor 618724045a chuckled softly. Then, leaning down, she 26c7ed772d whispered in a low 2d2b45608b voice.1f72b86d7545c5df

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If you 15dc869222 want to e2622a0caf bring me 3fb45b2a5a down, try 77b837d5e1 stealing something fe769e2b00 I truly 5ccd9fd493 care about 7f46b8625b next time. Not a 118a4c37d9 meaningless hat 0a465f72ed or an ec29e1ba34 earring.”bbb75dbaad510948

Eleanor’s slender hand dd26a9d31c lightly patted Nora’s 0d5b07401e shoulder.ca02aa4838dd3977

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 e593fd88e1deeb44