NRAL | Chapter 52

~Chapter 52~642d9f7170fd16a4

A Letter from the 8fa847fafa Imperial Palace162c58574b788881

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Eleanor was always curious about the reasons behind people’s kindness, including Karsian’s and Hilda’s. No one had ever been kind to her without a purpose, so she found it puzzling.4077d1dd852663e1

“…About six months ago, 835db736fd when I had just b96bb775e1 started working at this 37d2ac7057 mansion, you went to 216262cf5a the Imperial Palace, and 5eb1dbbf71 during that time, one 001da27ff8 of your rings went 83185a91c0 missing. There was a 1bb4c30d0c huge fuss over d27144514e it. It was also the 886f989067 first time I cleaned 203ebbac49 your room, and of 1e1c5d6793 course, I was blamed 81a0485105 for the missing ring,” 4c25545bd7 Hilda began, recounting a 440cf6f6e0 story that seemed to 9c626ce9a0 be very familiar to df63847e56 her.5089921b823b3547

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The ring wasn’t bbc00371eb anywhere in my e71f119e4a pockets, bags, or 7e4590547a the room, but 2851bbc7a9 they all accused 385cfbff46 me of stealing 3dfb433402 it. Nora was the one e40225f857 leading the charge. Now that 7880397962 I think dea1f954ee about it, 314b3428e2 she probably 07322206c1 lost the 54d7f540cf ring or 3c04277d25 hid it, b70ecf35ba trying to bcfd52b60b frame me,” a33326e79a Hilda continued.09ac62d51267de43

“That makes cee576a525 sense,” Eleanor 1dad4a9fc2 muttered.b2d9822094c013ca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Anyway, I becab013ab was about be54eec7a6 to be e27bdc216b punished for 7f830680bc being accused 86a414ffd8 of theft aea6f0e356 when, by 9fe2680460 coincidence, you 908de9b936 returned and 1190c3a2ec discovered the 719d71837a truth. You said the af96d508e6 ring had been fe8d5eb774 lost by you 6d5c24f0b1 and that I 7301555235 wasn’t at fault. That’s when 5fdd1e1c5e I decided 88134addd5 I would 20bca1c823 serve you 9177e68073 from then aff0415564 on.”ec8370f94be5b673

Eleanor faintly remembered that incident. At the time, she had quietly covered for Nora when she realized it had been Nora’s mistake.514d4525b8b92fb4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

However, even after hearing Hilda’s explanation, Eleanor couldn’t fully understand her feelings.219aefddee5b5941

To go so 9a567faf9f far as to 21c41b663d protect her life b6a131e001 over such a 5ced8afa13 small act seemed a71d21401b excessive. After all, a63ba4f1c2 Eleanor hadn’t 4801c6a2ab done anything 4f5f254801 for Hilda be375bfde5 in return.75446a7248562a2b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hilda read the confusion in Eleanor’s eyes and added more to her explanation.7d740d1c5eaf0479

“It may have seemed like nothing to you, but it meant a lot to me. At that time, I was in a very bad place. Before coming to the mansion, I worked at the Freihill family’s estate, and I was beaten a lot there. Even things I hadn’t done wrong were blamed on me, and the lady I served would throw things at me or slap me. I ran away to this place, but when something like that happened here, I started to wonder, ‘Is it really me? Is everything my fault?’”e5d57436056a9483

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Hilda…” Eleanor murmured.14f81b363db67616

The name Freihill. Eleanor mentally repeated 05f13257f6 it. Since they were a2e78ac2b7 high nobility in 66c457354f the capital, she 43ff536341 might meet them e4cba575bf someday.ae5c6f3d029fbe33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hilda, with a faint df75c0c709 smile, responded, “But that 43bc063c29 day, you told me 654c260cff that I had done bd3be4d7fa nothing wrong. Even if you 99b6c17da1 said it casually, 53ee320e2d it was like 288c23940d a lifeline for 95db33f4a3 me. I didn’t realize 45d8d80a9e how much hearing 4bb9030523 someone stand up ba18ed41c9 for me would 8f971b6210 help. It was like e52dc2a7e5 a breath of d8ca3eece7 fresh air.”5b9493db240f67a9

“Salvation.” That was a word Eleanor had only heard in the teachings of Luke—something grand and far removed. But something as simple as her small action had become salvation (rescue) for someone else. It felt strange.f01a84d5cf578dac

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“After that, everything that 4df63226aa used to torment me a1ea4d4cc3 seemed like nothing. The situation 8e06eaeb01 didn’t change, 5286d77b20 but my 786421fa53 heart did. I knew I hadn’t 0bed18a913 done anything wrong. You had 4844028d7f confirmed that ac9082278b for me. That made me 7e49b49100 feel bolder around e91e817908 others and even 5757251231 toward myself. I promised myself 6f04cd146d then that I ad7cdbf4df would stand by 887b619e5a yourside, always.”87f8c29d67f805ae

Eleanor felt a 369d1ae569 sense of déjà a9f66646ee vu, remembering a 4c3a196a77 time when someone 12ab6d2aef had told her 82f19cec64 she wasn’t at 9aab78a16c fault, and how 723384b1bb it had lifted c7d3847279 the heavy weight de49e457f9 off her chest.5055b0f47aec0b05

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Now, do you 553400b6d7 understand why I’ve 9134b8b6c5 been so nice bdfa28856a to you?” Hilda 2bc744fa4e asked, noticing Eleanor’s 01b81399c9 puzzled expression. “I know 800a3bfe2f you’ve always 36b05e8a81 been curious.”9c71a92548137612

“…Did it show?” Eleanor asked.e1fc0f5f94e3da2c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, yes, a 24ae5401e5 lot. You’re cute, ee2f8636c6 so I d6843c14dd just pretended f22800239a not to f573e2058c notice. Anyway, now that I’ve f84e0b44f9 answered your question, I’ll 2666558411 go get some food. You haven’t eaten 3a03a7f824 all day, so a63c2359f7 you must be 296cf3d408 starving. You should 3b6baa21a6 at least 78cb9e0d3c have some e964a71b29 soup.”d435fc32e4c540a4

“I’m fine,” Eleanor said.f1f41ce112fe0ee9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m not fine. I’ll be back ddaa72fae3 soon, so just 50fcf4ea14 rest for now!” ed19700624 Hilda said as 7c24256126 she dashed off 9924021c44 before Eleanor could cea41b2d1a protest.5d29579478b2c86a

Eleanor watched Hilda’s 43650cc039 retreating figure, a 3c8963cfd9 little dazed, before dc17efa886 she smiled softly. The sense 030c42174f of déjà 79a632a01a vu lingered, 9ad0a9bb85 as Hilda 194aa62603 reminded her 702991c559 of Duke 857a6cd948 Royster. The Duke had also 9dc60fd5cf ignored her protests and 101b42b03a insisted she take his 760fcd4f16 coat.9f7225aa21ec9d0f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was funny that looking at the small and cute Hilda made her think of the large and imposing Karsian. If someone heard her thoughts, they’d probably think she was losing her mind.4366ecba8f236d34

‘The common point is… both of them like me,’ she thought.c71a3606a2daab3e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Unlike Hilda, who was 9f9355323a genuinely kind, Karsian’s affection, ace3df7406 based on romantic feelings, d24c584f6e was uncertain, but Eleanor 7224a6331a closed her eyes slowly.3dfeb70df3427f84

***171960bdb52c15a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At Hayden Palace, where 0e1a0eb836 the royal family of d5ce53b974 the Jubnail Kingdom resided, 2340bd538b Marcus, the secretary to b4be102773 the crown prince, had fb9fb317d0 been troubled by his 5ccc2633dc duties lately.f1562481697f4968

The crown prince, Arlo, had always been a source of stress for Marcus, but recently, it had gotten worse, especially after the ball at the Astria Duke’s mansion.bddcb042dd2bd11a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Arlo had been 89098a17c6 absent-minded all day, 2ef33e9fcb delaying work and b6785977bd sometimes saying ridiculous 3ee2541014 things that put fa0113dd4f Marcus in awkward e329171c80 situations. Today, however, Arlo 7f8e195aa3 had said something 40098dcc80 particularly strange.7a4a681c8ce4f5c0

“Marcus, have c23138df1b any of 5fb7ebd878 the past 7b8435da5b emperors ever 5f2dd4ab93 taken a 9a7e8d460f queen’s sister 158bba7630 as a 0c2371d1c4 concubine?” Arlo c031bab4f3 suddenly asked 4cfb3f0b6a as he 9af8cb5d65 lay back 208cfc72ad on the fbd8837ca0 sofa in 34c3b38900 an odd 170b016b54 position.85fa260665642f97

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Marcus was taken 05dc4d583c aback by the 85d9b12aee question.6a339960a4c7d979

“If they 3d87aff658 weren’t blood 28b0ef3588 relatives, I 4f3d57d1c1 suppose it a59a524ed5 wouldn’t be 6d33229fa5 an issue. What do you think, 6d78f88d06 Marcus?”a86bed1627dcd200

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In truth, Marcus didn’t cfedefafb5 think it would matter d56e837d3d even if they were 849b9e0bc1 blood relatives.36376c5e7657e9a4

Arlo’s strange 7cb34990f0 statement was 4815671315 the only 3b18fc6a03 consideration he 2126bdac64 showed Marcus, 75eb5706e2 who had 333465e45b been surprised 8ba801c5da by his e5fb84168f words.8fadf06968aa1f5d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There has never been a918dd40ca such a case, Your bbe303be7b Highness,” Marcus replied.2e6e8b5def519cb6

Marcus patiently suppressed his urge to shout out and calmly answered, “If the empress’s family allows it, it would be possible, but… it wouldn’t look very good. A wise ruler should be an example for the nobility.”319321ffa4ccf726

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re not my teacher, so stop the boring talk. You mean it’s not impossible under the system, right?”ca4896f9694bf22d

“Yes, Your Highness.”e8edfb38d2b8833c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hmm…”df3b457c72b6e83b

After Marcus 21f7ed127f reluctantly gave d132104b1c the answer 82e37c3794 he wanted, e752072be0 Arlo finally ce299cf362 lifted his eb07f1a6cc head from 37aa8166d1 where it 58a6527921 had been d5a6b69e1e tilted back. He sat up f6b3ec9c11 properly and fiddled e6a8e1801e with the pen 11051da9d1 on the table 51cc4470f5 before grabbing it.c3505adf3a03833a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Get me some stationery.”b0caf1ec9328322d

Giving the order arrogantly, Marcus opened the drawer as if used to it. Whether he was a wise ruler or not, the crown prince was, at the very least, a tyrant, if he wasn’t an outright fool being swayed by women.c9fdd84a6fbd15b7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Bring me the prettiest one. You know, something women would like.”99a0e7b1b4f470d5

Or maybe, he wasn’t 08060845d3 even capable of being 1655b41496 a tyrant and would 5daaf05c31 end up being a 913af5e7e6 fool, completely swayed by 94c04fb86e women, without even realizing fc05972a2c it.b380bc9725fe0d51

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

***6439a01f08efbf92

Thanks to Hilda’s tender care, Eleanor’s leg was slowly healing. However, her condition was still poor, and she couldn’t move for about three days, unable to leave her bed.43ee9c6417cda103

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

On the fourth 85866d8a4a day, she was 72a1a8f5ca finally able to 1ac65358d1 walk a little, c1403761d2 but every step efc767f8cc still made her 0a83f3638c thighs ache, making 050035fd78 movement difficult.a5561660c1b8b366

“I’ll have to ask them to take turns hitting one leg next time. Maybe then I could use a cane,” she joked, but both Hilda and Ernst looked at her sternly.e52a63e14add81e0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hilda’s eyes even glistened cb72d0d402 with tears, realizing she 5b74852906 would eventually have to 310ec9a634 punish Eleanor again. After seeing that, 23f042bc0f Eleanor promised herself e7dca1e05e not to make 1214e9b935 such jokes again.35ad63967ad9e949

Ironically, the one 1ddb8c2a6a who had caused 261609b070 her leg to 1e33f2bd9d be like this, 8a4ec1076b Duke Astria, went eb29cd5201 about his day c3c6cf2d62 as if nothing ee9a045023 had happened. His face 20d77c2c1f was calm dacb8b959c as he 771f8d6dcf handed Eleanor 3db7e42dc4 the documents 602cd5935e to deal cf95b819cc with, looking 4220ec707e like a 940c108473 creature incapable 5b520e7f3f of any 526c0f3ba9 emotion, as ee79c7b49c though he ddd6097b85 felt nothing.cd5d323cb1b8a451

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What was 0d0b65a35f even more 3c053a4108 chilling was 9e19be8c02 the fact a8a90629db that he 0c44a88b16 had also edee6480de forced Eleanor 62af7a60db to behave 2c3921ce59 as if bc5d8d39cb nothing was 9433382631 wrong.abde6734cd6602ee

Despite her 1918167b53 still struggling f494bf1fce to move, 2c8f7e2f2b the Duke a39bc33312 had ordered 30aad9ea4e her to 32acf05f7e join him 7bc1226af0 for Friday 6b01d65d7c breakfast. Of course, there a7368ccbc5 was no room af4ba40686 for refusal.918260d7362d2cef

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As a result, Eleanor 049a2323b1 hobbled down the stairs, ab5a2d1bd5 walking all the way dd7f77ff17 to the dining room, 291aab2939 not even accepting Hilda’s 61404ff2bc assistance. She knew 9b9bacb571 very well 57fe177ca6 that this f92c930079 was the fbe84df725 image the f90d7160d2 Duke wanted 541466c15c to see.a17538760d161b7e

“…Sit down, Ellie.”454084405f59ab54

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Duke, who e906908617 had arrived unusually af4680b8ec early, smiled at dac6a8c15d her appearance with 7e1b06387f satisfaction. Normally, he c07203b74c would have 2d1a86e9ac gotten upset 3543356fbd if she 65d6e660d1 had arrived 98d247ac2d later than 7c42ea331d him, but 0c27ba33f1 this time, b3c594cc40 her compliance 384c781dbe seemed like 551f152aa6 an act f44812ab41 of consideration.b9b74b31e9659340

Nora, who arrived c8c41a9fce soon after, also 7f8e0d30e2 greeted Eleanor with 5aedc0d58c a bright smile.9107b2af168c89dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, Ellie. It’s been a while. How have you been?”6d9047c64baf3f13

Her smile 7f9e650975 and the 66661e7e17 way she f8055f984e asked seemed d609d6563f to imply 46e9fda8d7 that she 8b80590099 knew exactly 7b2cbecdcd what Eleanor 2cf7b597b4 had been b62f9e6bca through. Or perhaps, 148c5c6e30 she had bd61551abd even been 20fda0eff3 behind the 539cf74b6d whole thing.d75064bc73edbe20

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Before Eleanor had 1ad91fbc05 met with her 3da328cdb5 father in the 6732b54e89 study, Nora had 4a56e6f57f probably already gone 7573e7d991 to consult with 69fa3f3b6d him, suggesting that a8203744c3 the latter was ac33e394ed more likely. It seemed like 037d88fbb6 she had taken 84d4f5cd02 revenge for ruining d3f4677bc5 her debutante ball d7b25b24c3 by doing this.df6b76b9033593a1

“Well, I’ve been fine. What about you? I heard Kiara has been spreading gossip everywhere.”3cfa9763712bf0d6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Considering how badly Nora 0452f1a06b had behaved at the 5f5effcab8 debutante ball, there’s no 9c0b1ed290 way things had been 60483d0ac9 fine for her.413b1df9139f339c

The Cardiff social 1c8c7b240c circle had been e0ffee0adf abuzz with talk 75e13a17b3 about Nora, and d57fc000bf even strangers were bfb5909838 laughing at her. Apparently, she had 8875266c0f refrained from going deb5237157 out recently, as 8967f0c037 her debutante ball 3aecc2621a had been a 269b639314 disaster. Given that her b50a8a96ab dream had been 428902158b to mingle with 78429dd248 many nobles, this 55544156b9 humiliation must have 34e55d09b0 been unbearable for 7a3af3f23b her.027deaa14c85bbd1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

However, Nora casually c144c390fd laughed it off, bed0c3480c pretending nothing was ce23d544ad wrong.3d76044a1d6c67cf

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, time will solve it.”c9b6664623d9e2ab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Right, you’re so optimistic, it’s nice to see,” Eleanor replied with a smile, though her words carried an underlying sharpness.21ae7ce763ac7c68

The two 5029d42eab young ladies 97be3705e1 sat down, bff317abe1 and the 4a4aa55ea0 breakfast of cb6e76385e the Astria 4e006e2edb family began, 0313f204cd excluding Damian, b971b581f3 who was 60f328214f locked in 220976d577 his room.a6a2fcc95592f1db

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The sound of dishes 735b2dc9f8 clinking filled the heavy 8b44cf17c6 silence when the Duke’s cb7f48fb5e cold voice broke it.7c51a78601f8bbca

“Elli, has there been any communication from the Royester Duke?”4be812710755d5d0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The first 52c8840bc4 question he 5c88946f71 brought up 3b3a5a5db6 was about abcf04dbe4 her relationship 0ef949d625 with Karsian. Despite having answered him 78f254212f multiple times during her 96b9453dc1 punishment that there was 75c36234d5 no connection, the Duke 3858f03c1f asked again, as if dff9e6dc8a it were the first 4e72197e18 time.a9ca505d62322e9e

“Well, I imagine he might reach out soon,” Eleanor answered, feeling the Duke’s curiosity growing.507b1d7834c32377

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Let me know immediately when he does.”e589786a7555a5c0

“Yes, Father.”73e181801272059e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She nodded obediently, 602384392f but from the 218cdaf60f corner of her 62282162fb eye, she could 3b0debd995 feel a sharp 1541723120 gaze. It was Nora, glaring f490cfb5ea at her.260fee7b96349c7a

Eleanor knew that Nora must have been angry upon learning that the “man of Eleanor” turned out to be none other than the famous Duke. It was making her uneasy.3dca5f12aef9acef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Eleanor suppressed a 7eac4088a3 smile, sensing Nora’s 326f654753 discomfort, as she 948c983e5e could feel Nora’s 93d31d4d96 arm trembling slightly 1452acecf0 from where they 220876ed41 sat.8dcb3f9ef760628c

Before long, Nora’s innocent 86f33768ba voice came.e40b33a58ff7d55b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“By the way, Father. We received a letter from the royal family this morning.”5402276dfab9324a

“A letter from the royal family?”1216507729ea1336

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nora nodded excitedly, 1f1acd9c6f and then glanced dbb3e4e9ad at Eleanor with 7dfb41a424 a sly look.0a4b48e99a7e5069

“Yes. The Empress wishes to meet with me. She thinks it’s better to become familiar before the wedding.”1a7407a0c8552bbe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Eleanor took a sip ef54ff2e35 of her tea, forcing 88007b4357 a smile as she a520a0113c hid her amusement. Despite whatever had 9ede4340d8 happened at the 9f49c79d27 debutante ball, she 6eecabd379 would eventually marry 55c42a8a18 the crown prince 512ebbd8b3 and join the 69dc788922 royal family. Nora, on the other 86ec8b6d4f hand, was openly boasting 51db737033 about meeting the Empress, a0b28b2742 not realizing that Eleanor 1a7d10e45d had no interest in 2859dfeabb that position.f65b7ce73bcf4732

“Well, I guess she would be curious to meet the future daughter-in-law. When does she want to meet?”79bb04d9dec3f3da

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The day after tomorrow morning. Since it’s our first meeting, I think I should prepare something. What do you think would be appropriate?”4f10b55f32ed4f53

“That’s up to you… No, from now on, you should ask Lady Geoffrey.”c78cb6f1df373781

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, Father.”9a815250f237db83

Seeing Nora ad0bd2df2d smiling brightly, 8adf2fa9be the Duke d973fb221a of Astria 3d198aa7fc sighed quietly. Unlike Eleanor, who 357e851c96 took care of 4c0fcae5b2 everything on her 1bada0d79f own, Nora required 87bed3136a a lot of 0745e028e2 attention. If left to her 997cd24a2e own devices, she might ecf4a62991 cause another disaster like 0a14abf6d3 the debutante ball, so 2310ed43e5 some supervision was necessary.54bdc50f8d25ab69

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Meanwhile, Eleanor found it hard not to laugh at Nora’s complete confidence about meeting the Empress. She almost felt sorry for her.f90305c3e2577dd6

When she finally met d4543cd58e her future mother-in-law, she b08aee176e wouldn’t be able to 01dcffb900 feel the same joy.060e7ee70716452b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Not one, but two mothers-in-law… how troublesome.’49034a3250b94030

 31187f52f5e85f17

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator