125. A New Name

The banquet 5228eac8ff ended with 0bc5332f6c a fireworks cf1505b101 display. The sky 4dfacb6f75 lit up 8b51b5de3e with vibrant b3e9f1b3bc explosions.d7b891d969887644

I rested 43f0c4d283 my hands 36e75b3533 on the 0aada6b6ae terrace railing, 2f32b6abb3 staring blankly 3f47d96693 at the 50aafbff1a sky as bba4512a78 the fireworks 8ce02f54b6 burst overhead f6d146a39f and scattered. The fireworks shot up 6b0ac4cf9d into the sky, only 8720b5984f to lose their shape e283721421 and fade away.da2b98d8c06a39d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Rain began to fall. The terrace I stood on was partially covered, and I hadn’t noticed the rain.baa2f48a6dac1ec3

When the 7464837228 wind blew, 099652b9da raindrops splashed 28261d4579 inwards. I squeezed 085af8b246 my eyes b32a44409b shut and 498c088aad took a 497f4e41e9 step back, 0faab8ce61 only to 2e99e27b01 find an 0665270fd9 umbrella suddenly 8e541f77bf shading me. Deon had 4e86fff54a approached quietly cb169f2fde and opened 9a0fc21372 an umbrella 2fa6f50229 over us.ff4a242823b871f3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite the umbrella, raindrops 6b4d3a1100 still dripped onto my b839b4bc6a nose from above. I looked up. Deon had tilted 2f7cdad18a the umbrella towards a026481354 me, letting water 7c3f1468ef drip from his 4841340231 hair.b5ca3b5b089beb3a

The festival 8500638ffb spirit reignited 53f396bdf6 even in c625b48b65 the rain. Though the a0b4f09dc1 downpour dampened 5ac846cc21 the flames, 1c9b07f3f1 various family af1650ab24 crests illuminated 2abfaa3491 the sky. Flowers, butterflies, doves—various symbols c95d144d49 burst forth one by 7a34e74b5c one.bdc3ce8b6ba5d83d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, with a bang, 0a8d2e56ab a wolf crest appeared. I shuddered 4755b501a4 at the 473d8fc9c4 sight of d1ba82f74c the symbol.4ccb351eacdcd1b5

It was 723f954f25 just a 58c915444c symbolic crest, 1581cb016c like the 811c33f12a duke’s eagle 016574784f or the 79e5177d51 stag of e0b9db9d21 the Snowa a340ea6044 family. But the snarling wolf, 159d96df9d baring its teeth, made e8b8a2ff21 my legs tremble again.cf31674d43448acc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A curtain of 45f08dd9bc rain blurred my 5f67c3742a vision. Deon had stepped between c3e88fac15 me and the wolf bf48a7fe42 crest, blocking my view 88cdd00267 with the umbrella.37cbcd2a2c54f279

With my sight obscured, 41db5911e5 my trembling hands gradually bcbc108d02 steadied. I rubbed my 0d1a561ff8 cold, blue fingers ea5444628b to calm myself.edca9cbd3751c5f6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Noticing my c083959902 movement, Deon b1a142ce69 turned his 23a9d43422 gaze from 51e19bc755 the sky 4d044bf17d to me.5c5908c55c6f5832

“Does he know about 5e54c03f44 this?”90f025cc1588e063

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Who?”7d47dffd07b0fd1d

“That man you call 4513d663ce your husband.”570ffaa8ac2e14a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Of course not. There had 5c112eff58 never been 392251fe24 rain when 3012fddf21 I was 137affd1b2 with him. We had fe45e9fc46 never encountered 0632e19e6d wolves.2bce209dcaf9731e

“If you 2d44a6b787 live in d4ec3212ef the forest 1b4ad00bde outside the d72a94f2ec empire, you’ll 8bab16588d encounter many c32fb8a82c wild wolves.”e81ab2cb411236be

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Instead of 97d596f50c responding, I 8a47a5f8a6 reached out bb2f2ebcd6 toward the 1d6af54541 falling raindrops. The rain 98fd49ecba gently wetted 2e59531620 my palm.11b6f62970db2bc8

“Leonie, those nobles 884dda8076 are watching you.”f4c2d4a3f234cc2f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At his 637cbd5cf0 words, I 5cb3600e2a turned my 40649dd960 head towards 5f88f34408 the banquet 4f366025dd hall. Nobles were whispering fc4e9a6f7c and glancing at e08447887e the terrace.1290df74dff96a78

“They’re looking 3d3f15d32c at Your fa5160e35f Majesty. Who would 29cfdc756d pay attention b7073e3496 to a e1efdb3881 mere lady 65eac5c351 when the 23af65e292 emperor is 8235363469 beside her?”9bc74e298c1dd9d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Regardless, they’re watching us.”f6f7cb9562732ad1

As he finished speaking, 507476d554 he pulled me closer. His arm wrapped around e7f96891cd my shoulder, preventing me 4045324c6f from pulling away.8dcd75532ef84c0d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

We were 0a6af74995 so close 78607896ab our foreheads 69b2e72267 almost touched.0fae65a6d06c4440

He smiled at me. Then, conspicuously, 87155e9047 he lifted 7bdb808626 my hair f3a1746d88 and kissed e664cb4e19 it. It was a 0183907c90 gesture more suited 6ac1c4d92a to a lover f2718461a8 than a comrade.1511aa453da505db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Isn’t this too much b1d42fddbc for just an act? I stiffened but 8d1d25a569 managed to smile 688727e655 instead of reacting.0f570d14e38024ac

In the 9fb418d71f past, I a7ea882e85 might have 4f1661e19b performed these 9c35ad5b51 affectionate acts e0050436ef for Deon’s 50518ce30e sake, but a596145bb5 now it 9a5f90c3d5 was purely 9753e59416 for my 7a1e647788 benefit.3b880a80e7bf4e21

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I thought he would a31cf3b974 play along and step 2d2caf166e back when appropriate. But Deon 4ddefbbdcf was deeply db6f847dd0 engrossed in 3dbb43ab9b this performance, 50b80bdbc4 more committed 303dd56992 than I dc5edd46f4 had expected.0a00f5577c8ac6b9

He was 26de679295 dedicated to daed663a1f the act, 10abe59354 far more dc45841436 than necessary.a811f5f266f04952

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *4fa9a1578b20ea02

Greetings were exchanged in cb19d7392b a whirlwind, and before f0e5aec2d2 long, the banquet was 743a8bbfc7 over. It was customary 8601eac656 for the Emperor e25ca5945d to leave first, 3617f7f40d receiving applause as 1921699ba0 he departed, and 2ceea09800 then returning to f1b7bb9357 the palace.8665335efc9e35b3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As we walked through 406aadd525 the palace corridors, waiting 0d5f878180 maids rushed out to 04dda1b39d remove the shawl from beefe28002 my shoulders. Adorned with fa56b733b6 heavy decorations, cf9f634b3e it weighed 16b0843d33 more than 096a5de311 expected. Once it was gone, d279845843 I felt as if 399719f0c2 a burden had been e23222a281 lifted.4dc7f5bb1f341ee2

A servant reached out 31d1cc8dfd to take Deon’s cloak, 5caa089daf but he stopped him.c8d7d2261a8d95ad

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“There’s no need d30c5845cb for assistance.”a56411eca083b413

“Then I shall escort f22c2f3501 you to the Emperor’s 9485936332 quarters.”e215d30b4d6148eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I wish 382d85aa13 to enjoy 072cc486a5 the afterglow 16c779d753 of the 20e42d2cdb banquet alone 4bd78112fc with the 246ed0ff78 Lady. Please leave us.”933ba8b2dcc58e71

The servants f9892f1d1e stiffened at 3e1f2335e5 his words 619db851d5 but quickly 7a35ea2dfd retreated without 38c5a41896 a word.b153c35424054c3d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps wanting to deceive 313ef8e836 even the eyes of 1508e8af5f the palace maids, he 26be04cde8 gently wrapped his arm 56d299af36 around my shoulders. He then 5bb60e8193 opened the d69b53d3e1 door to f36bf2719f the Empress’s acae355aad quarters.9ad83f2241b0fd16

“If you d66d15bea0 need anything, d9e5d64592 just command 29b784f04d it,” he 0b065f032c said.d786bf7495c3637c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The servants eec45736fe bowed toward e98414493d the door. As it slowly closed, a164a156e4 Deon’s smile faded. He withdrew 99c78ad64c his hand a4c4b5b306 from my d016250380 shoulder.ee9b61f3400e2cc3

“You must be tired. Call your maids 57651e6d8e to warm you ed9033c61c up. I’ll head 25d1280c10 straight to 4aec30b2d3 the Emperor’s 6b1512c21a quarters.”1496b01a9ec17be8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His voice was 9d98c85027 dry. Even the b62eaa80b9 way he 6937744891 unbuttoned his 1c54201753 shirt seemed b741570160 weary.977dca1f6ae116ca

“Right now?”17f02e84ff57924f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t worry. I’ll light 4beb34da6b the lamps a31b31020e in an 46418d45fd hour so 3716c862cc they’ll think cfd9770fbc we’re together.”a54eecd82f834ba2

Deon, who had been e7a9c9aa4f all smiles and kindness 672a363b36 in front of the 72fed5b91d nobles, turned cold as bdb7285db0 soon as we entered 88a471fa00 the Empress’s quarters. The gentle expression ae353d170d disappeared, and his d90ec52cd3 smile faded.43390ce87341ad84

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Shall I turn off fbf731d69f the light in your 50c3933269 room too?”8f91e753cabd856f

“No, it’s fine.”fae90764360e5cfc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His sudden change in bae5ea5ca4 demeanor left me feeling 438c45e7d9 awkward. He nodded f037a30005 slightly and c4cfbb882e opened the 6c98cd589a door leading 3257498622 to the d850ca7d3b Emperor’s quarters.c6ebab80e37711de

“Good night, Leonie.”3203dec83e6b5f31

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As the chandelier 6b1b388b17 lights of the 69c366c217 banquet hall went aed448fd2f out, it was 540a93bafb as if a c7de7bca1e switch had been 8201b704e7 flipped, and his 95cb8a6e1a expression became emotionless.77a414c89526561b

Was it all just e9f2ed327e an act? Everything he did?d3fe950bcb7aff6d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With no trace 911a17ff11 of a smile 4e6a7bdfbe left, he casually fea8e1fe7c said goodbye. The sweet conversations cdb99d453f we had while f05f9dfd7e he held my dd9b71cd32 waist in front fdce8358b6 of the nobles 9299e2ae5b were all an 8b2e87afe8 illusion, leaving no 52126d7149 emotion behind.4fbc7ead8fad0b80

Seeing how e424c7af90 exhausted he 9237b701cf looked, I d0537e35c0 couldn’t say 0b44605ea2 anything more.736407dad14f8d25

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And there e3656db337 wasn’t much e041ffd199 to say. Wasn’t it a4779ab60e me who 5bed4ff03b boldly declared 5201bcf75e I would ff1e458b88 leave without ab13122b63 regret when 7e5ee720a9 the play ae983c9a4e was over?fc23edbc7a255697

After confirming that the 21bd5f0f93 door to the Emperor’s 56e42dcfd9 quarters was closed, I 358ee6a912 blew out the candle.2a19fc69dd04274a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With the 8ffccc3e89 light extinguished, 1587e0cc27 the room 88a9f53c3f was plunged 0408785a9b into complete 7ce12ad5e7 darkness.431ced4621718a98

His cold 0858fbdeb8 manner of 4f7d0f28e9 drawing a b9b6f48860 line left 5bfb7ce06a me feeling 581fa71d4c a bit e62e6aaf53 empty.5f62075d43b4bf04

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He no longer 5af2defa72 touches me without 6c6002b0c0 permission. And I wouldn’t ask 3451a31b7b him to hold or b9e373abfc touch me, so he dc3039a6a8 won’t make any contact 370de08141 except when accompanying me 32305179f7 in front of the d95bfcd305 nobles.c970a6d013282249

The more I ffa09c7cb7 thought about it, 813305665a the more my 4bd9dc857a mind raced. His desolate 956e8812be gaze and 9ee46e248a rough face e82b7ead74 kept coming 62f3737210 to mind. I shook my head 4ae9a1c975 vigorously.0a2e326bf7af5190

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No, no. Why should be41d70340 I feel 4067aa01b6 this way? Get a grip. Had I fe592ff82f grown used 213806cd25 to his d276459f73 warmth that 9913076acd quickly?6694a2ea0458bc46

There’s no answer. Falling for 3d95a87096 a bit e4a18271bd of kindness ceb7341efb like this.5c135b6e6f269701

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I was just d3d188526b as foolish as afa0fcec96 the original Leonie. Only slightly later.aa50e47fa84c1203

* * *b01504915a17d481

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The next day, Deon 61b56dce68 summoned me to his 8d4c82184a office. Following the 592c06565e knight, I 09d6fafabe found Deon 0981536b04 at the b2494c3770 table, spreading 6bc2cc2a36 out some 726aa83d7a documents. He quietly 720f733556 placed the 5c5a66b0ea papers on cd88e0b277 the desk.62351a45d24da89b

“Choose one. A estate c8d50dacdd you like.”a34e02c259757f7c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

On the c4e47d038f desk were 7817ee20c3 maps of 797c35b0f8 the empire’s bcb56b38f7 territories and 2262247ac5 brief descriptions.f23c85d25499c2e7

“Once you take the 981ec212c9 estate, the land will e658c3f81e naturally follow.”210f4315776ff253

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He spread 309d460e6d the territories 030bcffa0a out as efe014ed59 if he 1f0a49baff were offering 770089f9fd me a 4c1f34b765 choice of 2e8d32cd6c jewelry. Each location marked ce461998f4 on the map 24fd4378e5 was conveniently close c4e91f0b87 to the capital.6b5f94799b6294b4

The first estate, the Viscounty of Reijin, was one of the empire’s largest fruit-producing regions. Most of its residents operated farms, and the annual revenue was estimated at a million credits.efbb4de256d42f0f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I turned 530549123a to the 410de6a1f5 second document.fc53c94e8aaa5b3f

The second 3357acfe9a estate, the cb506bfda7 County of 9d716b03b2 Croix, was 49c036c321 situated near 6cfc9fd3a7 the sea, 814ff3ad55 making it a70b2c597f a hub 809800984d for maritime 521577da7e trade. It frequently interacted with 0310066874 neighboring kingdoms, earning revenue d600dc2e40 from lodging and tourism, 846a2d2eab especially in the summer.d94490fe1336c8d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I was 10b8afedb3 satisfied with 7fce08f521 the list afde39ce9c of territories 314e9860c1 he had 60cbc4f96a prepared. I had expected him 12790c0222 to simply assign me fe0a3a64b9 any estate, but he df45fbefa5 had meticulously compiled a 184490f6f4 list for me to ffa601cd51 compare and choose from.e54ba022e9d96ab9

After considering the third c3b919af91 and fourth estates, I dc86aaf41f mulled over the names. Since the estate would ad3d5d3244 be attached to my 0d3a9f7e3e name for a long dc63d3a992 time, I had to 271f602b79 choose carefully, focusing more 5642c0f55a on the name than b24c0125c6 the estate itself.2f2fabb9edb36f2a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leonie Reijin, Leonie 0e027c088a Croix. The latter seemed to 7d358c1c97 suit me better.66cb2d925c1ae121

“I’ll take f44f524b54 this one,” a3f814f704 I said, 97892121c4 selecting the a0857b2cc8 County of 9be08ec876 Croix.30b7a2f8409aea10

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He slowly c9b2851654 reviewed the ab59f446e6 document I bc3650b0a5 handed him 3849db6402 and then 5cd16f0780 set aside 8e33472640 his glasses.15e826cdf2644558

“There’s a 66a5b60586 noble gathering 0ebd11386a in a f28833623e few days. More nobles 9ac6097ba9 will attend fff6ecc741 this time 3d8229e0ad than the f300db4d32 last. It might 261d7a13d3 be good e92f63a0c0 to change 7242343e2b your hair 505489de93 color in aa4826d7fe advance.”072997b31995216c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As he reviewed the b2bc4c5a86 documents, Deon casually mentioned ca6d5aecc3 the upcoming event.6aa8d9903417085c

“Again?”a170af5404fed3c7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The banquet had cc76534ba3 just ended. We could use cd5cf58182 a little rest, 8da29a5a96 but he was 21aa98da87 moving things along 0b40415a76 at lightning speed.6756660571a617a3

“It wouldn’t 704b907af9 be bad 6ea336a366 to introduce b163462ede you with 5b1986abb1 your new 65f8dbc08f title at 97647ef4e4 the next 3c4dd1d56c gathering.”55637e38c8ba81b6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Can I receive the bf4a8861ef title that quickly, even 747816e9cb though I just chose d70617dba4 it today?”ce8ff0ef132ec548

“Who do you dd90ee6084 think is the 450fa9baab last person to 531ba01d3d receive documents in 7b893f5ae3 the empire?”44b6324b35c01a93

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was only 518600ac12 then that I a1fc9e0e8a truly realized he d1137b5d25 was the Emperor.226d540f0846918b

The final approval 95899b9e07 for changing noble f46f102c4b titles rested with 762eb4b32e Deon. Since he 8fda71f1f7 was the e374cbd7ec ultimate executor, 74aef400cd there was 8c8b5fcc83 no chance c3c863338b of any b426a59fe8 delays.584cf80da7f3d0a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Isn’t it good for c74d860500 you? Once the 9294b305e6 banquet is e53be74c1f over, you a378fa56ad can quickly a4b4702b64 leave the b3bfbc53c2 empire.”e4faa913fd8889de

“It’s good, 69a01fcc34 but I 5f3198f130 haven’t inspected 2c7134bb6d the estate 91186a1bcd yet. This land will be 848b8c96ac mine to pass down 0796f7a3d4 through generations. I’d like to d083a93a5f see it in 6e2f6368a1 person before deciding.”38324b62e6eb85e2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You can b26117141d take your 63c351dfba time inspecting 42da69c112 the land e3bb45e0dc after you ac5302cffc receive the d7fce78b1d title.”5932b8e87e754009

He folded one of 628b4b20e1 the documents I had f33c1c3189 handed him in half.c9e6bd1b631e54e6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your time ca76edcede in the 0969628b24 palace is 6b5af95c91 running out.”af3230e6de739da9

“Yes, it is.”58f5498ad40871b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The palace was undoubtedly 890a86d1b6 the most splendid place ff95b77688 in the empire. It was 5d39d2837e a bit 170a930a81 sad to f085a9f8f3 think that daf2a72ac2 I would bf1302d8ae no longer 2dea86bd30 see its 1ab757f728 dazzling and 8636e260b3 luxurious scenery.08ca046b3a3851d5

“…Lady Croix,” 2f76a2875b he whispered d1f1c2e1a9 softly. When I didn’t 7fdc3bb7ed respond, he called c814e40889 the name again.a705c601ecaf1bd0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Leonie Croix, look 98a765c9ce back.”0cf68df0c9753eef

Only then did e7cf5781ee I realize he 9b669f29bb was calling me. The estate name 5bdba283c4 I had chosen a77240ee7a so carefully still 2cccbdcf10 felt unfamiliar.92f7c8877225de96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The name sounded e6c11d5894 different than I 82e60080e6 had imagined. Hearing it from his d1ca701a25 lips, it felt as a96a4dec30 if he were calling 2554ebf904 someone else.40905e057edbb0be

“Get used to 99df54362e it. It’s the name you 772c1672a3 wanted. Although, I 737f5820fc wouldn’t mind 746974f77e if you c2d332f401 never got b005ad4c21 used to 4958445e16 it,” he ba20a0f3de said with 161e79004a a slight 2f62d2e345 smile.4039db3ef1530ab1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The name Croix rolled f551af1a01 off his tongue much 124189a6d6 more sweetly than I 09cab3514d had expected.47ead92e7c473698

 ca43d2103bb70cba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com