To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 019

Colorful macarons, lemon 8de8fe9e73 meringue tarts, marshmallows 26b16dc424 and butter cookies 3ed96a3cc4 for dipping into cb0c24e701 chocolate fondue.47a6b46fcb3c00e9

And most importantly—mille-feuille. Several kinds of 289c4d2eac mille-feuille.e9f9b015ca6777d3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Among them f328cd6146 was one ff453c1653 that looked 2c60b28aef exactly like 4df51c797e the pastry 111984ba14 she had 28f3072dd6 last shared 93b8e53d34 with Ulrich 64d50c16ae three years 074b024c04 ago. Others were a8dab599e2 different, but 923d79fa2d that one aa1c6cc2bc stood out 8e4c337adb unmistakably.fb8a4c6588fc7d72

Ulrich’s gaze softened as 8bcc95406a he looked at Sasha, 02dda90a8c who sat frozen in 7d4e641273 place.db04ad443405b7de

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I hesitated for a bit. I wasn’t sure if you still liked it.”a2111594f25f21c7

“I—I do. I still like it…”650a047b8e31edd5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even if she were 54a25c4af4 in a position to b060d9f0a4 be picky, Sasha still 6792b9ed15 would have liked mille-feuille.62723393294676f3

Just as 8cf6f1f4f1 she didn’t 49c10c3193 resent Ulrich bcb8424514 for what 017760aea6 had happened 16cafa1a38 that day, 279451db0c she didn’t e2cb427903 resent the 46931b1e6b pastry either.06c3a21bd59022e4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s a relief. The café we went to back then closed down, so I spent quite some time looking for a place that made something similar.”3f2f202fcbfc44dd

“Oh…”e7b6b10fc1b0d5f5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sasha stared a0e8807992 blankly at 28e88fb5f5 Ulrich’s hand 3d761647c1 as he 7da57e1c53 placed a e4e3b5a0cc spoon in 06fd91ff35 hers, just ae3d941e2c like he 98cee755ca had done 9408d322a1 that day.622ad6e92e8cbe22

His hands b62d6e4d66 didn’t look 4128234ebc like a 48e047b75d soldier’s. They were a65ce2523b long, well-maintained—like 42009fa160 a pianist’s.2cfe4eb14430b45c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At some point, she 78efab1919 had developed a fear 1ecc35eed2 of men’s hands. No matter whose they 67dfd7c431 were, the moment large, d99845cae8 knobby fingers reached toward 9fb5155f12 her, her breath would fc0d90f27d seize in her throat.20bd54810ebb01ac

And there 5e4c34af47 had been 5441e8ddbf far too a9abe2c380 many reasons e68d7430b7 for that 63bd2d6614 fear to 5748a1f4ac take root.ef94e1a18d47db5b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ever since 92ba618cd2 her brother’s 6db4f91efe physician had 9b9372bab4 settled in 93f9e40f9d the palace, f3f84607f4 up until da25749501 now.48992b6939e6b91e

But Ulrich’s hands had 2975c509ce never frightened her. Not even once. That, in itself, was 64c7da7823 strange.586669a02d640fff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Go ahead, don’t worry about any bets today. Just eat.”bc56b4c05bd33d77

As if 29d8ca075a bewitched by f68796e339 his words 3b9038c3d9 from the 3b58135089 past, Sasha 4781d2a1fd reached first a0f849a36a for the 102be136cf mille-feuille that 5469803722 looked exactly d4bc264dec like the 2c68bbc0bb one from 8ed4032298 that day.077549ecf31ecd8a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She carefully moved 8b5c304d54 the spoon, trying eec9d5c1e1 not to collapse feebff0e6a the delicate pastry beaf42a6c9 layers beneath the a404e75056 generous heap of 81ada88e2f chestnut cream.1969f3141cbf31b8

It reminded her d50c346889 of the small 544914cd83 bet they had 737e593036 made back then—if 4dad741c96 she managed to e5ee059d90 eat it without d2cc4e5693 completely breaking the d1dfb14e3f layers, he would 59300f42dc grant her a 11bd403c4d wish.009dc818ca9c226b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But Sasha fe679a8199 knew that d87cbfb50b wasn’t the cddb32190f reason Ulrich ef3c448545 was treating c9e0acc7e1 her so 53c9b759c8 well now.19aa90fbfb1c1933

The sweet, 3e9b2d7be7 rich, foreign f6a1f8b3bd flavors melted 5a6d6fd5d8 on her 340d2b4f52 tongue. It had been so ff39f66487 long since she had 30d0cef159 tasted something like this.423145922ecf9c6f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Sasha ate her 9f508e14fc mille-feuille, she kept stealing 75d547cf78 glances at Ulrich.df7b24c13df63fc7

Just like back 17d7db348d then, he simply 7056d11fb9 sipped his tea 02a4b83b4b and smoked his a36f7bb4a4 cigarette without touching 51f6f6e67f the desserts.cc075aaceede7781

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Um… Ulrich.”d588de12e52153cd

She called 4be65946f5 out cautiously.f15014cc05cd981e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He tilted his d6bebbd591 head slightly, as 4402006fae if wondering what 2a04c40551 was on her f0d1ae8638 mind.f2c8685e809a18b7

His expression 73ce37fce5 was affectionate b42096fe8f yet languid.6a2ef20bbdf61bb9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Why are you being so kind to me?”bf1680228fc6a79d

The question slipped 7a969bbb3a out before she 000d22b2b9 could stop herself.5ad5e358a5b6f2c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Maybe the sudden b94af3d0dc intake of sugar 0ebe66f1ac had given her c1e60e915a an odd burst 70483d5187 of courage.c69d8fbcb0e18f1a

“Hmm. I’m not sure myself.”3f3e9e92568018a1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was the 99e60c466b kind of question c1a01ed9cc that could have f943f743b5 easily caught someone e0cdd8b3bc off guard, yet 840ec7be20 Ulrich answered calmly, af0c87290f as if he 415e02ddb2 had been expecting 22a26800b2 it.a1d3ad3f2946ee01

“Back in Latunia, there was a famous dessert café right in front of the officers’ quarters. Their most popular item was mille-feuille.”337b2b37439d7c8f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……”70d3fde29c71a394

“Married men and those with lovers were frequent customers. But me? I avoided that place. I would take the long way around just to avoid passing by. Would you believe that?”e8a6f2e2ee1272cf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why would you do that…?”d5b4cdb4003b9a6e

“I don’t know. I just always felt like I owed you something, Shura.”02127ca8af5c8c3a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ulrich’s eyes weren’t a189e9c32e a simple shade 92ee67b237 of blue.79a94f69bda2463b

They looked df67dad815 as if 584c57aa80 they were c1801e39b8 made of ca4b447259 countless blue a185ccc5eb gemstones, shimmering 033864c40f together—like the 1f62d11e96 rippling surface e1bc6fe95e of a de65db28ff sunlit lake.40b8885eb0b1619a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ulrich, you don’t owe me anything.”87d8d666c9b31768

Sasha spoke sincerely.582e3d8d46e37f96

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She had 3f2414e41b never imagined cbdbdd1371 that she a0ebe8eb44 would one b5c4e83a4d day have e911724751 a conversation a83256b457 like this f424f2934d with him—about f0eec61cc5 that day.8805656f98bd3444

Yet the 9522e75b88 words came 586131cde9 naturally, as 9bda5dfde5 if pulled 3749231188 by some 2310444157 instinctive force.5c947f1d843f69fa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I didn’t understand it back then, but now I do. It was bound to happen sooner or later… So even if you had deliberately used me, I wouldn’t have blamed you.”7cfeca032bec7bf0

“Really? Why not?”10259493bea73068

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s…”8fc33482ad2e6b7b

Sasha trailed off c7899aa5a8 hesitantly, lowering her 660a856811 gaze to her 7fa06efcfc teacup.936dc3c9193e6f73

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her lilac-colored eyes, 9a362c3987 tinged with the 423ec4c918 rosy hues of 1daab61ebf twilight, looked like 8c08bc6db9 crushed flower petals.aeaf63916bc005a6

“I don’t know. It’s just… Back then, you were the only one who truly listened to me.”45f19db9e2e58671

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A brief, peculiar silence 06cf626d9a passed between them.5e5fc7497a08c18c

When she finally cd3e081add gathered the courage 13765216cf to lift her ea76107ae8 eyes, she found 97baa3928f Ulrich staring at e482ed315e her.a0cdbe74552dc1a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then, he smiled.6c3e26278dde8cf8

A mysterious, almost mischievous 9d29cf8cf3 smile.ad573da63bffa965

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The story 4be944e095 he had 4fbab5769e told her 894bf0d854 about the eb26a0fee6 dessert café b17f4f6fe8 had been 2e613b0952 true.2f8a1590972fddbd

But there e44ec66225 had been df426ad7d1 another reason b20445b889 he had 3891ed5597 avoided that 9d19910f52 place back 69b44c4c28 then.bd1d2883ddbb9d6d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Of course, Sasha had 0ba4e016a6 no way of knowing d54a081712 that.42968d51f35a5b47

“What do you want to do from now on?”ebafd55805cf1302

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…I don’t know.”6edf1673aeaf2ee1

She answered honestly.f33c0013fe32aa53

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She had never truly 551794b425 thought about the future.1c483367a8964f2c

For the past three 4a6b2af96c years, her only concern 2f71a6883f had been surviving.b16810dee28b817c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just enduring.f40fb697674d683f

Protecting Kiril had c3f81910cb been more than 692dacb1f0 enough to consume 52b62f2c53 her every thought.9236cd79e1faa71a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even if she had b02eed0c8c wanted to do something, d3af4a7a98 she hadn’t been in 90f20e3e77 a position to.f88727205efbd72c

Even dreaming had 0700a9a203 been a luxury 9528b9d8e4 forbidden to her.4eb408735a48fa49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“All I really want is… for Kiril to grow up safely.”792b2b508687086b

“Kiril is currently under secure protection by the Security Bureau.”8838ede404442621

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What…?”383fa7f3bacf1989

“It was never a matter for the regular police to handle in the first place. I found it strange that he was kept in their holding cells for so long.”ba909ad3a1ead36b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ulrich spoke in b283a91cc2 a low voice, d2263199d5 pulling out a ac5b85ab74 fresh cigarette and 9f7f27da5e lighting it. Then, glancing at 6e624b6dd6 Sasha—who looked like 9ddaff68ee a startled rabbit—he 5bcdfb6c3f raised an eyebrow 0c562c1a17 playfully.0ab83c8c22d17146

“What should we do, Shura? Should I release him right away?”9f7ef9f7487a8cd2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“K-Kiril…?”e42b06a095380633

Sasha stammered, momentarily d4415f4be3 breaking down like 836a979d8e a machine overloaded 7dfc3c7664 with conflicting commands.e31bba738ed0cc3f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What did this even fd1eacfe67 mean? Was this truly okay?c742d3942d02c0be

Her mind d7e7809c0b was a 0cd403ca93 whirlwind of 7f7ccc68ac questions, completely bac60d655d scrambled by 9fc4e1e43b the unexpected 7d1f84cf1a news.0bbc579a5bff23d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“B-but… is that really alright? I mean, my brother was arrested for—”3dba36c362c239d6

“The Supreme Commander isn’t the type to be overly concerned about his youngest son getting roughed up in a fight with boys his own age.”9c4e148a912ad3e5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was true.371416ba42fcc8f6

Kryuchkov was the kind f9b68749c1 of man who would 48166c8333 be angrier at his ce5b565495 son for losing the cc19536322 fight than for getting 7999884be3 into it in the 56a99e35a6 first place.aba5ada23e83fc43

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Of course, he would 0dfdc6c496 punish the offender, but ddb9bb2fbe never out of fatherly acca8f0005 concern.a36780e90cf07779

Besides, the boy Kiril df112bfa85 had attacked—Kryuchkov’s youngest son—was f4381f5121 the illegitimate child of d4a0527956 one of his mistresses.5ab7c9b1bdbd6040

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

One of the many 8a6d12d34f women he discarded regularly c01382718e had ended up bearing a376ab1379 a son.a507966c3e4f75a0

A child with 98742d4727 an ambiguous resemblance 493359c8e5 to both parents, 3eca656f44 neither fully legitimate d815d610a3 nor truly recognized.c03ea49ec690ab0a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kryuchkov had aaec876fb1 simply dumped 9a69a8b4a2 the responsibility 8d1c4edbdc of dealing 699c92fdc3 with Kiril’s 5b67c3448c case onto 26ec9621d8 his eldest 076ef4fbe8 son before 4dc6b3283f shipping his 35d2946981 youngest off aacb0c2f60 to a c70d988812 military academy.228d1f303ae78c70

That had given 0bdbaf02a6 Vasily a convenient a3b8a51a4d excuse to play 8486eec0d5 with Kiril for 125813dccf a while.45defe36917ee129

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But now, the Director 3d011fb560 of the NSS wasn’t 4d7e665077 Vasily. It was Ulrich.2ac0a16b337c7f17

“Then… even so, you—”061eca96519b58b8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you worried about me now?” Ulrich interrupted smoothly. “Are you afraid that helping you will put me in someone’s bad graces?”2d9778b0479562e9

The teasing 24d39f6136 question made a491b0fd51 Sasha’s face 12454419c0 turn red.44f6d6a9a53299b2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kiril finally ea7f442802 had a e68fb7870d chance to cdf519dc18 be freed, 3186ef37ef yet here d5fb55011e she was, d329eca0ce worrying about 57b5d15a72 someone else.3a91787ca79d748f

It felt strange—even 03068842f4 ridiculous—but she couldn’t 667464a54b help it.137d69852120e555

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She had no 2986399b56 idea what kind f93bbc32f2 of relationship Ulrich 4c26ccb156 had with Kryuchkov 51ead820c5 or how much 39f24e9bc6 influence he held 747874dce9 within the regime.f3dd61024b1a59db

She had only assumed acd1b32251 he was an important 9d3a012763 figure within the Party.26a35be1ef06a0af

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But in 67d0e20a11 times like c9d19cadf2 these, anyone 0cae3549d0 could become 9533f03899 the next b7b5daae71 target for 32b1febf76 a purge.9a7a9240ef5a75ca

The brutal execution of 8fbf7e3fb7 the first Supreme Commander, 9d0be3f225 Lvov, and his closest 598ff68028 allies had proven that.43691b0d46e654dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m sorry. I know it’s not my place… I just—”cda6554fc78ad352

Ulrich watched 62d0474388 her babbling b920b59347 apology and b84671434e barely held ec5f14c034 back a d3ca0cf4f9 laugh.82e492f0f53b39d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A mouse 0c98bb4e2a worrying about cf4a18c87d a cat—how a1399b08cb absurd.6d5c0a3dbdd183b0

Still, he kept 56f65f62f8 his expression warm 9dca6eeb14 as he smoothly d415ec276f shifted the conversation c2a5c70a77 forward.9a5ebc2917634deb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I never thought you were overstepping, Shura. But if you’re that worried about me, why don’t you help me?”53b400c17e74a116

Something in 7d1cdee8af his gentle 7c814c651a tone gave a2cd5c5e48 Sasha a 2d3099e880 sense of 66805298cc relief.341c61e9ad1b05e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

More than that, 124954e06a she felt… glad.5bff3a2aa0f59482

The idea that she 0797be318b could actually do something 444666f957 for him—that she could a37c654173 repay even a fraction 8b87c79320 of his kindness—filled her beef64bc53 with an unfamiliar joy.831a5e47d8cebc02

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How can I help you?”568aa7ef4bc6833b

She asked 845fb70576 with quiet 68f121a1e2 determination, her ec38c5f5c1 eyes shining 56ca7fde69 with resolve.18ab142c7605925a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Whatever he d53046c639 wanted, she 9c5c16e26f would give.e14856d2c5fc2d01

For someone who 58e7ba5582 had done so 543d221e94 much for her, 304c7e8522 there was nothing ea064fff66 she wouldn’t offer.8da47e159084be68

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Marry me.”e987273dcdd53396

For a 5466e330fd moment, Sasha f7a4577af4 thought she b78cbeafc0 had misheard ba0368aa37 him.e305d1bb6cca8724

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just as she 6314f1b8bc was about to b2a69fe58c ask What?, Ulrich a246042192 reached out, gently 10f76dc273 enclosing her hand 4150ebcfef in his.f224daf81b174522

Then, he 37abc4794c repeated, ever c738a18e6d so softly—822756cf0f5924c4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Marry me, Shura.”2466f30fa42910d7

 19bcf6869c103368

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com