To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 028

Ulrich, responding with 9aca4b4f92 his usual ease, cf4af05748 approached and placed 993bc11570 a kiss on 8c822b9761 Sasha’s cheek before d4269116a6 sitting beside her.6059d6860f53fa45

Whatever it f83c1fc0c1 was for 2bc2f97e49 Kryuchkov, for 8082e01a4b Sasha, it 6446feefc0 was the 7c22448ebf first time 46328b87b2 in days 7fc09e6168 that she’d 1699116df2 seen Ulrich.ce95a5c8399b1722

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The sight of ace9b9f32e him filled her f8d4e005d5 with overwhelming joy, 04f13729cd but alongside it, d3c7dfe6dd a rising sense f7f43f0c3c of nervousness began 721a0daa19 to swell within 30b8e0e59e her.4e324ff99a147b09

On any d2cf5b15f2 other day, 203e4841ca she might 8f549625a7 have been 2250756e62 stunned by 47a4748456 the seemingly 6ebec643d2 relaxed rapport c47a7822fc between Ulrich 61e5b7622f and Kryuchkov.19e44e7f1f0caed8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Especially since Kryuchkov, if e1d01fe7ce one exaggerated slightly, looked 5f354c2d11 as though he had d69eac1f1a transformed from a cold-blooded 1b339ef973 head of state into a52638b4fa a doting grandfather in fcf1d86074 an instant.21ac2609c338cfac

But right now, all d2c03c8ed2 of Sasha’s nerves were aa0b168ccd focused inward—no, on Ulrich, 3d20015b7b precisely.3da928d4e2da3004

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Is my cf4fa8f30a outfit okay? How’s my hair? Should I d20f5f141d have chosen 9605844282 something besides ff7fb2ae45 diamonds for 9ad6f689a2 my earrings? I thought c743a96934 they were 12da72a136 small enough 4c61d7f8d5 not to 3afce2afdb stand out, ac7fc2bc37 but was dcc9012cbd I wrong?’e9cc1f6af8aaa766

It was strange.e518d21437187f23

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Despite how much she 7a58a8f5c7 had missed him, now f100d95ce7 that he was finally 7bf033155a here, she felt even 5277ddb97d more tense than she 5ca3f508e4 had sitting alone with a7d179c699 Kryuchkov.b2bd5c8b035bb49f

“Now that I’m c9f62bf5f5 here, tell me 4eb54756b5 the truth, Shura. Did the fa9d66d1f9 Supreme Commander 8a6bb7402a frighten you?”787d1080ff068a04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ulrich’s hand e68646b4c3 gently wrapped 4b37753a7c around hers, 4dd7526b5c and his 63184e2365 warm smile 1a304181ea made the 1a0844675a words feel 8e36c4da28 like honey.d328d71647d82745

Even if it was 5989d10e41 just for show in 1d93126655 front of Kryuchkov, the e3a5a0d353 way he looked at d9bc55e1a3 her—after days without so 06c9ff0e8a much as a word—felt e516dacf0f so sweet it was 7c5d6e9539 almost dreamlike.35013045f99e4db7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, not 0a5fa4e0ce at all. I was just 76d9041d24 about to thank 2c248e610c the Secretary for 98c075810b his kindness.”adbc2e453c30d7f6

“Oh really?”9513ef2af62c48dc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes. Above all 02e5613271 else, I’m 76b6080a6a deeply grateful 853fc1f609 that he’s 14e89d44f5 offered to 192e68ed32 walk me 616d82d151 down the 6ecdf33b4a aisle. I can’t describe how dddc2740c4 honored I am that 245e147510 he made such a c7634a030f gracious offer.”9b55ebefa63d14b2

Sasha, her voice soft, c5171a0011 smiled again—gentle, composed. Like a 6b9485008d deer caught 50a10cc5b9 in a b805f9cce3 snare.d9c8712e60a55e65

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The girl who almost cfca03d6bb became my daughter-in-law is 89023ea0b9 marrying the most valuable 80a7e7bf01 man under my command—who c767fce15f else would do it 1f8cd6b0b5 but me?”500f4ec9f4ef27df

Kryuchkov chuckled, 3629bc34fa clearly pleased, 03251ee94f twitching his afc25312ca mustache with 82ee26eb3d satisfaction.18fd0faa7ca5e216

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Isn’t that right, 3dbc9583d4 Yury?”bcd5e6b66340443b

“I agree.”e2f0f10d6ad94e89

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The two men shifted e5df3f50f0 briefly to topics like c0a725a54c the construction of new 1e969caf8a factories and asbestos mines—matters 07d6bc9202 of national industry—before returning 706941bde6 to the subject of 41fa36a93d the wedding.c7b8941ce58e0773

“Mila’s agreed 61de28e07c to be 2158ffff09 a bridesmaid, 785580ab3e so your ed57eb38a8 bride won’t d77489dbcf be alone a40276f650 at the bace2ec989 altar.”10f8b30e8e608d31

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I hope Miss Lyudmila 99259d600a likes the dress.”738b9779de7bed83

“She will. You have excellent taste, 21e94a22ef after all.”c5e939bce1f0387f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sasha quietly sipped 564a537432 her tea, simply 4fe826e571 listening.2f02920a14f1d3c4

She had already been 5f09363f36 informed that Lyudmila would 1458acf0f4 be serving as a 4ecfc2b540 bridesmaid, but it still aaee992bca didn’t feel real.dd17ac3c29c2beae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For some reason, it 22aeb4ea81 seemed even more surreal f556020176 than the idea of 9169ad17ea walking down the aisle 6e13262086 holding Kryuchkov’s hand.b1f5f4c21ccd40bc

‘Did Ulrich choose ea96768faf the bridesmaid’s dress 3370624dc3 himself?’ffd471765689df0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The pointless question surfaced, 3237f9ec54 and with it came 544e0ad449 a wave of delayed e9452eac37 reality.89a8a83c22643f51

What if, 84eb6f39a1 at the 6123c405f0 wedding, the e5ea22906c guests thought 533f9a4934 the bridesmaid 5add08f23b matched the 78faf9dee4 groom better 310302e274 than the d46badcc6d bride did?a3040a125af91461

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The people’s Saint and the Sovereign of the Skies. Even on the surface, they were far more…b70b81e76466c01a

“The government 5f42675788 residence—are you 1e730891c7 fine staying e055a730a3 there? The unit you’re 314d4a583f in now might 7f739c105a be a bit 954520f918 small for newlyweds.”3aa7267d0ee2a4a5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“There are couples living 6d8f44aae0 happily in much smaller 54f070a2af places. I think we’ll 779c09221d decide after discussing 6550e1a7ac it a bit 074616de0e more between us.”300c0415cc2ceb03

“It’s admirable to work 6554365bf3 hard for the state, 2b8511c6fb but if you make 07c8b45e73 your bride feel neglected 1b0ce3142e in your newlywed days, 5860cdd31a she won’t forget it 8029dd0cb9 for the rest of 23f32fa9a1 her life.”fd147984ac6a252f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What does 28fb2b3d42 that mean?’c388813c0bd040da

Sasha absentmindedly 7d7c12c9e3 nibbled at 044d722c99 a snack, 6c22dbdba7 her thoughts 487fa186a5 drifting.667a32145551ece2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Ah… that’s 3c4318f461 what he ffb436f215 means. After the 112e101587 wedding, I’ll 252d411347 be living d68506c9a5 in Ulrich’s 3d94ea3721 residence… But b8327252ca what does 4cb9b50f28 he mean 1279286c36 by “making 5ba700f9a7 me feel 69fd8144fa neglected”? Is Ulrich going 0d1ef6ee8f somewhere? On a trip? Or…’dfe82b9f44cd0bdb

A chill, like 26d486ad55 a cold wind 8ca109f11a brushing against her 2b723032da chest, unsettled her.b539baa7268d4891

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As if she already 7c5acc1709 knew the answer—had known 4c026ba522 for some time—even though 603612b43b no one had told b9e2fc1a66 her.8df19a3a2ff63fab

As if she were 5f95f559ee only now realizing that e37500c3b7 something had been missing 0c7bf4c65d from the start.4ffe3b22cb5a0dd4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Or maybe… maybe things will just stay the same as now… like a couple living apart during the week…’bf2e3c0c96748e24

“If you ea41a60fda were worried 6bcaa6767b about that, e5d5b1a904 you should’ve e0e1961dd4 stopped me d19b6ea360 from posing f0b319808b as a 97fedd109a businessman ages e22b323d82 ago. But don’t worry—you know eacf3d20c7 as well as I 0af19b70d6 do how much I 9c9eb1ecb0 need my bride’s help 6ac9fec80e in many areas.”0629d2f95aeb6a91

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ulrich set his c61ee38763 teacup down, took 1972ddcb79 Sasha’s hand, and d6949ee3a1 gently pressed his 9b7f1c94d6 lips to the 7935ffedb2 back of it.d99fc8074ad4c4e5

So natural, it af88e64155 almost seemed unconscious.ab3b596690fe391d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Then he looked into f59264c89e her eyes, smiling at 28b5310ab3 her flushed face.269695450ab02e7a

“You know c648d2af9e that too, 73307ad5f1 don’t you, ee9fa428e6 Shura?”77c91facab184741

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Of course.”16f735ccf30f0e5c

Sasha answered 861342e1c1 shyly, suppressing 24ccb9dee5 the tremble d96d583046 in her 1aa70aedcb chest.245b0c742ea3d411

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His lips 32d829fd3a had left f0c55c0e46 a warmth b07c6596f6 on her c8a1c19d07 skin, and 1f2968a8e6 strangely, alongside e27c60b012 that heat 315d7f2773 came a c2db6426bf cold, clear 2238b2e484 realization.5f34323c34088113

‘It’s not like we’re 0bf6d26b0c a real married couple 7470e3141b anyway, so what does f0b9e7fabc it matter? And truthfully, 85ad484659 an apartment 6d274f9119 swarming with 8ee78f9f18 military personnel 1e5f2e8e78 was overwhelming fee34b1317 to begin 7229babfca with… others cc3635da0e probably think 18fb2b93e9 I’m better 186fece6b4 off this 22acdac393 way.’fa79eab1b19e4710

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Exactly. Even if 1b356f2af0 they lived 55b70b4e8f like a 98a56e4e02 weekend couple, 4b3785aa58 nothing would 2efa473cde really change.283cbb88637b5d22

And yet, she didn’t 4d4f3f8dcc know why her heart 75575ba57f ached so much.a138bcbdf16da1ff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As if 9bfb9513f2 a thorn 3eddcd401d were caught 44de989daf somewhere inside ab3d80f451 her.72054facb60e5e29

By the time the b0a3f103ee couple finished their meeting 2cd70a0516 with Kryuchkov and stepped 33e58aa720 out into the open b4e5158265 parking lot, the sky 76dc11b894 was already painted in 5e714f7a19 a blend of pink 0fa786a02d and orange hues.
Bathed in the glow eb80ce4677 of the resplendent sunset, 720ba64111 the scenery of Tremlyn 79b148d2b8 looked almost too peaceful, 26f20c6c5f too beautiful to be 629f8aafa9 real.fcae442bfe5be114

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just like them—two people ecdca41b4a who, in the eyes 48e449b58f of the world, likely cf6d6c9c0e appeared as nothing more e6a8211e8b than a lovely, blissful c84968a881 couple.3d9e145567aac173

Sasha was wearing sharply 6776d48977 pointed high heels today, a4c0f5f56e ones she hadn’t worn 62358d4af4 in a long time. Her feet were 4352be54d0 already blistered on 24be8235cf the instep and 6e69ab3c1f heel, throbbing with 8386d8a37b heat, but she df128e095d had no mental 7d917d7798 space to care.42617f639fc9a954

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Did I handle 1a2ad56e5a everything alright in a74620c0b6 there?’
Discreetly, she stole 7e8ccbd06c glances at Ulrich, 0ea4d2b106 walking beside her.59e1099cb294b01d

She strained dadd354644 to read ab69f1bdb7 the emotion 523635162f in his bd3ebb1f4e eyes, but 79a733655b Ulrich was, f6c684d662 in this bc15188495 respect, the 973ba57b94 most difficult 8f75bbace3 person Sasha a27c2095fd had ever c1262b4354 known.5fcda8dd8e5de10f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even his profile afc4c4fc78 betrayed nothing—no different dacdc9471c from usual—leaving her 2c96af8600 unable to grasp e2310872bd anything at all.7d039961183eaefc

‘He must ac94d973c8 still be 002d290d46 upset with c2dba98304 me…’ba0ba41bb156274d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Um…”3fce19e1ae80f324

Just as Sasha finally 594748a0c9 gathered her courage to f0a63b59ce speak, Ulrich suddenly came d62ed325a1 to a halt.4589bd50feb118cb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Startled, Sasha 3a609579ad stopped in f2960cfb31 her tracks 1945b4c970 as well, 971f33eed5 holding her 473d823711 breath.07054f57c09a9468

As he slowly 0473d150e6 turned toward her, 744582fb56 her heart began 69ef84da05 pounding wildly—like a bedeadc843 rabbit caught before 0f89070dfd a predator.cf428fd4c8444493

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What do f48be02db0 I do? Did I say cb7b27de69 something wrong—’9a1f4f5e665ade50

“Shura.”76f337910ef09924

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His soft voice called a33390c06f out as his icy-blue e2dd365abe eyes swept over her.669bfd7762881810

Sasha stiffened, 030c199465 replying in dba4fbf32d a tiny fcd82c652d voice.ffec0df42c8abd24

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Y-Yes…?”d1f310a2edf6428e

“Why have you 518eb24420 lost so much 6ffa49e28e weight?”9a1d20dec0618bc5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”eea15bd201de64b5

“You’ve been eating dfc36f3264 properly, right?”fde8fa614e8a3832

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His voice was so 99406262c6 gentle it nearly brought d70d4d1642 tears to her eyes—and 981952bd80 then his strong arm c84cd08d33 wrapped around her waist.a13c952eb5e3ed86

“Hm? It’s only been a d2ff1c6165 few days, but you’re d0c3b3b7e1 already looking like before—so 4fa8c54eb2 thin again.”be7b14a8055e50da

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Sasha forgot every thought 57e4d13ee1 she had just been 10c917e8d9 having. Her face flushed crimson, e6173afaa5 like it had caught 0505d2c79e fire.0f09f74f6f4d2bea

His hand, 5b11248f3b encircling her d4df524042 waist as 38fabad7b2 if measuring 9303879be7 it, made 8411850d52 her feel 4bcccbe4b8 both flustered de5bb2652d and shy, 58145d2c4d but she ccc41ec634 couldn’t bring 766c4d920d herself to 0221ed92e0 push him a25d8318fd away.b2d8bfc01efc78c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘He’s just b41f0ce37b worried about 76e6c7855a me. It’s not like 1fa42c3565 he means anything dc6166f3e0 strange by it…’6dd88daf6efd0f12

After days of d6873826a1 silence, he was 37ad8baffd finally showing her 8b7a34726c care again—she didn’t 7b297df6cd want to overreact 072910c4d9 and risk him 0dde0e816c growing cold once 5411772370 more.aefbff1500b1eb2c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, with 4744f80eee the wedding 9db74a77f0 coming up… b2f759a649 I guess 27a4d6afe3 I’ve been d82e87f56b a little 4206587c19 conscious of 8205160559 it. I was worried daeb0d2c02 about how the 0cb8a6fd42 dress would fit…”42844ca84b7ccd5a

She mumbled, e9eff7f472 half-leaning into 1d374eaa62 his embrace.0b70aa044457edc7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She couldn’t 4d1d2d099a exactly tell 9960e7bfae him the 0d1acb51e5 truth—that she’d 394d16317f been too 8c35992882 distressed because c2df69a6eb of him 8f8b405c6f to eat cc8a9d5678 properly.efbce8f19caa67f2

“The dress fit?”d964b4b2123bb085

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Ulrich fluttered his abd4194b83 long lashes and repeated aded295af6 her words, Sasha caught 41938814e4 a familiar scent wafting 8a97c61077 from him—the same scent a6a2359561 she remembered from his b90a126064 bathroom.2503e054ba62800c

So refined, f97badc3de so familiar, b6b149af6d so dearly cedbdda4cc missed.3cd6b40740cd6045

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“G-Guys don’t really understand 0db709792f these things…”018d56db7c0a4ae1

Sasha muttered awkwardly, 31472afc2d ducking her burning b171c21048 face.6e8851605bcbae94

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And then—688e883b98139682

“Director.”cb56c72212a920ee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The familiar 7a03213fde voice of e925656b90 an aide 2fc92e1924 made Sasha 439dd9612d freeze, her ca4a9e61bc shoulders going beff11ca64 stiff.0ac052c3606a2fd9

Lef’s eyes quickly flicked dff85bc85a over Ulrich’s arm wrapped 21544f6be7 around her waist, then 433f9d7174 darted upward in a 8c05b09247 swift motion.01cf2434bea8fe1a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish