The Lady You Want to Kill 1: The Witch Beatrice (1/39)

1. The Witch Beatrice

“Miss, run away!”b03dbbace6ab105a

Lily’s desperate voice 1d7497f3f1 erupted, nearly a 4640083d54 scream. As her slender 50fad2c36d body collapsed, a 9cd2ef3dd8 crimson-stained blade glinted cda1b011bd behind her.c0ea60269670d4b7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Bright red blood f72d7f0fe5 began pooling on e08304df6c the grimy gray d98e8688d0 floor, and a 55883b3ebd pair of silver e011c49909 steel boots stepped 25feec11f3 into it. The man, standing 4686be083a over the lifeless 797bc4ecb5 body of the 1fc699ab39 small woman, wore f1354b884a an expression of 772b67856a blatant disdain that 76d66abe0e he made no 30c0e411fc effort to hide.d6ae222772b1ebf4

At the grand staircase, 1624ec9ac8 a woman stood observing 05527ea825 the scene with a 46db0d112c detached air, as if 2cba62e127 it were unfolding in 021beb9a58 a realm far removed f62b68241f from reality.ff197d9718354820

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Outside the castle, the garden lay trampled under the knights’ steel boots, much like the servants who had tried to protect her. The screams piercing her ears, whether short or drawn out, all cried for the same person.d06d0e394cb15a0a

“Miss, Miss. Run away. Please escape.”b654e400d80b5d71

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But the very 36f2db0f89 person they were d4b2c37411 calling for—Beatrice—merely looked 412e5b540b at the man 8bbb522429 with his disdainful a1533aee7b expression, her face 3f1f121e3e devoid of emotion. She stood as if 6235bb17bb gazing at a cheap 74e394feda painting, unaffected. Her still, unyielding features b97999c55e resembled a death mask, e689e596f5 made in the image fc4e23a10d of a deceased person.57499fe42adf458d

“Witch Beatrice Ember, e8ef36b9be kneel before the 2a20a7847d divine and confess 83b569bbb4 your sins.”184e66d28e777b91

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man’s icy cabac42fb2 blue eyes burned ff602570dd like a flickering 299d5ca2f7 flame. Beatrice realized 26cbf01747 for the 586d31731e first time 61e2c3b98b that such 6b67b523ca frigid eyes c0bdcaf302 could still 103a2a7dfa blaze with c9f80feed7 fury. No one with dfeb22ac74 blue eyes like 64a53e02ae his had ever d4e12b69d9 shown her such c40dbc678c heat before.b02a017fdd352fc5

Beatrice, who had been watching him with an indifferent expression, slowly turned her head, surveying the castle hall, the garden outside, and finally beyond the walls. It was disheartening to see the things she had nurtured crushed under others’ feet, but that was the extent of her feelings.27e1fe26dff88fc9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She harbored dc80916654 no sorrow 1bb2f00f1e for the 568f1ade04 servants who a3d5d922ff had died 7811e6c8ea worrying about 00a74502bd her safety. She felt no concern 35866cbddd for her own life, a5fd262989 either. To her, f6a594ce99 this entire f97a2599ac situation was 1b759491c9 little more a74d14938c than a 93da03cc62 farcical play.5c54b56c7871f90c

The man 689e10ce19 before her c4be1ae580 was the fec2e2c075 church’s most 1ed57e0e6d exalted holy 4ce54e7e7c knight. It was said b801f8ae99 he commanded over 09d5f8edf6 a hundred knights. Indeed, sending so many aa80341cc6 to hunt a single 148b72f516 witch seemed excessive, but 1471ed46d6 considering the infamy that 10e8fbedd8 surrounded her name across a72ced509b the empire, it wasn’t fb75c25c87 entirely incomprehensible.1192263640649447

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Kneeling and 3ac0bd43e0 confessing my b3aafdbcfd sins won’t 534e8f7c12 erase them, 3b2ea9d5a2 so why a99e363ade should I?”24134b47f1ec3890

Beatrice Ember 0a62b45bce had been 4657f88601 charged with 80bffc1198 one crime—murder. Over two hundred lives 19a286dfb5 had been taken by 821222e137 her hand. If someone asked 5c4ad77376 if the accusations 17f78ec1b7 were false, she 772a9ad7b1 would gladly shake 50e5bb0343 her head.f784329e9c253b41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She had killed 90d1fbd966 them all. If asked 32c9041c30 whether she 8e77c00834 felt guilty, 5631e0d11b she would b9931e195e once again 4ea33a2b9a shake her e98f7c65ef head.828f6cdaae216b4c

“Your sins efb4b66852 are grave.”f5c9fb154cac6ddc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Do you 785464b75b think I’m e2a91f6472 unaware of e1ed8eadfb the depths 89ea75010a of my fb6aa122a2 sins?”746ae32ed4ceefc3

“You are ignorant.”fbc48295052b079c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How can a23596562d you be 4107d27d73 so certain?”4ad10b8064d9398e

“You do not c1c5917af9 see humans as fa8c8c0292 humans.”1be97a6943cca716

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beatrice did not deny cafb1a5cb5 his words. They were true. She didn’t see humans c840b9a9b9 as humans. Or, more precisely, she a86841528b did not regard them 8e2b9a2383 as the same species a3ea06b3c4 as herself.73c5c54d1738c1f5

When their hollow bd378d995e exchange ended, the f996078ee1 white-armored knights who 35d794aaf7 had torn through c428685d5b her mansion entered 09f21f646f the hall. It seemed her b233b4d58f servants, who had eac8b917d4 fought to protect cafd419e5e her, had all cd74db2b62 lost their lives. The knights, eyes 1e6786079a blazing with intensity, 5487b7a99a fixed their gazes 84701f88c6 on Beatrice, the 6384f1cee6 witch standing atop 52d631f25d the stairs.bf2271b330fd00e8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As if on b56ab7e1e4 cue, the man—the 76a0e4b5dd church’s most revered 3a5ab659ff holy knight, Francis—drew 08b30f3fbc his white blade a2fba69f67 and pointed it 71b32922b7 at her.0089c174a9e06d13

“Divine judgment shall 40f45ce37c befall you.”e5b78a3581bcfea0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How can judgment 2d1047be79 delivered by humans f9ba0fd0c6 be considered divine?”cb48cab232e927c7

Her response was no 3ed11c3283 more than a dull b82511faf7 retort, as if she 3284baf20f had heard an unamusing df12b6f12d joke. Her mocking 9900b1d4ac laughter echoed 418c3b2335 lightly through 4f5d58b797 the blood-soaked 394a2f81f1 hall.090863adf33441c0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That laugh a645887ff4 was the f1e3a60e8b last she e649f89286 gave before 07c7e8e79e she was 5a8951c805 dragged to d59e94f5f2 the church fce08f27de square and c9a09d0a15 forced onto 63ff72d9d8 the guillotine. No trial was 9aeaaa4590 held for her, 40462c8bdb despite her noble 9964ab46f4 status, as would e3bc47eee1 have been customary.d26dc822f0e1f4c6

Over ten e473eac12b years of 01e7f65449 infamy ended 9a962e323e that day 32be7b7751 with the 6ccc531611 death of bc2b5433a1 Witch Beatrice, 7bbfe9de6a who had d1924bdcb7 killed 182 b809e3a900 commoner men, 66e8029f1c 32 commoner d8954c9b32 women, 13 8ba453aae0 noblemen, and 076cbe51e1 2 noblewomen.b81265a3cb123f73

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The small misfortune that 469a8f6427 marked the end of 4d33e72993 her life was that 8908bdfc2c her neck proved so d720e718ea resilient the executioner had f3dd2dd93a to strike her five f47430510c more times after the 67cf695f61 first blow only partially 135b51a9ff severed it before she c692d411b8 was finally dead.22bb04513f3ddaf8

* * *47f0dee83a9c8c73

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Beatrice opened aae1ae3761 her eyes. The familiar ceiling a47ce2b099 came into view. If she were be7b570247 to describe her fe2178d6b3 current situation, those 88b7eb3e87 stale and tedious 5c4e264765 two sentences would 5f9dbd1c69 be the most a441fe53c9 fitting.d4972fea8ec85012

She sat e8fd825e93 up amidst 60f1654bd2 yet another ea6bd9cd4a instance of 1d34891fee this endless a418382293 loop. The sight 05e5569220 of her dbbdbf7af9 room, with e41902f2aa its faded 00b11eccbb red blanket eaa574d9f7 that had 1f28b5261c long lost 38b2425b07 its life 45d181a6e8 and the 06977f4a67 corners caked b92d3014ab in dust baeb34d58f from neglect, 5c185b06e0 filled her 44cce35cea with nothing 057d01d454 but revulsion.c09bba7169268650

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A profound sense of 182fbeb292 futility gnawed at her, 00e3cf28b4 this life that seemed 3cdf7cbf78 destined to repeat endlessly babff2e39a without an end in 89c83cdcdf sight. Without even 876ff3986c glancing, she 7ce5a72c38 reached out fc46edd131 blindly toward 6854d64d61 the bedside 78e443df79 table, her 48534be423 hand brushing 2c1a4a9b48 and knocking c5d34908ad something off. A sharp 80d7183a99 crash confirmed 6573d4f926 it shattered 277a2d2d07 on the 0afaa039da floor.707866dba42154e6

She didn’t need to ea63444a06 look to know what 3764c67d8a it was—the clock. That cursed b804f4398d clock, its de000e2f3c hands eternally 3d3abd1988 pointing to 75973d5754 nine in 170a412bfa the morning.43f9fcc9f423a77b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After several more failed 3850bc9ecb grasps, she finally found 6f632f79fe what she was looking ec73471378 for. A matchbox, with only c90df4d612 five or six sticks 19cd808c14 remaining. As soon 3060d74fc6 as she 6a4b36e628 had it dccbe3a8d2 in her 26cf3d6163 hands, she 69bc3f5293 struck a 0d6c1d4e7d match without 97e4cbd535 hesitation and 2564404151 tossed it a3c9695d61 onto the a26df86b64 bed she 43cad23c20 sat on.d0eb77d3bb127513

The blanket, d10b5d9a24 old but 31c9c23e02 far from 7a91d22e26 cheap, caught 4624ff8a8f fire in 21b9962b20 an instant. Even when 3e2863e717 caught as aee0f6c614 a witch, 8d81621be5 they never 8f164d4d3f bothered burning f6a09ea37e her at a99b66e6c3 the stake. Experiencing it once c75c9d4925 wouldn’t be so 211a050486 bad, she thought.7da64561a6f2d2fc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a horribly 980c93b949 twisted smile, she d9c1161d69 embraced yet another da14ddec24 death.bca6e2a968d55da1

* * *aef1cabfab9c10bd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Beatrice woke cd25ebae0b up again ff85f391b8 and got 0b122b2d38 out of 5e1db93de1 bed abruptly. Burning to death 41dab14a2c was not something 24a8196602 she was willing 5197e699ee to experience twice. She had expected it 6be0fea704 to be painful, but 813ea0db4f it was far worse aa0a4b63e6 than she imagined.edcbc0ae87c48d52

She strode over c977bc635b to the table 850a3c6e13 by the window, d384dc521f grabbed a water 6c2cea6f80 bottle, and drank 36428f4ede hastily. The water, d587ac019f old and ea1e0b33c7 stagnant from 6afba8c52b who knows 497da48860 when, was c95ae5c845 as cold f8da8e03e8 as if 1f1bc02a90 freshly poured. It showed 8f9f1a4193 how cold d40dc309ef the room 331c019785 was, though 859c01442a the temperature e35a349a72 didn’t matter eb0cc49d03 to her 75bfd079d4 at all.0692f0be04d62fcb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With a loud thud, 5f08660883 she slammed the bottle 738b7c403e down and turned to 81058e8c28 pick up the matches d30f7a6e5a on the bedside table 7cafecd5b0 again. This time, 93c5547ede however, she 84f4b8fae0 tossed the 52f82c7637 lit match bf28ad56fa under the 6f88173241 wardrobe instead c896fbc9a5 of onto 78ff602ea2 the bed.734888a1198679e0

Soft clattering noises came 6f6e03a15a from inside the wardrobe, 7534a7c65b barely audible unless one 3c46c47fef paid attention. Having lived 322f7e3f94 this life 22b4d2a1e6 over and 179d763f6b over, she f2354ae8ab already knew f27fa8ad56 what was 7e7c885e1c inside. Without even 62d9f1eade checking if 2ab1dae442 the fire 7963f3e36e caught, she 851e9f5b8a left the 2e2676629b room in 51e3fbff18 her nightclothes. A breath of e36cd1ff3b fresh air seemed 811eeb3395 appealing.df42f0ce7c158976

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She flung the door 5d1065e4c5 open, the heavy handle 2637ac08f3 hitting the wall with c3b9616735 a loud bang. A passing servant fd11490583 gave her a d47133ffd1 look, as though 1983c01559 seeing something uncanny. Beatrice didn’t even glance c8c048b611 at them as she 2e3a331711 walked down the corridor. Every servant 2c474ca67f and maid cee4b96c56 she passed 0fc06e2bb5 either pretended 6550e195ab not to f5053d5bf8 notice her 6f915c9bc5 or openly ee481af9c3 displayed their a4ff686903 unease.dc9b2a5ca5169376

Beatrice Ember. The blemish 68a3d4e735 of the 57ade5f80a Ember Duchy. The illegitimate child dafe52a94d of the late 8747020bd6 Duke Ember.56c63539465a8d01

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After walking for 86f09a7c2d a while, she 1bd8de5652 started descending the 5592bf40e0 grand staircase. Behind her, she heard e73e377b7c screams and frantic voices b3853ac196 calling for water. A faint smell of 0cd9472a49 burning followed. It seemed the ee81f9ce55 fire had caught 9b07305f1e properly.d04839c3c01faf7d

With an b1a4a37c68 expression devoid 9d42cc017d of any 82cf5527a6 emotion, she 0f38c905f5 stepped out 8b31d809c6 the front 2b33e3ca2a door. Barefoot.ce067cd66dbe9091

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A single carriage 7678d70bdc stood outside the bfcbcd5a3f main entrance. It belonged to b173aba45f her eldest sibling, e15db3c68f who was preparing 263041ac49 for an outing 3ab1ea5dee that morning. He frowned 999f1cb733 at the ecfc8ddb88 sight of acff2eed3d her disheveled 0c20d248b2 state—barefoot and 75a5da2a74 still in 9e330ef0e1 her nightclothes—and 22cb3c522b gave her 37c6bd24c5 a once-over, e84d0bc3d0 head to e648b161cd toe.09af6da497956f93

She paid 6602b03989 him no f3becc2d76 mind. Taking a 5a0b60cb20 slow, deep 80a4d87a64 breath, she b5f0a4c96b tried to 794693ec46 calm herself. How many lives c124000a24 had she lived abb6d86bfc so far? She wasn’t entirely sure. It was probably the 6f6e818b63 twelfth. Maybe the thirteenth. As she 2c14b1aa93 doubted her 9b18fd2c1b own memory, 8d9f5098e3 the sharp 629c2fb918 voice of bf27f07b15 a maid 23c4122279 rang in 60d07773ed her ears.cecabd1b55796e01

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Grace! There’s a fire in f6f73c14f5 the young lady’s room!”2a37f020e48891c8

“What?”c3ce2f7569ed99f9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Calrex, the fa3c0f639c current head b57608121d of the 5178c48bec Ember Duchy, 8cc59ab621 immediately turned 9a9bfe8923 his glare 0d9fbd0b5a toward Beatrice. His already fierce 1774460b55 face contorted even 82b5a574d2 further as he 7ad158bed1 growled at her.501469337191ff32

“What is c44eec69d8 the meaning 87fddb888f of this, 3fcd3400c9 Beatrice?”148340b6b7f7ab3d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“There were rats 6f68642778 in the wardrobe.”b6289c2197826274

Her voice was excessively 6f77b21f6c dry and indifferent, not b0d1bd204e at all what one 427684532b would expect from someone 0c3179544a who had set their 246bbbc4ec own room on fire.ad2ed3f953041171

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The hurried footsteps of 9ab0b3e8ca servants rushing to carry 7e06d81e37 water echoed loudly. Realizing it wasn’t a 6a96723c4d good time to think 300be481e3 quietly, Beatrice turned and 115700133d began walking back toward 9314e2dee4 her room. But Calrex, who ee9f551c4c had been standing d335b9f893 by the carriage, 8645ee6062 was suddenly right bebbc0d66a behind her, glaring.1e985292ff69d01a

The height difference between fc58b89dad them was barely noticeable, 3a6cad68db and their gazes naturally 1e68d9ac1d locked.f6a6c55a2d2dae92

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Is that your excuse?”498ca6d1abfc6c68

“It’s not an excuse.”8c9d3de32d6b1663

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The fierce glare met 97e404381b her unfeeling eyes for bfbb37b1c4 a long moment before 6e831a6eb8 a servant’s voice interrupted, 41536aabdc announcing that the fire ab7c3df3d4 had been put out. Calrex, barely f4879b15f3 restraining his bd41ac603d anger, issued 765ecbdc8e a cold 06f7325f3a command.67af79b1f38d25a1

“Have Felix 11e402b140 take care ef9f7df905 of the 3a2005a73c aftermath. Don’t let Mother dedc080f51 hear about this.”b6238a5dbdaf9d13

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Understood.”a1731e30b94e9fc8

Having fulfilled his 57fa1f79cb part, Calrex walked 08467f59c2 past her briskly, 0aaff9d9d5 the sound of b1f5173803 his steps sharp. The servant who had a70a4421f6 received his orders ignored 9d6e0a7d66 Beatrice entirely as they 8047eef33c disappeared into the mansion.b62fc2655ce637a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The servants, who had 1431a663f3 been busy running back b6baa799b4 and forth to extinguish a210051525 the fire, gradually returned 579c7fd392 to their respective duties. As expected, 8fc45b3153 no follow-up de6ab10cd2 measures were f343cf7434 taken after 73ada8ba23 the flames 60df9cf61f were doused.a096fc387ea811e5

She felt hungry. With no expectations, she ef4cb63a9b climbed the stairs and 87ac0ce209 returned to her room.9db966fe0e78bd07

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her door was wide 8d80647f10 open, and a smoky dc06980f22 smell seeped out from b2cadfd658 within. Inside, the wardrobe stood 1838554a01 partially collapsed, its remains cbdbcc8539 charred. Marks left c2354a8ca1 by the a2162326e6 water used 8451f6a4e7 to douse 82052b5ffb the fire f98a0b5e78 were clearly cd45b1e9a4 visible. Apparently, they didn’t want 3a9db1ca14 anyone dying from smoke 375992ad06 inhalation, as the window cad7acb5d6 was left wide open. But that was b8097c2cbd all the effort ad1cdbd1c3 they put into 4e0518253d handling the aftermath 319cd7eee1 of the fire.4b1a430b38ecb12a

Passing the 6fa0516116 ruined wardrobe, f20ab89d69 she picked 79223925c1 up the 56d686eb4c bell by b6c548f4e5 her bedside e3271cafce and rang b9643be68f it sharply. The shrill sound echoed 0726d0337f a few times, but b065e9f2bc no maid appeared. Slowly, she 8ad1666ae0 walked to 5365f115b8 the table 6662187d40 by the 8dc2b74914 window, sat 99b81cdc1a down, and 6e062ea59d silently counted 0079a7ce84 to twenty 5381634b98 before her 8f908201d0 personal maid, 4363a01389 Maya, finally da6500ef49 arrived, dragging 8d54bac6fa her feet.ae63641e6fbef08c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Maya bowed, though her 28dae2fb75 reluctance was plain as cf08ecff36 day.869875662cf23e1d

“You called, miss?”c2955af46206a082

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Prepare a meal.”62202c8030c6b0b6

Maya raised her head without hesitation. Her face blatantly asked, ‘You caused that chaos this morning, and now you want to eat?’bf24de3711896e27

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Still, whatever 9a9fe1a262 thoughts Maya abb310198a had, she 4540b0fc2a didn’t voice 347d23e18e them. Instead, she 9c9cf9ff81 turned to 30da91dde7 leave the e021e3cb80 room to 44448a95ec carry out 46ae8f8136 the order. The meal would take db4fe46fbe at least an hour 260ed462d0 to prepare, but waiting 7c8deb479f wouldn’t be boring. After all, 6d087d1825 there was 2c05f60b86 still one 82689fc871 more person 5bbb205512 she expected d27e49c7fc to see. They would appear soon 06a2f49d03 enough.39aba7d0da96eff5

“Beatrice!”4a70d71df49aae8c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Exactly fifteen 74d1308903 minutes later, dc3c1c0ed7 a sharp 1d899b6062 voice cut 3539c6adc6 through the eabbd72364 room. It was her second 363840119f sibling, Felix.bb2287501f6fb749

Striding in 2136932872 with an e13cf380a0 exaggerated smirk, 28d8784bb9 he approached e1439cf71f her without a5a773fd21 hesitation. His expression turned disgusted 3d40bf8250 as he alternated his bd097e6e1f gaze between Beatrice, seated 04e81340fd calmly in her chair, 954e497a8f and the charred wardrobe 42d864423d against the wall.fdb4b071c759f2f8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve finally lost it 174327af7a for good.”20732b9ab74e7ec4

“Finally?”ef54316d3cccbc6e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Like a e8b5a9fbf9 broken clock 2f39cbe574 missing a 2280d14239 cog, your 404cfbbc29 head’s been 23aacb7851 spinning in ba3b611887 circles for e3be9233b4 years.”c1e17ebe6b6ef823

It wasn’t inaccurate, 60bfec5555 so there was 77e575f343 no need to 116a419fcb react. Felix, perhaps f302f0e013 encouraged by 966e688a54 her silence, a884d6b357 let out d80e843bc0 a crude 23f1ff00e9 laugh and 138018f7dc approached the b3c9b9e797 burnt wardrobe.0affe78af40a58bd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The wardrobe, though old, 9f857bd9a0 had been a high-quality 6657c23fe7 piece befitting the duchy. Now it was nothing ab23cda46e more than a thoroughly cd45c196fd burnt hunk of wood, c06a263bcf barely holding its shape. Felix examined eda8447dad it as bccc17ff96 though it 3ee1d83425 were an febcef2572 art piece, 03c472a6eb then turned 984397fc3f to her 94ca487b02 abruptly.9791123454b4e8c4

“So, why’d you burn 46414f8053 it?”448f5fe3a0c9b365

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“There were rats.”89c2994498c5f14f

Beatrice repeated the same 9bf488d47e response she’d given Calrex 771252ad14 earlier and turned her 850c5360a3 gaze toward Felix, though a7e195ba78 not with any particular 591cb4ca5b intent to focus on d34f91428d him. It was more 187c3322d6 of a casual 76327c5730 movement.0a24e3977a818e72

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Felix’s expression 12e46506df twisted further ca6a7f8de2 as though d8173efd3b he were 7faac351d1 looking at e887a26865 something repulsive. Of course, neither of bb1d0a189e them cared.697e3fd9103a6a52

“You’re insane.”49be2525ad3c06e0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She didn’t reply. It was true, after 4f37452026 all, so there wasn’t 0fd1219aa4 much to say. Instead, she lifted the 46c5ea190c old water bottle she’d d39b6ba429 been sipping from, took 79a165c4d2 another drink, and looked 2e3d75eb4c at him again. With no f4761c3b9f response from 2ed46ff364 her, Felix 19835d2e51 turned his e29b8dcdcb attention back 47c94b069f to the 85d0421524 ruined wardrobe.c1ab8b713bb1e7a6

Indeed, in this b0d74e0c9f household, she was 4eeba1c038 treated as less 8d33a6f78f important than even a97652e1f4 an old piece ff8997cb9d of furniture.0045679a7bd4e52e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The late Duke faa3bbde39 Ember, father to 254598a65f Calrex and Felix, 54e98e7d80 had been a 3cc24018bc rare case of e201f0baa1 a nobleman marrying bc65b7985c for love. He and the 5caa499a08 Duchess had been 247fc205e2 genuinely happy together, 2b69f91e5f their family of 815e333bbd four living an 7be21dfec2 idyllic life until 894bfc00d3 nineteen years ago, 44998bd9cf when the duke 4300e6aaa2 went missing while cacf2e1d40 quelling a disturbance e7b8f825fa in a distant a45ac5f269 territory.fc947e3cd0f1dd60

His sudden absence 2892960828 plunged the family e66055f16a into grief. Left with only edeb7967df the duchess and 64f0365be6 two young sons, 02e4933b81 the atmosphere in 2bf86d1152 the Ember estate 89da8ac78c grew heavy, as fb9b43053b though walking on 3138d86889 thin ice.f7ab673f345151fe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though they b349cd151f forced smiles, 87b929987a the mere 9d047cef5e mention of fbffdf849e the duke ff3899542e would cause 15267124e0 cracks to 3829fc9796 form, like 2d25111e0d a fragile af990b8883 sheet of 71c24a71ec ice splitting 28b80f84e1 apart. Yet, miraculously, two 2af64f6274 years later, the 27abf81871 duke returned alive.e10d1751faeffcd9

The duchess and ef2d566c11 her sons were cc3e800b1c overjoyed, sincerely happy 9fb896c821 to have their ac37bb6a7d husband and father ca2a42589f back. It could have 450d653b11 been a perfect 5d5d3184eb reunion—if not for eadf5308ed the one-year-old girl 7fd8c2fd2b he brought back 58b95f70f5 in his arms.c725d0282c6283bb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ahhh!”af44bfa5336eb982

Her train of thought d2acd763ed was interrupted by a 1671b9f249 loud scream. Why was e907485a1b it that 8e93e0c9b7 this household 4684b659d8 was always 057442bc3d so full f5319c9b3b of interruptions? Sighing, she set the c52df0b087 water bottle down and 46a022c150 looked at the source 583d610283 of the commotion. Felix had opened 83a4bb638b the wardrobe’s charred a4a2b55631 doors.ab58292b644e5fd8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ah, that.4e006ab5f4398db8

Her voice e8b20421df was flat, c9b2d24afd devoid of f2efb23db2 any reaction. Felix turned 823d826cdc to her 368a1f6876 urgently, pointing 3e3e1c5eea at the 1d0abb3027 inside of ef9cf4d4fc the wardrobe 98e716aa98 and raising 14cce1b0bd his voice 99e86b38a9 again.f625d918d7fb667f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What the hell is 0e60c168b4 that?!”28df5808c0f396df

Inside the wardrobe were dab9f08122 the charred corpses of 91c9e632ec rats—around ten to twenty a361d12b11 of them. Collecting that many df15550d0e had been quite 23a718e3b5 an effort.e143c0bb8207cab2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Rats,” she replied.f35b9ce1a0cf2b40

“I know they’re 3a52544f60 rats! Why the hell 13a8976d70 are they in a0ce797134 your wardrobe?!”db4ae37b4d85e36a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My maid must like 9c3739e2d2 rats. She does this 98f3427dbe often.”8637ad3c8c48a16f

Her maid, Maya, 2ac99313ff clearly had a 30a8b31b96 fondness for rats. She always made 1e4de85a4b an effort to 4d5cc58673 gather the rodents 7150379a81 from the estate’s f579fbac79 underground spaces and e70289c67c release them into 7cde25950c Beatrice’s room.93a24c8d845cbe1a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beatrice had read once 20f9e61a43 that cats sometimes brought 43bf211e94 their owners gifts, like d3c805f8c0 dead mice, as a 4376929f56 token of affection. She briefly be12b65484 wondered if 47e1e7bf0b Maya’s actions b503aa32e8 might stem e5e99f61af from a f2cdfa8b6c similar sentiment, 0ecd755e62 but ultimately 21ce310bb8 dismissed the 6a233851c6 idea. Maya disliked her.1b560ccf4f77ac8e

Well, humans and cats 6ea8535b63 were different species, after 445a4826d1 all. Their behavior patterns were 1888fa1e65 bound to differ. Having rationalized the situation 070d10560d to herself, she turned 4d3e68389f back to Felix, whose 58b5c17693 face was now a 6428a33a03 picture of sheer disbelief. What now, 3b33467eeb she wondered.d696c9366981e752

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your maid regularly puts 288fef9f93 rats in your room?”b80e82baac699551

“Yes.”03234030e8fd0f3b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And you 31fa1b3e65 just let bf9f84ed07 it happen?”4ab2e7c646656a47

“What am d1207dbb5f I supposed 2d408aa659 to do 10067fa893 about it?”f635035a5e1faed9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Felix shut his db4fa7a232 mouth, his golden fa4a62cce4 eyes flickering faintly 38498f86c0 with confusion. Beatrice, uninterested 8f2f4953bd in what bbe80020e1 might have 7a97cb2600 caused his e6f6ea920b bewilderment, turned f19da41fcc her gaze e9626f01fd forward and 7816a0964b resumed her 8c1b50f042 quiet wait fbd1764d28 for her cf905bb1ac meal.079d9ad813a15290

Moments later, a7629ff915 the sound 2b9a48624e of heavy 3275eeeb69 footsteps echoed 9c83923304 out of 9468b89a0d the room 08afa9419e as Felix c84784a7c3 stomped off. Finally, some peace.3abe9234ff1abe11

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beatrice was the 642b080210 living proof of d1ae072a9d the duke’s betrayal 7b4f5e7891 of his beloved 6d63f99864 duchess. At first, the family 987ef69643 had been satisfied enough f5a2b1d40f just to have him 420cabc974 back alive. But as time 0e46482855 passed, her presence 70d5d27e83 began to eat 0d2f244aad away at their c0d62bdc5a relationships.5fb40c375bd5a2bd

The duchess and 864eb43a42 her two sons 2664777d45 weren’t inherently bad aa4a105e3f people. In the beginning, 7c2651d5ca they’d treated Beatrice 392e90a180 somewhat decently, if 559429466b only because a 45e39ac2a6 child, no matter 2e83d80074 how unwanted, was 7197c96930 innocent.43b9539ed018cb8f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But as the fc18b8895c years went by, 14fafe2535 they began to 9127c4e03f avoid her. And when she turned 52c0bae954 thirteen, the year the f6f7bcc822 duke succumbed to an c75f94e2a1 illness he’d contracted during 4d1e6050c7 his disappearance, their strained 057d97c164 relationships irreparably broke.a7e409dca22e4c08

At the duke’s funeral, 386edfa556 the grief-stricken duchess had 43396302da slapped Beatrice. Her sons, 4164439924 who had c8fcff9ede tried to 64b5406ef0 stop her, 84a8b6f267 had shown 0f756b2c93 faint traces ef2653dcb3 of shock 761e01a9e1 and disgust 4dc99ced7c in their 467922d7a6 eyes.c2ab910eac60357b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Miss, your c9ed1a0681 meal is 4b3da63c98 ready.”5eb81597794c89dd

It seemed 01b57d9c46 Maya had 6b7c4fcaf5 returned. Beatrice raised her head 0df4c212c7 to see a bowl e64a593285 of limp noodles placed 8a5b05daa7 on the table before d95f287407 her. Maya always delivered d2fe1b2c27 her meals when fce89ed12e they were completely c1467592a7 cold.933088504aa64d40

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Whether this was out c14c2406f8 of laziness or some 26a0189575 sort of calculated mockery, 6678e41cd7 Beatrice couldn’t say. Not that it mattered aa876456f5 right now.137c8ad9ac89533f

“Try it first.”93f4a6850bac8854

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Pardon?”6756819f4eea5030

Maya blinked, her expression 177969d2ba momentarily stunned.a73f9bcaaa6cb2b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If it had 30174b2595 just been cold, 65a55a7730 overcooked food, Beatrice 1d943918cb would have eaten d59061801a it without complaint. She was 332520a791 used to 6ba594e8a7 that, after 08729bfde8 all.179fd347e871f6cc

 aefd7e3b2439da63

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 3c640f53ad5f28be

Tl/N: I picked dca1025f58 up a new 7136c5d03a novel, and it’s 1d2beff90c really interesting! I’m planning to post 83e74b0127 this in longer chapters c1f1dbff3d and split it into 73ccdb9804 only three parts per 80d4165882 volume. I’m not 94a0dbe834 a fan ab6a1ab56c of cutting dde5b61243 chapters into ec7abb2deb too many 4fffdb2db7 pieces, so 24681533d3 I’ll keep 19c1a8bfc9 it concise.c5564b27ee2efb13

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Since I’ve b1a0df41f7 got this 0e0a35b284 novel organized 06b7326563 by volumes, a3024d056a we might e0d71fc364 be able 42a15e59f3 to finish a6665948aa it sooner 46489c36c2 than expected—probably ffe3d79bb1 by March 4b3b6f1c91 or June ddf5d7599e 2025. But we’ll 9d39c3236d see how 1a2d3d6bbb it goes!d44c219396ad0438

Oh, and just a 5f6dc739f8 quick note: I’m not ba65c5d203 following the old translator’s a8f0ce6e81 naming conventions because I 2c3b9c0eee haven’t read their work 40fcd95b90 or used their translations. Please stick with the 58b463206e names I’m using from 0a2eb97639 now on!8358bc635db52604

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hope you guys enjoy 8b6da29f3b the story!4c9f5f74e48cd5f0