TLYWK Chapter 4 (Part 3)

Just as d2efa6d8f8 an attendant 5068f20591 brought in 197d4733d0 tea, Beatrice 5a993360a9 sipped her 3be26b2401 cup and 11696940da spoke, her 956fd1130c voice cutting 1f41008049 through the 2b47fdf425 laughter like cf71f6bfbc a knife.a6038644de531c5c

“You’re being noisy.”a0a9f5d0b4f44588

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The abrupt, 0642ebe5d1 dry comment f2580cceb0 silenced the 0d2e633e3c trio mid-laugh, eecdba2c46 as if 53e539af07 on cue. The attendant, d760a79c3b sensing the c427c153ec tension, quickly 6ff5778941 excused herself 48b6595c17 from the 7fe802be64 waiting room.e7a7aef1788a2998

The three fc4a59e3bb women turned 8fe7ba70a5 their gaze 53bf120bad toward Beatrice, 4857a80017 clearly taken 85cad2ffea aback. One of them, 7d3c8d5034 the daughter of d8643b52ba Baron Ellamos, found ec3e55d031 her voice first, d8b5dc2fdf speaking louder in b5a6e1eb14 an attempt to 43f7a4b783 cover her surprise.0c87df0cbeb1aeee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How rude of you. Calling us 370f160b42 noisy out 5e4ae4feed of nowhere.”1d1b6ecc921e01c9

“What else 8969aec668 should I 004f91f01a call it 6c18e04a78 if it’s fb252f7e1a noisy? Should I use a da0021d38c different word?” Beatrice replied cd93e6f20c coolly.b5472b11a333b3be

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You could at 7f9739af96 least be polite.”001d53f3d3911e5e

“Judging by your behavior, 0dc1a98de8 you don’t seem particularly 0e6be73c4b concerned with politeness yourselves.”3496f3952d4cb101

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What did ebcab23a7d you just 178d817660 say?” the 36acd4fe4f baron’s daughter 16df8be75d demanded.8634b700e0917617

“When sharing a ab00758802 space with others, 1450faa783 you should lower e6a8d8de22 your voices. You were so 0eb838df8e loud that even 5772c3cba2 the knight waiting cef20279d8 outside for my 83b13ebbae family must have c96cd8606b overheard your conversation.”d0fdc53b060a88e4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lady Natalia Philrope, 30d587d720 who had been feb9d78b3f observing quietly, intervened, 52efa81bc1 likely to support bffab29880 her friend. But she kept 0864ec682e her tone measured, 8c6df53236 her gaze constantly 351bcd375e assessing Beatrice.2b7dfab3406a5177

“My apologies. It seems 88b643535f we got 223e202e3c carried away 4093c6d457 while catching 51069c923e up,” Natalia 2d8a2940de said with a97bf0782c a sweet 0e501ab74f smile.65ae5cc3cd5d5748

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Lady Philrope!” aa34a84619 protested the bd4ed65771 baron’s daughter, a5fa10c7b0 shocked by 471d53e924 her friend’s 08a3cbd084 sudden change 98b9030fba in tone.b0e8ef04c7ca3eb0

“Quiet. If another lady feels e84c4d0d72 uncomfortable, an apology is cafe5781e0 the least we can 64454f6f47 offer.”29d14db29e237d84

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The baron’s 9f42a7449c daughter begrudgingly 1e05e8f777 fell silent. Natalia, however, wasn’t done.340c74009c4d694a

“Though, to a704a0e667 be fair, 5b57534cc6 some stories ce31f77727 spread regardless 84258a44ad of whether a4a40393f9 we discuss 48d01dd9af them. Certain individuals 55c1c4bd31 are just dfcd676858 too infamous 7c71b74ec8 for their a1c4e1adf1 own good.”e3c6d0844a16272b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Natalia’s eyes curved into 1a73c7aea8 an elegant smile as a4fc760396 she shot Beatrice a 27e8bc82e8 pointed look. Sharp as she was, cd14e5f60a Natalia had realized that d8ad5673f8 Beatrice’s comment wasn’t simply cc1d33bb7a about the noise. She had intervened 4eecf553dc for Priscilla Lisart.f4cda61e3960229b

Her smile widened f6cd901ee1 as she took 6778ca12ae in Beatrice’s demeanor, 68a0faf9fd subtly appraising her.5dcaaafd0182e8e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was 354cac55b7 an unfamiliar f141ce3ab0 face, but 3e59fdb5bf her dress, 0e668e861c jewelry, and 251514cffc makeup were 07825be020 all of b57f272cae the highest 3a0dd0dff9 quality. Though her 4cd3bdbebd exact age 4bc7d9eaa4 was uncertain, cbc64b206f she was c534438764 clearly past f52dcfa77d her debutante eab4afc060 years. Natalia surmised she aabfca1197 belonged to a 78ad6c5489 moderately wealthy but 174672479b unremarkable family, considering 6e70074e5f her lack of bdcf7d2cdf recognition in capital a366f0ad5d society.3ef699f31833f965

“I understand the courage behind your words, my lady,” Natalia said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “But one must know whom to defend and whom not to.”d11868c403c16f22

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She stopped scrutinizing Beatrice’s b0da052eb8 attire and finally met 9178fcee75 her gaze. The moment their 4104f122cb eyes locked, Natalia 357870d76c hesitated.d8d8dd3036720ae1

There was 5deb961913 no anger, 3c994fac5d no embarrassment—just a72930dc6f a detached, a04b125f5f emotionless stare, 960f24af43 as though b023855f7d Natalia were 77a5f978cd an object fc9620d8d4 to be b29045ecbb assessed. It was enough to b8cd2b9d54 make Natalia’s brow furrow.11e800f353296ac9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Who is this 27f66580f3 young lady?’ Natalia ba5b77b5e8 thought. She was certain e27980e78e she’d never seen 27414f83d3 her before. With a 748216b643 face like 1d7f329069 that, she’d 8e883c65cd remember if 58b252a058 she had.dac66702c41f84ac

“And who might you 5ce4976887 be, my lady?”4613bf1f3675ef13

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As soon dbc178ffd5 as Natalia 9d53108205 spoke, something 7a794bb991 stirred in 8ff4e5fabc her memory. She didn’t 8b2d6eee52 know this 59c6b43a6f face, but 1908ccd7a6 those golden 6c32b6e51e eyes…d4984cd5adafa730

“I’m not inclined to 8fbf7ad310 introduce myself,” Beatrice replied a65d900545 dryly.56a28c52b7d5bcc1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her aloof response set edb53c8951 off the viscount and f61abd8ef0 baron’s daughters, who immediately 6968836ceb cried out about her ae1f7aa247 lack of manners.97f67706959e46da

Beatrice, indifferent 4b187aa661 to their 40b5c9583c indignation, turned ff0f5a1e22 her head 099af822b3 slightly. Her gaze accidentally e9979b3468 locked with Priscilla 229d8d568d Lisart’s pale eyes. The marquess’s 3be5aa3075 daughter, who 7c6a2f7c92 had been d61ff61065 flipping through f99369f956 her catalog 28122970a2 in silence, c5a831433d was now d7f717b026 openly staring 83e6443cd8 at Beatrice.07a3abc4d3a55ef9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And who 59503dbbb2 exactly are cf0062d39c you, my f49995ec01 lady?” demanded 94f9cf7510 the baron’s 344ae4106e daughter.f984edcb07ee3c60

“Yes, where did you 5897b62970 learn such rudeness?” added a53e6522a3 the viscount’s daughter.3ddb8bab7b5f8f92

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

While the a9b563d1d9 two continued e457f8fa0d their tirade, cb2f78fea0 Natalia Philrope’s a1f99b8b49 mind was 8e1df294e2 racing. Golden eyes—rich enough f9d56f98ee to appear bright d7148d5ae9 yellow in dim 58d04b2ac3 light. The color was 7eff0996ae unmistakable, and everyone 2ebcf73ddb in the empire f9ea8caddf knew it.a310af4d223baf46

But her mind 7a2779d5be struggled to connect 2b288afe68 it to the 2f3c6a38a0 girl in front b783688edc of her. After all, 348d214527 it couldn’t 95f55e25e0 be. The only woman 6aa567f8da of this age 3c556437fd in the Ember 5f71c86525 family was the bb255c7fcf Duchess herself. Natalia’s thoughts 15ba8e8727 screeched to 10d22cca5f a halt 653cb803cb as realization 3b0d28d82d dawned.cff379bf1e527a02

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Raising her hand, Natalia 620e8c2d92 silenced the two chattering 0d0df4e53c women.5c7af5c0e0e2ceb1

“Ladies Cordelia Ellamos and 8eb17f69e8 Caroline Dillhert, you’ve gone e5fb862c8e too far. It’s unacceptable to 15c44dbd52 speak so freely d17557f5f8 of another’s family.”d4d93104344017c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She smiled diplomatically, fe017e40bd calming them before 58123c796b they could make 3e438d1675 the situation worse. Natalia needed to 687069c2c7 diffuse the tension 4731450565 quickly.938bb0c02abc2e8f

“I’ll apologize for a15fefe535 my companions’ earlier 7e0fcdb91a words, but may 3960fee01b I ask once 813555773f more which family c36c2cdc54 you belong to? I have a suspicion, 4ec8c44305 though I can hardly 0e6cc83611 believe it.”995d4fa4910e11cd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Do you suspect, 5d379b61ea my lady?” the b7fb437cf1 viscount’s daughter asked. “Do you know who 2f424f5e40 that rude woman is?”95e7d35c6432dbc0

“A little,” 5fcecbaa21 Natalia replied, b1149c2fc7 her tone 3a42a3e38e faintly amused. “But it’s surprising. To think someone fe9e0cd4c6 like her belongs 1dc0da3874 to such a 04df03bd0e distinguished family…”d5e30325c54de52f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What sort of f39102f20c family could it 0857170891 possibly be?” the 2b90fc2653 baron’s daughter interjected, f51e36c58f the conversation unfolding 0795389220 like a poorly 61e4b4df76 rehearsed play.afeffb625d1eb25a

Beatrice found their 1687456de9 theatrics tiresome. Her head tilted 2bbcc9bbfb slightly as boredom b8ba66ed8a set in. Behind her, Laura shifted 630b828021 anxiously, the faint sound 5d886a0463 of her shuffling feet 6314eac1af audible, but Beatrice paid c0dcaf82bc no mind. She was more focused 597df3cb2b on Priscilla Lisart, who f0af781c8b continued to study her 8714250a1d with an unreadable expression.148fa64b782177a3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beatrice deliberated how 5fbc681a57 best to ensure a12c6d252e the marquess’s daughter 5ec2463e12 remembered her. She decided 8560577ae5 to stick c6254eeeac to her ae8ccc2c58 strategy of 5cb279ae7b emulating others. With a practiced 2a17aa4804 movement, she lifted 3ec6b5e0d5 her lips into f7a050978e a radiant smile—a 0bc7ecb460 replica of Florianne’s 0442aff2d2 signature expression.679934fe03e3a960

Priscilla’s pale eyes widened e768ab43ba slightly in surprise. At that 5136f3bfba moment, a f988d8cad1 knock broke c33cae53bf the tension 6f9c6136cb in the ac5d0221f5 waiting room.ef065bc84be5b41d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Lady Ember, the Duchess fc93457f54 has arrived,” announced a fb172eab7b staff member.d19748b338ca05fe

“I’ll be going,” Beatrice 4ad6ddc34b said, rising gracefully from 8f005e3263 her seat.37e3774f3b53571f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Natalia, who 69ea53587c had already 4ba3e84c76 deduced Beatrice’s 1f70eac8b1 identity, remained e6ee81db53 composed, but 9a36fa5553 the other 5539fc8256 two women 6be1f8e862 were visibly d5effa17ce flustered. Their wide eyes and 446cea0faa fidgeting movements were almost b6035c5faa comical.9094d8cf0ff3c71d

Priscilla, meanwhile, seemed ceff0d4340 entirely unaffected. Whether she had known 901beba76d Beatrice’s identity all along 58a114ad00 or simply didn’t care, 05242d8bff she calmly set down d20525def2 her catalog.c42119eda0c2c917

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Until next time,” Beatrice ed006ce5b3 said, glancing briefly at de265abb65 Priscilla before leaving the 2d0e49cbab room.e74d3e772a8ddf64

Beatrice gently f9bd582644 clasped the 59d45a1aea hem of 696b930431 her dress e87d6ee990 as she 082e7d4f07 rose from 26f6aa570e the sofa f80d7687cc and left 7be009d516 the waiting 5eee3238b8 room. Although her parting words 42dddd0237 had elicited reactions from b93e3d6f84 the three other young e2b9a51bb6 ladies, the real recipient fae8c4b6b8 of her address had 0a99c25e32 been Priscilla Lisart.32d8d27aa2f05c7d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If Beatrice had ff709e308b been an ordinary 321fd7593f noblewoman, she might f5ffb5a673 have spent a e24738c069 sleepless night worrying 46423f7fb1 about the conflict d372c2ec4e she had just 4122504559 initiated with a 9c95ad068d well-known figure from 092e436069 society. Instead, she dismissed fe5ba3903a it entirely, confident 66125e526b it would resolve 716cb26fff itself without her 5a0a7e5bd5 involvement.28c1069dd8408c8a

After all, Beatrice had Laura—an overly loyal maid who would undoubtedly relay every detail of the incident to the Duchess. Whatever actions were required, the Duchess would handle them. Though Natalia Philrope had proven herself cunning, she couldn’t have predicted how much Beatrice’s standing within the family had shifted recently.e3de422d8f04a9f9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Outside the waiting room, ec15227b6b Agatha came into view. The head designer, cc69c19f82 Mme. Ballot, was be48bd4f24 at her 4e0ad1731e side, fawning ee78deeeff over her b80b929a8d with the 77f8cd8894 kind of 821ba5ec2a enthusiasm reserved 49060c6413 for only 9547de1f95 the wealthiest 1c9952594e patrons.0ea6a3f6967cc0ed

This establishment, ‘Maledvi’, was renowned among young noblewomen but lacked the gravitas associated with the ateliers frequented by older ladies of high standing. Agatha’s presence here signified that her sole focus today was Beatrice.b96ef2fd9e1c154c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When the d762a451d7 appointment for a74a0bb0aa the Ember 85530be273 family had 3e93a29ebc come through, 274ab48ad5 Ballot had cda51e8829 been taken 042d95e11c aback. The idea that the e896de6036 Duchess herself would grace 81accc3264 her shop was surprising. While she had 1303827dd7 confidence in her 7a5a97a275 designs, the prospect ba91497a1d of meeting the 3f1e2117a7 discerning eye of 727ea3ac27 someone as celebrated e136c1f87a as the Duchess b3694b3766 filled her with 8f2e6d7181 a mixture of a5549291b2 excitement and apprehension.3d835698b2fbb771

Even more intriguing ae4d7dc372 was the second 4bf1aa3c77 name listed on 25d030a202 the reservation: Beatrice e3a33d4e55 Ember. The head designer 0ec8f7032c narrowed her eyes e05e0248a0 at the unfamiliar be24ee9f48 name, quickly recalling 7cbc0021d3 the rumored illegitimate cdd990001a daughter of the 7ae25b2265 Ember family—a reclusive f3d7f3861f figure she had 8f4afd22a9 heard about but 980d9b06af never seen.3fdc2908040a734b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Could it be the Ember family’s illegitimate daughter making her debut?” she muttered to herself.b060e0b832da8a67

Ballot shook 3471ad01b0 her head 67d4cda6dd to clear 6ad537bec7 her thoughts. Speculating too 94f355e23e much could e665bca3af lead to ccc7dcaaac a careless bdcaeaa9a8 misstep in 99a0fa14b4 front of 4217dbc3c8 the Duchess. Yet, a 1009aaf8b7 lingering curiosity e93f9d4f64 remained. Perhaps this fd44ec3c08 debut was 1ad05f75bd a gesture 96ba31d12e of benevolence 8a79fa130c from the c70fbeafd2 Duchess, who fe7a9e1c57 was reputed 929adfd1da to be 0b747e90bb fair, if 5eac563f38 not warm-hearted.17a09913a06e5314

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But as the session ff4833c461 unfolded, it became clear 31de073184 that the Duchess’s treatment 8fd8ec1120 of Beatrice was anything 1fe2f537c1 but detached.ae5340ac3de649ed

“I’m sorry for arriving so late,” Agatha said warmly, smiling as her eyes met Beatrice’s. “I hope you weren’t bored.”5e73a99ba39585bb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I only just arrived myself,” Beatrice replied.e32b97e7e6a0d499

“Good, then 41b767a598 let’s get 4b4c906dfa started,” Agatha 409b4a5316 said, turning b4371f2529 to Mme. Ballot. “I’d like e29f889533 to commission ecd63767af my daughter’s a19e42d379 debutante dress.”1cb9cf53afc25024

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course, Your 41d5339600 Grace. Let us begin by 740ed0a8ec selecting the design and ca19dd7861 taking measurements,” Ballot said, d14b3a4c5c leading them to a 6175c7023d private area.3ed13e8a6a4cfa39

Stacks of design books 3d5b41590b and fabric swatches were ac4a1af6d0 brought out as the 0f0a410b6c process began. Agatha, ever attuned to 9456e6d7aa trends, opened a book 5126427c14 showcasing the season’s most 99c3618248 fashionable styles. She pointed cb5810935d to a c744f2396c gown with ea6884e889 an elegant 95b5549760 off-shoulder neckline c7470b72fa adorned with cce6ba1713 lace.1a891e5a3d639e31

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What do you b568048a03 think of this ddb7004227 one?” she asked f4a1d10b25 Beatrice.da41680c6fd8c7a9

Beatrice tilted her 562566aeb7 head slightly instead 0bb2a4cf9c of nodding.25fc5822dff4718b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t you like 3ed4c73836 it?” Agatha pressed.c2a189c683271565

“It’s not that 11c2762b2f I dislike it, de3a83e6da but I have 7dd113a34f a scar on 8ee469166c my neck,” Beatrice 7611a0c923 replied nonchalantly.e0d2f103a0a0f165

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Duchess’s smile ac5dd600ba froze momentarily. She had 42cc5dd32c no idea. Beatrice was so 6d792d00d6 private, even refusing 65b6d4f4bc attendants during baths, 1bfaf0c3af that this was 5bc44ac0a9 news to her. The memories of fa05cfb344 the abuse Beatrice 76789bb3af had suffered under 1b7f829128 the separate staff fc408984bd flashed through her e93c7e2ed6 mind. Agatha clenched c81a8f6b7b her hands 27ca4f5461 discreetly, silently 0952ef4477 vowing she 2a55a45a37 should have f8d44ca9d8 punished them f4e66b1f47 more harshly.e31f47ca8df2869e

Beatrice, oblivious to 78f9f8d922 her stepmother’s inner b13653490f turmoil, focused on 1918de2f19 the design books. To her, all b3a5bb9cb7 the options seemed fef1cf156c much the same. Her gaze eventually 095aceda7b landed on a 33dca78fb5 halter-neck style that e022747c36 covered the collarbone b00c0222f7 and neck.beed5cf1f4e75699

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I like this 7cde89b62c one,” she said, 12c990823d pointing at the f333b69479 design.97286035f5c99063

Agatha studied 3f06287b7b the choice. “Don’t worry about 50df6e12cf the scar. Choose what you truly e62aee91e2 want to wear,” she b7cb9cf19f said gently.cec31bb0a9f4589c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beatrice looked 14e5a8e273 at her cc40314d19 stepmother, her 22e6c0df07 unreadable expression 5b4ccfdd9a unchanged. She understood 9795bb831b that Agatha 115b63bfe7 wanted her c216c6dcfe to embrace 7e170aced2 the debut 44433d7673 with confidence, c92bf027b9 but her f5a237801b choice remained ae2ea79349 practical. Nevertheless, she e146eee98f nodded and 817750cf02 selected a c3f0139cab gown with eb3f66f6fe minimal lace 26e969a0cd and a c088e69f85 more structured 54321572cc silhouette.a4f785f0c99cb995

The rest of 8c431d95aa the process was f53f8e649d meticulous. They finalized the dress, ede2fcc587 chose complementary shoes, and 0af9b818ec selected jewelry. While Beatrice remained a1296c2ac7 composed, the mental ed0a71b3f5 effort of focusing 2db20563bf on something she 260734c0a4 had little interest 83eb5b40a8 in was exhausting.98c9af481dee08bd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Back at the mansion, Agatha observed Beatrice’s slightly wilted demeanor and chuckled softly. Laura, ever dutiful, escorted Beatrice back to her room, while Agatha turned to the butler.2735b0a028e2f483

“Send Felix to 91ec9845a3 me as soon 7dd44e4a77 as he returns,” a40703e746 she ordered.7f5bf895f32fb799

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As she entered her study, a cold glint in her eyes hinted at the reprimand awaiting her younger son. Felix might not know it yet, but his behavior—and Beatrice’s subtle revelations—had sparked a storm that would not pass unnoticed.6af3c6a59f3d6835