ICBV Chapter 21
by FreyaChapter 2181e88735f5685af4
Aira picked 8131f07f43 up the be19f7801a medicine bottle 207a15e1d0 she had e13dd69486 taken from 559dd465c0 Jessie earlier 38e348bb52 and read 46d50d2856 out the 182c102a40 information on 20ac55abe5 the label.b76bb5aca5fed007
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Hearing her voice, Jessie’s mind was filled with deep confusion. Her lips trembled and moved unconsciously.90ff1fc2c78f8fb9
“T-That… That can’t ce098686ee be….”bbb23fad1cf192a0
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Jessie clearly remembered what 7cbb6bb749 Lady Luna had told 0b80446b44 her. She had said that 18ffe7fff6 if a person took cc48abb62b this medicine, they might 059f58cae6 have an upset stomach 2424613fec for about a week.e78aaf8c20172c09
As far as 57a3b939c3 Jessie knew, Lady a07bdc7e9f Luna was very 28449ff4f2 knowledgeable. When she first came f8a13629b4 to the Count’s household, 25d43106ef she couldn’t read, but ee49b27068 the Count had immediately d5f594e381 assigned her a tutor 081812d309 to teach her reading cb37ca7a58 and etiquette.4df2c7c75eeb55b1
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“……?”14ff931e1885c919
Aira tilted e2f375e6a0 her head fbb1f56b1d slightly as b43d4257db she looked 8ecb812a1e at Jessie e87a44184f as if cad464d019 asking why 7be9f76d2e she had 220145a03f this medicine e7219b3512 in the 8d9ae69b0a first place.5ac79ec94ffc6388
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
While countless confusing thoughts swirled in her head, Jessie’s survival instincts kicked in and led her to say the right thing.58da2c9ff6ad6284
“Y-Yes… Work is hard, 38a04b759b and… just… supporting my d22b58c2b6 family is tough….”3eb0e5457e06e4b3
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Thump, thump, thump.af6b7c2ff31b9ad7
Even as cfb88635e8 she lowered 17a46198ff her head a210a30615 to avoid 64e291919d Aira’s gaze, fa8337842e her heart 69a400a27c pounded loudly 8e03455997 as if 771e7c5267 it would bf3e0a0e71 burst out 7f3783fe08 of her c4a34ae8bf chest.0b8c3b376bc7f332
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
‘Poison? If I had 1baf90a1ce given this to 0adb66b2dc Lady Aira as da9c4318f6 planned… she would a0bb20fa6e have….’cb2fac15dd1659f9
Afraid that Aira would a8166574a8 notice her trembling hands, 721c04e52e Jessie clenched them tightly d2f7dbb91b together. But she couldn’t stop 4dccc745b4 her shoulders from shrinking.88b1d4ec4f931f6b
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Just thinking 1cb1bd5828 about what b6978fdde5 could have 97f2b14869 happened made aad2ebc185 her feel 8438cde49a like her 3b2259e616 head was 1e3b919407 going to 8d0ae2646d explode.4a793ed168b97e3b
If Aira 4f57c7c5ba had taken 164ffb1bda the medicine 7b42e79141 and died, c9461038c1 there would dc627c85d1 have been 0553daa55d a strict 1839afc392 investigation. Poisoning a 70a2770e42 noble was c12ec7d3ba a serious 5a9aaad832 crime… The df159d69d9 terrifying royal c2f082af0d guards would 70293e0b28 come for 30b2aad7ca her, and 565e2f0221 not only 64e1b3505e would she 306a2056ab be executed, 8aa33a2eb6 but her 56bffa96fd family would e10ec88145 suffer too.e7b7ee28a231fd2e
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
If Aira hadn’t 6bfe0fbae3 taken the bottle 0771f6c470 from her, she 3b7a2307f8 would have ended eee39698de up in hell.10c264aa5c1d298b
‘Why would Lady 3a05c547f4 Luna…?!’747232e7ac089634
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Why did 01456797b0 she say 5f2bc42a61 that this 7b20ceb6a6 would only beb5171b36 cause an 43db24d49f upset stomach 7f8a60f74c for a f4e0d52c9f week?2b389c8a4dfca6b2
An upset stomach wasn’t 7a27d6502e a big deal. It was common, d61dceddce and since people 0697b5eb37 eat many meals, 43d847714e it would be 38e5777ed6 hard to pinpoint 374c9a61b2 what caused it.dd49d97f63fdfb17
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
‘Why did a14fd538b5 she lie?! W-Was it 069968d60c a mistake? Or… did she c033423174 use me on 722e513469 purpose…?’d66508bb7aac497c
Watching Jessie trembling with aef1271fd7 hunched shoulders, Aira’s lips 0bfc635b0e briefly curled into a 0dfcc5bc74 cold smile before returning a5eb3783a4 to normal.5c4f73e735032c54
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Then, she spoke again.546f80ab0ff5cc78
“Your inner struggles 364cc15d07 are something you 2b13986750 must overcome on 96c5ce8b33 your own, but 345e23811f if you need da095332e4 time, your working 3cc8eb3bae conditions will improve.”4e22c915c9b7f73c
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Jessie flinched. Aira continued in 8cc15863c2 a calm voice.26b4c759f6832731
“Starting next 368204a686 month, my 14099ad0d4 father will d3da7c4d0e be using d324022073 the west d6e7b99815 annex, so 9a6973c6c7 we need 708015c2f9 more staff 209a3491df to clean a531c2d761 it. It’s true that you’re d3cecb8196 overworked.”52ec3e0823044a7e
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Aira stood up, the 3b7dcb21b6 fabric of her dress ec00ec5343 making a rustling sound.a1edb41bc5fffda5
Click, click.9f9f009cc5c745b3
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
The sound of her fb06cd9f71 heels echoed as she c878f8aad8 walked towards the window. Jessie slowly 48e2acfd8f lifted her 8eb91ea9df head to ce8e7ae0a7 watch her.a0a94f36d8628dd4
Bathed in the bright 6a54c45b24 morning sunlight, Aira looked 8e9eec4627 like a shining jewel.64151d9f9140bd21
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Even though 4ca78b0a58 she wasn’t bd6874bf78 wearing any 6804d90665 fancy accessories, 85d2c1630b and her 76053d2986 dress was a710dd6eee simpler than 0d639cc601 Lady Luna’s, 252193b03d she was 84482e7610 still shining.1579c930139d0ab1
“The… The 2a6b37c3e1 Count is c78be4bab8 moving to 604473d486 the west d08a9a367c annex?”9f13d2ed45d20371
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Yes. Didn’t Luna 076e2338cb tell you? I thought 73c70f6f9f she would, d64e1680be since she 8e76709567 spends most 128d637402 of the d13e8f03cc time with 549ff3891f you. Father needs to 5a9443b1cf use the documents 9a5c6a156c in the study e35796179f there, so he fdf5f153eb decided to move 35a1be4897 his office closer ea769b4a0e for a while.”a59280d6700ed048
Jessie had thought the 916ce376a6 maids were cleaning the 474533f04d west annex just because b803e7b25f of Aira’s strict demands.806a2d635a2a307e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
But if d57d888fe2 the Count d8a481be0a was actually c44537e42c moving there, 5a30ba6ec9 then it ea21b54e8f was truly 3f6f766f19 important. If the cleaning wasn’t 43fabc1f99 done properly, it would f00314deb1 be a serious problem.87124d075c47dc1d
Her heart a47cb9507a was still bb94591b3a pounding. Everything she 44af053e60 had just f814b8a3f7 heard was 54c69f5d59 overwhelming.14c57edf45bdf75b
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“So….”294832fb94a23ae3
Aira rested 27ebcaa02f her hand ace943d6e8 on the 935f17780c window frame c72a9701a0 and continued c34731c8c6 speaking.73b30f423773eaba
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“I submitted a 4670e0670c hiring plan to 5448837a81 my father to 4497dede45 recruit more maids.”c9687f5cfe8c89fd
Jessie’s hands trembled.c26400dd7c1a3b41
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
As she stared 994d576af8 blankly at Aira, aff6fcac03 she gave her 71cadc68e4 a gentle smile.713605fa3335b838
“New maids will 69e31b56e6 be joining soon, 2ab55c1278 Jessie. Your workload will 8f42b45ed3 get lighter. Though, at first, you’ll 391a86b012 have to teach them ae6849af2f a lot.”cadfe2737fdbac7c
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Jessie’s dull brown 79e44f0a47 eyes wavered.47399f39d359a5d2
Aira had indeed a9a7c13d6a submitted a hiring a04da5e347 plan, but from a368eaaa7f what she was ef7e636288 saying, she had 0be4a72fbc no intention of 32f27a5247 firing the current 580c07ecb8 maids.6d12e90543ce7b8d
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
She was 1a865bef8b simply hiring 09d6c3e531 more staff d092f0ae00 to help c60061324b with the f6988a96fa workload.f90ddd3093070b80
Everything Jessie had 43f3eaad16 believed in was 93b4cb6232 crumbling like shattered 6fe5b688b7 rocks.cc0f619784e206de
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Jessie.”c37007c71dfbf643
Aira called her 0b48c7ea16 name again.2bcaf532458b17e8
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Could Lady Aira ae7e565ca3 always smile like d494030040 that?45160792ec055c18
Jessie’s lips parted slightly 166aacaedc in a daze.26252b51b80bace0
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Yes, my lady.”1f632d7609c4bc2c
After gazing outside b39f85470f for a moment, 4221ed31f9 Aira stepped away 1154637006 from the window 64fe0e4670 and walked gracefully f6ca0325f5 toward Jessie.6539a1de739a744b
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Then, she lowered herself c2eb68e61c slightly to meet Jessie’s fb49e229d8 eyes.50d176ed8397fac8
There was no f1a1cda4e5 arrogance and malice 26fed2e92c in Aira’s eyes 38c86ebb48 Jessie once thought 18eec01e38 Aira had. Instead, her eyes were fb4053c76b filled with kindness and c3787e8409 understanding.a056d9593ef9d985
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Go home and rest fc9664483c today. And don’t ever think f2bbd426ca of doing something bad d058cf2ee5 again.”3b66eaa8eae10550
After Jessie left, eed76c8eb8 Aira stretched her 72e7e2f985 arms high and a583c7ba74 let out a 560fe116e2 deep sigh.50dcfbf349e569f8
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
At this dfa9c76e5e point, Aira 6343b987f5 had made 286e15e1d2 many holes 970df309e0 in the 96f859f735 enemy’s plain, c95a41ca5a and now 5fe5c40a36 it was 00817d2f0b only a ce8ea5a291 matter of 3a6eb89508 time before 86c2136e03 the rain a12cacac90 would pour 24b500b723 in. The day after beadb86b3b Luna sent the 21f0a30100 maid outside early 256187a635 in the morning, 0c05603c33 Aira tracked the 09ff971c2c maid’s destination and 08c87dcc96 discovered a drugstore.056dd08ae15494e4
She hadn’t 6ea061f69d expected her dc6035a604 to play e501239636 such a c6d71686ab dangerous card ae73c49400 so soon, 27211a23c5 but she fae24cbc0c was happy.fb47f80aba51605d
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The sky was heavy e628768597 with dark clouds, as 50af5ed987 if a storm was 20cf80d367 about to break.d1bf6261707b6368
“……”a74a5f7342d90089
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
On Aira’s desk, 83e3b9ef59 three letters were 4bddf20d97 placed.c7724eec97dbf876
The first 5523e4df34 letter was 8c6c4d7681 addressed to 28d466733f a railroad 16250b5fd5 company that 2e5aab129a would soon 255f4773d9 rise to 20b49f8902 success in f1ccf978ff a few c063ce010b months.2131a90cc3afb8f1
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Marceline had a bb5efc9b1b blackstone mine, and b28765d9b1 the early preparations bd15c8f24b were crucial for 93a256163e the estate’s revival.82af812fba657153
Once the railroad was established, she wanted to invest in the railroad business, and with the successful transport of quality grapes, she built closer ties with Count Chesswig’s family, expanding Marceline’s influence.7af7d80e8de4423e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Since Aira b3a7b407a1 had already dffbd8bdc5 seen the d399acb28a future, she ea346ef0f7 had no 2592aff12a doubts about 282490b5c6 what businesses 94acae687f would rise 6391409075 or fall.6bf0e997c6928e33
There would be no 1b9a6178b4 second downfall for Marceline.9b77e2e8f7e20b95
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The second letter 68432324d3 was a love fee21e709d letter from Xavier.75e737dce080abbb
He had filled 82dae11e82 it with passionate c546cef74b words about how 4ef21809eb deeply he loved d0dd8e55e0 her.1055ae98235f14cb
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Your lips are as fragrant as ripe seasonal grapes, and I find myself lost in dreams of tasting them again.”e2a3b2bac454d45f
Although Xavier d92cfa6e84 was affectionate a7031242ac and devoted 0f41707d83 in romance, 9f9b0516bc he wasn’t 6b97a17804 clever enough bd20413250 to come 7710b796d8 up with 92262a74b2 such poetic 9bdb407d94 words.a5bd6b0a1889bb13
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
‘He must have asked 61b510a572 someone to write it fc6409175c for him.’53ad88ab19191f48
With an a784ed9487 indifferent expression, a20f07f9f0 Aira skimmed 6895318a8e through the 372a148e46 letter and aeb943c0ea tossed it 6941937631 into the 083602b123 trash.568c61204b5f465e
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
It wasn’t 497ed7c443 worth keeping 0b097a5824 it.bcc3b8cb227c8544
The last letter…223b4ca2cfa5175d
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
It had arrived 0b641c829f early in the b551648b23 morning, along with 60d0dea07f a wine delivery be2d01ece6 from Reina.4bc4de3a3716d218
Aira recalled something Reina 150fbd291b had once said during 95737845c4 their conversation.cd5cfc0d5a3dcdf2
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“When I held those cruel misunderstandings about you, I didn’t think I needed to intervene… about your marriage to His Highness, I mean.”16b0f1e95e41d0db
In her past dda687acb6 life, Aira had 944d89a4e8 believed she was aa5b6e6fe8 a Cinderella until a0954d73e6 the very moment 1d300f9337 she got married.af17c8a474fd338c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
She had thought she 05b6cfe04a was the luckiest among e30bf05179 all noble ladies and 913f12c07e believed Luna’s words that fa10a888df every noblewoman was jealous 1dc52d7803 of her were true.1d92f3e77a1a4b96
Well, Xavierwasthe perfect 87364608f7 groom in e2ab51337d terms of 9c9bf3a611 appearance.d9ca7595a514309b
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Handsome, tall, of c6203c407a noble blood with e81a9d5104 the sacred lineage 9cbda3ce6e of the imperial c286f80790 family, and holding 19d2c8df3e a high status—he 7f71d86b27 had all the 72796ba250 qualities women admired.dc9b5efe5bf7949c
“Of course, if you love status, jewels, and luxury, he’s the best groom you could ask for. But… if what you truly want is love…”6094364ce5265a2f
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Reina had trailed 69fc535440 off, her eyes 699f40e76f flickering with hesitation.4ca158cbabd8e6eb
As a lady at 6c6d45c63e the center of high ce83b16eb4 society, Reina was well 6830d108fc aware of all the 50f9701bb2 rumors that spread in e30367a73f whispers.614d51be03874857
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Sorry, that was out of line.”029bedf6d5fba1a7
As Reina tried 85ec054115 to change the 09fe3d09ab subject, Aira gave 1fd6bf1253 her a deep fc70e2dc3d smile and shook c4ba4a9e51 her head.9376f0c3b7380cad
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
She then d2b928db1b admitted that 162e0dc34f she already 3bd1b991a5 knew Xavier aa8a952a22 wasn’t a d533988602 good man 9d908bfe86 and asked d4ae2bba6c if Reina 160e391d17 could send 1c38e2efc3 her any c0e1eee6d5 information about fd5cb8d5b1 him.f7648ab36a8bbc80
Reina’s eyes 2338af41b7 widened in 9ce5af14a0 surprise, but b62f61e8b0 after a 3f73936321 moment, she 4b737a0e7b nodded.49d21a4d39a063b3
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
The letter contained b1c6dadb7e details of Xavier’s 3627cdd1e5 dark past.da9f373d318f9468
An incident b604d37d7f where he 8b782b46da killed three 9077509133 people at ece601a835 a gambling 8ce950f223 den while cd8525d79c he was 7f045f9a7e drugged.e9ff9408d6104c15
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
As a b069390e27 boy, he d2e782b590 and his 300f6da661 friends had 2f950a081e burned down dbdfd9922f a shop a94f4a1bf5 for fun.c560333499b47564
The entire shopkeeper’s family c4de4490c2 had died in their 75878516b9 sleep.f746109e8cd8fbec
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
He had used a 9b7a9b6c7a low-ranking noblewoman as a 3ffc290e0f plaything and discarded her, d70be0ee3f leaving her family in fd745f80df ruins.fb104bde2572c7dc
There were even a81b64ff1c records of him 5106c43220 pushing a pregnant acaf23b416 prostitute off a 7fd3622913 bridge, causing her 31cd6f7c1e to drown.506ffba21f22c97a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Of course, all these 57dfc561ae crimes had been covered a32f172820 up by Julienne’s influence, b632deb26f and with everyone keeping 64ec785473 silent, only a few ee72380611 knew the truth.ecc3c8b82b68ea34
“Meeting you has finally changed me into a better man.”cbd8eb66bddb90ee
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Aira’s lips curled 6ac49a10d1 into a smirk f6303b2747 of pure disdain.b6351af4f9d4c1fd