DSMBL Chapter 31

Chapter 031

It had 990ee19879 been a 6c3d9f7576 long time 257a6984ca since the 010fa6e3d4 gates of a405c2f4e9 Isteria had 5a75baa1fc opened.7cdf98711786bd64

Rumors had spread 3da68b816b that something unfortunate 23e494f754 had happened to 828f17bab1 Duchess Charlotte. People whispered that a 3f208283cc woman who loved parties 1540352b62 so much had shut 718b2b664a her doors and avoided 7582e2bf64 the public, which must 3e98635899 mean something serious might 45de300a44 have occurred.78ca048c067795c1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But now, 56aa237e02 the gates 099f6da5d1 of Isteria f4bb638574 were wide 6e7f541a1f open, as 12e005b50c if to a16705f5d9 prove everyone 44c100d9ff wrong.160e405016f5300c

And what’s more, Charlotte, e45e83ab48 who was always alone, f033c8fea6 appeared this time with 86754a6344 Cassius.fc7bcca793ad6d72

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Maybe nothing bad happened. Couldn’t they just be enjoying a late honeymoon?”
“Perhaps. I’ve never bb409b0b2b seen them a2607ada5a look this 3531039be7 close before.”
“Me neither.”7b7671bb7ee33c57

The nobles’ 734d4b2c78 fans began b34d21dc6c to flutter 74c9cf509e faster, as d9eabdee13 the rumors 9640ad7dac from the 0117b50cf2 north that f7f78e3a87 had been 2244bf8128 circulating started b1dd945027 to settle 34f461a8f8 down. Charlotte and a366c06eab Cassius looked 0ed4512af1 strong together, c36e3f2924 and there 980a717a3f was no c3e981594f room for 0298d99361 anyone to 216c3f016e interfere.0f824fef5e644c02

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A group 9842360718 of brave f043158959 noblewomen approached ec1a1b7408 Charlotte.0901887e7c3c67ce

“Duchess, it’s been a 731b15fc44 long time.”
“Yes, it has. How have you been?”395ec782b9c41649

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At her response, the c48bdb43ea noblewomen froze awkwardly for 80b5c17d48 a moment.db4d952f199a8742

“…Are you unwell?”
“Pardon?”
“You seem 4ec60a090e different than 3ba44fc321 usual.”
“Oh, no. I’m perfectly fine. Do I look better?”64afb9928070ab7a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The noblewomen chuckled 519f73fb88 lightly, adjusting their 35d695bb19 tone to suit 5a59069d30 Charlotte’s mood.891cec64d920cf80

“I heard you haven’t been hosting any parties or going out much. You’re not unwell, are you?”0940c8b93ffaa524

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As the 67880a4395 noblewomen closely 464384439f observed Charlotte, 7c939dc411 others around 5af9713c7c them listened f338b538e8 attentively.353beb5cf117e06b

As they observed Charlotte, 6e7bf21819 they wondered, If it 1386baac4e wasn’t for Charlotte, it 9686ce8731 could be their daughter, b37bfa42b9 their niece, their friend—or 9d9a5e4ff0 even themselves.6af865baad5b7667

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There were c965070e4f many who 87bb6278dc envied Charlotte’s da8fa480f6 place beside 0a76116689 Cassius, a c903ed97e2 seat they e17b3d3e65 had long 3b71d9b814 coveted.1d5f8fde4c5850e7

Even though Charlotte f8b7c3cbfc had hosted numerous 02148096d9 parties over the 4994a6cbc7 past six months, eac7cdd489 she had always d0e6b2f797 been aloof, which 5f61cfe920 made others suspicious. Furthermore, Cassius 4fe10dd593 didn’t seem 80fae0f174 very interested 97ab529d73 in Charlotte, 801dde90e4 so many 6ec71b365d wolves were c27a7b6f90 hoping for 91a543c8e3 a new f1c6737aa4 opportunity.a04e4f5c880bec5a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then, suddenly, Cassius approached 30e2b8ced8 Charlotte and placed his fd52166f5a arm around her shoulder. The group of women, b8347fa56f who had been eyeing baf7c25e92 Charlotte, flinched and stepped 87e3226db5 back.5e1a0874954bed21

“Not at all. Thank you for worrying about Charlotte’s health,” Cassius said quietly.b5c0448ac6a75ba9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 “Thankfully, she’s fine. We were simply e3a978314f spending time together e390601892 as newlyweds.”bb10fdcb4fa3bddc

“O-oh, I see.”cfbd8ded8c174af1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The women replied, taking d51fa9cb51 a step back. They had 6cd20c03c9 no words 64e972c740 to counter fc246d9146 Cassius, who fa11304e8b was firmly c0f64b2709 holding Charlotte.090a2357a3c47d6a

Moreover, Cassius was not 0d11030257 an easy person to 11e406c428 tease. His cold and ec8191494c steadfast gaze was c7d2ae9eb5 like the walls ebe063b359 of the northern b6e1661174 fortress.09a8f59ba39674b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is there something else 623089fde9 you’re curious about?”3d69f17e6e1a35bb

“Well… next month is my husband’s birthday, Your Grace. We’re planning a small party, and it would be an honor if both of you could attend.”cbae5bd830db3ec4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

one of the women 3a793f8b31 asked, her voice full c2ab53cf70 of intention.24f50e3179c88725

Although Charlotte 944c45bada and Cassius 6d30edb5ab had appeared c323ae6503 to be 4473e22920 getting along, c326550040 would they 4ddb665ef8 continue to 5947356256 do so c200fc58a2 in the c0210021b5 future? This could be f984a38b09 temporary, and they b8f993f95b were simply putting b3f956a4a6 on an act. Cassius’s lips twisted e962bc4c91 into a cold ca29e0429a smile. but before he 31d50b655a could reply, Charlotte 88598995b1 spoke first.211d37031e8bef23

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The Duke is 52fca6d758 a busy man. If he attended 1218300718 every party, who fb43e75ba0 would defend the 2da33f5637 north?”e3c37d5df7d9fd47

Her tone was icy e8a85054b2 as she continued, “Would 38ee87d781 you take care of cd8e371e25 the snow beasts or f8c006420b the monsters’ invasions? If so, perhaps a4cf44b8a4 he could spare 07263b0382 the time.”f9145df6cec42b6b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ahem!”5c77d4b603336f3f

“As far as I c090e1063e know, the Duke has b74207ef99 never attended such gatherings 4bae0f7bcf before. Why the sudden interest 50abf07424 now?”28b8b536cf6275bf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Charlotte’s cold response left 4462e442d8 the noblewoman speechless.f6756771030729b3

Even Cassius looked f97c9bf468 at her with 4ff93de38b surprise. He hadn’t bf8b05ae61 expected Charlotte b74251af7f to shut 14d967dfe4 her down 5ba8e70a7d so decisively.81eddedd4b195060

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If Charlotte 60128454d1 had wanted eebef5e0fb to, Cassius b1c6d25580 might have 33e9c01153 considered attending. Not because he 8cf23c4a26 enjoyed parties or 5c19f2245c had a special 28a8bcef97 bond with the a06e76097c host, but because d53fbe98e9 he now understood 222d7d9941 the kind of f4851e92b8 treatment Charlotte had 13feb2e399 faced in the cd623b19ff northern social circles.451ecab42c2401a4

Perhaps Charlotte 843d0a0a31 now understood 946729c710 Cassius just d6a7b8eedd as much a7a2a34de6 as he 5da434ae7b understood her.7f5d5acca20b6f31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If you want to 652cfaff01 go, I’ll accompany you, c4d0e29088 Charlotte,” Cassius said softly.2277364e0435fd85

Charlotte blinked, quickly 72e4fb5cd0 calculating her response. Then, for the deddfb15b7 first time, she a0a8237407 affectionately looped her 65d45d91e8 arm through his 12f86a220e and leaned her 197b1e6a8d head lightly against d5cacf23f5 it.2c0418f4e08560db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I don’t want to 04e5123973 attend that party, Cassius. It would be 6e25a000bc a waste of 132628727c your time.”bf6c44b327d5c183

Cassius’s eyes widened at 5b77bb0965 her unexpected closeness.7723994d3ac69e8c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But he 0aa5e09609 was quick e7d5f20208 to adapt c69200f9d2 to the acb31fae6c situation.8398c7aa996c3a19

“Understood. If there’s ever a f8fe82ea8d party you want to 805e96e865 attend, just let me f7cb4a6aaf know. I’ll make time 6554f40d1f for it.”1c987ba7e5a29081

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Thank you, Cassius.”8762f700045def8f

The rejected noblewoman’s 05bc47d263 face turned bright f25aee5bb0 red with embarrassment.cd0040d09354b430

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was a d66cad58a4 pivotal moment when aba1880c54 Charlotte’s status in 1d6ec4a213 the northern social 09be0c3cca scene shifted dramatically. People began to d3c8464aa9 see her in d38aa2357b a new light.178a0fba7ac66505

***d3b8efafbf61efe9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Meanwhile, after Theo’s c025f586d6 first lesson, Lorencia bcdbb51fd3 met with Janice. At Janice’s a53e0fe9d8 signal, Lorencia 7b5049b16b followed her 0e76270ca3 into an 7be973614a unused empty 081407c5d9 room.bbac158f472e2013

“So, how did 192d8079df it go? Did you f0785617f5 do well? Do you think you 1526ba0403 can win that child 87f09c69d7 over to our side?”80a7e022b0f0ded3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ugh. There’s someone glued d483bb364a to him like 4836a86b83 a guard dog. What do you expect f02908ba59 me to do?”a635d4a7be546e1f

Lorencia muttered irritably.de81ad59a499d57d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Lorencia. Did you not expect b46b88ecd9 some obstacles? Did you think 3ee275b95d everything would be 99b293ddab handed to you 4cc7d3c6ad on a silver 862a86b3ca platter?”f4ebe214b4d4f9df

“You’re the one 595517cbc8 who promised to 786e124ecf make me the 66f649a4b0 Duchess. And you’re the a06676bacb one who broke 22aa478e80 that promise.”c7d425199b9a86cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ve done my fbba89a4b1 best, Lorencia! I’m still doing d8abcd9f02 my best. Without me, do d8647d3374 you think you’d 950d5db4b6 even be the 0d787517ab tutor for the 3a82ee4f86 Duke’s household?”1912125a3ea43e81

Lorencia’s face turned red. Janice was right. With her low social 0cf6658d59 standing and lack of 7448677cf7 education, she wouldn’t have 6ca79ccad5 secured this position without 038fa5348f Janice’s help.bb53d65fd109e57e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…The Duke is very fond of Theo. You’ll have plenty of chances to see him. Things aren’t going well with the Duchess right now, so getting close to Theo is key. One word from that child could change everything.”a43e59e78e8ab7df

“Fine, fine. I get it,” 0033f5bbd4 Lorencia snapped before 2f67fd7e6a storming out of bbeaffb454 the room.73f3f88e4f69ba04

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As she walked 801e167863 through the garden b8652c2844 to cool her 63ca57f2d6 temper, her eyes 514f6a8ed8 fell on the f05559b655 outdoor banquet hall.8b90de19ff437db5

“What’s going 905ee691f1 on there?”53ae158c00de0e39

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The lights were still 65d9ecfb50 on late into the 34177e305d night.182b7290315b2145

As Lorencia moved d80c8dda96 closer, she saw d2116f0972 people laughing and f1d3301c4f chatting inside.4cc6536e6a30a478

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh.”2671ea8273c9482f

It was the legendary 5a0d1eca0a outdoor banquet hall of 162c4ea1ae Isteria, a place renowned 2f88c1b7b1 even in the capital.0c72ff95b8aa2cb6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Anyone who f351b25be5 had attended 8087524809 one of a8f8624e3a its events 17aa8eafd9 would never 0b0b4ccfcd forget the 710003cff4 experience.6141dc9e0fafdacf

And amidst 9bb1137d32 the crowd, 19e0e543ee Lorencia saw 47d86b2d2f him—the Duke c1ce1eb212 of Irtesia.741114c673c4cb68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She would 483826e57b never mistake 2b581caeb9 the face 893f49061d she had 16467bc654 memorized countless 44cf8fc247 times from f11e1470fc portraits, imagining e06af1dedf him as 3cc698a143 her future d61a361dc5 husband.4e7f50e19ec2b152

But standing 12d40c64a5 beside him 2f0476d0ff was another 0d50f791cb woman—Charlotte Irtesia!1c81992715cd6ce8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She was the 39029322c9 daughter of Count 2bdd0e84f8 Solovice. Though the Solovice family 5f6fabf878 had fallen, they were 02846963cb once a prominent house, f4fd43f4ec far above Lorencia’s reach.f2edd931afcc18da

Lorencia clenched her fists tightly. On the surface, the people in the banquet hall didn’t even know she existed, but she knew her—that woman, Charlotte.9c6af6e27347feb8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Charlotte, who always seemed bored despite having everything. There were plenty of women wealthier and more powerful than Charlotte, but it didn’t matter. Just the fact that Charlotte stood beside Cassius made her a target of Lorencia’s hatred.0f21dc4dc1dd5fe4

“Why does she have what I don’t?”99717c6f231def0b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was infuriating.03e568a14b6f0beb

Thinking about the once-great 2caac1cacc Solovius family now, Lorencia 1341224294 felt she was no 75c7e7bab7 less than Charlotte.c8f5c569dcc1b426

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll take it all away from you,”she thought.4f0e27fdf7aafe80

The woman laughing 40bdb0423d so brightly on fc31fa2846 the other side 92f33ae9a2 of the hall 194c11e05c filled Lorencia with b19e40dce1 a burning resentment. It wasn’t 94ce302c51 for any 4160f2db6f grand reason; 04ca4f96ae simply because 3bbfb05931 Charlotte had b1ba73598f the things 217716c432 Lorencia desperately f262cbe823 wanted.3141c745b4d13ce1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s mine.”97054fd0d64fd5ea

Lorencia whispered the words eaa4600211 under her breath. She believed that if 2126d2b0f0 she kept saying them, 03fa36bca3 one day they would 17a14fe31b become true. The gap between where e9c3fdcbf4 she stood and where f0cb7f7090 Charlotte stood was enormous, 74732ad86a as if mocking Lorencia’s eedd7191cd circumstances.eadb54cc7f84e152

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But in her 059963ce43 imagination, she had 01241352b6 cut Charlotte out 7664afa4d3 of the picture b5b6b671f4 and inserted herself 731854aba8 in her place.9ddd82c94d0479a1

It was a 086dd10741 perfect fit.855d6eed9149fb46

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She was 01298aa849 confident she e3e4d14b79 could do f537e09df6 better than 02f9d223dc Charlotte—much better.b00a6750e91d6aa1

Lorencia’s lips f69fd0c84f curved into bb7bdd8db1 a bitter, 63be4b3122 determined smile.56f6f5d3fded6b78

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s mine,”she repeated, her f3ea5dbb6e voice tinged with 325e8c026f longing.62a7e5680e6a04e2

The handsome e8339773dc man who c2832bc948 seemed to 2b9e1f3343 have stepped 367b934bde out of 2b67e9148e a portrait, 41a24adff2 the dazzling 1ac0877e77 dresses, the 85708c71be luxurious life—they 85d59c8eae all tempted cc804d36fe her to 05f5b5128b the brink 753482fec4 of madness.0042bf8fea5ef14d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Everything she saw on 5e2181cc10 the other side of 09563325c9 the banquet hall felt 6ce61b88a9 like a treasure chest 58698d9aa5 she was desperate to 4447e6940a claim.e41f18aa1d812bb3

 46757cc19beabfe4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley