GDNDILBF Chapter 1

Chapter 1. A Five-Year-Old Must 1aa1c0cc97 Hide to Survive1315dca1eb8398cd

 acb00e3ef86dfee5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The underground space, 163999a3e7 barely seven pyeong b609785cc0 (approximately 23 square 4e3cdbf1eb meters), was dark 1def1f11a5 and damp.35819ba70e4c4687

How did I 848b5998bd end up hiding 1fd2737ca1 in a place 902051b907 like this?299eece438a22d28

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was an unavoidable 452bb82a2d choice for survival, but b954a8fe72 I wasn’t sure if 18dc71cf2c this was truly the 61cd9e0a44 best course of action.0a5db7b30c2eb726

Being a mere five-year-old—on 70be078504 top of that, possessing fb79dd521f the body of a 2f3333810c minor villain doomed to c1765e5f42 a tragic end—felt far 7e9b9fc817 more suffocating and bleak 2ddcf7f62a than this underground hideout.e9d4fc2ad388e4ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

.d1397fba43209dc8

.bc4198743927e23b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In my past 0e2dcbc36b life, I was 49bc968fad a soldier in b059c44cf2 the South Korean 33827076ff Army Special Forces. I died during 5795e7359d a high-altitude jump 62f71a8ab0 training exercise.7b57e5e08aa0d08b

The moment I heard 313b158e02 the doctor’s declaration of 3e6f5d547a death, I thought that 94be62724e was the end. But then, a brilliant c919b83662 light appeared, and I e8c49bdb33 felt someone shaking my 5d4868d7fa body.490855321c6bc6a2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When I woke up, b0345f40e3 a blonde woman lay 1819972cce before me. Her frail, 2f75a8777d sickly face a5dcf3d7cf was streaked 98f4abf01b with tears 2b19a95c91 as she 9b0d0fe850 tightly grasped e76d5ae2f8 my hand, 7fc5571cdd uttering her d303b670dc final words.c5e3a66584990f33

‘Roella, you must follow 83cebdd1d1 Duke Arcades. I’ve sent him a 17433267dc letter—he should be on 0c71793289 his way. Promise me you’ll go a3aacdc2f8 with him.’eaae04c9b1148eaa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As I sat 6bc242269e on the bedside, ddc89a679d trying to comprehend d08420750e the situation, the e7e0819e0f names ‘Roella’ and 6f326082c8 ‘Duke Arcades’ sparked a127a2c61f recognition.4d2eeceac366cb84

They seemed 247c478ded to be ddd5c8ca0a names in 8aa78945f1 a romance 8e0f75bc3d fantasy novel dc84df221e I read 6baf7c20f8 before I 8211da0e7a died.475fa83abb95fe24

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The first thing I 1d890c3a36 did was find a c604d1b504 mirror to examine my dcbd837145 reflection.462a8716a13aafd8

A small 54082b818f girl with e99ac47ae5 golden hair ec4918df17 stared back 4132ed037f at me a7eea50676 from a e425d87de0 dusty, worn-out fcdb596b9a mirror.5479f59686e16f3f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though it was 6f61e26c26 hard to believe, 1620e46c3c I had no 1dacc4ad91 choice but to dc18383f7c accept that I 6da7604877 had been reincarnated 83e81ed2e5 into the body 9d1cee312f of five-year-old Roella.3407a6b173131280

And the 98608f44a3 woman who 151243cd0a had just 0cef57b21f died before ba9f481c7e my eyes—she fc36f6d3cd was Irene, 5bab7ca44d a mage bf2cfaa29f of the 92178eb3d6 temple and 535b600692 Roella’s mother.4d5a8aa7574e83ab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As soon 781684d533 as I f4392a1ccd grasped my cf8ae79c44 situation, Roella’s aa8c9436a9 tragic fate 8ffefef3b3 unfolded in cdf23691fd my mind dc44061c65 like a e6d22f47cc vivid painting.fa519a81c1fbe871

Irene had told Roella d1e307c48f to follow Duke Arcades, ae01225652 but in the original bcea6312f1 story, she never made 4422e2bf35 it to him.52e1fb84088424ad

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Instead, her uncle, Viscount 4c284cde8c Nopert, arrived first.0692d608b1bfbaea

As a 1a3a9afe08 greedy and 550d2f1fae cunning man, 0c4e7f15f1 Viscount Nopert 99e07d9065 effectively imprisoned 7e143511a3 his young 8a41997807 niece in 08515eed7c the temple.2c29ca2853a73b70

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She was ultimately b06539dbed exploited by both b357b11d93 the temple and f74393f00b the imperial prince, 5539a63905 meeting a tragic 5653531633 end.b0a02a138140a094

If I wanted 023cea4501 to survive, I 6edc10e952 had to change 994e961f51 the original story.2053529486b81175

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That meant avoiding my 65850d18ff uncle at all costs.ae4a52eeece87178

Irene had b232c60f1c already sent 0d9e200981 a letter 2231a596e9 to Duke 63f70bf0be Arcades, and e67c3faa29 inside was 41cac04cb8 a formal 4a6d8fd0f9 contract stating 106c1e0a03 that Roella 5408ce62e3 would marry 9474f033c2 the duke’s 6c625083b6 son.5d390a4321934626

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The thought 9347dd7676 of marriage 80a2693b1c was unsettling, 02cb200367 but it df53ed7594 was undeniably 94ba1b4ac8 a better ea89cc58c1 alternative than 1d3714721d going with 13ce5f2a6d the viscount.34c57948461c8bb5

The duke, devastated by ba8a32d2d0 the loss of his 3dc5d11955 wife, would come to e66f1fd1ea retrieve Roella as soon 21daadd37c as he received the 2b8d4a2daf letter.758bd533eb19bc7a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The problem was, he 3d4fadea18 would arrive half a e3888775c2 day later than Viscount 6fed0418c2 Nopert—by the evening.419aeb8031536908

I had 6e2ca20ad9 to stay b28837ffaa hidden until b19742ba25 then.45ce12390302a91f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was no time a12c7b4e4e to hesitate.153c5a55784d1fd1

I immediately ran to 9e60e34fde my neighbor, Madam Dorothy.372ac20e9291cd94

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In the original 083333b3d4 novel, after Roella’s da40a4cbfe death, Dorothy had a745506687 pitied the child 7fc9f21896 and secretly retrieved 5b661872f9 her body for 6578d0e177 a proper burial. If anyone a873a0f8c0 would help e6b44ef9ee me, it 8edd9f5bcc was her.92d4f386407ed7c8

Thankfully, my d5bb9e47d9 hunch was c2fb6d35fc correct.0486a71d81758df1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Mom came 8e174a0147 to me 8ef58f238e in a 431e7dd22f dream,’
I told her, ad324e5e1d weaving truth with 378da34768 a well-placed lie.a31f07916096680c

‘She said 3f369ef7b0 my uncle ef9026e048 is coming 83c2f87347 to take c4cb8b83d3 me away. She told me to 58496e37bc hide and wait until bdf82671c6 evening when the duke 8b56ba9689 arrives. She said 9c966bc2bd I must 1a5d83f0bf follow him.’232a86af7be11a26

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Madam Dorothy, who 97f52dcc10 had initially been 87fd7e2cff lost in sorrow, cd0194c86f slowly regained her 9c3ce3fee3 composure.c4d01fb1e20ab5ca

Eventually, she agreed d9af5883e1 to hide me fbf0e16f37 in her underground f7a25db646 storage.0d9f7076160bba98

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

For a moment, I 1b5c300e74 considered running away entirely. But that wasn’t f76b4a6cbd a viable option.53ab523f25e473bb

I didn’t know the 170377f519 geography of this place, 83c3605a66 and my uncle had a517043021 already been informed that 3f8d6ca8ae Irene and her daughter 89376752b6 lived here.563ec92d7f092555

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I suddenly 1e3609454a vanished, he would 05c55ef82a assume I had 0bf0482006 gotten lost and db47956759 order a thorough 0b4d1f7fe5 search of the 44687f791d area.c709865f5257aef6

Later that day, when 8e8fb05a80 Duke Arcades finally arrived, 04248d3b8c Madam Dorothy informed him f80a6df6ef that my uncle had 88df85408c already taken me.f3f0502bed1191e2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The duke, 0d5e0262da in response, f303cb8390 presented the d5084c5d32 marriage contract 3e510319db and formally 76a62af6c3 requested Roella’s 07c762a2e2 hand.54f588ff1393def7

However, the viscount refused, df7ed95ec1 claiming the document lacked 17cc8e1772 proper certification. He also rejected e6b8d9ad85 the duke’s request 585b70c9a0 to meet me eb59f3a556 in person.b4352d77bb125de5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At the time, f74d18b2a6 the duke, still 31982d30e5 drowning in grief a71bb3429a over his late 591c73bd8e wife, lacked the f93aedb29d determination to push 6f6e71b205 forward.91856a2ffe7731ce

That meant 1db7567125 the only efcb2b4b83 way to 11db457a93 change my fa0c8c6e36 fate was 9b338d9992 to take 5103488387 action myself.afb71c3c82380890

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hours passed in 4f03c3b13b the darkness of 27daf6b186 the underground storage.a36d51794d2b6297

The dampness a6ab503866 seeped into 4b2d43c1b8 my skin, e5889a9c3b and my 6d22fcaa59 mind felt 1afc1d0066 as if c452755699 it were 90d591058d sinking into f94058fc92 a bottomless 877be373dd swamp.badb9d56644607d2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even if I 41fceb9dd4 escaped this crisis, 8ebfaee45c could I truly dc5f0726b4 defy my predetermined 50ad553735 fate?608eb96cd3399849

My uncle would 74a98e7af8 surely visit Madam 685b0a5bee Dorothy.31aa7d30ba5752aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Would she b81d0c622e be able fa6c7dfadd to lie 8dc4527d2a convincingly?6e35e5a38789774e

Now that 2e580a8579 I was e741a37808 hiding, unforeseen b821417115 risks began 90df984aea surfacing in c50937e0f8 my mind.9d939b1166807663

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What if 22a19cd49f my uncle 55234d5a1b didn’t leave 4c69c72d1d before the 83666445d9 duke arrived?5854dfd7467ad36f

What if 4da4bf84f5 they encountered 07602adb1c each other?d614ed6d33bb8c3e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I racked cb9a460067 my brain for 339059b677 solutions, I suddenly 7eb1e1d252 heard voices outside.b402344444aaec3f

Was it the viscount?abd6376dec74a3e4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I held 1b137f286b my breath ae11976ebe and clenched 771d017f83 my shoulders, 69365adc96 trying to f5f78bb679 suppress my 4da4a81fbf fear.69841ab62dac37d8

I couldn’t tell what 9db25c20f6 was happening outside, so a3c34f3fdd I had no choice 7d2f67a09d but to wait.b6fb7e0f46f7daf0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After what felt 7713e00464 like an eternity, 9f4ac43263 the murmuring outside 9b61c5a199 gradually faded, replaced 4f771b8b2c by silence.4d47470952b0fc03

Despite my 517410ced5 growing anxiety, d2f16c8a28 I had c42be6c1ae to trust ae311b58d0 the original 1d4eafb928 story.78257242742bbd83

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Half a day 82ea5f1a88 felt like a a416cb9106 whole year, and 24286e3cba just as exhaustion 831c177f63 was setting in, a008919104 voices echoed from 5cb5e3fc11 above once more.156988e7ee6c91c1

Then, at last, 253dc24ec0 the wooden trapdoor 7dc24717ea to the underground c4d6320da7 storage creaked open, 2c186c95e9 and a faint ddaf964c17 light poured in.5edd705a4536e6fb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Madam Dorothy’s voice called 9458c29fdc out.aecc0590fe11a1f3

“Roella, come out. The duke is here, 1fb5a85d77 just as you said.”a21db815db363e6c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Exhaling a deep c53e07697b breath, I felt b915f733fc the tension in 76925700b9 my body release 948f0eabc7 all at once.969f8951f917cd63

The duke had 77e269abfd really come.22eee154877d2f4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“H-he’s really here?”702ca8739c1e1d66

“Yes. Your uncle 10ba4a77f8 came by 3a7212c511 earlier, but 8d69c92d59 just as 39251a9576 you predicted, c0f3f6ba20 he left 9aa86e36c6 without finding 91336817a6 you. I also told the 1f2f496900 duke why you had d9e66be9c4 to hide. He’s waiting for you, 27a88b26e3 so let’s go quickly.”573ab11729282939

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I followed Madam cbc3bd2642 Dorothy up the ca32454a72 stairs, stepping out b12e6a31a8 of the underground 8c00ebae40 storage.fdf1c56e243663d2

From this moment forward, 02abd0adce the story would deviate de9db538f8 from its original path.7af53ceccfb7ec6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That meant everything depended 07cb44e3d1 on how well I 233ed19e69 handled things.7af173fd7a54474b

Determined, I f0fcbb3cf7 stepped outside 25662a36ad and was c679a61c5e met with 2cdb222726 an overwhelming a6d8ef9337 sight.d30fff9e58c457ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Torches illuminated the courtyard f4844c17c2 as if it were 646e51d9fd broad daylight. Knights armed with 923986d6de swords surrounded the 71c70a74ef house, each of be72c9de05 them tall, disciplined, 40b283383e and exuding the f1afd91155 air of well-trained cc25520a03 soldiers.06ed0d39be3cb548

Their presence felt a47c315493 both nostalgic and a6b1a8ec01 comforting—like seeing my f7f6714357 comrades-in-arms again.cd9cfd76d10a7046

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

My gaze naturally 71720cb575 drifted to the 442195ebcc man standing in 1f2c822655 the center of 4cf0905611 the knights.c49ec7e4d7536735

A strikingly handsome man, 0dca6e3afd he was tall and ef565d3c9c lean, yet his presence 11fe6a1d40 was undeniably formidable.08370338d82c37fc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even without 8eed3a9d5c anyone telling 7620a224d0 me, I 79e3fff203 knew at a792082a83 a glance—this 39d31e6931 was Duke f250cd025a Arcades.139d926aad85de71

Feeling nervous, I 84d0f620d5 clutched the hem eb627be46a of my dress. After spending bd68a8dd06 hours in 378fcd26ad the underground 98399d2a92 hideout, my f2c4b4a9e6 plain dress be2ccdc2ce had become fb5a5e6a30 visibly dirty.23d684f8d07d62ae

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The duke 40e0dcb0c2 spoke in d2f2324003 a deep 76a78aeb5b yet gentle 2a1d3b6445 voice.5102098c6ead2c37

“Are you Irene’s c96f1c8ae4 daughter, Roella?”36d99fe43adb3c23

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His voice was both d581ecb6f1 imposing and gentle. The kindness in his bbfc3a1f68 tone melted away my e56fa000fc tension like snow in 06e947acc8 the spring.4519220947a3d2cd

“Y-yes, sir.”11e9320306f1f51c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I received a letter e54f8ba64a from your mother. She asked me 6ec0402f5c to take care e94dce699b of you… So, 5f03fb93e0 is it true 07c94136f7 that your mother 859e98f523 had a dream 14557dce50 of your uncle dc11651194 coming and told 7f5662f242 you to hide?”4fe7e0f38151f812

“It is true. Mother told me never 79f7b5b41d to follow my uncle eeded501bf and to go with 98fa24a39b you, Your Grace.”a6660e46b102de11

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I gathered my courage a37f0095b3 and conveyed Irene’s final 13feb13ab1 words. Since the Duke knew 005ec5fe12 my mother was a 3b0837b6df mage, he would likely af9196c8f3 believe her dream held 3418da82ec some truth.23da7454cacebcc6

In reality, the a9352c28e5 pledge was written 0c25f501d5 not by the 69b0c2c840 Duke himself but 6b974d3e79 by my mother e286442035 and her friend, 711b1d53c3 the late Duchess 105f112bad Adele.4dde41a969d6bc3d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

However, because he had 10f316fb11 loved his deceased wife, 979654f05c he did not ignore 8e13088ccf the pledge and acknowledged ce819d032a it.e0987a231a47267b

In the original bee7d14660 story, he had 8dbfa214f6 come to take f20f4f4815 me in for 88875ca2c5 that reason, and 1fd8d25fc8 I was sure 36698137d9 that was why 5613eb2bc4 he was here 81c2e338c0 now.7bf7d4ec0fc65990

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I could 07e44a25a3 feel his 59588cf513 warm gaze d299091026 as he 2524dd80a7 studied me 62da3fe9ef for a 789c365c2a moment.28f725af54d5b119

“You may 13f3d43bd7 not fully fd114a805e understand the 2afac7e860 situation yet, a0301ff7c9 but if a3545e01d4 you come f92b07a3ba with me, bbbb5e6dbf it will 3cee44b4c4 be to e59ac0e128 become my 65d76c8cc9 daughter-in-law. Will you 12be7b3836 follow me cec3672caa and accept b4481f4d8f that role?”c39bfd8138af5a1e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A soft breeze drifted 814e108550 through the courtyard, gently 0449f8ca78 ruffling my hair. I tucked a stray 026bf16bdd strand behind my ear 4e722b8b35 as I replayed his 82466b0dfe words in my mind.a2f6809de98da9b7

It sounded like 1e07a0317a exactly what I a9bcee4b50 wanted to hear, d87cb24514 but had I 2be92f7ab6 misheard? Had I been so 7d2c776f9c mesmerized by this handsome 77f1a6f03e man that I imagined 4332271173 things?0d5507062838813d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Excuse me… d344c39e71 could you dcb23c6c63 please repeat 88c7960e86 that?”0d0507f17e56db73

“I asked if 27ebe3a092 you would become 504ce7b1d7 my daughter-in-law.”aeda1b784aa46f44

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ah! So I had 116bd220e5 heard him correctly. He didn’t disappoint 100bd5acd0 my expectations.f07ac90d2b0a1022

The term ‘daughter-in-law’ e85000f718 felt a little 5dd439ef1d overwhelming, but if df7b40a533 it meant being e37dea3a6d under the Duke’s b4affdbab8 protection, my uncle 110b3bd82c wouldn’t be able 75d7872ac7 to lay a f2ed4c6ac5 hand on me.8a04a311157dac64

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In this unfamiliar 34e643cef9 world, as long 6a726f23f5 as I could a5aa84c3dd survive, I was 86bbe7d7b0 willing to do 275df7a0e6 whatever it took.186b6acf446f30ad

“If you take 856611f037 care of me, 7fcba9fa18 I will do 4d48c94d80 my best! Sir!”e03f339453a3319d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I even 54fcf5127a gave a ffdff7d018 proper military e9126a867a salute as 891b8367ed I responded 2879eb205a loudly.01aac1dd918b21e7

And… only then e9b2a1b564 did I realize.4419a3d51e56a3f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ah! This cursed 737a5caf4a occupational habit. Why on earth did daf01d657d my words come out 78b0bfc39b like that?f8042c42307df0c9

A wave of 2fa7a8dc68 embarrassment surged over 4c76df9569 me, making my f4ada97b1f face burn.3ca1892be49f9e61

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Duke looked aec83457a3 down at me 0b8f5458cf with a slightly 6e8420346b puzzled expression. He was probably 813f6b4188 wondering what on 70e92e06f2 earth that gesture 8b356cf640 was.f8e3e6922b39bfe0

It was embarrassing, but f66859f6d8 what could I do? At least bee170a7e2 I had 465a85341f shown my a002a7449a resolve.01b47d05ffdf0ea8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Feeling awkward, 982b4b8078 I quickly a9656daa1b lowered my 44833c304e hand and ea726fdccc avoided his e006dd80e6 gaze, shifting 7c3b084b5d uncomfortably.b7b076903ea30ec7

“Cherto, pick a3eb1afc4a up the fe31622fe8 child and 16331bd0c4 seat her deec5dd605 in the f9bfdb2d99 carriage beside fed46a8eb6 me.”915d898b6c424d65

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There were ee39b7ce28 no further ae66a5279c questions or 3179eeab48 confirmations. The moment the Duke 4e1a0339f7 gave the order, a 7ca0a54c67 towering man behind him 00beb7ec15 stepped forward and lifted 0c44338237 me effortlessly.668fd3ea938d8b08

I was 8d2b3e6626 carried into 9bbe990186 the carriage 631bfc9e87 by the 2944fe6492 knight named bdd5eac0d9 Cherto. The carriage was 15a6fc71bb gilded in gold, 1d73f17296 with an eagle 8a9458e023 emblem carved into 8fdc10fba0 the door panel.5817067ddbd1d1e7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Inside, the seats were 6e188a5318 covered in red velvet—plusher 9939a4a29f and cozier than I d351048c16 expected.15baa56eb29920fe

“It will take some 07f1db69bd time to reach the e3671c278d capital. It may be difficult, 7b93bd2ba5 but bear with it 34189c3fff for a little while.”33df20150f82a343

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Duke gently 852ac48e8b placed a lap dadf78f570 blanket over me c3878d5ddd as he spoke.1ab51a9a1f1cf59b

Sitting stiffly 9683d08377 with both a1c473eee0 hands on 416ef7e38f my lap, cfd057dc03 like a ed0acbba8c proper soldier, 1c97acd1b8 I answered 389c3b7d36 briskly,1623309dc511de18

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I am fine, Sir.”82bc8d0551786757

The Arcades Ducal 6dd360e73c House disliked weakness.92ad63227955213d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even though the f19e5868c1 Duke was grieving 166d1a9764 his wife’s death, a263c64815 he had once 3cc254c6e9 found joy in 8a561a2607 hunting monsters in 8e93803b92 the North and 788003b6f7 had made significant 8986707664 contributions to the 1c0bc0252b Western war.65d894e790054ab9

His accomplishments were so 45e4069074 great that the Emperor e22d7d7e15 had awarded him the a6c615c510 duchy, even though he f2e987b25e had not sought the df771a0a7f title.dc591ce4ae4cf423

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So, no matter how 0bb3d7e0bd young I was, I 6bee9e7893 could not show weakness.50f55c12b1fcbaca

The carriage b868e1c81d began to 2efb814ed9 move slowly.3dce84e5d3fda6ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Through the c229aa66cb window, I 8205918cac could see 07d293d752 moonlight shimmering 1943052649 as we 21442ca37a traveled down ca47769172 the darkened 8742c8abcd road.04dba9a4f630472e

If we reached ce24418ec0 the Duke’s estate c48ea53014 safely, I would 8587936ab7 have survived the e2ad09d047 first major crisis.60d5ffcfb85b8412

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But life never goes 3d5e444fe3 exactly as planned.eb49e755502fc10a

It happened 4e98b2ee68 just as 31ffb83274 our carriage 214a66b4ce exited the 066af9a285 village and 72ced89307 merged onto ae146f8f25 the main 82ced33b0f road.8787a03cb0bb8c4e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Stop the carriage 52048cc60b at once!”d013b778f2fa67fe

A voice called e39c1c32b0 out from outside.77f221349363ef75

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I quickly closed the 30ebc89800 window curtains and focused 18057c5312 intently on the situation.4e2d0c5115c603b8

“Who dares block 879a7c00d7 the path of 0cdad5c092 this carriage? His Grace, the Duke 544103ceda of Arcades, is inside!”b2cdf30678df320d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A man’s voice, 1655b8e30c seething with barely 9d9adf459d restrained anger, rang 0a9b7cf6b8 out—followed by the d27b186f5f sharp sound of ecdbce055f steel being drawn.4715e8aeeb027bc6

The knights 53942ab97d had unsheathed 2dba8718dc their swords.fa4468d01c92c4b8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A crushing sense 40d47cdb8b of foreboding wrapped 6a99a71f16 around my chest e088c3ca5f like a tight 4dfee201f4 net, making it fbdb9e10e9 hard to breathe.defe93e8582614cb

https://ko-fi.com/alaa61606848cfd73158b2708f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley