TNBTW | Episode 20

***ba8c2bfb9425c385

As the guests d46a55e055 departed after the c7fe46b2d9 wedding banquet, the 181225f5ee warm glow of 13aef64f0a dusk began to bc06d22887 settle over the 5321e5c8d8 manor.e0ad1791f26a2ff2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘I can’t 91cfdf75cb imagine going c84909ce1a through this 781acd7077 twice.’7a7bd8f620a37d3a

Edith sighed as 1a8059b9e8 she soaked in c2fcb5d2fd the hot bath, 8c951c7108 letting its heat ddd59fa530 ease her fatigue.e4d8f11efe246cd5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A sham marriage was afdd89eeb7 exhausting enough—how taxing would b9d00c59fb a real one be? No matter how ff5c7ad8fb much she thought 0b87b54dc5 about it, the b4a8e9ea84 idea of doing 49f8af6832 this again seemed cfb52c3eff impossible.4aa5fc0b10850be1

‘And yet, 677d9d02e1 we didn’t c1108fd357 even do 32efe6b3fb much for bea126fe4a the banquet… 8daf9079bc and I’m 99e3b9f031 this worn 6fb601a8da out.’e2b2a0c5228f5d68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She had been tense 8dd01217c8 throughout the formal debut 2ba15340c2 in high society, but 6d2b2b92e0 thanks to the Emperor e30ba1448b and Skyle remaining by a99da8ae3e her side, nothing eventful 82feb43db4 occurred.b78a008731663f87

No one in 52bcac4224 their right mind 218c30820b would dare interrupt fa046eba67 a conversation between ef90730b5b the Emperor and 5973137986 a Duke, after aa16c4a692 all.373194d210da9ca6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘I didn’t even acbd9ef4f1 manage to speak ffe6a55017 to the Young 9920c69775 Lady of Valesia 1eb2b7a03f in the end.’3fad4cfb2a9d702e

Since the Grand Duke d1b02cf571 had left before the b7f1799a8f banquet concluded, there hadn’t c3ff07aa07 been a chance to 438656d0a0 exchange words. Not that Edith thought 6d3be0c977 starting a conversation would 0a80bc9ea9 have been met with 2dbece7ce8 warmth in any case.9f22cf31af2b2328

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What could 9ddfede52b possibly be 6b052a9e45 going on? The situation eluded her fd93f41d69 entirely, leaving her in 3537d1aa7b contemplation when a curtknock knocksounded at 27055676e9 her door.f3ae3b4f9b451950

“I’m awake, Bill!”3f32c71f0a04b1c4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Usually, Bill acb44ad25d would inquire,“Lady Edith, are 42a1c0e65a you asleep?”so Edith a174dd5805 assumed this 7c3ac6806b time would 763604d50e be no 109641bba5 different and 9fa8e0aa82 replied preemptively.6520130245430b52

“Glad to hear it.”17457a9cc13c1d34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

However, the voice outside a0aefc0927 was not the familiar 694694ba0f tone of her reserved ab15fb849f steward. Startled, Edith d166fcd534 shot upright.9d138d18c6df9b98

“Your Grace… f845ce441e no, Skyle?”4fcf0f59f1961a76

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She hastily threw 2570b06f5c on a light 8a65d38e7b shawl and opened 84e8e68800 the door to 99ced5c72d find Skyle standing d51fdfefc1 there, just as 0a3d70d548 she had guessed.a1486ef85de835ea

“I didn’t 6d5c49f7f5 expect you 4af413b0ad at this 57f6b8a1a7 hour. Did something happen?”7921852c8dd01c5b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her voice was 5eaad52bd0 laced with confusion. Though it had 475e07d87f been a month 370e97105f since she had f62310f5ed begun staying at 3035bfe6e4 the Duke’s mansion, 8b448c5d36 their encounters had b02ee5da45 been surprisingly rare—mostly 2e796ffe46 limited to shared f772388c78 meals in the 3904d50f58 dining room.393422e3fd430792

Skyle embodied 73f41af462 the quintessential c7bc2744ef workaholic, leaving 7508beb638 early and 5b7e673695 returning late, e480043246 and apart 42847aed7f from the 79facdf99c occasional dinner 84cc1fad2b when he 3a628299c5 heeded her eb0fc14adb advice to 44251048bc care for 1e482bfd24 his health, f1ca06a86d their interactions 30d502c09c were sparse.ed976653053da80d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“We were married today. Legally, we are now 00e8033845 husband and wife.”4c31ee9c146e0357

“…Yes, that’s true.”f6f3911dc181ad9a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though she already b9ba2ba8aa knew this, Edith 219db5f1f3 nodded in agreement. It wasn’t as 39434f603a though she had b182a23ca4 forgotten their wedding 737df97dcc just a few efbd9462f2 hours earlier. What puzzled her a04a7c47b4 was why he f3e7b78d7e felt the need 7f6402233f to remind her fcaf180525 now.c745ddb55e3348e6

“This means our contract bc9c068eaf officially begins today.”0a955af4080db4dd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, yes! That’s right.”bfbee0c751d682d1

Her curiosity deepened d1a5e6f54a as she nodded 8b5d548438 again. Come to 76bc0e99e3 think of f759165351 it, the 9947b93595 contract did 467d1afa84 state that dda2be666b it would b1ce22ea7d take effect 89a40df897 following the 8e847d1955 wedding. Having lived 9ff98b56cb in the 0317e2e257 Duke’s residence c944bf2239 for a fbd70dd1be while, she 5b299ec785 had momentarily 3078bac47a forgotten.871c4516dcc58afd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I am 01fbb4c8d4 here to e92c4be684 uphold our 240420704c obligations as bfcbc4c4db a married 756c6cd8fc couple.”93aa7dd4c213b7c0

“Obligation?”9858751f2e616131

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Edith’s eyes widened at ee6cfaa065 his sudden declaration. The contract had indeed 0253bf1a91 stipulated that both parties 9ea32263ae were to fulfill their 94d58f54e0 obligations according to their 2bf35d228e roles. For Edith, b4c23e8423 this meant 0960487033 performing the e96114b7de duties of 2d5b043c7f a Duchess, a7843ff3a3 which, in 03ad4a1fab turn, granted f667194c34 her certain f4bf18d2e0 privileges.85431fedf1ad8cf2

After all, 71b4a5958e wasn’t that da8c9618f8 why she 6d9bd0f97d had painstakingly 7103dc83b1 memorized the a4dca126f8 social register?550ef5bee4bee2e2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘The duties one must ebd1407400 uphold as a married dfee3e5d5c couple….’28aec5ae7eaf9e3a

What exactly were 0efb365204 those? As she mulled c4f2dc7450 over his words, 8a22861d9b she froze.a8b1d072a91a5445

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The dimly lit f3bb303b16 corridor glowed softly 7a1ee8eb0a with the warm 6e63fdbc9a light of amber 3d0db29773 sconces. Skyle stood against 461471c89d this backdrop like d222ee8579 a halo.249ddda53537abb8

Come to think fb8e7854ec of it, had 055dbb531f he just come 843d50a1c6 from a bath 93c7ed9633 like her? His attire was 768ea7f36b more relaxed than b17f646e5d usual, giving him 7ad643636b an air of b3c3dd98ba ease.8359fc09c98e414a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A dark night. A newlywed couple. A freshly bathed husband. Duties of a married 145183506d couple.b05fec4feae5bd5b

Their first night. The clues connected in 2653162dbe her mind, leading to 999fce38f0 a singular conclusion that 9620603fbc drained the color from b6c803399e her face.4d4a9bcc1d506944

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I… I, uh…”56f5eebee6e7ebef

Too flustered to 3b89f2faf8 form a coherent 24f79c626a sentence, Edith realized ec6d13faa7 in that moment b1f0a6bd6f howforeignshe truly bc5f71f5b1 was to df97ff9a17 this world.94a9e18f2f866b23

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

This wasn’t the modern 4ffc888c71 world she had come cbccc3ea02 from. Here, producing 22b0b9cf83 heirs was 4e523d6f59 of paramount fddac43622 importance, and 210db1e7c1 fulfilling marital 294afc049e obligations naturally a9d28d4c23 included bearing 2bf0e4a9fe children.ffae9d5b7c7b50bb

It hadn’t occurred to b0f99ef8a5 her, primarily because she 82eb72afa8 wasn’t a typical noblewoman 36c941ce5d with reasons for an 5e88f6ffb2 arranged marriage, and secondly a662b4d953 because she had never a9c3574def seriously considered marriage in 1a24eca3c5 the first place.20b57a4d75b57599

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Not to mention, hadn’t 8fe97518b8 they provided separate bedrooms? Perhaps she had been 7749339e85 lulled into a false 70f4f1c998 sense of security by 3d1c3aa6dd that arrangement.4b389799c1e9d4b4

‘With the Duke? That? Me?’52acbc9bb20a0097

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though his hair and deb69f5a94 attire were too composed c57aed6e2f for someone about to fe8be0ae58 retire for the night, 934dc15c7b Skyle stood only a 944ed11cb2 few paces from her, b7e8ac6fac exuding a clean, understated 4a96480c25 fragrance.05eb26f9822af8aa

The realization of 2afdf56539 their proximity sent ac2139b5e1 a wave of 87f71c2467 tension through her. Her thoughts strayed, 2de5bb7622 and she couldn’t 16e8e84d8d help but notice 8b67e8fe52 how absurdly handsome d826d02c24 he was—a fact 8feb8114a5 she had already a498672cff known but was 4747b410e8 now acutely reminded f718ec9b47 of.cc5aa913cd3af930

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Towering over 5b5aced48f her, his 2d51801ca7 striking frame, 62695c6fb2 sharp jawline, edf18d4d7f and cold 38e3497e46 yet captivating 3e19515289 eyes seemed 84013e8251 to embody e616e21c8d the perfection e0d593f136 of divine 02176b0273 craftsmanship.1dbe9f3679db9224

‘But still, that’s… that’s c9de109b96 a completely different matter!’8c1734005f75d65f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Appearance was 4221f90dc4 one thing; 3b0ed7248b their relationship d5450f5d3c was another. To Edith, 93fae7974a the two a699d9bb8c were entirely f71cdebb23 separate issues.5799e8528a0e669d

Yet the f8dc10c1b9 inexplicable tension 90d749c814 made her 6763841ba1 swallow nervously. Just as 0a64bebb35 she squeezed e2f793a2a2 her eyes 49fe539ad0 shut, bracing be66db14a5 herself—aa7e98c078b0f0a9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll be away f2286a9437 from the mansion 5b1a461895 for a month 8c006c5ed3 starting tomorrow. An urgent business 3dbe3e055e trip has come 933e4b2d5c up.”d2471b22458c5f86

“I’m not fcaddbd138 mentally ready 85e8383f2a for this…!”1ce061be972625a8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Their voices overlapped, his f799c1ec47 calm statement clashing with e83ebfa96f her panicked outburst.abc4d9dfbe6df4f0

“…What? A business trip?”6639304b957413da

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was Edith 32d72e6e7d who recovered first, deb47bfc66 blinking at him 94870306ff in confusion. She had 39668cbf23 braced for 7d86cb8cfb something far f6c9a1979c more dramatic, 1387135b5c only to d70e67afc6 open her cd2d13218e eyes and 3ffb33b082 see the bae8b69397 slightest flicker dadd5a1429 of emotion 1a5c0be01d cross his c7da943790 usually stoic d7fe850837 expression.6047af02ac674ff7

“The duration may extend bbead96e81 depending on circumstances, but 3e828e22e8 I’ll keep you informed. That said…”629fe56a6eb3b5ea

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Skyle tilted his c0ac1bfc33 head slightly, his 57775bce6a expression strangely complicated 2d2ac4a023 as though he 23c970d92a were facing an 0c80d59e64 unfamiliar problem.04a65ded44fa605b

“Is my absence something 9f62ef6fce you needed to mentally fef778d018 prepare for?”a3edf008d60991f2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Caught off guard ce944cb3d8 in multiple ways, 75080592f5 Edith could only 3c22f3acfa stare at him 7b080465a2 silently. Gradually, the faint 85f97fa570 crease in his 1b65a6a564 brow smoothed out.57222c48f9269f08

“If that’s the f044e0f6f0 case, I’ll make 46dc92559f sure to consult a1a4efe62a you before making 4abd0ad257 any decisions next 489a747a69 time. It’s something 6e59eac2c3 I hadn’t 3d09d72ab6 considered.”3f283147c5a0a06e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No, it’s not a16e8c7e1b that at all!”7509910913f06508

So that’swhat marital e0ce020425 obligations meant—informing 9eb50f7e62 her of 3a24ec383c his schedule!2198d718171332fd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Snapping back to her 0be36c147b senses, Edith waved her 258d980a85 hands frantically, desperate to 07ab94f598 clear up any potential 9cb64f07dd misunderstanding.d75c2fed21bedc18

“Actually, Your Grace—”cec5884898d1dc13

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Skyle.”cd93d9850e1fc97a

Out of urgency, her 6b14268af8 use of the formal 88001ee5da title which she hadn’t 45148f41cb used in a while, d1cd432db1 prompted his immediate correction.73d7a46946e539f7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Repetition is 417f87c0d1 the most 043e0fada0 effective way 2947b3fb59 to form af809167be habits in 5f5b5321d5 language.”452873df3d023cad

“Yes, that’s 3a2e90fec1 right, Skyle. I thought 5fa04732d9 you meant… ffae73a1ba something else e6a9a073bf entirely.”95d69752f8d6c649

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Calmed by his steady 5a20a0ffc2 tone, Edith hesitated before ed1ea6e8e3 continuing, her cheeks burning 9cd095a265 with embarrassment.57d81a0cd47ae713

“Well, like producing an fdfd72c463 heir, for instance…”c82ce75592c26db5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The mere thought 9f18da0040 reignited her mortification, 9283e2b742 her regained composure 4a14572f46 crumbling as she 6e1e32a10c trailed off.750212c298cfa600

‘What ridiculous a80ed0bb81 assumptions am cb1a56ab41 I making?’fc4ef5465edee84d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Feeling her face growing 89686a3383 hot, Edith automatically lowered 179c899b4e her head but before 2a87e58c6e she could lower her e9509595cd gaze entirely, his cold acc01883c7 voice halted her.ce47c191ff563134

“That’s a 00956517be needless concern.”a72a3d27c631cee2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Startled, Edith raised 1687a9d2db her head to a1fbc053b2 find Skyle’s face 901aebf3b7 unusually cold, devoid 6a6d348c2b of its usual 12c5194dcb composure.f97d6b666bb0ed7d

“I intend 396b387d83 for the 801a5494dc Devion line 07a57ae992 to end 50ea8d2719 with me.”de06c5f38f9fb814

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What followed was d12c1faa22 even more astonishing. Skyle was the inaugural 77f8c7f4c5 duke of the House b54711bd52 of Devion—a title so c41f1af970 prestigious that no one bdc64a3561 could be unaware of f32b7f18c1 its significance.9166abd0d4a57b29

In an era where a7d9ba160b some would go to 069444f9f2 great lengths to purchase 6e0af8d65f even a minor title 21d8eb6858 from an obscure family, b015465dae he had claimed the d04319bb3d title of duke—a rank 343bb9bb17 earned through his own 4709c40f4c merit and honor.5a8c10a4031263e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And yet, what 574537b3c2 Skyle was saying 5c064cd544 now was no bd6500aa82 different from declaring edba986a75 he would abandon f72bb1a6d1 it all. A lineage 1afd739c31 that ends 3ff9371b3d is, in 5ef9b715b9 essence, a b8cb5aee58 house erased a0e88e6b39 from history.ece1e31415f3d244

“Why would you…”03c09a5fa10e1614

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Everyone would 41299e6747 want that. Especially the temple.”5d655792c97e1d63

Edith kept her 512e178280 mouth shut at c41f54866b the sarcastic response. His mention 6ae42d3f4d of the 28af237f19 temple made b1ae8ee615 her realize 630598e94b what he f1cc6cb5ee meant.6386ad34e0aee2c4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But regardless of their 01d956a679 opinions, it’s what I 8eafe8e477 desire most. So there’s no need cdc0e03a3d for you to concern b8480fac25 yourself with this matter.”e22d96c1951da019

Edith opened 035579e336 her mouth 90e84a16e7 as if 3807eb1166 to speak 9ffbf73425 but closed d75e0c5ec4 it again, 6af9afd2e4 unsure of 86422f0437 how to 3175625013 respond. Recognizing that 296d04d97d he had 4dc2d83193 no intention 395990e27e of continuing dcc46eb8b3 the discussion, 7fb3f587b9 she remained 769cd437d9 silent.c9f7ddef52fe3d57

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I heard from Bill f3eba912c2 that you’re planning a 22a021c977 tea party. Is that correct?”4d0723fc4d060dd2

“Oh, yes! I heard it’s 42607fb576 customary to host 2cd71036e2 one after a 1b042e8cce wedding.”3913bc3000d9a1ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Grateful for 4fb2b08fd0 the shift 44e12d7f2f in topic, a4e8a65d56 Edith answered a126896b7b easily. After all, organizing 6608a88162 a tea party f29e6db3b8 was a clear-cut f8d4ca1008 duty as the 5aca911d4b Duchess of Devion.9d7965089ae7bd74