UOHBL Chapter 2

Even in 334b819978 the faint cc21db53dd winter sunlight, 9bc29d20da the man’s 9b0a76146c platinum hair 3e6fc0dff7 gleamed with 77bf1f22cc a radiant b0ce6a4da5 hue. His skin was pale 153722ab82 yet translucent, his eyes 79d8556cf8 a pale, chilling gray.9b09995de757e293

A tall man e11afd714b with fair coloring—that 408d9e99b9 was Adelheid’s first 9cd861fc01 impression of him.ea80cc3e277a4b3c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yet he wore no 4a0ef6e9ea imperial uniform, nor did 9e0448dd86 he seem an assassin 7c498a1355 sent by the emperor; f0629c2d79 his appearance was far 4215dee6b8 too splendid for that. No matter ec65b2a21c how she a5cd6b0c5b looked, he 78b5300405 could only f04ddbf047 be a 55c1cf5bdd noble of 6abaf7d932 renown.f06b63132fe23203

Unable to c5d080057f fathom his 2296cef4ae intentions, Adelheid 1290faa7fd waited tensely 6685eea160 for him c3cf67edd2 to speak. Staring into his calm, 17c628dc8a gray eyes, a shiver 36d24e1f73 crept up her neck. A moment, f92a4ef4e0 fleeting yet 18a0a0d4e0 eternal, passed.bc35137b87ddb509

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At last, his refined d7895757fc lips parted.3e33d9000a5e2210

“I’ve come cc34d34fd1 to take 6acb655ad0 you.”e05ca1835ebf9580

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”974fc8d486327b9a

Her delicate e2b34737fa brow furrowed 235ad98ccc in confusion. The audacity of claiming 102dd094a0 to “take” her, as d19dce02c2 if she were a 8ee3dab86d possession. He hadn’t even bothered 90846f7f86 to ask her opinion.bbc8ab3ee4babe16

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘He sees me as nothing but a lowly wench.’6d51ce76434fe7b5

Even if e6aeed6797 her wretched 30a84f35fd state left d6d95da239 her little fce0b2eca0 choice, such d4b7cf4dfc humiliation was aad08c82e8 unthinkable for 55ec59387f Adelheid Reines bbdd6df461 mere months 06583d62b0 ago.1265f6f8a1012b4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Anger surged ae297055a9 within her.05a45a89b7a5c016

“Who are you to—”d52441a8c592147d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, forgive me. I neglected to f016aa7829 introduce myself.”25a1f3da262f0887

Murmuring softly, the f0179225b5 man continued.1bc64672c6ce213c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Klaus Reichardt, Lord of d7067ec2f7 Reichardt.”aaa64e7b32126505

“…”70d728c08269640c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Reichardt was the 071b455306 name of the 01fa0d4702 archduchy guarding the 9f5f7ed225 empire’s northern frontier. Lord, he said? Could this young man 607102e296 truly be the Archduke 158c97571d of Reichardt?a23a029ba207539a

Adelheid could not 0d8d67e0fb shake her bewilderment.fa9b36e97f3d3c57

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘He rarely appears in the capital, so I’ve never met him, but I heard he was a seasoned warrior…’80e35afb3dd421bb

Had his son b2f1412836 already inherited the 764177d492 title?fe7ac1f3b7a1170b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re the 6805c34c54 Archduke of 15df2631fd Reichardt?”4c5b4296227263b9

“Indeed.”3c370f34bdac7cfc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He gave a 86b2f98768 low, faintly imperious 90275395da chuckle. Rising swiftly, he 5dba562565 extended a hand 52ac4beefb toward her.81298693dee48a8c

“Come. Drawing attention benefits neither 45e3379c3c of us.”8cdea250fd3b71b5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…What’s your intent?”76c7099276062f51

Her cracked 71fddeeb8a voice barely 9561902875 managed the 41c7de55d8 question, her d2de5a9aaf violet eyes f45e4c4c23 narrowing with 67e2e2d130 defiance.37f8b3860f57599e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Intent? I’m saving you.”c98ce5671056c736

“Nonsense…”cf56532ab5945fcf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Whether this 98c4340eae man was 4e982aab57 truly the 4e1036cead northern archduke 56cff888a1 remained uncertain. What was clear was 51e518b770 that he was no 16490e28f7 foe she could physically ebe4e6052d oppose.393dfd596f09d13b

Though the situation 6894de278b demanded submission, she c175786efa spoke with a dd71c72887 resolute face.3444adb70e3d2dac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You cannot save 061530809e me.”8b1397dced3fb76f

His words were mere 11273d4765 arrogance. No one 8959819827 could rescue 1b44000a8c Adelheid Reines, 2a5379515b trapped between 12d60e81f2 living sanely a3bf6f27a5 and dying cd5ee8286a freely. Only a god 3df1e206d0 could turn back 307a9a237b time, and even 67c8b293b3 then—ddfcc025ea32ad08

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No such 079c3fb529 god existed. If one did, 20a5631a4b it would be 853c3c8c82 a cruel deity, 3554774b54 not a holy dbf0da988c one, to have e737448470 wrought such a c4f14030a2 wretched hell.112ea580781f0da6

“I don’t need you, 9620628db7 so—”3c7d4d61e80f0bbd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Adelheid Reines.”157188487e0f9da1

“…!”f55d3706c1403dce

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her name, 16153a9bc9 nearly forgotten 802db4a0ad even by bcb903237d herself, spilled 3289a28901 from this 7a1546f212 stranger’s lips. Shocked, Adelheid gasped, a1effb787b her violet eyes f680d93d0e widening.ea31b12883417fb8

“You know me?”b4c357c1ec11cad4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Take my hand.”14eb1826b07a4341

Ignoring her question, Klaus 13cb31fa86 urged her with a aa60545641 bored expression. Biting her lip, Adelheid 1d0ee19de9 glared at him.1b00908447e90730

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘The iron-blooded archduke guarding the empire’s north gate, a man not yet thirty, acting as if he knows me well…’e6dc56a4515f3efc

Nothing about him bd5a8fcd8e made sense.cb07bdd4781f24f1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Answer me. Who are you?”8c78357429d2a208

“I already 1a1b7264ff told you.”fb289e32dd953eef

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With a 23aad0bf66 low scoff, 76e0f0cadd Klaus swiftly a5cad20ab3 wrapped an 7554f92cbf arm around 58a18327e9 Adelheid’s waist, 817f53a166 lifting her 415433fc65 from the 7956eb7583 ground.a59669d2707ac6e1

“Let go!”68e844288f91d253

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Caught in the arms 7b8aa2923b of a stranger, Adelheid fc3f672b34 flushed with shame, growling.8238b5f5af9006ae

“…I said let 17a72cd2f9 go!”bfda2cb9e839ffee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But the 068977b68e more she f431848413 twisted to 487764a353 break free, 03e527fee4 the tighter ddbdc9797c his firm 0108ac976a arm held abaa85bfdd her.82db22aa47528082

“You insolent—”741e240e63e8e9c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How could I leave 81b23613f3 you, so noble, to 46fa4742d6 waste away in madness?”77bdaf71737a7336

“Hah.”b22da6a81427788f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Trembling with humiliation, Adelheid d003e735db spat at his flawless dd6f7f6e2a face.eb7fe023dc1d2173

“Let me go mad, 31873f6b27 then.”c09508a4f84c33e4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”e6f99d4ef3c586f1

“Whether I b217406495 lose my 81579451ef mind or 80d8675de1 die, it’s f6d75ec390 no concern 79b28212b3 of yours.”e34b5abf3ff53fc9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Despite her fierce hostility, 832dc18d1b Klaus remained unmoved. He merely tightened his 1e4f3dde36 grip on her waist 001927f5fa and wiped his cheek afc6af18c4 with the back of c58efd8f11 his hand, indifferent.6122e3ba279eba2b

Adelheid held his 07db9d0427 gaze, unflinching. Even as a fa01fd997b strange glint flickered b91766bd3e in his gray 23b43506bc eyes, she hid a9f90b6210 her fear.7e040570c5f0853d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though fallen, she was 688a9eb712 born a noble, versed 4f523bee53 in chastising ill-mannered men cb78efcf9e with dignity.bbf4c81e25feb1db

“How dare you 560fb1f53a play the savior.”2911494623cb54af

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“True, I’m no savior. Perhaps the opposite.”a61bf194c9697f5e

“If you understand, then—”401e78125426761b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But she 3780f878de had never a2c5aba6ae learned how f6730bacc9 to counter 3374abe30b a man 5881c12c05 who suddenly 34aff90166 pressed his 083a185d69 lips to 449583cc37 hers.adc24f6b6cb20bb8

When his tongue 4b76abdaf6 grazed her lips, 3ecf0881f7 the unfamiliar sensation 8022ad6616 made her part 52b4a1d284 them unwittingly. The flesh d9ff74cf03 that surged 35a3d4bea9 in was 2c7cee5158 startlingly soft b4825b653f yet searingly 7c355805b3 hot.e9d64be7d6592147

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her mind 429e065ec4 seemed to 832ff9316c melt. Adelheid closed ec65d222ce her eyes f15cb23fc1 as if 7aad009aaf collapsing.c3172df2c36c1320

‘What…’78697719784845b0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

This fervent ea14166865 kiss was ecda30997c her first, c2a268edd2 never before dba8edc22f permitted to 5a8ee19b85 anyone.7afa877a4f102aee

She knew not 5d539da691 how to respond, 3cec4777e7 only clutching his 2d795ab3d2 collar and following 3d6a429490 his lead.a0584479c9027b24

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Klaus pressed closer as da7d9b26d1 if to steal her 9ef9a63591 very breath. Adelheid felt the cold e5403148fa stone wall against her f9c57cb17e head and back.9bc1ff695caa2796

There was nowhere b9b2ae6138 to flee.4d47b3a16df59ffb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She trembled 4a763734c7 with a 3423bcdb88 sensation—fear or ddea86cae4 something else, 56e9350bd1 she could 97132f0010 not tell.bc3a7da927c3aa3e

As his 713366a55a heady scent 0acc7b2779 threatened to 0b7893047e cloud her a297f45d57 mind, a 5f56129a8e cold wind 19a46d5c8f whipped across 17bc21ec96 her cheek, cc9d270528 snapping her c244c4907c awake.38fdb77bcbc9d373

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Only then c6129a3bc7 did she 1efc502871 grasp the abf7594c66 absurdity of 2ef9512f59 what was ce2b4160f3 happening. Her eyes 63ea667ed0 flew open.dca6805879785508

With one arm c187bdea12 pinned by his 5a57f64979 strength, she raised ba7bc4cd59 the hand gripping f7c8d23c33 his collar, intending e312d27845 to strike his ffa36dea48 face.2ecf079e3e6abcfd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But his hand, 31f06c0f59 braced against the 7644196bdf wall, swiftly caught 2d2a0626a5 hers.e84b37c98f47f8ef

“…”d6cbfecb0d18b0bd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His large hand 0b69cf80b3 was slowly laced ff50c0f133 with hers, and 582a4dca4f he pressed his 1aebf92539 body closer. Adelheid was utterly 2f1b3d58de bound. His firm frame pinned 757a7cdf65 her, his kiss growing 90ce69b416 more relentless.e1fa2bd248eb9892

Resistance was futile. Heat coursed 8c55a071b8 through her, 1b0ac4742f her head 312f30c16f spun, and 40573a0d58 her breath c698460cd1 came in 59fc3d62d8 gasps.531751ac02f215d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At the moment, 9b41aa3ef8 she thought she 47f1c2195b could bear no 2243920e0f more, Adelheid fainted.d6271f152b166e53

As the ff843e7d9b small form af00efc902 in his 46a7134386 arms went 8d150f8f20 limp, Klaus d986a4dcb2 gently sucked e50f058ddb her lower bb97f76a36 lip before b7a05bbec9 pulling away. In a 75edef6b69 husky voice, 4c167eba1e he whispered,b4def1a782c6f3a4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sleep well, Adel.”361d3f428d306180

Her pale face, df6f11cb49 eyes softly closed, 26369f1692 retained a noble e8d0781372 grace despite the 8ba2b326af grime. Her swollen, bloodless ac27222901 lips now glowed 9e193bf758 like a freshly 62666d36b6 bloomed rose.1a67ccbac3857473

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Utterly satisfied, a c58f2c3037 refined smile curved 7912bacf72 Klaus’s lips.06a55f274c990c23

“Your Grace.”d2fa735475df1f60

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

An attendant approached, 9957724e45 draping a blanket a9fb22193d over the woman ad64992e14 in the archduke’s d4615261e9 arms, and announced 9577fb416d that a carriage 638efd7842 was ready.f12813c794433aeb

Klaus carefully supported Adelheid’s 33cff817a0 head, pressing a soft 6a22b85362 kiss to her brow. He strode past 053225c6ec the bowing attendant, 7a1700a02d leaving the alley a798b79353 behind.7aef9a24c4b5c81d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

On the empty thoroughfare 1f349ed310 stood a grand carriage fb61e2a22b bearing the Reichardt crest. He boarded e7dfdd9ebe with care, 3219fca350 ensuring her 82fe842094 head did 1f69a67f33 not jostle.25355e60034d6690

“Go.”c8479abcc70424b0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With asnap, the 49d3c4a361 door closed, c5f1d38c6a and the 24555976ad carriage sped ba66a5feb4 away in 6caad6aed7 an instant.981f1e27c36d90a1

Only pale dust d34c413018 lingered on the 81688961f0 cold, desolate road. Hidden onlookers began 55c8cf1b9f to gather.45d91cfee108b6f0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why would 8a621f0c7f His Grace b1504eb3bd take that 0f26b7116a madwoman…?”66fc0f6b8dc78589

“Perhaps they knew each 664605d376 other? Maybe she was d5e8ed49f4 a maid at 4d57304066 the archducal castle.”723eb726a3d1cf28

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Some fools made lewd 1515e81064 jests about that filthy ae58f23dbd woman. Could His Grace—?”9b38b01587ea252b

“Hush, man! Mind your 9ba3e1dcee tongue unless 5c612c620b you court c6b6ec7db8 death.”5984689c757bf110

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Truth be told, 66e1ae52a4 the one most d4b43c4b99 curious about this ccdb9c557d affair was none 1bd67cd04e other than Adelheid 0705f2e9a1 herself.673d98310426b70c

“Ugh…”713391461b1e99e5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She expected to feel 202f74159c a biting chill, but 561b91380d the room was strangely e7288bf367 warm. Sensing the soft, 381481ed27 cloud-like bedding, she c1c482748b jolted awake, eyes 8989d802e3 wide.42c86dd640ae775e

‘Where am I?’d34daa8620716d32

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her mind went blank, 718dfe913b unable to comprehend her 3b9a39730a surroundings. Her violet eyes fa413e6b5c blinked in the 79ae2d033f dimness, bewildered.7a1d1a8ad294a38e

Above all, the 687b786d6b pleasant scent emanating ea107bf98f from her was 8317169af8 utterly foreign. The negligee she c8eb235835 wore was fragrant e0c7edc22c and silken.648f7a8c08b33670

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘To smell no foul odor—it’s like a dream…’cae46277259b7932

The room 0c6648e1ee was dim, ab12733722 but faint 7560a48a20 light slipped bc6d1ca1d6 through the e5c350e88f curtains, suggesting 50173b11cd it was 16c364d183 not night. A grand fresco 1b1d2995cb on the ceiling, ca1c611f7b depicting a vast 434e83b17c battle, was faintly f50ffb9994 visible.41712060236a9bc2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Adelheid gazed 58974581ef at the 8a266a156c gold leaf 5abdceb4f0 glinting in 62ce243bdb the dark, d99dcc6810 lost in f673c60636 thought. She could not recall f6f24cfeb4 how long she had e760ae2337 slept, but such clarity 2f618ab0b5 was rare.3fb20eff676a9b00

‘That man brought me here.’9853608306ea1cff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her cheeks flushed at f8e502695d the thought. The memory of his 8c7b498aef relentless lips and searing 65f13187b4 tongue surged vividly.f08f427a44e3ecc4

Such rudeness e7917e7f57 was unprecedented. Yet she fe343c21de could not 70edb6d700 deny the aed3753144 kiss had 6192da7539 been intoxicating.5d7ecd33719c2ac3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She could 4284e1f2d0 not push ab95e39129 him away, 9432d7be86 but she d4fce4569c could have c1a02afcfa bitten his f558c7b00a tongue, perhaps 8feca67298 severed it f3307763af with all ab3efa1aa1 her strength. Yet she hadn’t.36c5c1103fb6ed37

Though not by her b08c8d85e9 will, she had surrendered 211c5e575f wholly to him. At twenty, she had 84358df5aa shared her first kiss—fervent, 8897eb8e13 shameful one—with a stranger.ee6c9ea6ed3d3573

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So brazenly passionate…4979944c8ba6d36c

Trembling, she 0787d1b6b6 touched her b3a6412714 lips, thinking 7316518d3f how unlike 26c01f7cd9 the Lady 91b1f1083f Reines she 0523fb2cdf had acted.5cdb29ae6ffbdca3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Fallen or e4774af3a6 not, she 252d2a81a5 had lived bc870025f9 as a d7ffa47b00 noble her f4a055bae6 entire life. Becoming a commoner aff11e17eb did not make 0021ca20f9 her think like 8bcc343f6b one.683e5708327d7b59

‘What now?’e7240246a44840af

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At that moment, the 501e2f83dd door swung open with 9ed61bdea0 abang, flooding a40c854eaa the room a5cb2f4679 with light bce91b88da from the 023b780f8b corridor. Adelheid held b01ec6b3b0 her breath d43bb374df in haste.918504375107c2f9