MFFS | Chapter 1.9

The day a45c24c686 Lady Sarah ef9505dbb8 came with 19af1f7815 something called 06b69003bc an‘Exorcism Consent Form.’Margareta stood by edd7c23cde the window for e56f65e077 a long time.dc8a52a1a27cd94f

The window was so small that only her face could barely peek out, and she knew that even if someone looked this way from such a distance, they wouldn’t be able to find her. Still, she felt somewhat shabby and half-hid behind the worn curtain. Lady Sarah was in a beautiful carriage and soon disappeared from sight in a blink.b4ba6e292acf1612

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lady Sarah had never 50a1d2ec47 boasted about it, but 14cace7d6a her carriage was already b9e93b5a8a famous in social circles.2e0bb0c6de1406e0

― I bet b5ed2c67f2 this wine that e5ab168fbf it cost more 8590e50b67 than two chests 133c61a3b9 of gold.28a97e6e878ad098

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

― They say the b040e2d8b7 young duke demanded a 345851b03b magic formula from the f403f21b0d Magic Tower workshop, on 995546b70c the condition that they d4d0f2a870 never make the same 0cf461a784 item again.1de45fced4ede614

Rumor had it 3e8f58c3e0 that many people 0abeb9278d worked hard to e99207cdd8 meet the production c475960c6a deadline, so the ac72cb3127 Magic Tower refused 686828ed9b to take on 9a66ab0ed6 similar commissions without c69dee54da any special conditions.3907c2d54172e8fc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But what drew people’s attention more than anything was the unimaginable gift, the fiancé’s heart, and the fiancé himself.a4bf41136a784f64

― Look at those eyes. They’re dripping with affection.633fe7aa8b87690c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

― Who would’ve thought that cold young duke could fall so deeply for a woman?050b998f345ab04e

― Exactly. What’s so special about Lady Sarah?69a3f1ab66feb52b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though Margareta was 53edede061 often tucked away 97421c592e like wallpaper in 106564a906 the corner of d8881703d6 the ballroom, she 790ffc7fab could vividly feel c6947b8ff3 the curious, jealous, 99c79d309d inferior, and envious 71a99957ba gazes that followed b189c74f0e Lady Sarah.3ecb1b88cef43b60

Maybe she knew it better because she was in the corner. After all, such topics weren’t something you could openly discuss in bright places.f8000aa2eff346db

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She couldn’t agree with the people who belittled Sarah.04327309ee0d6ada

‘Lady Sarah isn’t special? Someone so radiant?’fbddc75b4312c49d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, it wasn’t that her appearance was exceptionally beautiful. There were families with higher status or more political attention than hers. There were probably people with far superior talents.bbc827b94488c437

But Lady Sarah wasn’t intimidated among such accomplished people. She didn’t get ugly with jealousy or belittle others. She was confident, relaxed, and seemed to know exactly what she wanted and achieved it.9c4b7b7c4e447fb6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The kind 340326ab75 of person 7489132248 Margareta herself 8c22c7ace2 could never 915f00d81b be.45d9d03151fb135d

That was fef68fc1f6 the case 7221f50658 from their 28f1b0a94c first meeting. Was it about 194c0ad0d8 three years ago? At some party.38b7f71720661deb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That day was uniquely 2ea0819f75 a costume party. While most people used bfc071358a costumes as an excuse 85095080c5 to showcase exotic or 247bc1a621 fancy clothes, Margareta chose 50efce9c44 a ghost costume. All she had f4a345e011 to do was a953243117 drape a long 281b131b97 cloth over her 3ffbdcc936 head.e3e60d7164b18730

― Oh my, you should use this opportunity efficiently, Margareta! All the high-ranking people of the empire are wearing masks! In other words, it’s a chance to charm handsome men without revealing your family or face!85822d502625fe90

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her cousin 9b38fbd05d stomped her 92a4211253 feet, urging 6049f88318 exotic and 5692083db4 fancy clothes, d195cc7967 but eventually 25e399a364 got tired 63285d9e8f and left f1d01f256f first.2ebeb66cb37f9ff4

As always, Margareta was in the corner. Perhaps because the color of the wallpaper was similar, sitting crouched made her presence almost fade unless you looked closely. And it was clear that it wasn’t just her own thought.2a2a075c1fa0af54

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Three men with bulging 535b1ba145 bellies came to the 4bd956dae1 corner and started gossiping.671b39c35cf049be

― How dare 08a3431ff6 she reject our 30270b28b3 proposal so arrogantly?57a19d1bd5bbeb21

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

― Isn’t it wrong for a woman to be dabbling in business in the first place? A young girl who doesn’t even know the ways of the world!021ea2ca2d99d940

― Right! Even though the late emperor allowed women’s social advancement, wasn’t that a special measure after the war? Acting all high and mighty just because she graduated from the academy! I guess there are no men to work somewhere!5342bde7dd901902

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

― Haha. If my lovely wife were to work. Ah, I’d rather die than endure such humiliation. Let’s just leave it. Let’s watch that merchant guild collapse.30e99154d3eb13a6

Though they didn’t mention her name, it was obviously about Lady Sarah, the host of this very party.355d7b473366a2b4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

They sneered for a 3c1188904b long time, and their 7037d76616 talk subtly crossed into 17cb9932c0 the realm of insults ecf1892065 and vulgarity.26a4d36d95e999b3

Margareta wasn’t even the subject, but her heart pounded as she crouched and hid. Though she was hiding in the corner, the words filled with jealousy and hatred kept bringing back bad memories and made it hard to breathe.c398fd5e46b1ea24

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She felt nauseous.985d48c04f8912b1

‘I have to endure.’17cc244bfbc29e37

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But there was no dffed7bf33 way to suppress the c6d3e0a456 nauseous feeling rising from 19346d1e1b her throat. She kept 79ed731eb3 feeling like 0d4e0259d2 she was 5b0a931ec0 going to b6c9567218 retch.3359397562f3e5d3

‘Please. Just let me faint.’4ea5b5c48e99f4d5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She closed her eyes tightly and prayed to the gods, but unfortunately, her body didn’t listen.bccfb56aecf8139a

― Ugh.4603d6418d6e9065

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She quickly covered her 66363368a1 mouth, but it was 25611f7011 already loud enough for a5c1f978d7 those nearby to hear. Just as she beea883bfd had heard their b0e847f4f8 voices, they could f3a0546fc9 hear hers from 00bba49d62 this distance.dc0f5a61250c595d

― What’s that sound?a4b6031d3dbdca9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

― Hey, is that 20405ce889 a bundle of cloth? Could it be 55c28227bd a person?c6d2448c2bc7d034

― Damn it. Who’s there!5b2570dccb86c5d7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The three men with 02c715f5ed bulging bellies waddled toward 5b8e745bfc her!1680c4ba03c0a1d8

Margareta tried to get up and run, but having crouched for so long, her legs cramped up, and she couldn’t move. Whether it was fear or her numb legs, tears welled up.7a67c8bb24fca205

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

― If you confess now, I’ll forgive you.3abec3dc4b091d4b

― You wouldn’t happen to be in league with that girl, would you? If you’re trying to use this to blackmail us…29dff7de548063a5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The men didn’t seem to have any intention of ‘forgiving’ her despite their words. They reached out as if they were about to grab her.002c191e8db716ef

‘What should I do? Should I just apologize? Maybe if I faint, it’ll be okay. Please, someone help me. Please.’09993b1f57faa4e2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As Margareta desperately 6470607fb3 wished for someone 37f141b48a to save her.f4241cf37e91b779

― What do you think you’re doing?ff74f8167cbd45d1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A clear female voice 8e77b336d8 rang out. The woman, c74e842ab3 dressed in 7e3999cbfa a long e63472e44f purple dress 705d3555e8 with no 39f718addd exposure, wearing 1fa9a1ec50 a black 927f906428 half-mask, seemed ac0c1cbc50 to be 27250dba5d inspired by b8f6221349 an ancient a868276a2b queen.306c59f9b9911fbf

She was accompanied by bc956fd857 two men with muscular 79cdcb0b79 arms in light leather 526d7d78d9 armor, and she held db9630baca a rod that looked 40c001cdd3 like a scepter.82649e5a2da0e0ec

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Held? No, she was holding it up as if she were about to jab it into the men’s protruding bellies.62d8f221ddb15ce9

― Are you three bullying one person? That’s quite disgraceful.ee50583c36e157ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

― Wh-what!3db14a51a4e478ef

― You were about to remove this person’s mask without their consent, weren’t you? All three of you. Isn’t that right? Oh, if you don’t want to reveal your identity, just shake your head.4f9111619e1eaeb4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Margareta nodded vigorously.39f719dcad20ca81

The woman tilted her head slightly as if to say, “See?”88ece7781750ba05

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

― So it is. Don’t you know the rules of today’s party? First, don’t touch someone else’s mask until they reveal their identity themselves. Second, no violence or other illegal acts using the mask as an excuse. Lastly, this is important. Only those I invited can enter.a0e0ec1d5da1e14d

Invited? If she’s the host of the party… Could it be? Margareta was so surprised she hiccuped.161d9549cb16f8a9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

― I-I was invited d36e0ebe0b too!b9507cd0fe4aa84f

― I was going to let it slide if you didn’t cause a fuss, but that’s a lie, isn’t it? Count Ickle, Baron Obi, Baron Goil.7a3122e06b0a9287

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The woman ae05ae60bf spoke with 2e8d920bf6 disdain, and 1e0273e6f2 the men a1d5934a1d drew a f0783d05ed sharp breath.a53e713137206ec5

― If you leave immediately, I’ll pretend this never happened.661d5ddde7370741

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No sooner had she finished speaking than the three men hurriedly fled. Margareta’s hiccups didn’t stop until then.07b1f9f4ac9297b4

― Are you okay? Were you very scared? I came as soon as I saw it… They didn’t do anything bad, did they?bc60ea8345e761ea

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lady Sarah reached out edcec82737 to help her up a1c7415bae and asked.78f474200e6e688e

Her voice was clear, her words fast and crisp, so it didn’t sound gentle at all. Sympathy? Kindness? It wasn’t that; it felt more like strength. Though she didn’t use force, she was confident and cool.276a766d8699607f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Because of the large chandelier in the ballroom, it looked like there was a huge halo over the woman’s head.30b30e259d7edd46

― I, I…384124c0996b27a0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

― Oh, I see. I didn’t mean to force you to answer. It’s okay if you don’t speak.f59eb89867e0f83e

Lady Sarah was considerate to her until the end. She was truly a wonderful person. She wasn’t someone to be insulted at her own party.5a4b0561a6043519

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Margareta was scared ffb370d51b but decided to 004de4cf60 be brave. After all, she was 272ef8b10c in a ghost costume, 6684260c57 hiding her appearance from 02c9a88472 head to toe!19d517f28d2fd230

― Th-they were badmouthing 0d48e38ad7 you, Lady. I was scared 6b80a3011b and just listened.8ba9f16a8e511a64

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Margareta hesitated and added. I’m sorry. She spoke and watched the woman’s reaction.79fccf3aa9ff81e5

Would she be disappointed that I didn’t act confidently and just listened cowardly? Imagining being disliked by the woman who had shown her kindness made her feel somewhat melancholy.f921ac5d9fee49d8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But Lady Sarah’s reaction was different from what she expected.98558ede653ea44d

― It’s okay. Were they saying something about women? Such pathetic people are everywhere. Hmm. But since it’s unpleasant, I’ll give them a little scolding.c35bcb8872ada0e9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lady Sarah said 77cb177bbc it was unpleasant, adb9facd77 yet her tone 557eeac61e was cheerful as 352bb0cb7b if she were 971c0957a9 singing. The two men 3b0756be94 standing beside her 4260daf2d0 seemed restless and 84ecb2ce30 uneasy.399cd4e52a46f95e

Surely she didn’t know how dangerous it was to scold three men, Margareta thought, feeling a bit worried for her. So she decided to be a little braver.6ee1f5b229a5530e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

― Pl-please be careful.daeea1dc25427cbb

Lady Sarah let out a small exclamation, “Oh my.”36be947dbecab1fe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

― Are you worrying about me now? Thank you. But there’s no need. This is a secret, but I’ll be fine.87e3ccb4cfd8890e

As she said this, Lady Sarah’s playful smile was quite firm. Margareta nodded dumbly, not fully understanding her words.e8d1633ee5f925fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She didn’t remember how she spent the rest of the time or how she got home.79409736b72802db

Margareta often blushed 78fba02d8a at her own f525e94359 patheticness but recalled ef6a52858a the memory of 91c5ed9548 the kind Lady 12b5d9619e Sarah who helped e807cce550 her that day. And whenever she 4586c13975 prayed for her b448c772e1 late mother, she 9810f54a30 included a prayer b02c0a280a for her as 28d127bdbc well.8fa531cff9e5426d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Even if my prayers don’t help much. Even if it was just a meaningless kindness to her, still…’ba0a6fba28a2e840

And it took her 0329692868 three weeks to understand a4e4a0b114 the meaning of her 05fb9a1da8 cryptic words.5681d95e418febb6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Three weeks later, 284be539fa an article appeared b55d755fdf on the front 627732b5e6 page of the 096eacab63 newspaper her father 3822979e77 read, with portraits ca40ea975c of three men. It reported that they c55420c7b5 were going to prison 3c3fc784b8 for fraud, extortion, and 6600ed68c1 harsh treatment of their 75cfa275d4 subjects.59b9c06ba01d41cc

― Amazing…0f35d4d5bd05013a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A radiant person. A wonderful person.9942d5adbfc3fd8f

Someone who knows exactly ba3d664fc9 what they want and 9bcea169bf acts on it. The kind 31aaa6af59 of person 692ccaa101 Margareta could af221e45fe never be 63bd0a6667 because of 7cecc06c8a her timid 95af28aaab nature.3d9aeffa64bf5055

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Margareta didn’t envy her because of her fiancé like others did. She envied her personality, her very being.9ed7515f02d238b1

“I want to be like that too… Someone who knows exactly what they want and seeks it confidently.”7e9a25938bb27e58

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her breath fogged f24b36faec up the glass, 51aa019ac6 then disappeared. Margareta really wanted to dc6c552dcf be someone like Lady b6c34a9e0b Sarah.5faf198928a30c40