3.

A wedding night b7ac1fbfc6 ceremony—reserved for urgent 77b9f05a0e marriages between noble ddb6ed91a7 houses. Once the 348bc621ef ceremony was bc39d0f4de complete, witnesses 06358eb28e would confirm 397368fe9c its consummation, ab6b3f8efc binding the 63a70c40c6 bride and cc97615592 groom’s honor a06768eaee publicly and d4a553ac8b irrevocably. From that night onward, e11926aabd they were considered married 07044ece03 in society’s eyes.9e00727598d2348f

“Count Zellered!”20f25897492380a3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unable to contain 9b4cd548de his anger any 0a3548f74e longer, Leo Fric d1200ea0a3 barked in outrage. He was humiliated to 6433965be6 be ordered into a 15f7e1172e forced wedding night, as 5ca6b37312 if he were nothing b376b49cd9 but a pawn.f6a9cf80e290883d

“Sir Leo Fric. The command states 273983215c ‘immediate’ compliance.”e711b7840668cc81

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Do you really think you can force me to comply?” His voice came out in a low growl through clenched teeth.a98b6408073e2262

“Haha, Sir Leo bc18163eb7 Fric. I know exactly 610737d23c what you’re considering.”671c03dd966bdcac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Zellered’s calm demeanor e122501bf4 remained unwavering.5bfdd1c9fee0b029

“Either you subdue 33384eff0f us and leave 919bd76d57 to reunite with fd294211a2 your knights, or f24fdf1106 if you take cd9bc89dac too long, the 882f0ba5db Black Wolf Knights 630cbdbee8 will undoubtedly storm a9e29172ed in here.”0606bc6b52fb0bd7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”95471b8cbc4e1925

“The Black 7fe6ebf3aa Wolf Knights 24284334d0 will not 29bdc6422c be coming.”e0bfa78e54fd7447

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Zellered gave a 9ab86ed63c slight nod toward 5ea7653d33 a knight at 0e668e3cbb the door, who 32bb547e43 immediately moved as afe5a878c4 if signaling.f005c3b53ad793b0

“By now, three 42c8528dcb times as many f811180837 soldiers have surrounded 371aa5a1f1 your knights.”f0b64d0545aa134f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”0ab79885ef877293

Leo Fric’s 3767118fed composed face 04a35d8de0 hardened like faf5f15160 stone. Just then, aa2375e3f2 the door 4a7fc60115 opened, and a925364ea3 an announcement 16bc13e5d1 filled the 140114eabf room.77086b85acc0e7f7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The bride has arrived.”bcaee091c5b02c4f

A woman entered 373702460b in a white 72146b117a dress, draped in 6ae2ea56c6 a densely woven 814e4cd7ff veil. She looked 6b33833624 as if 93f71e3efb she were 483660409d trapped in b9349572f7 that pristine 61a78b5cbe gown, barely 31f484bdad able to 0bffe0e2f0 see through 18139e4b62 the thick ccd30415fc veil, requiring fc08b95a28 two maids 23a301c44f on either eebcd0c8f8 side to 885309a939 guide her 3098a99e19 forward.3b23c5a90a4de5f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

There was nothing d9f607b63a of a joyful ebf35568fe bride in her 49cd4c8bff demeanor. Her hands, 199b3be961 clasped tightly 06d36991d7 in front 9cd49b4499 of her, 89096307e5 trembled, and 64d01808e5 her elegant 36bc5da10c posture faltered 56b58f71e6 as she 4faef30330 staggered occasionally.0499209714e47d81

“With that look, she 222b21c3cc appears more like a 9423723096 captive than a bride.”116bf40c25779bec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A fresh, unwilling f04abb3509 bride, indeed.d94e38b620db7e6f

“Shall we at 4648d8bd17 least exchange pleasantries?”5e735301c9e964b5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…I’m not in the mood for idle chatter.”3c22818f06dc6c76

Abandoning any pretense 0693250973 of courtesy, Leo 39db098e0f Fric gave a 5c4cb069e4 crooked smile, dismissing e95427ae0b her presence. She was merely an e3725e4ac5 unfortunate player in this a82d62a04d farce of a wedding. He didn’t spare 1585b71e3e her another glance.341c7254fcef542e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If it had been 7789bd82eb anyone else, he might cd6d1ebdc9 have had some curiosity b02c669d54 about her situation—perhaps about ccf66e19b2 what her father might 43b64dcd2d have received in exchange 4c18eb74fb for selling his daughter 8fc6c3302f into this.c2a487207057c7d4

“Remove your c35f58e040 men from 87bb4eb2c8 the doorway, be94bb80fd Count Zellered, 027bb8fef9 unless you 3ccf1ef9a0 want to fc2f1f0ba8 be clearing ba988dd869 corpses.”96268b76877faa1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leo Fric took a 2b5086019d threatening step toward the af89ecad08 count, focusing his attention eb4db5e0e7 entirely on Zellered and d302c4f6c8 the knights blocking his 80886c8079 path.bb7cdbbce1a63ee4

A crash sounded.791a7b25db795b77

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Reflexively, he turned c63411694b to see a 221ca8c8c7 vase shattered on 4d73e0898f the floor. The next thing he f12287f7d3 knew, a white-clad figure 3d7c219be2 collapsed into his arms.ece803e0a2b03c13

Out of instinct, 7f1a7e4167 his hand went 8a842341c1 to his waist 0a4655c4e7 to grab his 75b229c53e sword—but, of course, 51bcafdfa6 it wasn’t there.62a20dfc7df5dfb5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Damn it.”6368834daa21c2ca

A sharp, throbbing pain 3f34193dd3 shot through his left af6680e9ab hand as a blunt 42dee9b490 impact hit him.00f9a23b4f04746e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Drip.754afdeada7b44ef

Drip.05937c6e9c1dcfad

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Warm droplets a8e9af2626 of blood a5408be1a9 fell onto 469fef0e44 his pale 05a38152f5 face.9c7c861f7b0eb33a

The veil 90960f10a2 had slipped 16d906be12 off, fluttering 3e1cb95acd to the f3ff635cf4 ground.f4a963b781afddef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Leo Fric stared up ad3f7a5627 at the bride atop 9bd4819a99 him, pressing a hair 03be672024 ornament sharply into his 29f487ad2c left hand.4952aab0c9242ddb

Her face was 3c21b5eb69 chillingly expressionless, her f63c729468 crimson eyes filled 797fcaf3d3 with blazing hatred.942a947db7949b77

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Long, disheveled b602487bd1 black hair c880296337 brushed against 7d8e0b3394 his cheek 0ca7c2b015 as she 3f5d23a391 kept the 638be6533c ornament embedded 1ab5b0cc5c in his c432671e2d hand.873feebb817158d9

Such pure, unrestrained loathing.afcbc1116273520b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…An honor to meet you,” he murmured.9f646ae37189a2fd

So she was the 4fef815542 unlucky woman thrust into 6db70bc834 this situation.7765fe089f838b87

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Bride.”315a2a3c685a200c

It was you, ab5f0f3b42 wasn’t it?179af83c88ad56f1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though he 091c5371c6 couldn’t recall 9c4a823bac her face cd128e1e2c perfectly, he 58ff6d0f93 could never b9ff80c649 forget those f0d4f60b98 red eyes.4aa087a54dcaaa79

Time, which had 5df5e22b12 seemed to freeze, 332b58adaa resumed its course.52d9d94816c0a95b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After his brief 1a7797e34e greeting, she was df08338727 roughly pulled away 66e49b0d87 from him. She resisted 9b2b090780 silently yet 4b0c20b907 violently, struggling b372872af1 against the 38117ed2ff knights holding 9e80ec2109 her. They had to cb43da7a09 twist her right 90aa507406 wrist to disarm 9d6060c288 her, wrenching the 9063cbed1e weapon from her 225a5adfff grip.6c474d72ff358546

“Ahhh!”b5001701bc6817d3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What on earth is 5568db3b36 happening here?”d122d6c5d1aae8bd

“Seize her!”a5ce95b3cd666437

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Chaos erupted.6a6535213462bcf0

Screams from servants and afc7d2c1ec maids, the shouts of 3413d389d5 knights charging in to e61be79ce2 subdue her, the clinking 4419f97366 of armor, and Count da7f8ffc65 Zellered’s frantic commands—all of 1ae4d747ae it belatedly spilled into 362c962930 a cacophony of noise.eab8beb62f49ab16

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you unharmed, my 803ea355e6 lord?”9917a8bef7285423

The baron, who fa4171b506 hadn’t dared utter 0c81b2933f a word earlier, 202d5be86f now approached Leo c3a69552bf Fric, looking as c87cc04154 if he might 3403612618 burst into tears 29fe860f84 out of concern.2be35cd2190f4dbb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”0fff8d4e92ae60c1

Leo Fric paused, seeming 6e14f0723a lost in thought for 9da233727c a moment before he 122d14b2e4 finally spoke.65d910b693c754d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, it hurts like 2a0219620f hell.”80f859cf16ed60e8

He replied b76f13f188 in an e5b773c128 indifferent tone, f2c8e42ac1 adding a ec13596de7 dose of 854318451e exaggerated complaint. Refusing the baron’s 3f1f15eeea attempt to assist fc6ddcbdfb him, he stood 5c9504316f up lightly on dff28ab54c his own. One more absurdity 2de3b7c893 added to this a63bd89062 already ridiculous day d7db5d4d5f hardly mattered. In fact, 70863215ae Leo Fric 64e92cf15e found the f7e9c66eed entire situation 4338e4b1a1 so preposterous d1504a0af7 that it 908d10ed8c had almost fe601daf06 turned amusing.074e72fb5f7ebd74

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Crash!95c2a3dfa26083c3

The door f155547589 burst open e3971ee738 with such 3f250144fa force it 260012d938 seemed on 1da646de32 the verge 33d740864f of shattering, 619f70cb39 and a 623927b7a7 knight armed 8e541add57 with a 3f42e14c24 sword rushed 76a924745c in.fc4c31b429ba4fc2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Commander!”cef84f7bd6e87525

The knight bore the 6addaa5177 emblem of the Black 42edcae264 Wolf. Breathing heavily, he 6f25786fe3 called out to faa974d63f Leo Fric, who, 152e4409b0 unsurprised, offered a a84b9e16ae sly grin. He’d anticipated the 5de27ff2a1 man’s arrival as f9604ad6e9 soon as the 7a34b0a4e6 uproar started, and, a8d1236a3c sure enough, here da54106f97 he was.00b61bdc79ae0175

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve arrived?”99a58be12bd92c60

It was Jinpetsu, the 29015269cc vice-commander. His sharp gaze d0748369c7 swept over the e1a5a519b8 chaotic room, his 47e967df42 expression darkening when 260eb79fad he saw the f318f43b0e blood dripping from 859f498673 Leo Fric’s left 67bf818269 hand.4ec558ce163268d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Unforgivable!”94c0e5a0c73103de

“Unforgivable? That’s my line. First, you f64b6d8db2 promised my 02e3b4689f safety and 1eee82f717 disarmed me a90c60d616 before leading 4c2ad7f241 me in 947441d83d here alone. And now, this—what 1d6f96bb23 exactly is going 37767b4a8f on?”d48fbe4e94d6539e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Count Zellered 316a6f8531 momentarily fell 8bd1f8943a silent in 9a644eddb2 the face c602ee5e79 of Jinpetsu’s 79f4657e65 accusations. Clearly rattled by 1cbf4dcb1b the succession of bc2a9d4f05 unexpected events, he bd1db5052a seemed at a 546499f566 loss.583fbbfea00e8bda

“…It was an 6ef74d050c accident!”7bb30d66a1c00deb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The count’s face 4dfe96c4d0 displayed utter frustration.16f34c412a1082af

“An accident? That’s a convenient excuse.”949f95d128c77c5d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Leo Fric gestured towards eae187eb8c the woman with his 9f834948b2 chin.c1263c15bab0f7ae

“She seemed quite f267d3283e intent on killing 840473bbf7 me.”c28fb4f78b68281d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The slender 79e7583d86 woman—her striking d6951f3f64 red eyes c0ab622e3c the only 3b04fffb07 feature visible 7fa5123dab through the 2e22265bd1 veil of 57db0552da restraint—stood restrained 3464350be8 but still 3060599976 radiated pure 4590c53ff6 hatred. When Leo 9946c1aeb7 Fric’s gaze e39ea68780 landed on 230f016bc9 her, she a3584fab35 writhed slightly, 6618117925 eyes burning d1a3ca403b with raw, 3ff11b2c06 unfiltered loathing.f669282599a34e76

She stood 5e2219fd6c with quiet e0ce78e343 defiance, her a6b502605b trembling arms e6f26c3c36 betraying an d1419e8ed6 effort to f1b4f9d297 suppress her 664f8fcd05 fear.67f0fb0ee47adef6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”9d0348ff1541f810

Count Zellered fell silent bf9515db3e once again, words failing c6fee5e0f6 him. Any attempt c62ef0c946 to pass d592080d78 this off 218ba9289c as a 200cd18c0f mistake or ecd8fc9e92 an accident e94862d1bf was quickly ae01923f46 becoming a e8add13a42 farce, especially 9afdf5f32b with the d578d563bd woman’s fiery 18acebedff defiance pouring 942f999c11 gasoline onto 9a234a57d6 an already 10a686ece2 burning situation.28db1972b0250edb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You claimed you 24037cef89 were sending me 9984a3b9a5 a bride, yet 89a0ccafc9 it seems I’ve 395019b354 received an assassin ce1b722e9c instead. Can you d2bab54bc5 imagine how 55d45726d2 that feels, 2a1566d5f2 Jinpetsu?”21a17a23b7d1f64a

Leo Fric 85f44761b6 clapped a 49a6e91772 hand on 179f89ad2e Jinpetsu’s shoulder, c6c45ddbcd feigning a b166b45b3d tone of f4db496d7b wounded disappointment, 5ca1eaa99e barely containing 8a7ac3bb20 his laughter.3e5959c44ab59775

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Perhaps I owe the 35fe154edd lady some thanks.35d7d145605f6e8d

Given her little dc74d7259f display with the dfcee54912 hair ornament, talk a489a9f311 of a wedding c7f16c7c25 night or marriage 645262fb2f would be out 14d084a49d of the question 3dbfa8658a for now.04e2c00d37a164e7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Calculating quickly, he decided cb1b7b215b that, in exchange for 50d0eb9413 his bleeding left hand, b29f86917f it was a fair c5f2c01ebc price if it meant b0894e520f he could leave this 602d1099a0 absurd situation without openly b6ef82a612 defying the royal command.edbc7f16d37e4d53

“No! She’s the bride 1b74dea103 His Majesty sent!”77777d505f314ab0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Count Zellered c1e66bf997 exclaimed, desperation 534e75d37b seeping into 7efed24b9f his voice.49d9c19d0609481b

“His Majesty 2d3f9c0ea6 may have 4a8237959d sent a 1542ac845d bride, but 55a66cf7fb who’s to 581c26f808 say someone 5c7daa780f didn’t switch 64387ed280 her out b3529f3b53 with an 6be5793632 assassin along d447954d61 the way? It wouldn’t be surprising, 13f4be4efa considering how messages went b6e79e7863 missing on the battlefield. Losing a bride in f1f22a3391 transit sounds perfectly plausible.”5b2dab0f0b5c73a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leo Fric’s mocking 121c467e0b tone caused Zellered’s f363e602ee face to contort 397ac364ec with anger.17bcbe1270ad8894

“…”028347a4be2f9d4c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well, it seems ad34e73d70 that immediate compliance f586c3819a with this command f61680a584 won’t be possible, ee02a7f4d1 Count Zellered. If only you’d ceab71dc3d let me leave 62a6ec600c with the command 535ea782a6 in hand earlier, 2e8f6ad98f I wouldn’t have e73561e0a5 ended up injured. Ah, this is 1261bca54f something I’ll formally 5a4d9247de complain about later.”4a5c3fd45fce62cc

He emphasized the count’s 3a42f67646 responsibility, driving his point 92cc24ba0a home.67153b29407b35b1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…You can’t leave.”d5d09260b99598c3

Zellered muttered, clenching his fd27b47b73 fists. This arrogant man didn’t 125df8c867 realize the extent of a4b05e357d their preparations to ensure 2f34a678a9 this order would be a2b0545f75 fulfilled. Though his 9ca8133c32 voice trembled 409aa0e331 with rage, e16d252111 a sly 59f75a4a90 smile twisted a2e7b7df34 his lips.3c4c68b132adb4c7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re not in a292d503b3 a position to b3c8d3f847 say that.”ef1b81743e6598e3

“Remember that the 6a39909da9 Black Wolf Knights 274ce7ba2a are surrounded?”3d5c7c807e86e6d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”da9ff347564b9899

“The surrounding soldiers 8331cd3045 have received orders: 1ea2716a15 if you defy f7ee7b354f the king’s command 0d9e0122da and somehow attempt 8c1c28f853 to leave, they 585fc03784 are to slaughter 5636567a27 your knights before a01df8f3b7 you can reach 76a67daafe them.”63130af335e41544

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”479e0077f1d07a80

“What will 52e4392e2a you do?”a865cefe5b5ad40f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *ac44f03ecdc4f260

After an exhausting, 48c90164f2 drawn-out exchange with 995a958103 Leo Fric, Zellered 223a2ad5f1 finally retreated, drained e5d76f12a6 from the relentless bf8f3c33c0 volley of veiled 923eb99f77 threats and high-handed ff4a826ad0 rhetoric.f24fdc7c46c739da

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Barely containing his 0939668280 frustration, he made 697097b955 his way to 56f621d7d3 the room where ddd22a538d the woman, his f76cc642d3 “bride,” had been 142f3a8aaa isolated.582f543aa12bea53

“What do you 2259692912 think you’re doing?”40973a3b2f3f96f8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”cdb017f0e999c696

“Princess Ateira!”7f488da1b7b34d50

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He barked c737c82a2b out her 7884799292 title harshly. Her red eyes flicked 641dceab37 toward him briefly, then 9618e7fd14 drifted back to the 6626e08302 window.5a54b1b75b81c0ae

“Have you 75cc6e7f13 learned nothing d357dc842e during your e72ad89de0 time here 0643156a27 in the eebc950724 capital?”4259f80fbd4e1346

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A spark of fire 6f30dac1bd danced in her cold 67484400b7 eyes.7d70abcd2b1bb2df

“And what exactly fd70075d04 do you mean 24ddd193cd by that?”5aed8908a1c4745e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She replied, c3d9a5748b her clear 2b4507cf8b voice spilling 4b4b0eeb42 out in 7086794751 a low, 147b54d535 steady tone.628d12f6f5dd2739

“That refusing their fa80896672 orders means death?”b15ba544542362f9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 a22ad7597aab5f4b