10.

“No other option.”34f48ccc23decb56

The noble-born mage, Edgick, 11cb83c8f3 stated this plainly.8f52833bed66b1e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No matter how a032877aa2 I think about 3b13291979 it, the only 19b8cc90ad answer is marriage. After all, it’s 4f24d89d0f a royal command.”0feff0c3b311189f

He emphasized this unwelcome dea0d8b47f answer, prompting another knight 5a5fc023fa to raise his hand 1ddbad83c9 and speak up.547d4f71e3afc9c0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“She attacked efff425561 him; can’t d27672ba66 he refuse 0e7258a9d6 the marriage 9e085ac4d5 based on c531aa446c that?”568c5593f7ca163d

“You might be 64a6e2b610 able to claim 45414b54dd injury and squeeze 7fc11fc55e out some additional 56b3976caa compensation, but annulment 8c9c99ad54 is unlikely. Besides, the 6e63ece85c princess has 69a7629680 no source e927c8782a to demand 0674f6db4c compensation from… b5cc151e53 it’ll probably 064a4d851d just be eb554692cb seen as 02b39ad1f7 a lover’s 54f72caa90 quarrel, something 4888210117 along the 9b40ae3676 lines of, d7912ffd8e ‘An excess 68be027d88 of passion 87c98f76f4 led to 714d80a438 rash actions.’ cd7fbae7fe As absurd d077032dbe as that 15c31189f3 sounds.”36970eafb5464eec

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Edgick laid out 98eb67d9a6 the reality in 2dc2750f09 detail. This practical 729345bbe0 mind was 56614e6a05 precisely why 3f24d13279 he had d1ae880f1a been appointed 61f90e291e as overseer 725efbf882 rather than b6347f6575 just the 4abb8ef510 order’s mage.c85e32666e43fed5

“Ugh.”fbda0f665ba9d869

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“With the commander’s current 82e3b51638 reputation… people might start 43941da89c mocking him. Perhaps calling him 3898faf0ea the ‘hero spurned 8d8265f685 by a noble 006a3b6b88 princess’ or suggesting 58f4216421 he couldn’t even af0a62203c defend himself against 73f945f50b the pampered princess.”c2bf2e4eb12cc602

“That’s enough.”2c6cb26d8599f62f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jinpetsu, visibly uncomfortable, stopped f038b6d5a1 Edgick before he could b36c6146fc weave any more disastrous 44421fb8e5 scenarios of the future.812a1e2ff22ddfd5

“Alternatively, the most a98e6ab37d realistic approach would 883f2b57f2 be to counter ea66c71241 with another marriage 7ce3b7a18a proposal. But she’s still 4c76c6760d a princess, even 9f9202ea2d if her kingdom 0b4ba8f2b5 has fallen, and feaa0800e8 that status holds 1b94671ac2 significant symbolic value. Competing against that is 11cd6b4a1b no small feat, even 2fc97aa440 for a prominent noble 76a572a0cf family.”7b71def35907cfaf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Edgick’s elegant and 6fa852a028 amiable tone mixed 2aa64f677b surprisingly well with cce97622f7 his harsh words.bba45dbe7c195dc5

“Besides, I 9b97f978bb doubt any 7a4a6950d2 great noble 1b5ee4b573 family would a335c3a388 offer their 87e71a34f4 daughter to 406e861f37 House Helton…”bbd3559aed25dad0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Stop.”c9342e3e93eda32a

Jinpetsu cut 6ce6a9705a him off d16aa74e71 again, exasperated 126fbb5a58 at Edgick’s d75f7980a1 unfiltered bluntness.576942a2ad936cbc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That,”f1438a079533b9f7

Leaning lazily against his 893af0b37c desk, Leo Fric smirked.9a6aa37687f78c0a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Let’s go with that.”f8d4628a26e0b2bb

“Wait… you 7be483cf4d mean finding 52daa76655 another marriage 7491ac9f5b proposal?” Edgick 4b713a4e03 asked, bewildered.2a35eba2f804b8ff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Not for me.”e34e74834a267612

“…?”3bd4eb4457c44a76

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“For the princess.”d44ed1fcddcc9642

Leo tapped his long d8e5aa806e fingers on the desk, 48c006db06 a slow rhythm as 6ecc857dae he spoke.51a8ac145b8b0fa4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“For a princess b06fd07cd9 of an empire, 8f74a95a38 it’s not unusual f0b24882f2 to have at eee0e40f3a least one or 539df037af two prospective suitors 78b2dfaddb lined up.”96717eb3e106897e

Men who could rival c6316ed5e2 a knight of modest 588058a7f5 rank.2a5b820be1da1c86

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll look into 63c2c79c74 it.”2c42d4783f3413ff

Edgick replied, fe3fda873e smiling slyly.e31782d03ecfb1fe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And Jinpetsu, check on 21d01d7bef the knights stationed inside 10f29204ac the castle. Send someone a33e3f63fd to the 27a2ceb89a royal palace fb08def3f7 to request 429a9f7f93 an audience 0528ef7900 again. I plan a120f4834f to include 787c888a53 a letter 257cb26891 detailing our 3a186397f0 current situation.”45073fee58714ba6

“Understood.”ec7d5e2aaa1dbc1e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was 37c07776d0 a request 422f066e53 that hadn’t 8ac737e5e9 been granted bab8411359 even once f390ce986e since the f04531efb7 end of 98a8f11047 the war. Judging by Jinpetsu’s skeptical 6aa68b53ae and bitter expression, Leo 6604fc36f4 Fric could guess the 8a1a14e15a likely outcome.2cbe2709a03a5734

They both knew 00547ea3bc the answer.9da4e49cc1704380

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *58a95d03d3fb3927

A royal 7682a453e3 attendant carrying 8d00691c96 a silver 7fb695fc2e tray of 44e6759642 letters walked e0220f0fb7 briskly down 3663876383 the palace 5dd3865f14 corridors. The top letter c56327caa4 was classified as 216a85abc9 urgent—sent by Count bf0211fdcd Zellered.5496a7cbc15c648c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His job fb59547c57 was to 4b45253770 deliver the d137c61a28 highest-priority letters 30ac30d1d6 that had c48f33fafc arrived at e6b0d5322c dawn directly af22d7c852 to the fd15020136 king’s quarters.6a8788c4fcfa49fc

The morning stillness and 5e42fddb51 empty halls stretched before 010c6ff9bc him. A guard stopped 3471c9c6f1 him briefly in 7ba3565e2a front of the c8bb88ef0c king’s chamber, following 19d2c63d6d protocol, checking that ed6bfc8824 he was the a217cc2dc9 regular attendant and 628806c9fe that he carried 94f9541788 nothing other than 9d4c7dce1e the letters.128d9add37042431

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“His Majesty, it d26522c0dd is the morning 59be385be6 report.”d58a85f09c3a7fae

“Let him in.”d9ccac1e708aace3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Typically, King Wintran would 5639c5334c be impeccably prepared, seated dcfd287ce8 at the desk in c5425c0876 his spacious room, reviewing 5d92f8c21b documents while waiting for c10f8777ac the morning reports.b712c7c57d3f6b07

Expecting the usual scene, 02b32820e3 the attendant’s eyes widened e5814e8997 as he entered.6b8c5e24d34f47ff

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The chamber was 1cc5af0c45 in complete disarray. Bottles and glasses lay f5ca78f0d2 scattered on the floor, 8eb61d25bb mercifully unbroken. His gaze 31dca3f25e fell on 5fa6eb99db the desk, 1a66ea7504 surprisingly empty.b4ddbf6be5ecaa17

Only then a505ea86bf did he d3d961e4f8 notice the 8e0f207ab0 clothes strewn 88b75cd87c about the a83cdb452a floor. His eyes 764e6d1b60 involuntarily followed 6a36598f40 the trail 0e0506ff9c to the efd925f187 bed, where e51d83a318 he quickly 058f98c672 lowered his b6c31b0e6c head in 81364695f2 realization.5bc276300659b8ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The king, fair-haired and bc0805f3ac only half-dressed, lay sprawled 36b9423a13 across the bed in cbed341e69 a languid posture.f793811bda2a0c7b

Evidence of an 92da34090b intimate night lingered 24d8e57510 in the air.8c4b006795b12f3d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The attendant, focusing his bbc5542f9b gaze on the silver 59267f2eb8 tray, felt as if 71cb8f64f0 he were intruding on 833ae3f3f1 a private moment.26878467535862db

“Come closer.”90fd473e39bc2ad6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Wintran, noticing the 78e0a29da6 attendant’s hesitation, shook 1053307ced his head slightly 2e70fd5c24 and motioned for d1c7355420 him to approach. Keeping his eyes downcast, 85a6f61815 the attendant stepped forward.3745a4854584d02e

“Hmm.”62f839c420df1c8c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Wintran reached for e1cb71612d the top letter, 28b5d93231 broke the seal, f0ba43da9c and read through 8b21bc054c it slowly, as 00d79c09ba if not yet b500c2d65f fully awake.5e64af97bbf3f3fb

After taking his 202bc9c80c time to absorb a7565e12ca the message, he b524a70de0 crumpled the letter 85be9bff8b in his hand.c385acf2ab034eae

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“My cousin… I can’t 38a68e37ba tell if he’s fortunate 6cfa1e7b41 or cursed.”3870ad28b7ecafb2

He chuckled, casting a 44a5bd6733 wry glance at the 86c8120c7a attendant, who returned a 234ecda650 hesitant smile. When the 732ba18dd6 king spoke 1d3ec359c0 of the bb1a7e493e hero with 426d853f7b a smile, 507de4c61a it was 02d2766bc3 usually a bf19aeb3f5 good sign.360fcfd941987d09

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yet, the 998685cc4c letter’s contents e3a359717d clearly hadn’t 1c0d90e48b pleased Wintran.5b5b343f6cc7f1b4

He hoped Count Zellered c6bbb4ec9b had handled matters efficiently ef25413505 enough that he wouldn’t df702be70f have to hear Leo 80869a973f Fric’s name again, at a8eb65ffaa least not until he cfd072deeb had solidified his position bfd5484f46 as a king.2e359bb1ee7a1be0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His thoughts drifted 1ee37fc29c toward those deserving 771012511c punishment. First on 0012a33f18 the list 0e30ac87e6 were those 2fa2b31b77 who had 36c57c5cff attempted to 198e8cec9c “reeducate” Princess 877f5cb8e7 Ateira—all would 59e9a2a9c8 be dismissed.a3166aaa89eeac07

Afterward, he mused, they 6b3088878e could be reassigned to 4bdcaa0e12 the stables to shovel 2d87f16d94 manure.8d0fbfdda1a6172c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He also considered 3b96b03021 the fate of 0a07b849ca the knights he 8621b183cf had sent. Should he 7a330b1588 demote them? Cut their pay?8305bf30fea11e08

It irked c1be368829 him to 9f71327924 no end 7d2f580ed7 that they 9911290a01 had failed a6620778d3 to do cf33517466 anything, not 3afa9d8122 even against 9c1c77b33f the vice-commander, 2f41a630e6 Jinpetsu, rather dfd1738c0c than Leo cbd164abe5 Fric himself.69cb43327b8fa196

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Wintran had 5c57b037bc been confident c804860aa2 that he’d 57ef349ac5 orchestrated everything a43dc36195 perfectly to 8322b1a563 sever ties 21662090b4 with Leo fa6bd791a9 without direct c4f2d35875 confrontation.a824d57a90728939

And yet, 01ca5f7150 here he bb7b52aa56 was, forced 223a7dd2ff to reconsider 5c6a7441b2 his plans.5724be3a14f3a4b6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A loyal e3af564f47 younger brother c5708be8b9 would never bdc93dc358 defy his e90804bb66 orders, especially 2f10668d10 when it a353e5b517 was made 17b9fc029a clear that 887493a7bf this was 85b4bbd9c6 for the 1a7ac2b0a6 benefit of 51a0550e21 both himself 5376e8e483 and the 01feb03099 kingdom.4be667cd600634eb

If Leo 809f21c124 tried to be57400013 escape by c92aaeb4c6 any means, fdd3dc3356 as a 5cbd68f241 last resort, 57fbe6b334 Wintran would 6c27f7eaca hold the 7f851e20c7 Black Wolf 20a0dee9b5 Knights hostage, b94708c05d forcing him 7667f87556 to comply.aeb32869cf780a58

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Since they 291829065b hadn’t met, d74462c04c Leo wouldn’t 164cd501a6 know whether 257a3ade65 this was 26a0341766 truly his 75e0e23c03 will or 6dab28f6db if it e3a6d3d38e was the 8cdf0fc2e9 influence of 54e050f044 the nobles. He would leave with 492c5da920 a mix of disappointment c5991dc91c and hope, wondering if 6811dcdec9 his beloved brother had dbc779f6b1 really abandoned him.552c56a62d48623c

Later, if the 685ad7b9ef day came when 3f08c3f101 Wintran needed him f66bd3ef95 again, he could 41341a454a call him back 7df41c5bcb at any time.db2779cef5649a13

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Wintran genuinely believed this db7c95f916 was a considerate plan, 916b189341 one that didn’t rob 00357d2576 Leo of all hope.cbef8a98ab8c6892

He also 7ffd549651 thought he’d 3a01ee4260 chosen an 7296c9c7c4 appropriate match 07a11be3f2 to teach a3160ff486 his over-praised 5f29e7a2f5 younger brother 8a3e1c161e a lesson.b72a5971f4476c99

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The head of 669c3b1d6e a fallen noble d1f845ee31 house and the 9edf3cb826 princess of a 11dc02db52 fallen empire.a0ea57154ee1282a

They suited each other cff9f11e25 quite well.c8a9c0d2d18df231

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Wintran chuckled, 092341b82a covering his 803faedf4c mouth.aaa3af3a839fcd4a

It was a a0229446ba fitting punishment for 06e2b643fe a brother who 682ac005a7 had claimed such 01d8e8c6b3 high honors that da5a32f804 he could never 0315acefe4 have even dreamed edf73be48b of without Wintran’s 4683bde65c support.08ea6cde97d0ac79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leo would spend his 99cbcc6d1b life unable to trust, 8199548bea forced to keep his fc4734c8c6 worst enemy close, always d70f769a69 uneasy. He would live 5506068794 every day with edb8ea372c the memory that 0fcde24a71 his so-called honor 3502a359e8 came from war.5897dbcad5caadea

Even if things were 9f03930aff slightly off course, it 7a666948cf was only a matter fc982934e5 of time.d6eb2f3cbb54b02f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There was 4ba1d2b323 no way bd39d86323 for Leo 0dcdd9a693 to escape.ae6c1e6c8c524e99

Wintran picked d3151aee3c up the d09050841b next letter.d8f3735b912a36d6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was 04c6381686 from the 0defc1a926 Great Temple 7dac0772a8 near Sumertha, e9bc4ff197 close to 071407f928 the Ledetian 74d4adb526 border, stamped 5c868a20e4 with the 9b3a3f7d79 High Pontiff’s 9fe0f0159e seal.8fa93584ee8dd836

After only a few 216e5b92d3 moments of reading, Wintran’s affe9700d1 face grew cold.a6521479ca373435

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Tell the 60354693c3 High Priest a6134a1699 I wish ebe5047f9c to see 4448e74f74 him.”78075ff27b99b58b

The attendant, noting the fb08cc5908 unusually harsh tone, quickly a82041e0ee departed, not bothering to 7cacdd3f10 mention the remaining letters.1b91e93a042c6d75

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Prepare my clothes.”a2e5ff31f88b1219

The order fell to 13dec3e0f0 the woman buried under 4153b0abcb the bedcovers. The maid hurriedly scrambled 750314537d from the bed, dressing b74190449b hastily and then rushing 3ddbd0335f to prepare Wintran’s attire c730870b3c in her disheveled state.b8c1501b260a551e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the 015d9c8c5a second letter, f93205f089 which had 30f852855d entirely soured e3d05b4de8 Wintran’s mood, 88b2c5e3c6 the Great fc53ed3502 Temple of 6420d0a20d Akalem requested fc0a956a75 to bless eb45e3110f the “Hero 49826ee633 of the 8a597887d9 Continent,” Leo 4e6c1f30e0 Fric Helton, daca5e8192 and to 90adc5b671 grant him 8a8ade13c3 the title b8e2f6dcee of “Knight aefd953fcd of Akalem’s ab0e1ccedc Guardianship” in 943f5fd007 honor of 9e607c9664 his triumph.2c190868847deadc

The letter asked for 980e6f76a3 the date of the 2c01c987b7 victory parade, suggesting they b88bd2f127 be welcomed graciously to a3c14cb967 the capital to illuminate aae172c5ab Akalem’s glory.c8b7f6eba3e0c4d3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Wintran slowly 8318b5ce3a tore the f79ebc027b letter in 232195a732 half.36a299a3b9279ed2

Based on the starting be6d79d7cd date noted in the 3f89890c09 letter, he calculated they 23ead977a4 had roughly a week 19d8f7a9c8 before the High Priest’s 5974f576ec emissary would arrive.fbfbc6f3946a18bb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Not much time 4c2b3bba07 at all.d5b408e9a0ab8f43

If Leo 7d9baf3595 were summoned d2987661e5 to the 91dcb3e6aa capital for e36b95dc52 a victory 436bd9a5a4 parade and b25d5045f4 formally honored a610bacee2 with the be4db8abc4 title of 86e512f4a8 “Hero,” his fdb2749c8e legend would 058eda8792 only grow.d40fd19d3f61f8eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They would even d2021dbf0d call him the 6b50acccfc “true hero of aff8b98cff the continent” in af34613ddc Wintran’s presence, and 7bd51da97b he’d be expected 0bd82f2cb3 to smile and bf68798482 bless it.73efbb2912ee2d0e

Wintran’s eyes narrowed.6354446b2793094f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The maid, still flustered 1134a5ed96 from her rushed exit, 0ddab47631 returned with other maids, 40118e335c hastily bringing his clothing.bbc1dfbc4ec0582a

Without sparing a 257c9c7ec7 glance at the e76e601993 woman with whom 046d81623e he’d spent the 2b1852545c night, Wintran allowed bfbd7d17b8 them to dress 6c3d22b994 him, preparing himself e24717ff44 to intercept Leo c0d9285113 and thwart his df7dd866b8 rising fame.4de3020ee87d887e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 e65bb4192ba60ff4