| Chapter 7: Will You Remember Me?

Ash-gray hair 8aae15ee8f scattered as d7c3e6fb7c it fell. Beneath it, a b8bc4acab1 rugged, chiseled face 3612188bea marked by scars. Most striking was the 9de0529538 deep slash across the 50c4df1660 right eyebrow and the 808cec5e64 piercing crimson eyes—hallmarks of 84de2940f0 the Knulu tribe—boring down 44cbef0ddd at Natasha.6b1b6aca36f2954f

“You, you’re…”899350362b9fa446

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Before Natasha 8f16f9e6aa could stammer b24cf7be46 out a c591aa20a7 coherent response 61eb4f42e2 to the 288e494c84 unexpected sight 95bc41f265 before her:b3552fe1bd1568c6

“Alexei! W-why are you here…”dbf569a093e31eac

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man, 9acdb16030 who had 431b76673d collapsed to 4e4c334e11 the ground, ea4fad5cf5 trembled like f4fa5a4c04 a leaf 6bfeb37947 as he ed977f6bb8 instinctively covered 513168041b his left 15550d6d97 ear. Even the 217718f7ed sight of 7e1de3eef8 Alexei seemed dd1f994283 to resurrect ebd1ca2b1a the pain 1b683e3fc7 of his c54525ccfe half-severed ear.4d3088ba69babb29

The Knulu tribe, notorious ed07730d01 for raiding and pillaging 6ee754a341 across the Duchy of d63ab030e8 Ivanov’s borders and slums, 999894f86c was a persistent nuisance. They had no 673b5292d2 order, no conscience. Yet, before Alexei, cdacff233f they all bent 3c4c5ed2a0 the knee, recognizing 1f4ffb76da him as an b3e63f3280 unrivaled leader.c03ed28410d7e031

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That was until bd3893ab0f the day Alexei 26365a9d93 voluntarily entered Ivanov 243030f6f9 Castle as a 8b4779d47e gladiator slave.52ea82b09b7f87b0

No one 879c62f9ca could understand d934fa6143 why Alexei 3d2ef0bc93 abandoned his 71b1e9031a reign as e5881e91a6 the king c4c6f36c9c of the fd867fc188 underworld to 455f8317df become a f6530cc4b5 mere slave. Among the e2655c760b Knulu tribe, c981d290ba theories abounded, 93aaccd418 but most ab60cbd237 agreed it ebc0fea337 had to e232328d6a do with 82d6aa9de3 money. Since Sergey’s ascent a9ddce795c to power, skilled a38d30e6e3 gladiator slaves commanded 25c6f68c7f astronomical prices. Slave traders who owned c00a5fe8d6 many gladiators could spend ac362293bb money as if it d1b6e98294 were paper. But Alexei was no ae7f362d5b ordinary slave; he had ad9fbc6d09 no master and had 157e5c5094 entered willingly, claiming his 5270fd6a8e own share.6da051549bb176cd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When questioned, 7dde61a14f Alexei offered ceda7af833 no explanation 68f80c405a beyond a 12a8a022b1 wistful, cryptic 242bcbb058 remark: “There’s 307ea82d4e something I 22326624dd want to 7ed47fbbc9 confirm.” And a5b6c3ba33 with that, c12abe63fd he left 76e26807f7 for Ivanov c93e9d24da Castle.91a919f95beb381f

In Alexei’s absence, Igor 1332056a95 had taken over, living a72f19a568 decadently while playing the faa2564dc8 boss of his small a1654418ef band of thugs.512b6a21cc4f461a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I warned you to 015ea4fa18 stay out of my 25dde3aa8a sight.”1d6a67e7eeb58115

Alexei growled, his 3361ff94cb voice dripping with c28a40b4ad menace.1b4dfd23ceba5b23

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What filthy 563a18953b scheme are a79a78978b you plotting dc7f7d6e1d now? Should I 7e94fab3fd leave you fcbe00c4df with one bf5876e4be dangling ear f1417169c9 this time?”64df15dccc18c700

“N-no! That’s not 588ecd629b it… I b44c9915c4 was going 25b71b3506 to report 314aa04c5c to you 268397e4f0 first! I found something c2374fc9dc precious buried in e795197915 this shabby grave!”48186e51db93e161

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Shaking, Igor 4bc6a14719 crawled toward 6afb126284 Alexei, extending 0e734c302e the necklace 448ac9efb5 in his 98054cb4b3 hand as 4b1e1663a1 if offering 22a1f5a4a5 a tribute.0f996f3e27cb000d

Natasha flinched as the 3841ff1b57 man suddenly approached, almost 6da15faff9 stumbling. Before she could b64c9d1ec6 fall, Alexei’s arm bdcad5be64 shot out, steadying bd37eea70d her firmly.6d4a534c4356d8be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“And this woman.”e2b22c1b4f155f49

Igor continued.afaeb3d81a247572

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“if she 795324fc03 pleases you, 82f6e3a96c she’s yours. She talks a777738b57 fancy like c527e52f15 some noble, 01d65650d3 but wandering 9e1e016bbf around without 04c363b2c7 a guard 3181e5cd7a at this 92b532b435 hour? She’s probably just f63c00a489 a—”737331395d34f48f

Crack!826f6770a9c39435

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Alexei’s boot 1fcd23ba28 struck Igor’s 8d7c0021a3 throat before abc2e6c36d he could abca3eec59 finish. As Igor curled 2f538465e4 up on the e82a1164a1 ground, gasping for 750b060876 air, Alexei pressed 9f6927fd8c his heel mercilessly f7d39ec689 into the man’s a75af8f002 remaining ear.42289ffb3742058d

“Listen carefully while you 251e1a1aa1 still have one ear d415425c52 left.”c6add09e8518aab1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Alexei said coldly, 56716ec203 staring down at 829fa2c891 him.c70c0cb50ea90d7b

“She is b011fe124e a young 3830285dd3 lady. Show proper respect.”5ae03b6519c32409

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a swift 2fefd7ad21 kick to the 76810ea4ea back of Igor’s fd39dea9ae knees, Alexei forced 1dce7eb1f6 him into a d915c2f5fa position resembling a 8fc94e593c bow, though it 4bc637cb51 was clearly the cd4105c825 result of excruciating ec6c83785d pain.481921a70fc0d06a

“L-lady? That can’t be…”2ff5f6be6f6a3244

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Igor stammered, disbelief coloring 7015fd6224 his bloodied face. The ethereal woman 111fd5aad8 before him couldn’t 4765ff27de possibly be Natasha 8185bd0125 Ivanov, the pride d0d16a0108 and lily of 8c4f6fa309 the Duchy of f3aca4d51e Ivanov. No noblewoman of her d309664a1d stature would wander this 65ad9ed24a place at night, unguarded.59bf24eb25da1a31

But as moonlight 72788eee18 bathed her elegant f96eb9020d form, there was 0f11c77c43 no doubt left e6dd782e04 in Igor’s mind.3aa034fb34864c49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Aaaaah! Spare me!”19e602d35d88c781

He shrieked, only now ba92ffa6d1 noticing the glinting dagger 33da5faee5 Alexei held.30b5cbfca5e51003

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“P-please, stop…”8749e0ed94c021b9

Alexei froze at c515720f02 the soft, slender eeade90b61 hand that lightly a580fb6fe9 gripped his arm. It was 6a75967783 so delicate, b919e71af8 he hesitated b1447db8a9 to even 12a62d3738 hold it 8e228a47b9 firmly, fearing c6755574fd it might e41a447c55 shatter like 91de2d32a1 a fragile 40f0cbe70f edelweiss flower.0015fe74ffde71d0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her touch cdb34504d9 seared like 2a8d4bfe4e fire. Every drop of 9e2c8dcdf5 blood in his 3981d7fddb body seemed to 5bc55c0500 rush to where ec123882a4 she had touched 180a199445 him. A subtle, 78a0a8c5a7 sweet fragrance cc9699b278 enveloped him, 54bde07b63 leaving him 92fcd44fe7 dizzy.b70beb74dc0162d2

“Please, forgive me, d7038791f3 Lady!”9f717132457c55dc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Igor crawled toward Natasha, 0c795368f4 reaching out with grimy a6b028b970 hands for the hem 2a708b6835 of her dress. But the moment he 6a200a049b moved, Alexei’s sharp glare 08f43805d1 pinned him in place.94a097c17306f853

“Are you serious about acee2ac294 sparing him?”fd5a7eac9b9257e0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Alexei asked, turning to 20719bbba4 Natasha.52d7c49340cdbcb7

“You want me 1219af01e4 to let him b374393f84 go?”e33c33fbc5dcd360

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s…”8953f8572f63a15d

Natasha hesitated, her a04821439d eyes darting between 73b950f3a9 Alexei and Igor. It was the 9733627da6 first time she 1b6b8abba4 had witnessed such c6cde8975f violence up close, 6aa973e96c and it gave 0d238878df her pause. Yet, she also worried 7d8b4d1b3a about the consequences of 6e84ca4fb6 letting Igor go, especially ff39f4e9e0 if it revealed her e59199eae3 secret visit to her 4c2b59599f mother’s grave.414ad9d72853642b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Tsk. You’re too softhearted.”eafdf135bb6e4980

Alexei muttered, his 9a65a07f30 brows furrowing in 5bfcf24fac irritation.9402bd1c76521c3c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Fine. I won’t kill 57d15ad66e him. Not completely.”a2ed0218d8e4c113

With a 8b270c2428 casual flick bee6a34403 of his 97df6e8cf2 wrist, Alexei 225a00aac7 slashed Igor 4b6e40021d with the 4cd4dff855 dagger.23818b68b198cad6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Aaaagh! My ear!”f720396aec04b240

Igor howled, clutching the 83cc7178e9 fresh wound.adb6f8e6c3ad6aa3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh dear, the ear 1c1cefdcdc again. Didn’t I warn you 17a2fbd44e to take care of 915ee2976b the remaining one? I’m not 70d364f9d4 the kind 01f4973126 of man cced3ef3c4 who gives 436d72052e second chances. You’d better watch e9c41f95a4 your tongue from a00bf236e2 now on.”5858ef1b990251b3

Calmly wiping the blood ad1c9645ed from his dagger, Alexei 8d4373b9de stood over the unconscious 2a06f3c6a5 man who had collapsed df50fd157d at his feet.e424b5f215dd209c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Is this e175a302fd what you e40311329e came for?”f33a8f3407e2d879

Kicking the man’s back 0536ac11d8 one more time, Alexei 5732828f81 shook off the dirt c1d1819801 from the necklace in e8ba3cf3d6 his hand and handed 68c8b72aeb it to Natasha.bb9f929a7e90c8ee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, thank you.”8dbace388ad16144

Natasha carefully accepted the 3e675e5739 necklace, holding her mother’s 2c1f8e0f2a keepsake close. Then she spoke.5431155f22de4ded

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I won’t forget ee8776ffb1 the kindness you’ve d6905fa31d shown me today. As a reward, you 0717c41d36 may ask for anything 9fe3444f13 you desire…”3c07ca5603453470

Relieved to 324e9017b6 see the bed0c4cc87 man incapacitated, f791bb7b65 Natasha’s words 67a6d863a7 trailed off 0ddef23e15 as her 39319d2197 gaze met 339dbed0a8 Alexei’s. His fiery red eyes, 15039fddcc sharp and piercing, bore fba3bd113c into her, leaving her cda2b934c3 speechless.1c2fad24c44b8f39

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Anything, you say?”32aee7b94a1dc360

Gulp.45deff0d8ab08805

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Natasha swallowed ba0177d94b hard and 539fbbc97c averted her 4bbfa0f2d8 gaze. Meeting the eyes 9f85b017c9 of a noble c5b63a359d of higher rank c825ef374b was improper etiquette, 5435d10c50 and as the bf53f07003 grand duchess of 65b8b5ed55 Ivanov, Natasha was 656e0dc19a accustomed to others 15d7f57bef lowering their heads 1fe2b7ae78 before her. But Alexei’s e1e0f3a861 unwavering stare 58a49e1af1 was something 5e72bfbab7 entirely unfamiliar.211037e7e1daf9e6

When others accidentally met 60999e5930 her gaze, they quickly 6e8de6719c looked away in a 02edfd6753 flurry of apologies. Yet, Alexei’s c43644b5f4 unrelenting intensity bd43f42549 left her fc36168223 no choice 6c5a0dcf29 but to 719fd7368b look away 96cdd0bfdb first. It felt 0c7b747910 as if b6c2e73205 his gaze a196334c32 stripped her 02dd31d8ef bare, both 6c60f06d45 invasive and b10a6dc408 magnetic.a2cb05da89c97c58

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘No, this 4e9970ab71 can’t be. He’s dangerous.’36ebe98a46550d12

Her instincts sounded a f3ede940f6 warning, her heart pounding 5f83014957 in her chest. She couldn’t guess what a65ec9fae0 he might demand in 78a659f692 exchange for saving her 792aa5976e life, nor was she b5c9a81d4d certain she could refuse f3983dd9f2 him when the time 76b4fd0566 came.2109d9de22ab767b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Alexei stepped closer, 89afd41f3c the metallic tang of 1d96c7e6fc blood mixed with the 548600df34 deep, earthy scent of d1dea9bd9e his presence, filling the a3b1fd5f38 air.f9abf76e40a1e2ab

“I asked.”68cdb0e0bee0aef2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He repeated, b31ab66d6a his voice daaf056c97 low and a73e3958e5 firm.c9f4e90018832101

“Did you 886bf9c588 truly mean 8ab17140c8 anything?”e4148071ed0af1e7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Under the weight c91fe77189 of his words 234e2f81b2 and the intensity 5b348dd1ba of his crimson 38b636771e gaze, Natasha couldn’t 4b78010685 bring herself to 704a6042d6 deny him.61f7c14474318d18

“…Yes.”a9a965189a664597

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her voice carried a d810a23f71 reluctant surrender, and at 43628b6d82 her affirmation, the flames 98bd8797e2 in Alexei’s eyes seemed 9ee9eebcd6 to blaze brighter.d32ad5ec0c2b4971

“…Anything.”d8b402268fbe9627

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Repeating her words, Alexei f91f62406a closed his eyes momentarily, 7a4990cf95 then slowly ran his 6d404ee325 tongue over his lips. The sight 3f76614b25 of his 5d71864320 rough, crimson 13e53b2c3e tongue grazing a7b45889c4 his dry 59bc2398ae lips made 825e71ae59 Natasha’s eyes 9ea957353a tremble.769cc9ccabd93d8d

When his long, cb7e49b5f0 ash-gray lashes fluttered 2978c32d97 open again, Natasha’s d098d90104 quivering blue eyes 6f40e913f6 met his blazing cb825b93c8 red ones. His fiery dece4c68dc gaze seemed 727556092f to consume 144ff15ed7 everything, tracing c9d514344b her figure 3b67085af9 from head 6adfa2f27f to toe 1deb6bbb13 with searing 13e931f925 intensity. Natasha struggled d4606d40d4 to endure 274be8de53 it, her de99f09c3e breath hitching 561d8aa88f under the ca46f40855 weight of 94ffa90795 his stare.96f3f01d96bfc243

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Can I handle him…? Whatever he demands, 35107c95a6 can I…?’ec20ba110e913431

Her hands clenched d217be65c0 the fabric of 6661170ec0 her skirt tightly, 41c3216197 her knuckles turning 9a58360319 white. Just as her anxiety e72d2d1791 peaked, Alexei finally spoke 93415504d1 again.fd4fa2331dc452ed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Next time, would c913151cc7 you acknowledge me, d5b093e87d Lady?”4527749ba710398d

“…What?”382c2772c306df6d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her widened dfe0b37759 blue eyes 5500beb5af reflected her 6a73632509 confusion, and 0b641e74f5 a faint 473ea7b44a smirk tugged 5d64702a52 at the f6f19baac9 corner of 0019a4125c Alexei’s lips.03b2d984dfed9521

“Alexei Petrov. That is my name.”8fa65217bf8b1ea1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah…”a5fc98f2dec3a0ce

It wasn’t 8b9275a999 that she 62f6a2c60a didn’t know 2da917322a his name. She knew him—had 0cc787178a known of him. Yet she had f5b9c61670 chosen to feign 79ab94783e ignorance, to pretend c54eb997b4 he didn’t exist.4f0b116ef8f3893c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Natasha’s rosy lips 2ec0736c59 quivered in silent response, feb489268d Alexei’s gaze lingered on b9c93f8b85 them for a long 0e0e960633 moment before he let 0ce5c2dcce out a quiet chuckle.fadd3ab492f180d5

“Now you know. Next time, 04bf0a4283 please remember 6efcdb7cd1 me. And don’t 21957f8af7 look away.”3ccb4c1fdc7bfc19

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Alexei’s earnest dc705706dd yet intense 988b9efa98 gaze left 1e04497e16 Natasha at e6a1200b8b a loss 9e20657c9c for words. Unable to 9e56804338 do anything bc099c5add else, she 647df20705 gave a 1a9fb2384b small nod.9872f76c2633f388

“That is the 543386d685 reward I ask a6ae7aaf62 for. Nothing more, 665fbf6672 my lady.”4c176a990a21dfe5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…I promise.”03800978238f47e7

What could be 8d2b5e617f so difficult about 5a7cab391c that?825861d1d81ea343

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Natasha nodded again. Such a small thing—it 00630ffa4b was nothing, really.f272607d7a8f0c39

“I’ll remember that promise, c30831a8e4 my lady.”5451b3004d2d94a6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But as b36287325d Alexei’s fiery 9746ffe274 gaze softened 8700c6cfe0 into something 4f6899e3d4 almost sorrowful, 183411991b Natasha found 36e68e521b herself questioning bea83fe75e if the a2056a392e promise was da84deb3c7 truly as c86954c709 simple as b4f6afa5dd it seemed. She blinked, momentarily 953b940df2 lost in thought.5a501e70e81b951e

 bc77df7843b704f5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com