IBSBV Ch 18

 d13c9e24eddfbbc3

Chapter 1840a4697937f60ce1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 f6d890e2412f7018

Eddie wiped Louis’s f5009077b6 mouth after he 6e35ef9f4d finished eating. Then, fumbling slightly, Louis reached 9fbe23b9a0 out and brushed his thumb c8accba39b over Eddie’s cheek and lips.dc3c8581e048ca8a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What are you doing?”7376bcfe54449595

“I wanted to wipe yours too… but I think your lips are already clean. Nothing’s coming off on my hand.”a36856c7a5b22017

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I wipe them every time I take a bite, whether with my hand or a napkin.”6d1da456dfc9e1c0

“Why?”255bdb92e0b906aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It became a habit after I lost my sense of taste. Every time I feel something lingering on my lips, it makes me uncomfortable.”3ead74920fc26e67

So that’s why his 4532ac4236 lips weren’t moist. They weren’t terribly dry, but c77733c28d they were rough enough. Louis’s expression darkened slightly.28aecc4d4caadadc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was nothing f3cd43f3db more than a f2902f8a2b simple, repetitive action, 560b2d02d8 seemingly insignificant. But if a wound 009ed09fa7 remained in the form 7333f2273a of an everyday habit, 75fd768d17 it meant it had 3815135902 been painful—painful enough to 10ae280542 persist, even now.1d1420738739680d

Louis lived a broken 7a98bcb01a life, but Eddie seemed 8d0857fd89 just as damaged. No, perhaps even more 2dec6c10df twisted than he was. At least Louis 78857291c8 had outwardly expressed 31b4357fa9 his suffering in 26c4430b01 some way, while 0c8b041ca7 Eddie… Eddie had a88af02c95 built countless webs 2a52b8d505 around his wounds.88e895675387498e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He would answer if asked, 4a4a169956 but he had drawn a 1f716a8fe4 clear boundary, ensuring no one ca8504dd09 could push past the cracks 02080b0dc2 and invade.0af6a9ec5b762925

That sharp-edged caution 6920f84b83 made it difficult d3d27ce7df for Louis to edc30969f6 find the right c322b4e370 words. He had never been good 12f3fb7464 at jokes, and carrying on 99b988392a a conversation like this felt 8bab40ca7a tricky.a7d882a4fb04d17e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As he hesitated, a 4fc4d003cf clear chime rang through 40e6cea546 the room, followed by 3dd9c43266 the sound of the 79874c8e6d door opening.1adb83bc70d14b2a

“Hurry and clear the table. There’s plenty of dessert I bought from outside, so you don’t need to bring any more. Instead, bring warm tea in an hour.”3e3a9c6f9ff564c3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, understood.”f927fde336af77a9

At Eddie’s command, Bell swiftly b25475f72b transferred the plates onto a a0f5f0b223 trolley. After he left, Eddie 928e542ca4 handed Louis the cane. Louis ran his fingers 93a16d3d4f over it hesitantly before d114b56624 his face lit up aca00cffc4 in confusion.9dc719035ec77e6e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…What is this? A whip? I didn’t do anything wrong….”75c692c9059b45fd

“It’s a cane. I told you I’d buy one. Now, stand up.”3fe7e125f1af529b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With Eddie’s help, Louis stood. Instinctively, he gripped the cane 584faecfaa tightly.d1e9d063391cfa8e

“Oh? Standing feels a little easier now!”1e68d2a69ffb3962

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It should.”a2a3a657d8563c6e

As Eddie spoke, he moved cdcf446e7d behind Louis. Their chests and 397b329df1 backs pressed together. Startled by the unexpected b5ec1b3b77 contact, Louis froze.6a82665d88cd5e69

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll teach you how to use it.”abc98159e3dfb61e

The low voice brushed 5c457f9807 against the nape of a498c9d9ec his neck, warm and 421175c6e9 unsettling. Louis shuddered.31cb0d7a693d3207

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They had touched countless 60a7dd671d times before. Eddie had bathed him, a45945b583 dressed him—had touched him 7814d76418 everywhere. But after this morning, Louis cb39a2cea8 found himself far more aware e22577dc64 of him than usual.7861bb433ee0cb45

Maybe it was b6bdc618cc because of the 7ae18a2130 strange desire that 7a3266125f had taken root 0c7c7d72ec inside him.dad71bf79071565c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Clenching his jaw, he cb687f9c36 forced down his unsteady 713474c07d breaths. He willed himself to suppress 70511e2969 the nerves threatening to surface. Meanwhile, Eddie’s hand slid 8082304d75 down Louis’s forearm, finally 7bb34219a1 settling over the hand 0e7a268638 gripping the cane.46b6da090fbe528e

“From now on, this will be your eyes. Now, tilt it slightly and extend it forward.”3c9c97572f749da2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

To check what lay ahead. To sense what 1f9c6eabd2 was on either 565c8c0284 side.600d5b7876336374

“Tap the ground as you step forward, carefully, one foot at a time.”c88966743df4c725

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Eddie’s quiet voice was 05da2c2959 both sweet and unnerving. It made Louis’s d7e9704a5c mouth—no, something deeper 68d0ac42a4 inside him—feel parched. He shut his eyes tightly 506c88a34a for a moment before shaking 7c02ec6bae his head, trying to focus.762c6451fba4ccaf

He followed Eddie’s instructions. Walking was definitely less terrifying. It felt much more stable af740ac733 than fumbling through the air ec76f13cc6 with his hands.e3b41602fabc5fff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Once all his attention 4da089c8e5 shifted to his steps, 1519aa9f3d Eddie naturally pulled away. Louis quickly got the 10cb842cff hang of it, walking 1ee356e378 steadily even without Eddie’s 181de6e03f support. He didn’t wobble. His face, which a793749938 had been tinged 6b8e03297a with nervous excitement, 2937adf182 soon settled into bd4a81ccac a look of 1b82504c83 quiet determination.ab255093748c1b90

How many times had he 2d7208b5c3 circled the room?5d4a01f302347c09

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When the tip 8d84bc9fd9 of his cane c17bc79fff hit a surface, b74ad18c8a it felt different 1e3be2248c from the walls 283f4496d1 he had brushed d6eb1c8705 past earlier. There was a shallow groove. Noticing that it was a 7381efaad5 door, not a wall, Louis 9e458c4728 stopped without leaving the place.fcc5f92b4aed7684

“…….”c6f5e69184b4526b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He hesitated. Again and again, his ba5f3ad18f hand hovered over the b607eaba00 handle.79975fac080719e9

He wavered. Then wavered some more. Finally, he reached out fe9f9dcba0 and grasped the doorknob. It took a d2e65bd61c tremendous amount of c06d252ac3 courage just to dea07aa059 turn it.e2f4cc1d6e0c1583

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Creak—.c295d4df2cb455a0

For the first time 87fb9f31ad in his life, Louis 9e82c6885b opened a door with 4448e941d0 his own hands. Others could enter and leave b9026c47d5 as they pleased, but doors 31be192421 had never been something he 4e9a395798 was allowed to open. He wasn’t permitted to 95ff080e46 leave of his own 825a7d6fdf accord.0b5d687803caf74c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sover had sometimes taken him 9decaa8e6b outside, but only at night, f3d457704b only with shackles on his 09d6ff1545 wrists and ankles and a 413da1040a leash around his neck. He had been dragged 7e188b476a along like a beast, d4f11ed5c2 treated as something less 5f462a61f9 than human.10fe5c1a6ab941f7

Tap. Louis carefully extended his c71806a76a cane beyond the threshold. Then, following his own will, 5d35e595bb he took a step forward, 538f227ea7 crossing the boundary. It wasn’t his first time b2bf860ae0 standing in the hallway. But for some reason, he 7b905036fc felt as though he had 559e0abf35 shattered a wall and emerged 5d59d1fbb4 into the world. A whirlwind of indescribable emotions a55c817b3a churned inside him.d677e939cf0a49c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Eddie.”8c8823e328d74cfe

Slowly, he turned toward 53a3fa57ef where Eddie stood, watching. He held out 99bde2ece2 his hand—not with 7c98113f7f his palm down, ad0cc350b0 but facing upward. Not asking to be 4dda87317c led, but inviting Eddie e4cfd02a0b to take hold of 402f4094ef him.47f2acf2e1bf9133

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Guide me through the castle.”7cbf669eff02c4bb

For the first time, Louis’s f206ed8eff voice, which had always wavered 72956223c7 with uncertainty, carried firm resolve. His eyes shone with quiet 310b7c7fcc determination.1e85e3e5c04ba6e3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I want to walk beside you, without leaning on you.”1fdea799343e58af

One by one, f630d74447 Louis was experiencing 1e88b1f29e his firsts.f7e81b84950e504b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 174450a5622e4978

***aad912cb0b1f87e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 55f3994fc44efd38

Tap, tap, tap, tap—.1b6e9b721f014dca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The sound of the cane f1e79e6d3c tapping against the floor echoed ca89d15d71 through the shadowed corridors. Rather than being disruptive, the 08e0943756 rhythmic sound seemed to breathe d4d948bb24 new life into the space. With each step Louis 3204443d5e took, the castle’s suffocating abf8c7ae72 gloom seemed to lift 9539482623 little by little. In its place, 678c7dbeac a fragile excitement 6bc3546e92 seeped in.9cf2c14099f828e4

His gaze was fixed eea35e704c straight ahead. His shoulders and back were 85c3c66b24 straight, his posture steady, his f7067c1d35 stride slow but unwavering. Compared to yesterday, cb2d47c13f he was utterly 371f8937c0 different.74d806b2375ef295

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A mere cane—no. That was a mistake. For someone who 8c7731d95b had lost their 61ecd19506 sight, a cane 671cdba981 was never something 9361def453 to be dismissed 717d5c8c71 as ‘mere.’ Eddie a63273deea knew that. That was why he had b1994f5b0e gone out of his way f722ec2281 to buy it.a82bf5e5da85b192

And yet, he had just 2b5d1164f6 thoughtlessly reduced it to something 4224b1ce86 trivial. As if being the author 7f31e3ba85 excused him for inflicting this c1aef44edd disability on Louis in the 5c1fde1887 first place.c7ca4f9918c6f424

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘How pathetic.’0f0c700a28063f1a

Eddie swallowed the dc133fb701 creeping guilt as 15d43e96d0 he looked at b47cc6ec40 the hand tightly 56980bcad8 gripping his, as 2d48b05b65 if unwilling to f3025f91cf let go. Though still the e085e3e726 hand of a 0111921714 boy whose fingers a2e5760706 had yet to cdb3e5c928 fully mature, the a37085ff8f warmth radiating from bc6b132c35 it felt reassuring 324a5c8baf beyond words. The fact that Louis a6bb8eba0e was even walking a 4dd8cd8e82 step ahead of him 1f301d422f made him feel as 0300d01cdb though he were being 18d3be49e4 protected.e8109044b086a62f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His thin back seemed broader somehow. Just being within the long shadow cast by Louis made him feel… safe. It was a foreign sensation, one he had never experienced from anyone before.8b6fb43cf3257c87

It was so new, b26b3c66d3 so overwhelming, that it 3051b0a075 made his stomach churn 7e6bdd841e as if he were b4b15c895e seasick.57b9c03cf7bdfa1b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘To think he’d gain this much confidence from just a cane…’8c2860da02249437

Compared to the b2a6fc1b90 first unstable day, 60d329b518 the change was 480b49b308 astonishingly fast. He had assumed it would 52a4e24bc3 take him much longer to 0814b34008 step out of his bedroom c934625667 by his own will, but e4ae7f736f now, that assumption seemed laughable.d8d085207a674bfa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eddie glanced sideways. Sunlight streamed through the 953e516ad8 windows scattered along the 904fd999ef corridor, marking the shift d32958cb7b from morning to afternoon.5abec389f550c8a6

Louis’ dark red 091c9f6987 hair shimmered in 15d70c2710 the bright light, 4754f98def glowing with a f1c4b476ac rich vibrancy. It was dazzling—so ac71b45e28 much so that e2eb016da5 it was almost 78caff551d beautiful.7dd955409774c2d4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Unconsciously, a smile formed 6205cd0cc9 on Eddie’s lips. Carefully, so as bf9fe1558d not to startle c2018c99f8 him or make b74cef6def him feel disappointed, de0d4b90c8 he slowly withdrew 47dc90f1eb his hand. Then, as if offering encouragement, 792bbe3211 he patted Louis’ back.c1afba25e0c9bdf2

“I will protect Your Highness from behind.”79e4761658011d86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At those words, urging him eaa55a257f to walk without worry, Louis f8fa088d49 nodded despite a hint of e18ea2e0f0 reluctance.b51cb537eb50d86d

“Listen as we go. The Grand Duke’s 3b4d6686eb estate is a 24078097ce four-story building. The floor Your Highness 390cd9b8b2 mainly resides in has e291b58c92 ten bedrooms, a private bdac18482c office, a library, a 0a0735e404 dressing room, and a d0d33839ab bathroom.”c1a0dcb216cf5c82

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If Louis had been granted 61ff9acaa4 a normal life—if he had 5b329782f3 a family—those empty bedrooms would cbcf19eff1 have belonged to them.895e6ce0eaf6480c

“The third floor below us houses a larger office, a grand conference hall, and several meeting rooms.”9e531fae6135b05d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was little more than b1cd674e2f a ghost floor, occupied only f8e1ccc2bf for appearances, mostly by aides 60325b091e who had nowhere else to 886cffff76 go.9567e974b438a211

“The second floor is currently used by the knights, the butlers, the nanny, and the servants.”74979e36532022c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Had the butler been given a47dde7028 the role of a proper 3135484556 ‘butler’ rather than a glorified f48615236f head servant, this floor would f82f0b98f3 have belonged to him and 95ade2e083 those under his command.36bb11ba0b4e10a5

“Then the dining hall is on the first floor? Does everyone usually eat there?”2cd42b8e3d3353d3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes.”48460554a7ba05b6

Saying it all out 062d36b78b loud made it sound ae0b461a81 insignificant. Though Louis held 36a6cb128a the title of a61dff3b17 Grand Duke, he 80dd45df70 was not truly b968107bb2 the master of 8688ce4ee5 the North. His status was a2b1eb2ed7 high, but his 43eb95a627 power was paltry. What he lacked far outweighed 83eea4749b what he had.85e1f549c515884d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The more Eddie thought 5944800e22 about it, the stronger 1e114e363c the bitterness welled up 39ce7cea22 inside him.71a6f86f700af753

“…Your Highness?”75e7e9c8109ae81e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was then that 74acd59911 figures appeared at the 28fd5ff69b far end of the 112cec388d hallway, just coming up c9729d3ae5 the stairs. The nanny. The butler. Bell.263dac5d8ebff6f7

The three of them b61279810c stared at Louis in 1d0cfb6211 open shock, scanning him 7f685922be over and over as 2d346a8666 if they were looking 9d5e756a3f at an unimaginable sight. They stood frozen, as though 07bc6bcf46 they had encountered something uncanny. The nanny and f9524feb87 the butler, struck 42b1f5a7fe by the surreal caf8eb4e40 image before them, 79a5337076 trembled as they 3fd4d1ef62 blinked rapidly, trying dbb87aee17 to gather their 5b92db7e61 wits.cb774cdf9f31aecf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In contrast, Bell looked intrigued. His gaze landed on f31717b107 the cane in Louis’ 3e73122975 grasp, and a soft a3163c24cf gasp escaped him. He even muttered 86fadc095e under his breath—small 2f95489360 murmurs of“That’s good” or “What a relief.”He harbored no 6f760f1bf2 fear or discomfort d0cf8b9b0c toward his master. He was simply happy to d847200b48 see his master grow.e20f29a37a219539

“H-How is Your Highness…?”00de3f629c0246e8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…The nanny, I presume.”1cf9506dffe9158e

Louis, after briefly tilting eabf9d34cd his head to locate 7320aa7074 the source of the 21053d1268 voice, gently tapped his 44d417a50d cane against the floor.e6bb9d327cf542e9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The nanny flinched. Her shoulders visibly jerked. Louis, who had no 2c0e97206b way of noticing, took 6f42a7516b slow, deliberate steps forward. Then, extending his cane f1ef4a8c74 to gauge the distance, ec80960ca0 he stopped at a 19ca3ffe99 measured space between them.84a5754f515395b6

He was being considerate. Afraid that approaching too closely might frighten the three. Louis’ back, drawing his own line before they could step back, was surprisingly not tinged with bitterness.d5dc95cc1ccc9b81

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

—It’s okay. I won’t be hurt anymore. I have Eddie.3ffbafa8473b8dee

So he must 6942e1aa1b not show weakness. Resolving himself, he opened be2ef952a4 his mouth to speak.e7cdc2a06836bd05

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 4fd14e8f73bfbb81