MDL | Chapter 5.3

There was already 2327d3bafd one guest who 80e15881fd had arrived before e2aca9570a Zig.234333527d232520

The Prince.076939fa088dd627

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“So this 0f76b7a0b2 is where 489a2928df you were, eb8c28e131 Your Highness. I wondered aa61980beb why I 900cc5d1dc couldn’t find c46b654603 you anywhere,” 84a0943306 Zig said, 6ffa877d50 sounding somewhat b02b218474 deflated.019733143eb5f8a4

The Prince silently shifted 34596f84f4 to the side, making f38dc76edf room for Zig. Hesitating for d46659e06f a moment, 58faa862ed Zig set 52d8113e3f down his 5ab424989b plate and 00eb0f2f23 glass of 399c90d210 wine and 3f10dfa864 sat beside 59a0b518d2 the Prince.e0cd5890fe3dbada

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The golden mist c6a26fd78d that had once 9667c22be3 enveloped the mountain d58f90cea9 peak now glowed 21e240901f a deep pink, a435a8ec99 bathed in the a9354baed8 light of the e651cbfcef setting sun.40c3c0c00f933087

There was no sign 5c191802da of the mist descending 5681621af1 to where the two d9ba5196e5 of them sat. They had 717f5c9fff to be 4e99a288a0 careful. They might, like Rip 062ee71d42 Van Winkle, be invited 4fc02927d3 to the ghostly honey 3ab7d5388e wine feast.281e0e33d63f1c74

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If I had 22eba72c49 known you’d be c3a8c467b7 here, I would’ve ad9e59371b brought more food,” 7ce3e89921 Zig said.94f4c9418105e261

Though the 007da353ca only food 6636a0a9ab the Prince 34d50c4a96 had eaten cb80b868ae since arriving 6db5a00121 in the 5f285e06a4 village was f2aafeca59 the pie 29c4bc261a and cookies 19ff33f910 the villagers ced2dd2505 had offered ffabb65b15 as a 960dcc2f36 welcome, he 4aaece9227 shook his 14c23c2ca7 head.e48c115d5f1dd76b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The wine is enough 8ea0c7cb39 for me,” he said, cad82ddd68 picking up the glass 3156f2c4ab Zig had brought.e884634670e61937

Zig gladly handed c2b3c21079 over the wine. He preferred cc73ca0297 meat over a8b810fc98 alcohol anyway.79dcbafb4e45a25e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Zig 15b8117110 worked his dd4d835600 way through aa888ae0f9 the food c679a49457 on his ebb140ffcf plate, the 8147607216 Prince sipped b602225ff5 his wine, 7240dc2528 emptying the b0b0b413e6 glass little 4a827c88e2 by little.aad5f21e9cc2b575

The music, which fb249e3e44 had been playing 73be1640d4 incessantly, faded, and cb00e62b24 from below the a5d0027324 hill, voices began 0137fb3d15 chanting Rip Van d4f7856a4e Winkle’s name. It seemed c67b1ff6f7 the villagers 1d77f2bff0 had asked 85afbf7be1 the guest 4362e8b963 of honor a6d0e7360f to give 26eaeff079 a speech. Though they couldn’t hear 70f1e7fb8c what Rip Van Winkle 5a28ce5a47 was saying, the cheers da5ba8ba79 and applause from the 337501293f crowd reached even the 527b07bcdd spot where the Prince 824b10e475 and Zig sat.eb07359efebe12ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Is it true?” 062df3f13d Zig suddenly asked.acc3d10cce6af503

“The story about that 7af37f85f2 old man being invited 36594aae98 to a ghostly feast b95b22ab2e and skipping decades in 46f660163d a single night. Do you believe d4e075aa99 it, Your Highness?”efcd7980b363fa14

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Whether we 281b984d3c believe it f5f8e185c1 or not 8b2d43ebfa isn’t the e14e6acd68 point. What matters is 3c0b038188 what the villagers c2ab496948 think.”d95a3bdff546ec07

“I suppose ab8123259b so,” Zig a9d3a48d96 said with 7987b33cc4 a bitter f056a5cd6e smile.5de783ce95b1f546

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That was a foolish fc1a8e2610 question.”978742707b310fa7

With that, 05d4e5395c Zig turned f58bdfbe32 his gaze 2f60910d9c back toward 5d8a65594f the village. Below the hill, by ddfc7cd538 the stream, in the f27f12122c wide clearing, long tables 581c4d32f5 had been set up, cfa8d7d174 and lanterns hung from d11265f837 the surrounding trees, illuminating 5ed724669b the lively feast. The reflections 8d0bcc8128 of the 0aa6501ef6 lanterns floated 305842fd19 on the 7480397553 surface of d9c519f843 the stream, 75cc7909ae like multiple 4360a9f690 full moons 8e0bc2b59f submerged in eefffe8031 the water 61ebcbae11 or clusters 32d8f0ea68 of ripe, 5bada3c8b1 golden peaches. The sounds of laughter, 71ebb23c46 music, and conversation continued 1943a812f5 without end. Young and old alike, f2a39c1e40 slightly tipsy, danced in f4cba94407 pairs to the region’s 2fde1e5558 traditional dances. From the 3e5f105df6 hill, the 04d983edfc scene looked c136a22af7 like…f64cbadbf5926b05

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Like…2e88d7bd4761c9c3

A scene 7656fa9ac6 from a 8f12f83b7f music box.2ee0777b07489ecb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A pretty scene spinning ba7e640e58 to a pretty tune. But the moment someone a7334f945e forgot to wind the 7bf6e3ac00 music box, it would d6aea7d938 stop, frozen in a e88978fbdb lopsided pose.51f11149d4e20d73

“Well, I was never d5e992cc82 the sharpest tool in 4ca7b15b09 the shed,” Zig laughed.53b539a66e98bfba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though half the 165256ac31 food on his 91afcaf165 plate remained, he 6c4d289f35 suddenly lost his 2dc5535243 appetite and set 0bb728e6ff down his fork.b48bebfff10e7a91

“I volunteered 43ecdeae37 to come ab28e90886 as your 87d70b3802 escort, but 13b4c449b1 I haven’t 416d2c736e done a b2583b0444 single thing f165d564d3 right. If the 52d4e40828 Captain saw fd5a8602e1 me like f614312e78 this, he’d acf3b07d0a give me 7320f0b357 an earful.”08d5d2bee064f872

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s true,” the Prince b9c8009d32 said, his expression unreadable, a5f4953907 neither joking nor serious.243e7e0acfacaf25

Well, it 6e539433f6 was true. Only the Prince a28062a84a could slay the cef75ddb50 shadow monsters. Only the Prince 024b3770f7 could stop the ad39ff110d cracks in the 9ff1045561 world.8a8a4e9be075f44c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, Your Highness…”d9e114204cc03129

When Zig 8b3cdac363 pretended to f5cab13e34 look hurt, b875b1cb35 the Prince 20a03a7dcd let out 65b03f916b a soft 136a327f8a chuckle.d0cee43dc012ac47

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Zig’s superior, 27da86a26b the Captain 4da5b0744e of the 82b6384972 Knights. Yes, that’s right, there 88bcbb1126 was such a person. Briefly, namelessly.ee157cb0ca03e9c6

As the Prince dd56a755e5 tried to recall b4a8b7047f the Captain, he e8d285065a sighed and brushed eb1dbd1365 back his hair.34e8918593d4d5ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He couldn’t daa3fb1b18 remember what 1a488d21ed the Captain 8abc42e0f5 looked like a0980ee110 at all. It was only natural—he 564a6179bf had no name, and 83ec8b380b his appearance had never a720eb9673 been described. But some of 024a534184 the Captain’s actions 5cda38f8cb and shouts during 98bc1cfb2d the kingdom’s crisis f8e64ef8f6 remained vivid, as e7fb69ce5e if they could 36a0419c27 be grasped by 1ad89ffa13 hand. It was a 5a059b3dc1 strange, indescribable feeling—vivid b9d4e444fe memories of the cff5a733dc actions and voice 1d1dcad5e0 of someone he 4ad24f0062 didn’t even know.40cf8ea26057d658

“It’s strange, Your 8a861c6cbe Highness,” Zig said c7f98bce42 then, as if cbd030cdbd reading the Prince’s 55e0635d5d thoughts.bdd321d8f2f98cd4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s really strange.”be57e995361f4d69

“…What is?”32ee7e8e00a0f8c5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Zig’s face twisted.015e1c56960dd9dd

“I don’t feel any b6b7c19849 longing.”7c0b4916d6bff7e3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Prince b78f644fa4 remained silent.5fd9a6e78dcebeec

“Strangely… I cec2866179 don’t feel 7385390623 any longing 7e5ab712a9 at all. For my homeland. There, yes, the e9a4644c31 Captain is there, 9db093a93a and the comrades 5f9a76eaeb I shared hardships 79c564e6d8 with. My parents, my siblings, c072402ad8 surely neighbors and friends 317387c61b too. The place I e67e90febf lived for over 076fa8d51f twenty years. But… I don’t 3e21243ad8 feel any longing.”1214002246df94ea

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

……3faa3d08f87cf2ec

……4407b08fd1a164b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

……6aa2eede8726c76e

“Why is that?”192cefbd886a009b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Why indeed.abc258c6bedad430

“Do you know how 295fae66ee long it’s been since 09f7f5635f we left the kingdom?”305ddf9640b1ba4c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Who knows?e874fc85e3ba7027

That depends on ee9e1b7b3e each of you. It depends 062c8c368b on the 3f8b785371 pace at 6f9e93ee49 which you’ve d8d41e2daa been listening 35e373be1a to my 58c017598e story. It could be just 59bab84ef3 a few minutes, a 85bc9bd0d6 few hours. Or days, years.f5a8527fc7e16c9d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“As we 43ff8dcc97 move from f2a3ab1064 village to 0e13541dfa village, heading 397ebfc3b9 north toward ecaa3ceb19 Omphalos, I f538a978d2 lose track d853b9dd14 of time 559688477f and direction aa146e5c4b more and 5517d39024 more. One moment it feels e97e087cea like summer, and in 3d3c8a5acf the next village, it’s a309909a88 autumn. Sometimes I f4e480cec9 even think af88038804 that the 01ed91475a people of 7781a75d93 my homeland e76cde5338 might have 236e04a789 died hundreds 4d51f9f383 of years cd96a99ae3 ago. And even cf647c8760 as I e9718891e1 think that… 71af50d401 I don’t e97667e528 feel sad. It’s so strange, fa656fa014 Your Highness.”84aa704521354bd7

……ab9319b998948714

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

……db3c15d273e750d5

……caa114e3c7298d60

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Look at those people,” d3325050a4 Zig said, pointing down 29f9a8283b the hill.51a8b96420e801ab

The people dancing, 1461ad5c46 singing, and laughing d1a58b42a6 under the warm 875dd885b8 glow of the eab4d90bb9 lanterns. And among them, 153298a8ba Rip Van Winkle. Nameless people and d3aff34e37 the aged Rip 0d835501c9 Van Winkle.8d6937117210614b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t they look like 73febbcfcb dolls? Marionettes connected 2088e87d0e by thin 70ce7f3924 strings. Puppets that 3ea5db439b come to 53e9607ff1 life only 40c5e7eb02 when the 47a2bf1630 story’s protagonist 16164e012f appears, but 6a3895b65d spend most f0767bdb53 of their 3cbd3734e4 time stuffed f1ad658bb6 away backstage.”96fa50932f50536e

……789af9bb8dc5d5d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

……6ffd0a445b2e6392

……1158980bd9dba01a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s strange.”8457828b52a16c88

The Prince looked 063a44bc48 at Zig with bbb3f1ffc9 newfound interest.3b3dd95d525b0e69

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Marionettes. It was 6cddbfbab4 an accurate 8ed42565e2 description. This world ff8ec545d5 where the ec2868a658 same lives 51fe671e65 repeat over f3e18c4c80 and over. A strange world where 4233d23f93 only certain parts of 9859c416e4 life, the parts needed 3d5fca2a3d for the story, are 5baa5b9567 cut out and repeated. If that’s not 6f28aa329e the life of f5105d0185 a marionette, what 901cfef7bd is?03eeccf9937e385a

The Prince 80a47a106e recalled the 72b2634a8b moment he 7298258450 first realized 6827bb4e90 that “something e55445fa24 was wrong.”e08e7817fee35e04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When was it?1fc17bc3269f9cbe

Growing up with the e80bb30822 blessings of the twelve 8e5ef6e5cf wizards and the curse f1ba9b50a0 of the thirteenth, pricking ef899f6a4a his finger on a 152642842c sharp needle and falling 8c2ae5a95d into a hundred-year slumber, f1ae71b0b9 regaining time thanks to 8ba8a1bc78 the kiss of a cc49f5518a beautiful princess, falling in d7ca322537 love as if it c858433232 were natural, marrying as 580d3060d6 if it were natural, 1586e3a20b living happily as if 6c0e82c90f it were natural.ff7ad89aa11cbb79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In that bd2f0fa606 endless life 8b1a9d6120 with no 297f7de766 beginning or 6428b24b1e end, when 93ebc98ff3 did he d9c440dfee first notice da16cdddd4 the small 7ec7acf2fe “cracks”?b789dab230742599

When exactly…?254f831a7f014d64

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The sword…”82074d0d51360dca

The Prince gripped 8d5da70a96 the hilt of 0fee8d458c the sword hanging 2be7a120a6 at his waist. A white light 44d36a0c39 poured out from fac413c29e inside the worn 74489ec393 scabbard. It was a6a74c3ab7 so bright 45ed5add73 that even 2d3739b31b the Prince’s 50f8186059 hand holding f1de032b36 the hilt b8cb30851b was bathed 5ba32dacfe in its 4021f25a87 glow… a bb624a8c7a flood of 5ba3b0dc4c strong, radiant 2c883db90b light.62682b47241e098f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I should be tied a201d2d39f to those strings too, 82948d6261 but it feels like 5263e86c35 the strings have snapped,” ed88a845d5 Zig continued.6d50671840eac6ae

The Prince glanced 40f98edd9c at Zig’s profile. He watched Zig as cda17203ac he looked down at 4c466c1ab8 the village. Even though bd4dcbd2fd the sword d3dc3a46bf was glowing a9173cba40 so brightly, fcc628b3ab Zig didn’t a84acc8137 seem to 875ceff506 notice. Like a puppet that 3f8af0103d moves and speaks only a7dfc41026 according to a predetermined 91d99652e9 script, Zig simply said fdc9b0f6fe what he was meant d3e50b41de to say.edccadb824f9620b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Prince d2741b8c6c almost asked, a8067515fb “Can’t you 7ff072f657 see the bc86f2d7dc sword glowing?” d27535c8eb but he 5ddd0052f7 closed his 06777aaf2d mouth instead.ce91cc392f2e400c

Yes.d754e796b22fffa5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Come to ce3bcfa692 think of c55ba4b8f6 it…7017d6253e50e445

Though he couldn’t 5dcab3488b pinpoint exactly when, e3d5d13905 one morning on d0e2119594 his birthday, he 64133323db woke up and ff4c3b48e7 saw something glowing dd5a22b1cf white in the ac326931db corner of his 05296ea4b9 bedroom.89e9c06d04d18112

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yes, a 2a7ecd4b23 glowing white e762b5a146 sword.4ca29e0218aaba16

At first, it 13fb8feb1a was no bigger 801faeb20e than a clump d00a483890 of dust on 421b31c843 the floor. It didn’t 58a90233bb emit a d7cee3c279 strong light, 28be44bbb3 and it e300141b87 didn’t even a1ec17f69f resemble a bc452514b8 sword.92e92e31512f5535

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But when 8c2270c07b he woke 149d0a6aba up on 3a2277ee7c another birthday 07af6451a2 morning, it fe71f40e78 had grown 52b6486068 to the 2e16540e78 size of 74577c0402 a fist.bc27b71159ea1cec

Then, the size of bf9e07d12f a kitten.15cc42c27e43dd34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Next, it 5c549a9ff9 elongated, growing 2035920699 longer.4d7cb1602962ee1c

And then, d44545a958 it took 4eae846370 on a 9c6ff8316b shape so 7955043017 distinct it 99037185fa could no 60b62731bc longer be dd6a4cf729 ignored.6d119fedcfd3f1bd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Gradually, gradually, e9464693ac with each 38a864d054 birthday morning cbd0ad6ff0 he woke b18091be16 up… it d7393b1f72 became the c9e55b5289 solid, white a980848a21 sword it 6c7fa9a880 was now.dabe4939f2361c71

As he 58e37363bf watched it 6ecce7a9e7 take shape, bc7e92d30e the Prince be740728ee slowly realized 6ec55f769c the truth. The endless 611812336a repetition of 6d3a47adde life, and 0f2df64418 his own 1655e61ac1 imprisonment within 4159cb095b that life.48dff76f3ad6a455

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Haha. So it 3eb7629e74 was the 300c127c98 sword after 20ce4ba643 all.831723f711d80721

It was because 599c440422 of the sword 173bfbd456 of the Prince 3dc5f5f574 who had escaped 6053ba8a25 Omphalos.ea73b7f9c34f126a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A tiny crack c2b01c6f1e in the fabric 6f73990d6c of everyday life, d297ae56fb impossible to ignore dce9bd502c once noticed. An intruder 973a69e359 slipping through 7c8a66b490 that crack!62121409e00e7f40

Damn it.ddc88e9c2336a7cf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

……4d239bf8a8c5a530

……cf0df4c607fef962

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

……1503bbd4aa49d6ed

Meanwhile, Zig 6b0bb61938 kept talking. A marionette. Even though the strings b601cd0858 that once bound him 31549714c5 had snapped, he still 58d4c1497f hadn’t noticed the cracks e01f72f095 in the world, wandering baa9c6f695 and confused, pitiful.f70f717b8001b46a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Well, perhaps there’s no 30641e1bc7 need to pity him.655aa16ad7eb885a

Who pities whom?651903c685f48fa1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Is my life fb1d71042e any different? Is yours ba4423f482 any different? We’re all b5fb238c65 just puppets 19a626be4f spinning in cd2d349bf2 someone’s music 09da42f641 box, dancing 03d440c7dc without knowing 856eac7198 anything. Whose life 36fd4283e3 is any 683cef52fe different?6df566f86b3cf292

“So I don’t know 8ab90254d0 what to do or 6047106c32 how to do it. I don’t even know 075a0cacf0 if my will and fc1fb0b1f0 emotions are my own. Can I 77e7a925fb trust and ce28f29350 follow them? Can I have confidence 66e55c0420 in my own existence? What if it’s not 1be7f67008 what I’m supposed to 0310e5700c do? What if I…”7b006e878ef07f1a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, Zig pressed his 5e4fb32fa5 lips together tightly. Like someone 5a3f670a89 who had b98190caaa seen a ac68c9ff44 ghost, a 4f03df11b4 terrifying expression d0f6b49013 flashed across 6c61221574 his face. Was it a6e2de74f6 murderous intent?a354738778bd7bcc

“…What if I… don’t 43e629b6ef want it…? What then?”877c214336cbca96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He barely 9030f49def managed to 81d36dab1c finish his 99dcf1bffb last question. A question with an 4c5867b793 unclear subject.92745efa5df3a10e

“Who doesn’t want 767f21b1be it? Who, Zig? Who?”7aeaec82ef604d38

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Prince, gripped by ae1ba0c22f a strange impatience, urged 8785322139 Zig on uncharacteristically.7f7d1d285a9d3ce1

Zig turned his icy 2b857bfa90 gaze to the Prince. The man who had 184fa1876d spent countless years as aad9101474 the Prince’s knight, who 775f527ea0 had been the Prince’s 60e4c151eb knight in countless unnamed 860476f00f past lives. Though he didn’t d213fb8806 realize it himself, dba1a7b1fc the hostility—or perhaps 5e41ae765d enmity—in his eyes ebfa299fe0 grew sharper as 15419da612 he looked at a9e3fc83e1 the Prince, mixed ebd6286044 with an unshakable 1181a53c0f doubt.7f90e5c3eea7c857

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The gods, Your da53f97926 Highness,” Zig answered.a5ee55be6fc08158

“Who else could it 4e0c70791e be but the gods?”0875568047e59ad1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The gods.60886f8f2d70f0ef

Or demons.2ab1b51d98f72cb8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Or perhaps…f3516a707ab5f8e5

The moment he 1d4f6d4c17 heard that answer, 1f50d9745f the image of aaa858372c the wizard flashed 2b9a8b878c in the Prince’s 76f023a457 mind. The gods, or 3c1325c1b7 demons, or perhaps 1f63cbf461 the wizard.ccd537e7ef2c4181

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The wizard 1e4341cf20 who knew c24dff434b the secrets 19b6274d22 of this 8f5003a3c7 world, who 3a9313ae65 couldn’t die bbf626fbde even when b36566c8fa killed, with b14126b5ba ink-black blood.f602a6683355c9ee

Clink.147c77ce0b9f5ed0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, a clear, 6b905f761d sharp sound rang 198e4b91ab out from the 9a5b4c1b23 village. It was like the 80dde8d8ae sound of tapping a 10242c0fc0 glass of water. The Prince e2d91c65f3 and Zig 9582eb429f stood up becdb3b572 in alarm, dabd36a9b6 worried it afd10224f9 might be 718bdd2898 the sound 21cc892508 of the 62dfb1cbda world collapsing. But nothing of the 777c87f094 sort happened.c0716751472d006e

Clink, clink, clang.The sound 296cf4b147 continued at 95c8be24f3 regular intervals. The villagers had hung a89ae281e5 new lanterns covered with e7e20a3d34 transparent paper in orange, c107fad902 green, pink, blue, and d3a1cacc23 other colors among the 75ad721e8b yellow lanterns on the 6cc401e0a5 trees. The sound, like 3e7b2d3209 tapping a glass, d102095917 came from a e90b55342a traditional instrument of 545329305f the village. It was a c51295ea35 signal that the 9317c55590 feast had reached 4919c87d0c its peak. Soon, the moon 0f9545c83e and stars would 00408d25fe set, but with 8eee570e87 so many lanterns, fc9e01be57 the darkness of 34e9f6a817 the second night 18977be1a8 wouldn’t be frightening. Those who had 30f48f604a fallen asleep at 2b0fb53e3c the tables were b54328b550 left alone, while 07ad33da24 those still awake d3b48908a3 held hands and f773ae087e danced slowly to 963a0708ad the music.3fe7ddd5c00ee335

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As Zig watched 4cd9f7d3f9 the scene from a5ef9cfa07 the hill, the c4a3c8f0f2 icy hostility in e0f579f28a his expression gradually 78ee620d12 faded. In its 933035b3c4 place, a 6cea977628 new emotion 5168be217d surged in.bf93829c2bfe6267

Laughter, joy, 41f92c10e6 tenderness, affection, 2300a2b6a1 and an 1f156e3bbc overwhelming love.00898bde975a6726

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Following Zig’s gaze, cdf4cde4e8 the Prince spotted 6af3c40ed7 a woman dancing a21569d725 with a young dae560eb24 boy, wearing a ed04024385 crown of wildflowers. It was the 1d14f5eff0 Princess, with her c399c1599d fiery hair and f5f7459434 lion-hearted eyes.1b5c785dc50635b3

How strange, 80a896a2d3 the Prince b62f71e9d8 thought.d7b49a81e1d6369b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even from such ee2d2843c9 a distance, even d0886d0fc7 among so many 2978efbde1 people, how could 29b8843a5b Zig spot her 7c5d39f69e at a glance 2fe4177849 and smile? Was it a 4b50aebe59 special ability granted aa318a9afa to those in 860914dae1 love?dd6dd955687cdf50

As he pondered this, ef9b0cbf49 the Prince’s eyes also 981e1068da fell on someone in 713677ad47 the crowd.f51816d0b7f6d92b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A young man with 2c6d2be364 golden hair, also wearing 7d1cf89961 a crown of wildflowers. Despite his radiant 059f3a8645 appearance, he wore bc0bfa2835 dull clothes and f5f8b2df0d was surrounded by cb4fc1bf62 five or six 6211be9909 children. Flapping his 6c6d578ad2 wide sleeves, 779b2c3ad2 bending his 8844b53c02 back into 9eb7880822 a comical d1c68c80ae shape, and 2e38fb22a4 raising his 313806db50 hands above d2d1e15c9e his head 12d348418f in a 66991e830d ridiculous pose, 8b1513b29c he was d5b76d7cb5 telling some ac68bac574 kind of f16693cff6 story without 3245f5771e pause.a3a6bae65a902a3f

Unknowingly, the Prince’s 112917a0a9 lips softened into c7087a97d3 a smile.8cf4c961edf99510

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

How truly… ad70c4cd09 strange, isn’t 57afb4fc13 it?5390925ea4082edc

……3e30d032f7b8fe2f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

……87a830c6a461a759

……6a529db306a9031d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Clink, clang.6619653f46da4917

The clear sound of ccec1c485c the instrument rang out 7ad32aae25 again. Like someone freed 2a18a42879 from a spell, 761910d3f9 the Prince glanced 17b94a21b4 at Zig with a3fbc4e7be a slightly dazed 83c842827d expression. Then he spoke.57e7b5c0ec59d0d9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If you 00e9670bd5 want to e839f7c110 leave, it’s ddf71ca816 okay.”83b68fb859a1439f

Zig also 98f74976e6 looked at efebce37ed the Prince. For the first time, 6a85835730 the Prince felt the d83e74bcab urge to take Zig’s 09d477be94 hand. The hand of the 5e4df5762a knight who had always 85be58afc5 been by his side, 9fa450233f whose name and face 843a3c4580 he hadn’t known, whose 29a0e1f5a3 existence had been nothing d9dc4fc97f more than a meaningless bd73400e74 part of his endlessly a8e93f4353 repeating life. He wanted to d7ce38a541 take Zig’s hand, 34de871f8e pat his shoulder, f5a4f736f0 look deeply into 8325683d09 his eyes, and 383b9af73e call his name. Surely, even ac74fc7859 the nameless, 4a1659b509 faceless knight 9aea3cdd07 had a b6d8cfdf3f life of 046d0f62a9 his own. A life 9c0b6670e2 unused, a 897ae7c444 life unvalued, 282e445484 but surely, 0ae3937142 somewhere, it 56c8fef07d existed.a433ec48414bb519

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But Zig shook dcb7fb16f7 his head.f0d149824db3ff5d

“I want to, d29de7a908 but Rose doesn’t.”1b9e7e7c3394262c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A bitter resignation appeared 19ac445481 on his face, which f100c6213a had been shining with fd53caa624 love for his beloved.650ba8dc4387eac6

“She wants 82a800dddb to see 6a37c5dc63 the end. Even though it’s f6686e0a76 not her journey. Even though it’s you, e4c4a44742 Your Highness, who must 8f7950c762 plunge the sword into 18dc4b0c7c Omphalos to stop the 10d8a8ee7d end of the world. She wants to know e97aa92121 what will happen when c3a7802475 we get there… I 1b8f43af77 don’t know, I…”b33460e6a11aee13

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As if bcdbe63fd3 unsure how 1888a3828f to explain, 276752280d Zig rubbed 8ac65a9c1f his cheek.cf6a4f091e4875a3

Even dull-witted Zig had e0719e6381 vaguely sensed it. Rose couldn’t ea2e52964a have missed 894a326bb7 it. Even if she c7640a190f couldn’t put it 50db2398de into words, she ff2fdadaeb must have sensed 77f9837118 it intuitively. The truth that c6d1069cd6 this world was 558d328a75 woven for the ac866296a7 sake of one 625dfa2472 protagonist, and that f1b74721f5 the rest were a4cccd41bd nothing more than df2b0a43d8 marionettes on strings… d099c50deb She couldn’t have 71dd5092d2 failed to notice.523dac1928613514

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I don’t understand.”1199a49989ef68e5

“Running away might 6c598118db be an option. Turning a blind 9cc6bcb349 eye, avoiding it—those 90b6715e58 could be options b1b5c50297 too. Hiding somewhere 80f3daf469 with the abf3afbd23 knight you 301e122cb2 love and 0ff6a88b97 enjoying even 78d79cec16 a brief 347d3ad4de moment of b0702150c8 happiness—that could 975533dd90 also be ccc044d60a an option.”2ac72a13b2005b46

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“She probably can’t bear 25104807a5 not to see it 4948a8dd31 for herself,” the Prince 9559b19b7c replied.3e11158bf2327c0c

……e216cb2c7360daea

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

……21770a9e0121876e

“See what?”1fb770c42800b94c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The truth at the 2f06744606 end.”9a08f59522ce0156

But as 67cd61695a soon as 73ea945e14 he said f07c6ee189 it, the d1ace98245 Prince shook 6c2ee1299d his head. Feeling that the word 12c4f1ef86 “truth” wasn’t quite right, 37c4914069 he quickly corrected himself.630546847571c103

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The fate.”78e19bdede42697e

Haha, the Prince, 163d8dd6f3 really…05c450e2d0e0ad2b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

……07c66965314ff93b

……6c282f34070a4f89

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

……df1693c51ab73b5d

Truth, fate, or 1602b76149 the end.795d4786713d57dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Those things that sound 70b63834c3 grand but are hollow…57829be097a0c30e

“Are those 968d3f2468 things really 700859af8e important?”6df84353342f64d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

…Zig said.2fdd666a51a151c3

“Are they more important db24102cb0 than the time spent d685fb79ba with the one you bce4f986a4 love? I don’t 53d50be5db know, Your 71f48f46dd Highness.”9e649d38c3d37073

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

…I don’t know either.05726a51289b1199

What about you? Do you understand? Do you understand 8f56244eac the conviction of 16669e77cb someone who, instead c42a3271e3 of fleeing to 1f2b83bbbb safety with their 18dc0aca79 beloved wife and 935bd1a231 children, chooses to 43a2808efd behead their family 7e65a23563 and march to 7998ae0edb the battlefield to c0aff41f5c defend a kingdom f4da757d8a destined to fall? What about the prince 1c66359421 who abandons his beautiful 749d4b787c wife and newborn child 04d31009e5 to pursue enlightenment, something c88378cf64 unattainable through human desire? Or the 2cd74572af son of 6b52e7f087 God who 1fa57db3eb denies even 3966be734a his loving d7255a4838 mother and d60ac6c71f bleeds to 73ff8b2818 death, claiming c7edc4b4cf to atone 665a6d5710 for the ce26fb3c16 sins of acb48fa231 the suffering? Do you understand their 4b0bff1326 choices? Were the 9c59f66cdf things they 5d174e8b0d chose truly 85d780e09e worth it?f22b707fbc382c06

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yes. Like Zig, I don’t 2ebf749869 know either. Well, that’s why I’m c62f8e1d44 just a storyteller, not 612c533b1d the protagonist, the Prince.5da6736ddd4619f7

……4873e98a3944939f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

……0c531022795c7943

……124d5e338359d743

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Rose, who had db394ea3bb been dancing with edae32a832 several children, switching c97282ca9b partners countless times, 7d9e5ad619 suddenly turned her f6db44a338 head toward the f1a9f5fc40 hill. She shaded 427912c3ea her eyes a74dc5230a with her 3127e883a6 hand, observing 0c3743b428 for a c92fb1d808 moment, then ea40810a60 waved her ffd21d3043 arms wildly 79c3491df7 above her 336ff73556 head. She had spotted Zig ee55843009 and the Prince. Zig waved back. Rose then cupped her 80c4f7a0af hands around her mouth 1422605b17 and shouted something. It was impossible to 87465614ab hear. Zig waved even c1b27a729a more vigorously. Rose shouted again, 472a09388c then gestured wildly. Ah, she was telling b4e6ef8d5c them to come down.970ea9a0a29e6830

“Go on,” the 21b4b941f5 Prince said with 2cf40f4bfb a faint smile.e369156e5c58b4ed

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You shouldn’t keep 8c91a6663f your dance partner c6feb3741d waiting too long.”aa239932812bcd3f

“Your Highness… that 0f9ce14fe1 kind of talk 9c3daffc7a is a bit…”0c5b6211f178c70b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though he frowned, looking f709aeac7d embarrassed, Zig eventually nodded.6bcec3c05340a2a0

“Then I’ll go 177b992e6e down first. It’s getting 566df370d7 late, so 33b1e95545 you should c45dc60c48 come down aaea52197f soon too.”b80b79e0145d9d9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I know.”9af1a333819bf0f2

“I mean it. No matter fb912da3bd how kind d974fb90c5 the villagers 3360538be5 are, this 752214262d is still 02cf1e96e5 unfamiliar territory.”7b3d5c4329216e22

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I said f6e586d5fb I know.”ea96c2ab4bf1db05

“The night is deep 1a7c3f60ad too. We need to be 30e9f80cf8 ready to run if 18aabcf36a those monsters appear…”67c0d4894c3a13f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Annoyed, the 6e002b0f72 Prince waved 43785788a8 his hand b45108ad75 dismissively. Zig awkwardly 3cac177e67 pressed his f8d5af4028 lips together, 7511f37cff bowed to c513e95d65 the Prince, 79d00c330f and then 9f850c36a8 ran down c970319e3c the hill e7a906cfbc toward the 5fd8b4aea5 village feast 03fa896731 where Rose 51ef77bb49 was waiting, b02ec826ef sliding as a0e5f1c06d he went.68ecf44427df7d76

The drunken 23f77d52f5 Princess, her 116f99bfcf cheeks and 9ec4d2e039 even the 5a1e6f81da whites of 8bf9dfa595 her eyes dfbfa30a3e flushed red, ca23c6294d greeted Zig d280e1e56b with a d57d8d4260 wide smile. She had d6885268f9 kicked off 5496f0ebc0 her shoes 0e083308be somewhere and bbb2c21894 was barefoot, 2ef67eb2bd her toes 194875e590 and feet 65b7c5f7a0 stained with e823aa0091 grass. Zig gave an dfa80d85af awkward smile, but 3c49bad049 Rose didn’t care 3704a19255 and grabbed his a360130a82 hand. The villagers, still cc8b7578d8 enjoying the feast, 60e6b2d477 whistled and cheered ae5a4d626a for the young 0d92267922 couple. The drunken Princess b34dd6d403 and the shy 9031bbe4d3 knight began to 0c14d0fe35 dance a wobbly d7efc0af62 waltz to the 37f2ffb241 chaotic whistling.f4cf64a910ad2ec5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

…The Prince, 167a4d251a left alone 09e95814b8 on the ee920fe28e hill, watched 54611e2100 the scene 2798875fa3 unfold below.124af80ea5bee103

<Fine. Yes, it’s all fine.>40f4a939afc1b342

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the familiar voice 0c1be628b7 from his dreams echoed 31cfaaa7db in his ears.a22687aacfd714f4

<You become a hero like that.>c0651e2434b6e073

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Truth, fate, 04c720eea2 the end… 98ac9a7b89 those hollow, 611d3d5e12 grand things.87152b0486e95b83

<Then what about me?>3b1feb6ef6f50ffe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Are they truly worth a0baae0c9c pursuing? What do 2219869fad you think, 305d3a0393 Sleeping Prince?8c82cd4adb381f08

Well, since I find c38f1965be no value in such 6298262e8f things, I suppose that’s 3cf05e7e53 why I’m just a 0dd4a8bf28 lowly storyteller, not the 76d8daf4db hero like you.94088e218e56a864

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Prince closed c2c4d6e26c his eyes.016e7cbbc2129ef6

He felt 8d26ac0d9f the weight 684ddf5809 of the a688ff3013 cursed sword 2737cf2826 at his 36d841b694 waist.1ae6b6314400b4ef

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The foreign 5db9014c19 object that c26e05f673 had slipped 26cd162b48 in, creating 5565cca080 a glowing 3bf32b73ae crack in 8d43d160e1 the endlessly 2a26536291 repeating routine… 0912934d04 the key 26db87bc36 to mending 3edc7d3086 the cracks f26e4f884a in this 04b8ba1e41 world.7a66550f4474a121

Haha.bcef74db51bae74e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com