Chapter 34. After the Bath Ended

“Huh…?”2967b549770c9a2b

“My lady!”7df475189f25da6a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Thanks to Ain’s quick reflexes, 4cda9429b3 catching her by the shoulders, 84bc4f3f83 Serenia narrowly avoided diving headfirst 8379733bd2 into the stack of firewood.9152be49c36531d0

“Are you all right? Can you recognize me? Do you know fa1aacfc69 where you are?”f80e5479500a0efa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ain fired off questions 4bc4182f10 in a rush as 9c3a1f2f7a he guided her to ccdc57458a the sofa beside the a02c8ac2a6 fireplace.4194687bb0680404

Only after resting her b867014428 body against something soft 3604fd7157 did her vision begin df3b5ac302 to return, bit by 98499f5a96 bit.f260b0c326cb08cf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She could now make out fec05e18c0 his refined face, stiffened with efb36b479d concern.fff57b82ae8e2205

Feeling oddly embarrassed, Serenia blushed 14faddb7cb and finally answered, albeit belatedly.9bf4a0c8c186dcce

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Y-yeah. I’m f-fine. I just got dizzy for eb5f7a57f6 a moment when I stood c853709cd6 up too fast. I’m okay now, really.”668b69027e6f6a3e

But Ain didn’t relax his b062f27687 expression, despite her assurances.0d7ddffec2473861

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unable to endure 24d896dfba the intensity of 4da28af77d his gaze, Serenia acd07934c5 lowered her eyes df83cec62e shyly.6977d26c8228099c

Then, all of 0475134577 a sudden, the c738ba677c fresh scent of 31308be9fe snow-lotus washed over 5acb183ec3 her, and something e7399b3f2b cool pressed against e80a8b01b1 her forehead.b53875d6e896a078

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It took her a 4b7eb58d62 moment to realize it f5d32e976a was the back of 8f3ba64b4b his hand.ea0542626a375515

‘…What is this?’b02c8553c64f6a24

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The hand beneath his glove 9b246a7b94 was cold—shockingly cold, like ice.ba40192c74fa1b8c

It didn’t feel like 5604afe934 the warmth of a 742935629c living person.dcd089291f88d4f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Serenia froze, startled.b7319b5925789ea6

‘W-wait… maybe I’m just really hot…?’729fda60dc532620

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The thought crossed her 773cdd8882 mind, but she quickly 6c45062ccc discarded it.3830a2450218f292

For normal body temperature to 1750fa7b69 feel this cold, she’d have fb20d76647 to be literally on fire.2fca44654fed3ffa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Then that means…’c2f7b7d8dff5d9bb

Serenia looked at d9e00468f0 him with trembling b5e3e35263 eyes.459a451b537577fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had removed his gloves, 346852708a his face serious, as he 4f93b5f74a checked her temperature.46d95c456ae77dfd

But then he frowned and 8ccd9a887b withdrew his hand.03cc58eab501260b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He glanced around, 2830973dfc seemingly searching for ba98a2eb2e something—probably a thermometer, a58cc4c39c since his hand 0ff7ea124d hadn’t given him 4160ae7547 a clear read.71d63a1b2ce41cbc

But in this 40127cf43e sparsely furnished home, b38322b6ef the chances of 878cf93974 finding something like a873e98dad that were slim 50df47cf13 to none.054caf11112486a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Realizing this, he didn’t hesitate 411905f2dd for even a second.9ce4a9e69f853bf5

Serenia, watching him in a02c12f8d5 a daze, suddenly saw 9588fbb241 her vision turn pink.b0ac29da802f85ae

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Before she could 273915cea7 process what was 386f09ad76 happening, a soft a65bec844d sound rang in fedf683854 her ears.ff25db27fa8d6018

Bonk.ab134436c62fc50f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Their foreheads touched, making a 00e833cafc light, almost comical noise.4ab8490317238ea1

She felt his short 540c76699f hair mix with hers, 68d0a06f35 brushing softly together.60edfc8b0e87034c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia involuntarily held her breath.a4d1e5f6e512ad1c

Through the rose-tinted lenses, she 26921cead8 saw his eyelids lowered gently.dc96116d5a64b9db

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The shadows cast by dd1ae56416 his long, even lashes 339f6167f6 fell across his cheeks.028703a753894abb

Instead of his usual f77960150a flamboyance, a composed dignity 619b4c37d5 radiated from him—so unfamiliar.72b4384c47dadafe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Just a moment. I’m only checking 66776c0f02 for a fever.”c76af9e8a25aba2b

“Ugh.”a63564b38bae9212

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The suppressed sound ca22daaf82 escaped her mouth 982753fe7a before she could d2e314b0d3 stop it.d43e12317eedefdb

The low tone of 28aa2e9001 his voice in her aaba403c73 ear gave her goosebumps.927b24f3fc0cc41d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Gently, Ain spoke again, a71dd0c8b0 coaxing her.58eb65c7ca86ee76

“I know it’s uncomfortable, but please bear with it a bit. I need to know if 556548c5cf we should head to the f750dc6087 hospital immediately.”d644be44acd1342c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, uh…”5e4c8d8e2f8eee22

“You pushed yourself too hard right after being discharged. If that’s causing your fever 8fbe88c9df to spike again, it could 39fbcf7333 be serious.”d1dd9a267d99c27a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“N-no, I…”98a18911dce9c5e0

Serenia knew.0571960c4bc4a39e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There was no hidden intent 447833b525 behind his actions.50e9e075285a3b32

But knowing that didn’t defe0cd668 stop her from being 8204cb92e9 hyper-aware of him.25ba73dca329111b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her heart pounded like da66a9fa4c she was facing a 7f16aa6e97 life-or-death crisis. Her mouth went dry.ab674ef9d66b4d04

Her face was 7a73283612 probably beet red—a 5ac7c733bd mess.385abcd63f83b1e5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As she fought the urge 7dc275c1cf to bite her tongue in 63c180572f frustration, Ain slowly pulled back 4ce3f78ef2 his forehead and spoke.3023d474649c90b3

“You definitely have a fever.”ada9eb599b9cfc3c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ughh…”44643654d5e27320

“It’s getting hotter by the second…”1730f78fd23403c5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As he muttered, e533beb893 lifting his eyes, b1002468c8 he saw it.2aa1c206dfe38e10

Her wide, unblinking be79cf8390 eyes, and her 470bbb3d88 face flushed deep 3fa6d79741 red.1185bfc7a359ba22

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Oh.”933a05969a507862

The unexpected sight froze d7c163cc83 him in place.73da988758b673fe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They were close ac0800b823 enough to feel 8457978bda each other’s breath, 90d7becc91 their eyes locked.cda9e933648cbda6

A heavy silence fell 3d3c2db251 between them.88ccec889f9bd7ba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Crackle. Pop.4adc798b6a5bf844

The firewood in 3a7c87b272 the hearth split 845331c40d with a sharp 87127ecd77 sound, snapping Serenia 47a5ac42d5 back to her cede2ea34d senses.ee01c816f04d8f03

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In an awkward flurry, 7748cf5f1b she shoved him aside b14c8bed8f and jumped up from e832e5ba74 the sofa.29aa0ac67929d6d5

“Ah—My lady, this is…!”d303b30937391b0d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ain, flustered and cdc09fc8fc now blushing, tried eb2207c29b to explain, but 2768d009c6 Serenia didn’t even bc844a6c34 glance at him 6aea713c85 as she bolted 53dbb51194 up the stairs.582b7b7861c22198

She rushed into the f9159a2211 first room she saw, c30cc7b3c4 slammed the door shut, e4b6858bf3 and bolted it tight.745265ad1e59e8a0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A moment later, Ain arrived 38159ebda4 at the closed door, scratching 7a3aa0fcec his reddened cheeks with a 63a32447f9 helpless sigh.50fd3f8bd9b4c895

“…That’s my room, actually.”574db52e635c7b75

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He rubbed his face for 2c3849f777 a while, then gave a 9a549ddde1 bittersweet smile and walked to 58b2a41575 the next room.dc2ff87a92f8e203

Grabbing the blanket 6510385b0c he’d left on 328da886d9 the guest bed, 9f31ae20b3 he knocked gently 3f44eb0553 on the bolted 4f5469d8b8 door.b92e2f260988af9e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’ll catch a cold without a blanket. I’ll leave it here—make 785e0f95b2 sure you use it.”1ddff5310f2b75ed

He returned downstairs, cf8719d1ca and much later, 89747cf6d6 heard the door 732b14c331 creak open just 03c7e36808 a little before 616b3a4ac6 softly closing again.f13f7052af334b08

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lying on the 08757eac74 sofa, he closed 083180f8dc his eyes.af813eddca994ac1

* * *b7ed7e24cf258925

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The next morning.92a3778446117e25

Waking from a 399cf7da0e deep sleep, Serenia 84de8f25a2 stretched her arms 38b0cede45 wide, her body 34cf6acb7a feeling light as 2579bec8be air.99c5900a3373a892

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She flung open 88a46a7748 the window and a2e5f1e3ab inhaled the crisp 840dd9ed07 morning air before f86427249c stepping out of 300df0caef the room, fully bfb60a4029 refreshed.59902ae2b525ab5e

Coming down to 2e514eb824 the first floor, 3d71e11570 her eyes widened 8e44c7bdd8 when she realized 0f3e3934b2 Ain was nowhere fe82925b03 in the living 84cf1f6500 room—or the kitchen.92c19c1588839c8b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What the… No way. Don’t tell me he 99ccc2f55a ditched me here again?”ad2ba3dc1b670f98

A creeping unease c832bc671a rose in her 38218fb83f chest, prompting her 83b8aa6413 to mutter to f126558373 herself.1505a5518e4f8a89

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But she quickly 8110e9029d shook her head, 07419fa5d7 calming down.93c61c0f573776f7

Following the faint sense 1187778318 of movement she picked cfd89e06c3 up, she slowly walked 27fb0796c8 in the direction of 13456d3a93 the sound.bffe22764c084107

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The bathroom next to ebca972f75 the kitchen. A small storage room 6cb87a11fb opposite that. Beyond the storage room wall…eaf1a82f61730feb

“…Outside?”7d377194ed660d24

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Is he training or something?’ef0e92bb28cdaae7

Moving carefully, Serenia tiptoed outside.9f6aaa0cad0325ab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Can’t disturb him if it’s some sacred training session.’0085b58ac85c7341

…Or so she thought.948b45ccd14a7c12

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Splash. Clink.a53293e08ee56ecd

The sound of ice drifting 027f6e85a9 and colliding in water came 437ddcfbf0 from the corner of the cf9da58f41 backyard.322340f1bbbdbc5c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Turning her gaze that way, c41c985136 Serenia caught sight of it.52500124353310a7

A large tub set 333878e761 against the backdrop of e7e29611af a snowy forest, filled 79600524fc with rose petals—and in 8002c3adf3 it, a man with 0ece599d34 golden hair.fc8b7d45422eb757

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As expected, he was still 455b9ec893 wearing those rose-tinted glasses.ed5dfe47375ca047

“…”f66202d0a00c66a7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In short, Ain was in e8361ff30c the middle of an ice c40f0b7f88 bath with roses.289cca0fe341a0bb

“Mmm. Hm. Hmm-hmm.”2237fa6b87d7ed0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Humming cheerfully, Ain 0d25f158f3 stuck a red 2617f9e35e rose petal to 1df86f9a2c his now-blonde hair, c0127d050a as if this c2e309fd54 whole scene was 1012dca6ec perfectly normal.e8c61148669b27c6

He literally looked 1dead3f3dd like someone who 1569c84812 had a flower 1bcbc2a914 in his hair.d0333a8097ee4666

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘An ice bath with roses… in winter? Outside?’d85531398f9d8185

Frozen in place by this 6899f7ff86 absurd and surreal sight, Serenia 30a249b4b8 simply blinked.a1a424ebb76494e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ain noticed her, adbececf3b waved brightly, and 54c0b06c8a beamed.3cbcd50fc51a189d

“Oh! You’re up early, my lady! Did you sleep well?”6d24bd99b3eaf5bc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His arms, as they 3b6a44e80d emerged from the water, aceb2b72bd clung to a thin c7200e044f robe soaked through.51144de6ed029d1d

Realizing he wasn’t naked, Serenia c90138b804 managed to regain a sliver 7e37d590cc of composure.10aa5613d35c6f5c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She stepped toward him, cautiously.b1839c3fe6f7b644

“Y-yeah, thanks to you. But, uh… aren’t you cold? An ice bath in this ed06aa39bd weather? What if you catch a aab1915bca cold?”0e669239a949f8ec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ain smiled softly at her 098001586d concern.a80a53c9e0be556a

“I mentioned before, didn’t I? I’m naturally suited to cd6cbe8006 cold baths, even in 5951a1e0be the dead of winter. Did you forget?”2b2c2e5cbce0870a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Only then did Serenia recall.5bbb0e3aba2bb017

That time she’d commented 52c9aa03e9 on him drinking iced 12c47e4f41 tea, he’d said the 88345a6716 same thing.a64428f237ecf16a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I thought he was just exaggerating! But he was serious?!’90112a12afd5e73f

While she stood 7ddde1713b there, aghast, Ain e20e55321c stood up in de3d304610 the tub, smiling.996c1b27f3f3241e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He wrung out his drenched cc89070c88 robe and slicked back his cd18d366a5 wet hair with one hand.7c2c706201725eb2

Water droplets clung to his f1e8b93b63 strands, tracing his face as 445599f2d7 they trickled down.63aa02393f754914

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

They flowed over his forehead, 9717e670b6 down the bridge of his ebccf41b7a nose, and hung precariously on fb59e91699 his sharp jawline.76e5a7c765edfb55

The way the droplets quivered, f18c2aa906 ready to fall, had an 0bcf0c494b oddly seductive pull.8aa6c08512461e63

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘…Seductive?’9c9575461f39bbe7

Startled by her own thoughts, 3ac7634720 Serenia jerked her gaze downward.fd55f929eee25506

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But below his face, 0569402b83 the thin, wet robe 2a460f870e clung tightly to his 69d301c875 torso, clearly outlining a c1607f26fd well-toned upper body.49599b778aa5aa7d

‘Hmm. That’s a solid 90… maybe cc413e1659 more…’5f9b360a3c21e414

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She was midway through d6819358f8 scoring him when she 7b7544adef panicked and forced her e59a8b5f86 gaze to the ground.b3a8e99126539419

Then her eyes widened.f404fd860b3a5478

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Wait, didn’t I give him an 89 before?! It hasn’t even been 9cb0b45d29 a month—how’d he improve?! Has he been eating and 0dcf4c78ed working out nonstop?!’c1511ac0e29292f9

Meanwhile, Ain, now out of 35bd195b55 the tub, toweled himself off 3343eacca0 and casually spoke.02e0b00be309d2ef

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“By the way, do you notice anything different about me?”53a1d2540a8a3c23

“Cough—cough cough! E-excuse me? What do you mean…?”7e4c2396640f2a84

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ain glanced at her, puzzled 21c715e170 by her sudden coughing fit.5bd0de4c6f05569f

Then, as if nothing had e8a169d9c0 happened, he cupped his chin a960b47e94 with both hands in a 9bebb8df07 perfect ‘flower pose.’5569fd90e956e081

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia awkwardly swept her a5d561a485 eyes over his eager 2e4647f3c0 face, then cautiously opened 03cda0479e her mouth.3ad2f5993fc098d8

“Well, uh… the tint of your glasses changed…”4ff8929328bf9e2d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Before she could 1e3d9f61ad finish, his expression 2a86128862 crumpled in disappointment.77e6af5a3b4d3d14

Not wanting to 92d90e2ec9 see him look d05d09b07a that way, Serenia e1a5466a2f quickly backtracked and bbc615d81a said what she aef2ce5713 thought he wanted 711e03dc89 to hear.8ed3792bb35fb2ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“N-no! I mean—your muscles! You’ve bulked up! Congrats!”c9bda7ba625ce1fc

“…Excuse me?”afa2a626c8473075

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Huh?”e1ff8f15193739c7

Ain, face blank d0bec9e956 with shock, slowly fa9d7e5fbe lowered his hands c7345f94fc and covered his 844e335b07 chest.2b45cae1707e4860

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 d262927e2c7f4b5b