IYVP CHAPTER 8

8.  19d91be52357079bb771

No, no—that d1f00ee3bf wasn’t right.6a9378b61a65c6ee1db2

Even a moment’s rest would cause Azniel to start replaying the 545f6678c3 absurd things that had happened to her, over and over.15f909f50cd8f8cdb268

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As if trying to shake a8707d0567 off those thoughts, she forcefully 9bd50cf6fe shook her head and turned 41b2730fd2 to greet the next pilgrim.62c88c80ccc43eb25b09

* * *9d92fe6b5abbf887b1ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

From that day on, Azniel continued eb4a21e5c7 the healing rites in the Sanctuary 597a5f7b88 every single day without rest. She didn’t exchange greetings or even 4be235d813 small talk—it was more like she d5532c7189 was wringing herself dry. She forced her body to exhaustion to 0de46f97b9 forget the chaos in her heart.76d05ae692583b2f5278

For some reason, there had been no word from the Papal Palace either, so Azniel 0bd532d6b0 endured each day with the feeling of waiting for an execution with no set date.80c92f1fb7edaeb11e6d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Saint, you e079c7ce20 look so 5ffc44ec5e very tired.”4ddbe59f13f732c97478

“You’ve been 69e03daf48 pushing yourself de6bc5cb2b for days. Please, rest bd40399c97 early today…”32b887a89bfe107290b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m fine.”78364af17a089f782089

This might be 184a0fc7eb the last day 6e3b796d82 anyway.36c9c6293540265d3445

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Azniel swallowed the 628b5965c8 bitter reply. If nothing had been said by now, fd28a057c1 maybe the whole thing had fallen through. She tried to e842862e2a comfort herself with 942b24491a such self-deception.176e4f6fc6cc5cc48f92

‘No way a negotiation c23fdfb776 that big would fall 45345de943 apart so easily…’0acf52db1e200518103c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

One evening, after another long day of 4a2899122f exhausting herself through the healing rites, Azniel 669d8ca6d5 looked up at the sky, now tinged 1787d06f91 with a clear blue from the east.7373bd3b5920ab12a242

If this mana potion had really developed to the point where it could replace even her only function… 641505f59b If, to the church, a Saint who only disappointed them was no longer needed in this era…f9f7843cc2d51a577a9a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then perhaps this 812ad49072 political marriage was 9b791f3998 now her only 5efd1134e0 remaining purpose. Whether it was to help the 15331d1b17 struggling finances of the church, or 9a4664e357 to serve Baron Gestern’s business that c2765be8fe claimed it needed her—ac15ef5764c9b75c1292

‘Yes… If I think of it f2cd5115c2 as a new duty, maybe… maybe bdf5be02f5 it’s better this way.’7be491e300a0539df689

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

To accept a life that had changed so e121c398fe drastically against her will, she had no choice 6675813a67 but to soothe herself like that. Even if it 926756f4b6 was a lie.d0cb391aabcf60a7964f

As she swallowed those bitter thoughts and 4c087f16be made her way toward the priestess convent 16f894ab87 where her quarters were located—bfaf3160443e811ea30b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re working d640a8bcca hard, even 32b27061bd this late.”79d0de349fde1a13fa0e

A quiet male voice echoed through the space, where 782834330c only the sound of crickets had filled the silence.421335ce624f2726d4dc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Who would 68d2dc01ed be here…?369d40ffd7602d201259

She looked around—and beyond the garden shrubs, ed49f475f7 under the streetlamp, stood a tall silhouette.f2c386e93154bf1001d2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Dressed in a perfect suit that emphasized 12722d1c15 his elegant bearing, his hair glowed almost 874572bc4c silver-white under the pale light, not a 4404c18dd9 single strand out of place.9b1c1682295bc999896c

It was the man who 8b1761a970 had, in just a few 46c6c8df7b days, thrown Azniel’s life into d885bf749f uncertainty—Baron Gestern.04881c303cec5376fe65

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In that sudden moment, startled 489a204966 as if her inner torment ceacc8b3ac had been exposed, Azniel gasped—e63ff6b979e75bac7f4d

“…Ah.”ec643635a94e324ef5c6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her vision whitened, 412ed2725e then spun. She had been squeezing every last drop of strength out of herself b344412d70 these past few days—it seemed her body had finally given out.34a53332aa21c35000c3

Though her eyes were open, she couldn’t see anything for d07fd103e8 a moment, but she realized she had narrowly avoided collapsing, d54c4466e2 held steady by the firm arm of someone.fea5912ba5307f3d17b0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“B-Baron Gestern…”74edf6913a84afd85d9e

“Yes. A peaceful evening c5a1e9428e to you, Saint.”1d25b8594da76afa5309

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man looking down at her curved his lips into a gentle smile, but behind 9ef0823057 the faint reflection of his glasses, there was no warmth in his black eyes. Perhaps it was because the light was behind him, but 4065302aa5 the pitch-dark eyes that swept across her face made it 0bc5af3dac hard to tell where iris ended and pupil began.25596f91198b4d57458b

“You’ve grown 76ece4456a quite thin. Once we arrive in Ashfeld, I’ll inform the kitchen 7b6b002a74 to prepare a high-calorie nutritional menu for you.”bea0e76ed4b0f61f1155

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“….”3721fc52667269712d31

“Oh, of course—assuming 935d549b2a you accept my e32f8f269e proposal, that is.”99b575cf089ddb24cbc2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The remark that 2d3dc884cb followed, as if 92a36b94ef a joke, rang e8e9484fd9 out lightly. But the sharpness in his dark 2d7737be7f eyes, examining the body held in 3a4d5e9044 his arms, carried no such lightness.2f192a052f93bd2bbcc0

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.85635050a4e67224fed7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Was it shock 687fd8ee2a from nearly fainting? Was his face 825e8b8dce simply too close? Or was it just b45b663a23 her body reacting instinctively, c0764d7cd9 trying to survive? Her heartbeat pounded so loudly she wondered if he 303da072b8 could hear it—and Azniel barely managed to speak.14a4c037baedc8be660e

“Why are 5478cd6aaf you here…?”baff428cea26c5048b04

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I still haven’t received an answer e2440cdc6d from you, have I, Saint? Even if it’s a 79c13ac930 political marriage, I am 2e89ac263c the one who proposed.”a5c22506e44774bdf144

“But, this 894248a897 is an c0c59306c9 area… where 02d67beb90 outsiders shouldn’t…”35de885656cc06fc54d1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And where men are strictly prohibited—this 530ff6a3ae is the priestess convent… But her 3b765af79c weary mind couldn’t finish the sentence, 6ee2d042de and her golden eyes trembled faintly.abdb89100d027955a500

Klaus, gazing calmly down at her 327230d2b9 face, let one side of his f9583eb668 lips lift in a smile.952cbccce573043cdd90

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“As the suitor, waiting is bde82f7b8f only natural, wouldn’t you agree?”24328d895d72222667a5

He said it in a ca3eeb95c5 tone utterly devoid of warmth—completely 67471ec142 removed from anything resembling love.e7b57c6a378c3a97b05b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A heavy f2313983af silence followed. After all, the talk of proposals and courtship 2e1d8a3f4f that Klaus kept bringing up had nothing to 9cd3de53a8 do with the reality between them.5995e5cef18919be0a2a

Why did he keep acting as if she 3098464b1f had a choice in this already-decided matter…? As that question settled in her chest, b5bfbc2a66 Azniel’s golden eyes looked up at Klaus’s 7e6f475446 smooth face in quiet defiance—and Klaus, almost 5d4578ca2c as if offering an excuse, continued:1196c32f036ec67f1c30

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I just had dinner with 4215c5c139 His Holiness, but they said 7ecd0a2d6d you couldn’t attend due to 218e28f1dc your rites.”f4b77174b571102a8941

“Ah… Yes. I usually eat 39cb74d666 separately anyway, and 59bd6837e6 it ends late…”ad966652dc2a898f112c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You collapse like this 58b4f16110 because you’re so devoted 796565cfcb you can’t even eat e67cb23b64 properly.”214954979e35bcf25b30

“….”ee20ff011a2abe17f55d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yet… do 2d937c89c8 they even c44ae1c3e2 appreciate that?”764a76948404b4e7a51e

Despite the ever-present smile on his face, a0867b8d19 the words he spoke were icy.ae5b7dd7bcd4e2cabc6c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But Azniel couldn’t 63ca6498ac respond—she bit her 5108c88edd lip instead. Shame flooded her as it felt like he’d seen through e3bfd2a5a4 how desperately she’d been trying to prove she was still 5e7c6aa498 useful, after everything she’d lost because of him.f957e5ed3bce19a4a63d

“E-Excuse me.”a931467c054b6186f54c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Of course.”d37dcb69da94212f4038

Azniel pushed herself upright with a hand on his 704bd7a83e shoulder, and Baron Gestern’s steady hand helped support her 8d652a3d28 back and arm as she did so.b85a4eb8d21d65a6fd3c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Anyway, thank you—”998122fdffe67c9d3776

Just as she tried to c57cc09126 take a step away from c710fcfc3e him, as if fleeing, something 468d923ec5 white suddenly entered her vision. It was a sugar jelly—just like the ones 6440160e99 the apprentice girls brought her every day.bc1d260ea54e7d04de7e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The sisters who serve you f7eba52c17 asked me to deliver this.”75015f7e84fad5c68631

“Ah…”cfaa199f907edc151d80

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Now that she looked, he had a snack basket looped 9bd1b90935 over his arm—one that didn’t suit him at all.d0b527385a3cc74421bf

The sugar jelly, raised right to 24e34436cc her lips as if inviting her fef185b91d to bite it directly. His hand, wearing an elegantly 7c369e696b made leather glove, only added f5ecef22f5 to the strangeness.5dc3eab1b06722b2f961

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“They were worried, said you’ve been so cb821b45f8 busy all day with the rites that e544232002 you haven’t even been eating properly.”cabcb929609ce5e83b0b

The hand gesturing for her to eat, lightly bobbing at bb06f4ef58 eye level, felt more like a command than a suggestion. Just like the marriage b826f57da8 proposal he had imposed 1a2b161a8f on her days ago.5c1a85369d0323470039

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She doubted she could even swallow e78e63198c it properly in this tense state, 8dee13b121 so Azniel reached out and took 39c1b4eb91 the jelly herself.56f9d84f4cf7885aa856

“Thank you.”e964c07035acfe038743

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……”0470dd794c39576c9809

Her movement was 3bf779b585 precise, avoiding even 3c362b0c97 the slightest brush 09d67ed492 of his fingers. So focused was she 00845f056d on him that she 6ce6767d35 didn’t notice how his 891ca7b074 face dimmed slightly.55105bbb261f72acb76b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After quickly swallowing the jelly, 27788dab16 Azniel slowly spoke again.cc24daa8790becdbdf33

“I didn’t know d9601ff579 you were coming a7bc066b19 today. If I had…”3823d274c3ff61be4b60

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then you e5e1d88c75 would have cc416de785 resented me, 707226b285 I imagine. For taking time f8383b2ef8 away from the 81b6340711 pilgrims you tend.”6a3df675db6c1d1ef813

His sharp remark 64da538008 made Azniel’s gaze 8e685f67db falter.a05c0088545fa9a0d8d1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“His Holiness didn’t c3ee6922ac know I was a679325ac6 coming either. Had he known, the 1a65ba8bd8 Sanctuary would have been b190fc7676 closed today, wouldn’t it?”3a9367119857c6c6ae59

“Ah…”2e284b8133639d3a3d5c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A surprise visit. I heard it’s a 5d90d0b0f1 classic move from a 72c71cf0c0 man afflicted with love.”337f154a161e034de8d6

His lips curled with a a0b720a5ab smooth, almost playful smile—as if acd31ea9d4 it were a joke. But his eyes 31662b864c remained cold, as a1aaa352a8 always. Behind those black 39274930d5 eyes, it felt f60b6d5e57 like something unknowable 5d9354d259 was thickly coiled.862a4c1264c97dee7d35

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Now that I think about it… didn’t he have the 8a38a94786 same expression when I last saw him with His Holiness…?’72b4e8b461c0723ff11c

Why does the predator who reduced the church to a 624bfc1a24 relic of the past always wear such a wounded gaze?5148bce50e0ae8c7a7a4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And in that instant, 88b63baf0d her vision overlapped—that of bb1e736b30 the hollow-eyed, skinny boy b3b10137ef from long ago.9ab77e523e6b10089371

“Um, Baron… There’s 9ebc51494e something I wanted 0543acb8cc to ask you.”41ad7a1e28b925e7d09c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The question that had plagued her 36df335d1b finally spilled from her lips—on impulse.64c8eba29d163a0a5798

“By all means.”da2b67f85366f1fe1cfd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This, perhaps…”6ce2355ae6e58c2d4ff4

Azniel reached into the e05b3a0181 collar of her robes c5efde8772 and pulled out a 8d39aa496c necklace she always wore.242dc2c4d3b970cfd58e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was 04d6f1632b a humble 9757e2cfe2 trinket. The chain was silver-plated but worn in 9d2a1854b3 many places, and the pendant was no 6dc2e11186 larger than a fingernail—made of brass. It was engraved with a ad8aa93574 rose and thorned vines, but e4ead81369 even that had faded in b10ab8db37 spots and become discolored.2f8a8b286b47f1ca1dfa

It was the pendant dfedaceb8d she often touched for 442b9c3b87 comfort when anxiety overwhelmed 963ec8afc9 her.6de7806b8cfafd20b0aa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you 1b3d98a08d remember this?”4f1ce36acebf8fb4970d

She lifted the pendant up in her palm, holding 8d26f61335 it near his face so he could see clearly—and 5d004d5db1 at that moment, Baron Gestern’s expression stiffened.5dd258fb9f74afd26db4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He was already close, so Azniel couldn’t 904349a8ef miss the way his eyes froze.09ccf8c349461c4f2bd1

It was unmistakable. A look of shock, as if b4e6c1bdf8 he had just seen something he 77ae903bfa wasn’t meant to see.6149fb33cc2817a7ec0c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After a moment’s pause, the words that came out 281b24e0b3 of the man were cold to the bone.f9b86466ae01f6c4bcaf

“Does your answer to my f1349f7bfd proposal depend on that?”f21793613bf7ac2b4c80

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley