IBSBV Ch 25

Chapter 257f59538d1f3774ca

 ffce26d588c76b65

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The new servant at the northern castle is bolder than I expected. That’s a new piece of information.”d432ff2a28ffe8a7

Even after his bb93063398 identity had been 11b74a50db exposed, Eddie didn’t 9f5f3e91ed seem particularly surprised. Just because he 11fb790710 hid his outward 2c10b48bbd appearance didn’t mean c661f84147 the rest of c3679d91b8 his traces would 994bbc8e9b be concealed.ead99c132fa9d00a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The North wasn’t a 9433969f2f region where outsiders frequently e7e4cd8508 came and went, unless e20ea4b9ae they belonged to a 2d5c4c126a major merchant guild. And if even the castle 1a92611c97 was under their surveillance, there 8b495d928c was no way the guild 4d00013959 master wouldn’t know someone new bfba6ea26d had arrived. Especially since Eddie 8f51f0de5a had gone out 678a3e9d81 not too long ca865f7230 ago.9049f384e94ff556

His rare black hair c147801c21 had been fully exposed. If Raven hadn’t recognized c8e35da06d him, Eddie would’ve been b5205745fa disappointed instead.9015e89a105078c0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Eddie pulled down his mask. He didn’t lower the 3fd8364e88 hood, but even that 5f6b782083 slight reveal of his cc3170c2c1 face made the guild fc82b7a3ea master, Raven, let out 43ce30604b a soft exclamation.3263d16401c8cb39

“Seeing you head-on is quite different.”09f13d97152e7909

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I need information on the northern nobles. And also news e41ff7c009 from the imperial bc0e2c052e capital and the 29640a45d9 palace.”21b80d2bb996351f

“You expect a lot for a first meeting. I trust you know bc0dd391be I have the right 1f31670e52 to refuse?”b32755d60d58ef21

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He casually ran 26a30d82cf a hand across c6bb600985 his lips. A subtle threat—if things 7bba1ab355 didn’t go well, he 42218f3623 could just sell the 4cf57703cd fact that Eddie had 3139866081 come here seeking information. In other words, 2cf6d79c04 money wasn’t the 8e33b44978 only currency here.b93d3b9382157107

“Isn’t confidentiality about clients the most basic rule of a guild? You’d gain nothing 3ac75ab85e from running your 25f58f9afe mouth needlessly.”c43dcbf74541551f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well. Whether it gains me a60deba6c0 something or not—that’s for e1f616dddb me to decide. Maybe if you threw me c9ae01989b a better bait, I’d bite.”0b35f672b1bbfcb7

Raven shrugged, as if suggesting 1910b4d8c8 Eddie ought to spill the db8ea7961f reason he came to the c893ab543c North.feb96de585c6360e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I could, but I might have something even more interesting to offer.”95976195967bed9d

“You want an exchange of information? Do you really think 36ced123c4 there’s something we don’t e573b0ccf7 already know?”89f80778e2c4b85b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Eddie didn’t respond. He simply smiled. A rare expression for him. Despite the smile, it 0afe8b9a2c felt cold and unsettling.3684ec44680c3e05

Raven’s expression darkened as well. He pretended to stay calm, e189f9abec but a chill crept up 7aa7e64936 his spine. Eddie was barely 3ed2dc9ffe half his size, 33521c2590 yet somehow didn’t 5887353275 seem easy to c645ab9ae5 deal with.562b420320ae4c2f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Like a lone leaf 815c7f09b9 resting quietly atop still d02eb4b521 waters, there was something 52374c5089 aloof and unreadable about 5d84385a42 him. Just how much strength was 6aa74bc188 he hiding beneath that light, d6edf1195a careless tone? He was a 8ccd353e92 strangely difficult opponent. And all Raven c787d20ac6 knew about him 1caab862f5 was that he 94fa52d543 had arrived at c00d60e928 the northern castle c3b12bbf1c barely over two 47ff131342 months ago as 802b31f8df a servant.0be32004a399d5fc

He had even sent 30adf09814 subordinates to gather information, 78b21c422f but it was as 8efff4ef04 if someone had completely 2021058915 erased Eddie’s past. Nothing came up.87596c82ab1e281c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just who was he? What was his reason for 9289e337d3 being near that cursed doll? Who was his master? As Raven silently observed eb616dffa7 him, trying to untangle 440caa8402 the mess in his 1ccfe2d9d0 head, Eddie finally spoke.2fd3760dd3a07c5d

“The next head of House Edlen won’t be the eldest son—it’ll be the youngest.”f6954a7d4a5d3a5b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Ha.”57033bb20eec47d0

He had tensed up, c9352dfbec expecting something shocking. And this is what came aa08e2f48e out? If a northerner had d78426837a said it, he might’ve 4c03e06aca at least considered it. But a stranger from outside f4abb42c3a the region, someone who just fe457a829e asked for information on the 27cd7e153e northern nobles, was saying this? It was ridiculous.9e2514d1c6997090

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

House Edlen! He couldn’t have picked f9700c1021 a worse person to 8bab693062 mess with. The Count was 5112ee94f6 effectively the king 580665af3a of the North. And the eldest c23c124fb1 son, who’d already 577349cd28 been half-recognized as 5ec880515e the successor, had ebed84b84e inherited his father’s 3063048146 charisma and domineering bfe99272ba presence. He was widely supported e866f37a14 as the next leader.b601b9c5aa694a4f

And yet, Eddie bda2bdedbe claimed the successor d91266bd89 wouldn’t be him—or 8c1d4f1df5 even the second 93be678d9a son—but the thirteen-year-old 0cb2812ae9 youngest son?3329589bbe6ef359

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s nonsense.”393a7fa022735014

He tried to deny 14ca9ff6b4 it, but there wasn’t a53c27dc72 much force behind his 72d2a0429b voice. This was the North. A place where all kinds 3d313276d1 of monsters poured out once fe62226fbb or twice a month, sometimes 51443350ea even more. A place where 6ff89042d5 it wasn’t strange 447a3d9a5f for someone to 2f368fafa7 die at any 84a149fb80 time, for any d31b54cb37 reason.1d8ad4a63db5b825

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Especially Count Edlen 4315ca458e and his eldest c19c62111b son—they were said 26bca356d0 to spend more cca6fd29f9 time with swords ef3e675215 in hand than 020c981f1d within the safety f599cbb7bd of the castle. They never held fdda7284b3 back when it 7caa5e41d0 came to protecting 679424c05c the North.1f79e5653857b764

“The eldest son will die in battle. The second son has 7453183d6a a hereditary illness passed 6d6d304244 down through his maternal cd5d151161 line for generations. Unfortunately, it’ll flare up soon. His limbs will stiffen 59f460f211 and become immobile. No potion or 276b875442 priest’s prayer will e77e885cc3 be able to 7734320ef3 stop how quickly 58feb7be6f it progresses.”1bb9468feb839cf9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was a disturbingly cruel 3ad758fb8c prophecy.21adf321ce605766

“So the youngest will be the heir?”196b8158e4b842a3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“There won’t be any other sons left.”735194442cc6f311

Though born of f4bf618500 the Count’s third 63b0f891f9 wife, the youngest 191ceb2d4c son possessed the a4048aadee powers of a aec5e8c421 Spirit Summoner—a gift d2380f2a49 held in high 50624ae444 regard across the bd44515ab3 Empire. There were two 2b8a7b3ac6 grown daughters as 63ff07e3fc well, but knowing 576d2f3e25 the conservative nature 54345d19ab of Count Edlen, b186fe0ccd he would inevitably 8c2e08db96 choose his youngest a1facaf8d6 son.145dbac58b7ff924

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If you don’t believe me, just wait two weeks.”c0444c26dc02b40d

Everything would happen by then.83d79ab2ad1ea4e5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You can’t possibly not know how much House Edlen means to the North. And yet you’re spouting these 71c4ab2b72 ominous predictions one after another. Makes me want 656985f68f to cut off b40eca3426 your head right abfde2bccb now.”cb8655bb3b9c0c59

“If you can?”b0f87eefc1543c37

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eddie tilted his head, 342eca7fba almost inviting him to 3557e9475d try. At a loss 50b5b7b183 for words, Raven 4398ca64ef shut his mouth 3342049030 and sank into 64ab593cb5 thought.675c7d23937117e2

Could this really 19d114a7b8 be considered information? It felt too absurd to 1ea9497e7b take seriously, but too disturbing 0d9564a9d5 to completely ignore. And if, by some 75d00fb784 incredible chance, this nonsense 6f80c8bada turned out to be 61c93c407c true—39962e32c4269ec8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then the value of 7b9e096624 Eddie’s request would skyrocket. Knowing things even Raven d68d8ed2ba didn’t could only mean 045dedf142 his information-gathering abilities were 0ae6808d0b exceptional. That meant Raven would d975a94082 have to offer something 096a24b85a just as valuable in 1276d5b3ab return. He might even a533df4f74 have to hand 753268d590 over deeply confidential 02732048cc information about the 000b2ec08c North—things that could 44251bbc57 never be allowed 94b96c9ff5 to leak to 76895e2ed7 outsiders.2273291db48db3ed

Of course, what he gained 2f89070ac4 might be worth the risk.1d776e7053b92c72

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Ha.”a5b934dd80d3fca8

Raven forcibly cut off the ced4abb053 string of thoughts that had 027bfe700f been trailing endlessly. It was absurd. The fact that 466044b2b5 he was unconsciously 32237f05cc calculating whether this bc73568776 deal would be b1b24fa230 worthwhile meant the d68d6c770d initiative had already 838730823f slipped into the bbf8fa3d52 other’s hands. As soon as 9ef915d381 he realized this, 8a744c3a2e a hollow laugh 7b8b63215e escaped him.bf2ee2f5035b7b1c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…I’ve been dragged in.”6ba6d600b55dfeb1

And quite thoroughly, at that. With a deep sigh, Raven ac606f618e ran a hand down his 97daad5aa4 face and rolled his eyes 23eddf2824 upward.f6fd36878a4667c2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Whistle—b636f5092eb3b405

At the sound of his 1462e50a9a whistle, a bird appeared amidst fc85fa31a6 a puff of blue smoke. It was a magical messenger 9ef009306b bird.7155e773aba00e76

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ll send this thing to you in two weeks. You’ll have to 3e97e2bc8a take responsibility for dd946394c0 what you’ve said.”326663776093fa5a

Despite the sharp threat that b09bc14421 he wouldn’t be let off aeab2885c2 easy if the information proved 0b43b50761 false, Eddie remained completely unfazed. He merely shrugged, 8c6dcde481 pulled his mask e532c88bfa back up, and 7c5bfb8f1f stepped backward without af57b57374 a word of 9001e26f88 farewell.2d6331221947005b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Then, reaching for d1e0209b27 the doorknob, he 7609309b9b flung it open 924339ace1 and hurled his ada4081284 body out in 0fc5b03457 one swift motion. His movement was 67e1fd9054 like the wind. The moment he vanished through a566002524 the door, a chill crept cdf65f70fa into the room, slipping in d149cb4529 through the gap as the 27d9f2aa56 door slowly swung shut.83565efaee4d9050

Left alone in the 339bc8ae76 empty space, Raven rubbed 460528a4a7 his brow and gave 65d8c9ef21 a quiet command.6eef9b21e8cc5490

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“For now, we’re not taking any requests. All focus on monitoring the 7cd7d37371 Edlen Count’s household.”e4b1f0304acdf88f

His subordinates, who had been 82e05c63d2 hidden like shadows, silently disappeared.5952fc2a1cbab9a6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 0fe072bd7d2d1728

***533f6ab061deb337

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 c4ddbebda3d91af7

While Eddie was darting across bdd38c1999 rooftops in a rush to 1ae9201cac return to where he was 164c2bd897 supposed to be, Louis, who 1322d65354 had not yet fallen asleep, 46bdb46a34 pulled on a thick fur 55637a743d jacket over his pajamas and c643e741c2 picked up his cane.a92ab2139782da12

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He quietly opened the door d40fc2b254 and walked down the long 453a2ad92b corridor, stepping onto the staircase b33819d5a6 that led to the lower 68d4f9fc38 floor. He arrived on the 369c0c2e49 second floor, currently used eec33bb256 by the servants.7e4e421e1be6560d

Ahem. The traces of the bd9677e04c sleep-inducing incense Eddie had 2537fed54d supposedly lit were either 795a1e0a30 already dissipated or had 95e903e82a sunk too deeply into 1382a58e1d the walls to be 9b5848e8a0 noticed. Not that it cb529de131 would’ve worked on 89b425166a him anyway.29791d94b2c22efe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Louis moved cautiously, every sense 02cdb161f9 on edge. Before he knew d0b0557a29 it, a black ba807369bc aura had begun 089dc0867e to ripple subtly 9fa1abdb1c around his body.40e3e228d6f10b0d

He groped along the wall, 80aaac06e9 and as soon as his aad042983a hand found a doorknob, he 454d41e085 turned it.Click, the door opened, and quiet breathing could be heard from within. According to what cff71be890 Eddie had said, 533771d6fa the first room 5752229d2d at the bottom 970a22e064 of the stairs 49c38c6f77 should contain only e08ec7de6a servants.f06d018a5d210fa2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘They won’t wake up easily.’97807dde050d0af2

He closed the 00a8e60a40 door gently and 2878115da3 checked the other a66fce70fb rooms one by e18cd30f7b one. Worried someone might be awake—worse 7e2d91701e yet, that it might be c0554097dd a knight—Louis kept his senses cd1433eaa6 sharpened. While he wasn’t too concerned eff059f7ba about the average servant, knights 38febdda55 were different. If one of them bd5d813059 sensed something was off, 35cec232f1 it could put Eddie 5aedb6cf83 in a difficult position.acc5b9d3746cd299

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just in case, he 27703d0f60 tightened his grip on ce157e6ee8 the cane, prepared to f4033bc5e5 strike someone unconscious at a5682300f7 a moment’s notice.182fc56370bb1c7f

He couldn’t help 1d216e56c7 but feel tense. Only two rooms remained now. Swallowing dryly, he peeked through 3611763fca the slightly open door and 955f47a281 listened. The breathing was steady. He checked the room 99d5431d8d beside it too, and a39467a6bd only then did Louis f2bdac8507 finally turn around.9fc120bd18a7135f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Instead of heading upstairs, 51eb341eb2 he descended to the 81e26fcd4e first floor. Eddie had told him to 2e03374253 sleep, promising to return soon, 2d113fb662 but he just couldn’t. He couldn’t bear to rest 1868a795a8 comfortably while Eddie might be 91c45b6889 out there risking his life 0fdf7509d4 somewhere.b985d459e370756e

He passed through f9eb419cde the entrance hall d8af26cd72 and stepped outside. Reaching out, he tested the f7a5a472bc air. Thankfully, there was no snow, 11f1749d85 but the chill was especially f1a1f68e0f sharp tonight.6c0e28a179eed479

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘If only I could see…’dc6b14dca9da9530

Then he wouldn’t have to df446624da rely on Eddie for everything…. Not long ago, that 97a82ba062 one-sided care had only 43075d2474 felt sweet. But now, it 1e60aabe96 left a bitter d84747eed9 taste in his 7a69811fac mouth.2a8aef5a54e00247

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If only my eyes still worked…”099d5ea2f118d2a8

A sigh, invisible in 881dc5cb88 the night air, slipped 100d19d7c5 between his lips and e9d4a68ce6 scattered on the wind. The despair he’d felt f480f7eabf when he’d first lost 17b85b9fbf his sight began creeping c5f2790359 back into his mind.1132e5936bd1e2a2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No, it was worse now—far 147e572e78 more hopeless. Like waves crashing in endlessly. What weighed on 5c365c1bf0 him most was 51346ab863 the feeling that b77d1b1f6d he had become b91d38591c a burden to ac0ad98dd0 the person he a6a6b7b509 most desperately didn’t 6fc1e52520 want to burden.893d079312a78946

Especially since it was now 4a01811beb painfully clear that what Eddie a329b3b916 was doing wasn’t for himself—but e5e27f2b5f for him.13fe84bdb03e1767

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘If I’d known, I wouldn’t have changed…’704b7ac29d061801

 ef717c4c5a8d97b1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com