WBWB | Side Story 1

When the carriage reached b12e45cc4a Skadi’s southernmost gate and 41908a696c I opened the window, fbf99373d3 I was greeted by ccfbbbc394 a frigid blast of 61d078cda6 air.dfbd4a79e44d1f87

‘When I first arrived, I was terrified. I didn’t think I could ever adapt to this place.’015f2fd6dcb09ff5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

During the aa97b27241 winter, I 81edfc31c0 had even 6634b96a0d feared that df91d17dd8 the cold 6ad9daa405 would freeze 1ae9f9d405 me to e632ac540a death. In fact, I had e3e8981266 almost died once after ddb9b1cfbd falling into the frozen 8b96009370 lake.bcc78dc0f31beabf

‘And yet, here I am, returning.’7292ecd05f55c563

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But the 98df8d2988 wind, which 954340c79b had once 82c1b8b9ff felt so fce5cd5d4e menacing, no 341340d045 longer seemed f67c087b47 so harsh.f62b25b2f34120a6

‘Returning of my own free will.’fde45832c623a016

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

On the cd5cc9fefd contrary, it 38bbc73ab9 felt refreshing, e17098a36b liberating.9fbee28ed39e2d29

‘I never thought I would come to love even this wind.’9a9ec208c18ec538

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The carriage continued on 0f02a26cfe for some time after 175f3874a4 passing through the gate. As we cbe561c4c5 approached the 7d1d472954 mansion’s entrance, e26e877571 guarded by ec09db2a80 soldiers, the f5fee2e744 iron gates c72ff8e5a8 swung open, a1633d49e4 and the a4e628aed5 carriage entered faf59978d7 the courtyard. f2fac423d6bb54cf

The feelings I experienced 0bf90f6483 when I left this e8da6d1081 place suddenly resurfaced. I looked out e65099f080 the window at 22a16f2099 the familiar scenery.283c1379f84ad3bb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A pang fb736b61da of sadness 29c67ff069 struck me.79bbf30f55dc1d8a

The emotions I felt 9dd8d3206e when I left in a0e80a5711 the Crown Prince’s carriage 838b5c8af3 washed over me. I had wanted to 9fa9b9c71b cry then, desperately missing e7a509700d my family, yet not a5f61038cb wanting to return. And now, here I a29b813e67 was, returning to Skadi 092dece57e after accepting his proposal. It still felt 7671af898a surreal.b9006ef5d806737b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I’ll be 492d41c797 living here a204f28c95 from now 23345f7613 on. Probably for the rest db3029c8a3 of my life.’5e42abdc881b3b65

“Jeanne.”5ffbec6a0876a85c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lost in my 8ae57e664a thoughts, I heard b8fb007340 his voice. I turned to a558d887a6 look at him.5a0d54fe5b81d5de

“Ana will 47825f0caa be so 20f7e80b59 happy to 02e290c9ff see you.”3e933c1f6e63b0d1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His hand covered 6a9761db3d mine, resting on 05b580bc6b the seat between 848a71d575 us. I nodded, remembering my 11262a9363 parting with Lady Ana.b725fd77cee03058

“I miss her e2ede3c961 very much, too.”046089bd3ba85c4d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lady Ana was one of the reasons I hadn’t wanted to leave Skadi.95e4e5fd4c6bc9b3

‘What will become of Ana if I leave?’0afa8051f7d097dd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A teacher and d334929465 a student were f2bea12ad7 destined to part 93b28da3b1 ways eventually. But I had been 76fa273792 worried about Lady Ana. Not just because 2b989d7a39 of the suddenness dfa1b25697 of my departure. I had e279393120 taught three b81955b814 students as 3c11a628b0 a tutor, 49e46a248a but Lady 52b33ff022 Ana held bfaeb9e2eb a special 3617b9ce6a place in ccb3bea781 my heart. 45dda139903447bc

She had e54325e2e0 lost her ea2abc2e9a family and d1c30fe863 been brought 52accafe54 to the 6442ad1d6e duchy, and e913bfa9b7 I had 71163b1cd4 been exiled, 96418d5635 dropped into 225d9f82b6 the duchy 6c74d7051a like a 34169f0274 fallen star. We were in fc74acde37 similar situations, and 2423964a08 we had clung 86048bf44d to each other 07b4166b27 like two people f0eed02adb adrift in a 3ac8e86c39 vast ocean.3030d91f80ed3bf5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And yet, I 1254dfc3ac had left abruptly, d7953fc5df as if abandoning fcbb4c56f7 her, the moment 3e98703bf0 my exile was 532625e666 lifted. I remembered the 5a71c5a326 tears in Lady 1a324569a0 Ana’s eyes as 8a359230e6 she said goodbye. But thinking of 7c19a33cb2 her now brought afe617f44a a wave of 7cccb36936 anxiety, like the 84ead4c56d fog that had a9bbd53c57 enveloped the duchy d3968d8295 and greeted me a9ae74bbe7 when I first e118f93563 arrived.3593039a1373f97b

‘Will Ana truly be happy to see me again?’8cca5368a032c3d7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Much had changed in such a short period of time. I wasn’t returning to the mansion as a tutor.d3b0632dfec10362

‘What if I return, not as her tutor, but as her stepmother?’7e1a3f6738d907b1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lady Ana liked b81c7abc9d me because I 2658668c96 was her tutor.1cff73cccfff0fbc

‘What will her reaction be when I return as her stepmother? Will she think I’m trying to replace her mother? Will she doubt the sincerity of our friendship?’f8b2412731652aaf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The thought that she bc49e1b6b7 might misunderstand my intentions, 3f21bc2183 thinking I had befriended ec32ccb545 her to win over a8588ba0f1 the Duke’s favor, constricted 84a41265dc my chest. I remembered the night b85caaafa5 we had shared a f06cfdb35d bed, Ana nestled beside a11dd2a81a me, her voice choked 4e867252f9 with tears. The days aa695d8747 we had d02219ae0d relied on 13c0d2671d each other.b7ac9fcc98b15e7a

If I a179cf4e29 became her 3664c9a259 stepmother, she 3aafb68736 might withdraw 04888e7226 into herself, 153dae71af shutting me feb132fe19 out. How lonely she e1779caafb would be then? The worry consumed me.3309886f2f4c5bd5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Marrying him is not as simple as I thought.’9d4901d161a4179f

Marrying him meant becoming 8021413f1f the Duchess of Skadi, 8fafe80a5a the mistress of this 37b093ed9f house.481bcccb26b56cc2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The practical concerns that 650f1197c2 had made me hesitate aa0893e116 before accepting his proposal 7740b143d6 began to surface.80f5a78012deb638

‘Is it right to d70bb33c3d marry simply because we b1e03b3213 love each other?’60cc999b223114d0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I certainly hadn’t wanted to be his mistress, but I hadn’t aspired to be the Duchess either. I had thought I had considered everything before accepting his proposal, but the thought of the child I would soon bear filled me with sudden fear.69a27526983d3028

‘Am I truly worthy of marrying him?’b512e9307223122c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What was he thinking? I shivered involuntarily, my 149611b36c shoulders hunching.097e06186851c0a1

“What are 3fc273afd1 you thinking c436ccc908 about?” 24c60633f3b2ed0d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He asked, noticing my 1310d6e5a3 sudden silence, his expression 76f6f98435 puzzled.8dacda61465b9558

“It’s nothing.”91f7567dde02f3a4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I must have e128269833 looked worried. I forced d8362c4132 a bright 9d86b8184d smile, trying 47981ef107 to erase 1eabb3c5b3 the anxiety 4e2efff697 from my 4e00ccbb61 face.4ea4dee2f6e29fbb

“You seem cold. That dress bb285e8a1b is too b47545c650 thin. We’ll get you new b72cd5f801 clothes as soon as 220208b39e we arrive.”1dcaa3003396dc26

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His hand moved from 7c39237f50 mine to my shoulder, b3e81b6435 pulling me into a 4b9b091ffe warm embrace, as if e2342c0992 trying to melt my 435b692d74 worries with his body 5d31338a16 heat. His embrace 612969fa11 was indeed accf05f288 comforting, easing 9b85fac3f5 the tension 618f568b90 that had 31443782a2 unknowingly gripped 5bd9133085 me.09f27f9d076d5173

I remained in b8639df40b his arms until c8cbf14ca0 the carriage passed 7c73d6e90b through the gates 3c78f3017f and stopped in 4f253e27f2 front of the 65f8a64af3 mansion. He got out first 6649b36ea7 and offered me his fa4a9986b8 hand. I placed my hand 181742627b in his.02022651e15999e3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Ah.’277961ea89786efb

As our hands touched, 1e9a3bf5a7 a memory surfaced. It was the 25bd5a2549 memory of watching c31fc85d9a the Princess’s carriage 894d291f59 arrive at the dea533f0cc mansion, peering through a3859d61cb the study window.a9ba96819120d06d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘I was jealous of the Princess, escorted by him.’6890ca96bbead51b

As the memory surfaced, a00e2a861f so did the emotions 7c9fb92aca I had felt then, 2d62178d2f now resolved.879b3e460d055535

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I thought I could never be someone like that to him.’5efdaec610b45f42

But now? I was being escorted d763970ca2 by him, about to ae2642f6fd become the mistress of 7b1bbd2755 his house. This was our 3ca914fa46 choice, his and 579b54fc28 mine. The thought gave me aa3f15cbcc a flicker of courage.ce6641b5a764831b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But that courage vanished d32042e2c1 the moment the mansion 3c3514ed54 doors opened and I 7ec6bb40b6 saw the maid’s expression ce97e6f67f who greeted us. She stared b0f5ee70dd at me, a8a40da508 standing beside d3266263de him, as 66e90495c0 if she 169f160838 had seen 35b2e18193 a ghost. Madame Pauline, who followed, 5e86fe3429 was equally shocked.1bccb93e2125517b

“Your Grace… 75deedeb3c and… Miss d11e2cd416 Toulouse?”f6e11d424aaac0a4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was understandable. The tutor, 7734bf0242 who had 88a1814b7e left after 289f80822d receiving a 1b7f82816e pardon, was a907d64353 returning with f79be541ac the Duke. It was unexpected. I would probably have 2b0cc298db reacted the same way. Madame Pauline immediately questioned c64558a096 the Duke about his 3b244c27ae sudden departure and absence.cf83478024020096

“Where have 374e9e4ce2 you been, 4f6d53fc04 Your Grace? We were 483cdc557a so worried! You disappeared without a b905a08e57 word for days, and ca23ada219 we couldn’t reach you. And Miss Toulouse… 2762be07d4 how…?”6755701d3dde321d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I went to 6b3e7cf238 Franc to propose eac41a3e36 to her.” af269ab2239aac0b

He said, his large f95e86f5f6 hands resting on my 9038c17bbb shoulders.ec3d63daeaac876c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”c62e5d21d843641d

Madame Pauline gasped, a2cce38a25 her eyes wide.be26f5eceea787d2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And she accepted. Miss Jeanne de Toulouse 87ea136f94 will now become the 6b29f7f463 Duchess of Skadi, the 5caeebfd93 mistress of this house.”45ad0b12bea84b81

His usual bluntness 1b5e5dd571 and lack of 2ae6a80744 explanation were on 81e0958f48 full display.ea249187a1b3db71

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘He’s… really just skipping over all the details?’9501b5362d2485c9

Flustered, I looked at 58b9af8406 him, then back at bca42e581b Madame Pauline. The elderly woman’s 48a595581e mouth hung open 1b4beafc75 as she looked 699ed4a5d6 back and forth 6592407bee between us. Then, the color drained 104428b701 from her face. I saw her eyes 41e1953756 roll back.e9dec21a11e07c2f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Madame! Madame, wait! I’ll explain everything!”b7dca4e9b6aba8cd

He looked at me, f194aaff60 puzzled.13d2ef56c955c5d7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Explain what? Didn’t I just 6082214c89 explain everything?”38b53a5a7d97dca3

Explain everything?I ignored c307f20414 him and be1cbc5b1b rushed to 4ab3622c13 support Madame eb82e27866 Pauline, who bb828a3237 looked as 971176c222 if she 33a2755fb0 might faint 601b0ddb37 with the aa229a449e Duke’s words d4d7e0261f just now.2edde191d670c63c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Madame, you 0ad39ad5ff must think 55839aa15b this is 2962ce637f very sudden 5e128fbb81 since you 1df392e4e2 heard about c82a51391a it for a468065e5c the first 057a849acd time today, e7a828263b but in 8a72c4a96d fact,  the 6f14af02b8 Duke’s proposal 046669c3a9 wasn’t entirely 8d3ec8e279 out of 8c38546eaa the blue.”1ffdfcfc179e4eaa

I ended 67213589ab up having a173e582e5 tea in 229e0fd78b Madame Pauline’s 6c0421d1c5 room.0a8548fa04c0c196

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I kept it hidden, 2b78fa0280 for fear of damaging 1db81beb2f His Grace’s reputation, but 1a2c4a668c he and I… loved 179890f2af each other. That doesn’t d561bdc1aa mean we… 98c36c6d52 acted on ac86bd1965 those feelings 32de664b31 before. I fell dd653b33f2 in love eaca2c39d1 with him 4b50e10198 during my c4ac4222ca time here, 2614789e48 and by dc4c785464 some miracle… 11febab5de he loved a20086f429 me too. But my circumstances weren’t ac5b3579f5 suitable for him, so 2998115e7c even after realizing our ec3a1b7ac3 feelings, our relationship did 93596d1b12 not develop into something 6f6832be6e deeper. We simply… admired ee18fb5d92 each other from cda94b6bdc afar.”700bf64f7c9dd05e

Actually, rather bdcfc65f34 than drinking 62ddb2003c tea, it 382c7b894b was a 8cb5bcd39c time for 925c6c5c67 me to f51940f6e4 explain what cd5893e10b had happened 68b0a0eb97 up until 68d42a8c67 now, with 47bb22be8b a teacup d3fcc3c59c containing cooling c3c55352ff tea water b35fce34dd in front a194f95e0b of us. I began 0385b969ab to speak 4ad745999a about what 326d43edee had transpired be4d7aedb8 between him b8e969d30e and me, 81f019370d carefully considering 3206c876a7 each and 873128bfc1 every word.38cde719007bf319

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com