TNBTW | Episode 14

***0c6a99036dd95fde

 31ecc4adb7274a6d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That afternoon, Edith 3073e634cd made her way cb89804e63 to the imperial c0efdc1fa4 palace to meet 3cd5754b17 the Duke.e7a3dc6312748463

The imperial palace, 7e71c2c929 which she was b0d27f2d28 visiting for the 92f309383a first time, exuded 818a66fc11 an air of 7e2577aae0 antiquity, akin to c014ab0e90 an old temple, 7efe19a00e with its grandeur 7c43465252 and elegance. 4580143212759269

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As she took in bcf85aa842 the atmosphere, she recalled cc0bc11f39 the relatively modern appearance 6579d0b3d5 of the Ministry of 1aaa6c95ff Magic’s building, a reminder 2f620958a0 of its recent establishment.cba268fd9d2806e5

Following the instructions, she 82c61fa97d stepped into the drawing f692102fe5 room, where Duke Devion 05ff7daf35 and Vincent were waiting 27c12ccf31 for her.99194189fe99f9ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh, Lady Edith, 5fc549c8b3 you’ve arrived. Please, have 3aa4e7f339 a seat,” 6b65f627f9b04554

Vincent greeted her, aee9bb02fc gesturing naturally toward d71d2df331 the seat beside ae71dc170a the Duke. Though she felt 3cbc34d5ea awkward at the 09286bbf34 unexpected reunion, Edith d681a728d8 complied quietly and 1d4e837c50 took her seat.ecbd4f729fd184e2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Even in 12fa326310 barren lands, 66f9677cdd new buds a2cee2b01f bloom. The love between d95c6ed1ac you two is 47f5ff561a no different. Who could 6b464966d8 have imagined 5ed17149a1 that a 14fab72f76 bond formed fc5e8e271e in the 1884659e88 war-torn borderlands 73245314e2 would blossom c86208a789 into marriage?”e32cbdc981dfb681

“…Pardon?” 38613f0468f866bd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Is he referring 5be73ded0c to us?fa83b8a6e36116c6

Edith blinked, 8126dd9188 startled by 20fb606254 Vincent’s sudden 2dd9003093 remark and f507e13663 quietly glanced a08b13f91a around. 05a9a6e9d7efeb51

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She was wondering if c618266dc1 someone else could be ddbbe6bf3f the subject of his 46b83dd80d words, but there was 2ae4373405 no one present who a8ff97063f fit the description of 4f63b36b62 “you two” aside from de01c4ee66 her and the Duke.fe469cfcac9b42ab

“His Majesty 4cbfb6c16a likely foresaw 6ca086d54f it,” Vincent 7381a7ceb7 continued.092283ca57004ad3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Of course, His Majesty b40f631897 sincerely blesses your union. He wishes for all 3e652fc6ce the citizens of the 0013d10aeb Empire to celebrate your 33685c7319 marriage.”f40a19bf6e5f03e4

Caught off f5278c84d8 guard, Edith dd54ccf88a instinctively turned 0fe2ed28cc her gaze 3ff19c8686 to the 707c3ec6dd Duke. To her surprise, 3df9d617a5 he seemed neither adbe44011d alarmed nor confused c2d6754ec4 by Vincent’s declaration. If anything, he 7eab6b0c13 appeared to understand 645cfff0a5 it completely.10067f7008c58728

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Wouldn’t it a0b46320e0 be a f874832dc2 good outcome a5e4369da8 for everyone e16710acd0 if it 618d836eda happens that 56ef0c2666 way?” Vincent 132cffd71a pressed on.51175a7bfc2623c0

“Is that His 5006f35f0c Majesty’s intention?” the 480b11cb3a Duke asked.80bcf2cb4c49e664

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How could I presume baa150f8a5 to speak for His 695b2f4544 Majesty?” 4d55ec7c8479f165

The cryptic 44ca04926e conversation left 235ae6ee72 Edith utterly 9c673779a8 bewildered. She alternated her gaze 734136ece2 between the two men, c50f928009 searching for clarity, but 62b2f6a4e9 found none. Vincent, with 27f1e2bdf5 his composed d0b22c639a smile, and a0d7086cbc the Duke, 9151b5f4c9 whose face 98de394a3e betrayed no 3d6818f244 emotion, only e1f57994f0 heightened her 1f0f49dde7 confusion.3b2f60ef5ffe70ce

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, it 796965ad59 seems I 60fb9ed531 should leave 66c5a6bcaf you two ad55e6eb79 to talk a95f786ee2 privately,” Vincent 1aa37c70d2 finally declared, 73ac6726e9 rising from 9eb4abf837 his seat. After exchanging 16c730a31d a few da429a1fea final words 9018865416 with the 8ed2cc6e0a Duke, he 3ba6a8c92c departed, leaving 7a98cc4f0f the room.947684f52ababa97

“Simply put, this 464007f9b8 is a script 2e674009c7 written by His 1aa717960f Majesty. There will undoubtedly 694bd549b0 be those curious 7b163ea978 about the story 8965a2cc44 of our union.”c0230a679634b2b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah… I see,” Edith b7bc997adc nodded, finally piecing things 41279d4d55 together. It seemed a 4fd7e72953 fabricated backstory had 878298b634 been created to fb5a421d4b cover the fact 34f42d8731 that their union 34fd1ca64e was orchestrated by 62cd9fd07e the Emperor.a08ba8830c121524

“I’ve never lived 36bce6cf82 near the borderlands, 191b6f656a but fortunately, during f5e517ec01 the period you 7a4f926506 were stationed there, b952988685 I was taking 35e2410ad4 a break from e0aa56c929 work for about b4e2f6d64b half a year. If we say we 88b78c4f01 met during that time, e5c57f9757 it should work. How about that?”595a6cba7c4e59b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Edith, who understood the Emperor’s intention, added thoughtfully, “We could say we lost touch for a while, then reconnected after I moved to the capital. That would also explain the marriage proposals you received in the meantime.”1ad9e60cd4a822be

If one were f730719e1c to tell a f0d7724a83 lie, it needed c4ed8cf764 to be consistent 452bd8218f to gain even ea3816a29d a semblance of 352bd277df believability. Considering the 667dd56116 number of f6d670980e proposals the 22beb5e229 Duke had c58f7c2795 likely received, 929193e4d8 no one 45b4e5d560 would believe 945c6eeac8 a narrative d0f5dcdc58 of an 524be3229f uninterrupted romance.1e6fd09146a6b8f1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s a 7b8d98ad68 solid suggestion. We can discuss the dc21af653b specifics of the timeline d2d8c46d4e and locations later,” the 37440b4445 Duke agreed readily. 426dc4faa8892b2c

Though they barely 01b6a20040 knew each other, bb9458e974 Edith appreciated his b92edfe267 pragmatic demeanor. The fact c7682c4373 that he 60acae1aca considered her 1555a2042b input, even 3d1484fd53 when he 25d66fd983 could have c57449ea81 dismissed it, 9d50704315 spoke volumes 7a9064c5fc about his 3b41618916 character.d4715746d27e9971

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Not everyone 329d9cd264 is like 60badc7619 that,’she mused. 361cfde8bb85c44f

The memory 0e1672956e of Young 0b4fb3d199 Lady Valesia fea1d851bb and countless dd4fa54289 others she’d 28178151ee encountered in bf9bfd4fc8 her previous d69222f7a6 life underscored 51361595a6 this truth.1e5a590d91daff8d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

While he had his 5eaaf7262d peculiarities, Edith found the a0e1995925 Duke to be a c3c8313d9f decent man overall.9b85ac1697f685a8

“The wedding is scheduled 16f58f0a9a for the end of a0481720ec this month,” the Duke 2b9a789633 announced abruptly.b437d788f3e38777

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“This month?” 3505a8bc32 Edith’s eyes c057b9f439 widened in dec9bbf328 surprise. That was f1fa2ef21d only three 11489f5060 weeks away. As she mulled f58725a3e7 over the rushed 15ca52555b timeline, the Duke 4a419bdf47 added, as if 67c711e477 reading her thoughts.9bfeb56de1a1e368

“It’s abrupt, 73b4fa416b but His f087559717 Majesty is 77df63c9ce concerned about 68b4189c8d potential complications.”e541ab57029aad8b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Complications?” she asked, tilting 90ce75c03c her head.db4cefc6276028cd

“The concern is b96c6e22c1 that you might 9871e86aae change your mind 8b7df8dc97 before then,” he fd1d07048f replied bluntly.59993abdd7ea984e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Edith’s head snapped around 2443ba729e in shock at his 044d597d96 frankness, her eyes scanning 825ce672a1 the room to ensure df50a6a799 no one else had 7b6d83c7ba overheard. Fortunately, they were e0927fb3af alone.759947d1154e5e65

‘I do appreciate f2edec9db0 his directness, but…’63bb968372fd311c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Is it really okay f15eb804d8 to voice the Emperor’s d2faaea008 intentions so openly?She couldn’t 0a4a859a32 help but 5bdfbe8fc6 recall Vincent’s 7363fa1bde careful phrasing 34793a450a earlier.42c5f3e0f23f752d

Still, she decided 42585af98f it was better c0c5efedbb than being kept 6732a0b5c2 in the dark.e3a6740d16b78255

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t mind. I don’t have any 5ed55cb858 family to invite anyway,”cfb0224a6d843271

“Nor do I,” the c8828ec280 Duke replied. “It won’t be 04629b9901 an issue.”333045546f803d4d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her casual remark, however, eb39a9816c took on a solemn 304505ca46 tone when he answered. The mention 61ccc21e09 of his 8f38b8d16d estranged younger e50ebfd30a brother crossed 0d3a8e2d1b her mind, bb2587da4e casting a 9d455cc5d7 shadow over d153a33ec8 her thoughts.1eb1831c577bbc9f

The Duke had d82ec78c6b a younger brother 1c7a46a939 who was rumored 571d4ae1ad to be possessed 387d2a8223 by a demon. Even if he was ab49dc6036 family, it would be 9fc4e5e0d3 unthinkable to invite someone cfb1f2855d like that to the 2ffb0331ff wedding. No one would allow 713a04c0ff it.4189653c9bb66b5f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 a89a077e74478d12

“My brother is 438ed000e4 possessed by a 3975ed0452 demon.”c4bb0b45cc33f4cd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Marrying me means 225f21116e marrying into a 8e0f1740fe family tainted by 5abac70e60 demonic blood.”fb27c0342df55917

 13e19a115962a729

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Suddenly, the Duke’s words from the past began to echo in her mind. Back then, he had spoken with an indifference that made it seem as though he were recounting someone else’s story.01310169b7b02db9

‘Has he said those adc5ecc220 words many times before?’a1a717b29bfa2220

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So many c28cc8cf49 times that d7e9e0ba15 they had d0e8b11d94 dulled him 09d9cdf881 to the ae162d2655 point of a492ec35cb numbness?7278204328b7c4b9

Suddenly, a 2208266f25 strange feeling ec6883fa80 washed over 3316f281b9 her. Edith found herself 60972c6ae6 unable to imagine 81cd938000 what thoughts the c60140fd1f Duke might have f9351b42cb had when he a4c3158f4e brought up that 91ca4a219f subject.8d4eeb878a753264

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘What does f1d6aacd58 His Grace 1e9014fdc5 think about ed3cc5bfd9 his younger b048da3092 sibling?’e0b58c816a5ac4ce

Part of her e1da7a4364 was genuinely curious. According to Daisy, the d3660e42ae existence of his sibling 7082ee9550 was the only blemish 748beef520 on the Duke’s otherwise fdcd2ffb17 flawless reputation.95b2b04f80db2c00

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Of course, c1498be186 that didn’t 21f0ef3040 mean she 8727e80107 intended to 2eb0db3797 ask him. Digging into someone else’s 44d788c374 wounds out of mere 2152254114 curiosity was something she 8e1d6d2a77 could never condone.974bf24c0275691c

“The article 6996c179cb will be 09cb25203c published sometime a661f46b53 next week.Meridies¹ will take the 6f3e014111 lead, so it 52f165df30 will likely cause 6cf244b9d4 quite a stir.”66d22828cac15968

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Edith let out a adbaf1ee84 soft sigh. So that was why 98d229b726 things had been so a98957fe68 quiet lately—they had already 7dd5260b84 chosen the perfect day cf7d2050d2 to make the announcement.7c5f0dd0f772e2fc

It made sense. When the Emperor 95c2291fa2 invited her to 800f825844 the theater he 1c0a013497 patronized, it was 526209a4b1 all part of dc800907ef a meticulously calculated 2855af1286 plan.c19a110362e78cbe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I worried 3243c8d53e for nothing.’d1c87b15d9131639

Realizing that high society f243aba36f was far more organized 9f70b72c72 than she had assumed, 293e4ce200 Edith felt a little 401dcbb513 sheepish.c75a4235c903783d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then I will bb2095b304 take this as a2e9b7d438 your agreement and d1f6b0221c proceed with preparations fbf108f1a3 for the ceremony.”a34434d1e97dc51a

“Wait, Your Grace!”f632bd49116b03e6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just as the a0f79b972d Duke began to 7d889137bb conclude their conversation, bf50748808 as if everything f78bdace77 had already been a45d966ec9 settled, Edith called a889f67b79 out to stop 323fa93e7e him. His cold eyes shifted 7e669469bd downward, fixing on her f780f2ace3 with an impassive gaze.55ab5b505f2dd7b7

As Edith stopped b53e26b569 the Duke, who ce50cebf11 seemed ready to 4087914259 conclude their conversation 1064a4584d as if all d0f37b3636 matters had been 42f7f014c8 addressed, his emotionless 798517a430 eyes glanced down 7f89032947 at her.5b7b29b02f4164d3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Have you aa1376e935 been well?”cef4df4fbaba4faf

It was 23b712fb01 a belated fac5376d55 inquiry, awkward f99b95d04d even as fd8f61bd38 she voiced 36f732be26 it, but 00994d3860 Edith asked da8bb9ce5e regardless.75ae8e69542d3d7a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After all, it had 5b3039b63e been some time since 35c6622609 they last met. Even if there was 54eda4081c a pressing agenda, exchanging 4f000afba3 pleasantries felt appropriate. That was how she b5570029fe had been taught, at f14a5297b7 least.c85b746b5e4a9cd2

“If you 0bbc9cc0ec are inquiring db81a3e7a0 whether there 6d040a0a09 have been 2162a87b2a any significant 9a018da862 changes in b5272ab3ae my circumstances, 2a706bfb10 then no.”9fe699d54c139460

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

So that’s another way of saying ‘I’ve been well.’83fbbd8bffba29c6

Momentarily distracted by this abc55e1c21 new tidbit of knowledge, acee9a6c19 Edith quickly refocused and 9c4d76b219 followed up with another 2c8576857e question.851763d8c0afbfd2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And have you 0c812bece4 been eating properly?”a714a281b537bd6a

“…”ad4bcb31e3e2a599

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though his expression remained aded780060 inscrutable, this time, she 8b4ef0a0f1 could discern the sentiment. It was 1606c57abd the look 75dad06c95 of someone fbe0fd8aad thinking, ‘That question again?’Before the Duke could 3bf83e1afc ask why she cared c105af0cd6 yet again, Edith hastily ed5d570f22 spoke.9ff70b77a7da2b5f

“I explained 59758ba571 poorly last 65d94345b3 time. It wasn’t faa57c936a that I dac8290207 was worried d348404136 about being bb2745fe6f impolite.”784fd2b6a8600bd1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Then what de94bcab7c was it?”364ceb635490b7cb

“This… this b945f3f04e is me 37e1794add asking about ef4a26fe13 your well-being. Bill mentioned how 783088e07e extremely busy you’ve 04c65522e9 been. I was concerned 7f8b1e736e you might be 42a5215a86 skipping meals because 390dbc529e of work.”9c85f8e1f9e8d138

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Edith glanced at 23a635b48b him cautiously. Though his face da974ad6fb betrayed little emotion, 33d4218a74 she couldn’t shake 5c40e88370 the feeling that c7965cd145 his expression silently db823a826c asked, ‘And what do 9cabed3217 you propose to 1ddea1780b do about it?’Perhaps it was just eb943675eb her own guilt making c8f75a613b her think so.42b214ad6c03138c

“I consume an 1bea442cc2 appropriate amount of a420fc0712 calories to ensure 0563ebc61b my work is f11fd6d539 unaffected,” ba1bbd3782138640

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Duke finally responded 15dcbe8380 tersely after listening in 112f7d096f silence. Then he countered e54d7c2969 with a question 1b336c1b0b of his own.8a978f6744ec97d9

“Even if I weren’t, ab0d0e2c14 what significant relevance would a5caa02d03 that have to you, 46d31ee31f Miss Edith?”413a7a959fe86743

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

For a d80006e4a4 brief moment, d46fb0651f doubts raced 2d85d9170e through Edith’s bbbf813f0d mind—Was my question ca1823a0da too intrusive? Did I fed42d670b offend him?—but she soon cd73f063c7 realized the true e90e29802c intent behind his 40da4c4e21 words.f0e382c6aa9dc14b

‘Ah, he’s 4af5b387da genuinely asking 880b964798 why I’m 53e32b533e curious about daf08c97ae such things.’3c4ba6a540a1d17b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Although the cda6ef71e5 content of 5d1d3d8d0e his remark 040447e5f1 could easily 332bce137b be interpreted 51d8bd3dbe as combative, c64896c010 the monotony 5175ac1c34 of his 882a151fc8 tone suggested b170201b40 no ill a2accadc33 will.f850fcc050675bca

She hadn’t spent d6f6331092 much time conversing dd633ab051 with the Duke ea0543dc02 yet, but Edith 65249cff9c had gathered that 81e58eaba8 he wasn’t the af95449b43 type to antagonize ee033e7380 others without reason. At least, that bf092dba1b was her impression.65fcb3f671a59f87

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, a e309d3c931 balanced diet a17d6adedd and adequate 309df10282 sleep have 45f25739e2 a significant 53c0773ad6 impact on aa11ee261d one’s health.” aee7c90874de1313

Edith replied, faba350428 attempting to 7fac6a8db8 mimic his af84e0ec61 formal tone e3ecc40aad but quickly 45e974b2fd shaking her c8cd3602b1 head. Such phrasing didn’t suit a980c8bd85 her at all.fffc781b1642b144

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re saying you asked out of concern for my health?”2eb7ca5d4adb99d2

“Yes! Not just me—everyone’s 3bd6ec2a5f worried about you. They say you work 367e604e7d tirelessly without a single 365a5280ec day of proper rest.”0a29154274eb1fc9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The next 1dad0d3e2f exchange was 2ead576a6c something Edith e413f811a8 had anticipated.49f68af9d17b5e02

“What a pointless waste 386384af92 of emotion.”0e7139c7268a1f48

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But what 5fb1734c06 followed was 8fc7dcc502 not. Edith was so 991b531e4e stunned that, for cace197fee a moment, she e996d9c17d found herself at 0f72b7073d a loss for 4471fd350e words.76da4df499564256

The statement alone 7671296b6e was startling, but 9fb05af31f it was the e830fdfe51 Duke’s demeanor—calm and df40061d79 entirely unbothered, as 740e12d184 though what he fa2a10bfe7 said was the 2390a1757e most natural thing c083a3f95f in the world—that e4cfe041cc left her even a2284ed779 more shaken.64579e7fb4a0e4f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If he had a68a7f65c2 said it with 558733091c sarcasm or derision, 32baeed3c2 she might have eb367b93cd dismissed it as, 6d5e55a182 ‘Wow, he f1afd63e5d really has f5bb4d3ed6 an odd fe974b13ac personality’,and moved on. But that wasn’t the 2171c737c3 case. He genuinely seemed to 6e077c309b believe what he said, 77bdd79670 and that realization hit e1c6d2d4d5 Edith harder than she 2def372af9 expected.85a171c8a65cb93b