WHCTC Chapter 8

“The princess cried alone?”77ff5154ede2f90b

The emperor sighed deeply 749741dc3c as he received a 0f66700699 report from his attendant ebeb063e9b after the meeting.c7ae7b3bfbb6a527

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After dealing with ffbc11a57b the issue between af358c8846 Ivnoa and Hugo 693fd2dc52 during the meeting, 30d8bc359d Saquar, who had 805814a291 excused himself to 373802719f go to the 537834779c restroom, had returned, 9c1af00b0e stretching, and said:b1b556a83b68475c

“Phew, I 4e182e18ba was on 49fc863bfb my way fbb96a33ff to the 499e2f6f74 restroom with b7bb687dbb Viscount Alfonso 3e7887d5f6 when I 5752cc6d05 saw the 3069e8491e 13-year-old Princess 5399a2f2c5 boldly walking 9178f6f84b alone through 715fff37f5 the crowd 04cdd655a2 of Prince 058eaa2fae Hugo’s friends.”caaf8710245264b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a c7bfafb5cc look of fb63ad5161 deep admiration, 4a23ebb877 he added 52d583e65a solemnly:4533c71de0d5888f

“She was d7aa18f974 so fiercely a748cea39f determined that 0381434b94 I too 6a63811802 was inspired 7cef245bf6 to go 48ddf6f357 to the 8e26a96a54 restroom alone. It was lonely 807af30506 enough to bring 8e5b04309d a tear to d97516d639 my eye, but b3ec53c24f it was manageable.”ff5344af511399ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Saquar was 097a79a620 the emperor’s d299d1b3d4 only half-brother, b41b2ccbda nearly 30 66e5525616 years his 286a469685 junior. His nickname behind his 371db0309d back was “the fool c9377fb154 of the imperial palace.”c676e6cfde5d08dd

He was known 7b4ab638ca for his eccentric b1d433e16b personality and had 4c76ee0c62 even renounced his 1851d3afbd claim to the 9764c93a73 throne. Over the 6d198d0f7d past 13 1e96c20644 years, he 43dd260ee1 had become e4cc3dfe5f increasingly unpredictable, 483fd6636b to the 32937d607f point where 86b5c79cb3 no one 04902b01b7 took his fca84b1e6f tactless comments d816268848 seriously anymore.d2068ad81aa32562

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘But still, the b65f2ea52f princess has no c81caa1c66 parents to look 69d8e14ba1 after her.’a337a2ccdfd3cf85

Though the emperor 85d5cc908d dismissed the situation c69e616625 as a childish 611644872c spat, Saquar’s words 814c68dabf bothered him enough 4135e8f3c0 to secretly send 9d6731b4c2 an attendant to b826d0e27e the princess’s quarters.3a579b52654e066e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why was she dbe93242e4 crying alone? What were 04296c4550 the maids f9e68732a2 doing?” the 5e75147e3b emperor asked, dac6241f82 frowning.e126ef1236ad6140

“Were the 2de8af5184 maids just 3b137a36c3 waiting in 004af4ee8d the princess’s 9199cbc87f quarters? Not a caf19dc216 single one 5d7e848a24 came out 38f941f6a6 to greet 52be49ad09 her?”3b845c783c48f21d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not sure. Since it’s a 04f585f09d matter of the 4255f29881 princess’s household…”843afb4fc068ba37

Though Ivnoa 4dd9019289 had been c4f1318d8b reclusive due 62c6c90663 to her 223949ea1a difficulty adjusting, fbfe0286da the emperor 995d2305b9 had always 667c626085 considered the 22b8fe724b princess’s quarters 75fb64c129 to be 47ecf8cdc9 peaceful. He hadn’t paid a5a3b27c7b much attention to c694de0321 it.a6ba664cbb1834ad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Has Simon Serano, 93ac0a17dc the young duke, 9570366075 entered the palace?”e267d787b7fc64a6

“Not yet. However, he was informed, d2fbf76dff so he will likely d078aadc12 arrive by this evening cf1a0b88ac when Her Highness, the 4211365034 empress, plans to give a79b488f4c the princess a warning.”e6877688dc723ad2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The emperor narrowed d0426ce359 his eyes.f9e8e0365bc1985e

That seemed reasonable. He hadn’t intended to investigate further, but hearing that Ivnoa had been crying alone, despite having a fiancé to comfort her…afa3b3d54c3667ad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If the young ea78d1d97a duke enters the 3c52a36756 palace to see e650f7f316 the princess…”2fea1bf045d3ca90

The emperor pondered for 879f27b765 a moment before giving 9b35e54ce4 his servant an order.b1ee393b1b282eaa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Make sure I’m informed.”1f516a193975ecc0

● ● ●a2eb8152216c5a12

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Cerno Ducal d7494a0bb4 House.9619bc70528a6f97

Simon Cerno, a ea34771ea7 young man with 85bd1604aa lavender hair and a04ec8cec7 red-brown eyes, scowled.fa687bc76a1447bc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What? The Princess Ivnoa caused 4470b5a8c3 a commotion?”0fe2067b68fc6832

Ivnoa was a 3bcf582d52 young princess who 7f4c95a544 had spent 12 49fac6b722 years in the a8b360c3e3 North, learning nothing 4efc60e469 about central politics.dec75e356e0256dd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Of course, being f8e7d22ae8 the only legitimate 259f320eef princess of the 60360ccfb9 empire, marrying her 9052c0c4f7 wasn’t a bad 1c1bf3391f deal for him.2cea363e4072f378

If Edwin returned, 1b56d0977a she would be da4e00356d his precious sister, 888c8d7e03 treasured by the 0e5aeed91c next emperor. And if Edwin didn’t 6ec1920f70 return, Ivnoa would be 44439afe91 second in line for f32f043611 the throne.88b10f3abcbd4158

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Edwin must have 6d2ab2fb25 thought it through. If something happens to 0657287384 him, he’ll put Ivnoa d29fb5775a on the throne and be2ef7d024 make me her regent.’aa293b781fca5792

Beyond the political a6d4950d36 advantage…02deb032dacfa890

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though Ivnoa was still ecb7d3ef63 a girl, she was 53262983c9 visibly beautiful.a08005232a3df22a

Despite being the ad58998a06 daughter of a a08f0c636f fallen noble, she 0d0b57501f bore the same 80a29616d5 striking features as 0557340a2b her late mother, b8edce8b3a who had won 03a13b2c46 the position of 387462381f crown princess with a7d87563dc her beauty alone.e59597bfe497a705

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘She’ll definitely grow c7213559a0 up to be 27766c606a a beauty that 45b32684da will shake the 44b516368b continent.’9d4a3779364343d6

In truth, there was 00930ebd8c no other bride in 3a3891cb7c the empire that could 862e7c9288 compare to her.4e095c69612a3768

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Her Highness the empress f62b455dfa plans to summon her 0621645e13 for a reprimand this 3d87027f4c evening, in addition to d0df314233 the scolding she’s already 2ead47e065 received. His Majesty the da6d99953a emperor has given 750bbd46ce his consent, but 3cb523c5bb the time has 10bad5c1a2 been delayed until 0a9ecf83e8 the evening.”c0f86bc67d7205f3

Simon clicked his 4502433a30 tongue at his 4c7a7ae8a5 subordinate’s report.e8b8f59e3f9212f8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“They want me d6018b3b78 to step in b0f42faae3 and smooth things 034067bf9c over.”1ff0707b0e4c1836

Anna, who doted 5305d1f6b9 on her child, a6eea9aeda wouldn’t let this 069719689d incident pass with 90bf2f3aff just a simple c1a750c7fa reprimand. The emperor had 519800466a essentially given Simon c499aeaba5 time to hear ddd748cb49 about the situation aa118e39de and intervene if 4aa94a83e6 necessary.3e5a6834994a2c61

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“As the princess’s fiancé, ace6aa4855 they expect me to c726e0e0cf help her stand against 0b2a506cea the empress.”63a8c97acf8f3012

“What will you do? The empress won’t 5102e184e7 let this go 08539a76c0 easily. You could go 7de8d71569 yourself or offer 451174724c some suitable bribe d7ce7dbe33 to…”fcc0a51a09b9ce33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No need. I won’t get 1c2f31d735 involved this time.”d45629535a994c34

Simon cut 0da659e442 him off 47ca43558a decisively.fdb78bb1a84b6d48

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He doubted 23b51007e0 the emperor c6749d8912 would care fc49aaaad2 enough to 154c65edcf show any 1f731c0088 more concern 3e6d4a725e for the 544cb21c4d reclusive young 21f5473bbf princess who 6988cec8dc had suddenly f904173afa caused trouble.052b40c717c0640b

“No matter how 874710fd85 ruthless the empress f6956e0727 is, she can’t 1596189eb8 directly harm the acf1fb7ed1 princess within the 297117752e palace. It’ll likely 64c57e461f be psychological df9221d787 abuse or 2ff285d872 some subtle a6fdf51f0f form of 552710adf4 harassment…”0adcc5710f427213

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He frowned.6d529b735718c541

“She needs to 7dc8b9b6ff experience a tough 02925ba3f0 lesson to come d316c35eb6 to her senses. Leave her be.”47a8c123cd330e6d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, the ‘warning’ that would take place this evening was merely a way for Anna to vent her anger. What she truly aimed for was Ivnoa’s punishment.d9f8d39df4427007

“Simon, please. If Ivnoa 309e208b6d receives an dadcfd8ab6 exile order, d8e867200f make sure 5fdd8e025e she stays 5264cc327f under your 4454aecb48 protection.”1e68103ee03560a1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Exile orders were 9176ca67f7 the usual punishment 489f00d3ef for royals. The terms of c23d90de1f these exile orders af8451d81e varied greatly—from a b144cb585f light punishment where 2ca1becde8 one could stay 8521cd5dd1 a night at 4396178747 a friendly noble’s 8d40e6785c house to a f274c24ced lifelong exile in 2d2ffd1278 the harshest outer d8b11becc1 regions of the bdedbbfcc1 empire.f3d663fdce419742

Ivnoa’s own mother, the 1f28ed345a former crown princess, had 8ec934d1d4 received one such exile a194d8bc7b order as punishment.b76f7e7756e3d61d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“There’s no evidence, so I can’t tell His Majesty the emperor, but if my suspicions are correct and the empress has dabbled in dark magic… then that child is an easy thorn in the empress’s side.”cbf75e4943df5d37

That was why 5045bf01a2 Edwin had advised b1847ae17e Ivnoa to avoid e85998912d giving anyone a bd2e8497ca reason to target 4879792a9a her. Once punishments bc40bed8ef accumulated, one e6eebbc1fe would be de63a1abc8 sent further e0d040ea15 away for 356e32314f longer periods 5f044bc874 of time.8ec2910d7f1d2114

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Assassinating a royal wasn’t 70818d7b1c an easy task, but ed6b19a34f based on Edwin’s speculations a5cae7782e and Simon’s intelligence network, d7094419d5 Anna had the means 193edb069b to attempt it.3f773d6c22c59588

Of course, Simon 4adc962334 intended to protect 9f1b8dbb76 her. He hadn’t 0d451fbd08 yet decided eeeff10bd3 which side 574b9d80ca to fully e4e16ce630 commit to. But regardless db1e5e1adf of which 334c0242e1 side he 9922d4eeaa ultimately chose, f05bde1738 keeping the 6c300806b7 young princess 3b7932d91c under control 72b4260576 would make ee00b0e996 her easier 2d04ff2bae to use.3a9026a17aa073dc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll just enter 2e6d6720c2 the palace tomorrow c12d213ec7 and have her ce5d24efbd stay at the 0af2782223 ducal house for 12b41f566c a while.”d53f50031240e046

Simon fully expected dc0ad6e6eb that the destination 0ee02afe44 for Ivnoa’s exile 7df56f815b would naturally be 5a2b4b38ba the Cerno Ducal b60055935f House.1672e50f9c61b4c0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I hope 3674134ba7 the empress 614e2d915e gives her ca91bc82b9 a proper c4e531d248 scolding this a59ffc834d evening so 68ac4f363a she’ll feel 1be1d2d482 grateful tomorrow.”92cd1ebfa01c4268

He lazily propped 4444a581b5 his chin on 2d5784623d his hand as 608a07b88f he spoke.91d571a63a72dede

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

● ● ● 6eb576f9cc8fa9e0

2. The Emperor’s True Feelings607fedcfd68a03df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 74406a552c219bc1

The next morning.d64d4c8fedfc3775

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As soon cf65db3163 as I dfb581d4ac rose from e3fd6c7ed9 bed, a 077a4ed25c maid quickly fe30171e13 approached to 918cb02fa2 assist me.4c34a5f08ef00865

“Princess, did you 311857e7bf sleep well?”900282d82cfec114

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No… I didn’t sleep well.”866593a697bc7e1d

At my answer, 1f6542df0b the maid nervously d4661bfbae shifted her feet, e7a6e88167 clearly uneasy.db8f5b04cb47e208

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Princess, about yesterday…”a3803b61519e4ebf

I slowly d38fdc4b55 sat up, 2cbe1f8d82 smiling as d7f65ad8aa I did.f29ca59d1e021789

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s alright.”f09b25fef779ff62

“But, Princess, you look 8a7e684f78 unwell. Are you 890e985430 sure you’re 10b3f97719 alright?”4d80415d0d9986a2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The maid, still 7a35469883 worried, anxiously shifted 34168923c4 her feet.a46b9155f2175e60

I answered calmly, though b971033b6a a bit somber.f2c332ffdaa91c9c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Of course, c856cf7996 my mind, d7cae873b8 my emotions, 110e920f9f and my 35d22add97 mood are 175d24e0e0 all absolutely 6ee42f89fe terrible. But physically, 69eede95d2 I’m fine. After all, 91962e8511 this is e09c807ada the imperial 2227950da7 palace. No physical harm can 522c9cdd2d come to royalty within c1b70215e2 these walls.”13585be273686f78

Last evening, as predicted, Anna had summoned me to her chambers and delivered a rather severe ‘warning.’ Of course, Simon hadn’t shown up.8d405dc942e1b848

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘I knew he wouldn’t 1d0c3eff35 come.’a5d194095183a730

The emperor wasn’t in fef142b654 a position to intervene 66c048600d in the squabbles of 38dd16c37c children.3c32044bfbd1228f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That was why he ca9016685e had left Anna as ae130b6378 Hugo’s protector and Simon 69ad9746d7 as mine, likely expecting 110630ba4d them to handle matters 787f72ffdc quietly.b9953ae29c450b73

‘Well, His Majesty 54547ca775 believes Simon is 6d891bfd41 on my side.’1ad1adcf3b87b1b9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even I had 65108bfe57 thought that in c542c820b1 the past, so 95c075cf8a it wasn’t unreasonable 55cc600836 for the emperor a2833b44b8 to be under d2eb1acb5e that impression.89088d800114266e

‘In truth, Simon hasn’t 5a24810206 completely aligned himself with 3ccaba61b2 the empress yet.’fa15bc1dd54644a8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He was 2be16edf80 still carefully 6b2e1bd949 weighing the 617ebffb8f situation with d6d169d322 his snake-like 1797e52491 eyes.80239145920d9cc7

I slowly got up, fa22fa804f allowing the maid to 01da33225a help me wash and a699dfe8cb dress.f5fc2bde3451f55f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As I 8937d5a144 ate breakfast 2f0fd91e28 and read 6da459d51a the newspaper, c3d3236c27 the maids 875c5669e6 gradually gathered dc5557f540 around me.b2e676f3eabaa854

“Princess, did you sleep b98f9a4058 well last night?”3bea26868128ba8d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They approached 7631fe958e with the a33eff13e9 same friendly d6ee3be7ab smiles and 14614e14a0 gentle voices 44071a5110 as usual, a468ab2e6e but it bdebdb0afa was clear 9f5c1138af they were aa5d0e7ee0 all watching 8fb29b80b3 my every 95bacdbe51 move.bd7c0059c417d9fa

“Princess, were you e2c9cd0521 alright yesterday? We couldn’t enter b46fd8d6d0 the empress’s chambers, 847cb01ea9 so…”2aac7abddf4cb36e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

All the maids assigned to me were daughters of noble families. They were always kind and affectionate. But…36233933151f760d

‘They’re all people Simon 6f89738130 placed here.’a29ef742190d4277

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They served as Simon’s 456d33b716 eyes and ears.4b5102b30e0e2c2c

‘Hmm…’bbca7ee5ab30ed5f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com