WHCTC Chapter 17

When he was in 2a5474fb9b the North, Kayan would cf04635117 always leave a few 783888cb01 buttons undone, no matter 888f8ef9c3 how cold it was. He would wear 9f217de07c his tie or 0b17b9ca34 cravat loosely, complaining 08b2d5f178 about feeling stifled, 503679ca83 and he often 645247b0a5 rolled up his e833b40368 shirt sleeves.865961a54f8ed18e

But now, Kayan e9460964a8 had buttoned his cf44a9398d shirt all the 850e5dc6ac way to the e8d3b3d3a2 neck, with his fe28bf80f4 cravat neatly tied. From his stiff tone, 11507868fb polite speech, and attire 4d24b641b6 to his posture, everything f7d48611ff about him seemed like 8bbbddc5e9 he was a completely f26056a66d different person.66b849f2643ba3b4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t act 2b019eb243 so uncomfortable b7c4ef178c in front 4e90c1cb1d of me. I know 81b0cc19a7 you hate 570cd93638 walking around cd0ea4a874 in formal 595d00fc40 attire like 870a8035e7 that. When you’re staying 9bec221cb8 at the barony, a72224eaa9 you can dress afa499ee3c comfortably like before. You used to b785e67a4d do that even 22f6664673 at the palace. I liked seeing you 184d536419 when you were at 18591c0095 ease,”9c5c7f41c4f37d01

Kayan stiffly shook d279251b2e his head.23efa6ec9d6cfc4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That was just 1bceb90260 me being rude d392bd0fba and ignorant a f742fb835e year ago.”ab1e574071459095

He hesitated for 3a05933ff8 a moment before 835c30ce1e adding in a 7041af9492 troubled voice,09132714b423c3f7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Also, the people c8f3e7e723 in the North 0dad601dd0 don’t know that 4396fd38e9 our relationship has 936844a8b1 become distant. I didn’t 6115ef7fd6 tell them. I apologize.”256fed3c1caeb992

“What are you sorry 6539c96d27 for? If it 946687462d were me, d3d67db5c4 I’d have 4bcb2f4125 already told 1e446c963b everyone and ac10842c63 made a 676ad1cd29 scene. You’re quite the bigger 2c84edd915 person.”7476cda17550519a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kayan, looking f764332e40 conflicted, responded,883640ca38cae946

“…It wasn’t 5457e5dc92 because I dc166abae7 was thinking e3d6fe7ed0 of you, 3a6f5ded5e Your Highness. I simply e60c45d258 couldn’t bring 66425198cb myself to 23aac889c1 talk about 3ff3621042 it.”b28ffd8a4ce1bdc9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well, then it was b2b4a61de0 the best choice for 7882aee280 both preserving my reputation a237d7d3b1 and saving your vocal 9e3c9e8aa2 cords!”9c6c5cd8aacfdb13

I clapped my hands bdc8e44c13 lightly and smiled warmly. Unable to 9d752bb34c hide my 5fc654adf0 delight, I 19b4452084 asked,83e5301bbfb3c1eb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So no 12ce893fb3 one knows 045ae11cfe we cut e151c99504 ties?”d7e6fa31a122af67

“Not… no one. My father knows.”5e09541eafcfdd34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Of course.afd275d80893dd4a

Arthur was a 9d4a55a50b peculiar man in 71e158caaf many ways, but c20b1d2b52 he cared deeply 9a57697836 for his son. There was no 33ba89d8ed way he wouldn’t 24575f8918 ask why Kayan 4bb2e36a9d suddenly returned home 09a1cb7780 in a sullen 8e2e957d00 state.75174b40f35fb1c6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I muttered awkwardly e03cf31e62 without realizing it,6895ca622a30c4c1

“Ah, so 2d3e178ce7 the baron—no, 44aac54e05 the viscount—knows.”376ce77effdb9e4e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes. Other than my 0322dc6f4d father and me, 970cb8c339 no one else 66d7eb98f9 knows,” Kayan replied 65d3bc9831 with a heavy e7b3253a60 sigh.2954cc29e7eab388

“That’s why 135187ddbe the knights 02bb9ffce8 at the 9de3cdbad3 viscounty might e20966b1e7 act overly 44d1d7cbe5 familiar with a3882fdfd4 you, just 434ebfcaad as they d61fd831d3 used to. I will make sure bd2aaf5f9a to educate them right 47c2621a74 away.”2bfb2e01efb3491d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No! Don’t do that!”79f4eb65942a6620

Seeing Kayan’s baf72c017d resolute expression, 06b954a416 I waved b73eba0884 my hand, 282ed394bc frowning.32656836ed33d4c5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What education? I actually feel comfortable 3b620653e7 and like it that eff1c854ac way. Don’t you dare.”5082f6bad7772cd0

Kayan seemed about 73255228d8 to respond but 28eb2a75f7 then abruptly closed 218666312a his mouth and 173a1de06d turned to look bac405638c behind him, as 79649f0cf7 if sensing something.c586fbe0008496f5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I narrowed my eyes 2582df04d8 and followed his gaze.326bf2933e98844e

Before long, 55d8129bec a man 34f7d101bd appeared, walking e7b3736e29 toward us 74a08d352d with unhurried d305cf9dcf steps.49cb21cc2abdbe87

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, what a 9e844d4cea coincidence to meet bca6b12ae5 you here.”3fa990dadf6e6bde

The man, 5f067025c4 stretching lazily d907a64f6f with his afe996cc33 long hair 9fc614e9ec falling over 2a1a8f6c2c his shoulders, 53013b13ce was none 49edad0b1a other than 4bc71e0c3d Saquar.2ece3143fc6743fb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He was someone I 7680736315 had first seen during 8b08503993 a recent meeting. He was strikingly db420735e4 handsome, but his 569c5bd90c gaze was unfocused, 3d59e0238a and his expression c5026cb5b7 seemed oddly vacant.db471408f55fedfa

“What are you c4718df069 two kids doing b898d2dea0 here, standing side d33c787dc0 by side?”68bbd90893417d7b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Smiling casually, he 684f2f5394 glanced back and 975dc680a3 forth between Kayan 698df07358 and me.a80a71da8063ed5a

‘I’m not particularly close 29c8fe6576 to this person,’ I 4c6920a6fc thought, slightly uncomfortable but add46d25f9 still managing a polite a64f06f6e3 smile.d62afaeca843e14c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s an 75898b0b52 honor to 6b25b07216 see you, 7f1b75f200 Great-Uncle.”f997b7875cec981f

“…Hmm, how about just 61981d7834 calling me Saquar?” he 5135949c93 muttered, scratching his cheek.4031bc78c1b38760

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hearing myself called ‘uncle’ 094adeb9e9 at my age is f2fccea7ea rather unsettling. It makes me f8b7af97dd feel like some 861eb412a1 ageless monster. It’s a terrible experience 61ef62807e that shakes the dignity cf89961997 of being human. Please, never say it e25f696bc4 again.”9a8156ef35e17d1c

Is the title “Great-Uncle” d9ebcf0024 really that bad?865b311670d1330b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘And besides, d5efd1c6b6 am I 4334b9034a even allowed 1dbd6cbbcf to call 6fe5b11749 him Saquar?’bd0ea5c0ccfa7b24

However, Saquar was f650652c28 an ambiguous figure 52d44bcf93 within the imperial ada68e51c5 family in many b9c7a3be30 ways.3f13dcb0d2bd08f6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had no claim b5d2a86949 to succession. By rights, a7b8293095 as my 24d4ed0f67 grandfather’s half-brother, 1169aa0021 he should dbdd4fa157 have been 697ae7fa7f fourth in 99a9497363 line after 68ab78c4b8 Hugo. But he had given 1225428b3e up his claim long 01f01a3f3f ago.bd7751bee1221921

The method of b5459fb73c renouncing one’s claim 651b15321d was simple: one e8562a8a05 only needed to 337d004717 declare lifelong celibacy.2a69c9873d0d275c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As such, Saquar couldn’t fc6328c3e9 formally marry, and even dd8f272cfa if he had children, c21934356a they couldn’t inherit the b7e5ab0263 Tayan name.012b8df977d1c989

Regardless, if calling him 5d38244227 “Great-Uncle” made him feel b1b28b1eac like a monster, I 66d3937108 couldn’t bring myself to ee05008a30 be so disrespectful.c215802049deb1f3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Understood, Saquar. Please feel ff5df65cfe free to 651e12aa83 call me edc98cbd26 Ivnoa in fda8b2e407 return.”2c98ff04b0a3835a

“Oh, what 0f7dbf3e9c to do? I don’t like that 19157503f9 either, Princess.”22a36360cb169318

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What is 153611650e with this fddbc862f0 man?a1ab1c5c2f6d41cc

Still, as always, I b1234d04fa maintained my composure as 45fed269bd the polite princess, smiling e5b76e86b2 gently as I responded 3893322fb1 in a way that 165978dad3 subtly implied, “Please leave da3037f066 now.”4e0b393233116e0e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Understood. Thank you for 76f216ecb5 your honest opinion, 87a9ad7d10 Saquar.”ae1748d08150040e

“Hmph.”37d807c7db915255

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He looked d945585ae4 me up 7affd8c250 and down, f1af6a498e then tilted 50417b8362 his head c3cc172054 and asked,d2f3976692687628

“I heard the second df0e72487d imperial palace reprimanded you f773f98540 yesterday. Are you alright?”0962eb5e0f2dd88c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If I’ve done something 39035cd18f wrong, it’s only natural 89d53e9002 to be reprimanded. But thank you for 4a1399d61f your concern, Saquar.”955bdb2f4f57141e

I smiled brightly and brushed off the subject. No matter how much he was called the “Palace Fool,” I couldn’t reveal my inner thoughts to someone I didn’t know well.04f6434aed834885

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Keeping an appropriate distance f4261a3b82 was the best option.180bb5e2a99cfd99

“Still, did e79e1c8ed1 the second d7cb5de5e7 prince’s palace 683c7c8487 let you 991d462ee7 go easily?”24b7210e70261126

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, as you can b46f08e459 see, I’ve managed to e9b60fb4d9 leave the second prince’s 338e4bc225 palace without much trouble. But thank 7ae719b2b7 you again d20da7bcf5 for your 1b74cf57b9 concern, Saquar.”68916b273dc4f3bd

“Hm.”fdec02c528e84d01

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At my 04c9404aa8 polite but dc7d22fdb3 firm response, 54425db949 Saquar raised 984c3bcc39 an eyebrow 47edc27b9d before shifting c686707550 his gaze fca707b8e2 to Kayan.aa725de8f1cd6977

Kayan, already ca147d3699 wary, was 2aa0e8de71 glaring at 6b96dadc00 Saquar. It seemed like 36897d13a2 the right moment 6ac32b6ee6 to introduce him.0ba7d23398d6f91d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I spoke softly,0cc02313f376b60d

“I’ve been exiled 84585072d5 and will be 82db9956e5 staying at the 1ca281035d Viscounty of Barcklith.”4ff15fb12f73f518

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hm?”8e3c1a6d2fd4cc96

At that, I 65ca5f614f nudged Kayan in 3c04ab4ae1 the side.c1038bafb3e060d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He immediately bowed and b1a8545db3 introduced himself,294137228124a886

“It’s an f4e33efea0 honor to 5cc255e899 meet you. I am 82e572263d Kayan Barcklith 0346cb7a16 of the 218d1e1623 Viscounty of 1158bf15d9 Barcklith.”5bd954df7c23acd2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Saquar tilted 9f554f5172 his head 7a77dbb4ab in confusion.8c239675d86697de

“The princess 491813a6d3 is going a605981fb3 to your 0e19ba5159 estate? Really?”46298d10aeef8db4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He blinked, cd55f9a17c looking Kayan bbdd3c13a8 up and a41406b288 down.6f6fca04aedd03ec

“Can you take good 9674a18494 care of the princess? From what I’ve d186194556 heard from the b82f88268f maids at the fd14aef029 princess’s palace a 2b05ce536a year ago, you e16ea07e22 were quite… lacking 4cb63c8afe in manners. Did you 6b287f52cc and the d455d8f0cb princess even 7ebae81b88 get along d74356a7e2 in the 3c0d36b0dd North?”23b7add18e2d9b15

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What on earth was c790d8880f this man? This clueless “Palace Fool”… 8e6ef58e7f how did he get a44b2a88b9 his information so accurately?8faa493f1d7e05f9

It was entirely true, 58f65541d4 though.caadb4922b892695

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

While Kayan f786d54020 was polite 21b6596ca5 to me f68e807a80 now, back 5844db881b in the 932c13265a North, he df616fadaf was a 0b6578578a cold, distant 8e4c2235ba boy who 2ef3f4bc09 kept everyone b8c8f2d388 at arm’s 697a9bb4c8 length. And even a year 4bde0595c8 ago in the palace, 53b282b70a he didn’t get along e83f7b0747 well with anyone except 59d5d2ea57 me.4f7272a586dd3324

I stepped in front 781fe5082f of Kayan, smiling warmly, 0ef92153da and replied,12d105f5299f6a58

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“He just has 12d2a401c3 room for growth a1339906b2 in his personality.”44f552e326cb6ba8

Which, of course, meant 4ef61dc6ac he had a long a12c691eb2 way to go.a7f6a888c09e775b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Saquar narrowed his 089b6c71a3 eyes skeptically and c118de1efb muttered,2804d5c626277cbf

“He grew up in 771b3044a1 the North, so he d793b017d7 probably doesn’t know much 9f376c6efd about the capital’s ways.”f5dfe81dae143d4e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“He’s simply a fd42cedb69 forward-thinking talent for 03abe2a91e the future,”c578311af21acfba

Even if that future 0b9b445c5c hadn’t arrived yet.dda7be5a6e0d5db8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I heard 67a02bce21 he’s sharp-tongued, b151659bda like a 40fc42d531 blade, when abb5a1077a criticizing others.”cf1fc9f5be4bad3d

“That just 29661e75ad means his c1d0f5f959 verbal skills b610b01514 are particularly b83de0edc7 well-developed in 4988fa3010 certain areas.”6f71cb8aa84576f4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I continued to counter 243a1f70ed his remarks one by 08f508cc04 one, smiling as I cc31cb9be9 spoke. Saquar chuckled lightly.2e6ac06d4b43dd1b

“I thought 91d1fbd1f9 the princess f2cc85fc95 was only ae4110e759 skilled in d8884d9905 offense, but 64d76916c2 your defense 07d4a7fd9b is impressive d35bc2ccf8 too. Picking a fight with 895bb5d213 you isn’t fun; it 16c1b55f36 just ends with that 2595b24f90 little viscount being moved e31c85fe87 to tears.”1426018096c88706

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Huh? Could Kayan 734390b161 really be 8071094af4 moved by 94cfc63433 my unwaveringly f535417c54 positive perspective 3c9e70f616 of him?0f306bc57f3d88e3

If so, that ee91b47d16 would be fantastic e1343fe16f news.ab7f55f0d94cac89

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As a 8a34110c07 grin spread f27803c1bd across my 8f3b6a541e face, Saquar 757c202c6f continued,432403b935cd6e13

“Who wouldn’t be moved? Anyone would be. Even his own mother 1c0aa15686 wouldn’t defend him this 8611928d2e well, right, little viscount?”5933e20de24d7524

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At this, Kayan, who 878cd25ae2 had been silent the d9eb52682a entire time, finally opened 1cb6f239a0 his mouth.4fe3142bbea40522

“My apologies. I have b66417ee89 no mother.”659c4f823807e5a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah. Uh, really?”082f5ae0e2196871

Saquar froze in place, fe426f1b75 then awkwardly tried to 8f591288d1 recover.3a429e39c286db68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, uh, 4b9bcb4223 neither do 33bae5cc0c I. But, uh, it 9acb1f8fad hasn’t stopped me f4c94c0c29 from becoming such 5ee8d58edb a handsome adult.”70835c6fcf45f2ce

Oh my goodness. Did he really think a3d9ffa9b9 that was a recovery?be9aa74233506201

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As expected, it 50d2416908 was a perfectly 71f8cce9dd foolish comment to 3661c07dd8 match his dazed bb493daf32 expression.a4523c6a409267be

An awkward silence lingered.292cc11612415146

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Saquar, clearly flustered, 159143048c added hesitantly,0d47875ca8d4625f

“Still, if d477d6e403 I recall, f6aa03f490 during your f3b84da1ee childhood, there 110789171f must have 7c9216792a been…”c170553cb351ca0c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I apologize. In my case, 2459d5dc33 I’ve never had 5b8e397e78 one since birth.”0ead998f67105c58

“Oh. Oh, uh, 5026473781 I see. Well, this is…”bd01047ae8ad4f32

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

This was turning a3f2be675c into a disaster.dfa75e651d79a760

In the end, Saquar 09e3fda397 let out an awkward a3035e1d3a laugh and hastily turned 8853b75252 away.43095b498de04c5b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well then, I’ll be 3e90243472 going. No need to 4e65349918 see me off—or bb55c01f3b even greet me. I’m not worthy 3ff3e861b7 of being greeted. Children, please ab94cf8f4c forget this 8796a5bde1 conversation ever e0f020a042 happened.”9c3ca2e4f0b75d62

At least he 6f79495b9b had some awareness.29b0edf2e759ef6f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And with that, f938489c7c Kayan successfully fended 30c0cca6cb off the eccentric 138f2398fd passerby.22ff748ad8ec55ec