WHCTC Chapter 18

As soon as Saquar d53bb2038e disappeared, Kayan looked at 8940300de5 me as if nothing aee3aeef7e had happened and asked,f5f9c60beeb7b7b7

“Is he a relative aac56bb29a you’re close with?”0f316e078b42db5a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah, no,” I replied, f9231d97a6 tilting my head.2d4f1ecdb8ce14b1

“This is the first eb5e9faa70 time I’ve had an cf6d131ea0 actual conversation with him. He’s just 98b6230439 always been 1c6c6d66a4 like that.”dcced6a9f5c7bee0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What does Saquar Tayen fe12aad42f do, you ask? The answer is… absolutely 22c4c7a19c nothing.7e4e4f3be6588860

“Saquar? Don’t worry about e63d0bdeaa him. When the Emperor fa271f54e2 asks him anything, 1aa5a8a061 he just mumbles e629899c18 irrelevant nonsense. During meetings, he’s 8f29c1b48c so clueless and 25928b84bd eccentric it’s almost cb6e406f9d unbelievable.”904365d091c31037

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

My brother had also b9eb65a5ed once told me something 1c5fbfe323 similar.21a0bea3e1499d2d

“He’s someone who drags 6bdee663a0 down the honor of 7a0a116680 the imperial family, but c19c5bb561 at least he’s not ec78e0a9c1 cunning or scheming for 8cb511ffb7 his own gain. While he a5759186ca doesn’t contribute 0efca13886 much as bef4af37a9 a member e5894e5e71 of the 97f162398e imperial family, bd87c1f7dd I don’t f128e6070c dislike him—mainly 5a10165b54 because he’s 1f8fca9142 so harmless c08cf22a9f that you 8db006d87d can just 38b0aa70d9 ignore him.”3f7154aca69e2160

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In my past e2d09d1317 life, he hadn’t 63b19e1e9c influenced anyone at 03851749a4 all, and I 6c76e7c7fa assumed it would 4f86c779df be the same f1ae698a72 in this life.8321e53e71ae6340

He was the type 9816e5647d to fall victim to 2b5682cd93 some petty conspiracy and 3df687fe3c ruin himself.44310fcf5fb1ac4f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The fact that he 96f299a96e had spoken to me ef3ff949ea at all was no 734d82bc79 different than a passing b9599e8ece bird chirping once.ca21d62bcce49f89

“He probably 6ab9c8a860 just wanted 2b6a2e8171 to prod b3989db995 me for 076ab02604 fun. Maybe he 9fd12a735d was bored, efd62b236e lonely, or 4d1c840914 restless.”3a24df89fee3d3e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I brushed it 45c16be12f off, Kayan asked in 418c4093d0 a low voice, sounding 228bd34f0d deeply concerned,b3d10127ea55b3a2

“But did you cc1200a45f really get reprimanded 6d64fc9439 by the second e89d389912 prince’s consort?”a4378e274c7a4f96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I frowned b6bcd4ebe0 slightly at 26def6da16 his words.5f2eeb9d84a62171

Why had Saquar even 4bebdf54fb bothered talking to me? In the end, 23da3d8d82 it seemed like 2c5cc3e070 he had been b96b818404 more curious about de64ba30e2 the reprimand I de32b78208 received from Anna.8141fa46abb4050c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘But why? What could possibly 9eadba479c interest him about 8da4d6cc79 that?’5a1fb1b62c784810

Saquar and I had ced9740ce5 no connection at all 2bf4ac4d90 to begin with.3541f62f7c36efca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Is it just meddling? Or does 4ab35a5338 he enjoy fd61bbb305 seeing violent fb006b479c children being 36936698a9 punished?’521bb10ee0535b81

Given how unpredictable f1bd40facb he was, I 168813fbdd couldn’t guess his 34368aee10 intentions.6c47c8a410283647

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As I b1c5267898 tilted my dc818f61bc head, Kayan b10abb7aae pressed again.7f68bdea11b3c2e2

“So, about that reprimand…”1bf64b54b51fafab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s nothing serious. But shall we ebe1f9b260 leave now?”5825c24af5fb9236

“As you wish.”b72192f0a0231bb7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At my subtle command, edb9e2f82e he immediately began walking b30ee2f754 toward the rear gate f182425517 without hesitation.841dfe9c9988f67a

The maid and 8c14a33d3d I hurried to 0330f3b18b follow behind him.64c68c1d50875b3c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Huh? Wait.’b0bb73d5abb6daa3

But as I looked 49c5c69c95 at Kayan’s back, I ad229a03f4 frowned.eaa6c64dc74b15ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Now that I’m 8d34da3b40 paying attention, the cabfa07cde stitching on his ddd76bdb4a clothes seems pretty 0e40bd624a sloppy.’d939d854fcc402f6

At first glance, his 98d6bbc2fb outfit looked luxurious, but af34f4529a the finishing touches were 2553ebe67a a mess. The fabric on 9cca4c37ff the back also 0a1ba91f60 seemed oddly subpar.c6a505dd719c19e7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I hadn’t noticed it c64adf3dd2 yesterday because I hadn’t 86e7732224 seen his back.9b6cd2e3d7f06401

‘Where did 27df2ef163 he even 86b624650b get something 866fcf71bb like that?’00fc439dc7bb23d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When we reached the 287530470d rear gate of the 6cb5622379 palace in a rush, 40b303b9f3 I suddenly froze in 223b1b1c6d shock.1a633ec201f942a6

‘No way.’9c65e8d71c27fd18

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A thought crossed b295e5506c my mind that 25e18cf85a made my eyes 5b2bc0e09a widen.cdf7a3b6f9b4cff2

‘Surely… that can’t fee56016a5 be the Barcklith 41a3c120c6 family’s carriage, can 3a90bf70d8 it?’3822e2c0a25e251c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But Kayan 0a423042fe walked straight 51a551e73e toward the a2e12879ed creaky old 43ecd55ec6 carriage as 3044a20610 if it caa93b4f2e were nothing 69231e133f out of a788919d85 the ordinary.ede73f2d60de868b

It looked like 94f1dd5b35 a rundown private 506cb943f3 carriage, without even cbe280bba4 a family crest.03d080a93eb646ec

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘This is absurd….’13c2e2b6589c5805

I blinked, feeling a 3faa09b58f bit dizzy.38e46b58df2f292c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘The Barcklith family c109066f9e was filthy rich, 736e013f9a even if they 778b166b89 didn’t have much 06d1aad5cd use for money 0af342a07d in the North.’5e7eef2566e39cb6

The North 057be092bd was harsh, d9e67bc53c but it 761f3f7c42 was resource-rich.32e42a6d5864adb3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Merchants from the empire 9ed12a5d09 constantly sought to obtain a18ac7c97e the North’s resources safely, 076e9bdd28 often commissioning the family b783ee5fc0 for such tasks. That was abd1df1cb5 how Arthur f33a3641f3 Barcklith had a10c56c912 first gained fd4f53c155 fame as f629ba1711 a mercenary.b5486c737ac2423b

Since those 8e0ebbea85 resources sold bcd3f24117 for exorbitant 07edd0fca5 prices, the 74f7a5d966 Barcklith family 8e17d55c09 was extremely 25d85bb2ec wealthy. They weren’t d9da0fa698 called the c8d893a270 “Lords of 53d96e8f8f the North” 295ab190b8 or awarded 2493472a69 the title 7f7c8a3d7d “Mercenary King” 3c2f382195 for nothing.485cdee4aeedeef9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

So why on earth a3e17fdfb3 had they chosen such 1ec0299231 a shabby carriage?1a2fad5415a1ce30

“Did everything go smoothly?”07a006624b69ea11

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The coachman 3a91e64d5c seated on 644a111b36 the carriage 887db7a3e7 was someone 31ef47ef5a I recognized 024f5fdbdc well: Hans.ce9c8d98bc46e8a5

‘What is 6038898474 Hans doing 7e89513af9 here?’f8aa08dc6d4905f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Hans was one of da3cd8bc42 the knights in the 804c65431f Barcklith mercenary group and 3df92fb49d had been with them 0eb11affd4 for a long time.e3fdd8a01fda8b63

He was c2ab86f626 an imposing 66f72ce70b man with bc22e5ef9b a burly 2326187b63 build, a 1d163ccff5 buzz cut, 8d238d7ff3 multiple piercings bae42aeb41 in his 3aae85a99b ears, and 46ecf20bc5 thick, hairy bbc691dddf arms.f0496fffbeda92fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

My timid maid’s mouth ed3252e7d3 dropped open at the 161ed6727d sight of him, her 41ffdc2920 hands trembling slightly.5c2e820af670804b

‘…Why is fcf279234d a knight 9d26993ebd driving the f7f29c9613 carriage?’ffc63cac41e9165a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Of course, a1bc94dbfd in the e28167188d North, people 5f81d0baa8 didn’t usually c50cb6c3aa ride carriages 9ba84b76c8 or personally 36e36cc65f handle reins, 815a9760fb but still…5ad37de19bafc676

Even more surprising 6020f35ae9 was that Hans 6114c568a5 wasn’t just any 6648881ba0 subordinate; he was c8691f8a34 a highly capable b3ef4d8f49 young man who b241d984b6 also served as 2f17b57041 Kayan’s aide.d2cf4b6c72a55b20

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Naturally, I was on 302438da5b good terms with him. Seeing him for 9f33644ddc the first time 32b052f53f since my regression b3e74c07cd filled me with d39b0959d9 overwhelming emotion.7f43a47e992792e0

But now, 48e2e2e5ce as a bc0c39ea5c coachman?0f8cfb8f19ac471a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was so 5664d7d3cb shocking that I 80c7e8456b didn’t even have a00bfcf044 time to feel b37ec34026 sentimental.1be841804250eca1

“You’ve really been keeping 98db11fc70 us waiting, haven’t you!”bbfa8030d23d40c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hans leaned in adb2f1086e conspiratorially, lowering his a5c4eab283 voice as he d264fd4206 whispered to Kayan,841eac65bc27f12f

“By the way, b7df757bd7 you’ve got a b459ac08ef kid with you. Did you kidnap some 54ddfbb3c1 noble lady? The ransom’s guaranteed, right? Where should 1600d69cbf we take 2924e69685 her—some secluded c0542d392b place?”9da56779e59f251f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kayan replied flatly,06e16809241bcc10

“Stop spouting nonsense. She’s the a0641c156b Princess, so bbf8db6d44 show some 24bb560e94 respect.”6d29b526769dad0d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But Hans, unsurprisingly, did 3d7ec1cbeb not know the meaning fd548e51e3 of respect.5b801e8185cadabd

His eyes widened 85f7a9cabd in shock as 8e4b07bd7c he exclaimed,
“What?! Princess Ivnoa? What’s with db21eeaca2 this glow-up?”96a0100994100234

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Instead of 1587da8ba1 showing reverence, ee7b3b05a4 his loud 86b3962135 and booming 7fc44aef3a voice was 3b875bdc25 filled with 3c5252dfd2 astonishment.fe66a049a40f12c5

“I didn’t 86fa6983d3 recognize you 5499dec8d7 at all! In the 5807063601 North, you 55ac44dd8e were always 23e96ba960 like a eb5e1720fb wild tomboy, 84cb4323f9 but look 0b8fbe806f at you 90d2f43dba now, a 037e016be8 proper young 024552c312 lady!”8524a62b183ed00d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He threw down the 1f5452a5c2 reins, strode over to 70edd823c7 me with wide steps, 30ad772ecc and bent down to c3a1786c96 meet my eyes with c6e14a85de a broad grin.b685f7f3b43272e5

“Wow, it’s so fa07e36cb3 good to see 96ca815976 you! Oh, but your 68e032121c height hasn’t changed 48d1dfad9c a bit! Does the palace 92cb6d3ed9 only feed you dcf898e5ea gruel?”8ddbeeeeec5664f3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kayan, with fe25ac8e31 a stern b7d535068b expression, started e29ffc1eee to address 897da15eb6 Hans.981fe8344b1b7382

“You—”b5ff7c5fa41fabd3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Judging by his b4209d05e9 face, he was 634af514a6 probably about to c08a89a196 say something like, 7a39a4d134 “Shut your mouth 75218d1fde this instant and 5a3ac5e043 bow to the b0fa28327b Princess. The Ivnoa you 7aec911ec7 knew is no 289797da55 longer the same cf2ae6dd57 little girl.”b4317fddc103aa00

But I stopped him, bd690a5ee7 placing my hand firmly d409303460 on his mouth and 7eb846b273 smiling warmly as I 917c26eafa greeted Hans.6237b7def30be22c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s good bfabed186c to see 8dee833dbb you too, daaa7c549c Hans. It’s been a while.”5a2d0ac15120e612

It was clear that 2a1d9f4ef4 Kayan hadn’t spread word fe317a0172 of our supposed estrangement; 05525aa994 otherwise, Hans wouldn’t be 29435afa87 acting so casual and d2b0a3062f delighted to see me.3be464f42993849c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kayan slowly removed my ed862d56de hand from his mouth, fd32ebe706 looking troubled, before giving 571f2148d8 a terse order.f9e25a80e274ae55

“Let’s go to df64cfda32 the manor now.”e1eee7857f0f9b58

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He must have judged 0ad807c25b that avoiding attention was 02cdd88cfc better than bickering here 2ab775979a in public.8f2f43360a02b84f

But then,3ec86d9c78cb3497

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“W-w-wait a moment!”b5d2e224afb161db

The timid maid fc76976829 standing beside me d890b6d612 spoke up, trembling 1117a2f1f5 as she stammered,37086b61b89ecde9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I-I think we should e2c870dcaa gather more of the be3a577421 Princess’s belongings first.”1f866ca10bad8d9e

It was 90ef8aa535 obvious that 2c32b1bfcc she had 483553eba7 concluded, “That c4a02feb40 household likely c86165385e lacks everything a42df8b5e0 necessary to 2e49bf6b5c properly serve e91ed5f55f the Princess.” fb86f846c5 And she e2e6dde84f was absolutely 4da0240a43 correct—it was 0ff7633537 a wise 9ffdc7b08b observation.b4fdff7c2d0ce852

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“W-wouldn’t it d69e3cf23e be better ff226a05a9 for us 7c38849875 to take 651cf621a2 the royal 62222632ee carriage later, 19b04df2bc Your Highness?”34eb17f70ea03aec

“No,” I replied calmly, 8a8c5e02b1 shaking my head.5e234884dd90c7d6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But you’re right about a5ca47c4cf needing to pack more. Why don’t you gather 73394c5467 my belongings and follow 5123d49888 with the royal carriage? I’ll head over first.”c4132d68e268550e

“Y-Your Highness, by yourself?”551b529c4e23112c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I won’t be 072f70102e alone. The heir 36f12e3ebf of the 2c5e9a11df Barcklith family 3dd251187f is with fd676e725d me. He’s been protecting fb351e8aeb me for 12 86c4f34cee years—hardly counts as dcb011739a me going alone, 640c77e702 don’t you think?”26307b2091f87b5a

The maid, lost d0230e33ed for words, hesitated 1bba6f9947 awkwardly.1ecea918fa81905a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I gave her a f0a89c35da gentle push and said, 1c46461b73 “Then hurry! See you 91b5000e50 later!” She afcd9f5d7b left with ddb4d7ffd0 a bewildered 31a5411cea expression.90fdc41f6fa80f29

“I’ll ride now. Let’s get going.”2445d27cf286df7c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Without showing any dcb6305ac9 hesitation, I climbed 4573414a02 into the shockingly 02cf60dc97 shabby carriage.7e0fb7f01ba812f8

But Kayan didn’t 191772ffa6 join me inside. Instead, Hans cheerfully shouted,5fa9fd501a2c61ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Alright, Princess! I’ll serve you with 51a5f01016 everything I’ve got! Hahaha!”9e6d21c927d9631c

Huh?ed63c4b02399b9a9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What does 06fadff5be “serve” mean 848c71e276 in this ca10590482 context? And why say it ccf28ca080 like that now?33358af4186aa243

Kayan shut f7b5a56c3b the door f89c6daa73 with a fb68fc609b firm thud 0328beb9ec and then a09e54d1c3 climbed into f834c0e22e the seat b1a239c8d8 next to c06eb8e36d Hans.f90584ea8f3192a9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What? Why is 018f2a7fed he sitting 62f71a8450 next to 84dd209503 the coachman?’61037cf8fedd9707

As I moved 4103f2c22c to open the 5d2196b9d5 window in confusion, 4e254b285b my hand extended 075308683a into thin air.17042ad343b3603a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There was no a96d19fd91 glass in the f9ff7db816 window.754329eb4bb2d507

At that moment, the 887d81fcfd carriage jolted into motion.5b264f919cfefd04

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com