WHCTC Chapter 22

“No one knows anything ecb4cab5d7 about Kayan’s mother. You’d best avoid 83ebb7b75c asking questions about db3353d37b her anywhere.”c2a61e4db00fa2a6

“What? The Viscount 9224edc723 never married?”c46004cf4a7b50f6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You could say that.”de9bf0903863238e

I wanted to 44b49c44b5 explain more, but 4e08d49696 I genuinely didn’t e26e4379f3 know anything. Even Kayan b9fc06a953 himself knew 057642b9f2 nothing about 58458deec9 his mother.83b605aa0c1938cf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Anyway, the b496d631bb Viscount is b408e93f60 peculiar in 8dde456986 many ways. It’s probably best to 3d991cbd52 keep him out of 988b9afe38 social gatherings.”a5102525aa2976a4

“Peculiar…? In what way?”191dabd734dd084b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’ll find 6371b4c2f5 out when 38eee928bd you meet f62df6a074 him. But Kayan’s different.”00148e5495e7be71

In social circles, appearance 1817088857 was a crucial factor. With a little grooming, e3e01d8c3b Kayan could certainly establish af2f8d6371 a strong presence.48fadd984ee2e0a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He’s so smart 459a25e668 he learned to 48b47da86d read before I f48b2b0580 did. He just didn’t ebb5038596 have an environment faf47ec96d conducive to further 306df9fa60 education. But that’s something b2304d393c he can pick 0d29efcfde up gradually.”725fe129ed20c97f

“That… makes sense.”4931cb29a31ccdcf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Connie mumbled b44a85fcf5 as she 4bdd957b6a glanced at b8fa1ee308 my notes. Judging by her 144dfbfb64 expression, she seemed b6f0373a30 to be holding f507cc9e0f something back.64c9c878330732d1

“Connie. Do you have e77f923f44 something to say?”ac09b0a652921837

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“N-no, absolutely not!”c36903be90c35b1a

I stomped my 53bef68a94 foot with aura, 8a2238a3b5 causing the creaky 17efc50547 wooden floor to 8a0fed52a9 cave in slightly.a8822e1c89ab8ad7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s an order. Speak whatever’s on your 7c8a0a55cc mind immediately.”28844e8e2425fc0e

“Yes!”4845a71682814d35

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Straightening up, Connie 4b2d5a2ea1 spoke without hesitation.3617daca64864102

“I have a question!”297149662ebd7d94

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Go ahead. Ask anything.”208333d5bbec9588

“Do you… dislike the db9e8dc9b4 House of Duke Cerno?”0b66ed85d9f6f6bc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hmm?”661443ec8bacf0b8

“Are you trying to 694579f6b1 raise another noble family 50bff2ae76 to create your own e797107dd3 base of support…?”b7cc4e0a4c752c70

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ah.3adf74e2ce93abe8

Now I understood why 7c0fed582c she hesitated. It was 3a8dba22af indeed a 6b912d7488 dangerous question, 558d72d612 but it 11e7c52b9c was also c4a0dff90c crucial for 137d3f0901 her to 0956ee4a79 ask if 5c2709530f she wanted 37e379f2b8 to truly d1553fb777 assist me.c5dc75f8ad28cdc5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I nodded calmly.79b436cbfa239f4e

“Something like that.”664e00b625abdc0c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A royal without a 2d3ff3826f support base was always d0e29a2ebd precarious. The relationship between 1ae308b56d the royal family 6f1e878571 and their noble c62935a1a8 allies was symbiotic.fe9d3552aadf1cf9

I would receive 1e36c51efd their protection, and 05073a3197 they, in turn, 716f56c00a would gain justification 220f397a36 and honor under 4b6efad125 the banner of 890b4a4e3b loyalty to me.8bb43eddabb0a5c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Of course, this isn’t 148d131656 just for me. It’s primarily 008b635ec3 for Kayan. But if the Barcklith 33b27b99b7 family is properly established, 101a654e1f it will benefit both 5b35188ad6 of us.”de4c11ecc31e0db9

Seeing my b28e242c1b nod, Connie a4ab110054 nodded cautiously ed09f9505f in return.a9cd473f2619fdf1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Understood, Your Highness.”b5ec028450e939ae

As expected, 113225470a she wasn’t 064425015c one of 75cd084594 Simon’s spies.54dec14d7aff014e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“With limits to title 4b6024d8df and birth, he could 53907e2f91 still grow into an 515599b928 exceptional suitor. That might c4b929c0f3 even solve c70013540b the first afd3e52f92 two issues.”b15c37cb9a23bff0

Huh? Wait… what?dc125a91e4e91d3d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A suitor?”2ff143dbbbf06d83

“A young man who’s a9ee7874f7 wealthy, strong, intelligent, and acdff7a1fd handsome, isn’t that what b21970d180 he’ll grow into? Especially the last part—it’s 38d8b6a942 rare, but he already b67334767c has it.”a7c3d0813bc8bd97

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I… suppose so?”bc3ff7bf0cf97d38

“If a lady of ad22b7daae noble birth or even 227b8bb8af a princess from a 1e207c0e76 neighboring kingdom were to a1a01ea088 fall for him… wouldn’t a3cdf0fc1a that lead to a 50f90b8267 rise in status through 36b37b2e7b marriage?”f9cac23b41867882

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I was momentarily cb17e9eb91 speechless.e5b2c49ad6e6e907

I had c078c1e21c never considered f3a89cb266 whom Kayan ca0c54d477 might marry. In the past, he 265b624365 neither married nor became 630446beb6 engaged.650c365d01394c27

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is… is that really 03c97961cf possible?”d58f4098a71b0b4a

“Of course. With that 2d443cbebf face, if 19eed524fc he grows 49236d7834 up well, 5cb52c2651 all he 92fa001682 has to 1253f206c8 do at 5d09fdb279 a ball 17dd000f18 is pick 9c4e09f932 up a 9838b281a5 handkerchief, and 48883be6d8 many noble 880588a0e5 ladies won’t b5c5ae8fcc be able d766db1faf to sleep f313adec00 that night. They’ll replay aeee00f47a that moment a53ed1be41 in their 55187d1add minds over 4f7887c5d3 and over.”53ca176ef485ae3f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At her words, 0429fa804e I gasped, a 57e11b417d memory flashing vividly 75fac56f1b in my mind.9046e1b4b9d93454

***9b37e1ebf4097c26

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Before my regression, when 958bad73b1 I was nineteen.a7641df7b77f0e0d

Hugo’s engagement d31e8102b6 ceremony was b05cb3bed8 held at 4e7ed380d3 the imperial e2d52b0875 palace.7f6124a2bdf74256

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His fiancée was b0ee8e5e38 a princess from 904b3cd426 a nearby grand ebe8a930fe duchy. The event was 84baa3975f far more extravagant 26b90889fb than my own f302e1c0ce engagement ceremony.0ac2a80df98db127

Naturally, I ceeb985fc5 had to 12fa980a90 make an c7a9c0c62f appearance. I sat next to 0a16a1f150 Simon, looking like a 421c1caada despondent doll.4f5dd7d14c1b114c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was then that 6c0aaccd41 I overheard a conversation 08839fc1b3 between noble ladies behind 937260fe6d me.439766fb1a09e75b

“Oh my, isn’t that e0fe3c4350 Kayan Barcklith, the Viscount’s 4642a1a771 son?”3c7d3623dbeb278f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“My goodness… he is 40895216c1 handsome. I want to 9ad231d276 talk to him.”a5657a5a1ce517f2

“But if I 589fdc67e5 talk to him, 7e94a1aaff Father will scold 4f110d80a2 me. He’s not really 1253bc58ab a proper noble.”5e3928f2238ca241

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kayan usually didn’t 4745665dc5 attend such events, 4a1a106009 as he was 022effe85b disregarded by most.09f0aa43e080af59

I, too, dfc6be2af2 only showed 9fe99ed96e up when af90ff91ef absolutely necessary.5d6a2db524f58f84

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But this e9500ae870 engagement was 6502aaa260 different. Anna, wanting to ac21402acc flaunt her status 4a33c6192e to the princess, 9a12a613a9 had pressured all ff51864218 nobles to attend. Even I, as a d631460f54 princess, had to be 68aa1a6cba present.5774d0d82692b050

I stole a glance 00dd355c2d at Kayan from afar.cfca34da2e441ecd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The noble ladies lowered 1ebef805cd their voices but continued c762e276c9 to chatter incessantly.be4aa714c96b3053

“Look closely. Doesn’t it seem cd89ea4e4f like he doesn’t a3a05be344 even know how 8033780d6c to hold a bbb7f46627 champagne glass properly?”5dcf958068df6c0b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But I bet da43fb1f44 he knows how 20aa2c7c2e to hold my e8c49afd54 hand just fine.”b1afc94ccda0677f

“Who knows? They say 13453de069 he’s good 9710d2ddfd at grabbing 5155e62396 collars. Apparently, he once caught b4a31ed8d6 a servant trying to 96e8eaab0e trip him and threw 395f22ce53 him to the ground.”5a4415ee04041b10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was a mix 11201c9ef1 of disdain and admiration.1777490ef8faa091

I thought indifferently.0907386a13931f28

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Well… he’s pretty much the same as when he was younger.’e1ede3dd16d3f9b1

His long legs, piercing 2de1f03526 eyes, sharp nose, broad 9e4ceeebd3 shoulders, and deep voice 33b0863d7f were all things I’d 36757873ea seen since childhood. So why was everyone 89355259a0 making such a fuss?6b32566ebe21f5f7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As I stole glances ada118598e at Kayan, Simon leaned 99cb8b615c in and whispered.5137f7349775c80a

“You’re not thinking 745b572d36 of speaking to aca8dadc17 Kayan Barcklith here, cf92dc2f3a are you?”6cfb8c3ee7dd4131

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Startled, I gripped dd6c09ffc8 my skirt tightly.86ca771418d1e12e

Since declaring bcdcc75452 an end 8276c5215a to our 052f4a1aef friendship when 14d36c7a49 I was 0937cbbfbe twelve, I 377dc5ff2c had wanted b654ae3bcf to apologize 7878de70d1 to him 4b95006125 countless times. I had 57f32deac9 even secretly 48f1edda4a picked up 1f05052e0f the photo 73c67450d0 Simon had c757851ee6 torn apart, 8f09c8ab89 keeping it c454fc4c77 with me f03106a1ef always. Whenever I 050971910a felt lonely 58c5309de5 or despondent, ff192708ec I’d look ad5f761bb2 at it, 14c81b372d longing for 9801188927 those times a73d162267 we spent a321c1a388 together—and for 3a2d85045d Kayan himself.c5dd95f2f0a28e4a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But…6efb10e7d3d77c4f

“Kayan Barcklith only manages b6f8045864 to endure because he 8378fa99ad has no ties to 04b3df1431 Your Highness. If the Crown 99bd78b7d5 Princess finds out baee36931d you’re close to 41900593fe him, she’ll mobilize 405aa70107 every connection in 89bcb23ff2 the social world 761cd74201 to crush him. And Your Highness d7b9e92adc doesn’t have the d89f19b726 power to protect 77dfa73eea him.”1d697eb9f88a5e5d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At that time, e950558f8d Anna and Hugo’s 0166063f03 influence had grown 3660fea860 considerably. It was incomparable 586b28b9be to when I ed1eb0641d was a child.f09ddee24a568f25

Even the Emperor’s 976334fff0 health had deteriorated a679718a05 to the point f3efd956f3 where he was 86c0c5182c bedridden most days. It was practically 6697015157 Anna’s world.b5e8eda9792497ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Leaving him alone is 83edb2880a the best way to e44e10e3ba protect him.”265a6c9e1b1f6656

In the 07af5f6e22 end, I 9bb0c0a7a2 lowered my 27e240ab60 head slightly 912348a767 in agreement. My current 67ae19897b circumstances were c56a8d1198 far from 40bded29dc favorable, after 1b6d2ae9f9 all.adea11649b8635a0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A little 140d9866f8 later, the d94c1723e8 music for 25a0e9e29c the dance d4d5c4f83c began.d2ffb0a9724a583c

Simon glanced e433609e6a at me 90d83632a1 and said,“Shall we head to d18d0ad7fb the dance floor now?”fbc0d6f8b410dab1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Alright.”23e3fa9ab40ce214

I weakly took e9e4494af2 Simon’s offered arm 8df4509c44 and rose from d90802f0d8 my seat.f66c26a74f3157ce

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As we moved a9abf169d6 slowly, I noticed b067b0f874 Anna smirking and 7704136623 signaling to a 0a3519b81d young nobleman with a2bd1dbd37 her eyes. She likely thought 6bf8cb36e3 no one else 9309ea0f79 saw, but my a66fede774 sharp eyesight caught faf8854391 everything. The nobleman 09d7168dab began approaching ef7c849d88 me with 0ffec213d3 a champagne e91bbf14e6 glass in 79b5fdf662 hand.0a62872ad8ca422e

‘Not this again.’38e2f9e280a19424

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At social 027d5be00d events, Anna af676300e7 often orchestrated 7934edc8e1 subtle harassment 3839c0145a against me.4b1f8d119375a74d

As I grew to 79c2b3c397 resemble my mother more, a5f6a2ffab my beauty began to e3ee4f08c9 draw attention, something Anna 09747de34f clearly found bothersome.57d3aaa5be21ca7c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Usually, she’d 6724ddae53 have someone f4d210b982 spill something 1b10915320 on me f8e7af376d to embarrass 33ea0f296c me publicly. The culprit would 808534a26c apologize profusely, and a33b27ff26 Anna would chime 4cffc86e7f in with a 78571deaf4 condescending, “It’s alright, 04a24f1a18 isn’t it, Your 170c5e16a6 Highness?” making it bb66c2d4ca awkward for me a89041e6d5 to show any 7b189a69ed anger.c3ed1af08ef378f8

‘I’m so 43b9a3ce44 tired of 7949912333 this.’074e06d058b424cb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though I could c4d53268d4 easily avoid it, 463cd8269d I decided to dc1a25a104 let the champagne 8b7ce42158 splash over me 579d0ab9be this time.dbdf4ff28059cc13

“Ah! Oh no…!”ad3638aa3ba93d92

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The nobleman, prompted ebb170a1a7 by Anna, pretended 566cf2b34f to trip clumsily 60508920bd in front of 89a83c6cad me.571a593bfb260383

‘I’ll just use ec1a7d0b33 this as an fbf194e286 excuse to leave 1c485fe9c7 early and clean a9bb83256b up.’bd0245ac5189e372

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I stood there, prepared c1a164560e to feign ignorance, when e5153bb496 suddenly—cda3f5c7fbe19ce9

“Pardon me, 146a658954 Your Highness…? Wait, what?”c2b2ac2c6f544b04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The nobleman, ready e078608a7a to apologize, blinked 53b82915fd in confusion. The champagne ca85641be4 had splashed eaf0115fa2 onto someone ca887f1b49 else instead 9c84c2b70a of me. That someone a71262b67c was Kayan.6c73b4f2779b1614

He had 667a79158c been standing ce243a192c quite far bf796fc5ab away. I had f03876020f no idea 6349afd193 when he b21939fac9 had moved 4aacf483ad closer.c2d9cf38caa42814

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I muttered, dazed, “Why…?”015235fb8392e637

Kayan was f72cfa7da5 quick on 73a6184322 his feet b05c8db5ca and would 6ce24011b2 never have a87649a827 been caught d47e17ed2c by something ef95939275 as trivial 51f0189dcf as a 95bd0e8133 spilled drink. He must have taken 41d1e1fb03 the hit deliberately.b90502b689d7827c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Our eyes met.c20b9b19574d32c9

And in that moment, 5383fb4b15 I realized we were 8c14eae4be wearing the same expression—a d184752a80 look that asked, “Why 433ff81523 didn’t you avoid it 06080909fe when you clearly could 600b6315cc have?”65088c7e9b62e97e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The first to react, 7471ed3be8 however, was Simon.01125be8eb3e22cc

“Still resorting to such 9851332088 petty tricks, I see. Even though he’s 237be96a73 just a mercenary-turned-noble 49cbc2b2b0 without a proper 4e4e0cdcf8 estate, he should 329d1f27ca know better by 42b156d101 now…”52e9ccc294a5d128

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though Simon 7d3f18ec39 appeared to c3b95ad0d7 be scolding 9437ed8b01 the young 21a0480dcd nobleman, his bb129e1ba3 words were b6cee6c61a laced with 7a23a0ae2e contempt for 3de73b2025 Kayan.8e1b2e5169713e79

I was about to c7da789fb1 angrily retort when Kayan 0f849f8b4c turned on his heel 9e8174da1a and walked out of 3d7cd4579e the ballroom, still soaked cfd1c5938f in champagne.ab7ead438b372074

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I could only e3508a1239 stare blankly at a4022014bb his retreating figure.457c82e83f92e491

For some 75b503f2f3 reason, his cc9797d6a3 broad back e23ffbff0e seemed even d3b4f17e65 larger and b915937329 sturdier than 13c3b4b6e7 before.97db56f1936c8dad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com