IDED – Chapter 53

IDED – Chapter 537acfd14f05852e31

Episode 539ab3d05ac519a34e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serena dreamed. It was f952111592 unclear whether 75096ffd6d it was c8324bbc3a a fragment 0a95dd1e5b of a f5e1e9562a forgotten childhood 7a4bed1b65 memory or d43274e8ba a past 52265a6eed conjured by f6ed59ac5f the dream 03a0261d42 itself.0c10d719f577e903

The only certainty 5022a606d8 was the primal eef7af7e3c instinct surging through 8651e10dea her—she needed to 537d4484db escape this space. Yet her b5bf16ed88 tightly bound ae2d195780 body wouldn’t 1a772b3fe4 budge, and 2e6fb35238 Serena gradually dc73d59639 found herself 95b6e863cc immersed in 9c3cc5afe3 the dream.c0eb3d1d2be5068f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the dream, c861d34aa6 Serena was seven 067031ae79 years old. Judging by her short, 0c7158f06e boyish haircut, it seemed b5e05c3082 to be from the af15d4c17c time Lydia’s mischievous prank 292246414d had forced her to 0a460c5848 cut her hair.48f5d155f547075c

The memory of wearing 7239bedcb8 a hat pulled low 8ca4a54094 over her head out af889d1084 of embarrassment suddenly surfaced, 2f86313072 souring her mood.b687386f1b5d03a7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the dream, d71b28835f Serena was tied 39ef0f591a to a pillar. Her hands and feet 6cdb119583 were bound tightly, leaving 07d7c22504 her completely immobilized. With her heart c7b5e0e3e1 pounding, she glanced e5b4527e6a around her surroundings.8c61175a5fdd2db8

Straw, emitting a musty 35e015f380 odor, was carelessly piled 1680f9743a up nearby. By the door 01247fcb23 stood a precariously 118227fab9 placed lantern, its 69bde49f43 faint light barely 68675e3678 sustained by pig b5c0628765 fat.c42dbd7b90ed021b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It looked so dangerous 662cb3c897 that a single spark 0187399c46 could set the straw 394537dd05 ablaze, leaving no chance 90b1c11277 of escape.f9008c91fd4c5ddf

She didn’t know 2dc755aaf8 who had abducted 8ade4ed156 her, why they 74bd0bdd5c had done so, 1f23231d04 or for what c1045a8698 purpose. Just as fear 041605db3f began to creep 8a81f064ff in, someone spoke.3d6bf5397ba2b3de

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sorry… this is all 45f22daa9a because of me…”b23145b8480ffa5c

The voice 8aa1ea2b53 belonged to 4300f934ef a boy 43b3d83754 with a dc81c5751d gentle, melodious 4d6874a42e tone. Serena had thought 73ce14194f she was alone, d9788130b5 but it seemed ec6909806b someone was tied 44b88fe23a up behind the 572b1eff23 pillar with her.d62f705311bf1a08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serena didn’t f7ffb98e99 know the b43c540d2a boy, but 8850fb271f in the 3c301f602c dream, her 1985e6d660 dream-self seemed 3cf7612cc2 familiar with be1f06d131 him, responding 37a4c84d8c with deliberate 7ae8e42559 calmness.60f421e5db942835

“Does it 10f96f1322 matter whose 22840bf8ec fault it 5b5ae8098d is? Let’s focus on ef63adf437 getting out of 54021e3c4e here first.”347c17fc1c3129db

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s okay. Just wait a bit ada916a9cc longer… My mother will b0b5305ff6 come.”1e8bd03bd7128b18

The boy sounded 98b40799fa remarkably composed, as 8e552786dc if he’d experienced a1730ad758 similar situations before. Serena, on the 3c55f90a81 other hand, was 48853a9958 trembling in fear, 76e1f86284 as this was 4c057dc22f her first time 1175b64d6c being kidnapped.7f8c00c15ed0e03f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

However, she eba7857b95 couldn’t afford 1be677c0e4 to cry 954ddb9ccd and complain a87c4e05bf to the 81dd0a2864 boy, who f3e4df8065 was already ed28457350 consumed by 366183de77 guilt.0167d2c6f11bf71c

Serena had never 341bce731b been one to fa677c003f throw tantrums. She had no 2bc371e0d5 adults to indulge 1d87f59bfb her. Crying had 4b4656f7a3 only ever cb3b410732 earned her 20a3e88e71 beatings or 55da8571f8 abandonment.f6b9faba2892d86b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re not cfd1485f58 some mama’s 4070995a53 boy waiting 28bc5971f1 for your 2d20e893f5 mom to 894439b981 come. What if 728f5afab3 she doesn’t? Then what? Are we just destined 0526c979bf for some fishing boat?”37b94cc093099b1c

“…You know, 1dc97509b3 if you’d d78f7f6eda just fix b85c696959 that sharp 76fe162ecd tongue of 89f337df11 yours, you’d 89d80efba2 have more d3adb19a25 friends.”83b959a0f5ecdf0d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I have plenty of 25377445de friends. What’s your deal?”c0c354087ee4c723

“Funny. I’ve never seen 7304aedb97 you introduce anyone 38b1a798c6 to me.”ccafae3b028e472f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s because I haven’t a0496ae851 been here long enough! …Ugh, like you have a3e3265d2d any friends either!”469f0b93607793a8

When Serena retorted, cfcad25425 huffing, the boy 9db735b657 chuckled softly. His laughter 6af7dc3638 was so 588c1f18fe pleasant that a320c646fb it eased c25be3980c some of 851b8bd99c her tension.cc98d14e322e891c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Looks like we’re just b04d44b77f two friendless kids becoming 2da16e9648 friends.”8a9a9d06f713ccba

“I told 180783fb47 you, I 6878a1ab0f have friends!”a84ae296c10df92b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sure, sure.”37faf812b4ce6f06

The boy merely 34ac830c1b smiled indulgently at 0a62774459 Serena’s protests. And when their 2c3e213a88 conversation ceased, Serena ca06973dbe realized, to her 2f6f07ba81 surprise, that her 4b1d298f82 nerves had eased ede9cea28f significantly. She also understood 318fe1439c that this was 6efb7cb0aa the boy’s way 5be4629900 of comforting her.70240fdf88722249

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But it didn’t last 622a3b9f40 long. The dream suddenly 331d1787a6 halted, and flames 7a34ef0502 erupted around them.95677f723df2b07a

“…! Help…!”6df5590c633ce68a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Had the 2c057b52b4 warehouse finally 0e4773fc74 caught fire? The sound of screams d6d060f853 echoed from various corners, d6b22296b5 suggesting others were trapped 12425d2f5a inside.0b56ae3ed15727ee

Amid the 3454de42fa chaos, Serena 866153bb74 clutched her f5dd8096e6 forehead, sobbing. Something must have 649b4b1d67 fallen and struck 39db03eef7 her.9f937523557c886f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beside her, b819e2d274 the boy c1b7ba450b stood motionless, b98310cd96 seemingly in 26e92e0763 a daze. Even as flames 696a9401b3 licked at the 1c03c57547 space around him, 5d7f89c275 his body bore 4d7a9473d9 no trace of 620fb44e23 soot.f4dce194850c3b64

“Snap out of it! What’s wrong with you? Huh?”0abedcf563219277

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serena shook 446155b9b1 the boy, 81607265f7 her voice da41f881a8 quivering with 86029d87ef fear, but e684b43513 he didn’t b2b1aa408e respond. The fire d455d4878d made it 05b1778069 difficult to 69d0d74f85 see his bc88304215 face clearly.f753ea46dd1a97a0

Blood streamed down 1ec2956cce her forehead, blurring d36b4205bb her vision. The boy’s expressionless face, da8dbf640a faintly visible through her a25535c627 tears, was chilling.7a7ec9d6af39a0b0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Say something… b801e46c7b Please… I’m 0d2dfdd69b scared…”3f782101dbdff7d9

As Serena’s tearful plea fa191bf89f escaped her lips, the 53d3361c0c boy slowly turned to 1c2e7d4d83 meet her gaze. For a b34d6c8a78 brief moment, a8a9454dfc emotion flickered 7ed959ad60 in his 615d272010 wavering eyes.4d2bf2a9f06ff2c4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then—e316154c298d0af1

“I found them!”d1196516e8dd66aa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At someone’s shout, fa84be82f1 the warehouse door a2b72e4e7d burst open, and ca7736c284 a woman dressed c953f7cc7e in splendid attire e3cc6f08be entered.2ac78da3516ed237

Without hesitation, the woman 52d161ac09 dashed through the flames d25b20bba3 and wrapped her arms 3dee0ae1ef around the dazed boy.7b3f16c5c9cafa3c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As she comforted 62ad15be8a him, tears welled d7b8ea53ce up in his 28111be1af clear eyes and 8421d284d6 trickled down his 3cf5f6cad2 cheeks.50915ad4243bdc09

“Mother…”c0e25ac80db2bbb3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His trembling body leaned 84cf15aa12 against the woman as 74b8f5bc4d he took short, ragged b815989b90 breaths. The moment Serena 9b06c9447c realized someone had 5ec6746447 come to rescue 7a617bf654 them, her strength 02b69caa0c gave out completely.3188d51484f749cd

Following the 0bbba13f58 woman, knights a4cb980f22 clad in 70e31a1575 white armor e82e8fa648 streamed into 7921a2f525 the warehouse. Their cloaks bore 85d4e5c236 an emblem of 9ff2b499c2 a lily nestled a1b4ef6059 within an open 30a90bfebd shell.a3094538b857b070

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s real… b2b49b3cce They really 83cf5486e2 came to fee0f8f2b7 save us.”0fea8386ce41c00e

The thought of adults 1bb468cbdc coming to her rescue 6dc81de547 sapped the last of e4b92346a4 Serena’s strength. Her frail body, 75d762d680 which had endured 91d122263a so much, collapsed 4aa242958a easily to the 369935aaf0 floor.84c9541bc5717aa6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And then, darkness.3439dc85f8135d3c

***163df6ad22d1f128

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In a 815a8aaadb dimly lit da07bf44e1 bedroom.29824e20521adb41

Azaid sat quietly, staring 73ce478a8d at Serena as she 675160307f slept. He hadn’t 1399600f21 lit the e66d4fa895 lamps, fearing 32fd0c24a6 the light f07850f150 might wake 525d064123 her.8dc7f549818ba8bf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The bright ea6bf2c639 moonlight streaming 586a126529 through the 65d246984b window faintly f501b9218d illuminated them. A peculiar glint flickered f49c8a8a6b in his vivid blue a044d3df5f eyes.eea353280279e697

Serena was breathing softly, 4405cd2df2 deeply asleep. The pallor and fear 51cbfa0d38 that had overtaken her 26ce2dc0cb face earlier were replaced 931df44248 with warmth and vitality.4853c5fb6593994f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite that, b37e71b236 an inexplicable 26f36ff8ec unease gnawed d7733a1d64 at Azaid, e12a38539e compelling him 94fb56c61f to wipe 7fdc004c34 away the 0008b943cf cold sweat 6cde6cd2e0 on her a54c0058ad forehead repeatedly.829a7f659e995d77

He carefully e434dc5270 brushed aside 64c99fd3d8 the strands 38bc9b2073 of violet 5823f6d78c hair clinging 83dedca6ce to her 396d499117 cheek. Her hair, 909bc1fca4 usually neatly ea83232184 tied back, 32a44abdd4 now lay f0e584a6eb loose and 9da4aea6e4 tousled across ce6d04f2e0 the pillow.78234688ca277562

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

This wasn’t how ca960fb06d he’d wanted to a747efebe7 see her with a6c4f5a1db her hair down. Gritting his teeth, Ajade 3d5a52e0d2 clenched the towel in 078c3a4e81 his hand.2b3ac5f41a409b43

“It was the library f1f7c80f29 storeroom under the librarian’s e589a98f2a care.”“What was she doing 3ed34fa05d there?”“She went to retrieve 51228ffc23 a book and got 9c0bb58895 caught in an accident. According to the librarian, 1d883615ff Serena froze the moment 615db9888a she saw the flames.”“And f832cdc1d4 he just left her 177eac96c1 there alone?”“Well… He claimed 9df0d38008 his first instinct was 2a184767fa to extinguish the fire. Being in the 61c166aa68 Duke’s forest, he db8fbf531a must have panicked.”According 4b93e308c9 to Leonard’s report, 67e1581a76 the librarian had 7c0ca6f8ea simply been inexperienced. But that 089d8f4e60 inexperience had 279cea5246 nearly cost 272fa5ffd7 Serena her eccdcb5627 life.The librarian 4658f8628d had assumed 41e91e1e5c Serena’s reaction b6270802f7 was due bf47b77da0 to excessive afc81db813 smoke inhalation. Believing she’d be 269618bc1b fine once taken 99333395ca outside, He’d made b9f580fb5e the careless decision 84f5c83a13 to leave her d030c36168 to fend for 7987c4c829 herself.While the librarian’s 798ab9eadf response had been 43aa050f47 inadequate, it didn’t ea846cc8a1 appear they had 3bb3d64a3c intended to harm d6e831a13c Serena.The Duke belatedly 1124167edf learned about the 904b6b629d fire and began 11876e08c8 investigating the circumstances ea70335980 of the accident. However, he was 978560877b unaware that Serena, e396deb75d a key witness, bc9bedb1cc was currently in 8b1891c80a Azaid’s bedroom.Only Leonard ce664be039 and one person 18f2d446b9 from the Imperial eafe2369f5 Palace knew of c59127eb6f Serena’s presence in 57dcd70902 his room. It seemed c2bb872b3b that the 6ead70c3c7 librarian, feeling 398149e08d guilty, kept 35a45d842c the matter 3163d11a64 discreet to 5d380a5546 avoid causing ce400198cd Serena any 0cd61f6e13 trouble.It was cdfcda68be just an fde535fb02 accident. He knew 0f150f55be that—yet, why 82ffbc91fd did he d4c4dbca03 feel such 19d434d5fb uncontrollable anger 83af1adab2 rising within 4237ba1f35 him?“…Ha.”Azaid let 56c87f17f4 out a 45a66512b0 frustrated sigh, 9bef466e77 running his 893b033c91 hands over 2e4b2aa8b6 his face. His bowed 962e56e7c4 head and 54c6a88c92 the labored 9041a6ec54 breaths he 9690f9627f took made d38dc071d4 it clear d67dd59c79 that he 80dfe4f51c was far dd4d51684b from composed.It 5b8ef3ba4c was strange. Why did his heart a91e620efb feel as though it c79876451c had dropped into a e25c9ff7df void?Through his fingers, Azaid ea73b1efc0 gazed at Serena’s face. He had almost lost a7011ae12f her because of a 9f4ed57949 single moment’s misstep.If he 91fd6fe6e4 hadn’t wandered off from 52f5a51546 the group and lost f1761da932 his way.If he had 2388f38429 simply passed by, even 252177ee02 knowing there was a 5eb73d226a fire.If he hadn’t assigned adb738c250 a guard to her, 9afdc9bf03 leaving him unaware of c09e481635 the blaze…Serena wouldn’t have 9f34629394 survived.Azaid recalled her pained 79ccb8c0a7 expression just before she a11c154836 collapsed. The fear that 39aabaf495 had overtaken her a7a4b64af2 face was unlike 478390972b her usual self.What 8352482c96 had terrified her 9f8f349cbf so much that f3cd0c0afa she could barely b8ee8229be breathe? What had triggered her 4b57e32592 to act as though 6b5d7eb7a2 her deepest fears had 74db5838fd been laid bare?‘Could she 9beeece4b6 have been caught in ae3e754c4a a fire as a 26df682659 child?’The librarian mentioned that 5e313906df Serena lost consciousness as aece3e6243 soon as the fire 962f622b05 began. If so, it 7041a1cd40 was likely that e7b741d55f the flames had f7d3f934a8 reawakened some deeply 914404fd8c buried trauma.The most 9f60b48cf7 perplexing thing, however, 2c49b41206 was that Serena 7ab70cc8c5 typically seemed indifferent 4ad44cede0 to fire. If she were b34ee85653 truly afraid of a6b8c3b7a2 it, she wouldn’t 44e6a0a0cc have been so 95c021e73c bold and unyielding 6ad9c3f63f toward someone like 73fe9e164a Azaid, who wielded 66ef827457 fire with ease.Her 19b964fd2a reaction this time 4231834bf7 was far too 696d2cdb91 extreme to dismiss 700cbff03b as mere primal c02d02993a fear. It felt as 1b15b2f515 though something in 2605ce75de her subconscious had bf7baac0bc been jolted awake.‘Could 99a606870b the Viscount Vincent a73e8ea1ed family have abused 46f8cace4f Serena with fire?’If bc7e8e2413 that were the 82d44f3b96 case, then even af6eea06ac setting fire to d4c0b24b30 the garden wouldn’t f50c4c0999 have been enough a913bd9306 to satisfy them.“Damn b5e93e86ca it.”Azaid cursed under 5816fdd954 his breath, frustrated 54a988ed9e by the endless da483e6bed questions with no f4e0ea501d answers in sight.‘She’s b42d91b343 alive, at least… bd688e3caf That’s all that 46e730d2cf matters.’With that, he 856750da3c forced himself to 95ef4cce45 quell the storm 3461d93805 of anger surging e77e18da00 within him. His trembling c7334f849c heart gradually 7374a29422 cooled and ba1667e138 returned to 394235b07a its steady 1926e988b8 rhythm.She was 0ad4640d1a alive. That was enough. He hadn’t been too 06e96f6c05 late this time. Azaid gently stroked Serena’s 0311fb5029 cheek, murmuring softly,“Don’t get b161b78ab7 hurt.”“…”“You’re mine now. Don’t come back 8bc5eb5eeb injured without my 3a08e570b7 permission.”He couldn’t define 6e12efe410 the exact nature aac048426d of these feelings, b5f771dbb3 but one thing 9ab734d12e was certain: Serena 2c3da6a52b had become special 1c861c9487 to him. When he saw 09132ef276 her collapse, he ed47a65342 realized it.The camaraderie c45fa0ac46 he felt toward 77e58241b0 his other four 0166fdf849 friends extended to 45c77ebaf2 her as well.If d565a5db5a it weren’t camaraderie, fd98aaaf1f seeing her injured 6413a3ece8 wouldn’t have pained e61e51bcec him so much.It 1711476cb6 hurt to see d4f278f9ed her lying there. He wished she’d wake 0e8d621c1d up and scold him d9a400d81f instead. Azaid carefully brushed back b156d39cf4 the strands of violet 3af700427d hair that had fallen 450f9b7604 over her face.“Don’t scare 1abd31459b me like that again.”Muttering c86ef27f67 words that she wouldn’t 0b637e7c84 hear, he bit his b7c77b4a1d lower lip. At that moment, a98beac173 Serena’s fingers twitched fe4cc2afcf slightly, and her 42e4ae45bb eyes began to c1804f8714 glisten with tears.“Serena?”Azaid 4599d4cbf0 was startled to fe34258f8c see her suddenly 1eb7f0fcce shedding tears. She frowned deeply, 3d603e284d as if tormented b42e9ffacd by a nightmare, cdc203b3d8 and tears streamed 1b93fbeab5 down her face. Flustered, Azaid used b93db4675c his sleeve to db6331e3a9 dab at her f9d5cd7edf damp cheeks.“Why are 4b49a74a0f you crying?”“Hic… Hic…”“Are 3d8a7ce04a you having a 8db3667832 bad dream?”Despite his 0cdf07fc55 questions, Serena only a1e5aa54d1 sobbed without responding. A strange ache stirred d39148ba71 in Azaid’s chest.He clumsily cd5c50781d wiped her tears over 2a91f16a36 and over, his sleeve b0cefb68ae growing wet from her b1df133f49 endless weeping. Eventually, Serena’s tightly shut d4189bf972 eyes fluttered open.Her golden 56ae68e53a irises, blurred with moisture, 8ce2815cdf landed on Azaid, who a75814ddc4 was still gently wiping 2d964c7c4c her face.Azaid froze, his 9f7ceb0f6e breath catching at the 95f50a777f sight. Her pale complexion 8ae2ebe295 seemed to glimmer dda7e8b4da under the moonlight, 4380ee7570 and her golden e566733aa1 eyes sparkled like 655b5e768f finely scattered gold 219448146c dust.Serena blinked slowly, 10707a6361 her eyes adjusting 3eeab02637 to the darkness ee49ce2255 as she recognized 635b70d73b the figure before 7098c8e135 her.After a brief 6d0696d720 silence, she spoke, 91cd2d938a her voice faint.“Why a45d000862 is Your Majesty f957e55056 here?”• ❁ • 39c1c80f91 ❁ • ❁ 349395aa0b •By Esraa• ❁ 3e2eb73fbb • ❁ • fa8f71499a ❁ •If you d9ce89df91 want to support 7afbedf806 the translation and c2da465f53 the translator, you 4788e79c8a can buy a 727ef8f783 coffee~e66c39091e49f3d0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It was the 76ebf08b1b library storeroom under da79735c08 the librarian’s care.”e95866a5ba7dbcae

“What was she doing 3b3c15f2e6 there?”9a33e7cb9e840dc7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“She went 23cb7b5acb to retrieve f5b1621fe4 a book fd06b50b12 and got 412887567b caught in 6042ba0371 an accident. According to a65a51a520 the librarian, ab618e57d6 Serena froze 60a870bc10 the moment bb23f82d06 she saw e3cd938964 the flames.”56bf13b8879b73b2

“And he just left 4e821deeac her there alone?”56b5d2833aff3bda

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well… He claimed his 9656f3870f first instinct was to d38f55514f extinguish the fire. Being in the 1bc958d603 Duke’s forest, he 7dafb8c635 must have panicked.”031bd270c5233dbb

According to Leonard’s report, f92b35aef0 the librarian had simply 26c721cc55 been inexperienced. But that inexperience fe68c85319 had nearly cost 27183dd7ac Serena her life.The 020ef7f13e librarian had assumed 37ce2260c8 Serena’s reaction was d7171a6448 due to excessive 3708ee46e6 smoke inhalation. Believing she’d be fine 99e286a285 once taken outside, He’d 7380911f69 made the careless decision 390549baaf to leave her to dc5044a2bd fend for herself.While the a411a62cd7 librarian’s response had been fc6919a8b9 inadequate, it didn’t appear de95555556 they had intended to e91de89f45 harm Serena.The Duke belatedly 995eda8252 learned about the fire 4ee7f6d7c5 and began investigating the 8c29c5181f circumstances of the accident. However, he was unaware 0ab8fdd803 that Serena, a key 8713988294 witness, was currently in 7efec32e87 Azaid’s bedroom.Only Leonard and 88b9de552d one person from the d8d8953dc4 Imperial Palace knew of 193515e3e1 Serena’s presence in his 879f2dd439 room. It seemed 2da6316725 that the 43a98554bb librarian, feeling 8cda29a8fa guilty, kept a035f6695e the matter 60272a22c7 discreet to fe0cb54ab3 avoid causing ae287df482 Serena any 787c04af3a trouble.It was 70cc420b5c just an 7f5b86cb45 accident. He knew 7ceffd6e22 that—yet, why 1986ec5943 did he 36fb663172 feel such ecbc16f7f8 uncontrollable anger 99be196a0c rising within b965fc36e7 him?“…Ha.”Azaid let 0efa98be16 out a 99a4167cad frustrated sigh, 27d1fb4590 running his 0bf187a4fb hands over d41917c933 his face. His bowed head and 0abaed8fa7 the labored breaths he 3fbc6263a0 took made it clear 7c7a52475c that he was far 10dd2cb33f from composed.It was strange. Why did c7fbe06269 his heart 26323f21cc feel as 0fb1d43c72 though it beaa4742cc had dropped ffb593732f into a d1acb30532 void?Through his f0afce0359 fingers, Azaid 6aa3376752 gazed at 1a7f6e2d8c Serena’s face. He had 7e2e054352 almost lost e2822aa66d her because 2002ec274a of a f81ec8b7db single moment’s f16823f245 misstep.If he 3b76c2ae57 hadn’t wandered 9977c22e72 off from 0c1133a982 the group 75f208162e and lost 237ea859e5 his way.If ca91702d8f he had 5d53b6d103 simply passed db3e1e8434 by, even d4baff0604 knowing there 4b11686de3 was a 0f76cd054c fire.If he 0580d2b77a hadn’t assigned a46d2bb808 a guard ebd1d37188 to her, f9e404939f leaving him eea513e704 unaware of 50353a5584 the blaze…Serena c06529690b wouldn’t have a5f14d1669 survived.Azaid recalled 57c8925f95 her pained 37028226a4 expression just 8cfce422db before she 7f95204c42 collapsed. The fear 1e2b483cc3 that had b5bf49dc03 overtaken her 923631d988 face was 089b86aa9e unlike her 63cc474137 usual self.What 720f9e8c02 had terrified 9eb3449f4c her so b629454e32 much that 574a91b326 she could a5a11e4edf barely breathe? What had triggered 8daaeba7cf her to act d9a51e75bf as though her 84a52df7b7 deepest fears had d2ad3d6695 been laid bare?‘Could 4cacee43db she have been 234c61cfe0 caught in a 5bad0fcf88 fire as a a81859e6c4 child?’The librarian mentioned 280576f572 that Serena lost bb53238db8 consciousness as soon 007af21370 as the fire 2ce44662e7 began. If so, it was 6c29ce3319 likely that the flames ad22cad7c6 had reawakened some deeply 9ecf390659 buried trauma.The most perplexing 5bffc66531 thing, however, was that 1b8c265609 Serena typically seemed indifferent dabf363d4b to fire. If she 59c6d0ee81 were truly f39e759e58 afraid of a490aa243a it, she 13c19118f6 wouldn’t have 711b9b02c4 been so f6978226d7 bold and 5dfdac6f78 unyielding toward dfb2e3eb59 someone like 0e2798e37e Azaid, who 3ed75cd943 wielded fire a7232409e0 with ease.Her a67d7530d3 reaction this 7eeb8414d6 time was f9b0525cc2 far too 2bcc7df942 extreme to 826f07468f dismiss as 05eb3ceb2d mere primal 24fc3a451c fear. It felt as d66a522dfb though something in 2212e011c6 her subconscious had 11d9c8bfc5 been jolted awake.‘Could 28756deb7e the Viscount Vincent 9ec90fec9d family have abused 474efd85c8 Serena with fire?’If ba7d84ac63 that were the c435ef148c case, then even 03cab791a8 setting fire to c7f0a3a3fb the garden wouldn’t ed79eecfe7 have been enough e513cc1f53 to satisfy them.“Damn 24afe3d983 it.”Azaid cursed under 9b33ecd7fe his breath, frustrated f5f3739a4c by the endless 06ce26c8bb questions with no 2c159a19ba answers in sight.‘She’s de27d62eef alive, at least… fce7adbfaf That’s all that 460b8fc2ad matters.’With that, he 751726b553 forced himself to 28c3bbfaee quell the storm c3fd18abcc of anger surging a821326e33 within him. His trembling heart gradually ed7228c3bb cooled and returned to 15ecb4adf8 its steady rhythm.She was df1a932293 alive. That was enough. He hadn’t been fa6495804a too late this 24d3dcda29 time. Azaid gently stroked 8a6b04ab1c Serena’s cheek, murmuring 292fe2d805 softly,“Don’t get hurt.”“…”“You’re 1851927a45 mine now. Don’t come back 9d0cc86727 injured without my b487feee5e permission.”He couldn’t define 04674b28a2 the exact nature e2bb7de1ba of these feelings, e7789bfba4 but one thing 540ee8b030 was certain: Serena e23e45e6fe had become special c34a2b46bf to him. When he fd4e341d9d saw her b2c793f748 collapse, he 0b262d4e77 realized it.The 847810098b camaraderie he deec260ae1 felt toward 9b6c99b51c his other b6aab0016b four friends 8b599b7a23 extended to 60da1314b7 her as 228ed0cfe8 well.If it e069ecb90a weren’t camaraderie, 7b54dbbc31 seeing her 3724fd221c injured wouldn’t 42edaf7b22 have pained 1962c903d5 him so d848f22af6 much.It hurt 2904e81e5f to see 36d3be8d00 her lying 3150fda7fc there. He wished she’d f5ca4e088e wake up and aef19766f6 scold him instead. Azaid carefully brushed a1d2d8e65a back the strands 18130c2659 of violet hair 3ceddd1d94 that had fallen b7181f2eee over her face.“Don’t 57ed51a5b2 scare me like 4aff03e300 that again.”Muttering words 5837902187 that she wouldn’t 66cc3378f8 hear, he bit aaa4372f18 his lower lip. At that da492bc602 moment, Serena’s 6800a144c3 fingers twitched 17376f11ee slightly, and 2efbbeaa59 her eyes e6867c5812 began to deba7628eb glisten with 70760db41a tears.“Serena?”Azaid was 736a6a4454 startled to ef7a19d188 see her 4eac313b89 suddenly shedding d5fd5fd804 tears. She frowned ef0290126b deeply, as e6e4329951 if tormented 8d14b77816 by a 7cf6ce420c nightmare, and d1bae0f8f2 tears streamed 8538db5a5a down her 91a0c63e96 face. Flustered, Azaid used his dd6afc6ddc sleeve to dab at 61bd6ae274 her damp cheeks.“Why are a874996481 you crying?”“Hic… Hic…”“Are you ccb5a9d67d having a bad dream?”Despite 193c766351 his questions, Serena only 80edcd5b6e sobbed without responding. A strange ache stirred 3bbd179f20 in Azaid’s chest.He clumsily efd1962fc9 wiped her tears over bc171a2a16 and over, his sleeve fd5fb743cd growing wet from her f5e9cb8605 endless weeping. Eventually, Serena’s 301c549b15 tightly shut 80ba3e38a0 eyes fluttered 1ce5ddb140 open.Her golden b5dd5c0b8b irises, blurred e38107be7d with moisture, a7d082f031 landed on bc931ae3cc Azaid, who 5f9adc4de0 was still 3346339254 gently wiping 538b989e5d her face.Azaid 0790b8b49a froze, his 00d2be4f14 breath catching 5cbf519a00 at the a5e67e041d sight. Her pale complexion seemed b52ea8ecbe to glimmer under the 1cb1bfe025 moonlight, and her golden b216a2843d eyes sparkled like finely bc5980d556 scattered gold dust.Serena blinked 588708928d slowly, her eyes adjusting 3039118257 to the darkness as 13ddbe10d0 she recognized the figure ba0cf6821f before her.After a brief 684e8737d9 silence, she spoke, her 0c1f43e87a voice faint.“Why is Your 1e043aef35 Majesty here?”• ❁ • e44be2bee9 ❁ • ❁ •By 4d3da05bcd Esraa• ❁ • ❁ 8dda2a0451 • ❁ •If you b8ab1e6169 want to support the 00358778ef translation and the translator, 070b42ebee you can buy a 61d9635b65 coffee~c182a3b529f046e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

According to Leonard’s 60bc84ad37 report, the librarian 3ac9964dbd had simply been 1d21341d46 inexperienced. But that inexperience 1686a04daa had nearly cost e3014a38b7 Serena her life.ab55f8fa07d5eb17

The librarian 48fcadfed4 had assumed dfec77733f Serena’s reaction 181f28bccf was due 6b966c96cd to excessive 6a7d1c92a5 smoke inhalation. Believing she’d be 501c92c875 fine once taken 52144f788e outside, He’d made 35166b0e68 the careless decision 65d36546c0 to leave her d89510301c to fend for bea8053eed herself.faa546c11c58263d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

While the librarian’s response 3fb04a4588 had been inadequate, it 20338021da didn’t appear they had d4d918a01e intended to harm Serena.57889933fa255e62

The Duke belatedly learned 17009be9d8 about the fire and feaec0d2b0 began investigating the circumstances 01e46f06ee of the accident. However, he was unaware be8062b015 that Serena, a key 3e3f760ca7 witness, was currently in 9464148473 Azaid’s bedroom.7a3c84a230c5192f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Only Leonard 1888611ff9 and one 3b897f3ab3 person from fcfc737836 the Imperial c7de20c7d7 Palace knew 0a434d097b of Serena’s f1285711c3 presence in ca1f586abf his room. It seemed e3d655a797 that the ccaf9959dc librarian, feeling 9f47424b88 guilty, kept f0f8a80ac3 the matter fedbec5a89 discreet to 2c3dd30582 avoid causing 7165c4c2a5 Serena any 7b4824fa4c trouble.c3c660cd78569377

It was just an 5cf59be72f accident. He knew 2eb7422469 that—yet, why 80e1ccb95b did he 265b0611f5 feel such 01954c3938 uncontrollable anger 82ba586f5b rising within c2bc970817 him?612325fd98d3fa4c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Ha.”71e7e716f8f55457

Azaid let out a dbdfa048ca frustrated sigh, running his e07385c436 hands over his face. His bowed f0ecd3704d head and 23639415e0 the labored ae224a0ad8 breaths he 4aa83a146b took made 64accc4537 it clear 60a44126bd that he 171f8a252b was far a5c126a103 from composed.7be3f2014ef8dcd7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was strange. Why did his 4a4c01ebd6 heart feel as e559585e91 though it had a987302a82 dropped into a 60d3f9df58 void?a9b5be09e868b98b

Through his fingers, Azaid 6cfb61b2a0 gazed at Serena’s face. He had almost lost c1e9199712 her because of a e237890546 single moment’s misstep.d0a54840c594f31c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If he 12f33e4dd5 hadn’t wandered 945ac6581a off from 3bb8a305ac the group 2770c3588c and lost aa14c5ff6d his way.249b9e299cca951d

If he had simply 8acd5b4187 passed by, even knowing 30c0baa6f9 there was a fire.f552d17e3fe252e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If he hadn’t 7bf333191d assigned a guard 308c652e67 to her, leaving 9046b7c958 him unaware of ac0b6e3099 the blaze…fe5416675869b3ac

Serena wouldn’t 6fef64128a have survived.63bf007f795d7cdd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Azaid recalled her pained 95e3e871b0 expression just before she 4aa7b12d25 collapsed. The fear that 6da63b1133 had overtaken her d3ea69aa1b face was unlike 99f26aaf3c her usual self.7c271a03f7b0b5db

What had terrified her f84c1b76ee so much that she f61e792fa2 could barely breathe? What had triggered 40df74ef85 her to act 6361461af4 as though her 58eeae781b deepest fears had 94771b4579 been laid bare?8b8e0ba8fd5abca2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Could she have c90be80feb been caught in 9da8086c97 a fire as 167a2b26af a child?’ae95421ea9981fc6

The librarian mentioned that cae740a8dd Serena lost consciousness as 2e2101b046 soon as the fire 12ff44d694 began. If so, it bbc8909eaf was likely that b85828ff63 the flames had 2cd9d7cf14 reawakened some deeply 115d4420a4 buried trauma.d603aaa0783acfca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The most perplexing thing, 0919dacc97 however, was that Serena ee8ccaf5ca typically seemed indifferent to 7f56227c7a fire. If she were fb30a46c10 truly afraid of 4bd9587ffd it, she wouldn’t 1679efa3ae have been so 2c0e012a64 bold and unyielding 66a6cde8f1 toward someone like 4a2e3b7949 Azaid, who wielded 910e1d4524 fire with ease.f3dcb9669979de39

Her reaction b0965e69ea this time ed25988d41 was far 4a90386245 too extreme c8c197edd6 to dismiss 810bdabe6e as mere b47d2c5fa7 primal fear. It felt b665212165 as though 5269b10e7e something in 3928d17aeb her subconscious 4bc5a69015 had been 79c8f8588f jolted awake.3dae5d526506c737

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Could the ef8c2142ea Viscount Vincent eb63b22e94 family have 8d20122a34 abused Serena 3f6a6d223a with fire?’161f9e23c943f039

If that were the 4796e5fd93 case, then even setting 065bd2bc27 fire to the garden 873712eab2 wouldn’t have been enough bc11bf6c69 to satisfy them.e1f02a7d1c892a2b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Damn it.”a22a0c48dcdf315d

Azaid cursed under his 92a36186a3 breath, frustrated by the 6137613070 endless questions with no 7f74e0f468 answers in sight.a82f8b93ac657560

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘She’s alive, at 54d3c05a7d least… That’s all 988ef0fcd9 that matters.’9a1e9b46536c5e0a

With that, he 1231ec8482 forced himself to 38963e6777 quell the storm 2f69eb81ad of anger surging 519c716878 within him. His trembling heart gradually 1c2785f089 cooled and returned to 434f244f12 its steady rhythm.d248136568ff1952

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She was alive. That was enough. He hadn’t been too cd198f073b late this time. Azaid gently stroked 10858ae2f1 Serena’s cheek, murmuring b20d8774e2 softly,a1c47000797a1dcb

“Don’t get hurt.”0634a50b1dac3a9c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”be52912e285b8a3a

“You’re mine now. Don’t come back d362a172a6 injured without my 5d4fc935f1 permission.”0c38f6c60f50967e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He couldn’t define 26652927a9 the exact nature e4008b5745 of these feelings, 9d8d77cb53 but one thing a5af895098 was certain: Serena 5c2c0129b4 had become special bcb717eeea to him. When he saw her a78d484393 collapse, he realized it.5bffd01b469dda99

The camaraderie 796f07e9b8 he felt b9dc7b0415 toward his 21bdc97763 other four eff777de2b friends extended d7588b99ad to her 0e5accee66 as well.affccbc521738bda

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If it 7554d8f6cd weren’t camaraderie, ae05892776 seeing her d3209163c3 injured wouldn’t 299b5a3d1f have pained 2fc7e36b26 him so 8d99a41d66 much.db14bee1c9e40c15

It hurt to see 02945b08f8 her lying there. He wished 3ef270e590 she’d wake 2b63430ffe up and 9caf67a285 scold him 2ed89bc26e instead. Azaid carefully brushed 864b1918ca back the strands 584c7cf85a of violet hair 4a88c86528 that had fallen 5738c314ff over her face.d0015f337cda7de5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t scare me like defa630a48 that again.”d686f7a5b494a5ed

Muttering words that 620c7c6c26 she wouldn’t hear, 154487f9d6 he bit his 1610eb6935 lower lip. At that moment, 4addf08a7b Serena’s fingers twitched ee75426630 slightly, and her e03b5fa118 eyes began to 0aa6f8fd40 glisten with tears.40ac90da14426b1d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Serena?”5fe50065c2a44eb8

Azaid was startled to bc9b285410 see her suddenly shedding f22245fcc9 tears. She frowned f2700c0c10 deeply, as cd28888fb3 if tormented fea94485f3 by a 5e73361ea1 nightmare, and 952329cd48 tears streamed b0115cc282 down her bac6a7ce85 face. Flustered, Azaid 19e09df8c1 used his 2e3c12d4f2 sleeve to b5fa402182 dab at 891f27a3b1 her damp c485d25733 cheeks.592656d79a77d8b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why are you dbae05e1de crying?”9dd6dfe361595ef9

“Hic… Hic…”187da2660523f647

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Are you having dab314bd5d a bad dream?”3326ec0c235a678d

Despite his questions, Serena d78ff50705 only sobbed without responding. A strange ache stirred 5cf852cac3 in Azaid’s chest.14e9797d3052bce1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He clumsily wiped her 891af1d5fb tears over and over, 85e292e951 his sleeve growing wet c309a75f93 from her endless weeping. Eventually, Serena’s tightly 340feeaa76 shut eyes fluttered bc05b1237e open.f2f2c62f6f9e52fd

Her golden 25e6c9058a irises, blurred 1f6b0e9a38 with moisture, 18770b164e landed on 0b98b3c1c6 Azaid, who 1162a00e29 was still be16fb9033 gently wiping 17d30f96e5 her face.26e0c792ea8a44d8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Azaid froze, his breath dd4457633c catching at the sight. Her pale complexion 4a1fad84aa seemed to glimmer 2d3aca9959 under the moonlight, f990bd5232 and her golden a8f85e955c eyes sparkled like aab034b305 finely scattered gold 36964c65a2 dust.000777cf19cc1830

Serena blinked slowly, fb34f2f153 her eyes adjusting 0a8a57d95f to the darkness bcdcdb9ab7 as she recognized 4548188eeb the figure before e7bebdb2eb her.f933f02226ceb578

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After a brief silence, f22ac466e4 she spoke, her voice 9cd3f339dd faint.85536857ded39141

“Why is Your d6f30f72e5 Majesty here?”a0481efdd0b83a42

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

• ❁ • 3cf3876056 ❁ • ❁ 99bed3da68 •By Esraa• ❁ c23812c9fc • ❁ • 8be3d486b8 ❁ •f6993b04904803d0

If you want bf4f41a138 to support the 8f365ba0bc translation and the d59c5f410d translator, you can 6ef451715b buy a coffee~b648c498e0eec327

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com