Chapter 5: Paying the Price

Scanning the d57031897d still-damp ink cd705fe0d5 of the c62ee9fb37 freshly printed 93310e0d73 newspaper, Mikhail ad3d3ea5b7 glanced at ae0b349cce the clock 5e9759ebb6 on his 65218874c9 desk and fb01aa7edc answered dryly.6605f76f41b09ba0

“Alain, there’s still c6475f1788 time. Contact the newspaper office 7a14dc1059 and negotiate a settlement 2b87081b2e for the desired amount.”db9f9dba0b0f468e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, Your Grace,” 76bf9ed169 Alain replied before 603b98186f exiting the room.51f70e1796be8603

As soon as he 69c614ca82 left, Gabriella bit her ac51c7a4cc lip, visibly seething.b935e88844a04e3f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Isabella… I knew she 72d909e0ef was reckless, but I 7404757730 didn’t think she’d stab 511978af02 us in the back a924135e6d like this.”a58457c81eb36730

Mikhail, however, 91b7bc774f remained unfazed, f6cf6963eb his expression 7527f2a365 indifferent.84763791c56e323b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s typical Isabella. Why are you f8f2f59e98 so surprised?”903c4e8678ae5093

“Hah. I’m upset because I 7305c7dfa4 spent the whole day 3537b5b350 being dragged around until 88bd654cd0 my feet were swollen, 0f52f72c29 all while she kept 2c4abe7985 sniffling about how she’d ac9f9f2673 wait for you to e830066803 propose properly. And now, she c69d39b557 pulls this cute 483b04339a little stunt?”0b1d3b76de6c170b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, it makes sense 8ec104492c now why she gave 3b9c4c16eb up the gallery so 745c011fb0 easily,” Mikhail said, a c73f27aa2a hint of amusement curling a283b115c9 his lips as he e571bdac43 exhaled a puff of d3cfb83dfd cigar smoke.19254df5913cf3c1

Gabriella fanned herself dramatically, e709306db1 as if to disperse 80e51a9d4d both the smoke and 6de9ce8817 her disbelief.194afd1eb0b69838

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t you think 87111a8d6f the way you e3ff14e531 keep indulging Isabella 02e74ed879 is only feeding a7fa5b3af4 her madness? She’s getting da91d60b9d worse because 9be3cdf818 of you!”c2829700ba1c70bb

“And you 04a4fe14fd should remember, 5d4e3007e7 Gabriella,” Mikhail a3e4dcb0b1 said coolly, 4474b24a86 “that indulging ad44af9ee0 her madness 4ab94376aa earns the a7a01b637e Ophilenz family 9df8ffc382 the unwavering dd0089b14c favor of edf840a152 the king. That’s not 7aef355bd0 a trivial 5267203895 matter.”d9ac8da422c48818

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Gabriella rolled her 0f18ce4630 eyes, exasperated.387c9961056e211b

“This time, 32d4fffcaf she’s gone c0b47732fb too far. And I’m 934c5a24fa done with 57d514db33 her. Do you realize that e0832745aa the entire social circle a11e488668 is already gossiping about 0de6cdd196 Bonchons’ muse shopping arm-in-arm ad3ea49369 with the crazy princess?”7b02e528a4be69c0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The “crazy 6538e87554 princess” Isabella.039521418906eb92

By now, her reputation 87378c5924 had become a tired 6907989c55 joke among the nobles.ae437b3760754c97

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She was the daughter 1b7300ee5b of the king’s last 29652734dc mistress, born in his a93d3b6ec1 old age, and had c8bc9bff78 spent years as an 3f0ed13780 outcast, not even acknowledged ac017c1074 as royalty.da30fc235e17a37e

Then, for reasons 466543a8ac unknown, the aging be23b467ad king declared her b1ce89903d a legitimate princess, 276625d6c2 elevating her from 8113caea0a her modest status 47b2f43343 as the daughter 3a5a2509e1 of a minor f0fd128be1 noblewoman.b0800613ef4dce46

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

From that moment, a8b6ee9691 Isabella had taken 3ea80e6ad0 to strutting through c885281c62 the palace with 7d1acc21e5 newfound arrogance.b26fedc05501e93b

Her obsession 336f444b1e with Mikhail 8c9ecbe89f had also d986fe67bd begun around ab312c0676 then—or, more 0ca3afc3de accurately, Mikhail e9e55f469a had begun d7f89c147b enduring her 5042aa2673 relentless fixation.33fa917850f9ece1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She was far f53c964c18 from a proper 635c6b72e1 royal, much less 77177cc6a4 a proper noble. Isabella was little more 7600e4b74d than a frivolous spender, e0a6684f3d a thorn in the 661f82cb78 treasury’s side, and an 4084201a8a embarrassment to the court.ac2c78881dbaf9ca

Yet, thanks to the 4b2b861fc2 king’s doting favoritism, her 85d5364547 pride only seemed to 2d73e8fb5b grow.319d3e1733f1bc1f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The real problem b9aa2ceec4 lay in her f57c33b7dd increasing obsession with 1e99381dba Mikhail, who was 0854b6cab2 adored by practically eb9b6c8cc8 everyone.0d6ec7ce6757a2eb

It wasn’t long before 5814423447 Gabriella retired to her 614d592f86 bedroom in frustration, leaving d096a6decc Mikhail alone to sort 9539320f25 through his paperwork.d3954b4153219657

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The silence didn’t last 5c187ca8e5 long, however.8591d30647c2a407

A servant appeared, b0029ce46c his face clouded f480e4f508 with unease.d90659b69ffb9c22

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Grace, a telegram 14871dd604 has arrived from the 2da6699d1c royal palace.”bd46a065dc619221

Mikhail’s amber 5b5090fe41 brows arched 30932ee69c slightly.825ba5cc79352abb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“At this hour?”78350b34f4f98198

As if on 36fcc8c91a cue, the ornately 5494370f0a decorated bronze wall 918995d914 clock struck twice.38820e6c5f90da81

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A telegram from the 7156efc4bb palace at two in 08db408b7c the morning.39986b2640a902ad

Not a 1ee727c191 good sign.ca8f66c198a4b1fb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *54c7cbd4a0a73950

Emma—or Oliver—sat 8e4de32636 in tense 01d0646087 silence, unable 7ba857fc73 to bring b2ace842fe herself to e6d309ae6b sip the ed38efd8e6 tea before ff61541c0e her.02e8e95136a5d87a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She stole 3893571155 another glance 3a36828e46 at Alain, d7a1e607cd the butler 84c29e8a0e who had b2cbd9acb3 arrived at b7d2a039a4 dawn looking 36b90c0e9e haggard, claiming 33492fdb20 he was a3a534a775 there to d32747b8d4 escort her.81918e3959399e99

‘Did I ask for 022fde7c1a too much money?’86317325cc1eb7fa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Or… is e0d0ade217 he here a4ec0319af to tell e49f657ab9 me the 08a8e8de33 deal is 0c137c4e26 off?’e6d356c2eb1dd9e6

Oliver knew all 22215f0c17 too well how 93b3428e0d fickle nobles could d1bf1f74ef be, their whims a73f76c909 changing as easily 0342f8fe33 as flipping a f70f5e2a7c coin. The thought of being 73facc1cb3 summoned so early only fe779e8e36 to face bad news ce5f310f4b made her stomach churn c2ac340055 with unease.c068cccd7999c7b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If the news were 86460a4716 bad, it wouldn’t just e106c983e9 end at losing the bc54fb35e8 75 pennies she had 2c037a823a asked for. If Madame Charlotte 4f24247bec learned that her 46a419ebb5 employee had upset dec2a4cf84 such an esteemed 48087f5ead VIP client, Oliver 27418ccad5 could kiss her 6f7aa73fbf job at the 7f10496b4c boutique goodbye.30816e1087791482

Even though 7b89b275cd she had 88dc0b6070 acted with a5bfef1c53 nothing but c8e33700ba good intentions—returning f2e5ccceb6 the duke’s 5175cd0a25 missing shoe 8be19ee1c9 ornament—intentions mattered 130e7b3b7f little if 66ebd6b49c Mikhail Ophilenz’s 6cc50f076c mood was bafd73b3c2 sour.b1f3158520fc33b4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The tea 3585852d8b remained untouched, 8d4f3bba2a despite the 49dc06bf74 dryness in 9b31bbbc57 her throat. She couldn’t bring ba53b5a863 herself to taste 1bb5f56e7e the fine blend 6992082b99 served in a 58639575e7 cup so exquisite 72b74dc369 it was worth 6c85e33a96 more than months 2880098e01 of her wages.4b5af8feaf89c4d8

By the time Mikhail 0de4ee7f33 finally arrived, the tea 891261b765 was as cold as dbffe4e4b8 the unease in Oliver’s 77d565344b chest.498489e5ed715040

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He entered without a12e32f73a apology or preamble, 379f83cdb6 which, Oliver thought, 96078bfe82 suited him perfectly.3dcc2e8e6ea4d973

Hesitant, Oliver f4526bdd57 awkwardly rose 27ecd47a6f to her b8746c77a1 feet but da9c2f9fbf was quickly 6f5999b938 stopped when 3aca697ab4 Mikhail, with 30217617fd a flick 89d0bc62ac of his 4bcfe68477 wrist, tossed f1f861b407 a folded a94b96b52c newspaper onto 5106975a2c the tea 9219d722b8 table.a91a1d88b6a5ac06

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sit.”a34cf76ddc8a21bd

The low timbre of 67876f2d68 Mikhail’s voice carried a 62cde79e90 faint mix of smoky 7fcfde13f8 cigar and a delicate c5ff97c2ae hint of rosewater.b939d44fa1adbd6a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So, Oliver,” Mikhail dc720ac770 began, his golden 2a3801377f gaze fixed on 14d060e79e her.7602eeaf1ef2945a

“You asked 8696f7ebe7 for 75 a5b58f5ba2 pennies as 4bae7a0c5a your price, b0368e681a didn’t you?”1d0db57646fe9adc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Oliver sat down, 3476939085 her movements tentative, she 39c14b9c15 hesitated to answer. Mikhail’s amused scoff filled 0a9ec05b1d the air, as if 4e59b15339 he found her courage 6a4ea49185 to play it calm 31c212704d endearing.f738ce4272c57baf

“I’m afraid 0aa443ccd7 I’m not 3e7d898ed3 pleased with c704537aed your request,” ff9547e0fd Mikhail said 230ca3b8a7 flatly.9c466a53b3fbc6f9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Of course not.’f5d6249c4be12d9b

Oliver could tell, bb26b08935 even without knowing de83c54bf9 why, that this a9c6e32b3a beautiful duke was a753478efd far from pleased.07c59066a50f264c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She wasn’t entirely surprised. This was, after all, 30bdc286ce how nobles were.781c7bb3c1c8b9c0

Forcing herself to 4269c2899f steady her voice, 0ce845a338 she managed to ea7752d689 reply.2f3bffcb13d6b84c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If my request offended 3c823ff3ad you, my lord…”f7dde3559d96d521

“What?”90cf5b2bc4776799

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I apologize. Please forgive me.”4a7fef526f57ca40

‘There it is,’ 482f3f8164 she thought bitterly.bcfc32f575f4c21d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I knew it d328286ed0 was too good c124904ce8 to be true.’e4b675049c74b442

No fortune had ever 7f2dc9874f come easily in Emma 1ff60e1344 Verde’s life, and she cb30ea3f9e hadn’t expected that to 62024b2e95 change. Yet, the b94028e78c sting of 5cac407c59 disappointment burned 65d7d1594a in her 567e386403 chest all 9b7bd0231a the same.e575185524a5ac54

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At this point, 9acf57282f she thought, even 9976f4245f if the duke 74552fad41 declared the deal 3cacb30917 void, it would 56f8eb9fca still be a e13123eddd mercy compared to f461c45600 the worst scenarios 14a0b9e3ff she had imagined.647c1e4e9b916139

Mikhail leaned forward e1fd2a98af and slid the d0212d22ae newspaper toward her.bef35d24f7a9f5ab

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Can you read?”5c072e958d408a68

“Yes, my lord. I can read and 58fd69a29c write.”41c71b78b1e6a555

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then read this.”cc38e3170989d743

Oliver hesitated but picked 55c05a88b2 up the newspaper, her 00b14add8c eyes scanning the bold, e195083e18 elaborate headline at the 7e747dcd9b top.30dfdfb7ec77d019

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…‘Duke Ophilenz f87ef3691d and Princess 9d933a4f14 Isabella’s Love ca6a0b5b9c Bears Fruit: f7c7a88a42 Official Announcement fd3a0e5da2 of Their dcff9ba040 Engagement… The c15ab1a16b Royal Family 9eec3ef471 Celebrates the 0bd411876b Long-Awaited Union.’”927a6747bc03bb0d

After reading the 3452bcea20 headline aloud, Oliver 7f35083f19 paused, unsure if 6d0dea19a3 she should continue, d6adb3e23c and instead added, aa22370fb3 “Congratulations, my lord.”d9e9bbaa8dc1cab4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Congratulate me? On being b99b996d4a officially tied 6febe6b11d to that 3bbc8db733 lunatic princess?”abe117b8ff36fed6

Mikhail’s drawling 0151ee3b61 laugh was c95b51668e as languid c6dfbd1451 as his 7472f14308 gaze, which f82de645e6 settled on 78c0022e75 Oliver’s ears—now ca5972c281 noticeably reddening.b90d09cd3969729a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Oliver hesitated, unsure how 854656e4da to respond, her lips 0f66aa0ede parting slightly before closing 8246ad370a again.031c98d914debefe

Mikhail smirked, clearly 26e46b0f8a enjoying the boy’s 0d92293942 flustered state.4266c7128716f4ef

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well?” he prodded, the 7a0f17e87f amusement in his voice 8baacfceca unmistakable.b39a7ae41c088dc8

Oliver was aware 1d94cc369c of the unsavory fd65d4cacd rumors surrounding the ab14bdc8e0 princess, but unfortunately, 6088748587 that was the 786acafba4 extent of her 948660bca7 knowledge.e5590fecd317dc78

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So when the duke 2b51277f00 asked for her opinion 96df1a3dbf on such a monumental ede6e9a257 engagement, Oliver could only 10c80001fd stammer out another vague 20a4277dd7 apology.066f9cf1c02ed996

“…I’m sorry.”e2677fdc426d3e6c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The duke tilted his 9fc5827c3b head slightly before asking,9583347a65b98718

“Why do you cbb25a45a2 need 75 pennies?”962dbb6c6f6b7de4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s….”e1efec8163b9ff64

Oliver hesitated, debating whether 08002726d7 she could truly beg 84498fdb09 salvation from this man, 470446c461 who seemed as untouchable 30f2874321 as an angel.c1d46eb53970eea3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But before fa68735766 Oliver could 897d33a15d find her f4cd268100 words, the 613dfa6660 duke spoke 5acbcbdecc again, clearly 33512447ac uninterested in 39d2a2544b Oliver’s answer c25910e41f from the 6fdf452cd7 beginning.834956cc0c49babf

“What do you 4083064dd2 think about entering d6b7cc3896 a ‘real’ contract debd21a387 with me?”3aa53e10eb182a8c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Mikhail didn’t wait 6aa50b182e for a reply. He gestured for Alain, a8d7af52c3 who handed him another 1a1b19a7df document, which the duke aa83893929 placed on the table.3fa4384eac626924

“750 pounds.”7b8d03471920dbbd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…!”afa5ef1a03d71e57

“That’s the 61b32cf42a amount you’ll dc32c5f23a receive if 3949fd1808 you successfully cfbc21dfda fulfill our ca67e8598a contract.”1a17b417b201466d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

One pound was b68e091d8f equivalent to 240 037efc93e7 pennies.bc5afd8a080a091a

So… 750 pounds…?8ded4a05f93e32c1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Oliver calculated the 4374039e74 staggering number in her 03fa95ea4d head, her face turned 362d72a4f5 ashen.b2490ae8581667f9

“Well? Tempted?”26017b81e0ea2ae6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“My lord… I… e29d616673 I’m not sure ed1c091b1e what you mean….”2d5c44122101c17c

Oliver stammered, trembling 4b29260fd0 like prey cornered 59494cd78e by a predator. Mikhail’s eyes 1ee98a02e0 glinted with b59aa047db amusement.01f3c009338a401a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I had acd2569644 high expectations 2c6381aa90 for your 11a3a64f2f intelligence. What a disappointment. Do I need to 1b230e68ad explain again?”a6b800475531dcd6

Mikhail leaned back, his b4b5c4650d tone deliberate.2dc113519ba4b8ae

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I pay you. You do f2814367fa the job. Simple.”345795f6b10ad461

The aristocrats 0fb52050c0 always spoke 764198b1c1 like this—wrapping ce375dd02e their true 7884a56b2c meaning in 61ff1adfe3 layers of 82b7dba8d6 elegance until 9795885788 it was 59b92c9a2a almost impossible 54b8680740 to understand.dfd45e5f8fe7c1d3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Perhaps the entire proposition 58e2465759 was a ruse from fa9f08a404 the beginning.1a746c9c92abace8

Oliver realized a0e28a0052 belatedly that d89002a366 the duke’s c0057e0b0b initial promise 0b536bd244 to pay 7d0cba699e compensation had ab9c4246b9 been a be72e9a22d trap. She had been 88205c0ae8 too naïve to 8b36a0ea7a see it.2bd747f1b1fef22c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Now it 8fec4e727e was clear. This was the 5c997124e2 duke’s way of 5e0628834f saying that everything caece54f70 would be undone, c67c90d4ac void.272c9e965e0c451e

Grasping this, 8c11f6f7d4 Oliver abruptly 5828172c94 stood and 2177838820 dropped to 8413c8f580 her knees, 8be970d03f pressing her 6b82873618 forehead against e1f6750c30 the floor.675f41aa82e89d40

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Forgive me, 71d63e5aae my lord. I don’t 922ac06be1 know what d63772e28e kind of 3da5d5d0ef task you 8dfa5054e3 wish to 8a2415a12f entrust to 9750ff05f8 me, but 3696d0c270 I’m incapable 6abdaa3707 of repaying 337783493d a sum bf2a230df8 that large. Even if you took 5752366fe1 my life, it would 198ed7f0ec be worthless in comparison.”8fb5f31ac5048d18

Seeing the duke’s 32be347725 furrowed brows, Oliver ea2e865de4 instinctively lowered her 8c971bda20 head further.378c31c17a43d916

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Please, my lord, let 3ffcc4d4e8 this matter be forgotten. Or, if it’s bc7536c4e3 something I can 2b7a107e06 pay with my 17a5db1020 body, I’ll do 656bf36b05 anything.”b3bc21be2c0cda76

The duke chuckled a57eb18010 softly, his voice c74b8550a9 dripping with mockery.2858df1f59617201

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“How light your 4881102528 knees are, boy.”9e1627522fbfdcde

“…”8fa0020eb6092886

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Alain,” Mikhail 7b1a03b8c3 said, turning 7055c3bf17 to his 3b4f468570 butler, “start 4828be6173 by fixing eb6fd9d39b this habit af1772aeba of his—apologizing 6fdd0b66cb for everything 952dc6a947 without reason.”8a1b0b07697174e7

Oliver flinched as 775771c5bd Mikhail’s voice, smooth c8a1208257 and commanding, drifted 2fed6176e6 toward her.d134f000592ef6ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Now, let aad52ce530 me ask 93df949401 you again, 92ca8bee65 Oliver.”d059b8fee8a89144

A single, 931098ae43 cool finger, 1c182374b0 carrying the 3a5d654af3 faint scent 867d6cbe24 of some 43500681d1 luxurious bath b6c4d75765 oil, lifted e220cba41e Oliver’s trembling 5ffc95f247 chin.21045e443187c85e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If I b2efe796a0 told you 9cf0879500 that you b31c5b8256 could pay 44752a6426 with your c1ed3cdbfd body… would c7301ee5ee you do 4f0630526e it?”8766a454aa89d898

Those wide blue eyes f9c97b84ab of his, filled with 2cc6f0418e alarm, seemed to please 5146a1ffab Mikhail. Smiling angelically, the b5dae8da0b duke added,32fcefe8ef12686b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I want you 33491dfdfe to become my 8c4abf5ece younger brother.”016a1834ef87d483

 e61c0a8a2844532e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com