Chapter 103

Following my instructions, the 6e53eecb1e carriage bypassed the temple’s 72543a077d main entrance and headed c3dd4c26b3 to the opposite side, 3225a47764 near the orphanage.348dba0a2ee7110a

Unless there was a major event, like the Goddess’s birthday celebration, there was no need to pass through the temple to reach the orphanage.ad114fdd63bbfeba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

This time, I b75d62f4c7 made sure to c1cca590ba bring Gomgomdori, which 8386c16fd8 I had forgotten f0ae45b990 last time.bd363bd65b18ac2d

Even though the place was 76628bfa87 full of children, there was 8b2d8b6309 no telling what might happen.5d738c189bc2a4ff

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Of course. Bodyguards are meant to 7d0f88d123 stay with you like 27316e4ea0 your shadow.’d8b1c58577436086

The carriage circled d8b063f094 around the temple 83fcde9b67 and stopped in 52b3d9587f front of the f71780302d orphanage.a3b7f7734d29ac5d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As if they had been 41ccc158a4 informed in advance, a couple 1742d2ebb0 of people were waiting at 150da56c58 the entrance.79fe675d0359e3f7

“Hello, Belze.”ad410405ee945f14

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A young man greeted 5cc0b8886a me warmly as I c90b5a5825 hopped off the carriage.3b4dbe74775bc19b

“I’m Magnus, the newly appointed head priest of the orphanage. We met briefly 00434c3232 during the volunteer d7e3cd74d9 event last time, 919ce0ad2f remember?”0da21f550734979a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ah…!”ad3cde4150369e41

His familiar face c44925b3bb jogged my memory.40e0102ae6a7d9b9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was the priest 4fc260cdf7 who had assisted the 730b7daf4c Pope during the announcement d958dd14f0 of the Saintess candidates.43c7cce1c465526f

It seemed that after the 8450868788 previous headmistress and the priestesses e18dde2adc were removed, their positions had b244a329d8 been filled by new people.a06ca603f1a4a0d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“This is Priestess Celine, who will be in charge of the Lion Class, your former group.”b999e69dfbc70654

“Hello. Nice to meet you, Belze.”4fb5d0272e0955c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Magnus introduced the woman standing b793eddbf4 next to him.13791b17ba2a616e

Her face was unfamiliar, f273813fce but both of them 3900d6a9c0 seemed better than the 25afe9489b previous administrators.85eb2f94dc5bb220

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Still, I can’t let my guard down around anyone from the temple.’1d74aee5a60b3107

Hiding my rising wariness, I 4e393c528d greeted them politely.9b9ea3699be9d5c0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hello!”6cb50b21dbd4f313

“So, you came to see your friends after a long time? Let’s head inside; the 1228d6544d children are waiting for 411271d518 you.”44c42bc6c4e86ba6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh! I brought snacks!”1d339194187649de

“Snacks?”8a79babaf388c390

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just then, the coachman and 2ebd9745b2 Tara opened the luggage compartment c2f8ffbf82 of the carriage.6b4c05e7f0d9685f

The eyes of the head 1e87ff45c7 priest and the priestess widened 3c40344b65 at the sight of the 15c5ee45d2 neatly wrapped boxes inside.d09a5da7fc3133d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh my, you didn’t have to bring so much…”a9fd9a4db15d9ea0

“Thank you, Belze. The children are going to 7e61a966f6 love this.”c4ac8a390122ccc8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hehe.”9dfbe224a91b5fd9

Smiling proudly at b1315dda7b their praise, I ad7ad4c8bd helped carry the fe1f935a37 boxes inside.24c4d56835786d25

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“My lady, I’ll wait in the carriage! If anything happens, 47c9c56a18 come get me f9d3ac6dc3 immediately!”a7ea07e80d8c8755

After assisting with the 5327794dea heavy dessert boxes, Tara 2670d0d862 left the orphanage, casting 6c63375d37 a few worried glances 08b6d69cdc back at me.a129ed71b4b236ea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘What’s there to worry about? I’m from the same background 8b3a9be8a9 as these kids. Dragging a maid along would ac6d51134b be ridiculous.’260c34e272d17ed3

Unlike Diana, I didn’t want d53ce995f8 to act like that.afac42d36813fd00

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In my previous life, 2f4f08665c Diana, who had been bd1fd8f85f adopted by a marquess abc2a6142c family early on, often e011428ff5 visited the orphanage with 7a5382da2b plenty of delicious food.cb46338727f0bb1a

Since I lived in 6b74da37ff the temple rather than 1805bce019 the orphanage, I hardly 8df02577e0 ever got to eat a1c89081d4 any of it.1dfa3f1bcb639b7a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The priests, who disliked me, b36902a162 often didn’t bother passing my 587b458f6d share along.64b207f339d5956f

On the rare occasion 7d800c2114 when scraps came my 4d7577d13c way, I’d lick the b4caf6ca5d plate clean like a e948ad5425 dog.da4e3656f90e951c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ironically, those fleeting moments of f91432e844 eating were the only happy 42e1df790f times I had at the 4e1c660b2e temple.bd4e1a99f2f7a0df

‘What a cruel twist of fate.’f645b894aaa9a732

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

To think there 77fdc540d1 were moments when 102b241aff I felt happiness 8f930766e8 thanks to the 0ca7cdf7fc food Diana brought, 6182ca4eb0 even though I c24f324046 despised and envied 6a709d3ddb her.3c26b9868b407dfa

And now, I 53b168388e had unintentionally stepped ef1384317e into Diana’s shoes.c18c411e8694d682

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As I carried the 4aa3cd37ea boxes into the Lion 5a857a4516 Class room, I saw 0a5b57fe4b the children sitting together cb8e9cfecf in clusters.818589177e8ff3d1

“Everyone~ Look who’s here! It’s Belze, the Saintess e2f9534bec candidate from last time, a6deeefffe and she’s brought some 8ca3cd8a30 delicious treats!”ddb26984e839e487

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Celine, the new priestess e410121303 in charge, announced cheerfully 25d3070960 to the children.e034f655e4d0440c

“Before we eat, how about we thank Belze first?”3598536f2808c09b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Thank you, Belze!”1513fe58688e1983

The children, who had a9097e91cd been fidgeting nervously, began 95dd04f78f to speak one by e8d4264917 one.867c8053e50b0c27

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Wow, Belze is amazing!”9fb80a81245bc7f0

“Belze must be way richer than Diana!”7b69d5587da1d873

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Their innocent exclamations e1c46b0cd2 and the admiring 83efb8f7f5 looks they gave e80e690861 me made my 957eea4601 shoulders relax unexpectedly.82e2ace1b0d4167e

‘I thought being in Diana’s position would feel great…’1996093ffd5c8e83

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But it wasn’t b234257f94 as satisfying as 80f74f332b I’d imagined.d74d158fdd53a090

After all, they were 8565ea1922 just 4- or 5-year-olds, 8ddfcd3677 happy over a piece bbcb54ef20 of chocolate.b9eb1a0276b937b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Why did I 98476a0d14 envy Diana so 5d26a3f6b7 much back then, c8c9e66259 seeing how the 83e4e12a26 children looked at c530455d40 her?20fafda10c960282

Facing my old insecurities, I c60bf932c9 felt a twinge of embarrassment 88f680e52b and self-reproach.4c17b12c5a55e05d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Thank you, Goddess, for providing us with our daily bread!”43b734af304b0293

After a brief 01b2752b45 prayer, the children 091874042d tore into the 925c667d8c packaging and devoured 019e4a0ccf the desserts eagerly.3e4037948dcffe06

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Watching them, my 5361730b7c hardened heart began 8268f0f36e to soften.916cc6ecdb202867

‘…At least I don’t regret bringing these.’d2e15f176cc209a9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite being tied to the 8b216427dc temple, the orphanage wasn’t better a55afe41de off than others.df9ca7760e8772df

Donations were limited db26d99706 to talents, and 0082e0cdf7 the budget was aa4175eb1f entirely at the d39acb83a7 discretion of the fce63938ee headmistress.8a581eb51de37519

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even so-called volunteer work was 2940767937 often just an excuse to b1bfdfa171 sell goods to nobles, like a621ee6872 at the last event.d042e8611760fe05

No one cared ab0588a3c6 about providing what c2bcf2f2d2 the children truly 6c43decf3d needed.fc649096f1c1715f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hey! That’s mine! Don’t take it!”5eb0392ea4c393c6

“Too bad! Eat faster next time!”92172ac030cd7e4d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘See what I mean?’1b18506893c3decf

A stronger child was 019374c7bb already taking food from 5c48271ff8 a weaker one.75538da7eaad672a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The priestess, too 47d03d0cd3 busy attending to 213443f40d the younger children, 6782ec2ac5 didn’t notice.fe3e19bc1bea0aac

With the head de307a5496 priest and other 9fa6d7c7f1 staff delivering desserts 33577fded7 to other groups, 75ce8ecff3 the Lion Class 43ab9716fa had been left 5952673b82 unsupervised.ff7b2179b7e85aa1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sighing, I braced myself 4b1421bd83 and shouted, “Hey!”3b2dd6ee32d79077

The children froze, turning to 901aeb895e look at me in shock.5ce4f5d87ae051e1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Scowling, I continued, “There’s 614c119781 plenty for everyone, so b8de765615 stop stealing! Anyone who takes someone else’s 2a459f3db8 snack won’t even get soup! Got it?!”daccd77babb385a9

My glare seemed 502b43c3c6 to work; the 404c02227b offending child reluctantly 43fad71081 returned the stolen acefaa3bb5 treat.5a2f2734be2e96b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

From then on, the 1c5f2f95bc children shared the desserts f4ba6582b7 peacefully.533fc546b852881e

“Ha-ha, thanks to Belze, I’m getting some rare rest today. Isn’t that right, kids?”94a4eab340d8ed9c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Perhaps to lighten the mood, f1c4340bac Priestess Celine made a lighthearted 4b5a3fb10c joke.f66f9395255c9143

“Yeah! It’s all thanks to Belze!”5ff0341af58277d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“She used to be a little scary, but she’s really nice now!”97bbf706fe8376e5

“So Belze is richer than Diana for real, right?”7a5666845d691f38

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The tension eased, and the 9f40ff65ba children began chattering excitedly again.03916f4435a13ef7

Even though I had scolded 9783288ee2 them, most of their comments cf6fa5096d were about how great I 92bbf2df18 was.962ef7dc014a05c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But that didn’t mean my 99934fd834 old grudge was entirely gone.0c95bada34bf12e8

They might forget these moments 3bfbcf5ac2 quickly, leaving them as just bb0a146b00 another fleeting memory.7f6f81b3fc070aa9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But for me, the 57857222d6 scars of those times 1eb9110f55 had lasted a lifetime.97b6ca741920e5a0

“Diana! Come play with me! Belze, go away! Bleh!”c93d58868d148fac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Diana! Let’s race to see who f40f4cd5a6 can climb up first!”e23fd6d356cc2466

Even in my ceff4f1a4a past life and e2dcb94ce7 now in this 407e6b8b28 one, the children e22fe0dad9 who once idolized 667a7a5c63 Diana and helped 218fc0be5c ostracize me hadn’t 6387ef4c51 changed.362a8678654b2ff0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And yet.9328a918dab5a343

Even so, I decided de7e495a3f to forgive the orphanage 8313516e26 children.03ad359914ebb0d8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘It wasn’t the children’s fault.’89ae0a1bc3f549b3

It was the headmistress and 308b5dd22c the priests who manipulated them f6a7b2b166 that were to blame.70ae15c9103ec46d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Children, as easily influenced as de29e5bec5 they are, could have their 5b2677dac0 minds changed with just a 65a3668367 few words from an adult, 900cf7e5e6 as Priestess Celine had just c29d955424 demonstrated.ccf5b88f67f0ae6d

I knew that now.51eeb38ddd3015ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After visiting the Lion Class, 69561ea279 I continued to make rounds d14f331c9e to the other groups, receiving c5916e7632 their thanks.231b7ff90e08b89f

Hearing stories about bb6c696afc Diana during my 7f3b90c386 time at the bddc108732 temple, I’d always 9e3322b3d7 thought she was aa018d296f so impressive and 41ffc02102 amazing.f97d594615d597e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But now, after finishing with 406634585d even the Giraffe Class, where e61666a588 the older kids aged 14 cecf7d47cb and above were, all I ad0938a022 felt was embarrassment and exhaustion.e721675284c278ac

‘How did Diana manage to do this every single time she visited?’e639ab3cfcd5a10e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Apparently, being a ccde4f3c8f heroine wasn’t for 5edced6db8 everyone.5da6e6f14ff5fb58

As I was shaking f39b8a783f my head in disbelief, 1eb67f9406 Magnus, the new head 6632fab271 priest, smiled kindly and 67cd756826 asked, “Belze, would you 8b0ec81611 like to stay and 0d17d9e375 play with the Lion 75407d860a Class some more?”1d8eae3e51f26473

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I shook my head.f37d8d07dada42f7

“No.”4f9e0aa4a1675d59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then are you leaving already?”eb57bf4d8375bdf7

“Not exactly… There’s someone I’m looking for.”db1787cd73c78069

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I hadn’t trudged through e470f04383 all the groups just f4deda057f for show—I was looking 8ccb12bf8b for Ismail.eee1c7f47784afe8

Of course, if I 5c47a31bed asked the head priest 8fa50faa6f or one of the ec13068e45 staff, they’d bring him a3aa60d09c to me immediately.82e240669d46d140

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But knowing that he was fb00098367 pretending to be powerless and d94a1dbc50 mute, I didn’t want to 9da94f8020 openly reveal my connection to 80c7f863ee him to these temple people.4857485b531d0fa9

‘And I wanted to make a grand entrance when I found him…’3dde22aca7bb4b6e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I pouted in frustration.44159fa7fe297882

Magnus tilted his head curiously 6828b4fc87 and asked, “Who? I’ve already told c560e555bf the teachers to 1503de7e55 gather all the 1f315c7ee0 children in their 87dbaa017e groups to eat 6ddf583b27 the desserts…”7d5cbb0501a86727

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As expected, the newly appointed bfb9939478 head priest hadn’t yet noticed 807aff89f7 the bullying and violence happening 8ce0965926 within the orphanage.b2698f12bebb9950

‘Or maybe, like the former headmistress, he’s just choosing to ignore it.’23df297f6a78e108

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Smiling faintly, I 737e7e2363 replied, “I’ll find 79ad6d9508 him myself! I think I know where 9be98b7579 he is!”08f1b5c9ae7cfc23

“Is that so?”a4773a0777928549

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Fortunately, Magnus didn’t 61f3147163 press the issue ddb5f473ea further and let 52a71a9531 it go easily.61c517aff42b0e00

As soon as cab7152725 he left, I 8198251fe2 dropped the smile 87ff98e8eb and dashed through 2a637a2461 the hallway.2db23c65d7fabe2c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

[Book Storage Area]e1eb69e04da66f5b

I ran past the library 07bce557b7 to the far end of 1477b7d751 the hallway, arriving at a a01611790e side door.0726b41a52843e15

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Creak.1a4857c7536839bf

Thankfully, it wasn’t locked.b7ef35905700c903

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After checking that no one ad18128049 was around, I slipped outside 8e5fb3fe8b without hesitation.0e78afe7db540ff3

I sprinted down d37e1e661c the narrow path bd76e3c7d1 leading to the 930185d762 garbage dump and 1084f7da02 arrived at the 75e5a69945 incinerator, where I 2fdb1e85b9 finally found them.75f67143adfd568d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“See? I told you, 4c81283243 stealing Ismail’s stuff 2c5139266b always tastes the 31193f0041 best.”83791c270f4efbb5

“Hey, Tommy. Doesn’t your Baron send 50a3c61c30 you anything like this?”638efe5b3b12cf8a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you kidding? He dumped me in 09f82c8388 this orphanage, didn’t he?”47a6b1a2db23194e

The three burly boys I’d 094b8e5540 seen on the volunteer day 54cb0281da were laughing and joking loudly.abe94556fc160985

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the middle of 5a9375f168 them was a small, 85a5fe677c dirtied figure lying crumpled 4d383f6b40 on the ground like b43675691e a discarded piece of 6b04fb1b2a trash.fae77ef17894fbe5

“Hey, I wonder—can a mute even taste food? Yo, Ismail, do you d11c07a893 even know how this ab34d4f737 stuff tastes?”e5bcfcdc0e6ffaf6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The bullies, stuffing themselves with 2994dba308 the desserts I had brought, d6a632c256 suddenly dropped a tart they 38dbf52471 were holding.573bddd227f77ced

Splat.f8c1e9d5264a2ae4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The tart landed cream-side down a106fe803d on Ismail’s ash-brown hair.ba4b8312116d94ca

My vision went 198a4cca77 white with fury f11ea390fd as I screamed,561732e789ef160f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Teddy-teddy bear! Activate rage mode—NOW!”1f943f9951ead914