Chapter 90

The Duke’s gaze 981199499e flickered with curiosity.2a901c135156fbf3

“When exactly?”55db25a1e9ec61a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I knew it—he’d ask that! Good thing I remembered every c5f16ab6a3 detail just in case he fe54fce526 forgot or tried to deny 10da83107e it later!f67681bc93777045

“On the morning five days ago, right before I left for the temple’s charity event!”4b43dfb039f7ed4d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

***da0e4b4a495ef225

“I was… uh… making things. I just used a little c5bb8b4dff bit of what’s growing in 8e8a7b8e35 the Duke’s gardens…”df7d1efc2123e7f6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Rest assured, I’ll set an appropriate usage fee!”7ca09754431778fe

“Do I look like someone who would scrape for your petty change?”1dfc6196e54d38b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I look forward to seeing how much you think is appropriate.”7118e0e31046621e

***e19ce429d77f9ef1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Recalling that conversation word d879e319fe for word, I replied 1f3da857b1 confidently, “I promised I’d 1b3332ebf4 set an appropriate fee! And you even b50fbee8a5 said you weren’t 427c877a83 interested in petty f7bed9e0f9 change!”381d4551c934293e

“Not quite. What I actually said was, 28f976b5b8 ‘Seems like you’ve made quite 90b9ce2823 a profit. I look forward to seeing 9572c1405c how much you’ll offer.’”2d39ea92a1b40e4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Wha—?!” I yelped, my jaw dropping.656ee63b354dfa2a

‘Wait, so he remembered everything all along?!’89e0e175ffed4bc6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke’s innocent expression as 152962bb49 he pretended to know nothing 34b3a7634b sent a shiver down my f1ca7bb2f7 spine!9d3c8cd050dba64d

“Is that… so? My memory must be hazy…”ae00c37ab85564d8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I quickly feigned 63ebacf42a ignorance, following his ae907175b2 lead. The Duke merely 54d16e1564 chuckled at my c3dd937880 act, thankfully without fa8788cc20 showing any signs c05c01b717 of anger.5ce3588a0e870c8e

“To use a legendary herb and then settle for just 476 gold—it doesn’t seem like a fair trade.”d14766dfb186638f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”19aeb239ee6eaea4

He wasn’t wrong, and 808dfb1343 it stung.41f30c126c02af4e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Honestly, I could have 5c001932df made far more by 6e3e6fc819 selling each herb through 5cf8741f83 the Duke’s trading network, e2a98da01e where they’d fetch hundreds a88eb83da3 of gold coins apiece.2333526259fdb7ea

But the losses had been af3543adb1 high due to transplanting and 6a71a99e73 developing products, so I had 0ea7d341b4 to start small.476bb92f8a046070

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even so, I had 82f7042636 achieved a major milestone.4144700e3a4c9128

“Of c-course, that’s not the end of it!” I exclaimed hastily.0f2a23fb77a606d0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Grandpa successfully propagated the fairy herbs!”4c323eeeeef7c456

“Propagation?”78c448d61b9b7679

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes!”8f40f26ecd64c55b

Finally, genuine interest sparkled e567fbbc71 in the Duke’s eyes.da14162d296bb2b5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So, with that in mind…”134bc6b480d7b66b

I seized the ddf21e353e moment, pulling the c8a4f91691 476-gold pouch back 4e196af49a toward me.5d4bc4ea48c4c01b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why don’t we skip this small change and consider it an investment instead, Your Grace?”838bcbc52a05e77e

“Hmm.”2ec607366d277d2c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Duke stroked his chin, c25b304c6b then looked at me sharply.bf8eec0150bc2bae

“Do you have a business plan?”24814edc50319f6e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We’ll set up a store on Main Street! That’s the plan!”1dffcd85db1d3ea4

“M-Main Street?!”e7829e085fa2001a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Grandpa Gordon’s eyes widened.3f141b7efee9d8d7

“That’s… the most expensive area in the capital!”adc3c07c169e990d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He was right. There was a fe7e33b380 rental concept here 395c605471 as well, and a41cbd03a7 I’d recently asked 00eb9d4d77 the butler about a42ec14ce7 the current rates.8665be5567bbc381

Naturally, buying a building 6254dcaf45 with 952 gold coins fc27418cc8 was out of the 9a5f07c8ef question.684ca12039b1b3bf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even as a deposit, 40f2de9e6d it wasn’t enough.bb718289bde836af

I let out a sigh fed8631ba9 and admitted, “I checked recently… 563e90d4ea We’re about 500 gold short 071fe8834c for a deposit.”5b90ffaf40ccc049

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even if I used c3c0509d85 all 952 gold, it 6e6b8cb6a1 wouldn’t cover it!ed2693e4829e7b1c

‘Why is real estate always the biggest problem, no matter where you are?!’573a4665c5f32fea

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At my words, the fbd04cf213 Duke murmured to himself, a4faf1391b “So that’s why the 689b40b892 butler asked if I a89c99a82d had any vacant properties.”8eb027ac7c915db0

I lifted my head, eyes 24ff14dfcb wide with anticipation.4f3ad41095097b99

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Wait… could the Duke be a property mogul?!’3d642a932006f8d0

It made sense.0c8ebaeca2827cb8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With the powerful 835900a279 Kallios family’s influence 57b924b2d8 over the empire, 46ec5ca8d1 it would be 1e8f8c5694 strange if they 573f2fbccc didn’t own a 0566f7ac4a few buildings in 864be06f86 the capital.9d302f024ee2d54a

I gazed at fb765a1d1b him hopefully, my e52388ae19 eyes sparkling.fd8d032b61162f14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

However—b9dbd8afb3ea4d6b

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any vacant properties available.”238ad7c6c49742f0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke’s tone was 0a4b4705ca cool and detached, drawing 95ca23ac77 a clear line between e49a2bbe6e business and personal matters.f1f163308fe4d389

I slumped, disappointed.bfa0e548bc5b5a66

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then he offered an alternative.7110398e2c6f420b

“If you’ve succeeded in propagation, why not just sell the herbs directly to raise the funds?”f094b84b802c01f2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“N-no, that’s out of the question!”e7cbbbe07a1acef5

“Why not?”c81b53ffd7bc8585

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What if someone else succeeds in transplanting them, just like Grandpa did?!”f60d649c98623e20

“Ah, so you’re aiming for a monopoly.”b0e9555d2a56e7ba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke nodded in approval, 998e28fda3 smiling as if he was 3dd5b705a0 pleased.262c8c6fa8e6fa7c

‘Stop smiling and give me some of that property mogul power!’b2c8acf3e9bcaa5b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As I anxiously 6bea979e12 pondered his response, 80079febc9 Gordon chimed in d1db088430 beside me.26fa5028b325e784

“Your Grace! Think of the time we’ve e4f353ec8c known each other—can’t you help ed3f1397b1 just this once?”3d1fbc1cc91e0083

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Duke’s reply was frosty.cdca1f5fdd46f656

“Ridiculous. Since when have I known d3cf4f0a68 you well enough for that?”18668b55bc9ccbdf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

More shocking than 3e1c4b12ce the Duke’s chilly 4e07a4d198 response was how a5c070cc99 unaffected Gordon seemed.277f8f6441f6e731

“Ahem. Well, that may be be795cec2c true… but still, Your d956f4c896 Grace, must you be 8d19e10086 so stingy?”1a1cee53ab30dc34

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Enough.”64c8da236feac252

The Duke dismissed Gordon’s grumbling 3b97a62980 without a second thought, then 525a0ab221 turned back to me.19618ab3e829cf32

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Investing 500 gold isn’t particularly difficult… however…”b095c03d06917651

“However…?”d0cdc32adb1cb7b6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Before I could ask c7708707b4 him to clarify, the accf2f1155 Duke gestured to the 6f3e729ec1 butler, who handed him 75506d32a8 a piece of paper 066a71aa51 and placed it next 0f956ab8c1 to the pouch of 469fa4d1a7 gold.90279e13e3c6a927

“Read it, Belze.”0edc0b8b81111636

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What is it?”cf80e5fb8a3458f7

“A document from the royal palace addressed to you.”75be6825bffc32e6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“A document…?”5b3ac2d230a3f1d7

I looked at the paper ce73a7fd8e in wide-eyed surprise.b4080334b98c58b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The stiff, high-quality sheet e5aa8cc33f was covered in tiny, b19685a1f4 neatly printed words.b2bef63fd1e8204e

“Children’s Business Competition… winner?”61244a0bb0652e90

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[Official Notice of Award for the Children’s Business Competition]*8bc85b0e37796d7e

Recipient: Belze0308c45fac21f99d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

You have been dd2b6a7bc9 awarded first place 7076f3b899 in the ‘1st e22f8116f0 Children’s Business Competition’ 3fd213fe4a held by the b52bc4480f royal palace.ddf46ffc3c5f90ff

Please visit the palace fcbed460fc at the specified time 0af88b78ad with your guardian (Name: 4edd89839b Grandpa Gordon) to receive 7d9e883995 your award.393389c5c90e8acc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For a moment, I e66b259975 could hardly believe what 295b0b1c26 I was reading.2f1ea0c41079f09b

I had completely forgotten d45cdd8b69 about this!37b9203ddca5cdbf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The palace is hosting an event to scout for young talents with unique products or strong business skills. They’re offering prizes!”5c82474262f0443b

“Sign me up immediately!”c98bab3ffddd90fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Back when I went to ae3e12a8f9 the Merchant’s Guild to register 42a1680ad0 my trademark, I’d also submitted 6072ceed0e an entry for this competition. But how on earth did 0b0d5f2305 I end up winning first 473d8efec1 place?36521dbebf6bcff2

As I stared at the 34fd502ad0 unexpected award letter in confusion, 650b4bf385 the Duke murmured in a 8d740877dc somewhat sardonic tone.24e9c530e4975710

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“From what I hear, the first-place prize is exactly 500 gold.”7ab2b7c5814814e1

“5-500 gold?!”19d63d5bdc9a026e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Startled, I quickly a246144d0d checked the visit 0d5453264a date at the 57e4eb0e1b bottom of the fe7414f7ba document. It was… tomorrow!1a63001d6e75cbc9

‘Amazing! I barely lifted 6faae59aaf a finger, and 6bb09b260e 500 gold is f8ac1d2962 falling into my 3505746307 lap! Is this some sort of 7f1cf86949 sympathy buff for poor villains?’d49bc1c3a7493063

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Still in disbelief, I 02c8b7c63d blinked at the document.0a13f34c82ef0ac7

“Tsk!”87f9cb9e32d55423

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Grandpa Gordon clicked 0261120fa5 his tongue loudly b74e6148ba after reading the 7a2bb693d0 notice.7dd1f6a12659d078

“You brat! What’s with calling f7d26ad08d me ‘Grandpa Gordon’ 112c9ba5cb as your guardian? How many times have 4ea867de22 I told you, it’s d41a718342 Gordon Fellirace!”6605640c31265257

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Indeed,” the Duke agreed with a faint smile, as though his earlier prickly tone had been a mere figment of my imagination.d08365ac4a7d33f7

“It’s unfortunate, Belze, that your guardian is an old man like him.”313ce8fba29ac1bb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”06ad28d28858a336

He continued, a serene smile 200fed905c on his face, “A man 552fd507c5 with no properties to lend b2e10a0b09 you a vacant storefront, no b4477f7c7b 500 gold to invest in 93ceb42496 your business, and only one f575bcdead patch of fairy herb fields—which ee130420b7 he might even lose to 7733131ea8 me…”de2c17bef5d8dc1c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”6dbfeb7a5577990d

“It’s a shame your guardian is none other than this Gordon fellow. It pains my heart, truly.”23922c704e131e69

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Finally, it dawned on me 5952c9333b why the Duke had been a78ce4d36e acting so coldly toward me 786cc57224 today.2d3a7c7744159727

‘…He’s sulking.’627ea2ec05884db6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A brief silence fell over eb51e702c9 the study.b009afcd72e22463

After a long 4a034b0b7c pause, Grandpa Gordon, f7b0a8f9de looking genuinely hurt, e9917439f5 mumbled with tears 65e1c9207f welling up in d4b34ad351 his eyes, “…I, 3efff96cdc I refuse to 768817a711 be her guardian 67ed27de11 anymore.”c763787dc7dcba9e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Steward,” the Duke responded, as if he had been waiting for this moment, accepting a piece of paper from the butler.7cacc2200dbc2a6d

“Then sign here to make it official.”e2d38b75415f8368

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *f63a69986c3d5583

The next day.4cc2c4c891d48cd5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke seemed unusually cheerful.8a8ff57106f1798b

“Ah, the weather is splendid,” he remarked, spinning in place as soon as he stepped out of the carriage, then strolled over to me with a light step.1bfe5cbb3aaa1d49

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Shall we hold hands?”67d9686808f33180

“Y-yes…”f8520fe4ecfdf9a2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just as I 731620a584 awkwardly extended my 881e4c53ae hand, he pulled 3a6b794105 his own hand 4cfc53065e back with a d1ff79eb44 mischievous grin.cdd66c485896dbc4

“No, no, Belze. It’s your first time at 384d65eee3 the royal palace, isn’t it? You wouldn’t want eda4bf8106 to get lost, 93ecefc5b3 so perhaps you d37f68e8b1 should ask your 7374193c7d *guardian* to carry 6dba10456c you instead.”5e5855a832133ae0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My face turned bright red 8deb6054ba at his words.188fae4badda9671

If I refused, a6f91a2510 I’d probably see 9c9001a309 that sulking, stingy 424fdd0e3f side of the 2bef5b24cf Duke again, just 0cb4e93659 like yesterday. With no other choice, 4eaade7cea I held up my 64836d77ff arms reluctantly.86bb8f4865abd97e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Belze wants a carry, Your Grace!”87d025e983e7daeb

“Of course, my princess.”00c5379425c0e419

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With that, he lifted me 622c5332a9 effortlessly into his arms.53af365b7aedd703

The whole situation was so 6058b1d8cc absurd that I felt shivers 48dba0e518 of disbelief down my spine.c8f75c5e53d8a7e9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Oh no… has Tara’s princess complex rubbed off on the Duke?!’de72303f31232236

Meanwhile, the Duke, who had f6e90058a0 me comfortably perched on his da710c5ea8 arm, started walking.b6010030c9aae18a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With his long 70ee223a95 stride and my 5d3d346a46 elevated perch, the 8e4342259a ground felt alarmingly 12b0f9e12b far below. I quickly wrapped a08696af4b my arms tightly 1e17ef1d1c around his neck eb584a7cc3 to steady myself.3dd40dd388ff7b46

“Your Grace, but… do you know where the award ceremony is?”f0794b7cd833c779

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I hadn’t checked a267df2b19 the location, too 874ff9e513 shaken by the 1baa7b95df Duke’s unexpected mood ff200fb99d yesterday. I was familiar with the d00684fa2a temple and the Duke’s estate, d3dd7cdc47 but the palace was entirely 1fb2297af7 new territory.8c913be20e3263a4

“Naturally. It’s a guardian’s responsibility 7fd5789fe2 to know.”05fa450cfce9358f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Duke’s reassuring tone cd1d853f13 put me at ease.ff0856d094bbf5b8

‘Phew. Thank goodness.’1d8ab9a5eb88c278

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Initially, his strange behavior had e4a267d1a5 caught me off guard. But the more I 48bc4709ad thought about it, the b53774ed63 more I felt grateful db16bf4d31 to be in his 0691857289 arms.4c4884c14bf5de27

As I realized 03bf6a4c2e we were in 47133c84ee the royal palace, abd3e7b562 tension crept into 5e6dd4b0e0 my body, and b78a916ef7 I felt an 3097ec01e7 unsettling tightness in 06f83b98e1 my chest.eb1f837b7d825167

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Traumatic memories from my past f287c998ac life—of being confined here and b2d160c96e experiencing terrible things—came flooding back.7168762da90730bf

I clung to the 03437f1581 Duke, trembling as fear 452b5c6211 started to coil around 15cdae420b me.acbe44f16ffff139

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps sensing my 559ce0779b shivers, he paused d45f740079 and asked gently, 3bc25a3d01 “Belze, are you 29800ab251 alright? You feel a bit cold.”2babed6bdbb3923d

“Y-yes… I’m fine!” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.863bc94a891caa66

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Should we turn back?”c11cfaed1af2e8e6

I was on f6951b3f98 the verge of 03f2c9647f saying yes when—09d8cfac899b15f4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Duke! How are you here…?”f08501859c266aab

A voice greeted him, 1adb75e80f and I looked up, e8530b78bf surprised to see someone 23d4b38091 approaching us.95d6158154952e32

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m here with the first-place winner of the Children’s Business Competition.”670c6f723023caa5

With that, I realized 415d901cc8 we’d reached the award a317da51d5 ceremony location.6091a67e8f5c25bc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It would be too bca228059b awkward to turn back 27bf9dba43 now, not after coming 7302e65434 all this way.6abd04dc215290cf

Still in his arms, I 746f592262 buried my face in his 221014d134 chest, forcing myself to sound 130d68173c calm. “I’m fine, Your Grace. Let’s just get the prize ddee0d00c7 and leave!”0d939e179d544184

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Alright.”a8f333cb554190b2

Though he seemed hesitant, 3d051608b1 the Duke continued forward.df1dd21bb4802ffb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Fortunately, stepping into 5aa93df121 the grand, luxurious 45300a124f interior of the 2ead19dcde palace helped ease 4db3b0af4d my trembling.cbffc5b9ccd695a0

The place was so dd456b4d22 opulent that it was 79461b89ea hard to imagine a e63c718e6f prison could exist anywhere 053f1cfc22 near it.c08348671e3dd5a6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Once we reached ca33d8a2a7 a room that d338478fcd resembled a reception e2927b1c7a area, the Duke dec473022b set me down cbe5b34df6 gently on a 6bfa6208d8 sofa, watching me 2eedc8b06b with worry.4e005c34e4c4f2de

“Are you feeling ill? Your face is extremely pale.”43836faa8ec43726

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Not wanting to e362a70c4b worry him, I 0338a31a89 shook my head f2ffbc7039 vigorously.8df36c6e1943f8a7

“N-no, I’m not sick at all!”91da970913c24b17

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is anyone out there? Could someone bring 9e47101a0d this child a e95bab7493 warm tea or—”0b522f48bef5b107

He was calling out, dbbe1076f0 sounding like an overly ae0e6b0845 concerned guardian, when—359d73f28066ffdc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Click.96982db8c8213e55

The reception room door 39749107d9 swung open, and a 27c334fb4f boy with deep red bc39993c5c hair, dressed in fine 239ce9fbde attire, stepped inside.4baa9b472b43f562

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s this? Why is the Duke here?” bce56b5809 he muttered, scowling as he 4e455f6a7d spotted the Duke.fa57df81cc044881

My eyes widened at f613477e61 the unexpected sight.49c43c8bf16fa306

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘The Crown Prince?’f42112d101ed0ad4