7. I’ve Been Taming the Duke Well

It was a peaceful afternoon.f4b3a63f94e8816c

It hadn’t snowed in the North in a long time. I seemed to have adapted to the northern weather before I knew it—even the cool wind felt warm.881e3dd8109ca5a2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Was this how it would 47f1c90b11 feel if spring came to 37c33bbe94 this secluded and desolate land, 3598ffb7ec where the only things moving 9c7feccbd3 were the employees?619edfa6947e95d1

I went out to 758ac62e34 the garden and basked 8a3a0b7019 in the sun, thinking.ef16216baab8f308

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When the weather is 16f3d6c7a2 nice like this, I 46d30f3c45 want to run away a1f9435374 quickly.cfcbc1d00ab27f4a

Everything was going smoothly.88a65c97ea429af3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In the meantime, 61054ef655 I finished preparing 82f3cfbae1 to escape, step ba131b7c69 by step.ff835cfbce29bc7a

A new wind blew in 98d65f70bc the castle while the fugitive cc9ea38490 goods piled up.d6bb46b7e19980ab

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The blood task force was 0bf1d23af1 completely disbanded, and the head ac2a35d9e2 maid disappeared.bfb4bbaa7e9a55cf

She left the manor without 3910333a59 even receiving a letter of f806e147b7 recommendation. Without it, she 34d933b24d probably won’t be 65965225ed recognized for her 9acd626291 career and will 3b0f3773a2 have to start cab9bd3c0f over as a 1a08ce20f6 regular maid.272df4de2176eaf1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She glared at a03baaa974 me angrily before 2f3d21c70d getting into the 444655ab2a carriage. Her expression reminded me 3abeea430e of the humiliation I 7d42f834b1 had suffered so far.73fc832eaf6e2f9f

But at the same 9cc0be2123 time, I was also 76211e925c envious. She didn’t die 916c9927ab and got out ee2370f7f7 of the estate 08eebe6cb8 safely.396851819f5b18f7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In the meantime, a4b936b7ca I had stolen ae48574599 a lot from a2a2603ff8 the duchy. Everything I could bc19918959 get my hands 6adaf02995 on, I took.9265763810b2b024

When the Duke was aa71bfb18b on a trip, I 4e1667918c succeeded in sneaking into 2f190dc06d an empty office and 5bfb1a1681 stealing a map.0fa1d7a0a2683669

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a map e231abf1ae with the duchy’s mansion 237c5359f6 in the center and e2eda62df3 a surrounding mountain range. Strange symbols covered the 7f9cdc6345 surface, but I was 190bef2a35 a Korean who had cf7d4239c4 studied world geography.fd1b5abc6d1d64b3

If I looked closely, c719c758d4 I could interpret the 5a7dc218d8 symbols using familiar patterns.7889c22a5a649a6f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I scouted both 6b5704e3a9 inside and outside 5a4f69859b the mansion.f1290623086c25e1

The other day, I found 3002a740c7 an egg under a tall, b6824e2ecd narrow tree—likely about three meters c91e8ed563 high. It was a small, unblemished a4e82113db egg.7336439a51c2a0a2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I had never bdc34113c1 seen small birds 9719f3655f around because of bda34cea1c the harsh northern e8216288a6 environment. I buried the 77960bbad1 egg under the b1ded44ffd cemetery.2706e3ada07aef9b

Eggs are a high-protein, nutritious 75529539b2 food—good for traveling. That’s why I planned 9d408fb5cd to eat boiled eggs 0cb52983c0 on the run.aa0efcd8d1597f89

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I gathered straw and wove bc20a3c7c0 it with leftover snow skins. I needed more straw. Taking advantage of lunch 286c37f209 breaks, when surveillance was a4e7f05883 light, I slipped into 607967234c the woods and collected 570a1e56b4 more.fdbc20e9dd20bb77

I planned to ce95f3016e avoid detection by d68842887a creating a scarecrow 7d187a5eef that looked like ae0a86a299 me, lying under 4a4a6f1f36 the bed to 513046d85e buy time if 4b6843551f I ran away 60876f1eb9 at night.37d5dbb29081ca8b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

To make a scarecrow 7c5d4bc552 as tall as me, d25c7d9f37 I needed more straw be003762ac than I thought. So far, I had ca83dfa4c3 only made the upper 8107d74b50 body. Soon, I’d finish 05727e3f07 the lower body.8ab1ca5498682186

It pleased me to see ecaa0336c5 how well-knit it was.0d1899532465be19

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Every morning, I collected hair 787015e3a5 from my pillow. I trimmed strands so ee74492998 it wouldn’t be noticeable. I planned to use it 5ffd72a900 to make a wig for d9bc30336a the scarecrow.e4640d2b9a78c6d4

Sometimes, I’d pretend to 3759556e80 sleep late, yawning when b4c6261a2b I came out late dfe9211648 in the morning.0bbdf0bfc4ea955e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That way, if 23c5b9a044 I disappeared, they’d 9279af8aec just assume I 1819ec80dc was sleeping in.de829effefd82bf6

I also prodded 91bf1f97a0 the Duke to e43db12865 get the key. Behind the Duke’s residence, 76da2f082e there was an unused 07b1efc707 greenhouse.d4e3867871abcc7b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If restored, it could 13d2203bc8 be useful. In the cold da9f68b065 north, guests rarely 001a3e22ec come, so it 7d7969a89e had been abandoned.fce7030efa82914c

Inside were withered vine stems. I cleaned the a809c28db3 greenhouse with the b2b85fc6e9 servants and removed b39d21e66c the dead branches.da7deb357bbe178d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The dust-covered windows became 7a90f715ed clear again.b3aa3509c1b4e3a0

I wanted to plant f105a6d52c flowers or trees like d4ddd62d25 in other greenhouses, but a4bf28bf1b this wasn’t a place 54cc33d325 where rare plants could 1a41f1d31f thrive.5861a4699ea705f5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Besides, I was leaving soon. Why bother decorating a rental?16d4cfd6545fca71

On snowy days, lying 6ebfbd07b8 in the greenhouse and bff6984fb6 watching snow fall on 9f83bf9203 the transparent ceiling was 675e908d05 mesmerizing.2e5f74198de3d573

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That was the first time b251d1295c I felt something close to 091b929fa1 beauty in the North.228568f7ea100a35

Deon and I occasionally c06045307e had tea in the afb72e6ed5 glasshouse.8836e0e892fcf30e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He’d never entertained 9e7d60c791 guests before, nor f7cee9d156 had tea leisurely.3801111c7d25963e

So, I followed romance a8bae8ac64 novel customs and scribbled e1f58004ef a tea party invitation.18dab0225aef4c3d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At first, the Duke thought 9ef5ce747e it was a duel challenge, 43dd9c1193 not a tea invitation.ac9e71918de12e79

When I mentioned d3ff05657e tea, the chef bbed41bd97 took out a 3d41c37ff7 dusty box of dd8d74ef82 tea sets he’d 58d44faacb collected. He was thrilled to finally 6296a6402b use them.84b10983028d1a17

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *c41328161b9b2171

“When are you planning to hand over your wife’s seat?”64c2a0f627a4a7e3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”9dd7ddc9b80c1702

He turned the 964186c2ac page of his 5710ec61ce book without responding.a7699e2cb517b073

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He’d stopped reacting to 0dedd6a953 my daily questions.83f198efede6b5dc

Still, he kept 12b8893a60 his blood pact—he d39168bd74 was always by c3bc8ae3bf my side.0bf5006d9754fe59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That was the problem: 68bbaf5799 he was just there. He didn’t answer any 3bfaa20c9f of my meaningless questions.5c49e3bf80a54634

Annoyed, I drank tea slowly. He quietly frowned as b619746abb the tea was brewed 41c8bbe74b again and poured.253feb7ce3ad576d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He had no noble f1956dae8a ladies to propose to, 1e2138fc95 no family to plan 6c6da3b991 a marriage with.ce4fa6b15ba26ce9

Who did he marry in 7a13d111e5 the original? Was he already d3b0ab88f6 married by the f77426816e time the story 99d1d007fc began?0b21f4b992891777

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I couldn’t remember clearly. Eventually, the duchess had to 8c64dcfde6 be the female lead.e921df5a79f8c56b

Readers wouldn’t like 60f2b50829 it if the e95fe79ce9 love interest was 8bad48b337 just the second bf9ac1f248 wife.b8d39a0fe217a873

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ah, is that why he 6cf451c765 doesn’t give in?7d2a1278a71fccb9

His character setting might db0412b454 unconsciously resist marriage.2fcd1f6ca244fe1c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When the female lead 4e7a0a224a appears, all his assumptions 1efc930f56 will collapse.9fd1e09f2940405c

“Even if you don’t have a title, you walk around the mansion freely. Do you have different intentions?”9610c3c904f0dbff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He broke the silence.db1fb08d6e80b42a

His words shocked me.3ce0ecd2bb8a6e81

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Could it be?”5be464357b1a6070

“Most people insist on marriage for power, family benefit, or stability… But you always act against expectations.”b674214ab03d4331

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you like me, Duke?”ffd8f7d91404e333

He paused.ce579ad4a2b6c025

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Like you?”a0bd40363a0bb4ac

He scoffed.1db2f589cc010081

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Don’t go around saying that, Leonie. Anyone can see you’re 3146118a6e not in love.”3fe0d84b0e91b2c2

Despite the slow 2296cfae14 pace, I continued 44070c0a6a preparations to leave.a5cc5354cc2d1bcf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Scouting the woods for e57a41528d straw, hiding branches, and d3d417310d checking the graveside.97d714ce66d916db

One day, when I 3dfb5bbbbf returned with extra straw, 53db610df3 something felt off.b53767df1dbae1a6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The room was unusually tidy.d379f07147df8520

The curtain, normally drawn, was d1b9d55522 wide open. It was cold.f72946b271b5e3c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Someone had entered.2d5199d06f180dc1

“Who’s there?”de944ba7ca67793e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A woman rose 8db15bb528 from behind the 8aa9adec13 canopy—a maid I 1a2670ba33 hadn’t seen before.99162ced9c91f9cc

The wind blew through be5e1ecf65 the open window, revealing 0d99d3a11d her silver hair and b47db471ca freckles.5c35bd5bbde7657a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I was cleaning… I’m sorry. You weren’t here, so 96c2135985 I did it myself. It’s my last day. I begged to clean the 98e348fa98 whole mansion. I was originally set b32e754302 to join the blood 6e948c4ccd task force…”597346823d835a65

My heart raced. Did she see under d7f51239c6 the bed?90a6fc003c642708

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Did you see it?”0951c8d2adce1947

“…What?”7176fcb987bde30d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She rolled her eyes, e3c715169c then answered.b8fa432ad3be1ce5

“I didn’t see anything. A piece of snow 8bf6176307 under the bed, a 9a6f73c0f2 scarecrow, and beef jerky.”f7590a7bd0988404

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Damn. She saw it.f0a77c7af999f373

“But it’s strange. You could ask soldiers or the chef for help. Yet you hid everything under the bed… and don’t allow maids in… and the scarecrow.”42ef74b6f8c8702c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Young lady! Are you trying to run b2932b31d5 away? Really?”fe0fbab7e00d17f6

“Lower your voice.”680b91e184a66b2d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I shut the open door.257baac303c209dd

The Duke had softened lately.7e4d5944d9a873bd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Everyone in the mansion e099e97189 treated me differently now.86d07d3ba637d2f8

What could I say? That the Duke wanted 81fb768387 to kill me?5f4493ef2d66dd90

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Not now, but 1996b75ef2 two years from 0c2a49bf53 now?2c4802ad2ac9b859

“You don’t know anything. If you want to 684df6774d leave safely…”7040975b72f7177d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Please hire me, young lady.”a52d6e7443518308

She knelt down.8ef875f621099c71

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m from a minority group. My people are scattered 1ec3955e3a after the empire’s conquest. I have nowhere to go.”d49dfa911c156750

“What?”8c2eda8625a08882

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m useful. I know herbs. I noticed your hair 15d7a99b9e was dry from blood 729b1a56ef loss. I can help.”45729c29375db833

True. But she knew too much.57acf0b38467797f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If you let me stay, I’ll keep your secrets. I’ll even make 056f271f4f preservatives for the f2bb77957c jerky.”69a87e704d7428ad

Tempting. Half my jerky had molded.7166e784700f803c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Unless the lady hires me…”ac3891bb75663132

She stood.cd4fcc81b7266368

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ll have no choice but to show the Duke your scarecrow.”50cca9dd5c6d1866

“What?”924f29d75ed219bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Blackmail?247c6d8c7e82509a

But it wasn’t a bad 96f1af16bc offer.73956da0e26b2186

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Maybe she could find the a621ff0444 warehouse key.5ae44a256416ccd7

“All right. What’s your name?”f48f72d6a19b4038

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Suren.”2d64cdb07d8f6974

“Suren, keep everything you saw to yourself. Understand?”e7f2255449112d02

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes! I’m not the Duke’s maid. I’m yours.”c029f0e962ee257d

Her voice rang clearly.43def3622b1ff96a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She was funny—and reliable.807eab43b05ce0cf

“Help me. If hair falls e21622a05d out, don’t throw d3610dcb37 it away. Add it to the scarecrow.”cfad2bddffcc4cfa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Got it! I’ll gather it all. Just give the order.”66a4aa693776c64d

She bowed, straightened the pillow, ca071d0e1b and opened the curtain.ea6427038e55b311

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Now that I 7ccfe470e5 looked, the room 75fade5f6a was cleaner than aa36289530 ever.805f6eb45915a18a

“But why run away, young lady? The Duke is 36a4ce1ffb cold, but considerate.”88dcd0ec3cbf7c59

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Considerate? He locked me in a cf65b19c4d dungeon for boredom relief!eff3e3c9489bbf2e

Since when is imprisonment considerate? Does it mean something else 9888f4f937 here?e7212ad90cee36d6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I muttered.55b9922e920b8699

“Duke… I’m scared of him.”06caad4c67e4b111

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Suren nodded seriously.2a1e67dcd78093c1

“I followed him once on a trip. He’s different out there.”291ebf1c1c97099c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How so?”19df6df4ae1d7707

“As an employee, it was fine… but enemies? He cuts them down without hesitation. His face was always bloody… Ugh…”b7c5efed484875f8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suren shuddered.88895865e133acd1

“Were you scared?”35d2b3604e7deff4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes. My clothes reeked of blood. I couldn’t wash out the 9744f498ec smell.”169e19f9946bcad1

She quietly shook the carpet.98423e813dd98536

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Young lady, be careful. If he sees you 59e4cdebf8 as an enemy, he’ll 77aff8631e kill you without hesitation. I got caught, but f4285f1144 you—don’t get caught by 3fe016f137 anyone else.”01c4dcacbaad442c

Suren… I’m afraid if I don’t run, I’ll die.ed1a0f3e896aa18d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I think you’re on the a17dc9bd00 wrong team.b02d55686a7c3d05