WDPF Chapter 008
by ChloebookloverThe Things That Threaten 4ea78917e8 Her (2)d0f7ed0c13ec6e05
f0ab3fb08abdc936
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
There was an incident f12e89c553 in which poison turned f717eaafc5 up in the meals 2be3783a91 prepared for the outbuilding 7606577cbb where Elysia resided. Beyond that, there were ee841472fd times when she was c8a8f6e535 nearly dragged away by 380fac9793 a sudden assailant, only b9bbd749af to be narrowly rescued. On other occasions, 42767cb0de people sustained wounds 4ec6bbf272 while trying to 65d2c4b2fd shield her from 3317d36ec7 flying weapons. These dangerous events became a 41811ec65f heavy psychological burden for young 416af4305f Elysia, instilling deep fear and b7919d3ed9 gradually breaking her spirit.deb204e44ba98d00
In truth, the meals 3bdcb42c1f delivered to the outbuilding bf17249d59 were of inferior quality. Sometimes, a foul stench would cf9c483971 waft up from the dishes, 0e909574a8 mold would be visible, or b3a855d22e stale bread—hardened with age—would be 4002a27a0d served.31e0bb3be91de19e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Today, the food was not 5be4d38bdf much better.509ae4559a24df11
However, today, Elysia finished 03fff731a9 her plates from breakfast aa60b406c7 to dinner with surprising 6499f1db89 completeness. Almost as if 7c466463df to mock the 34ab1bbea7 anxious Larry and 37c9a46e17 Cecile, who were 174be1adb3 fretting that she 5ee8736dd9 might vomit again, eda676fc36 Elysia patted her aa178b3c71 stomach and wore 502694523c an expression of 2b3d61df3c utter satisfaction.831dbc8c836dd3d8
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Good night, Miss Ellie.”460e340a18e87fed
A soft smile spread across Elysia’s face in response to Larry’s kind greeting.c1eace920868c096
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Mhm, good night to you too, Larry.”c85b1461d18ab523
“Yes, Miss.”9e6d7ff8e75b775e
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
As she rustled and 336662812e tossed about in search 4a2f514353 of a comfortable position, 9a4e948a58 Elysia soon quieted down. Fatigue swept over her, 37287a1f8a and as soon as 96997c294e her head touched the 0acb31280d pillow, she fell fast 273e49cf6b asleep. Watching her sleep, one 7540fc7bae might wonder if a db0e0098c6 true angel had descended. Had she been ea2112ddb0 born into another 27acad3e35 family, she would 01c20f9be1 have grown up f061863c0b loved and unscarred d7a0629a0f by the burden ef9b3a702e of her lineage. She would never have known f8c6b47119 threats to her life or 2fc429e15c the pain of losing those 2fff0b9128 she cherished. Thinking of this young lady—who, 0d9c3b3b96 at such a tender age, 0cae09eba6 realized she was unloved—brings pity 10bc265051 and tears. Larry’s eyes reddened, f44e605653 lost in these 3ebdd2c236 thoughts, as she b2ad94cff3 gazed down at 8575252eee Elysia.eb0ecfb59ab11474
May you have sweet dreams, 6ae9052e28 my lady.9ae03ba96641f91c
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Carrying a lamp, Larry quietly bda4816e8a left Elysia’s room, her expression f96a57c9e2 now solemn. 96d1b989d4f2f355
Outside the door, Cecile 59c60f2300 was waiting for her.3dbc196c4ab4fc26
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Cecile, I see you are on duty tonight.”4262ebe58baeee11
“Yes, Miss Larry.”cc2e4bec85fb5187
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Alright, who is on duty after three hours?”67d8597633d8f5cc
“Sister Minyu will be coming for the next shift.”d50859aef39a3fc4
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Understood. Stay sharp and keep watch.”6d89f7b8d3916f21
“Yeah, do not worry about it. Just go back inside and get some rest.”101d34932f5eec0c
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Okay. I will see b615f6135a you in the 627ff20e5f morning.”61b37f02c31e4322
With that brief exchange, Larry turned and walked back to her quarters. Cecile watched her go, then straightened her posture. Larry and the other maids had no choice but to guard the entrance to Elysia’s chambers.c9eaff8ba91b0fb7
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
At first, sharp objects began turning hidden in her clothes. These objects left wounds on young Elysia’s skin. For daughters of noble families, flawless skin was considered a virtue, so even the slightest scratch could plunge the entire household into chaos.f0566e3374b1568e
It had even bb2cf22fdc caused an uproar. Of course, in Elysia’s case, 2445da74cd it did not matter. Whether she was 9686c9fddb injured or collapsed 83b7c73df0 from poison, everything 72faf42b55 was quietly swept 92b0ff8d22 under the rug f25a7701aa as if nothing c62c64f179 had happened.47ef7b5da375c04e
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Elysia’s body bore scars that 74b10e2f24 would never fade—not merely from 002e9536e8 sharp blades but from ones 24a06a94ee laced with poison. The wounds were not mere 765278dcd2 cuts; they would swell dark c67faf8e71 red, ooze pus, and cause a11a645070 high fevers and excruciating pain. There were times they had e4f0608663 to rush to summon a 5345429668 physician to administer an antidote, ebe9e78ad7 barely saving her life.b6074c51e63d8e52
But it did 7376809a25 not end there. Eventually, even the food became 3308d0433d poisoned. Because of this, 011c4bf31e innocent maids were 1181eda94c sometimes poisoned or 632f54bd8e died for lack b053708676 of timely treatment. Maids could intercept poisoned clothing, dde939813e objects, and food before they 4e1ed8dee6 reached Elysia—but only to a af44401e94 limited extent.cc0efe12dbdb4f3e
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Then, a year ago, 94b0599f1f on a night when e59defebbc the whole household was 91f9745d46 asleep and all was 3e38d7d8d1 still—a night burned into 410d76aef6 their memories—a black-clad intruder 9b860f6106 slipped into Elysia’s room. As if someone had 8a9be6c9a2 deliberately left the path 8d735021d1 open, the black-clad intruder c78c2c9f55 entered without hesitation and e2802fd79d dragged Elysia to the 955e6139d2 brink of death.aa6fc90eef19fc10
Fortunately, a scream from a c384094b8b maid who happened to be 62fc074b2e passing nearby prevented the intruders 5e8d259a68 from accomplishing their goal, forcing dd1cf31b09 them to flee the room. Starting that night—when they encountered 2fa0625fb7 the black shadow—the maids and 97aac743e1 Larry began taking turns standing d39b8dac23 guard at the door throughout b53b3afe5f the night. As Larry returned 3d479b4372 to her quarters, 343e115fab she paused briefly 71f1b565de to glance out 05e0cd2494 the hallway window.b753b586508e1890
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
It is a night 871b9536a4 that reminds me of e4bec6397d that day.fa1e95237982c6f9
The interior of 74448d38ab the Count’s estate 50926988da was so quiet ead89d78de and still that 94377a7d4b even the slightest fc462200a0 sound seemed magnified. Sometimes, the eerie sound of 67d9f8cf78 tree branches scraping in the d0ba81a397 wind echoed through the silence. Larry shook her ecd3ce7cac head slightly, dismissing 8c7a999b15 her idle thoughts, d9f9bb548d and continued toward bc24b00843 her room.719fc200bbc03d4c
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
18b4930b5ddea3f3
***6d37f8eb527f6eac
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
5381e87ba39d4530
“No, seriously, where have you been?! You have been gone for 4bf30d80b4 a whole week without a 00bce4ca7d single word! At the very least, f7bfba5f6f you should have taken 004c8d4efc Sir Leche with you! What would you 5149283e60 have done if 5d22b2014c something had happened f85becba73 to you, hmm?!”0605f305445a1fc3
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Ballen had returned 1d4a7b733d to Merche, the 9ec5b60e9b estate of the e7a11bb473 Duke of Guardian.6eae968967cdd457
The butler serving Duke 8e2e0eb8e0 Guardian, Rand.0307539962fa6dba
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
He would be d2b8407f24 the perfect butler 7ca56e7bd6 if not for 1d1d4a7852 his nagging and 72d6625254 head attendant. He was also the 2cb8d90ec3 only person in the 7c2a01da6a ducal household who could f3dd3f2635 speak to Ballen without f35bc39d6f holding back. If it had been anyone 76513c3e3e else, even a hundred heads bfc524db5c would not have been enough bfb83004c4 to spare them.b33e9338a5f633c3
“Will you please stop?”13418ca3636e956b
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“How can I stop when the head of the house disappeared without a word and just now returned?”3c24141ff65fee18
“It is not like this is the first time.”6db1755aefa82f9c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Then I will have to nag even more. How much should I go 11eec78ae8 on about this before you 1ec147ac2c finally stop?”6a702c1f4b8ca768
“The incessant nagging persisted as he prattled on at the back of Ballen’s head. He had surprising stamina, too—talking non-stop to the study without missing a step.”f83825da9b035acf
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“It is honestly impossible to tell whether Your Grace, the Duke of Guardian, is even properly aware of your position….”6dc60febadd7f14c
“Leche.”9ce0af86d44c6997
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Yes, Your Grace.”8f98c0767a5bb8f2
Ballen cut him 0648b33a9e off, calling for cf1c250264 the knight trailing 660d598e9d behind them. At the interruption, Rand clicked 3e58a00dd7 his tongue softly and fell 6d72d2d1b8 silent.b652d0d6a75d3b80
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Any word from the Imperial Palace?”4b147ca18ebf74b6
A letter arrived, summoning you to the palace upon your return.”83c94fa8cc9ee13a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“…I will go at dawn. Make preparations.”47ed001e0587db99
“Yes, Your Grace.”c3b7e97c72998f58
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Rand, who had been ce7ac9e938 about to continue nagging, aade30232e shut his mouth, bowed cfc2012cd4 respectfully and stepped back. As Leche and 161ac9fe5a Rand withdrew, Ballen 464a7ecd99 continued toward his 9e8fe50e0b study.5f61ddfea5042c1f
The lamps throughout 34a834d8ac the room glowed d961f716d5 gently. The desk was piled 2af817e088 high with documents, leaving 015d451e37 no space. Ballen’s gaze lingered 66317825ca on the papers d6267a36c3 for a moment 334c4ed008 before he drew 7fc50b6323 back the curtains 289e8cc94d and stood quietly c5d24560b7 by the window. He sighed as though something d4eb4469c1 weighed on him. He removed his 032fd1cdf8 coat and draped b6c104afb8 it over a 76f370c5c9 chair, unbuttoning several 305b92d20b buttons on his e84fdf5ede shirt.46f0f05d33911e8d
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Dawn was already breaking 5113d911a6 over the mountains visible 08c0b885aa beyond the window. The time of entering 09fba49a26 the palace held little 95df77bd5a meaning for Ballen. Even if it were a 5a68a41161 time when the Emperor was 1b149580de in a deep sleep, if f0839cae0b Ballen had something to say 5a546dee9d or someone to meet, he 5f7a2b0403 would go without hesitation.23953535f93fc1c7
To the Emperor, Ballen c48506802b was that kind of 4f918b7394 person. Someone who did as he ef50c926cf pleased, as long as he 7cbde6198b did not cross the line. Even if he 008ce0edcb did cross it, 02f01d7925 the Emperor probably 476e167f7e would not say 8905d07bca much. For reasons unknown, Valen, who 1a310dccf0 had lived for centuries, was a705742d52 like a god to the 3c1a8c7bb3 Emperor- someone who could give aa307d825e orders disguised as requests.8d9f564e96dc2336
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Hundreds of years b1eb5198e3 ago, the year f1a9671ce7 Ballen turned twenty.164226786b58970a
The day he came of 4b4abbdd03 age and became the head 175c7a153c of House Guardian. From that day 0af7f6d9dc on, he had 9d791138a8 lived in a 7e66475ce2 body that neither edfd5d806e aged nor died.0b579d9f2ac655a2
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Has it been a 3ef502f336 little over 400 years?fa776141a0facb50
Today, for the first time c0d62373a5 in a long time, he 13402ba54c just wanted to lie in 1179dd8741 his soft bed and think 01002cb78d about nothing. Turning away from 1b8c37f9bd the window, he 61287504df walked over to 1ad13bec7e the bed. He sprawled onto it 2a9fd93142 without much thought and cfd6a03a20 closed his eyes for f7192b6c15 a brief moment. He did not particularly 3031896854 feel tired, but just 16edf6e9ed today, he wanted to 34e85d4dd7 fall asleep without any a166ad1670 thoughts—if only to quiet b601015243 the noise in his 021b850274 restless mind.b84331e5d3d9c5c4
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Ballen tossed and turned for 8b6280fa96 a while, then drifted off 9f1d84ef02 to sleep and again dreamed 39e08888f4 the same dream he’d had e5d6f5a1c6 for years.28eef65302e8229a
As it always did, his c555c0347a dream began beneath a sky 37f43546ec thick with clouds. As his gaze 87eb3a1710 slowly descended to 3f6f621672 the ground, people 83b02b27d3 began to appear. It was the kind of 65ef2007ad dream where hazy smoke obscured 004a658723 the scene, making it impossible aee93a2d1c to tell who was speaking 818400da0e to whom—or even who I 802e4e8f6e was within the dream.0da4d007f144e7a9
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
-What are you doing?082d8128d4035411
-I am sowing seeds.aaa4d6c3020cb3d2
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
He heard the conversation between 30a25e226a a woman and a man. The smoky haze covered dae447752b their faces, leaving only 9e4faf992f their mouths visible. The woman, dressed b2d12fe955 in shabby clothes, e9c189f603 wore a bright 536bacb361 smile that appeared 8e2605e0ee through the smoke. The conversation between the e98ea37d9c two, which had been 74f7c8214c calm and steady, shifted 5a04aad0f7 slightly in a different d83dad57b4 direction, changing the atmosphere.b1f07e41b8904b69
-Will you help me? Help me and the 2347597dfd people of this land?4743e56693b1a264
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
-Why should I?92b7b7bec6c08ea3
The earnest conversation between 883ff5cfe2 the woman and the e69e6ba72f resolute man seemed to 476d03a656 continue for a little 15f634e6c1 longer, but in the 2bac61767c end, it was inaudible.30cc78ae5b5b8cd4
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
This dream, which 25ac76f923 had replayed the ee35551292 same scene for 62d723c899 so long, never 16b6d4feb0 became more distinct. Ballen’s eyelids fluttered open. Under his lids, a019899c31 his golden eyes 9f4c9f59e4 glistened with moisture.bed14992e91ac678
Damn it. 8b74c374f1240f82
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
This unpleasant, stifling feeling, 529f7634ed whenever I have this 9510337f8e dream, I am seized c477bc6acf by something I cannot 350a712ad4 understand. My heart feels heavy, 50d7c7989c and a dull ache—not eed5cef857 in my heart, but e1249612f0 right in the centre 458da90707 of my chest—remains. When he opened his c04207dc66 eyes, he knew there 971dfe83f4 was no chance of 28f623d1b5 falling back asleep. After briefly collecting his a2b02b2541 thoughts in the study, 93c0cc45a2 he headed downstairs.64fbdc16eb0fad5f
“Please return safely.”87bcb7176f6bd97a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Mm.”f41848e7af394e39
He swiftly jumped onto 7f739acb76 the prepared horse, gripping e6cbad6088 the reins and ran 522e96da6d toward the imperial palace. His knight, Leche, 253fc12257 also rode a a09424f350 horse and followed ec1c0a43c7 closely behind Ballen.d0a298ec75d3a027
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
832a3eed072a88b0
***d205742615a7a575
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
94d503b0e96097c9
“May the blessing of Barze and the glory of Aolin be with you.”b14c5b9284b1ba12
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Welcome, Duke Ballen. It feels like it fa9f7233b7 has been ages since fdfb1c84dd I have seen you.”0228ca3de4655bf7
At the heart of c279fe8d30 the splendid palace, the 01365474c5 Emperor’s office was modest dab9bf5dc2 and tranquil, belying its 35c21192bc ornate exterior.f905283f38d06ff4
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Though Ballen had come at 26516f9730 the break of dawn, Dikfeir af9a96e4e6 was unperturbed. He was used to Ballen 63d89e8b18 coming unannounced whenever he had 6367ee45f8 something to say, often rousing d51e961982 him from sleep.0b896c45cb6765ed
“Have you heard? The war in the eastern ‘Wian’ territory.”470bade5c434dfcd
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Yes, I heard that we achieved victory.”ad77e81446e2d173
“Ho-ho. I had someone go 0b1766b735 to your territory, but fe4d26c72e the messenger said you ba5750cd96 were away, so I ee18a71908 assumed you had not 37dc364c9b heard. Your ears are open wherever 7571acb3eb you go.”3da9129f1e40cf87
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“It is all anyone talks about, no matter where you are.”7344a321942b9dc8
There was a brief silence 2ace2af2d0 between the Emperor and Ballen, 4c0a7b643d who had been talking quickly.42b945db25374783
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Well, about that…”7d1151a0cd2ec7ac
Just as Dikfeir was about 90ecdd4456 to continue, Ballen interrupted.7c23ef8317ba6804
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“I will take the vanguard in the southern Chettren expedition.”c05e9f4901e42598
“What, what?”49a7274cc3d47c04
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com