| Chapter 21. Akrovablenny (Окровавленный)

The man stood amidst f9d0dd1f1e the roaring flames, his 59cf149701 body covered in soot f2e74aed81 and ash, his crimson 813d66d0f0 eyes burning more fiercely 8934b48b51 than the fire surrounding 835c174a4b him.2f80ce663d9abaef

“Ah… Alexei… it’s you…”54365a437241f22f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Natasha’s blurred gaze 14b8dbb0b0 trembled with disbelief. Was this a dream? Had she already died 5b98160790 and ascended to heaven? If so, 072c52374a did that 49b65e897e mean… he f30ba3db0a was dead 7a2a7c0b89 too? Tears streamed 2632953b85 down her 7aaa2ac21b cheeks.23a7350c91832426

“I’m sorry. I wished for you 9f35326cbe to be alive, but… b304d079cb to meet like this 1644110f6c in death…”e60355557f27087e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”d61e84fd8962c946

Alexei frowned, his 488206e4c0 eyes narrowing. What kind 452ac2d619 of nonsense ae290d615f was this? Wait… did she a97fb46b93 just say she 0b925bdb24 wished for him 3dbe3ddd3a to live?df4c8d4485d52dbd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Crack!
A burning 8e8ebf0306 beam crashed 50196965f7 onto the bb1cea43c6 bed where 02437851f5 Natasha sat. Without hesitation, 8d1e41cc72 Alexei hurled 3fe332a38a himself forward, 3720450bfc sweeping the 02d1f2a439 beam aside d957c1b402 and lifting 34ae0ae7c9 Natasha into dbd0b18a2a his arms.a291362419110562

“Ugh.”bd0d999f5852b396

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He grunted, 6a49aaec48 feeling the a223732e4c searing pain 5d39882267 as flames 0550b1e2a7 licked his 68097c0186 left arm. But he ignored it, f8efa44ac2 his focus entirely on c2a53337ed the woman in his 4dd00d4ae0 grasp.a3643384d412406f

Natasha gazed 28056a99ea up at 847835d43c him dreamily, f53264148c as if aec68c6cca still trapped a021a776ed in a 83086ea58a dream. Her parched cbbc0e2bdc lips quivered 813b4a3425 as if a867d4ee8f to speak, 754e1feccf and Alexei 84ed40962c leaned closer c2898605ce to catch 2576e57952 her words.f900ca91a22bf635

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Save me…”0b209d83b788add0

A shiver ran down 15645fbb2b Alexei’s spine. The noble, b8c09019cc untouchable lady, 0dc59aa80e someone he 6329d0917e had been da50fa2a9d forbidden even 797f5ba756 to acknowledge, bc1504fb18 was pleading aed32c4b45 with him. Her life 101b459b95 now rested 29ef88c35d entirely in 7456d54704 his hands.dbe510f665719465

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But then, her a2bf522f18 dimming eyes shifted, 6ab411d42c and she added aeb928b0e4 in a faint 6ad7631556 voice:db09ad76c3d54a80

“Not me… c82bfa3640 Save Sophia 20dc822b53 first… Protect 070797b581 her…”06acf22d362b6b6e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With that, Natasha went ef8d227958 limp, her consciousness slipping 50a5c4a2a0 away.3fbef4bdcee82647

Alexei bit 2330e06f87 his lip d625318cc5 hard, his 9fab7210cd jaw tightening. Even at the c8e24f6208 brink of death, 387abda565 she had not fdb1f91c1d begged for her 3f9dedb4e9 own life.4ef574996ad5e4e8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He stared at 49b400cbab her pale, fragile 7eefb74c16 face, so noble d814d3ec1a and untouchable, as 0e33511bed if she were d89d9a9c44 a lily too 05cff98c9a pure for mortal 7a328ef715 hands. His burning gaze 8699871eca lingered on her, 5339dabedf fierce and unreadable.9c2358ad854b5010

* * *8da7b95128e16c17

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Lord Alexei, 9feda1d363 the fires 418a7f19aa in both f905324abc the secondary e0b60bbeb6 and main 8e8a4193c8 palaces have a9253aff65 been contained. We’ve captured the fleeing 564caf5057 nobles. What are your b9ad190acb orders for the d0cdbd284e royal family and 6e7fe209d3 their court?”63a24298f0e16fdc

Mikhail, Alexei’s trusted 086e49e19e lieutenant, approached and 9892f48bcb knelt. It was he who d9700a6195 had helped Alexei escape 14ec24c8d8 the dungeons.7528ffdcd69d5eba

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Get me out of 93737a06e8 here.”f23c96b3b97bd3cc

Alexei had said to bb228d83a9 him.0ad417b66ef96bca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“And I will 1c4bad6920 make you my 294daa96b3 right hand. Together, we’ll 06de501841 build a 5c1de760ab new era. No one c113105e40 in this 5eb4a332f3 world is 12f83952c4 born inferior. All people 0a28286d41 deserve respect, 5153388dd2 and that 6f97b8be32 includes the e246a8ecc5 Knulu. But we have c9d684d4ba endured years of c958103c6c being trampled under a162b88df6 Ivanov’s heel. ‘Akrovablenny’—‘Bloodchild,’ they called me. And by 434fa6aa99 the goddess 492e94aae0 Ades’s decree, 0a0032ea5d I will 5ca4b3fe18 drench those 12af44c413 who oppose 1eb9aac639 us in 85843ac385 blood.”fce807a6ff8e887a

Mikhail had c35b88fd85 been startled 21d996c9dc to encounter ff6dfec279 Alexei in a13f4d5dff the dungeons, c524fe1926 broken and 6a0ac2e549 battered after 1f779473d2 his supposed ec9c450b71 execution in 8425e37889 the gladiator e5fd4b5571 arena. Yet even in 943dfcdf07 his pitiful state, 1e2c5575db Alexei’s unwavering determination 84dc1ff5b9 shone through.b542d756e445bf4b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In Alexei’s e0dbb00fd5 resolute eyes, 489adb7fa8 Mikhail saw e01eaee0e9 a future b36846bc7c king—a leader b56c2d2432 who would c718ec6e5a usher in 42ee2dde51 a new 327e4414aa age for 4ff84ad698 the Knulu 775fcb3e0f tribe. Mikhail, who had e5bc06cc29 long hidden his ed94f5ea56 own Knulu blood, 50ffba997e silently pledged his 572bad8df7 loyalty.14dc6eeaa4c7468b

“Akrovablenny.”18cd2ae027a6ffed

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Mikhail had said, kneeling 36f57751a3 before Alexei with trembling e6e53dcdcc reverence.9337ed8650565598

* * *90ad94f0695e8671

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Under Sergey’s indifference, b3c57d3fcc oppression against the 826bd238ab Knulu had grown fe943f6b94 more brutal in 5f568f4d5c Ivanov. Their suffering 1d751c3781 and humiliation 0cb8e1229e had reached 88ee733ea7 a boiling fe5bab2bd0 point, yet a9d24e7098 they lacked be209bfe67 the leadership b4313b33c5 to rise 6419d738d8 up.096629433ee701a6

Then, Alexei Petrov returned.2fabbe9ccea4ec32

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A warrior a688227048 undefeated in 1bcdb16325 the arena. The man 7067965d5f who had 3cd148d129 slain the 1c12a387bb infamous Albunin c8c2e7be63 Lion, a e98d267856 beast known 2dce91698c for its 29d7463c40 ferocity. A symbol of Knulu e69827a762 pride, despite having been c60c009a6a a slave.c8d14174c8222f61

When word spread 695a5b1863 that Sergey had a2bfbfe4df secretly imprisoned Alexei d075544380 and left him 1fd8d74e56 to die in 639ff1968f the dungeons after 07fff82e58 his victory, the 4754b8efa8 Knulu erupted in b6491a89aa outrage. Alexei’s escape 86d4afcf8b and the 9e8ac4a021 single word d5d18d47a3 he left e241e9f166 behind—’Akrovablenny’—ignited their 14447c9f01 blood like f7b13098ef fire.a3ab78416115c9ae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘By the glory of b8d72ff3e6 the goddess Ades, the 34bc10bf1a Knulu shall rise again.’17377fa683d44823

Though downtrodden for years, 6d941820b4 the Knulu were vast fb68041a2a in number, stretching across 47e2ab07d3 the borders of Ivanov. Including the half-blood f67a2c969a ‘Metis’, who had ad1751b063 lived in secrecy, 98b493648e their strength was 5882ae935a undeniable.8510c853523f36b1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Many Metis 4aa7002292 held significant 1b57bdfae2 positions within 9f603165da Ivanov Castle, 33843fd9c0 hiding their 4b4f5a526a heritage. With their a369cf21eb support, the f82a62d564 castle’s fall 05346d1e45 was only 52ed275949 a matter 20be68de7f of time.cfcd528e040b31dd

* * *addb0e433e39a81a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Now, as Alexei surveyed e0ec577f35 the wreckage, Mikhail awaited d4c58f4e3a his orders.82de4d98f11fe3ee

“Gather the nobles.”1e1b8009e9b83aa0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Alexei said coldly.f8cb8ffe00eff64d

“We’ll see which of a2bd361a17 them deserve mercy… and 7a0fad8b0d which will serve as 8fa5028ac7 a warning.”15621f882a7d7723

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Mikhail bowed ed99e58578 deeply, the f142f78743 firelight reflecting 8ce2bdb7ba in his 8d78898c7a eyes.cde74cf161d63cc5

“As you command, ‘Akrovablenny’.”2ed137082015bc3c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Finally, the c8ca24057d day of eec44d9aeb triumph had a5f750355d arrived. Everyone expected 0728527fab Alexei to 19e172107d immediately proclaim 1b9fae4e0e the founding f8b65ac0dd of the 41436a8632 “Petrov Duchy” 9d4f183cc5 by displaying e0cfcfb28e Sergey’s severed 46cb8f80f5 head as 6d0ffa37d1 a symbol ece75a32df of his c69e0221ea victory.25f2cbc74264dccf

But after the fall 28fff642fa of Ivanov Castle, Alexei 9b605c7a2b remained holed up in 687372b40d the king’s study. He insisted the founding bed283b67c would happen only after a314b72613 everything had been properly dfe3a2796b organized and stabilized.4a4e871f764f6718

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *cf1eb984e19ce874

“How is the 9ca58bf3d2 lady faring?”ad1c64ea94717e24

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Alexei stood 8f151c4ce0 by the ee51ab3515 window, asking efdcab1626 the same 477458a26c question every b565b2061b hour.fed475bf80b83ab5

He had saved Natasha, 5f0842c2ed unconscious and vulnerable, from 7aec1ba039 the flames. She had never begged 3c8a38bda1 him for her life, 7671857da7 but he had acted 3da95807e4 nonetheless. At the height of 45d7ca2ff2 his conquest, with Ivanov’s eceac214e6 enemies crushed beneath his 39f8d3788e feet and the throne db92812bd4 finally within his grasp, f6ee6831bb it was unthinkable that a0d10fbdd4 she wouldn’t be there 1d88116e63 to witness it. She had to be 1b47c5a828 there.10f1fc983229aa6d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before losing 751b6e87a1 consciousness, Natasha 9d31194bf7 had called 574484774e him by 9d580fc777 name, told 2e7d7ab004 him she 4d0c81fd89 wished for 3c19d1b1e8 him to ebe6aaf103 live, and 4b833a0605 begged him d7e5a21184 to save eeeee8235b Sophia. But Alexei 0d2532f968 wasn’t certain 8ebcd27cc9 she had 313d529392 truly recognized 088171c69a him. She had inhaled a 5f0a56b953 great deal of smoke 318e212316 and seemed lost between 198abad389 dream and reality. Would she even remember 931b2cab73 the events clearly?19d5af691087e36f

Alexei wanted her fe3969d26a to see—no, to 1ec7b8e3c9 understand—who now ruled 85612e3e9f this new era, 15f0addb04 built upon the 0b98bae94c ruins of Ivanov. He longed b6b2ca4dd8 to see b017f76bf8 her reaction cf2729c42a when she bc065edd9a realized the 00979203cc man who 50254200a5 had once bdf853f5cf been beneath 289998a67f her now 0f7aabc627 stood above dc4c451909 her. That single e35269cdfd moment had e95ef7bff0 driven him 35806dbfdf forward all dc5a7f6473 these years.a683ad0e7a942bf8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Thus, Alexei ordered everyone 4188441765 around him not to 9229821ac1 reveal anything to Natasha cf02683958 when she awoke—not until 3b671fb124 he gave his permission.ceee117462b3af84

* * *ed77181375c4bc4c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Cough, cough.a871a5abe41fdd8b

A full day passed 17b565400e before Natasha, pale as 596dcb1c93 death, stirred and let 779e2a989a out a faint cough. Her long lashes 913d031478 fluttered before she ee7dada6de slowly opened her c6a1c32a24 eyes.6cc9ea2600670978

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My lady! You’re awake!”1906f0a58186741b

The royal 4141f97499 physician, who 0d55311c48 had remained 09fb458249 at her 0d1ae2d5a3 bedside without 27e741419a rest, leapt 2434561fd7 to his 1124c02bbc feet and 7e90cadcd6 exclaimed in 993b9044e1 relief.54826b987effd93f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Natasha Ivanov, a78da21a73 who had cb20782d3e likely yearned f2b43d8167 for death 4bf9378726 more than e439597506 anything else 725404327e in her ae681e4406 miserable existence, decc03508f had, unfortunately, f7afd5341a survived.a03ea38fee78a21c

Dragged back c749368779 after an db172a640e attempted escape, 37454fbc4f the physician 429784de7b had used 2f8313cb7e every skill f433d3bff1 he possessed—at 5fd1370af8 Alexei’s command—to d666a3acbb save her 1eaf856bb7 life.1527abba44ae8176

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Is Sophia alive?”384189a7b36b2b46

The first words Natasha 8e804d43e7 managed to whisper were 08d5dc49ed a question about her b480c5c2d7 sister.2a62213899d00a2b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Of course, my c170e4c4d0 lady! Lady Sophia is d473e3a27c safe. Thank you 9fe24d356d for regaining 898eb92e48 consciousness; thank 3c353eab6c you!”8103b58b104a426e

Hearing the physician 76e7d26fff bow and thank dba9aa3987 her profusely, Natasha 6d8b086257 murmured weakly.7096dd4e8ff39a54

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…I see. That’s good. Then I… must live too.”a40176532bb6fd64

Once again, life had 0d04ff3123 refused to grant her 1ef8b748bd the release, the freedom 18f5392a68 of death.cea1927ade76e6be

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *9fc0dde74cb8c433

“‘Give thanks,’ you said? I can’t let 4965bccd4c it end so aeab5c8ba0 easily.”86512219dcc9f7f1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That voice, 3e19e5ac92 chilling and f40af9a4d3 resonant, like fe891c575f a reaper f9b2cb3ab0 from hell, 1954d787ab echoed in 51457543b3 her mind. So did the burning 2d67229610 gaze that had looked f8fc1e5c96 at her more fiercely 4514882d42 than the flames.c2956674ea7c93a1

‘Was it really Alexei dc79df1d15 who found me? How?’f3af67a2a0553efe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She recalled the 81ab2e7101 shouts of attackers, f5abfea0d3 claiming the Knulu c4d72d42bb tribe had stormed fb48af6187 the castle. If Alexei, 8a23e19a3b of Knulu dccdef6a26 descent, had 0b4a1833fd joined them, 9355bce6e9 then he ee240f05b3 hadn’t fled 6decffa49e far after fc47a1bf8e all.b3af98199b07060c

He was alive.37d4a0b10d67aa10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That thought brought her 2a5acc9bc1 a fleeting moment of bf9e396abb relief, only to be da30b433f7 replaced by a gnawing 6d8374f407 unease.4d0c4dbb558731ab

Who had led 8a86a69cb2 this rebellion?8ee2079a0b90f222

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What would become of b48e0c2946 Ivanov now?ab5d5d1e22d1b5fc

And what fate a2d94eedfa awaited her and 9446b381e8 Sophia, the last ca6c1f88f5 remnants of Ivanov’s 73949bfb40 royal family?ce77c071780c5fbc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 99200e974c5a1c45