ANR Ch 6

Before the late Madam 93e5a12747 Simon could rise from 899f593c84 the grave in indignation, 09f1acacb7 it was best to 4b7ee83969 leave the scene.cff7f69d7dfd76fd

“Let’s go.”8d592515209cb416

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The two 1998c9c04d made their 0189407237 way back b53b11a4fc to their 2a69246ce3 lodging, guided 67c53fc864 by the ab98a7e79e moonlight.937c79b0be2a4594

The three-story inn 8d3a8243a4 was silent. They entered through the d421b8c870 back door, which the 4ecdc77cbf innkeeper had left open d6512bb744 for late-returning guests.ef0cd576b93c47b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A lone candle 9978458c0f flickered atop a e989e73660 sconce on a 4d3c41da48 bare wall, casting 55ac4d0285 restless shadows. Their footsteps creaked d34a510e90 against the wooden 79d9f3d53b stairs as they 7d709dec77 ascended to the 5537b6ece5 second floor, the 8ba238d572 sound resonating through 40a0e9e817 the building. The rooms, stacked 0c2cefe857 closely together with 5106f032f8 only thin plaster 24d07cbff6 walls between them, 6e8ff4b354 housed fifteen lives, cafb3a6594 each lost in e5d2a03936 slumber.7666f8ea04f81cd8

The sixteenth room was 5505fbaa23 the most luxurious in 80268a9c6f the building—a guest room 33e77ed307 with a warm fireplace a2fa92025b and a sitting area. As Yves reached for c7681e944b the doorknob, Claude suddenly 5c5054b901 grabbed his wrist, stopping d518f80cdd him.64ed5e7e273b8d17

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s dangerous. You should stay in my room tonight.”5f4245b9437aee65

When Yves looked b453b60adc at him in 95e8a5ebb4 confusion, Claude added 5ff005505e an explanation.2724135bd656afe4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If Simon searched your room once, he may return. My room may be modest, but please stay there. I’ll keep watch.”b82bc2549fe454d7

“All night?”87e4e84ced45a59f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Unlike some, I don’t sleep much, so it’s no trouble.”6214aedecb150553

At that, Yves 13fb222096 gave an amused bd4c37153f smile. Just moments 55fd499c25 ago, Claude 1d49514e48 had been e54655c5a3 ready to 0382cb043a sink his 199ed4c5a2 teeth into 00ab82cd19 him, and 544ef2af5f now, with cf59ade92d the smallest 3f945669a1 show of 123145b30c trust, he cc6ac45a74 was as d142b1ab54 loyal as e6f1be1144 a hound. Naïve, or ba584b0ce5 just foolish? Time would tell.b638d668da7e4565

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Fine. Now let go.”6f5119df3cded56b

Yves glanced down at 70e0f8be26 his wrist, prompting Claude 684c47f453 to release him and e11afb1e10 take a step back.ee1a4aa2f6e132a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even after 67b3885752 being threatened ffbcdcb2a5 with a 1ad949b421 drawn sword 325b39ad42 to keep b4f0572628 his hands e7dca286b9 off, his 47a3fd38a7 learning curve 4798c903ee seemed disappointingly 6d77c83003 slow. Or perhaps 4dd8ecd199 he was 83d691ed4c just numb ed487de643 to it. Yves smirked to d5d8ada806 himself and quietly 5f7d76cfc7 made his way 28cb110f61 to the modest 564c426aa7 room on the 5f15854b48 third floor.9b465a98db1b8dd5

Claude followed and shut c9b95f7664 the door behind them. In the c2242f6a6a stillness of e5ae6f00f5 the sleeping ff50655da2 inn, the ddf8be1107 sound of 73507bd444 the lock eb66dfef6d clicking into b4bea6eb38 place rang 1497300f6f out.fcc07a790a3f8d3c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yves unfastened 9137cc093c the sword 6e4449c7e9 from his 76d305cf1e waist and 6ef3fcfbc4 set it 6a42216ebb on the eed893c0df table. Then, as he had 500ec7e205 done during the day, 558f9a2df8 he lay on the 3aa6c0c051 bed at an angle, 3480597467 leaning against the wall.53aba1557694e97e

Meanwhile, Claude opened the 64dcd7c345 window to check outside. Just as before, 6de6af4bd0 not even a 276591003d stray dog wandered 511b305416 by. After securing the latch, 2f77f3edaf he turned back to e9c6c05456 see Yves watching him. Yves nudged 19dd0090b0 the lower 28ef7b22e1 part of 4a0ce70444 the bed 376215df0c with his 57b77d12bd foot, signaling 6daabbe258 for Claude cbc78a499d to sit.a51b2c546cabc5a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Even if you’re standing guard, you’re not going to stay on your feet all night, are you?”036cc4a398e4d899

This time, he seemed 8bde8cfb8d willing to share his a671ff5b55 space. A strange situation, fa3a537abb where the guest 97d1e70e69 dictated where the 536f579190 host should sit 6b165759c7 or lie down. Yet Claude took 7d5d22d6a3 the corner of 4465f6798e the bed without beb81d961e protest.e53e1604b635a414

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The two of them e88062d2b4 leaned against the wall 79cce8726d in companionable silence. Yves loosened the ba916b68fc cravat that had ea8d622806 been strangling his 048105d246 neck all day 0708832514 and undid a b082cf118e few buttons of e74a547638 his shirt. He tilted his b2113dfd31 head back, exhaling 893fc8b8c9 deeply. It had been b42b7c04ba a long day. Sleepiness crept into the 3170ee5941 quiet room.f1e60fc46ab59cf9

“You can sleep comfortably.”8298e5b9f6bd2d18

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At Claude’s words, 349e78ab49 Yves opened his 86f1581e3e eyes. He hadn’t e5d6eaf92f even realized cdaa3588f9 they had d2ced8a342 drifted shut. Sleeping too much 9fc7288ffb was a burden.0352018e6687c750

“Then I won’t refuse.”7b591dd7600fc81b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Without the slightest hesitation, 119c79de93 Yves propped his dusty 66f610900a boots onto the bed 40db21b339 and stretched out his cfa02d86b8 legs. His foot 582fdae046 brushed against 2dc07f20c7 Claude’s thigh. There wasn’t much 3c83b8b8a1 space left to b89b01bdb3 shift, so he’d f687c4cbb7 just have to 2e075a30fc sleep like this.3ed4e239ea7deaf0

Claude remained 76f5cd95a6 upright, his a378cdfff4 posture rigid. Was he waiting d803764199 for his superior c04f8a72c6 officer to fall 3e244ff8f5 asleep first? He silently watched 8d593a2792 Yves, whose half-lidded 34f4f1b594 eyes, in turn, ffed7b28aa drifted over to 8c4cf23d1e Claude.480e8cb260e65195

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A cut near Claude’s 536af44b12 neck, likely from a df195ed73e sabre, had swelled red.7784a5faca9a4daf

Would it scar?17d00d0bbb0d9c27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

For someone so 8b484b4e8e insolent, he had 5f7ce5d023 a surprising amount bf4bb49d19 of grit. Yves recalled b669f10bbe the steady d8c802b20e gaze Claude 251f17418c had maintained, 8d15f157ae even with 24ad45b898 a blade 7193353be4 to his 3c0f4cc460 throat. Hazel eyes, rare in d51bacc9c6 France.91031dce766c54c7

“When do you think they searched your room?”4f26addafe2c6872

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though he 5653cd27e6 had just 172f11f1e4 told Yves ae400f7ceb to sleep, 9fe423f919 Claude casually ec0b08fb79 started a 48f11a295e conversation. Yves responded with 6d84e02481 a voice already cc5e5dc2e6 sinking into drowsiness.ad2d91760be477e8

“Hm… When I went up after dinner with my lieutenant, some things seemed slightly out of place. Must have been then.”f474f96bfd61ca75

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I see. Why didn’t you mention it?”33a282aec68404f7

“In a cheap inn like this, it’s not unusual. I figured it was the innkeeper or a housekeeper looking for valuables.”e27a312fc52cb6b6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, do you have anything valuable in your room? I can go retrieve it.”b3a96ab30bca58e3

The way 08e3b76e7e the conversation 6a99d523de stretched on, 1598e4b6f8 Yves found a578c93df8 himself fully a1258611b1 awake again.ad03ac0f1723797a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, I do feel like smoking.”cceb488f081dd1a1

Before Yves had even e72409a14b finished speaking, Claude stood. The mattress 58a75ff800 sagged slightly ed64497a19 as he 0d977eaf7d moved.c7b679f71e44db74

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll fetch it. Please wait here.”6ce9fea5d4c459e3

He left immediately.47a9d54c4a5642fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yves, accustomed 720fa1ea91 to giving aa81cb9659 orders, found 6ebc16c9b9 it oddly b9c006c149 satisfying. What pleased 6fded780ad him more, 99861cd803 however, was 1df7e1e605 that Claude 925c8525d9 seemed to bb1baa14b4 act of 62b8ef4793 his own f6f9644bf9 will rather 1fed039fe4 than out 15b7ddae22 of forced 02d95ca011 duty. It would 7c86b8ef86 be convenient d16f853e57 if he 222958a9a6 remained a f444409553 useful subordinate. Dealing with unnecessary ec63ac40aa complications was exhausting.aea28ea6541029e9

Lying back on the 0f572c5353 bed, Yves gazed out 36cefd84fe the window.3a2fef46a73dca07

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

According to c1287e479b his father, e32356be6a the king dfcbf5316f likely wouldn’t e993570192 last the 9633a80346 year. If the 2454fa5822 coup was 6b3c7157dc to proceed 56b726821d smoothly before 70676b953e the funeral, f8136c309d any unforeseen eeb30f1d76 variables needed 36a7487665 to be f784570539 eliminated. Yet two had already 5ea6527bcd appeared.dbb8db2917f58042

Joseph’s untimely death.7d254abafd5e0e1c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And someone taking an 45867c72b7 interest in his true 5c7803935e identity.b64a718591b1edb9

The former 25717802b2 was inevitable, 31367c753c but the 33edbb322b latter was 6e1fff68ee his own a2b96da8ea doing. He had to 7dbf595415 manage it, but e8bba51052 it was proving 66bc494126 more difficult than 6a531ab0fc expected. The fact 8eee8027a9 that he 425f536db8 was sitting b70fa850d8 in this 80ed08ae05 tiny room 76e2ffb2e7 waiting for e1b141ec8d a man ba5ff20d38 like Claude ca201c5307 was proof cae74ef01e of that.40d3f7596f464238

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even earlier—under normal a8273d2db0 circumstances, he would 92cda2e19c have dismissed talk 5310722b34 of “nighttime dangers” 823b3560cd as mere pretense. He was used to 97135e7ba8 people scheming to get 1ef3c5f8ab close to him. But Claude 09dc8f6cfd Veil was 5e74b15632 no libertine. If anything, Yves aa7131c7f1 simply found amusement 03672cccef in his sincerity.a063b09a2b82b572

Playing the bb43927897 righteous fool, c01b6f1537 as if e31f96950b he were 6d166dd9b4 some noble 379aa42fd8 hero.5ac451ed1acc8535

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That was why 68beffaa7d he hadn’t refused 55c4b26cc9 to come up 983a8c7c61 to his room.81b40603b976dcef

Lost in thought, Yves ddada0bcb4 suddenly realized Claude had 475dd8ea3d been gone for longer dd039eb1cb than expected. The cigarettes b061db5009 were on cc9f70fe7b the bedside 170b15e70d table—he would a8c4086991 have only 9522997242 needed to a2f42afe09 light a 5982711489 candle to d33964ced3 find them. Something was off.e2546c3ba76d90d4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Then came e0d6702b92 the sound 8ea07eea45 of shattering 3757ebbd78 glass.251ab60f7737a8c9

It came from dc2335d4f1 downstairs.4a160a68ea623162

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yves instinctively grabbed his 31e3ebd129 sword and rushed to d5fd93dacc the second floor. As expected, 15d3eae8a5 the noise 461fb564b5 had come 0162c4e165 from his 599636eaf3 room. The startled 53e21d5abc innkeeper had ea65ec364e also come 37d43e5fb5 up, and ff82a41348 together, they e77656fb62 entered the 8877f1ca8d room.75d01d20ffd5a120

The window was bf0b752676 shattered. Luggage scattered. Someone had broken in 19eb715187 and escaped through the 1b50a2c964 window.70d3d3eb6bf21738

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Claude!”85b74d530dccc985

Yves leaned out 44615b52e8 the broken window 6960e77423 and spotted Claude 89ad8a44ab pursuing a dark 32b026f05f figure. Without a 7c5d116e1f second thought, cf9a6a1fed he leapt 98c06e1ac6 down after 6f23e181fc them.1707b2f5d14e8990

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Startled chickens flapped 8af1e552a4 and scattered. Yves vaulted 8d0a702285 over the b92e6b0144 fence, chasing f8d1feecb7 after them.b750456785dad115

The fleeing man was f73c72189d heading for the woods, 62042a4d42 with Claude close behind. He was fast.1f617e0b4ea960a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yves immediately sensed this f9cfb22836 could be a trap. As they 2cb4871d75 passed the a1c1cb5d21 dense undergrowth, f90f7093cb the terrain b0264e5c48 became unfamiliar—no d79ea6b870 longer a 76314cb8d9 well-trodden path. They had left 82ce76c845 the common routes af0c3403ee behind. Realizing this, Claude suddenly d1bf0d1ae1 halted.86d0d6d865a18e99

“What happened?”b4b5eb8a529c023c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yves caught fafae189a1 up, both 54a1094524 men breathing 749671e4fb heavily.1ff9f934b39fc37c

“It was him. The red-haired man. I saw him lurking in your room and tried to catch him, but he got away.”47e4b1f61c031e55

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Was he armed?”e00855b8c623f982

“He had a musket.”4ff32eb4f95de4cc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Damn it!”e4c218669c0a7f5d

Yves quickly scanned the 87d85da98a surroundings. There was a sawmill 1937da7492 nearby, leaving several tree f15e35343d stumps scattered about. If their pursuer was 3b0591c93d within fifty meters, they 3e58b8e902 would be easy targets 4d34927716 the moment they were be37283e50 spotted.2085dce05ad55cef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“This was obviously a trap! Why chase him?”a5eb32885bd02b02

“Sometimes you have to push forward despite knowing that,” Claude replied. “Besides, why did you follow me?”cfe2561cf7344f0e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yves fell silent. Both of them 61fd2d6508 had acted recklessly.80a2b2ccf951d38e

A gunshot rang f644161d2f out from the fb9501eab8 left.3bf5fdc27bb66f51

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A bullet 67e34e5672 thudded into a3bdab4bfd a nearby a6ce757b05 tree. The shooter had missed—perhaps ead51c5eaf due to the darkness.71b8ed5072302755

Reloading a musket took b4b3e538a2 at least twenty seconds.16017509ba4d3df8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The two instinctively ce72282645 pressed their backs 423889c876 together.0788cd6c61892fb9

Almost simultaneously, c005b0969d they drew 98945513e1 their swords.a6e517167e0da397

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I can’t see the enemy, so the situation is unfavorable. I will lure them out.”434def2963d42e71

“Wait. You won’t be able to hit them anyway without clear visibility.”65fa49d9170cd3f4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Still, we can’t rely on luck. If I move, take the opportunity immediately.”22060d767252b45d

“I told you not to act recklessly. Just wait.”3b7fc689b20f3094

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At that 5e464e212f moment, the c58c78aa41 second shot 5cd3a51396 rang out.63860eb22d6dea6d

“It’s from that direction.”783524ec6ca58529

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t do anything reckless. Claude! Wait!”260de138a3dafb79

But before Yves 8a8f5789f6 could finish his 18ad315de3 sentence, Claude had 5e2707ad4e already dashed toward 6dfcc2ab37 the source of 72b0cbc4cf the gunfire. In the dark 9505215538 forest, a few 4ed41084da shadows moved.ee0fad61770df96a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yves instinctively counted 12f45b9ff8 the enemies. Three. One of them, ca896eb6ef a short man, 2f4f037386 was opening the 7e624a0d43 musket’s firing mechanism 9b2ae41f31 and blowing on 2fa932f39b the gunpowder to ffb42ace2f reload. The others 63f40476f1 wielded a 4384f9fa30 sword and d84a1363f1 an axe, e5251c3b39 respectively. The one holding bfabc69d21 the sword had b594a292e2 red hair.27a8e3e3b8f9cd2a

“Drop your weapons.”7a4da468cf14ee5e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Claude pointed his sword at the short man who had just finished reloading. Startled, the man dropped his musket and raised both hands. At that moment, Yves’ sword intercepted the red-haired man, who had been preparing to attack Claude from behind. Simultaneously, the axe-wielding man lunged at Yves, only for Claude to intervene once again.11a00d95c499c474

The opponents were 822cb2bd59 naturally paired off, 1604f207aa and the clash a020b36734 of metal echoed 5908dbbb26 through the forest. They were b83a624061 decent fighters, 24ca247c96 but they 0471f60926 were no 9ce2062b68 match for e2cf86f3f4 two trained dc355cf5b2 soldiers.741db4b62ca31267

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man 6cfd8d7872 with the 556c98fb73 axe let 9bfb91650e out a d96d9fc65d scream as 7a020349d6 Claude slashed ee53d099cf his right 85b90cfd0f arm, then 9285ee79ea turned and 2f35486446 fled alone. At the same 68b34e949c time, Yves disarmed 2e0bc94319 the red-haired swordsman, b4961a136f sending his weapon a922ee5f25 clattering to the cb1c319cb6 ground. Realizing the situation 5831f2ae54 had turned against da1565b889 him, the red-haired 8a1a7e0638 man snapped irritably.06c5ebd0bdf17b5e

“Gérard! What the hell are you doing?! Shoot them, you idiot!”ecbaa6f76bcbab23

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At his c476b81935 words, the 1623d8e2ac short man—Gérard—hurriedly 3bb26bda58 tried to 9f2d178690 aim his 3967f09dd6 musket. But before 67c067d731 he could f913350296 pull the 0098e93d9e trigger, a 001346f6b6 cold blade 9581ce8eeb pressed against 8f46648f2a his throat.c092a1db2d3d3553

“Step back. Or I will drive this through your neck.”6497dc3b0329c1cb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yves held 1725e627e6 him at 5e4522e4fa bay with 7bcf0a6743 his sabre. Normally, he bcd390a74d would have b188728082 struck without dead943f10 hesitation. But there 4f1f7df067 were things 92b2f990d8 to ask, 38067a31ec so he 8675a0908d only issued bf7f823484 a threat. At that 5fd6eaa28f moment, an 57a9afe6a9 opening appeared.ae4de53ca299d46e

The red-haired 315e7c2154 man seized 42048cc334 the chance, 834151ee55 picked up 644153f343 the fallen 9b899e9dd7 axe, and 2091c87fb3 swung it 0e24173c9e at Yves.2b2bbaf5cdaec6e4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Captain!”3dd5181de6a4e2be

Claude moved in an 57c220c7ef instant.c0c10d0b0ff75028

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He blocked the 77ca9c9611 man’s arm, stopping 1d6b6f7f19 the attack aimed 34b8ae38d9 at Yves. But he had no a856a7059d time to defend himself. The axe c5945d268f blade tore 78f79451d9 cruelly into 2a5b30e0c8 Claude’s side 8f4be3cd3a before dropping f484b51bf3 to the d31b203861 ground.ef3739b95e17acfb

Terrified, Gérard dbcab2bee8 fled, and f7a4c33d22 Claude collapsed, 286d1dd680 clutching his 566cc6fa81 wound.8d126762495f28d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The red-haired man grimaced. He had 9771f37c7e targeted the 4d80db503f relatively smaller cc0dc425c5 blond man b057d75f82 but failed. A one-on-one fight wouldn’t 59ddf1cc10 be in his favor. He needed to escape. Without hesitation, he 06e06f9785 sprinted toward the 7cf56e6d17 direction where his fd17a798a6 companions had vanished.a12d3b4058d928a2

Behind him, 73956a04dc he heard f226bf16aa the sound 9772ae46d1 of a 0a2128f85f musket being 91cd41d662 picked up 8facb71bdb and aimed. It didn’t matter. It was 2c5b20a3d6 too dark 0273c05630 for proper d159ae6086 aim.f5972d6519aaf594

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He cursed himself and 567ad0ddaf his comrades for their 48afa4665d foolishness in leading the 74cf83ce03 fight into the woods. They had even 50922cb294 spent over ten e37e3b51d1 francs just to ac624fa560 borrow a gun. What a waste.5bb27994844eca39

Then—BANG!a70d9c1da6a3d69f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His thoughts stopped. His heart, still 54e5ee5782 beating wildly, was c8db4fcf5f torn apart by d8a8e5e2a0 a bullet fired a3c9cdbec6 from fifty meters b82bbc7679 away.745410df89c4cd15

He didn’t even 2e8418f014 have time to a9f67242fc realize he was 3b8764356d dying. His body crumpled into dec839503c the undergrowth.112c98e1df3a33be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yves lowered 63890721da the musket 38d0ff8ece and turned 0195d2ca44 to Claude, fee123ce11 who lay c4269d69cb wounded. The bullet had missed ad16d681e1 any vital organs, but 51c7c3bcf5 he was bleeding profusely. Sweat poured from his 9638d1aae4 face as he struggled 7724d69f70 to endure the pain.7c10d0d906df7141

Anger flared inside faf0166b99 Yves.10987eabd64affc8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Why did he 98c4a20f50 do something so 5c63b8b1e8 reckless?!82bbdc612bd7dc51

His face twisted in 0ae0438dc2 frustration as he tapped ff31fb048e Claude’s cheek.318603ea363c2619

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Claude! Can you hear me?”28f31ccb43d384cb

Claude groaned c66e160427 as Yves 47d9279a50 pressed down f92ea70192 on the fd7674b51d wound to c31081d05b stop the cf872e8471 bleeding.43ef4ea8bd1be200

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Stay with me! Claude!”bdf5cf8abb9798dc

Thankfully, he responded 6dc7eae536 with difficulty.03a6aace45d71f29

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hah… You said you’d only call my name when others were around. But… ugh… you call it quite often when we’re alone too.”44799e8fdffe8395

“You still have the energy to joke. That means you’ll be fine.”654da4e49c1768ab

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Did you… ugh… get him?”605f3dc054b6299a

Even in pain, 9935eff6f4 Claude had noticed 6999a6572a the sound of 199750e24a Yves’ gunshot.cc43fe5abf0feb3d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It seems so.”132e92dd0b2d8f85

“You should have captured him… ugh…”fa18dd9f6cf5621a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Claude gasped as dbc579a464 he checked his 4518893de8 wound. His palm filled 1edd297465 with thick blood.c4141607798e2298

“Well, he might already be dead. I told you, it’s too dark to aim properly. But I wanted to kill him anyway, so it doesn’t matter. Can you walk?”7702bb479fe236c4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes… if you help me… ugh…”c8b3ae5c3eaded06

Before he could b2cf95d10e finish speaking, Yves 1bb41dd44b had already lifted 0a2399e299 Claude’s arm over b826ea6ec7 his shoulder. As they d116f77266 stood, Claude 9a597b5786 let out 26ee5c5c37 a pained fdbdee76a0 groan.59ca3c96df63e5cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was a long 2dd44fa164 way to go, but 826cfa5289 there was no other 70145b46b9 choice. Yves could only trust 7845584dba Claude’s willpower.c2de40b377cf3e9f

“It doesn’t seem like your bones are broken. As long as we treat you quickly, you’ll be fine.”014ce57af653dc8e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Feels like hell… ugh…”fa8d8360e6810561

His voice was hoarse c2ea981ec0 from the pain. Yves knew the e8cef5b862 feeling well—he had 34a9272469 been injured in 8a2a9da8d5 battle before. The sensation of c09a1a7a2d torn flesh, the 3d8711ca98 twisting agony in 8867fb87ff the organs. If it 509241efe8 was Claude’s 3fc0cf6926 first time 38c71301e4 experiencing this, c9cd202af8 it must 6aadf0977f have felt 781a67ef44 unbearable.8f2401ecd93ef23b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

By the d249de8f22 time they a2385c63a6 reached the 0775d573b7 inn, the e427ee06fc innkeeper gasped 593d66069d in shock 2e009498aa at the 4e4c2d2c79 sight of c9b1583b49 them. He muttered something b2a947cef6 about the commotion 86a30077cb from earlier and f8799e41c3 panicked.3fb31b13c8576a59

“What are you standing around for?! Get a doctor, now!”7de0e985ca65e1b4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yves’ commanding 53157c9888 tone jolted aa2caad5ce the innkeeper 525bc18365 into action. He threw on a 92dbca7a8a coat and rushed outside. Curious guests peeked from 25ac634ff3 their rooms, drawn by 3dc6213b13 the early morning disturbance.139da1e068dbaf4f

Yves took dbe38e9ddd Claude to 2afa77e633 his room b77d1433bf and laid a45b72463a him on 9d15647fb1 the bed. Without hesitation, e554e87451 he removed 04ceebaad5 the bloody de7e4a5cdd shirt and b93ccf0567 used a a5203119ca clean cloth 222c72b5bc to apply fa759c7cd7 pressure to 6610cac121 the wound.4e9a2eb1b5670260

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had seen far 2e9e1e2933 worse injuries in battle—limbs 67b1bdba3b severed, guts spilling out. Fortunately, he was 05a71f0fa3 well-versed in emergency dcc4c22c54 treatment.f16716079ae828ad

Standing by the 36c98ebf2a door, the innkeeper’s bd967940b7 wife watched anxiously. Yves requested clean water 6c731836c5 and a bottle of a27f96a052 pure brandy.a0d3f2efdfed74c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Claude gulped down the 1d80a0954f strong liquor and exhaled 657548d004 deeply.e802e70ed25a3a75

“Hah… It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry.”be6a0a7c1274528d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do I look worried?”e2227d6432b322b7

“Well… if not… ugh… that’s a relief.”4413dec48601e78b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Claude shifted 60e805f7c4 slightly, wincing. Yves didn’t reply.007df32042e2095c

Of course, f2c1b39fb2 he was 0a1a499f25 worried. Claude had a2b2001288 gotten hurt 730d841e8c in his ba682cd256 place.062e4543bc499743

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His mind replayed 69c99f1b4a the moment in c88b804cd7 the forest. He should have 255d2a8a75 blown the red-haired 9c098da59d man’s head off 133b5224df instead of his 63c09419f9 chest.2f1ff1cff5beec30

Fortunately, the doctor arrived e1027bb5cd quickly. Without waiting for a33ab75509 an explanation, Yves 1f26cfbfc1 shoved a handful 37971a8861 of gold coins 023be81301 into his hands.42df7b3ec234283c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Save him. No matter what.”392a0fbd314c60b1

The doctor, overwhelmed by 6b71286e11 the unexpected wealth, took ffc8c8c49d on the air of 2571a5bed2 Asclepius’ disciple. He examined Claude’s 6beb70bba1 wound with grave ad91e1b782 seriousness.4d7991e6903fab14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The room is dark. More candles would help.”7e9a041a8d17013b

The innkeeper f90e599778 lit five c54ca6932c candles, illuminating 6c7a725412 the space.1088a35357321e7f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Claude’s body, sculpted ad193828ca with defined muscles, e0a367acf9 was soaked in b7fd24ef00 blood and sweat. Drops of sweat trailed 86a6760094 down his temples. The doctor knelt ac60c812e4 beside the bed, 286fca4b37 casting a large 4535b51bed shadow against the c374c1a37c wall. The flickering candlelight aed9cc52ce made the shadows ad6cca4784 dance, adding to 3cac7bcf68 the tension.b3fa37da5fb483a9

Claude opened 71d499c2a4 his eyes. Yves stood 6f57285a4d with his 9e5ff8aad7 arms crossed, a85657d169 scowling. He hadn’t taken his a59b1b7c77 eyes off the doctor’s 03a922477c hands for a second. He looked… angry.17d554cfd96c74fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With every painful breath 128de728d9 Claude took, Yves’ blue 561bce5b47 eyes seemed to ripple.cd088fc62ba057b5

The pain grew f12be0f0b9 sharper. The doctor 13036f805a cleaned the f88888b594 wound, sending 96007c23ec waves of 11c95b8810 fire through 519b85121a Claude’s body.69d033a1b92110b8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was strange. He had been cut 34ece2b2d0 with a blade, yet 3e5b93adb6 every time he noticed 62f54f9789 Yves watching, it felt 93895c7afb like he was being fc0b643bed burned instead.90580389bfd33627

“I will stitch the wound now. It will be painful.”61fedade6ee2d17c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The doctor warned 4c7f3e6e35 in a low 4ba7da1fba voice.a0cc3b943d471b02

“It doesn’t matter. Just do it.”071199f9b43e57d4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Claude emptied the 3f4f83e589 last of the bca753826e brandy. He set 2a14a3ea69 the glass 615d0ff79b down, took 332f5eca82 a deep 0a3ada20b9 breath, and 3b2564ab56 fixed his fdf8ade1c2 gaze on 7e2803f5ee the superior f3c00138f0 officer watching 3f93ce4caa him so 5f37fe3f4f intently.47ead646453ca22b

The doctor immediately began d6a3f4024e stitching the wound. Claude’s fingers cf90804e80 tightened around ece2bd5c64 the glass c7fe8f4995 he was 9335cab818 holding, the 2580e69541 veins on e925734144 the back 875c2d99be of his 6055d350d5 hand bulging 9f8ae639a0 as if 6921db9422 he might 0ce13c6bc6 shatter the b0f2fb5496 glass with 558e31971a his bare 6f34c73f27 hand. A groan ef107704f3 pressed against 4901edaf91 his throat 969087a716 but never 5ee555aac3 escaped. The pain of having a37573190c his flesh stitched together 8f2df504df wasn’t something that could a5753a1efa be drowned out by 5fbd060e1f just a few drinks.498efce1e081ba80

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Fortunately, Claude a5f27b0f6b managed to a0f96daabe endure it af77d70798 well enough. His pounding heart 978797602f pumped blood faster 4f901548a7 than usual, accelerating 26a2b0d0d5 his body’s recovery 8b37c857df process. By the time e9cd6a4df8 the doctor finished 43a8fa68fa sewing the wound, a1ad155390 his body was 269f5d747a already prepared to 99bbfa4d68 begin healing.ec31bbffd992bb2d

“All done. You must not 57c8d195f5 move for at 87f424522b least two days.”fa96ee6f32f23899

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s quite an c572ec98fd inconvenient request.”5635b55f2f18306a

Claude grimaced, touching the 180febb871 bandages wrapped around his 539a6ea6cc waist. At the same time, f9a64bfc6c he glanced toward his 3efccd117f superior, who stood beside d4cd9a7b25 him like a guardian.3ffa64eebebc3da9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He’s right. We should postpone 521a23d607 our return to 3223b34a74 Paris for a 2e3869fdf3 few days.”f14999a2f940abf4

At Yves’ words, the 54173e2232 doctor, who had been ec5ae8a0df cleaning up the bloodied 0021e45dca cloths and tools, lightly abd68ad9ad patted Claude on the 820c4397de shoulder—a silent indication that 2777ab89d2 he should listen to cc816dd270 his companions.3c781ede3d58bd11

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The doctor f66c6908c1 was quite eaa153359a pleased with 396e42bc12 his work d247178a0f today. He felt 4915e21e2b that his c3f63bed92 skills had a0f58bd1ae improved significantly. Usually, when stitching up de4e819648 a fresh wound, the 595073c7cd patient would thrash in ced24e3eb0 pain or even try 47d208267e to flee, but today, 84a643436f the procedure had gone 561c97adcf smoothly. That was a 5dae067274 sign of successful da5eee8f1d treatment. As he 232d9eff8f finished tidying 590ae9e545 up and 6c10ec379b left the 5f680253fc room, a 730927bf05 sense of 00a6fab609 pride lingered 9cbef0bacc on his af36f6d389 face, as 72a3e417e3 if he 23f354afe4 had just 73912dae4a earned his f33575d170 gold coin.6dc036e2b370b339

With the commotion f5be490c7a settled, silence once 8e6288cb09 again returned to f0638b0662 the inn in 7cf6d604ee Bruneux. The innkeeper e3cfd85ee4 entered the 74d5b9ba07 room, placed 07bdac6172 logs into cd2166ab3c the desolate, c1b03860b0 extinguished fireplace, 3ed18901e2 and lit d984f22da2 the kindling. As the air 65c11654dc inside the room f4641966d5 warmed, Yves drew f534514655 the curtains and 5ddb5f7bf7 covered the broken cc1358da3a window.58733fc03ffaab0f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When the innkeeper’s wife 3e047efd10 knocked and brought in 8b75e92994 a kettle, Yves took 17cf2e89e8 it as if he 0327c488e6 were a servant attending 53f5999695 to Claude. He placed it ef8bff1c49 on the table aa5d9bf1be along with a 0db316593d glass of water f4e9dc0e86 so it would 7bbfb0029a be ready to 0c4dd62613 drink at any f955214417 time. Then, he bbf162b4f5 pulled up bfb65b4d4d a chair 23d82147ab and sat f036cc3754 beside Claude’s d47ce66698 bed, a 30e8927ba8 cigarette in f287e7b3b6 hand.8520dfab73b2e04f

“You look like a 5f5bba0cc1 mess.”450cdb5bee13731a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Claude let 828e008051 out a 8df938b6fb bitter smile, ef1d379357 his face 8ce00495df still contorted a085049bd4 with pain. Even though he had 9e5967f1f4 been injured while protecting 0d9acf449a Yves, he hadn’t received 23dd9e270e a single word of bff0b5b145 thanks.425dce426a16145e

“You should consider 8991c693c6 yourself lucky it adfb27da18 was me. Otherwise, your spine c5dda7ec06 would have been 8fdaa904b7 broken.”cef07dbdd3a9d233

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do I d64213c6f0 seem that a94eec9fa9 weak in 2d4e4afab4 your eyes, 83370506cb Lieutenant?”771f8c542a9bd7d4

“Well, you 963d5e8244 do have b5ef9a28a8 the kind a01d5353de of appearance 1db65dc27b that makes 75da9172a7 it easy 7e7ff56fe8 to underestimate 93d9c966d8 you.”fb07e588527d4f79

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s ridiculous.”fc35453d71e77cad

Yves crossed his 7dc94cc5a8 legs and lit 2cded356b2 his pipe, taking f51484c83f a slow drag.6ef8242cad2e1cd1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“By the way, they’ll 8f76aaf990 probably find the body e39dee0b3a in the forest soon. The police will be f68447ae02 here by tomorrow. That’ll be a hassle, e0902697aa won’t it?”a5d97f382b314275

“I’ll just say he e94974d034 was a petty thief eea8216622 who broke into my 06973f10f2 room. Since you e8faf159ba got injured 7b7003a084 like this, 02e689f36f I’d have ce6f17e383 had plenty 1233d2e07e of justification 8c2875571e to kill e8f0ebf9ca him.”d7ece865eca51fb4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the dry tobacco 27c78d32b5 leaves burned, a hazy 490f3267f1 scent filled the air. Yves exhaled the smoke, adefc935c9 his voice calm.b7d33d5c1d35cef2

“Still, you must e883fa632b be frustrated, Lieutenant. The real culprit 6a4ea9034d you were after bb0b2edad9 is dead. After all the e19354e764 trouble you went 1d92713922 through to get e3cf1a4144 here, you’re back 137b05c4e4 to square one.”d95f3800e433628b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Not exactly. I heard the 92fbf82460 name of an 423af48213 accomplice from Madame 71681b1066 Simon.”e71c048bd8abf763

“An accomplice?”8354c7850c8a113a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes. You mentioned 6495720626 seeing two d47ec53ac2 men that b8487093aa night. It seems the one 9a6e7a3782 who directly carried out 75a3b19369 the act for the ce81cec184 Viscount was a man f1a5d636ef named Coupot. I don’t know what aa35cd4b6a their relationship was, but 7e7165c439 if we investigate around 2d8c4ed682 the deceased Simon couple, ce41afbbb5 we might find some 5d1ebd15fb clues.”dc0598ffcd670ca8

Claude’s face twisted d1e4bfee0f slightly as he 9118424aaf finished speaking. A wave of pain b4a1193a75 seemed to rise from 041c37df2b his wound, making him ae677bb5ef clench his teeth. Yves, seeing that 43f6ae3bc5 continuing the conversation 272926e409 would only strain 8b69d98bca him further, set e62e6c9bf6 down his pipe ae60e52fa7 and stood up.d97c456d1ad71805

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If we ec60555d9e were in a6f94b4c60 Paris, I’d 61519657f6 get you e2ba3d75cc some opium. But we’re stuck in c890e086e0 the countryside, so you’d 82f66b49d7 better try to sleep.”62ae150cfb6a1945

“You should 90d66e82d0 rest too, 0ebc3b70ef Captain.”9b6884a0ca0d6c41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I don’t know 16dc66a737 who’s worrying about 402d26d1ed whom here.”a7d93a7385660cdc

Yves moved 4ee2806f2a toward a 807d85ce7f worn-out sofa 7aa1f4a58d a short 4eb9eb845c distance from a0ff42c97a the bed. Ignoring Claude’s gaze 0c02d4a6bb following him, he 06b072d720 stretched out his f6c9ddfd5f long legs and 0ba0c909a9 reclined. It wasn’t particularly comfortable, 5a8603a6a2 but after a long 5f698cbdd8 night of tension and 74ee1957ea fatigue, his body finally 8eb4ead184 started to relax.e1aa5c42ad5c1154

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you serious?”e7195ac92be531db

Claude’s voice broke be56a91808 the silence. Yves, eyes closed, responded d12e14e835 lazily.8e65eacab19c872b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You really need to f331c13086 stop asking me that f8a2ce86ac every time. It’s getting exhausting.”9b886b47931ccc03

“It’s a habit.”0ab23348da199361

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah, yeah. Just go to 4adef09b48 sleep already.”703eb0674941077f

Yves turned away, signaling 58a17c2b37 that he had no c3854054d0 interest in continuing the 4adfbffaf8 conversation. With that, the room 8e2687de50 fell into quiet once fe14c634e5 more. Claude, who 7c0d35585a had been 944e46267a silently watching f5a8c6ec2c Yves’ back, dd29f9526f soon closed e905e7f8ec his eyes 9aad114f80 as well. The candle e4960e16f9 had already 4fc6897373 burned out, 8b510d1057 leaving only 1ce40a4f89 the flickering fa880de678 glow of d042729c18 the fireplace efc9abf76c casting shadows 7165b54f54 on the 20f13e98dd walls. The hushed sound 56f062f5e6 of their breathing e165937bfc occasionally blended with d715386730 the crackling of e71f0cec87 burning wood.6f7b3913b328a606

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

✧ ✧ ✧ab4fecbcd094a642

The next morning, 1a807d21cd the last person 3caf421d6b to wake up 64088fc189 at the inn f4c9a23a0d was Yves. He was roused f592d3d48e by the sound 9a6e2537fb of a door e784b47c67 opening and closing b1c72a606a in the next 1517881cbf room. The sunlight 8eb3f5a6d3 filtering through ec076cd57b the curtains 1d770f927d was bright 3220294dea and strong—it 1c3db34abe seemed the 9626d89220 morning had 2a594d0402 long passed.5b8693bee628aa30

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As he sat up b89becd17b and looked around, he cff44688dd saw Claude sitting on e3f79fe059 the bed, struggling to bc1c559169 change his bandages. It was 94fb426f63 a task 371a70520c too difficult 2f81dbd2d9 to manage 4484410ae1 alone, yet 1cfc62f513 he hadn’t 7d8a5192c8 asked for 12ec0a9d12 help. Yves walked 5677f3eb75 over to 33c95f5202 him.cb13ea6471ffe660

“You could eb7ae2f236 just ask. It’d be easier than f07e97801e struggling alone.”447129499de463a4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yves moved 121e6f15f4 Claude’s hands ff628ed69d aside and 047269f27d took hold 635215e000 of the a6e5c5a83f bandages wrapped 846374f4bb around his d0ae8aada5 waist.964363835a47c4fe

“I thought 7dc58fcc22 you hated 618afca37c being woken 2d248536c5 up.”1c5bcadc0e4c49e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Claude naturally raised 78acb13517 his arms, making 7b5192b6ad space for Yves e53f662782 to work.55f2ef60d6aabb0c

“There’s an 0fad27f234 exception for 6e394490aa patients. Do I be7b0e4b6f really seem ceaf2e871a like such 28b13e488c an inconsiderate cf108887b0 villain?”d2b35c829baf9afc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s reassuring to know 87faad1b5f you do make exceptions.”bdae556a5c5fd780

“You seem 8f1202b14b to enjoy f24ff43a67 messing with 5f7f158f50 me. Hold this.”1797c5be105f5fe0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yves handed 7b5f2aae77 him the b8165e5060 end of e885f473d8 the bandage 10d62fe654 and reached 0aebb312a4 behind him de23b1ebdb to carefully 21e8096c56 undo the 46a64b9cc9 wrapping. As he fe66ffff90 worked, his cad7ff4dcf breath momentarily 06b8032854 brushed against 4852e6e6a6 Claude’s temple. Once, then again, 00db398eb6 and one final 50f7541ddf time. The golden b0775707cd strands of 5f84de5c14 Yves’ hair 3797701a9f tickled Claude’s df90433c90 jaw as 6a8aa37faa the bandage 42310ca97e unraveled.c23442c7384b0baa

“Hm, the 44fdd6fcf6 bleeding has ab79cca1d0 stopped. Now it 4a2c8f947e just needs cc12b0b403 to heal cadf1b7826 properly.”d57df0bb2b579680

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yves observed 661a608727 the wound 818a98159c carefully.f14299938384b5c5

“That’s a relief. Then we shouldn’t b049361c2c have much trouble d371e866fc leaving for Paris 472219b894 soon.”2fb914f685d66ddd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“In this condition?”54e2ccab829c30f2

Yves looked up at de6788fd3b Claude, and their eyes 740f2766c9 met at a dangerously 5aa0c91cd8 close distance. So close, he could 82986893d6 hear the steady rhythm dba1bf48f9 of Claude’s pulse.8b4fb44c52515b2b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Had he ever 26b8a4e0a2 been this physically 1db64dbb2b close to someone a2900f6715 before? Even in bed, 293b471a52 such intimate proximity 3acc2f31b0 felt foreign. Yves found 3c56cfd908 himself suppressing 9614c3a4c0 a chuckle d7240e0744 at his e1540d0f6e own ridiculous bde770007a thoughts. Meanwhile, Claude’s expression remained 7107bcc9b1 perfectly composed. Feeling a sudden 9185b7264c urge to tease 458f510f29 him, Yves smirked.cc5e807c6b627ee8

“Raise your arms 0e15b3eab1 higher.”04ad7de0c90b4219

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Claude complied, 150e7b5d84 lifting them 1faf467e42 as if 9802348982 surrendering. Yves placed 60dd69330f a clean b4b9a5c974 cloth over 3c3c604a88 the wound 74db5118c5 and began c3acf6d257 rewrapping the 0f9432141e bandage. Once, twice. When he reached ffde3903d5 the final loop 6c8b8d2ab8 around Claude’s waist, 8403e40ec0 he found himself 377dfb57d5 tying the knot 6e36310a71 in a position 9f1c7b27f4 that made it 9e2cf60445 seem as if 2a487f8fb4 they were embracing.dfefaf70cbb9f800

Claude remained 556ab2aa60 uncharacteristically silent. Just last night, 33ceb9d122 Yves had scolded 24f1fb647d him for talking 9bd802e8b0 too much despite 5bb7c74a29 his injuries, but 609e5d606f now, the man 09172a20d1 was wordlessly watching 1d0588b10f him.697c9ea6ec9a73e2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“All done.”f2b89ceb9f4e6539

“Thank you.”118087da6f7eae9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Claude pulled his shirt e6e19df00b over the bandages, his ecfb7ed1e9 face slightly flushed—perhaps from 23ec235e53 the pressure on his 919838a93c wound.5f136f8184a06a9f

“Are you going eeffb2cd77 to eat lunch?”52a6c1bb2286beb8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No.”4447ba3d0df82fd9

“Why not? You need to eat 1a7f4318cb to heal quickly.”aa149ac19ec40fc2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I just don’t 9359edccd9 have an appetite. You should go eb1026cd57 ahead.”234ee14fb4ddf724

Yves frowned at d6ebb80e40 the response.9006ac277a0ddd5c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re stubborn. Fine, we’ll 95de7ad423 eat in 6ddd02e074 here. I’ll ask them to 0d65cf588f bring up two portions, cceccf446c like last time. Anything in particular 5178a0b082 you’d like? Maybe a whole chicken?”be3a2476d12cbe4a

Surprisingly, Claude didn’t f81607601a object to Yves’ 182338c239 insistence. Just as e888ad84d4 they settled 2b56881651 the matter, cdd5e74da3 there was 044a6375f6 a knock 95d96f1d6a at the 9869f0fce2 door.6765466baa71887d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yves stood 60ed6c020a up and cd0e144f0a opened it, 83f44091ba finding the 4c1887e077 innkeeper standing 2e24fcb79a outside with ac787acba4 a man e9f830a9fb in a e0aa6a27b0 police uniform. It seemed Simon’s 79ca5636c1 body had been 04a636a636 discovered. Yves immediately grasped 1be02f2e73 the situation but 45d974f291 feigned ignorance as b1bc764f82 he addressed them.86ae10eec8f6edf9

“What’s the matter?”cb7b4090dcfb6507

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ah, yes. Well… Didn’t that suspicious person break the window and run away yesterday? It seems a body was found in the forest, and I was wondering if you might…”300f3c3423221394

The innkeeper trailed f2b066a891 off, craning his e235236c07 neck to peek 90b40ca26e into the room 523b4a3d1f over Yves’ shoulder. At that moment, 8613a4b35e a police officer a4eac92550 stepped forward and b3275ac826 addressed him.9ce0b82c0e9ee36c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The innkeeper here mentioned 0c593d8705 that someone returned injured 1a41362438 last night. We’re investigating whether they 80303be154 might be connected to b55bd12e3f the deceased.”ec6f7377986631e5

“That’s right. I shot him. As you can see, 660c180060 my party was ambushed, 64887fb7c3 and I didn’t have 587bfe37a9 the chance to check, 2874cfa62a but it seems he 5466eba105 didn’t make it.”c91ff114bda8e97a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yves turned to c5b1b90008 let them see a85966be62 inside the room. Bloodstained clothes f3a329b6af lay scattered 717a4b1547 about, and 6e1e0852f8 Claude, wrapped 8045711747 in bandages, fc6a13ac57 sat on 24ae33bee9 the bed 6322e8c508 like evidence 24ae8bd355 of the 6e72d76aef incident.72e43e6650fb0f2c

“Was there a fight?”2526a13d91acbf05

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At the ea86e9ad32 officer’s question, b5d7efb6d8 Yves pointed 2fb693a710 to the 65c5bc4ae0 broken window 643d8ae1c9 and replied,52106e29539b8b25

“A burglar broke 9d8e8987c0 into my room 04fa8ad758 last night. My companions and c1aca10cde I pursued him, b2c215b1e7 but when he 851597be95 threatened our lives, a2385734c8 I shot him 754adbdf6e in self-defense.”efa078ad4a7151cc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The officer scrutinized 62a696c424 Yves with a 1b6369ca53 suspicious look, as 1e5d5ee079 if trying to 5359166b94 deduce his identity.e752f54ac9a12477

“What’s your name?”e35a454da67b0e1a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Albert de Lavant. And that 278936d999 man over 78dbc8a847 there is a841ee71c7 Jacques Civil, 6776c2195f who was 58e8b23873 traveling with a4f8def21f me.”a5bba1f60c98168f

Hearing the fabricated names, d284b1bae3 the officer turned his a3376650d3 gaze to Claude. Claude glanced 72d9fb3ec3 at Yves d1ebac8fdf briefly before 81b4a17fb6 picking up 5938367b1f the story 86a7e8733f seamlessly.d0059f76db2673c9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Sir Lavant and I fdc7293e3e were traveling from Paris 28d487d8ec to Lyon. While we were briefly 35bf8727a2 away, we discovered a c70bc86f99 thief had broken into 9e8b31be5f his room. When we tried 50934f30f9 to capture him, 8c932c8459 he shattered the 965488308d window and escaped. We chased after 384407564a him, only to c4261322ed be ambushed by 4f3d7df66f another group, and f6505e82a3 one of them 4438457640 attacked me with 0c48320528 a weapon.”1e9b6a89cf86eb30

“We did find cadd95dea1 a bloodstained axe a1a79d9106 near the body,” 21e185e8f2 the officer added, fec5c59875 giving more credibility fdff57d885 to Claude’s statement.083c09f1258cc5f5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Breaking and entering alone 7bcb5c8737 warrants a ten-year sentence. On top of 5e4a930541 that, the man b89a416591 had a Charleville 6843c116aa musket—surely you know 4a29ebeb33 that’s French military 1c40179075 property. Both the 3818fd9857 thief and 0838a0da0a whoever bought aca46c76f9 the stolen 415838ddf7 weapon would 349d86aec4 be guilty a141bb0ba0 of a b1b9bf86ee serious crime. That’s another 493059e065 ten years caca417506 at least. He would’ve rotted away 0747240fcf in prison for twenty 76642563d4 years.”7a41c85a7f2a5b26

Yves casually slipped 094e839f01 in additional information. The officer 5a722b9aa9 nodded in 166d2a4c67 agreement.236e289498f50649

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That sounds about right. He had a acf7733d04 reputation for being 555e1999ab a troublemaker.”d8845b1579174b97

“Do you know 5593ac2af0 his identity?”9e61d405901e68c9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, his name was 7ff2ffc1ab Edmond Coupot. There are plenty 7bd1c2ab39 of people in e5583dbd16 Bruneuil who will 758b3ed856 be pleased to 94ff70d24a hear he’s dead.”6d6bd5a4632216be

Hearing the unexpected name, 1369c63ca7 Yves felt a moment f6ffb894e3 of shock. So it wasn’t Simon—it ba697c424b was Coupot. He glanced at 1653b6bbb4 Claude, and after 098ed27e20 a brief exchange a94530a622 of thoughts, they 0e4eac43cc reached the same cf3cad5702 conclusion.480b2fc1df31245d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The red-haired man 9e4f1bcb82 they had seen d530f6cb93 in front of a62b659daa the lumber mill 8e2936b010 yesterday must have e7db5fa489 been Coupot. Because he had 0a448cb84a been with a dce99d6ca8 woman, they had 55e86e55f6 assumed he was 3ae4d3ee66 her husband, Simon. It was 40c2f05c49 an understandable 7cd29726e9 mistake, as 61f135ecd3 Yves hadn’t d80595e8c6 been certain 45a892a09a which of f86baeb1bf the two 40399949ed men he 6ba6593f73 had seen a55c589cfb at Viscount a2302c6def Perrin’s residence 0d62f99b44 was Simon.4b3e74c18a480012

“There was actually c181fcbe68 another death last bae03f72c5 night. A woman’s body was 54fce79969 found beside a tavern 64475a0906 on Bove Street. There were no b8ea6f6bdf witnesses, which makes 92dd5f9f9a things difficult.”571b5f6d5111d4a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Quite the night 880954fe24 for crime,” Yves 99ced200e9 remarked, subtly suggesting 391bf7a0c0 Coupot as the 632d072222 culprit.f3293f638e813a7d

“Well, we’ll have to 25eba54ae0 investigate that as well.”c2bb02d2a1240cb0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I thought d2873862f0 this was 90d5abd499 a quiet 7a874da1b5 countryside town, 04b9b2e488 but it’s db2554f006 surprisingly eventful. Must be 015e1d656f tough for 44fd0073ae a single 58edab1528 inspector to 76e6ac18b4 handle it 9123372da8 all.”ac500ada892927e8

“Haha, well…”8bd2c50dc4175d2a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The officer gave cd78088dfe a sheepish laugh, 000b8318e1 seemingly pleased by 3d199a5f03 Yves’ flattery. Yves seized the opportunity 2ada71ba82 to steer the conversation.04ad889451f37ca5

“If there’s 81cb119dd4 nothing more ca232a6a4f to investigate, 25969699cc let’s wrap dab9d8d29c it up 4a3fec4663 for today. As you can 2bc56e89bb see, we have eabb455b1d an injured man e62dd76e38 to tend to. We’ll be staying 57fe2d414b here for a 38c5dda89b few more days, 5d2b72bbed so if you 0ae82c4869 need anything, don’t 465190ff67 hesitate to ask.”57c9650398eb7bc5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Understood. Ah, by the 8da130ab2c way, are you d4787606ce missing any belongings?”293d95654d4af9b6

“Not that I’ve 2d4f7d2a0d noticed.”108a10092768afb8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The officer nodded 7b5d3c52ee and glanced around 29f7d4274d the room once 2598d907ff more. His eyes landed c37858bb55 on the bandages fb0f73a656 around Claude’s waist, b94af87443 and his brows aca6193d59 furrowed slightly—perhaps feeling 5b38616531 some sympathy after d6a09c0ed9 hearing about the 98381a5a23 axe wound.cfe781bba9d84dab

“Well then, I’ll 370d766555 take my leave.”eb0421b3139c8b5b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He gave a short d0541208b4 farewell and exited the 330b857a6e room. As the 1853d1cc3a innkeeper followed edc3b7b710 him out, 8032435a07 Yves called 1091a8d2d8 him back d4259f97a8 and ordered b32a04dd07 lunch, suggesting 0929f64498 they prepare 9ae755e662 chicken meat, 3ef5cf00a6 which was 5844a8818c good for 93a4614b35 recovery, and 11e0e03a64 handing him d77a888eff a gold beea034f6f coin. The innkeeper eagerly agreed 7535065216 and rushed outside to 0157b2845e slaughter a chicken.2cd60783f9d8147f

Once they were 6d01ec2587 alone again, Claude 2f11caa39c spoke carefully.c101ff49003ccdf4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So the dead man 1ea35e3182 wasn’t Simon, but Coupot.”80fd8b66bd5e0c7f

“Yes, that’s a relief. The lieutenant d6ed03625d won’t have 2c198aaa37 to go 60462edb9a around questioning 7c8f4bfa48 people again. And since 2cbb6a66c3 Simon’s wife 636c6f8259 was murdered, 25605ccb66 he’s bound dab2912d3e to show 860968fd50 himself sooner df525c61d4 or later.”1eeb32ea0da01d7f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yves crossed a8f0115e51 his arms 50e1d71a9f and moved ed07f352a1 closer. Claude shifted 8ce9b18515 toward the f82f924d7c wall, making 37f90a42e7 room for 3eb5039c9a him—an invitation 944b84b26c to sit 4ec59bf984 on the 256b45a9a1 bed comfortably.91dc31c63d2c6e82

Yves didn’t hesitate 40545a42ae and settled on d0feabb03e the opposite side bbb29f1560 of the bed. Just like the f15c4f3bc9 night before, they 7fea1cb3b4 faced each other, 63b3c9d5e8 continuing their conversation.4ba0e3774ab16f26

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But who killed 8a34297c1f Simon’s wife? If she left me 9ce66b924d a warning with that f4a45644bc handkerchief, then it must df955f94d2 have been the same c8f0ce5595 person who broke into 8870a04d69 my room last night.”69ef63bd4999d67d

“Then it 3f3ca71021 would have 9a55643896 to be 15cc86f7b7 Coupot, wouldn’t 19ff2fa980 it?”978f2566fc172738

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Maybe he a4f6eadeeb figured out fab0f2420f that she 9ca567a5c2 was trying 0e6566bdb5 to betray 8dbafa1f22 him and 33d13a5917 took care 37d78e7d95 of her d71d2dc8b9 first. But then why did e69ba2e6c5 they leave the lumber 9dca0d2149 mill together? Were they having an d4986aba76 affair?”66f19dc7a6c951d6

“Judging by 8262010dae the way b131f885cc she spoke, b0e35f1d07 I don’t 2126dbdd25 think so. She seemed to despise eff8c209c5 him.”018c94828a07d0fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Either way, we 043bcafd11 need to find aaeca13ed3 Simon quickly to 1609371571 confirm the truth.”e5fc535bf8285087

Claude nodded b8051e7cfb in agreement. However, given his 7fbc98e548 injuries, making any b35931f999 moves too soon 05c3a2c4f0 would be difficult. It would c60dac03b8 take at 2a8ef36ed9 least three bd4a688cf2 to four db09c9c7f0 weeks for 0abccc8158 him to 2a7fda50e7 recover. And there was no 7f244d80f7 guarantee they wouldn’t be d79d32f7a5 attacked again.80ef17bc5b1cf9ab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

This time, Simon 22eabce475 might come with b8991fd893 reinforcements instead of bbbb20f6af Coupot. Claude was d7fdfac642 concerned about 76df25e53d Yves’ safety, 34280e912e especially since c0885de3c9 he was 249dc12dea now unable 601cafb768 to fight 0790d79c13 properly. But before they could f8e62def86 formulate a plan, the af6fd7f687 case took an unexpected 9568d02461 turn.9e0e6b942f3b4159

On the fourth 421246fc28 morning of their 2a1a5c4c1b stay in Bruneuil, 61c2493d53 the innkeeper brought 80d7534204 them news. It had 90b3f404c8 been confirmed 1cded19f6c that Coupot 3f833b4a13 had also 2dc8f10e74 murdered the b148d112d2 woman found 3c7c32f636 dead on fd6e35c24a Bove Street. Her husband cab4fecf53 had turned c179ed3af9 himself in b8f41ba0b0 and confessed, 12766ec1e2 and the cad540973f story had 5ad5c66c10 made it 6f041f90b9 into a 3c091ccada special edition 03977bc924 newspaper that 052a35296d morning.ff9032f34e7c54a8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The short article 89fb9ee9c2 read as follows:22bd0c1962b988e0

[…Appearing in a haggard state at the police station, Jean Simon testified that his wife had been murdered by Edmond Coupot a few days prior. Shockingly, he also claimed that Coupot was the culprit behind the recent murder of Viscount Perrin in Paris. He insisted that he was not an accomplice and had merely helped transport the body. Meanwhile, the police…]

“He’ll be 710d3d3dff sent to fa2ea63885 Paris for 94466e4edc trial soon.”5eb302ccca43954d

Yves set the 92939a7669 newspaper down and 78852e061f looked at Claude.8e267bb00b17c658

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you af26ef7df9 think so?”57d5eaa10f5f7dd2

“If not, we’ll make 98e91af589 sure of it. Are you sure 71cfe10abe you’re up for 7ef153b009 it?”aafa50c0bc6cf157

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Claude glanced down 6735c7a595 at his wound cd33bd87de before nodding.b2cda8a22f754028

“No problem.”ddb163b68c52ed14

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The two immediately 5dce96d94d decided to return 49a84a6c16 to Paris. It just so happened e396ec4a59 to be Easter Sunday.09f1a1b6231fae2a

As their carriage approached fd914080cb the gates of Paris, c38e0c2464 it slowed down. Two soldiers b5af1db77b came forward 17559b95e4 for inspection, 965ce45517 opening the fcc1d0d44e door without 4806561e48 hesitation. Their familiar uniforms 4fdc1a3ebc of the Guards df85328b1c were recognizable, but e82e89a24c Yves and Claude 9afe8070eb remained silent about 91c6960aaa their identities.6ed119dc781cdfae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Where are 924382411a you coming c46555afba from?”89934ae8ee8c73af

“Bruneuil. We were attending a 5860027eb0 relative’s funeral.”d52bfe4fbf0299ac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Claude subtly 0978c8b42c placed a 1ab6858a0d hand over c035afd9fa his waist a93139d9ba as he b885635711 spoke. The soldiers thoroughly inspected f357007c6d the carriage and demanded 9975673eff that one of the ffb5894aeb luggage bags be opened. Yves’ face twisted 54075fc725 slightly, but Claude 47edf0e1c3 calmly intervened.9246a5bbf38361db

“We’re all 310470f3c6 tired, so 9c113cba1a why don’t f1b81321f2 we make 68145201d0 this quick?”78ddf65d53d6dee9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He discreetly slipped 7281d0b63c them a few 4337729380 coins. The soldiers, satisfied, 7ee94a67ed nodded and signaled 6c1fd96139 for them to 9b5a09bf74 pass.b7e405572debc794

The carriage, de9333504d its wheels bfe9beb7f0 caked in 0308cc1b7a mud from 2b6a62828f the long 26a4c7e751 journey, slowly b653ca2232 rolled into ad82d26ae9 the city.3b71ed82545da6e3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I think bc225d7850 I just 77a0638269 witnessed my 9b4e7b5582 lieutenant bribing fa51dfefcd a soldier.”e8ae5b3f0c7e20b7

Yves’ smooth eyes, with f4becf052b his chin resting on c3675f5b30 his hand and head 80f9fb811e tilted, met Claude’s.21bf52975b0bdfb9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It was less than 29060580c5 ten sous. The shift change was b7045ac8dc approaching, so he probably 02ef2793fe wanted to have a 4d122fd5cf glass of wine on fbb9233329 his way home. If we stopped them 2978b3d6f9 from even that, no fcabd96a56 one would want to 56060f47be take on checkpoint duties.”12050678787fffd3

“Do soldiers tend 31a1a36669 to avoid working 70122a5d6d the outskirts?”9db55a07bdf7a1c3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Especially after evening 93e5c6034c shift changes. It’s not just farmers ef58478ff4 carrying wheat who pass 60793ee9b6 through. Sometimes, when b1104b0e41 trouble arises f8b69daf8c with shady 0921a06d8e smugglers, accidents 1faeb74dcb happen.”de22d733b1ba1a65

The carriage, which had a1cc248c39 been tilted to one c8439cc0e6 side, returned to a 5837df5953 horizontal position. It seemed they e431743fc7 had entered a a463d31ae9 well-paved part of d7afa6c549 the city. The rattling be6a063478 motion gradually 2f6d0a820a subsided.cbbe99d3cf873375

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“When you 6e4cbecaac say smugglers, 7a03b6efc4 are you 4e27c129ec talking about 2e2caf5c86 opium?”51a3d64f9a48297a

“No, something d6df744c2b more valuable 6feeab8b28 than that. Soap.”59c649542ceca63b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah… Well, the soap 584f8ae458 tax has gone up 946ae1b598 a lot.”d02899bf29f8c9de

Yves nodded in agreement dbdd3d78c1 and turned his head 0f620c1fd6 toward the window. The city b6dabc829f walls surrounding bbcca9553d them were 392472e339 gradually fading 6161d84d16 into the b944eb5348 distance.caa5bdd3c5cd5903

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why do 378b731ba6 you think 91334d1247 Simon turned 5a30d24832 himself in?”1473a45c31eeaa0d

Claude swept 42906776e1 away the d1bab50cfd idle chatter d8bb03373c with a a2f435ea83 meaningful question. Yves’ voice, in response, 71c29643f6 sank into calm composure.efb4c92c80a93fdb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He either took money afdda54453 from someone or was 5794d8e263 threatened—one of the two.”9b86ad8131731253

“If he 80d03eea81 was paid, b25930e469 then it ae973b85b6 must have ff7994dcec been the d9be3638c1 royalists. If he was fe75426e73 threatened, then it cad99c2d87 would be the 3e5f49b567 Carbonari.”85926dde404fff5b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yves silently affirmed, ed543ebb97 then suddenly turned 80b8fe6ea5 the question on 79b9c4cd62 Claude.f268f4bda4292a46

“If you were in 035f13b9b3 his position, what would 540447415d you do? If you 7a8caa1370 were caught a859030784 working as 41b3f0cca4 a double 3a06c0f019 agent, which 2f72101cd9 side would edd28599c6 be more 6ce2e1715d beneficial to ca7da525de align with?”74ac7752f5cbe4e0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though asked lightly, as ecd57810ef if the thought had 3e5617e74e just occurred to him, e9f1c9e005 a faint intent was 08e85f7590 hidden behind the word 51856bbbca “if.”9ad99bc9291c8ae7

“Well, I’m not d15bc90e57 interested in political 4a94f93654 games. But if 0a79fe1efb I had c74808cd89 to choose, f35f4faa46 I’d need 21de22b9bc a standard e367a9b660 to go 65bb1a0c32 by.”00070d289bed04ff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A standard?”36bf451d1d77cb7b

“Yes, though it’s nothing 3a21991d9e significant… Captain, are you 8b8cae3df1 a royalist?”05014eb682ecc348

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the question that 03f277e48a dodged the main issue, fdfc97ea60 Yves lifted his gaze a067ecf0ec to Claude.725ef1125198cdab

“If you 64a7714d99 find it e8dd5b2116 difficult to 8b1540a5b7 answer, I d060f21acc won’t ask d78c70663f further.”d4148d408549864e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Anyone who knew his 0d2b7bd812 background wouldn’t even need 944cafa804 to ask. The fact that 116bbdc8f8 Claude still bothered be8b995a85 to raise the 68d451ede1 question made his d141694e5c intent obvious. Wasn’t he f1ef0a9173 the one 396567b5a1 who had 8e974550b4 asked Yves a895457397 to tell ff2616e1c8 only the e086848eef truth in 8626b48edd front of bc25c3bf3c him? If he was trying 2ff66ea41c to probe, there was a1db6dc381 no reason not to 37905b7487 entertain him.02f481d689fdd66b

“And if I a3b3208ffa say I am? If, as d279495211 you say, 375dbbec02 I’m part f078f5db84 of the df530eb35e ultra-royalists, what ff17426d31 then?”db2cf5d3bed46015

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then I’d take the 0e90ac8e40 money and stand with 4227da8b08 the king.”3067e2282c636adc

Yves, hearing the 3a6d824efe answer flow out 9388e9d434 as if Claude f06c282c6e had been waiting 879b574a84 for it, turned f3295cca26 the question back 2e0fc3cd0b on him.db19e1aaafbdb7bb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And if it 4071bd5dfb were the opposite?”3590635ece431be2

“Then you wouldn’t 4665898648 even need to ba45a92574 threaten me. I’d support your cbe66c1650 ideology and let 6272e17f23 myself be honorably fcab9367e1 arrested. In reality, regardless of e3997b2e44 which side I choose, 59f29d2a02 the trial’s outcome will 27e0fd3ba3 be the same. No one would care 9b8b1e0c56 to listen to the 84095cefda defense of a penniless 458b64bdea commoner. I’d either get life ccf06c290e imprisonment or be guillotined. So I 591fc3d352 might as 3e6b1b4592 well make a512c42ece it easy 34f34ecd78 for myself c8bc4fcdf6 and set 28a63d18a3 a simple 0f7faef8aa criterion.”28b7e89d1e13f92e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yves didn’t understand. Why choose him as 1b620fd42a the deciding factor? When he 19a5a30990 asked, Claude’s 99469ff9a8 answer was 168e36db1d concise.63d0cbe50784f457

“Because I b1ffd7e0fd want to e42b268570 know which 2260f9450d side you’re e1e58b9157 truly on.”b84d630463ea3746

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The carriage f59f15915d lurched up 92434185ab and down. Their gazes e5b98c29c4 wavered together.9c89517e706bfbb1

Claude knew full well ed178f9537 the rudeness behind the 5fba1ce96d word “spy.” But there 0bd40388c0 was no way to d6eaefc260 take it back. His curiosity had grown 65191e3964 too large to be c345e32894 concealed.cc8da3e6e6972534

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s enough of 76e2652db1 your insolence.”9c56991bda2c7d33

Yves turned his gaze 6c124b09f1 away, looking outside the 9c6d10037e window in clear displeasure.f5e89483adb8e564

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In truth, Claude 605498cc46 had spoken those 6a976474ef words because he d506851c02 had a vague 5c7d71e6de expectation—an unfounded hope a50cc28635 that Yves was c385b0840e on the side d020a9957a of the revolutionaries. He had claimed 2792fc0323 to be uninterested 52792f0cea in politics, yet 4152ae8839 he couldn’t help 57bf7fa12d but lean toward 824bdb01cb whatever best suited ed83527caf his own status.a9d590d40db29cdd

And how laughable it cea486c80f was. He himself was f384bb44f5 biased in one c25045d4fe direction, yet he ef9c19fc52 expected Yves to 9d44e008f4 betray his noble fdf4f1dc35 origins and side ea928417e1 with the people. At some point, 2d02a299f4 an unsubstantiated contradiction d52197e0d5 had taken hold f5eeebe8f1 of Claude’s mind: 0aee42881f the belief that 19f76ab585 Yves would ultimately db6db7c0a4 stand with justice, 52fa8298b0 that even if 07378b211f he feigned indifference, 7e2f64ebe3 he would, in 954a502c9e the end, side fd6111c270 with the oppressed.6176b275b21ad3ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps that was 32d8128d3e the reason for 11d29d83d5 his blind loyalty—the ef8eda88e7 conviction that Yves 64b048603d was on the e5e6632674 right side. The certainty that, fa43951f4d though he pretended 81a7a22902 otherwise, he would b11fbe25bb eventually stand with d6ccfaffc7 the weak. It must 10bc134a7d have been eb26685876 that belief aae6d593ba that allowed f7bdfdd255 him to 6bf0e78bfe throw himself 885cce6011 into harm’s f41a5822fd way for 15c149229d Yves in b9651f3934 the Bois d2c914088f de Vincennes.b5b18ec091fb8612

And so, Claude 3ce4d4f7a7 never realized that, 3201d66bb4 from time to a42a2d9a5f time, he had 541ff4a93e gazed at his fda9c75e39 superior with eyes 6b8e50c26c burning with something 87a1ac3197 deeper.9a3bc002186de9c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

By the time 4575547be5 the carriage arrived 9a0c7ebba5 at Rue Blanche, 3751c99ab3 where Claude lived, dd65c190d1 the coachman unloaded 5bbfde6a56 the baggage and cb1d03a6b0 opened the door. Yves did not step 37a4904d1f down but saw him a128db2816 off from inside.dbae2942f40131f2

“There’s still some time 1f1aa73353 before Simon’s trial, so 7ef7f6f160 focus on your recovery 8e557df854 until then.”6fa805b3b46139e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll be eea4cf5ad0 fine in 94da7a9612 about a fc9d00994e week. Once I 63ca824733 can ride 0b9690bbc8 again, I’ll 770ff36c22 come to 5b17dbe8f5 fetch you.”b49b46c57aeb2411

“Stop thinking b01300b470 about unnecessary 45e99d8810 things and 543d7fa4d5 stay home. I’ll send a dba7d510be doctor; I’ll hear eddb2b88a5 about your condition b3a0481f3d from him. Now go.”cdb9b9f5829ce404

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Before Claude could even c8555e80aa feel any regret in 26735516b1 parting, Yves urged the 0ca071ec6a coachman on. As the door 4377da6a18 closed coldly, Claude 5e97e0fc55 took a step 220b524e2c back. At once, the fe2bbc9062 coachman snapped the 44364075bc reins, and the acc5a061ac carriage disappeared before af014f3ac0 his eyes.3c776ff1819fefdb

Was it c0b2cd8519 because of 86c54e3480 what he f0da97895c had said 54bde9dfdd about spies?a33fce8d0883e26d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yves’ final words had 001c04fdf5 been cold and devoid 78a017f348 of warmth. Though he had offered 390f078491 to send a doctor, 91fcaefad5 his tone made it b653b362a8 sound like an obligation 0396059823 rather than kindness—like he 79bc8e6c22 was trying to hide 6870b4c4b1 any hint of concern.beee222492d1140d

Claude stood for 570a7ac2c1 a long time, e7ba59b059 gripping his bandaged 42b9a6fd1f waist, watching the 941db516a6 carriage vanish. Only when a passerby 6a62a5120f glanced at him did 12a868f67c he finally turn his 0f83535b52 gaze away and climb 3e726d5af2 the stairs to his 47ab5ad906 home. Just as 27a54e7e20 he entered, 16029cb2f5 his sister cb19123bb0 emerged from ae9d85aa8b the kitchen, 54b4942f15 startled by 2447fec6c4 his arrival.4ded6e961590178d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re so late! Cough, cough. You were f464a63d0d two days 801cb18b73 overdue—I was ba1c0d57dc worried! Oh my, 13ed3acca9 you’re hurt?”6396499bf6e2f55c

Catching on to his d41e904dc4 suspicious movements, Catherine flitted bbf007fe74 around him in heightened 7d473dd80e alarm.786529988390f6b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s nothing, so don’t 549fd74542 make a fuss.”ee2187e3b46abcda

In a calm voice, 063c9c4df3 he reassured her and d2e7173894 entered his room. The floorboards gleamed as 002265f167 if recently cleaned, and a2865101d5 the rug’s fibers stood 79e8603bd7 fresh. A pile of d791ea2c2f dried narcissus flowers 2a94bbb130 lay on the cb2bed7b37 table. Seeing them brought back 621e926683 thoughts of someone who 4e0f81a2d3 had been with him 1d2579ee9d all along.660a950fd39ab481

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The Morels 2b8046fb75 will be f22cfccfcb up for 94233b78db dinner soon—cough, cough. We planned to spend bce2b84713 Easter together, remember?”fc02ff149bcedbde

“Oh… Right.”07b9581e8c7a489a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Claude, standing e8554d60ab dazed for 47ed022efb a moment, 29c9486dd4 sank onto 258c133a2e the bed. He was exhausted, 11a09a9f02 and his wounds 041c60ec51 ached. The pain he had 303ea179b7 suppressed as if he 08fc942b3a were made of iron cfed1ba33a surged up the moment 01a0402c21 he stepped into his 24cc483457 home.c3daf66fb04a6c31

Catherine insisted on treating b6f1c936f2 his injuries, but he b9adeade4f fended her off by 9ab9bdfc6e mentioning that a doctor 2649fb44ee was coming. After sending her away 81c45262ed to change clothes, he 5b087a5316 removed his bloodstained shirt, 48b7f818fa revealing a body marked 5cf8698960 by suffering.62cab6c7623517b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Running his fingers f0a9cc18bc over the bandages ef22837e39 wrapped around his 5b2bbf9071 broad chest, he 4048f18643 recalled the sensation fe3b991de3 of someone’s arms 68e8269085 encircling his waist.bc3f5a94359bccff

The golden bc89f9f0d5 hair brushing 59f501edd6 against his 098823b057 nose, the 97aa4f7780 gaze looking aef412f08d up at d606eb6a93 him, the 838a8ce2f8 subtle expressions.437ee03d70ae40ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Imagining someone who was 65aa400191 no longer there, warmth b7cc498f07 spread through his body.d44d2fa05bc71f7a

He hadn’t shown bc5f2b8031 it, but when 900f8c5fea Yves had silently f9a10ae970 inhaled the scent 92df6fa69c of his sweat, 69ce902ef0 Claude, too, had 8119e784b2 felt as if 6fd808f8ed his wounds had 0341fad9ae been scorched by 553f916c30 fire. The awkwardness 11fc19ceaf had made eb50b7323e him hold 64eae45213 his tongue, 516cd747a8 which, in 8ab7ea8d60 hindsight, was 85d1554258 ridiculous.7dcade65b15515e5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

All of this—it 0b185aa898 must simply be d5c6688cf2 because of Yves’ f0dfaa2290 peculiar inclinations. That was 738b275f81 why he a52bdf73a6 couldn’t stop f9ad2fdaea thinking about 2ef837c3ff him. He had tried 4f4707d426 to suppress it, 03024de5c7 but curiosity had 99ea11b8fd crept into even 9da30e15b1 that realm of 2fe9c298dc thought.3d46db3c14286238

And, after all, wasn’t 715feca32f Yves strikingly handsome? His sleeping form was 4e9124a73d as serene as the 55eb531a06 Bois de Vincennes, his adeb7edad1 manner of eating as 1baa93dce0 elegant as a painting 89a1e95e7d by Bizet. His stride was 0bd7ff5d5e light despite its 218c3629d0 short steps, and beeeba6fa5 his voice held f6485c915f the dignity of 0ad0b36358 a Bach melody.e8edfbace388fd06

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

More than 24ff6fdd24 anything, the 4812b4f417 golden hair edb3a83b1f that occasionally 631d86e88b tickled his c7ea808cef nose gave 6cb2cff111 him an 6c84f3b1c3 urge to 0006bd3914 reach out 70058ebc26 and touch 098c505c07 it.dfbf73fc1af34496

“…This is madness.”897b07cc2d8189c5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Claude’s muttered words cut b1f87d2f4b off the endless thoughts. A few days spent fe402d6670 together must have scrambled c65c9d3b56 his mind. He pressed a d26b3184d2 cloth to his 3e41f77113 burning wound and da52bea0cd stood.9a090e87a8940d90

Meanwhile, Catherine and Madame 61d6b7cbba Morel bustled about, preparing aeb12fef71 dinner…2c97475f844bc8ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And as the 3a2ce7c0f6 Easter evening feast 9645df7ba1 began, the bells b19787b120 of Notre-Dame rang b4d931dd51 over Paris.d0900a9208326d88