Chapter 34. After the Bath Ended

“Huh…?”5015d468241feddf

“My lady!”786f97675a61d004

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Thanks to Ain’s quick reflexes, 6b0db7d0d2 catching her by the shoulders, 9af629b0e5 Serenia narrowly avoided diving headfirst 2e4d8f1c9c into the stack of firewood.25dcfc285f030558

“Are you all right? Can you recognize me? Do you know where you fe46d942a8 are?”c46984eabc311390

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ain fired off questions bcd92597de in a rush as f6463b46ff he guided her to 0205668559 the sofa beside the beb5c94dc2 fireplace.e1777776484b9654

Only after resting her body 2ce2f00a4f against something soft did her 8cd6d50eb6 vision begin to return, bit c0432af4bf by bit.2bd679ba4e488f51

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She could now make out 1d97cb50ca his refined face, stiffened with 227d0416d1 concern.27927fbb6a6718ea

Feeling oddly embarrassed, 7c9de4e727 Serenia blushed and 93b61b1018 finally answered, albeit 5f0d6f6869 belatedly.596124d0c15b31f4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Y-yeah. I’m f-fine. I just got dizzy 8d65da7e85 for a moment when 1a04742c3a I stood up too c035725c6a fast. I’m okay now, really.”9a3b296c6b3e127e

But Ain didn’t 72e4cb5f21 relax his expression, cf1e62e35a despite her assurances.a7e2ffec644b81d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unable to endure the intensity d7c3ac2472 of his gaze, Serenia lowered f3304671de her eyes shyly.fed793f47b2e8950

Then, all of a cf111fbcc1 sudden, the fresh scent 3c0ffcb4a8 of snow-lotus washed over f53440be2f her, and something cool 1d108f8adf pressed against her forehead.6285a759245bcf75

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It took her a78858b82e a moment to c6b07f1901 realize it was 7611799951 the back of 89f74d1e1d his hand.c5883d094b553f3a

‘…What is this?’9e14b384daf15c1e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The hand beneath his glove 8a653fe8b2 was cold—shockingly cold, like ice.f728bed00cddba41

It didn’t feel e1267e01b9 like the warmth 50cc8b1c0c of a living a82d5c59ea person.35aec2acf9ec0ca7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia froze, startled.89944a342ceb1bfa

‘W-wait… maybe I’m just really hot…?’4f443cf8c93f8fa7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The thought crossed a539d1ed23 her mind, but d5f007c16c she quickly discarded 25157807a0 it.4a7690cd3061060c

For normal body temperature to 3c815f2cdf feel this cold, she’d have cb960703cc to be literally on fire.898c39135b9277ef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Then that means…’9c925bd1d926f2e2

Serenia looked at him 3499a01e49 with trembling eyes.84a4d49e416fe4b2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He had removed 9dcb979dfd his gloves, his cdb8914434 face serious, as 0ce42db5d6 he checked her f57cd97d86 temperature.e3edb58026904d18

But then he 8f7792cd79 frowned and withdrew 7397ab647a his hand.825d652735eb37cb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He glanced around, seemingly f645ebb75c searching for something—probably a 327ee3e1aa thermometer, since his hand 06c3b7a287 hadn’t given him a 8ca5be57d5 clear read.030fcc6143ba2b30

But in this sparsely furnished 06c32876df home, the chances of finding e2d9b1f185 something like that were slim 1898afb212 to none.8da642fe3097e8d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Realizing this, he didn’t 90f3f03175 hesitate for even a 8da923b4dc second.c0512819f2818cca

Serenia, watching him in a 86a9be66f4 daze, suddenly saw her vision 47da2c0dee turn pink.647aca96081deae1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Before she could 0867481e38 process what was 8c03bc995e happening, a soft c414bed48e sound rang in c068a314e8 her ears.dfabd7a0b4b080e1

Bonk.1e33f44b2eb9c978

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Their foreheads touched, making a b9b867b752 light, almost comical noise.544f279a231d1bd1

She felt his cc982141d2 short hair mix d26ad61e2c with hers, brushing 54ee7af8d6 softly together.3d468d0228f2b878

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia involuntarily held her breath.2c46ed7be6eaa67a

Through the rose-tinted lenses, she 8939d88ffc saw his eyelids lowered gently.bcc4f807f8dc6268

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The shadows cast by his bdc99e7cef long, even lashes fell across 4c256d8780 his cheeks.e839a6ce067edef5

Instead of his usual 8f7549207b flamboyance, a composed dignity c593d3b021 radiated from him—so unfamiliar.3daa166930a00684

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Just a moment. I’m only checking for d809fa34a0 a fever.”f530e78422418d77

“Ugh.”bd6470e6c0396c39

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The suppressed sound escaped d76713b4d5 her mouth before she 5b2cf3d5a8 could stop it.2ea7ee34f114498a

The low tone of his b6e0263071 voice in her ear gave eba18b744b her goosebumps.8795fc17973724d1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Gently, Ain spoke 1aaccc6a53 again, coaxing her.b5b327b919f1cb90

“I know it’s uncomfortable, but please bear with it a bit. I need to know if cdae5efa4d we should head to the e6eb0d951f hospital immediately.”ac0732203cb4a841

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, uh…”8fbe5d70e7e7889e

“You pushed yourself too hard right after being discharged. If that’s causing b023d2afd4 your fever to 47625c9689 spike again, it 89c68303f3 could be serious.”a66cb94de634136a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“N-no, I…”b9a4c51c80d701b5

Serenia knew.f22baa872f3bc381

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There was no hidden intent 8135e789b8 behind his actions.b951674c4eb9eeb2

But knowing that didn’t 46f1d75a71 stop her from being 5611e6930e hyper-aware of him.37911f96f3cf16ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her heart pounded like she 0ed82ed881 was facing a life-or-death crisis. Her mouth went dry.808ffc1ce9e6e54f

Her face was probably ff203dbc4f beet red—a mess.e0b0197b52190be8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As she fought the 6d8f6e39d6 urge to bite her 124b8d5c66 tongue in frustration, Ain 0d33b9de41 slowly pulled back his b7f1da41ae forehead and spoke.ccb7bbaee0b9ca94

“You definitely have a fever.”3420967a06cf4f32

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ughh…”1dccdeab1fd7139f

“It’s getting hotter by the second…”5476a8a413788920

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As he muttered, lifting 9c59467578 his eyes, he saw 991699822c it.fc91bf1fa44ef90e

Her wide, unblinking 3f281047bf eyes, and her 2fb8c74328 face flushed deep 0393a794b8 red.179b7a130ea82d21

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Oh.”ed83c630decf7a7b

The unexpected sight f917674414 froze him in 027fb2112b place.2d8b212d00563a3d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They were close enough 6d99a954a0 to feel each other’s 5bea0ce743 breath, their eyes locked.c6ac08f4e847991e

A heavy silence fell between 69c24a7cde them.3d24e89e9a442169

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Crackle. Pop.24bdc6ba8a84afd3

The firewood in the hearth c078397d39 split with a sharp sound, 1aeb9b9dd1 snapping Serenia back to her e75599f2b1 senses.5a8848ed1ce20912

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In an awkward flurry, 8944e4edfc she shoved him aside 3c2d73eb90 and jumped up from a318672967 the sofa.1b002ea820fb7f91

“Ah—My lady, this is…!”02ca27a2f0e83f3d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ain, flustered and now 9c4368ca44 blushing, tried to explain, 3f135d5d8b but Serenia didn’t even 3efed819ac glance at him as 0d3a0ac044 she bolted up the a1fc29b827 stairs.daac1ac548576de1

She rushed into the a51236ed62 first room she saw, 153a10f536 slammed the door shut, 053c076237 and bolted it tight.fdac82efe2729be0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A moment later, Ain 0a573b7d6c arrived at the closed 709f86660c door, scratching his reddened 4347175c8e cheeks with a helpless fcca1f50a5 sigh.96003dbf5a3c6b91

“…That’s my room, actually.”e23f2792a953c950

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He rubbed his face 80d7397e0c for a while, then e763dd842b gave a bittersweet smile eebafb19f0 and walked to the f8b8db8e3d next room.c74d482f802f3736

Grabbing the blanket a41e8c526d he’d left on f3ddd972bd the guest bed, bc2121effe he knocked gently a198e4a388 on the bolted 35c53dff70 door.66f0eea893753175

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ll catch a cold without a blanket. I’ll leave it here—make sure 33af69ca58 you use it.”99c3dab654e908b1

He returned downstairs, 580edb4b65 and much later, ddd6b97ea0 heard the door f15c31289a creak open just 966bdd03f7 a little before 3b4d08b783 softly closing again.7a36e9fe3f92f3ad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Lying on the sofa, he 9cede8a004 closed his eyes.508ddb165fa03a0b

* * *40aa3c17a4685442

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The next morning.7488648dbaf58870

Waking from a 1200be3a81 deep sleep, Serenia f3e9a8bd08 stretched her arms 761b6bc9e6 wide, her body 14cd52f835 feeling light as 23e03a6e41 air.d9d00821c205ed70

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She flung open 14f64b5ae2 the window and dd270e824b inhaled the crisp cee45ae39f morning air before bd0c657e22 stepping out of 3f5d71fc3c the room, fully 3a4b987c6a refreshed.60712c130de8fc62

Coming down to the e3879ee02e first floor, her eyes 24f88ec9f0 widened when she realized bc438fc789 Ain was nowhere in cbbcff95d8 the living room—or the b1cf1dd8cf kitchen.f24e7bca78a77348

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What the… No way. Don’t tell me he 2c021798c3 ditched me here again?”24abcaf94aa8cb3e

A creeping unease rose in 12ab81a835 her chest, prompting her to e1fba3469b mutter to herself.51d1f7de5dc27000

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But she quickly 77c031842d shook her head, ed59f1d1e2 calming down.a1b54d1c6c82ba8f

Following the faint fda48f6e42 sense of movement 17ae366df2 she picked up, 277b614411 she slowly walked 3aa3ee98a8 in the direction bf533b0bf4 of the sound.510b285c225c6baa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The bathroom next to the 59a185ce78 kitchen. A small storage room 37f8ff0155 opposite that. Beyond the storage room wall…a6c253903bc4dcc0

“…Outside?”dd324e0096d77cf9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Is he training or something?’2dec9ac3b5cfbbe7

Moving carefully, Serenia tiptoed outside.be250c661293c1de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Can’t disturb him if it’s some sacred training session.’0f379dc46e44b45b

…Or so she thought.3ecd4c93d2755a67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Splash. Clink.309fe4f9800835bd

The sound of ice drifting ff837234fa and colliding in water came f9cee86aa6 from the corner of the 5fd32871c3 backyard.85d114c8ab0a1e8c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Turning her gaze that way, 34e541759c Serenia caught sight of it.23acd93b76c077ce

A large tub 6d1394ff4b set against the 97dcdac1db backdrop of a a44b12b212 snowy forest, filled 3111256c6d with rose petals—and f61e828633 in it, a b558de138a man with golden 5c3d871f00 hair.bdc8b9cd581109c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As expected, he was e44bd35eb4 still wearing those rose-tinted 1f3f1fd8ab glasses.c4a8da6f54db959c

“…”ca5a389024f00701

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In short, Ain 0449fd4628 was in the ae9dcc8d8d middle of an 37fd184c1a ice bath with ad877c8d63 roses.d0f970bc95960f7d

“Mmm. Hm. Hmm-hmm.”793d087c7e63bca7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Humming cheerfully, Ain e87a3d309a stuck a red e9f19edccd rose petal to 8251bffa7c his now-blonde hair, e9cb569880 as if this 1c22fd9a3b whole scene was 9036cc09e8 perfectly normal.2103c6419bd8af55

He literally looked like someone 721e12003b who had a flower in 6a83bccad8 his hair.a87b963f0de2eec7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘An ice bath with roses… in winter? Outside?’2c724ae488ee1097

Frozen in place by this 455518544d absurd and surreal sight, Serenia 853af2f0f2 simply blinked.9747c767eb330c68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ain noticed her, waved brightly, e484c0795e and beamed.327e4d2f1124cfc0

“Oh! You’re up early, my lady! Did you sleep well?”01b1d916ee73cf4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His arms, as they emerged 2e5ce4f301 from the water, clung to 8f3462212d a thin robe soaked through.13f0b0107ab52d8b

Realizing he wasn’t naked, 38ad26bb71 Serenia managed to regain 33bf8e81d3 a sliver of composure.6b84ed894f5fce20

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She stepped toward him, cautiously.b2a39362a96c7540

“Y-yeah, thanks to you. But, uh… aren’t you cold? An ice bath in this 201b6bbf8b weather? What if you catch c3e0b320bc a cold?”9cd8f72e501cfe55

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ain smiled softly 21615e1afb at her concern.888547c254c0f4cb

“I mentioned before, didn’t I? I’m naturally suited ef1d66f436 to cold baths, 341266dad8 even in the 914f626b32 dead of winter. Did you forget?”a982c3c930dffaa3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Only then did Serenia recall.42034b2bf259f8bb

That time she’d commented on 393ed23acd him drinking iced tea, he’d dc058c3ff3 said the same thing.c344250dd0693ede

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘I thought he was just exaggerating! But he was serious?!’b22e683e872f5000

While she stood there, aghast, 3c45ee2d36 Ain stood up in the 51ae118c50 tub, smiling.c267bfa66adb123f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He wrung out his ff143d0b5d drenched robe and slicked 4efe1b7cf0 back his wet hair 058a054c2e with one hand.51fd447d90fef89f

Water droplets clung 04aac9fa13 to his strands, 81d591b548 tracing his face 1b97e57fce as they trickled 611e8d25e6 down.032d281e95c160b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They flowed over 9ba728bb09 his forehead, down aac4e4ef6e the bridge of 39b4e00d44 his nose, and 4823f56425 hung precariously on b9209b2a94 his sharp jawline.80874d1273b94cff

The way the droplets e3c5101331 quivered, ready to fall, 6faeb82218 had an oddly seductive cc313b8fd6 pull.9836a39df07c3c3a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘…Seductive?’3990aa11750cd1f6

Startled by her own 10bf816cfc thoughts, Serenia jerked her d67b2cbc76 gaze downward.a0ecd3ca91d91250

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But below his face, 59513e3d0c the thin, wet robe 96d125852c clung tightly to his 75ddc18b68 torso, clearly outlining a 12fe4eebad well-toned upper body.ed4dce4809d66995

‘Hmm. That’s a solid 90… maybe 41715bbd5b more…’4c2ebb4e362ed247

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She was midway 101c69823c through scoring him ced8b9eccc when she panicked f566790473 and forced her a3948b4cbb gaze to the 2dcac8dd6c ground.4ab92419fe9bd9e4

Then her eyes widened.9d59256ffeb52ad8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Wait, didn’t I give him an 89 before?! It hasn’t even been a 948cbed4f0 month—how’d he improve?! Has he been eating and 38ba5051e2 working out nonstop?!’5ae9d4ab34185e79

Meanwhile, Ain, now 752cdd3bcc out of the 141224bf8d tub, toweled himself 1e2eae255b off and casually adab7ea194 spoke.9bcab405543b44ee

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“By the way, do you notice anything different about me?”b8b7d199890e6de9

“Cough—cough cough! E-excuse me? What do you mean…?”3ac76de2bfeec07f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ain glanced at her, puzzled 94b254558e by her sudden coughing fit.b97725ad57503d7a

Then, as if nothing 400873bba4 had happened, he cupped 786e278465 his chin with both c951d2af90 hands in a perfect ff22f707dd ‘flower pose.’5619377122a21d31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia awkwardly swept her eyes a6f3b0a48a over his eager face, then 42886eb4c6 cautiously opened her mouth.c738163c67c1042f

“Well, uh… the tint of your glasses changed…”4e9ccc3b59609c36

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before she could d69c73a485 finish, his expression 4dcef8408c crumpled in disappointment.04fc777dab6c9931

Not wanting to see him 21c1120e76 look that way, Serenia quickly 083821e57b backtracked and said what she e235256567 thought he wanted to hear.7f0b24ad5d8f2f74

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“N-no! I mean—your muscles! You’ve bulked up! Congrats!”ed07b66a975e1d20

“…Excuse me?”c7664a3888d0e727

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Huh?”5e4aa5f6841a3ae8

Ain, face blank with ca6b29820b shock, slowly lowered his 15e1ccb7e4 hands and covered his 0523f249cb chest.fe262de324084f52

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 ef291c8c4d1f2a59