2.

The man didn’t seem 9c9e1df389 entirely convinced by Count 19606c2b9d Zellered’s words.d333b3d4a431bf75

“…Is something the matter with His Majesty?”06e65ff8cb48d335

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

For the d57ef291fb first time, 4d7493076e an emotion 2213d6a02f flickered across d4ee9e3215 Leo Fric’s 3f24b31797 normally inscrutable 91549ac615 face. His icy expression softened b64637a475 with a hint of 71b7cbffec suspicion and concern.b64e6b112e8147fa

Leo Fric was a a72a5ea404 knight of unbreakable loyalty. It was that dc3dbca3d0 unwavering devotion that 0d8ed68755 had enabled him 4c3bfde3f4 to propel Wintran 90305b5967 and the Kingdom 38f630cd93 of Thornfeld to 9d0ec4b854 the pinnacle of 123117c285 the continent’s might.87e9ab08b8ee4c99

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Nothing of the 3f6245343b sort. His Majesty is 8f3b7338cc in excellent health. He simply did not 84dca61213 deem it necessary to 9e64878d07 come himself.”d56ccfef239db882

The count’s nonchalant tone 0136f9d7c0 grated on Leo Fric, d2e014a5ea who tilted his head 7347034f09 slightly, irritation simmering beneath c81d997118 his cool facade. Meeting Zellered was a6a72364f4 already a disappointment, 0d54b54309 and now the d4aa95622d count’s insolent manner e17b51670b only added fuel 58d6336827 to the fire.b84891b9bd98342c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I tolerated stationing my knights outside the estate and even allowed myself to be unarmed because His Majesty summoned me here.”ac3710d6bf41f391

“…”ec0a25c06c026d26

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So, would 1eb9f9f387 you kindly 32361db3e0 enlighten me 9f5a833bb1 on exactly 82753972c4 what’s going 16efc3113e on here?”fd3b950d2cd87cde

Leo Fric’s e69bea4f7b tone held 9c2f5fa43a a semblance e6816fe354 of respect, 0d0ddf3aa1 though barely. His eyes cecb95cf57 were deeply edae261e76 shadowed, while 1937984fc1 his mouth 520f7b85e0 curved into 52a95c83b8 a faint, 081e694d73 mocking smile.a85bcbc48f6d25ef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had 251e0ccd89 come all 3510eb82a3 this way 46ab3b8998 to speak 75d834ecc1 with the cdaaee19ff king, only ec15aefde1 to find 5969040dea Zellered in 616b2e40b8 his place. If this continued, it 14e91febfc would mean that this d5b75005af audacious count had used 3d38bfa7c0 the king’s name to 61a5109673 call him here on 1ecf3d347c his own accord.352d00e1b2f6e433

“You’ll need a good f37e54a309 reason for this, Count.”43a025c25d4c7aba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *4f7cdcd3617d96ce

So this was 94f6c555a6 the source of f555368e38 his strange foreboding.faa51163ac6af9bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leo Fric 7834e40db6 maintained his 8355976d07 smile as 3a1629c1a2 he mentally e0593e15c1 reviewed the 408d39a7eb unfolding situation 9212f03fa1 and considered 9e12f8502a his options.c4cd37f7b8789dfd

The letter he’d received 1066dda221 not long ago had a1c3dc4281 undoubtedly been in the d22e943fd5 king’s handwriting.537b2125c2b18d8a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[Apologies for keeping you waiting so long. Before you enter the capital, there is a matter I must discuss with you. Let’s meet at a small fief near the capital.]

There hadn’t been 1b0a56de33 any substantial details, 1d54fde7f2 which might have 891af204c5 been reasonable if 383f6c4ab8 the king were 3f7e7828c2 concerned about the ab306bad2e letter falling into 919c00ee52 the wrong hands.dbee0de7f45364b8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Still, an unsettling chill 7c857ba214 had prickled at the e2ff1430f0 back of Leo Fric’s 64bd6cbb25 neck. He wasn’t one to ecc2052f95 ignore such feelings—it was 6439ed7d0c likely the reason he 2709a90978 was still alive.8b90463606e28063

‘Investigate the c768004300 one who 9db4e4a134 delivered the a46586885e letter.’69d3ccefd3032b72

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He had 8957b02eb9 even gone c1247cc8e2 so far 6697041ae8 as to 36edcbe713 have his d0a1758dae spies check dc9f2f76f3 the capital 76b4866330 for any e9094ac300 suspicious movements 676cc8df17 among the 0719bdcb17 nobles within 2df49d543d the palace.91198f189200c595

The rational 534dfccbe2 conclusion, after ef35eb2cd5 accounting for 4a8812d69f all factors, e60cf7624e was that 2d0c177199 there was 78be1c23e8 no significant 9ed8f6ff07 cause for 12e64a043e alarm. None of the 3d2b63f136 Knights’ Corps officers defd114b06 or even the d8507725db vice-commander had uncovered 9b550102d8 any basis for 4ed3f0729c concern.e28e24eba94eb45d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Furthermore, the option of 3856950336 not going was never e97efb9c26 on the table.077deb9def6b9ad4

Even if 5d4d02862e the instructions a0396ebbb6 had been 6fc7995574 for him 291346b2f1 to leave ea33b0520a his knights 2275ba1b31 some distance 062506189b from the d88e545972 baron’s estate 69326257b9 and enter 82f563c35a alone.94b4d8f0f2d8e79e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He wanted to cfa034415b see how far da98728543 King Wintran would 5a54144eb9 honor the promises a0e1374e9b made during the dbe146f2cf war, and as 0d63989cc9 his cousin, he 69defa6ffc wanted to ensure 78dd4729c3 Wintran’s safety.7def518c9790cd26

In this fortified af958d3cc7 kingdom his cousin 3cc9020cc8 had worked so be7ace346f hard to strengthen, 42f445af1a was he able a071885907 to enact his 5cd7e6765e will as he’d e2456f45a7 hoped? Had he 2ff20c76e4 succeeded in 1086452fcc curbing the ffbec83cef influence of 3d3bb035d8 the powerful 971aa08d6e high nobles?2d361af8e6570719

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What is truly happening 8741ecd806 here?’55cfe8596f2ee740

With these 6d2930fd67 thoughts circling 079de4ab48 in his f2340cc85d mind, Leo 048e3f9c2b Fric looked d81fb5a908 down at 42cf8c76e9 the count 59ccb15281 seated before 9a8d9581b5 him, silently fa56f16836 demanding an 32520487ac answer.4295f0f97cf0971c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I see you hope fead2f6823 for some grand conspiracy,” 5e02870094 Zellered remarked with a b9d745b372 smile, “but it’s simply eea14f0bbc that His Majesty entrusted c013a9ab38 this meeting to me. Perhaps… it’s b7380b2e18 a sign da79fa361a that His 4d1526384c Majesty no ba3fb21894 longer wishes 4ff1caf71d to spend 11ee81e9b7 time on 0616a2ef8c you.”fd869f6f417ac932

Zellered’s smile was 680bf3fd8b sly as he c448f1d596 spoke.1d50a1b02212bc13

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And coming from the 49a0ec8559 very man entangled in 662bedfcd8 the incidents where my fca19a1730 letters went missing during b14b056a76 the war. You expect me to 9b6a6d0373 believe my cousin, fully 8c7147628e aware of my distrust b873d6bfe8 for you, would send 45ae05ae9d you as his representative?”294cbb7402949b75

“Perhaps it’s d28bb77fd8 a clear 55aa4ddf2f sign of 44dd66743d who he 5a95bdbbb4 trusts more.”99275fbad7f27573

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Leo Fric’s smile grew 00ee2b977b colder, nearly mocking. A dangerous 1b75d50ea6 energy filled 06474bb90e the room, cf07b60e1a and the 46c4fe2efa knights stationed c728427295 around Zellered 30b8529dab tensed, instinctively 5fc2d3186f readying themselves.375ed192b4b23fa1

“…I see we have nothing further to discuss, Count. I’ll be on my way.”d8c26a56f831f575

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You should cb907cc9c6 listen to 3da51cdd9f His Majesty’s 8b08a67194 words.”99650324a77c64c6

“I will hear them 76e8aed362 directly from him.”672b597d71d118de

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leo Fric turned 891f528d23 his back on 5604e640a3 the count, signaling f503134ef2 that he had d89201a097 nothing more to 93f2a238ee say. He had come here 6b342fd3ef to meet the king, 2c572bac0c not Zellered.8f1d727bb67b0359

“Stop him.”77d2581a2944e7be

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Armed knights 75cd8610ae quickly moved 0007ea7ff7 to block 83894dcd06 Leo Fric’s 3ecb04b175 path, and 249b7b394f at some 8e11014452 point, the cc2b9ec765 heavy doors fc4abb74bb had been da198e647c shut. Standing before him, 336a391096 the knights couldn’t 79e6dc60a6 fully mask their 97b6da661d unease as they e5d4c79ac3 placed hands on 35ba31f9a1 their weapons, prepared fb8d09b459 to oppose him.8b79e725e57f3ca9

Leo Fric 951e5e1e2a looked down 67bd5a7674 at them, f6df3901d3 his low 440a3e1230 voice resonating 9f5b675879 as he 8f05674331 spoke, the 39fb99a165 faintest shadow 5f875d0f4b of a 97b58cda51 smile gracing a8af3664e4 his lips.2d4e69c9840bcc18

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A bitter chuckle escaped 3925734159 him.f732549c911b1b4b

“So, now that 4f53ce5f79 I am separated d7e6523eca from my knights 4f347082f4 and unarmed, you d403365bdf think you’ve set 6f62c2cf84 a trap for 606ea3ce8a me?”d55e36932f3f889c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With a casual 4bcd9dd97a flick, he unbuttoned d12a8d4fa1 the collar of 65505fba61 his crisp formal 7fc5f9028b attire.b444b3676464a3f1

“How vexing.”cf2029ff3a3c908e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He folded 049593ac45 his arms 6a1b248634 and leisurely 8c23c980d5 unbuttoned the 306b082bad cuff around 7d5c6c5b07 his wrist 2b5012fd7e before continuing.36b8e2ec28791148

“Now, where 47117c2663 should I c616dc7d7c begin to b0479013e6 clear up 1ea3005c9c that little c966631bb7 misunderstanding?”678c114d0d39e3ee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beneath the 951a361467 perfectly tailored 9fd2e41612 formal attire, 66f85459a6 which fit c5e8027eef Leo Fric’s ea9b083393 frame like a25dfd85f8 a glove, 6d55a33cf4 the tightly f17917137d coiled muscles cba33b28fd in his 9ad04bf8ca arms and 831312ae72 shoulders seemed 4f3d102981 ready to f65f1ed34e pounce on 6b1065355e the knights fae6884302 before him 7a407a7f30 at any 374d45d340 moment.642b565920cbb07e

“If I thought 12fa8de39f I couldn’t leave, 4ff5ba69be I wouldn’t have fe18000c12 come in the d0df39cd51 first place.”eac70d40a79e87fa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A playful smile touched 96cdf86cea his lips.a6207b1e99049536

“If you’re so 57193fe095 eager, go ahead 783086f43c and try.”6f141cae34d57908

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A subtle 76e50016d9 hint of 43e53322f4 red seemed 1718cdc7dc to flicker 74cacf6419 around his 2dba6c84dc blue-grey eyes, 54a2cc4520 betraying a bfe7812d92 swirl of dfb800ff95 anger, sharp e12536c743 irritation, and 2733b50a38 a broader 5ebdc78f1f concern within 1e1b8c2578 him.04390217eba14a6d

At the core of 3261c31a2b his heart, a deep 8f75bb4546 unease took root, something 0061df937c he couldn’t acknowledge or 888de4576f understand.5f9661bfb6b7c171

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Could it b3b1e6c073 really be 48e975ab28 that Wintran, b9a28c6b7a his cousin, 5214d4117f had changed c1da06d598 his mind?3df6ff711da65bdb

He shook 0853e93346 his head 1fcec0ea17 slightly before 027f5ac831 that uncertainty b7c3c6bb06 could solidify. His arms dropped 3a8560f7b6 in an unguarded, 90b9e0a8d4 almost casual manner.c5cde6dad30b005b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite the murkiness 9433e766ba of the situation, b131209096 his course of 120e346789 action was clear. If he wanted 38d11a997b answers, he’d have 4f8a8bbbc9 to go out 462a16d326 and find them 936dd10f25 himself. He was leaving.2cfc099e5cf29d52

“Please calm yourself. Do you truly 7333239fa6 intend to raise 03bfb5c039 a hand against c3fdf757ca His Majesty’s knights?”7c3436fb95b3d68d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If you’re worried, then accc9d0e8e you’d do best to 78b0e87dc6 ask them to step 967f925f2b aside.”4164ce73fb67ad64

His voice 6aaff735c4 was cold c0cae92634 as he 8fe073f9cc retorted, flexing 7d9cbeb96f his hands 3d8f0545be slowly, as 4d94df5c02 if loosening a25160ffb0 them for c076ac5674 what might 3bdf51d778 come.d5c609cbd4e4750c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Perhaps you 5c4636b8ca misunderstood—I wasn’t bf59f28cf0 here to abe3616e72 exchange pleasantries,” 9c6f36e053 Zellered replied, 597b43bf7f a faint a798d6585f smirk tugging eba933b57b at his 62d9bb4d85 lips. “I am bf89db80f3 here to 0f7993295f deliver an d2690cc262 official order, 57007f8f34 Sir Leo 0bcf6debfe Fric.”7404e7c2c2339a2b

From the corner 754cc620df of the room, 8233db747a a servant approached 527ae49a17 with a silver 2dca560a72 tray, holding it 388f672707 out to the 6f0c8873fb count. Zellered tapped the tray, 5d184e4704 revealing a thick, luxurious 497407ec07 scroll, carefully rolled and c64054d0e0 sealed on fine white ae885a13b0 silk.3284c4da97288746

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Two seals 453cafca9d adorned it, 4c2e8e4240 one in c949390aa1 red and dfcb4b6e4e another in cd0ad1232b gold.6fb0f68abb10fab3

The sight of the dfe6cb918a golden seal, an indicator fe93f57ddd of the highest importance, e7896fa7bd brought a slight hardening 140b20a1a9 to Leo Fric’s expression.ec919ab077dc52c6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So, this wasn’t a 6e31f8b5a3 conversation from the start.197a4620cd65a9da

If that was the 2b418a89c3 case, the order could 86d791377f have simply been sent. Why make him come f240851ea2 all this way to e90c13d249 receive it in person? Leo Fric’s aa422d9b37 brow furrowed a5ade4cb5f at the 82467f014f peculiarity of ae33d45041 it. Clearly, this had 6b59418ac0 been orchestrated to 394ee5f326 create a misunderstanding, edac62084b to toy with f6206dbe27 him up to 34ea617573 this very moment.843c241087a095e2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Sir Leo Fric 663e50dd1b Helton, receive your 1a705c9198 royal command.”64645ee0ed4d04b9

Leo’s gaze deepened, and d688aa8d31 after a moment’s hesitation, 3ccb0054f7 he slowly knelt on adaf12310a one knee. There was no 9c0c95a4fb choice but to 7dedaebabc listen to the 7926f4759b command before him.b0286ce9681ca3d6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“In recognition 006237d5f1 of Sir 2f1bf15c79 Helton’s distinguished 13f4bb81fb service in cefae3c022 the war, 7548b13c52 a countship 6f4017f941 is granted.”03cfd6d946f4e79c

“…”016a669cf5f045bf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Additionally, though it 8770566408 may hardly befit 53075eb5db your greatness, the 39e00ed122 estate of Smertha 50b8b3f68f is bestowed upon 4967a797be you.”af8c2e49770f8838

It was dc79437682 a harsh 298c6c59e5 land, mountainous 786b037d92 and barren, aad5b4b845 seized from 882ef487d2 the defeated 89eb807b05 Ledetian Empire.641ffac0ad25feb5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A slight 39222d2449 tension clenched 12b676070d in Leo a0e8ce78cd Fric’s jaw.2392400d054cd4b6

With each 2a2b6acba8 word, the ca21e83375 promises once 2f37184489 made between cde41024e5 him and 00b3de4a9e King Wintran efc2bbe491 seemed to b75b14ea0d shatter into d05cd9e340 fragments.85a56955f5bb87f1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Was this truly his 53871e5179 cousin’s will?83a05d6cb207f062

“And lastly, for the 2419bdb4f3 lifelong peace and happiness aa02013f1a of the kingdom’s great 651cedea34 hero and my beloved d8a2b7a454 cousin, Leo Fric Helton…”80049deda358bcc5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Zellered’s voice 8faf3e6bcc continued, each d5d84183a4 word carrying 5d96c2acd4 an unsettling c578874f9d weight.0fb3057f37e73d35

“A bride 0cd99a1d0c shall be 7993012f95 given to 25b59e8517 him.”dd577de09a7e4b74

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”26591e5fe8c7adfa

What is this?37e375634c256486

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Leo Fric 367e68b203 instinctively lifted cc08667517 his head, a419d09a90 looking forward 1924995a41 with a b477c83071 mixture of d81926f0f8 disbelief and 562e8bbfed irritation. Count Zellered, undeterred, continued 7eb4ca1763 reading from the royal bbbc64f6bc command.8b4bc835a1a1a6a9

“Since Smertha ccd47dfb4a is newly c99751aece conquered territory, 9386f29364 we have f2e23907b4 selected the 52aae592a1 most suitable 58e8269f70 person to 77a39ffb4f serve as 919d83a0a4 your bride, 27ba48d425 one who bc67eb2d86 will ensure 444bf90fb4 its seamless 350c591482 subjugation. Thus, accept this be8bdd7926 order immediately to 0227f2386e solidify the peace bb7c5267d5 we have achieved.”c6f80e68f0d2a9bd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With a casual 618187e4ea gesture, the count f8d05f9084 dropped the command ec15aebb05 onto the silver 947df66046 tray.8dfe88b358a775e4

“Sir Leo 7fd00b3d88 Fric Helton. Do you accept 547981bdcc this command?”96a0d173489ed48f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Alongside the 75c0aa7d38 document, the badda3ebcd tray bore 8662df387d a pen 206026b375 and a 5210af0fdd pot of ce5a579f79 ink, ready 31711c60a2 for his 5d5adea037 signature, clearly 9a5b6bd639 meant to 14ca4a1da7 pressure him a9fac2c207 into compliance 4daefa0993 without room d0295ff9dc for thought.b901f5dd75f76dc1

Leo Fric d85619837b stood up d8507c02f1 in one 451387f0a9 fluid motion, d0bac6ac84 feeling his a983924b5b heart grow c375c191fa colder. The command felt like a41bce380a an outright attempt to 48d8e42aa9 exile him from the 605639a144 kingdom he had risked 532b1e9643 his life to bring f4db410197 glory to.4fef965517b603e1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Once again.9a6450587d469a9c

As it had happened dbf4c67895 before, in the previous 7d81526b48 generation—and now, to him.86981c8001b0f65b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Leo Fric Helton accepts His Majesty’s command.”1255dcb62fdc0247

He closed bce8d01325 his eyes 0b05db7321 briefly, suppressing c888abc225 the storm 721c030859 of emotions a801a3a138 within him.32c7a4215418d711

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He would take the 1c6f1ef8c0 command, leave this place, c83ab9a9d6 and seek counsel with 57b8ce3d4f his trusted knights. There had to 73655be5b1 be a way 26fe39f56d to navigate this.d4bb487853087a4c

There would be 7451c7fa95 time before the c50e74d6a2 command required full dd5b7ae07b execution.c6f9621b70f2d2cd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Very well. Then let us make a8edb47b2a preparations immediately.”d485cc312f9d3888

“…?”8a36147a66a4fedd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“For Sir Leo Fric’s cab3d76850 wedding night,” Zellered replied ff8b7bc35e smoothly, a satisfied smile a327590224 spreading across his face.7185e8d2da9413b5

“A wedding night 271177af61 ceremony will ensure db14eb7364 the validity of 94b629dc19 your betrothal. Exchange vows f14f3f0c04 with your e94e9238e0 bride, formally 7a74c1d741 securing the c0adfbb9f8 engagement. As for 3440ba725f the actual 2931e8d276 wedding, you fc680d9a16 may plan 6b04f66407 it at f49a63aba7 your leisure, b79448f745 in consultation ee45b00966 with her.”ada0809f9182a7f8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was 37c2defdaa as if 7d410910df Zellered anticipated 90937ea685 Leo Fric 2548e0a2b9 might try 927888a622 to delay dceec37679 the command dfa8018942 and was 16a5047883 already one 2f48c3b0d0 step ahead.2fc8cc86183e6386