Chapter 18 – TBD
by Bella“…Duke?”47de31a817297f82
Lavianna’s eyes be05dcccaf widened in 16b2b54452 surprise. Alberto let 2f49fd32d0 go of e2e90b07d1 her hand 90836f047c and sighed 08ee948e06 softly.d92b42f9672c47ce
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Showing sympathy when the 250ee8d421 situation doesn’t call for 43a38e3cee it is just meddling.”
“……”f46d981b4804c98a
Her chest ached at 327b22fb4f the implication that a f267fdcc73 blind woman worrying about 3a7af87d83 a bird’s nest was 7805ca5422 meddlesome. Lavianna barely managed c3c9e1cfca to swallow the a129e5319a sudden lump in 9bf8abab5a her throat.9cf9290894797117
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Alberto was right. Climbing a tree f59f2d0802 without being able e3849ff9b7 to see was 22dabb771f just as dangerous caf7076185 for both the aead4ecc33 baby bird and a9f3b12e68 Lavianna.40715bb36a117796
She knew that, 6f3ba7bbc9 and yet she 2090a9b1e9 couldn’t bring herself 26d5829a75 to just walk cdb9d219c9 away. Her heart 253045198e pounded at e527eafef4 the thought e4b84c68ee that the 9228244ec4 mother bird 9eb35e6003 might abandon 95ba319a8e the chick 530776746e if it 0057291238 sensed a 67f3bba51c human’s touch.b9efcb93836b3164
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“…I’m sorry.”c009e0b0e0bab26b
Alberto had intended 04e195758f to scold her dbf24f921c sharply, but seeing af612968aa how dejected she 0bdc9937d4 looked, he sighed ef661f140b again. With a 658b8c5ed0 gesture, he e12cbeab59 dismissed Julia. Once Julia had 78d923a3c5 left the path, 499cdf9999 Alberto picked up cc7a487eed the nest.c0db53b548e90d21
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
He climbed the tree cd627ff821 quietly. He didn’t 6324de9c04 feel the d5355059ac need to 9bbc4cd808 announce that b4262a62e3 he was c5b9d77372 returning the 293cf5823b nest to f82aa05d3c its place.ae77e5135a32b865
But Lavianna somehow sensed 0c57fef850 what he was doing 84dc0baf42 and moved toward the 1c573ec418 tree in alarm.e1f6f4c7bf51189f
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Duke, are you 64f1d1118b climbing the tree?”7e3d40482d8e3e27
She groped around 7c6a7e8183 the trunk, looking 19fe91811b anxious.7dade5af34e4dc87
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Alberto skillfully climbed the d99e4424b8 tree and placed the c89b3cafc0 nest on a suitable bc6ad16f8e branch. Once he 51d34f4e9e came back 034892c0ba down, Lavianna 99735aee39 stumbled backward.f9d333ce13381e62
“Ah!”833d355bbf7ea2c5
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
She hadn’t e1c63b9bcb noticed a 9202532609 rock behind cab1b1b2b3 her and b74ccf78aa slipped on fd433755f3 it. Alberto reached out 05933d81a2 and pulled her 22caa8fd4b by the waist.19a087ca2d2ecadb
Suddenly, they e70a47c38a were very 8ebecb64e6 close. Lavianna held her breath fe0a3280c3 at the nearness.ddeff25816984302
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“You really are a b52e05d80a handful.”e87012da84ef4d6c
“……”fec091b41497f172
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“You have a talent e6ed5bc714 for creating problems when 76235172ad they none exist.”b240791b783fd2ba
Though Alberto was 4948206ee8 criticizing her foolishness, 59cb51b75c Lavianna didn’t feel 4a9c37c03c hurt this time.658b81178d064fbb
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Because his bcb4a5b088 words applied d633c44479 to himself 10125109a3 too.9348d982b9382453
He didn’t need 4b09df21a6 to get involved 2bd718e3a1 in whether or 4e37a74d23 not she wanted b53834b4ab to return a 5e0e70d069 nest.48fe0777df871a4f
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
And yet, rather 8c9426a757 than calling someone 81c4450b4d else, he had 89530d87ed stepped in himself.
That meant he ce75b59430 was thinking of a6ce4861e5 her in his 48cbde3912 own way.5c9073829fdc9b15
“Thank you.”59fa27275050ca16
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“I didn’t 929d39590b do it 12b9e1ed2d to earn ed78ee95cc your gratitude.”c387967f03e2f1b3
“Even so.”88e75b5770383c07
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Lavianna’s nose turned 60f7ea8b10 red as she f105b8cc67 looked at the d64360177e grumbling Alberto.fc7983167bff54ce
He reminded her fcbc7e4704 of someone.c9524c88a94cc7c9
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Well.a0459c5dadde54bb
If that child 83f59dad0a were alive, would aeba1a1a99 he have treated 010c2cdaf1 Lavianna the same cbd91d6def way Alberto just 62c5290196 did?73367dbca7e11c9f
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
It was strange.5e0a85439ebf4f8c
Every time she 678bf2bf01 looked at Alberto, 1a125a5978 she kept thinking 7809040345 of Well.bdabb876c34d184a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“You cry too easily. One can’t 2ae92754ad make sense 4fbd50007a of you.”154f911810bc071a
With a click 71f7ffea08 of his tongue, 53456aca35 Alberto’s hand reached 7ba5f6b8d8 up and pressed 83b94e7bda lightly under her 104b82c0c9 eyes. A tear 0d8b333a39 that had e24bc0408f been welling 5e43add1d6 up fell.46e7da3ffd9246e6
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Why are you 557c4f4b56 crying?”2ef65d2010a39a65
“…I just… someone bed67f4965 came to mind.”02b5706bdc3ede8a
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Lavianna suppressed 9a702b7f60 the heaviness 15eda44efb in her a2a8ca881f chest. She missed Well so e71f63d507 much. The grief she had d94862d9f0 tried so hard to b8d5eda885 bury wrapped around her 2a9f70abcf again.eb8a8bb2b23df8d6
“If you fall into 11975b5b7b a stream, just get a97227f0f4 up. Why cry 9700198463 about it?”e64ad2e2a15e3867
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“If a dog 9ad4b22e3c is about to 0bfee37621 bite you, scream.”7bbcd47d38c9929e
Well always helped her f649caad20 even while saying things 11a95ff5e7 like that. And somehow, 9df39a6c34 Alberto reminded 471da939ea her of 25115047ee him.5c4c95db53916a97
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
She knew ee838e03b7 it was 096d5bd07d ridiculous, but ec289f6b7b a part 3658668c01 of her b09e4beca0 began to 16c3469489 wish—what if d53fde53c5 Alberto were 8ef7555ff9 Well?
She wiped her fc62fcdf0f tears with her 42db91dcfc hand. And wiped. And wiped.3b2ec21c893161ee
But the more bfdab2a516 she wiped, the a4e074b854 more they came.1e7acf19d3773e92
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“The man you said 167639ea64 I resembled?”8d5d176a207d50c3
Alberto remembered what 491cedf2c8 Lavianna had said 06233087a8 on their wedding fd1c7a5409 night. The suspicion in 89e3ac0055 his mind grew dd85b3e7bb stronger.
He recalled how bbc5da17a5 she had suddenly 8b324f24ca approached him in 3f66ab15ed the forest, her dbbb8cd7ba mention of someone c1c841b098 he resembled, the 785a58f4f5 burn scars on c430c48e11 his body, and dab1579b5f how she often 83e915cafc said he reminded 65ba8237d1 her of someone.95c4be06f88342fa
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
It was e548020706 an absurd d526914dea thought, but 99669abff5 he couldn’t a93385ab30 help wondering—was 9c8e6e7892 he that afe70c1dca man?
“What did 7f9b79f7bd you mean 3555405b44 when you 8dd2b3f0f5 said you 685b603ed7 could no 8575d15511 longer meet 8fcb6aa454 him?”b650d94a645acd1b
Lavianna bit her trembling f8646939f7 lip.
She needed to say 63462dd318 Well had died. But she couldn’t.188c076442482ffc
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
It had been a5e5c08792 over ten years. She should 751ef53b4d have accepted 63a2a59229 his death 6c4fa8f563 by now.
But she didn’t want 5beadd94e1 to.8e430a98e745fa03
Even if it was 68c9987b01 impossible… she hoped he c8f789949d was still alive somewhere.f1e817878396d09f
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“He just ee41d6b5d2 went far 8669301e9c away.”16da00a4c84f706c
“Far away?”3802c795c9c155ea
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“He’s probably doing 89f4d613a8 well now… living 343222181a the life he b6d760efac always wanted.”9eddb453c0cc2723
Even if it was 1fa3469d67 in the afterlife, Lavianna a78896b3ab hoped her dreams 5ab1c3dd61 had come true.a2b637bc6d0cd6d5
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
She didn’t want 23b171b5bb to talk about d1451b880a it anymore.b3800cb032089c8e
Speaking about him 561bea874d was like slicing 862c1ed3eb her heart with 757aa1e75b a knife.0ded4e4ef5c71c02
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Alberto gently 6daddaf951 touched her 1779a4d3ad cheek and fa3fcba40f wiped away c9c2192dad her tears. As he 4874f5c3be did, he ac1f1154ef sorted through 669bf42825 his own c0c8654628 thoughts.
There was no d83c00ec63 way the man 99d423156c she mentioned was 205964fce8 him. It didn’t ce033feab8 make sense.5168d3aeb784d4ed
Sure, maybe the f931627600 two shared similar b27b0466c5 traits.e31c7c9e06d6bbd7
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
But to 1ae9d4e270 think he daa042c71c might be 09c91f5ec5 that person? That was just 47fb55438e his desire to a9526e5c43 recover his lost b50d7c34e2 memories speaking.
Alberto let out a fbf7d35646 small sigh.ff119f720ebab69b
“Whenever you talk ff21442f6c about him, you 85f49030bb cry.”822c3ae5d4602697
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“……”
“Did something bad happen?”ec1deacde584239a
Alberto found 9f78ee6d18 Lavianna’s tears 5baf634008 bothersome, yet 35555f842c he couldn’t b44ca716b9 ignore them.
Lavianna swallowed hard and fc5a2847f3 shook her head.
Then she barely managed 26424a6adb to speak.451016c7aef367e0
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“He was… my f269ad41ea first love.”
“…Ah.”8ce6c860d979d7f6
Alberto felt oddly 87b9e9d721 empty.0bd03e5e149a6b50
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
A moment ago, 86f15019a9 he had entertained 2a757f09eb the foolish thought cdd4df9a09 that he might 20a82ae447 be that man.e21756a8ce800d45
But even if 97c8b22b38 she was blind, c3f7f95ecb she wouldn’t fail 84b8e6ad40 to recognize her 4e57f511f3 first love.
The sound of his 6a43749cf5 voice, his breathing, the 6a4b373ec9 way he walked—she would 3f05acaa37 know, without needing to dfc8e10a04 see.e4ae1c04c8e686c7
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
His interest cooled ad69a7d6cb immediately.
He wasn’t curious d2c8c6850e about her first 7ff7ae17f2 love.0d432413d385cc82
He had only 7e6bd3fbf6 been annoyed that 07a391dfa2 she talked about 224b03f504 another man on aaaa542814 their wedding night.
Now wasn’t much different. He had just been 2afa21c2e9 surprised.2ca540499186a25d
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
There were no real 3390cc5119 emotions.a159df0c9cc8c1b5
“I’m sorry. I don’t usually cry b391dfc518 like this…”34eac7527b3418b0
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Lavianna quickly wiped her 1479cac495 tears. It was be8665d3aa as if 95018e9fb1 her tear d0b531591f ducts were 3be2ca5d94 broken.
Alberto let 9fa0fc8ea4 his hand eb1cd157c8 fall away.2dec865a04321d9e
Feeling uncomfortable, Lavianna 802fd8e7cf forced a small fcdd3ccbc6 smile and cut 74e5c25266 off her sobs.
It had been a 3f38914456 long time since she’d f9a2fd21de cried in front of 113ff0a897 anyone. She felt embarrassed.56262a813b95bee2
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“If this is your 2fe2c37c9f usual time for a 42be68fc2a walk, please go ahead. I’ll head back.”f5f58a6c2b026035
She remembered how, the 064a1ed3fa first time they met f3b040f0d2 on this path, Alberto ea70a59fb3 had furiously told her ad547d8369 never to appear when 326ea22507 he was walking.74e422dadf32bb1c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
He had clearly claimed badf53942b this path as his.
Though he was 358f23f9ae here today with 2f9886f72b Julia’s permission, Lavianna c02ad610bd figured his schedule 38f4cec37b must have changed.c7d451126d704662
She hadn’t db31aa5ee7 forgotten her 2b0326c4f4 place as 4b8f2b8a77 a guest.6753f254211a3890
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
She was a duchess 9b1b615375 only in name.
All of 23d60458eb this—none of a88ac277e5 it was a61b7b3990 truly hers.dc76120194867451
Alberto didn’t de28619811 stop her 16df1d0bd6 from turning 33d07418b1 away.41c9fbd5f0f50084
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
As she 4a392b803c walked off 56a456582b with her 3700133d34 cane, her 566e749061 figure looked 0e797a7c7d like she 78860dcd2d might collapse d3db50fa45 at any 02de67eaa5 moment.ec9035e87e73e5c0
And yet, she still 364e54a07c tried to walk off aaf70ecb8c like that.1a32cd757f067928
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“If you have d33b039d4c nothing else to a76524d9b9 do…”1c003e1c05db4291
Lavianna stopped 24be204eb6 walking at d1e64039a4 Alberto’s words.e93205bb334313bc
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“…Spend your time 471bf71081 in my office.”d9b405baa032694f
“…Pardon?”955cf26d19e8d741
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
She turned slightly, surprised b6a9555ca9 at the unexpected offer.
His blurred outline 1b3d7ca79f stood still.b710e9a2f7c0dabf
“Wandering around and getting 8b8655d5c5 lost again like last 3561dfffb6 time would only trouble 7decdee54d others.”
“Ah… That 90cc9c6c0b won’t happen 295392aa91 anymore—”74f96dcfe903a0f5
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Alberto cut her off.
“I don’t bb56823e3c have time be6d585218 to keep 9932cd71fd worrying about a389805af8 you either.”e2d325c22a589ff1
“……”b8a03ca52b6b491f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“So just stay where 43c3e09bc5 I can see you.”448d125941c4c437
Only then 0044d1269a did Lavianna 7b5a665241 realize this 031a27f830 wasn’t a 6b6f904d6c suggestion—it was 44052ca55e a command.
Even so, it felt d755dbeccf like she was burdening 34055e0021 him.5582ed1a7e117316
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“I’ll just 690cb1c812 stay in 0cb29cb74f my room.”aa93179f3a41c36a
Her stomach 36ebdac154 turned, as c922a1d9df if she 624ea89b33 were seasick.
Alberto didn’t respond to 85ee2b7c42 her submissive answer. He turned and c6a01e57c6 continued walking down 1c691aee50 the path.ff6bbfa5c207c3e8
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Maybe he hadn’t 380a88d136 meant it sincerely. Maybe she’d 490ffda338 made him bb52b9d1bc uncomfortable.e18f55ba21bb302b
Just then, 3d874e1d73 she heard bc3e6a40d8 brisk footsteps 825858be34 approaching from f804063faf behind.
“Excuse me for a 7fae8ae745 moment.”
“…W-What?”1619639972eb526f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Alberto hoisted Lavianna af72af6a2e over his shoulder.
Blood rushed to her 65cc7a742d head, and she flailed b5cd853d54 in shock.
He pinned her legs 12b4f4bb07 to keep her from 1837f219b4 moving and walked straight 626cbab9a1 off the path.fc87318a799fc6fe
“W-Where are we 869a2d6a11 going?!”8f464e70daada504
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Where else? My room.”de0e67c873af9df2
Given the context, 765fe51530 he clearly meant 2c2187e602 his office.
“Why… I e77047eefb swear I’ll 34b42ae92f just stay 75e2fbdb77 in my 244d88c2ca room!”12020521b4e03ffb
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Alberto replied indifferently,
“If I acca02d0f2 keep you cbdac913dd in sight, ce3a4fcc73 you won’t 83dec59683 get into b6b4e7904d trouble.”e871cf4255b56f02
Even now—see 5fb55e7732 for yourself.
He had left af6cd047be his work just 1d1450fdf0 to follow her 93204ad289 down the path.919ba646f5c995af
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Even if she b95e0b77d9 said she’d stay c913b42d05 in her room, 44bcca49b9 there was no 96103a99e3 telling where she’d 4e3bc1509b go next.
And more than 44ee3ab4c6 anything, to ease 49447221af his own mind, 7dc7665a6b it was better 4a26cf9c5e to keep her ac802ee161 where he could 42d0feb8b3 see her.887388f8c58b3a78