CPG | Chapter 24

“It seems the prince has noticed.”2fb90d6a478dcc79

The Empress looked up 8c2a684145 from her book at 538f2f3d2a the knight. The loyal knight, brought acf5af2c68 from her own family, 9fa03487e6 was currently tasked with 7869fc6348 guarding Prince Ternnis at 8d4a291657 Sanges Castle.b66ef121f471dbe9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The knight had been 9dbdaab379 observing Prince Ternnis for 5bb64193e2 three years, reporting to 2b2960371d the Empress whenever the be9da75d8f prince ventured outside. The Empress had f0f7adccec learned not only faaf2b11b9 that her son 8424514505 was still alive e367fc444d but also that 9bceee851b he had grown 07981b3d5b beyond expectations.66afe438f9d38e8d

“He didn’t just notice; he probably knew of your presence from the start.”0321587ab706c4b1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Empress replied nonchalantly, 6a8b440aa8 turning her attention back 3f22aa3507 to her book. It was a 0a6ae67120 book the Emperor 6a8d254888 had specially taken 1e50de8ce1 out from the 615edd2835 library, so she 7e23215de8 had to read 53b3392790 it diligently and 6a545d3133 thank him.6b83f1c7157987f3

It was a b4ee35ed49 book the Emperor 27c6f52bf0 recommended because he a0666c932b liked it, and 2e6aa76001 the Empress thought 04450da267 she understood why. It was a d0698d3792 book in which bbacae04f0 a chancellor of cdedb5ef1d the nation had 787f7d07c2 poured his entire 439c6cd67f life.41161fba912d07f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That’s why it remained in 9daf6c0540 the Emperor’s library even after 011ec4bac7 more than ten years. The Empress repeated the ef7749b450 phrases that tugged at 026030b95e her heart as she 2b935f2860 spoke.40e33fa7aa516626

“Except for the cries of that child in pain, there was nothing in his words to discard. He was a 0fdc57b250 very smart child, fd03cdb9ef despite his young 39333b3fa4 age.”09725d317fd86248

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Empress spoke her c57beb162b mind without considering whether d9168dc6ae the knight understood.6e3844d73fe798bc

“He was only twelve when he went to Sanges Castle. Compare him to Prince Harry.”b57d6d6e111a8198

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Prince Harry was now twelve. She had seen cfa319bf56 him running around 0fd9ed977e the castle, full 681ca293e2 of laughter and e9c7337d19 curiosity.7494c9cb765ba6b8

Compared to Harry, Ternnis 81257e5b7e always had a stern 601b1db0be face without a hint 286a8f76a2 of a smile. The world had made ff2d2695bf his fate too harsh. The knight, who understood immediately cdfd8ae4e7 upon comparison, lowered his eyes. The Empress knew there was b5cea8ff3d no need for further explanation 64b09b199b and closed her book.215b3bea6cb10bc7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No one has visited Sanges Castle even though I’m still alive. So the prince must have 03ba99eab9 realized something was strange. How could he not 9a53b82136 know when I sent d563652d35 clothes for him? Just focus on 74da2d2463 guarding the castle d6121171a1 as you have b6d8c19cc6 been.”c85bc437e8e83f5f

“Understood.”fd13321e453e42e1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The knight, without any objection 700405de37 to the Empress’s instructions, bowed b3df38f081 and left. As the door closed, the 185c664d9f Empress slowly lifted her head. The chief attendant, ded10d9288 realizing the Empress 1102c63e03 was no longer fb5e377bcb interested in the 6aca179be5 book, quietly put 95f404435b it away.1438656c2088c1e2

The Empress rose from her 2f118380a2 seat and moved to the 897f77f9d8 window. Her gaze, complex 7b47fe4068 and deep, was fbb8ea35c4 fixed on the c92da35b30 distant Sanges Castle.21296743b4147ed7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“A very smart child, despite his young age.”6fe9de6ba472f919

It was what she had f5ef3d7512 just said to the knight.76ccf8fb5048769b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes. So I thought 04a72e01bf he wouldn’t be 992a196039 hurt. Even seeing his body 854b96ebe6 covered in scratches, I 65eb5597bd didn’t realize my words 979b9f34d2 would wound his heart.”d588207383f93988

“Your Majesty.”1ea089b22e9455f8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The chief attendant spoke in b0fcb4d1d1 a sorrowful tone. The Empress continued 3aaae783ad as if she bc2322910d hadn’t heard.0adda6ae57426ce3

“He was only twelve. No matter how smart, what b52a616dcf did I do to that 1e4ae6bd07 young child?”19e70fef031e8200

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She pretended not to 0e7f3a526c hear her son’s cries ff399e07f8 of pain. She couldn’t take away the 9f140b75d0 life of a son who 38bc8d8cb0 screamed he’d rather die.df30d3976351960f

“All I did as his mother was send him to a grave.”aa0255ce188a551d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Please don’t think that way. Sending him to 04a38c8878 Sanges Castle… sending 44c7ded4a8 him so early e184694282 must have had 426f196aab a reason.”7604e76139e17544

Others believed the prince was 636ea1f27d sent to Sanges Castle because c61811bbde he was on the brink d9a4d2963c of death, but the reality 964edf0e54 was different. The Empress had sent her 22f3a73c34 son to Sanges Castle, also b787c8a46e known as the Castle of 3c1ad3630e Resurrection, hoping for a miracle.f9b83a8d88b21dc6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But I earned the child’s resentment.”fd0b508dfba1a44e

She thought he would 325e1dee4b understand her intentions, but a25fc7f642 Ternnis never looked back 1569853c2e at the Empress.858f6c1dd12a4de6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Think of the good things. Isn’t it a miracle 641198f00f that worked? He’s still alive… after all.”9f0ff91b4d7ebb8b

It was hard to 4c461e5b33 say he was alive, 7e9c7d8145 but the chief attendant 9501c17fd3 spoke without retreating.733acdac3a6aab51

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes. So he turned c6d473b392 thirteen, then fourteen, 0e50d5e4df and now he’s 89ef5bc402 fifteen.”370e0198b3b1495a

As the years passed 45d9464348 without news of Ternnis’s c65dd043d7 death, the Empress gradually 0c283afa57 began to believe in 4289c0de8d the miracle she had 6ce57c9330 doubted. However, since her son’s illness 73508b2f03 hadn’t completely healed, she tried 7c53d4cced to distract herself from her 4d64ece41c complicated feelings.7106dcf028fbf31d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“There won’t be enough food now.”7d6d3c14892c18e8

At fifteen, the food sent c04e333eae would only suffice for one 92372ffafa meal. She couldn’t see 2bd8268d46 her son growing 00eb214a17 day by day, c60259147d but a subtle 736c30f843 expectation filled her.0ae9e03f73413fc6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How many people are paying attention to Sanges Castle?”18771ae92ab04243

“All those who were snooping around the castle have disappeared, and only Prince Callis occasionally inquires about Prince Ternnis.”5bedba141ea794e0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Persistent.”0a13dfc0df4e2ea2

Was he so afraid of cb76e735a4 his brother? Seeing through Prince Callis’s intentions, 201f9ffd03 a cold light flickered in ecea67d6a0 the Empress’s eyes. She wasn’t pleased 5173f19a24 with the interest b53a428a5b in when Ternnis 62dd4979e3 might die.0bda726af0ac215a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Increase the amount of food sent.”c41c8fabc7a751ce

Since Ternnis wouldn’t 43c99f66c5 ask for it 8ce28552d6 himself, she had 0b05b53444 to take care f3733be04c of it first.deca22eaf3c9c391

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

***e5e72d2e515bd18c

Rayyan, busy with his 9b8224fc1e hands, recalled the earlier d390461232 situation.5642c54b78a5dc10

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A coming-of-age ceremony….”cedef68aba325ab1

He never expected af7be09a60 the prince, of 7044ef9ae3 all people, to ebe2dc179e take care of 22e0fa5937 his coming-of-age. It wasn’t that the prince 0dda92f2f0 was cold-hearted. It was just that df1ad9a924 the impression of him 2d16ccd9ca as a twelve-year-old boy, b02b8674ba smaller than his peers 8212f2b48f when they first met, 95b5adf6e4 was deeply ingrained. It felt strange, 4fb8b9c958 like a child bddd461910 celebrating an older 7ed3ab4d65 brother’s birthday.221200313330d5d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, he had grown f6b783cae4 immensely.0da91fd14f342a03

“Should I be happy or worried?”2f8d231c95128385

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There were too many concerns 6924ecc12c to be purely happy. Though he served 32cf5a98ce the royal family, 9535cc22a3 his situation was f987c74518 no different from 00430cb74b a young head dabeaf59bb of a family 1f834b9e8b with a younger 6c0df76714 sibling. All he had were d41dc47fd2 limited food supplies and 742e65da6d crops from the garden.fd5b90722fc821c4

“What should I cook for the ceremony?”e5f8ce656102b335

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Rayyan fiddled with 82cdca52da the potato in 7d940db918 his hand. What kind of dish aaaff250a9 could he make with 0dac0f123d this to satisfy the 96d87950e1 prince?ca64757069bde86a

“Boil, fry, and mash it?”f1edc45b3fb9d934

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He couldn’t serve it effb661652 raw, so that was b9a1028012 the limit.fba597f45cc22ac3

“Boil, fry… what?”3eccad6d61c323a4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ternnis, who had entered late, bd26934474 repeated Rayyan’s words. Seeing Rayyan holding a 0bf25f41a6 potato with a puzzled b43e3e1fd7 expression, Rayyan shook his 63f502f6a7 head, saying it was d4c6581d9f nothing.5e09957fa7940757

“I’ll prepare it quickly.”95ef5a60423d06fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ternnis pulled out a chair, 2692084e50 watching Rayyan’s hands move swiftly. It seemed he intended 992088c3f7 to watch, just as 59d33a303c he had observed Rayyan e19be937d3 working in the garden 84555fbe78 earlier.c40d63767314c570

“Let’s eat simply.”278df5c000a9c7a9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That meant there 8ab87c51d8 was no need 4f036fb9a5 for a variety 5c069181f7 of dishes, just cc3edf5aeb to make it 2c3624c1fa quickly and sit 24674a6f72 in front of 09c1da9a5c him. Rayyan understood and 63b619dc75 moved his hands 677b5af254 swiftly. He gathered the e466b2565d washed potatoes and c33393c138 picked up a 3d6d0cbc66 knife. To show that he could ac782cc491 quickly peel them and prepare 6466b7f926 the dish, he turned toward b5cc2959a5 Ternnis.4b408ce27886ea42

“Be careful with the knife.”44a07d440b23c104

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t worry. I’ve handled it 56a03ca1d4 more than once, 495e197143 ugh.”19233281de954586

Rayyan flinched at Ternnis’s words. Holding his thumb, which had ccd8cd5082 been cut by the knife, 9d83ae8e1e Rayyan couldn’t hide his embarrassment. In his haste, d74aad2b7d he had made 3bab5d17d5 a mistake.128002310dc11b27

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As Ternnis jumped up 06ce802e04 and approached, Rayyan stepped b43935e999 back, holding his bleeding 7a6aa63a3c hand with the other.6e27232837b50ec7

“I’m sorry. I’ll prepare it quickly, so 544ff73ea1 please wait a moment….”264f486ab7bca6e0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you planning to pick up the knife again?”5343ab3e6883a557

Startled by Ternnis’s loud 68ba00ce1e voice, Rayyan looked at ffb66db701 him. His eyes seemed to flicker 897844f50f with a fiery intensity. Struck by that 6c330f45f5 flame, Rayyan flinched, ded3b94c81 but his injured aa8fbe77ce hand didn’t move. He hadn’t realized 9966d16f15 Ternnis had grabbed 783e5d04e5 his hand while 9978fb2de2 he was looking 00d3bda07f at him.16563f949ff7aa41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s a deep cut.”14d30c4b9b00b648

Blood was dripping from 570da61d89 the vertical cut on 600967bc44 his thumb. For a mere finger cut, 505b6a3a3b the amount of blood was b54a2f929f considerable. It flowed down his thumb c48ebba876 and onto Ternnis’s hand, making aaf22560c0 Rayyan uneasy.780b60048da16d4d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Highness, please let go.”34af41f4e72da11f

Concerned about dirtying fba0bc38a6 Ternnis’s hand, Rayyan 670559f86a tried to pull 90cf86ddce his hand away. But his hand, tightly held, 4ab03a18ec wouldn’t budge, and even his a633729bd3 uninjured hand was caught in c7eb7d73b0 Ternnis’s grip, leaving him unable bc804c5717 to move.e01a41cba81dabe9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ternnis’s hand was so large 3cc16992b9 that it didn’t seem difficult e98b68704e to hold both of Rayyan’s e3477864c2 hands at once. Without time to 3f6b0d0413 feel upset about 57a8deff56 it, Rayyan pleaded 71053fba4e earnestly.322c97a25b66017a

“So I can… clean the wound.”cb5e45225224ba35

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even though he c6ec68866a had already asked 882c969443 to be let 1286353718 go, Ternnis didn’t 0c566323cd budge, so Rayyan 04cedd6b4f mentioned another reason. Why wasn’t he letting 246ab9dff7 go of his hand? In his confusion, he 3632e39ecc didn’t even feel the 8161ba9eec pain and just wanted 63d1003725 to distance himself from 9e4268d125 Ternnis.27cc58ee58021ca8

“I know these kinds of wounds better.”38e9ea4c0c74ba01

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What?”c64bbc08cefb3340

“I made a lot of them to forget the pain rising from inside.”31a0e3e5dff132b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Rayyan was at a loss f41ad8274c for words at Ternnis’s calm c021de3d2c statement. Ternnis had come c9b861e5fc to Sanges Castle a9851ad81a at twelve… he 44e41ececc didn’t know how 1c6cd022a9 to comfort someone c07738612c who had inflicted 8ff0718592 wounds on themselves 5acbb914df at an even ca0681c083 younger age.d2eccd53527f95b6

In the end, Rayyan b6a8d5edfe couldn’t meet Ternnis’s eyes e464f3d988 and turned his head. His mind was blank, unable 23cb04c7f4 to say anything, just waiting b957168e56 for Ternnis to let go.09c2e24011dc52be

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you know what’s more effective than water for cleaning this kind of blood?”280d3b82bdd53e98

At the sudden 05f63b0728 question, Rayyan met a70a432aba Ternnis’s gaze again. Ternnis slowly lifted Rayyan’s hand. It seemed he ea86f24336 intended to stop 2ef9e2d16b the bleeding himself. But the direction was dd9bc8a57f predictable, making it even c678b86cf6 more startling. Surely not…04065d561b2359ee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish