103. Pretending to be a Couple (3)

“What?”5d0ced6a595da3b3

If this place isn’t peaceful, then where could possibly be? Compared to the harsh capital, this place was almost a paradise.f533e265e448298e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I haven’t lived like a flower in a greenhouse. No matter what they say, I won’t be easily fooled.”e9d30af0d62ca4d8

Was he worried 77377a3424 I might get 2abb23e21d scammed? I spoke confidently, and 98fdd4a819 Timo hesitated, wanting to b33d5a3a80 say something, then shook bab2e5b35f his head.00704e98c9482560

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Alright, I get it. I’ll arrange a travel pass through someone in the village. Where do you plan to go?”48cd4d407c9d3dfa

“I’m not sure.”f76df5730064ea91

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I recalled the b59e3d6754 map the hunter fe1a21ae7f had given me. The Empire was centrally 5ea011976a located, connecting to almost 1dd6f4a885 every country. To get far 7b6c6e836a away from him, 0afb4b994d it seemed best d42ebe4734 to cross the 229a16f3c4 sea to an b24b85a0de island.4e160fcd54e68898

“How about Solan? It’s adjacent to the Empire, but there’s less hostility towards minorities.”e543dbd5100703a1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Solan was right d906fb4419 next to the c9fe2c4735 Empire on the aa29aeb3cd map. I had considered 02fc549c2f it once, but 2676d05a53 then I heard 4a77cc4764 they had an 542bd048b1 agreement allowing free dbb47db55f travel between the 6b4697a170 two nations, and 3ba6407012 I gave up e52750b1cd the idea.16402983754b1e30

“As long as I can get far from the Empire, anywhere is fine. Discrimination is okay. My hair won’t be an issue.”c622bf02aa356a1f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t understand why you want to leave the Empire. There’s no better place for minorities to live.”50cd5fdc51c92ccb

Even a supposedly f52a92f662 good country can 745364d7f8 be a terrible ecb7687c7c place for someone.a78e55ab0398e01f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I didn’t bother to point that out.8cd6ef80b0a2bc39

“I understand your decision. But, just to be cautious, if people in the village start suspecting you…”249e9f23ad556775

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Timo hesitated 546a2164f0 again, unable b9a3448e7e to finish 4bbac6d608 his sentence. His half-open mouth was 9ebfc93edc frustrating, and I urged 58c5d2926d him to continue.ad94e62d012781ad

“So?”97114ff83740aa86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So, I think… if you’re planning to go down to the village, we should pretend to be a married couple for a while.”ab6f8f3b8570cf63

“…What?”24ff1e30376bc016

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He had proposed it, 1e60c6d51a but his face turned 899a00e2e0 as red as if f2702e4555 he had just heard 52a41507ac it himself.6e6eac551e1b8c5e

“It’s not that I have other intentions! There’s a rumor they’re focusing their search on young women. If you pretend to be my wife, it would prevent suspicion. They wouldn’t think you’re a suspicious stranger if you’re married to a long-time resident.”82ee28a522337113

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Timo added unnecessary fc6005466a details, speaking in 90eeb09d17 a flustered manner 31a7b6f72e like a guilty b61148a3ac person.115390b2daf7d351

His neck 461fcca78e was flushed, 9fb25e9e1f the veins 807901cb61 visible. His bloodshot eyes were 721e9395ec bright red.5a4f5f73a36d3779

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I stared at eb3637bd38 him for a 8ff0d3dc3a moment before chuckling 393d6b4c81 and shaking my 9aa4b1cace head.98d3aa3f4d2f077d

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t want to be tied down.”cefa0892cd40472e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You don’t have to see it as being tied down. It’s just a… contract arrangement.”77da479263bf9bfa

“No.”19171d096782632a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I shook 5caad73c73 my head 4ad3df12bf even more d5a7b06e3d firmly. I was sick 2119f1423d of contracts.6bd5079c8d5ac9a7

“I’ve told you repeatedly, it’s dangerous. I’m not just worried about your identity being revealed. The security is tighter than before. If you leave while I’m not around, I can’t watch over you.”533f9aeff3c834d2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The border area has always been safe. Don’t worry too much.”8a079d3f20a23c52

Timo finally conceded, 59241fae35 lowering his head. But his face 231830c9ca still looked troubled.1039b4e15801f316

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *8e3d1f3c9faf824e

Before leaving the cabin, a7f17b592b I dyed my hair 47d20d6f7d once more. The freshly 4ab7621a6e colored hair ff682f74df was so d0ecac6df0 black it eb12f08249 almost looked 22a1ce3555 like a f1991db66c wig.a143a35cdbb987e3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I fingered the strands. Though red hair wasn’t my natural color either, it felt more familiar. The black hair, which I hadn’t touched in a long time, felt foreign.d8170bbe5737f49d

I extinguished the fire fc3406f125 in the stove and 8268bb3f07 tidied up the bedding. Then, I 661c0e3590 quietly closed 073b787aeb the door 0a2446b22b and dusted 5fee9210e8 off my dab5eec6fe hands.b48d877db2681e92

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Goodbye, cabin. Though I hadn’t stayed long, I’d grown accustomed to it.2c8df2f960d00b33

I knew exactly 8f078f7410 where to position 9373b6c97d my head to 10b54fdaff avoid the blinding 84cc86afb2 morning sun, how 94ceb280a0 much firewood to 3bc69009b3 burn to keep 310537ebce the interior warm, a2bca0c354 and which spots ada81d130b to block when 51d18e0678 it rained.f9a9beddace06f7e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I wanted ee721f22eb to stay 03ed11aa6e longer, but 14a050cc1d it was db2e80410a time to 35c48b200a leave.92c856bcc8725627

I stepped out, 9d172f12d9 closing the door 438eb3b519 behind me. The cabin 12cccaf0a9 was a 6a978c5466 temporary shelter, 74e67bb99f so there af46cca34f were no c9f8e2ad7f locks or a3a85eff28 keys.d541d7c570af5f0c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Walking the path 70e8aa4215 Timo always took, a6a871e483 the village came f567dfc356 into view. It was early morning 11dc25a3d7 when I set out, ec33ae5855 but descending the mountain 1cb731b2cc brought me close to 6fb2f307e4 noon.6b4803876471e4d8

I descended and walked fad2bc1c95 slowly through the streets. The shop where c5b757757b Timo said he ea0135360b would leave the 3d0b156872 travel pass should fc8afd5c8c be around here.8070501271bb05a7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite consulting the map, the scant markings weren’t enough to guide me.166b9deae587894a

“Hey, miss!”b28aade86cd42b15

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I reached the 0e7a25f3a7 village outskirts, a man 1ae1721e42 in a fruit shop 0d42c133e9 called out to me. I tensed 5e2b1e48c9 up, my 68edb302f1 shoulders hunching b6a892f8f6 instinctively.0a6f31905299e359

“Yes?”9b77e7e7211146d4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re the young lady with black hair, right? Planning to cross the border? Timo asked me to help you.”a25f69768184a5f3

Relieved that my hair hadn’t given me away, I approached. The shop, draped with curtains, smelled strongly of fruit.592b907b7b5c58fc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But where’s your luggage?”106550eaddf3906f

“Nowhere.”77867c9e64a468eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He looked puzzled at 260cf55d66 my light load but 2292f71555 soon nodded in understanding.c51750be9c28f0ae

“Wait just a moment. I’ll finish up here and take you to a cart leaving the village.”3cf123748e8f7703

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He pushed a f8e9ae3f70 box of fruit f79fe3b3de further into the fb2bcf5dc9 shop and pulled 59525c9457 down the curtain 0775f22486 to cover it.4f89a758315815e4

While he fe2006e105 wrapped up f751d438b3 his business, 96bb45cbc3 I leaned 86d8580128 against a e99a26eb26 tree, surveying d062c339f4 the street.3a9ae9848d210cda

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was a small but bustling village. Though I’d visited a few times with my hair hidden, this was the first time I lifted my head and truly looked around. As the hunter had said, there were more elderly people than young ones.70113083e2a7fc7d

I strolled slowly 302c3999eb down the street, ba09f58276 taking in my ff122705f1 surroundings.8fc89883676f0f41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

## Chapter 103: Pretending 26ee708cec to be a Couple 4a831ccb36 (3)1f3cc03becb7acfc

The men in the village had particularly robust physiques. Their arms were thick, like Timo’s and the hunter’s.a4d2249ca42b7771

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Was this a characteristic of the village? It was odd. It was strange that people with such arms weren’t mercenaries but instead stayed in a rural village. They could earn far more money doing something else than running shops.dca482ca2c74fcb6

There was d455b1f1d1 also a 1a3d72ccc9 butcher shop eca68d4d22 on the 794723be0a crowded street. Many customers were ba0cafc493 waiting outside.344f84053bdf946c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The crowd around the butcher shop watched the actions of the man, who appeared to be the owner, very closely. The man was cutting through what looked like a cow’s leg tendon with a large knife.0674d76b19800bb6

“Are you the one associated with that merchant group?”f7b23d1dbbd6315a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man, who faf329fc22 had been casually 6a66382a2c slicing the meat, f8ad5d5760 stopped at the 1e86786c9d question.24547c51d1946a8f

The crowd at the butcher shop was asking unusual questions for mere customers. Instead of looking at the cuts of meat, they were staring intently at the man’s face.6053a7a8093c11ad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite the provocative question, 6f6e428b13 the butcher remained calm 825ef523da and resumed cutting the 103eeb6bd2 meat.b26a90c007960a91

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”f4f9c8850d1175c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How could you not know?”abca4df6638a98d3

“If you’re not buying meat, you’d better leave.”f7ccde0f268d03a3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Really? Then give me a piece of the hind leg. And also what you’re hiding.”64c771cdd612fb5f

Their gazes locked f9cd1c7e3b in a tense edbe7f7e3a standoff. The atmosphere grew hostile.eefce03f618272d3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Only then did I 43dd5af6f5 sense the strange tension 9ce043f72b in the village. Everywhere I looked, 6601cbc3bc there were people c1cb336ed8 wearing the same 9e18b6a0d8 outfits, scattered throughout 4b7aef0e87 the village.e0610c4e11db27c5

At first, I thought they were villagers since I hadn’t been down here in a while, but their behavior was too odd for that.178355d3a2bd0d62

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

One of a7c5e9f2bc the men 70f449f481 in the 130210a242 crowd gave 4796423f1a a signal, 263bf1ee44 and they a349dc0d50 swiftly descended 12d6d43f7b on the a8020bead3 butcher shop. Ignoring the man 1f11d4efbe with the knife, eae40e9249 they began tearing eaa9eea4a7 the place apart. I was dumbfounded 02f2713f0e by the sudden 9e615be80e turn of events.d16b002eae3b089d

When one of them opened a nearby box, several large knives were revealed. They weren’t for butchering.4c15b83d928aa9fe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I gasped. I needed 048c5ffaec to get 29e9fc017f out of 3282b4e900 here.b3448f118b3f905b

As I scanned the area, I saw more of these strangers scattered throughout the village. They didn’t belong here.f9ed9baf854ec3e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I quickly tried c369d1529d to back away e8f9ed57f9 from them, but 72fb05833e soon soldiers blocked 4d98966a86 my path.b65dd9ca2c7f994d

One soldier leisurely stepped 3884827c57 in front of me 5f87406ec0 and spat on the c67114363c ground.83a344a87f8ff0c9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“And who are you?”ac0b0e1e42dee9bf

He glanced ee853d493a at a f507f848cc list of 975db9a952 names on 9513e34763 a piece 15b6bbd2d5 of paper.98fa2ded70ebbc8b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m just passing through, trying to get to another village.”fd269eaa9114ef14

I answered calmly, but it wasn’t the answer he wanted. His sharp gaze cut through me.c4e63e32bbc65bf6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re not from this village?”b21b130051cf6077

His eyes glinted dangerously. The men with spears 787b132acf behind him looked ready a3665f790e to act.cf0e13a0aa7f15f4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Timo’s words came back to me. Pretending to be married would avoid suspicion if I were in danger.6a7bae7fc96a03e0

“No, I mean, I am married.”50c924dea672a6fd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A weak excuse wouldn’t work. I decided to go with Timo’s suggestion of claiming marriage.e09e1062e8fcf0b1

“Who to? There’s no one by that name on this list. Did someone get married in this village recently?”e57ff70e9dc3696b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man unfolded the d2a2000ef3 paper, which listed the f2cfb1b844 names of the villagers. It also had 41b686e1fe a map and bc27485f99 family trees.70746059aa7b9694

“Who are you supposed to be married to?”6460f37b1a7d223e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“T-Timo.”3e854b49224d6bca

I figured it was safe to use his name. Timo was out hunting and wouldn’t return to the village for at least ten days.f4b469238483dfc4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Timo… You mean the hunter’s nephew?”f56f376df9d72eb7

I nodded vigorously. The man scribbled 1ccf745637 something on the 55b7957a30 map.335bf5a1dc46d415

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Relieved, I d80fcc79ee took a 6a24aff6c8 breath, but 19383a677f it was 59893f53de short-lived. The soldier 0218e62aeb signaled to 3dc8713c7d another man 73c4d88ec4 behind him.2a6dee0fa7269e61

“Then she’s in on it too. Take her.”71620c56168664e7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *8aca2ec2e44075a2

The soldiers turned the eec153a1a7 village into chaos in 28ad632f47 no time.f95200781f79436c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

People of all ages were dragged out of their homes, forced to submit to the soldiers’ orders.f29c884ca9ee832b

The soldiers 1c458a18c6 roughly forced c8e0f16f5e the captives ae034a14b5 to kneel bda4ff8586 on the f6ca52a371 ground.b6092773f06df660

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Who would’ve thought this whole village was a base for illegal activities.”2644895debb7b484

“Keep an eye on them. We’ll be selling the captives soon.”5713e7a2ab76681c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A soldier dusted 70a615438d off his hands 2c7d1e2de5 and spat on f5f989909a the ground in 18feb01637 disgust.781c0b36f3521bf8

“Where will they be sent?”716ae7e9001f6b79

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Who knows? Probably sold as slaves. A village hiding illegal weapons and engaging in unlawful trade won’t end up in a nice place.”73db8d42c70e2f22

Oh no.ea86b82ec01392b1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

<I don’t know if you realize this, but the village isn’t as peaceful as it looks.>74770d4fb3624f60

Timo’s words echoed in my mind.e24d64bda249fa2b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Now it made sense why the villagers were so isolated and why they could easily procure travel passes. Why Deon’s soldiers had a hard time finding the cabin.25df43545387201b

Piece by piece, the 1e99873b78 puzzle came together.a14f3b53fb489d87

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Could it be that when Timo said the village wasn’t just peaceful, he meant this?e63f9d6b415d3fed

Had Timo and the c367d3a368 hunter really gone hunting, 7aa3e6f5d4 or was there something 3ccfbfda94 more?ad25f23bc7a16d71

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Timo, if a63671b15a this was 1f021cedf1 the case, 983136ddf9 you should cc00af9a9f have warned ec0e80d241 me before a218097b68 you left.43e5904abe2d5895

There was no 98c77e90da time to sort 726eeb1b15 out my chaotic a6b19b788f thoughts. The soldiers herded the bce67917a1 villagers into cages like 324549abb6 animals.d4e5e52bed434ef3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

People I 519a2c687c had seen ceca221378 while visiting 98d5efd689 the cabin 51440fada2 were being 7e5eab8957 pushed inside. Among them f8084814e2 were children. I was thrown into 9ed62dd3ea a cage as well.45f35e14efe55f79

The iron gate eeff6a9e1d clanged shut.751e077b90dade2e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Outside, soldiers carrying torches ebb228f820 bustled about as evening 5faa5fa8ec fell.dd9a668b83803b44

Through the layers c3da771abd of cold iron c58bfa89d8 bars, I could 9301b8a011 see the soldiers d94aa44a1d who had imprisoned 4e3b576334 us.9365f17332ef5b0d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Their uniforms and the fd82f52b3b familiar emblem on their a788808230 shoulders and buttons were 5de174cacf unmistakable.a821ed0aa3331672

Imperial soldiers.6cd9e8e3891a18ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My heart pounded as daeb6d77f4 I recognized the emblem 3aaaf3dd17 I thought I had 0606d21e3c escaped.a4d536deb8b803e2

 4602a8f5f728005c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish