Chapter 14. A Story Not in the Prologue

The Duke’s estate buzzed with excitement over preparations for an unprecedented banquet.50c543b7819cd7c0

The atmosphere was unusually 72fabcd50e festive. Even the normally de4b359532 reserved workers were 4553c7e5de caught up in b570753209 the frenzy—Suren included.e629e31e4cf7d89a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I thought, surely, I’d be spared from the chaos, tucked away in my quiet scribe duties…a40874565c10f28b

“Why are you asking me this?”e45349480888e5a5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A maid 76086c2e4b held out 58482a8b98 a swatch f1bc293c0d of cloth—a 5fbb6a7585 sample carpet 280e4d6dc4 for the 435c7cb027 hallway.9c1586c5b73b2ad4

“Normally the hostess would choose… but you’re the only noble lady staying here, Miss Leonie.”bcbecf2b76e93b3c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You understand noble tastes better than we do.”64dd9590f199c575

Honestly, I didn’t. Not really.075d8d764dd77592

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leonie’s background might’ve e3f2fb2dbd been noble, but e901bc1cff humble. And my b4ea29aee3 modern tastes bd35bffc60 didn’t exactly 99e4711945 help me fdb3cb8065 decipher what 6fc4570682 all the 9ab73d7383 stripes and a0f6d40bd3 gold threads cdf6504399 symbolized.0a690d3097faff6a

Did gold thread mean 016505145e prosperity? What about 9a23530a04 these wavy 61df8527a9 lines?306bdbe4b02154e5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“They’re all… pretty?” That was the best I could offer.2172160fc3fef88c

“Isn’t this one more luxurious?”4f32ba5e5cabcb21

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This feels more suited for the north—white stripes on blue…”83cc8186a024cd0f

The maids eagerly laid 06b3b367fe out more samples.0f99531232e5521e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As I hesitated, they e9d6dbde61 placed a smaller carpet e3c54aafda square on the table.4db6563fe15dda7b

“If it’s hard to choose, take your time. We’ll return tomorrow.”db1dcc150b7b9440

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Try touching them! This one’s definitely softer.”d4909fc93ac3daaa

They left a1bcadca25 after offering b787e5e81c reassurances.87c52ceeccb890e4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, I found 187436273f myself responsible for a2d1174e7f selecting the official 940dd9ef35 reception decor.e78a26088f7d6d00

I stared at 7a36ba9ef5 the samples. Straight lines. Curved ones.c633db812ea523a7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Nothing looked different.301fff571173db36

So, I spun the c4bef0053a pen holder.2b46524880816f72

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It rolled and landed 3aada597e8 on number two.e352417b2bb7718b

Alright—number two 54d4965787 it is.d96089772a4c83e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Pick one already. You’re stalling and we both know it.”527910b8575b98fd

Viter appeared, 52ab05327e watching my e50f0b1a29 indecision.5a835bbffe0bb5cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why?”e09b804fad95488c

“Because if it’s split evenly, the decision falls to a noble lady. That’s you.”1a47209358828721

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He sighed deeply.b839cf6cee57923b

“Hopefully, some decent noblewoman shows up for this birthday.”21bd8f435f234344

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Unexpectedly, he 3db6338daa scribbled wildly 6ef2ffc8e5 with his 5d9ea92f44 pen. Ink splattered on dry 8e0bef8e17 paper.2ae10b7a12ccfbfd

“We invited all noblewomen Viscount-rank and higher. We’re even asking for a dance. Not that it’s required—but if one of them can keep up a conversation, that’s progress. We’ve got materials ready to help him pick a good one…”9b8d316783b4cd69

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He glanced at me.b6ea813f959ed23f

“Wouldn’t it help if ‘you’ recommended someone? You’re the one closest to the Duke lately. He listens to you.”4c6f6f2f17b7eada

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A chance to f123e1d860 make Viter owe 381b4c2a13 me.7cc53cf70b057652

I leaned 9cd9229ae5 back in c5dc6e8e47 my chair, a7f47ad801 arms crossed, e6390e97cd feigning importance.d6c5cd53aff627db

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What do I get in return?”225c6c0407f95940

“What do you mean, ‘get’? This is for noble succession stability. It’s important.”91fd3248c02a8c30

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I scowled.4746a8c002b0d682

But Viter’s f5fc0df86b worries were 82a8bee40b misplaced. The Duke 18de9c84dc was destined 46881ee3bb to fall db6c1249d4 madly in fd05f6d64c love in fe98d8d213 a few 111d36f8d5 years. He’d probably db9d78928c have a f188e1a2c3 handful of 944c65a819 kids. No need to fret.1008ce16873ca617

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even if my 0cabf23b5e suggestion didn’t change 335b6bb72a anything, I could 67da433244 at least pretend.a3d0693e10ff9c16

“What do I get for trying?”1d64a98741fd840b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…What do you want?”3d0b5fca340dce9a

“If I succeed, let me leave the Duke’s castle.”77e718ce382c0400

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You know that’s not happening.”6bab0d2a22f079a3

“Not permanently. Just let me out for a short trip.”1849aefaf04f5a9b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I didn’t 4e161d1348 expect freedom—but fb59b06b31 even a 0559c0820a short outing 281422cb02 would help.2a9b5ba51e6fc0a0

“The Lady gives off the impression that if she leaves, she won’t come back. Just like the Duke said—she’ll vanish somewhere.”92c576eb69118848

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sharp observation.fbd4a8d9816c445e

Viter frowned.6e922302282e4c3c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll try. Maybe half a day out, with a guard. But you need to deliver. Listening isn’t enough. Show results.”1fc1e8ac4ca4d3f1

“I’m not arranging his marriage.”181a6cd4427ee351

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course not.”e6e4674813584bed

He scribbled something 1f61a4f109 on a clean 4a6a2be901 sheet.5c00f3c9dfdfea92

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Step one: if you introduce a lady and the Duke looks at her for more than twenty minutes—just like he does when he shows interest—that’s half success. I’ll grant half-day permission.”2e10b9d55494568d

He slid a 7dc29db3bc paper titled ‘Excuse 83425f92e3 for Going Out’ b78ed3f115 across the table.93bcb48fec962ae9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If he dances with a lady, that’s full success. You’ll be allowed to stay out overnight—with a guard. Get his approval using this.”5f5e7e2fb12712b6

“Deal.”8b85d7c1a949c48a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No big deal. Just some matchmaking.1394977739110c58

Know your enemy, right? I’d study a8ff54fb98 the attendees.bad55125a348b529

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Viter handed 81a6124a95 me the 92f4c0f52b guest list.041eabfa288aac64

Each small portrait came 6b9bef2331 with family name, position, 2fcf47218f history, wealth ranking, and 3c98ebaafb hobbies.2c0871c9990f25c4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Michele Kleiner, 19. Favorite flower: yellow freesia. Studied abroad in Kodan at ten. Visits a high-end accessory shop on Royal Street twice a week.”56bc1a3a0ad45899

“This is practically a private investigation. Where did you even get all this?”b8ad2371f9f52b09

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I flipped 200a4f18b9 through the a6f4e77626 pages.30b03bda9f0641a0

Then I wondered… was I on here too?b38a4a8aae58a011

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I searched fa28adb98f through the 5cc69cac60 list—Marquises, Viscounts, f388d663fe Barons—and found fe20254f52 my entry.b7746c977e367954

Last on 11313d8bd1 the list.01c4fb3500abd0d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Leonie Sien, f58b1b29dc second daughter.’ 5f93633e20 So Leonie 0fd83f841e had older b224a0d531 siblings.139feef418ccb7f6

‘No special skills. Hobbies: reading romance 657dbe4d9a novels.’37bb744933458896

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Worse, my financial status? Just one word: 3df2f233a0 Negative.301cb58f91fb87e8

What credibility.c5569abb3a703156

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Come on, I enjoy travel and surfing too. Everyone has expensive hobbies—they just look cheaper when you’re poor.99d48d30fd0b1e63

If I were in the capital, I’d walk into a boutique and say, “Give me everything.”b00350bb68226d22

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But here? All I cb3dde3760 do is edcd7f34c5 read.ec5f067762c7a5a3

I sighed. This stamp of ‘romance 9b380419fe novels’ really tanked my d58313dff7 self-esteem.a669866f459f58c9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I gulped down e3d4662358 water.4a3f348c079b0f50

Viter, when I get 9e55555124 out of here, I’m 1e0ac6ba07 rewriting your finance reports. I’ll show you 7ae26d4355 what real spending 29eb34aba6 looks like.e7f7cc4db5fe87d6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I composed myself c27fae955f and started reviewing b82f2cf3e9 the list carefully.a45d877f09ad172f

Maybe I’d abf9b95bcc recognize someone 6a25edd9ba from the 2e38e12906 original story.47c60af8aa15df87

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The heroine also 0e813f55bc had reddish hair.5678aba2f5473da0

But no—there was e5ce04c6ba no heroine listed.c82f2cf570a2f6d9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The girl with red 5958c05fc1 hair? That was me.3910b4c12edcbeb5

Odd. The heroine’s family 1b6f66c43d was well known. Why weren’t 19b6c070af they invited?549ae12a465bf7b5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Too far away?f0f2ecb660956e4f

Or did they d7edc7a8b5 decline because of 84cff59d1e their anti-Duke stance?616885db3e8be439

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No, that didn’t make 7a860d4a7d sense.655327ac21ebe5a6

In the 615aebb752 original story, 0943f67c8d the Duke 07682939b6 and heroine 5e2bab7627 didn’t meet f927033a76 during this dbd5e05009 time period.51ff81b36ee13df0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

So maybe this 7de69d4709 was still according 4eeb84d413 to the original b4a21df205 timeline.bc3b756036e47905

But still… why 2f10f42ba5 didn’t she come?5000d4f5b5240f1c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Is there a story a5177a1f18 that wasn’t written in dbefbaabad the prologue?6f6b67ed96b94aee

—35630be65ee0a4cb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Late at night, 8bd556f1db I threw off dc2a09e1b1 my blankets and bfb081452e crept out of 6ef5db34b2 bed.3845b42b9c1cd81f

Suren snored softly.fc209cd14213b516

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I waved my hand 2b366d715d over her face—she was b94b26b19b sound asleep.2d4efd13d5d58fff

I grabbed d4f0fce694 the bundle d48cfbbcb0 of keys a857ff8079 I’d gotten fadcf5c766 from her.40a33013d744660e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

About forty 30cf908d40 keys in 36f2eba9ad total. I didn’t know 76ffd1bdc2 if one opened 5058d326c7 the Duke’s storage, 50dce1cbf4 but I had 66c543e85e to try.02bb2d1b103a9c47

The window was 512123244e shut, but even 768d6e7ec4 so, walking through 5bc29cdff8 the halls in 8e3b59527a my nightclothes left 435de24441 me shivering.07dae38522dc4fc6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

My grand plan 03ee7ada78 to manipulate the 22ff619a41 Marquis and unlock ccbbc72c3f the warehouse had d32eda00cd failed.16d306722388c132

I needed 7505ca241c a heating aea028dc30 stone if 29a89a4a13 I wanted 3f082920ec to escape 9f23bd9391 properly—but Deon d93999aa3e wouldn’t give 2707dc4595 me access.68f24a5e97c38a3d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If I asked to ecbce59bb3 check inventory:e0346241207ede72

\<You don’t need to worry about that. Ask the butler.>12ff578fbb051bda

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If I hinted that e787039b52 I needed a certain 816f17e5ae jewel:e84742a7cfe8e32a

\<Do you need that old thing? Just write down what you want.>3cf4d23af93bcd2c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If I 094c7a34e0 said I 921180d47a needed cash:bcbcd3c2417cd11f

<The Duke can issue promissory notes. An escort can bring what you need.>01df2b3264008c71

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If I tried to 53fb409972 make it about daily 2d447d046f life:2736b284621b6a81

\<How can the Duke’s guest eat street food? Have your dessert prepaid.>3f57ffac9bbe10ee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Insufferable.23efa191e495f73a

I couldn’t 42181cd72a press too 1fb2cbe463 hard or ebf1eead3a they’d get f8637e3bbf suspicious.0753a0adce4706aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

So, I decided.45b4eb7bd38808ba

I would steal.d909af4be4cc5953

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

By candlelight, I 74a3601710 felt my way fae94dbe2e through the halls.b8212233c009d1bc

Finally, I 3b01f55ac3 reached the c419026957 warehouse door.260726dae8e23f29

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My hands were 1d2511d1e3 shaking—either from cold 0c51b497e1 or fear.fa48abb7ec326288

The first a6e758cfd4 key didn’t 92698ae60d fit.8113f3f37d20d8f4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The second de8542a403 didn’t either.c67714e1706a8b6e

I brought the 507c878fca lamp closer.19403391ef15981c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I tried the third 6247d2426e key—7705bf52bfe84b03

A voice chilled 2c3b3e2fe4 my spine.702c6e7dca060dcd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Who’s there?”15d05529a70b15bb

 14d496ab3ac08e82

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish