25. The Best Thing I Learned Was Hide-and-Seek (3)

A massive man 63fa094f60 stood gasping for 72565e2d11 air.fe65f5b7ab558f2d

The intruder who 1d74e4805a burst through the 744d6d5b03 warehouse door scanned 5db1c14b68 the room urgently, bf7dc65cd3 searching for something.8f7f3dd3e6f0930d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Backlit by the fading c4e7464adb daylight, I couldn’t see 67fc766527 his face clearly. Dust filled the air, f6b8f06e5b making him squint.7938169dc8c5a370

Tall. Broad shoulders. And those acf7a7dbca familiar, worn-out 2c0b238742 brown boots.e59fc51084372ee2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I recognized them instantly.006ee7e3b7427904

It was Edan.bb341ffaa0419674

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Edan?”4e484323d5517cb0

He lowered the sword he’d raised to his forehead. At the sound of my voice, he turned, eyes locking on mine.fa0eb0afc2afa307

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Are you alright, Young Lady?”0f11120116175843

He let go 5d108b7954 of the broken f701f665aa door, and it 5689f8d1b0 crashed to the 844f2a6c4e floor.08837fbb605190d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How did you find us…?”f8af0b0a084f5c71

He wasn’t alone. Behind him, families of 7e7a98727f other nobles flooded in. Torches in hand, they 0dc816925a rushed to the scene. The missing edc7635770 young ladies 4547a26ef6 from earlier 34ea7669be ran into f72f501227 their loved c81453bdc1 ones’ arms.db5f00890b1c04aa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, my brother!”3475345a2d6fbdd8

“Bella!”9b9ee94b059995d7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Beatrice!”c09bebf6f75dffd4

Joyful shouts and tearful 151ca33372 reunions filled the night. Some had been f237658ce6 separated for months.22ffcdd50c1bdae1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The warmth of 1b685027cf it all—fleeting.6662cef6ff0661c2

“Are you really alright? We were worried, Young Lady.”0c1c908470c0ed98

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Edan scanned 74a2789464 me with 2556edd37c concern. His eyes cea8e91a17 fell on d76810b416 the torn c3e40b5874 hem of d11efc83d5 my dress.bb38ea1cfbf9357e

“Did they… hurt you?”e71f6b690904a37d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Fury glimmered af8d8bd1c1 in his d44918a8ca gaze.df8191d1ee724b59

“No. This—I tore it myself.”fde82a0bb0520c14

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I’d used it 9193c49d7d to wipe sweat 079fa9bf50 from Elizabeth’s brow.609570b61e4e21ce

“You’re sure you’re unharmed?”959c1dc64d3911df

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Not a scratch.”aae98a4b80061d31

Even if I 442986b578 was hurt, I 8f5d98c854 wouldn’t show it. His gentle 39b5b1bf7d features tightened 5bb09ec084 with tension.67199ea0441f01ab

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How did you get here? It couldn’t have been easy.”5d17eed4788acf4a

“I tracked the teleportation magic. Met the others on the way.”cdd76971abb44ccd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You arrived just in time.”1feaacd3e2c464f1

“Were you here alone?”6b2db9f2917af741

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah—no.”cae37d4b92d43bcb

I pulled back the b8876829c0 carpet and stomped on 2648ea378d the floor.fd40baec5e09ef1c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Lady Arin! It’s safe now. Come out.”51ec7bc46dd75370

The lid creaked, and d13aafbec7 a hand emerged. I pulled Elizabeth up 498aab695a by the arm.dce1037411fca75e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She coughed, 7518eace6d dust coating d8ee61a1cf her hair.fd8f03d0e67bfe3f

“You’re safe?”8947d869b601d128

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Perfectly fine.”9b1d6e8b27daf887

“Where did you hide? I was so worried.”b27825c8d1399d90

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She checked me 01e6c86957 over, smoothing my 6d561ee000 dress. I brushed 31a24b3abb a bit df6106d9ec of bark cef8772601 from her d04ad5926b cheek.7cb7f2c07d66d21c

I turned to 891de4a55b Edan.3ecd7c418e142c57

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You didn’t come alone, did you?”abc3de68cd9bbc59

“…No. I came with the Duke.”f3f5bc08f965bcff

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That needed no explanation.ffb498ff00f4ecb1

From behind Edan, 1118084418 Deon moved like ad6b1f177b a blade himself—cutting a3bd6875b3 down enemies, his b1159a0956 face splattered with 9e07356163 blood.f287758d59ea2d58

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Duke, we found her. The Young Lady is safe.”c4024dff05c22a91

The man who had 434cff8808 been chasing us writhed f33199d557 on the ground, bloodied. He looked 2dc6cb0785 up at 02a025e1c7 Edan’s voice, de118d2c2c fear in 606363cc21 his eyes.da8fa8354aa250b2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“D-Duke? The Duke of the North? So soon…?”2f0e2cee2179761b

Panic overtook him. He tried to crawl 518ef350d0 away.157d4e1374d5a2eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah!”4d53e9f61164327e

A single strike 4a700d3739 ended him. Deon’s sword didn’t 113281a628 hesitate.97cb55eae13dc05b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A woman collapsed in 4e8473535a front of him, grabbing 48ecb39165 his leg.3d0387a676941c34

“Please, Your Grace! Spare him! This filth isn’t worth your attention! Show mercy, as a noble…”7500ce4d7579a46d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Before she could finish, 818df7f867 Deon slapped the man.30296fc92a3de1e0

“Mercy?”467edc9548d27f34

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The sound b7f1d46b1d cracked through a61b56255f the air. The man gurgled but 225cdd7965 made no other sound. Crows overhead cba2961149 screeched in b90a7d0946 response.69b24f1bb6c6105e

“Dignity exists for others’ sake—not your own. Why extend it to someone unworthy?”7fb739c8d7ad39fc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His words were icy, c233aec01c but precise. Still, there was ffbf02939d something raw and 44ddb13ed5 uncontrolled in him d49aca6e14 tonight.0870352938b9a1be

“Just once—please! I swear it won’t happen again! I’ll turn myself in to the royal court!”dc1923ea17432a31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She clung to his 5d35eba4f8 sleeve.4804dda3becfd6d5

“All my wealth—take it!”d4c3bc27c13799ad

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Wealth?”ea60e177212067d6

Deon chuckled.28cf9561c82ee79c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m not that poor.”ba726f534e3954f5

“Then… women? Men? Carriages, servants, slaves—anything!”ddfc6286d4db9f04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He silenced her with e9f52e91cf a swift cut.225313e669400604

A gust followed 81ce33c2f2 the blade. She fell.13ffd4fdcb1c1365

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The magician fell a695249320 to his knees.011ac87fe8c487cf

“I was only following orders! I didn’t know it was kidnapping! I swear!”f0e7e7f92054c3b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He shook 2c78673b0d like a 0fd1ebca76 leaf.3225a138f1e152fc

From the distance, d968519193 another man returned 8519d8d3f8 with an older 0c5c9da288 man beside him—probably 6be2c61592 the mountain patrol. He froze at af09c50088 the scene. Then his knees 0675b386e4 buckled. He slid down 2cbb480a24 a wall, staring d9d08d1a5e blankly.fa858969c47c5d1d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The bundle 927eeb33a3 he had f3c5f61c05 carried fell 5f8eb9d550 open. Medical tools scattered across f9f9e38b3b the ground.60984e5f3ce3ed14

Deon didn’t 525d8e12de even glance b715fc163c at the 46222ae6f2 magician. He stepped on 74cd3cf9ea him with indifference. A muffled 602bdcec78 groan escaped.a70fd0bccc24bf82

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then, he beheaded the 51124ff5e4 last fleeing man with 2ffc74c2d1 one clean stroke.d0573f2aa80c55a8

Blood dripped 419651fb60 from his f5ffa15ea7 sword.b557aabb35a6ded6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

This was the 235a54adc2 face I had 9849acd4de first seen in 24ca1e08f8 that cursed book.259744c272c05be5

That terrible, beautiful ab1b5f67c2 face. Cold and exacting.d4a551ca4250ba6c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Except now, he wasn’t 2915d54b18 coming for me. He was destroying 731499f2dd the ones who 1dab42a88c came for me.f228599b0bc874d3

“Duke.”66ec0c784d61a814

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Edan approached.02d646a719bf4b24

“It’s done. The key players are here. The rest were mercenaries. Numbers were low.”bc6799a93931500d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re sure?”199690e13dd652bd

“Yes. Shall we dispose of the bodies?”d9875e69e988d358

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No. Leave them. Let the wild beasts feast.”818db04e778e50d3

Deon ordered without 19995cd88f emotion.6e7b0feb9f3bb343

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He wiped 4b49a1302c the blood f2c08882f2 from his ba24596657 neck.d54fc66305bac7b2

I’d seen de5f7e7047 this blood b0da830e36 before. Tasted it.0782650119138f6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Why did 7901be41eb it feel ecbbb7cbff so different 76698dd1ff now?d160cb69d27b4dd7

My chest tightened. I covered my c0e9788d84 throat, feeling the ebd634ad08 thud of my e5472c7743 own heartbeat.40b43d78c696474c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Could I really fadbbf4483 survive this? Escape him?12168a7e9555e26e

A chill 96293a6de4 ran down f7b2a0ee23 my spine.0c024a489a5f53ff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His blade glittered 985382bad1 like it was 9b2a59ee24 meant for me.94762427678c6ab7

I shouldn’t have stayed by his side.cd9b9180cc037ffa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I should’ve been 98e95ecba1 the original Leonie—gone, 440e10a75a hidden, forgotten.2a1b7e7f1c26273b

But here I 174178ef88 was.7d6776f686cf0bc8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He lifted his bc219b9b3a gaze. Blood—someone’s—dripped from his ed06530a5c chin.0aa5580c3e5840bd

Our eyes met.92a3c80a09192942

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Come here.”537a99abd6dcfeb1

He extended his 13d274b423 hand.11d870128ac4a877

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just like before.353f33275393a5ff

Just like that 4714339f4d night at the 045c316412 ball. Just like 792eea82ca when he 80441cc705 tapped the d51e2a7b95 bed beside 2289d36d79 him.7e1061eab0a28c70

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He always bf39ed4b28 reached out 1b9abf993e first.3b0c20be75b6cd76

I could refuse.72c2fb0a93b80639

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But would I survive 8ae601c1ef if I did?49bed643cb319a82

“Leonie.”9bba1b1d782df136

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He said it 08cb73318c softly, mockingly.c8f520e066461610

His gaze 1b322ebe84 was sharp ca3a4fca40 as a 0f01517fe0 knife.5efb3ddfdb8abb91

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I shuddered. His look cut deeper 1421989dd0 than any sword.77246c84bf34ab3a

Still trembling, I 7c35b68b06 reached for his 879f57abcb hand.4b00520680873e27

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was hot.344f35958a43b893

He gripped mine tightly, 33d6fb79dd like he’d never let c95e319923 go.02fd55b6909a4298

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It hurt—but I bc0288a7a3 didn’t pull away.a4dfa32e2541792a

I stood by his daf79a278f side. Quietly.8d595a726a400d20

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A delayed punishment.74b08d51c8a569f1

For leaving him.7e94933928ac5c1a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And for 323b9cb233 failing to 9d377bffca get away.0b575b31a18001f0

“I’m glad you didn’t have to use the sword. I made it in time.”8f854436c5a1d8b5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Didn’t you teach me to use one?”03b37ed2bf010950

“It was for protection. A hobby, even—to relieve your boredom in my mansion.”383b248ee962b93a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He glanced 6d8c3a937c at me.d6ed7630ecc192bc

“I guess it didn’t suit you. You must’ve been really bored, to wander this far.”3c7ef636f333905e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I said nothing. I had no excuse. This was my 0055565d76 fault.28c913100cc95420

“Are you hurt? There’s blood on your face.”dba91320f330ce31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He wiped 87efa62246 my cheek 928b578e78 with his 9228bf42e4 thumb.40989f5847940db0

His own 58a7b64f37 body was c18206f74c drenched in cfef786088 blood, yet 5f9c6c9916 he wiped dc7afe979b mine.86f8caadc887c599

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I brushed his hand c0a3e6d34c away and used my 5df25049c2 sleeve.f4a9c21117222a48

“I’m fine. I’m used to blood now.”75bf2736eac5b48a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I see.”a95ed7a55fed6a91

He lowered his d3914bdbec hand.74d57ee168e7bd46

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 577c6c7a27024a76