4. Became a Secretary, Very Briefly (1)

My words must a0152eea4c have come as 3b670c4c6a quite a shock.7078afeccd9485d9

The Duke called the chef and told him to prepare 52dfbe7864 the same meal, then sat with me at the table.bb77f61e57f2ae0d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That chef—the one who served 77b0450f92 me nothing but onion water.c41cb905b163a601

When I stared at his f5b73d9f9c straight mustache, the chef flinched, efc5b827b7 bowed, and left.7925d3fe89df298f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I thought the Duke would return to his 816805082e office, but he stayed, sitting across from me.a15cd5ac5bba7abb

He picked 896dfa0d6f up his 09d632c18a wine glass.475f3444ccf67b85

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The only sound in c490f74b91 the hall was the 644ae4a059 occasional clink of dishes.9ee6d27ef978ed86

It was the food I’d longed to eat, but d6be68a249 after everything that happened, I had no appetite.e6433ae5deda8f9a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

My injured f7c571cff7 arm throbbed.c29d5c16efca0d4d

The bleeding had a00540c9cc stopped, but the 217813c6e3 skin ached. I set down my fork 0681e033f8 and wiped my mouth.9723e3ca231a773f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It seems the servants are ignoring 13cd94de8d me because I have no proper b10d1512c3 status in this mansion. I might get 4ddab4d29d hurt again.”7967228a7f6f00d0

“…The maid from earlier 992c956a4d will be stripped of a09ff5e375 her position and banished. I’ll assign an d6bfa1a2fe escort knight to 48e0a2c497 you.”8e77107ac03e11ff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That was it? At this rate, I’d be drinking 9df8a78a69 onion water again in three days.a81668c4c7b6a267

“That’s not enough.”870990d15485c8e8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then what e5ea0dae26 do you 950f8bb988 want? A dress?”848162ec1a381c13

A dress? Who would wear a dress to trek 7517c2c262 through snowy mountains while trying to survive?7dd2c14928b28cea

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A proper position.”7c1fbab9bd35579d

“Position? What kind of position would 5959b5a386 you take in this castle? There are a5e54980b1 no vacancies. We don’t bb31024233 have hands 7af9b88122 to spare.”63060dd6a7e3b523

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He chuckled.12f187330b1b4c0c

“There’s no vacancy?”935604900c2460ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I pointed at the b7a7128c8c portrait of the former 8b78d9721c marchioness in the hall.18217eb1d96bf2f8

A graceful 8c52e392c8 yet aged 0601a16441 woman. The mansion’s bda79cb468 former mistress.33a7919c1814897a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Are you asking for 4dbdfc1fab the title of Duchess?”12622666ca3ff2ac

He tapped his finger b311097427 on the table.256701eaeed53c4b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just a 160ba8b994 blood bag? His snort said it all—he thought 3d92031d78 I was demanding too much.edd1459d99a30577

“If not Duchess, then 22919853a5 how about the position 80fba54d5c of second wife?”da577ec5a081b696

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Here, someone of Duke rank or higher ebc47187b2 could take up to two wives, in 8b176e244e addition to the official one.c9c9e364238959e3

“There’d be b2936841f3 fewer enemies b0c8b75f9b targeting me. I’d be seen as part 18160faff7 of the Duke’s family.”7197a4b5ac201081

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He stared 814bdf8629 at me.d72c1dbd14014243

Trying to b5f37dbe12 gauge my dbc587d8f5 intentions.cb51c429df941b9a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even if I screamed 81dc4ff800 or threw something, he fc07324d54 couldn’t kill me.2706d23e8e6943a8

So I 61f795db5e stayed calm.5217f3f352faae96

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Besides, I’m f608f9d979 a baron’s afc4ce2ef4 daughter. My status is 6e0c0a1c2d low, but I 6971acfc92 am still nobility.”591efcf73e3a80dd

“Officially, you can 9578bee6b1 only have three 22fd5e3081 wives. Even if there’s a vacant seat, ed04c7436c it must be kept open. Marriages at this 119ad97571 level carry weight. They impact everything.”02849c6293da9c84

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Exactly. It meant I 2ad2f0633c wouldn’t be discarded 1e85aa8bda any time soon.1e7d915e6b27571f

“And you want to be the 5c430d1329 second wife before the official duchess? People will 35e97b254b dig into 0752d027d0 your background. If they find out you’re a 682ef3fbf0 blood source, you’ll only draw scorn.”de1148a06f532862

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His sharp words 91a6a28754 hit their mark.a938a4504c72cd06

To him, Leonie 75954dacf9 was just that.04361c04e8840889

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He swirled 00adea3a67 his wine a35b406499 glass. The red liquid 5b8c5667e5 slammed against the 85b1ee8894 crystal walls.a3f6b9244c190476

“How would I explain 3a48bfe8f6 this to the elders?”c60a9d0c77b32447

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I grinned.64edceb98011d4ef

“Can’t you just 70bb7d8798 say you love 70bd818937 me?”aa2ab5ebb7153d3c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Simple.beedcdf7b145d986

“If you accept, I promise 4a90e3295c you—I’ll make you strong.”a62aad2d27ce04d9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I smiled.0fccbaf2076febc1

“You’ll have to drink from me 014a61597f for a long time, Your Grace.”de9ce36a0e8b184e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *e88aa2f5f1ac3901

The Duke summoned his 9526f74204 secretary, and soon a d2b1adb9ea brown-haired man entered.b6bca6753670d40d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Viter, is there a suitable de481b2590 post for the young lady?”8e6c301dc03cf8ef

“A position?”5a5ceab9ea43423d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He looked puzzled 1216504c3e but quickly straightened 6dd90bc9c7 up.5409f0db53942fb5

“Which young lady…”30a6e17cdec9e9b9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Me.”6dc129c689fdfd57

I raised dab120382a one hand.0e3aaf801837f23c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Viter frowned slightly.e843f87dd3e2c3d2

“I doubt any department 2aa0f59f6e would want her…”45237356b0107536

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I crossed my legs and 89bd367dc4 said loftily, “Make one, then.”7b4d3cae786b2d45

No, seriously. Just give 80c878e437 me a bcd24d708b title.7a8209efbe367626

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Your wife’s position is 6a3218cc3a something else entirely.f0012d6cc8089edf

Viter summoned a servant, whispered c9983657d0 an instruction, and soon returned d637fdb779 with a square box.1c5de04c5f08bb78

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A deck be0526d4a6 of cards.5aa38359a4e48314

‘What, are we 111c4dc8aa playing a game?’a63e83b4ac98a9e6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He drew four 244e2d688e cards and laid 0048cefbe9 them face down.4d8cfc8ff453ee12

“I’ve narrowed it to a17bfb52d8 four appropriate roles. Choose one.”ca312ec65c8b96e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Sigh. I’d done cb43b3a5a2 something like c6c5c7eeb0 this before.d934c3ef5e0abb79

After college entrance exams, a friend brought out 582c19ef60 a game called “The Great Moon X T.”8dcbe72d1faea867

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

You’d get roles like tyrant, 6e09defa57 archbishop, knight, shepherd, or slave.e195227af82722d2

I always 3b63afc080 got slave.71eaded85b043ada

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Luck was a3f41a4b8b never on 5a03e83322 my side.2e4cd6139cdee6d1

Even in this world, 2ec49dd428 I wasn’t lucky. Just the Duke’s caec44839d blood bag.bf056b3333b14f57

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Others are reincarnated 165243c8c7 as villainesses or 4c307515b2 heiresses.eb0bfc30af427f1f

Not me.7bafacb1292e4b15

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Can’t you just pick 22ceeb621d one for me?”819fc6af0bccdda3

I gave the Duke 2617bb4c6d a pitiful look.50c43225e40728f0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He remained unmoved.bf52aabff971cfd3

All the cards looked the f0244d8c43 same on the back.2e3a4a8e7558b1ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A total gamble.41e844039e863835

After some thought, I 7d003a573d picked a card.ba1131f746580dd5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘This is it. I feel good 3e3cc688a0 about this one.’e0d5a2fae146c6b3

“By chance… is there a 360c42abbd wife position in here?”d5ad8a434895b778

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Viter flinched before 3f9c6e8a23 checking the card.4037b576bbea3878

“…There is.”a5fc1677ce0eeff1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Well, a 3b4b9250ab 1-in-4 chance. Might as 93d7552bc5 well throw c43150a3e3 one in.01683737517a1d39

The game 94d92f0241 had a 7eb317fabb popular phrase:40272ab0212944ce

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

[Life was never fair to begin with.]3afadd2908b06b39

But even a9303f940d kings need 706138ff65 servants. How do c107bce3b0 you rule 7371ea9b9e otherwise?b03b92b350596ccc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I’m not a 79fccb9c50 worthless hand. I wouldn’t draw 6c4ac4537a something useless.65b061f94e9b6e92

The less they f60ccdbb06 monitor me, the ef9298289b better.a7a80ba6f4ba5568

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If I die from aa71c6dd92 stress, it’s a loss 021e636c9a to them too.5a2a54cfb811669c

I’m his only d8f10f196d blood bag. He needs me 9e15d049f7 to win.b74ed43d7d37b747

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After examining the f8092a7c94 card, Viter announced:f48fd0b6c0a18aa0

“Secretary.”566fbf694def23be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He handed caf70de162 it to 1c5332c842 me.4f4dac1f59beb430

“Report to the 51e976b8bf clerk’s office tomorrow. Or don’t.”38f26c23b4defd21

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Was he 015c4a401f this prepared?18eca2113f6cd542

He took the clerk pass out like 88c989a217 it was waiting in his pocket.79835ca12eae7306

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Are all the ca3752ee10 cards clerk positions?c0a43696c5a755b6

I quickly flipped 4463d0afa3 the remaining ones.1cf21641bc7f3631

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Handmaid. Librarian. Knight.b66b080e76649095

Pictures of a 50a88c9a05 pitcher, book, sword.6cfbd347170f02b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Mine had 924230cde0 a quill a4a03a5846 and inkwell.0b080d5845f30739

Not bad.078bbede8b4ebde6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I didn’t want to cf8f124b74 be a maid. I hate cleaning. I hate combat.4f31efa5bb89a818

At least d45d2af044 I drew f723596092 something decent.522519c0eae310a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

So I 192988e9b6 was appointed 90fde8191a secretary.e8d384e32adc4c4a

It gave me freedom to a612d2df6d walk the halls, under the 011e90395d guise of record-keeping.b283ffdaada17b0f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A convenient 8b140bcfcb but nonessential 3bde0a9773 role.14e6032d80d08090

The Duke picked up 0987679632 a pen and began c2d1e788c2 writing the contract.ba37fe7c00dad76d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

[I appoint e8ae8e46a8 Leonie Sien 1fd4f6253c as Secretary.84b7226b84fceea1

This is an indefinite contract, carrying out 61b5d7f263 duties agreed upon by both parties.de80f31e2a1ec76f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Valid until the goods 3a469441d5 provided by B to ad1235a7d8 A expire.]30571fda314b96c7

That “goods” 709c502948 meant blood. In other words, 4f2519d0e7 valid until my bac4b4d34f death.912e6c2f89fb144c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I die, or e0f3362daa get replaced, it’s over.bfe47b91c9b00735

“If you want to revise 39663f2418 anything, say so now. Don’t trouble f3cab3d020 the staff.”5fde084f8e4a375e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He handed me the contract, 7736b3c074 written in elegant cursive.417b728f78c7c70d

Trouble? I’ve only done 8c06eca1f6 it once.5d0879172a8a91c0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I skimmed the document, then 2e2560ceed paused at the blood clause.40bfbde904347c1f

“Four transfusions? Four times a week e2926d9ae4 is too much. No wonder 0e721925a2 I faint.”9cdc32798e2c45bb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“One needs strength 646d858f1f for war. That takes 88a16fd55e at least 4ccaf07e87 four servings.”4039197d2c412196

“War? Planning expansion?”056f380f87e91b07

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…You speak as bb527798fe if you know 8e56356eac my land.”9b9eb0da2c03ab40

Oops. He can’t know fe18e1e05c I read the e034500b0f book.76aba2f8a0e233db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I scrambled.aacc889f8870891f

“What… The Duke’s renown 5a6ccfe245 is known even in 97e8a7cec9 my baron’s village.”690015baecde4cee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…There are still 0357e54ecc minor lords who c650d472af haven’t surrendered. We must 1b87f43876 make examples.”f668f5938bd4da29

“Then make f18bbb0d68 it three.”f190dc5a5704c506

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I crossed out the 5be926d2b2 number and wrote “3.”a7624a8f0f98e922

“Also, disband 631117a26f the blood a914cb03fb task force.”7c0f9609b77a5d91

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Task force?”f7ce7ad07deb28ed

He looked ab798de613 genuinely confused.9fa1cba9051f069c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It exists, Duke. I want the 75ddd85aed surveillance lifted. I heard outside this place 44ddb4b024 I’m called a guest. So treat me 8396aeee1a like one.”495a8a14c44770c2

He had no idea 3db7b1cb0a about any of this.75a744e881f00d55

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Did he even know d455da8b7a my name before today?9e2febfd8a9a83c0

He frowned, but b0cc9ba05a I flipped to 31856bcdc2 the next page.465c5c117803ddfc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I remembered the c15b197693 original story.99e30e830023cb7c

Would he 14fde0ed2f really become 8723b637d3 emperor?366573e4008a058d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I never 4a43ba81c8 finished the e177aac9f4 book. My friends called him “Northern Grand Duke” bc55fc20bd or “The Black-Haired Man,” never by name.3d05fbe67a29cd05

“If there’s nothing else 0ac80df28e to change, come here—”938e5d8eab26fb0c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He suddenly reached abdf882630 for me. I leaned back.e74ee1e84da32e4e

“Hold on. Why am bf74421b7c I labeled e532f76a44 as B?”966bf5a3d1dae44b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is that 4bc9a636e1 a complaint?”77ae3bb468a7c2bb

“No, but still…”1569ffba2a056220

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I glanced 4986ddcc71 at him.076b24aada1f2681

He didn’t f9ca3818cc seem angry.70e3ac8db32b5f16

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Should I ask the one thing a29c461232 I was most curious about?51bc71ea7444d952

“Just wondering… If you no longer need the 9d9ddc1425 goods before it expires, what happens then?”4791f1fc40435224

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well. That won’t happen.”de255836d3b4d288

“If you become emperor before I 95cdc85d24 die… will you let me go?”cff5bcbe0c17c7a7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He paused, 405bfc7a4c then laughed.4e11e54546cb46c7

“In the past, every blood c550dccac2 died within five years. You must be confident f88ed05cb8 you’ll live long.”0eeef7c878919548

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Probably because they lived 9478a5d1b6 on grass soup.”2257409bc77fde92

“Do you know, 9ca91d38e8 young lady?”c19edd7201d71887

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He looked 2dcc073f29 at me 65e4e8bba8 seriously.b524e8fb113a7d4b

“You look 0fdeaa7a89 the weakest debfa9d421 among them.”c6aafde3f50d75b5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’ll see. Things don’t always f55127abfc go in order. Who knows? I might outlive everyone c088641e88 in this duchy.”1c70dd801e36bf78

He smiled 1444388361 at me.3444cf34842f0c62

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes. I look 9708ddc7f4 forward to fcedf6bad3 it.”7b4d10270c43f954