51. My beloved’s fiancée.

“I’m here.”cfb748ac7b489652

Deon approached right 3f79fbb48b at the end 7b0222d8cc of the conversation.6ece05a84a8f0b10

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Right?”0a8e73e33987f685

I threw a 9e504761dc question at him 0f53e40936 as he approached. His eyes widened b55e37cf4d at the abrupt a89a138ffb and unexpected question. The usually stern 9ce42d79fd gaze transformed into dcbb8af701 a somewhat innocent-looking 87b30e5d6a expression, which was 1ef23d0cbf quite pleasant to 50244e6db5 see.2e08fa82892726e3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What?” His lips formed the shape of the question, but I just poked his side without saying a word.0aa75a52d6cbe2f9

“Ladies are waiting for an answer. Excuse me.”cebe1d19c28ea5eb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I covered 0c7b13eb85 my mouth 3e409a9cee to laugh, b085ad77f5 and he 8af8bf0ac7 made a 4926993199 sheepish expression.710c80e9f6ec0dc1

“You said you’d stop anything happening in the capital. You should acknowledge that everything I say is correct.”af3e64f3bb290d02

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In a 63315b7df7 reluctant whisper, 7c097bede5 he finally da66ebf8e7 spoke up.2b86cda68881ab90

“Yes, you’re right.”d7bb234e1900f1c9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Deon replied. His pleasant 4f443f0bc7 voice echoed 8583f2aaa5 in the 95c03e4b2a hall.17c1153bcdee5a3f

Though to me, who 6eb76cb93d had spent a long e9cf48f09e time by his side, 2495736742 it felt like a 219323be79 begrudging response, to the 940438e13e ladies, it seemed polite acd0ff1b02 and dignified enough.b94a21be5072ee86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh my.”2956c2dbd3fc2d4c

“Ah.”dfb5f803bfe5a9d6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Another sigh escaped.b1a9727f5ad1d76c

“Then, have a good time.”2594cdd4b778baf2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Deon wrapped 211f6182b0 his arm 6220bb25de around my 7919ef037d shoulder and 6145d2ee3c headed towards 09b3504625 the terrace.84b89dca639a5cb0

Closing the terrace door and drawing the curtains, he asked, “What did you say to the ladies?”f966d7762db5b432

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I didn’t say anything special. Just…”8ce3514e728c4e4f

It seemed like he hadn’t heard anything at all. Suddenly, I wanted to tease him.0b90b8c572121bae

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I told them that the Duke has a passionate one-sided love for me, and I entered into a contract with the household to repay my debts and stays by the duke’s side. I beautifully crafted our love story.”b10d3fafa0115b75

And he chuckled mischievously.1255cffccc5dcdce

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“To deliver a convincing performance, it’s not easy to grasp the characters, right? It’s difficult to pass off as the seductive femme fatale I’m supposed to be. But I can’t speak the truth either. Well done, don’t you think? It’s plausible.”0d1c357d349f6537

He sighed deeply.22856537785d8eac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“In the future, it would be nice if you let me know in advance about the storytelling we’re going to create. So we won’t be awkward with each other.”d9af4f8f1f8a6c73

You may censor d5ed055c15 and rewrite it 5b797d2518 as you wish, eb3c287b7a but the truth 56c1fa09aa will remain.c1a53c006539494d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I pursed my 19389b6778 lips. He was stubborn enough 1899c27d09 for that.3e9185d3bf3b367d

“I’m trying to match our stories. I’d be in trouble if I spoke carelessly about Young Lady elsewhere.”a6674b39099ebe36

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not, but that’s okay, feel free.”3d2b7323050fba0a

He looked puzzled.b9b8ef343d1423a3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Really? Are you sure it’s okay?”a07219b768161622

“Because I said it is.”fded27cc6652e5cc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He chuckled wickedly.d59b2b93d0e60da8

“Is that so? If someone had doubts about why we didn’t come out of the bedroom for a long time after drinking blood yesterday, there seems to be only one thing I can say.”944608fe2b92a6c1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What are you saying?”4d716fb3ad249ad0

He lowered his 7843bea2b0 head. Then he f3e392270a whispered softly b8ed7d3f5d into my d8bf2f249e ear.b1ab3a2a2b562603

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If a man and a woman in a romantic relationship don’t come out of the same bed, there’s only one thing they could be doing. It’s more believable than drinking blood.”db86ce2dbd7b21aa

My cheeks flushed.9ea928de89474f65

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I quickly b625cdc84d moved back 2db56e1f50 and looked ccbdf13571 around nervously. I was 6ba50e013a afraid someone 46337f7cee had overheard 8bf5c22c54 the embarrassing f1c37553c5 conversation.c5aaf8c81f54229a

“You can’t say that! Even as a joke!”d09f67d9031a0903

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m just saying it could be true.”1ac25f99a7ccd8e8

He chuckled lazily. It was a teasing 41cd2ec641 tone. Only then bf974982dd did I 400a62949e realize his a48ed33cd6 true intentions.8a59b3c368251046

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I’ve been fooled.643a050c0e2067b2

He was definitely 1cad5e8222 not the type 684f9d5282 of man to 3efe5a80ff say such things bdb8fb0585 out loud. Even if it were 4bec5efd47 true.eca6d8fcdad11f91

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“So, let’s agree to give each other a heads up. So we can handle it.”c3940a95a50912af

⚜ ⚜ ⚜23cb687ace8c3e0c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The study was ce1c5df7d2 filled with letters.800c2954a8ff6b7a

I carefully 3b0dbe1492 held up 6997b9bd7f my skirts 3c20b44132 as I c0c8417ccf approached the 8ccc0b04c7 sofa. To my b6bbaec2d8 dismay, several 9d4152f89a letters that 44309b839b had slipped 929f2425a0 from the 7d4e191ba7 desk suffered 385a45b610 the unfortunate 227da9b6a1 fate of f5898e5365 being trampled 81998ef56d upon.a70084ee08c52fcf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The butler brought a bf30c8e3e6 beautifully arranged stack of b8795aa1d2 letters every two hours. The mailman even 11c8f76a1e pulled a cart d4a4ad190a loaded with letters. Before I could even e79da1ec75 check, the letters kept 8a7c19b51a piling up, filling the e5f85139ef room with unopened envelopes.d61743dd30092ee5

Letters of a2ff34965f congratulations on 4d33819c5c my appointment, 02d2506c88 invitations to 1f91097901 small gatherings, 210ee2e9d7 promotional letters 6cb7aa9c33 from famous 761f2b010d brand shops 6f6d76fa86 and companies.315fdfabb4e2dcb9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Although various 834c12be71 news were 5059e3f6bf mixed together, de03e7e51b half of 079f0dbb37 them were 43fdf91f9f engagement invitations.86b007d428a300cc

Even without opening e8592ef776 them, I could 78299dc897 tell.665e1e6b5bdafe41

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With flower decorations and 6df6844f9d beautifully written calligraphy in 741ab13e5f red ink, they were 0afd037f03 not ordinary letters of fec26f0236 greeting.7ad22f921107a7e8

Different from plain 58beb9017e white paper, the f548839d6c materials of the c0641726ec papers varied. They were c34339054c so soft 1877fa94d2 as if 665aca7fff they were 04591bf4c3 mistaken for 3bff5aaa3a silk. They were quite a33656dd49 expensive papers. Even as simple 5071315103 love letters, they 7f4c60e43c looked luxurious.37702e0f1bccdad5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I wonder if everyone hasn’t heard my news?”52050d51bd025ab3

I wondered if I should have said more. I remembered Young Lady from yesterday’s argument.67d1f25e02bd988c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s not a big deal, is it? There are still two spots left even if you’re not there.”32c84aa9d89ed3fe

Originally, there 9a3046b5f3 was no ffc694a8fe intention of 63c1820334 vacating the fcce38b6e0 spot. He added 9554b2bbb9 in a 115d8e32cf nonchalant tone.b1cfc673f398c391

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is it okay for a man about to get married to have a lover? Doesn’t it hurt his pride?”891db6ae6d8d0ec2

“They would feel more humiliated by making a connection with lower nobles. Although the moment of sending engagement invitations and waiting lasts only a few months, marriage lasts at least 50 years.”4a28bd5f81ff2cf0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Viter replied, his e199fe1c2a gaze fixed on d37936bd05 the letters.cf6668b4fd492ddd

“Even the nobles who were hesitant are now getting serious. The families who didn’t want to send their daughters to the harsh North are now comfortably sending engagement invitations. The sorting has begun. Maybe it’s a good opportunity.”476f55a97c3c7fa0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Viter quickly sorted 3057cd1c1d through the letters.faa4810c8bc40597

“I heard the youngest sister of the empress is also looking for an engagement partner, so it should be easy to understand the situation compared to that side. The list of engagement invitations sent to the youngest sister, and the ones sent to us will be different. Depending on which side they sent it to, it will show which noble families are favorable. Should we attach people to find out?”bf4d22845f10badd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Deon nodded.afb2930ed448d242

“What about those who sent invitations to both sides?”cc3ea5dbd273ce52

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I asked, and Viter 4392adb76d replied calmly.5f271e7acf142daf

“Middle-class or power-oriented opportunists who will look at the situation on both sides and move on. They don’t need to vie for power. They’ll naturally move to where the power shifts.”66fbc4ffd335280b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Viter took a step 8e9053f326 back with a handful f21287024d of letters and went 69479676d2 to a corner where 5542220f7f a tall partition was 079af8e75a set up. I followed 08820a2c61 him, holding 6474956c67 my arms aac61a8b59 and looking 622307186b at the de318b9e1c letters.a7639b4829a21e45

The partition was soundproof, so even though we were in the same space, it was a separate area from Deon’s study desk. It could accommodate two more rooms and was a preferred location for major meetings.e3c125cac007ea26

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I picked up c8aa0a1d3b a letter.0f733bba4b2b4bef

It was made by inserting a yellow frisée into the center of a green envelope. The sender’s name was written at the bottom.f9166bf7e56302fe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Julia Oakom.5de37805192563b5

“You got one from the Oakom estate too.”7f9a4f7e723e2df8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Edan remarked as he 4a8ea595b8 looked at the letter 3b0b7d0269 I picked up.68b5994fcc2f899a

Without a word, Viter 3db1f6b0c8 took out that letter 1cbfb14d8a and placed it in 9f00a48499 the upper basket. It was a e81bcac32c basket for sorting a177c5ef05 letters from upper-class 6b8a4e6723 families.9e772fd3ec1afe18

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The brown basket contained a list of candidates selected by Viter for consideration. There was hardly any difference between those who passed the preliminary screening and those who didn’t, according to his criteria.884ddbe7fc33dadc

“Where is the Oakom estate?”8ddc0ebcf936ddb8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Viter raised his head bb0526562d and glanced at me.644aedd7989c2088

“You’re not interested in anything other than yourself, are you? Do you really not know?”b0218de90531f6e1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes.”134f8555adbe2538

He nodded hesitantly.ff218c990e3f9589

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I am Viter Oakom.”0ab5238bc5ec489e

Ah, I see.3c9db69f7d9d5812

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do we need to check it?”76a2d87c2f3c4c31

“There’s no need to look. It’s probably my sister.”d0f0bbcfa8d83f4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You have a sister?”961a1e36691813da

I tore open the 664d5aa76b envelope.11c54db9aa6f10c5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Brown hair, 2c6fe87282 green eyes. It was unmistakably little a2cee233ad Viter.102ee12960b48019

She had a girlish 1c21c32032 face. Her neatly 67601a6c2a braided hair b62bce908d fell down 581e08b9b9 in two 668394195b parts. She seemed to 28f4fe0b27 be trying to 95834044cc look serious, but 4fc271e77e her face was db2b93b99f full of mischief. It looked f9d69abcd9 like she 284d369590 was suppressing 4aa35edab7 a laugh.9eef859af82e2141

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And underneath was 8e6ce2f49d her age.3bc60a3eb09c3f8f

Sixteen. Goodness.17aab36ed9160971

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Isn’t the age difference too much? And she’s too young!”ec4f800a1dfd1bbb

“Anyway, it would take three years to maintain the engagement before marriage. What’s there to worry about?”e3c4ad1e6796e0a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Did your sister agree to this?”db34902eba242aae

She was too young 12aed4ebe0 to form a family 43e0a5fef8 and be confined to 06bf74019c the imperial palace. It was an age cc61b52255 more suitable for running f526530761 around than hosting boring 5d748f6a52 tea times.44fa65f7b637d36c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Those directly involved usually have no idea what’s going on. My sister might know since it’s about her. Maybe she even picked these flowers herself. They’re blooming in her room’s flowerbed.”f0354d24d1fed517

I couldn’t help but feel a fluttering heart in the hands of a girl who picked flowers with tender hands.1e2218fde49315f7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But unfortunately, she didn’t know his tastes. Her marriage counseling partner wasn’t that romantic. He would prefer blood over flowers. Whether it’s the fresh blood of the chosen one or the slaughter in war, anything would do.64603e429cc5a4cc

“My sister actually likes the prince more than me. She’s a fervent fan. I barely managed to stop her from coming over last birthday. I opposed sending these engagement invitations as well. Although I heard about it in advance.”2d899fc4487a4e9e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He sighed deeply.22b3183cf9d3fbbc

“Actually… I’m not particularly pleased that our family’s Young Lady is one of the three seats. Even if it’s my sister.”f834d34d26701ea7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I thought he would be ambitious. Instead, wouldn’t it be better if his younger sister became Deon’s wife, making their bond even stronger?46110b9cc1dd0de9

“Why?”a717ebcd9c1b46d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Is it because if the plan to seize the throne fails, the entire family will be implicated? Is that why they’re preparing an escape route in advance?221447ef272dd0db

But what he b4801f76b3 said next was 643cd84881 even more shocking.7fbf0fd4bcfcea31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I prefer someone who has a deeper background than my family, has high-ranking relatives, and can be a power in the imperial court. For example, a princess from another kingdom. Or someone from the Snowa family. So…”91b0bcb5a1078c71

What should c1903611fc I do 813330808f with this a343db7757 foolish loyalty?771e156414425648

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He looked 316bb871e6 me straight 2bdb5348cf in the b33f555f77 eye.ef9f6dc2a798b3bd

“It’s good to act, but I hope you don’t obstruct the Duke’s path too much, Young Lady.”5368590327b4faa8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps it 4b845cc88a was because 5d1d55bce2 of the 1aba4bf23c dry flower 9f5487fa6e petals fluttering 63b9959527 around, but c75cbf9db1 the air c0af192ca5 in the b0598ab7d3 study was c0484a5dd2 bad. My eyes felt e565baf47d gritty. I answered, 251233a5a5 pressing down 6d5bc7e986 my eyes.a65400122a970b4b

“There’s no need to point that out.”b972a1a153b4d757

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He made it 16afd2d976 clear that we c33fe6c14c were in the 8241d82d06 midst of a 08e25d0488 contractual performance, even 5cb0e659ac though he knew.dd41a34295dceea1

As if I were 2b6075539a afraid of falling in 2c8ccee4a0 love.9d370d66cd9ffcd8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sending engagement invitations seemed 73266c8a49 to be done without c99ecbbcb8 the knowledge of the 9c9459ed31 parties involved. Among the 10b7d6a1af engagement invitations f4cf6d0b3d was also ea8eeca22d one from 9f2ab414d5 the Snowa ead59f8c2a family.16bdad8f43d1f23d

In the Snowa 152efb23c9 family, there were e39982c75e only Elizabeth and a3f4af3935 Isella who were 2327da1425 married, so this dc1455c1f4 must be hers.3afcd93131f0e1d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In this life, she 95d308ee5a extended an engagement invitation 8762357a85 instead of a sword.1c26fd4e814a2968

The deep pink 7bb1eba87d envelope was soft. It seemed 81c65cfecd to be 8a51a00a4a made of 45132744d8 her hair.8122b6f086c9b272

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If the 8f273f1d83 person involved 6248684c7c knew, she a12c152ae3 would have 06ba499452 told Elizabeth 78b6d70a40 for sure, da46e58f6d and Elizabeth ca13d3c6f5 would have bf359b1784 told me 9e0e08462d that she d3b19f0016 sent the ad478dc679 engagement invitation.cc7aea836a955fc3

And she would 352e753ad7 probably apologize. Holding my hand, she 106d17802b would cry and apologize.008a89eb8fc218dd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I should pretend not to see this. I didn’t want to hear her apology anymore.ae2989f82ad21501

Just the thought ef7a7a16ef that her guilt eb75faa4f0 was trying to dabfc35b43 harm her child f2a7839fa3 was enough.aff4895631b80a65

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

TL/N: I lost access to my old files as my phone was stolen, and I can’t even remember the names of the side characters😭 I feel lost and like I need to start over. Please understand and don’t judge me. I’m sorry.2c38dd9f1e39c95d