71. To the New Residence

Suren fell asleep quickly, bcd99c5e9a as if the carriage 04a549cd50 were a cradle.a0a67215dcf56603

I offered her 8eba69e34e my shoulder. Despite the f988f7430a rough jolting 53260aa7b7 as the 2920197f94 carriage moved f4c189b787 over cobblestones, 0a7040aca0 Suren remained 3d8b93b8d5 asleep, clearly 575623fb83 exhausted from 7580e49ade the sudden a4bbd4b018 packing.07c6bb9cf5fc5099

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Mr. Butler, it’s quite a burden at your age. I’m sorry you have to go to such a cold place because of me.”4555ce635f9d6a34

He was sitting upright, 602abab6f0 reading a book. I hadn’t wanted 58697f6a13 to disturb him, a8125aed8c but it seemed f35a5f0dcf he was nearing 046e7ce692 the end of e4d2d7a11f his book. I spoke cautiously.4d6f312020fc90ff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Since boarding 1928731948 the carriage, 691c235d2b he had f261eb6738 appeared serene, 8c95a2988f but being c68f1a2424 sent out b86f4e69e9 of the 69ce23b373 capital in 98136a0c85 his old cc2df2d620 age must 39e998fa18 be hard 23f5047144 on him 9d7ff12aed as well.33bf19807f318f05

He smiled gently 1a9fff58cc and closed the 5a43741721 book, deep wrinkles bc11e9c71f forming around his 60a0646318 eyes.c2e621b2a616bb63

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t worry. I often used to go there on holiday. It’s quiet and good for recuperation, a place to clear one’s thoughts.”c47daf7142e1ea97

Clear one’s thoughts. His words stirred up 8953c90a63 the buried thoughts I 900b18f893 had been avoiding.7df5789bd2ac3f7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I hadn’t heard 8080b745e6 any overt criticism 382ab882f9 or gossip, but 89c0b01c56 surely the people a217c036d1 in the mansion 25e3a128dc believed I had 809de99197 tried to harm 11b1b61693 Isella. The incident edcd058459 at the 70f61b5628 tea party 4ae7875097 was enough a1f04e2f67 to spark 0bf9f894c6 such misunderstandings.437ac90ab2520877

My first afbba1ec66 tea party a9340c1319 since the 6ea669c44b engagement, poison 239d999c84 on the 893d844748 teacup, and b86fdf5154 being expelled f1a530306c before anything dc243935ab could be 8fb24aa401 resolved—it all 8e01cf434e looked suspicious.ae133674d91b6cdb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Fearing my own thoughts d4ee1531c1 would overwhelm me, I a075d2ef3b changed the subject.2fa1425672553536

“What’s the house like?”9d22627a042518a2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s a bit old but very tranquil. The population is small, so it’s quiet. The house is old but has a charming, antique feel.”69ea5a70081762e4

He answered honestly.9341ffbb420f52d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s a place that still functions without magic. In winter, they only use wood for fuel. Each house emits smoke, and there’s the scent of burning wood in the air. It feels like a place where people live.”8348876083e0a1d2

Despite his efforts to bfe8cb89eb make it sound appealing, ee3b0cc55c it was clear that 1ddcc18179 it was an outdated 1a16d8a3ce and rustic residence. I smiled bitterly.5222fa3e3635dd54

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I clenched my knees until my knuckles turned white. Complaining wouldn’t change our destination. Ultimately, I was at his mercy, to be used and discarded at his whim.95f107afed9d3661

In the North, 3feaffb377 I had been 4b2d9feeab fortunate to persuade fc745f4b9a him, but I a546856a58 had forgotten that ea3eeb812b my fate was 3033fb517c still tied to 2ea5ea496e his decisions.842476367e1d11ff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even if he placed 1735066288 me on the edge b7554fe5e8 of a cliff, I 9bb67d5e53 would have no choice 12751da747 but to leap.54e092afe17b1cb0

Returning to my place. In the end…cbfb128e3a3d8e35

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I looked out the e197ae3672 window. Once the carriage left 73ce490119 the smooth road, it e5a95411ca jostled violently on the 753bf40fcb rough path. The luggage shifted 112111912f to one side, ed1e2a8b63 causing the horses b257bbd9bb to whinny loudly.eb239ac27224966d

* * *7910252ed5b05bd0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Luckily, we 970716319c arrived at e95487e863 the villa 01d033028f before nightfall.89270c5778f833ed

I took the butler’s hand and stepped out of the carriage.b3133ad140e34ea4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The first sight of the villa…c2f4d9531c23059f

As expected, it f6c8a400a4 was old and 6f703d2573 gloomy.d352ef9f23fe8126

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The exterior was ceac83899a shabby, looking like e4c0ed554c a long-abandoned house. Ivy climbed up 14f7334ef2 the walls, covering 8495ac8a92 the windows. The vines had encroached 91a1bd796f so tightly around the 74ab6bdd18 window frames that opening 6aa510b05d the windows was impossible.dab727dc3e508471

It was clear 3dc3824755 that his intention 47cfde45eb in sending me ae23d021d8 here was more cc0d1f77b7 about abandonment than 174a39d499 convalescence. Or perhaps it was a8916de32a a command to remain 7b8afca266 confined here as a 75d44cd326 form of penance.fdb2b6a23897cbd8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You mentioned you cleared your thoughts here?”872f179ba5df567f

The butler, who had 6cda3cba02 stepped aside to take 0cab5ce451 in the view, watched cac357ba7b my reaction.495a29bac04e554e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That was about fifteen years ago. It seems to have changed quite a bit since then.”fc493be6a1d12782

Given the butler’s e860a4f67a age, he must dd4aeb2889 have come here 5fdc85d730 when he was dd9bd8b548 still relatively young.a33d0ce44bdfa28a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s old, but with some repairs, it could be livable. The interior woodwork was of high quality… back then.”d05f6edfc7d9b96d

His words carried e716896d59 a subtly different 6eaf883ffc tone from what 675c24f8b0 he had said f6b0dcdec5 in the carriage. His voice lacked c5ec4c119d conviction.2cd8cb41c792fdc7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My lady has always lived in fine houses. How will she adapt to this… it’s unfair.”f29f3ec8215f1dda

Suren grumbled, unable to 22d8c562be hold back her discontent.4ff1252720ab678a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The butler opened the 61336cecff luggage compartment of the 1c16139075 carriage and retrieved our b63872568f modest belongings.f0ab54903756a72c

We had enough for db5201e44b a single meal—some biscuits 6187551bef and water—and clean blankets.a013094f5cdad1ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

To make the 0381d5839f place habitable, even 35aa8ebd33 just for sleep, fbe840d5bd we needed to ecd08538b0 start immediately.89b764f3b77d69b5

Suren rolled up her 1204be0901 sleeves.58bd6cdddc0e018e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The main luggage will arrive tomorrow. For now, let’s just clean up a space for you, my lady.”ce521ae6fffc3331

I nodded in agreement.d713afa936374b00

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I opened the door. The metal was so 1eb9cb0db5 rusted that its original b09ec8cfd2 color was unrecognizable.52f4fc678044b370

The old door creaked b6df2739f0 open with a chilling 983428e114 sound that echoed through 95e71fdca0 the villa, like nails 240f2c5da7 on a chalkboard.7978f1c2bba4492c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Dust swirled in d3aac343ba the air, illuminated d007841b8e by the setting 87be6cd6bc sun streaming through f595ee2836 the windows.3331a072e36574de

We climbed the stairs. The wood was so a63c1b73bd decayed that each step 4a1d8bff06 I took widened existing 06635ac1ae holes. The misaligned 121a96af75 planks creaked e8f45021e8 ominously. It seemed we 4e0a596088 would need to 2c00db5424 start by re-nailing 31a073bb69 everything.9054299777bac44f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The higher we f1209ecbd8 went, the more 8002562a8a the wood was 526d60f978 warped and decayed. Even for someone 8bc50c1e33 as light as ba060e2a2b myself, it felt 28742bd851 dangerous. I took only 3675115364 three steps before 8c856a5aa6 turning back, fearing 51fd31f0b9 the floor might 07525c5847 give way beneath 4535ef93e9 me.bb42d1e5429c112a

Seeing me return, c207826632 Suren asked,e46253f97306582b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Not going to explore further?”7b7c4462c2b7e4b0

“We should set up a bedroom on the first floor.”123e9388bec1e706

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why?”95970737c58c09c1

“The stairs felt like they were going to collapse under me.”6d9c30c3054f800b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If they can’t support you, then we won’t be able to step on them at all.”908c669987c16806

Suren tapped on 402b6aebb1 the steps. The already weak plank d4790a1dd8 tilted dangerously.bb8164d73512292d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Still, this room should be suitable for you, my lady. It might not match the grandeur of your room in the Imperial Palace, but the view is quite lovely. I used this room for a brief period myself.”2430e3a8d385ff05

The butler 95b60400d5 led us 1164964f97 to an a06db9762d interior room.2fe7b3ba586bc1e2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The bottom 0311accee0 of the abfb927829 door was 56813fe91d gnawed through, 2e3b5bca95 resembling a 289c05d6c2 rat’s work, 213fcc9fe1 exposing the 56313c59d7 inner material.5c0601fd0b5991eb

Despite his words, 24b6b434e7 I felt no 783016b101 anticipation. I responded indifferently.324b60613514bfa9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“When was that?”edeccac4205cf735

“About fifteen years ago. Even if the mansion rusts, the scenery does not.”ae613f38a0518b34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He opened cd5ef188d5 the door.c5512233256340f9

The wallpaper was yellowed, 5164489f09 the candleholders were dusty, 8f86d93ca6 and the candles seemed 465d0025f0 to have solidified into 503127117e lumps long ago. The bed frame c351f7a078 was blackened with 89f43eeda5 grime. Each item in the 19bcc17a4f room was unremarkable.4ae7a957d305752b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Among these daf32135a7 insignificant things, 7ab48ec98f one element 1d56a202ed stood out. A gleaming, shimmering blue 6fdf320019 without any light. Through the window, a 6482611b5f small lake spread out.045ee009464a4d3a

“The color is really clear. It has a slight bluish tint.”3117e7831e00d294

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I stared b1700ac31e at the 67e92aa0d0 lake in 196073a2c0 a daze. The tall trees had b68c5af044 obscured the lake from 617e7b4231 view during our carriage 902649ca0c ride. Only from 46197eb8ae this room 40a7707ba5 could you ad12f14094 see the 8bccc79264 scenery so 907bd6f9d4 clearly.1014b60e04468124

“I thought you might like it. It’s a unique feature of this area.”56321723e9dd29eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was right. The mansion was 966a0b8139 old and quiet, 48ef4782ca but the scenery 4a23d8bc3c was beautiful. It was a bit 8087fa59e1 different from what I 17520208af had imagined.a34ec3d25362a62a

The mansion was 2271987c3f deteriorating from neglect, 1e48d43c3d but the lake 9aacbe309e shone brightly without 1234577fe8 any human touch.6b536798d6b47130

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In fact, f91433fe11 it was aee5835600 even more 10d4f9b142 beautiful because 83bc2455e3 it had 0b87194ed4 been left b57b7cdd2d alone. The wild, overgrown 870d5facdd bushes enhanced the d354d3fdf2 atmosphere of the a6d7c18b98 lake.0bae702978a6d53a

“Would you like to use this room?”c5115bf8aa755d62

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The butler asked, noticing a874d387c8 how I stared at 42f96f7369 the lake. His tone suggested 7497fd05bd he already knew b4202e1d68 my answer.233c18bc9c6e1b64

Mesmerized, I nodded 06afd89460 as if enchanted.4517744de8de8307

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes.”6517d86f81e65385

* * *00bac6bc9ec50124

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I wrapped 46169591cd myself tightly 65e15c91ca in the a018bf36cf blanket and 77b2272b72 sat on 06c6a8a8da the bed.08ecab5425ea5a58

Although it e8483fbfa7 was late 2c71cf56de into the 0cebc59a5d night, sleep a29c400450 eluded me. The firewood crackled d89ee6b8f6 as it burned 2ac9d638a3 in the fireplace. I capped bc31f9d07b the flue 7a95c5b975 and the 8598c11e93 fire slowly 2c0cf1919f died out e0d1c70332 as the 7b51347d78 air supply 67edcc717c was cut 3b2c6981c3 off.1f84e7a74bfbd0a3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Resources were scarce. From now on, I cce27d7d7b needed to tighten my 722b639359 belt and conserve.8736fb2b8da76131

How much was d75e2320ef it again?5904d673ac5577df

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I recalled 45aa4c52c1 the number c84a95d756 of zeros 56393742dc I had e82f8fdf03 seen in 2dc38b004f passing. It was quite ba6945b84f shocking and still 11c4cbd487 faintly lingered in 5264620d2c my memory.2d89344c059f5f4c

Once the unpacking was 41d1222c7d somewhat done, the butler 85aef96283 handed me some documents 1e5e59efc2 he had received from 57b44a99b7 the Imperial Palace. At the 87c209170f bottom of f9c7ee0650 the papers af7e79d618 was the 2321e81e15 allocated budget. Given that 63f4dc023c it came d40b089f3e from his 6606f83e23 estate, I 243f6d8c00 knew all 6896145b3e too well d57321e4ba how much 7b500694bb such an cda003f0e9 amount would c74244a99b be worth b800b8233d in other e5acece866 residences and 281b36828f what kinds 196a222aef of items 5ddcf8ae11 it could a356a59207 procure.b51ff3ceb7a5037f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Compared to what 99d82755a7 I had while f6461e14f2 living in the 9ca65cb0d7 Imperial Palace, the 441df8bf43 amount was absurdly b432cda79f low. It wouldn’t even e58e9adbeb cover the cost 8f3a0e9a9e of the daily bd01697fdf desserts.1d2afd44c3cab377

The allocated budget was far from sufficient. It wasn’t even enough to cover the price of five trees used in the greenhouse at the Imperial Palace. Most of the meager allowance would be consumed by the servants’ wages.bbd0d6d7fa5577f1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s an official letter,” the butler said.7a006929993a1f89

“Yes.”93594e32b7d2d99c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If it was official, 0753f36a41 Isella would also be cb99a6dac6 able to view it. She might have 388f624a06 already read it.4685ca8c795d9e09

I held the pen. The feather quivered 45891648ea slightly.229e0b3d207adc35

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I needed to 8fba950a4c sign the letter 7bbc9eed00 to confirm its bb1825e975 receipt. I hastily scrawled a bc87c4b0e3 line below the signature 353fe540cc from the Imperial Palace.dd27b5342c832881

Above my signature deffe400e4 was an unfamiliar 00bfdc8d18 script, possibly penned ed369a8337 by her hand.1d8f4b45d94031c4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Noticing my increasingly 766db762f7 gloomy expression, the d12622bc61 butler cleared his 883685d344 throat.1a5113196ff869e2

“Though the budget is limited, we won’t be here for long. If necessary, you can use our wages. We can collect the back pay from the Imperial Palace later. I’m sure they will understand. The maids here would agree.”dcf43d86ad0bd366

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Can I really do that?”31a9fbb895249b17

I handed 5a2791ebaf the papers a4a7ee885c back to 34b7a2de0c him.97f140587a9bc212

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When I extinguished 09fde0ee2f the fire, the f7bfed127e room quickly filled f38690b18c with cold air. The proximity 99702e00c9 to the b509b8d0d4 lake made b50627d563 it worse.d87872f658760710

Closing my fc3897b259 eyes, I 2cff18cd7b could still 05cc8ae33e vividly picture f1b63a6e88 the paintings 1a09c98efb on the 9d096cbf46 ceiling and 7bc40d570d the bed 9db65fadf0 frame from 13a47634f7 the Imperial d950f99a74 Palace. But opening them revealed 909374db78 an unfamiliar ceiling. I didn’t want 739a3cca43 to open my 810b448f3c eyes.334493d9161346e7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I pulled the 161892cf95 blanket up to 11dd837336 my shoulders, feeling 6a71a197a9 the cool fabric b0e030d556 against my skin.efc5c0775ffa2f25

For some reason, it 9df32b589a felt colder here than 624497abb2 in the North.4a4db3703a2dea81

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The moonlit lake 26891ec322 illuminated the dark e89d40fb74 room. At least 8040b76230 I could 00f1715fd2 save on 096cb67ee7 candle expenses d291365a5a since I c391dcc807 could read cb50c0eead by the 4de267f631 moonlight.cc45cee4628cf19d

The croaking of frogs b65eccab4a by the lake sounded 37fdca07f0 like a lullaby.1365c70e11e9a647

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *eed1342c9f23ab43

The next 160407c876 morning, I d75850add5 walked around 7c20e8cdd3 the estate f8f440d895 with Suren.1980cf8ee778c42a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The estate was 5074537bc2 small, and surrounded 2f05eb7865 by mountains, making 31065ce5aa it hard to cbb8e91fd7 see the village.e37730a1ce3a72d3

“There’s not much to see,” Suren remarked.bd046b0e8ad28f33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Indeed.”93a698f7afd6d746

I was 60563b856a about to 018bed0c3b turn back 5b7ec59773 towards the b7717cfc12 mansion when 23b3dbd12e I felt 484dd65e1c a tug 029afec949 on my 44afa76de8 dress.9184f8e7dd6bd762

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Excuse me.”fbdbb6a5b9d80b9c

I turned around. A child was b97624a7de holding onto my afe4cad375 skirt with small d8555b1aa9 hands.4329f137092bc74b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The child looked 7d68896691 unkempt, with soot 1778924dea on their cheeks 8fba39410d as if they 893bebc5bd hadn’t washed in 56421b9481 a long time.8e2e34690593f80b

“What’s the matter?” I asked.ccc3a65fd4500c9d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The child flinched slightly 5874678eac at my question. Fidgeting with their hands, e19aec9b17 the child finally spoke.d3e9b3845697f3f0

 4949da09451c5813

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 49d7b0175dcbf09f