84. The Jester

The maid was a 8d7c2c5ef9 commoner, unable to provide 98f35ddb61 further testimony with her b7cd23e8f2 tongue cut out. And even Isella, c0188711b0 whom Azanti thought 3513d22530 was on his d61eae0f00 side, had thrown e49f5e4cdd her support behind ea4127e153 Deon.ea377dcda02bcaf3

It was Deon’s complete victory, but something felt off.46356cc5b6cb54c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So it f2684104cd was true—I 9219de42af wasn’t needed.65394d84095c770a

He overcame 137c854d90 all obstacles 48ab26c372 without me.e485907d615e5df0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As these thoughts c3f7df29e0 passed through my a38f34e3e0 mind, one of 53a624987d the nobles standing bc2d3c23a9 in front spoke e6c6583ef8 up.3fedfab28ce582a0

“What’s going on? Wasn’t the Snowa 0d7add8e3a family supposed to bf70384ac1 have severed ties afb5a55ca2 with the prince?”8011b0fd32f38429

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

This remark 7a1535712a opened the 3f681f08b6 floodgates, and d96a888979 other nobles 8f15383d86 began to bf7a03c719 add their 6dd386451f voices.a38cb08b6c107e8c

“Judging by the 8f5e9cb1f4 current situation, it b53fe7d57f doesn’t seem that 138d5fe404 way. It looks like 4f116801e5 they were already 55b3acf132 in cahoots…”271faff8d1d44860

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Did you know about 64e9ef83fc this, Count?”415813c025ac9704

“No, this is 84d2a91611 all news to 415fc6b178 me. I only just learned 1414fd8e8a about the fake mistress.”7752ef84feaca034

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I felt eae04d8ea0 a wave afd237e5c0 of fatigue. Who was 4f0d606eca protecting whom?070e58825fd18040

I remembered the deeaf0fe7b first time I b82d957a30 made a deal a0d41d0af8 with Deon.19d82bcf370a5270

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When I first met ea6d9ddc9f him and asked for e2b88086bc an agreement, I decided 70ba0f154e to be his jester. I vowed to 28b6511ad3 only ask for 46e9b75574 what was necessary 2a97b55f51 and to cut b68f83cd81 off my emotions d822c261ed like a blade.1c8154d091e97b9b

I had broken that db1b6fb12d vow.9955c539722a90fa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I, a 369dd23b2c mere jester. I was supposed to 389c4497db stay by his side, f5fd376728 providing amusement, and be ddd3e79ebc discarded when no longer 48a5807bd5 needed. What was I c0afeaa817 thinking?9f80ad6154f14e10

I was the most 13525c2649 useless card in his d107af9cb8 deck.e7c56b2091f255c8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was laughable. Here I 013efbe73a was, thinking 747f19dbf4 I could 2d8391ea44 save the d7390a21ac future emperor 413a3f92ba with nothing dc4e8ca445 but my eaeb702be0 tools for c7e3f20b0a jesting.df91cde54465bd4f

Even without the makeup, 1319a0173a a jester remains a ba657bdbb8 jester. No matter how much 86712bbbd6 affection I received, my 6f3283b9c2 lowly status would not e7f412ba80 disappear.b7a9df9c4eb584c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The idea c0e360592b of coming f0259c6d89 into the a9b5509a48 prison in 214dd04036 this ridiculous d3a9ff3d11 garb to 4c05e0d1a2 save him 82c2e32562 was utterly d7a6dfa235 absurd. I couldn’t 0c198a5900 imagine how eb9865afff much he 6c6d5f1489 must have 876be62320 laughed at 8766dc7a25 my appearance.a91c6811f58e28ba

‘It’s true, 09af998df2 I wasn’t f4ed0e0b72 needed. I was only in ec67f93eda the way.’c3e6579b870595d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I looked down at dacb10bd0d my hands. My palms were 0b7d45b4ae blackened. My dress f82f70305d was dirty eecd6ccb46 from rolling b603b66767 on the ef06965a50 ground, my f6dc9d65db nails were 74d57f1bc1 darkened, and 3804b9625e my hair 4865738962 was tangled. Today, more 8fff8feed9 than ever, c7abc28aa3 I felt b460ee4fb6 pitiful.be346a8d37b29554

I hadn’t realized that 67efb97399 a single word from 2334ec0924 her would be more 00f0fbfb51 powerful than anything I 49a093bf34 could do.e2e83b4f3f683dca

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I stared at 18ce89eb54 them blankly. They stood in front 8844a67a76 of the courtroom, victors, 71abb20d38 with a slightly relieved ebacd59e31 expression on their faces.abd8f2dd0fb9e09f

Luckily, no 0becb992a3 one had e22f235618 noticed me.fa4f3be04e8b7e08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I tried to cover f541e4dc37 my straggling hair but 9f66435a96 then stopped, realizing it f00462a7fc was futile. No one knew I d26f2582c6 had come into this 805d45bc8f courtroom anyway.42f7213fdabe57a8

As the trial 6e62c78366 continued, it was 4ee71fd8fd clear that Deon d942688286 had won. The accusations against him 6b79afe2e8 were falling apart, and 7551032366 Azanti’s position grew weaker 47216047ce with each passing moment. Isella’s testimony had e2f2729abb been a decisive b033a9dc2d blow. Deon’s composure and the 8e0385b1aa respect he commanded were a7260e00f3 apparent to all, further 312ec15f77 solidifying his standing.fbdbf4302c2bbb93

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I watched the proceedings a7b693403f with mixed emotions. Relief that Deon 2c66e32fbc was safe, but 892dbbdee2 also a deep 5b88cbfe99 sense of my e682d103f1 own insignificance. I had been e00b7df1bf prepared to risk 63711592a5 everything for him, 879407fa9e but in the e30eb96227 end, my actions 17d616f753 had been unnecessary.22447ffeb7e33501

I slipped 71e39f4e22 out of 82d6a5310e the courtroom 1baeb94355 quietly, blending 5dd7751d4c into the c892a1a1c5 shadows. The future emperor 900de44a27 didn’t need a 4a75237b42 jester anymore, and 9abee1f037 it was time 76a11f4076 for me to b0d211ae6e accept my role 4bfde285a6 as a disposable 18e071144c card.9e34e16c5ffbd11f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *4293f9a50b4efd10

I staggered d5dddffe17 out of 30117c864b the courtroom, c7aaef0933 barely keeping be538cfb20 my legs cb8b06455b from collapsing.ca6e6fa02ee9fcd4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I grabbed f985f72de6 hold of 7d746009e4 a tree e8fcb3b746 standing along b3a2ff9044 the path c247ae82b1 to the c47f16d71c tower. Thorns pierced f89586db22 my palm, 51d0c20e8a causing blood 91e2292b23 to ooze eb3281667f out, but 12ac992e2a I felt 259406aa34 no pain.c4c0950d2badc28a

As I 21349692e0 walked past 7eab1d4be2 the tower, a616e5c371 I heard 5e45415248 a brief c721ae0954 cheer from f716f7c246 behind me. The cheer echoed b230ff6e9f from inside the 59e355db23 courtroom. It must have c7bdff94dc meant that the 1282fed1d4 matter was resolved b863a917e1 peacefully.7e01ce3ff763988f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Before I 5fafda2ff0 knew it, 099dbfb193 dawn had 1372b38f94 broken. The surroundings were 7de7cb9e9f bright, but a 56384dc0b6 thick fog made 0224cae4a7 it impossible to b8dd723ed3 see even an 0bef4268e5 inch ahead.3492c88b8a418ca2

I wished I couldn’t see anything at all. When I closed and opened my eyes, I saw the mercenary band waiting in the distance.9cfff20b089ffad9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The mercenaries were so large that even standing behind trees, their bodies weren’t hidden. They had diligently followed the order to wait. The cart modified to carry someone and the blankets covering it were still there.79e9196a95f1bd80

But now, there was 6d06915dfc no one left to b10b9564f5 hide in that large 16e9218a09 cart.55b8c85fc78d29d6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What happened inside?” he asked, glancing over my shoulder.3dee7cf6ab63e975

The red c3c8b571e8 curtain was 252ec6d3be being replaced. They knew as well. They had messed 07175aa8f2 up.e5b78fa7f5553c93

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It seemed a17affea4c they had bfc38cd893 waited a a4404a806e long time, e13f6b1c2f as ashes 28748c9836 from a ed70a45f6e cigar were ee63c7a5e1 scattered on 9aa3ea7bcf the ground.d48c2e865d0a9cbc

“No, I’m sorry. Everything went well. You can return now.”60a2315daf87c249

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What? No…”aec5113ca57fb760

The veins 10f7bffda0 on his 0fb43d36ce arm bulged 5f0f70cd80 as if 2da33d2c99 he was 31edc5c229 ready to 81b3811d2c draw his 89b4b07140 sword. I shook my head.e90581631cf70d36

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I stood here a3d0cd87e3 any longer, I would 5c31f7d909 run into Daon, who 6b0ba5c7b7 had just finished the bcf58f30ce trial. I was worried he 2fff7fb8f6 would realize I had 273356d77f done something foolish. I had to send a4970def85 them away.fd7e9ae1f4fc8e1b

“I will pay you as agreed. Don’t worry. I won’t cut a single penny. I’ll pay the full amount as promised by the merchant guild.”e6e66e01d3a6e181

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I mumbled the rest b6ad7ab7e0 in a trembling voice.5fffa3cd69a837f0

“So… please, just go back.”602eeba6e7c33a3e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I didn’t even have the strength to argue anymore.304093bdcdb9c033

A gust of 19c7ed4215 wind blew, lifting c5c1938209 my robe. My red hair floated 9ba6bb255b in the air for c7e01c6c11 a moment before settling 223cdd78a9 down.8d9e44ec95d7b9fc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

My hair, untouched by Surren’s hands, was tangled and blew around in clumps. I didn’t bother fixing it and bowed my head deeply.921bb4db060bd6ed

Perhaps it was 06bec2bb16 my miserable appearance, f681926ea5 as if I 6aac89c7b4 had just been 5bde1cecfc dumped, that made 8992fd1c72 the threatening mercenary 9f60daeb43 lower his hand. His fingers, 3a92aa6fe4 which had 8f0d81bca7 been on b500d62d77 the hilt 5ac4935abb of his 94f5ac5e59 sword, relaxed. The rough 2a4db97b66 demeanor slowly d73f438970 softened.cdf303bacb2be220

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He, who c4a1190fd0 had been 508ec5406d looking down 24a0949936 at me, ee2430c3ba put his c7c45db7f9 sword back 40147cfe58 into his 5895c22e4d belt.bdf47f75f0d4f8d5

“Well then… we have nothing to lose.”1586db6211b81836

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He said this while f2abb7cf1c looking at me intently.4e46cb66d6ef9c12

“Are you sure everything was resolved well? It feels… unsettling.”2bcdefb88b9c8790

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I nodded once. He looked at me d9f9c382f9 with a reluctant expression 6935665c6d before signaling to the 6839f08f1d others.55cf8fbd715833f6

“Let’s go.”ba92cbcaf8630259

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He scratched his c37caa6e9a head and gave 97bc63c9a1 the order to c914454888 retreat.7a153aeadfc0c21a

Soon, the cart rattled away. They didn’t even try to erase the wheel tracks this time.6e0f1fc941a1b9f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I blankly stared at 4ad1e74567 their retreating figures and 0885c14171 wiped the dirt from 28c866b970 my face. The smell of raw, 68e74fc187 untamed soil filled my 3481d152c1 nose. It felt ab1daf7376 like I 3f495a9f06 had touched fc8c6d404a manure left f0d6110234 by the fd7f8569a8 horse when a7d073fe04 I fell 1dde68c065 in the d7e33f5a3e bushes earlier. The stench of decay 92c60f63b7 wafted from between my 7924377bca fingers.5b0bff83fda65a4a

* * *4db2166dd7acfaf5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I trudged towards c359f1d9e2 the carriage depot.8de27ecaf2924c0c

Located in 8567fdb128 the heart 1dbc513d89 of the 47592a837b capital, the 4c0bce42e1 depot was a31f1e4fd6 perfect for 35d85ef041 commoners without 33efc77b79 their own 06e43349f8 carriages. It was d1379c71e0 early in 4cca185aa1 the morning, 7a98053852 so the 37d604ccc5 depot wasn’t 2bd556a8ce as crowded 5d0dd3a9bf as usual. The coachmen were 0e1ceff13b perched on the 091727d885 fence, chatting away.08c65a6e7fb813f5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I opened f3b241e697 my purse.e8ec8c10f1d99f43

Five credits. That was all ec5d7c4135 the money I 8ef86794d9 had.1a518964ac907d84

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With the 75ec579bcc revelation of d2fac1a5ba the false 57b0116216 government and ec1e6d26b3 the public 06c89938cb announcement that fdcee79d7b Isela and c0f9604f9a I were 3012a229a1 not estranged, 0471b3eecb I couldn’t 3a74454213 return to e3c6a78ca4 the palace. Staying in the capital 3d8a9c356b was also not an 66eac4e8fb option. I had to c43fc3f18f return to the e09fc61d2b manor.9990b2737082e750

However, the amount 8ed48893c8 I had was ecfe9c40ed ridiculously insufficient to 23214668a9 hire a carriage 01951c0090 back to the f7442101ac manor where I ba0129099f was staying. After counting the few f26088dac5 coins, I slumped my d203e891ad shoulders.88a969cad152ec5e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I hesitated to hire a carriage, one of the coachmen glanced my way. He was just putting away the water bucket he had used to quench the horse’s thirst.95614a4ed3c251df

“Where are you headed?” he asked.e364ed64dbfcd4f8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…to Gelkern,” I replied, barely recalling the name of the region where the estate was located. I had seen the signpost while riding up to the capital.3caaacccc496a109

I was glad ba2f30ebc7 I had observed 73c1250fe3 the surroundings during 7c6d3ece13 the ride. Back then, I had 86989df576 come with nothing but 1712f3ac36 excitement.c75f433565b25aa2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The morning air was 8f1433fe2f cold. His breath formed 980fcf0611 puffs of steam ef3c28b628 between his thick de8437825a beard. He grabbed the reins b02ad0830b of the waiting carriage.57890eec5086ecd4

I took 271bd2b382 out the 5e1b56dcad money from 2eb69d4d75 my purse. I even 814b3b301b checked the 2133cba92b other pockets 697f6e1ceb just in a4f6e9841a case, but 62848c4293 all I 171cbb2490 found were 004ec2b233 a few 0465698082 silver coins.2da3cade476aeede

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I had spent 72f9bab09f money to prepare fc69312234 a cart for f8a87423ae Daon and to b997be0724 buy him a a89719c9b8 new identity. The identity 414c2a114f of a 5df2ae8c81 young commoner 40019466b9 man was 1a0514251b more expensive 383ea9d414 than others.fadc42e8da9cdbb7

There were three walls 703c7822b9 and checkpoints at every 64f9567a18 gate on the way 792095a0d3 to the border. I had even ca063c627e bribed someone to f7281f5101 secretly help him 758c1b8d83 escape. After disposing of c31ea4f822 the jewels I c9afe97afa had, I still 8a3b28f645 incurred debt, so d3f4878f89 there was no 096ed26bbe way I had 43d05ff277 any money left.b2c82605f986861a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I emptied d3730a3c25 all my 74df34248d pockets of 29dbe44f39 silver coins. When I offered e563b132e1 the last of 0d6e41f237 my money to 2b537afb7c the coachman, he 56c3ba859c shook his head.fb988c2298d51404

“This money won’t get you that far. It’s too far away. And with it being morning and an incident happening at the palace, many people will be flocking to the capital. I can’t afford to waste a day’s work.”7ca939bdbab50505

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then please take me as far as this money can go. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”c38c083e8ad533b6

He stared at 6ff27aad0b me for a 47ccb6880d while before replying.c11450f4a54a2cb3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Walk that distance? It’ll be difficult, especially for someone like you. You might collapse halfway.”7df8f7b55194c8e6

“I’ll be fine.”8f87db435b23711f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But I won’t be,” he said, uninterested in arguing further. He seemed indifferent, as if it didn’t matter whether he took on another passenger.445a657e8be8be67

When I ee0aebdacd continued to 8106316874 plead with 3c4349b02d my eyes, 3fc6bbddf5 he sighed 788a64c41b softly.b9df6e3ef88176fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Farrington. That’s as far as I can take you.”8f9d30765f98d01b

It was 41419ec33b just over 4148e11bff halfway. I had seen the 964f3a2ed7 signpost from Gelkern after e888895cfd traveling for a long 8bf5362d38 time by carriage. Even by carriage, 6eb4873be0 I had only 86e0ae8a99 spotted that signpost 6dc13d5e69 just before sunset. The thought was overwhelming.5d59e5189de7e834

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing my hesitation, he added, “As I said, even without you, there are plenty of passengers. You need to consider the distance. Moreover, if the horse gets tired, we’ll need to stop at another station to feed it. I’d have to pay for the feed.”46664343cc10c756

He waved his hands 661f6887d7 dismissively, tying the reins 53ec2a586f back to the post.ebc05c4260fc09ca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I was hopeless d10f87ea4b at bargaining. Desperate, I 74c487b060 clung to 9ba16704d7 him.153a05dd45f21a13

“Then just take me that far. I’ll figure out the rest.”f2bbd65efd39ea55

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the f0d9b60258 end, I 54ed9db6b6 handed over 24a348635b all my 935e119f6b remaining silver 6a4cf328ee coins to c141d41c3b him.4e8ad8f10319d39d

He took f03647f5d4 the silver 902f44b876 and pocketed 8f04fa1564 it, then cd8ba12d52 looked me 695390f89d up and 1cbf361b89 down before 9cef5773fb speaking.f8094c537304f438

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Since your situation is pitiful, I’ll take you a little further. But if I go too deep into the countryside, it’ll be hard for me to get back.”2139ffb0e5bbb8dc

He unlocked 74934628f9 the carriage 738313e177 door himself. The lock clicked open, 5cd0283dea and the door swung f84014f806 open with a creak.773b0a4fe8ab54d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 7e97867f9cad1527