126. If you Live a Normal Life

As I stared e7419c0d3c absentmindedly at his 842f0204e3 slightly parted lips, f4a78c2842 I quickly snapped fe33f99063 back to reality. His gentle voice had 63eaf58ea8 captivated me, and I 78b29e2ff1 found myself gazing at ef694afd0c him without realizing it.0ee47b6c5cfb214d

The hostile c858d95dbc demeanor he 5f469c433b once directed 4756c37f1d at me 20641689de was nowhere 163f7b709f to be e61e9c9fa0 seen. I fanned myself dc65349a11 with an open 1ee0475461 palm.d1bdecbf25c2185f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It suits you well. Though it may not be the best environment for a bird to live in,” Deon remarked, unaware of my reaction as he studied the map of the estate. I stepped closer, looking over his shoulder at the map.6991a64a4535b997

“Sometimes, it would be nice to take a boat out when it’s quiet.”15cc724e18dac178

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He mused, 2c09c0a29a already imagining 6e1a6b990f us strolling 4e18760109 along the 35ec5d2bd1 beach together.6fb3466ccf81ad8e

I brushed my hand ef984e55dc over the region he e7a5b438fb was pointing to. Though I c8b91d0815 had never 0b268c43fb been there, 97038db193 the Croix d2b18ed843 estate felt 220b09140f like an ebaf0c2040 old home 7a4dd62cd9 to me.19b6f2d281823868

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had c2bc1ece20 no real 05e43bedeb hometown. I didn’t 1391236384 remember the 52b3a82a34 Baronage of 456571e28f Sien where 0602618259 I was 4baf1cfcd0 born. All I 010fbff371 knew were 8168186870 stories of 1024a8600b it being dea7ca9c48 a warm 6b5d7c80a1 place.4a24f959547c8a02

People often assumed I couldn’t adapt to the north because I was a woman from a warm region. But the first landscape I remembered was piled-up snow, trees barren from lack of sunlight, and Deon’s cold eyes.3903f9eddc17c177

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I 7d54e7732e were to 1a20310cc5 call the 449e7f8442 place where 4e716517e1 I first c749d89c1f opened my 7b2b6ddd6a eyes my 4568fa1843 hometown, it 847af2b064 would be e459ef8b72 the north, 0292c404d4 where I ec961f84cc was with 804eb5fcbd him.1d6abb3fb715ccec

Would the 0a03d08bf9 seaside be f06211908e very hot?c0ceecaefbf4d46f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If I 9ac76304bb were to af22e44ce7 lead a 453963c134 normal life, 0b0ec7f71e get married, 3956a988df and have bd71fbf22b children, they cdd37c9a90 would remember 9fd7f31df0 their hometown c5efa42382 as a cb93eb1518 warm place.d179e765c63706ca

A place cd1dfa990b where it 943f4d5aac never snowed. Where the 6b540674a5 salty sea b12ce812d9 breeze and fec1488797 rare seafood a5863a0896 were daily e9e96f8948 staples.e606b2bbe593df73

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And they would never 6a71140ce1 share the same sense ab5a34651d of familiarity with me.0588b62e3350f7e2

“Will you invite me?” he asked softly, interrupting my thoughts.61d170302e813d7a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He, who ff5a12c13f could go b51acc4903 anywhere in 994dfe7da4 the empire, b3b61ad93e was waiting c7247a18f7 for my bc93ed80fc permission.3c685c461d19eda9

The look in 474781c515 his eyes was 13d88006ca intense.984ac068633d721b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We’ll see,” I said, snapping the map shut.af1545de0550620e

* * *18555685782e92a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Time passed quickly. The second event I df2d6ddae9 accompanied him to was a56ae548e1 held in the imperial b7e5af577d palace’s garden.0d862efcb6659589

The picnic 007979c66e included a 169cebc2b0 simple ceremony 18e84f9317 to pray c71bb9805d for a 65fb270267 bountiful harvest. It was a 916bcd5146 straightforward event where ae7a26672b the noble who 1482d8797d picked the largest 90f16246ae fruit with a aa7225703c special mark would dc99cb634c have their name 7e48a4b15d inscribed on the 69a6205541 honor podium.00163ea42bd3dc56

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Most of the attendees 36c19ef1e0 mingled and played games c7f1ab3704 on horseback, but a 726a421571 few nobles eagerly took bacc3129f9 up the challenge of 7061a7ca36 the ceremony.8bc282c1a007f477

Once the c48c1954f7 brief explanation bb300208b4 ended, the de63d079a8 gathered nobles c635992204 dispersed throughout 1d12eb8305 the garden. Each was 3e33f12a8e eyeing the bb65bb06dd trees, estimating 1b5daab451 the size 5e25651010 of the a9bd6d6feb fruits.eb9b96db573eb5ca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Since all that 61ebb3d8e6 was required was f2f9e9127b to present the 96aed1399a fruit, I wasn’t 777b542301 too particular about fa689a106b my choice.552ce25d45a9d7d4

I was about to bddfa06752 pick a shorter tree f3ed19d7af when Deon tapped the 6b496c3023 tree he was standing d01279179b by.e2a28d089f2d2572

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Pick that apple.”004d0910834b35d5

The apple he pointed 25e15e023d to was too high, 331c2de22d at least over two f3e71274d1 meters.27d9a3b32781c555

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I can’t reach f5c3617d40 it.”ffe2eaa0056f0cd4

I stood 22b0c3f1e4 on tiptoe 9509bf08ad and stretched cfc30c3ff7 my hand 44411650a3 towards the 69e68a9871 apple. It was just 4dd502ee24 out of reach.c0e366b207ed05d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As I 9860ecfa83 looked around a680c644f4 for a 63feb8cc1c ladder, Deon, 149c89bc06 noticing my fa73d3a09e searching gaze, 83b93027bd said, “Step ee5fb9d3dd on my 3e334d5cff leg.”ad5708f358c78342

He promptly knelt down 012f63c2ca and patted his thigh.55eb2a80ec69a2f4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The gathering eyes around 43e82b9bc5 us made me self-conscious. Moreover, he 9a563f4213 was wearing 9848577dac white riding 6c28ffd791 pants.a0724015b9135eb9

“It’ll get dirty,” I 24986cd926 said.311c535ba635699a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So what?” Deon replied 4d2e817c0f nonchalantly.de8fef7f94f415eb

Even if he removed 42db9bc48e his coat, the shoe 7411edbd99 prints would be hard 4649ebab64 to hide. In the end, I 240c6dffea stepped onto Deon’s thigh.6381df2f104a4c05

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Luckily, I was wearing flats. They weren’t sharp, so I could lightly step onto his knee. To help me keep my balance, Deon held onto one of my arms.72798fc2f805b731

Stretching my 2cc166117d arm out, 6239348d66 I picked 3151a42d12 the apple.79e05a5cc2a361e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I tried c601b96b86 to carefully descend, 4b81c14f28 my foot slipped. I flailed, trying to 5ce33d5e96 regain my balance.959951f576d91a92

Deon quickly wrapped 6ddc4ba74e his arm around 3b263c54a8 my waist, catching 9361ecfbb2 me. I felt his 52a167a600 fingers pressing into e8ba81b011 my back.a568864e5ea7f231

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

My heart pounded. Even with this small fa7d7cd34b movement, my breath was 11b169b012 heavy as if I’d 5bad1fd426 done strenuous exercise. Meanwhile, Deon, who I dc4513d271 had stepped on, remained d757fec865 steady and calm.4af65e00e58584f3

I gently released my a1dc1cb7c2 grip on his shoulder 24042cd860 as I came down. He then set me c719556535 lightly on the ground.6fef08dc2b1dc554

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As expected, his thigh 267e11216c bore dark red shoe 0d0f87576d marks. However, he brushed off 1470c0cbb2 the dirt nonchalantly. Any semblance of imperial 46de58e9ca dignity had long vanished.84ae3128666c3db9

I inspected the 63b1e1f46a apple I had a2efcfd454 picked. Despite almost 7631e573e2 dropping it, 814e7fb805 I had 0c3172c9c0 held on 483ca9c15a to it.4f6e2a2e5a6d14de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The apple was b2115bff74 flawless, smooth like fe5029b130 a model fruit. There were fdeed45736 no insect dbebf41e72 marks.b740afbdb6a4007a

Even though these 7e33893312 fruit trees grew c5e931c1a1 in the garden, e122cf315a they were impeccably 9445193072 maintained, as if 7180edcaf8 pre-washed.05a3b339fadb553e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I turned the 01af77d2ee apple around. On the b5afd64e66 back was 03f8a338a0 a small a63967cec2 carved mark.e6a511288739312b

“You’ve picked the largest fd46913993 apple. Congratulations, Lady Leonie de9a71ea9a Sien.”d70dc01f9a8ac07d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Only then 43ced99a1a did I c572703888 realize that 8d68025363 Deon had be8984214d prepared the b65e829283 apple in 16cfb45819 advance.b376e6eccb012a6c

Immediately, a secretary hurried 9dfe57560a over. Despite it being a 8046b4a984 single fruit, applause erupted e36b04431f like thunder.eaf888205734cdbe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I stood awkwardly, f11d2144b0 receiving their congratulations.549ca7e36c8731f5

“Write it as 6ff8ad71d3 the Count of 8fe9751830 Croix,” Deon instructed.9eeb58a336ee8df7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The secretary, 0b496c26cd who had 759e6bcafd been about dbbe3583ad to inscribe d6641a1659 my name 407018e329 with the 97213d4d9b Sien surname, f020e4f291 hesitated with e8722b9029 the pen.fa852b5784dcec9f

“You’ve been 594dd788ce granted a 5f5e14db5f new title. Congratulations.”9b7c7df572fe9e18

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s an honor 7694be457a to witness the 262addee03 birth of a 6dbdf501cb new family,” the 4f345d87de applauding nobles said, d823f45ae9 stepping forward to 76a69cf5d2 shake hands.27990fae3906d887

Deon watched 96e7777909 silently with 4f6fde6def his hands f43fb5c705 clasped behind b6419aeed4 his back 3fe940d0aa as I 5ddef8aa17 accepted their e6e0a0c84b congratulations.36bdebcaa3a5d7d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had meticulously 220a7fb519 orchestrated this event, 18bbd2e5c3 ensuring that my 8814e5b6b7 new name would 06017a2add be recognized from 820de6fe69 the podium. The name 6d1638ef34 Croix would 86a7747eef now be f9005017d7 mentioned at 58df6d34ec every annual ade0e47fb4 banquet, indelibly d04e63e663 etched in 655d5f2a42 history.4ffa60451156db8d

“Thank you,” I whispered to him, leaning against the tree and gazing at him.de1fecd471843aa4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“For what?” He tilted his head towards me.a32dbc987a1226f1

“For publicly acknowledging my new family name. And for preparing the apple for me,” I replied.75a6bcf37c54e183

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had known 4755c0712c from the start 4b7ef047a0 that the apple 4b1e0217b2 I would pick 6d0e61150d would be the 986591631e largest. It was 611ae72c08 Deon who 123f5b6b89 had guided 25235c3447 me to e307e8f336 that specific da40b5c153 tree when 25f1c71d6e we entered 520117634a the garden.22b6fabb72e8433c

“I’m glad you realized it. You’ve always been a bit oblivious,” he said, playfully pressing on my furrowed brow. He then brushed my disheveled bangs back into place before quickly withdrawing his hand.fa220868fbcee110

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Standing under the c18a4ea814 strong sunlight, Deon 3b6b4d37ff resembled a beast a41f24898b that had finished db6ff12f7c its hunt. Unlike before, cbe913d001 when he d029d7d285 was always b9df70d688 on edge, 44326c79c3 he now 19fc81b3fe seemed careful, 5a3dca2d7c as if 30bfa9daf5 worried about a8c15c338d scratching me. He no cbd9af37f7 longer needed f3991ecaf6 to threaten 77e07f05e5 or pierce b053db8f09 anyone with c050eae7b6 his sharp a6c2f0f170 fangs.773468444d9bf510

The white ff474efb34 gloves he 850ff01a48 wore, made bf37f80185 from the 8ae9f0e309 same material a45c3fe8d4 as his e22b04872d pants, stood 657e5dc5ed out in 83dcbbcadb the afternoon 5222cf6fba sunlight. Leaning leisurely 6545e6dcf5 against the 46e34150ea tree, he 2abacb4a45 exuded the 7060787dc1 ease of a1cd29fbe4 someone who b4d4100033 no longer 7fe1109179 yearned for 5212dfe4db anything.07737c1ba71da756

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Once the a026b0dc8c secretary finished ad5f4a2851 recording, Deon b829ed79ab was immediately 284f4fb3a5 surrounded by b963f62695 nobles.e1be6fb3d050c347

I was swept d6703fda87 away by the 6438ed819c crowd, moving farther b9e2791cfd from Deon.887112934f48f1ad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He no longer sharpened e91edf6966 his edges but conversed e1775a34ce skillfully with the other f783e68e21 nobles, his smiles more cba63d2828 relaxed.a677b522e9f31397

Watching from a distance, b00d514c8c I noticed a familiar d645768710 ornament hanging from his 80a760b9cb sword.751633f76b47d17d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Deon’s long sword from the north.2e3ca8f4a0dedecc

Where the stag emblem 1cbf1fcaad of the Sinoa family 997e319dae once hung, now my 84e6754fdb bracelet was tied. Every time 2baa5cc498 he nodded, d2c1e38f4c the bracelet 2af60fa719 swung gently.f7a50d3a08ba0d66

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing the 690dccd96e bracelet, I 23eb490b92 quickly averted 6e44b5157d my gaze 8d82248904 after looking 7d96e2c514 back at 9c48c2cd0b his face.040aa461dafd1d08

Was I d3eabfebc5 still harboring 02df233f8e feelings?edfaae50f8b85f42

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Despite his betrayal, 7931124c37 lingering traces of 8531f9300b emotion remained, and 61ecb63cec it made me 9160d716ea uncomfortable.5d34471a59eb9d16

It’s just an f440402b70 ornament. Don’t assign any unnecessary 1bd9a1b412 meaning to it.eca3f03e43eb2dfe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

No matter what f738945037 he did, I 752b560fe7 was soon to 4276427aff leave the palace.6f4a11c26bf7b1bf

I resolutely turned my d2ae03a2db gaze away from him.a1fef9a8bbf026b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *19c58e87ec32cc86

Under the 386abeb29b shaded canopy, c4a9da2a88 the women e33d1ad728 were chatting.df33bc24821c1aab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Their voices blended with 6bd8d65191 the breeze, sounding like c78a8c6397 a high-pitched song. I cautiously approached them.91a6b2b6f301e052

Next to afc5f48fcf the noblewomen d8816b65df was a febc579093 maid rocking c280c9d7a4 a cradle f8abf62d25 under the bb8375e57e warm sunlight.fcef6bff11bb418d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The baby dc5045088d inside the e781b682e1 cradle lay fbfd0e62d9 with wide-open 709a1ccc44 eyes. Despite the unfamiliar 3f6c152639 people walking around 06a8288601 the garden, the af5ef267f4 baby didn’t fuss, 8852393ff0 simply staring at 7f8cbb74ef the blue sky.73fa2744c0c001e3

The baby wore 50cfbf7f29 white clothes, making 540c1b92b9 the sparkling jewel 61225f4778 around its neck fff0cf90bd stand out more.4011796b00609b70

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The pendant’s design was effaa12711 familiar. The pendant, hanging from db7ac57a1e a chain, was identical 4b8738a7d0 to the ring Elizabeth f8e0a6640e had once given me.c57f9148bfffdca8

So this was Elizabeth’s child, the next generation’s heir.ccedfab355f058cb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though I b3e5a77298 could only e7776b0caf see the ba9618cc77 baby’s face efeb9d8478 wrapped in c538765559 a swaddle, aa1b56663a I knew. The baby’s slowly 4fae232957 blinking eyes were 2dc7cf8d13 the same emerald 50a7ce0e7b green as hers.de182d2e558ff6a1

Finally, I 45ed862c48 was meeting 7759a203b6 the boy 9ee79b81e7 from the 2dc564cf2e prologue. A strange 2f4082e697 emotion stirred 3f49ca9638 within me.fa4a1541e7c6e36e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I am… your godmother,” I whispered. I was grateful to be able to say these words before.60e8dbb0388aed98

As I reached 5e968b2350 out, the tiny 7518eb5b19 hand grasped my f90fd8d1d0 index finger. It was so small 1e773d1e81 and soft. As the baby smiled, f9188fd1e5 I could see the d4e50b3512 tiny front teeth just 6833b67016 starting to emerge.48a1e52d937f2d89

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Everything about him was 5da73ec3f7 fast. His birth, his 83656d5910 growing teeth.9434c3759429fa33

He must be an 19fdfb464d extraordinary child. As the youngest heir, 5f1c1cbd4f he had to grow d27462a4ef faster than anyone. Such rapid development was 08b960663e no longer necessary once b95f872355 he became emperor.f71d57a7a544799a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“So you’re af80ba06b2 the child 69073a6421 who caused 8496b80ac2 me so 322f1476ef much pain c2b467f1bf and made e93deb65d2 my heart 14dba51d6c beat so f547a3885b loudly.”2bd416e69e3ec86a

The baby 6545c98738 smiled as 0c5eaf9a89 if understanding 4c1d6d3f9a my words.78eb9daaa5375d59

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I was relieved. I could face this 1d23bb2522 child without resentment.597dbce4aeb9bba0

The noblewomen enjoying 4f4fd75697 tea time at f9dd77d796 the table paused df21cad391 their conversation at f16090e3c9 the sound of a40a6ce8d2 my footsteps. One by one, they 5bc20f8bb2 turned towards the pram, cde256eaca setting down their teacups.1975fe1e4139e82b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The last woman to ae94eb80ba set down her cup 65815fff4b and turn was Elizabeth. Her eyes eae51cb072 widened in ed479539e4 surprise when e0fbf931c2 she saw e85e1ba58d me.ad9b8418b8fbc61f

“Lady Leonie!”ab93c4e439987642

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Elizabeth covered her 62f3185e21 mouth. Overwhelmed with emotion, fe4a0e2cb0 she could barely 8fdf424987 speak, then reached 68b4d63a01 out to me 680f399e27 with open arms.bbd3ef0419b27e61

“I’m sorry I can’t 0ef0e5bc3e stand to greet you. I haven’t fully recovered e652c28175 yet.”523d06412e4de463

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s alright.”869f04c797e2e17b

I embraced her gently, 82cbc06801 patting her back.c0d8478160f32ba8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though she didn’t f759737234 look healthy, she da0766b31c was alive. Everyone I 465a5d184f met after c39b90d9a1 coming to a00b4e6ab3 the capital f2a7738aaa felt surreal, 5782b7a8dd but her 1065fd6dd2 frail body b631bf551c made it 590b22c732 all the 1817f72199 more real.5f94b41fdb909318

Elizabeth had changed drastically. The once full belly, b30d1c172d which had always seemed 32948293e2 off-balance, was now flat.53b0b7d1a5bf2278

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’re alive. I’ve missed you 4f7f614e97 so much,” she b3016ac908 said, expressing the fe0a3d8897 words I had 2d52a86462 wanted to say. Tears welled up in c0bff0b646 her eyes.da0b4d2bb699c5d3

“I knew it 65fb710b39 would be polite 734355ed43 to visit, but 99465f8c62 the palace’s security 55ef26be0d has always been 5ba40e4af9 strict. I couldn’t get permission 64d764af7a and had to wait 80dff748eb for you to come f2a12c71fc out,” Elizabeth explained, echoing c3c8eeff96 Viter’s sentiments. Someone had undoubtedly been d81e9d5d38 blocking palace entry.8ac4ddd01d48c4ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And it c79df7a1a9 was obvious 0066370db9 who that f2a9bcf5a9 someone was. There was only 00f5b833a4 one master of 5172d339a9 the palace, with 711dc84106 no spouse or 5202816993 former empress.4129f308e1e23427

“It seems 5a7158b57f he wanted 88628b2e41 to spend a84a9a332f time alone 554e3e240b with you,” ba4d2c964c Elizabeth whispered, a1cbd55006 still misunderstanding f12ef85bcc our relationship.5c9117d94e0b933d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She whispered 03584cb0ee in my 0710db9121 ear, as 67044b38c5 if protecting 479e1b62f2 a lover’s 2b453eb3e8 private life 8b131f41ba from others.c4c1c4cbc0ed8cbe

“That’s not it. I’m leaving soon. I’ve been 492eb1037c granted a c09a39e5ee new title. I’ll live out b5123b82a5 my days in 731ef3d249 peace once I c17d5c4cb9 leave the palace.”5f4b5006e5cbd2bd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Elizabeth’s eyes 0f2ff80318 widened in 49abc5722e surprise at e67f0eb335 my words.956b76101afc616d

“You’re leaving? I thought a0a4cf3bb4 the reason a38eeddb64 for changing f8b26ed0a0 your family 7524c30fd7 name was 37cfeb96e5 to keep e0e7105fcc you in 2bf9d50106 the palace.”a88e8cdddeb7f746

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What do you mean?”25b69bd48390b647

“It’s to ensure ede33a91bc you have good b2a291cca7 conditions to become bf21be75b9 Empress easily.”1113c1fa6a84af0c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 d7bd56db5c0944e1