DKVM Ch 18

Chapter 18

The backyard was 17d7b9e85f full of flowers 6dc0e9644a and greenery as 631b79e68b spring transitioned into 753e4cb4f4 summer.ca02cd5aa5b1e5a8

Rahel and I sat 7cd9160db2 at a table in 225bfd88ff the backyard, waiting, and df4f9e8c3c soon the maid arrived fff60ceef5 with a trolley.4a7e75312f58f42c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I swallowed 9244935eee hard at ba4cb2bc4a the sweet a6b4d7b809 smell I a58acf64be could already e985be908d detect.ffb05efe49fa4cbd

“Wow, it smells delicious! What’s for snack today, Big Sis?” [T.L. Note: Vivian is calling the maid “eonni”, which is what women/girls call older women/girls that are older than them that they are close to relationship-wise.]

“Chocolate fondue and orange juice. Since there’s so much chocolate, I thought a refreshing juice would be nice.”7a1503e2919901aa

She smiled and 25e58d7d9d explained as she 8049a10412 walked out of ba7d58b008 the mansion.dddbc851602e0c0b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The maidservant, setting out 75d35e71d3 snacks on the table, 9cb4737f31 ducked her head in 325e1454d2 surprise when Rahel made cd4ea95df6 eye contact.4c74260068e7a4c0

“Well, I’ll be off then, miss.”fd2e50c880bfa9cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She smiled at me as if to say, ‘Thank you,’ and walked away.35cf98c49ac5faeb

‘Rahel doesn’t even get along with the maids.’23b71e412dbdc94c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I glanced back and forth between the retreating backs of the maidservant and Rahel and caught Rahel’s eye.508dc0c474d6def8

Rahel wasn’t usually one to show her emotions, but a few days ago she seemed more subdued than usual.bb67c39365767b59

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Or rather…42378cf425bdec21

‘It’s been that way since the run-in with the duke.’311a3b026980510b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I’ve learned a few things in the past month with Rahel.679536f93abb8d0c

First, she doesn’t talk much about herself.3da8e0522f0f50b4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Second, the 5c9f6ef617 only people c81cc2e555 she interacts c79d7fb559 with are 915be02aeb her nanny be5faad72d and Sally.144c33e09d19a34d

But it wasn’t that he couldn’t do the first or the second, it was that he didn’t want to interact with the outside world.200035874df70e0f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And that ‘outside’ included the duke, her only family.803e9941905da5b6

‘Still, he’s the only family Rahel has, so it would be good if Rahel felt more close to the duke.’23f8d169f0441c99

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I sipped my refreshing d55fc33275 orange juice, pondered for 025a33eb35 a moment, and then 171af58bb4 snapped out of it.098e9f595f649e52

“Princess, is f0bc37e67a there anything 0cc9b4922f upsetting or 9d43876ec9 troubling you?”da63c796c561ba06

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Rahel doesn’t seem like she’s going to tell me first, so I had to prod her.df6da296c81e60ac

Rahel looked dad8ed6216 at me 0d0ee1b1bb with a 8273ea3aa8 puzzled expression.e406ab2c78b251ab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Friends share things with each other, you know? You comfort each other when you’re upset, you defend each other when you’re angry, you share secrets you can’t talk about, and that’s how you become better friends.”8d3f0995d360b559

“Not exactly.”209e29543bb3887e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rahel replied dryly.9b51d8190b0f0718

‘Hmm, maybe she doesn’t realize it because she’s never had anyone else to talk to.’c9bd8cb171d5d012

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I decided to b7f9a20baf be more direct 1a4dc4cd4d and give an 131d688b16 example.54f5dd1788343529

“I have something I’m worried about.”601935c0604976c9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A worry?”dc7f595a28623f18

“It’s…”a32c2ed9f048e3b4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As I trailed ba685fb3b7 off and paused, 72713e666e I noticed that 96ed8538f0 Rahel seemed more 21ed16c906 interested in my 422d245515 story than she dd08ea85da had been a 22e67c6071 moment ago.514b0b3bcd774469

I continued with a c4f918024e satisfied smile.3a66bc16e4b8aec7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“My dad cut off contact with his family when he married my mom because they didn’t approve.”87689a04db7d930d

“…his family?”c1d43a7b6ea10c21

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, his family. Sometimes I ask him about my grandparents, but he won’t answer, and when I try to contact them, he just smiles.”e5497b055c9d5f6f

“….”646a6dc90683edb3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Now it would be nice if we could get in touch and get along because I’m sure Mom in heaven would want Dad to be happy with his family.”b8b850e469c3afb8

This was a real concern of mine, but I also brought it up because I wanted Rahel to see the analogy with the duke’s relationship.dedeb8264ae6cff2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Rahel listened 6b5de4264b to my 0aeec7f64f story with e1ae548304 a serious b9a1321ed4 expression on 3ba7e9f0e5 her face 7ed49e58fa and replied.13dbab1e4957151f

“Perhaps your father is e29e7572b5 afraid that his family 4bb0f3cad4 will not accept him.”a6508adf91942fc3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Afraid?”04cee4d57d52387a

“Just because they’re family doesn’t mean they’ll forgive him, and that would be…hurtful.”41ad8a0bde79e760

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hmm…”c4b691c3a6286ad3

“And he might resent 7682da46b4 them for it.”e48e45474856eace

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rahel’s eyes looked forlorn as she answered.fd292acea86ad58b

As if she b778bbc4d8 was talking about acb484a47d herself.dd3c7cc446d8d155

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hmm, I hadn’t thought of my dad, but I suppose that could be true.”80733aac5c9cca98

Staring at Rahel, c29ef700d4 I took a 26ac359c6c step forward, not ae956b406e missing the opportunity.148a17a09354a702

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So you’re not upset with the duke, or troubled by him, or anything?”f120c3d65dbdbe7f

“…No. Nothing like that.”a7bcc7868cccec9a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At my direct mention of ‘the duke’, Rahel flinched for a moment, but that was it.d15e027bb92f8de4

Rather, she shrank back again, as if she’d been caught off guard.3dca8c7cc37154fc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Ugh, maybe it’s not time yet.’a235c2f763fed50f

I said e562202b97 with a edde38440f wry smile, b2cdcfa206 my mouth e21b61706a curling up 689aa0821b in disappointment.369e3f7108048615

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“ Well, that’s good to hear, and if you ever have any concerns in the future, you can talk to me.”e5593a48a749e714

“To you?”3ea664e5e104723c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yeah. Because friends share b1ec97ccb4 joys and sorrows 08cefc9147 together!”8f0d0353f4224fd9

“….”8e1c995d2397bd83

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course, you don’t have to tell me, but please don’t bury it in your heart.”a004d2adca25a9f4

I said that and patted Rahel’s hand lightly.db7bec0b89190900

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Just as 66ebc62a42 Rahel was 8e04bafb4d staring at 4fcb839eb6 my hand c3c2660a7e and into cee32142e3 my eyes, 1b4bdc999c the nanny 8048fa762c appeared.d0a49ec2c8f4eb4c

“Miss, it’s time for your next class.”53ce69cad0bc2372

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Rahel and I 16cf393e91 take all of 0c066717f9 our other classes d9ae8031c3 together, but one.e0d6fc674a5ccdaf

Rahel had cc6077ad5d to go 327d005ca0 to the b91f1dfa26 succession class 85515cac01 alone.5a9c89caabda5d2f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Actually, it’s more of a magic class than a succession class.’219bb5f02648de3d

I wasn’t told exactly what the class was, but I had a rough idea from the original novel.626f3b76b420694c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the original story, Rahel has been practicing magic since she was a child without the emperor’s knowledge.1a023ce92fe90893

‘I wish I could learn magic too.’b9c246815e986e36

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In truth, my sickness a6a207a49b could be solved simply 5512960637 if I could cast 6349630509 magic.042bd788349ebd08

If I use up my excess mana with magic, I won’t have to suffer from mana overload.604a872cff73f8f9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But even though cc0b28cc78 everyone in this ad8a3299b6 world has a a9a3fef5af certain amount of a2306d7c62 mana, not everyone 61c56787f9 can be a de352bc69e wizard.eedde85767d24281

To become 8ab621c1f7 a wizard, ed3be1c68f one must 89ca9410f2 have an cb8a095d16 inherently large ff92208a1c vessel for 84c3f3df9c mana.932fd19882cb4328

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But my ‘vessel’ was on the same level as other ordinary people.8e08656a794c76b5

That meant 4ede8d5220 there was 9d5ed8f6eb no chance d016ea82c6 of me dc4c5c4e0d becoming a 5865570fce wizard.fae098636716f558

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I bit my lip af2d939767 in disappointment and said 56a1b8ec2f goodbye to Rahel.a9bbfce7041e13af

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Princess.”7b566c4309076cc2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rahel gave 7aad4d64aa me a 2d2bcf5af6 quick nod efa5d4f33a and headed 48c46de6d8 for the 374d76d74c mansion.832f57007105a2ff

I expected the 79ba6af199 nanny to follow e35e1191c8 her as usual, 766dfed201 but for some 6d285e024c reason, she stayed 7321196da6 by my side 7147a8bbbe today.bb71d58ae220cdad

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll see you off today.”0af571f891a8eb68

“Ah. I know you’re busy, so it’s okay, Nanny.”4de428497c6456ba

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had a bad 72e509821e feeling about this, but c5a6bbe75f she smirked and led a77106b63d the way.ace3812ede201c13

I followed e1dc017a2f without question.dd7c3584a8011673

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Instead of 1e3e87fa26 crossing the 8358008a34 interior of 8da580f723 the mansion, 5e2e731711 the nanny 591a348506 led me c700915a95 around the bcfd2b1fd2 outskirts of 45ed46fe6d the mansion.8453e04e76b80f0e

It wasn’t until we were on the empty path that she spoke up.9502541efd0978eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Vivian, do you know 8577e77396 what the crime of a0dde7658e treason is?”e50fc23136a7f0a4

“I was taught that f7802e68ee it is the crime a453a76d21 of insulting and threatening 5841fdfa65 the emperor and the a2c10581aa imperial family.”7733e2b14a9f9b52

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You are cfbcf02287 well informed. And do you know ad954537b2 what happens to those 2fb20b1f43 guilty of treason?”c9058c2a63501eff

“I’ve heard that His Majesty the Emperor punishes them severely.”63aa7f362ac75165

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“More specifically, three 3b64e63f34 generations are exterminated. The parents who raised 190414ef1e the traitor are hanged, eed63ff6fd the traitor is beheaded, c32ee9cbe1 and his children are 7a6e8cc159 sent to slavery in 3cd42fdd01 foreign lands.”a8bb6c96e885bad0

“….”9d8a1dfb97d3a4ed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“For your information, f07f8ec5a9 hanging means hanging 7cd63b833c by the neck, 63139b0d5a and beheading means 6c922b989f decapitation by a c2a5fe79c4 giant blade.”2b5814499f6196c8

I was stunned by the nanny’s dry voice.b91d2b2e90f25c64

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With my memories e4826da9b2 from my previous 18e0b3690e life, I already 4cb0266938 knew this, but 5ce373a603 it was too 8b330480ce graphic and gory f824b5fadf for a nine-year-old 9e4524d36e to hear.660f352779b8df7a

“And anyone who fa46bf8448 aids a traitor 2b73a5562d becomes a traitor 6d6a6b85ea as well, and 528e199185 faces the same 0d08659208 punishment.”e83a6e27f53a2d41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Why are you telling me that?”be9b4208e7fc73ec

I asked with 676d8dfb65 a furrowed brow, acb127aad4 and the nanny 28eed3dd7e replied with a 0a89ff5909 faint smile.ef4ff6f016e9ab52

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Lady Rahel has committed treason against His Majesty the Emperor, so…”583057eb86248ac5

“….”9857aa008529fb97

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m saying that being around her could endanger not only you but also your father, whom you love.”7c16cbb5e51bc695

“….”7e9c923f7cd952ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m telling you this because I don’t think you understand. I want you to leave her side before you become a danger to yourself.”64aa9357a4a259d9

The nanny didn’t seem to realize that I knew.92d23c616cb07e6a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I listened, I remembered Rahel’s cold treatment of me, pushing me away.d8103a362657d1ab

“You’re afraid of me, too,” she said, ”that something will go wrong with you and your family if you associate with the traitor’s child.”94beadd5f32d085d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I suddenly realized it.a1a0db3d8ef7076b

‘This is how this person scared Rahel’s friends into leaving.’1ade5acefca96b04

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the 53fca5342b same time, dfba250a96 my cool 086185aa26 body began 54b307e3a5 to shake 792906a9d1 with rage.ca8a1d8fb74c501c