DKVM Ch 5

Chapter 5

It was Duke Edelwein’s butler, who was at the Duke’s side yesterday.156adde767ef8447

The butler strode up 4e53fe6acd to Dad and me, 6ea734a248 who was staring blankly.01963d592d6524a7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hi, Vivian.”1f0f960e4fd9cea8

Dad’s gaze dropped from the butler to me.b58787cbebb78ea9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Vivian~?”78882f7d87ff0c44

His golden eyes, slightly 180a7b7db4 sharpened from the gentle 21ee323775 smile he usually gave faf2ad7273 me whenever he saw 7f9c3ea976 me, demanded answers.6ba998d892c6d577

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘How does this person know you?’The unspoken question dfb1e3a02a hung in the acd35dc136 air.6ab90ba97dec173a

I looked away, pretending 567e9b8c69 not to notice his d97607b6e6 stare, and greeted the cf68dd86cd butler.979e602505ae33eb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hello, butler. What brings 01bfc70ebc you here? Are you here to 7165052125 buy bread?”965ddeaaf5315573

“I’m here on other business.”864d0459775035bf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Other business?”81b8561a807c6ee3

Instead of 9354f7b8e5 answering, the cd6fd15c5d butler lifted 43f392a389 his gaze 12025566a8 and looked 9624cc9955 at Dad.130d752a14b5f398

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“My name is Owen, butler to Duke Edelwein. Are you Vivian’s father, Mr. Dias Hessen?7a3b3708ce7fd48c

“I am, but….”01b1391ae3a0d51d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Let me get straight to the point.”28a26483b4759223

The butler 88dc3f18fb lowered his 9d741a8214 gaze to 667b4bf896 mine for f83ad034d9 a moment, 8f2ffb281e then continued.ae45563cb8f2575f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The duke wishes to have Mr. Hessen’s daughter as a playmate for the little duchess.”7211207292c93904

‘Ah, awesome!’644912efe9a61a38

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For me, this was a golden opportunity to join the duke’s household.54db5c9ab36746cd

But my father’s brow furrowed.d9bac47ad4e41f5a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about all of a sudden….”72dd75ba09487286

“The duke spoke with Miss Vivian yesterday, and it seems he recognized her potential.”204397cee859d316

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Dad, who had cad47b57dc heard about my 0cb0dba51e meeting with the 7debc8c9ef duke, glared at 3cc40a75ac me.d9f2f9f28f974c53

‘You’re going to kill your daughter with that look in your eyes.’a1d43a61180a1c64

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I slipped my d4c318592b arm around his 1e9346cc80 waist, sneaking away 9fe715de66 from his gaze.83bda937574742ba

I was sure there c53af898d9 would be a lot 4b4ce3fbb8 of scolding after the 322a29963f butler left, but for 3c0e79f370 now, I was going a4a3aeee39 to let the hug be81372bf1 do the talking.bccde6d28f792f10

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The butler continued.e1d04119b2fc4747

“Miss Vivian will attend classes and study with the little duchess, and if she needs anything, it will be in Edelwein’s name.”acaab79f10c4eaed

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“….”32f5fe110394dd24

“Ah, of course, it wouldn’t be every day-about three days a week.”eb71a96990c7bdf5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This was a good 8aafb38ff6 deal, even aside from 23f8420bda my purpose of getting 7bfe40a526 close to Rahel.5ffb3bab46981d9e

I had no doubt 9ecab90f04 that my father would 7586514412 accept the offer.f9460cb1c679a194

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But…10392292d8c82278

“I appreciate the offer, but there’s a lot I haven’t taught her yet. She’s a child that doesn’t cause much bother at first glance, but I’m afraid she’ll fall far short of being the princess’s playmate.”7cd76b61f46e5e03

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Eh?’3520a6ae3c3adb56

I let out a muffled exclamation as I watched my father’s dismissive look.103361d55e6977c6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘No! Not my golden ticket!’f1442a10030c9209

I silently shouted, 88b4f98856 pinching his firm 16c89e1c35 side.8685635f1597c5c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Dad! We need 90fadfc0fc to talk.”0dd693d878d52600

I dragged 02eb0fdc24 him away, cc8f81b991 then looked 8c290db160 back at 5de8f9add6 the butler 9d67b0731c and shouted.5b55f0de9758b04b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Please wait and look around the store, Mr. Butler. It’ll only take a minute!”f27fb662af63af4e

I dragged him 1506455b9a into the alleyway 5ac277e3e7 next to the 6b195deee0 store.5fd9eb2908733b4c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But Dad was faster 5ddcc309d1 than I could open 83c2012f12 my mouth.9e78acbbe84d73fb

“Vivian, what were you 82eb863f1e doing there?”72050ec3bace06f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His eyes and voice 84c35b057c were uncharacteristically somber.72b0cc8ab1baaa15

‘Ugh. I was going to act cute and sweet, but that’s not going to work.’734f0d72b61a336c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I switched tactics and 0dd3752d7a blurted out a bunch 8f912d1fb1 of lies.7f7165d5a353038c

“I was just wondering… I went outside to just look around, and I ran into the duke.”1343f14f4ae13df5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I didn’t make eye contact, of course.7143bd4c5655c4d8

Dad stared 76f374eb3f at me fc7744bba3 for a 9403cc30fc moment, sighed, d944d6eec9 and then 941b2ae21d spoke up.666dff107c837ec1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll talk to the butler, but don’t go to the villa. Do you understand?”83e8e9ed0d0b5aa6

I quickly grabbed the hem of Dad’s shirt as he turned to go back to the butler.06a88b0a00885a00

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, no! I have to go there, Dad.”c041c89be3644acc

“Why do you 40c179de24 have to go 6cbee19b9d there?”873e7ce75e02a2c4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Dad asked, sensing 542838f145 that I had 128302296e an ulterior motive.3408059c8e666cbb

Unwilling to 5b3d13c098 be honest, 9c9dad9699 I quickly ccbe71befb shut my f34ac103bc mouth before 146ebdb959 the words 9668ffc567 left my 331f4a8a48 mouth.3900d7ccad9c45a4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I can’t tell you what I know from the original story.’2fb87c7a97cabae1

Rahel’s ability to absorb mana from her surroundings was kept secret from the public to avoid the emperor’s scrutiny.8a5c66db9e781ad8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In other words, it wouldn’t make sense for me to know Rahel’s condition.42406d4317ed0df4

‘This is a fictional world, so it doesn’t make sense to talk about it.’e45f14d8d004ff66

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Apart from him not believing me, I didn’t want to worry my doting father who was already worried about my illness.00cccb99a00ed327

I told him 45e51d6ef3 the truth, leaving b6bfbc0d36 out the original 10ed975ce7 story.c63f1aff2d741a54

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I want f66cb097e4 to be 3a35cd8bd5 cured of e1c877f749 my illness.”4d69f6824c3a5f13

But my words backfired, and my dad’s pearly white face turned blue.3e412a3fa2489253

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“W- What’s wrong? Are you still sick? Is there something you’re hiding from me-?”6ec4f91939fe2411

“No, it’s nothing like that, I’m fine, just relax, Dad.”ab69a1335e01eb33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I quickly dc1057f031 calmed him ae9e393fad down before fd26305ff5 he could 410ab09955 get any f73a6012c0 more worried.fb6e262a16abd571

“I just want to get well soon so I can live a long, healthy life with you, Dad, and I don’t want you to worry.”2cb034ca019cd29b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“….”622cdce190dc88cb

“I’m sure the duke knows some of the best doctors and wizards in the empire, and if I ask him, he might be able to help.”67ffe60f23763315

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Despite my pleas, he didn’t seem to be convinced.83defa360123d9dd

The way he 015baf2d34 looked at me, 93a759a8de his eyes seemed 321fdea18e sad for some 705028dea0 reason.c19ed0a22928d199

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘But I can’t back down this time.’e68f43b992a2c869

I was used to seeing that look on his face, but this time, I couldn’t give in.721d837c02a67217

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My life 25f4b16cdf is on 46907bc2e0 the line!5ea17d83c08b522d

And it was 5b3cc75c88 for him, too.ad2b49e33a369475

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After looking at 0218c0fd5b me with pleading ad6026a960 eyes for a 6914885a09 long time, he 4eeb56e2a8 finally raised his 50c659a888 hands in defeat.8a81cbc510527c64

“Okay. Let’s ask the duke.”f4b52bbcc8f9a645

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A smile spread across 0704960aaa my face as I d94b6b847d finally got the answer 35ea85482a I was hoping for.55283c6951806dec

It was 2fdf605e94 a fantastic aadff704b2 negotiation between 8009655401 father and 118e882560 daughter.1ee66a85626c1d21

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *0b158ed152f3478e

The next day.09599369c59b5dfc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I rode 4b659f1a45 up to 37afc96b84 the villa 6694964bb1 in a 7dfafc6d2a carriage sent 60e8764935 by the 312da02678 duke.332cccff858c6c74

‘Wow!’c33c20a6e3886f41

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I’d been through the side gate a few days before, but it was a different feeling to enter the massive front gate in a horse-drawn carriage.b346f157ade8d80f

I realized that 36b249cc4c I was about 157d17afc0 to meet Rahel.5e090828231e0766

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Then the 66a6a9c7d6 carriage stopped.321c491234019558

I did 9e1968818a a quick 33c145cf02 visual inspection fc37342622 of myself 63ee987176 before stepping 97027162e1 out of 034f03a6b9 the carriage.c69e4662b9daa3fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘This is my first b3c0218264 official meeting with Rahel, c193b3373e so I should look b948d48f1d nice.’5f3dedb115bcc1b2

I checked my hair to make sure it wasn’t tied up too tightly.18d20fdaa09069e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I rubbed my cheeks 3c2b0a4758 to make them rosy.93b457270bd5a261

I smoothed out the 2f2077a1aa wrinkles in my dress, 53ac91511b which was slightly crumpled 2d515be3bd from the carriage ride.5011e0e404afb20d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Finally, I stepped out e393855d06 of the carriage.42f2d6a2843751ae

“Welcome, Vivian.”db77eecdfc0e63cf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The person who 9872c50d7a greeted me was, 3a7f0dd236 of course, the d5cd59256c butler.6f577826c126aa0c

“Good afternoon, Mr. Butler.”0c5823c8c4967518

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Good to see 1cdff89063 you, Vivian. I will speak 25626e3b24 to the lady, 0ed503007b then, and you aedd17637d may wait in e3cec66b36 the greenhouse.”5ec2d40bccf4d66d

“Yes.”67b3980818864dcc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

While the butler went up to Rahel’s room, a nearby maid led me to a greenhouse in the backyard.91bfe463a46f571d

Once the 8b95773a58 maid who 6b656d4b39 guided me 7deeb5573b inside was b5b6dfff3d gone, I 63cf39f3e1 was the 218809de60 only one 29bea383c3 in the d1b23dca17 greenhouse.93051f165136750c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I sat bfb203a8f7 down at b6decf648a a table 8f6dd0be67 in the 19f6ff9081 center of fb4e1e4623 the greenhouse 658597d27a and looked fc485bb460 around.cd6e261cdb804ab0

‘He must f82818c9b3 have a b755905a3a lot of 3cd566832e money as 1028257d7f a duke.’ed0c172b85d02ec7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

For not being c0f7a02707 in a townhouse d4eede82a0 or country house, 16fc99594e but rather a 366d1de867 villa in a 755cb56413 small resort town, 6f282b27bc the greenhouse was 1b4d7e2a2d large and magnificent.da7b2b78eb10ebf6

I sat on fba3077b2f a bench and e1f5083152 admired the exotic 9894a48f0e birds chirping.62a0d1f6878d468f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Behind my back, I b6ee465cfa heard the door open.9457dbcca019235d

But the person dcd9e2baeb who came into 37af90c2b6 the greenhouse-9d3dd4a2005f4a21

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How did you get 619fabc71f in here?”91c53ae9c8b62458

It was 81329689b7 Sally, not ecd0cdc9c2 Rahel, who f57eede865 was waiting f69f526c2b for me.2f9de96e3771c34f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The annoyed look on Sally’s face, the one that had been so eager to kick me out, made me feel smug.7acb04996a28d31e

I smiled cheekily and a2d8f404a0 greeted her.2ff9b77971566ffa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m here to be the lady’s playmate. Please take care of me, Sally.”ddf77b1efe466a58

I stuck out my 8a0101f8ee hand.ef00822d051e7abc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sally snorted at b9947738bd the sight of d4b5b4fe11 it.8a1c36ee5122925d

“Something like you?”1b875682045b506f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Then she 857d0fc234 slapped my 749385e597 hand away 15a930d1dc and growled.9faed47c7360d281

“Who the b7428fda6f heck are 3ef13eecbe you?”cca45b3978a7c214

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What?”a46a0da364339e6e

“Who let the likes of you in here without my mom’s permission again!”e31ed7b66361f381

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I retorted with a e30292c791 smirk.f351e912376d29b6

“Does the duke have to ask your mom’s permission too?”da6ad75e10252041

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…What?”88405a497037ac97

Sally’s expression, which had been one of malice the entire time, turned to shock.117cf79ddd791a4b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No matter how arrogant Sally was, she wouldn’t be able to defy the duke.5da2b7715b4784bf

“You can tell your mom, ‘The duke has taken a beggar from the bottom of the market as a friend of the lady.’”9a672b8a4f3f0b51

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Eek…!”b0b27db15cc16cf5

Sally glared at me fc666d35ae with an evil look b109cf77b3 on her face, and 1565297ec7 then she stormed off, d3c569b475 unable to beat me.b0b91d7fa481d36d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I looked in 6e279164a2 the direction she e556656c59 left and stuck 110f673284 my tongue out 97ff454fa8 at her.c36dc10417dae87e

‘By the way, it’s been a while, and Rahel hasn’t shown up.’ed25404cf1113b0a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I was half 208bb0e292 excited, and half 3eaa58798d worried.f5b1200e3ba26580

I waited for c9eaa08123 Rahel with mixed 0ec9ce4165 emotions.b4b9000d0d57303e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

*thump, thump*e0bf145cb122fe89

Suddenly, my heart 963da418d2 started pounding loudly, 0811d7aaca making it hard 4f79af2acf to breathe. At the same 3e1ad48fa6 time, I felt c3650e1db3 an explosion of f5f2cd068d pain.a986c50bcb9657b0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh….”7e2c189897d50d6d

The symptoms of mana overload usually don’t bother me, but here they were, suddenly and unexpectedly.7b955778c445d9ed

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was an all-too-familiar pain, but one that I couldn’t get used to.4ea7ab732885aa84

There was no 20ee325422 way to fix 384efc5de8 it, no way 2fea49809c to alleviate the 326c7caa08 symptoms, only to fd70669fb2 endure them.7312f6c8ff386a93

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I staggered to my 684a98fb32 feet.7847267482a07af5

‘Let’s hide for a while until I feel better.’65069413cdf2e0d5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I hadn’t told the duke about my illness yet.6e9a6ad524b880be

Even if it wasn’t contagious, she wouldn’t want a sick child as a playmate.96c562401b1a3f0a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Besides, there were other things I didn’t tell him, things that would be resolved once I saw Rahel.1c04dd94135e9ae3

But even if I did see Rahel, I don’t know how long it would take for the symptoms to go away.ab73b7d95b8dfe60

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If I did, I’d have to explain to her that I was sick, and I’d have to explain things to her.4b3cdc2409a9ad42

I reached f431cbc499 for the 8c33c13ac6 greenhouse door 767b814c74 with my c801d2bc8e heart in 8b1b02c1b1 my throat.2dc5318a058b30a4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But….599513fa181d9862

‘Oh?’c4d01475e8587433

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The door swung open cba068dfe0 from the outside, and 5ccc27bf8f I fell forward, into 949f11b180 the arms of the 9584c5e6e3 person who stood in a1d438d947 my way.50d26f33c39f51b5

“I’m sorry-”24d43b17949c9d45

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I scrambled to d1b56e567a my feet and d81c4493fa raised my head.d6dfda947e6f3100

Our eyes met.2bc64587c018654d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The same ones cb1e3e0372 that had been 3387414739 watching me through b72a3ba0f6 the window for 7db314336a the past few 69c4fd6370 days.ac892c1b14d63e9f