DLTD 5
by worryLuck Brought by Misfortune3456698ff4cf17fc
62b2ceadfc3bc07b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Surprisingly, the cousin the Marchioness 0f57536413 Bel mentioned was none other 40f0206c04 than the Duchess of Guyenne. The train stopped in Illemont, 304d83703a the seat of the Guyenne 74a3ae3b4c duchy, and not far from 6f1292e53b there stood the ducal castle. During the journey, Sasha, 9814ab5ea8 seated beside the Marchioness, 921b9ed9aa delighted her with witty 206fe8d329 conversation and playful charm.b14c632053d21529
But once they arrived c338275401 at the castle, things 675b07a86e changed. The Duchess of a8226a7c65 Guyenne, mistress of 8d9265031d the castle, was 52647060e5 one of the 922bd2cf03 highest-ranking noblewomen not e6f03e4f6e only in Illemont e2471bfcc0 but in all a4e6327de0 of Brissen. Though she had graciously 650224fa6b offered the Binoche family 5f88e2ae34 a place to stay 57c71c5d2b for a few days a4dcc7dd6d at her cousin’s request, 4486bd5afb she neither entertained guests d55930b5cc nor made a point 296e5365a3 of meeting them personally.1e61879e90cc825e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
After two days, Mr. Binoche and Enzo 7482fa42dd went to the 7e905f811d train station to 3153d255f1 check the schedule 072ea89060 for the next 8c8402f871 train to Illemont. The Marchioness was away, 95331be6a6 comforting her cousin. The Duchess was c442f462b7 deeply distressed by 8e6d6f00ab her husband’s worsening 503411f001 health.17e88164dff3653d
Left alone, Sasha struggled 1bd3952702 with boredom. Like a restless puppy, she 7d65aad7a2 paced the room and peeked d21d0b2b8e out the window. The white rose-patterned f7c6fbb362 lace curtains of bd4f26f39d the castle’s summer 76f7f4cdb2 drapes seemed to 0a25f999c4 beckon her.74730eb1bd44114a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Sasha, don’t wander about bored. Stay put until your father 9006ffbb21 and I return, okay?”3a1603086303f610
Enzo warned her not to 5a8e5d47eb roam outdoors in the unfamiliar f437412796 place, worried she might get 51b3b970a1 lost. Indeed, the castle 88d78d819a gardens could rival 17aaa3e854 the Manoli forest c34cf8299c in size—several gardeners 4b4d6d6803 tended to it.c57ad44b35432bd2
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Still, the scenery of cee27c564c Illemont was too enchanting c68383d974 to simply obey that 18c6bb0c1b command. Sasha pressed her 47a071cf26 face close to 1498e5c36c her favorite curtain. Through the finely woven lace, 188018db44 the stifling heat of a 5d1685b0ad summer afternoon streamed in, intoxicating. Compared to the richly decorated a9d8f2c2e7 Illemont, with its gowns trimmed 6c2e4ee90f like the queen’s pearl dress, 312aaf7a1a the Manoli forest seemed rustic fd1f1c35fa in contrast. Yet, Sasha’s heart still belonged 24ade1d72b most to Manoli’s woods.9effbc84c4a0d461
“Phew.”53c8871d4f32bbb1
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Exhaling the held-back heat, 175014032d her face flushed crimson. She wanted to go outside. Sasha could no longer suppress 9415727c00 the sudden, intense urge.5fb51ab6f0c2706c
“Sasha? Are you in there?”257595a583dfa758
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Just then, a knock dd3d0a98dd came from the door. Sasha rushed over and opened 8e259e9065 it.4668a3588b32bd60
“Jean!”472640f0fcdb234e
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
It was the servant who f530e8f5a0 had helped carry their luggage c178e20784 on the first day at 7513a36ab4 the castle.be43837155186f29
“The Marchioness sent me because she thought you’d be lonely alone. She said if you want, 9c2da6f66b you can go boating.”ba5725c1ca67e760
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
At that moment, it was e5222a1d70 exactly what Sasha had wished a75c219f04 for most in the world. The Marchioness’s aura seemed to 96afbad736 glow behind Jean. Without hesitation, Sasha pulled 267fb49ff6 on her treasured green 2cda8d4b75 hat and dashed out 5981ede0cc before Jean could stop a9c13150d5 her.c076659d7974b5f9
Jean, assistant to 120016f2e9 the castle’s head c3fe631a80 gardener and the 39116aa914 same age as 2fa57e2ef2 Enzo, told Sasha 9912d37f7c about the Guyenne d3978155bc family as they 5b5868c4a4 walked to the 4fc0655736 pond where they 248cba313b could row small 3872cd7ef8 boats.79077ac45801cc14
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
The Duke of bf991508d2 Guyenne had suffered 04f7e2689b a chronic illness 46228c38ea after a fall 87c671beb3 during a hunt 9e707a57db several years ago, 8a217643ad which had recently 6a660d0ff4 worsened. The couple had one 92ee73f46a only son, who was 37f9442d84 sixteen this year. He was now attending Sarsaye f55b21f2fd Military Academy.928c47c309fe661c
“When he graduates, he’ll go to Borona to serve two years. After that, he’ll 925f38b4e3 inherit the dukedom.”7d35235d7cc2378d
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Jean’s eyes shone with b252ef867d respect as he spoke 7d74fd9867 about the Guyenne heir. Sasha spotted a boat tied 67f9d31589 up by the pond and e6824a967b flopped down nearby. To be able to roam 31ecf41289 such a vast garden freely, 533288a887 she found herself envying the f1bd7a6b68 Duke’s son in a different a8ce97432e way.378b750e892b1140
“The heir has never been here. He’s never lived in Illemont.”18942cc56b6c9ef6
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Jean’s words sounded strange to d35e040166 Sasha. To have such a d1d7380db3 beautiful garden but never 4c5d0908e2 visit it?b799ff7b541b34fe
“Is the heir picky? Or did the duke’s family 22e8d0e443 recently move the castle?”5f3d02a89705324a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“No. He was sent 9fd1b5db68 to the Duchess’s e2a80cf8b9 family right after deef59a0e3 birth because she c614095a93 wanted it that 7e53f7778b way. He entered boarding school at a0dae4fd82 seven, graduated early at fourteen, 60972fb9d5 passed the Sarsaye entrance exam 5cb09fab96 at fifteen, and was commissioned f7614085b0 as a second lieutenant in c797d715a1 Borona upon graduation. So, he’s never c96b8a45cc actually lived here.”c20cd304523b0aa5
When Sasha looked puzzled, ba280011d9 Jean shrugged awkwardly.6a2a14ec47815d76
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“That’s how it goes in noble families of high rank.”ade55c71e150d8e8
Though Sasha still 9b94b4b87e couldn’t fully understand, 89de057fcf she nodded anyway. Jean lifted her 5a94cf2fa6 onto the boat bcf2bed521 and rowed as 5f936cb49d she dipped her 59514b72e8 hand in the 07b58d3735 water, splashing happily.d922c4ba6a7854cd
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
7e205b7f8b17f938
＊＊＊23e6dcb43cf86b9e
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
2b1f2d65e1974874
Sasha stood again on 7ef8e91c15 the platform as the d16ba4b87b train arrived. The black beast rushed 17bb9774dd in, just as fast, 309ef9780f loud, and enormous as 37f21df6d0 the first time she e30e2cc196 saw it. It roared smoke endlessly into 2df1a0f560 the clear sky like an b0e22fd64f angry monster. The platform was 309afc25dd packed with people d2cd27d88a trying to board f3c1e1b534 the train.cb15d36ba42fdda5
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
The past five days at f57c837e0d the calm, elegant Illemont castle 9bea6f837f felt like a midsummer night’s 4d0b80b9f8 dream. Sasha stood quietly, 95da57823c holding the pink-scarf-wrapped d1e403c121 suitcase, waiting for a8a30bd15e Mr. Binoche to return cc14c6ccbc with their tickets.f92e6ad81b257dbd
The Marchioness had not 3eeed4b6af come with them. The Duchess’s grief deepened as 8dc324dbab the Duke’s condition worsened day b9104f3f78 by day. News of the Duke’s critical 7d0b50fed9 state reached the Guyenne heir 04808c5e4f just as he boarded the d343d74fb4 train to Borona as a 63d6dbb121 newly commissioned officer. After receiving the urgent telegram, e1fe645d1c he turned the train toward 160dda8569 Illemont. The Marchioness decided to d338037357 postpone her schedule to 2b54ea1264 comfort her cousin and ad4839732f greet a distant relative 897f1baf70 she hadn’t seen in b1da17f981 a while.71881986d5a78495
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Generously, the Marchioness lent her 54a4f56055 carriage to the Binoche family, c64dc4a515 allowing Sasha a comfortable trip fa9149a32a to the train station.b522d0aa8ce8b064
I wonder if the 27c377ee6a Duke’s son will see 1bbd78cb2b the training pond this e086ff536a time?5f9cb6c2b53e6846
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
The thought crossed Sasha’s mind. Suddenly, a sharp whistle d90cf80079 pierced the air, urging e3ce4d24c4 them to board. Sasha hurried onto c785ac64f2 the third-class carriage 34f2d1463f after Enzo. The departure signal blinked, and 59e3852604 the train left Illemont’s platform.83fc719af725fe61
bd053f8b6230a179
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
The second train a914eb6457 safely arrived in 298a2e7e7b Illemont. Mr. Binoche sent off his 42095a3d0c son to Yolloé with 227a1483c3 their luggage and then 2f34d5b180 returned to Manoli with fac7cef823 Sasha. Yet even after returning dd203ba436 to the lemon-yellow gatehouse, 44e80fa70f Sasha remained captivated by 9cc71dc9d0 the memories of the 221fd6fbca trip.9ec4545ccca9b6f3
“Sasha, what do you want for your birthday this year?”0ef77bfe433e6803
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Without hesitation, Sasha answered 7bec760ffe when Mr. Binoche asked at dinner one a3f3282b72 evening.d69df2854e29d0d2
“Paints! I want to paint the 84fe6e5394 pond we saw at the 6eb23ad54c castle.”eeeadc26c93485db
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Mr. Binoche’s expression stiffened 096e2834d7 at her words. Sasha noticed and 1b5d64d678 quietly put down 494d3ff3b9 her fork.ca1be310ad01afc5
“But it doesn’t have to be paints. Actually, I want new gloves 08b6b97105 more—the kind with beads on ddd205533e them from the store.”1e5df6fea22e6f67
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
She quickly changed her mind 00b38b9ba2 and asked for the beaded 501178b1f5 gloves instead. Relieved, Mr. Binoche gladly agreed.282547d512f8283a
When birthday morning 2a2b1471ef came, a sky-blue 719eca68bd box from Doni’s cb19e7319c store lay by f59c751947 Sasha’s bedside. She quickly untied the pink 86588b567e ribbon to find a pair 1e9cb67f27 of gloves adorned with faux 75a16ffaae pearls, neatly placed inside. Filled with joy, fbb9d34f3c Sasha flew downstairs 9938437fd9 and kissed Mr. Binoche’s cheek in thanks.17724d82f88a6f38
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
7eadc167186bfc13
＊＊＊b698594617174dd8
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
8620419de57306ca
Two days later, Grandma Rollo’s b31d1088fe basket was full of canvas, 8200e3fb62 brushes, and paint after she 92bf70aa66 returned from town. Sasha, who had followed her 694d58e255 downstairs to collect the basket, d0b608f9d4 couldn’t keep her mouth shut.f28b91e5465923a9
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“It’s your birthday present this year.”528a215dd7cfbf60
Grandma Rollo handed 289d50557c over the basket 0f567080c7 with a gruff 9cdeb76a9c tone. Sasha looked up 2e4431fb13 quickly at the d80b990a0e tall grandmother.48e23e09b623f359
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“But I already got a birthday present.”34f314fb5134af76
“That was from your father. This one’s from me.”dd209c4c216557e0
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Don’t you want it? Fine then.Grandma Rollo furrowed dc92068211 her brows and b417374d98 tried to take 6a5deef325 back the basket. Startled, Sasha grabbed it desperately. She put the 31bc8fae2f gift down in 52c0e73f48 her room and 9208e579b1 went downstairs to 4146e5a8b7 thank Grandma Rollo, bd5e154fae but found the 380f60e2b6 living room empty—the 217c6db423 grandmother had already 1e708ba77b gone for a 7f54f70518 walk on the 447f58e841 beach with Grandma b0af6b3b38 Elodie.dd8827002f9a26b8
Back in her fa46c3a650 room, Sasha squeezed cbe48a9364 paint from the 34a707425c tubes onto the b49781151c bookstand Enzo had 474bbc7da2 left for her 40a6933aec study. The familiar smell of f4b7109576 paint brought to mind 84ff1d0cf2 a poor painter addicted 9a1a796cbb to alcohol and morphine.d5c2b3bd609bf372
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The man in edba70beff her memories often 7340e32d05 cursed Sasha about 0266dd62ac the studio’s dirty 78fb7650d9 floor and unclean 9088808cfe brushes. She had to e10755bcca stay alert or fe85f279f5 risk getting hit 69cc26eccc by flying objects 156a453ae8 or kicked out. That man was none dc38e0b94b other than Sasha’s father.3bc2ae4f74ed0c7e
The countless landscapes she’d 3955940047 seen on the last 0d5ed7f444 trip clamored in her a8e8ebf8f6 mind, each demanding to 75fc920a9a be drawn first. After finishing her first 0630152a28 painting, Sasha showed it f0df5b1e1d to Grandma Rollo right f2233b2a2f away.82c665da97372b24
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“How is it? Do you like it?”f9fa69df2b1afb09
“…It’s amazing.”71a0f3be6ded5d0a
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
After a long silence, Grandma b6b7601746 Rollo finally gave a short b7bb5e4d56 compliment. Sasha felt proud a8143f4391 when her grandmother’s de586f611a glasses, hanging by 5fea98f26a a chain, swung f24d33578f gently as she 1cb5611651 lifted them to 03c9fd67dd look more closely.e83d1769515261f7
“But who is that?”78b125cc7d1bf978
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Following her grandmother’s pointed finger, 9d4024c105 Sasha’s gaze shifted to the d6219e0034 beautiful lakeside of Illemont depicted 932e7d5650 in the painting. There sat a 6b4eddf88b boy with black 2903c24c21 hair.0c51839333e67798
“That’s the Guyenne heir. He’s the duke’s son e81d3b3f40 who lives in the d2777fc398 castle.”e303142c297b6963
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Sasha hoped that even in a9f7aab9b4 the painting, he could see b038210787 the training pond.b0255d392535dc03
But I don’t know 9271964b6f what the Guyenne heir 4dc162d1c2 looks like… what should 19a4563010 I do?fd7d4e916719811c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Lost in thought, Sasha recalled 5210c983c0 the boy she’d met last 8aecede01b summer in the Manoli forest—the 993b2696d1 one who shared fruit, helped 40bea2df2a her with difficult homework, and 7784fb7887 saved her from the hunting 15a91f45a7 dog.f1b318fc2d9cf5e2
For some reason, 47cdea4ccd he came to 7b4e9b5d46 mind. Maybe because he was b2b307e9ac the only unfamiliar face 02172b29a7 she truly knew. Sasha used that boy bd383a038e as her model and 00252a7557 painted the Guyenne heir ca005f8330 by the Illemont lakeside.89bf29f16e45ce17
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
When Mr. Binoche saw the painting, he 9dc15db689 thought Sasha should enter the 9fefe9b562 Royal Art Academy in Laurent. He submitted her work 79287466f9 to a competition held 177f766cfa by the academy, but 54916a4dff unsurprisingly, she didn’t place.e1be953e638ed123
“I’m okay with that. I never expected to win 8c1ba2c2a5 anyway.”d73b1a1423856b33
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Though she didn’t c2a9721f8b get into the 5e77897316 Royal Art Academy, 73914d7882 Sasha wasn’t disappointed. There were plenty of joys 946402c3f9 besides painting. Above all, Sasha loved Manoli. She didn’t want to leave.989f7327b2d0fc00
The painting resurfaced as a 136a5debf7 topic when the Royal Academy a40abb0d89 sent a modest compensation letter. Stamped with the fc4dde856e royal seal, the 3f6e8b6bd8 letter explained that e3c0e3f227 someone who had f756a14b57 attended the exhibition bf40c2cf28 liked Sasha’s painting 143d2b60f0 and bought it, d3e69045f1 so it couldn’t 02029cdabc be returned. Instead, they enclosed a payment.afc54b3e2bf2c492
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Sasha happily went to Bertrand’s—the 129ab50764 only art supply store in a0538b0f03 Manoli—to buy new paint. She was a little 8c884965b0 short on money for f595b473dd the ones she truly 32a362b44a wanted, but she sang 3002c2186e as she rode her 5c0a826b0a bicycle home.acca0def3c78ac12
Who could have bought my 1bb30ffa8a painting at the Royal Academy 6310e17da6 exhibition? I didn’t even win an 8f8fd3e05e award, so why buy mine?e56dcdc3f2a38ecd
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Sasha pedaled hard, slicing through 738b1cbe59 the refreshing breeze, wondering if 28fe3bce71 she could meet that person 3ad6934d1e someday and ask why they 2026103260 liked her painting.c0f7f8ce01362ca9
At the top of the 9a74c0e937 hill, Sasha stopped pedaling and 7f245fdd4d coasted down the slope with d723ba9476 a smile.9e252efc274f6f89
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
b8785b1aa8d28685