ICBV Chapter 07
by FreyaChapter 0752962d340bfdb0ff
There was 99aeb3eff1 a brief 03d69c2235 disturbance when fd06575ef7 the chandelier 6eb2981d55 broke. However, the maids quickly 9ada5217e8 took care of it, f7b034e31d and Julienne had to 33870fcbdd leave to attend to 28210402fc another guest. Xavier wrapped dcee568637 his arm d08ec21cac around Aira’s 3bd0584646 shoulders and e19069d056 led her ea5187f501 outside.e27ef48da73943fb
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“I haven’t seen a chandelier break like that since I was seven,” he remarked.84b1fe947d99c043
Aira said ba6da632ca nothing, but dde9356fcd Xavier continued, ece45eddd6 his voice 717d8466db softer now.7635b6bf59c4669f
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Aira, is something wrong today? Your expression doesn’t look good.”a20ecf07d2ffc64b
With that, a987d564ac he reached b8006c0966 out and bb64adeac4 lightly touched 0fd243a8ba her cheek. But as she looked 40e285c5dd into his eyes, she 70d8e751c0 couldn’t help but recall e38493677b another side of him—his 506c521e03 cold, monstrous face as 42235866e0 he struck her down b1617afcfd mercilessly in her past 1b7acb175e life.d1a423939e73c8e3
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Flinching, Aira instinctively 81c9bfc5f8 slapped his hand e764b3970c away. Xavier raised his eyebrows b02ab9cd57 in surprise at her 8fbde5a219 unexpected reaction.d1576bdc196b9bde
After a 33f56fdb38 moment, Aira 428728ec81 finally spoke. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep well 1e426c29f1 last night, and I’m fa470963f0 feeling dizzy.”f99d6360a4ff2a0a
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Xavier looked at her a9652368db with even more concern.56e69d9acedd7aa7
“Really? What kind of nightmare 1b4df869e4 did you have?”aa561bcb8ef892fa
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Aira looked at him—his 9def4eedf8 warm brown hair, the 0c40f86927 worry in his dark b84dba7788 eyes, his tall frame a2ca246a8d that once made her 56e8326a63 feel safe. He was 681760e2be kind, caring, 17d9f26f2e and gentle 1f596ec5b2 to everyone 30e7bea622 around him. She had once 509f4b9245 fallen deeply in d3e2a19c55 love with him 733bc5c2f6 when he pledged bbc78fa80f his eternal love ad1f606324 to her.5379da6860c00878
“My eternal love, seeing you unwell pains my heart,” he said tenderly.f612bc7586865faa
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
When Xavier 44dcb7e389 spoke of a6c8754f52 eternity, Aira 75e3685b5d had once 5ffc71820f believed his 2d0241cd94 love would 5abb549928 last forever.54403202b388f6fe
She smiled faintly, looking at him as if moved. “Your Highness…”caeb43a374a30450
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
But inside, 68b7b06761 her thoughts 4ad09779e9 whispered: d3337903f5f16da9
‘But now I 658f71a2e5 know your true 3674025843 nature.’84f5bc6671b5b68b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
As her c804703cbb emotions calmed 3d1c71c167 down, the c62ddb4444 red glow afed0cfa1f she had d55caaf5b2 been sensing 44eeb3edd0 slowly disappeared. She realized that bbdcd907b6 this energy was 7c22576e25 closely tied to bc374af653 her state of 628fc73ed8 mind.d1533493822bdeaf
“I’d like to see the white Octanius you mentioned before,” she said.da64bcf5bfb9a8e8
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Xavier immediately nodded. “Of course. I told you I’d show you the white Octanius when you came to Julienne Palace. I’ve already instructed the gardener to prepare the path.”82af522b5b7496e5
The white c0cff99281 Octanius was 3a4af488a3 a rare 5ef25bffd0 flower from 855e9213fb the southern cb62994b21 empire, valued 83ab7bb5c2 at 10,000 1e34fb7df0 Berks per abc94abc48 root. The emperor had gifted 21d949dc9c a garden of these add7784688 flowers to the empress 4bf044e98f for her birthday, making 96be0ded81 it the pride of c28ab5bcae Julienne Palace.61dc6b12ff2513da
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
With Xavier f88df265cc escorting her, e6034397e9 Aira walked 6ea233d930 toward the 0a7370a6e1 garden. Along the way, 3c35421cbe all the servants bdebff8116 bowed their heads eb2cfe7c5e as they passed.c84c97439fbfabaa
As they reached 723f736bcc a turn into c8ae9917f7 the garden, Aira 0240bfdc28 suddenly felt a b485c0f2da jolt. “Ah!”ccbcb5cc951557eb
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
She had collided with ccfaf7a4e5 a maid rushing out 3e59e6f8d9 of the garden. The impact was 54b43edbb8 so strong that 767b894950 Aira spun slightly, cd5d0efe02 but Xavier quickly 8a2485982b supported her.386f3883d624346f
“I-I’m so sorry!” she stammered, trembling.b98ca0627f7b0572
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The maid a1a862c91b was young, bd025b17e6 maybe 17 75c7e20127 or 18, 13fe011e01 with freckles bc21d922f9 on her 55acb31ebd chubby face, 13f21a3d16 which had 9cbb68abd6 turned pale. Xavier, still holding Aira, 2941ffa8f5 yelled at the maid fff051c8e0 in anger.c08e2926f9ce95c9
“You idiot! Where are your eyes? You almost made her f847bc31d7 fall!”6ca77eb8b4ac452a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The maid trembled and a5d5ef4ba9 begged. “I’m so sorry, Your ab8011efa8 Highness! I’ve committed a aca2f382a8 terrible sin. Please, forgive me!”609219a8bd69e457
Still holding Aira, 3b1d09da33 Xavier’s voice grew 1d78feaa34 colder. 03d64e7ba7c94025
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“You useless pig! You deserve to be punished. Guards, take this careless maid to the dungeons—”653cb609d0c77cfc
“Your Highness,” Aira interrupted, looking into his eyes and shaking her head gently.5e9b6501851e1ab2
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Xavier hesitated, his be144db7bf brow twitching. 5eaf6ad36cd9c57c
“But Aira, she almost hurt you.”cf8dd3cf9eb6293d
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“I’m fine,” she said softly. “Please, let her go. I don’t want a scene.”9c7d2ec42ac1fd22
Xavier stared dd3d9106cb at her f21ba90655 for a 2b3272498b long moment b067ec80d4 before sighing ccc79055d5 and softening 658297b5c5 his tone. 9102d81a39227eca
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“You’re too kind.”a4fc696ff332c75b
He kissed her forehead, 8e93aa07c1 then turned to the f9da16ac8b trembling maid with an 7d7708f043 icy glare.5efef6e4c9ac6edc
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Get out of my sight.”6dd67dc2bae51406
The maid quickly 94a4e17952 bowed and fled.a78e041b97539ae6
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
A bitter 22bffb4600 smile appeared b084a6becb on Aira’s 267a11a872 lips as 7e93b6704d she watched 224e486f9f Xavier. 2c340789ac05b35f
‘I used to think d536f18e58 his anger was because 807dd1a6a7 he loved me’,she thought.e0519fb8eebf477d
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Xavier never tolerated any 276d22eba0 mistakes from servants around f234fe5b23 Aira. He would punish them 53cda14546 harshly for even the 31c459e33f smallest errors, and Aira ffa0ee78e3 had once believed it 3720a4306a was because of his 3f2f7bbcaa love for her.71200c4adb9cff1c
But now, 7b36da589c she understood. His kindness 55df36d38c was just 1b70cb870d a mask db6b02ff2f hiding his 4d164b31f2 true nature. The way he treated 6eb97a8394 the weak was his ee5749fda3 real self.a9b67b2ac226d50d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
‘Why did I 7ad1bfe9ac ever think he b0fa362889 was a kind 6fa262ed96 man?’f476c9a67b3e37c4
Xavier was 425d1473ba always warm 6e5655974b and sweet b80728f447 to nobles, 572ef38c6a important figures, c3101beae9 and her. But his 1d0f4805cb cruelty to d25bd774cd the powerless 9c8d3a8f11 revealed who 15d551237a he truly 261fbfcfb7 was.c734aa435419a765
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
She had seen his 9205f7cf82 cold, detached gaze during e33b01b3d7 her final moments, and 7e28f95758 it was a sight 8101a5a2a5 she could never forget.c0e1f4da37413126
“Let’s go, Aira,” Xavier said with a smile.4105872de40b667e
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Xavier gently escorted Aira 70b4add933 again, but to her, 5b84199fb0 he now seemed like 1b37729499 a monster. A monster 1f83f9e06d hiding his 41057d466e true nature b6c513ba0b behind a c91057edde mask of 6143448519 kindness.06fddc7df6e98df7
“The flowers… they’re so beautiful,” Aira said, her gaze settling on the white Octanius flowers. She had seen these flowers before, in her past life. Back then, as Julienne’s daughter-in-law, she had personally cared for these flowers.640baf0a3d3054ce
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Looking at the tender edf72dfb02 young stems, Aira’s heart 68c558d857 clenched as she was ef7bf32503 reminded again that she 96482edfe9 had traveled back in 43a90c1eec time.99d3ae09853cdf52
“Aira…”0e5ef4a0a14e7c4c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Xavier gently cupped her 69efda4b43 cheek, guiding her gaze de31d4621b to meet his. The two of 4773ff258f them were alone 5e7c698ba4 in the garden, 259f77d9ae with no one ed7799df6a else around.20936e33bd1cdbf6
The warm sunlight c585a412ec spilled over them 6f63eae9e0 like a blessing, f1527c811b and Xavier leaned 139a110423 closer, his voice d69e06efb2 filled with longing.4b8e75aa96faf849
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“I want to kiss bb17a7d4ae you.” Xavier whispered as b39e4ac2d9 he leaned in closer.3c7295aabcc34dc7
Unaware of the 7f5064a61f Aira’s feelings, he 0c1e29c3d7 bends toward her.834721a6e611042a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Just as his lips 559c0bf88e almost touched hers, a 7524324a71 sudden sound broke the 7174ca2d12 moment—a sharp, bouncing noise.67b4201c7066fee6
Xavier froze, annoyed e4233eab77 by the interruption. He slowly 0c48fe46e8 looked around, 09169dd19f his eyes eed11e75a7 cold with 86bd38a6ab irritation. Aira followed his bd2c2eff80 gaze and saw d89937891f a woman entering 6795555dd5 the garden.511df2978d90f245
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Ah!”f68af0a54d4b82ea
The intruder, pretending 22ee3cbb91 to be startled, 5f7aeec0a1 widened her eyes 12e2996d96 and covered her cc45a3b55a mouth with her 76ff3fa380 hand. It was 0d68473092 none other 059724d8b2 than Luna, a6132a28d1 her younger df39ec7604 sister.1e6dd5d2860dc28b
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
When Xavier a872a82f13 realized Luna d20918432d was Aira’s 3bf599342b sister, his 438518bea6 irritation quickly 9a79ff8d3b faded. Unlike with 8bb5fb5b72 the servant dbf3c65ce7 earlier, his dd65ed1d68 emotions shifted 5d9d77b4ce instantly.2954651317fa23c3
“I’m sorry. I didn’t 9e2393180f know you 9e2c368096 were both efffc2d12f here…” Luna 62780660bb said, her 24d9cf6543 voice apologetic. But even as 8f71d1d9cd she spoke, she 637ea855fd walked towards them.11666c81c813cded
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Aira smiled f644f95313 faintly at 6fe71088bf the sight. She knew Luna’s af571f75b3 interruption wasn’t an 666a2b19a4 accident; it was bf20cd8fd6 intentional.3d271bc6f5c4092d
“We were just admiring 46000f7e6d the flowers,” Xavier said 59f815e027 with a gentle smile, e98cd62fbd his voice was polite 4355cfc57b and warm.42428d9bcf23217e
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Luna gave him 31cb8944bf a sweet, dazzling ff07417b5f smile before turning cc36c9e478 to Aira, Then, 4b700df105 with exaggerated concern, 65253f1f7e she said, “Aira, 50e350b276 I’ve been looking 9212874bf5 for you. I was so worried 82e9497c4e when I saw you 5d4700a59a looked unwell.”3ee04a798134508c
As Luna’s gaze flickered 6f6107fda5 over to Xavier, Aira 96422b7c28 felt a second wave 0fe3b73691 of discomfort. She knew Luna’s 9e600e1e3a tone was higher b70c530607 than usual, and 316315c0b9 her actions seemed ad61b78280 overly dramatic, trying f9ad231d68 to show off 0628155808 her delicate feelings 3f68b11e81 for Xavier.d184803c4208d895
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“You’ve liked my husband for a long time, haven’t you?”Aira thought 407159fc9a to herself.“You’ve been waiting 3adfe95006 for the perfect b9adfcfd7c moment to steal 570505956e him away.”e1bf1e92fcc6efe9
“Luna,” Aira said 782a43d92f coldly, her gaze 43c73fc538 sharp.3e40c7d08e4d1eb2
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Don’t worry. As you know, the 81ab6b84a0 Prince truly loves me d2d6104ff7 and cares for me,” 6a0c599aa6 she continued smoothly. “He brought 8c416eb6cf me here c09c521705 to show 00135c9b4d me these 2706b8b85b flowers to 7829f6225a lift my ccb43318f0 spirits and 10b0ba66da help me faaa3b9386 recover.”8550cda3725f1bda
At that, Aira 887cc573c7 caught a flash 5197209b18 of something in aec45cd72d Luna’s pink eyes—something 3f28a68cd0 sharp and bitter. Luna couldn’t hide f32bca8f76 her jealousy and 00f8cd045a resentment at the 5559028cf9 mention of Xavier’s f1d015183e affection. Yet, she 6eb25e8179 still wore 7accdde3ec the mask fd7f31d321 of a 4ee0bb152b caring friend.824bbc108eeef4c3
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Oh, by the way, 03c5167b72 Luna,” Aira said, as 912e4af06e if suddenly remembering something.34e333be0d7c724f
“That… person you’re writing letters to—have you met him yet?”f53eecc90bf32a66
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Luna’s expression froze, bf69082ba5 her face twisting 36631c2edd slightly in discomfort.293b032c25d1ccba
“W-What person?” she 304fed1a68 stammered.8945621fe8e07f41
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Aira smiled 058171236a innocently, her fd3fc7655c tone light 0527ad35b2 and unbothered.a85a5f94dd2df8b6
“Your secret lover. The one you’ve 0819eb9f77 been exchanging letters f38c67beb2 with.”f8de356c696bbc3f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish