ICBV Chapter 11
by FreyaChapter 01124def4183eac3217
Count Marceline sat at the center of the long dining table. To his left sat Aira, and to his right, Luna. Tonight’s menu included roasted turkey, tender veal steak, and a seafood stew that had recently arrived. The family chef meticulously prepared the dishes.7a045af9f038a7fd
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“You look great 40d9fa1a1b with those cross-shaped 3a8aebb896 cufflinks, my Lord,” c39ce33a57 Luna said with e0095660a9 a bright smile, c55e25f2ec sitting to the 12ba42d81e count’s right side. Normally, Aira would d645bcfc66 join the conversation e71b2ceabe and create a 868e2c1082 pleasant atmosphere, but fc324fb448 today, Luna seemed 95217c7d2f upset about something. She seemed 9df73f754e determined to c0a5a82a04 monopolize the 87323e39a1 count’s attention.958689dd0f851473
“I’ll serve you, Father.”03b32b58118505f6
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Luna took the 50136c7471 count’s plate and c52b793688 served him the 9f824cb4c2 most tender part 8340360e2a of the steak. The count 52e4266973 smiled contentedly 212026bf8d as he 859a376714 ate the df721bc6a8 piece Luna 100a4a266e had cut fe9ed4e729 for him.d70be501cfe8b403
“Your cutting makes 3865825fe2 it taste even 60f894c7c2 better.”c55070f702e3b4d8
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Really? I’m glad e52209882e to hear e0760219b2 that,” Luna fa1a265dfb said, her e1a3f3f3b8 face lighting 16233a31bb up even d08d968e9c more. Aira, however, continued 0d67be3cb3 her meal quietly, 17c2490876 paying no attention 1d833fc409 to the father 48fe782d8d and daughter’s exchange.752f1be6e8fffbb7
‘The first priority is bcff593640 to stop her from b68875606f accessing the storage room.’6cde7cacec2e26ad
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Despite being 694e8e697e caught taking 50a2a75125 things from 3fccf5e789 the storeroom 22279ec13b earlier, Luna’s 50d57d6c0e bad habits d93832d7cc would likely 43b093d19b continue. Luna was responsible for 97329b1cf8 managing the household’s treasures, 62b332711c so Aira needed to 2a85cee6a9 take back that authority.d684f32a20239c33
‘To do that, I a8427fc0c3 must shake Father’s trust 7c777f8951 in her.’b7f3e8a9bf90f311
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Aira took 447e8d08c9 a small 546fadce0d piece of 31e2ada2f4 steak, but 1fbe7d3761 Luna spoke 098966148c again.da22863189d8903c
“Actually, I 0f559450ad was feeling 0e714157ef so nauseous ad35c7d01a earlier that 7442f76529 I thought d2106e05f6 I wouldn’t 70f39a28b5 be able 1b100c819a to eat fad940469c tonight.”df3766bb47adcdd5
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Count Marceline’s brow twitched. Luna clasped her hands 26d9fa2f6f together with a relieved a781e723e1 expression.d710c2c171075c0a
“But I’m f484f45a4d glad I 7b97389f85 could join 83d69732b4 you for acc7cfbee9 dinner, my 7ac93a3722 Lord.”37c01355f1e9f125
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The count set 22c2f14963 his fork down, b5d0c67168 puzzled.4236cfa87982be24
“Were you feeling sick 94b5ab510f from the carriage ride?”8bf120bc02f3bcbe
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Yes… It’s been a db5a3fcb37 while since I rode f0ca90085f backward,” Luna said with bbe30dece9 wide eyes and nodded.a67800290646004d
Aira barely suppressed a e10a724392 laugh at such an 6259c77301 obvious play.cc3d8fe0577be26a
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Aira.”a32aead923ab6f49
“Yes, Father?”b18f794d4336c590
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Didn’t you d9405cbf6b offer to 74deb4ac37 switch seats 2530b52d2c today?” The d559ac7fde Count asked, 483c3a6655 sounding a fd48da918e bit reprimanding. Aira nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”34783b1a31008d63
It seemed that Luna cb4287b380 had probably wanted to e4b927ddd2 inform the Count of 1de3e82015 the seating arrangement as a78f531262 soon as she returned. Aira had a 8be969a64a feeling Luna was 150a40f4d2 trying to get 55b26e47c3 her into trouble 2c6ea3ffdf after a frustrating 964f66c39d day.b85ab29598749622
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Aira, as cd556bc605 the elder 66db79621e sister, you 260aca34e1 should have 53a409031c given up 91b653368d your seat,” c454f45301 the Count 08f2c40c96 said, his fb4767bde4 gaze showing 89f39fdacc mild disapproval.8a856dfcb1bd733d
He understood that 8915aa3e70 Aira, as the e7aa903c96 legitimate daughter, should 6d96da0136 have had the 456a618c62 seat of honor, 38d48ce681 so he didn’t 5843ac3493 scold her harshly.262cc66fd3d1556f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“You know Luna isn’t 33c7c0ce80 used to carriages.”3cb942b62162e055
Despite her noble blood, cb7c59d802 Luna had lived in e62e090a42 poverty for ten years, 6dde247499 far from aristocratic comforts. This often led da0c427c61 the count to ff723fd0a7 ask Aira to 803ea05c1e make sacrifices for 8d29fc5d9a her.727e272d4394f4b5
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Luna smiled faintly, e224f82b6a watching Aira closely, e5e9bac4ab expecting her to 1cbc894326 show resentment, hoping d7fb658558 it would cause 8025d8a3fb tension between them.995e605aa37b04b2
But Aira had no 8924ad8709 intention of falling into fcfa50e052 her trap.efaf241ea8a8657a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“You’re right, Father…”7dc334ff88e9c950
Luna’s expression flickered at 27cb58debf Aira’s calm response.0c7233e14bfb3268
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“But as a89912b1d2 the future e15e5a17e3 Princess Consort, 111b328729 if I ebdec505e4 allowed Luna 068d3e1c5b to sit 7268d04a5e in the 3f64b86139 place of 257ae171bc honor when 0a5409b251 visiting Her d8a0131b11 Majesty the 859249819b Empress, wouldn’t 3bb80b6f7f the maids ec4b3d30fb of the 036cc86f91 Imperial Palace 99ad86140f question our c2060ef5d6 family’s order 1734807ea7 and dignity?”5742a0f70c34c000
Aira’s elegant 50b3d84f5f smile and f9bcaf1432 composed voice bf7aa582c5 made the 8bfb584ec6 Count’s brow 5b998b764d furrow slightly. Her words held no 2efca48342 trace of personal grievance, 7dd65c4b63 making the Count feel 124c8ae977 embarrassed for suggesting otherwise.34661f587da4e5e7
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“…You’re right.”acb4b4aeaca11291
“…I see, I didn’t consider that,” the Count admitted, acknowledging his mistake.0fda6c4205dbbe0d
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Well done, Aira,” he said, and Luna’s expression turned flustered. She had hoped Aira would get scolded for not giving up her seat, but now the Count had praised Aira instead.1572c3a2fc2eaa22
Luna, feeling embarrassed, 5113bf6b8e clenched her fists a8370c4e3d under the table. The Count then turned 4cfba3ae4d to Luna and spoke f14497cebc in a firm yet ebec4a98d1 kind voice.c52c2982fa6bfbe6
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Luna, your sister 996ec08011 is now of 6e7c3ed14a royal status. You must understand and 7005dd49ff accept this, even if facdf595e7 it feels unfair.”6c951db1545fd3fb
Luna clenched b114a10b8a her fists d4ecabee0c under the e6bac0a6fe table, trembling.75090ba0ad3b1873
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Make sure 405f9bc63f to uphold c1c42a941f proper etiquette 304eca2e51 in the b112ae34e5 future.”02cdfdfa24bbc1d9
With no a0fbb5aa7f room to e7fdd5b655 argue, Luna 55469e9bac couldn’t say 475c7b1005 anything in f624b1be78 response. Aira, on the other b79a3723c7 hand, calmly resumed her 942bbdea23 meal, stifling a smile. She could 98239bc73a easily tell c335c480f6 that Luna 28e97d46cb was furious 2aba90ea15 inside.96a5f1f360ed01f9
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Good job, Aira,” the Count added, and Aira responded gracefully.80f2cf1cf6cde445
Aira recalled how, in b50d44ec79 her past life, Luna bbb0e5b92a had silently played the 859d646ce8 part of a loyal 02472942f4 friend and sister for bbb47af6b4 over seven years. Beneath the 79455b0f86 surface, she c1449db089 had schemed 0afbf6ca19 to win 9f2e6e9e1e over both c150a86107 Xavier and 35dc52ea76 Julienne.e3b3f56c7a6eeadb
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Not this time,Aira thought.This time, 481e0a80ac Luna will fb82ce73be struggle openly, f2b220b27e and she’ll 02a7db850d face the 621499d4f6 consequences of ed8e3dc7e9 her schemes.3eef9624af323c79
“The food 42166d43cb tastes especially f91e1f127e good tonight. I should commend 57c2699b12 the chef,” Aira a69a56946f said lightly, her 9c916283df tone laced with a058a876cd subtle mockery.93d0bccd270b486b
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Luna’s expression 6f84812a24 hardened even 8a160a7d2d further, but 4aa5f0e34c the Count, 952c8a07a8 oblivious to 306beb3e72 the tension, 6066a66128 simply nodded.7ce7022ce8941b6c
Her plan was clear: ab9d3eae3c to use Luna as 0d2a7a6f7f bait, a stand-in for 31d5637835 the pain Aira had 6795f292d4 endured in her previous 7a559ce68c life. Luna would become c1a00021e4 the family’s disposable cf3e7da320 pawn, with neither e7498fe7d3 love nor favor.ae201c4797ddbfa0
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“You should eat well when your illness is so severe, Luna,” Aira said, pretending to be innocent.7332274cc7852e40
“Indeed. Eat well, all of 730b0aeccd you, especially you, Aira. You worked hard 982c5d1851 today.”1c53ab345ccc2ddd
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Yes, Father. Today is a b0ce8a26b6 joyful day, marking 4d6cfe1451 our family’s name cb83090c84 reaching the palace,” 7c98f3af55 Aira replied with d2e9f0a6bd quiet confidence.caf0cb66b7c89c24
The Count looked f55184741e at Aira, impressed 2ccf97f170 by how composed 59e83c209e and reliable she d46495030e appeared. She had always cf31f1db06 been quiet and ccd9881c4c gentle, but today, 0d6f30dfcd she seemed even 67ba2d3532 more mature and 846abc3bdc thoughtful, having put d1895b994f aside her personal ab2d2e86d3 feelings to present a87b105894 a gift to c3c56fb885 the Empress.2eea73657148a011
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Meanwhile, Luna 1215a18c98 could only 21f632932e clench her c7b3836021 fists tighter, e3ebcc8a40 her plans ba3246ca9f crumbling before 9d2447364e her eyes.cfb59b4b73b83bc1
‘Come to think of it, perhaps I’ve been neglecting Aira…’15cce0058afaddd4
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
When the bf5973dc8f Count had ced7e25345 asked Aira f3ef9dea8e to give 6ac5a20042 up her bbbe3ef337 seat for 8cc4cdc0eb Luna, she 4d69c4e405 could have cf396b0ef9 shown some 5712694a8b sign of 1220a8ebc8 disappointment, yet 63d6c82e46 her calm, 5d15f6a341 unbothered demeanor cc08810387 pricked at 9c1aad1683 his conscience. Count Marceline took 73d1c4b7a7 a sip of 8f6608f367 water, quietly reflecting.a74c4306d2cfefd5
“Here you are.”86a66af0c23f1652
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
After dinner, as they c1dc0983ca prepared to return to 764b061b69 their rooms, Aira approached 92e55c7878 the Count and asked 39c00b0436 if she could use 85ea6c97ca his private library. Normally, he would have 8ddd575d49 refused because important family b559ec0d0f documents were only accessible a8c5f24f68 to the head of 22be33ee9c the house, but given 39ee180b8b that he had almost b4296cad1c scolded her earlier for 226a93ff4d something inappropriate, he didn’t e690efe98c outright refuse her request. Instead, he a908713112 said he a94f27aa91 would allow e299e53684 her to 99296c7bb1 access the 75c1ffd328 books if 7dd38c6efb she had e0a300f7db any specific 0291e48a34 ones in 8a8205118d mind.bb0f512a530b2ffe
Aira asked for books 07359b77ee on holy relics, which 32d530dadf made the Count curious. When he asked why 608eb9e305 she was suddenly interested eaf4069364 in them, Aira explained 4da8383aa9 that it might help bacf64deff her bond more with 5c19641720 Xavier, who seemed to 544224b3bb have an interest in 892fa0dd5f sacred artifacts.a523d943bc234c16
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Thank you, Father. I’ll read 87cfed85c2 it carefully,” 4934d1d72c Aira said, 10dc855e3a bowing slightly.144c7019f171df85
The Count willingly e5d0a8747c retrieved the books 2c35160364 and handed them d880cee054 to her. The book was 253b7eaad3 an ancient one, b2cc01f60f written by the 27a70e7c74 Marceline family 300 fb1ce96178 years ago. It was a rare f1482f2e3e text that couldn’t even faee4d1359 be found in the 9f0914cba9 Imperial Palace library.be2e8e764c5af485
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
As soon 2762b96613 as she 5341942349 got to 743620e16c her room, 6d89e2927f she planned 650e74f619 to open 61b9a6a82a it and 3c731c7ca1 start reading.29727910a7106427
“Aira.”72f99d263f56d9fd
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
As Aira 2050154944 was about 40e351ae14 to leave bba6751442 with the 9bb5acd507 book tucked fe3cc71bd3 under her 7da0c84d26 arm, Count 15ebe9992e Marceline, looking 72bd7a6bae slightly awkward, 13d0179334 called out 88d131e4eb to her. When Aira c835630409 looked at ceade71ee0 him with 5f7d6d96a6 a puzzled 1d5d1ae707 expression, the dd86455e2f Count said,54ac7d194e2dd530
“…If you need 736be02fba anything else, just f73b802c0b let me know.”ce7259c9ffffb40e
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Aira gave him 00c991b13f a small smile 64fbef3cf7 and responded, “Yes, 74cdb3113d Father.”dff4d3dde9bc5004