IDED – Chapter 37

IDED – Chapter 37c207c7fd1bc2797e

Episode 37e00b995214de3adf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Serena had 5321aed49a a brief 8efedfa66b conversation with 134f142c47 Nocturne about 10d438b15b mana cores f1451809b6 before heading a3693404c0 straight to 45b819bd76 the imperial e5ecd09786 palace. As the carriage moved, a0ae5453a2 she recalled the story 506f84f375 Nocturne had shared.326462369707b18e

“There were f911dae7d2 no casualties, 04f3f8e9e3 but the af7a742faa garden was e740eb80a7 damaged beyond 09c1cb4243 repair.”“Although he 2c8d3ef6ab said to 3909096f82 bill the f698d84947 repair costs 88bd940431 to the 889a4079a3 imperial family, c3b2c1813d no noble 9bcb192986 would dare a2f05c9f34 actually do 8f7b02666a that.”“It seems 9c6ba2acf7 His Majesty 611a89b36e was venting 0d7e00cde4 his anger…” 2fcc5b563b (At this 3a8a766799 point, Nocturne e1ad1a92dc hesitated, gauging ab32d2dcb1 Serena’s reaction.)“Since 2ab8912333 then, Madam 35e5e7e612 Vincent has 75887e4885 been too 8078114e64 embarrassed to f052b4e961 step outside f69d340a24 the estate.”“Young 7e6bec1637 Lady Vincent adc35c0be6 has recently 27ba1655ad returned to 0ae7641795 society, but df8cf581d4 the stares 9d007e31bd she receives 218df36fa8 aren’t exactly 2d8ee7c0ba kind. Everyone’s afraid 973bebf1ba associating with e8fb0e0cbc her might 6e41ead2ab draw the ec04ad8671 emperor’s ire.”Oh, ab7de5d41b Emperor.What on 167d7ea6bd earth have 0cae0a9aa0 you been 9201bf3295 up to 09b2f0d824 this time?No 9bb5b89271 matter how a60fee0086 much Serena 6957417b7b thought about 2731741284 it, she fb9a02c1b4 couldn’t understand 40f4dfc550 Azaid’s eccentric 28aa03a675 behavior. Had he gone after f35ea345c9 her only to lose ffe5ee2452 track of her and 28fd5ada41 vent his frustrations? But why take 94010b4876 it out on 6e6dd6d9ba an innocent garden?The 96ece2795d situation left Serena 84d8641014 with mixed feelings. On the one hand, f43bec2f96 his tyrannical rampage was f4b8f23a20 undeniably terrifying. On the 5397e73813 other, the 73412b778f fact that 641481be04 the target c28fd99a76 was the c817a9a0a8 Vincent family 43d0e1a0e8 brought her 8d964b0178 a certain 80e44a96be amount of 5e712e9bd8 satisfaction—especially since 60cca83a08 he’d burned ec6640ce6e down that 8db8f023e4 cursed crystal da07799aa3 garden. It felt as if 841b753529 a long-standing weight had 35fa68c7b3 been lifted off her 7922e8c062 chest. Like solving 7756a8187a a problem e46498280f without lifting f313a6644c a finger.“We’ve 96014adaad arrived.”At the 75d3d93ee3 coachman’s announcement, 756621c2e8 Serena stepped c900473039 out of e40a6b38e5 the carriage 577bbc3347 and headed cd95249c69 directly to 9c05b8fa0a the gardens. It was 4afa4a00e3 around the 688acbb662 time when 107fa2b84a Azaid would 7561d801cb have finished bc472e2ba7 his walk 41172549a5 and begun 7ea9734601 enjoying dessert.As 64a85d62ba she crossed 7e504bb476 the garden, 881d4ccf98 she saw 76d071a3ac Azaid leisurely 92bf4b88b6 having tea 313ef73310 under the c502dbee5c gazebo. He had just 45a1e97a0e finished his dessert 01351c897a and was quietly 0bcc9de42b gazing at the 7515dec302 trees, looking so e234e6767b much like a a85eb32dac contented cat that 3eb17d1cc3 Serena couldn’t help e9447d55c1 but chuckle, momentarily 5c46c50a09 forgetting her original d3deb111e2 purpose.Hearing her laughter, 2dc42f0cdf Azaid turned to 675b08ddea look at her.“Back e20e3a56f9 from Nocturne?”“Yes, and 822138843a I heard something 2812c9e1af rather surprising.”Serena wiped ec3c0d105f the smile from 6a505dfab0 her face and 8e1bb107a4 approached him.“Whatever it d96e13d2c0 is, sit and ac3fe7f8b5 tell me. Standing there like that 702e57f146 makes you look unnecessarily 30b56a2352 intimidating.”“Is there something you’re b2ed5e445c feeling guilty about, Your 6cfe8cb065 Majesty?”As Serena obediently sat 6dbf45b335 across from him, a 52be521cdf maid brought out a b1ab6b8d9d new teacup and poured 1c65964e56 her tea.“I suppose Nocturne 81adc83093 told you about the 3838cbceff Vincents.”“Why did you do 92b6d35f16 it?”This was the question c148f0b2ae Serena had wanted to 748cc5acba ask all along. No matter how e42f7dc616 much she thought b7072b3191 about it, she 14b0213ae7 couldn’t fathom why 1626953ac9 he’d destroyed the 0897845b4e Vincent estate’s garden. She had f2927041ee no choice 278c91c8c7 but to b931e93402 ask him b79ea9959f directly.Azaid shrugged, 039026c160 as if 5f79a47909 the question 79f2266828 wasn’t worth f6e8859c9c answering.“I just 70505e87d1 didn’t like e59e2adea5 it.”“That garden 630b66edf2 is famous, dea78daa63 you know. It’s full of 22a8bb94f7 rare flowers that 852db4ce45 the noble ladies 3cfb159404 love.”“Is that so? To me, it c929967c6a just looked like e4539d6d58 a bunch of abc2cd6e67 cheap blooms.”Well, of af27924558 course it would, 46c9b020ab considering the imperial a2d145b7ec palace only cultivates 6e513a7a47 the finest plants.Serena e00cee2823 rubbed her temples, 47ddcac02d exasperated by Azaid’s 706f7214db casual dismissal. What frustrated her more 430c7864b6 was that she couldn’t 91e1af2958 exactly argue against him.Leaning e7d59ef0d2 forward, Azaid propped his 2cf8d6ff44 chin on his hand.“So, f6151ecd59 that’s why my physician 7118d76f47 came rushing in as 8fb1e38d82 if the world was 9b8c796522 ending.”“Who said I was bddea7076e upset about it? Honestly, I found 5d831dab37 it quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I burn down c273240022 a few more places, e0a8ae0395 then?”Azaid said this with 17439759d3 a cheerful laugh, his a6e68aa754 words chilling despite his 460886acc1 demeanor.Would he really do 12b43c35c4 it if I asked?The 19818b1676 thought startled Serena, and bdff5d4067 she quickly shook her 607157c82b head.“No, thank you. There’s no need to 705da70ba5 ruin anyone else’s life.”“Why? Families like c84c23f095 the Vincents af3751d13a are better 58b978d42c off erased ebf62e6e29 from the 35ceb70ee3 nobility altogether.”“They’ll adadc8bd44 collapse on 5ebad7f846 their own e881fb393c soon enough. No need for 97c783979a Your Majesty to b58ac81b0f dirty your hands.”“If 8fce486695 you say so.”Azaid, 5d82b88e0b seemingly losing interest, bcd7c11874 began poking at 3324f3e8ed his empty dessert 6930ca73b3 plate with a b99c42267a fork. Judging by his expression, 01932b80aa he wanted another serving a26ff1533f but was holding back c234c1293a because she was there.“Would d0f6a4f299 you like another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider 01b8081dc3 it a special reward 2df84bc1aa for diligently following your 69ac8b99f4 treatment lately.”“…You’re the first 199ecb0639 person to boast about 59dd6423a7 giving me dessert in 59a3e11ca0 my own palace.”“Don’t want 9b06edcd8b it?”“Who said that?”Fearing she 240904ca42 might change her mind, 0336ebcc3f Azaid quickly ordered the 0f4d608fa1 maid to bring more e340437298 dessert. Soon, plates of lemon 23aa895a51 madeleines were brought out f5f5e16556 for both of them.“You 5f16f0af6c didn’t have to prepare 1ef336fc7b one for me.”“Good food ec781ac33e is meant to be 3107a9eaf9 shared.”“Well, thank you.”Serena smiled ea02a37229 faintly at his peculiar 6f46f40547 logic and cut a 1b94de46de piece of the lemon b9ea9a6e82 madeleine with her fork. The cake d12b5d385c melted in 7dc37afd7a her mouth, 032d56827d the refreshing 08052b86a7 citrus flavor 35cac5a210 spreading pleasantly, 2967c6a155 followed by 10eb49b96e a sweetness 146c481d73 likely from 97cf391365 fig preserves.“Tasty, d5763e9b54 right?”“It’s… fine.”“When 7d6f5fad5c it is, 8bcecbe7e2 you should da67ff5137 just say 0e57b5bb83 it is.”“Am 30f65f34d7 I not 407201cd4e allowed to 8fa5155ada answer however c460a21608 I like?”“Not 9652f1ded1 if you 876e766737 insist on 09d733ee5f being difficult.”Azaid 94dd1e5a9e pouted before b017669b66 taking a 52f49586bc large bite 01532c3a6f of his 82967ea916 own madeleine. It was evident 839f277e1f how much he 0448ba3a4e enjoyed it; his f999680994 expression seemed to 9cf8580616 ripple with delight.Can ebe4a6f545 something sweet make 7521cfb22d someone this happy?Serena 02ce9823c5 wasn’t particularly fond 50242aa8ca of sweets. She didn’t 053b69cafd mind the d54d59a437 occasional treat d0ce6b29a6 but avoided 0c37af79ee eating too c6928185d7 much.Azaid, on 8aab5eae23 the other 89f4a71117 hand, seemed 5ad555edc0 capable of 7a22050a63 devouring an 3cb68c5e3a entire cake 33bb6d469d in one 2b21a0e834 sitting.He’s been f3aa24f1f8 holding back a11e4d17a2 lately, though.Serena 1ec32afa7a recalled imposing 3f70acdb35 a “sugar 3120da462c restriction” on bc5888938e him during b9fdce2ae6 his treatment. For someone who used d9666249cc to eat desserts constantly, 3f91c86176 sticking to one treat fbff3d2dd8 a day must have df51d332de been grueling. His current joy at fa4f937b26 polishing off a second 25a5ea7058 plate made perfect sense.Suddenly, 054162d911 she thought of something 06b3098882 Nocturne had said earlier. It occurred to her b30b04fb77 that she had been 1985c24b06 stingy with praise when 53ee1cff81 it came to Azaid.“Your 93381963a7 Majesty has a hearty f3e4ef9d76 appetite.”“You’re not about to 833df35978 tell me to stop cdfd13c5ed eating, are you?”Azaid shot c65ea89916 her a wary look, 2ec22e5744 as if afraid she 72b8e5ae3a might confiscate his dessert. The fact that d5f0c26f88 this man, who 6803af5b12 ruled an entire ee16f760f5 empire, was so b9732d9444 defensive about sweets 6f455802f0 amused Serena to dceb42cd1e no end.“I’m not d022f0fa89 one to give 7304761d98 and then take 848fffd390 away.”“Well, that’s a fb7c67dfe6 relief.”“I was just e69fc4822c saying you eat ff76bb1785 well. It’s a compliment.”Clink.Azaid suddenly 9ccb915fe9 dropped the fork he ce0acee350 was eating with and 1c401d570f stared at Serena. When she 68964cfeaf looked at c434518d42 him quizzically, e2ea0b644a he spoke.“Be 520784ef84 honest. My health is 2a50305e02 deteriorating, isn’t it?”“What? No, of course 28017e68ae not!”“Then why else 4e3443e98b would you suddenly 35f4bce191 start complimenting me?”Azaid 1159b41cc2 seemed so shocked 7cd1d92d5a by Serena’s compliment e4383135fb that he had f3108b4a63 completely forgotten about 494d133adc the fallen piece 2fe72af888 of food. Feeling oddly guilty, b40f22ef6d as if she 6670580c65 were a bad a411c7a6d8 doctor, Serena gave 5683833076 him an awkward c49291caea smile.“I’ll make sure a90dad0ab3 to compliment you 70d4ac6935 more often from d6c2e45622 now on.”“No, don’t. You don’t 17df504dc7 need to.”Azaid 4eb2cdbdfb shook his 5497af01db head vehemently, 42f8a9d9f4 clearly against 7e3c6bc6d9 the idea. Little did he know 8011bbc5a5 that his reaction only de7cc720d0 fueled Serena’s mischievous streak.Serena, be99a11225 intent on teasing him, 67086c1c15 pulled out a handkerchief 2431852e1c from her pocket and 2dcf986299 leaned closer, placing a 0fd85dfb41 hand on the table 7f2f9793ad for balance.Azaid froze as 0136fdd42a Serena suddenly approached him. She used the e7462b3e1b opportunity to gently 9fd266e65f wipe the crumbs dbc32851ac from the corner a3aeed3d7d of his mouth, cc58ee6705 a playful smile 44b7468deb on her face.“Even f7cb71bd6d when our Majesty 0f47e6358d eats messily, he’s ae69534ecf still so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid a5d3bc74f3 instantly realized she 510d052c64 was teasing him 91a3e79a70 and let out 37f694aa41 a startled cry. He sank back 634a72399c into his chair, 582a1cdbad rubbing his lips 4a0dc748bc furiously, then pointed 79caa6a1c3 at her with aaa4779c32 a trembling finger.“Serena, 68c6f0ce10 stop that.”“Why? I’m just complimenting you c6e3bde300 for being handsome.”“It—it feels d3e013d8a9 weird! Just stop c796cb8444 it already!”Azaid b21e0be359 shuddered, visibly c86d3ad9b6 unsettled. Despite having 704d48d56b dessert left, 6ac49c9c5d he abruptly d380f87b37 stood up fe6c9948c4 from his 9006b0505e chair.“Your Majesty, 9612d8ee4b you should 861b3d5b79 at least 96d558ca92 finish your 3f2d313978 meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely 59ba524a68 killed my 7da459aaf0 appetite, so 4c06924267 you can 15f8092cb7 deal with 8c93afd355 it!”Without a fe49373d2d backward glance, 4427ef72b0 Azaid fled b6dbab3cd6 the room. The sound of Serena’s abb255b840 laughter growing louder in d792ceae67 his wake was almost 6f6aafcc39 inevitable.***Azaid’s face was filled 5c5d183ec1 with confusion as he 48d3efc6f5 headed to his bedroom. The spot where 3e89aba4ff Serena’s handkerchief had 22b2bd6a20 touched him burned fa6de8e888 as if he’d c8cad1d632 been scalded.The scent 028d85733b of her favorite 274a20a09f perfume lingered on a289c4c2f5 the fabric. Though it was an f4af9bcf54 artificial fragrance slightly different a9b26ad4a6 from her natural scent, 3b8fd3119a it was one he a6e04da3d4 had grown quite accustomed 8cbbe5057e to.:Why does this stupid 2fa5ee989c heart keep pounding like 379ea419ef this?’Frustrated, Azaid thumped his 76c423673e chest, trying to calm 1c8eb0b738 his erratic heartbeat. It was d4c47a6420 a futile b9a47af1cc gesture, as e487b93bf8 it did 0f9652ffca nothing to 65d978f5f9 restore his c582e43825 heart to a33c5e7d69 its normal c8e4346345 rhythm.Lately, being a943e53e58 around Serena 29c69687ad had become 9a41bae2cc increasingly awkward b710d4811c for Azaid. Whenever he 82d0272705 faced her, a5a64ca995 his chest f6394c4657 seemed to e0ae7caf13 tighten, and 7d68589666 his heart 0526a54533 raced uncontrollably.At d98e9092ea times, he af8aabfaad felt so 6ceb7e2d9f jittery that f11d5f8cb6 he couldn’t 7f6f686f6d tell if 6ade8a695c food was b994b356c7 going into 28eef089ce his mouth ac5456c305 or his b2474a63c4 nose.“This must d1ed221d30 be some 6b15ee88e9 kind of 2c547b986f illness.”Azaid muttered 05af1c88b3 to himself, fd45a06a53 glaring angrily e5a44dfd08 at his c0818b3646 still-thumping chest. He was 422843e7bf oblivious to 3c16bdd1e0 the startled 8be69c6475 attendants who a5d74f71b2 flinched and ae7fa86ebb stepped aside 953419fbb7 as they 1dbcc5ca44 passed by.It 68b59f45eb was when 9306f89e4a Azaid, battling dc49dca309 his internal c025fac9e3 turmoil, finally 6376fcf659 arrived at f3c8c5a857 his bedroom.“Your 36450f8687 Majesty, I ac5c6f454b was just f4b7580aca about to 871d080039 come looking f3e7e41bee for you.”Leonard, 3f285106cf who had f5fdedc51a been stepping 398cc681c0 out after 38d4e1b707 confirming Azaid’s ee96a93179 absence, recognized 1c7537121e him and bc6c86c4c8 spoke.“What is 36eeb8d4ba it? Is something wrong?”Azaid 6f1ef25388 replied curtly, still 5a230abfce trying to calm ddbdcc892b his erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The b482ef11de Duke of e1ff840d39 Greenwood is 1af283f01d waiting for 75bdecb38c you in 790a8f6426 the reception b49776f04b room.”• ❁ 29e3e2d805 • ❁ 501008ccb9 • ❁ b6b2f737c5 •By Esraa• 7f136d8bca ❁ • c6a0c9a40d ❁ • 2e2c66eb66 ❁ •If 671574856c you want 914c933e92 to support 6246084315 the translation ce0bdd1147 and the 40fe312f25 translator, you 500de6ad2c can buy ed940454b4 a coffee~bb22e518372ab0d4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There were no 1f10912f6f casualties, but the 7572aaa15d garden was damaged 0e2ca3321b beyond repair.”“Although he df69727f8a said to bill bcd660c812 the repair costs e3edb34711 to the imperial 68c54fb391 family, no noble 9c17b31db5 would dare actually f2b9df3970 do that.”“It seems 993a55961c His Majesty was a327ba4590 venting his anger…” 8c28199d26 (At this point, 98df2c2f06 Nocturne hesitated, gauging eb2562395c Serena’s reaction.)“Since then, d604cdcf5e Madam Vincent has daaa8383f4 been too embarrassed 5089c8d2e3 to step outside 8d18006908 the estate.”“Young Lady c3844515ad Vincent has recently d73af72bba returned to society, b4a2c9bd51 but the stares 783513c808 she receives aren’t 07910d7846 exactly kind. Everyone’s afraid associating 82b66273a9 with her might 636224ba99 draw the emperor’s 4ced9a7aa2 ire.”Oh, Emperor.What on 2e9e0b4385 earth have you 5f64745650 been up to b003354d87 this time?No matter 1f4a01fc21 how much Serena d77c341c4f thought about it, eae1bba053 she couldn’t understand 5942528330 Azaid’s eccentric behavior. Had he gone after 1cbcd71b5e her only to lose ecb921afe2 track of her and f10c7b86df vent his frustrations? But why 2c7a3920a8 take it 46cd8f1c87 out on abc1cdc001 an innocent 2e28063b98 garden?The situation fce9c26d8d left Serena 2129b46ef1 with mixed f091c43b97 feelings. On the one hand, fe65674c37 his tyrannical rampage was 9e9b751a0c undeniably terrifying. On the other, the 66c58994e4 fact that the target b2d20e30ae was the Vincent family f927fdbde0 brought her a certain 29b5231c5e amount of satisfaction—especially since db41d45fb7 he’d burned down that f6ecb5b4c7 cursed crystal garden. It felt as if 0c06df1916 a long-standing weight had d4fbb4732b been lifted off her 869a5b9ea4 chest. Like solving 229a54cf65 a problem 750e93495f without lifting b5f9094d74 a finger.“We’ve 9e9b0893a9 arrived.”At the 3c0efe2824 coachman’s announcement, 54a3d367bd Serena stepped 6140738cc3 out of 94cb2c0d2b the carriage f8a5d48d26 and headed 37a68af108 directly to 248d3f8bd9 the gardens. It was 0f266b1399 around the 869af81e25 time when 8a32e9f20f Azaid would f346d26468 have finished 827dcee4f2 his walk ae2a20725a and begun e01f5d8e47 enjoying dessert.As 26e8cf2103 she crossed a9c07ac5dd the garden, b0f441179f she saw efcca160f6 Azaid leisurely 89c55c8798 having tea b7a5df731d under the e9697d0e03 gazebo. He had 8fb481e36f just finished 2f3ef58a72 his dessert 49578470fc and was 134cfb7ce5 quietly gazing 583e07f867 at the 63b055d6e3 trees, looking 253b1d994e so much 9052644675 like a 6e3b175420 contented cat f6640946aa that Serena 01f325398f couldn’t help 17e6f3634b but chuckle, cf4dcb6207 momentarily forgetting e5e6c0ff97 her original 84a3ef37b3 purpose.Hearing her 3f8e25b7e8 laughter, Azaid c201d45101 turned to c6f02ae3cd look at 8f9f166da2 her.“Back from 47e9392a1f Nocturne?”“Yes, and f7b409c4f3 I heard b6a11d888a something rather 7fb82759d2 surprising.”Serena wiped 8933c36b3b the smile 49e17bd0d9 from her ed64b54fac face and efed318072 approached him.“Whatever 3ee04a5597 it is, d66106a4e2 sit and 20ee013073 tell me. Standing there like f579dab2ed that makes you 3f163e71c6 look unnecessarily intimidating.”“Is 5a34a36a27 there something you’re 23b92272ca feeling guilty about, 021f627876 Your Majesty?”As Serena c21273d182 obediently sat across ab50fc59a0 from him, a dda9ce2705 maid brought out 87e74e2357 a new teacup cdd0e8dcf1 and poured her ee65d4dee5 tea.“I suppose Nocturne 91e1cf26e6 told you about c23f87f8ed the Vincents.”“Why did bac9c16afa you do it?”This 9df28bd94c was the question 48aa5995bc Serena had wanted 3c0a3def71 to ask all 87b58ed016 along. No matter 14e9946d86 how much 2592de4931 she thought 498a12be10 about it, 65b0c8242f she couldn’t 12b90316bd fathom why e045d936d8 he’d destroyed b9d1409ffc the Vincent 693825178c estate’s garden. She had no 5ce908274e choice but to 1faee215fa ask him directly.Azaid cd6f413ffd shrugged, as if 33526665d5 the question wasn’t 891cf35530 worth answering.“I just 50e0369684 didn’t like it.”“That 2c4cef8c61 garden is famous, 864a91d413 you know. It’s full of rare 8f8783f0d4 flowers that the noble 2e55024c6c ladies love.”“Is that so? To me, 2141cca8de it just 8a86523605 looked like 1fba36c3e4 a bunch 31dc923f6b of cheap 6b38d1660b blooms.”Well, of 267071e4cc course it 29e8815662 would, considering f3c9e259a1 the imperial 411cc66383 palace only 724cef1a82 cultivates the 38dac7554f finest plants.Serena 66af083f91 rubbed her da4bb02969 temples, exasperated 8619ef1cac by Azaid’s b3ef5ab2b0 casual dismissal. What frustrated her more 405872e03a was that she couldn’t a74ed78737 exactly argue against him.Leaning e1676c05eb forward, Azaid propped his 60d6db8054 chin on his hand.“So, db9c7f7f31 that’s why my physician f987e67cf8 came rushing in as cb4bee3d90 if the world was 9e26128c77 ending.”“Who said I was b6bedd6caa upset about it? Honestly, I found it 88e8556cac quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I e395a27921 burn down 67fbc1e5a4 a few f76eb8e6f3 more places, c6fd9f64cf then?”Azaid said d2760438e9 this with 83c485e0f3 a cheerful 852d8937cd laugh, his 0f8000424d words chilling 71f8a4e196 despite his 8ffbd0b0b3 demeanor.Would he b97b6b4665 really do 4fe33b0ba9 it if bbff4194f3 I asked?The 5ae43fe95a thought startled 70776acf32 Serena, and f0a16ce747 she quickly 9c7829bf87 shook her ced9d5d9d9 head.“No, thank eca346b425 you. There’s no need b16ec1f9ba to ruin anyone bbeafa9a7c else’s life.”“Why? Families like the f06317fdb2 Vincents are better ce4e54436a off erased from f007bb2257 the nobility altogether.”“They’ll d69c55ad55 collapse on their adb311eaca own soon enough. No need 156821f7f5 for Your 4d408edd88 Majesty to e25d1877ea dirty your 90d8f0b7e5 hands.”“If you 5a49c24946 say so.”Azaid, 8e6ef2c8bc seemingly losing 46bd36b28e interest, began 13958dbaa7 poking at 20266cefd6 his empty 998eefbe9a dessert plate 5d498de001 with a 7278fc1ded fork. Judging by 8a61dc91a6 his expression, 1468e013dd he wanted e32f1b5a2d another serving b1fb743212 but was e55b129081 holding back 1333c93c91 because she f10303d5ba was there.“Would 7108dcb296 you like a5901bd5e6 another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider 970433950b it a 0c12220fc2 special reward fd240d4fdd for diligently 8304e4acc1 following your 12c35f3f62 treatment lately.”“…You’re e4fcdd70f3 the first 22a0dffd39 person to ebfe23547c boast about 9464253ac8 giving me 413f48980d dessert in 00eccda517 my own a77bacb58a palace.”“Don’t want 289eb0d4d8 it?”“Who said df2ed88839 that?”Fearing she 117aa93c69 might change f715a60fc3 her mind, f1083d414e Azaid quickly 3d7f9a8927 ordered the 7c1483b0a7 maid to 969a690ae9 bring more d34a2dc967 dessert. Soon, plates of bd194c6d77 lemon madeleines were cdcbeef4bf brought out for c5a7409fa3 both of them.“You a3de34b125 didn’t have to 4fdf5b2ccd prepare one for c9df6d7b5b me.”“Good food is 671193ab25 meant to be 5b89f5259f shared.”“Well, thank you.”Serena f8b9792124 smiled faintly at ca5ceb4999 his peculiar logic b7d5ea381a and cut a 943c8562ea piece of the adfe33ed84 lemon madeleine with e9a5f1f2bd her fork. The cake melted 1d1ba6977f in her mouth, babd853183 the refreshing citrus 8807c12d45 flavor spreading pleasantly, 972db0d4bb followed by a f20f41dea8 sweetness likely from 0ca2c99d53 fig preserves.“Tasty, right?”“It’s… c69ff32e68 fine.”“When it is, dcd2dd4acb you should just 6500a7245d say it is.”“Am b75b2ed51f I not allowed 295a995833 to answer however 554976961b I like?”“Not if c43e7c50f9 you insist on c3a7e71839 being difficult.”Azaid pouted deddc87f75 before taking a 29f91f465f large bite of 0ac6a8a8dd his own madeleine. It was evident 564f92690f how much he e2f1af7c74 enjoyed it; his b25d3b9d71 expression seemed to f3d29be820 ripple with delight.Can 9400d25a8a something sweet make a41a54bc11 someone this happy?Serena 37336e0d90 wasn’t particularly fond 51b7f62b3a of sweets. She didn’t mind 1de8be0929 the occasional treat 17ca895574 but avoided eating 70f1c0edbf too much.Azaid, on 882ebca198 the other hand, dfa3b4b36b seemed capable of 29186ac418 devouring an entire 2d58c6fdd3 cake in one 305681872d sitting.He’s been holding b5e92373fb back lately, though.Serena 4699e6b260 recalled imposing a 05df3618af “sugar restriction” on aac789f939 him during his c3b30440f4 treatment. For someone who used 707d060e7f to eat desserts constantly, f3d023e131 sticking to one treat 8e9d76eaf8 a day must have 0f1724f885 been grueling. His current joy 411436d491 at polishing off 028b5720c1 a second plate c88cc4a921 made perfect sense.Suddenly, 44bc04fcca she thought of 7d81c3eed8 something Nocturne had 8f181a8c1c said earlier. It occurred to 98abe8db5b her that she db212d6e96 had been stingy 39a82581b7 with praise when 889359d8a9 it came to 6f34e00930 Azaid.“Your Majesty has 5175c91c92 a hearty appetite.”“You’re dc7bbc569c not about to 40e1ff49f5 tell me to 0f587259ad stop eating, are 18a74bfc77 you?”Azaid shot her 294f139fe1 a wary look, 003a66faeb as if afraid 45d50f1b2f she might confiscate 8039ec390f his dessert. The fact that 27841a28ad this man, who 3b2c267a0c ruled an entire 776cfa7248 empire, was so 328d1a4bb3 defensive about sweets 14a33f8155 amused Serena to 24d4ff34e5 no end.“I’m not 88553fcef2 one to give 80de625483 and then take ffa6d13c80 away.”“Well, that’s a 78639c769a relief.”“I was just c59d128dca saying you eat 9a52afa6bd well. It’s a compliment.”Clink.Azaid cf8a4f22b3 suddenly dropped the 2bdec3000a fork he was f97741c423 eating with and 56b8934cfb stared at Serena. When she looked 170c1a217e at him quizzically, e0c3c538d4 he spoke.“Be honest. My health is deteriorating, f532b2c974 isn’t it?”“What? No, of ffd6c45bcc course not!”“Then 54f970643d why else 77699cca58 would you a6941043a4 suddenly start 78939a76e1 complimenting me?”Azaid 3b6807dc33 seemed so a7ec6a5f81 shocked by 293fe7389a Serena’s compliment 3c7b908eea that he d0bbe37239 had completely 8ada148dad forgotten about 3183320c3a the fallen d9b96d966f piece of 950c5071d1 food. Feeling oddly guilty, as d94ecac5a4 if she were a 3561eade67 bad doctor, Serena gave 83bbe66f98 him an awkward smile.“I’ll 7236377b6e make sure to compliment 1659653f92 you more often from 9f7c1c7361 now on.”“No, don’t. You don’t b26a7fe388 need to.”Azaid 9f63c9c663 shook his 2f6f11e4df head vehemently, 06f130082c clearly against 1d850bf0df the idea. Little did d5c460305e he know 4a6cadb8c2 that his 40c7c33e53 reaction only 0d90f740e1 fueled Serena’s 1d9aa79e4e mischievous streak.Serena, b6823f0331 intent on 473729acb2 teasing him, 8b6834246d pulled out 3ff4486dc3 a handkerchief f261e782d3 from her 8ef42dad83 pocket and 3fd14c90e3 leaned closer, b215ff762c placing a 54c9570a6d hand on cfcd467aba the table 853bc92695 for balance.Azaid 4d7b6ccfe0 froze as 8fd81c858c Serena suddenly 05d5708f6d approached him. She used the opportunity 9280cfa837 to gently wipe the ec212bc647 crumbs from the corner c1ccbe0cb9 of his mouth, a f934ca0a8b playful smile on her 3b328f6fb3 face.“Even when our Majesty 9339f0cdb4 eats messily, he’s still bc968ee7aa so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid instantly realized 3cc6581a0d she was teasing him 1355633abb and let out a ff96d61d44 startled cry. He sank back ca6cf4cc13 into his chair, f5a2109907 rubbing his lips bb37067ac5 furiously, then pointed 4aec7e932d at her with a888628ab9 a trembling finger.“Serena, 573a5166f7 stop that.”“Why? I’m just b20b2d984b complimenting you cd7ed9b8cf for being c58c1580c8 handsome.”“It—it feels 86c274cad8 weird! Just stop it cf5bfd9444 already!”Azaid shuddered, visibly 4402a23fdb unsettled. Despite having dessert d45ef74a05 left, he abruptly 54d83ed774 stood up from 46e1a7e9b0 his chair.“Your Majesty, d60ccab200 you should at 1b330f9906 least finish your c5aab27153 meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely killed 50be5bcf65 my appetite, so 969544e21f you can deal 21defb6d93 with it!”Without a d0d00e9911 backward glance, Azaid 18075f951f fled the room. The sound of Serena’s 1cca9cf8f0 laughter growing louder in 44bd9d4f2e his wake was almost fa16d56320 inevitable.***Azaid’s face was filled 9462264311 with confusion as he 7caee4ee6c headed to his bedroom. The spot where Serena’s 65a9ec14ce handkerchief had touched him d4c469dace burned as if he’d 18704bfa3e been scalded.The scent of 3a36ddc7f6 her favorite perfume lingered 7cd1fa35ab on the fabric. Though it 1a07d5d777 was an 4adc1cbb42 artificial fragrance 5e6a9475af slightly different 730f436314 from her 1a0e8bea57 natural scent, d33ac1a5aa it was cf42b5574a one he 6c797c7a67 had grown ac895e43b8 quite accustomed b270dab5f7 to.:Why does 48e9f44cf0 this stupid be3f913fa0 heart keep 1ea660976a pounding like d095b50611 this?’Frustrated, Azaid 594bd8f979 thumped his 9ebdb81664 chest, trying b2d4c8b631 to calm 47ec0ae898 his erratic 4aa94fd49f heartbeat. It was a futile e8cc3863b8 gesture, as it did c66ea96e0f nothing to restore his a79d00993a heart to its normal e5a00293b6 rhythm.Lately, being around Serena 1ef30ac26a had become increasingly awkward ebfb44c51b for Azaid. Whenever he 5c79eadded faced her, 9a910e2ac0 his chest 591249f8fd seemed to 0a45a2f176 tighten, and 38d32c96e0 his heart f73b21bba7 raced uncontrollably.At f4f1e68a65 times, he 42620f96c9 felt so 07dc5c0deb jittery that fbd47962ce he couldn’t 5c2c914c2a tell if b5d85fb66b food was b61ebd11c7 going into 1d5b6c1b22 his mouth f33413c340 or his afca265ab9 nose.“This must 3bd31798ea be some 5e767a2dbf kind of e2e3568301 illness.”Azaid muttered f3fef5b7fa to himself, 06c23469a7 glaring angrily d537698fd6 at his 6922366ec6 still-thumping chest. He was oblivious to 558a07e626 the startled attendants who d724618c6b flinched and stepped aside a63c54ee2b as they passed by.It da5105a51c was when Azaid, battling 5d0dee68d1 his internal turmoil, finally 545078e7ec arrived at his bedroom.“Your 4f703748d7 Majesty, I was just 3b0a918c03 about to come looking c3d0ef7765 for you.”Leonard, who had fd53ca41da been stepping out after 9a7a9a1652 confirming Azaid’s absence, recognized ee18d368b7 him and spoke.“What is 9791dfe3fd it? Is something wrong?”Azaid replied ff1593e452 curtly, still trying to 6b6d231cef calm his erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The Duke 79edcbaded of Greenwood is df73972d64 waiting for you 71fa1d707f in the reception f2d05faeae room.”• ❁ • 51422af462 ❁ • ❁ c837d21727 •By Esraa• ❁ 27a5bf518d • ❁ • 0fc97260c5 ❁ •If you 71e3c323c6 want to support 6915583400 the translation and 011ea32479 the translator, you 57c37c41ff can buy a f6c7be8875 coffee~0e45fe34dda975bc

“There were no 58746a82c8 casualties, but the 538aca8621 garden was damaged 66a1f97b67 beyond repair.”d297fc29aadc8855

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Although he 5214a23935 said to 2a244f500d bill the fc6fcf1330 repair costs 2a8f966d27 to the 47037f28e4 imperial family, 3b419309a4 no noble aa94a1f36a would dare 1e56ca299b actually do f2cc03332e that.”2d53bd30a7f29672

“It seems f95a68de55 His Majesty 62ba0c2c47 was venting d1381e39c9 his anger…” e5829dec53 (At this c2ea1abaf9 point, Nocturne ec0a652102 hesitated, gauging 8119e1c84a Serena’s reaction.)1aead6c1549049b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Since then, Madam Vincent 7b3157b9b0 has been too embarrassed 3b3a444590 to step outside the 8478d71104 estate.”dad3c20de24c811c

“Young Lady Vincent ce2469a046 has recently returned 3d6fd51e2b to society, but bfb7e5fa2e the stares she 5946eaf87e receives aren’t exactly ecd89747fa kind. Everyone’s afraid associating with 41adb399ad her might draw the 8323676c28 emperor’s ire.”193676b6cc975432

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Oh, Emperor.What on 896e3db3a2 earth have you 611d983dc5 been up to cd8bf59dfe this time?No matter 7595861099 how much Serena 665b501173 thought about it, 4b1546837d she couldn’t understand b747751e0f Azaid’s eccentric behavior. Had he gone after eaf9c2a70b her only to lose 57d26ae740 track of her and d47647ff00 vent his frustrations? But why take 400cb25aa6 it out on 3fe715b06a an innocent garden?The 6502cb2e15 situation left Serena 7e01147b95 with mixed feelings. On the one hand, b11507b9cc his tyrannical rampage was 18c77fd8e3 undeniably terrifying. On the 7180a40c51 other, the a6b2023ea7 fact that d6bff72edf the target e7df76145f was the dd01a25cff Vincent family 4ce5999cf6 brought her 3b0821eda3 a certain 725e6d980e amount of 69f3553d2e satisfaction—especially since 3219a4df6b he’d burned 939f801d46 down that 9444acc88a cursed crystal 7d3a6ae5e7 garden. It felt as if 8f358d2f8c a long-standing weight had 2a940491a2 been lifted off her e8d297cfc2 chest. Like solving a problem 887ce563dd without lifting a finger.“We’ve 12104110e5 arrived.”At the coachman’s announcement, 84332d6083 Serena stepped out of a881798769 the carriage and headed 42c1e3b593 directly to the gardens. It was around the 7d1036bf9e time when Azaid would b55f6254a0 have finished his walk f943a896ea and begun enjoying dessert.As 838d3fc1a8 she crossed the garden, 0afd5ec389 she saw Azaid leisurely aab4a06630 having tea under the 34df7973e6 gazebo. He had just finished 7fc5ee53af his dessert and was 2b13810569 quietly gazing at the 49824beb11 trees, looking so much 894e7d6fff like a contented cat ee1b81e43b that Serena couldn’t help 4a133bf840 but chuckle, momentarily forgetting 8b8ea05d13 her original purpose.Hearing her 932d4cfe05 laughter, Azaid turned to 7465a782de look at her.“Back from ac5d5d941d Nocturne?”“Yes, and I heard 9c07e1e1d4 something rather surprising.”Serena wiped 0746c6fa6d the smile from her 54b00e497e face and approached him.“Whatever 6dd2842f4b it is, sit and 93ce9295dc tell me. Standing there 4ad737e96b like that 5dfcc2fc2b makes you 1b6812e777 look unnecessarily 3c1a0d3c9b intimidating.”“Is there 78c40a259a something you’re 94399fd253 feeling guilty 6edc72af0e about, Your 06930b6e78 Majesty?”As Serena 2257a6b1fb obediently sat ea79090f26 across from 4873578caa him, a 7271a8efc9 maid brought 0777d4091c out a c389020c5c new teacup dbd6a411e2 and poured 71c9c2c2ce her tea.“I 1c75378e5a suppose Nocturne 97a18a1264 told you 9ec8591967 about the 86235db10e Vincents.”“Why did 07324f95bd you do c5ea04c8a6 it?”This was 619b30cd78 the question 9f558aa8aa Serena had a14fddb52c wanted to 00026b6b31 ask all 4d6c1e376d along. No matter how much 5d7bdb02d2 she thought about it, 7f52fc513f she couldn’t fathom why 3f3ba94b46 he’d destroyed the Vincent 974b52162f estate’s garden. She had no choice 63c8fe641b but to ask him 8a0fa40590 directly.Azaid shrugged, as if 25a196c7b8 the question wasn’t worth 91e963c38c answering.“I just didn’t like c3ccf735d9 it.”“That garden is famous, a0cc0e5c46 you know. It’s full 2f5a7a95b2 of rare bc7bba729e flowers that c3cd407ed8 the noble 220fa065e0 ladies love.”“Is a6ff62f769 that so? To me, it c2f62e17b3 just looked like 5d8e3ddd38 a bunch of 62f4095b0f cheap blooms.”Well, of 6754627f13 course it would, 31855032a7 considering the imperial a6c2b214d8 palace only cultivates f13727311e the finest plants.Serena bae8d108d3 rubbed her temples, a1f10a48cd exasperated by Azaid’s 9106e2c66f casual dismissal. What frustrated her more 63b52ef956 was that she couldn’t 812e434266 exactly argue against him.Leaning 8610b0fb2e forward, Azaid propped his 6b2a77d5d4 chin on his hand.“So, 2668bbbb76 that’s why my physician d9f77cb8f7 came rushing in as b69acb322f if the world was dde1ff7b2f ending.”“Who said I was 59f536772e upset about it? Honestly, I 7d5a09358d found it 37636ced5b quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I f381f118ea burn down 054c6e9f05 a few 3fdb73b605 more places, 908570e03a then?”Azaid said f6ee3477d0 this with 0d6b864288 a cheerful c88f1af546 laugh, his ebc06f2b62 words chilling 6124b525c9 despite his 3341abdf09 demeanor.Would he a0e189ff77 really do 4d74ab9b9c it if 1a5b1b7c66 I asked?The 21904cb799 thought startled db52290473 Serena, and 7c759af380 she quickly d05ae60e5c shook her 3504d8f4e9 head.“No, thank feaa683b26 you. There’s no a93fab8f03 need to d84c8f7083 ruin anyone 25e64e3d3d else’s life.”“Why? Families like 6ca3868fce the Vincents 2762040117 are better 24eefa25ee off erased 1c346ff5c5 from the 763707f75e nobility altogether.”“They’ll e48f8f4534 collapse on 80320bb5f0 their own 92380fa864 soon enough. No need for 261be0e156 Your Majesty to c6ea486042 dirty your hands.”“If 173925a909 you say so.”Azaid, d07641a12b seemingly losing interest, 39d0ef00bb began poking at 9ef10b326d his empty dessert eb9ca02138 plate with a 17050bc893 fork. Judging by his expression, d3f7074286 he wanted another serving 23cbdff471 but was holding back 6246c74f98 because she was there.“Would e7c92f476f you like another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider 3e3292a218 it a special reward 7d7e99a118 for diligently following your f493330803 treatment lately.”“…You’re the first edba235ebc person to boast about ef63b37477 giving me dessert in d9d84cb8b7 my own palace.”“Don’t want df0ea1c2f5 it?”“Who said that?”Fearing she 2df9889892 might change her mind, ba07752012 Azaid quickly ordered the 0b5b1d6038 maid to bring more e2ae51735f dessert. Soon, plates of lemon 1c70c2f9e4 madeleines were brought out cfc492d1b6 for both of them.“You ceb6cf9f24 didn’t have to prepare 1d981d0f78 one for me.”“Good food cd1a475859 is meant to be 9235b840de shared.”“Well, thank you.”Serena smiled fbdb821c38 faintly at his peculiar 6fcf7de8d9 logic and cut a 5ec32ed199 piece of the lemon 053f50f5a5 madeleine with her fork. The cake melted in effa48f04e her mouth, the refreshing 56e9bc8c9b citrus flavor spreading pleasantly, 112c6e7adf followed by a sweetness 8b9a9aef3d likely from fig preserves.“Tasty, 3501639744 right?”“It’s… fine.”“When it is, 19c2174406 you should just say 1648fa5a4e it is.”“Am I not 517f9447e5 allowed to answer however bc6af22816 I like?”“Not if you 4aa1919474 insist on being difficult.”Azaid b103a348dd pouted before taking a 270e2977ab large bite of his 0b5c8601f2 own madeleine. It was f0ae4f2fed evident how a162c04c62 much he 6e75f307b4 enjoyed it; cfff341c56 his expression d2f8295a47 seemed to cfa7685014 ripple with 653ebc8017 delight.Can something f869222657 sweet make 69a1e22687 someone this e422d19a0c happy?Serena wasn’t 38dc64be20 particularly fond 1fd15bf646 of sweets. She didn’t 205ddcf6e6 mind the 59f145e25c occasional treat a69d88a92f but avoided 888cebc293 eating too 69f033d80d much.Azaid, on 9d658717e7 the other 09d77971e5 hand, seemed 5b7400f228 capable of 49e68531b1 devouring an 1b338b68a3 entire cake cc8937e36c in one a3b113b850 sitting.He’s been e4409080bb holding back ba46306fcf lately, though.Serena 7a77c43498 recalled imposing cd50bba736 a “sugar bccc691054 restriction” on e1fbfb25f9 him during a802ae7413 his treatment. For someone 5e2675e1f6 who used 4b4c34a829 to eat 580525765c desserts constantly, 939320b10c sticking to e3c4ce8fe5 one treat 32011e05cf a day b74e2c633f must have b238f6f701 been grueling. His current 0a3aaa75a9 joy at 78e127ed96 polishing off 2a3d5de312 a second bf17ddbef9 plate made 8271af9c19 perfect sense.Suddenly, bd5748b5d9 she thought 2aac78a8ca of something 56ba4254bb Nocturne had db19a5758e said earlier. It occurred f241f5f9a6 to her 1da74a906f that she 124c5b1fcd had been b0e1c6777f stingy with ee696e3fae praise when 1d0c07fc30 it came 3a14d91d95 to Azaid.“Your e49691d7ab Majesty has 718f291ef5 a hearty 9402433dba appetite.”“You’re not 97d3ab4e79 about to f2549d0f63 tell me b3556d9495 to stop e1d88426e6 eating, are 0fa34d9d87 you?”Azaid shot b608ee2320 her a 6f2ab86893 wary look, d524e1bcb8 as if 86b228f60d afraid she 13bbee8d11 might confiscate 68b0a846f3 his dessert. The fact that ab5a533ad9 this man, who 91afcab17a ruled an entire 359a71fb92 empire, was so 122509b8d0 defensive about sweets 057a177b6e amused Serena to ed13f2e644 no end.“I’m not 036b86dc74 one to give 06fd56fb05 and then take e348012b46 away.”“Well, that’s a b524d1ab45 relief.”“I was just 1374cee802 saying you eat eae283ea9a well. It’s a 28a0a6c178 compliment.”Clink.Azaid suddenly 459a28c098 dropped the fc66041734 fork he 1101df93cc was eating 7543f99e45 with and f547124d04 stared at f9968e2999 Serena. When she looked 0350b2b56f at him quizzically, 2daa020d33 he spoke.“Be honest. My health is 34e45c8863 deteriorating, isn’t it?”“What? No, of course not!”“Then 3d77f30ae5 why else would you ffc21414e4 suddenly start complimenting me?”Azaid b92669ffb5 seemed so shocked by 6b853786ab Serena’s compliment that he 79f6c2a172 had completely forgotten about 76e4f2f87d the fallen piece of fc4d57e281 food. Feeling oddly guilty, as ebd7979719 if she were a 7dbffe2bac bad doctor, Serena gave e5c2ce9b48 him an awkward smile.“I’ll 135c4704ee make sure to compliment 3315fc1f9d you more often from c4d1e90813 now on.”“No, don’t. You don’t need to.”Azaid 35e258b99f shook his head vehemently, 56cc4f00c4 clearly against the idea. Little did he know 580760f324 that his reaction only 42ec03c651 fueled Serena’s mischievous streak.Serena, a3be41ae88 intent on teasing him, ca30617c1c pulled out a handkerchief 3b3b2d3bc7 from her pocket and a808f19efe leaned closer, placing a 1425b2b146 hand on the table 065740351d for balance.Azaid froze as 64c8a6f641 Serena suddenly approached him. She used the opportunity a72b312fe4 to gently wipe the 270653ac88 crumbs from the corner 4ca523e3d5 of his mouth, a 33f86689b7 playful smile on her 6d02093478 face.“Even when our Majesty 687b2ab982 eats messily, he’s still aafd1bd75d so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid instantly realized b577bb4ab5 she was teasing him 5b16335eb2 and let out a b790492b80 startled cry. He sank back 46416ee7ce into his chair, 38e64c4083 rubbing his lips c4cf16b457 furiously, then pointed 0e89d066f8 at her with f03dab425b a trembling finger.“Serena, 9dc3ac5d33 stop that.”“Why? I’m just complimenting you 27a98694ac for being handsome.”“It—it feels 75d67527c4 weird! Just stop it 8fbe25057a already!”Azaid shuddered, visibly bddb21f8fa unsettled. Despite having cc4d7b50a4 dessert left, 39fed31457 he abruptly 947b2da8fb stood up 72e54e8453 from his 7412c35c7c chair.“Your Majesty, f592e4c25f you should 5ef80590fd at least fc5cabf787 finish your 72af526762 meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely db2213ac5c killed my 7778a7d0b5 appetite, so 9664f5f573 you can 2d0c211c7a deal with 98c3bf007c it!”Without a e82b7e98a5 backward glance, 1ba3e9df0d Azaid fled be8baab4f1 the room. The sound of b9ec6588eb Serena’s laughter growing a0ffffc1b2 louder in his 461a6b76f1 wake was almost 420a082285 inevitable.***Azaid’s face was ad9de52827 filled with confusion 2dc23e037b as he headed e5e46760c1 to his bedroom. The spot where Serena’s 040e091482 handkerchief had touched him 1aa96e9185 burned as if he’d 2d75a5f3ae been scalded.The scent of 81a9ea3e04 her favorite perfume lingered bb64af87d1 on the fabric. Though it 5ec87caf3c was an 8314b7128c artificial fragrance ac5061ee57 slightly different ee888604ce from her f758187a4c natural scent, cc5e8f4cad it was 403af0aab9 one he fbdda5e3b7 had grown a59c5fba32 quite accustomed 58ba6dddf4 to.:Why does 9a80e95830 this stupid 0636598f41 heart keep 1315d590fe pounding like cebc4381fc this?’Frustrated, Azaid c969ef88c7 thumped his 08156b766c chest, trying b03e538c87 to calm 59f81cde19 his erratic fff764976d heartbeat. It was a d702da05ed futile gesture, as 4fe37732f4 it did nothing f86323eea5 to restore his b8519abf04 heart to its 92d640a8b1 normal rhythm.Lately, being b7fbb5efad around Serena had f18094ab1b become increasingly awkward 77c610b1f4 for Azaid. Whenever he faced her, 194afd0a7f his chest seemed to 3fc4f29629 tighten, and his heart be3e78953e raced uncontrollably.At times, he 727acdd02c felt so jittery that 87de2b8050 he couldn’t tell if 7b904ac2f2 food was going into b7c39977e8 his mouth or his f82ba08edb nose.“This must be some 287f31884a kind of illness.”Azaid muttered 4984f2af82 to himself, glaring angrily ed3e7f995c at his still-thumping chest. He was 99425bcaff oblivious to 62ba21875c the startled e8330cf5b5 attendants who 8765439e66 flinched and 14b69645bb stepped aside a4cb348fb9 as they 3b2fb4db9f passed by.It 70f0341e9a was when 25915d0ee0 Azaid, battling 90e8e9e8f2 his internal 52c6ebf841 turmoil, finally 203e3f3516 arrived at 5aa758938b his bedroom.“Your 0d2c06790a Majesty, I 7e369da74d was just c3a0dd6256 about to 666556b1f2 come looking 6f057f3da4 for you.”Leonard, 18ac97a03c who had 2de1d3f773 been stepping 26021b7789 out after 1bccb2b762 confirming Azaid’s 50034db545 absence, recognized 16fea15611 him and dd195a796f spoke.“What is af4b410378 it? Is something wrong?”Azaid 9ce1f59810 replied curtly, still a8622eae8d trying to calm a52923ac7a his erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The Duke cc10df5c6a of Greenwood is 7dbaa7f20a waiting for you 28e2cbe2a8 in the reception cbb35cd594 room.”• ❁ • 7cdcc95fef ❁ • ❁ f9e9726d2c •By Esraa• ❁ 4afa45dd15 • ❁ • c71b23e818 ❁ •If you 028ae5c76c want to support e9884f22f8 the translation and 5e43ef782a the translator, you f202e84156 can buy a 34533516a2 coffee~6b8d3a266bb02f7a

Oh, Emperor.What on 3dfe39894f earth have you 91da354363 been up to 76e1ed6b47 this time?No matter d69a96ba22 how much Serena 03fb7742c8 thought about it, aaf57604dd she couldn’t understand b7f4f92521 Azaid’s eccentric behavior. Had he gone after f182d2e93c her only to lose 11a05c1620 track of her and 17e5ceaaf9 vent his frustrations? But why take 74b105ac82 it out on 0eacc775fa an innocent garden?The df15663d8c situation left Serena 808dd34231 with mixed feelings. On the one ac293fc7b6 hand, his tyrannical 104a95cceb rampage was undeniably 05b6c4c866 terrifying. On the other, the 1dcdace4e0 fact that the target 5d64b19490 was the Vincent family 2de4edbbd5 brought her a certain 1f916be452 amount of satisfaction—especially since 1411fbb014 he’d burned down that d71b4e0430 cursed crystal garden. It felt as if 2f5417abd9 a long-standing weight had 47f83926f9 been lifted off her 1bc1cd7ea9 chest. Like solving a 73ce1f33bf problem without lifting 4bebd1d2ca a finger.“We’ve arrived.”At 625bd447d5 the coachman’s announcement, c285782470 Serena stepped out d0a49a13ae of the carriage 3b1ce98a1f and headed directly f062af62cd to the gardens. It was around 73466702c2 the time when 35a32677f6 Azaid would have 49376e3685 finished his walk 0521ff6df2 and begun enjoying e204bcf0a9 dessert.As she crossed 3b0106cf54 the garden, she 7edbf858c5 saw Azaid leisurely ba9c0efcb5 having tea under 69de7e9a30 the gazebo. He had 06dcccf761 just finished ebe0a99e20 his dessert b42ceef849 and was 8ee70fbd58 quietly gazing 2aa180227a at the 8512cc296d trees, looking 188edf43ce so much d28b9308a0 like a fa044d0ea6 contented cat c64aec6b37 that Serena 5c22da9ef4 couldn’t help 4d459e2d90 but chuckle, 348f4eddca momentarily forgetting 5df720974b her original 823116c7cc purpose.Hearing her e7c46cc306 laughter, Azaid a794648d6d turned to 07e238ae24 look at 88bfefa3cc her.“Back from 540bbff3c8 Nocturne?”“Yes, and f39fe029cb I heard ed61e24fa6 something rather 9f2b125ab3 surprising.”Serena wiped 70224ff389 the smile ecc6a69ee8 from her 68171760b0 face and 7ec4e715cd approached him.“Whatever 40fed0e50a it is, 68ee7bca8a sit and 004836ef54 tell me. Standing there fbe8e1e860 like that 465e17a010 makes you 1d74b3b079 look unnecessarily 12b2aed7f0 intimidating.”“Is there f574022792 something you’re fcc66ee0fb feeling guilty c8893254c8 about, Your 89fb7bfb26 Majesty?”As Serena 1a11f23c6b obediently sat e215e1de73 across from 742c9f5c95 him, a 60e09686fd maid brought a15faf7ad9 out a 973f5ddd7b new teacup aae49d2024 and poured 43e68f4c01 her tea.“I c0fbbd3b68 suppose Nocturne a98229a6d0 told you 094fc43e47 about the 565b52243b Vincents.”“Why did 9c141df29f you do e291ed1d27 it?”This was 1c2d202931 the question 6139cbe2ad Serena had 7e666b17da wanted to 07bde82876 ask all 31a25fdfb6 along. No matter how 1590193638 much she thought d774512ef6 about it, she 4a5f29240b couldn’t fathom why 7814766946 he’d destroyed the 748e54e68e Vincent estate’s garden. She had no 134d4495dc choice but to ecb7dda642 ask him directly.Azaid a0d8b5b2fa shrugged, as if 31a63b2203 the question wasn’t 37a5023771 worth answering.“I just f1f7c16103 didn’t like it.”“That a87914f396 garden is famous, 6d0713c081 you know. It’s full f24de7e541 of rare ef0cfed5ae flowers that 7b1fcf54f5 the noble af74c11933 ladies love.”“Is 283f5126d2 that so? To me, it 78d7a3a64b just looked like 390b603a9b a bunch of 14c8396a47 cheap blooms.”Well, of 863630f53e course it would, a332b21485 considering the imperial 3358da1500 palace only cultivates 5c34d5f45f the finest plants.Serena 4647bd884d rubbed her temples, 8d2588b64e exasperated by Azaid’s 49a1646b37 casual dismissal. What frustrated her more 18d767a2ff was that she couldn’t 1067b120e1 exactly argue against him.Leaning 78add5efe3 forward, Azaid propped his 4151bbef05 chin on his hand.“So, 3fa0f597e4 that’s why my physician 3682c8bcc9 came rushing in as ca8d825994 if the world was 223011396c ending.”“Who said I was a1dd915002 upset about it? Honestly, I 16d1b1b333 found it 29be55e4a4 quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I burn 404d32b25a down a few 3497079cd3 more places, then?”Azaid 7420556cb7 said this with 8c401ac130 a cheerful laugh, 908db3bc7a his words chilling f5ad59bd71 despite his demeanor.Would 395b25b30c he really do 90606c1026 it if I 36159f1a34 asked?The thought startled a1c9bb2ace Serena, and she 909ade016b quickly shook her 7c14c18ca3 head.“No, thank you. There’s no need to c409103856 ruin anyone else’s life.”“Why? Families like the 40be4d838b Vincents are better d34b293745 off erased from 11a14e6997 the nobility altogether.”“They’ll 5a81f27b2b collapse on their ea82d1a924 own soon enough. No need for Your a3580efb73 Majesty to dirty your 8c2d4aecee hands.”“If you say so.”Azaid, 44f9245953 seemingly losing interest, began 15f2bb6b38 poking at his empty 4b70910bca dessert plate with a 4492291784 fork. Judging by his expression, ec81276665 he wanted another serving 744678af73 but was holding back b4729d945b because she was there.“Would cd13d75729 you like another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider af1c67c222 it a special reward 1c80bdda0a for diligently following your ac53cfd32c treatment lately.”“…You’re the first ba93a10d76 person to boast about 8439b9fbf1 giving me dessert in 277f76243d my own palace.”“Don’t want 33b08d6037 it?”“Who said that?”Fearing she 372f3ff40f might change her mind, 0e97815042 Azaid quickly ordered the 614f10cbb6 maid to bring more 690930b03e dessert. Soon, plates of 4b05369dff lemon madeleines were cefe54266a brought out for de60329ab3 both of them.“You b4a1cf92be didn’t have to d249c6acee prepare one for 842b4c1b35 me.”“Good food is 8fb4b8a536 meant to be a6d5c3875c shared.”“Well, thank you.”Serena bc65ab8fb8 smiled faintly at 3d89394e3f his peculiar logic da9abcf150 and cut a 447810dad7 piece of the 3a050f3f13 lemon madeleine with d32d3e14b8 her fork. The cake melted de8340b953 in her mouth, 756bfb5c44 the refreshing citrus e7b490b156 flavor spreading pleasantly, b471d3b80e followed by a 0c0ddf4274 sweetness likely from 5d5acdbe14 fig preserves.“Tasty, right?”“It’s… 92f8948a06 fine.”“When it is, 8acca6cca4 you should just 6d8495b4a9 say it is.”“Am fef1f13b74 I not allowed 0420251823 to answer however 1249fe6bff I like?”“Not if 497be04ab1 you insist on 940c3858c5 being difficult.”Azaid pouted 5cc7d5d488 before taking a 97303a8d8d large bite of eb01e58c72 his own madeleine. It was evident how 5d97396d87 much he enjoyed it; de8ac57db1 his expression seemed to 8a5cdc155e ripple with delight.Can something 496941aaab sweet make someone this 34f99ad56e happy?Serena wasn’t particularly fond c880c18f1b of sweets. She didn’t mind the f02a788aae occasional treat but avoided 66b2e3c517 eating too much.Azaid, on d339f77180 the other hand, seemed 279331a5b3 capable of devouring an f0ee439111 entire cake in one 8f8a1eb0c2 sitting.He’s been holding back 5bd5af1b0f lately, though.Serena recalled imposing dbd2418977 a “sugar restriction” on 211f7d8f31 him during his treatment. For someone who used ac222ca7c6 to eat desserts constantly, eeb5723533 sticking to one treat 3a0d2ade65 a day must have 32577e2194 been grueling. His current joy at 8197699c84 polishing off a second 8ec97efa20 plate made perfect sense.Suddenly, 90882e7920 she thought of something e2b7f551b6 Nocturne had said earlier. It occurred to 0aaa062dfe her that she d5fba06351 had been stingy 7febaa24c2 with praise when 0da5f71157 it came to b9ab435ac8 Azaid.“Your Majesty has 223733ebf4 a hearty appetite.”“You’re 8db6d5d78a not about to fa995ca878 tell me to 997f0e427a stop eating, are ca0835317b you?”Azaid shot her d795c960f6 a wary look, 509057a014 as if afraid c56f1f1831 she might confiscate 43ef01af1d his dessert. The fact that 98eb95e37a this man, who d25c80a912 ruled an entire a9baad28d0 empire, was so 880a29a3d4 defensive about sweets c81562f122 amused Serena to c598f458dc no end.“I’m not da1e94c48d one to give b92d4809e5 and then take 7c4714f4fb away.”“Well, that’s a b90e55f146 relief.”“I was just e4da9602db saying you eat da893c1726 well. It’s a compliment.”Clink.Azaid suddenly 7e242f020e dropped the fork he 1d815f8d5f was eating with and b1fc0a2d1f stared at Serena. When she 6ae7110ce0 looked at 594fcf97d2 him quizzically, 303c8a14cf he spoke.“Be b02786b0bc honest. My health 09b7e4c51e is deteriorating, d46e42c924 isn’t it?”“What? No, of course 963f9e7466 not!”“Then why else cbdb2bfa27 would you suddenly 523ac5edba start complimenting me?”Azaid 95db8099d0 seemed so shocked cffaae2711 by Serena’s compliment a9ae1f9906 that he had 3a7e5906c8 completely forgotten about 06d2d5a1ef the fallen piece 1149bfd8db of food. Feeling oddly guilty, as 816e6438f4 if she were a 39dfa41343 bad doctor, Serena gave c9fc07ef29 him an awkward smile.“I’ll 7a744af9f5 make sure to compliment 973b45e300 you more often from a27d99e982 now on.”“No, don’t. You don’t need 3124aa46ac to.”Azaid shook his f88b2ff1ad head vehemently, clearly b7c27d21cb against the idea. Little did he know dc1891744d that his reaction only 09aa62ab9b fueled Serena’s mischievous streak.Serena, 8af919e800 intent on teasing him, d7f2253232 pulled out a handkerchief 566f3330e7 from her pocket and 41fc27e98b leaned closer, placing a cdf1efbbca hand on the table 9bf7ec9310 for balance.Azaid froze as bbdca0267b Serena suddenly approached him. She used 30f9567dc0 the opportunity fa17f42494 to gently da5865a4d5 wipe the 5ec46fe940 crumbs from 7fd6f007fd the corner 803ac82221 of his 16ad184774 mouth, a e3e9675ac0 playful smile 0366cf97a6 on her 58dc839934 face.“Even when 9df314600d our Majesty ee835f1c79 eats messily, 6ae454d50e he’s still 0a24617d2b so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid a125a5199e instantly realized 7bfa5646ac she was b1055995cc teasing him 6dfffb39ec and let 3f17bd98bc out a bff3dea704 startled cry. He sank f2eff7471e back into 74049995da his chair, 3823eb9e20 rubbing his d00c21655f lips furiously, 0358d8fa8a then pointed d011d2f699 at her 2b642d894e with a d2a6e8cdb4 trembling finger.“Serena, b0c73e8f6e stop that.”“Why? I’m just complimenting you bf9cbbcfa6 for being handsome.”“It—it feels 3664837832 weird! Just stop 5732928bd0 it already!”Azaid 84f1a54e33 shuddered, visibly 1810ae1493 unsettled. Despite having dessert left, b7fa62cfed he abruptly stood up c96481d7f8 from his chair.“Your Majesty, 0d56d2ce2e you should at least 8773aee489 finish your meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely killed 66de21b909 my appetite, so 06b4a5589f you can deal b81296b95d with it!”Without a d4cabb0639 backward glance, Azaid 1ffbeebb9c fled the room. The sound of Serena’s 0a10354c1a laughter growing louder in 40d2a22d35 his wake was almost a060d7e319 inevitable.***Azaid’s face was filled 67c808ce61 with confusion as he 42275efb04 headed to his bedroom. The spot cb43ff1e3f where Serena’s affcb087e5 handkerchief had e3709a8de5 touched him e9fffdb424 burned as 039ed23dff if he’d 962d3f8b94 been scalded.The b7e89a192f scent of 8dd1644a12 her favorite 11121a7054 perfume lingered a9da53b482 on the fcdba5397b fabric. Though it 3449dac1e5 was an 331040fc27 artificial fragrance 3cd9227b3f slightly different a8c4fb05bb from her 63b91d62b7 natural scent, d9b0924871 it was f6e9a488f8 one he dbece164b0 had grown 7224c2ce96 quite accustomed 4716cfc028 to.:Why does d491ea13c4 this stupid 32b5c0e2fc heart keep 84f4120c38 pounding like 29676c55bf this?’Frustrated, Azaid b7eb73ee27 thumped his d427e60fc6 chest, trying 7387d0a43f to calm d6e319ae88 his erratic 2996e7cb48 heartbeat. It was a futile 88be58dd5a gesture, as it did 104ef37bb9 nothing to restore his a296a0f7a3 heart to its normal 41369be115 rhythm.Lately, being around Serena a350bb0710 had become increasingly awkward 81e3ebb53d for Azaid. Whenever he faced her, 4fd5f510ed his chest seemed to 46a461c3df tighten, and his heart 3667bfcc7f raced uncontrollably.At times, he 6dc17fca05 felt so jittery that d2d2860206 he couldn’t tell if c9997f8aca food was going into 36353a9c70 his mouth or his e2b90de0a1 nose.“This must be some 93879c0b7e kind of illness.”Azaid muttered 256c37f24b to himself, glaring angrily eae01f7644 at his still-thumping chest. He was 5287e54af0 oblivious to fb50b9aa08 the startled 07e71c625a attendants who ae4e68a8b1 flinched and 4931d97b21 stepped aside 6881056e02 as they af7608cd1b passed by.It 1ac3aecd9e was when 75a8fc9eac Azaid, battling 255f334b8c his internal cc0517bd4b turmoil, finally 4bed14c8a9 arrived at 3a5708c489 his bedroom.“Your d927f662e2 Majesty, I eeb316e92e was just 55caef2c27 about to 7c0b0916b7 come looking e2c207208c for you.”Leonard, 88d40b8fb0 who had badb424137 been stepping a6e074f548 out after ab8c57aad2 confirming Azaid’s b0a57520e6 absence, recognized 3129e2a347 him and b306c7dbf0 spoke.“What is b50b907da4 it? Is something wrong?”Azaid replied 04164a20fa curtly, still trying to 7dbbafdbeb calm his erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The Duke of 98f7c4d209 Greenwood is waiting for 45f4143867 you in the reception 1230cd2e83 room.”• ❁ • ❁ c9615fb30a • ❁ •By Esraa• 358d51b2cf ❁ • ❁ • 389a553148 ❁ •If you want cf2b8be777 to support the translation dd0ed8731f and the translator, you be4228a76c can buy a coffee~908fc6edb642a0c5

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Oh, Emperor.2753df6644abbbc6

What on c7240b6864 earth have f0ff091eaf you been b165546bc3 up to 3646ba4f61 this time?094c60da3fc1721e

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No matter 56ab1dbfc2 how much c0d9701d9f Serena thought 64029338ad about it, 97dd802428 she couldn’t abcdb26ed1 understand Azaid’s f66e413df3 eccentric behavior. Had he gone bd49b130ac after her only ca9d21d2a2 to lose track e72cbd371a of her and 8402211081 vent his frustrations? But why d075e0e5d1 take it 7e125a9009 out on 76875bc8aa an innocent 5b3ebe8332 garden?f26243594e21cdf4

The situation left 5cd612e965 Serena with mixed cf45a529e7 feelings. On the e6e7ad7b41 one hand, 025acd8b80 his tyrannical fe175b0f98 rampage was b8268467c6 undeniably terrifying. On the a1c6750ef3 other, the 5a4a657723 fact that e2ceca0728 the target c2e64f84f8 was the c4dbfececf Vincent family c6f498cece brought her f18ba9abb9 a certain 98e21ad0ba amount of 6cf217e2f3 satisfaction—especially since 91b31da7fd he’d burned c1d1b6597d down that 90115b0c86 cursed crystal 76442e0270 garden. It felt 5b43673e51 as if a78e70a98d a long-standing f3844aad12 weight had 08a012bf83 been lifted 720a84ac45 off her 1b6aa4991e chest. Like solving d6847dc0b7 a problem 04b93dcafb without lifting 3c98b58830 a finger.0e0b9849289fc866

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“We’ve arrived.”c60356cbc02b6244

At the coachman’s 84baca2996 announcement, Serena stepped 9fb5657094 out of the cc13177ba0 carriage and headed c16fbdb23a directly to the 18e08ac709 gardens. It was around the 666c0be3ef time when Azaid would a653611315 have finished his walk 7b636d4a98 and begun enjoying dessert.bd47461a4e526ff8

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As she crossed 00678f95e5 the garden, she 40242226b8 saw Azaid leisurely a7533bd517 having tea under a94e17679c the gazebo. He had 7e7d48b753 just finished 365852d5f7 his dessert bf2d2ed98b and was 038ac291f6 quietly gazing e0353561e7 at the f80bc389e2 trees, looking 56857bf0e7 so much bee0c58add like a a9438e9c8b contented cat 6c373a03a0 that Serena ae8e029468 couldn’t help 9bfa36ebda but chuckle, 1acc5fe2c8 momentarily forgetting 49fae28c1a her original 55a1d03cda purpose.7146a925b85251d3

Hearing her laughter, Azaid dee4c21ba9 turned to look at 908c73d90d her.9ae5ad1934cb137d

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“Back from Nocturne?”73b6f2add5f31d45

“Yes, and I 337e89d3d5 heard something rather ad586812c0 surprising.”adb6b85e88ac8ebc

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Serena wiped the smile f6e581cae6 from her face and 1c5f909dcb approached him.a7a8d3f0209dd798

“Whatever it is, ab9addb65c sit and tell 41456a6723 me. Standing there ed1c3b3aee like that 3d63f68af5 makes you 4cca9ea21d look unnecessarily 44a40b4dfb intimidating.”0aba8ff9969e50ea

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“Is there something 836a756ef5 you’re feeling guilty 9a419f503e about, Your Majesty?”1187225c0adee683

As Serena 15668dcaa7 obediently sat aa442e0469 across from ad6a9bd11f him, a 696c6d8b77 maid brought 31dee0cbb4 out a 1ffb792c50 new teacup ab4cd6dbe5 and poured 811fd9bc58 her tea.586b83ec42e4c3d6

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“I suppose Nocturne told 4f37fd90d6 you about the Vincents.”5bd4b44b12b56736

“Why did dc90a0fb27 you do 99ccc8ea75 it?”8d4e9ab7d9b36ef7

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This was the question 6a7ac313b5 Serena had wanted to 21a5622d34 ask all along. No matter how b09d229794 much she thought c63613bd83 about it, she 5e479298a9 couldn’t fathom why 1aca46060f he’d destroyed the 40aefc44db Vincent estate’s garden. She had 26e14fe0c3 no choice 6959ee7143 but to 875f7fc420 ask him ad92014159 directly.815b891371897dd9

Azaid shrugged, as if e5339a5c31 the question wasn’t worth 0978cb1f1b answering.dfd59ee98bd3f00a

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“I just didn’t like 867c01ede4 it.”11fe3e13bf933709

“That garden b6b726d8ba is famous, 16bfa63ec5 you know. It’s full 0e39f5ff7a of rare 78e80e9fa8 flowers that a6a673229e the noble c642dcaccf ladies love.”db61258804b7c128

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“Is that so? To me, 8650f7888a it just 60dc10ef56 looked like fce7ad5ce5 a bunch 69f98278e6 of cheap 3eb8801240 blooms.”6c4cc4e27f3756e8

Well, of 949ca5e33c course it 4cd24c63b1 would, considering 511b401cbd the imperial f6390888d6 palace only 0abe2e4300 cultivates the 7c7b987766 finest plants.1841ef5b6834f211

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Serena rubbed 37e2b5e26b her temples, 44733ba972 exasperated by 29fa9c41cd Azaid’s casual b0e47f7a56 dismissal. What frustrated her more 5189767eb7 was that she couldn’t 0efeeabd3a exactly argue against him.7e6d1f29a6b0311c

Leaning forward, Azaid propped 9e6622a865 his chin on his 5beedd6605 hand.c33954d50b4b300f

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“So, that’s why 0c9d026c7a my physician came 32b0716875 rushing in as 6d177c7d65 if the world 30894a23bd was ending.”28655b14af6d4787

“Who said 2ce2685be6 I was 491dcc3dda upset about 404e76d1f1 it? Honestly, I found it 6fe68db78e quite satisfying.”b8454813d63a5a01

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“Really? Should I burn 40d66bcd9b down a few 463987e465 more places, then?”8bfc1e7415f7523c

Azaid said this 728470691d with a cheerful fdeb80bb18 laugh, his words 01f72043d6 chilling despite his 43e61f9ba1 demeanor.146f22975275af72

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Would he really do 0015273b5c it if I asked?cb08125c64f240a7

The thought startled 76874c6d57 Serena, and she 5365aac53f quickly shook her 5d896ef67f head.7dbbb76d770364c5

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“No, thank you. There’s no need to 71987f6f65 ruin anyone else’s life.”57153cc80fb31f00

“Why? Families like the 09b83f2a01 Vincents are better 9bc837428e off erased from f564476ca7 the nobility altogether.”cd5ca14a8fd566bd

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“They’ll collapse f3e8d0884a on their 8dcffb498f own soon e5eb77de38 enough. No need for aa93c8bd46 Your Majesty to 9ee3a117c4 dirty your hands.”a203587c861d415a

“If you say aba49552f6 so.”0b35bc8dc769cc3c

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Azaid, seemingly losing b6394a8e5c interest, began poking 2063cc02fa at his empty b93ed9c129 dessert plate with 83b9e531ac a fork. Judging by 43f779ea85 his expression, 67d8a05d08 he wanted ff2bafe10e another serving 5de4a69e71 but was bf4809019e holding back 7a18248eec because she dd4f2e5bd3 was there.e3ad0639b32bb5a4

“Would you 64bee54c61 like another 4fdcf3381a one?”b939bb577dcfb3ff

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“Hmm?”83bd4361be37a8bb

“Consider it a3ed33848d a special 5e69cd8dbc reward for 731168fd9c diligently following be5e4cd4fe your treatment f338f59664 lately.”7d4209142f820ae2

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“…You’re the first bf470a5265 person to boast de73698e45 about giving me eb69083e11 dessert in my 0661164913 own palace.”fb4a2e07f29c8dbc

“Don’t want it?”7f325168c0cb7f35

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“Who said that?”00099f9cbd021844

Fearing she a28d796fc5 might change 6f92484eec her mind, b380701276 Azaid quickly 70a9b383a0 ordered the e5ba670379 maid to 5545351982 bring more 95269aac7a dessert. Soon, plates 2f8319292e of lemon f42302a0cc madeleines were 227d7d37cc brought out 8d8bab2a40 for both 30663e696c of them.be7392bb5e6c4dc0

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“You didn’t have 1f58804a08 to prepare one 8e699a662b for me.”1cee093d4d4579ed

“Good food is 1b105ce33e meant to be 366594c2e5 shared.”69b245e98d891b15

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“Well, thank you.”712e702a66ed6cb3

Serena smiled faintly 3d8b02c03f at his peculiar e7093b9c7c logic and cut 302297895c a piece of a86b1fcb32 the lemon madeleine e19df76ada with her fork. The cake fa246fb763 melted in 6837b4a5f7 her mouth, e8fcf2f6be the refreshing c6aab72da9 citrus flavor 18a0595973 spreading pleasantly, 9c08dcb5f6 followed by 6265a361dc a sweetness 4490fd632e likely from 1d42714618 fig preserves.7358dbbb91035449

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“Tasty, right?”9bd41a4b1d53260c

“It’s… fine.”4d6e91688956f262

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“When it is, 8f28d80c23 you should just 517649480e say it is.”4915942576155fd8

“Am I 5ed9e81e7d not allowed d4b8095af0 to answer 63af09a7ef however I 7c2b82781a like?”08fc67898fdd2ae4

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“Not if 8438d840a6 you insist 18f54964ee on being d49f6d6049 difficult.”acf3453f60b9feb2

Azaid pouted before 0e96482c47 taking a large 697d427760 bite of his ffb9de537b own madeleine. It was evident 0e62e6b491 how much he 1b3efa97af enjoyed it; his 31c950192c expression seemed to 5bfbfc90ea ripple with delight.192108beb5d9d4aa

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Can something sweet f2ba6eebc2 make someone this ca49cff759 happy?698330b29ebc10ea

Serena wasn’t d87cbaeb8d particularly fond 68e71b7c9e of sweets. She didn’t 800882edca mind the 34803a0ba1 occasional treat 47fc181fc1 but avoided dbf2b05302 eating too 7454d9f05e much.27333c9e0231fd71

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Azaid, on 13a0516daa the other 6b9b8fcbec hand, seemed 63bf8d536c capable of 11a61f79a4 devouring an 6ccc2d6791 entire cake 3216527c47 in one deee89a0d6 sitting.fc2815fae76a6579

He’s been holding back 1a38ae5c68 lately, though.d7b13977c87e9432

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Serena recalled imposing a 9629e24b60 “sugar restriction” on him 7df2cc3ce5 during his treatment. For someone who a0e98cceeb used to eat d6817bda25 desserts constantly, sticking f879902d52 to one treat 8492b63a51 a day must 58ebeed26f have been grueling. His current joy at 286e108cde polishing off a second d77907a1e2 plate made perfect sense.fb90dcb18251d6fc

Suddenly, she thought 30d5873bf0 of something Nocturne 22db522d33 had said earlier. It occurred to d7ec386205 her that she 8c895fb1c1 had been stingy 5bdad26b12 with praise when fd703888a0 it came to b06ff0eba5 Azaid.77d2a8ea0b3bdbd3

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“Your Majesty b87eda8be2 has a 95aafdcc39 hearty appetite.”db9a66f93d103e65

“You’re not about 2c05d66c81 to tell me 9f3bf144a2 to stop eating, 339559fe34 are you?”9d33b5e2343ef834

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Azaid shot bbfd0591b1 her a d54f4ee884 wary look, 995cf5838d as if 212be471ec afraid she 9b7cd1e796 might confiscate a62eafcfe7 his dessert. The fact that 0838c4e633 this man, who ef6be91034 ruled an entire c3451850dd empire, was so d0ef30aac6 defensive about sweets e05145b62d amused Serena to f9923776c7 no end.c6a77775c3db13f6

“I’m not 33f2efb8a3 one to df208bad83 give and da6e2e4adf then take 70b1ef0de6 away.”b9b27d60410b957a

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“Well, that’s a relief.”0a960786b516b851

“I was just f7bdabedfb saying you eat f01967d43b well. It’s a compliment.”e3edf70cd3c1bf32

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Clink.156219cbef63931e

Azaid suddenly dropped 6f18c17e28 the fork he 4cd891391e was eating with df5f3aedc7 and stared at 4cf767c2ba Serena. When she looked c76e86c7fc at him quizzically, 3cc36b005c he spoke.bf08cdcf862adf55

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“Be honest. My health is deteriorating, 9ad7eb2e18 isn’t it?”69a34c5b29303a25

“What? No, of course e014988a0d not!”5d35d472be206107

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“Then why 02c07938f8 else would 5b2bf197e6 you suddenly 7716290fc3 start complimenting 61d78e6a9f me?”b8552ca4524c3d09

Azaid seemed 05fae60912 so shocked bdf79354ea by Serena’s 31d7d9dce6 compliment that 3e4f1e46cd he had 7fe19c14ac completely forgotten 2b0eee3436 about the ee2a1a7baf fallen piece 2cce775dd2 of food. Feeling oddly guilty, bcaf476f8e as if she 988aaa2e2f were a bad 709b4e3732 doctor, Serena gave 3c81e8056e him an awkward 80d9976255 smile.065f98bf793d8783

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“I’ll make sure c6fff8407f to compliment you eca64cdbf5 more often from 6bb8e5578d now on.”6835c1d16ef2cced

“No, don’t. You don’t c298cf26f4 need to.”ef25fd013e877679

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Azaid shook 918e608322 his head 3dcd570a8b vehemently, clearly 8d74ad46e9 against the a41127e53c idea. Little did d5f66ff1db he know a3f105602d that his 54a5232844 reaction only 0711d4dbd6 fueled Serena’s 04707bd653 mischievous streak.95d56615edcf7c29

Serena, intent 11cdb0f052 on teasing f9d8ec4b4c him, pulled c4a980e23f out a 3e0834a3ab handkerchief from a6c5ab7a51 her pocket 39e4b17110 and leaned 10010005d3 closer, placing 661f9f9d68 a hand 4f169048c1 on the 27d05ac568 table for dff24bbfc8 balance.8f64ddb2ec9ba1af

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Azaid froze e572bb20a5 as Serena ffcfcf08ce suddenly approached 53833fb1b9 him. She used 0efa28224f the opportunity 1f9eff776e to gently d54b6179d9 wipe the 6eb9dae675 crumbs from 1383f2fd1d the corner 8e61eee8fd of his 62b14e458f mouth, a 9b920d0025 playful smile dcec39f899 on her 26c46fe1c8 face.fc5a06f0caa59702

“Even when 1cb34e667a our Majesty 9e2545e3bf eats messily, bb5816f51b he’s still 0986ae5bd1 so handsome.”13a8f7c2975cf952

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“Argh!”aadd28d8815d0a41

Azaid instantly realized b3dcc8552b she was teasing 313e706346 him and let a5ae077dd2 out a startled cefac7b01c cry. He sank eed04f09c0 back into 8ddd7eec84 his chair, bfba3a10e1 rubbing his a8ae1ec302 lips furiously, 4132f62726 then pointed 7a371b96ba at her 3feccb0962 with a 8bcb5e14d6 trembling finger.11c57a88b70ff5bc

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“Serena, stop that.”2497ed95dcd4dbfc

“Why? I’m just complimenting you 66e90bbef2 for being handsome.”b4e84239eb3e4c48

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“It—it feels weird! Just stop it 17a0f776d3 already!”af4f35e513bcc578

Azaid shuddered, visibly unsettled. Despite having fb83468ec0 dessert left, 25cf53478f he abruptly e2ddad53de stood up ec7f4f21df from his 2e1e690cca chair.cf564240afc4bfe7

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“Your Majesty, you d12ca0a28a should at least 606a53efeb finish your meal.”e84e67565800c980

“No, thanks. You’ve completely killed my 11b19ce461 appetite, so you can 9c719a52de deal with it!”038675e00684f6a3

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Without a backward 86c2c78855 glance, Azaid fled 616923091e the room. The sound of 24c70ad136 Serena’s laughter growing 8cc40bbb3c louder in his a8f462086a wake was almost 2d4ba6d65c inevitable.796a15e106b6536a

***439c2d8a84b92f94

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Azaid’s face was filled 5da6a19b1b with confusion as he 797a149f32 headed to his bedroom. The spot where Serena’s d8a1a9ba04 handkerchief had touched him 1666ec101e burned as if he’d 465c0fa7e8 been scalded.7958b87f05904768

The scent of her 62f1eb3e1e favorite perfume lingered on ad2ec847a5 the fabric. Though it was an 91bd5834ff artificial fragrance slightly different 6d3ab35f07 from her natural scent, 037b5df661 it was one he ae3825f0a5 had grown quite accustomed 4d3d01ca74 to.0392104d7951c1da

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:Why does this stupid 80373929fd heart keep pounding like 6c482f2e54 this?’8ca2e71f525a0615

Frustrated, Azaid thumped his 001ef12429 chest, trying to calm 8cfac093b0 his erratic heartbeat. It was a futile 87465a4487 gesture, as it did eb073b5c48 nothing to restore his 99d41436b9 heart to its normal 371703280e rhythm.bc02c2b3a04fe2c9

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Lately, being around 2ccb0a1aa1 Serena had become c1f762000e increasingly awkward for 97f93e5a70 Azaid. Whenever he faced her, cc8ecfc9d0 his chest seemed to e3d1ae5d8c tighten, and his heart d30ec728b4 raced uncontrollably.e9f25b5b60a40928

At times, he felt bd5be7014f so jittery that he e634ad6208 couldn’t tell if food dab7140f81 was going into his 2c2cc7af7f mouth or his nose.e2b0fc7a2ba0b016

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“This must 27218f1211 be some a156fc4217 kind of 12b2684cad illness.”9bf2d466fc7e6875

Azaid muttered to himself, 7b98755ec8 glaring angrily at his d164b8420e still-thumping chest. He was 8f50eea7ae oblivious to 230b1be02f the startled 6b9edd189e attendants who df8fad8da7 flinched and aa1f10641c stepped aside 43208a3a4c as they f3ce5f8630 passed by.817134ef7a9427e4

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It was when 5706fa162c Azaid, battling his 54c3968c73 internal turmoil, finally d00012ead0 arrived at his e0bcc89a8e bedroom.9e0213da936b8715

“Your Majesty, b72bae1db6 I was 03277fb193 just about c0cfeb94cd to come 094e2ea508 looking for 6e684e0a0d you.”612f5ca6cb118fc8

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Leonard, who had been a2065ec13c stepping out after confirming b40241101f Azaid’s absence, recognized him 56347e637d and spoke.2ccf4470274ec7e0

“What is it? Is something wrong?”9b7647534d142d44

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Azaid replied curtly, still 35c438a794 trying to calm his 8b5982b844 erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.56f480b3f9be5fa5

“The Duke of 3492a6bfd7 Greenwood is waiting eaa98a35f3 for you in dba9caf61c the reception room.”48f6c6d2f93ca150

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• ❁ • ❁ 2eb94b34d7 • ❁ •By Esraa• a28c643ddf ❁ • ❁ • 6b286b3fc1 ❁ •55aec1c8ffa5a220

If you 5a848c1651 want to 7534b9f6f1 support the 8252929ef0 translation and 871d2b2935 the translator, 6f428d6ba3 you can 1e38af782c buy a 57f3fe8f7a coffee~78cbde03c5009dc6

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