IWS Chapter 23

Chapter 23540cbdb89f817e78

 347a851352521fb8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Abel clenched 577d1167ed his fists bf11805465 tightly as 91879456ed he watched f8d15779cd Cecil sitting 1b4324f2ac on the 1aac5e0e2a floor, sobbing 234512eb74 uncontrollably.5c17af7d9cc848bb

‘Solitary confinement…’74bbf22d20f7020d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Could it mean Mary af9ac532f8 had been taken to 3a24096362 solitary again? If something happened during 577f1b1733 hereducation…dc560e8d5fec8e32

Waves of anxiety beb2e5b683 began to surge 493dd45264 through him, one d69c57046e after another.b979ddc10d0b0d41

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Something might have happened to Mary.’ac1bd2fa15df8a89

Though it 3f7222efe9 was merely e1c99c1d6b conjecture, Abel 61715dc4e6 felt devastated f1d7c20476 by the 9af836c21b possibility.453f87f9f8cd5088

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And then, 5554363d6e a different c9676f685a kind of ae1939b4b6 pain surfaced.6c51aa82b08f55b7

“……”66ebafa778601a27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lowering his gaze, 963fe28eb9 Abel looked at 22b4a32644 his arm, where 6d00014caf a stinging sensation bb7a713ffa lingered. He had 9dd4fe8dac scratched himself ddfbf086e8 again, a 93e052275d habit triggered 503fab7488 by anxiety. He bit down 5ef5993b24 on his lips a761894116 as he stared 5a6a58547d at the irritated 1acc2ff286 skin.0859020bbe4f99ca

“…Are you sure about this? That Mary was taken to solitary confinement—these friendsof yours, are they really—”1acb688393c6946e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“M-My f-friends don’t l-lie!”3d917371becffe3d

Cecil’s tear-streaked eyes flared with anger at Abel’s skeptical tone. Abel hesitated for a moment before speaking again.467cb65435f721dc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then… I’ll go to the basement.”d766e302f05d1d62

“Hic…!”b06d335d86aba06c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Cecil’s tear-filled eyes, hidden behind her bangs, widened in shock.56821bde5b3ef7b7

With determination hardening 1332859449 his expression, Abel 9b6379c1dc slowly unclenched his dc2873f808 fists and spoke 3099521557 firmly once more.c74ec06659b2290b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I… I don’t care if I put myself in danger. I want to help Mary.”d050cde962bf1d0c

“What do you even think you can do in that state?”26bb313f40a91337

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A sudden 40b1674703 voice interrupted 7026375e20 them, making a04cda7a48 both Abel f9ad191777 and Cecil 16083e79fd turn around.11367fd5129e3fee

Standing near 85d3138dcb the door, 8a80b0be03 scratching the aeb89de235 back of 161ca1a77f his head c50a9bb9c9 irritably as e2392e32dd if he 6d98856339 had just 71c943f6f8 woken up, 6e64c0313f was Michael. He glanced 5664be510f between the 297f2e9463 two before 8650b58a88 speaking in a61680bae5 an exasperated 5aef158b93 tone.595e0d4698fbe62f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Even if you get the door open, do you even know the way? The place is crawling with caretakers. Even if you somehow avoid them, how are you going to rescue her? You can’t even escape from here yourselves.”868ff0981cf7a969

“That doesn’t mean we can just sit here and do nothing.”53d2751b2e39ae54

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Abel shot a4d887d587 back defiantly, 1d1603fc3f narrowing his 07b9258f23 eyes at 90f9c0f323 Michael.09f4ca01eb6638f8

“……”0bbabbae35be99f1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Michael averted his gaze 9d71b1fe85 for a moment, glancing 9354a2df58 at the locked door.5b20596493f1dd4d

“…They don’t feed you anything down there. You might not be able to rescue her, but if you can bring her food, she might be able to hold on a little longer.”fcc8fb1e19b51a1c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, if you get caught by the caretakers, you’ll probably be disposed of.178e05b2bb9cf0c8

Swallowing the last part 8232740d24 of his thought, Michael b16bcd118c stepped past Abel and a6753a8ff5 Cecil, stopping in front ea618723dd of the door. He glanced 2939bab391 at the 40aec4a772 doorknob for a2a7372040 a moment 0e7c75e682 before reaching 916d5981ee out and bfcbb51aaf grasping it. Abel, thinking 87eaad214a he was bdc90a3144 about to 27fe765679 make the c85baca168 same futile 00e594833f attempt as 6c31c4a3f0 Cecil, spoke a0414408b3 up.1f90bfa4b5ccd5a1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s useless. We already tried—”ee442bf2499ecbb3

Click.d67528e30bf547cc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With a simple motion, the lock turned effortlessly, and the door creaked open. Abel’s mouth fell open in disbelief.4f94789f21f5f2d7

“What, how…”fa9a9c9046e4f479

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As the 71d383de81 door slowly b08f549b7f swung open, 1077b5cf1c Abel could 84531348ad only stare c66178773c in shock.a3909466df93f7e8

Michael, however, remained unfazed. He turned 8c5f8d34f1 his gaze a0f0b453d3 toward them, 0a60d0d5d3 casually shrugging 63db0f1e44 his shoulders.06efcbdf62391c54

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll help. But you have to do exactly as I say.”32d0732fb4213181

Despite the stunned looks f294649799 on their faces, Michael 6cd027d508 simply stood at the dd2cc00fb4 now-open doorway, waiting.5bb55a3729cf1178

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

💔09a1e758818e1b2f

Curled up in a f031ac53d8 corner of the solitary c19d4ad9be cell, I muttered to b58f8dc886 myself.8fb8a984241c8040

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I really am an idiot…”aa4068be04f39de3

No, seriously. I was 8a97a9543d a complete 6a5d99ee7f fool.ffa8145e2e90dee5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Other transmigrators 587a979903 always seemed aeef885a3e to know e5e0454f7d the original 2dfacc5caf story inside 87eec87193 out, rescuing b1a0ece77b struggling protagonists, 74416ba8d1 winning over 66bfdec22e powerful figures—like 81ce3734f3 Northen Dukes—right 0ff9bcbc4c from the f83702fe0a start, and abffc21865 even making c44a15a2b6 money by 6ebd6b394d recreating items e51804d156 from their 11b8ac29c3 past life.2d6ce10174da5201

Meanwhile, I 474541c353 had just 0470211583 thought,Hehe, I 39ad63a21c know the 6ade9f62f7 original story, bb7e77591e so things ac410f216c will work 1ade63522d out somehow!and did nothing.83bcc988ac50e534

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At this point, 24e497f2b6 even the god 3307d541b0 who dumped me bc129a8789 into this world d07c7dae37 probably realized their 91e21f00eb mistake and regretted d088080ce9 it.6f529bb2897bbe6e

‘Ha! What now! Seriously, what am I supposed to do?’0a4946fdf9b29313

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Wasn’t it unreasonable to expect a disaster-level idiot like me to do anything significant? I hesitated before mentally blaming God for my situation.63d8c806de8275fd

Click—e38ae34328a35191

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey. Food’s here.”8c5f0c297659f7df

Before my eyes, accustomed 5738eed501 to the darkness, could 67236ff9f8 even adjust, a caretaker 11eb781824 slid a tray of 3c509fc7d4 food under the iron e11f03113b bars.a59febf0a8870ee9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Are you kidding me? They locked up an innocent person, but they’re still bothering to feed me?22d7d6da62a48367

“Excuse me…! When can I go back to my room?”c35565896d671190

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I quickly fd0eacc5a3 threw out 852e79aeb7 the question, df66b011be grabbing onto 40d02c2fcd whatever chance 2ebf521421 I had f129dd9bd5 as the 2da31786ed caretaker started 47b9249a6a walking away.d9023c3346683993

He could have ignored 45fc84d9ae me, but he paused, 228d4d9af4 turning back to look 9d73f26908 at me.61220cc2c9442e0c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…The noble you killedhas gone missing.”c7e9de41a5cc2efb

“That’s…”71332dde01f1520c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Until it’s confirmed whether he’s truly dead or not, you’ll stay here. That is, if your claims turn out to be true.”bf69b1872d62a07c

With that, the 102f4868a2 caretaker turned and 1a2569f117 left without hesitation.1e94c62fec4d81a9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Alone once more in 2d64d6299a the darkness, I could 218831c7cc only stare blankly ahead.7785c9356b5fcd03

So, they were keeping me here until they confirmed the Grand Duke’s death? Ha! Unbelievable!860b2f43ff87634c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘At this rate, I’ll be stuck here until the Grand Duke himself comes back…’b80a59116fb15102

He had 2432f8a7e0 planned to cc2d404c93 stay hidden 219966c0ea for a 242be1d73e year, avoiding 4c0e41b6e1 detection at 7635cf0f94 all costs. If the slave d122d6eba9 shop owner refused d901d7d5ff to release me 198481c0a6 until they had 74e44815c3 proof of his fed05ec038 fate, what then?dfb740ff01331d2d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What if 0260a9fc5b I somehow 37f7e63f08 survived in 9d6ba54905 solitary for 52b5006d7f a year, c512cf4b19 only for 6ce4a56674 the Duke 6b59f3cf25 to arrive 0a54f75ea9 and not 1c892bff70 realize there c9b76cf75b was a d439c46269 hidden solitary 58484ddaaa confinement? What if 54eacdafe7 he just 525491799b destroyed the ff4f3bf990 whole facility 70e742afda and left?e0792e8a5002a35d

‘No, but seriously, this is messed up! After everything I did for him?! I risked my life dealing with the Northern Duke, got slapped by a spy maid while playing double agent, and carried out every single mission! And yet, here I am, locked in solitary?! That bastard slave shop owner!’58c2dd5b2cbd498d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Grrrgle—75b09f62ae9e156c

After venting my fb4894d3cb frustration in my debe056f40 head, I was 1037890821 suddenly hit with 67626b4492 hunger.f8610fe767f6b7f8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I glanced at the food the caretaker had left behind. Since they didn’t want to come back three times a day, they’d dumped a huge portion here at once.4594495ea33bf8c8

Damn it.2f0ce51e3da6999c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Fine! I’ll eat every last bit!’959a9655c484fe8b

And then, in d52e3f5e8f an explosion of c18f9be838 frustration, I relieved 2104739510 all my stress 865e508e6f through a binge-eating 7f7632d932 spree.ff1957482682dfbf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

💔b5b737161400a90e

‘Ugh… I feel like I’m going to throw up…’bd47e69d2c32e4f4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Having devoured da147a4766 every last 701c725220 bit of 6c016ce8eb food the d3a86d72da caretaker had 0745b181ce left behind, 2340defcc0 I patted 8811a6d8a2 my now fdfaf101e9 overly full 6b44956e9f stomach and fe81a73764 leaned deeply 83561bc484 against the 955f69d6bc wall.3fd78c513ffc3580

The solitary 193322c12a confinement cell 1076703a98 remained as 60ffab4c1a dark, damp, 1c93b0f31a and eerily fd971c06d5 silent as 07a09ffb26 ever.b30ea3f7200cc412

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The thought b2ddbade88 of enduring 2cb242067d an entire ca6794c88d year in 4304d299fb this windowless c24150111a place made 201e180b03 me want 6104920d5f to cry. But just then, ccd61604f8 an unexpected sound b747641c15 shattered the silence—the b835244805 unmistakable click of 03bb0936e2 an opening door.e9de13d9292d8be2

‘Huh? Is the caretaker back? Why?’2234dd42077841e9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Had something a1ba317814 gone wrong? My heart pounded 9fd029df89 in fear as 28fcbd716b I held my 790bad5f67 breath and focused 6ee89f76e2 on the approaching 6ca012d47d footsteps. Then, a e426c0ea8d familiar voice 2a97b581e4 reached my a411263893 ears.52929a14f7a5f1b4

“Mary…?”b950f141cef95ca5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Abel…?eb8b61977be3bdc3

Before I c6bf1e157c even realized 697121fd99 it, I a6863ace59 was scrambling 4c6027ba82 to my c7ea9895dc feet, pressing f3f3af284c my hand 41682c6c8b against the e4932f65af cold wall 2d81ff0ffc for support dddf40d670 as I fce8f6ab00 rushed toward 3df7a21349 the iron f3f8a2eb04 bars. In the darkness, f3f0d55c88 I saw a a1d72054ac shadowy figure wavering 38d5233ae8 before me. Desperately, I 92fe3f965d reached out, b867ed78bf and my 1d409fff1e fingertips brushed 0f4a281e25 against something f1abc85b11 warm. A soft cheek. Judging by the texture, c4b587298e the owner of the 3c0ff9253d voice was indeed Abel.61ca22d16a9d80d5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Abel…!”b405f38b5b369d70

Wait—how did he get 4f87515cd2 here?8d6f563f98bde4f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I was about 88bae626e0 to ask when, 5a6e5c9675 suddenly, Abel grasped 08886d02d9 my outstretched hand 581c261f92 tightly. Startled by 3ee1f7653a the unexpected 84fa0c7a79 contact, I fffb76f28c flinched, my 51086208ff shoulders jerking 4094cfacd8 involuntarily.3b8ade9e839f30da

“You really were here… In a place like this….”2b4671f22f97bfb1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though I couldn’t see his face clearly, Abel’s voice trembled as if he were on the verge of tears.2098c3461db24fa6

His grip 451342cd63 was firm—so 865cb31ffb firm that d52372a04f I could 5bfff4484e feel his 3b901d4c97 anxiety through 3b7a6cd062 the shaking 75d89275ea of our cd1708939a intertwined fingers. At that moment, a dcddd86174 pang of realization hit a8c559fedb me.d83670e54b415be3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Abel wasterrifiedof the dark.2bdf1895fa2c08c7

According to the b349c373cc original story, he 9924e79258 had developed this 9ac015173b fear after being cb82e9badb kidnapped by slave 0db8bf6e11 traders and transported 8768945263 in complete darkness e93a01c555 for hours on 5c733b81d5 end.31cb032888a1b149

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Abel, how did you—no, why did you come here? You need to go back. If the caretakers catch you, you’ll be in danger too.”0f19d221318e9407

“…You weren’t coming back… Mary, you… You weren’t coming back…”90632bbb2898eaba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His unsteady breathing 2e6ef5d800 echoed through the 73f8d4462d bars.7ffcedf67c9a3daf

His fear and distress 38b535091a seeped into me, making ac59e114ac me grip his hand 2137d69b00 even tighter in return.9b453c94165e0c17

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m sorry, Abel. I promised I’d come back… I really meant to, but—”35e97681ad76166d

“Why… Why are youapologizing?”9379a98708abb54c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was a eb96783dca faint tremble at 235a8a9b85 the end of 40b406e058 his words.87eea70b709b20d5

For a 369a9bbcd6 moment, Abel 3dc453f7e3 simply stared 0159b15472 at me 829b5ac79c through the 6df67b6ece darkness.64be7e1da47142e4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even in this 37049bb6d3 pitch-black cell, I c3e535148a couldfeelhis unwavering gaze fixated 5d01d7f8d9 on me, his obsidian bd4fd9834c eyes piercing through the 87444b81b9 gloom.5a147b7303d5389c

Then, without fd9aaf438a a word, f28013b823 he slowly 6943925d0f reached out 4d6b18c998 his free fa4263de4f hand and 981dc9330b carefully placed 09c4647dd2 it over a06e264bfb my cheek.8f62bb178762f7ac

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Did they… hurt you?”18591a08216b1b30

“Ah…”42d86ff797fd735d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Had he somehow 1aa998fde5 noticed the swelling bcf5c0aea8 on my cheek? His fingers, though e00565ab1b shaking, landed precisely 634ad76d30 on the sore 357e09f350 spot.34efd2f7f0e535d4

Wow, even in eeccd56076 the dark, his a906b97569 eyesight was that 6cf6cbe0ef sharp?39552b0662a41702

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“This is…”64a48e8a920a4a69

How was I supposed de02441c8d to explain thatthe slave c88b2e1308 shop owner 21bd2903d2 ordered me 999dbb69d0 to assassinate 07bc33bfae the Grand afb175e01c Duke, but dd0c82de56 when I 0320bbceda refused and 169ba15830 just stood 6c7098d668 there changing e2c950392f the flowers bc938b0416 in the 835e502c3e vase, the dbef8a8608 spy maid 62c03e1ccf got so 66520a4b33 angry that e859247ba4 she slapped 5040b85ff0 me?346dfc6161563a0e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

There was b425d8ff9f no way e39b63c105 to sum e76dbbf0d7 up such f852790947 a ridiculous 92c0a8cc93 story in ffd36b5309 a single 95c2328835 sentence.0a800ecc457011c1

Maybe I should just 7e471134d2 brush it off and 1887895ae1 laugh.b676ad66cd9c513e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As I was about to speak, Abel’s voice trembled again.10fe1df27aca7603

“…Did it hurt?”6fae3d185c7298ad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He sounded 581d7e4f69 so genuinely f9f60cd434 worried that 55c34a60c4 it made 71bb18763b my heart 8adcff4a0e ache.640bfd9c98bf9dff

Perhaps Abel wasn’t just sounding like he might cry—in the darkness, he might already be crying.4209e36860764d65

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

˗ˋˏ ♡ˎˊ˗b54d3fccb6af36ba