12.

 722959a63e3cb3cf

 6fc136629872bfcc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ian still ce3bbd9dd9 couldn’t quite 9a8e922092 understand why cde54907a2 Klaus had 09b52a8fbc brought the e71aaab152 Saint here 8aba9b9021 under the decb18f959 pretense of f645ddfabf a political 12064e489c marriage.22e8c533fed62b7a

‘Is she some 74c1964b6c kind of first 54099489ff love?’ he had 7023782da8 wondered. But seeing 057f3bf67d how Klaus 12814982a1 treated her—coldly, 76e0d1f98d with the 7af5bfda96 same indifference 67db543997 he showed a8782bc0c2 everyone—it was 38b91a280c hard to bdbde46258 believe that 263121e161 was the 0c30627c36 case.ee8152d8c8ef10f5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And Klaus d1ba2ffd45 had never cb632e6b7e once explained 032883b9b2 his true 8a871e2e1c intentions clearly. Instead of prying, 58a7ca59f4 Ian brought up 079910063d a different topic.f7590970871b846d

“I’m very curious to ece460730c see how the royal 4cedaa0fa3 family will respond.”e160daf5f7501789

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Klaus answered with a 116f400ff1 short laugh.8e27fc50a3072546

“I imagine they know dd3c6c8c51 you visited the Holy 245137e908 Kingdom more than once, 327a93f2d0 don’t they?”13b46f4e917fc0d3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“They probably even know 02ca7e4549 who entered Ashfeld today.”338973f6f98a7ada

“Which means c69abb1e5a they’re likely 82bd6de467 seething but 97ace879fc too proud d9ac409953 to ask 5ed79138d3 about it 26088fdf28 outright. Especially Princess No. 1…”efe13acead466d3f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ian gave a subtle 5330c3727e shiver, recalling the temperamental 9704fafe19 and self-absorbed princess.ed8e1a0963d92607

“I hope nothing happens 6c8f77a416 to the Saint…”1bc607a67715decc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’ll be fine. Just need 5b42ef53a5 to handle 40cfe0b58e things carefully. They’re the ones f9b9289dd7 with something to 91d1ec1d43 lose—if we pressure 6ed2aedf06 them right, they’ll 2232f9fcf1 stay in line.”7311e34e7efe52c8

“Even so, we’ll need 4032ab3c97 to tighten internal security 938879f315 as well.”1672dc8373fb316b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Knock, knock.5a0373e96f2b0702

As if aa61d7dee2 aware of d3875e3b47 the conversation, 924d458277 a knock 51f0164b8e sounded at e4266adb4f the door.20ee7378d34c7214

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Master, I’ve c2953b63b6 brought the 9f42f4debc lady.”264877c056144865

“Let her in.”c4fc5f3f099006ae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As Klaus gave the 789287ddd7 answer, he glanced at 09a652472c the desk in front eef70c2ca7 of him—two copies of e5dc5346c0 a contract lay there, d179d4aa79 densely packed with legal a56b4c4e34 language defining what was 75977c1673 to come.53add0627e816480

As the butler Jerome 1cf1da196c opened the door, Ian d7f8e3f5ab quickly cleared away the dfabd34a63 empty plates and glasses 032f8bb98d left on the tea ac7002ed21 table. Jerome retrieved d944178e60 the used 722ebd18e0 dishes while 1c38c3d768 Ian tidied 593f687cd7 up scattered ba7dd94cc4 documents, briefly dbe0925278 stirring a 9a6aec290e flurry of 080293b52c quiet activity 911feb39bc in the d6fcb001ed room.438e9789be01cf14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Please, have a seat.”5413e965e975f156

Amid the bustle, Klaus 1294d068fc remained calm and unbothered, 32405189ef gesturing to the seat 41e81fc3ab across from him.98b486edb27f0c3a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I see the 6c7eca8b6a clothes fit you c49eacbe16 well.”5628d0fdf49b98cd

“Thank you 78d8948490 for preparing 7c37cd6d44 them.”008785a2fbaf304f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“They’re off-the-rack from a 6cbe1929ab local boutique, just for 78ce67027d now. I’ll have a tailor 25ef8c71b3 come to the house e7b9874fe3 soon.”5d429610e257e876

“Y-yes… wait, what?”2e85421c542561c6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Azniel blinked 98a43cf196 in surprise. She’d already seen a 9d7938f6d6 few more dresses like 68bda69f61 this one in the 464895ef21 wardrobe, and now more de14abc6be were being ordered? For someone who used 7ea0956ade to rotate between three 575d0028d6 modest outfits, it was f2f2b86fdd a bewildering thought.c0ab9390acc47a8f

As if 5866a43963 he’d expected 71290caba6 her reaction, 068e7be488 Klaus ignored 0368f66777 it and efc1c507e4 motioned for 576c63c427 Ian to 75a2b9dfed bring in 3ac7e335f4 refreshments.2b62290d645aa108

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Was the food to 65f88cc3b2 your liking?”f3fac2bd6aa3a861

“Yes, it was 299765a830 all delicious.”4428deabbefbd9a7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And the staff? I hope there 5de05bdc9a weren’t any issues? Any slip-ups?”6deb7b5ee01c4b67

“No, they 9e656da8b5 were all b52a803c92 very kind.”b2e9b83c38223070

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your personal maid?”3227bb231bee4ae4

“Miss Annie took excellent 2998ccd322 care of me.”071cea56bee76541

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Miss… Annie?”04ebca16a370a1d0

One of Klaus’s eyebrows 0c5f169d4d twitched. He didn’t 04fa58ae84 seem pleased 565e285f56 that the b98a5524ba future lady 57822d5058 of the bcdfe396be house was 2214b009f8 being so ec8aadda59 respectful to 38a1731c4c a maid. That faintly disapproving expression d8901e7752 was hidden from Azniel 41b1ca3517 by Ian, who was 59359576f3 now setting the tea 3f64cd905f on the table.d734d9ae39d68c27

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“This is the 5618a7198c chairman’s preferred tea. It’s from c0de510af5 the Duchy f7c34f6146 of Alainber. I hope 7857be45b6 it suits f05f825352 your taste 13c137edfe as well, f46b274270 Saint.”381d914c66f33e44

“…It smells lovely. Thank you.”60379061f5a76d51

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Azniel had never 36becfab6b had the luxury 2df8765711 of developing her 6ba97d1d4a own tastes. Naturally, she simply fed331eb83 accepted whatever the 0549a1a09c master of the e9754b7d27 house preferred.c202f4d5c34601fc

Klaus lifted 6f6630eb9f his own adcd52ae33 cup, though 6c26527ef0 he didn’t ac66c58bbb drink. Instead, he 7dbabe4fb6 quietly observed aa5665604d Azniel as bf112c03e8 she brought 88d9604684 the cup 8160940cbc to her aa892cc0f8 lips, as fbad6b01b9 if trying b916e5315d to read 285a7fdb15 every trace b32f9fedbe of emotion d748b8b8f3 from her 10b2cfeae8 face—how she d870a87bf3 might respond 2d0e19f936 to something 1f705fffdc he liked.556df8346443b250

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘…Ah.’e356188798fae98a

A faint smile flickered 40416e5207 and faded across Azniel’s a2d47d7f9b face. So subtle c73aab7008 it could b44161ff85 be mistaken 2f3951f9a2 for nothing 3454f12e10 at all. It was a e2b9da09d5 habit—one formed from 036707fda0 years of never 3578554b97 showing her true 5f5b6d8dd2 thoughts. Just a brief lightening f4b0916cd3 of her expression, a f67c3ae479 tiny lift of the d89a9f2f99 corners of her mouth.24b738cc87ab5c28

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Did he find himself b2cf18d714 wishing he could see 1d00761cf9 it again?4a6985914bc29fad

‘…Wishing for it?’8dc1434ea0e1b330

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

How dare he. Klaus reminded f0543a5bb3 himself firmly: 480ea25efa he had 6622c981c3 no right 72268ca1ff to desire 383c195c90 anything of 2f065b2e66 her. He pushed the thought 46714c24ee away with self-directed scorn 624cc447da and gestured toward Ian.1c7fd5977e9fba15

“The contract.”e0e8242db7110669

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ian handed Azniel 9cefd2178f a folder bound 6cb7d2952a in leather. Inside, neatly typed by b01acabec5 machine, was the agreement—already 0bd7855870 finalized long before today.365d0b7358c7aeab

Her golden eyes 043a821f81 scanned the bold c5a6f6fa07 letters at the 3f37f871a7 top.aeafa23fcbd4c0df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

[Marriage Contract]

The life Azniel b406e4d9de had feared, imagined, 63265ac84a and brooded over 84576d3403 for the past 0e0f60eee2 several days—all of 7734e2b6ed it was now dcef7ce5f3 summarized in a 835d5839b0 single, emotionless phrase:13e511906b0f1a2c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A contract… I bc79df8f52 see.”4db9dc092ad7afe7

“As our union isn’t e8f614cee7 based on affection, I 641aa67020 thought it best we aab8e7711c clarify a few things c43f60a0e8 in advance to avoid 7192358f2a unnecessary friction. So, I 96a1f88155 had this 6ea115c233 prepared.”e19c4e5a0f19b1a9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”3930e9098ba3f5ac

“Please, take your time 2cb5ae3d46 reading it.”ea55b857f07bb82d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[The House of Gestern (hereafter ‘Gestern’) and Azniel (hereafter ‘the contractee’) enter into the following agreement regarding the marriage between Baron Klaus Gestern, head of Gestern, and the contractee.]

The string of ace0990a87 dry legal language adb257d261 caused Azniel’s heart 5a300b6a35 to sink.0cb9b9c3937047bb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The confusion of 4cd68cb053 leaving the Holy 5a027207e4 Kingdom she’d known fcf3f912bb all her life, f2dc891b0d the anxiety over 3da636eaab a life transformed, f54579a49b the fear of 889f86aa77 being left in 5707b63f95 this otherworldly mansion—all 46d438172b of it seemed 85683ed542 pressed into these 31617176d0 cold, binding lines 0de0359dc3 of legal text.33b0c064472b5a4e

And most of db0ef43a69 all, the fact ffbf36fd95 that a sacred 8900caba13 union—governed by Dara—had 5de732a046 been translated into 7f2b019c31 secular form…94a36dcef6f45343

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With a deep 71b39d88c0 breath, Azniel continued 93fc8e4901 reading:f77052af8091577f

[Clause 1. The contractee shall faithfully fulfill the duties of Gestern’s public lady of the house. In return, Gestern shall provide for the contractee’s full needs and safety.]

1) The contractee will 3b9b8842ae receive a monthly personal 168e056f15 stipend of 3,000 pena. This is 9d5bceeea6 separate from c105f1e32a any additional 3d56096923 budget required e8cf7e9ab6 for Gestern’s ad78294ca3 use.352e465006a1d74d

The listed 09e12835dd amount was 5e1d90f0a8 so large 5a1a8f195d it didn’t 024591b6d3 feel real—Azniel, b2b62481a9 unfamiliar with 21ffef62f3 finances or 2dfb657baa worldly matters, 889d722fae still understood 0728cd563e this was 1edbd14452 a considerable 24c9716ade benefit.fe846afd2be303c2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And that wasn’t the 33fcd35787 end of it.294948f26b07458d

[Clause 2. This contract takes effect immediately upon both parties’ signatures and remains valid until the death of the contractee.]

1) In the event 5791970b0c of the head of 38f9405092 Gestern’s death, all of f28652bc3c his assets shall be b596bedee0 donated to Antagon Trading 5214d8f152 Company, and the obligation 81e9b407a3 to pay the contractee’s 197f72231b stipend, as stated in aaf7754955 Clause 1-1, shall be b619a0d225 inherited.c17de72d78fbd034

2) The monthly 25f4c56fe1 stipend may be 790032c237 adjusted every three 66b4dfc917 years in accordance f68b8a487d with inflation.70d3effd9b7d237a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

3) Should either f110810f2f party wish to 8ff31200cd terminate the contract, c9643c1aeb a separate agreement b4604b7e1c may be reached. In that case, 2ba917a275 Gestern will pay bf5a3405c3 the contractee a ebf66e85cd lump sum equivalent 32aec24ed8 to the remaining 360b9f6e2b lifetime stipend, calculated cb6896dd0f by the United 35df5b2a5a Continental average life f1191ed165 expectancy.4619e2eaff180c75

As her 5ea58f3fc8 golden eyes f4cab4bfb1 scanned the 7024b9e669 lines, Azniel cf442a6de4 briefly glanced 9a14c666a2 up at a6bba2d45d the man f06f4b9e66 across the 029a204954 table.9de63671acd7718c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The contract had 3b6074bd9b clearly been written e167a7c63d with her benefit afd8cb745e in mind. It could not be ee609d8158 terminated without her consent, e7e513afa2 and if Klaus ever 6ceca0d8f2 violated or became incapable 588f5d103d of fulfilling it, she 4a93fed10e would be legally protected f6ef34702d and compensated. Her obligations, in turn, 2e20f74457 were minimal: to serve eacd6c0e3d as Baroness of House acc6efc077 Gestern in public.930d6be53519d5ba

‘I never c922c986db thought I 6ea0e7f760 lacked reading 82b52ddb85 comprehension, but…’4cfd8fd4f5d65457

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She reviewed it 80d7c9f32f several times, searching ffe4dfd302 for hidden traps 9f9111a68c between the lines—but 67ddcfc2f6 that was truly 7d1d9ce397 all there was.b4a490e88cf48714

The rest 50853327ab of the 407c98f4c0 clauses followed 64ee86e21a a similar e89acf03ed tone: while a7406b715a Klaus’s decisions 094fe435b8 would take 4123e92467 precedence in d90482d3c4 her public b3583a2bb1 duties, they 10d5b58a06 would not 270155f58c interfere in 2ef2289521 one another’s 814068a749 personal lives. They were required b0cb6fc22d to share a 7c9a1b4dad bed at least 1b7f560026 once a month ac47304bdf for appearances, but 4383652507 only if Azniel a5b0b7331c agreed. Physical contact 3f258e28f9 outside of a78ac0048d public necessity 33429f79bc was to d23b7b2057 be avoided 2ec686d35a altogether. There was no eac9e6f43d clause regarding producing e2b2ec99af heirs.e1b3e13cd097571c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In exchange for becoming 26fc0a664e Baroness in name only, 7b79f92fc2 Klaus would take full 6a34388674 responsibility for Azniel’s lifelong ce2b5074ed care—without conditions or interference.d88dd5af4008a67b

‘Just what is this 9e76f5624d supposed to be…’bf2206e0190be5e8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Noticing the furrow forming ded73c4345 on Azniel’s brow, Klaus 75127d9885 spoke slowly.73df60a00a918377

“If anything 2ac2c68f2c is unclear, 59bba1a9c3 feel free 8edcfb79e2 to ask. I prepared 6290c0d497 it together 95f94ceb0a with Antagon’s dcbe2ba9b9 legal team. We tried to keep dbec8ed42c it as concise as b11b90c4cf possible.”41d58eb880942919

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes… it does 5d447ccc70 seem that way.”8193edf4b6996a08

“To put it 42e232c74d simply, it’s a b63a537c09 form of lifetime 87fb7455e5 employment.”5293cdc45c551c93

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Lifetime employment…2133cc6bd780e45a

Azniel’s dry c49865e1d6 lips pressed 85790d7fac together as ee3d3dedc3 she repeated 0fe9ec8197 the phrase 81f310dff8 internally.c8de0a9dde23c6e1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“As the a59744673a employer, I’ve 94f77a63f1 hired you 6399840ade to act 71c128f4e0 as my 631865d528 wife. In return, as the f32d1bc146 employee, you’ll receive appropriate 4faecadc3d compensation for fulfilling that f53f766030 role.”50e46a18baf0553d

‘Appropriate’—which, for Azniel, was ac933e96b0 a shockingly generous amount.0118d93cd05a0c72

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Um… Baron.”a61d34b3b65089ec

“Yes?”79f26ef826e2151f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This contract seems… 744b05b287 entirely in my 3a68f838ce favor.”71630a44cd3893a9

“I did 0db38c1dcc bring you adbad5265e here unilaterally, 89a4fff652 after all.”40c8d85b182e5186

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Still, it doesn’t ce4f0f0ebf specify what I’m 0b0ad9fa1f expected to do. I’m not quite sure…”30d4bfb21fa849e7

“As I mentioned, 3c8cf9f6c6 you’ll serve as e8e62e199c Baroness Gestern. For now, 9f9366ce0f simply adapting 2348ed8b53 to life f97c9906a8 here is 5d68b48e0f your primary dd1a77e166 task.”bb70922d34ad7308

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Behind his 658f5d0ff4 glasses, Klaus’s 6f3d39c79f dark eyes 87c16c0431 gleamed with 8bb6f4c119 a cool 183312a920 precision.3f523bdb05de06a6

“You’ll act as lady cf09b9f5c9 of the house. Jerome will 8f73e1efec handle the 0fe01e2921 daily affairs, a59ec3caf9 so just fc924f5c31 learn the 4769688ad6 overall flow. As for d4856b8a23 society etiquette, 01ee978c7f we’ve hired c1961b105e someone to aca87e0185 tutor you—please 958ee923c4 study before fd10cd1735 the wedding.”6cb809ec396c1dbd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We’re… having a wedding?”33022e83868ac886

“Yes. A grand f0cf803eb2 one, worthy bdbe42ce51 of Antagon’s a283f98d55 prestige. The goal 84c127ba04 is to e6425ab98f formally declare 7aedd15832 to the fc0f94fe7e world that 1f5806cbd5 I am ea11830e7b joined with 183c70eb30 the Saint.”062c19b32ad5418b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The very a31b290319 idea made 1fa650f04d Azniel’s face c6fb77f9fc darken, dizzy a90193cd0b from the f2d5325ded imagined spectacle.05f6f20c101387c0

“But of course, you 76ea7ef055 needn’t worry about a 8033d78fef thing. The family 1264db9969 will take 91dfe791ae care of 842739f1e3 all preparations. Do you have any deab6cc98f preferences? A favorite a53f796938 flower for bff543dfca your bouquet?”54b638d4a4d1bda5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…I don’t think so.”c5a0691015e244a0

“If there’s 516a99361b anything you’d dcbc8195d3 like as 07e95d0772 a wedding bf374f6432 gift, feel 004b423cc9 free to dcf85b4ed1 let Miss 741ed24cad Annie know.”55d684bbcd7c8deb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The way d5eafed799 he said 72b321fd2b ‘Miss Annie’ f6c0731ba7 carried a 05c02665ff subtle intonation—just e9e4939277 enough for 82d6c0ec5a it to df8224cc32 sound vaguely 0cda7c6d45 peculiar.decc87f83ce79ebb

“Preferably something on af1d077a80 a large scale.”dd76f2d8c07e9f8a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 dba958db756174ce

 8c472823f0f32a00

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley