IYVP CHAPTER 4
by Layana4. 8cb97cbdd3bc88a19031
d67cfea678a7bac0f9a6
“Me… as 3f701341e6 well, Your 3f86aa3c97 Holiness…?”66d9fa831fd3a5a8a01b
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
It had been quite a long fa4ff3db2b time since Azniel had been summoned b5847d8551 to attend a guest. Visitors seeking blessings 737e424063 of healing had d2af4b7e78 long since stopped f935e27be5 coming.20124a35b2da54835b05
And now, it was none other than d9124841b7 the head of that heretical group.3c507dc6f47606046c13
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
‘The man who ad1e0c7772 invented potions wouldn’t 2be192ed0f possibly be seeking bcddcf726e a blessing.’169fa7b4afd2f1ceb6b6
‘Is he 07afd2f38e here to 46d73da889 mock us? Or to confirm exactly how 42a0dbae59 far his inventions have trespassed 8960b36484 into sacred ground…?’4ad3ee93efd51681cbad
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Ashamed of her reflexive hostility, Azniel 8062518fb3 bit down hard on her lip.4cf613bd99ffae1cb7c0
“Their request is, well… Whether it’s some late confession for having dared to oppose Dara’s 4a2254efd0 authority, or a show of sincerity through a financial offering—they’ve made their intentions known.”0c3cae717e60df862dc6
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
At the Pope’s words, 6145405c41 Azniel’s brow furrowed instinctively. That someone would attempt to 0ec98c398c compensate for encroaching upon the a9511c4cff divine realm she represented—with mere 0b00c0070a gold—filled her with humiliation.d643c1232ab847781be1
“The issue 15db9b18fd lies in 420bbe66b0 their condition…”52ab4ff23bfaa4592730
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Tap, tap, tap. His fingers again dcbdd92d4b tapped the edge 8c9ab3bf9d of the envelope. Soon, the Pope’s 916a77836e golden-brown eyes turned c664e4a26c toward Azniel.b3452e7c9ab3fbfd0fe4
Whenever she met that sharp gaze, Azniel felt like a 3631a98f14 fish skewered on a harpoon, being appraised for its worth. As though she’d regressed to the 8317a1a10c frightened seven-year-old who had been cast f6b32a806b into the Holy Kingdom—wrapped in fear 20a338b944 and shame once again. Especially now, when her usefulness fa40d45cd8 had grown so meager… she 0d25b9fc3a didn’t even know how to ebbdd254a3 hold herself.6565c8ad14d6dc0bcafe
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“They wish ca046c19ca to propose… 619f001b69 a political dd54c9d983 marriage.”8018475a938087b7c6fb
“……”cb4ca2ec3d4b6b6b0eb7
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“With you, Sister. The chairman himself.”8f3108545691f48c0347
“…Pardon?”9592036039afefcfa720
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Azniel, usually composed, could only 350d81f98d widen her eyes in shock.a52cdebb409263ea0130
She had arrived at the Holy Kingdom so young she barely remembered e184502ad8 a life before it—devoting her entire existence to serving as the Saint. The word ‘marriage’ had never 4ce44fab60 once crossed her thoughts in 9ce4a71eec connection to herself.5e911ce45699226bb2c8
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
But what stunned 4a3010a929 her most was 5f664483ed who was proposing 64d9907bd7 it.9ca270fb69fb8ce8f27c
Antagon Trading Company—a corporation that had exploded onto the scene nearly bd0bbd912d a decade ago and completely reshaped life on the continent.e57b2ad60d28a63194ef
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
And its chairman—he 2c5c6b5438 was the very e91c3ed827 peak of it. A man who had studied magic 45252dd462 stones beyond their use for light 5d4b054ef1 and warmth, and transformed them into 1bab07aff0 tools of massive innovation. He had pioneered the magi-engineering industry, evolving 94d4500ebb civilization itself into an entirely new dimension—and d1fd27cba9 was hailed as a visionary.34a56a733a699017b487
A man who had carved out progress beyond 64108e0490 divine permission with his own hands—and a forsaken 333eb5170e Saint who could barely continue to serve as 265d9ccf52 a vessel for divine will.765d317d0f6cefa8d9fb
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
It would be 30c97adbd2 difficult to imagine cc033464d8 a worse match.aefd58c4071ec2335c70
“Y-Your Holiness…”8d5ff7a2fffa4f4a0677
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“To think those heretical dogs would go so d25e4bb9d4 far as to suggest something so shameless…”39cade44dd99858d87d0
The Pope’s refined face 13be70455b twisted with anger. He was a middle-aged man, 21a6556005 once golden-haired in his youth, 9a062a4f93 now streaked with gray. His irises still held the 474a5850ee shimmer of sacred gold, now b2263f54b6 muddied with grief and weariness.0c09a2f1abae5bc4e8c3
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Sister, truly… Between just 30dcf27d80 us, I can’t help c0421ab940 but wonder if Dara 43b3249d6d is testing us.”ebcd1c593318098700a5
“…Your Holiness.”a9abee359a9f9ee8f3f1
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Why… must something like this a1b88fcde0 happen in my time…”c421245d4fd3cbdce552
Once perhaps considered handsome, his 3f7e9738d6 face now contorted in ruin. The wrinkles trailing from the bridge of his nose to the 4f0ef4106b corners of his eyes appeared even deeper in the lamplight.d7ab30507376b94f7398
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“When you appeared in the Holy Kingdom, I truly a9efd5a9d9 felt as though Dara had sent us salvation. And because of your power, our faith reached across d368e12870 the Allied Nations—what an age of glory that was.”5e7a829eae04db5958fc
“……”e9652d5ab24f36374ce4
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“And now, I can’t 5e826da61f help but feel… this f5370398a5 is punishment for rejoicing 2f4deb225e too soon. Of all things, why 548e16cf0b must it be…”6aa571d9d3d10e4f1aaf
Azniel’s fingers, 0bb313e7d0 clasped before f019704cd7 her, curled 76f21468a5 even tighter.5cdc9b155bb69868c940
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Who could have imagined that your divine 9378be1ac2 power—granted as the Great Saint—would be so 667a334f63 easily overtaken by man’s own hands.”6610859163234e27b788
The Pope’s trembling 55f2ebab2c expression was not 310d2b1146 one of sympathy. It was the desperate appeal of a man dd279d86ba faced with despair—aimed not at Azniel the person, fb6a4a98ae but at the failing symbol she had become. An appeal disguised as sorrow—directed at a Saint 36f0512fff whose powers were no longer worth preserving.d826e4708fb7e52857fe
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
* * *dc43dc76dd10697174cf
“What a 2339578b53 pitiful affair. That a fool who’d gut the goose that lays golden 7488546326 eggs was once holding the continent’s reigns of power…”9d0f8a496fbd144f749c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Lafen, royal capital of Gillios, 43343801de headquarters of Antagon Trading Company. The most lavish castle 00a40f0b86 on the continent, located 309c0b32a6 in the capital of e5d3bf0012 the Allied Nations. At its highest ab157d838e floor was the bc70de04a3 chairman’s office.7ddcf8b67377591c3883
Chief secretary Ian Garrison handed over a letter received 242e1be7e3 from the Holy Kingdom’s Papal Office, shaking his head.918e96e967f50117b468
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“If it weren’t for the seal 39201816a5 stamped here, I’d have thought this 9cf5a6e57f was written by some rabid dog 62e0b330bf wagging its tail for anyone.”d3c925c15f4558f3f7a8
At the secretary’s biting remark, the office’s occupant a4308d44b7 let out a soft chuckle and turned around. His silhouette stood against a wall 3a8122b274 of glass overlooking Lafen’s city lights, 5b0c396f14 completely unblurred by the night’s brilliance.eaade8efbc363b7f2c73
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Hair of gold, slicked back and immaculate 074263baf2 even at this late hour—this was Klaus 9f8ad7b63a Gestern, master of the office.d680790e0c893795c3a5
“You haven’t forgotten b830554473 who the Pope ef5ea0b362 is, have you?”8ff6cf7145e41157ca73
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Ah—pardon, sir?”c1b275c78714a7b22969
“Well, I do 8a1c25af9b agree with the ce00170429 metaphor about gutting 6ffc20f726 the golden goose.”8c68b5810cedda69b3d1
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
His gaze drifted to the letter e0f2bdfbb0 Ian had placed on the desk. Long, pale fingers lifted the sheet filled dacb30adf5 top to bottom with ornate writing.cc5ac564b506097bf2c7
“To my dearest child,” it began—followed by sentimental 3f3b1ccd7e lines about how delighted the sender was to 01a25acd17 finally hear back, how he had always believed 2b46cc33c5 in his recipient, and so on. The message was so exaggeratedly 9e0b74ddf9 kind it could’ve passed for 484e88039e a debtor’s plea to a 99255ccef1 creditor holding their leash.564b42b59531d2ac4bd2
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
‘Well, considering we hold the purse 49f2fd1ba7 strings, it’s not entirely wrong.’5a317fd8af2dea2a3e5a
With a short laugh, 0854ae2280 Klaus leaned back into 648d6e5706 his chair.bfeeee3f1a5bd5176315
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
The Holy Kingdom. So, it 6dee661383 comes to 8bea84cb73 this.706b412c56d21faa6e9c
‘This is how fea1437ab5 it all circles 5eb8000640 back.’cd994c55fb8f1f4d301a
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
At the end of a plan executed over so many long years—he now 1a401587ac stood ready to subdue the very one who had once subdued him.4074cdf09d2bc2146503
It was a place he had loathed 39a474bd7c so deeply that he’d fled it in 880ba458b6 the end… and yet, not every memory 8ac38ecb80 from there was a bitter one.d9e160c99e6b5f6c878d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
For instance… those golden eyes 5f4b3ee353 that welled up with tears 655726ba08 as she traced the pain 82955fd9ca of his wounds…56a53ee0d4112a2a011a
* * *6d12d7853192760dabac
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
‘My deepest apologies. Please, believe this is all for the sake of the Church 2527977d50 and Dara… and do consider it favorably, if you can.’d1fd6d25bbef502c6918
—6adff0adf585622d9cb2
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
After leaving the Papal 2a1e3d00f7 Office, Azniel quietly lifted a0c3e003cf her gaze to the f6e853fa29 sky. The heavens, already steeped 5b1acaeefc in darkness, were scattered d67e34a886 with faint starlight.ea916536db94a363a996
‘Marriage…?’8775e8b363ea31417fb3
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
No matter how many times she turned the conversation afd6da4306 over in her mind, it still didn’t feel real.f94fd8e9ca45da01eb35
‘Without the slightest 411904df7d regard for my c457b57f17 own will…’b6da46e1de6266ede48b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
She had spent f166c9427b nearly her entire b41c721cac life obeying the ee4147e27f Church. It was unlikely for a Saint 3d15bb8941 like her to so much as e2eee8e0ef utter a word of dissent. The Pope knew 06bb0fd476 that well. His tearful appeal—no doubt it had de3eb3cf37 been more about soothing his own 5daa9c0aaf guilt than seeking her understanding.05357b30a2cb827c6a86
Of course, such irreverent thoughts only 5af9648459 brushed the edge of Azniel’s mind 3bb65558b0 before she banished them. But the truth was, from the 99604fa366 moment he summoned her, the Pope 36d35416f2 had already done all the calculations.9b08401957b27164926e
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Even Azniel had 53f074b07e to admit—it was 492f976bc7 a profitable exchange. In return for handing off a Saint whose value had grown uncertain, 88af2bb5c3 the Church would no longer need to worry about its finances. She didn’t know the exact terms of the deal, but one bef74e4682 thing was clear: whatever donation was being offered, it would far 038fb7434d surpass the tiny coins she collected from pilgrims each day.50d9bed80213a5111fec
She had devoted 87c9a06be1 her life to 1d56c14e7e the Church. For the past three years, she 3a83fa196c hadn’t had a single day to 1a03ad27cf herself, giving every moment to keeping d599e6c2ce the Church afloat.91ad52dd30e9d0a98c6d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
And in return—4154e5ecd04d4b28d271
‘So long as the finances recover, e45092e666 it doesn’t matter to them. Whether I’m 4c16c40f0a here… or 40ef8293d7 not.’451de48f6f09e426fed0
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
A strange 38749aa0da hunger stirred 57cb8bf3fc in her e7629e064a gut. She often went an entire day 4a99a0b23e without eating, caught up in blessings dc1011968c and ceremonies, and barely noticed. The meals brought by acolytes to her quarters after each c51f8ebce6 exhausting day were only to fuel her for the next.fabb3a378539c1b3b908
Was the bbcecfe906 Pope’s words ed1d6cc8ed truly that b400f5cced shocking?c0f09ead678a70daac55
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“……”e50d9d650d8783245c2f
Her silent steps carried 259afb9b8b her toward the first-floor ffe5fcf8b0 dining hall of the 123b52871b Papal Palace.5dea087fb5c505c8fcba
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
It felt strange 22385621c8 to walk through d9349541fc those doors again. She hadn’t eaten in the dining 35ef3ca38e hall in some time—not since her 3a797a6471 days spent daily among the poor d7e53848c2 in the sanctuary. And more 50d43cafa0 than that—f8d34f7ff8b617bba8a9
“Well, well. What brings the Saint 8393b40fb0 of Beggars here?”2baf09371425126082ac
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Did she come down to inspect b669507583 whether we’re skimming off her pennies?”f0786887370fa124eaba
“Even if you collect 03b153e5bd every coin for a 0609390a66 hundred days, this is 1506d5efb1 still all you get. Just a 8c5fa62223 hunk of f11c0aebe3 bread.”ada3db0505538ec25222
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
This was why.a6deed6612ec84304ebe
The barbed words that could strike at 1bbdc36663 her chest from anywhere, at any time.dd1be39f20b6b3b5f488
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
They came from the b8236b5535 clerical officers who worked 124f6cda37 in the Papal Palace. They all knew full well that the alms given by beggars were what kept 5745320afc the temple’s lights on—and yet, they spoke like this as if it were routine.5a0c44df53f9029f7bd2
“Who’d have thought b18ea42c38 boiled eggs would e3dc95ed9b become so precious? They say Saint Ekaella once 7b41d663d5 turned two loaves of bread e36a6bd820 into ten full baskets.”19e9a76fd9259e580da2
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Oh, and Saint Jeniel filled 3eae193fb1 the rice fields of Gerund ce08473740 Plain with golden waves—even during efa38ccab5 a drought.”a8999f08435cb9ffce64
“There was even a Saint who made sure not edaf9fa3ad a single drought struck while she lived, wasn’t there?”9875f65556298a486a61
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“And yet ae43ed6fd0 this time, 7517f8fc98 we get…”cf20eee531d461089b54
Their chatter fell into a sudden hush 81e144d95b as every eye turned toward her. As if the Church’s declining state was entirely the fault of 2b1a2b418c her, the Saint whose power paled in comparison to the legends.a958e9f270af7d465ea5
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The back of her neck 78f89ac2bf stung, though no one had 3f0d5ba884 laid a hand on her. Azniel pretended 26ddd972cd not to 2a124deec6 hear a e0ac8d0cfc thing. She sat down and quietly tore off a piece 6af4c2645e of rye bread, chewing it slowly, over and over.3645fc4199c02a750256
* * *f066d3616ef67e8f8157
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator