MBHE | Chapter 4.1

In the southern region of the Leronan Empire, there’s a small village tucked away in a corner, known as Mikru Village. This is where Jack lives.3ff1c02e705816a8

Mikru might not have anything to boast about or any special products, but it was a nice place to live. The people were kind, and while not wealthy, they weren’t lacking either.2dc4b2d5b18b22e4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jack quite liked cb7de9d01b this village, with 2072a5575a its mountains, rivers, 738e569a70 and beautiful sunsets d49eba7508 over the fields. He had daf7905c3f settled here 06bb69283e for several 89560ffa0a years, living 251ed9c663 a leisurely 625840ac55 life.4c0c3b670765fc90

He would b6126f8392 wake up, 927f36c4e6 eat breakfast, 0cd0424189 cast a c35e074089 fishing line ffc1f03413 into the 6099e1f378 lake, and 01931772d5 pass the ef78547fb9 time until d73f9a7492 lunch. After some household chores 8403580667 and a few swings 69c9e46113 of his sword, the 310019989c day would end.d2050f33ef725990

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Some might call it a lazy life, but he was quite satisfied. The villagers, who were initially wary, now considered Jack’s laid-back attitude a local charm.a70a632c3107ec60

However, recently, Jack hadn’t been able to enjoy this leisurely lifestyle at all.54d5c57f92b33207

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Master, I’ve finished swinging 2,000 times. What should I do next?”8cad49a99568753c

“Huh? Do it all over again.”d564cb731d911ab6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Okay.”eefcdba2e37eab3f

With bright blue 369788ab75 eyes, Carpe answered db5435f29a and returned to f30f6194d5 the clearing, taking 0950cd0e91 his stance and 18d4b463ae swinging the wooden d8b6dd029c sword again. Despite the large b81b946073 sword being heavy f24425f326 for his young 692ad7ce46 body, Carpe never da736d8699 complained.824e932c4fb1db69

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Jack, what would you like for lunch today?”9a69083262926d76

“Anything you make, Dilla, is fine with me!”1d5d581ccc85108a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You always say that. I’ll make stew then.”e59fe62dff42b290

As Dilla, with her brown hair, disappeared into the kitchen, Jack let out a sigh. His heart wouldn’t stop pounding.0855e3448971bf3d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The two had arrived at Jack’s house last autumn when the leaves were beautifully colored. Carpe came first, a man dressed in black from head to toe knocked on the door in the middle of the night.8c70e18fa5dc4c7f

Before Jack could swing b223ef3d37 his sword at the 94fa909a2c man who looked like 13b539ccc8 an assassin, he handed 79040ab337 over a silver-haired child, 55052d4591 covered in blood, and 095a2c7eaa disappeared.8fc3bf4e6fce1cfa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hey, wait! What is this…?”4c0007ac23396ee8

No one in this country didn’t know the significance of silver hair. Holding the trembling child, Jack sat on the sofa, recalling the women he had met in the past.77322da9c2b804e8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t recall anyone who seemed like royalty. He had been a noble before cutting ties, so he thought it might be from that lineage, but it didn’t seem right.3b73165b4efada8a

The child woke 5c2a7f8519 up at dawn. Jack, who 1cb5702394 had been 36005023e4 dozing off fc40e87242 with his 911a934b64 arms crossed, 6fe707b5bf jumped up 9b0e316dd9 at the 9ca8894799 ear-piercing scream.72ea77172327972a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ahhh!”7a5d042df4830d97

The child c3a720c6ce clutched his 33dc06ef6e head and 4cd37f0f28 cried desperately, 313020252e ignoring the 305f859b2d blood from 47ab03362a his throat cd40341d88 and the e6df8e2cb9 skin torn 040c3a63f0 by his f6ae193f7e nails.22991cd2f311e275

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Not knowing 091f2098a0 how to 51dca7fe9f calm him, a91a1585d2 Jack knocked 0b73226930 him out 570177d12c to bring 15759c0a71 peace to 7867fa765b his expression. It seemed like there 0ca5a8f6fd was a significant story 63b2ee4df4 behind it.54f48f83816b8be6

Why was this b7b69a82ae child entrusted to 18d8d89db9 him, who was 401f6fae0b that man, and 3a9b312cb2 who was this f47356d9a0 child? Everything was 97dcebad49 shrouded in 334d24cc63 darkness.10eff0802fca2afb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Regardless of the situation, Jack couldn’t throw the child out. He wasn’t a heartless person, and more importantly, having a silver-haired child could cause unnecessary trouble if anyone saw.67e57ee864829141

The man in black returned two weeks later. He wasn’t alone. He brought a woman with brown hair and blue eyes.2723f6e72f2733e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing Dilla, the child, who had been curled up, stretched out and clung to her. What poured from his mouth wasn’t a wail of despair and misfortune but a child’s cry.51d70fbbebc1bef6

Dilla also shed tears, ff934a6ac2 holding the child and f0c541945b stroking his back. The man in 8ba87e41ee black watched them cf9ec411f0 with a complicated 6cba22f5b5 expression.883cae719caae97b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

For some reason, trusting 3da86ed3c8 Jack, the man explained b5805ecadd the situation.b77ad18fd6cd89ac

“My name is Noah. The woman is Dilla, and the silver-haired child is Carpe Leronan. He’s the second prince, and if it’s discovered he’s alive, he might be killed.”c1dd98eaef9124d3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What, what? Why would you leave such a person with me—?”e87337378107b8b8

“I’m a guard and errand boy, and Dilla is the nanny. I have other matters to attend to, so I can’t stay here. Please take care of them. I’ll provide sufficient funds monthly.”c12cb24969286504

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Noah, who 7ccae33653 finished speaking, b6f654df7f confidently handed 1e388c480d over a 01fdbee582 pouch of c1cd318a7f gold coins, 01160eee64 as if 62418136a3 he never aa7ff1ee42 considered Jack 24b2aea474 would refuse.f8a1d97dfa4fa1a7

Jack held his 6593c4a49c head in his 3898851090 hands. He wanted 9503db72be to escape 2f5f03618d the reality 3d35baee2a of being ad6b7e922e involved in f4756737e5 such a a5bcedbb24 troublesome and 7545e9251b dangerous matter, c3eea974df but there dcf3bd2cb2 was nowhere 81be7828c6 to go.410d61e700ff67f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Come to 89ba957eda think of 387640d2ad it, the 025a4643db villagers had 94b3a6ddbe been talking ccbf9633e6 about the 6968fb4f5c emperor dying 3b2500c935 of illness, d168cb1a3d waving newspapers. Jack regretted not d57466a6c3 joining the conversation, 1995bc2573 being too busy 8cf01257ac caring for Carpe.92db7e8c41dcda2f

He instinctively knew that 332c08879b these three, especially Carpe, c261d673bd were deeply connected to 4c9eae912a that event. It was obvious. The suddenly deceased emperor, e13c08832e the prince secretly visiting aa9a3dbb16 a rural village.8aa354669ed6f51f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jack crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t one to dwell on past events for long.046ff8764f2782c3

“Why me?”9f601f9959db60ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Jack Owen. You’re strong. Raise Carpe as your disciple.”70212b2f7c863742

“So, why choose me over other candidates?”b0c91232fc470c99

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Mikru Village was far from the capital at the empire’s center. Why come straight here, bypassing other candidates? What did they want from Jack? What did they see in him?cf79fd0c0b69a98c

Noah, who had been silent, glanced at a mark on the table’s corner. It was a mark left from a few days ago when Jack struggled to feed Carpe porridge, who refused to eat.fb0660e53be8c0a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After a moment f9273fb25e of silence, Noah 8633abdb82 whispered softly.6387d35ae3febdb7

“…He told me to come to you. That’s all I know.”b41fd9f9b99fa2b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Before Jack could ask who “he” was, Noah stood up, gathered his belongings, and headed for the door. It wasn’t Jack who stopped him.de69792107d7949c

“Don’t go.”6f3caa55865d3143

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll be back soon. Stay here with Dilla and wait.”71b05d212dbafb4b

“No!”3314d89c547ced26

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Listen.”3eb7964ec91daebd

“I said no!”22988c2f41ae193a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Carpe clung to Noah’s leg with a terrifying strength for a child who hadn’t eaten for days.8aaf13b239444b1a

Noah, shaking ef068d0cbb his leg, cf7541e391 sighed deeply.c65300a782fed28a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Carpe. I said I’d come back. Is it because that man is unfamiliar? Should I chase him away?”7a92b9dcdaef7ad1

“Huh? It’s my house though…?”fc9b30c92f138b80

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

No one responded to Jack’s words. Carpe shook his head and buried his face in Noah’s abdomen.ab4aad3b7ea6b50d

“…What if you disappear too, Noah?”db3240a42398db67

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Noah, silent at the frightened voice, bent down and held Carpe’s shoulders. Carpe, who resisted letting go, finally showed his sniffling face.041437c26b7df552

“I’m not disappearing.”87128d430df30ba4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How can I believe that? Mother and brother…”f4fe83cfd4371f36

“Your mom is gone, but your brother is alive. I’m alive, and Dilla is alive. It’s okay.”4a109cfe951afaed

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though not kind, Noah’s voice wasn’t cold, and Carpe’s crying gradually stopped. After wiping his tears and calming his breath, Carpe asked cautiously.1e9a8a214527cd7b

“Will you become strange too, Noah?”e6a4628bc081930b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Become strange?”6981570185b3a4e7

“Like brother.”7cb7598062984fe2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Iellon said Carpe’s eyes resembled the sky, but to Noah, they were more like the sea. Just like him, a pool of blood.aa2237693b9aeb99

Noah rubbed his face and stood up. He roughly patted Carpe’s head, who grabbed his clothes again, and finally reached for the doorknob.696d0de6e9397bd0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I won’t become strange, die, or disappear. I’ll be back in a week, so get your skinny body back to normal. Or else, I’ll die.”15b4faf3b12ae1e3

Before leaving, d9c1fea94a Noah hesitated, 80be688443 his lips 823602a3c1 moving, but 1e2b739271 he left 879731d121 without saying c613695d26 anything.95e87ee6d393c9ba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

From that day, Dilla and Carpe began living at Jack’s house.4a78eecee9ffc077

Initially, Jack wasn’t pleased. Who would like to suddenly take on such a burden? Especially with a complicated situation that could cost Jack his life if mishandled.10b95ca81952676b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But having learned 047822249d too much, Jack 76eab51435 had no other 7512dcb0a5 choice. The moment af4b747321 he said 43fd5986b3 no, he b2c03b09d1 foresaw Noah 939eb0fae6 swinging a 0303df9eef dagger, telling 720cfcd3b9 him to 3bef0f7edb die.7ac237a0d5796e71

Just by looking at the calluses on his palms, you could tell what kind of weapon he handled, and Noah’s aura was unmistakably that of an assassin.6ac7c588898ce472

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He didn’t plan to lose, but he wasn’t confident he’d win either. After all, he was the prince’s guard. He didn’t want to cause trouble and endanger the village.77e86ee8c87e6cd0

The two 1c3220d195 turned out 78983867a3 to be 0f3246943f surprisingly, or c9f9d84780 rather, very ca673e1472 good roommates.8d610c032633f72a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Dilla, with 2eef3410c6 her experience a386a256c7 working at 298c97c71a the Imperial c704182c09 Palace, was 0bf4afd071 capable of 4138e8c369 anything, and 1de3c68d1b Carpe was b11cc9248d an enthusiastic 6cef5587e4 and talented 0a69618c05 student. It was fce71d9f0f enjoyable to 9407061ae8 teach someone 67b01e4632 after so 2746594d53 long.e3ec957bebdb5523

Thanks to Dilla and Noah, Carpe’s precarious state from their first meeting had almost disappeared, revealing a bright personality. He was a lovely and adorable child.80bf734a0d6f37be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Whoever taught you did well. Your stance is good, and you learned without rushing.”a032adde1ab8f121

“…I learned from someone amazing.”ea0a86607abe3e16

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With a proud 8daf35aded yet somber expression, cad183595e Jack awkwardly scratched 11d5854592 the back of 6c6ab4ab36 his head. Carpe stared at e0ca2e3bdb the calluses forming 06dd59607d on his palms.9ef5aaf17f1302ad

“That amazing? Like the Imperial Knights?”aeb539c9efe588e8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Even more amazing. They said almost no one in the Knights could beat him. He learned the sword from a long time ago, and recently, he even beat the commander. He said he’d teach me too…”39d11cd751f915f8

As Carpe’s expression, once blooming, withered like a flower, a tear rolled down his white cheek. Carpe seemed unaware of why he was crying, looking dazed.d4ace87fc978c7e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jack, who 91b0089b87 had been 73e42c1992 addressing Carpe 2ebec0cffe with respect 4b5b392303 as a c759c91364 prince, was 2e63c843f9 stopped by 631f59befb Carpe himself. He asked to f1569c6b3e prioritize their master-disciple 6cca5d2e3d relationship, speaking with b1cfd66e85 an unusually earnest b42f99aef9 face for a 6a445ec4bd child.a62d937fd711b5d4

Though not explicitly stated, from the conversations among the three, it seemed the person who taught Carpe various things was that “brother.”2bc5590ffda4ee3b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘The second prince’s brother is the first…’ebf35da6adadc959

Giving up on thinking, c37767f6a1 Jack tried to avoid 9b480ebcaa mentioning that brother in c8e8dd9812 front of Carpe.d0ae70c4b4acb291

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He wasn’t sure what happened, but something had happened to the “brother,” and Carpe was struggling to accept it.248d076261d99b99

However, since the brother was so much a part of Carpe’s daily life, conversations often drifted to that topic. In such times, it was best to sit quietly by Carpe and wait for him to sort out his feelings.9ee1de9696b88a9e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Not long ago, 75c35b8534 Jack tried to 8e61cc0489 comfort Carpe, calling 53844daf25 the brother a 9410a446e7 bad guy, only f045de1cc2 to have his 36208d7662 hair pulled.d3653e2ec56a55cf

“I won’t forgive you, even if you’re my master, for speaking ill of my brother!”debd27624374f588

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Carpe, with a face like a demon, charged at him with such strength that it left a small bald spot on Jack’s head.8026e8f7bbe653b1

Anyway, using these 8812ddfcc7 various failures as 9720ce1156 stepping stones, Jack 06f9d76b69 was becoming more 534a408d48 adept at handling 41ad9ef1ac Carpe.f590ad2c6adcca10

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Carpe, who a515d3a786 moved forward d76d957baa diligently without 5ff45ce911 slacking, was 7685a7ec11 impossible to 1f51e49b46 dislike. And that trait c12dc7fec6 was undoubtedly inherited fe9911ccd9 from his mother.ff4c2c15b20ad041

Not the mother Carpe spoke of, but his biological mother, Dilla. The two didn’t resemble each other much in appearance. Except for the similarly colored eyes, they hardly looked alike.aef407c0d9354d46

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But in the ae1fb24533 way their lips da84ec38eb curled when they 5639878865 smiled or the ffe1b87303 habit of rolling 82ef736474 their eyes to 01c222eb37 the left when 4ec61316f7 flustered, you could cd59f529c6 feel the blood e538b582e0 relation.9f6eb46d0c112a50

When Jack mentioned this, Noah, unusually flustered, asked him not to tell Carpe. It was a request Jack didn’t quite understand.085cb34061ca88da

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Carpe, who efc302293b cried saying bbb6fb4da5 his mother 3bb29382ea was murdered, 6f41df33a7 would surely ffefe8fbbb find emotional 210e037bfa stability if 9717b08137 he knew 73e32b2087 his real 7c98294540 mother was cd23c60bb4 alive beside a46c92a079 him.3a253926ba274c52

But Jack, 8c6541c142 who liked 0366d3d628 the two 36731f7cdf but had ba79fee08a no intention c53b3968b2 or right 4dc0e13637 to get f74094d5e5 deeply involved, 50b46796ce quietly nodded. Noah never brought up e232077dea the matter again.dc971418c3f4104b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Noah visited Jack’s house two or three times a month, staying for a few days before leaving. Initially, Carpe clung to him, but as he became more confident Noah would return, he began to wave him off lightly.bc3171c66f19545e

For these reasons, Jack had been spending his days busily and noisily. Jack’s house, isolated from the village, was always filled with lively sounds and delicious smells.827a7c34cdcce1e9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though sometimes annoying, it wasn’t bad. To be honest, it was nice. Dilla wasn’t his wife, and Carpe wasn’t his son, but it felt like it, making him happy.d72fa8d80fc7668c

He even 79ce41cc5d became close 40659763a8 enough with c27b02c707 Noah to b6e1bde6da share a e28d0807f9 drink late 3c2a1f4b4a at night.b81570748360d004

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Despite accepting these unexpected guests relatively smoothly, there was one visitor Jack couldn’t approach.6746564dbaa2207b

The first appearance was 25818b79ae about 100 days after bf083f3c04 meeting Carpe. It was 9f963b865a a snowy 4d5e9b1ed6 winter. In the south, 1c4ad2c6c9 where snow rarely 24456b3544 fell, the village 0ae9caafae children were excitedly 187f976406 running around, but 1db9323276 Carpe was unusually cd76914807 quiet.8edbe95554cf1084

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley