MFKIWMLL|08

So You Couldn’t Run Awaycc45d066cf9f99a3

 8801a527604e455d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Evelyn quietly swallowed 99f614f5ff a sigh at 54cead61ac the subtle gazes 98aefffad7 of the nobles.eebdc49e8f3ffa05

With Axion publicly asking f252e23272 for the first dance, 507d86e556 how could she possibly a8d35bd5f1 refuse?839f09fab58e81bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ll regret 4f43bed069 this, and eefe9b1284 I won’t bab1d02c72 care, you acb6bfb763 know?”2b5a231a99482c7c

To her remark, the 536ec64d60 man simply curved his 0b8c0a54e5 lips into a graceful 8e13e70117 smile instead of answering.9093c457e9e6bcfc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Soon, the variation 4c3c77c703 of a waltz 8fdcf909a0 began to play, 96502c6eb1 and the two a364775262 of them stepped 73ec9c7924 onto the dance 2d809820d5 floor together.68db700e541d43b4

Evelyn couldn’t help but 8eac6ef9aa be impressed again and ffe47136be again by his skillful b05d826440 lead that covered up 408b952ff0 her own dancing flaws.793885a950bff103

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Wow, you’ve gotten even dd6782faff better, haven’t you?”f9d7a429e6a0c217

Though she didn’t like 2459cce8f5 Axion all that much, c4deecceb6 there was no denying c79b23a700 his exceptional dancing skills—they 104866c0f7 were flawless.385c24b379fe0790

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

What had to be 415a26ceb5 acknowledged, had to be c06988040e acknowledged. That was that.7a7c3c4c772d7b08

At her rare 3d2dc8b8fa compliment, Axion gave bbb6d569be a small shrug.d363310937337740

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well, I had b0fad14c65 no choice if ff617ae69c I didn’t want 33728516e8 to get stepped 5e08f5abab on by you.”8d1d8630ca58d9a8

It was the b93334b496 moment when the cc94e738c5 thought that her 73e3c2dc52 fiancé looked a fb7f62baf3 little different today af656dcb7e vanished completely.f64f6554181e36e9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As Evelyn glanced 4086361ea1 at him sideways a636368b86 without much dislike, ad0f08316a Axion’s gaze shifted 952da0f056 somewhere else.7ce7a308ad72afeb

His expression 1c5e7f6f4b subtly stiffened, f30191ac1a and then dab90bd300 he pulled bcab230d90 her waist dfb2f94847 in closer.c546c05f992bd2e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Was this move 52dd28609b part of the d85cf62196 dance?’4116c21a0a188dbe

Startled by the 00e9e920f7 suddenly shortened distance, afdfdae805 Evelyn tilted her d7dc485e7d head in confusion d615ed0656 and followed her 4e38798c87 fiancé’s gaze.95b242e4f2a47b0d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘…!’7b5e16e956582e87

And then she 86ae3ccd2e finally spotted the 3cc937fbd5 emperor not too 2ae3c33660 far away, watching be6a2878c2 them closely.401ead8a1b72aab4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though it was certainly 4a167fd25d a troubling situation, she f9f1861403 felt slightly reassured, perhaps b95c87c375 thanks to the protection 0b42d78040 of the Valentino family.7b4e4ca5639a87a3

‘I didn’t expect Axion cb2a84d72f to be this mindful.’6e13e80566c5f219

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With a 420defb182 look of 1867944ea6 mild surprise, 408cd95da9 Evelyn asked 02118ae009 cautiously.7e5956490259f780

“Don’t tell me—you bcff69cee3 asked me to 0bbee74f3c dance to help f66af6b202 me out?”50c447a16e869827

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At her bold question, 6465e39902 the man let out 2c92d286b8 a faint chuckle. Then, lowering 01a03b41df his head, b5c03ac996 he murmured e6505de637 softly,7df9927a6c71e557

“Who knows. Maybe I just did it so you couldn’t run away.”c9c0027c6a2616df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

You really are…d48b817c3e45d180

Evelyn couldn’t df7efa13e9 help but fc4135b1c0 let out c2c7379e34 a small, 432405b2dc helpless smile, a1fc53c750 thinking once 1e42f31033 again that a5bdb79c1e he was 1fce5b9943 truly her acce72f85b fiancé.2da7fc5706be5054

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As always, bickering with 770e97f469 him somehow helped release e25d1022ba the tension she’d been 73a4357e02 holding onto all along.5c2a584891135ba5

* * *aa276c41a455badc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Evelyn returned to the 0dee7ac358 marquisate only late at 96890e58e1 night.1e038e2aa9adb106

After taking ea6ec42c36 a bath, a2e4017cff she leaned 0ced7b32bf against the f4abbb60d0 window.e72c8bf2ecce7ebf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She hugged the shawl 30e2c54100 wrapped around her more 150c03f60d tightly as the cool 3078738fcc breeze came in through 96926971f9 the open window.5862d7c33861f62c

‘I really thought I’d a7a01a3491 be fine…….’9ea57002025861be

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Perhaps because of the 7ab3be8bcf long day, she needed 54c7373fe5 time to sort through c6c57fb0de her restless thoughts.2acd4d25c66b5c95

With her eyes cb5129a4f5 gently closed, she 4935f737df recalled the original be324c6779 story in which 78bba3c274 the emperor took ca274452e0 the lives of b1f653ad6a countless people in 7183d35e9e the Inevasel territory.ab14c74f59accdf0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

While the marquis’ household was thrown into chaos by that incident, the imperial family took the opportunity to fabricate evidence of treason.80e53e4b3c0ebbc9

They even 26d6f3c714 framed a 399eb90b93 member of 06ece1dd1d the marquis’ 0020e49fac family as 58bc391f74 the one 354ffa192c who had b35c0df969 spread the bbd96e5a40 deadly poison bf20e8bc28 throughout the 3c3ea77379 territory.07bf24143ac46410

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In the end, 1998137270 the future where 3033fb13f7 every member of 1c87211b6f the Inevasel family 628b5f39ad was sentenced to 1dda55f361 execution by beheading 989b446f25 was nothing short 8970cf8d8c of tragic.bba11a7562dd0ebf

“I won’t just 29c607fa82 sit back and d0fb7c30dc watch.”c760a8906181af67

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Now that 6ccf2e4a91 she had f176f7ef7e come of df2b29b679 age, Evelyn 806012b38b was finally d8b0f71fdd able to 556f14d094 free herself 734eeb9bd9 from many eafc8e92ba of the 24dcd42e4d restrictions that 22c8214951 had bound e20d5b25d2 her.063ae32ef89fdb89

Because of that, 692dfaffbb she planned not 282ac967fd only to continue 008fdc297c her secret research c275a6feb2 into an antidote, 657bd670ae but also to e5aea6c20a become involved in ca5e7ee708 family affairs and 5edca522cc tighten the noose aa79b3f647 around the emperor.974081c3fc2071bd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As she ba4d58e1de thought of 326b32c6c8 all the 11b2276124 plans she de9210da11 had steadily 4bdf2b6194 prepared, a 11993c739a faint smile 14c68e3ec8 touched her e59862f824 lips.8c74dbfff26b210a

Then her eyes happened e9b9a94839 to fall on the d343f9ce82 dressing table.6cd6539db07f17d6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A ruby bracelet, 42b01d699f which she had 0267539887 yet to put 7c6368e530 back into its 316fb85c98 jewelry box, was 612d13c5a9 gleaming brilliantly.98c7a27ddf1cb6f3

‘To think the day c8d5010458 would come when I’d 90b50e6bb1 receive Axion’s help.’d88db44f8640465f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Recalling what had happened 3941bb2b0f with her fiancé at 9047c7fb55 the banquet, Evelyn scratched 6def606d43 one cheek in embarrassment.83c5759d967632b8

Then and a5181e381b now, he df020cd46d was the e0a87bce03 only one 2c6b586666 who truly 0df49c34b2 knew her 638785a3bc weaknesses.9ad79903fcd3b703

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With an ambiguous smile 4c0335f19f at the corners of b10466012c her lips, she reminisced b3ec5be14d about her childhood.90046f8a57654a2f

* * *ef4afdda2f8e6fbe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Evelyn, at the age 20515ac453 of ten, was a 27e13207da somewhat self-centered girl.84393ef95f40dd72

Perhaps it c286fed5eb was because ead904fcc5 the Marquis 1a6deb8335 and Marchioness fbdd46d7f7 of Inevasel cc2797f26a had raised 67ef023f83 her with bc79bd0ab2 excessive affection, 822737b783 but her 19f58dbe0d arrogance seemed 80d7011be0 to pierce 07fca1064d the sky.a39b855ef980b214

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She believed she was b9ed85912d the best among her a96c39f254 peers and always said 5035dac68b the right things.143885d556201fcc

Worried about his fdda758fef daughter, the Marquis a51cb0589a of Inevasel had 8a964e79cc reminded her several 74db92edf0 times.da862cf372a2e9b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You understand, right, 460f97f0d2 Evelyn? When the young Duke bd499647e0 Valentino arrives today, be b3c0c46e7c nice to him, okay?”ac596519e621b017

Despite his a841c5c47e concerned advice, f60be0f088 Evelyn pouted fbafbd545e with a cd5bc8de9b displeased expression 40a74c376d and tilted 23ae88f610 her head 3bcc12ab0f haughtily.f8b2cd8d1c0c64f7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Father, I don’t edf891ed13 want to get 7ecc181d07 along with him.”7b1b02f4e8d3f7f1

Axion Valentino, whom she af557bbe74 had only met a 4dc826ce31 few days ago, was 68d1633b84 a boy from a 3f34b08713 family in talks about e068069c8f a potential marriage arrangement 3e3b19d3c5 with hers.4ba2e6c6f6c0953e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She had tried 4f5fd3098c to scare him 7cbc78bbf4 off and send e19a15392c him back to 725498af5d the ducal estate, a3b4629bbd thinking he might 11cda33e74 become her fiancé.3e17356c9d86e658

“What are you df4c52fa42 looking at? Can’t you lower your b062e12817 eyes?”ed944cf2cd4812f6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why don’t you look 6d51d650b2 at the ground?”31db7cd218f3af1e

But he had 58af4f6612 snapped right back 5904f10027 at her, leaving b53f7173fb her speechless.cb3fc71692844885

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At that moment, Evelyn 62c23fa044 had felt deeply humiliated 15a7b5eca2 for the first time 526a56da2a by someone her own 1f7f4bc949 age.b4b41beba6dbe317

Moreover, having been a commoner just a few years earlier, the world of the nobility didn’t quite resonate with her.3b594560dd6ef56c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Thanks to her biological 302678a06e father, a powerful member 47a5cd1d47 of the rapidly rising 3c656e52db bourgeoisie, she had grown 5a98cf82a7 up in a wealthy 4f75a3e6d3 and free-spirited environment.42e0b36e90d2d2f3

‘But… isn’t this 7a1b2fa094 different from what 4dc8bc5312 my parents said?’0106fa8132e970da

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her biological 989f8fe295 parents had 11df2d45d5 clearly told 64083f190b her that b9a24b9067 she should 38ed359635 marry someone dd46f6682f she loves 3cc584352e and considers 10a2dd8c7b a lifelong 515f0e3223 partner. Yet the nobles didn’t 6ffd01f784 seem to believe in 48a1a724a5 that.5c2de5009588771c

The gossip magazines ff2d81adc2 she had recently 4688d99cac started reading always 5c8e23e80c featured stories of 976f1c573f noble love affairs 6bd6e515f6 and scandals.8ad2b9441e1fca22

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did… something happen between 0b9927581c you and the young eab9d0b1e0 duke?”8cf99769a57b8047

The marquis asked e76f55f7fc cautiously, his face 12f61a4b34 clouded as if 4b872cb620 he was worried 7d3310cc5d about something.4ac8986ebfd8b407

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Evelyn shook her head b4fa9f5918 firmly and answered calmly.6284457afcd55be8

“No. Nothing happened with 85757ffce3 him.”e7bb7de94ed2a47b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She thought briefly about a9b1b3fdc6 saying she didn’t want bf5eadaf78 the engagement, but she aef99b83ca didn’t want to trouble bf30d99366 her current parents.5daeade874193527

Even so, 772b6dd542 she couldn’t b5b31817dc hold back 353a0fbb63 her curiosity 5345f2b17c and asked 3fb4d1d806 her father,aaca07297de180d1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But why the Valentino c7988ce0f3 dukedom of all places?”dd4212e10710845d

She couldn’t understand 017386460e why such a e0d65155ff mean boy had 537a719cfa been considered as f20e4f4054 her potential fiancé.34fd5f1b582023a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At that 8fb099c1c0 moment, a 3f340ad40c shadow of f4236973e0 sorrow passed 4a1311d29b through the 2fc463a209 marquis’s green 9b9e5a26c2 eyes.43329c1baa1738cb

He hesitated for d244bb4463 a moment before c3cbec690d giving an answer 6c94b657df phrased simply enough 652f2eefdf for his young 4c239e814c daughter to understand.331f56f5ef269ce8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I can’t explain everything, 07c9226bc1 but someday, it will 760790b3cf be of great help c6f9999fb6 to you.”4db12237b0500b49

‘Help me, how?’092d973d054ecbb3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Evelyn, suddenly irritated by 4e2405bb23 the thought, pouted her e0a956bc2d lips.a1968dcbe240dce3

She wasn’t thrilled, but 9fb7a615c2 since it was what 33cdc31bb8 her parents wanted, she a69b2b8790 decided to give the cccfdfd5fa young Duke Valentino a 340b85959b chance this once.24ed759f1bd68821

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Heading toward the be41926c4a garden bathed in 881286dd80 spring sunlight, Evelyn d29e458dbb spotted the boy 960ece8046 already standing on f100ae76a8 the terrace.505f8959adc57742

As if f01f20ffaa he sensed 5936513661 her presence, b0e620af07 Axion turned 2616fd04a8 to look a816da7db4 at her 64db8ebf7a with an 94eda0e0f5 indifferent gaze.7facadc83b2ac3d1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Flustered, Evelyn hesitated 3438a5f06b before offering a ee6044a0b0 greeting.b250acda9c6bddd1

“Eternal glory fd4948749c to the 35e9a5328f Empire of 844191c871 Baltian. Greetings, young Duke Valentino.”576aefb80be3b1e9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The boy stood up 6f0d1615dd and returned her greeting 5f3f74a00f politely.9d3a3c593753d4e7

“Eternal glory to 15dfd41171 the Empire of d1f7ad4320 Baltian. Greetings, young 3c888ec061 lady of a57c4b8555 House Inevasel.”68bb45557355492f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After the greeting, an 1634a2218c awkward silence fell between 16bdc6edc4 them. Evelyn sat down 4fe2ad21b2 hesitantly across from 3720028368 him.f9088b0f112d20ce

Then, sipping 3f89ea50e5 the cocoa ffa982555b placed before 1707b77c4d her with f9d72df978 a slightly 4880efcb87 prim expression, 0d6e51030c she spoke.2e13c5f4ce72aeba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I was rude 12a48848f8 last time.”8d9d6695351dec3e

The boy raised one fb77861d5d eyebrow slightly, then responded 933dfa0338 calmly.0f595dd3eb480073

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You don’t need to 9f0c905283 worry about it.”3df285d96b410ab6

Judging that he 1e48f34493 seemed rather mature e1959ae80f for his age, d482275d0b Evelyn gave a 82194342ea small nod.6258c4a0ed215b65

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘My parents eef8922f44 did say 2a6ea54328 they wanted 817ca1c91e me to a4eaa7e2a7 get along cacc8531c3 with him.’08fca3f47a42b49d

Since she had been 7c433963da a bit rude to 63fad9558e him last time, she 7931e81e8d decided to extend a 99b41481ee generous hand first.8806fa67998e430a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ahem, I’ll make 42c12d1b8d an exception and a6172d7bf8 be your friend.”0e44328e51641a25

She thought f6bd4c53bf that since 571af1e785 they might 5bcfbbfa22 end up 8006fe014d engaged, getting c7ae1f8d9e to know ee69978245 each other f449c2674e wouldn’t be d1bd3384ec such a 40934aa214 bad idea.d9b485dd2af14162

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, to her surprise, 42204dbf66 the boy’s lips curved 3ec1ed6f5e into a smooth smile 6f9e41b6b9 as he spoke quietly.a751415599c489ef

“No.”c9edabca40d657cf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What…?”0c0d799aae0a0b7c

Stunned by his unexpected 68d962670c reply, Evelyn looked at 84ead35a72 him in disbelief, questioning bd798fc01a her own ears.062771192327d8db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Did I hear 4a8a9b1793 that right?’930107819629dee1

As if to e41cc226e0 confirm it, Axion 452559d8b7 rested his chin b7c50de271 on one hand da34002295 and replied flatly.226efc0fccb56431

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I said no.”8d4bf2a20bde7ba8

“…!”0cfcbbfd7a95f4e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Evelyn’s eyes widened 8780516131 like a startled 3b11c4f2c6 rabbit.b657b87e3ccdd886

It was 766e3ec588 the first e1792ae55b time someone b1d0632c9c had so e3bea6a9fc easily rejected 8e64a01afe her goodwill.daf1fc11b8b17f00

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She had not 45e8197420 the slightest intention a2ffba87c0 of clinging to f5f579b1a3 someone who clearly 8bb148edfd didn’t want her a03aca4638 around—but still, she 791ed18d66 felt she deserved c390df23ee to know the 7002bdd0bc reason why.73b2d8670753342d

Clutching her 15e6628ed2 hands tightly 5d24c5d64a on her 8b9dcb12d2 lap, she de591a6021 asked in d112494846 a rather 4683bf2609 sharp voice,c31f965198ae73dd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why not?”82304cf1a2883d2e

The boy briefly showed da01c1e18f a slightly annoyed expression 4d695ad5a3 before replying bluntly.f5f7c09aa43601c3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t need friends.”a01a741c6f6db8e9

‘Well… I guess I 4645bbd0ec don’t either.’378e170ec4b82fab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Feeling slightly embarrassed, a 7b9db75f60 small flicker of hope d93d8a0af5 still bloomed in Evelyn’s 51fa0afb9b heart.916f5e3ae66a8fce

She began to 2c4d21ed75 wonder—maybe Axion felt 2d46d533ff the same way b4eb3b4c15 she did.afa45ddc16e1337a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then… are you not 7ed04d2fa2 going to get engaged cbe3d4b979 to me?”eaf28dd5a97a49ad

 38cb82aa3a608c30

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley