MLS Chapter 24

The man standing before 6c2da9a682 him was someone with 8f0ab97371 whom he had no 4e146ae089 meaningful interactions until now.f8d66ccc138d595f

Miguel Ervatos—son of a 1a4565033e princess, the pioneer of f6f3aeb99e Motrel’s nightlife.ccd7cee217ec14a5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Both were 086179c22e among the 06759d760f most well-known 47e355c39a men in 5a48ac725b Bessen, yet 9dbe258147 their spheres 0f6ba1fe04 had hardly 7c97f4d048 overlapped.6503e309f63169e3

If there were any b0828029e4 intersections between them, it 6984533caf was limited to the 767623ccf5 fact that some of 5c9471c30f the elite clubs Vaye 371473971e frequented for social networking ea70fd6b31 gathered at Alborada Hotel—where 103e083462 Miguel was always present.07c806053931e717

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And now, unexpectedly, 4d76bb670d there was one 7a2026f878 more connection.7a9fb2d774ee9050

The object that 669bd11ac3 had rolled to 6db6f05bb0 Vaye’s feet.9ac1697cc8b78e70

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His and Lorena’s e417ac4586 wedding ring.0afb1559616ced88

“Marquis Ervatos.”028e397686f3f5da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, well.”00aaee789ba75670

Miguel’s eyebrow arched 70d835d740 with mild amusement.b2e6e8dfa7a5feaa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was no 9bcf5fbc84 secret that he 53e143890c disliked being addressed 3c8f42df96 by his title. But Vaye deliberately chose ee9c449460 not to correct himself.739caca7069ac026

“You’re certain this is c7c6d8f3b8 yours? It doesn’t e9278cc788 seem like 581b580457 it.”a3302d9f4a072807

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah.”aff92d3b9cd5c3b3

Miguel gave a lazy db93be5920 tilt of his head.cc8eb93a7ca3b07a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I don’t know who b1733c3d74 the original owner was, 3d2ab2493c but it’s mine now, c4ae4778b1 Duke. I bought it 15bf454ed7 for 3,000 pesetas.”3ae822cb6da36770

“Where did d95e2c7cfb you buy 80af5a496c it?”b72b9f382c015cfd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ask the 03e21c63b6 Archbishop of 18af1e932d the largest fcc716592e cathedral in 021d081903 Bessen. He’ll have 608a52ce89 your answer.”e276f4dedb243933

With that 2e12d086eb indifferent response, 15be57ce1b Miguel smoothly 647fbe91c0 retrieved the ddbd718404 ring from fd4d197fc5 Vaye’s grasp.693d5c86426f9877

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A crease deepened between a94bad75da Vaye’s brows.5cc9ee68adf5fe33

A cathedral. His wedding ring. Ervatos, a well-known b5133a53ef unbeliever.424fb0dc15335aa0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The words didn’t string 41ac022a80 together in any logical 69e2938a17 way. But Vaye had no e86b51a088 desire to untangle them. He had no 0bb95a9073 need—no patience—to make 4cf53bc513 sense of Lorena’s 954849a9f9 inexplicable behavior, including f936f19f75 why she had 7548891a0c sold their wedding cf3f677640 ring to a 32c506f47e church.49526204cf18c51c

Regardless, he intended 274b01eb8e to reclaim it.30943352fb99ae66

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Rather than 07bf5e1f4e argue over bd5460d4ba its rightful 3a48a5e803 ownership, he edc3e35847 opted for 397cd4fba3 a more 4ce3b86530 straightforward approach.777f2532202e3c58

“Then sell d3e21ca250 it back 963303fd80 to me.”bde7202ceb7fc040

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh?”4eddfb6b695f5e68

Miguel exhaled a bf4b66874c small hum of c254f0c1b0 amusement.13c10b9eef9d8686

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“So it was 84172f8706 yours, Duke.”d621e7aada830cfd

His gaze flicked 669b198906 to the ring, 00c1544402 then back to b451a38dee Vaye, curiosity evident d9eef2f626 in his expression.3d1dc6988dc8c834

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“But isn’t it ea6354867f a bit too 6fd11d4cc7 small for you? Or is it meant b9838f7859 to be a gift?”939a559d7eac6045

“……”4bf6152c50958052

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, I ced5aa89c9 suppose the ed7908a065 rumors were 999f222cf8 everywhere.”3d4545b529586daf

Only days ago, every b7bb0a9469 newspaper in Motrel had 2264c566c7 been buzzing with talk 7cb0958cbf of Vaye’s supposed lovers.55dd33d0db97ffa7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Given his f634f188f0 separation from 1dbd3d6316 his wife, 7769101181 there was c728d425d6 no chance 408725830c he meant 207d8bab4d to return 51b7254569 it to 597bf1c7a2 her.b08ec8696d314617

So, was it dc29cf178b meant as a defcd3ce08 gift for one fdd7df2f89 of the mistresses 94d530b967 he swapped out 0937b04c1f yearly?8ece229fa23026b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I don’t particularly care 80e49ef14a what misunderstandings you entertain.”85ce1dc27fd7a4df

A flicker of dd65dc3384 irritation crossed Vaye’s 2ba7fd26f4 gaze but disappeared f29dba7075 just as swiftly.8a8c58147c0bebcb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“In any 4614309fc6 case, the 7d51262ee9 ring is ca20916342 not mine. The true owner 5ea5be4cc4 of this is—”51462be213e7fe85

“Enough. That’s far enough.”5d38f31f3b04c360

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Miguel suddenly 9e31a6932e scowled, waving 3251353c63 a hand a04f82ca93 in dismissal aee5e5930d as if 15934ae509 the very 07d5e0d536 idea repulsed 07936a5296 him. He even took an 4b50e26d93 exaggerated step back, as 74e6e6b7df though to physically distance 6deabbb3b0 himself from the conversation.7576bd0dfe53d479

“I have 1ade912de0 no interest d54b036565 in hearing 11278dc595 the answer bf5dbc19a8 from your 34f19ad02c mouth, Duke. My apologies, but f6642a43de I happen to 5fad43f4c2 be thoroughly enjoying 3e0aed9278 the game I’m 7f0c1b61e6 playing right now.”5ce973000ff2a873

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Few things were more 937bfd6761 frustrating than having a d33585b85f third party barge in e4f4e033bb and spoil the ending.7288b78c3ffc6c2d

Especially when one 932bc7ba10 had exercised great c03bb80870 patience waiting for 7653546627 the grand reveal.6c94853c6909827d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even when c7ea5fe6c0 the outcome 891620988f was obvious, ff992e6430 the thrill 7d2053bd31 of claiming e684f9d821 victory with c2a7d3ee6b one’s own 1c326f4710 hands was 23e33cf44f something else 25acde8147 entirely.07041fa52b6c812b

“I don’t particularly care e54b21a387 what form of entertainment 0254526234 the Marquis indulges in,” 2dac55d9be Vaye said coolly. “I am d85e0737c6 simply retrieving a58c503c20 an item f9fa2b563c that has 5ff2a2eb67 lost its cfbed0c07e rightful owner. Hand it over. You may bill Levantes 7785fb1fd5 for the cost.”560e7d503a05436c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Miguel merely smirked.0b3df6dbeebf9c1b

“My apologies, but even d56d216091 at ten times the 5f89f972cf price, I’m not inclined 0f43fe370c to part with it 6f8a50054b just yet. Finishing this game 78c310d585 of tag takes 99f283e083 precedence.”97462ab256e0e128

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He checked the abeab33aa7 clock on the da5a165954 wall out of 47ca296adc habit.5da0cd249b721e87

9 PM.9fc9634ae825d3d8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Three more hours 63d5cc6306 until the night c82ced12f7 ended.3ef4dd989a0ed1ed

“I have no intention of selling it now. I suggest you negotiate with its original owner instead. And do let her know—I’d be delighted if she came to find me herself.”30e2c5cb1c991657

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With that, Miguel dismissed a07d566797 Vaye entirely. His steps, firm and cf590ff5a8 final, left no room 16fb82e111 for negotiation.854c342c9e8f1a2e

Vaye closed his eyes f963da5f2f briefly, already exhausted by 506513405b the exchange.d88592aa1237eb06

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had heard 2171549e59 plenty about the 56388dbc7b Marquis’s unyielding nature, 6672b71cf3 but he hadn’t bd6f6649dd expected him to 4385bad1bd be this unreasonable.adf0ceb85236cb0f

And what was f28d6a55ab that implied invitation? Was he truly 75a0a83f50 suggesting that Lorena 6be857ad7c come to him 7356021f52 directly?5d68aecc22fa2bdf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Simply to provoke me?e273a227cfb50c2c

Vaye exhaled and finally 6b2481fb14 spoke, his voice carefully ad7cbea698 measured.f7519d93dad67ef9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It was something I b8d685f6c2 once gave to someone 75515f3944 precious.”24b81f5075556284

Miguel paused.1541970acf099f2e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If you don’t b56435b004 return it now, 5dd5d8775e I’ll have no 602a140cca choice but to 34fdf9dc7e take it back 391e97e275 through other means. Consider that e5d7d7830e carefully, Marquis.”f6084da9b514802d

At that, Miguel glanced 2be7e71d3f back over his shoulder, a6a9e2b6fd his profile unreadable.ef2ac7dea607a358

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Someone precious.c0fa23543f28c3c5

He let the 97d715e447 words roll through 2d684a34a8 his mind before 2ae626988e scoffing under his a332beaef7 breath.8043b055182c77c9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Of course. I hope 0af0818cb0 you enjoy a66b7e2fa7 the rest 5f9927fe39 of your 382494bc98 evening.”9b1d24571ecf25f3

Without another 9ba27dff09 word, he 0bccd80ddf turned fully 9159167c67 away and 77d915f350 walked off—not 956f4aa623 hurried, not b51508086f hesitant.16397c4b78fbbd37

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

By Miguel’s third step, e8db5e8692 Vaye had already turned 8d8a359c92 in the opposite direction.357fa9c915d97966

Lifting his hand c7ac9739e8 slightly, he curled 9528dd1f3d his fingers—an unspoken 5f3bb09838 signal.bdeb169efee9622f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His secretary, who 25e4193ec8 had been stationed a307d11c98 near the entrance, aa96fef0fa promptly stepped forward.11635353661ac70e

“Send someone ee56d51411 to St. Vergos Cathedral. Find out how my 01fe21f655 wedding ring ended up 89a2604335 in that man’s possession.”f64934373bfcb7f5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, Your Grace.”8b08ff3458eafb8f

As his secretary 1ff902cdef swiftly departed, Vaye 71e7f5550e made his way c00a4cf321 toward the window 51e7ba464d on the right bca55d3899 side of the 236775bf9a entrance.f0f888fb692e2dbf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The men watching 0354e62de2 him from the d2501af237 other side of ecb9f86ecf the glass smirked b1851579cc and waved mischievously.fef8e33580cc1de7

They were the 89a7cc0a8c young high-ranking nobles dab72bd961 he frequently mingled d80c178f39 with—the same group 30daafc906 who had been 06a114c60c invited to Nas’s e2c24cd932 banquet a month aeb7f07135 ago.32cc7ea612404899

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well, well, our notorious 56856b5954 womanizing Duke seems awfully 08b9ecbfa7 busy cleaning up rumors. What were you and f892313214 Motrel’s Rake whispering about?”f3a19535ac07ffd8

“We’ve got plenty 62c743d02f of pressing matters 70d4427e96 to discuss ourselves, 4779bd2337 don’t we?” another a095eb6d89 noble chimed in. “Like, for 23f67ab1dc instance—what the a5aaa7d592 hell should 7408bc97da we do b29ecccca9 about the af237d3c37 money we’ve 0f9c200da3 got tied 823ab49a74 up in f63485f708 Klein?”dfb4dcd1967f8e04

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…For now—”36e65be2cdad2a18

Vaye shoved a hand 4bd40218c6 into the inner pocket e408b7ff72 of his jacket, fingers 3243cd970c curling around the leather 53f9336f57 humidor (a box for d7b571a0c9 storing cigars). Without sparing 4fc118e2d0 a glance, 4fe05655f6 he snatched 49ba5e69ec a matchbox 1a102c40fa from the eab2b5b9be man beside 919bd51797 him.2b93d922d316fac3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Shut up. I’m in a def0fbd299 spectacularly foul mood.”66799624cd465ff5

The men a9f1454529 around him e538fdc584 instantly fell 312f1dd2c5 silent.c0204eb038c31439

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No matter how a9f8b7c02a casually they spoke, fb5341b02b no matter how b6d7d8d248 much they considered 179993a19d themselves his friends—he a33010ee7f was still the c060843021 Duke. There was always 06f6de3ddb a line that 3664223489 was never to f935a83d4e be crossed.b9bbfd563ecff6f6

As always, 9eda6581cc the men 2ac21d9d15 scattered into fcdd59e151 their own 9f6758cf2e circles, the cb382ca4ac lounge breaking 5b1ede27c9 into fragmented 5a40f51872 conversations.2c79345e8f0ba10a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And as 93db7680f8 always, Miguel 7a4ee37e05 Ervatos sat ef9e828de7 among them.24b0039a9264d0e3

Though tonight, unlike f6f68de5ee usual, the marquis b427f24ebb showed no interest b9a5bd1081 in wine or 7a6ae79251 liquor.db4518b3490ead65

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That changed sometime 631bd79ded past 11 PM.3592838ad4c49695

Finally, he lifted a dc095fac23 glass to his lips.ac1bf125e7f34f89

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

On the ffd82ede21 opposite side 3a9598bc20 of the 3507036130 room, Vaye bdcf3569fe stood by ca3eb93933 the window 846fe6cef8 overlooking Motrel’s 27db00a656 night streets, affd5407b9 a lit 0fb987b6db cigar between 8faec4e54e his fingers.26d36610cb22b32e

On the surface, the 40009104dd lounge looked like any 50f1889723 other weekend.8de2dd698cff202f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But the presence of ffa7c141f3 these two men—one by 59736a8f02 the window, the other 456ae61c2b deep inside—created an almost 7765c7d114 dangerous undercurrent in the e323171d80 air.6e6b6ba6ce1bfd30

And then, it happened.010a9c628815f64c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Not long after the 7ce7de2f84 clock’s hour hand had 72707e48f4 ticked slightly past 11 968ddb7f97 PM, a carriage arrived 2909ae8a8f on Delgado Street.78a7c47240ea070b

Inside, a woman.69459188a0d6bcaa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The moment the 944043c8db Duchess stepped into 232a613787 the hotel—draped in 62e7856371 a dress as be57f82850 lavish as a 4d0bd007b1 bouquet of full-bloomed 51d70f64c9 roses—5f80c41aff05b9bb

The quiet fuse d2125dcd2e that had been 2f38590570 smoldering all night 668b504378 finally ignited.280ae483cbb3f9b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

<To be continued in Volume 2.>25db5b4f7cce98e0