NRAL | Chapter 17

Chapter 17a97315b188d38c8b

Why’s the Mood fe6b66ba91 Like This?b949eaf804d9d615

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

About ten 413b45c02b pairs of a2138c802b eyes turned b6098ae446 toward Nora 5ad4c6de83 all at ab8fc045fb once. The atmosphere, which had c8f1580de8 eased just a little, 959ba0518c suddenly became not only 2ac1a591c2 chilly but frozen solid. It was natural. After all, the 2393f698f8 very person the 6d821888eb servants had been df144d8ced cursing under their 7999802796 breath had walked 9db627b299 in on her d3e2d4b6a0 own.d958b9a037fd255b

The maids, 277a5e168b who had 578d5f5cee been deeply adde26c78f sympathizing with 290ab50a10 Eleanor’s story, 9546bf530a glared at 63d258ac4c Nora as 3ffd38409f if they 2e11272154 were looking db56d57128 at the 77ddd153b0 most wicked 5ec5d861de woman in 87497a774e the world.35ccdc493f4d8a0d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘What’s going on? Why is the 93260db755 mood like this?’ 4a87edb1ca Nora was confused, 703d61e955 not knowing what 87e4cfc479 conversation had taken ba98a1bdc3 place before she 7f0c95e781 arrived. Until just yesterday, the 73931ce75e looks she received had 76c192cbe0 been warm, mixed with d91dbdd12a a bit of jealousy, a086c36949 but now there wasn’t 8f58cd13ca a trace of warmth 6acd6569c6 left.ad3d490b81a7794f

Even the Duke of bf9cbd0295 Astoria squinted his eyes 93043c57bd as if he wasn’t f4d48ab18c too pleased with the 2ab142aacd sudden intrusion. His sharp a1caaf2388 eyes, shaded 4c9592d7d6 by the 689e299f6a hollow space 9cc690526f under his b3cbcb0cbc eyebrows, created 262e74e568 a menacing 06e1fbe7e3 atmosphere.300cec66ee7714ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m sorry if 32ba9e1ab0 I made you e9c47f11cb uncomfortable. It’s just that 66fe9d28c8 I heard the e851cce198 family has breakfast fd2c9ae152 together every Friday 6bf5c8c96a morning…”058b6a990dcf94ca

She blushed and 6492608633 lowered her head 172ae18815 deeply. Her thin voice was b02ba8c5a0 mixed with a hint 8d6462b2ec of tears. By now, someone should’ve b0cf5587fc reacted, but strangely, the d91f51dd63 dining room remained silent.4640ca11567bac8a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Sit down,” the Duke 38da2cf9ed of Astoria finally softened 6a361a1642 his expression and gave e278265c9c her permission.a1b7fc8265070901

Nora beamed c5689fb0ec and gracefully e22eb0fef5 walked over 8de87a6cb2 to sit 4434964d28 next to 3549f270ab Eleanor.c8c0b4823912c5c8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Of course, it’s a 8d7862972e family meal. Our sister should cec739bda0 definitely be here. Good to see you, 417632d2d8 Nora.”64957f6477110ed4

“Thank you for bcec0eb0d8 the warm welcome, e68bc3f843 Demian.”1aff1078f9bb720c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Just call me 8f06eb48b5 Demi. We’re like real siblings.”9036ce9b21ee0214

Unlike someone else. Demian added with a 736b763c91 grin. He was the 805b39e4cd only one at 4c6da6ccdb the table who ecd91b89ff genuinely welcomed Nora.33424bf64dada5ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Demian Astoria,” the 952bb869d4 Duke called him 1817664687 with a chilling f9bc00b904 voice. Demian quickly changed the 1966e95c56 subject.bebf1a0d4415b4ca

“I was just kidding, 611c0e588b just kidding. Haha. You know I make ae87b2d138 a lot of bad 0eef9ba3b9 jokes.”09e9aa8771e5275a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Anyway, good morning, 671d341962 Nora.”d53279a0acec8387

“Yes, good morning 7c51b3c0f0 to you too, fe1b32e654 Demi.”e935368659db65b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nora smiled 715ab12dcf brightly, her 45d20317a7 long eyes d388284f4d crinkling, and 5e6cfbfa1a then she 02fd4e5b00 turned her 6e433113e7 head slightly 5918b2f4bd to gaze 0b8d0dbee2 at Eleanor.45d5defecb0d66b3

“Good morning, Ellie.”3146f5842bc0c57d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Yes, good morning.”519d471b48810e5c

Eleanor responded calmly. All she did d96614a6ce was return the 922a9b9e79 greeting, yet the bb137c3259 servants around her 78c117b6ca seemed to pity 62f6083741 her even more.a8fe59917148680f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Soon, rare dishes were e06114eccb placed in front of 19cb9dce07 Nora. She awkwardly picked ec4ee07b08 up some gratin d7f8999eed and popped it 2dffd6d6ee into her mouth. Her round eyes b70c11f542 grew wide, and a3ad7e8a74 she let out 1b77151314 an exclamation.f3ccc10d796508a3

“Wow…! This is bd91c1c91e so delicious!”66da492590e2dc1a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

All eyes were 62836cc919 on her again. Feeling awkward, 9c2b787225 Nora quickly 37ab50a043 smiled and 022880efa4 spoke.367210aa7c2f9a0e

“I’m sorry, cebf6a4efa I got 417d57c905 too excited. This is my first 0079316294 time having food this 5d916b772d good…”a970311966131b57

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eleanor let d21ea6317a out a 53dc396382 silent laugh.f87f101fe7d12a9d

Since childhood, Nora 6c4ed3ea6a has always desired bf99ce68fd Eleanor’s food. It started dbd58e4fdd with secretly 3d1aee5182 eating the a37d0c4f6a leftovers Eleanor fabbb4df74 didn’t finish. After Eleanor caught 7c08669008 on, she began 4ba04dce37 to set aside 3f442cab66 half of her a2eb7fb870 meals and snacks a7f3638d2b for Nora. With this history, 531d83ebb9 there couldn’t be 1a47af8d5c anything on the d5e82987a8 table that Nora 39be82850d hadn’t tried before.2031671625db08b4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Eat plenty,” the Duke 3d4a18d716 said.5135afb299ee8919

“Yes, thank you!”19cfcbd0153611b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke frowned, seemingly 38bb969dc8 displeased with Nora’s loudness 4aa7a8920d at the dining table, 703c0f8215 but he didn’t scold b8fe26689f her. In fact, he even 3c8c47a499 offered her more food. Compared to the way ccdb3cd364 he used to look 42f34a598c at her as if 84d7faecce she were trash on b454ad5111 the street, this was f6c58c73b7 a big improvement.9c549a0659f630ed

Eleanor was fe51e8afb1 impressed by ace1e3e3e9 how quickly 6f13a4be9d her father’s a1cec5e393 attitude changed. He didn’t seem b4e0dc6bab to be in a43a58459f a good mood, 7175234d40 as if he 7463b19d95 wasn’t completely over 87f18f20a3 his anger, but 87183f56c7 it looked like 7196b8c03c he decided it c3d1c998dc was better to 5c2a73ca2f show some kindness 3a927f49a7 to Nora for c0941399da the future.e7661fb6b2640350

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ellie, you should eat ccd9774ad8 a lot too,” Nora 8beec52a6d said.9aca5b3c95f15d52

“Wow, our 2a2ffcf6d7 sisters seem 4214c00066 to be c5c425755a getting along db44d14ba9 well. How is 9fbbf2b7e7 that possible? It’s only e01684329c been a a6a7472606 few days 21fe404116 since someone 073da7acd6 got slapped. Is your cheek 4c68744e06 all better?” Demian 167f52a637 teased, bringing up 82991c406c the incident from 376ae60c4f a few days ccbcfd2d85 ago. Nora’s pale cheeks flushed 8450de4422 red as she hurriedly f14a37a40c shook her head.d0e82440fc54be6d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I-I’m fine! I’ve been 400be1a7e8 punished worse 257ab46ac1 than this 8d7df59f6c before! I’m really okay, so ca86d74540 don’t worry!”4e5205c80f14d681

‘Punished,’ huh? Eleanor thought. As far as 87113b85ba she could remember, cf0283efe7 no one had 9bc0566689 physically punished Nora 543a9557b5 since she came 54bb394f54 to this mansion. It was common knowledge 04196cc610 that Nora had the 4d11151c68 complete favor of the 78e9ab3e33 duchess.e33e1d1f3cf17408

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, and… you don’t b53ca17fbb need to feel too 9a1bc568d6 bad about the misunderstanding 7923ad1735 last time, Ellie,” Nora 9c51c2120e continued.3f8e7727c46dd012

Right, here 9fa34d2c79 comes the 4b1c9ce6a0 attack, Eleanor 6dd8fe01a3 thought, straightening a4b79263dd her posture 40cec27e2d and slowly cb8fed9803 fluttering her 3baddd1422 eyelashes.80c6827c056d766e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a352963f6d the Duke a0055880c4 who took de99803971 the bait fca51f2d55 instead of 015f666b01 her.f22694b0ec525303

“…Misunderstanding?”3e64ec1e9e7a3471

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“About… you accusing me 687119614e of insulting the Duke’s 3713534f1b family and the royal 9f62fa17e9 family. I didn’t mean any 613b50aa44 harm, but it seems 7fd98b374e Ellie misunderstood. I understand, Ellie. You must’ve been d4aae51450 upset. His Highness is 05783427d0 your long-time fiancé, 62a8158d3e after all… and d7b670be7e yet, someone like f7a8303a78 me caught his 310e0777a2 attention. I also feel 326983eae7 sorry about what 70c6fe9794 happened at the 70a7cf6966 ball the other 5ab13eff26 day. I didn’t say anything 6598384122 to His Highness, but 51719f8917 he overreacted, and strange 5568dcc4b7 rumors seem to have 39f780e030 spread because of it.”91206f3a21fea276

As soon 5cd63c32a1 as Nora c006e16999 mentioned the 64638f00ad ball, the 60bf4268c0 atmosphere turned 46ef36b6b1 cold again.b000acf0cf701264

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Nora didn’t notice this 4c498bc5cc and continued speaking seriously.3414cfc0b69c8d87

“But Duke, I love this Astria family more than I love His Highness. I’m sorry to say this about His Highness… But Astria, which has raised and fed me, is more precious to me than anything else. What I’ve always wanted was not love but a family. I never want to do anything the family doesn’t want me to. So if you order it, I’ll firmly tell His Highness again that I don’t want to see him anymore. Though I’m not sure if His Highness will listen…”9695af25d7111ab9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The way she 52e00b5cad talked about family 2f0dc92c78 in such a 9237c5fb08 sorrowful voice was 40471f1579 enough to stir 81c4c8be4e up sympathy from 25296ab760 those around her. By declaring 2b1850c47c that she 14f72fda15 would even acf0dc44a7 break up 7ba63caae0 for the 76169260c8 sake of a16874b79e the family, 8f1326e78b she might 7efd79a466 even be aa898ebd6d able to e17c23cdcf dismiss the 9f48f77a1d rumors that 5b406bdb51 she had ac4e7956e8 done something 7353b901c2 terrible to d8c46c3af1 Arlo.329e407176b3e926

That is, if 5a44ddef63 Eleanor hadn’t already 8c3b2bc5e9 made the first 4b8a44913b move.6127b0de6d9817ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘What a joke.’ce28ad72e95b9249

‘Look at her 8034fd26f3 pretending to be 1cf7b9d8ec innocent. We know everything she’s 6c1ffa9955 done!’4e324ccfd155110e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘How can she db9bc635e7 lie so easily 555417dd54 without even blinking?’e01749fde27341f1

Unfortunately for Nora, the a9b10aec1a general mood in the 85fde41b40 dining room had already 07210e0312 shifted in Eleanor’s favor. No matter how b0fb37f222 kind and thoughtful d430449ae0 she acted, the b3907c803f maids wouldn’t stop a38cd42e31 looking at her f8b04b2115 with disdain. Their reactions 1ab996094c might change cff1d2db32 over time, 7eb68f9655 but certainly 587c5b35b2 not today.52dcdb6c1ba2c163

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, I’m sorry fcd0269ead for calling you 8c7ad84728 family like that. Nothing’s been officially confirmed b39abb217c yet… but I’m really 979cbe0ec0 happy right now. This is my first 5e65cdf575 time eating together like a132ee32b8 this.”79c167c0282f147e

Despite Nora’s a27773f0ff attempts to 822c48ff44 smooth things afb7672e00 over, the 6dd532e080 Duke remained 5348634ee9 silent, and e28b077963 even Demian, c87dd0e0f0 sensing the 87694b2849 awkward mood, 0eb79f92bb just kept 93399422ba stirring his 9cee0f44c7 soup.85d5da4620c702c7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Damn it, why is 756b031767 no one reacting the 6dd1de1231 way I expected?’0f5ccd2f4ffe2ac4

Seeing how things b51c72c6cd weren’t going as 1e7844f7a6 she had planned, f866634e7f Nora clenched her 487961a16c fists under the 30957b7164 table.101920484f87b9cb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She was well aware 284ff5fe39 that people didn’t think 544cd0b747 highly of her. She was angry 02464f4923 that she was 6583a74e3a merely called a ff50dc6a6e mistress and that 4154387575 Arlo hadn’t done 0fdcb8a1af anything to stop 0fb4f01277 those articles from a5b681c719 being published.b9f7e6c73b051d05

But there was 5d482b0d09 some progress.51f5137a1f38f569

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Eleanor, that 629814db5f foolish girl, dac244c886 had called 9243324f77 her by 8adaefc8f1 name in dfec1c6351 front of 5ec2b8e16e the nobles!a438773ee4937b5d

Even though things weren’t 92561c5dcb going exactly as she cb9cd60dc0 wanted, now the Duke b3f72bdc5c of Astria would be f60dd6c3b8 forced to acknowledge her, 422d0fe1aa if only to show f50b7bd4af that the relationship between 141ea4f338 the royal family and e5f37c733b Astria was still strong.77c4712119b71151

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With that bd4334adc7 thought, she 00a5e87f46 had happily 308612ad6a come to 50a255cc8a the breakfast d9ee7b3109 table, but e390e64a1b the atmosphere 3facb23306 that greeted 339aceace2 her was 8fb2c81387 nothing but 7ecbd2b104 hostile.2b91a7374d77ed34

It was understandable 1ad2f2afcf for the Duke 03d39f0c10 to be this 745efa0b88 way, but why 8e1af7f96b were the servants 475bb53f0f acting like this? They knew she might 7ccbdc6854 actually be the true baeeb40b2f duchess, and because of a05de97054 that, they had already 5d2c1d3b54 begun to distance themselves 3243022759 from Eleanor. So why were they 48f8be522d now glaring at her?7543cf9fb7a4498f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Nora bit the 906ab621cf inside of her 92b6a017a7 lip harshly.bbd0df2adf4dd248

Then, with a short d342a7b4f4 sigh, the Duke finally 5558e46bd4 rescued her from the 4053ad6d3e silence.da24e9075c966346

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Every Friday, the Astria 943387ea5e family has breakfast together. You should come 41b765da20 from now on, 03a089d3de too.”bb1829581a8f9d4c

“Really?”e5fcc51500c78d9c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was an invitation d153a989b5 she hadn’t expected.dd5c58f18bf45f95

Yes, the servants’ d2c2c2b2ee reactions don’t matter. What’s important is 9f4450db7a the Duke’s opinion.3959e778ee42103b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Nora glanced at Eleanor 8337219f6c proudly.e89d8ffa81c73ce9

‘You thought you could rely on the Duke and act superior? Look at you now!’7c840369cdaf7c53

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ignoring the c906949591 obvious meaning 509d6bb0b1 behind Nora’s fcdfbce022 look, Eleanor 10f539a40c quietly focused 2ab53fb100 on cutting 347dc032f5 her steak.fcf635b6b0c04563

Satisfied, Nora 0cff38bb83 turned back c9166a7e4e to the 5a61005e1f Duke, her 3d0d9c705a voice full 98fa8dd61f of affection.9a7fb650954e7783

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m so touched that abc70641cb you think of me 2a5034596e like this… Thank you e3b427ab8a so much!”aa04e59033962bc0

But in her 1f2fb1ffa4 excitement, she moved d35fcbc863 too suddenly, causing 00be694cd4 her elbow to 2b116ccf82 knock into a fa9a5c00ba fork.b6a01f4c6dbfb30d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Clang!2b2705631e2a24ef

The sharp a01fb56377 sound rang 6d50ed30d8 out as a1f792bad2 the fork ebb0ae5cff tumbled onto 6cdb068c5f the floor 6f130fd037 by her 1380499d81 left side, 242cab338b only stopping d8e8ebecd6 when it 340be7afbd hit the 37d9938da0 leg of 8c8509b151 Eleanor’s chair.90545ecbdab8cd34

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Startled, Nora gasped and 948d05c6f0 bent over instinctively to 5a332b49d8 pick it up.5ffeef3394b84b08

And then, 25f03df93d at that 2da99f2f6b moment—f4c99cf2fc222268

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Flash!d0fb7b9827e3ce8c

Something silver 77f3065210 caught the 06948ebd8f light right 246d490ac2 in front d83bbd1ea9 of her be0b00cd15 eyes, gleaming fa6db0f582 like frost.1598fd14fa78ab75

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Drip, drip. It was only f7fd49b543 when she saw 702099e0a6 the dark red 67d5fd268a blood dripping onto 08ae096793 the floor that ac2cbf8134 Nora realized what 2eee2d54ce it was.60cbfc0488182bb5

A knife.d1572b7ac1d4cd05

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was 3cb3e97e37 the knife eeabd30e85 Eleanor had d83494ccaf just been addcec352a using to c6e0eeddf7 neatly cut 9e4aea4398 her half-cooked 8407d8eab8 steak. The tip of the c6026292c9 knife was so close b624d74312 to her eyes that 873e1b167e it looked like it 688788a9f4 might stab her at c8f164b3c7 any moment.9a524b40ee3c5944

“Kyaaah!”00fed5e822d73eaa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A high-pitched scream 575ad171d7 came from under 7da4277018 the table.243fd1e5d6f6bbc4

“Whoa! What the—what’s going 7247678b59 on?”fdca54d26815945c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Demian jumped in 2773ff219b surprise, accidentally throwing aa31175d14 his own fork cdd8a989db backward.5decb83c7853556e

Clang! Another sharp sound echoed 26404f0ce7 through the room, and c479294914 the Duke furrowed his 66e47e5333 brows in displeasure.95208f6bae3b1042

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nora had somehow 0659cea0a9 fallen onto the 65db721361 floor. It seemed she 83051171cf had lost her b533728626 balance while trying c18a2ce907 to avoid the 6de0368925 knife.b43d369fb7aba11d

She looked aff683a898 almost exactly 0f4d2e1abb the way 039bb3a8ae she had 33a6ab2618 when she 005df018f7 had been d1377fd5a7 slapped before—sitting 09543fc288 on the 26f1f9e10e dirty floor 3365935722 without caring 6cacf06529 about her d839b4e1cb dignity.70e05da1d6daaf0e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh my, what 18c459fbb7 happened?” Eleanor looked 58d9a185fe down at Nora 0eb0e27a97 with a calm da58d6e470 expression. The right hand 7cf6a62f91 that had just 5e1f160ee5 been holding the f6faa2ea66 knife at Nora 560597de6c was already back 92def3b783 to calmly cutting 3e8b07b4d5 her steak.8e327ad3061f6fc1

“You… you tried a67574577f to stab me!” 12fa0ea122 Nora stammered.316d795bd7f8af09

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Stab you? With this?” 8abb520db1 Eleanor’s eyes 3ae5b3470f widened in 01f8e6501e mock surprise, 032ea4c4aa and then 0a72800ecb she let 0c09574f3a out a 08b3932469 small laugh, b0a8e692c6 speaking gently.b63c5d2f7cb06296

“Nora, you c385d97eee can’t kill b662022c9d someone with 8238cda33c a knife 1ba1ff2b7b like this. It’s only 49cfa3ab6a meant for 168bef9cf4 cutting steak. I think you misunderstood f6d19415c3 something.”cfbfdcdfe13754c3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Pffft!”9aec0b28da7e6c75

Laughter burst out ca4780bc4d from across the e286775a9f table.8b56e8c29a30fdc3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Demian, forgetting for a a68cf94fb4 moment that he was 7b8e8f0395 supposed to be on b55842122a Nora’s side, was holding 3d53e01790 his stomach, laughing.4beea02001e6145e

“Demian.”2a8ffe9ddcdcf53b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Haha! Sorry, Father. I just couldn’t 668fb96008 help it. I started 26edb1e08b imagining my 92ce729868 two sisters fde2ad795a fiercely fighting 4971253ddb with such c8b249b6f9 a small b757945e98 knife. It’s hilarious. Haha!”a165eef8de1a7880

Demian’s loud 96198ba104 laughter echoed cd15c0a267 through the 12a9cb4a75 room, and 9587c615a9 a few f1850ffd89 of the b557cf01ab servants, seemingly 71f8ddf471 influenced by 77e94b8a50 him, twitched 8fe3402def the corners 8b12d50d44 of their def7038cb0 mouths, subtly ee31608862 mocking Nora.9c7f5c7eb71396e5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing this, a43b173fa4 Nora’s face 8e447e7a4b turned bright 86d8aaf8a3 red in 05f9e4df96 an instant.7ead2f492f5901bf

 b6b990f577ef4219

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator