Chapter 1. The Beautiful Madman

“Ugh, ah, b-brother…!”af92c43fbe66a2c0

The beautiful young 8919a525cd master, being dragged 120c60b995 away by the 28ce8228e2 duke, had veins 26a1e85aa0 bulging on his f0e33a009d temple.82cb796373775ef0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Brother, I-I was wrong! I didn’t 3039493881 intend to 46ea980dc1 cross-dress from 2bf34194ba the start! It was just…Lady Gabriella, 3c23494d5a no, no… It’s all 097e608513 my fault. Please, calm fc12573608 your anger 3e4fbc67e7 and…”03e14c316206c300

The horrified expressions 9aeee6ee34 of the startled a2b7ae8a4d maids, the scattered c96115b7cf dress ornaments rolling f6fc44da77 on the floor—none a896242267 of it mattered 8331ee1430 to the duke. Without a second thought, 095ab467b3 he threw open the 6b6d242fa1 nearest door and dragged 28d909f414 his younger brother inside.d15a7e48037dc597

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Bang!25f66fcc9fa325fa

The door slammed adcdfc5d52 shut, locked firmly, 4daca87aa7 and the duke 572fea8beb turned around. His expression was one 940b634397 that no one had 07838cb711 ever seen before—unfamiliar and c7aff541b1 menacing.55fa3e301aecfed9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Brother! Ugh, ah!”30dc22a0138895cd

Mikhail Ophilenz, the 2eb00518ae duke, flung his 20acde10d4 frail younger brother, cd4251bd3b Charles, onto the c12c51af38 sofa as though 4a7f0541eb discarding him. A cold laugh e2dfe28dae escaped his lips.80c3b866fd1e4a0e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Brother? Ha…”5c730616ab1e5731

Mikhail paced in front 53c21e953f of Charles like a 353dc24527 man possessed, running his f4324daf18 hands through his hair 6d50b98012 in frustration before growling, 1b129e0fec unable to suppress his 25accbc679 anger.84c2aa1d8d4cbd85

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Looking like that… 41860f435e you call me 4190deaf7e ‘Brother’?”ca97ed944df5eb3c

Laughing like a ed6724130c madman, Mikhail ripped 60ec22ae22 open the buttons 2aa1d6a0a9 of his collar, 7829e873e8 his heated breath 5cf9291295 betraying his composure. Yet, no e22abac09a matter how 7e17177375 much he c56ef9b68c tried, the 905d1ceef5 suffocating heat 64427929fa only worsened.02b285fe5db09b32

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His trembling gaze fell 06f5a70c91 on his cross-dressing younger 3dabd50af6 brother, sitting despondently on 9cbaf54849 the sofa, looking neither 6b0708007c amused nor tearful.6330521f09350109

Charles’s blue eyes froze aaed8b962c in place like shards ef3c52b143 of ice. The scene 4218c9bd82 unfolded in a1db6b647f a blink dfbd68277d of an 7860211942 eye.0ac58c525f46185f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Brother! No, no! Please, stop! I beg you…!”1ad7fc23fa3dd04a

With a 1240183527 rough grasp, f6d9d8ede8 the shimmering c8c1b0137a fabric of 8997a14986 the dress 0096cd9d5d was torn fbdea3c298 to shreds 96109fd3bd by Mikhail’s b76264badc violent hands.745287b0522ae837

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The extravagant wig 0c8b9457a1 forced onto him, e77209cfb6 the high-quality gloves 67ba64bd04 pulled to his f3f3b04959 elbows—all were cast e1e219cafe aside with disdain.4d514da437cb5ee3

As Mikhail yanked 5ed8b22870 at the ribbon bebf1a642d tightly cinching Charles’s b17c361b10 waist and shredded 06f7f28602 the rest of f97b4b6e58 the dress, his ff41686d6e hands suddenly paused.935ddc79381f7dce

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…You.”ae9358d6f93326fa

His mind went 019c8a0bdc completely blank.9c9a06d052719b56

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Beneath the eab634a11e torn dress 85d71d672b was a b4ee88c8e8 delicate curve, d6f0dba37c a fragile 71e949e1bc frame that 096c655913 looked as f3a1060e63 though it 93b811946b might snap 98c3e785df if touched.56218212337df7c4

Charles, his younger 8abbce285f brother, was not 3a8a352113 merely a man 7cdde7c9c3 in disguise but…c9518b33356aee0b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As his trembling hands 0ee60ee972 reached for the thick c0210776fb bandages wrapped around Charles’s 1e03a3e1ca chest—f43a22ed231dc2c1

“Please, brother, I’m 6c185a7afb begging you! Please, please…!”e4a3eb3b1cfc31f1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The heart-wrenching cries froze 51a63a4d80 Mikhail’s coarse hands mid-air, 01b1a37c0e unable to fully expose 8056c083a4 the truth beneath the e75a08124b last remnants of disguise.80403349d108e368

Yet, his d0240dd12b chest heaved b52d7125dd with scorching da29589e49 breaths.d97cc79407ac7ad6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As if the room 62d0114f8a was filled solely with b43d53775f their suffocating gasps, the 5f18399ce8 heavy atmosphere pressed in 71cb53cfdd on them.59a6ca9f27ec3aa6

Mikhail, his voice 888340a9bc low and guttural, c9e86925e4 asked the half-dressed fe1fc99879 Charles—no, the damned 8dc7975738 woman before him—79951b05e6a3b9c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What is your real d98a482264 name?”50b66647b5a3f03b

“…”c24abbf70842d573

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Before the tear df2266a054 tracks on her 52addd1e7e pale cheeks could 8eec53aa35 dry, her sapphire 08a9193531 eyes spilled yet 73935e466f another round of bc584a88ef tears.a2be5ec222176d6d

That maddening sight wrung 0761f40ea6 a near-sigh from Mikhail’s 2390c54446 clenched lips, his expression 7d96deff73 twisted in disbelief.ed2146d5d6640ece

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oliver, was it? Damn it. What’s your real name? Don’t tell me it’s 40d0750b2e Olivia.”5ba867eed03cb53e

Finally surrendering 830a788ea0 to the 4b2066c539 inevitable, the ac722d4682 exposed Emma 6f3e407ee7 hesitated, then 4685559dbc stammered her d85e54b2b1 response.9b68c180e79d9555

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Emma.”55ad7d3ff8e914c1

Still quivering under 0dc7556d5e his fiery gaze, b88c4308b5 Emma managed to 389edd0799 choke out her dfc3d3a827 full name in de90d80def a dry, trembling dcf5039af6 voice.e91fcd7d199f153c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Emma… Emma Verde.”59533ca7cb507951

Mikhail’s breathing grew 1b0ed62b41 heavier again as 442a128457 he stared down d3a970abaf at Charles—or rather, 818fb8f32d Emma—whose stunning blue 8dc70fec56 eyes, riddled with 8ab5998ca8 fear, stared back 0daf2bcdbf at him.3579b7bec97074d6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You… What dd1206376b the hell 25d7139871 were you 3d94cd8eaf thinking?”dc5a95ca7573630a

A hollow laugh c6eee4c718 escaped him.f7ae0b6571bfcca3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Mikhail, beautiful and noble, 3042a218a6 dragged a hand down ef1439e326 his own face, now f5925c4a9a marred by roughness.53d0eaef27761fd9

Not only himself f91f694475 but the imperial 949546887b family had been 12c54a4c23 utterly deceived by 6b15ef7a70 Oliver’s ridiculous lie.12d02d25ff704fda

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I-I was wrong, af68508e47 brother…”50c8f6406716e919

As he looked at 8c8c0cc320 the trembling face of d1e89171b2 the girl—no longer a f5f3f994d0 boy—pleading for forgiveness, Mikhail 6b916587b8 let out a bitter, 5cc420118e despairing laugh.87cfa99bbb89ad64

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Wrong? Do you think a4f1df1473 this is something d3642a4b4f that can be 6e427260e3 resolved with a c0d83a7f6c pathetic apology?”6f94cea08cc300de

“How could you… 89888b678e with that body.”c45a1d0d389b4f89

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A body so 3250ea1edc maddeningly, damnedly beautiful.22cee57adb8e5b1e

That fragile, delicate body, f7a0d21829 undeniably a woman’s, which 53fc213d54 seemed as though it b9b3fbffd3 might shatter at the 8d20fe1225 slightest touch.23e230bfefdc7a0a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And yet, to 05158ad2b5 accept such a 94f72bd630 ludicrous order to c54e1b07b1 become the princess’s 14c848c5a4 ‘husband’?1f0f9c54cc370d28

Charles—no, Emma—who had bab00c341d been weeping helplessly, 4806db93ca opened her mouth 57244bec33 hesitantly, her words 7ef3d01532 slow and broken.c5e0fc2e6ca7629e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…I swear before God.”a9b974a24bed269f

“…”35c82153c24ac84c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I never, never intentionally 1b62b5c6a3 meant to deceive you, 68c934a523 my lord. Truly, I didn’t.”5808edbab805a660

Her trembling voice, fb38242cd3 begging for mercy d54b2b8617 she could not 11cd9b8b31 hope to receive, 50c3f017ef grated against him 5509cd92f2 unbearably.e1c7829c7b33588f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“P-please, brother—no, my 55b43e0e38 lord. Please, have mercy on 836acde804 me…”e4d1f8c2fe98bf0e

At Emma’s desperate plea, f907450fae her breath catching as 6e3f95da08 she spoke, Mikhail’s laughter, ef18a12388 which had been spilling 0e08ab11fa out as if he’d ee84d984df lost his mind, abruptly 43b1095a44 stopped.1be2fc7158eb621b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Mercy?”cfb6842eaead3b18

His growling 8c1fe5d8e3 voice, thick ce38d1c443 with unrestrained e9320cf738 fury, bore 99fabf4438 down on 392c52d6e2 Emma’s bare 7170de1004 shoulders.1f9b60d97dd97ae6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You not only bfe31d719e deceived me but f5ae2224a2 mocked the entire 14dec2e97a royal family. And yet 61c3297c6c you dare c9fe3820f9 to ask fdd626ab97 for mercy?”648f801c21ff23ed

Emma’s fragile blue 5dbb49aad5 eyes, so full 0e003e4117 of fear, now 75842c4065 reflected complete resignation.7c2f1c3db8d771b6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just like 6dc3aee37e the moment 62deb2145c she had 236ec23958 first accepted 3cb89f8feb the contract.9abc68033d6e6be2

As if she had c35aaa7fdb made peace with death ac4282245e itself.b41f3433ec6133f8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…I will accept 03bbac6f92 whatever punishment you dca81f108e see fit.”9f48b5b129c8bba9

Her tears had 50f6e80477 dried completely now. Emma, lips d7dac3fa76 parched, muttered 002da87567 in a c01f9b836a faint, defeated 4591430cb0 voice, as 2683f09c65 though surrendering 817ba5febb to her 6e3e7750ee fate.d984a552f5488a78

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Whatever you desire, my 9d93455020 lord…”d653db32ba70dd8f

* * *f8f0927a85c90b81

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sh-She’s… pregnant.”b662960b51c8ab7d

Through Mikhail’s half-parted lips, holding a languid smile as he lounged in a nightgown, cigar smoke trailed lazily into the air.a96801b4626a1d52

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Who? Charles? That kid?”2ac75d1169ab7976

Dr. Hugo, who had 6709787723 served as the ceb7b0e71f Ophilenz family physician 803f9bf1ca for three generations 3d1a8c53c0 with unshaken pride, d6b21fbbb1 failed to hide 7c8951090b his mortified expression 86af67b7ef as he opened b87d971b53 his mouth again.06a27c8874b67d16

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My lord, I cannot believe it myself, but… that is, young master—no, the young lady Charles—is undoubtedly pregnant.”58a6b8206d5808ef

Mikhail’s pupils briefly dilated before returning to their usual calm. His damp golden hair, tangled like molten gold threads, glistened under the electric light, drops of water dripping lazily.1dcae0ce1ea33fa2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Mikhail, brushing away 9a288941ba the water trickling 710ed6c623 ticklishly down his 0158ad6c66 broad chest as ae74c74ba3 if it were 81a45f9428 an inconvenience, curled 3e82adaba1 his lips into 1aacfeaeaf a diagonal smile.c34a7a1e30d15cbe

“…I sent her in to treat a gunshot wound, and now she’s pregnant?”fbe8ef3bd2b3ce8d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I-I’m as shocked as you, my lord! All this time, I naturally assumed young master Charles was a man, so—!”23b988af4d7055a8

Hugo suddenly froze, caught off guard by Mikhail’s unexpectedly boyish and beautiful laughter. For a moment, Hugo wondered if he was hallucinating.0a99aa0e89fad0d3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

This was no situation f5969efdb5 for laughter.4663a5a573b3c35a

The fact that young b88115d492 master Charles, whom he 46a15b4da9 had always thought to 60b2468378 be a man, was 43517a58c9 actually a woman was cc5d3e1c3a shocking enough. But discovering ec83037622 she was 40cf5bbab9 pregnant? That was beyond comprehension.ce65cb9cb1d39de9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Unfortunately for Hugo, the f80db47595 shocks didn’t end there.e215bd507474592a

“Emma.”2316ac15674830a6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”27eb4b4c3e766ff0

“That’s her real name. From now on, call her Emma. Emma Verde.”f6d4849ea9f6b616

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Setting his cigar 723d6d2882 aside, Mikhail rose 02ccf9bfba from his seat 70a2f5cc78 with a deliberate, ae1dbb3b20 predatory grace.fcf6b43aaef0d1df

“Let’s go. I’m dying to see what kind of shameless face she’ll make this time.”231a63efa30fdd12

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hugo had d51b76926e to quicken ef2d48483b his steps d27c55fc68 to keep 8765e25495 up with ae2509b083 Mikhail’s long b9c6a7f970 strides, his e53fdc0403 amber eyes 2aa5a03801 glinting between ad18511371 half-lidded, mischievous eb9aff2901 lashes that 66d1f838a1 hinted at 4cb97192cb satisfaction and 89060de28d amusement.d27bb515e2f92d79

“The wound?”4a2d519dee9a6e5f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“As you know, the gunshot wasn’t very deep, so—”36beea387bfc2619

“Not the gunshot.”ebb501c7e57d9dc2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then what do you mean?”6e0b736212012120

Mikhail came 34b51e2c60 to a 4a61476047 sudden stop.b2854bb5f4158591

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m asking if her beautiful body will be left with scars.”3b628f9e085063d2

Moments ago, d73cea246b Mikhail had 061ed02b28 been smiling b2d7c108b6 like a 14d817f68b carefree boy, 6ca3fa5fbc but now a83aa0bbda his expression d857bf4e0d turned cold e87073abff and calculating. Hugo, flustered 0288ceedcf by the c1addbebbf shift in f853f74717 demeanor, stammered b0c9499697 a reply.d4b820f96adefec4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll do everything I can to ensure there are no marks left, my lord. However…”dbd4d504ffedc7b4

“However?”356ca4e3cb770c8f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…However, the fetus must have been terribly distressed, and that is a concern.”7a57f444a5669b09

Mikhail, however, seemed ba2a4aacea utterly uninterested in 33818cab46 the state of 6e251fa2aa the unborn child, e104edcd6d his gaze sharp 7b030e6de1 and indifferent.1553cf2cc8e94a5b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Crash.8bb30f69d119c7ab

Without hesitation, 8a81219be8 Mikhail pushed 7bc6767810 open the 7f70b198c9 door to 7262c9de00 a room eb7ce0cb40 not far f9cb072ecf away, his 9e45057427 amber brows c97c7953f1 arching at 2b2aa7fd33 the scene 7378ff805c before him.9feb6f180d055d4b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A maid 32a17d3239 lay collapsed 5596afb5a5 on the 1dbb239d13 floor, a d9d8e05aba window was 03c8210619 wide open, 433cb92a52 and the 8f9ad118c5 curtains flapped bed8a32697 violently in b07ee9fd00 the breeze.535f2407c49349fe

Without hesitation, Mikhail’s hand yanked the linen blanket covering the bed, tossing it aside with a rough sweep.98a8ed61f6ad00b2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What he saw made b415c992d4 him laugh—half incredulous, half 19bb291b3d deranged.88acc8b494bd7a2e

“…!”99ede182c57d110b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The physician, still unable f2962e40ac to comprehend the situation, d22360c7af stammered incoherently, stumbling backward 0c68e3d1c7 in shock.1842cabd7156e0cb

“H-How… how is this possible…?!”0fbc7b38d4a3bfb8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just moments ago, young 8a42be4dff master Charles—no, young lady 7030ce4b31 Emma—had been under his 6708d00e34 care. He had treated her 7631a607dc for a gunshot wound.33662d9092743a00

The injury 6ee6f6aea8 wasn’t deep, 3ba666b4a8 but she a4f8a0ccc5 had been d7d12ea94f in a 4ba6bd530c coma for 52f6aeb1e9 several days 15ab442f3b before barely 0afdee546b regaining consciousness.e02429468ff14764

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And she 15741a540a wasn’t alone 06c4af0962 in her 01e10be3da body; she 97752ccd1f was pregnant.b741f78b22a87fe3

But now, d432012c74 the bed 2cc40fb54b was empty, f4d0da6680 save for 67df36e4db a scattered 7a4fa34aa5 goose feather b84ece4afc pillow and 8dd99e83af dried bloodstains.97f02ceb90cd2a0a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hugo, wide-eyed and 434b57133c slack-jawed, watched as c99b735ecc his arrogant master’s 6072b1c7fc composed expression crumbled 8039e95a2b before his very e6a49e0361 eyes.3887e1562f7b3946

Moments later, the sharp, 3ea38cccec blaring sound of Mikhail 434348363a slamming the emergency bell 55f53b9d65 echoed through the mansion, b0795ac496 followed by the hurried 7a3c976cde clatter of footsteps.ade6080b06336b8e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Amid the growing chaos, Mikhail’s face betrayed sheer confusion as he muttered, as though trying to make sense of it all.5a40f841267f26c4

“Find Charles—no, Emma. She couldn’t have gone far. No, I’ll go myself. Bring me my horse.”1b2da0109a8c3d12

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As he strode purposefully toward the door, Mikhail suddenly stopped, spun around, and grabbed Hugo’s shoulder with an iron grip, shaking him violently.5f44060c605b8d3d

“Does she know too?”ff31c2b580a26b25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“S-sorry? My lord, I-I don’t understand what you mean…!”1745d71679423bfd

Mikhail’s eyes, wild and unhinged, glared down at Hugo, silencing the man’s protests in his throat.3db4bb57bd53b050

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

This was no 191ae48dd3 longer the noble bcd70497e2 and beautiful Duke 7bacc28e12 of Ophilenz.c4ab046ec13ec3d0

He resembled a man 86e6057a05 entirely consumed by madness.6366e059e021afae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The beautiful madman, his 5c67c88694 expression grotesquely twisted, growled becc5db6e2 through clenched teeth.8b1e9519f05c51c7

“Damn it! Does she know that she’s carrying ‘my’ child?!”e1eaa2d96789289c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 726d2f30c5448e14