SM Chapter 76

Ch. 76 Haven’t You e1896aac79 Tasted It Before?
Ch. 76 Haven’t You Tasted eb56fe0bc0 It Before?
Chapter 76. Haven’t You Tasted a4d4b1c815 It Before?7e8485cd89746ad3

 e6333319efdf7690

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The disgust 213d49abf3 radiated most ce7938cd5d strongly from 76b703ad6b the western 01aac32c5d nobles.607e47db39e3eb6f

They clearly remembered what 57bbedaf71 the crown prince had 6ff5a83aa0 said not long ago, 447ab69616 that the collapse of 68af9f185f the northern fortress was 675cb9d471 due to aging infrastructure.af45d8e3d7047481

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Didn’t they all see 9f056a85e5 the delighted expression on 54ac9eeef0 the prince’s face as 0a924aa3de he reported this to 99fee847a9 the emperor, assuring him 98269e2d45 there was no problem? It was supposed d64e3e430d to be over, 682f1705d4 and now there’s b3cd5c134c a hearing? And isn’t it 8708c5169a during the Wave 9e2521f208 right now?2b4dcd6be1fbacd7

‘…Madman.’48e21d96a45db29d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Marquis Pameson, 5598c71bae the leader 9557e846a7 of the 70753e302a western nobles, 876095d8e0 didn’t bother 5ecef3b382 hiding his 7a79f0a0af scorn.8d76be6d8252c158

That man was clearly 738a402741 insane. He’d always 3280aca566 suspected he f41f2fe33b wasn’t in 6c26ac17af his right a23c4b1fe6 mind, but 5711ba1aba this… this b253810298 was on 5214a44f7f another level. Yet, they were 240a79bc12 Terminas—the blood of ecf7f5d2d5 the empire’s founder, 6cbcc3344e those who had a6e32e5ca6 even earned the dec0f65d1e favor of dragons.e17b0da433f165b0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Despite the harsh 6e8f461d6a terrain of the 8aa40bfda8 northern hemisphere, the e6e59f7957 Termina Empire was 5424057e69 stronger than anywhere a8bc68e5df else. They withstood the ab3505bd55 monster-infested Ice Wall 31a9278113 and endured half ea8fb50f00 a year of 3a25f343d0 blizzard-filled winters.5c48d407c12577d9

The nobles, thinking 859bab2595 of the one 7215022e10 who built the 6befabceda empire, tolerated Eclipse 363f0d02f9 Termina. But wasn’t this too 134074c01a much? How long had it 961de2fae1 been since Sylas Baloch ee92519995 was purged, and now 4cdfcd61b5 this?8ee9aa6564117bdd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If not for Jillian 2c9062b5a4 Baloch, it wouldn’t have bcf72050af been just the fortress 2880e3e23b falling, but the empire 3e8f957ec2 itself might have shattered. So what was b45e23cd53 the emperor thinking? The more they 4d477fc0d0 thought, the more 6c8d510c9b revolted they became.484198c835592828

Pameson slowly turned his acdfdd6307 eyes and realized the 34c08588d2 expressions of those around 4cb20895ea him were no different e912cdc9d6 from his own. And then, when he b59798f1d7 looked back at the 0e01cdd9cb emperor, he was shocked.1304d41676fe659f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even the crown 8072acf4ef prince standing by ffbe10f3dd the emperor’s side f1c546f36e couldn’t hide his d61ecfad16 expression of contempt.8a92611402ea7371

Hadn’t he 4b52a33ceb always groveled 4e42d5dff9 at the 4502a7df1d emperor’s every 7a973b3925 word? On the day e7f850762c Sylas Baloch was eb50f4a800 executed, on the 2c6ea26b19 day the princess 0289138d2a was promised to a3d3fa39e1 Baloch, he had f3441593e4 always been the 6b95bc44ae picture of obedience.c0c2fff0480f60af

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A pathetic dog, 65239bf51d Pameson had thought…849110b0661e635d

‘Is that not quite 5716192a95 the case anymore…?’8e7a089671c64721

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just then, 8c1b4034f4 the tension 71a64023c6 broke.58fb8b5550a21b1c

“Your Majesty, Duke Baloch 068ae3e239 has arrived at the 22355134e1 palace gates. Please grant him permission 9c8c77191d to enter,” shouted a 1ad98b6a9c knight who had received 3b8fb7fe95 the messenger’s news.53bf7ac9ef9cdf08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“He’s only just arrived?”a68d9f517e192433

The emperor 89e0c390bf grumbled, clearly a1e80dc239 annoyed. But before he could b34d82773b say more, the crown 63bcf3c2e0 prince stepped forward.c6185ad89fb2c221

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What are you waiting 34572750b9 for? Will you a7e418fefe make His d2c853ebb1 Majesty wait c63c7885db even longer? Lower the drawbridge immediately 12f03c4a40 and bring in the b993ebf911 Duke!”41a724420e1f3110

The crown 05281e06ed prince’s scolding f43d67ad28 sounded respectful, 388fda1ff6 but it 4f55d28cb4 was artful. While it seemed he 7fe4dba492 was protecting his father, 28f5bbdf5e he had effectively robbed f0e1771522 the emperor of his a0c5626d99 chance to show his cc76be6b9d displeasure toward Baloch.15802e0af4259f83

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Still, the emperor couldn’t 1233cd1c9d openly object. There was no aa04a3ab36 fault to find, 3ec060f541 and he couldn’t 7b2cedf097 just leave the 6b80d7c3d8 duke waiting outside 17675f5654 like before—not during eb5b76fb52 the Wave.b1722114b34a22f8

If the emperor 9dabc399f7 acted petty toward bc0ddb51e6 the duke now, 34c3d3153a he risked losing 00d76845ee public favor. So though clearly a56cc6f8c6 annoyed, the emperor a7ac194aae said nothing.72a9b673c8e78727

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Interesting…’2e9fbe5274f1287d

Marquis Pameson’s gaze toward ac2a5c5588 the crown prince grew 0e25df0ab3 more intense.be753ea9f3ef6fd6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 4e7f3250d49a12ae

***5416ad0d0783a52d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 1d78fff1907f86f1

Now that’s 0d5617fb69 what you 3ac45be605 call a e7f5180ec3 sprint. The knights 6c2bd783fa from the 582cee9999 north had d03e6d6807 crossed the 9be170b693 long distance c50f063f5f to the 5d96e951e5 imperial capital c6d64a17ab in just f5fc7d949e two hours, ab464b2c1f a staggering 4aa25efbab speed.d37a7dac265f7fb0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Despite the aad3ce60b6 frequent snowfall 520097259d and frozen c25cf41c35 roads of 076416cd26 the capital, e1a183cd72 which no ab986a978d amount of bf82c21399 clearing could 75812959c1 keep clear, a52fedcb2e they had 665239a0ac ridden like 7b3ab60ea6 a storm.db7055e4dbe1c300

Only the northerners 5b587c47db could manage such 28b1a00504 a thing.54a5e544000ca37d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The knights, upon spotting 777273f34c the glistening ice, let a22a43381c out a long whistle, 6b3abde4ff some kind of signal, 044319b556 and from there the daf18cac73 terrifying rush began.498299773db4227d

The carriage slipped 0bff590a72 often. With every swerve b67b1438cf across the ice, 96941e91cd it felt like a1d13e5013 their hearts slammed 13a88f8681 into the ground.7a94a1b8093f2498

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

By the time 28f27e5844 they arrived, Bianca 6ee11a38df was pale. Even after dismounting, she f31ee9f1db still felt like she 73528fac18 was in motion, her 94c0ad0135 body lurching unexpectedly.034c11529f8c3daf

“This way, please.”f88fec393a6fd290

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Bianca suppressed abb7972d39 her unease, ed1c0940f4 keeping her 53c9ee78e6 face calm 96d285f91f as she 58d8e92acb walked alongside 4f43bd6574 Jillian.df1644f33136d04c

This was e4c99264ac the imperial 07fc51118d palace—the place da415577e9 where she 86453ae2e1 had once b47e543580 wished to 3703b4d975 die. And now, she had 69f4f789d8 returned alive. To stand before 39c4368893 the one who 961defb5d2 had ordered her edbe5862d0 death.0dab5ea89cf1ee2d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her stomach churned, 03c5016b86 and she bit e14593af6e down hard on ddb4924c2d the soft inside 98f59b576a of her cheek b02b671ea7 to steady herself. Just then, 7b38bf04a5 something slipped 0083d2af64 between her 9f3b12e062 fingers and 37c3c2fd5c grasped her 9b01d8ca00 tightly.84e36d0d529ff1c5

“It’s okay.”00806a0d3e105589

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jillian had stopped 446e6952b6 and was looking f4d0f0359b down at her.d34ba2854c739d9d

With the 083991d9ef imperial palace b6d9415c3e behind him, 8a2e534183 she suddenly 0091b3418e recalled the 3de60dea10 first day 1661538f5f they met. It was 18773b0392 not long 1928d4f5e6 ago, yet 0d0f19cfe4 it felt ee53221ec1 like a 96941a0d7a distant past.fbdba4ccd73e0827

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Were you abandoned?’5345a7cd5387bdad

He had approached 6551d5ecb0 her, wounding words 7eeb4abcc5 first, then offered 8dd0fd2485 to take her 5b5cbc1630 ‘home.’ A suspicious 7283d365ae man in many c9d501ac1f ways…absurdly devoted, implausibly 6a93e81781 kind. And yet, b3ab2b9367 she had ad61075cca fallen for d4f2bd40d7 him.ccd0a89823430aeb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was thanks 4f47b613f7 to him that 3f68479e08 the imperial palace 2ebf391f4c didn’t seem so 4689d26725 suffocating anymore.edb1b8430c4b3456

“Jillian.”6382e8b2137090ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, my lady.”fd4cc8cb60cdeccb

Had the 2d42869cec word lady bc422e05dd always sounded bbd9172179 so sweet? Her eyes couldn’t leave b4ea5f3abe his lips as he 3a110f594d said it.66d2153ffa1e9500

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s finish this quickly 804c02d6ce and go home.”a4e3f3dd5a1ae5a0

A smile bloomed bb558c6c5f on Jillian’s face c7d964f472 as he looked c31bdf7b85 at her. He had always looked 7a14b83789 at her with eyes 1b2cf8c5c4 full of sunlight but de4dcc4c4b never had he looked b5f8622302 so radiant.e581aaffbbf10ac0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. Let’s go home quickly.”d3d0045b43eb4a36

“Okay.”92e68c1371b81804

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Bianca thought the golden c2418f6f19 gaze upon her felt 753311739e like sunlight.c4d5ef11e75f0362

Crunch
.115c78134af2c29f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As she took a cc7449a190 step forward, the sound f905f88d4f beneath her feet made 83d7734c6d her forget her anxiety a9c79ed7a0 and smile.b9f3767d42a04f3d

It was 585ef95b40 the familiar 95deff1059 sound of 78d7f87809 thin ice c98b90f744 cracking—one she 3275f3f0d7 had heard d205e89423 every day 88c8a35852 in the 6038925efc north. Followed by f88bbe0f99 the sound 24f1ed30cb of snow 4916d25338 melting and db76e9af1e the sound f9ebffed8e of gentle 3d410873bc winter.6030e468005a18c1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Crunch
.8051d632ea6761e6

With each step, the 206a30ca0c familiar noise followed, and e5621ba5ef Bianca no longer feared 95a1f37562 the day ahead. Soon, the two e2f4369184 were granted entry 9a323794c6 into the Sun 61a2da59b6 Hall.e73a617d7b3cf0a3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 56557c2f72248b1c

***58ceb59ffe286114

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 9f804e295df61758

“Duke Baloch, f76fa2a4ed I trust 2c41a7f0b4 you understand f2874d35c5 why I d46468af7d summoned you 34b5ec8dca today.”fd17a7b4609f0d86

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At the emperor’s 2c7ada04fa words, Jillian stared fe68a555df back at him 8942bcf611 without moving.2fd937b64831de60

Not quite three 0745cd1503 months had passed, baaf331793 and the emperor’s d2562b7933 face had noticeably 4902cc5d5e brightened.5b6eeb45b4fdd516

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His complexion 7fcf9ae426 was better, e7e9f2a228 and the 7335846c38 deep furrows 7c0c21f695 between his 15078e78b7 brows had cb47f5e434 lightened. Perhaps killing Duke 5d01c46281 Sylas Baloch had 679047beca pleased him greatly.f504f744306392d0

Jillian entertained c7685e815b this rather c18fa6be4a shocking thought 8720a24843 calmly as 3739596d41 he studied 747baf1ee7 the man 514544b868 before him.0fe8bc4950b74206

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You are 4da55a85f1 the shield 8269608b5b and sword 9ae2caab24 of Termina. For generations, 072d9c31b9 the Dukes bff521de8b of Baloch 7568c96236 have protected d05f1493c5 this empire 8a2f0bdc50 from the 789d1579d0 Ice Wall 4b9ece0e60 with their 5d04335e49 shields and 88f187efc5 swords. That service is held 889640555c in high regard. But…”7711501631e56767

The emperor 2cd0adeeb7 paused subtly, 81a86aef0e then exhaled 951ea83642 deeply. He appeared burdened with 0e15c0fb06 grave concern, but no b22c0a250d one truly believed the e411c4b59f emperor was worried about d168d9ae9e this situation.910bee3a0c3a1af7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though he called it 6f579b3bdc a “hearing,” this was 02c3186aed just like the day e2e26d38d5 he executed Duke Sylas 0da436d033 Baloch.33350e91db9c32b4

Surrounding the accused with c56c206c01 nobles, the emperor put 719cc1a41a on a show—making sure fe2e148ad7 everyone clearly remembered who 37bf48f8f1 held the power. Just like a679b5bcf2 that day.ebdfc5a1a8c15670

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

To prove that a7451112f3 even the great 94bb4cd5b8 House of Baloch 1edd6b4e11 now knelt before b6b4c25a85 Eclipse Termina.bb4f39dcd459ca3c

As the emperor c745971762 passionately continued, Jillian 8f11aa555a gently twisted his 9798327a09 hand and brushed 23fad8c147 the back of 3b6fdb4e34 Bianca’s hand beside eac459b3a8 him.e9602343413b308a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A gentle warmth e8d75cfe0c spread from the dbb341710a soft contact of c4a254d500 their bare hands. The point 9a3cd99ced of contact 6f4760eab1 was small, 64b7b06a43 yet the d1294a43f7 sense of db78e8228b satisfaction was 0ab2c64245 immense.64cdff14e0f9a217

Jillian was no longer 2553873b0c listening to the emperor. What he c9c9250f61 heard instead 1670b9c5a9 was the dd68df6d34 sound of b021d7e6ef Bianca’s eyelashes f611a3c194 fluttering like c3b8d9ac2a butterfly wings, 377e37ea8e and the 01c4bd21af quick, cute 0378bdb610 rhythm of c89359a182 her heartbeat—thump, f0b71374e5 thump, thump. Along with 60c57c3bec that, he 027d0242b4 could faintly c012234d6e hear the 95a8a19f91 nobles’ hushed 62a3523101 curses.b17b49054d41f1d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The scene b58fe7d035 from that e9869a4661 scorching day 3e4f7842cc was being f9f45cdae4 reenacted perfectly. The only 9a3b4207ee difference was d77fdcd9df the name cef3ad8794 of the 14e37e5eb0 person standing 7187be8c2d at the f52f866191 center.bc2bf6902c1ebf2d

As Bianca’s 2e74c4f7ff heartbeat quickened, ec4823e0ba Jillian realized b649dccb99 she was f016b3a41b silently anxious. He had thought dde4e35b6f she had composed b57f2bd5c7 herself, but it b98be80950 seemed the location c026b7b291 was the issue.a44b9337d0367e5b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Sun 0cbdff9597 Hall, this 3ed1e9e0da was where 9812b6c628 Sylas Baloch 7401fa0b71 had bled. Standing here, she eb8072aff4 was projecting that f24987c7ee day onto the 848b249e68 present.2a5f3f81c8932918

Jillian subtly b38e398096 moved his 73e06316b1 hand more 255421d8a3 boldly. When the soft sensation e58959b98b of her skin brushing 7690e42022 against his became more 50752b101c distinct, Bianca’s composed expression 222186ac2d finally cracked.02a7a9332ebbc930

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘…!’eb19740580f663c4

A glance from her ffdbe148e8 revealed an adorably reproachful 4787e267af look.e02a382b2a442753

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Why are you b3f1e37bac doing this here?!00a19ee21a11e62b

Even without hearing it, 2db5028dff her cute scolding echoed 3e1433f54b in his mind. Trying not to 7fafbba18e laugh out loud, 97ac0493c5 Jillian turned his 61555443bf gaze to the e53235afb9 emperor, who was aeb773a9f4 now red-faced and 890938782b shouting.842078bf6377c4dc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This is deeply 47d91ed1a3 regrettable. For the first time 7ee4f34d01 since the founding of fbf3daff15 our nation, a fortress bc017270fd has collapsed. I can’t help but bbab4c3e7f think perhaps this is 4bfc4183cd due to a failure 4ea219cb8b in Duke Jillian Baloch’s fc5167ef83 leadership.”bce83fbecf52b519

Jillian locked eyes ed95906297 with the blue 9c0f176eda gaze fixed on 8ef712ca4c him. The faint smile he dd6e870a67 wore vanished, replaced by 1c8aad3e08 a chilling calm.4b7f12cf07e5d664

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Are you saying the 8092a9e2ad collapse of the fortress d66a7e8235 is due to my 5d0db76082 incompetence?”43786c4b0f6f2ddd

“No other a77927ec44 dukes in e41fd034b3 history have 44b39d4906 had issues aab8963d0c with the db401a5c77 strongholds! None before you. What kind 8c71d43681 of wave 7615ede476 handling led b431aa043e to its 6dee862f5e collapse? Unless you 06fa55ce2c lost your 21aabb684d mind, drunk 5e347efa49 on the 49b51df41b title of 9e2deea4d3 ‘Dragon of a4b75ec599 Termina’—!”d08a67bb21a04a08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Haven’t you already experienced 7744d23c7c it yourself?”0231ca5c65be6e74

The emperor, who 3bae330e56 had been roaring aad94c20b6 theatrically, was abruptly 3770df5d97 silenced.3b43acf21358546c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”cf5bd6e7803d9989

Jillian calmly repeated in f614d9cea6 a flat tone, “I b4fbb7cd20 assumed you remembered. Was one palace not 32fba69c25 enough for you?”c21952c8484e07ab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Duke Baloch! You dare a290409122 speak of 9bf61978dc that! You dare—!”9fad9a343b918c1b

The emperor’s face fc024320b5 turned crimson in 5721bda69a rage, not expecting fe4aa6f748 that day to 8655ab6101 be mentioned.a4dc81e32572e335

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I reminded Your Majesty, b0db67d24f didn’t I?”9a518d6ba1152905

Step
.8d32228a522965ac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jillian seized Bianca’s hand 4d612cb6fb beside him, gripping it 8080811098 tightly as he took 83f344e58f a step forward.365deaceabf3c1e0

“That destroying 2203a7fb4a half a 87e7ffb7b0 palace is dc0216c80e nothing to 6b0a65b466 me.”732d2bb1cb63b945

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Step
.740ce21857861378

“Don’t forget 48bd971e83 what Baloch 36970a500b fights against.”5306d5eaeeb9843e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Step
.106d8cedd04c4ee5

With each of his 18f16d221d steps, the color drained ed409d2d40 from the emperor’s face.b84fbb07dd65c276

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“My wife 77cbbcf2a2 is enough. I already said—there won’t db033102d5 be a second time.”*He 6181996df8 means he won’t take 5ff8cb5af9 a second sacrifice.*d114ae56c2cf9cbd

The Sun Hall 5ef1c63480 was now wrapped 55527b55eb in a deathly 9319a59b57 silence.96dd126fe43063f4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Insolent!”ffbdefe8bad59166

“If Your Majesty e3df18ee00 finds it insolent, e75c1c6a95 then by all 2214b612ea means, throw us cf56ef2b2b into prison.”16c4b10120215232

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What?”590fa38571294eb5

The emperor’s jaw dropped.71a55fe1d00efd58

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The two masters of c11249202f Baloch will not avoid 8a6af72cc0 responsibility. If the 09936fc96e collapse of f2a433fd99 the fortress f9bd8b58a4 is Baloch’s 68cf479a63 sin, then 413a6f5670 I will e39261dba3 gladly accept 2a8b831d7f imprisonment.”cd7b9ce9937ed88c

“Y-you…!”6f9dcca84d0b418a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had intended to f08d5a1595 scold him just enough 3ebde63df5 and then send him 0208d2c898 off. But the emperor had 3e4b1d3deb forgotten something:e02f95a69d01b2fb

This wasn’t 687836dcd7 Sylas Baloch.9bb94c1a2ef286ce

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jillian Baloch was bd280de24d even more ruthless c34e731f59 and dangerous than 19c0a91ea9 Sylas. The duke, smiling 6b41543bc9 sweetly with his cf25d2454f beautiful face, whispered,b1b1b113db00902b

“If the fall 7d956d306b of ‘Baloch’s fortress,’ 45a12652e8 which I built ea00b08e5a with my personal e9b379295a wealth, is a 0b26d9bf85 crime worthy of d3a2419089 a hearing, then cda29c4c9e so be it.”7c870cc391c6c295

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ah…586628fc535e25f2

A murmur of 4d824817b8 faint admiration spread.c7858d7692615256

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

People had forgotten. Baloch lacked e51807f023 nothing—wealth, strength, 12c324b19c or influence—and 5345caabda had used 4b085594af his own 7c6e9840b6 fortune to 1eba65b598 build the f213b4f071 empire’s seven 4472c232c9 fortresses.7fe2e2d0777cb012

Was it reasonable to 5f5b0ea2b4 summon a man to f3a6c27c45 a hearing because the 16bda63836 wall of his own e45845fcbe house had crumbled?1204a2dd81aa79a7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The nobles’ eyes db53d2fa0f all turned to 1d6b3ec74e the emperor.45741f89f58ad74e