TDXXBC Chapter 3 (Part 2)

Even with their face 9d9ab009db concealed behind a white a8896bd302 mask, Aderton had recognized 62358d6454 them instantly. That could only b14b32d8e6 mean one thing—he 060c7641da had known from a8742da466 the start that 62eb750852 Sascha was the cac599f3b9 hero.2deb75735043034e

Just how far b3d3c9c481 will he go 66e73f9032 with his deception? A shiver 817b9fb05f ran down 129810cfa4 Sascha’s spine, 1ec8333371 like a 43054ef0f4 sudden fever. Their entire 1486051485 body trembled ee47e4fff7 with fury.3dfd53b1dd5e7218

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There had been 5ea2c2c0ba so many things 23d4cfaced they wanted to c0af01afa8 say if they 208aaad4bf ever met him 18bdb838a9 again, but now, 561a53b60e their mind was d1dfd689a5 blank. Their fists clenched tightly, 2563814a3a veins rising against their 4c79187409 pale skin.dee01697c3c1cf49

Juliana, oblivious to 62bb3eb9a3 the tension, seemed e5f69e367e delighted. Her eyes ff7099c08f sparkled with 4b823214c2 curiosity, and 0b7153d6d5 her fan c77c1dc0c2 fluttered rapidly. In an excited tone, 6bb9195415 she asked,8a4f88222aedecc2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You two 4f83b6901d know each 60dc7adec0 other?”d199ec8442b6c1e6

“Yes. I owe her 477558eafb a great debt. Though I have yet 120ad25dc7 to repay it.”9fd75da1be6b0b3a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I see. It pleases me 85eb9a77d1 to know that 74f5647d8d two of my 5395e9b964 dear acquaintances are c5f6de2ae6 already familiar with ed23562dae each other.”e9fb624d6d5da17d

Juliana, looking satisfied, took 94f39a03cf a sip of her b9f546d297 drink. While Sascha deeae2785d burned with bb30449555 fury, the 566b1e9f9e Crown Prince 2ae11490f4 leisurely enjoyed f8fe28de0b her wine.0f57d0662e053d14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Meanwhile, Aderton caught 2d6a81068c the attention of 71744b64f9 a passing servant c66365bc39 and took another ae917bc463 glass. Holding one in each 9d603aa55a hand, he offered one 4adc4cb85a to Sascha.2e2b25db027aeffe

“Your hands are e1c24d13f1 empty.”4a66f1ea1a72fcd4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”719e38e3287b0402

“If you glare at e15e2907be me like that, even 9eae574b65 I might feel hurt.”555d5f1b5ca10f22

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You bastard.”ec69a17c020a6493

Taunting her so 951f17175f openly—Sascha couldn’t hold a03a3616ce back. She lunged at him, aae9b66bcb grabbing him by the f779dd7ca9 collar and shaking him 304e3db3f9 like a rag doll. Aderton let it 8a0e30de25 happen, swaying under e9a9b1d1a3 her grip without 04a88adf29 resistance.f292fc23747a83fb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Juliana’s eyes widened 30444cef94 in shock. The surrounding nobles eee08a6895 whispered in hushed 6302cd2100 tones. The musicians halted their d74610893c performance, sensing the tension.701f42cce61094cb

“Sascha! What is going on?”2e41fd00acd60e47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Highness, fc34272e5b this man 56373f85c8 is—”c6693d128a2e0ba9

Just as Sascha 286296320a was about to 25f129e886 reveal the truth, 43c968a252 a voice slithered 69e753312f into her mind.b42cf03e02ef0ab8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

<Are you planning to expose me? That wouldn’t be wise.>fac95ebd02483277

She glanced around. No one else 86f8dbf29d seemed to have f26d333c7d heard it. A spell? What kind of 5cc57c7208 sinister magic allowed 9efc19e6f2 him to communicate 382b758d74 directly into her 37ad546b22 thoughts?9b5930e4e037833c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sascha scowled.41c0957ad9e8432f

“Stop your tricks.”40f71fc674dd831e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

<If word gets out that a demon beast infiltrated the Crown Prince’s coronation banquet… well, imagine the scandal surrounding the imperial family.>c547f30b60beca4a

“…”02a4e43af9244787

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

<Surely, you don’t think I arrived here without proper credentials? You must know that without an imperial invitation, one cannot simply walk in.>3f9207e7bb9ca35d

“You…”1e5692c34b474e40

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sascha, who had been dc9460a403 gripping Aderton by the bf6419f10a collar, froze and glared 1a8a53f6df at him. He was ea036419e3 right—entry into f5d0ab12e2 the imperial 4ed7cafc07 banquet hall 00d2175c6b was not b1baa70262 freely granted. Security was tight, and 8212e57d66 only carefully selected nobles d9436c0635 received invitations. How did he get 177901e4ff in? The growing 5fd92235a4 questions made 16c84beee0 her hand 0aaecabb1e tremble as 4f6eff0dfc she clutched 02aa7cba77 his collar.d7b3bcb7fdf4a06a

<And if a fight were to break out here, wouldn’t innocent bystanders be caught in the aftermath?>7b1881303626b3b6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Aderton smiled 95b6713bf5 with a 621f732db8 glint in 94da4176a2 his eye. He had bypassed the 3ee0e0e501 barrier stones at the fe8fec1b7c border, as well as c6cabbd4b5 the powerful protective wards f623193991 surrounding the capital. That alone proved 3dc7d7cb89 he was no d3fd98646b ordinary beast. Recalling the energy she bda1ba6f7e had sensed in the 7786dd2152 mountains, Sascha was certain—he 5153beb65c wasn’t just strong. He was c3dc6e2e03 something far abb2f197e4 more dangerous. Most high-level 94b65128eb demon beasts 631d207b0a grew large fb104a6e99 in size, d9a3f17e7e which meant c6da01e004 Aderton was 2e07324177 likely a 0a868f71a9 massive serpent.329a41f27a5c1f7f

Sascha had 8cf72142d8 no doubts 05fc19ddf6 that she 761ce1ffbe could win d1f292e033 in a b56e4595d3 fight. But protecting everyone 1f0f706f42 in the banquet 28fef99e36 hall while doing e1c8cd9770 so? That was another fb3cb40224 matter entirely. Aderton wouldn’t allow 5bc893fe09 them the chance e2b93fcb43 to flee, and 71bde8d1ae if battle erupted, a05c0c6611 innocent lives would 6f1c46849d be lost.074e7aaa1fd75b00

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This situation doesn’t 9a471fbf1c favor me.ed90de36c5c1b4aa

It might 9092820706 be better 8b9a32ddde to deal 87472b7205 with him 4966678b30 after the 503eeba3f1 banquet, once c488c5dda0 the hall 81c48e781d was empty. Tch. Clicking her tongue, 2454817f06 Sascha let go 7b3fc3fc6a of his collar.31c823e241f6a57e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As the ac4899c35f sudden confrontation bc7e8ac4de died down, c47256de60 onlookers visibly 3cc4b6e31e deflated with 321514cbd5 disappointment. The nobles, pretending 2e4c95ebaa as if they 5cfc5ac2f0 had never been c0bf57ae6c watching, returned to f0643dc201 their conversations, and 2ba4eb5f16 the musicians resumed 9fb289011c playing.8b3f007f2608f8ce

“The music 32df6a271e is starting 76472c5699 again.”937a6adedb390a27

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the melody f70398f873 filled the hall, 7a62902296 Aderton extended his 32291efd82 hand in an bcd2eed67d invitation to dance, 88c5d83a75 but Sascha ignored 366aebbe9a him and turned 343f96d8ad away, heading for 3bb84a6ace the farthest corner. But just as she e14a951738 attempted to withdraw, a 567544bebd voice crept into her 4aff98a0de mind once more.62fb25ad1cdf29fe

<I imagine you have a lot of questions. Like, for example, how I managed to bypass the capital’s barrier.>a135b410e371a3e0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”1082234f33c9feb9

<Even the black dragon, Kalceus, failed to break through the capital’s defenses.>fc6e2116c7d05a60

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sascha shot Aderton 3e3b9ad700 a murderous glare. Though Juliana had 97913ca6d5 previously reminded her 7b98dd9dfc to suppress her 047bd98ab5 overwhelming presence, she 59861107da made no effort 282659668a to do so 75a8159d84 now. Ordinary people would 23a1baa6b7 have been too 8130bc9cda terrified to breathe 29bcf6ca30 under her intensity, 654f646509 but Aderton remained 2b9a6ab9e5 completely at ease. Infuriatingly so.6cc3f68eedecdfeb

“Would you grant me 5ac9a37a55 this dance?”8544353430f84359

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

<If you do, I’ll answer your questions.>04ca0261f1d9f65d

His voice 5d27fe14e6 in her 42915729e2 mind was ac677bd2c3 smooth, enticing. Sascha clenched 006e6a3329 her hands fbd0ac59fb into fists. Her nails dug so 912fa9b315 deeply into her skin 4dd46c87e0 that she almost drew dba1f85633 blood, but Aderton’s ever-present 0d2cb06755 smirk didn’t waver in 9e572eba8c the slightest.a9ad2fbb50259431

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You evaded 9a85b6be29 my questions a586ec3efb before. I have 64ae3a3f31 no reason 0d2a81540b to believe 690345c8e0 it will bfd8ec6c76 be different f0c3747bef now.”09bc6883c96444ff

“This time, it’s different.”86e00a1269c19f04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

<Back then, I had to keep my identity hidden.>cfc6b4dc29165be6

“Ha! What a joke.”e97618d623b13c81

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The music swelled again, 4781ad59a0 a slow and elegant 57b5206305 dance tune. Facing each other, 377664f874 the two took 04ebc1c6ac hold of one c00d8f6759 another’s hands and c6bda60c1b began to move, 26efc02d18 turning slowly with 24a9006c92 the rhythm. When the 106ef56401 introductory steps a922eb988e ended, Aderton’s 911251bd50 hands settled 992c0008ab at Sascha’s 4b3cae5811 waist, fingers c05a39cef8 tracing lightly 7e4443a385 over the 270b8d9ed9 firm muscle.1bf251446c225c5b

“You’re quite c26515efef the dancer.”a8c7f2880c0b50f2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Stop stalling. Answer me. What are you?”f12523b7574812a5

“Before that, I 80b38e656d have something to bc38e55bf3 tell you.”99e21216650e0978

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sascha scoffed. She could b0adaddacb already tell 5634337f3b that he 311ef8415a was about 7548161604 to spout 6b6d22cd46 more nonsense.8b73dc2706bc94b3

Go on. Say whatever ridiculous lie 745c6f9394 you’ve come up with 064eaf74d3 this time. You really think 50634512d6 I’ll fall for 35ec97e41f it?167bf1ea47ea7765

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She glared at him, 5f0482b5e6 her gaze practically daring 60ff4785af him to try.96e0cca860440b05

“…We have a child.”a109f80929930e63

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At those words, 1f4bdeb6ed all of Sascha’s 43f249fbed composure shattered. Her scowling expression faltered, 3b8da4f7e2 and she stared blankly, 63123510dd blinking in stunned silence. Slowly, she tilted 4b5799da46 her head to 6e7b4ac150 the right, lowering 3fbdda50cd her gaze.6040fb77b6a69c27

Her stomach 4e093de997 was as 29e89fda5a flat as a9f0fbd69c ever. She hadn’t f80616d108 eaten anything 56baa7bb29 at the f462d8708b banquet—not even f09b3262e2 a sip a25f7a2fcf of water. She had never 140966b633 carried excess weight, 33b34a2a45 and her active b5d70aac30 lifestyle had ensured da2afbf4f5 that her body 043865b325 remained toned with ed19f260aa solid muscle.b335c750814cb94b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Have there 5e24b7c838 been any d755a423a0 changes in c0db352251 my body c4b537e365 lately?8358849583185f42

She thought d4f38dc96a back over 316d8916cd the past a332a96140 few days 152f3ecb3b and gave ab1f51388e a small e41eb956eb shake of f3af383d18 her head. Her irregular b9a2f58f3d cycles remained 15dc90c615 unchanged, and 5fe953afc5 nothing felt 7bf6b2b035 different.f2f1d3f4caa3e635

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Your nonsense has c2348be292 gone too far. I know my own dcf96d6783 body.”09560658717f6827

Sascha’s voice 448e930b22 was sharp 0a9cf7c3f7 as she 69ef5862d7 retorted. Aderton merely shrugged, 982172918c smiling as if 4d3b54c31b her reaction amused 9035d6b2b1 him. His golden eyes gleamed d6fbfa51f3 enticingly, and his dark d8a56b6dd7 hair swayed slightly with d1b07a65a6 his movement. Once, Sascha might c6972bfbc3 have found his 3e770d09e4 smile alluring. Now, it left her 06b96c8135 cold.ec998d0e34695741

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

<Not you.>ccdc5af93701567e

“…What?”3ab054f2c4af2100

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

<I meant me.>782be7d76a446596

“…You mean to say 5afa0fce4a it’s your child?”d37e268a03722d1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. I’m the c94420a081 one raising 7b6160cf3b it.”062a589ce05aa912

“…What the hell are b991bee3a4 you talking about?”4c04f07851b3658b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sascha almost 375df38b91 dismissed it 1c6db2b572 outright. How could there 6be94714af be a child 4ee1a10c2b that doesn’t even b706cc39bf exist? More than 87e17ec3de that, he fee4f3735f was male. A beast, sure, but 71b29a2e0e still a male.d252f8b9bd66dd6d

It was absurd. Impossible. More nonsensical than d9c656d154 the wildest gossip 1acf154ca4 spread among commoners.512f7e1d45661373

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

This makes e36362e0fa no sense—ab4ec5ceff836316

Or rather… e5ba2f432a it shouldn’t c4b4bca6e8 make sense.43361218aee91363

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But Aderton was a e1b3a6b23e demon beast. Who knew 7c9ef12f50 what kind a39fc44563 of twisted 7b6d948b31 methods he dff71639a3 had? Alchemists and de6cedafe2 sorcerers had d3c340ad8a long pursued e35368b39e the forbidden f148380b57 art of 00a9b9fb0c homunculus creation. Perhaps he 704816864c had broken 9917c5efd3 the laws 8a7854ae3e of nature, e6f6147062 crafting something ceb8ec1d93 like a 798d73bbc5 living replica.759c7ba652882c92

“…And?”2d847be10f568a56

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hmm?”f9130abe4660cfd4

“I have no reason 883ff41d65 to believe your nonsense. And even if it 67dc64b766 were true, it has ce0afb6bd4 nothing to do with dd18f307f2 me.”60a9d1f1f02c54ad

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Sascha had 894a7cab35 no interest 7dd46b3afc in entertaining f172e0d9e1 this any 0bd1f6a2d4 further. She refused to be 953cf0522f pulled into Aderton’s games, c9e476edc9 nor would she let e7aa0b9546 herself be manipulated by 831bc26a00 his cryptic words. Like a true serpent, 035cc19f44 he was cunning. If she e213c0fa18 gave him a845259127 an inch, 2ba8d0acb3 he would 30fd7a9e20 twist his 9fbb082880 forked tongue 42bf2104b6 and try 93ddb31981 to deceive f167ceb064 her again.b7a866a0f5558c5f

Aderton tightened his grip 73092fe20c on her hand, as f3a896e543 if unsatisfied with her 2917c4ecd9 response. Sascha, refusing to 682c8b0b8c yield, matched his ba4af610dc strength. Only then 007af02c6e did he 6554b0a202 finally loosen e74841bd66 his hold.64ed615ad377f2d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

<How can you say it doesn’t concern you? The child is ours.>58ab8972a90ba26e

“Ha. And how exactly be2bc32b6d can you be 2bad5bc5ab so sure? How do you eda9f82aa3 even know whose c2d68232e6 blood runs in 1309953e1a its veins?”cb27f1511f4ba05b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Aderton’s eyes widened bf667e3d34 slightly. For a brief second, fa70965072 she saw something flicker e8b1e4c9c0 in them—moisture, glistening as e883512ce2 if on the verge 98070e7ed3 of tears.d85f8b2ebdfdcc3c

His already pale acb5605533 face became even 55fb890461 paler, his features d365d76a74 momentarily tinged red 82d089aa6f before returning to f4de125b98 normal. His lips, which had 4cdd265dc8 parted slightly, pressed into 839a283b06 a firm line.435336e9d3c6eca0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then, his gaze sharpened.9656e0f15d976fb3

<…Are you accusing me of betrayal?>6aa0b3c5715aa84e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“There’s no reason for cb5a265cde me to take your 4b3376dfab words at face value.”18215b3c7a23d4ea

<You were the only one I have ever been with. You took my first, and now you act like this?>9543c3bc8cb6a575

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A man who clings 28db77d057 to something as petty c03cb3343d as his first time… 5da2cbbfa7 how pathetic.”dbbeb5bb262115db

“…Ha.”fbaf59b7ac9a2b47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A long sigh 74fd4a3c52 left Aderton’s lips, b079eca6a9 laden with unspoken cf183d727e emotions. He seemed to 8b5e340c65 hold back whatever 08a6235d6c had risen within 4dd145d3d3 him, then spoke 388bc22ae3 in a calm 409b458c10 tone.8571832f3911500d

“There are 495c7b9fe9 too many 737a564790 ears listening. Why don’t we 50cdae82f0 continue this on de8207baaf the terrace?”8f7835597811b0d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The song is 0e14f5bbc9 ending. So answer bd70c980b9 my question. How did e3ae4c09d7 you bypass 7a87b098a3 the barrier?”afd15b2f40a07e2f

“I will tell 723ca5c44a you everything on 9195cbca66 the terrace.”2e79f205ceb4270c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You really never change.”0f5d2b07fb640f63

Just when she thought fbd78bdbbb she would finally get 175e182eec a straight answer, he d479e733d9 remained the same as b2347548d2 ever—evasive, selectively revealing only ccba9df106 what suited him. Selfish, manipulative. Once was 3b167de99b enough to ebeb04c441 be played 7cf8fe2c16 by him.41a39c5f25adba2f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

More than that, a 45b9ff50e0 man and a woman 76d452f8e8 slipping away to the d336e73b61 terrace in the middle ef455e7abf of a banquet? Even though Sascha had ff7ea2950d been away from noble 695b3739c0 society for a long 6ea4be6d8a time, she still understood 446dc50a0c what that would imply. A lover, or f3a8bf26e9 a mistress. The heroic warrior, absent 39438b6f30 for years, returns only f350aca857 to be seen sneaking 6d79ac3870 off with a handsome 9d63ea23d5 young man after nearly 576be0e591 fighting him? It would 6a83ef14de make for 64115ea07c excellent gossip.19dc52249a959c2a

Sascha, thoroughly e200af44d6 fed up, bc7d4210f5 let go a3adb2843f of his a6c7e25c50 hand before 036166abed the song ca5e4fbfdf even ended. It was rude to c4beefcd50 stop before the next ca830cd3bb piece began, but she b5f2f8126b didn’t care. When Aderton fa05684eb5 reached for f8577c5880 her again, 944248627b she stepped cfa76afb2b back.b07959ca99cfd975

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Seeing her slip from 3038d615a6 his grasp, Aderton’s expression ef00109bdd twisted in irritation. His golden eyes slit b3b2ed6c95 vertically, his pupils elongating. Finally showing 11a2540b72 your true 3602f7364a colors, huh? Just like the wicked b091904eec beast you are. Sascha scoffed.0343b9fb5f00af83

<Are you really going to leave? I gave you a chance.>9f83f3c26f246674

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”4731fc21f5f5822a

<You were the one who rejected my attempt to settle this quietly.>df8be6df0cdf5046

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even under his 38cce7ac21 sharp glare, Sascha 953fabe1c0 refused to dance 2ed9ae8186 any longer. The song came ea4bb904bf to an end, 72a3cd4ed4 and she turned 96461101cb away completely. Watching her retreat, e4d3f1add2 Aderton suddenly collapsed 5b27c3b606 onto the floor.da68bc25c964717f

“You are so 9e49ce08bf cruel! Were those sweet whispers c00c2191ea from that night all 21584a657a a lie?”0492ecec53f7af04

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sascha froze mid-step.6114514f1b35bc90

As soon as cdfb5f387a the music ended, bb8072a4f6 his dramatic outburst 92ade6f838 had everyone’s attention. The nobles 2cf8126f8c turned their 457790dc17 heads, murmuring d5a09fcc32 among themselves. They looked 49b54708cc back and 46a04221a5 forth between 8919904f1f Sascha and fe90757c25 Aderton, trying 0c3d5fc2a3 to make 7d51d4a2ad sense of f618588a46 the situation.650604dd523cf85d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Even if 8946ca3e50 you deny 42d08e6070 me now, 9cce978d99 my feelings 4c998b4851 were true! You can e814a59484 take my 1c27db3e60 body, my 0aa40de754 heart—take everything! But please, don’t 2799e47eaa deny my love!”cbe1f9625ab08f6c

What the 7ed36e4947 hell is 3621467233 this bastard 08d73484e0 saying?bf84be347e085a23

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Unable to hold d97ef1e6d7 back any longer, 976e61a692 Sascha spun around. Aderton was sprawled 92fed546c0 dramatically on the a2811ba840 floor, looking like d643b66521 the tragic lead 3f60bbf971 in some overwrought afeb9060e9 romance. He covered 010c6dbe56 his mouth 572a6561b4 with both 4e0e11fd1d hands, legs 9707db7444 delicately folded 505652f445 beneath him. Anyone watching might think aef9edb885 he had been cruelly 536d4f62db abandoned.2282d0c696b0305c

At the 4f989b6300 absurd display, bad2dd0261 noblewomen fanned c516b63c0b themselves furiously, e6a1e66d94 while noblemen 0d27620d55 cleared their 13b6cb8ba9 throats and a459267561 suddenly found da0124fd72 great interest 52f0f28c6f in the 55082b5b93 tapestries. And yet, 9896b36bc9 their ears 1437bc6cd7 were undoubtedly c233508fe6 perked toward 31808daca7 the scandal ecf3568b10 unfolding before 7ed6caa9ea them.34c3e2b2ce262a2e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My feelings f5d85e1d8d will never 17306faf91 change! I will wait 45df0bcf3f for you, no 87d244c866 matter how long 1ecc9ceba1 it takes!”973e9f4d5a8a53a1

A lovers’ 7ab401c12c quarrel at 4d19eb510c the Crown 95c1b98feb Prince’s coronation ca5cc74163 banquet. From a distance, a7058ebd58 Juliana’s eyes darkened 671ed5eb66 with exhaustion, and 20992e0227 the emperor looked ed0f2b079c utterly distressed, whispering 661542c074 urgently to his e1c9d69ba1 advisor, unsure of 3f48cf0afe how to intervene.1b96b6ab27486b39

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And then—9a267ce42eefa179

“Furthermore, between us—”e64ce088420a8fec

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before Aderton could say 0537e22986 anything truly damning, Sascha 8d52eb793a strode forward and yanked e88eb94ebc him upright. He fell silent, 617b9eaf37 head still bowed db0f5fc4db as he sniffled 7d8f11aa28 pitifully.7aae2a82b76dd32a

“You dare 8b47af6b7d pull this 6f7ad12c4d nonsense and c14bd96a2a then cry?”189e5d49b06b3d20

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Cry?”4f1ea313a5e4ad8b

Aderton raised his head, 400741f409 and his face was 486ef32d7a completely dry. Not a single tear 00ce7cec3a in sight. Instead, he 41b9a56b99 leaned in, 118becc62f resting his d3aa101493 face against cb563a52aa the crook 64ddaca5ed of Sascha’s 7e65588a49 neck.65fcb14173a076e0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Then, in ee636cc35f a hushed d7a5626af6 voice, he 3428d0b864 whispered into 3b3315cd6d her ear—4e49b607a2727611

“Snakes don’t c415a7572a shed tears.”88b0a6e49fb1a7e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His voice slithered against 38538a33ab her skin, as deceitful 37609f9eae as ever. The smile 357e40bed4 on his a469847991 lips was cd6c4ba73d crooked, sly. A grin e3335dd724 so cunning, 628eb407e9 it made 2a336642a2 Sascha’s fists bef3d7edf3 tremble.24d0c2065337264d

If only—just once—I could ee9d4186c4 hit him.4010c7805398c118

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sascha prayed fervently fd21921528 to whatever gods 6695c88939 might be listening. But first, 248d846076 she needed ef846929d5 to put d45d00bd39 an end d619583be8 to this 4b217a2627 farce. Grabbing Aderton fb10ef3f17 by the d5fbd1ecdd wrist, she 9556716cfb dragged him c7974b4579 toward the d992177079 terrace.581515151c489581

The moment she shut b9572f5744 the glass doors behind 89d9638013 them, the noise from d3589f57e1 the banquet disappeared.7d926fe747c6b76a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Talk.”e88a4f501098d4a4

The terrace f1cacfac9b was lined dc280c7fb0 with cushioned 5ee03f9239 chairs, but f6d63b79e9 Sascha didn’t 67cf474c16 give Aderton b9e15fb272 the chance 21ce6482f4 to sit. She stood before 0428270b97 him, demanding answers.5d0a8d91f47d0b29

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Aderton only shrugged.111341af8e4ed038

“What would ecab3ae01f you like 9e093f2d6f to know 3a733601c8 first?”26e9ee36567cfcff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How did you 47d742d1a4 infiltrate the capital?”f628284d1b09a17d

“That’s simple. My name is 1739640fe9 Aderton Vinter.”f546fc4ff0e66599

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Vinter?”4dc4789623bcc913

The Vinter name dc35701579 belonged to a 18ae4b892a once-great house. Elias Vinter, a sage 8e93c771c4 who had risen to b9eff20604 fame as one of 0dc85ad317 the empire’s founding figures. A scholar and 328d40a445 polymath, he had 75dfa52235 mastered every known e99eabbf3d language, geometry, architecture, 32bbe1c4ea art, geography, and 674e0bfa41 more.174203cd2766983f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was c4234a70d5 Elias Vinter 12f342c3a0 who had 3c729d7224 established the 44bf5bcc20 empire’s administrative 63caa18b66 framework—standardizing measurements, 21d930c554 organizing the 0f55462da0 capital’s various 8f715be194 sectors, and acbb724ab2 laying the 01abcbce5a foundations of 74806899dd imperial law. More than 3d0b4677bc that, he d31527c434 had discovered 003dcbbe0c how to 36774031b7 forge contracts 0f8e4740d1 with demon d11512dfc5 beasts, granting 75b8abb022 humans their 52600fe220 wisdom.30a51b1ecea7955a

The very barrier that 3ba155c1fe protected the capital and b36b647b03 the formations safeguarding the a5b56dc5f7 imperial palace—those, too, had 4239c4ec50 been his work. A scholar, a sorcerer, 2018901556 a pioneer. If the first 369f93df48 emperor had built 8ce4099b91 the empire, Elias 07f6b648b9 Vinter had shaped 5fa1e77a32 its future.422e1fd1f3b1d081

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But the 19af174a8b Vinter line ffea85bc35 had long 95661d714a since fallen 446b6dab66 from grace. Few even knew if 861509ef0f any of his descendants d151a3a2af still lived.3d0e38faa8573b40

If Aderton was lying, 3f0da014a3 if he had merely e6e4ee12ea assumed the identity of 626c0fe859 a long-lost heir, then 06ace89155 perhaps he had gained cb5c608afe access to the family’s 05e877bf78 secrets. Perhaps he 7154939c79 had found e30476a94d a way afbefcddd5 to use d86eb10517 their ancient 2680510ff5 magic to 32d240a738 his advantage.e81ab6dfe627c1a9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sascha’s gaze 8a43e572af sharpened with fc1639ad43 suspicion.d869c10ba57c538b

“Did you steal 0ad3b1b78d the Vinter family’s 4f3939731c secret magic?”25bd40b52fa86c13

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No. There was d91703a013 no need.”64c2461768efa8dd

“…What?”43a0fdb434f8ec59

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You call faed9f2173 him Sage 48d4b7f48c Elias. Elias Vinter. That is me.”0453085d0ecd1314

“…What?”420bdd725893cb06

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The spells I 0edbce2d3b created wouldn’t dare 9521fb2fa7 to exclude me.”0471cde2955b0f05

The foundation of ca4f680b67 the empire had 7a71b5befd been laid by 8d2607c49e a demon beast? Impossible.cba1632b4919edf7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Sascha’s blood boiled. Her teeth ground ee394b2576 together so violently c31cad8185 that they almost fa284f5394 cracked.465347b12d2254ab

“You dare spin ad9590b347 such lies to 2237a45513 insult the empire?”c50ab224f038efa3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Would you a88d407d48 only believe dfb47db5d1 me if 57b7d68669 I showed f2c7f3bc3b you proof?” 487cee4c27 Aderton pulled b5c2515840 an envelope c70dd8105b from his 51ff8e3588 coat. Inside was a document 33fe2a626e written in an ancient ecc2507e26 script. When Sascha ada9add009 moved to bee538500c tear it fd3d9a9b8d apart without 245a6f54c4 even looking, 73089e5857 Aderton raised 84c35211f8 his hand bd797efea1 high above caf3abe9ab his head. No matter how strong 11bc9a6139 she was, she couldn’t 0ee0e8029f overcome the difference in 5d7e729d61 their heights. After jumping 41739d8f31 in frustration 4524c30865 a few 27bff9a0d7 times, Sascha 07b8f9cbb6 gave up, 5a943353fa breathing heavily.f38aa7555da58de6

“How do I 24417e64f9 know that isn’t fb912a2a19 forged?”063c14d1a0011efc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“At dawn, go 44276e74c9 to the academy. A renowned scholar 6fc7ceb94a there will confirm 7bed124daa it for you.”ddce9713e01af1f6

“Fine. I’ll ask e6dcdd6ba7 them myself.”80365bfd762ef375

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sascha snatched 63e3615958 the envelope, f080539f73 tempted to 52e92dcc7a throw it cd9a04f5be straight into 4451abdf72 the candlelight 5f63a0eedd illuminating the 92ce009b95 terrace. But the urge 7f8c322a7e to see with c70f6a5d36 her own eyes d5e5fdfab9 what kind of b8288576e2 nonsense he had 0fd0925c7d written was stronger. There was still time 96ad3ee7dc to deal with the 81d111d8d4 beast afterward. Her guard d3b3ee5198 remained high.191a4685ed8a9329