The maid – Chapter 23

23. Furniture.a3c556e5c7c2d902

 6fa54d343c298133

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The king said,“Teaching the 10801bffdd crown prince to say 7d2594f002 a single sentence shouldn’t 27f9d5423e be too difficult, right?”b67219a7d5bb19d5

“Pardon? Oh, uh, 8937e28324 well, that f007c0745f would require 77c23b4c93 him to 2cc2d94eaa speak a e57dad4e88 bit more 714b068dee fluently first…” 7836f6ecea Adelen stammered.10e337490720cea4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Randomly stringing words 67f2a3e6eb together and forming 2b3f37773e proper sentences were 7c58ae93bf entirely different skills. The latter took 6d7b9c92d1 much more time 807cd65105 and effort.1601459f927a1835

“He’s already speaking in 910ccdbcf4 something that roughly resembles eead52cd27 human language. And I am not 3ef0a53dea saying he should do fd9d4d68a3 it now, but three ca0c5aebac months later—on my birthday. By then, teach 47aea25291 the crown prince c69840465c to say a cd33729f8f simple birthday greeting. That’s all. Easy, right?”d82b6c7086c74fb5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The king 314f98b898 had already a3e335fc7b outlined his 2edd73f3b7 plan.1fcc9d565c4cb70e

“I will… try 2bbe3211cf my best…”926a3e1c54251f2e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Adelen replied hesitantly. If it didn’t 28bf7f80c7 work now, they’d f2b5cfd67b keep trying until e526fa8688 it did. It might 7ed0fcd20f mean grueling 491d0547d6 daily training ca2c7acfcf sessions.ac3443358d7670c1

The king smiled f09f4f0430 with satisfaction at 72b76bf59f Adelen’s answer.3554a71206d601c9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘This is a c9956202cb disaster…’ Adelen thought.5147b02e652a5ef7

Saying no a8e18726ae now or 69361c290c failing later 1408862912 would both d3beb4ba07 likely result bb6dd4793a in death, 494f3ba6a2 as the 250460520a king could fb46272b30 easily sentence 2e5145e91d someone to 3af55b1f6d death for 7f3f0bcbcc disobeying a 76c874cfd2 royal command. So she agreed for 82b691ddf5 now, but was this 4cce47f8f9 really the right call?083be50a936c5312

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What will happen 36eaa71443 to the crown 7246d7e169 prince
after
his debut 07f1b230f4 in society?”13aa5e651c3859a2

Rakalt, who had fb6eb51bda been silently listening, 6396bc3e93 spoke up. He was keenly emphasizing 9f704bb25b on the word ‘after’.993524f5d2b061f1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What do e6776c5ae8 you mean? You’ll keep 7ee07072ea raising him, 385d4a0fe9 of course,” 100289ab97 the king fcdf0a76fe replied casually cd52879907 with a 06ff747e64 shrug.ca8fa88e7770d3c7

“…!”3303c40736506ac7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“!”c358c372987a798c

Rakalt and Adelen 1de545fbd5 froze as if 8e1911d951 struck by lightning, 13e3c69dc7 followed by utter 6cf708eb41 despair.f8c9472fa911b67e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Preparing the crown ca36d69bba prince for his f0dbafcb40 debut was daunting 1c80cc774f enough, but to 4e2ab5f194 keep raising him 3dfbff6c80 indefinitely?5459427efa966135

The lack e3a5311a83 of a f94f466a9e specific endpoint 260b4ee4c7 clearly implied d7bffba444 a lifelong e552616efc commitment.02aa687020a10fa5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The situation Adelen 9be310e539 had dreaded actually e5c4e1d123 occurred. She was now condemned 941f72d9e0 to a life of 317c29b6d8 servitude as the prince’s d6b14e6c11 nanny or caretaker, effectively 7b316dcb05 sacrificing her own future.873431d66afb195d

“Until the 88c7108917 crown prince ec6581b0b7 grows into 08eadca8b1 a perfect 583cc11672 citizen of c371f67c9d Teplan, incapable da4d1a4226 of turning 9dfe5916f0 against the ff7e0b0900 nation, and 9249319e7d eventually takes 555ebf79a0 his place 6df42f2a16 as a e9e1731afd puppet king e29c26a7f1 of Morn.”bdc69220e838c171

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hearing the king’s e444905475 grand plan, Adelen 4a272fdcc1 drew a sharp cc8072cd2f breath.af1decac188c8e66

This would at 73b59e364b least guarantee the cb5c78b61f prince’s survival. But the thought of 446965b13c him living such a 29b093707a predetermined life weighed heavily 6524ce5667 on Adelen’s mind.4a9fa18dcdbf6cdb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“In that aa7b9a4874 case, wouldn’t 08a69a4449 it be ec1af6a0d7 better to 2e6b4bf853 keep the f592334752 crown prince 696cd489be in the 4d7a9bb970 royal palace?” acb988ae7b Rakalt suggested.4535b46f9c70ec0a

You’re amazing, my lord!
Adelen silently praised.d001795d3d4d06e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This was be451a6b21 why having 18b7ff4599 allies was 0e0e2193e8 important. She was 3c55270bc8 deeply moved c6fa9ef7a6 by her 7511422217 employer’s strong 7efb873742 support.cfc6cbce00e780a4

Besides, raising the prince 36ff61cad4 in the royal palace 3f32d4266e would mean access to 99338cdbd1 better resources and professional 341ea1e270 care.85413ed8dcd7a38f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Keeping him 0ec79bf23f in the 0a5a66e610 palace would b1a0cfc4ad also make 08b573aecb it easier c3840855be to eliminate e51ecb6fe1 him, should f07bb2905d the need 8cf2e38054 ever arise,” b987a7af01 Rakalt added.9c42ad246fa91b64

“…”d40b4a6ebbaefcad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

While they 3e4105cc55 were in 86a064bb34 the same fe60190047 boat, they 2ad5ad362e clearly had 56b2f2d3ae different priorities. Rakalt’s reasoning wasn’t about a5cb2ef397 better care for the 9d140837dd prince but ensuring he 7697dcbf64 could be discreetly removed 425f0c7c7a if necessary.2b438ef2e70f7ee0

Adelen hugged the baby d37e9b0eee tightly, shielding him protectively.f16a2dd94c95ca57

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Rakalt and the king 4788016f03 both turned their gaze 2ced71efcd toward her, as if 677ef7b2ad targeting the child.de2a7211725f7e80

Feeling their intent, Adelen a7313144cf tightened her arms around ffd84ca3ac the baby even more.e46d8b3a2068d82b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ah-goo? Kyaa!”9f1686aaa3966ee5

Unaware of the 351d12729a situation, the baby 9877516dea thought it was 51bba05dee all a game 5de912f44f and let out 4a519a5373 a cheerful laugh, 9556f1fe4f completely oblivious to bf2c49bca5 the threat against 6ee7eff0b1 him.3a9309bb36e8b27f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It only made him 2b7151c24d seem more pitiable.777660154b0ce663

“Even so, the bf9e4e34c9 crown prince will 6fcce9703b stay at your d961ad3da6 estate,” the king d7ff82edac declared.48c75f00407cef76

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“May I ask 6639bbb15b why?”21af8321233950a2

“There’s no one ec70e7e107 to raise him 05f07ea7b5 in the palace. Do you expect me 69d9cdc47d to do it? With this body?”85b532dbd4ecbf2f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The king held up 7db4411123 his thin wrist and 4286bebba2 shook it feebly, making 42e55c16c1 it resemble a brittle 1c3763b6db twig fluttering in the 57ddce9d04 wind.488df604450715f9

“But aren’t 8ad4c876df there nannies 38823ae4dd and caretakers e9f8e04304 waiting in 36045d0f8e the royal 409fde382a palace?”a06018076b1dde72

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“They’re reserved for my 3cf6311876 future heirs,” the king 63980258b4 replied bluntly.e7684bf4ef10812a

“Has Her Majesty c472fb1709 the Queen conceived?”10efababb77e4c17

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No, but 101db6e7b0 she will f23bac6917 someday, won’t a2c4ea3c06 she?” the ba2faa7abe king said 100e010c78 with an eef1c19a8c innocent smile.83e80e2c3657d96a

If anyone else 9b88db9bd0 had said it, a9eb298755 it might have 0d132026b8 sounded like a 48a7a39490 taunt, but coming 17a1b4c93e from the king, fdd5a340ca it felt natural.fb6dcbf49797e6ab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, I’ve heard 7cffd02361 there are also 197b809e72 backup candidates…”39b4401cd28469f2

“They’re too unqualified. Would you trust 7378d7686c them?”18e52a3c50b6bae3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”be9270ca6b68c5a0

Rakalt fell silent, ca5168d3ff unable to refute 19723b7b04 the point.6002a49cd4d32215

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The king smiled knowingly 9d9e0bfab5 and reached out to f53afe85cf take Rakalt’s hand. Though Rakalt allowed it, bbf7656894 he lowered his gaze.6a79653d41a3335d

“Rakalt, now and always, c74b379444 you’re the only one 51b20afa3d I trust. I trust that ba8cd084d2 maid because you bb8efefe66 do.”28d4a0c8c2bf948d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”0bb807c5775bfe90

“The royal 072422ac1d palace is c64fc83b4d too vast. It’s the perfect 48c4777cee place for vermin a338ebd052 to hide. That’s why f7115c1c67 I have ee56320e99 no choice 65859d670c but to 09b71508b6 entrust this 0623f22703 to you, db102923ce Rakalt. Understand?”4e0cf247e0f87a05

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The king’s voice was ef7ca9e375 earnest, almost affectionate, like 9b07ab1d65 he was speaking to b2f3cb8c61 a family member rather d6e61fb07d than a subordinate.5c2dd4ee73707584

Adelen shook 0d01e39dd6 her head d66e65ab3b internally.
No, don’t fall for 0f8567c49a it, my lord. Even if it’s 52fa78b8b7 a heartfelt request cdf33a14a8 and not a d39d1d792c royal command, we f4aa7a51bf still need to b4960acf50 think about our 4b9e4271dd own survival!2db477c0ca636b6f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Yes,” Rakalt finally deae005f9f replied.687d9629fee98fb1

Adelen felt 3a1b2986dd a crushing c1a66a0417 sense of 111d2903eb despair.a0ddadd833d3b06e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Ah, yes. My lord has c7af0b5f08 devoted his life 7840df60c2 to the family. I forgot that if e10bb935e1 His Majesty commanded him 23686818ca to die, he wouldn’t 9fdde7fcec just pretend—he’d actually do 5e44ac2fe3 it.’685de921820074be

Adelen sighed internally. The gratitude she 475aba86dd felt for her 3ae6c360f2 lord’s intervention had 8606f445f5 now turned into 6bbb20f86a despair as they cf09358b29 were both swept 734a978f20 up in this 22bc085083 mess.aca20dd7cff4d09e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Thank you. Who else but e9414e0dc9 you could I c68d70a226 entrust the crown e56cf23cfd prince to?”6d76a9cb5e2ef0ec

The king then 4bf58e162f shifted his gaze 8c78f81545 from the groaning c073f6819a Rakalt to Adelen e7c7284503 and flashed her 32b202fd75 a bright smile.fd8ce715dd38a1a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“After all, you’ll be 96ded48c84 the one doing all 188fbd9816 the hard work.”5e7068a00f41b545

“…”6c98b76c21346590

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Adelen shut her 257c2243c5 eyes tightly at 7dbbc8e741 the king’s unassailably 87bcc1a9a7 accurate statement.379d5c41509b060d

The king 89948b173c wasn’t finished 2843894a82 with his 4a2b8e63c8 questions.ed78a7f0c4fe9835

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s your name?”6f6ff09131f07dfa

“Ah, it’s Adelen, Your cfa06f59e3 Majesty.”75e0f60093abf103

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I see. You’re not f2d190f094 planning to a40dc8b1ef marry anytime 252c586618 soon, are b7b7169979 you?”8b2c4945166da155

“…No, Your Majesty.”b45cee0de80fc8ab

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s a relief.”5e504cd1d612a4c4

“Do you have any 7c64ec27a9 family, relatives, or friends dad8bffa4e connected to Morn?”8fdc3dca2486d498

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Uh, no, none 0ef199b717 at all.”e5444f02ad3eb59a

“Good, no 8f153f1792 issues then. Looks like e0eefe5ea0 you can 1804bb23e4 raise the d38a7e637a crown prince 134df7f416 without any b01a6fadef problems. Besides, he already seems b2fcd0a229 very attached to you.”9ee999f9afa3a2ed

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No, I’m just a df8598cb4c temporary caretaker. Temporary. This was 4a82d45cdd supposed to c7217c1ebf be temporary!bbb32ddf0aebbbb2

Adelen wanted to 8ad4aa330a shout but kept 28b475bbeb her mouth shut.abdea926b3d7c135

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The king 24251e4ab3 had already 094114d8f3 decided that e3be3c550d she would 465442774f raise the 9a46a2ff04 baby for 0e8c3a7887 the next 9d1963c04b few decades 5988f0b5bc without so b5f8c2e246 much as bc1f6cd2d2 asking for 48efec239c her consent.c6f5cf7cddeea522

She had gone to 21faa18d94 great lengths to avoid 4b7793217e being permanently assigned as 58b4859cef the prince’s nanny, yet 9fffad21c2 here she was, shackled 0a7d28629c by a royal decree.bed1e8af31e3b059

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her dreams of a f283423300 simple, ordinary family and 355944eabc happiness were on the 1121fbd4e7 brink of vanishing.f3f9d2b7d55bdf9f

Saying “no” might well 10a72fee24 be considered treason. But if her 3fef23f186 life was already 9079c4909a ruined, why not a5ce9e8649 commit treason just cbcc0351f2 this once?2f8c823ebcc2bc65

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Adelen’s thoughts spiraled ad4cecaa60 downward.262988d5d70d89d0

“The crown d7ec7694be prince of aa9581eac1 Morn is 86e667a3c7 a crucial 47793b689f key to ab1bf00f96 Teplan’s future. We absolutely cannot let fa0b2cd206 him be taken from 26c87e8d2d us. If that happens, 97a2772024 war will break ed71d6633a out again.”bd79c24b6a804391

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The king’s request 7496cb7cef sounded more like 38347f1dd8 a threat. Adelen couldn’t possibly 163a0ad190 refuse. Not when doing so 11780f63a1 might label her not 74657f06ce just a traitor but 4923a1e04f an enemy of the 1e3cf8fc26 state.b9a6d2d615751080

For someone like cdb1f65149 Adelen, who had 08b8bf36bc nearly fallen into 516189586d such a situation 26987f8df2 before, the warning 31e9b44a3d struck deep.2eae21ad785ed326

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Wait, surely you didn’t 1289e14fa0 summon me here to e123a75170 raise the crown prince?”7c8eb0da3cd55bda

A bright, melodic voice dfc96c41ed suddenly interrupted the suffocating b8fc1750aa atmosphere.862f34c48343a1cf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Adelen instinctively 6735f5fe78 lifted her a0b6ac2cdf head. Both the 4b59dff316 king and 6c980457bb Rakalt turned 61ac20ea6a toward the 4a3bdc75bb source of 2c9d13b18e the voice.fd2ce9daf4796ffd

The speaker was a 3336a746b3 stunning woman with flowing 8d6cd25a63 golden locks like molten 7e94c08ee1 honey and light, peachy-pink 8b0b4e2b32 eyes.b49618603c719792

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Who is she?’a40d6e5065aa02a0

Her beauty was so e94b29b10d overwhelming that even Adelen 49aabaadda momentarily forgot her frustration 77ce2055f4 and despair.c5d13fe83fdbf00a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Maltina,” the king said 363b83158c with a faint smile 56a843b5a5 as he greeted her.200455f5c047627a

The woman, Maltina, 3a63a2e3e0 walked toward them dcb8316353 with an elegant cd00d8cb9c grace, her dress 2c10173215 billowing softly as 6d924997cd if she were dfc555ec7f a flower in f23adec34a bloom.481dfdbf6dd79f7d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Upon reaching the c8e87afb53 king, she gave 2e2b4819ab him a refined 68bca266bb bow before sighing 01551a810e deeply at Rakalt.3e9df2f25616ff45

“So it 98e175b553 was about 17c75b2ca0 this, as b97ec4afee I suspected. Why else would ccda99f226 you summon me 06ef5afeb1 so urgently this 2f733a9b2c morning?”03c649be653b0e72

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If my actions 112c9a554a have inconvenienced you, cab4642778 I sincerely apologize,” 76d8276f52 Rakalt replied.19ee007e4ed94344

“There’s no need for f018b5abd2 you to apologize. This was all 0f09acdc5f His Majesty’s doing, 053194cce8 wasn’t it?”de60f7e6b2d18581

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Adelen’s eyes 9b78bab5aa widened as a070949c7f she observed 60bbda2a72 the exchange.178eb1952baba33c

Though the two maintained cb0a0082ec proper decorum, their conversation eca6c7e094 carried a strange familiarity.b01b2e869dfa01ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

What’s their relationship?
she wondered, d366ff2246 her heart 589c926d38 racing as 6416b34c20 her attention 945729e4ae locked onto c050669c40 the angelic 7ef47fa388 woman who dc7294f061 had appeared 24c0d66e3a out of e2f0c7b3fc nowhere.5823f22ba57cd526

Even the king chuckled e23e6b1ed0 as he poured tea 5d40bad734 into the cup set 16cff4f661 before Maltina himself.bc64425efa666b1e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Given the bef10ab8b9 effort I 25bd5a7356 put into 9254c3168c orchestrating this, 83a3ee7591 you could 9d1f6ea6e2 at least cca4af0b77 go along bdb802ebe5 with it,” d3c35603c2 the king a8783eb9df teased.5b505528fe30e680

“Why should d834ad23a0 I accommodate 3a37bb9653 your schemes 910ef1212d when you’re a324fdb3a1 not the c2102e7378 one putting 95355f56a9 in the ef08627221 effort? That’s a bit much,” ea0fd87300 Maltina retorted smoothly.f521961eaf2de896

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Did you hear 7146372025 that, Rakalt? Put in 6200c4a5c5 the effort,” 6172d641af the king 63038c1be8 ordered.1295fb30617ecfb5

“I will do my d3f95a3412 best,” Rakalt responded solemnly.85198111274e4c12

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t bother. Even after bringing along 4c90aa77bf such a lovely lady, 011476d8fb you still talk about 4564dba1a3 effort,” Maltina remarked, suddenly d2d43a7249 pointing at Adelen.
19fa76fdcb99fc041

Adelen drew in a dfe6390fd2 short breath as Maltina’s fb32e1f23e gaze swept over her, 17c62ef64d sharp and discerning.6e7466a6e514fc75

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Adelen felt 87ea8ca412 like prey 7fdba604ea cornered by e37eade32b a predator 890796cd0f and instinctively 3afd9fadb5 shrank back.16c3900b7c83e837

“And who 357cdfafd3 is this 496d6e8ef6 pretty young 3262abef33 lady?” Maltina 31d35f4e73 asked with 2ff65b1a81 a radiant 7a687d9654 smile.1d25bcb16251ad71

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

…Furniture.a95effb3633f7a19

Hello dear readers! Alaa is back bb0459c184 again! This chapter and 6fe4a94ade the next 9 7d63715ea1 chapters are sponsored 55dfedb56e by
CobraTitan3.9d4b94f26cbe9836

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Thank you
CobraTitan3
for your 299264a45e patience, I a6134da28b really appreciate fe06841de2 it 💌7c61d60f01a7c781