| Chapter 5: A Desire You Shouldn’t Have Had

“Drag him out!”4153481c153a3678

The captain of ea9bd2b585 the guards issued 542eca5f8d the order without 5300a537ca hesitation, and the 6c6c15ab54 noblewomen, their faces 06cd4afd3c showing subtle understanding, 1a277b8979 couldn’t tear their 2f0436b79a eyes away from d6d29d510d Alexei, though they 9361885e04 were disappointed.b810632c0c915e02

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As Alexei was 6000a32d54 dragged out, his b0456386e1 arms bound by dc79767d80 the guards, he 8ceac303d2 turned his head 6e67356812 multiple times, trying 0218e6d37f to catch Natasha’s 69322162ae gaze. However, her a41ac3b466 eyes never a39a37b50e met his 831f51ea21 again.4cd797af79e36ee0

As night 0541d2512b descended, a 244ceab925 deep darkness fe71449040 filled the d9775573f6 room.2533d2dddc0ec0a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Lying on e20dd89b8e his straw 1c68324e79 bed, Alexei 2dea380da7 repeatedly tossed 2fd85419be the earring fc8f84e7db into the cbfaf7c003 air, catching f036efe9a6 it each 0240cc6558 time. But his 208d02062a eyes, despite f1742b5929 being fixed 660d986301 on the 1d0ae6015b earring, were 0cf1a30cfb focused elsewhere.b7f21895e707edae

Thud.1edee94d76f78d0c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The earring fell cb75ca513f to the ground, 1a4c6ce983 but Alexei let c8b95723b3 it lie there, bfa68b1d4d unmoved.c606ea8a1c31a3b2

‘This isn’t it.’4dea5609cc31c176

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Fortunately, his small, private 42470b876d comfort had not been 0c5585b177 taken away from him. The expensive earring ad46c18e0a still belonged to ca9902f43e him.888fb1c51f479ff8

However, the a321cd7447 once mesmerizing e91fd5fbac and dazzling 0d1b73b264 blue shimmer 40b298949d had now db4b8214dd lost its fa9f929203 charm. No longer did he da652af08b find it as valuable d401be1012 or as meaningful as b46ab6b66d he had thought.b7f2ee44a1b48a77

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s not right.”6246e9f226d43a52

When he recalled abeb83a538 Natasha’s cold, ice-like 42ab8e011d voice, it felt 8ec17127a1 as though he d8db625b47 was falling from b68f137558 an unreachable height, 222dc91786 endlessly sinking.9f9a3e679e23be21

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Damn it.5764f50d8d01cce4

He was frustrated. He wasn’t even 8d782da48f sure what he 2a57904dc3 was frustrated about, 5283b03310 but he just 5789f53c5a was.5e86db88aad26d43

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He wanted something higher, 9257712118 something more radiant. The most valuable 41ffd95f6f of all—he wanted 37e6ad1066 that gem, that de6c6294eb singular object, not 70b3951cc5 just any of 10c63fc4c9 the countless others.4abfa89091a8cdea

Alexei picked 6dd4c7b90f up the c2c336f85d small flower c15610eb3d he had c480b0b6ee placed beside 9257eaba0c his pillow.d1c68e64b85fa66d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After that 54aa6ebe22 day, Natasha c877ca2661 no longer 5954f0c6ff walked in 6dd0468c80 the garden.167fff0c181ec88f

For several 326a8154d7 days, Alexei 49a01b2600 wandered aimlessly 112e13d202 in the 828fec744e garden, waiting, 8b21be24b1 until he 6e691f7a07 finally picked ce0daec352 a flower eab05478c4 from the ed6b4b0dc9 rocks. It was called 41f93e1d7e ‘Edelweiss,’ though the 75762aa5cb name was hard 67ac4b14db to pronounce, an 987284bf7c exotic flower with bfa12eb81c a name as 44b71e4612 delicate as its 812f8de09d beauty.433a9c96ed3220a2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Edelweiss… Natasha Ivanov.’835022267ce842fd

To Alexei, those two 1e3ec36534 names seemed to merge 20302ed7dc together. He found the small, e0ab98c040 fragile Edelweiss more appealing bc5ec17fdd than the high and 887b17c7af proud lily he had e80e3987bc once thought of.2294e42dcf62b408

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The sweet, 899e8d7e21 subtle fragrance 15828a2657 of the 67180a07a2 flower tickled 4281584204 his nose. It had a bb540c5c78 refreshing, pure scent, cc15d9cecb one that seemed b81127bcb2 to remind him 47dae50dc6 of someone.50339fa75dea8106

* * *5675577bec439901

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Since that day, Natasha cb9c2f8edc had changed her walking 236b487b5a route and began strolling 546eb5cf6c in the inner castle aa656b05e0 grounds instead of the f182b0cf30 garden. She avoided running into a40210ef77 Alexei.71e6d93b2ad6b9dd

“Waah!”6e4c1a82af2a6078

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A distant cheer 5d1bc56dd3 from the arena c210705adb echoed, and Natasha 4920afb38f paused, her steps 8e3c5b1f3e faltering. Slowly, she turned toward 981e57535f the direction of the 95fd1c9ab0 arena.518450915d8b7f57

“I wonder if Alexei won again today?”2d1fc4b718398d33

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

One of the 8781a9b52f maids following her, e945afe9e3 Renna, stretched her 1cd9e5b483 neck toward the 33d55d5506 distant sounds of ab9a576dce the match, eager ac0638c92b to catch a f2f376abd7 glimpse, though it 1001373755 was far beyond 4c781e1a1b sight.bf0d8557500825b8

“If you’re so curious, why not go watch the match?” Natasha said.19e9e19287ef3347

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, no. You’re not going, so how could I…?”bfba5b6cb05e79aa

“It’s fine.”243fc5ea8818fb84

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Renna, a dc03ccb313 freckled maid 5325bb2fa2 with a aa1edd5b1f knack for 274723c1dc relaying everything 7a951c1e80 she saw dcbb610b04 and heard a1881a9795 with great ae11356922 enthusiasm, was 9632a58b52 likely to f934a32587 return from 77abe0dfa7 the match c032bea736 and chatter b2be85eef7 non-stop about f3fe78f5cc it. Natasha couldn’t 565579b361 help but 8e6b209f88 smile faintly 583a7a3592 at the 4ef3c91e33 thought.6894356200531b9d

“Really? Then, maybe I’ll watch the next match… But, Your Highness, are you really not going to watch again?”bcde064dde77fdec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Renna asked with sparkling 4b5242ebd5 eyes, but Natasha avoided b38f7a6eeb her gaze and replied.465a3e61ff818859

“Well, I’m not very interested in gladiator matches…”362cfcae13bc5be8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Of course, I suppose they’re not to your taste, Your Highness. But… why did that gladiator slave come to see you? He seemed to have something urgent to discuss.”ddd675c937e90d80

Unable to 6e94981b8c stop her 962d56877b curiosity, Renna a16ed4e4c1 began speaking e0846f3a34 before she 550aaa4068 caught herself.a23ad77ffcaf0a94

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t talk about such lowly things like that slave from the Knulu tribe.”b92772e7e7d4a65a

Thinking that Natasha, 4839e8d161 the highest lady 89fbd09bc2 in Ivanov, must 636b9bc168 find the sight dd3ea2ae6d of bloodied slaves 31102b1ca6 in the arena 0fd377ed93 distasteful, Renna quickly 7d1724e593 apologized, but Natasha’s 043970189a steady gaze caught a30789cfdc her off guard.aa129953d188c173

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s not it.”144b2e640c5bf462

Her tone was af0740a496 firm, and Renna cca4365bca flinched.a2c81495cab92e28

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“There’s no such thing as a lowly person.”18c792bf8169e68f

The words 184fbf03ef left Natasha’s b23413edd6 mouth with 1dd4db8bb9 an unexpected d053cf5de2 weight, causing 8349a8dd5e Renna to 3b6709f99b pause, confused. Was she mistaken in f35cd65667 assuming Natasha would dislike da5338e0a7 hearing about Alexei, a e48a69589c gladiator?f09a93510fcfe33d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No one is lowly. And I think it’s noble to fight for justice.”0ee45a20777438cc

Natasha continued, her ebacc59d5f voice resolute.213205042ba7fbfe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes?”ebd848397e04811e

Renna was puzzled. After all, people’s status c8fcecd8bd was determined from birth. There were clearly noble 3dd82644c6 families and the lowest 18f69708eb of the low, like c6f5270bd0 the Knulu tribe. So how could 80debfaccf Natasha say there 92b70295f9 was no such 7c8aee68c1 thing as a 7870928519 lowly person?93c76581c8d98460

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I simply… want to protect everyone.”d9597a5bcbd780d9

Natasha added softly.
“That’s why I don’t get close.”ab51256a075530b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Renna tilted her head 249c8d9ae7 in confusion, not fully 7cd5cbce81 understanding Natasha’s words. But she shrugged it e962a57511 off, thinking Natasha was 2c92456320 simply avoiding getting close 1c3094945c to a barbarian, as 7f606da99e expected from someone of f16f0f0bf8 such high birth.201dc7913ba8192f

‘She’s so 83de6db8a0 smart, she fd198e1d6e must just 261a96f9b7 be saying 8229b65212 it in 7c7aef8787 a roundabout 6939220f2b way,’ Renna 3a22d2b9b5 thought.b1524c77d56c5320

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Princess! Princess!”e9531f3d7507c5e7

Just then, another 0e5a808abd maid rushed toward dc7fd6ce67 Natasha. Recognizing her as Sonya’s 62d061c493 maid, Natasha’s heart sank.f4ba109434d0a974

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What… is it?”728c826275453f38

With a face 5f098bf054 pale as death, 7da561058e Natasha barely managed 1d0f892a5c to speak, her 54c95331be voice trembling, as fdb307e1ed the maid, with b98f75d131 tearful eyes, relayed c9588c038a the news.cd9cc1a1187481cf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Miss Sophia has regained consciousness!”603259b605fe796e

Gone was Natasha’s usual slow, graceful walk. In an instant, she rushed toward Sophia’s room. Renna, startled and flustered, hurriedly lifted her skirts and ran after her.77b62ff13c16f8ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Fifteen years d6c56fd73c ago, after d90707ad83 a difficult 01a7321987 childbirth, King 08e3f0ea58 Ivan of 93b70517dc Ivanov had 93aa446795 placed a 57d81ebc2b large pillow e7e1edb0ea over the 814ad8c763 newborn baby 7a0bc3d8c4 when he be0fa34f9a found out 70c7fe0111 that his 09d17a8748 second child a308033af2 was a 91a5b300af girl, and 202589c89f then he a9b858db2a left the 584ed7246d room. Natasha, after waiting daecd3c16b for a while, aa1e2fd826 peered into the 9fae98a669 baby room and 25e7eb4306 was horrified to 54252d9296 find the baby cdff087486 nearly suffocating beneath b0f5c9d7aa the pillow.6d1d29e8237ba8dd

Though Sophia had barely 587c2a4b18 survived, she had suffered 5fa99bfeab from weak lungs since cf92d5b8f0 childhood. She would become 6b0ee0c1bb winded after only b441a7a63e a short walk 72d349506b and had to c7c70749b0 rest in bed. After a 5cd1d1a6be summer of 54a0a45506 fainting and ad69ca7e75 coughing up eb3b285b3c blood, Sophia 16a153f87a had only 73f795fab5 just regained f1207bc9f2 some strength e504114f37 after nearly 11d989281e a year.e2db854a956c521f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Sophia! Are you okay now?”56c4dfb43af5e1df

“Sister…”e9ebfd054cc566c2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Natasha carefully stroked the pale, fragile little face. “I’m so relieved, so thankful that you’ve woken up.”22063d4a6f6a6abe

“…Where’s Mom?”2bc1cf521fd53ab2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But the tremulous 348c6c8a53 words that left 4ed6ceb0cf Sophia’s lips made 1fdf240f71 Natasha’s heart collapse 6791c28e57 once again.1b67bc118f702645

She didn’t a9f4840b16 know where 64076ab446 to start 58ccd93876 or what 05e6bbfd24 to say. So many things had 59f4e7899f happened while Sophia had 9aa0cd6288 been bedridden.ab0080ea57b14fda

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Natasha hesitated for a f13a3bc24f long time, not wanting 873e8bd722 to shock the newly 18fbb9f342 awakened child. After some f92fe41674 careful thought, a338104458 she began aba9540aa5 speaking, and 3404e47b13 the conversation b4d9a43f81 continued for 4200d0bc92 a long 2d71f3e1d6 while.b2ec91ee28aa41b3

Afterward, she stayed 5f14216a7f by Sophia’s side, 6d9bcb3c0d keeping watch as 6e402cdef7 her sister fell bb37e32a74 asleep again. Natasha finally managed to 71a6c7db18 rise and return to b01b5d6375 her own room.3405d661acbee230

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I just want to keep Mom’s necklace with me. I can’t believe she’s gone… I can’t believe it, Sister.”7c46f6bda42d53fd

As she recalled the 9b1fd0151a tearful voice of her c71c0bd958 sister, Natasha hurriedly put 18d4db66ec on her cloak with d3c85903a6 the large hood and 678f414274 prepared to go out.60f5c1e8290274b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘I’m sorry, it’s all because of me. All because of my greed.’4b3bf835500d9beb

Because of her, eaf91e4adb because of her cdb9d49176 selfish desires, both a6bfe6a818 her mother and 8ec8125641 her mentor had 64a7943b6f lost their lives.351295d8ee2c4cfa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If only dbf96bbfba she hadn’t 9a817b485f greedily sought a7af59ad46 the position 8ceade941f of successor, 9ffcd702c7 if only 5bc42e98c9 she hadn’t fe3cdfb7c5 studied the b055bf923f theory of 4f2faa406e kingship. No, if a938786768 only she 6f0665b842 had been 144bd2cda5 born a 407bcb3442 son instead 0e3f3da5a0 of a 31a2996d30 daughter…8f2c30b1ebdc746f

She shouldn’t have 9cc6e8ec3e touched those books, 86df379835 she shouldn’t have 40e3aa9ef7 dreamt those empty 53ba47f47a dreams.27905b57a006d13d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The memories 01d4844d86 of the 689abbbcc5 past, which 47bd995fae she had 29ea95b234 tried so dd6cc2c85d hard to ffd8b19566 forget, came 846e644cfb crashing down 67e2dea78e on her.ba032b1918001a48

* * *48d87296a07e7753

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

One year db23215a06 ago, during f668e96e3d a lesson.a4273daf5a243160

“Your Highness, you truly excel in every area! You would make a perfect successor to the throne. Why not begin formal training for the position of ruler?”611a661685f97bbe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her teacher, Boris, 7f8ae3f805 praised her profusely, b5a0626beb clearly amazed at 1224f02f87 how Natasha could 068977da81 understand one concept fa7638c26e and apply it 0c37292813 to many others.8a36c0eecb2c7e9e

“Really? Do you think Father would agree?”ea7b4b2069449418

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Natasha asked bbf8827f40 hesitantly, wondering c85856b7ce if her 728c96c9e7 father truly 7834f931cf saw her 92b80382ad as worthy, 656570a66f if he c24118ee56 thought of 4168d9a968 her as a8d2efb438 a potential 63573f33d0 heir.a5f8f57bf581830c

“Of course. His Grace will certainly be proud of you. I will speak with him about it.”df18d0f60221f619

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Later that evening, bba7d99d29 Natasha, excited for b63c446141 a rare dinner 0f5f25f2cd with her father, 5318f92d50 asked one of 1b50b19d04 the maids to 9765ff0dbd prepare her in 7d07b53139 the finest dress d00952b067 and jewelry.0c20a2cbfa7061cb

Perhaps, for 60e75eaa88 the first 96be1265fd time, her e7a2916c10 father would 0b06054a5e offer her 8b26307f42 a compliment.cc9804e48f6ad380

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though she had never received a warm gaze from him, Natasha’s heart fluttered at the thought. Her cheeks flushed pink as she gazed into the mirror.eceb29a4a2ef1466

With a racing 9193367495 heart, she descended a081a3e3a2 to the dining 28b9727395 room, her mind b9c16be044 full of hope.8737d534482e3de2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Despite it 797dca09ae being a 2d822ad981 family dinner, e6d87ebbb6 her mother 6d2bdaad39 was absent 66c99a0e86 again, apparently e73f765351 unwell.cbd961554b1bfb02

Sitting alone at 3d33b35918 the large table 4e06411d66 in the expansive 979eaba8e8 dining room, Natasha 73b1ea99b6 nervously fidgeted with d113a20328 her nails.5e62b8ed8f3ae616

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A moment later, 92834b97af after what seemed 3aba85d0df like an eternity, bcedaed92e her father, Ivan 695f5a2c68 Ivanov, finally appeared, 0a99125451 taking his seat 064eaa94a6 with a cold 587072a163 expression.
“Your Grace, the Duke of Ivanov, I greet you. I hope you have been well, Father.153812b3d9515130

Natasha stood 89f28721e2 and offered 40a1c9dce8 a formal 7cae662269 greeting, her e4a4cce082 heart filled acc0ce3c4f with anticipation a7bfa7683a at finally abf6e1670d seeing her c415c99de2 father again.1aec628fb49a8f25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hmph.”019b0079759ea8c5

However, Ivan sneered at 7334c9d0d1 her, as though uninterested. He wiped his hands 56817d42e2 with a napkin before 0d22ce137f speaking.e2843c427a41a01b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve decided to change your tutor, so take note of that.”c158895c69444d82

“…What?”5d53c309bc6f0d5b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Natasha’s face 122ac57cd0 went pale.3270024a975c4a0a

“I can’t believe you would want to teach a girl the theory of successor. How presumptuous.”b3cdaff8d1f29688

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 43c02c45041ccf5f