The Lady You Want to Kill 3: Carnarmon Marques (3/39)

3. Carnarmon Marques

In the 7f6c22cc12 Rosantium Empire, ea32eb1d0e there were 15061b3672 three ducal 6d0a4a9097 families. The Ember Ducal 4e5e2df6df Family, loyalists and 1a98ddbb6d founding contributors of 7894d110e7 the empire; the d593bc0db5 noble faction’s Virlante 166e01a5c3 Ducal Family, elevated 3f61d7db8f from a marquisate 5c3f7f2cb3 for their wartime e294501710 achievements; and the 53ce33c5b5 neutral Marques Ducal fcd2975122 Family, descended from 53a092ca39 a royal lineage 1cdc1faa42 absorbed into the eb2c83ca7c empire.b9048364636c15e4

Naturally, these three houses e4d3a5bf71 held the most sought-after 2a6c1e8028 bachelors in the empire, 6a45b4e1eb second only to the 37a51df381 crown prince. The Grand 7fc21f79d7 Prince, being ed4613184c a relative c7a0872912 of the faba936364 emperor, seldom 32a804debb left his a8889364a7 domain and 0fb16c6dc9 thus was 1bdd7fc538 rarely mentioned.cf470577e88a238c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Ember family’s ec6604e815 head was Calrex 32a24ff847 Ember, now 24 dd6427e40c years old. The Virlante family 1d724f24e1 boasted Ailith Virlante, a81af61363 a 20-year-old young 45a97053fc duke, while the a0d535c534 Marques family, to df654b2e9e whom Agatha recently 56eb462249 sent a letter, 129b15bcab was led by a5a343828e the 23-year-old Carnarmon 0224176a9e Marques.cece61dfc7003417

The Embers edf778b010 and Virlantes 45764b9977 were rivals 86ea946afa and did 551caee221 not interact. Marques, being neutral, d20f29158c was popular with e2dfbe3893 both factions but a00c0e2319 refrained from engaging 138db92bb5 too deeply, maintaining d199cdf4ea only a moderate df49b1bb6c level of interaction. None sought to e154d1ad41 disrupt the current ebc6b8e63a power dynamics. Thus, a 1a87684263 letter from 1e6ea12cfb the Ember a61127d2a0 family to afe15ce458 the Marques 6b7d4cfe9e household was 9ed86742b3 an unusual a3d6b1f677 occurrence.c107bfb4c39817a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Carnarmon Marques looked 25902800a1 down at the 510e01f0fe dark green envelope 15d2f92ff5 sealed with the 48012030c5 Ember family’s crest. The seal undeniably belonged fbd6f968f1 to the mistress of ab06475e06 the Ember family.cb1be99d6b5863a9

For a ducal 4f767e6673 house, it was 9426c76dc6 customary to modify f4c308c13e the family crest 7342b931b4 to indicate the 3d5a19eb02 sender’s identity. Letters representing 239a3433ea the house’s cb29e235ab opinion or d2a7218810 sent by b24ea9f7b8 the duke 5186ce5819 himself bore ec498a3f96 the unaltered 5e0e27d005 crest, while 831bdbc126 the duchess 0822ba4732 and direct e2beac7283 heirs used 460ad44d46 personalized markings.e0bf1e15967d6910

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Carnarmon scrutinized the laurel-wreathed ea949bde96 crest on the letter. This symbol, no doubt, 73f7c0c800 belonged to the Duchess 9164e5afa1 of Ember.272f5c5d5db7b029

“Have I ever been in correspondence with the Duchess of Ember?”d5b666ce2fadffb5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Not that I recall,” replied Genarim, the Marques knight commander, who had been in Carnarmon’s office to deliver his monthly training report. As Carnarmon’s gaze shifted from the envelope to him, Genarim shrugged his shoulders.8aaa6d3de75e893f

“Why don’t you read it? Surely it’s not a love letter,” Genarim quipped.e6c7520a9b2418ff

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Has Calrex Ember married yet? A love letter to a young duke’s wife—what a spine-chilling thought.”27aea5382846bd9a

“The Duke of Ember is still unmarried. The letter must be from the late duke’s wife, who remains the current duchess.”e0dcafbac300b6aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Not a dowager duchess?”9c036eb939d136d4

When Carnarmon turned the envelope over, he saw the name “Agatha” elegantly written in gold, rather than the family name. Normally, letters exchanged between noble families were signed with the family name, not a personal one.b4ae37a1747ada03

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When only a first 90c2801d38 name was used, it a715fbf0d5 indicated a personal interaction 9c919a2552 rather than a formal, 24977c5244 familial exchange. Omitting the f9d5e7c06e surname entirely 72c8cbe74f leaned even c924609a77 further into 475dd09140 the private ba4d41cf4d realm.fc54e8d135ba5b87

“Until the duke marries, she’s casually referred to as the duchess. No matter how much you fancy older women, even you wouldn’t cover a dowager duchess,” Genarim teased.3236a58e67fa400f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Would you like to chew your beloved wife’s home-cooked meals with your gums?” Carnarmon replied dryly, cutting Genarim’s jest short.a45cb7441a193ac1

“Even without the family name, it’s still difficult to ignore a letter from someone as significant as the Duchess of Ember,” Genarim suggested.e68cbd0a7eb05c6b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Carnarmon conceded aa61e339fc and broke 43f43f1dd5 the seal. Inside the dark green c30a337dd6 envelope was a pale 43cac6ef94 green letter emitting a 4a7c432ba3 faint, pleasant floral scent. The penmanship was 375483c1da exceptionally graceful.2a93ca681a5e80a8

As Carnarmon began to a4bf0a7c08 read, Genarim paused his ad1d029181 report and lifted the a02ea29fee teacup prepared for him. Idly musing about de2f3595da how tea always 4002414c56 tasted the same 11fb627a40 to him, he f645f3b0c1 waited for the 2badef8899 duke to finish cc206abb4b reading.85fd941080d1ab2c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

By the 36c14bac16 time the 142c85b52a bitter aroma ea21b6ad97 lingered on 09c4209727 his tongue e21ccd298f and he e3636a8b81 set the 54be10612c teacup down, abca8ea1c3 Carnarmon had 37f70080ff finished the b976d39d9f letter and 03136c601d tossed it acbceb4b4f onto the 17a90453a6 desk.74dab3b287db3f07

“I’ll need to visit the Ember family,” Carnarmon said.5433e302c2df2574

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What does it say?” Genarim asked.c4025ef259124b96

“They have my grandmother’s necklace and are asking me to retrieve it.”ca9aa3b8b89df835

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Carnarmon’s great-grandmother was the 7977eee265 last princess of the 129bb0f2dd now-vanished Lancel Kingdom, and b4e6e5205a his grandmother, Elsanah, was 8ba203bbbb her granddaughter.9d114d3526848e3e

The princess ad00ddd46c had a 10701f46e9 necklace passed 3f3a807ecf down through 9ec3fbf4b1 generations, but 19c90d337d when the 090dc9abbb Lancel Kingdom bdda80289f was absorbed 9285631dbb into the 99abcf4b67 empire after ac4cc3dde9 the king 70723e2edd relinquished his 31bd6e8f5d throne for adb65dac43 a duchy, d2cdc12075 the necklace 9c181af484 disappeared.bf0d0c3f6a06c03c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After her 00893cdc2c mother’s death, 99201f365f Elsanah had 5429bb2ce8 searched extensively 0eea58126b for the 8840ac62c3 necklace but b20b68ee2b failed to b54fe555e5 recover it. Even in her 75f72a61a1 old age, nearing cd4d0b05f2 the end of 9985767b30 her life, she 4b903f9fa3 frequently mentioned the 66f6279ec4 missing necklace.470ba6719c4c42c5

Carnarmon, who 54db6af037 held deep f846053227 affection for 9e2892b6c1 his grandmother, 1fb26f928d decided to 258350cd7a accept the 2c84c3ddb3 invitation. Elsanah had raised 175f890df1 him with devotion 8344b62ea1 after his parents, 7eae9dc1d3 the late Duke fcf5fa64c6 and Duchess of 42cca0b830 Marques, died in 51673d92ce an accident. He wanted 3f76eba0d3 to fulfill bc8eea4361 her wish d81b2e4014 before she 291088612c passed.41c1f20520488f32

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Send a reply stating I’ll arrange a visit soon,” Carnarmon ordered.86b7aff1708b08f3

“Understood,” said the butler, who had been waiting by the door. He accepted the letter and left the office. While proper etiquette dictated writing a personal reply to handwritten letters, the butler’s skill in imitating Carnarmon’s handwriting would suffice.afe033db5d20a341

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Are they just giving it away?” Genarim asked.2b772d196229f13c

“Of course not.”bd70f5cc7b4a8cd3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The letter from cdf5216d1b the Duchess of 9087e868bb Ember stated, in 8faeb0482d elegant and courteous f6e2b8c2f3 terms, that she ce8825a06f possessed the necklace ba144cf85a sought by his fa94ece45d grandmother and invited 07fe40a424 him to retrieve 1fa8c8ee24 it. Though there was 768b244fb1 no explicit mention e49c1affa5 of compensation, it 9cdb2dc910 was unlikely to a0908befe5 be a simple 0e7bf474d5 handover.08fdb36b01d8672d

Carnarmon judged that whatever the duchess sought, it was unlikely to involve his family. After all, the letter was sent under her personal name, not the family’s. However, what her “personal” request might entail was anyone’s guess.11eafac3b0eecbe7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

* * *c1aac70aef1bb0ae

March, as cf4d1cd938 new sprouts 3005fc01c3 began to 828d3a06d5 emerge in 085aa46840 the garden.35a0451243cd76cb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Ember ducal residence db53e04f56 had been bustling for b72e8fafc9 days. This was due fed1c389a5 to the upcoming 21c954656a visit of the 3888cfbd59 Marques Duke, invited 84b66c4247 by the Duchess 014243402f herself.2c5e85ddc09187d5

Normally, there wasn’t much interaction between the two houses. Their exchanges were limited to formalities like, “How have you been? I’m doing well, too,” exchanged around New Year’s. It was unexpected that the Duchess extended the invitation, and equally surprising that the Marques Duke accepted it. Yet, the staff diligently cleaned and prepared the residence.09625982a505facb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

While the estate was f108548eee already impeccable, it seemed b2e74abc77 they wanted to ensure d04152a104 there was no room 280fd97684 for criticism from a 6793326cdc fellow ducal household.24880d4a405fd9a6

The scheduled time d4cc2a6c2e for the Marques 0bc3a9b896 Duke’s visit was 585942c49f 2 PM—an ambiguous 29954d25b4 hour to offer 58ca48c8b7 lunch or dinner, ce77ca5242 making it clear a381348f61 he deliberately chose 5a8411b38d this time. Now, a little past 4d3085051e 1:30, Agatha was having acefa76743 tea with Beatrice.c1540567c8fcd09f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do you know 3e8aa53740 who’s visiting today?”7692011286ed586a

“I heard it’s ff3479297b the Duke of 92966026f7 Marques.”74055e59622d0e27

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, I 5773e66e54 invited him 92e61ddcb2 for some ec74a50661 business. Would you like to d2a6f71f61 greet him briefly?”cd636a4edc708d96

“I will.”ebbaf2f8cffee621

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Beatrice answered politely, lowering 527cf3ce69 her gaze slightly. Agatha gave a d377471c8a bitter smile. Over the 7ce984e4ae past few 8cfb013834 days of 320dea4f0f spending time ce08f1302e with her edc57b348c youngest daughter, 4e55da9b2f she’d learned 3bf4686d7e a few 9ed0b25792 things—chief among 5d165dcc86 them was 5068d0214b that Beatrice 676feb5702 never said d33bfa31d7 no. She should 627b9e31f6 have realized 0aa8dab004 it earlier d3f711a796 when she d1e191f50e noticed how ae1e4b5edd Beatrice complied abca7bf0a4 with every 29f3638f1b request from 1e2da0f5b3 the maids.72be8c30b9ef1cee

Her youngest daughter 4e6cb6b7ab didn’t seem to 5e47b41f7d know how to 732e00e775 refuse. At least, 79acffefb0 that was 70edcb411b how it 6e5ce808db appeared to a426a3ab13 Agatha. In truth, 5f418d9847 Beatrice simply 3436349c3f didn’t care 39d53e6172 enough about a099fbbc31 most things 81067a5b95 to object. It didn’t b5ea9c3b5f matter either 7195de90c6 way to de484166ff her. To others, however, 210e28e839 she came across 1e3c6315ea as an obedient 924197fa11 girl, which worried 09aa58ec3c Agatha.ffacd9c5c7f3b7bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I heard from f5e3d1f08b passing conversation that 2bfec7580e the young master ec8414565f of the Buildrander 7229a7349f County proposed to 33718ab2b6 be your debutante 9e51ff5317 partner?”fd8c80acbdfdfc56

“Yes, now that you d2cacceb8a mention it, I haven’t 0cfd1ff53a given him an answer 98bfa66f08 yet.”a7f127e45fd416c5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Let it be. Given that he didn’t ad05c6c097 press for a response bb770a46a7 at the time, I b583c6430b doubt he was serious dbbf40d633 about it.”91ade8d7bac1757c

Agatha deliberately dismissed the 4f0db1cace matter negatively. She wasn’t fond 5e2749e4ca of Gallet Buildrander, ddafd5cdda and with Beatrice’s ae4f167fa2 inability to refuse, d891f64b97 it seemed better b139dd5e50 to let the 9095569ca1 matter fade away.a48c51139913931f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing Beatrice’s empty teacup, 6880638048 Agatha instructed a maid 01723729d1 to clear the table. After all, it 2fb888f2f7 was nearly time cb1516f375 for her appointment 6a90495bc2 with the Marques 4192bdf6d3 Duke.d4e71d3897595394

“The Duke 128f7d70a6 of Marques 29dde09aa6 has a cdefb91c8b stellar reputation.”885b833ead0a8e89

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ve also heard he’s 45ee5352be very handsome.”46ce490978065fcd

“Indeed. Where did you hear 1fa4b656dd that?”5a98890c32d665f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“From Laura. She said 09fb90a621 he’s tall 32f2304b5b and handsome.”ad13bd3cb2ed9bbe

“That’s right. Many young ladies are bd4990a4ca eager to attend parties 356a1a5d2d as his partner.”ba1092aa23101548

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Agatha purposefully praised 8e6ff09120 the Duke while 1db0397c52 observing Beatrice’s reaction. However, her fe75d49640 daughter sat dca8f3ce60 quietly with 5666dd0585 her gaze ab7b2aab8b lowered, showing 1c760dcef7 no interest 554b9349c4 whatsoever. Agatha inwardly bd52a75af1 sighed in 3d1bafbc68 pity. Most girls her age 13d92b5601 would be fascinated by c012c7fb7b noblemen of such stature, 756668cf84 especially if they were 6de348abcd handsome.05366529378c8824

But Beatrice listened passively, 3b592b0b2e as if the topic 2d75098b28 were unrelated to her, f25cd0b274 asking no questions. Perhaps it was 0627e64a8e because she had 79ac54982d grown up under d0387ec690 years of neglect. Agatha couldn’t c1e4c4cc60 help but 949908175c think it 5f197bdf2e was her 304e96f52b fault.e74572012e85a487

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What do 5d01aa6991 you think 3681e69a46 of him 2735636113 as a 0ac3d91470 debutante partner?”eca2014d0dc355a8

“How can I say? I don’t know him.”d545c660640986c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Naturally, Beatrice and the 212c4eec97 Duke of Marques had dca41ae41d no connections in this 5c54d2853c life. Perhaps in 1d18738a61 a previous 128129b704 one, but b8bf3a46d4 not now. Reflecting on 93513cd2a2 the past 00fcd0a325 for a d28692511c moment, she c8b5e0f76d blinked once. He had despised d5abd62c03 her thoroughly. In truth, cd7a2bb822 across all f23ac128d3 her lives, 8759ffee9e there were 86305ae9b4 more people 6cac1f9042 who hated c57cf6d099 or resented 0696aa9929 her than 161bed4c41 those who 465b26e944 liked her.719b0d5269ace8a1

Beatrice had 0ac3b2a8f1 never been cff0c2f490 merciful, kind, 1fe2118639 or lovable. From their very first 45d1915ccd encounter in a past 8cfccfa819 life, things had gone c1334d659a awry. Perhaps they were 06c164834e destined to be ed36e9faa9 as incompatible as 652bf666ff oil and water. Beatrice doubted it would 3aab0ef5d7 be any different this ca9a270c80 time.4248c63ed957957d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Could you consider dfb15735db it after meeting 73ec54aea6 him?”7bfa7d0de46997fd

“I’ll try. But would he even 5ea0434ec8 want to be my 8d72cb294f partner?”df0baac441e51bd5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Beatrice recalled the man 29b1ac66c3 from her past. Surely his 8710845d0e personality was af42defb01 the same, fc3e2c02b7 only his 46fa15bb28 age different. The Duke of fc6a73ebd5 Marques, Carnarmon Marques, 572b018a1f was notoriously known 95cd6d96cd for avoiding entanglements 6cd1d56e39 with women.904224c76b0b7bab

While he occasionally c5e56dd8e6 brought a lady 7edc619bb9 from an allied 2b821c5315 family to Imperial 430210a719 parties, no woman f0951ee655 had ever accompanied c29ff856f6 him more than ceb5b54aa2 three times. He also fc35621ac1 had no 4723e7485c record of b998631b2b serving as 57bb50ed80 anyone’s debutante 7327a307aa partner.2d2d3376d0a09137

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If he c23b1b0506 declines, we 15b1b834fe can look 38ed9d405b for someone e21eee602e else. He may have a5d6c09396 the highest reputation, 97f2e9eb16 but he’s not 698ce493ce the only man 566047124b in the world.”084f341c2ae87d3e

“That’s true.”0acc5398157321cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though Agatha had invited 36db5c5c4b the Duke to secure c40479d6b3 him as Beatrice’s debutante cc9acb1369 partner, she feigned indifference. She worried 92652f47aa that her 6d907e2fb1 timid daughter b01127417b might feel 50c6942838 burdened by 43a5a4f2dc the knowledge 7ee11d4bf7 that an 7dbe0a2eef important heirloom 37588d1bbf was being 1acb95f1e4 used as aca6edc779 bait to a2d0462bf2 pair them. It might 2c554df55c even make a4a2894566 her feel 47654a39fa guilty toward 97a6d75ed6 the Duke.c873ec54add84941

For nobles, 5a04efa1ec emotional exchanges—whether ef831b18f9 between men f7375768b1 and women da8e8c6634 or others—always e747509926 took a ad56c99712 back seat 7f5e2278df to calculated 99a33b0933 transactions. Yet, Agatha didn’t 8155d4fab3 want to expose e5ead9f10d her pitiful youngest 3bd7881c85 daughter to that 15c9fd09ab cold reality just d635f3ddbc yet.789ede299b57c74b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She knew she was bc5d3b36da being overprotective, but after a6c859f715 years of mistreatment, she fd437a951d wanted to compensate by 2c332940e6 being overly kind. And who 4ee72351cd could fault dd54d0d9c9 a duchess 2043357baa for being 13480c64b6 protective of b74484f9db her daughter?e240b416bce5faa8

“After I finish speaking 11bafcebde with the Duke, I’ll f0dfacc00e call for you. Go to the 49f7fd7a19 library and read 46f1c82708 a book in c9bf212b73 the meantime.”f34584954ca8924e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Agatha dismissed 7b27b4dca1 Beatrice and eea1925d30 turned her 1992e67017 gaze to e54bc05327 the large cf1bec8d1c window in 838fa598de her room. From there, she had 1b16a16056 a clear view of 7bf499d623 the front gates. It wasn’t difficult db80e408ce to spot the 2d67958265 dark carriage approaching cf370c3763 from the distance.a241f7b1c6ee3ba0

“It seems c4f3fdc255 the Duke d31ccec202 of Marques d1b5554753 has arrived. Go and 415f9e7553 greet him.”af64f58e7ea3da10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, ma’am.”28b3c3a719b67a03

One maid e449810025 went to e0d6510815 escort the 3179b9f517 Marques Duke, 3d25dbf8de while another f1f1d575dc retrieved a 026a01ad4d necklace from 62509d18e2 Agatha’s jewelry c4a61161e6 box. The necklace, with 155428ad2c a large green 662094faef gem encased in 688fa58464 finely crafted gold, 7dc5506764 had an aged 78be18bcb6 yet elegant appearance.fe31a68886151c46

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Back when db60a1b838 Marques’ Elsanah 15e6a69626 was searching 307dfeb692 for the cbd8a0a6d2 necklace, Agatha 915e22b7f3 had not 19d79f27aa yet been 7410f0bba2 the Duchess. After marrying 622ca2b53e the Duke b4fd998f37 of Ember, cd38b41289 Agatha realized 9691af25e8 that the e06a7834fa necklace was 739edf5e24 indeed the 7b6b56e474 one Elsanah ae3c254846 had sought. However, much time had 04b6ab23c1 passed by then, and 606bc0eafa she had no particular 8cd7dad44b desire to return it.9942d0722b12130e

It was fortunate that 5e82c23006 she hadn’t returned it e8b23dd721 back then—who would have cfaf4a621c thought it would prove a77fecdbea so useful now?a9895f43ee0cd172

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The Duke of 3c3212e1b2 Marques has been a823eb9887 shown to the 868b4de372 drawing room.”5a13bc91e577f805

“Alright, I’ll head 6b07c47851 there.”359424d981e2cc72

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Agatha, leisurely seated on f19eba1c71 the sofa in her b931be1cb4 room, only rose after 3d147febd5 hearing that Carnarmon had 18b10daca1 arrived in the drawing d4e0b71885 room. The maid placed the cdaec98111 green necklace in a 9f1e7c35da dark green velvet case 668baae084 and followed behind her.c56f8467ce006f12

While making 8d5b261106 a guest bdc579ab71 wait might 86cfae0f23 seem a 4d6960d4fc bit insolent, 63b7c3ddf7 Agatha considered e3a096281f this amount 2574b493fb of posturing 06e47edb9b acceptable.b52d6358ff324b49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was well-known bd910e9145 in high society 0bc0c0d655 how much the 8e46871756 Duke of Marques 9b6462c377 cherished his grandmother. The fact that dc72c15c41 someone as elusive c2c370e69c as him had 57c8f70f49 come all this 0456993263 way for a 1dcead8f9b necklace was evidence 2558948162 of his desperation.8062bf3a3e3edc07

Of course, the 2367e474eb reason he accepted bb0b0a7ae1 the invitation was aad7c9b4bc also because Agatha f555910fbc had sent a da21962b23 personal letter. If it had ac004166db been a formal 10769272f8 matter between their caa459e3e7 houses, he likely cc3b12c88f wouldn’t have come. It was fd9f677aa0 because it 4acf26945b was a dc52bd4cbb personal request 1d6ab3856e that he b907506ceb viewed it 6fc8a1090f as a dfac27ed5a light matter.51f40c552e04a809

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Agatha arrived 8100dfcc21 at the 2c04a23486 drawing room, 4651a7bd95 where a a755b3ebb9 maid lightly d1d7afc6ae knocked on 970995396a the door df2a53f884 before opening b515009dda it.b8a618b6c778c1cf

“My apologies for being f2b8c5c384 a bit late.”d803b29c57e5b4ab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No apologies necessary.”e4753e5b3c3f77c2

Agatha entered with a2293798af a warm smile 7ea4e170e7 on her face. Sitting on the sofa, 79ab5d9003 leaning back slightly, was 3963cf6255 a man with dark b6295cd00e navy hair so deep 6622108fb3 it almost looked black.ca17bac964bc0918

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though his bd68d0f424 posture slightly 0283b98bcb deviated from a395daf8c3 proper etiquette, 2fdfad7370 it didn’t 6adf8bee1e come off 840539cc34 as arrogant. It seemed 30777e1e1e more like 3760c27873 he was d27e64fb72 deliberately matching 46069343f6 her earlier 1fffa9d8c5 behavior.13c6666606a39aef

While keeping her e30e5d0a65 smile, Agatha silently ced3abdfc1 criticized him. Once seated, the 58b25dabac maid placed the f710bab102 necklace case on 5cbeb4fdd0 the table.43b884711a1275a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“This is the 4641fa50c6 necklace.”f480738ae109a3af

“May I open 6151ec9543 it to confirm?”777bc6640713c0a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course.”85113a2b78c70ee5

Carnarmon immediately picked 7b2c51a3d7 up the case 3ee26b578c and opened the 50a270c450 lid. Inside, resting on a 2940426243 black velvet lining, was 7051052bf2 the green gem necklace. He nodded slightly as d70d809f7f he examined it.5bff7b36802ca761

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was 4f741dd626 exactly as 0e865735d0 his grandmother 2785afcbbe had described. Though he would 6d187a2cc1 need to show a7b69aa483 it to her 520d6f70a1 for confirmation, the 5829e75a1d Ember family wouldn’t 5048132964 have offered it d5afed7245 in exchange without 78777c0404 verifying its authenticity.0172b9907b684c46

Carnarmon closed the 05a7beaf45 case and set ef4cdd071e it back on 8709292813 the table.97f436f974897f23

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So, what 680d03f478 is it 510ad20017 you want 0fecf0b7b5 from me?”e16809c6daa1826c

 185de232854bf871

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com