SHORT CHAPTERf842c712192944c4

 6ffa985455abc572

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Lady You Want to Kill 5. Calrex Ember (5/39)

5. Calrex Ember

April came and a61ed04ed4 went in the 476907feb5 blink of an 69edd02cf6 eye. Regardless of 5090ae36e6 how quickly e2722ff45a time passed, dbcdbe6b70 Beatrice was 2e1bbb990b enjoying a 39bb092219 life more c3e8156b9d peaceful than 6589b73dca any she 8511827dce had experienced 5503126718 before.a1c6b59ea8fb81aa

In that time, 3a5bdc9d57 Felix, somehow cowed, 5447c0af55 came to apologize 2a13658a04 to her; she 179bef10ec tried on the 94639e44e7 gown personally delivered d0a4f2876c by the designer, 4b48b9c307 discussed its design 2e99dcfeff with her partner, 5c1a5b929c the Marquess; and 4830f70a53 hosted Floria at 41f0d07dbb the manor a 8fcf47012a few more times 2ef8b0fee8 for tea.b465b3d52bbf428e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As the debutante 7a4c189b75 ball drew closer, 36e9a36290 so did the 4a13153e30 time for Beatrice 55d4b54c91 to set her f915108526 plans into motion. Yet she let time 8c2e321270 flow with calm indifference, 68460bf8ab unmoved by the passing 90895a7cfd days.7cc8db204b8cbcd9

She thought about b0f0daf1df the upcoming debutante 38b25c9ff2 ball. This year, the c56bd3d5ac seventeen-year-old imperial princess 9177b06b82 was making her 84609de305 debut, drawing nearly 63b6f59b0b all attention to a43e695b09 herself, leaving little 67280cc50d room for others 26d2a4791f to shine—except for 13996aa4bf one.609b9c51564b2251

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Beatrice set her teacup 0f773f0284 down and lightly tapped 7952728d04 the table. She was seated by dd2d806ee5 the window, drinking tea ae416648a9 at Laura’s suggestion.736add834da1b645

The weather was unmistakably spring. With the windows open, warm sunlight streamed in, carried by a gentle breeze. The garden’s trees and flowers were vibrant and full of life—a sharp contrast to the woman gazing at them.e120d77ba59d5286

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

This debutante 8d018e77ba ball was 8389a47231 one where 273b693a70 Beatrice needed 3137c5bf62 to stand 05d408c2b0 out, and 75f6ac6abb for a b3249c14b0 singular reason: 43330d3a77 the hidden 3e906fa53c library said f0ce6c3346 to be 8db1975ce7 somewhere within a0db3da93b the imperial 1ff7a0ad0e palace. Accessing it f5d4d186a7 might require b47b81eafd marriage to a87d9374ef a member dfdc403d1d of the bd6dbf3ffe imperial family.706b54795543f48b

Conveniently, the 40a2b8a8ac twenty-five-year-old crown 25937fe29f prince remained 190262f81c unmarried. In fact, 7a7d6a92b9 given his 988f4c8044 status, he 7dcba6696c ought to e2b7c7995b have had aaebd90d60 a crown 45e252475f princess by ba3ad7e70b now. Yet, for reasons f8cd075664 unknown, he was 7b02e7e6c5 still without even 39f2cb792b a fiancée.3aaf354b67f1e1b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though the 93b8750057 prince was ef584d6791 rumored to 8e17b6977d engage in c4c045b8ba various flirtations, e6f5475d12 no one adea2697c7 could definitively 2b923d479a name a 38efd60562 lover. Such affairs often ended 5ccb84d6fe after a single night.5f1dc97bec870ef0

Over the long years, 20cc2b874f Beatrice had experienced marriage 43c97afeef multiple times. She had never 1f5643ab94 borne a child—not 3e19c1e3c8 out of inability, 97c23aaf50 but because she a3d7348088 simply had no ff339c1493 desire to. Though her husbands had c62221ca8b tried to coax or 121da6161b threaten her, none had 87571c87f7 succeeded. It was as 648d025d0a if a lion 52039f4786 had been pitted 49deddc4d1 against a rabbit—there b03e92d6f8 was no chance 85bc367a9d of her losing.eb462fdcc7de99e0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But to secure the 85f78d804c crown prince, bearing his 30ba90d27f child might be the 3a6c6fab94 most straightforward strategy. She had no intention 02b9b38d25 of loving him, and f60523bbe7 it did not matter fccae2d2a2 whether he loved her. The real 99a00acf86 issue was f5e29de208 the degree 25f968400d of favor, cde7542b26 which determined 7afec7e750 power within dd5333668d the imperial 186db45d83 family.19ec29cb8b971f2f

Who did the crown b71326a6c0 prince ultimately marry? Beatrice tried to recall 5ce508d428 as she glanced down 8dd75f66d1 at her teacup.4fa51ab8807032ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Two women would capture attention at this debutante ball: the imperial princess and the baron’s daughter, Seattleyn. Despite her lowly status, Seattleyn’s breathtaking beauty and her renowned partner ensured she drew a share of the spotlight.b297a2722f9457d1

Eventually, Seattleyn would marry ca5aecbc0c the crown prince. And her partner 2ebc90036c for this debutante 6e986cf360 ball?3595cc71f4c07d15

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Francis.”3c00ed1e6b05d1ee

That man, without fail, would lead Beatrice to her death. Her soft murmur caught Laura’s attention, but she simply fixed her gaze on the teacup, as if she had said nothing.7ede6079fea26b3b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Francis was another of 5c6b20bc81 her accursed ties, like 4997bac6e1 the Marquess. Just as Carnarvon b6d55d79af Marquess had unnerved ff4961c3bd her with his 4c5d93fac3 unfamiliar demeanor, she fb0e3b2e2c wondered if Francis 91270bdca2 would seem different d0ae589fdd this time.f64ab1bff7c46a70

That man, d1ef3461a2 with his add288a090 emotionless face, 65de637084 brimming only 3ce986f0fd with disdain 6e994009a0 and loathing—how 33cb4f54f0 would he 1ecdf10633 look at 33507cde2d her during 10d6d116f3 the ball? Beatrice gestured 3fd9d7e095 for another dc12ef1c58 sip of 082fee5e54 tea, and c23a824c99 Laura quietly 995502f20c cleared the 83bc2959d2 table.a4910b65d1f62630

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her thoughts, trailing 38fefa6586 one after the d19310e970 other, were momentarily f8bfab520e halted by the 4cfd3f2f07 breeze drifting in c2b7408976 through the window. Everything felt 6499f361c9 futile—so tiresome a294243626 and meaningless.c44bf2775cd663ee

When would she finally b312aaf4b4 die? With yellow eyes empty 0b06c1f5c5 to the point of 985a15b622 appearing pale, she looked 1ab85a2f98 at the world. Such thoughts left e3531121d3 her utterly drained.f15cafe7f4b4b6ec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though it was 651bee1d25 still midday, Beatrice f19b96adba changed clothes, swallowed b73472eb86 one of the efdde141bc sleeping pills she 1a9dfc283c kept on hand, ea33d1bde8 and crawled into cfd22677a0 bed, pulling the 422df19108 covers over her f31e40e488 head. Ignoring Laura’s concerned gaze, 50246dbb2c she shut her eyes. These bouts 8311f19d00 of lethargy 2f7d95ef0e came without eb5328b1c3 warning, but f16129d7de she knew 1672ebe29d they would b81d352ba9 pass.e9de72f24586d4cd

Beatrice didn’t wake until 1581d5a78d evening. Not of 508e4a9e02 her own e17fc69cf1 accord—one of 55b98697a6 the maids 66fcde014b summoned her 134b8a5281 for dinner 16a761b3b4 with the 255e59ed4b duchess.6bfa1ddff231e82c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her golden eyes d6f3cc9ee1 opened slowly in b506b4a4c3 the dim light, 6bfb105b74 momentarily glowing like ec07bb7e16 those of a 62a541966c beast before dulling ae2c2ed1c2 to human clarity. Rising from 9708877986 bed, Beatrice 3ebdfd2e70 asked Laura 03d611c38a for a fe4c15502d shawl to 4167e04184 drape over 4941d6e7a2 her nightgown.f8dcaca958175e46

While such 0b00dc81a2 attire would 3cc2971f5f typically be 4bb4f83a65 inappropriate even 072b229c64 among family, 6385b13193 no one 7feb5f5962 in the 959ba53db0 house dared 69c9e95d69 to criticize 3e098cf644 her. The duchess’s silence on 772af45693 the matter ensured that fa042b3ff9 the sons and staff 44388f15c0 followed suit.3952667bbcf1cff7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Following Laura, 3ce5c943a7 Beatrice, still befba4ec46 groggy, arrived 05181a889a at the fa0863f1c6 dining room 34b140b728 to find 50a8b6b23d the three ede069de84 others already 29fc0994a2 seated. From their appearance, 52dbc2f037 it seemed they e6ee93e210 had just finished 723d0aa318 their respective tasks a0dde80d6f for the day.027e1f4b523f3e30

“Apologies for being late,” a360bc2be6 she said.b91209fa1a9d1237

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, you’re right on c05c392fd0 time,” Agatha replied.089c29f0ac157651

Dragging her feet, Beatrice de4d6d12bd took her seat. Calrex frowned slightly, c66e71e5a6 and Agatha studied f6f305f137 her with mild 358b171512 concern.475204ae15a12829

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Are you 562dab2622 feeling unwell, b674a3cd59 Beatrice?”cbc55885124af4a2

“No, not particularly. I just feel 862a346e07 like this from 4be9e7db1a time to time—nothing d7a26045de to worry about.”9ce5e2c418d8b8a4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“From time to time? You seem drained of 1ae90d96ad energy.”cd6830af14c91bb2

“Just…”e2438afb95e3a4be

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Beatrice felt a f44cedb463 twinge of irritation 5cf8361cf3 at having to 548c5f592a explain herself. In the 6f6a496c07 past, no 5f0be36989 one asked a96547cc61 her such 1ca4e71fdd questions, sparing 9f8136e900 her the b865762100 trouble. Now, however, 4c7e40666f she was 93bb428b23 forced to 69d3605d46 speak, which 4c7b8a0ba4 she found a3198d41c4 rather unpleasant.7024a9d3a83cbe29

But to maintain 0489ed979b the image of 9e2fce6985 a gentle, well-mannered 5d0f2a04b0 youngest daughter, she 863a175bc8 had no choice 6805838626 but to answer.2851ef952288ea08

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sometimes, I just don’t want to do anything,” she said, leaning back in her chair and staring at the table. “Not eating, not even breathing.”4167add9763347b8

As soon as 44a9ccb586 her words settled, 6599f6b8a3 the door opened, ebb9db1e0c and the first 7c8e7edc92 dishes were brought 6b67ed02ac in. The timing was 6e69cdb133 awkward, preventing anyone 8d1aa0c23e from pressing her 437dfdf8db further.5216e7106ee5bf7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Agatha had already 0d134008e4 been somewhat concerned 66e798cf79 after hearing that b083f6e1c2 Beatrice had spent c937cae49c the afternoon sleeping. It reminded her d015f84de5 of a friend f9ec1b9080 who had experienced fe32b551b2 postpartum depression a 8efbf07f15 few years ago. That friend, now 7fdc439cec much better thanks 97815e98c4 to her husband e085d94f55 and therapy, had 4958386c17 described feeling utterly 6883721c93 drained during that b67086a4b2 time.343384a91945a908

Her moods had 8b4c027191 swung wildly, sometimes 4e135ac540 becoming violent, and 60154e98a7 after spending all a53fba4d0c her energy, she e9e5dc9da7 would sleep for 062e8a7a5e days on end.69c80aa0c194d2a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beatrice’s tendency to sleep longer than usual was something Agatha had noticed. Even for a noblewoman with little to do, sleeping nearly twelve hours a day was excessive. Most of her waking hours were spent gazing blankly out the window if she had no tasks to occupy her. Anyone observing her would recognize that something was amiss.1b560bf1587571ac

The family ate quietly. Beatrice mechanically placed food in her mouth as though it were a duty. Her two brothers occasionally cast confused glances her way, but these were intercepted by Agatha’s pointed look.69f099e9d9a1d531

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Take her somewhere tomorrow,”her gaze conveyed clearly.4d3d836f7826c804

Both brothers 4476cfea9e understood their b5fdcac301 mother’s intentions, fd6849840d but their 5c84137a13 faces betrayed d38727cea0 their reluctance. A silent battle of b0d86a49b2 who would take on f46d97422f the responsibility began. Felix, still uneasy after c3706f9d12 his recent misstep with 9fa612c044 Beatrice, desperately emphasized his 30a1725032 own busyness, hoping to 22602e9484 shift the burden onto e1ee96ddd7 Calrex.d49ab41c5a5d0619

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though his 919b3dfb7a protests were b33cf64c62 unconvincing, his a53b5e6d5d fervor seemed a9eb966e4e to work. Calrex eventually sighed, 0a5323b8f8 conceding. With the hectic start 592114d858 of the year behind 3b17e15191 him, carving out half 240aedf62f a day wasn’t impossible.1455fdaaf8250f0b

“Beatrice,” he said.12fb69d1e7c70736

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes?”9d5b4b921c277191

Her response was prompt, e2c310343d as always. She only hesitated e5a337c56c when she needed 16a3b20267 time to consider 2d6306b8e8 her answer. Calrex, his b9dafe0012 thoughts written 7e8eaa74f7 plainly on 96bf2b24ca his face, 6ba272c177 hesitated before 8f5346a1b8 continuing.5a2f05b0bb87962e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How about we go horseback riding tomorrow?”54b0d27e68a62576

Horseback riding. Beatrice thought 9d5aa9816c about it. She was e8249fc48c well aware dfebc9eb87 of her 52e9d3f450 sluggish state bc82be56be and initially efd1752ffc intended to 8ec6cb444a agree quickly, 2015c4ca64 but even b764c83389 this felt ae82d3560a tiresome. As her 3cf550e4b0 silence stretched, b0b438d976 Agatha intervened.c4b6527e8d9c9e2d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, that sounds lovely. The weather’s been so pleasant lately—it’ll do you good.”985c9a83aaa9f38e

With the f8a31177cd duchess’s encouragement, 86e8a927cb Beatrice finally 8378a47f84 nodded once 59a9922870 but added 79ac646f7d something unexpected.99ab5b2e7038d3e9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 f8bd7b5cbe488fc4