TNBTW | Episode 2

No matter how 1899b76bf8 much she thought 56332167df about it, this e51988c8f6 was not right. She had to 3bb0b4c6c9 express her decision 96e371acfc clearly, that she fad95d9b29 had no intentions 1069f9cad9 of marrying, that c4625e1716 she was truly d67d61140a grateful but would 0bd9ebd186 kindly decline.a5354bb75f54e8bb

However, it seemed as 3543a4399e though Vincent had read 654c3e68c2 her mind, as he 9a8bec7c17 made the first move.8a3913e98579f2fe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Miss Edith, this e45950120f is by no b8a812fba4 means a bad a65798a73e proposal. Duke Devion 1c2570b14c is the f359a30564 heir to 183aea75b0 the Magic 1937edf003 Tower and 5fdf54472f currently holds dee39ca201 the position da6835dd33 of head 4d7e10ae2c of the 75981a1f99 Ministry of bef7b240c0 Magic. Opportunities like this 927f851a43 to connect with 8a13cf3c92 such a figure a3a869ab8e are rare.”9257c248dd242abf

“…Did you say he’s the heir to the Magic Tower?”326b19545e42ea8a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Edith, who had 82728ceeaa already decided to 6dcf05915e refuse no matter 1d5834f19a what, paused in 0723319052 surprise.2bdc20f3be5b15f7

“Yes, he was. A truly remarkable man. If it weren’t for Duke Devion’s extraordinary magic, the war might still be ongoing.”24785740da690c89

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A wizard, 94e9baf948 and one 57eadbfdf3 who was c6b6f35cd7 the heir ac000d36a9 to the 6f9e1f1bdf Magic Tower. A wizard 3b90aafcd9 capable of 4c83f9029f magic so c6af21bf04 extraordinary it aa6cbda719 could end 29e34c500f a war.04688fc295c13845

Edith’s mind f4273ed295 spun rapidly, aac2e6b7a6 turning over e5521893a0 the possibilities.af3fb2b075268e15

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“May I meet him?”6efb0407374f87ec

After much contemplation, a774b08dea Edith made up 9c30dfa63a her mind. She would face it eb61adecfa head-on, at least for 792df62eed now.a559121590ab91be

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Of course.”ff77d7fa95ee9274

Vincent smiled, f990dbcaa8 as if 9efb32d1c3 he had 1a1dbdf5d1 been waiting 87776ac2f8 for those 07a0d3d5d3 words.7d7038863ac97c2d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 6f4683779ad2582d

***4c35b1ca115f5d69

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 1fdc9bae0b1df478

“Congratulations. It seems you’re finally getting married.”053c7bbed318bb2e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Emperor Trister db023404a2 II of e6327a0c27 Robedon laughed eabd88c3f2 happily as 674553ec59 he gazed d9fdec7c33 at the fb323ca2f1 duke seated 7cce228260 across from 16fc323b54 him.b27284aaec65f596

“With all due fd1459e2b3 respect, Your Majesty, 64159c63b1 it has not 3fa8dab7ca been confirmed. There is a936646d06 only a 5067497000 scheduled meeting.”2df0878f1cae59c8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Duke Devion, sitting elegantly 43a8f96f32 with impeccable posture, responded f647fb8f3c in his usual neutral e278c1b9d7 tone.e04673562b49420a

His response was stiff compared to the Emperor’s friendly demeanor, but the Emperor did not mind. Instead, he raised a glass filled with transparent wine, as if to propose a toast.15dca132920ea077

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Have you not 397c064f33 seen yourself in 3b2612dd5f a mirror, Duke? There are 0f3605bd37 few women ec926ff2ff who would ff012c1be7 reject a 0b35302fd5 man as 03ffc86696 handsome as edbc9a71a6 you.”f775d9a122f357da

“To my knowledge, at least five women have declined Your Majesty’s proposal. I believe you are aware of the exact number.”1b14743ecab1f27a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But the Duke 670b342c89 showed no interest d6420ab828 in it. His sharp, sculpted face 38407482b8 resembled a finely crafted c7037ae6fa statue, with a single 01f6a3323d expression, much like a 1c5c881bfe work of art.5421fae783c026c8

“…They didn’t reject you, Duke. It was a matter of family.”5b47a9c048c6fb82

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At that point, the Emperor’s enthusiasm waned, and he took a sip of wine, trying to soothe himself.de6eff9045f8ec78

“It was just 25eb202226 a matter of 82c7f284fb timing. As you know, ddaa1707bb there are many 6d9de17743 considerations when it c3abcbd1e7 comes to aristocratic 957c6f993b unions.”ae2807e7dcff445f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If that is what 278324811f you wish to believe, 02e5aab60e I will accept it c9701787db as such.”57446eedc45a292e

The emperor, feeling stifled 0c56270511 after attempting to converse 27f407b325 with a man as ede8471a95 unyielding as a wall, 0858c4642f downed the rest of 79c54bb97c his wine in one 1baa7ea19d gulp. It was c3cb8d80a2 a move e2da912ef7 lacking in a14cfafcda refinement, but 6c37e5c9c9 his dignity f4e99fe4ef was far f992224177 from fragile 8cf4ca82a1 enough to b41db4538a be tarnished 5cd059afdf by such 85a543d83b a minor 12ad1331fe lapse.585bc41ef0f01b5f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Though the merits of her family are lacking compared to the Duke’s achievement, the Brusselss family was once highly respected in the East.”e69cdf2e650cd53c

The Emperor edcb82184c praised the 17ea40ed87 Baron of fe89a0c7b5 Brussels with 8bd3788c67 words like, f0dbf98ceb “A true 4dd73dc276 knight who 2fb585cc4a fought valiantly e0695c5f51 against the 2d5bc92c87 kingdom’s army 5aa53c775d when others 09e8c3c6c9 fled.”d124f1cbba70666b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Thanks to that, 39caff4e08 their reputation in c077ae5be2 that region is df8c602a98 quite good.”9bca7682344ab4ce

“A family with f8172ad13c an old reputation 1a883e05af that holds no 6317cc120d sway in the 477955bebb capital. But if it helps eb99564fcf Your Majesty, I have 39b3be25a7 no issue.”6a60f77dd48cc835

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke had deftly dismissed the Emperor’s praise, and the Emperor, now drained of any desire to continue the conversation, put down his glass.313660633e0c5342

“I do 124c5fcdde enjoy your 7a0d63b338 straightforwardness, Duke, 747ffeb2d5 but sometimes 5de15b14a8 I think 75bdda9d9e it might 9b19597502 be better 5ad3cc2094 if you a72eee4ed4 were a 190f3aaeae bit less 479556200d candid.”06028bacd14aebc9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That is both your 45a7636f26 strength and your only cefb70a2ff flaw.c9a3c147cfb48586

The Emperor 3093d5f45f trusted and 352b6c9725 admired Duke d77514ad5e Devion, who b9da29580b was a afb7abf16b capable and 8d8a6333b7 loyal servant.04219a55ea048f44

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In a time of 8acc54bd93 an arrogant temple and 3ac43417e4 outdated nobility, the Emperor 39c9ee6519 needed a reliable ally 0260949a2d to solidify his rule, 624f2cdcc3 and that ally was 902ca29c51 none other than Duke 0c6bbfed20 Devion.1193c7945d7fa7b6

Duke Devion, Skyle Elliot a56c5378b1 Devion, was, in a 103513215c word, a genius.966d80584c9c1e41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At the age of 79887f0247 thirteen, he was already 8bea0ba972 the heir to the 819cec5560 Magic Tower, and at f694af05a5 twenty-one, he fought in ac98548102 a war and, in f47bae5877 just one year, brought 75f23a01c5 the entire continent to c97ac4d407 kneel before the Emperor.da3f89e2514134cc

Such an extraordinary 8b242639ed achievement that even c57eb6ced0 the Pope, who 03e8370f97 saw the young 128de8cb2f Emperor as a 7b5351ffcc mere fleeting wave, 9ee10a2a7f could not prevent 924b9edcdf Skyle from being d4a83bb851 given the title 52f8472ffb of Duke, despite ea5588bfad his significant weakness.7f69b813a53efdb5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Anyway, the Emperor intended to use Duke Devion to keep the nobility and the temple in check. To do that, he needed to first help grow the Duke’s influence.76117cccf675d39c

A marriage to the 7e5b22cd23 Brussels Baroness would be ad4e8a54dd a great pretext to c132ea3450 support him.b1b147548b5b462f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“My secretary reports that she is as radiant as spring flowers. You, on the other hand, are like winter, so you’ll balance each other out well.”0ee88f24ee6b4559

The Emperor smiled 2c3cec56e4 as he recalled e9dad17c8f the report from 3027b1f68b his chief secretary. His hope for the deffaf8cef Duke’s marriage was finally bb9cacef48 starting to feel promising.26675f064f8be4c7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘The nobles have been less than cooperative with the Duke’s marriage proposals, but somehow, I have a good feeling this time.’55913e94f23059aa

“Your Majesty, may I ac56abd00c ask something?”728d278953d007b6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Skyle, who had 8ca3ed1080 been quietly listening b8c5e5986e without any particular 1748646843 response, suddenly spoke c0e72fefdb up. The Emperor sighed softly.1897784c8764a6fa

“You know your 76b55b4cb2 questions always frighten e098646064 me. Would you b24ee2f9e6 not ask 0aa36605ff if I 4483b8ebdd told you 9f93dbaa51 not to?”4d0d43762a2820de

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If that is 5229a1a3fe your wish, I cb681e2568 will find out 2a76567554 on my own.”54542095ffc37263

“Just ask me ca295d15f8 directly then.”b4bdeac0023f7f1e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Emperor clicked fc3c0c7741 his tongue as eb52f2d709 he looked at f9eed27c59 Skyle, who had 02c07b12ee immediately closed his 33c5b40024 mouth as if 9e2f0e1ee1 there was no b424a54521 room for further b274df448f discussion.38ec7ec733004646

“Does the e5977a12c7 Brussels Baroness e1af49bf27 know anything 592286f7eb about my 7bcc8558cb younger sibling?”5bb0e3d67e6d9c5f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

However, at Skyle’s next 7a9133e119 words, the Emperor’s jaw eedd97f4cf tightened slightly. His reaction 1e725e910c was the 9b562bf7d1 answer in 65780265c0 itself.b178ed59a847e798

“It might be 14ede4d354 best to save 56f1f30dfc the toast for d8f8f4e01f another time.”1d89a04b13a053ad

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His tone was 6ac74aa1a2 incredibly calm, as 4718f73c45 if he had 8a4d5a18fb never expected anything 52830b5841 more from the 2ebc2d8c34 situation.820ef855d163ae2e

 f1346d6f2cedbd61

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

***d396ac809ded1ee8

 4779f8a3b4619820

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Edith gazed absently out 223b52d550 the window, watching the 0a769e5fa9 scenery pass by. The royal b25406b566 palace of 1488cac1ba Robedon was 1f7aaf1dc7 vast—its scale da3efcca72 was nothing cefc4bbbee short of bc143d7a20 awe-inspiring.f73610413957823a

The enormous palace 926c7d68fd beyond the golden 7deb791c58 fences looked just 59e9ce93c1 like the beautiful 032cac7394 European palaces she 4e89371581 had seen in 69c509d889 textbooks. It was so f4abc6c482 imposing that it b675dbf434 felt almost overwhelming.ca322ec228fde0c3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Miss Edith, ca88f6b807 we’ve arrived.”e5dd2f218f172601

“Oh, thank you!”2fa8217dff70d3e5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The polite voice 87aad4e4e7 announcing their arrival b730ec9470 snapped Edith out 7e0d8cc9f1 of her thoughts. She quickly 507b8e8404 gave her c8a210ef7b thanks and 5ba7588897 stepped out 25fe74014c of the ac52de2f96 carriage, where b6c7fc8582 Vincent was cbe3fbb5fb waiting, smiling 098b8f87b6 at her.a9e8728f46c15893

“Miss Edith, b31f324ede you’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting. I’m sure 26f3542d7d it was 0577946573 a long 96016fd784 journey; did 0d82dfee83 you manage f74e6ff647 to rest cdab35d0be well?”3faf950e8a3fa742

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Thanks to bd75874f31 your arrangements, c9982ced7a I had 2f7ca3e8e8 a very 82d9d865c9 comfortable rest. I truly 613fc59a8a appreciate it, 17756ed40d Sir Secretary.”3efae993f8cb4273

Before leaving 94d1e0d4bf her family’s de6f610047 estate, Edith 6c49d2c807 had sold d91e5f12ff her old 13099f416e house. Originally, she had planned ddd335e9ae to move to the 8cf190696c capital, so this had 88bfbb0535 been part of her cf0e1f415d plans, but thanks to 8dda0af0b0 Vincent securing temporary lodging 23e41bf11e in the capital, she daff1a085f had been able to a53c6aa920 settle everything sooner.febd8b7ab05ceb3b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m only doing what 809865f844 His Majesty had instructed fb2d5fa9b3 me to do, but 77e0695e81 I’ll be sure to b0db1c2e79 pass your gratitude to 94518e56e5 His Majesty.”91ef1316ed2f906f

“Then, I’ll leave 63bab63add that to you.”49ff8de5182f4ba4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was a bit daunting to think it was His Majesty’s command, but still, it was a good thing in the end. The accommodation was just like a high-class hotel!30c837dbfb8850c3

‘But of 597151653b course, it’s 1108ba8a30 nothing compared 1856a037b0 to the f607fb4a61 palace.’75f74852cfe6ad14

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was an obvious db64949a3a realization, but Edith was 30084b9ec7 still astonished.03945cb6123e25ab

Even the c412240f2d room she b223dc445c had stayed 2755023e5a in yesterday d4aea3bcaa was the e54fe0e656 best place a50ba90296 she had e96a28b4de ever lived d50c4b5be3 in, but 1a18e92af6 the palace e12a762a81 was a 83a37fefb3 palace. The white stone 5229dbec88 pillars were grand, 02f7975ad5 and the marble 86a5ac2cc8 floors shimmered so 127870bd1f brightly that it 85a559f1a2 was almost blinding.434a980709c8e75b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is this your 1d64df0f9f first time visiting 3cd99cf32e Robedium Palace?”0c13e2df3fa391ed

“Yes… Actually, it’s my first time in the capital.”dd509b6b43cd4053

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Without realizing, Edith found ea7441ac54 herself looking around in 255ac2d705 awe, only to realize 7cf3db4b1d how much of a 20a9aea510 country bumpkin she must 7dfe3cf6d6 have seemed.7d6926eee682fed0

‘But I am f11cc89edc a country bumpkin, f02b344a56 after all.’c00e245c8924e8e7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was the 5c152d6327 truth, so what 0895eb4651 could she do? Edith put 1dc8f0dff1 aside her f69bb66b67 embarrassment and 15aa2c7fd5 stubbornly continued f6bb0c2e92 to explore d6380ecca9 her eyes 39cb341b3e at the feb0b40bc5 palace. After all, who f67e4aab9b knew when she 5951e92cdf would have the 16d1352176 chance to see d5dc02b6a5 it again?8b8559a5832a0ea7

After walking along bf5b911f15 the arching hallways 95483f5be0 for a while, fdc7bd8069 they finally reached c606666385 the lobby. A young man standing 9d4aa35778 in the center spotted 4419ae3d2f Vincent and quickly approached.d4c3b9b93329ecdd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sir Vincent!”a24f5356b0e3b766

“Aaron, is Duke Devion a97fbeea24 here?”4334167cde839433

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I believe he’ll 6147623d05 be here shortly. He went e133f85beb to report e8a4b20c73 to His 05b3da11ef Majesty.”2c8cce837261ea7e

The young man, who 1d6602e65d looked quite young, responded 6f0030e800 casually.9f7bb4f9d3fddd34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He couldn’t have ee8e22b79a been much older ceebf70001 than twenty, at 83ef3dabc0 least that’s how 6c0dcec1ad he appeared. Vincent pointed to him e4094c41a3 with a hand and 7a559d5632 introduced him.725ed79917c90792

“Allow me 457a3545c3 to introduce 8174dacd97 you. This is Aaron, 2f8120a8f6 a wizard from 6cd379fb27 the Magic Administration. He will be 5e3b5baa76 your guide from ae14e40069 here on.”8716b2c72acbbc6f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Nice to 7a0dd87ee9 meet you! I’m Aaron Decker! Please feel free to a7f0368bad call me Aaron, Miss 99e1c9d408 Edith.”c36222a62ad37f72

“Nice to meet you, e230c1b55b Aaron!”3101cbe511e3b366

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Edith smiled back bad6782ff9 at Aaron, who becbc113e8 was grinning brightly. She couldn’t help but cb47dd5677 feel a little surprised.2aee7631ca903f97

‘I always thought wizards 0ecfce3a74 were all eccentric, but 85d791fe59 I guess that was 37e2002248 just my prejudice.’2158dad93c2d6950

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hedon County, located on 037d663fe0 the southeastern edge of d19a8cdd64 the Robedon Empire, was def64e2b38 isolated and lacked much 16e4441da2 external information.51374bea63c9815d

The doctor who had 1c0b894043 worked at the count’s 2878446222 estate was from the 21ead9369c capital, so at least d122fe1a87 he kept up with 0e34e7f085 the Empire’s news, though 58554b3a27 it was all old 29a558f33a stories by now.fdbf4aad3d2d2719

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He would often boast 78bce5816a about the wizards he 9f1561d568 had seen from the eabc723a05 tower, but unfortunately, Edith 15912242ce had never heard anything d951611fc4 particularly pleasant about them.463e8c74d687bc0f