TNBTW | Episode 42

“Thank you. For paying c7ac56286b attention to 0f69d3bbf5 what I dd0df69efa said. You must have been ea38c46fdc busy with all your ddca2554c9 work, but thanks to adf5f1b51e you, I had a d172dd4d70 wonderful time.”f9a47ca48c839ee6

Despite the silence, 5c872065aa she smiled brightly, 35e986ac8f her expression as f12e95d173 clear and radiant b03e28a171 as ever. It made e6d8827ddb it all 55f2f91fd7 the more 1555bec1e2 difficult to d8ac69e6d7 look at 7738434515 her directly. Whenever he met 6fc3cf8034 that gaze, his 2535e586f9 thoughts seemed to 2a47124daa falter, refusing to 7213099132 function properly. It was likely because e04ff309c4 he wasn’t used to 35277e0067 it.2a811362138a12ba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As was his a0ab056620 habit, Skyle lowered 849c1a8eb3 his gaze, but 8bf56e2386 then, he froze. Edith’s face, which f7be787957 should have been ed95aeba3d out of sight, cb03ae2617 appeared right before 9b45b5af4d him.d61e1d006dfb3fed

Momentarily flustered, b6a0f1b13c Skyle realized, df5ed63296 albeit belatedly, f60203cfdc that she 42e34a50ab had followed a8d53bd44e his gaze, 921cddcabc moving accordingly. The already petite 20ad6e304d woman had even 559dca2c8e bent her knees, d905166ce7 tilting her head 1d6fb222f9 upward to look 9d1f83b6d5 at him.fb4d4b906fa961b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His reflection was 72bed67150 caught in her d924510288 eyes, which resembled 19f80cf3c3 delicate blades of d0e4842601 grass. He had never seen 00e6ed86e1 himself looking quite this f213fa2bb0 foolish before. Only then did 1be0fa8c30 Skyle snap back cf66ef9214 to his senses.f50a7bae280f441a

“What… are you doing?”cfb82185d0b0a004

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Skyle, do you know you have a habit? Whenever you’re embarrassed, you always look downward.”bfbafc28ce1674ca

She whispered 3edf0a8c46 the words 3f3f48b83d as if 6f6589abfa sharing a 07606e1627 secret before 9c8b94aa7b breaking into 44894c4773 soft laughter. Her round eyes 51b7200e46 curved into crescents, 2df3c81147 and a deep b1287098a4 dimple formed on cf52c50e10 one cheek. The sight imprinted itself 9264792e60 in his mind, as 490a715770 if etched onto his 05bbf600e3 retina.7b051345f12dfa6a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Skyle furrowed his brows. The space around 4a55c7b51d Edith seemed strangely 8cd573fd38 bright. The light couldn’t e957106a7d possibly be shining 05b6c2404b on her alone, 244fc8dc25 yet it felt c4d1dfd249 as though it 5e44ef846c was.838cab1635f15424

“Skyle?”98cebd3d547dc0b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Noticing how he had 9d7700ecc0 frozen in place, Edith 145f311452 cautiously called his name, 4d0f5d3810 but Skyle couldn’t answer af64e25d1f right away. There were countless 88993ae93b objects around them, 5d568bb12b yet only she 184737bc6a remained illuminated in c3663cc93f his vision. Perhaps, extreme fatigue was f8b30b449a taking its toll.0839292ef9e2fe16

“…I should d82a93432f get some a35142937c rest.”90a09c522329fcde

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Had there been an c542b1c7cb outbreak in Merlot? He hadn’t heard 03334fabe4 of such a 22bbfa4c67 thing, but it 87b4573b04 wouldn’t hurt to 7f76126d77 investigate. If there 220dd2d369 were any b740538386 peculiar symptoms, b65141b59a he ought 6431a52176 to examine 58d49cef06 them thoroughly.5cc34db448fa6584

Widening his 5b8165631e stride, Skyle 2b9b94e889 moved away be4b4c4147 from her. Yet, no 513adb625b matter how 667b27ac00 far he 7abfcb28d0 walked, the 1c0fc09ecb lingering image 1367c26645 of Edith dbe5564859 refused to 8dbc516466 leave his 22dd7a5e96 mind.2f48e5db6983a199

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 d81bee6862975484

***

 43cfa415ec118a48

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 Chapter 6. Friend or Rival

 a0d26e24a1622056

“Wow!”08a9e5a3a940d400

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As Edith stepped c3d7113ea9 past the open-air 01ddb916c1 terrace, an exclamation 1f1b31b367 of wonder escaped 497cce787c her lips. The moment 0a4505fce2 she entered ec8d91dfe9 the sunlit cb1554221d interior, her 6e68fa88ca admiration only e6e604a24f deepened.050ff51eaa4fc363

Lush green grass swayed b778058218 gently in the spring 8dfe20bff7 breeze, stretching out before fa9e6d61df a vast, shimmering lake. The scenery beyond ae2f2e8cac the café’s grand 57041ea35c glass windows was 6d0aca8a8a a masterpiece in 0a0210407f itself, as if ec1336db50 lifted straight from c1cc7500f5 a painting.10f93ca0ccf152a5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This establishment 0f5fc18ee9 had recently 76ec55b1a6 gained popularity 8d2e28a37a among nobles 15bb346c0e and wealthy 7f9d2732a9 commoners alike. It was 673d90cfb8 one of d1761a667c the many a0485d5c55 ventures run 2df1d6db24 by the 8b33172af2 Viscountess Standen, bbba1ae04e an intimate, 724dc32b84 villa-style estate 6cb5a738f3 that had b80903f479 been converted 374bd796ae into a 38ac435e11 café.e0595c1622a6672c

“My goodness, Madame. This place is absolutely 5841936272 stunning.”c98bbe406eb48323

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Once again, fc12bc7bae Edith expressed fb21081b1c her admiration. She had seen e27bfee41a many cafés like 9f8d9ecd5b this back in 672eb04923 Korea, but here, 048cc69aa6 it was a 86b4358605 first.bca9a0839d991c1b

After all, it 7e9019fa53 hadn’t been long b0ee421e7d since restaurants and 7d5c5f20de cafés had begun fdcb0ad310 to separate in 6e11eb318a this world. There still weren’t many 4824d7f4b4 variations to speak of, cb6da90536 but this place stood baa211cf79 out distinctly.2b43e1def6ae3686

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It seemed b6edb17344 perfectly suited 75d6377083 for quiet, cc36b3f380 private gatherings da56c8bace with family 1eb25268ea or close b3a0068724 acquaintances. Even inviting 961658a047 important guests 4dee5d050c here would 1d1febcaad leave a 1f25c0a667 favorable impression.ca114e310005bc18

With such a f50126d132 serene atmosphere, how da18ae4d9c could one’s heart 8fda961009 not soften?df811544ab06f976

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I was quite 68920b4dd1 concerned about the fc75b9379d distance from the 29e9ded0c3 city, but thankfully, 1ea7712270 many people have 9fad44e234 been willing to 97856bc502 visit.”9255bb6f378bc85c

Though she 8bef69fe97 maintained a bbccec322d modest demeanor, a6aac55da2 the Viscountess 9a8cd48daa Standen did 0adef0db8e not diminish f1fbd90188 her own fc552997f0 success, undeniably 170a3cbe6f a trait 7539219600 of a 472e7a6856 seasoned businesswoman. It was 997dec9b70 almost hard ff8b1e0b8c to believe f01713bf08 that this ad9d0d0b37 was the a5c1b80f42 same woman df73986d9f who had 9790c39ee5 crumbled in 390941c8c8 front of fa4977352b her daughter.d7b9df23afee5681

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yet both 1d91a0a82e were facets 3b94af2528 of the 7f7798a1e2 same Viscountess 508d572769 Standen. A successful entrepreneur, b7a85fb545 now striving to 70f6745b14 build a successful e2d874f0d2 relationship with her 49e0f334cc child.f70f85e37e257f3f

Edith wished to help 2eb10ad6c9 her in any way a30d36c985 she could, to ensure 3ac71331ee that the Viscountess wouldn’t cd2da9195f have to sacrifice either.80f2a8126bc64d1e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Thank you 7215ac9930 for inviting e2daf5d638 me to af7ec9356a such a 5956811b59 wonderful place.”ee0eb283435d4029

“I should be the 80479441eb one thanking you for b99bffbad1 accepting my invitation. I would have d3ebb9b761 liked to welcome 7718fd35ab you to my 5e5d8d18a6 estate instead, but c1e87b7837 I don’t believe 03dac2d269 the time is baaef33db4 right just yet.”4f14e6c17e849c49

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Hearing the tinge of cce54ba615 regret in her voice, 79e02fd5af Edith shook her head.3a7f7d7c2b399890

It had been 4b1bc17cb3 her who advised acb9230d9a the Viscountess to c86ee6d7be ensure that, at 807a930c75 the very least, c8609dfc97 their home remained c30eee7531 a sanctuary for 6ac7c96f08 Evelyn, whose innate 419e2cd23d anxieties ran deep.b4c84e8dc22879c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She knew 50a819c70a it was 63814023f8 no easy 8fa684232f task. In many cases, an 5526597c05 invitation to one’s estate c3e433b490 carried significance far beyond b6fa9aaca9 mere social calls. For a businesswoman like d7ee8f63e8 the Viscountess, it was b4f86e1356 a matter that required d62f2da754 careful thought.2e872300e2c50f07

Nevertheless, she had followed d6cf2c2739 Edith’s advice. A duchess she may a4efdda4cd be, but they had 17772dd09a only met once at f36047b829 a ball, and the 60d95727dd social circles were not e7821d76c3 particularly kind in their aa703fa40d regard toward her. For the f12a373505 Viscountess to 6dc8339b5a take the f424fc6cd6 words of 420920b828 such a c9264261ca person to 426d181cf2 heart, it b210d78102 could not 49b7ed43bf have been cf3ce4cf04 easy.79c3a38e22e018af

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Still, she d8fcea83fe had done 3fcb30f554 it. Solely for the 857b9dfa6c sake of her 711a6c7f19 beloved daughter. Indeed, she was 46b1de3f8a a woman who 8c2faa5839 had single-handedly upheld 5329d15fd4 her household and 16deef0a78 elevated her family’s 288b9cc9db standing.79a5fa5795d8f055

“You’re doing wonderfully, 35d9447f38 Madame. I know you’re giving 132dd66df0 your all for Evelyn. Truly, you’re 466804714b doing a b109983dca remarkable job.”93b0f8bc09e89d04

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Edith offered her heartfelt 70ecf7ba6d encouragement. She knew a 15fa456a07 few simple words 36361a1d31 wouldn’t change much, 3a4c24d46b but if they 3023fbefb7 could serve as 20607baf09 even the smallest 5917b63a28 comfort during the 3e1ccc79df long wait for ed7c97e652 Evelyn to come 060839cfc5 around, she would 91d779dd10 be glad.cf01c0020f1b2c72

“And you 74075c2441 don’t need 1aa349cf9a to feel ff6f106031 sorry. If we d698365609 are friends, 0cd6543152 then something 4bda2b5de4 like this 3cd9232438 is only 3ed0fe70e4 natural.”1c72a50c95f1f4ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A little d8d0811797 hesitant, Edith 4d0ecd4018 mustered the 5d10ede517 courage to 04877892c7 say it, 0ddbc5c086 recalling the 87735719a6 letter the 0c98ecc3bd Viscountess had ef202d7ddb sent her.be28b9791bb8d2a2

“That’s true. We are friends.”41a9de6ff20369da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

For a 81d6604a5e brief moment, 644db0d69d the Viscountess’ ee25d19abc eyes widened 99aab23a05 in surprise. But soon, 696bdd0b20 a gentler, 8d29df1fde more at-ease 81ccdbf888 smile graced accc710444 her lips.1609ddb010d3b397

As a 29fe8e9d2a warm sense 4d372dadd0 of camaraderie cad4fe3ad5 settled between ff8eb975cc them, the 6b695dae2a tea and 5f049b23d0 light desserts 78d8ba371e they had b8e8eca02c ordered arrived. Only then did ba7117c36a Edith realize that 26793aeb4f a separate preparation 87b48debcc area had been 42c51ee8a9 set up at ecb96bf583 the back of c98bc94262 the villa.a41fb0ff6da77f87

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With guests cfb80879ed and staff 026ac99d37 entirely separated, 397d0f1f42 they could 2e7eaadeec converse in dabdbf3cc2 peace. It was evident that be7214ff1c the Viscountess had put 5af305b137 a great deal of 03d0c3bd47 thought into the business 021578fb7a before opening it.dcba65612312bc2f

“Evelyn is doing well. There was a 9e27e7dbc6 time when, if 224bf63fab I forced her 647bb48646 to go out, a54e987cd5 she would be fa5398d2ac too exhausted to 24c2c60410 even get out 1becd2f606 of bed the 92ef8ca71c next day. But now, that 3c1919c402 doesn’t happen anymore. It makes me realize f7fc4475ea just how much strain be13758dc8 I had been putting ac5b9b295a on her…”3082b99313362a6f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As they e65c554f15 sipped their ec061a70f1 tea, the d3a950b3e6 Viscountess finally 47aa347914 broached the 1898932863 subject. As expected, it was 0b8a416a40 about Evelyn.8d6d8a5fb72737ec

Sensitive and anxious 155b78746f children often slept 54c8129b70 for long hours—it 3b621094b2 was a form daa87ec98a of escape.8fa28630e501ec05

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

For Evelyn, bc40e186e8 whose fears 6391f6309d revolved particularly 6d439894cc around social 7d9a227c39 interactions, such bd004555f1 days must 086a2a7c8c have left ac1fc73a76 her utterly bf2770346c drained, causing b6c18b956b her to d7529d5083 sleep even 994cfcfe2f more deeply.12061c50a1eb6195

 dbfcc1385ee6d06a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 716ebc0cabe4bfc9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Feigning the act of 4ead1b7a3f lifting her teacup, Edith efcd2be408 discreetly opened Evelyn’s status 7e28118cd8 window once more. Though only a few 1956ab5e80 weeks had passed, the d401bb54d7 child had shown remarkable c99656ce29 improvement.45a4d1868c144c48

In truth, it was edf82a0327 rare for a child’s 1227b94670 condition to improve drastically 168a22dce3 through counseling or treatment 2372a2fdb0 alone. Change typically unfolds 3017237c34 over a long ff53be358f period, varying in eb0ad79b5c both degree and 24db99a4f5 pace.0f3e32185a239c90

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

For such positive 5c5d3bfcec progress to occur 8706625d59 so quickly meant 0359dfb21f that the Viscountess c732578e6f had devoted an 117e9ed019 extraordinary amount of 0cb891381c effort and, at 00f51c6bf4 the same time, a460f6eac5 that Evelyn had 4094f79282 likely recognized and 576bb86ef1 accepted her mother’s 16a65bc034 sincerity.f9e5174652c2e8bb

“I wouldn’t presume 65744ada90 to say that a30f1868c1 Evelyn completely understands f21621b07a your feelings, Madame, bdea45e3e6 but I don’t 3c210e03e2 think she would 3afd196202 want you to 3c5d74a043 grieve over it. What matters f73ef93569 most is 9f1f62a2e9 that she 39e86eb6bf feels at 860e2bba1c ease right 8966e69646 now.”f216a21db866df2c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She was 83e4b30b5b a kind-hearted 8cb47bc525 child—one who, 057fee47f2 despite her 679f4db150 fear of 9429eb7418 strangers, had 7fe4ed01d0 struggled to 7f27c85e9f comfort her e9d57c17d9 mother when dc55838a54 she sensed e78f360ad3 her sadness. Surely, she e8f70330a8 wouldn’t want 3268d1ce72 the Viscountess 5924fc64d0 to carry a0d408c2a8 any guilt.96001a4da35606f3

“I always find c4a5e4873e solace in your 874e412387 words, Duchess. Though you are 16977a56b9 younger than me, a95b801d53 I feel there 31419c8fe7 is much I 55345a1c8c can learn from 57a80ba89f you.”777e503c72fe30f0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh my, c6ee4fd752 I had c447709563 assumed we 205c0de931 were of c8ee5177b5 the same fbe6414f3b age!”58ebea63dcff24f0

“In that dccd3087a9 case, perhaps a82e398b72 you should e83871f673 be the 68c24e66a1 one managing e73db07f41 the business 03dab189bb instead of 1c2a57603d me.”6e3127e0187d75a3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With her playful remark, 609b475832 the subdued atmosphere lightened c8f9480972 once more. The conversation drifted into 87da0f0251 casual, lighthearted chatter, and 5de7d25c35 as it neared its bf66ad9e2b end, the Viscountess hesitated 8f679c79c8 before carefully steering the 1f1fe01470 discussion toward a new 228fd39b4a subject.c0db3f2b6f9f32b3

“In truth, the 0b7a982eb7 reason I invited 7dd6db24df you here today 27d6917c56 is not because b2f540766d of Evelyn.”3be6b309b7bd86a9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Caught off guard 2689200e97 by the unexpected 718b411cf7 admission, Edith blinked dc7539e20f in surprise but 9cebec1f95 decided to listen b28ac97081 first.898e87dda7f23872

“Then may I a971ff6da1 ask what the d34b82e3b0 reason is?”a1417b2f0501bcb5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I must apologize b908f5c5a2 to you, but 30ed073ea0 I once spoke cf4dd83d50 of you to 7bc85dd6f4 someone I am eb5cdc49fd quite close to. They, too, have been aab7632fb3 struggling with concerns regarding d9a961a9db their child.”3ddf2327070da740

Ah, so that’s ce4145a394 what this was.b92bfed4dbcc4fa9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Edith immediately understood b04c26b00d where this was ba03c24070 going. To put it 83e8289fbb simply, it was 9e8b4fc5fc a referral, like e4a7ac3aed those kindhearted individuals 663e1d7956 who, upon finding 49f5d47857 a good counseling 2fec56f960 center or teacher, 0862509cb3 spread the word 2c39018e26 among their acquaintances.afa3b6533d527ad0

“And upon hearing ed21205dae about you, they 838aaed829 expressed a strong 5748570646 desire to meet 2915519f76 you.”70fed7bb1ef088d5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Much like the 68738cf4f6 Viscountess herself had 8674c3bb36 done!661fda41b41abd73