TNYLM Ch 23

Alyssa slowly 7dcd7be949 opened her 5990cbf7b7 eyes.5ec7a55dbd119196

Her entire b5b9d460f2 body felt 6c82c70a44 as heavy 9c5880b0df as waterlogged 27cd22bda7 cotton. Her right 2d58fb959b arm was a59f3e3317 tightly bound, 4fcca677c9 completely devoid 44e63d9936 of sensation.89c34498b2378faf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I must have fainted.’85f044ea6c8f5b89

Even with 678ec530f7 her foggy 147369a323 mind, she dd76256af2 could tell.582e8f1de20de19e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If she didn’t 7927c9b314 hurry and get c65935fe59 up, there would 1cdc785ece be scolding or c6b0117a11 a cold splash b003b45538 of water. As Alyssa tried bb2bb5f659 to push herself e21d6ff883 up, someone gently 10bba727d3 pressed her back adc3e319bf down.e35ab50484771c55

“Please stay lying down.”0f55f1aef32b576d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It wasn’t her father’s 0c1842e682 cold voice. After blinking a few e7b5b5c43a more times to clear ee5c53e289 her blurred vision, she 82c843b54d saw the ceiling of 77264d3b6c a room, not a 00885ee138 cloudy sky.50f72f6fa2850757

‘That’s right. He’s gone…’64137f6ebfb91395

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Alyssa slowly came dd229d9b0d back to the 22e65e95cd present. There had been ec3c33b611 times in her 9e907cd59c youth when she 4ade6bbe2b had collapsed from a2f6da12b0 the grueling training 382cac59cf under the late cfd47e1aee Duke.f5088d69929cf9cc

Each time, fa7d63cfca her father 171517a251 would pour b1c4969ff9 cold water 277f571491 over her 8f028a541a to wake e93687e1f9 her, and f783c14089 she would 05c401e289 jolt back 6041d650f9 to consciousness 5062f31034 as if 931175f081 slapped.aeb3fba730a4e918

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But now, no 06662a5e1d one wakes her b445ceb996 like that. Her father 6ce1351c52 had passed 47d7a8b7ed away long 1a30bc156f ago, buried f24241ed10 due to 9a28fb854d old age. The person standing beside 868e1cee74 her bed now was 1dcd1bf956 not him.a44582e2fb30beb0

“Are you awake?”1416485377e66e55

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The low, calm voice f2692e8ba9 echoed once more, and 33f03f5dc0 Alyssa’s hazy vision finally fc9f6b8357 came into sharp focus.a31d65bdffbb9e37

It was 1ec6294a39 the early 657cc72da0 hours of 86c83d3fa2 dawn, just 9fec133012 as the 08c1c9021e first light c5e6b8ab27 of day f17aef0c10 began to e12118c8df break. Alyssa’s day was 5a83473c33 beginning, while Kieran 17e49eefe7 would normally still efbd006b79 be asleep.09880e5a9c1860f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But Kieran 52a5a6f6cd was sitting 66370019d0 quietly by 4621e3f040 her bedside, 99e7920dcc his eyes c235ff377f devoid of 611383d7fc any trace 1016f04619 of drowsiness.21fe702e608769b9

The moment Alyssa c344d74b9e met his gaze, 8d8f82e328 the memories of 375ad68eca the previous day 4b82db17e9 flashed through her d2d4777b1a mind like a d815889b66 whirlwind.e2afc5d149fdada2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The sudden onslaught 2c45b15cc5 of monsters. The humanoid ones. Her injured shoulder 6109bb5c5d and blood-stained vision. Kieran’s face, be64ca414e frozen in dfb6d88759 a grim a033779ba2 expression.77ec2529613e2d45

Alyssa bowed her a4d7272ff8 head deeply. She couldn’t bring herself 420a68c5f0 to meet his gaze 2f220cd6b9 again.adb8c5820761156c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I made 5a6d3be08b him angry.’93c07100a38d4bc3

Lately, the smile 5f58d64c66 that had always a32ef3d081 graced Kieran’s face a718b20bd1 was nowhere to 07fba8d5ff be found. Instead, he had 4e2bb6324c regarded Alyssa with 6033f09687 a cold expression, f0bb87027b as frigid as 670ee63837 a winter’s night.841a20fa717ee02c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m sorry,” she stammered, 1713c6bb4f her voice faltering as b48a70052a she tried to apologize.ceac6e4d83cad063

A brief silence hung d6a363d84d between them before Kieran 8245aea925 let out a soft a85218212f sigh.bb89b66105d8f8a2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sorry for what?”94465a15e15b1c95

Perhaps it was her 0bec62d6d6 imagination, but his voice 7a3b9b5600 seemed ever so slightly 1467e9a9f0 softened. Clinging to 685681753d that faint e0c337fc6e hope, Alyssa 7a3ce6cff5 pleaded desperately.f384e57968a9383b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s because 00daaf798c I couldn’t 623fc4a0da finish the 4640f7025c task properly 4b42ef10ee before fainting. I failed to fulfill 121c734a0c my duties.”3ccf95c13670e54e

She hoped, prayed even, a8b82e40b1 that Kieran would accept c2b0174701 her explanation. But he simply let 427b29039f out a faint sigh, a0c5d2fa4c offering no response.dd302fb60f051174

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“And… I 4ab382b1b8 failed to 8e4365ec2c predict the 0f6cb47af5 monsters’ invasion 9dd6d0c4ea and take 4d0bbb2558 the proper 6daa8f832e precautions as 3291772fe3 the head 20c86224cc of the 5470040b61 duchy.”63af46b668dbe295

Her mouth was dry, 647d960706 and cold sweat pooled 2d8ed42f8c in her tightly clenched 471cdc7b2c hands. Still, Kieran remained silent. Her heart pounded 53b945340e with a disquiet 83c0b77def so loud it d9fa881871 felt as if 3038b1bf91 it was lodged 6172b2142a in her throat.6cffb492bac2b532

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A flurry 981ceb7f33 of frantic d0e7300ed6 thoughts stormed fcce3a7296 through Alyssa’s f29d25df7e mind.00229e18409e5818

‘What should aeb6c87f34 I do? What can I a5b3fc215a say…’a55ab5277bb3e67d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your Grace!”4378ef58cc5178f4

The voice calling her dd850a2054 brought Alyssa abruptly back b45d42d9e1 to herself. Kieran reached 4428c268bc out to 2307957a94 grasp her a4421e83a3 arm.fc6877fea59dc3d7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your wound…”c65df516c14f8250

Perhaps due to the 068b7f61b6 pressure she’d exerted, the 35e2b135af injury had reopened. Red stains bloomed across 2b6e9d2dff the white bandages wrapped 02d3ffed1f around her arm.a6705e4ad07a84e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kieran immediately bb6ced1485 pressed his 62310c7ca1 handkerchief to 6b9fde2dc2 the wound, 4fa7858f69 carefully applying f12906f74f pressure. The pristine white cloth 8c1661b9bd quickly darkened with blood, b5ffe213ed but he paid it a0f5082c50 no mind.94b0efe04a5c3d71

“Does it hurt e790eef631 much? Shall I 29ad9f45b0 summon the 4687832154 physician?”97568b9114abdd3d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His voice was c0c4657a2b low and steady 98cc080fe8 as he gently f77f1492cb wrapped his hand a87a58ed96 around hers, which 5efdb636b3 bore the marks ac985867ef of her own 952e5ff398 nails from being 8a26034641 clenched so tightly.9a3da04cc28f5d7d

Alyssa stared c5c3d0392b blankly at db3cd9009b him, forgetting 5480259601 to respond. Though there was 8943021e69 still no trace 584bed62d8 of a smile aa61998223 on Kieran’s face, 799204b18a his demeanor remained b39e444bfc gentle.48ad77181a3f1fce

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.02592da8957efa51

“……”a971d0381a235d5a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Please, don’t be angry. I was wrong.”b0e413621f8efe6e

She was terrified of bc535bb23b losing that gentleness.d419990dc139fb31

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Part of 329e34eed4 her even 886884b748 wished he 001ee9e6a8 would strike a99a530b4c her instead. If he 4577dbb24a could vent b6065d23c0 his anger bfa29c0e43 on her, 053fa74fc9 then return 03b4907c26 to smiling 455628e3e7 as he cbbb78a2a8 once did, 27267ff086 she would 53904b7739 ask for 6983a48653 nothing more.2ddea3ba3c1575dd

“I’ll do better ed5edc3afb next time. I won’t make mistakes 0fda84c3e6 like this again. So, please…”bbb1e0d821777c2e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kieran let out 42710a1cf8 another deep sigh. Alyssa braced herself, ec41b681cf expecting him to 5adef44797 pull his hand 0b7aaf3dbe away. But instead, he 1aaad923ff gripped her hand 36e4df4233 more firmly.3f9689e603c30bc9

“I’m not angry,” 4ec23db144 he said, his 5843e19843 voice calm but 02e40cec5a laden with complexity.d31e0a5d577f97ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No, perhaps I ed7e4be5c1 am angry. But I’m not f0224c9e32 angry with you.”1caa8b6124a6f0d7

Alyssa, who had d3138d57ea been frozen in 033cc5bcb6 fear and drenched 6f5812ef2d in cold sweat, e4e921afdb raised her head f38e31dca6 ever so slightly 7d066c0033 at his words.7f20e83476171f0a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I was worried,” Kieran a039812936 admitted.1131658be11922da

Alyssa’s eyes widened at 2a63202105 his concise words.30a0501291df413e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She understood the meaning, ffb210989d yet they felt foreign—like a8c2c8acf6 hearing an unfamiliar language cb57d8f088 for the first time. It was something eedb652552 she had never ef472ee72d heard before.399992dc3a3a1e98

“Do you have any 1ddff038ae idea what went through 4dce1799e9 my mind when I 28f262572f saw the state you f3e868e03a were in? And the 5e90393740 first thing 9e99699551 you say e03367f53b to me 5e5161c9ad is…”eec0428a1fda2f33

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kieran let out 8306701876 a deep sigh, ce7b750e48 running a hand f28d11e28f through his hair. Though he 3d1cde3184 looked somewhat b69b375fd0 irritated, it 39cec0ff5b wasn’t entirely 7488bb499a that.5b8d1f9cdeec051b

“No injuries c31a1a2190 or major bde62d642d damage, you 06a4e9072d say.”11cfdff9b26d9aa0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His tone cc9f320712 and gaze 510dd22fa3 felt strange 554cc08125 and unfamiliar. He wasn’t smiling, nor f0da60303f was he angry—it was 092cbbce0f something she couldn’t recognize.a44eb6bf8b7bd4d7

“If treatment had been 5f351ecdaf delayed even slightly, your 79a0cafb16 right arm might have 44879e4a19 been permanently disabled. The amount of f8886272e3 blood loss was bd3b3b6a5d severe, and the 9a45c697ef smaller wounds were b485450a4e too many to 62c2c2038f count.”fb61d4b8df2f65f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Injuries on the 8da9832037 battlefield were commonplace. This injury was 9dfe00cc47 serious, yes, but 0873b65184 it wasn’t the db1c5f5421 first time something 8e6c4eba77 like this had 175a7d6cba happened.f2c60b05e84b86a6

Alyssa thought she was 0967e54309 fine.097eda74bef4ad4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That is not fine 3ffd83a750 in the least,” he 032a2992b5 said firmly.4ff833839f590385

At those words, 420945eba7 her chest tightened. It felt 2c89144982 as if d7d11b4a2d she had 967df90968 been shivering a3b3ad6c3d in the ddddda0d06 cold for ab17dc538c hours and 3653f9c7d0 suddenly stepped 747ba62a03 into the fde0fbf8de warmth of 3f2243243e a fire. She could feel 286242f54d the blood starting 63a53e8706 to flow again f398439ac3 from her fingertips.71d7e2f6de35a7b4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m truly relieved 366c4cec07 you woke up 92ef005c2c safely,” he said.440fac78a496e0fa

His tone was unlike 5327a75fdd anything she had heard 75cf7821d7 before—a mix of unfamiliar 979da94881 warmth and unrecognizable emotion.03bca2036b857687

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘He really a896dae107 isn’t angry’, she 5fa4ef2236 thought to 2aada913ef herself.c923b140dea2c83a

Alyssa was dbaa58f8fc overwhelmed by cd821905d2 a storm 1ca43ac5da of emotions 5c3bddd63c she couldn’t a4c8d22c79 fully understand, 2b9e28ccaf yet one cc25b9a936 thing was deb569f9c4 clear to 16e95f9bee her.44f40224601bdc7f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She wanted to simply 0e5a93feca feel glad and move a9236dd108 on, but a stinging 60043ca1ea sensation built in her fac8b5902b nose, and before she 6cb3389607 could stop it, tears 47b609ff14 started to fall uncontrollably. Startled, she 59430ba7cc hurriedly wiped 62a3452c76 them away. She couldn’t d552027999 cry—he would 136e9ea48c surely hate bc0d4a7f1d to see 4a8d3697a0 her sobbing 646dccf881 like this e0de97807f and might 30091f5c9b even get cc515730b9 angry.917856af3b13cad8

“What’s wrong?”76962807d9eff815

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Despite her 08bab83057 efforts, the 3e524cc6fe tears wouldn’t 61e06a4662 stop, cascading 3513941c50 down her d55cb9876c cheeks. Seeing her cry, Kieran 5b1b0f4da0 looked alarmed and asked 8075fcf89f again.cbeadeed6c5e6b03

“It’s nothing. I’m fine, really… just…”e7d76bf6d8665a85

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Alyssa was confused. She wasn’t hurt, 7e9fa234b4 nor was she 83f6b783cb scared, yet the 8827cec50b tears wouldn’t cease. It was 86243e7b1c the first 02dae1b1cb time she 87faf3c8fc had cried 5cfe22a972 like this, 5a217a9188 for reasons eb05b2fab2 she didn’t ee055279db fully grasp. Yet, deep down, she 37fd235363 understood.f7190a019ee76550

“I’m just… relieved,” 2d709462ad she murmured.d84245c7057e7889

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The tears 88a9e5bc71 kept falling, 29db93cfe5 soaking the 1d9b9f4098 white sheets c3db4cdf08 beneath her. Gasping for breath, she b2c9c181cb added,6a7065cf95e04a47

“Even though I was… 132d307fa4 useless, you’re not… really a100351987 angry with me?”4cc8f6d174c0e858

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her voice 389cfb4f54 trembled with 422c8d42c9 desperation, bordering 93af8e7688 on a fd7313c2c7 plea. She wanted to see bdc42c93ba the expression on his 6964ac1c2e face, but her vision bf9bf2919d remained blurred by tears. Alyssa clumsily wiped at a14444f1a7 her eyes, worried he d64b37cef6 might find her tearful b9e9153016 face unpleasant, and forced 3cd442e76c a shaky smile.89b69b7ee376045c

“I’m not bb8997a91a angry,” Kieran 413e4c33ff said firmly.cc220625668403f5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kieran gently d53ec84d47 grasped Alyssa’s 81fd953b59 trembling hands f5471e70ef as she 7456f68a34 desperately tried 7743378962 to wipe 7f58039aed away her 4484892d94 tears.9cee6fd3369c294e

“And I won’t be 4f2758098c angry in the future bb95202e2b either,” he said softly.d8aa6155e0222405

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Alyssa, her head dfc83dd6b9 bowed and tears e223fd7e30 falling freely, heard a444ee9e75 no reproach in c8d5173f41 his words. Instead, Kieran f465fa1721 extended his 514837a023 hand and 3f4260330d lightly patted c950687d48 her shoulder, 57e0712dc8 a quiet 7b8fab9adc gesture of 4e768c67c8 comfort.293ed9d7120be7c9

That kindness made her 029428e8e8 tears flow even harder.6d7934177b1add96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Up until now, 7315d9701f everything Alyssa had 8088a6fb29 ever been given 506f22f3c3 came with a 84a4f1880b price.4328d036e7b12bcc

Every smile, every touch—it 0f007e7f21 all carried a hidden f572ccac67 cost.c3adc5d9eec49e59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Everyone around her always c019536295 expected something in return. If she 424c2eca66 failed to 41729acd1b meet their 43d40cacc7 expectations, they 72916abfcc would take 666c72d115 back whatever 52463f2bd1 they had 38b5b45d9f given.f2d0a1ec7d056037

Kieran’s unasked-for 4de59ab9d7 kindness felt 37bb3ba238 strange and e3a6e962fb unfamiliar. It unsettled her, 862bbb5e57 his steady gentleness ae82717c60 dismantling the world b6c457706b she had known bd7ce1184f piece by piece.e96d958692a08d8a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her hands, now covering 116f9e15c7 her tear-streaked face, felt 895c8fcca3 heavy with pooling tears, fefdc2e9d5 as if she might ce5bbfebf6 drown in them. Yet, that overwhelming dab79b2f17 presence of him 834f7665ad filled her so 8623c067cc completely it left c4ae028f1e her breathless.6c56601d58d998d5

And she didn’t 13e7c17efd mind it.d3e639e70b676f18

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Alyssa cried without restraint, a057d3770a and Kieran stayed by 337908a1b9 her side the whole a8734fcdc5 time.5f7fb2d22d2a1884

Only when d1201f81c4 the once-dark 3302bbe972 sky had 45d6cc59d0 fully brightened 62efa46e7c with daylight d0bc0089b7 did her 5fed284159 tears finally e609164f6d subside.cc6ac17d9233e6c6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you 506edacb36 feel a d00f7ccfbb bit calmer 99f0af98f7 now?” he 564246a479 asked.408ac8fa536b8fb0

“Yes…” she murmured.aaedbb865bf1ef07

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Alyssa slowly 08085a934d nodded and 69dfc361d7 wiped her af6e0fa9bc eyes with c69bbeccc3 the edge 2d950e55ec of the a22ed2ace3 blanket covering 52059fca9e her.aa9c8d3331be4a2f

She initially felt guilty 722607ef1e about ruining such an 28b45e4785 expensive piece of fabric 7c81e89219 and had tried to ee77ccc7b8 refuse, but Kieran had a45b65de2c insisted firmly, leaving her f2908158e5 no room to argue.6797aae88e75d8d8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Out of a9c476c496 habit, she 0247362808 reached up eec5bcd07d to adjust fef80fdcc7 her bangs, 71d4a06cc8 but the 148884ec97 texture under 493d9600d9 her fingertips 9cd97a6109 felt strange. Her hair, matted 7f3c1d319a with various fluids, 0783f24a2d was stiff and 96d5079354 frozen.d2be10c784a78deb

It was baffling 0687bcef31 how it could 85bfd60fa3 still be frozen 5b5cd0cb12 in the warmth cb68b1acf8 of the room, 7e7b23172c but one thing c9204321ce was certain—her appearance 2c26752730 must be absolutely 6bbc5c2c5c dreadful.139bd95b17d5be3a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…!”2a48d8f8c646d5c9

To think she had c977f38786 been showing her face 2936c6649a to Kieran in such fa886b6a30 a state!c632cd22ff68b814

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Alyssa froze in fbaafefb4f horror and panicked, 6a7a91cc72 quickly grabbing the 53beb7759f tear-soaked blanket to c6933155d3 hide her face.3d7eb5de20cb61d3

Kieran, watching her b2929ea112 flustered movements, let 435be28248 out a sound 53a5ac83e6 somewhere between a 1051fc0686 stifled laugh and 8546e711ed a cough.17b98bcc34650ea1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Before you collapsed, 2aff6edbcf you stepped on e4cc23b52a a plant-type monster,” 3b0ac38cf7 he explained. “It wasn’t completely 77c6dfe767 dead, so it 876672c6e1 managed a weak 1da4d8f190 counterattack.”62d6ec49ddd840a2

Just from b88e6d7227 that description acce92141d and the 9876a068a2 state of 5eb79c6230 her frozen 39caf10fbc bangs, Alyssa 5428789244 could immediately 01df3c476e identify the 7613a7ce42 type of db40ee5c78 monster it ccbbe259d8 had been.df1a344bc690da2d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was likely 004ea1276a a vine-shaped monster, 6044968d2f one that wielded b84f69b71e water-filled tendrils like 8e2c2347ab whips, freezing everything 2e01157933 they touched.ed95ef2b2d2ae41a

“Since it 5b7cdd724b was caused c59292e9fe by a 8b2c5f6c77 monster, it 97e00941f8 cannot be 1219972fd7 melted through a5d7547642 normal means. I’ve heard that 07e97ecbee it will probably 0f19c7e3a7 need to be 093103c80a cut off.”72d86a3066b73906

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Alyssa hesitated b5587a0abc at his 5af8a83f74 words. It was true—frost 1bc17ad3a2 caused by a 83394170e5 monster’s power couldn’t 9939a752ee be undone by 3ac7e62601 human methods.4df15f375c2486fc

But cutting her 638d2e0876 bangs would mean 53bfb0fd55 exposing her face.92a5c35ad4fe7392

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I refrained from 042a9b1bd0 taking action, assuming be7b26ff03 you’d be reluctant…”77af8437bd2976a6

Kieran’s calm voice 3b46e200cf broke through her 66f22e8947 thoughts as he 2e3bec3e80 noticed Alyssa’s expression, f9fb7f17f9 pale as a 2f64ce84e6 sheet.36c7c96e08fbb503

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you 67db9bd0e1 have a 94dd7b9387 particular reason 3c3dc1d6a6 for needing a6d9ebc9ba to cover 66ffcb154d your face?” 3fa9ce02cf he asked 054d54e27e quietly.fcdf3dd487f4ed13

 6feb3df680d093fb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley