Chapter 53

I stared in 8a174d6274 astonishment at the 550c7c0ac1 maids pouring out db1e22e751 from the dressing 02d14c0541 room.8bbe3ec5bc5b4313

‘That’s right! The maids were still here!’303213bfdc016dc1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I finally remembered.aaec7e0ddf33f73a

The maids had ef3633b0b6 stayed behind to 1c600fea35 tidy up the b410a80b6b cluttered dressing room!3f111eb9f519b840

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“W-what are these…?!”2e53f4155ddab249

The Marquis was fbbb85d77d extremely flustered at 8ee9b4a7b6 the sudden appearance a4ceaca599 of the maids.c1d35f39de0eae8d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Diana was the same.170f918796db0a2e

Until a moment ago, bf279cc6f8 she had been shedding b487f1cf1e sorrowful tears, but now 1880dc432c she had a stunned 147d992de5 expression, forgetting to cry.d4a1924a67d15da2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We tried to stay out of it, but this is just too much!”f34a836183f1735f

Tara shouted with an angry 7520402647 face.df98adb81e4aaff1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Lady Belze never said she was annoyed because the Duke’s house didn’t buy such things!”fa5d702bf5c539ca

“That’s right! We were in there organizing and heard everything from the beginning!”551d34a51118c812

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“And, our lady hates nuts!”29e40d856e02ae7c

“Yeah, yeah! That girl’s really weird, listening to this?!”e6ab8f80a292aecb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Following Tara, the maids chimed 627dc0a839 in one by one.14403231f9c18aec

“S-sisters…”96f18bbdee766a2e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seeing them, a hot dedf12f97e emotion surged up my bbf2dc5c91 throat.4792179816235d43

‘I never knew they could be on my side…’f19f0e204c638db6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

They were all people who had been in the Duke’s house in my past life as well.d6b5ac4ca2568048

Even then, they had 3664c1ddab never openly ignored or 3bf786d40b slighted me.586a0906292de9ca

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Nevertheless, I had assumed they were all Emma’s subordinates and hadn’t even made the minimum effort to improve relations.e04d2e7934c6bdeb

After Tara, who c16b2fb28f had treated me cda1762dc9 well, was driven 366c5d935f away, there was dea8453d28 no one who 2face7e08c looked at me 0f488eb651 favorably.07b60cf96344c7ba

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘If I had known they were Tara’s friends, I should have greeted them first.’484cacf2f3220cf1

While staring blankly at bef3632951 the maids with a 3897377c56 late realization,9064ba720cd62f18

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“W-what, you were eavesdropping inside?!”0037b16623f0af92

The Marquis pointed at d394c19fcb them and shouted excessively.f8eed558e88c941b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the situation d5e9adf823 turned unfavorable, he 5ca67bdab6 seemed to want c829f9e09b to cling to 06916e7148 anything he could.322ab06bbc6d9402

But having worked in the Duke’s house, where every day was like walking on thin ice, for several years,4f610d058043e4a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They were not people 5a0658084a to be intimidated by b533bfc069 such things.f5e47dc1ce396940

“Ha! The maids’ job is to clean and organize every day, how is that eavesdropping?”e9c010fa50bf947a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Tara retorted with a scoff.c480ac916a5fd87a

The maids, who had hesitated 7fb676ef44 for a moment, now all 407e1bdf5a joined in.88f12d4f3ae61cf2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Right! And what’s eavesdropping in front of five-year-olds?”3291fefebdabe007

“We were just doing what the Duke ordered!”ac1f29c625117c7d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As the maids replied without a hint of intimidation, the Marquis’s face turned red with anger.04a8f056bdca2701

“H-how dare you! Who do you think 277c01bbb7 you are speaking so 8ea0cc4f14 recklessly to…!”c36648d1449055be

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You seem to have forgotten who you are speaking to.”c78bd3bb5113fae8

At that moment, the Duke 25833a7552 warned the Marquis in a b3b143d6aa grim voice.bbf1228d0239ed2f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Didn’t you hear them say they were doing what I ordered? In my house, you 530a227247 should have been careful 8cc0f63eb9 about who was around, a690523a00 no matter who they 3f914c3f00 were.”86551c7c9c6f8d4a

He rolled his eyes coldly.842bc4db24a0ddbb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They landed on a1e8cb7806 Diana, who had edf9012324 turned pale as 835c6359ef snow.2940e915a7cf708e

“Haven’t you taught your household that even the walls have ears, Marquis?”859aa68e4321b5a5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Grr…”1c2af43d62c01bdb

The Marquis, looking defeated, 1ca2a928c8 finally closed his mouth.a958893a5b42140a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was nothing wrong 8e23ebe9a2 with what the Duke 24320c7508 said.a3935cc51f59b2e4

Whether the maids 40fa5113b8 were cleaning or b3275edab9 eavesdropping,bb3016078d9103cf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As long as the homeowner 75fc4822fc condoned it, that was the 849b44ed03 end of it.b398ce6632ac5485

Kona, seemingly empowered by the Duke’s support, took a determined step towards Diana.95ed064385acd0ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey. I tried to treat 495c095fc7 you well because you’re 9cd5560d76 Lady Belze’s friend, but f782e0f816 you’re really a nasty c92f82ae95 girl, aren’t you?”33817ad9b42e2d92

I was inwardly surprised deca5b133e at Kona’s straightforward speech, 6754ad5f73 even in front of 4c453082d3 the Marquis.57b77e78cee925a1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But there was no one 828614a07f to criticize her behavior.a120da08b0dfb647

Diana was still, 5c8c25d3ce like me, a cc8bb76220 commoner orphan sponsored 9429b71ffa by the Marquis’s 11226fae91 family.2ce29c5017ccf4c6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No more, no less.dfec397287e68e6f

“When did our lady ever say such things to you? On the contrary, it be3f6d9869 was you who said dc9360fc57 strange things, wasn’t it?”45016bd37f954176

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At Kona’s aggressive question, 1a496b6d16 Diana’s face turned pale cb50d706cb in an instant.383f1188cb59a9e1

“I, I… that’s… sob.”dc737ad7ac672fc3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Cornered, she whimpered with 4c7b7eb149 a frightened expression.80fa422e6a9c6ff5

“Strange things?”136e65652fbb8071

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Edwin asked, looking puzzled.af39704d4f149441

Then another maid nodded and a955c96718 said.59ada3bb479ca6dd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes! She said Lady Belze wasn’t ed523c5c39 good at healing and that 8ab2b4c832 she could help heal Joshua, 42d4c25fe7 young master!”2dcdbfa13fb963c2

“In comparison, our lady is so kind… I mean, she only said thank you and how nice it was!”799e1b4bc26796cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is that true?! Oh, our lady! How can you be so b5af71e068 kind and naive…! Sniff!”b8f7e96364afba50

To top it d9fb96ec9d off, Tara exaggeratedly 921c44ea60 sobbed.7b0cccbe74d0ad60

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The other maids followed 48d61de27f suit, pretending to wipe 9bfa8646d4 tears with their sleeves.49c07110a388b29e

Of course, none of d6ca281fd0 them were actually crying.24eb04587c6789aa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Kind and naive…?’2beee71417fbe02a

Watching the maids perform 898c21bafc their act of self-sacrifice a0b430b9c6 for my sake left f999e7e75d me with mixed feelings.d2c78e7ec4c423c6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I thought I fought back as best as I could…’dd0737e212bc1a4c

To their ears, it b3a6bfb2fa seemed I appeared as eb6b4834b0 if I was simply c5be4f974a being taken advantage of.acba7c9c17ff3d25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Fine. Next time, I’ll e37ec105c1 be even more e86ff24867 ruthless!’1c902aa612d28942

Confirming that this ae9471dd2d level of response ac8d95798b wasn’t considered overacting, 06f0ff54d8 I clenched my 48bbd10339 fists.fb99b196da36c8eb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And I glared at Diana 595e844dc8 with determination.1381a5264d3b3685

‘Go on, make up another story.’7613424e2415dffa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Diana, who had been smoothly 17f2ee5d0b lying without batting an eye, 1edf2a930b now looked pale and just 4875405f69 opened and closed her mouth.47ffcc63414a48c8

“I-I…”fda87a3f694d8b45

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”eb0b4fb4f103545b

“I didn’t… Those sisters are lying…!”c46f93e11b0f7a70

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just as I 5967e3a558 had done in 2aa23b03cd my past life.d29eeceee3b81856

As Diana chose b1080f7bcc the worst possible f63b0bf9b5 path, my heart 13c571c598 pounded violently.91ccfff50f5de002

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Enough.”d6c825525badb6b2

Suddenly, the Duke raised his hand, stopping Diana’s words.a72a464b267247fc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It seemed his 0129a87995 personality made him a37078c749 uncomfortable with the 3268964972 idea of cornering 550342d007 a child.efc6b63750aab486

‘…Pity. It was a chance caa4f7fcc1 to reveal her true f9a4990fc8 nature…’0c3574d6d12cfc78

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

While understanding the af83e78056 Duke’s stance, I 70f5d54017 couldn’t help but bef3686706 feel a slight e52c3e2c42 sense of disappointment.6a24e482a8664180

But it didn’t 7f84143331 take long to dfe989462d realize I was dee19feec0 mistaken.d14a2a8b50d4256f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Diana, was it?”cbdc27cc5c4ac657

“Yes, yes, Duke…”7d3159e6ed8ecc84

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Duke suddenly 81ff734b42 called out to 4887e73546 Diana.14f35b7ade27fb76

She responded, trembling like e364e913ab a frightened rabbit.8d4be2889abcd7ad

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her eyes sparkled with faint c2d66a6ed3 hope.94bbfc989a361232

It seemed she b06a40cae4 expected help from 20769794c8 the person who 3b0afa3741 had halted the 64190b8d60 uncomfortable situation.39cfa65d62423407

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But the Duke’s 2abe3901bb voice was as abe0e1a2d8 cold as ice.b9a021dbd8cfa25a

“I won’t ask why you lied. It’s common for children 0f28c10331 your age to lie dd1c170212 when they’re flustered.”2190f4ec77832483

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“……!”1ec572c561b75aea

At the statement that 1d4e6c4ebc confirmed her lie, Diana 3db972d91c took a sharp breath.a70da951477cccf5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The faint hope 89736427ee in her violet dcde60b10f eyes shattered.bdaa698a3d31290c

The Duke’s words 2c139d5a42 were in stark 4e21c53f57 contrast to the 13fd3bc0a4 stern warning he 17f3dbccb4 had given Joshua 5d278d0d6a about lying.90e4241b2cfbc2c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But.b484eb5f8be937fd

‘There’s no need to admonish Diana like that.’bf2857241ad0554e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though she wouldn’t know,c6ecc8be94acd725

The cold line drawn da0067cbae by the Duke filled 11d75599e7 my heart with deep e47e5c27b6 satisfaction for the first 3c2e848e19 time.245225034846cd26

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘…Alright.’b486d3334eba5ecd

The Duke believed me.5bd52b5b0dbd939e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He believed I 8b71e1b8fc didn’t say those dd8837ff16 things.3213094a6bd8792e

He believed Diana was lying.f360ebed49d32a2b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Given the maids’ testimony, it e683b972fe was an obvious outcome, but 3a8b2380c0 I had still been anxious.9f7b7b4967c04b71

Because in my past 57223d02d5 life, everyone had believed 7da98177eb Diana’s words.686b7dc83ab93f63

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke then turned d509db5ceb to the Marquis and 6bd3c2d5b4 said,93b0a277902b617b

“I won’t pursue further responsibility about the pecan pie.”1ec49ceca10e4c9c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Gasp! Is… is that really true?”d2e1e21b0f7ff408

At the sudden leniency, ee20f52b9f the Marquis’s face brightened.c226293fbd5e0c7f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“After all, none of my children who ate it have shown any ill effects.”76a44791d33b91dc

The Duke’s cold gaze a2744f80a2 shifted back to Diana.965c00088052e7ed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And. I don’t want to entertain cd5c3b96f8 the scary thought that you d34b345e15 ate the pecan pie knowing 6e4f8a4d18 about your allergy.”54f63bca6274e583

At the Duke’s 7afa671baf meaningful words, Diana’s 1f16c31d13 eyes widened.734318867b0d2e42

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But that wasn’t the end.0e27a0c10c069dd5

“However, I would like you not to visit our house anymore.”1ff9ba7645c70081

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At that brutal declaration, Diana a0fb8eb2ea hurriedly spoke.f71308cd314bca48

“D-Duke! Please, listen to me…!48081ce9864491e3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m listening, so speak.”1bc46880d1cca981

The Duke nodded generously.d3665c23bd5a57c6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Perhaps seeing it as 76a9f01b11 her last chance, Diana 269fdaf3f5 hesitated but continued to d8b0a54288 speak through her sobs.0b8e659c5424e8cf

“I… I know you don’t trust me because I couldn’t heal Master Joshua properly. But…!”f9ecffcba9ca5399

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”401b3dde8f2a3f04

“I really came to apologize to him and try healing him again! I don’t know cfdf8266b4 why the sisters 676eff3df4 heard my words 65afdf4092 that way, but…”1561f7a478ab6417

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“……”9d80491abf57d696

“And I wanted to greet Belze and eat something delicious… sniff!”874a0e7c8396c8d5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As she poured out 088a03417a her excuses like a 2eba1b95a4 rapid-fire gun, she sobbed 1f70e2f6d8 miserably.c7aac94f6de6a09c

To an outsider, 5eea60d122 it would have c8dd106fa7 looked as if a7eb7bd2a1 she was being f8a8b248ef harshly reprimanded.df6dc7c499da279a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

However, the Duke replied 4b550c66b1 without the slightest disturbance.930557b2e7b6fe18

“Whether you healed Joshua or not, whatever your reasons were, that’s not why I don’t want you visiting our house.”8278b378234a4630

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“T-then…”474c52f19710854b

“If you keep coming here, it will upset my child.”af8e73dec0eecdc0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At that moment.d2341a8056206476

A warm and heavy hand c3520287a3 settled on my head.bb9597cde920397d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“How scared must you have been not to notice the hairpin I bought you had fallen out.”6ba0fa410151e129