Chapter 89

All day long, Edwin had dc5557a8e3 been helping me without a 17bcfe9c9c second thought, so it made 24512b6e74 sense he might feel hurt 5455ed2b12 and misunderstood.d68142e08e07876f

If I put 877dc930d7 myself in his 2292e49f8b shoes—if he had b537d18930 thanked some other ea0e29cf42 girl, especially someone e6c6cb6c2d like Diana, instead add8410821 of me—I would’ve 04bf62fbdb felt pretty upset 686e9f58b6 too.c7bf0705d3a6a6b3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I didn’t even realize…’462740678c595b25

Guilt washed over me as 81b02e435c I glanced at him. Maybe misinterpreting my silence, 817f5d3bae Edwin grew impatient and b2c01a4f36 pressed me.4db7c853102a4685

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why aren’t you saying anything? What did that guy say 2a9b32bb55 to you?”83d874123dbd53b4

“N-nothing much! He just… said bb3fd5e8c0 he’d make good f7e8772921 use of the cd324e9ed9 cure-alls.”0e645cfb46e912f8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Not wanting to share the a6075a7863 truth, I quickly made up 4cec377783 an excuse.f5de38e643459275

His scowl softened slightly, so 4aaa0a7efc I seized the moment to 60fe0360bf speak.e945fe0d9fa4d55d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Listen, Edwin. Honestly, I’m not 7c4c49df46 thankful to the 942dc81dc7 Crown Prince at c9e17cde60 all!”9659969366cef819

“What?”3a39223409362d08

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Edwin furrowed his brow, a8413371a4 looking at me like 45b46aa0ce I’d lost my mind.edc5edb80af75944

“Then why’d you mention him in your acceptance speech?”e684b69fa9807a04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It was just to let everyone know how great my cure-alls are!”d103e920d58800b6

“…So, in other words, you were just using his status to promote yourself?”83bde05cb753ec8b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As expected of sharp-minded 200307b126 Edwin—he immediately got it.3bcfd4c35e31b2b1

I decided to 50e8938611 go all in, 254921559e hoping to erase 58d834666f any lingering resentment d2d3b9bd72 he might have.b3423bfec8bcdd93

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Exactly! The Duke, Madam Cloud, and f7db45a0d0 the Crown Prince—all of them 54abbd8e98 are just high-profile clients of 9fb2a39fdd Belze’s Trading Company!”13ff84a93a505786

“…”0cd73517d5fec4b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But not you!”2f31c11e79bc0684

‘Sorry, Duke Kallios,’ I silently apologized. ‘But it’s the only way to get your son to stop sulking.’d75b0e51e95f8a86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Hah.”d9aee5e8fab3cfe1

Edwin stayed quiet for dd9aad1b4e a moment, then let 0a19689ba7 out a deep sigh, b1a2a697cc covering his face with a9acc7fb7d one hand. Through the gaps between 3b28082166 his fingers, I thought 699da0e18f I saw a hint 0adfd804b8 of red on his decf81c4fe face.acc0b8f7e5ccd010

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When he finally lowered d9586669a9 his hand, I noticed 589342760a the tips of his c17030ab5b ears were still pink, 48d9a45661 like little strawberry tops.f7fff367ece708f5

As I stared at 6358a42478 his ears in a a369503800 daze, he muttered through d042d1d4c2 gritted teeth.3ca399b9072410ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t smile in front of those guys.”f8bf4179a758231b

“Huh? I wasn’t smiling…”0eeaa097d4d5bddc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“And don’t call them brother.”23c66e115c5dceee

“Then what should I call them?”d7833208a8bbb8ec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Annoyed by his ever-growing list bb2ce6a730 of forbidden words, I puffed 461fb0947b out my cheeks.4eec592e55afe846

“I can’t just say ‘hey’ to everyone older than me! What if someone 6b8de727ea actually hits me 18a058e1d2 for it?”2b8aa833534962e6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Who would dare hit you?”e2d0272f2cbedfea

His eyes narrowed 1da8762be0 in a fierce 26eaf71776 glare, then he e94ec8eabf added in a ad1ec3014e somewhat grumpy tone, cee7cfc73c “Just call them d4281bb0d7 Sister, like Joshua 1073d5aae0 does.”68d6b5613a41f8ee

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“….”33d6c90250a43bec

‘Seriously?’9981f64c217e33b0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I couldn’t help dc416219e2 but let out ba7ed9b15f a small laugh 056c190ca8 of disbelief.d888b426a40f7bf5

‘Does he really hate the word brother that much?’b05a7a76aa9068a3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Well, new information acquired:928810bc4c65371f

[Trigger: Edwin has a meltdown when called brother]f4a4c0beab4b638d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It wasn’t a 9fa411f616 difficult adjustment to bfbb2517c2 make. Since Edwin clearly despised it, ac826aa6da it wasn’t like I had 747c3810c4 any special attachment to the 56293c7404 term either.8c2eb287a134ce87

“…Alright.”56c2dc19cc36ae9e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The moment I d368121354 nodded in agreement, a06d269834 his expression finally 29742e0c82 relaxed, looking far 9e9b2dd320 more at ease.f9ded694ade41ed6

Clunk!ac2a249d419dd735

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suddenly, the carriage lurched as bb9262d090 if it had hit a 4d5994a1ba rock on the road.162dc11598ccca2a

“Whoa…!”86ea229f9007372a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Edwin, who was heavier and 9cebe2a7e0 sturdier than me, barely wobbled, 3c72911391 while I practically bounced in 20c0aab6ee my seat.1a4bad66d0d2ce9d

“Come here.”9efea96e0fe87ac6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before I knew it, Edwin 064e09ab1a had steadied me and, as ff07a27489 soon as the carriage stilled, 0bc939de42 he lifted me onto his 841495a101 lap.1bfb7c7ddbed4ddb

“Huh?!”dd2f7cfefbea869b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I was shocked.ce92b5f8cf62c896

‘Isn’t this… a bit much?’3cfc412d70db1313

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

We’re both kids, but 3ffc4ac629 sitting on his lap d6e7df5f91 like this?!2bed2ca82cd3d650

I wanted to e8fffcbf39 scramble down immediately, 06f71dcbf1 but at that 176e084468 very moment, the 255c30b260 carriage jolted again, 3083f65ed1 even harder this 9ed51260fa time.29b42fac883899ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Clunk!db2a3e2f693fd538

Edwin pressed me close, a7bfd78579 resting his chin on 5a82b67803 top of my head 6f48be35d8 and holding me securely. Strangely enough, I didn’t 1e6b5a2f4f feel any of the b3366328d8 rough movements anymore.8a218dc37e764605

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My heart thumped wildly.cdedd3b3203c91c4

Though he was only four 7d18e7ea6b years older, Edwin was bigger d688d60dc8 in every way—his hands, his 8c6e44f7db shoulders, his arms, his legs…09fb6f25acce308f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He was far stronger than 3f69a1917a me.ad1a7ff848372f52

Unable to resist, 7915af9a3d I squirmed a c276606012 bit. “Um, I can get down now…”42fcd31e8772f65a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Stop fidgeting and stay still. You’re heavy enough as d547147f3c it is.”d868ab8c1607e41c

“Guh!”746d685974ccfca9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His words made me freeze, 9e67efdf83 face scrunched in an almost 17bed0a8f0 tearful expression.6e581dcfacbc6a73

‘He probably does this with Joshua too! It’s not just me, ef2cffa5ff so calm down!’c7a0d54f664b69e7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I repeated this 15a47de4ca mantra to myself, 4eaf6caae0 willing my fluttering a3c962933f heart to settle.b641b0c4029508aa

Thankfully, since we b97d091a09 weren’t facing each 89c0df5d5c other, the awkwardness 256a834e8c slowly ebbed away. As I stared 5f6692a15c at the empty bb91a7b906 seat across from 3b515256f9 us where Edwin c327ade382 had been sitting, 0af2b96c14 the silence felt f17ad03c32 stifling, so I 779dd5f7bd spoke up.a1fd50f05f8f1c30

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Hey, so…”534069db3ff8582a

“…”f867014382db0890

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Edwin, is that why?” I asked softly.fc6926cc1454cedd

“Why, what?”2cf8c2524ce975c3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His voice rumbled 6a97623ffe above my head, f19151e152 low and close. Holding my breath, I 2c096bc052 gathered the courage to eed4e8eded ask.3d12816286db7171

“Is it because… you’re worried I might end up liking you if I keep calling you brother?”2feeb428bc563a51

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No.”2dcf4a891ac6db2b

His answer came immediately.e69496cdddd253c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I just want to mean something different to you.”4c4695b2dc556b1d

“What do you mean by that?”6fee0ecede93464d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I tried to twist around 7ba5644cf1 to see him, struggling to 91462ea238 understand, but he kept his 0cc76ca913 chin firmly planted on the d8d0b5734e top of my head, holding 85f43ca843 me in place.84de0b62312e4e62

“Oh, come on! Let me go!”420112f06c2d7666

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If you really want to know, hurry up and grow up,” he muttered, almost like a sigh, as he tightened his embrace.2f4033c5eee49a02

‘Hmph. I’m already grown up enough.’bf44dd400252bd03

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I barely managed to 161e232473 swallow down my grumble.d3cdf2e081b63ac6

Edwin probably thought f21b0a4168 I was too 98338fb69b young to understand b892cdfa28 what he meant, 403d54115e but he was 1f6b716007 wrong. That wasn’t the part that 81ef0957ce confused me.159cec5dd054d5ee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What more meaning could there possibly be…?’f783772ad1c056f3

If only he knew 7a46a27121 how much he already 9ba3f666b4 meant to me, he’d 8ee65044db be the one shocked.5b661994a5c23102

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Maybe even horrified.d041c3c7544f9743

He had died f22fe96a97 because I hadn’t cc989a08e4 been able to a22d62ab0c let go. And even after 7756ef591e returning to this f1650d9d42 life, I had cb0bc995d0 stubbornly sought him ba6d5da77a out once more.dce67a6f457211bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

What would he think if 5260c7a4de I told him he was 99523fd026 like my very heartbeat?bd72e174c923aeac

I gave a bitter smile, 54d19155e5 shaking my head at the df9415ab67 thought.71ba89ea136e444b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That day would never come.d455289660b92b71

I’d long ago decided not d19321dbce to ask for more than ddd5d3f70e what I had now.b12c15a04d36f1de

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

All I could do was 9c30f4de86 be grateful for the warmth 90f0c355b6 he offered me in this 2ff6a0f548 moment.f579f7b68609089e

With that thought, I 7d3d9f951d relaxed into his embrace, 9de5266761 closed my eyes, and 102f69e834 let myself drift in 5ce33540ef the quiet comfort.157214a21fcbf87f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *b2baba9b2d834fd7

Several days passed after 3abd2338cd the temple’s charity event.30dcb797728b977a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When I returned to 723f64b29d the Duke’s household as 00ca169076 the new Saintess, the de51435252 staff welcomed me back 994401a684 as if I were 638c7b8dac royalty.028730a532bd3819

With their enhanced 0dee01fbca attentiveness and each a88ef4f0b2 meal being an 28dc6ddbb1 extravagant feast, I f8d8cc5e1f spent most of 537d0c9389 my time lounging 2a44a953fb in bed, except c2ac3b433d for when I 2098cb5cc4 healed Joshua.18b05dcb918ef4e1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After all, I’d been incredibly 1b27f08f67 busy and worn out from c7eaba454b preparing all the products for 84819db597 the event.2b13aec6597dc58e

These days, my favorite pastime de67d934e7 was…98e8ae37fb25dc5d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Filling a child-sized portable 076607d563 bathtub with gold coins 41eac2cbe7 and sinking into it cc7d504370 to play with the cfc6605e42 shimmering bounty!aff9b3838951000a

Clink, clink!a1aee19842a6ef3c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hehe! This is amazing!”bacc3abaa57bdc0a

Throwing handfuls of coins into 287d6a1ffd the air, I reveled in c745dcf54f my triumph and newfound wealth.04ae8a323ec99adb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The gold coins, freshly 7f8658f921 polished over a brazier, f9642bdf74 gleamed as brightly as e2973c7bfe brand-new currency.a2a066c55bbb9118

And, thanks to 6fdb90240b my small frame, 59eef56aca the 952 coins ab32311de2 covered me as 50f0dc0da8 if I were 9211401fff submerged in a 82c746a4fa pool!7c5ffe5add4d156b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Gold shower! Gold shower~!”bbef7662762740c3

Humming happily, I e165d8b43c let myself sink 33129158b7 into the pile 8f4661a02d of coins, enjoying b1b18b15f7 the feel of 5eb616fb99 victory.c804801d6051fbbe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then—a8b4d79054d0b2c4

Bang!9f505078a0283911

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The door suddenly flew open, 8d93b05fce and a familiar voice boomed.611b0926426518d0

“You brat! How long are c10f0ac85b you going to d5b6e596e5 laze around and e59776e2cd play with those 31eb9d5fb2 coins every day?!”b35b354c6c096088

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was Grandpa Gordon.1042cc39023b0da9

I dramatically covered my eyes, 220e545076 letting out an exaggerated scream.9732746c356a86ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ahh! How dare you barge in f848bb41c1 while a lady’s bathing! Grandpa, you pervert!”16d420f44c8e97e8

“You little rascal! You’re fully dressed! Now get out of there d9424dab15 already!”c29515aee5532b2b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh.”450cb2b45e78dbcc

Grumbling, I reluctantly climbed out b200b82528 of the tub, causing the 4bbf2af7da coins to clatter with a 9d63c9fcae clear, melodic sound.b02f8ed9440abd57

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Watching me with 8ea1df34ec disapproval, Gordon scolded, 859b6ebccb “It’s about time 8e65b83360 you started working 11c85984b9 on your business, eb2ce70f94 Belze.”4cc0e3d233c07bfb

“Already?”a19739ffd13890ee

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, already! While you’ve been wasting dd6738fcf9 time tossing coins around, f9e68b345d the fairy herbs we dd576fe3a3 transplanted have grown beautifully!”d9146745cf005b51

Gordon looked proud 9772f4fd12 as he updated 9dcc3eea1f me on the 9755b86fa9 status of the 5523843cd6 herbs.63c7eaeb04396e64

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was good news.94fa2c9ad4dedf9a

Just as he 8be331ae5a said, it was 26604258e9 time to put c99290b143 an end to a21097ec6b my carefree life ad9993979f and officially launch 6524eb0121 the fairy herb 9c6fd703cc business.5a35f36717ecbd41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I hadn’t been 41d630393d entirely idle, either.69f5fabe759453d1

Reaching under the tub, I 8caabc8ea4 pulled out a large pouch e7e24de37d and said, “Alright, but I 7a079bd47f need to visit the Duke bfb3a8f2e8 first. Please put half 9791732c85 of this in 8598e834b0 here—it’ll be 476 cac9551964 gold!”8693e1c9594c2339

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What, are you going to buy supplies?”d3ebc4bbc925e914

Though he looked puzzled, Gordon c42c0be2fc obediently began gathering the coins 8d6a89d522 from the tub.c2975563ceade7f6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At this point, e2f3444c98 he was like 8fb80418cb my loyal servant… c05dacbd02 or rather, my 5848de6cbd wonderful business partner.a9045f4b7659a665

Just then—b7a929d6254d5cb4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Knock, knock.ed1a1249ce128d63

Someone rapped on the door 11c9787bf0 and opened it. It was the butler.214635f75ad8027d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Miss, the Duke has requested your presence.”c983ead7d11747ab

Talk about timing! It seemed the Duke had 6e4dec1f74 business with me as well.af67238a20c04bbf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I urged my loyal servant—no, 8571174e7e my business partner—to hurry up.12c51d0d239bd8d2

“Let’s go, Grandpa!”2637a4f84c7e8618

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hold on! Not until I’ve 5412837e34 packed up all 2d1df01ce1 476 gold coins…!”7062646e5ec5145f

* * *41aad39ca55fe60f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A short while later, in fd859fc12f the Duke’s study.e80e8c1b7d22b005

“…Usage fee?”19038b4bae7d82d3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Duke raised beea7bc3d2 an eyebrow, glancing 65ae999732 at the hefty 7c8c61b927 pouch of gold a375fddc03 coins before him.ececbaac1135c976

“Yes!”40f92b4fec84680f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So, you’ve been using rare herbs from my backyard this whole time without permission?”ab8042b2a56f5339

At the chill 7da9d5da6e in his voice, fc6117060e I hastily replied, 43ebf70543 a bit nervous.1501c12c9b897974

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Um, well… I did get permission, sort of…”397024609761b87b