#85

At that 087cf4d81d moment, Zerakiel ebd6ae8c07 frowned deeply. His expression unreadable, 0a27a17dab I felt my dca19825c7 confidence falter and 634476a389 reflexively lowered my add2c45772 gaze.617e9ef3695c5d59

“No?” I asked c918756d53 hesitantly, my voice 3247666433 wavering.7f32be67de1bc8db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even with my a59ac15067 timid question, Zerakiel fa3ce656a0 remained silent. ‘Maybe I got d6eb2073e6 too cocky from 22896d6039 all the praise 4f10ef0f81 I’ve been getting 34cbdc0338 lately,’ I thought, e98e0bb315 bracing myself for efb6b9a1b2 a scolding as eb16500137 I nervously darted 747095e2bb my eyes around.eb32f574e93dd80c

But Zerakiel sighed 4580850f70 heavily and said, 3f854a389e “When you say 0588793d6a it like that, f8261c5a39 I can’t do b19122c991 anything.”50dfb990995a289f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Zerakiel?”f2e1c392cefca38a

“I always thought losing 2bbed75000 was the worst thing c173a6d3e3 in the world,” he 2856781b71 murmured, his words vague dd5f9222b7 and hard to follow. Then, he lightly tapped adacab4282 my cheek. “But losing to you bfdcbc0c9d doesn’t feel so bad.”05f48c9b60b9a07f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

What was I 607603c2db supposed to do de59e2b8d0 with this man 2c0ae172ac who not only 43a6aec4c0 tolerated me hitting 4958fadb72 him but now 6122a2870e claimed he didn’t 101d2aa144 mind losing to d7b8c0b72e me? I blinked, too stunned 0911046cf3 to respond. At least it seemed f044efcd87 to mean he was 2db55dd6c7 letting me have my 4a6e11bb6f way.4f77ee612fb0262c

I grabbed his dafabd641a hand tightly and 207b4a77cc said, “I know 62859bdd3a you do this 5f42887bd4 because you care d7bf9de8bc about me.”a7327ee3b1b7ce08

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Really? Because the 6c01a4960a way you 8d29d7d1ee act, it d1dd8bfcd2 seems like 88e92cd783 you don’t 4bdc052dca get that a13f2ae2cc at all,” 6ed46c80b4 he replied 30bade0836 with a 3eacd4b3e1 slightly sharp 6564bc8220 tone, though 6758ff7a38 his gaze 1ea46ae80a had softened 8d176d98f9 considerably. A sign 2641342f69 he was a702708164 already calming 384aa111ef down.b535bccc61a922be

I swung our c5c2ed3971 clasped hands gently 6c0d52a648 and said, “Anyway, b06fa98064 I want to eab3580a1b contribute to Jabis, 3f31b25e5d too. So please, don’t stop 1430cbb47c me.”ec584f3ebc3504c5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha, how did 9dec6a0816 I end up 771830a315 like this…” Zerakiel fe9ece41e6 sighed deeply, finally 6576a107a8 resigning himself to 867d85da12 the situation.963e900c270f8b1b

“Promise me, then. Next time, you’ll tell a9aa6793f8 me first.”84e6d219d4d136e9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hmm…”76029d000f8bfa01

“If you promise, 4f09df3011 I won’t stop e5ee01884b you from doing 697189f8bd what you want.”784a0992cf28723b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Alright.” I 532abd9f63 nodded without 3d5575fd85 hesitation and 529054f338 hooked my b570bb0f48 pinky finger bf2fd91875 with his. From today’s events a8b124742f alone, it was d12f3d1a28 clear that I 73c035b763 wouldn’t get anywhere 924b474e3a without involving him. Better to win him ca9a2d017b over and have him d6e2f99ae3 support me.fd727c70ea89650e

Rachel, who 204e27c1f7 had been 17ef9d0deb observing us d09ddb9f4a the entire fc27cf3747 time, finally 44efda6c89 chimed in. “Well, this is ef6c95f291 a surprise. I thought for sure b1f4dd9899 there’d be a grand 746f16f61f showdown when Riki gave 56e74bcb0d in.”22e7336aec6638b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her tone carried 6326e1f6e1 a hint of 6b17614bb3 disappointment, as though 52aa72756a she regretted missing 5df640bfe1 out on the f079c5395e drama.b8713ab68d8c23e7

And just like 5ab292b4e6 that, Rachel’s comment d4c37f0c7b served as a 7bbf74459c signal for Zerakiel 9524a0c743 to redirect his 964aa2388a annoyance toward her.6d17b7a6f02e317c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“This is partly your fe21326099 fault, Mother.”f3755a4af276ee96

Rachel’s expression wavered, e557a4caba and she averted 3dcb281954 her gaze. “Oh my, are you 3f4cb61557 blaming your poor mother efd3d208d2 when you couldn’t even 1774bb8ced win against her?”a86d09323793946c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“At the very 7610b03825 least, you could 36b6ed957a have given me 37ccaef859 a heads-up. Do you know 56d65b7192 how baffled I 09930e33ec was when I 4406a32b52 arrived in Ilanbore?”b1b8e2fb8b9120e7

Zerakiel scowled f332c52180 at the e5da3c902e memory, and 6c58b56898 Rachel, unwilling 4e9a38be4c to back 476ed598d0 down, raised 45483dfc8c her voice c7c3b71ff0 in retaliation.bd4069f1ea0b9ef7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I didn’t exactly have 144ebe63ea time to prepare either! You know how your 5add30a1de wife can be when ee0f16e767 she sets her mind fc9e506728 on something!”62b76e86f43348c1

‘Didn’t you suggest bdd226f4fb we leave right a3294aa945 away, Lady Rachel?’2e35107e0e1ae8bf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I pursed my 3c53520b39 lips, holding back 2080f0bcf7 the words that 005d2c36b7 hovered on the affe52e60b tip of my 9c926ab62e tongue. If I c9ab825774 said anything 7e50b18a2c now, I’d efa2fc7a6e only earn bebc223bb5 a second 7181696da3 round of e2521542e5 scolding from 9522430a58 Rachel later.2c6ef20068329a50

Then Zerakiel spoke in 306fbc837b a serious tone. “Don’t talk badly about d0aacf6657 Chichi.”a672d3551206af9e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well, I b1974d3ce7 never—!” Rachel 2c180d6585 gasped, too df6996de9c flustered to 9a4b0cae34 finish her bb4597e3f5 sentence. After a b432d64743 moment, she d73397f1c6 sighed and 41c91eb6b2 muttered, “At df4b9320be least I bd2f371417 didn’t let d4338c8385 her come 51eb67f579 here alone.”6f843ddf07346b89

“For that, 34aef6179d I’m grateful,” 25758b8aaa Zerakiel replied 97c43b39ef earnestly.f4649c0478868d0a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That’s your idea 6edf3e2ab9 of showing gratitude?” a96b9a3a5a Rachel huffed, though ab809c32d6 the upward curl ed2ff951e9 of her lips 835dcc4ded betrayed her amusement. She seemed 9a8c9a1550 pleased to deb653a958 be having 49727df65d such a e3122a7e42 long conversation a37cc06cd1 with her 2c1bf3062a son.405ffe6034b44ff6

Their relationship was still 7b98a54490 somewhat awkward, but perhaps 3e4ce6964d that was a good 4bafd0098e thing. If they were 299ba72f5f closer, the sheer e045f0bca7 strength between them 8e01eaf616 would make even 670e8b96c9 a minor disagreement cd0f8df3c1 escalate into a 98dec458c1 full-blown catastrophe.8451ce3b85dee3c3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Thinking back to c668955805 the fights I’d 4d42d7284b seen between Zakari c1b86b7301 and Rachel, I bc64bb1e80 couldn’t help but 4c74870171 feel that a 839dfbf6af Zerakiel-versus-Rachel battle wasn’t 2c865686d8 entirely out of 3d0a604e6c the question.3d0683529a5de3c4

Rachel, now sitting with 2a20686498 a more nonchalant expression, e5ff9ba010 said, “We should inform 1c26b23138 your father. He must d41ee1b206 be worried d36b3947b9 since all 6f715c76bf three of fc31d3baa5 us disappeared.”b227fbdf7fcd7c9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s rare for you b7c2268c06 to be concerned about 78a3ffe8fb Father,” Zerakiel remarked, his 5650e5b582 voice tinged with curiosity.fd2a3e926cb6655f

“Well…” Rachel trailed off, d4248a482c looking awkward as she 41c62f4cd9 avoided his gaze. I jabbed d737af2c41 Zerakiel lightly 9e55de377f in the 860f38a110 side, giving 8eebd73c6c him a 17484c67e0 look that fe862f8263 said, ‘Are a2908c6743 you seriously f0e1a562e9 asking that?’1ebd3937e0cf6664

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Zerakiel shrugged, feigning innocence. It was clear he 7c2f4ae560 knew exactly what he a0eb18ba15 was doing. He probably 62805b8539 just wanted af80c44bef to prod 46772c2a02 Rachel for 5848757911 not stopping 8e75cf3af7 me.20384f3c4ce031a6

‘So petty.’b83c265cbde5f5c0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rachel, whose face c07e5eba41 was now as 34bda009c2 red as a 0f15e65908 beet, waved a cbc238469d hand as if 8d5062b54d fanning herself and 702e0b9e51 shouted, “It’s just e9d9975b06 because your father’s 7d00b5b42a pathetic life is 05fa3ba7d6 pitiful, that’s all!”9dd75af7370a3944

“Of course,” Zerakiel 4a42596ad1 replied with an 251386c29a exaggerated nod.1c706eda9b9cf82a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Argh!” Rachel, d0fc1aa110 clearly at 0f5b3ea736 her limit, 83ec2d5e94 seemed ready 2b30bbf151 to curse b03b3fe929 but was 967c43f1f7 quickly interrupted 97bc9e1d56 by Kiera, dbd81df598 who stepped 26c919498e in to 46a9c4975e mediate.9731c7a68a6f6d96

“Lady Rachel, why don’t 3185b2f87c you have some tea ab7bedbbe9 while we wait? Lord Zakari 3e8b99349a will likely 5e536448b0 come here 2e1ea86f9b once he e0cff98f0f hears the f01324a381 news.”95137c50ac88c6fb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, that’s true,” 18c2a0e1d3 Rachel said, instantly b197c6bda6 forgetting her irritation fb285baac1 as she began c142ff2fcb humming a little a8736678cd tune at the 74d071fd7f thought of Zakari’s 9ad80aa236 arrival.ed3ba64c69a78180

Watching her so easily 4190627067 distracted, I had to 448a48c878 stifle a laugh. Her emotions were written e8e7a1f094 all over her face.2c2d504d79aa8e08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *09c77f8a581d2c6e

Shortly after Ella returned ebf9a0ef28 to her room, Isaac aab90b8f1c was already there, sitting 5698e9c162 with a composed air 4dbead03e4 on the sofa as 19c4c3307d if he had been e329c60e9d waiting for her.abbfc26cc67b2196

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He lifted e70b954ea8 his head 7549fbcbfb as soon db3e4ac2d8 as he 0741114211 noticed her. “So, you’re finally here.”686725a07a5d9aec

“Sir Isaac,” Ella greeted 3da033959e him, her shoulders instinctively b248258780 hunching at the sight 7ff8587236 of him. Isaac, unbothered 9da563291d by her 91b7d6ff6e reaction, gestured 6dac7627e9 for her 43d2424469 to come 3846bf6805 closer with 6beee1c1ac a slight 52494ec83c tilt of 9c7fbd32da his chin.759bca6271d9397e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Isaac, one of Naaman’s e3c0c5cea8 twelve loyal disciples, was b8ed7348a7 not only Ella’s direct 2d5d1fcc0d superior but also her 2831aed4fe foster father. These disciples, 631b4359c5 chosen by d08be17c24 Naaman, wielded 34cf57b6ca significant power 6962f86a76 through the 8fbd556377 Guardian Ring, cee3048c79 which granted 19ec4491f7 them strength 40653a50a6 comparable to f6d7d532be pheromones.3381bb846ca05248

The Guardian Ring, an fee618f4d4 artifact imbued with the e8837b6f2c power of the Guardian—whom 14e5038be3 only the leader of 64dedaa5a8 Hebel could communicate with—was 957ce35d81 a symbol of eternal c48faa72ab authority, designed in the 20e310abbc shape of a Möbius 5379a0091d strip. It was a coveted aed431633c item among Hebel’s priests, 2fedc13bd7 representing unparalleled influence.53ada7f4ef4c549e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In Hebel, where 5c6804c153 pheromones were either 2545933904 weak or absent ad6695b1b2 altogether, the Guardian 92792362fe Ring provided a 3752281ec9 unique advantage, allowing 8a5204d180 its wearer to ae9786a859 exert great power. This made becoming 9ccaca6cc2 one of Naaman’s eebd1efe01 disciples a fiercely c880d73406 competitive endeavor.7de980470ac8108e

Isaac was no 0e064844da exception. Recently, he had been e38cfd7c13 appointed as the youngest cddc8bade6 of the twelve disciples d765c07835 and was awarded the a8de155751 Guardian Ring.3e49c008f8afc65e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ella had been adopted de1e56e375 by Isaac long before a283f18b0a he rose to his a1453f7a9e current position. Smiling benevolently, 39c146f08b Isaac spoke. “You should address c495f9f676 me as Father.”31c416d87635fa43

“…Father.”8343f06157db7c22

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Good,” Isaac 5376459175 said, a bb7ce6ada5 faint smirk 90a1089e90 forming on 566eec0237 his lips. Ella’s gaze naturally shifted 583398cb6b to his clasped hands, 7d9444058a where the silver Guardian d1c632b632 Ring gleamed under the 2fd9460e40 light, demanding attention.0d4213136b6e843e

Even before feb3d9d387 coming to bb66a855a7 Hebel, Ella 507354a890 had known 64d0cd2b15 the significance f777abb7c4 of the 4bac218fcf ring—it was a1985afcf2 an honor 128468edbc bestowed only 0fc1ea4f4b upon Hebel’s d96e0c3b36 high-ranking priests.a03452a868d0d868

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She had 895f9288da deliberately sought 9816a46aaa Isaac out, f0019840de knowing he c96ba560bb was on f0d47c3a3f the path b8c5255b7c to becoming 6f7445d055 one of 8f52b31504 the twelve f569cf6fbe disciples. Being by 8fb0225af3 someone’s side ac4dc4a7e4 during their b1865d8a92 humble beginnings 7bdc8e6751 often left 0d786cf0c9 a lasting e32f5d8ae4 impression on ebfe04f659 them.862feeff642be87b

It had taken Ella f2a27985f7 considerable time to fully d01fa38155 integrate into Hebel. But now, she 091c4b2b13 was firmly entrenched, 75aa0b91fa so much so 54bf006c68 that she had 326a89df7f accompanied Isaac to db4bab3a56 the Jabis estate.9e5e547486ce629a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With a seemingly a2d4899ec1 innocent expression, Ella 9038c75f61 asked, “What brings a216fe980a you here?”2fd1aec2f017837f

“Do I need cffd367135 a reason to c2d1dc9029 visit?” Isaac replied, e59692e06b his tone faintly 574f8e04b9 reproachful.89cff2b827eb3a1f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…That’s not fa6bd8ec2e what I 5de6956bf2 meant,” Ella 102dcfb0a7 quickly corrected 81561c3ee7 herself, lowering a3f0d7fb8f her head. Satisfied, Isaac softened his 9eacbd6df5 expression and said, “I 98ddc48a55 came to deliver a a9080ec55c message. Naaman has entrusted 40be67d71d you with keeping 1069680a54 an eye on 27d9553b42 that white weasel. Use this 393f71999c as an 3f9f0828c5 opportunity to dcdaed99aa observe her 9a8b07fa0f closely.”b7abf539b3e9ffe3

“Observe her?”4470c2b676b6ceb0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes. Isn’t there 0836413fda something suspicious e91494a974 about her? She’s no ordinary 5556ef111a individual. Build a rapport 21ca8ace88 with her to 5792399944 lower her guard. And if you eb1e590c7f notice anything unusual, e0c73970fb report it immediately.”746c189e68804fae

“Yes, I will,” Ella 6f64a012db replied, her face adopting ec5a6375a2 the familiar mask of 8583b3db1b obedience. She couldn’t help but 593c061930 steal a glance at 14c6ee67a1 Isaac, whose self-importance had 33462b9410 only grown since he b92c8ecdfb became the youngest disciple.622551d7ce002d6e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Still, I have to c7f27d9961 endure it,’ Ella reminded 0072946863 herself, maintaining her innocent 3d756578b4 facade. She focused on c6c978825e her true purpose 074d76c9f5 for being here, 9c6fa4057c concealing her thoughts ddfad7b37f behind a placid 7f7b5713c4 smile.991dc78dd5a61795

Pleased by her 92dccdbf83 response, Isaac reached 1a8aac0aee out and patted 92e97a207d her head gently.37b04c11afa80ca9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Good girl.”a46683cfb5332a87