#98

As soon as the ad2dd624b7 contract was complete, Jonathan 18a51e2f4f transformed into bracelet form, 5461da9fdf joining Taby.6166355628b37e4a

Now, the once simple 73873c2f07 pearl bracelet had a 5e077ad5b7 sapphire embedded alongside it.88d63d2e3a17803a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘At this rate, c117e76808 it feels like feb2e84352 I’m collecting magical 877af6edba beads or something.’fac954f33678df7e

If I gathered b854ff4851 all thirteen, would 4ae1ac5185 I get a 6444042d36 wish or something?e3de7ed1d0b85066

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I was still c669849bc8 entertaining my nonsense 4f6c2e6670 thoughts when the 4ba31643f7 priests ushered me 822a1d7ac0 away to prepare b38b1e27a6 for the grand e346b538db feast.d5690e0532c58043

Apparently, the celebration 39deed0a09 had already begun 4b18a5f45a the moment I 3ed195820e emerged from Mishir 93f777af5d River.8ca3a17951f3c338

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Upon arriving at the 5f1cef1e9a grand hall, Naaman, who cf61694d2d had been waiting at 45acef873b the entrance, spotted me d188d74169 and immediately stepped forward a26df99358 to escort me inside.587358d4ae802c31

“Please, enjoy the festivities.”0b700a83043dd015

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve gone through so much trouble for me. I truly appreciate it,” I responded with a sweet smile.abf643fb01082cd7

Then, I slipped 1fe5b2472d in the question c22c712a42 I was really a443fbec13 after.4fe3c1e8fa430bc0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But by the way, has the contract document arrived yet?”3b8986a5d92462ec

Naaman smiled 983e6e3ca3 warmly, but b4a8189638 I wasn’t 4b23c54519 fooled.b9e2873d29c50ee6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It has already been reviewed. We will send it to your residence by tomorrow.”d9a62f436625b059

‘Right. Tomorrow.’767394c8a5cffb47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That was plenty of 16e48ba4d9 time for them to 9301cb79fc stall.797a5e8617359c56

They definitely already had 04df5ee102 time to finish it—but 0e6ea11a62 they were trying to da0495139b delay me, probably hoping bf934ddc66 to keep me here 23d660d64c longer.fe35c7249f10d57b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I knew exactly what c87c231959 they were doing.68d73fa46aa9e521

But I 460525f7d5 played along, 99baa4f8ea smiling brightly 82fce2e272 as if 9475377777 I believed 861499a06d every word.6c6115ff0f576206

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh! What wonderful news!”76a11df2f9e2b006

Naaman didn’t seem to 1092d1ae4a notice my act. Instead, he immediately led 2c50186470 me around, introducing the 8ad8d63bed various priests and scholars 0bdc5577f9 of Hebel.6318c68db0784ca2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Among them 7f657e0aca was Isaac, eec82de94d who stood 47b33b29ff with a e868279e26 composed expression, 19288db5dd clad in ae1a4e07d3 his usual 3efb3ee099 pristine priest a6b9383c51 robes.de4bda1944c65030

“Isaac became my youngest direct disciple last year,” Naaman explained. “Among all my disciples, he is the most… spirited.”16f870d822144022

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He shot Isaac a ece656558d knowing glance, then turned 1e32aa0a10 back to me.f26de1145ae1d7d8

“I heard he may have caused you some discomfort before. But, please, as a favor to me, I hope you can forgive his enthusiasm.”e0d7b7c1723b2e76

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ah.d1252fd25acbedae

Compared to the older 0be423b933 priests, Isaac was indeed 4e8bc37c9f quite young.2e23b95fa6b8728a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But becoming Naaman’s 1e838bf419 direct disciple at 91b6044de8 his age?9cc8563ca8a152b8

That meant he was 9f42c715ac dangerously competent.c326228266d546c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

…Or at 7260005145 least, competent 7fec411f22 in politics.49e25bfa53398a1f

‘Well, I already 1cdf31fca7 learned that the ec931a78be hard way the a98b06f51a other day.’c3851acb2cede53c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Remembering how he had 844d715478 nearly trapped me in e049178ffb his schemes made my f51719e80f stomach turn.79b8b1fa6afe72ce

I subtly glanced 17d7aecafb at Isaac, who fc4554ee1d looked as displeased b7c61468fc as ever at 3cc9d97f06 my presence.005a1de837b173a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even after I had been officially recognized as the Saintess, he still couldn’t hide his distaste.e3178e6a13a9d5bb

It was clear—54b7f2d413c1ae28

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Isaac’s faith f08c4ce5f7 wasn’t in 922d2eb0ab the Divine dab0008637 Beast.4d7e2e0f7098cb47

It was in d4b9671d88 Naaman.fe9b20916409080d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

More specifically, 465648fd92 in the df5b6fad15 power Naaman a19b4d767c provided.83c4df73cd80508d

I was scanning the 450d17feab room when I noticed e48dddab5a something odd.c6bc8051b79ee20f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I couldn’t cb779a9295 find Ella c985e55fdb anywhere.7bb067137781505d

Frowning, I turned back 971fb1fb17 to Naaman.fe6896f91e5637bc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Where’s Ella?”9bddaa257b4a22ae

She had guided 507b34e7b1 me through the 776bb28f19 entire trial, stayed fa040cacc2 by my side, 7b4ba16ac4 and explained everything da3bddf00b to me.14c9d3e296932e42

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I had 92a7ae89c0 assumed she a402d99363 would have 41f44f5bb5 arrived here cdf1df1c83 first while de1c0df376 I was 88e5a4491c busy at 0168d229aa the Treasure ca90a3279e Vault.2666fa61c1b54e2e

But she 4afcf159dd was nowhere 669b03460f to be e1af55bfaa seen.47df05dd3cf6306d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Naaman, completely unbothered, ef864d1024 gave a casual dde574d0d9 response.cc353c22d1385ec7

“Oh, that child is not a formal member of Hebel, so she is not permitted to attend the feast.”f4ac4742b97ed211

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

…What?84c515471f719c3f

They were excluding 3b0a6e9d48 her?4a3f9f21be9e5691

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ella had been the b661adc9b3 one by my side ece43e794b the whole time.7011a76c4fb0056f

She had 0616cd707a even acted c00caff8fe as my d23654d75b guide at b8f2cf9869 the Mishir bb8c27c264 River.2f87682cb3b44556

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They had used 96084e468f her for all 08a1dab76d the inconvenient tasks 6b3c10fc49 and now—just because adb95db417 she wasn’t a 45e59d881b formal priestess—they were 845795c47a discarding her like 8816f45400 an afterthought?820a976554bfb409

That was nothing 7583d19869 less than betrayal.5df198e9c1b07898

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Naaman, on the other 2ab49616e1 hand, looked completely unfazed.e9b1a077bf65f4cd

As if 0610a06e13 this was d8d4a5dc7c the most a89573bfcd natural thing 619b06bc28 in the 5e76c214c9 world.c084b8dacb96a09e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

My expression hardened 8f542dcbbb as I stared 2e865d0976 him down.d6eda17a236459d2

“This was supposed to be a celebration for everyone, wasn’t it? Excluding only Ella seems… rather unfair.”b3fcf622748c21c4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Naaman tilted 183df7d69f his head, 6324385686 as if 6cce67b3c0 he truly 296d956266 did not 8b631f74d4 understand my 64ccf90362 concern.b7079c2c5caf5860

“Oh, but she agreed to it. She was taken in so she could do the work that official priests cannot.”cb56b7a026d9dd04

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ah.b8fd73cf37eb091f

So because she was 36f1821094 being fed and clothed, dcb966d2bc they thought they could 84cb1c49d9 use her however they 61f8392ca9 wanted?752bf17b62e2ec53

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“And so, that means you can order her around and discard her when convenient?”390f8ca6359ca89c

Naaman sighed, 716a34b9c7 his tone 716be1a9da now chiding.5d387d9f4d73c39a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You misunderstand. Hebel has strict regulations. You yourself have stated that you will only fulfill your minimum duties as a Saintess—so you, too, must respect our laws.”4876095ae12d1755

His face darkened 1b4c17232a slightly, as if 24b5266b00 this was a f26e9542c5 warning.6ea00cdc08c3cc07

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In other words—d3cf3c577975ff4b

This was his way 654c8efb58 of telling me that 338723b242 I had no right de1a7c9795 to interfere.930abfe88a7990a4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And if 806cf09bf5 I did?e74c201faf62d03a

They might try to 5a2990c3e6 use my ‘laziness’ as 9ab0a9c05d Saintess against me.8cfacd2d2b6fb170

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My lips efdfc43c41 curled into 9145ac205c a polite 226d77f21f smile—but my 5a35a55f7a eyes were 1bfdfad16b cold.a6a3ccbd33865696

“Aha. So this is Hebel’s famous education system.”4007cd0ad04657ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I let f2c4b4a64f my voice 6ec5d7e00f drip with 47f5f1949d sarcasm.f5d4b63418ac38ed

“Forcing responsibility on someone while using their livelihood as leverage.”7b3e39d60b30b9f2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hostage? Now that seems a bit excessive,” Naaman replied smoothly.221a05d33cf6f815

I tilted my d4c433b9ba head, feigning thoughtfulness.4fd20487f2221c5c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hmm. You’re right. Hostage is too kind a term.”6acb58fa6367303e

I turned to Rachel 040412f254 with a mocking smile.18f3737fa1b5c851

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“This is closer to child abuse, wouldn’t you say, Mother? Even slaves aren’t treated this poorly.”21778a644de441a6

Rachel smirked, catching on b0cbaba26a immediately.5f1c53a5f3bbd825

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Indeed. Using a child as small as bird piss for all your dirty work? How clever.”026b699958e39558

For a moment, 9ce38c1f56 everyone in the 071bdc5f58 room paused—as if 36d8a2ccf6 stunned by Rachel’s a00d9bf61f casual phrasing.3daa524362952e11

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

…Ella had 9eefc6d518 just been b9c1c1f1f9 demoted to d23648c393 bird piss.5d44436e228f68a4

Even so, b92c85edd1 with both 84ef81c8bf of us 18773c0dd3 pressuring him, 963f6de06e it seemed a0ad3e8922 Naaman was 664e554f27 struggling to 530934dddd brush this e1cde38aa5 aside.962c01645f5c7ccc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I seized ee63c840a5 the opportunity.82e98e2400c16453

“This is my celebration, correct? Then bring Ella here.”b81f14957a15ec71

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I turned my 2a5293fc2c back, making it 0e1554336b very clear that f02aca0474 I was prepared e08d1835a3 to walk out.4238248d9b2dd159

“If she doesn’t attend, neither will I.”d6ceec80483effbf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That did it.dc4c797ee08180ca

I saw Naaman’s gaze 73899ae8cd shift toward Isaac, signaling 701a3583d5 him to bring Ella 3469dcb4e2 in.903c2cf9ab563e3f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But to 9c0956b3e9 my surprise, 1df8d21d04 Isaac refused.39cc41f478986615

“I’m afraid that will not be possible,” he said, his voice firm.9bdcf35e1b9c96bc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ella is currently undergoing discipline.”1c8fc7f71f499dd7

…Discipline?efa72d3a5073cb46

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What exactly did she do?” I asked coldly.34e900e6b11814cb

Isaac’s expression turned impassive.1a5c576a5b8fdff6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“She broke her promise to her father.”83e246a4490c3ccc

I caught 6fa92f1843 the flash 70a3bf72ec of cruelty 1d9f22c039 in his 92a1eeae99 eyes.9271f3fc4ce9561b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Naaman, now sensing 449b59c434 the tension, interjected bb0a839e93 smoothly.4522b01050d5963c

“It would be improper to interfere in family matters.”4522921b2229a3e8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I snorted.3f367b852a57a0db

“She’s not even your real daughter.”8650a5c3ef43a52b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Isaac blinked—then smiled d93bb6f3b0 as if he feaa3c895b genuinely believed what fc1358f9bb he was about 9c8b43c1e3 to say.0cbaf05ff5ca2645

“I consider Ella as my own blood.”c190a280c8cbdec5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I almost laughed out 4a9e48af84 loud.98ca5f1bf61a04fa

What a 6efb87eb01 load of 9b959d31b8 crap.c11fe86722d554fd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I had 48235bb27b already suspected 813c2c09c0 Isaac of 2788ab2137 abuse from f6ce5a3a7a the moment 4c6e19c8b3 I saw 1b8854b75d the bruises 49759ea3c4 on Ella’s 1fc5e250db arms.222536ae5d667d03

They weren’t 9b7d5c08a3 random bruises, 35d16527a4 either.59d38f42e0a3eca0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

They were placed 63bb2fafbb strategically—hidden where people ad88feaf76 wouldn’t easily see 61f57295c0 them.7a5879f80fd5e87d

And in a place 95110a3f5b where priests wore long 6758876a8b robes all the time?0c81ab67196241e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That made it even 5bc3f73d81 easier to conceal.4731564383af9180

‘If I 5dc585eef4 hadn’t rolled 6427bcf441 up her 3a0a2154f5 sleeves for 2b2369bc08 dessert, I 90d15dc802 might’ve never 94c228132b noticed.’2604910a22ef22d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I had zero tolerance ef5e90d109 for people who beat 052714d0eb children.29b3fb19c7d2c8da

There was df37671fba nothing worse 2221ec9e3e than using 2aceb5830a power to 0d0dce0421 crush someone 492b527c29 weaker.5db71b69f163a195

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘I’ve hated that smug, stick-like face of his from the beginning.’e796c9a068cc019c

That bony, 4ee9ea40f3 twisted-looking excuse b617e34236 of a e8af3be65c man—daring to 0e716a232b lay a cddcb7685b hand on b596a79847 Ella?c80e53cb42df706d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But I knew 217fa80bce better than to e1ade2939c confront men like 5c7820ef01 him head-on.c49726b373b59968

Men like Isaac—authoritative, 0196e20117 self-righteous men—would only a31b954ec0 become more defensive 858b2954f4 and retaliatory if 343b3a7749 directly challenged.d2493489fcf49504

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I had seen ddf2f78921 it before.af275a213db85552

Even in my e4114b01dd past life, I b6c9a372cb had relatives just 186616dadd like him.fdaae4240a7fe0bb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So instead, 1b297018c1 I put eb6fa8eca8 on a 6a160855c0 bright, innocent 5089c67797 smile and 6132c16112 pressed my ce3ea85d66 hands together e1e244020b sweetly.280486506d4518c0

“Oh, but Ella adores you!”1228f7007d49369d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Isaac’s brows twitched slightly.69539cc6bd96f064

I kept going.929adf641b644eb6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“She told me herself—she’s so lucky to have a father like you.”8ac845af151f4170

“Hmm,” Isaac mused, looking pleased with himself.3dd2a88eab2bef17

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“She is still young and naive. Do not take her words too seriously.”0c5676ca2e687c8a

“Of course!”a3bf530351058fa2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I clapped 63f87eb312 my hands 2e868d0b23 together like 93c72a8411 a delighted cd70d4bc21 child.e4be64a0072fa3c0

“But it means so much to her! I’m sure she only wants to be forgiven.”e10dbc69270591ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Isaac’s shoulders relaxed 9a0a3c84c4 slightly—but I saw 9dff7124f1 the way his 0b17b4fc67 chin lifted, relishing 3e4cc9666d the praise.a26c5f5881bd1303

Perfect.859f50884cc08ab2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I tilted my head 57da1fc931 like I was making 1091759329 a small request.d0888748ca889a5f

“I don’t know what she did wrong… but won’t you forgive her, just this once? She’s my first friend, and I was really looking forward to dancing with her tonight.”47d64a8167279345

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Isaac sighed dramatically.3099eca589ca93ee

“Ah, well… I suppose mercy is a virtue.”17e4fe3ee832d044

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hook, line, and 541f6d4b68 sinker.c849db080ec53170

He motioned da18bd57ce for a 6ac1aafcd3 subordinate.19ab5dd43884ed71

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Bring Ella.”b361007a7e575c68

At that moment, Rachel—who 2e2f377ae4 had been quietly observing—leaned 3096dc3ffb in and whispered in 241c65d088 my ear.dbee1cbd34cb3cc4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“My, my. You handle those kinds of men like a professional.”5f08119944d95499

“It’s because I’m a cunning little weasel.”5b6f573cd77b6b89

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Rachel chuckled.e3cb10e88553d116

“I almost thought you had fully become a Jabis. But if it were Ricky…”884432a6eb3430ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She trailed off with 1a75aed778 a sigh, shaking her 7e2a475e8e head wistfully.61c3b2744d23c499

“If it were Ricky, the moment Isaac talked back, he’d have already flattened him into the floor.”f839a571dd7c2b72

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rachel sounded 70737dbaba genuinely disappointed edcdfce71a that she 38f88571e5 had missed 4a0129d642 the opportunity d274ecee64 to watch ca5c99cc60 some good 99634d3095 old-fashioned violence.c87ad4705f33c60c

I discreetly glared at 2c5e100b2c her.bc94767c4206b4f5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Naaman, meanwhile, watched 06de3a5bf6 the exchange with 6e7e1bca77 mild amusement.275ccd2736589194

“You seem to be quite fond of Ella,” he noted.747eeab32f88eb11

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I smiled.f38eed4e738169ac

“She’s my first female friend.”eec12351baa61ef6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Naaman tilted aceb561d50 his head.812327d5f6809506

“If you wish, you may take her with you as your personal knight.”88f33be433a47b00

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I blinked 12bf4e502b in surprise.dd9ee01e57eb063f

“Really?”3af8df07c47c4a23

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had been secretly 8920898424 worried about leaving Ella 9590f9184d in Hebel.606502c3a4b0b7b3

If I 158d17f072 could take 71df7d5f71 her with 28bdd3cbbd me, it 8725e39154 would solve f1e562e6d4 everything.082107892c80f352

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I saw Naaman’s eyes 53cde12bcf gleam with satisfaction.769f973c73e9d43e

“It had already been on my mind. Sending you alone to Jabis territory felt wrong, so I have been assembling a group of escort knights for your return.”a3dc3d381d4958de

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com