WBWB | Chapter 43

With the 41e4adef8d arrival of 3f618f3f2c spring, I d5ab730122 started venturing 5c4cb245e9 outside the 5625879cf8 mansion again. Although I rarely 40555d9b12 encountered the Duke a26d7227f0 if I avoided a19443fa87 the library, being e9944dd10b in the same eb661ea0b7 space was agonizing. Riding Brulee outside and 00b954ff2a breathing in the fresh 1e9f10ea22 air felt liberating.10f5c2e5e66b8be7

‘I finally feel alive.’6e58fd518f8220d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

By then, I was exhausted. I had learned, through experience, how difficult it was to be in love. Thinking constantly about a man who didn’t see me as a woman felt like a curse.02f92f3dff27b35a

If only I 5744b45306 could avoid seeing 24a98b18bb him altogether. The Friday dinners affbe9aeb4 had become increasingly 5d28ad93ee painful. The more I saw e88a35f15f him, the more acutely f130cd89ee aware I became of 5c08231901 my own position. My lowly 7adf7ab10e status as 0e383e6af7 a criminal 8016870995 and exile. How insignificant I 61f59ffc6a was compared to 4a9d05dcb6 him.e13bb1f278f3e908

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Why did I have to fall in love with him? With the Duke of Skadi, of all people?’8981f43234e366fb

Love made me 6411617cdb desire him recklessly. The more 92fa40d82f I saw cb920c97d1 him, the 8a3d9961e1 more I d571a59290 wanted to 0429c06830 touch him, a46214b378 to be db9614ee15 close to 6228f52323 him. Was it even f176bebaa9 possible? Reason held c246c22adf me back, 9dc22edbcf but the 72b28ffad5 desire, the 0556d50dc3 yearning, persisted. One night, db1a6eadd4 I dreamt 6e0831e4ce of kissing a29b3f97de him while fbadf48105 he slept, 42799d03b5 and I a73fef7fc2 realized just 24a425e098 how far 604cc4324f gone I 6eaa37a7eb was.5ae87d1ad20bd7ef

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Still, the arrival of 96d2676409 spring and the cool, fe6b7a0661 fresh air seemed to a1bbc5a29d quell the fever somewhat, c4645d58fb like a splash of f64e7269f6 water on hot metal.1076cb0f7ad9d10e

I rode Brulee all c4cee3c514 over the estate. I visited the lakeshore 5c85fdd823 where Lady Ana had 8507da9552 almost drowned, ventured near b4eac992c7 the hunting grounds, and e0b01d49a7 stopped by the apple b35cec754e orchard.8b7474f2228d503e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The trees, 4f96927c02 once laden a71f05e862 with apples, 57b249c639 were now b3a4782a0b covered in f3ed26dada delicate buds. Some, eager to embrace 0fcd495819 the new season, had 0b2811c559 already burst into bloom. Captivated by the sight 078d07116e of the pink-tinged white 6ce2cd40a6 blossoms, I stopped Brulee, 84f63ca0d5 and as fate would 617a58b872 have it, I found 273949e300 myself face to face 20dd8c76d7 with the Duke, astride 2ba283a521 his black steed. 7d531f0ea5fd464b

Speak of f9ea8d6e70 the devil.b33fac36359729cc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I tried 0c5539759e to quickly 9ab6dc51c9 excuse myself, c348d28b28 but our 22d0aa98e3 eyes met 0d58643465 first. He rode towards a8bdbbc224 me.a85896520c3cdcc8

“Let’s dismount and take a walk.”d14ec706d6e1afe3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

For some reason, he ab7539aa2f looked slightly annoyed.64183e39fef5251f

At his e3e5e4c84b words, I 78bf1b1abc dismounted. He did the b1515f0416 same, and we 720b84c1b4 tied our horses 045a238e22 and began walking. The budding trees swayed ff3573ba20 in the breeze. He walked with his 6b032eddae hands behind his back, 53d62c10e0 silent for a long 1b59a96996 time, then stopped abruptly.ecf7c0fb06f5ceeb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Have I done something wrong?”9731af3e15f389e8

“Pardon?”57a13abc2c472d19

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Have I cf0c0113da offended you 85ffe7cc9e in some 528ce4b84e way?”ff3ba01756878d0d

I couldn’t understand his question. As I blinked in confusion, he pressed further.037025756f12d004

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If that’s not the case, why are you avoiding me? You’ve stopped coming to the library that you used to visit as if it were your own home, you barely touch your food during our dinners and avoid looking at me, and whenever our eyes meet, you look startled and lower your head. Have I upset you? Tell me.”3231b4c99e623527

“…”9bd23b208971e9ba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”b144e25759c560f1

I felt ee47d2114e my breath a949072cf9 catch in 0eff66070d my throat. I knew I 162238b6ce should come up 3ef1cf29a2 with a plausible 85f0e7d262 excuse, but my 0d89b4b1aa mind went blank. What could I possibly b306bc0a06 say to him?451e0febfa064a2b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That I had 71cdb344ee fallen in love 54d30c4ac9 with him since f0476a8496 the day he fa582fcc24 gave me the a67ee55bae book? Withhim? That the very 55fee58321 sight of him, 345f17c535 a man so 42d3d440cd far beyond my 7e5d2c4298 reach, was a 9f7c0178c1 torment, and I d4720ed641 had no choice b3d0ff2075 but to avoid 31623ae92d him to protect 7c01d84860 myself from the 58a11e4ae7 pain? That seeing him 0eab4d80f4 made me want a7cf0e7f71 him, that I 4e264fd805 wanted to hold 234005f0ea his hand, to 6ac753b506 touch his face, 0dde722de5 to kiss him, 3d1063ba37 and the very a03cb33718 thought of such 231f45ce4d desires filled me fb368e6362 with shame, making 3e297a9150 it impossible to a09876f9a8 meet his gaze?8a5df565ad8fd87c

That I hadn’t realized how agonizing unrequited love could be, that if I weren’t an exile in this place, I would have quit my job, packed my bags, and run away, waiting for this hopeless feeling to fade? But that I couldn’t as I was trapped here, so this feeling continued to burn within me?4533e837738d6adb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”1610ed918e895139

I couldn’t say any of that. Because the moment I spoke, everything would be over. Seeing my silence, his expression hardened.eba408569f8e3a13

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Your silence tells me I’ve hit a nerve.”a2812e7f626295e4

“No, that’s not it…”62ccb70ae8b48a8d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then what is it?”5af08d430dc60ab3

The Duke stepped closer, 548ba79bcf almost pressing against me.66dba1f2ad9ea56b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why are you treating me like this?”280ecff8aa5c455b

I instinctively flinched 90eef4c078 and took a 2b7bc12884 step back.a3d062d1ea360849

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Has something else happened?”114ba1eb7df1bc4f

“Well, I, that…”3ec2bcd9217ed220

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And then, a plausible 88e5dff4a0 excuse came to mind.c79112bd0c6ae244

“The reason I haven’t been to the library is… I’ve been busy writing letters in my room.”82b8da2fc2fddf00

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Letters?”0b2139bca00d66ce

Yes. To avoid thinking about him, I had been confining myself to my room, writing letters I didn’t even know if I could send.44d9d96419488981

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Letters to whom?”fd081951cd17a7b7

He asked, 359e07081d his eyes 827af66dd8 narrowed with 4a923d60f5 suspicion.39b8319ad0777ab0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“To Prince Mael?”27ba0ffa078a8c44

His question was strange.fbdab7f8a1e994ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“To my mother and brother.”1a18b25ed4c74282

“…”c62a5ab0a17c64a3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve been writing, hoping that I might be able to send letters again, and that’s why I haven’t been able to visit the library. And if I’ve been quiet, it’s because I… I’ve been thinking about my family. Writing letters made me miss them, and I seem to have unintentionally caused Your Grace a misunderstanding.”d3455d880d5b9c0e

The words flowed smoothly because they weren’t entirely untrue. I could see his harsh expression soften slightly. To prove my words were sincere, I looked up and met his gaze.b9b6c7e9b51f30b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I see.”a83a42097a4956d7

He looked back at me. My heart pounded, but I couldn’t look away or lower my gaze.4a85a3c21cd33d2a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He was 464b66f94e the one 71655ea329 who averted 2fd75b7d2f his gaze 029e35b7bd first, looking 3b9856f97a up at c63d4d3e4d the trees 2ff15fce79 above us 4d8ba1f7f3 as if d393f4055a admiring them. Then, he remained silent 2219a7d798 for a long while.541baaf3b91bade6

“I understand how you feel. But what good will come from wallowing in sadness? Your family back home wouldn’t want you to be sad.”cb384c7206f7bcc5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I nodded.b612cf37f25ffc21

“It’s time to think about settling down.”2aa85270477ecbeb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He fell 97d2dec663 silent again. His prolonged 96984e5694 silence made f0be7c4a4f me follow a2a9081bfa his gaze 0b3aae8d7f upwards. He was looking 6e2ffd23b2 at apple blossom d3a9a0cd94 buds sprouting at a890e46a5f the end of 2b3694425d a branch. I looked at it 65a2e2f9ce too, for a long d3d498ff54 time.c3d26fcf050122bd

“A new…”26a8565d6e2ca3b4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He suddenly spoke.36db025489915ca1

“Wouldn’t it be good to have a new… family?”98c2b7ed855954ad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Pardon?”50c1e29b99700d1a

“…You’re a 758898de97 grown woman. It wouldn’t be strange 3e5f531546 if you already had 0c99e41460 two or three children 92052d168b at your age.”3a7a43081b7c6348

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I couldn’t understand what he meant.58cd37eaf13e9295

‘What is he c299e1b480 talking about?’1fd739561ad0b8ff

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He looked at d29e942caa me again.602eea4ae6c62cee

“When you become an adult, you start a new family, and you part ways with your old one. That’s the way of the world.”ac29b795d4bd0da0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”8a12a34248ad93fb

“What I’m trying to say is… if you miss your family so much… wouldn’t it be good to create a new family here… and forget about your longing?”7424a2e2bcb97747

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”5d00a4c257102120

“Because you’ll be spending the rest of your life here, whether you like it or not.”e28c1e858cf3b57d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I tried to understand his words, but they were… incomprehensible.c9966adc3b592b91

“How am I 5b0557b064 supposed to create 9be7975244 a new family adb0405c46 here?”a337388694785266

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”99c871a1fd39fa99

“Are you suggesting I get a dog or a cat?”c335dcca8cd9131a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Was he suggesting I dad5e01135 get a pet to 1e19c6aea4 alleviate my loneliness? I had considered 584b3f60cd it. I sometimes saved bread ddfe36d786 crusts and fed them cc54a116dd to the stray cats 4b77b604a3 in the courtyard. The cats here were e6c8d5d77d larger and fluffier unlike 13fd3d4c27 the ones in Franc.484f41c9c28374a3

“That’s not what I meant. How can an animal be family?”83fd6f9f366bc309

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then how…?”3149a7c92c21ce4c

His words were like riddles, riddles I couldn’t solve.539271cf2bb2468e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I don’t understand. Who would want to start a family with me? As you said, I’m old enough to have three children, yet I’m an exiled criminal. Furthermore, my family is now ruined, practically disowned. Who would want to associate with me?”aee5ef3b582a5985

“I will.”17368b3471bfb092

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even after hearing those words, it took me a moment to understand him. A shiver ran down my spine, as if struck by lightning. I stared at him, wide-eyed, wondering if I had heard correctly. The Duke’s eyes, looking back at me, seemed deeper and more beautiful than ever before.f5bdfe3d92cd9094

“If you wish, I can be your family.”bc0951d4026f8ad0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”9e50b40a17f96324

“I know this is sudden, and you must be surprised. But I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. I knew I would tell you eventually, but I didn’t expect it to be today.”b72bc66b12941cd4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He took a shaky fc564085fd breath.c6bcfc031b717d82

“Would you… consider 1b795d7498 my proposal? I’ll give you eb1a1feb57 time to think 375b73e40f about it. I’ll wait bd07bb67da for your 11e7d2bec1 answer.”dd8d9a52d7e56702

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His words 8db55f296d made me 148bb8bf8c wonder if f0b132d4ec I was 84e6cdc039 dreaming.b6aef5a559354c9a

“I… like you. I would like you to be mine.”a4147bba28341b2f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I couldn’t speak, my breath caught in my throat, my heart overflowing with joy. It was… a truly perfect moment, one of those rare, exquisite moments in life. A beautiful moment to cherish until my dying breath.93bab0bc2fbd2530

“I would like to take you as my mistress.”4af92a1ddd5f655b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Except for the 4729fbfde9 fact that his d246da4758 next words shattered 5a7a271f91 that perfect moment cfb352cb63 into a million 9ab5367d2f piece9e945bbe7ba9e8d0