WBWB | Chapter 52

‘Let’s see how far she goes.’2050e6414e1f2def

However, the reason Baldr tolerated the Princess’s antics was because she was, after all, a temporary guest. She was royalty, an envoy sent by the King. The King was nominally his liege lord, so it wouldn’t be wise to antagonize him.dd66e0dd3012ba7a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Baldr endured, indulging the Princess’s every whim, pushing his patience to its limits. He accompanied her on walks, hunts, and tea parties. None of it brought him any pleasure, only a growing sense of irritation, because everything the Princess did, he compared to her.a12d328051b99380

‘I wish it were her here, not this woman.’ad2502d47ce617fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

This feeling reached 06614c344e its peak during d3c9ddf974 the ball.41ca32c893a79653

The Princess arrived 1aaa8a475a late, making everyone 4f642a0493 wait. Although the delay heightened 8062531525 the dramatic effect of 716da9a77d her entrance, it only 280243c18e annoyed Baldr.00c0849d3c41cd25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘She’s putting a670082a9e on quite 2574e8ee37 a show.’0b10bc70d5afec58

Her cascading f223377e74 hair, the 8473848f86 star-shaped jewels 2caa6a3066 adorning it, b59133b116 her sheer 36772a0d7e dress that fb88239768 revealed her de32d2b294 skin under a829cbd3bd the bright 5ea8368182 lights – dc9cee7f8f none of d6783b2400 it captivated 671467145a him.b791fee206144c61

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Baldr, following 7a26644dc4 etiquette, asked 933e5e6c8a the Princess, a4fb641fc6 the highest-ranking 22795cd9f1 woman present, 1ea0181450 for the 6281743a0d first dance. Afterward, he 73495afb23 danced with 579c469fac Ana.505add3a9b4f7424

Ana, chaperoned by 73c8073f9c an elderly Countess, 6097e02185 was delighted, her 70df57fc11 eyes sparkling with 65ba23b608 joy. Seeing her 139cefc93d happiness, Baldr b5a992b196 felt for f9a67731be the first 55e0f633b4 time, a 95bc66e0d1 fleeting sense ce0b7454d7 of satisfaction ea9bf13f50 for having 63297ac6f4 played along ec0dee90ac with the 7e07a43b5b Princess.41267d1d7313db30

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He danced 473e5aaf94 with Ana 2e8347589a to the 83ff6849a9 music. Thanks to b8c1b58b51 the lessons, eaaea770fe she moved a0eacdbf75 gracefully and b319e4b9b9 smoothly.9498a922f77efaab

“Your Grace,” b5f6f1aeaca6427f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ana whispered as 104a82ac59 they danced.4264d669ac7e56cb

“I wish Teacher were here.”95c6dd7a32bd1dc5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her voice was 1854a0f18a filled with genuine c15fb1f68a longing.557b31bf35fdc230

‘Indeed,’ 8010564e7898af1d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Baldr shared 680068a00c her sentiment.e4bff8b19ba7dd7d

‘I also wish she were here.’6b0cb96f15cf4417

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After dancing with Ana, he danced with a few other noblewomen out of courtesy, and as soon as his duty was fulfilled, he retreated to a secluded corner, repeatedly ignoring the Princess’s glances. After all, the right to request a dance belonged to him.d1e8af467a37f547

To avoid her 57e11dc294 gaze, he turned b585d9e579 his gaze out 03fb99681b the window. And he saw it. A small, flickering light b908b7095f on the hill in e0dbf1e514 the courtyard, like a 9b9196499a fallen star.2fcd9c53662e0a4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The servants were busy with the ball, and all the guests were inside the ballroom. Then who was out there…?1c35ab0ac6db4dbd

The moment he realized 164cd00042 whose lamp it was, d22e24c524 he abruptly stood up db02016983 and strode out of 4f604a228e the ballroom without a 0c7e6f992a word, ignoring everyone’s gaze.afa9afb362347958

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Blood is thicker e5715716b5 than water.’ad79ee6ba38ee5d8

As he 307ad8e5e3 descended the ae564cff52 stairs of 4d27ff3741 the mansion, d7a9654ed8 the thought 59c4a2e3d1 struck him 415b53408c again.a780f77f6d86ca49

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Is falling for a woman I shouldn’t love a family trait?’d7b12bfeb636b1ca

As he climbed the 6b12c182f8 hill, he saw Jeanne 33936eea5b huddled under the tree, 2a541b9b7b her arms wrapped around 1df12f9a5a her knees. She screamed at 7efa234778 the sight of 83a24c9ae8 him, her expression 4017b331f1 as if she cfeb4cf9f0 had seen a 25e3b958d5 ghost. At that 368b13ac96 moment, he e0510f8277 wanted to a552e8c92b cry. He desperately wanted to 936ed782e0 turn back time, but dca55f6d3a the impossibility of it f58e2abfc3 filled him with despair.9fbd7f2f93ccbdac

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What do I want? And what… what should I do?’aa6559a1f6a2b4e2

A few 2b753792a9 days later, 24a7c56e9c he heard 562945ed20 from a 2157c0726b servant that 810cb782b6 Jeanne had 900248127c been summoned 8cfa855eee to the 1988265b49 Princess’s room.b37f5e968ec31566

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Is she meddling with a1cd208d76 Jeanne now, too?’d5e36204ca63804f

The news finally 0056fedfac spurred Baldr to 94c531cfcf action. He decided to 16cb260508 get rid of cd0cb2494d the unwelcome guest. But first, he wanted 55b93d620f to know what the 2648c6bfb3 Princess had said to dbd2dcca39 Jeanne.25660bc5599b820d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In fact, b007a8ca8c he could e2ffd4b1dd guess.ff8e827a57a70901

‘She must have asked 4d29d44a90 Jeanne to act as 270f5171c7 an intermediary between us.’1b40a68b3221ac53

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Baldr was curious whether Jeanne would side with the Princess or with him. He wanted to use the Princess to gauge Jeanne’s feelings, to see if she harbored any affection for him at all. But afterward, Jeanne showed no reaction, remaining confined to her room. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Baldr knocked on her door late one night.da3de9b133a38ef0

‘I don’t want you to marry her. If you must marry, please choose someone else.’a4a64888fee20f10

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And he learned Jeanne’s true feelings, just as he had hoped.e64cca99fe18de54

‘Why?’3e30c3d661cc1184

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Because I love you.’0141794ceef14d7b

It was a shocking truth. Should he thank the Princess for inadvertently revealing Jeanne’s love for him?eee7132d3fb5150b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The day he received e477ed41b4 her confession, Baldr returned 5552457788 to the mansion and, 881d591f43 as if in a 9191fb3b7b trance, went to the 984b464e6d guest room where the 2f94cccc76 Princess was staying. He knocked, 6783dfdfc7 and after a57f08b035 a long 4ec58078d3 wait, the 7b1ce70930 Princess opened 1617e4b739 the door, 92af825500 her hair 6bba869482 damp, wearing 6811f5196c a sheer, 1b84d711fc revealing nightgown. When she aeabda4e0e invited him e158920619 in, Baldr e4d604dc60 shook his 089f9b6624 head and 19d2947bc8 told her b48679e2fc firmly,ed994db81d004533

“I expect you to pack your belongings and leave tomorrow.”e35114deb6c651ae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The startled e4ef11977e Princess burst 194b61cf66 into tears e4b54490cd and clung dc7476292e to him, f2a22a7638 but Baldr 5d98250036 felt nothing. Two days c5cc2b184d later, as 925e6a0de2 the carriage 51ffef94c4 carrying the b1ccad2a18 sobbing Princess a01567d033 departed, he f915b06724 felt a 5b6cc8a7b7 sense of a36c442ce9 relief, as 3bded101d5 if a ed18c17bb9 painful tooth c1c0fffcda had finally 11edd51ed0 been extracted.7495547688eb1ad0

But the relief e428f46438 was short-lived. With the Princess 01b11f5154 gone, sleepless nights c385a37086 filled with anguish ef5c7dea7b thoughts returned.95df4540ef3736e6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘She says she loves me. That she loves me, but can’t be my mistress.’b4300d978ab35e64

Jeanne de Toulouse had b4786fae3f chosen her family’s honor 133c1f1b6e and her own self-respect.209329478deb5b25

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He replayed her 14546f0db7 words over and 9d556dee2a over in his d5dbc011e1 mind, both during 556b42f567 the day and b36640fa00 at night, whether f3590bec75 going about his b24aad45a6 duties or lying 6f2e23e228 in bed, trying 419e2444ae to sleep.ac6c7ff6ccdc9dc5

‘While tutoring Young Master Mael, Duchess Ventadour’s son, I saw how they, mother and son, were treated. They were objects of ridicule and scorn, targets of resentment. I love you, but that’s not a reason for me to become a mistress. But even so, I’m speaking out of turn because… I want you to have a loving family and be happy, even if it’s not with me. I grew up in such a family, and the memories of being loved have sustained me through every hardship. I wish you and Lady Ana the same happiness.’a3a77a50e552e02f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He didn’t know how she had been treated in Franc. But here, no one would dare ridicule or mistreat her. He wouldn’t allow it. Baldr wanted to rush to her right now. He wanted to tell her that it didn’t matter, that it wouldn’t be a problem if they felt the same way. That he wouldn’t let anyone scorn her.9563f8df7d8c75df

But he also knew that wasn’t the issue. Jeanne hadn’t rejected to be his mistress simply to avoid ridicule. She had chosen to live as a tutor in exile to maintain her integrity. Was it right to try and sway her from that decision? Even if he could change her mind, could he guarantee she wouldn’t regret it later?222c81df77ce1986

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He didn’t know.515723d062894379

‘…I see.’f7207f195fe5dde6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sleepless nights, filled with 919f04a102 pain and anguish, continued. The torment of 9923013eba not being able eb658c9305 to have the 5e8784042a woman he desired 99497ab910 hardened him like 727e849e0e steel. And in his 3c3716a7fc suffering, he finally e9e380b2dc understood his brother’s b0efb81610 feelings, the brother 676ad55756 who had abandoned 03f8607eeb his title and 65bc731b68 the dukedom.7abdc60f39f5d449

‘He didn’t want to bring shame upon his wife and unborn child.’0eb96ccb77439970

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His brother 318c318f17 might have 0b804b5bf7 died a 5857ce6aa8 tragic death 54c710e133 because he c3143f4c5b left the 8c214122f5 duchy, but b54e5650aa at least 371103d321 he had 5ce7f48766 spared his e819d2f4ed wife and 5187233996 child from 2f5262347f a life d63e73b01f of shame b6f36e4137 and disgrace. b0dc9c603d01240c

If his brother had stayed, inherited the title, and taken the maid as his mistress, Ana would have been an illegitimate child, and the maid, a mistress. And his brother… his brother would have likely married a woman he didn’t love and passed on the title to herchild.547f4b70c0bcc238

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Live long enough, and anything is possible.’366a9b7fbfd12231

He couldn’t believe there would come a time when he finally understood his brother.b1e87b7823bb5681

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Did my brother ever regret his decision?’929cd19a0aa258e5

The dead tell no e5310a8854 tales.31d59fb83afd6d44

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Not even in his final moments, dying as a commoner instead as the Duke of Skadi?’42c7659aa3c1a8f6

…So, what should hedo?5745c55e3a654bf4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jeanne had chosen not to want him. Now it was Baldr’s turn to choose, but he remained indecisive, lost in thought, as if he had all the time in the world.329f33474aba9feb

But time is finite, and fortune favors the bold, not the hesitant. Three months after the Princess’s departure, another royal carriage arrived at the Skadi ducal residence.2c0d8f0bc2dee0d1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *dae713ddd482cf3f

It was an ordinary 8fd92b19bf day. I was teaching 3b001e9fbe Lady Ana in ba226a403c the study.4420a31d01dbac23

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Then suddenly, d7efd6e5f9 a frantic 1db6ff530f knock came caf0cde68a on the 759e1cc5a5 door. The urgency 066c1c48ec was unlike e533522d20 the usual d8dbdbf69e knock of b4e53be36f a maid c4fb01aa91 bringing refreshments. Wondering what 43b61d9118 was going e6c74a0021 on, I f6e265fec2 opened the dd7809eb42 door to ed5919bd95 find the 9fbecedfb1 maid, gasping d1b00c170d for breath.558cb809b18b1ab9