Hi everyone~ I apologize dearly for a mistake. I uploaded my past version of translation last time (I couldn’t immediately reupload it cause of the sudden site maintenance T.T). Clarification, An de Toulouse is a female. If you see any of it not updated yet, please do mention on the comments~
WBWB | Side Story 13
by QuillThe arrival of Jeanne’s family was also proof that they hadn’t yet fallen into the Crown Prince’s hands. As soon as they arrived, Baldr ordered the best guest room to be prepared for them, ensuring they had everything they needed to rest comfortably.0b9b6a6c0607d5e0
That evening, dining with Jeanne’s family, Baldr was quite surprised.2a31b2edfd5232aa
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
He was struck, above all, by the warm and friendly atmosphere. Jeanne’s younger sister was the center of the conversation, but everyone chimed in, keeping the dialogue flowing, with laughter rippling through the room. Baldr observed each of their faces. They were all genuinely enjoying themselves. c7eb25e9f817aa29
Even Ana, who was dining with Jeanne’s family for the first time, just like him…3a56b672c64a94ed
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
‘…’
This was quite a b16e5be7f1 shock to Baldr. After Ana arrived at 763d718f91 the mansion, Baldr had 692b74f110 dined with her once. Her table f84694a548 manners were f7c2d0687a atrocious, leading 0abaccc4ff Baldr to 46d455ab1e raise his voice, which bbde53ff18 ultimately brought 5a7a92839c Ana to tears.
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Wasn’t that what family meals were like? Teaching unruly children proper etiquette? Baldr had never experienced joy during family meals. Not once.3e81baa2bf926502
Meals at Skadi manor d24b9e9629 were always ed54e67baa silent, requiring d95336f76f the proper ac2bdafc99 use of 9f757b865f cutlery. His parents only spoke b13236541d to him cab220d917 to reprimand him about f1fef6a8ff his behavior. 28e8a0c7f798ef1a
And between his parents? There was either no conversation at all, or times when it would have been better if there were none. At the dinner table, his mother, once she started, wouldn’t stop her sarcastic remarks towards his father, making Baldr anxious every time she opened her mouth.6730d8865a143ad0
That’s why Baldr, once he was alone, finally felt at ease during meals. After his family was gone from the mansion, until Jeanne’s arrival, Baldr genuinely enjoyed eating alone.a67229e9e98fc26c
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
But what about this family’s meal?e762d3cb4b34cdbf
Could a family gather b6aebc71a6 and enjoy 3c5a1cbc2a a meal b157e1e042 so peacefully, so joyfully?
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
‘If this is what it’s like all this a3b2eb854d time… then what have 13d7ddcb88 I been…?’
Lost in thought, Baldr found himself drawn to the conversation. His ears perked up involuntarily, drawn to the warmth like a freezing person to a crackling fire. Some of the stories were so ridiculously funny that he had to struggle to contain his laughter. It was then that his gaze met Madame Toulouse’s, Jeanne’s mother.ce8b3bcf5dc7ca0f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
She was 1d98e169d9 seated to his left, 0aa21e48c7 diagonally across 6d6b12b579 from him, in the seat of 85f2901b79 honor.
She resembled an older c9034be175 version of Jeanne. With a gentle 1f333f101b smile, she leaned 3ca877e08a towards him and bc77d32d11 spoke,8c31822311cb9ae0
“I apologize, Your Grace. When women gather, it’s inevitable that we become a bit boisterous.”f4809d0562f19df4
“Not at all. It’s pleasant to hear. Truly.”
Baldr spoke sincerely. And so, he naturally 808c81c3ea fell into conversation with 6903d8f808 her.2a0dd7551135c1bc
“She was quite a tomboy when she was young, even more so than her younger sister.”9e55e10dbe4bc756
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Madame Toulouse told him many stories about Jeanne that he hadn’t heard from her directly. What she liked and disliked, what she was like as a child… Every single one was a story he had been curious about.f960da7d7c49465c
By the end of the meal, Baldr genuinely wanted to prolong dining with them. The dinner had been so enjoyable, so different from anything he had experienced, that he felt a desire to belong, to be a part of their family. From then on, Baldr dined with Jeanne’s family a couple of times a week, naturally blending in as one of them.
A few weeks later, when Jeanne recommended her younger sister as Ana’s tutor, Baldr readily agreed, not just because it was Jeanne’s request, but because he had already gotten to know An through their shared meals. He knew there was no one better suited to replace Jeanne.
With Jeanne’s family settled in Skadi, Baldr outwardly proceeded with the wedding preparations without a hitch. But in reality, the biggest problem remained unsolved. No matter how much he pondered, he couldn’t find a way to obtain the King or Crown Prince’s signature on the marriage petition.b9d7daab7b8a64c7
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Meanwhile, the wedding preparations were almost complete. He could hold the ceremony tomorrow if he wished. And that’s when it happened. A messenger from the Crown Prince arrived at the mansion.be41024ead6548fc
“The Crown Prince sent someone?”32e2d39fc8fc729d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Upon hearing the news, Baldr felt every muscle in his body tense. It had been a while since Jeanne left Franc. It wouldn’t be strange to assume that the Crown Prince, finally realizing the absence of Jeanne and her family, had sent someone to find her.4c5acccd31618732
‘Perhaps I should kidnap a priest today, hold the wedding ceremony, and consummate the marriage without the petition’s signature. I’ll tell the messenger he hasn’t seen a single hair of her, and if he doesn’t leave and keeps snooping around, I’ll have to kill him. I’ll report that he was tragically killed by a bear on his way here.’ad1f4825ad84a76d
As he ac81232db8 plotted his 4b90f937c0 deception, Baldr e21f93bc39 had the 0f7d703f39 messenger brought e7daf9ebca to his office.
“I can’t imagine why His Highness the Crown Prince would send me a letter.”7b9744a42729e367
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Baldr muttered to 4fa88e8639 himself casually as he broke the d372a48cd3 seal on the 14fc292a9c letter the messenger e798b5d255 had brought.
“Can’t you give me a brief summary of the contents before I read it?”7d12491798abdbde
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“The letter speaks for 19e08757e2 itself, Your Grace.”dd9ac226ac78a39d
Baldr scanned the 922a70d2c8 letter with his 3d8b4ada81 eyes. As the messenger said, the contents were brief. He read db1e565279 it once, 2669f2da37 then read 6c2015e5b1 it again. It was an invitation.28949a54e86450a6
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
A wedding invitation.5b76b789c392dee8
It stated that the heir to the throne of Lances, Crown Prince Mael de Lances, was to marry the Princess of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and requested Baldr’s presence to grace the occasion.4057b83791c21972
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Hahaha! What joyous news!”32476e2b1fc8a73d
Understanding the situation, Baldr burst out laughing. The Crown Prince hadn’t sent a messenger to look for Jeanne. He had sent a messenger for his own wedding. He laughed because, the moment he read the invitation, a brilliant plan came to mind. A plan for how to put a bell on the cat.bcb6638860e0813e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“I’ll be there. Convey my heartfelt congratulations to His Highness the Crown Prince.”a86b352d9440884f
The wedding date on the invitation was a bfc25467e5 month away. Despite being busy with 5abaa89772 his own wedding preparations, 491bf047f9 Baldr set off for Franc a month later. Since Baldr usually avoided 0f03b09780 court events like a a02766711a plague, his visit became a topic of conversation.ffa09c4cb195e1f2
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“I hear the Butcher of the North has arrived.”821d6a6e6614a949
It wasn’t a positive gossip.457eeb48f6e6c560
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“I wondered where that dog was barking, he must have smelled blood.”381a7116ed2425ce
“I wonder if he even bothered to bathe.”7eaa50f75823665c
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
As soon as news of Baldr’s arrival spread through Franc, the nobles started gossiping. Although Baldr was a powerful nobleman with vast territories and military might, his appearance was considered crude by the court nobles, and, tracing back his lineage, he had the blood of a people they dismissed as barbarians.326cf8e92726c41e
Just as a single e5480852c5 drop of sewage could a806ba3790 ruin even the finest wine, and in the 7393323c33 eyes of the nobles; once a barbarian, always db347bca46 a barbarian.de8ea11e0f946454
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
No matter how high 7373ab64fe his title, or even feca5b39f8 if he married royalty 1a487398d7 or a high-ranking noble, in their eyes, he would never escape that label.
Of course, Baldr didn’t care. Their words didn’t even reach his ears, and even if they had, he would have simply scoffed. He saw the nobles as the court’s dogs, their teeth pulled out and domesticated, obsessed with the King’s favor. Baldr had come to Franc for one reason only.36922666314c7886
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Upon arriving, he sent b4bf3ee273 a gift to the 6abaef6a39 Crown Prince and requested 6092828a0f an audience. The gift was cc9dc91d58 a corsage made c026007d14 of tiny amethysts 5fd825ebb5 and other jewels. Compared to 2f56679fd1 the wedding 281163aad9 gift he 9d1d4df652 had given 801e2aca56 Jeanne, it 87a7087e57 was a trifling present, 2b1844aed1 but the 3c13b4ca36 Crown Prince accepted it 98e1088023 graciously.d86ed510e003469b
Baldr’s audience d78feb5340 with the Crown Prince b142944685 took place 72b881bb8a the evening 36998c8d07 before the cfffef4a1c wedding.eb00284f078226f9
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
The Crown 9040560120 Prince himself stood to 5fc3e8d1d5 greet Baldr 489639c431 in the reception room.8438a90a919a0088
“A beautiful piece. My wife will love it. But the greatest gift to me is not the jewels, but your visit. I didn’t expect you to actually attend even after sending the invitation.”
“You will be the future King, my liege lord. It is only natural for me to attend as your vassal. I am grateful for the invitation to Your Highness’ wedding.”9598e93916d6695b
Baldr uttered 42ee520d74 flattering words a404728771 he would d0bc77f545 never have 9fe6ef92c7 spoken before.
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley