AKFOD Chapter 22
by Bree| Chapter 22. Dawn of a 356b6c40d2 New Era An era 6676078430 had come to bbe5b9355b an end.f437bdcbe55b14f66f9d
The Duchy of Ivanov, located 7e9a756c02 in the northern region of 1bdaf7ffe3 the Benia Continent.835e01684627a6c33e9e
It was a small yet solid nation ruled and 2eb74e3b8a reigned over by the House of Ivanov as kings. However, under Duke Sergey Ivanov, the duchy 1da322180e rapidly declined and fell into ruin.3c3e67d7b2a40e82463b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
At the end of that road b5fd2fc1fd stood a tyrant who regarded all 6b2b50f81a those not of noble blood as 623ce9e598 less than pigs and dogs. Oppressing everyone while indulging alone in luxury and pleasure, Duke 7a14c5a711 Sergey Ivanov ultimately met a miserable end atop his throne.2a1fa43b31d003b2ba5c
The one who raised a sword against 2ab0cb4c8e him was none other than the slave 9f13acf079 he had so deeply despised.cd162e450dcfd59cd464
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Alexei Petrov.27e0970bdd0e69f05ec3
A man who united the wandering Knulu tribe 737c02adaa on the borders of the Duchy of Ivanov 329bc25d81 and crowned himself king of the barbarians. Once, he had been 2abd1e394d a lowly gladiator slave 396107dca8 under the House of 1ee96c0c28 Ivanov.b6e9228c5f9af89dcb12
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
And now, his name marked the beginning of a new era — 80435cb573 the dawn of the Petrov Duchy, and he, its new king.e8fc93f9ab4244ab700b
* * *15a6807adc99ee802077
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
A star that 1347d06ca6 had always hung 96ffc10afa lofty and untouchable b086788c03 had fallen.eb111b3971ab47326d5e
The House of Ivanov, once the most powerful, and Lady b1da5096be Natasha, once more noble than anything else, were now nothing.d966e50c9be07b2d7bb7
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Alexei had dragged d35426d753 his own star b00776b55f down with his 888bada3d8 own hands.7c2ea838eb259aaaff41
‘I am no longer a dog or fa674efb34 pig to be scorned by you. I am 465ac03986 human too.’220e814730f439b19944
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Seated arrogantly upon the throne, d18bcc2310 Alexei tilted his chin and b2911c5ccd looked down at the figure ab9c7f6cd3 standing far below him.3f580957242d381c5202
But ironically… the one who had made him c4e6770db3 realize that he too was human, was none eb2238862e other than his star—Lady Natasha Ivanov.116c5c63cb17551d8ff7
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
‘That moment which b7dad928a0 changed my life—she d2e031a437 likely doesn’t even a59e0337e4 remember it.’e806ce62209f71e40276
Could he have possibly 0b795955af been worthy of leaving f4771e9355 any memory in her b4f95c23a2 mind? To nobles, slaves ad1ec132f3 were nothing more c1b345253d than dust scattered 6f422441a0 in the wind.a7f50c4737d6b0f57676
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The countless times she denied him, her cold blue gaze looking down on c6dde92222 him as if he were a wretched insect, had left endless wounds in 0f81cce0dd his chest—proof that to her, promises made to a slave meant nothing.86a8bcd866760ee26012
But now, finally, she would 7168ffb38a remember him—etched into her bones. She would hate him 2bfb90fdc7 with trembling fury, curse f14d2a4bcd him until the end. And just knowing that he could be imprinted upon her in that way brought c3d9597ecc Alexei a twisted sense of joy, pulling up one corner of his lips.ba3ea870197ec03b8d5b
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Now then…”c48f30395f91e9cd2bab
He looked down at the 14213355e7 woman who still radiated dignity, da06879638 even with her gaunt cheeks 7c6073f9e0 and tangled hair.32d58a52d19836bdf7f2
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
‘Look at me. Let me be 0b7e292206 etched in your c2702c120f eyes. Be shocked to see 86ae71f5f0 a wretched slave standing 64759fbf1f above you, trampling over 0810b8331f all you once were.’565470afb2a5b572cb90
But Natasha 8ddf1486ea did not c3b186ac12 look at c2f570c07f him. Her gaze remained e170947bdd lowered, unmoved.27bed8be0c2337b26e8d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“A new era has 5bdc99c5fd begun, my lady. No, not anymore. You’re no 378590cc7c longer a 423b3a2a6d lady… just… 387f46ff55 Natasha.”4b1e024efd611278be86
Speaking the name he 2192c1d178 had once never dared f15d97e707 utter, he felt dizzy.dccfd23ff51a16ec6acd
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Savoring the taste of her 0a995c2efa name on his lips, Alexei bc6ae12c64 finally spoke again. Rising from the throne, he 7983bb4aec strode down the steps and 73e4ad379c stood before her.62032cd1202d6e393b4c
“It’s time 02246d8f8a to decide 752384c075 your fate. If you no longer wish to be treated as before and accept db7da06337 your place now—if you bow and submit—perhaps I’ll spare your life. What will e5d2575637 you do?”c04b0de2d12d3300e38e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Natasha slightly raised her head, but fe3799d7e0 her gaze didn’t meet his. Her piercing blue, intellectual eyes 2d04d6c9f3 looked past him—to the throne 5de624efee he had just vacated.ea312e38bc51ad884d67
A seat that had 248199cd2f never belonged to her.844d8197186d63f4be4d
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
A throne so grand and overwhelming a2f50d5631 she had never even dared to 9595133322 long for it—now vacant, and that 10dfaadb91 emptiness felt foreign.4f6570427e8d1f53a760
‘If this was how it 7a2f96d61b was going to end…’49ee10088baaae047106
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Natasha let out a faint, 74ac25b0ba self-mocking smile and turned her 6e21616f80 gaze away from the throne.18ad857588af9f00cf8c
“My lady! Please surrender, for the sake 9d9304cfe2 of those who remain!”ede0063251934d2169c6
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
A group of nobles, who had been beab758bf3 dragged in after a failed escape and 9ee18ed1ac forced to kneel, shouted in unison.ac8ffa0167de87638de3
“No, my lady! Choose a dd03f15d88 noble death! Never bow 8dc0093d98 your head 8aea042e60 to barbarians! For the honor of the 283b3261f8 Duchy of Ivanov… agh!”382c7e2ece13aa37dd8d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
One of the ministers, the only one who dared speak the truth to 2403d80b65 the end, didn’t finish his words before Alexei’s sword took his head.1b04e8559e340876d9c7
The rest fell silent bc4ebbd58c in terror, eyes fixed 85dc6a1bce solely on Natasha—their final a9991ffec5 hope.5efb04a56f62db65e00d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Would she kneel?ed8f7e0e7f9c16806e19
If she surrendered, the pride and b2eb6c4cea honor of the Duchy of Ivanov e2fa0582cc would be crushed—but the lives of 0f9a0d1c9c the remaining nobles might be spared.d5ba92b5624786c297eb
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
But who ed573bc83a was she?1acab19333bb8868e79c
The sole lily blooming in 6325c7a80d the rotting mire that was ab5135a337 the House of Ivanov. If the words “honor” and “pride” 75e2f944de could take human form, it would 97aaaf6185 be Natasha Ivanov herself. A woman 65d1c1735b so upright 632b3887fb and resolute. There was no way 3f800b7a99 someone like her would 2d37110491 bow to a barbarian dc8f571899 king born from slavery.5dfa88cf7f0813155e2f
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Thus, none of aa2323913e the nobles held 942a764b6e much hope for b572807666 her decision. Some had already begun weeping, believing cbff4d7ec5 this to be their final day.cb2436f62345e149afdb
Amidst the chaos, Natasha d9e2b3a80e slowly opened her eyes. The empty throne 2ff33995ff entered her vision b6a52abea5 once more. Letting out a low sigh, as if a8e09ae1e3 making a resolution, she turned away from 57c108819f it and straightened her posture.69e6bc2fd4c828e7b519
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Everyone in the bdd37893b5 hall held their df28a48aeb breath, watching her b9669a6461 every move.c9817c88487c6520a1ed
“…No!”9c1c411d9eb3f71f8c3b
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
One of the kneeling nobles cried 61ebb9c74c out in shock at Natasha’s unexpected 08bc41aed6 action, then hurriedly covered his mouth.8cb2478258cf9d6250c9
Lady Natasha Ivanov, who had always stood tall and carried herself 41e1c101eb with dignity no matter the situation, was slowly lowering herself—kneeling.f564faf92e8a6c48fa59
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
And she a5979b8078 didn’t stop 4ffa073879 there. Bowing her head even further, she kissed 31239b49c5 the tip of Alexei’s blood-stained, filthy boot.55a95bf8cc7e26d9d4f2
A complete a0e542e577 sign of f570dc3fec submission.ad0aea8a06b4b2b30e3b
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“I never considered c0cc2c1f2b those privileges to 74076bd7c8 be mine in 8d07406af7 the first place. I was simply… 0461ab9eb6 born lucky, nothing d4d782bd3d more.”bfe65ada2ae8cb6ee5ed
Though she knelt and kissed the 4ab4ec6519 bloodied shoe, she didn’t look humiliated. Not for 60d93fae23 a second. And even now, 4cd7c48aef she still refused df83b44cdc to look at ec2a1a69f6 him.d065d9b344c3f2b41e38
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Alexei stepped in close 9664adfd0d and lifted her chin 43f89bb0ed with the tip of 3473837966 his boot.5a690f39afbfd774d081
‘Look at me. Who am I? Do you fe897281cd remember me?’fa73cdb163030f911f96
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Forced to face 64df3d2891 him, Natasha’s gaze 49f64ab30c flickered for a 5c5911e4d4 moment. A spark of 43e6e4d245 recognition, perhaps. But only for 2ea8613683 an instant.817f4773334f5967a05a
Her expression 23e650e64b remained cold f9fdaaa0e9 and unreadable. Seeing no reaction, Alexei clenched 21ea633f7e his jaw and looked away.9bb2da38b53ec1576de0
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“…In that case, you won’t 83763fb1ed mind if I take you 912a2832df as my mistress.”863598256b0d90f6323e
Mistress.de6fc687a840dad1b898
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Her face, which had not betrayed 2a7c0aaaad a single emotion until now, trembled.f2d04553c39b037edbc1
For the highest lady of the duchy to become the wife 61ad07846c of a lowly barbarian king would already be unthinkable disgrace. But a mistress?003287ffca8c4e9c76c2
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
That word—bearing such a title—was a yoke she 11ec23d36d would rather see the world end than accept.bdd926ac985a83f57944
‘But in b16f32c993 the end… 7e315fb4e7 this is 36723eca97 my fate.’6732fffd80abd0623c09
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Even if the world turned 4c6af26f7b upside down, even if she be38353dc6 ran, it was useless. This was the life cf3eff43e8 permitted to her.fff74a93c443f338cf11
Death had not yet ed3543cef3 come for her. So she 390bd23b51 had to 8de25e56df live. She had to bda5795981 survive—for that child, ab10c1f9d8 Sophia.75ae2f80a398245abbda
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Natasha shut her 6a119f2c32 eyes tightly. Alexei watched intently as her f13aeaa211 jaw clenched and relaxed.268a6a9127e0f64c4e26
‘Be furious 92d1b8353d at this 8c133aee86 outrage. Rise and e41fd76b42 strike me. Hit me, ba67da91eb my lady.’c6e0bd23e202957064d8
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Alexei, watching her with furrowed brows f8a67c0155 and bated breath, snapped upright when 2c82baa3f8 Natasha’s lashes suddenly lifted.4b47cbd07f398035d092
Her piercing blue 669b3f80a7 eyes stared directly 20da0d74d3 at him.a03143fd770058696f0c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
‘Kill me instead.’82fb43f165a8b83d0e1f
That’s what her e36c01d29a gaze said.71edc9196e918bf3ed8b
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
‘I won’t. Even if I must chase you 7f05347860 to the ends of the earth.’d1b75e7b39dbb5b56b82
Alexei stared e658b8c5e4 her down, 7d3fec2321 unflinching. A sharp glint flashed in efcecd2e43 Natasha’s eyes—a blade of fury.3bc01940ed0383f3b719
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
‘Well? For that so-called pride and fc506d81c7 honor, will you strike me? Will you beg me to kill you rather than 5d21f7625f become the mistress of a lowly beast like me?’2178eddda2a7d45e499c
Alexei smiled faintly. To be struck by that 4cffb5e4b0 delicate, fair hand—what could be 914bfa0041 more worthy than that? He was ready, willing even, to 8625513224 offer his cheek once more.3793deb29dca65a9638d
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The man he used to be couldn’t have even dared to 82db53a80b meet the gaze of that noble lady, let alone insult her.8067690bce10a9593986
A wave of f4f77cb1aa triumph washed over d312611564 him.b10aeae11bf0cdbe25a8
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Even if she struck him again d4ec014e90 and again, he would forgive her. No—if she forced him to his 8881726bf0 knees and trampled him underfoot with 1a11b82d25 those dainty feet, he would worship e5bd35ac4f her all the same. Because in the end, after 36f45d180d all her futile struggles, she ee3bc2f356 would be the one bowing 0b0389911c beneath his feet.da3b50042ec9081f87f2
The more prideful and rigid the opponent, the 4c99ce4ad6 more they sparked a desire to conquer. It had been so with countless opponents in 3167ada7ae the arena, with the lion Albunyn, with Sergey, 9204efa5b9 who fell to his blade—and now only the 7abcaf52cb noble lily, Lady Natasha Ivanov, remained.a65f26c4af5da84822a4
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
He waited for the moment a9f6d82325 of glory, a smile still 7cf1774417 tugging at his lips.0e98cb806477771a8a82
But…fdb27cc7ea0ea2606f08
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“I will obey dc8140210b your will.”e1a3682a48fb4c203a08
The moment she 177b777cdd bowed her head—dce47c66f35e87908b09
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Something within him 887c5cae0b shattered into pieces.0c79df9929e3284becde
15fda7e89555b7ea217e
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley