Chapter 19. After the Interrogation

At the 6e8bab0719 question, Ain b825330aea quickly looked 9354a6e8f8 away, a 75e2729366 guilty expression b88da6d003 on his 1645fe50c1 face.830264e72cd2519e

Serenia, following a8d0f71f12 his gaze, 0441e9a67b continued speaking.a9d6e5f0fc66590b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your running speed, your movements, even your arm strength… It’s not just a result of casual training, is it?”1603e4dab09fa7a5

“Eh? I appreciate your compliments, but it’s really nothing that impressive.”ec55fb40c428b1ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ain awkwardly 3be9ef64bd changed the 570c3c1d1d subject, clearly 26b0403d16 flustered, and be22810bb7 Serenia narrowed 3c2133df6e her eyes 8371692620 as she 7fba0ccfe8 responded.8f426e9d1d5354a6

“You think you can just brush this off? I may not know much, but I’m good at reading bodies.”692a7387e5c7eb25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With that, 7454b9a4dc she took 2ca334ea3a a slow, 259f906a6b deliberate look 6cdc465b40 at his c0ae778b45 exposed upper 3586eb9692 body.ef55f065a7f43a1c

It was a b83c8f5cde body covered in a67e413dc4 toned muscles, without e60d947e77 an ounce of 54d1e81815 fat—flexible, agile, like 0fcd66b367 a sleek predator eb7bc063e6 from the cat b0a444e796 family.b25415e3a11bda3d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This kind of bbf4a87e55 physique could only 8a27e79d70 be achieved through e8eee109e0 rigorous training.470f93ef6ff441eb

“Just looking at your back, I can tell you’re not a normal host.”671417095c48bb54

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ain’s shoulder flinched at d514c0ec5b her words.9f80d6a63d682900

Serenia, still e2ea390309 eyeing him 70ae474a1f with narrowed 36cc90eff6 eyes, muttered 6f9db8614a almost to 59dcb32bb5 herself.946d809016419cad

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re not a spy from the Arzentum Kingdom, are you?”bc8470090a151408

As she b6565cf353 imagined him e12848c02d using his 69956beb3b looks to e71a17fc6d seduce clients cc19f104e0 and extract 969a34da08 information, she a168f5ac06 laughed at 776eb787eb the absurdity 7f5f057ddd of her b174d44ed4 own thoughts.c9d44b9bce091f86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Cough.”60f975a85f939473

Her laughter stopped 59b2777da5 abruptly when she 817db140da heard an awkward 430be40846 cough.f0cfe8702cfe1624

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Serenia’s expression froze.a88d2eda18b0a0b0

“Cough. Ah, I mean, cough, cough. That’s just… a tickle…”429662cc59bd69f8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ain, his ed6564ecd6 face flushed 36cee2ad46 from holding 4f3b27cdc2 back the 2b1e5fc40d cough, scrambled 31e94155b5 for an 1dde2e5146 excuse. Serenia, surprised, raised her f33ec4128c voice.6c226aa217e71b59

“No way! Why would you suddenly cough like that? This is too suspicious!”99c4eed7a6248a35

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s just a coincidence… cough.”529c28ccdf2fd98d

“I don’t think so!”05977079cf186d5a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Cough. Cough.”c12a58655f60674c

Serenia grabbed his collar dd74919297 and shook him, barely 72e20a3a9f holding back her urge 206a441581 to continue, then shouted 92b68fc5cb at him.fd2eddeb072faeb1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Come on, tell me the truth! Are you really a spy?!”f288c036da03d186

“No, cough, I’m not!”e51a7747effa93bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Liars!”66b3219636a35bba

“I’m really not…”559053d954fd48d3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then what are you? Why do you have a body more trained than most operatives?!”b1f368f8e55c68c6

Ain, unable bbc2031a66 to answer c5345e5fd7 her difficult 1a7225e8c3 question, nervously a9ed204c8e rolled his cc27be3908 eyes.c541980d9a5932fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And then,e092c09d5073a291

“Ah, I’m suddenly so sleepy…”870c9b662d0ad7c3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Using his legendary 18799dc408 acting skills, which bb47866485 were praised as 65445a048e once-in-a-lifetime talent, Ain 4154cecf10 pretended to fall 86ef7a11e0 asleep.bc47af26e999dd11

Seeing through his clear 8694e6c3cd intentions, Serenia was left ba78aaf2d2 dumbfounded and gaping.e96034f6dc5c851b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Meanwhile, he began breathing fb8af1b294 steadily, like a sleeping 975aa2efca angel, still wearing his c6eff81179 colored glasses, clearly pretending 84b4cc69e6 to sleep.63afd42549224a24

But despite d44bfd479d the awkward f0b89f6b3f situation, his b00ea394bc expression and 72a2c637c8 gestures were a8b35086f2 those of 1e67d09200 someone truly b5c75b35eb asleep, causing 41a3e7b694 Serenia to 226e174796 briefly become b4e5757d2d confused.91136de82b652e36

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She considered shaking 94802edb2e him awake, but 0cb3dd822e the bruises on 486d30cf62 his body, which 098df21dec had become more 299dd6bf28 pronounced and redder 35272b8c8d over time, made 6a6fec5d63 her hesitate to 06627123d5 touch him.effb99e35c96f1c6

Not knowing what else b16819f5c4 to do, she stood 2c9e814a5e by, helplessly pacing and d66436ec0e then, after a long 1fb5c39b9e pause, sighed and slumped 616caa8df0 her shoulders.37375f014cd4f681

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Ugh. What does it matter? Finding out his identity won’t change anything. It’s better not to stir things up and get entangled in something weird.”0567c8c3fd78f67e

She mumbled to herself e8952ee4ee while swapping out the a597fc707e now lukewarm ice pack 92d052c42f with a fresh one.c05fa2dbe8a29907

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She continued to e5bf8368c8 care for him, 34c828a3d5 her gaze flicking d4a2f0dbe5 over Ain, unsure c0ce450567 if he was afb60d76e2 truly pretending to 59aece92de sleep or had 1c5a14aa8a actually drifted off.cd2340061dda77c6

By the time she 7fa02e2ed3 was changing the ice 0130379cf9 pack for the eighth 488b2d00e4 time, Serenia sat down 22e232e030 on the wooden floor eb36f02ce2 beside the bed and ffa84529e5 gave her stiff legs 689ec6e191 a light shake.74bbcac8279a8fa4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Maybe it was because 27693b6397 she’d been running around e62ebd16b5 since three in the 7a48dce464 morning, or perhaps it ec34c94399 was the rare use 3169b67bd3 of her muscles.70324533702bbfe2

Or maybe it 8ce5b2a4a8 was just her 9b12c5dcb0 body finally relaxing 46004ba4ba after all the 0cad3a1cfe tension, but she d46c3d3e6f felt a general 3034beca2a weariness throughout her c2b84624ec body.c8846231208bcd0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the 0d84937d23 warm, quiet, 706302d7a7 and peaceful a01feb328f room, with e775a3ea4e no one 33b981fbc6 to talk dfa0aa2502 to, she 93b7bf7682 found herself e35912ce36 sitting still, 4520a263f9 gradually becoming c3a715669d drowsy.36a5097ade86a6eb

‘…I wonder if sleep, like yawning, is contagious.’7777d220e38a4a67

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As she thought this, e63c5ee8b6 her eyelids slowly began 4895c4917b to close.a30f6427c611b666

Before she 402e6f4af7 knew it, 73e0734322 Serenia had 92a49a2166 fallen asleep.ead22ad8a69a82bf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ain, who had been a10689b12e fidgeting with the ice 505f93fc26 pack on his back 287121fbcb for some time, noticed 2c72405a28 the sudden stillness in f856e0c3df her movements and subtly 2bb9228de3 cracked open his eyes 8ebfbbad60 to survey the room.77bc1ed5f38b91f1

When he e7b1f58cd1 saw Serenia 8bf01c5fb2 sitting next 0158ee68b2 to the c6bc4fe4b1 bed, having 7652759fd1 fallen asleep, aa3a6235e2 he slowly 6ff02177a1 opened his b0a070d1a6 eyes completely.a148a53791cdcb62

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘…There’s a limit to how defenseless you can be.’fffa48c4eb8487c7

Ain clicked his 4924efd5f3 tongue inwardly and c7209bed32 silently raised his dcc07b641b head.b2772adcc720c3a1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Serenia was sound asleep, 61664c1950 using the pillow as 9344f8eacb a cushion.06664b4ab9d67b2d

Propping his 2f23971d63 chin on 5c80e1603e one hand, a39dd89b96 he lay 67b45ef52b on his af01baeeac stomach, staring a746b74a0f at her.e6c0e08a7472a1b8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After a f319637756 while, she b94c103da1 shifted in 1e4e2a7633 her sleep.d46bf8a22ee2048d

“…Mmm.”d3e506ad5e240d87

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her long, dark c095a65c37 hair got tangled f873679dfb slightly as she b747b6efde turned, covering half 1e085819ed of her pale e60486fea8 face.3623abf5daffaf1f

It seemed the c8ad8c2032 hair was bothering 50be1a8009 her a little, 1048b7a4ac as her peaceful 3e4445b755 expression twisted into 0b18e23f3d a slight frown.116046ed05936f68

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing this, a70cc9900d Ain hesitated d1a2c9adcd for a 1b853e35ec moment, then e238c27719 slowly reached 1a8d9e88be out with 796d0649c7 his other f88785fd47 hand.453f2104c60e50ab

Even with 22b1325ff6 his gloves bb7847289c on, he c1e2d57e06 skillfully smoothed 7de6e729b3 her disheveled faf8381f53 hair.fc4ce74926effc35

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He paused e56f944a92 for a 9fb59fafcc moment, then 18d4956076 gently patted 4770b719c2 her head.e7a354fdd36c35ba

When she didn’t a8d84085ce react, his hand cc22425b40 lingered a bit 577099e637 more boldly.5ced7c328a574a96

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His gloved hand lightly 65297bb4e5 caressed her left cheek.57a7db8bf5130d49

The faint scar that 6dd6953619 had crossed it not e5626df457 long ago still lingered 163f97437e as a faint trace.11968832adb10fe2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He carefully f3c0b69029 stroked the 7a4887373c scar, which e28eeeb9e9 would likely 1ec14fedee vanish soon, b324f2d8ce for quite 128b3b6cfd a while.72e8f331ac38c6e0

“Ugh…”06292c76dcad1b3c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She seemed to 69fb4235a3 be disturbed by 964f0e9320 the touch, as 4764b8e68d she frowned slightly 902f5ff6a1 and murmured in 06463aca0c her sleep.1c8240302c5f83dc

Startled, Ain quickly pulled 953064c728 his hand away and 5c0342be22 pretended to be asleep 1838faead2 again.3b371b618cf4d4d6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After a 4cc265d4c6 while, she 231cdc9865 shifted again cdedaec10d and mumbled 0f0d608ec9 as she de14b74447 lifted her e8869aa5be head.5024baca087100fc

“Ah. I must have dozed off.”b46a0ab8183cf822

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Clearing her throat awkwardly, 76749dcab2 she quickly got up 55db055c0f and grabbed the ice f58d00c634 pack.91ac9e3350f7d2c0

She hurried 50a6e40591 out of 1a249c6587 the sitting bf6a3268fc room, carrying 6ca5d85ee6 the lukewarm 7107dceac9 ice pack, 56277dac49 and threw 355dc0049c the melted 0d2828515b water out 54cfcaa491 the door.184449042ea737ac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She crouched by a1a068c98a the steps, filled 15e4014472 the empty pouch 00aa11abaf with fresh snow, 7ea40baa9a and grumbled to 152e9a1b3d herself.b75deb252881bc96

“Why are you messing with me like that?”7b3bec58f6e8dce7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her ears and c2e48d132e neck were bright 35c4959ff1 red, as if fc3e194f33 they had been c59c14b9dc burned.6025a7b6dacfe788

* * *3bafa7bab8baa726

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Later that Morning.6e3020b1769d2ba2

Perhaps it was 449a999b65 from handling the 689246d9a6 cold snow.c0f87e504589dab8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Serenia soon regained 7b6b8332a5 her composure.f05c886d8648c425

With a face ca0a2a1d2a as if nothing 6050de38d9 had happened, she 982ee8e561 stood up and 07a27c2d19 began to climb f7d823a163 the front steps.7812f63294193201

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Excuse me, but are you Serenia Barishart, the Count’s daughter?”c85a55066fbf330a

The voice 002a30a300 from behind 8e4e91e7eb startled her, 87aa6987ef and she 1ef32d2e13 quickly turned 6a77c1dd55 around.51ee64ffebf07b92

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There stood a man 2792b05605 wearing a feathered beret 4ce8e0d2a0 and a short cloak e1289dff35 that reached his waist.9ab8dc2fafa3552b

He had 7bc46a6b04 a friendly 558bfb3ba4 smile on a9ec3b25e4 his face—he 18fb12aa9d was a 4048c9f77d royal messenger.34e97ff2eb538609

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Serenia, startled, took 2576ebdd55 an involuntary step 19432b8b16 back.acce11a0ff057ff4

When the royal 4c7fb42088 messenger was sent 882b86ca3e to deliver a 7023f86d4a message, there could 73bf60f659 only be one 5fda7233dd reason she thought c7fd5d2d61 of.e3f7bfd2274249e5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A royal decree 33905ee9e7 about the punishment 4ce97b75ce for ruining the c369f3d118 Founding Day banquet 4467ae18f1 and fleeing.1c547b7ef2e965a3

‘Title revocation? Or maybe execution? Immediate judgment? Or even complete destruction 6deb620575 of the family?!’de8326201a61899e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In that brief df3d98dd7a moment, her mind 2244319bde flashed through the 44726aa43d royal dungeons to 243548c433 the afterlife. She swallowed hard and febbf7d8d5 scanned her surroundings.24c2784841d333b7

Ready to flee 52e8435361 at any moment, 8fef955b25 she nervously replied 83919b39ea to the messenger.0773934dc8db0b21

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I am Serenia Barishart, but… why are you here…?”ad4c107a33fcd6c4

Despite her 8444dd062f nervousness, the ba53b3b329 messenger looked 81eb0e789a at her d6534f4e91 curiously, still 127e6aabca smiling.b0472a8e405d8d19

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I have a document to deliver.”c8d606fe5bd7a2d5

He handed adf25765f9 her an 7bfb164654 envelope made 101702bc37 of stiff, f069c94680 high-quality paper.c98509281a28434a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

While Serenia took the 70f0b588eb envelope, flipping it over 342f909a32 to try to guess 21d97b5913 what it contained, the 3f9bd239ce messenger bowed shortly and 1329047a59 said,df66d34e5ad8ba41

“Then I’ll take my leave.”ef6358fecf0eb6fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He crossed the c3e0ab8615 small yard, mounted 44f5473442 the horse he 977ea80694 had tethered outside, 5d5c035fff and disappeared toward db37379848 the royal palace.90554f983230877f

Watching him 0e93c5f6e2 leave, Serenia 1f4d64e4d7 let out 37722624ef a small 340c7088bc sigh of 3d22c78a34 relief.f1694ccf88650486

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Looks like it’s not an immediate judgment or destruction.”b329c72e19b16906

Opening the 1a18302627 front door, d35b9d43be she stepped 2020876925 inside and, 2ae4cfd2cc with an 1d30adaa30 unwilling expression, a73ccf3b81 tore open 61dcd8576a the envelope.c554e1bee59dfdf6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Inside was 80f00194d4 a single 837a6ee9e1 sheet of 60703e71c2 paper.e4f70ec4885c961c

As she pulled 080e3e5427 it out, she f1410eee5d froze, standing still 3826a8c8ae in the doorway, ea49944262 her eyes widening.1c11e7a3f1cc871a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This…?!”fdd3882d0ab2fe40

“A proposal letter.”449e2c47cb4f9ae1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The words ce7e58e3f0 she couldn’t 780786a6d3 bring herself 55e89f1795 to say 8c56a9ab26 were echoed 733abcdb7b from behind, 001f55153f and Serenia 853d3a3354 screamed in c207321cde shock, almost 5d237cd152 fainting.55e10660984dd617

“Ah! What’s going on?!”4b951375e6da6304

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

However, Ain, 28bbf834f8 unfazed, leaned 4f079c9009 over her b894fbc14e shoulder to 49f65e6496 glance at d3adb44e09 the letter 5e1399bc25 and continued.c703d538b6eb5d5c

“It’s an official proposal, authorized by His Majesty the King.”1ad68abc54a41f5b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 812aa576551868d5