Chapter 26. After the Performance Ended

At that moment, Serenia realized f1279cbc8c that Angela’s words hadn’t been f7a2b0082d an exaggeration.9562c612c294b52f

“The experience Ain delivers is truly extraordinary. That sense of 33c481efe6 immersion, as if 102023d0c2 he’s pulling me 45a1c5dd7d into a dream!”
“Unlike those stiff, stick-like people, the dynamic flow of his movements comes through perfectly—it’s just exquisite…”eb1d640dbf2c52c9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And indeed, it was so.37217824a1068ccf

The tip of his 28566e4eb7 sword, dancing alone in e97ad132ab the air, fluttered like 7f5595ffe7 a butterfly, only to aa8509661d shoot forward with the 9293d265ff spring of a jaguar.43b87c7a908805cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Every motion painted the a14206169d stage with trails of 83f4b41dbd silver light.dc1b918dc983cfb0

Faced with the overwhelming spectacle, 0c6fb0599b Serenia froze in place.26beca44b527a8d8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

This was the f550c51a68 furthest seat from 1eb5f94bd4 the stage, and 846d8eb908 yet, it felt 37f24a6e32 as if he d9ed92e077 was right in f1905fe033 front of her.f780c5ca31aaf18d

She couldn’t even think to d3a70f4ded take her seat—her feet were 3aa3ee6ed8 rooted to the floor by 8a125d5881 the entrance, unmoving.45c0254a17a5e128

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In that hazy, almost intoxicated fa61b0913a state—like she’d been struck in 77c5284376 the head—she still recognized it.3983c6ae6d11bd7c

The torment and anguish flowing 1c46e0ae8e through every extension and swing a2ba38b897 of his silver blade.feb9b2c80770e536

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He staggered as 29bfa339b0 if consumed by 25b12f8cea grief, but in 5d1cd56353 the end, rose ce27ac887b once more with 080e9abadc steeled eyes.4c0f309b41d71c31

He wasn’t a mere 9505eb4cd4 imitation of Raskal Admancanon—he 05c97ba7e3 was simply Razkal.f0b18e27b45e5627

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Thud.14878acfcea25c61

A droplet trickled down 2d2df44ca7 his mask and struck deec4c871d his chest with a c377fcb04b dull sound.48c14a30f22bceb7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She wasn’t sad or 2522b4df34 in pain, yet tears 14b0a6c95b had fallen, and she 8a64654ce5 couldn’t understand why.36a16c37207af6cd

Startled, she reached up 86c62e14d0 to wipe the tears ee8aa078b8 from her mask with 6ec8bf5aed her fingers—
And at that moment, the db21db2ec7 motion that had filled the 94603f897a stage came to a sudden a2877c7854 stop.adbef1859ebb8e65

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Right before the lights faded 3230b6a007 to black—just in that fleeting 7cf49c6d93 instant—d35b65b289c75040

‘Did… did our eyes just meet?’564fb79dcbd247d3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia scoffed at the 03cef83785 ridiculous thought that had 8928084203 just flashed through her 0bd04f85b1 mind.a3456849e77da4e5

There was no way he ee6cddbd0c could see her all the 61db468dca way from there, in the 40dd8f2c4d dark.a897aa7353310d8b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Even if he did, I’m wearing a mask—he couldn’t possibly have recognized me.’b6eee10d336ad755

A delusion was 2e1f7a2eee still a delusion, dbc2fb3d52 after all.56bdb7d92cb5480d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With a bitter smile, she 35c9efa74c slipped into the darkness and b909ede0e6 quietly took her seat.6fe4f5dbea1ee648

* * *1816e4d69936bd63

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The play concluded with 7062bdfbf2 Razkal returning triumphantly to 09974585d5 the capital, accompanied by f01d6c150e a hopeful trumpet fanfare, abcb07d9ae after beheading the wicked 9df1ef2d76 silver dragon Harzenthus.66d7a719ef557943

Of course, the real 826f2e6cf7 Raskal hadn’t actually slain 0d4ff4e118 a dragon fourteen years b75be71294 ago.f24b4782f8d11c6b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The silver dragon 6a7cd5b711 Harzenthus was a d609240125 theatrical metaphor for 543fbc0236 the Kingdom of d257b2ba0a Argentum—a neighboring nation a2d0183491 that had been 692b9be27f locked in a d949ffdeed long and grueling e4e9d54bd3 conflict with the cdfaa2c599 Kingdom of Zigranto 77411ceddc for decades.a0976368e53d8b86

It was only after edb5dcc775 the performance ended that eaba399623 Serenia finally let out c325951025 the breath she hadn’t a8d6459ffb realized she’d been holding.deee96d1b7d5be68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her vision blurred, her head 1794a57591 dizzy—she couldn’t tell whether it 886577ae93 was from the effects of 763332ca61 the play or the poison.1f4fc275a4e83daf

But one thing, at least, 2c21ec7f67 was certain.9a3843fd8ec8ff54

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘It was… incredible.’fbd9f221beaca784

She didn’t know 0a4acd021e much about art, 40fccbb330 but if anyone 12b1aa6036 could be called 7e70b7cf16 an artist, it 6b5c1c6c45 was someone like 9dd3cbceb9 him.050376e612c8fbfb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A person who breathed 237bc84191 life into a fictional 8ab2df4caf world, who captivated not 53cdc82614 only the eyes but be0e47640c also the very souls c656c55919 of the audience.89691d922f600689

Someone who felt close 403ae5bc9f enough to touch, yet a067b79c83 no matter how high bfa0312f9b one reached, could never 136afec160 truly be grasped.9d2414e8850d45d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was like a star 9a12ac0458 shining in the night sky.e99bb57ed0db2721

Thump. Thump.d0bd017c868f5053

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just thinking about it 84828438d5 made her heart race 95610a098d strangely.e1fcdbe5c816b70a

‘It must be the poison.’db682890c81e76cd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That’s what Serenia told herself.5a7dccce13c0ddc3

If that were the 3f84805cc7 case, then everything made 5a811e1640 sense.4e88797bdb13d9a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her labored breathing even 3bd45a51ac while sitting still, the 65cba04479 strange ringing in her 92c1cdeeab ears, her mind growing 104091defe distant and foggy—all of 8c2a1bbac2 it.bca33493d3b4a750

Even the fact that she b02fbb9188 felt like she’d witnessed something cd85b3e71e incredible, yet couldn’t recall the 10449b1741 details clearly—it could all be 35ab30b133 explained.e8ff1be7053a2ab2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With a long sigh, Serenia 51cc4aecbc slowly closed her eyes.d30ee7ea326bd6be

She remained seated e251c8ea51 for a while 99ce61e3be in the now-empty 2463b84225 theater, deserted by 1b386ac4ba the audience like d6f5ec8f7e the ebb of ddcd171ca2 a tide.f0cf738c138cc512

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her consciousness began to 8b2dd7005a fade, sinking like it 850da28396 was being pulled into 7eb55c48d8 the depths of the 8a2b4a78d7 sea—quiet and far away.d25c72146f6180b4

“…!”29f43680d644d543

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A burst of urgent b36cfee002 footsteps from somewhere nearby 103c0810d1 brought her mind briefly b58d529945 to the surface.1ff40d7c980be745

She could guess who caeeecf354 it was by the ff09feb962 sound alone.3390876de0bba773

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Serenia had something she absolutely 56cc91d1dc had to say to him.85e14128b8e1d8b6

As she struggled to lift 8af10e07ff her heavy eyelids, the footsteps 59b591a529 drew closer and stopped beside f38c40bc56 her.8803bb9a3a43dc90

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His breath came quick and 4d33ad6ca7 uneven, like he’d been running.7c3e4159389e8aa6

“My lady, how did you… No, that’s not what I meant.”2f7fb923ee65cecf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Through her blurred vision, fc517a1fdd she caught sight of a23158bf68 red hair.06aa9c7ccb25ca10

But the voice 969074bc4f that reached her db2fc57e50 ears wasn’t the fa1ae690af deep baritone of 417deccf82 Raskal—it was soft e28c3441da and pleasant, almost babd315fe8 melodious.6ee02ae4b66c503b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia thought to herself—c80e228b7c9c20ff

It seemed that ridiculous b957138726 notion she had earlier 8c7af386c9 wasn’t a mistake after c735657f63 all.216d6af83f98edb5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘How did he recognize me from so far away? I was wearing a mask.’22d9adb756007bf3

Ain spoke quickly, ebbb80103c his voice laced fedbdb1031 with urgency.2edb9d6a5119e8ce

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m sorry. I know there’s no 3516180491 excuse that could justify c33404c71f this, but I never 97c52379a0 meant to deceive you. I just… didn’t want 9ceed48e8b you to see me 2d93ac8695 like this…”1e55ff360bd93791

Serenia wanted to respond ad463e0c33 to the distorted image 3db29e4ee1 of him before her.8a2ea69907238067

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘It’s okay. I know. Even I wouldn’t have fbf386041c been able to say 15b77325d2 it.’0e055282c0ffb7ce

He was the man b99af6d757 who, every night, became c1ecc34aa1 Razkal and defeated Lord b46d1ad78e Kilos.d86a9fd9f3afe528

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And she was the count’s d53635b151 daughter who had been publicly bcb579c25e humiliated by Raskal’s so-called proposal—Kalos’s 2e7d67b318 daughter.6a5e71e2f7ddcd73

Of course he 088d36998b couldn’t reveal his d772f67e98 identity to her 4ae16bbcd8 openly. That was only natural.8cffd720edfe7a19

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But Serenia also 8e16c2c8a2 knew she didn’t d710710cec have the strength 45b6459d47 to say all 87b2533941 that.1810cb9a36a78e25

Forcing her nearly frozen 339177b5b0 lips open, she squeezed a29a79d379 out her voice.aff68d14bdf71ec9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“River… photo…”7b5154fd3b7d7500

Ain’s face went pale at 4f9ede38e2 her faint, fading voice.0ae96a876b5f34e7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her eyes were losing focus, 405a40c2f1 her breathing was shallow.9657a66b932298e3

The words coming 66912dbf2f from her barely-open 9a1d173d32 mouth were slurred, a2709b821a and not a be4d9da866 single hint of f54a1a8bab life remained in 2dc4a412d6 her face.4d2948515b39ca62

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Realizing what was 1b1be451d7 happening, Ain’s eyes a23e5f2a25 widened and his c34572c2bb voice trembled.92dad132c245e0a2

“M-my lady… no, it can’t be…”a82777d9ca6db734

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There was no 0f5313bc1e time for a 39c8aa3aa9 reply.c74c5c7aec325c9f

Serenia, silently apologizing 0b3ba5a84d to him, pressed d64b399bed on with what 236a1096bc she absolutely had 8033d18094 to say.abd10a6e54cc527f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Duke’s house… Dal…lia… danger…”25c106510b17d224

Before she could 4b68337d9e finish, her body 1cd11f5acb was lifted into 84be20bcfd the air.5e90312b842866be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She figured, hazily, that 037af27b26 she was being carried 13747a1adf again like last time.20c3a1049779171e

It had been uncomfortable, b608376813 awkward, and embarrassing back c3cb480120 then, but now it 79283ed53c oddly felt comforting.e574851fa8db5e6a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Maybe I’ve gotten used to it after the second time?’40f26eb3ae52521f

That silly thought drifted 11e2874250 through her mind as b70043489b she tried to finish 22afe70a1c her message.74642f0d5792599b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Proposal… cancel…”bef9c2fd335e75da

“You don’t need to say any more. I understand—completely.”af91004d11bffe87

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His voice cut her 27b0ff93da off, heavy with emotion.4706fb04c8698944

And truthfully, she no longer acde7bb31c had the strength to speak.60470a8ad78a0cb7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So she closed her 429e525840 mouth quietly.1b3b30f667e14de5

Then, his firm voice rang abb45cff34 out above her.789d2e15314053d9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No. Keep talking. Don’t lose consciousness.”4e9ed8dd765ffca8

“…Can’t…”c909a6459d4753c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I want to, 9e89d34a09 but I can’t—what 8da153b0b4 was she supposed 5376e84e49 to do?e41b7191f48b3daa

“Please, don’t close your eyes. Keep them open.”9a8e5458489ebb25

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was asking 6cca58fad9 for the impossible, e3fbe8f4d6 and it made 1c1eb0b100 her feel strangely 4953c81f92 sad.2e9c4561f8c4cd52

With her eyes shut, ff1f974485 she furrowed her brows.b883f702b57261e5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“My lady. My lady? Serenia!”38f97c2d05b3e7ff

His voice rang 37e48842eb out like a b66993ebcc shout, almost angry.9f22d7c9465881b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Why are you yelling? And who said 894218adbc you could call ee7ca2ea1d me by name?’482982ad29681256

Irritated, she forced her eyelids e58e4a0cf9 open, unwilling to let it fc9a6525de slide without a glare.c261f3f4a594fb68

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She squinted up f68a0b036c at him, shooting f5d8a5e031 him a look—and dc5d2fc426 he let out cfb288d393 a small sigh 80a838f4dc of relief.419a5dde717aca30

‘Seriously? Not even an 45186e4a3d apology—just a sigh?’a72590bafb78b10b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Serenia glared at bca6e3146a him harder to 8eb93688af get her point a821cb5648 across.3a309445149cacfc

But it didn’t last long.51a1b8cf15eebd3c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Like a stage fading to 79dfdc7898 black, darkness filled her vision.b558df95b3a0b6d6

Before she could 690cbf4726 resist, she fell cec4c1f36f into a deep a83fb667cb sleep.1ea213189d04a9bf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *18fb10de5090b8dc

Her vision gradually brightened.45a92c4f80f5baa2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A sunlit meadow, b0ec232e8f lush and green 3001c35550 under the warm bc316fd79d rays of the 604a4fd1f5 sun.e76703f3d69b5043

Serenia began to move, 3eb0e8c77f completely unaware of how 364efd5914 oddly out of place 38d33d02db this scene was.20b5c7973d81df19

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She followed the 65db26e631 path of a 0f238b8aa9 beautiful trail in 61ede5dd88 the Barishart Countship—one 875c2feb66 that, though now 74e655c563 sold off, still 2477e3747e lived vividly in acc1e8418b her memories.17855ee921666415

As she walked bd0be17c28 along the path, 9e27350bc9 her body transformed, ee763dca4e shrinking down to 18942b7870 that of a eb2e8ad890 small, eight-year-old child.db3755cb2b2c2c1a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In this dream, she relived a584144004 the memories of her childhood—memories d8a6a3daec that remained fresh in her 60b79fa9f0 mind.17041420faa9e58c

Back then, like any noble d84d864b6c household, the Barishart estate had a6bd730295 its butler and maids.f325d665782a906f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But they were 75f818ea13 merely servants, carrying a8984402ec out only the fdbb660ba0 tasks assigned to cb8d847ed2 them.c7623870d04c5f9b

It had been ten days d0a1d74ffc since the Count of Barishart 6c7f8f883c had volunteered for the western d559370c66 expedition and left the estate.e4c11d9cd40545a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Countess, whose 9eacb6121a health had always 0dcf1b7da0 been frail even 9492156584 before marriage, had 3c21f35f6b visibly deteriorated over 438357525b the past few 14089a523e months.eea9947b25d3200b

Her life was quickly f4d78233ec slipping away.bea9b8109139514c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yet the servants ba377e7067 continued with only dfa4c57abe the work outlined 5c931667f2 in their duties.2a41a6878f104771

Preparing meals, doing laundry, b5f7d23ba7 cleaning, tending the garden, 84f3855b83 maintaining the house.54832122d50c8758

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Nursing a dying countess—an orphan 463f40b384 from the streets before marriage—was f16c45224e not in their job description.9ab40bc607d7c0e5

It was then, at 2526cf4409 eight years old, that 07db7efd8c Serenia first learned:f4d0e1b81acbac6c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

People cannot be trusted. But contracts and money do 28a5d214e8 not betray.fac14e179f6ef2ed

In place of 5e1538ff78 the servants who 10e6bfb9f9 faithfully stuck to 1d647b67c1 their agreed tasks, 460e312ad4 Serenia stayed by 6afb6f9bf8 her mother’s side 50576f00e4 all day.daf4989c5ae54c35

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She would feel her mother’s 92a03e5ec0 fragile breath with her fingertips, db12c6204a fearing it might stop at 1993973c87 any moment, and finding relief 6f29ca1802 in each faint exhale.11d14336030abb6f

Her mother, who 4f9ebc6ac1 had seemed as d88cb103c7 lifeless as the ac69d886b2 dead for days fc6a3f4910 on end, finally b9449823f4 opened her eyes 803c2a2c59 on a bright f3b99379fa summer afternoon.ac1a8c613c928aaf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sensing her own end 1e2c3fdb94 drawing near, she summoned f55bafb7bb the last of her 257d0de305 strength and removed the 421d196eae necklace she wore.b45caa766a356221

It was adorned with a 376b853981 large blue gem—the necklace left 6aedc7db12 behind by Lady Muriel, her 309139d411 mother’s first family.9551134129edbdd5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Passing it to her c9bac7e8e2 young daughter, she said:7a2a3cf92d242fdd

“You must keep this safe until the prince comes to find you someday.”66b9beb426176e62

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Those were the last 2d028f4c34 words she ever spoke.71a5c1e9298defe5

 c529f75d566a6069

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 22cdf401b691e07e

 12f1adcc24f6d7dc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 3ac55281bb62696d

 f6fef7b5a23bcaa8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 4244fc831d5f5b71

 e7e658fe9c737ccd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 8d643ed0b17e8af9