105. A Lie

Hesitating at dd81b845bc the door, c1aa7d9207 unable to 98e5ecaf2d step in c8d2a0ac6c immediately, a d6b1d6d1b4 sharp gaze dd2afb87ec pierced through cd3ce1fdd6 me. My back tingled. They seemed d9a2e402ef to think eb65d03fdf my movements ecd05c23ae were suspicious.e394d3133563e048

That’s right. I can’t back down now. Clenching the bracelet as if it were a lifeline, I steeled my resolve.81f71a92bd6507a1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Determined, I hooked my fingers around the edge of the door and swiftly pulled aside the tent’s curtain.b22c53361f00ce6e

* * *eb298045269f55ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Inside the tent, unlike 1716d8b935 the chilly air outside, 1fb6e9e599 it was warm, with dcd02d4cf6 a heavy atmosphere. The air 9893e3c0b4 was thick.028f0e5cdbb0b837

I heard a25bc408bf the sound 85a9803457 of the 404c29c6a2 thick curtain 39a8bde7b9 falling behind f93a886445 me. The noise from outside 0e8aa70b38 was quickly muffled by 207891ef72 the heavy fabric.ee2397ff4666c004

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Soon, everything was 991252b241 silent except for 52d4f2a763 the crackling sound 92b5c69327 of the burning 03dad57c65 logs. The interior of the b8cfcbe952 tent gradually came into c54e35aff1 view.2509e59e0f2e364f

There was a camp 4092d07713 bed and a sofa 72dcfbb35a used for travel. In the 445c57e74c center, a 68778a2812 large brazier b7d5c82993 was blazing.25e302b9d0c7df8b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At the far end, 856ebd6fa4 a dark silhouette of 3e50dbe703 a person could be 42c7988ad5 seen. Someone, presumably an 52f05ff71b officer, was bent 32e268bfba over a desk, b1d492245e signing a pile 9d49e5a8f2 of documents. The quill feather fluttered 23aaa73f8b left and right with 9442573aab swift strokes.70ae827a4ec8136c

“I thought I said I didn’t need any attendants.”876103641c859660

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The person at 7bc6e362a6 the desk spoke. Without looking up, the c7f402a202 one moving the quill e258e6b319 muttered in a low 32e505fc50 voice.cf158566581e0583

It was a 7caf16e84e woman. Despite wearing 32c58f3253 armor, her 15db735b61 thin and 81f9efc0ef firm figure bd652bdde6 was noticeable c8f0628f81 at a 793edd9c03 glance.3f47c0fb32f7fd2d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

My blurry 95423e29f0 vision, clouded 5a3a3bee4b by vague cef93fb685 fear, cleared, d40d910ce2 and her 28d04bcb1a face gradually 98eedad014 came into 92aa12077f focus. It was d320b1ec59 no illusion. The small face and 3e94c37d9f features were distinctly feminine.8b82984f6d219e5f

Finally, I could clearly a152d3c8e7 see the person moving 5d80cab011 the quill from afar.fc67d5e4faf1a53a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I feared she might f0731744d6 have other intentions, but c9e20a11f2 it seemed they truly 59fece72a8 needed a maid to 5feb73664c attend to them.623cb696c4e4178c

I let out ebef3e2abf a small sigh 1666d580da of relief. My trembling body 591fdefbd3 calmed down.76df96ebe08e7789

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How could they let an outsider into the officer’s quarters so recklessly? What are they thinking? This kind of system…”39b8f6d09a9885e3

She massaged her 50ec6a6036 temple, deep wrinkles 33875c74ee forming on her 813025f50e brow.1c6bf8e6bc54cd3e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“They’ve picked someone as oblivious as they are. Can’t you speak? Or are your ears closed? Leave immediately.”d8c1aa8e6b558d19

Her icy 600fa749f5 voice made e7dae2c624 my body 6c7aa6b73a stiffen.c40f68541525ab5b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But when I didn’t move despite her sharp words, she finally looked up. Her long hair, tied tightly, cascaded over her shoulder.c860a3fddfdbd305

“The prisoner management is as poor as the system.”816d54c39134b823

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She shook ec447aed3c her head. A small sigh, 605acc2329 filled with deep 7daddf0cce concern, escaped her 44ea072e3b lips.d74b9a30fb3da9eb

I pulled up the 4f188d480a bracelet that was wrapped b612c711bd around my wrist. The bracelet, hidden 970ecba8cc under my sleeve, 50f4b75985 came into view.1f27aff848b4c282

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It’s a piece of jewelry made with worthless gems. Yet, because it bore the crest of the old duke’s family, it was my only means of survival.f51eb562443e9be5

Fixing the 211d87e35b bracelet with 8ccffdbb4b my fingers, ad24a7ab0b I took af12bd6a0e a deep da863e395b breath. Then, I walked 8f78ef6ffe towards her with 4f05a059e6 large strides.e490e4be70cd1cf3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even though it d226fc6e78 was a narrow 7bcabe435b tent, the distance 38ebc0f432 from the door 91c33ebd38 to the desk 0957ce937a felt far.c86207db20fe8ceb

Seeing me approach 488ef2885b instead of retreating 081cbdfd77 under the pressure 0ec1f7c158 to leave, she b96e140e57 stopped her pen.4d4bc8db24c92f41

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her eyes 6921b48a29 gradually widened. The head c3f90a758f that had 5f4692e0b2 been fixed 458cc1cf38 on the a78d77ad7e documents slowly edf58a7ee4 lifted.4bf44e69221d04d8

Approaching a noble 577cc10132 despite being ordered 2c4ec9d1af to leave. Bold and impudent. It could e783b4026d result in 30d985ced0 immediate execution.a96d7f39912b08fe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I knew what 59557cf334 I had to 12be5cc23b do: I had 7c82441134 to show her 033df3d495 the bracelet.adbfbeb05db13f6f

Fortunately, there 040a638211 were no 164df752b4 other soldiers 3ac22a84b8 inside the c060b275e6 tent. If there were, 766910d480 I might have a13006e7a9 been stopped or df119625e2 forced to kneel 976381653a before I could 13fa8e52f7 even reach her.8e8a31a4fafa74d8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I 06a87e1735 approached the c7ad2b9649 desk, her 8d84718ce8 gaze locked 8be0d4ef4d onto me. Her body a54d72b981 remained rigid 76b7c5599a and tense.45105b4a9baeb0cb

She put 2d71e6df14 down her c2a3b87c53 pen with d31e3ce7d8 a sharp cbe28917fe tap and 8739760724 leaned back 535463772b in her 11581b94db chair.74c38e5f9b390b3e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What kind of impudence is this? How dare you, without permission?”e3b5e29d4eec0522

Her voice c5202841c0 was even d39d445f38 lower now, 68ab8f37d4 and the 3961a371fe chill in 8b5196dc2f her words afcf8ce15d was palpable.c265d3b06b783e83

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Up close, 24b76f5f9c she was 08846570ec different from 5386d68fb5 what I 0b43f707ad had imagined. Despite her 3e8ec579bb youth, she c0564b2d80 hadn’t gained 8a89d35c73 her knightly 3270b11144 status by 512b8ed56f mere chance. Beneath the a477161b93 fatigue, a 1a42edc8bd fierce demeanor 0d7c186043 emerged. Her aura was far a3ef678d20 more intimidating than her 8c3cf1e0ed age would suggest.f2b82986dbdafabb

“I have something to tell you.”2b91fb0797b977ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The pressure 384ad66635 she exerted 6137305e8c made it e9a1e716d3 difficult to 7a9d9ec2cb speak. I took a 771a3d01ca deep breath and af91e7c836 forced myself to e85e358cb1 continue.5350afaf0c6b9b18

She responded with 76e28391ea a brief, derisive a41fd7821f laugh.62fee71602c50d1d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You? A prisoner? If you’re here to beg for your family’s release…”4d30cdf826eaaafa

“No.”6867929f88391d62

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I interrupted her, 108089548e shaking my head 8aa44f2ada firmly.95770a735648f89d

“I misspoke. It’s not something I want to tell you, but something I need to show you.”ced29c834ab70df2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her brows furrowed further, 733446389f her expression incredulous. Her glare was bbb942eca4 menacing.979a06d81422135a

Although she was 9615ab2f1f sitting, making her 09d8541b78 gaze upward towards 1b3e634f43 me, her posture c328f074fc did not seem f7ba5b9a1e lowly at all. The oppressive force 0129a4d9cd she exuded overwhelmed c0a4e5308a my entire being.d42d24484428de22

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Discipline has certainly fallen apart. Where does a commoner get the gall to toy with a noble? Get out of my tent.”27451f7dec327244

“If you see this, your questions will be answered.”442c694574756f9e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is anyone out there? Get in here, immediately…”9a68efcfa7e45566

She called out 6babfd9e93 loudly for the c8fe863c27 guard outside.f903b46350051244

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I quickly 722dc4cbb5 unfastened the e40bc7cced bracelet. Her eyes cac6e7c9ca naturally followed 45bcebca80 my hand.4384f278760415fe

“Please, take a look. It won’t be too late to call the guards after that.”ef1122dc39ecfc1c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I placed 5d65319d0c the bracelet 73cf4b6761 firmly on 54fcfea17a the desk 988232f40d and pushed c58ad9a2a5 it towards 91325cd654 her.781c4340c8352983

“What is this?”03b1dab02679aef1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“See for yourself.”3c6e346b971d1825

She glanced at me 7a2ade9995 suspiciously before picking up 525f8c6888 the bracelet.98b232ba363f5eab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“As a noble and an officer deployed here, you must have worked in the capital as well. Surely, you can recognize this.”4aa4f68423a5792f

She held the bracelet up to the light. She didn’t forget to cast a wary glance at me, doubting my intentions.e0007caa83e2a787

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do you see this? This crest here.”3e815e029af05b2c

I pointed to the duke’s emblem illuminated by the lamp’s light. Her hand, which had been turning the bracelet, paused over the engraved crest.524b5ec3c8085a1e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This is…”85578419a8decfb5

Her mouth slowly 23605a50e8 fell open.5058b8ba4baeebab

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Gotcha.10b23b239f158e28

I quickly 803e3978a7 dabbed at 77a1e11d51 my eyes 48aa70cca4 with my d080eaf46b sleeve, pretending f857fd3a6a to wipe 3e3e5f28b3 away tears.284720d04e8a35c1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I understand you were in the capital, so you must recognize this crest. I am not originally a prisoner. I was merely passing through a village on my way elsewhere when I was captured. The soldiers who didn’t recognize me dragged me here.”6e6f2968d93c0940

“You have some nerve. Imitating the crest of a high-ranking noble family is a grave offense.”2b601aa1a2023a57

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She narrowed her eyes, 32455d4193 still skeptical.3caba1bb228c8e20

“This is no imitation. I am well acquainted with the owner of this crest.”6d82bd6f473b6585

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her tone, although f3d842e68a still firm, had 47ec20acad softened compared to 1ad562ffe8 earlier. Sensing an 1bd13f69eb opportunity, I 063131270b pressed on.b8eeaec043a0c981

“This bracelet was given to me by its owner personally.”874d50186af210b1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Once I a5d3111511 made up 652219b9bd my mind, 383f3d646f the words 3fe73ac18f flowed smoothly. Even I almost e551e4b91a believed my own e966e597b5 story, as if 55ad0744d9 I truly had 11a0e0c589 some special relationship e2dcf8a123 with Deon.1f9227b5f15cc494

She straightened up. Her body leaned forward 965b0d7715 to scrutinize the bracelet e90a3dcacf more closely.86ffb92b7bd45f97

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She still held onto 6c859f7722 her doubts, but her a57e827ae6 posture betrayed her growing 239d5a3ab2 interest.146efc59c00917ac

I’ve got her now.7783a8b61d7cdf31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The stern 0d845d14d9 expression on 572efc5558 her face 453ebba407 had eased b95e7470d6 slightly.2a9222c4b625b768

Instead of 2dc3cf3859 smirking, I 0374f99516 let a 9e3b4dfdad tear fall, 5b622c6b55 feigning sadness.fda48f62a875b36e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Finally, she spoke, 20e7dcc410 albeit hesitantly.b683e2b33b427db9

“I’ve only been appointed recently and don’t know all the details, but this…”2eb2fc39563335ac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I expected, she 85b9fa3830 looked troubled.6c805ed4ec7059e5

“It’s hard to believe based on a single crest.”88875bb7a69203ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Isn’t it even harder to believe that a commoner would know this crest? It’s an old emblem of the North, no longer in use.”73ce48a170893519

“That may be, but…”2fe9fa6855af2fa8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If you have doubts, you can take me with you.”fa9b147bcde84ff0

“Take you?”4f1804eb75a6af3d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. Take me and have it verified directly. If you find it hard to believe, release me and take me to the capital. The owner of this bracelet will pay my ransom.”10b2d5e6c2d4b8f5

I felt 349aad1197 a cold 8438f21c46 sweat break 9bd7316535 out along 97b5693961 my spine ae4eba56a9 as I 937a60633c uttered those ac2955adf7 final words.41003e8ff4c29edd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There was no turning back now. I was standing on a cliff’s edge. If survival seemed unlikely, I might as well gamble on this bluff.427f048a8e6c9fec

After all the 00ac603060 times Deon had afc7c59d6e toyed with me, 9fa46dd0f7 this was a 42e9f99aa7 small payback.acdd730b792918dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Somehow, I needed b36eb8c201 to get to 4b6aa968e3 the capital and 6217dc4cb0 find a chance ea0d8afd66 to escape. The guards here were e7d1520713 lax, escaping would be 674b970207 easy.c13698f5a080941f

I might face e918aee4e7 execution for insulting ef3f6429c3 the royal family, 40f249823a but that would e670e32cd3 only happen if f5f292c23a I was taken db0df5894f to Deon and b57c58f442 my identity was c7147fe7cd verified. My plan ef6bebaa95 was to 196d8a16d3 escape long c08f3b6186 before that.170c9602b64b496d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If I truly lived here, how would a mere commoner know the old duke’s crest?”da485fac03d64cf3

By now, she was 8d3b8d2ffb listening intently. She had 06ab2a264a leaned forward 50b3887409 completely, her 90b4488a67 back no 3834825e6c longer touching ae1d7e245d the chair.2f63a8fd8b8b2158

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Everything will be my responsibility. If it turns out I was wrongly captured as a prisoner, won’t it be your loss as the commanding officer? Especially if it becomes known that you ignored the truth even after I revealed it in your tent.”cc3b9eccc326c313

At my words, 066fea6099 she pushed back 70e9bc798e a stray lock e41186d19c of hair and d7b646e760 let out a 47e966982d deep sigh.bd84d4215d3872ce

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s not something I can decide hastily. I don’t see why I should take you with me.”9af09d7ba32ccfd7

Perhaps my story wasn’t convincing enough. I needed to deliver a decisive blow to sway her completely.f908f5feda0dea1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hopefully, Deon had secured 90ac2153e7 a position in the 6b95d408b6 capital by now. It was 3433f22c11 fast, but 03173bcd06 he was f542daa86a capable enough c3b126b9c7 to do dfd2fd0528 so in 66464f9019 this time e3cc4d7768 frame.127a79d1aa1ed664

“You said your ransom would be paid? What is your relationship with the owner of this crest?”f2467a5f8cfbb96d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Here it was. I tried to appear 0679c5daae composed as I forced f09a1ceb8c a trembling smile.68c302071a5a41dc

Simply claiming I owed him or had worked for him wouldn’t suffice. I needed to present myself as someone worthy of this bracelet, someone she would believe could receive a favor from Deon.ffbd836c4c377b0e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I am…”29179b46835adcf8

I took a small 52bc82202f breath and began.9f48905b2af85f09

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I am the former lover of the crest’s owner. Or perhaps, still his current lover? We’ve never officially parted.”6f1513cd9018ea3c

I said this a2b81a08e1 with a sorrowful 7dbf88cf0d tone, as if 30e77a839f holding back tears.d071811276e6359f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Given my past, posing as a prince’s former lover seemed plausible. Many princes had numerous lovers, even in the Ajanti Empire. Claiming to be one of them would at least guarantee I was considered a noble.02e9ab3d2c0a3270

In desperate times, 12cf50366a I was willing e9c434bf16 to sell any b8a2051e96 story to gain a107fa62bb my freedom.73560df8698b46c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Please, let 7428613569 this work.d46bb31c51814d78

She looked younger 215e4302fb than I had 0b59fd6d97 initially thought. Surely, a newly appointed f162f8e9e4 knight. Only a newcomer would 140f33898e be sent to such 6a40bb70c4 a remote area. They had f595a62ff1 likely assigned 5202a47762 this young 9e5aeb7352 officer here, ae0b4707f6 not knowing 1bbad2ef63 better.1f0f284da512c664

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Despite my best acting ab31e05143 efforts, there was no 2657b03aa4 immediate response. No further questions about b3ccf8bf55 my relationship, nor any 125933bd9d accusations of deceit.a0d61bb801241567

I glanced at e8136ac45d her cautiously, half-closing 31b4363b47 one eye.89594a2dc45bf8f2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She stood 1c15b6fbb5 there, mouth 510850c517 agape, staring 229657d542 at the 3f7c3a81e0 bracelet as 5daafb278a if time dd8591f2f0 had frozen.91162486af322d4a

 eea4624146abb126

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley