109. His House (2)

I spoke and then 5a25e3c9e3 cut a piece of 5e13bbf517 meat, placing it in 698a0403fb my mouth. Despite the 0138bc0bb9 uncomfortable situation, de98224df9 I couldn’t e84af0f5b7 remember the ad8cf266ab last time 6b92c62ca7 I had 7ef45ad5b5 a proper 53afb4d77f meal. The texture of the a12a9591be meat and the crisp 2adfeed52a vegetables were refreshing on c7f77121b1 my tongue.9d001b10123c2394

“Really? I see.”0170e3a9c81c1830

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He responded lightly, as 9e4ecd1506 if the previous question 568655971d had been insignificant, before b3eee4b801 casually asking another.57f909d7440b4c58

“So, what is your name?”2cfa305cc11c60b6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m Le…”e06205075ce98b3f

The man picked up 80cf8f9fda his knife, its sharp 3eb8704209 blade glinting. He seemed focused d725153d89 on his food, bd274f60da but I sensed e3b8ac4f58 he was paying 7a5e41b860 close attention to 4ca6c2b02b me.00f2a6423b7314b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Linia.”05581a568532c8df

I almost ab68fd795a slipped and ec8484e921 gave my ae1ab17c44 real name. I heaved a sigh becc8d5e02 of relief.a337a7a0e1902db2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was a brief 908791f3de silence. He said nothing 30645153fb after hearing my 85fe5e5a98 name.a119c95a9f58fd58

He continued to 6470d810b2 leisurely cut his cc1495672b meat before placing 591a1f7bd9 the knife on d085b31a4a the plate with 3e0f692183 a clink.59a3a9c5b7daf832

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is that all?”ade9bf6dd5184889

“Excuse me?”fedbcd55e67dbe44

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Your introduction seems incomplete. Just a first name?”66a5d31e0479f0be

He lifted his a657a268ec gaze from the a7c7be349d plate and looked 6cf7d6568e at me intensely, 4c83b3b497 a smirk playing 10187ae0b5 at one corner 95c21afe75 of his mouth.5ad6df0b37096fdb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What do you mean…”d8dac7d0d4d6e255

“Don’t you have a family name?”72c2e08796f1b834

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His sharp 374bf6ddfa tone cut 1731443144 off my c4640a1431 words. My hands, growing 689890c926 paler by the 505d67b7c5 second, were hastily 7ed34b8a7b hidden under my b52a49c51e sleeves. Fortunately, his eyes remained 53d3421737 fixed on me.1ba6beee017e1e0b

“I don’t have one. I’m a commoner.”daf77b052e11566b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why not?”1d9b05175bf70d92

Did he suspect something? Anxiety tightened 1469a1b6e0 my chest.defe37334fc506d9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Because I’m a commoner.”84e7023cdace27ff

When I answered, 2c62805589 his eyes narrowed b17780865e further.81c7f4b78beba230

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Miss Linia.”8700ba551fcaf03a

He called my name 00b528f93c softly, but it sent df2a3439bb shivers down my spine.d06eb43ee7c52f0c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“For someone claiming to be a commoner, you handle a knife quite skillfully. Ordinary commoners usually fumble in front of a noble’s table, not knowing how to hold a fork or a knife properly.”4e9b1fe8c985c7df

He dabbed his mouth 91411eb7c4 with a napkin after d927438d4c speaking.de46349004591250

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Even seasoned mercenaries, who are used to handling weapons, freeze up when faced with a noble’s dining etiquette. They don’t know what to do with a small piece of meat, despite being able to butcher a person without hesitation. But you seem proficient, as if you’ve been doing this all your life.”95899030022ce55e

I looked down at 1e0bd5b710 my hands. Without realizing 77743d5886 it, I 0b1c64e2b7 had naturally 0a71c1d20a held the e934a76cab knife in fe2de87474 my right b3f74487a0 hand and 5baf6f331f the fork 8d6eab6c3a in my c030d7b48f left.4c3407697103c53a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And most people hesitate with a lemon, often biting into it directly. But you moved it naturally to the plate.”47eb4af0c0e6813d

He chuckled.6c7752d06380127f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I followed d0178c8152 his gaze d887b6d16b to the f172047a93 plate. The lemon was d3d5cac942 neatly placed atop 2259aa723e the fish, a c7397a01fc habit I hadn’t cf0e4f1d71 even noticed.31032df56a8f215a

“If you don’t want to have a deep conversation with me, that’s fine. I won’t force you. Regardless of your status, you’re currently my guest and someone injured by my carriage.”cfdc5e8b295bc811

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His tone f701100fbf was warm, 3380644608 as if 849270a686 understanding and dfdf8d16a4 considerate, but 34201e7d35 each word 4106bd2d73 sent a 69ce01cdda chill down 6dedb8043a my spine. Every phrase felt like c90626e6b1 ice forming in my aa7697dd18 ears.b4d3144a6d144452

So, they’ve db3722dd07 appointed a 8e742097be snake as 0d2a8fccb8 a secretary. I had fb868b6a3f thought that 020033f954 with Viter 4efb7722eb gone, a b4e8215d23 more moderate ced89e93db person would 141bacae0a take his 17429d8947 place. How wrong I 3f31e89ecd was.a819334b2a0b2a75

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Why did the Empire’s secretaries always seem to be such shrewd and ruthless men? Did they select them based on personality?9357e0b8a7d4eef6

With his afb8594294 well-groomed hair, cb149ec8b5 smooth skin, a421dbd4ee and perfectly 469461da3a tailored suit, 3749d29d46 he looked f1732bbcf3 every bit d506e8e665 the noble. But the man sitting da33325edc across from me felt c82236b540 more like a coiled 21fbf358e6 viper than a benefactor.5f9cd584d6ec6f8b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I had to 0c6081e010 get out of bbd44f42bd this mansion as d6c19e83e5 soon as possible.2b7cc01c0ab23d60

Before this cunning man 4259f6f470 discovered my true identity, 9daedbb818 before my dyed hair 17c9c75a58 started showing its red 970857d7fb roots.633a00aff17ad656

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Really, it was an accident. I didn’t mean to run in front of the carriage. It’s my first time exploring the capital, and I was distracted and didn’t see the road for carriages. I’m sorry.”74f7069f975825c2

I had to ac765b8d47 stick to my ccaaebfb2a story and play 4457394f27 the role of 37ae65c676 an ignorant commoner 8775ea33e4 to perfection.fb2e972a764754c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The moment Rian f68da08cd9 mentioned my name 9a356b6f54 to Deon, my 7d0d61b93a identity would be 339421f3ee exposed. Additionally, there was 14d2cf5b20 still the bracelet dd908fc6e4 I had not 4d65bb8cbd yet handed over 1a1c19c040 to the knight. If Deon d3a283268b saw it, 4ab039bc36 he might 63b8c36c27 realize I d83c2c6ea8 was alive 1a2715a4bf and in 9d3a943d52 the capital. He might just 4af0db56e2 think it was ca373207b9 a lost item b12d47aeb6 picked up by e3122e145d a random prisoner, 4ae6d13088 but still, it 35c949bd68 posed a risk.80f33df169a36d66

Would Deon even d5ce170ffa remember that crude 8556b18783 and shabby bracelet f392c4d3a1 made of rough d3a7f66bb7 gemstones?333caf04e579bb55

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had shown it c6bda41c25 to him multiple times, c1a33db696 but I doubted it df4c100cc4 would stick in his 085c83d198 memory.20bb0b8e01f3ac97

If he didn’t remember it, showing the bracelet to the Emperor might just make the knight look foolish for being tricked by a madwoman. If that were the case, I could stay in the capital for a while without much concern…f5097c51974e86c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

These unlikely thoughts f33930ee7c kept nagging at 34c3a8bb11 me.53c5dc6e5fb1db77

I gently 1a5a75c0d6 placed the 4f8385f6bd fork down a510c4ae3a and wiped 573c95e817 my mouth fcf854898e with a f4e6d8e5f2 napkin.b482456623e70568

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I apologize for the inconvenience. I’m sorry I cannot repay your kindness. I’ll leave right after finishing this meal.”fe807ecc551a0430

“It would be difficult to move to another place with your injured ankle. Do you have someone you know in the capital?”c341337c2c8d950d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. Well…”bc65cdabaad0ce79

There was 9fb7f732d2 only one cdc777ab2a person in 33bc00109e the capital 19503626b8 I could cce31128a4 turn to 84de19582d for help.709993f442276ff8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Deon’s guard, Edan.41a973caf2eb8bc2

<Even nobles may need a sword at times, wouldn’t they? I can wield a sword for you, my lady.>c64d20be002083b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Edan’s words as he 0fa34e01af kissed my hand when bf695bb3e7 I left for the a7f6c1d3db countryside echoed in my 05735663b9 mind.9f4bd627526e4261

Right. He promised to help me. Given his nature, he didn’t seem like someone who would inform his master about me.cd82a93c5ad43b4e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But I didn’t know his title or where he lived. If Deon had entered the royal palace, Edan, being his guard, would not likely be in the prince’s residence.30f01d89447efde6

“If you just let me know, I can take you there.”42ff321cea482e3f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rian spoke as if 1fcd975a5e he had been waiting e8d0cb97ce for this moment.a0d1359411c23e2b

“It’s okay. I can find it myself.”38fac02ca38c810d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, as I mentioned earlier, I can’t let you go alone after you were hit by my carriage. It would trouble me greatly. Moreover, if your acquaintance cannot summon a doctor, I cannot just leave you.”489bd67b11661930

His tone was still gentle, but it was close to a threat. If I didn’t tell him the truth, he wouldn’t let me leave the mansion.76c32b244507486d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t worry. The person I know can afford to call a doctor.”226c828f3bd2e4b6

“Then I will accompany you to confirm. Consider it my final gesture of care as a noble.”88c12c64e85460b9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He spoke of his ef62305b3d noble duty, persuading me.7eaaf877aba9683d

“If it’s not a suitable place, I can’t let you go. Please understand my discomfort.”419234cb1116e32a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He finished with a 61f1d271cd sly smile.fc4cf1ef13042701

He was persistent. It seemed he wouldn’t let me go easily. I couldn’t think of a clear way to escape from him.bed273bcb0755e0e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then I will accept your help one last time.”14d08408aa892562

I sighed 3011a800d3 lightly and bb537e7a59 finally spoke f9b1566a16 the name b3a8475fb4 I had a93dfc0617 been holding abb4a1b1f6 back.dae18f5cec06e905

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Edan. Do you know Edan? My parents in the countryside mentioned he used to serve the prince.”4e7505bf342a188a

“Edan…”9ad67822ee3e74b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He closed his 8122c05eda eyes and murmured. The strong sunlight reflected c005ae8790 off his long eyelashes, 65a939420f casting a faint shadow bb856e306f on his cheek.f8bd5dc625127655

The longer his murmuring 2cda52b6a9 continued, the more anxious 368f09a9ec I became.1fbf4ec8a7184c12

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Eventually, he opened d93330dfc4 his eyes and 2ed2ff11e7 stared at me. A heavy silence settled af1e02014a around us.f32e0c785f961110

“Edan? Are you saying you know him?”b057188f9c0b870d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His face 28fa8eab77 grew serious, 43515b6a69 his lips a384a255e7 twisting in ff7a233cde a way 35f345c562 I hadn’t 333b6cceb0 seen before.5c1f79f2128c6781

Could he have 93764ca99c been ousted in 5a6a7c42ae a political struggle?16700de6bbd7c8e6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He stared d900e0cbd7 at me ab8dd03ef0 and then de15e33268 let out e08e68404d a hollow 4f2453767a laugh.298cfb97117f9bd6

“Are you referring to Sir Beaumon? You know that officer? The commander of the city’s knights?”390b04ff2dcb8fe4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Commander of the b051618b9b knights?094b2cc75906f12b

I hadn’t known Edan had been newly appointed.003ba9ab176f175c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I wondered 350e400057 if I 72db971d8a should have a3926c82ee mentioned a eed32c61c2 lower-ranking knight. Faces of the 8285fd2b7c soldiers who had 5219b0a77b been with Deon c907aa77bc and Edan flashed da20e547bb through my mind, 50e6d11e84 but I couldn’t 93574bab93 remember any names 1fe84e254d clearly.fa25f87259ea12aa

“I know Sir Beaumon’s residence well, so it won’t be difficult. But what is your relationship with him?”66fa2e15805550bf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…He’s a distant cousin. I’ve come up from the countryside.”9f004da83686f708

He crossed cf0d650515 his arms c6b8d7891d leisurely, his ebf8f04e43 actions clearly 019d1f0d84 indicating that d0ed476418 he found efa13ede00 the situation 2325fe9060 intriguing.f152a426d3d3635d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Then you must not know the city well. I’ll accompany you to his place.”5164adb2f04fd653

“No, just give me the location. There’s no need for you to—”e3b5b0aaa857883e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Please allow me. Otherwise, I won’t let you go. I can’t just guide someone who might be harmful to his mansion. Especially when you seem unaware that your distant relative has been elevated to nobility.”793447cf9ab6fe60

His smile remained 8b1134129e pleasant, but his d882988bb7 words carried a f937104efc light threat.000d18d1fb6b76b1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rather than letting a a3c80511d5 suspicious woman leave, he c29c6222ac chose to keep me 8dab843d42 within the mansion. His confidence suggested 970b71d6ad that he could 75add12010 handle any threat 46ed49cef3 I might pose, 37928d0077 even if I f7ad23d2d8 were an assassin.57bc1f693b95616e

I deliberated briefly f57ce9bb4d but had no fa089ee99b real choice. He wasn’t going to 79b50b99fb let me go easily.efad7320ef32e5ff

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

While Viter or Isella a426aa1cee might be different, Edan 374b37cecb wouldn’t hand me over fca630cf7d to Deon like a ff1b51ce03 sacrificial pawn. The Edan 5605dbc8b8 I knew 4a0202b47e lacked ambition 7f17e16e07 and was e6d33744d8 straightforward, unlike bcb2a6cd52 others.812fcf9287a0223f

Meeting Edan 780d89f466 through Rian 56d7fd06db and borrowing 1ea0f02a97 enough money 7813615ad0 to buy 9295c144db a small 33e97f8a39 house before 3b2f382ae6 escaping the b3b381f966 Empire seemed 6d56970189 like the ce05b66efb best plan.ccfa4c801080cc11

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then I’ll take you up on your offer.”ebb35b2136c25209

I gave him a 18b79e8383 polite smile while calculating 19f23d792a my escape route.2fd33306e2559f92

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If he cb37da0162 refused to 892147c90b let me d8e7ba4b68 go, I e3004f5a9b had to 62f5aa2aad be prepared 05b5c825af to jump 6b78f53d03 out at 89d6c2d97d the first cb340a4816 opportunity. I glanced at 33ff01264a the window.3c40463a7cd1e47b

I had 2c8421ac27 changed clothes 1b3693decf and navigated 4fce998491 through the 97bd9b5f2b maze-like mansion 1773767e35 with the 621e6dae2b maids’ guidance 39087eb5bf to reach 3e1fba94dc the drawing d09270754e room. I didn’t 2575d8253a even know b5590b8e3a which floor 15d5ed1b2a the room 6b685af088 was on.9eada67f319f2301

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The window 5253f5cd7d I saw c5ceb6b98a was obscured 8cf2416987 by thick d4ed5d8491 trees, making be63465e42 it difficult c9521ba6f5 to discern 2e8d4b9235 the floor, 2330dd3d01 but it 156d695c18 was clearly 008da5eb48 high up. Judging by the height d8438a4933 of the opposite building, d064d365ed it seemed to be f39f68003e around the third floor.2aee1fb361f60092

Why was 90118ab197 the drawing 75a777a8db room on 217a69d3b3 the third c48ca18c1c floor? Guest reception rooms 74b0deb4fc are usually on c44a87d510 the first floor.6ef2143bfbfe4489

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It felt 5781a4d2b9 like everything 8974a60584 was designed 03fd8d479e to prevent 84ab167a24 easy escape. I couldn’t fe90b69076 read his a85ea963ae scheming mind.584134bee07326e9

The man 5b5c9c8562 who called dcad07ff57 himself Rian 673a72b5a0 continued to 92cb59934f smile calmly 6068da93e8 at me.601548649c26474c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *172521656c0f229c

Shortly afterward, we 97c1f831f7 left the mansion. Rian led me to 852441956f another carriage, this one fe1eca14fc simpler than the ornate 5656c7f263 one I had first 2f735d3688 encountered.6c7c600bf012464a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Rian climbed in first, 59865cfd87 and I followed. He closed the door d720224049 behind me and signaled 6324ff2ca8 the coachman to start.deb781fe6dd2a4dd

The carriage 614d9049d5 set off cd0090f7fd smoothly, heading f55653bba6 towards Edan’s 177d05e568 residence.ea6b1950f11b980c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As the carriage rolled 0a651a6d87 down the streets, I db38fce206 mentally prepared myself for 857e069202 whatever might happen next. I had 50938abd84 to find 87dc686706 Edan, secure eab640949d his help, 9037c4c85a and plan 3d54b2652b my escape da3d213795 from the 17ec34e7fe Empire.a37ca104b1d1bef5

“Miss Linia,” Rian said suddenly, breaking the silence. “You never mentioned why you were in such a hurry to leave the countryside.”7e30d208db7ab7c2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His casual question made dd3f33455b my heart race. He was cbc0136ede still probing, 121e2d6c50 looking for f9384ce0d7 inconsistencies in 2c8a648944 my story.498ef6d0a93e1547

“I had a disagreement with my family,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “I thought the capital would be a good place to start fresh.”954ee1c8df1b39dd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A reasonable choice,” he said, nodding. “The capital does offer many opportunities.”095c060514ae36ff

His eyes 985f868501 lingered on 9ad122e579 me, studying ab9ea87ed6 my face 336a56037f as if cfeb2b2ffe trying to 9d8ccc90b7 peel back a7bf9c1089 the layers 792281a7cc of my ff6c576939 deception.1b9330eb243b2b10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I forced myself to dcad51b439 meet his gaze, maintaining 4f3503fd51 the façade of a 109bc42045 naive country girl.d83107de3674df19

After what felt 35e617b6f7 like an eternity, 98c12e58a3 the carriage finally 983b78de8d came to a 0141104d28 stop. Rian opened 4178de6507 the door 2872382b4f and stepped 31bc876106 out first, 7234e409ba offering his d7b2cbd27d hand to fbfac8ebf5 help me 78a0f223a9 down.66e978d486c7bf73

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“We’ve arrived,”227073e243cdb374

He said, gesturing 5940cf5422 towards a stately 80b3a3abcd townhouse that stood ac9cdbd911 in a quiet, 8f5ca254ea affluent neighborhood.af00e83f06c3aab3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Shall we?”27d0bbd53fce211e

Taking his 4309cb009a hand, I 408b167b54 stepped down 50c1be0b8f from the 99735914f9 carriage. I looked at 6c9e33948a the townhouse, hoping 21f66804cf this would be 43381cb07c the beginning of 0d64846bb8 my escape rather 37b03b1acb than another trap.812e755c83a2e8fd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com