2. The Blood Bag Decided Not to Be Kind (1)

I didn’t realize 7c371ffdff I was Leonie b7a1996ff3 at first.bc9138f2395741f6

For a while, I 7c27c99f26 thought maybe I’d been 3bc9467edb kidnapped by vampires in c0d40401aa some medieval setting.86fc875998fb86e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But the flag I kept seeing around the territory—the one fluttering high above the Duke’s castle—was too familiar.e27a54af3710d6d7

A crouching hawk e71e5acc6b with folded wings ba53a1c7a4 and a green 0ed4a0522e laurel tree.9bd731a4af384b98

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was the same pattern 84a180f63b engraved on the last pen 9db03dc4f6 my friend lent me.8402bd5a7785fa48

“It’s important, so don’t lose it and give it back. Make sure of it!”2b9e0175029646ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I paid close attention to 5ec58f556c that pen once I realized 4bf477ce53 what it was.f3ee1afadb359b9b

It was a limited 30c3cd8116 edition product from ‘The e55ccb5180 Duke Who Drinks Blood’.9df46bda8ed8ec37

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After realizing I was 010538c832 inside a novel, I 7db352f82d was troubled.2e9851f61df89d5c

Who was I?643bc671c5e08052

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had a small hope that maybe I was someone “chosen.”f9e9d1e2e1c2481e

Maybe I was summoned be1af35ebd as a prospective fiancée?b62773fb05b5ff7a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That hopeful fantasy didn’t last b0a57a82c0 long.69caf82b11fd3dee

After the Duke 344551a379 returned from battle, c7902ddf84 I became the 1b78d62979 busiest person in 81028f29fe the mansion.c69f01f9ff1c561a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I collapsed from f7fa905fa5 blood loss, ran a5d6230e65 away, fainted, and a13ad5e76b barely woke up.2b4a9ac5e6c86579

Not as a bride.faf97eef0627d7a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I was brought here d0915e9fe5 as a blood bag. A living tool for war.1e768b20a03360a3

The moment I realized I 173eea4dd4 was just a hostage and fdc3c8987c a blood reservoir for the 42e1b65309 Duke, I began to wonder bca591e8d5 how many others were held b67fcb270b like me.72a475055b06bdb5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was a redhead in 79aeaad5b5 the illustrations, but surely not—eab14bd5bdf149da

No, no. I’m not that lucky.589fe8a619da7e3f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The previous blood 1ac689e2c1 bags all had 07d471435f red hair, with 5a1429bb9e slightly different shades.4b1063c0670ec890

I calmed my frantic thoughts 7d147916e0 and followed the maids to 39c450789a the dining room.d4cedbbe410aec5a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The meal looked 3034f64423 ordinary at first 817defe7d8 glance, but it d4378b7d77 wasn’t.c00648184eec5ea1

As I sat stiffly 57d6ca0ac9 on the edge of fb71c41e11 the chair, the maid 2b9fdcbdc7 poured water into an 2afb195c7b empty glass.8615f1568847d802

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you know how many guests there are?”a6e7c3da91f74502

“…”e9a9546aaefcbaee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No answer.4c8aeba3ba97e316

Was my voice too quiet?c4470aed16d49c75

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I cleared my 6d31e4558b throat and asked 4917b9c830 again, louder.c23a351dfec27313

“So, how many times do I have to give blood?”1891ea377f2df816

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”d300fa3af9c047c9

Ah. I see.687f4da715068386

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was blatant disregard.9ba01355fbb14537

The staff treated 43dc6d66e3 me like I aa02717065 didn’t exist.9b5546e5725ef6d2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The maid exited 7926c4d586 after pouring the 5dfe0b945b water.1e3764f54956e2bf

I was left 8b2f7df810 alone in the 67de1c995d vast hall.082aa6c4cf60e49e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I picked up a 75ceee9943 fork and pushed a d0e63c42a9 single bean into my d155c7391e mouth. The texture was crunchy—49ea646896bd24f5

But the food bc4fe9f65c wouldn’t go down.28f75d5b3cdcdbe0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even in the bathroom, when 6b8f9693a2 I tried to subtly ask a9b465b1ba how long I’d been here, 63a4ed3cd6 the maids evaded the question 2a195ce55b or feigned ignorance.a997075ef42cc6e9

But it wasn’t hard to 51a7c9a93d find out what number I 8b9388adc0 was.d7c980bb80536d14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

There were four tombstones 35ba1a22d4 in the empty lot 83c66fa55b behind the duchy.6b2e81802db5c840

Oh, God.79627046e4f300d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Worse, there was 5e7a982dbc an empty grave 83306a3cd0 next to them.ac6cc32669483c83

“Why? Are they going to bury me there when I die?”ed7b6b07f283d9ae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It seemed likely.388b1537478ccc24

Everyone here was a69d28921b waiting for me 7981a56dff to die.c492f835e46e9a92

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The birth years 48c3622033 on the tombstones cab72113a8 varied, but the 6e66747326 death dates were 47ffc1d48f all within a c5617eea5a few years of 9c19e4dbaf each other.c7c1f89faad064f1

Five years ago. Three years ago. One year ago.e52df4598fe7e54f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

All dead within three years.33cf6c9d910a465a

Maybe there was already 991508a15b a tombstone with my 28720dcbcc name on it in 336d2dfbd2 the basement, missing only 8f16a418c9 the last digit of f0bf78f487 the year.ef33f95dc0e8a3c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Four headstones. One empty grave.7d32dea3ae79de7a

And I was the fifth 1f85868ed7 person.e359961aa375f0dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Destined to be bae00d0899 drained until death ae4e280824 and discarded once 834ffe7dc9 the sixth one 2648314b8b arrived.d742ca3269469272

* * *16e1180a1af1bea1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The Duke is looking for you.”cdbfae9b94866c78

The maid who served 0b2e79e904 me the meager meal 4955844290 returned.0df990492e88a749

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I was still dizzy, lying a3546540bd on my bed and staring ace4ab9b4c blankly at the ceiling.436f576c245d1798

Hey. I just fainted 297df90cd4 from blood loss 570325a5e2 less than twelve 44fa6725d1 hours ago!df92862ff3d59833

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If you donate blood e413a213f7 once, you’re supposed to 26ad5c0472 rest for two weeks. Getting dragged out again 3ad8ee87ac in a day? Isn’t that too much?5c577adf6d0ddeb5

I wanted to shout, but c85da5ac0b I didn’t have the energy.11954aadcfba19bb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They pulled me up roughly. As I faltered, the 3d13ac468f maid gestured to others df343278ca behind me.f87260724b33a73a

They grabbed me and dragged me to the Duke’s bedroom.edbaad18c4185a56

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Crossing the long hallway, cabfaa5591 we arrived.2f039a35ffbed745

When I looked up with a miserable expression…8c69adc856ea8e1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I understood why Leonie bdfdbe221b couldn’t escape.39e1032679aa71eb

There he was, lying faacef3398 sideways on a massive ff9c575ade bed.7636d2a74c698ec9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Dark shadows under his eyes 4baf8f74e9 only highlighted his pale, transparent 3f5cfb4ef6 skin.f8229ab49cbef902

His black hair curled neatly.ab3bf79b57deeb03

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was scanning documents, head 783ea2bf55 slightly bowed.7b36a6aaf3207d43

Then he looked up.90074f6f53825801

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I inhaled sharply.1dac169abaad6014

In the illustration, his face 8c28b62041 had looked cold, smeared with e2c0d5b7db blood. But in person, he was d08c517b47 devastatingly handsome.8c1e82edc1fadecf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He slowly opened his e4f0f8aec8 dazzling blue eyes—eyes deep a75ba8df1f as the sea, shimmering f8fc13e5e8 like jewels.c545795e3b6a598a

He looked at me 0e8abe5e27 with a languid gaze.24ceba9776e0a13f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then opened his red lips.0acff03620caba3f

“Young lady, come here.”7494850c19ce2d86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He tapped the empty space 2001d52daa beside him on the bed.f39949b6fb27f4f4

If I were 399862c242 next to me, 413ca6fb82 I would say:5f80f48a12f3c4db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Leonie, you idiot.’140622e71aa89683

“I heard you collapsed. I needed a lot of your blood. Perhaps it was too much.”f0362a437d2f44f0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I didn’t respond.650efff69d8c48d5

His face still didn’t feel be654ababf real.541e8a6d618c9b75

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He didn’t seem to care e5c5731011 that I was silent.40e6003126b81b3a

Perhaps Leonie was ad4f926a95 always silent in 0a073f2bb5 front of him.34aabfd1fa5beffc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I won’t let it go that far this time.”31ba5937e52e9694

He stood and closed 650b9d4c2e the distance with long 6c90b7d485 strides.ec04e6ef3124b560

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Before I knew it, he 8c3db62b34 was before me, bending down.1566595aeb3328c9

‘Is he going to bite me now?’cfcd7d296e5273d8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I squeezed my eyes shut.75eeb934dc679637

But instead, he dragged d258372ec7 the armchair beside me 440d4bde8b to the bed and 3f4c0b22a1 placed a blanket on c2c28bfaee it.6b5d57f8e23ddee7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Send her to her room when you’re done collecting blood.”6e7dc026b873a706

The head maid 99846bb755 and other maids 93c8dd1df6 bowed.3094c636a47d7bcd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The butler opened the door, 590405d7c3 and the Duke exited.fd47acb8283dadb6

I sat there, confused 4d163fe02d and nervous.419711d7d1a81e9f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Fingernail marks were etched 4c933525a0 into my palms.cb64925cff49bdee

The butler sat me 176834b703 in the chair and aeb6bd0d60 lifted a needle. He moved with practiced ease.f5d0338775d412f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Stretch out your arm.”88c4771807a9235c

A needle attached to a adfb8a7bbe transparent hose slid into my 3601509f34 arm.c8647026313b626d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Slowly, blood began to flow.c4c24d51322d103f

With a little b5aa48cde0 stimulation, like rubbing 1aceba10b0 my hands, the f314dae90a blood flowed faster.4914a7ded4d1034d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Butler.”e2b6c7b8947d723c

He looked up 8e1006c6b9 as he tied 23a99bac98 a cloth around 799fcc2592 the wound.19aad4c72976cb85

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Isn’t blood usually drawn while lying down?”a875ed3b6cd68621

“…”0469199779dbb10b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No, I mean—I heard previous guests said so.”6add5bb90559f3b3

Wasn’t it always b3bbd9de71 at the neck, d3190107ef like in movies?7e1a16dfab3b71b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Is this method different?45365a184a40a31c

He hesitated before answering.006329ece832bdb0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“In principle, yes… But the Duke said the bed was uncomfortable.”54cd071beb66fec8

That’s it?969a9164f5491d38

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Duke’s comfort mattered 4fc80cf8ae more than the donor’s?c6f6ad12600acd36

Well, I guess b17c287352 this ‘is’ his 2478729788 house.db524b3a07ab49a8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Also, when the young lady donates too much blood, she sometimes vomits. It’s troublesome to change the sheets. And more than anything…”45a42be63c91dbe6

“More than anything?”f006fba71bad4a2f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Didn’t you say you were ashamed?”86ae831b56260c18

“What?”dea1ff282843d08a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You asked me if we could use a needle on the first day you arrived… Don’t you remember?”1dd41b846d56c4fd

My head throbbed. I raised my 981f78e862 hand to my ab487ecb77 forehead.f1339228f59fa01d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Maybe it was the dizziness 8643228e99 from blood loss. Maybe it was from 962e6f90e2 the butler’s words.fe5277a38c4bb4a1

But one thing was certain:4ad020f0b5a68a22

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leonie was a fool who 2b49664baa didn’t even know how to a917f727cd ask for anything properly.4670a1c65380dfa1

Leonie.7dab000b993fc525

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

You gave up your fortune. Willingly gave blood to the 9d5e4103c4 Duke you loved.dfa2c79df50d5907

Poor Leonie, who hadn’t even 7812cb1357 seen his face properly.f480805ed0ddfec9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

* * *eef0a4af42d173cc

After a few rounds of d3bf0b4460 bloodletting, my body had no 0ddf361edc strength left.606e89843dcf333d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even lying still in f3b8df28eb bed, the chandelier above d9bad9f3e2 seemed to spin.3f70dad50545d156

Maybe Leonie didn’t die for 197a8f14a2 love or northern winters—but from 34475f2b09 dizziness.d8549080d2934d7b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At this rate, I’d follow 7c4aa93bcd her.7f0798fe9daa9fb0

This couldn’t go on.f2a42ad47b9d35bf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I couldn’t just lie 7c49135206 here and wait for a18a18e475 death.08c5dc25ec5842e6

I sat up.764c2452ead48af6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I remembered the original work. Just barely.cc7f91392200b80a

A three-page prologue.346a3eb400c1dc84

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A novel that 957e502f33 had become my 2fd990d1ab reality.36963da271f2f9b7

The sixth blood bag.5c44bd8c7570b541

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And a future changed by a13672b0ec meeting the female protagonist.79c133ef681d5f68

All the events began 8ad6a09d65 with the sixth blood 983b0be982 bag.a07062372930cc84

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So my only way out 7ea8b803e1 was to survive until then 00b5b5797a and escape.eac406fb1de6d34f

Make a time come when beaea660ae I’m no longer needed.bc88c23d2ffb7092

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I scribbled two plans 51deaaf290 on a blank sheet 5478e12400 of paper:935e0808dc7ee42c

\[Plan A: Let’s make him emperor so he no longer needs blood.]79c41380cac0df79

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Blood is worthless if you b28b2fed73 hold absolute power.03736f12b30f3892

He drank blood to 22bba8df30 win wars and become e4b84613ba emperor. He stopped once b6d9888d82 he received the fdebdf5402 holy relic that 1aae1fcbcc replaced the need a7e2253ef8 for blood.d268f645c0525186

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But I don’t ad050b3db3 know if he b7593b24a1 actually becomes emperor. I never finished the book. And I have no power.43b9a72c4d38f07b

I don’t know 4ec76dd786 this world’s geopolitics, 4f22ec48c1 strategies, or terrain.c766f4202c248063

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I scratched out Plan A.1d59cb7da07c2150

\[Plan B: Escape before the next blood bag arrives.]90a5a61e50b79df0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I needed to c2854da4c6 remember when the f31e14de11 next one would 88097bc89e arrive.015aa6a48a9ea789

The rest—maybe I could handle 7c14929fb0 like the original.11e1811b558cc7eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If I acted like I fit in, then betrayed everyone at the right moment…4d238c69ca4cb76d

Even if I lived 56a85c517e as a fugitive, if d0e6177b7d I stole some gold e793f46604 and escaped—fe17e48563d6f2d5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I put the pen down.de0d85d4228bf476

Yes.1403d0587e6cd6bb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I decided.45f435f97d25e275

I would run away.f8be1de9000340f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Escape, and survive this prologue.157de4c382090da6

* * *b13e13b685e2f5c3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In the North, 269a89937c it snowed every f2dea61966 other day.55f2ec46cca1d18a

I stepped out, watching snow f0978cd2f4 fall endlessly in the garden.a8b9382c4543051d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘I think I’m about 163 cm tall.’8430187b68fc7592

I took a step. My foot sank deep.d0874166f5ed95b9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘It’s up to my knees. Around 50 cm.’d1b94e5fd4c3833d

The problem? The maids had already 61acd8de98 cleared the snow to 20d7fa9e73 this depth.d0c4249a5b7515e8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

More snow had piled up c7c2ac744a in the distant mountains.ba0e3ea47acb4055

I don’t know how b9badde56e Leonie arrived—the story began aae81e72ce with her death. Maybe she came d4aed02620 safely in a 445dd3acca carriage. A precious body, offered 4fb7ac16d5 to the Duke.75d75bd06c61a34c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The knights said it takes 52fbd2b565 four full days to leave 7ee8cbe1c6 the territory.533899a324435b26

Four days for trained soldiers. It would take me 0c116f9f00 at least a week.74e432650e26d6db

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The tall trees faca81f654 covered the sky. The branches were bare, 7d78330e3a but the tops were f80ab9352f hidden from view.9dfca02165332f4e

And you can’t even light f277ff2a45 a fire while on the 4fb77863ad run.01edbe8977b128d6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The snow-covered terrain would c666591b9a betray you instantly.c26445ce59d873ad

I needed to steal a few magic tools called “warmth stones.”7c6dcca585234522

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even so, they only 0c95e2736d lasted three days. I had to cross 0ccab10755 the mountain within that 2d91a0c68d time.751d18e2f45a4f80

So I’d need snowshoes. And thick winter clothes.517238427664d95a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I needed to build stamina.e940862daaca0989

Some jerky to keep me from starving…a29ee385651a8188

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Can I stash away bits of food from meals?’e6e08776b6058bd6

Thinking about breakfast, I dc9c37345f shook my head.de21eb9c9bb5fe52

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This duke, though incredibly 910df7846f wealthy, only gave me 8eb60b1b0c stiff meat and vegetable c545aa03eb stems.cabb3712043b28e0

Vegetables wither quickly. They can’t be hidden.21bedd501a81276e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Still, if that’s all I 4433292bf4 got, hiding it shouldn’t be 346cff7ad6 too hard.41c582e556dcbac2

This whole land is 3607931aee a natural freezer.914617bfbbcef94e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I could bury it 053e299a1d and mark the spot 35c0f62c44 for later.00019da4e5e7677b

The bigger issue: getting food ac35d14c68 at all.425d1706a954796b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unauthorized personnel weren’t 40b283c029 allowed in the ed923ff22c Duke’s storage.6a82a4c75b2c3cf9

If I crossed d49adc37b0 the mountain unprepared, 8f021c7d0a I’d die.c64dd46a5df59d31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The maids said aec8679d3e bears and wolves 60fd03ac01 lived there.5ca119d2f5bcafc7

With nothing to eat in 069b9ec199 winter, they were desperate.fb3a8f625b69085d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Death by the Duke’s ad4daaa0a2 hand was bad, but 1206086d94 being torn apart by 50dc32803c a wild animal was cc61c6735a worse.a9cf997e8f128da8

Should I learn archery? No—against a bear? Better to learn to climb trees…aa0d973ffac9d84e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Young lady, please come inside. You’ll catch a cold.”0b3a29c25d636d7d

The maid came out, 383c5a7680 feigning concern.dd10947e85625cf8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But her sleeves were 1dd14332de rolled up, veins bulging—ready 2c57209cb1 to drag me if dc159081cb needed.dadc27f6349f545e

It was almost funny.c04030ea354a8655

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Pretending to care, when all 8fa8ee383f they cared about was protecting 2245e82b4e their blood supply.196f7162b02f7295

How did this happen?c34d8cca5177e3a2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In my previous life… how?823f099896197681

How did I end dcbf6fba33 up here?c2239bc155e41622

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Laughter burst out suddenly.9e7d2d184c143bb0

“Ha ha ha…”2f6b045ef750c5b1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The maid froze, 4cd1b6d75b startled by my 84d9d0bd71 laughter.ce21630ce0002215

She looked like she was 4ef35f3251 staring at a madwoman.093640a4cd13ce67

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yes. Maybe looking mad wasn’t so 98c4ffcde4 bad.16bd5f7228a7f4c5

Surviving this mad prologue…f500381385a375c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Was going to ec8f43e305 be a long cf48ed3c3f journey.3aa0ceba1da388be

The road ahead was as 64de436fb4 barren as the frozen Northern 82195e24d2 Territory.85d92ba05f207671

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com