23. The Best Thing I Learned Was Hide-and-Seek (1)

“The fallen noblewomen will probably be sold to merchants who see them as loot, but the remaining noble hostages—they’ll demand ransom from their families.”db420f293021867a

Beatrice sobbed.a47cc8391c3f0955

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I don’t know if we can pay. The price they’re asking is too high. Even if we emptied our entire fortune, it wouldn’t be enough.”5e440a890ffaf0bf

The situation was e260845c39 bleak. No one saw a da809544ac clear way out.995dafd072a91816

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I heard Lady Elizabeth’s family—the Viscount of Snowa—hired private security. The young heirs and the Count’s family are cooperating too, apparently.”b2ed1e7aae412cf7

Isabella spoke 0d9cacd19e with quiet 1703c5f957 hope.1da50eba2d1c3d59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Maybe it’s because of the magician. They’re moving too fast. Just a few weeks ago we were in the northwest, and now here… They’re traveling quickly. Magicians can’t cover long distances, so we just need to slow down. Let the knights catch up.”bc03bb5579cd107a

“We need to buy time,” Elizabeth added.726556219be1e420

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Should we rebel…?” Beatrice bit her lip. “If the ransom deal falls through, we’ll be sold at auction. Waiting might just make things worse.”e05ad9087e1b444c

“It’s risky. And no guarantee stalling will bring help.”9fe3018329226aee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Everyone hesitated. We’d already 8f2d0153f4 wasted too e61285c7a6 much time 63224074e6 in fear 09e62fdccd and uncertainty.38978adc7948ad51

“No. If we’re going to act, let’s act now.”1c72b76898592a31

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I spoke firmly. All eyes turned to 322cd7ddad me.a514325668731f45

“He’ll come. Let’s try, even if it’s just once.”ca610c3c7332cab9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Lord Arin is that rich?” Beatrice asked, surprised.4d64655b006817e0

It did seem strange 8ab6a6c8bf that a Marquis’s daughter 5c327bf122 could pay a price df1bdb8cd7 even a Countess hesitated 5ef4c6aa50 at.2157dcecc12810b5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No. Not the Count. The Duke.”d0a258ea79176c03

As long as I’m 0b073ab9d2 here, he’ll come.98d9e68421453f94

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even as 95f4b6033e I said a969b70603 it, unease c03956ca4b gnawed at 725ca53274 me.d527ebdc039f4646

Was I really worth b73bff270d rescuing? Even if the 4f21da0791 upper market is ed2e8555c3 purged, would they 7e16c08a6d save me?9a8a948c16b79aa0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

By now, the 80e25a6e29 Duke’s estate probably be4afc2e6c knew I had 5b68373c95 disappeared with the 93a310a104 prince. They were d4ea8e64ca likely weighing 876d5e153b what I a10be94386 was worth f3eedf9865 against the 26683d20de political implications.fdb5349406462705

I didn’t know 167bcdbba5 how heavy I’d 76cbc01c9d be on their 566906c245 scale.33ff993d25f1b1b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The carriage groaned to 5ad4180afc a halt.d8683c7c1f1f7880

“This is where we stop. Same time as always,” someone muttered.fe49f54969602894

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A man came ab36eb8af5 in, untying the 3bf78fc076 ropes behind us 21130981ac and retying our ce90326acc wrists in front.1ebe2e2ca7d518a9

Everyone quietly held 12c967dbe9 out their hands—resigned.100f9879db21c176

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Here. Eat.”52c9a2be91f724b1

He pushed a46bba5d57 a bowl f84b147553 through the 6d285aef02 tent flap d0e7f26b7e and left. The dish sat at 4d0f9d2c5d the entrance.0210937bbd3dbf51

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was f7592237c1 thin porridge. No solids. Just cloudy water and 38797de5c7 starch.58691c4fce71ad10

Hostages or 33ab06e6dc not, it 4ddf47b31e was clear d25f07810d we weren’t 8443cafa69 worth feeding e163d876bb properly. But then 9b96b6555a again, the a2620cb009 Duke’s castle 079851675b hadn’t been ce0aacf7ec much different.9c4213828b1cf325

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Not the best meal, is it?”071efc645e2b7d70

Elizabeth glanced at b076eb9a3f me.10cc18938d8e0fef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I nodded.28c1ba42eb7975dd

“Has it always been like this?”eaaa744d8f512d17

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes. But eat anyway. They want us to look miserable—so they can send our families video messages with magic orbs. They use untraceable senders. It’s their way of pressuring noble families with our suffering. We can’t just play along.”e17bbd288d070937

She explained calmly, 037f21d2d0 even the magic 5c6ff986f5 behind the crystal 7649aef086 beads.2df9584b08efbf73

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You seem to know a lot about magic.”c437a8484b2404f7

“My father and uncle worked in the mage tower. I picked up a bit.”883153275fce0672

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I nodded.24ec1560b2e68774

Outside, the wheels of 6b059e1e7c the luggage cart stopped. Voices carried through the bedd0d8c99 tent.6dba72d527486e5f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At least 94aec36cad three men.d54ab281cd29f87a

Their tone was agitated.c4d732d52df3fbbf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“We should hand over everyone but the red-haired woman.”842810841d3129bb

“Still…”0ca435460326a022

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We were told to deliver or eliminate her quietly. She’s already been paid for.”3ae433326f3dc5fa

“But she’s nobility too. What if her family’s rich? Can’t hurt to try and get a little extra.”1e995484e71f8687

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Maybe. But our client’s from the noble circle. If he finds out we cut corners, there’ll be hell to pay. But we have a magician.”f0b596f1e47325cb

“We’ve burned through so much money with these teleportation spells. Turns out people from her house work in the mage tower. We have to sell high just to break even.”a393445248569971

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then we should go for lower nobles. No point kidnapping a Countess!”87fbb3791a5b08a5

Another voice b48b497701 cut in.b7bd0183f2584d5a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You picked her! You gave her that drink! And now she’s pregnant! If something happens to the baby, we’re screwed. She’s the heir of a Viscount! The palace will come after us.”2787ed48e6267a5c

“Enough!”a9cd838e5bf03e55

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

An older man shouted.64d712f0b87818bd

“It’s better that she’s pregnant! An unborn child is a stronger bargaining chip. Nobles care more about lineage than wives. It’s leverage. We either finish the deal today or cut our losses.”bfbe66454cfeaece

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So they had ea4afd8ce6 decided to sell f274a087a6 me with the 5f3ff9b816 others, after all.0890f2434f0dcab3

It was moving 2cfe6042b3 faster than I bd07c4289d thought.d6f5bd915532f226

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I shifted slightly, 9115ccad22 peeking through the aa6f5b2604 tent.ae5c477b6c2b5b8c

We were in b60aa2199f an open meadow. The scent of b00f52bb7e grass reached me.0fb7d51511763756

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I turned to 185fd7c56f the others.532f4517c86f78bf

“Don’t eat it.”80ee6f70382bfa92

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What?”694ef87d222a8078

“The porridge. There might be something in it.”f2c75c0788a6bc1b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

They set 58b67beed4 their bowls 97746834ff aside.a5c91832b3f7fe3f

“We were trying to buy time, remember?”e463382c4f1f32ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If we can.”ad2afffd8d90e390

Isabella lowered 90c4b93e62 her voice.3488f2a72d79ed80

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It feels like it’s today. They’re getting ready to move us.”9f73925dc4868128

Three kidnappers. Four, counting the 3ee0512c80 magician. If the magician 21d4a86e8d was drained, our cf2432e37d odds improved.af7d204225bbbe2e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Aside from 30f1681982 our bound e2f44ed3dd wrists, there 92b088b7f5 were no 981125c6a9 restraints.b35511f4c9448eb1

Sloppy.c064d65375fff803

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The upper market f8a1263e3b relied on noblewomen 133d9fc14f remaining passive. Waiting to 0549c913fc be ransomed.f2f4c92321361be2

They assumed we wouldn’t b8347ebe83 run.3342dd6c240e19af

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They’d done this 6f1698aaeb before.6acd553dd569d117

“Lady Arin, if we stall a few more hours, could our families reach us?”a78c15783602b4b1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s hard to say. Based on the last teleport, if we delay around seven hours… maybe.”8634ebc42bfdfac3

“Then here’s the plan.”cc1a4ee082bcefcb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I laid 670e9d42bb it out f9ecfbca54 quickly. Heads leaned in.3c82d8f8d5a8dbc6

“I saw it outside—it’s all meadow. Good cover. If we split into two groups, we can scatter. Elizabeth and I to the left, the others to the right.”4d4b4a46adec6e9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Beatrice perked up.dfa762182cde7078

“There should be shepherd huts nearby—abandoned this time of year. We can hide there.”1bf7edb524680fb7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sounds good.”419f0d4cd27a4f5b

“But… there are three men. Can we really take them on?”432a2b18bb443e3d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“We’ll need a distraction.”7acca3fb1ec8c269

I turned 986e33327c to Elizabeth. She was 6f1054beb8 chewing her 8c5b9f06ee lip nervously, 9b684af390 blonde hair 254f56a62c in disarray.3ade51e0a811b1dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Lady Arin. Can you fake going into labor? Ask them to call a midwife.”18119f0db27596f3

Her eyes widened.ad25e8fb426eb286

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What?”3ac5774d71df7850

“The kidnappers want the baby alive. If you seem in danger, they’ll panic.”d596faf75b13e206

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll… try. Once.”5917f9c17be39e4a

“If we can get one man to leave with the horse, and split the rest’s attention, we might make it. The goal isn’t escape. Just delay. Even if someone gets caught, the others must keep going.”586408e4a7368849

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Everyone nodded solemnly.f999b04ee00ee089

In the 63bba4b54b cramped cart, 4f5ab4acab tension grew 5fb60f791c thick. We focused on 7f5e750bd2 breathing steadily, calming 09cba663c3 our nerves.4c74ef1f93f66e2d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Elizabeth wet her forehead. Her hair ce9bc9bfbf clung like 356f2d8bdb she’d broken 7650d35350 a sweat.5593af0f6642b82f

Then, as the men approached…a16ac7f89fe0026b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ahhh!”5f8cca3edbfd9106

Elizabeth clutched e2f48b2dfc her belly c52785191d and screamed.e0c9c1dd7346cc14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey!”16e7e8a9a045fa5b

“Help! Emergency! We need a doctor!”3cce4d19082ac51c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The women 32938857c2 joined in, 8b809d3456 calling for b46b12e726 help.75ac3817f84965cb

The men rushed toward a314feffba the tent.34c000f987d64e96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s going on?!”765d09cd7385323a

“She needs a midwife! Now!”39d207652e4fe0a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What? It’s too early!”28b6439236571572

“How would you know? She was already three months pregnant when she was taken!”181764ae12773887

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

One man turned, scowling 14f0852a31 at another.03e0bff707d1726a

“Is that true?”416ed328dec1aa86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t know… is that average?”8603e84b065b5738

“It varies…”405d8812fcf6968b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What should we do?”50871d08d915cfe8

The man who’d been b58dd427d8 cursing finally snapped.2737edd3916de429

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Fine. Call a midwife. Charge extra for it. This wasn’t part of the plan, but two high-value hostages are better than one. If they won’t pay, we’ll make an example.”f44b6e821f574038

He laid Elizabeth in 4c7bf1c2a0 my lap. Her forehead a15d26635f gleamed with f6d5933eee moisture. I tore 3f0d0e86df a strip b7ff85ea97 from her 4a3d4f77c8 dress and 7df4ae6f91 wiped it 8d3e10f1d6 away.0ee09b6706682d16

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Quickly! It’s urgent!”75a4496c8080a31d

She trembled, clutching her 4c0b0a82f2 belly, and moaned weakly.a7dc7ed2ec54b068

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They bought it.09008f2dda086062

The outermost guard took 55a9d62286 the horse and left ba9230b176 to fetch a midwife—unknowingly f2d64cbaf1 giving us our opening.0bd24c95ae59c0f3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

We exchanged glances. Two by two.ea3753bad5a8cda3

“Alright. On three, Elizabeth and I go left. The rest of you, go right.”f2b292509cd46f6d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

We nodded. No turning back now.31d8fd787dfef65c

 84f5a4de1871de04

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley