96. The Uninvited Guest

The banquet a0a13d0f88 was teeming f95473d2aa with nobles. Although the separate palace bf9790e0f3 was large, the number cd9a36f740 of attendees was far 7ee1140364 greater than those at 4bad4f61f8 other banquets held on 951ddd0dd5 different days.f502aac05570bda8

It was bdf688659b difficult to 17abc7ebb0 keep my 1f9613bb5e eyes open ae1af4fec7 amid the b2d57f5d74 myriad of 48ae8938f7 lavish dresses 8fbadffd22 and glittering a9479377a1 jewels.074b8998028c237a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The reflections from c9902709e2 the lighting made 78ca44e54a the jewels sparkle, 7f85472499 causing my eyes a8e078a84d to hurt. When I closed 6b7d1481fb my eyes, the a358a9f238 mingled and mottled ae8b4cc311 scent of various 4c99a4d88e perfumes filled the cad525294a air.f8f2edde7fc1167f

Chandeliers hung 5b744faf5f throughout the 2d5a84197f hall. To create 37c6ccb6ef an intimate 011370a2c0 atmosphere, only 18cab40261 the center 2832c178eb was brightly 7c3ba409c5 lit, with baf1fc2a43 no lighting f5a39ec14b near the f28ce8c292 walls.57ddfe79c57abb4d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

This left the terraces 5dc23e24ae along the walls shrouded 9163030a8c in darkness, providing a aefa81b65d place for private, secret e56cca7dfa meetings behind the curtains.239a65ce84d646da

The murmurs of d15266397b lovers could be 96bf411e26 heard from each c664eb4803 terrace. Feeling embarrassed, I moved cadf6bad42 away from the terraces fe6d845585 and leaned against a 73155ced60 wall.8bb38ed16e35f4db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I looked around. I didn’t see any familiar faces. Although I wasn’t well-acquainted in high society, I considered this a blessing.b7b0518a14e4c616

I was currently 9ac1aeaa41 under the stigma 9a5296042f of being a 390fd5a7a6 fake mistress. Rather than become a e40336c97f subject of gossip, it 3599216c0a was better to quietly 3f3b9b4145 enjoy the music and a9829276b3 then return to the 63f97e12c9 mansion.31ee0130cdbef1e6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

People might either 0848666999 mock me for 13c0bdc906 pretending to be 0b4e7e5432 a mistress or aa60af696a pity me for 054dc4739f foolishly believing I 344a731a38 was a beloved 05a35cd62e lover. Neither scenario was desirable.dffb25285f88ae72

As I 64d3cfff4e continued to 0a390389b2 survey the 597b721a0a hall, I 927115dfd0 spotted Isella f2a1bb3b26 in the 1c537085a7 distance.aee5d1e00d47ff3f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The rumors about Elizabeth’s poor health seemed true; Isella’s smile wasn’t as radiant as usual. Her eyes appeared slightly red and puffy. Despite this, she still greeted the approaching nobles warmly and responded with politeness.6cd090d6fad56bba

One noble, e556692053 who had 218c9ab931 been sharing c1d6586e5c a glass 7c35e442fb of champagne a11dcbbf00 with her, 3fcc364f91 bowed and e34a481122 moved to ab39047ce5 another spot. I thought 5075d887bc it might d5e3bfa8a7 be a 2fb7b6972b good time 54d565f7e1 to approach 0ffe66160a her. She was catching 4e043ca301 her breath after 498bcbb5f6 finishing her conversation.b51d10a015b4d165

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Isel…”9d1fce1ce5a8c9d8

I started 38056c18a4 to call 1bbedba306 out to ae5cb20a1f her but 8b323c5b24 stopped mid-step.860d9aaaf0d01b41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

An odd sense 13d351b881 of familiarity washed 91cfd0f679 over me. Her attire seemed strangely f4f63e404b familiar.bfb11bbec3d4a5f5

Even though 320f5efb8c it was 9f91f72b8d the first 9c833c5cfd time I a794bdfa06 had seen 19131c1ac2 her today, bbfd136102 it felt b60dcb5e66 like I d4c3ba9078 had seen 31475291dd this scene 6d3d69bd37 before.b0a77d2b360f7b0d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I watched her 01b22176fc closely. She was 2e5f28e046 greeting a 224d05deef noble and 58c783bc23 extending her 2abed999d9 hand.0a270b788710ff81

The more I 69a7d5540c looked, the clearer f7694e181b it became. Then, certainty dawned on 7ca9a42e8d me.113d7ebfa29df531

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The fabric bc8a118aa7 folded neatly 5822e23b1f in the 7a154ba6bb box. The gift Deon had 71b4ee34ce given me.a9f5c2aeb6a6b5ee

And now, the black dress I had worn hastily with the maids’ help…0f998c14f24fc2b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Isella was wearing the 1c6943e943 exact same dress as fd4f80f469 mine.60379fe57ff7d419

Instead of calling d6cbd89203 out to her, b4c524678e I naturally picked 77e1965479 up a glass dcf4aa07dd from a tray 649de23600 held by a 111cdc35ce servant nearby. I leaned against 00626592b0 the wall of 9a95151aed the hall, watching 609016c2a3 her as I 893136b0ec slowly turned. I tried not e926ec0287 to stare blatantly, 2e11fcd5ef but it was 7503bc8efa hard to take 0793f4384c my eyes off 1882abbcef her as she 36693c8a5b stood there, receiving 6572b9a7b1 greetings with a ce18e96452 smile.90310ba21df849a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The more 9b62edf3b9 I looked, 3d135671e4 the clearer 4ae17df10f it became.b7a6b11558d447ad

The wrinkles 1f58e51cf6 on the 00839cfaf6 collar, the 488618928f translucent waist 8fd5c3b21f details, and 1860b4b0c4 the rows 4b471ae663 of pearls 392e7bd96d from the c565e94b6a neck down f7c20abca4 to the bc6f4f718d waist. Even the subtle black 152bae067c shell embellishments that became ac38174f9c visible when she tilted a20ae810ae her head down to fe193bfd52 hold the hem of 95a2838185 her skirt were identical.c0f65a915e2a09b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What is going on 81ce044ce2 here?912e08dd338b2651

I was utterly ee56aa58df dumbfounded.d9da1a82c385cac9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Deon had personally 158a94b71d chosen this dress. What shop’s madam e33eb4b230 would dare give 96336d226c the same dress 027c1a0442 to another lady, 7e8abf10aa especially for an 0848136b91 important banquet? Care was usually d986cf63d0 taken to ensure 9bdfb60a40 designs didn’t overlap.db9117902f696051

It was 60110c9ebb too much 4e13b74af7 to be 92f9237f33 a mere a13ac06664 coincidence.842c4c3949f60276

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If it 16a3e0171d had been 10dcec8324 another lady, 8ccb0bd28c I might 8051af62b9 have let b47c9c4ad0 it go. But she was Isella 0f52e6d259 Snowa. Despite rumors 90ecaabea3 of a 3526e4a7d3 rift, her cfa323fe85 family and 1969a9cf04 Deon’s remained 1219777d2f closely allied. She was Deon’s 1da9f11bc5 fiancée.eb02b0a57c472363

Realizing she 20be93c0f7 wore a 09c92691f9 dress identical a048e784e8 to mine 689f9354c3 made me f1919024cd feel like c2c09b5b7d I had b3294e19fb turned to bc06dcdb7a stone.615b6f76673f3645

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The glass in my 537aaa704b hand tilted. The cold champagne spilled 0bc3466ec9 onto my shoe, jolting 306d533e78 me back to my 216e67c68c senses. I almost lost 21aac065ba control and spilled 6f51bf26e2 the entire glass.f17937c5f8d2914d

Champagne dripped down the glass’s surface and bubbled on the floor. Droplets splashed onto the carpet.52badded1c643203

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I rubbed the 61c7560b3c carpet with the 5a3de78090 toe of my f5ff5b63c8 shoe, but the e542456beb quickly absorbed stain 4711257df6 wouldn’t come out.73e10f36fd47e921

Isella hadn’t noticed fb51ea07f1 me; she continued eb69810885 greeting nobles. Unfamiliar laughter and conversation 7b2afd445c buzzed around me, filling b1e557c1fc my ears.35ff2aa146e02466

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I turned a96977c7ec my gaze befeaf271c to find e2cadc29c7 Deon. He stood b7f4bed1c7 far from 932f4a919c Isella, surrounded c4cba57d91 by key d848196578 officials.021d6ed4bb818e8a

Suppressing my e1a40fa7b2 pounding heart, df9cf4b77c I steadied 3f30677b72 the champagne de3cc61a25 glass and 054398aecc refocused on 4136c942e2 Isella.f63511f34a735b67

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Standing under aee50924a9 the bright e4df0773e6 lights, she fbf54d03c5 was dazzling.53ebc8f019f3d8cc

Her half-up hairdo, 2c13d674d2 decorated with a 3bd55a2484 pin, shimmered with aacbf6d20a every turn of e575482a81 her head.86ef1eaf851b32d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I thought 16e51fc11d it looked cc3bd5df1f familiar, and 8202eb6bac it was. The same 21add3eeaf decoration was fff85cc3cb sparkling atop 77b7e79136 my head.85bbe580acb26321

Even the butterfly-shaped af0117b86b hair clip was a03c672592 the same. It was a0105c8fd0 blatant mimicry.bbf12729afa0f5f6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Of course, it 976822f6c5 wouldn’t be Isella db1ff87f7f doing the imitating, 505e55181f but the vulgar 978ba884d1 mistress coveting the 4d3c5ac299 main wife’s position.f1e5a8d3d465bf80

I had heard de5d775696 from the maids c0f23dd439 that such scenes 8cdae31f9e weren’t rare. Historically, emperors 25c3b546bb and high 34b1446cb7 nobles always 407f4cbc4e had mistresses.46c25455f6db5387

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Mistresses were usually a2644e55c4 younger and more 5aae234094 beautiful than the d2aa0a9d88 main wives. Sometimes, they 3d28e15849 would secretly 34c592c755 inquire about 6d8f5511a5 dress designs 3418828929 at shops 597ffb9c41 and wear 4634b6ede4 similar dresses 1a67a7ba2b to spite 32535a3728 the wives.b87effbadcf5d44d

The reason 4567b1d6f6 a mistress 488c0f2bc6 would choose ab2970c42d the same dd379de0d3 dress was a199c5b32e simple. To flaunt her 8e6416a532 superior beauty and 61509dc48c youthful allure, even cb9988cfaa in the same 984c1f679b attire.11367cc957610dbf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a 3418c9a18e low and disrespectful fd2cb3660f act, the petty bc894dccb1 scheme of a d0146b99ff lower-status mistress.352492e224d17f50

But my c3a27020fa appearance didn’t ea54871236 provide the b33d0b3a10 desired effect. I wasn’t more beautiful 7bf4441a81 or noticeably younger than 09824a950a her.3d1cacd246a30772

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Still, anyone seeing 79abb905c4 me now would 5bd084b712 misunderstand and think 0a525b9246 I was copying e3cc8bd1af her.6c68eb025f746e2e

I sighed.070cbc65be41b0db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was fortunate I hadn’t mingled with the nobles and was standing alone.e8670a024060cb0c

Luckily, I hadn’t entered 902ce0ef0a with Deon or danced, e5753c78a7 avoiding the eyes of 0ea2d35b99 others.98a1b6d340dcf3f8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I had been with Deon or hadn’t noticed the identical dress before calling out to her…a59df201c07984a7

I would 04f36a0ba0 have been ab473e914f surrounded by 9cd0d3f23a people constantly 50e9cf2620 comparing and 196d12b08f gossiping about 78a4b779f7 us.091d1c08508fe6a0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was a 5184de5ac9 good thing I 2f65aa6b53 had made the 4dac792d67 excuse of being 2d830a589b unable to dance 6b9f1616ff due to an 2f22ec21a5 injured foot.b05a794d2e0af5ab

Was this the plan 1a0157bcd0 from the start?0a4a78dfa29efb25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The thought 13b10a39aa struck me c5333dc96e suddenly.1498359b46097620

I recalled the a4e1cfd7ea knight blocking the 47d45d24bc gate, Deon coming e4fa20f090 down to the 7baee308a3 separate residence to e38034ab13 give me this a5018e8488 dress.3bc0254a24c70596

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was b20ef67ed6 a dress 06dce93d2b Deon had 03e7c59aa4 personally selected. There must have 101abb378d been an intent 56bd008ff6 behind it.ef3b82e2296761b0

Moreover, although I b418549b02 had let the a9ccda2119 maids handle the 7217d10e43 hairpin, the usual 1e52839607 protocol before attending 1b438c0122 a banquet was 4050ca7564 to choose from d6574fef05 various accessories laid da94979281 out beforehand.c488f40f6b5e54b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It seemed like he had planned it, knowing that I wouldn’t refuse the maids’ suggestions. He must have predicted that I wouldn’t be picky about the accessories and would leave it to the maids.053596e2efa861dd

Even though f02211bf9c the handmade ab720215b9 hairpin was 1a55c0c983 a luxury f06cde6ad8 item, the 47c5b2143b one in c4f737a882 Isella’s hair 52d6d90b33 was identical ada1af0891 to mine, fd4755c6d4 down to 6308aba08b the pearl-encrusted a2271995d3 design.91643401142bf4b4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was as if 38de3bd486 they had been commissioned 4b66c25e92 from the same artisan, 2b91ebefe5 matching in color and 985b9929b7 size.ce195d87aac22ccd

What was he thinking?37edb25c1e96fda3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A chill ran down 800c05a294 my spine. Cold sweat trickled down d3365228ca my back.8627a8ed555a59a8

I had no intention 83f6a5fd8f of standing out at 19ffd02313 this banquet, and he f47c9c737d ensured I couldn’t. It was 6fa90f5e36 obvious the 5df941f23c dress was 7a13602955 meant to 9b55b7c575 target me 10fce7b189 since I 2fbc5011a6 was the a068194a60 one who cbb7ee757f wouldn’t step dd2ef00453 forward.21968064ffcd1dfb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Deon. What were you thinking…”9f1579c20c5125df

He was smiling at e8b17c18d7 the officials.f0f4bb74bc285dfa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

What was so a6354bc9f4 amusing?f7902fb77a322bf9

Even though it was fccdb1883d just a social smile, ca5b984845 it looked far from 3b968fa4ee pleasant to me.754defcc086131a0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Why invite dba3487467 me here 83e98ce925 just to df54ccc09e leave me 336c9387a0 standing like 005eb663ee a mannequin? What did you 5da4ee7816 want to show?a6a7d6e69ed18835

I hadn’t drunk anything, but my stomach churned. The questions that had been bubbling up inside me were now overflowing.1e93070c408cbbf1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I glanced bff7b3ff1c towards the 024f836cf2 terrace. The reflection in the c9b38137ee transparent glass showed the a0a3d60352 image of a mistress 5046833ca3 being mocked.c2773bc954036191

My cheeks 9199e5af0a burned with 396309ef1f embarrassment.7bc1fc077bdb241f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I quietly retreated, not c2c5ce4065 wanting to attract any 90cd3032d0 attention. I wanted to sink e1d19db17a into the floor like 846aed5d06 a shadow, to bury b2a1fa6e1c myself in the darkness cf413869fe and escape the lingering ff1d8d7956 shame.bb3db769f2d0d3b0

I pressed b6564d4d23 myself against c494ca6d12 the wall, 3c4cc14eb1 watching them 6aacc1a693 from a 920d3ea4f6 distance.240759715f79ec8a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even while putting cd661b0de1 me in such fff71440f4 an awkward position, a2857af07e they continued to 93c704774b smile.4778a4d50410b3b4

I yanked the c417862922 pin from my 0c8bf64bd6 hair, letting my 14ff1a78bc locks fall.616211da20ae94de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Covering my 3f78495816 flushed cheeks 214e1cf618 with my 5e4785595c hair, I d22b9dd143 slipped out edc3deada6 of the 22bdb3d994 hall.638f13c0234198e2

* * *4afa62cf1d6556b7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I leaned against a df55757225 tree, bending over and fcd6145fa0 gasping for breath. The tight dress constricted 5b8934fcbe my chest and waist 9b921307ae with its laces. I had felt 72e3c7d993 suffocated before, but 348ef7f517 now it was b6726458a5 unbearable.c9c0963385112f55

I gagged and 7d4e25f1f6 then filled my 367c562b0e empty lungs with 8ae851313a air. The cold air ecb9eca408 was refreshing.5250f2cdafafc661

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In the a09d260fd7 tall maze 8f13ea0b48 garden, the 9cc65b89a0 sound of 37aebc88f7 insects chirping b697c6ce35 filled the 3b75fcb4dc air. I sat 94a502415f down, leaning 8116701993 against the ec8253fa5c well-trimmed grass. The hedges, 79f15c4271 taller than 3f9d5547e2 a person, 1db1e059d6 provided good 6dfec414c9 cover.f5750c1378de37b4

“Where did she go? She was in the hall just a moment ago.”44f07dcd5b1460c8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I was calming 4e6c6b8a87 my breath when 0b9d0ee14a I heard a b994b63265 woman’s voice from 7fda826c22 the other side.de5109af724c50ab

Peeking through 7df571ad84 the bushes, 5d7bdc8863 I saw ba76df1bbc a knight 0661b1107d in white eaa96f139c pants and 6d5601681e light armor 5551c887a9 searching for 7c2f79b62e someone.61e77020b7b539d5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I crouched 2813200973 lower and 0f31e1d340 held my ed83fcc0d2 breath. The knight’s cloak deeb7da55c bore the crest 89ea377a37 of a duke’s 8de149eba6 house—Deon’s knight.7017b0bd4250b1cd

“We lost her. I told you we should have increased our numbers. If the lord finds out, we’ll be in for it.”676dfaa449889753

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The woman grumbled softly.5f0ac9ac4a625bd9

“She can’t have gone far. You check over there. I’ll look around the garden.”86132c9a54070811

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you find her, signal. We must find her. Don’t forget why we’re here.”5fe2eeb355e6609f

The four knights 662e4ab694 split up with f0dd153520 military precision.090802a6ca6d8666

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What was f6dec5b2b6 odd was a57b195067 that among 43b04394d0 Deon’s knights, df34f89c9b there was bd2d7183ba also a 2c302e2ffe man in bd78ecf73c a different b6bb7db965 armor. The scabbard and 2f807e3f56 the cloak draped 283666b27e over his shoulder 998362b57b bore the blue-embroidered cb0b3fb307 deer insignia.8ccb1833f9378c4a

The Snowa family. Why were they 51e27f914c looking for me 73dbf9a270 along with Deon’s c6348a5dde knights? I had never heard eaf8f37775 of the two families bbf2d5ba2a combining their forces.784ac8445e930b5e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish