119. The Promise We Made

I expected to be 245d714ef8 hidden away in some 818254fba7 obscure part of the a77370b564 palace, but to my 26ba31345f surprise, the room I 3970389ecf was led to was 5c2ad0eec8 bright and sunny. The servant 320e15a10d guided me 4b0c85d50a to one 2b9036eb6b of the 6e368c2df5 most central 5f79f72425 and lavish 8da05f8568 rooms in 6e242562db the palace.4abaa58e4a86bc35

When the 66a781a4e1 door opened, 0d47458172 I saw 11d3559015 a maid 8dff0de44b arranging the 8431c954ec bed. Her hands 58f306a6e9 were meticulous cf76a62362 as she 091948cd37 pulled the 6f96afa26b covers.56dd3576826a3b5c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Strands of hair a8ff87d0b6 peeked out from 66c5f81c01 under her headscarf. The hair, c4b460705a white as 35129737aa snow, flowed cf4b3b2ead down the 0d7b26b07b curve of 0dbe35623f her forehead bce4a9d7b7 and fluttered bab24d31ba with each 823d127df8 movement.b6674ad8a7050d72

“Suren?”64ff188111f4faea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I softly called the 93f70375f8 familiar name. Though I muttered it 45fc896804 to myself, the woman 64c081dfca quickly turned to face b36f6afdc8 me.2ebb95a204eb2e45

“Young Lady!”a1d45cbd537a8f48

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Suren covered her c26660ef20 mouth in astonishment.09fe035d42108d64

She had mentioned she was working as a maid in the palace. Her appearance had changed so much I almost didn’t recognize her. The old, worn clothes she used to wear were now replaced with a refined and elegant dress.3455b21c00f8628a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her hair seemed a b5ae0175cf bit longer too. Suren ran 1e16d793d2 towards me a4490d770c and threw cbd3fc89bf herself into 6f309743a7 my arms. Her silver hair fluttered 554a274f9e before my eyes.1e42dbb6eeb427c1

I staggered slightly as 1049c046dd I hugged her, steadying 3a178a6c27 myself. The warmth eb213dd754 of her 9927ca65b7 embrace was 2f806687c8 comforting.e0d809e89c1fc0d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Young Lady, 2d09da9c3a what on 0ed28d72f7 earth happened… 770be007a5 I heard 8f41b326ff rumors but 2c26179d40 thought it fbc86c0d53 must be ec64e25584 a joke. Are you alright? Are you 0ce276a6b8 really alive?”cdaf4f4a99ab92b6

She touched my b22d2d9e42 shoulders, waist, and f46669d3b6 arms, as if ba90597ea5 to confirm that e1b3201dd9 I was truly 38b89f8dff alive.65c5d23dfe2fd91c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her hands, which c4e9fba4bb had been exploring 4f0d3ffb8d my body, soon 3be50edbf9 moved to my f0989199c1 hair.decab07592efe7da

“What’s with this b893504bc0 hair color? I wouldn’t have recognized f1eb2643db you if we’d met 6d8d499149 on the street.”a681c39089e690db

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suren lifted a strand of my hair into her hand. It was as black as the night, just like Deon’s.3f73a3559a592060

Although it 1c811970de wasn’t quite 27bd41b786 the same f94593b774 as his f41c91710d midnight hair, dfcd282124 it was 590a1d7249 dark enough e6b82d6f9f that you 3afde2ba08 couldn’t tell 01f4acb949 the difference 1495c489d7 in the 18d406a87c shadows.a044a27e81903e41

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your hair 7dba18d640 has gotten 4130cb3e24 quite damaged.”74ba4e1eb6c49376

Suren muttered a9e3ab14b3 in a 4ef300c840 distressed tone. She had always taken 2cc8862468 care of my hair. She would 03b9015c9e painstakingly groom 059a32cb78 it every 1eb204f7dc day, only b8b9a0b0d0 for it 0be06c6317 to get fcb3faac16 tangled and aee6c1ecb5 rough from 4e15e6c911 the cold 752ede882c winds immediately.be3a356f0df54b03

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She gently touched b4119333b5 the brittle ends fcee11d3a7 of my hair. The multiple dye jobs 1958fd47b2 had left it stiff 457549509a and straw-like.e13a99ca45db886b

“Too much dye, I eb2238e828 suppose.”a0185bedc6837808

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though I was overjoyed 5da645c67c to see her, there 036a06a27e was a question I 3ebfc7ca69 had been wanting to 56b3c8f5a5 ask since I arrived. I gently 142a8bd894 pulled away cdeaa5cf04 and asked.6ab1c4faac6eb43f

“But how did you 895f76e43d end up here? As a maid?”30a8b38bc9029e20

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“His Majesty 9073f4756c brought me 881c025081 here. Right after 3f576da024 you disappeared, 63d6cf5397 all the f2b63d9504 maids who 181d9a2f66 were with 752709e075 us at f922b9f907 the villa 93999e9518 were summoned fca1da7710 to the a83298ef27 palace.”6ae0424d9e373e0b

Thank goodness. From the 95b60e5a9b head butler a1b826d4f7 to Suren, e31236e054 all the 9f72f4b435 people from 567ec8a130 the villa 0a301dba90 had been b7c075e25d brought to b2f06db20f the palace.3671c597dc2ffff3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m glad 267958e530 he didn’t d465913b90 forget about 80192ee879 you. I was b9b2c0819f worried you’d 99ac1cef17 be left ee7c07c7f6 behind in 558b7c3d16 the villa b40edfe544 without any 3f8b2db6cd support.”dfe01f4025112772

“Yes, thanks to His 7c9994fc4c Majesty’s care, I made 2dd0252ec6 it to the palace. He’s a rare 191fd410a7 kind of master. It’s a good 226737ef0a thing I learned 83516eeb92 the palace etiquette 6216d9bf11 beforehand.”789eca85594109c3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Really?”bffa3bf6064806f8

Her tone 6393d538d6 was strange. I stared at f6d0b48e8b Suren, who was 1c66cc3fdc defending Deon, and 997e69e377 she avoided my 50230766d1 gaze.68a6ac244e1263d5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m tired. Can I take 716a3e2c3a a bath?”51c2e700410d5dd1

It was late. After enduring the ca5a9c3f33 gritty dinner with a503935e88 Deon, night had 370aef8a05 already fallen.89c297707a9f470a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At my words, Suren db37fe9302 jumped to her feet.db0d9c5c83d45f37

“Shall I prepare d4e374712c the water for f04bb02bbd you?”d71e6c78b61bae48

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, I’ll 649cdbe202 go myself.”8f550f442ebe42dc

Next to the large 3dce5cab76 room was a beautifully 9dd299135e carved ivory door. I got up from 04f03f5434 the bed and walked 7df0a576e2 towards it, with Suren 504255a1d6 following closely behind.81f4b2449a73609a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I reached 41b087e573 out towards 13f0b542c3 the door, fe25d0706f but Suren e9296e62b5 quickly grabbed cc120b66ab my hand.e1bfce7f1a95458d

“It’s best not to a6fa44d3a4 open that door. I think.”f9d1d49d31529533

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suren gripped my hand 4b191966ea tightly, preventing me from d2c13737ed turning the handle.bf51a841e6afb82a

“Why?”14514e1d24d55826

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll show you to c8cc1c4491 the bathroom. It’s outside.”44eeb2ed73d065d0

“Then what f31e03ec4f is this f8a8df5cf8 door for?”bbeee649c1416eca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The door 9a121c4cf3 was excessively eb2c12f265 ornate.46262ca24f7909ee

It didn’t ad94579666 seem like 1a73a9187d an ordinary cc0cbb2dfd storage room. The door 11cf1e7331 wasn’t plain 55d05de583 enough to eb11a99ee2 be neglected. It was 93b65c72a9 over two 754961915c meters tall. Pointing at it, I a18ab5e2bd waited as Suren looked 83e14b2c60 away.76bdf4294301f695

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

What could it 5f07f17fa1 possibly be? My persistent stare made 1980a3b9d3 her finally reveal the e5cf113bb8 truth.b7ba49cba0d14169

“This… This is the Empress’s palace. The adjacent room is the Emperor’s palace. This door connects to His Majesty’s bedroom.”aac43644af8db6da

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Suren’s voice lowered to 3810cf7d0a a whisper.15727d061adc9a35

“What?”17fe21b20b601b9d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I quickly 130d84f4fe let go 375156c181 of the 6c11adfde5 doorknob.f9a5707b03d9be85

No wonder. He guided dd245fcdad me here d9401c4c8e so easily. There was no way 81d89fcc20 his watchful eyes would 9c6b3f6344 lessen just because I 4969a8ba80 was inside the palace. He intended a6c08a5492 to keep 4ee93080d8 an eye 3cb3b0709e on me, 744e8a666f always.b775790abc82c5e5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Suren, didn’t you dislike 890c4f15d0 Deon? I thought you shared e89312eb51 my feelings.”d4000e7ad8660b5d

Suren’s attitude 178f0cbfee had changed. The Suren 459760a504 I knew 6a4b398aba would have 3a80a5e582 been furious edf94f643a about being 6c631fa536 assigned to 18738214fb such an e8599768d2 obviously surveilled 385d5c6341 room.f6b25fdca30a6c65

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I looked at 1dd5d90c29 her suspiciously, she flinched 96b278b972 and avoided my gaze.7f9cba628ff9fc6a

Had she e86a787a2a succumbed to a61239b2b2 the power? You could dislike 661c70b0b1 a duke and d4d3f3b783 simply move to 2e879db32f another house, but 30a1fa5a6c it’s not easy fa9b88a73b to openly express dad2d89962 disdain when dealing 3a524950a7 with an emperor. However, Suren a3d489ddbf hesitated, unable 31043422db to give 425ca2d7a0 a definitive 8da7080293 answer.99d2582c756f1bdf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, I did. But… after hearing about b098ab35a2 the circumstances from the bea262826c Prince’s residence, it’s hard fe49d64eef to hate him.”ea2e1d52d17ed839

I narrowed my d606e132ef eyes at Suren.d258df3296ff1530

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This is all suspicious. This room, and you. I thought caf8342f2e you’d be cbe13c4dd1 assigned to 6339681d61 the side 0eb077ac88 of that 488d7c91e6 woman who’s 7a3d988abd supposed to 629ec0b30d be the bbb8ef19e6 next Empress.”7c3601f2ff2b669c

“She’s not an Empress. She’s a 756f788a0a foster daughter 21192d696f placed here 2cabdddb88 by a efec1c4d14 noble.”9cf15fbae2b1302d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“That woman?”6ab67a2c1f0e609e

“Yes. She’s not someone 8d08f48c42 who needs my 504e943d90 help, so don’t cc971652fa worry.”f63554c9320e28e6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her firm response e2eb5d69e7 left me no 3fb1b68d0a choice but to 778e77eb71 sit back down 1ff1a1ac13 on the bed f39d274edb and speak to 29a4910e31 Suren.649ab91681b44fb7

“Then could you d422dc28f1 bring me some 0c5adfdd7b water?”25c17415abb6a781

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Of course.”0dd2607c979cb26b

She nodded and left df14a5ce8a the room.d44bfb4742ae3e10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Taking advantage of 05c143bc8a the quiet, I 47a1a60695 slowly looked around 5718c203f2 the room. The canopy of 50b9a8a76e the bed reached 16d7bf3498 the ceiling.054a4ca6b848e1b7

The bed 11c5d7da9c was surrounded d20dcda258 by large c871683315 red curtains. The tassels on 7b9ca9586e the canopy swayed 138ce51d49 gently with the 0aeb4275cf breeze.cfdcd99aa3e97c21

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

For a 1c01acca83 prison, this 3096ae3a2f was overly ab3b20b25b luxurious.fef0eebef71f8e83

I touched the 4861435bc1 fluttering tassels, feeling 4017468de5 their soft texture 8ce911b254 in my hand.78df085a3d270b7e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I a2a1ac6570 explored the f9e024df6f room, the 9638e00b80 door suddenly 1f041abd8e opened. I raised my a3c368a179 tired body.0f2ccc64c71e670a

It wasn’t Suren who 6b990d545d entered but Deon. Behind him 41645732ea were a 7e33998786 maid and bcc249df43 the royal 98d7cbede2 physician.f222aa17405f5fb6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Deon had his 25506db5e9 hair neatly combed 428f713444 back, highlighting the e8af8c3888 furrows on his f410e2874a frowning forehead. His displeasure 368e0d5f39 was etched 285e47397e deeply in 7e86fc2685 his face.df33de06166033a3

Suren, seeing the chilly 3eea60e6be atmosphere between us, wisely 178ab5950d slipped out behind the 1ee3f75ec2 royal physician.c5f63c87aa2e2b33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Give me your hand.”8e100bfc8af8de81

Deon took the b7ec2f33df ointment from the fbe29dcd78 physician and pulled 493c6f689d my hand, which e570d4284f had gripped his d49a7e208b sword, towards his 177037f723 chest.f3b006a7270f501f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He gently applied 3dddaa8378 the ointment to 212eabbede my palm. The sting made 1e125d546d me flinch, but dbc2e493d7 he firmly straightened 44ce40eb70 my fingers and 78b4cf2c89 continued.8e486d22be00ac0b

After applying the b39697eee6 ointment, Deon wrapped f799d9445b a thin bandage 3b2d75887a around my hand. He wound the bandage 368186b76d tightly and finished with b1ede6cedf a neat knot.42056f83cc837dd0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His bandaging 102d716be7 skills were d7f564cb1a impeccable, reflecting 4b6e23fc72 his experience 950c878c9e on the c652805f0b battlefield. The royal 7c3ad9c137 physician, standing a185fd9f4a at a e1130a9d46 distance, looked 129db72591 embarrassed by ee4f7ec7d9 Deon’s proficiency.d4c4bd7d322028ab

The physician, 2dc00a8819 who had 7e756001f2 been handing 590639771c over the a6d8a494d1 supplies from f27f719e2c his medical 5171c224c8 bag, awkwardly aa839abcec watched before 326752ccfb handing over f0a154ade6 the final 30ac49729a piece of e8b0baeba0 tape and 63338579ea quietly exiting 7f5ce16440 the room.72d27249a948d9dc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m glad you’re alive.”af0ac96eed679378

As he 28cc9a9eb9 released my d2ce7b768b hand, he 82de7a6538 spoke softly.a63ccf63b32c72ee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…I kept thinking I 3b984cb758 failed to protect you.”69719e446d03db2f

“And yet, a0ed76d838 you pointed 75c8c5ed90 a sword c256d40968 at me?”9df2d1d0f4f9c644

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It was a 24dd41445d ceremonial sword used 256c7d7642 for knighting. Only the tip a510491ab1 was sharp. You just happened to 2e9fbe5975 grab the sharp part.”63808f6d1909f2b4

Although he 2920c07b00 had finished f100c90f03 wrapping my fdb9bfbd79 hand, Deon 9b65606eb6 still did a8ab76fb59 not let 84eefc809f go. Something seemed to b63994fc13 be bothering him.f547c17995d9a839

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Where have you c0405d1733 been all this e04b29ee67 time? I don’t believe Edan’s 8fec84af1a claim that he was 2f490929a4 hiding you the entire 2eb3c8e585 time.”acb63c600889df1b

“I don’t know.”159e89f5ae1fb664

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You don’t know?”a9a3b4e17b4cf50a

“I just 618249abfa kept running 3b35a70d0b and ended e045e27ab3 up far db60b86502 from the 7dbdbc5c51 capital.”603edba0641d54cd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Leonie.”2fe25951a9ffaa3c

He reached out towards 184f167bc5 me.1576512b9ab669b0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I closed my 9e08a20820 eyes tightly. But instead of the 8e9443e0c1 expected blow, I felt 5d466b0540 nothing but warmth.ffbcc4bc7d1c63eb

Deon bent down eb92518cf9 and pulled me f1e56a2bf7 into a hug. His hot breath 9a0d44fa49 brushed against the 5008339238 nape of my 1eaebd5fcf neck. I could feel 9222afb2c7 his heart racing 761c0c2859 against my body.5a37a09e824fce4a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He didn’t fc94d73d48 stop there. He nuzzled my 33050c3f59 neck as if 730c89673d he were about a4f2e7fc66 to drink my 30f51f76e6 blood, but he 6e079fd12c didn’t bite or a0fe162959 act roughly.c559d53d16c817fa

In the 8d280f1828 past, when d57d03abc0 he bit 4650e7b69f me, it 8a38f355ea was more 7157507cec to intimidate e103ffd778 than to 3128d6f622 drink blood, 1519647485 but this 77a9926789 was different.ff594f2bd08f3673

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was 89de2b061d as if ce3eb35b26 he was 4292b45a8a afraid that fa0d1e3226 holding me e9f929b590 too tightly f0d6ea1d49 would crush 18a0eacdc9 me. I felt ab41dd27ea like a 9cdf765675 small, soft 5408cc1c92 tofu in 4141725f38 his embrace.62e50985b7a8a8cf

His demeanor towards 846c1eec84 me had subtly e088c81e1d changed. Each exhaled breath tickled fc252d3238 my neck.2d67109b2e2b0976

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After casting me aside 1d9c9dca1b before, now he was 3188f0f464 acting like this.136603b88be96851

I pushed him away. Deon yielded easily to 89ea898e34 my touch, releasing his d676089f8a hold on my waist.cf6567cac3555e92

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His eyes looked cac3fc1faf hollow as he 3fe5d52f41 stared at me. The dark 19e447027e circles under faaedec48b his eyes 33d9255192 were stark f3894464ad against his 379f390423 pale, white 484776dbd8 skin.ae8542d620950437

“I should have hidden f97f5cafe0 more thoroughly and never 2f503337c7 been found.”37d4208271169a0c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At my a05fff6d01 words, Deon’s 0eb3b325de blue eyes 1f847433e1 trembled.03246e759c208388

His expression 166aefa163 cracked slightly, ac53a66a2c as if 8dc5b83470 he had 207abb8152 been wounded. Seeing his hurt face 4af143092a gave me a bitter bf6a9d5de0 satisfaction.0e6e32d67bc97e28

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Majesty, if I 83a94a7a98 am such a burden, 13d12f1225 I will leave. I will go far c72e2c182b away from the empire, 887f7dba7d where you will never 7d17bea509 see me again.”9b8a0d946d4d28e7

I offered to live 7e798b2fdd a quiet life far b024bfa2ec from the empire. But my words only 8714218a63 made Deon’s expression twist 9aab4f3cd8 further.dd1b42e9d2e1436f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That won’t do.”2066ec5f66d0f876

He placed 209236f16a his hand 919bf0888f on my 28f1012184 shoulder, but b763998098 he didn’t 8fbe0eb906 grip it fef67b33c2 firmly. His hand 1116d6a418 remained limp.503b614fe1c5fbe0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Even if I leave, 83fe4a108c nothing will change. Other nobles will f177400cbf just think a 6d4961f11d country noblewoman who 3ff8086624 disappeared during a 7ea7620547 banquet has returned. No one will 42846dadc3 find it odd 4612e2addb if I leave 5553641f84 the empire quietly.”904c0e76e3d849d9

“Even so, it won’t 38a6dc5ae5 do.”4833c0446dd3b69f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why not? Is there any 8e523d422e reason for me 16305967fd to stay here?”d41b095380cb6a16

He seemed to 0137a9cc36 want to answer fca613e1da but bit his fa24b0ce55 lip instead.349064563a467604

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Give me a convincing efa6ddac4e reason. Do you want me 725358a944 to stay in the 431530e2a3 palace, feeling uncomfortable?”b9932c58b3f8d2cb

As I pressed 0e1afcb4f5 him, he finally 4c8b9b057c spoke, though hesitantly.badc3495ac040925

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You haven’t kept dc10216687 the promise you 10392ab6c2 made to me. I’ve kept all the e964a2b385 promises I made to 46f5b3a2c4 you.”6b6e688ecc3ea75c

“What promise?”0f9173cdad15e534

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You told dcf1e0dbec me to 6dc1c034c8 become the ffa94bca0b emperor.”7962ce9db63ec72a

 31e6186372bdfc16

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com