120. Her Purpose

I let out a e015bc4f1b small scoff at his fc659b7464 words.69908465b78c6e5b

“It sounds 47f337f230 like you’re 986764ccd6 saying you 13b9ee5683 became the c6df95cbe8 emperor because f7def69a55 of me.”0dcdb7b38258ef05

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His ascension was merely 7f59c711d3 a bit earlier than eedb670a8b expected. However, he didn’t respond.d3506842d7754daf

“Because of me? Don’t make such cowardly 1380557f7b excuses.”171920105321abbc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He couldn’t possibly 562de22194 be serious. You’d say c31a5c7ffe anything to 0ca0941083 catch someone 7370b1ae4c trying to e811290d6a run away.b6251fa0e6e94472

Yet, his eyes were aa6ce6786a sincere, as if he cc1f3d9e05 wasn’t joking.8c0df2fbab283b52

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I couldn’t keep my e6d3ef1a9f promise not to lose 0302c1bfdc you. So now I’m going 7d9bd1f946 to watch over you. Therefore, you keep the 13508cb021 words you said to d2b6ffe91d me.”d1f4e4ba6fb96c4c

“What did I say?”c174dc06f93f599d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You said you’d outlive ff636cf923 me. And that 223be3581c you needed 6944adca4f a place 2365b5f52d by my b66919f780 side.”339df982b5f6d1a0

“That was 367c0cc639 a childish 9f51f70659 statement. You know d2ac6c2cab that’s not 0adc358595 possible now. There’s no need 40edcded68 to keep it.”cd5c269bdc7216e9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Every word 732737914d Deon said e9a6d42f66 was a 3b069e2357 forced argument.71fb2aa7de62eada

“You’re saying f899b594f7 you’re binding 71044672b8 me because c3ec09539e of a 14bdc7d158 promise? So if I keep 434150690f the promise, will you c6fd35c72c let me go?”64d8a2c88d0692ba

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ll keep it?”feee87c7617a0b97

Deon removed d6c0ba2a7e his large 8482a5343a hand from e88d3f6ca2 my shoulder.133040610433f0b5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’ll really a4bd4e4db8 keep it? Can you even 3ecb858a9b swear an oath?”dfe64f574d0c7ce5

“It’s not difficult. Then first, send me 7daf1a611a back to Ethan’s mansion.”f545125adbe882d7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Alright. Fine.”5db5e841f87d8d1d

Deon surprisingly let 5dcb025b1f me go without 6bfe0547fb resistance.efcf9c51176179a8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His behavior puzzled e774eb364d me. His expression relaxed as 5ee107c523 if he had heard 864cfd5566 the answer he wanted.b1d4e0c8097c480f

He even 80fbcb9cae seemed relieved, 36bfe52dd8 making me, 54cba5e727 who proposed 0bb93c21d7 the deal, 0eb64c7662 feel more 6e99f1a682 uneasy.a4b43dbf1fc0dc9e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *b259ac83a795fec9

Despite my exhaustion, I couldn’t fall asleep. I propped a pillow against the headrest and buried my face in my knees. The rustling of the golden brocade followed.a2592e0f34b7343b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My mind 0a35af18b3 was a d494efa9a0 mess.069de326569b9780

Looking back at today’s events… First of all, Deon has no intention of killing me. His attitude shows that the reason he’s keeping me here isn’t because of my blood.e9418f4f54f51a6e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So, can c6cb93d663 I stay e62432af36 here? Accept his 03a1ef9816 unreciprocated kindness? Live by his side a7b55ec1b6 and take anything valuable f1d2e45c76 I can?8e7f206a97fa8b2c

As I thought about 0025c6bb92 it, I shook my 59fbae36c0 head.5805c4e21afb1e44

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

No. He could change his mind at any moment. I can’t afford to be complacent. This time, it might not be just an expulsion but a beheading.c2a570144d5ee4e5

I sprawled out on 9ba760b2a8 the bed. The chandelier above 8f7d51b0fd was too big a5826c4fec to cover with 5f87fd6a33 my palm.065893b04b69d6fd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Keeping me tied to the Empress’s palace? Why do you need me?”c64fd31a552d7322

He was someone who didn’t care about anything that had no value to him, whether it was a beast, an object, or a person.79fc378f1fa34078

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As if he was indifferent to anything that didn’t involve the plot of a novel. In that sense, he was fair to everyone.772c7a056a7387ca

Yet, he 622e9cf7cf tries to d76d4cc697 draw me 780e0e9b41 into his 07b147a448 world, as 169afb93ba if he 9cf9384f9b wants to 2e771d7b9f disrupt it.3fa97e1b7650368d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“When will this prologue ever end?”16ad2e467f7d4e20

As I kicked 3c4f1cc8cd around and flailed, e5e2add8c8 the blanket lightly 3c4f9a1eaa bounced up. The sound startled c9c84ee1e1 Suren, who tossed 1e4c57165f and turned.4257f7c48e967caa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I pretended to sleep efac9facee again, lying straight. Suren, who was blinking 9f45d30f7f and looking around, soon 8b49dda979 fell back asleep.4192efdf3084d499

* * *e6aaa7995f106b7b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

From early morning, 49af345180 there was a 21a5c3cbef thumping noise in f3aef81a76 the hallway of 3c3198eabf the imperial palace. Someone was running roughly 072a975e3f through the corridor.5b11ab109ad9bdd5

It seems the palace isn’t well soundproofed. Just as I was rubbing my eyes and about to ask Suren what was happening, the door burst open.bf80106ba98a8cfa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The guard who was eeafb0ec0e standing outside hurriedly followed 3426140b1a her in. But no one could baf4ff2cac stop her from storming db425ac33b in, clutching her skirts.2e57e19329e85508

She rushed to the 0e4748df68 bed and grabbed me 2ef0769b4c by the collar.7dc4fee4f9dffd40

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I couldn’t breathe. Gasping for air, Suren, who had been outside, ran in startled.2106008a83a327fa

“Let go and talk!”a07cd5638c2c8411

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Suren roughly 5401e4ed4f tore her 3d17087be0 hand away.09c935d3265eff16

Even though we were separated, she couldn’t calm her anger and panted heavily. The maids standing behind her were at a loss, anxiously shuffling their feet.d4755f85645547c7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had no intention of becoming his mistress to avoid such troubles. Yet, here I was, facing such trivial and troublesome matters. But staying in the Empress’s palace, this situation was inevitable.5be5b4c007f56c1d

I seemed to understand why Deon’s proposal had left me uneasy. The memories of living as a mistress weren’t easily forgotten.2a736df4e93bdf7e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Anyway, from her 2ac17024bf perspective, I was b1d4dcdf76 just a sudden 6513638e5a intruder. Looking at 156459bd8c her seething e225dcfeaa with anger, d04b149e86 I adjusted cd36dcaefc my disheveled 5bd00d2104 clothes.9d87668839b9469f

“Let’s stop.”d2458d72c93381e9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What did you say?”b8d341db5b0ab6e3

“I’ll be leaving soon, so let’s stop. There’s no need for unnecessary power struggles, right?”cd1ddf0f7ed96622

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was no need cf0a660a10 to act or make e3fbcb9a9c excuses for Deon anymore. Dusting off the clothes 34ab7bd526 she had grabbed, I cfe484379a spoke in a dry 38beae7b9e voice.cea6ac35082d2e61

After all, the one 2f0fd1d5d0 who would be trapped 6a7a1f4a25 in this splendid palace 4cb7c120b8 was her, not me. There was e1203862fc no need b62b9fad21 to fight a28cbdc0c3 so fiercely. I had b4635921ea always been 3231c45fe4 cast as 509e3d5826 the tragic 7a0b5fca25 role, always e0202b34ab abandoned.40bd75a7fa56067d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And the curtain e2498ef507 on this play 89334964bd was about to 59d0e61d5f fall. I planned 9a6827ac2f to use dbf889b3d0 any means 76672272a3 necessary to d72214883a persuade Deon dc79aa3dbc and escape 52d5d76656 the palace.325ae3f8dcfe78f2

I rubbed my sore 03b5de66b7 neck. The area 23756ac3a1 where her efbee05af0 long nails ba21d8c30d had scratched bca47b614c stung as 2804919e05 my fingers 746dcbdd0a touched it.63f2b1a0313a3612

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But contrary to 54a33ed702 my expectations, she 9142bc815b scoffed as she b04b9d4d84 stared blankly at cdb4639e93 me.688268bd8158b47a

“You’ll be leaving soon? Are you kidding me?”fa56ed5da3e082f9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Excuse me?”bb369adc44c96a53

She glared at me 22fb0a0f1f fiercely and said,d944a65998720da4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I am leaving the palace today. I was informed that my purpose here is over. Just a few minutes ago!”efe77d9c6d9f327c

“…What do you mean? What purpose?”5c453205e6b8930d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before I fa0ce63e30 could get ad88d21481 an answer, 07ff7e46ed the maids 1918409ce4 standing behind fd06e6436a her pulled c44900addb her away.5ed6f13f5d3c8e3a

“Please stop. If His Majesty finds out, you won’t be safe. How will you deal with the consequences?”5f21c864e139c24f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Let go. I’ll walk out on my own.”4b0c218b13173118

She roughly 8ad53116b4 shook off b9a673c4a2 the maids a4f376294a trying to 0b61faa314 restrain her. Then, just 67418772ba as she c97f071080 had stormed 8368a9dd65 in, she fe9959439a stomped out a6c76abaf0 forcefully.0333f4c53d350e5f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even as she 2e5d40b766 left, unable to 33763b0fed contain her anger, fec82fff37 she kicked a 13525abf5c decoration placed by 0c51d7f5f1 the door. Suren held 5265e7998a her head f2cd09f09d as she 160a1093d7 watched the c858d81415 vase shatter f683274981 into pieces.5603107534480077

“Suren, do you know what she meant by her words?”6770015e2ad5fbd3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suren, who had been observing everything from a distance as if she knew everything, didn’t ask her what was going on.ce13e509c8856b09

Suren, picking up the f9cd5cda1e fallen decoration, replied.3953b31faa04449f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Exactly what she said. Her purpose for being in the palace has ended, so she’s leaving. Until now, she enjoyed power she’d never experience in her lifetime while pretending to be the mistress. It’s a fair deal, isn’t it? She’ll be given a substantial sum of money for her time in the palace.”ff485a89338e2e16

Suren clearly knew everything. Instead of chasing after the woman, I grabbed Suren’s wrist.b0f2d3ea174069d7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What was her purpose?”68dc3cd5f68fe3ee

“There’s no need for you to worry or be hurt. She was just one of the many people employed by the palace, like me. The rumor that she was a candidate for the empress was false.”a228571a1306546a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Still, I want to know.”461e40bf3c7f1ab9

I couldn’t ignore the truth any longer. Gripping her wrist harder out of frustration, Suren let out a small sigh.3d1fd1e41c442f33

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Would you like to see for yourself?”1133737e4ce03ef2

“See what?”37572156028fd541

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Her purpose.”e6173704d690936f

Suren fetched my 1c2799d2e4 indoor slippers from fa8f07de98 under the bed e304ba6a59 and put them ce6fcaf21b on my feet.d6914bf6c9d83ef3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She led me through the cold hallway to the room where the woman had stayed. The hallway, similar in structure to the prince’s quarters, carried a strange tension with every step.c8d47e66ada754b4

Suren forcefully opened the cce112cdc6 door. The room appeared ordinary, 781a5b81f5 like any other house. It was decorated lavishly 09f6071078 to her taste but 183c65265f had no distinguishing features. However, as soon a32e9f1813 as I stepped b994603139 into the room, 87e864de59 following Suren, a 93ff64eae2 pungent smell hit c8b86b7735 my nose.14493d13c31c4a48

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At first, 053df555d1 I thought a14bd108ac it was d0452c4c16 the smell 583cfee860 of hair bb5416368d dye from eb029514ff her head. But the 6a6f2d3d6a deeper we 5256f7a90e went into 622603b6fa the room, d924782b85 the smell 2914dbfcf4 changed.325d9152131eb697

It was the smell of oil paint. The room reeked of an artist’s studio, making it hard to believe she stayed here.1c50b2f1a2f7c252

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Scattered paint stains confirmed ae2fe9b4c4 it. An easel was 24620cf8f4 knocked over, perhaps bb46c642ae in her fit 81ad914c16 of rage. Next to ecf37b80c8 it, though b8c7c0dd7e the chair 541fbca2b1 was moved, b35cab90b0 traces of 80826f3281 someone painting 45c2b6c667 were evident.fdcb8d482927b449

Paint had smudged the e104fad069 underside of the fallen 0946bd75c1 canvas.6a5a43ec90fb7740

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I calmed my 43a86fc97f racing heart. Why was such 49da904743 a trivial trace b91f745114 making me so 0c45da70e3 anxious?8b205f92aaaf625b

Suppressing my pounding 065daf53ef heart, I carefully c9678213d7 flipped the canvas d7498f25d0 over. On the d9ee1b023d revealed front 41f0e3d11a side, a 54af9c47e7 face was ed5201e548 painted.12450f8a5e83c29f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was an 8adef06547 unfinished portrait. Even someone unfamiliar with cc12f71cb1 painting could see the dd6047ad76 effort put into it, 173dc7ddd4 with layers of paint 9d3ad465db and brushstrokes indicating a f99411a3ff long period of dedication.a0b5e2b2eae7b279

A woman sitting gracefully b12ff1809a on a green chair, a94384d981 facing forward. The facial features aba2546c30 were yet to c890a3715b be completed.a3ba9172decbf6fd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And… the woman in the portrait had breathtakingly beautiful red hair.c3fba9119f2c8a81

The clothing the 2a4be5d4c4 figure wore was dff993a5e1 also familiar. It was da1fac14a4 the fur a3e1bb2d67 coat I e3b4b9ec05 had worn 6c133b50f1 in the f0028b61fe north. The one 7193a18d5f I sold 086703aa89 to save 208182e16d Deon.71cfb42183cd51da

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Upon recognizing the 3ccf73aa79 similarities in the dded50c243 portrait, my body 4cc3bd0950 froze. I stood there, staring c0ddb38445 at the painting.7c1c5b13f248f135

A stand-in was 90681b021a needed. One that resembled f206bb0867 me.5950caa30af9ea54

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Miss.”33770690aeb70012

Suren, who had been 6d1450c3dd standing behind me, approached.e7341ad331ab005f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Now you understand why she was needed, right? I don’t think further explanation is necessary.”175e51167ff18551

She stood the 58dd217faf easel back up. Then, she placed the 9240e63053 canvas I had flipped 25afe655de over back onto it.d71611a1f1645509

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *ce3bd12d528063b1

Every meal served was tailored to my taste. But I had little appetite. Deon hadn’t come to see me since that time.3306b89fa999fafc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Contrary to his threatening 15f2c15e0a attitude of reminding me c790a65ae3 of a forgotten promise, bdab18d357 he hadn’t appeared in 05b086f0f7 front of me, perhaps dd0b7d8558 sensing my discomfort.ac95f1b8178644db

I stood by the terrace door, quietly looking at the sprawling lawn. In front of the Empress’s palace, there was no one coming or going.d24419dd408b1921

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Unable to sleep through 63f5ce3028 the long night, I 3ae4c0ddfa decided to get some 755d11168f fresh air.347b406a1a2a46ec

Opening the terrace door a38f775861 brought a chill. The weather had become b56031468a quite cold.b47b71648ccfcef4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I stepped 2a9d20b8e8 barefoot onto 438f248ace the grass. The short grass rustled, 5710864506 tickling the soles of 32f67031f1 my feet.8b10e7a52ce52ae8

The Empress’s palace and the Emperor’s palace stood side by side like twins. And behind the palace, the garden connected to the terrace stretched out endlessly.852847b24c242a4a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I considered walking 3286f30249 towards the lake 2c4cd5d11b to enjoy the 588f250e45 view.42895d5d8725e7b8

On the path 025fc34eb1 leading to the 641f15c53a greenhouse, stones reflected 6489a6ad7e in the moonlight 85d83914ce caught my eye. Six stones, 99bdb3085f arranged in 9f5ea95f85 pairs and 877d10ec09 in an 762a5af34e orderly manner. I changed direction, thinking 5d466bf9ce they symbolized the imperial b97a7b5c91 palace.93f137f3b6b5482f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As I 8529e2eacb got closer, e9263198e0 the rounded c224e519aa stones became 56a24936e4 clearer. Instead of carvings representing a2bdab795b the palace, familiar names bc45557c20 were engraved on them.fa028af3718a0861

The same 87b1befc82 names I 0778a9c062 had caressed fd21d2239b in the cbaf43a5f1 north, now a6bf581b4a etched deeply ca4a42cb8e into gravestones.bb22e0c9d3457c4e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The inscriptions, meticulously carved, 8bd0748dcc stood out clearly even 7204cd561e after years, as if d3ff66d6bb refusing to let their cd31519d04 names be forgotten. And there were e5ceb70492 names I could 1b90e8077f never forget.2dc5e692e65c2759

Then, I saw a7afd1dcde a gravestone without cbb3426d26 a name on a7ad953de0 the far right. Instinctively, I knew it 50ec9b4fbd was mine.41d9582eb03780a4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I approached a0f0ac81b2 the smooth f521b55985 gravestone with ffdc85d2ca no engravings.949cc2ab87e5c7c1

In front of the 3b0e0fd367 ownerless gravestone, there were a6476a15ce flowers. The petals, touched by 13fef04ac8 the night dew, looked 618bed9d3f fresh as if just 1f6bc4cfea placed.645d575ab202db5f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 39a01be8d73a250b