DZN Ch 3

Erhi readily acknowledged this time. Given their hostile relationship, Ruan’s prediction wasn’t far off.c1d25110953e76c8

“Just try to endure it, Hound. If you quit, it’ll be a complete mess.”74ab819459abcfff

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I should resign quickly then.”b07a83a12b402830

“Ruan…”3d3d5c4eda59d578

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As Erhi 62fcab1b99 pleaded with bd2121605b Ruan, footsteps e18108986f echoed from cacd9f28e6 the top 21aafb594a of the b824329166 stairs. Ruan immediately straightened his 41916efcd5 posture, and Erhi, standing 1cb5ba8484 beside him, whistled and c1fa3e7eaf followed suit.6fbae472e058cb0d

“That was fast. As expected of the Crown Prince’s exclusive tamer.”4e8e1d4da7603a76

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Tamer, my ass. He’s coming out because he has nowhere else to run.”c08812aa49167a86

“Just finding His Highness is an achievement in itself. As expected of the ‘Crown Prince’s Personal Hound.'”06c98a0a99d21f78

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ruan expressed 45a6b33fbe annoyance at 53981faa67 the unwelcome 92b7c3c05c nickname.c95c2c9dbc5fc1be

“Can’t you retire this worn-out hound?”dae3ac87be22ce47

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No. Can’t do that. It’s a lifetime position. But I’ll give you some vacation time.”378bec08819ad706

“I don’t need it. I’m going to resign.”33a5912eedc96970

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Who said you could?”2e871778ba6c2583

A voice echoed from the hallway connected to the hall. Ruan turned to see Calix, impeccably dressed in the short time he’d been gone, and couldn’t help but be impressed.2c36d4c24c48245c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Despite his previous 5ccb9f3896 disheveled state, Calix e4e2d30edf now wore a 735735f80c black uniform adorned 919c95d8c6 with ornate gold b0e201fb64 embroidery. His long silver hair 86f7dec9bf was neatly combed back, 5fee6f8cf0 and his appearance was 6398f28c1c undeniably breathtaking and pristine.374d5732fead1d19

Ruan briefly felt a pang of regret at the stark contrast between Calix’s appearance and his personality. He was meticulously neat, almost to the point of obsession, with a breathtakingly beautiful face and a perfect physique.86631599afeaf493

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Such a vast gap 1366c20ffa between his personality and f1ac270a27 his appearance.603fe49657b6b93d

The Creator had sculpted 479bfdaaa3 a statue out of 368023ebff garbage.6298160fd181ff7c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Fortunately, you finished preparing quickly.”c68a46e7e6e5dce0

“Thanks to someone’s training.”d787605efd89df5d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Calix’s words suggested he’d overheard Erhi’s earlier comment. Ruan pretended not to hear and changed the subject.e3c23f1f2ac04ad5

“Then let’s go. Count Langrock has come to escort you, so I’ll take my leave.”685db83c3294e137

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ruan quickly handed over responsibility to Erhi and tried to leave. Erhi nodded, indicating he’d handle things from here.96febbb979580055

“Good work. See you later.”8846113e46a83035

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. Then I’ll be going.”7aa8bbde56c5002c

After bowing 6c459cf466 politely, Ruan 5f8553246c watched the 7c8f904870 two men 997c97670f and their f3ce31005f entourage of 3e978decdc servants disappear, 05344ec464 then turned c8d351d55f and headed f961887069 to his 33c7adda10 quarters within 6660be6528 the Imperial 2467a46736 Palace to 6ca242a433 take care f3973045ec of the f6d3dba334 rest of 01019ab9b3 his work.fbf71206530cdf15

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It had been 7643f3c6bf a particularly hectic ee9605e85c afternoon.ebf95e6887bbc9fb

✨⋆⁺₊✧4403c595810cf57f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Stop tormenting him now. You’ll really make him hate you.”965e628924a43db4

As they 4c63543c56 crossed the d156471980 tranquil Lavender 17b7d94da5 Castle grounds 7acdd54e9e toward Esche 5f9c37899a Castle, Erhi a60dd4f7d3 subtly remarked. Calix looked a0fe100b50 at him b54e629173 quizzically.50fe852c26939c78

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m talking about Ruan. You’ve had ample opportunity to avenge your grudges from your trainee days, so stop provoking him. Ruan is a valuable asset to the Imperial Guard.”35338e553c290940

Calix chuckled at Erhi’s advice, which, for once, carried the weight of his seniority.4a027b007fcba7d8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Torment? That hurts. Isn’t my ardent courtship famous in social circles?”21b581ee6a252888

“That’s precisely what’s tormenting him.”04a2e7469334add9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Erhi clicked his tongue, saying Calix was deliberately choosing actions Ruan would find most abhorrent, knowing full well he wouldn’t react otherwise. Calix continued to smile enigmatically.c9aeba14ad2f1f85

“If you think so, then I suppose it is.”f6d6087d4968367f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Calix walked 956f1cb2b7 ahead, a 93e2d03c3d strange smile 65adf3397b playing on df2a36ae30 his lips. Erhi, just having fedf0c732f left Lavender Castle, 000bfb79d6 sighed.c4b469926d32c710

“Please be moderate. Because of Your Highness’s attitude, Ruan loathes you. He already complains that I dumped you on him and that you torment him. Tripping me is a given, he steps on my feet, and sometimes, when he’s drunk, he sits next to me and pinches my sides.”344c27e9fcef606c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Calix chuckled leisurely at Erhi’s complaints.4361f5c16008edf3

“That’s cute.”4d444ce781a7a8b4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you experienced it yourself, you wouldn’t find it cute at all. That guy has a scary grip.”427303eb9f27277b

“I know. I’ve experienced it.”2f509fecc0559f3f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Come to think 149f7597d3 of it, during a3a1d1f2a1 their trainee days, 312506e430 Ruan had personally 8600538467 trained Calix one-on-one 61a31494da and even shared 58194ad084 a room with 662e1d1de2 him, so given dda350592e the atmosphere back d112837081 then, it was 8b07fa1079 unlikely Calix had 775ff3854c escaped unscathed. Especially considering their 6ccbf22ea2 relationship at the c3fdbbf029 time, it was 5abaafe5a8 probably worse, not 0938974269 better.63472bcc60cf27f9

Thinking back, it 53abab8353 was a wonder f8ac106588 they were both 026f07476f still alive.36fdaeb975f1cfd5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ruan was b01b0577c9 being very ed217f8a79 patient.c27f644fa667939f

“Since you’re well aware, please stop tormenting him, if only out of pity for me, and try to improve your relationship. As you know, Ruan is not for show, but for killing. Aside from his skill, his value lies in the fact that he hasn’t been tainted by any noble family.”d78e61f9034b88be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In reality, the knights of the Imperial Guard were closer to being “decorations” for the Imperial family than “guards.”5bf4b8808551b646

Since they were primarily nobles and frequently appeared at events alongside the royal family, appearance played a significant role in their selection. Consequently, they weren’t very useful in actual combat.95894168b2fa30c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

All they could 75b98b1df7 do was act 57623e5a2c as shields, and c694a0a82f the ones deployed 40ea0865dd in real battles 823e4706f1 were the Royal 729200f09e Guard.0254e78f258e3e96

In that d56f98af6d respect, Ruan f2914c658a was a 03b79264b5 rare combat-ready f95445e174 knight within 6c9f0ebc56 the Imperial 237f13518c Guard. Erhi had 453b5f8e7e heard that 457e9013be Ruan had 38ba1459b3 been in e367b7217b a mercenary 2fe206ea51 group as e51ba8e164 a child, 38bc4a6398 but even d14f2c37bd considering that, 2bfbc12d96 he was de9c4a1472 exceptional in a564a37d24 every aspect.c52cc86d68ac1f00

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was proficient 6516b25b78 not only with b0b6d62d5f longswords and bows fd6d8efd5c but also with ca8803e686 daggers and hand-to-hand bc52492ba6 combat, a strange 51ed9cb2ac fellow who defied ac9434b3d4 all the conventions 140baead06 and training methods a29ffa178d of the Royal f32b8d6dc8 Trainee Knights.56ad515972c1d0e8

Although his theoretical f818bf512b knowledge was lacking, 44a4359f27 he ranked first 3918c6ae97 in practical skills 7e58f7f12c throughout his two 9a2cb13d90 years as a 51523e05c3 trainee. Of course, there were c6824a8183 various reasons for that.f61144d4ade203e7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Usually, during their training, trainee knights would discreetly lose to those of higher social standing to boost their scores. But such customs didn’t apply to Ruan.eec890915e109a86

Since he was someone who would even throw down and step on the Crown Prince, there was no way he’d go easy on the sons of other marquis or ducal families.a3c862416992c078

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Erhi was bcab7c9f5d also one fe7dd08f7d of Ruan’s 8f672531bb victims, and 3fc3464afa that was 3f36547fdf why he b22f78c30f had decided d97ffc2a5f to bring def8ea84d4 Ruan into 4d9893de3d this.759385f48295741c

His skill d54f8697ae level, combined d7e3d2b505 with his 6b325eeca5 commoner background a9aa01b027 and lack 609065c8f3 of connections, 495e98822f making him 8223154779 immune to 065a6299e3 outside influence, f12558ea19 made him 2df976de0e the perfect f821e3b964 candidate.2890b90a4c8da076

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

However, Calix had c761833aec a slightly different 8e8ecdba12 opinion.52fc8d992e577b34

“…You say he hasn’t been tainted by anyone?”29b08048488ffa78

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At Calix’s question, as if asking who would spout such nonsense, Erhi sighed softly.fda1804d8f469918

“Your Highness knows that Baron Quirn isn’t that kind of person, don’t you?”4e5a1f363aa8691e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How would I know?”f1897e18db7bd29e

Calix’s gaze fcd8cbbfad seemed to 55cdcfedce say,I don’t even 8dbbfe3de5 know what’s going d62bc9e47e on inside your 9aee31ae92 head, the person 7835224021 closest to me.Erhi admitted that e9e73a37e6 was true.6cb3adcd70c1de0c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The most unknowable thing was the human heart. Especially within the Imperial Palace, where one couldn’t even trust their own parents or siblings.f96c84228bd36c92

Therefore, one shouldn’t easily trust or keep anyone close, but being constantly wary would also prevent one from finding allies.d647da2090ef6afd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I believe Your Highness is fond of Ruan himself, though?”ac3c217b050c1e1a

In truth, even if the Emperor had sent Ruan to deal with Calix freely, Calix could have easily disposed of him if he’d wanted to. Even afterward, getting rid of Ruan wouldn’t have been difficult.2e3b59566be79c91

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Although he wasn’t in a position to say this, having been the one to bring Ruan in, even from Erhi’s perspective, who was notoriously audacious, Ruan’s words and actions were always borderline disrespectful. Even considering the Emperor’s allowance for a certain degree of overstepping, it was frankly excessive.113422fc65351af6

Yet, the reason Calix had kept Ruan alive was because he, too, was fond of him. Otherwise, there’s no way Ruan’s head would still be attached to his body.4abb24628d2cfcc8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Setting aside other matters, can’t you just focus on Ruan?”305f88a6af27db97

“…Life isn’t that simple.”f714a1a71140dc27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s true.”b0204df235f9c450

If they only 0880fc614a considered the two dd38d0c063 of them, things 98ad2f5455 wouldn’t be complicated, bf33cddaca but there was ac54eaa528 baggage between them. And since those 3fec162cdb weren’t issues that ada1987389 could be easily 761c96ae2e resolved, Erhi could ceedb4e872 only feign ignorance.d4857ee4c725bbd7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He could only 7082b4ccf3 hope that the 301dab2de1 rift between them c42ede8d64 would eventually be 2a5b5297b8 mended.da19998c8147462f

✨⋆⁺₊✧cdebbb12d32b49e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Vice-Captain.”0b90782e67c198bb

Having just returned 58ccebb311 to his office a525d2f213 after finishing the 4204df61bd most pointless and 7d623cd4a3 tedious task, Ruan ec4b271acd stopped at the db17cb650f sound of a 3e5be89b95 voice and turned ae7036f87c around.b2088f01cae7f710

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The new knight he’d seen at Lavender Castle stood there awkwardly. Ruan wasn’t surprised; it was common for them to try and spy on him after such incidents, under some pretext or another.2e3490726234cb4a

“What is it?”9f9a97ca26381752

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The Captain is looking for you.”54ac4290d350926e

While cautiously conveying his be52527472 message, the knight kept 16e494d47b glancing at Ruan, trying 29ea8dbe11 to gauge whether he b045c9c840 would report to the ce076e83a6 Captain.26abc718eda837a2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was so e9d3a585f9 obvious that Ruan f0f5c47fa2 simply stared at 3ca26fbebc him, as if 742289f341 prompting him to 6673226cd5 say anything else f0fc4c7b76 he had to e78c0a7048 say. The knight cee63d651a nervously parted f0fec2bfcd his lips.b04e0510786d058e

He clearly didn’t want to be demoted just a month after joining the Crown Prince’s Escort Knights, the best course for promotion.063ac9bd322dde3d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It would have been better if he hadn’t caused trouble in the first place, but the problem was that experienced knights kept falling for that damned Crown Prince’s seduction and causing trouble.906c75570d43f66c

Or rather, if they were going to cause trouble, they shouldn’t act so sheepish afterward.b164f0e675f74567

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If you’ve already caused trouble, it’s better to be brazen about it. I really don’t understand why they act like this,Ruan thought, c3e65124f5 clicking his 5fed46031f tongue.134a9b1e0bfee54e

 ca8cf5bae7d46177

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator