ETDO Chapter 33

Eventually, we didn’t 4b973e5b31 delay any longer f091afcd14 and hurried back a7680de4d1 to the Duke’s a6a62be273 residence. Having heard 81d50615bd the whole d273bf43a9 story, the 552223ba6a Crown Prince da10721d6f and Princess 1b721852e5 expressed their df92dc96c9 concern and db5df02083 wished me 89ff8be9c1 a speedy 78e7afa842 recovery.1ef1977e8bc2baaa

I later learned that 6a7b5932a2 Arthur had originally planned 3670bbcc6a to have the winning 5b9ff63b06 horse and jockey brought 751d0edf99 over for me to 65bd593f9b see. However, coincidentally, 36521ff688 the incident 7bdcaac584 that day acd68a9401 fortuitously thwarted 71f51455e8 this plan, 5fee9d85c9 and I f0c522a850 couldn’t help 7c9746a5c5 but feel d4718ac6ea inwardly relieved.d3f6110ea028bea4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In truth, even without 5e4690c264 that incident, I had 86fa76ced0 no desire to touch 6d78ee9eb1 or approach the horses 2b176c200b directly. Observing them from eb5b6de5fb a distance was 633c25fcf2 fine, but getting d056d763ee close or touching 4239832e3b them was absolutely 5171deec4c out of the 26012532fc question.119377502c837704

In any eb57ebd842 case, after 2d0736fd69 resting for 88baa8e54b two days, 4e03342b86 I had daceb74393 recovered enough 6d6b6f323e energy to 7960ea4373 attend the d88a20b412 Crown Princess’s c807e74c09 charity event. Although Arthur seemed cd3774f891 reluctant, we all 13769e6434 headed to the e6204c450b venue together.f3428ad1e3f2f537

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

This time, it was 65613d720c a particular event for 293d8145e2 widows and orphans, with d908e8bc12 all proceeds going to 899862c953 a charity sponsored by 5993b5bcec the Crown Princess. A special event 1d06cc603a was held on e29a0e4bba the wide lawn 48facaa574 in front of 7a8976f297 the Imperial Palace d6add54069 to encourage voluntary cf70a262d2 participation and exemplary 56f0f423bd conduct among the c367cf4cec high-ranking nobles who 1cff8088f9 governed the Empire.eb2c9f198401a4b1

In the center 61087b1114 of the large 67341ec7d4 park, with its c8a466a34e smooth, grassy expanse, 2281c04914 three large tents abc6bf43d1 were set up 2a3af0510d around a cleared 85a90651ef space for the 3b2b6d65ee games. We were assigned 446091470f to the same 9466c0ca64 tent as the a3c570ec2e Crown Prince and 3b59b44387 Princess. As we d1380b3d3a entered the 4584bd9ab4 tent, the 9d4a864271 Crown Prince 07c34f3970 sprang to 648fefd403 his feet.681509e1427d2220

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well! You’ve arrived!”660cf3e250723181

“We greet e3714251b0 the Empire’s b6c3d61783 Little Sun.”f5ced88b2fcccbcb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My response edf4d4b420 was formal 86302608eb and polite. As Arthur and I ffc176a30e greeted him according to 9859b68c43 etiquette, the Crown Prince 0fd4896504 waved his hand and 8497f294f9 laughed heartily.0c69162b3c351060

“Formalities between us? Cut it 853bbd2ae9 out, Arthur.”778fa85ea7e43898

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Arthur straightened up and eafd9e327c smiled broadly. Ethan, with 937cbbee27 a stoic e1cf003beb expression, passed f0ae40e9be the Crown 64445036f4 Prince and 13a29a61f1 paid his 2727c39de1 respects to 38617223a8 the Crown 937de76ba1 Princess. Arthur and I followed 3c4ad61809 suit, bowing our heads.3dc2aceb2c79e8c6

“We greet the 421efc8162 Empire’s Little Moon.”26b3b603ca30ff7d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Welcome, Duke Berwick. And Duke 511b9d3988 Beaufort, Duchess 81a9bb0ba1 Beaufort.”4261b90438b0aef4

“Am I invisible e95cfe1f81 to you?”08d72efecb743fb7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Crown Prince glared cfaeeb9b32 at his cousin, who 01e991282a had completely ignored him 3069e9eee5 to greet his wife f051d06c56 more warmly. Ethan subtly e83c6c2b60 stifled a a621edf826 laugh, seeing f2daefdc4e the Crown 2c20e4a1b9 Prince glaring b577d68520 at him 9ef9ad2cb6 feigning a 6926c720a6 fierce expression 03ebf9c385 with hands 9fb14c5e16 on his c5f2ac2142 hips.25ff1404ad3148b8

“How could that be, 2c0e396881 Your Highness?”f175fcb9278b0104

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, you’re just e465cf3631 all smooth at 93af5ee9d4 talking.”e56861d50ae74bd9

“If you insist, I 4248c1d331 can be just as 19254b5cf2 smooth with my actions 8235e3dfdf as well.”faeb84fa8c7db19c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh dear, 88911fede9 how could bf560551bd I possibly 347c98c450 beat you…?”8477b80f284ba666

The Crown e7c2daf3ce Prince sighed 48cc727582 dramatically, as d9276326e5 if exasperated. Ethan, with a mischievous 0f9d275908 expression, approached him and 11a56ec337 playfully feigned a punch ec6c7c3356 to his chest.bfa7e45a90a2e9ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Using the authority of the Crown Prince to suppress me is always an option, isn’t it?”e81370fec9bba9fe

A loud laughter erupted 4260557f73 from the aides and be1347d33e attendants who had been 98e15e4579 watching with keen interest. It seemed this 003879e5e5 was the usual 752210b06f exchange between them, fa13101737 as the two f01d82c8f9 men laughed like 3f08cf63fd teenagers, slapping each 58a5f4375d other on the c7227f1032 arms.7ffd2e1b501c4bcc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Until then, fee9a02202 unsure if 18414892cb they were 76d65b489c joking or 5756d12438 serious, I 9a1f924915 had been c8cf34e5dc slightly tense. Now, I finally relaxed 668b0ddb77 and smiled as I 5f0ea8d180 looked at the both 701e76d7a1 of them.efb9707a249559cb

“What have ece556d0a0 you been a514c47c10 up to c8ef936caf lately? It’s so hard to d630ed90da see you these days.”72d9e5d83901dfd3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re the one who 081df2f754 dumped all the military cbe8b472f6 reorganization on me, weren’t 63dd0aae28 you? I want to ad82a49470 slack off and fb29762da1 take it easy d74076003a too.”915700ef6e57c987

Ethan quickly retorted to 8f81f32876 the Crown Prince’s grumbling c01da0aa20 complaint. The Crown 468d3d6ee3 Prince shook fc03185d9b his head, a9568c30ac as if 27b29bbdc8 to say ab0cfa405a he couldn’t a2cefcad64 understand Ethan, ae7e29b7e9 then turned 4cafa3ac33 his gaze d88212465a to me, b3f90b11ec standing behind bf6f2b09f2 Ethan.df3d7746766d844e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you feeling cb2837236a better now, Duchess?”d9bdf378efcc0a50

“Yes, Your Highness. Thanks to you. Thank you.”2781295d7f23ce98

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I bowed my head 48090be107 in acknowledgment.36f9808082cbafd7

“We have f4d894259f a fun 429e5672d3 event planned f7522e219d today, so 2431965b01 I hope 45b239b60f the Duchess 22f0b757cb will also c60a39a6be join us.”569164c122ca15a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I look forward d38df4423c to it.”b04c2ee7225209a2

I smiled 9a8c8dc1e2 at the 46d40d5930 Crown Prince 6b5a294fb6 and turned 51427ca06e to the 6bc601c6e1 Crown Princess. I had 96cfc31e59 seen her 5ef260b330 briefly at 6320ef562b the racetrack 03bfb552b9 a few efb1e565d4 days ago, 89fa158f03 but seeing 34233b16a1 her again, 35856203b0 her pregnancy d708c93045 was clearly 7184387573 evident, having c3aff868f1 grown considerably bdc63aa330 in just adea4a69d3 a few 80c305fc1e months.84d36ee6c4b02d80

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“When is your due b168d9b713 date, Your Highness?”7b8f6fd0a59cabfa

“Two months left.”0a42960794c8f8c7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You must be eagerly 0c9c0222d7 anticipating the day you’ll f793cc0d73 meet your baby.”006d163eb3d9a9bc

“Indeed, I’m d384cada2c very excited. The baby’s kicks 4b6e46694b are so strong 912861106a these days! Sometimes it’s difficult, but…”aa758ab58440872b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The radiant glow on the Crown Princess’s face as she happily explained everything was truly remarkable. I engaged in conversation with the happy expectant mother, quietly gazing at her belly.7a21d13508db61e4

Even knowing 36b8edbb51 the responsibilities 0e9e5aa282 of being dd9b90479a a Duchess 48e974c45d were to 252c328bef come, the ba219d868d idea of 509f74881d having a 3461e0c0e9 child remained 89c906e385 difficult for 0dc73a574b me to 88785c0f8a comprehend. I was well 4e608a1eb2 aware that I 882d0fff38 was not yet 4482269fd1 ready for such d6e67c0eb0 responsibilities.5510ec8ddfaa840b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Secretly, I wasn’t taking elderly physician’s prescriptions. I had accepted it from Mrs. Wilson out of courtesy, but I couldn’t bring myself to take it yet. Given my current complicated situation, it was impossible anyway, so in that sense, perhaps it was fortunate that my menstrual cycle was so irregular.effe9565a0105104

While we exchanged 0499d20e02 brief pleasantries, the 2a471027a7 servants bustled about, 03a831cd0e setting the table 82816e3caf with tea, drinks, 03c1402201 biscuits, and fruit. Picking up a 967eb433fe beautifully decorated biscuit, 2f6aea71c5 I suddenly turned ed303cc73f my head.197a89a3d838c238

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The three 6f5b273bcd men stood 07f65c4d47 nearby, each 571c017a03 holding a 13bfa56dbc champagne glass, 1cdb671c0f engaged in 7bf7a9b8c6 conversation. I was struck anew 142f72a22f by the handsome appearance 7e4a74fdba of the two Beaufort 092cb73729 men. Their handsome 9a91b8399b features would 86c43b6c3f have shone c805dcb843 even in 48ca70b270 rags, but f089e4442d their formal c482ebc904 attire—dark navy d3132643e4 morning coats, fcfebead1b dark gray 0fb06f619e trousers, and c1d5064b05 light gray 60a9ed9a66 vests were 5c973641ea undeniably breathtaking. The only way b556b6cb87 to tell the 4089bab74a twins apart was b398823863 by their differently 668807541e colored neckties.615ad6348b58048c

As if sensing my gaze as I stared absentmindedly at them, Arthur interrupted his conversation and smiled at me. Following Arthur’s gaze, Ethan grinned at me and winked.988d786bdc10b7a3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My heart pounded loudly. The moment I saw the Crown Prince, standing with his back to me, turn his head towards me following the twins’ lead, I quickly averted my gaze.bed9759b535e31c9

Feigning indifference, I casually 1c94d2c6ce glanced at the sky; 5b5618402f where a few white 79df038359 clouds drifted peacefully. Summer had begun 0c2d1bcce7 in earnest, and 2c754729ce the occasional refreshing ae2a5ad938 breeze made the dca89dcf01 weather quite pleasant.d09ebd46592c3e51

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘What the hell? Why are they c8f8807fd3 both smiling like 1aad6ef378 that, making my 38f3c44cfe heart skip a 9885e9026d beat?’48e4b50d84b50bc6

I grumbled, d2082cb7e9 taking a 3d1226ce9e deep breath 5636cabd88 to calm 37079bd89b my needlessly 74b70126b0 fluttering heart. I slowly chewed 4a8470adf3 on the cookie, 3045dbaf09 trying to dispel 5ecc1b9ee8 the lingering images b7f9ced4d3 of the two 0458815820 men.a095ae54ae02aaaa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Soon, a e0dca63214 servant rang 96e4cf56b6 a bell. The murmur of c53389e882 conversations ceased as 84ad4461dd the Crown Prince cf0c60bf4c stepped forward to 54f427b7fd address the scattered a8f4105c8f crowd. With a smile gracing 73d69593c7 his face, he began 9227b68a28 to speak in a 1cf0b5b26e clear, resonant voice.45931acab36e4f14

“Thank you 550a3e50fc for participating 6fde1c031b in this 2958c243f9 special charity f4923967e3 event. As you 6b318faa2c all know, 18dfbd7a6f today’s event 208a031821 is specifically eb76641602 aimed at 2fc329869d raising funds 1a163d09bb for the e94397d265 vulnerable members 6fefd2aeea of the 318b5d3f4a Empire. The more 36745cc036 actively you d1cac46899 participate, the 553129b90d more benefits c38a007855 will go 53ab95affe to those 358ef222f9 in need. Therefore, I urge everyone c07edc4dd2 here to participate wholeheartedly ad80a717cb and strive for victory, 515eb47895 big or small.”1b92cad183a06cd1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Once the Crown ed4bc87040 Prince stepped back b228b60e55 and took his e786ba67f9 seat, his secretary, 9fe1cfcd8e Lord Somerset, came 7f4282925b forward to explain 7deaf965e8 the rules.b6469b4c2a3b0f3e

“This croquet game has slightly modified rules to suit the purpose of the charity event, so please take note. Today’s game will be played by families, not individuals. Each family will send two players who will compete as a team. Therefore, families engaged or betrothed to each other cannot form a team. This is a strategy to ensure a smooth and fair selection of the winning team, so please select your players based on your current family affiliation.”1449b865d0e2f323

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the a5a1393740 slight murmur ad4ffb4e84 from the 35c68879fa crowd, Lord 3ca1f37123 Somerset raised 067a03659d his voice a39e084575 again.55f7d463e987f76b

“In the 093371567a preliminary rounds, 1dd3ea5df0 each team 6472b7595a will play 3747ddcc7e with one f706eb582b ball to 1bb96b44c0 expedite the dcebc7b204 game. Once you reach 7bcbb2942b the final round, 6197ab1014 two balls will 862aca9f09 be used. In the end, a95e4521ed the first  team 84591f9a47 that hits the 007e544c94 stake after passing 84c7fdc67c through six hoop c440bea447 wickets will win 6a4bd0c328 and that team 691102c35f will have the 16bf8f6ba4 honor of making 3030b2384f the largest donation.”8008f8d5fdefd31d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Laughter erupted 716b65476d from the 20eaf672c0 crowd. Lord Somerset also af274b7ef8 chuckled along and e62741a79e continued with his 272bdbd105 explanation.f172c22434cccb37

“Yes, that’s right. The winners don’t 3aa85a436c receive a prize; e405ac165b instead, they have b88abe5274 to make a d4b2602679 donation. However, the 600c98ee9e Crown Prince 647e615109 has promised 677f7bba46 that the 2415bd37fc winning family 1054481e2a will receive 8af9c71119 a tax 2bbb49431a reduction equivalent d5f28f9604 to the be7dcacb29 amount donated. So, please, I 61d74ae17e urge everyone to 2a50bc6b83 put forth their 9fc3513c8b best effort in 042dcda3e4 the competition.”bdcf7bcfdea3fe22

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A roar of ef4f51b6f6 approval erupted at 0005cab90c this unexpected condition. As soon as he a00f66c26e finished speaking, each family 7c4fe1eced began bustling about, deciding 7ec5f01ccd which members would participate. Seeing Arthur and Ethan 6434e9c75e approaching me, I stood 491283d55b up.b2f0277c6d78b3fb

“Our team is d4f10fec08 simple, Lily. No need 5d8fa123fc to overthink e7be6febda it. Obviously, you and Ethan 9704dc928a should participate.”5902c212726817ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What? Me?!”208aea7e8631672d

I was startled. Arthur added an b9f46440b3 explanation as my 8304526d10 eyes widened.e437bce2ccf70d57

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s difficult for c1f518ac6c me to play e7e8bae7fc because of my 829d47ed25 leg, so naturally, f09cdd365a the only ones 8035766599 left are the a3a3d4d4b5 two of you.”50a6d0e8aa1f4c43

“That may be so, a09215066c but… I’ve never played 853ca3bd29 croquet before.”45b8332dc6525508

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I expressed my apprehension, ec7e2c9520 but the twins showed 935b813e24 no concern whatsoever.51451288f9b0c3d5

“It’s alright. It’s not that difficult, 5648c801f9 you’ll learn quickly.”20c3a0950e0c4248

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s right. Besides, Ethan’s 8a6ee4a9f5 a former 2e85cc5aec croquet champion. He’ll be 8c0d9af661 able to d02572a277 guide you ae825d9e69 well.”81d4f7fff2df45c9

Despite that, when I a50f9a1262 still hesitated, Ethan subtly ff5932666c raised an eyebrow. Eventually, I had d73dd077c0 no choice but da27efb0a6 to nod under 5563c4bfb9 the unspoken pressure 8041e0a21b from the twin eccdc1de75 brothers.eab50bb8a3cc3def

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The crowd, divided into 1ebcdc46b2 three large groups, decided 4d4c41e050 the order of play 4337874a08 with those sharing the 2d6b9069ed same court. Then, they 07c3a96aa8 each chose 742be89403 a colored c83087897e ball and bd9402b8de picked up cafb0cc20c their mallets.f15d3ee1bae4ac0f

In the center 1fe7e49f6b were three rectangular ffabd86dda playing fields, each 577cc494bb bordered by closely da74fc149d packed low wooden 8cf4c56adc planks. We entered 3b70c74164 the boundary 72da40d290 of Court fdfbbb1c88 number 3 20d13987d6 with our 3d42e90ec4 mallets in 4311e23b2c hand.f632e5845de60a43

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 09a57468c7f6f1ab