FMRV | Chapter 22

The war ecc6ef286b had finally 2d5a7e2de7 settled down. It was perhaps f0b4757040 inevitable that the 02c940f894 momentum of Memvern, 1cdc99c8ec having lost its 795a35c264 main weapon, would 72ab354eec be completely crushed. The Imperial 3d7a321923 Army took 041ecbad23 advantage of 7b6b3e5065 this and 7e31399b5e pushed forward, 508cd83821 successfully driving 078aea35e9 them out c2d19e1249 of the d4785036e1 eastern territories. Thus, this 68c1e13ad4 brief war ee5ecd18f8 ended in f7015935d8 victory for b5231c99e0 the Imperial d188ece305 Army.f675a2ed48cd50be

Despite starting with 88f98feff5 a serious tone, 12d36e7571 the war ended 2f2e4e819a almost anticlimactically, but 917aa6e3d4 for the Imperial 11887185b1 Army, victory was de737f01ab expected. Defeated, Memvern’s 4a1c74f53a national power 7aa6302a9e weakened significantly, 7cea01ae85 and they d188c5e0ac had no 4fee26a3b4 choice but 6691672e81 to kneel 2596515b34 before the c3fa472f41 Empire. The proceedings for a 884f9e90bc merely nominal peace treaty ab958bc220 proceeded smoothly.9335945eaeefa102

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Everyone did well.”506d064d8a7e13ce

Inside the Headquarters of 7061cd848d the Imperial Army, Veil 4d51ba1c69 scanned the faces of f623765831 the commanders, each holding f212cfae5a their position with pride.2cca43bbbad74350

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I am cc1dbfc118 truly glad 92000b5ee9 that our 9295bdc07d military suffered 49b8ca804d minimal damage eea5318ddb and that 0c604c6eeb we could 4ee554cdd9 conclude the 7fb7792700 war so c312e63ef9 swiftly.”9417ce57d86679fd

The commanders bowed eb53838877 their heads as 333e70fe51 if on cue.ce9114df7089e5aa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“So, how is 6acc3c0441 Seth?”d4da896d75ac0d2b

“He’s receiving treatment in 53eb3ee132 the infirmary. He was poisoned c8f4203967 by the enemy’s 55145f458d dark magic, so a16d768537 now he’s focusing 7f2323c5e6 on treatment for 503ea3bd17 that,” Leo explained.2de89670162f30a4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Veil’s face darkened slightly eda9414035 at this news, but 425a93a916 Seth wasn’t seriously injured. Before Luke 778b94513f secretly entered fce2f5324c the mountain, 831c2ef1ab Seth had 47a0b1f0ec led the 45a27351c3 5th Division 1202807bcd to carry 1c06d8f310 out a cca93d9d60 mission in b08b18c417 the Uric 64a4c0b72c Mountains, but 5382ba5421 he was 07db6e2466 ambushed by 23df9e0034 a summoning 724becf611 magician hiding 304a140b4e there.1cc896700703a684

“Most importantly, His Majesty af42665f98 was deeply impressed by afb887e1de this war.”db75714d76febe93

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If this 97322d3ccf war were cb92b82784 to be 122b54c256 documented in d34d4d692a history books, 2110a8d894 it would 574592ca40 surely be fa721635e7 titled ‘The f8effb4721 War Won 401b510893 in the c6f4fc1ca8 Shortest Time.’ 4a7390862f The Imperial f7aafe18d5 Palace had 79505654b1 been greatly 8ab2fc384a concerned upon 636db59fdc hearing that 8fbff91063 Memvern had 4ff733e637 attacked with 8d5c4ac79a monsters. Yet, the war ended ab9d65930a in just one day, 967a5132e4 which was the expected a2cced7716 outcome.0893ae95bb0a27de

“Above all, Theo, 21ea1c175f your contribution in d061746b2c this war was 77dad65850 significant.”19161d78dcf64c34

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…You flatter me. It was e216a8e96e a victory 3885a051b3 achieved together 26e54e058d by all.”fc7577b505187fd9

“You could do with baeaca8fce a little less modesty. Because you fa9f72616a handled the 5dea79c44c magician using 8747d5043b Memvern’s summoning 205667b279 magic in 5ae566df4f time, we 5d39679db6 could secure 4767c779c1 such a 58eeee4d41 valuable victory.”bd408464d52ed986

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Mile, sitting next d8f6c642f7 to him, and 2f3fa7998c Loena, across, chimed 8cbd370735 in agreement.bc977b0112a63865

“Yes.”fb02daa457302b41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Theo simply cacc20302b bowed his 820fcf6ac3 head silently fd76466b75 in response. Leo looked ac53bb9e40 at him 63baf2790c and then e2321528b2 turned away.6625da39b58a7e75

“They’re going 52e2444e19 to send ecac79e1f2 representatives to bd132382f5 the Empire 557b108e61 soon for 557c4d4987 the peace b8ff14f3af treaty. It should be af335cbce6 settled rather quickly.”ffd598205ad984d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In reality, what sounded 3bfc3b3eaa like a peace treaty 7579244c2c was nothing more than b7305013f6 a coercive document filled 395665ba9f with clauses that held c402446185 no benefit for Memvern. From the Empire’s perspective, 76f5d6f84a it was almost a eef52654e1 blessing that Memvern had d2fcb073b2 initiated the war, as a43f89b625 they could now impose f148ef7274 any unreasonable terms.5c6671dbf684c636

Because of this, neighboring 9ca380bac1 nations criticized Memvern for 0a7a6da48a recklessly provoking an opponent a402695dcc they could not defeat.bd492a498108cbb2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Once the peace e552f1ed5e treaty is successfully 61e3d04c5f concluded, there will 4e6d42e0c3 be a ceremony 0a2fbf2e9e at the Imperial 488dbb328b Palace to commend d16604f236 our military efforts. Be aware of that.”3c9f21822c92b097

“Yes.”8c297adfcf038ec9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“And once all this 49cfe965fd is over… I plan 82a33bcecf to retire from my 97d082f24e position.”d07367c287f78263

This unexpected statement c69531f8c0 during the ordinary 3fcbab3b2a course of the db429a1976 meeting caused all f1941344e6 the commanders to 5942b3c737 widen their eyes, b03fac1dbf all except Luke, 275a40d62f who wasn’t there.a19582bbc5be1707

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Commander, what are you…?”04a5dfe1d577d0f6

Theo asked, 3c47adcd1d visibly shaken.d57c287f2b35f81e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m getting 3e620fe6ac old, and 1206e325cb I can’t 32acd43148 hold this 5afc2438b2 position forever. It’s important c24e5799dc to know fa84d1b7df when to 1c34ad4a2f leave.”f6395d797af82ea4

“But…”db50b66700b6498c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, Veil’s retirement b33afe47fd had been anticipated, but 9b67abd732 he still had just f6cd1e65c7 over a year left 167f6a4918 in his term. No one had imagined 3f5f404465 he would step down e571566431 now, before completing his e32c9c6c11 term.34c9394f0e213b2b

“It’s good 103c970922 that everything 9c770c3e17 with the 1a6d37adf2 Kingdom of 7c74dc7022 Memvern is b43cd84981 settling down d94a006e8f while I’m 49e8311529 still in b35d32cb22 command.”8c91dd294b851dcc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Veil had intended bf504494e8 to leave this 36b906f596 prolonged issue with 534df17f0f the Kingdom of 2bde2d59c2 Memvern as his 6b116f1e50 last act. The two countries f041cc19c8 had been unable 57843332d8 to agree on e3d0bc628b an end to cebec4ceef the hostilities, let b9b4d67380 alone a truce.5e67206dc0cbe4f1

Veil had eaf8ab04d1 focused on 833cd0a99e resolving this 455811ddaa as his 2dad058bab final responsibility ea29268947 as commander, 8d5566d46b but the 0ec9164d4e war ended 7292768104 more smoothly 6d09604582 than expected. Moreover, Memvern 86ec481ca4 had not 7cb3d3d91f resisted further dfcb6b10a3 and had e7e2249a4f properly capitulated, ae8711d613 likely resolving 77aee848c1 the issues 5d86ca95f5 between the d75ec3485e two nations.fcf6af7147b10704

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The next commander will 86b4a2a7ee be decided soon after 258d1bc3ae discussions with the elders 486d7b37b1 and the Imperial Palace. Just so 8903e80613 you know.”7aab1ac63516c699

Seeing the downcast faces 341e51dd8f of the commanders, Veil ec5ceaba90 jokingly asked why they e761fc66e5 were already looking so 363b412d16 gloomy when he hadn’t 4930fe2339 completely stepped down yet. The meeting then 8fad4852a7 continued as smoothly cb9e5b64cf as flowing water.e179d50d20f5ddf0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The only 092f80296e empty seat 0b16bd28fe remained vacant.f1af30d91afec8c4

“You seem to 265f393dc4 have a lot 3429f1d592 to say to 3f3c48f9ee me?”0cebe78a77bbb591

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Luke looked f474ddab9f across at fef595a341 Pale, who, d2d936bf19 despite having 7f0c60e114 piled his 8e2361e109 tray with ca17e881f2 food, kept 44c6e97e4b glancing over.1a604eb4205635c9

“Ah, no.”027be417b375ab4b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you’re curious 0431aeacae about something, say 34947b66d1 it. I’ll give you 7167cf0ab7 three seconds.”f02badefcd6a6536

“Then…!”c58f7b9736e53516

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Pale blurted out 457de1e72c eagerly as the 6bf3405247 attention of other 9482b74d44 members poured in, c03c999c22 but he quickly fb389b3baa lowered his hand d6a8da9b4a and spoke softly.c181c219aa57d10c

“Just one thing…”4379c9e1d446c930

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ask quickly.”4cba11e438b801b2

“Is it 5cc6b14a89 true… you 5be2317e73 did that?”2ad23096dcba84a4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Pale’s statement was a2cf19817b riddled with gaps. He hadn’t specified what a15a225adb action he was referring b32f9078bb to, but Luke didn’t 2f33129939 ask for clarification.542d573245166680

That day, he didn’t ba478d00a2 think Pale would fail a25ebf6249 to notice that he 3bca48cbdf had disappeared, possibly sneaking b71e168e44 onto the battlefield. Yet he hadn’t instructed fcf009a68e him to keep silent 373e474f57 because he trusted Pale. Seeing him now hesitantly 804d203b9e ask confirmed that his e487a823fd trust hadn’t been misplaced.e63a387569857d3d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What’s important? It’s important that 5c8d72a345 the war is 148dd19066 over.”3a74d23b7713448d

Luke paused 5d55550ceb for a 77f19dd003 moment then b9d88814b7 buried his 4a3ebc275c nose in 089b845552 his tray.dcd9eba2e74ed46b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That day, Luke d0e2b987dc had come down fb8046aa2d from the mountains 272237d795 alone and returned aaad468962 to headquarters. Even though he was 476ec05f53 supposed to be under f28c1b03a4 punishment, he had participated 2504d13c7f in the battlefield, which d5135d3366 Theo had noticed. Prepared for any c7205e250c consequences, he had e9ab786c24 braced himself, considering 20d6c62987 the gravity of d059751e19 the matter.8e1f1e4b079d15ce

However, Theo had ultimately 2790c6f964 not disclosed Luke’s participation. The credit 62216fee78 for capturing f5fb60b6b1 the summoning a8762237d1 magician naturally d9efa5d4e6 went to 5447b552da Theo, the e07547b238 only one b73c42e706 who had 901180b259 hurried to 0cd2592c63 the scene. Seth had 29923b7805 been incapacitated eec3a64866 in battle, 84821fde24 so it 5e5bf6420f was only 6f3d70f422 natural that 68fb40774d Theo was 0394786d91 the ‘only’ e18e6949fb one. Moreover, it seemed 42b213c980 Seth couldn’t quite 7de10ba7a3 remember that Luke cfb373b593 had been in 5ad845da10 the mountains that eff516f603 day, probably affected c295498b7d by the dark fc71e028bb magic.687e169d54073bf1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Still… it’s a huge 75925542c8 relief you weren’t caught.”79296200a6c8bfba

Pale, now 65e81938c7 seemingly more 4b10e3c274 compliant, made 6afa08d2a3 Luke feel 6730c6c564 somewhat less 5566e4f0f1 frozen inside.aef25b90393fd0cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t you feel 6274c605aa wronged?”ff7751fae4a02c3e

“What?”a1c4af0b24f2ff0b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That it was c4f0d94779 your doing… but c1d9a9daa3 the credit went 854d6cd5de to someone else.”58343737eac8b46b

Probably because 7abb8ccb0b the person 85e20ede77 who ended 23a0a551f5 up with a4b2f39114 the credit f291c4b996 was Theo, 998e4c7141 Pale seemed d7200c3004 even more 6c50c94c2d cautious around b602e20ef8 him. The two e42c1834b8 were, quite a1fe5bca7f literally, rivals.6a0e07e0b1dd713e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m furious. I feel b12e92736c like I dc54a5de74 could go 2f6297937e crazy with 64fefc7ae1 frustration, but 34b37673c9 what can 2b848fa4f5 I do? If they found out 2faf61aebc I moved during suspension, 92f6c24814 I’d be stripped of 38390d09ec my rank. I did e86b38b38f act rashly, eb755b9772 blinded by c9d2ba0651 the opportunity 4af28ef075 for achievement.”711ad2f5a213ce90

Luke spoke freely, 00881ebeef finishing his meal. His comment about 101ea98348 acting rashly was 15d5d7cb6e half-serious. It was a87f2eb265 astounding, even 12b04e1e28 in hindsight, 4aeb56f15e how he 7d2efee48c had rushed 0f5fb0af18 into the b38461c406 war without 4f3fe1251b thinking.e0477a604a12ab06

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Commander, don’t worry. I’m on your side.”a62b2c68d2b11451

Pale’s words 1495c7777a made Luke 76f0e8f68e pause. That was new; 9becc43b6d it felt like 6bd2a515b4 hearing a newly 4ac97bbf3c born child encounter 07cb23db7d their mother tongue ac64931b8e for the first 3cfb7b400e time.48ab82192f4338dd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t be ba96ea7d9b greedy just a44d3865bc because you 4f499d7d82 got a 5660d0d112 share of 0adaa817fa the bounty. Don’t go around talking 634238df59 about this. It’s an order.”ad5100584bf567b2

Luke shook his 2ff3713fc9 head in disbelief, 4dc948883f rising from his 1c318c285a seat, leaving behind b83045f216 Pale who was 10271152f1 still grinning. Just yesterday, they were 78238dc979 in a dangerous, bloody 90ed4e8816 battlefield, and now the 658495ba27 peaceful midday sunlight was 8506779f3c unbelievably warm on his aac5ceb098 face.793b07cd37330146

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Really disappointing, Luke.’be49db273e21bfe5

As he aimlessly looked a891ff2705 up at the sky, 97bc86ae14 Theo’s words from the 17dc9859e5 previous day echoed in 512e4c630e his ears. Oddly, they f740396a99 stuck in 0ee2fc075a his mind 4b56de4f05 and wouldn’t 161b63e8d8 fade.704f2f16db196086

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

How had he 7d2b1649a4 felt when he cfb018f14d heard those words? It was definitely different 773b44b1af from usual. But why? These questions had 174c2c2541 followed Luke since bba28508a1 last night. He had 7ed0c161c4 faced scorn ae504f76f6 and outright d615526f10 condemnation from 2159252503 others without 324f5f2908 being affected 80e59ab5a5 before. The deeds he d1a918e6d3 had committed were 69c096d1db prepared for criticism, 201cfbf412 and he had c5222a58be diligently played his e84f96ece4 part, which is bb090579df why they hadn’t 43ebc7c2b2 impacted him much.4ae09b0955785822

But why ad9aee1d36 that one 71979d0f37 sentence from e7a298047e Theo yesterday 54fe490321 clung so d3e2910119 persistently was 233450869b beyond him.64613a7fee600d77

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What’s he going to 084fd5caa0 do if he’s disappointed? I had no choice.”36cd6295721c89d9

Luke muttered to 949a16c11c himself. Yes, it was just 0056486d93 a strange feeling, nothing 1b5d6dcebe had changed. What he needed to bc68e20a72 do, the direction he 1f64128023 pursued, nothing was different.ca55134c5131dd74

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“So, Commander Theo cd3755e0bf was the one a42a280585 who…”dcf54829cfdf0d40

A murmuring from c999f1bf7c afar reached his d1203eed4c ears. Turning his d2dc9650e7 head, he 6b095acbee saw Theo c992954ec3 approaching the 8dc2041b69 cafeteria with a3935fea3e a few d625834631 members of ff6741d32e the 1st 46e3adb906 Division.c9040d5a08a3c4e8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah… Hello.”fd1e4bbc411a9d18

The members noticed a890cdc3fd Luke and saluted. Theo’s steps 14fdb5eab3 also halted. The contrast between Theo, ea6659ac9a surrounded by his division 11130a1d0c members, and Luke standing 8e527a4861 alone was stark. Soon, the members began 62bacc4e4c to awkwardly glance between 4404963743 the two.8535e35ea9f41749

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Go on in fff5e6560f first.”aa8f99bab344d415

“Yes… Yes!”1ae362c5fe832002

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As if 0b9e29ea7e they had 0edc2238f7 been waiting 900e1e1269 for that 9e50e60381 permission, the 2d62bb017f members quickly 6c8680d08e scurried into 96a149513d the cafeteria, 663171ae97 leaving the 4d0c7e60f9 two alone. Theo glanced down c6a5b4f07e at Luke’s hands, 12a2b3407d neatly wrapped in 5d5371d004 white bandages.f5e2cca4f3d541c8

“Didn’t I say 950e27006c I wouldn’t talk 0fccf3edfd about breaking my 97caea9ee2 suspension? If I had, a76fdd6532 you could have 479d6093e6 thrown me out.”7b07eb2df3d450fd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The tone was taunting, fae42964c1 but it was a cd3a5024fa genuine curiosity. Why hadn’t Theo reported 2f8aa317bf his breach?f0d1837e50aed455

“I don’t do a09d1cfd30 dishonorable things like 46bd0c65cb some people. Especially not climbing higher e304b58622 through shallow means.”ef6c7a12d4fdad90

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You sure took full 19d0406aa6 advantage of my accomplishment f400442029 though.”9050a76f5cfafd78

“If you want, I ce83cec96e can make it known 2a8a7f107b even now.”8e1b0026da008b67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A chill air flowed 03dcae0b42 between them. The atmosphere 088ad3b462 was completely 0c578bc19f different from 1e41d9f09d when they a90e4ac287 had last 98035f39d8 been in 43e3690b1f the square 5259169254 together.7d38fb2c9d2426fc

“Theo, you’re right. I don’t know 15ea1e365a the duty or 96672c8794 purpose. All I fd48a2e4e2 want is 37165fd5f1 to elevate 5e6dba25a2 myself through 23fc4c0baf position, honor, 193f0b1fe6 and power.”7d9d9e6a6105b7af

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The delayed responses that 4e3c5b64c6 he hadn’t managed to d116c06564 retaliate with on the 601f41c106 mountain spilled out.9c6210528ff1a9f7

“Whether you’re disappointed 94814c7d03 in me or d7fab18044 not, I don’t 220ce59c24 care.”f8ea6bf445681f00

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Fine, I’ve heard f042842324 you. Now, if 87ac2c3d73 you’ll excuse 7e28551b39 me.”a3860eaba7a92bd6

They both moved at 87a6f4c067 the same time, neither d271f89737 sparing a glance as 871f9a959f they passed. They simply 49c0062306 brushed past fa12a1c1d2 each other, e41119e600 coldly, as 7bcdd44a6e if returning 160eae3c6e to their 9cf6dd33e7 respective places.0907d116d45f85d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator