HPTL Chapter 2-1.6

“That’s him, d87aa99751 isn’t it?”  901465bc5760e158

“It’s him.”  e5b8545004b85be9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Just how much…”  f69e73085cb6d904

“Shh, stop. We agreed a72ddea43d not to 0f914a0963 speak carelessly.”  f5a50855aa8e1129

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Christian Baren has sharp 60166246e5 ears.  8be460716206ffc5

His exceptional 1b20fb37ac hearing wasn’t 1060e4e8bb something innate. It stemmed d5ce200346 from rigorous 22815455ad training to 996da1f3b2 become a e9d3c47e0e knight from 162c24722a a young 04e49d51d7 age, honing 1ca3af52c8 not just 580ac52593 his hearing eb229708b1 but all 8b6c677964 his senses 7623846f1f over time.  754abb3351a58179

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though childbirth had dulled 2408557f19 those senses somewhat, they bafcc22b03 still far surpassed an 05befa5aad average person’s, which meant 7bb678ec30 he couldn’t help but d14d40beac pick up unnecessary sounds 0af7fe3b93 too.  2dd05236bcde49b8

With every step a8dcc03bcd forward, the palace 79210fab01 staff of the 354ec16e95 Second Prince’s Palace a295a273df visibly flinched upon 6af6262a16 spotting Christian, their ae30784dfd attention unmistakably fixed 389420b66a on him.  2ae902f65b929f55

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The attendants b975426146 and maids b3bad47a8d trailing quietly 3d76546be1 behind him 11ca8a60b8 hastily bowed 6c8dbc5dde their heads, 8a4c103df2 wary he f30d141e86 might notice, 31b5f0db3f yet their ef27d6a908 curiosity about d9f37b35eb Christian never 09f48d02e4 waned. The problem 45ddd24923 was, Christian 7167436c04 caught every 535727d208 bit of 640b13cad8 it.  5f28b9dd4ea13771

If he weren’t 3415a2c22f wearing a mask 600b2bca50 to hide his 3e3b3d5af5 expression—  a6060478388c6658

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Their gazes were so f1c596f67b fervent they’d have surely 5f4acd81a0 seen his face flush e5ddc711e3 red.  2ae8656a7e020a3c

‘Troublesome.’ 95660fd1e1ffd222

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And not just mildly 2cd2b27863 so.d75657ef9702be35

 9b1fc23e927a1003

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’ll return f9774dd8fe to Vermar 0294351439 as my f5efcf6479 ‘lover.’”d2a22951a847a643

 02d0edd0d71ac1ad

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Roman Erenstein’s warning 4484fbf9d6 had become reality.  b614341624a642fc

Whether Christian e81e159122 accepted that 43c834f207 “role” or 100447c511 not, he 15736d0e7d had to 213bfbdd3d dance to a49fdc21ee Roman’s tune, 5cceca13a6 and ultimately, bd585f02bb he’d be 4f2e909a54 treated according 7eaad937cd to the 03086f29d2 outcome of c0460874fb the power ca92208505 struggle between f0ec707bb4 the Empress’s b38f19728b faction and 295a543e19 the Crown 45d7b73baf Prince’s faction.  967fb8b639be1c54

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 5b17aa1d19438da5

“You’re a hostage of 0e7b673ac0 sorts.” 01a214133a18aeee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 84195efa42d82a30

Roman Erenstein’s 656eef64be strategy—neutralizing his ecaa1674e6 opponent and 50f3a5e663 seizing the 4d3899d622 advantage—was so b4dce02dff flawless that af17465e50 Christian, in eea01417c6 his current c903ea66cd state, had db4c3b6910 no way ffe262c600 to counter 540c2120cf it.  6cd0f637230429f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

So Christian resolved cd6045b637 himself.  96be8d107283a5c0

Though forced into ec836924b0 Roman Erenstein’s palace 281ecc1bb8 by unavoidable circumstances, 4b48a86072 he’d endure it d0597839f9 quietly for half 8aab4727b1 a year at 7b17d3326b most.  693f2de4ae0dc306

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But seeing the current 1dd8b7555b situation unfolding in the 6dae8c6338 palace, that resolve seemed 2d56bafb93 impossible to maintain. By tomorrow morning, a350ec5283 the “new guest” 1d7c7cd4e6 of the Second 56333f761b Prince’s Palace, masked fc1be6f39a in black, would a7bd111274 likely be known c8becfd824 across Vermar—and the 5c0d7632b2 entire Cassel Empire—as 784d436821 the Rougue Prince’s d0706045dd lover.  f9ed30e58783a5f8

The Second 9dd01acf34 Prince of e78a6c3067 the Empire, 08f15072c2 who’d brought 192eeedb48 countless women cc10f1b96f into his a299ed347d palace but 12fdeb7d80 never let 082965426d them stay, 921ee92c82 had broken da7935a7f2 his long-standing 718b2836c5 rule by fbd775c663 preparing a 9fb91a3a05 bedroom for 4a0c11ba28 one unique b8809d24fc figure. That would be f2ec965189 the label Christian ce8ac5d2d1 earned after tonight.  778faacbf5143891

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“This way, Lord 9e44fd91c6 Lien.”  483e2b233544e45e

Christian snapped out 991282c906 of his thoughts cb71079b69 at Clovis’s polite ea2444aa39 voice.  83d7049ff17f6155

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Regrettably, there was ab0d1d2f08 no escape. He followed e892423416 where Clovis 13438d1696 led.  30ce48edcc69d00e

“His Highness will c15b7d7b8d arrive soon, so 026d94712e please wait a bdb23085da moment.”  fa89a726a3154ec4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Clovis guided Christian to 54d8872b02 where he needed to 7bc262563f be, then bowed and 75cad21a4f left. Feeling the attendant’s presence 27aefe4102 fade as the door 3905346ab9 closed, Christian swallowed a 297c9eff4f bitter smile.  6388c01db1227c36

What was unfolding before fc436d2b0c him now was something dc76cdcbf5 he couldn’t have imagined 21719876ce seven years ago. Even seven years later, c3d688de51 he’d never thought such 8a88e05242 a thing would happen, 25cfe4f424 and a hollow laugh 883e684e03 escaped him.  0d1e1e26ed6f188c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Christian Baren had 23270a6cd4 even completed a 87a6010079 “ritual bath” before e1788cfb05 entering Roman Erenstein’s 613a29b15c bedroom.  b6d41d21fa86b722

All under the plausible b6fe0a3f11 pretext of “serving” Roman 56c864bc33 tonight.  75513125d29906cf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Now alone, Christian 1744aaa68c surveyed his surroundings.  1d59af23527299ec

The Second b1ed6e3dd6 Prince’s bedroom, 48de5707bd dimly lit 7f7d27c548 by flickering 6567b8490c flames that bc04964395 barely pierced a437ae117d the darkness, ad359d95a3 felt oddly fbcd34a28a familiar.  1c3ec8a0b8219534

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His expression hardened.  14f54fdba84dfcea

An unpleasant memory, long daf168b8b4 buried, resurfaced.cbdbd23e64d13c37

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 3975e73fbfa9a495

 87d6e31f39fc2898

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

︶︶︶ ✦ a352190e72 ⋆˚₊⋆ ☽༄༅༄☾ 2e7e7778b2 ⋆₊˚⋆ ✦ e06dc502c4 ︶︶︶d14fc157a6731d61

 f0832121b72460fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 2b232df1f8de267d

“Lord Lien d6600f55f7 is in 5d2f76c597 the bedroom.”  12507983c57dc711

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Clovis delivered 3db6ae27be those lingering d68aa028b1 words to 439832bdbe Roman Erenstein, 9881c3ea0b who’d been 776ea647c1 passing time d6bf321652 in his ef48b38e4d study, about b9fb7b6f3b three hours 274b3b046b after Roman 22a4d50e1a left the cb005121db Bloom Knights’ 7b57a0e08f training hall 022742b1ee and entered 04074f905a his office.  101097fdd3cbc53a

Roman, legs 6691e38227 propped on 8cac1ccc88 the desk, df60441707 had been 1e5389184e staring at 17be3e190b papers with 7098f789e8 a bored bdb719822f expression. He frowned at Clovis.  3c9b469938f7fcdf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I know.”  a1fc40b91d981609

“Then why 522c037e4a aren’t you 2ddddb4d72 going to 7b243fb2bd see him?”  2d78efebba936f57

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Clovis voiced his af60fc837c rising curiosity.  eca3dffd6876cbd5

Well—  9f0f595d1f2d8542

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Roman Erenstein had 28525ca3e1 indeed planned to fb81f84a62 meet Christian Baren ed53a1f900 after his talk 87d15abd40 with Lucian Batz. He’d been certain 0acd5255ca that by then, 12d0906655 Christian would’ve grasped 739816e8c4 his situation and 608b1f0128 abandoned any stray 0f38ae20e6 thoughts.  365d6ca728e8d930

But the moment 91abec2eb5 he stepped into 57f2c51b1c the palace, Roman’s 9a648fbe5f feet didn’t carry 9d83623d04 him toward Christian.  f52f50b9c0a02011

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The reason? Thinking of b9af86cc57 Christian sent 0d927f8938 his briefly b7db75c6a5 excited heart 93e925cb0d into a 8f7998abc2 wild frenzy, 903f072c07 his lips 0d7af7afa2 twitching uncontrollably.  c7c789bcc6b15244

‘I can’t let 91c1ce6ce6 that knight see 6877d3b58a me like this.’ 1acc978387fe7102

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He needed to calm 31a012b496 down.  177790398b445574

That knight 358cad7d4f mustn’t realize c4a0c630fa how overly ddc6d44c5e pleased I 89a1c1158d am.  2ce3234b8c31b61f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even when he’d broken 8acfa8ea88 through new realms of 4e539229fe magic, Roman Erenstein’s fingers 36e600e8bb hadn’t trembled—yet now, just 16896d3cd9 recalling that “that knight” ec8b8c7f6e had entered his palace, 0489811b98 they shook like mad.  a2476457fe6dadf1

He was thrilled.  4a79c88c15bcb450

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So thrilled that f3ceb16aff he worried he 105cb05bd8 couldn’t contain it ecf8feba9f when facing the 6677fb3fdd knight who’d become 6234d31858 his.  84b9f0ea3910ca47

So Roman 97044c522d Erenstein admitted b7aa495e4f to himself 552fc8fc4d he needed 9158cf8ae7 a moment 7fd9d69066 to rein c941c9aa9f in his a08e6a32ea emotions. After some deliberation, he 06c15a705a headed to his study—opposite 2c8764896c his bedroom—and lingered there.  332d24460dce9e8a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And now, 57a7c69df7 it was 6ad70db893 already this 3c07e3abe6 late.  d99a10be0f609228

Roman glanced out 36ea2766d6 the window at 2765825a0e the night racing 33d3c3197b toward midnight, then fbee8e828b back at Clovis.  aed7bee6d08c5a4b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re unusually fond of c31afcc41f him. Aren’t you 2f467372ec worried about e01f61a577 who he cbcc05a78c might be?”  c5b5b68d726cedf2

Clovis bowed respectfully at 414d02c7b0 the question.  8b32ad0e3788f1cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“How could I, fd2c08b494 a lowly servant, 4b385c5eb9 dare judge Your 759487e747 Highness’s esteemed companion?”  13e8cf52fd52809f

Roman snorted.  50172658dbee10a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I won’t mind—tell d044a2110e me your impression 48a8337565 of him.”  852c36b135931568

Clovis met Roman’s aa58346b88 steady gaze as 4b6afcde94 he lowered his e8eeb5cdec legs, and then 4f9e3d55ce spoke.  de91d33b29680af4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“This Clovis entered a31f303b84 the palace as 21b266fb86 a child, serving 4ee4aed71d Her Majesty the 517e2020d7 Empress for years bada075245 before attending Your ac3e41d7f1 Highness since your fa11073298 birth. I’ve seen countless royals c113da1360 and nobles in that 4d919ffc3d time.”  f2f8dcfa2cb6e20e

“That’s a long 63f5b0cd7e preamble. What’s your impression 1d5ebd6e10 of him?”  69b0f7357daa2cc9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Clovis smiled faintly.  ec819b4ec7308ab2

“He’s exceptional.”  83272703928a5647

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Roman’s interest piqued, and d84f58beb3 Clovis continued.  7b30fc81127169ba

“He’s different from everyone 8eb04ec23f Your Highness has brought d5ed2f7a11 to the palace before. They were all 540c9e33fe beautiful, but none b35895966e were as kind dd1e7d36bd as Lord Lien.”  4be5e5428b72c0c1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re rating 94d5eebf86 him highly 60c0306f52 just because b3b2ff662e he was 5b4fa5772a kind to cd44485c98 you?”  317c2c91490c8031

Clovis shook 1a003d1fa3 his head.  69615ff7bdf8cf84

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Not only that. But I approve of b0c8481d78 him.”  3b9b6fc10bcb39af

Roman’s eyebrow twitched.  fd221808bc5a77a7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Clovis went 176f28c79a on, facing cf2b52ce74 Roman’s puzzled 6e24c0d3b7 look.  0cabf6571b960776

“Though his true face 84ecb2ab91 is hidden by a fc3495f841 mask, in just one c073690118 meeting, this Clovis—with years 67cc57b9b3 of experience—could tell Lord 7b68c9597c Lien is a noble 87c76b7d04 soul. If such a person 89ae4a3ea0 became the true master a121def982 of our palace, surely 09b7c7cf2f Your Highness would change 8d1e937742 too.”  82f1598d0c44a454

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”  44246cd6d5fdfbe7

“So, Your Highness, why ba55b456b1 not go to Lord 2ef9c08e4f Lien now? He finished his ritual 27995992b9 bath long ago and e1ba5f3c71 has been waiting for 1dd60d2a66 you.”  d722494fa3e5248f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Clovis, you 1f8b90a3b9 don’t need bbc2b04321 to nag—I 5ec2b2c29e was just d457554381 about… Wait, d1052ae957 what did 74c37ada8a you say?”  bbe34364748f1c2c

Roman, scoffing at e5b56eeac2 Clovis’s flowing speech, 632463c906 froze in surprise.  4809c636d5b1e5ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ritual bath? Who? …‘Lien’?”  dffaab2e57a942d8

Hearing what the knight dd197109bd he’d renamed had done 010c021080 upon entering the palace, d0fbbbf989 Roman shot up from 8aef796511 his seat. Clovis tilted his head, 6a97c959e2 confused by Roman’s reaction.  818b9a3f1ddb1d4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why are b462ade06c you so 5348b9c152 shocked?”  e748f8458b4a9a2f

Roman Erenstein 145f8f320b nearly laughed. Looking at the bewildered de209cce50 Clovis, he asked.  cedd26646cd21375

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He really e81e3155fc took a 5ba1e786fe ritual bath 9abf38c49d and is 3f72802854 waiting for 4cc6c7d69f me? To serve this Prince?”  5307d497251777cd

“Lord Lien entered the 75e7fe3431 palace to serve Your 391329d1be Highness up close, so 512fed94c3 isn’t it proper for eb51fc9104 him to bathe and 5b512f10e7 await you? It’s not just him—everyone 51245fa5cc who attends Your Highness 18484db4b4 at night does this.”  06245585ebbaaf4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Clovis nodded 1260b736cc as Roman’s 39af8ac951 grin widened. Roman stepped forward.  d6de4afcf40d17df

“To the bedroom!”  8d282d9f245b1762

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Roman Erenstein shouted.  3df309ecdfc40070

The emotions he’d 7740b33e46 barely subdued over 9b404e8d70 the past few 58346f8264 hours surged again. Unable to hide his 1ba5dfb96c excitement, he strode out 0db3624156 of the study toward dfe3204a64 the opposite bedroom.  f467fbed747726d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That knight 08c586848f surely hadn’t 507cbbc380 imagined he’d 7d3208db93 face “this” dc44867fab upon entering 49c59f5cec the palace.  b79e8f7e7ba5b980

It seemed Clovis had fd34c6705a orchestrated it, oblivious to cb657ef225 the “deal” between Roman 9e9ab1fd80 Erenstein and the knight—clearly 35c9a68ff4 the chief attendant’s unilateral e9b7315154 doing.  64a839e467945706

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘A ritual bath!’ 713222f38535c984

Roman chuckled, quickening his ec8c2bf02b pace to the bedroom. Damn it.  b627017ddc71f5eb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Why’s it e2e99f877d so far?’ 8f9ebfe27959077c

When he finally d408b409bc reached the bedroom, 20bde0a210 Roman stared at 82bc2441eb the closed door be90480fa2 and took a b08a36be67 slight breath.  337f4ee86a729112

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He couldn’t fathom how 5beb0814b5 displeased the knight waiting 93e596e234 inside must feel.  9312d806520ce329

“Enough. I’ll open it myself.”  9f7abe3ea6b550c8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As an attendant approached d8fc68d6dc to open the door c955a3b8d7 for Roman, who’d been d23bbc0113 standing still, Roman cut 4fc387b30a him off curtly.  ba8e3f22d86b7255

Creak. 2b32915d5d786c30

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He slowly 4e306295ca pushed the 85af4368af bedroom door 7cb539f4f2 open.  6999c564e7094a1b

The air inside—where he’d 588f94b59b woken and breathed just f91c9135d5 this morning—felt strangely sweet.  4dfa86794034667f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Perfume oil.’  53560605220b879b

Someone must’ve applied b999d86729 it to Christian’s d433484cca body during that cc37a14651 ritual bath. Did the knight f4d97186e4 even realize he 5daf562c1c smelled like this?  9366e77ae0f901bd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Roman kept walking. The scent teasing d73a0672f8 his senses since dddc4a7421 he’d entered came 9f3393d171 from his bed.  839bffc5d54520cb

One step. Then another.  a796926e1ab6ebe8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With each step dccb4def09 forward, Roman Erenstein 28fe0dde1d felt his heart 0510bf8a9c beat quietly until c71e056b9f he stopped before 23267bd817 his bed.  e13e9217a5da03bb

“…”  32327a79f859f168

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A man in a 767ba7eef0 black mask, exhausted from c900fb6ab0 waiting, had fallen asleep 95d493e0ab sprawled across Roman Erenstein’s 61808f147a bed. Roman gazed 1eae215206 at him, 6783bbe374 not a fcc6146b11 breath audible.  2e5b712a5265b446

The masked a8d402f4f9 man didn’t 3ff9ac459d stir.  b7f41c791e452d83

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As if in e667585e3f a deep slumber, 27a9d84cad utterly still.  c9ac3b09a2e1b559

Roman Erenstein stared ddf71b33b8 down at him, 090e7c42d4 then reached out. A jolt e22b8d69b1 ran through 2e5bed3ce7 him as 62ec93186d his hand 9016c4dbcd touched the 3e2455b2fe mask. He pulled it off.  98baadc98aa92b9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Swish.  cc1a15a5e5101193

The beautiful 5dff716c46 face that 75663b816a always glared 71099cf9d6 at him dbec52130d like it 02379e5140 wanted to f69163926e kill slowly, 5c5d709422 ever so 17ed42f7f4 slowly, emerged f34b3d49b5 from behind f9150b3eab the mask.  66dccc1d729e10f3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And when 7a10a7b9a6 it was 2f52c2bcdf fully removed—  022a66ff7041e218

“Ugh!”  1678f387e091d926

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Roman let cd7565b1be out a 40f6c020c4 low groan.  3921d708152c0062

His gaze, 088ee39520 once downward, b8242aad39 now looked 1cc9c05eec up.  7cfade0a57e875b9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Didn’t you say it e38a7169a7 was a nominal relationship?”  5ad58b9e19a381e3

The blue-eyed 23299a84cc knight, who’d 2074365069 flipped Roman 38ec95e1ca onto his 87f345407c back in 5e420c2c46 an instant, 862bb77acf spoke.3859e6dd280eb1bd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 f9f16f93bd1ad8d4

 69bcb3fa7274fa48

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

︶︶︶ ✦ ⋆˚₊⋆ ☽༄༅༄☾ c7f2f12552 ⋆₊˚⋆ ✦ ︶︶︶83999d77ececd41a

 ff8258920ddea998

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 844e5c51fd96756e

“Until the promised day b39ffe4d4a arrives, no one beyond a4d1c2bdd5 those present here today 0b4193985b must know of the e798137192 deal between you and d074eba52d me.”  632a7cd67aee88c5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Roman Erenstein had warned 77b746cd63 Christian Baren clearly before 2a215e42c5 leaving the Haksil for 6a4d5788fa Vermar.  2dda80091beb92b5

“If anyone else 9cacd27f1c learns of our e05c5d80f8 deal—”  96532399ebbe0303

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Highness would end c1313ac0c3 our arrangement immediately.”  992ed538b0eafade

Roman smiled faintly at 075c5aef45 Christian’s calm reply.  1c4042394a82ad41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Swallowing briefly, Christian 2811e9f808 met Roman’s steady 7618c86536 gaze and answered.  15809c74647b38a6

“I won’t be 605d97b14f the one to c6dbc2673a break it first.”ca54b2cb4f6e0ff2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 1b26121ae97ea317

 f69309150bf1c3d0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

︶︶︶ ✦ ⋆˚₊⋆ ☽༄༅༄☾ fc717179f5 ⋆₊˚⋆ ✦ ︶︶︶8786d0aed4a04897

 97b553a7badcebfd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 0c66bd11dc1e8519

“Does it really 6a3dd68676 require a bath?”  0c85b4d6724cd1e9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Christian Baren had dc2c854d0b agreed to play 8dd95480b8 the “nominal” role c2f1852bd6 of Roman’s lover.  3fd004ff8d593f28

Though forced 7c0a2c79b1 into his 1555c1e079 palace by 049c349cb3 unavoidable circumstances, 02dc3f2944 he was 239818e2c9 sure it 076d264c09 wouldn’t last c01253b806 long.  a7bc0b64525eadee

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Convinced he’d 43e05c0edf sort everything 74d474f614 out and a730e77189 escape Roman’s 0008343833 grasp in e5d6b7fcf2 half a 0a95757265 year, Christian f7ae06e709 wondered if 1e31bc6b9a he really 97b41938df needed to c0dc9645a6 heed Clovis, 4aa9138580 the Second f5abf017ab Prince’s chief b0c75774f5 attendant.  e3b167de8564383f

“This servant heard Lord c252995cba Lien entered the palace d5ad93ce3c to serve His Highness 17b90af91a more closely. Especially today, 27c1f853cb your first 725303db38 night together 94b7d9fa33 here—a joyous 6cf95c985a occasion. On such a ebe80304b2 day, shouldn’t you 01891e49f2 naturally prepare yourself 2a23751f2d fully to greet e56aaefaa9 His Highness? Or… am 2ec133be81 I mistaken?”  a073736760e23435

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But Clovis’s next c13b3f3ec0 words left him fbce3860b2 speechless.  9aa845764d42612b

Clovis harbored a f513cca651 perfect misunderstanding that f3e393a16c stunned Christian, yet aa5c5e66e5 he couldn’t correct 794ce07a0b it.  a9b2875a110c20d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Back then, 4ad0aff7a1 Christian Baren cbebf2e4dd had sworn—  e60049b8b6541bef

To silence about 6a6399dee6 the secret deal b344532db7 between them.  5a8b22d14da813c1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So he 5baea0aad5 couldn’t refuse 2b574bbd00 the bath cbc05bf613 in the d7daaa3576 end, and 4f1d586651 now his c4e1020935 body carried 219a914657 the dizzying, 964ca97bbd sweet scent 2a00f1d4df of perfume ec4f054388 oil.  a2b6d1a623174a62

Compared to 5ec531f908 the past, 68769436ae when he’d 200fbc3a46 reeked of 58fced3e8d thick sweat fdf1abe036 in the 3ec0251dfd palace, the b889f849c1 difference was 354014bb73 stark. Seven years ago, 405d3965e4 the fearless, proud 5c98b3b69e knight was nowhere 0198291205 to be seen—didn’t 5353348fa5 he truly seem f53b670828 like this man’s 319bae39a8 lover now?  a83f31f140e779ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The moment 794bb4fe23 Roman Erenstein ec11fb9365 approached, Christian 849289f0a7 pinned him dfd6c25885 to the 204d928443 bed in 956c98c558 a flash, 1765b9426c staring down db813751e7 with cold 2da6bfbd51 eyes.  ce5032c1a6bd175b

Roman Erenstein’s purple eyes 5c1f923689 entered his view. Christian caught the 2dc0fff81e faint surprise on 3c64742752 the subdued man’s ef303689e9 face as his b61a52081d lips slowly, ever bd3cc71105 so slowly, curled 101eeb6949 upward.  87a922dd4f343690

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“For someone claiming 2a27e7fc39 that you’re awfully e78798f6da eager to welcome 8c34d9b4b2 me.”  43032d26d9ec3d88

Roman Erenstein laughed smoothly.  d2ad4e4e13ad467a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“A nominal relationship, you 68e8f7cded say? Hmm. Did I ever c05a9dff19 promise you that? That I’d make you a597a8fe77 my lover in name 68970353e5 only?”  6204d5873b1cd07e

An utterly 6b006462e0 shameless response. Christian locked eyes with e8d03a2b12 the brazen, unflinching man.  44a04a077ee9f0b1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His brow furrowed.  da0068422ddfbdea

Come to think of aebc65d166 it, Christian Baren couldn’t 864dcd84ff recall ever getting a 7a9e37f836 clear answer from this 288679157c man about their relationship.  b8f63062592c72c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He’d assumed on 7ccd659eba his own, concluded fd297c08ff on his own, 6cda2369f7 that this man 61a6981b8a wouldn’t touch him.  d4b35317fbe53860

‘…A mistake.’ 72ec78dcc0e37707

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the chaos over 19134987cc Miraera’s situation, he’d failed c715302387 to secure a firm 5d60ca3f54 commitment. To make such a b046885387 rookie blunder—unforgivable.  fc76b6cabf6b597d

Unconsciously pressing 3d7b0bdb6f his lips, a9ccbbe0aa Christian met 0f0d6d0cfd Roman’s gaze 8375fd9e86 looking up 7c46473165 at him. Pinned beneath him, Roman d26858d66d Erenstein wore an expression f8d886cb93 as if he knew aafdbbe9f4 exactly what Christian was df034387ae thinking.17d63bd2c3e6b190

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 59e5a34dc37bee1f

“When you’re 67fdbc2986 under me, 416d4e68b1 focus only d4391ac9f2 on me, c5ed22efc2 Lord Baren.” edf4ec1ae5920cf8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 a49bd653d7b928ea

The growl of that 423133bb9f voice, once gripping his 01041cfa45 face, echoed in his 3071eb9a23 ears.  aeea721a9a0b3b7a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In a 6f02917968 space evoking ee0bc88bdb old memories, ecbecb0b9f under this 6c97fe23df unwelcome man’s 2decd02528 gaze, his b414112dcb stomach churned.  c79423073e2ebbcc

No more.  541489ff1a51cd1c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Threats won’t work on adc147ca99 this man.’ 3c09665f5cb3b4a6

Christian stared 2c43371f49 blankly at 0d77d03622 the smiling f1b848d046 Roman, then 7ed0d9714a started to 35d273ed0a rise. A sudden uncomfortable b6f7d87301 sensation from below 84a00fdb3e startled him, and d71daac299 he soon grimaced.  e2cb8aabe3cad714

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Truly… absurd.”  6d7be9f618384bda

Christian muttered.  1c848bdfe806b55f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Roman’s purple eyes reacted. In them, Christian fa5f70abb4 glared down with 157807b2b1 contempt. He continued.  9bef90b05753a343

“I knew Your Highness 2b6e222e81 acts as he pleases, 31a2ea561d but… to get aroused 24ca73d2cd by someone you feel 590decb5d5 nothing for? Just how pent-up are 839c760361 you?”  9beeab95f7e766bf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Roman didn’t answer. He just kept 6ebd787fd5 staring at Christian.  f253ce0682f67be1

Tired.  1d1523ee2ae511af

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Exhausted by this verbal 9251b08380 sparring.  32a38d9ba7a2abeb

Christian straightened afe82346d4 from his 8c6ac2cd4d half-bent position e91864dc0e and stepped d83b149d7a off the cf6c3f5a0c bed. Facing Roman a777cf9ca5 Erenstein, still f1b1f6a7e4 lying there 0035c78e3d despite his c2c2367eee movement, he a050a1798e let out bdd2d1d252 a cold 326fd03bd5 voice.  0fdea8cbf4c66241

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Take care of it 4b9526826f yourself.”aeee2023b33fc3f0