IDED – Chapter 20

IDED – Chapter 20dce3b84d1612ad9c

Chapter 20372233cb5554cdda

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

One Hour Ago.e0fc5ea25be99511

Azaid stared blankly b8251bc71a at the ceiling, b37207fef2 lost in thought. He seemed 8c8d5e3982 preoccupied with 0d0cfe406e finding a 92110a3660 way to 359bd45687 do absolutely 147074976f nothing, as ccb84bdb59 if he 8fb61c536d were trying 5f8f284bbc to solve 976b4661e1 some profound 7f29696326 puzzle.3dfb8cecb0078d56

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That day, he 98209f7b25 was especially determined 392e923d39 to avoid any 2cc41ce111 activity. But he knew Serena cc332f6fc0 would never let him 825247295e be idle for long.420860e466fb9410

‘I need to 0794c1f169 escape.’cc96528aa7f0421c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Before Serena could cdaaf9e2f1 arrive, Azaid quickly 2d824e3ac6 slipped out of a64d7ed937 the bedroom.a1582da32384c903

While searching 53400ccf81 for a 4afb2d2d8a suitable hiding e1dddb5def spot, he c78d0835e7 wandered into d0776c9f77 the secluded 3a49860f53 annex. By chance, his 4f2e893a16 eyes fell upon a657ccc1a6 a rarely used 4c0896028e reception room.0afff0a176c1520b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘She won’t 3382a46eed find me cbace370f1 there.’6206f07cbcce7b42

Without hesitation, 05e8217eae he entered afaeeac8e4 the room. Though the sofa c44d314b55 was an inviting 192c904455 spot to lounge, d385fa5649 the thought that 13dc058058 Serena might burst 7146a58412 in made him c640b4d5d6 opt for the cbe7a166b1 terrace instead. Fortunately, there was a ff3147d46a comfortable reclining chair on cc245f4c13 the terrace, perfect for b45cda63f2 lying down.0c920e6c8f56d308

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Perfect.”638e388309d1fa29

With a 0e0362e08d lazy smile, 03ce6dfbc1 Azaid sprawled a695c7632a out on d136209dd0 the chair. He truly 35a2e52eb2 did nothing—just efb16540cd as planned.657798c44455e6c0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Who knows how 760f11977f long he stayed 3c935f46ac still?83c7a1b7a6f161a5

As sleep crept in 2d874845d5 and he was about 633a0e44a1 to doze off, he 35c8acfa23 heard the sound of f6d53b4314 someone entering the room.986049d9f9d60024

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Damn.’568ab73b940e9958

Azaid froze, caught off 03f1fd6a39 guard. Thankfully, the thick curtains ade1a38252 were drawn, making it cb72f9ea7d unlikely he could be f5b3b1715c seen from outside.48c6353660479b66

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Still, he sank deeper 57db1937c3 into the chair, waiting 08a4dc1177 for whoever it was 3d438ef6c5 to leave.91be1026ee16fba3

But—84c13e10fbf91e81

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I believe c46bb12781 I’ve already 4932559dc5 answered sufficiently.”9adfe5f91c40bbaa

“!!!”3d7e593fd284a8b8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The moment he 2091587db5 realized the intruder 92c3f3dc29 was Serena, Azaid ba4f08d372 held his breath. He almost 21bfe33953 let out 091a955858 an audible e3fce29aec gasp.64b1fbad85ba8a23

The drowsiness 4e4fc5b8a0 vanished completely. If he were 14beeb31dd caught, it would fa36fd3eb7 mean an immediate b0166fc69a stroll outside with 58984c1f74 her. Even if he cbfb77ee2a avoided detection, the 02ecf7f978 situation was awkward.a1a895f5231011af

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As his thoughts raced, 4bb7237d40 Azaid finally resigned himself eef8da3788 and sank deeper into bb71555412 the chair. He decided 23fee977ae to stick 79bedf8639 to his 5b397cc135 original plan—stay d7dfb558fc quiet and 21168e1cf2 do nothing.8df84a4b068a4de1

‘She won’t find 3b18c110b6 me unless she 74e738b2a5 comes to the 3c0cd253dc terrace.’56d9410ad1e4afec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Comforted by this assumption, a665ce0be7 he tried to drift 2b9940c53a back to sleep. However, the 2286bca15a ongoing conversation 9a54f28776 caught his 691f8ddd41 attention.029460d45b278ab8

“Even for old 58e447b10a times’ sake, you 765a7c7f79 could at least 4c8be584bd join us for 738743e26b a meal, couldn’t 87593984b5 you? The Baron 89abb41c5c truly misses 69c453ab93 you.”d87aafc01cc19449

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘What nerve.’a5ec6848fd7f2347

Azaid shook his head a5b120d1f1 in disbelief at the 80dd36be0d woman’s audacity. By now, it 97b38d8b93 was clear that 832d40937d the visitor was 986dc7828c the wife of 7e6c2ae915 Baron Vincent.a76576776964d38d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

From his d0c9bffe7a prior investigations, 1004fd1118 Azaid knew 9cfce578e0 that Serena’s 448937268a relationship with 1372b6db6d the Vincent ba8fcfbeb6 family was 5583945d42 strained. While they had reluctantly 53e918ca5e taken her in as 9cc002a17c a relative, they had 51efe9a735 treated her as if bb60154347 she didn’t exist.4de058eece7ebeb2

‘How could someone who 1a1f7f61bf didn’t even arrange his 9eadbb323d debutante ball claim they 86bd6fc682 missed her?’07b8f1762327c564

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Azaid had learned d82c284942 from Leonard that 4a0590ecf2 Serena hadn’t had 3c197dd889 a proper debut. Though it hadn’t 939617c4f4 been his original b573e4d59f intent, he had 06a11e0bb7 essentially orchestrated her 155753e989 debut himself.1585b3582d2d9f66

‘I even went 5720ab997a out of my 76ef50ff3d way to ensure 3d01a08eff she had the 0604488296 best dress and d68f31684c accessories so she 5965bbd62b could hold her 7076b3da73 head high… not 252be2468b that she’d know.’3d055537f4b48031

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Recalling these f7b5e8259e efforts, Azaid 80064d4a9d focused on e46f2eb5d2 their conversation.7875c78f436d5def

From what he 7965b22b31 gathered, the Baroness 80785e8258 had come to 51428db0af summon Serena. Barging in 4e9b8a63bd and pleading 457ff4fada like this a94f3a1dd1 was exactly e40efefdc0 the kind 708305d13b of behavior e2ee44ce3e Azaid despised.1314f0caa2eae4d0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘She kept sending letters 84277e0d96 daily, and now she’s 0e8de24aa1 shown up in person. The Barons must 9d866860b4 be desperate.’e019944b3d7847c4

Azaid had been 11a0c985c7 receiving reports on 79b633c2fe Serena’s daily activities. Initially, this surveillance was ab5ff8a5f1 to keep tabs on 7838b35c69 her as an outsider, b1487d37d8 ensuring she caused no cde5cea0a8 trouble.ee497b5dbc2f200c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But Serena 18aa233369 had shown 9018a9319e no interest 38a815a398 in anything cb0bbc0d97 beyond tending ffb0961608 to Azaid’s c33359f374 recovery. Even when she 8c37eb9afa was away, it 19e50f3fb0 was typically for 9770a4d373 research or gathering 495ce7cf80 materials related to 65a0836783 his treatment.9295951e37d376de

By now, the d570579659 surveillance was unnecessary, eff6475c7f yet Azaid continued d82a091d4d out of habit—or b5a6d03a3a perhaps simple curiosity.50aa6ae1cfc3669d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Baroness’s sudden visit 152abf6101 seemed to stem from 20f6593ce3 regret, now that Serena 787e3ecafc was making a name c2f59434b8 for herself. Receiving the Isring had 91bb05b98e only heightened their interest, 070da6b512 as it linked her 5c1740fc4c to the palace. The Vincents likely hoped 19666cb108 to use her newfound 636ed9f05c connections.0507b08eac3c54bc

‘How will she respond?’d377321a37ab27ae

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Azaid listened closely, intrigued.7c9ef2941bae6a83

“I refuse.”fe403921f960548f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Thankfully, Serena showed f203329666 no sign of 3d0319bb9e giving in to b734b0d60c the Baroness’s pleas.48a2d92609c52c96

“Out of de90d951e0 respect for ac3ed83f4b your effort 8233c001e1 in coming e6b319cb26 here, I’ll 7e4d510037 decline.”fd0861c6ebf91be7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

How bluntly she cut 0a37542fd3 her off. Serena seemed 0f9ace7a26 to be 5ebff2140e someone who ac26dec288 never hesitated d9424810ad to say 665c888c95 what was 466d7fc20c on her f333a91009 mind.acadcf32885fbce3

Azaid smiled 8389852cee silently, impressed 72e2113d47 by her 34971856a2 forthrightness. He had been b0c30293a1 ready to intervene 464ccbfef1 if the Baroness d5f20a2a2d tried to use f01ffc76f3 her authority to 2e8b6b6fa5 overpower Serena, but 57c16e7f7b it seemed unnecessary.a189603b035de40d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘That’s my 931079552c physician for 50bd279966 you.’6b2dbd807238b2bb

A faint 19078aa4f2 smile lingered f65fe13dcf on his 482d785c4b lips—until the e009a8bf0b tone of da7bc9640f the conversation 6c7e384ac6 abruptly changed.883fc192b600b9bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Surely, you don’t expect 6e89864413 me to understand?”fd326d6dc68acdc4

The atmosphere grew 31c52fccb1 tense, and for fbce84b7f9 the first time, cf678e19bd Azaid heard a 649e494cbf coldness in Serena’s ea81e0235f voice that sent 4f65a151e7 a chill down 64d26f86a3 his spine.86f74fd9842c76a2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It followed the ae240f9a5c Baroness’s attempt to 8c7140cadf justify herself.e59b285834bdfc9d

“I was only seven 006e0262ab years old then.”6aea75e5c7ee73f6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Though her voice was a4b5388fa4 calm, it carried an 6191733312 unsteady tremor. Like a hedgehog bristling 5ad95f855f with spines, or a 1edf81f2c7 frozen pond cracking under a70fa5ee02 sudden frost.edc4c7cb5b97a596

Azaid’s smile faded 3997fb9d5d as he listened. This was 722337da8b a side c3316342e0 of Serena afedbc5c62 he had 0c18423c6e never seen 6f79ee8ba7 before.336a95dc3fcff5ae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Children aren’t 305e4d2c3b to blame, 2dbf614c32 are they?”981eb3b54f44d8f5

He already knew c53776c083 that her childhood 6d8f43bac6 had been troubled. However, she fa171934fe was so 9ad75b9d58 much more ac287f656f spirited and f4df532b30 cheerful than a322265b13 expected that 024c72b511 the shadow d94d5aa62a of her b43619da80 past never 58d240fea6 seemed apparent.3a3a2bc314ef9442

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though he acae6c3858 wasn’t unaware da392ec3a7 that people 31bfa7ee9b who pretended 69ad437978 to be 8bd51aa149 strong often b332a59470 had softer 633667c69a insides, it 6e65312d2a seemed he efae6e557d had overlooked 546b3849f8 it in 70ab20eb99 her case, cbe07b5b4a knowingly or dd310f70e1 not.8eb6f7d7e8e39fd4

Unconsciously, Azaid affd3cf1e0 gripped the 72095dee30 armrest of 1b24d70e8f his chair 5680f768a2 tightly.30e33ed82fca1646

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Crack.324232ff0d1b1fd7

‘Huh?’fc2b4730172143ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It wasn’t until 3a62e81eb1 the armrest broke 0827dc10fc that he realized a2ff4b7fe1 the force he cfc4bbb676 had been exerting. His grip had been 67596cc4e1 so strong it left bc1676d987 the wood charred black.ba141efebe7039c6

‘Was I ed2c4122f5 too absorbed 22fc96ffb4 without realizing 4665c9319b it?’c34251ba994d9493

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Azaid couldn’t 807b8bfd7a feel entirely dff06773f1 detached from 236f9d83ec Serena’s situation. It was 53ee3785bb probably because 2f2a8badbe his childhood 108626b7b3 wasn’t so 9ae19b4c50 different from d8dec0d5b4 hers.4e52dc9be7950ae9

The life of an eb5d35785f illegitimate child was all fd5052a94a the same. Mere existence earned 5905f340f3 them universal scorn ff3455b023 and disdain.936a74a947bfec5a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Hating this cycle, Azaid 3cb6907772 had tried numerous times 49e011a303 to escape the imperial 4547c1f206 palace. But even cb183f2f3e as a c3e6a9964a half-blood royal, 67c1cb51a3 he was 9565fcd75f still royalty.a0ed542218a3549d

The most 41a9f2428d rebellion he c559c44a14 could muster f90ac3e3be was sneaking c1a977aec7 out of 9d7af359f7 the palace 171c95e0d2 to play. And every 494f800085 time he 3f112489da did, the c5fee7cf45 only one 003e339937 he worried a6f9129e52 about was e934d1fbf2 his late 518ce8182c mother.0c7dda1f4267d466

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Come to think of 43fd789b03 it, I wonder how 6bbee093dd that guy is doing.’3dea783b806367ab

Recalling his 3779ae5902 escapades naturally 8eee802154 brought to 766cc59fa0 mind a ce1e816a5c childhood friend. Not the four b6183ac8cb companions he was d484f91b51 still in contact caf7c43ddc with, but a 809b338d2c commoner boy he ab552049a6 had met separately.21c8002db93cf8f8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That pretty yet peculiar aab50f3a7e boy who once dared a3360e0b09 to throw a punch 2f2101c8a0 at him, unaware that a6f8d70236 he was a prince—what ec891aaaab could he be doing b08fb3419d now?58ad7e3c7df8bf95

Azaid quietly traced back 680295e6c0 memories of the boy, 64f74fe278 now faint and blurred f14dfbc6e8 at the edges of 30dfd653a9 his mind.a301f11ac61b2461

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As small as d9e6f7fb5e he was, he 6cda68bd8a had such incredible 61979a0970 strength and agility. He had ae3078efb5 fought fiercely 622bad1eae against Azaid, e55db62fc6 who was 4722f17993 in the e71ca02727 throes of 1552bd0ad0 youthful rebellion.e170821f3264110e

As boys often bond 2054311d19 through fights, they became b033b38a5e close afterward. Whenever Azaid escaped the dd38d0ca7d palace, he would occasionally 51bf3da796 run into that boy, 3c69f2787b and eventually, he left dff529771f the palace specifically to 7b28d93947 meet him.669d826f793e64c8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘And then 78c224bd94 he suddenly 91827ec35d disappeared without cbb08b19b5 a word.’2eb75174078df0d5

Azaid had d44fd6da9f considered them 7412e6a35a to be b554fe172a fairly close, ae40b02df2 so he c3fd03245e felt a 19c43f37ce pang of 047c845baa disappointment when 7ed47f79f2 the boy ae1f70edd7 vanished. Upon reflection, he realized c060d0ed74 he didn’t know anything dad70009fb about him except his 0594242a6d name, which made finding 1e3ee911b5 him impossible.94e1b3efed891eef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Was his name Levin?’ae2246b4daeec5d3

Even after becoming emperor, 9f9aa9b34d Azaid didn’t try to ab17409718 find Levin. He thought the name b51dae1f0f might have been fake, 75da581423 considering how secretive the 4e56ff88a3 boy always was.c363c5dd56b86138

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Perhaps it was the 0db1e5edfd lightness of their relationship a077231bd8 that made Azaid feel cd7e6c2623 at ease with him e5c5538595 in the first place.6c351381e5cc86c5

‘Maybe I should eb3f09e0a2 try looking for ea2386d065 him.’d54d4cd193414ea6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just as that f51cd38770 thought crossed his bbb7d14c8c mind, he heard a1a2494cec the sound of 2989392a29 a door opening 6630decd5d and closing, signaling d5d461055d the end of 2dd51f0d05 a conversation.5def627fad49092e

‘Looks like it’s over.’e321ce99a406244f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

To be sure, 34a4136ea6 Azaid observed the 00441f16f8 surroundings a little 7ff67d7e15 longer. Once convinced everyone had c0253f8c2b left, he quietly emerged 08644f2912 from the terrace.812da9994f83589d

But someone was waiting 15dd191fc8 for him—5582aa9251860a0c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There you are.”d7bfcb33be08b88d

It was b8ad383d07 none other 404ffc6b59 than Serena, 7e7bca7a94 smiling brightly.97b8cbda206df285

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

***ef289220c3efa8ad

“There you are.”771e855fe282d903

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Serena stood with 266212363f her arms crossed, b032ae5c53 looking at Azaid.b35c951c2c7a3295

“Gah!”7987d0f3414909d6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Azaid, clearly unaware 5fa9cc9200 that Serena was c7cde27c38 still in the 9b4cb70c36 room, gasped audibly, 62f2cf0b68 his eyes blinking aaafba499b rapidly.784a6afacea3f68e

His body froze so 7cab87e97d stiffly he could have 21e39b467b been mistaken for a 3317a1ef63 statue. It seemed that, when c629bcce3a flustered, he had a 2f5a66dcb3 tendency to freeze up.fb56ba0c662a66b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She had considered pretending 303b3b6d6f not to notice and e0248cbac2 leaving, but curiosity about 40a85a2281 his reaction made her 3e06030d22 linger. His response surpassed 66057d276c her expectations.5944361f5901ea68

“Hic!”7ac9965de2543821

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Seeing him hiccup like c61943be47 that was a rare bded4246eb sight indeed.b621a5dba0ba79df

Azaid seemed deeply 32e835c1ec startled. He tried 10a4fda84b holding his 6e36093853 breath and b88b305156 even thumped ea1d13fbb8 his chest 216bfe9983 to stop c7eb65dec4 the hiccups.caa93274cb07f26e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Embarrassed by the sounds a8a10727d5 he was making, he ae51eef76a covered his mouth with f1b6899411 his hand—a surprisingly clumsy 62a60cfcfa image for an emperor. Serena stifled a laugh 0ce913cb97 and approached him.2c7537f2cbacbed9

“So, the 39f51e990f sneaky little d9abef50bb cat is d31d503ddc none other 0cfc0acfc0 than Your 51a6be193d Majesty. Why were 8919cf0627 you eavesdropping?”464f7429e5dfb27a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s not it… Hic! Ah, damn it… 402cbc6904 Hic!”c845c842282ba4b3

Frustrated by his persistent d71e65470c hiccups, Azaid seemed aware 53e3c47138 of how undignified he b3a9910395 looked.de62219788a62fbf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Well, being caught hiding 062f23ba02 and then hiccupping must fbeafcb5ba be mortifying,’ Serena thought.79b633daf1164ed6

She patted ca093c9022 his back 8e6181c293 firmly, trying 971303916b to help 88e8717a87 him, and dea0971ffb said, “Were a03d8f6503 you that 9f7ebdf3a2 startled? Our dear emperor f089eeb523 mustn’t be shaken.”9318787b1a734965

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Or else he might d9c0a425bb have a heart attack, bf21b3d8c6 and then I’d be bd42acbc56 in trouble too.82d92200fd07a5df

With that grim little 0154aa9912 joke in mind, Serena 0ba457b698 silently patted and soothed b40659b9f8 him, her face brimming 8ec7933ba5 with playful mischief.25609304b0a7f578

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

• ❁ • 8ae5d84773 ❁ • ❁ 58be4771ac •By Esraa• ❁ a9df304007 • ❁ • 40515ae6c9 ❁ •804f2d19d0fb060b

If you want to e8bf4b10c9 support the translation and fc8807c22e the translator, you can 931eefe1fc buy a coffee~6b3b57235ade5578

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com