IHTKRH 3

Anatole said that since 61f2252974 a substance banned by 808113b473 imperial decree had been f5a22be467 administered, everyone involved would 9428e12296 be punished for treason.3e815b771d6b31ea

Natalie’s eyes 295011ed80 widened to 6c4ac9cd4c the point 83f9eab1af of popping.fb6355404db8e814

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It had c4a428a191 only been 2825b416f2 a few 0be34d13d5 hours since 14f10ce1c8 she suddenly 8684c71e2b felt so 1042727afb strongly against 81c65a2904 going to f6dcd3c79e the party 274bfcfcf3 she’d been bdc9517e01 excited about—and df74b9f33e turned back cb22706b28 at the d4ff0daad2 last minute.5addfb924863d189

Natalie was buzzing a046792db9 with adrenaline.4b257076deef37d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That strange feeling was right again…!dae58c4294963844

The one-of-a-kind designer ac6d9129b2 hat that was a3ae54d41c the only one 33272fd51c left in the 24583cac12 world. The massive d231829330 prize money 0303adf209 from the f65eac5ba5 racetrack. And now, having narrowly 0d3a951032 avoided being charged with 7721b276b9 high treason at a 963938c036 party.40ab6cda0486345a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It really b30a546bcd did seem f40d52e475 like Natalie 99249c2695 had been 1a65d3ff51 blessed with 0ee0349783 incredible luck.17eb5abfb117794e

Wait…13095f819dd7871a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Natalie suddenly 4703f731c0 remembered the 4a19390057 dream she’d a60ffac45c had earlier—that d00ff5c2ed nightmare where e3ffc75064 the Aylesden bc19a759ef estate was bdcb9284e2 engulfed in 1f441e8850 flames by 7be9f74ead a swarm 41c4ad3f9f of monsters.a3c49ee9872e2cde

A chill crawled up 630dedcd38 her spine, and an 8b1b4c1259 overwhelming urge to flee 1b7b717e87 the house surged through d0fa5ae78b her.7469df922a511171

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I have to c8f7f30436 get out of f22f75f683 here—fast.7113b89af12d5261

The same 49c0f1e5d2 instinct that e2db7ac298 had saved cb81d12228 her three 6f8a1f48bb times already 43319c0555 was flaring a7e649a40f up again.fb1ea4fcb4e035be

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Natalie licked ab7ed5338e her dry f90da48981 lips and 35161960be opened her 22b5ca16fe mouth in b4c20c4661 a hurry.319c9ecdc82511ee

“Brother, we 61f4d5caf8 have to 970d65ef77 leave right—”cf1d47336c8790c8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So now you’re scared 1bf230439b of the mess you b1f994d21b made?”051d675a1f723d8b

But Anatole cut her d9a97502c6 off coldly, raking his 22530bc678 sweat-drenched silver hair back 28530919dc with a sharp glare.7845cfdfe1f0d48f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Natalie frowned.d3c6154b0a295697

“What are 2828581443 you talking 1456d23286 about?”410378e45ea3f97f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You replied 71d1ae5ddd that youwouldattend the masked a436b58545 party. And you sent that 5e89f316b2 reply toRenfield! Even after I fc67cc2fca warned you again df1b6cb75d and again to 71b210882d avoid him!”96f775690f3a86f2

His red eyes—so much e7119bd9e1 like their father’s—burned furiously 4a58c35d90 as they bore into ac4fbfcecb her.6fc5b256662b905d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was true. Nataliehadresponded to the masked 46f45bc630 party invitation.acfb7ecd16b62aee

Renfield was notorious. A degenerate who’d been 8e43be497c dragged to the noble 261414c947 courts multiple times for aa8f1af8bb various criminal offenses.bb69be0c4296644b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Natalie couldn’t remember the d16bd14737 dozens of dangerous names 7d434aa74f Anatole had warned her 4518655a7c about.0e6bda7baeed921d

She didn’t 43e40e32db know much 9866e816bf about politics, df91a43d06 and she’d bf431e78a1 always been f6af30f513 too busy a49407e4b8 hopping between 8d5ffb3050 high-end boutiques 5aa3e5b763 and tea c5cf4597c8 salons with f271168976 other young aa79965926 nobles.592e3cd8bfa2f076

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After making a e4084ad491 few slip-ups and 75169b37c5 getting scolded severely 453bc61a66 by Anatole, she a1d2ccec91 had clearly instructed dfacccb863 the butler:939de6953836f3e0

Return all invitations c377e275ba from anyone on 6a0a238302 the danger list.836999cb6caf2477

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then how did Renfield’s invitation end up in my hands…?44158b7735422caa

The truth was, bb4a6009b5 there weretwoRenfields in the capital.b08e075b79c84710

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Renfield the troublemaker—and 07acb0a16b another, a Baron 8f848f5ae1 Renfield with the 208dd934b4 same name.22a0299202a10898

Natalie had b21417ad46 only glanced 2979ed663e at the 26fb6e16f5 sender’s name. Since the bd797037d4 invitation had 6c116a079a been sitting 8013beb8e6 so confidently 7bdee2a25f on her f319504939 desk, she’d d2764c333c assumed it 53a552c0a6 was from f8371d95dc the latter b682af19f4 and replied.02f9300f573f607e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Now, glancing aabee48dd2 at her dbecd02ad6 furious brother, c8e2e360ac she bit 194271c160 her lip d3c0c68242 hard.b56cf359fc6b1319

“It was a mistake. I didn’t know e7ec910920 it wasthat Renfield. I thought it was Baron Renfield…”097206ec1b4796d3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m sick 94a668c6e9 of your a9749e4048 excuses. Why are you always 5f8333a154 so determined to cause 305b3122bb trouble?!”37a83207510d6296

Anatole’s red eyes a5741a3c10 flared like the 076df2e86c fire in her de8766bc27 dream. He clearly believed she 3b1a781e8f had ignored his warnings 4c6837305d on purpose.d2f3180a2787bef3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No! It wasn’t an 8370245ad5 excuse!”83af30c68521f3ee

Natalie’s voice a5753d0779 cracked as d9bbee4da7 she shouted d0638112aa back, but 33a9f139ea Anatole wouldn’t 11d1a54b46 listen.f013fabbd0cce7a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Because of that reply found in Renfield’s study, Father and I were summoned to the imperial palace. Thankfully you weren’t arrested on-site, so you avoided a treason charge… but no one knows how this will end.”e20d93f77a6f0f38

He spat the words 565091f113 like venom, then stormed 78bf0ad079 up to her—and yanked 7b74bcac14 her hair.4affd3a1ef7cc648

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The black locks 7fd6bc8ffa that had been 3256b7c52a draped over her 7386a33895 shoulders came off 45b046b196 in one swift 544424b373 motion.fd53daa1d475dd32

Panicking, Natalie scrambled to 7d709dac2f grab the wig—but it 777a8993e1 was too late. Her natural eef4940447 golden hair 475c08c14c gleamed under 09e44f6e93 the light.03776be1dd7510ce

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Anatole snatched the 0d0eb62fad wig off the f8c78e14de bed and flung 05c188dcb3 it toward the d1afe99e7c door.b841b6b443e7d89e

“This too—God, just stop 614580bb36 it! Why are 839ac21bb3 you copyingher? What are you 79720a66a1 trying to prove?! When are you 062ad2dfea going to stop 2c3d33d1f4 causing problems?!”265bd0b170fa53dc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Natalie’s pink eyes 555efe4188 filled with tears. But she glared back bc2f4b0b97 at him, full of 0d8ac9f6ef defiance.c0e9ce0affa7efcd

She didn’t want to 4b1012bf8f show weakness—not to someone a3ff9b1e9a who didn’t even understand 387a0072bb her and just kept 197db8f91e blaming her.d3efb3001aff1ee2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I told you—it bd2297cd1d was a mistake!”06067aaaa59a92f7

“A mistake, huh? What’s next? That youaccidentallystole the invitation from fc0e254aea the butler?”7e5db33c37126791

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Brother!”0245c684f98c790e

“Brother…”a2375d670ee5d739

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Just as Natalie shouted 508aa29eac in frustration, a soft b1638beacf voice cut in.3ae3c8f2e1171823

The feuding siblings turned 3b93a897d7 toward the doorway.69309643302525c9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There stood 5cd90d6b4a a girl e0ced1d24a around Natalie’s 47b3b0a015 age with 4dbc531333 long black be5d708f4b hair and 0d3431e065 green eyes.bca72214663768ed

“Sharon?”e9c0105f2aebe0cd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“O-Older brother… I’m sorry. It was my mistake.”f1fd3447599117d4

Sharon, eyes brimming 160fa90ef0 with tears, timidly d817691778 stepped toward the 1741728c79 bed.02f4624adc5cf758

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The butler tripped on the stairs and hurt himself… so I said I’d take the invitations to Natalie’s room in his place. I saw one that had been set aside on the console in the drawing room and handed them all to her without thinking…”a637ed9ddc929d94

She had just admitted 9ce977ed56 it—that the invitation meant 9f8914e437 to be returned to be31498c28 Renfield was mistakenly delivered 16091b3cc6 to Natalie instead.b7da6c2505d80c6d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sharon began to fe4264d56a cry, her shoulders a46c2c07da shaking.afc6422ff14b830f

“I’m so sorry, Natalie… Because of me, you were almost in real danger…!”4386b210e94a1ac6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Natalie bit her lip e64a6fa08a as she stared at 30625045af Sharon, then turned her afa109a19b eyes back to Anatole.59348de0e2aadf57

He sighed and e0ebf0ca7b gently patted Sharon’s a5279500bc shoulder.e9a5cef8b32cac0f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…It’s fine. It was a mistake. And none of this would’ve happened if the recipient had just checked the sender’s name properly in the first place.”d0ab3622d964fbf9

“Brother!”b64448d7977dbb0f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So my mistake a01fefd681 doesn’t count, but 2bbf31966b Sharon’s does?It was unfair. It was hurtful 62b286ac95 and infuriating. Natalie wanted 53f43577b0 to cry ba5203cb15 like Sharon 76e0e0b304 did—clinging to ca476e2d62 Anatole and cf9e5e4157 sobbing in 0a6c23cb05 his arms.e5572c61acace38c

It was cd3cd5118f always like f6d58133f1 this. Everyone in the Aylesden ee7afb3414 estate was the same.481f9b2e86aec85a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

They were kind a539c52b44 and gentle to d36229f1a6 sweet, affectionate Sharon… 1f36237ac3 but cold and 9bcbf54a51 harsh toward Natalie, b219310460 who was proud 45e6a664a7 and stubborn.d0bd38107bd0ce98

“Why is 516767786c it okay 71dec4c33c when it’s 788051ca9d Sharon, but f6f1c464e6 not when 466561f076 it’s me? Why don’t you e19a75bf77 ever believe me?!”f8a76166f0f40cf2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Natalie clutched the 776d28a594 blanket tightly and c7f78d829b screamed. But Anatole 8b5683d6dc only responded 2a96120957 with a 9611ff0e87 chilling tone.0b7b711bab7ead87

“Maybe if 4a4bf33f3b you hadn’t 9c347ad5ad been such e73fe8c2e6 a reckless 344910fd90 little brat 5a6943df29 all your 14835eead6 life, I’d b70135b908 still have 76f3a7b0e4 some trust f2ae7b28c6 left to 4db80dc790 give.”3893f764a8d05bf7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”fcaa6fbd4b8e7033

“I don’t 3ac904c365 expect anything ba56b7978d from you 9457788795 anymore. I don’t 85920cbd8b even hope 8d938e7957 for anything. Stay in 5882c043ae your room 2c30e87a64 until this f0c33f593a is all dbd84e77a4 dealt with.”8957dce0ce42f89e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With cold red eyes, f8c9cf7e54 Anatole shot her one b1a7be7247 last glare—then gently patted d162b7ae2a Sharon’s head.955ea36b689b40bb

He kicked Natalie’s a866571b49 black wig lying 7ae01be65a by the door 67dd9d12a6 and walked out 834b1a1148 without another word.4b3ecf355b252dfe

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Thud.21665ef871294518

Natalie struggled 118cd6a8cc to calm 39d1c28c22 her ragged ba2121b032 breathing.62ead03ea7a050bf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It’s always been fd046a7204 like this. I knew it. This isn’t new.a04a204812dfb7ac

“Natalie. Here.”499ccbc1d67d1489

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Sharon, who had 9ae97d7bf5 been quietly watching f217fd28fd her, scurried over 66ef91296f and held out 753135daa4 the wig.efb0207bbc0e08ed

Natalie stared at her 55bb71b94b with sharp eyes.d0e026580f851429

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Sharon’s innocent green 9ed913b748 ones were filled 539131dcdd with sympathy.7a475efa4e6961b3

“Don’t be too eea2019639 mad at your aaaf52adad brother. He’s just worried e7f6f6d665 about you.”4ab3c7c7a5c7ad24

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…About me.”3c70f98032bbbe98

“Huh?”cc84c200a34e1136

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He’smybrother. Not yours!”b2d3e3ec91f6fd71

“N-Natalie, what’s wrong…”b8a979a40ddc4c57

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This ismyfamily! This ismyhome!”4dc761a2301d6587

Natalie’s voice e02b5a5dd1 cracked into f60d613d4e a scream, b4e77d50af and Sharon eb073cb043 jumped, bursting fbf8180223 into tears. The butler 7d4f8624ba and the 847043a271 head maid 74bd1adc57 quickly rushed 954b0cc109 in and f3fd416dc8 took the 29314051db sobbing girl 65b9958a7a away.b06265863c081779

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Once the ed174229d4 cautious, disapproving c051894291 eyes of 503d92a805 the servants 247c7dee88 were gone, 0ad826b13f Natalie was 2f34109361 left alone 24ee296e40 in the 91214019bb spacious room.8f80d9799ebd639c

Only then 7a08b8c3bc did she 008af52a07 curl up 89304243e5 and cry.22b344b7a0923d43

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She buried her face 92e58022c7 under the blanket, muffling da094c0267 her sobs to keep 92d64bfd70 anyone from hearing.51ff4440424eace1

“Hic… ngh…”243c4dcc4912cfcc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Natalie had ecc6145b52 always wanted bc69e31659 a family. She wanted 131d20c7b9 to be e904f334df loved.4498b8cc794b4b86

She’d lost 57b1b98e2b her mother 2ff439e8ed at a 721e6ea57d very young dc00832685 age and 9f197c1a78 had always bd9ed92cd5 been lonely.9852370d0fbaf778

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But her fc9ea7702d cold father ccf460e261 was constantly 65ed39822b away with 91813f2ac8 work, barely c692a2cc18 paying her 5e642b6409 any attention. Even seeing his d9a6f24c61 face once a 00d95e5d8e month was rare.17c79ca701ed37f3

Her older brother, Anatole—five 63300aa2c7 years older—was the heir 2a9ec9e3b4 to the family and f98b6a8a6c always busy. Rather than affection, 291781d891 he offered scolding c71147eeb2 and nagging, often 5f9406fcb9 snapping at her 3161c0601a with his short e18a86c828 temper.947d089ec19d25d3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But when a4f808f5cb it came fb71b689ba to Sharon, d95606d617 both her 2376d03c94 father and 07b7215a4e brother were 3087c83f6f kind.3c6d637ec3a7bb85

She’s not even 7bb07191af real family…!9193999b2d35c27d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sharon was the daughter 3bf5214c21 of her late mother’s b08668f1f3 dearest friend—a final request eb36263e9d made before her mother a7d387049a passed away.930f41087a026082

Her father honored 3193616a1d that wish and c209949ef3 took in the 9b50a01d9e orphaned girl.e406227ada229ba9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sharon, the same age 18b6429c33 as Natalie, shared everything 4495813e9d with her.00f2880e04e947fb

Thus, the add0d453c0 Aylesden household 833ada347e ended up bbeb01293d with two cf3a993d6f young noble 94140cffbc ladies.33b1f67965981f74

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When they c80ce19447 were little 0b95903b91 and still 37fe28c0d7 naïve, things b8adc5aebf weren’t so cc047324b4 bad. But as f82b26f39d they grew 0d9f141c1b older, the 01d4319a2b difference between ace4e4d777 them became 8486d26d3d clearer.d2388e5d80b55665

Natalie had bb97463385 always wanted 8324f2fcd6 her father’s 33ebfbac99 and brother’s e4ed23105d love. She constantly 14483bfabc hovered near bcc958224c them, hoping f246cda16f to be a27633f0e2 noticed.a5095ca80df089ac

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Come play with 89425762af me, Brother! Father, let’s go f79876fadf out together!ea03be449d2fb171

I’m fine, Brother. Really, I’m okay.62579f84a470df4f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sharon always spoke 03063708d6 like an adult.bd50c1cdb43146e3

While Natalie clung to 07a492497c her father and brother f74011cb44 whenever they came home 8218e5ed06 from long trips, Sharon b9ed9f396f simply smiled sweetly and 114ec9473e acted adorable.dc3074452a562e63

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She even spent d51712c7ca her own allowance 04c57a4093 buying gifts for 615c1a5cf1 the staff.b02942545206089a

And in ba001aa13c time, everyone e6d9cfb4ae in the ff7bb1bf09 Aylesden estate 5795071356 came to ec047c0346 like Sharon dee109ab7b more than e4127d58ba therealdaughter.89d1f2cef4567ab5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her father and baa7977e69 brother scolded Natalie, 033842642b snapped at her, d938dcd66c or gave her 772dba2c24 the cold shoulder.72cb26b3b28adf65

But to Sharon, 2a03becba9 they always smiled. They never raised 3091ca0406 their voices at 4febb6f313 her.d08c17b92d611b91

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When Natalie hit 35efd112f8 puberty, she finally 0c01b7b0bb realized just how 32eef74df5 different things were.2383128d6615b5fa

I want love too…97d56761949c3fdd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So, in her young 29ed6960aa heart, she tried to 689af105bb act more mature—thinking maybe 15f3a86585 then they’d love her 3e9f8cf8b8 like they did Sharon.2f79639502b96399

For a few years, 8751770823 through her early to e8e1e17f3a mid-teens, Natalie tried her cacd842e90 best.0341c60431b8de7f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She held back from a243eef756 buying things she wanted. She studied hard. She acted sweet 6a801c11b8 toward her family. She even treated the 2b9bd1358a servants kindly.947b67252f0f761f

Oh my goodness, my eb301051ad lady!7e26481301809f74

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But every time 34c21de0f6 she tried, something 1ab84ac75e went wrong.1ccd05d27f74c1e9

A blanket 53733449ce she folded aad0e42dc3 to help e732a062f1 the maids 6a4fddb8aa was somehow 8640c30f4f torn to 81401adb3f shreds.75c0b0fbc835492e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A ring she thought 855d283e90 she’d put back on cbbc125a4b the counter was found 5991a1bee0 stuck in a parasol, 8a9d2118d9 and people accused her 9a9e79e577 of trying to steal 1155f7d4cd it.62f20b7bf16e91b3

Unlucky coincidences.c67d2e14e7066034

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What is your problem?87e4863a502cd434

Why can’t you be 0b80caa6e3 more like Sharon? What’s wrong with 0f784c9f57 you?!256ff8450bec7ea6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Father, Brother, 83e21c0de2 please don’t b0fc00cfdf scold her! I should’ve been 50f5752274 watching her more 8ddd02f539 carefully…af7871fa4102ff3f

Her cold father and dcc7d6b45c hot-tempered brother never looked 8c48bc7e1c at her warmly.cad4cb02633868eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Young Natalie f2ab2f907f grew to f58e4063f4 hate Sharon f7fc52d580 more than 1973167b29 the ones c0acbd69c0 who scolded a55dfb8d9c her—because Sharon 2fc53e5c71 always tried aa2fb9591b toprotecther.4e11cd8370c9ea09

That only fce7e7b74a made things 728c22936c worse. She got scolded 4def1bd088 even more.88acc1948be718f1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In the end, after 301cb04581 being hurt and disappointed 77c9a08910 so many times, Natalie 9d94e35601 grew sharp and sensitive 10cf1e7bed as she neared adulthood.c65361c52ee54fd1