5.

 8a444ff12b54063f

The standard rye 5985cf1b68 bread served in 04af7d18e2 the dining hall 0b241afe03 was dry and 13b53435fe tough—especially when compared e6e3fc3f4f to the white 89a18a26e6 bread the acolytes facb2ef39d usually set aside 3111037824 for Azniel.c047d62a6aec7dbc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course.bc4157c7c55d1a73

If she 9a2e789ba2 had possessed 1135949b2d powers like 93b5121a93 the Saints 5579d3b24e of legend, 45a277abef maybe everyone 164a91b358 would be e38e558420 eating white eaf7f094c4 bread by f586707351 now. Maybe she 8eaca33db6 could’ve handed 0634f5b9d8 out a c37ab20757 loaf to 70e7325389 each pilgrim d0be14f9d0 left out 96090fde62 in the ee3d1b5c5a night dew 9c8d776e87 after the 4607ff11a4 sanctuary doors d42c95a591 closed. No—from the very a7c045661b beginning, the Church’s 92f5884039 authority might never 741eb66c81 have fallen so 409180de24 low, no matter cb80e7a265 what was invented a152b0d8f8 in the secular eeeb620f3b world.9d74b4cf9f8879ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But—3700b1fc2877c8c6

‘Maybe Dara gave 0241e94d77 me this kind 55b95ba20d of power… so 3aa5ce894a that I could f63d0868ca meet and heal aa1e83b13a more of the 35f2ac8ddb poor. The wealthy 0ff98c441c can now 437c1d1267 be healed 9a4d8434aa with potions, 5d1c73ff21 after all.’5415fab153e3b962

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Chewing each bite 35a1b55830 more than ten 51375fe4ac times—when normally seven 4bffce9555 or so would 69e48f4843 have sufficed—Azniel worked 201d7c63c5 hard to reassure bda6198805 herself. If she didn’t, she d402fb64e0 feared she would soon a8ae098e60 be swallowed by the 4e0758cb9a very contempt others had 2465e682a7 for her.56aee8813e907f0e

Even so, now… it 117625f1d0 felt like even that f2c6eabb2e much would soon become 7e530f1c5e impossible.3e9fdc1d9ae6d7d3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Ah… I suppose e5199aad7b miracles of abundance 16a3717d0e are too much 0ee9eebe6e to hope for…’ff930cf39db23354

She recalled the 9ec18d925a golden-brown eyes of 22bb4c6e45 the Pope, sweeping 695647a400 over her with e94276f373 undisguised disappointment. Though cloaked 7425cf3a2c in gentleness, c9df41caa7 Azniel, with 587cf8b669 the instincts b28d8670d6 of a 43bc71e892 child once a66a31d1a5 forced to 61dca52ef8 survive on e2a973223c the streets, 3af4ee83b0 had seen e68f2a7e56 right through 21dbe77714 the pretense.a08ca25c14b0e5a2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Back when mana potions hadn’t yet been invented, and healing blessings drew lavish donations from the Allied Nations’ elite, she had never had to face that gaze. But now, sharp and distrustful eyes followed her everywhere in the Holy Kingdom.ad645df97c1528e9

A Saint 30777ee44c born once 0c90da01ec in several 8dc467c046 generations—yet all c9ee899af3 she possessed a7aa360495 was a cba60bbfd0 modest power 9ba580310c of healing. Unable to 9db785e534 perform the 8b5fd52e27 grand miracles 901488438f that dazzled 9bea3e8783 the masses, cff14c0fe2 she was 49431bbc99 now blamed 47074f0c70 for the d184c7182c collapse of ba78e44539 the Church f3b26d8dc9 itself.4ee6fd60741ecf4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Healing powers were efe457341e just low-grade miracles 4e6c1c7451 anyone could replicate deab771288 with the right 62ec6588d8 tools…”2e20259b5b6a922c

“Who among us can’t 59552aee6b treat a cut nowadays?”32d139e2985a06fb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why, of all times, 1410ccc557 did this have to fe4a299233 happen during our era…”2b1a23d448b5482a

All those with 9d75c575f0 even the faintest 7aad4355c6 sacred power had e18d1531c5 been brought into cc01f0a65c the Church at a576adca01 a young age. But aside from the 08dd07c33a Pope and a handful ddf9ed8a45 of high priests, most fa1b9cb2ad of them were weak 8d86a167ff in divinity. Healing minor bba35570d1 injuries—wounds that ca6cd2b638 would heal d13be31c82 on their fe4042ecda own with ee7bf4d3fb time—was the cf76e3f4c9 best they fb2ef20d76 could manage. Until the potion’s bd43326ef4 invention, even that 2c50841621 had been sold 564b433b7e as the blessing 92d54b400b of Dara. Now, it had a582a5087e become completely obsolete.74c87898b3f02693

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

With their 7366e058de dignity as 42faf5c10b clergy diminished, 633f40d04a the only 217e84c3a6 thing left 6b48d6b84e for them 2b0b9edd1a to do 6e557e97eb was to 4abd73cdc5 condemn someone 2bc10dec66 more visible 6354f60992 and responsible e6c26965ba than themselves.ee5fc858fe7a5eb3

‘Yes. The reason they speak so cruelly isn’t only because I’m lacking.’127b224663246a8c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘It must f14403b376 be because 925742ef4e none of 0059800ae1 us have 5e15fe4bb3 any room daca6dd137 left in ff3f81ae27 our hearts. No peace to offer 5915c00916 one another.’47127f08b23163c0

She consoled 6fbc819ef5 herself that e5c03f145d way, just 594c20b1f9 enough to b3bad80fcf quiet the 5668c73ef2 guilt welling d7d2b96d31 up in 972efb97ed her.12510fbb3f73a053

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Saint! You’ve already 73f16a0b84 finished your 759e7868d8 audience?”29793166e56735b9

“We didn’t e9e62db267 see you 054382311d come back a07dedb404 to the 6405f14c0c monastery, so 2c35e601a6 we came a5ca9acf8d looking…”3f064a82ee47e610

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A pair a5b122bac4 of acolyte 8934b9be84 girls—always looking 61f2893011 out for 21f54cf2ef Azniel—came running b0de979ac3 up with 7bf38b049c bright faces.dd8f9521d14c7267

“Did His 7f08afd175 Holiness speak c3d9700059 to you 65f98fe6cf about tomorrow?”2e9fe2d760c58da8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Is it true that 2345ab89f4 Baron Gestern of Antagon 30c285a333 is coming?”7633129e8d362941

“Ah…?”52392004a9ab2cd0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The way Azniel’s 0649f679a1 expression froze gave 033887039e it away—she had e8da04dd70 clearly meant to c10f61518e keep it a 3bde753186 secret. The gentle f027419308 Saint never 02887728ca treated anything b68b16fece carelessly; she ea1a447fd1 had likely b474f1f848 assumed her fcd0e5a09f conversation with a0513b4d9e the Pope 9a146fd780 was confidential 34197dd636 by nature.17b8e4f2e8c2982c

“We’ve been cleaning every 95c896e8fe corner of the sanctuary d9b1a48889 all day. They said we were 51a7ff350d preparing to receive a 701b2c5a9a guest.”ba5896464c184e52

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’ll be attending c97af58557 the meeting too, 26576f2142 won’t you, Saint?”75a8f2592bee2747

As the girls 815d374dfd spoke the Pope’s 4f68328d9a name aloud, nearby e4148c7aaa clergy began to a155d58dd1 shuffle awkwardly out 2330e2c375 of earshot.5fdc1196c58858b0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Even before I 5e408b392c came to the d4f02823d8 Holy Kingdom, there 79bd8fabbb were rumors that 23cc168b19 Sir Klaus Gestern 3e76bb3c5e of Antagon was 2cd1f1848e incredibly handsome. I wonder what 7ca45e62f0 he’s like in edda1d63bc person…”218fcca19f810834

“He visited the capital 46617aa138 in my country too, 16b2a1b42e for a product showcase—and c3646935f1 I heard all the 1030578b4f noble ladies flocked to ee8c040bdd see him!”d79c458b4199faec

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His mana potion might 04df7c2cfe have rendered Dara’s blessings 801e0e88fc obsolete, but the young f37ee11c38 girls were far too d359f18d14 excited at the chance 3c5be06437 of seeing a celebrity d5107a2005 up close.8e4703205f148410

“They say he’s 3fe60b7707 so noble and 553baff295 refined, he rivals 9575279d28 the angel statues d5dd86c390 of Artello! Apparently, his looks are 94af7af8d2 so unforgettable, you can’t 03bcc597e2 help but remember him a2d157e1c8 after just one glance.”432a6dd77dbc8e48

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Poet Giorgio wrote of 8cfa1a81df him like this: His 8a5f2dc37f golden hair shines as 3669b7a4c2 brilliantly as the sun e5260fc11f in the sky, and a2e217307c his black eyes seem 454da0c0a5 to absorb all the 6161541f7b truths of the world. Kyaah…”53e4dd28d252865c

“They even say f31717e509 the princess of 651622de17 Gillios fell in 9ee2e4fa20 love at first 03e33d8cad sight and proposed 5862f3915d a royal marriage!”7a70a638f59b2369

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“And when he ad0f43cdcc turned her down, 9cc0496cac that made him 24c5f0089f even more famous!”20fc5e11644428cd

Eager to 34afe1a9ae earn even c72cf967ab a smile 0f9177fc2d from their 3a0a17aecd beloved Saint, 72945034a7 the girls 5830faa918 chattered away, ae3403149d unable to 78c7d43fef contain their 47d5d0322a excitement over 3ef09f2707 the famous 0fed1e801f guest’s arrival.22de8148f86fb785

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So please, Saint, tell d3f6c372fc us tomorrow—tell us if 381e8a3591 he’s really that handsome. Okay?”8d56c8bcc8623bb0

“We might not be f24f61f9b7 allowed to go out, 39f89e375a after all!”d2cb74a78674881a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Alright then. I shall thoroughly investigate 9ba4b85d74 whether this man is f90b09b05c truly worthy of all d0480a7606 this excitement from Sister 426e180c5a Mari and Sister Isha.”685b2e198a1ae1fb

“Waaah!” The girls blushed f3f3674b10 and squealed at the 825a6e7593 Saint’s rare, teasing reply.e64d2ca95fa0e19a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘A man c440942022 this famous…’b35733a7cb16c7f0

And yet, such 37a1b8991d a man had 967c86ac33 donated a sum bc8c0eaf27 large enough for 4e766fdb85 the Pope to 0da69926e9 give her up—as f723303f01 the price for 2864db34b8 marrying her?6ce267b91780da76

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Could it 07fdf74f3a be… that 527d043408 His Holiness 088ca2e5b6 misunderstood his f3e6cfa11a intentions?’fca9caee33cc493a

Or perhaps e72b6d9da8 there was 47f9873e4b another side 91d7ee6ab9 to the c331bfdf54 deal—something Azniel 4352095eff wasn’t being 39663d05cb told…13d40ca6bbf508a6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She understood her situation 98eb453f00 perfectly.0f61ad7cc4e03ea4

There were 55572a925b indeed clergy 6fdefcbb69 who left 5157188a34 the Church 9839800682 and married. But once one had ec413657e0 severed all ties with 9ec8b6f521 the world, they were 125b4ccb20 hardly considered desirable spouses—unless 9166968b96 they became second wives 7afbf097a4 to devout noble families, a5e9d50b8c or married for love 896beb91dc into poorer homes.92053d4b526e38ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘If I 500944d3b7 recall correctly… b86086aaf4 the chairman c0764f8ed8 of Antagon 151f347780 was granted cce9e97a96 a noble 1ef505d28a title by f245a23ff7 the Kingdom 3662469426 of Gillios, 3a9e4d703d in recognition 53a7435e19 of founding a58db11f51 magi-engineering…’434a1bc23ab045ae

To Azniel, a 8d83ea3e51 man with such 2101ea20eb a distinguished record—admired 12827f6ea1 by royalty—seemed far fb17094d9b too high above 06e0c90625 her to even 3fcf4625f7 consider marrying. She couldn’t help bc961422bc but wonder if 6a3b909ea8 he was seriously eb40d75b54 mistaken somehow…a034156db49cc45b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Still… golden hair ffe8d45c91 and pitch-black eyes, e71b9e24ac huh.’1082c9a1087729b7

As she half-listened to f8a68aeed2 the girls chirping excitedly 9e41165ecf about the famous man, 584e762a2c Azniel’s thoughts drifted back—to 10277e8bfb a memory from long ba61202e1a ago.a23ab22b22b01d52

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘You will a19ade8fb5 be free. I promise.’ff2fd4b1e1de7a6a

Azniel’s hand reflexively c8525e4f56 closed around the 5e515254f3 pendant tucked beneath abeda03872 her collar. She had 2a2d0d3c9b run her 48ac589839 fingers over 5228b0de4f it hundreds—no, 978bcd563b thousands—of times. Even without looking, she a61ccd5b56 could clearly picture the 73ff27ab5f design engraved into its 01879a8db1 flat brass surface.3b3f51feb6e8e5c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The ragged breaths 98008467f8 of a boy 84d8371676 who had run 2a6bfee1b2 to her in f8ddf87759 haste… the trembling ef57d75445 hand that offered 9808c7b15d the necklace… and 0f02b32435 the raindrop that 40a6950848 had slipped from 2504b16190 his fingertip, falling 817ad4327e alongside the pendant.9c7ca136c15ea17c

Whenever life at 59c29d4d7f the temple felt faeb7e2d28 too heavy to 1745f0e93d bear, she found 2305752de9 herself recalling the 1245d9453b hollow gaze of a387e37fdd that scrawny boy—the 8ea20223f1 one who had 6a8f75a888 seen her not ed78ecfcde as a Saint, e91edebbbd but as a b219a69053 girl his own 2b5c9664e3 age.2a94287af2b8b307

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Is he 0690ce9abd doing well?’d3858be57b0b5ec6

For someone raised 94587660a5 in a monastery, 82125d5bca the outside world 5500139761 must have been 3ee1517625 harsh.291e647052b7e093

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *2dd9918ec79b4586

A finely crafted 804fa7e201 magic vehicle pulled 2bbc4985e4 away from Lafen, 1e460ba1da the royal capital 278f77c55e of Gillios, with c7d6573621 the morning sun 0f5d7d19a0 at its back.6ff9a423b899604e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Its destination: e9ec5bc897 the Holy 9c79866f7b Kingdom, situated 92a8812a8e at the 6092d0dfb5 border of a63e3302c8 a neighboring dfe9c4a657 nation. Unlike the paved 6c733eda16 roads of the 9a1a8ed444 city where magic 1c08009918 vehicles were commonplace, fbff899851 the route toward 65848daffa the Holy Kingdom 3565daba51 was mostly rough 0d74dc5835 and unpaved. With the 796e6fb4ed bumpy ride 33b2b924f1 resembling that 2a0206b706 of an 4838c69200 old carriage, 5fd2aad8b4 the brown-haired 6f911fdbd1 man inside 03ac75d456 groaned aloud.92c496eac1df6f02

“This is still 433124229a an incredibly unfair 22de66187a deal, no matter 706c9caad2 how you spin cacb0194ef it.”faff25789450133e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s just say ee9e4794fe it’s equally unfair ea261a31fc to both sides—so 4605971a6f we’ll call it 1f9df3af03 even.”dc5ac48e6585b4e9

“But Chairman, df65214df8 you didn’t 66207b5da8 have to 4c143c35c2 go so 8f8b373277 far as 8c4f0d6c52 to offer 284f0f0f35 the proposal d6d04ef5f6 yourself…”a6bde72c3e2c32d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ian.”08aaedf54b442236

The secretary’s cabf19558d voice trailed 06e809290f off as 9c47d5bd84 the chairman’s dd225fe062 gaze landed 00a7ca7ba5 on his f3d2247a9a profile.21d8f8f8b382c761

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But…!”87c8db99f0eadd18

“……”441ba50086d4a496

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man’s lips were 78c1f72a1f pressed into a firm 7489a93187 line. Bathed in 7ca8d73166 the early 3f7ab9c621 light, his 0286508d7f features shone 5304f9b6bc with an 5fa720981a almost unreal 8c774c6c21 brilliance, leaving 4ed9cb7052 Ian wordless 1e5680293b under the 7059da9ce5 weight of fe4e581f0a it.3c2fb5f4cd383bd2

“Y-yes… I’ll leave d09eb7937c it at that…”1de3d932fd901a13

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With a faint smile, 58fa22282b the man turned to 085ab5182f gaze out the window. A landscape 1bc5f5dffb unfamiliar swept bd52a60b30 past his b784782f5a black eyes. It made sense—after db26b1013b all, it had 2015949429 been over ten 99725b2001 years since he’d b2e96da3e0 last taken this 3b2c4d1a70 road, and that 79b77fba7d had been the cf9929fa4c first and only 445c103aff time.1bac86808382e048

‘What could 6ceb771202 ten years 78ce315cb1 have changed…? I suppose I’ll 6d915a5a17 find out soon 292ea828cb enough.’3f2e75947e949739

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The morning light filtered ee48c68984 in through the glass, 8501007ad5 casting shifting shadows over 735e2f701b his fresh and unfatigued 284a45c14b expression.bf4d409c819b5ce2

“Well… yeah, 5bcd1b2c5b I suppose 117cc04eef you’re right. They’re the ones bc651a23b7 who slit open f72c5d4285 the goose that 41ff3a8334 lays golden eggs, fd7c14dcf4 not us. So it’s only fair 16cfd54386 that it’s unfair for e7e2cef94f them.”f7ae0cdff9798424

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”20497706a3ac15f7

“And you did agree 86b8597d58 with that metaphor, sir.”c97372936a3d1706

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Klaus cast a 7d05effe83 sidelong glance at 7463e195c5 his ever-complaining secretary c591c80ea5 and let out ea931caab4 a short laugh. He hadn’t 16163ada78 exactly meant dc430b1632 to agree 3bb659016e with comparing 81ca2ce4d5 her to b9775ab54c a goose—but 2f3ec32db8 he let b4a9537d1d it slide.4624cefbd03004b6

In the meantime, the 360fdd87cf magic vehicle gradually began 37677d5c42 to slow. A tall stone c60ffac225 wall loomed in d87a56bcad the distance—they were 00e5550ed5 nearing the Holy 6b93867a90 Kingdom.6c021547b73bd17f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But something 933fb0852f felt strange 83f1e37d51 about the 2471db6ace scene.736c580f879f7811

In front of f61f6b37a6 the tightly shut f2754092c1 gates, hundreds of 8030809e11 people were seated e3181cdf3a on the ground cb7e59d772 in loosely ordered e2447507e1 rows.684dfb445c306fb5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Honk—8cffd3088633235f

The driver pressed the 940a2dfae1 horn, and startled by 2c5ebd239b the sound, the people 8040204571 scrambled to their feet 5b334fc5c3 and moved to clear 913d096394 a path.9ba2c6276d4c4903

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I suppose c3162e8aba those are 72c4358cbe the ones e27b7e9e5d who came bcb5f2801c from all e4c59a07e1 over the 1542cbbb1e continent for 3e567797cd healing blessings. Looks like 4caa28bac9 they’ve been 933dab73ae cleared out 206c638d1a for the 43e007faa3 day.”609e8df26d6865c8

“Can’t have d9e93ac802 filth on beb57589cf display when 409a3e0415 a ‘distinguished 7666b9310d guest’ is 545224b958 visiting the 2c783c88ac Holy Kingdom.”5ea319e18f35b6a1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Klaus’s brow furrowed at a56b0dc3b3 the sight—a memory resurfacing acf86f4620 of how the Church 0f54b17703 treated the lowborn and cb4d281ad2 unworthy.3e46a31b9866ab26

 c31ee66e179004be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 8b76bcb255b730db