MFFS | Chapter 1.3

His dazzling 0e74094c45 blonde hair, bf9048e25a straight forehead, 4ebd2f9b77 and thick 14c3cc3dee eyebrows framed ac24a6848d deep eyes 96fba36b7d with jewel-like bdb6dd1149 green irises. His sharp b0751657dd nose and 32465e9639 perfectly sculpted a190317dfb jawline gave 4da8e0052f him a 5fa5ac4aa1 sleek, strong, 6c7c291bf1 and masculine 4d45aec236 impression.c2ca01a65f3d0744

His physique was exceptional 6e97c2f412 too. Taller than most knights, 252e2a1cf6 with broad shoulders and c5bed5126b long, muscular legs, he 9e801caaed stood out wherever he 88a785f9f0 went.584630793f468de4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His face 70127581c6 had the 3df3250b7e cold beauty 6ac2d7f97a of a dcedb81ccb classic handsome 4221cac656 man, and 5ffe98aacc perhaps due dd39da7532 to the 919d25d76e power he e1b80c9e41 was born 6a21ae7104 into, he cd63df3fbb exuded an 77abb612c5 indescribable aura 799a03e60e of authority. Some compared f88e9a7b5e meeting him ff08edd2fb to facing 90ef8d7f53 a graceful a982c96c00 leopard or b87d064d95 a giant f35f76ff92 silver-furred wolf 4c49421d39 alone.e26d1be2efcb86a8

‘But it’s fascinating how that leopard and wolf act like a playful cat and dog with me.’e93ecbe1de50f7ce

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

People around us find it curious that such a handsome man is so devoted to me, and honestly, I think so too. At first, I didn’t quite understand why he acted that way.1f6a3300c2280e0f

― It’s because I love you. The one who falls in love first is the one who clings. Animals court like that too, don’t they?3c7db83919601386

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He had looked d54f1f559a at me with 1588cb6dbb a subtle expression, c26a3e598a then smiled broadly, dd83d7061c dimples deepening.10e2a2c900f098da

According to Karian, he loved me first, so it wasn’t strange for him to cling to me. After all, leopards are part of the cat family, and wolves are cousins to dogs, right?f4e550adc8361bfc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In that sense, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible that Karian, even after getting engaged to me, occasionally felt anxious about my reactions.b141ddd54e11dd27

‘I should’ve been more insistent about getting engaged.’30a2c212bdf7a9d2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In the end, we a877615e44 got engaged as he adb8b1d55f wanted, but because he 00a441b813 thought he achieved it 098c785f91 through his insistence, he f21b7f361e sometimes showed anxiety over 682ac7ba76 my every reaction.43d183dfbee640aa

While I don’t love him as passionately as he loves me, it’s not like I have no feelings for him. If I disliked him, I wouldn’t have gotten engaged, even under pressure.198bb6478e1f00d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even if the 387cf438a9 intensity of our 7b3b59dd00 feelings differs, I 718f06a6fd think highly of 9cb963c0a8 him. So, the sight e0ecc75fc3 of this world-class ac6738d0db handsome man looking 0538f6d816 dejected and sulky 54be08728a is both cute, ce9d2b1b7b amusing, and a 3f69c87670 bit sad.1cfcff0687f8ba0f

Once again, feeling a 4f7834a4e7 wave of pity, I 438f8ce0d6 sighed inwardly.63705edc79d94997

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Come on, Karian. See, I told you everything, right? This is the first time I’ve shared this with you.”4d74da4fe555f9b6

“Right?”82a4cac28b1f807c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He nodded 8aeef80a80 with a 2f0ba59dff relieved expression.812dceb4744cf3fd

Whether he’s a world-class handsome man, the child of a powerful figure, a future power player trusted by the crown prince, or a rare swordmage, he is, after all, my fiancé and future husband.240cfc7bfe1fb5ca

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Oh. In that sense, there’s something I need to address!b1f9a9d50a8d3a7e

“Karian. In that sense, consider this a warning.”b78c8805fda2e482

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What?”8838259e41df2498

He tilted his 110082fcc3 head at my 871007d9fb stern expression.970494bbc45e44b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If you cheat, I’ll kill you.”2406ab3af054d6f6

“Huh?”c1f4be75005fecf6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ll sue you for everything I can—fraud, breach of promise, whatever—and demand an astronomical settlement. I’ll spread rumors about you being a cheater to sway public opinion in my favor.”82173d95c72d0824

And that’s not all. I’ll ruin all the businesses run by the grand ducal house. I’ll mobilize all the artists sponsored by the count’s house to create masterpieces exposing your betrayal. And I’ll ensure you can’t enter any high-end boutiques where I hold shares. Hahaha.70ab590a50be618c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I listed how I’d socially ruin a cheating scoundrel, I got even more heated and opened the drawer to check how many lawyers I could immediately mobilize.7bfbfc408065f626

Dennis, Law, Porter, Seymour. Come to think of it, these people specialize in trade and exclusive sales, don’t they? Right, I don’t have any famous family law or divorce lawyers yet. I should look into the most renowned ones just in case.a5559f03aa5a2250

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sarah.”c64b612873acd82b

“What? Are you scared?”d70687c5b5e220fb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But Karian didn’t look scared at all. As if his earlier tears were a lie, he was smiling brightly, resting his chin on his hand, looking at me.869f6c6a6b63a10b

“What?”003f75869620c2c1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Are you obsessed with me?”30824b3f1a4e7550

I feel like I’m going to faint from happiness, Karian beamed.64379e16f37454a4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“How do you interpret it like that! No, listen seriously!”822424620145ed0e

“Yeah, yeah. But it’s so nice. I always felt like I was the only one who liked you, so I was anxious. But you’re jealous over something that doesn’t even exist!”ea15a9662767426d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He made a flower 7cb085b695 shape with his hands 3dcdbce436 under his chin, looking 0b6d4e077f at me and murmuring 50d4d04391 happily.b101155f9fa38594

Sigh. Fine, fine. Maybe I 0b76bbc91b took this 3ff9ca011a silly prank 6c85228056 too seriously.b3f0ec698b7d3228

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I leaned back deeply b1596826ab in my chair, shaking a68536fdbe my head. Still, just 60cf9bd660 in case, 1e7c3d3ace I started 580ecf4000 putting the 6598b61bd0 notes and 5da8a23838 book back 37ad36e5ba into the 6b16c5fc19 safe.9c76b4810f511f52

“Oh? Wait a minute.”6a821f1ee413968b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He stopped me with 6549567ec6 a serious expression.fa7723e580dfaeeb

“Sarah, how did that note get here?”a655ea94b67f1b96

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Karian’s voice had lost its playful tone.67ea797d01631a83

“I don’t know. Honestly, until yesterday, I thought you or James were playing a prank to get my attention.”c2d27ff9e825a6a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What? It wasn’t me.”61a1603efd4f7a39

He protested, sounding wronged.8c28eed32269b77f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I know. Likewise, James wouldn’t play such a nasty prank on me. I know that.”0fe310f129908542

I shrugged.379eac833e744829

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But I really don’t know how the letter got here. It wasn’t in the mail log managed by the butler, and there was no postmark from the post office.”7bf228395984461b

“What?”180039b9622a60e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Karian muttered with 09d483bc7b a hardened face.370c9daeb9d6785a

“This is serious. It means there’s a significant security breach at the manor.”6c2eecca9bef473e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hmm. I don’t know if it’s that serious.”6e37ba42babbbb4f

He firmly e4892e6128 disagreed with a2aa7ce948 my opinion.b67425b6b84ac544

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Really? A note with no address, written as if knowing your reaction. Is it just a coincidence that such letters keep arriving?”9511b4ac0c3f420d

‘Of course, that’s true…….’84babbc6276e1198

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Still, I 68375614fc had a dab2e75161 different perspective e8ce4b571a from Karian. Looking at 4a27e50bbc the situation ed8f7cce87 objectively, his 7447385672 claim that 6d286f8408 there was f452fc1d1f a security 31ac29535f breach (though a7aa9bda41 somewhat exaggerated 1df2860a5d with logical 420179ea1c leaps and 2f5f2579df unknown intentions) b7ad73f936 was valid.2d3b8cb137bbd1af

However, would it be too complacent to say I had a gut feeling that the person sending these notes wouldn’t harm me?312e80ee8a9d20a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If that person 94b59f961d had invaded with 5611f13354 a knife instead 9655353cdc of a purple 9fb9b81825 note, I might 968d65cbbd have been dead 1ebb93bab7 several times over. But if f02f41b8c3 someone literally bb61aba1a7 just wanted 78f91c239b to warn 469a1c2fe9 me?a90b69a0b1491240

I thought it was a bit much to fuss over just one letter, or rather, four notes and one package, but Karian’s face was too serious for me to voice that opinion.5d81c53cd5983672

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re in danger right now. We need to strengthen your security with trustworthy people.”844d543cf3c1ae75

He bit a6cd5ca30f his lips 81eac5f7b2 anxiously, as 5a43830930 if he 9f70230fe8 were the ed6997a292 one being dc4ea3fe73 threatened.f93f6d26f9a3df1f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Alright. First, we should report the suspicious note to the guards. And for now, reduce outside activities…….”4d0fdbc6f8e49747

Seeing him seriously planning how to strengthen the manor’s security and my protection, I realized I shouldn’t just wait for the next letter and its demands.458ac94acc91b876

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Ideally, it would just be a prank, but if not?’d160f2d2e3109906

If that’s the case, I wouldn’t just sit back and trust my fiancé not to change his mind.9b0c4f9fcd0e1d71

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Of course, I don’t think he’d suddenly betray me for my friend. But if Karian does change his mind, I’ll make sure he’s socially ruined, and I’ll live well on my own, but still…….ea50ae74df6fa637

‘Still, I have to protect my fiancé with my own hands.’6b6fb2eb6f1753ea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What? Are you listening?”c24698477dd37912

Karian looked 544f18afd4 at me 887738cf63 with a 1fbbd08a4e dissatisfied expression, b98428bcc2 and I 17709ec424 smiled at 6a8af692bd him.41ea4c7a43b40c13

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well. I think there’s something I need to do first.”ecd2b7683c74d972

He looked at 5086ffc14c me curiously.297715ea3e24bd2c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What? What are you going to do?”6196cd3efcf713ab

“What else?”7d7da4ac7b021026

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I need to go see the person who’s supposedly going to be possessed.6d52f3c378830271

I don’t intend to act like I’m some hero who can overcome any crisis.e26bc9ea44cb0e94

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘But if this is going to happen to me, especially if it involves Lady Margareta Johnson, then…… it’s a different story.’4eda468c133db9c0

If the person who sent me the letter wants to prevent this future, and if they want to stop the ‘commoner repeater’ from possessing her, then I think contacting me is the right answer.3dec9bf703cf84dd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why? There’s that baroness, your cousin or something, right?”1626f174f0ec9e79

Karian, who had been listening to my reasoning, furrowed his brow slightly, as if he couldn’t remember the name.b86df58c3e6f8df4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was smart 3f249d90a0 but tended to 532e0ae13f draw a strict 827ace290a line with the 76094cfbe5 opposite sex. As if f45b8d37f4 it were 82766fb293 engraved in a0d07e0767 his mind, 6a97745bd9 he could 4ef337ec66 easily recall 2bfb47de94 the face, fcc2d3e9a8 personality, and a1f4c45466 traits of d1de797454 people he 10b98cb36c had briefly 3ba619c490 met years d1db81896e ago.8b0fd8452d83c3cd

But he couldn’t connect faces with titles for most noble ladies. Or he consciously tried not to remember, and since getting engaged to me, he seemed to avoid speaking more than three words with the opposite sex.40da9f30ad78d134

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Once, when 0c8df32c4f I asked 397bafe4bd him why, d95bee9301 his response 7b3460ce27 was a 65f547762c bit cynical.47b595a9982996fd

― I don’t want unnecessary misunderstandings. Even a formal smile can lead to all sorts of annoying misunderstandings.76522a07b22da32e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He was always the 3a137c674b center of attention wherever 56d0906ee3 he went. Even without considering bd59f4c884 his background, his 70f0bfa0e6 appearance stood out f452fd6c40 in many ways.dfa65c365403f7f5

While he acted sweetly and affectionately with me, he was generally quiet and expressionless. Because of that, despite his striking features and bright blonde hair, he exuded an intimidating aura, and that dissonance drew people’s attention even more.7354ddd4bc373360

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

― If I remember a name, rumors will spread that I was deeply impressed or fell for them, and by the next week, there’ll be bizarre rumors about a secret marriage. It’s a matter of being equally kind to everyone or equally cold to everyone. The latter is overwhelmingly better.e424689d9da61e87

He said this, pouting cc4a6742c6 cutely.2ce30634a75b176a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

― Because I barely 67972ea66d have enough time to d82b45a9ee focus on my cold-hearted 669cd8fc05 fiancée.caaa60933e198ef2

I couldn’t agree with him calling me cold-hearted, but understanding the troubles he faced, I couldn’t criticize his somewhat rude attitude. So, this time too, I simply told him the name.52b6852ff295aa5a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Lady Maxine Simpson. She’s a maternal cousin of Lady Margareta Johnson. But they’re not very close. It’s more like they have different perspectives.”a29fa752a1c92a08

To put it bluntly, cd1a2b80f7 Lady Maxine found Lady 1679e8a0cf Margareta a bother.94d1b395cff40c20

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But I can’t blame Lady Maxine. There’s no rule that she has to take care of Lady Margareta, who’s two years older, just because they’re cousins.efa6a19f4b7439a6

Especially since Lady Maxine, from a family on the brink of ruin, was trying hard to find a marriage prospect. She couldn’t afford to attend parties with Lady Margareta, who panicked at the sight of a man.0349fc6035d180f7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I understand the situation. But that doesn’t mean you have to take care of the baroness.”609bc24d7c89b909

Karian said coldly.0cda5b2e9cd8e904

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No. I’m not ‘taking care’ of her; I’m concerned as a friend.”73ded693ee61436b

“Really?”2f539bbfc3035d5f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He asked skeptically.00b2cc102f23aa08

I felt a bit guilty. I couldn’t say I’d never thought of Lady Margareta as someone who needed ‘taking care of.’e162f6b0fc2bda3e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But it wasn’t out of pity, compassion, or self-righteousness. It was more of a slightly impure motive. Well, just slightly.1984400369cd6189

“Um……. I swear it’s not for a bad purpose.”1919887451cf124d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

To confess, I do have a bit of a personal interest. But that’s unavoidable. Lady Margareta uses a cheat. My favorite animal is a white lamb, and Lady Margareta looks like a humanized baby lamb.d7427de0443858cf

Her small 084e8e93d7 frame, delicate 29104a3b18 features, and 8ae8888bb7 most importantly, ddf7430410 her curly 6b0367177a silver hair.f50bdf49724205bf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When I first met 285434cfd0 her, I was a 2cf42ea8b5 bit smitten.aeb9a08dfa6ec666

― Oh my, how 9e10089507 adorable. She looks just aec55ca114 like a frightened 3731ec05d6 baby lamb among 40e093d84c strangers!4d365bc5a9857c68

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

While leading a08b8f159e the merchant 807b565f01 guild, I 99bb1c4b4c instinctively categorized 4773e62786 people based bf3bb942da on profit, 5c715e25d0 but Lady 579bc48bc1 Margareta, who 4e54497c9b looked like 9f358461b1 a cute b26bdea0a4 and pitiful fc43b4e018 baby lamb, aaa9f6111e was the 77a18348df first friend 795ff9bdd1 I approached 146ceef4c8 without considering 5142449b01 profit in 3111bc27e0 a long 5cbe739b68 time.3d89488e5dfd60cd

While the idea of Karian changing his mind as the ‘prophecy book’ suggested was a problem, the thought of some spirit possessing Lady Margareta and causing that mess was also a big issue for me.c347b504683368eb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I can’t lose such a kind and lovely baby lamb, I mean, Lady Margareta, to such an incomprehensible event.’aa1e751fbae6a3ba

Karian seemed internally dissatisfied that I wasn’t immediately reporting the suspicious letters to the guards and ignoring them, but as always, he respected my decision.6cb635968e217707

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

From his perspective, having consistently courted me and even getting engaged through some insistence, he seemed to think the ‘prophecy book’ was a bunch of nonsense. Still, if I felt I couldn’t entirely dismiss it based on my intuition, he was willing to let me do as I wished.570ad94fcb810bdd