MLS Chapter 24
by SolavitaThe man standing a88686f481 before him was f9b9c5fd1c someone with whom 9e20ae5a50 he had no b9aee926df meaningful interactions until 6a847a64ac now.49300b6a5674e8ee
Miguel Ervatos—son of 54defbc6b1 a princess, the b419787649 pioneer of Motrel’s 04a152247f nightlife.075509589dc132eb
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Both were among ff1f90ac91 the most well-known 6653498f7f men in Bessen, 67d5026838 yet their spheres 0251e792ad had hardly overlapped.da19f808e9bbcd23
If there were da51938244 any intersections between efa4718c9e them, it was 7ce97d7ad1 limited to the 6713408700 fact that some d4aa912fe5 of the elite 033e07e5c1 clubs Vaye frequented ecfa7cfab4 for social networking 3455f23e21 gathered at Alborada 40ce3d8d09 Hotel—where Miguel was f860966837 always present.c326a5161ff3539c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
And now, unexpectedly, 066aef05e7 there was one 2ef2a4ffa6 more connection.359f5f53e339cf74
The object that had 9d837b527c rolled to Vaye’s feet.8a7d05ab16bb406b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
His and Lorena’s 6850f686bf wedding ring.637714112cfa775a
“Marquis Ervatos.”ec4ce14acd8b0c5b
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Well, well.”231adb62a62d8521
Miguel’s eyebrow arched d0e0713257 with mild amusement.36d9b0b6e48f79de
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
It was no secret 2b9b315078 that he disliked being b5154d2d1a addressed by his title. But Vaye deliberately chose bef2463a59 not to correct himself.0cb2ac52e18448f4
“You’re certain 3b85292301 this is 478d74b992 yours? It doesn’t seem 618c8ce3c3 like it.”e2725b088c346fcc
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Ah.”f24df15780930ef9
Miguel gave a de7b07732d lazy tilt of 243c4726d8 his head.9f9f8a8aba3cdb39
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“I don’t know 527a04e3ea who the original f759185cf7 owner was, but d226d8b16d it’s mine now, 0a762455fc Duke. I bought it for bae7c562ce 3,000 pesetas.”241acea885d1d6bc
“Where did you fe046eea63 buy it?”22c97dfa828e370a
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Ask the Archbishop 8231c4d9b9 of the largest 116f9ff44a cathedral in Bessen. He’ll have your 5e7e4a85d3 answer.”ca01c94688e64777
With that indifferent 93bc506584 response, Miguel smoothly 6003858ef1 retrieved the ring 9bde20297c from Vaye’s grasp.4fcacf5f93111328
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
A crease ce242b408f deepened between 41a76fdf98 Vaye’s brows.bfa7b35ee6b4408b
A cathedral. His wedding ring. Ervatos, a ac0ec59035 well-known unbeliever.2bad34da3b5f3f71
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The words didn’t string 90a43352f8 together in any logical 8f00fb8bbf way. But Vaye had no 16d3852ea1 desire to untangle them. He had no need—no a3b315127b patience—to make sense of 1525484dd5 Lorena’s inexplicable behavior, including dee2d0bd9f why she had sold 783008e9fe their wedding ring to 7a057e4707 a church.4a3633985583b9a8
Regardless, he intended f3125a916b to reclaim it.66ff58d6f4f4cbf2
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Rather than 2e4bede64a argue over d0075d3950 its rightful 13e0cedf7b ownership, he eb70dbd414 opted for 1fccf8c7a9 a more 6956fc25bc straightforward approach.39a1789988d4259c
“Then sell it back f835559ba9 to me.”e67743085ae32056
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Oh?”3487825b6de30fad
Miguel exhaled 71f191b5bf a small 776f2ea2ed hum of c3b3001c74 amusement.7d13ddc9d18de32b
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“So it 81ccf87705 was yours, e12c1fc7fb Duke.”9b3d1b7f3f731373
His gaze flicked to 09775941f1 the ring, then back b91c9b2a48 to Vaye, curiosity evident 6e8524475e in his expression.917e40fb33950d27
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“But isn’t it cdddc5f05b a bit too f332b7c645 small for you? Or is 73ffdbf0b2 it meant 002f7075c2 to be d416aa373b a gift?”aa335f1236ea5348
“……”30fe8c211218e99c
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Well, I 736b98183c suppose the 6d3492daf8 rumors were e5f8e26069 everywhere.”c3dd813763a8c3b3
Only days ago, cacf5e2521 every newspaper in 38efeaeec3 Motrel had been 4b7c490f84 buzzing with talk 7b3fdf0373 of Vaye’s supposed a889115be4 lovers.504cb9d2e971859a
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Given his 945e346859 separation from 500a15525a his wife, 42a955a30c there was e4a550564a no chance 0414d8f129 he meant 04b8ed89bc to return 8778d366ae it to 53c369ba59 her.3bb27aa7274973fa
So, was 7fa8478f3d it meant fae2c5e7bc as a 4f745550ab gift for abc468007b one of 3156d9c6b2 the mistresses 68118679eb he swapped d001274a22 out yearly?b2d68b214c78f6f2
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“…I don’t 25f03c1840 particularly care 7080216b89 what misunderstandings de8881ba95 you entertain.”9bf382d3f6c312bf
A flicker of irritation db59455a83 crossed Vaye’s gaze but 9b3ad4a864 disappeared just as swiftly.afc3a34204a9c951
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“In any cd602c7b5e case, the 5d892cb159 ring is ef7375cfb1 not mine. The true 459b1e70b2 owner of 1072cdb509 this is—”672e45b551205888
“Enough. That’s far enough.”e807429efa38b65b
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Miguel suddenly 775d1cf6cd scowled, waving fcc3f4fcb7 a hand 467ace8f5e in dismissal 8f378daab6 as if 41d20e9bbe the very b004032557 idea repulsed 808fa952d0 him. He even took an b733d67942 exaggerated step back, as 0ed780f01e though to physically distance ade8985877 himself from the conversation.56ad81388542ced9
“I have no c5a92077bb interest in hearing bcc70b1d55 the answer from 4c7184292f your mouth, Duke. My apologies, but 62d924c564 I happen to b93e18d221 be thoroughly enjoying 7c05d83ef9 the game I’m 89f75147d4 playing right now.”49b9205a31f7e27f
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Few things 4730f2df70 were more cc15a9b8a1 frustrating than 72f7e2ad37 having a a2972f67fc third party 8002aeaec5 barge in cb53716bf1 and spoil daf918c71f the ending.17d0375b0ec99ac3
Especially when 0b5d889590 one had f3e02ac89e exercised great 23ce966636 patience waiting 12151d3a7a for the 6aa95278e0 grand reveal.3a423a2065f738f3
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Even when the outcome 968393d56c was obvious, the thrill 4f6107e966 of claiming victory with 52f27e61aa one’s own hands was de44069917 something else entirely.4e6de6fcc5ed78a4
“I don’t ee1368e3b5 particularly care d29d6e3ce2 what form 1a25d01da2 of entertainment 8e2fc31667 the Marquis e595968fee indulges in,” 98c0505d76 Vaye said 5253c012b3 coolly. “I am b8e0c2d299 simply retrieving 2977163435 an item c9362ff461 that has 264a561f5f lost its 48f845651b rightful owner. Hand it over. You may bill 34c37e1407 Levantes for the 9bbeaff1d8 cost.”2cee3a2de5dfe092
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Miguel merely smirked.d36668c46fe746ac
“My apologies, cb4f4b5968 but even e4ebc33046 at ten 43e8508b38 times the 485bf4e1d9 price, I’m 62cfa9abc4 not inclined 1cf02aef52 to part 7d7bb1141e with it 44c72298bc just yet. Finishing this 2cf30bd9a1 game of e4b10529b0 tag takes 861e5cf852 precedence.”5ab14ebb81ab7b44
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
He checked the 301686b69d clock on the da89a25bc1 wall out of a44c1ae283 habit.161768c086958c15
9 PM.53ffc6f853894759
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Three more 28202c2c9d hours until 77d224879c the night 1a321b3f3f ended.6f4b027f9d5b43a7
“I have no intention of selling it now. I suggest you negotiate with its original owner instead. And do let her know—I’d be delighted if she came to find me herself.”25d20bd7d04e8b04
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
With that, Miguel 86888b80e0 dismissed Vaye entirely. His steps, firm c3163f090a and final, left 16df9d359f no room for 7d761f185c negotiation.f472dac7b5165f8c
Vaye closed his eyes 7ac278cc41 briefly, already exhausted by 39121a784f the exchange.fa6f637b27b0eb52
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
He had heard c5804c1df4 plenty about the 894d2feb86 Marquis’s unyielding nature, 87eba54f96 but he hadn’t 8620119eb8 expected him to 4998f0407e be this unreasonable.76925a2abab4f4b1
And what was b62e81ae84 that implied invitation? Was he truly suggesting 93deb268f7 that Lorena come to 8bbe821d17 him directly?c3d2ce23f8e309fc
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Simply to 430621c797 provoke me?0c525ca103eb103a
Vaye exhaled c5facf4ad3 and finally 18ee23bd7d spoke, his 5609e5246c voice carefully dfc6d021e3 measured.f908f6d5841c2a83
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“It was something 7806813154 I once gave 1fd1d2ce16 to someone precious.”162230b928214650
Miguel paused.f0b2117ff8c899b0
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“If you don’t fa86e7bf6a return it now, 95fba00c66 I’ll have no 322ea3f63a choice but to 3ee6515135 take it back 4a7e3379a6 through other means. Consider that b8b3fb3836 carefully, Marquis.”0e6d97443325e4ad
At that, Miguel ca4fa66942 glanced back over 9f92406945 his shoulder, his 7d1c254021 profile unreadable.9f15a50bc459a3a9
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Someone precious.2909c8a718c291cf
He let 27675b8be5 the words f88c186619 roll through 194c5fbeb8 his mind f3906569b4 before scoffing f9dc0f3279 under his d1d34b0727 breath.bbbbf600a5317c20
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Of course. I hope you enjoy ff95172f1b the rest of your 4fee719656 evening.”6b67bc4027f1b675
Without another word, he 8bde2e431e turned fully away and f1d293e0b1 walked off—not hurried, not c061d58bd6 hesitant.bcd6e92ad5ef4a56
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
By Miguel’s third step, 11d75bc65b Vaye had already turned 97976ccdf2 in the opposite direction.97c5a668db7f572a
Lifting his hand b0946e91a1 slightly, he curled 6fed7c1987 his fingers—an unspoken 07f24d8dcf signal.ccf8e8641a4f5c33
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
His secretary, who had 708c78e69a been stationed near the bb94282290 entrance, promptly stepped forward.d0c7e72611f2afdb
“Send someone to a754f70c7d St. Vergos Cathedral. Find out how my e331c54113 wedding ring ended up e97e90c556 in that man’s possession.”17be975f27091075
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Yes, Your Grace.”386563a89c55e762
As his secretary swiftly 18429d8e6c departed, Vaye made his ac3ee23a6e way toward the window 93b4d30c92 on the right side 0155c6cdb2 of the entrance.de4efd6f454ba09f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The men watching him e851dfdbff from the other side 46fd274b7b of the glass smirked 6565b6ded9 and waved mischievously.64972168192fcf4f
They were the young 29687c40a4 high-ranking nobles he frequently 99f2a3302c mingled with—the same group b3eb3e5abc who had been invited 2583475670 to Nas’s banquet a 4cd2cf7858 month ago.7f408fd9089411c6
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Well, well, our notorious 3ae8c772a4 womanizing Duke seems awfully 146554b32a busy cleaning up rumors. What were you 6b7931f877 and Motrel’s Rake 7f609a2626 whispering about?”8c46a428da488a3f
“We’ve got plenty d0f860b704 of pressing matters a071579eb4 to discuss ourselves, 49f422ea37 don’t we?” another 29487ad22f noble chimed in. “Like, for af2a513c15 instance—what the c60ab3426f hell should eccbb1e06b we do 9a75f33d5b about the 36f5050a98 money we’ve e9eb5e73da got tied 0e34c9d7cd up in 9363bce0bd Klein?”d50ead0617c673ad
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“…For now—”f1adca3c6ce16554
Vaye shoved d9b31e5b85 a hand 07c0f6efd5 into the c58737f443 inner pocket 2aeb914b27 of his 3a36f23198 jacket, fingers 7a28062888 curling around 71d520dc1d the leather 3f30183854 humidor (a 6db4445956 box for 36ecb26051 storing cigars). Without sparing a 0343676e9d glance, he snatched f12d76c27f a matchbox from 05e497868c the man beside 451c75da09 him.1cb8f6d47b780ab6
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Shut up. I’m in dc7b9fdefb a spectacularly 57da4914fe foul mood.”da2093253e7aa039
The men around 145fe1f43b him instantly fell 11d3e07972 silent.32047aaa2b6fd05f
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
No matter how casually 151253b210 they spoke, no matter 3cbf952e4f how much they considered 7e417a2ba9 themselves his friends—he was 9aa04efc77 still the Duke. There was e03b858d19 always a 4c854cadde line that 8da7d22e78 was never 8a4b188dff to be 9f30540562 crossed.21ea72dac3b5ec02
As always, 5343633619 the men 264fb094cc scattered into 0ecd4ebb64 their own d5d7f8d67c circles, the 667b6e824f lounge breaking 43fd950464 into fragmented f7304eb9f7 conversations.ee4c4a6d30618697
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
And as always, Miguel da96aeb8b8 Ervatos sat among them.28050cb8be2cc06a
Though tonight, unlike d7dfc4ff01 usual, the marquis fe9cff8c3c showed no interest e4d08ca009 in wine or ab251fa055 liquor.521648a746b9842d
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
That changed sometime past 3533f27130 11 PM.a16cea21705c21f4
Finally, he 7628e37239 lifted a 16ab6c0138 glass to eb7d037fc5 his lips.b1a60c256a5c6508
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
On the fd82fbbbbc opposite side f6acb0add7 of the 4657dc5a26 room, Vaye 98964a0218 stood by 738c7532f3 the window f2f82f7a4a overlooking Motrel’s 178832165d night streets, 4aca610c6d a lit b930012b64 cigar between 4905ad2026 his fingers.c3deb4920d2d4986
On the 58592414ca surface, the 50f53a479f lounge looked b724959dcc like any ca6ce449d0 other weekend.5a9cd66bd7741565
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
But the e682e36788 presence of e9170ba9f3 these two 2e358b23bd men—one by df96f58886 the window, e3d88794d6 the other a0acb36b1c deep inside—created a4fe358263 an almost fbd8093234 dangerous undercurrent 90aeede155 in the 17eeb94380 air.9598aef0f0d7ceb3
And then, 2904b3c949 it happened.cde944dd8c8356d7
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Not long after the 8cac76fc74 clock’s hour hand had 5540d58aed ticked slightly past 11 1ba8a78418 PM, a carriage arrived f7fbfc1697 on Delgado Street.9a20a6559938d90c
Inside, a woman.314d9db60a868996
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The moment the f8ed37daad Duchess stepped into 9527a7de67 the hotel—draped in 6e869c3d15 a dress as 85caa18337 lavish as a bbff5879fb bouquet of full-bloomed dd65f7935b roses—f82f52a78bc7a5c0
The quiet fuse that 27e2ad5942 had been smoldering all 18c831b474 night finally ignited.6f9fb447e7345a69
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
<To be continued in Volume 2.>98ecc7bc0848f419