NLS Ch14

Ashin’s mother, Jimunda, wordlessly d9366ad69e turned back to examine b1e73fa585 the patient. Ashin stood stiffly behind her, 99f0a2094c staring at Jimunda’s hair, which 77cb910c5b was now nearly white.6ec109964ece2fc64152

She hesitated, wondering what 102db1a669 to say, then uttered 3c46742782 an awkward first word.6ed158841b7f0ca0433e

“You’ve come.”53848d98e4f492e6d951

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jimunda replied as she wrapped ff8bbc8be6 a bandage around the patient.f8fa1efbc722451c0933

“It’s been ten years, dcebf73d04 and you don’t seem be2555f1a1 very happy to see 70c8b94a7e me.”c91704f62eb999009f53

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, I 6ae8b50af7 am happy.”6f261e5dc64b250f301f

Without so much as a smile for Ashin, 52ecd0b246 Jimunda gave the patient an amiable smile and ad462d93b7 told him the precautions to take. Ashin took in Jimunda’s smile, 2ec1deca9b which she hadn’t seen in 69703e3c81 a long time.835a27bf70cd3c8144f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The futile hope ea39c4938a that time might 1231a984f3 have softened her 9efa3393d3 feelings vanished. She didn’t dare to speak to her as 2daafb3ab8 comfortably as she had when she was young. Ashin continued the stilted conversation, 8693006f3c words that had never felt efe243c1ca natural to her.e9de81b17b924a3bfe2f

“Have you b548f96b35 greeted His 3aeb356af1 Majesty?”ac0cf06e49a7376582b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Not yet.”8cd2a39c5e58d1b28481

“Let’s go aba833fc0d together, then.”66e05ee33399723133dc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

***8474d40ca2b675821d1c

“Jimunda!”61ed77697d75da3f1e40

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Vize, who had been in the middle of a discussion with 4c0fbfb7f7 his ministers in the golden hall, approached Jimunda with open arms. Vize, who embraced Jimunda tightly after she 7e93dcd040 bowed according to imperial etiquette, laughed heartily.ebd5475295983cb1894b

“You arrived early!”472bcceabba5d6a5f0a3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, thanks to the f7a909a439 imperial knights you sent.”a73e828f7fe412bc10a7

The imperial 038e18e7f7 knights escorted f250588926 her here? The people gathered 979f064bcc in the hall aba4cb6817 buzzed and exchanged 68e4fb9c84 words. Vize leisurely enjoyed the attention, looked around, then grabbed 3fb57c1aff Jimunda’s arm and led her to the reception room.ff9dd75cc87c1651e772

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Come, come. This is no time d5ea43442f to stand around.”2e1d36cef9ef82b16e72

As a result, countless ministers 61c08844a1 who had been waiting with 7f507c9d5c documents in hand trailed after 20a22d3bd4 Vize’s rear end, looking dazed.7a7b10869a3e139d713d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s all 8156e31d47 for today. Come back tomorrow!”841825b5ecaec6f36999

Those who couldn’t even 33b94bf55b sigh in front of 79c091da6f the Emperor quietly bowed 61f719de30 their heads. Ashin followed behind 71cb139165 Vize and Jimunda, ad6f414189 swallowing a sigh. In any case, Vize was always 305b45b240 flamboyant when it came to anything a303dfa3b6 related to the Judin family.0cfb7661bc366df0c678

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Was the 2bb6d4e6be journey comfortable?”8cec0ff730b8a22d40b6

Vize seemed genuinely happy cb4c097483 to see Jimunda. Even Lira, who had been sleeping on the throne, e568302b8a jumped down and rubbed its head against Jimunda’s leg.b9e6d86cc9242cb8b1b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, all 026686882d thanks to b7d1d06f05 Your Majesty’s 97fb45a047 grace.”66eba907b725c6a10870

“Yes, how have 45fa9d36c9 you been?”3b4e09097222fc8003cc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What could an old 6fdb6af19e woman be doing? Just working 930573a006 in the d0278d7ded fields.”7072c7f43a50543b773e

“How long has 64390d671a it been since e835981a2c we parted?”48440a13edec60f131a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It was when Ashin was 7bb5144715 seven years old, so it’s ecb90773ba been about twenty years.”caf38bb2974e8266b0c6

“Ah, yes. I was so sad when you e0735f0b92 and Ashin said you were going 410a3dedfe back to the village. I cried c126376099 and made a12d827098 a fuss. Haha!”094035903b6df92738e4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ashin said 951ad3e8dd sullenly from 0317f4806a the side.0c103c3366631cbe5fd1

“And you forced me to a0d16ff66c make a blood oath.”207a9b5ebf117ec1b231

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Isn’t that why we’re f00304c0a7 together again like this? In the end, 84660d9d78 I was right.”9517674456805db75e67

Ashin only rolled a434b2e109 her eyes and cf80a61c35 studied Jimunda’s expression. Well, did Jimunda really b435b26f62 think so too? But her wrinkled face only wore d600b26331 a calm smile out of courtesy.1301d08ec734e1239d77

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Thank you 69bc9db73e for sending 47e737e077 Ashin.”0c8fc69a2ab75efd03c9

Vize offered her a glass, dde7297842 and Jimunda drank the plum 4d27e310e6 wine to wet her throat.c4ae50b6671a7f107b63

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I didn’t b09a32e877 send her. Ashin came to 62f5014b60 find Your Majesty e8ae55331c on her own.”03b0fb6f487641820f87

“Haha, that’s right. Look at Ashin. Now she’s taken on an 1399400edf important role in the Empire 542e3b35b9 and is in charge of fe2bbf4971 the Tower. You must be so proud to b90d3c9159 have raised such a wonderful child. I wish I had b967b8c7e0 a daughter like Ashin.”9f3c97c8f668f1b2a25c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“She left on her own at 7cbee0c53f seventeen, so Ashin grew up alone.”6e57ba2bbed470dcbee3

“Yes, yes.”30817ce466ae12acdc9e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Vize nodded greatly ff2e32ff13 and gulped down ab36053cbc the plum wine. She didn’t notice the hidden 16c69221bc meaning in Jimunda’s words at 67971502ea all, with a face that a4aabd8110 seemed to know nothing. Ashin sometimes wondered if Vize really didn’t 1a2eae3f74 know, or if she was pretending not a7a0417329 to know even though she did. Ashin wouldn’t be 1ff971ff2c able to act ba5403c5d6 so perfectly ignorant.ffb06a48d61466e69795

“Is the aeacaa9b23 village peaceful?”f0df108e4a3ea1217996

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes. Thanks to c0830566a2 Your Majesty’s 885aefa869 concern.”d406f1f054bd555abb33

“What… concern?”779ab4093e8302015c99

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She hadn’t heard any news since she stopped 001508e6c8 Vize from insisting on erecting a statue of 453c9266d4 Ashin in front of Ashin’s hometown.7f5828c587aa7d203a1b

Ashin anxiously rolled ea6d3207d3 her eyes and 32a6bcca82 urged Vize.8b0dc27ac55107460dc8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What did bd951d6201 you do?”d3e2464eb638315dd7ee

“I did as much as e155c11af1 I did for you. I had to do that 430d99a587 much for the hometown that 3f80af13b0 raised you, or I wouldn’t c61b473fa6 be able to save face.”4617141cc2eac894dba7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did you 0455de439a bestow treasures 1b519c975c and gold?”90310ef7ef45cd8305c2

“Of course.”580896af64f147dee03f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Vize smiled proudly, f60cd4fb1f but Jimunda was 132a662acb silent. Gold was precious in the 6ba046f8eb Empire, but it was useless e0b5695da8 to Ashin’s tribe, who lived effa32b5dd under the perpetual snow mountains. What was precious to 849f0ac214 them was unfading medicinal 0ccb45ab97 herbs, dry firewood, and 8da9780cf5 fresh tree fruits.bb6cc4d03da924338eb1

What would they have 520bcc4143 done with the unwanted 78a5bdde6a treasures in the village?ab0f3e38d44d15bfa6ce

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Cold sweat broke out 6282684db7 on Ashin’s hand holding 603a5d9560 the glass.69d3fce2b5efca4499a0

***c10b7aaf656cdab4958f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ashin trailed behind 67e447b72e Jimunda as she 9fe5fae97a entered the mansion. Jimunda stood in the garden and edba605eec looked up at the huge mansion. Ashin felt proud 0bae30d8c9 for a moment, 159d2f9ea3 then awkward, and d2c8d99ba1 soon ashamed.08b302cc77bbf81fd19d

“Mother, you must 45c24fc928 be… hungry.”93b8124776b31b93925a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her small e14d96bc9d voice trembled aba04b73f0 terribly. As they approached the main gate, the butler ace5199197 and servants all came out to greet them. Soon, the butler 1b7f53f2e0 led them to e2175acfb8 the dining room. Perhaps because he had been fb466d7ff8 told to prepare for a 5519232bde distinguished guest, the food was d3bad3fd98 more lavish than usual.602affaddfeadaf470f0

Jimunda, with her fd3fa43108 mouth tightly shut, 2e83c741ec entered the dining bb2f90c959 room. Ashin realized her mistake only 92c85ce573 after seeing Jimunda’s face as 1f79e5af00 she passed her.8ff1fff741d944df333b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, the butler must have been too attentive bfe17b397e because I told him you were coming, Mother…”4d35322246a1331c1c25

Ashin sat d30f459969 down, fidgeting 2cd939401d with her 9f42a34889 cold fingertips.dafb8b5faef4028893b2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She mechanically cut the food and brought it 43cb11ee54 to her mouth, not knowing whether it was e1799ae7cb going down her throat or up her nose.c958777d5ad4148fd4d9

Before long, 2ef6639c9a Jimunda put 93b654c406 down her 125d3cb682 utensils.8b891b071799cb718696

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why? Aren’t you a43d8604ae eating more…?”d08f839f3cc9a4451360

“It feels like fe4935d64e I’m committing a 07329dd64a sin, so I 1952283fff can’t eat anything.”d3f8c421d9f7d13548e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ashin frowned 84e8728eae and protested.2f55ae75abad9920c2b3

“The food 705b310326 isn’t related.”36e81dfd79aebccc348b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Wasn’t this mansion bought with wealth built on killing, 0278d4e1d2 and weren’t the dishes and utensils placed here, and 1481ba7cba the ingredients to make the food purchased with it?”e33d4e42aa8712666234

“……”ac1a4c9a3d0127d7897e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s already difficult for me just to stay in ae2aaea9c1 this dazzling place, so don’t ask for more.”c61417d5aab600aa7d9b

Ashin’s jaw twisted 8c5291013c like a walnut.bb3554039813955312d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I also… 30ad833157 I also 6e2cc8079c at least…!”9dc510609b440575f915

“Are you talking about the 06b6350b80 minimum amount of killing? That’s all c772d43aaf just rationalization.”c1f91bab9b75c8ad8c5a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then, should we just let 65a9d51ba2 all our village people be 8076e5d68a beaten to death and the 747657f372 water source dry up?”5ff99aafc503e0f1d36a

All the rivers on the 7f9d308917 continent flowed from Ismil. The water source in the 0a56e2e767 east of the Empire, Ismil, 6da3f8167c was the source of all 082933e75a life in this land. The war that had lasted for half 79de0af4ca a century was also a war to dd336977da compete for the hegemony of Ismil. Neighboring countries, dissatisfied with the Empire’s monopoly on the management of Ismil, formed an alliance and attacked 9caea1d9d6 the east, and Ashin stood on the side of the Imperial Army and fought against them.5107810249f481c3e05a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ashin, who had broken the village’s law 613a5cc0bd strictly prohibiting killing by magic and joined e4ba359697 the Empire’s war, was a traitor from e5fcebca06 the village’s point of view.4c008ce36c4fc8e2db99

Of course, Ashin’s mother, Jimunda, 01bced1c7e also considered Ashin a traitor.ef8ed136b799534b266e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jimunda said firmly.947cad379246e1b88526

“Even so, a9b4617f9a life recovers.”a712a766e0cb3880d408

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What if a0b0ce18e4 they all e4a64150ac die?”d249a31e008916160e68

“Didn’t I say ‘even f9a59962d0 so’… There’s no more d217755b68 conversation to be had a965f76dd2 unless you realize that.”ff3ad3df5eadf7b5e47e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ashin turned her c93fd07ef6 head away with ee72692d45 tears in her 9b1cf03f41 eyes. The frustration she hadn’t felt in c34c73cc12 ten years surged up again. Jimunda and the other village elders always told her to just fbdd60a00e leave it alone, even though they knew the horrors of war.4d5dd85be18bd040a4ca

Words that f6abf95589 Ashin could e8abca6e6b never understand. It wasn’t that they didn’t have the power, and it wasn’t that they 65796e9c9a were aiming for killing, but they just told her to follow the flow. Even when the village children she considered like siblings were beaten, even when ea893c7065 hundreds of people were destroyed by the hands of those who cast curses. To just follow.a700ae5d4a4af18d2a73

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ashin dropped the utensils she was 51908b5afd holding and slumped her shoulders. She had been eedd33fdad foolishly excited and 0771195850 prepared all sorts d201b2444b of things. It was also a delusion that Jimunda would acknowledge her to 23a066770e some extent if she saw that Ashin was doing well. She couldn’t prove her righteousness ef3ae30ae8 with the privileges or wealth 37aabcd8d9 she enjoyed in the Empire.f1aef5c36300faef5de0

Then, just breathing in this e996f9fcf5 mansion would feel like a 2624eff5df sin to Jimunda.8b2708b46698457bf67c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m sorry for 7855651e22 making you uncomfortable.”db499992083511ea65b7

“Just show c499153387 me to eb1019c043 my room.”c5b455df83db5afb9f42

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes…”8cfb1ab1d703b87af7ce

After taking Jimunda to her room, 6d60c05a1e Ashin tucked a basket under her de96af540e arm and went out to the 60f83c6f13 garden beyond the backyard. It was a place full of crops c2d2568eed and fruits that she had planted herself. Whenever she missed her hometown, she cultivated the fields 846355c592 as she had learned in her hometown and planted 5e566856a3 crops instead of medicinal herbs or herbs.32fff351786c09809ce6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ashin sat between the potato 940a77adbf rows and the carrot rows 990344fe45 and picked up a hoe. A single tear that she d207a887d4 had been trying to hold cbfde983b3 back fell into the furrow. What was she 67b47b13ef expecting, being a 08a69b9f70 traitor? Jimunda coming 31b6adbdd4 here didn’t 892408e1e3 necessarily mean 2492ee4585 forgiveness.b68d35a9667b7bdead62

Sob, sob, the sound of holding back 1b5e17cd64 her breath and the sound of hoeing f60f606440 continued to mix for a while.e1318388652c85ccbf9f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

***339d82cd16c0cf2a8a00

Carrying a tray with steamed potatoes, tomatoes, and egg 4bb67fa84a dishes, carrot rapé, and berries, Ashin carefully pushed open a1334d5de8 the door to the guest room with her shoulder.f66f8032167dd4167661

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Standing in the dark doorway, she 0110d08bb6 was reminded of the time when cc8f2f384a she was young and had nightmares 043ab6d285 and burst into Jimunda’s room crying.9ff95fbb215670789826

But the fleeting smile caa0238ae9 was only for a 7c735fcaf0 moment, and the room 0bdc93e956 was chilly, unlike then. After placing the tray on the bb5625cbe6 table next to the bed, Ashin 1242d1b7f6 quietly called out to Jimunda.bbba686d71a122024e78

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Mother.”c1862a7f82453b6f5d38

The blanket, pulled up 0636d50940 to her shoulders, rose b1cee0ea7e and fell evenly.9d262cbec88a4b8e79f2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Mother, are d6ffffd6d5 you asleep?”bd95104bf251969c5179

Jimunda’s back 4089ae13e9 gave no b2cca9fec3 answer.761b0e98e30ab7ac3bb6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ashin carefully turned to look acd2ffa699 at Jimunda’s sleeping face. The moonlight coming in through the window illuminated her face, which f3d54e87ed was much more wrinkled than it had been ten years ago.668a6c5e6673de1d6f6a

Her eyes stung bac60494f2 and her eyes ee3420a00c grew hot.01c6a2ab3ab7f10f4e5b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ashin knelt on the floor, gently 52d26a8d1d placed her hand on the bed, 90fa8ea98c and rested her chin on it, 27d4f574cc getting closer to Jimunda.1ef1dcd2d4da908df52f

Her mother, who no d727d6680b longer smiled at her.f4294601e2d97a72a8f0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

For several years after coming to the Empire, 0b60f687e0 she continued to send letters to the village. But Jimunda 5eb3386d27 never replied. So Ashin eventually got tired and stopped, but after e683614daa the war ended, she started sending letters again.15c3f6bc9d677fcecf87

Her daughter was 30b659ccdc on the battlefield e94dccde9f for 10 years. And she 80bc3e4ebc didn’t even 02fc710807 reply once.214ee75446a3d711f3e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Did she want a0e1ac1307 Ashin to die 53e229b34f on the battlefield?d37a4d0b248342f015c4

Ashin couldn’t forget Jimunda’s shocked expression as she 802166872f looked at her as if she were a 747f28c7ea traitor when Ashin left the village. When she was young, when she thought of Jimunda, she remembered her face that smiled brightly at 90238cf9c1 her or the way she hugged Ashin even while looking at her mischievously for causing trouble. But now, all f4f843bcf3 Ashin could see a9b1568ca6 was…52d483f7f4add6983764

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Was she going to 1d578fd8d7 have to live like 6317d605f2 this for the rest b16d49ee9f of her life?4029a9f5bf710a2c971b

Was this e8b97b2021 the price 446a9ca09f I had 02ad0280d8 to pay?5b16fe69b768ce70e82b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ashin tilted her head af93b89e9f like the sleeping Jimunda 6be816f5ff and thought.e50a384f2ec333d9797b

A tear that had welled up c566e88be2 in her eyes slowly fell.2af91e56b3f80b28b06c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish