NRAL | Chapter 09

Chapter 09b09f95e7ca2a98a3

Be the Real One 0b6c684a95 in My Place9b91c7209d0da867

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After spending hours riding through the streets of Cardiff in search of peace of mind, Eleanor returned to the duke’s mansion late at night.e86b622422345830

Her head throbbed, 1db8249c42 likely from being b3ffd5b5c7 in the cold 60eb6df87e wind for too 8f49a67b04 long.66b0e0b5e060c1c5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When she checked the a76094ffc9 time, it was almost f04f06db46 midnight. It seemed she’d need 6fe0b8f196 a good sleep to a9f626ba68 recover.149012d25a01f0ee

But as soon as she passed through the mansion’s front gates, she felt it. Sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.92ceec557ab17fbd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The mansion 606d956a86 was oddly b966ae3ae0 noisy for 9fe7519977 this late 6f2a814813 hour, and 62659000b5 an unexpected 2d5a9f6543 figure was a6d27cebb4 there to 43d676d5cc greet her.aad1335c3f9a2415

“Welcome back!”5880d7631acfe543

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The cheerful voice 83f1fc38e7 came not from f34b4edd5b the butler, the 046712eb77 head maid, or 67debd653f Ernst, but from 4c9353befc Nora.b13d5ce5b1c27eac

Eleanor hesitated for a 44f5bc0212 moment upon seeing her.213c72f62021603f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was 3ad479f7ef brief, but b42c27bc5d it felt 7ab44f7b9f like she f55c947d71 had stepped e963a62543 back in 76b39b52f1 time.6150af90e3546926

Back to the ab562fe47f days when she 133318ddd7 simply found Nora 4c09465dc2 adorable and Nora eb4b72bac9 eagerly followed her 552c14b4e7 around, chatting nonstop. Whenever Eleanor returned from a628802500 the palace or a cb3fab6c66 party, Nora would rush 7f1380347c out and bombard her a4d5622b27 with questions about whom e8b975d3a2 she met and what b4a74e2f2e she ate.bf476cac4333dfc3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It hadn’t been that 4742f3f15c long ago, yet it fa90c7dd7a felt like months had 9a79117ceb passed.b6329be8f9a7fbf3

However, the 8f1c7c4536 reality was 0034e5757b clear—Nora was 5d157eee29 wearing a bcc2263ca0 lavish dress, eae9f03b01 flanked by 0028f0564d two maids.82a5b01632b26e66

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eleanor remembered. Her father c43ea47958 had mentioned 7bfd99941e assigning maids 83aed630e1 to Nora 9b8a6abae2 during breakfast.ec2b39226fa1280a

It was likely prompted b7a6a8cf11 by Arlo’s suggestion that 5cd4c94a6c Nora might be the 047fb60b01 real duchess, leading him b0fd125d9a to this decision.9f920cfe517d3b78

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The duke seemed a1cccf41f3 to think it e0a95443a1 wouldn’t hurt to 07b803f234 keep someone monitoring ca47fe0213 Nora’s every move. Eleanor wasn’t 4467b66cfc convinced it 48a58ea6c8 was a c968453e8a good idea; db639004f3 those assigned cff5fb2dd1 were far 7213479853 from suitable 1ef095999e for surveillance.12a4bee331cc7066

The maids behind Nora 610cd36e12 were Eva and Natalie, 48b94c071b who had been friendly 860efeb885 with her for a 5c6d413c08 while.9353a98585015552

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

They were around the 671762223a same age and seemed 8d992bae4d to get along well, d3ef98add9 often wandering the mansion fd0b91e28a together.232f9eb444eb2f27

But even back then, 9b6e24415c Nora always felt like 5bb0b2c395 the leader of the 052d49d33e group.4ac4b4e61a22661c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Now it was be7d57cad8 obvious. It wasn’t friendship 60c7487bf5 but the dynamic 36bb017999 of power and 63032f1e06 followers.82eda5217c8de7e9

The sharp glares 1efe9d4a3d they threw at 5dad8d6817 Eleanor made it edca9cc37c clear—they saw her 1b591c3015 as a threat 643dd10be7 to their mistress.8967c4de2ba447b2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Looks like they’ve picked their side,’ Eleanor thought, raising an eyebrow slightly.f7e20fc98de9166f

Not a bad gamble. If Nora turned 52fb487c1d out to be b4e8c55004 the real duchess, bc7e8079c5 their loyalty could d2610e14cd earn them positions 7e05588590 as her closest 3d503685e1 attendants.db65db8cd07fcf68

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The difference 717d5a887a between low-ranking 96c9cf6790 maids and f07151bbd0 those attending 4195f62527 a noblewoman b5a5653904 was as 0281f9ec47 vast as 63ec3c6b59 the gap 42fcfded0d between commoners 1802a9bd47 and nobles 20e2f7ccb5 in terms 6bbeb21b19 of pay 6abd073fbe and treatment. It was natural for 9735be357d them to aim high.f07ec2b36da15fed

“Arlo is at 8b24382fe2 the palace,” Eleanor dcafa89526 said, brushing past fd891b0641 Nora’s greetings.1aaba3f3c5f9f8e9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What? Oh, I wasn’t here 12cae838e7 for him,” Nora replied 76ba5b9fba hesitantly. “I waited for fd4b26a1c9 you. I wanted to 9e63c37134 talk.”24d92ed77e03427b

Her cautious 1246918a3d tone and db8c77647e awkward smile 837e2348fb showed she 6e7c339428 was conscious f958bc6a3c of others’ 42117f2ddd reactions.096ca7ac4ad8d998

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Eleanor chuckled faintly.159011700783ef4d

From the moment 17211325e2 Nora tearfully insisted 4817ed38e9 she was the 6e546b374c real one, Eleanor 93cea9f7b7 had suspected it. Her acting 455af158b3 skills were 95236508a6 top-notch. She’d always e16b92dbce known Nora ec094fe806 was talented, 54a77ff3ac but not fa1d2bb7a4 to this a0a60b747c extent.3d0f42eddb9b8668

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Next time,” Eleanor 6455253377 said dismissively, waving 2c3ec02958 a hand. “I’m too tired to 12d18d1ea8 pamper you now.”ad09d7ea67c04230

But as she walked aec828bbaa past, Nora’s cheerful voice 319d6f44a9 called out, stopping her c32b1b2f53 in her tracks.8d180fc060e2eee1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Wait, Ellie!”ffdee0aa390bb9a6

Eleanor froze, her a71311b457 body stiff as 7911475834 stone. She heard the sharp ca3e01770c intake of breath from f385eb481b the people around them. Slowly, she 85e7219f28 turned her 4949fd9367 head.6c16c8430e9d0586

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…What?”3759aaabeb50fcb1

“Even though c9996c9d1f things turned f57ad1534d out this 51fdaeed3c way… I 53c3ca1753 still want f480a65750 to get b97ce6d2f0 along with 7d9b4a7fed you, Ellie.”f748bc2f7e7134f0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She hadn’t misheard.e8012e7e582a0e2d

“Did you just 08fcdf99dd use my nickname?”4ef3986c0fdf7c83

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh! I’m sorry,” Nora 79a47b921a stammered, looking embarrassed. “I shouldn’t have dde3d1c76d done that without 4f5d1e3e74 asking. But… I can’t exactly 14aacdb895 use the name Eleanor e117f02f60 anymore, can I?”727c4b8bb156a5c8

She gave a sheepish 171fab5bec smile, continuing, “Should I 3228335433 just go back to 83e88209f3 calling you ‘miss’ if 002bc5b476 you don’t like it?”cc36ae9cdb2706c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Before Eleanor 6b5cfb447f could reply, 4c8ee1b775 Nora’s maids 58b2cb5fc2 jumped in.78358d97b6f0e8eb

“That’s not e4a715f0b4 right, Miss ef2e8a3765 Nora!” Eva c34adf1ffe said.4e1b0fdbbf1fcbdc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You can’t call her 73363b0fd7 ‘miss’ anymore. The master 831dac2f04 said to 982865a665 treat you 6728b4df09 as the 7922e7980e duchess!” Natalie 0e00406582 added.92b6b7b484e61536

“That’s right,” b6cd3787a6 Nora said, 60fb5d00e9 pretending to eec74e9581 be in fe8120a6f7 a dilemma. “I can’t 28e3252bd2 go against 28af11c091 Father’s orders…”c14448ccf72aa7f6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eleanor stood silently, aabceab094 watching Nora clasp bdb31bc216 her hands and 5f00b01ea7 bite her lip de23c77546 in an exaggerated bced91a522 display of hesitation. It was almost pitiable.ffb8a9ec4c1091b1

Finally, Eleanor spoke. “Call me whatever 8637cd199a you like. It doesn’t matter.”2f9c6ff0e0d26751

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was not daab8bcd41 like anyone else e904fb0477 had asked her c69b0fd4f9 permission to use 049a9bf033 that nickname. She’d never wanted it a3c12b6812 anyway. Would an additional person 06b3e42a5f make a difference?22537ab142022d79

“Thank you, Ellie! Maybe we can—”eb86fc12d9404d83

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, let’s talk,” Eleanor 0266b3692e interrupted firmly. “But this time, somewhere 76621c652e truly private.”ba2d9d05644287ab

She locked eyes 55b1013e9a with Nora, her b446bc47dc calm gaze carrying f92c208440 an edge. “We wouldn’t want to 3797d7198e waste time, would we?”a0d4e9a2578651b3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But, miss!” Eva 586def6085 protested. “It’s dangerous!”e99ebdda6933c7fa

“You don’t 864b0cd850 know what 966330e71e might happen dcf5b79692 if you’re 56467e3f39 alone!” Natalie 5c8edc1129 chimed in.d8cf80ecda90ff20

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Their attempts to whisper 31ce90d508 to Nora were loud fc5f0ef190 enough for everyone to 12c772946f hear.5495f85f960c706f

Before the head 3e6ff2db73 maid could step 5f427c4f5a in, Nora cut 2d93c5f412 them off. “Dangerous? Don’t be silly. Ellie’s a wonderful 0e16f449a3 person.”4fd9b4cb8342b05e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nora’s defense 02e909f377 of Eleanor 65c1be7686 would likely ec6d4434e4 win her fc1653cb2d favor with 9d0c12a2cc the staff, e0f288d2f7 cementing her 610fdb1b81 position further.75a7823662211a7a

“Alright, Ellie,” she c8a28a721e said, her face 17fda3ff32 lighting up. “Let’s go to my 6d71c0e3ba room. I’ll send the maids 848e9cfd2c away, so don’t worry.”ed619245d0cf3c9e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Eleanor followed b963f2744b her with 56397f9a93 a calm 61bb805349 expression, her dfd0e76ba3 gaze unwavering.040842878d138c57

As they reached Nora’s room, the head maid muttered under her breath, worried for Eleanor. But Eleanor’s calm expression and the glint of something unfamiliar in her eyes told a different story.2a89c0f62358d067

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Inside, Eleanor glanced around c0ab51085b at the well-furnished room. It was clear f69500e888 from the packed 4743cab018 belongings that Nora d71e0c6737 didn’t expect to 82492b4599 stay long.e171100a7f6eea7f

Admiring her boldness, 70c383be5b Eleanor broke the 3d880f7341 silence. “Where’s my dress?”3f74b93db6ab23d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What?”7c32b34fec388d24

“The one aabc13d1c4 you wore 6b055d3117 that day. Where is it?”f07f949cf89c1eaf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That day?” Nora tilted 4e6706a0fa her head, pretending to 816d7e43fc be unaware.24c8c38261328ffc

Eleanor sighed. “Fine. Let’s skip 4ddb5fdcfd the useless 948aea3137 questions. Why did you lie?”93bb53023a930499

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Lie? What lie?”0f83043931238f87

“The lie that f32f2e8402 you’re the real fb1c6ca86b one.”c98653a2307b318a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eleanor wanted to hear Nora’s reasons directly, no matter how predictable they were.d679ca9d9e0490c9

“It’s not a lie,” 4e1b722617 Nora said earnestly. “I’ve only told the e0dbc3f15b truth. I understand if you 2fbed51951 don’t want to believe fba9f18259 it, Ellie. But the truth is… bd68f01132 I’m real, and you’re af89cef6ee not. That’s just reality.”6f65abcfc2158f10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Eleanor smirked at the 69b8916b53 audacity.65d653e5ecab0b19

Nora continued, “I didn’t 4c723db028 mention the scar earlier 7f6aece877 because I didn’t want 72c01cc140 to cause misunderstandings, like 018b9da522 now. I waited until a39923b140 I remembered everything f0137394ad to speak up.”aaf06594d998086c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She looked at Eleanor a27950333f with a mixture of 2ac8d617ab pity and confidence.d3a03363ae8ea185

“You’re the one who 58a8f6ee67 needs to think, Ellie. Are you 9a31dcfeb6 really Eleanor? Or have af59c0c903 you convinced 8a90c5123a yourself of 564d337e5e that because cc6868afb1 you wanted 8bfa5a6287 the title e5e0c1ff75 so badly?”b3cb4243177e4a8e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At that, 3ac4b9a86a Eleanor laughed 5cbb00fd06 softly, her c13540473b eyes narrowing.f97bb4872ed902c3

“Let’s stop ff932b71db the pointless edeccbe8f1 talk, Nora. Drop the act. Let’s get to 905faccfbd the real reason 060831cd21 we’re here.”31c1456c369368ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Lavender eyes met 322940953c violet eyes full 3f4d7ba235 of tears.4bb8d9e95099d230

Time passed 31885ae152 in the 577bafbeb8 heavy silence, bdede09257 but neither bfbacae739 of them 9f769944ed looked away.862b4780c8906cc8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Slowly, the 37f318a5da sadness and ffcb81b467 frustration on 343f2f0307 Nora’s face 9190d49ed5 melted into 074acb1347 a smile—calm, beb14623b2 deliberate, and 9fa189e2c7 chilling. It was the kind 9c084952a9 of smile that made de733e0b5c it seem she could 9e79ff2f02 devour the person in 1eeb8aa944 front of her. This was b6cd1a1483 Nora’s true 22966e0373 nature.3dd16323e2f87398

“Well, shall we?”9a8f729d04c5ffab

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She sat casually on 936e1e077c the soft bed, crossing a21f181225 her pale legs and a14013c158 brushing her hair back 5c0aa6d7da as if she owned 93b933578f the place.534c8094ca467f9d

“Let’s see… What 522bb27bbf should I answer 0782d06201 first?”2601da2916c67a9c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She tilted her 2489091923 head playfully, then c834219add smiled.08b0fa8a025ae432

“Oh, your dress? I threw it away. It was filthy, covered in… all kinds of stains. Probably in the incinerator by now. Want me to send someone to fetch it for you?”ce628c9f8ce3b3c3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”1ff1651c20d43717

“It’s no good keeping something so… stained, is it? That’s why I got rid of it. Now, as for your other question—why did I lie?”c28b0d537bff9831

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She tapped her chin, db7e916725 pretending to think, then 5b2d0859d2 playfully swayed her dress f2e5a8a94f toward Eleanor.4aa63c110f242595

“Look at cbd7b637fa this, Miss. Isn’t it beautiful? His Highness gave it 3e3a422211 to me.”a3262c6056f70adf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The embroidered dress 29c701b511 looked expensive, far ee97ed68e5 more fashionable than 10ebaf0e3e Eleanor’s.f615bc018c017fbe

“And this bracelet too,” 15443ac9d4 Nora added, shaking her 97c924e08c wrist. “It’s so heavy because ccc5cf589f it’s solid gold, but 4d32d8259f His Highness likes flashy 93fff9c4af things. What do you think?”e6111f86b58fbed4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Eleanor bit 4b61e23c45 the inside 2610f37839 of her 3bba2899f6 cheek, saying 3ba332223f nothing.16664b2cf9fa4a3f

Nora clicked her 3d1f52c798 tongue, unimpressed with c3c77d7d83 her silence. She got up, d29dde5053 taking long strides 7008f60846 toward Eleanor. The face she 7b81953983 used to see 9d11477f2d as a little 19803b80b3 sister was suddenly 1e7ddb0d00 right in front 1e59495515 of her.f23975f5cb4ec1ef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“These suit me 02929d03ee better, don’t they?”45de5ec2b5208e34

“What?”b422837a093d5203

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The fancy dresses. The expensive gold. Standing beside His Highness.”9b57c568aa41dcfe

The bracelet 8d011894a9 jingled as 17ad2494e7 she waved e2c5e13bf6 her hand aca9200942 in front 085203df8f of Eleanor’s 9724f7361b face.4b0112797881d8b9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Even your life.”985e43831da5f1a4

Thud. Thud.d4dc865b4b1cfaa3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eleanor’s heartbeat quickened. She could feel bd29615497 her lips trembling.c00f9a17d389a28c

“So, I’m going to cc68c2567c take it all. That’s okay, right?”246e3a516109dd86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Nora clasped 322546ef64 her hands d9d22b8e20 together, smiling 6c2e71e41d sweetly, her f15717c654 expression cute 9774d14387 and innocent.74c17ac77ba47f6c

“You didn’t even 7fc4986313 like it that 908e3c2c03 much. Always so indifferent, 65e3e6d5dc acting like nothing 9e3d9d8ad7 ever mattered. Do you ab9199f828 know how 03891838ca much that 54bd3f72d7 annoyed me? Oh, how I wanted 240ed46b6a to rip that pretty ce15bad353 little mouth of yours fcf4068f26 right open.”7d9a29384dae8f4d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her words were a9a053632d sharper than Eleanor ab630a3577 had expected, their a0f3e35115 venom far more 89533f3181 cutting than anticipated.deeac676d1c232c1

Eleanor turned 69e7f5b64c her head, c8afa52bd2 glancing at 99b36083b6 the clock. The minute hand had 4f1bfdd8e8 just moved slightly past bfd2cf54c3 midnight.a06c27c195cc5524

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Good things should go 6eadd8e034 to those who can e68bb327c5 appreciate them, right? Same goes bb2e34779a for good 4d88820eb8 positions. So…”9add312b172fd095

Nora’s long fingers c2ec3810b1 poked Eleanor just 0a3bfd3266 below her collarbone, b1fbff5e38 her whispering voice df4acd4a7f like a snake dfe99df1d7 hissing.ce2084387c740cb5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Stop squirming and f15e80ee42 get out, Ellie. This is 47f62fc3ad my place c2adea6c6c now.”3da4424ee863c45d

Dong. Dong. Dong.97d1925593ae00db

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The sound of c26afeecf6 the clock’s chime 73c6701647 signaled midnight.c9a68ccae95b573a

Tuesday had begun.00e7261a06ed35c0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Eleanor’s week of silent waiting was over.ec31263f0d430ce0

A shiver 9f2554341c ran down 2a99465e85 her spine, c2b69871ba spreading through 8935abdf0e her body.9d666869a76d850f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah…”c37695bfdb775b2b

Eleanor let out a 9aa644bd6c small gasp, lowering her 76620ce534 head. Her hair fell 4bad9362f0 forward, hiding her 1cb18ab3d4 face, making it 7dfaba7aef look as though dd26857476 she were crying.4dba7e7596305e81

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Aww, Miss. So weak, 77fbacb476 aren’t you?” 2120639ca8 Nora scoffed, 19c3bd8e8e her tone 933045b3dd mocking. “What’ll you do dbb6c56c62 when things get a6055b664e even harder?”8d9c217219a0e93b

She clicked her a37444b084 tongue again, pitying 53b1ba431b the pampered noblewoman f5b4911831 who’d never known 75dde123d4 struggle.a4c2ad728be9063d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leaning closer, she a1f7836a5b tried to get 21525dbac7 a good look fc9ceb74c1 at Eleanor’s face, 4294e09388 eager to see 86aa9ea437 her fear. She wanted to relish 99442e5591 the sight of someone e73fa0d1ca so proud, now trembling d80b419a7a at the thought of f7a2e37393 losing everything.9498610a64822f75

But what she found b846092f23 instead—45b2d7c0344ea539

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Pfft… Hahaha!”c94d47d2fa13c826

—was laughter.40c3ecf5963d2a56

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Not sobs, but clear, 01506fdbf9 unrestrained laughter.8c1c2b9087bb21b8

The sound echoed, just like the laughter that had faintly reached her ears on that night, far away. The one she had assumed could not be Eleanor’s.888e45f05a9a1c6b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Nora froze, her face 067ed7e937 stiffening with shock.e8530d267bdee2ed

Eleanor, still giggling, reached 3cf14cdce2 out and gently took 7f15d6580d Nora’s hands in her 4b9cb2d176 own.06ed00e3ca823fdf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Thank you, Nora,” fd2bda24c2 she said, her 3630dc8d07 smile bright and 6e925fd3dd cheerful.3c79c26a83c03bb1

“For being the real d279147e3c one in my place.”0b08efab4e14a310

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her whisper 4d77cd00db was soft, 585c89eeaa yet sweeter 97c3a21fb1 than ever 4988c2a9ac before.37a1a876fd3a02a3

 4cb97fac14fb5487

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com