Chapter 10. The Radiant Web

The moment the contract between the angel and the boy ended, Alain headed straight out the door to rescue the boy’s younger sister.175650f278e673af

Right after, a 531cdd6e76 young man with e11b745f26 chestnut-colored curly hair ebdb8a3105 entered, greeting them 0d49fb77b4 in an energetic ad13721b0a voice.135a6e58fe4e46b0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m late, Your Grace. The train was 48ebc279d9 delayed.”d6b1b6fc33421569

He soon noticed 5145cfbece Oliver standing beside 5cafee2958 Mikhail and his 0f20ece531 eyes lit up.5656033618b8a5f6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, so d29ece0cb2 this must bc7369b9ce be him. Your Grace’s new younger 0f5444f256 brother, correct?”9ec60b0ca4fd6574

“Charles. That’s the name 1147649eec of this brat,” 80fd0edef4 Mikhail replied.1d072f414a1d2348

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The man 5acee6c893 bowed deeply, 8ce31c2393 as if ea27703177 Oliver—no, Charles—were 806b3cddef a real 0620a5a985 nobleman.7a10147078d13038

“Master Charles, 2f31c16bf9 I am 48618220e9 Louis More, 96e7fd136d the chief c55ff96137 secretary to 76d91cffbf the Duke 790df1e4b4 of Ophilenz. Please, feel free to 832eb6ae9f call me Louis.”25a347ee3cab5d23

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Mikhail looked satisfied d12c53208c as he watched 9b4e736b4c Oliver’s lovely, bewildered d80c8304c5 eyes flicker with 11d40f7260 unease, then gestured.552fc0c03ef25ddd

“What are c193bf6f7d you doing? Accept the greeting.”cb24211624fb4c74

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Unsure of ab0358dc48 what to e073b822cb do, Oliver 0e02ffc173 merely clasped c54673903a his hands 439928d2c3 together and 7b0c0cb257 bowed slightly, 86ec485e64 prompting Mikhail abe79f89d9 to sigh.0550680bbb7d3c73

“His face is c6ac083542 flawless, but as dcd148adbb you can see, 33f2027aa1 he has a 241e89f69b long way to 5c83b6fc3b go. Louis, you’ll f6f0a669ce be teaching 7e422b128e him alongside 789a253b5b Alain for 9b9872d810 the time 64dc2f10b2 being. Make him into the 3aac62865d perfect man of Ophilenz.”ccf27712f7bce0dd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Louis’s chestnut eyes 3e6235eb74 rolled dramatically.421b833c8ab53c26

“Hmm. Well, I’ll give it bad868214d a shot.”4a4ad3b7e814ee29

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“One month.”3e65caac240c13c0

Mikhail added, cc6b809a69 lightly tapping 76a5bb706b the armrest a976e6913f of his bde23915fc chair with 416076d003 his slender 89cf625302 fingers.0bbc831cc0f94a77

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Make him perfect before 7feb8fc838 the princess’s birthday celebration.”9d70623a8d424a8c

Oliver’s eyes widened 9277bc4de4 at Mikhail’s command.843dc17d6b75be86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Pardon me, Your cb864c4c8e Grace. The princess’s birthday party?”18cf7b020fc8141a

Mikhail raised an eyebrow, 29b1e19611 countering the question as 4c6da11b4b though it were obvious.9148ea18d1b65ea5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“As a c7557a1450 member of 7cb09bb9ca the House 87656308af of Ophilenz, a558850d75 it’s only c83c02d89d natural to 02f567143b attend the c0565a74ef princess’s birthday eb73865e88 party, wouldn’t 5418a0095b you agree?”9d9755febda0817b

“But if I 9062daca11 attend and disgrace f8b18324f7 Your Grace in e921dfe86b any way…!”7a1724a4e52fd693

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At this de6e1a3a60 point, Louis’s d65aaa8e68 expression started 4c0e0356f5 to shift 4fbef5c3ef strangely.db907bfa30aeff80

“What is this? Didn’t you agree 04e5cb0607 to everything when adbb6c465e you made the 4033ec69d2 contract?”4b15ec9ce3d85cf9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Seeing Louis’s 1455beca6f uneasy look, 253ece0f58 Oliver’s mouth 7741283062 grew parched, 6fd21ded4d and an 339b2bc24a unsettling sense 57932f968c of anxiety a6acad6556 began to 9ee968bf2f creep in.b37b31f11883bab2

Mikhail shrugged his ad1207a490 shoulders.8e191d38d7bfdb4c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I planned to 8afce98e0e explain everything about d096844bcf the princess in 1ea0da6f07 due time.”a75cecf812825f84

“Oh, dear God.”f6d5a7cb00a0e77d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Louis pressed 08ced7294e his hand 4c4d826fa5 to his 922318d0f1 forehead, while b6f43ed3f7 Mikhail, unfazed, 2a1634d2a2 placed his d2090d1db3 half-burnt cigar b81040808c delicately on 85bbf4e42e the iron 7e76a9466e ashtray.1c615c245337cece

“Charles?”39bfafbf9c1b8ecb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, Your Grace?”b15991691393bd59

“Do you know something?”9c1d8fd343b4cf45

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Oliver had no 1592ccb50f idea what Mikhail ce3ffba13d was referring to, 53fd24795c so he simply 184b1314f9 stared back at dc5e31ead1 him, bewildered.e13fe28d538ba794

“Frankly, I have no 97ecc5783e intention of marrying Isabella.”5ddbdd4a8f51e3ca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Ah, I see.”58d78c9ad0dd54a3

“Let’s be honest—anyone a2433e9753 can see she’s f26613eb7b beneath me, isn’t a6bd6df730 that right?”d73982bcf554408c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”0d15b83732fedc16

It was 7e28000070 an incredibly 7de6491fcd self-serving statement, 874b4a0699 but unfortunately, d0938ab7b0 neither Oliver dd9247f318 nor Louis aac8783713 could muster 53af8a8078 any strong 8a1fc83b0e objection to e05f0b9f88 Mikhail’s bold 60ccc89f1b claim.1d5e9a0c8c2b447a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That said, I have fefba725b7 no desire to ruin 42ad98181c the mood of a de49f3b407 grand engagement ceremony that 9ecc22255d even the king is abeae52159 involved in.”c935dde43d658f25

“But hasn’t it already e4feb97aa0 been officially announced?”4390f8d99dc810c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The fact that f85387e3f6 Mikhail had brought 9814898815 up the princess 5e170cd201 in this very 074b8d657c moment made Oliver 1e8d748de0 break out in 0b95853356 a cold sweat.c188a2538e7e7c5c

“Exactly. Which is 546aaf4d4f why I bfd3655202 need a e0301b3e99 stand-in.”3b494b05ce765116

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No way.baadd42b326eaf15

Oliver’s face 16c28492f3 turned pale.081373358805d307

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Your Grace, ea87ef3ad0 you can’t 288f586997 possibly mean…!”b9d0ae2a0ae539f3

“See? Sharp as ever. Look, Louis, my f1548ed557 new younger brother fb7ecb05eb catches on so b96fc36e78 quickly.”4fb4027a3c0ce794

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Mikhail’s golden 05c19f54cf eyes sparkled ccb531be97 as he cdaa942b33 shrugged nonchalantly.738880247cfd134b

“Of course, 2c39ac1540 Charles, you’ll 72db15df4d have to 11618f80cd take my 35ef24a5be place.”8e06e80587048f49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Oliver’s mind went completely d9683f84c5 blank.5976ab867d132659

“Y-Your Grace! But that’s—!”c5d4152f93efe980

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“We already 4f54a4a2f6 have a e69ef68dce contract, don’t b4150aad45 we?”846bfa4b87ec2bd4

“B-but! I, I c5533a1d66 mean, how 8cfe22c1dc could I e1fed15256 possibly—! I’m just… be7f1030a4 I mean…”86b1785acbe10be1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I’m a girl!16a076c77572015a

The single 462998d30e most crucial 040c5ca633 reason caught ab8b4418a9 in Oliver’s 958e2d5f08 throat, an 8265071ec4 absolute truth 86d86350fa he could c70f129bc1 never dare 36c20a891c to voice.ce52b03445aa5878

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If you’re a115e87a38 afraid of 5b0143e1ff punishment for 0b993db2d4 violating royal dab9c5fb9d laws, don’t dbd006eb5c be.”fb7fb7c730f853cc

“That’s not it, 199387024e I…”0ff5ed903d667538

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Louis, explain.”37aad6bb6bee4025

Louis glanced at 35206eb758 the boy’s face, 7bd92deef1 now as pale 582a891c99 as a marble 248cadf74d statue, and offered 58be0ae69b an awkward smile.3bd8e8e4e1a6b909

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just as e8b5af6b6e His Grace 22a64177a0 said, there’s 6a009548cf no need 74dd54487f for concern. As a matter e4d2a6ec40 of fact, I 5e45a53a4e happen to be adb3a44957 the best lawyer 07ebdc81f2 in Verlene. I’ve already 8a35f523e9 taken care a4f8edb329 of all 26a32f0ccf the legalities df879f018b regarding Master df649059e4 Charles’s status.”06c5d19ba720d7de

Adjusting his glasses with 04e06fc7f6 confidence, Louis added,92544f1fb9dd213d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So, please, rest fbfb75cc9c assured. There’s absolutely 9a4725294d nothing to 3e76deeca6 worry about.”1250fcdf17ab982d

Mikhail clicked his tongue 6788834518 as he watched his 25d2ee792f new younger brother remain d8d547d812 frozen, pale as ever.8b8590e3ae48dbff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“A man 3ed995f1f5 with so e088fc0175 little composure—what b59cc91798 a shame.”de658c4ed5825768

The crackling of 7d041b6ef3 the cigar’s embers 7f0a9d41c6 filled the silence 79dbafdbae between the three f5b1655ee0 of them.bf32e0c12f8e9f1b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then Mikhail added:3985ceca65da3712

“Listen, Oliver—no, Charles. Do you think it’s possible to change your status in this kingdom of Verlene, no matter how hard you work your whole life?”cdf97a07fd995a06

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…B-but.”f2d68a33edd35d37

“But I, the Duke of Ophilenz, can turn your entire life upside down. And now is that moment.”410f4d52ba122ba5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Was he ae7aff17bc naïve, or 72742bc1c9 truly clueless 1b4f19be10 about how 751621465d the world b70df41fde worked?6dd862763865046b

Mikhail, for the e3dea170de first time, began 81123429dc to feel a a3b53a387c tinge of worry 7e33eeb403 for the boy, c4c3e9e225 whose pretty face cba1a24eda and pure innocence 9a58155f9d seemed to scream 49dd1bf12c vulnerability.1eb2e9f3327b4a94

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If you were a true member of the House of Ophilenz, you wouldn’t let an opportunity like this slip through your fingers. No, you’d claw your way to seize it at any cost.”cfc94e087b8dcf9e

Mikhail’s golden eyes b888109e05 bore into Oliver, 4a8efec620 whose sorrowful blue 0eea80249a ones glittered back b733fb9d3e in silent protest.a8538b8e5ad31638

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“So watch and learn. That’s the most fundamental condition of this contract: to become the perfect member of the House of Ophilenz.”6017e88b7d18ccf5

…This isn’t right, thought Oliver.a7ddf55a314cbc8b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No matter how much 8c183ff8a4 of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity da84a7df35 this seemed to be.4002316d72d47768

Pretending to be f381619146 a man—sure, he 1c09c639f3 could endure that. He’d already survived three 60f60884d9 years like that.27367314df2ecbd8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But standing in a676bff687 as the duke 47a8aab425 himself?cb909072dc063140

That meant entangling cf1ec2fdc3 with the princess.8b0b420f8a4feac3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Oliver’s lips 4d1e8ac70c moved unconsciously 264325389a as he b4aefb3fa9 struggled to 9223daca48 process the 3d65ca3677 overwhelming reality.dab55a8dfe2c4c17

Before he could utter 2395923952 a word, there was 4fb49f1ed0 a knock at the 0f0ee2e3aa door.bb81ec71af2dc04c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Alain entered 6c48cb7d34 with Melanie, 499df38074 and the 76525a18bc sight of 46a43e1a48 his sister a8e7e7cc0b made Oliver aac7a23252 freeze, holding f7f214553d his breath.32082f7ab91330ae

“Melanie…!”
“O-oliver.”334934a47b19fa9f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Mikhail, ever so graceful, 5db53fa56c stood up, as if 853787de80 to grant the siblings b492a4d103 some privacy for their b52688a3fd heartfelt reunion, which he 18a75a03d2 found too sentimental to 4d05fcb5ce watch.5f958237f5e4e51c

“Well then, we’ll continue this conversation tomorrow. Alain?”d515c723c02fb171

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, my lord.”04521206919e6e91

“See to the rest.”e564c41cac710ae5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Oliver could only d910509c7d stare, dumbfounded, as da5968213c Mikhail left with 878c4bea9b a radiant smile, 5cfe9e93fe moving with the 3ff98c3065 elegance of scattering 63d5305b7b light.375588723210ce3f

“For now, let me escort you two to a quieter space where you can talk,” Alain said.71506e2090aba116

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Oliver and Melanie aacd36ee89 followed Alain to 5e16acf7dd a room at 82464e6375 the end of c0e28572d6 the hallway.2d8f6a4f4d8d5e5d

“I’ll return shortly. Would you like tea and dessert?”e5ea02b7904cf848

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Oliver shook his head.15a80dd2ff929019

“…No, thank you.”33e56c5cede95fe0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After Alain ad2a7cda30 left and fbf49e9ca2 the door a4ebba8950 closed, Melanie, b47a058466 still trembling, 59349b856e looked around 3d8f49fa2b the room 36b6b557fa nervously before b530df1750 speaking.f2c5e5d66ada50dd

“W-what happened, sister?”5ec790bfb221c9b5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Despite Melanie’s quivering 88f34fb029 voice, Oliver couldn’t 75842bf97e answer.cca27dc3a4c60b6d

‘Remember, this 2db3ba1106 is a b63d0aa4b5 contract you 30d6e00432 chose to 6fdaaadc38 accept’754fdf0f81d90b1b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Mikhail’s firm, almost damning 0ad28b2a0d words echoed heavily in ea216acd27 Oliver’s mind.f3ce169a7384fa5f

Oliver had anticipated 017770991e some kind of 8211fbd00a deal, but not edf70412e8 something of this 8dde70c9d0 magnitude.8e43de693ad5e074

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She bit c2b4c1d4ac his nails, 136f359d03 trying to 867fe343e2 piece together a3a3450444 a plan, 7819fed72a but the c441dba923 weight of 429ca4038c the situation 00df7e5545 crushed any 6971847543 clarity of 9ba71847f0 thought.23c4253caba9ec8e

Dragging her hand ff1d1e2b18 roughly over her c711ec07db face, Oliver finally 12b78d9f61 asked Melanie:8b28941abd808968

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Your body—”957cc1154b4cb4df

“Huh?”87f57118db21aae1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”36a379308e52f97a

Melanie shook ca6f88fad5 her head.11fb750b8986d218

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Not at all. I’m fine. But I was scared when Madam suddenly called me out and put me in a carriage.”647db94b76cf7e0c

“And then?”1d9f806f9908104f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t know. The curtains in the carriage were all drawn. We drove for a long time and then stopped somewhere. That butler came to fetch me.”5832df417fca5199

Her voice e0a7118cd3 trembled as d765fb5462 she recounted 41d9f2f58f the strange 6a96f9f3b1 series of ec281a4394 events.98c538a23a3ff37a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“He told me not to worry anymore. That the Duke of Ophilenz had kindly arranged for me to work here at Violette Castle as a maid.”9a4be0679ce95f1a

“…A maid? A job?”47877fbf3d87e2de

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For someone 868c52c0b3 like Melanie, ff94632bc9 an immigrant b6b1e1a789 with an 5c4405c0c1 ambiguous status, a53fe15887 getting hired b53f73fde2 as a a478759fa1 maid for a1e33c703b the prestigious f6cde6c695 House of 494b6b8f1f Ophilenz—especially at f67f8d4335 Violette Castle—was 528d54ab61 nothing short 20c529abba of a 4f47f0e96a miracle.22d4367cec0e3880

With tears in 598a036ca1 her eyes, Melanie d2eba009ca grabbed Oliver’s hands, 9ae78f8bc9 her voice wavering.149be72baa8f424f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sister, can you believe it? Me, a maid for such a grand family. You don’t have to suffer anymore!”a33cbb7a4004603a

That’s when 1ee2b6e4a6 Oliver realized—dca4d50e746e0c8b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

…She’d fallen right into the dazzling web Mikhail had spun.566bf33f158d4569

Melanie, oblivious b836ab79a9 to it 8416c2a9c6 all, kept 93e43bf0eb asking questions, ef31c98d9c her face b39f779240 brimming with 05f0ba9cbf gratitude.2414f5588359923d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What about you? How did you get here? Are they giving you a job too?”90f7e295883189a2

Unable to stand 5e5aa3b846 any longer, Oliver 6fff506d8e collapsed onto a 6d72ac6909 velvet chair in 69bd23175f the room.676daa0764d0faaf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Sister!”f3d75ccca215359c

Melanie exclaimed, rushing to 980763819e support her, alarmed.8d3ab5b54b1b3e62

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Shh! Don’t call me ‘sister’!”c32e308caad45412

Oliver pressed her 235f211418 parched lips together 4441bb8448 and looked at 379a3f695b Melanie with sharp, 9354edc97d wary eyes.9ed8a9a020bb507a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“S-sister—”092d0160458aff6a

“Under no circumstances can the Duke find out that I’m a woman, Melanie. No one in this castle can know. Do you understand?”
Tl/N: Okay so 2d85d12802 this chapter was a68a54ae67 escpecially harder to 115325fdde translate considering this 12161ede03 chapter had multipple 8a54b6b7b4 povs and without 5f7e2b379a page breaks or 89eee1c62e anything. I tried 688f7c4934 my hardest e67c817214 to make 3eee38fced it not cc5926816d look weird 36abe107e5 but this 6eddc4cc86 chapter was f02a9aff1e half? In Alain’s pov 86edce9e5c and half in 16ed9a1b70 Ml’s and then 683ff48a0f last part was 9cb8c5c2a7 in Emma’s so 0d731ddba4 it was a 5ddf4834f5 little diffcultc7e28f31d33285be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley