Chapter 12. The New Young Master

At the sound 860b09a86e of knocking, Emma 5e03b6f295 pressed a finger d2a28f3121 to her lips 77f17ba665 and glanced at 822393d83e Melanie.d481e3360ae8603a

“Wipe your tears, c661d25bc5 Melanie.”9f727da4041f51cf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“But, sister…”dafb4a2b9e590daa

Seeing Melanie 68863d7c76 still trembling 2617b80317 with emotion, 84dfd193bc Emma spoke 2e7b99e00e firmly.22bdb66aa4188eb1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Listen carefully, Melanie. If we stay 85f0a18101 calm, a solution e920147a96 will come.”7994312e7fb979fe

In truth, ebc35fe8aa Emma’s mind 6177d76e96 had been be989c8241 blank for 91633d0d99 quite some 88ea06cc93 time, like e35a72bf38 a sheet 9bdb7c2070 of bleached 66c76234fc paper.91e793eefdbdff2c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But if she allowed 28129e12b3 herself to falter in 30f5c70ad2 front of Melanie, the 4b6dbcd049 absurd contract with the ead848ffb2 Duke would collapse entirely, 86276a4806 leaving them without recourse.2691704567f87997

Though the 913b5f20ad kingdom of f348164ccf Verrena had 391e45b0dd seen an cc2533e383 increase in 6f95987ba0 freemen, the c6a65177bc crime of 398884f5f9 insulting nobility 831ca01fb5 still carried f295b4d8d4 severe consequences.1146bb2c96e42ed7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In the b8e42e8a8a worst case, 7b9a2f7b3a Emma could 2efb8387f2 picture herself 1eb5a7e462 dangling from 70ac639288 the gallows, 851807e57a her throat 02380f7c2b constricted by f62ad14827 the noose.ee153c87f2f4932b

So for a4aea14b79 now, her 8e0cf5d783 only choice ad95f49d8d was to 7dcb00f7a9 endure until 53d4eaa941 she could 4bb2ec6c5c devise a f5033c74da way out—at c38d77aced least before 548b6a43f5 the noose c9a60de4bd tightened.a624b46fec157d01

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Do you trust a4eee97edb me?”df2e5a4398a63894

Melanie nodded 23e85f3f12 fervently, without 1c21ddd2c3 hesitation.05c704702d020e82

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, sister.”8793af16f1f79a44

“No. From now on, there dcfe4c37be is no sister Emma. I’m your brother, Oliver, 843a693b9f no matter what.”e8218a5d7fa2a6fb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Repeating the same words ac80fc17e3 she had spoken three 8a50060a7f years ago when they 5b6915ef85 boarded the smuggling ship e742b8ae19 to Verrena, Emma gently 14bd03cce3 stroked Melanie’s cheek.26bfeaf3b377227e

“One more thing.”157a87fe065d45f0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Emma’s expression 884043b32f grew solemn.d6375da6e1db8536

“Everything must remain 74f9dd7089 a secret. The moment the 253950fe89 contract with the c3e1c5d423 Duke is revealed, 421e6f7b14 it’s over for 73dab7f38d both of us.”64ad57618c242b41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The knocking 4913099b0d came again, 8531d64f5f more insistent e4be508613 this time. Emma stood 89993b2ab8 slowly and 0800b89e56 answered in a473266d28 a low 28e61bbfa1 voice.18a3b4dead96d946

“Come in.”92097a8592dfcf8c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The door opened, ab5e3c3240 and Alain stepped de83a66878 inside.4353ae8c6d1ddabe

“I’ve brought some clothes. For now, I’ve 39806d273a prepared something to 3e55d2b6d6 fit you approximately, fe01cb5345 but tomorrow we’ll 3789088be4 summon a tailor c3adfedd7a to take precise 27881220e0 measurements. I hope b31a8a1574 you won’t 145b64238f find it 08fed89101 too uncomfortable, 08a61334d0 young master.”41c375ee5ac0f797

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Emma was briefly startled b3625d2fa4 by Alain’s flawless, formal fd837772f6 demeanor, but she soon 1ddf5a0222 nodded and replied softly.5064684545a71faa

“I’ve accepted 3e904420b2 the Duke’s 584987b910 command to 70ec5fcf08 become a 563918d685 noble. From now on, please a946256cf9 treat me as such.”c7983f1eb38b5740

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Alain’s eyes 3c1b6c0d2d widened briefly df2de9b4fb before returning 559cc1584b to their a0150c2a57 calm state. He gave a 0e19b739e2 polite nod of 54fa4e4842 acknowledgment.ca3b47c12405690d

“Of course, b478c579df young master.”91f00a573f6adfbb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Thank you, Alain. Melanie, could you 6e8bc6db42 take the clothes, 2c1ef275b1 please?”a50250ae2c85f61f

It was surprising how d928aae666 useful her experience working e6d6c8bb08 under Madame Charlotte—catering to 5898a40658 the whims of the b52fc8156e aristocracy—was proving.61d87c13546fe6d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Melanie, equally adept at cdee4dd243 reading the room, quickly 27341c8131 composed herself, even as c7cd04859b her eyes still glistened 60fb6564ca red. She answered cheerfully.3d1b1f1e50c86772

“Yes, young master.”abfde642e8149f35

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Alain smiled in 25f5cdb1ed satisfaction, clearly impressed e8a3b56e4e by the new 1a2eae7b0d young master’s composure. Little did he a44a4d1bef know that this 9febe3ee1a young master was 79a8241932 trembling inwardly.70467cfe816ae546

Emma swallowed an 3d27120109 invisible sigh. Only her 42bd2ee5ac practiced habit 27cef1571d of maintaining 093e63bf70 a neutral 397e0f643a expression kept d4670fbd47 her inner 1e3ade7483 turmoil from 5932f15eb9 showing.049e31b91e00c575

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Melanie took the df62ce5762 clothes and began hanging b99f9cb053 them up, Emma spoke 84bad3e9b1 first.c1cea30d0f37d92e

“As you’ve probably gathered 0dc102f794 from my conversation with 4a89c9cc81 the Duke, I’m not 4f7bfb7182 accustomed to having help 4282f98ecd when dressing. Additionally, due to 72bc37a592 some… scars on f27421e44f my body…”5f37e52cf7a2fc8c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ah, yes, 35285773ea young master.”091d16045f028603

“Therefore, I’d prefer a5aef34142 for Melanie to 3d4e29610b assist me with 8b7e5a92df such tasks. She is 2aae8ee176 officially a 2d8233f5c4 maid here, 30a95db971 and I 33a7ef780f feel comfortable 0ab770e48e entrusting her 25ab6fddce with my 34712e952f care.”799a9d611b3a7d0e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Emma added with 47860bcd63 a pointed tone.4a7e4dda17b84e7d

“That would also prevent 43267d87ea any unfortunate rumors from 6f1b164bfc spreading.”895c902027058fe5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After all, it was 43e80d0ca2 well known that most 7c0795f86c of a noble household’s a6d8529758 gossip flowed from the 3bf40cf45d mouths of the maids—a 506d329d7f fact Emma had learned 78fab17f32 from her time at 4d7576bddf Madame Charlotte’s shop.960d64fedd49db98

Alain nodded thoughtfully and e3ee5868ce replied with a deep b9f4adfb6c bow.34c3621e94d5ef62

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“An excellent suggestion. It shall be 4e11806639 as you wish, 4583e28f74 young master.”ec33432d7fad9076

Emma, or c0d591c729 rather Charles, a4ce7d8979 smiled inwardly. Her plan to d6dad36868 have Melanie stay 37eafa41a6 by her side 3994c2f92b had been accepted dfdda81c73 without resistance.91255517c5857150

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Alain, meanwhile, 5c422483b7 seemed optimistic 19572ee57c about the 9e5c3ffd9a transformation of 4d33abac5e this young 5129373d59 master into 33091161c9 a proper 28a5e2cf0c noble. He carefully placed a 5483fd60de bundle of documents on 094bf5c452 the side table and 988bb61525 said:8c8cbc0b83472be6

“These are the 8723a74540 personal records for 14abef8522 Charles de Ophilenz, 6c213d7e38 young master. Even the staff 2379d6253e at Violet Castle d454b0d538 are unaware of 5fb15b99c7 your existence. Once preparations 2612792ee0 are complete, 79d7f21582 I’ll discreetly e74f67e98a spread word ba9be80a77 of your 07c33fc9ae presence at 364efe66f4 the appropriate 84d15c7b76 time.”b58e3e6eaa99ef84

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Emma glanced at 48ba0bedc5 the thick stack 4510db4292 of papers and 0cf41e8369 raised an eyebrow. Alain quickly continued.91f9c5b2a78d2a31

“Would a week be fe9d6db6f8 enough time for you 6ca21b230a to review everything?”9887a8f75ce7d85e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A week?”ec6295ee5e8fd199

The young master’s 7efc44b611 sharp question made 2b8d9f52c6 Alain hesitate, but 3f55fcdbe6 he nodded, as 42457aeb1b if assuming agreement.df5dab0c8893fdcf

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, yes, bde610af3c perhaps a 17c4c68d9a week is e3918ca37b too short, 77fa18dae6 considering the 7fadddc159 amount of ab3e43fd49 material…”4bd5696272c7b267

“One day.”38a4bd3c62cf60c3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Pardon?”17490fa6d6730555

“One day will suffice.”2872b23908f6b404

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Emma clarified, 82da9f03a2 leaving Alain 94229ae346 too stunned 970df40e7b to respond 8396b1b0ce immediately.dc7182c7b012ef2e

“The Duke said d72045d8aa he would meet d50a570295 me again tomorrow, 057c31d18c did he not? I need to 5ae701c0e1 present myself as 38972a9ed7 someone who has 373be2b06a already changed. That will please 5c1e2ead45 him, will it 8f933e6e48 not?”cb00afc1f0c760a2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well, yes, that’s true, 5d63004fe0 but…”3ab496f8088ef5fc

Emma knew this was 526d7eac2e a gamble.fe483d02637a6f3c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Right now, winning 2ccd53baae the trust of a3aae23fce Mikhail de Ophilenz 85772e1da1 was imperative.96ce6745a992cf7f

When it bf8e52bdb4 came to e072d5df1d dealings with b5cec53600 nobles, trust 298a7a99e1 was the d416685d83 most valuable 29a04cc06e currency. Once earned, it c28b3ff539 allowed you to 5d2d3c24cf sell even the 320d181327 most expensive wares 7996fc8f6f with ease.8627443004fdf50a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So Emma 6cefc598e3 decided to ef207baf2b think of 94d2216ed0 herself as 01330e7e39 a valuable 5d9d2349f8 item for b2cae8443d sale.9ee9ca5f1234b22d

If the Duke trusted 87e7970b8d her, it would open 99ba232416 the door to future 76b3d6bb7d opportunities—and to saving Melanie.169db78cd21870fc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Memorizing the details in c62bcaa009 those papers within a 3ecbf079b5 single day? That was the least 0363af7cfc of her concerns.e65acc5cb21076cf

Turning to 7ebef7eb5b the still-flustered 708067dcd8 Alain, Emma—or 57501ae2c3 Charles—issued a 67a630fc38 calm order.5d84c1acd2702e79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You may d4c79e0d94 leave now.”81b4186aad90a758

* * *5900247e48d5dde5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Mikhail reclined in f814bc820d the steaming bath, a0a9415316 lighting a cigar ce567d7a93 as the heat 7a485a302a seeped into his 57ba7987d6 weary body.044ee2353e3d6e81

Soon, the d8f9f9c25f bittersweet aroma b1b28bcc48 of chocolate 153c54b144 mingled with 4021e96ca6 the almond 1ddf2b143d notes of dc35bb7389 the cigar, c9dd7e89de wafting through 70c7a3a76d the humid ac3bb9994a air.22d038128782e46a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He inhaled deeply, letting 0dbb2d0696 the scents envelop him, d9996ac668 and slid languidly further c05c02d5e6 into the water. Exhaustion from sleepless d6dae69178 nights caused by e025fb78a2 the scandal with 7c9abff11b Princess Isabella slowly ebd7cf56b4 began to dissipate bbec4b69f2 in the soothing b5d39d0b79 warmth.be749410dd1564af

“Phew.”9358f5183818cdff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Droplets of f5359af979 water clung b6213aee00 to the 5c389c7a09 sapphire ring 597ed69c67 still on a8c49b8e73 his finger, 04c30c8298 catching the 1f3bacfb4a dim light c6b5e4a9eb and teasing d33bf1dee2 his hazy acf7fc6760 vision.ec51f8116ccc03c3

As the light refracted, 373ff3d03f it reminded Mikhail of aea6c93665 something even brighter—Oliver’s strikingly ecd4ecc5e0 deep blue eyes. A chuckle escaped his 17d84df011 lips.beec61b8bdff5add

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Such pretty eyes. I bet 4151b88494 he’s made 9c7ef30cab quite a d6851e3e01 few women 55b52c670f cry with e5bb6b33ce those.”65137e7108411d19

In all his 6a38a20f62 life, he had 5778fbc066 never seen such 7784e14942 clear, striking blue 3bcb925b14 eyes on another 8038029dea man.72eae341cabf4684

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A beauty b806987e8e so exquisite aba4d72172 that even 89dc5a8dca someone like 5fea29d0c4 Mikhail, who 3bf548dc2c had an 1c08ea1845 undeniable weakness 3ba7ae2275 for beautiful 46d787c75b things, found fb29db3423 himself coveting f12cc8d718 it.deb7e0cfab19b62b

He smirked mischievously, dc79bd24f5 amused at the 9ce2ab45be thought that even 53ad845fef Isabella might lose ad3838f348 her composure in dbec66c62d the face of ca7a7d9274 Charles’ good looks.5fce83b3a762ff4d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your Grace, ca3f56a56d it’s Alain.”f797547bead4658f

“Hmm. Come in.”b600bbbce52be7de

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Alain stepped into the 26f9c67c1b room, the thick steam d7c80bce0c swirling around him as d0693beafa he stopped near the 0e3b17d149 door, clearing his throat.fede9920d2cce7af

“How’s my new little 8cb75a59af brother? Still a bit lost, ebc09c88a2 is he?”f1044d27b66fe8ed

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, not exactly.”5d36421c56e021d8

“…?”83bd95ecd12f3108

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Mikhail’s golden f11a02ea57 eyes narrowed 9efc3566e4 slightly.df19dbfe69ec38db

“What is it? Don’t tell me 40e3eeb921 he’s sitting around 8e757dd3be crying like some 0ec4f370e4 girl.”e1d46a4ff70dfb16

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Not at all.”5b02790377cd41aa

After a efe5c5d594 brief pause, 69927bef16 Alain spoke.e90bfb005428abf9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’ll need to f9df1213f5 formally introduce him 53c75e2ff4 to Lady Gabriella 31f7d1d601 sooner or later. Perhaps tomorrow d896a42888 evening, during 60ff6030db dinner?”69cf4f2886a045ae

Mikhail waved his 3cae83d5d0 cigar-wielding hand dismissively.735090abe33313aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you eb71b1e2be think I e734a86211 don’t know 9b666ca237 Gabi’s temperament? If she sees 725e55afcc him falter even 4adc287238 slightly, she’ll only 63363cebbc make things worse. Leave it for now. He needs 3b41046b8f more time 8200b888c0 to adjust.”746697d0d9629bd5

Alain shrugged.95a9fd36fc0bfaa4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Well, there’s 39a7afa4a8 only a 592528a670 month left ba7f89f1ed until Her 223061cd24 Highness’s birthday 374e56acb5 party. It would 31d7744c34 be wise 475c5e9000 to move 2fda63d53d quickly.”c0c882db19db5dcd

Mikhail took 9798e3d90a another deep 47e8914ed9 drag from d7442e707e his cigar, 17cb390d6d the complexities b374015cee of the 75d63f8d5c situation weighing dd0be18247 on him 7d8012457b again.e862a6c47af92181

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’re right about that. I’ll need c919d2041a to teach 33a686a6bf him etiquette 9cd2268d4c for the d9aec7d80a party, not f3a925bb1f to mention ef94a395d0 basic dances 97d46e0eca and even 980dd2d216 light political d465e8b538 banter.”a281176c00404635

His perfectly sculpted b110191dbc brow furrowed.18d1464abec5672f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t tell me 2266fca438 I have to 11cf32d729 teach him poker 2020b3e1d6 too? Even back-alley urchins know fc8ce59d70 how to play poker.”c31824827f1bf1e3

Before the cigar ash fb5aa22841 could fall into the 561662375d fragrant bathwater, Alain deftly f51b6e8a66 caught it on a 5890a0b473 small tray and replied.6cdfb8b9e906f03b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The sooner the 7165986e33 lessons start, the 8736ec2e66 better. Why not teach him b574994187 yourself, Your Grace?”2293116df7ee80de

“Me?”9f3858aa60a9ec2d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Would you rather I df9a71507c do it?”5c42f81f5b6ef532

“I’ve already arranged 212a6efce1 for Louis to 210521ba48 handle it.”82a85355da695e57

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Alain narrowed his eyes, b2257e7258 clearly dissatisfied with Mikhail’s b1d9283cfa choice.7feb2accf8b9863b

“If you think 0cd4babc01 the young master’s a9ea21b71c handsome face alone 906b61595a will win Her c88ade7072 Highness’s heart, you’re 9a5f596e54 gravely mistaken.”6c4b4de2da75505c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Mikhail let out a 17b85ebc3d soft laugh.fb5d844154a59e98

“You really don’t c480bed471 understand Isabella, Alain. That woman would chase 374c35898e after a chimney sweep ca31318684 if he had a 467c7e3327 face like his. She doesn’t care about b1b3f58155 anything else.”
“Even so, she 44747e218d has a surprisingly 47fdcda0b0 discerning eye. After all, she fell 62a06f948c for you, didn’t she? He’ll need to 8267c6bb12 be flawless.”
“Fair point.”e58803bf4ad17792

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Alain stroked his 25fd2909c8 neatly trimmed beard a3e958486c thoughtfully.862c4d4ff72b4aee

“From what I’ve 8fc7614670 seen, the basics 62026da283 are there. All that’s d7dc080b31 left is 148579533d to polish d04052fec5 him.”bd14f4457ed42a3a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Polish him?”d7953afed474a7cd

“Well, if there’s one 06bcf1036a thing Your Grace is 10b5b94b8e an expert at, it’s 85f7891f03 that.”16bb8c6124855507

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 7c1d6906aee67f3b