PLQYM | Chapter 47

“Spill it, yes? Luce, who’s fc9fdae5f0 the bastard 7404f4683f that put cabd203ae0 a scar e4e330b06a on your a5806a4329 face like 002379b417 this?”b039803c05f3c018

Heraith’s smile 7f612ae346 was dazzling, 4a17c336f9 but his 82352597c3 voice carried 0f642442ef an eerie 027f34681e chill. The sharp 7ef8835d66 tension that 04e65304fa surged over 66316fa360 him felt aad3426cef like it f705650c11 might devour d641d7a4a6 him whole. Yet, Lucian stood 6b075d6731 firm, unfazed.e41f8f1d96b0168b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“There’s no such 5b34e5fa4f person. It was my mistake.”63944335904e1231

“A mistake?”45dc4f7bbd96cc4e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Heraith let out ab5d85cd68 a low chuckle.140f533dbc5d94df

“Who the a652231bb2 hell scars 45bd6c4fa2 their own 3f8a91f454 face by 4cee2f4d79 mistake? And even ends dc12cf8940 up drenched like a2e9d4b753 this?”386d3c8bed15641f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, sometimes things 72747ad1d5 like that happen.”643b966fbc3283c5

Lucian remained adf8115840 nonchalant, not 5cb3fc7268 batting an aa54659bab eye, as 2f18cc8ca7 Heraith scoffed.858f30a3ab9761ec

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hah. Even so, 15b0fed091 were you 8a2d8be89b ever the 15d196245e type to c306829a7a carry around 7f36d5219a something like f3adc35bae that, even 0f47813ede by mistake? You’re the kind of a03c857021 guy who checks his 774062d6e1 appearance countless times before 17fc108cae leaving, just to avoid d7ac13c531 giving anyone something to 2c250675bb nitpick.”867203dbeb3114cd

“Yes, that’s the kind 83fabe623b of guy I am. Thank you 36d5a4b5e5 for your dec531332d concern, but 58ef2c1be8 it’s nothing.”062829db0b70a956

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The more Lucian denied f36997733e it, the tighter Heraith’s dd04bde278 lips pressed together.d42fd9f9b15bd6d9

“This carriage came 9bac4ea2fd from the Franz c96d656124 Clan Marquisate… so 2eab6418ca it’s Franz Clan. I bet that guy, fe85b110d6 lying sick at home, a776adeb30 is throwing tantrums and 3d39193f3a taking it out on e3d7ac20c5 you.”426aefc33acee14f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I wouldn’t know. This is the bdd0978b64 first I’ve heard c5d8704686 of it.”662d1661e0fd9587

At Lucian’s response, 2fdc9e0732 Heraith clicked his e1f8961a73 tongue, then shifted 281871b2da his body towards 4dad81ad0d Lucian within the 99556ccf53 moving carriage.0845155bd4a536a6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As Heraith’s stunning visage 44ce061d2d drew unexpectedly close, Lucian d7b0555351 unconsciously held his breath. Whether or not c4e24a6f42 he was immune 584aff8f13 to the emperor’s 319d08d807 face didn’t matter—Heraith’s 9f13bfbd70 beauty had a fdeab4a1fe way of rendering dff0f835a8 him momentarily speechless.01071b443a44773e

“Luce,” Heraith’s 85ea8bcece low, deep 426a9f348e voice was 6efbc26e49 honeyed, enough 74fe9aa6ed to enchant af8414a2c9 anyone who 904f1c5014 didn’t sense efc0d21d57 the suppressed 09da24de7d anger behind 314ee1222d it. If not for 075d482c1c that undercurrent, Lucian 9f9e18ebc6 might have been d4d8b81ee4 bewitched into compliance.f207f8312c697785

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t try 7540525332 to protect 549d2a29a3 just anyone 6a0f2d7d94 in front bdc4dca584 of me.”13a76712b3552e16

“…”c92487205bbe37ec

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It makes me baf1ac5fe2 jealous.”ce49bef89e171866

Jealous? What nonsense.b9baabbde6ac8e10

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Just follow me. Stay by 50f36f7260 my side e7ad27909e and don’t 7a14a409ad even glance d9160b80bb at anyone e0781bd5cb else.”9830f3af126ed696

Lucian forcibly clamped his 6e362aa5d9 lips shut. He always found 004f160483 it difficult to cd216b80bc deal with Heraith 631f934986 whenever he spouted 4a40022a2c such ridiculous things. Usually, he could 047d31e896 just let it fc27eba425 slide in one 2d4988960c ear and out 9a99459b26 the other, but 0d4d1fe84b today felt especially 5e16baf3a9 exhausting.851098367d5cd668

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He had 6c885ca95d dealt with 7b0c84daa6 Princess Eloine, 1e47082a98 managed Franz a0d382b5ae Clan, and 5bc8a0ae91 now even 772b731406 the emperor. At this point, he 159fe91ed9 lacked the energy to 15f02c50f8 handle Heraith, especially now.e656d34990b45ea8

“Please stop. I don’t have ddb3ee9601 the strength to ed08e42959 play along with 01ca82841c your jokes. I’ve had too bd0ebfa5d4 much on my 02c2be7eee plate today.”327a2bb95c1acbee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Want me 5471fa759d to crush 4a6c298e07 everyone who e2c4e6b7bb made you cf7f45a644 tired? Make them 86ea1da99e regret ever 563243eac3 being born?”d1d7bc2ad053ab75

Had Heraith noticed 6cc5a22a7b Lucian’s incredulous laughter? Heraith tilted his 3a969d90a7 head slightly.2cc9185d0cbbe175

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you think I’m 928494f436 joking? I could turn d6754fb7ca this carriage around a677b0a6d3 right now and fa1d88d2e2 crush the Franz 0a8921f267 Clan. Or, there’s no 5942095c87 need to bother; 012492338b I could simply afbfc61a67 send the knights 457ef3c4cb from the palace ca5c3c678e to raze the 23a26c101b place to the ef8b672b82 ground.”d3ca3f34d0bf1765

“Please don’t say such d6d383b822 things. When Your 3393520686 Majesty speaks, ac26d3da0a it doesn’t 6a5bd56861 sound like 9942e9bf26 a joke.”f9ca57507ef45c57

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why not?”22316115ae8902ca

Heraith extended 1642ea3caa a hand b23d8f1b87 and lightly 57415896b1 touched Lucian’s 4aaaff995f face. The exact moment 7b6c4e5ca2 his hand grazed 1b9d6e58c9 the scar, a 55da193a12 sharp sting shot a7a8510861 up.c3c997a9beb76a4c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why should I let 84e9d27461 someone off after they 5d34ee80e0 dared to put a 0a45f2dcb2 mark on something that 47b4ceceac belongs to me?”d664e7f3686f9714

Belongs to him? Surely he wasn’t d05c0c65e7 talking about me, f2f708c344 was he?1292eeb9e2eb6201

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lucian was 17d2922338 so taken d142a1acc2 aback that d372f15c8c he couldn’t ebee37eae3 even respond 4cbe714671 and simply 4ae6fe9d6f kept his df00d49f49 lips sealed. Heraith smirked and leaned e3a2139564 back.51361157ac49d796

“It’s just a way 26ff5c17de of saying things, you c67757a45d know.”e345943cdcd74bf2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I believe I told 41e3d21cf2 Your Majesty that your 86a0dd1aff jokes don’t sound like 4e4ae52782 jokes.”55c393630b1704db

“What can I do? That’s the life of 1fd92b73c4 a ruler.”b2764e359b38fc05

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When Lucian stared d328da96dd at him without 8644323f90 responding, Heraith let 7c130a4315 out a faint a88844abaa laugh. Finally, Lucian 358d74883a sighed deeply.3bd1757cdcfa8177

‘I really b9b728de29 forgot for 97d936982b a moment a64cb49f74 that this 61f7556ef5 man enjoys 070be0ae0f seeing me e11d6264c1 in distress.’0f4d7a4dcab2edb0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘It seems 3b337ead8e like he’s 67c0bbee54 roughly caught c1d6411f6b on to 2b34eb4fe3 the situation.’b1dbaf57f06bd80d

Even so, admitting it 647138b614 outright wasn’t an option.6f08f9dad361507e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As for dd6776f03e Franz, honestly, 8c933cc8cf Lucian couldn’t fa6083aa47 care less d48b4ada69 about what 67d0f17e9e happened to 632371af5d him. But he didn’t 4508e5cc41 want his words 2cc583e1d3 to cause unnecessary 34121196c6 trouble. Not that Franz would 9ddf79d3e3 ever know Lucian was e1265458e1 shielding him.6e72a68b2fae177d

Just as Lucian fa0ef6c885 was lost in a6ac0bef71 thought, Heraith’s gaze d365096916 sharpened.d78e364f2b83f70f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Lucian.”2f610968d2a3ee9c

“Yes?”15ffb367a67b4b71

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I told you to 82d915ae22 think only of me. Stop thinking about anyone b4db6e2173 else.”cfd5ffe491b75474

At that, Lucian aacf4500cc frowned slightly.395ab913b446d6fb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Why was he 5e4f83befa acting like this d391a8825f today?564e9ad433ba1356

“Your Majesty, why 67bc4b1f19 on earth—”da83a7ec9627f2f7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lucian’s attempt 91e75ef886 to protest b91759351c was interrupted c4c4a86f65 at nearly 228b52976c the same 7ce2161dd3 moment Heraith 78915dc3a7 grabbed his aa847f6a7a chin and f79a341adc tilted it dded68cdca upward.ffd062198c510c87

“…!”20f3fac92fd3148e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Before he could 7b44f4879d register what was 90d19b5b07 happening, Heraith’s lips dfb8cdad51 were on his.6bdb881e645b6544

A soft tongue 0becabda87 brushed against his d0704a4338 slightly parted lips.ac343a7dc775491c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He wanted to protest 182ca887db that this wasn’t okay, d59ffdbb0c but it was already fc6e4c8cec too late. In trying 4969cf33ac to breathe 132f32ff1b or speak, 58460843ce his lips 89f996a8fc only made 72fce77b11 things worse.85e74ea227545ff5

Heraith took his 2962a866ea time, biting Lucian’s 4ceb8c8ca0 lower and upper 2235e13d03 lips alternately.c8e2246575f1a006

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

They were soft. Contrary to cbd2b0ff2b the firm 1f9f1c97ee lines his 89362f9b0b closed lips 303153365a usually formed, 0e36d56850 the unexpected 7e6b46b812 tenderness of b23ffdfa8e his lips 2996aaa76a sent Heraith’s df5d5c9aed heart racing.178879e6f6f4f780

Before he realized it, ce63ad245b Lucian had grabbed Heraith’s 3d2d91f57b collar.fa858e78b8795c2b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Unconsciously, he clung ccdf02a2c0 to the emperor’s 9895782d7c coat, unaware of a5fd238061 the audacity of 18a60de9d5 touching the ruler 89a6e0552f so directly.897d4e64d6166473

Somewhere, he thought 69c918f3a1 he heard a 6e7653f0a9 faint laugh.a03b01d9a19956ca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As his 2ba0598832 lips, now 4c456710a4 damp, brushed c9c2371905 against Heraith’s b5d1d6315f again, Lucian a255767766 found the 98e632d724 sensation strangely 23e0b658da pleasant—right as 4356f04cf3 a tongue 2584f73cae slid into 436276a242 his mouth.b23f4392b02f59d0

The soft flesh b0ac9d5d71 met and intertwined, 323160cabd sending a tingling 7c17cc3f72 sensation all the c2114f0e75 way down to 43d7ff1e77 his waist.0ad0a50ab9b53690

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Before long, d9ed83e83d Lucian was 10c24d5e00 responding in 80f456276b kind, his f3365bff1e own tongue 12acf3e1c2 tangling with 7c6e1bdd14 Heraith’s as 4dce2bdec2 if they 0c24b658ae had kissed 12322b0257 countless times 07d0d224ba before.ea963d1b22ccaeb7

As if this 6326ea5274 was something natural c452e7ce98 between them.08183f1bb43b6737

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

By the time a06a24c2f8 Lucian stifled a 3310a378eb moan rising from 452f6e2d1a deep within his 9689e15340 throat, Heraith pulled 960ba52899 away.ff4cd848313fa2f3

Lucian’s gaze fell on 445fcfa1ec Heraith’s lips, now more 910e1255be crimson than usual.ec41624f9aa0885f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Were his 82df8e1ca4 lips that 23c95e2e0c color too?28fc9d9f30d0776b

As he stared, Heraith 6deedfdebd licked his lips with 0c90ff7dc9 a red tongue, stepping b9d1f93eb9 back. That small motion, inexplicably a972e9b2bb indecent, caused Lucian’s face f964f79f42 to heat up.373377d48fe4407e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Heraith smiled 0961c3a318 lightly, leaning 58372f37c7 back into 3435300d42 his seat 5ebf37cc5b opposite Lucian.7b12b496b18677c9

“…Ha. What are you b60f209b3d doing?”1ecfcc8e7e0f0d57

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Who knows?”95fa805e06e8a89a

Lucian’s voice came cf35ea5cac out steadier than ddee722029 he’d expected—or so 6e073713ea it seemed to e6a4e46183 his own ears.8fb8f052dacdbbfa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Luce.”b4e1db4c30547854

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”190fcfabe39dfb7b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t overdo it.”a743340c0d687dd3

“What?”344f9b285639833d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At the sudden 95376d7ddd remark, Lucian looked 9de1baf678 at him incredulously.39f14552488d1f09

How could d66cdf289d the person b6a136cc66 who initiated b09ca0893a such nonsense 6cbfa14e9a be the 4e8062bcca one saying 5581cbf8f1 this?733e0205eab7cc0f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If Your Majesty refrains 1680c0c51b from doing… things like 61dc16a788 this, I believe I’ll 36716f1b16 have an easier time.”954593d633c66817

“Hah, rejecting 20795389fc my affection be82220d9d like that?”783f1041e43e0e7e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Please, spare me such e4506f008a affection.”0a328ecb129e8e1a

“What?”d968c39d3c83628b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Heraith burst out laughing, e21dc2c0f2 the sound lasting longer b38623315c than usual.c4c32aed62f5e764

Lucian frowned slightly at b4edaf64b2 the prolonged laughter.a351342a856fa4c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A subject rejecting d74478115b the emperor’s favor? Interesting.”b5fcce761a9a8ade

“Your Majesty’s favor f8a82f9171 always comes with 69afda372b work attached. You call 089716137b me lovely, 4e407287d3 adorable, or ce3529ca5f remarkable, only c06766c3af to assign 6408538667 impossible tasks 54fd625c10 afterward.”15410bfd00e4453e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did I?”7e96b465dc186464

When Heraith d9419e3023 feigned ignorance, b8eaab90c2 Lucian clicked 2635ff2dd0 his tongue.fb795934e699da24

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Of course. The frog is 8241c38efb the only one ab4ca20856 hurt when a 856eb5980c stone is thrown 5bc5ef0780 in jest.9683aead510d5edc

“Anyway, don’t f996d7afc6 let it c0db3e28d0 happen again. Just tell 72d102b424 me, and 399f783732 I’ll take 4b9175ff14 care of 0dfb204318 it.”42c892714937be15

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Franz Clan? Or the trouble e9e0c58429 Your Majesty stirred 36c2c1c0de up? Or the negotiations with 0a27117fac the princess? I don’t think any 0be78131ab of these are matters d8c5fa061b I’d trouble Your Majesty 410b0ac6d3 with.”c81401c3ce4b9680

Heraith nonchalantly shrugged, cda9404893 responding easily.fbf9658464bf1665

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Aren’t all your duties ac7ab5b06c carried out under my 5b0d45baf1 name anyway?”dd118ca2db4a8ff0

“If you understand 851493a5f3 that, then please 16b746bb62 stop causing so 4bc5d64d5b much trouble, Your 45c461b1c8 Majesty. Did you forget that 7fb89da66d I specifically asked you 64e9fca9cc not to stir up 7ae568fc26 chaos before I left e139a2ac23 on vacation? Thanks to you, I 15ed024f5d couldn’t even fully enjoy c05d0438a5 my time off because—”a6eb829a2b64a051

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s because 3a537fbffb of you.”1c39d693894ddef3

“What?”13ded9842805740a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The sudden shift ce9d058f80 in Heraith’s tone 4db1f52b67 made Lucian’s habitual 7220c7038e nagging halt abruptly. Upon closer inspection, 1a912f184a Heraith’s expression had 19efb7cacc darkened, heavier than 2b29f93492 usual.8ab6f436d9861b9f

“Your Majesty?”89a1f3126b3b2d68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lucian frowned 5b9b755dd3 slightly, but 1ab3df8a4d Heraith’s somber 415968d218 gaze didn’t f95c668ef6 waver. The next 0740b9376e words weren’t ff0cd4ff73 even directed 2f99356718 at Lucian 01c6313003 but seemed b7bd9dd79f to reflect 32ea364487 on some 26ba1c6049 distant memory.846deb05edbcc23d

“I didn’t 36a6d45768 mean for 664a3587cb it to 1686cfda87 turn out a908f4e575 this way.”672ff738252abe0d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Your Majesty…?”db33689b690a0e46

A bitter smile tugged dcac8d668b at Heraith’s lips. He said no 5bbd92741b more, turning to 883119340d look out the 3854b0619f window.059740a7907d275c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The setting sun efc860d952 cast a reddish b6c6b122b5 glow, carving shadows f26ce264c4 across his face.76fba816b08aa31c

For some 498da1d8d1 reason, the 4644666cde sight of bfca2a919a him felt 6877b9f49d achingly distant, bd27458962 and Lucian 21213fd82d found himself f2fd0364a2 staring at 24967cd1e0 him for d13d0f60b1 a long ca4e0f3cb8 time.9ca74d2745083c18

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is this true?”cbe8a46b5d3c68a4

Lucian’s rarely seen fa7b2bf176 dumbfounded expression emerged.7a7898226fb0b716

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Emperor’s study.5b9b40c0d38d2f73

Lucian was working 008bdb02a3 late, alone, when 204d6fe2c6 Cliff, the head 3b620c66bd attendant, came to 9d08a9a471 deliver a message. It was an 312647db18 imperial order.29d2fe0f634dcdf0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Not a simple bd9cdf8ab7 word but a b95378ad02 decree.bb6365ab9b16b140

What surprised Lucian b05682245d even more were d6137840d5 the details of 571fbaec93 that decree.471b6668958e13c1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“An engagement ceremony? You’re sure that’s what 5c382cb750 he ordered?”3c3624801218a68c

“Yes. He instructed that 3b4ef0614c the banquet three a8b3df32f4 days from now 2e13716e16 be changed to f5f5a41876 an engagement announcement 8937afa8a5 banquet.”91ba5254522fd98f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That’s impossible…”ad886919f961d214

Lucian shook ff8465ab6e his head, 41d32155ac baffled.877b7417b528e8d8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There had 11ee932b4b been no 30d4a8d757 indication of f3c1e43aee this that 08cabf5fd5 morning. Why now, all 52cbb01b22 of a sudden?1eb5cc884c6f2f3d

And why issue 963bc8b5b5 this order indirectly 13511b7567 through the head cb1e40f9d8 attendant instead of 951bb0c42c telling him directly?f748c83c981f26e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Why…?’46b12ba2d2d7312b

Then, as d5b43eff74 if struck e3a3dbc2f2 by a 34b6e4b497 realization, Lucian e97a3438ed raised his 08b5310faf head again.382e581263c2af77

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Are you 478b9c386e absolutely sure 0352df33ca this is fc48aeab0d His Majesty’s b711801294 will?”4d8818883561da5b

“Yes, without a d200208d80 doubt. His Majesty 7762ade395 specifically instructed a0bb02ecb7 that you 228d2641b5 oversee all 882e30e526 the preparations 99a285ef38 personally. Additionally…”21d2a17833584c6b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The aide continued in c8f3272d1f a calm voice.b434087683a3d100

“He said ab64467169 you wouldn’t 3be15880c7 need to 70269f87d3 attend to a6c0771006 him until 95f033f4a3 the banquet 5b1d40ed33 is over.”bf80db23c93298e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…!”9b42eec8a91b32ad

The quill in 5e60067ccb Lucian’s hand slipped 968f53e2d1 and fell onto 66cc4eea24 the desk, rolling 3c0d02b156 away as a 0f1259d5e5 drop of black 41a87cf1d8 ink traced a b314808b68 line.fcdd777d012337c0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was 9e712c991d as if 3fc60aa9c2 the ink 85fa1a771a marked the 655d5fc705 ripple of 211d14ebc4 unease spreading bead9c01af in his eb08da76bb chest.d3693992fbca0b01