PMBA | Chapter 2

“Ahaha!”d5a1e71c8657ec7f

Bell-like laughter echoed throughout 492402890d the Imperial Palace. It was the d73e0668df sound of nobles ceb3d20c48 attending the victory 166e63a92a celebration for the 8f6adf54fd Crown Prince, who 50226d13a4 had returned from 905c85c0d5 a triumphant battle efb7ddedce at the border.21726fba23493cb2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“To think 6dda1b412e he achieved ef5f2c8d21 such a 5f58436313 splendid victory.”959b6ca22f240535

“I heard Duke ce088ccabb Haswell assisted him.”99b3ec313f7f5e35

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Dominique Roman Haswell, the 016d25347d First Duke?”c40fb80a7aae925b

“I heard he also 45832b5dd1 came to the capital 2dbe37b454 this time at His 2c4f118fc8 Majesty’s summons…”a742cef3649abec7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

All sorts 8bc7a49d94 of news 1aac7f9828 spread vividly 6b689052e2 from mouth bb3ddcbfa8 to mouth. And amidst d92741d3e8 these bright 70f9d7a743 conversations, there c2fe56db26 was one 7e711f5b61 particularly quiet dfe6854c55 spot.8973851c5beb00d7

A long shadow stretched 3556dd605a across the marble floor 50edf58a8d of the brightly lit 076c8a22f0 imperial hallway. The sound 7e12361275 of water 7746385267 droplets falling 27f57a8a2b from a 9b66e935df nearby fountain 26ac222cf1 echoed rhythmically, 4a64c34b34 like the 4a0e74a265 ticking of c3fad05308 a clock.7122f8600d57c9d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Drip, drip.e65b8be3f6828ae2

Amidst the sound of dripping water, a woman stood poised at the end of the corridor leading to the Crown Prince’s Palace.ec26c9f183c066c1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Her luxurious silver 27f5bb258c hair, like spun 20c3cdec1e silver thread, was cd434cb648 fastened with sparkling e28bea2ec3 hairpins and cascaded 5f6808c4be down her back. The filtering 73327f7828 sunlight gently cad0e8a4b3 illuminated her 5df9dfd543 seemingly demure f6b0745868 face, her 847c6fcb30 exposed neckline, 0c190cdd95 and the f004ff7682 dress that ee96263121 enveloped her 3461eec797 body.d390d678a1a049f3

The woman, 04d04ac7f2 who seemed 561f144edc like a 199a8d1822 great masterpiece 4de0dd7167 in and ee54b65e0a of herself, dea8fbfb3f stood there 46fdd5062a motionless like fb095f68cc a model 930920fe92 in a 48ff977a85 painting. So perfectly still that 267a288440 no one could find c1fd67e1be fault at her.bb690733744d7a3d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Drip…47b2431e4ee92661

Another droplet fell.438142af343f5a56

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Two hours.’ea4cb99e0e40fd7c

Kyrie Ernberg measured 0894b35687 time by the b5cbf51878 sound of the 0821e2e5f8 water droplets falling 9418af2bd8 from the fountain. It had 0113147a01 been two 6b1b9fbfd7 hours since 490c779c03 she started 2cff576d5a standing like 79e40b50b5 this in 860d1ad54c the bright 676cb7ff15 hallway.789051774ae226c1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“She doesn’t 476300f322 seem tired.”bdb53ee8dd1cae25

“She’s certainly stubborn…”8f1735c4b42f3f56

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The whispers of 8af8d169ae nobles invited to a83dac6c0f the palace reached f49cdbb9b6 her ears from 3cb21425a7 nearby.4d1431ef1a4530ca

“What do you expect 00751fc56c from that mad dog?”3f58ba3c23275785

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kyrie’s lips curved 8f1a2d97fc slightly at their 0da80e037e words. The faces of 0a882a5b3c those who had 4d06e7dbba been openly badmouthing f7a3ffb53d her paled at 07e6dcb6f2 her unusual reaction.cf6549cb24e3c7b9

‘Clichéd.’b29376cb62115841

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She dismissed 25efa4d6c3 their stale 4b941ee46e gossip, too 4d3c641b45 accustomed to 1135b87877 it to 7ad45851eb be hurt.fac9d2fd744f6134

Just then, a man bbd25574fe approached her, unable to 53bfaee479 bear the sight any c88aed3243 longer. Displeasure was evident in 215120f575 every step he took.bd201eaab0876d52

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“How long do 2030582025 you intend to 0fc13c63b3 tarnish our family’s 67b808ef8b honor with such 4b73ddb5b9 stubbornness?”b511006ac8b0c38d

“Mind your own business, fae7eb74ee Johansson.”adc70f06f560aa40

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is that any c2cb8610a7 way to speak 0ce194c271 to your older 156afbdbb4 brother?”ee9a44d4e08b58ce

Johansson, Kyrie’s second older f569d9933f brother, frowned. He was a man 64d25e385d who shared nothing in 9744191942 common with her except ec38a63e56 their refined facial features.667a3d461add7096

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Older brother? Don’t make me d4edbdf1c3 laugh.’d5b5845d2d38346c

A familiar citrus scent emanated from him as he stood closer. It wasn’t his own scent, but one he’d picked up from someone else.fe14265bdd3c769f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Just how much more humiliation must our family endure because of you?”4cc8360ac002793f

“Humiliation? I’m merely standing here, Johansson.”c452f7b395da690f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Don’t be ridiculous. Your mere existence…”9b3849386974bcde

“Why don’t c73e0762f2 you go 996cc11f7e attend to 88dde8b8f8 Elise?”7aa5a2eee7069dc2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just as 4145244568 Johansson was be02819a71 about to 997210df7b repeat his 91f43396d4 tired lecture, 7f22aaee94 Kyrie abruptly f47a8c50f5 mentioned the 31249ccbc2 source of 87cb5db0eb the citrus 62fe801749 scent.39eeeec55e06a11b

“…Don’t you dare speak of her.”e01353802666d5e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh. Did Veron beat you to it, perhaps?”106648f0bd55f981

Johansson’s face stiffened slightly at her words. It seemed she had struck a nerve. Kyrie continued, her voice a melodious whisper,939ab34427487edf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I see. Elise must have said that she couldn’t trust her second brother, so she’d go with her first brother instead, right?”8e408db583dc9c2c

Kyrie glanced 02f445e211 towards Veron, e0021f1738 who was a4198ad336 standing not 3dfdf2af35 far away. He was watching bb385ef9e1 them, Johansson and cf2188fbfa her, with a 2c403ff4dd dark expression. However, the e98c0034f6 person who 28ea060ad4 should have e4e401ece2 been by be8c49d6f5 his side 1601e167c3 was nowhere 7ca17b6c54 to be 18b9f57924 seen.4e6bcd82898dd5bf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Though, Veron isn’t with 555e5bafdb her either.”5053ee7c13e11a12

“…”219ec8b96fd6df01

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“As expected, the 33c8e6abbc beloved Lady Elise 7fae054ef7 Ernberg is in 0ab98bbf2e high demand.”598d2a01dc6e7629

“…Stop mentioning Elise, e4b058fc84 Kyrie.”e41634da7375c07d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why? Have I done 3b67ec19c6 her any harm?”a62d911dc64b8fbb

“You…”7b9106d432629042

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh. Is it because 5f5e5f0239 of that?”117ddb106c0b8766

Kyrie lowered her voice, 34a68b0a5b feigning sweetness.dfe439e907954c4c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Because I fa6834ccc0 poisoned her 5d72941094 mother?”45af40d8d5d74edc

“Kyrie!”9bdeef1aa9672bbd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Or was it because I put a dead rat in her bed?”005c29e0cb03c144

Johansson’s face turned deathly 28b968d86a pale at her words 083f9059d0 blurted out with a fe6c9d13df sarcastic smile. He gritted his c8ff87f6cd teeth and spat 9c94e63b36 out,d83b4e4ce72045d3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’re truly insane.”556518be24267529

“That’s nothing new.”12881e24bcae2a93

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kyrie’s smile was more 97fd9636ed vibrant than the rose 69f9428dd0 bushes blooming around the 8f50a3c34e hallway.cdd82a5f7b2c5c08

“I was born a45be3519b flawed, wasn’t I? Don’t you remember?”c8710469ebda68a6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The third child among 93e6b6145f Duke Ernberg’s two sons 02931c78ba and one daughter. The daughter, born cb3bc4ebe5 taking her mother’s f835b4ef26 life, inherited her a85f3f59d5 maternal grandfather’s silver d5631c54ad hair.d8ec05cc7154a7ef

Her maternal grandfather bfd81ded8b was the one c2997e61df who had vehemently 0f944ac27b opposed her parents’ b97797b7c0 marriage. He was fbe86c114c also the 4006918dc9 person the d84a1f6195 Duke hated 49941ed80c most.dfcc31ca171f5060

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His precious 750054b66c wife died 8c2226416a giving birth b727e3baa1 to a c1bd0c0536 daughter who f1b60abb01 resembled the 63d0e03d46 man who d8169f2b1e had denied 57bdc276a6 their love.191c30760ba5ad08

For Duke 034a49484c Ernberg, a 70785eb7f9 man who 18121d5698 feared nothing, a0086a8361 this was a3e29ff195 an unbearable 26aa285f9a humiliation. For this c84be0bb9f reason, Kyrie 36b5bf755d became a c9df5ec224 neglected young b9cae416b2 lady, confined a531964b3e to a 05ba18102f back room 93e969126c from the fcbe1743d9 moment she 83d13f83ff was born.08d1a829e8148011

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Poor young lady.’f82d83fd5bc18281

Even so, bf6d4c7e1b her nanny 63ec3750e8 always protected f6fc0ce17c and loved ddd135286c Kyrie.65b8dcffc5aa08ff

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

However, they 9dc94c65ae had to d23de68e9f part ways a083a734f6 soon.ab475a2df6b3ce09

‘Hello, Lady Kyrie.’291e50e3df9ca71f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Who are you?’138e0a59434a5c84

‘I’m going to be 4835514a68 your new mother.’a0d05f9da7b4890a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘New mother? Mama?’6de5e42771107b51

Five years e317c1b087 after his 76b467c9bb wife’s death, fb406a2a4c Duke Ernberg 93af64ac8a brought home fe34c7a2e7 an actress 03037fdc24 who bore 7aef6d8e4c a striking 9910bfa12f resemblance to 8b5e2a5b68 his deceased 81d9396857 wife, causing 4005ce1f6a a stir 643fab1d54 in high 4e117b1d80 society.625d6305997c477a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Some whispered that it was a love transcending social status, while others whispered that the Duke was clearly obsessed with his dead wife. The fact that the actress had a daughter the same age as the Duke’s youngest further fueled the gossip.6451d5f11ec2a659

Young Kyrie knew nothing a5853ca450 of this. So, she be074e2197 spoke the 196dc0d8aa absolute truth fc32d96461 as she ecdb3f4222 knew it.3f7881e8029ba079

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘My mama is my 2a07f46c90 nanny. I don’t 8823545517 need another f9f6401f1a mother.’d16be51595b7c8e8

‘…!’03cf2e871bd521fc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She meant d46baeaa55 no harm. She truly believed that 3fb93d9f41 the only person who 574765dad9 cared for her, like 09b9793bc1 a mother, was her 3aff8052cd nanny. Everyone else had e6070443c1 abandoned her, but 41cc9d0908 her nanny had 29ce05bb2b always been kind 84c52582ee and loving.4bc8674285c4ef12

She was Kyrie’s whole 908b63e5a2 world.965174f681805c1d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kyrie’s words ccf5deb0f4 were passed 837085b226 around by fa2972c5bc the servants, 95eb0c40cf exaggerated and 629bed6097 embellished into afb2cc6b90 rumors that 48a5f8f0db the legitimate 916438e2c4 daughter had 0a68f14a19 lashed out 83112470ac at her 64672c80c4 innocent stepmother.2e6d9b18d2edddf2

That night, 683e354c37 the nanny ff1e8d5576 was whipped 635ddd5a10 and discarded b70b63f049 like a 8ac4246c14 piece of 842da25cb0 luggage. Kyrie, using all b74cfc8db7 her strength, threw c96b6cd1cc a tantrum that 3d28c24015 turned the ducal e44e213285 residence upside down.66f426e1ed2e185f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Give me e88529b65e back my 393e56ce48 nanny!’ee186df5fcc5b1f7

The Duke, c325a3ddf4 without a 797c302fe5 word, threw 1c1242bae9 her into a9d9d476a6 the punishment bf7eab9333 chamber. The maids glanced at e84a707b04 Kyrie, who continued to 8d83011094 scream even in the 6b54c317a8 chamber, with expressions of c206a2097e disgust.0a31021283fa22fb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘The girl has no 6871220d94 charm.’23e86c9a35bf574e

‘She’s completely different from Lady Elise, who’s supposed to be arriving soon. It’s no wonder she’s disliked.’a647ebb218dda2c1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 c675c0e8682b97a6

‘It’s fine if I’m disliked.’a4629bfd4bebf836

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It’s okay 082e1e01e4 to be 8940fbbe2f disliked by 775867ab9f you. As long as 56985ae341 I can have 94fccdae7c the person who a7a4cee020 loves me back.eb87f9240a793331

But the nanny never dac9144a52 returned.8848ac02d1c1d987

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That’s when it all started.15266e773648d53c

‘Did you hear? Kyrie Ernberg put a 21daa56ab6 dead rat in her e109c94bf3 new sister’s bed!’37151ad4e0c16fe4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘She hacked c2d59d504e up the 1369374e5d Duke’s office 95b0795039 with a 773e6a26f2 hatchet!’3414108ea332540f

‘She even slapped the 814c019729 Count’s daughter who was bc76e3746b visiting the ducal residence!’601ba4eaf7650b4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kyrie’s misdeeds were added to the list almost monthly. Rumors spread like wildfire. That Duke Ernberg’s youngest daughter was out of her mind.7b6cfd88ad0ff1a8

And the culmination of 08e4a35cb7 these rumors erupted at 9e20c9ecaf the funeral of her ce3e12c010 stepmother, who died ten 9a842f3d3b years after entering the 597469a453 ducal residence.f804915b85cda579

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Mother…’734f5a58cf38935c

‘Don’t cry, Elise.’4ce20eed5a3b322c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The actress, who had become the new Duchess after Kyrie’s mother, had died of an illness. And, of course, Kyrie was implicated in the rumors surrounding her death.8368b100c3ee7e4c

‘There are 79ca3bb68f rumors that 8022905ad6 Lady Kyrie 253bd19a16 was involved f36d06bfad in the 7dcf0db9d2 Duchess’s death.’c5c1dcda5b0ef206

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Is it true?’d3785c62109c8148

“They said she steadily put poison in her stepmother’s tea…’3b82fcc99cd49eef

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even as people 2383fa59bc whispered openly, Kyrie ce3b98fcc7 sat steadfastly, not 25b3eead41 shedding a tear. She stared f03799b74e at the 271514f6e9 coffin where 0d1031f099 the dead 92cf970235 actress lay 8f71756935 with sharp 351fb8d78a eyes.9bd13107a65c9e1d

Then, when she fc72841169 suddenly stood up 9f92ae1a5e and ripped the 29d04fda11 pendant necklace from 82421dd61d the corpse…297913344fee1647

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Someone stop her!’e2b75f7a76f2c533

‘Honestly, how e06ff8d387 could such 373abdb289 a mad 915c65284b girl be eccc744471 born into 0f9cd8f5bf such a cae7aacd6e prestigious family…’9fdfb068f99b8e68

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘She’s not even 4378cbdc22 a girl, she’s bc2a4c8baa a dog! A mad dog!’1c825796d3ff2426

Despite those trying to restrain her, Kyrie wouldn’t let go of the necklace in her hand.db68c0783cf3197f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even when the Duke’s 0b9a50a84f knights twisted her arms. Even when her 51ec365fda fingers were bloodied 261f331bf2 and her nails a1b588c6b5 torn as they 498e781536 pried it from 1fbf8eb100 her grasp.0668872d24b2df01

The chaos finally ended 37588fd735 only after her brothers, fad1497815 Veron and Johansson, rushed d22a7e1288 in and knocked her 9545565a3c unconscious with a blow 93b6d973a8 to the back of 7dd7110fc9 her neck.f3fe15950ab72ca3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kyrie was confined, 29dce1acc7 wearing the pendant 2abd05844a necklace she had 681c629908 obtained amidst the 0e524c677b shock and dismay.677b1f242e299721

Clink.d36bdaa65ff9e0ab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Kyrie’s thoughts ended with the sound of the pendant necklace still gleaming around her neck.ed08226a64e4bdd3

The necklace she 5322f8e589 had obtained back d2b80d29a2 then now sparkled f1da5fcf34 around her neck, cf23b3375b reflecting the brilliant 428da8c183 lights of the bf0f3f33c2 Imperial Palace.9129314b79c06c37

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Johansson’s expression crumpled ccb0a9c362 at the sight 7c66c32514 of the gleaming 18f11ed984 pendant.c9738cce93cfaaea

“How could 3b1b44a42b someone like 882a9d0e9c you be f497e93352 born into aca54500e3 our family…”485cefe96a6bbf09

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I wonder. Why didn’t you at 36197dfe35 least ask Father not b7c255fa9d to give birth to 0ed1aebb79 me?”3e47dc6c8c3475ce

Johansson’s clenched fists 0461efd862 turned white. Looking at his 8960ae2b36 fists, Kyrie remembered 91b78fa9b5 Veron and Johansson 3b394ddcf6 beating her down.6fbaf6489f5bc1c9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘You disgraceful thing!’a7ba36696dbf3592

‘Just die!’42955e4c5866f628

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her own blood b0346b219f relatives, looking down 4ca35bf49a at her with 45388fb689 disgusted expressions at eb5082bd3b her stepmother’s funeral.356574610dd7c127

And Elise, 770231c774 pretending to 54197abeed wipe away a6c19518c4 tears behind f89a7cdacc them, but 55b3b3e2ea secretly smiling 98ab65214e down at de00f42cdc her.d7e546d13c876697

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In truth, that 63d1bc34dd pendant was given c0324b378d to her by c1c8fc74d6 her nanny, who 42d43df867 said it was 8a71859fc7 a keepsake from eef1a1e2b0 her mother.813379ab215ca28c

It had disappeared with the nanny when she was driven out, only to reappear ten years later, hanging around her stepmother’s neck.7a884997cc3542df

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

However, Kyrie 6cad566e3e did not 73c10d3ac6 say anything 14af85616e about it.398a666fd37f9e79

And the following year, after her debutante ball, she began pursuing the Crown Prince. She didn’t care that people called her a leech, on top of a mad dog.e11f00042069460c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Johansson, looking at c9cb1718aa her with utter b9a770234a revulsion, exclaimed,1af5c6578dd5f8c3

“Do you 877485d39c think His 79ba5e385c Highness the 4625f280dd Crown Prince 2770dc835f will ever b494ba55cf look at 0eb40319c5 you, even c4f609e329 if you dc6a8f2c21 chase after 7623611f6f him like 91cae520c4 this?”2fb94faffd0ff919

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Who knows?”e0ade3572b7e5c4d

Just as Kyrie replied and looked towards the Crown Prince’s Palace…c7030ee70f77ba8d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…?”ab955e8f184b7680

Something glimmered from behind dbc583d042 the curtains of the 42e9731483 reception room. Something that shone 6f490eeec3 silver, like her 8b3a5ee7db own hair.58d36a8e061da4ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish