PT | Chapter 8.3

Once the remaining maids also left, ec57db56f8 the lower floor fell quiet, and 7e447cc7ce Aubrey’s mind became a tangled mess.d048a4621131408c139d

Compared to Gray, who always had a lust for Aubrey or the ambition to devour the Marquis’ estate, 55f6e5ed97 or Danvers, whose hunger for power burned bright, Jill was a background character with no real presence. He was nothing more than an annoying nuisance, so 3d2edeedb8 Aubrey had never paid much attention to him. But to hear that Jill had ad5fb75062 been talking about something like this?2b71d70dc936fd602945

Aubrey stood up. The maids’ conversation had revealed that everyone was out, and c36ba1c242 without hesitation, he grabbed the doorknob to Jill’s room. Unsurprisingly, it 24dc2c9452 was locked. Aubrey had expected this, so he bc05ab5ff8 pulled out his universal key.9602ab968e323a9a21fa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After inserting the key 9745abd362 and turning it a 4bcd372763 few times, the lock 8317def342 clicked open. Aubrey frowned c5c767c9e1 as he 7e6841042a entered quietly.0290e934adc321af558f

‘He could 32d890a44a at least 42cdc44c0f tidy up…’2849618fcd782ead9efb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jill was obsessively protective of 3d74b14e74 his belongings and hated anyone 5d57cc171d touching his things. Even when the maids cleaned, they only touched e2bb18fea6 the areas near the door and might air 608023aa1d the room out, but nothing more. He wouldn’t allow ventilation for 117f994386 long, so the air inside 297d618ffc was stale, and a strange 36181c4661 smell lingered. Books, papers, and other things were piled 41bc78f62c up on the desk, table, and sofa. The floor wasn’t much different, and efab53ea50 Aubrey carefully moved through the room, f5117984eb trying not to knock anything over.c4eeba1036453d1e5848

As he surveyed d482f2858e the disorganized space, b9df574d38 Aubrey walked toward 7de5bbaf4f the desk. There was barely 21ded058ce enough room for 09c79cd01f one person to 2b94fff1d2 sit and work. The surrounding mess fac99a91a2 made it impossible c6ad150865 to figure out bb2015565d what was important. To check everything would take 0e7e87c372 at least a year or fa79a82914 two, Aubrey thought, scowling.c0f68b589f9f5674351c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The papers, which weren’t properly stored or organized, were something he didn’t want 274d6a3e27 to touch, but to confirm what was important, he had no choice. He left the window near e0c7f4771a the desk slightly open and 23dbf6e1e7 began rummaging through the papers. During his time in Alman, he had c9bb4aa1e6 trained to gather as much information as 18fc732f9b possible in the shortest time, and this 59d39b7bcf instinct was now coming into play. He could quickly tell whether 453452c79f a document was important or d8e430f290 just trash with a glance.c52665eb316b4c36243e

After a couple of hours, 592af7e671 Aubrey had gone through about 75f327af08 half the pile. Most of it was 1167388b97 worthless, but there were 1a227d7188 a few documents that 778324ab56 piqued his interest.ed3a5def5c7c32e1a0db

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘This guy 06dd0dd3aa was dangerous…?’d4594232f7ded4c16bf2

There were a few papers that seemed like f747ee0f9d they had been hidden or thrown aside, and dc4e6e117f they were related to magic and alchemy. The core of alchemy was creating something from nothing, and it 7eb8741587 seemed that Jill had become deeply involved in this area.b7f041951307aa0403b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But this alone didn’t seem like it was enough c7cec5cdb3 to mention the hidden power of the great sin.b424bdca17feb9406d91

‘He definitely ac7b4dbd30 knows something.’5e4a84b06d21ca9fef8e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jill knew 6282248259 something about deef6b5431 Lennock. Otherwise, there was no fc2803b426 way he would have dd2a5dc941 mentioned the great sin. Perhaps the reason Jill had swung a knife 3d7f7e5679 at Lennock was to obtain something, some material e627e4c517 to create the results he wanted. If that c33bfde47e were the 8fcef9708e case, then…b359695d529644528668

While Aubrey was in ba6464b7f2 Alman, he had also 49b63f251b learned about the alchemist 0ec96db232 group that operated there. Initially, he had thought they were just a bunch beff834144 of charlatans kicked out of Alman’s clergy, but he a419a42b01 soon discovered they were highly specialized and dangerous individuals.7c6e62593ce420db94dc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

They weren’t working on research about batteries that start to deplete the moment aa557ef538 they are used, but instead, they were studying batteries that could last permanently. They conducted experiments under the 8ecae4c0a2 pretense of using magic-powered weapons, 687f10ebc3 and there were even rumors 259f33f39e of human experimentation. Of course, these were just 37622c5c23 rumors he had overheard, and b080f85111 he couldn’t confirm whether they 43d60d131e were true.594b5ca4599840c19935

‘Maybe I should look 63888b9439 into the alchemists…’52d80fdbed6c1556743d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had tried to uncover the fed16407e2 links between Alman, Lennock, and the 1a04b7d5ee Empress, but he couldn’t get anywhere. Perhaps he needed c51e558d8d to change direction. Maybe he should approach the alchemists, a group that 9f2401dbc0 had been ousted from Alman, instead of the clergymen.a54b2057e1af6acfa703

As he stood there deep in thought, a 7882b89918 sudden screeching noise made Aubrey look up. There, standing in 53a59d23e5 the doorway, was 9829dd7e1a Jill.d4c7fe037c9718faf45f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Seeing Aubrey in his sanctuary, Jill’s 7319d16c71 face turned pale as if he b71bc51bcc had seen a ghost.66c0f375dd3c9876bb5a

‘Y-you… you…’659589f940f5c5294fe3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jill stammered, quickly closing b32b3338a2 the door and charging f869248096 toward Aubrey.40e1354b4cd52c934a18

‘Who the hell 90d7203a12 let you into b145251c6c my room!’71490bfccef46d9794c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With bloodshot eyes, 9d50524237 Jill charged, looking 1987bcedc5 terrifying. But Aubrey 31d705e5ee didn’t flinch. He waited until Jill got cad83fb514 closer, then grabbed him by d9b3262ed3 the collar and threw him 1252221cc1 onto the desk. With a loud thud, Jill 8444802c43 crashed onto the desk, making 4229d73c2d a squeaking sound like a 050d0efcc6 mouse underfoot.00901844f9fe1bc2b830

Aubrey grabbed Jill’s neck and b4e10f3263 pressed him down on the fed8a9ba59 desk, asking calmly,01b6461a1bfb5455f6f1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘What were you f8d82f60df trying to do 15fa6ee9f1 with Lennock?’841a2f84cb29680d2145

Jill’s body 1064015c74 visibly trembled.b15fabfcc82281b2fce6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘You were talking about 11cad404f0 Lennock being the great 397d5d4e1e sin, weren’t you?’fb54893a03212a3ec260

This was only a guess, but Aubrey 035a8adefc was at the end of his patience 2fb3fcde3c with the tangled triangle of relationships. He didn’t want to waste e41aeb2134 time on meaningless arguments, so 97ca7f155e he shook Jill’s neck, demanding d5bfcd6604 an answer.f464c0a4b72122cffc6b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At first, Jill tried to escape 69d40b4c8d from Aubrey’s grip, but now he 1b05935068 was limp, unable to resist. Aubrey’s heart began 3b04ad2946 to race.ee2f783db44dca59bc54

Someone else knew about Lennock’s potential awakening as the c0be1681fb great sin, and it was Jill of all people. The thought excited e82d036607 him, though he 6968b5382f didn’t let it 2e65731292 show. He might actually be able to 3c1e42beee talk to Jill about it. His heart fluttered 096c3c58f5 at the possibility.e3b8e9147c452181a77c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Aubrey pulled Jill to his feet, holding 9f76c3759b him by the shoulder, ready to spill 4658562590 everything that had happened to him. But he knew he couldn’t 71b8e376e7 reveal everything just yet. He needed to d99226b82f hear Jill’s words ab163326e1 first.fe1b6726e57b7af4084b

But then, 955e10ba07 suddenly, Jill 51345e44de began to 080df48887 tremble uncontrollably. At first, Aubrey thought it was just 0efe2772fa an act, but as the tremors grew f7fa5c1eb9 stronger, he called out, ‘Jill?’9229961d73c04745021c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jill hunched his shoulders, suddenly banging 73df968735 his head against the desk, as 153cbb02d6 if trying to hurt himself.aa464daf896eb9f87e7a

Realizing something was wrong, Aubrey quickly grabbed the back 867d75bd92 of Jill’s neck and lifted him off the desk.64ab9fa20b89fd92ec46

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Stop! Why are 16743d3912 you doing 51214dd9c8 this?’1a79f7572b2177400188

Jill stretched out 0b6ca12c3c his arms and 3d6a2f86ce screamed, ‘You crazy 251290a9bd bastard…!’9fa608757b0a34872e78

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Aubrey, frustrated by the 48e1a850ab chaos, dragged Jill close.2c245f8855610c0311ae

Even though Jill was weak, he fought back with genuine 4b61091bef resistance, making it hard for Aubrey to subdue him. But finally, he managed to pin Jill 011e4a03f9 to the ground, standing over him and e4d4b74fa5 pressing his palm to Jill’s mouth. In response, Jill bit down e7886d6df4 hard on his hand, as 1d3e157d3a if he was trying to a2588d33e5 break free. Aubrey thought his fingers might be severed but quickly 80575d5701 slapped Jill across the head with his other hand.887ddf7ce9546e00e2cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Stop it!’88468e44ec75af87ea9e

Jill collapsed on d2f5d5311a the floor, and 9615946409 Aubrey clutched his ddc0807a77 bitten hand, wincing. His index and e3aae30107 middle fingers ached. He pressed down hard, 3af872a172 trying to ease the b4e0758da2 pain, but the discomfort 48efc8537d only intensified.0b98a736f5485b31efd3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Why did 87650f0b89 you bite 00a6c76e34 me!’b493f6a9b52f55728b3c

‘Hiiik, I… 01627f8eb4 I’m sorry…!!’adde5a69807bcef4d31d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As Aubrey raised his voice in anger, 1fd4392cc0 Jill curled up, trembling in fear.0e39a205bee6b9b3ac57

‘…’47888fb813fcd6e8604c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though he had shouted in anger 3233abdbb6 and hit Jill, seeing him so 5148633668 terrified left Aubrey feeling confused. He couldn’t keep cda8c0ee31 scowling, so he 4788ec4242 reached out his 6ab0a03b71 hand to Jill.c77bb88d8bdbf95256ab

‘Hey, Jill…’3007abe2e9ecb7bcf31f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sorry! It was my fault 44de2b0c04 for messing with Lennock! But I 29fe3e08b8 was just c01df45240 curious! I really wanted to ebbb8deebd know if there’s magic 66a44dee4d flowing through his blood…!”6551aea01d759b5413dd

“……”ff55a6a815d5ef21ef5e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I… I also wanted to e7ec07e795 help with your research! I wanted to 581d579f85 achieve something too!!”c7f5f28a3e058f52d7de

Jill, having shouted that, 9c9c4ee9fa looked up at Aubrey a5f7f03ec7 with a pitiful smile.63c968443e1201ee2cbf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But I never 93185bb5ca told anyone about 319034b97a Lennock. I didn’t cb7c1575dc use that 90dbf2f208 information for baa3df0cf5 anything. I never b714c22a90 told my a4e25cc6be father either. I just… just…”668eca7193e7e49ba772

Jill’s trembling arms dropped as he 6e7a1a7e00 gazed up at Aubrey with a 4ed5c07762 face smeared with tears and snot.505185b29c1bf68ea386

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I wanted 07fbca046d to impress e8539ca8ea you…”561c2b91c7f9ffc76df0

His mouth was 6319a8cd34 trembling as he 0e663d7ea8 struggled to smile.2d1f6e1c54e3fb7e7085

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At that moment, Aubrey a1f951f4a6 could tell that Jill ac79bb0605 wasn’t in his right 19e10941e4 mind. It was clear that Jill 24561be8ac was projecting some other presence 646b39c57a through himself, his mind completely 5279aa0428 consumed by fear. Seeing him struggle to 4b2a48ce2a smile, in such a f515a31c02 pitiful state, felt almost c2c0e7a40a unbearable. Aubrey felt a sense of guilt, like he 690c191db0 had done something wrong, but at the same 3f81789784 time, he didn’t want to miss this opportunity.97ed03197b29ff175609

As expected, Jill knew something about Lennock, and it seemed like 75b87ed815 there was someone else who had shared that information with him. If he hadn’t even told his d87d6c8e7c father, then there must have been 8f694bd1f6 a third party involved. Who could a7a219f898 that be?30f163124197b1a6b12b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Aubrey’s mind immediately went to 8596e9ec17 the name of the Empress, 98dac2cf05 written under Lennock’s portrait. After a brief pause, he 50a778ca07 decided to twist the question 7e19bf147d to probe further.87e85dd5fb2abe8dbc7c

“Did you really 5429f2bf45 not tell anyone?”43a915de0b2ba88b2f13

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, I cd4386ad0b didn’t tell 34467b980e anyone. So…!”b14dafbb307d6889549a

“Then why are 458e6e71b2 there rumors about 40f0dd24ea Lennock and Empress 2b569407de Layla?”6cf21309343c9577a6c8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“……”6f0ebe78bfb12a26fba7

In an d448730941 instant, Jill’s 6c9991b402 expression froze.2ad0617032a35bc0f944

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had been acting frantic 5f666f2ca6 this whole time, but now, 4823d8cbcb it seemed like he had 2d583ce41b come to his senses. Although it was pathetic to see 1fd38ccb66 him trembling and crying, Aubrey couldn’t 049ff579cf let him snap back to reality 9ffda3010d now, not like this. Should he strike e2af4b55d4 him again? Just as Aubrey 0d02c23744 clenched his hand, 232982008c Jill mumbled.0d1ae0eb686799270250

“I only found out 044a43ce80 about it recently… I 7aa2d6e23e didn’t tell anyone, but 922ecadd02 it’s strange…?”5ee2580a2c8a8ff07492

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com