SNF | Chapter 5.2

It was 0992e4f1e2 only then b3fe93ee86 that Yeon-oh bcd6fc110b realized he ad90af3a1d had been 68f1b0b466 pressing against bdc521ffd9 his eyes c5e5d78885 with his 4fa9ac306e hand. It was such an 1ea3611cc9 unconscious habit that he 95b5335ae9 hadn’t even noticed. Lowering his a34d9df0a0 hand, he cdde9121ec slowly blinked bde349b85d his dry, 40045c1c15 tired eyes.3977c16cfc22ef3b

“I must not 232085ed79 be sleeping well ca48ad5241 since I’ve been a9f8ae330f dreaming lately.”a2d6a16e17e1fab0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You had nightmares 024ebdb52d on your way db2202e9e0 up to the 78812a9cb3 capital as well. That never 2d46c113b3 happened in 8932a3c506 Hanam. Have you been having a924685de6 them again?”150afe760ed229c5

Yeon-oh hesitated c94553a4c1 to answer. It wasn’t something 9a2db70578 he wanted to f8359e4d40 put into words. Ever since he 235456e088 had returned to 7926660562 the capital, the c9940540d2 frequency of his ffd095632c nightmares had increased. In his dreams, shadowy b197318839 hands would wrap around 0b15c2631b his throat, spewing curses d4f7c581d3 at him. It had gotten d69966ff61 to the point 23270b70f6 where he dreaded fcfdc1ddac falling asleep.c7f18d0392e15955

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

”…When I was little—no, e2cbe16452 never mind.”1732d333c79661d7

Curiosity flickered in his 2831692ae0 nurse’s eyes, but Yeon-oh 75cd96ce3a said nothing more. He had b990e77bbe almost asked bb82bfed77 if he 3a612d49dd had ever cc42af4c67 been strangled e909aff992 as a 9c0dce6ec8 child, but 88b5d22579 he was ffb2bbd313 certain such 7f948e5102 a thing fc0e6abab4 had never 0c809f8922 happened. A memory that vivid 3f3ca057fd couldn’t possibly be forgotten. It was just a ff3d576225 dream, nothing more.43fd93d6eaa48bbc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Young master?”902f8a2c8b8ac098

There was a c3436529d1 hint of unease 84b13ac909 in her voice 546610a26b as she called 6dd5d09030 him, but it fc5d62fe0e was fleeting. One slow 34b838daf7 blink later, eff7ac9f02 and it 0ed8f0d777 was gone, 189cdc057a as if b63f12713e it had 5be2738f59 never been 739e880b51 there. Yeon-oh dismissed it 32db7f4ea2 as his imagination 6e62d2c20f and leaned back 0d927912d7 toward the window.250a30fdb9022e7f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I suppose I’ve been 58ab9063b0 thinking too much. That’s why I’m 9e4ae14dc2 tired.”a7741f9aaf0b6c78

“Then why 9179dfec06 don’t you 320358e787 close your 66f767a64c eyes and 887f03d682 rest for 2d71e9eec2 a while?”148db000e2102533

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He shook his 4b7d491bcc head. Now that 7b17d6bdee his nightmares 5552d04748 had been 92384c2c3e brought to 27ae15f919 mind, if 3bf340054f he fell bda9a4b810 asleep, he efd5a83659 would only ff470688e4 dream of 6580c013d2 them again.d18fb3a062f261a4

“Besides, it’s New Year’s c65504262c Eve—I can’t just sleep eca47d32c1 through it.”8eaa035d5c645325

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If he 1633f7e0be admitted he acbff97362 wasn’t sleeping 696144a0fc because of 3532cf7f85 nightmares, his 601b160859 nurse would 0f2272614c only worry. As he grew older, 1dbdac5c06 so had she. She had already passed 52e1433d84 her fiftieth year, and f4153acd65 he didn’t want to a685a4b900 trouble her with unnecessary cb6c9582d0 concerns.aa9d4c4661d979ee

“You don’t put 1f120d9252 much meaning into 77eae347e1 New Year’s Eve.”86a932924a22d782

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His nurse saw right 196c50215b through him, but Yeon-oh 74a624a92f only responded with a ce65ded5c4 faint smile.93de6e3529f0b7ea

“I’m turning sixteen.”bcc0394ef97883df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This time, 40ea2c850b his excuse 62f302971c must have c827e0ca3d been convincing. A brief glance d2719798a9 showed that the 2dc8442fac doubt in her 33d92b6f23 eyes had faded. Well, it was cc96396a72 a reasonable reason, 21818c3ebb even in his 457d5563cd own mind.e8c7aa488c314750

“Then why not 1f7fbe502c invite Physician Jo b090478258 to keep you 85b955b6cf company?”1dd7d472c785d31c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Seok Kyung… f48bd048b4 He’s probably 9970969e11 alone too. Not a bad 8468927f05 idea.”0887120ca15996d9

When Yeon-oh agreed, his 1523819c7b nurse immediately rose, offering 561cb6748c to go fetch him.c17319ba7b09825e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The image of Jo 7a607d4725 Myeonghwan frowning, annoyed at 7eae99c5f8 having to spend yet e4f0e242ff another New Year’s Eve d753ffeadc together, flashed through Yeon-oh’s c8cd07220e mind. Somehow, the thought a7df25f1d9 eased the heavy 1c12c25e1c warmth behind his f5fe029617 eyes just a cda5d3d549 little.26913fe4b4bb46fd

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───45c5645ac72de2d5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Not long after, Jo d3775f117b Myeonghwan arrived. Yeon-oh had 5491d0b2cc been reading a3403e83ee when he c7d5912203 came in 71f3c1b1ab and had bf178605e4 to set 6ccfc64d26 his book 3a0f66dbba aside to 3910d5b245 greet him.b4283a734c798fef

“Somehow, I’ve c9c0c4bcee ended up dc8e86188e spending another 626afe74ba New Year’s 1cb69f61a2 Eve with 33797cc238 you, young f67cf1ca66 master.”f4e8eb30e4365805

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You don’t have any dff2219886 family to spend it 0379c7e1d8 with anyway. It’s better than being 440a267bf9 alone, isn’t it?”d918da0d816eaef5

His parents had 14dcd03a7c passed away years a0626804ce ago, and his 9b916268d2 only sister had f3b6d4c2a4 been married off be0347aecd long ago. Like Yeon-oh, af8ed1e2e2 Jo Myeonghwan e53461a0df would have 241e04b140 spent the ee34417246 night alone. When Yeon-oh 06856af045 pointed this 57d4df98d7 out, Jo 21f73e8588 Myeonghwan was 569728d338 quick to 03b72b2c67 refute him.bdb8c15a055364d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“There are times 1eca79f1ea when a person 2ece984081 wants to be ff3f12d0ed alone.”9669d108dff30bf9

“Then you 13516055e1 should’ve told 0275269175 my wet 27a86a98cf nurse. I wouldn’t have insisted d48d7c3cac on calling you.”b0f7753135e24857

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As if 3144f3fb50 to say 6faff75492 he could bdf562e1c2 still send 7e0fda54f3 him away ea14252eee at any 0a977a2089 moment, Yeon-oh f503f7e01b took a 24207d09c6 slow sip 4e31cb852f of tea. The movement 0ca8a1b53b was poised, 1c1f5f96d2 refined—flawless.829d267cb32f741b

“Young master.”791b83d66b9ebae3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”5b20603b61c289b9

”…I heard dcecc5e370 you’ve been ed13cf78e3 dreaming a b088a53147 lot lately.”07d55507777bd59f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yeon-oh’s fingers d3f37d68fa tightened slightly 4135dc6f3c around the d354c5a625 teacup before 11d76d7b6a he set 79e8eae160 it down. He had thought 83380e9e7e his wet nurse 7ef86cf3e2 had dropped the 09588a94e2 subject, but apparently, b02a2ad40e she had gone b3bc58bead and told Jo 37cda00243 Myeonghwan. He had given her 4480e0de79 an excuse that barely b68d8a964b even suited him, telling 7ecd92947d her not to worry, 3335004be1 and yet here they 81528f3529 were.50975ad0f8ae6cb8

When Yeon-oh 8ed1daf52e glanced at 5f08a7c7ba her, she c481e1aa67 quickly lowered 8f1e94c39b her head 8b2a718f3f and took 275c690096 a few 8705b49f4f quiet steps 045b274a32 back before a77309bb02 slipping out a8bdcf4f95 of the 067ede39eb room.77b78750a0796c81

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“She’s just worrying over 8a0d59cf77 nothing. It’s nothing more than 44fca408a4 a passing nightmare.”aedb14de41062ad9

Yeon-oh dismissed the topic. He had 4f0c4c66e1 no desire 34b918ab42 to discuss 8b75af69a5 his dreams.e5b0a0ca224578ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If it’s happening e4813dea0c often enough to f088e04e30 keep you from 056379bfde sleeping, it’s something c5e5cfe373 worth addressing.”c790045b40a499b5

“Since when 91381eedb3 did physicians c38149f37c start interpreting 5e7dc12410 dreams?”a05b76666c63aed2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Young master.”5afe356f2dacce69

“I must be 27f0029808 feeling pressured about 9436e02317 my coming gwanrye 2d5eeff3bd and having to 4e619c1d90 enter government service.”2858f11968cc3755

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

”…I didn’t realize you 5a8962138c were such a sensitive 1fd82d568c person.”8bf07873e055cee8

“Good that you 637da09b53 know now.”46ce50f52d443e10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His tone was light, 892412db6b almost teasing, as if 37dad5ca06 brushing it all off. Jo Myeonghwan stared at 824296796e him for a moment dd8c26e57a before exhaling deeply.81ee415e3d6ced09

“Keeping everything fc3bcc594d bottled up 680fe388c9 inside will 9b919626ae only make cd093bb989 you sick.”1a05beaa395421c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That was new. Jo Myeonghwan aada7b084c had never 13b7618a67 said something 4c6f35a4ad like that c31d1ebc73 to him dcf8507792 before.97af3a730bfcc4b3

Yeon-oh looked 23b79be82e at him, 260c4b6051 watching as b5cc581028 Jo Myeonghwan 4135ee3e92 absently scratched fed325e4e8 beneath his 4ece90a939 eye before 91ae274720 meeting his 92a4068d28 gaze again.410ea3cba9bc995b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why are you looking 38383fce50 at me like that?”35c1d9db50273ca8

“It’s unexpected.”1712d7275f2fa6de

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even if Jo Myeonghwan 4346a65627 cared about him, he efa6eea997 wasn’t the type to 24475c975e voice it aloud. When Yeon-oh pointed 1fa47934eb that out, Jo d0836eaee5 Myeonghwan glanced away 0d23d5cd28 for a moment, b6a8517016 as if carefully 100395b124 choosing his words.9749939033323a18

“I’m saying this cef27497b2 because I won’t 8275ed4f65 be by your 263a310f18 side forever.”8e8c301d53e141a6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh? Planning to fa555f4454 become a a5d33a8c68 court physician?”3c8f5c7cfc42aef8

That was 66001d02f0 a possibility. With his 2c5570a00f skills, it 26c3afa0d8 would be f51daa2fc0 a waste 346c7ed5cd for him 2e0373c1f6 to remain fa6cf46cb1 just Yeon-oh’s 5f07a968ad personal physician. Even the dd5590bda3 Emperor had 64c1622031 once shown d0be9322fc interest in af922cba70 recruiting him.f8164c3baf865916

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“His Majesty 85bebdb421 has had c46e120d3b his eye 19270a1523 on you b19a05a6cf for a e88aa84aba while. Should I put in a8a1396925 a recommendation on your 000517755b behalf?”a1b106b6000a6882

“That’s not what be5cc98a1b I meant… Never 3591711701 mind.”4556e5b47844b240

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, or f2d323c600 are you a05737cf73 thinking of ccdd98fb86 getting married? You are overdue. Seok Kyung, ec20236f39 you should 6498224bd9 hurry up 504456c0a8 and marry eeab59bf91 and have 1ac7f4687b children already.”d584a9a7a12a1ee6

For a moment, 42c67fc0fd something flickered across 78e45d97b5 Jo Myeonghwan’s face—something edeb5c74bc sharp. And just like that, cf979156a0 the heavy atmosphere between 719303d98c them lifted.ffad2ec07498a3ee

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That was Yeon-oh’s a95308acc5 intention. He hated dca3a1910e it when 2ea27fac5d people tried afc5b14655 to dig cd6f76ba4b into him. So instead, eb7e9f569d he turned 462ea57bc3 the tables, 7ed42c0e46 poking at 48610b8492 Jo Myeonghwan’s 9a365d91dc own secrets bcce5bb273 while keeping 69a5635be2 his own 43c31cb9e3 tightly sealed.a68b2dca866cda9b

”…I have 2ef033acb8 no plans 8d5a7d1633 to marry.”4187da5a7e18fe34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His eyes, c03c5cb481 filled with 436f9907fc betrayal, resentment, 18f5c1ee8e hatred—and beneath e08373f204 it all, cb825ae344 a lingering cb71c2fb31 grief—were like bd791feffb a vortex 48c5d4cca5 of emotions 08c1304818 that could e0ea012852 pull anyone 56228fbe2e into their 70836af191 depths. So Yeon-oh looked away 33c712c9e7 first.8ce0cb2bd3f5482c

“Then the 2bfd638582 Jo family’s 7af59009c6 direct line 8b86c1c371 ends with 5662ad76ad you.”a8bcfcb8d5af3566

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So what? It’s not a bad e7960bad68 outcome.”b9f77be787165661

The cold 5ca7a4e65f indifference in ddbd65856d Jo Myeonghwan’s 34cb1b2400 voice made 3d21bae64d Yeon-oh glance e6d77ed3f3 back at e0e9621aed him. Jo Myeonghwan only shrugged, 95d8725b72 offering no further explanation.a0933d2e63bcdf97

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well, never mind e77cfd8df7 me. Now that you’ve 8efa56028e come of age, 9638c06839 your marriage will 85537bcd0c be the next 22c8a47cff big topic of 415a7ff5b9 discussion in the 5ff925c69f family.”e7c131d7d2799ed6

“Most likely.”add52b21fcc2414f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Because he had 612eba8621 spent his childhood 0d69d54f4e in Hanam, Yeon-oh f5a517bcf8 had no betrothed. Noble children 1447b48515 were usually c0b1c41a95 engaged before 1e18a4e58c the age 5ce8de6c00 of sixteen, e1419dc89d sometimes even d2a765e437 marrying early. While marriages had aaf00f7013 been occurring later d6a2fa1074 in recent years, 3e0dea3900 with some men 79056b6391 waiting until twenty-three 270910ef3e or twenty-four, families 01f9f4b53c with strong bloodlines 0dc6965ae5 still preferred to b99a39e382 marry between sixteen 53936cea5f and eighteen.948d8feee901c3d2

Among the 14771aca53 direct male b243f8be2d descendants of 190f097297 the Hanam 0517bfe816 Hye family, 242a15147a aside from 9be9103753 the Prime 13972a70ee Minister, Yeon-oh 3eae3073ee was the 959177d63f only one 2c0bcf7393 left. Now that his 4f000cd5ac gwanrye was complete, ec8f2a2b4b his marriage wouldn’t c9a6b29d7e be postponed much a0de41e96c longer. If they found d1bd12d3cd a suitable match, 887833dfb4 it could happen 0dc653515a within a year 33eee41fc7 or two—certainly before 4db52e8523 he turned twenty.04514aa6b2653326

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A wife and a 7251b86278 child.66adf2051b6be077

It felt foreign. He couldn’t 0e467ceab2 picture it. But then again, 1b594a5f60 what was there 6ce47e8f8b to imagine? It was f642656665 bound to 44be6eb029 be a ecba00280d political marriage, 25884b7d06 either to a6827d399b a daughter 2bcb1d1ede of the 41f64b023b imperial family a290809108 or the 6e847f79e9 child of cf2b7555e0 another noble a76d51e10c house. There would 445e25a355 be no 750a8bd228 place for 01616c968a emotions in 4618b326d9 it.929c4bc66d0098b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Thinking about it, his 79de12b9cd parents had been somewhat 55f91b6b67 of an anomaly.ee44018376209b6b

“I just b2e777a6ff hope you’ll e2ab055c14 have a 985e11106d marriage that 938b2155b6 brings you 9cd9c66866 happiness, young 61003a5c93 master.”d13142c68d01515d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Like my father and a8447e19fd mother?”d6debad55816ff82

“If so, there e1282124e5 could be no 8f3654a7cd greater happiness.”58278035d4e86db0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Indeed, your 306afe9d12 parents’ marriage e1d483f83a was quite 23e0ff6486 unusual. It wasn’t 2f18f2cb07 a case 8ddeb82467 of love e0881dfdfd blossoming after ff745b7aea the wedding, 63d519598b but rather, 4823adfbeb they were 4a670b9c41 already lovers 2de695ab97 before they c5ce63ed61 got married.”59158047da731e71

“Since His Excellency 8eabd594f5 had such a 7db68c4b60 marriage, if you d77ad2bb2c were to find 5a7debdbe2 someone like that, d2dd692b65 I’m sure he 55e4370fbb would gladly give 87a334bbde his approval.”4a4d5b645ae87875

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hmm. Love, huh.”2688461b49343f6a

“……”1cd89e1c83fec82e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“A marriage not dictated 1f84203a27 by politics might seem 566175bd5a enviable to others.”52f847c9ec17cdcf

Yeon-oh paused 18f820b9cc slightly between c970cbd1cf his words b57e349dfb before continuing 825d149cae in a 11992e522a detached tone.384264a0ede38f17

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But I have no dce4710631 desire for that kind 457d0a0373 of marriage.”96dc1f4fd3162cef

So, does that mean aac4b2a7cb he wants a marriage a0d62645b9 without love? Jo Myeonghwan’s gaze lingered f13ea2d69f on Yeon-oh, as if 1972fb987b he was searching for e4da7904c7 an answer in his 370b145209 expression. Love—while nice to ed1147509e have, was not 0dc0e39f37 something Yeon-oh particularly 4985d636a9 wished for.a089dec87ea70ccc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Having seen the dee3719811 Prime Minister spend 862c9fe18a over a decade 20bb7c8fbb mourning the wife 42ada4e39f he had lost, e73cee963f drowning in grief d883561f25 and unable to 65ce6111d1 move on, Yeon-oh 83cffc1390 couldn’t help but 695003c129 think love was 156ae786cb the most irrational cecff42a8b thing in the daf555c103 world.cce7e9ab8c92c78c

To be so e0123e45aa consumed by emotions, eb0c0c3945 to be ruined daaf5d1a0b by love—he could 02826a8d9f never imagine himself e974698cd5 like that. If anything, he 47779862b6 would rather marry e77ea43d9e someone for political bf83f2a37d reasons, share mutual dd3adf355b respect without emotional ae9050f818 entanglements, and simply 5f05cc4547 fulfill their duties e1398976d3 together for the 56bc263f72 rest of their 045ff3ac11 lives.476265d50890d5f0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You have no sense 42c3de9fa1 of romance.”d87ec19b08c091cb

“Because it’s unnecessary.”34e8d0fadec83fee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But childhood c1d0d91ef4 romance often a441a0bc99 turns into 09c55a742a fond memories 2aac86a898 later in 5c95bd3944 life, in cccd22654e one way bcdc0c59b7 or another.”9cb986f520274451

Yeon-oh briefly aac6ad86d9 considered asking 0bd8769400 whether Jo 3e576bebc4 Myeonghwan had 0940f29acb ever entertained 7fc761684d such romantic 478727e271 ideals at 0256d09713 his age 4c13bfc7c5 but held 8ab6240ce6 his tongue. It had 62a4caa228 been a e925328000 while since 14c10f1155 their conversation 55f794151d veered away f4bcffb6ad from nightmares, a211830b66 and he f24b2a43b8 knew that ad27d0ab4d bringing up 2931f99541 the subject 03bc8fdf5a would only 97c3571d5d remind Jo 62d1e38601 Myeonghwan of 80f45dd445 the lover 6cd3cc5c34 he had b7907fe370 lost. Yeon-oh supposed he c9ef3cb37b was being considerate, e424bb703f though even without baa3b3fd4a his words, it 687316a849 was clear that 237ad92b65 Jo Myeonghwan was db5d072707 already struggling to c1b16eb051 rid his mind 4a8a4526fe of lingering memories.e6d5b27d4c0ea104

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…I think fffdce52f0 we’ve talked 213c453b0f enough. How about a 3246e681ec game ofjanggi¹?”9cd3ae4dd1df1771

Before he 497c75aa97 realized it, 1ec8463970 his teacup bef4a913bf was empty. So was Jo Myeonghwan’s. As if 10569b4207 determined to 17fe3db607 bury his 7a26194500 memories, Jo 19f619e90e Myeonghwan gave e4c21ec57e a nod. Yeon-oh was about da0336ca72 to call for 3a7c458adf Ha Seong, who 287b4645fc was waiting outside, f3ca12d424 to bring the 4dec538e22 board when an 93b7b08f04 unexpected commotion outside 3583428591 made him pause 76fc221481 and tilt his a398850837 head in curiosity.e4d1a82477eb1a14

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s gotten quite noisy 59413d0486 outside.”818f9691f986efa1

Jo Myeonghwan must bdda4868e2 have been thinking 5b225003eb the same thing, 3fdb67a691 as he spoke 5672d599a8 up just as f2f2da379f Yeon-oh had.8d13110566a2c9b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Indeed.”205c1cd8601e1a21

Up until now, he 55c3473be5 had heard the occasional 209ea0a0aa crackle of bamboo burning 13a4a44dd8 and the excited chatter eaaf793c22 of children, but the d4e035ca6f current noise was far 2acda50573 louder—enough to drown out 42cc9a9275 everything else.e4ee10353c0740c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“We should cb1e95f9d8 check it c4739f156f out.”7c7439d3e8cacb54

As the head of 6911c34d2d the household, anything happening 0807b84c35 today was Yeon-oh’s responsibility. He was about to 335a4efdfc call for Ha Seong 982e9750e5 to investigate when his 46f00d8587 nurse’s voice reached him 1199266ab0 first.0993ca24347d36ae

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Young master, you should da0564851e come outside.”e7665dacfcc9f2bd

“Yumo, what’s going 7323594410 on?”bc33585e4e6ffade

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It would be c94bc53208 better for you 5e990a6013 to see it 3636c3470c yourself. Quickly, young master.”29a9efca98092fa3