Chapter 103

Following my instructions, the bce6a5fbcf carriage bypassed the temple’s d1943ece5d main entrance and headed c9355c263b to the opposite side, f072c348fb near the orphanage.2a617453a83b9c94

Unless there was a major event, like the Goddess’s birthday celebration, there was no need to pass through the temple to reach the orphanage.e07c52e6d8f23dca

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

This time, I made sure f0e999156e to bring Gomgomdori, which I b51c6473c4 had forgotten last time.83002b365a5c0d17

Even though the place d1f13d438b was full of children, 8bcccc8450 there was no telling 1a6725f079 what might happen.b3f63aedd509fbf8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Of course. Bodyguards are meant 7bc6c040aa to stay with 50dab5d9a3 you like your 938358f8a4 shadow.’e6c585d55e1807e5

The carriage circled around the 768f05a97c temple and stopped in front e9651a21b9 of the orphanage.b70d9ec77618f1a9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As if they had been 71da1f05ab informed in advance, a couple ac7a9ba4d9 of people were waiting at 460d38ddac the entrance.f5b70862f40b1b35

“Hello, Belze.”1399b6441c19e4fc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A young man greeted me b2146e38a9 warmly as I hopped off 1475820490 the carriage.92aeca9290eb1a62

“I’m Magnus, the newly appointed head priest of the orphanage. We met briefly during f7792205b6 the volunteer event last 3cb4b01dfc time, remember?”2ee68c8c4423d362

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah…!”458299497e2e0ec4

His familiar face dacf02f0a4 jogged my memory.47ec3d4cf6963d96

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was the priest who f68ee1230d had assisted the Pope during 2baa1b9031 the announcement of the Saintess 5b365df988 candidates.36501e4a3373cd60

It seemed that 426c0d1642 after the previous bdcbf59725 headmistress and the 76658d5acb priestesses were removed, 87930f15da their positions had 714f00bf48 been filled by 5e521e1c7d new people.c47cf6cef33361a6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“This is Priestess Celine, who will be in charge of the Lion Class, your former group.”5e690968be8d70dc

“Hello. Nice to meet you, Belze.”b68da025404f21a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Magnus introduced the woman b999173447 standing next to him.c835c93e9830a0af

Her face was unfamiliar, 57419098f3 but both of them 695a916e68 seemed better than the 130c5364cf previous administrators.72546c0efa185cc5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Still, I can’t let my guard down around anyone from the temple.’60e79c3b315c838f

Hiding my rising wariness, I b69f564ac5 greeted them politely.c8aa579a56471249

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hello!”e1ed4059ab61a9f5

“So, you came to see your friends after a long time? Let’s head inside; the children ffe06e1a1f are waiting for you.”1a6f308bb832ef1d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh! I brought snacks!”ba934f52e426f326

“Snacks?”b067773047358375

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just then, the 4eab2eb462 coachman and Tara 300a902f04 opened the luggage e75559b0c7 compartment of the e6e9116a8f carriage.82a87c9a7ea633d6

The eyes of the 8b1b65540e head priest and the ef9a70bbf2 priestess widened at the c659736574 sight of the neatly 4778136409 wrapped boxes inside.e7f4a7172a3b5384

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Oh my, you didn’t have to bring so much…”1eff46a2d421a165

“Thank you, Belze. The children are going 4068ab7693 to love this.”d23230ef20afb35d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hehe.”222d6993dd705d20

Smiling proudly at their af5fae2e1b praise, I helped carry 5da75136c3 the boxes inside.1ead64897e2f8504

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“My lady, I’ll wait in the carriage! If anything happens, come get 6f4a811065 me immediately!”8540e801424d28f9

After assisting with the heavy afa3628116 dessert boxes, Tara left the f2dc602328 orphanage, casting a few worried b111b3782f glances back at me.2798e856b026e2a1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘What’s there to worry about? I’m from the 01917c8130 same background as 40ce455869 these kids. Dragging a maid along ce32616f93 would be ridiculous.’23232524b12e2843

Unlike Diana, I eca718bb8d didn’t want to 23a658db89 act like that.0b9e3e2d00eb2bcc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In my previous life, Diana, 49fa9f173d who had been adopted by 84d68dc929 a marquess family early on, 8451bd8ffb often visited the orphanage with 1782be1017 plenty of delicious food.351fd67bdc3b4a9a

Since I lived in the 716885f495 temple rather than the orphanage, 0b953d8833 I hardly ever got to ce266a4aca eat any of it.929c69c82ca93bc3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The priests, who fafedd64d3 disliked me, often 3ad698de8f didn’t bother passing e0787b1f54 my share along.0dc4cb10610f82ae

On the rare occasion e7fbc5fbbc when scraps came my f520532d8e way, I’d lick the 96e926078d plate clean like a cb0114890a dog.8517a9bb53cb7f9a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ironically, those fleeting moments fd510b5301 of eating were the 7c984ae485 only happy times I 482ae0349e had at the temple.6f3e204e17db0556

‘What a cruel twist of fate.’159d79e089a83b1c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

To think there were moments 038d435346 when I felt happiness thanks e8579e2a38 to the food Diana brought, 985b95a5c6 even though I despised and 965fc88d2e envied her.aad6f7a58d18669c

And now, I ff34c4c435 had unintentionally stepped 5d0ee3d95b into Diana’s shoes.78b7a40a93557eb2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As I carried the 4bdea441fb boxes into the Lion c51c349200 Class room, I saw c8d788d146 the children sitting together 0edb4f04e4 in clusters.0c4a5754cfbeb5f6

“Everyone~ Look who’s here! It’s Belze, the Saintess candidate 2bc637d2f1 from last time, and she’s a67c3604a0 brought some delicious treats!”921c746e94d01ff7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Celine, the new 94695eb17f priestess in charge, 35b4a98821 announced cheerfully to 2a5d953a9c the children.78af23a6fb967ad4

“Before we eat, how about we thank Belze first?”1a087efa7d111275

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Thank you, Belze!”d61e5237ee527303

The children, who had 8b7370e673 been fidgeting nervously, began 1737aa6bfe to speak one by 94437f8210 one.fd98ee33f1d20f77

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Wow, Belze is amazing!”fc87579ffa79bceb

“Belze must be way richer than Diana!”857322904042689a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Their innocent exclamations and the 11901f1128 admiring looks they gave me 2b940b3432 made my shoulders relax unexpectedly.08a8eb8b92c4bfe7

‘I thought being in Diana’s position would feel great…’1b0fbd5f01354c3a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But it wasn’t as 0efe83035b satisfying as I’d imagined.cb85e022a8089f55

After all, they 08bd5f3c27 were just 4- f3f81075cb or 5-year-olds, happy da63582206 over a piece c223fe45d9 of chocolate.c7592e14b0b2805a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Why did I envy Diana 889b54cac8 so much back then, seeing 80157c0176 how the children looked at a3011663c7 her?a28399b4de798dea

Facing my old insecurities, I 9fe1b39bca felt a twinge of embarrassment 76f3573de1 and self-reproach.36488041514e1b63

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Thank you, Goddess, for providing us with our daily bread!”5de4ba794968c9fb

After a brief prayer, 20705050d6 the children tore into 6056329769 the packaging and devoured 84036a14fb the desserts eagerly.039ed909318e1fd2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Watching them, my hardened 74bfb9d20c heart began to soften.5107c5b8c3144bec

‘…At least I don’t regret bringing these.’d05d7cddec26c14c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Despite being tied to a3e94ec16d the temple, the orphanage cd862cd2a0 wasn’t better off than c78d9e6dc8 others.f9e10f7becdecc10

Donations were limited to ee5f98904f talents, and the budget 0a41f1054a was entirely at the 0552145eca discretion of the headmistress.30e1c26df1a2dd1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even so-called volunteer 95a1710b77 work was often a44e6fb0ea just an excuse c23966e67f to sell goods a9ea180d9b to nobles, like d5a8f762e4 at the last 5baa03554f event.3e4b209ae1a77065

No one cared 2a1ce4eb71 about providing what ebb5eff430 the children truly b60536e29c needed.85afbec05fc7d9bb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey! That’s mine! Don’t take it!”17d568d029da7d80

“Too bad! Eat faster next time!”52895c158056c0ed

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘See what I mean?’c2a0bf44c117473c

A stronger child 5294ed32c4 was already taking ecca020a60 food from a f6aee4de87 weaker one.bd43fa1b10eb4177

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The priestess, too 3376e6ad94 busy attending to 0a074fc664 the younger children, 8a432376d8 didn’t notice.ec7595181a2f17f2

With the head priest 8fe3520051 and other staff delivering d1a19a17ee desserts to other groups, a2cc001e6c the Lion Class had 1cf68cfdbf been left unsupervised.e37af52719980128

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sighing, I braced myself and 5445ae6cf2 shouted, “Hey!”08751bdf9f8d54a1

The children froze, 37731f59b6 turning to look 5091098eec at me in ecc53690e5 shock.82dd622f25fa2f91

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Scowling, I continued, “There’s 591538297b plenty for everyone, so 8c86b2d374 stop stealing! Anyone who takes 1b4d67adf6 someone else’s snack 1055e77220 won’t even get 563c29e0c8 soup! Got it?!”8697259da1aa922e

My glare seemed to 747367ae30 work; the offending child 3308cc3e83 reluctantly returned the stolen 4c0ba7d5c8 treat.9593cd1d05a90400

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

From then on, 0b6a744fe1 the children shared 80aa0aded2 the desserts peacefully.acf49dbe8f8b40d0

“Ha-ha, thanks to Belze, I’m getting some rare rest today. Isn’t that right, kids?”4c971b1ffe99f08d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Perhaps to lighten the ded48a130c mood, Priestess Celine made a1510ffe2f a lighthearted joke.0c3311a286585000

“Yeah! It’s all thanks to Belze!”011d331fbeec5dd3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“She used to be a little scary, but she’s really nice now!”c2f8a8a402bda158

“So Belze is richer than Diana for real, right?”ea4878fdf3aa4e9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The tension eased, and the 3aa760109c children began chattering excitedly again.276f8dca1b8e0208

Even though I had 0880769ec5 scolded them, most of 6282f477f4 their comments were about e6831f394f how great I was.b5469e5f7f32a2a7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But that didn’t mean my f8bd736c3b old grudge was entirely gone.0f0306001a5dec93

They might forget these moments 07004908eb quickly, leaving them as just 562d61f825 another fleeting memory.e7739cea5f8cd0ae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But for me, the faeefcdbb0 scars of those times 5ffaa15f81 had lasted a lifetime.ca02d2290f0f9818

“Diana! Come play with me! Belze, go away! Bleh!”3897b01c5fa996a6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Diana! Let’s race to f6d922ee37 see who can 2a03c804cd climb up first!”ca2720f34c4cc3e1

Even in my past life 7f5f205896 and now in this one, a67f2cccf0 the children who once idolized 0c7f852c11 Diana and helped ostracize me 7a5c05f035 hadn’t changed.5837d3ae0195ccd5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And yet.e5dff6f1e02754f0

Even so, I decided to 08f718ebe3 forgive the orphanage children.c1d52349c0f52a96

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘It wasn’t the children’s fault.’6082d60ce3b61683

It was the cf91cd7078 headmistress and the 95ee4c6b67 priests who manipulated 195e871451 them that were 8821bb9449 to blame.3b337ca9a5969177

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Children, as easily 3ad57987e8 influenced as they bd8c99d6d3 are, could have f7242fb36c their minds changed 3d6e07debf with just a 9a9a375a1f few words from 471dd280e9 an adult, as 26fb994ad4 Priestess Celine had 14e57c0f15 just demonstrated.e650e85de2f9ffc8

I knew that now.d9820c606a933523

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After visiting the 7b57df26e7 Lion Class, I 1df3b7a9ea continued to make 953f2821f4 rounds to the 599efb8c72 other groups, receiving dfb82f51ed their thanks.6f6909f502a12cbc

Hearing stories about 970c687e5a Diana during my b2b66a330e time at the 2467cab421 temple, I’d always b88f7c77ee thought she was c56a09d6b2 so impressive and de97bbc5bd amazing.343518be4b8a81ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But now, after cb96aa80e9 finishing with even 80f21f578a the Giraffe Class, c5bc1fbfe9 where the older 5d12508574 kids aged 14 68e909c3d5 and above were, 783154e737 all I felt 6f0566b342 was embarrassment and eb0555da42 exhaustion.f24f74e9a0a01881

‘How did Diana manage to do this every single time she visited?’366e44ffce5d30d6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Apparently, being a heroine c1b0f9acd4 wasn’t for everyone.69769b1231eff8f0

As I was shaking 93888f2eca my head in disbelief, f2335c2e03 Magnus, the new head b0e550bbd6 priest, smiled kindly and 8792ce363a asked, “Belze, would you 56a8d04eb3 like to stay and 762070e968 play with the Lion 59b3b12b1e Class some more?”2e168b15874d3197

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I shook my head.39ebf9cd8a04e39b

“No.”f58d58a72840f0af

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then are you leaving already?”6c3bbb46bdc6a071

“Not exactly… There’s someone I’m looking for.”52c30d27ad4258b8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I hadn’t trudged through 34f6714967 all the groups just 65b7fa3013 for show—I was looking efc3f3aebb for Ismail.71929f147738466b

Of course, if 12d02a9f75 I asked the 628c7470e0 head priest or 3a44c550ba one of the 4be6663506 staff, they’d bring 7b23228a14 him to me e30a980738 immediately.ae7079fcca1ba9e3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But knowing that 429e265a88 he was pretending e0a81fbf7d to be powerless 4d28bf881a and mute, I acba2e7bd3 didn’t want to ae100a28c3 openly reveal my 66931ed8a3 connection to him d1aced8e02 to these temple e1729b6ea4 people.ba5ed9ccfbaed6d8

‘And I wanted to make a grand entrance when I found him…’b7a11064a5a922b8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I pouted in frustration.ad957c5c2f7fc3fd

Magnus tilted his head c3e6c4afed curiously and asked, “Who? I’ve already told 0d77e33b67 the teachers to d8cd63b2c4 gather all the 7abd235dec children in their d6bc4e29b0 groups to eat 6a1bdac411 the desserts…”b366bd12a46b791d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As expected, the newly appointed 8a36d6ba96 head priest hadn’t yet noticed a80258b6d2 the bullying and violence happening 5a8dbaba52 within the orphanage.a954c23fdeb8b1df

‘Or maybe, like the former headmistress, he’s just choosing to ignore it.’371833892214d101

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Smiling faintly, I replied, f0c5ec3143 “I’ll find him myself! I think I know where ec2a09d3bf he is!”587a7c30e7b788bb

“Is that so?”c676cced54604684

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Fortunately, Magnus didn’t press the 1c2a2c9436 issue further and let it 6136e650a0 go easily.1b43ddb02b47fc03

As soon as he e49a194d5c left, I dropped the 5bfb21b0b7 smile and dashed through 4f1c6e7a1e the hallway.40dd00e2bdc16c02

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

[Book Storage Area]cb9d2d5946fd91b1

I ran past the 2b79931a89 library to the far f02b44d02c end of the hallway, 9fdab833ec arriving at a side 8bf8ab0b51 door.9a5f95d225c05797

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Creak.7f821a4984bada2b

Thankfully, it wasn’t locked.814604518ba73101

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After checking that no 563237c9bf one was around, I b11e0e7d5e slipped outside without hesitation.7433e255fc2083a3

I sprinted down the 8516af7af3 narrow path leading to ad066946c6 the garbage dump and d5ef9fe9b2 arrived at the incinerator, 6491123952 where I finally found 54ca63cae1 them.7b9df38e29c64456

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“See? I told you, 62fcc3dfb6 stealing Ismail’s stuff b767469038 always tastes the 1a5aaca264 best.”91ab371d1b2c3fab

“Hey, Tommy. Doesn’t your Baron send 469ae88b5e you anything like this?”556e30a532d758a9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you kidding? He dumped me 080a2f4cf8 in this orphanage, e9be400dce didn’t he?”79dc9ffd45d67cde

The three burly boys 63056211fd I’d seen on the 91964211d9 volunteer day were laughing 7ff75a752e and joking loudly.3a96264c561c6ff5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the middle 72af5ecc69 of them was 2d64d826d7 a small, dirtied 4eb7d91b21 figure lying crumpled 6e81ea6632 on the ground 39d627cbe9 like a discarded b9d3d14a92 piece of trash.741d58ced676802e

“Hey, I wonder—can a mute even taste food? Yo, Ismail, do 21ccca6fab you even know 76d4b21215 how this stuff 0816d42dcd tastes?”de3448aab117dc4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The bullies, stuffing themselves with 0f6080f1ca the desserts I had brought, 008ea7eb13 suddenly dropped a tart they c0d1235221 were holding.ef7d998670f54357

Splat.b00f8c79a5aa31ab

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The tart landed cream-side 118c10b3b9 down on Ismail’s ash-brown fa1623542f hair.19a702042e3d7d8f

My vision went white 54ed867d1f with fury as I d73ffa583c screamed,b540a8b1ed109244

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Teddy-teddy bear! Activate rage mode—NOW!”624e810e486a3494