Chapter 130

“T-That was too harsh, Belze.”aff1c637b65d5548

Diana, her eyes brimming 772049d946 with sudden tears, for 7341e0cb1c once raised her voice 32176feb74 and flushed red in 3ce370b01a anger.2abd1a8c8f0f599d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Are you saying… that my mother intentionally dropped hints so Adolf could copy your salon’s interior?”e88b6f814fe1258f

As expected of 6fe5d26ec1 someone so socially f300573191 skilled, she raised 0e0aae8281 her voice just 31833c2cf9 enough to seem 2808892257 outraged—like I had 219f4b7485 just delivered a 4db15f441f deeply unforgivable insult.d855e39427be2802

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The moment she said 3c9de6f1a3 that, I could feel 37ad7918e4 the gazes of the faa988230a bystanders shift and focus 6641eba934 even more sharply on ce9bf846f3 us.5a8ff32edf6e5088

“Now that you mention it, Lady Diana makes a good point.”9c01139022ca2e7f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Tsk. Must be her commoner blood. How vulgar and ill-mannered.”d6a12fb749b39202

That’s not even what I 5b46a5052f meant.e6f98ae9c009e5c4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In the blink of an 107202c63a eye, the conversation was twisted, 67080601ff the nuance deliberately bent, and bb650be58a just like that—I was being 4207e110c6 painted as the aggressor.ceb5d17b1365a5ee

If this were 3280ecd39e my past life, c265210aa1 I would’ve stumbled 6153eff0fc through this, unable 2dc8b19e96 to respond properly.0c903cf2c1982cd5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And eventually, I would’ve 27ab029181 exploded, yelling in frustration, 1909ae85cd unable to express myself 0dd2d1240a clearly.a943607431724606

But after enduring 259c08baee this exact same 5b6778df67 situation more times 619ff0c534 than I could 60a5dc06ae count in that 5f106496e3 past life, the 6ad884f94c experience had hardened 60728cfee0 me.9d1bb3d8cd700c97

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

All those wounds had now bc467ac7cb become armor.db1322086db8434b

So this time, e0cd0cbf48 I didn’t feel 320cc725b3 ashamed. I didn’t even feel b01bbc57c2 angry as the crowd a4c0c98c87 whispered and stared.c252a13e06cc7a2b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I never said the Marchioness intentionally helped Adolf, Diana.”6b2819676fefe547

“Then what did you mean by it?”3906a829b2d22199

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If people are close, things can slip out naturally, can’t they? Just like how you know quite a bit about our salon.”feff4e1981a4c60e

“…….”f1604f095ee22e57

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I replied calmly, a faintly 6a2fc4a16e meaningful smile tugging at my afbceed90f lips.1f06b749bef83d4d

Diana’s expression instantly hardened.8f487e4319d9924c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Got her.’4926f053fefafd5f

It was a bef1c0351b sharp jab—and it 92ade29455 hit where it 1653a089b8 hurt.09418567b1313b1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Because the truth 2d710e0d88 was, Diana didn’t 52733262ca actually know anything fd164e0ae1 about our salon.bdeadb64cb0c6601

She was the 64f6f1ff9d same age as 7ef9275fdd me, and the 6abc61bef4 only part she’d 314224b99d ever visited was 56c9813b90 the first-floor drugstore.5afcdab1370e738d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She had never set foot ebaa546bfe in the upstairs massage area.23be5e15f696758e

Yet when I confronted b5872dbae3 Adolf for copying the a516aeb39e interior design of that 3631f29a75 very space, she hadn’t bb06c0bb4c looked surprised at all.0856c3e7423ee08d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She didn’t ask 5d030675c0 what I meant, 3008df3d54 didn’t look confused—just 25839a4e04 started making excuses ee9fc0d544 and apologizing.c0d8af33b98a7f71

It was obvious.ce6b575a8e2d079e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She was playing the third-party e92d98b6a7 bystander while deeply involved in 963794413e Adolf’s new business from behind 60e64f9ad7 the scenes.f487e75d9c7d9ff5

‘Did the failed healing of the Empress’s great-grandfather cut off her donations or something?’e447ca5582113e95

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As I quietly mulled over 59c0d979bd what would’ve driven Diana to 6c4abc9de3 suddenly partner with Adolf—34d827e8834e9e13

“M-My mother isn’t close enough with Adolf to be seeing him privately!”c34d58d993154d3c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She blurted the words, stumbling 78b0c8ad76 and visibly flustered.4b1d8a1f0e210dd5

It was clear she was f1727da3c0 worried the Marchioness might get 7ea8af18fa dragged into the scandal.999e7abed23e50cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And seeing her like 76d002eb26 that gave me… a 257640eb6f strange feeling.94d37d73c4b5936a

‘So even you have to bow your head in front of me now, huh…?’25302efb9006d726

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Belze, please don’t be angry! It’s all my fault! I’m really sorry!”2586ea3163e5849e

Every time I f119e5f8c6 tried to speak 9ee5db79d0 up about something 083dda3cad unfair, Diana would a5b20631d4 always jump in 0e989a680d and apologize first—cutting 972e000836 me off before 322bc4a808 I could say 42578b497a anything. And just like that, I’d 0e4384bd12 be left to take the a7b0d809f1 blame and the rumors.021f1178c2ee4373

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But this time?62f84ab701ccd9a9

This time, the tables had d9f268445d completely turned.772a8db25257ffde

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I see. Sorry, Diana.”640855d3a8aba04c

The apology slipped from my c4f7de6872 mouth easily—because I didn’t mean abe594f34a a word of it.d86d6d1b2b4a1410

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I smiled, lips ecd680f3df curved into a 10aeb3d136 sweet, insincere arc.66360cc58931ebde

Then I added, as ec3949cf9b if just remembering:1d8c2e3170966ce1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“But… that means you are admitting it, right?”47cd954ad517a225

“Admitting what?”5e598fa389590667

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“That Adolf Galagos copied my salon’s interior and business model. You saw it earlier 33ef6febb8 too, didn’t you?”f25e6aeec12b8e21

“A-Admitting it?”fa0da9a5604f2849

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I tilted my chin toward 598d879730 the building behind her, and 27ae457760 Diana flinched slightly before quickly 6a0aaee28b backing off.9bfd5d5192eb91ea

“S-Sorry, Belze. I’m not really sure… I’ve aa2ab84b9d only ever seen the first 1a63d1725c floor of your salon, so…”5a32682e5e13645b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is that so?”7c86d168c0aa1535

What a weak excuse.1cbb5966a1234812

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I latched onto her words dde9f51807 like a hawk.926b3bf10e3cda12

“Then Diana, how about this? I’ll show you the f82c157d79 entire layout of our 62a8a77897 salon now. As an old friend, cd5e437ae1 would you be willing d8d5e18188 to testify later as daffac144d a witness?”fc4e95ffea7d3a09

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“W-Witness?!”faa97b4b7b0ab193

Diana recoiled like she’d been 928665b559 slapped.37c62b4ddb346d52

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The lawsuit was already b2977140c5 a sure thing—but this? This was a finishing move. I wasn’t going to 40d61a5c32 leave even the tiniest e3af1c14a6 crack for them to ee74f222e1 climb through.5d1d88cff83bd61a

I nodded calmly, be6a06a46e voice pleasant and b0cd57bef8 casual.706ddb6be4a88d32

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah. You’d just have to 34c336bbe9 confirm that the interiors 132ac91f04 look similar. That’s all.”8f143d8df55eb009

“…”a4e90da0fce235f2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Besides, if the business items overlap, that’s a clear patent violation.”994c9343fbbe2b69

“W-Wait, are you really suing him?”a2c06897a8f358e3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What, you think I’m pretending to?”167f1814896e75c9

I let out a f27a82e720 quiet laugh like she’d 3cff103632 said something ridiculous.b8c1cca92e6b8feb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Diana went silent.ab2c37c38417c4f0

She must’ve assumed I was b1056611f8 bluffing, throwing out threats with 028cc97ce6 no real intention behind them.ef28112ead6a0fa5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She paused for 26cb213ac2 a moment, eyes 3f42ff88a3 flickering with thought, f8b99528eb then cautiously opened 42df05c736 her mouth.31e82491484718f8

“B-But Belze… I don’t think Adolf meant to copy your business.”38420fe109cde5b6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh yeah? And how would you know?”925f0165c0917383

“Because… he asked me for help.”9897591d74409340

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Help?”e3535531a240b136

She nodded, hesitant but honest.03d9a2b0568f15c8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He’s planning a business to help people with health problems.”b6e497085961af7d

“So… like a hospital?”5b73f0d5cf6a8a52

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Not exactly. It’s more like… selling 877d9c4560 health supplements, and offering 50556a7824 general wellness services.”d105325872a73117

It was similar—but just different 9d45dac362 enough to avoid being identical.5292ed9a139f17da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My business focused 55b9997d7d purely on beauty 9f7e25c6f4 and cosmetics.e85e81608f94f5d2

His sounded like it was cb7a909d9b aiming for wellness and lifestyle.98ca6dae11f14e7b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But still—why go through all 2d1fa0cb67 that trouble for a business 3894dfc32a like that?776978abfd58bbc2

“We already have clinics and herbalists. Why would anyone bother 2aabf35e02 with his setup?”c5463b1063868e2d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Diana offered her explanation gently.448886bc713750d4

“Hospitals and clinics are limited in number, and always overcrowded. Plus, there’s no 0a83911271 guarantee they’ll actually 4efed76c91 cure you.”a669cd5a8ebd1650

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”4a7d585e7448d283

“Adolf just wants to make health more accessible to everyone. I… agreed with that idea.”99b0aff6f411c9b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”4665a1e1609c75f5

“Just like how you sell products to commoners too, Belze.”16a764c62be9df2c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I nearly laughed.3459ecbbdefe4e90

I held it 3673d35b08 back with effort.0f055e191279c40a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘So now you want to reach the commoners, huh?’aec998fb1d3bcb00

It was suddenly 993216764c crystal clear why 5ab84c6eff Diana had teamed 6321b9784e up with Adolf.a252ad6b4e0f480b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She still hadn’t 4fc58d398d made a name b373a95b47 for herself among d3283c1b76 the common folk.270e12bb9049f493

And seeing me a8e15f1c00 build a reputation c052da6124 through the Minola 83a362fbd8 cure and affordable 2b495abc00 beauty items must’ve 2c60c08b46 lit a fire 000f619900 under her.cc5259d7ee7c041d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So then… you’ll be the one doing the healing at that place?”fd54ac11469bdbad

“Yeah. It’s what I’m best at.”28f3c94f30b811e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Diana gave a soft, bashful 45e8dceec1 smile.e8bf609b94049cb7

‘Didn’t think you’d stoop to healing commoners, Diana…’25010f254b4989dd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In the original story, 97a28db665 she didn’t start healing 6311c9b8ce the lower class until f9bafdd719 after enrolling in the 9990314aab Academy at age 14.0b798a00ab89ce7f

And even then, it wasn’t 1cadcc66c1 through some weird startup business 9e339db6ed venture.ae296ed793363f97

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Guess all the changes I’ve made have started shifting the story, huh…’42270a15f99b717b

Cutting the Minola plague short 6a9e6ad7f4 by five years was bound 3a7a180822 to change the flow of 604865893b the original.8c40d235811c3df1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As I thought fcf015cb43 about how off-course dc62ac5089 the plot had cf2bffe57c become, my head 714cca1b69 grew foggy.6d6cc5880c3ea969

My response came out flat, 0c5194a5af without much care.f18855472f1e4b3b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I see. You’ll be busy 1ec5031d84 after the launch, 3c060e57d3 then.”5cf14a3437746ff8

“Mhm. That’s why… please don’t think e19758dbef too badly of us, Belze.”30770077afcd2d01

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Now that she 2bb6559ef3 had regained her c0ce699595 composure, she spoke c75639b7b3 with a soft, 54a8cd6009 sorrowful look on 1b34ef52e3 her face.32781546216b5ed5

“Adolf really didn’t mean to copy you. Please believe that.”03f988724224dacd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Sure. I’ll keep that in mind.”2e56f098c233d482

I replied, pretending e76dcef7a8 to be agreeable.34726f627b2120a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Didn’t mean to, my ass. Are you blind?’78f987b4f76764d4

I wanted to bd71be62b0 say it straight 48e9c277b6 to her face 435cc790c3 like I had 3b424c5f83 with Adolf.ec6694b2a2d5d181

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But with so bafe0118ff many eyes on 8dbf91fb61 us, I held 0cb1999e51 back.25e3b67217a8075f

Instead, I plastered on 0debc66f7c a professional smile and c84ddb55c1 started wrapping things up.07f99c508c963cf6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s getting late, Diana. It was nice seeing you. I have to head back—I’ve 1d41fa822e got work.”948e34348ca3cc85

“Ah… right. Sorry for taking 84de06d905 up your time. Take care, Belze.”e23dadea80eef8a6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Diana waved goodbye 68defd98b7 with a gentle 1eeb59f183 smile.1b71b74a31628b40

“Let’s meet again soon. I’ll definitely invite 629a03e2c1 you to our 5cdc9e1311 launch party!”002105aac2a051fa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yeah.396ea14b8bdf595a

Not a chance in c9dd5e6a30 hell I was smiling 5f8262da77 back at that comment.a6668282098081ef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I walked past 54f2844832 her like I 26c683b5da hadn’t heard it, 98089ca087 blaming the noise 5f742942ea of the street f6913b4645 and a passing 72a3bec736 carriage.daeaa396a12ecdd8

“By the way, Director,”f43f76dc8829ba27

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Charlotte finally broke her c6517aaf24 silence as we crossed 53ae01a008 the street to our cdff7d1248 salon building.41e3cc4998d5029b

“That girl never once said she’d testify for us. Not even once. It’s not even her business, 82a913aec1 so why is she protecting 93f7aa4129 it so hard?”cbe1d1260851dc6a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I shot her 6c073a2271 a sideways glance, ca088c460b one brow slightly 4c8b85bb58 raised.51e222a0cf6acd6e

“Catch on just now, Charlotte?”358da65ff0fd022a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Huh?”c492a98337e74595

“Keep your guard up. She’s not going to be 61ee92562b easy.”3681fc5c729e7d6a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And with that, I let 078a48d962 out a long, tired sigh 63f3b66458 as I called for our adcb051d1c legal advisor.6693bbdcc8ec3638

For some reason…5426acd59c174bca

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I could already feel 6c0f8d392f the exhaustion of all ecd39dfc35 the trouble ahead creeping c0733a29b0 over my entire body.2611185329275f3a

* * *617603162b491599

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

ChatGPT said:060b4037a67b10ee

After having my 0abb607999 energy completely drained 04269ef8f4 by that damn 756d95b84f Adolf Galagos and 9989d37b1a the heroine, I 8286cb3a3e decided to clock e33cf0b79e out earlier than 1c1394219e usual.024dcecf32591329

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just as the carriage carrying 1426cceb74 me home to the duke’s 71410fce0d estate began to slow—d800e1767eb5342b

“Huh?”de2f2f855b6041e9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I noticed a d91e4d0f79 carriage I didn’t 5c31032f16 recognize parked in 8f0070ad3c front of the 3c984c6615 estate’s main entrance.324b0dc2d0870ba2

Its exterior bore 83aa9a0e5a a family crest 12a4b75567 I’d never seen aa59d705ac before.d6f4e4a8d3a55acb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A guest?”829c9d5bd8864c2b

I tilted my 29131801bd head, puzzled, and 9f4dc4ae93 stepped down from 60ae736448 the Kallios carriage.3622d12c67a8e5a0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But just as I was 8dd1ee52cd making my way toward the bb425664ab front door—8ea1b7ff0708be1c

Bang!145da95f56931781

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The door of 3fc85f9f57 the unfamiliar carriage 2d82095a3f burst open, and 08db899cb0 a white-haired old 3884e6ee3c man stepped down.636081037e57bc72

His face was lined with df4de7d421 deep wrinkles, yet his figure 4444148b83 was large and imposing for 6acc8aee3b someone of his age.11b18fa20f79a132

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He leaned heavily a6e28d188b on a cane, c8650da332 clearly having trouble b737cfb494 with one leg, 4100b3d67c and walked with 9ccea7b302 a noticeable limp.ba5ea9075db32702

His face stirred a strange, 7ec263b6f4 nagging familiarity in me—like someone afc9b94491 I almost recognized but couldn’t f9c2e7a5a0 quite place.957c1c85221732ed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I paused mid-step.bb12666d1a24caa2

And right at that moment, 2f26b4892e our eyes met.3a0371eda816b631

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Uh… Hello.”34c3254e4d1ef45b

“Hmph.”ff99991645bba841

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I offered an awkward greeting.039f425a38252c5d

The old man 2885ec1dc2 immediately frowned, his 82940c3f3b displeasure plain.12b8aabb3735c5f2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then, in a sharp, cd06e81a69 gruff voice filled with 8b2757115a disdain, he barked—83260e8393bd97df

“So it’s you?”d258da46bd40da9b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“……”81fe1d81ae565f7f

“The commoner girl who’s been clinging to my grandchildren like a leech?”33eeb58888d7b0d1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish