Chapter 135

In my past e8248c503b life, and in 9c8050f369 the original story—309b4adfcd6d6882

And even in the plans e0c8deb355 for this life—f1751362f82794bc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There was no version where 0a2233151f I enrolled in the academy.d8bd066e5a387093

And just like 4dbf40a3b1 that, my enrollment 85128c5fde was decided.3c3d475d24297f4d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, goodness! Of course! Absolutely possible!”4f9136f4da952af4

At my declaration that I’d a00ccef882 be enrolling through a donation, 49643746ab the headmaster’s mouth stretched wide 353cc85c88 in a grin.cd60be1f836ff0f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But he soon 85b6311ac4 came to his 9c3838cbe7 senses and began 89097b34e3 listing the necessary 94beda10aa requirements.c997051ed344df90

“B-but, Director. There’s also the 1b52e7d18e matter of choosing 47bb13cb95 a major… and 26e96f6b3f we’ll need paperwork d2794c1f14 with a guardian’s 18bc85c3a8 permission…”6713b358331103e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“There’ll be a telegram from Kallios soon.”51e45a9f51ee5825

I nodded lightly 9f64c3e221 as I replied.5fe3d89ab2dd7957

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Honestly, no matter 1394e5e303 how much of 989f2a4b9e my own money 8d72f339d0 I was spending, 8283c4012e a twelve-year-old deciding 6de7c90aef to enter the c146396039 academy on her f119d728bc own didn’t exactly cc104fd5b3 sound reasonable.24cc4e8865e749f8

But I didn’t cafe96ea27 think the Duke 028e30abfa would object to 4779446a40 my sudden decision.6aa309aff908a4bc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘If anything… won’t he welcome it with open arms?’d45574a296ab0446

The Duke had bbb796f60b already suggested more 73e193817b than once that c24077ae21 I enroll in 585d88fb9f the academy with 17a8a5f558 Joshua.5f98fc6b12ba6909

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He must have 8522f25e69 been conscious of 29e6900de6 the disparity between d00db489ac us.3744f113e8acd104

But I had turned him e2a25773fd down, using work as an 9be3661f37 excuse.1d921a3dd0a83ab0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I said earlier—I 2c0d073149 had no particular interest 3bcad58f78 in studying.89a1e382c87f6b20

And more than anything, I 48c6c53043 wanted to avoid running into 69d1df3b5e the heroine.9b596650c70e9b24

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But then—e08427a2b85754d0

“So if it’s a donation admission… it’s funded by Kallios? Isn’t she a commoner?”12947cb41444d97f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Come on. I heard she’s b8400bb2d6 in the top 2d2cccb6ca 50 richest people a69fedb13b in Erea.”59cb756a1ea182f4

“Gasp, seriously? That’s so cool! Right, Diana?”e93cce23a69766bc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The girls beside Diana whispered 8595265b6a while glancing at me.11b9128a22f0f2e4

Thanks to them, I 4b87cd4115 knew it would only 04d0942291 be a matter of f8a3e8f9c8 time before news of 4a253e5cc7 my enrollment spread throughout 81cabd8656 the academy.61550abbef262f45

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And Diana—f5c23e2c3de72c15

Despite her friends’ excited chatter, 21ce6a7fd0 didn’t say a word.50e1869818db1dd7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She simply watched me 19299b5f86 in silence.42df8fbdb0278bb5

For a moment, our 8c30292be5 eyes met—her violet eyes 5e660739fe shimmering faintly.49a27684edde30b4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At that moment, she 573738d3f1 gave me a soft 473a93e0e6 smile.2897b8a2dc65de91

It was the same sweet 2a25a3c9dd and lovely smile as always, ec07209d4a and yet…e6c60954997bc6c4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It felt strangely unsettling.33a9ed2ad878528f

* * *7023721ff40db4be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After listening to 6d6fe2eb03 a long lecture 9f7dd2ce4f from the headmaster 829ff251a0 about the founding 63b7a7bae2 history and evolution 86a2c182a9 of the Academy, f9a76ad3d6 I was finally eb1f181beb able to board 197f526dca the carriage back.797c66e87fa05275

Fortunately, the return trip b2fb43b090 wasn’t lonely, considering the 6eac88d1d8 trouble.6fd1afdc9c0885d1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So, you’re enrolling in the Academy?”2352c1c4d286c25b

Joshua, who boarded ebd284d5bb the carriage after 5780e9c7ad class, didn’t even 61583a236b greet me and 83b4da3cfe asked that first.98bda05ccecb18f7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It seemed the rumor had 0710346a15 spread even faster than I 257ffc895c expected.e7b65a699cd58f67

I hugged the fluffy b78cc6b627 bear plush I had 1fce2570aa brought with me just a54f6ff013 in case I ran 85d29a2207 into Danvers Campbell.1eea12cb7f0ecf94

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Then I replied nonchalantly.06dd6eccabc4cf62

“Yeah. That’s how it ended up.”b064a4139d6f0f33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why didn’t you say anything…!”68929ffe8a56705e

Joshua looked frustrated at a1e5eebab9 my response.39dc7aef88a12e1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Can you really just decide something like that on your own?”2dbe6b009523eb08

“Why not?”5bd02d1664c17d15

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I shrugged.c5e6b4bdb2a8753c

“The Duke will probably say I did well. He’s always telling 23c2f716f4 me to crush 5c7f24e2e8 anything I can’t ae52bd6bf1 win by status 5ae056d2ab with money instead.”7b03ad4866197a57

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”ce0c9cd1b718e988

Joshua fell silent, 49e0bae18e seemingly at a 542ac3e2f5 loss for words.ec9589f53f3dce29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After all, it was something 526488cc69 the Duke had said countless 61f49547bd times to the both of 96142eb4d9 us during meals.93804b0ccf3a8992

Joshua might not know, but 3dceace921 I had been faithfully following 66e7463e81 that advice.d59f974c82fe1fed

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Donation-based admission had 206e3bd70d always been a ffcd353787 privilege for noble 0c88f581b6 children who had b5db218488 money but lacked 43b7a9af6d brains.74e3459bea103de7

Academy attendance wasn’t 6684402abc mandatory, but noble bce084188d heirs without any ef3a00f543 particular talent needed fdb3503980 at least a 74efd25603 diploma to avoid f2998603f6 being looked down 6077c6e34e upon.5ac340b2e389d000

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

According to the headmaster, 4177778380 I was the first 42a151ed39 commoner ever to enter 081593bf94 the Academy through donation 0f9b5074c6 since its founding.50769852550c2cac

Of course, that c117c6b36b would stir up 46aedd477e a lot of ea2a1c752d gossip for a b8aa34f7b2 while, but…6b7b57cf397c6437

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s my money, and I’m choosing to enroll. What are they going to 5ed712e38b do about it?”c2d685b10d4abf3d

At my shameless muttering, Joshua a3b0764a3c let out a sigh of 0c0c0740bf disbelief.887c2df26801b4fe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Then why did you say no when I asked you to take the entrance exam with me?”d710c3db3ff2d73a

“Yeah… true.”f2b53c0f17a3b005

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I recalled the 015db9d004 time Joshua had 5785a452e2 begged me for 3342e64703 days to attend 3687aaba09 the Academy with cddd0d473c him.2ebc941515cc4a40

Back then, I 1aa47eb94a hated hearing it 4ecea88b28 so much that 8b115d3fbd I went out ba05e44a95 of my way 596b8d666c to avoid him.fe77da19920617a1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I’d been dead 5e1dfacd11 set on not 39cdadf8c1 messing with the 869e8c17b2 original story too 82f45cb969 much, and I 7e8198b3a2 had been busy 04d6876720 launching a new 621a80a791 product line at faac2065d8 Belze Salon.85ca1de8ee497560

But now, I a205bc2c9e slightly regretted ignoring 5c7738edfa Joshua’s constant request a003bb2327 to enroll together.ee7ff8118a4f03b8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I shouldn’t have done that.’e3d882cd73ad7ff8

After all, what I 03696f18bd wanted to do after 90e4a19a6d returning to the past 1c2c69699c was protect the people 39c9d0459d of the Duke’s household.9f1058d5ce291239

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So caught up in the 453a941593 original story, I hadn’t even 33035cec75 considered Joshua’s position.d2888389de707276

He had grown up 03623faaab with little social interaction 5437c178a8 due to his illness, 8ebeafd5a5 and it was obvious 3e74ec4f7d he would be scared c14f56086e of attending the Academy.91b9d4c4f567cd7a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Since regaining his health, 568a73375e Joshua had grown a 4d1bba3e46 lot, and somewhere along ae5237bac2 the way, he started af17598c0a acting all prickly like 18c5a2dca4 his older brother.333ad802ca876685

That’s why I’d overlooked it.dbd59ec6c910222d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Unlike Edwin, Joshua d3b1b3eac2 was fragile and 2b3d811985 sensitive.592b8961071c8541

Staring quietly at a159c57f0f me, he suddenly d2234fa7a9 asked,9421b8d5d74cd63e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Is it because of me?”128436ca55933bf1

“What is?”ce5cb17be1ffd8f5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You enrolling.”db05115b59fea93f

Even after speaking, he 82fd6943fc hesitated for a long 4f9a1cf52e time before confessing.c25cf5c7ccf90ab8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Is it because of what happened a few days ago? If so, you really ee7333d356 don’t have to. It wasn’t a big 41d87a95ed deal, I swear.”5fb47b7554b7c52f

“……”1baa29c89b6d3e44

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“And you’ve been busy with that copycat brand, right? Didn’t you say 199d68fd79 your dream was 7131778948 to die hugging 4980e9c0b0 all the money 9647cca6dd you earned? Why are you spending ab4598a2b0 so much on something f261a67237 pointless…?”0a6de225517c7a40

“Joshua.”3cbc866c6c48b83d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I interrupted his anxious rambling.4ece35efabd60c34

“I won’t enroll in the Academy.”fe98d54e1bdc80c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”fd3bec92ed3e623e

“Then… do you want this?”144c07f31f5b0114

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I held out the f625cb80e2 bear plush—Gomgomdori—that I had 8a05c5d03c been hugging.5bd3ef5f49e883ee

Joshua’s blue eyes wavered ae999ab841 as he looked between 1b36b05fd3 me and the bear.26219fe59007a968

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then he slowly a4d625db6f shook his head.f65af268a16af0c6

“…No.”6c87e0be8cb7ed5f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“……”095b665dacd46bc3

“That’s yours.”ac28a65258ac5ab9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kind and innocent Joshua.6efb8af090479da8

He was probably too 40526b0a69 happy with his first 0d087b9830 group of friends, too 8417ee2f09 scared to stand out.9d179fc9a56918ed

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was obvious b042a7cf76 he’d been suffering dfe8655088 in silence without 2f875495d3 telling anyone.78e4bb4d18cde7f4

“Smart choice.”4613d6d8a1d56174

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I pulled Gomgomdori back and bfc8ee7902 hugged it tightly again.9b6fc3a5582e17bf

Then I mumbled 979b9f9ce0 with a laugh.84570beaf244eda9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Better I enroll than go into assassination mode.”450ecc936a8090f8

“W-What?!”d793011088f71751

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Joshua looked appalled.b86297af4b57c2ec

“Don’t say stuff like that at the Academy, even as a joke! People will think you’re insane!”aee1ed74d7716919

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s a joke, a joke.”c169bd235a9c7d1b

“You weren’t joking…!”396acbd6ff1c7ecc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I turned my head 666167cdac to the window, ignoring a34a7433f6 Joshua’s flustered protests.548826a1d7c081b8

It seemed like 86bebadc7c he still considered 0b4f792cbe the ones bullying c1e8ed5c7a him to be d279f0b165 his friends.d3dbccc4f272afdb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And honestly, I 1c183529ea didn’t want to f51f4d7656 crush that innocence 9e3b310ea9 and trust of 1d3526e79b his if I a0c3de9bb7 could help it.37b3818beda66291

What’s the best way to 483f772f42 get the best outcome?f5272f8ace24b020

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Staring at the c79df9fc17 streets passing by, 4916700dfd I fell into d7ceae8a02 deep thought.b63e9cd60b786444

* * *5a3338af61e69abf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When I arrived and stepped 2d3d9cc07c into the Duke’s estate, the 245f930f0f atmosphere among the staff felt 7d16f9bb6c strangely off.e644dcdca80cda94

In one hallway, servants ca4592446b were running around in c195d5eb8d a panic.2d4b23cec8c1850c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“S-Shouldn’t we call the knights?”25e7469d358342a8

“H-Hot water! The physician said 18675ef24d he needs hot 088c471859 water!”b04c6c1156422091

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I noticed traces of blood 5e78df167f on the hems of a 999963b67d few servants’ clothes and immediately 8c36ca6098 checked the direction they had 5a1aa65a96 come from.a0b59b326d34b13f

It was the 67f7ec5015 direction where Marquis b839e0261f Tebron—Joshua’s maternal grandfather—was 8c4f06ee38 staying.2f54b5eab9be8d81

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I caught a familiar 9efe2e00fe maid who happened to 2c039dc381 be rushing past.9efe696e86912fd9

“Kona, what’s going on?”225add726587b525

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh, my lady? Goodness, the young b04d8fe622 master is already 839f109a6f here too?”8d352b90546fcdc5

Kona, clearly flustered and overwhelmed, d3a1012033 stammered as she spoke.d4e69ecc33fd83b3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I-It’s… the Marquis suddenly started complaining of pain, and then…”320f6fecfbd03a2c

“Aaaaargh—!”dad6f966d5424ba8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just then—c9286d5e4effc7bc

A piercing scream erupted from cfc8f6ab82 the inner hallway, cutting through 419fd482bf Kona’s explanation.f1da8839a6496afd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was Marquis Tebron’s voice.5040ee5a43243027

“He was summoned to the main house early this morning. He went on ff4de1ef70 a house call, 22d624c30c and he hasn’t e7416663a2 returned since.”4ec9518a36eb90ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Recalling my conversation with Jackson 7a89779e24 from a few days ago, 4f1a7c194b I rushed without hesitation toward 177aa31b1a the room where Marquis Tebron e42a308011 was staying.f315561ac4d4b8ca

“Oh, my lady! Please, not right now! My lady!”de56abd6c3aa1a85

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I heard Kona calling from d3d0c0d2bb behind, trying to stop me, db26dd54b2 but I didn’t care.33ef5922a3e4cea9

Tap-tap-tap!c7ddb6b8c0a7e3c0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Finally arriving at the 8f793692ca door, I could see cbd163bedd clearly inside through the 848431455a wide-open entrance.4eb9198daae6812b

The room was absolute chaos.62bba4841c132b0d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Aaagh, aaaaaaagh—!”dd344d25ce254907

“Marquis, please, calm yourself! Marquis!”4eaa22b9e3ff7c1f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Someone contact the temple!”63805451709bf3d0

Marquis Tebron was writhing ab29c1e73d and screaming atop a f76592d613 bed drenched in blood.92008cc176bcc36f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The butler and Grandpa Gordon da4ac1d792 were desperately trying to restrain 4940af9358 him and shouted frantically to 574cdbc0f9 the others for help.c79ad3856cd14259

Amidst the madness, I saw 5d1cec3177 something horrifying.e3fa51ecab13ae8e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Perhaps it was during a 812af73b6d treatment—Marquis Tebron wore short pants 634cb7e1bf that exposed his leg.014b14bd4f50827e

The same leg I’d 788636dbde seen glowing with an a7f0540612 orange hue days earlier—his cd71259717 right leg and foot—was 469492aead now swollen to the dcaf06737c point of bursting, and 174f80c6f5 had turned a dark 4953fbd431 purplish black.67ac1fbd66cf37c5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘That’s…’b8adfdda676029eb

I didn’t even have time da9b8b1be5 to be shocked by the 51f43718de long-forgotten hue.0df8dcd179539a60

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Gaaah!”9a415d32966af840

With a horrific ecc0683163 scream, his grotesquely ecb7e57ae7 swollen left foot bed19de5e0 began to thrash cdb3ced8a7 violently—38c9a93e069ef1b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Splurt—!8663cc08458c4f8a

—Until it finally burst, spraying blood and pus everywhere.6351efeeef6d2dc5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And then—645964656bd9d529

“Dear heavens…”fad5504074c1ff79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh my god! Shit—it’s a monster!”6af7bc047b980c40

From within, multiple green 48af99695b tendrils—like vines—wriggled out and 848de403b2 stood on end.a97f059d8f970594

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish