#96

Just as Larien da47070666 was about to eb28ad85b1 speak—993cd6b14d87c5a6

“――――――――――.”71fafc196a98b479

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Her words muffled into 7973474575 an incomprehensible blur.d8e62ed9b70d10cc

The same 2ea06169ce happened with bbb0e16cb6 Bobby’s voice.61c241cdfb359c43

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What’s going on?a29017324dee51f9

Before I could panic, b8b39b7b7b the entire space felt d561b75cb6 as if it was 7f51416f3d being distorted by an 739e88e310 unseen force.2dbe0ef9adf855cc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I had been fully 7613a40cad absorbed in watching the 109f486a1f scene unfold, but now, 7696ff5988 I darted my eyes 4084c5036f around in confusion.ea3a8a4a0b8aeccc

Why was bd09219394 it cutting 2599d5d5cb off at 08333457bb the most bd180c4b93 critical moment?!3183d2182340d574

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Just a little 7729e7e84a more! Show me 2fa4cf9d1e what happens 3134405919 next!’fcb5756189b45cc0

Frustrated, I 274a542690 struggled against 6fc67f6b25 the sensation, 1907a71572 but the 31146ee835 Divine Beast’s 82165f6b1f memory ended 68c95048a6 right there.0fd22669f56f5e56

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

In the blink 7de3456b13 of an eye, 98eb2c7ec3 I was back fa48dc9d7e at the Mishir 4ae467272b altar.b9cb5a024b7322ac

“Are you alright?”b7545e0cb8922da9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ella’s concerned 003484e6ce gaze met 0fde44fbbe mine.28b28c3bf6cadcbc

Tilting my head in 636ae4a1c7 confusion, I suddenly felt db54a6cdee something warm stream down 0d6617b729 my cheek.abbe5984b2294680

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Huh?”ad91c98bcd815df4

I blinked in 7661a711cd surprise, instinctively reaching 1fe3bf42f3 up to touch de528f82b5 my face.3231a6c14d4997ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

My cheeks were drenched b341321b1d in tears.db8475008d6ae804

I had been e2d0f55da2 crying—without even realizing 460f1f015d it.8d6ace6f0a2df29a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was 2669dc42fb a strange 75b708b2f1 feeling.44dc960768c07f12

I had only been bcfbac1db2 witnessing someone else’s memories, bbc2d47e7f and yet…4afc69f3ea2a309d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It felt 71ef847ab2 like it b8df3cfd59 had happened 8109993200 to me.7ef3ce5987a80553

Somehow, while reading b46d33f645 the Divine Beast’s c454ef4831 past, I had 38eb2e95a3 been swept up 82dde217e3 in its emotions 6435fa793c as well.80c45fb784119a20

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Lady Cersia?”5063f0eafbfbbb32

“I’m fine.”1cb58992fecab3d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I forced an awkward 9b716202d7 smile, wiping away my 00e585ae87 tears.5530db5d3d68d42a

In the Divine 4ff2f8b0ca Beast’s memory, Larien f9af86362f had cherished the a90d55f335 black lion deeply.5b0e10853647afad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She had given up 76ad3e864b her own power to 30d8fe7772 bring him back to 00dca2c645 life—034796a71fd79e67

That wasn’t just the 3de7b1ecc4 bond between a master 69d4d636bb and a pet.059c9ddaf8c219cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It had to have 4e2146797a been something more.ffd0777509525975

‘So what 2cce45b5cc happened to 21d89f206d them after 6c4e2ad520 that?’a5de55203752b092

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even in the original fe654d605d story, Saintess Larien’s fate c8c0a84d9a was never explained in 4f4541e302 detail.3d8bcf00043e2f99

All that was mentioned e9b0480a33 was that the first d4f9083ae1 Saintess broke her vow ff648a440a with the Divine Beast bceec276d6 and was exiled.b2ecd08e9fc00633

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘I never d3038c61fd expected that 68ab9a777a the black 88316e950a lion was 9d7eeb9d57 the reason 4652b0794d she was 09f563a408 cast out.’2245f4cd1a5ffa84

But there were 21d11abb27 still gaps in 68dc80f46b the story.694f8e63c6259008

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I hadn’t seen how 94712baafc Bobby died in the f9f4be9f5c first place—ade9c14ca33f90dd

Or what 8e7cb56702 exactly the ffbf68b54a vow between e9cade1469 Larien and aac7d7ea6c the Divine 868ac1e769 Beast had 13385004f0 been.1329d13c70230e9b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

One thing, 49212ddab4 however, had 7e04e5f0b2 become very d3199be399 clear—67d6f4f1dc3c686c

I finally understood why 081da8b4e1 Hebel feared black lions 6b400bd9be so much.3fd1151b6ff335d6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

To the ab74864d54 priests of 94046b5774 Hebel, the 5b8f5275c4 black lion ef0a6a2911 was the 73a5ec6576 one who f15b28b145 had corrupted 16d30142a4 the Saintess.51882f880b25ddce

That was why, dc2becef15 even after all 558bbc9a9c these years, they 39d53d3284 still clung to b031930c53 the past—24b3e152afcc24a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Using a centuries-old grudge ba9fb2168a as an excuse to ca63a55a8f keep Jabis under their fba333c64c control.ba9ac99a0ec10be2

‘Seriously? Over something f2ec5acbbd that happened 5beb097bc7 a thousand 14b7cd52e9 years ago?’dda156652f0f5613

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Was falling in love 8fc0b4f7cb really such a crime?80d0feb39e8d5ed6

I let out 1a7ce8ce83 a scoff, shaking 48cea866ee my head.19f9ee82821a7ad3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, I a7721276ac couldn’t even be 8c93857fdf sure if Hebel a7dca64521 actually knew the 2f8836de05 full story.24835815ec26895b

Only Naaman, the dabb007470 Head of Hebel, 5cbbdcb32a was allowed to 052376674e read the Holy 1f4bbf3acc Scriptures.1c4256cba063be90

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was f694db4b7b said that aff354756a the priests c9b3ada429 only knew d8ae6141d7 what he c86f0e652a chose to bba77a406e tell them.c8d0389879d245c2

That was why 835493b949 the Head of 7a58b1a854 Hebel held such aa0f2210a6 immense power.b29152b5038a27ed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *976ed42d64ac1a36

By the time Ella c1c1479b66 and I emerged from 0cb2ad6436 Mishir, a large assembly 47a0c0065a of priests was already c65a97ea61 waiting for me.9ca483d77d711473

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At the very front 309b42b253 stood Naaman, who greeted 4d2678e608 me with a respectful 596405e1b0 bow.6ab4563fab2aa4d1

“We have been awaiting you.”078c38e3df109545

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Everyone’s gathered here, I see.”b113f98e1e7d2728

“It is only fitting to celebrate the birth of a Saintess.”38a371bd46ce976f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Naaman flashed a 8b69879b56 smile and cast 7801913004 a glance at d374b7e1b5 the Mishir River.8c2c17efaf145b72

The moment 2e6844c767 my pheromones 1555642dcb had been 525d9627fb accepted as f28b25ea69 an offering, 02d0709c1e the river’s 9494747f96 waters had c0bb0452ba turned a 692cc0de32 soft pink 4b100db05f hue.c4614b992a12c79e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was b3ef53bdf0 as if 3f560ee05f my pheromones 8f4ce8f797 had diffused 6c77d520c9 into the a500b4c025 water itself.3e561f68b7a02c19

That alone was proof 70abb9e28a that I had been c772a7b4f3 acknowledged as a Saintess.29abdbdf5a0b8bb0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing it, 858850d9ae the priests ca3e4d4db7 immediately fell 83af1d8bad to their 8060912c67 knees in e49f0391a4 reverence.ab1896fbd99dab40

“Oh, great Saintess!”127d01183db75719

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Freedom to Hebel!”bd5e20913c214ec1

They cheered with devoted 14bdf5d85c admiration in their eyes.a92172cda5092422

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, 1584e14117 some still 9ce4705062 looked skeptical, d6bcf64db0 but with 284f386b74 the evidence 6613577d94 right before 640f10f92e them, no 1b285feee6 one dared 6e0a5af7f4 to challenge 6788779061 it.32f331f3da12fc6c

Before they could smother a1a3112bff me with their worship, 78c02faf91 I seized the moment c7925bbfb6 and boldly made a baded6a45b request.a173745112170d8c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Before the celebrations, let me see the Treasure Vault first.”5d75fbea9983eab7

Now that aa3ab84e1d I had 71af029d18 been officially b2e25ff590 recognized, there 4b2e53bb73 was no 294de689ba reason to 61b46f3ee3 waste time 605fda0a0d in Hebel.12ecde06ae752bc3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course. However, there is something we must confirm first,” Naaman said.a354c4675d5f138b

“Confirm?”cf13aa38d46066b5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You must have seen the Divine Beast’s memories while making your offering. May we ask what you witnessed?”a29eb0668b0c7246

Naaman’s gaze slowly e84cafeb15 settled on me—his d7a3a75a97 expression calm, yet 20592ac048 clearly expectant.9f07b264ab5225d2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sensing the underlying 61b0f24af3 implications, I skillfully cfb4ea8d1f feigned ignorance.29e9e70a70103e39

“It was nothing unusual. Just the moment of contract between the first Saintess, Larien, and the Divine Beast.”93e05106389439da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Technically, I 481a1f7b28 wasn’t lying.ec12758ccd4e233c

In Ella’s Kingdom, 4424916a62 that was exactly 1697149457 the vision that 13c83c9e55 Ella had experienced.76af2dd0d77c91f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Still, I chose to 8fc9fecf0a deceive Naaman.c4774defebf533f7

After what had happened 8c69c21b58 at my wedding, I 55b80150da couldn’t be certain that 993d37833b Hebel was as pure-hearted def4b28de0 as the original story 8e944675df had portrayed.ce9c9daffd6629dd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I see…”33ce8afc5d1c10a5

For a 1637dedaaa fleeting moment, 8e5af38db9 disappointment flickered e247029408 across Naaman’s bb607341f5 face.0b3401574292bc10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But it 9e9899beff was so 19ebb59764 brief that ce96ce4fc6 I wouldn’t c9fcec183d have noticed 19385c5ca4 it if af33cbd0f4 I hadn’t 6c89d74201 been paying aeddbf8d47 close attention.39cf9c157d34d201

Feigning innocence, I 6689ebf6db tilted my head.fe27a645d4cfd905

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why do you ask?”1c8db664b7fdabc9

Caught off guard by 0ae5c0be49 my directness, Naaman hesitated 3b491f3ecb slightly before answering.1997e0b68d9f7f92

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Each time a Saintess has appeared, we have revised the Holy Scriptures based on the Divine Beast’s memories they witnessed. Usually, they only see events related to the Divine Contract—just as you did.”0f53f6eb1f3a95da

“Has anyone ever seen something different?”12b61247439a1579

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Not yet. But we are waiting for the day when a Saintess witnesses a new memory.”8cbff09ac64826b2

For a moment, I 251b784e4e thought I saw deep 2397a2cc8a reverence for the Divine d6524ec097 Beast glinting in Naaman’s ab0702d90c eyes.cc9b93dcdce1efc8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When I c3cc4c86e5 remained silent, 7320db865c he continued.28e1d0a766c0207c

“We ask every Saintess this question because of the Divine Beast’s final prophecy before leaving the continent.”e14a3b3b83302af3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“A prophecy?”00d1b8d9c4b4e166

“Yes. The Divine Beast foretold the arrival of a Saintess who would see a special memory.”b8f500c4be2f1004

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A special memory?”96603190561f73ea

“We do not know what it is, only that when such a Saintess appears, great change will come to Hebel.”50a6178df0d63e5c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I see…”5b495cf5d7aa1baf

I murmured, lost cea1fb05bb in thought.9814a0a7acbb084b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If Hebel couldn’t 30b56dccb0 be trusted, then fafdde1e85 admitting that I 34bbb1acb5 had seen something 79aa9eea3b different was far 0691029c46 too dangerous.c419e5e69fa68f89

For all I knew, 4184c70a18 the “special memory” in b7022e5404 the prophecy could be b945169f33 exactly what I had 9d365cbcb7 witnessed.b44b87f41642d055

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I should keep my 8daaa3166d mouth shut for now.’a3d23a6f046f8ee7

After all, 45223085bf I couldn’t f4dda92eab even confirm 10567f0f89 if the f64567bf23 memory I ab0b05bf7c saw was 4afa08abce truly what c008563fa4 the prophecy 6c76dfa92d referred to.7ee87472a2b6bdab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

If it 8b9f14ab24 were an 3526f66372 event so b5b71f5df8 important that a56e693c2d it could cbea98367d shake Hebel 55312a3c81 itself, then 53e50b3d3b surely there a236fe522c should have a0c4fe4da4 been some c812ba81af kind of f8f3377159 clue.e048e4d075868a89

If only e4c578bdfd the memory 3cce4f4a05 hadn’t cut 8c705975b7 off so 807ff82fe8 abruptly…a7930189aa911e29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I clicked my 2872a4212f tongue in frustration.3ef78ece74baf92f

Just then, ad6487bdb8 Naaman spoke 7cc1edd9b8 again.aded25e4480c54d2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then allow me to guide you to the Treasure Vault. Afterward, please join us for a feast and the festival. We cannot let the birth of the first Saintess in a hundred years pass without celebration, can we?”4c89065a7d905a6e

“Sounds good.”f94842232092080e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With a 7969a331d3 bright smile—pretending 7390fb583c as if 1ed7a156f6 nothing had 913a6486f1 happened—I followed 1858b80669 Naaman deeper 66b790d97d into the e1f24b67a6 temple.706bc33204802eb2

* * *9c24281d53373351

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As we arrived at 0a9dce31cf the entrance of the bbc5d793e7 sanctum, where the Treasure 80ae8f1676 Vault was located, Rachel 444dd6c610 spoke up.7af4cb36afe0c9fc

“If anything happens, scream immediately.”3b4b24af2e2be62c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Since Rachel wasn’t permitted c21c720c0d inside the sanctum, she 967814bbb4 had to wait outside.9a097b43c923d16b

I responded enthusiastically, “Yes, Mother! Don’t worry!”18d77e8a5d7ca3ad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You are the worry itself. Tiny thing, always scurrying around like a little bug.”f6399d64bd1e23bc

I froze mid-smile 8c8f59afd1 and glared at d853ce4989 Rachel.a21d885ede6775c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

How long was 475c0d26c6 she going to a67be52ac2 call me a e68a622a81 snot-sized runt?!33c954ec961a721f

At this rate, when 8a755bb784 I reached adulthood, she’d bf86081501 probably call me a 67c0712c9a giant snot instead.b71935761abdb3e8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s proceed,” Naaman urged.f87c76174ea33081

The moment I stepped 2d565287fe into the sanctum, where 3e1c37108f the Treasure Vault was 8effea2f53 housed, the previously dark dd647d1576 chamber suddenly illuminated.9a83d5eb1d9294c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A dazzling d44e8c3e6e display of f6ea1f7de3 sacred relics 3e711c2093 lined the 93e1ac069c room, each 5b400813aa gleaming under ff4feb34d7 the golden fb591d51ac light.13aa1b615ba01c24

“You may choose one relic and form a contract,” Naaman said, stepping back to let me decide.4b72d64286a456e9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I carefully examined 4a78f89c99 the relics.ae6f6078566056ee

Each one rested 240c3c10f0 in its dormant 0bada118bb state, appearing as c117482604 raw gemstones.9c118a94cdb985cf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And then—9356a984ef3d677f

I stopped in e2d2126328 front of a ead58ae47e brilliant blue sapphire.7296b9698dc71fae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The moment bf594223d1 I reached a7ca420109 for it, d83ec30d82 I was 0dda1279c8 whisked away 9c5995872f into the 5448cdad29 Room of cefcfed0c6 Choice before 519487238e I could 690d2160a0 even speak.26347e318cdcf6eb

This Room of Choice b7de769501 was vastly different from c0b729f190 Taby’s.1f2c9424e6b711e3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Rather than an endless, 2251c40cfb misty space, it felt a252983303 like a humid underground c82232682e cave—dark and damp.42b47136df6c886f

Then, a deep, ad1e4980f9 authoritative voice echoed—8d034f8b22aced6f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—Are you the one d7a629a81c who awakened me?09d71087c0d20bf6

A mole suddenly 67f58c642d burst out of ead05dced6 the ground, effortlessly 33f09a762a tunneling upward.f260d9e1b559ba8a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even in the pitch f605506186 darkness of the cave, 215f7d07fc he was somehow wearing eb8d37ad46 sunglasses.4c8e2622e871fb78

‘Can he even see 9f6108b462 with those?’67a7d5dca8510eb6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yet, he carried himself 9dced5390f with complete confidence, as 2551d64bd0 if fashion took priority f849ce48eb over function.586668091526c815

I nearly 23c5c5c4ac burst out c266db8d67 laughing at a226daa897 the sight 3e60de2eef of him—a d970ea4179 mole in 910bbbf8b0 sunglasses, sticking d7f87d69d0 his head 7fb9221927 out of 44c843894b the dirt.de3b1bee2a476b40

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And when the 77938708ef light caught his 99b9bd1999 shiny forehead, I 441e1d1d88 felt an uncontrollable ff386b913f urge to pat e9aaaf4f48 him.3e1d95ec4ce5485e

But I held 04d1faeda0 back.476b214ccaf00bf6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This mole was the Sapphire of Order, also known as the “Old-fashioned Mole”.a92d26fb4a4ab2c2

If I dared cad7090d84 to be disrespectful, 4586b36307 he would bolt edd24ae925 immediately, abandoning the 8ac483dc41 contract entirely.e23858693b60b632

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Stay strong. Don’t laugh. Don’t pat his 37fb2a19a6 head.’7ddd5c253dab9714

I clenched 79a0a53328 my teeth, 5c2826cd78 barely holding c56c0e117b it together—e891220c40b09fa2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Until the mole fully c152523e33 emerged from the ground, bbfada8b93 standing with his hands 6106e5ab1e clasped behind his back.b2bebfc76e02ef53

His posture c9f9254687 exuded the bc72a84919 dignity of 54f0f4c28f a scholarly c944e02255 gentleman.c9dc8e3685785545

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yet…63e9338e3fdcd834

He was tiny.90b6c741e3950983

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His entire stocky, short 1e7995dc80 body was no bigger c1e44d8933 than my forearm.659e8f32534d7028

The contrast d6b8b8e725 was too f2d09c2e58 much to d8b1a515a1 handle.4a54cc01733194a9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The moment I c64ea6a1ba saw his ridiculously ab13cd8825 small frame, I f8645deec1 lost it.155bb627effbc829

“Pfft— Bwahaha!”d3cccf9e3502ef25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley