#98

As soon as 8ae94a55a2 the contract was 1ae10a3550 complete, Jonathan transformed fe28970c8d into bracelet form, 92abdadeb0 joining Taby.348043a5e82a1203

Now, the once cbaf9cdd4a simple pearl bracelet c924a67687 had a sapphire ea0eeef787 embedded alongside it.2ae52c51cb6ca7ec

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘At this fff42f54c3 rate, it 4e378ed660 feels like 1a935507bf I’m collecting 72509ed843 magical beads cb82658361 or something.’f2fd88f0466d3e16

If I gathered all c7e985acec thirteen, would I get 42f8c21943 a wish or something?9d24fbe99c2580ff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I was still c35f3b9ebe entertaining my nonsense c474baf238 thoughts when the aac1717581 priests ushered me ed5dd8b1f4 away to prepare 665e022c9c for the grand dd94d173b8 feast.1e6ffb79619eff3a

Apparently, the celebration 2cd2fd9116 had already begun 249c6edb24 the moment I 6a6cc3cba5 emerged from Mishir ac97bb5de1 River.729b67ce1bc49298

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Upon arriving at 0fc5b07eb1 the grand hall, 5ac1ee62d9 Naaman, who had 27a1186887 been waiting at 2a9184c3c2 the entrance, spotted 269e3588d5 me and immediately 986984d1d5 stepped forward to 9fa0926c88 escort me inside.f7fab0e7e5884f4e

“Please, enjoy the festivities.”95f8b4ae3b90ec86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’ve gone through so much trouble for me. I truly appreciate it,” I responded with a sweet smile.99c7aaab660b9558

Then, I slipped 6204cccf57 in the question d7097f3308 I was really 826b9fb07a after.c94747d53177e023

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But by the way, has the contract document arrived yet?”3a6afddf5f2e18b6

Naaman smiled warmly, fc059d18c6 but I wasn’t 837e132a66 fooled.455fde201a6c3ffd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It has already been reviewed. We will send it to your residence by tomorrow.”6edc0769657dd7e0

‘Right. Tomorrow.’e5318d57f613863a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

That was fcc3e0abdc plenty of d6b6a2e268 time for 183f221108 them to 18a6dc0d5b stall.4eeb5a714a20dd18

They definitely already 2fe00f96a8 had time to 90a3a9b330 finish it—but they 4aea88981a were trying to d575da9ace delay me, probably 52839d0076 hoping to keep 6836055a9b me here longer.946428ec80b66a71

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I knew 832fb82b0d exactly what ca59071b09 they were 197ac61d1d doing.dfc005fa729b5032

But I played along, 1afae3f494 smiling brightly as if 70cf48c357 I believed every word.3983183600aab3ad

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Oh! What wonderful news!”39fa9c5b9644d449

Naaman didn’t seem 21173a4387 to notice my 08af2faaa2 act. Instead, he aef7ec25cb immediately led 5b6aea239d me around, 1dfb289287 introducing the 39c72fc3e5 various priests 0cf250387c and scholars c0045e6d06 of Hebel.a142d3656b830b2e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Among them was 4fca3553d4 Isaac, who stood bc732c2d61 with a composed 2c168f3fdf expression, clad in 0698c24184 his usual pristine 8510288966 priest robes.997c6df213b7c709

“Isaac became my youngest direct disciple last year,” Naaman explained. “Among all my disciples, he is the most… spirited.”62ace1ae77618587

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He shot Isaac a 2eb747af56 knowing glance, then turned aa30cffd82 back to me.a32ce66cb3e29f94

“I heard he may have caused you some discomfort before. But, please, as a favor to me, I hope you can forgive his enthusiasm.”9d79759f6059c279

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ah.10a719561f4298b3

Compared to the e1512527b6 older priests, Isaac 7e163332f0 was indeed quite 3545b9d4a7 young.8dc35c949474493f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But becoming Naaman’s direct 4b5b2252b4 disciple at his age?5046615816eccdc7

That meant ca09bc03a6 he was 2a6e9f276e dangerously competent.984b1f4f8282f6e7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

…Or at least, 6fe3659a82 competent in politics.ba146c81022f20be

‘Well, I already learned 15ef7b8e4b that the hard way e1df9e0403 the other day.’3599eb132a3d25bf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Remembering how he had 32b58f495c nearly trapped me in 379ce42806 his schemes made my 8559a6e5f9 stomach turn.ce0fbb7933020ce0

I subtly 388675254d glanced at 8efd107dfc Isaac, who 880e48311b looked as 6e929c24b8 displeased as 9c8efb5f39 ever at a16feba5f8 my presence.f784f97784595f81

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even after I had been officially recognized as the Saintess, he still couldn’t hide his distaste.2d06ddfe28571eab

It was clear—1a6378eee9dcaf4b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Isaac’s faith wasn’t 4b2846c6a5 in the Divine 823dd8a2e2 Beast.3e310f062b61c6ec

It was in 43a813400a Naaman.c405862a0ff4a579

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

More specifically, 04459cafa8 in the 212b22fad6 power Naaman 53229cead5 provided.56f3f5151999ef46

I was scanning the 917e261b2f room when I noticed 09c867d321 something odd.bcc65cdebd74f316

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I couldn’t find Ella 192ee9064c anywhere.bc0c959d69b3840f

Frowning, I 04d70d474c turned back cf880b322f to Naaman.13c6aa1a8a7f4258

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Where’s Ella?”0b879a8824426e97

She had de23903a02 guided me 825a73e3e9 through the 27ede7683d entire trial, f9a12cdec2 stayed by e628e0314d my side, 9999f08be2 and explained 7c997dac2d everything to deca643494 me.019eda429f3f4a6d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I had assumed 9a31a7b5ed she would have a39952345e arrived here first 8f535f5495 while I was 22b490494d busy at the 76cb409275 Treasure Vault.ba651d2b915af6b5

But she was nowhere b291a0e330 to be seen.3dd6a4ee47617e29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Naaman, completely unbothered, gave 571b86ea09 a casual response.65cd2f1900e24e72

“Oh, that child is not a formal member of Hebel, so she is not permitted to attend the feast.”181b2189730daabe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

…What?0a2541c81699c5fe

They were excluding her?dcf773ff447ce47a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ella had been 5754010cce the one by 26a972dc70 my side the ba039e8161 whole time.f05c386c8e2cb3ad

She had even 331224db95 acted as my 86b0d33e5a guide at the 24c8bdb1cd Mishir River.55ffc5e52181c544

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

They had a4f3f8338c used her cfc919caa1 for all 7c62b5778d the inconvenient cb2264833e tasks and c5d16b2f14 now—just because 0c34f9675e she wasn’t 997f9d6756 a formal bbb57865f7 priestess—they were 7cf50897bd discarding her 7c778ad047 like an 69de30f7c5 afterthought?a987ff8c9e5e24d8

That was nothing less 271ef27d0f than betrayal.f4abe7401ed21117

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Naaman, on 504cac66da the other d79ab773a8 hand, looked bc1c1662a2 completely unfazed.33154c40525f077a

As if this was 270c897eba the most natural thing fae57347a2 in the world.9a322a8f41145b73

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My expression hardened as 7900ba5198 I stared him down.d5c3bc6943731d14

“This was supposed to be a celebration for everyone, wasn’t it? Excluding only Ella seems… rather unfair.”a7c661a6027fb912

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Naaman tilted his head, e137c6fca1 as if he truly 9ed740558c did not understand my 58ea148027 concern.3bd8e2b6ecc8298c

“Oh, but she agreed to it. She was taken in so she could do the work that official priests cannot.”6d99452b47aa3d84

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ah.0c9781d51b20ed32

So because she was c7194be5d2 being fed and clothed, 6a86513b31 they thought they could 90118e030e use her however they 6cc55c7ce1 wanted?68180a23a587b0ce

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“And so, that means you can order her around and discard her when convenient?”5e4d216bee1aaeac

Naaman sighed, his tone 8ea4723391 now chiding.b6ba928154a2e215

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You misunderstand. Hebel has strict regulations. You yourself have stated that you will only fulfill your minimum duties as a Saintess—so you, too, must respect our laws.”1b3e4a3ea8db37eb

His face darkened slightly, c208fe4bb8 as if this was c906faee71 a warning.2a49b2ab5c8611ec

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In other words—c8c75fee6101b828

This was his way a933bdfe6a of telling me that 5a28ae53da I had no right 14a765e0a1 to interfere.565c7a888ea5e76f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And if c241691707 I did?412247c977d74758

They might try to 60470d0ae2 use my ‘laziness’ as 70489e0af2 Saintess against me.065d1c0aabf30e6e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My lips 2a9529cc9c curled into d4c42f2896 a polite d4cc088ddc smile—but my c5fad76a57 eyes were 4ac02ad902 cold.bec45f558357664b

“Aha. So this is Hebel’s famous education system.”cd1b181c4a7c5fe9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I let bdf34280d0 my voice 5d92786878 drip with ef8706089e sarcasm.5ab757d612f560f6

“Forcing responsibility on someone while using their livelihood as leverage.”5b1cd5c721a4b409

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hostage? Now that seems a bit excessive,” Naaman replied smoothly.bc7cd56e5d246d3a

I tilted my head, c0fcdad0c2 feigning thoughtfulness.f46fa3a6733fad5b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hmm. You’re right. Hostage is too kind a term.”e79d6778449d91e3

I turned d00e57689f to Rachel 787429b062 with a 301c7e7518 mocking smile.00699b625b4bc267

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“This is closer to child abuse, wouldn’t you say, Mother? Even slaves aren’t treated this poorly.”7e8812973d2f8a38

Rachel smirked, catching on 34a54fbb0b immediately.90b0e6cbdef06bbd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Indeed. Using a child as small as bird piss for all your dirty work? How clever.”b94357d661766ffe

For a 0dffe97a31 moment, everyone f6f329ee95 in the d0a7774f25 room paused—as 6f98ba07ef if stunned c715fa9d00 by Rachel’s 2ebdbaf6a7 casual phrasing.c00ecae7aae91f9e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

…Ella had just been 83cfd8b620 demoted to bird piss.67ca783992d93144

Even so, e1ef229174 with both 4c934a13ae of us 1050a0926a pressuring him, c245c23481 it seemed bf0c797441 Naaman was 8dfdbf72ee struggling to f74097a83c brush this d7faf83906 aside.5f4cc25ba7fa8269

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I seized the 8718200cf5 opportunity.e6c13b4af97f5c15

“This is my celebration, correct? Then bring Ella here.”0ab0a96513ae243c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I turned ec218637de my back, ca60479013 making it 3110a36c93 very clear 62642bcc8a that I 60c9be016a was prepared d41b5ea75c to walk a662b9ea61 out.e0d586fdbd5bae08

“If she doesn’t attend, neither will I.”e68e9c9442576641

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That did it.c5e55fbdf6f1727e

I saw 041210b654 Naaman’s gaze 0e14cea6b6 shift toward 74bebba0a0 Isaac, signaling 1efc3c52a0 him to 5050b8992d bring Ella 06636aee74 in.76f850e3b8b845ce

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But to 21f6a49541 my surprise, cf34d125ee Isaac refused.f9abc632e8956e9e

“I’m afraid that will not be possible,” he said, his voice firm.27fe4f3e5eb6d3a4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ella is currently undergoing discipline.”14d39a5557047aef

…Discipline?95b991233d51217d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What exactly did she do?” I asked coldly.d2bb9271f1c9268d

Isaac’s expression fdbed37ba1 turned impassive.9069e53b012a3ed1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“She broke her promise to her father.”d10f03528e3c3693

I caught the flash b41cc118d6 of cruelty in his af10d18587 eyes.d17d319265f4e3c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Naaman, now 4e91f73216 sensing the 44d89b0852 tension, interjected a750f2d6ad smoothly.91bbd7b71222f5da

“It would be improper to interfere in family matters.”bb18ee628a2c3e21

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I snorted.f42248105cebd645

“She’s not even your real daughter.”738e760b1268536a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Isaac blinked—then smiled as 0f0d35e918 if he genuinely believed 3e201fd396 what he was about 6c9c233469 to say.40d37b00103e7e36

“I consider Ella as my own blood.”c5a001208d9c504c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I almost laughed out 8ff25d2cf6 loud.9a840c6aa327b502

What a load of 8bf254e243 crap.b7d926389ed238a7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I had already 2fd96a8c6b suspected Isaac of 5d0fc0b0ea abuse from the 7cef3156d7 moment I saw 093740c10b the bruises on 05c3d0b783 Ella’s arms.ce981b60aa6ffa6a

They weren’t random 7925422dc2 bruises, either.f275754827f89333

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They were placed strategically—hidden bea67a3277 where people wouldn’t easily 4165443429 see them.929af1b1fe192b29

And in a e08847e7b7 place where priests 12ebbc02ab wore long robes cba3370eb7 all the time?147f07b05ae8e668

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That made it 9b38e94f6a even easier to ba0296041a conceal.7fa5805e5f3c0791

‘If I hadn’t rolled f40725e3f0 up her sleeves for da9671fe42 dessert, I might’ve never 870a898a89 noticed.’8dd5924a029940da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I had zero d6ee03e604 tolerance for people b0f7808e53 who beat children.871629695484b988

There was 4e9119497e nothing worse bae887e611 than using 672b0c8254 power to 73c6514199 crush someone 8722b4b626 weaker.4b6f0c7314a8b256

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I’ve hated that smug, stick-like face of his from the beginning.’dbdb34c2346ab909

That bony, twisted-looking excuse 92baa01807 of a man—daring to 4e7b931cef lay a hand on a782ca5ead Ella?1336559ffe76031c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But I knew f6a4bf635e better than to bd729ef7e6 confront men like 278f36e0d3 him head-on.816954c61f9b5e65

Men like Isaac—authoritative, self-righteous a886e43fc8 men—would only become more 5390ef1432 defensive and retaliatory if 2196122906 directly challenged.3570a27d7a5c6338

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had 82132fbbe7 seen it 667436b6d4 before.2b864d14fc4ee827

Even in my past 9c5c5ca78f life, I had relatives 2fa07d9beb just like him.50c7a776b75ecdb3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So instead, d80ac2ee46 I put 27eb1e6c5e on a d4513a0413 bright, innocent 2a893a793f smile and 99b233b53e pressed my c7f9582c0c hands together 24da08e3e0 sweetly.0f49845ba18769e1

“Oh, but Ella adores you!”671f5830ec80005b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Isaac’s brows twitched slightly.6c1cc099be6a8919

I kept going.a0778ecafbd83b90

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“She told me herself—she’s so lucky to have a father like you.”05ec5aba00bd2dec

“Hmm,” Isaac mused, looking pleased with himself.2a861096089e5c8c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“She is still young and naive. Do not take her words too seriously.”e3ea1ca9df80571c

“Of course!”2450c5773604a80d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I clapped my 0910fac849 hands together like 1344629105 a delighted child.9c7f8e94dcdc53c2

“But it means so much to her! I’m sure she only wants to be forgiven.”e7f7c13914deaa19

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Isaac’s shoulders relaxed slightly—but 5e2431e883 I saw the way 96d6264783 his chin lifted, relishing 1cf6098a27 the praise.207736b3fb345172

Perfect.4c179b70e51af0af

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I tilted my f1250c7a40 head like I 35a374156c was making a dd9e70661d small request.0eb2269e3aae7249

“I don’t know what she did wrong… but won’t you forgive her, just this once? She’s my first friend, and I was really looking forward to dancing with her tonight.”1be3818220f93e6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Isaac sighed dramatically.fcb6f21024d74ad6

“Ah, well… I suppose mercy is a virtue.”552a9781a06c619a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hook, line, b9985b9450 and sinker.86ace771c40f96ed

He motioned for a 483afb5f46 subordinate.f44bf2eabc9e67a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Bring Ella.”f2e8815b55d13078

At that moment, aea2839b58 Rachel—who had been 22d048feb6 quietly observing—leaned in c2fb9c8f8f and whispered in 40ba9ed1ba my ear.aa10bd1d4c12f53a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“My, my. You handle those kinds of men like a professional.”9436af9340311c60

“It’s because I’m a cunning little weasel.”2e0ca01e59ac4698

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Rachel chuckled.fe1b218cecfd678b

“I almost thought you had fully become a Jabis. But if it were Ricky…”8d38e3f034891ce5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She trailed off bd84bbfb34 with a sigh, fecc0460ff shaking her head ba767f1653 wistfully.eecede3018b7c759

“If it were Ricky, the moment Isaac talked back, he’d have already flattened him into the floor.”caa0ad295172f433

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Rachel sounded genuinely c753c64dac disappointed that she 5b5541d455 had missed the ec8737f87c opportunity to watch 12ca4dc22f some good old-fashioned 8566304497 violence.1c0a5a0883230d3b

I discreetly 2ef11fc062 glared at ffc11dfe9c her.a5f3a2e29aa3cee8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Naaman, meanwhile, watched the 2f57bf6f46 exchange with mild amusement.88eb5bb8b767fd0b

“You seem to be quite fond of Ella,” he noted.f7bcf1d4119e8f20

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I smiled.2063ede6ea9980e4

“She’s my first female friend.”8d920c37035f7630

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Naaman tilted his b0fc0a49d1 head.af7e5c4f86494987

“If you wish, you may take her with you as your personal knight.”deaec25d99ec063a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I blinked in 07193ef781 surprise.6f886d9d5c718c8b

“Really?”30f41c6ae973d43d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I had 5d1a561bfb been secretly a088d0d7d0 worried about 50b338ea6f leaving Ella fea2bd42a6 in Hebel.71c3a45cdc9a3e37

If I 62ad06dc22 could take 9e60e91a09 her with 1490646d3c me, it 0c0a03e3f9 would solve 22983f0f3a everything.7dbb190e2f23829d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I saw Naaman’s 28e359c635 eyes gleam with a131fcb05f satisfaction.e7d1da054e22eb51

“It had already been on my mind. Sending you alone to Jabis territory felt wrong, so I have been assembling a group of escort knights for your return.”b6ada208257671da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com