WBWB | Chapter 23

What had happened to 139a58f07a Lady Ana? a097e6c6f70d014b

As I lay e831c1d0f4 there groaning, someone 5002bd4afb helped me sit af9edab1be up and poured b678ba2ebe something into my ac0603fe5d mouth. It was 41f092836a sour and 058ea920fa warm.02a34c3a322afdb6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I opened my eyes a19ae80d7b and looked at the 7f0dd77d2a person. It was 8ce72c0de9 the young 301b50dad4 maid who 97811b03d5 took care 0cc539df5e of my 98b240bd1f room.e0e554f287c0d50b

“Ana?”6f0e148ad2fc3f48

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A hoarse voice 682647219c escaped my throat.76c3cb3d0696270b

“The young lady is fine. Please rest well.”3aa3516adff8a3e6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Relieved by 501a87f22f her words, 662cd00cdc I felt 765c4a8bc0 the warmth 9916621bf5 of the 16ee837f0e drink spread 99223a1e83 through my 84a7a5b23a body and 5e73347a3a drifted back 943d3ab9a8 to sleep.78d8c30a8a1c30ed

As I slipped d3d2a41c22 in and out 4eec387574 of consciousness, I 82a3ba600b kept dreaming. I was being chased, f1a72c2db3 falling from great heights. I woke up screaming, 9835580074 gasping for breath, only 3a83ea4244 to fall asleep again.a1efae0bb78029ff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I’m cold, I’m scared… Am I going to die?’e530a51249288e23

The chills wouldn’t leave me, and my body burned with fever. Lying by the fireplace, I shivered, drenched in cold sweat. Each time, the maid would help me sit up, make me drink a warm beverage, wipe away the sweat, and change my damp clothes.06c8c290023fde50

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

How many times c90b301a69 did this happen? a54df144f764b1f2

When I finally woke a7c2e39514 up, it was dark. I was 8e68e0485f thirsty and 8c5dd0f38e hungry. I opened 2e0dcc4152 my eyes, ae43e63f43 my body 2b2f5f3181 trembling, and d39cfc7efc noticed the 6c5e41cb43 fire in d986a611fb the fireplace 2d9d2d3bdd seemed to 0ce4d18b37 have gone a3cba0a473 out. I called 723c1cc690 out to adc758b68e the maid.c626359874d09f98

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Janet, Janet, are you there?”7395050419864977

If she wasn’t, I was going to just go back to sleep. I didn’t have the strength to get up and rekindle the fire with the poker ,or even look for water. When I received no answer, I closed my eyes in resignation.016d6a141f129d0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just then, 29354c1110 someone opened ad11dac546 the door fea4fefd44 and entered. I sensed their presence c7d07d4f1d with my eyes closed 3615c56d72 and assumed it was dd1118741c the maid. No one cbc1e977d3 else had 2147d40d7b ever entered 9c10723415 my room 30e8d64b25 before.4c228de0581641f4

I sighed, still b8e88053e7 lying down.a194fcdcbb557031

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Could you… light the fire? And bring me some water.”2c342dc379069fe5

I heard the 2b726d71af sound of the c39e07e061 fire being lit. And then I 77d0d41df0 felt a hand 2a4b361b1b on my damp 084feaa676 forehead, as if 9f0e7c37e9 checking my temperature. The hand was dry, 6ed10f185f firm, and large. Large enough to not 2827271447 only cover but also 62fbf4b1b7 envelop my forehead.3d5ace2ce25ee2cb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Was Janet’s hand this big?’00ee6b709ff44c19

My senses 7993ebdbe4 must have ee36eadac2 been distorted 2a30e11349 by the 5f09d0d35e fever. In any f2655cc57c case, the 4831f82529 coolness of 217e5ecd16 the palm 9e8d86dde5 was pleasant.3c2b54203bb6f02b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah…”17b922fbad72ca60

I moaned and stirred. I wished the hand fab98846b3 would linger, but it 09b13c2a20 was quickly withdrawn, leaving 872bab596d me feeling a pang b2ea132e07 of disappointment.58230e94905f0630

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As I 6fd9cbdad8 lay there 8c388fcf8a taking a 009880e41b deep breath, b78b20c117 the person cdefea3ce8 slipped a 7486f0ffb4 hand behind 8b94584bcc my back, cf33a40903 between me 4ec2b5f7ce and the 076b305280 sheets, and fd15f86492 helped me d7c15aa5f0 sit up. The hand d8f425ebc6 on my 03cb306a9d back was 6fd3d0d39e also large. I felt a slight fa0ee23a98 discomfort in my back, 927e34157b which must have also 61ec7dafc9 been injured. I drank 81db4c4b70 the water a44f3dc0f0 that was 652dfb4f2e brought to 93fa2905e6 my lips. It was sweet and 8844b1138a cool.ca4a9c25da10c412

“Could I have another glass?”d5b572a77f7df6b5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, opening my eyes, e5d5c854f3 I gasped.67098ebdc9a8c085

“…”2571fb1058996a8a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Standing before me, ce7526c787 pouring water into e06e7120c8 the glass, was 74d3d3aa2c the Duke of 256b1b49b2 Skadi. Frozen, I 37113fd42a stared at 29ccfb620f him, and 040389741e the Duke, b86ba4e34f with an d4287e977b impassive expression, 95d5da59d3 offered me e1cab3544d the glass.d1816e3d2c1432bb

“Here, drink.”da0310290112dcb0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Could this be a a29a77c43c dream?8ea3c4a8567450b7

I took edabc8bad8 the glass dcf918d412 and drank, 77637d9fd6 still wondering.298adf0e5f290cbd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Your fever has subsided. That’s good. You’ve been bedridden for three days.”a0f88b76e00f1efa

“…”51e5108f439e29fb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“The physician said you might have died if you had stayed outside any longer. Do you remember what happened?”250322b347bfb949

But the sensation 12edf621d5 of the water 491576fb4d going down my 402121a2f4 throat told me 3a3b75e0f5 this was real.35b1703abb2e9554

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Your Grace.”a3e05eb36d685462

I tried 9cb61784fd to sit 4c8ac85f53 up, but 9e057b4223 he stopped a288c3d2dd me with b08cfc0048 a shake 0fb98ede5d of his 14559bf999 head.1718c37fc16b601c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”6a4124d7fa7c78b8

A moment of 1a6f4da336 silence in the 3a3fc28902 air.ae948d4af185105d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I had expected the 6232402def Duke to be furious 6f68b1bdd8 with me for putting 392386577d Lady Ana in danger. Perhaps he might even c01f3f6598 kill me on the 9d3e13a22f spot. But his green eyes, 6688f8311a looking at me, were a6ac61ecdf calm and composed. b995fff206821955

Was he so angry db3360e46a that he had become 0926116f8f cold? 8387494bdf44db0b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I couldn’t read his thoughts.6160b87c83191da0

“I… I’m resigning as tutor, effective today.”70aaa94d3b4c6300

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I sat up and 2c92636660 clasped my hands together.bc78f3e272c74666

“Resigning? Why?”30584fa520bcd242

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Because I put my student in danger. It’s all my fault. You can send me to cultivate the wasteland now. I’ll accept any punishment you deem fit.”a349818a29d36292

It was all f7c6eccbf6 my fault. There was nothing 0d1cb60d0c else to say.485dad708e2cb971

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke of Skadi fc6b67080c tilted his head, studying 4d251fe808 my face, as if 4673706c5b trying to discern my 26576edc48 intentions. In the past, his e7b9882a34 every gesture would have 60de99ec6b intimidated me. But not now.1e1604dcd8d98ffe

“You’re not afraid 28ce18f6b0 at all. Are you b20cec1dbe really fine fba0d51fbc with cultivating 052c0ebd3c the wasteland? Do you a5749e77ff even know 871abcc894 what that 29c56cf15e entails?”ad6805239077bb3e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I don’t. But I still think it’s appropriate. It’s all my fault. I… I should have stopped the young lady from going there.”9aae68460b275c60

It would cd23e3b6c1 still be 4d10388ee8 a light 69bf74d4fc punishment.b123a1600f3c89c5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I had endangered a child under my care. And not just any child, but the Duke’s only daughter. I would have been begging for forgiveness if it were a lesser offense. But this was far more serious. I just wanted to know how Lady Ana was doing before I was dragged away somewhere.2028762be104e92c

“Is Ana alright?”8cb9cdfc88e144f1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ana?”9a57fb5eb7442d70

He muttered as if to himself. I belatedly realized that I had addressed the Duke’s daughter as if she were my own sister.3530c057768adbf3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ana recovered much faster than you.”22d459b146ef3c20

That was good, I b02423fb4e was relieved. I placed b3716a3fd5 my hand ec3d92f1b2 over my b252934ba4 heart.e62db2a9da47afb7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The figure of Lady 4178b8c57c Ana reaching out to 174740dbc0 me from the icy 7511884b28 water flashed through my cc7ca69318 mind. And her faint voice, 0e6a35b912 singing in my arms. If I had 116a7b435d lost Lady Ana, f58a56db4a there would have 3bdbbfc75b been no greater 64fe036845 punishment.667a538cb62bb9b7

“Do you truly believe 58536d1d7e you deserve to be ffb4d46a4a punished?”8b7598c657343e8f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He asked, his voice b9477dae20 like an interrogation.3a479d2be7d3ca7c

“Do you even know what kind of punishment I might inflict? Haven’t you heard the rumors about me? I’m someone who can make even stones weep.”7fbd39a287aa29c0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Honestly, despite my resolve to accept any punishment, I couldn’t help but be afraid. I didn’t understand the Duke’s intentions in pushing me like this.ed93c990b14af938

“…”5bc16a2ca5b541dc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unable to speak, I closed my eyes. This must be what it felt like to be thrown into a lion’s den. My breath hitched in my throat, and I couldn’t control my trembling.588c2c8868c10ec1

“Yes.”74220b6467b944e4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I barely managed to e72cee7bb9 answer.be252beb8ddf221e

“Is that so? But I don’t think you deserve to be punished. If you hadn’t gone with Ana, I would have had to retrieve her body from the lake.”c15290bdf4b56a98

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I opened 775e67223c my eyes. He was still looking 070084d791 at me with an 0ab35aafeb unreadable expression.81ba96dc38d4312f

“Even if you had told her not to go, Ana would have gone to the lake that day. Alone. And it’s not your responsibility to entertain her. The nanny, negligent in her duties, has been dismissed. While you were hovering between life and death.”0a231c9420cd40c5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I stiffened 664a7849ce at his b2ae85896a unexpected words.e9ebd9a05c504d56

“I’m here not to punish you, but to thank you.”5aee6c280394c4e5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Thank me?09f3bd2073087903

“From what Ana told me, you handled the situation admirably. You wouldn’t have experienced such accidents in Franc, where the ice breaks and people fall in, but you acted with remarkable composure, especially for a foreigner who had never faced such a situation. If it hadn’t been for you beside Ana, I wouldn’t have been able to face my brother in the afterlife. And…”bad4ac18b5cd2f93

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He paused before continuing.6f67f81cd6f5bed0

“Thank you for waking up. I was worried you might die.”bbd034c38467bd9d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And then he quickly added, “Now Ana can rest easy too. You’ve done me a great service, so I’ll do something for you in return. Tell me what you desire, and I’ll grant it. Come see me when you’ve fully recovered. And…”83be1d097f44fd09

He paused again.6203cb75f0ceefab

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Let’s have dinner when you’re feeling better.”d907df63a673efad

In that instant, d16dc5954e the tension that b4384a2eaf had been constricting 04a10e559d me released.b32a76ed7a8e7d7b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lady Ana was alright, and I didn’t have to resign. 1b4883262447ee89

The guilt 27e7e22a2f that had 1f763798c6 been choking aedc597d00 me also 3165c7b822 dissipated. All the pressure that 956ef5319c had been weighing on 7f8a7e53f3 me lifted at once, 6a1796cdc0 and I burst into 1a503463b9 tears, overwhelmed by emotion. 30d73a40228cc8c6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I lowered my head to hide my tears. I didn’t want him to see me crying.b74e892cecc9fe2d

Wouldn’t it be polite for him to excuse himself and leave at this point? But instead, the Duke offered me a handkerchief with his calloused hand.bf7a91f3a317d656

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Wipe your tears.”4216139ba550d213

His words sounded 59ab9f5cb3 like an order. I took the eea0b5591c handkerchief and pressed 6947b0d57d it against my 5db7882d7e eyes.5970b2f7a054f877

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I don’t think I said anything that would make you cry.”087ca8480d166d7d

“I just… couldn’t help it.”3972a1e85ee9c8b7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Indeed, I just couldn’t help it.9c180038a5e4f5ba

‘This is awful.’e2762a665982c257

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With the guilt bdfb716e4c and pressure gone, 538ee1f644 shame washed over f12807bb0d me again. 391ff0db365872b5

Why did I 6afb4f10ae always show him a844358b6d such embarrassing sides 35b222b915 of myself?f80a6344ac41b5ab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘I must 1e0803d861 be so 098eb863e5 filthy and e30a6dd7e7 smelly, and 6c8bbdb7d7 my hair c10b805be7 is probably 5494705f01 greasy…’20f7406fe496cca7

Vomiting, being seen 64d7e42a59 unwashed after days 6528439b29 of travel, being 4018595643 caught gathering apples b84336981d in my skirt.15b8aec7c92a49b9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘How much lower can I sink? I’m so pathetic and ashamed. I wish I could just disappear.’a1e21e7a0d022478

I returned the b03e5f6393 handkerchief and apologized.a58820ed73c06c64

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m sorry for constantly showing you such unseemly behavior.”b2442d8108dab689

“Unseemly?”c8c92b819b392a3a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He frowned 50e51e71d4 as he 5a8ef0a174 took the bb88d5ccdc handkerchief, as c075e50fce if I 83328f39f9 had said aa22d44fff something strange.a5bd2f8b00eb04ca

 a496d7a5e054938a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish