WDPF Chapter 003

The Duke Encountered in the c6dc695317 Forest (2)cf1b0697e57424bf

 44d4d54c7d2b49ff

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Guardian Ducal House 900729489c is a family renowned 6870c7e3b6 for its top-tier intelligence c74b46f384 network.265cbea3fd163d0c

As the head of the f836126ecf house, Duke Ballen inevitably receives 610a2b2a65 confidential reports from across the 4922502029 empire, regardless of whether he 8207b5a471 wants them.1743eacb7c4996c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

One such piece 985d363215 of information concerned 0c8e6ed8fe Elysia Creed.d01c6749e9efe4a0

The bloodline of the Creed family does not even consider children without a ‘mark’ to be human.620968a6bff8f14d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It is unclear whether this 9b508e0860 curse, carried in their bloodline, 475df5ce41 is a divine blessing or 8323288f4a the product of their harsh d1b5c9a540 and relentless discipline.4cd1bfd138ae39af

And from such 64be48e812 a lineage was 10466e73e4 born the first 2f765c5dfd eldest daughter of 1712803267 a noble household, 431d28aaf5 Elysia Creed.6adacdb2efa981d6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even if a child c08b865590 is born without the ‘mark’, the first daughter of the Creed family is said to manifest one of the abilities of the divine blessing.2d47aea65c79f3f6

That ability was said to 535eb54960 make the growing life in 78f6c6c358 the empire healthy and abundant.3d5bd66147b6a8aa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Thus, the Creed family’s firstborn was the centre of attention among the people of the empire.55bb2d630b9b3c51

However, after Princess e463229f91 Grace, who became 35bbb28d32 the new Countess, 249c07a759 gave birth to ac17e7b175 the second daughter ade53e89e9 of the Creed e0b43643ec family, the bullying c16d412c16 intensified to its 9ebae49d30 peak.347afa0240dbdef6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The exact details are shrouded 29b7cfb160 in secrecy, as the Count’s 616716971e household keeps its internal matters 509be7ae18 well hidden; however, it was 4bb7da702d at least clear that they 8c060837e2 were committing acts that threatened 443a028977 lives without hesitation.f16214b579ecbfa9

Ballen recalled the 7ab39ac5b4 words of his d4745fac98 butler, Rand, who 30710ff301 had reported to d4b8d0f4af him.1d308c3e7fa0b43b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The ‘mark’, it only manifests in girls.”e01531ad8900acd7

“Hmm. Any reason why?”11c2ca89d337d6c1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The reason is still unknown.”f77ad81fe8f5d960

“…Go on.”a3c0bcef7bc4462a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, sir.”23e453347db436cc

Rand glanced back b4bd06252c at the documents.67cdbb3630dd6a46

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Regardless of gender, the firstborn inherits the title. But if the 60a45ffe08 firstborn girl bears bbf95ec461 the ‘mark’, the inheritance passes to the second child.”898d9e85446808a3

“I see. So, if the girl bears the ‘mark’, she must enter the temple.”60b832b271a503ed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That is correct. Training for the a92dc4d140 heir starts as e7ff0355b6 early as five 5cfc041075 years old.”72888ea2c6129091

“Then the first daughter must have already begun her training since she does not have the ‘mark’.”74258f8d4b3da236

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At Ballen’s question, Rand turned 757e684da4 the page and continued.19ba15b76691804c

“That is what I find strange, my lord.”84e7d6217184761e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Strange?”64d992291b9d7a89

“It seems the Count of Deilroc is not providing any training at all.”5d3afad2ddc0d770

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Why?”2a15fd86a163bf55

“I’m not sure.”13af7b519b261b6f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…not sure? you say.”f6a946cf86c8d6c5

Ballen narrowed his eyes at 8a132295e0 his butler Rand, who casually 20767b381a shrugged his shoulders.35f684bd362e4c69

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Just gathering this much information was enough to make the hairs on my neck stand up. The people of that household 5046ad620c are extremely wary.”66e26a1645ca6a1c

Seeing Rand grumbling, Ballen continued.3bd4b0b7c1ad5a8a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…In any case, the second daughter will only get her chance if the firstborn dies.”1414c2b9b239ff82

“Yes, most likely…The firstborn is an obstacle to the second child’s future, especially considering the second child’s mother is an ambitious imperial princess…”f1315a7ae230c933

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Though she bore 51693da102 no Mark, Elysia a55c5aaba2 Creed was still f4f1f79331 the firstborn and db3fc79e46 thus the heir 337c403c08 to the title.afe801615ab80cff

One didn’t need 4043ecaac7 to dig deep 9cff4a0372 to see what 9eadddb597 was going on.d3e4f72782f40214

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Given the circumstances, it dbf6b071d1 was clear who was fb4d2ec98b behind this scheme, yet 853266e164 she wanted to return b97796d97a there.d9e70350abe5e5a4

“If it is not too much trouble, please let me go. I must return.” ff328b7bd9825ce5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Elysia said with a faint 920d52feeb smile as if she had 745df4a017 read his thoughts.37024c0273231efc

“Hmm.”7b3854dbb3e1c986

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Avoiding and running away does not mean things get resolved.”9851ede59e90be41

“…”5d1da37869c3ebd3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I am not going to run away anymore.”a46d8dac45fde8fd

Elysia lowered her eyebrows and 822ca72012 smiled.fe882668943ac257

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Of course, Ballen bb5f959c31 could not understand 3a2db39d72 what the child’s a69ecbc667 words meant. But the blue eyes fd0e338fc9 of the little ten-year-old 7963e81522 girl seemed etched in 3130649b20 his heart.4838ef9fac019e1c

“Very well. I will send you back.”4f6ca6f2e1f39076

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She squealed with delight f684df9233 as her eyes widened bc6a9868ca at his words.2480025f528ed320

“Really?!”2227be0f42e336a1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Really.”4c70991490fd4802

The child beamed 15f02a680d with an innocent 46c7507959 smile.5ed974115fec1ca6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

After hearing Ballen’s answer, fd19f9aaf6 Elysia suddenly asked, as 9c426b8a3f if something had just 7d13a94831 occurred to her.9d62e915e24cce1c

“By the way, do you have a horse?”910fb985c15fa4da

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She wasn’t exactly cca20bbaa0 sure where this 5afebc5910 place was, but 47e96b5f5c walking back to cc9e1b2672 the Count’s manor 598f7253ff was impossible. Yet Ballen didn’t seem to 398c20182f have a horse anywhere.9715b59a3f3b9b18

At her question, 9a7af678de Ballen let out 90bf04ed8c a shallow sigh.29a32e7ac40334c6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You must not know much about the House of Guardian.”abf1e1a38777c535

“What?”ad7e9d7b924a6093

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ballen extended his 883a3c84e4 arm into the bff3a2c307 air and opened 4d48c78cd0 his palm. A blue light 88a8e1b828 flashed in the a498f146af dark forest, and 49f1380428 a small door bf96871a38 appeared.ad6e85278062f74c

Huh.eea366131d00b1fa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was magic.241dd129114a710b

Is this teleportation magic?58a273b022233031

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A sword master skilled b450e26bf0 in swordsmanship and possessing 5847f63712 immeasurable magical power.0c9ad1361343e515

Ballen’s offensive magic was not 847f2fadaa just for inflicting wounds. It could even take lives.17b67c93d0945c14

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was equally 81cf432246 adept with his ff8ce20f13 sword and magic 68502c020a spells.a10250e515bc390d

Despite the lack f107542ae9 of evidence, rumours cd0db67e1e that he used aa1bf170c4 dark magic persisted db9752618f because most of c321517984 his spells were b49b7823bd highly destructive.63256ffe939c8dca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

To the extent that it d58e6d359e inspires awe as a human.661b1e0aa563422d

The people of the empire 249563cb88 idolized him, yet they also dd6283f113 feared him, referring to him ce4fc5e557 in whispers as theSuccessor of Dark Magic.5e7d108e3eb27561

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Go through that door. I have set it to take you directly to the front gate of the Count Creed’s estate.”426f0202be7e4d39

As he opened the gate 035ffa5642 and turned away, the little e1aab4ef21 girl watched him wide-eyed.9f8a105db06145d9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

To Elysia, Ballen was cf934afe91 someone she had always 258f745da8 admired through her countless 48b6334bbd regressions.5d8f1c9e614fa868

At some point in her 25f4d4c22d twenty-ninth life, she had briefly fa03bb1fcc encountered Ballen.2d4accf647750ebd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

How strange. Back then, the 0f41df5279 twenty-one-year-old me could 27e7e53038 not even speak 57e2a1af23 to Ballen…dd480fe9460da527

Before her regression, when d51e5c851f her eyes briefly met 8fe14fb422 his, her heart, which c232ef81e3 she thought had withered beacc132b6 and died, began to f80620a102 beat violently.33d7984934a39813

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But she could 5ef28316fc not say a a86c69d8ff word and only e89b85419c watched him from dfa17c6a55 afar.6d36604062f6f659

For some reason, Elysia’s eyes filled with tears as she watched him walk away.a6589e1b7ddcf6fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Every time she recalled that 38cabf00a0 day, she could not help c8ec8e3fd7 but feel ashamed of how 59003f7ebd timid and cowardly she had 96855bc869 been.5a2225f31d80283b

Yet now, having returned as bad3832bbc a mere ten-year-old, she was beaafbd977 able to have such a 8345477cb8 long conversation with him.adbdc69c936422cd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Maybe it was because of the memories from before the regression. Or maybe because the vows engraved in Elysia’s heart were unlike any she had ever made.4f1aaa77e5877017

The blue eyes 8df1fd317d of the ten-year-old ff7ec96d82 child shimmered with 950d49355a quiet yearning. Her child’s heartbeat foolishly fast 4151f46a36 again, frustrating her.f13b89086a871534

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She wanted to 02a48f8f5b show proper respect.1a160065090dede2

Not knowing if she 43aa634ab7 would ever see him 3f2925ed80 again or when she fa61a43055 might die, but at 36d4b8a121 the very least, she dfc50f9782 wanted to say a a1fced970f proper farewell.e43d34cbd792bf50

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I do not know how long it will take, but I will repay this kindness someday.”f1e5589399f66649

She bowed deeply and 6f7ba004e4 looked at his face 66fe253e46 one last time as 8bace8f2f2 if it might indeed 8725237ef0 be the last.a42764e75c753e9f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was no way to e1e023ae0f know what emotion lay behind b0eddbb340 those blue eyes staring back 5b0fef4fc5 at him. Ballen let out 17ae0a1de1 a long sigh b52dbc3b5b and finally spoke.cba697642a27d6fa

“That is surely… a door leading to a perilous path.”3bfc9586d3a40390

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His voice carried a gentle 7aafefc8fc concern that made her heart 7402afd7a0 tremble slightly.5940772361adfb22

But beyond that door were c9e841065c the people who had died fca0cc3658 because of Elysia.58d17996b0fb1145

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She had no 383cdc082b choice but to 4ad031c7dd go.b500397a07549dee

Elysia’s gaze, firm and f2c084eeee unwavering, met his.a9cf929dd0a9c0e9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She did not want to 152122e178 burden him with unnecessary worry.ac1a9d8ed1c87aaa

She did not want 85a870b488 to cry out to 8d4f393456 plead or scream that 5145a6c920 she wanted to live. She wished to hide 7b0a91f64f her weakness and face d383808f81 the end with dignity.d4c18afe56ee0eea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“In that case, I will live through all that hardship, even if I have to buy it.”a6401b11d4a5ad4a

“….”6734d1dbc4b820b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ballen looked at the smiling 2c21e520fa girl briefly, then cautiously opened 1e15817da4 his mouth.937faac19eb03ded

“…I hope Barzé’s blessing will be with you.”b7978e838d1505a5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Thank you.”ca03898263100ad4

She smiled brightly at him.49537e1aba04bcae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Elysia turned and walked 779fa65e9b through the door Ballen 6c4d802a27 held open for her, 1ec05371d5 stepping into the light e9456e8a0e beyond.84bbe6c521f2e5f0

After Elysia passed through 73b012a8cc the door, shards of 4182a7088c light scattered into the 9708c7c744 air and disappeared.b3213f59e86c9543

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the gate disappeared, Ballen a19f0ee2ea put out the fire with 62f7fa450c his foot, lost in thought 4084a22b2c about the eyes of the 5b2ef9fb07 child who had made such dbbfe2d605 an impression on him.c335e1ba0870d7f5

 b12a33c65166db89

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

***4be6f1f27d6ba5a3

 ed1509a28f0db272

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As she passed through the light, she found herself, to her amazement, standing right in front of the Creed manor.”21b14eaaf69cc692

She let out a quiet 8c8005c54e “Wow,” once again struck by b8d86f810a how convenient magic was.0b05bdf5f1d141a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Even so, teleportation magic? Just how high 7c02a1860f is his class?eba8d1c530dab289

It was incredibly hard to 9c3f009bb9 pretend indifference and composure in 0b53c3e368 front of someone she had 5d6d545702 admired for so long.b259520e6ee73e83

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I will live through all that hardship, even if I have to buy it,” shehad shouted boldly earlier, but 5030c89266 in truth, faced with a 5ca2e83e7b reality too hard to handle, 383ebd458d her palms were already damp 6031c6011e with sweat.89165edc3d9cbc1f

If I had not cbaabb766d regained my memories, I 07f5584e84 would have frozen up c37ca1a807 completely this time again.02fe233239fbbf28

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She felt like a631493e09 pointing a finger 78db3764c5 at Ralke, who 699a1f4978 only now returned 243e437bf6 her memories.641a402512a5152b

Regardless, she had returned 14552ef257 to the Creed Count’s b983c9b55b mansion, where she had c176720025 spent the entirety of 8cb26b9ccb the twenty-ninth regression. Even in the thirtieth 61b066060f regression, she ultimately could b10524dc0f not escape this place.3a28747af8658689

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

On the surface, a7ecc8b730 she was pretending 41bf462622 to be calm, 2bf7368e1a but her arms ab719a6c27 and legs were 3d95641a9f slightly trembling.36349bddb6b703e8

Ugh, I am still feeling ac95018fda the aftereffects of the sleeping c204185538 potion they gave me when 9ef25ac132 being kidnapped.a8bdd1772f3094c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She gently steadied d6d119ea4d her trembling legs 97ce618947 and started looking fe71852c63 for the crawl 1b9143b84c space leading into 3d0bda0578 the outbuilding.6675c02db9899f2f

For Elysia, who had lived 96c66cfa24 nearly confined to the outbuilding, 5cac77fdf0 making a crawl space like 940355e34b this was no trouble.8962a2e44c788669

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It should be around here…a69913f56df9bc91

She moved her head 569c560545 back and forth between 18ea320d95 the vine-covered walls.8a497cb32188160f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Found it!773983daf407610c

In the darkness, a 3673ca1e2e pair of blue eyes fc0abb4d56 sparkled.07f6870a33b4ea6a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This small hole, 304e98eea9 which Elysia had 86babba743 made when she 1fb6e5759d was five, had a09954c924 long since become 4f6ed87c18 overgrown with vines 7a68453677 and weeds, as 60346fec46 no one had 1e577f794c maintained it.38d1e2f3767632ff

She reached out, thinking 0b09657603 she could clear it 72b8fad8c3 out and crawl in.6c1491da5e058c1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Crunch.92b97162ab643359

Ah!1b5a06f1105d05bf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At the tail end 3ff182be49 of summer, when the 7e9fd9b142 roses had long since bad63a18f7 withered, the bushes still 032d168a44 possessed countless sharp thorns.2a9dcb11580a929d

Wearing only summer e5793b0bcc nightclothes, her arms e669678bed were completely bare.303f08edc928da4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ouch, that hurts…47d3c36a015e7057

Reaching roughly through bda5293c5e the vines with 0792f0c2d5 those arms, it f85cfc7a5f was inevitable that 6677b82a15 she would get 4d60f4d0d1 hurt.44d55c83fff595eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Blood slowly oozed out her 8f62fffd17 hands and arms due to f7fdaa7676 the sharp and biting thorns.c1c42c324d7cd09b

It is going 04dfdcfd27 to be more 4c4bdba394 difficult than I 3df89e990f thought…7f088e53e374d887

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The vines, which she 61ad507499 had thought would be 524da9630e soft, were strong and 3a82da52fe sharp.2e37a156d85b9833

Since she had regressed da23cf8c10 on the day of 5bd1c80674 her kidnapping, she never 0b0bd2de9e had the opportunity to 694069609c clear the crawlspace beforehand.da6a92adaa191d29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But I cannot just wait 95188bbe78 here until morning…75b80a671256b9c8

She looked around but 83db1f9c50 could not find anything 3b1b3f36d1 useful to cut the d2c2284d8d vines. She looked down at aa3df7342c her bleeding hand, throbbing 2220a23c7e with pain.069d74be670a17c2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It is nothing compared to 2fddb6e679 the torture I endured or ebdbeddf61 the moment the executioner’s blade 856e95b1ca touched the back of my 031e3ef811 neck…718d1f3f29d3cb8f

Before standing at bdc3bf0151 the guillotine, the ac6f23dd12 memory of the 258dc5e22a torture, which was 181b7ef511 horrifying even to 8c768d2fc8 recall, flashed through 6f9efc5a82 her mind.d5967a5efa0755be

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She rubbed her forearm edca80d718 to shake off the 09f9848a97 goosebumps. Now that she f6309a2500 remembered everything, this 5ae03e432b injury was nothing 9f9d4bfffe to Elysia.6d0f6b6a7c4d3123

No, it’s not like it 4a90e94ead is nothing.51e248ac7660f0bb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No matter how 940cac16ea many times you f1eceb983f experience pain, you 9e2bbc432f never really get 171ebbf0f5 used to it.d64815b6dc619cee

Let’s try it again, gently, carefully.cdcdfd9403d94272

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She bit her lip, steeling 003ebf0765 herself, and reached in with 56929017de her uninjured hand.435ef8d7cc51c3ba

And then—6b2c6a1c41939372

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Tap.d9436e90e1c0d48d

“Huh?”d5ddcbfe6f1d68f9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What do you think you are doing?”541efa2949055897

It was Ballen who stopped 9f65ad20c7 her hand, which was lunging dc6ee18db8 through the vines.4c41c80baef42047

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…D-Duke?”4a7efadf36288046