01. Prologue

The unmatched Duke, Echion Debussy. He was the 72577ead69 head of the aae2771121 dragonkin and the fa40abcf76 only duke in 5b10b99223 the Empire.35b92ce05b002b8e

He had a fiancée.c56fdf632f89e3a5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The fact that this remarkable 60c3e218b7 duke’s woman was a slave 5278f905eb was surprising, to say the fa65051b54 least.e1ae6d0d9cfa76de

Because of that, people fc922c8be4 were deeply interested in ada3cbbaff whether the duke truly 36b2b357bf loved her or not.402816fa75d2a848

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The duke himself, b891453d1e however, had no e03ab68399 interest in such d3be7fb3a6 rumors. He simply thought he had 31412f2c97 the woman firmly in his 84580374c0 grasp.ad5373acfc917674

He believed that taming a 571400feb3 slave who had never been 2547580ee8 loved was no challenge at 73a4be385e all.cc68cfa39595ce61

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At least, that’s what he 3cf2da8457 thought—until that incident happened.fe59bc99a42363ea

* * *f9d177da7e906d5a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The name of the child 7578fe54c2 who became a slave in 04230872f7 the ducal estate at the 3f34902294 age of eight was Inez.10c2d6f4195071fb

Having grown up without parents, 3d8861dd8f Inez longed for love. Perhaps that’s why she believed 70b075127d the duke would show her 1dad4043ce affection.8031558a6af6a313

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

On the day 4b867fa796 she came of 79e9f9210f age, she became 995e4053d6 the duke’s fiancée.d8014c9070476a99

Despite being a slave. It was nothing short of 68040b33de astonishing.0ebac18909d25ca8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She became the woman 0f1884911f of none other than 87239332f3 the illustrious Echion Debussy.4442738daa3c312c

People couldn’t understand why the duke would take in such a lowly woman—practically a slave—as his wife.1baa6ba53e242239

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But anyone who ab0cfef011 had seen her e1e96a0698 even once could 4e87f72e1f somewhat understand why 750251844c the duke had 690fedf121 made such a b0d4da8d02 choice.c6e752bc360c8866

“Did you see that face?”3d930f06e329cada

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“My god, they say she was brought from deep within the mountains. Is she bewitching people or 3c6dba2749 something?”d1a0b73a12dd6ee7

“I know, right? I’ve never seen eyes with such a strange color.”dd3a638efb29ab5a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And her hair! Honestly, she’s even more beautiful than the marquis’s daughter, who’s known as the empire’s greatest beauty.”e1fbd2d6fc9eeac5

“Shh. What if someone hears you!”efca2881d1f5c51c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Those who saw 72ab0f3c2e Inez each had a3c39ace7c something to say.bf124651d23eb872

But to Inez, 47ffb76802 the duke’s heart a1cf216841 mattered more than e871554c42 any of their 6fe25193b2 gazes. She wanted to be e92cbebf5c loved by him.8df409414311b643

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Why did she 0430226d61 think that way? Was it because she held 7acf9b6a8a onto the hope that being b9cd13b60f acknowledged by him might change afd5c96f47 her life as a slave?b17ebc482a31c325

After catching occasional glimpses d494e06d60 of kindness from the 17c0a5b0b6 duke, Inez eventually came 604e14fd1d to want nothing more 78d2583ece than his love.601d29110e3dc03f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Dragged to the 547c93c456 ducal estate as 644b23c701 a child, she 8cbe66fd99 became the duke’s 3dc3bd7f12 fiancée at the c74e4b635c age of eighteen.cbf0aa4512e35aa7

In truth, their engagement was 5882f51c43 a kind of contract, born 3764818ef3 from Inez’s desperation and the 794aeca709 duke’s convenience.47364f78e9894307

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

People wondered whether there ab45dc019d was any affection between 99b4e61ef3 them, but in reality, b9e6331684 none of that mattered.67b611e037a30d5f

The real issue was the 93e60b2610 duke’s attitude. He lured Inez with sweet acb51aae36 words, acting as if he 8eea372669 would truly make a place f8f40d31d4 for her by his side.5f72f359f5a165c4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

They said dragons 7efc9f79ff had the power f8d3baeba5 to enchant people. Had she truly been bewitched?19ce2d9add0e8500

But it didn’t take long b068c8d422 for the girl’s hopes to 399207fddc wither away.610f8b7a950285a3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I think I like the Duke.”430022138dc9dbfa

The raw emotion rushed forth 7a08b05325 without form. Inez didn’t know why she 0e50d6e575 clung to him so desperately.0e24dba4959f0130

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She believed that being cfbe3a5755 acknowledged by him would 04f138bf19 change her life.f0c0d7a00867837e

She was sincere. To the young Inez, aff4acab06 Echion was strong, beautiful, 5a04f5933c and mature.47e9a58aa7bed387

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When Inez didn’t do as f5776c0980 he said, he didn’t hesitate 28f3f831c6 to lash out with harsh a57c10c396 words or violence.623d9ce200cc3293

But when she d4e4a4ec51 did what he 77c5d222ab wanted, he was 84a487f9fd gentler than anyone.6ecdd46fcba80256

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was because of that 9c9237f1ac fleeting kindness that Inez became bd8d5d7db5 tamed by him.1b1163890caeef08

“You’re all I have, Duke.”be3ab899b6fbd158

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Please don’t abandon me.”dbd2ad699dc7798a

Inez was far younger than 8cf308807a Echion, isolated, and had no 7c1d48b3a5 idea what real affection was. On top of a90d269fd5 that, she was e404a81dfe a slave whose 430bed51d1 sense of self 7966951587 had been erased.001971ea94fd7d61

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Duke held her in f921b41879 the palm of his hand 844d2ea532 with such ease. Or at least, 5f0f79c0b4 that’s what everyone 57c5e847c2 thought.3e1c295d030f4f18

And so, she grew up b6adc3c488 not even realizing that her ff14d6b16f freedom had been taken from 0ac6f21a17 her.82721bfdc8c3683f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The pleading gaze of 91647157a5 the girl begging not 2433896fb1 to be abandoned made dc32f40f6e the man’s eyes curve 8276efeb3b softly.7c568d0a4a263223

“Then, Inez, what can you give me in return?”c4899e0ab724176d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

From where he leaned 5dab9604fc back, gray smoke curled 367e6c7360 up like a mirage d3329c158e from the cigarette at 74dae70125 his lips, blurring her b4cbaad7b8 vision. The acrid scent filled the 3958f03ffe room, making her feel dizzy.9ef42bcfcd90f8d5

She thought the 2f424b1faf tears stinging her 3f531420e7 eyes might have bed118a45f been from the 17116390e2 smoke—but deep down, cb669ae104 she knew it 6fec55e18e was the emotions 60956c3fba she felt toward 3d14b5cc8f the Duke.07f6fd6dce1d15a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With his long 9f57ab1f86 legs crossed, the eab695bb2e Duke smiled down cbb5ca0fce at her, his 421afe244f red lips curled fc11926658 upward.3ab557ff817ed656

Jet-black hair like dragon scales. Crimson eyes like a reptile’s—they d3c95eb0b1 were almost otherworldly. His narrowed pupils shifted toward 2f9294df29 her.0ca6f50d09d80498

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Maybe it was b25b410d63 the smoke, but b9391769c0 she could no 7bc25cc119 longer see the 9906256d63 lazy smile or 2440a46545 the detached look 236a80c93b on his face 6fa24eccca clearly.ab323ca45239f72e

Kneeling on both knees 621b64decb before him, Inez looked 5ce04f255d up with eyes full 5bc335c786 of longing, as if 94f0f7bf76 aching for him.b069fdbac238e1a5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Then the Duke e20abdf4d6 reached out and d9a9f41bd0 stroked her head. It was a dry, 5d230b45a7 emotionless touch. Was it because 99086c85bb of the dragonkin’s e362920ec6 naturally low body 0db148cdd3 temperature? That lifeless gesture 0ba9279dc4 somehow left Inez 28f7e4b657 parched.57b056fc9dbbca9b

“Inez, there is something you can do for me.”943b53175550a67a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His voice was sweet—just 91e7ccd5ef like honey.bfd2abcc07467ca1

“I can give you what you want.”720cb79d5022f9b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Duke leaned 654cfd945c down and whispered 28ebca98bf in her ear. His low voice 7526b6d21b sent chills down 65866fea4b her spine.c28fa2ef491c3ba1

“I’ll do anything.”60cc62833a70dfec

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Will you? Then we should make 6deef796af things look proper, shouldn’t b8e884e099 we?”eca74e0120ab0b04

Straightening his back again, the 8d5306797e Duke lifted one corner of 4000d3ed6e his lips in a smile.4047d5576c0184ff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And a few days later—319fe3b0422056a6

Surprisingly, Inez had become 9ada3500b6 the duke’s fiancée and 7c1af8f862 was headed for the 7d7584e8f5 imperial palace.5bbb16e2ce943505

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The duke, smiling as 436ee5cc95 if it were nothing, f0a466a5a1 told her what she ed59a325a6 needed to do.7638448a9c9f39b0

“On the appointed days, just go into the palace and smile. Then tell me everything you 79e6c206d7 heard. That’s all you have to 1587ccb4ad do.”5f41cea2c5303ca1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And so, she 53d5a106ea began going in 49f96f5732 and out of 8e04e0bff1 the imperial palace 79317bb762 as the duke’s e7a01eae02 fiancée.33728211ee37676f

The only reason 76b88fc60d a slave like 67aa0c0a7e her could enter 7199528ca2 the palace was d5fb1edc7c because of the a7d1c8c1a5 duke’s powerful protection.ddc1214e5d39ed74

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

From the beginning, 30eb0452f0 no one could 4cc7f63681 stand in the 73a460ba32 way of the 1e18e8453b duke’s fiancée.64ac67c049aa8272

As time passed, Inez saw f95ba899a3 and heard more, and she 867da6d216 began to experience another world.4436bf22e37dd23b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Naturally intelligent, she began 847f4e467f to open her eyes 3b62825659 to the currents of 842b8b0040 power as she moved 6b41ebf2f7 through the palace.3b5cb39b7826fcd1

More than anything, 396a52f73f she came to a33c156f00 understand that the a4041d44f5 emperor and the ba75f3c19e duke were on a801548064 very poor terms.c4ec179a9cb5f94c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And that she served as ade175c30f a messenger between the two. Her status as the duke’s c1a457f5b4 fiancée was nothing more than 0e0bd3c10b a convenient front for his e19d5ab6ed purposes.e73728b8e8038558

No matter how well she 094022dd24 carried out the missions he 079579b2c1 gave her, the duke never caaa6f8a24 gave her an inch of 778c035b3d real consideration.0b0ed7c9cf2f17be

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even so, Inez 935091f3fb clung to a 50c4654c7a faint hope. She wanted to 091c47f3bf stand proudly as d8a68b5b8d the duke’s rightful 78fc4613cb fiancée. After all, she 8dd5c54318 had no other 22adacbe4c path.8fb5db07f2e57637

If that title was stripped 4bd935dcb0 from her, she would be baa0432344 nothing more than a worthless 1d246b7127 slave.32b2687d83b67e73

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She held on 7707148e5f to the vain 3d0ccf58da hope that if 43259014fa she could prove dccfc169cb herself, she might d67a4a93ff truly become his 029ac012d1 fiancée.020dcd9ee4174e59

She wanted the duke to a0e007f73a acknowledge her, to accept her a58f86ab00 as his fiancée in truth.f09ecb60b5917945

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As time passed, adcecb070f she realized the 87353a627f duke had deliberately e244fa0184 isolated her in b157cf8d6b the ducal estate.f692c8b4d30a3bf1

Though it seemed he gave 0619b51c98 her the best of everything a7e32b8d98 after their engagement, it wasn’t b0bb5b23b8 true.7d397001ec919db6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The people of the 98584f778e ducal household never accepted 3339e95329 her, a mere former 959b4c98c4 slave.bde142e360c2d10c

At times, they tormented ac37761c17 her openly, but the 2204972f16 duke only looked on. He never once defended her 00c8c79e1f dignity.223ede0ad693b929

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Did she sell her body to become his fiancée?”55771cb4599c8741

“What a shame. I heard the f7e47163c0 duke actually fancies d011805632 another woman.”f55b044d94cef68f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Disgusting.”4e6be3c231f0251d

Enduring those kinds 0c7d05721b of stares was b2edae9b36 never something she 7897c88925 welcomed.87cf2fa27addb6ad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But she bore all f076344d9b that contempt because she 509d0fec7e held on to the 0f108595c5 hope that one day, e1304ea7ff she would truly marry 6e166bb0f8 the duke.f41f05096e507d7c

In fact, the 1c137d701c duke consoled her db66aa7351 with sweet words.36574fdf7e032987

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Don’t pay attention to what they say. Remember, you are 0f824aa599 my fiancée now, 6f8d5bb821 Inez.”39c8c9d9747798a0

“They’re just blinded by jealousy. You need to understand that.”e52f81c79b078798

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At some point, she 411e66dbb3 no longer knew if ab63c2fda7 her repeated claim of a10041f38e loving the duke was 744c031153 even real.6b4f1e28ee048ea7

Her feelings had already turned 6b27dd0014 to ash, but clinging to 7d44604337 even those embers was the fdec053987 only way she could survive.6d8736b0ef952c30

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

About three years had passed c9de2e1e46 since she began going to d7ab267017 the palace.89451c47bbbd2f01

Then one day, c3a67d254b the duke summoned e19bf4bc53 Inez to his e05e2be3f8 bedroom late at 04b4c55cfa night.b32930e31ffcbe80

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was the first time.ac78e8028fbeeb90

It was the first e0b3b6136e time he had ever f31b2cce98 called her to such 8312e01c3c an intimate place as 081787efa9 his bedchamber.36b76a1b9d5394d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 020cb62ab50e3c18

 b33d43e5f1f7d745

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley