05.

They found out later.05cabcb7bd62bb60

The duke’s slave fiancée—204572b3ca791d22

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She was the dc990d4ac4 one leaking all 107b4dd92c the information from 426f50ccc5 the imperial palace.5834aa482456c69b

When Lucien traced bdd66a9a7f the source of 93a4bb5916 the leaks, he 9bea2cd40c let out a 21bdfb7874 sigh upon discovering 524f050c51 her identity.244cc003b73a04ec

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had assumed the informant 4c7325994a would be hiding in the c6ff0c9107 form of a typical spy.f6182894657db17b

To think the f985e4cebd duke was using f56d571dc9 his own fiancée a79aa1e584 that way. Lucien couldn’t help but laugh 4b94ba0af7 at the cruelty of it.e52f4690ffc81c3f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Just like a dragonkin.’0c9b00890734dc71

Lucien also predicted that the 6aa534e558 duke would never truly grant ff9c8e4ead Inez the position of a e5a0179a5b real fiancée.cd83b387048d2d5f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He likely saw 55a23f0095 her as something 38400401d0 to use when 032435c6ab needed, then discard.db596c6d903b520c

‘A dragonkin, steeped in elitism, marrying a human—much less a slave? That would never happen.’7feab52f7c7ad70a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That’s what the a0d8847b06 emperor told Lucien. And the prediction, for 292736e8ef the most part, was 6c07e0e866 accurate.89861b9600751096

After all, rumors had a92fb3d3d0 spread that the slave 482b7a376d woman who had claimed a4c5a2ef43 the position of the deedd67b3d duke’s fiancée still hadn’t 4729dd6e3a received the engagement token.1e59979f847e6f9b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So the emperor ordered d2ebc038e1 Lucien to investigate Inez’s a96c629880 background.03a61ecccf7e7835

‘Find out how that girl managed to access such sensitive palace information.’da3d9e2b835bb110

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And they uncovered something 7784db34a9 quite surprising.0f3ea9585223e5a2

When she first entered 8d30f453e4 the palace, Inez had 53ee54997a volunteered as a maid 21f3bebbbd for the princess.5bcc14e423315628

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Of course, because c9ce1a8d6e she wasn’t of d5a6ee9801 noble birth, she 523876997f couldn’t become an ca91656883 official attendant, but aaac835b2d the princess suffered 9a197dcacc from a chronic 8b0d3f215e illness that made e849093854 daily life difficult. Few stayed by her side.1034f1e5eb1f576e

Inez had filled that vacancy.aca91149d77664d5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The princess, though unable to b278fba8f7 function well in daily life, 5da8397abe had an unusual ability—she never 4156638717 forgot anything she saw or 3203a99a96 heard.60aa3ba664d002cf

And Inez had 71220aa26a been the only 2e32a77d33 one to notice 51ef4de020 that gift.e738d5e66c7f6a0f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘You’ve been spending time with the princess, I hear.’05487c3601267379

Once, the emperor had asked 7639fa8f58 her that during one of 72848e5491 her visits to the palace.9f5eb43594933d35

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Perhaps because no 51efde7e74 one else ever cd5195298b spoke to her, e7bfd0f223 she blushed and a79b96d4f3 answered, moved by b17364e1d5 his attention.559b0ee8a3cd4cc9

‘Her Highness seemed lonely… If she’s willing, I thought perhaps I could keep her company…’6e1ce1844bb48ed5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That was what Inez said.938377078cca48ac

She even added softly, ‘She looked somehow like me.’ She may not have realized Lucien had heard even that whispered comment.14c195ea42185a1d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At the time, 4284d81550 both the emperor 9413bc22ac and Lucien had 91141d976d been highly suspicious 166870a8aa of Inez as 317ac610f2 someone belonging to d97bb7741a the duke.b9a3eb36e8eee099

Yet still, something about her—being 2f1e2bef50 a slave of the ducal abb2b5c4f3 house and yet spending time d7b4c2b984 with the detached, distant princess—felt 9113a77d13 tragically similar. It stirred a strange pity cabecd8269 in them.067fd65de4d36c80

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Lucien could never forget 946d15de23 the first time he 0a6b43a2a9 met her.6209ecdc2ad40501

He had gone to 6a8f9d97e4 visit the princess, and 570bd71468 by chance, saw the fc4b86c5ee two of them spending c17ce9cda4 time together.b6f039e3dd598f0f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘So she can smile like that too…’bc8a0aab7fdbd400

The woman who always 9ee4e5340d looked imprisoned in jewels e3499865a6 and lavish dresses was 38b39d0cb6 now laughing like a e3d73a9d5f girl.27fb5d4563fc07fc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

An emotion he db7b782f69 couldn’t name tightened b051bfa4e4 in his throat.4cde96bcf6df07b7

‘And that duke… plans to use and discard a woman like her?’fcb92107c554ff61

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Something about her situation filled 5c4d5cc355 him with anger he couldn’t 5557707bf9 explain.6e9ddb36d96e0714

Everyone knew Inez e64467e4be followed and loved 3614178795 the duke more f9445fd945 devotedly than anyone.f3912fe411e8d341

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The duke—who rarely thought f28a48f213 of anything beyond his e9da775d71 own matters—had stirred something 3aab50d740 in him. A desire surged within 24ef3be7c2 Lucien to take that caddabefdb woman away from him.536719a209a8531f

He knew it was a 3f1c427d52 feeling he had no right cc3412f640 to hold.f1070eaeb88cb345

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She had stolen 46b5bf978f imperial secrets and d2517f37bc delivered them to 128cf5e70b the duke. In truth, she felt more dec095f69f like his rival than the 519c8b6420 duke himself did.71df9c1b31cbb013

‘Fool.’977734e3d253d8b5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That strange sensation—the one that 8a945c2276 left him parched—had made Lucien eecbcebdb9 turn away without another word.c8b7b32729bcb897

And yet.b466f3d141d8ee80

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

To think that a7d8ccd1bd very woman was 83b650cbc4 the only key 661f825316 capable of strangling 920763c27d the duke’s throat.3011cdf4c852a9fb

An inexplicable thrill coursed through ab820b6b4a his entire body.7b6276d9e26ac1e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Lucien realized he was 3447ab281c smiling without meaning to.3faa6a4a73bbac5b

Now he had a reason.b77b2dd8ceab4f29

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A perfectly acceptable 76f97f69fd justification to take 1602384c5f her for himself.70eb34da06c8071c

“What are you thinking?”1a8a60ff265e51fd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The emperor stared at cc098b7ea0 his son with unwavering 8285317861 eyes.169ed0611ae4ff06

At those words, Lucien quickly db8abf12b7 buried the possessiveness that had 0308d22b52 momentarily consumed him, as if 9589a591d3 it were nothing.1de508ed168330e9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He turned to the emperor 11c3583b06 with his usual calm, composed, 9f5b5bb32d and austere expression.fe13b1c8272b8645

“The duke is like a snake.”51369bb9d92469d9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was the emperor’s way d707331e25 of asking: Are you ready?e064ead3b5e2e2f0

Lucien wiped the 8664b7d6b3 smile completely from d532ef20c4 his face.fae8f66910b58826

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His cold gaze and tightly 4d5e52115e sealed lips now mirrored the 3fe9c10182 very image of imperial blood.7f6dfeda4cfcf034

“I will make that dragon kneel before me.”3c92868036173867

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Lucien’s voice fell like 35996f796a a chill.4819c204da9bb1f7

“Win that woman’s heart. After this treaty matter is 1523994089 over, the duke may try 33175d97d4 to kill her. You must get 6cc33c9c7f to her before 33bd3bf812 then.”eb744521838a0456

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, Your Majesty.”db7d2787a6833964

Silently, Lucien recalled fc9b07fe82 the first day 44fed11934 he had met 64ef5c8790 her.d34927d8116925bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The woman they had searched 56510cd9fb for all this time— Who a6ea2e88b6 would have thought she would ccaf9251c0 be right there, in the 6ba48394dc heart of enemy territory.812195e09ec0d270

* * *f7afd1713b6d0e8e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

From the day 7b5c3fc073 she met Violet, d8a4107975 Inez decided she 31f956dc3c would no longer 844ec6576f cling to the 59c201147e duke.8c08aea8ce1abfa7

She wanted to leave 9a81cedb1e his side.d8843d1e699ad726

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She couldn’t live as his 1642b491d1 slave any longer.7465d13009088417

When she was first captured 6fc0ff11c1 and brought in as a c880b4e864 child, she had tried to a40842aca1 escape countless times.b247bacf8b77e2ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As a young and 02f80175dd frail slave, there was 20fc82a8c8 no way she could 43991836bb have succeeded.d962f1ba625b93ec

Until the duke began 586438d77b to keep her close 7fb2af6068 in earnest, Inez had 07572eb043 constantly made attempts to efdf77b76b run.52a38c32003a304d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At some point, she b8bf9b38fa had given up trying 31d3ee8b63 to escape… but perhaps 541d165787 because it was such 17b0fa2b7e a long time ago, abeeea8b3f she could no longer 786abf5858 recall what had made 404c0f8862 her stop.e478c4f9ce9d6896

“I’m just returning to the past. Doing what I always 8ec3d28b77 meant to do.”3b78b2646da82c21

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But this time, it fa70df1430 was different.54694d653bb5f7f0

She was no longer ff02ba6653 a child blindly trying 8a41d19478 to run away.6b79210480f7f703

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sitting quietly in her 3c4ef3201e shabby room, she considered e3cabe127a her next steps.76c065e65d6247e4

“I need to figure out just how closely the duke is watching me.”6fd80553bdf503a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If she was going to e918164d3b plan an escape, she had 186ac248db to do it thoroughly.f57f6d52628f70e6

Without being caught, without d960e3fe0d being tracked.da0c21b9c3f37acc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

First, she wanted to know 65f05b57c0 exactly how far she was 1731939349 allowed to move freely.74c669e250585737

Until now, she d3799c77d3 had always obeyed 6481705ca1 him without resistance—but 9ee5ff8884 she no longer 2f05c381ea wanted to live 3bbb0494ba by his word.4f975723c3597f22

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She quietly stood up bf807fc048 from her seat.2de04c632b436a99

“Are you going out?”7267f9363b450043

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Immediately, the maid 6fce20539e Becky followed after 5450a26a95 her.7e79c81ddad75384

Though the duke had ade6364d7b assigned Becky to her 9dd80079d3 under the pretense of 4cda892515 being a personal maid 8df20655ab for his fiancée, in 90afd45d5a truth, she was a e5fa1fe43b watchdog.068e5a6dd72252ea

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Only recently had Inez realized 5cc74abc8e that Becky reported her every 664da914e6 move to the duke.3878347c2bfdb5f7

So she deliberately 3d7dd99889 let Becky know 19df256930 she was going 3b130b1ecc out.15463b7074c7d30e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She wanted to test the e0d4db22c2 extent of the surveillance—how long 58fc0d2946 it would take for the f6ed554ef8 duke’s people to react.638bfdba7490c67a

“My body feels stiff. I just wanted to take 3e73945274 a short walk.”aeacc0df06378e67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You, miss?”461e89154c126189

Becky’s eyes went wide.4bce07eedf3b2ce1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Well, Inez had always 0e374798e6 stayed shut in her f36a641e1d room, only moving when a5f13e5cfe the duke summoned her, acd46d87b9 so Becky’s surprise was 172dedb7c4 understandable.8789925d65eb467d

“What? Am I not allowed to c1aabf064e go out?”854c54d359ac39dd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“N-no, that’s not it, but…”907409cb09db5a8d

“I’ll be back soon.”5c1ca90a5401e87f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Becky’s hesitating glance said she fa788a3728 would soon run off to 26abaa5490 the duke.2086a18fc19989b8

Leaving her behind, Inez quickly f5e2a87815 stepped outside.7aed80c20c45c948

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She strolled near the 9484093e0a garden, then headed toward 701d2194e4 the rear gate. As she approached, intending 196e5a6433 to slip out that de3ba179e2 way, she was immediately 97d05fc9b8 stopped by the duke’s ed81ed1498 knights and summoned before 411e7c469b him.5c9a1599fdefbeb9

To Inez, it was almost a97b8630a8 amusing.4585c4fbaa9effc8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When she actually ad2ec296d0 wanted to see b9e939ba8b him, he was bdcb2e9d17 nowhere to be 40ac865044 found—but the moment 28d92a7069 she tried to 1b01883021 leave, he appeared 9f1bcae7f3 so easily. It was ridiculous.0aa7beaf8462601d

She stood before the 2df813f7e9 duke in his office.b71bfc7e75ab7c59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He was busy writing 377cf1caf5 with a quill but b03cf5bd2c raised his eyebrows when 6aa22aa526 he saw her. Then he lifted his d8fb48ca01 face to meet her fd2bd7e330 eyes.8fd25a2ac7ff3cf8

He had never 93f59696eb looked her in b8f4f29a84 the eyes before.a41bfcac108a18ff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Were you trying to leave the estate just now?”c6327e4cebff095d

She gave the 285fbf6026 excuse she had 0875f0f539 prepared.bcaa1ea3f69557cc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was fine—she’d already df4af6b381 told Becky, after all.bffb34bfccdaa044

“I just wanted to take a walk.”35290f9c835f2905

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What?”17d6d822235cac97

The duke’s expression twisted again.fa50afcc369d0649

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seeing so many different sides 1a371ba065 of Echion’s face was strangely 5d8bbc599d new, so Inez said nothing 6faa7a46f3 more.ffdd511bbcde01c8

“But you tried to leave through the back gate? If it was just a f08c596752 walk?”c96df327e92a112a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I can’t take a walk outside the estate? Or am I 6720483f44 not allowed to 5df1543900 go out at 594e08e636 all?”35f88f0483c238b7

With wide eyes, 45c0636b78 she asked him. Echion let out an 9014276aeb incredulous sigh.d46c42b7d60a7923

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In truth, she wasn’t 58ef61fb51 even allowed outside—and had 8ced68463b always been under surveillance.fbf67864ec68f8ff

Inez was deeply disappointed, 3e66c70da3 not just by the af4028e884 fact that she was 75e41d0d34 being watched, but because fc462da3c7 she truly had no c9fc5d03a9 freedom to go anywhere d821d65399 on her own. Still, she forced a smile.60d94258767baedb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The duke was fb3f41b2f3 monitoring her more 795011cf93 thoroughly than she 06816d33bf had expected.3b32374591f5ca1e

Unfortunately, that was the reality.c0b51259e33dc889

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The title of 45197ec7b1 fiancée was just c712bf5ce3 a facade. She was nothing more, 685deb4496 and nothing less, than 2895f10457 a slave.eb1bfd3076c37ed3

Thinking that made her ceede9aafe want to leave even d026a9b223 more.8d27d03e5f67bab7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Inez. Always remember your place.”b25eec75adbc083e

The duke, perhaps no a103cb231b longer wanting to continue 76b26aca8e the conversation, put down 6f6376b193 his quill and changed dfab049d22 the subject.983750292b95cf85

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At those words, Inez 5351ce2f92 knew she had to a944614914 devise a proper escape 1c11be9a9d plan.bc69e7492188095f

Preferably timed with a395fb1b95 a day she 1f15c05457 would be allowed cfc63a38f1 out—like one of 3bc4054cae her visits to fea2cd98e2 the palace.6e82e32ac702974b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But then, an ff42236032 unexpected opportunity arose.ea47b2c1f31d31dc

“Get ready. We’re going to the palace.”8f89fe63f6e1b2cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Excuse me?”f970cc52075930c5

She had expected him to 33d99b5d72 scold her further.050f19c9576f1242

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The sudden turn cc99fc8033 of events took bafed2a952 her by surprise.7b5d5ef0fc36236f

And so suddenly?32f4d6de6115e13a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“To the palace. With me.”f0fca6a23c0f34ff

Again, Inez was caught off c86f713d52 guard.11059f98537eeb91

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“With Your Grace? Together?”175a190f934063a5

She had never 7cdfb2551f once entered the 770003f645 palace alongside the 4494344014 duke, so she 3931eeb7b4 asked with puzzled 97e0dfdad9 eyes.a264affdf097738a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’ve been asking a lot of questions lately.”490c91548eec4f06

“…Ah.”998f16bd35e2fd86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Still, it made her curious.066bb7ba8745ca61

Why the sudden change?7c57e5f7508c33b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had always treated 9132cd4128 her like she was 21bca2f6e4 nothing.7530e1450ada171b

“The emperor invited us both to a luncheon. Who knows? Maybe this time 3da792d048 you’ll actually get 07b804ba2f the job done. Now get ready.”2c59361b0128e235

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley