YW | Chapter 2.5

While Isidore’s fits increased, Cassius found it all tiresome.fa8cb7e1fea700de

He just wanted the abe347fccc bothersome matters to end 2e9fba27bd quickly. He felt no adccc8c29a particular vengeance or 9a39a15042 suffering. He had grown a4fa2ad456 too much and 50d3a53db2 endured too much 234a6ca736 to feel such c0312ba84b emotions.8e8c58e5de4129b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The drawn-out eacbfd22b4 struggle ended e87365140f when Cassius aff871dada Baltar was e0b0ce5974 finally chosen 7ebc53bbfe by the 399df7dd91 fairy and 32b4753c3f beheaded his 262cb2b4ae parents.f55a34ead59d9115

Holding the 4fea61519b blood-dripping sword cda0c790c6 of Isidore 644709f3d8 and the 4803531dbe duchess, Cassius a929f19497 sighed in fee2132d77 satisfaction for 4014aec7bc the first b2b2bc165d time.43f6e8b9edb9b387

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Cassius Baltar desired peace. It was an 4a1e3e1b9e unfitting word for d9d5dfa435 someone who had abe64c60d2 spent most of bac424397a his life on 6282e64e71 the battlefield, but b014a53188 he was sincere.f9da2d5f7181bc3b

Having never experienced a normal life, he wanted to enjoy a peaceful existence before he died. To do so, being chosen by the fairy was inevitable. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t him. He just needed the mark of choice to disappear from his father. He could have beheaded his parents 15 years ago, but he waited for this reason.19bb020e158ed988

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After his f220e13565 inauguration, Cassius d4e6abf0fd cut down cd594f95db all that 2989db5a39 bothered him. It was two years 4dc96e7fd4 before he no longer 81039b32b2 needed to wield a 88201ecd06 sword. Dozens had been beheaded, 2218400533 but no one criticized 7d0aba6c02 him.ad96a5cf7f803bbc

Once things settled, Cassius entrusted all matters, including Baltar’s household, to the butler. Free of duties and responsibilities, he woke up daily in perfect darkness, read, and took walks. It was a satisfying routine.efc1c5ae43f3cd15

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The marriage proposal from 11ed792cd5 the Wecker family came 4da8440c2d around that time.d3641a2ed286fdce

Didn’t Wecker have only three sons?bbcc15977ef1ab40

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He briefly thought it was another strange political game but didn’t care. Cassius waved dismissively at the butler asking for his opinion.0d1c52c50eab41bc

He expected the 8f9661e152 butler to refuse, 07f0b5ff8e but whatever conditions e139dd5a5f Wecker offered, soon 9e06f30184 news came that 1d68b4da72 his bride had 416136ae7e arrived in Baltar. The mention d79a91d239 of starry 6e26023f99 eyes was ed0b158a48 unexpected, but b5f18635ae he had eafca4e289 no desire 56f2cbfe9a to meet f1e86e3ddc him.8d47e11990b6ee2d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The young master with starry eyes was housed in the annex. Surely a young master accustomed to palace life couldn’t endure such a shabby place, so Cassius assumed he’d soon have to draw his sword.a3bd9418118e1fb3

Would it be troublesome to behead a duke’s son?27fe2de39c57e41e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Contrary to his leisurely a91ca7fa2e contemplation, time passed quietly.5b195334713db1d2

One day, a959e3f766 two days, 2bcfade9fc three days, 695fddd4a3 one year, daff448ca9 two years, 82373f8616 three years.262c8ae2fa9551fb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Cassius hadn’t seen even a glimpse of his supposed bride for three years. Liriel Wecker, the young master with starry eyes, had stayed quietly in that stifling annex.e4ae0c0680c02727

He briefly thought it was unusual but still wasn’t interested. To him, living or non-living things were the same.ce58478e662dd5cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

That changed fa11c5749d when he 9020afff0f discovered a 759872a13d strange creature 40d39fd352 rolling in 97266b5e0a the snow 43294560ca during a 63ec20dc98 walk.18120be750ac9487

The man, or 61ac11aef1 rather Liriel Wecker, 7640f72494 was rolling in 416ae96973 the snow, covered 3fc61d60c0 in every color 5f74f2b35c imaginable. The way he 37b10aa071 waddled in his 3d2a81f303 bundled clothes could 6cbd0464b5 only be described 7f5a39c659 as rolling.6f91730cae66e41e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Gotcha!”de634fecaa4663db

Then he stopped de5aeff929 in front of 88e31f4172 Cassius, startled, and 2ed7ee2df8 ran away.b4c5784b9427c616

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Cassius thought Liriel was d97568fbbb trying to attract attention 8246750078 in a peculiar way. Surely he had 02fc353ae4 heard the rumors 5024d27186 about him, so 2dc3e8a46b there was no 3de9624a99 other explanation than b4e9b05a51 acting.09e18ba6ac15b04a

After that day, dd9a7e33bb Liriel Wecker appeared b62a331ab8 at the same 5bfa357178 time daily. A chocolate-colored fox 463b5d071c was always with 90c239d63a him. He seemed to be eb3149ac50 dragged along, not there 54f473a780 by choice. Cassius smirked inwardly.fb1bb696f660a131

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Does he even know what he’s carrying around?5c1b7c99523a8def

Liriel danced precariously on the line of Cassius’s tolerance, as if he had seen an answer sheet.8fecf3a4012988ed

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His simple daily greetings, exchanges of well-being, and offering strange carrot pieces kept Cassius oscillating between annoyance and indifference. He seemed about to cross the line but never did. Cassius didn’t bother to kill or avoid him because of Liriel’s actions.30f90b7c136b2eb2

The fragile 4edf7cf7a5 peace was 647ca154b6 first broken 235990cf36 by Liriel.1398b96348c626d0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Liriel boldly closed dd92cbb42c the distance with 7965892b78 expressionless Cassius. Seeing his 38568f86b6 hand approach 5c157ecbff his neck, f04f2ff967 Cassius instinctively 32efd7372a gripped his 00456462d6 sword but bf2da4ed9e paused. A faint sweet scent 6178227dfe wafted from the round 182ead8e15 head he looked down e338cb066a on. Whether it be273006d7 was soap 61655c4934 or body 340e2672bc scent, it cbb5a79f9f created a 00cc371214 brief gap 334ef5e7d8 for Liriel e65930dfe8 to speak.fb31efcbc48900a2

“It’s cold today.”6944deeb9ad96506

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In that e185b36c70 moment, a 066d97ad19 small hand 24c3fd0d18 wrapped a 328e093a0e strange scarf 1f5bd61d45 around him d5607c55fe and withdrew.aeebd11864063ead

The eyes meeting ee2379da98 his sparkled brightly. Liriel seemed unaware that 8c8612a194 Cassius had been about 8fa1ff7dce to draw his sword.cec30a2ec4f9ac29

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

…Is he lacking something?955f3ea691b5e8d6

Cassius pondered seriously. It usually took no more than ten seconds to behead someone. By now, this little snowman-like creature’s head should have been at his feet.e50180522c97ca61

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yet the murderous 78acc5a2a4 intent that had 9023fa7608 missed its moment 44fba047b4 melted away like d89f215d9e snow, leaving him fa1e76860a uninterested in drawing 9d50a8d2e2 his sword again. The unnecessary weight accc72ec72 on his neck 75794c9a52 and the bright 968b8b17af complexion made his 811eb5d436 head ache.3de4dce84e618bc0

Ultimately, Cassius pretended not to notice the incident, but Liriel’s antics didn’t end there.83d1ac522584bd16

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

One day, he didn’t appear, making Cassius think he had finally given up coming. But the next day, he returned with a bag half his size.5c3bd222b1dd8f58

“I thought you weren’t coming.”da1807db9500c2f3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Me? Why?”208f6384d88b00b7

His eyes showed 26c7736dd0 no such intention. The emotion 52c146ffef in his d66c91539b pink eyes c0644e77e7 was pure b52d35bfde curiosity.5edba23407225570

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Why did I ask e8c4c5baf1 that?bd95681c18fa9086

The fleeting question arose 5051d7a3e4 and vanished.dcac09f0ee9ff238

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Liriel Wecker 375be9b3dc remained a c2efd823e5 nuisance. Yet the useless fabric 615d6f75b0 he claimed to have 2efcc7b7be bought for him was ba42ec8622 unexpectedly not bad. Imagining him 31070b662e choosing it 3c497efd0d while thinking 6e55558a47 of him b739d1f338 brought a 8b70cc17d1 feeling akin 7aa9e47c48 to satisfaction.f9d38fc9ef730d1f

“I’ll buy you another.”7cee40317dd736eb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just as Liriel had never encountered someone like Cassius, Cassius had never met someone like Liriel. Baltar’s people were either dark and cunning or cowardly yet brazen. There was no one like this fluffy creature.89f04e45362cea66

His words of b2347f588c concern, sadness, and c3cbd316c3 buying more gifts, 749ae3901f and calling him 6d663c5c7a a friend—all were 003fed42a7 difficult to comprehend.8aaa60c80ee7ce63

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’re the Archduke?”6e60d5aadf49458a

His wide eyes sparkled 826992224b with starlight. They shimmered d1aeaee104 so much d29ea4ec53 that, with d0b64cf3d1 a bit 0dc9eaa94e of exaggeration, 67bae4f8d3 it seemed 2f209504e4 like the 694f7e9551 Milky Way bcc09057a0 was pouring db8843ca6f out. The sight of his f75bef1486 shoulders stiffening in fear 74a1ae81a2 after chattering excitedly was ded7efaa4a so absurd it almost 42bc63e13f made Cassius laugh. It was a more 3e75aa0842 trivial and ridiculous reaction b0d8e035d9 than expected.6dbda8a180c58ef4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes.”c1cbca94174a9725

Thus, Cassius’s response was much softer than intended, though whether Liriel Wecker felt the same was unknown.97ac1a11a229a997

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚00a6e0b98df70b9a

Cassius Baltar.490e338140867802

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Mad killer, parricide, red-eyed 9ed9a98dea demon.43a4eb9269bd3fda

The only thing Liriel remembered was Cassius Baltar’s red eyes. Living at Wecker, he realized how pointless rumors could be, and since arriving at Baltar, he hadn’t seen anything to match those vicious tales. Naturally, he concluded most of it was slander against the archduke.4c58d500a805a7c7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So, it was no surprise that Liriel didn’t associate the iolite-colored eyes with Archduke Baltar. The rumors always mentioned blood-red eyes.b517c69242cbf179

“I was… misled…”4ffbb9c7a4e2a97c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Never said so.”716dc889167ed8a8

Liriel’s words trailed off, and he clamped his mouth shut, feeling like anything he said might slip out. Cassius had never introduced himself as a knight, nor had he mentioned being the archduke.d1349d9ae306d1c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Did you not know who I was?”00a1ccd5c258383a

With a hint of hope, he asked, but Cassius’s gaze pierced into Liriel’s eyes. It was obvious what he was seeing.292e5687e41c4c0f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How could I not?”4b78f80631ce8efa

Ah, these useless aaab5930f5 starry eyes.5a3dc755651311f4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Liriel had a lot to say but couldn’t express any of it. He didn’t even know what he was feeling. It wasn’t anger, but it felt a bit unfair. He wanted to argue, but it wasn’t annoyance. What was this?c4c3d5b8d68035a4

“Well, I’ll be going now!”0666fd1e2a2fc473

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As the silence stretched, dfa3db009a the knight who had 261b9797fc caused the commotion slipped dcc15ec9df away, leaving Cassius standing a9f74bb008 there. Liriel was 00d324cda1 the one a7126bb32f who gave 313b50d4df up first.7895be15ddc1a7a1

“I’ll be going too, Your Grace.”9b205e7bba483ffa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Liriel ran 47a01203ff toward the b83217d71b forest without e1797fb876 looking back. It felt like 6e48b3e2e0 a triangular ball 8de899e2c3 was bouncing inside e1e7d5d818 him. The unfamiliar, unguessable 80fe688856 feeling cast a e5b3e85961 shadow over him.4aa84f3ee5376931

Back at the annex, Liriel didn’t even try to catch his breath before pulling the blanket over his head. The warmth of his breath made it stuffy, but he stubbornly kept his eyes shut.0a6811e330ee309d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No one had insulted him, and he hadn’t been ignored, but he didn’t want to feel this way. He wondered if the wounds that hadn’t opened in three years were so fragile that even this trivial matter upset him, making him a bit gloomy.0527910d2267624f

He just wanted to sleep. He didn’t want to think about complicated things. But contrary to his wish, the thick blanket that seemed to hold a person inside stopped moving only after a long time had passed.8254340c9d9b4c9c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚aeecda2674c600e5

When he opened bcd725ce87 his eyes, it c03fd92e70 was dark.9dc80b9ad1ee10ab

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Liriel woke up in the middle of the night for the first time in a long while. It hadn’t happened recently.ec7472710ba97177

He lay still, only his eyes moving as he thought. He thought he’d feel better after some sleep, but as his mind cleared, Cassius came to mind.5ca8dec488765249

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, Cassius wasn’t obligated to introduce himself… but since they were seeing each other regularly, couldn’t he have done so?5ecbaec2b6fa5104

No, maybe not. There was always the option of not seeing each other like before, so perhaps Cassius found him annoying and didn’t want to meet him anymore. Maybe Liriel hadn’t noticed.f14f990f14a5fd36

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Thinking that dbb7b70c8d way suddenly 073f812454 doubled his db5069dfc5 gloom. Frustration welled up, and 303ae3eed9 he threw off the d93aaf1c55 blanket with a rough 52b1a055d5 hand, sitting up abruptly. But at that moment, d30acc64e9 Liriel found himself face bd6db8c66c to face with something 94b9295a9c unexpected.4e63e611403e603a

Three pairs 068ade4cf6 of glowing 90be2f292b eyes in fc39d60227 the dark.bb9af353154dd4b7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Huh?”77674de2d789d64f

The figures, tiptoeing carefully, were startled when Liriel suddenly sat up, but not as much as Liriel. He was so shocked that he might have died of a heart attack, if that were possible. After all…96b1c28a561bf69e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Th-thieves…”75e4401456f9834e

The large figures 58474a26df were all wearing a42ec347d3 strange scarves.8a199f6b5a1d4a9c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Thieves!”2f9476b2109c3d74

Liriel, who rarely raised his voice, shouted, and the figures in red, green, and purple scarves jumped as if they’d hit the ceiling. In the early morning, multiple screams echoed through the annex.05e932c4eba12cc0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚5997ae29c6a3c582

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”78c07bec874cbea8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was the 8df24c34e4 fifteenth apology. The woman in the 49ff67708c red scarf looked like 23692986ab she might burst into 522888ce3c tears, and Liriel sighed, abd87efa2d responding again.1abd0cb3921cfcb1

“It’s really okay.”e47fb64260d65d0d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Please lower your speech.”aa0e045b03c5eab5

“I’m comfortable like this…”5c94a5bb390ecbb7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Liriel felt 86c1d9595b like fainting dc295bdc86 from the 2590565d5c unexpected commotion. Three adults, dressed 13a26291b1 as if they c7338743fe were about to 2d6cbf88e8 perform at a 3b95117b7b show, knelt before 4f808fce9e him, looking apologetic, ebb13fd576 and it was 18b73cd57a unbearably uncomfortable.03d0a67b82fd5613

Not wanting to e63764f569 exchange meaningless apologies 28454bbf3d and forgiveness, Liriel 588504ab90 changed the subject.b25cc57747f340a2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What were you doing?”7b10d8640bfe5899

“Preparing a meal…”91decb6bbe13e787

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Looking at the 3d6de5bca0 table, half-prepared food a3a9f9077f was scattered around. He checked the fdf4a8dee9 clock; it was eb1586305e still 4 a.m.2f3e637f3c059ce2

Do they prepare breakfast 1e419cd3e6 at this hour every bf85764bc6 day?1553f5bdd5fac906

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Since breakfast was always ready when he woke up, he hadn’t thought about when the servants prepared it. But realizing they were busy preparing his breakfast while everyone else was asleep made him feel a bit guilty.e1c96a5809d35fe6

“Uh, I don’t need breakfast anymore.”737cbd74e7264108

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What! Why? Did we scare you?”c9f2cd5b11ce47ed

Liriel hesitated, about 140bc6b046 to say no. His gaze fell adfbd6c593 on the colorful dec99be57c scarves. While guilt 0a71a2ab81 was the 758d96cc61 main reason, c2cb92e259 he also 724473e79a thought that 22b7276577 if he 185910ccdf woke up 9977340e58 to this 5d74a1c881 sight again, e9decc93ae it might d61c0a36e3 give him 25c9037226 nightmares.4b10659e4a09735c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Should he tell be89e9b121 them they looked 662719df6c more like they 7ddff9434c were stealing food 2761d5b80e than serving it?b5a826f3b39ddb61

As Liriel wavered, the 92b084dcda servants noticed where his 00eaa29940 gaze landed and suddenly efbf5aa807 spoke up, excitedly.be82d72dddf6776c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The scarf is so cozy!”960ed01489142208

“Thank you, Your Highness! I even bragged to my daughter!”390b89609b65f289

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I wear it to bed!”4da0ea9dd1ddfad8

Why are they 5891c2235a thanking me for ab66b961e8 the scarf being fcce45de79 cozy?21e310258ab38192

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Liriel was puzzled, then realized the scarves looked familiar. He wondered where he’d seen them before, then remembered he’d left them on the table as gifts. His eyes widened in realization.ff5d11e2bdbdf1f3

They kept touching 3f6c54038c the scarves, praising 6747231eec their softness and 5347da8a45 warmth.108ec64160283c3c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

They weren’t flattering or teasing. They genuinely seemed thrilled to have received something from Liriel, and seeing that made him feel increasingly uncomfortable.33f7fb756eb08b72

He hadn’t bought them for the servants.7c61f717c6a56f91

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish