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00:00they threw my sister into a great basin filled with pearls her massive tail glowed blue in the
00:04dark the soldiers potted her body with filthy hands blue scales scattered everywhere they did
00:09not stop not until they cut open her belly not until they reached inside her not until they
00:15tore out the glowing tide pearl hidden within her only then were they satisfied because high
00:19consort celine had heard a rumor that in the southern sea lived the tide born and that every
00:24tide saint carried a legendary tide pearl inside her body a pearl that if embedded within one's
00:28own flesh would grant a beauty that never fades after hearing that celine could think of nothing
00:34else so emperor lucian sent soldiers to slaughter my people just to make her smile they dragged my
00:39sister out cut her open and stole her pearl that day the sea turned red everywhere i looked my people
00:46were floating in the water their bodies split open i hid beneath a reef shaking in silence blood stung
00:53my eyes my tears fell as pearls each one red with hatred and in my ear i could still hear
00:59my sister's
00:59last words mira live the world was told a lie they thought the sea only birthed one heart for my
01:05people they didn't know about me the shadow the spare but they were wrong this generation had two
01:12and one of them was me the one born with a body made to ruin men the one whose flesh
01:17and blood could
01:17raise a thousand brood curses i crawled onto the shore enduring pain so savage it felt like my bones
01:23were being torn apart then i used forbidden blood craft to split my tail into legs i offered my own
01:28flesh and blood as tribute and raised brood curse after brood curse venomous things worms spiders serpents
01:36all feeding on me until one black snake slithered over my wrist its tongue bright red it devoured every
01:43other creature i had raised thousands of them and became the brood king its name was shade from that
01:49moment on i trained without mercy three months later my broodcraft was complete then i made my way to the
01:55capital alone half starved still alive i disguised myself as a court dancer and entered the palace
02:03and with a pouch of blood stained pearls made from my own tears i bought the one thing i needed
02:08most
02:09information on emperor lucian's whereabouts that night moonlight spilled across the lake like silver
02:14i stepped onto the water and danced each touch of my toes sent ripples of pale light across the surface
02:21my scent drifted into the night air sweet soft impossible to ignore soon butterflies came in
02:28swarms drawn to me as if enchanted they circled my body fluttering around me refusing to leave
02:35and emperor lucian stood there watching watching for so long he forgot to hide it when the dance
02:41ended i turned by chance and met his eyes i froze then quickly bent down to put on my shoes
02:47pretending
02:48i had only just noticed him i was about to leave when his voice stopped me you're one of the
02:53palace
02:54dancers that dance was remarkable and yet i've never seen it before i lowered my eyes and answered as if
03:00i did
03:00not know who he was it is a dance from my homeland very few have ever seen it it was
03:07early spring the
03:08wind off the lake was cold my body trembled lightly in the night air he noticed of course he noticed
03:14so
03:15he removed his pale silver robe and draped it over my shoulders himself gently for a moment i looked up
03:21at him in surprise heat rose to my face a blush where he could see it my scent deepened between
03:26us turning
03:27the silence softer warmer more dangerous and i saw it then that flash in his eyes wonder desire he
03:36steadied himself before speaking again selena loves dance her birthday is approaching you will perform
03:42this dance for her i dropped to my knees at once letting fear flood my face i did not know
03:47it was your
03:48majesty please forgive me he waved the apology aside rise you are forgiven just do not disappoint me
03:55i bowed my head and accepted the command but as i watched him walk away i moved one finger just
04:02once
04:02a tiny broodling slipped through the air landed against his skin and burrowed inside by the next
04:08morning the whole inner court had heard the story the emperor had encountered a dancer by the lake
04:13and he had not forgotten her then came a knock at my door when i opened it an older palace
04:19matron stood
04:19outside a stranger and i knew at once someone had already come for me they brought me before high
04:26consort selene inside her palace hall she sat alone on a raised dais draped in silk and jewels shining
04:32like a woman who believed the world belonged to her it was her the woman who had destroyed my people
04:37for a single tied pearl the woman who had my sister cut open the moment she saw me disgust twisted
04:44across
04:44her face she let out a soft mocking laugh and covered her mouth with lacquered fingers this ugly
04:50thing and you expect her to dance for me before coming here i had covered my face in dark blotches
04:56spots imperfections a mask made of ugliness selene was viciously jealous if she had seen my real face
05:04now i would not have walked out alive so i knelt in the center of the hall my fingers digging
05:09into my
05:09palms forcing down the hatred clawing up my throat your grace i will dance with a veil over my face
05:16i will not offend your eyes she gave me a lazy wave oh enough with a face like that i
05:22doubt you could
05:22stir trouble even if you tried but since this was his majesty's idea i'll allow it the palace matron
05:29beside her led me out at once and just as i stepped through the doors i saw emperor lucien approaching
05:34our eyes met for only a moment only a glance but the face he saw now was nothing like the
05:40one he had
05:40seen by the lake still my scent gave me away it always would he knew at once this disguise was
05:46a
05:47way to stay alive because if selene had seen my face the woman leaving this hall would have been a
05:51corpse at that thought lucien's expression darkened he frowned and for one of the few times in his life
05:58real irritation towards selene stirred in him i smiled faintly to myself that was enough a single
06:04seed of displeasure was all i needed once planted it would take root in his heart it would grow quietly
06:11slowly until it became something vast enough to swallow all his old devotion and when that day came
06:17what would all her favor matter then the higher selene stood the harder i would make her fall back in
06:23my
06:23chamber i washed the false blotches from my face and looked at myself in the mirror selene you wanted
06:29a beauty that would never fade you wanted a body born to seduce you wanted to possess what should
06:34never have been yours so i will make sure everything you wanted everything you stole everything you still
06:40cling to turns to nothing then shade slid soundlessly around my wrist his red tongue flicking against the
06:46air i stroked his small black head and whispered even in death i will find you i will hunt you
06:54down
06:55selene's birthday was celebrated with extravagant splendor overnight the imperial lake bloomed with
07:01lotus flowers thousands of them the court called it a blessing an omen of favor from the heavens
07:08at the lakeside lucien stood hand in hand with selene
07:13your majesty promised me a birthday gift when will you show it to me lucien gave a slight nod the
07:20music
07:20began and i stepped onto the lake onto lotus leaves as if the flowers were blooming beneath my feet
07:29my scent rose again into the air and the butterflies came back in waves they swarmed around me dancing with
07:37me beneath the moonlit sky everyone watching fell silent no one except selene her fingers digging hard
07:44into her own palm then as i turned the veil slipped from my face and my true face was revealed
07:50i looked
07:51straight at selene just once i saw it in her eyes at once jealousy so sharp by the time the
07:58dance ended
07:59no one had recovered enough to speak i walked forward and knelt before lucien
08:05my name is mira i offer my wishes to high consort selena on her birthday may your majesty and your
08:11grace remain devoted to each other until your hair turns white and may the auric empire flourish without
08:16any rise
08:21you did not disappoint me selene nearly cracked a tooth from smiling too hard your majesty's gift
08:28i like it very much i'm glad
08:34that tiny broodling i had planted in him by the lake was working now quietly twisting his moods
08:39i curled one finger ready to draw it back your majesty why not grant this beauty to me as a
08:48gift
08:48between our two kingdoms that is the crown prince of vair the man stepped forward through the crowd
08:54he carried himself like someone used to being obeyed he saluted lucien with the ease of an equal
08:59i greet your majesty i am prince cassian of vair then his gaze settled on me openly without shame
09:08if your majesty is willing to give this beauty to me i swear our two kingdoms will not see war
09:15for a hundred years the moment he said it the whole court seemed to draw in a breath
09:20a century of peace in exchange for one palace dancer one woman to everyone watching it was an
09:26impossible bargain to refuse your majesty for a girl like her to be sent to vair as a prince's consort
09:34would already be a splendid fate lucien said nothing but i could see it in his face he understood the
09:40trade sacrifice one insignificant woman and two kingdoms stay at peace any ruler should have taken
09:46it any ruler would have taken it so why i lifted my face and looked at him quietly i had
09:53painted a
09:53floral marking at the corner of my eyes it made me look softer lucien's expression shifted like something
10:00sharp had gone through him then he said it you're late prince she's already been claimed she belongs
10:06to my bed and my throne celine turned to him so fast it was almost violent your majesty
10:12she could barely believe what she had heard cashen looked at me for one long moment regret flashed
10:18across his face then he gave a faint disappointed smile and stepped back the matter was over for everyone
10:24else not for me by then my back was already damp with cold sweat too close far too close thank
10:32the
10:32sea i had not pulled the broodling out of lucien yet if i had there was every chance i would
10:37have been
10:38handed over tonight because peace bought that easily without a single soldier marching without a single
10:43blade drawn is the kind of peace no emperor refuses except this one did in broad daylight before the
10:50whole court lucien declared that i already belonged to him and that very night the imperial decree
10:56arrived i was officially raised to consort i left the small quarters where palace dancers were kept
11:01and looked back only once at the dim roof the narrow door the life i had entered under a false
11:07name and
11:08a hidden face then i swore to myself in silence that everything done to my sister and everything done to
11:14my people would be repaid a hundredfold when i reached the palace chambers that had just been
11:20assigned to me celine was already there waiting her eyes traveled over my face slowly then she smiled
11:27a poisonous smile so you dared lie to me i met her gaze if i hadn't lied to you do
11:35you really think
11:36i would have lived long enough to dance today celine let out a soft laugh she stroked the cat in
11:41her arms as if nothing in the world could disturb her so you do understand me then perhaps you also
11:47understand this even if his majesty has seen your face even if he's given you a title i can still
11:55kill
11:55you whenever i please i just looked at her so have you already chosen how i die yes a fire
12:04in the palace
12:05consort mirror trapped inside a tragic accident she tilted her head i have been with the emperor
12:11since we were young my father and brother have shed blood for his throne for a single life like yours
12:19he will not blame me her people moved before i could answer they seized my arms bound my wrists
12:26bound my ankles then threw me to the floor oil was splashed all around me across the walls across the
12:33drapes
12:33across the threshold i could smell it instantly celine stood over me watching waiting then the
12:40first spark fell as the flames caught she laughed his majesty is drunk tonight there is no one in this
12:47palace who can save you then she turned and walked away i watched her go without a flicker on my
12:53face
12:53no fear no pleading nothing only stillness then the fire rose and the guards outside began clawing at
13:01their throats one by one they dropped blood pouring from their mouths their eyes their noses dead before
13:08they hit the ground i stepped out through the flames with shade coiled in my arms at my feet the
13:14insects
13:15on the ground shifted and swarmed guiding me so i ran through the smoke through the heat following their
13:22path until i slammed straight into someone's chest i looked up at the man i had crashed into
13:26it was lucian there was still fear in my eyes real enough to be seen my lashes were wet my
13:33tears
13:33trembled there but i would not let them fall lucian pulled me into his arms at once held me tight
13:39then
13:39he looked past me toward the blaze raging in the distance who dared set a fire inside my palace find
13:47out
13:47now i stayed curled against his chest and said nothing because he was not a fool he knew exactly who
13:54had done
13:54it this outrage this fury this order to investigate it was a performance nothing more celine had been
14:02with him since youth their bond ran deep and behind her stood house baron with soldiers power and years
14:09of service to the throne why would an emperor truly punish a woman like that for the sake of a
14:14dancer he
14:14had only just taken notice of he wouldn't not yet so i leaned into him harder and made myself small
14:21in his arms
14:21your majesty i'm frightened lucian really had been drinking his face was faintly flushed his breath
14:30carried the warmth of wine and i was exactly the kind of woman a drunken man should never hold too
14:35close i had been born with a body that unraveled restraint and with the broodling still working
14:40inside him the desire in his eyes began to change slowly then all at once it caught fire without another
14:47word he swept me up into his arms and carried me back to his private chambers i rested against him
14:53and said nothing but in my mind i was already waiting for the next move because once word reached celine
15:00that i had escaped the fire and been carried into lucian's bedchamber she would never let it pass
15:05quietly i knew her too well and i was right i had not been in his chambers long before celine's
15:11chief
15:12eunuch dropped to his knees outside your majesty high consort selena is unwell she's in distress
15:19she says she wants to see you at once by then i was dressed in gauze so sheer it hit
15:25almost nothing
15:25i looked at lucian through half-lidded eyes and asked in a soft voice your majesty are you going to
15:32high consort selena tonight his gaze was no longer clear no longer steady he stared at me like a man
15:38already half lost with you here beside me why would i think of anyone else i covered my mouth
15:43and let out a quiet laugh there were only two of us in the chamber just him and me lucian
15:50kept
15:50staring at me spellbound his breath was hot against my throat damp and heavy with wine then without
15:57warning his body gave in and he sank in to sleep on his forehead a small fleshy pink broodling was
16:04still wriggling deeper beneath the skin i pushed him gently back onto the bed and pulled the covers
16:09over him careful almost tender i've woven you a beautiful dream enjoy it then i slid the hairpin
16:17from my hair and drove the tip into my fingertip a bright bead of blood welled up at once i
16:22let some
16:22of it stain a handkerchief every drop that remained i fed to lucian none of this poisoned blood should go
16:28to
16:28waste not when i made it with my own body not when even a harmless dose taken once could become
16:34a
16:34death sentence over time a little tonight would do nothing a little tomorrow would do nothing but
16:39enough of it day after day and it would kill him slowly quietly perfectly and the cure there was only
16:47one person in this world who could give it me the moon had crossed high overhead by then silver light
16:53spilled through the window and spread across the floor i sat there and counted the time waiting for
16:59selene to make her move then i heard it a faint skittering at the window i turned a spider no
17:05bigger
17:05than a fingernail crouched on the ledge one of many one of the countless little eyes i had scattered
17:11throughout the palace so she was coming i rose at once smoothed out my robe and walked toward the door
17:17selene was already waiting outside the hall not alone behind her stood a wall of eunuchs and palace
17:23maids packed so tightly it barely looked like a midnight visit at all this was not a jealous woman
17:28coming to reclaim a drunken emperor this looked like a siege i stepped out to meet her and deliberately
17:34swept my hair to one side bearing the fresh red marks along my neck moonlight washed over the stone
17:39steps i stood above her looked down and smiled softly his majesty is asleep
17:47you should come back tomorrow the look she gave me was pure venom her face twisted
17:52whore i'll kill you i let my gaze drop to her stomach then i spoke very gently your grace
18:02careful you might upset the baby that stopped her cold for one full second selene forgot how to breathe
18:10lucian had once promised her this bear him the first prince and he would give her the empress's crown
18:15but five years had passed five years of marriage five years of waiting and her womb had stayed empty
18:22every remedy had been tried every physician every secret healer dragged in from the streets
18:27and still nothing no child no heir no crown if she could not produce the emperor's first son soon
18:34the throne beside him would never be her seethe her drag this bitch away and beat her to death
18:43because i had done the one thing no one else dared do i had named the wound she lived with
18:47named it in
18:48front of everyone and a woman like selene could forgive almost anything except humiliation the eunuchs
18:55lunged for me i shook them off before they could get a proper hold then i looked straight at her
19:00and said
19:01your grace don't be so hasty why not summon the imperial physicians i let the silence stretch
19:06then i gave her the knife one more thing if there really is a child to protect i'm the only
19:12one who
19:13can keep it alive selene was reclining in a side chamber half draped across a cushioned chaise
19:17while several imperial physicians knelt before her she rested her head against one hand her eyes
19:23were heavy with exhaustion when she spoke impatience sharpened every word well am i pregnant or not
19:29the physicians lowered themselves even further your grace your pulse clearly indicates pregnancy
19:37for a moment selene did not move then she rose too quickly from the chaise all disbelief gone from
19:43her face there were tears in her eyes actual tears truly her voice trembled when she said it
19:49careful fragile as if she were afraid even hope might hear her and disappear i watched her quietly and
19:56thought so this is what she looks like this woman who always stood above everyone else who moved
20:02through the palace as if the world owed her obedience even she could become this cautious
20:06this desperate then she looked at me remembering what i had said outside and asked the question she
20:12wanted answered most one physician bowed low and replied at once from the pulse alone there is no sign of
20:20danger that made her smile but the moment her eyes shifted back to me the smile turned murderous i'm
20:28carrying an air now i should avoid bloodshed but you offend my eyes and i would sleep better if you
20:35were dead
20:37with one command the eunuchs at her side rushed forward and seized my arms hard enough to bruise
20:42they started dragging me away i moved one fingertip that was all and selene suddenly clutched her stomach
20:49and cried out in pain the room froze the physicians lunged forward at once and took her pulse again
20:55this time their faces changed one after another their brows nodded then all of them dropped to their
21:02knees your grace spare us these are signs of miscarriage that was when panic finally broke through
21:08selene's face drained white she had waited years for this child years and she had only just heard the
21:14words she wanted most pregnant how could she be losing it already how at last she looked at me
21:21and through clenched teeth she said two words
21:26you come here if you cannot save this child i will wipe out your entire bloodline
21:34i looked at her twisted vicious face and dug my nails hard into my palm
21:38my entire bloodline she really had no idea my people were already dead slaughtered every last
21:45one of them i was the only one who crawled back out of that hell alive the only one left
21:50to come for her i stepped forward and inserted a few needles into her body carefully one point then
21:57another selene's breathing began to slow the strain in her face eased little by little when the physicians
22:03checked her pulse again they found it calm steady the child was safe at least that was what they believed
22:10the truth i knew nothing about medicine and selene was not pregnant not at all that night she came to
22:16burn me alive i had planted a brood curse inside her quietly without her noticing that broodling could mimic
22:23the pulse of pregnancy perfectly it could fool physicians fool the court fool even the mother carrying it
22:29in the later stages it would do even more make her swear she could feel a child turning inside her
22:35while she smiled and dreamed of an air the thing inside her would be feeding
22:38draining her taking what it needed from her body day and night
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