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00:00My mom was a beautiful lunatic.
00:02Thomas, the man I called my father, was the only one who didn't despise him.
00:08To everyone else, he was the perfect husband.
00:12One day, a company of armed riders stormed into our village.
00:17My mother suddenly came back to her senses.
00:20The next morning, Thomas was found dead in the river, and my mother was gone with those men.
00:25Everyone in the village cursed her.
00:27They said she was cruel, shameless, heartless.
00:32They didn't know it was me who took them off.
00:34And it was me who killed my father.
00:37Through the crack in the door, I saw my father walk out, fastening his belt.
00:43He looked thoroughly satisfied.
00:45I quickly crawled back onto my flower sacks.
00:49A second later, he kicked my door.
00:52Go heat some water. Wash your mother.
00:53I didn't dare say a word, scrambling up to boil some water.
00:58Doubt their room was filled with a sickening smell.
01:01Doubt my mother lay uncovered in the disheveled bathing, motionless, her eyes fixed blankly on the ceiling.
01:08If you didn't know better, you'd think she was dead.
01:11Doubt my chest tightened.
01:12I couldn't bear to look at her again.
01:16Her arms and neck were pale and smooth, but the intimate parts of her body were covered in bruises.
01:23Father would never let anyone know what he did to her, how he used her to satisfy his lust.
01:29I poured hot water into the basin and mixed it to the right temperature.
01:33Then I dipped in a rough cloth and carefully wiped her body.
01:37The moment I touched the bruises between her legs, she seemed to wake up all at once.
01:43She cried out and curled up, refusing to let me touch her again.
01:47Her cries kept out of the room.
01:50I panicked and kept gesturing at her.
01:52Mother, don't cry. Don't cry.
01:54If father hears you, he'll be again.
01:57Just then, the sound of chopping came from the yard.
02:00One hit after another.
02:03Each one felt like it was striking my heart.
02:06Her eyes filled with pure terror, and she instantly fell dead silent.
02:11The courtyard gate creaked open.
02:15Thomas, how's your wife?
02:16He let out a practiced, bitter laugh.
02:19It's so hot out. I wanted to give her a sponge bath, but she's throwing a tantrum and won't let
02:23me.
02:24Martha sighed in sympathy.
02:26Oh, you have it so hard.
02:28She gestured to his work.
02:30What are you building there?
02:31His voice sounded sickeningly innocent.
02:34She won't sit still, so I made her a chair.
02:38It'll make washing her easier.
02:40Martha praised him right away.
02:42You treat your wife so well.
02:45It's a shame she understands none of it.
02:47Inside, mother and I both shuddered.
02:51It wasn't an ordinary chair.
02:54It had buckles on the armrests and the back.
02:57We had several strange things like that at home.
02:59All hidden in the back room.
03:01All supposedly made just for her.
03:04A stool for her leaving herself.
03:06A wooden horse.
03:08A wooden swing.
03:09All supposedly meant to please her.
03:12Everyone in the village said he cared too much for her.
03:16Even with a mad wife, he still tried every day to make her happy.
03:21Only I knew what those things were really used for.
03:24On countless drunken nights, I washed him by my mother to that wooden frame.
03:29He beat her unceasingly with a cruel rod until her body was torn and stained with blood.
03:36She would break out in cold sweat, tears streaming down her face.
03:41But her mouth was stuffed shut.
03:44She couldn't make a sound.
03:50As he beat her, he laughed wildly.
03:54I wondered if he had gone mad too.
03:57How could my mad mother possibly be some noble lady?
04:01At night, he was a beast.
04:03But by day, everyone around here saw him as an honest, simple man.
04:09He always kept her clean and tidy.
04:13Every day, he chopped wood and walk miles to sell it.
04:17All to make sure his wife and daughter were fed and clothed.
04:21People never stopped praising him.
04:23They said mother was lucky to have ended up with a husband like him.
04:28But even when I was little, I knew he wasn't worthy of her.
04:33She was soft, delicate, and naturally noble.
04:38When she was calm, her face was beautiful and wise.
04:43It always made me want to stay close to her.
04:45But when it came to Thomas, all I felt was a disgust.
04:50His yellow teeth disgusted me.
04:53The way he bit at my mother's neck, like a dog, disgusted me even more as I grew older.
05:02I saw more clearly just how two-faced he was.
05:06That was how he treated her.
05:08And me too, that in front of others.
05:11He was a loving father.
05:13But to me, I was no better than an animal.
05:18I didn't even have a bed.
05:19I slept on rice and flour sacks.
05:23Yet he told everyone I was afraid of the dark
05:26and insisted on sleeping on the floor in their room.
05:29On the surface, he sacrificed his meals for us.
05:33But in secret, I'd often catch him hiding out,
05:36tearing into roasted meat and downing liquor.
05:39He didn't even care if I saw him.
05:41He would grab me by the hair and warm me viciously.
05:45Say one word, and I'll break your legs.
05:49Relying on his charming facade,
05:52even if he hit me, people just assumed I was acting out.
05:56They blamed us for dragging down such a good man,
05:59which only made him bolder.
06:01As I got older, more things stopped making sense.
06:05If he barely made a living chopping wood,
06:08where did he get the spare coins to feast in secret?
06:12Then late one night, I climbed the crooked tree in the backyard.
06:17And that was when I finally discovered his secret.
06:22Then late one night, I climbed the crooked tree in the backyard.
06:25And that was when I finally discovered his secret.
06:29I watched him sneak out and dig up a wooden strong box near the fence.
06:33In the moonlight, the contents gleaned with a blinding silver light.
06:37He took out a silver coin and waited in his hand.
06:40Satisfied, he tucked it into his coat,
06:42then buried the box again, exactly where it had been.
06:45I was stunned.
06:46A bundle of firewood sold for almost nothing.
06:49So when had he saved up a whole box of silver coins?
06:52The next day, when he left for the market,
06:55I frantically dug up the wooden box and rushed it inside.
06:59Mother, we have money now!
07:01I'm getting us out of here!
07:02The moment she saw that old wooden box,
07:05her pupils shrank.
07:06Her whole body froze.
07:08Hurry!
07:08If we don't leave now, he'll be back!
07:11She showed me a wary look.
07:12For that one moment, I almost thought she had really come back to her senses.
07:16But the next second, she went mad again.
07:19With one hard swing, she knocked over the box.
07:23Silver coins spilled all over the floor.
07:25While I scrambled to pick up the silver coins,
07:27she played with the box, giggling to herself.
07:31Somehow, she triggered a head in compartment.
07:34A silver signet popped out,
07:36old and engraved with intricate patterns.
07:38She pressed the cold metal against her cheek,
07:41babbling happily as she turned it over in her hands.
07:43My heart jolted.
07:44She seemed to recognize it.
07:46Dadai coaxed it out of her hands and said he did over and over for a long while.
07:50Suddenly, the courtyard gate rattled.
07:52I nearly jumped out of my skin,
07:54frantically stuffing the silver coins back into the wooden box
07:57and kicking it under the bed.
08:00Allura?
08:01Are you two alright in there?
08:04We're fine, Martha.
08:05Mother just dropped a bowl, but I've already cleaned it up.
08:07Hearing her footsteps fade away,
08:10I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead.
08:13Without wasting another second,
08:15I packed a small bindle,
08:17grabbed Mother's hand,
08:18and bolted for the door.
08:20But as soon as I pushed the gate open,
08:22I saw Martha and a group of gossiping women blocking the exit.
08:26She hadn't left at all.
08:28A peasant woman eyed a bundle on my shoulder suspiciously.
08:32Where are you taking her, Alara?
08:34Nowhere.
08:35Just taking her down to the river for some fresh air.
08:39I peered at them, feeling anxious.
08:43Your mother's not in her right mind,
08:45and you're just a kid.
08:47Wait until Thomas gets back.
08:49Don't go running around.
08:50Go back inside.
08:52My blood ran cold.
08:54Behind me, Mother was completely oblivious to the danger,
08:57just playing with a wildflower,
08:58giggling and whispering to herself.
09:00Defeated, I turned her around to go back inside.
09:03Behind me, I heard them whispering.
09:06No wonder Thomas was worried.
09:07Before he left,
09:08he specifically asked us to keep an eye on them.
09:10One slip and that crazy woman almost ran off.
09:13He would have been worried sick.
09:15Exactly.
09:15Neither of them gives him a moment's peace.
09:18Thomas must really owe them big time.
09:20So that was why he was so confident leaving us alone.
09:25He had already arranged for people to watch us dot.
09:28We were trapped,
09:29and my heart sank,
09:30dot those gossiping women must have tipped him off.
09:34When Thomas came back,
09:35his face was dark with anger.
09:37The first thing he did was rush to the backyard.
09:41My heart pounded against my ribs,
09:43but luckily,
09:44I had already reburied the strong box.
09:47After confirming his treasure was safe,
09:49he stepped into the house with a chilling smile.
09:54He carefully bolted the doors and windows,
09:57then dragged that specially made chair out from the back shelf.
10:04I don't care whose idea this was.
10:07If you don't obey,
10:09you get punished.
10:13Don't worry,
10:15I won't hit you.
10:16If I leave marks,
10:17those busy pee-fools will start asking questions.
10:22With that,
10:23he violently grabbed Mother by her hair,
10:26shoved a cloth in her mouth,
10:28and strapped her tightly into that twisted chair.
10:31He forced her legs wide open,
10:34tore off her skirts right in front of me,
10:37and whipped the insides of her thighs
10:40like a madman
10:42with his heavy leather belt.
10:44She was in so much pain,
10:46she nearly blacked out,
10:47but the gag muffled her screams.
10:51Dad, please stop!
10:53I won't ever try to leave again!
10:55Next time you disobey,
10:56she gets it worse.
10:57If she ends up dead,
10:58it's because you killed her.
11:00I dropped to the floor
11:01and started binging my head an apology,
11:03but he grabbed me.
11:05For every bruise you put on yourself,
11:07she gets another lash.
11:09Go ahead,
11:10keep hitting your head
11:11if you want her to suffer.
11:13I instantly froze,
11:15too terrified to move a muscle.
11:17Through that long, agonizing night,
11:19I hid in the back room,
11:20clumping my hands over my ears.
11:22My tears soaked the grain sack beneath my head.
11:25He stayed by her side for the next seven days.
11:29Seven days later,
11:30seeing that she was still mad
11:32and hadn't snapped out of it,
11:33he finally took me out of the house.
11:36Well, look at that, Thomas!
11:38Taking your girl out for a stroll?
11:39The girl's growing up.
11:41What kind of life will she have
11:42shadowing a mad woman?
11:44I'm taking her to town
11:45to apprentice her out.
11:47You're too thoughtful, Thomas.
11:49Alara is truly blessed
11:50to have a father like you.
11:51Listening to the appraise,
11:52I kept my eyes glued to the dirt.
11:54His excuses sounded noble,
11:56but the truth was,
11:57he was terrified
11:58I'd try to run away with her again.
12:00He was going to sell me to a trafficker.
12:02Once we reached the town,
12:04he handed me over to a shady trafficker
12:06and told him to sell me
12:08as far away as possible.
12:10For all his demands,
12:12he still didn't ask
12:12for a single penny less.
12:15Serves him right to be a poor rat.
12:18It looked like he wasn't
12:20on Thomas' side after all.
12:22I spoke up quietly.
12:24I know a way you can sell me
12:26for much more.
12:27I know a way you can sell me
12:29for much more.
12:30I spoke up quietly.
12:31I drew an intricate pattern
12:33on a piece of paper.
12:35If you sell me to a family
12:36bearing this crest,
12:37your reward will double.
12:38What's this?
12:39The trafficker looked
12:40entirely unconvinced.
12:41When I was foraging in the woods,
12:43I saved the life of a young lord.
12:45His signet bore this exact crest,
12:48and he swore he would repay the debt.
12:50I spun the lie smoothly.
12:53Then why didn't your father mention it?
12:55The trafficker narrowed his eyes.
12:56If he knew,
12:57do you think he would have
12:58brought me to you?
12:59He beats me senseless.
13:02I'd rather die
13:03than let him cash in on that reward.
13:04The trafficker's eyes
13:05darted around greedily.
13:07Fine.
13:09We're heading to the capital anyway.
13:10I'll take that gamble.
13:12But if you dare lie to me...
13:14Don't worry.
13:15I interrupted.
13:16My life is in your hands.
13:18I wouldn't dare lie to you
13:19even if I had a death wish.
13:20And so, he took me north.
13:23After selling off
13:24all the other children
13:25on the journey,
13:26we finally arrived in the capital.
13:29We hadn't seen a single crest like it
13:31the entire trip.
13:32The trafficker's glares
13:33grew increasingly hostile,
13:35convinced I had played him for a fool.
13:37Even I started to sweat.
13:39Was I wrong?
13:40Just then,
13:41a massive procession of carriages
13:43swept past,
13:45nearly rattling a roadside tavern
13:47to pieces.
13:48The trafficker angrily spat out
13:50a mouthful of dust.
13:52When he looked up,
13:53he saw me staring fixably
13:55at the passing carriages.
13:57Finally,
13:58I had finally found them.
14:00Those luxurious carriages
14:02were stamped
14:03with the very crest
14:05I had memorized
14:06a thousand times over.
14:09Finally,
14:10I had finally found them.
14:12Those luxurious carriages
14:15were stamped
14:16with the very crest
14:17I had memorized
14:18a thousand times over.
14:20After asking a local,
14:22the trafficker
14:23looked back at me
14:24in disbelief.
14:25Are you absolutely sure
14:26this is the household
14:27of the young lord you saved?
14:28I nodded firmly.
14:30He muttered to himself.
14:31We've struck it rich.
14:33That convoy belongs
14:34to the household
14:35of the Duke of Stainling.
14:36The look on his face
14:37slowly turned to ecstasy.
14:39We need to plan this carefully.
14:41How do we get to see him?
14:43Before he even finished speaking,
14:44I shoved forward,
14:46throwing myself
14:47into the street
14:47to block the most
14:48lavish carriage
14:49in the center.
14:50The guards hadn't expected
14:52a child to dart
14:52out of nowhere.
14:53The carriage came
14:55to a sudden halt,
14:56the driver cursing violently
14:57as the guards
14:58snatched me by the collar
14:59to hurl me into the gutter.
15:01I screamed at the carriage
15:03with all the air
15:04in my lungs.
15:05My lord!
15:07I have a treasure
15:08to offer you!
15:09But the inside
15:10of the carriage
15:10remained dead silent.
15:12Using the guard's
15:13momentary shock,
15:14I swiftly kicked off
15:16my worn leather boot
15:17and dug the silver
15:18signet out of the cell.
15:20The trafficker watched,
15:22totally dumbfounded.
15:23He had searched
15:24my things the whole way
15:26and found nothing.
15:27I had hidden it
15:29inside my shoe
15:30the entire time.
15:31When I originally
15:32reburied the box,
15:34I was gambling
15:35that Thomas didn't know
15:36about the hidden compartment
15:37or the signet
15:39having already pocketed it.
15:41On those sleepless nights,
15:42I had hollowed out
15:43the heel of my boot,
15:45shoved the signet inside,
15:47and stitched thick layers
15:48of fabric over it.
15:50Before we left,
15:51Thomas had searched me
15:52thoroughly,
15:53even running his hands
15:54through my hair.
15:55But I was certain
15:56he wouldn't let me
15:57leave barefoot
15:58as he needed to play
15:59the guffalder in public.
16:01And that was how
16:02I smuggled the sign out.
16:04Along the journey,
16:05the trafficker
16:06ransacked my bindle
16:07countless times,
16:09even checking
16:09under my skirts
16:10while I slept,
16:11but found nothing.
16:13He had no choice
16:14but to believe my lie,
16:15that the signet was lost
16:17and the Lord
16:17would only pay up
16:18if he saw my face.
16:20The guard stared
16:21in disgust
16:22at the signet
16:22pulled from a filthy shoe,
16:24but the moment
16:25he recognized it,
16:27his posture
16:28snapped to attention.
16:29He carefully took it
16:31and respectfully presented it
16:33inside the carriage.
16:34A moment later,
16:36the carriage curtain
16:37was thrown back.
16:39Out stepped
16:39a towering man
16:41with sharp features
16:42and piercing eyes.
16:44If not for the heavy,
16:46murderous aura
16:47hanging over his face,
16:49he would have been
16:50breathtakingly handsome.
16:52In a few quick strides,
16:54he reached me
16:55and lifted me
16:56off the ground.
16:57Where did you get this?
16:58he demanded sharply.
16:59With my feet
17:01off the ground,
17:02my small body
17:03trembled uncontrollably.
17:04Not from fear,
17:05but from excitement.
17:07That face
17:08bore a striking resemblance
17:10to Mother.
17:11This time,
17:12I had gambled
17:13right again.
17:16My mother's name
17:17was Vivian Hart.
17:18She had been trapped
17:19in Green Hill Village
17:20for over ten years.
17:21To the villagers,
17:23she was nothing
17:23but a mad woman.
17:24Vivian?
17:26She's alive?
17:27Tell me the truth.
17:28How's she?
17:30Years of grief
17:31and fury
17:32burst out of me
17:32all at once.
17:34I broke down sobbing.
17:35She's been living in hell.
17:37A wood cover
17:38named Thomas
17:39has been torturing her.
17:40In the daytime,
17:41he acts like
17:42some loving husband.
17:43At night,
17:44he turns into a monster.
17:46He ties her up.
17:47He beats her.
17:48He uses that
17:49buckled chair.
17:51Her body
17:52is covered in scars.
17:54Sometimes,
17:55she's clear-headed.
17:56Most of the time,
17:58she's...
17:59She's not.
18:00Once I started,
18:01I couldn't stop.
18:03The words came pouring out.
18:05I told him
18:06about the silver coins
18:07buried by the wall.
18:09I told him
18:10how Thomas
18:11hurt mother
18:12right in front of me.
18:14I told him
18:15how he tried
18:16to sell me off
18:17just to get rid of me
18:18for good.
18:19The more I spoke,
18:21the darker
18:22the man's face became.
18:23The air around him
18:25turned heavy,
18:26cold,
18:28terrifying.
18:28Next to us,
18:30the trafficker
18:31had already
18:31gone weak in the knees.
18:33The Duke of Sterling.
18:35The Duke of Sterling.
18:38He did not dare
18:39mention rewards again.
18:41The man standing
18:42before me
18:42was Adrian Hart,
18:44the book of Sterling Dutt,
18:46and he was
18:46mother's elder brother.
18:47Years ago,
18:48the Hart family's daughter,
18:49had been abducted,
18:51Dutt.
18:52They had searched
18:53for her everywhere.
18:54They found nothing,
18:55but Adrian
18:57had never given up.
18:58At his waist,
18:59he had always kept
19:01a silver signet.
19:02He carried it
19:03year after year.
19:06Horses now!
19:07We leave for
19:08Green Hill Village
19:09immediately!
19:10Murder flashing his ass.
19:12It was so fierce,
19:13it seemed to cut
19:14through the air itself.
19:15The guards moved at once.
19:16No one dared
19:17to waste a second.
19:18They brought the horses
19:19straight away.
19:20Adrian looked
19:20to me onto a horse.
19:23Hold on tight.
19:25The horse
19:25shot forward.
19:26Hooves
19:27thundered.
19:27Death flew.
19:28They wrapped
19:29both arms
19:29around his waist.
19:30The wind
19:31roared past my ears,
19:32but in my heart,
19:33there was only one thought.
19:35Mother,
19:35wait for me.
19:36I'm coming back for you.
19:37I'm taking you home.
19:38We rode for three days
19:40without proper rest.
19:41At last,
19:42we reached
19:42the Green Hill Village.
19:43Adrian had the horses
19:44hidden in the woods.
19:46Then,
19:46he took a group
19:47of elite guards
19:48and followed me
19:49quietly toward the village.
19:51It was dusk.
19:52Smoke rose from the cook fires.
19:54Everything looked peaceful.
19:55Still,
19:56ordinary dot.
19:57No one could have guessed
19:58what was about to happen.
19:59Our mud house
20:00stood on the east side
20:02of the village.
20:03Even from far away,
20:04I could see Thomas
20:05in the yard,
20:06splitting wood.
20:07He was humming to himself,
20:08relaxed.
20:09He wore that same
20:10honest face.
20:11He always showed the world
20:12that same harmless look.
20:14Nothing like the beast
20:15who became after dark.
20:17Ducked my nails,
20:18dug deep into my palms.
20:20Hatred
20:21crawled through me
20:22like poison.
20:23Your grace,
20:25shall we move?
20:26The captain of the guards
20:27asked in a low voice.
20:29Adrian's eyes were cold.
20:30Not yet.
20:32First,
20:32I want to see
20:33how Vivian is.
20:34We cycled around
20:35to the back.
20:36Then,
20:36we crashed
20:37by the low wall
20:37and looked inside.
20:39Mother was sitting
20:40on the doorstep.
20:41She had a wild flower
20:42in her hand.
20:43She was smiling
20:44to herself.
20:45Her hair was a mess.
20:47Her coarse dress
20:48was full of patches.
20:51And yet,
20:51none of it
20:51could hide the grace
20:53in her bones.
20:55Thomas finished
20:56chopping wood
20:56and rose to his feet.
20:58He brushed the sawdust
21:00from his hands.
21:01Then,
21:02he walked over to her
21:03and gently touched
21:04her hair.
21:05There was even
21:06a soft smile
21:07on his face.
21:08Vivian,
21:09are you hungry?
21:10I'll make you
21:11something to eat.
21:11If the villagers
21:13had seen that,
21:14they would have
21:15praised him again.
21:16What a good husband.
21:17What a kind man.
21:19But I knew
21:20what was hiding
21:21beneath that smile.
21:22Sure enough,
21:24Mother shrank
21:24back the instinct.
21:26Fear
21:27flashed through
21:27her eyes.
21:29Thomas' face
21:30ducked at once.
21:31He only held it in
21:33because someone
21:34might be watching.
21:35Then,
21:36he turned
21:36and walked
21:36into the kitchen.
21:38Take him.
21:39His voice
21:39was colder than ice.
21:41The guards rushed in.
21:43Thomas had no time
21:44to react.
21:45In the blink of an eye,
21:46they had him
21:47pinned to the ground.
21:48He thrashed
21:49and roared.
21:50Who are you?
21:51What are you doing?
21:52This is my house!
21:53Get off me!
21:54Adrian walked
21:55into the yard,
21:56one slow step
21:57at a time.
21:58He looked down
21:59at Thomas
21:59from above.
22:01The disgust
22:02in his eyes
22:03was plain to see.
22:04Thomas,
22:06do you know
22:07who I am?
22:09Thomas froze.
22:11Then his eyes
22:12dropped to the
22:13silver signet,
22:14fastened to
22:14Adrian's belt.
22:15All colors
22:16drained from his face.
22:18His eyes
22:19darted away.
22:20He stammered.
22:21I don't know anything.
22:22You've got the wrong guy.
22:25The wrong man?
22:27I jumped down
22:28from the wall
22:28and ran into the yard.
22:30I pointed
22:31straight at his face.
22:33You monster!
22:34You tortured
22:35my mother
22:36for over a decade
22:37and now you
22:38tried to deny it?
22:40The noise
22:40startled Mom.
22:42The wildflower
22:43slipped from her hand
22:44and fell to the ground.
22:45She looked at us
22:46blankly,
22:48lost,
22:49confused,
22:50but the moment
22:50her eyes landed
22:51on Adrian's face,
22:53her peepers
22:53tightened.
22:55Her lips trembled.
22:56A broken sound
22:57escaped her throat.
22:59Adrian stood
23:00to her side.
23:01His voice
23:02catching.
23:03It's me.
23:03Adrian.
23:05Your brother.
23:07I've come
23:08to take you home.
23:09Mother stared
23:10at him
23:10for a long time.
23:12Then,
23:13silent tears
23:14spilled down
23:15her cheeks.
23:16She raised
23:17a trembling hand,
23:18reaching out
23:19to touch his face.
23:20But halfway there,
23:22she snatched it back,
23:23as if she were
23:24terrified.
23:26Terrified that
23:27this was all
23:27just an illusion.
23:29That he would
23:30vanish the second
23:31in her fingers
23:31brushed his skin.
23:32Thomas saw it too.
23:34He knew the game
23:35was up,
23:35yet he stubbornly
23:37dug his heels in.
23:38I'll pay good money
23:40for Vivian!
23:41She's my wife!
23:42I can treat her
23:43however I damn well
23:44please!
23:45Who the hell are you
23:46to tell me otherwise?
23:50Adrian let out
23:51the cold,
23:52sharp laugh.
23:53Paid for her?
23:55Then he drove a
23:56brutal kick
23:57into Thomas' chest,
23:58sending him
23:59crashing into the dirt.
24:01He took one step forward.
24:03Vivian is the
24:04eldest daughter
24:04of the Hart family.
24:06How dare a piece
24:07of filth like you
24:08even dream
24:09of touching her!
24:10And where do you
24:11think those silver coins
24:12came from?
24:14It's blood money!
24:16The price of
24:17abducted women!
24:18The price of
24:19ruined lives!
24:20Only then
24:21did the sickening
24:22truth finally
24:23come to light.
24:24The bandits
24:25who kidnapped
24:25Mother all those
24:26years ago
24:26hadn't acted alone.
24:28They were in
24:28league with Thomas.
24:29Driven by greed
24:30for the hard fortune
24:31and lust for her beauty,
24:33he had orchestrated
24:34the whole thing.
24:35After the bandits
24:36took her,
24:37he played the part
24:38of an ignorant
24:38woodcutter.
24:39He bought her
24:40for a pittance,
24:41dragging her
24:42to this remote
24:42village to keep
24:43as his prisoner.
24:44And to make sure
24:45no one asked
24:46questions,
24:47he branded her
24:47a madwoman,
24:48the perfect cover
24:49for a monstrous
24:50crime.
24:51The silver coins
24:52hidden by him
24:53came from two
24:53places.
24:54Part of it
24:55was his share
24:55from the bandits.
24:56The rest
24:57came from the
24:58jewelry he had
24:59stolen from Mother
24:59and sold in secret.
25:01By then,
25:01the commotion
25:02had drawn the
25:03villagers over.
25:04Martha was there
25:05too.
25:05So were the
25:06other women
25:07who had always
25:07defended Thomas.
25:09The moment
25:09they saw the
25:10scene before them,
25:11they all went
25:11silent.
25:12When the villagers
25:13heard what Thomas
25:13had done,
25:14they were stunned.
25:15And when they
25:15learned that the
25:16little contraptions
25:17they had once
25:18laughed about,
25:18praised,
25:19and called clever
25:20were not toys at
25:21all,
25:21but instruments of
25:22torture,
25:23the whole yard
25:23went dead quiet.
25:24I never thought
25:25Thomas was that
25:26kind of man.
25:28Just goes to show
25:30you never truly know
25:31what's inside someone.
25:32No wonder poor
25:33Vivian went mad.
25:34Martha's face
25:34turned red,
25:35then white,
25:36then red again.
25:37She looked as if
25:38she wanted the
25:39ground to swallow
25:39her whole.
25:40After a moment,
25:41she stepped forward.
25:42Then she bowed
25:43deeply to Adrian,
25:44and then to Mother.
25:45Your grace,
25:46Vivian,
25:46I was so blind.
25:47I believed that beast.
25:48I even helped him
25:49spy on you.
25:50I have wronged you
25:51both.
25:52I truly have.
25:52The other women
25:53followed her lead.
25:55The very same women
25:56who had helped
25:56Thomas keep us caged.
25:58The ones who had
25:59gossiped,
26:00who had left.
26:01Now,
26:01they came forward
26:02one by one
26:03to apologize.
26:04Some lowered their
26:05heads in shame.
26:06Others wiped away
26:07guilty tears.
26:08I looked at them
26:09in silence.
26:09I felt absolutely
26:11nothing.
26:11Their quiet complicity
26:13had suffocated us
26:14for years.
26:16Adrian ordered the
26:17guards to bind
26:17Thomas more tight.
26:19Then he sent men
26:20into the back room
26:21to search the house.
26:22When the guards
26:23carried those things
26:24out into the yard,
26:25the villagers
26:26gasped aloud.
26:28The chair with
26:29its heavy buckles,
26:30the wooden horse,
26:31straps,
26:32ropes,
26:33other twisted things
26:34I had spent years
26:35trying not to look
26:36at too closely.
26:38Now,
26:38they sat in plain sight
26:40beneath the evening sky,
26:41undeniable proof
26:42of a nightmare.
26:44The villagers
26:45stared at Thomas.
26:46This time,
26:47there was no praise
26:48in their eyes.
26:49Only disgust.
26:51Only anger.
26:52Adrian ordered.
26:54Take him back
26:54to the capital.
26:55His voice was cold,
26:57final.
26:57Hand him over
26:58to the court of justice.
27:00Interrogate him.
27:01I will make him
27:02pay the ultimate price
27:04for what he's done.
27:05As the guards
27:06dragged Thomas away,
27:07he glared back
27:08at Mother and me.
27:09His eyes were
27:10full of hate.
27:11He hissed.
27:13Even as a ghost,
27:15I won't let you go!
27:16I stared right back.
27:18I didn't flinch.
27:19I only had one thought.
27:22Death is too good
27:23for a beast like him.
27:25Then Adrian turned
27:26to Mother.
27:27At once,
27:28the hard edge
27:29in his face vanished.
27:31He bent
27:32and helped her
27:33slowly to her feet.
27:34Then he carefully
27:35smoothed her tangled hair
27:36away from her face.
27:37Vivian,
27:39we're going home.
27:40He said softly.
27:42No one,
27:44one will ever
27:45hurt you again.
27:47Mother looked at him.
27:49Suddenly,
27:50she burst into tears.
27:53She sobbed.
27:55At that moment,
27:55I knew
27:56she had woken up.
27:58It wasn't a miracle
28:00seeing her family
28:01simply unlocked everything.
28:04Ten years of fear
28:05and pain
28:06finally poured out,
28:07breaking the chains
28:09of her madness.
28:10Adrian closed his eyes
28:11briefly,
28:12as if studying himself.
28:14Then he told the servants
28:16to gather a few
28:16of Mother's things.
28:18When all was ready,
28:19he lifted her
28:20into his arms.
28:21Then he looked at me.
28:22He said gently,
28:24I nodded.
28:26Following behind him,
28:27I walked out
28:28step by step,
28:29leaving the cage
28:30that trapped us
28:30for a decade.
28:32At the entrance
28:33to the village,
28:34I turned back once.
28:36The mud house
28:37stood under
28:38the evening light,
28:39broken,
28:41faded,
28:42small.
28:42That house
28:44held every nightmare
28:45I had ever known.
28:47All my pain
28:48was in that place.
28:49All my fear.
28:51All my hatred.
28:52From this day on,
28:54I told myself
28:55I would never come back.
28:57But it wasn't over yet.
28:59Not long after
28:59we left the village,
29:01a message reached Adrian.
29:02Thomas had to try
29:03to escape
29:04while being escorted away.
29:06The guards
29:07had subdued him
29:08on the spot.
29:09Adrian did not want
29:10to give Thomas
29:11even the smallest chance
29:12to slip away again.
29:13Lock him in the local jail.
29:15He said.
29:16We leave for the capital tomorrow.
29:18We stayed at an inn
29:19that night,
29:20but I couldn't sleep.
29:21I tossed and turned,
29:23haunted by
29:24Thomas' final threat.
29:25Even as a ghost,
29:27I won't let you go!
29:29The words echoed
29:30in my head
29:31like a dark curse.
29:32I knew the law
29:33would deal with him.
29:35Adrian would make sure
29:36of that.
29:36Yet punishment
29:37was not enough
29:38to calm the rage
29:39burning inside me.
29:41Memories of what
29:42he did to mother.
29:44The years of abuse.
29:46They all came
29:47flooding back.
29:49Scene after scene
29:50played in my mind
29:51until I was suffocating.
29:53I didn't just
29:54want him punished.
29:55I wanted him dead.
29:57Near dawn,
29:58I slipped quietly
29:59out of bed.
30:00The inn was silent.
30:02The guards outside
30:03had gone careless
30:04in the late hours
30:05of the night.
30:06I remembered
30:07what I had seen
30:08in the daytime.
30:09The jail was
30:10on the western side
30:11of town.
30:12So I made my way
30:13there in the dark,
30:14step by step.
30:16The night was deep.
30:17The streets were empty.
30:19Only a few
30:20street lamps
30:21still hung beneath
30:22the yeaves.
30:23Swaying in the wind,
30:25their dim light
30:25trembled over
30:26the cobblestones,
30:27casting broken shadows
30:29at my feet.
30:30I clenched
30:31the shot of stone
30:32hidden in my sleeve.
30:33I had picked it up
30:34on purpose
30:34along the way.
30:35If I ran into a patrol,
30:37at least I would have
30:38something in my hand.
30:39The jail was not
30:39heavily guarded.
30:41Only two old soldiers
30:42sat by the front gate,
30:43nodding in and out
30:44of sleep.
30:45I held my breath
30:46and moved around
30:47the back.
30:48There was a low
30:49earthen wall there.
30:50I stepped on the weeds,
30:52going along the corner,
30:53clawed my way up,
30:55and with no small effort,
30:56pulled myself
30:57onto the top.
30:58Then I swung down
30:59into the yard.
31:00It was silent inside.
31:02Only the wind
31:03moved through
31:03the leaves overhead.
31:04I followed the direction
31:05I remembered.
31:06Thomas was locked
31:07in the innermost cell.
31:09He was curried up
31:10in the corner,
31:10snoring heavily.
31:12I slapped a piece of wire
31:13from inside my bodice.
31:14I had stolen it earlier
31:15from the trafficker's bundle.
31:17At the time,
31:17I had only thought
31:18it might be useful one day.
31:19I had not known
31:20that day would come so soon.
31:21I knelt by the lock
31:23and slid the wire
31:23into the keyhole.
31:25Slowly, carefully,
31:26I turned it once.
31:27A soft click
31:28broke the silence.
31:29The lock opened.
31:30I pushed the door inward,
31:32inch by inch,
31:33tried not to make a sound.
31:34But Thomas stood.
31:35His eyes threw open.
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