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#video #film2026 #movie2026 #hot #Legacy of Her Spirit - (2026) ✅ FULL EP
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Short filmTranscript
00:00my mom up and sell it as pork before she died she told me to find my uncle she said
00:04he was some
00:04powerful general and he'd feed me but when i stopped him on the street he was holding my
00:09cousin he looked down at me and scoffed trash like you should just die need money tell your
00:14mom to come beg me then he took my cousin and bought her gold bracelets i'd never seen anything
00:20so beautiful on her wrists they shined brightly my uncle glared at me what are you looking at
00:26keep staring and i'll gouge your eyes out then he walked away i stared at his back unable to move
00:32i held my empty stomach and lowered my head my mom was wrong he would never feed me he was
00:37so rich he
00:38didn't even blink buying my cousin gold bracelets but when i asked for money for a bun he told me
00:43to
00:43send my mom but my mom was already dead my dad chopped her up and sold her as pork the
00:47streets
00:47of the capital were crowded but the sky slowly darkened it started to drizzle i curled up under
00:52an alley awning i rolled up my sleeve and stared at the knife scars on my wrist i thought of
00:56my
00:57cousin's gold bracelets so pretty if i wore them my dirty blood would ruin them still i wished i had
01:03one i could trade it for lots of buns mom said buns were soft and fragrant really delicious i licked
01:09my
01:09cracked lips and forced myself to stand i hadn't eaten in two days i was starving maybe selling myself
01:14was the only way to live i tried to sell myself to a rice shop the owner drove me off
01:17before i even got
01:18to the door where'd this beggar come from get out bad luck i walked through the rain numb and empty
01:22i went to shop after shop no one wanted me i didn't even want pay just one bite to eat
01:27in the
01:27end only the brothel would take me in a woman named ms lane pinched my cheek and smiled nice face
01:32you're
01:32pale and scrawny now but give it some time you might turn into a real beauty she made me sign
01:37a page full
01:37of writing she thought i couldn't read she tricked me into signing for food but i knew it all my
01:42mom taught
01:42me to read it was a contract selling myself and beside it was a plate of fresh funds
01:46ms lane tore one open the smell hit me right away what choice did i have but to sign i
01:51stared at the
01:51bun and swallowed hard my hand lifted from the red ink just as i was about to sign it someone
01:56grabbed
01:56me it was my uncle he glared at me disgusted you're just as cheap as serena same dirty tricks too
02:03disgusting how did our family end up with someone like you selling yourself to a brothel even lower
02:08than your mom now move take me to her he shook me until my vision spun i knew i'd starve
02:13if i didn't
02:13eat before i blacked out i bit off a piece of his flesh and swallowed it right after that he
02:18kicked
02:19me away i slammed hard onto the ground a sharp pain hit my chest and everything went black went quiet
02:23well at least i got to eat meat once too bad it tasted awful cold water woke me up when
02:28i opened my
02:29eyes i was in a beautifully built courtyard before i knew it a fierce old woman pinched my nose and
02:35forced sour porridge down my throat then they dragged me into my uncle's study inside my uncle was talking
02:40about me with a doctor frowning my uncle said so she bit a chunk out of me because she's starving
02:44the doctor nodded yeah any later and she'd be dead i was hauled in front of my uncle his face
02:49looked
02:49awful white bandage wrapped the wrist i'd bitten he looked at me like i was an ugly rat he turned
02:54his
02:55head away speaking without looking at me you were starving and you didn't say anything or was that
02:58revenge i looked at him quietly and softly said sir the first thing i told you was i'm starving could
03:04you give me some money for a bun he froze for a moment clearly remembering then his brows knit in
03:08displeasure why aren't you calling me uncle now i pressed my lips tight and lowered my head when we
03:12first met i called him uncle but now i didn't want to he lifted his foot and tipped my chin
03:17up mute
03:18he curled his lips coldly still want to eat if you want to eat take me to your mom i
03:22want to see
03:23what's so great out there that she stayed away for nine years now she's broke and sends you back to
03:27beg
03:27i nodded and said give me white buns i'll take you to her fresh out of the oven not like
03:33that cold
03:33sour porridge from earlier that'd mess up my stomach the old woman behind me dropped to her knees at once
03:37sir i clearly fed her hot meat porridge she's lying my uncle looked at me with even more disgust just
03:43like your mom utterly disgraceful i looked at the old woman jammed my fingers down my throat and threw
03:48up the cold sour porridge my uncle staggered back in shock i jammed my fingers down my throat and threw
03:54up
03:54the cold sour porridge my uncle staggered back in shock i looked at him calmly see that porridge in my
04:00stomach for a while and it was still cold my stomach isn't made of ice he looked at the mess
04:04on the
04:04floor and recoiled at the sour smell how could something she just ate go sour so fast the old
04:10woman was already on the floor shaking all over it's clear now my uncle snorted coldly who gave you
04:15the nerve to disobey me behind my back the old woman trembled about to speak when a gentle voice
04:19came from outside i told her to feed it serena's daughter should be grateful for a bowl of rotten
04:22food the voice arrived before the person woman in fine robes walked in servants around her when i saw
04:28her face i froze i almost called out mom but i knew she wasn't she looked a lot like my
04:33mom but
04:34softer more graceful my mom looked older and worn out she'd never had a good life after being sold
04:38to my dad and aunt clara's always had it easy she walked in with a dark face the mess on
04:42the floor
04:42made her cover her nose in disgust yet a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes she looked at me
04:46and said you really do look like serena same little vixen face where is that bitch now i looked down
04:52and spoke quietly give me food and i'll lead you to her she snorted coldly what right do you have
04:57to
04:57make demands my uncle frowned he had servants bring in a plate of hot buns eat don't die in my
05:02house
05:02it's bad luck my aunt shot him in unhappy glare you feel sorry for this bastard my uncle shook his
05:07head
05:07he said nothing but his gaze grew heavy i was starving i grabbed a bun and tore into it so
05:11soft
05:12and sweet mom hadn't lied to me buns really are delicious way better than those dry corn cakes but
05:16i didn't dare eat too much i stuffed the rest into my torn sleeves my uncle watched me do it
05:21his frown
05:22deepening your mom didn't feed you i shook my head she saved the best food for me my uncle sneered
05:27face full of disgust then why do you still look so poor still putting on a show i didn't answer
05:31i just said let's go aunt clara snorted she told them to prepare a carriage but she wouldn't let me
05:36get on she said i made her sick wherever i went the air turned sour i watched my nicely dressed
05:41cousin get into the carriage envy rose in my chest mom rarely held me she said sometimes she wanted to
05:46strangle me said i was a mistake but when she was locked in the cellar i was the only one
05:51who stayed
05:52and she was always kind-hearted when she was in a good mood she taught me how to read she
05:55told me
05:56many stories about home she even taught me martial arts but i was useless i could never learn it well
06:00she said the women in her family were just as strong as men she once earned merit on the battlefield
06:03herself if she hadn't been framed and had her tendons cut she wouldn't have ended up like that
06:07she tried to kill herself many times but her hatred kept her going my uncle rode ahead on a tall
06:12horse
06:12he asked if i could ride on my own i shook my head what did your mom teach you are
06:16you useless yes
06:17i am useless i lowered my head i saw my mom being cut into pieces by my dad he even
06:21tried to make me
06:22eat it and i was too useless to save her my uncle laughed in anger how did our family end
06:27up with a
06:27coward like you don't call me your uncle outside i nodded he looked at me as if there was nothing
06:33he
06:33could do in the end he had a guard put me on a horse the guard couldn't refuse so he
06:37covered his
06:37nose with a cloth to block the smell but halfway through the ride he couldn't hold it and threw up
06:43my uncle frowned asking how a girl could smell so bad at a roadside inn he got a room and
06:47had his
06:47maid clean me up as soon as she stripped off my rags she screamed my uncle thought something was
06:54wrong he kicked the door open and rushed in as soon as she stripped off my rags she screamed
06:59my uncle thought something was wrong he kicked the door open and rushed in he rushed in calling out
07:05to iris asking what was wrong iris covered her mouth and looked at him tears running down her face
07:09sir please take pity on this ava miss ava she doesn't deserve it then he saw me without clothes
07:15and froze i think my back was covered in fine knife scars but i couldn't reach it or see it
07:19it's probably ugly iris seemed soft-hearted she gently touched my wounds tears falling non-stop she
07:25smells because the wounds are rotting and she's been burning with fever my uncle stared at me for
07:28a moment then realized i was a girl he quickly turned his back he took a deep breath before saying
07:33clean her wounds first i'll send for a doctor iris agreed but i shook my head and refused no need
07:38a little clay will do that's how i healed before i forgot the last two days iris stared
07:43shocked how can you use clay after my uncle left iris cleaned my wounds and put some medicine on them
07:49because treating me took extra time aunt clara's face darkened why waste time and money on her she's
07:54just like her mom always pulling tricks my uncle was about to hug my cousin but he paused when he
07:59heard that and pulled his hand back she pouted and whined uncle hug me she was only four she was
08:04the
08:04child aunt clara had long hoped for of course she adored her seeing her feel wronged aunt clara
08:09immediately got upset what are you doing can't you see annie wants a hug my uncle sighed i'm tired
08:14then he walked toward me for the first time he crouched in front of me he was really tall if
08:18he
08:19didn't crouch i couldn't even meet his eyes did your mom abuse you often i shook my head mom was
08:23good to me she got beaten more than i did my uncle froze his expression cracked how could that be
08:28she
08:28clearly then his brows knitted tightly again you're lying did your mom tell you to lie to me so i'd
08:33feel
08:33sorry for her i stared at him remembering mom's words her brother was a great hero a brilliant
08:38general wise and incredibly smart my mom was wrong again turns out her brother was just a fool if this
08:45was all just to fool him then how do you explain the old scars on my body was i beaten
08:48all my life
08:49just for this lie maybe the way i looked at him pissed him off he snorted coldly he really liked
08:54doing
08:55that as if it made him feel superior lead the way let's see what she's up to this time he
08:59didn't make
08:59a guard take me he lifted me onto the horse himself pressed me into his chest i sucked in a
09:03sharp breath
09:04in pain only then did he remember my back wounds he gently helped me sit upright don't you have a
09:07mouth why didn't you say it hurt i clenched my teeth tight it hurt too much to speak so i
09:11pretended
09:11to be mute the horse moved fast two days journey was done in half a day when we reached rivermore
09:16village my dad was still selling pork when he saw the horses in carriage he froze and didn't dare
09:21look up everyone in the village knew not to look up cross someone like that and death would be the
09:26least of it but i pointed at him and told my uncle that's my dad he's selling my mom
09:44my uncle's face darkened you're saying that butcher is your dad and your mom was sold by him
09:50at your age you're already lying like that i sighed ever since meeting my uncle i've been sighing
09:54non-stop talking to him was exhausting how did mom ever think he was smart i tried to get down
09:59but he
09:59held my waist tight so i shouted to my dad dad i'm back when my dad heard my voice he
10:04looked up
10:04fiercely but when he saw me on the horse being held he froze he glanced at their clothes then quickly
10:11set down the knife he smiled kindly ava where have you been i've been looking for you two days my
10:16uncle
10:16stared at his old ugly face his expression turned dark his eyes were dark full of something i couldn't
10:22understand he held my waist tight so i couldn't slide off the horse is he really your dad i nodded
10:28my dad stood below the horse looking pleased uh you fancy my girl
10:36this girl's very obedient she won't fight back or talk back ten tails of silver and she's yours
10:40my uncle sneered really didn't you just say he was selling your mom dad cut in right away she's
10:45just a kid talking nonsense no one's selling her mom i'm keeping her for myself i pointed at the
10:50meat scraps mom's right there he cut her up and sold the pieces and boiled her bones and fed me
10:55the
10:55soup i felt sick and bolted oh right that piece has three red dots that's her arm mom said that's
11:00the carter family mark when dad heard that he snapped you little brat what nonsense is that
11:06ungrateful little brat my uncle just stared at the meat he didn't say a word for a long time but
11:10i
11:10could feel his muscles tense hand trembling dad saw my uncle staring at the meat he blinked nervously
11:15and tried to smile at my uncle that's musk deer from the mountains the meat's nice and tender sir
11:19don't listen to her just then aunt clara leaned out from the carriage behind why are we still stuck here
11:24or are we there already dad turned at the sound the moment he saw her face his legs went weak
11:29then he
11:30took off running he was a butcher he was big and strong plenty of stamina but my uncle's guards were
11:35trained soldiers he barely ran before they pinned him only then did my uncle help me down he walked
11:40to the stall in silence he picked up the meat iris walked over took a look and her eyes welled
11:44up
11:44sir this is human flesh just like on the battlefield there were two slabs of pork on dad's stall too
11:50he
11:50was clever mom's meat was chopped up for extra most people wouldn't notice aunt clara came over with
11:56my cousin looking confused at my uncle in the meat stall are we there yet where's serena my uncle said
12:01nothing by the time dad was dragged back hands tied by two guards i had already taken off my
12:05coat and started gathering mom's meat it was late autumn the meat hadn't spoiled but it didn't look
12:09fresh anymore after all two days had passed my uncle watched me silently after a moment he sneered
12:14quite the convincing act fine take me to her or i'll kill you held mom's meat and nodded then led
12:19them
12:19into the village along the way the women we knew stared at us strangely some of the braver ones asked
12:25me
12:25ava what's going on why are they pinning your dad down i thought for a moment then i told them
12:29he killed my mom and sold her meat if you bought any from him please bring it back i want
12:33her to
12:33rest in peace you damn butcher how could you do that one woman leaned on the wall and threw up
12:39god i gotta tell the old man no wonder clark was so generous today he gave us a huge chunk
12:44of meat
12:44my dad's face darkened he shot me a vicious glare like he wanted to tear me apart too bad they
12:49stuffed
12:49his mouth he couldn't even curse my uncle kept his lips tight and followed me in silence my aunt seemed
12:55deep in thought her eyes kept darting around sometimes even sneering like she was secretly
12:59pleased at the gate i looked back at the yard it suddenly felt unfamiliar i'd only been gone two
13:04days but something felt different i gently pushed the gate open everything inside looked the same
13:09i tightened my grip on the bundle the cold scraps pressed to my chest chilling me to the bone once
13:14inside the yard i looked at iris and told her to get something to eat we'd been walking half a
13:18day
13:18everyone was hungry iris didn't answer right away she glanced at my uncle until my uncle nodded
13:22then she headed to the kitchen i lit a candle led my uncle and aunt to the cellar entrance i
13:28lifted the
13:28wooden hatch the smell of blood hit us i pointed into the dark tunnel mom's down there in the cellar
13:33she usually stays there my uncle's face turned cold he had them drag my dad down the tunnel my aunt
13:38held my cousin her eyes scanned the yard two huge butcher tables dark red blood everywhere she clenched
13:44her jaw and stepped into the cellar at the end of the tunnel was a large cellar almost every house
13:48in
13:49the village has one but ours had a much longer tunnel the cellar wasn't under the yard it stretched
13:54into the mountain dad said it keeps the sound out no one would hear a thing the cellar was huge
13:58there
13:59were all kinds of supplies and a carved wooden bed my mom's skeleton was hanging on the wall her flesh
14:04was
14:04already gone only her head still looked the same all those years of suffering made her look nothing like
14:11her twin sister see mom's right here i set the minced meat by the skeleton's feet and raised the candle
14:17so they could see her clearly see i didn't lie my aunt quickly covered my cousin's eyes she gagged
14:22and turned to leave then two stone slabs dropped the cellar was sealed even the guards couldn't push
14:28it open what's going on my aunt screamed then she realized something and glared at me you lured us in
14:34here on purpose what are you planning before she finished she got dizzy her legs gave out she collapsed
14:40my cousin hit the ground hard she burst into tears my uncle rushed to pick her up but before he
14:44reached
14:44her his legs gave out he could only watch as her crying faded away he and my aunt stared wide
14:50-eyed
14:51their eyes filled with terror i looked at them faint smile curled on my lips relax she just took too
14:56much she's just knocked out i looked at the three on the floor the candle flickered on the damp wall
15:01stretching the shadow of mom's skeleton like a lone bird with its wings spread guarding this dark corner
15:06all these years i crouched down and brushed my fingers over her wrist there was a faint mark there mom
15:12carved it when she taught me my name with a small knife ava my name is serena it means peace
15:18all i
15:19want is peace in this life why is that so hard i was just a kid back then i didn't
15:22see the sorrow in
15:23her eyes i only knew her hands were warm the mark she carved on the bone was like a tiny
15:26flower now
15:27that flower stays with her bones weeping silently in this cellar i turned to my passed out dad when he
15:33chopped mom up did it hurt so bad she couldn't even scream remembered every time dad beat her she'd hold
15:39me her voice hoarse ava hang in there when i get the chance i'll take you away we'll go find
15:44your
15:44uncle he'll help us but he never did i stood up and walked to the corner a small wooden chest
15:50was
15:50hidden there mom treasured it most i dragged it out it was locked but i knew where the key was
15:55mom
15:56hid it in a crack under the bed she said it was all she had left i dug out the
15:59key and opened the
16:00chest inside was a layer of blue silk a few yellowed letters lay on it and a silver hairpin a
16:05magnolia was
16:06carved on it just like mom taught me to draw picked up a letter and read it by candlelight it
16:10was from
16:10mom to my uncle the writing was neat but trembling felix i know you resent me but i never touched
16:16clara's husband clara set me up she was jealous dad said i was the most promising one and you always
16:20protected me so she got peter drunk then put me next to him to make dad think i wasn't pure
16:25felix i
16:25wasn't promiscuous dad drove me out he said i shamed the carter family he even wanted my legs broken i
16:30had
16:30no choice i could only run i ran to rivermore village and traffickers sold me to the butcher clark
16:34he's a devil he beat me every day but i couldn't die i have ava now i'll raise her myself
16:38let her
16:38return to the carters let her know her mom wasn't a slut my tears fell and blurred the ink on
16:43the
16:43letter so mom was telling the truth she wasn't the loose woman uncle called her or the homewrecker
16:47aunt claimed she was framed driven away by her own sister and dad and my uncle this so-called hero
16:54hated her for nine years over a few words never even giving her a chance to explain
16:59dad groaned softly his eyes slowly opened he had just woken up his gaze was still foggy but when he
17:05saw the skeleton his face turned pale like he'd seen a ghost ghost there's a ghost he struggled to
17:10get up but i stepped on his chest dad look closely that's no ghost that's mom my voice was soft
17:16but
17:16ice cold the same mom you chopped up and sold as pork dad started shaking his eyes filled with fear
17:23no that's not true ava don't listen to them she she died of illness he's still lying just like
17:29before when he made me drink mom's bone broth not a hint of shame she died of an illness i
17:33laughed
17:33through tears then tell me why is mom's skeleton here why do the scraps on the meat stall have the
17:38carter family's three red dots and why does your soup smell so foul it reeks i crouched down and grabbed
17:45his hair i shoved his face toward mom's skeleton look you'd better look carefully his screams echoed in
17:50he shook his head wildly his teeth rattled i didn't mean to she wouldn't listen she kept trying to run
17:55wanting to find the carters i beat her but she never gave in i had no choice i let go
18:00he crashed
18:02onto the ground so you killed her is it because she wanted to escape you because she wanted me to
18:06live
18:06enough a shout came from behind uncle had woken up he struggled to get up but the drug hadn't worn
18:12off yet his legs gave out he collapsed back down his eyes were full of shock and anger staring at
18:17me
18:17ava what are you doing he's your dad i turned to my uncle a mocking smile on my lips i
18:24turned to my
18:24uncle a mocking smile on my lips general don't forget my so-called dad killed your own sister
18:30chopped her up and sold the meat back then you hated my mom and said she shamed the carters but
18:34now look
18:34who really brought shame it's you uncle you never even knew the truth that aunt who framed her own
18:39sister and this beast of a father my aunt woke up too she covered her nose looking into the cellar
18:43her face twisted with disgust and fear you little bastard how dare you treat your dad like this and
18:48serena even dead she's still causing a mess look at this disgusting mess what a curse curse i walked
18:52up to her and threw mom's letter to uncle in her face and take a good look see how you
18:57framed my mom
18:58see how you made uncle hate her for nine years mom believed till her dying day you were her sister
19:02she always hoped the truth would come out one day but you you wanted her dead my aunt picked up
19:07the
19:07letter the more she read the paler she became no that's not true serena was the shameless one she
19:13seduced my husband first this letter is fake she kept arguing like someone cornered and losing it
19:18fake i pointed at my mom's skeletons can her skeletons be faked can dad's confession be faked
19:23can the villagers be faked too you thought your plan was flawless but you forgot mom had three red
19:27marks on her arm assign only the carters bears you forgot my dad sold meat with her skeletons mixed in
19:31my uncle picked up another letter it was written to the carter ancestor it detailed how my aunt framed her
19:37and the suffering in rivermore village the more he read the darker his face became his hands clenched
19:42the letter and his knuckles turned white clara it really was you his voice was hoarse filled with
19:46shock and pain no it wasn't me felix don't listen to this bastard she's turning us against each other
19:52and getting revenge on us my aunt screamed and rushed at me but i easily dodged mom taught me some
19:57basic
19:57skills i was never very good but dealing with a pampered woman like her was easy my cousin woke up
20:02too
20:02seeing everything she burst into tears she ran into my aunt's arms mom i'm scared i want to go
20:07home i want uncle to hold me my aunt held her tightly tears streamed down her face not from regret
20:12but
20:12from fear annie don't be scared i will take you home we'll go home right away she looked up at
20:17my
20:17uncle felix let us out this little bastard is crazy she wants to kill us my uncle said nothing he
20:23walked
20:23over to mom's skeleton and slowly knelt down serena i was wrong his voice choked tears fell onto the cold
20:28skeleton i believed others too easily i never looked for you and i let you suffer for so long
20:32he knelt and bowed three times each bow was hard his forehead soon swelled red serena don't worry i
20:38will avenge you i will clear your name he stood up his eyes turned firm he looked at dad and
20:43aunt
20:43clark you killed my sister cruelly i will make you suffer before you die clara you framed your own
20:49sister you ruined her life i will send you to the clan temple you will live there as a nun
20:53dad collapsed
20:54in fear he couldn't say a word and my aunt screamed no felix you can't do this i'm your sister
21:00annie is
21:00still so young she can't lose her mom you still remember annie can't lose her mom i said coldly
21:04what about me i grew up without a mom dad abused me uncle despised me you called me a bastard
21:09what did
21:10i ever do wrong just then loud banging came from the cellar door my uncle's men had arrived general
21:15are you inside we're here to save you my uncle took a deep breath he shouted toward the entrance i'm
21:20fine
21:21wait outside without my order do not come in the banging stopped my uncle turned to me ava i know
21:27no
21:27matter what i do i cannot make up for what i did to you and my sister but i hope
21:30you can give me a
21:31chance let me do something for you what do you want wealth or status or the carter's inheritance i
21:36can give it all to you i shook my head looking at mom's skeleton i said softly i want nothing
21:40i just
21:41want my mom to rest in peace and those who hurt her to pay the price all right my uncle
21:46nodded i'll
21:46give my sister a proper burial clark and clara will face the harshest punishment then will you come
21:51back to the carters with me i will treat you like my own daughter give you the best education you
21:55will
21:56be the real miss carter i hesitated mom's greatest wish was for me to return to carter's to know i
22:01was not a bastard but a member of the carter's but when i thought of the carter's of my uncle's
22:05past indifference and my aunt's cruelty i felt uneasy i i want to keep vigil by my mom's grave so
22:11in the end i refused after mom's matters are settled i'll decide where to go my uncle didn't
22:15force me he nodded all right i respect your choice whenever you want to return you'll always be
22:20welcome in the following days my uncle sent people to handle the cellar dad was thrown into the
22:25county jail my uncle ordered no food for him let him starve to death just like what he did to
22:29mom
22:29and me my aunt was sent to the clan temple she shaved her head and became a nun she would
22:34never
22:34stir trouble again mom's remains were carefully collected uncle had a fine coffin made her skeleton
22:40and the scattered flesh were placed inside when the villagers knew the truth they all pitied her
22:44many came to her funeral miss jane held my hand and cried ava your mom had a hard life now
22:50she can
22:50finally rest in peace mom was buried on the hill behind rivermore the view there is beautiful i can
22:55see the whole village my uncle personally set up her headstone it bears her name serena carter beside
22:59it are smaller words sister clara brother felix in mourning i stayed by my mom's grave for three
23:03months during those months my uncle often visited me he brought food and supplies he had tutors teach
23:07me reading writing and martial skills he said mom was the carter's most talented daughter skilled in
23:11both arts and combat he hoped i would carry on her legacy so i studied very hard because i knew
23:15this
23:15was what mom wished to see when mom first taught me to read she said ava girls must study too
23:20learn
23:20many skills only then will no one bully you now i finally have the chance to fulfill her wish three
23:25months later someone from the carters arrived he was my uncle's dad and mom's own dad he was already
23:31very old his hair and beard were white he leaned on a cane but his eyes were sharp when he
23:35saw me tears
23:35filled his eyes girl you've suffered your mom suffered too it was my fault i wrongly believed clara
23:41back then your mom was wrong he brought me a carter token a jade engraved with carter only heirs of
23:46the
23:46carters may carry it he asked me to return to the carters reclaim my place and inherit everything i
23:51looked at mom's grave softly i said mom grandfather came for me should i go back to the family a
23:55gentle
23:55wind passed leaves rustled softly as if she was answering me ava return to the family and live with
24:01dignity make me proud i nodded then followed grandfather and uncle back the carters are a powerful
24:06family the estate was enormous even grander than uncle's general mansion grandfather arranged
24:11a grand ceremony for my return so everyone would know i was serena's daughter a true young lady of
24:15the carters on the day of the ceremony the carters was decorated in celebration many guests arrived they
24:20looked at me with curiosity scrutiny and even awe i wore a splendid dress and a jade hairpin from
24:26grandfather standing before everyone i still felt uneasy i was used to the rough clothes of rivermore
24:31used to the damp darkness of the cellar this kind of wealth felt unfamiliar to me grandfather held
24:36my hand and introduced me this is my granddaughter ava her mom was my daughter serena from today on
24:42ava is the eldest lady of the carters no one may bully her everyone voiced their agreement but i could
24:47feel some looks of disdain and contempt they still remembered i was the girl from the countryside the
24:52little beggar abused by dad and scorned by uncle but i didn't care i only wanted to live well and
24:57live
24:57a wonderful life for mom during my days in the carters every day i studied and trained the teacher who
25:02taught me was a learned old scholar he taught me the classics poetry and painting the one who trained
25:07me was my uncle's officer he was highly skilled and very strict with me at first i struggled when
25:12studying the difficult texts drove me crazy and the training left my body sore but i did not give up
25:18i remembered what mom told me in the cellar the suffering she endured for me and i found the strength
25:23to keep going my uncle often visited me he was no longer cold there was guilt and care in his
25:28eyes
25:28sometimes he trained me himself and told me stories about mom your mom was once the pride of
25:33the carters my uncle sat beside me his eyes lost in thought she followed your grandpa to war at 15
25:38and won great victories even i could not match her swordsmanship but she was framed by clara
25:42and she ended up like that listened quietly my admiration for mom grew even more so my mom was an
25:49amazing woman ava i'm sorry my uncle suddenly spoke his voice was full of guilt back then i shouldn't
25:55have believed clara i shouldn't have been so cold to you and your mom if i had found you earlier
25:59your
25:59mom wouldn't have died and you wouldn't have suffered so much i looked at him and gently shook
26:03my head it's in the past but deep down i still resented him if he had believed mom back then
26:07if he
26:07had given me just one meal mom wouldn't have died and i wouldn't have endured so much suffering but i
26:12also knew hatred solves nothing it only brings more pain the days went by i gradually grew used to
26:17life in the carters my knowledge deepened my martial skills improved grandpa was very pleased with me
26:22he said i had mom's spirit my uncle saw me in a new light he said i was the carter
26:26family's future
26:26but i knew i did all this for mom i will live a wonderful life for her would prove that
26:32serena's
26:33daughter wasn't worthless but a person who stood tall one day my uncle told me dad starved to death
26:38in prison he died miserably like trash i felt neither sad nor happy it was simply his fate a few
26:45years later
26:45i grew up into a graceful young woman grandpa entrusted me with part of the business i managed it well
26:50everything in perfect order even better than uncle grandpa often said if mom were alive and saw me
26:56like this she would be very proud i often returned to rivermore to visit her grave every time i went
27:01i brought fresh steamed buns it's mom's favorite food and what i once longed for most i would sit
27:06by her grave and tell her how i'd been lately what i had learned and how kind the carters were
27:11to me
27:11one time i returned to rivermore i met mr taylor who once bought the meat when he saw me his
27:16face filled
27:17with guilt he dropped to his knees ava i'm sorry i didn't know it was your mom if i had
27:21known i would
27:22never have bought it i helped him up and said softly it's over my mom wouldn't blame you in truth
27:28the villagers were innocent they were deceived by my dad i asked them to return the meat only so my
27:34mom
27:34could rest in peace after returning from rivermore i heard some news my aunt had gone mad in the family
27:39hall every day she muttered my mom's name she said mom came for revenge i never went to see her
27:43i felt
27:44this was her fate she ruined mom's life in the end her guilt drove her mad years later grandpa fell
27:50gravely ill he held my hand and said ava my time is up the carters will depend on you remember
27:56this
27:57no matter what happens be as strong and brave as your mom i nodded tears ran down my face grandpa
28:03don't worry i will he smiled then he slowly breathed his last after grandpa passed away my uncle handed the
28:09power to me became the head of the family took charge of everything i launched a series of reforms
28:14the carters businesses flourished i also formed a women's army so women who suffered like i did can
28:20learn to protect themselves my reputation grew people began to say the carters now had an amazing
28:24female leader but i knew everything i achieved came from mom's strength one day i received a letter
28:29from the frontier it was from my uncle he said the border was in danger he would lead the army
28:34himself
28:34asked me to guard the carters keep things stable at home i agreed without hesitation i wrote back to him
28:39leave things at home to me go fight without worry after my uncle left for war i managed the
28:44businesses while keeping an eye on the frontier i knew the burden on him was heavy i couldn't let
28:49him worry a few months later good news came from the frontier my uncle had won the battle i led
28:53the
28:53carters to greet him seeing him return safely i finally felt relieved when he saw me his face was
28:59full of pride ava you've worked hard i smiled uncle it's what i should do that night the carters held
29:04a
29:04victory banquet at the feast my uncle raised his cup today i want to toast my niece ava if it
29:10weren't
29:10for her running the household i wouldn't have won ava you are the pride of the carters and your mom's
29:15pride too everyone raised their cups to me i stood up lifting my cup toward the distance it felt like
29:20i
29:20saw my mom's smile mom can you see i did it i lived a brilliant life for you and proved
29:26your innocence
29:27after the banquet ended i walked into the courtyard alone moonlight fell over me soft and bright rolled up
29:33my sleeve and looked at the scars on my wrist like rings of time they're etched on my body and
29:37in
29:38my heart these scars hold every hardship i've endured they also mark how far i've come they are
29:42my greatest treasure they remind me never to forget the past to cherish the present and face the future
29:48bravely memories of my childhood returned i remembered how my dad butchered my mom my uncle's
29:52cold gazes my aunt's cruel words and the sickening smell of blood in that dark cellar those memories are
29:58scars too etched into my life never to fade but i no longer hate hatred solves nothing it only brings
30:04pain so i chose to let it go and move forward carrying my mom's hope and my scars i will
30:10live
30:10well and make a life of my own another late autumn came i returned to rivermore weeds covered mom's grave
30:16i knelt down and slowly pulled the weeds away then i placed fresh magnolias there they were mom's favorite
30:21flowers just like the one on her hairpin the wind rustled through the leaves as if mom were smiling
30:26at me i stood up and looked into the distance sunlight fell over me warm and bright i know
30:31i still have a long way to go but i was no longer afraid because i knew mom would always
30:36be with me
30:36in my life and in my heart never leaving i turned and walked away my steps steady and calm knew
30:42i would
30:42grow into a woman as strong and as brave as my mom will make something of my life people who
30:47hurt us
30:48would never dare to look down on us again that winter a rare heavy snow fell the city was wrapped
30:53in
30:53silver the rooftops of the carters were heavy with snow from afar they looked frosted white
30:57i was checking the accounts in my study when iris spoke from outside her voice hesitant miss carter
31:02a girl is asking to see you she says she's from rivermore i sat down my pen my fingers brushed
31:07over the crowded lines in the ledger rivermore always stirred something soft inside me let her in
31:12moments later a thin girl followed iris into the room she looked about 13 her hair was dull and a
31:18bruise still marked her forehead her eyes were full of fear her hands clutched her clothes tightly
31:22shivering from the cold miss carter my name is mina miss jane told me to come at the mention of
31:27her
31:28i remembered the kind woman in rivermore so i asked gently did miss jane send you here for help
31:33tears instantly filled her eyes my dad my dad lost money gambling now he'll sell me to an old bachelor
31:39to his debt miss jane said you're a good person who might save me her voice faded it trembled with
31:44despair i don't want to marry him i want to study i want to live looking at her i saw
31:48the girl i once
31:49was huddled under a cold eve hungry and freezing the same helplessness the same hope for one chance
31:54to survive i stood and walked to her taking off my fur cloak and placing it on her shoulders it
31:58was a
31:58gift from grandpa the warm fur wrapped around her frozen body she flinched slightly and looked up at
32:03me eyes full of surprise don't be afraid i said softly now that you're in the carters no one will
32:08force
32:08you again i arranged a room for mina called a doctor for her wounds and hired a tutor to teach
32:12her
32:12reading and writing but a few days later the steward came to report that several elders were
32:16displeased they said i shouldn't have taken in some stray girl wasting the money they said i was still
32:21too rough not fit for the family that afternoon several white-haired elders blocked the hall leading
32:26them was my second grand uncle the most senior of the family leaning on his cane he said grimly miss
32:31carter we are a noble family how can you take in a stranger we don't even know her if trouble
32:36comes
32:36who will be responsible i stood on the steps the cold wind lifted my skirt and the scars on my
32:40wrist
32:41began to ache i looked at them in their eyes i saw doubt and the same disdain i had seen
32:45years ago
32:46from those who called me a bastard but i was no longer that helpless beggar girl i said calmly
32:51grand uncle iris is not a stranger she is a child from rivermore she has suffered all her life like
32:56me
32:56the carters wealth may come from our generations but our family creed has always been to help those
33:02in need if someone had helped my mom when she fell on hard times it wouldn't have ended this way
33:06i know
33:06what it's like to go hungry and be bullied i know the despair of having nowhere to go now that
33:10i have
33:11the means i just want to give girls like me a way out isn't that what the carters should stand
33:15for
33:15grand uncle froze the other elders exchanged looks i continued mina is bright and eager to learn in just
33:21days she memorized over 1 000 words one day she may become someone useful money is never wasted when
33:25it's spent where it matters as for trouble if anyone dares bring it to the carters i'll handle it
33:30my voice was calm but unwavering years of sword training had strengthened my body and given me
33:36the courage to face whatever comes the elders fell silent grand uncle sighed leaning on his cane he
33:41turned away you are the head of the carters now this decision is yours after they left iris handed
33:46me a cup of hot tea softly she said miss carter you looked just like your mom from years ago
33:50holding
33:51the warm tea my fingers felt its heat but my heart ached mom do you see i can finally protect
33:56others
33:56just like you protected me back then days passed mina grew more cheerful she studied hard and even
34:02learned bookkeeping from the accountant she improved quickly before long more suffering women came
34:07some were abused by their husbands others abandoned by family i took them all in i placed them in the
34:12women's guard and trained them to fight so they could defend themselves and serve the carters when spring
34:17arrived i brought iris and several sisters back to rivermore before mom's grave the magnolias had
34:23bloomed white petals against green grass pure and graceful i placed steamed buns by the grave
34:28and said softly mom i brought the sisters to see you they were once like me but now they have
34:32peace
34:32and the strength to protect themselves mina said miss serena deeply before the headstone with tears in
34:36her voice iris said miss nina thank you for your daughter she gave us a second life a gentle breeze
34:42passed petals drifted down like mom's soft reply i crouched down and traced the words on the stone
34:47my fingers felt cold i remembered mom teaching me to write i remembered her holding me and saying
34:52ava be strong i remembered her last wish to find my uncle now i had not only survived i had
34:57become the
34:57person mom hoped for i was not consumed by hatred instead kindness and mercy i did not forget the
35:02suffering i turned it into the strength to move forward after returning from rivermore news came
35:07again from the frontier the northern enemy had returned my uncle's army was trapped at yanel
35:10the news threw the carters into panic some elders panicked some proposed peace others suggested
35:17moving the capital i sat at the head of the hall watching them argue endlessly yet inside i was
35:21completely calm i remembered what my uncle said before he left for war ava leave things at home to
35:25me i trust you remembered mom's bravery on the battlefield and our daughters are just as formidable
35:30everyone please stay calm i stood up my voice was clear and steady yanel is easy to defend my uncle
35:35being trapped may not be a bad thing what we need now is not panic but supplies and reinforcements
35:42for my uncle i immediately ordered half of the granaries opened and carts sent to yanel from the
35:47women's guard i selected a hundred of the most skilled would lead them to the frontier myself before
35:52leaving i returned to mom's grave and bowed three times mom i am going to aid uncle do not worry
35:57i will
35:57protect myself i will protect the carters and our homeland the day we departed the sun shone bright the
36:03convoy rolled out of the capital i rode at the front wearing the armor my mom once wore it was
36:07found among her belongings the armor still carried the faint scent of gunpowder i traced the patterns
36:12on the armor it felt like mom's presence the scar on my wrist ached with every jolt of the horse
36:17it was
36:17a mark of growth a source of strength i knew the road ahead would not be easy the battle at
36:22yanel
36:22would be fierce but i was not afraid because i knew mom was watching from above our ancestors were
36:27watching too and the women i had helped were watching as well i ava am no longer that helpless beggar
36:32i am the one who leads the carters i will stand for my homeland the road ahead is long and
36:37the
36:37journey won't be easy but i will carry mom's love and her hopes along with my scars and strength i
36:41will keep moving forward i will show the world that the women of the carters are never weak i will
36:46also show mom that her daughter did not fail her last wish i will live with honor and walk in
36:50the
36:50light wind swept the grasslands hooves thundered i look toward yanel with unwavering eyes i will give
36:56everything to protect my country and the carters and to protect women like me who long for light and
37:01freedom so they will never again be bullied or suffer
37:04you
37:04you
37:04you
37:05you
37:05you
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