- 12 hours ago
The Cursed Alpha King's Destined Mate Engsub Episode⚡️
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:07My name is Alara Ashcroft, the Earl's illegitimate daughter.
00:15The stain this family has tried to hide.
00:18Today, they finally decide to send me to my death.
00:22Stand up straight, Alara.
00:25Being sent to the palace is the last shred of dignity left to you.
00:29The Holy Church has spoken.
00:31The House of Ashcroft must provide a sacrificial bride.
00:37Father, you're not sending me, are you?
00:39Of course not.
00:44So you chose me.
00:46Your mother was labeled a witch.
00:48You are the jinx she left behind.
00:50Sending you to the palace is not sacrificed as penance.
00:53Penance for whose sins?
00:54Mine or yours?
00:56Everyone in the capital knows no woman survives a night in the king's chamber.
01:00If your death buys this family the church's pardon, at least you'll be useful once.
01:05And if I refuse?
01:06Then you will burn at the stake.
01:09Condemned as the daughter of a witch.
01:11Name your choice, Alara.
01:14The stake?
01:16Or the king's bed?
01:18They never care about my well-being.
01:19What they fear is me coming back alive.
01:22Fine.
01:23I'll go.
01:24Remember this.
01:25Before sunrise, you'll be a corpse.
01:28If the cursed king truly is a monster, then tonight he is about to meet another creature.
01:34One who wants to live.
01:37They push me into the room where a sheet of parchment is already waiting on the table.
01:45Sign it.
01:47What is it?
01:48The sacrificial bridal decree.
01:50From this night on, your life belongs to the crown and the church.
01:55So you aren't even pretending anymore.
01:57Your mother was a witch.
01:59Someone of your birth doesn't deserve a sacred marriage.
02:02Hurry.
02:03The king hates waiting.
02:06My mother was not a witch.
02:08Enough!
02:11What she was no longer matters.
02:14Of course it doesn't matter.
02:17Once I die too, you have nothing to worry about.
02:20Sign it, Alara.
02:21Don't force me to have your hand held down.
02:24I take the quill.
02:26My fingers tremble.
02:28They think this is the end.
02:31But I know better.
02:32This is only the opening move.
02:35Fine.
02:37I'll sign.
02:41Then pray that I die in that palace.
02:45What is that supposed to mean?
02:47Because if I return alive...
02:51I'll make every one of you regret the day you sent me away.
02:57You won't survive the night.
02:59Just you wait.
03:02The moment the carriage door slams shut...
03:06The bells begin to toll, like a funeral being rung in my name.
03:10And in that very moment, I make a vow.
03:12I will not die.
03:16Near midnight, the carriage stops before the royal palace.
03:19Black spires cut into the night sky.
03:21The whole palace looks like a grave built to swallow the living.
03:28Get down.
03:32When I step down, several noble girls are already waiting before the gates.
03:37I heard the last one they sent in was unrecognizable by dawn.
03:42Enough.
03:43I don't want to die.
03:44I'm afraid too.
03:46But I know fear is the most useless thing in a place like this.
03:51Stand straight.
03:53The woman speaking is the palace mistress who oversees the sacrificial brides.
03:58From this moment on, no crying, no screaming, and no looking directly at the king.
04:04Whatever the king commands, you obey.
04:07And if we refuse?
04:10Then you will die miserably.
04:13Her words are devoid of any emotion, making the threat even more chilling.
04:18Is the king truly as terrifying as the rumors claim?
04:22Remember your name, Miss Ashcroft.
04:25By sunrise, no one else will remember you.
04:31She leads us through the corridors.
04:34The palace is unnervingly still, the flames barely flickering.
04:40At the end of the hall, I hear a woman cry out.
04:46Who is that?
04:48The first woman summoned tonight.
04:52Everyone freezes.
04:54Because what waits behind that door is no bedchamber.
04:57It is an execution ground.
05:00Heads up.
05:03From now on, learn to wait for death in silence.
05:09Just before the door shuts, a sharper scream tears through the hall.
05:13And in that moment, I know I may be next.
05:20That night, we are locked in the same room.
05:26No one dares sleep.
05:30Will she come back?
05:34No.
05:37No.
05:37No.
05:38No woman who enters the king's chamber ever comes out alive.
05:41Have you seen it yourselves?
05:44At dawn, the guards carry them out through the side gate, under white cloth.
05:50Death, I sit curled in the corner, my heart sinking.
05:56They all fear the king.
06:00But I think the most terrifying thing in this palace is not him.
06:06Up, all of you.
06:10Is it our turn?
06:12Only one was summoned tonight.
06:17What happened to her?
06:18No questions.
06:20It is none of your concern.
06:24There is blood on her sleeve.
06:27Bright and fresh.
06:31I don't want to die.
06:33Crying won't save you.
06:36They all look at me.
06:39I'm not even sure if I'm telling them or myself.
06:42Listen well.
06:44His Majesty will summon no one else tonight.
06:49I survived tonight, but I know it's only for now.
06:54Death could still find me.
07:00I do not sleep at all.
07:03If I remain here, I die sooner or later.
07:08So before dawn comes, I decide to run.
07:14If I don't leave now, I never will.
07:20I quietly push the door open.
07:23The guard outside is slumped against the wall, barely awake.
07:31Holding my breath, I slip into the corridor.
07:35The palace at night is cold as a crypt.
07:42I have no idea where the exit lies.
07:45I only know I need to get as far from that bed as possible.
07:52Left or right?
07:54As I hesitate, I hear a low, restrained growl.
07:59Like a beast.
08:01I follow the sound and stop before a black door.
08:06Chains wrap around it,
08:08and holy markings are carved across the wood.
08:12Something behind it is breathing.
08:18This doesn't look like a way out.
08:20In the next second,
08:22a much more terrifying growl slams from the other side,
08:26as if it is inviting me to step inside.
08:32I should turn and run.
08:35But my hand somehow reaches for the handle.
08:40I've lost my mind.
08:42I must have.
08:43The door is not locked.
08:47I push it open,
08:48and the cold smell of blood strikes me at once.
08:54Inside lies an underground sanctuary.
08:58Stone pillars,
08:59holy icons,
09:01candlelight,
09:04and a man bound in chains.
09:08Oh my.
09:10Chains bind his wrists,
09:12throat,
09:13and waist.
09:15His upper body is bare,
09:17and bleeding holy scars cut across his chest.
09:21His head hangs low.
09:26As if he is fighting something inside himself.
09:31The moment I step closer,
09:34he snaps his head up.
09:40His eyes are bloodshot,
09:42and terrifying.
09:46Get out!
09:50He jerks once,
09:51and the chains snap taut with a shriek.
09:57In that instant,
09:58a realization dawns on me.
10:00This is not a cell,
10:02and the one chained here is no prisoner.
10:08He is the king,
10:09cursed by holy punishment.
10:12The king stares at me
10:13as though he could tear me apart
10:15in the next breath.
10:17But I do not leave.
10:22Do you hear me?
10:26I do.
10:27But you look...
10:29in pain.
10:31Shut up!
10:32He jerks against the chains again.
10:34Blood spilling from his wrists and chest.
10:37What keeps me rooted there
10:39is not the blood.
10:41It is his eyes.
10:43There is more than madness in them.
10:45There is pain.
10:47If you truly wanted me dead,
10:50you would have done it already.
10:53Don't come closer.
10:55Why?
10:56Because right now...
11:00I'm a monster.
11:05Though I am shaking with fear,
11:07I still step closer.
11:10Then let me tell you something.
11:13What?
11:14I do not plan to die tonight.
11:17In the next second,
11:19his whole body goes rigid.
11:21The chains,
11:22rattling from his struggles,
11:24slowly come to rest.
11:31What did you do to me?
11:34I did nothing.
11:36Yet beneath my hand,
11:38that frantic man calms down.
11:42Before I can pull back,
11:44he seizes my wrist.
11:48You...
11:50Don't go.
11:52This time,
11:53his voice does not sound like a command.
11:56It sounds like a plea.
11:58Weren't you trying to kill me a moment ago?
12:02I...
12:02couldn't help myself.
12:04And now?
12:07I feel better.
12:09Don't leave.
12:11The red has not fully faded from his eyes.
12:15But he does not lunge at me again.
12:20You're hurting me.
12:23Sorry.
12:24I am surprised.
12:27The monster who kills women in his bed
12:29has just apologized to me.
12:31What kind of curse are you carrying?
12:34It is not for you to know.
12:36But you stopped.
12:40Because of you.
12:43In the next instant,
12:44he drags me into his arms.
12:47I crash against his burning chest.
12:49He holds me like his life depends on it.
12:53Don't move.
12:56I try to pull away,
12:57but I can't.
12:59He buries his face against my neck.
13:02And little by little,
13:03his breathing steadies.
13:06He is like a wounded beast.
13:09One that has finally found somewhere to rest.
13:14I've planned to escape.
13:16Yet somehow,
13:17I fall asleep in that man's arms.
13:20When I wake again,
13:22morning has come.
13:23The underground sanctuary is eerily still.
13:26I lift my head and freeze at once.
13:29The chains are still there.
13:31But the frantic creature from last night is gone.
13:35In its place is a striking man.
13:38One who is also dangerous.
13:40Oh no.
13:41I have spent the entire night pressed against him.
13:45No.
13:46I have to go.
13:48The instant I try to rise,
13:49his arms tighten around me.
13:55Don't go.
13:57You're awake?
13:58He does not answer.
14:00But his arms remain locked at my waist.
14:02I can't waste any more time.
14:05I break free from his arms.
14:07Nothing happened last night.
14:09You never saw me,
14:11and I never saw you.
14:13With that,
14:14I turn and run.
14:15But just as I reach the last stone step,
14:17I hear chains rattle violently behind me.
14:21He is awake.
14:23Well,
14:25I've messed with someone
14:26I never should have.
14:29Dawn is only breaking
14:31when I make it back to the women's quarters.
14:33No one notices I was gone,
14:35but I feel so flustered
14:37that I break into a cold sweat.
14:40Calm down, Alara.
14:42Calm down.
14:44Up, all of you!
14:48What's wrong?
14:51His majesty commands
14:52that all sacrificial brides
14:55report to the front hall at once.
14:58Every face in the room turns pale,
15:01and I know better than any of them
15:02that this
15:03has everything to do with last night.
15:07Then steady footsteps
15:09echoes through the chamber.
15:10It is not the king.
15:12It is Sir Lucian,
15:14his most trusted
15:16black knight commander.
15:18Heads up.
15:19He studies
15:20every girl in turn
15:22and finally stops
15:24before me.
15:25In moments,
15:26I am left alone
15:28in the hall.
15:30Sweat gathers in my palms.
15:34I know I can't keep the secret
15:36I wanted to hide anymore.
15:39His majesty
15:40will see you now.
15:44The man who held me
15:45all night,
15:46the one I ran away from,
15:48summons me.
15:54As I follow Lucian
15:55down the corridor,
15:57my palms start to sweat.
15:58I know the secret
15:59of last night
16:00can no longer be hidden.
16:04Go in.
16:06The door shuts behind me.
16:08The chamber is dim.
16:10At the far end,
16:11a man sits
16:12in a high-backed chair.
16:13He is dressed
16:14in black royal robes,
16:16looking perfectly fine.
16:18Look at me.
16:22I slowly raise my head.
16:25It is him.
16:28I would never mistake
16:29those eyes.
16:31Your majesty.
16:33Where did you go
16:34last night?
16:37I remained
16:39in my room.
16:41Liar.
16:42If your majesty
16:44has already decided,
16:45why ask?
16:47He rises
16:48and walks toward me.
16:51He is clear-minded now.
16:53And more dangerous
16:55than he was last night.
16:57I remember your scent.
16:59And what of it?
17:01It was you.
17:03I do not admit it.
17:06But he is already
17:08standing in front of me.
17:11Stay.
17:12This time I know.
17:14He has set his sights on me.
17:18The doors are shut.
17:20There is nowhere
17:20for me to retreat.
17:22As Cassian moves closer,
17:24I barely dare breathe.
17:25Your majesty.
17:27You've already seen me.
17:29May I leave now?
17:31No.
17:32Why?
17:33You calmed me last night.
17:35Only you can.
17:38I don't understand.
17:42You do.
17:43He lifts a hand,
17:45his fingers brushing my chin.
17:47Let go of me.
17:48You touched my face
17:49last night.
17:51You held me.
17:52It was you
17:53who held me.
17:55The moment the words
17:56leave my mouth,
17:57I go rigid.
17:59So you admit it
18:00at last.
18:01I was trying
18:02to stay alive.
18:04Then stay with me.
18:06Why should I trust you?
18:09You survived last night.
18:12That makes you more dangerous
18:13to me than anyone else.
18:16He suddenly leans in,
18:17his breath touching my face.
18:21And now?
18:22His mouth crashes down
18:24on mine.
18:25The king,
18:26who brings death
18:27to every woman near him,
18:28is kissing me.
18:32I should push him away.
18:35But Cassius' kiss
18:36is fierce.
18:37It feels less like a kiss
18:39and more like he is
18:40trying to devour me.
18:44Don't pull away.
18:47You're insane.
18:48I've been insane
18:49for years.
18:50He kisses me again,
18:51deeper and harder
18:52than before.
18:53I should be scared.
18:54But my body goes limp
18:56before I can resist.
18:57You were bold enough
18:58to touch me last night.
18:59That was because
19:00you looked like
19:00you were dying.
19:01And now?
19:02Now you're dangerous.
19:05Cassian!
19:06It is the first time
19:07I say his name.
19:09Say my name again.
19:12Put me down.
19:14His hand slides to my waist
19:16and suddenly stops.
19:18I notice the holy scars
19:19across his chest
19:20begin to slip open.
19:23Your wounds.
19:25When he lifts his head,
19:27his eyes darken.
19:31The curse has returned.
19:45The man who kissed me
19:46breathless a moment ago
19:47changes in an instant.
19:49His breathing turns rougher
19:51and his gaze turns terrifying.
19:54Cassian?
19:56Get back.
19:58You're bleeding.
19:59I said get back!
20:02He sweeps the candelabrum
20:04off the table
20:05and fire bursts
20:06across the floor.
20:08I try to jump down,
20:10but he catches my ankle
20:11and drags me back.
20:13Let go!
20:14He yanks me into him.
20:16Just like last night,
20:17he is out of control again.
20:19Don't push me.
20:20I did nothing wrong!
20:21And then the next second,
20:23he bites down hard
20:25on my mouth.
20:26He is kissing me so hard
20:28I can barely breathe.
20:30When I realize
20:31he's lost it,
20:32I act on instinct
20:33and slap him.
20:35The room falls
20:36into dead silence.
20:38Even I can't believe
20:40I just struck a king.
20:43Get out.
20:45What?
20:46Get out
20:47before I kill you!
20:50I fall from the table,
20:52snatch up my robe,
20:52and run.
20:53I know that if I had been
20:54one second slower,
20:55I would have died tonight.
20:58By the time I make it back
21:00to the women's quarters,
21:01clutching my crow,
21:01my legs are still shaking.
21:03But the first thing
21:04waiting for them
21:05is not concern.
21:06It is mockery.
21:10She came back!
21:12How is that possible?
21:13Why is she still alive?
21:15Looks like the king
21:16didn't even want to touch her.
21:18Makes sense.
21:19Who would want a bastard
21:20like her?
21:21Are you finished?
21:24How dare you
21:25speak to me like that?
21:26Watch your words.
21:27At least I came back alive.
21:30Their faces change
21:31all at once.
21:32Don't get smug!
21:33Next time you'll die
21:34all the same!
21:36Let's wait and see.
21:38I have barely sat down
21:39when the door opens again.
21:42Allura Ashcrossed.
21:46What may I?
21:48His Majesty summons you.
21:51What?
21:52The room erupts
21:53in disbelief.
21:54I freeze,
21:55because I know better
21:56than any of them
21:57that the king
21:57almost lost control
21:58and killed me
21:59and now he is told
22:00to me again.
22:01Come with me.
22:02Now.
22:04It turns out
22:08this journey
22:08of the beginning.
22:12This time
22:13the mistress
22:13takes me deeper
22:14into the palace.
22:15Not to the front hall
22:17and not to an ordinary chamber,
22:19but into the part
22:20of the palace
22:21meant for the king alone.
22:23Where exactly
22:23are you taking me?
22:25Be quiet
22:26and keep walking.
22:27When the doors
22:28at the end
22:28of the hall open,
22:30the smell of blood
22:31rushes straight at me.
22:33The next moment
22:34I see Cassian.
22:36He stands by the window,
22:37robes half open,
22:38blood on his hands
22:39and across one shoulder.
22:40Are you hurt?
22:42The moment
22:42the words leave me,
22:44even I'm startled.
22:46Insolence!
22:47Leave us.
22:49After the mistress
22:50with Dries,
22:51only he and I remain.
22:54It isn't mine.
22:56What is it?
22:56Not afraid of me anymore?
22:59I am.
23:00It's just that
23:01you seem to have
23:02no intention
23:02of killing me tonight.
23:04He looks up at me
23:05and for the briefest instant
23:06there is amusement
23:07in his eyes.
23:09You've grown bolder.
23:11Perhaps
23:12because you almost
23:13killed me once.
23:14He walks towards me.
23:15This time
23:16he does not touch me.
23:18Yet there's something
23:19terrifying
23:19about his presence.
23:22Good.
23:24I prefer people
23:25who don't shatter
23:26so easily.
23:26I know.
23:27He did not summon me tonight.
23:29Merely to compliment me.
23:33The room is so quiet
23:35that only the crackling fire
23:37can be heard.
23:38Cassian has changed
23:39out of the blood-stained robes.
23:42Last night you touched me.
23:45I know.
23:47And you did not die.
23:48Yes.
23:50So I am offering you
23:52an opportunity.
23:55That doesn't sound promising.
23:59Stay by my side.
24:02And then?
24:04Bear me an air.
24:06My heart skips a beat.
24:10What?
24:12Here is the deal.
24:15You stay with me
24:16and give me a child.
24:19After that
24:20I will grant you
24:21your freedom.
24:23He talks as if
24:23I should be thanking him.
24:25But I feel suffocated.
24:28So in your eyes
24:29I'm just a vessel
24:30for you to have an air?
24:32If that's how you see it.
24:34You want my answer?
24:37No.
24:37The man I'm refusing
24:38is not just the king.
24:40He's the most dangerous man
24:42in the kingdom.
24:44The moment the words
24:45leave my mouth
24:46the air seems to freeze.
24:49Caspius stares at me
24:50his gaze darkening.
24:52Do you know
24:53whom you are refusing?
24:54I do.
24:56A king who believes
24:58everything should belong to him.
24:59He closes the distance
25:01in a single stride.
25:03In the next second
25:04his hand is around my throat.
25:08Do not test my patience.
25:12This time there is
25:13none of last night's chaos.
25:14He is threatening me
25:16while he's completely
25:16clear-headed.
25:18Then hear me clearly.
25:21I would rather die
25:23than obey.
25:25His fingers tighten.
25:27I think I might really
25:28die this time.
25:29But in the next moment
25:31he lets go.
25:33Three days.
25:36What?
25:38I'm giving you three days
25:39to think it over.
25:41In three days
25:42you had better give me
25:43an answer I like.
25:45And if I still refuse?
25:48Then I will take
25:50what I want myself.
25:52He intends to keep me here
25:54until I give in.
25:56Unfortunately for him
25:57I will not surrender.
26:00When I am sent back
26:02to the quarters
26:02the marks of Cassius' fingers
26:04are still on my throat.
26:06Three days.
26:08It is a countdown.
26:13I have to get out.
26:14But the moment
26:15I reach the doorway
26:16someone blocks my path.
26:19It is Rosaline.
26:21My dear sister.
26:22Lucky you survived.
26:24Move.
26:26Do you truly think
26:27surviving the king's bed
26:28places you above me?
26:30At least I came back alive.
26:31While all you can do
26:32is stand here
26:33and be jealous of me.
26:35Seize her!
26:36In the next second
26:38several women
26:39throw themselves at me
26:40and pin me down.
26:41Let go!
26:42The king doesn't kill you
26:43and now you think
26:44you are special?
26:45Do you know what
26:46I hate most about you?
26:48You hate that
26:49I'm still alive.
26:51Exactly.
26:52She raises her hand
26:53with a vicious smile.
26:55Then let me remind you
26:56how bastards
26:57are meant to live.
26:58On their knees.
27:00Her hand is about
27:01to strike.
27:03But then
27:04a violent crash
27:06sounds outside the door.
27:07Someone has forced
27:09the door open.
27:14The crash freezes
27:16everyone in place.
27:18Lying on the floor
27:19I manage to lift my head.
27:21The man standing
27:22in the doorway
27:23is Cassian.
27:24He is dressed in black
27:25his expression dark
27:27and terrifying
27:27to everyone in the room.
27:29He looks ready
27:30to kill someone
27:31right then and there.
27:33Who touched her?
27:36No one dares speak.
27:39Your majesty.
27:40I asked
27:42who touched her.
27:43His voice
27:44is not loud
27:45but it sends shivers
27:46down everyone's spine.
27:48The hands
27:49pinning me down
27:49let go.
27:52I have barely
27:53regained my foot
27:54with Cassian
27:54as already before me.
27:56He sees the marks
27:57on my throat
27:58then my rumpled
27:59clothes
28:00and his gaze
28:01grows even colder.
28:03Who touched you?
28:06Can't you guess?
28:09He doesn't answer.
28:11He simply yanks me
28:13straight into his arms.
28:14The room falls
28:15deathly silent.
28:17Your majesty
28:18she's only a
28:20Silence.
28:21Rosaline's face
28:22goes pale.
28:23From this moment on
28:24she is under
28:26my protection.
28:27My heart
28:28jolts hard
28:30because that
28:31does not
28:31sound like
28:32protection.
28:34It sounds
28:35like a claim.
28:37Come with me.
28:39I thought the king
28:40was only interested
28:41in me.
28:42Now I understand.
28:43He intends
28:44to drag me
28:45into his world.
28:48As Cassian
28:49leads me out
28:49of that room
28:50everyone stares
28:51at me.
28:52Rosaline's gaze
28:52holds nothing
28:53but malice.
28:57Your majesty
28:58she's only a
28:58bastard.
28:59Did I permit you
29:00to speak?
29:01Rosaline's face
29:02goes pale
29:03and falls silent
29:04at once.
29:05Cassian's arm
29:06is still around
29:07my waist.
29:07It seems he wants
29:09everyone in the room
29:09to see it.
29:15You can let go
29:16of me now.
29:17No.
29:20You already
29:21got me out
29:22of there.
29:24I'm not
29:24saving you.
29:26Then what
29:27are you doing?
29:28From today
29:28on
29:30anyone
29:30who comes
29:31for you
29:31will pay
29:32for it.
29:33Why do you
29:34decide things
29:35for me?
29:36The moment
29:37you walked
29:38out of my
29:38chamber
29:38alive
29:40this ceased
29:41to concern
29:41only you.
29:43This isn't
29:44a win.
29:45He has truly
29:46mocked me
29:47as his possession.
29:48This only
29:49makes it
29:49harder for me
29:50to survive
29:51here.
29:51Then learn
29:52to survive
29:53at my side.
29:54I lift my
29:54head and meet
29:55Rosaline's eyes
29:56burning with
29:57hatred.
29:58I know
29:59that from
29:59this day
30:00forward
30:00she'll hate
30:01me even more.
30:04The next
30:04day
30:05the court
30:06holds a banquet
30:07of penance.
30:10officially
30:11it honors
30:12the church.
30:14In truth
30:15it is to
30:16show the
30:16nobles
30:17where the
30:17king
30:17stands.
30:19And I'm
30:20seated at
30:21his side.
30:28Must I
30:29really sit
30:29here?
30:31You had
30:32no trouble
30:33speaking your
30:33mind last
30:34night.
30:38That doesn't
30:38mean I want
30:39everyone
30:39staring at
30:40me.
30:40Let them
30:41stare.
30:42Soon I
30:42see my
30:43father,
30:43my
30:44stepmother,
30:45and
30:45Rosaline.
30:47When they
30:48enter the
30:48hall,
30:49they clearly
30:49didn't expect
30:50Speck to
30:51see me
30:51there.
30:53Elora?
30:56That's
30:57impossible.
30:58Why is
30:59she sitting
31:00there?
31:01Elora,
31:02come here.
31:03let me
31:04have a
31:05good look
31:05at you.
31:06You must
31:06have
31:06mistaken
31:06me
31:07for
31:07someone
31:07else.
31:11You
31:12didn't
31:12treat me
31:12like
31:13family
31:13when you
31:13signed
31:14me
31:14into
31:14a
31:14sacrificial
31:15decree.
31:18Do you
31:19truly
31:19think you
31:20belong in
31:20a place
31:21like this?
31:23At least
31:23I didn't
31:24send someone
31:24else to
31:25die for
31:25me.
31:27Rosaline's
31:28expression
31:28twists at
31:29once.
31:35She
31:35now
31:36stands
31:36under
31:37my
31:37protection.
31:38The
31:38entire
31:39hall
31:39goes
31:40quiet.
31:43Then
31:43a voice
31:44rings out
31:45from the
31:45entrance.
31:48Envoys
31:49of the
31:49Holy
31:49Church
31:50arrive.
31:53The
31:54moment
31:54the
31:54church
31:54envoys
31:55enter,
31:55the
31:56great
31:56hall
31:56falls
31:57silent.
31:57everyone
31:58knows
31:59they
31:59didn't
31:59come
31:59to
31:59observe.
32:00They
32:01came
32:01to
32:01decide
32:01who
32:02should
32:02live
32:02and
32:03who
32:03should
32:03die.
32:04Your
32:04majesty,
32:05your
32:05grace.
32:07Both
32:08men are
32:08perfectly
32:09polite.
32:10But that
32:11politeness
32:12feels worse
32:12than open
32:13hostility.
32:15So this
32:16is the
32:16girl who
32:16survived
32:17the
32:17holy
32:17marriage
32:18night.
32:19I
32:19have
32:19a
32:19name.
32:20Your
32:21name
32:21is
32:22irrelevant.
32:22What
32:23matters
32:23is why
32:24you're
32:25still
32:25alive.
32:26Perhaps
32:27God
32:27failed
32:28once
32:28at
32:28last.
32:29Someone
32:30lets
32:30out
32:30a
32:31gasp
32:31of
32:31shock.
32:32Holy
32:33punishment
32:33does
32:34not
32:34air.
32:34Then
32:35perhaps
32:35what
32:36you
32:36call
32:36holy
32:36punishment
32:37was
32:37never
32:37God's
32:38doing
32:38to
32:38begin
32:39with.
32:40Malrek
32:40studies
32:41me
32:41with
32:41scrutiny.
32:43The
32:43church
32:43will
32:44take
32:44her
32:44for
32:44further
32:45investigation.
32:47My
32:47heart
32:47drops.
32:49I
32:49do
32:50not
32:50permit
32:50it.
32:51Does
32:51your
32:52majesty
32:52mean
32:52to
32:52shelter
32:53a
32:53heretic?
32:54I
32:54just
32:54don't
32:55like
32:55it when
32:55people
32:55take
32:56someone
32:56that's
32:56under
32:56my
32:57protection.
32:59If she
33:00is a
33:00heretic,
33:01then she
33:02remains
33:03mine to
33:03judge.
33:04The
33:05hall
33:05falls into
33:06stunned
33:06silence.
33:07Cassian's
33:08at
33:09at
33:09at last
33:09I
33:10understand.
33:12The
33:13church
33:13isn't
33:14merely
33:14suspicious
33:15of me.
33:16They're
33:16trying to
33:17claim
33:17me.
33:20When
33:20the banquet
33:21ends,
33:21I'm not
33:21sent back
33:22to the
33:22old
33:22quarters.
33:23The
33:24mistress
33:24leads
33:24me
33:25instead
33:25into
33:25a
33:25chamber
33:26in
33:26the
33:26east
33:26wing
33:27beside
33:27the
33:27king's
33:27own
33:28rooms.
33:29And
33:30what
33:30place
33:30is
33:30this
33:30supposed
33:31to
33:31be?
33:32From
33:32tonight
33:32onward,
33:33you
33:34reside
33:34here.
33:35I
33:35didn't
33:35agree
33:35to
33:36that.
33:37His
33:37majesty
33:38had no
33:38intention
33:38of asking
33:39for your
33:39opinion.
33:41She
33:41opens the
33:42door to
33:42an
33:43extravagant
33:43room.
33:44Compared
33:45to what
33:45I had
33:46before,
33:46it feels
33:47less like
33:48a chamber
33:48but a
33:48gilded
33:49cage.
33:50It
33:50seems
33:50I've
33:51just
33:51been
33:51moved
33:51to
33:51another
33:52cage.
33:53Countless
33:54women
33:54would
33:54beg
33:55for the
33:55chance
33:55to
33:55stay
33:56here.
33:57Then
33:57let
33:57them
33:57have
33:58it.
34:02The
34:02mistress
34:03leaves
34:03with a
34:03hard
34:04stare.
34:04At
34:05last,
34:06I'm
34:06alone.
34:07I
34:08go to
34:08the
34:08window
34:09and
34:09can
34:09see
34:09the
34:09high
34:10tower
34:10where
34:10the
34:10king
34:11lives
34:11from
34:11here.
34:12As
34:13I
34:13think
34:13about
34:14how
34:14to
34:14leave,
34:14footsteps
34:15sound
34:16outside.
34:17In
34:17the
34:17next
34:18second,
34:18the
34:19door
34:19opens.
34:22Caspian
34:23enters.
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