- 7 hours ago
Fire, Blood, and Her Revenge
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Elmist Continents is ruled by three powerful territorial realm tribes.
00:05Bren Realm Tribe, Alden Realm Tribe, and Evil Kingdom.
00:10The north is controlled by the wolf-riding Bren Realm Tribe.
00:14The south is ruled by the dragon-controlled Alden Realm Tribe.
00:19I am the princess of the Evil Kingdom. My father reigns as the king of the entire realm.
00:23On my 18th birthday, I was brought into the palace hall.
00:26As the daughter of the king of the entire realm, I had to choose one of the lords from the
00:29two major realm tribes as my political spouse.
00:32The chosen one would be crowned as the supreme ruler of the continent.
00:35Eve, who will you choose?
00:38I choose. I did not hesitate at all. I chose KZ Alden.
00:42He is the coldest and fiercest dragon lord of the southern territory.
00:47Feared by everyone, no one dares to approach.
00:50No! You should have chosen me!
00:53In every noble banquet before, I had expressed my feelings to him, and even once took a poisonous arrow for
01:00him.
01:03But they didn't know.
01:05My previous life, I married Cain.
01:07On the wedding day, he committed adultery with my cousin, Lina.
01:11Help! Please!
01:14During the pregnancy, he humiliated me in every possible way and finally locked me in the dungeon.
01:18I and my unborn child died with resentment.
01:22When I opened my eyes again, I returned to the time before marrying him.
01:27This life, I decided to fulfill his love affair.
01:32But unexpectedly, Cain would go crazy with regret for me.
01:43Just as I walked out of the council hall and crossed the training ground,
01:48I saw him.
01:50Cain.
01:52He was training with the soldiers,
01:54accompanied by that giant ice plane white wolf.
01:58A flash of silver light passed.
02:01His curved knife came off his hand and smashed heavily onto the ground,
02:05landing three feet in front of my boots.
02:09Without even raising his head, he commanded sternly,
02:13Pick it up!
02:14Yeah!
02:17The soldiers instantly froze.
02:20Their eyes fixed on me,
02:22waiting to see a good show.
02:25I knew this trick too well.
02:29In my previous life,
02:31just because I always did whatever he said,
02:33he treated me like a lowerly servant.
02:37You dropped it.
02:39Pick it up yourself.
02:47Anger surging in his eyes.
02:55Say that again.
03:08Well, Eve,
03:09you've changed your tooth.
03:10Only days ago,
03:11you were utterly devoted to him,
03:13and now you put on Prince Lies as a princess.
03:15You were once his shadow,
03:17clinging to his side every day.
03:19Do you think your father,
03:20the High King,
03:21would be proud of how you carry yourself now?
03:23The faces of those two young masters
03:24instantly turned pale.
03:26My gaze cold,
03:27I swept a glance over the two of them.
03:29Your fathers live only by clinging to the Able Kingdom.
03:32You are nothing but distant vassal.
03:33How dare you pass judgment on me?
03:35Hide those repulsive, fanning looks of yours.
03:37Lena limped over,
03:38one leg of her pants stained with blood.
03:40The wound on her leg was self-inflicted,
03:42deliberately,
03:42in order to frame me
03:43and make Cain despise me even more.
03:45She squatted down,
03:46biting her lip tightly.
03:47I had tried to explain,
03:49but he refused to believe me.
03:53I told you to rest.
03:54Why did you come true, Lady?
03:55Lena leakers her yens.
04:00Cain,
04:01I was worried about you.
04:03I heard you were training.
04:04I was afraid you might get hurt.
04:06Princess Eve is of noble status.
04:08She can't do such rough work.
04:09But I think
04:10I can do something for you.
04:14Can't you learn from Lena?
04:15You hurt her like this
04:16and you still want her to do these things?
04:18You just stand there like a spoiled waste!
04:22Are you begging your father again
04:24with the sympathy act to marry me?
04:34Eve, you are so pathetic.
04:37Only using tricks to force me to stay by your side.
04:40I looked utterly disdained.
04:42My tone calm.
04:45I didn't say anything.
04:47I just told my father
04:48that my coming-of-age ceremony
04:49will be held as scheduled in three days.
04:51And you
04:52absolutely must come.
04:54The surroundings instantly fell silent.
05:04Congratulations!
05:05When you become the king of the entire realm,
05:08don't forget us!
05:09His arrogance fully displayed.
05:12Let me say this in advance.
05:14Even if we do get married,
05:15don't interfere with my and Lena's affairs.
05:17Know your place.
05:18Otherwise...
05:19His eyes darkened.
05:21His tone sinister.
05:24I will lock you in the dungeon again.
05:30What does he mean by that?
05:43Again?
05:50Cain picked up Lita and turned to leave.
05:53Without even giving me a glance.
05:55He now thought I would still choose him firmly
05:58like in the previous life.
06:00On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony,
06:03I had already changed into the Ebel Royal Family Ceremonial Dress.
06:07Under the maid's help,
06:08the ceremonial avenue paved with white stones outside the square
06:12was lined with Ebel purple flags on both sides,
06:14and the square was already filled with nobles and soldiers.
06:18Cain and Lena stuck tightly to his side.
06:20Her lips were swollen and red,
06:22and there were fresh scratch marks on his collarbone.
06:25No need to think.
06:27They knew what they had been doing.
06:29In my previous life,
06:30I also stood in front of everyone like this today.
06:33I have never wronged you in the slightest!
06:37Why on earth would you treat me like this?
06:42Everyone laughed at my embarrassed state,
06:44and Cain showed no concern for me at all.
06:46At that moment, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe.
06:49So in his heart,
06:51I was not even as good as the humblest slave.
06:53Even though I had taken a poisoned arrow for him
06:56and given up my dignity,
06:57he only wanted to treat me as a joke
06:59trampled upon by anyone.
07:05Cain, isn't my figure better than hers?
07:08Cain noticed the few seconds my eyes langled on them
07:11and instinctively shielded Lena behind him.
07:15After waiting for a long time without seeing me explode,
07:18he instead felt uncomfortable
07:20and put on a mocking smile.
07:24Eve,
07:25you're not afraid I won't marry you,
07:28so you're deliberately pretending to be so generous,
07:30are you?
07:31Today you're being sensible.
07:32So how about this?
07:34Go to the hot spring in the back mountain
07:36after the coming of age ceremony.
07:38Remember to wear nothing.
07:42If your fink is good enough,
07:44maybe I'll generous enough to let you spend a night in my bed.
07:48Lena immediately raised her eyebrows,
07:50her eyes full of charm.
07:54Cain,
07:55isn't my figure better than hers?
08:00You are, of course,
08:0210,000 times better than her.
08:04That hot spring was originally prepared for you.
08:08I especially had people add flower petals to the water,
08:12waiting for your wound to heal so you could soak in it.
08:15Whistles and obscenities rising and falling one after weather.
08:19Show some respect,
08:21Cain.
08:22In my previous life,
08:24he also did this,
08:25making him fun of me as a plaything in front of everyone.
08:29I was shaking with anger,
08:31but he held Lena and laughed even more happily,
08:34saying that my shy and angry look
08:36was the best to please him.
08:39He sneered and said that I was just a cheap whore
08:42who came to him willingly.
08:50Still pretending?
08:51A woman like you can never hide the wantedness in your bones.
08:56Show some respect, Cain.
08:58He laughed as if he had heard a joke,
09:01raising his eyebrows.
09:04Respect?
09:06Didn't you even give up your life to marry me?
09:09Anyway,
09:09you'll eventually go to bed with me,
09:12so why are you playing the virginity card now?
09:15Who said the person I'm going to marry is you?
09:20I heard that a while ago
09:21he skinned a few vassals who provoked him.
09:28Not marrying me?
09:29Then who do you want to marry?
09:31The whole continent knows
09:33that you would even give up your life for me.
09:35Is there any other lord willing to marry you?
09:37Oh, you have to choose between me
09:40and the southern lord Casey Alden.
09:42He laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke.
09:46I heard he spends all year training in the Black Forest.
09:50Who doesn't know that he has a violent temper?
09:53I heard that a while ago
09:54he skinned a few vassals who provoked him.
09:57You're not going to choose him, are you?
10:01If you marry him,
10:02are you afraid you won't die fast enough?
10:05Why aren't you talking?
10:07Weren't you pretending so well just now?
10:11Scared now?
10:13Sister is probably thinking of the rumors about Cain, right?
10:17If sister really marries him,
10:19I'm afraid she don't even leave a complete corpse.
10:29Why is sister saying this?
10:33In my previous life,
10:35I would have probably already pounced on Lina
10:38to tear her hair out.
10:40It's different now.
10:42Who I choose?
10:43We'll find out soon.
10:45I turned around and couldn't be bothered
10:47to look at them anymore.
10:55Why is sister saying this?
11:01I'm just worried about you.
11:03After all, you even dared
11:04to take a poisoned arrow for Cain.
11:14Sister,
11:17even if you don't like me,
11:19you can't push me.
11:20My leg isn't healed yet.
11:21It hurts so much.
11:33Secretly curling her lips at me
11:35and Tuddenly found it ridiculous.
11:38He helped Lina up from the ground,
11:40the heartache in his eyes undisguised.
11:44She is your sister!
11:46I didn't touch her.
11:48I looked at Lina hiding behind Cain,
11:50secretly curling her lips at me
11:52and Tuddenly found it ridiculous.
11:58Still there to lie.
12:02Cain stepped forward,
12:03raised his hand,
12:04and grabbed my wrist.
12:10Who in the entire evil kingdom
12:12doesn't know you're jealous of Lina?
12:14If it weren't for you
12:15clinging to me back,
12:16I wouldn't have given you
12:17a second glance.
12:21Forget it, Cain.
12:23Sister is probably too sad.
12:25After all,
12:26she always thought
12:27you would marry her.
12:28Her words seemed to mediate,
12:30but actually nailed the words
12:32clinging shamelessly,
12:33even tighter.
12:34The surrounding murmurs
12:35grew louder,
12:36and some people
12:37began whispering.
12:39Shut your mouth, Lina.
12:41Who do you think
12:42you are to speak here?
12:43Lina shrank behind Cain,
12:46the curve of her lips
12:47impossible to hide.
12:48Cain raised his hand
12:50and slapped me hard
12:51across the face.
12:54The people around
12:55let out a gasp of surprise.
13:01Yes,
13:02this is the effect I wanted.
13:03He certainly couldn't stand
13:05Lina being humiliated.
13:08I want everyone to see clearly
13:11the shamelessness
13:12and hypocrisy
13:13of Cain and Lina.
13:16Lina shrank behind Cain,
13:18the curve of her lips
13:20impossible to hide.
13:21She deliberately rubbed
13:22against Cain's embrace.
13:27Cain's honed
13:28hung in mid-corm,
13:29probably thinking
13:30that the slap
13:31just now's
13:31was too heavy.
13:32His Yadam Borgid bobbing
13:34as if he wanted
13:34to say something.
13:35Cain,
13:36Cain,
13:36my leg hurts so much,
13:37I want to rest.
13:39Her slender fingers
13:40gently wrapped
13:41around his wrist,
13:42pulling his attention
13:43completely away.
13:44What are you still
13:45standing there for?
13:46If something really
13:47happens to Lina,
13:48I won't let you off.
13:59I suddenly remembered
14:00that in my previous life,
14:02for Cain,
14:03I practiced day and night
14:05on the training ground,
14:06wanting to be more
14:07worthy of him.
14:08Back then,
14:10I thought that,
14:11as long as I was
14:12strong enough,
14:13I could keep love.
14:14Now thinking about it,
14:16I only find it absurd.
14:19Soon the announcement
14:21of our engagement
14:22will be made.
14:24If you know
14:25what's good for you,
14:26remember your place.
14:34After marriage,
14:36I will give you
14:37the dignity you deserve.
14:39But don't delude yourself
14:40into meddling
14:41in my in-liners affairs.
14:46Almost at the same moment,
14:49a deafening dragon roar
14:50exploded from the sky.
14:58A giant pitch,
15:00black dragon landed
15:01steadily beside the platform
15:03outside the square.
15:08I looked up
15:10and met a pair
15:11of deep blue eyes.
15:22His voice
15:23carrying an unquestionable
15:25pressure.
15:32Everyone knew well
15:33that the coldest lord
15:35of the southern realm,
15:36Case,
15:37had a notoriously
15:38violent temper.
15:40He had just skinned
15:41several vassals
15:42who provoked him
15:43a while ago,
15:44and at this moment,
15:45he seemed to carry
15:47the lingering smell
15:48of blood on him.
15:50The legs of the few
15:52young people
15:52in the front row
15:53almost gave way.
15:55Someone's wine bowl
15:56crashed to the ground
15:57with a clang.
16:06He stopped
16:07in front of me,
16:08his gaze falling
16:09on my swollen cheek,
16:10his voice carrying
16:12an unquestionable pressure.
16:14What happened
16:15to your face?
16:16Looking into
16:17his deep blue eyes,
16:18I suddenly remembered
16:20how on my deathbed
16:21in my previous life,
16:23he had single-handedly
16:24broken into the basement
16:26and carried my body out.
16:33See?
16:34She still has to obey.
16:38I tugged at the corner
16:39of my mouth
16:40trying to hide
16:41the swelling.
16:43It's nothing.
16:55This is a matter
16:56between me
16:57and Eve.
16:58No need for you
16:58to concern yourself.
17:03Eve will soon
17:04be my wife.
17:05Her affairs
17:05are naturally
17:06mine
17:06to decide.
17:07Kay didn't give
17:08Cain even a single glance,
17:10only reaching out
17:11his hand
17:11wearing dark
17:12iron dragon
17:12pattern gloves,
17:13gently and steadily
17:14holding my hands,
17:15his tone leaving
17:16no room for refusal.
17:17Your highness
17:18has been waiting long.
17:20Let's begin
17:21the ceremony.
17:21I followed behind him
17:23as we walked inside.
17:24Passing by Cain,
17:25I heard him say
17:26in a low voice
17:27to Lena.
17:28See?
17:29She still has to obey.
17:31The pride in Cain's eyes
17:33almost overflowed,
17:34as if he had already
17:35seen himself
17:36ascending the throne.
17:37But that pride
17:38didn't last long.
17:46Today is an important day.
17:52When everyone
17:53walked into the great hall,
17:55my father,
17:56leaning on his
17:56golden scepter,
17:57came down
17:58from the high platform.
18:00His silver-white
18:01long hair
18:02shimmered in the
18:03lamplight.
18:03Though over 60 years old,
18:05his back was
18:06straight as a rammer.
18:07Father smiled
18:08and held my hand.
18:13Today is an important day.
18:15He paused,
18:16his gaze sweeping
18:17over all the nobles
18:19and empressors
18:19of vassals in the hall.
18:21Eve has turned 18,
18:22and I have
18:23no other children.
18:24According to the rules,
18:25she must choose
18:26one of the heirs
18:27of the Byrne
18:28and Alden Realm tribes
18:29to become her husband.
18:31After marriage,
18:32her husband and Eve
18:33will together serve
18:34as the next king
18:35of the entire realm.
18:37A gasp arose
18:38in the great hall,
18:39and many eyes
18:40turned towards Cain
18:41with undisclased envy.
18:42After all,
18:43everyone knew
18:44how madly in love
18:45with him I had been.
18:45Now,
18:46let the chosen child
18:48come forward,
18:49and I myself
18:51will witness it.
18:52Father patted
18:53the back of my hand.
19:03Cain immediately
19:05straightened his chest,
19:06raised his chin high,
19:07and had already
19:08taken half a step forward,
19:09but Father stopped him
19:11with a raised hand.
19:17Cain looked at his father,
19:29full of confusion.
19:30Father turned his head
19:31to look at Case,
19:32who was standing
19:33in the corner.
19:36Case was holding
19:37a bunch of starlight flowers
19:39just picked
19:40from the dragon valley,
19:41the petals shimmering
19:43with a faint silver glow
19:44in the lamplight.
19:46He walked step by step
19:47to the center of the hall.
19:49Eve,
19:50are you ready?
19:57I nodded
19:58and pointed toward Cain.
19:59My future consort
20:01is Casey Alden.
20:14As soon as the words fell,
20:16the murmuring
20:16in the great hall
20:17instantly exploded.
20:19People began talking
20:20among themselves.
20:20How could it be him?
20:22Doesn't Eve love Cain
20:24so much she would
20:24give up her life?
20:25How could she choose Cain?
20:27Right?
20:28Is there a mistake?
20:31Is there a mistake?
20:42Eve,
20:43are you really sure
20:44you want to choose Cain?
20:46Father sat in the
20:47high-backed chair,
20:48his brow deeply frenled.
20:50Father knows
20:51you have always liked
20:52him very much.
20:54If you are sure
20:55you want to marry him,
20:56I will support you.
20:58Father sighed,
20:59his voice heavy.
21:02But my daughter,
21:04this is a very difficult
21:06path to walk.
21:08At that time,
21:09I knelt before my father,
21:11my voice firm.
21:13Father,
21:13before I was stubborn
21:15and deluded,
21:16but now I am awake.
21:17I choose Casey.
21:35Cain's face instantly
21:36turned very ugly.
21:41He rushed forward
21:42two steps,
21:43his voice full of urgency.
21:50father glanced sideways
21:51at him
21:52and struck the scepter
21:53heavily on the ground.
21:57Though I am old,
21:59I am not so confused
22:01as to mistake the person.
22:03How could there be a mistake
22:05in a decision
22:05that determines
22:06the future of evil?
22:10The chief ritual officer
22:12standing by
22:12took over,
22:13unrolling the scroll
22:14in his hand.
22:15The king has spoken
22:16very clearly.
22:17The decree proclaims,
22:18the spouse chosen
22:20by Oval Princess Eve
22:21is the southern dragon lord
22:22leader of the
22:23Olden Realm tribe,
22:25K.E. Olden.
22:28Impossible!
22:29There must be some mistake!
22:35A trace of lingering hope
22:37in his eyes.
22:40Eve,
22:41it's a mistake,
22:42right?
22:43You chose me,
22:44didn't you?
22:45I raised my eyes,
22:47my gaze firm as a rock,
22:49every word clear,
22:50reaching every corner
22:51of the hall.
22:53From today on,
22:54he is my Eve's
22:55prince consort,
22:57the one and only
22:59love of my life.
23:04When K.E. looked up at me,
23:06a trace of surprise
23:07flashed in his deep blue eyes.
23:09People couldn't help
23:10but whisper among themselves.
23:12And even less
23:13had they expected
23:14that the always solitary K.E.
23:15would accept
23:16this marriage alliance.
23:18But K.E. was like
23:19an ignited powder keg,
23:21suddenly grabbing my wrist
23:23with such force
23:24that it almost
23:24crushed my bones.
23:29Liar!
23:30You clearly love me!
23:33Who in the entire continent
23:34doesn't know
23:35you would even
23:36give up your life for me!
23:39How could you choose
23:40that violent man?
23:45Someone must be forcing you.
23:48The ministers quickly
23:49stepped forward
23:50to pull him away
23:51and shouted sternly
23:53at the K.E.'s guards
23:54who were showing
23:55signs of movement.
23:59Haven't you
23:59taken him away yet?
24:00Are you trying
24:01to cause trouble here?
24:03Only then
24:04did those guards
24:05reacted
24:05and with much difficulty
24:07they grabbed K.E.
24:08and dragged him out.
24:11K.E. was still
24:12struggling wildly,
24:13his whore shouts
24:14echoing in the hall.
24:15Eve!
24:16Say it!
24:17You made a mistake,
24:19right?
24:19The person
24:20you chose
24:20is me!
24:21Father waved
24:22his hand impaintly
24:23and the soldiers
24:24guarding the door
24:25immediately closed
24:26the great hall's doors.
24:34At the banquet
24:35after the coming
24:36of age ceremony,
24:37torches cast
24:38dancing shadows
24:39on the stone walls.
24:41I swept my eyes
24:42over the moving crowd
24:44but still didn't
24:45see K.E.'s trace
24:46when I turned around
24:48with a glass
24:49of berry wine
24:50I happened to
24:51bumped into
24:51a solid chest.
24:53The cold,
24:54pine wood scent
24:55entered my nose.
24:58In my previous life,
25:00when I was locked
25:01in the basement
25:01by K.E.
25:02it was Casey
25:03who kicked open
25:04the heavy wooden door
25:05and carried me
25:06on the verge
25:07of death
25:07out.
25:09He was covered
25:10in wounds at the time
25:10and he roared
25:11at the road
25:12to K.E.N.
25:12and soldiers.
25:18Who ever dares
25:19to lay a finger
25:20on her again?
25:22I will skin you all
25:24and bury you
25:25with her!
25:28After I died,
25:29he bathed
25:30the entire
25:31royal palace
25:32in blood
25:33and placed
25:34all of K.E.N.'s
25:35shameful crimes
25:35before my father.
25:36And only then
25:37did I understand
25:38that this violent man
25:39had placed me
25:39in such an important
25:40position in his heart.
25:50After rebirth,
25:51a voice always
25:52echoed in my heart.
25:53Choose him,
25:54no mistake.
26:01After the banquet began,
26:02my father beckoned
26:03Kaylee to sit
26:04beside the main seat.
26:05Everyone knew
26:05this was a gesture
26:06to affirm
26:07one's status.
26:08K.E.N.,
26:08reeking of alcohol,
26:10stumbled and squeezed
26:11in front of father,
26:12his voice harggy.
26:12Your majesty,
26:13you cannot let them marry.
26:16Father looked
26:16at his drunken state,
26:18both angry and anxious.
26:19Drag him away!
26:20Get back to your quarters
26:21in this drunken state!
26:22Do not bring shame
26:23upon your father here!
26:24But K.E.N.
26:25glung desperately
26:25to the table,
26:26refusing to leave.
26:27Your majesty,
26:28Eve and I
26:28grew up together.
26:29We know each other's hearts.
26:30You cannot separate us!
26:31When I was little,
26:32K.E.N.'s father
26:33was my father's
26:34closest friend.
26:35K.E.N.
26:36would often come
26:36to the palace
26:37to play with me.
26:40He once climbed
26:41the highest cliff
26:42in the moonlit valley
26:43to pick the rare
26:44star bloom for me.
26:48And once blocked
26:49a beast for me.
26:53Those warm memories
26:54were exactly why
26:55I had been so devoted
26:56to him
26:56until Lina appeared.
27:01Her beauty bewitched him
27:03and under her
27:04constant provocation
27:06he gradually
27:07began to loathe me.
27:13Father glanced at me,
27:14his tone sarcastic.
27:16Grew up together?
27:18Know each other's hearts?
27:19That's not quite
27:20what I know.
27:22Eve,
27:24you tell him
27:25yourself.
27:36I gave a faint smile,
27:38my tone calm.
27:40Father,
27:41I don't know why
27:41Kain is saying this.
27:43Kain's eyes
27:43tore in disbelief.
27:44Eve,
27:46I love you!
27:46It's always been you!
27:52I know,
27:53you're jealous.
27:55You're angry
27:56that I gave
27:56the snow fox
27:57for I hunt
27:58last time
27:58to Lina
27:59so you deliberately
28:00found K.A.
28:01to anger me,
28:01Drainry.
28:09Kain,
28:10you can't say
28:11things like that
28:11carelessly.
28:14I am already
28:15preparing to marry
28:16K.A.
28:18Hearing this,
28:19Kain's face
28:20twisted with rage
28:24as he reached out
28:26to grab me.
28:27Eve,
28:28you cannot marry
28:29someone else!
28:30You can only
28:31belong to me!
28:33His wrist
28:34had just risen
28:35halfway
28:35when K's hand
28:37gripped his arm
28:38like an iron vice.
28:42With a light crack,
28:44Kain groaned
28:45in pain.
28:50Cold sweat
28:51instantly
28:51seeping
28:52from his forehead.
29:02K's eyes
29:03were cold as ice
29:04and the violent aura
29:05emanating from his body
29:06made everyone around
29:08step back
29:08subconsciously.
29:15Don't touch my woman.
29:25K's voice
29:26was cold as ice
29:27and with a flick
29:33of his wrist
29:34he threw
29:35Kain to the ground.
29:43take him away!
29:48Kain still
29:49wouldn't give up.
29:51He raised his head
29:53and shouted at me.
29:57Live!
29:59Say quickly
30:00that you love me!
30:01It's me!
30:06I ignored him
30:07turned to Kain
30:10and showed
30:11a faint smile
30:14but he withdrew
30:15his gaze
30:16picked up
30:17the strong
30:18lecker on the table
30:19and drank it
30:20in one one
30:20gulp
30:21the movement
30:22of his
30:22atom's bone
30:23hiding emotions
30:23that couldn't
30:24be read.
30:30Rumors in the
30:31evil kingdom
30:31spread like weeds
30:32and within just
30:33a few days
30:33they reached
30:34every corner
30:35of the
30:35Elvenist
30:35continent.
30:36Some said
30:37that for my sake
30:38Kain had argued
30:39with the evil king
30:39in the great hall.
30:41Others said
30:41that since I chose
30:42KV
30:42Kain spent every day
30:44fooling around
30:44with Lena.
30:45I didn't care about
30:46any of these
30:47rumors at all.
30:49The wedding ceremony
30:50between K and me
30:51was set for next month.
30:54One morning
30:55before the ceremony
30:56K found me
30:58at the training
30:58ground.
31:00He leaned
31:00against the
31:01long knife
31:01stuck in the
31:02ground.
31:03Morning dew
31:04wet the tips
31:04of his hair.
31:12After a long
31:13silence
31:13he spoke
31:14his voice
31:15carrying a
31:15barely missable
31:16tension.
31:18Outside
31:18they're all
31:19saying that
31:19I am violent
31:20by nature
31:21with a lot
31:21of blood
31:22on my hands.
31:24Aren't you
31:24afraid?
31:26My hand
31:27holding the
31:27bow paused
31:28and I turned
31:29to meet
31:29his graze.
31:39Afraid of what?
31:49Afraid that one
31:50day I might
31:50lose control
31:51and hurt you.
31:59But even
32:00if you are
32:00afraid it's
32:00too late
32:01now.
32:11No matter
32:12if you regret it
32:13later
32:14I will never
32:15let go.
32:16Ev
32:16in this
32:17life
32:17you can
32:18only be
32:19Kesa's
32:19wife.
32:20I suddenly
32:21remembered
32:21how he had
32:22fought against
32:22the entire
32:23Bren Realm
32:23tribe for me
32:24in my
32:25previous life
32:25and my
32:26heart felt
32:27a surge
32:27of worms.
32:36I have never
32:37regretted it
32:37and I am not
32:38afraid of you.
32:39I have heard
32:40those rumors
32:41but I know
32:42better that you
32:42are never
32:43what they say.
32:54you.
32:54The one I chose
32:55is you K.
32:57From beginning
32:57to end
32:59I have never
33:00wavered.
33:09Eve remember
33:10what you said
33:10today.
33:11I will.
33:19When I
33:20returned to my
33:20quarters
33:21Lena was
33:22sitting by the
33:22fire roasting
33:23meat skewers.
33:25Sister
33:25you sure
33:26know how
33:27to pretend
33:27so you were
33:28just pretending
33:29to like Kane
33:29all along
33:30and your
33:30ultimate goal
33:31was to marry
33:32K.B.,
33:32right?
33:35Just wait.
33:36When he gets
33:37unhappy one day
33:37the first one
33:38he kills
33:39will be you.
33:43Lady Eve,
33:44Lord Kane,
33:45he has brought
33:46people.
33:47I saw Kane
33:49leading a few
33:49followers standing
33:50outside the
33:51quarters.
33:52The surrounding
33:52area was packed
33:53with people
33:54whispering among
33:55themselves,
33:56their eyes full
33:56of curiosity.
33:58How can the
33:59young better
34:00of the noble
34:00Bren Realm
34:01tribe be so
34:02shameless?
34:03I also heard
34:04he slapped
34:05the princess
34:05at the
34:06Arn Age
34:06ceremony.
34:08What?
34:09Really?
34:09That's our
34:10noble princess.
34:11How dare
34:11he be so
34:12presumptuous?
34:13Really,
34:13I saw it
34:13with my own
34:14eyes.
34:15Oh, my
34:16poor princess.
34:20Kane,
34:21have you come
34:22to take me
34:22away?
34:26I'm sorry.
34:27I'm sorry.
34:28I'm sorry.
34:29I'm sorry.
34:29I'm sorry.
34:29I'm sorry.
34:32But Kanan
34:33didn't even
34:34look at her.
34:34He walked
34:35straight to me,
34:36suddenly dropping
34:37to one knee,
34:38and pulled out
34:39a silver moon
34:39ring, set
34:40with a ruby
34:41from his pocket,
34:42holding it up
34:43to me.
34:45Marry me!
34:47Shut up!
34:53Eve,
34:55I know I
34:56was wrong
34:56before.
34:57Give me
34:57another chance.
34:59Marry me,
34:59and I will
35:00spend the rest
35:01of my life
35:01cherishing you
35:02and will never
35:03let you suffer
35:03the slightest
35:04griefs again.
35:06Are you
35:07mistaken?
35:08Isn't my
35:08sister Lina
35:09the one you
35:09truly love?
35:10I'll let you
35:10two be together.
35:11Eve, listen
35:12to me.
35:13It's all
35:13amid a standing.
35:14In my heart,
35:15there is only
35:16you.
35:16No one else
35:17compares to you.
35:18That's not
35:19what you said
35:19before.
35:22You said
35:23that after
35:23marriage,
35:24I just need
35:24to behave
35:25myself,
35:25not ask
35:26about things
35:27that aren't
35:27my business
35:28and that I
35:29have no right
35:29to interfere
35:30in your
35:30and Lina's
35:31affairs.
35:33That was
35:33me being
35:34deluded.
35:38How could
35:39I really
35:39treat you
35:40like that?
35:45Cain,
35:46you clearly
35:47said you
35:47liked me
35:48the most,
35:49said I was
35:50more beautiful
35:50and sensible
35:51than sister,
35:53said that
35:53after marrying
35:54Eve,
35:55you would
35:55marry me?
35:56Shut up!
35:57Cain
35:57impatiently
35:58raised his
35:59hand and
35:59slapped her,
36:00the force
36:01just as hard
36:02as the time
36:03he hit me.
36:04How can
36:05you compare
36:06to Eve?
36:07to Eve?
36:14Bitch,
36:15you were the
36:15one who seduced
36:16me.
36:17If it weren't
36:17for you,
36:18how could
36:19Eve have chosen
36:19someone else?
36:22A scheming
36:23A scheming woman
36:23like you
36:24doesn't deserve
36:25to stand
36:25by my side!
36:27At
36:27Jaivant,
36:28at this point,
36:29he still didn't
36:30think he had
36:31done anything
36:31wrong,
36:32as if all
36:32faults should
36:33be borne
36:33by others.
36:35How can
36:36you compare
36:36to Eve?
36:39It turned
36:40out that he
36:40had seen
36:41everything that
36:41day,
36:42but had
36:42deliberately
36:43pretended to
36:44be deaf
36:44and dumb.
36:48Eve is the
36:49true-blooded
36:50heir of the
36:50able kingdom.
36:51You're merely
36:52a distant
36:52cousin on
36:53her side,
36:54living off
36:54the charity
36:55of the
36:55royal family
36:56as a
36:57dependent.
36:57I only
36:58ever toiled
36:59with you.
37:00Did you
37:01truly think
37:01I would
37:02marry you?
37:02She was
37:03my mother's
37:04distant cousin.
37:05After her
37:05parents died,
37:06she came
37:07to take refuge
37:08with my
37:08mother.
37:09Yet she
37:09has always
37:10craved what
37:10was never
37:11hers to
37:11have.
37:12Even my
37:12destined mate,
37:13she tries
37:14to take
37:15from me.
37:18I am
37:18not living
37:19on charity!
37:20I am
37:21not!
37:28You think
37:28I don't
37:29see it?
37:30Your blood,
37:31your rank,
37:31nothing stacks
37:32up to Eve.
37:33You're not
37:34even worthy
37:35to be her
37:35servant,
37:36and you
37:36thought you
37:37could be
37:37my wife?
37:40Eve,
37:41don't go.
37:42You've
37:42seen it too.
37:43I've already
37:43broken ties
37:44with her.
37:44I will
37:45never have
37:45anything to
37:45do with
37:46her again.
37:47Just give
37:47me another
37:47chance,
37:48okay?
37:52Lord
37:53Kane,
37:53please show
37:54some self-respect.
37:55I already
37:55have a
37:56fiancée.
37:58Perhaps in
37:58your realm
37:59tribe you
37:59can get
38:00whatever you
38:00want,
38:02but there
38:02is one
38:03thing you
38:03can never
38:04get.
38:04The road
38:05of return.
38:06In this
38:07world there
38:07is never
38:08a road
38:08of return.
38:09The wedding
38:10ceremony
38:11between
38:11Kay and
38:12I will
38:12be held
38:13soon.
38:14Everyone
38:14is welcome
38:15to come
38:15and watch.
38:16Kane
38:17tried to
38:17pastor me
38:18further,
38:19but I
38:19broke free
38:20from his
38:20grisp,
38:21walked
38:21straight into
38:22my quarters,
38:23closed the
38:23door behind
38:24me,
38:24and ordered
38:25the guards
38:26not to let
38:26anyone in.
38:28But Miss
38:29Lena was
38:29stopped by
38:30Lord Kane
38:30outside the
38:31quarters.
38:31I heard
38:32that he
38:32also
38:33scold her,
38:34said she
38:34didn't know
38:35her place.
38:36We just
38:37nodded
38:37faintly.
38:39Jaysa
38:39people and
38:40Jaysa
38:40matters had
38:41marm been
38:41irrelevant to
38:42me.
38:43For some
38:44reason,
38:44Kay's footsteps
38:45suddenly stopped.
38:47Kane was
38:47blocking the
38:48way.
38:48On the day
38:49of the
38:49wedding ceremony,
38:50I got up
38:51before dawn
38:51to put on
38:52my makeup.
38:57He bent
38:58down,
38:59lifted me
38:59up from
38:59the bed
39:00in one
39:00swift motion
39:01and strode
39:02out of the
39:03room.
39:03I quietly
39:04looked up
39:05at his
39:05profile.
39:06He and
39:07Kane were
39:08completely
39:08different.
39:09Kane was
39:10like a
39:10restless
39:10wildfire,
39:12always carrying
39:13a cynical
39:13roguishness.
39:14But Case's
39:15features were
39:16cold and
39:16hard, his
39:17jawline
39:18taut, his
39:18nose bridge
39:19high and
39:20sharp as
39:20a knife
39:21cut.
39:21Some said
39:22his personality
39:23was too
39:23aloofed,
39:24that he
39:25didn't know
39:25how to
39:25love.
39:26But I
39:27had seen
39:27him rush
39:28into the
39:28basement like
39:29a madman
39:30for me.
39:31Looking
39:31now at
39:31his tightly
39:32pressed
39:32lips, a
39:34warmth
39:34surged in
39:35my heart.
39:36Walking the
39:37same path
39:37to the
39:38ceremony
39:38grounds,
39:39following
39:39behind
39:40Kane in
39:41my previous
39:41life, my
39:42heart was
39:43full of
39:43apprehension,
39:44afraid he
39:45would change
39:45his mind.
39:46This life
39:47leaning in
39:48Case's arms,
39:49there was
39:49only calm,
39:50like finding
39:51someone to
39:52rely on.
39:52For some
39:53reason, Case's
39:54footstep
39:54suddenly stopped.
39:56Kane was
39:56blocking the
39:57way.
40:03No one
40:05had expected
40:05that Kane
40:06would dare
40:06to cause
40:07trouble.
40:07Case put
40:08me down
40:08to go
40:09forward
40:09alone,
40:10but I
40:10held his
40:11wrist.
40:12From
40:13today on,
40:14we share
40:14everything
40:15together.
40:20Eve,
40:21come
40:21with me!
40:25Kane, I
40:27thought I
40:27had made
40:27myself clear
40:28enough.
40:33If you
40:33have come
40:34to watch
40:34the ceremony,
40:35Kay and I
40:35welcome you.
40:36If you
40:37have come
40:37to cause
40:37trouble,
40:38don't blame
40:39us for
40:39taking action
40:40against you.
40:40Watch the
40:41ceremony?
40:46Have you
40:46forgotten?
40:48You
40:49clearly said
40:49you loved
40:50only me!
40:52that you
40:53would marry
40:53no one
40:54else in
40:55this
40:55life!
41:01And
41:01now you
41:02are willing
41:03to break
41:04that vow
41:04for someone
41:05else!
41:13Kay almost
41:14instinctively
41:15pulled me
41:16behind him
41:17and confronted
41:17him directly.
41:20With a
41:21crack,
41:21the knife
41:22was already
41:23grasped
41:23in his
41:23hand.
41:26Are you
41:26crazy?
41:27How could
41:27you block
41:28it with
41:28your bare
41:28hand?
41:29Let's find
41:30a healer
41:30right away!
41:38Before you
41:38only worried
41:39about me,
41:39now you
41:40aren't here.
41:40Look at
41:40me.
41:44He is
41:45my husband.
41:46Who else
41:46would I worry
41:47about if not
41:47him?
42:11God is my witness!
42:13I truly
42:14know I
42:15was wrong!
42:15Please!
42:16Give me
42:17another chance!
42:18In this life
42:19I will
42:19denting be
42:20good to
42:20Ev and
42:21never
42:22he was
42:22make her
42:23suffer
42:23again!
42:24end!
42:35I
42:35ignored him.
42:37The healer who
42:37had arrived
42:38banded Kei's
42:39wound.
42:40Fortunately,
42:40the blade had
42:41only cut the skin
42:42and hadn't
42:42injured the bone
42:43or sinew.
42:50Kei used
42:51his uninjured
42:52hand to
42:52hold my
42:52hand,
42:53leading me
42:53towards the
42:54altar before
42:54the statue
42:55of God.
42:55Father stood
42:56on the
42:56high platform,
42:57holding the
42:57golden sepulet,
42:58his gaze kind
42:59yet solemn.
43:00Thousands
43:00of nobles
43:01and tribal
43:01envoys in the
43:02square stood
43:03in silent
43:03remorance.
43:04Everyone's
43:04eyes focused
43:05on us.
43:06Kei
43:06stopped
43:07before the
43:07statue
43:07of God
43:08and turned
43:08to face
43:09me.
43:10He
43:11knelt
43:11on one
43:11knee,
43:12claimed
43:12the
43:12Draged
43:12great
43:13sword
43:13set
43:13with
43:14the
43:14deep
43:14rend
43:14ruby
43:15across
43:15his
43:15palms
43:15and
43:16spoke
43:17in
43:17a
43:17low
43:17voice
43:17that
43:18clearly
43:18echoed
43:19through
43:19the
43:19entire
43:20venue.
43:21In the
43:22name of
43:22the
43:22black
43:23dragon,
43:24I,
43:24K.
43:24Alden,
43:25hereby
43:25swear,
43:26from this
43:27day
43:27forward,
43:29I will
43:30protect
43:30Eve
43:31Ebel
43:32with my
43:33life,
43:33defend
43:34her
43:34dignity
43:34with
43:34my
43:35blood,
43:35crown
43:35her
43:36glory
43:36with
43:36my
43:36crown,
43:37whether
43:37in
43:37war
43:37or
43:37peace,
43:38I
43:38will
43:38stand
43:38side
43:39by side
43:39with
43:39her
43:39as
43:39king.
43:40I
43:40looked
43:41into
43:41his
43:41deep
43:41blue
43:41eyes
43:42and
43:42a
43:42long
43:42lost
43:43sense
43:43of
43:43peace
43:43rose
43:44in
43:44my
43:44heart.
43:44I
43:45reached
43:45out,
43:45interlocking
43:46my
43:46fingers
43:46with
43:46his
43:47and
43:47spoke
43:47in
43:47a
43:47firm
43:48and
43:48gentle
43:48voice.
43:49I,
43:49Eve,
43:50princess
43:50of the
43:50evil
43:51kingdom,
43:51hereby
43:52swear,
43:52I
43:53choose
43:53Kazon
43:53Alden
43:54as
43:54my
43:54husband
43:54to
43:55jointly
43:55rule
43:56the
43:56Elmiss
43:56continent
43:57with
43:57him,
43:58share
43:58in
43:59honor
43:59and
43:59disgrace,
44:00never
44:00to
44:00part
44:12later I
44:13heard that
44:13after
44:14Kane
44:14returned
44:14to
44:14the
44:14Bren
44:15Realm
44:15tribe,
44:16the
44:16Bren
44:16leader
44:16personally
44:17gave
44:17him
44:17a
44:17lengthy
44:18reprimal
44:18and
44:19finally
44:19ordered
44:19him
44:19to
44:20be
44:20confined
44:20to
44:20a
44:20sentry
44:21in
44:21post
44:21on
44:22the
44:22edge
44:22of
44:22the
44:22snow
44:22pine
44:23forest,
44:24not
44:24allowed
44:24to
44:24set
44:24foot
44:25outside
44:25the
44:25Bren
44:25Realm
44:26tribe
44:26without
44:26orders.
44:28Night
44:28fell,
44:29and
44:29KB
44:30walked
44:30in.
44:31I
44:31curled
44:32up
44:32on
44:32the
44:32bed,
44:33watching
44:34him
44:34fling
44:34the
44:34door
44:35shut
44:35behind
44:35him.
44:37What,
44:38you
44:38planning
44:38to
44:39stand
44:39there
44:39guarding
44:39the
44:40door
44:40all
44:40night
44:40after
44:40the
44:41ceremony?
44:43I
44:44tapped
44:44the
44:44spot
44:44beside
44:45me.
44:46Get
44:46over
44:46here.
44:50He
44:51didn't
44:51say a
44:51word,
44:52just
44:52walked
44:52over,
44:53pulled
44:53off
44:53his
44:53robe
44:54and
44:54let
44:54it
44:54drop.
44:55His
44:55back
44:55was
44:56all
44:56muscle
44:56and
44:56scars,
44:57some
44:57old,
44:58some
44:58fresh,
44:59warrior
44:59proof.
45:00Then
45:01he
45:01leaned
45:01down,
45:02arms
45:02braced
45:02on
45:02either
45:03side
45:03of
45:03me,
45:03breath
45:04hot
45:04with
45:04cedar
45:05didn't
45:05someone
45:06just
45:06tell
45:06me
45:06to
45:06get
45:06in
45:06bed?
45:07I
45:07looked
45:08up
45:08at
45:08that
45:08jaw
45:08sharp
45:09as
45:09ever
45:09and
45:10reached
45:10for
45:11his
45:11ear
45:11burning
45:12just
45:13like
45:13I
45:13thought.
45:15grinned.
45:16What?
45:18Scared.
45:25He
45:26gave
45:26a low
45:26chuckle
45:27then
45:27bit
45:27the
45:27corner
45:28of
45:28my
45:28lip
45:28just
45:29enough
45:29to
45:29sting.
45:30You're
45:31mine.
45:31What
45:32would
45:32I
45:32be
45:32scared
45:32of?
45:34now
45:35that
45:35you're
45:35with
45:35me
45:35can
45:36you
45:36really
45:36let
45:36it
45:37all
45:37go
45:37completely?
45:40I
45:40looped
45:41my
45:41arms
45:41around
45:41his
45:42neck.
45:48When
45:49his fingers
45:49undid the
45:50tie of
45:50my
45:50nightgown
45:51his
45:51movements
45:51paused.
45:53Let me
45:53ask you
45:53something.
45:55What?
45:58Before
45:58you would
45:59have given
45:59up your
45:59life for
46:00Cain.
46:02His
46:02thumb
46:03pressed
46:03against
46:03my
46:04collarbone.
46:06Now
46:06that you're
46:07with me
46:07can you
46:08really let
46:08it all
46:08go
46:09completely?
46:10Done
46:11with
46:11what?
46:12I
46:13looped
46:13my
46:13arms
46:13around
46:14his
46:14neck.
46:15I
46:15was
46:16blind
46:16before.
46:17Now
46:18I know
46:18exactly
46:19who's
46:19worth
46:19it.
46:27he
46:27pulled
46:28back
46:28just
46:28long
46:28enough
46:29to
46:29yank
46:29the
46:29fabric
46:30over
46:30his
46:30head,
46:31revealed
46:31the
46:31hard
46:32planes
46:32of
46:32his
46:32chest,
46:33the
46:33pale
46:34scars
46:34that
46:34crossed
46:35his
46:35skin
46:35like
46:35forgotten
46:36battle
46:36maps.
46:37I
46:37reached
46:38up
46:38and
46:38touched
46:38the
46:38largest
46:39one
46:39just
46:40above
46:40his
46:40heart.
46:42You
46:42don't
46:43have
46:43to
46:43be
46:43gentle
46:44with
46:44me,
46:44I
46:45whispered.
46:45His
46:46eyes
46:46darkened.
46:47I
46:47know.
46:52held
46:53on to
46:53him,
46:53nails
46:54digging
46:54into
46:54his
46:55shoulders.
46:55The
46:56stretch
46:56burned
46:56so
46:57good
46:57I
46:57screamed.
47:00He
47:01laid
47:01me
47:01back
47:02against
47:02the
47:02pillows,
47:03his
47:03body
47:03covering
47:03mine.
47:04When
47:05he
47:05finally
47:05pushed
47:06inside
47:06me,
47:06he
47:07buried
47:07his
47:07face
47:08in
47:08the
47:08cuck
47:08of
47:08my
47:08neck
47:09and
47:09groan
47:09low.
47:10My
47:10princess,
47:10are
47:10you
47:11afraid?
47:11No,
47:12I'm
47:13not
47:13afraid.
47:14You
47:14can
47:14do
47:15anything
47:15to
47:15me.
47:18I
47:18held
47:18on
47:18to
47:19him,
47:19nails
47:19digging
47:20into
47:20his
47:20shoulders.
47:21The
47:21stretch
47:22burned
47:22so
47:22good
47:23I
47:23screamed,
47:24walls
47:24clenching
47:25around
47:25his
47:25girth.
47:27He
47:27stilled
47:28for a
47:28moment,
47:29forward
47:29pressed
47:29to mine,
47:30breathing
47:30rapid.
47:32He
47:33started
47:33moving
47:33slow at
47:35first,
47:35savoring
47:36every
47:36inch
47:36as he
47:36dragged
47:37out
47:37and
47:37slammed
47:38back
47:38in,
47:38the
47:39wet
47:39slap
47:39of
47:39skin
47:40on
47:40skin
47:40filling
47:40the
47:40room.
47:41That's
47:42my
47:42good
47:42girl.
47:44Let me
47:44hear you.
47:48Each
47:48thrust
47:49hit deeper,
47:50harder,
47:52angling to
47:52brush that
47:53spot inside
47:54me that
47:54made stars
47:55explode
47:55behind my
47:56eyes.
48:00heels
48:01digging
48:01into his
48:02back as
48:02I met
48:02him
48:03thrust
48:03for
48:03thrust.
48:10Afterward,
48:10we lay
48:11tangled in
48:11the sheets,
48:12his breath
48:13hot against
48:14my
48:14colopone.
48:15He
48:16propped
48:16himself up
48:17on one
48:17elbow and
48:18looked down
48:18at me.
48:20Eve,
48:21I love
48:22you.
48:30When I
48:30showed up,
48:31he raised
48:31a shaky
48:32arm.
48:32Three
48:32months
48:33later,
48:33when the
48:33healer
48:33congratulated
48:34me on
48:34being
48:35pregnant,
48:35KX had
48:36already been
48:36crowned
48:37king,
48:37and I
48:38ruled the
48:38Elmiss
48:38Dunn
48:39Mention
48:39together
48:39with him.
48:40When he
48:40heard the
48:40news,
48:41he was
48:41dazed
48:41for a
48:42long
48:42while
48:42before
48:42reaching
48:43out
48:43his
48:43hand.
48:45Touch
48:45it,
48:46I whispered,
48:46grabbing
48:47his hand
48:47to press
48:47it against
48:48me,
48:48guiding
48:49his
48:49palm
48:49slowly
48:49downward.
48:51Eve,
48:52we're
48:52going to
48:53have
48:53a
48:53child.
48:53I
48:53smiled
48:59after
48:59that,
49:00news
49:00of
49:01Lena
49:01came
49:01from
49:01the
49:02eastern
49:02wastelands.
49:03It
49:04was
49:04said
49:04that
49:05after
49:06being
49:06cast
49:07off
49:07by
49:07Kane
49:07that
49:08day,
49:08she
49:09suddenly
49:09ran
49:09out
49:09of
49:10the
49:10evil
49:10kingdom
49:10as
49:11if
49:11insane
49:11and
49:12had
49:12never
49:12returned.
49:16Then
49:16one
49:17day,
49:17a
49:17patrolling
49:18guard
49:18found
49:18her
49:19corpse,
49:19probably
49:20her
49:20neck
49:20bitten
49:20off
49:21by
49:21a
49:21beast
49:21in
49:21the
49:22black
49:22forest.
49:23Coincidentally,
49:24something
49:24happened
49:25to Kane
49:25that
49:25same
49:26day.
49:26Autumn
49:27rains
49:27hit
49:27hard.
49:28Landslide
49:29crushed
49:29the
49:29forest's
49:30edge.
49:30He
49:31got pinned
49:31under
49:32the
49:32rubble.
49:32By
49:32the
49:33time
49:33the
49:33guards
49:33reached
49:34him,
49:34one
49:35leg
49:35was
49:35mangled,
49:36twisted
49:37beyond
49:37saving.
49:42When
49:43I showed
49:43up,
49:43he
49:44raised
49:44a
49:44shaky
49:44arm.
49:49Eve,
49:51you
49:52came.
49:57let
49:58let
49:58let
49:58end
49:58this
50:00for
50:00good.
50:03I
50:04knelt
50:04beside
50:04Kane.
50:05Blood
50:06was
50:06everywhere.
50:07Thick,
50:08metallic.
50:16Do you
50:17remember
50:18in our
50:19last
50:19life,
50:20in the
50:21last
50:21life,
50:22you
50:22married
50:23me?
50:23We
50:24swore
50:25to love
50:26each other
50:27forever.
50:27You
50:28also
50:28said
50:28you
50:30wanted
50:30to
50:30plant
50:30moon
50:30flowers
50:31all
50:31over
50:31the
50:31courtyard.
50:33Later,
50:33we
50:33even
50:33had
50:34a
50:34child.
50:34I
50:34listened
50:35silently,
50:35then
50:36suddenly
50:36laughed
50:37bitterly.
50:39Kane,
50:39after
50:40saying
50:40lies
50:40so
50:41many
50:41times,
50:41do you
50:41even
50:42believe
50:42them
50:42yourself?
50:44You
50:44know
50:44what?
50:45I
50:45also
50:45came
50:46back.
50:47His
50:48eyes
50:48suddenly
50:48widened,
50:49his pupils
50:49contracting
50:50sharply,
50:51as if
50:51struck
50:51by
50:51lightning.
50:52You,
50:52you
50:53too.
50:54The
50:54things
50:54from
50:55the
50:55last
50:55life,
50:55I
50:55remember
50:56all
50:56of
50:56them.
50:59The
51:00truth
51:00is,
51:01you
51:01locked
51:01me
51:01in
51:01the
51:01basement,
51:02and
51:02I
51:02died
51:03with
51:03my
51:03child,
51:03full
51:04of
51:04resentment.
51:12Let's
51:12go.
51:13The
51:13rainstorm
51:13washed
51:14over the
51:14pile of
51:15rubble,
51:15as if
51:15washing
51:16away a
51:16dirty
51:16past.
51:17I
51:18leaned
51:18at
51:18Kay's
51:18chest,
51:19listening
51:19his
51:20steady
51:20heartbeat,
51:21and
51:21felt
51:21completely
51:21at
51:22peace
51:22in
51:22my
51:22sinily.
51:24He
51:24refused
51:25to take
51:25a nap
51:25until I
51:26promised
51:26to take
51:26him
51:27to ride
51:27a
51:27real
51:27dragon
51:28next
51:28spring.
51:31Unlight
51:32spilled
51:32over the
51:32royal
51:33garden of
51:33the
51:33Abel
51:34palace.
51:35Our
51:35son stumbled
51:36across the
51:37soft grass
51:37on his
51:38chubby little
51:38legs,
51:39waving a
51:40small wooden
51:40dragon sword
51:41and chasing a
51:42silver butterfly.
51:44I nestled
51:45against Kayan
51:46on the stone
51:47bench.
51:48We watched
51:48our son,
51:49gentle smiles
51:50on our faces,
51:51the warm
51:52afternoon light
51:53falling over us
51:54like a
51:54blessing.
51:58I leaned
51:59my head
51:59on Kayan's
52:00shoulder
52:00and murmured,
52:01He has
52:02inherited
52:02your courage.
52:04Yesterday,
52:05he insisted
52:05on training
52:06with the
52:06royal
52:07guards.
52:08He refused
52:09to take
52:09a nap
52:09until I
52:09promised
52:10to take
52:10him to
52:10ride a
52:11real
52:11dragon
52:11next
52:12spring.
52:13Kaye
52:14let out
52:14a low
52:14laugh,
52:15his voice
52:16vibrating
52:16in his
52:17chest.
52:17He has
52:18also
52:18inherited
52:19your
52:19wisdom.
52:20Yesterday,
52:21I saw
52:21him pick
52:21up every
52:22fallen
52:22starflower
52:23one by
52:23one and
52:24arrange
52:24them into
52:25a small
52:25dragon
52:25by the
52:26shape
52:26of their
52:26petals.
52:29Kaye
52:31I have
52:31always been
52:32curious.
52:33Everyone
52:33says the
52:34southern
52:34dragon
52:34lord never
52:35forms
52:35alliances
52:36through
52:36marriage.
52:39Why did
52:40you form
52:40an alliance
52:41by marrying
52:41me?
52:45Father,
52:47mother,
52:47look,
52:48I caught
52:49the butterfly.
52:51He fell
52:51silent for
52:52a moment.
52:53His deep
52:54blue eyes
52:54softened
52:55as they
52:55met mine
52:56and a
52:56rare,
52:57gentle
52:57smile
52:58curved
52:58his lips.
53:00Because
53:01you once
53:02saved
53:02my life.
53:04That
53:05year in
53:05the Black
53:05Forest,
53:06I was
53:06ambushed
53:07by traitors
53:07from the
53:07vassal
53:08tribes.
53:09My
53:09dragon
53:09was shot
53:10down.
53:11Badly
53:11wounded,
53:12I lay
53:12bleeding
53:12beneath
53:13the
53:13ancient
53:13trees.
53:14Everyone
53:15feared
53:15my
53:15reputation.
53:17Some
53:17fled,
53:18others
53:18kept
53:18their
53:18distance.
53:19But
53:20you,
53:20a
53:20twelve-year-old
53:21princess who
53:21had snuck
53:22out of
53:22the palace
53:22found me.
53:23You tore
53:24your cloak
53:24to stop
53:24my bleeding
53:25and stayed
53:26until my
53:26men arrived.
53:27It was the
53:28first time
53:28anyone had
53:28ever come
53:29near me
53:29without fear.
53:30My eyes
53:30widened
53:31slightly.
53:31I completely
53:32forgot about
53:32this.
53:33But I
53:33have never
53:33forgotten.
53:34Back
53:35then,
53:35I only
53:36thought of
53:36you as
53:36an
53:37extraordinarily
53:37brave
53:37girl.
53:39But the
53:39moment I
53:40saw you
53:40at the
53:40tribal
53:41gathering,
53:42I knew
53:42I was
53:43starting to
53:43fall for
53:44you.
53:45Your eyes
53:46were so
53:46beautiful,
53:47yet your
53:47gaze was
53:48always fixed
53:48on Cain.
53:49A few
53:50days before
53:50your coming
53:51of age
53:51ceremony,
53:51my vassals
53:52sent to
53:52watch the
53:53movements of
53:53the Bren tribe
53:53reported strange
53:54things.
53:55You no longer
53:55sought out
53:56Cain.
53:57You seemed
53:57different,
53:59distant,
54:00as if you
54:00had finally
54:01seen him
54:01clearly.
54:02That was
54:03when I
54:03allowed myself
54:04to hope.
54:04I cupped
54:05his face
54:05in both
54:06hands
54:06and kissed
54:06him slowly,
54:07tasting the
54:07familiar fresh
54:08scent of
54:08pine and
54:09warmth that
54:09had become
54:10my home.
54:10When we
54:11pulled apart,
54:11I pressed
54:12my forehead
54:12against his.
54:13Thank you
54:13for waiting
54:14for me.
54:15I made
54:15the right
54:15choice in
54:16this life.
54:17Eve,
54:17you are
54:18the only
54:18choice I
54:19have ever
54:19needed.
54:22Just
54:22then,
54:23our son
54:24came running
54:24over and
54:25crashed straight
54:26into us.
54:27Father,
54:28mother,
54:29look,
54:30I caught
54:31the butterfly.
Comments