The Dragon Slave I Whipped is Now My King EPISODE

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Transcript

00:00:01Elena, is this how beg?

00:00:09Two years ago, I was the arrogant saintess, and he was the dragon slave I whipped at my whim.

00:00:17Two years later, he awakens the imperial dragon blood and returns to the imperial capital.

00:00:23As the giant dragon dives to the earth, he transforms into a king of extraordinary elegance.

00:00:31His dark gold dragon pupils are locked firmly onto me, once his equal, now a disgraced slave of the clan,

00:00:39fallen into the abyss beneath the altar.

00:00:42To save my father, I was forced to kneel at his feet and let him tear away my white robes,

00:00:48the very symbol of my sanctity.

00:00:51He laughed coldly, demanding I pleasure him to repay the debts of those two years.

00:00:57He already has a perfect match by his side, yet he insists on taking me by force, trapping me in

00:01:04an eternal cage.

00:01:06Oh, you.

00:01:08But I will never let your children become your prisoners.

00:01:12Watching the madness of his possessive gaze, I press my hand against my stomach, where a faint draconic sigil flickered,

00:01:20the marked pulsing of the rhythmic cadence of a heartbeat.

00:01:24It was this very secret that had driven me to almost lay my own death, a scandalous escape that had

00:01:29shocked the world.

00:01:30A month ago, the Holy Kingdom fell under a sudden monster assault.

00:01:36I found myself cornered in the black forest, trapped and suffocating under the weight of a dark malevolent curse.

00:01:42As my consciousness began to fracture, he appeared.

00:01:45He rode through the chaos.

00:01:47As he charged forward on horseback, I could have sworn I saw the spectral shimmer of dragon wings unfurl behind

00:01:54him.

00:01:54A broken sword in one hand, and a spear in the other, cutting a path to my side.

00:02:00In my blurred vision, he looked breathtaking.

00:02:04That night, amidst a frantic soul resonance, I let myself cross the forbidden line with him.

00:02:10I think I might have actually fallen for him.

00:02:13I thought of him the moment I opened my eyes.

00:02:15I banished him once more to the most remote, crumbling tower of the estate.

00:02:19Before sending him to the tower was a triumph of my power.

00:02:22Now I found myself sneaking toward it just to catch a glimpse of him.

00:02:26He was right there in my temple.

00:02:28Yet I was dying of an incurable heartache.

00:02:31Today was his 22nd birthday.

00:02:33I had spent hours baking a lemon tart with my own hands, wanting to give him a surprise.

00:02:39I wanted to tell him that he was going to be a father.

00:02:43Two years ago in the arena, I bestowed upon him the name Shadow.

00:02:47He was but a flicker of darkness, easily erased.

00:02:51Now, that name has become my only longing.

00:02:54I reached the tower only to find my world collapsing.

00:02:57My shadow was gone.

00:03:00A massive dragon shadow reared its head, its wings sweeping across the ceiling.

00:03:05A blinding burst of molten gold erupted before my eyes,

00:03:09before shrinking and condensing into the form of a noble man.

00:03:12The slave had vanished, replaced by a prince radiating golden light.

00:03:17The rumors followed quickly.

00:03:19He already had a fiancé, a childhood match.

00:03:23Lady Isabella, the most brilliant woman in the empire.

00:03:27As soon as he returned to the capital, their grand wedding would begin.

00:03:33My sanctuary had been transformed into a cage, surrounded by the cold steel of the paladins.

00:03:40The moment they spotted me, skulking in the shadows like a common thief,

00:03:44a royal guard lunged forward, pressing the frigid edge of a heavy greatsword against my throat.

00:03:49Neil, daughter of a traitor, how dare you stand in the presence of Prince Arthur?

00:03:53I looked past the blade at the man in the center of the crowd.

00:03:56The ragged, homespun clothes were gone.

00:03:59In their place was a magnificent robe of blackened gold.

00:04:04Risking execution, I reached out with trembling fingers, desperately trying to catch his hand.

00:04:10A low, rhythmic vibration hummed in the air as glowing embers of dragon fire drifted from the golden poitery of

00:04:17his robes.

00:04:20You... are you truly the crown prince?

00:04:22Tell me, Miss Vivian, how do you plan to torture me today?

00:04:25Will it be the jeweled whip, or shall I feel the weight of your dancing shoes again?

00:04:30Once I return to the capital, I will send the official documents to sever our contract.

00:04:34A woman from this wretched holy kingdom has no place beside my throne.

00:04:37My eyes burned with unshed tears.

00:04:40I hadn't come to hurt him.

00:04:42I had come to celebrate his birth.

00:04:44To tell him that I was carrying his children.

00:04:47But even my touch was a stain to him now.

00:04:49I finally understood the brutal reality.

00:04:53He loathed me.

00:04:54He would never want me.

00:04:56And he would certainly never want the bastards in my womb.

00:04:59Even if they carried his own dragon blood.

00:05:02I shielded the faint yet searing spark of dragon blood within me.

00:05:06Standing amidst the hallowed ruins in utter despair.

00:05:09I wanted to tell him that I would give up everything.

00:05:11I would follow him to the capital as a lowly handmaid.

00:05:14Anything just to stay by his side.

00:05:16But to him, my very touch was a defilement.

00:05:20The deposition decree, sealed with the dragon crest, had severed our contract forever.

00:05:25At 18, I had fallen from the adored saintess to a prisoner abandoned by the gods.

00:05:30I finally woke up from the dream.

00:05:33Arthur hated me.

00:05:34He would go on to marry the pure-blooded Lady Isabella and father noble dragon heirs.

00:05:39To him.

00:05:40Do you have any final prayers, Miss Vivian?

00:05:44He looked down at me as if I were a speck of dust.

00:05:47I had wanted to beg him to taste the lemon tart I baked with my own hands.

00:05:51But seeing the frost in his eyes, I could only bite my lip and shake my head through a blur

00:05:56of tears.

00:05:57Golden scales erupted across his skin as the air ignited with his draconic aura.

00:06:02With a mocking smear, his body shifted and expanded in a blinding flash of light, transforming into a massive dragon.

00:06:10The gale from his wings slamming me violently into the snow.

00:06:14He vanished into the clouds without a single backward glance.

00:06:17I sat frozen in the ice until a sharp searing pain tore through my abdomen, nearly causing me to lose

00:06:24the child.

00:06:25Watching the fading silhouette in the sky, I clutched my stomach where a faint dragon mark pulsed, beating rhythmically like

00:06:31a second heart.

00:06:35Disaster struck three days after Arthur's departure.

00:06:39My father, the Holy Father, was branded with the twin sins of treason and black magic.

00:06:44Then cast into the darkest depths of the abyss prison, I rushed to the capital, desperate and breathless, only to

00:06:50be met with a death sentence.

00:06:52He was to face the trial of Holy Fire on the night of the next full moon.

00:06:57Inside the stench-ridden dungeon, my mother's withered hand gripped mine with terrifying strength.

00:07:03Elena, you must go to Prince Arthur.

00:07:06You must go to your shadow.

00:07:09You swore vows before the dragon god.

00:07:12You are high on only contract holder.

00:07:15He cannot simply watch us die.

00:07:18Her words cut through my leg as a raided Vlad, but he couldn't find the voice to answer.

00:07:23How could I admit that during those two years of shadow, I had forced him into the freezing depths of

00:07:29the holy lake just to retrieve a lost jewel for my amusement?

00:07:33How could I confess that?

00:07:35In fits of rage, I had left scars upon his back that would never heal.

00:07:39He likely wanted to see my family reduced to ash more than anyone else in the world.

00:07:44But looking at the last flickering spark that opened my mother's eyes, I forced myself to move.

00:07:49I picked up the ruby-encrusted whip, the very symbol of my former tyranny, and dragged my trembling body to

00:07:56the crown prince's palace.

00:07:57There, before the towering obsidian iron gates, I fell to my knees and waited.

00:08:06Back in the Holy Kingdom, a single command from my lips was enough to make shadow crawl to my feet.

00:08:12If I wanted him to bow, he never dared to meet my eyes.

00:08:15But now, the tables had turned with a cruel irony.

00:08:19To see him for even a moment, I had to kneel in the teeth of a blizzard, begging a shred

00:08:24of mercy.

00:08:24I knelt until I lost all feeling in my legs, the ruby whip in my hands buried after a thick

00:08:30shroud of snow.

00:08:31Just as dawn threatened to break, a dragon's roar shattered the clouds.

00:08:35The black wings inclipsed the dawn as he dived, only to contract and transform the instant they struck the earth.

00:08:41From the heart of the erupting snow, Arthur emerged in human form, breaking through the mist.

00:08:46The crunch of his boots against the frozen ground echoed the frantic beating of my heart.

00:08:51His cold, indifferent gaze lingered for a moment on the whip I held.

00:08:54Tell me, Miss Vivian, which hand was it?

00:08:58Which hand did you use to leave those scars on my body?

00:09:02His voice held no warmth, only the crushing weight of a judge passing sent him.

00:09:06I was so frozen, I could barely breathe.

00:09:09Before I could find my voice, my strength failed me.

00:09:12My knees buckled and I collapsed forward, falling directly into his arms.

00:09:16His chest was burning hot, a searing contrast to the ice.

00:09:20The heat instantly triggered the memory of our night of soul resonance.

00:09:23The way he had pinned me against the altar was a predatory hunger.

00:09:26My eyes welled with bitter tears.

00:09:30Your Highness, please, save my father.

00:09:34I'm begging you.

00:09:35His pupils narrowed into golden vertical slits, and a faint rhythmic glow of molten fire pulsed beneath the skin of

00:09:42his throat.

00:09:44So, you strip your defenses bare before me just to save that old man?

00:09:49Very well.

00:09:51I have been dying to see just how much the High and Holy Princess has learned about the art of

00:09:55submission.

00:09:55Before I could gasp, he hoisted me over his shoulder.

00:09:59Ignoring my cry of protest, he strode ruthlessly through the gallery and hurled me onto the strong red draped in

00:10:05black fox fur.

00:10:06The air ignited with the violent scent of the dragonkin.

00:10:09As my ornate cloak slid away, my skin shivered against the biting chill.

00:10:15Arthur descended like a predator, his massive frame pitting me down, swallowing me whole within his territory.

00:10:22One hand, cold as iron, clamped my wrists above my head.

00:10:26Elena, every agony you put me through over these last two years, I am going to repay it, inch by

00:10:32inch, upon this bed.

00:10:35Phantasmus wings spread wide, bathed in the room in a suffocating golden gloom.

00:10:39The air crackled in the room of ancient dragon fire, as the crushing weight of his aura sealed the room.

00:10:45I shielded my womb with a trembling hand, protecting the fragile life within as I sank into the darkness.

00:10:54Shadow.

00:10:56He threw me onto the black fox furs with such violence that a sharp pain flared through my lower back.

00:11:00Under the weight of his suffocating draconic aura, I flashed off my old, haughty temper flared.

00:11:07My hand instinctively reached it for me, ruby-encrusted, disciplinary whip.

00:11:12In the next heartbeat, Arthur ruthlessly shredded my inner robes.

00:11:16He curled his lips into a mocking sneer.

00:11:19His eyes filled with the cold, unreachable detachment.

00:11:22Is this your idea of us leaving this whip?

00:11:24The whip slipped from my numb fingers, clattering, uselessly to the floor.

00:11:28His gauze was licking up, frozen and well, threatening to turn me very soul-toious.

00:11:33For the thousandth time, virality crashed down upon me.

00:11:36He was no longer the slave I could trample at will.

00:11:39He was a dragon king who crushed my entire bloodline with a lick of his fingers.

00:11:42Pleasing me is your only task.

00:11:45If you can satisfy me, perhaps I will show mercy and grant that old man Bernard a chance to live.

00:11:53Pleasing him, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

00:11:56I looked down at Miss Till, flat abdomen, my heart clenching in fear.

00:12:01Ever since, a day here claimed his throne, I had been spotting blood.

00:12:05The physician had warned that that the dragon bloodline was too powerful.

00:12:09My pregnancy was fragile.

00:12:11I was terrified of the bleeding.

00:12:13I was even more terrified of losing the tiny life already.

00:12:16Flickering with a dragon's breathing side met.

00:12:21Are you truly that unwilling?

00:12:24He let out a derisive snort, his eyes flickering with pure disdain.

00:12:29I have no interest in forcing anyone.

00:12:32Since the great saint despises her purity so highly,

00:12:37you can simply wait until the next full moon.

00:12:42Then you can collect Bernard's charred remains from the altar of holy fire.

00:12:48He tossed the shredded remnants of my sacred groves onto the floor like trash and turned to leave.

00:12:54Throwing my pride to the wind, I lunged forward and threw my arms around him from behind.

00:12:59I had been spoiled my entire life.

00:13:02I had never bowed to anyone.

00:13:04I was terrified of losing the babies, but I was more terrified of my father's execution.

00:13:20Arthur stood with his back to me, letting out a laugh that was bone-chillingly cold.

00:13:25I couldn't see his face, but the frost radiating from him was suffocating.

00:13:30To save a life, I had to mimic the clumsy movements of a dancing girl.

00:13:35I reached out with shaking hands to touch him,

00:13:39eventually forcing myself onto my tiptoes to press a desperate, humiliating kiss against his lips.

00:13:46Is this all the saintess is capable of?

00:13:50I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.

00:13:53My mind flashed back to that night of chaotic soul resonance.

00:13:57Back then, though he was wild,

00:13:59he had kissed away my tears and whispered gentle comforts into my ear.

00:14:04The Arthur standing here now didn't want to comfort me.

00:14:07He wanted to watch me break.

00:14:12Get away from me!

00:14:14He growled the command.

00:14:16The volatile temper and searing heat unique to the dragon race exploded in an instant,

00:14:22shattering his fragile self-control.

00:14:24I tried to recoil in fear, but instead of pushing me away,

00:14:28his arm clamped around my waist like an iron vice,

00:14:32pinning me ruthlessly against the edge of the bed.

00:14:35He seized control,

00:14:36his kiss so violent I thought he would crush my lips.

00:14:41I struggled for air as the kiss grew more feral,

00:14:44a desperate clash of hatred and hunger.

00:14:47My clothes were reduced to threads.

00:14:49I felt like a fallen leaf adrift on a violent sea,

00:14:53swaying and drowning in the tidal wave of his draconic lust.

00:14:57When the first light of dawn filtered through the windows,

00:14:59I drifted back to consciousness.

00:15:01Arthur was already fully dressed in his black and gold princely regalia,

00:15:04looking cold and peerless once more.

00:15:07Your Highness.

00:15:10Last night I did what you asked.

00:15:13You'll save my father now, won't you?

00:15:16Arthur adjusted the dragon scale cufflinks at his wrists,

00:15:19offering a chilling laugh without even bothering to look back.

00:15:23When exactly did I say that sleeping with me once

00:15:26would guarantee a pardon for a traitor?

00:15:30My eyes snapped open.

00:15:32Every bone in my body felt as though it had been ground to dust,

00:15:35but the pain in my heart was far worse.

00:15:37You.

00:15:46Besides,

00:15:47do you really think a body as broken as yours is enough to satisfy me?

00:15:53I felt as though I had been plunged into an abyss of ice.

00:15:57He never intended to save anyone.

00:15:59This was nothing but cold-blooded retaliation,

00:16:02the cruelest way possible to humiliate me

00:16:04for the two years I spent trampling on his dignity.

00:16:07The air felt thin,

00:16:09the weight of his betrayal suffocating me.

00:16:12Arthur, I'm begging you.

00:16:13Please, save my father.

00:16:16He didn't spare me even a fleeting glance.

00:16:19Shrouded in a frost that cut like a blade,

00:16:21he strode away without looking back.

00:16:23Like a hollow shell of a human being,

00:16:25I numbly gathered the shredded remnants of my clothes

00:16:28and draped them over my battered body.

00:16:30I began the long, agonizing trek out of the palace,

00:16:33but as I reached the end of the corridor,

00:16:35I collided with a radiant procession.

00:16:38At the head of the group stood a woman

00:16:40in a vibrant imperial gown trimmed with gold,

00:16:43her elegance as sharp as her status.

00:16:45It was Isabella, the Duke's most beloved daughter.

00:16:49She was the woman Arthur had personally chosen

00:16:51as his crown princess upon his return to the throne.

00:16:54The saint, Russ?

00:16:57I must say, I never expected to find you

00:17:00in the prince's private chambers in such a state.

00:17:07It seems his highness's mercy

00:17:10hasn't taught you anything about dignity.

00:17:14I gripped my collar so hard,

00:17:17my nails bit into my palms.

00:17:18I wanted to scream to fight back,

00:17:21but a sudden wave of weakness from my abdomen stopped me.

00:17:24If I collapsed here, my children,

00:17:26my only remaining secret would be lost forever.

00:17:32Isabella was breathtaking.

00:17:34She possessed an innate regal air

00:17:36that only comes from a lifetime spent

00:17:38at the pinnacle of power,

00:17:39making me feel a sudden stinging sense of inferiority.

00:17:43So you're that common girl

00:17:45Arthur used for diversion back in the Holy Kingdom?

00:17:49It wasn't a diversion.

00:17:51We exchanged the vows of the rose before the gods.

00:17:54He was my sworn knight.

00:18:02Vows?

00:18:03Those archaic rituals mean less than nothing to a crown prince.

00:18:08I've heard stories of how cruelly you treated him.

00:18:11Now that he's reclaimed his throne,

00:18:14you've come crawling back to beg for mercy.

00:18:17How could a man like Arthur

00:18:19ever truly want a woman with a heart as poisonous as yours?

00:18:24She stepped closer,

00:18:26her voice dripping with the arrogance of a benefactor.

00:18:29If you're truly that desperate to stay in the capital,

00:18:33I might allow him to keep you

00:18:36after our wedding as an unmarked mistress,

00:18:40a private pet with no name.

00:18:43The insult burned through my veins,

00:18:45but I didn't want to be anyone's secret pet.

00:18:48Even if my heart had begun to waver,

00:18:50I knew one thing for certain.

00:18:52If he chose to marry another,

00:18:53I would never linger for a single second.

00:18:58As I stepped out of the crown prince's estate,

00:19:01the scorching sun felt like a physical assault,

00:19:04making my eyes sting.

00:19:05The truth was a cold, hard weight in my chest.

00:19:09Arthur hated me.

00:19:11He had no intention of saving my father.

00:19:13He only wanted to watch me spiral into the abyss

00:19:16until there was nothing left of me.

00:19:20Miss Elena.

00:19:21I hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes,

00:19:25looking up to see Christopher.

00:19:26He had once been a common scholar sponsored by my father.

00:19:30Two years ago,

00:19:31during that fateful ceremony,

00:19:33he had been my first choice for a knight.

00:19:35But through a cruel twist of fate,

00:19:37I had chosen Arthur instead.

00:19:39Now,

00:19:40Christopher had climbed the ranks

00:19:41to become the chief executive of the Imperial Tribunal.

00:19:44Lord Christopher,

00:19:46my father was framed.

00:19:50Please,

00:19:51I'm begging you.

00:19:53Save him.

00:19:57It's been two years.

00:20:00You've grown even more.

00:20:02Breathstaking than I remembered.

00:20:06I have always admired you.

00:20:11Elena.

00:20:13I've always wanted you by my side.

00:20:16He stared at me with a fixed intensity

00:20:18that made my skin crawl.

00:20:20The naked greed in his eyes was nauseating.

00:20:23He had already secured his future

00:20:25by marrying the High Justice's daughter,

00:20:27carving a path to the heights of power.

00:20:29Now,

00:20:30he was looking at me

00:20:32as if I were a prize to be collected.

00:20:34A secret lover

00:20:35to be kept in the shadows

00:20:37of his perfect life.

00:20:42I will purchase a secluded manor for you.

00:20:45You will live there.

00:20:47And when the timing is right,

00:20:48I'll arrange for you to be appointed

00:20:50as a chamber attendant.

00:20:52It's the perfect way

00:20:53to keep you under my protection

00:20:54without raising eyebrows.

00:20:57My father gave you everything.

00:20:59He funded your education

00:21:01and your rise to power.

00:21:03Is your sense of honor

00:21:04so easily swallowed by greed?

00:21:06I struggled to keep the fury

00:21:08from my voice,

00:21:09my body trembling

00:21:10with a mixture of rage and exhaustion.

00:21:13Christopher let out

00:21:14a sharp, derisive laugh,

00:21:16his eyes scanning me

00:21:17with a terrifying lack of shame.

00:21:19I have plenty of gold now.

00:21:21What I lack is a plaything like you,

00:21:23so holy,

00:21:23yet so utterly ruined.

00:21:25I know you spent two years

00:21:26with the crown prince,

00:21:27but his wedding is imminent.

00:21:29He's done with you.

00:21:30If you won't look Bernard

00:21:31to stay alive,

00:21:31you have no other choice.

00:21:33You belong to me now.

00:21:34I didn't even have the chance

00:21:35to retort.

00:21:36A sudden, violent wave of nausea

00:21:38surged from my stomach,

00:21:39and I doubled over,

00:21:41dry heaving right in front of him.

00:21:44Christopher's face

00:21:44instantly twisted

00:21:45into a blue shade of purple.

00:21:48He had expected tears,

00:21:50or perhaps a desperate surrender.

00:21:52He hadn't expected me

00:21:54to be so physically repulsed

00:21:55by his touch

00:21:56that I would be sick

00:21:57on the spot.

00:22:01Christopher was clearly stunned

00:22:03by my physical repulsion.

00:22:04The mask of a refined gentleman

00:22:06shattered,

00:22:07leaving behind a gaze

00:22:09so dark and venomous,

00:22:10it chilled my blood.

00:22:12The fake warmth in his voice

00:22:14died instantly,

00:22:15replaced by a low,

00:22:17predatory snarl.

00:22:18Do not test my patience,

00:22:20Elena.

00:22:21I control the Imperial Tribunal now.

00:22:23If I want that old man dead,

00:22:25he won't even survive long enough

00:22:27to see the Holy Fire next month.

00:22:31I'll give you two days.

00:22:32If I don't see you at my manor

00:22:34on the south side of the city by then,

00:22:36you might as well start picking out

00:22:37a burial plot for your father.

00:22:39He turned on his heel

00:22:40and stormed away

00:22:42in a fit of humiliated rage,

00:22:44leaving me to tremble alone

00:22:46in the biting wind.

00:22:48My heart felt like a lead weight

00:22:50sinking into an abyss.

00:22:52People always whispered

00:22:54that scholars

00:22:54were the most virtuous among us.

00:22:56But in reality,

00:22:58the most wretched souls

00:22:59are often those hidden

00:23:00behind tailored suits

00:23:01and polite smiles.

00:23:03My family was still wealthy.

00:23:05Even after spending a fortune

00:23:07to save my father,

00:23:08what remained

00:23:09could sustain us

00:23:10for generations.

00:23:11My mother had already

00:23:12secured a secluded safe house

00:23:14on the outskirts of the capital.

00:23:16I dragged my battered body,

00:23:18feeling as though

00:23:19it had been trampled

00:23:20by a carriage,

00:23:21and began the long,

00:23:23numb walk back

00:23:23to that hollow substitute

00:23:25for a home.

00:23:28I had a younger brother,

00:23:30Julian,

00:23:30who was two years my junior.

00:23:33Unlike me,

00:23:34who grew dizzy

00:23:35at the mere sight

00:23:36of ancient texts,

00:23:37he was a natural-born arcanist.

00:23:40By the age of five,

00:23:42he could already

00:23:43decipher forbidden runes.

00:23:45Upon hearing

00:23:46of our family's downfall,

00:23:47he had rushed

00:23:48from the arcane academy

00:23:50to the capital,

00:23:51his face pale with worry.

00:23:54Crushed and defeated,

00:23:56I dragged my feet

00:23:57down the endless corridor,

00:23:58and with a trembling,

00:24:00uncertain hand,

00:24:01pushed open

00:24:02the massive door.

00:24:04Elena!

00:24:05What did he say?

00:24:06Did Prince Arthur,

00:24:07did Shadow agree

00:24:08to save your father?

00:24:09My brother-in-law

00:24:10is the crown prince now.

00:24:11He'll help us, won't he?

00:24:12He has to!

00:24:12I looked at the flickering

00:24:14sparks of hope

00:24:14in their eyes,

00:24:15and my throat burned

00:24:16as if I had swallowed

00:24:17hot coals.

00:24:19Worse,

00:24:20I couldn't bring myself

00:24:21to describe the previous night.

00:24:23How Arthur had pinned me

00:24:24to those luxurious

00:24:26black fox furs,

00:24:27claiming my body

00:24:28with a brutal hunger.

00:24:30He wasn't our savior.

00:24:31He was a man

00:24:33who took pleasure

00:24:33in my ruin.

00:24:34A man who wanted

00:24:35to watch me drown

00:24:36in this hopeless mire

00:24:38until the last breath

00:24:39left my lungs.

00:24:44I couldn't bear

00:24:45to shatter

00:24:45the fragile hope

00:24:46in my mother's

00:24:47and Julian's eyes.

00:24:48But with my father's

00:24:50life on the line,

00:24:51I didn't dare

00:24:52weave a lie.

00:24:54My voice cracked

00:24:56as the cold reality

00:24:57spilled out.

00:25:00He refused.

00:25:02Arthur hates me

00:25:03more than you can imagine.

00:25:05Those two years

00:25:06of torment

00:25:07turned his heart

00:25:08into a block of ice.

00:25:10I've brought this

00:25:11upon our family.

00:25:12It's my fault

00:25:13that father is

00:25:14in that cage.

00:25:15My mother pulled me

00:25:17into a fierce,

00:25:18trembling embrace.

00:25:19Her scent of lavender

00:25:21and old books

00:25:21a brief comfort

00:25:22against the storm.

00:25:24You are the most

00:25:24precious jewel

00:25:25of the Vivian family.

00:25:26If this is truly

00:25:27Bernard's trial,

00:25:28then it is a judgment

00:25:29of fate itself.

00:25:30You will not chain yourself

00:25:31to a guilt

00:25:31that isn't yours to bear.

00:25:33She's right.

00:25:35You've done nothing wrong,

00:25:36Elena.

00:25:37It's that cold-blooded

00:25:39prince who is blind.

00:25:40You deserve the purest

00:25:42devotion this world

00:25:43has to offer,

00:25:45not his cruelty.

00:25:48Listening to them,

00:25:49a wave of bitter sorrow

00:25:51washed over me.

00:25:52The house of Vivian

00:25:53had once been

00:25:54the glorious pillar

00:25:55of the Holy Kingdom,

00:25:57a name spoken

00:25:58with reverence

00:25:59and awe.

00:26:00Now the proud

00:26:01saintess had finally

00:26:02learned how to bow

00:26:03her head.

00:26:04I no longer prayed

00:26:05for glory or power.

00:26:07I only prayed

00:26:09that those I loved

00:26:10might survive

00:26:10the winter.

00:26:13Elena,

00:26:14mother told me

00:26:14you're pregnant.

00:26:16Go back to your room

00:26:17and rest.

00:26:18I'm 16 now.

00:26:19I can carry

00:26:20this family's weight.

00:26:21Trust me.

00:26:22I will bring

00:26:23father home.

00:26:23I looked at the young man

00:26:25standing before me,

00:26:26his shoulders broad

00:26:28and his gaze steady.

00:26:30The little boy

00:26:31who used to trail

00:26:32behind me,

00:26:33crying over scraped

00:26:34knees,

00:26:35had truly grown up.

00:26:37I offered a few

00:26:38soft words of caution

00:26:39before retreating

00:26:40to my room.

00:26:41But the dull,

00:26:42persistent ache

00:26:43in my womb

00:26:44kept me tossing

00:26:45and turning

00:26:46in a feverish unrest.

00:26:48Hours later,

00:26:49I stepped out

00:26:50into the hallway

00:26:51and froze.

00:26:52There stood Julian.

00:26:54But he was

00:26:55unrecognizable.

00:26:56He had changed

00:26:57into a garish flamboyant

00:26:59suit of shimmering silks

00:27:00with an oversized

00:27:02ruby pendant

00:27:03dangling against

00:27:03his chest.

00:27:05Julian,

00:27:06what are you

00:27:07dressed like?

00:27:10I heard Duchess Audley

00:27:11has a weakness

00:27:12for collecting

00:27:12exquisite young men.

00:27:13I'm going to her

00:27:14estate to offer myself.

00:27:15If she takes me

00:27:16as her pet,

00:27:17even the crown prince

00:27:18will have to show

00:27:19her some respect.

00:27:20That's how

00:27:21I'll save father.

00:27:22My heart stopped.

00:27:24Julian was a

00:27:25once-in-a-century

00:27:26genius at the

00:27:27Arcane Academy.

00:27:28I couldn't let him

00:27:29sell his soul.

00:27:31Panic surged

00:27:32through me

00:27:33as I tricked him

00:27:33into the wine cellar

00:27:34and slammed

00:27:35the heavy iron door,

00:27:36locking it tight.

00:27:40Let me out!

00:27:41I was born for this!

00:27:43If it saves father,

00:27:44what does it matter

00:27:45if I'm just a plaything?

00:27:48I couldn't let my brother

00:27:50destroy his future

00:27:51and his dignity.

00:27:52The thought of Julian,

00:27:53a brilliant prodigy,

00:27:55rotting away

00:27:55as a noblewoman's plaything

00:27:57was a nightmare

00:27:58I wouldn't allow

00:27:59to come true.

00:28:00Begging Arthur again

00:28:01was a dead end.

00:28:02It would only invite

00:28:02more humiliation

00:28:03and perhaps even

00:28:05ignite his lethal temper.

00:28:07That left Christopher,

00:28:08the hypocritical viper,

00:28:09as much as I loathed

00:28:11the idea of becoming

00:28:12his caged bird.

00:28:13It seemed the path

00:28:14had narrowed

00:28:14until there was

00:28:15nowhere left to run.

00:28:17As night fell,

00:28:18I carried a single

00:28:19flickering magic lamp

00:28:20and crept toward

00:28:20Christopher's secret villa

00:28:22on the south side

00:28:23of the city.

00:28:24I spent the entire journey

00:28:25numbing my mind,

00:28:26whispering to myself

00:28:27that this was merely

00:28:28a sacrifice.

00:28:29I told myself,

00:28:30it would be like

00:28:31being bitten

00:28:32by a wild beast.

00:28:33Painful, yes,

00:28:34but something I could endure

00:28:35if I just closed my eyes.

00:28:37The moment I stepped

00:28:38into that dim,

00:28:39oppressive bedroom

00:28:40and saw Christopher

00:28:41unfastening his outer robe,

00:28:42my stomach churned

00:28:44with violent revulsion.

00:28:45Miss Vivian,

00:28:47I have waited

00:28:48two long years

00:28:49for this day.

00:28:50He undid the silver clasps

00:28:52at his collar,

00:28:53his smile thick

00:28:54with a sticky

00:28:54predatory mouth.

00:28:55From this moment on,

00:28:56you are my private property.

00:28:58Now come here,

00:28:59help me undress.

00:29:01My body is rigid as stone.

00:29:03Not used to this yet?

00:29:04Don't worry,

00:29:05I'll spend the rest

00:29:06of the night

00:29:06teaching you

00:29:07exactly how to serve me.

00:29:10Christopher shed

00:29:11his hypocritical

00:29:11priestly robes,

00:29:12his eyes gleaming

00:29:13with a feverish light.

00:29:15Tonight,

00:29:16we finally celebrate

00:29:17our sacred union.

00:29:18Two years late,

00:29:19he advanced toward me

00:29:20one predatory step

00:29:21at a time.

00:29:22Despite the biting

00:29:22cold of the room,

00:29:23my palms were slit

00:29:24with a cold sweat.

00:29:25I realized in that moment

00:29:26that I couldn't endure

00:29:27his proximity.

00:29:28The sensation was visceral,

00:29:29like a slimy serpent

00:29:30slithering up my ankle.

00:29:32Cold and suffocating.

00:29:33A sickly,

00:29:33distorted desire

00:29:34burned in his gaze.

00:29:36He lunged forward,

00:29:37his hands clamping

00:29:38around my waist

00:29:38like iron shackle

00:29:39as he tried to bury

00:29:40his face in the

00:29:41hook of my neck.

00:29:41The scent of yours,

00:29:42it's enough to drive

00:29:43a man mad.

00:29:44Stop!

00:29:45Christopher,

00:29:46listen to me.

00:29:46I will give you

00:29:47every coin

00:29:47in the Vivian family

00:29:48bolts.

00:29:49Just save my father

00:29:50and let me go.

00:29:52I don't want

00:29:52your filthy gold,

00:29:53Elena.

00:29:54I want you!

00:29:55His face twisted

00:29:56into a mask

00:29:56of pure malice

00:29:57as he shoved me

00:29:58backward onto

00:29:58the black velvet shade.

00:29:59He began to tear

00:30:00at my sacred robes

00:30:01with a frantic,

00:30:02desperate violence.

00:30:03Go ahead,

00:30:03keep fighting me.

00:30:04If you do,

00:30:05I'll make sure

00:30:06Bernard is dead

00:30:07before the sun

00:30:08rises tomorrow.

00:30:09Arthur was a man

00:30:09of violence,

00:30:10but when he touched me,

00:30:11there was a part

00:30:12of my soul

00:30:13that didn't recoil.

00:30:14Here,

00:30:15pinned under Christopher,

00:30:16I felt only

00:30:17a bone-deep revulsion.

00:30:19Ever since I saw you

00:30:20standing so high

00:30:21above everyone

00:30:21two years ago,

00:30:22I've dreamt of dragging

00:30:23you into the mud.

00:30:25Tonight,

00:30:25I finally get

00:30:26what I've always deserved.

00:30:31I first met Christopher

00:30:32when I was still young.

00:30:34No one could have

00:30:35ever guessed

00:30:36that behind his

00:30:37gentle,

00:30:37refined demeanor

00:30:38hit a dark

00:30:39and twisted heart.

00:30:41He leaned close

00:30:43to my neck,

00:30:44his every word

00:30:45laced with chilling,

00:30:46hidden malice

00:30:47that sent shivers

00:30:48down my spine.

00:30:50To tell you the truth,

00:30:51Elena,

00:30:52I orchestrated everything.

00:30:56Bernard's downfall,

00:30:58the treason,

00:30:59the trial,

00:31:00it was all my design.

00:31:02My eyes snapped wide

00:31:03as the horror

00:31:04of his confession sank in.

00:31:06He funded your education.

00:31:08He gave you a future.

00:31:11How could you betray

00:31:13the man who saved you?

00:31:14If he hadn't gone to prison,

00:31:16would you be here now,

00:31:18kneeling and begging

00:31:19for my favor?

00:31:20No.

00:31:21So be a good girl

00:31:22and please me.

00:31:23I have the power

00:31:24to make your father's life

00:31:26a living hell

00:31:26and I can just as easily

00:31:28destroy your mother

00:31:29and Julian.

00:31:29The sheer cruelty

00:31:30of it left me gasping.

00:31:32I wanted nothing more

00:31:33than to kill him

00:31:33and myself

00:31:34in a single stroke

00:31:35of vengeance.

00:31:36He held

00:31:36my every weakness

00:31:38in his hand.

00:31:39No matter how much

00:31:39my soul screamed

00:31:40in protest,

00:31:41I was trapped,

00:31:42forced to shiver

00:31:43and endure beneath him.

00:31:45Now,

00:31:46kiss me.

00:31:47He ruthlessly

00:31:48tore open my inner robes.

00:31:50The sudden bite

00:31:50of the cold air

00:31:51stung my exposed skin.

00:31:52I couldn't stop shaking

00:31:53and as his face

00:31:54descended toward mine,

00:31:55a wave of visceral,

00:31:57physical revulsion

00:31:58took hold.

00:31:58Every ounce of strength

00:31:59I had left,

00:32:00I shoved him away.

00:32:04Christopher's mask

00:32:05of civility

00:32:06shattered into

00:32:06a hundred jagged pieces.

00:32:08His patience

00:32:09had run dry

00:32:10and he pinned me

00:32:11against the edge

00:32:12of the chaise

00:32:12with a terrifying

00:32:13heavy weight.

00:32:15Get off me!

00:32:17Don't touch me!

00:32:20Keep shouting,

00:32:21Elena,

00:32:22but for every word

00:32:23you scream,

00:32:24I'll have a piece

00:32:24of Bernard's flesh

00:32:25carved away.

00:32:26I went silent instantly,

00:32:28the sound of my own teeth

00:32:28grained together

00:32:29echoing in my skull.

00:32:30To save my father

00:32:31from the torture rack,

00:32:31I could only close my eyes

00:32:32in absolute despair,

00:32:33just as I prepared

00:32:34to bite my own tongue

00:32:35and end it all.

00:32:36The heavy oak doors

00:32:37of the bedchamber

00:32:38were obliterated,

00:32:39kicked inward

00:32:40with a force

00:32:41that shook

00:32:42the foundations

00:32:42of the villa.

00:32:44It was Arthur.

00:32:48Christopher stood paralyzed,

00:32:50his eyes wide

00:32:52with disbelief.

00:32:53He never imagined

00:32:54the crown prince

00:32:55would descend upon

00:32:56this secret sanctuary.

00:32:58Panicked,

00:32:59he scrambled

00:33:00to clutch

00:33:00his discarded robes,

00:33:02his face

00:33:02draining of color

00:33:03as the temperature

00:33:04in the room plummeted,

00:33:06Arthur approached

00:33:07with a terrifying,

00:33:08predatory calm.

00:33:13Your highness,

00:33:15I do not understand

00:33:16why you would strike me.

00:33:17Since when is it a crime

00:33:19to enjoy a midnight thrisk

00:33:20with one's own lover?

00:33:22Lover.

00:33:25Since when is it a crime

00:33:27to enjoy

00:33:28a midnight thrisk

00:33:29with one's own...

00:33:31Arthur rained down low

00:33:33after the brutal blow

00:33:34until Christopher

00:33:35lay unconscious

00:33:36in an ever-widening pool

00:33:38of blood?

00:33:38I have not yet signed

00:33:39the decree of abdulation.

00:33:41Until I do,

00:33:43she belongs to me.

00:33:45You dare to touch

00:33:46what is mine,

00:33:47and for that,

00:33:48you will die!

00:33:51Between the sheer terror

00:33:53of the night

00:33:54and the gnawing dread

00:33:55for my father's life,

00:33:56the fragile dam

00:33:58of my emotions

00:33:59finally broke.

00:34:00My pregnancy

00:34:01had made me volatile,

00:34:03and now,

00:34:04the tears fell

00:34:05in a relentless,

00:34:06silent torrent

00:34:07that I couldn't stop.

00:34:08Arthur reached out,

00:34:10his arms snaking around me

00:34:12like an iron band

00:34:13to haul me

00:34:13into his chest.

00:34:15Seeing my face

00:34:16streaked with tears,

00:34:18the darkness in his eyes

00:34:19didn't soften.

00:34:21Instead,

00:34:21his fury

00:34:22seemed to congeal

00:34:23into something

00:34:24even more lethal.

00:34:25Do you love him

00:34:26that much?

00:34:27Do you love him

00:34:29that much?

00:34:32Does it break your heart

00:34:34that I interrupted

00:34:36your little trisk?

00:34:37You actually degraded

00:34:39yourself to this point

00:34:40for a piece of filth

00:34:42like him!

00:34:43When had I ever shown

00:34:44an ounce of affection

00:34:45for Christopher?

00:34:46The man was a monster,

00:34:48yet here was Arthur,

00:34:50twisting my desperation

00:34:51into a betrayal.

00:34:52But I didn't dare

00:34:53fight back.

00:34:54I couldn't risk

00:34:55my father bearing

00:34:56the brunt

00:34:56of a crown prince's

00:34:57lightning strike rage.

00:34:59I could only bury

00:35:00my face against his chest,

00:35:02my body shaking

00:35:03with muffled,

00:35:04agonizing sobs.

00:35:07Is being with me

00:35:08such a miserable fate,

00:35:09Elena?

00:35:10Well, weep all you want,

00:35:11it doesn't change a thing.

00:35:13You're coming back

00:35:13to the palace with me,

00:35:14where you belong.

00:35:17Arthur tossed me

00:35:18into his massive

00:35:19war chariot,

00:35:20pulled by snarling drakes,

00:35:22as if I were

00:35:23nothing more than

00:35:24a conquest claimed

00:35:25on a battlefield.

00:35:26I had no hope

00:35:27of escape.

00:35:28Within the hour,

00:35:29I was back in the palace,

00:35:31thrown once again

00:35:32onto the suffocating

00:35:33black fox furs

00:35:34of his bed.

00:35:35I curled into a ball,

00:35:37my eyes red and swollen,

00:35:39rubbing the small

00:35:40of my back

00:35:41where the impact

00:35:41had left

00:35:42a dull,

00:35:43throbbing ache.

00:35:46His voice was a low,

00:35:48terrifying rumble,

00:35:49cold as a mountain grave.

00:35:51He pressed his callous thumb

00:35:53against my lips,

00:35:54rubbing them

00:35:55with a punishing force

00:35:56that threatened

00:35:56to draw blood.

00:35:59Did he kiss you here?

00:36:03I won't stay.

00:36:07I won't be your secret pet.

00:36:12You think you're worthy

00:36:13of being my mistress?

00:36:15Don't flatter yourself.

00:36:17Let me make this clear,

00:36:18Elena.

00:36:20Until the day I choose

00:36:21to discard you,

00:36:22if you ever dare to shame me

00:36:24with another man again,

00:36:25I will personally ensure

00:36:27you never draw another breath.

00:36:37I stared at Arthur,

00:36:39my heart hammering

00:36:40against my ribs

00:36:41like a trapped bird.

00:36:43His heterochromatic eyes

00:36:44were threaded

00:36:45with dark red veins,

00:36:46and the draconic aura

00:36:48swirling around him

00:36:49was so suffocating,

00:36:50it felt as though

00:36:51he had just clawed

00:36:52his way out

00:36:53of the deepest pits of hell.

00:36:54Looking at the sheer madness

00:36:55in his expression,

00:36:56I knew with terrifying certainty

00:36:59if I admitted

00:37:00that Christopher's lips

00:37:01even brushed mine,

00:37:02he would cut my lips away

00:37:04without a second thought.

00:37:06In truth,

00:37:07Christopher hadn't touched me.

00:37:09I should have been

00:37:10paralyzed by fear,

00:37:11but every nerve in my body

00:37:12was screaming

00:37:13in pain and exhaustion.

00:37:14I couldn't help

00:37:15but lash out.

00:37:18It's none of your business.

00:37:21You're that desperate

00:37:22to escape me, Vivian.

00:37:25You torture me.

00:37:27You humiliate me.

00:37:30Isn't this exactly

00:37:31what you wanted?

00:37:33Take it!

00:37:34Whip me to death

00:37:35if that's what it takes.

00:37:36I stepped on your shoulders.

00:37:38I crushed your pride.

00:37:40So take my hands.

00:37:41Take my feet.

00:37:42Do whatever you want.

00:37:44Just save my father

00:37:46if you promise to save him.

00:37:48I'll let you sacrifice me

00:37:50on the altar right now.

00:37:55Arthur remained silent

00:37:56as he reached down

00:37:57to retrieve

00:37:58the heavy jewel-encrusted whip.

00:37:59I couldn't help

00:38:00the violent flinch

00:38:01that wracked my body.

00:38:02I had wielded

00:38:03this very weapon

00:38:04countless times,

00:38:05but I was naturally frail.

00:38:07My strikes had barely

00:38:08left a red mark

00:38:08on his skin.

00:38:10Arthur was different.

00:38:11He possessed

00:38:12the terrifying raw strength

00:38:13of the dragon race.

00:38:15If he struck me once

00:38:16with that whip,

00:38:16I would shatter.

00:38:17I forced my spine

00:38:19to straighten

00:38:19and close my eyes,

00:38:20waiting for the end.

00:38:24After I'm gone,

00:38:26would you place a bouquet

00:38:29of fresh roses

00:38:30on my grave?

00:38:33I'm afraid of the cold

00:38:35on the other side.

00:38:41A woman from this

00:38:42wretched holy kingdom

00:38:43has no place

00:38:45beside my throne.

00:38:49He didn't swing the whip.

00:38:51Instead,

00:38:52he lunged forward,

00:38:53his searing fingers

00:38:54clamping around

00:38:54my slender waist

00:38:55like iron bands.

00:38:57Is my touch

00:38:58really that repulsing

00:38:59to you?

00:39:01Well, too bad.

00:39:03Tonight,

00:39:04I'm taking exactly

00:39:05what I want.

00:39:08His lips crashed

00:39:10against mine,

00:39:10fueled by a scorching,

00:39:12desperate rage.

00:39:13In the chaos

00:39:13of the kiss,

00:39:14a memory of my birthday

00:39:15last year surfaced.

00:39:16He was still

00:39:17my shadow then.

00:39:18He had spent weeks

00:39:19carving a wooden

00:39:20statuette of me,

00:39:21a perfect miniature

00:39:22saintess.

00:39:23When I saw the gift,

00:39:24my heart had hammered

00:39:26so wildly,

00:39:27I had accused him

00:39:28of placing a curse

00:39:29on me.

00:39:30I punished him,

00:39:31forcing him to kneel

00:39:32shirtless on the

00:39:33cold temple floor

00:39:34while I used

00:39:35gold ink to paint

00:39:35a massive ridiculous

00:39:36creature across

00:39:37his broad back.

00:39:39His ears had turned

00:39:40a deep burning crimson.

00:39:42I thought it was

00:39:43humiliation,

00:39:44so I insolently

00:39:45grabbed his ear

00:39:45to make him turn around.

00:39:47But as he moved,

00:39:48I lost my balance

00:39:49and tumbled

00:39:50into his arms.

00:39:51Our lips met.

00:39:52That kiss had been

00:39:53clumsy,

00:39:54yet so tender.

00:39:55He had whispered

00:39:57broken pleas,

00:39:58begging me to let him

00:39:58kiss me just once more.

00:40:00My shadow had been

00:40:01so kind then.

00:40:02No matter how I

00:40:03shamed him,

00:40:04he would have handed

00:40:05me the entire world

00:40:05on a silver platter

00:40:06just to see me smile.

00:40:10But the Arthur of today

00:40:11only knew how to bully me,

00:40:13how to make me hurt.

00:40:15As he ruthlessly

00:40:16tore away my silk

00:40:17inner robes,

00:40:18the tears I had fought

00:40:19so hard to suppress

00:40:20finally broke through

00:40:22the dam once again.

00:40:23They cascaded

00:40:24down my cheeks,

00:40:25hot and bitter,

00:40:27splashing against

00:40:27the side of his face.

00:40:28Arthur's movements

00:40:30froze instantly.

00:40:31He remained motionless,

00:40:32his hands still

00:40:33white-knuckled around

00:40:34a shred of the

00:40:34ruined silk.

00:40:36Is my touch

00:40:37so unbearable?

00:40:38He let out a sharp

00:40:39guttural sound of

00:40:39disgust and shoved me

00:40:41aside like a

00:40:41discarded rag.

00:40:43Before I could even

00:40:44shiver, he grabbed

00:40:45a heavy black

00:40:46fox fur blanket

00:40:46and wrapped it

00:40:47around me.

00:40:48That piece of filth,

00:40:49Christopher,

00:40:51already has a wife,

00:40:53a high justice

00:40:54own daughter,

00:40:55and yet here you are

00:40:56playing the martyr,

00:40:58preserving your purity.

00:41:00To Venus's,

00:41:01your controls

00:41:02no purity for him.

00:41:04You really are

00:41:05a devoted fool,

00:41:06Miss Vivian.

00:41:08He stood up,

00:41:09his eyes flashing

00:41:10with a final,

00:41:11cutting spark of

00:41:12disdain.

00:41:12Don't flatter yourself.

00:41:14You aren't the only

00:41:16woman in the world.

00:41:17I don't need you.

00:41:19He turned and strode

00:41:20out of the chamber,

00:41:21the massive oak door

00:41:22slamming shut

00:41:23with a thunderous

00:41:24crash that echoed

00:41:24through the hollow

00:41:25silence of my heart.

00:41:27I wept until

00:41:28my throat was raw

00:41:29and only then

00:41:30did the dull

00:41:31throbbing ache

00:41:32in my womb

00:41:32begin to subside.

00:41:34I was desperate

00:41:35to go home,

00:41:36to save my father,

00:41:37to stop Julian

00:41:38from selling his soul

00:41:39for a scrap

00:41:40of influence.

00:41:41But the world

00:41:41outside had vanished.

00:41:43Arthur had placed

00:41:44me under house arrest.

00:41:45I knew his game.

00:41:47He wanted to break

00:41:47me slowly.

00:41:48He wanted to watch

00:41:49the once haughty

00:41:50saintess rot

00:41:51in a gilded cage

00:41:52until there was

00:41:53nothing left

00:41:54of my pride.

00:41:55For seven days,

00:41:56Arthur never showed

00:41:57his face.

00:41:58Instead,

00:41:59he sent a flock

00:41:59of handmaids

00:41:59to tend to me.

00:42:00They were meticulously

00:42:02attentive,

00:42:02yet their voices

00:42:03were venomous.

00:42:08Did you really think

00:42:09he'd keep a broken doll?

00:42:12His Highness gifted

00:42:13Lady Isabella

00:42:14the legendary

00:42:15Starry Night Necklace.

00:42:17The Prince

00:42:18and the Duke's daughter

00:42:19are inseparable

00:42:20at the royal hunting grounds.

00:42:21They look so perfect

00:42:23together.

00:42:25Every day,

00:42:26they made sure

00:42:26I heard the rumors

00:42:27of Arthur's devotion

00:42:28to Isabella,

00:42:29each word cut deeper

00:42:30than any whip.

00:42:31I loathed being

00:42:32a caged bird,

00:42:33but my true terror

00:42:34was the fear

00:42:35that the next time

00:42:35I saw my father,

00:42:36he would be a corpse.

00:42:38On the eighth day

00:42:39of my imprisonment,

00:42:40the heavy doors

00:42:41finally groaned open.

00:42:42A silhouette

00:42:43draped in black and gold

00:42:44stepped through

00:42:45the threshold,

00:42:46bringing with him

00:42:46a rush of winter air.

00:42:48Arthur had returned.

00:42:51Arthur,

00:42:52you bastard!

00:42:53The days of isolation

00:42:54had driven me

00:42:55to the brink of madness.

00:42:57Let me out!

00:42:58I have to see my mother!

00:43:00I have to save my father!

00:43:03Shadow,

00:43:04you are nothing

00:43:05but a cold-blooded beast!

00:43:07If you let my father

00:43:08die without me

00:43:09saying goodbye,

00:43:10I will make you

00:43:11regret it

00:43:12for the rest of your life!

00:43:13I snatched out

00:43:14the ruby-encrusted whip

00:43:15trying to shield

00:43:16my vulnerability

00:43:17behind a pathetic

00:43:18empty threat.

00:43:19Bernard is still alive.

00:43:22The air rushed

00:43:23back into my lungs.

00:43:25My father was safe,

00:43:26at least for now.

00:43:28But as the panic receded,

00:43:30a different kind

00:43:31of poison took its place.

00:43:33I remembered

00:43:34the maid's whispers,

00:43:35stories of how

00:43:36he had spent

00:43:37the last few nights

00:43:38locked away with Isabella,

00:43:40lost in a passion

00:43:41that lasted until dawn.

00:43:43The jealousy

00:43:44was a sudden,

00:43:45searing heat.

00:43:46When he had taken me,

00:43:48he hadn't shown

00:43:49half that much endurance.

00:43:51He was spending

00:43:52so much time

00:43:53entangled with

00:43:53that duke's daughter.

00:43:54I wondered if he was

00:43:56trying to drain

00:43:56every drop of his

00:43:57royal blood dry.

00:44:00Are you so desperate

00:44:01to run back to Christopher?

00:44:02To wallow in the dirt

00:44:04as his caged bird?

00:44:05Keep dreaming.

00:44:06I just refuse to stay

00:44:07near a man who belongs

00:44:08to Isabella.

00:44:09In a fit of blind rage,

00:44:11I lunged at him

00:44:12and sank my teeth

00:44:13into his shoulder.

00:44:14Vivian, stop!

00:44:17Are you truly in such

00:44:18a hurry to bury

00:44:19your father?

00:44:20I stopped struggling,

00:44:21but the air

00:44:22between us

00:44:23was thick with loathing.

00:44:25I backed away,

00:44:26slammed the door shut,

00:44:27and turned the lock

00:44:28with a definitive click.

00:44:30Then, staring him

00:44:31straight in the eyes,

00:44:33I began to uncast

00:44:34my sacred robes.

00:44:37Elena, stop.

00:44:38Put your clothes

00:44:39back on!

00:44:40His breath hitched,

00:44:41but I wouldn't be swayed

00:44:43by his feigned restraint.

00:44:44You want your revenge?

00:44:46Then take it!

00:44:47Do to me exactly

00:44:48what I did to you

00:44:49two years ago.

00:44:51Press your boot

00:44:52into my shoulder.

00:44:54Draw those ridiculous,

00:44:55mocking creatures

00:44:56on my skin.

00:44:58Burn me with

00:44:58your humiliation!

00:45:00My voice broke

00:45:00into a pathetic,

00:45:02desperate sob

00:45:03as I looked at him

00:45:04through a blur of tears.

00:45:07I'm begging you,

00:45:08just finish your revenge

00:45:09and save my father.

00:45:11You swore an oath

00:45:12of loyalty to him

00:45:13before the altar.

00:45:14For the sake of that

00:45:15one vow,

00:45:16please help him.

00:45:19Arthur stood like a statue,

00:45:21his expression unreadable

00:45:23and frozen.

00:45:24The silence was deafening.

00:45:27I realized then

00:45:28that my words weren't enough,

00:45:30my tears weren't enough.

00:45:32I know what you want.

00:45:34You're still angry

00:45:35about that winter,

00:45:37about how I forced you

00:45:38into the frozen lake.

00:45:40Well, it's winter again.

00:45:41I'll go.

00:45:43I'll jump into the ice

00:45:44in the back garden

00:45:46and catch every single one

00:45:47of those damn fish for you.

00:45:49I remembered that day vividly.

00:45:52The snow had been blinding,

00:45:54and he had been practicing

00:45:55his sword play

00:45:56in the courtyard.

00:45:57I had been in a foul mood,

00:45:59agitated by the sight

00:46:00of his bare, powerful torso.

00:46:03I had mocked him,

00:46:04my voice dripping

00:46:06with disdain.

00:46:07If you're really

00:46:07as strong as you look,

00:46:10why don't you dive

00:46:12into the lake

00:46:13and bring me a snack?

00:46:15I hadn't expected him

00:46:17to do it,

00:46:17but without a word,

00:46:19he had plunged

00:46:20into the bone-chilling waters

00:46:22of the sacred lake.

00:46:24I spun around

00:46:25and bolted toward the door.

00:46:27Vivian,

00:46:28have you lost your mind?

00:46:29Where do you think

00:46:30you're going dressed like that?

00:46:31Whether a filthy woman

00:46:32like me lives or dies,

00:46:36what is it to you?

00:46:41None of my business?

00:46:43Elena,

00:46:44I'm going to make sure

00:46:46you never forget

00:46:47exactly who I am!

00:46:49The predatory glint

00:46:51in his eyes

00:46:51was enough to devour me.

00:46:53I am Arthur.

00:46:56I am your sworn knight.

00:46:58He descended upon me

00:46:59like a wolf.

00:47:00And I am

00:47:01your lawful husband.

00:47:02His teeth

00:47:03raising my lips

00:47:04with a kiss

00:47:05that felt more like

00:47:06a claim of territory.

00:47:07Bastard!

00:47:08You aren't human!

00:47:10But the more I struggled,

00:47:11the more his possessiveness

00:47:13spiraled into

00:47:14a feverish madness.

00:47:15I hurled

00:47:16every curse

00:47:17I knew at him.

00:47:19Even as the world

00:47:20began to blur

00:47:20into a dizzying,

00:47:21unwanted pleasure,

00:47:23I wanted him

00:47:24to feel my hatred,

00:47:25even if my body

00:47:26was betraying me

00:47:27in his arms.

00:47:30I felt my life force

00:47:31draining away

00:47:32like sand

00:47:33through an hourglass

00:47:34as he pinned me

00:47:35to the bed once more,

00:47:36claiming me

00:47:37with a desperate,

00:47:38crushing intensity.

00:47:39A sharp,

00:47:40tearing agony

00:47:41exploded deep

00:47:42within my abdomen.

00:47:44It was as if a blade

00:47:45had been twisted

00:47:46inside me.

00:47:47I collapsed

00:47:48into the black fox furs,

00:47:49a rose severed

00:47:50from its stem,

00:47:51and the world

00:47:52dissolved

00:47:53into a hollow,

00:47:54silent void.

00:47:58Was that panic

00:47:59in his voice?

00:48:00It felt

00:48:00almost comedic.

00:48:01Didn't he want

00:48:02to cast this

00:48:02beautiful witch

00:48:03into the fires

00:48:04of purgatory?

00:48:05In the final second

00:48:06before the darkness

00:48:07swallowed me whole,

00:48:08I felt a pair

00:48:09of searing,

00:48:10calloused hands

00:48:10trembling

00:48:11as they pulled me

00:48:12tight against

00:48:13a racing heart.

00:48:15When I finally

00:48:15drifted back

00:48:16to consciousness,

00:48:17the heavy velvet

00:48:18curtains had been

00:48:19drawn,

00:48:20sealing out

00:48:20the daylight.

00:48:21The chamber

00:48:22was thick

00:48:23with the bitter,

00:48:24cloying scent

00:48:25of medicinal herbs

00:48:26and the metallic

00:48:27tang of holy water.

00:48:28From beyond

00:48:29the veil of the

00:48:30bed curtains,

00:48:31I heard Arthur's

00:48:32voice,

00:48:33a low,

00:48:34dangerous growl

00:48:36vibrating with

00:48:37suppressed fury.

00:48:38Why isn't she

00:48:39awake yet?

00:48:45Your Highness,

00:48:48Miss Vivian's

00:48:49spirit was already

00:48:51fragile.

00:48:54after the

00:48:55physical trauma,

00:48:57she is showing

00:48:58signs of a

00:49:00miscarriage.

00:49:04If it weren't

00:49:05for the powerful

00:49:06dragon bloodline

00:49:07within the fetus

00:49:10fighting to

00:49:11survive,

00:49:13the hatchling

00:49:14would have

00:49:14already been

00:49:16lost.

00:49:18A hatchling,

00:49:19signs of a

00:49:20miscarriage,

00:49:20a bitter,

00:49:21self-deprecating

00:49:22smile touched

00:49:23my lips.

00:49:24My little dragon

00:49:25was still there.

00:49:26It was far more

00:49:27resilient than I

00:49:28had imagined,

00:49:28but within seconds.

00:49:30A bone-chilling

00:49:31dread washed

00:49:32over me.

00:49:33Arthur knew.

00:49:34He knew that

00:49:35within me,

00:49:36a secret was

00:49:37growing,

00:49:38a secret the

00:49:39temple would

00:49:39never allow to

00:49:40exist.

00:49:41In an empire

00:49:42where blood purity

00:49:43was everything,

00:49:44the bastard of a

00:49:46fallen saintess

00:49:47would likely never

00:49:48be given the chance

00:49:49to draw his first

00:49:50breath.

00:49:52In a surge of

00:49:53sheer panic,

00:49:54my hand struck

00:49:55the wooden bed

00:49:56frame with a

00:49:56sharp crack.

00:49:57At the sound,

00:49:58Arthur pulled back

00:49:58the heavy velvet

00:49:59curtains.

00:49:59He sat beside me,

00:50:01his face a mask

00:50:02of cold stone.

00:50:02I instinctively

00:50:03recoiled into the

00:50:04corner of the bed,

00:50:05desperate for a

00:50:05shred of safety.

00:50:06I knew the

00:50:07protocol of the

00:50:07empire.

00:50:08If I hadn't

00:50:08woken up,

00:50:09I might have

00:50:09already ordered

00:50:10the priest to

00:50:10prepare a

00:50:11purification draft

00:50:12to erase the

00:50:13evidence of my

00:50:14shame.

00:50:14Arthur gripped my

00:50:15hand with

00:50:15bruising force,

00:50:16his voice devoid

00:50:17of warmth.

00:50:18Are you still

00:50:18in pain?

00:50:19Mind race.

00:50:20Should I tell

00:50:21the truth?

00:50:21Physical ache

00:50:22had mostly

00:50:22subsided.

00:50:23I knew he

00:50:23lived for my

00:50:23suffering.

00:50:24If I told

00:50:24him I was

00:50:25in agony,

00:50:25perhaps his

00:50:26thirst for

00:50:26vengeance would

00:50:27be satisfied.

00:50:29Yes, it

00:50:30hurts.

00:50:31Terrified that

00:50:31he would force

00:50:32the draft down

00:50:32my throat right

00:50:33then, I

00:50:34scrambled to

00:50:34reassure him.

00:50:35You don't

00:50:36have to worry.

00:50:37I would never

00:50:38use this child

00:50:39to trap you

00:50:39or force you.

00:50:40Just let me

00:50:41go.

00:50:42Once I return

00:50:43to my family

00:50:43lands, I'll

00:50:44deal with it

00:50:44myself.

00:50:45I'll make

00:50:46sure it's

00:50:46gone.

00:50:48It was a lie

00:50:49that tasted

00:50:49like ash.

00:50:51I loved my

00:50:52little dragon

00:50:52already, but I

00:50:54needed him to

00:50:54believe I was

00:50:55no threat to

00:50:56his future.

00:50:57Deal with

00:50:58it?

00:51:01You're truly

00:51:01that eager to

00:51:02get rid of

00:51:03these two

00:51:03children.

00:51:04Two?

00:51:05I was stunned

00:51:06into silence.

00:51:08Dragon twins

00:51:08were a miracle,

00:51:10a rarity

00:51:10whispered of in

00:51:11legends.

00:51:12It meant I was

00:51:12carrying a double

00:51:13dragon pulse.

00:51:14My resolve to

00:51:15protect them

00:51:15hardened instantly,

00:51:16but I forced

00:51:18my voice to

00:51:18stay cold.

00:51:19Yes, I don't

00:51:19want them.

00:51:20I'd rather die

00:51:21than have them.

00:51:23I'll brew two

00:51:24bowls of the

00:51:24draft and wipe

00:51:25them from

00:51:26existence.

00:51:27I glanced at the

00:51:28priest standing in

00:51:28the shadows.

00:51:29They weren't moving

00:51:30to help.

00:51:31Instead, they were

00:51:32visibly trembling

00:51:33in terror.

00:51:34You really are

00:51:34heartless, Elena.

00:51:36He shoved my

00:51:36hand away and

00:51:37stormed out,

00:51:38his cloak swirling

00:51:39like a dark cloud.

00:51:41I shouted after

00:51:42him, my voice

00:51:42cracking with

00:51:43desperation.

00:51:44If two bowls

00:51:45aren't enough,

00:51:46I'll drink ten!

00:51:49Arthur vanished

00:51:50again for several

00:51:51days.

00:51:52I was forced to

00:51:53listen to the

00:51:54maids gossiping

00:51:55in the hallways,

00:51:56their whispers

00:51:56like jagged glass.

00:51:58They said he spent

00:51:59every waking and

00:52:01sleeping, hour,

00:52:03in Isabella's

00:52:03chambers.

00:52:04Rumor had it that

00:52:05once the dragon

00:52:06bloodline awakened,

00:52:07the host possessed

00:52:08a terrifying,

00:52:10near-limitless

00:52:10stamina.

00:52:11He and the

00:52:12duke's daughter

00:52:12were reportedly

00:52:13lost in each

00:52:14other's embrace

00:52:15until the break

00:52:16of every dawn.

00:52:19A bitter wave

00:52:20of sorrow

00:52:21crashed over me.

00:52:22I assumed he

00:52:23found the idea

00:52:24of having children

00:52:25with a twisted

00:52:26woman, like me,

00:52:28repulsive, leading

00:52:30him to seek solace

00:52:31in someone pure.

00:52:32I pitied his

00:52:34burden, yet the

00:52:35ache in my own

00:52:36chest only grew

00:52:37more hollow.

00:52:38To my absolute

00:52:39shock, a summons

00:52:41arrived.

00:52:42The emperor and

00:52:43empress demanded

00:52:43an audience with

00:52:44me.

00:52:45Before Arthur

00:52:46reclaimed his

00:52:46throne, the

00:52:48highest authority

00:52:49I had ever

00:52:49encountered was a

00:52:51local provincial

00:52:51lord.

00:52:52To be called

00:52:53before the absolute

00:52:54rulers of the

00:52:55empire was

00:52:56terrifying.

00:52:57I was certain

00:52:58they intended to

00:52:59put me on trial

00:53:00for the crime of

00:53:01desecrating the

00:53:02crown prince.

00:53:03The imperial

00:53:03couple was

00:53:04legendary for

00:53:05their sole

00:53:05covenant.

00:53:06The emperor

00:53:07had married a

00:53:08commoner when

00:53:09he was nothing

00:53:10more than a

00:53:10minor noble, and

00:53:12they had remained

00:53:13devoted to one

00:53:14another ever

00:53:15since.

00:53:16After Arthur

00:53:17disappeared at

00:53:17age six, the

00:53:19empress was so

00:53:19devastated by grief

00:53:21and injury that

00:53:22she could never

00:53:23bear another

00:53:23child.

00:53:24Their love for

00:53:25Arthur was

00:53:26boundless.

00:53:27And then there

00:53:28was me, the

00:53:29witch who had

00:53:30tormented their

00:53:31precious, long-lost

00:53:32son.

00:53:33I felt certain

00:53:34that if I

00:53:35wasn't sent

00:53:35straight to the

00:53:36pyre, it

00:53:37would be a

00:53:38miracle.

00:53:42The imperial

00:53:43palace was a

00:53:44fortress of

00:53:44limestone and

00:53:45gold, looming

00:53:46over me with a

00:53:47heavy sacred

00:53:47weight.

00:53:48Every footstep

00:53:49echoed against

00:53:50the marble,

00:53:51amplifying my

00:53:52dread.

00:53:52I kept my

00:53:53head bowed,

00:53:54trembling, until

00:53:56a pair of silk

00:53:56slippers appeared

00:53:57in my vision.

00:53:59When I looked

00:54:00up, I saw a

00:54:01woman of such

00:54:02timeless beauty.

00:54:03She looked less

00:54:04like Arthur's

00:54:05mother, and

00:54:06more like an

00:54:07elder sister.

00:54:08She reached out

00:54:08and personally

00:54:09helped me to

00:54:10my feet.

00:54:10I held my

00:54:11breath, my

00:54:12heart hammering

00:54:13against my

00:54:14ribs.

00:54:15Was she

00:54:15inspecting my

00:54:16skin to decide

00:54:17which torture

00:54:18would be most

00:54:18effective?

00:54:19Was she

00:54:20looking for the

00:54:21mark of the

00:54:21witch?

00:54:22You are

00:54:23breathtaking.

00:54:25Even more

00:54:25beautiful than

00:54:26the way Arthur

00:54:27described you.

00:54:30I heard that

00:54:31when he was a

00:54:31lost nine-year-old

00:54:32wandering the

00:54:33wilderness, you

00:54:34were the one who

00:54:35gave him the

00:54:35hope to keep

00:54:36living.

00:54:36Is that true?

00:54:41I froze,

00:54:42completely

00:54:42blindsided.

00:54:43I had no

00:54:44memory of

00:54:45saving a prince.

00:54:48When I was

00:54:49nine, I had

00:54:50slipped away from

00:54:51the temple to

00:54:52explore.

00:54:53I found a

00:54:54starving, filthy

00:54:55beggar boy

00:54:55collapsed by the

00:54:56roadside.

00:54:57I had simply

00:54:58tossed him a

00:54:59high-grade healing

00:55:00pill and a

00:55:01heavy pouch of

00:55:02gold coins.

00:55:02I only gave him

00:55:04the gold because

00:55:05the coins were

00:55:05weighing down my

00:55:06dress and I

00:55:07wanted to be

00:55:07rid of them.

00:55:08It was a casual

00:55:09gesture to a

00:55:10stranger.

00:55:11It wasn't until

00:55:12two years ago,

00:55:13in the stench of

00:55:14a blood-soaked

00:55:15gladiator pit,

00:55:16that I recognized

00:55:17those striking,

00:55:18mismatched eyes

00:55:19again.

00:55:19I bought him

00:55:20for a single

00:55:21gold coin just

00:55:22so I wouldn't

00:55:23have to watch

00:55:23him rot in

00:55:24the mud.

00:55:25I don't

00:55:25understand.

00:55:26why they're

00:55:27making such a

00:55:28fuss.

00:55:28I only gave

00:55:30him some gold

00:55:31I was planning

00:55:31to throw away.

00:55:37Such a good

00:55:38child.

00:55:41Without

00:55:42another word,

00:55:43she carefully

00:55:44removed a

00:55:44shimmering mithril

00:55:45amulet from her

00:55:46own neck, an

00:55:47artifact pulsing

00:55:48with divine

00:55:49light, and

00:55:50placed it gently

00:55:51in my open.

00:55:55mind.

00:55:57The

00:55:57empress spent

00:55:58hours speaking

00:55:59with me, her

00:56:00voice a gentle

00:56:00lilt, as she

00:56:01asked about my

00:56:02past with Arthur

00:56:03at the temple.

00:56:03Cold sweat

00:56:04trickled down

00:56:05my face.

00:56:05How could I

00:56:06possibly confess

00:56:07the truth?

00:56:08How could I

00:56:08tell her that I

00:56:09had once punished

00:56:10him by making

00:56:11him kneel

00:56:11shirtless on

00:56:12freezing stone

00:56:12steps?

00:56:13Or that I

00:56:14had branded

00:56:14his chest with

00:56:15the word

00:56:15shadow, a

00:56:16title of

00:56:17absolute

00:56:18desecration?

00:56:19I could only

00:56:19offer pale,

00:56:20hollow lies,

00:56:21claiming we

00:56:22had lived as

00:56:22the closest of

00:56:23companions.

00:56:23When I returned

00:56:24to the crown

00:56:24prince's estate,

00:56:25I was greeted

00:56:26by an overwhelming

00:56:27display of

00:56:28favor.

00:56:29Carts filled

00:56:30with rare

00:56:30medicinal tonics,

00:56:31and bolts of

00:56:32the finest silk

00:56:33were being unloaded

00:56:34into my side

00:56:34hall.

00:56:35The empress

00:56:36had even promised

00:56:36to visit me

00:56:37personally in the

00:56:38coming days.

00:56:39My mind was

00:56:39a whirlwind of

00:56:40confusion.

00:56:41Arthur loathed

00:56:42me.

00:56:42Why then had

00:56:43he told his

00:56:43parents I was

00:56:44his savior?

00:56:45But I ran out

00:56:46of time to

00:56:46wonder.

00:56:47The doors

00:56:47of the chambers

00:56:48were thrown

00:56:49open by

00:56:49Arthur's head

00:56:50guard.

00:56:50In his hands,

00:56:51he carried a

00:56:52porcelain bowl

00:56:53filled with a

00:56:53black steaming

00:56:54liquid that

00:56:55smelled of

00:56:55death.

00:56:56It was the

00:56:57purification draft.

00:56:58His highness's

00:56:59orders, Miss

00:57:01Vivian is to

00:57:02drink this

00:57:02immediately.

00:57:03We cannot

00:57:04allow anything

00:57:05improper to

00:57:06stain the

00:57:06purity of the

00:57:07royal bloodline.

00:57:08The world

00:57:09turned to ice.

00:57:10He was finally

00:57:11coming for the

00:57:11life inside me.

00:57:13He wanted to

00:57:13personally destroy

00:57:14these twin

00:57:14dragon pulses,

00:57:15to burn away

00:57:16the last

00:57:17lingering evidence

00:57:18of our

00:57:18humiliating past.

00:57:19I looked at

00:57:20the black

00:57:20liquid, my

00:57:21hand instinctively

00:57:22dropping to

00:57:22cover my

00:57:22stomach.

00:57:23I could feel

00:57:24them, tiny

00:57:24flickering sparks

00:57:25of light.

00:57:26I have to run.

00:57:27I have to

00:57:27escape.

00:57:28The emperor of

00:57:30the empire was

00:57:30indeed a just and

00:57:32formidable ruler.

00:57:33When I knelt

00:57:33before him and

00:57:34begged for a

00:57:35thorough investigation

00:57:36into my father's

00:57:36wrongful imprisonment,

00:57:38he gave me his

00:57:38word that the case

00:57:39had been transferred

00:57:40to the high

00:57:41tribunal.

00:57:41I finally felt a

00:57:42weight lift from

00:57:43my chest.

00:57:43I clung to the

00:57:44belief that once

00:57:45the truth was

00:57:46laid bare, the

00:57:47honor of the

00:57:47Vivian family would

00:57:48be restored to

00:57:49its former glory.

00:57:50Now, my only

00:57:51remaining weakness

00:57:52was the twin

00:57:53dragon pulses

00:57:53growing within me.

00:57:55The moment I

00:57:55returned from the

00:57:56palace, a maid

00:57:57entered my

00:57:57chambers carrying a

00:57:58bowl of liquid

00:57:59that shimmered

00:57:59with an eerie

00:58:00violet light.

00:58:01She called it a

00:58:02sacred essence

00:58:02supplement, claiming

00:58:03it was meant to

00:58:04bolster my strength.

00:58:05I wasn't a fool.

00:58:06I knew Arthur was

00:58:07incapable of such

00:58:08sudden mercy.

00:58:09I pretended to

00:58:09drink it with a

00:58:10grateful smile.

00:58:10But the second the

00:58:11doors were closed

00:58:12and the windows

00:58:12latched.

00:58:13I tipped the bowl

00:58:14into a pot of

00:58:15moonlight ivy.

00:58:15The magic plant,

00:58:16known for its

00:58:17incredible resilience,

00:58:18reacted instantly.

00:58:19The moment the

00:58:20liquid touched

00:58:21the soil, the

00:58:22lush leaves

00:58:22shriveled, turning

00:58:24into brittle

00:58:24blackened husks

00:58:25as if scorched

00:58:26by dragon fire.

00:58:27My blood ran

00:58:28cold.

00:58:29It wasn't a

00:58:29supplement at all.

00:58:30It was a blood

00:58:31cleansing draft, a

00:58:32lethal poison, designed

00:58:34to starve my

00:58:34hatchlings of their

00:58:35magic and kill

00:58:36them in the womb.

00:58:38Gold can buy even

00:58:39the most depraved

00:58:40of souls.

00:58:41Using a priceless

00:58:42mithril hairpin as

00:58:43a bribe, I managed

00:58:44to smuggle a

00:58:45desperate message to

00:58:46Julian through a

00:58:46kitchen maid.

00:58:47I begged him for a

00:58:48vial of draft of

00:58:50the living death, a

00:58:51forbidden alchemical

00:58:52concoction that

00:58:53could halt a

00:58:54heartbeat and mimic

00:58:55the cold stillness

00:58:56of the grave, all

00:58:57without harming the

00:58:58fragile dragon

00:58:59sprouts in my

00:58:59womb.

00:59:00When a person dies,

00:59:02their debts are

00:59:02supposedly settled.

00:59:04If I were dead,

00:59:05Arthur would have

00:59:06no reason to force

00:59:07those cruel, poisonous

00:59:08drafts down my

00:59:09throat.

00:59:09At worst, he

00:59:11would have my

00:59:11body tossed into

00:59:12a mass grave in

00:59:13the desolate

00:59:14barrens.

00:59:14Once the effects

00:59:15wore off, I

00:59:16could crawl out

00:59:17of the dirt and

00:59:17vanish into the

00:59:18night with my

00:59:19children to find

00:59:19my mother.

00:59:20My only terror

00:59:21was Arthur's

00:59:21depravity.

00:59:22I feared that

00:59:23even in death, he

00:59:25might plunge a

00:59:25blade into my

00:59:26chest, just to be

00:59:27certain.

00:59:28The potion took

00:59:29hold with

00:59:29terrifying speed.

00:59:30A bone-deep

00:59:31chill spread through

00:59:32my limbs, turning

00:59:34my blood to

00:59:34slush.

00:59:35My mind remained

00:59:36agonizingly sharp,

00:59:37yet I was a

00:59:39prisoner in my

00:59:39own skin, unable

00:59:41to move a muscle,

00:59:42unable to flicker

00:59:43an eyelid, until

00:59:44the heavy doors

00:59:45burst open.

00:59:47Help!

00:59:47Someone help!

00:59:52Miss Vivian, she

00:59:55stopped breathing!

00:59:57The frantic scream

00:59:58echoed through the

00:59:59stone chamber,

01:00:00sounding more like a

01:00:01celebration of my

01:00:02freedom than a

01:00:03mourning of my life.

01:00:04I lay there, a

01:00:06hollow shell, waiting

01:00:07to see if my gambit

01:00:08would lead to the

01:00:08wilderness or the

01:00:09pyre.

01:00:12Before I heard the

01:00:13heavy rhythmic thud

01:00:15of leather boots

01:00:16against the stone

01:00:17floor, Arthur had

01:00:19arrived.

01:00:19He seemed unable

01:00:20to fathom that the

01:00:21witch, who had once

01:00:23tormented him so

01:00:24ruthlessly, could

01:00:24fall so easily.

01:00:28Who says she is

01:00:29dead?

01:00:30If you are mocking

01:00:31me again, I swear I

01:00:36will bury the entire

01:00:38Vivian family along

01:00:40with you!

01:00:42But I was merely a

01:00:44corpse now, a silent

01:00:45witness to his descent

01:00:47into hysteria.

01:00:48I stayed frozen, locked

01:00:51in the icy grip of the

01:00:52draft.

01:00:53His voice grew softer,

01:00:55losing its edge, until

01:00:57it was filled with a

01:00:58frantic, staggering sense

01:00:59of panic I had never

01:01:01heard before.

01:01:02Why was he so shaken?

01:01:04Wake up.

01:01:05Was he afraid my

01:01:05vengeful spirit would

01:01:06haunt him for the rest

01:01:08of his days, or was he

01:01:10simply realizing that his

01:01:11favorite toy had finally

01:01:13broken beyond repair?

01:01:14Either way, I remain

01:01:16still, praying for the

01:01:18darkness of the burial

01:01:19grounds to come quickly.

01:01:23By now, he must have

01:01:25found the letter I left

01:01:26behind.

01:01:27In it, I wrote that I

01:01:29had finally reached my

01:01:30breaking point, that I

01:01:32had swallowed a lethal

01:01:33poison to end the

01:01:34humiliation, and that no

01:01:37one else was to blame.

01:01:38My only dying wish was for

01:01:40him to honor our old

01:01:41contract and return my

01:01:43remains to my family's

01:01:44ancestral lands.

01:01:46But his reaction after

01:01:47reading those words sent a

01:01:49fresh wave of horror to

01:01:50through my frozen soul.

01:01:52Do you love Christopher

01:01:53that much?

01:01:54Do you love him so

01:01:55deeply that you would

01:01:56rather commit suicide?

01:02:00You want your bones

01:02:01returned home?

01:02:03Never.

01:02:04You will stay by my

01:02:06side.

01:02:07Even if you rot.

01:02:09You will do so in my

01:02:11arms!

01:02:12The living death only

01:02:14lasted 12 hours.

01:02:16If he didn't hurry up and

01:02:17bury me, I was going to

01:02:19resurrect right in front of

01:02:21him.

01:02:22Elena, please open your

01:02:25eyes and look at me.

01:02:28Then I felt it.

01:02:30A cold, trembling kiss

01:02:32pressed against my

01:02:33unresponsive lips.

01:02:37Time was running out.

01:02:40Outside, the night was

01:02:41dark and the wind was

01:02:42howling.

01:02:43Effects of the draft were

01:02:44finally beginning to

01:02:45wane.

01:02:46Arthur was on the jagged

01:02:48edge of a mental

01:02:49collapse, blinded by a

01:02:51grief I never expected.

01:02:53As the feeling returned to

01:02:54my limbs, my fingers

01:02:56brushed against the

01:02:57paralyzing silver needle

01:02:58Julian had hidden among

01:03:00my supplies.

01:03:01I waited, holding my

01:03:03breath, until Arthur

01:03:05slumped against my neck

01:03:06with a broken moan.

01:03:07With every ounce of

01:03:09strength I had regained, I

01:03:11lunged and drove the

01:03:12needle deep into the

01:03:13pressure point at the

01:03:14nape of his neck.

01:03:15Even a crown prince of

01:03:17the dragon line couldn't

01:03:18withstand a strike so

01:03:19precise and unexpected.

01:03:20I moved like a ghost.

01:03:22I snatched the dragon

01:03:24seal, the symbol of

01:03:25supreme authority, from

01:03:27his belt and threw on a

01:03:29nondescript maid's cloak.

01:03:30Keeping my head low, I

01:03:33slipped out of the

01:03:34chamber.

01:03:36I abandoned the memory-haunted

01:03:38north, seeking refuge in

01:03:40emerald harbor.

01:03:41The southern air was sweet

01:03:43and blooming with flowers,

01:03:45a place where I could

01:03:46finally fade away.

01:03:49The night I fled, Julian

01:03:51met me at the city gates,

01:03:53sobbing like a child.

01:03:54He pressed a mountain of

01:03:56mana crystal cards into my

01:03:57hands, begging to follow.

01:04:00It took hours to convince

01:04:01him to stay until my father

01:04:03was freed.

01:04:04Julian had liquidated half of

01:04:06the Vivian family fortune

01:04:07for me.

01:04:08Even if I lived a life of

01:04:10absolute decadence, this

01:04:12wealth would last for

01:04:13lifetimes.

01:04:15I opened a boutique named

01:04:17Amber Eyes.

01:04:19While I loathe the dry

01:04:20imperial codes, I had a

01:04:23genius for alchemy, distilling

01:04:25oils and crafting the

01:04:27eternal youth elixirs that

01:04:29once drove the capital's elite

01:04:30into a frenzy.

01:04:31But in the quiet moments, the

01:04:34ghosts returned.

01:04:35I saw my father's face, then

01:04:38Arthur's.

01:04:39I remembered the whispers of

01:04:41his nights with Isabella, and

01:04:43the steam rising from the

01:04:45poison he sent for my

01:04:46children.

01:04:47Whenever the pain flared, I

01:04:49drowned it in work.

01:04:50My little dragons were

01:04:52growing, and for them, I had

01:04:54to be strong.

01:04:57I found a few displaced,

01:04:59starving girls wandering the

01:05:00streets, and took them in.

01:05:02Under my care, their hollow

01:05:05cheeks filled out, and their

01:05:07fearful eyes began to spark

01:05:08with life.

01:05:09They became my loyal

01:05:11apprentices, learning the

01:05:13delicate secrets of my shop.

01:05:15But I wanted more for them.

01:05:17I used my fortune to establish a

01:05:19women's academy at the harbor.

01:05:21This world has always been

01:05:22cruel to women, demanding

01:05:24they be nothing more than

01:05:25ornaments or property.

01:05:27I don't harbor grand

01:05:29illusions of saving the

01:05:30world.

01:05:31But I want these girls to

01:05:33master weaving, commerce, or

01:05:34even basic arcana.

01:05:36I want them to have a trade

01:05:38and a voice.

01:05:39My business flourished beyond

01:05:41my wildest dreams.

01:05:43Within six months, Amber

01:05:45Eyes became the ultimate

01:05:46obsession for the noble women

01:05:48of the South.

01:05:49People often ask me if I fear

01:05:51bankruptcy.

01:05:52Considering the academy

01:05:53charges no tuition, I simply

01:05:56offer a faint smile and say

01:05:58nothing.

01:05:59They have no idea I am the

01:06:01daughter of the wealthiest man

01:06:02in the Holy Kingdom.

01:06:04Besides, Julian still sends

01:06:06crates of mana crystals via

01:06:07secret caravans every month.

01:06:09In his eyes, I am likely still

01:06:11his reckless spendthrift sister

01:06:13who might run out of pocket

01:06:14money at any moment.

01:06:17Letters from the capital

01:06:18arrived occasionally through

01:06:20secret channels, carrying

01:06:22whispers of a world I had

01:06:23left behind.

01:06:24Five months ago, my father,

01:06:26Bernard, was finally exonerated

01:06:29and released.

01:06:30The High Tribunal had uncovered

01:06:32everything.

01:06:32It was all a web of lies spun by

01:06:35Christopher.

01:06:36The shadow that had loomed over

01:06:37my family's honor was finally

01:06:39dispelled.

01:06:40According to Julian, Christopher's

01:06:42obsession had spiraled into

01:06:44madness.

01:06:45Desperate to replace me, he had

01:06:47kidnapped a girl who shared a

01:06:49passing resemblance to me and

01:06:51kept her imprisoned in a secret

01:06:52villa, calling her by a pet

01:06:54name.

01:06:55But his highborn wife, the

01:06:57daughter of the Lord Chief

01:06:58Justice, discovered his

01:07:00sordid spirit.

01:07:02In a fit of betrayed rage, she

01:07:05stormed the villa with her

01:07:06retainers.

01:07:07The innocent girl caught in the

01:07:08crosswalk met a horrific end at

01:07:11the hands of a woman scorned.

01:07:13Christopher, the man who

01:07:15pretended to love me so deeply,

01:07:17didn't spare a single tear for

01:07:19his victim.

01:07:20He immediately turned on the

01:07:22dead girl, slandering her

01:07:24memory to save his own skin and

01:07:26his political career.

01:07:27He underestimated a woman's wrath.

01:07:30His wife stripped away his

01:07:32mask, exposing his embezzlement

01:07:35and treason.

01:07:36Now, he rots in a lightless

01:07:38dungeon, his limbs broken and his

01:07:41mind shattered.

01:07:42He is a pathetic creature, a far

01:07:45cry from the elegant scholar he

01:07:47once pretended to be.

01:07:48I felt no pity as I burned the

01:07:50letter.

01:07:51He earned every second of his

01:07:53agony.

01:07:54The Vivian family was unable to

01:07:56return to the Holy Kingdom.

01:07:58Julian's letters became

01:07:59increasingly frantic, claiming

01:08:01that Arthur had descended into a

01:08:02state of pure madness.

01:08:04The wedding between Arthur and

01:08:06Isabella never happened.

01:08:07Instead, in a shocking twist that

01:08:09paralyzed the capital, he

01:08:11personally escorted Isabella to the

01:08:13ghost tower.

01:08:14Arthur!

01:08:14Please!

01:08:15You can't do this!

01:08:17No one knew the reason, but I

01:08:19could guess.

01:08:20A man like Arthur would never

01:08:21tolerate anyone who dared to touch

01:08:23his secrets or threaten his

01:08:25absolute control.

01:08:27Now Arthur spends his days scouring

01:08:29the capital for a ghost.

01:08:30He searches for any trace of my

01:08:32existence.

01:08:33And at night, he stands before my

01:08:35empty grave, screaming to the

01:08:37heavens that I am his only true

01:08:39crown princess.

01:08:40I felt nothing but cold disdain when

01:08:43I read those words.

01:08:44He had spent his nights lost in the

01:08:46arms of another woman.

01:08:47And now, he wants to play the role

01:08:49of the grieving, devoted husband.

01:08:52It was a pathetic performance.

01:08:54My only focus now is the safety of my

01:08:56two little dragons.

01:08:57The most experienced midwife in the

01:08:59south warned me that carrying twins,

01:09:01especially those of the dragon line,

01:09:03is a treacherous path.

01:09:05She told me that the day of their

01:09:07birth would be like walking along

01:09:08the precipice of the underworld.

01:09:10It is a gamble with death.

01:09:12A heavy fear has settled in my bones.

01:09:15I am terrified that I will never

01:09:17wake to see Julian become a grand

01:09:18archmage.

01:09:19And even more terrified that my

01:09:20children will enter this world only

01:09:22to find themselves motherless.

01:09:27A soft touch on my shoulder pulled

01:09:28me from my thoughts.

01:09:29I looked up to see Perrin standing

01:09:31before the counter, his usual modest

01:09:33expression colored by a hint of

01:09:35nerves.

01:09:36Perrin was a wandering scholar I had

01:09:37rescued three months ago after he

01:09:39collapsed outside my shop.

01:09:40He was handsome in a gentle,

01:09:42intellectual way, possessing a quiet

01:09:45grace that persisted despite his

01:09:46poverty.

01:09:47The young girls who worked for me

01:09:49loved to whisper that he was

01:09:50hopelessly in love with me.

01:09:51I always dismissed it as childish

01:09:54gossip.

01:09:54Why would a brilliant young man with

01:09:56his whole life ahead of him want a

01:09:57woman like me?

01:09:58I was a widow with a swollen belly,

01:10:01living under a story that my husband

01:10:03had perished on some distant

01:10:04battlefield.

01:10:05Is something wrong, Mr. Perrin?

01:10:07His face flushed crimson, the heat

01:10:09spreading all the way to his ears.

01:10:11He hesitated for what felt like an

01:10:13eternity, fidgeting with his sleeves

01:10:15as if trying to summon every ounce of

01:10:17courage in his soul.

01:10:18Miss Vivian, I have admired you for

01:10:21a very long time.

01:10:22I don't care about your past, and I

01:10:24don't care about the rumors.

01:10:25I want to take care of you.

01:10:27If you would honor me by becoming my

01:10:29wife, I promise to love your children

01:10:31as if they were my own blood.

01:10:33I froze, my mind racing to find a kind

01:10:35way to reject him.

01:10:37Before I could speak, however, a voice

01:10:39like a sudden arctic gale tore through

01:10:41the room, turning the humid southern air

01:10:43to ice.

01:10:45Elena, you intend to take my children

01:10:48and marry this pathetic, lowly commoner?

01:10:52My body turned to stone.

01:10:54I turned my head slowly toward the doorway.

01:10:57There, framed against the dying rays of the

01:10:59sunset, stood the man who should have been

01:11:01a thousand miles away.

01:11:03Arthur's face was a mask of sheer

01:11:06murderous rage.

01:11:10The moment Perrin finished his confession,

01:11:12the air in the room shattered.

01:11:14A suffocating pressure, the raw, primal

01:11:17weight of a dragon's aura, exploded

01:11:19outward, pinning everyone to the spot.

01:11:21Arthur stepped into my workshop, clad in

01:11:24robes of deep obsidian and gold.

01:11:26His eyes were twin glaciers, harboring a

01:11:29frost cold enough to freeze the entire

01:11:31southern coast.

01:11:32He moved with a heavy, deliberate stride,

01:11:34and I knew instantly that the day of

01:11:36reckoning for my six-month escape had

01:11:38finally arrived.

01:11:40My legs turned to water.

01:11:42In a frantic, useless panic, I grabbed a

01:11:44handful of monocrystals and tried to bolt

01:11:46for the back exit, but it was already too

01:11:48late.

01:11:48The doorway was blocked by a wall of iron,

01:11:51a feelings of paladins, their armor

01:11:53gleaming with an oppressive, holy light.

01:11:55There was no escape.

01:11:57His eyes turned a violent, bloodshot

01:11:58crimson, his voice cracking with a shock

01:12:01that looked far too much like genuine pain.

01:12:03Faking your own death to deceive me?

01:12:05Elena, your audacity truly knows no

01:12:08bounds.

01:12:08You were the one who sent that bowl of

01:12:10poison.

01:12:11If I hadn't fled, my children would be

01:12:14nothing but a memory by now.

01:12:17Poison.

01:12:17I never gave such an order.

01:12:23Parents stood paralyzed, the sheer weight

01:12:26of the crown prince's presence crushing the

01:12:28air from his lungs.

01:12:29Miss Vivian.

01:12:29He looked at me.

01:12:30You told me your husband had, that he had

01:12:33been marted on the northern front.

01:12:35Marted?

01:12:36Elena, are you so desperate for my death that

01:12:38you've already buried me in your stories?

01:12:40I couldn't look him in the eye.

01:12:42I hadn't wished for his death.

01:12:43It was quite the opposite.

01:12:44I had missed him so much that the only way

01:12:47to survive the silence was to bury his memory

01:12:49under a lie.

01:12:51Your highness, please, do not distress her.

01:12:55She is heavily pregnant.

01:12:56She cannot handle such a shock.

01:12:57Despite the visible trembling of his hands,

01:12:59Perrin stepped forward, shielding me with his

01:13:02own body.

01:13:02Get out of my way!

01:13:04He lunged forward, reaching to seize me.

01:13:06But before his fingers could brush my skin,

01:13:08a cataclysmic pain tore through my lower body.

01:13:11It felt as if my very soul was being ripped in two.

01:13:14It hurts.

01:13:16Arthur, something is wrong.

01:13:18The hatchlings, they're coming now!

01:13:20I doubled over, my breath pitching and strangled screams

01:13:23as the world began to tilt into darkness.

01:13:28The crown prince, who only moments ago had looked ready

01:13:31to tear the world apart, instantly lost his composure.

01:13:34Arthur gathered me into his arms.

01:13:36Those hands, usually so steady when gripping a sword

01:13:40or signing a death warrant, were now shaking uncontrollably.

01:13:44Don't be afraid, Elena.

01:13:47I've got you.

01:13:49I'm taking you home.

01:13:51He stayed right there, pacing the halls of the manor

01:13:54I had bought six months ago.

01:13:55The healers and midwives begged him to leave,

01:13:58citing ancient superstitions that a crown prince's presence

01:14:01in a birthing chamber would bring ruin to his divine love.

01:14:04Arthur didn't argue.

01:14:05He simply drew his sword and stood guard at the door

01:14:08as the hours bled into one another,

01:14:10and the labor became unbearable.

01:14:12I began to sob, the tears flowing freely.

01:14:15Every time I cried out, the cold, ruthless leader

01:14:18of the dragon line, the man who made the empire tremble,

01:14:21found his own eyes welling with moisture.

01:14:23Finally, two sharp, innocent cries rang out.

01:14:26A boy and a girl had safely entered the world.

01:14:29The midwives whispered among themselves

01:14:31as they cleaned the infants.

01:14:32In all their years of delivering children,

01:14:34they had never seen a mother endure labor,

01:14:36while the father stood by and cried his eyes out.

01:14:40When I finally opened my eyes,

01:14:42the room was bathed in the golden dying light

01:14:44of the next day's twilight.

01:14:46Arthur was right there, sitting by the bed.

01:14:48But as soon as my mind cleared,

01:14:49the old bitterness flared up.

01:14:51Stop pretending to care!

01:14:52You never wanted us!

01:14:53The day you returned to the capital,

01:14:55you were so eager to have me disposed.

01:14:57You stayed in your chambers with Isabella

01:14:59for three days and three nights.

01:15:01They said you were lost in each other until dawn,

01:15:03that the priest had to change the holy water

01:15:05twenty times because of your pravity!

01:15:08I never touched Isabella.

01:15:10And I never, not for a single second,

01:15:11intended to depose you.

01:15:13When I returned,

01:15:14my father did push for an alliance.

01:15:16But I stood before the entire court

01:15:17and declared that I already had a wife

01:15:19by sacred contract.

01:15:20He urged me to bring you to the palace immediately.

01:15:23I thought your heart was still full of Christopher.

01:15:25I was so mad with pain

01:15:27that I delayed the official proclamation of your title.

01:15:31I was a fool, Elena,

01:15:32but I was never unfaithful.

01:15:36A deep flush crept up my neck.

01:15:39All those stories,

01:15:40the whispered nights of passion,

01:15:42were nothing more than illusions and rumors

01:15:44engineered by Isabella

01:15:45to drive me to the edge of insanity.

01:15:48I've uncovered the truth.

01:15:53It was Isabella.

01:15:56She bribed the priests in the side hall

01:16:00to lace your medicine with a cursed powder

01:16:02designed to wither the dragon line.

01:16:06His voice turned cold and predatory.

01:16:08A low vibration of pure hatred.

01:16:12I've stripped her of her noble name

01:16:14and condemned her the tower to eternal waiths

01:16:18for the rest of her life.

01:16:21Elena, thank God you were alert enough

01:16:23to refuse that drast.

01:16:28If you hadn't...

01:16:29His arms began to shake violently.

01:16:31This powerful, terrifying crown prince

01:16:33looked suddenly, heartbreakingly fragile.

01:16:35The walls I had built around my heart

01:16:36crumbled in an instant.

01:16:38For the first time in two years,

01:16:39I reached out and wound my arms around his neck,

01:16:41leaning into him with a surge

01:16:43of pure, unadulterated longing.

01:16:45Since you never chose her,

01:16:47you aren't allowed to look at anyone else ever again.

01:16:50Arthur, if you ever dare to betray our contract,

01:16:52I will take our children and vanish into the Mistwood.

01:16:55I will hide so well that you could spend the rest of your life searching

01:16:58and never see my face again.

01:17:00What did you just say?

01:17:04You...

01:17:04You're willing to stay for me?

01:17:06He pulled back,

01:17:07his eyes searching mine with a look of frantic, overwhelming joy,

01:17:11as if he were a drowning man who had finally found the shore.

01:17:15I looked at his face,

01:17:17the face of a man so devastatingly handsome,

01:17:20yet currently twisted into an expression of clumsy, desperate anxiety.

01:17:26And I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

01:17:29I've always had a fondness for beasts,

01:17:32especially a dragon like you.

01:17:35Greedy,

01:17:36humble,

01:17:37and so utterly obsessed

01:17:39that once you've chosen a master,

01:17:42you can never be shaken off.

01:17:45Arthur's gaze darkened instantly.

01:17:47That predatory glint returned to his mismatched eyes,

01:17:51dancing with a renewed fire.

01:17:54He crushed his lips against mine,

01:17:56kissing me with a ferocity that suggested

01:17:58he wanted to grind my very soul into his own.

01:18:03I am your shadow.

01:18:06I am your guardian dragon.

01:18:10You will never push me away again as long as you live.

01:18:13His kiss was beginning to wander,

01:18:15growing more fervent and hungry,

01:18:17until it was abruptly shattered by two loud, synchronized wails.

01:18:24The babies!

01:18:25Arthur, stop!

01:18:26I haven't even seen our children yet!

01:18:29The dignified crown prince lowered his lashes

01:18:32in a fit of silent, brooding resentment.

01:18:34He looked exactly like a great dragon,

01:18:37who had just seen his most precious treasure stolen,

01:18:40yet lacked the heart to retaliate.

01:18:43With a resigned sigh,

01:18:45he reached into the bassinets

01:18:46and scooped up the two velvet-wrapped bundles.

01:18:51Elena,

01:18:53even with these two little things stealing your attention,

01:18:56you are not allowed to reduce the love you give me by a single inch.

01:19:02I gave a helpless,

01:19:03quiet laugh.

01:19:05My fingertips brushed against the faint, shimmering gold scales on the hatchling's foreheads,

01:19:10the most sacred mark of the imperial line.

01:19:13Then, to be fair,

01:19:15I leaned up and pressed a lingering, reassuring kiss to the lips of their jealous father.

01:19:20The evening breeze of Emerald Harbor drifted through the window,

01:19:23carrying the scent of salt and blooming flowers.

01:19:27On this ancient continent of miracles and strong wine,

01:19:31we finally had our future.

01:19:34And for the first time,

01:19:36it was enough.

01:19:37.

01:19:38.

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