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The King Lost to My Unborn Son | New movie 2026 #englishsub #fullmovie🔺🍿
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00:00The clans came to swear loyalty, a kingdom-wide pardon was declared, on the day of the first moon ceremony,
00:06I held the little king and sat on the high seat, I was honored as regent queen, my father general
00:11Edmund Ashwell, served beside me on the council, among the clans, the traitors were gone, the kingdom was at peace,
00:19no one dared scheme against the Ashwell clan again, no one dared look down on a mother, and her child
00:23again, in the cradle, the little king blinked his dark round eyes and looked at me,
00:28though he still could not speak, that voice in my head stayed soft, sweet, and arrogant, mom look, this kingdom
00:37belongs to us now, if anyone dares bully you again, I'll wipe out every branch of their bloodline, when I
00:44grow up, I'll take mother to conquer all the neighboring kingdoms too, I could not help laughing, I reached out
00:50and gently poked his soft cheek, good, I'll be waiting, outside the window, spring light was bright,
00:57The mountains and rivers stretched beneath a clear sky, I looked at the towering halls before me, there was no
01:02shadow left in my heart, once, I thought endurance was the way to survive, now I understood, only power in
01:08my hands could protect the people I wanted to protect, from this moment on, my fate, my son's fate, and
01:14the fate of the Ashwell clan would belong to no one else, we would rule them ourselves, a bloodless coup
01:19ended before sunrise, at last,
01:21The sky over the kingdom cleared, months later, winter passed and spring came, inside my hall, a muffled cry of
01:27pain broke the quiet, I had gone into labor, outside the birthing room, my father stood in armor, he led
01:33the Ashwell soldiers in strict formation, not even a fly could enter, inside cold sweat covered me from the pain,
01:39I gripped the sheets tightly,
01:44Mom, huff, in my head, that familiar voice sounded nervous for once, does it hurt mom, I'll try to curl
01:52up small, let's come out quickly, so you won't hurt for long, I smiled weakly, tears gathered in my eyes,
01:59this child was not even born yet, but he already knew how to love his mother, with one loud cry,
02:04the rising sun broke through the clouds and shone into the hall, the midwife shouted in joy,
02:10He is born, he is born, he is born, a prince, a blessing from the heavens, the dawn has come,
02:19All strength left my body, I looked at the little bundle wrapped in golden cloth, he was red wrinkled, and
02:24waving his tiny fists, the new king was the one,
02:28His eyes swept over the kneeling clans, the silent guards, the command seal in my hand, the jade command ring
02:34on my thumb, for the first time, he truly understood,
02:37He had not lost a game, he had lost the boar, I slowly turned and looked at the man abandoned
02:43by everyone,
02:46Once, I had seen him as the sky, now he was only a pitiful and hateful insect,
02:51Aldric,
02:55You are not worthy of that chair, for the Ashwell clan, for my child, and for the people of this
03:03kingdom,
03:05It is time for you to rest,
03:08Aldric stared at me, the light in his eyes went out little by little,
03:11In the end, only despair and emptiness remained, he had lost, he lost to his arrogance, he lost to his
03:17cold heart, most of all, he lost to me and the child in my belly,
03:21That very day, the queen mother issued a royal order, King Aldric Vane would step down due to illness,
03:27He would be stripped of his crown, made a common, and locked in the locked tower for life, he would
03:31not leave until death,
03:32The former favored mystery, Lady Vivian Moore, was spared death for exposing his crimes, but death could be avoided, punishment
03:40could not,
03:41She was reduced to a servant, and sent to the locked tower to serve Aldric,
03:45Let her watch the man she once loved go mad day after day,
03:51Let them torture each other, that was the best punishment of both of them,
03:59The hall fell into a silence so deep it almost had weight, the clan lords finally understood,
04:05This was not a rebellion born in one night, this was a board that had already been closed,
04:09The gates, the guards, the armory, the message towers, the city defense, every road Aldric could use had already been
04:15cut off,
04:16High council, you swore loyalty to me,
04:21The head of the high council slowly rose, his old hand tightened around his cane, then under Aldric's desperate days,
04:27he knelt,
04:28Your majesty lacks the virtue to sit as king, you nearly forced the loyal Ashwell army into rebellion,
04:36You used the realm itself as a wager, you broke faith with loyal bloodlines and foreign envoys alike,
04:43For the sake of the kingdom, please step down and let one more worthy rule,
04:49One by one, the clan lords knelt, the sound of knees hitting stone spread across the hall like falling thunder,
04:56Please step down and let one more worthy rule,
05:00Please step down and let one more worthy rule,
05:04Their voices rose like a tide, the great hall trembled, Aldric's face turned gray, he stumbled back and collapsed against
05:10the high seat,
05:11The clan lords knelt across the floor, their voices rose like a tide, the great hall trembled,
05:16Aldric's face turned pale, his body collapsed against the high seat,
05:20You have rebelled,
05:21Aldric's lips trembled,
05:22All of you have rebelled,
05:27Guards, protect your king, kill these traitors,
05:33No one answered, not even the guards at the door moved, their hands rested on their sword hilts, their eyes
05:38looked past Aldric and stopped on them,
05:39Aldric froze, then he roared again,
05:43Commander Darren,
05:43Where is Commander Darren?
05:46At the southern gate,
05:49Kneeling,
05:50Waiting for judgment,
05:52The color drained from Aldric's face,
05:54He staggered back half a step,
05:55Impossible that the king's guard had been his sharpest blade,
05:58His safest wall,
05:59His last way out,
06:00Now that blade pointed at his throat,
06:02He suddenly turned to the council's feet,
06:04The city defense army,
06:06Bring me the army,
06:08I still have the capital,
06:12I slowly raised my left hand,
06:14The city defense command seal lay in my palm,
06:16Cold heat,
06:17Real,
06:18Aldric stared at him,
06:19His pupils shrank,
06:20Your majesty lost this too,
06:24Their killing intent was sharp,
06:26And I, six months pregnant,
06:27Walked into the hall step by step,
06:29A seat had been placed beside the king's,
06:31I would rule through the high council,
06:32You,
06:33What are you trying to do?
06:35Aldric pointed at me,
06:36His fingers trembling,
06:37Seraphine Ashfield,
06:38Are you rebelling?
06:39I only lifted my hand,
06:40Read,
06:41A council speaker stepped forward,
06:43In his hands were Vivian's confession from last night,
06:45And the secret order found by the queen mother,
06:47Five years after taking the throne,
06:49His majesty listened to traitors,
06:50And harmed loyal bloodlines,
06:52He dealt with foreign enemies,
06:53Framed general Edmund Ashwell,
06:55And tried to strip military,
06:56Shaking the foundation of the kingdom,
06:58He even used the realm itself as a wager at the feast,
07:00And treated Kingler as a game,
07:03Each charge struck like a blade,
07:05Every word cut deep,
07:07The gathered clans broke into uproar,
07:09In truth,
07:09Everyone had known,
07:10They had simply never dared to speak before,
07:13Now the wall was fallen,
07:14Everyone came to push,
07:15And with bright blades standing outside the hall,
07:17Who could fail to see the truth?
07:18Your majesty,
07:20Your majesty,
07:21Your majesty lacks the virtue to sit as king,
07:22And nearly brought disaster upon the kingdom,
07:25For the sake of the realm,
07:26Please step down and let one more worthy rule,
07:29Yes, my queen,
07:30That night,
07:31The inner stronghold changed blood without a sound,
07:34The hounds once loyal to Aldrich were taken down one by one,
07:37Those who replaced them were iron blooded soldiers,
07:39Who had followed my father through life and death,
07:41Before dawn,
07:43True control of the stronghold had changed hands,
07:45Aldrich knew nothing,
07:46He was still in the king's study,
07:48Drafting an order,
07:49He tried to remove me as queen,
07:51He claimed I had bewitched the clans and planned rebellion,
07:54But when he handed that order to the chief attendant,
07:56The man who had always bowed to him did not take it,
07:59Your majesty,
07:59This royal order,
08:00I'm afraid it will not leave this shoe,
08:02Aldrich froze,
08:03Then his head snapped up,
08:05Outside the window,
08:06The king's guards who should have been patrolling,
08:07Had all changed faces,
08:09Their hands rested on their sword hilts,
08:11They stared coldly toward the king's study,
08:13For the first time,
08:14True despair climbed onto Aldrich's face,
08:16The next morning,
08:18The council gathered,
08:19Inside the great hall,
08:20The air was pressed down to its limit,
08:22Aldrich forced himself into his king's robe and walked up the dace,
08:25Dark shadows hung beneath his eyes,
08:27His steps were unsteady,
08:28Last night's shock and rage had aged him by ten years,
08:31The moment he sat on the high seat,
08:33He sensed something was wrong,
08:35The chief attendant who usually stood below the dace was gone,
08:37In his place stood two rows of fully armed Ashwell soldiers,
08:41His majesty,
08:42He has gone mad,
08:43He planned to imprison general Ashwell after the feast,
08:46No matter who won,
08:47And forced the Ashwell army into rebellion,
08:49He even wrote a secret order to execute the entire Ashwell clan,
08:52That knife in the back was accurate and ruthless,
08:55The queen mother had stayed away from clan affairs for years,
08:58But she cared most about the kingdom's foundation,
09:01The Ashwell clan had been loyal for generations,
09:03They held heavy military power,
09:05If they were forced to rebel,
09:06The kingdom would fall,
09:08The queen mother was furious,
09:09That very night,
09:10She summoned the high council into the stronghold,
09:13Before Aldrich could think of a countermeasure,
09:15He fell into a political crisis like never before,
09:18And this was exactly what I wanted,
09:19Let dogs bite dogs,
09:21Let them leave each other bloody,
09:22I sat in my private hall,
09:24One hand on my stomach,
09:25Listening to my spies report,
09:27Beautifully done,
09:28Mom strike while he's weak,
09:30It's time to use that ring,
09:31I nodded,
09:33Kale could win the game,
09:34But the board outside the hall belonged to me,
09:36Under the cover of night,
09:37I raised the jade command ring,
09:39The green jade caught the candle light like a cold eye,
09:43Send my order,
09:44Replace the commander of the Kingsguard,
09:46Put the old Ashville officers in his place,
09:49Seal the armory,
09:50Take the message towers,
09:51From tonight on,
09:52The nine stronghold gates allow entry,
09:54But no one leaves,
09:55The sky over this kingdom was about to change,
09:58When the feast ended,
09:59The moon had climbed high,
10:00I walked out of the great hall,
10:02The night wind lifted my skirts with a slight chill,
10:04But it could not cool the satisfaction in my chest,
10:07The old Ashville officers were already waiting outside the stronghold gates,
10:11When they saw the jade command ring on my thumb,
10:13Hope lit in their eyes,
10:14My queen,
10:15I nodded,
10:16I said nothing more and returned to my private hall,
10:19Inside the king's study,
10:20It was another scene,
10:21According to my spies,
10:22Aldric flew into a rage and smashed the letters and inkstone across his desk,
10:26Wreckers,
10:27All of them,
10:28He roared like a madman,
10:30Vivienne knelt on the floor,
10:31Trembling,
10:32She had already been humiliated by me,
10:34Now she had become Aldric's outlet,
10:36If you had not pushed me into that chess wager,
10:38How could I have lost the command seal?
10:40Aldric kicked Vivienne in the chest without mercy,
10:43Get out,
10:44Crawl to the locked tower,
10:46Vivienne spat blood,
10:47The terror in her eyes slowly turned into hatred,
10:49For the first time,
10:50She understood one thing clearly,
10:52Aldric had never loved her,
10:53She had been a knife in his hand,
10:55When the knife was sharp,
10:56He used her to cut him,
10:57When the knife broke,
10:59He would throw her into the fire without hesitation,
11:01If she truly entered the locked tower,
11:03She would never come out alive,
11:05To save herself,
11:06This cornered rabbit,
11:07Finally bit back,
11:08That night,
11:08Vivienne did not go to the locked tower,
11:10Dragging her wounded body,
11:12She crawled to the queen mom's hall,
11:13Queen mother,
11:15Please save me,
11:17Save the kingdom,
11:19The rook dragged itself before the black king,
11:21A dying shield,
11:22The hall held its breath,
11:24Kale's voice became soft,
11:26Mom,
11:26End it,
11:27I picked up the last white piece,
11:28I looked at Aldric,
11:29And gave him back every humiliation he had thrown at me,
11:32Your majesty,
11:33Once this piece falls,
11:34Your dignity will truly be gone,
11:36Shut up,
11:37I have not lost,
11:39White queen to h5,
11:40I smiled faintly,
11:41Take the king,
11:42The white queen crossed the board,
11:43The black rook shattered,
11:44The black king's crown cracked,
11:46It fell from his head,
11:47The king piece collapsed beneath Aldric,
11:48He hit the stone hard,
11:50The hall went dead silent,
11:51How,
11:52How is this possible?
11:54The piece slipped from Aldric's fingers,
11:56His body collapsed back against the chair,
11:58His eyes lost focus,
11:59He had lost completely,
12:01I slowly stood up,
12:02I looked down at him from above,
12:04Around us,
12:04The clan lord's eyes changed,
12:06They looked at the broken king,
12:07Then they looked at me,
12:09Standing above the board with the jade command ring,
12:11And the tied pearl,
12:12The black bishop rushed out,
12:15Robes flying like torn wings,
12:17Its blade pointed straight at the white queen beneath me,
12:20The hall erupted in low gasps,
12:23Even the old strategist's face changed,
12:25Aldric laughed horsey,
12:28Seraphine,
12:28Without your queen,
12:29What will you use to fight me?
12:31I looked down at the board,
12:33The white queen stood still,
12:34Alone exposed,
12:35Light bait waiting beneath the moon,
12:37Trap closed,
12:39Mom say it,
12:41I raised my eyes to Aldric,
12:43White knight to c6,
12:44Break the center,
12:47The white knight leapt,
12:49Steel flashed,
12:51The black bishop's head rolled across the board,
12:53The laughter in Aldric's throat died,
12:55Only then did he realize that every attack he made,
12:58Had already been waiting for me,
13:00Every piece he sent forward became a sacrifice,
13:03Every path he opened became his own grave,
13:05After that,
13:07The game no longer needed many words,
13:09Black attacked,
13:10White swallowed,
13:12Black retreated,
13:14White cut deeper,
13:17Aldric's pieces fell one after another,
13:19Cracking across the board like bones under a blade,
13:23Cold sweat formed on his forehead,
13:26More and more slid down his face,
13:27His hands started to shake,
13:29He calculated,
13:30He struggled,
13:31He tried to force a way out,
13:33But no matter where he moved,
13:35My next piece always landed on his fatal point,
13:37Traps,
13:38All of them were traps,
13:39Every step he took,
13:40Had already been calculated by Kale,
13:42Fewer than a hundred moves,
13:44He lost even faster than Vivian,
13:46At last,
13:47Aldric slammed his final black rook before the black king,
13:49His voice was hoarse,
13:51Impossible,
13:53I still have a way,
13:57A new game began,
13:58This time,
14:00Aldric took black and moved first,
14:02He did not even pretend to test the board,
14:04Black knight to C6,
14:06Break the center,
14:12The black knight thundered forward across the giant chessboard,
14:15Iron hooves striking sparks from the stone,
14:17A killing move from the start,
14:23The council lords held their breath,
14:25If this had been the old me,
14:26My hand would have shaken,
14:28But the child in my belly only laughed,
14:30Mom, answer him,
14:32White bishop,
14:33Cut his left wing,
14:36I lifted my hand,
14:40White bishop to G5,
14:42Cut the left wing,
14:44The white bishop swept across the board like a blade wound,
14:59One of Aldric's black pieces shattered,
15:01Aldric's smile stiffened,
15:03His eyes darkened,
15:05Black rude to E8,
15:06Crush her flank,
15:08The black rook charged like a siege tower,
15:10Its shadow swallowed half the board,
15:18For a moment,
15:19The watching lords all thought my formation would be smashed apart,
15:22But Kale's voice was calm,
15:26Ignore the root,
15:28Let him think he has a way in,
15:32Aldric saw that I did not defend,
15:34A cruel smile returned to his face,
15:36He grabbed another black piece and slammed it down,
15:39Black bishop to B4,
15:41Take her queen,
15:45The air in the hall froze again,
15:47He was insane,
15:49Everyone could see it,
15:50Aldric had gone insane,
15:51He did not only want to win back his pride,
15:54He wanted to use this chance to destroy the Ashwell clan completely,
15:58This game was no longer a small wager,
16:00He was gambling every Ashwell bloodline,
16:02I had planned to stop while I was ahead,
16:04After all,
16:05Command over the king's guard was already in my hands,
16:08But before I could refuse,
16:10My baby laughed,
16:13Oh?
16:14He's offering his own head now?
16:16Haha,
16:17This old assard really is stubborn,
16:19Mom,
16:20Destroy him,
16:20Since he wants to die so badly,
16:22Let's send him there,
16:24Win the rest of his king's guard,
16:27Then let's see who dares,
16:30Touch us!
16:30I touched the slightly warm ring on my thumb,
16:33The fear in my heart faded,
16:36In its place rose a battle hunger I had never felt before,
16:39I met Aldric's mad eyes and slowly sat down,
16:45Since your majesty is so eager,
16:48I will to the end,
16:50In the first game,
16:51I had hidden my blade,
16:53In this game I would let him watch it cut him open,
16:55Two guards stepped forward,
16:57Lifted Vivian,
16:58And dragged her out,
16:59She did not even struggle,
17:01Only her fingers scraped a thin streak of blood across the floor,
17:05The hall fell silent again,
17:07Aldric panted hard and turned to me,
17:09He was not satisfied,
17:11He had lost the ring,
17:12He had lost face,
17:14He had lost before envoys,
17:15Clans and council,
17:17A man like him would rather gamble the kingdom than swallow that defeat,
17:21Seraphine,
17:23Seraphine,
17:23Your chess has improved greatly,
17:26I underestimated you,
17:28So you hid your skill all these years just to wait for today?
17:32You flatter me your majesty,
17:35I only wanted a way to live,
17:38A way to live?
17:42I do not believe you can keep winning,
17:46In that last game,
17:47I was careless,
17:48I want another game,
17:52This time,
17:54No empty stakes,
17:56I will wager the remaining half of the Kingsguard,
18:01Plus the city defense command seal,
18:05You must offer equal stakes,
18:08The heads of every ash well in your clan,
18:12And the bastard in your belly,
18:20Queen Seraphine,
18:23Do you accept?
18:26The chief attendant lifted the tray,
18:28And knelt before me,
18:29Holding it above his head,
18:31The clear black jade command ring lay on red velvet,
18:33I picked it up,
18:35Then I slid it onto my right thumb,
18:36The ring was a little large,
18:38I curled my hand into a loose fist and held it tight,
18:4120,000 elite Kingsguards had changed owners,
18:44Beautiful,
18:45With this let's see who dares touch grandfather,
18:49Who dares touch us?
18:52How gracious your majesty,
18:55That one sentence struck harder than a slap,
18:58Aldric's face twisted,
18:59His gaze swept over Vivian on the floor,
19:02Her jewels had been torn away,
19:04Her hair hung loose,
19:05Her rouge was smeared,
19:07She wore only a wrinkled white shift,
19:09And shook like a stray doll,
19:10The woman he had spoiled in public,
19:12Had just cost him half his guards,
19:14And all his dignity,
19:15Vivian crawled toward him,
19:17And wrapped her arms around his leg,
19:19Your majesty,
19:21Save me,
19:23I wagered against her for you,
19:25For one breath,
19:26Vivian seemed to think he would protect her,
19:28Then Aldric slapped her,
19:29Vivian flew back and crashed into the chest table,
19:32She spat blood,
19:33Her cheek swelled,
19:35Useless thing,
19:36Shameful trash,
19:39If you could take into shun ring,
19:41If you had not stirred this up,
19:43How could I have lost the ring?
19:46Vivian covered her face as tears fell,
19:48The last trace of love in her eyes cracked,
19:52Drag this wretch out,
19:55Send her back to the east wing,
19:57She is not to leave without my order,
19:59The envoy from Northvale was a bearded giant turning a cup in his hand,
20:03Ha ha ha ha,
20:05The queen has spied,
20:08If the king will not honor a pact written in black ink,
20:12And sealed before the clans,
20:13Then the trade treaty between Northvale and your kingdom,
20:17Perhaps we should also consider whether,
20:19That is waste paper,
20:21The envoys from Westmere and southward,
20:23Whispered and plaintive,
20:24If Aldric denied the debt today,
20:26The kingdom's honor would collapse before every foreign court,
20:29Aldric's face turned red,
20:30His fists tightened until his nails dug into his flesh,
20:33The head of the High Council set down his teeth,
20:35And struck his cane against the floor,
20:37Thud the dull sound hit the stone tiles,
20:39The old man spoke,
20:40Your majesty,
20:41A king's word is not a jesk,
20:44If you wagered you must pay,
20:47Aldric swayed and stepped back,
20:48He stared at him,
20:50His chest rising and falling,
20:51The hall was dead silent,
20:53After a long time,
20:54He closed his eyes,
20:55Then he forced one word through his teeth,
20:57Give it!
21:00Half the gathered clans lowered their heads,
21:02And pretended to be stupid,
21:04The other half exchanged glances,
21:05But dared not speak,
21:06Denying the debt,
21:07He could not afford to lose,
21:10Ewww,
21:11This old bastard's skin is so thick,
21:14Why didn't he say it didn't count,
21:15When he forced mother to wager her life,
21:18Mom,
21:19Don't spoil him,
21:21Smack him in the face with the pact,
21:23I had expected this,
21:25If I had not prepared for it,
21:27I would never have wagered the whole Ashwell clan,
21:29I ignored Aldric and walked to the record keeper,
21:32I took the written blood pact from his hands,
21:34With a flick of my wrist,
21:35The golden parchment unfolded,
21:37Black ink on parchment,
21:39At the bottom,
21:39The crimson wax seal of the crown was clear,
21:42Aldric's eyelid twitched,
21:44Honoured envases,
21:45Please bear witness,
21:48Our kingdom values honour,
21:50His majesty is the ruler of the realm,
21:52A king's word should weigh more than gold,
21:55The written blood pact,
21:56States everything clearly,
21:59It bears the crown seal,
22:00Does your majesty intend to break his word,
22:03Before envoys from every kingdom,
22:05Or does the crown seal mean less than waste paper in your eyes?
22:09The council lords lowered their heads,
22:11No one spoke for her,
22:12Aldric turned his face away,
22:14He only wiped the wine stain from his sleeve,
22:16Useless thing,
22:17I looked at Mara,
22:18Mara understood at once,
22:20She rolled up her sleeves and strode forward with two strong names,
22:24Forgive us lady Vivian,
22:25The maids pressed Vivian's shoulders down,
22:27One on each side,
22:29Pinning her to the floor,
22:30Mara grabbed the brightest nine tailed silver pin and yanked,
22:35Her perfect hairstyle collapsed,
22:38Next came the trembling pin,
22:39The earrings,
22:40The red gold collar,
22:41And the embroidered outer robe,
22:43Only royal favorites were allowed to wear,
22:45Piece by piece,
22:46The borrowed skin of privilege was stripped from her body,
22:49In moments,
22:50Vivian was left in only a plain white shift,
22:52Curled on the floor and trembling,
22:53Her arrogance was gone,
22:54I kicked aside the gold pin that had rolled to my feet,
22:57Then I raised my head,
22:58Your majesty,
22:59I have collected the debt,
23:01Wait,
23:03I am the king,
23:05That ring is a relic of the founding king,
23:09It is a sacred command, token, of the realm,
23:13How can it be treated like a game?
23:15Tonight's feast was only drunken entertainment,
23:19Everyone was having fun,
23:21If it was entertainment,
23:23Then of course it cannot count,
23:25Vivian shuddered and looked up at me,
23:27Sweet had ruined the rouge on her face,
23:29Her earlier arrogance was gone,
23:31She crawled toward Aldrich on her hands and knees,
23:33Reaching for his robe,
23:35Your majesty,
23:38Save me,
23:40I,
23:41I don't want to,
23:43Aldrich was still staring at the tray being carried away,
23:45When she grabbed him,
23:46He kicked her in the chest,
23:48Get away,
23:49Vivian fell back onto the floor,
23:50She clutched her chest and could not sleep,
23:53My little kid stepped closer to my ear,
23:55Mom,
23:56Don't forget to collect interest,
23:58That bad woman wanted the locket too,
24:00She wanted lives and still wants dignity,
24:03Since she lost,
24:05Strip her,
24:05Let her roll out bare acid,
24:08Of course I could not truly leave her naked in the hall,
24:11But this skin of privilege had to be peeled off,
24:13I walked down from the board and stopped before Vivian,
24:16Since you lost,
24:18None of this belongs to you anymore,
24:20I glanced at the nine-tailed silver pin in Vivian's hair,
24:23You are not worthy of wearing that,
24:25Vivian clutched her hair and pushed herself backward with her feet,
24:28You wouldn't dare,
24:30I am his favored mistress,
24:31I am the woman his majesty loves most,
24:34Your majesty,
24:36Say something,
24:37Queen is humiliating me,
24:39He bowed deeply to me,
24:42I have studied chess for sixty years,
24:44Yet I have never seen such a formation,
24:47Queen Seraphine I submit,
24:48Several old clan lords stretched their necks to look,
24:51A few warlords rubbed their eyes,
24:53From the high seat came a loud clang,
24:55The golden goblet in Aldrich's hand had fallen to the floor,
24:58He stared at the board,
24:59His eyes were bloodshot,
25:00Then he snapped his head up and stared at me,
25:03His chest rose and fell hard,
25:05I ignored his rage,
25:06I brushed the dust from my sleeve and withdrew my hand,
25:09You were kind to play,
25:10Those words fell,
25:12The hall became so quiet that only breathing remained,
25:14I raised my head and met Aldrich's bloodshot eyes,
25:17I did not dodge,
25:18I did not bend,
25:19My back stayed straight,
25:20A wager is a wager,
25:22My voice was steady,
25:23Someone,
25:24Collect the ring,
25:25The record keeper wiped the sweat from his forehead,
25:28And stepped forward with a tray,
25:29Under Aldrich's murderous stare,
25:31His hands shook,
25:32Before he placed the jade command ring onto the tray,
25:35The written blood pact was clear,
25:37Not even a king could deny it,
25:38Aldrich's jaw tightened,
25:40But he could only watch the attendant carry it away,
25:42I looked at Vivian,
25:43Kneeling beside the chest table,
25:45Also,
25:46According to the rules,
25:48Lady Vivian,
25:50You lost,
25:52The blue watery glow from the title floor,
25:54Spread across the chest board,
25:55Vivian's black king stood trapped in the center of it,
25:58Left was death,
26:00Right was death,
26:00Forward was death,
26:02Back was death,
26:03Vivian stared at the board,
26:05Her lips parted,
26:06But no sound came out,
26:09Final move,
26:10Bishop to d3,
26:12Bishop to d3,
26:14I raised my hand one last time,
26:17The bishop struck,
26:18The rook sealed the line,
26:20The two knights locked the cage,
26:24Checkmate,
26:26The black king fell to one knee,
26:28Crack,
26:29The hall went dead silent,
26:32Vivian's king stood trapped,
26:34My queen was gone,
26:35But her king was drowned,
26:39Vivian's smile froze on her face,
26:41She reached for another piece,
26:43Her fingers trembled,
26:44It took several tries before she picked one up,
26:46Her hand hung in the air,
26:47But she could not find a place to move,
26:50No matter where she placed him,
26:53Death waited,
26:55Sweet slid down her temple,
26:56And fell onto her hand,
26:58Her fingers slipped,
26:59The black piece dropped onto the board,
27:02The old strategist shot to his feet,
27:04The drowned queen trap,
27:06A queen sacrifice,
27:08A knight's fork,
27:09A bishop line,
27:10A perfect mate net,
27:15I raised my eyes toward the high seat,
27:17Aldric leaned back,
27:19Playing with an empty golden goblet,
27:20The way he looked at me held only disgust and greed,
27:23No affection remained,
27:25So this was the king I had helped raise,
27:27This was the council I had protected,
27:29My chest turned cold,
27:31Everyone stared at me waiting for the end,
27:33In that dead end,
27:35My kid's voice changed,
27:36Mom,
27:37Don't be afraid,
27:38Knight takes F7,
27:39Check,
27:40I raised my hand,
27:41Knight takes F7,
27:43The white knight charged,
27:45Its stone hooves struck sparks from the board,
27:47Its lamp tore through the black guard before the king,
27:50Crack check,
27:51Vivian's smile stiffened,
27:52The gathered clans leaned forward,
27:54The black king was forced out of safety,
27:57Second knight to G5,
27:58Knight to G5,
28:00The second white knight left,
28:02Two white knights stood like twin fangs around the black king,
28:05Vivian's fingers tightened,
28:07For the first time,
28:08Panic flashed across her eyes,
28:10Open the bishop,
28:12Bishop to G5,
28:13Bishop to G5,
28:15My bishop swept across the board,
28:17A silver line of water light cut through the black defense,
28:20Vivian reached for her queen,
28:22But her queen was too far away,
28:24Open the rook,
28:25Rook to E1,
28:27Rook to E1,
28:33The rook thundered forward,
28:35Stone cracked beneath it,
28:36The black pieces tried to shield their king,
28:38Too late,
28:40The dead silence in the hall broke into murmurs,
28:43The murmurs soon became mockery,
28:44The lord set down his tea,
28:45And moved his sleeve away from his face,
28:47His mouth twisted,
28:48The outcome is decided,
28:51Why does Queen Seraphane keep delaying?
28:54She is only making herself a joke,
28:57The ash will clamber,
28:58The clan should have given up its military power long ago,
29:01They are a stain on this court,
29:05General Ashwell is old,
29:06Yet he still clings to his seat,
29:08His power rivals the throne,
29:10The clan lords had changed faces,
29:12In the past,
29:13They lowered their heads when they saw me,
29:15Now they sat and watched the show,
29:17Vivian listened to their praise,
29:19And her smile deepened,
29:20She held a black piece between two fingers,
29:24My queen,
29:27Once this piece falls,
29:29The Ashwick clan's hundred years of glory,
29:31Will end in your hands,
29:33If you crawl down now and beg me,
29:36I might be in a good mood,
29:39I might even ask his majesty,
29:41To leave you a whole corpse,
29:44And let your old father die with some peace,
29:47I said nothing,
29:48I looked around the hall,
29:50The warlords who had once received Ashwell kindness,
29:53All lowered their heads,
29:54Some even chanted loudly to flatter Aldrich,
29:57The strong survive,
29:58The weak submit,
30:01The hall fell quiet,
30:03Aldrich had not expected me to strike back,
30:05He narrowed his eyes,
30:06I lifted my chin,
30:07And did not look away,
30:08I am the king,
30:09What would I fear?
30:10Bring parchment and ink,
30:12The chief attendant hurried forward with a tray,
30:14The record keeper spread out the parchment,
30:17Our queen really refuses to give up,
30:21Once the pact is written,
30:23If you deny it later,
30:26That will be treason,
30:27She turned a black piece between her fingers,
30:31But don't worry,
30:33When the Ashwit clan falls,
30:35I will ask his majesty,
30:37To leave General Ashwit,
30:39With a whole corpse,
30:41I ignored her,
30:42And stepped back toward the board,
30:44Way to go mom,
30:45That's exactly it,
30:47Let her laugh a little longer,
30:49Soon she won't even be able to cry,
30:51The pact was finished,
30:53Aldrich took out his private seal,
30:55And pressed it down,
30:57I took out the tide pearl,
30:58And set it beside my name,
30:59A cold ripple of water light,
31:01Flashed across the parchment,
31:02Aldrich lifted his cup,
31:04And stopped looking at the board,
31:05He turned and began discussing,
31:07General Ashwell's retirement,
31:08With a council lord beside him,
31:10Vivienne looked at the broken white queen,
31:12Beneath my feet,
31:13She no longer bothered to hide her smile,
31:15My white pieces were scattered,
31:17My queen was gone,
31:18Only one breath remained,
31:20If black moved again,
31:21My king would be trapped,
31:22The old strategist sighed,
31:24And turned away,
31:25Queen seraphine admit defeat,
31:27Keep some dignity,
31:28Do not make the ash well clam,
31:30Look too ugly,
31:31I looked at the only gap,
31:32Left on the board,
31:33All the set up,
31:34All the patience,
31:35All of it was for this moment,
31:37Mom,
31:38It's time to close the trap,
31:43My mind rang,
31:45So this was his true purpose tonight,
31:46The tide pearl,
31:47The chess game,
31:48The jade command ring,
31:49They were all bait,
31:50What he wanted,
31:51What he wanted,
31:51Was the ash well clans,
31:52Military power,
31:53No one in the hall spoke,
31:55Half the gathered clans,
31:56Lowered their heads to drink,
31:57The other half,
31:58Avoided my eyes,
31:59The old ash well officers,
32:01Had long been transferred,
32:02Out of the capital,
32:03The ones left,
32:04Were either fence sitters,
32:05Or aldrich's hounds,
32:06A few council lords,
32:07Who usually flatter Vivian,
32:09Even laughed out loud,
32:10Trash dad,
32:11He dares touch,
32:12Grandfather's military power,
32:15This old bastard,
32:16Must be tired of living,
32:18Since he shoved his face forward,
32:19For us to slap,
32:20Don't blame me,
32:21Mother,
32:22Agree,
32:23Make him put it in writing,
32:24This round,
32:25I'll make him lose,
32:26Even his underwear,
32:28The voice was childish,
32:29But it carried wild arrogance,
32:31Since he had no mercy,
32:32I had no need to be kind,
32:33Fine,
32:34I agree,
32:35Then his smile widened,
32:36I continued,
32:37But words alone,
32:38Mean nothing,
32:40This wager,
32:41Concerns the foundation,
32:42Of the kingdom,
32:43It should be recorded properly,
32:46Let the record keeper,
32:47Write it down here and now,
32:49Make it a written blood pact,
32:52Black ink on parchment,
32:54Sealed with the crown seal,
32:56Witnessed by all,
32:58Your majesty,
33:00Do you dare?
33:02My queen looked loud,
33:04My king looked bare,
33:05The white pieces around me seemed scattered and broken,
33:08I did not understand deep chest theory,
33:10But even I could see it looked like a lost position,
33:12Just like the Ashwell clan's current situation,
33:14Aldric leaned against the golden cushion,
33:17Turning the empty cup in his hand,
33:18He stared at the board,
33:20Waiting for the final move,
33:21Waiting for the Ashwell clan to fall,
33:23My queen,
33:24This board is just like your tide pearl,
33:27It seems both are about to change owners,
33:30As for that locket,
33:34I heard general Edmund Ashwell,
33:36Hit a life saving token inside it for you,
33:39Such a precious thing belongs around my little hound's neck after tonight,
33:43My head snapped up,
33:45That locket was a gift,
33:46Father brought back from the crown temple,
33:48Before heading off to war,
33:49Inside the lock was a command token,
33:51It could summon the Ashwell shadow guards,
33:53That was the Ashwell clan's deepest secret,
33:56Not even my mother had known,
33:58Besides,
33:58Only one person knew,
34:00Waging dead objects is boring,
34:04Seraphine,
34:06Since we are wagering,
34:07Why not make it bigger,
34:11You will write to general Edmund Ashwell,
34:13You shall convince him to hand over the northern army war seal,
34:22How does that sound?
34:25Hand over the tide pearl,
34:27And I will take back the ring,
34:29Everything said just now will be forgotten,
34:31On the chest wall,
34:32My white pieces were surrounded from every side,
34:34There was no way out,
34:35Exactly like that,
34:36My kid was cheerful,
34:38Play weak,
34:38Think deep,
34:39Play the fool,
34:40Then strike,
34:41If we crush them from the start,
34:43What if that old bastard backs out,
34:45Mom,
34:46Now,
34:46Offer the queen,
34:48My fingers froze,
34:49The queen,
34:49That was the strongest piece on board,
34:51Mom,
34:52Trust me,
34:53Drown the queen,
34:54Crown the trap,
34:59Queen to H5,
35:01The white queen beneath me stepped into danger,
35:03Her silver crown caught the firelight,
35:05The hall went silent for half a breath,
35:07Vivienne stared,
35:08Then she laughed,
35:09My queen,
35:10Are you handing me your crown?
35:12Queen takes H5,
35:13Her black queen struck,
35:14Crack,
35:15The black queen's blade cut through the white queen,
35:17The white queen collapsed beneath me,
35:21The tide pearl changes hands today,
35:27On ordinary days,
35:28When I played with Aldrin,
35:29My only job was to lose,
35:31My skill was terrible,
35:32I was a disaster at chess,
35:33My heart beat so fast,
35:35My hands trembled a little,
35:37Mom,
35:37Don't panic,
35:38I am your brain,
35:39Pawn to E4,
35:41Pawn to E4,
35:41I repeated solid,
35:43Pawn to E4,
35:44The white pawn before my king marched forward,
35:47Across the stone board,
35:48Vivienne barely thought about it,
35:50Pawn to E5,
35:51The black pawn charged out,
35:53And met mine at the center,
35:54The pieces struck with a sharp crack,
35:56Knight to F3,
35:58Knight to F3,
35:59The white knight left former,
36:01Stone hooves striking sparks from the board,
36:03After that,
36:03My Babae Kael's orders became faster,
36:06My knight moved,
36:07My bishop opened a path,
36:09My king retreated behind the rook's protection,
36:11On the giant chess board,
36:13The white pieces shifted again and again,
36:15But to the watching clan,
36:16My formation looked loose,
36:17Weak,
36:18Almost apparent,
36:19Vivienne smiled,
36:20She had already stopped taking me seriously,
36:23Sister's chess is truly unique,
36:25I fear even a child could play better,
36:28All those games with his majesty,
36:31It seems our queen was only pretending,
36:34Then she raised her hand,
36:37Queen to H4,
36:39The black queen,
36:40Beneath her feet glided forward,
36:42Her blade pointed straight at my king,
36:44The gathered clans was,
36:46My king looked exposed,
36:48Poor Seraphine,
36:49Still pretending,
36:50If the queen is tired,
36:51And does not want to shame the Ashwell clan further,
36:54There is still time to admit defeat,
36:56Her title as a lowly maid,
36:58Is she even worthy?
37:00The hall fell silent,
37:01Vivienne's face went white,
37:03Tears filled her eyes,
37:04And she collapsed against Aldric,
37:06Your majesty,
37:07Queen looks down on me,
37:09I know I was born low,
37:11I know I am not worthy,
37:13Aldric narrowed his eyes at me,
37:15After a moment he gave a cold laugh,
37:16He lifted his right hand,
37:18And rubbed the black ring on his thumb,
37:19The jade command ring,
37:21A relic of the old king,
37:23A token that could move the king's guard,
37:25Aldric pulled it off,
37:26And threw it onto the chessboard,
37:27I'll wager for her,
37:28This ring commands the king's guard,
37:30It is also a symbol of royal power,
37:32Seraphine is that enough?
37:34The gathered clans broke into whispers,
37:36Someone almost spoke,
37:37But after seeing Aldric's face,
37:39He swallowed it back,
37:40Vivienne stopped crying,
37:42She stared at the ring,
37:43Then raised her brows at me,
37:45He was certain I would lose,
37:46Wow,
37:47My dad really paid up this time,
37:49The jade command ring,
37:50Mom this is pure profit,
37:55Hurry and sit,
37:56My chess addiction is acting up,
37:58When I standed on the giant chessboard,
38:00All my warriors rose up from the ground,
38:03Vivienne tilted her chin high,
38:04Across the squares,
38:06And stepped to black side,
38:07Now all the pieces waited beneath us,
38:09Silent, armed hungry for battle,
38:17My mate smiled as he wagered my crown,
38:20My unborn child,
38:21And all 895 lives of my clan,
38:24My Ashlaw clan had bled for Aldric Vane's throne,
38:27My fists had placed the crown on his head,
38:29I had placed my trust in his hands,
38:31Yet tonight,
38:32At the winter solstice feast,
38:34His mistress nestled in his arms,
38:36Adorned with jewels that were meant to be mine,
38:38They openly challenged me,
38:40Now they sought to strip me of the tide pearls,
38:43The emblem of all my authority,
38:45All ways out were blocked,
38:47The gathered clan stayed silent,
38:49But Aldric only smiled,
38:51Careless and amused,
38:52Seraphine, it is only a tide pearl,
38:55If you lose,
38:56Let her play with it for a few days,
38:58I want that too,
39:00My queen,
39:01Do you dare wager it?
39:02Before I could refuse,
39:04Granted,
39:04Aldric answered for me,
39:05Just as my heart sank,
39:07A soft little voice suddenly rang inside my belly,
39:10Mom,
39:10Mom,
39:11I'm here,
39:12Bet against her,
39:13I can see ten moves ahead,
39:16I'm a chess genius,
39:17I'll teach father how to lose,
39:20I touched my stomach,
39:21Under the mocking eyes of the clan lords,
39:23I picked up a white piece,
39:25The great hall was bright with firelight,
39:27The council lords around us stopped drinking,
39:30Their eyes were full of mockery and curiosity,
39:32Aldric leaned back on his high seat,
39:34Holding Vivian in his arms and turning a cup in his hand,
39:37He glanced at me once,
39:39Then he lowered his head and teased the woman in his lap,
39:42Dad is so ungrateful wanting you to step down,
39:45He can keep dreaming,
39:46He dares to trifle with grandfather's life?
39:49Who does he think he is?
39:51Mom, take it,
39:52Since he dares offer it,
39:53We'll take everything and make him lose clean,
39:56I felt relieved the moment I heard it,
39:59I raised my head and looked toward the high seat,
40:02Since your majesty has allowed it,
40:04I will play one game with Lady Vivian,
40:07Queen is generous,
40:09That locket is beautiful,
40:11I have wanted it for so long,
40:14Wait,
40:15I pressed my hand over the clasp and stepped back,
40:18Vivian's hand caught empty air,
40:20She froze then she turned to Aldric,
40:22Her red lips curved in a pout,
40:23Is our queen going back on her word?
40:25Or can she not bear to lose it?
40:28Seraphine,
40:28A king's word is not a joke,
40:30Do you mean to defy me?
40:32I am wagering the queen's tied pearl,
40:34And the locket granted by the old king,
40:37They stand for my crown,
40:39And the Ashwell clan's honour.
40:44What does Lady Vivian have to wager?
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