- 8 hours ago
Rejected By The Vampire, Crowned By The Alpha King - Ep - FULL ✅
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Short filmTranscript
00:03In the year when I most longed for a handsome face, I found an amnesiac man while gathering
00:07herbs on Silvermoon Mountain. Taking advantage of his injury and memory loss, I persuaded him
00:12to marry me. He agreed gladly. On our wedding night, candlelight flickered. Drunk and bleary-eyed,
00:19I looked at him, a faint blush rose on his cheeks. When he lowered his head to kiss me,
00:24raindrops began to fall softly outside the window. In the second month after the wedding,
00:28he suddenly regained his memory. He said he was the heir of the Bloodmoon family,
00:33but his house controlled the Bloodcrystal mines and asked me to go back with him.
00:37I went with him to the capital, but then I overheard a conversation between him and his mother
00:42and learned the truth. Three months earlier, while gathering herbs, I passed a stream in the forest
00:47and saw a man lying among the rocks, a hideous sword wound on his back, the water stained red
00:52with blood. His skin was pale as moonlight, and the silver threads on his rope gleamed coldly in the
00:57sun. He was more beautiful than all the men I had ever seen put together. I went up to check
01:02his
01:03breath. He was alive, so I carried him home on my back. I tended him without rest for three days.
01:09I made him a blood-staunching broth, a recipe my mother taught me. But with the same herbs,
01:14mine worked faster than others. The villagers called me a born healer. Before she died,
01:20my mother also said, Saren, remember, humans have the prophet's prophecy. Neither wolf nor vampire
01:29dare harm you. But still be careful of them. I didn't understand then. I would later. On the third
01:37morning, he finally woke. The first words he spoke were, Where is this? Who am I? He had amnesia.
01:45I thought about lying, telling him I was his wife. After all, with a face like his,
01:50it wouldn't be a bad deal to have him as a husband.
01:55Overjoyed, I dug out the six gold coins my mother had left me from under the bed.
01:59A simple wedding was enough. The village priest held the ceremony, and everyone came to the feast.
02:05That night, a little drunk, I looked at him and said, Marrying you is the luckiest thing.
02:10He cupped my face in his hands, his light-colored eyes reflecting the candle flames.
02:15I feel the same.
02:16Nix looked at me and kissed me. Then the rain began to fall, drops hitting the window by the bed.
02:22His hand slid to my waist, fingers grazing, and I shivered, not from cold. The rain grew heavier,
02:29covering our breaths. When I woke the next morning, I was not tired at all. Turning to look at him,
02:34I saw the edges of the wounds on his back glowing faintly with a pale green light. Days passed quickly.
02:40Every day I went up the mountain to gather herbs, then returned to treat patients in the village or
02:45town. He stayed home, repairing the house. I thought life would go on like that forever.
02:50Until one day, when I came back from gathering herbs, I saw two strangers in black robes standing
02:56in my yard. Their skin was pale, their pupils reddish, and thin swords hung at their belts.
03:03My heart jumped. I thought the men who had injured him had come for revenge.
03:07He had already remembered his name, Dorian, and was standing by the little table where we usually
03:11ate together. The black-robed men knelt on one knee facing him.
03:15What's going on?
03:16I walked to Dorian's side and lowered my voice.
03:19Are these people here to cause you trouble?
03:21He looked at me with a complicated emotion in his light-colored eyes that I had never seen before.
03:26Saren, my memory has returned.
03:28His memory had returned. I thought of the first day we met,
03:31the fine silver thread on his robes, the faint ring mark on his finger, the mark of a family
03:36crest worn for years. He was no ordinary man. What had he remembered? Did he already have a
03:42wife? If his family was noble, would they accept me as his wife? Flustered, I asked,
03:47Then, what will you do now?
03:51Will you come back with me to the capital? Before, I didn't know who I was, and I couldn't
03:57repay you for saving my life. Now that I remember, come with me, all right?
04:05He remembered where he came from, that he was not yet married, and he said he wanted me as his
04:09wife.
04:10I was more than willing. Dorian's full name was Dorian Blood Moon. The Blood Moon family,
04:15the wealthiest vampire nobles on the continent, who had controlled the blood crystal mines for
04:20generations. His mother gave birth to him when she was over 400 years old. He was cherished like a jewel,
04:25spoiled since childhood. During the two months he was missing, the family spent fortunes hiring all
04:31manner of forces to find him. Listening to him tell me this, I felt a little envious.
04:36Your family really loves you. My mother had loved me very much too. She had been the best healer in
04:42the village, but she died when I was 12. Before she fell ill, she left me her medicine chest and
04:48a
04:48packet of seeds. These are moonshadow flower seeds. When they bloom you will know who you are.
04:54I always thought it was just her ravings.
04:59Because Dorian hadn't fully healed, we spent several days on the road before reaching the
05:03capital. One night we stopped in the wilderness, moonlight flooded the plains. Dorian stood under
05:09the moon, and from his back unfolded a pair of wings, bat-like, their membranes dark red in the
05:13moonlight. He reached out his hand to me, and I took it. He lifted me into the night sky. The
05:19wind roared in
05:20my ears as the sun sank below the horizon, darkness fell, and one by one the stars appeared. Half a
05:25day
05:26later, the carriage stopped before a great manor. Looking at the gate carved with the blood moon
05:30crest, I felt a sudden unease. As soon as the carriage stopped, an elderly woman came out,
05:36followed by four servants. Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of Dorian.
05:40Young lord, you finally returned. My lady has nearly wept her eyes out. How thin you've become.
05:47The crowd surrounded Dorian as he walked inside. I followed, pushed to the back. Dorian didn't look
05:53back once. Once inside the manor, Dorian was taken to see his mother. I was randomly placed in a secluded
06:00room and forgotten. About half an hour later, a servant called me.
06:04Miss, my lady requests your presence at dinner.
06:07I followed him into a hall ten times larger than my home.
06:12On the main seat sat a strikingly beautiful woman who looked barely thirty. Vampires aged very slowly.
06:18Mother, this is Seren. She saved my life.
06:21I stepped forward and greeted her. Good day, my lady. Her expression was cold. Her eyes scanned me
06:27from head to toe, like she was a praising a worthless object. Seren, thank you for saving my son.
06:33This meal is a token of thanks, so please don't stand on ceremony.
06:38Not a family dinner, a thank you. I looked at Dorian, but he looked away.
06:42Dorian and I were married two months ago. You needn't thank me.
06:46A flicker of unease crossed Lady Bloodman's face, then she forced a smile.
06:50You jest. In our clan, marriage requires approval of the family council. Not to mention that my son had
06:57lost his memory, even if he hadn't. Without the family's consent, the union is invalid.
07:03But he was willing. Our wedding was witnessed by a priest. Her false smile finally broke.
07:11Dorian has been betrothed since childhood to the Crimson family, one of the twelve noble bloodlines.
07:18His fiancée is Evangeline Crimson, daughter of the council's chief. How can a common herb
07:25grather like you compare to her? But we... I finished. She lifted a crystal glass,
07:31sipped her red liquid, cut me off, and rose to leave. Dorian glanced at me, hesitated,
07:37and chased after her. I looked at the untouched beast on the table, picked up a metal fork,
07:42and began to eat. In the evening, Dorian came to see me.
07:48Siren, what Mother said today isn't true. I only think of Evangeline as a sister.
07:55You really are betrothed to her? It was arranged by the elders when we were children.
08:00It doesn't count. Then will you break the engagement?
08:06I... Dorian, I was wrong to trick you into marrying you while you had amnesia.
08:12But after you recovered, you told me you weren't married? Now your mother doesn't like me and wants
08:17you to marry that Crimson girl. Can't you decide your own marriage? Think it over, and then come talk to
08:24me.
08:25Dorian left, looking despondent. The next three days, I didn't see him. But I heard from servants that
08:32Evangeline had arrived. I didn't want to court trouble, so I stayed in my room. Yet she came to find
08:38me herself.
08:41The beautiful, richly dressed vampire girl opened her mouth. So you're the one who saved Dorian.
08:47Looking at her face, I felt a pang of pity for such a pretty face. When I didn't answer,
08:52she got annoyed. Just as I thought. A country bumpered with no manners at all. And yet I am
08:59a married woman because of your Dorian. Her face flushed from pale to red.
09:03Huss! To say such things in broad daylight. So this is how you seduce Dorian.
09:09Dorian? If I didn't answer, she was angry. If I answered, she was angrier. These noble girls were
09:15impossible. I simply turned and went back into my room. Staying out of sight should be safe,
09:21right? But she wouldn't let it go. From outside my door, she said she would go to Lady Blood Moon
09:26for justice, then stormed off. I shrugged and popped a pastry into my mouth. Since Dorian wouldn't come to
09:32me, I went to find him. In the evening, on my way to his room, I passed the study and
09:37heard voices,
09:38his and his mother's. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but I caught words like crude. There was probably
09:44only one person in this manner that those words could refer to. Dorian, I tell you once more,
09:52for the family's sake, your wife must be Evangeline Crimson, that woman. You'll marry her
09:58only over my dead body. Mother, you worry too much. Saren is just an ordinary person.
10:05I brought her back only because she saved my life. Just give her the status of a mistress
10:10and let her stay. Dorian's words struck me one by one. I gripped my skirt tightly. Standing there,
10:17I felt like I had fallen into an ice cave. After a long moment, I turned and walked back to
10:22my room.
10:23For this trip to the capital, Dorian had said not to bring much,
10:26so I packed only a cloth bundle, a few changes of clothes, my mother's medicine chest, and the
10:31packet of moon shadow seeds. I looked at the bundle, so out of place in this luxurious room,
10:37like me, out of place in this manner. Taking a deep breath, I went to Lady Blood Moon's room
10:42under cover of night. When she saw me, her blood crystal glass paused mid-lift. What is it, this late?
10:48Give me 500 gold coins, and I'll leave tonight. A flicker of contempt crossed her face, then suspicion.
10:55You're truly willing to leave, Dorian? Pretending not to see her scorn. He wants me as his mistress,
11:01and I refuse. Even a mistress of the Blood Moon family is better than a common nobleman's wife.
11:10Glorious? So what? My mother used to say, being a mistress is no life for a woman. Taking the 500
11:16gold coins, I hired a carriage and left the capital that same night. Back in the village,
11:21my neighbor Martha looked at me in surprise.
11:24Saren Child, why are you back? Didn't you go to the capital for a good life with your husband?
11:29He has a fiancé, and I don't want to be his mistress, so I came back.
11:33Too right. Being a mistress is awful. Good to be home.
11:40See? Even the village women understand this truth. Why couldn't Dorian?
11:44I stuffed the bag of coins under my bed and went back to my daily routine of gathering herbs and
11:49tending patients. In the first few days after returning, I began having strange dreams. In the
11:54dream there was a forest, and at its center stood a giant tree whose crown touched the sky. Between
12:00its branches flowed a silver blue light. On the tree's limbs were built tree houses, with warm
12:05golden light in their windows. Rope bridges and spiral staircases connected them all the way to the
12:09highest canopy. A woman stood before the great tree, reaching out to me. She wore a silver robe,
12:16and starlight swirled in her pupils. She said, Come back, child.
12:24I always woke just before she could touch me. My heart raced, but the dream faded like water through
12:29my fingers, leaving only a faint impression. Luna lay by my bed, rubbing her head against my hand.
12:35I touched her ear and whispered to myself. Just a dream. Luna was always with me, pure white. The
12:42sheep my mother had left me. Mother said she was special and her milk could aid healing. When I went
12:48out to gather herbs, she followed me. When I prepared remedies, she lay on the threshold and napped.
12:53It was strange, but I could always find the rarest herbs. The mullein that others searched three days
12:58for, I would spot at my feet in the forest. The villagers said I had the blessing of the forest
13:03spirit.
13:04I thought it was just luck. Once, while crossing a valley where wolves often roamed, I came face to
13:10face with a gray wolf. Instinctively, I crouched and reached out my hand. The wolf stared at me for
13:15a few seconds, then whined, lowered its head, and ran off. Luna bleated proudly. I patted her head.
13:22You're quite brave.
13:27Two months passed. I only rarely thought of Dorian now, and when I did, my heart no longer hurt as
13:33much.
13:33I thought I might find a new husband. My mother died early. For years I had been alone. All I
13:40ever
13:40wanted was to find a partner and make a family. I took two silver coins from the bag and decided
13:45to go to
13:46the next village to seek a matchmaker's help. The matchmaker lived far, over a mountain.
13:51I tucked two black loaves into my pocket, strapped on my herb basket I could gather on the way,
13:56and set off. Halfway up the mountain, I felt uneasy. When I reached the stream,
14:01a wind carried the strong smell of rust. I followed the scent and found a man lying by the water.
14:09He was covered in wounds, unconscious. His injuries were far worse than Dorian's, cuts all over,
14:15the stream stained red with blood. I fought the urge to check on him, forced myself to look away,
14:20and kept walking. No more picking up strangers. Hadn't I learned my lesson? I was a healer,
14:27I couldn't let someone die. I crouched, heaved him onto my back. He was heavy. I gritted my teeth.
14:33One night, if you're not awake by morning, I'll throw you back into the mountains.
14:37Once home, I saw how bad his wounds were. Hardly a patch of unbroken skin. The worst was an arrow
14:44wound near his heart, half an inch lower and he would have been dead. Luna came over, sniffed him,
14:49and whined. She rubbed her head against his arm. Maybe her milk would help. I fetched clean water,
14:56carefully washed his wounds, applied the ointment my mother had left, and spooned a few mouthfuls of
15:00warm sheep's milk into him. While cleaning him, my fingers accidentally touched the deepest wound
15:05on his chest. He shuddered, and the wound's edge visibly began to close. I felt heat in my fingertips.
15:12It was as if some force was pulling the edges together. Luna bleated and lay down beside him,
15:17refusing to move. The rest was up to fate. Just before dawn, the man woke. The moment he opened his
15:24eyes, they were sharp as knives, like a wounded beast. His gaze locked on me, full of suspicion and
15:29killing intent. Who are you? Where is this? I rubbed my head at the familiar question. Do you
15:38remember who you are? His expression didn't change, but I felt an inexplicable pressure. What do you
15:44want? So he did remember who he was. Good. No amnesia. I exhaled in relief. You were hurt. I was
15:51afraid you'd die by the stream, so I brought you to here to heal. Now that you're awake, leave once
15:56you can
15:57walk. I have my own affairs, and I can't keep you long. He looked down at his bandaged wound. His
16:04guard
16:04remained high, but the killing intent had lessened. You bandaged me? Who else? Thank you. Call me Ash.
16:13Once I recover, I'll repay you for saving my life. I didn't want repayment. I just wanted him gone
16:19quickly, but things didn't go as planned. On the third night, as I was about to blow out the lamp
16:26and sleep, a hand covered my mouth. Before I could struggle, Ash's low voice whispered,
16:32Don't make a sound. Someone's outside. In the moonlight, his ears seemed to twitch slightly,
16:37as if tracking the faintest footsteps. He pulled me behind a cabinet, a knife already in his hand.
16:43The men outside moved. The door was silently forced open, and a dark figure slashed at the bed. Finding
16:49it empty, he turned and swung at the cabinet. Ash raised his arm to block the blow. In that instant,
16:55a silver light flared around him, and behind him appeared the phantom of a huge wolf,
16:59its green eyes locked on the enemy alongside his own. After about a quarter of an hour,
17:03the cabinet door opened from outside. Under the moonlight, Ash's already sharp face was streaked with
17:09blood, giving him a wild, otherworldly beauty. He reached out a hand to me.
17:13Come out. They're dealt with. The air was thick with the smell of blood. I looked at the motionless
17:20bodies on the ground. My stomach churned, and I bent over dry heaving. They were my enemies,
17:26it won't happen again. I didn't answer. I dragged my exhausted body to the bed.
17:33Clean the floor before you sleep.
17:39After that, nothing similar happened. But a black raven began to visit my home often,
17:44entirely black, with a broad wingspan, and something always tied to its leg.
17:48It never landed anywhere but near Ash. I'd heard of such birds, they carried messages.
17:53Ash must have been in contact with his people. So I asked him when he would leave. He gave me
17:59a pouch
17:59of gold coins and said he needed to stay a while longer. I looked at the coins and thought for
18:03a
18:04moment. You can stay, but you have to help with the work. Gathering herbs, drying them, chopping wood.
18:09He smiled, the first smile I had seen on him in days, and said,
18:13All right.
18:14He settled in with me for now, much like Dorian had. I went up the mountain to gather herbs and
18:18tended patience, while he stayed home to tidy up and dry the herbs. Only, he didn't need to do odd
18:23jobs for money, and I didn't dare lose my heart again. My instincts told me this man was far more
18:29dangerous than Dorian. Still, Ash was an excellent cook. He made anything taste good. One day he used
18:35a spice I didn't recognize in a stew. I asked what it was, and he said bay leaves. I was
18:41puzzled,
18:42I had never planted bay. Later I found a small bay sapling growing in the corner of the yard,
18:47though I was certain nothing had been there before. I crouched down and touched its leaves.
18:52The tiny seedling seemed to receive an infusion of life, within moments it shot up a hand's length.
18:57Pale white light patterns appeared on the leaves, flowing along the veins. I pulled my hand back in
19:03fright. During the time Ash stayed, he always had a meal ready when I came home. He would slip two
19:11flatbreads into my pocket before I left, and I would give him the biggest piece of meat at dinner.
19:16We grew more comfortable with each other. Sometimes I thought it wouldn't be so bad to go on like this,
19:22but he would have to leave eventually. The matchmaker had news. In the next village lived a hunter whose
19:28wife had recently died. He wanted to remarry. He didn't mind that I had been married before,
19:33and asked if I'd meet him. I thought about it, why not? I couldn't stay alone forever. When Ash learned
19:39of it, he was sharpening his knife in the yard. He paused, and the blade scraped against the stone
19:44with a screech. You're really going? Yes. I went inside. When will you leave? He didn't answer.
19:53He threw down the knife and went into his room. I walked along the stream toward the next village.
19:58The hunter's house wasn't far. When he saw me, he grinned. So you're Saren? Not bad looking? I frowned.
20:08My wife died young. A misfortune. If you marry me, you just cook and wash for me every day.
20:14Nothing else to worry about. I didn't want to stay. We're not a good match. He got anxious and blocked
20:22my
20:23way. You've been married before. I didn't mind you. And now you're turning me down. Before he finished
20:28speaking, he reached for my arm. A blade pressed against his throat. Don't touch her with your
20:34filthy hands. It was Ash. Who are you? Ash gave him a cold look and pulled me away. I looked
20:42at my
20:42wrist in his grip. Why did you come? To see what kind of man you'd marry. I wasn't going to
20:50marry him.
20:51Then, why did you come? He stopped walking and took out a dark silver pendant from his chest.
20:56A crescent moon. Ancient looking, cool to the touch. Saren, I have to go. Take this.
21:05When I've had my revenge, I'll come back for you. Revenge. He was silent for a moment.
21:11Then his eyes darkened. The vampires invaded our wolf lands and killed many of my people.
21:16This war. Either they die, or we do. Don't worry. The human prophecy protects you. No one will harm
21:25you. In the moonlight, his pupils narrowed to slits, and his canines showed briefly, then disappeared.
21:31I wanted to ask more, but he had already turned and walked into the night.
21:37Ash left. The pendant looked too valuable, and I didn't take it. But a week later, while cleaning
21:44the house, I found it again in the bag of gold coins under my bed, along with two more pouches
21:48of
21:48gold and a note. The note had just three words, wait for me. I folded the note back into the
21:54bag.
21:54I held the pendant for a long time. In the moonlight, the silver crescent glowed faintly,
22:00as if alive. Life went on as usual. Herbs to pick, patience to see, the stove to light.
22:06But at meals, there was only one set of cutlery again. Luna lay on the threshold,
22:11occasionally bleeding as if asking, where's that man? When winter came, mountain herbs grew scarcer.
22:17Yet each time I went out, I would run into a fine plant on my usual path, as if waiting
22:22for me. Once
22:23I was certain the path had been bare the day before, but overnight a clump of silver thread grass had
22:28sprouted from a crack. Child, you true are blessed by the forest spirit. I smiled, but in my heart I
22:36felt something was off. A month later, news of war came. I went to the town storyteller to ask.
22:43Fighting in the north, I hear. Indeed! Wolves and vampires have been at it for hundreds of years.
22:50This time, the Wolvals have a young king named Lucian. He swore to drive the vampires out of the
22:56north and take back the wolves' land. And who's winning?
23:03The wolves, they say. The old vampire nobles are no good at fighting, though they have money.
23:09But this wolf king is determined. He's pushed all the way into vampire territory.
23:15Someone else chimed in. But vampires have magic, don't they? The storyteller shook his head.
23:20Magic can't match wolf claws. And the vampires aren't united. You know the Blood Moon family?
23:25One strong, but centuries ago one of their ancestors lost control, drank human blood, killed a human.
23:31That broke the prophet's curse, and that branch has been greatly weakened. Now all they have are
23:36mines and gold, useless in war. My heart stirred. The Blood Moon family. Dorian's family.
23:43I raised my clay cup and took a sip. Saying nothing. After war talk, the storyteller
23:48changed the subject to private matters. They say he still hasn't married, not even a woman by his side.
23:54Maybe he's got some ailment. You don't know. I have a distant relative in the capital who
24:03serves in the palace. And he says the king already has someone in his heart. Who? What kind of woman?
24:15A healer, they say. A village medic from a smill hamlet. Another jeer. Why would a king want a herb
24:24gatherer? Ah, you don't understand. She can bring the dying back to life. My clay cup slipped,
24:33spilling its contents down my front. I brushed off my clothes and hurried out of the inn. There were still
24:39herbs to gather today. While gathering herbs, I cut my hand. That night, after applying ointment,
24:45I sat by the window. Moonlight fell on my hand, and the skin around the wound glowed faintly with
24:50a pale green light. The cut healed before my eyes. I reached up and touched the small,
24:55leaf-shaped birthmark on my upper ear. My mother said it was our people's mark. That night,
24:59the first snow of the year fell. Saren! Saren! Come quick, come see!
25:09I walked out into the snow and saw a troop of riders at the village entrance. The wind was strong,
25:14and the banner flapped and curled. The villagers all hid inside their homes. I started back too,
25:20my hand instinctively going to the cleaver at my waist. The troop came closer. They stopped right in
25:26front of my yard. The man at the head, in a black cloak. He pushed open my gate and walked
25:31in through
25:32the snow. One step, two deep and heavy prints. He stopped before me and pushed back the hood of his
25:37cloak. In the wind and snow, his face was thinner than it had been half a year ago, the lines
25:42deeper.
25:43I slowly loosened my grip on the cleaver, my voice trembling. You! Before I could finish,
25:49he pulled me into his arms. His chin rested on my head, his voice muffled, I'm home. Luna bleated from
25:55the threshold, wagging her tail and rubbing against his leg. I had guessed right. He was the Wolf King.
26:03The war god they called the Wolf of the North stood before me now, still holding two flatbreads. He had
26:08pressed them into my hand as he came through the door, still warm. He reached out and touched the
26:12pendant hanging around my neck, his nostrils flaring slightly as if checking something, and the corner of
26:17his mouth lifted. You're wearing it? I didn't answer. I looked him in the eyes. Are you the Wolf King?
26:25Yes. Lucian. What? My real name, Lucian. The war lasted half a year, all that time.
26:37I missed you terribly. Will you come with me? No. He hadn't expected that. Surprised. What? No.
26:48Why? I won't be a mistress. I'm asking you to be my queen. But…
26:55He was silent. After a long moment… You don't want to marry me.
27:03No, though I hated to admit it. I had fallen for him again. I did love Ash. But Ash wasn't
27:10Lucian. Lucian was a
27:12king. I remembered what Lady Blood Moon had said to me. You are the Wolf King, and now you have
27:18united
27:19this land. Your queen should be of noble birth, so you can support each other in marriage.
27:25He laughed, a bold, confident laugh. Nonsense. I won this land with my own sword,
27:34not through marriage alliances. But I don't want to live in a palace.
27:42No one would pick my herbs. No one would see my patients.
27:47After a long while, he turned and left. I thought he had gone for good. But the next morning, when
27:53I
27:53opened the door, I saw soldiers busy in my yard, moving tables, weeding, chopping wood, building a
27:58pavilion. They had even brought a whole cart of herbs, neatly stacked. I was dumbfounded. I grabbed
28:05a young soldier. Maybe fifteen. What are you doing?
28:12Your… Your Majesty the Queen. His Majesty says he will live here from now on, and told us to fix
28:19up the yard.
28:23He also said to build an extra room for a dispensary. Where is Lucian now?
28:29At the inn in town. When I arrived, Lucian was reviewing documents. The guards must have been told
28:35in advance, for no one stopped me. Seren, you're here. What do you mean by this?
28:43After I left yesterday, I thought all night. Since you won't come to the palace, I'll have to come live
28:50with you. I've already started building the dispensary. What kind would you like? I looked
28:54at his roguish expression and gritted my teeth. My humble hut can't hold a great man like you.
29:02It's all right. Wherever Seren likes, I like. He truly moved in again. He slept in the same bed
29:09where he'd recovered, sometimes made me the meals he used to make, spent his days reviewing reports and
29:14practicing swordsmanship. In the evenings, he clumsily helped me sort herbs, doing his best. The
29:20black raven began visiting frequently again. Every time I frowned and urged him to go back to his
29:24palace, the next meal would include a dish he'd cooked himself. After a few times, it felt like I was
29:30only trying to drive him away for the sake of the food. I stopped asking him to leave. If he
29:35wanted to
29:36stay, let him stay.
29:40One incident happened during this time. I was out gathering herbs as usual when my neighbor Martha
29:45came running. Seren, quick, come home! See who's here! I followed her back. It was Dorian. He knelt
29:53in my yard, before Lucian, his head hung low, his spine sagging, a far cry from the elegant noble he
29:59once was. Luna stood to the side, bleeding at him unpleasantly. I heard him say,
30:04please your majesty, spare the blood moon family. We will give you the blood crystal mines. Of course
30:13I want the mines. But you have to ask someone besides me.
30:23Seren, why don't you come in? Dorian looked up at the voice and his body jolted. Seren,
30:30your majesty. I looked at him. In just one year, his eyes were no longer clear, and he had grown
30:36terribly thin. What's going on? He brushed a stray hair from my forehead. Dorian flinched. Lucian's
30:43lips curled. The vampires fought me for years. Now they've lost, and he comes to beg for mercy.
30:51I looked at Dorian, his head bowed, his whole body shaking. What do you plan to do with the blood
30:57moon family? By law, death. Then, execute them. Dorian's head snapped up. Seren,
31:09we were one husband and wife. How can you be so heartless? I looked at him and found it almost
31:17funny.
31:17Dorian, I saved your life, and you took me to the capital just to humiliate me.
31:23How ridiculous. His lips trembled. I didn't. That was all to appease my mother.
31:31I already broke off the engagement with the crimsons. I wanted to marry you.
31:36It doesn't matter anymore. What you did doesn't matter to me. Do as you see fit.
31:44Lucian, however, seemed in good spirits. He personally helped Dorian to his feet.
31:49The blood moon family, though thou defeated, has offered their minds a contribution. I'll spare
31:57their lives and exile them to the western border. Thank you, your majesty. The west is hard,
32:04but you'll live. I knew he was doing it for my sake.
32:10That evening, Lucian cooked a whole table of dishes. I sat watching him, remembering how last
32:16winter he had stood by the same stove, turning sour wild fruit into jam. What are you looking at?
32:22At you. You look better cooking than holding a sword. Then I'll cook for you. Every day. Aren't you
32:30also a king? Kings have to eat too. He put a piece of stewed meat on my plate. Taste it.
32:38I braised it
32:39half an hour longer today. Looking at the meat in my bowl, I finally couldn't help it. Lucian, yes.
32:46Can your queen continue gathering herbs? Can she still see patience? He paused for a heartbeat,
32:52then his eyes lit up with surprise. Yes. You can keep gathering herbs, and you can keep seeing
32:58patience. Keep doing what you love. I'll be with you. I saw nothing but joy in his eyes. He looked
33:05at me and kissed me. The night grew light the moment our lips met. His tongue entered, and I
33:10clutched his hand. My fingertips trembling. Our breathing grew tangled. I couldn't tell whose was
33:16hotter. He put one hand on my waist, pulled me onto him, and with the other touched my neck,
33:21his thumb stroking my pulse. I let out a faint whimper that he swallowed. The night like water
33:27swallowed every sound, leaving only intertwined breaths and the soft rustle of cloth.
33:35On the day of the full moon, I dug out the packet of moon shadow seeds from the bottom of
33:40my medicine
33:41chest, the seeds my mother had left me. Somehow, the cloth bag had torn a little, and a few seeds
33:47had scattered onto the windowsill. Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on those seeds.
33:51And then, they bloomed. Silver white petals opened in the moonlight, one after another,
33:57like stars falling onto my windowsill. A cool, sweet fragrance filled the air, seeping into my skin,
34:03into my bones. My body began to glow. The small cartilage at the top of my ear had grown into
34:09a
34:09sharp point. I touched it, then ran to look in the mirror. My face was the same, but deep in
34:15my pupils a
34:15point of silver light swirled, like two tiny moons. Memories flooded back like a tide. The silver moon
34:21forest. A stag of white gold, phantom-like, bent its four legs and bowed its head to me. A voice
34:27spoke
34:27in my ear, my mother's voice. Seren, last blood of the moon shadow elves. Your true name is Seren
34:35Moon Shadow. When you remember who you are, return to the silver moon forest. Lucian pushed open the door
34:42and saw the silver light filling the room in my pointed ears. He froze. Then he smiled.
34:47So my queen is an elven princess. You... you knew? I guessed. Then why didn't you tell me?
34:56Because it doesn't matter who you are. You are Seren. That's enough.
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