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Sins of the Succession HD 720p ASM
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00:00I remember everything. My husband poisoned me on our wedding day. Right there, in front of the altar. He poured
00:07death into my cup just to crown his mistress's children. But I returned from hell. I crawled back through the
00:12ashes and the silence, through the cold and the screams. And now. Now it's his turn. I will watch him
00:19choke. This time. The one who drinks the poison is him. Let him taste what I tasted. Oh, long live
00:27the sterile king may his throne rot while I walk free.
00:30With my own eyes, I'll see him fall. As for me, I'm choosing a real man now.
00:37On the day I married Prince Cedric, his precious childhood sweetheart, Isabella, slipped a sterilization of poison into my ceremonial
00:45wedding wine.
00:46After being caught red-handed, she simply lifted her skirt hem and wept pitifully, saying she was just trying to
00:52play a joke and didn't expect me to actually drink it.
00:54I will spend the rest of my life repenting. I'll enter the palace as your mistress.
01:00And any children I bear will be raised as the princess's own, as the legitimate heirs to the throne.
01:05Evelyn, as the future queen, you must show grace. You should be grateful. Isabella's willing to carry heirs for you.
01:12Most women wouldn't make that kind of sacrifice. What more could you ask for?
01:15From then on, I became the laughingstock of the kingdom. Isabella was adored at court, bearing two sons and two
01:22daughters.
01:23Meanwhile, I died alone in the cold shadows of the North Tower. Before I drew my last breath, they stood
01:29by my bed with a cup of poison.
01:31Evelyn, I'm being crowned king the day after tomorrow. Isabella must be my queen.
01:36If you're still alive, how is Isabella supposed to take her rightful place as queen?
01:39I was forced to swallow the poison, dying on the eve of his coronation.
01:49When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the altar on my wedding day.
01:53I stared at the crimson wine in the cup. Isabella was as impatient as ever.
01:57I could even see traces of fine powder clinging to the rim.
02:00A cold smirk flickered in my eyes.
02:02Without a word, I reached for Cedric's cup and pushed mine toward him.
02:06Darling, I've heard that if a couple swaps cups, their souls will be entwined forever.
02:12Humor me, darling. Let's trade.
02:13Eager to show off what a loving fiancé he was, Cedric raised the cup without hesitation and drank it dry.
02:19Cedric raised the cup without hesitation and drained it in one gulp.
02:23The nobles below erupted in cheers and applause.
02:26The heavy oak doors of the cathedral swung open.
02:28It was Isabella.
02:29She wore a scandalously bright red gown completely unfit for a royal wedding.
02:34Entirely inappropriate for a royal wedding.
02:36Seeing my empty cup, she let out a strangled cry, tears welling up instantly.
02:41Oh no! Cedric, I'm so sorry!
02:43I didn't mean it!
02:45It was just a prank.
02:46I only put a little something in Evelyn's cup.
02:49I thought I could stop you in time!
02:54Who are you?
02:55How dare you poison the holy wine of the crown?
02:58The dukes and earls in attendance whispered frantically among themselves.
03:01Evelyn, don't make a scene.
03:02This is Isabella, the daughter of my wet mother.
03:04We grew up together.
03:06She's immature.
03:07She didn't mean any real harm.
03:09Isabella, what day is this?
03:11How could you place a dangerous prank?
03:13Miss Isabella, tell me clearly in front of every noble in this hall,
03:17exactly what kind of sterilization poison did you put in the royal wine?
03:22Call the royal physician at once!
03:26Your Highness, I swear I didn't mean it!
03:29I just heard about an infertility toxa on the black market and thought it would be funny!
03:36I thought, I thought it would make her more submissive to you.
03:41An infertility sterilization poison?
03:43This wine was blessed by the Pope himself.
03:46You dared to poison me and sever the bloodline of House Van Dyke?
03:49This is high treason!
03:51God, seize her!
03:52Cedric, save me!
03:53It was just a joke!
03:55Beside, the medicine might be fake!
03:57Is the princess really going to execute me over a prank?
04:00Evelyn, Isabella is young and naive.
04:02Since you've already drunk it, there's no use blaming her now.
04:05Rest assured, you are already my wife.
04:07Even if you are indeed baron.
04:08I will not annul the marriage.
04:09This title will always be yours.
04:11It's all my fault!
04:12To compensate the princess, I am willing to serve the princess as his mistress.
04:16They'll be raised as royal heirs so that the throne will still have heirs.
04:19The script was exactly the same as the last time.
04:23Cedric, you think this is a minor matter?
04:27Congratulations, Cedric.
04:28Your precious Isabella just castrated the crown.
04:35Cedric quickly helped the limp Isabella up from the ground and stared at me with a furrowed brow.
04:40He told me to stop, not to have Isabella executed at the wedding over a petty prank.
04:45He said that as the future empress, I shouldn't be so petty.
04:49He spoke with such righteous conviction, as if I were the one being unreasonable.
04:53Looking at his sanctimonious face, I almost laughed in his face.
04:57In my past life, he used the exact same mask.
05:01He loved calling me narrow-minded, ungraceful, unworthy, like narrow-minded and undignified against me.
05:09Back then, I swallowed my pride, believing that was what it meant to be a lady.
05:13I didn't realize that my submission was their green light to destroy me, leading to my wretched end.
05:19She spiked the princess's wine with an infertility texture and you want to brush it off?
05:23Tell me, Prince Cedric, and you call that justice?
05:26You would let a wet lather's daughter poison the future queen?
05:30Where is the respect for the house of Van Dyke?
05:33What's done is done, Evelyn.
05:34What do you want, her head on a platter?
05:36She said it was a mistake.
05:40The commotion in the wedding chamber quickly drew attention.
05:43The queen's head lady-in-waiting hurried in, her face a mask of stern concern.
05:49Your Grace, Her Majesty the Queen has sent word.
05:51This is a delicate matter.
05:53While Isabella will certainly be disciplined, we cannot allow a scandal to erupt on your wedding day.
05:57It concerns the honor of the bloodline.
05:59Typical.
06:00Easy for them to say.
06:02They weren't the ones being poisoned.
06:03Does your highness truly believe that an attempt to sever the royal succession is a minor issue?
06:09Enough.
06:09Isabella has apologized.
06:11I shall spend a week confined at the chapel.
06:13That should be punishment enough.
06:14Now drop it.
06:15Poisoning the princess and the sentence as a week of prayer, I almost laughed at the absurdity.
06:20Thankfully, in this life, I wasn't the one who drained that glass.
06:24An old countess in the audience, moved by pity, advised me to summon the royal physician for a diagnosis right
06:30away.
06:30Isabella immediately retorted, saying that would be cursing the royal family too unlucky.
06:36Cedric actually gave an approving smile, praising Isabella for being so thoughtful, and told me not to rush.
06:42That we could wait until tomorrow.
06:44My personal maid was trembling with anger, but she dared not reproach Cedric.
06:49Instead, she suggested that I send word to my father, so he could come and seek justice on my behalf.
06:55Your Highness, is this your final decision?
06:58You refuse to hold Isabella accountable?
07:00I told you, it was a stupid joke.
07:02She even agreed to bear airs for you to raise as your own.
07:05What more do you want?
07:06You're obsessing over a single toast, and ruining this entire celebration!
07:11If being crowned princess is too much for you to handle, then leave.
07:15There are plenty of women eager to take your place.
07:17Women who aren't nearly as temperamental or petty as you.
07:20Petty?
07:21Your Highness, everything I've done tonight has been out of concern for you,
07:24because the person who just drank that infertility toxer was you, Your Highness.
07:30What the fuck are you talking about?
07:34I gestured to him slightly with the cup in my hand.
07:37On the silver rim, the white powder glistened ominously under the candlelight.
07:41I drank from yours.
07:43But the cup you consumed?
07:45That was the one Isabella personally prepared with her little prank.
07:48Isabella froze in disbelief, then rushed over frantically and snatched the cup.
07:53Your Highness, is this really the one you drank from?
07:56Cedric was now ash-faced, his body trembling uncontrollably.
08:00He couldn't find his voice.
08:01You!
08:02You evil bitch!
08:04This was meant for you!
08:05Why did you give it to him?
08:07You're trying to destroy the line of succession on purpose!
08:10Precisely.
08:11This poison was her carefully wrapped gift to send me to hell.
08:14In my past life, I drank it like a, I swallowed it like a fucking fool.
08:19I spent years rotting in despair while I watched them play house and have children,
08:23only to be discarded like trash in the end.
08:25And my family?
08:26My father and brothers bled themselves dry to put this man on the throne.
08:30In my last life, his words about grace still echoed in my ears.
08:34In that case, Your Highness,
08:36I sincerely hope you can maintain that same grace in this life.
08:42In this life, the poison came from the woman Cedric loved most,
08:46and the wine was drained by Cedric himself.
08:48I wanted to see if he could still be as magnanimous as he had urged me to be in my
08:52past life.
08:53Do you have any idea what you've done?
08:55Stripping a prince of his ability to produce an heir isn't just a crime.
09:00It's an act of high treason against the crown.
09:03By law, that crime is punishable by execution,
09:06and the confiscation of your entire family estate.
09:10I didn't mean to betray the crown!
09:12That tincture was meant for Evelyn!
09:15My eyes turned ice cold.
09:17I stepped forward and delivered a slap so hard it echoed through the stone hall.
09:21Crack.
09:22The sound was sharp and deafening.
09:24You dare admit to an assassination attempt on a daughter of House Van Dyke?
09:28Who the hell do you think you are?
09:31Who do you think I am?
09:32I am a Duke's daughter and your future princess.
09:35A servant girl playing at Trubility dares poison me?
09:38Attempting to poison me?
09:40Now that the prince has suffered the consequences,
09:42you deserve to die for this.
09:44For you!
09:44Now!
09:45Get the fucking physician in here!
09:47Oh?
09:47So now we're in a hurry for a doctor?
09:49Really?
09:50I thought seeing a physician tonight would bring bad luck.
09:55Didn't you insist we wait until morning?
09:59Quickly!
10:00Fetch the physician!
10:02Seize Isabella!
10:03This is practically treason!
10:04The wedding chamber descended into chaos.
10:07The news spread like a plague to the Grand Hall.
10:09Several physicians rushed in with their medical bags,
10:11followed closely by my parents and my brother, Julian.
10:15Mother!
10:16Father!
10:16You must protect me!
10:18This woman, Isabella, tried to poison my womb in the middle of a holy ceremony!
10:23And Prince Cedric, he didn't even punish her!
10:26He called me petty and undignified!
10:32But funny, isn't it?
10:33The poison ended up in his cup instead.
10:36The prince drank the poison himself.
10:40He may never father a child now.
10:42As I clung to my mother, feeling her warmth,
10:45my heart ached with relief.
10:46It was wonderful.
10:47My family was alive.
10:48My brother was still the proud soldier he used to be.
10:51In this life, I would never let Cedric touch a single hair on their heads.
10:54Fit for the crown, my sister is the daughter of a duke!
10:58Is she supposed to be magnanimous about being poisoned?
11:02Prince Cedric, you were so keen on grace a moment ago.
11:07Now that the poison is in your veins, let's see some of that.
11:10Let's see how forgiving you are now of yours.
11:12The house of Van Dyne does not endure such insults.
11:16Who the hell does this no-end think she is?
11:18We are not subjects to be toyed with!
11:22Isabella was pinned to the stone floor by glass.
11:24Cedric, save me!
11:27I didn't mean to hurt you!
11:29It was Evelyn!
11:30She switched the cups!
11:32The head physician finished his examination
11:34and shook his head gravely.
11:36The poison has permanently damaged
11:37His Highness' ability to father children.
11:39It was prepared with brutal intent.
11:42Your Highness,
11:43I fear you will never be able to father an heir.
11:46To ensure I was ruined forever,
11:47Isabella had naturally used a lethal dose.
11:49Cedric's world collapsed.
11:51He stumbled, nearly fainting as he hit the ground.
11:53What does infertility mean for a prince?
11:55For a claimant to the throne,
11:57it meant political death.
11:58No one would support a prince who couldn't secure the succession.
12:01I'll kill her!
12:02I'll kill that bitch myself!
12:05Evelyn.
12:06Please.
12:07At least I still have you by my side.
12:10I snatched my hand away in disgust.
12:12Is he joking?
12:13Who would want to be married to a prince with no future and a rotten heart?
12:16Your Highness,
12:17didn't you say just a moment ago
12:18that if I felt unworthy I should leave?
12:19Consider it done.
12:20I'm calling off this marriage.
12:21Right now.
12:22Why should the House of Van Dyke pay the price
12:23for the disaster Isabella caused
12:25and the poison you enabled?
12:26Did you really think my family
12:26would quietly swallow this humiliation?
12:28Exactly!
12:29When you thought it was my sister being poisoned,
12:32you called it a prank
12:33and blamed her for lacking poise.
12:37Now that it's you, Your Highness,
12:38where is that royal poise?
12:40Don't start barking like a rabbit dog now.
12:43Cedric's face flushed with a mixture of shame and fury.
12:46At that moment,
12:47the Queen's voice echoed through the hallway.
12:49My Cedric!
12:50What has happened?
12:52The lady-in-waiting quickly briefed her on the unfolding scandal.
12:55You're pointed to strike at the future of the crown!
12:59Guards surged forward to drag Isabella away.
13:02Hearing the cries from outside,
13:03Cedric was torn between his fury over the poison
13:05and his lingering feelings for his mistress.
13:07I beg of you, spare Isabella!
13:11Cedric, I didn't mean it!
13:13Evelyn framed me!
13:14She's the one who ruined you!
13:18Get her out of my sight!
13:20How dare a low-born creature
13:23attempt to manipulate the royal line!
13:25You can't kill me, Your Majesty!
13:28I am carrying Prince Cedric's child!
13:30You cannot execute the mother of a royal here!
13:35The moment those words left her lips,
13:37the entire hall went silent.
13:39Isabella, what did you say?
13:40Say it again!
13:43Your Highness,
13:44I am two months pregnant.
13:46I'm carrying your child.
13:50Could you truly bear to send both me
13:52and your child to the grave?
13:55You said you wanted only my child
13:57to inherit the throne.
13:59That's why I spiked the wine.
14:00I couldn't bear the thought
14:01of another woman's child
14:02stealing what belongs to ours.
14:04Cedric,
14:05I did it all out of love for you.
14:07She had committed an act of high treason,
14:09but now that Cedric was sterile,
14:11the child in her womb
14:12became Cedric's only remaining claim to the throne.
14:14Even the Queen hesitated,
14:15her eyes flickering with cold calculation.
14:17Mother, Isabella is carrying my child!
14:20This is my only hope for an heir!
14:22You cannot execute her!
14:26Your Majesty,
14:27it is confirmed.
14:29Miss Isabella is indeed
14:30two months with child.
14:32Evelyn,
14:33given the circumstances,
14:34you must learn the art of compromise.
14:35Let Isabella enter the palace
14:37as a mistress.
14:38If you agree,
14:39the child she bears
14:39will be documented as yours,
14:41the legitimate heir to the throne.
14:42What do you say?
14:47In the eyes of God and the law,
14:49the Prince and I are not yet wed.
14:52Since His Highness and Miss Isabella
14:53share such a profound love,
14:55a love so reckless
14:56it has brought us to this disastrous end.
14:59I refuse to stand between true love.
15:01It deserves to be born legitimate.
15:02Your Majesty,
15:03you should bless this union,
15:04then make Isabella your future queen.
15:06I formally request an annulment of our engagement.
15:09From this day on,
15:10Prince Cedric and House Van Dyke
15:11will have nothing to do with each other.
15:12Your Majesty,
15:14we demand an annulment.
15:17Evelyn,
15:17have you lost your mind?
15:18An annulment?
15:20You're leaving me over this?
15:21Your Highness,
15:22when you thought I was the one poisoned,
15:23every word out of your mouth
15:24was a shield for your mistress.
15:25You treated my family
15:26like something you could use
15:27and throw away.
15:28Now that she's provided you
15:29with your only hope for a legacy,
15:32so I'm stepping aside.
15:34Isn't that exactly what you wanted?
15:35No!
15:36I refuse!
15:37We exchanged vows!
15:39You are my princess.
15:40I will not let you walk away!
15:43Prince Cedric,
15:44I entrusted my daughter to you.
15:48Yet you've cerned a bastard
15:50before even leading her to the altar.
15:52To place a bastard heir
15:54before a legitimate one
15:55is a spit
15:56in the face of House Van Dyke.
15:58Do you truly think
15:59our honor is so cheap?
16:02Your Highness,
16:03if you want me to stay,
16:05I will not endure this disgrace.
16:07Unless,
16:08unless you force her
16:09to drink something
16:10and end that pregnancy tonight.
16:12I might allow her to stay
16:14as a lowly scullery maid.
16:15Otherwise,
16:15I will not stand by
16:17and watch a bastard
16:18take the throne.
16:19Nor will I allow
16:19the royal bloodline
16:20to be soiled
16:21by such a woman.
16:22The child dies,
16:23or I leave.
16:25Which is it,
16:25Your Highness?
16:26No, no!
16:27This is my only flesh and clud!
16:28How can you be so heartless?
16:30Heartless?
16:31You want your legacy,
16:33I want my family's dignity.
16:34You made this mess yourself, Cedric.
16:37Did you expect to harvest roses?
16:39Cedric sank to the floor
16:40in silence,
16:41speechless.
16:42The House of Van Dyke
16:43was no ordinary noble house.
16:45With the Iron Legion
16:46under our command,
16:47even the Queen
16:47couldn't afford
16:48a direct confrontation.
16:49Seeing her son
16:50reduced to a pathetic heap,
16:51the Queen shot him
16:52a look of pure loathing.
16:53Finally,
16:53under the watchful eyes
16:54of the entire court,
16:55she had no choice
16:56but to approve the annulment.
16:57The news of the annulment
16:58and the Prince's infertility
16:59caused by his own mistress
17:01spread through the kingdom
17:01like wildfire.
17:02The King was livid,
17:03utterly disgusted
17:04by Cedric's stupidity.
17:06He stripped Cedric
17:07of a significant portion
17:08of his lands
17:08and delivered
17:09a scathing public reprimand.
17:13You idiot!
17:14Do you have any idea
17:16how much effort
17:16I put into securing
17:17that marriage?
17:18And you threw it all away
17:20for a common
17:21nursemaid's daughter!
17:22I've confined that old nurse
17:23to a royal farm for now.
17:25Once Isabella gives birth,
17:26I'll decide
17:27what to do with her.
17:27You had better
17:29find a way
17:29to crawl back
17:30to Evelyn
17:30and beg for her forgiveness.
17:32She is the key
17:33to the Iron Legion.
17:34If you can't marry her,
17:35we cannot afford
17:36to let any other prince
17:37have her.
17:38If another prince
17:39secures the support
17:40of House Van Dyke
17:41while you're left
17:42with nothing but a bastard
17:43of questionable origin,
17:45you will never sit
17:47on that throne
17:48as long as you live.
17:52To any prince in the kingdom,
17:54the Iron Legion
17:54of the House of Van Dyke
17:56was the ultimate
17:56bargaining chip.
17:58Securing the Duke's backing
17:59was as good as holding
18:00the key to the throne itself.
18:01The moment Cedric
18:02returned to his estate,
18:04Isabella threw herself
18:05into his arms,
18:06sobbing.
18:06Your Highness,
18:07did I cause the king
18:09and queen to punish you?
18:10Hit me if you want.
18:11Yell at me.
18:13I deserve it.
18:14I was jealous, okay?
18:16I was terrified
18:17of losing you.
18:18But I never imagined
18:20Evelyn could be so ruthless.
18:21She switched the cups.
18:22She must have known beforehand.
18:24How else could it be
18:25such a perfect coincidence?
18:27She did this
18:27to ruin you on purpose.
18:29A sinister glint
18:30flashed in Cedric's eyes.
18:32Indeed.
18:32If Evelyn hadn't so cleverly
18:34swapped the cups
18:35during the toast,
18:36how could he have ended
18:36up fucking sterile?
18:38He recalled his mother's warning.
18:39If he couldn't have
18:40the Duke's daughter,
18:41he could never allow
18:42another prince to claim her.
18:44Meanwhile,
18:44I returned to the Van Dyke estate
18:46with my parents and brother.
18:47Evelyn's annulment
18:48will trigger a political storm.
18:50The crown prince
18:51has not been named yet.
18:52Within two days,
18:53the other ambitious princes
18:54will be lining up
18:55at our gates to propose.
18:57Is my daughter doomed
18:57to become a pawn
18:58in their fight for the throne?
19:00Marrying her means
19:01dragging our entire family
19:02and our legions
19:02into their bloody game.
19:04Looking at my worried parents,
19:05memories of my past life
19:07flashed before my eyes.
19:08In my past life,
19:09my father and brother
19:10died brutally on the battlefield.
19:12Instead of honoring them,
19:13Cedric forged evidence
19:14and accused House Van Dyke
19:16of treason to seize control
19:17of our military forces.
19:19We end.
19:20The entire kingdom
19:21spat on our name
19:22only General.
19:23Alistair,
19:23the legendary
19:24Silver Wolf of the North,
19:26stood forward,
19:27refusing to believe
19:27the Duke was a traitor.
19:29He withstood immense
19:30royal pressure,
19:31rode to the borders
19:32to unearth the truth,
19:33cleared my family's name
19:34and preserved our honor.
19:36Back then,
19:36locked away in Cedric's tower,
19:38I could only kneel
19:39by the barred window,
19:40facing North,
19:41silently weeping in gratitude
19:42for the man
19:43who saved my family's honor.
19:44Holding that memory tight,
19:46I looked up,
19:47my voice steady.
19:48Father,
19:49I want to marry
19:50General Alistair.
19:58Alistair!
19:59Good girl,
20:00that's an excellent choice.
20:01Alistair is unmarried
20:03and he was my finest protégé.
20:05More importantly,
20:06he commands the elite
20:07northern cavalry.
20:08No prince dares to cross him.
20:10If you marry him,
20:11you will be untouchable.
20:13Wait a minute.
20:14A year ago,
20:15before the king decreed
20:16your marriage to Cedric,
20:17Alistair privately asked me
20:19if Evelyn was betrothed,
20:20could it be that even then he...
20:22I'm going to Alistair's estate
20:23right now!
20:24Arthur,
20:24stop right there!
20:26What kind of noble family
20:27practically begs a man
20:29to take their daughter?
20:30Where are your manners?
20:31My father turned out
20:32to be right.
20:33Not even two days
20:34after my annulment
20:34from Cedric was signed,
20:36Prince Rupert,
20:37the second prince
20:38and Cedric's fiercest rival,
20:39arrived at our estate
20:40with a grand entourage.
20:42However,
20:43almost simultaneously,
20:44Cedric arrived,
20:45his expression dark and hostile.
20:47Brother,
20:48Evelyn was my fiancée.
20:50Coming here with all these gifts,
20:51is this a public provocation?
20:53Cedric,
20:54your betrothal is ash.
20:55The king himself
20:56signed the annulment
20:57and the whole city knows it.
20:58As they say,
20:59a priceless jewel discarded
21:00is fair game for anyone.
21:02You were too foolish
21:03to keep her.
21:04Did you expect the rest of us
21:05to ignore her brilliance?
21:06Rupert,
21:07your ambition is an open secret.
21:08Don't play the fool.
21:10Everyone knows exactly
21:11why you want to marry her.
21:12Evelyn is mine.
21:13The misunderstanding
21:14on our wedding day
21:15will be resolved.
21:17Once I explain it to her,
21:18I will marry her again.
21:20She will only ever
21:21be my princess.
21:22Keep dreaming, brother.
21:23The two princes
21:24stood in our courtyard,
21:25clashing fiercely,
21:27drawing the whispers
21:27of the household suburbance.
21:29Just then,
21:30a clear,
21:30commanding horn
21:31sounded from the gates,
21:33followed by a sudden commotion.
21:34What's happening out there?
21:35Why the sudden noise?
21:49A crowd was gathering
21:50outside the estate gates.
21:52A royal herald
21:53dressed in imperial gold
21:54marched in.
21:55Behind him
21:56walked a young commander
21:57in a silver white cloak,
21:58built like a towering pine.
22:00He carried himself
22:01like a man born to command.
22:02The herald unrolled a parchment
22:04and announced in a booming voice.
22:07Congratulations,
22:08Lord Duke and Lady Dutcher.
22:09On this auspicious day,
22:11the commander of the north,
22:12General Alistair of the north,
22:14has come to formally ask
22:15for Lady Evelyn's hand
22:16in marriage.
22:19Prince Rupert
22:20and Prince Cedric
22:21froze in disbelief.
22:22The man behind the herald
22:24was General Alistair himself,
22:25the infamous
22:26Silver Wolf of the north.
22:27My father and mother
22:28hurried out to meet him,
22:30broad smiles
22:30on their faces.
22:32Alistair,
22:33please,
22:34come inside at once.
22:36My word travels fast.
22:39Did your finances hear
22:40we received a marriage proposal today?
22:43We only just reached an agreement
22:44and yet the princes
22:45are already here.
22:47What an honour.
22:49We are truly honoured.
22:51Cedric glared at Alistair,
22:52his brow furrowed in fury.
22:54General Alistair,
22:55you've spent your life
22:56rotting on the frontier.
22:58Since when have you
22:58even spoke to Evelyn?
23:00How dare you present a suit
23:02at a time like this?
23:03Alistair offered
23:04a ghost of a smile.
23:05Prince Cedric,
23:06marriage may be arranged
23:07by families,
23:08but that doesn't mean
23:09feeling does don't matter.
23:11The Duke was my mentor.
23:12To seek his daughter's hand
23:14is the greatest honour
23:14of my life.
23:15Lady Evelyn is an
23:16extraordinary woman.
23:17Upon hearing that your
23:19unfortunate engagement
23:20was severed,
23:21I feared such a duel
23:22would be claimed by another.
23:24I begged the Duke
23:25for his blessing
23:26and having received
23:26the Lady's own consent,
23:28I am here
23:29to make it official.
23:30Cedric's face darkened
23:31like a storm cloud.
23:33Evelyn consented?
23:34Impossible!
23:35Why the hell would she choose
23:36some dirt-covered soldier
23:37over me?
23:38Alistair,
23:39you're a man who crawls
23:40in the dirt!
23:41You are beneath her!
23:42It's first art even
23:43in Ys Sedridio.
23:46Mind your tongue,
23:47your highness.
23:48I find the general
23:49to be a man
23:50of exceptional character.
23:52He is brave,
23:53honourable,
23:54and the shield
23:55of this kingdom.
23:59In my eyes,
24:00he is the only
24:01true hero here.
24:02If it weren't for brutes
24:04like him bleeding
24:05on the front lines,
24:06our highness
24:06wouldn't be standing here
24:07in your silk finema
24:08enjoying a life
24:09of pampered luxury.
24:10Cedric stared at me,
24:12a twisted realisation
24:13dawning in his eyes,
24:14followed by pure venom.
24:16Evelyn,
24:17no wonder you were
24:18so eager to anneal our union.
24:19You've been trysting
24:20with him behind my back,
24:21haven't you?
24:22So that's it.
24:23You threw away
24:23the crown for another man.
24:25Is this the famous
24:25upbringing of a duke's daughter?
24:27You're nothing but a f-
24:28I bristled,
24:29ready to tear him apart
24:30with my words.
24:31But Alistair moved faster.
24:33He stepped in front of me
24:34without hesitation.
24:35He exuded a sudden,
24:37chilling aura
24:38of lethal intent.
24:39There was killing intent
24:40in his eyes.
24:41Cedric instinctively recoiled.
24:43Prince Cedric,
24:44watch your mouth.
24:45A lady's reputation
24:46is sacred.
24:47Not every woman
24:48is like your Isabella.
24:49Not every woman
24:50spreads her legs
24:51before the wedding vows.
24:52Even as a prince,
24:53you have no right
24:53to slander the daughter
24:54of a duke.
24:55If you continue this insolence,
24:56I will gladly bring this matter
24:57before the king
24:58and demand royal justice.
25:00Is that so?
25:01Then let's see
25:02who the king listens to.
25:03A mere general
25:03or his own blood?
25:05At that exact moment,
25:07a royal proclamation
25:08from king.
25:09Cedric's face lit up
25:10with arrogant triumph.
25:11My mother must have
25:12convinced the king
25:12to reissue our betrothal.
25:14I told you, Evelyn,
25:15you belong to the crown.
25:16I will never let you
25:17throw yourself away
25:18on a common soldier.
25:21The royal chamberlain
25:23marched in,
25:23holding a gold-trimmed scroll.
25:26Lady Evelyn van Dyke,
25:27renowned for her virtue
25:28and noble characters,
25:29hereby betrothed
25:30to General Alistair.
25:31Let the wedding be held
25:31on an auspious date.
25:32Upon the union,
25:33she shall be granted
25:34the title of
25:34Countess of the Empire.
25:37Impossible!
25:38Why would the king
25:39give her to Alistair?
25:40He knew I wanted her!
25:41Nobody paid any attention
25:42to his tantrum.
25:43Prince Rupert, however,
25:45looked perfectly content.
25:47As long as Cedric
25:48didn't get the Van Dyke army,
25:49he was satisfied.
25:51He even offered
25:52a mockingly sympathetic
25:53palat on Cedric's shoulder.
25:55Oh, dear brother,
25:56it seems fate has spoken.
25:58But do try to show
25:59some of that grace
25:59you love so much.
26:01After all,
26:01you're about to marry
26:02your precious nursemaid's daughter,
26:04aren't you?
26:04And with a baby on the way,
26:06truly a double blessing.
26:08Nursemaid's daughter,
26:09Princess,
26:10each word was a stinging
26:11slap to Cedric's face.
26:13While his infertility
26:14hadn't been blasted
26:15to the public,
26:15it was already an open secret
26:17among the high nobility.
26:18I only wonder,
26:19will your future princess
26:21be delivering a son
26:22or a daughter?
26:23Your entire future
26:24depends on that coin flip,
26:26doesn't it?
26:26With that,
26:27Rupert swept out
26:28of the courtyard,
26:29his laughter echoing.
26:30If Isabella bore a daughter,
26:33Cedric's path
26:33to the throne was dead.
26:37The reports came back quickly.
26:39Isabella and her mother
26:40were secretly scouting
26:41for pregnant women,
26:42whose due dates
26:42matched hers.
26:44Nominally,
26:44they were hiring
26:45wet nurses,
26:46but they were bringing them
26:47into the estate
26:48to give birth.
26:48I sat in the study
26:49with my father,
26:50Julian,
26:51and Alistair
26:51to discuss the intel.
26:53They aren't just hiring help.
26:55They're planning a baby swap.
26:57Alistair leaned back.
26:58I'll double the guard
26:59on that estate.
27:01If he dares to poison
27:02the royal bloodline
27:03with a fraud,
27:04it will be the end
27:05of his house.
27:06As the queen's favorite son,
27:08Cedric had the strongest claim,
27:10but a daughter
27:11or a failed baby swap
27:12would strip him
27:13of everything.
27:14Finally,
27:15the night Isabella
27:15went into labor arrived.
27:17Inside the estate,
27:18several wet nurses
27:19were secretly forced
27:21to swallow labor-inducing herbs
27:22to ensure they delivered
27:23at the same time.
27:24After 24 hours
27:25of agonizing labor,
27:27Isabella finally delivered.
27:29Ignoring her exhaustion,
27:30she clawed at the bedsheets.
27:31Is it a son?
27:33Tell me it's a son!
27:34Her mother's face
27:35was ghostly white
27:36as she whispered,
27:37It's a girl.
27:45You fucking useless bitch!
27:51Gidjarlis bitch!
27:52A daughter?
27:54You ruined my life
27:56with that tincture.
27:57And after all this,
27:59you couldn't even
28:00give me a son?
28:03I should kill you
28:04right here!
28:06Your Highness,
28:07mercy!
28:07I have a plan!
28:08I kept those pregnant
28:09wet mifers in the estate
28:10for a reason.
28:11They were all given
28:12labor-inducing herbs
28:13last night.
28:14At least one of them
28:14must have born a son.
28:16No one has seen
28:17the child yet.
28:17We swap them.
28:18We take the boy
28:19and claim him as yours!
28:21This way,
28:21this estate will still
28:22have an heir.
28:23As long as we keep
28:24our mouths shut,
28:25Your Highness,
28:26no one will ever know.
28:28As for the wet maid,
28:31one poisoned bowl
28:32and the problem disappears.
28:34Cedric froze,
28:35the madness in his eyes
28:36replaced by a chilling,
28:37calculated greed.
28:38This was indeed
28:39his only path back
28:40to the throne.
28:41Guards,
28:42find me the woman
28:43who bore a son.
28:45Bring the boy to me.
28:46Minutes later,
28:47a healthy baby boy
28:48was placed in Cedric's arms.
28:50He looked at the infant
28:51and let out a bone-chilling chuckle.
28:53Then,
28:54turning toward the bed,
28:55he picked up
28:56his biological daughter.
28:57Without a flicker
28:58of hesitation,
28:59he pressed a silk pillow
29:00over her tiny face.
29:02Within moments,
29:03the infant girl
29:04was still.
29:06Put the dead girl
29:07in the nurse's arms
29:07and give her
29:08the poisoned wine.
29:11Tell the world
29:12she died in childbirth
29:13along with her babe.
29:15Bury them in a
29:15nameless pine box
29:16tomorrow.
29:19The next morning,
29:20news of Cedric's
29:21miraculous heir
29:22reached the palace.
29:23Isabel,
29:24we must select
29:24a high-born
29:25princess for him.
29:26Once the child
29:26is tied to a proper
29:27noblewoman,
29:28nobody will question
29:29his legitimacy.
29:29Isabella had assumed
29:30her position
29:31as the mother of the heir
29:32guaranteed her the crown.
29:33To her horror,
29:34the queen immediately
29:35began looking for
29:36a high-born bride,
29:37leaving Isabella
29:38as nothing more
29:39than a nameless mistress.
29:40I gave you a son.
29:43Why are you looking
29:45at other women?
29:47If it weren't for you,
29:48I wouldn't be in this
29:49mess to begin with.
29:50Look at yourself,
29:51Isabella.
29:52You are the daughter
29:52of a servant.
29:54Do you honestly think
29:55you belong on a throne?
29:56If the high-libility knew
29:57my princess was
29:58a commoner's daughter,
29:59I'd be the laughingstock
30:00of the empire.
30:00A princess must have
30:01a pedigree
30:02and the military white
30:03of a powerful family
30:04behind her.
30:05What powerful family
30:06stands behind you?
30:07What army?
30:07What influence?
30:10But you said,
30:11you said none of that mattered.
30:14You said you only loved me.
30:17That was then.
30:19This is now.
30:20Be smart, Isabella.
30:22When the new princess arrives,
30:23if you dare act
30:24like a spoiled bram again,
30:26I won't lift a finger
30:27to save you.
30:30The hundred-day banquet
30:31for Cedric's hair
30:32was a lavish affair,
30:34hosted by the king
30:35and queen themselves.
30:35To bolster Cedric's
30:37flagging influence,
30:38the queen selected
30:39Lady Beatrice,
30:41the high chancellor's
30:42eldest daughter
30:43of the high chancellor,
30:44to be his bride.
30:45The royal betrothal
30:46was read aloud
30:47at the feast.
30:48Isabella's face
30:49drained of all color.
30:50Your highness,
30:50poor Isabella
30:51looks so frimmed
30:52and owns a secluded
30:52hunting hout
30:53in the far north.
30:54It's quite isolated
30:55but the air is very
30:57restorative.
30:58Perhaps we should
30:58send her there
30:59for a year or two
31:00to recover.
31:00Once she is fully restored,
31:02she can return
31:02to serve you again.
31:03It was a blatant exile.
31:04Once she left the capital,
31:06her return would be
31:07entirely at the whim
31:08of the new princess.
31:11Cedric, please!
31:12I can't leave you
31:14or the baby!
31:16Don't send me away!
31:18It is a generous offer,
31:20Isabella.
31:21Go to the lodge
31:22and rest.
31:23The child will be safe
31:25with the princess.
31:26She will care for him
31:27as if he were her own blood.
31:29Don't worry, Isabella.
31:31I shall show the child
31:33all the affection
31:33he deserves.
31:35Isabella felt the strength
31:36drain from her limbs.
31:37This was the oldest trick
31:38in the book.
31:39Keep the child.
31:40Discard the mother.
31:41She had believed
31:42she was Cedric's soulmate
31:43but in the face of power
31:45and status,
31:45she was nothing more
31:46than a broken pawn
31:47to be swept off the board.
31:51Cedric!
31:52This new princess!
31:53She's trying to get rid of me!
31:55She's gonna have me killed!
31:56If you have no heart
31:56for our past,
31:57then at least think
31:58of our son!
32:01Cedric,
32:02have you forgotten
32:03the truth
32:03of how this son
32:04came to be?
32:10Silence!
32:11What the fucking...
32:13The fuck are you saying?
32:15Guards!
32:16Gag her and drag her
32:17to the dungeons
32:17now!
32:18Cedric!
32:19You wouldn't dare!
32:21Do you want the world to know?
32:22Do you want...
32:23Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
32:26Let her speak.
32:28Sounds like Miss Isabella
32:30has something very interesting
32:31to say about the royal heir.
32:34Rupert,
32:34this is a private matter
32:36of my household.
32:37Stay out of it!
32:39When it concerns
32:40the purity of the royal line,
32:42it is a matter of state,
32:43not a matter of home.
32:45Rupert's men
32:46shoved Cedric's guards aside.
32:48Isabella,
32:49seeing her last chance
32:50at survival,
32:51threw herself
32:52at the king's feet.
32:53Isabella looked
32:54completely unhinged.
32:55Your Majesty!
32:56This child is a fraud!
32:58I gave birth to a daughter,
32:59but Prince Cedric
33:00smothered her with a pillow
33:01to protect his claim
33:02to the throne.
33:03This boy is nothing
33:04but a commoner's bastard
33:05he stole from a wet mitt!
33:07What?
33:07Prince Cedric
33:08murdered his own
33:09infant daughter?
33:10To plant a common changeling
33:11on the throne?
33:12This is fucking insane!
33:14No wonder we heard
33:15of a nurse dying
33:16in childbirth
33:17at his estate.
33:18He was burying the evidence.
33:19Liar!
33:20You dare slander the crown!
33:22This boy is my flesh and blood!
33:24If the child is yours,
33:26why such rage, brother?
33:27Let the royal physician
33:29perform the bloodline test.
33:31If the boy is really yours,
33:33you have nothing to fear.
33:34No.
33:35I will not subject my son
33:37to such a humiliating ritual.
33:38Cedric,
33:39to prove your innocence,
33:41you shall undergo the rate.
33:43Prepare the silver bowl
33:44and the holy water.
33:49The queen nearly collapsed
33:50in her seat.
33:51Cedric was ghost white
33:53as the physician
33:53pricked his finger
33:54with a silver needle,
33:55letting a drop of his blood
33:57fall into the consecrated water.
33:59When the infant's blood followed,
34:01the two drops remained separate,
34:03swirling away from each other
34:04in ironclad proof
34:04that there was no biological bond.
34:07Father Mercy!
34:08I was misled!
34:09It was Isabella's scheme!
34:10She forced my hand!
34:11Prince Cedric is sterile,
34:13devoid of virtue
34:13and a murderer
34:14of his own kin.
34:15He has attempted to poison
34:16the royal bloodline
34:17with a fraud.
34:18He is hereby stripped
34:19of his titles
34:20and sentenced to life imprisonment
34:22in the Northern Fortress.
34:23He will remain imprisoned
34:24in the Northern Fortress
34:25for the rest of his life.
34:26As for Isabella,
34:27for her part in the murder
34:29of a royal scrin
34:30and high treason,
34:31she shall be executed
34:32by the headsman at dawn.
34:33Isabella's eyes rolled back
34:34as she fainted,
34:35dragged away to meet her fate.
34:37Cedric was finished.
34:38A sterile,
34:39disgraced prisoner.
34:40He was a political corpse
34:42with no hope of resurrection.
34:45I made sure Rupert's spies
34:47overheard the argument
34:48between Isabella and her mother.
34:50When the crown is at stake,
34:53a hungry prince
34:54is the most effective weapon
34:55you can wield.
34:56I let out a long,
34:57cleansing breath.
34:59The nightmare of my past life
35:00had finally ended
35:01with that nightmare.
35:02In this life,
35:03I had the protection
35:04of my family
35:05and the restored honor
35:06of my house.
35:07And most importantly,
35:08a man who stood as my shield.
35:10On the day of my wedding
35:11to Alistair,
35:12sunlight flooded street,
35:14Paul's Cathedral.
35:15Dressed in his crisp silver
35:16and white military dress,
35:18he took my hand firmly
35:19before the archbishop
35:20and led me toward
35:21the ceremonial carriage.
35:22His palm was broad and warm.
35:24Amidst the deafening cheers
35:25of the crowd.
35:26Evelyn, do not fear.
35:28No one will ever hurt you again.
35:30I smiled beneath my lace veil.
35:33I was not afraid.
35:34The carriage began to roll,
35:36carrying me toward a future
35:37filled with toward the future
35:38I had fought so hard to reclaim.
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