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Short filmTranscript
00:00On the eve of the coronation, King Alistair burst in with the pregnant Cecily.
00:04Cecily is carrying my child. That crown is not fit for you.
00:08I froze on the spot. Morghouse, the queen dowager whom I had treated as my own mother, chimed in without
00:14a trace of shame.
00:16You cannot bear an heir. Cecily was generous enough to spare your wretched life, yet you were vicious enough to
00:22push her and nearly cause a miscarriage.
00:25I swallowed the metallic taste in my throat.
00:28If I leave, don't say you weren't warned.
00:30Alistair let out a scornful laugh.
00:33Without my protection, you would have died on the exile road ten years ago.
00:39Guards, throw her into the cold tower and leave her to rot.
00:42They seemed to have forgotten that it was I who dug them out of a pile of corpses on that
00:46exile road ten years ago.
00:47They also had no idea that the fate of this new dynasty relied entirely on the light of destiny from
00:52my god bloodline.
00:53Forcibly sustaining it.
00:54Looking at this mother and son who wanted me dead, I swallowed the blood in my mouth and stopped asking
01:00for any explanation.
01:01Divine warning. Ten years of star blood protection have expired.
01:06Continue to offer the light of destiny?
01:09Withdraw it.
01:10The light of destiny will be completely stripped away in three days.
01:14Within three days, you may change your mind at any time.
01:21Before I could collect myself, the guards dragged me roughly out of the hall.
01:24I casually took off the queen's crown from my head and threw it at Alistair's feet.
01:28The crown rolled and fell, smashing jewels all over the floor.
01:32Alistair stared hard at my back, which showed no trace of regret, and knitted his brows into a tight knot.
01:38He seemed not to have expected me to be so resolute, a flash of inexplicable irritation crossed his eyes.
01:43Once she is in the cold tower, by my order, no one is to give her a single ember of
01:48coal or one drop of medicine for her wounds.
01:52Let's see just how tough her backbone really is.
01:56Cecily leaned delicately against Alistair, her eyes challenging me.
02:00Alistair, my sister was just jealous in the heat of the moment.
02:04Please don't upset yourself.
02:06With that, she gave a little cry that she was cold.
02:09Alistair instinctively moved to unfasten his cloak.
02:12But when his hand touched the clasp, he froze abruptly.
02:16It was a black fox fur cloak, with flame runes densely embroidered in gold thread over the heart.
02:20Ten years ago, in the frozen exile land, the coal poison had seeped into his bones,
02:24and the physician said he would not survive the night.
02:27It was I who pricked my own heart with a hairpin, used my star blood as a guide,
02:31and stayed up three whole nights sewing that cloak stitch by stitch, pulling him back from the brink of death.
02:36Alistair's fingers curled slightly.
02:38But he glanced at Cecily's slightly swollen belly, and in the end he unfastened the cloak and wrapped it around
02:43her.
02:43Yet he muttered a low warning.
02:45Don't dirty it.
02:46Cecily stiffened, then nodded obediently, but jealousy flashed in her eyes.
02:52The guards dragged me all the way and threw me into the cold tower, overgrown with weeds.
02:57The wind crept through the broken window lattice, drilling into my very bones.
03:01The agony of having the destiny stripped away began to set in.
03:05I fell onto the damp, muddy ground and vomited a mouthful of black blood.
03:09My lady!
03:10A thin, dark figure rushed out from a corner and hugged me tightly.
03:14It was Primrose.
03:15Ten years ago on the exile road, when I was starving to death,
03:18the silly girl secretly cut flesh from her own thigh and boiled it into soup to feed me.
03:22Now, seeing me covered in blood, she wept as if her heart would break.
03:26My lady, how could the king treat you like this?
03:29If you hadn't taken that arrow for him back then, he would have...
03:33Stop.
03:34I leaned weakly against her and wiped the blood from my lips.
03:37He doesn't deserve to speak of those days.
03:40The first night, the capital, which had enjoyed favorable weather,
03:44was suddenly hit by...
03:45...run away from above the throne palace where Alistair sat.
03:47That was my light of destiny.
03:50Since they have taken my crown, I shall take away their kingdom's fortune.
03:57At the same time, in the throne palace,
04:00Alistair, who had just fallen asleep with Cecily in his arms,
04:03suddenly felt a piercing pain in his chest.
04:05It was the old poison from ten years ago.
04:08For those ten years, I had used my star blood every month to suppress it,
04:12so he had long believed that the court physicians had cured him.
04:15He broke out in a cold sweat from the pain
04:17and instinctively called out the name carved into his bones.
04:19Sarah, my chest hurts.
04:22Llewellyn, the chamberlain on night duty, fell to his knees in terror.
04:27Your majesty, the queen has already been banished to the cold tower.
04:31Alistair jolted awake.
04:33He looked at the sleeping Cecily beside him,
04:36and his eyes churned with anger and panic.
04:38Silence!
04:40Without her, I can live just fine.
04:42Countdown.
04:43Two days remaining.
04:44My body grew colder and colder.
04:47The pain of having my divine meridians ripped away left me barely able to stand.
04:52The door of the cold tower was kicked open.
04:57Cecily, surrounded by seven or eight maids, strode in with her belly thrust out.
05:01She covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief in disgust.
05:04This place is worse than a pig shed.
05:07How is my once exalted queen sister finding it?
05:11Isn't that fake belly of yours rather hot under all that padding?
05:15Cecily's face changed dramatically.
05:17Then she stepped forward viciously and slapped me across the face.
05:22Wretch!
05:23Still running your mouth when death is at your door!
05:26Primrose shoved Cecily roughly aside.
05:29Don't you dare hit my lady!
05:30Cecily stumbled back two steps and fell straight into the arms of Alistair.
05:35Alistair!
05:36My sister's wretched servant is trying to kill our child!
05:39She immediately clutched her belly.
05:41Alistair flew into a rage and kicked Primrose so hard that she flew through the air.
05:45Primrose crashed heavily into the stone wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.
05:50Alistair!
05:51My eyes blazing with fury, I struggled to crawl over and shield Primrose.
05:55Alistair seized my jaw tightly.
05:58Serafina, you allow your vicious servant to plot against the royal heir.
06:02Do you really think I dare not kill you?
06:07Just then, his eyes fell on a pendant that had slipped out from my neck.
06:11It was a remarkably smooth pink gold gem, the only heirloom my mother left me, called the
06:16Starfell Pendant.
06:17Years ago in the snowy mountains, when Alistair was attacked by wolves, this gem had erupted
06:22with divine power and taken the fatal blow for him, leaving a crack on its surface.
06:26Cecily's eyes flickered.
06:28Alistair, that pendant is so beautiful.
06:31The royal physician says my pregnancy is unstable.
06:35If I had such a spiritual stone to nurture me, the little prince would surely be born safely.
06:41Alistair hesitated.
06:42He knew how important that pendant was to me, it was my very lifeline.
06:46I clutched the pendant tightly and looked at him with red eyes.
06:49Alistair, my mother left this to me.
06:52Just you dare touch it.
06:54Alistair saw the resolve in my eyes, and his heart inexplicably twinged.
06:59You are nothing but a cripple now.
07:01Keeping such a treasure is a waste.
07:04Cecily is carrying my first child.
07:09With that, he mercilessly pried open my fingers and tore off the leather cord.
07:14I screamed in anguish.
07:16Alistair handed the pendant to Cecily.
07:19But Cecily pretended to fumble it.
07:21There was a sharp crack.
07:23The pink gold gem that had once saved Alistair's life and carried my mother's soul shattered
07:26into pieces on the stone floor.
07:28The world seemed to fall into dead silence at that moment.
07:33Oh dear, how clumsy of me.
07:36Sister won't be angry, will she?
07:38I stared blankly at the broken gem on the ground.
07:41The last trace of tenderness in my heart for the youth of ten years ago shattered completely
07:45along with that gem.
07:46I did not cry, instead, I let out a strange, abrupt laugh.
07:51Alistair's scalp prickled at the sound of my laughter.
07:53He looked at the shattered gem on the floor, and suddenly it felt as if a piece of his heart
07:57had gone missing.
07:58As if something most precious had left him forever.
08:02It's just a worthless stone.
08:04I'll give you a hundred in return.
08:06He grabbed Cecily and fled.
08:09Countdown, the final day.
08:11A messenger on horseback from the border galloped into the capital.
08:15The enemy army, which had been repelled, suddenly gathered a hundred thousand troops for a night
08:19raid, captured two cities in a row, and the defending generals were killed in battle.
08:24The court and the whole kingdom were shaken.
08:26The royal astrologer observed the night sky and cried out in alarm that the star representing
08:30Asteria had dimmed.
08:32A star of disaster had descended, and chaos would engulf the court.
08:35The chamberlain scrambled into the council chamber.
08:41Your majesty, Lady Cecily has suddenly started bleeding.
08:45The royal physician says that an evil error has disturbed the spirit of the unborn child.
08:49An hour later, a large contingent of guards stormed the coal tower.
08:53Primrose was pinned flat to the ground in the courtyard by two burly maids.
08:57Alistair stood under the eaves, his face ashen, clutching a cursed doll inscribed with Cecily's
09:02birth date.
09:04Serafina, this cursed object was found under your bed.
09:08The astroloper has calculated clearly that your fate has changed.
09:12You are the very disaster star who has doomed my hundred thousand soldiers and disturbed the
09:16royal air.
09:17The guards pinned me to the ground.
09:19I shook my head desperately.
09:21I did not!
09:22This is a frame-up!
09:23Cecily, pale-faced and leaning on a couch, pointed at Primrose and wailed.
09:28Your majesty, it was this wretched servant who secretly buried the doll outside the tower.
09:34No!
09:35I only went to ask for some hot water!
09:37My lady is freezing to death!
09:40Primrose cowed out as she wept.
09:42Alistair would not listen.
09:43He looked at my pallid face, and the panic in his heart turned entirely into fury.
09:48So you won't confess!
09:50Then let your servant bear the punishment in your stead!
09:55Beat her hard!
09:56The heavy wooden club landed on Primrose's thin back.
09:59The sound of breaking bones was terribly clear in the silent coal tower.
10:03Alistair!
10:04Come at me!
10:05Beat me instead!
10:07I broke free from the guards like a madwoman and threw myself over Primrose, taking a blow
10:11for her.
10:12That blow shattered my shoulder blade.
10:14The pain made everything go black.
10:16But I held on tightly to the person beneath me.
10:19Alistair!
10:20I beg you, spare her!
10:23I'll let you drain my heart's blood again!
10:25I'll give you my life!
10:27Alistair looked at me groveling in the dirt.
10:29He opened his mouth, about to call a halt.
10:35Your majesty!
10:36Evil must be eradicated root and branch.
10:39The natural and man-made disasters are all because of this poison woman.
10:44Show no mercy.
10:45In that instant...
10:47My lady, don't beg him.
10:51He's not worthy.
10:55I'll go on ahead.
10:57Please live well.
10:59Before she finished, the maidservant brought the club down hard on the back of her head.
11:04Primrose's head drooped limply.
11:05She was gone.
11:08Primrose!
11:12A thunderclap exploded in the sky, and a torrential downpour followed.
11:16I held Primrose's body as it grew stiff, and my heart became a dry, empty well.
11:21Alistair, I will not leave you a single shred of this kingdom's destiny.
11:25Alistair stood under an umbrella, looking at me silent in the rain like a vengeful ghost.
11:30His voice trembled with panic.
11:32You brought this upon yourself!
11:34The astrologer has said that a disaster star has arrived.
11:38Only a living sacrifice by fire can aspise heaven's wrath.
11:41Tomorrow is Cecily's coronation, and I will sacrifice you to heaven to secure the kingdom of Asteria.
11:48The third day.
11:50The coronation, and also my living sacrifice.
11:52On the square outside the cathedral, the dense black cloud seemed ready to crush the entire capital.
11:58With one arm broken and my body drenched in blood, I was tightly bound by thick iron chains to a
12:03stake dozens of feet high.
12:04Beneath me was a mountain of dry wood drenched in oil.
12:07All the nobles of the court and tens of thousands of citizens surrounded the sacrificial platform, glaring at me with
12:13venomous eyes.
12:14Burn the disaster star! Burn this poisonous woman who has brought chaos to the kingdom!
12:20Countless rotten vegetables and stones hit my face.
12:22But I did not even blink.
12:24High up on the stone steps, Alistair, in his golden royal robe, held Cecily in his arms.
12:30She wore a crimson ceremonial gown and the queen's crown that had once been mine.
12:34Seraphina, you have committed so many evils that you have aroused the anger of heaven and the hatred of the
12:39people.
12:40For the centuries-old foundation of Asteria, and for the people of this kingdom, I must put you to this
12:45hardship.
12:47Cecily stroked her belly and smiled viciously.
12:50Sister, go in peace.
12:52After you die, the kingdom will enjoy favorable weather, and my bloodline with his majesty will be born safely.
12:59Execute the sentence!
13:01Light the fire!
13:07A dozen guards with torches stepped forward and hurled their torches onto the woodpile beneath me.
13:12A towering inferno erupted in an instant, as if it would devour me any second.
13:16The scorching heat charred my skirt and seared my skin.
13:19Alistair stared fixedly at me in the sea of fire.
13:22He was waiting for me to break down and weep as I used to, to bow my head and beg
13:26for mercy.
13:27If I begged, he had actually prepared a water cart in secret and could spare my life.
13:32But he was wrong.
13:33In the very last second before the fire would burn through me, I slowly raised my head and looked at
13:38him.
13:39Alistair, you are truly pitiful.
13:41You used the kingdom I gave you to sentence me to death.
13:45Alistair, the destiny of Astrea, I have withdrawn it.
13:50Countdown, 3, 2, 1.
13:53Light of destiny completely reset to zero.
13:57In the very last second before the fire consumed me.
14:01Above the sky, an apocalyptic thunderclap exploded.
14:04A pure purple lightning bolt, thick as a dragon, struck straight at the king's pillar that represented the royal authority
14:11of Asteria.
14:14Alistair was thrown to the ground by the blast.
14:16He scrambled to his feet.
14:18He dashed towards the stake dozens of feet high.
14:21The fire raged to the sky.
14:23The massive woodpile collapsed completely.
14:25I closed my eyes.
14:27I let the last of my divine blood ignite into flames.
14:30Under the cover of the heavenly punishment.
14:33I crushed the teleportation array that my mother had left inside the pendant.
14:37White light mingled with the flames.
14:38I vanished into thin air before Alistair's eyes.
14:42Only a pile of ashes remained.
14:44And the half-burnt, heavy iron chain.
14:49Alistair threw himself to the edge of the sea of fire.
14:52The fire licked at his golden royal robe.
14:54Llewellyn, the chamberlain, grabbed him tightly around the waist.
14:59Your majesty, it's dangerous!
15:01Alistair kicked Llewellyn away.
15:03He raked through the scalding ashes with his bare hands.
15:06The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
15:09Alistair's hands were covered with huge, seeping blisters.
15:12He found nothing.
15:14Not even a single bone was left.
15:16The disaster star has been destroyed!
15:19Alistair, she is dead and gone!
15:22Alistair whirled around.
15:24He stared at Cecily's face.
15:26That face, which usually aroused all his pity and affection,
15:29is now twisted beyond recognition.
15:32Get away from me!
15:35Alistair roared.
15:36He stumbled down the stone steps.
15:38Snatched a guard's horse.
15:40He galloped all the way back to the throne palace.
15:42He had to find out for himself.
15:45He pushed open the heavy oak door of the hall.
15:47Inside was empty.
15:49Everything that belonged to me was gone.
15:51The brocade bedding on the bed.
15:53The wooden comb on the dressing table.
15:55The clay pot I had used to brew his medicinal broth.
15:58All gone.
16:01The maidservant in charge of cleaning knelt on the floor, trembling.
16:05Before the queen left, she ordered me to burn all the old things.
16:11That black fox fur cloak that had protected his heart had also become a pile of black ash in a
16:16bronze basin.
16:17Alistair clutched his chest.
16:19It hurt.
16:20A piercing pain spread through his limbs and bones.
16:23He spat out a mouthful of black blood.
16:25I had severed all ties with him, including the destiny tablet I had left at the astrologer's guild.
16:31The tablet had crumbled to powder.
16:33There was not even the possibility of piecing it back together.
16:36Alistair fell back into a sitting position in the pile of paper ashes.
16:40His hands shook.
16:41He desperately gathered the ashes to his chest.
16:44Sarah, come out.
16:46I won't burn you anymore.
16:48Come out.
16:49No one answered.
16:50Only the mournful cold wind outside the window.
16:53Your majesty.
16:54Lady Cecily's pregnancy is disturbed.
16:56Please come to the tower.
16:58Alistair snapped his head up.
16:59Red veins crawled over the whites of his eyes.
17:02He knocked the medicine bowl out of Llewellyn's hands.
17:04The scalding liquid splashed all over Llewellyn's face.
17:08Let her die!
17:10Alistair drew the sword from the wall.
17:12With one stroke, he split the oak table in front of him into pieces.
17:16He swung the sword wildly.
17:18The silk drapes inside the hall were torn to shreds.
17:21Vases shattered across the floor.
17:23He smashed the palace to pieces.
17:26Finally, exhausted, he collapsed in the ruins.
17:29Outside, a storm began to pour.
17:32Rainwater, streaming through the broken window lattice, lashed his face.
17:36He tore at his hair and let out a beastly howl.
17:38He refused to accept the truth.
17:40He could not believe that the woman who loved him like her own life had turned to ash.
17:46Search!
17:47Dig three feet into the ground if you must find her!
17:51Alive!
17:51I want to see her!
17:53Dead!
17:53I want to see her body!
17:59Alistair's madness lasted a full seven days.
18:01The capital was turned upside down by the guards.
18:04The city gates were sealed.
18:06House-to-house searches were conducted.
18:08Nothing was found.
18:10From inside the tower came a piercing scream.
18:13Cecily was bleeding.
18:14Alistair, sword still wet with blood, burst into the bedchamber.
18:18The royal physicians knelt in a row, trembling like leaves.
18:22Speak.
18:23Alistair pressed the tip of his sword against the chief physician's neck.
18:26The chief physician cowed out frantically.
18:29Lady Cecily was never pregnant!
18:32It was a false pregnancy pulse caused by long-term consumption of wormwood!
18:39Cecily lay limp on the bed.
18:40The cotton pillow she had tucked under her waist and belly rolled onto the floor.
18:44Alistair's eyes seemed about to split.
18:48You dared to deceive me!
18:51Alistair!
18:52I was wrong!
18:54It was her!
18:55Sarah forced me!
18:57Just then, the captain of the personal guard appeared.
19:00He presented a thick stack of documents with both hands.
19:03They were the results of ten days of investigation by the guards.
19:06Your Majesty, I have confirmed that the cursed doll in the cold tower was buried in the dead
19:13of night by Lady Cecily's personal maid, and...
19:17The captain paused.
19:19Ten years ago on the Snowy Mountain, while you were being saved, Lady Cecily hid in a cave
19:24the whole time.
19:26The one who truly drew the wolves away was the Queen.
19:31Lady Cecily also regularly poisoned the Queen's calming tonic to damage the Queen's divine
19:38meridians.
19:42Alistair's hand loosened abruptly.
19:44Cecily crashed to the floor and coughed violently.
19:47Alistair stared at the stack of documents.
19:49Every word turned into a poison steel needle, stabbing into his eyes.
19:53All along, he had treated a demon as a goddess, yet he had pushed the true divine maiden onto
19:58the fiery stake.
20:00What about Primrose?
20:02Alistair's voice was terrifyingly hoarse.
20:05Before Primrose died, Lady Cecily had every bone in her body broken.
20:11Alistair staggered back three steps.
20:13His back slammed hard into a pillar.
20:15He gasped for breath, then suddenly let out a wretched, piercing laugh.
20:20He laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face.
20:22He stomped on Cecily's hand, grounded under his heel.
20:26Cecily shrieked.
20:28Alistair, have mercy!
20:31Alistair drew a dagger.
20:33He moved extremely fast.
20:35He plunged the blade into Cecily's shoulder.
20:39Have mercy on you!
20:41Who will have mercy on Sarah?
20:43Who will give Sarah back to me?
20:47He severed the tendons in Cecily's hands and feet.
20:50But Cecily fainted from the pain.
20:54Wake her with salt water!
20:56Alistair threw away the dagger.
20:58Throw her into the dungeon.
21:00Cut a piece of fesh from her every day.
21:03Feed her the best life-prolonging medicine.
21:05I want her to live a full ten years!
21:08Cecily was dragged away by the guards like a dead dog.
21:11The bloodstains on the floor were horrifying.
21:14Sarah!
21:15I was wrong!
21:17Alistair knelt in the pool of blood.
21:19He covered his face with his hands.
21:21Tears mixed with blood trickled through his fingers.
21:24The fate of Asteria had changed.
21:26Without the protection of the light of destiny.
21:29The North suffered months of drought, and the land was littered with the starving dead.
21:33The South was plagued by frequent floods, and dykes burst.
21:36Enemy nations seized the opportunity to send troops, and three border cities fell in a row.
21:40Alistair neither slept nor rested, day or night.
21:44Half his hair turned white.
21:46He became a mad tyrant.
21:48In court, any word that displeased him was met with immediate execution.
21:52Everyone said a tyrant had descended upon the world.
21:55Only Llewellyn knew.
21:57Every night, deep into the darkness, the king would hold a charred wooden comb,
22:01and kneel outside the abandoned coal tower until dawn.
22:06Three years later.
22:07In the South, Port City, the main street was bustling with traffic and crowds.
22:12I sat in the main hall of the Holy Light Clinic.
22:15I placed my fingers on a patient's wrist, picked up a brush, and wrote out a prescription.
22:20Your medicine will be prepared according to this prescription.
22:24You will be cured in three days.
22:26The patient left, showering me with thanks.
22:29I picked up the ceramic, silver-rimmed bowl from the table.
22:33The honeyed water was at the perfect temperature.
22:35Lysander walked over and naturally refilled the bowl with hot water.
22:39You've seen 50 patients today, Sarah.
22:42Time to rest.
22:43He wore a long, moon-white robe, gentle, upright.
22:46He was the head of the Lysander family, the richest in the South.
22:50Three years ago, I landed outside Port City through the teleportation array.
22:54Badly wounded and near death.
22:56Lysander's carriage happened to pass by, and he picked me up.
22:59With the little medical skill I had left, I cured his naturally weak constitution.
23:03He funded me to establish a trading company.
23:06Now, the signboard of the Exchange Guild hung in 12 southern cities.
23:10I was not only a divine physician, but also the uncrowned queen who held the economic lifeline of hysteria.
23:18I blew on the bowl and took a sip.
23:21There are more refugees outside the city today.
23:25There is a great drought in the North, and the court's relief money has been embezzled.
23:30The young king pushes too hard, and the people are full of complaints.
23:34I put down the silver-rimmed bowl.
23:36When I heard the words young king, my heart no longer stirred.
23:40That man was far, far away from me now.
23:43Just then, a commotion broke out in the street.
23:46A troop of soldiers in tattered armor was driving away the refugees.
23:50The leading officer brandished a whip.
23:52Get out of the way!
23:53Don't block the path of the royal envoy.
23:56A plain, dark carriage rolled slowly towards them.
23:59Suddenly, several assassins rushed out from the crowd.
24:02They raised their blades and struck at the carriage.
24:05Kill the lackeys of the daub king.
24:07The carriage compartment was smashed to pieces.
24:10A black figure tumbled out.
24:11His hair was disheveled, and he looked utterly wretched.
24:15It was Alistair, traveling incognito to the south to raise funds.
24:19Most of his personal guards around him were dead or wounded.
24:22An assassin's blade came straight at his face.
24:24Alistair raised his sword to block.
24:27Weak from exhaustion, he was forced back step after step.
24:30He retreated all the way to the door of my clinic.
24:33He spat out blood and dropped to one knee, propping himself up with his sword.
24:39The assassin raised his blade to strike.
24:42I sat in the main hall, watching coldly.
24:45Shall we save him?
24:47I shook my head.
24:50Don't dirty the clinic's floor.
24:53Alistair heard that familiar voice.
24:56His whole body trembled violently.
24:58He whipped his head around.
25:00Through the bustling crowd.
25:02Across three years of life and death.
25:04His eyes met mine directly.
25:06That face he had longed for day and night.
25:08That face that had appeared in his dreams countless times.
25:11Was right there in front of him.
25:14Alistair forgot to dodge the assassin's blade.
25:16He stared at me, unblinking.
25:18His breath stopped.
25:20Sarah.
25:21The assassin's blade slashed across his back.
25:24Blood sprayed.
25:25He felt nothing.
25:28Sarah!
25:29Is it really you?
25:31Sarah!
25:34Alistair knocked over the herb stall in front of the clinic, sending medicinal herbs scattering all over the ground.
25:39He threw himself down at the bottom of the steps and looked up at me.
25:43His face was covered in blood and mud.
25:46Sarah.
25:46He reached out a bloody hand, trying to grab the hem of my skirt.
25:50I stepped back.
25:52Avoided his touch.
25:53Lysander strode forward.
25:55He kicked Alistair hard in the shoulder.
25:57Alistair fell back down the steps and rolled twice.
26:00Lysander drew the sword from his waist and pointed its tip at him.
26:04How dare you!
26:05Who is this ruffian causing trouble here?
26:09The personal guards arrived and killed the assassins.
26:12They shielded Alistair.
26:14Protect his majesty!
26:16At those words, the whole street fell silent.
26:20The common people dropped to their knees.
26:23Only Lysander and I remained standing.
26:25Alistair pushed aside his guards.
26:28Ignoring the knife wound on his back, he crawled towards me again.
26:31He pushed aside Lysander's sword.
26:33Letting the sharp blade cut his palm.
26:35He fell heavily to his knees at my feet.
26:38The proud king of Asteria.
26:40In front of everyone, went down on both knees.
26:43Sarah, I have finally found you.
26:45He wept so hard that tears covered his face.
26:48Tears washed through the blood.
26:52Thank God.
26:53Come back to the palace with me, won't you?
26:56The queen's throne is yours.
26:59I'll give you my very life.
27:01I looked down at him from above, watching him grovel like a begging dog.
27:05I only felt disgust.
27:07I picked up the basin of dirty water used for washing herbs,
27:11poured the whole basin over his head, soaking him completely,
27:15making him look utterly pathetic.
27:17Alistair did not dodge.
27:19He wiped the filthy water from his face and continued to beg.
27:22Sarah, hit me.
27:24Curse me.
27:26As long as you feel better, anything is fine.
27:28I threw the basin aside and dusted off my hands.
27:32Alistair, you have mistaken me for someone else.
27:36I am Seraphina.
27:38Not your Sarah.
27:40Alistair shook his head violently.
27:42He raised his hand.
27:44He delivered a loud, stinging slap to his own face.
27:49Another one.
27:50He struck himself left and right until blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
27:54I was blind.
27:56I trusted that poisonous woman.
28:01Cecily has been tortured to death by a thousand cuts.
28:04I avenged Primrose for you.
28:10At the name Primrose, I clenched my fists tightly.
28:14A surge of rage shot to my head.
28:16I walked down the steps and landed a heavy kick on Alistair's chest, knocking him to the ground.
28:22You are not worthy to speak Primrose's name.
28:25While she was taking those blows for me, what were you doing?
28:28You were holding that poisonous woman and watching the show.
28:33You had her beaten to death in the cold tower.
28:36Alistair clutched his chest and wept bitterly.
28:38I didn't know.
28:40I truly didn't know.
28:42Lysander stepped forward and put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me protectively into his embrace.
28:48Fina, be careful.
28:50Don't disturb the baby.
28:52He deliberately raised his voice.
28:54Alistair looked as if he had been struck by lightning.
28:57He stared at Lysander's hand on my waist, then at my flat belly.
29:01His eyes instantly turned bloodshot.
29:03What did you call her?
29:05Whose child are you carrying?
29:07Alistair sprang up from the ground.
29:09Like a cornered mad dog, he drew a guard sword and slashed at Lysander.
29:15I'll kill him!
29:20Lysander dodged easily.
29:22One kick sent the sword flying from Alistair's hand.
29:24I stepped in front of Lysander, raised my hand.
29:28A crisp slap landed on Alistair's face, turning his head to the side.
29:33Go back to your capital.
29:36I pointed to the end of the street.
29:38Don't force me to grind your face into the mud.
29:42Alistair held his cheek, looked at me in despair.
29:46He suddenly tore the royal insignia from his belt and smashed it onto the ground.
29:50I am the king!
29:53I command you to come back with me!
29:56He tried to use the last of his royal authority to intimidate me.
30:02I could not help but burst out laughing.
30:04Laughed so hard that tears came out.
30:07King!
30:08I stepped back twice and looked at him coldly.
30:10Your majesty!
30:11You can't even pay your army's wages now, can you?
30:15From my sleeve, I took out a golden token.
30:17It was the highest seal of the Silver Coin Guild.
30:20I threw it at his feet.
30:22See what this is.
30:24The moment Alistair recognized the token, his face turned ashen.
30:28You...
30:29You are the master of the Silver Coin Guild?
30:33I nodded.
30:34The relief funds you came south to raise, I hold every coin of them in my hand.
30:39With a single word from me.
30:41The price of grain in Asteria could rise tenfold.
30:45What do you have to fight me with?
30:46Alistair's legs gave way, and he slumped completely to the ground.
30:50He looked up at my unfamiliar face.
30:52Sarah, how did you become like this?
30:56You used to feel sad even when you stepped on an aunt.
31:00I suddenly tore open my collar, revealing the hideous burn scar beneath my collarbone.
31:05It was the mark left by the holy fire.
31:07The Seraphina of the past burned to death on that stake in front of the cathedral.
31:12I stepped towards him, one step at a time.
31:15You want money?
31:17Fine.
31:19Kneel outside the city for three days and three nights.
31:23Shout Alistair is a beast a thousand times.
31:27Then I will give you a hundred thousand silver coins.
31:33Alistair trembled all over.
31:35He saw the people around him pointing and whispering.
31:37His proud dignity was being ground into the dirt.
31:40He closed his eyes, and two streams of bloody tears ran down his face.
31:44He slowly turned around, facing the direction outside the city, and kowdowed heavily.
31:52Alistair is a beast.
31:54The personal guards knelt and wept.
31:57Your majesty, you must not!
32:00Alistair pushed the guards aside and continued to kowdow.
32:03Alistair is a beast!
32:05With every shout, his heart shattered a little more.
32:08I took Lysander's hand and turned to walk into the clinic.
32:11The heavy door slammed shut.
32:14Shutting him out, Lysander draped a coat over my shoulders.
32:18You're not pregnant.
32:20Why lie to him?
32:21I picked up the cold honeyed water and poured it on the floor.
32:25If you don't blind his eyes,
32:28how will he ever feel the pain?
32:30From outside the door came Alistair's horse shouts, one after another.
32:35My life had long since left no room for him.
32:41Alistair knelt outside the city for three days and three nights.
32:44He shouted until his throat bled.
32:46His knees were scraped raw down to the bone.
32:49I kept my promise and gave him 100,000 silver coins.
32:52He dragged his broken body back to the capital.
32:55But he had lost.
32:56100,000 silver coins could not fill the gaping holes in Asteria.
33:00Asteria, without the protection of destiny, had reached the end of its days.
33:04Half a year later, the northern defenses collapsed completely.
33:09Rebel forces broke through the gates of the capital.
33:12Alistair was dragged down from his throne by the rebels.
33:15They severed the tendons in his hands and feet, crippling his ability to fight.
33:19The rebel leader did not kill him.
33:21Instead, he threw him into the lowest, most wretched beggar's pit in the capital.
33:25Leaving him to live or die as fate would have it.
33:28In the midst of the kingdom's chaos, Lysander raised his own army.
33:32With the financial backing of the Silver Coin Guild, Lysander's forces swept through the land.
33:37In just one year, he pacified the entire realm.
33:40Lysander ascended the throne as emperor.
33:43He changed the kingdom's name to Nova and made me his empress.
33:49On the day of our grand wedding, red carpets and flowers covered the entire main street.
33:54Pebbles swirled in the air.
33:56I wore the imperial crown and a golden gown, seated in a carriage drawn by six horses.
34:01Receiving the homage of the people.
34:03In a corner of the crowd, a filthy, disheveled beggar with crippled hands and feet lay beside a gutter.
34:09He was fighting a stray dog for half a moldy loaf of bread.
34:12When the fanfare sounded.
34:14When the people around shouted, long live her majesty the empress.
34:18The beggar jerked his head up.
34:20His eyes, hidden beneath matted hair, fixed on me in the carriage.
34:24It was Alistair.
34:25He looked at the magnificent crown on my head, and remembered the one he himself had smashed.
34:31Remembered the great fire in front of the cathedral.
34:33He opened his mouth to call my name.
34:36Sarah.
34:37But his throat only produced a wheezing hiss.
34:40He tried to crawl forward.
34:42A stray dog pounced on him and bit his leg hard.
34:45Alistair fell into the muddy water.
34:47He watched helplessly as the carriage moved farther away.
34:50Watched Lysander, on his tall horse, look back at me with tender eyes.
34:55Jealousy, remorse, and despair intertwined.
34:58Alistair's heart seized with a violent, agonizing pain.
35:01The old poison exploded inside him.
35:04He suddenly spat out a huge mouthful of black blood.
35:07Blood splattered onto the stone slabs by the road.
35:09His outstretched hand fell limply.
35:11He died with his eyes wide open.
35:13A patrolling soldier kicked his body aside in disgust.
35:17Drag him into the wilderness.
35:20And feed him to the wolves.
35:25The first year of the new dynasty.
35:27Only the empress's hall remained in the inner palace.
35:30All other palaces were torn down.
35:32The timber and stone were taken outside the city to build schools.
35:36Court officials petitioned and remonstrated.
35:38Lysander drew his sword before all the civil and military officials.
35:42And chopped off the arm of the throne.
35:44Anyone who mentions selecting concubines again will end up like this throne.
35:48No one in the court dared speak another word.
35:51After the morning court.
35:52Lysander did not even change out of his imperial robe.
35:55He went straight to the empress's hall.
35:57I was sitting at the desk.
35:59Reading the account books that the silver coin guild had sent to the palace.
36:02He walked over.
36:03And placed a token on the table.
36:05Made of pure gold.
36:07The seal of the imperial treasury.
36:09The finance minister says the treasury is empty.
36:14He told me to come and ask the head of the silver coin guild for a loan.
36:21I did not look up.
36:22My fingers moved the counting beads.
36:25How much?
36:26Lend me a hundred years of peace for the nova dynasty.
36:30My fingers stopped.
36:32I looked up at him.
36:33He poured a cup of hot honeyed water and handed it to me.
36:39Without the light of destiny.
36:41Without the support of divine blood.
36:43The northern drought.
36:44500,000 silver coins were allocated to build irrigation channels.
36:48The southern floods.
36:49Guild stewards were sent to supervise the construction of dikes.
36:52The people had food to eat.
36:54Clothes to wear.
36:55Peace and prosperity relied on real gold.
36:58Real silver.
36:59And real governance.
37:00Not on some ethereal destiny.
37:02I picked up the silver rimmed bowl and took a sip.
37:05Fancy a walk outside the palace?
37:08We changed into ordinary clothes.
37:11Two fast horses carried us through the city gates.
37:14The capital's main street was bustling with people.
37:17Vendors called out their wares without cease.
37:19A long line had formed outside the clinic.
37:21I dismounted and walked into the clinic.
37:23The resident physician saw me and immediately rose to offer me his seat.
37:28I sat down behind the examination table.
37:30Placed my fingers on a patient's wrist.
37:33Picked up the brush and wrote a prescription.
37:36Take three doses of this medicine.
37:38Boiled in water and take an oranil.
37:40I saw 30 patients in a row.
37:43Lysander stood behind me.
37:45Handed me paper.
37:46The people recognized Lysander.
37:48Knelt to the ground.
37:50There was no fear.
37:51Only reverence.
37:53He raised his hand to excuse them from the formalities.
37:56Then took my hand and led me out of the clinic.
38:01Poplar trees lined the riverbank outside the city moat.
38:04Their branches were showing green.
38:06We walked side by side along the embankment.
38:08The wind blew across the water.
38:11The old stories of the previous dynasty had burned away with that fire at the cathedral.
38:15No one spoke of disaster stars anymore.
38:17No one spoke of living sacrifices.
38:20In the taverns, minstrels tapped on wooden tables and sang of how the new empire's emperor and empress had raised
38:25an army and pacified the kingdom.
38:27The crowd roared with approval.
38:29The south sent some fragrant herbs.
38:33Tomorrow I'll have the royal kitchen make vanilla biscuits.
38:36I nodded.
38:37While you're at it, tell the guild steward to send up last month's dividends.
38:44The treasury of Nova is entirely supported by its empress.
38:48I gazed at the boats on the river.
38:50Without the light of destiny, this kingdom was still well taken care of.
38:55I touched the burnt scar beneath my collarbone.
38:58It no longer hurt.
38:59Primrose's memorial tablet was enshrined in the capital's cathedral.
39:03Every day, someone lit a candle for her.
39:05Lysander took my hand.
39:08His palm was warm.
39:10Let's go back to the palace for dinner.
39:13All right.
39:14All right.
39:14All right.
39:16All right.
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