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Face Sculptor Revenge in Whitehall (2026) | English Dub Short Series
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00:00I am a face sculptor. With these hands, I turn the ugly into beautiful, and the beautiful into
00:06breathtaking. When King Charles I selected his court companions, my best friend Lillian
00:10White knelt before me, her forehead pressed to the cold stone, begging desperately,
00:14Isabella, I want to become the king's most beloved woman. Please reshape my face. I will
00:20be grateful to you for the rest of my life. My heart softened, and I agreed. For three months,
00:25I raised her flat nose, turned her single eyelids into deep double eyelids, and sharpened her square
00:30jaw. It was a face that would make every lady in the court pale in comparison. She became the king's
00:35favorite. Her first act was to send men to massacre the entire black family. Thirty-seven lives bought
00:41her a peaceful sleep. And now, I've come back to collect my debt. Whitehall Palace, Cold Spring
00:48Chamber. Lady Lillian's perfect face was covered in a dense rash. She smashed the silver mirror and
00:54grabbed the royal physician by the collar, roaring. I have a royal banquet in one hour! How am I supposed
01:02to show my face? The physician knelt in terror, his voice trembling. My lady, you have hives. It will
01:11take five days, no, three days to heal, if you take the medicine as prescribed. Lillian laughed wildly.
01:19Three days? If you don't fix my face, in half an hour, I will have you all killed.
01:28Maids and servants fell to their knees in a wave, trembling. I stepped out of the shadows and knelt
01:33on one knee before her. My lady, I have a way. Lillian looked down at me, those once dull.
01:40Lifeless eyes now had a slight upward tilt, holding a world of charm in every glance.
01:44You? Which department are you from? I've never seen you before.
01:49I am Tampson, a new lady's maid from the wardrobe of robes.
01:54The room fell silent.
01:56Look at me, she said. I slowly raised my head, letting the candlelight illuminate my face.
02:02My voice was respectful.
02:04I have an ointment that will cure it completely by tomorrow morning.
02:07She would never recognize it. I had changed it bit by bit, through bone filing, jaw reshaping,
02:13and eye modification. I bore no resemblance to the old Isabella Black. Only these hands remained the
02:19same.
02:24Tampson.
02:25A cold smile played on her lips.
02:27Very well. Try. If you fail, you die with this quack.
02:33My lady, I will apply makeup first to cover the rash. Use this ointment after washing your face
02:39tonight. Lillian sat down. I dipped my finger in the powder and blended it gently onto her skin.
02:45The rash gradually disappeared, merging perfectly with her natural complexion. In just 15 minutes,
02:51her face was back to normal, even prettier and brighter than before. I handed her the silver mirror.
02:57She ran her fingers over her cheeks, unable to hide her satisfaction.
03:01Excellent work.
03:02She clutched the silver box tightly.
03:05This ointment, it is safe to use. But about the powder?
03:09I paused.
03:10Is this rouge new, my lady?
03:12Lillian raised an eyebrow.
03:14What of it?
03:15It contains an herb that most people tolerate well, but your delicate skin is extremely sensitive
03:21to it. Every time you use it, you will break out in a rash.
03:26Her face changed slightly. She turned to the head housekeeper behind her. The housekeeper
03:32turned pale and fell to her knees.
03:34My lady, please! This ruby's new from the wardrobe. Every lady in the palace, it's used
03:40it. Nothing like this has ever happened before.
03:42Lillian sneered. Nothing like this has ever happened.
03:46She kicked the housekeeper hard on the shoulder.
03:52Then what is wrong with my face?
03:54Drag her away. 50 blashebs. Send her to the royal laundry tomorrow.
04:00No!
04:02Lillian turned back to me, her eyes warmer.
04:04Tamsin, you are quite talented. Stay with me from now on.
04:10I curtsied deeply.
04:12Yes, my lady.
04:16That night, in the side chamber, I sat by the window, and by moonlight, took something
04:22from my bosom. A thin, translucent facial mold. This was the master mold I had made when
04:27I sculpted her face. It was made from beeswax, resin, and her blood, and it was linked to her
04:33skin. Whatever I did to this mold, her face would mirror it. Faces are alive. Flesh ages.
04:39Bones shift. I had kept the mold to repair any imperfections over the years, to ensure
04:43her lifelong beauty and fortune. Now it was the sharpest blade I could drive into her heart.
04:48I wiped away the powder I had applied to the mold that day. That was the source of her rash.
04:52By morning, she would be healed. I thought of that night three years ago. Flames reaching
04:57the sky, screams echoing through the walls. A loyal servant had smuggled me out through a
05:02secret tunnel. I looked back to see the entire Black Manor collapse. Father, mother, brother,
05:08sister-in-law, my baby nephew, and all the servants who had watched me grow up. 37 people.
05:14Not one survived. I closed my eyes, and tears fell silently. Lillian, I will take everything
05:20you care about most. Your beauty, your power, your favor. Little by little, I will strip it all away.
05:28The next morning, Lillian looked in the mirror. Her face was smooth and flawless, not a trace
05:34of rash left. Her eyes lit up with pride. She quickly changed her clothes. That physician
05:40is a useless fool. This maid I picked up by chance is far more useful. She waved me over.
05:47Tamzin, come here. I sat down the basin and knelt before her. She lifted my chin, studying me
05:53closely. If you are so skilled, why are you only a lady's paid in the wardrobe? I come from a
06:01humble
06:01background. No one to recommend me. She smiled. Serve me well, and you will be rewarded. I feigned
06:08overwhelming gratitude. Thank you for your favor, my lady. I will serve you with all my heart. In my mind,
06:16I heard her words from back then. Isabella, you will be my sister from now on. If I become rich,
06:23I will never forget you. You didn't forget. You saw my entire family as a threat and had them
06:28slaughtered. I composed myself and put on a gentle smile. How would you like your hair done today,
06:33my lady? Lillian touched her eyebrows critically in the mirror. The king is coming today. How should
06:38I dress to impress him? You are naturally beautiful, my lady. Anything will suit you. I gently combed her
06:43hair with a comb. But I think if you raise your eyebrows just a little, it will add a touch
06:48of
06:49spirit, and a crimson lip stain will make your skin look even whiter. She looked at me in the mirror,
06:55interested. You know, quite a bit. Did you learn this before? I worked in a ruse shop in London for
07:01a few years before entering the palace. I focused on styling her hair. The face in the silver mirror
07:07was my masterpiece. That oval jaw? I filed down the excess bone, one stroke at a time.
07:12That straight nose? I raised it with special silver threads, bit by bit. Those expressive eyes?
07:18I spent 10 consecutive nights by moonlight, cutting the delicate folds of her double eyelids. This face
07:24had cost me countless hours of work, all to make her dream come true. In return, I got 37 charred
07:30bodies,
07:31unrecognizable even to their own families. My fingers brushed lightly behind her ear. There was
07:38a tiny mark there, hidden by her hair. Everyone whose face I sculpted carried such a mark behind
07:43their ear. Done. Lillian admired herself in the mirror. Tamsin, you will be my personal maid from now
07:49on. Yes, my lady. She stood up, and the maid surrounded her as they headed for the royal gardens.
07:55I slipped the ointment into my sleeve and followed quietly. In the royal gardens, Lillian was
08:00walking with the king, admiring the flowers. She laughed charmingly, leaning in to whisper in his
08:05ear from time to time, making him nod repeatedly. I stood far away and smiled faintly. My fingers
08:11moved slightly. In my sleeve, I gently squeezed the facial mold. For just a moment. In the distance,
08:18Lillian was laughing up at the king. The king's gaze fixed on her face, and he froze. He blinked.
08:24When he looked again, Lillian was still smiling brightly. The king shook his head, thinking he must be
08:29tired from lack of sleep. Just then, my finger flicked again. This time, the king stumbled
08:34slightly, his face turning pale with horror. I am tired. Return to the palace. He left in a hurry,
08:40leaving Lillian standing there, stunned. After that day, the king did not summon Lillian for three
08:45consecutive nights. At first, Lillian paid no mind, thinking he was busy with state affairs. But on the
08:52fourth day, and the fifth, there was still no word. She began to panic.
08:56Tamsin, what is wrong with the king lately? I was brushing her hair, and I said softly,
09:02Do not worry, my lady. It is probably state business. I hear there is unrest in Scotland.
09:08No.
09:09She interrupted me.
09:10No matter how busy he was, he would always come to see me.
09:14It has been five days.
09:16She did not finish. But I knew what she was thinking. She had noticed those two strange
09:21looks the king had given her in the royal gardens that day. I continued brushing her hair. A faint
09:26smile playing on my lips. What would be the fun in exposing her all at once? I wanted to watch
09:31her
09:31fall slowly. To lose everything. A few days later, news spread through the palace. The king had taken
09:38a new beauty, titled Lady Mary. It was said that Lady Mary was gentle and kind, and the king had
09:43stayed
09:43with her for three consecutive nights. When Lillian heard the news, she was eating dinner. Her silver fork
09:50clattered to the floor with a sharp sound. Lady Mary? Where did this whore come from? The maids fell
09:57to their knees, silent. I stepped forward and silently cleaned up the broken dishes. My lady, it is common
10:03for new beauties to enter the palace. You have the king's deepest affliction. There's no need to worry
10:08What do you know? In three years at court, the king has never gone five days without seeing me.
10:14What does this Lady Mary have that I don't? She paced back and forth in the room like a caged
10:19animal.
10:19I knelt down to pick up the shards. A sharp piece of porcelain cut my fingertip, and a drop of
10:25blood
10:25welled up. Does it hurt? No. Compared to the screams in that fire three years ago, this pain is nothing.
10:33Tamsyn. I looked up. Lillian stood over me, looking down. Tell me, can my face be made even more
10:40beautiful? My gaze lingered on her face for a moment. You are already perfect, my lady. Not
10:46perfect enough. She shook her head, her eyes flashing with madness. I want to be the most
10:51beautiful woman the king has ever seen. I want that Lady Mary to be not even worthy to hold my
10:56train.
10:56She grabbed my wrist, her nails digging into my flesh. Is there a way? I lowered my eyes and was
11:02silent for a moment. When I looked up again, my face was cautious. My lady, I have heard that a
11:08strange man has come to London recently. He claims he can change faces. She stared at me, her eyes
11:13darkening. Change faces? You believe such nonsense? I dare not believe it, nor dare I disbelieve it.
11:18But if such a man exists, someone must find out for you, my lady. After a long moment, she smiled,
11:23a strange, knowing smile. Find out? Very well. Go and find him. And if you do? She leaned in close
11:31to my ear. I want to see what kind of man dares to do such a thing. That night, I
11:37returned to my
11:37chamber and took out the facial mold. By moonlight, a faint mark had appeared on the thin, translucent
11:42face, left by that single brushstroke in the royal gardens. Just a light touch, and I had planted a
11:48seed of doubt in the king's mind. What if I were to be more ruthless? My fingers traced the mold,
11:53stopping at the forehead. No rush. We will take our time. Two weeks later. The Rose Tavern,
12:00the largest tavern on the south bank of London. I washed the medicine from my hands and put away
12:04the bandages. Eleanor had woken up and was standing in front of the silver mirror, touching her new
12:09face inch by inch. It was the perfect kind of beauty, the kind that makes you unable to look away.
12:15Miss. She turned to me, tears in her eyes. Who are you? Why are you helping me? I only asked
12:21one
12:21question. Do you remember the woman who cut your face? Her body trembled. Fear flashed in her eyes,
12:27followed by burning hatred. I remember. I remember her face. I remember her voice. I remember how she
12:34laughed while her men held me down and she cut my face with a piece of broken Portland. Three months
12:39ago, she had been a beautiful young woman. She had run into Lady Lillian, who was out of the palace
12:45in
12:45disguise. A passerby had compared their looks, and Lillian had flown into a rage. She had done it
12:51herself, cutting the girl's face again and again, wanting her to suffer for the rest of her life.
12:56If I gave you a chance to make her feel the same pain, I looked into her eyes. Would you
13:00take it?
13:01The candlelight flickered, casting shadows across her new face. After a moment, she slowly gnawed on
13:07one knee and bowed her head deeply. I would. One month later. News spread through the palace.
13:13The king had found another beauty, a Miss Dean, titled Lady Dean. It was said he had met her by
13:18chance outside the palace and been so struck by her beauty that he had brought her back immediately.
13:22He had stayed with her for five consecutive nights. When the news reached Cold Spring Chamber,
13:28Lillian smashed everything in her room. An announcement echoed from outside the hall.
13:32His Majesty the King. Lillian quickly stood up, smoothed her dress, and put on a smile to greet him.
13:38I stood behind her, head bowed. The king approached, arm in arm with a beautiful woman.
13:44She was wearing a pale yellow court dress, smiling gently. Lillian's face froze the moment she saw her.
13:50Her eyes locked onto that face, scanning it inch by inch, from the eyebrows to the nose,
13:55from the nose to the lips. A perfect face. Not a single scar.
14:00Lady Lillian? The king frowned.
14:02Why are you being so rude? Lillian snapped back to reality and forced a smile.
14:08I... I just thought Lady Dean looked familiar. Like I've seen her somewhere before.
14:12Eleanor met her gaze. Have you? Eleanor smiled slightly. Perhaps in a dream,
14:18Lillian's face turned even whiter. That night, Lillian lashed the maids with a cane until their
14:23flesh was torn and bleeding. Impossible! That whore's face was cut to pieces!
14:28How could it be healed? How could she be more beautiful than before?
14:32I continued mixing the rouge. Tamsin. She burst through the heavy wooden door,
14:37her hair wild. Her face twisted with rage. Tell me! Did that whore get her face changed too?
14:43There must be someone who can do it! You said you would find him!
14:47My lady, I have news of him. But he moves around constantly. Sometimes east, sometimes west.
14:54He is hard to track down. She spoke through gritted teeth. Listen to me. I don't care what it takes,
15:00how much silver it costs. I want to see him within a month. I looked into her eyes. There was
15:06no fear
15:06there, only a cold, desperate urgency. As you wish, my lady. I will do my best.
15:13Three days later, I brought a man into the palace. He bowed deeply. George Fox, a commoner,
15:20at your service, Lady Lillian. Lillian looked him up and down. I hear you can change faces?
15:25George stepped forward. My family has passed down certain skills. A few tricks to alter one's
15:32appearance. But your face, my lady, is already unparalleled. To change it would be a shame.
15:38Lillian was not impressed. She stared at him. I asked you a question. Can you turn one face into
15:45another? George spoke proudly. To be honest, my lady, my family's traditions do include such arts.
15:51But this skill, it, is not easily demonstrated. Lillian's eyes lit up. If you can give me a new
15:58face, I will make you rich and powerful for the rest of your life. George knelt on one knee and
16:03bowed deeply. Thank you, my lady. For the next two weeks, George brought in all sorts of things.
16:09An astrological staff, a copper basin, silver mirrors, incense burners, and several tightly sealed
16:15wooden boxes. He set up a ritual circle in the back hall of cold spring chamber, hung curtains,
16:20and lit tallow candles. It looked very convincing. Lillian came to watch every day. George walked
16:26around the hexagram painted circle holding an astrological staff inlaid with natural crystal,
16:30muttering in broken Latin mixed with London slang. He lit frankincense and myrrh in the copper basin
16:34and dropped a few drops of mercury onto the silver mirror. Then he opened a yellowed alchemical
16:39manuscript, grabbed a handful of human bone dust, and sprinkled it on the four corners of the circle.
16:44Lillian could not understand any of it, but she believed. How much longer? George lowered his
16:49staff. Soon. Once I complete this ritual, you can have any face you desire. Lillian sighed in
16:56relief. I heard her murmur to herself. Isabella Black. Without you, I will still be the center
17:02of attention. I smiled faintly. The only face sculptor in the world. It's me. On the seventh
17:09night, a scream suddenly came from Eleanor's chambers. When the king arrived, Eleanor was on
17:14her knees. Trembling. Red marks had appeared on her face, stretching from her forehead to her
17:19cheekbones. They flickered in the candlelight, as if alive. I felt my face burning, she said in terror.
17:25I looked in the mirror, and, and this happened. Your majesty, Eleanor grabbed his sleeve,
17:31her face as white as a sheet. I have heard there is an art called face sculpting. It can change
17:36people's faces. The king's eyes darkened sharply. I accept that someone tampered with my face. But,
17:42what if someone wanted your face? Your majesty. The room fell deathly silent. The candlelight
17:48flickered across the king's face, making his expression unreadable. After a few moments,
17:53his eyes turned cold and menacing. Send the royal guard. Search every inch of Whitehall Palace.
17:59Find that man, no matter what it takes. Within half an hour, Lillian and George were brought before him.
18:06George fell to his knees, begging for mercy. Your majesty. Spare me. I am just a fraud.
18:12Those spells are fake. I drew them myself. Lady Lillian summoned me to the palace. Lillian cut him
18:20off immediately. Your majesty, you heard him. There is no such thing as face sculpting. She did this
18:26to herself to frame me. She glared hatefully at Eleanor. I stood in the shadows by the door and
18:31smiled slowly. Beneath my wide sleeves, my fingers gently crushed the facial mold. To the shock of
18:37everyone present, Lillian's face began to change. It was as if something was wriggling beneath her
18:42skin. Or more accurately, as if an invisible hand was kneading her flesh from the inside.
18:47The king's eyes were black with rage and terror. Lillian realized what was happening and covered her
18:52face, screaming in horror. My face. The hall was brightly lit by candles. Every eye was fixed on
18:59Lillian's face. Shock. Disbelief. Quiet fear. The guards stepped in front of the king, ready to
19:05protect him. Lillian's face kept changing. First, her forehead wrinkled slightly, as if someone had
19:11pinched it from the inside. Her carefully drawn eyebrows slowly drooped, returning to their original
19:16plain shape. Her nose collapsed. A sickening crunch echoed from her nose cartilage, as if something was
19:22shattering beneath the skin. No. No. Lillian's voice came muffled through her fingers, thick with tears.
19:28Her jaw shifted. The sharp, pointed chin she had been so proud of began to widen, the bone pushing
19:34outward, stretching her skin white. She clenched her jaw as hard as she could, but she could not stop her
19:39own bones from growing back. Her eyelids twitched. The double eyelids she had spent hours perfecting every
19:44morning faded, grew lighter, and finally disappeared completely. My face. My face. No one answered her.
19:52The king stared at her face, his gaze icy. The captain of the royal guard whispered,
19:57Your majesty, this. Stand down. The king's voice was terrifyingly calm. He walked over to Lillian and
20:03bent down to look at her changing face. So this is what you really look like? All these years,
20:09I have been sleeping with a fake face? Lillian shook her head wildly. No. No. That's not true.
20:16What you're seeing isn't real. I saw it with my own eyes. How could it not be real?
20:21The king stood up and looked away from her, at the pile of parchment on the floor, and at George,
20:26who was cowering in the corner. By my command. His voice was cold. Lillian White. Guilty of deceiving
20:33the crown. Stripped of all titles and favors. Imprisoned in cold spring chamber. No one is
20:39allowed to see her. And you. He looked at George. Take him to the Tower of London. Make him talk.
20:45Lillian collapsed to the floor. As they dragged her away, she was still screaming.
20:50Your majesty. I am innocent. I don't know what happened. No one paid her any mind. I watched as
20:58she was dragged away. In my sleeve, the facial mold had crumbled to dust. Three days later,
21:03the guards reported that George had died in prison from torture. The king did not care about a dead fraud.
21:08He waved his hand. Bring Lillian here. When Lillian was brought before the king,
21:13she was unrecognizable. Her hair was a mess. Her clothes were wrinkled. And there was no makeup
21:19on her face. Why did your face change that day in the hall? Lillian's eyes darted around.
21:24I don't know. You don't know?
21:27The king picked up his silver goblet and took a sip of wine.
21:30It is your face. How could you not know? Lillian shook her head again.
21:34I really don't know. What about Lady Dean's face? The king put down his goblet and stared at her.
21:40How did her face heal? Cold sweat broke out on Lillian's forehead.
21:44I have investigated. Before entering the palace,
21:48Lady Dean was attacked and had her face cut at the Rose Tavern.
21:51You were the one who did it. Lillian turned as white as a sheet.
21:55How did her face heal? Who is behind her? Who is the man?
21:59The king's voice was low and dangerous. Tell me, and I will spare your life.
22:04Lillian shook her head on her knees. I really don't know. She could not tell.
22:09She could not admit that face sculpting was real, because she had killed the only person who could
22:14do it. If she told the truth, what would the king do to her? I ran into Lady Dean by
22:19chance.
22:20It was a mistake. I don't know how her face healed. The king lost patience. His eyes narrowed coldly.
22:26Take her away. Torture her until she talks. Lillian was taken to the Tower of London.
22:32Forgive me, your ladyship. The thumbscrew is the most infamous torture device in London.
22:38It breaks bones and causes unbearable pain. If you do not wish to suffer,
22:42you will tell us what we want to know. Lillian's eyes widened in panic.
22:47Tell you what? I don't know what you're talking about. The jailer sighed. Very well.
22:52He cranked the iron screw of the thumbscrew tight. A sharp crack echoed through the cell as the bone
22:57broke, and Lillian let out a blood-burgling scream. She passed out three times, and each time was woken
23:03up with cold water. I watched from the shadows, disguised as a guard. I watched the blood seep from
23:08under her fingernails. I watched her convulse in pain, yet still refuse to speak. Did she ever think
23:14this day would come, when she sent men to burn my home? My lady, will you talk now? Tears streamed
23:20down
23:20Lillian's face, her lips bitten raw. I, I will talk. The jailer signaled for them to stop. There is,
23:27there is such a thing as face sculpting. Lillian's voice was broken and weak. Her name is Isabella
23:33Black. She was my childhood friend. She is the one who changed my face. Where is she? Tears fell from
23:40Lillian's eyes. Dead. How did she die? I, I killed her. Why did you kill her? A flash of malice
23:47crossed
23:48Lillian's eyes. Because she knew too much. I was afraid she would tell everyone. I was afraid she
23:54would threaten me. Does anyone else in her family know this skill? Not just her. Lillian's voice
24:00grew quieter and quieter. Her entire family. 37 people. Not one was left alive. The jailer gasped.
24:0837 lives? 37 lives. She had finally said it out loud. When the king heard this, he stared out into
24:15the night. Why would I keep such a vicious, useless woman alive? By my command, Lillian. Your
24:22majesty, wait. The lord Chamberlain whispered. If I may speak, the king turned to him. If Lillian killed
24:29the face sculptor, she must know her well. The black family may be gone, but there could be manuscripts,
24:35tools, formulas. If we can get them from her. The king's eyes lit up. You are right. He sat back
24:42down.
24:42Continue the torture. Lillian was broken beyond recognition before she finally spoke.
24:48There, there are manuscripts. I stole half of them. In cold spring chamber, under the dressing table,
24:54there is a secret compartment. The royal guard searched immediately. Half an hour later,
24:59a yellow book was presented to the king. He opened it. It was filled with dense writing and diagrams.
25:05How to file bone. How to cut eyelids. How to fill. How to replace skin. Is this real? I don't
25:12know.
25:12Lillian shook her head. I can't read it, but that's what she used. The king closed the book and looked
25:18at her. You think this manuscript will save your life? Hope flickered in Lillian's eyes. Spare me,
25:25your majesty. I will give you the manuscript. Just spare my life. The king said coldly,
25:31I will spare your life, but you will pay the price. From this day forth, Lillian is stripped of all
25:36court
25:36privileges and citizenship. Reduced to a commoner. Sent to cold spring chamber to work as a scullery
25:42maid. She will never leave the palace. Lillian collapsed to the floor, not knowing whether to
25:47laugh or cry. I turned and left the shadows. Half a manuscript? Just something I scribbled casually.
25:55Cold spring chamber became Lillian's prison. She was given a drafty side room in the back hall,
26:00a broken wooden bed, a moldy blanket, and a chipped basin. Every day before dawn, she had to get up
26:06to
26:06carry water, chop wood, wash clothes, and empty chamber pots. She ate scraps of food, even when
26:13they were rotten. If she slacked off even a little, the head housekeeper would slap her heart across the
26:17face, and she would not dare make a sound. The maids who had once knelt at her feet now spat
26:22at her.
26:23Well, look who it is. If it isn't Lady Lillian. What are you doing emptying chamber pots?
26:29What Lady Lillian? She's just Lillian now. Worse than us. The maids dumped all their work on her and
26:35stood around gossiping about the other ladies of the court. Lady Dean's face is so beautiful.
26:40It doesn't look real. Lillian heard this, and hatred burned in her heart. That face should have been hers.
26:46If that bitch had never appeared. But she could only hate. She could do nothing. One day, she was
26:53drawing water from the well. Footsteps sounded behind her. Lillian. She turned around and saw
26:59several guards standing there. Lady Dean has sent for you. Come with us. Lillian's heart sank. Lady Dean.
27:07The whore whose face she had cut. She stepped back instinctively. I am a prisoner of cold spring
27:12chamber. I cannot leave. The guards laughed. Her ladyship has sent for you. Do you dare refuse?
27:19Lillian was dragged to Lady Dean's chambers. The room was warm and fragrant with incense.
27:24Lady Dean sat on the throne, perfectly made up. When she saw Lillian being dragged in,
27:29a smile curled her lips. Hello, Lillian. Long time no see. When you had your men hold me down and
27:36cut
27:36my face with that broken porcelain. Did you ever think this day would come? Lillian knelt on the floor,
27:41begging desperately. I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please spare me, your ladyship.
27:48Lady Dean knelt down and lifted her chin. You have such an ugly face now. Guards. Two strapping
27:54housekeepers stepped forward and held Lillian down. Lady Dean took a piece of broken porcelain from her
27:59sleeve and twirled it in the candlelight. You liked cutting people's faces, didn't you? Lillian
28:05struggled wildly. No. Please. Don't. Lady Dean's smile faded. Hold her still. The porcelain sliced
28:13across Lillian's cheek, and she let out a scream that tore through the palace. Once. Twice. Blood
28:19poured from the wounds, staining her face, her clothes, and the stone floor beneath her. Lillian
28:25lay on the floor, covered in blood. She was dragged back to Cold Spring Chamber and thrown into her drafty
28:30room. That night, she lay on her broken bed and looked at her reflection in the chipped basin of
28:35water. Her face was crisscrossed with bleeding wounds. Exactly like the ones she had cut on
28:40Eleanor's face. Her life was over, she thought. A face suddenly flashed through her mind. Lillian
28:46stared up at the dark ceiling, and tears fell silently. If only Isabella were still alive. She
28:52would give me a perfect face again. But I killed her. I pushed open the door. When she saw me,
28:58tears burst from her eyes. Tamsin. Tamsin, you came. You're the only one who cares about me.
29:05The only one who would come to see me. Lillian struggled to her feet and grabbed my sleeve.
29:10Tamsin. Save me. Get me out of here. I can't take it anymore. I stared at her indifferently.
29:17Do my makeup. She babbled. You have such steady hands. Cover these scars. If I can hide them,
29:24I can. I can seduce someone powerful again. She clung to me like a drowning woman clutching a
29:29straw. Tamsin, you're the only one who has ever been good to me. The only one. I finally spoke.
29:36Yes. My voice was soft, almost a sigh. I was the only one who was ever good to you.
29:42Lillian froze. Was? I leaned down and looked her in the eye. Lillian stared into those eyes,
29:48and a sudden chill ran down her spine. Those eyes. She had seen them before. A long time ago.
29:55On another woman's face. Who are you? I raised my hand and gently wiped at the side of my face.
30:01A thin, translucent layer peeled off, revealing the face beneath. Lillian's pupils contracted to
30:06pinpricks. It's you. That face. The face she thought had burned to ashes long ago. Isabella Black.
30:14Isabella. Isabella. She scrambled backward, pressing her back against the wall. Impossible.
30:20Impossible. You were dead. I saw you die. I looked at her like an ant struggling in its death throes.
30:27Dead? I said softly. Yes. I should be dead. Your men watched me burn alive in the side wing of
30:34the
30:34manor. They said not even my bones remained. But you forgot one thing, Lillian. I am the only face
30:40sculptor in the world. How hard would it be to put a wax copy of my face on a corpse?
30:45I turned to leave. Lillian lunged forward, trying to grab my feet. Isabella. Isabella. Don't leave.
30:52I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please save me. Give me another face. Please. Suddenly,
31:00firelight flooded the courtyard outside. I stopped in my tracks. Outside, the royal guards stood in
31:06formation, ranks upon ranks of them. Their muskets were loaded, their swords drawn, all pointed at me.
31:12The guards parted, and two figures walked forward. One was the king, his royal robes glowing bright in
31:17the firelight. The other was being dragged, bloodied and barely alive. Eleanor. My heart clenched.
31:24The king stood in the firelight, looking at me. Isabella Black. I have been waiting for you.
31:30This woman is loyal to you, the king said calmly. I tried to get her to talk willingly.
31:36Showered her with gifts for half a month. But she said nothing. I grew impatient. Today,
31:42I had her tortured. All ten of her fingers were crushed and bloody. Still nothing. My heart ached
31:48fiercely. The king stepped closer. You changed Lady Dean's face, didn't you? You took Lillian's face back,
31:55didn't you? I saw her face change in the royal gardens that day. That was you, wasn't it? I did
32:02not deny it. Your majesty is perceptive. The king's eyes were sharp. I always thought,
32:08if there is such a thing as face sculpting, how could the person who can do it die so easily?
32:13Lillian said she killed you. I did not believe her. I understood. So you waited for me to come to
32:19her.
32:19The king nodded. And you did. I stood calmly. What do you intend to do with me? Your majesty?
32:27Kill me? The king smiled. You are a rare talent. I value talent. I can give you anything you want.
32:34Riches, titles, power. Whatever you desire. All I ask is that you use your skills for me.
32:41First, the face of the Dauphin of France, Louis. I turned to look at Eleanor. She was covered in blood,
32:48but she was still looking at me, her eyes full of worry. Your majesty, I have two conditions.
32:54Speak. First, release her. Heal her wounds. Send her out of the palace. Guarantee her safety for the
33:01rest of her life. The king nodded. Agreed. Eleanor tried to say something, but I shook my head at her.
33:08I turned back to Lillian. Second, I want her to live. To live in this cold spring chamber,
33:14with the face she hates most, suffering for the rest of her days. For Lillian, this was a fate worse
33:20than death. The king glanced at Lillian and agreed without hesitation. She is yours. Lillian collapsed
33:26to the floor, completely broken. I knelt down and said softly, what did you just say? That I am the
33:32only one who has ever been good to you? Yes, Isabella. Only you have ever been good to me.
33:38I laughed. Then why did you kill me? She could not answer. Because you were afraid. I answered for
33:45her. You were afraid I would take your face back. You were afraid I would tell your secret. You were
33:50afraid you could not sleep soundly while I was alive. Do you know why your face changed? I kept
33:55the master mold of your face all this time. Whatever I did to it, your face would mirror it. I
34:00kept it to
34:01repair your face as you aged, to keep you beautiful and happy for your entire life. My voice was heavy
34:06with suppressed hatred. But what did you do? You burned my home to the ground. My father,
34:12my mother, my brother, my sister-in-law, my baby nephew who had just learned to say aunt.
34:1737 people. Not one survived. Lillian's breath caught in her throat. Realization dawned in her eyes,
34:24followed by shock, and then overwhelming remorse. You mean, you kept it too. She could not finish the
34:30sentence. She covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking violently. Isabella. I was
34:36wrong. I was so wrong. I stood up and walked over to Eleanor, taking her hand. It's over. I said
34:43softly. You will be out of here soon. Eleanor shook her head, tears streaming down her face,
34:49her voice barely a whisper. I knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to come with me. But I
34:55could not
34:55take her. I turned to the king. Your majesty, I have one more request. This takes time. Changing a face
35:03cannot be done overnight. It takes at least three months. Sometimes six. The king's eyes were dark.
35:09How long do you need? Six months. I said. I must go to France. I must see the Dauphin in
35:16person.
35:17Portraits are not enough. I need to study his bone structure, his mannerisms, to make it perfect.
35:23The king looked at me, his gaze deep. You have courage. Very well. I will give you six months.
35:30If you do not return in six months, she dies. And you will take this poison before you leave.
35:36I will send you the antidote every month. I took the pill and swallowed it immediately.
35:40Rest assured, your majesty. I intend to come back alive.
35:4511. The next morning, the head housekeeper went to bring Lily and her breakfast and found her dead.
35:51On the table was a piece of paper. On it was drawn only a face. A face with smiling eyes.
35:56The housekeeper screamed and ran out, tripping over her own feet. The paper was blown by the wind and
36:02landed beside Lillian. A few days later. At the Doverport Tavern, I stood holding my horse's reins,
36:08looking out at the English Channel. Behind me, a rider galloped up. Miss Black. A letter from London.
36:15I took the letter and opened it. There were only two words written inside. All safe. I smiled.
36:21It was Eleanor's handwriting. I folded the letter and put it in my bosom, then mounted my horse.
36:27Ahead lay France. Behind me lay my home. I looked back one last time, then galloped away.
36:33The sound of my horse's hooves faded away into the distance.
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