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EngSub On My Coronation Day, I Rejected Three Mates 🌎Aurora
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00:01For 300 years, Valon had been ruled by the wolf clans.
00:06My father was the reigning wolf king, and I was his only daughter, Lux.
00:11When I was 14, I awakened my wolf spirit under the full moon.
00:15In front of every clan, my father announced,
00:18When comes of age, she will become the youngest queen Valon has ever seen.
00:24To bind the major clans to their future queen, my father chose three future concords for me.
00:30Cyrus of the Eagle Clan was cold and sharp.
00:34But whenever I lost my temper, he was always the first to lower his head.
00:38Princess, you may ask anything of me.
00:40Casper of the White Tiger Clan was beautiful, gentle, and far too good at making me smile.
00:49Princess, I cannot imagine my life without you.
00:52And then there was Vidicor of the Wolf Clan.
00:56My own kind.
00:58My childhood companion.
01:00The boy who had knelt before me in the Wolf King's Hall when I was 14, and sworn he would
01:05never betray me.
01:07Princess, I will always stand behind you, no matter what happens.
01:12I will never betray you.
01:13Only the man I favored most would wear the king consort's crown and stand beside me.
01:19Everyone believed my consort would be chosen from those three.
01:25So did they.
01:28So when a human healer named Lillia appeared, they dared to cross my limits again and again.
01:39Cyrus used his consort candidate's access pass to shield Lillia's infirmary.
01:44Casper broke the White Tiger Clan's most private rule for her.
01:49Vedicor brought Lillia into the Wolf Bloodline's sacred healing pool.
01:53That water belonged only to the Wolf King's family.
01:57Worse.
01:59When she walked out, she was wearing the plain grey dress he had given me on my 16th birthday.
02:05A gift I had kept for years.
02:08I went to confront them.
02:10They thought I was spoiled, possessive, not understanding.
02:15They thought that no matter how angry I became, I would still choose one of them in the end.
02:22But to me, a queen's throne had no room for disloyal men.
02:26Three days before my coronation, I burned the portraits of my three consort candidates,
02:32turned to my father and said,
02:33I choose Prince Atreus of the Snake Clan.
02:38My father's hand froze around the royal seal.
02:42The Snake Prince.
02:45Lux, do you understand what you are saying?
02:49I know.
02:50Atticus comes from the Black Marsh.
02:52The Snake Clan has been shunned by every clan for over a century.
02:57They are called dark, greedy, seductive.
03:01When they love, they wrap around you and swallow you whole.
03:10Your coronation is days away, and you want to put a man of the Snake Clan in the King Kong's
03:15place?
03:16Father, you taught me a crown should never be worn by someone who lets others choose for her.
03:21I lifted my eyes to his.
03:24They believe I cannot live without them.
03:27Then I will show them that their future queen can choose someone else.
03:32My father was silent for a long time.
03:37After a long silence, he slowly set down the seal.
03:42I can summon Atreus to the royal city for you.
03:47But think carefully.
03:49Once he steps onto the coronation platform, this decision will shake all of Valon.
03:55I am not doing this out of spite.
03:57I want loyalty.
04:01When I left the royal study, night had already fallen.
04:06At the far end of the palace corridor, the path leading to Lillia's infirmary was still lit.
04:14I should have gone straight back to my chambers.
04:18But that light at the end of the corridor was too bright.
04:21It stabbed at my eyes.
04:23So I turned and walked toward it.
04:25The infirmary was crowded.
04:27A wolf pup had been burning with fever until his throat was whore from crying.
04:34Lillia knelt on the floor with her sleeves rolled to her elbows, a small knife in her hand,
04:39about to cut open the infected wound on the pup's back.
04:42The pup's mother shook all over.
04:45You're human.
04:47Can you really save my child?
04:49If I don't drain the infection now, he won't survive the night.
04:52She had come to the royal city three months ago.
04:56She was a human healer.
04:58No wolf spirit.
05:01No animal form.
05:03Not a drop of noble blood.
05:06Yet she dared to walk into the territory of the beast clans, as if fear had no hold over her.
05:15Everyone said she was gentle and brave, everything my spoiled arrogance was not.
05:23I knew better than to trust that innocent face.
05:27Lillia knew very well that Cyrus, Casper, and Vedicore were supposed to become my concert candidates.
05:35Yet she still kept accidentally drawing close to them.
05:39Men of the Eagle Clan hated crowds.
05:43Cyrus especially.
05:44But now, not only was he personally handing Lillia medicine,
05:48he had also hung his candidate's access pass outside her infirmary door,
05:53using his own name to protect the place.
05:55My voice turned cold.
05:59Cyrus, come here.
06:03The infirmary went silent.
06:08Cyrus lifted his eyes to me.
06:11He did not move.
06:12He had never defied me before.
06:17When I was 14, my father brought him before me.
06:22His black wings were folded behind his back, his expression distant.
06:29Yet he was the first to bow his head.
06:33Once, I had deliberately tossed a palace pass to the edge of the highest tower,
06:39and asked if he dared retrieve it for me.
06:44If it is what your highness wants, I will bring it back with my own hands.
06:48Later he injured his shoulder in the storm, but still placed that pass back into my palm.
06:53But now, he stood beside Lillia and disobeyed me for the first time.
06:59I repeated myself.
07:01Cyrus, I told you to come here.
07:05Lillia's hand tightened around the knife.
07:08Cyrus finally walked toward me, but stopped halfway.
07:14Lux, don't make a scene here.
07:16A child is dying.
07:18Don't make everyone watch you throw a tantrum just because I helped Lillia.
07:22I stared at him.
07:24You hung a consort Candida's access pass outside Lillia's infirmary.
07:32She needed someone powerful enough to keep the clans from interfering.
07:37So you used the authority of my future consort to protect her.
07:42Cyrus, my father gave you that pass so you could enter the royal hall and support me.
07:49Not so you could become her shield.
07:51Cyrus' face darkened.
07:53You think the whole continent should revolve around you.
07:57Lux, a crown is not a leash you use to keep everyone at your side.
08:05Lillia murmured softly.
08:09Cyrus, don't.
08:10The softer she sounded, the more unreasonable I looked.
08:15Like a mad, jealous princess throwing a tantrum in front of a dying child.
08:22I looked at.
08:24Are you sure you want to stay by Lillia's side?
08:27The pup may relapse.
08:30Lillia cannot handle everything alone.
08:35After a Sai Mair Thrawn the return to the palace, I did not throw a fence.
08:41I did not smash anything.
08:43I simply summoned the steward and gave a calm order.
08:47Clear out the rooms Cyrus, Kasper, and Vidver Dedevok kept in the palace.
08:53The steward went pale.
08:55Your highness, those are the rooms of the three consort candidates.
08:59They won't need them for much longer.
09:04Less than half an hour later, Kasper arrived.
09:07He wore a loose white robe and his silver white hair was still damp as though he had rushed back
09:14from outside.
09:15Before, if my tone went even slightly cold, he would immediately soften his voice and coax me.
09:22Sometimes he would shift into his white tiger form and lower himself before my throne,
09:29letting me touch the mark between his brows.
09:32But this time, he stood at the door with red-rimmed eyes.
09:36Your highness, why are you clearing out my room?
09:39I sat at my desk, writing a letter to the Snake Clan.
09:43There was only one sentence on the paper.
09:46On the night of my coronation, Prince Atirius of the Snake Clan is invited to the royal city.
09:52I did not look up.
09:53Don't you prefer staying with Lilia?
09:56Kasper stiffened.
09:58I was only helping her.
10:00I set down my pen and lifted my eyes.
10:03Helping her so thoroughly that you let her ride your animal form?
10:07His face changed.
10:11I took out a memory stone and pressed it lightly against the desk.
10:18Light unfolded in the air.
10:20In the clearing behind the herb garden, Lilia stood in her pale healer's dress,
10:25holding onto a massive white tiger as she climbed onto his back.
10:29He lowered his spine and even curled his tail around her calf to keep her from falling.
10:35The white tiger lowered his head and let her hand rest on the mark between his brows.
10:42In that image, he was strong and beautiful, but he had given an outsider the one posture of surrender he
10:51should hone.
10:51To me.
10:53You once told me the white tiger clan does not allow outsiders to ride their animal form.
11:00When we were 14, he shifted into his adult white tiger form in front of me for the first time.
11:07I wanted to sit on his back.
11:11He went silent for a long moment, then finally lowered his spine.
11:19Your Highness May.
11:22No one else.
11:24Now someone else could.
11:26Casper's face went from white to red.
11:31Leah was exhausted that day.
11:33I was just taking her back to the infirmary.
11:36She's human.
11:37She can't walk that far.
11:40I was only being helpful.
11:42You needed your animal form to be helpful?
11:45He frowned, irritation finally rising in his eyes.
11:52Lux, do you have to twist everything into something dirty?
11:55She is human.
11:57She doesn't have an animal form.
11:59She doesn't understand these rules.
12:02She doesn't understand.
12:04Do you?
12:06Casper had no answer.
12:10And before tonight,
12:12remove everything that belongs to you from the palace.
12:17Tears spilled from Casper's eyes.
12:20Are you really going to be this heartless?
12:23Yes.
12:24I handed the sealed letter to a guard.
12:28Send it to the Black Marsh.
12:30Place it in Atricus's hands.
12:32Casper's head snapped up.
12:34Atacus, why are you writing to the Snake Clan?
12:41The Snake Clan's reply arrived the next morning.
12:45The black envelope was sealed with wax in the shape of a serpent.
12:51It contained only four words.
12:55Atacus's reply,
12:57as you wish.
13:00I placed the letter in a drawer and was about to go see my father when a maid rushed in,
13:05pale and breathless.
13:09Your Highness.
13:11Lord Vedicore brought Lila to your healing pool.
13:15My fingers stilled.
13:19The healing pool lay in Aneth, in the deepest part of the palace.
13:26It's water came from the Wolf Clan's sacred spring and was reserved for the Wolf King's bloodline alone.
13:33Every time I was injured during training, Vedicore would personally guard the entrance.
13:39No one else was allowed near it.
13:41He once said,
13:44This is your place.
13:46No one else belongs here.
13:49Now he had brought Lilia inside.
13:51When I arrived, Lilia had just stepped out of the pool.
13:55She wore a pale, grey dress.
13:58I recognized it at once.
14:00It was the dress Vedicore had given me on my 16th birthday.
14:05An ordinary, pale, grey dress.
14:08The fabric was not expensive.
14:11But Vedicore had bought it with the reward from his first patrol hunt.
14:16I still remembered how shy he looked when he handed it to me.
14:20Your Highness, I hope you like it.
14:23Lilia was wearing it now.
14:26The hem was damp from the healing pool and clung to her legs.
14:32Vedicore stood beside her, checking the wound on her arm.
14:37When he saw me, he frowned.
14:41Lux, why are you here?
14:46Is there any place in Valon I am not allowed to enter?
14:53Vedicore, who gave you permission to touch my clothes?
14:57Lilia hurried to her feet, her face pale.
15:02Your Highness, I'm sorry.
15:07I didn't know this dress was yours.
15:10Vericore said it was just the plainest dress in an old wardrobe.
15:13I looked at Vedicore.
15:15He truly had not recognized it.
15:18Or perhaps he had simply never cared enough to remember.
15:23After a pause, he said.
15:26She was cut by poisonous grass.
15:28Ordinary medicine would not work.
15:30I only borrowed your healing pool.
15:34Borrowed.
15:35You have so many fine dresses.
15:38He lowered his voice.
15:40Why are you losing your temper over the plainest old dress in the wardrobe?
15:44Something slammed hard into my chest.
15:48He had forgotten.
15:51He had forgotten that he had given me that dress.
15:54He had forgotten how he once promised it would keep me company in his place.
15:59He had also forgotten that the Wolf Clan's Sacred Spring was not meant for outsiders.
16:04I walked over to Lilia, grabbed the healer's coat from the back of a chair, and tossed it into her
16:11arms.
16:13Lilia stumbled back in fright.
16:19I looked at the old dress, wet and clinging to her body.
16:28Do you remember the oath you swore to me when we were fourteen?
16:33Vedicore's expression shifted.
16:36Of course he remembered.
16:38That year, under the full moon, I awakened my wolf spirit.
16:42A silver-white wolf shadow rose behind me, and the entire royal city cheered.
16:52Vedicore had knelt before me, and pressed his forehead to the back of my hand.
16:58I swear by the moon goddess, I will be loyal to you forever.
17:04Now he stood in front of Lyia, blocking me from her.
17:08Do not shame the moon goddess by making her witness what you have become.
17:14Lilia bit her lip.
17:16Your Highness, I can leave. Please don't blame him.
17:19Shut up.
17:21Vedicore's face instantly turned cold.
17:24Lux, that is enough.
17:27You're raising your voice at me for her?
17:30I am warning you. Your coronation is tomorrow night.
17:36You cannot keep acting like a spoiled child,
17:39who tears everything apart the moment someone stops pleasing her.
17:43I stared at him.
17:48Spoiled?
17:51Yes. If you continue like this, you do not deserve to wear your father's crown.
17:58I turned to the guards.
18:01From this day forward, without my permission,
18:05Vadicore and Lilia are forbidden from entering the inner palace.
18:12I walked away without looking back.
18:18Soon it was the night before my coronation.
18:21In the mirror, I wore a black and gold gown with the heir's cloak of the Wolf King draped over
18:27my shoulders.
18:29Every year before this, those three would compete to be the first to see me on my birthday.
18:38Cyrus would wait outside the highest tower, the night before, and escort me back to my room.
18:45Caspar would prepare an entire table of sweets himself.
18:49Then carry me across the snowy plains around the royal city in his white tiger form.
18:55Vadicore would take me to the tower and stay with me until the first touch of moonlight fell over my
19:00hand.
19:01I thought there would be none of that this year.
19:04But they still came.
19:07Cyrus entered first, holding an auxinian hairpin.
19:12Happy birthday, Lux.
19:14The hairpin was beautiful.
19:16But I remembered seeing an almost identical one outside Lila's infirmary three days ago.
19:22That one had been lighter, better suited to a human woman.
19:27I accepted it.
19:28I was harsh that day.
19:31But Lila was only trying to save a life.
19:34She did not deserve to be targeted by you.
19:39Caspar brought a white tiger carving.
19:43The carving was rough.
19:45I didn't do a very good job.
19:47But you once said, liked things I made by hand.
19:51Vedicore was the last to arrive.
19:53He held a newly forged silver ring.
19:56Lux, I will not let you lose face at the coronation tomorrow.
20:01No matter whom you choose, I will stand on your side.
20:07But you should also ease up on Lila.
20:10She is human.
20:11She cannot withstand the hatred of the royal court.
20:14Only then did the truth of their apology show itself.
20:19They wanted to confirm whether they still had a chance to become my concert.
20:24And they also wanted a safe road for Lila.
20:28I placed all three gifts in a box.
20:31I understand.
20:34They all looked at me at once.
20:37Perhaps they had not expected me to be so calm.
20:42Caspar asked carefully,
20:44You're not angry anymore.
20:46Tomorrow is my coronation.
20:48I will not argue with you tonight.
20:53After they left, I handed the box to a maid.
20:56Bring this to the coronation platform tomorrow.
20:59The maid frowls.
21:01Your highness, why?
21:03I looked at the full moon outside my window.
21:06As evidence.
21:09When the moon rose to its highest point,
21:12the coronation bells rang through the royal city.
21:15My father stood at the top of the highest steps in the black cloaking of the Wolf King.
21:20His voice carried across the square.
21:23For three hundred years, Valon has been guarded by the Wolf Clans.
21:27Today, I hand the crown to my daughter, Lux.
21:32She awakened her wolf spirit at fourteen, and will be crowned at eighteen.
21:37She will be the youngest queen this continent has ever seen!
21:42I climbed the steps one by one.
21:46Cyrus, Caspar and Vadikor stood below in the ceremonial attire of consort candidates.
21:52They watched me with nervousness in their eyes.
21:57My father placed the crown on my head.
22:01The entire square knelled.
22:14The priest brought forward the King Consor's crown.
22:18According to tradition, I was supposed to walk towards one of the three candidates.
22:23Cyrus took half a step forward.
22:26Caspar held his breath.
22:28A faint light of hope rosens in Vadikor's wolf eyes.
22:32I took the consort crown and faced the crowd.
22:37The man I choose as King Consort is...
22:42Prince Atilius of the Snake Clan!
22:47The Snake Clan?!
22:49Has the Queen lost her mind?!
22:53How can a snake become King Consort?
22:56Cyrus' expression changed instantly.
23:00Caspar nearly lost his balance.
23:03Vadikor stared at me as though he had not understood the words.
23:07From the shadows at the side of the platform, a man slowly stepped forward.
23:13Atatia stopped in front of me and asked softly.
23:16You can still regret this, Your Majesty.
23:20I held out the King Consort's crown.
23:23Cneal.
23:24Atticus smiled.
23:30Under the eyes of the entire continent, he dropped to one knee and kissed my fingertips.
23:37My Queen.
23:38I was about to place the crown on his head when Vadikor finally rushed up the steps.
23:47Lux! You cannot choose him!
23:50Cyrus also stepped forward.
23:53Are you still angry?
23:55If this is meant to punish us, you do not have to go this far.
24:01Caspar's eyes were red.
24:03Your Highness, you accepted our gifts last night.
24:07I looked at him.
24:10Accepting them did not mean forgiving you.
24:15Vadikor gritted his teeth.
24:18I am Vadikor!
24:19I grew up with you!
24:22There is no way you would truly choose a snake!
24:26Atticus bared his fangs.
24:29I placed a light hand on his shoulder, telling him not to move.
24:33Guards!
24:34Sue!
24:40The wolf guards immediately stepped forward and blocked the three men below the steps.
24:46Cyrus looked at me in disbelief.
24:48You are restraining us in public!
24:51I turned to face my people.
24:57At my signal, a maid carried forward three memory stones.
25:02These were the pieces of evidence I had gathered over the past three days.
25:08You called me spoiled, petty, unworthy of the crown.
25:14Then let all of Valon see who is truly unworthy of standing beside the queen.
25:22The first memory stone lit up.
25:24The first memory showed the infirmary.
25:27Cyrus stood behind her, blocking away every clan member who questioned her.
25:35Don't be afraid.
25:38I'll always protect you.
25:42As soon as those words rang out, many eyes in the square turned towards me.
25:48Because when I was 14, after Cyrus carried me down from the Stormlath Tower,
25:53he had said the exact same words to me.
25:57I looked at him.
25:59You said she deserved respect.
26:02I do not disagree.
26:04But when you used a promise meant for your your future queen to comfort another woman,
26:11did you remember who you were?
26:13Cyrus' face turned white.
26:16But no words came out.
26:18The second memory stone lit up.
26:21In the herb garden, Caspar shifted into his adult white tiger form and lowered his proud back.
26:28Lelia climbed onto him and placed her hand against the mark between his brows.
26:33Then the image changed again.
26:36At night in the infirmary, Caspar had shifted halfway back back to human form.
26:42His silver white hair spilled over his shoulders.
26:46Lelia banded the wound he had suffered while testing medicine.
26:50He lowered his head and kissed her fingertip.
26:54Lelia did not pull away.
26:57The square erupted.
26:59The elder of the white tiger clan turned iron-faced.
27:03Tears fell from at Caspar's eyes.
27:07I was feverish from the medicine.
27:11Lux, I never meant to betray you.
27:15What you meant does not change what you did.
27:20You told me yourself that only a chosen mate may ride the white tiger clan's animal form.
27:30The third memory stone lit up beside the healing pool.
27:36Limlia stood in my old dress.
27:39Vadikor stood in front of her and said to me.
27:41If you continue like this, you do not deserve to wear your father's crown.
27:46The memory stone carried his words clearly across the entire square.
27:51Every wolf in the crowd lifted their head.
27:54The wolf clans valued loyalty above all else.
28:00And Vadikor had once sworn that his wolf soul bowed only to me.
28:05My father stood on the high platform, his face colder than stone.
28:11Vadikor sank to his knees.
28:17Lux, I was wrong.
28:20I looked at him.
28:22You wanted the king consort's crown.
28:26You wanted glory for your clans.
28:29You wanted to stand beside the future queen.
28:32But again and again, you pushed me in front of another woman and humiliated me.
28:40I turned to the crowd.
28:42The wolf throne has no place for disloyal men.
28:46From this day forward, Cyrus, Caspar, and Vadikor are stripped of all rights as consort candidates.
28:55All three men lifted their heads at once.
29:00Lux, your highness, please, do not do this.
29:05I did not look at them again.
29:11Instead, I placed the king Concord's crown on Atreus's head.
29:19He knelt at my feet and kissed my royal ring.
29:25I swear to you, Lux.
29:28I am greedy.
29:30I am dark.
29:33I am never satisfied.
29:36So I will be greedy in my loyalty, dark in my protection, and never satisfied in loving you.
29:44The square fell into complete silence.
29:47I reached down and lifted his chin.
29:50Rise.
29:52My king consort.
29:55Lilia knelt in the center of the square.
29:59You may punish me, but you cannot do this to them!
30:04You want to plead for them.
30:07I want to speak up for them.
30:10Lilia bit her lip, her voice trembling.
30:15I am human.
30:17I do not understand the rules of your clans and consorts.
30:23But where I come from, helping someone, someone weaker than you, is not betrayal.
30:30She raised her head to meet my eyes.
30:32They were only being kind.
30:35They saw a human woman struggling alone in the royal city, and they helped me.
30:40You have the crown, noble blood, your father, and the entire continent of Vaolin.
30:48Why would you destroy their lives over a little jealousy?
30:52Low whispers moved through the crowd.
30:55With human morality as her weapon, Lilia placed herself in the role of the helpless and painted me as the
31:02ugly face of power.
31:05Before I could speak, my father had already stepped down from the platform.
31:10Human healer.
31:12You stand at the coronation of a wolf queen and judge her by human rules?
31:20They were not ordinary men helping a stranger by the roadside.
31:24They were consort candidates.
31:27They carried the oaths of their clans and the loyalty owed to the future queen.
31:35If you were truly kind, you should have stepped away when they crossed the line.
31:41Instead, you accepted again and again the closeness that belonged to the queen.
31:48Tears fell from Lilia's eyes.
31:57I never meant to take anyone from her.
32:00What you meant no longer matters.
32:06Wolf king lift his hand.
32:09Escort her out of the royal city.
32:12From this day forward, Lilia is forbidden from entering the wolf court.
32:19Send her back to human territory.
32:22Lilia stared in disbelief at Cyrus, Casper, and Vedeticor.
32:28None of them spoke right away, because every word my father had spoken was true, and they knew it now.
32:37Lilia was still crying when the guards dragged her away.
32:43Cyrus!
32:45Casper, Vedeticor!
32:47Say something!
32:49Cyrus lowered his eyes.
32:52Casper's lips trembled.
32:55Vedeticor's jaw tightened, but he still did not move.
33:02That night, the coronation banquet was held in the royal city.
33:07The nobles hid their displeasure, but their eyes kept sliding toward Tricus, who sat beside me.
33:15He was almost unnervely well-behaved.
33:20Only when I reached for my wine did he replace it with a cup of warm honey water.
33:27Afraid I'll be poisoned?
33:34Afraid you'll get drunk.
33:36Tonight is our wedding night.
33:40I want you to remember it.
33:42Heat rose to my ears.
33:46Atticus!
33:48He laughed under his breath.
33:50Am I wrong, Your Majesty?
33:52Late that night, moonlight fell over the silver curtains of my bedchamber.
33:59Atticus removed the heavy crown from my head, his cool fingers brushed through my hair.
34:06Do you regret it?
34:08Regret choosing you?
34:11Yes.
34:13I looked into his golden eyes.
34:16Not yet.
34:19Atticus smiled.
34:21His snake tail slid slowly from beneath his robe,
34:24and Wold curled your loudly lightly round by my ankle, careful not to tighten.
34:29Then I will do my best to make sure you never do.
34:33When the curtains fell, he lowered his head and kissed my fingertips.
34:38Then my wrist.
34:41My shoulder.
34:44The center of my forehead.
34:47Like a snake finally permitted to coil around me, yet still holding back at the last moment.
34:54He remembered I was his queen.
34:58Before dawn the next morning, urgent knocking broke through the chamber doors.
35:04Your Majesty!
35:07Pups all over the royal city have suddenly developed high fevers.
35:11The healers can't bring them down!
35:15That night, the coronation banquet was held in the royal city.
35:21The nobles hid their displeasure, but their eyes kept sliding toward Tricus, who sat beside me.
35:28He was almost unnervely well-behaved.
35:33Only when I reached for my wine did he replace it with a cup of warm honey water.
35:41Afraid I'll be poisoned?
35:47Afraid you'll get drunk?
35:49Tonight is our wedding night.
35:53I want you to remember it.
35:55Heat rose to my ears.
35:59Atticus!
36:01He laughed under his breath.
36:04Am I wrong, Your Majesty?
36:06Late that night, moonlight fell over the silver curtains of my bedchamber.
36:12Atticus removed the heavy crown from my head, his cool fingers brushed through my hair.
36:19Do you regret it?
36:22Regret choosing you?
36:24Yes.
36:26I looked into his golden eyes.
36:29Not yet.
36:32Atticus smiled.
36:34His snake tail slid slowly from beneath his robe,
36:37and Wold curled you a loudly lightly round by my ankle, careful not to tighten.
36:42Then I will do my best to make sure you never do.
36:46When the curtains fell, he lowered his head and kissed my fingertips.
36:51Then my wrist.
36:54My shoulder.
36:57The center of the center of my forehead, like a snake finally permitted to coil around me, yet still holding
37:05back at the last moment.
37:07He remembered I was his queen.
37:11Before dawn the next morning, urgent knocking broke through the chamber doors.
37:17Your Majesty!
37:18Your Majesty!
37:21Pups all over the royal city have suddenly developed high fevers.
37:24The healers can't bring them down!
37:30Atropicus raised his hand, and the snake guards dragged in a pharmacy assistant.
37:36The moment the assistant saw me, he dropped to his knees, shaking too hard to speak.
37:44Before Lilillia was escorted out last night, she gave this man a packet of powder.
37:51The assistant slammed his forehead to the floor and sobbed.
37:59Ah!
38:00Mercy, Your Majesty!
38:03Healer!
38:04Lilla said it was medicine to prevent the pups' fevers from returning in the night!
38:11I didn't know it would do this!
38:15The infirmary fell completely silent.
38:19Cyrus's face slowly lost all color.
38:24Casper shook his head.
38:31No.
38:33Lilillia would never hurt children.
38:37Of course she didn't intend for them to die.
38:45I walked to the pot of medicine and caught the faint, bitter stent rising from it.
38:51She only wanted everyone to learn that without her,
38:54the royal city cannot even bring down a pup's fever.
39:03Lillia at Tuptu's scheme was finally laid bare in front of them.
39:08She had always stood in the place of the weak, waiting for others to defend her.
39:15I turned to Atticus.
39:17Can it be cured?
39:20He nodded.
39:22Yes.
39:24But it requires cold-scale grass from the snake clan.
39:28Use it.
39:30I will bring the guilty back to the capital, to face justice.
39:38By dusk, Lilia was brought back to the royal city.
39:44When she was dragged into the infirmary and saw the pups sleeping weakly after their fevers had broke,
39:50her face finally changed.
39:53I didn't mean to kill them.
39:56She sobbed.
39:58I only wanted you to know that you need me.
40:02Casper looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.
40:07Lilia grabbed his sleeve.
40:09Casper, believe me.
40:12I was just scared.
40:14She drove me away and I had nothing left.
40:17Casper slowly pulled his hand free.
40:22They were children.
40:24Lilia went still.
40:26Cyrus closed his eyes.
40:30Vadecor turned away and would not look at her.
40:33They finally saw her for who she really was.
40:38But it was too late.
40:41A mother slapped Lilia across the face.
40:46My child screamed all night because of you!
40:52Lilia covered her cheek and looked toward the three men again, waiting for someone to protect her.
41:01No one moved.
41:04Your Majesty.
41:05The pups are safe for now.
41:09The trial can begin whenever you command.
41:12I looked at Lilia's pale, shaking face.
41:18Then let all of Valon hear what she has done.
41:23When Lilia was brought to the judgment platform, the royal square was packed.
41:29The parents of the pup she had nearly harmed knelt below the platform, their eyes swollen from tears.
41:37My father sat beside the throne.
41:40I sat in the queen's seat.
41:42A trichus stood half a step behind me.
41:46Lilia still wore her faded healer's dress.
41:50She lifted her head and looked at me.
41:57Your Majesty.
41:59I saved many lives.
42:01You can't accuse me based solely on someone's word.
42:04I ordered the evidence to be presented.
42:07Black Marsh Heatween.
42:10The pharmacy assistant's confession.
42:14The spare powder hidden in her luggage.
42:17And the letter she had written to a human border apothetory.
42:22The letter was clear.
42:24If the wolf royal city so suffered another outbreak of pup fever, she would return as the only healer capable
42:32of saving them.
42:33By then, everyone would beg her.
42:38Including me.
42:41Casper finally could not hold back.
42:47Why?
42:49Lila looked at him and tears spilled down her face.
42:56Because I was angry.
43:01I saved so many people.
43:04Yet one word from her could drive me out.
43:08Why?
43:09Just because she is queen.
43:13Because I am queen, I am responsible for the pups of this city.
43:18You were allowed to be angry.
43:20You were allowed to hate me.
43:23You were allowed to return to human territory and begin again.
43:27But you chose to endanger children.
43:31The square fell into dead silence.
43:37I lifted my hand.
43:40Lilia, your healer status is revoked.
43:47Your right to enter clan territory is stripped.
43:50In three days, you will be escorted to the human border and handed over to the border court for judgment.
44:01Your majesty, I request punishment.
44:02Cyrus suddenly knelt.
44:04Your majesty, I request punishment.
44:07Casper nailed as well.
44:09Vedicore knelt last, and his knees hit the ground the hardest.
44:15The main wolf bloodline accepts responsibility for negligence.
44:20I looked at them.
44:22Once, seeing them kneel before me would have made me happy.
44:26Now, I felt only calm.
44:30Of course you will be punished.
44:32Cyrus, the eagle clan is responsible for aerial patrols over the royal city.
44:39Lylia left and re-entered the city without your men detecting her in time.
44:45From this day forward, the eagle clan's right to patrol royal airspace is suspended for three years
44:54and placed under direct crown control.
44:57Cyrus lowered his head.
45:00Yes, your majesty.
45:04Casper, the white tiger clan, provided Lylia with medicinal herbs and allowed her to test medicines,
45:10yet never inspected the powders she kept hidden.
45:14The white tiger clan's medicinal fusion will be doubled.
45:18All clan herb gardens will be managed by the royal medical office for one year.
45:23And you, Casper, will serve at the northern border medical camp for three years.
45:29No palace room.
45:30No white tiger privilege.
45:33You will treat the soldiers and pups your negligence endangered.
45:37Yes, your majesty.
45:39Last, I looked at Vadikor.
45:41Vadikor, you brought Lylia into the inner palace,
45:46used my healing pool without permission,
45:48and opened the door that never should have been opened.
45:51From this day forward, you are removed as commander of the royal guard.
45:56Your wolf crest will be stripped from the royal guard rolls.
46:00Until the wolf council decides otherwise, you will live outside the pack as a lone wolf.
46:05For a wolf born inside the main bloodline, there was no harsher exile than being cut off from the pack's
46:13name.
46:14Vadikor's throat moved.
46:16In the end, he lowered his head.
46:21Yes, your majesty.
46:24Three days later, Lylia was escorted out of the royal city.
46:30Lylia thought human territory would welcome her.
46:34The moment the Valen guards handed her to the border court, she lifted her chin and forced tears into her
46:41eyes.
46:43I was only a human woman trapped in a beast city.
46:48They hated me because I saved lives.
46:53No one answered.
46:56The human magistrate opened the sealed Valen report and read the charges aloud.
47:04You added Black Marsh heatweed to medicine meant for wolf pups.
47:09You caused a citywide fever outbreak to prove they needed you.
47:13The crowd outside the court exploded.
47:17She poisoned children!
47:19And she calls herself a healer?
47:22Lylia's face went white.
47:25They were beasts.
47:26Their queen twisted everything.
47:34A human healer stepped forward and tore the healer's ribbon from Lylia's sleeve.
47:40A child in pain is still a child.
47:45You do not get to wear our mark.
47:48Lylia reached for the ribbon, but the guard shoved her back.
47:56Stand down.
47:58Until the final trial, you will serve in the quarantine tents under guard.
48:03Lylia stared at him.
48:06You want me to treat fever patients?
48:09No.
48:11You will scrub the floors beneath them.
48:19When Cyrus returned to the Eagle Tower, no one came to welcome him.
48:24The black-winged guards stood in two silent lines.
48:28At the center of the hall, the Eagle Eagle Elder placed the royal order on the table.
48:37Three years.
48:40For three years, the Eagle Clan cannot patrol the royal sky.
48:46A young Eagle Noble could not hold back.
48:50Because you hung a consort candidate's pass outside a human healer's door!
48:55Cyrus did not argue.
48:57Our clan kept the royal airspace for generations.
49:01Your father earned that route with blood. You lost it for a woman who poisoned pups.
49:08Cyrus lowered his head.
49:10I will accept whatever punishment the clan gives me.
49:15The elder took the sky blagger from Cyrus' chest.
49:20You will not command a patrol.
49:23You will not enter the royal city without written permission.
49:29And when the young ones ask why our banners no longer fly over Valon, they will hear your name.
49:37Cyrus' black wings trembled once.
49:40Outside the window, royal guards crossed the sky routes that had once belonged to him.
49:45For the first time, Cyrus understood what Lux had meant.
49:51He had not protected the weak.
49:54He had handed the Queen's authority to a liar.
49:58And now his whole clan had to bow beneath that shame.
50:06The northern border did not care that Caspar had once been beautiful.
50:10The wind cut through his white cloak within the first hour.
50:14By nightfall, his hands were cracked from carrying water and washing blood from bandages.
50:25An injured pup was carried into the tent, shaking with fever from a border wound.
50:31Caspar stepped forward at once.
50:37Let me help.
50:43The pup's mother pulled the child back.
50:49You are the white tiger who protected Lilia.
50:52My sister's son almost died in the royal city.
50:57It's all your fault.
50:59And that human vipers.
51:03I'm sorry.
51:10The northern captain entered with snow on his armor.
51:15If you want them to trust your hands, work until your hands are worth trusting.
51:21For the rest of the night, Caspar cleaned wounds, boiled medicine, and carried fever water from tent to tent.
51:32On the first full moon after the trial, Vededicors stood outside the wolf clan gates.
51:39Inside the walls, the pack gathered for the moon run.
51:44Once, young wolves had stepped aside when he passed.
51:49Tonight, the gate stayed closed.
51:55The wolf elder walked out with two guards.
51:59In his hand was Vedicor's broken guard crest.
52:03The queen has removed you from the royal guard.
52:07The wolf council has accepted her sentence.
52:14Am I forbidden from the pack run?
52:17The elder looked at him without pity.
52:21You have been banished from the pack.
52:24Behind the gate, the wolves howled.
52:28Vededicor's inner wolf answered by instinct, but the sound broke in his throat.
52:33He shifted into wolf form and stood alone in the snow.
52:37Never be accepted by the pack again.
52:43The bells of the royal city rang again.
52:48I stood on the city wall and watched Valen's banners unfold in the wind.
52:54Once, I thought love meant possession.
52:58If I ordered someone to stay, they could not leave.
53:03Then they told me I was spoiled, arrogant, too blind to cherish what I had.
53:09Now I had learnt better.
53:12Love could not be commanded by a crown.
53:15Loyalty should never have to be begged for on my knees.
53:18I could lose Cyrus.
53:21I could lose Caspar.
53:24I could lose Vedicor.
53:27The crown would not fall.
53:30My wolf spirit would not go out.
53:34Atticus stood half a step behind me.
53:36That was where a king consort belonged.
53:40When I needed him, he was there.
53:44When I did not, he waited.
53:49I asked him.
53:51Atius, do you know what needs to be king consort?
53:55It means I will always stand behind my queen.
54:00He paused, then bent close to my ear.
54:03And it also means I get to sleep beside her at night.
54:09Aticus lowered his head, golden snake eyes reflecting my crown.
54:19Lux, I will not teach you to bow your head.
54:22I will never say you ask for too much.
54:27If you want loyalty, I will give you loyalty.
54:30If you want all of Valon to watch the snake clan kneel at your feet.
54:35Then I will kneel.
54:41When he finished, he truly dropped to one knee on the city wall.
54:46This time, he was not kneeling for ceremony.
54:50Not for the nobles watching.
54:52It was only for me.
54:57I reached out and lifted his chin.
55:02Rise, my king consort.
55:08Far off, at the edge of the snowstorm.
55:12All of my former candidates got what they deserved.
55:16I did not look again.
55:19My story with them was over.
55:22And my throne, my wolf spirit.
55:27My new king consort.
55:29And all of a Valon were waiting for me to move forward.
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