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Face Sculptor: Revenge in Whitehall - Short Drama Full HD 720p #ASM
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Short filmTranscript
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. I am Tampson, a new lady's
01:52maid from the wardrobe of robes. The room fell silent. Look at me, she said. I slowly raised my
01:59head, letting the candlelight illuminate my face. My voice was respectful. I have an ointment that
02:05will cure it completely by tomorrow morning. She would never recognize it. I had changed it
02:10bit by bit. Through bone filing, jaw reshaping, and eye modification. I bore no resemblance to the
02:16old Isabella Black. Only these hands remained the same.
02:25Tampson. A cold smile played on her lips. Very 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. She clutched the silver box tightly.
03:05This ointment, it is safe to use. But about the powder? I paused.
03:10Is this rouge new, my lady? Lillian raised an eyebrow.
03:14What of it? It contains an herb that most people tolerate well,
03:19but your delicate skin is extremely sensitive to it. Every time you use it, you will break out in a
03:24rash.
03:26Her face changed slightly. She turned to the head housekeeper behind her. The housekeeper turned pale
03:32and fell to her knees. My lady, please! This ruby is new from the wardrobe. Every lady in the palace
03:39has used it. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Lillian sneered. Nothing like this has ever
03:45happened. She kicked the housekeeper hard in the shoulder.
03:52Then what is wrong with my face? Drag her away. Fifty blashibs. Send her to the royal laundry tomorrow.
04:00No! No!
04:01Lillian turned back to me, her eyes warmer.
04:05Tampson, 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 from my
04:22bosom. A thin, translucent facial mold. This was the master mold I had made when I sculpted her face.
04:29It was made from beeswax, resin, and her blood, and it was linked to her skin. Whatever I did to
04:34this mold, her face would mirror it. Faces are alive. Flesh ages. Bones shift. I had kept the mold
04:40to repair any imperfections over the years, to ensure her lifelong beauty and fortune.
04:45Now it was the sharpest blade I could drive into her heart. I wiped away the powder I had applied
04:50to the mold that day. That was the source of her rash. By morning, she would be healed.
04:54I thought of that night three years ago. Flames reaching the sky, screams echoing through the
04:59walls. A loyal servant had smuggled me out through a secret tunnel. I looked back to see the entire
05:04black manor collapse. Father, mother, brother, sister-in-law, my baby nephew,
05:10and all the servants who had watched me grow up. Thirty-seven people. Not one survived. I closed my
05:16eyes, and tears fell silently. Lillian, I will take everything you care about most, your beauty,
05:22your 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 of rash
05:35left. Her eyes lit up with pride. She quickly changed her clothes. That physician is a useless
05:41fool. This maid I picked up by chance is far more useful. She waved me over.
05:47Tamsin, come here. I sat down the basin and knelt before her. She lifted my chin,
05:53studying me closely. If you are so skilled, why are you only a lady's paid in the wardrobe?
06:00I come from a humble background. No one to recommend me. She smiled. Serve me well,
06:06and you will be rewarded. I feigned overwhelming gratitude. Thank you for your favor, my lady.
06:12I will serve you with all my heart. In my mind, I heard her words from back then. Isabella,
06:19you will be my sister from now on. If I become rich, I will never forget you. You didn't forget.
06:25You saw my entire family as a threat and had them slaughtered. I composed myself and put on a gentle
06:30smile. How would you like your hair done today, my lady? Lillian touched her eyebrows critically in
06:35the mirror. The king is coming today. How should I dress to impress him? You are naturally beautiful,
06:41my lady. Anything will suit you. I gently combed her hair with a comb. But I think if you raise
06:46your
06:46eyebrows just a little, it will add a touch of spirit, and a crimson lip stain will make your skin
06:52look even whiter. She looked at me in the mirror, interested. You know, quite a bit. Did you learn
06:58this before? I worked in a ruse shop in London for a few years before entering the palace.
07:03I focused on styling her hair. The face in the silver mirror was my masterpiece. That oval jaw?
07:09I filed down the excess bone, one stroke at a time. That straight nose? I raised it with special
07:15silver threads, bit by bit. Those expressive eyes? I spent ten consecutive nights by moonlight,
07:20cutting the delicate folds of her double eyelids. This face had cost me countless hours of work,
07:26all to make her dream come true. In return, I got 37 charred bodies, unrecognizable even to their
07:32own families. My fingers brushed lightly behind her ear. There was a tiny mark there, hidden by her
07:40hair. Everyone whose face I sculpted carried such a mark behind their ear. Done. Lillian admired herself
07:46in the mirror. Tamsin. You will be my personal maid from now on. Yes, my lady.
07:51She stood up, and the maid surrounded her as they headed for the royal gardens. I slipped the
07:56ointment into my sleeve and followed quietly. In the royal gardens, Lillian was walking with the king,
08:01admiring the flowers. She laughed charmingly, leaning in to whisper in his ear from time to time,
08:07making him nod repeatedly. I stood far away and smiled faintly. My fingers moved slightly.
08:12In 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
08:29must be tired 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,
08:39leaving Lillian standing there, stunned. After that day, the king did not summon Lillian for
08:45three consecutive nights. At first, Lillian paid no mind, thinking he was busy with state affairs.
08:51But on the fourth day, and the fifth, there was still no word. She began to panic.
08:56Tamsyn, 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. She interrupted me. No matter how busy he was, he would always come to see me.
09:14It has been five days. She did not finish, but I knew what she was thinking. She had noticed those
09:20two strange looks the king had given her in the royal gardens that day. I continued brushing her
09:25hair, a faint smile playing on my lips. What would be the fun in exposing her all at once? I
09:30wanted to
09:31watch her fall slowly, to lose everything. A few days later, news spread through the palace.
09:37The king had taken a new beauty, titled Lady Mary. It was said that Lady Mary was gentle and kind,
09:42and the king had stayed with her for three consecutive nights. When Lillian heard the news,
09:47she was eating dinner. Her silver fork clattered to the floor with a sharp sound.
09:52Lady Mary? Where did this hall come from?
09:56The maids fell to their knees, silent. I stepped forward and silently cleaned up the broken dishes.
10:02My lady, it is common for new beauties to enter the palace. You have the king's deepest affliction.
10:07There's no need to worry. What do you know? In three years at court, the king has never gone five
10:13days without seeing me. What does this Lady Mary have that I don't? She paced back and forth in the
10:18room like a caged animal. I knelt down to pick up the shards. A sharp piece of porcelain cut my
10:23fingertip,
10:24and a drop of blood welled up. Does it hurt? No. Compared to the screams in that fire three
10:30years ago, this pain is nothing. Tamsin. I looked up. Lillian stood over me, looking down.
10:37Tell me, can my face be made even more beautiful? My gaze lingered on her face for a moment.
10:44You are already perfect, my lady. Not perfect enough. She shook her head,
10:48her eyes flashing with madness. I want to be the most beautiful woman the king has ever seen.
10:53I want that Lady Mary to be not even worthy to hold my train. She grabbed my wrist,
10:58her nails digging into my flesh. Is there a way? I lowered my eyes and was silent for a moment.
11:03When I looked up again, my face was cautious. My lady, I have heard that a strange man has come
11:08to London recently. He claims he can change faces. She stared at me, her eyes darkening.
11:13Change 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.
11:21After a long moment, she smiled, a strange, knowing smile.
11:25Find out? Very well. Go and find him. And if you do...
11:30She leaned in close to my ear. I want to see what kind of man dares to do such a
11:35thing.
11:36That night, I returned to my chamber and took out the facial mold. By moonlight,
11:40a faint mark had appeared on the thin, translucent face, left by that single brushstroke in the royal
11:45gardens. Just a light touch, and I had planted a seed of doubt in the king's mind. What if I
11:50were
11:50to be more ruthless? My fingers traced the mold, stopping at the forehead. No rush. We will take
11:56our time. Two weeks later. The Rose Tavern, the largest tavern on the south bank of London.
12:02I washed the medicine from my hands and put away the bandages. Eleanor had woken up and was standing
12:07in front of the silver mirror, touching her new face inch by inch. It was the perfect kind of beauty,
12:12the kind that makes you unable to look away. Miss... She turned to me, tears in her eyes.
12:17Who are you? Why are you helping me? I only asked one question. Do you remember the woman who cut
12:23your face? Her body trembled. Fear flashed in her eyes, followed by burning hatred. I remember.
12:30I remember her face. I remember her voice. I remember how she laughed while her men held me down,
12:36and she cut my face with a piece of broken Portland. Three months ago, she had been a beautiful
12:41young woman. She had run into Lady Lillian, who was out of the palace in disguise. A passerby had
12:47compared their looks, and Lillian had flown into a rage. She had done it herself, cutting the girl's
12:52face again and again, wanting her to suffer for the rest of her life. If I gave you a chance
12:57to make
12:57her feel the same pain, I looked into her eyes. Would you take it? The candlelight flickered,
13:02casting shadows across her new face. After a moment, she slowly knelt on one knee and bowed her head
13:08deeply. I would. One month later, news spread through the palace. The king had found another
13:14beauty, a Miss Dean, titled Lady Dean. It was said he had met her by chance outside the palace and
13:19been
13:20so struck by her beauty that he had brought her back immediately. He had stayed with her for five
13:24consecutive nights. When the news reached Cold Spring Chamber, Lillian smashed everything in her room.
13:30An announcement echoed from outside the hall. His Majesty the King. Lillian quickly stood up,
13:35smoothed her dress, and put on a smile to greet him. I stood behind her, head bowed. The king
13:41approached, arm in arm with a beautiful woman. She was wearing a pale yellow court dress, smiling
13:47gently. Lillian's face froze the moment she saw her. Her eyes locked onto that face, scanning it inch by
13:53inch, from the eyebrows to the nose, from the nose to the lips. A perfect face. Not a single scar.
13:59Lady Lillian? The king frowned. Why are you being so rude? Lillian snapped back to reality and forced
14:06a smile. I... I just thought Lady Dean looked familiar. Like I've seen her somewhere before.
14:13Eleanor met her gaze. Have you? Eleanor smiled slightly. Perhaps in a dream, Lillian's face
14:19turned even whiter. That night, Lillian lashed the maids with a cane until their flesh was torn and
14:24bleeding. Impossible. That whore's face was cut to pieces. How could it be healed? How could she be
14:30more beautiful than before? I continued mixing the rouge. Tamsin. She burst through the heavy wooden
14:36door, her 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. He is
14:54hard 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. Three days later,
15:14I brought a man into the palace. He bowed deeply. George Fox, a commoner, at your service,
15:21Lady Lillian. Lillian looked him up and down. I hear you can change faces? George stepped forward.
15:28My family has passed down certain skills. A few tricks to alter one's appearance. But your face,
15:34my lady, is already unparalleled. To change it would be a shame. Lillian was not impressed.
15:40She stared at him. I asked you a question. Can you turn one face into another? George spoke proudly.
15:47To be honest, my lady, my family's traditions do include such arts. But this skill, it, is not
15:54easily demonstrated. Lillian's eyes lit up. If you can give me a new face, I will make you rich and
16:00powerful for the rest of your life. George knelt on one knee and bowed deeply. Thank you, my lady.
16:05For the next two weeks, George brought in all sorts of things. An astrological staff,
16:11a copper basin, silver mirrors, incense burners, and several tightly sealed wooden boxes. He set
16:16up a ritual circle in the back hall of Cold Spring Chamber, hung curtains, and lit tallow candles.
16:21It looked very convincing. Lillian came to watch every day. George walked around the hexagram
16:27painted circle holding an astrological staff inlaid with natural crystal, muttering in broken Latin
16:31mixed with London slang. He lit frankincense and myrrh in the copper basin and dropped a few drops
16:35of mercury onto the silver mirror. Then he opened a yellowed alchemical manuscript, grabbed a handful of
16:40human bone dust, and sprinkled it on the four corners of the circle. Lillian could not understand
16:45any of it. But she believed. How much longer? George lowered his staff. Soon. Once I complete this ritual,
16:53you can have any face you desire. Lillian sighed in relief. I heard her murmur to herself.
16:58Isabella Black. Without you, I will still be the center of attention. I smiled faintly. The only
17:05face sculptor in the world. It's me. On the seventh night, a scream suddenly came from Eleanor's
17:11chambers. When the king arrived, Eleanor was on her knees, trembling. Red marks had appeared on her face,
17:18stretching from her forehead to her cheekbones. They flickered in the candlelight, as if alive.
17:22I felt my face burning, she said in terror. I looked in the mirror, and, and this happened.
17:28Your majesty, Eleanor grabbed his sleeve, her face as white as a sheet. I have heard there is an art
17:34called face sculpting. It can change people's faces. The king's eyes darkened sharply. I accept that
17:40someone tampered with my face. But, what if someone wanted your face, your majesty? The room fell deathly
17:47silent. The candlelight flickered across the king's face, making his expression unreadable.
17:52After a few moments, his eyes turned cold and menacing. Send the royal guard. Search every inch
17:58of Whitehall Palace. Find that man, no matter what it takes. Within half an hour, Lillian and George
18:05were brought before him. George fell to his knees, begging for mercy. Your majesty, spare me. I am just
18:12a fraud. Those 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 to
18:26herself to frame me. She glared hatefully at Eleanor. I stood in the shadows by the door and smiled
18:32slowly. Beneath my wide sleeves, my fingers gently crushed the facial mold. To the shock of everyone
18:37present, Lillian's face began to change. It was as if something was wriggling beneath her skin. Or more
18:44accurately, as if an invisible hand was kneading her flesh from the inside. The king's eyes were
18:48black with rage and terror. Lillian realized what was happening and covered her face, screaming in
18:53horror. My face. The hall was brightly lit by candles. Every eye was fixed on Lillian's face. Shock,
19:01disbelief, quiet fear. The guards stepped in front of the king, ready to protect him. Lillian's face kept
19:07changing. First, her forehead wrinkled slightly, as if someone had pinched it from the inside.
19:12Her carefully drawn eyebrows slowly drooped, returning to their original plain shape. Her nose
19:18collapsed. A sickening crunch echoed from her nose cartilage, as if something was shattering beneath the
19:23skin. No. No. Lillian's voice came muffled through her fingers, thick with tears. Her jaw shifted. The
19:30sharp, pointed chin she had been so proud of began to widen, the bone pushing outward, stretching her skin
19:35white. She clenched her jaw as hard as she could, but she could not stop her own bones from growing
19:40back.
19:40Her eyelids twitched. The double eyelids she had spent hours perfecting every morning faded, grew lighter,
19:46and finally disappeared completely. My face. My face. No one answered her. The king stared at her face,
19:53his gaze icy. The captain of the royal guard whispered, Your Majesty, this. Stand down. The king's voice
20:01was terrifyingly calm. He walked over to Lillian and bent down to look at her changing face.
20:05So this is what you really look like? All these years, I have been sleeping with a fake face?
20:11Lillian shook her head wildly. No. No. That's not true. What you're seeing isn't real. I saw it with
20:18my own eyes. How could it not be real? The king stood up and looked away from her, at the
20:23pile of
20:24parchment on the floor, and at George, who was cowering in the corner. By my command. His voice
20:30was cold. Lillian White. Guilty of deceiving the crown. Stripped of all titles and favors. Imprisoned
20:36in cold spring chamber. No one is allowed to see her. And you. He looked at George. Take him to
20:43the
20:43Tower of London. Make him talk. Lillian collapsed to the floor. As they dragged her away, she was still
20:50screaming. Your majesty. I am innocent. I don't know what happened. No one paid her any mind.
20:57I watched as she was dragged away. In my sleeve, the facial mold had crumbled to dust.
21:02Three days later, the guards reported that George had died in prison from torture.
21:06The king did not care about a dead fraud. He waved his hand. Bring Lillian here. When Lillian was brought
21:12before the king, she was unrecognizable. Her hair was a mess. Her clothes were wrinkled,
21:18and there was no makeup on her face. Why did your face change that day in the hall?
21:22Lillian's eyes darted around. I don't know. You don't know? The king picked up his silver
21:28goblet and took a sip of wine. It is your face. How could you not know? Lillian shook her head
21:34again.
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. I have investigated.
21:46Before entering the palace, Lady 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. How did her face heal?
21:57Who is behind her? Who is the man? The king's voice was low and dangerous.
22:02Tell me, and I will spare your life. Lillian shook her head on her knees.
22:06I really don't know. She could not tell. She could not admit that face sculpting was real,
22:12because she had killed the only person who could do it. If she told the truth,
22:16what would the king do to her? I ran into Lady Dean by chance. It was a mistake. I don't
22:22know how
22:22her face healed. The king lost patience. His eyes narrowed coldly. Take her away. Torture her until
22:29she talks. Lillian was taken to the Tower of London. Forgive me, your ladyship. The thumbscrew is the
22:35most infamous torture device in London. It breaks bones and causes unbearable pain. If you do not wish
22:42to suffer, you will tell us what we want to know. Lillian's eyes widened in panic. Tell you what?
22:48I don't know what you're talking about. The jailer sighed. Very well. He cranked the iron screw of the
22:54thumbscrew tight. A sharp crack echoed through the cell as the bone broke, and Lillian let out a
22:58blood-bridling scream. She passed out three times, and each time was woken up with cold water. I watched
23:04from the shadows, disguised as a guard. I watched the blood seep from under her fingernails.
23:09I watched her convulse in pain, yet still refused to speak. Did she ever think this day would come,
23:15when she sent men to burn my home? My lady, will you talk now? Tears streamed down Lillian's face,
23:22her lips bitten raw. I, I will talk. The jailer signaled for them to stop. There is, there is such
23:28a thing as face sculpting. Lillian's voice was broken and weak. Her name is Isabella Black. She was my
23:35childhood friend. She is the one who changed my face. Where is she? Tears fell from Lillian's eyes.
23:41Dead. How did she die? I, I killed her. Why did you kill her? A flash of malice crossed Lillian's
23:48eyes.
23:49Because she knew too much. I was afraid she would tell everyone. I was afraid she would threaten me.
23:55Does anyone else in her family know this skill? Not just her. Lillian's voice grew quieter and quieter.
24:01Her entire family. Thirty-seven people. Not one was left alive. The jailer gasped.
24:08Thirty-seven lives? Thirty-seven lives. She had finally said it out loud. When the king heard this,
24:14he stared out into the night. Why would I keep such a vicious, useless woman alive? By my command,
24:21Lillian. Your majesty, wait. The Lord Chamberlain whispered. If I may speak. The king turned to him.
24:28If Lillian killed the face sculptor, she must know her well. The black family may be gone,
24:33but there could be manuscripts, tools, formulas. If we can get them from her. The king's eyes lit up.
24:40You are right. He sat back down. Continue the torture. Lillian was broken beyond recognition
24:46before she finally spoke. There, there are manuscripts. I stole half of them. In cold spring
24:52chamber. Under the dressing table, there is a secret compartment. The royal guard searched
24:57immediately. Half an hour later, a yellow book was presented to the king. He opened it. It was
25:03filled with dense writing and diagrams. How to file bone. How to cut eyelets. How to fill. How to replace
25:09skin. Is this real? I don't know. Lillian shook her head. I can't read it, but that's what she used.
25:16The king closed the book and looked at her. You think this manuscript will save your life?
25:21Hope flickered in Lillian's eyes. Spare me, your majesty. I will give you the manuscript.
25:28Just spare my life. The king said coldly, I will spare your life, but you will pay the price.
25:34From this day forth, Lillian is stripped of all court privileges and citizenship.
25:38Reduced to a commoner. Sent to cold spring chamber to work as a scullery maid.
25:42She will never leave the palace. Lillian collapsed to the floor, not knowing whether
25:47to laugh or cry. I turned and left the shadows. Half a manuscript? Just something I scribbled
25:53casually. Cold spring chamber became Lillian's prison. She was given a drafty side room in the
26:00back hall, a broken wooden bed, a moldy blanket, and a chipped basin. Every day before dawn, she had
26:06to get up to carry water, chop wood, wash clothes, and empty chamber pots. She ate scraps of food,
26:12even when they were rotten. If she slacked off even a little, the head housekeeper would slap
26:17her heart across the face, and she would not dare make a sound. The maids who had once knelt
26:21at her feet now spat at her. Well, look who it is. If it isn't Lady Lillian. What are you
26:27doing
26:27emptying chamber pots? What Lady Lillian? She's just Lillian now. Worse than us. The maids dumped all
26:35their work on her and stood around gossiping about the other ladies of the court. Lady Dean's face is so
26:39beautiful. It doesn't look real. Lillian heard this, and hatred burned in her heart. That face
26:46should have been hers. If that bitch had never appeared. But she could only hate. She could do
26:51nothing. One day, she was drawing water from the well. Footsteps sounded behind her. Lillian. She
26:58turned around and saw several guards standing there. Lady Dean has sent for you. Come with us.
27:04Lillian's heart sank. Lady Dean. The whore whose face she had cut. She stepped back instinctively.
27:11I am a prisoner of cold spring chamber. I cannot leave. The guards laughed. Her ladyship has sent
27:17for you. Do you dare refuse? Lillian was dragged to Lady Dean's chambers. The room was warm and
27:23fragrant with incense. Lady Dean sat on the throne, perfectly made up. When she saw Lillian being
27:29dragged in, a smile curled her lips. Hello, Lillian. Long time no see. When you had your men hold me
27:35down and cut my face with that broken porcelain. Did you ever think this day would come? Lillian
27:41knelt on the floor, begging desperately. I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please spare me,
27:47your ladyship. Lady Dean knelt down and lifted her chin. You have such an ugly face now. Guards,
27:54two strapping housekeepers stepped forward and held Lillian down. Lady Dean took a piece of broken
27:59porcelain from her sleeve and twirled it in the candlelight. You liked cutting people's faces,
28:03didn't you? Lillian struggled wildly. No. Please. Don't. Lady Dean's smile faded. Hold her still.
28:12The porcelain sliced across Lillian's cheek, and she let out a scream that tore through the palace.
28:17Once. Twice. Blood poured from the wounds, staining her face, her clothes, and the stone floor beneath her.
28:24Lillian lay on the floor, covered in blood. She was dragged back to Cold Spring Chamber and thrown
28:29into her drafty room. That night, she lay on her broken bed and looked at her reflection in the
28:34chipped basin of water. Her face was crisscrossed with bleeding wounds. Exactly like the ones she had
28:40cut on Eleanor's face. Her life was over, she thought. A face suddenly flashed through her mind.
28:46Lillian stared up at the dark ceiling, and tears fell silently. If only Isabella were still alive.
28:51She would give me a perfect face again. But I killed her. I pushed open the door.
28:57When she saw me, tears burst from her eyes. Tamsin. Tamsin, you came. You're the only one
29:04who cares about me. The only one who would come to see me. Lillian struggled to her feet and grabbed
29:09my sleeve. Tamsin, 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 straw.
29:30Tamsin, you're the only one who has ever been good to me. The only one. I finally spoke. Yes.
29:37My 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.
30:12Isabella Black. Isabella. Isabella. She scrambled backward, pressing her back against the wall.
30:19Impossible. Impossible. You were dead. I saw you die. I looked at her like an ant struggling in its
30:26death throes. Dead? I said softly. Yes. I should be dead. Your men watched me burn alive in the side
30:34wing of the manor. They said not even my bones remained. But you forgot one thing, Lillian.
30:39I am the only face sculptor in the world. How hard would it be to put a wax copy of
30:43my face on a
30:44corpse? I turned to leave. Lillian lunged forward, trying to grab my feet. Isabella. Isabella. Don't
30:52leave. I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please save me. Give me another face. Please. Suddenly,
30:59firelight 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
31:18the firelight. The other was being dragged, bloodied and barely alive. Eleanor. My heart clenched. The
31:24king 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
31:54Lillian's face back. Didn't you? I saw her face change in the royal gardens that day. That was you,
32:00wasn't it? I did not deny it. Your majesty is perceptive. The king's eyes were sharp. I always
32:07thought, if there is such a thing as face sculpting, how could the person who can do it die so
32:12easily?
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
34:01kept 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.
34:54But I could not take her. I turned to the king. Your majesty, I have one more request.
35:00This takes time. Changing a face cannot be done overnight. It takes at least three months.
35:06Sometimes six. The king's eyes were dark. How long do you need? Six months. I said.
35:13I must go to France. I must see the Dauphin in person. Portraits are not enough. I need to study
35:19his bone structure, his mannerisms, to make it perfect. The king looked at me, his gaze deep.
35:25You have courage. Very well. I will give you six months. If you do not return in six months,
35:32she dies. And you will take this poison before you leave. I will send you the antidote every
35:37month. I took the pill and swallowed it immediately. Rest assured, your majesty. I intend to come back
35:44alive. Eleven. The next morning, the head housekeeper went to bring Lily in her breakfast and found her
35:50dead. On the table was a piece of paper. On it was drawn only a face. A face.
35:55A face with smiling eyes. The housekeeper screamed and ran out, tripping over her own feet. The paper
36:01was blown by the wind and landed beside Lillian. A few days later. At the Doverport Tavern, I stood
36:07holding my horse's reins, looking out at the English Channel. Behind me, a writer galloped up.
36:12Miss Black. A letter from London. I took the letter and opened it. There were only two words written
36:18inside. All safe. I smiled. It was Eleanor's handwriting. I folded the letter and put it in my bosom,
36:25then mounted my horse. Ahead lay France. Behind me lay my home. I looked back one last time,
36:32then galloped away. The sound of my horse's hooves faded away into the distance.
36:36the floor and looked at the floor. The shelf in the room was all I was in the room. I
36:36had
36:36seen him with my husband who was in the room. But then I looked at the floor. Now, I looked
36:36at
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