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π₯
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00:00When Edlin and I were alone on our covenant night, his personal attendant stumbled and scrambled into the outer hall
00:05of our bridal moon chamber.
00:07My lord, Lady Lyra's mother has just died and she's fainted from grief!
00:12As soon as the words fell, the twin cup moon brew slipped from Edlin's hands and crashed to the floor.
00:17Completely disregarding that tonight was our covenant night, he left the Thornwell main estate and did not return all night.
00:21The next day, while the estate was still draped with moon white floral vines and silver gold ribbons,
00:26he brought back a banquet singer dressed in a black gauze morning dress.
00:29Lyra is a banquet singer whom I once saved.
00:32Now that her father has just passed away, she is left all alone with no one to rely on.
00:36And several legerous young nobles want to take her away by force.
00:40While her mourning period is still undergoing, I want to grant her a status, so she has a place to
00:45stay.
00:46If you refuse, I will tell her to leave the main estate and wash my hands of her entirely.
00:50He looked at me with deep affection, speaking as if concerned only for my well-being.
00:54Everyone expected me to break down or cause a scene right then and there.
00:57The story of the Lord rescuing up singer is well known in Silverweed City.
01:01If you only give her the title of a secondary wife, wouldn't that slight your own affections?
01:06Why not open in and honorably make her your primary wife, so the entire royal capital can see just how
01:12profound this love truly is?
01:14My marriage covenant with Edwin Norman, the Lord of the North, was personally blessed by the High King and recorded
01:20in the Royal Court's Marriage Registry.
01:21Even before the marriage covenant was officially sealed, I had heard that he once saved a banquet singer who was
01:26being harassed and assaulted by young nobles.
01:29Her name was Lyra Frost's song.
01:30Lyra Frost's song was born slender and assaulted, like a twig of a moon tree that would snap at the
01:35slightest breeze, as if she couldn't even stand steady if the wind blew just a bit harder.
01:39Yet she played the harp exceptionally well, and was quite famous among the banquet halls of Silverleaf City.
01:44Many young nobles made special trips to the Laurel Banquet Hall, just to hear her play a single tune.
01:50Later, someone actually harbored wicked intentions and tried to force her to be their secondary wife, and it was Edwin
01:56who accepted her to rescue her.
01:57This incident quickly became a beautiful tale in Silverleaf City.
02:01When such a story spread through Silverleaf City, it was inevitable that people would say it should end with her
02:05pledging her life to home and marriage.
02:07But Edwin said that since his official primary wife had not yet entered the estate, he would not give Lyra
02:11a status first, so as not to slight her.
02:14This matter spread through almost the entire Silverleaf City.
02:17The Queen Mother once asked me if I felt wronged, saying that this marriage covenant could be annulled.
02:22My father and brothers all died in battle in the North.
02:25Grateful for the Caelwyn family's merits in defending the borders, the Queen Mother kept me by her side to raise
02:30me and bestowed upon me the title of Duchess of Silver Branch.
02:33Pitying me for losing my parents at a young age, the Queen Mother had always been exceptionally fond of me.
02:37My favored status in the Moonlit Palace was in no way inferior, even when compared to the true royal princesses.
02:43But since this marriage covenant was personally blessed by the High King and recorded in the marriage registry, how could
02:48it be annulled so easily?
02:49Not wanting to put the Queen Mother in a difficult position, I knelt before her and said,
02:54I do not feel wronged. This marriage covenant is very good, there is no need to annul it.
02:58Only, I never expected that Lyra would appear precisely on the Covenant night.
03:02The Twin Cup Moonbrew had barely touched our lips when Edlin's personal tenant stumbled into the outer hall.
03:07My lord! Lady Lyra's father has passed away! Lady Lyra has already cried herself into a fate!
03:12As the pups crashed to the floor, Edlin had already dashed out of the door.
03:16Saddle my horse!
03:20His voice faded into the distance.
03:22Have you summoned the physician? Lyra's constitution is weak.
03:25Quickly prepare the Century Lol Moonjink and the Vital Energy Nourishing Glue.
03:29I have no idea how heartbroken she will be!
03:31I stared blankly at the spilled moonbrew on the floor.
03:34The old lady-in-waiting's eyes reddened.
03:36My lady duchess, the lord is truly going too far.
03:40Today was supposed to be your covenant night for a banquet singer.
03:43He left you alone to wait in the bridal moon chamber all night?
03:46This is clearly humiliating you in public!
03:48Almost everyone in Silverleaf City knew that the one Edlin held in his heart was a banquet singer.
03:53Now that I had experienced it myself,
03:55I finally understood that she was probably truly the one who had the closest thing to me.
03:59The twin moon wedding lamps burned all night, and Edlin did not return all night.
04:04Early the next morning, I went to pay my respects to the Dowager Lady Thornwell.
04:07Edlin, bringing along Lyra in her black gauze morning dress, was already standing before the Dowager Lady.
04:13Upon seeing me, her eyes were already brimming with tears, like a frightened little fawn.
04:18Her body swayed, and then she knelt before me.
04:20I pay my respects to my lady. Last night was all my fault. I ruined your covenant night.
04:25If my lady wished to punish me, I have no complaints.
04:29After saying this, she bowed deeply, her forehead almost touching the floor.
04:33Edlin looked at me with a conflicted expression.
04:35Lyra is the banquet singer I saved back then.
04:38Now her father has just passed away.
04:40She has no one left to rely on.
04:42And several lecherous young nobles want to take her away by force.
04:45She has nowhere left to go.
04:47I want to take advantage of her mourning period not yet being over to give her a status first,
04:51letting her enter the main estate so she at least has a place to shelter.
04:54If you absolutely refuse, I will tell her to leave the main estates and ignore her from now, Ahan.
04:59Tears rolled down Lyra's cheeks as she gazed at me timidly.
05:02My lady, I beg you, I have nowhere else to go.
05:05If I still cannot find a place to shelter, then my only path left is death.
05:10The Dowager Lady felt a pang of heartache seeing this, and only raised her eyes to look at me.
05:17Elowyn, now everyone regards you as the future mistress of the Thornwell estate.
05:21The affairs of this hold are naturally yours to decide.
05:25However, the Thornwell family has always been renowned for charity and compassion.
05:30Since you have stepped into this position, you ought to show a broader spirit
05:34and keep the family's greater end interests in mind.
05:38Letting her enter the main estate merely means gaining one more secondary wife.
05:44These words were clearly meant as a warning to me.
05:47She cannot surpass position.
05:48If I refused to let Lyra enter the main estate, I would be branded as jealous.
05:53I would be seen as intolerant, even so cruel as to refuse to lend a hand to someone driven to
05:58a dead end.
05:58It was the Lord who saved me that day, and I swore to repay his kindness.
06:03If my lady for the Lord's favours is uneasy, afraid that I'm willing to drink a sterility drought,
06:08I will never bear children, and never compete with my lady.
06:11Would that be okay?
06:13Elowyn's face showed his distress, and he merely looked at me.
06:17Elowyn, Lyra has a gentle nature.
06:20She doesn't understand all these schemes in the main estate.
06:24You don't need to be so hard on her.
06:29Lyra's maid started to drop straight to her knees before me.
06:33Pippi, my lady!
06:34Our young miss has long been intimate with Lord's husband and wife,
06:36and now she carries the Lord's bloodline in her womb!
06:38She absolutely cannot drink a sterility draith!
06:41As soon as these words came out, the entire room was shocked.
06:45Quick, help her up!
06:46How can she touch a sterility draith when she's pregnant?
06:49This is pure nonsense!
06:51Edlin hurriedly helped her up.
06:52You foolish girl.
06:53Why didn't you tell me sooner?
06:55How long were you planning to hide this alone?
06:57With reddened eyes, Lyra looked at him.
06:59I didn't want to put the Lord in a difficult position.
07:01I ruined your marriage covenant ceremony with my lady, and I already felt guilty.
07:06I just wanted to quietly drink a miscarriage draith,
07:09to spare the Lord any trouble,
07:10and to prevent my lady from being displeased with him on my account.
07:14Elowyn, the outside world all regards you as the mistress of the Thornwell estate.
07:18Even if Lyra gives birth to a child, that child cannot surpass you.
07:22After all, it is the Lord's bloodline,
07:24and with the only mother it will recognize in this main nest-peed outside,
07:27will be newer you.
07:27The Lord saving a banquet singer has long been a beautiful tale in Silverleaf City.
07:34If you end up only giving her the status of a secondary wife,
07:38wouldn't that slight your own affections?
07:41Why not openly and honorably make her your primary wife?
07:44That would better show just how deep and profound your devotion to Lady Yira is.
07:49Edlund's expression visibly relaxed.
07:51He was just about to speak when he heard my latter sentence,
07:55and his face changed abruptly.
07:58What primary wife, Elwyn? Lyra and I are not-
08:00Not what?
08:01Not truly in love?
08:03Or is the child in her womb not yours?
08:07I heard the Lord saved her from peril back then,
08:09and Lady Lyra allowed her life to you in return.
08:11Now you even have a child together.
08:14So this is what you meant when you said
08:15since the primary wife has not yet entered the estate,
08:18I shouldn't give another woman a status first.
08:20Not giving her a title,
08:21but keeping her as a mistress on the outside, is that it?
08:23Lyra's face turned ghastly pale.
08:25My lady, I am not the kind of woman to be hidden away on the outside.
08:30I simply adore the Lord,
08:32and I want nothing more than that.
08:34Not a woman hidden away on the outside?
08:36Then that's even worse.
08:38Without even a status that can be presented in the light of day,
08:41does Lady Lyra want the child in her womb to be born
08:43without even qualifying as a recognized illegitimate bloodline?
08:46That's not what I meant!
08:47That's not what I meant!
08:48I nodded at my leisure.
08:50Whether you meant it or not,
08:51I will fulfill your deep infatuation.
08:54And I will also fulfill the Lord's tender pity for you.
09:00Saying this, I turn to the Dowager Lady.
09:03Dowager Lady, Ed and I failed to complete the night's ceiling yesterday.
09:06On our covenant night,
09:07he did not stay in the bridal moon chamber,
09:09but spent it at Lady Lara's place.
09:11My accompanying maidshades can testify to this,
09:13and the servants of the Thornwheel Estate can testify as well.
09:16Therefore, I will petition the Royal Court
09:18to annul this marriage covenant.
09:23I know I was in the wrong last night,
09:25but Lycra's father passed away so suddenly,
09:26I had to go and handle the funeral arrangements for her.
09:29Otherwise, what is a lone girl like her supposed to do?
09:31There won't be anything like this ever again.
09:33We will live our days properly.
09:35Elvin, I will definitely make it up to you.
09:37You say you want to annul the marriage covenant?
09:39What do you expect the High King and Queen Mother to do?
09:42I couldn't help but laugh as I listened.
09:44Edlin, our marriage covenant was personally blessed by the High King
09:46and recorded in the marriage registry.
09:48Yet precisely on the covenant night,
09:50you abandoned your bride to accompany a banquet singer.
09:53The one who truly trampled His Majesty's prestige underfoot is you, not me.
09:57If His Majesty truly wishes to assign blame,
09:59he will only condemn the Thornwell family.
10:01What crime have I committed?
10:02I am merely the daughter of border-defending heroes,
10:05one who has been publicly humiliated.
10:07You've disgraced the royal court
10:09and dishonored the Calowyn family as well.
10:13My words made Edlin's face turn incredibly ugly.
10:16He knew that everything I said was the truth.
10:19If this matter truly spread,
10:21the one who would lose face would only be him.
10:24Lyra hastily stepped forward.
10:25My lady, it is all my fault.
10:28Please don't be angry.
10:29It is entirely my mistake.
10:31I will leave the main of fate right now
10:33and I will never appear before you and the Lord again.
10:37Okay?
10:38I am merely someone who snaps at the slightest breath.
10:40I am not worth my lady and the Lord arguing like this.
10:43Even if those young nobles to take me away by force,
10:45at worst I'll just die,
10:46but I will never let them succeed.
10:48I will simply put the Lord in a difficult position again.
10:51Covering her face, she wept.
10:54Edlin's heart was breaking.
10:55Lyra, you don't have to leave.
10:57I am the Lord of this estate.
10:58What I say goes in here.
10:59Moreover, you carry my child.
11:01How could I let you leave?
11:03I merely wanted to give her the status of a secondary wife.
11:07Must you make a fuss until all of Silver Slith City knows?
11:11Which mistress of a noble house
11:13would cause such a scene over a secondary wife?
11:15Lyra has a miserable background.
11:17Unlike you,
11:18who still have the Queen Mother's doling affection
11:20even after losting your father and brothers.
11:23She is all alone now.
11:24I am merely protecting her a little more.
11:26Can you not even tolerate that?
11:29Do you think everyone is like you,
11:30still having powerful backers behind them
11:32even after loosing their father and brothers?
11:35Edlin,
11:36what right do you have to speak of my father and brothers?
11:39Even His Majesty would not lightly mention them in front of me.
11:42And who do you think you are?
11:45He clearly knew I was an orphaned girl
11:47and he assumed I had nowhere else to go.
11:50Therefore,
11:50he had long made up his mind
11:52that even if he humiliated me like this,
11:54I could do nothing to him.
11:55Adolin held back his fury and gave chase.
11:57Elevane,
11:58for all your title as the Duchess of Silver Branch,
12:01if you walk out of the Thornwood Estate,
12:04where else can you go?
12:05You must understand,
12:07you are not a member of the royal family.
12:10That title
12:11is nothing but an empty name.
12:14Do you really think the Queen Mother
12:15and His Majesty
12:16would heavily punish the Thornwell family
12:19just for you?
12:20In his eyes,
12:21I was merely a Duchess of Silver Branch
12:23with an empty title.
12:24He reckoned the Queen Mother
12:25and His Majesty
12:26might not genuinely unleash their wrath for my sake.
12:28So what did he have to fear?
12:30However,
12:31he was wrong.
12:32My father was the Supreme Commander
12:34of the North before his death.
12:36I am the descendant
12:37of an illustrious border-defending family,
12:39naturally possessing the arrogance
12:40in the Kailin family's bloodline.
12:42I commanded sternly,
12:44Guards,
12:44pack up my belongings,
12:46gather all my dowry and treasures,
12:48and return to the Kailin Ancestral Rote.
12:50Everyone was stunned.
12:51The Kailin Ancestral Estate
12:53had been sealed shut for over a decade.
12:54Now,
12:55I was actually going to unseal
12:57the Kailin Ancestral Estate?
13:01Can you stop this nonsense?
13:02Edlin shouted sternly.
13:04Do you think you are still
13:05the eldest daughter
13:06of the Kailin family
13:06who is pampered by everyone,
13:08able to do whatever you please?
13:09The Dowager Lady stood up
13:11to smooth things over.
13:12Elevin,
13:13I know you are a good child.
13:16Rest assured,
13:17as long as I am here,
13:19if Edlin dares to wrong you
13:21like this again in the future,
13:23I will never let him off lightly.
13:27This is a major matter.
13:29It is a marriage covenant
13:30personally blessed by the High King
13:31and recorded in the Royal Court's
13:33marriage registry.
13:34How can it be dropped so easily?
13:36Today,
13:36I will arrange for the two of you
13:38to complete the night sealing anew.
13:40What do you say?
13:40I will absolutely not let
13:42anyone disturb you again.
13:44If you truly cannot tolerate Lyra,
13:46then we won't let Edlin
13:47give her the status
13:48of a secondary wife.
13:50We will just keep her
13:51in the main estate
13:52as a maidservant.
13:53They seem to have forgotten
13:54that even though
13:55I had lost my father and brothers,
13:56I was still the Duchess of Silver Branch,
13:58personally ennobled by His Majesty,
14:00and the only direct descendant
14:02of the Kailin family.
14:03Back then,
14:04my father and brothers
14:05held great prestige
14:06in the Northern Army.
14:07Even though they had long
14:08died in battle,
14:09whenever the Kailin father and sons
14:10were mentioned now,
14:11everyone in the royal court
14:12would hail them as heroes.
14:13Did he truly think that I,
14:15the sole remaining bloodline
14:16of the Kailin family,
14:17would allow them
14:18to humiliate me like this?
14:19There is no need,
14:20Dowager Lady.
14:22This marriage covenant
14:23ends here.
14:25I will grant the Lord of the North
14:26and Lady Lyra
14:27what they desire.
14:31This way,
14:32when the child
14:33in Lady Lyra's whim is born,
14:34it will be the first recognized,
14:37legitimate inheriting offspring
14:38of the Thornwell family.
14:40This is the truly justifiable way.
14:42Otherwise,
14:44if that child
14:45can even enter
14:45the family lineage,
14:46how will they ever be able
14:48to hold their head high
14:49in this world
14:49in the future?
14:53My words caused
14:54Edlin's face to darken,
14:55and it also made
14:56a gleam of expectation
14:57flash in Lyra's eyes.
14:59Elevin,
15:00you had better
15:01think this through carefully.
15:03If you dare to walk
15:04out of this door today,
15:05there will be no coming back.
15:08The doors of the Thornwell estate
15:10are not something
15:10you can just enter
15:11whenever you wish.
15:13My lady,
15:15please do not leave
15:16because of me, okay?
15:17If you wish to blame
15:19or punish,
15:20direct it all at me.
15:21She leaned close to me.
15:22Lady Kaowyn,
15:24lowering her voice,
15:24the person the Lord
15:25has truly loved
15:26all along is me.
15:27You cannot compete with me.
15:29After saying that,
15:30My lady,
15:31if you leave,
15:32His Majesty will blame the Lord.
15:34It is all my fault.
15:35Please do not leave.
15:37If someone truly must leave,
15:38it should be me.
15:40Do you truly want me to stay?
15:42I raised my brow
15:42and looked at her.
15:43If I stay,
15:44you will never be able
15:45to enter the Thornwell main estate.
15:47Tears brimming in Lyla's eyes.
15:49Then what should I do,
15:50my lady?
15:51Won't you show me?
15:57Seeing my cold expression,
15:59Lyra looked toward Edlin
15:59with reddened eyes.
16:00My lord,
16:01did I do something wrong
16:02to displease my lady?
16:04But I no longer have a father
16:05and I have no other relatives
16:06in this world
16:07nor anywhere to go.
16:19I merely wanted to repay
16:21the Lord's life-saving grace.
16:22My lord,
16:23I ask for nothing at all.
16:25Even if I have no stasis
16:27and can only stay
16:28in the main estate
16:29as the lowest mode
16:30shipment shades,
16:31I am willing.
16:36Please,
16:36beg my lady for me.
16:38As long as I can
16:39enter the main estate,
16:40I don't want anything else.
16:41I said I would let you
16:43enter the main estate
16:44and I will take good care
16:45of you and the child.
16:46Since I have given my word,
16:47I will definitely see it done.
17:03Elevan,
17:04if you nod and let Lyra stay,
17:06I will make sure
17:07she continues to place you
17:08first in this household.
17:09Did you really think
17:10he was some precious treasure
17:11worth fighting over?
17:12My lord,
17:13I have already said
17:13that this marriage covenant
17:14ends here.
17:15From this day forward,
17:17you and I will walk
17:17our separate paths
17:18have nothing to do
17:19with each other.
17:37The Kaelwen Ancestral Estate,
17:39after being sealed shut
17:40for over a decade,
17:41was finally unsealed.
17:43The fact that the Duchess
17:44of Silver Branch,
17:45on the very day
17:46after her marriage covenant
17:47ceremony with the Lord
17:48of the North,
17:49had grandly returned
17:50to the Kaelwen Ancestral Estate
17:51with carriage after carriage
17:53of dowry,
17:54instantly spread
17:55throughout Silverleaf City.
17:56As soon as my people
17:58returned to the Ancestral Estate,
17:59they immediately began
18:00tidying and cleaning it anew.
18:02In just a few days,
18:04the entire Ancestral Estate
18:05had been restored
18:06to a completely new look,
18:07and the Queen Mother's decree
18:08soon arrived at the Kaelwen
18:09Estate as well.
18:10I was summoned
18:11since the Moonlit Palace.
18:14Kneeling before the Queen Mother
18:15with reddened eyes,
18:16I said,
18:17Queen Mother,
18:18I no longer wish to enter
18:19into a marriage covenant
18:19with the Lord of the North.
18:21He has long had someone
18:23else in his heart.
18:24Furthermore,
18:25he and that banquet singer
18:26have long pledged themselves
18:27to each other in private,
18:28and they even have a child.
18:30My maidservants
18:30had already knelt down,
18:32tearfully recounting
18:32Edlin's actions
18:33in the covenant night.
18:34She inevitably added
18:35a bit of dramatic embellishment,
18:36causing the Queen Mother's eyes
18:38to turn red as she listened.
18:42I said Edlin didn't look
18:43like a devoted man.
18:45To think that right after
18:46the marriage covenant ceremony,
18:47he got entangled
18:48with this kind of banquet singer.
18:50Elevin,
18:50you are a lady
18:51born of an ancient noble family.
18:53How could you know
18:54the tricks of such people?
18:55These women who sing
18:56in banquet halls
18:57know best how to manipulate men.
18:59As soon as they spot
19:00a young noble,
19:00they can come up
19:01with countless ways
19:02to bore their way
19:02into high society.
19:03The Queen
19:04and several noble women
19:05who were sitting in attendance
19:06in the Queen Mother's
19:07moon pavilion at the time
19:08all deeply agreed.
19:10Especially those ladies,
19:11as if they had finally
19:12found an outlet,
19:13chimed in one after another.
19:14Women like that
19:15are mostly experts
19:16at pretending
19:17they'll shatter at a touch.
19:18As soon as they see a man,
19:19they know how to
19:20throw themselves at him.
19:21They also always love
19:22to fabricate
19:22some pitiful background story.
19:24The men in Annen hears it,
19:25he simply feels like
19:26he became a hero
19:26due to someone in distress.
19:28This method is old,
19:29but it works the best.
19:30I never thought
19:31the Lord of the North
19:32would actually be befuddled
19:33by such a woman.
19:34Running around for her father,
19:36pledging her life
19:37in gratitude,
19:38it's mostly all just excuses.
19:40The Queen Mother
19:41looked at me and sighed.
19:42If you don't marry
19:42the Lord of the North,
19:43what will you do
19:44in the future?
19:45This world is always
19:46harsh on women.
19:47I fear people will use
19:49this matter to goss about you.
19:52I lifted my head
19:53and smiled faintly.
19:54Queen Mother,
19:55who did wrong was not me.
19:57I have nothing to fear.
19:58My father and brothers
19:59are heroes of the North
20:00and I come from
20:00an illustrious
20:01abortion-defending family.
20:02That's really,
20:03I carry their fiery blood.
20:05I will hold up
20:05the Kaelin family's honor
20:06and I don't need
20:07to be on anyone.
20:08The Queen Mother nodded.
20:10Truly worthy of being
20:11a child of the Kaelin family.
20:13With you here,
20:14the Kaelin family
20:15will stand tall once again.
20:17Con learning of this,
20:18His Majesty soon bestowed gifts
20:19upon the Kaelin ancestral estate.
20:21The winds in Silverleaf City
20:22shifted instantly
20:23and the number of noble women
20:25and young ladies
20:26visiting the Kaelin estate
20:27began to multiply.
20:28Edlin originally thought
20:30that I simply couldn't
20:31swallow my pride
20:31over what happened
20:32on the Covenant night.
20:33He figured that after a few days
20:35when he came to coax me,
20:36I would change my mind
20:37and return to the
20:38Thornwell estate.
20:39However,
20:39when His Majesty's bestowed gifts
20:41arrived at the Kaelin household,
20:42he finally realized
20:43things were going badly.
20:45I had absolutely no intention
20:46of changing my mind.
20:47Moreover,
20:48since I had returned
20:49to the Kaelin ancestral estate,
20:52my father and brothers,
20:53former comrades-in-arms,
20:54old friends,
20:55and several elders
20:56all came calling
20:57one after another,
20:58taking great care
20:59of this orphaned girl.
21:00The wife of a former
21:00border commander
21:01held my hand tightly
21:02and said,
21:03Elevin,
21:03our two families
21:04are old friends
21:05spanning generations.
21:06In the course
21:07when you lived
21:07in the Moonlit Palace,
21:08it was inconvenient
21:09for us to meet often.
21:10Said that you've returned
21:11to your ancestral estate.
21:12Our family should
21:13actually interact more.
21:15Anything comes up,
21:16just send someone to find us.
21:17That banquet singer
21:18is not worth a second glance.
21:20From now on,
21:21Auntie will keep an eye out
21:22for you.
21:22There will always be
21:24someone better than him.
21:27The news that Lyra
21:28was pregnant with a child
21:29of the Lord of the North
21:30quickly spread
21:31until everyone
21:32in Silverleaf City knew.
21:33His Majesty also learned
21:35of what happened
21:35on the Covenant Night.
21:37During a royal court council,
21:38he remarked indifferently,
21:40I did not expect
21:41the Lord of the North
21:42to be so thoroughly
21:43captivated by a single person.
21:45Since you are not fined
21:46of the marriage covenant
21:47I blessed for you,
21:47then as you wish,
21:48I will grant you
21:49my fulfillment
21:49with that banquet singer.
21:51This single sentence
21:52from His Majesty
21:52was almost equivalent
21:53to ordaining that Lyra
21:54would be the future
21:55Lady of the Domain.
21:58Edlin returned
21:59to his main estate
21:59with an ashen face.
22:01Since His Majesty
22:02had already spoken,
22:03his future lady
22:04could only be Lyra.
22:06He knew that His Majesty
22:07was warning and penalizing him
22:08for ruining a marriage covenant
22:09endorsed by the royal court.
22:11Since he looked down
22:12on the Duchess of Silverbridge,
22:13who was personally ennobled
22:14by His Majesty
22:15and highly regarded
22:16by the Queen Mother,
22:17then he might as well go
22:18and marry the banquet singer
22:19he so deeply longed for.
22:20But in Silverleaf City,
22:22which ancient noble household's
22:23main estate
22:24would ever let a banquet
22:24man become his mistress,
22:26Lyra's pregnancy
22:27became more obvious
22:27by the day.
22:29Left with no other choice,
22:31Edlin could only choose
22:32a date to officially
22:32finalize the marriage covenant
22:34with Lyra.
22:37Lyra was ecstatic.
22:39She originally thought
22:40she could at best
22:41enter the main estate
22:42as a secondary wife.
22:43She never imagined
22:44she would end up
22:45sitting in the position
22:46of Lady Thornwell.
22:48On the day of the marriage
22:49covenant ceremony,
22:50quite a few people
22:51came to observe.
22:52Lyra purposely had
22:53her wedding gown
22:54custom made
22:54at the Silver Shuttle boutique
22:55with a loose cut
22:56that made it difficult
22:57to tell she was already pregnant.
22:58The bride has arrived.
23:00Commence the Sun Vow ceremony.
23:03The maid stepped forward
23:05immediately.
23:06The fragrant herb pouch
23:07hanging from the maid servant's waist
23:08was warmed by the heat
23:09in the ceremony hall,
23:10suddenly emitting
23:10a strong scent.
23:12She was standing
23:12very close to Lyra.
23:14Smelling that sweet,
23:15sickly scent
23:15mixed with medicinal herbs,
23:16Lyra's stomach
23:17immediately churned.
23:19Even through her veil,
23:20she couldn't hold it back
23:21and let out a low wrench.
23:22The maid servant
23:23quickly stood straight
23:24and supported her.
23:24What is wrong, my lady?
23:25Are you feeling unwell?
23:27That mixed scent
23:28surged forward again.
23:29Lyra's body swayed
23:31and the veil slipped down
23:32from her forehead.
23:33Her face deathly paled.
23:34She didn't even have time
23:35to cover her mouth.
23:36Bending over,
23:37she vomited
23:38all over the floor.
23:41The entire hall of guests
23:42instantly went into
23:43an uphole,
23:44covering their noses
23:45and mouths
23:45as they backed away.
23:48Several sharp-eyed noblewomen
23:50immediately saw through
23:50what was going on.
23:52No way.
23:53Looking at her,
23:53it seems she has
23:54only pregnant.
23:56Could it be she was
23:56already with child
23:57before the Lord of the North
23:58officially entered
23:58into a marriage covenant?
24:01No wonder the dunch
24:02of Silbradge
24:03want to astrol the marriage.
24:04Shay Havn't
24:05would find disgusting.
24:06The Lord of the North
24:07truly has no standards
24:09at all.
24:09The primary wife
24:10hadn't even entered
24:11the estate,
24:11but he already let a woman
24:12kept on the outside
24:13get pregnant.
24:13Now look at this.
24:14He's just marrying her
24:15directly as his lady.
24:16To think the Grand Lord
24:17of the North
24:18is actually entangled
24:19with a banquet singer
24:19and now he's even
24:20let her take the place
24:21as his lady,
24:22he has completely
24:22become a joke.
24:23So the reason this
24:24caused such a big thrust
24:25and they rushed
24:26the marriage covenant
24:26is because of the child.
24:28Just as expected
24:29of someone from
24:29the banquet halls,
24:30she knows best
24:31how to lean
24:31into a man's embrace.
24:33They hadn't even
24:34officially married,
24:35yet she already
24:35had a child.
24:36How do you know
24:37the child definitely
24:37belongs to the Lord
24:38of the North?
24:39She used to sing
24:40in the Laurel Banquet Hall
24:41and who knows
24:41how many young nobles
24:42requested her songs.
24:43Who the father
24:44of this child is
24:45is truly hard to say.
24:46Hearing the discussions
24:47all around her,
24:48Lyra's face turned pale.
24:50Clutching her chest
24:51and holding back tears,
24:52she looked toward Edlin.
24:54My Lord.
24:57Meanwhile,
24:58the Dowager Lady's face
24:59had already darkened
24:59completely,
25:00feeling that her dignity
25:01was entirely lost.
25:03She merely ordered
25:03the old lady-in-waiting
25:04in a cold voice.
25:05Hurry up
25:05and help the lady inside.
25:06Don't let her stand here
25:08and embarrass us
25:08any further.
25:09To make such a scene
25:10during the sun-bow ceremony,
25:12the Thornwell family
25:13has practically become
25:14the laughingstock
25:14of all Silverleaf City.
25:16How can a banquet singer
25:17of such lowly people
25:17ever stand in the halls
25:18of nobility?
25:19I originally thought
25:20that letting her
25:20into the estate
25:21as a secondary wife
25:22would be ended.
25:22I never expected Edrin
25:23would actually let her
25:24sit in the position
25:24of the lady.
25:25She has thrown away
25:26every last scrap of my face!
25:27This marriage covenant ceremony
25:28belonging to the Lord
25:29of the North
25:30ultimately ended hastily
25:31in a mess.
25:32And because Edlin hastily
25:33finalized his marriage covenant
25:34with Lyra,
25:35and she was clearly seen
25:36to be already pregnant,
25:38he became the laughingstock
25:39of the aristocratic circles.
25:41Lyra, however,
25:42was incredibly smug.
25:43She had finally sat
25:44in the position
25:45of the mistress
25:45of the Thornwell estate,
25:46feeling wonderfully motivated.
25:48From now on,
25:49she was no longer
25:50that lowly banquet singer.
25:51But early the next morning,
25:52when she went to pay
25:53her respects
25:54to the Dowager Lady,
25:55she saw the Dowager Lady
25:56holding the hand
25:56of a highborn noble lady,
25:58chatting with a face
25:59full of smiles.
26:00Seeing her and Edlin
26:01come in together,
26:04the young woman
26:05charmingly stepped forward
26:06to greet them,
26:07hooking her arm
26:08through Edlin's
26:08and smiling.
26:09Cousin.
26:10The Dowager Lady
26:10smiled and said,
26:12This is Selina,
26:13Edlin's cousin.
26:14The two of them
26:14grew up together
26:15since childhood.
26:16If her father
26:17hadn't been dispatched
26:17to serve in the
26:18outer provinces back then,
26:19our two families
26:20originally intended
26:21to set a marriage covenant
26:22for them.
26:22But now she has returned
26:24to Silver Reef City
26:24with her father,
26:25and she won't be
26:26leaving anymore.
26:27Selia says she still
26:28prefers the Thornwell
26:29main estate,
26:30and wants to move in
26:31to keep me company
26:32for a while.
26:33It just so happens
26:34that Lyra is currently
26:35pregnant,
26:35and it is inconvenient
26:36for her to manage
26:37the affairs of the household.
26:39Selia is someone
26:39I've watched grow up
26:40since she was a child.
26:41Hitting over the
26:42domestic affairs
26:42and banquet arrangements
26:44to her puts my mind
26:45completely at release.
26:46Selina merely looked
26:47at her with a smile.
26:48Please do not take
26:49offense, my lady.
26:50Arie is merely
26:51playing favorites with me.
26:52I have been used
26:53to coming to the
26:53Thornwell estate
26:54since I was little.
26:55It's no different
26:56from my own home.
26:56You don't need
26:57to be overly polite
26:58with me.
26:58I will certainly manage
26:59the affairs of the estate
27:00properly for you.
27:01Without waiting
27:02for Lyra to speak,
27:03the Dowager lady continued.
27:05Lyra, since you
27:05are pregnant now,
27:06it's inconvenient
27:07for you to keep
27:08the Lord company.
27:09It's perfectly timed
27:11that's moving
27:11a Selene to the estate.
27:12There will be
27:13one more person
27:14to look after things.
27:15Lyra's face
27:15changed instantly.
27:19The Dowager lady's
27:20meaning couldn't
27:20have been more obvious.
27:22This cousin Selene
27:23was most likely
27:23going to be elevated
27:24into the main estate
27:25and occupy
27:26a permanent place.
27:27She forced a smile
27:29mother and said,
27:30Lady Selene is also
27:30a highborn noble lady.
27:33If she enters
27:34the main estate
27:34merely as a secondary wife,
27:36wouldn't that be
27:37wronging her too much?
27:38The underlying meaning
27:39of her words
27:40is nothing more
27:40than trying to force
27:41Selene to retreat
27:42in the face of difficult times
27:43and stop meddling
27:44in the formal family.
27:46I was thinking
27:47the exact same thing
27:48as you.
27:49Merely being a secondary wife
27:51would indeed be
27:51too much of an injustice
27:53for Selene.
27:54She is a highborn
27:55noble lady.
27:56How could we only give
27:57her the status
27:58of a secondary wife?
27:59I think it would be
28:00better to pick a day
28:01and let Selene move
28:02into the estate
28:03in the capacity
28:04of a proxy ceremonial lady
28:05acting her status.
28:07This way,
28:08when Edlin goes out
28:09to attend banquets
28:10or socializes
28:11at the royal court,
28:12he will also have
28:13a presentable mistress
28:14by his side.
28:15With red and eyes,
28:16I will look at Edlin.
28:17My lord,
28:18didn't you say
28:19that you only had me
28:19in your heart?
28:22Edlin pulls her
28:23into an embrace
28:23to decide.
28:24It's just an empty title.
28:25Don't overthink it.
28:26I have always just
28:27treated Selene
28:27as a younger sister.
28:29Even if she moves
28:30into the estate,
28:31it's merely going
28:31through the motions.
28:33I only have you
28:34in my heart.
28:35Right now,
28:35you should just focus
28:36on safely nourishing
28:37your pregnancy
28:38and giving birth
28:38to the child.
28:39Not having to worry
28:40about anything else,
28:41isn't that more relaxing?
28:43Managing the domestic affairs
28:45and banquets
28:45of a main estate
28:46has never been easy.
28:47You come from
28:47a humble background
28:48and you still need
28:49a few more years
28:50to learn the rules
28:50of these ancient noble houses.
28:52When you've mastered them,
28:53I will hand these matters
28:54over to you.
28:55Rest assured,
28:56I will not treat you
28:57or the child poorly.
28:58Only a few days
28:59after the Lord of the North
29:00finalized his marriage covenant
29:01with Lyra,
29:02he welcomed Selene
29:03into the main estate
29:03as a co-mistress.
29:04When I heard this news,
29:06I couldn't help but laugh.
29:07Edlin truly knew
29:08how to play his cards.
29:10Selene's father
29:10was none other
29:11than the newly appointed
29:12Minister of Protocol
29:12of the Royal Court.
29:13It stood to reason
29:14that this would be
29:14of great help
29:15to Edlin's future prospects
29:16in the Royal Court.
29:17Lyra, ultimately,
29:18could not be presented
29:19in truly high-class settings.
29:21Naturally,
29:21he needed a woman
29:22with a powerful family
29:23backing her
29:23to hold up his public image.
29:27Now,
29:28everyone in Silverleaf City
29:29knew that the inner courtyards
29:30of the Thornwell estate
29:31were exceptionally lively.
29:32A lady and a co-mistress
29:34turned the entire
29:34inner courtyard upside down,
29:36leaving no peace.
29:37Even the simple matter
29:38of whose courtyard
29:39the Lord stayed in
29:39for one extra night
29:40would be blown out
29:41of proportion the next day
29:42until everyone
29:43in the estate
29:44knew about it.
29:44You were nothing
29:45but a lowly banquet singer
29:46without an ounce of shame.
29:48A jealous woman
29:49who clung desperately
29:50to the Lord
29:50even while heavily pregnant.
29:52You were uselessly
29:53occupying the statuses
29:54of a high-born noble lady
29:56while using every trick
29:57in the book
29:57to seduce the Lord every day.
29:59Where was the decency
30:00a noble lady should have?
30:01You were simply
30:02as frivolous and loose
30:03as the women
30:03in low-class pleasure houses.
30:05For a time,
30:06the inner courtyard
30:07of the Thornwell estate
30:08were thrown into utter chaos.
30:09Edlin was given
30:10such a splitting headache
30:11by the constant arguing
30:12that he didn't even want
30:12to set foot
30:13in the inner courtyard.
30:14As soon as he returned
30:15to the estate,
30:16he would use
30:17being busy with affairs
30:18as an excuse
30:18to sleep in the East Wing study.
30:20This went on
30:21until I,
30:22following the Queen Mother's decree,
30:24hosted the early
30:24spring charity bank
30:25in Silver Lake City.
30:27And because of this,
30:28I saw Lyra
30:29and Edlin once again.
30:33Because I was the host today,
30:35I deliberately dressed
30:36and adorned myself
30:37meticulously
30:38before making my appearance.
30:39When Edlin saw me,
30:41he was visibly stunned
30:41for a moment.
30:42Then,
30:43looking at Lyra
30:44not far away,
30:45whose face was sallow
30:46and whose figure
30:46had long since lost
30:47its former slender grace.
30:49A trace of regret
30:50actually flashed
30:51in the depths of his eyes.
30:53Elevin,
30:54have you been well lately?
30:56I have always wanted
30:57to go to the Kaywin estate
30:58to apologize to you,
30:59but I was afraid
31:00you would refuse to see me.
31:01Seeing him put on
31:02such an affectionate guise,
31:03those who didn't know
31:04the truth would probably think
31:05there was truly
31:06some lingering old flame
31:07between us.
31:08I immediately took
31:08a few steps back.
31:09He took another step forward.
31:12I ordered several sets
31:13of jeweled tiaras
31:14and ornaments for you
31:15at the Starlight Jeweler.
31:16I'll have someone
31:17send them to the
31:17Kaywin estate tomorrow.
31:18Alright?
31:19Your birthday's coming up,
31:20just consider them
31:21my birthday gifts to you.
31:22I smiled and said,
31:22My lord,
31:24you and I have long
31:25had absolutely no ties
31:26to each other.
31:27If a man like you
31:28sends me jewelry,
31:29word will inevitably spread
31:30and cause misunderstanding.
31:31Moreover,
31:32you are already married
31:33and I am a woman
31:34who has not yet settled
31:35a new marriage covenant.
31:36There is no need
31:37for me to involve myself
31:38with you.
31:39I must ask the lord
31:40to conduct himself
31:40with dignity.
31:43The moment Lyra
31:44saw Edlin standing with me,
31:46her eyes flickered slightly
31:47and she immediately
31:48hurried over.
31:49Clinging tightly
31:50to Edlin's arm
31:51as if terrified
31:51I might snatch him away.
31:53She smiled at me.
31:54I pay my respects
31:55to the Duchess of Silverbreach.
31:57Has my lady been well lately?
31:58I heard his majesty
31:59seems Zoot's inclined
32:00to arrange another
32:01marriage covenant for you.
32:02This time I do hope
32:03my lady doesn't cause
32:04another scene
32:04with a last minute annelment.
32:06Looking at her
32:07poorly concealed smugness,
32:08I mocked.
32:09Lady Thornwell,
32:10rather than concerning yourself
32:11with my marriage covenants,
32:12you would be better off
32:13worrying about your own position
32:14in the main estate.
32:16I heard the lord's co-mistra
32:17has been greatly favored lately
32:18and since she comes
32:19from a highborn family,
32:20it stands to reason
32:21she will suppress you very soon.
32:23After all,
32:23she is the one currently
32:24managing the domestic
32:26and banquet affairs
32:26of the household.
32:27In the eyes of outsiders,
32:28who can truly represent
32:29the Thornwell family
32:30is most likely her.
32:31When the day comes
32:32that she also gives birth
32:33to a child,
32:34I'm afraid neither you
32:35nor the child
32:36and your woman
32:37will have any good days left.
32:39Every single sentence of mine
32:40stabbed precisely
32:40into the places
32:41she feared the most.
32:42After finishing,
32:43I turned and walked away,
32:45only to hear Lyra
32:46interrogating Edlin
32:47right behind me.
32:50Hasn't she already
32:51annulled the marriage covenant
32:52with you?
32:53Why are you still pestering her?
32:54Have you regretted it?
32:55Edlin's impatience
32:56was plain to see.
32:57You are constantly
32:58so suspicious every day.
32:59If I truly wanted her,
33:01why would I have finalized
33:02the marriage covenant
33:03with you in the first place?
33:05Lyra's pregnancy
33:05was already very obvious.
33:07Leaning against Edlin's side,
33:09she thought about my words
33:10from just a moment ago
33:10with reddened eyes.
33:11She remembered the last time
33:13Edlin took Selene
33:14to another household's tea banquet.
33:15Selene showed off her skills
33:17during the tea-tasting freezer,
33:18winning the admiration
33:19of the entire party
33:20and taking first prize.
33:22Edlin instantly felt
33:23his prestige rise.
33:24After returning to the estate,
33:26he ended up sleeping
33:26in Selene's court
33:27for half a month straight.
33:28It was said that Selene
33:29had also been having
33:30the physician prepare
33:30pregnancy-stabilizing potions
33:32for her recently,
33:33hoping to secure her position
33:34by bearing a son.
33:35She had to find a way
33:36to earn some face for Edlin
33:37and overshadow Selene.
33:39Thinking of this,
33:40she looked at everyone
33:40sipping the new spring bud tea,
33:42stood up,
33:43and said softly,
33:44For everyone to just sit here
33:45tasting and discussing tea
33:46is perhaps a bit dull.
33:48I have recently learned
33:49a new tune,
33:50and I am willing to play it once
33:51to add some entertainment
33:52to today's gathering.
33:56The moment she said this,
33:57Edlin's face changed instantly,
33:59whereas the male guests
34:00to the tables enthusiastically
34:01applauded and voiced
34:02their approval.
34:03The Lord of the North
34:04truly has great fortune.
34:06Having married Lady Lyra,
34:07from now on he can hear
34:08the harp in his estate
34:09every single day.
34:10Isn't that right?
34:11How can any of us
34:12compare to the Lord?
34:13Ever since Lady Lyra
34:15entered the main estate,
34:16we haven't heard her play
34:17for a very long time.
34:18Since you've offered
34:18such a fine tune,
34:20naturally a wedding gift
34:21should be added.
34:23The crowd grew more
34:24and more lively.
34:25Thinking she had already
34:26overshadowed Selene,
34:27Lyra had a smug little hum,
34:29hugged her harp,
34:29and walked up to
34:30the small stage
34:31at the front.
34:32She didn't even wear a veil.
34:33Simply sitting there,
34:34she began to play
34:35the new tune.
34:36When the song ended,
34:37the entire hall
34:38erupted in chills.
34:38Down at the table,
34:40I hid the corner of my lips
34:41behind a feathered fan
34:42and smilingly
34:43instructed my servants.
34:44Lady Thornwell's tune
34:45was truly lovely.
34:47Someone,
34:48have a gold leaf hairpin
34:49noted down as a reward
34:50in Lady Thornwell's name.
34:51As soon as my words fell,
34:52several noble ladies nearby
34:54all chimed in with a smile.
34:55Silver hairpins,
34:57arm bracelets,
34:58copper coins,
34:59silver coins.
35:00All sorts of rewards were given.
35:04A maidservant carried
35:05a full tray of jewelry
35:06and silver coins to Lyra.
35:08Lady Thornwell's,
35:09these are the ornaments
35:10and silver coins
35:11that the lords and ladies present
35:13have added as charitable donations
35:14in your name.
35:16Smiling,
35:16Lyra instructed the maidservant,
35:18Quickly thank the lords
35:19and ladies for me
35:20and hurry up and accept them.
35:21She walked back to her seat
35:23and smiledly,
35:23looking at Edlin with a smile.
35:25My lord,
35:26did I play well?
35:28It had been a long time
35:29since she heard
35:29such resounding cheers
35:30from the hall.
35:31Back when she sang
35:32in the banquet halls,
35:33people would always cheer
35:34for her exactly like this.
35:36Hearing these sounds again now
35:37made her rediscover
35:38the feeling of being
35:39wildly sought after from before.
35:40In the next second,
35:42Edlin delivered a heavy slap
35:43right across her face.
35:44You are the lady of the domain now,
35:46not that woman
35:46who sang in banquet halls anymore.
35:48You bear the name
35:49of the Thornwell family's mistress,
35:50and yet you perform
35:51in public for rewards?
35:52Is the Thornwell family
35:54too poor to keep you?
35:55Or do you truly need
35:56these few coins that badly?
35:57You have thrown away
35:58every last bit
35:59of the Thornwell family's dignity.
36:01Guards,
36:02take the lady back.
36:03Lock her in her courtyard
36:04to reflect on her actions
36:05behind closed doors.
36:06Without my permission,
36:06she is not allowed
36:07to step out of her quarters.
36:11Lyra froze and cleared
36:12My lord,
36:12I didn't mean to.
36:14It was the Duchess of Silverbridge
36:15who said that
36:16if I didn't win your favor,
36:18I would sooner or later
36:19be suppressed by Selene.
36:21She deliberately set a trap
36:22to ruin me.
36:24I covered my lips,
36:24looking utterly astonished.
36:25Lady Thornwell,
36:26what are you talking about?
36:28I am a woman
36:28who hasn't even settled
36:29a new marriage covenant.
36:31When would I ever
36:31say such things?
36:33You ruined my marriage covenant
36:34back then,
36:35and I haven't even settled
36:36that score with you.
36:37Now you come to slander
36:39my reputation.
36:40Do you think that I,
36:40the Duchess of Silverbridge,
36:42am someone easy to bully?
36:43Clear it at me, Fred.
36:44You were the one
36:45who spoke up first
36:45to have them add rewards
36:46for me,
36:47which made them mock me
36:48like an entertainer
36:49in a banquet hall.
36:50You people just looked down
36:51on my background
36:52as a banquet singer,
36:53and you deliberately
36:54took this chance
36:55to humiliate me.
36:56I widened my eyes.
36:57Lady Thornwell,
36:58do you have any idea
36:59what you are saying?
37:01I took a step forward,
37:02walking toward the edge
37:03of the small stage
37:04at the front.
37:05I hosted this early spring
37:06charity banquet today,
37:07following the Queen Mother's decree.
37:10Its very purpose
37:11is to invite noble ladies
37:12to perform,
37:12and then let the lords
37:14and ladies present
37:14add charitable donations
37:15in the performers' names
37:17according to their own preferences.
37:18And these jewels,
37:20silver coins,
37:20and ornaments
37:21will all be exchanged
37:22in the name
37:23of performing noble ladies
37:24for grain,
37:25winter cloaks,
37:26medicinal herbs,
37:27and bandages
37:28to be sent
37:28to the northern forest keep
37:29for the defenders
37:30who desperately need them.
37:32How could such a noble cause
37:33become an insult
37:35the minute it left your lips?
37:39How could such a noble cause
37:40become an insult
37:42the minute it left your lips?
37:43The people present
37:43nodded one after another.
37:46Before you arrived,
37:47we had already gone through
37:48several rounds
37:48of charitable donations,
37:50but other ladies
37:50who performed
37:51all wore veils.
37:52Lady Thornwell's temperament
37:53is different,
37:54and she refused
37:55to wear one herself,
37:56so naturally
37:56we couldn't say anything.
37:57How has it now become
37:58us deliberately humiliating
37:59you with our charity?
38:01Adeline hadn't paid
38:02any attention
38:02to the movements
38:03in Silverleaf City
38:04these past few days at all.
38:05I purposely had
38:06the messengers deliver
38:07the invitation
38:07to the Thornwell estate
38:08absolutely last.
38:10Most likely,
38:10he never even looked closely
38:11at what was written inside,
38:13merely assuming
38:13it was no different
38:14from the tea banquets
38:15of previous years.
38:16Thoroughly distraved,
38:17Edeline had no choice
38:18but to drag Lyra
38:19away from the banquet
38:20of Hannah,
38:20hurrying back
38:21to the Thornwell estate.
38:22When the Dowager lady
38:23came down,
38:24she clutched her chest
38:25in sheer fury.
38:26Just what kind of family
38:28ruining disaster
38:28have you brought back?
38:30You threw away
38:30the Duchess of Silverbridge
38:31whose marriage covenant
38:32was personally blessed
38:33by the High Ming
38:33and who was highly regarded
38:34by the Queen Mother.
38:36All because you insisted
38:37on this unspentable wretch.
38:41All because you insisted
38:43on this unspentable wretch.
38:45Taking her outside
38:46will only throw away
38:47the Thornwell family's face
38:47entirely,
38:48immediately strip her
38:49of her title as the lady
38:50and demote her
38:50to a secondary wife.
38:51From now on,
38:52the only mister in this estate
38:54who can stand before others
38:55needs only B.C. Lynia.
38:57Hearing this,
38:58Lyra couldn't possibly
38:59sit still anymore.
39:00Thrusting her pregnant belly forward,
39:02she lunged as if to smash
39:03her head against the pillar.
39:04Is the Lord going to strip me
39:06of my position
39:06and devote me
39:07to a secondary wife?
39:08Who was it that said
39:09he would let me sit
39:09in the position of the lady?
39:10And who said our child
39:11would inherit
39:12the Thornwell family's
39:13linie in the future?
39:13They the first
39:14recognized legitimator!
39:16If the Lord regrets it now,
39:18I will smash my head
39:19and die right here!
39:19Edeline quietly reached out
39:20to stop her,
39:21and the room was
39:22instantly thrown into chaos.
39:23Right at that moment,
39:24he made certain
39:25my Lord, congratulations!
39:26The physician has just
39:27diagnosed Lady Selene
39:29to be pregnant.
39:30Lady Selene is currently
39:30throwing up terribly
39:31in her courtyard.
39:32Please go and see her,
39:33my Lord.
39:34What?
39:35As soon as the word fell,
39:36Edeline was instantly
39:37overjoyed.
39:38Is this true?
39:39For a moment,
39:40he was distracted,
39:41and his grip loosened.
39:46And his grip loosened.
39:48Lyra had merely
39:49pretending to throw
39:49herself at the pillar,
39:50but without any
39:51obstruction this time,
39:52her whole body
39:53genuinely smashed
39:54right into it.
39:55Blood instantly flowed
39:56down the side
39:56of her forehead,
39:57her entire face
39:58turning deathly pale.
39:59She clutched her belly
40:00and curled up on her head.
40:02My Lord,
40:03my stomach hurts so much.
40:05Save our child.
40:06Before she could even finish,
40:07she went limp
40:07and collapsed.
40:09This is bad!
40:10Lady Lyra has knocked
40:11herself unconscious!
40:12Guards,
40:12quickly summon the physician!
40:14The formal estate
40:16was instantly
40:16plunged into sheer
40:17pain.
40:18Lyra's collision
40:19had actually
40:20become real.
40:21Not only did she
40:21break her forehead,
40:22but she also injured
40:23the child of Helene.
40:25Because of this,
40:25she went into
40:26labor prematurely.
40:27Meanwhile,
40:28Selene gritted her teeth
40:29in her own courtyard.
40:30What a shameless rush.
40:32Knowing perfectly well
40:33that I am also pregnant,
40:34she purposely chose
40:35this exact time
40:36to ram a pillar
40:37and go into
40:38premature labor.
40:39She clearly just wants
40:41to hook my cousin's
40:41attention back.
40:42A woman born of
40:43a banquet singer,
40:44does she actually think
40:45she can let the first
40:45recognized heir of the
40:46Thornwell family
40:47be born from her womb?
40:48Lyra's child was already
40:49not yet full term.
40:50And on top of that,
40:52she had injured her forehead.
40:53Halfway through
40:54the harrowing labor,
40:55she had lost all
40:55her strength entirely.
40:57The physician spent
40:57a great deal of effort
40:58to barely stabilize
40:59her breathing.
41:00After enduring pain
41:01for a full day and night,
41:02she gave birth
41:03to a premature daughter
41:04as frail and tiny
41:05as a newborn kitten.
41:07Lyra had passed out.
41:09The physician spent
41:10a great deal of effort
41:11to barely stabilize
41:11her breathing.
41:12After enduring pain
41:13for a full day and night,
41:14she gave birth
41:15to a premature daughter
41:16as frail and tiny
41:17as a newborn kitten.
41:19Lyra had passed out.
41:20When she woke up
41:21and saw a baby girl
41:22in her arms,
41:23she instantly shrieked.
41:24I was clearly
41:25carrying a son.
41:26How can it be a daughter?
41:28You must have
41:28swapped my child!
41:30Did Selina send you?
41:32She wants to secure
41:33her position
41:33in the main estate,
41:35so she swapped my son.
41:36Tell her to give
41:37my child back!
41:38She vehemently insisted
41:39that Selina
41:40had swapped her
42:07back.
42:07Breaking out
42:07in cold sweats,
42:08she cried out
42:09with her to bleed.
42:13Before the physician
42:13could even arrive,
42:14Selina was already
42:15bleeding heavily.
42:17She experienced
42:18unbearable abdominal pain.
42:19Breaking out
42:20in cold sweats,
42:21she cried out
42:21with her to bleed.
42:25Before the physician
42:26could even arrive,
42:27Selina was already
42:27bleeding heavily.
42:29The child in her womb,
42:30not even two months
42:31along,
42:31could not be saved.
42:32After examining
42:33the food she had consumed,
42:34the physician detected
42:35an abortion herb
42:36in that sweet broth.
42:37Something that should
42:38never appear
42:38in a pregnant woman's diet.
42:40The dosage
42:40was staggeringly heavy,
42:42absolutely not something
42:43that had been mixed
42:43in by accident.
42:45Selina's eyes
42:45turned bloodshot.
42:46Tie up that bitch, Lyra,
42:47and drag her here!
42:49Lyra, however,
42:50showed not a shred
42:51of fear.
42:52Nearly hugging
42:52her daughter,
42:53she sneered coldly.
42:54I was the one
42:54who did it,
42:55so what?
42:56That bowl of sweet broth
42:57didn't just have
42:58abortion mess in,
42:59it also had something
42:59to cause sterility.
43:01Selina,
43:01you wanted to secure
43:03that position?
43:04Keep dreaming.
43:05The only bloodline
43:06the Thornsfield family
43:08will ever leave behind
43:09from now on
43:10will be my daughter.
43:12She laughed like a maniac,
43:13looking at the hurriedly
43:14arriving Edlin and Ma.
43:15You were the one
43:16who first tricked me
43:16into giving myself to you
43:17and then tricked me
43:18into entering the main estate.
43:19Now you even want
43:20to strip me of my position
43:21and demote me
43:22to a secondary wife.
43:23You deceived me
43:24so many times,
43:25I am merely seeking
43:25justice for myself
43:26this one time.
43:27That's fair.
43:29Edlin,
43:29you wronged me first,
43:30so don't blame me
43:31for being ruthless.
43:34Selina ultimately
43:35lost her child
43:36and permanently lost
43:37any possibility
43:38of becoming pregnant again.
43:39The Felwyn family
43:40erupted in fury.
43:44The Felwyn family
43:45erupted in fury,
43:46refusing to look
43:47at her father
43:47and stubbornly insisted
43:49on handing Lyra
43:50over to the royal court's
43:51judicial department.
43:52Lyra was not afraid
43:53in the slightest.
43:53She merely stated
43:54that if they truly
43:55forced her to die
43:56before her death,
43:57she would naturally
43:58expose every single secret
43:59within the thornhill estate
44:00that shouldn't be leaked
44:01in the outside world.
44:02Ultimately,
44:03Edlin couldn't bear it.
44:04He racked his brains
44:05and pulled strings
44:06to spare Lyra's life.
44:07The Felwyn family
44:08forced him to agree
44:09to send Lyra
44:09to the grove
44:10of ancestral spirits,
44:11forbidding her
44:12from ever returning
44:13to the main estate
44:13for the rest of her life.
44:15Her daughter would be
44:15handed over to Selina
44:16to raise,
44:17and from then on,
44:18Edlin was forbidden
44:19from giving any other woman
44:20a status,
44:21and forbidden from welcoming
44:22anyone else
44:23into the main estate.
44:24From that moment forward,
44:25Selina would be the sole
44:26recognized mistress
44:27of the Thornwell family.
44:28It was as if
44:29the Thornwell family
44:30had lost all its vitality
44:31overnight,
44:32sinking into complete silence
44:33within Silverleaf City.
44:34By the time the people
44:35I had planted
44:36in the Thornwell estate
44:37delivered this news
44:37to my hands,
44:38two or three months
44:39had already passed.
44:40I heard that Lyra
44:41was sent to the grove
44:42of ancestral spirits.
44:43Meanwhile,
44:44although Selina
44:44kept that child
44:45by her side,
44:46whenever she thought
44:47of how she had been ruined
44:48into her current state,
44:49she would go mad
44:50with hatred,
44:51occasionally feeling
44:51the urge
44:52to strangle the child.
44:53When Lyra found out,
44:54she ultimately hung herself
44:55with a long white silk sash
44:57in the grove
44:57of ancestral spirits.
45:04She ultimately hung herself
45:05with a long white silk sash
45:06in the grove
45:07of ancestral spirits.
45:08She wanted to use
45:09her own life
45:09to buy a path of survival
45:10for her daughter.
45:11When the people
45:12of Silverleaf City
45:12gossiped in private,
45:14they all sighed
45:14that the Lord of the North
45:15had personally blocked off
45:16his own prospects
45:17and all his avenues
45:18of retreat.
45:19His path within the royal court
45:21had likely come to an end.
45:22Later,
45:23he only held
45:24an insignificant post
45:24in the royal court,
45:25and His Majesty
45:26simply stopped summoning him
45:27to the councils altogether.
45:28This also meant
45:29that his future prospects
45:30in the royal court
45:31were thoroughly severed.
45:32As for me,
45:33because I had hosted
45:33several charity banquets
45:34with utter propriety,
45:35everyone in Silverleaf City
45:37praised the daughter
45:37of the Kalewin family
45:38as being compassionate,
45:39generous to others,
45:40and a person who truly
45:42accomplished practical deeds.
45:43The queen mother asked
45:44what reward I wished to request.
45:45I thought about it,
45:46and only asked
45:47for one gracious permission.
45:49A month later,
45:49I followed the royal court's
45:50convoy escorting grain,
45:52winter cloaks,
45:53and medicinal herbs
45:54to the northern forest keep.
45:55I would also establish
45:56an academy for women in the north,
45:57teaching those
45:58surviving destitute women
45:59how to read,
46:00keep accounts,
46:01identify herbs,
46:01and learn a craft
46:02to settle down
46:03and support themselves.
46:04From then on,
46:05allowing them to also
46:06possess a piece of the world
46:07that belonged entirely
46:07to themselves.
46:09Someone asked me
46:09if I would ever want
46:10to go home in the future.
46:11I smiled faintly.
46:13The world is so vast,
46:14anywhere can be home.
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