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My Revenge Under the Serpent Tattoo (18eps) - Short Drama Full HD 1080p #ASM
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Short filmTranscript
00:00When the first king rode to war, he met a great serpent on the road and cut it into eight
00:05pieces with his sword.
00:06From that day forward, every prince born of royal blood carried the curse.
00:11A spirit serpent would mark them at birth as a tattoo on their skin, visible only to certain eyes.
00:17On their 20th birthday, the tattoo would wake, take living form, and drain the prince of his life.
00:23The only way to break the curse was to marry a serpent tamer, and in every generation, there was only
00:28one.
00:29In my previous life, the queen arranged my marriage to the crown prince.
00:33After we were joined, the tattoo faded. The crown prince survived.
00:36But my half-sister Seraphine had been in love with him for years.
00:40When he did not choose her, she was married off to a brutal lord and died under his cruelty.
00:45My father blamed me. To make amends for what he felt he owed her, he poisoned my mother and took
00:51Seraphine's mother, Lady Sura, as his new wife.
00:55On the anniversary of Seraphine's death, the crown prince had me thrown into the royal punishment chamber.
01:00I was sewn into a sack. Ninety-nine rats tore at me for ten days. That is how I died.
01:06You call yourself a serpent tamer? Why didn't you call the serpents to devour the rats?
01:11You were nothing but a fraud who wanted to attach herself to the crown prince.
01:15You caused Seraphine's death for your own gain. I will make you suffer a thousand times what she endured.
01:21When I opened my eyes again, I was in the past. It was the day the queen had summoned me
01:25to the palace.
01:26I knelt. Your majesty, I ask you to reconsider. I have not yet dealt the gift of foresight.
01:32I am afraid I cannot tame the serpent for the crown prince.
01:34Only a serpent tamer could see the tattoo. That sight was a gift.
01:39Anyone who could not see it was no serpent tamer at all.
01:42The queen frowned and was quiet for a moment.
01:44But the oracle's prophecy has never been wrong. Perhaps your gift has not yet surfaced at your age.
01:51Go to the crown prince's residence first.
01:53The doors burst open. The crown prince strode in.
01:56Caelan knelt and Seraphine decided.
01:58I will not marry Alara. I want to marry her half-sister Seraphina.
02:03Mother, please give us your blessing.
02:05The queen rebuked him gently. Caelan held his ground.
02:09Mother, Alara bribed the oracle to fabulate the curse.
02:12Our royal bloodline is blessed by heaven. No serpent can touch me.
02:16The queen pressed two fingers to her temple.
02:18You foolish boy. I was the serpent tamer of my generation.
02:22Do you think your father would have survived if he hadn't married me?
02:25Your uncles. Every single one of them died at twenty.
02:28I watched it happen with my own eyes.
02:31Her eyes had gone red.
02:33She came down from the throne and lifted Caelan to his feet.
02:36I drove the oracle day and night to read the stars before I found her.
02:40Your twentieth birthday is five days away. There is no time left.
02:44Caelan set his job.
02:45Star readings can be wrong.
02:46The oracle may have confused the two sisters.
02:50Seraphine has the gift of foresight as well.
02:52She is the serpent tamer. I want her.
02:55The queen paused and looked at Seraphine.
02:58Can you see the tattoo on the crown prince?
03:00Where is it?
03:02Seraphine stared at Caelan for a long moment.
03:04The tattoo is on his neck. A white serpent.
03:06The crease between the queen's brows smoothed.
03:09The same as what I see.
03:11Then you are the serpent tamer.
03:13I kept my face still and laughed inside.
03:16Before I even reached the palace after waking into this new life,
03:19I told Seraphine exactly one thing.
03:21Before the crown prince turned twenty,
03:23there would be a white serpent tattoo on his neck.
03:26That was all she needed to know.
03:27But once Caelan turned twenty,
03:29the serpent would wake and move.
03:31And Seraphine, who had no gift at all,
03:33would have nothing left to say.
03:35This was how I planned to escape the fate that had killed me.
03:38In my first life,
03:39the queen had forced the marriage based on the oracle's word,
03:42and Caelan had blamed me for Seraphine's death.
03:45When I died,
03:46the rats had torn through every vein in my body.
03:48The pain felt like it had never left.
03:50A chill crawled up my spine,
03:52and I shuddered.
03:53The queen thought for a moment.
03:54Very well.
03:56Seraphina will marry the crown prince.
03:58The wedding will take place in five days,
04:00on his twentieth birthday.
04:02Caelan's eyes lit up.
04:03Seraphine bowed her thanks,
04:05and turned to look at me.
04:06Sister,
04:07you fabricated a lie trying to take my place,
04:09and get close to the crown prince.
04:11What punishment do you deserve for that?
04:13Caelan's voice was cold.
04:14Allara is vain,
04:16and greedy.
04:17Then softened slightly.
04:19Since this is a first offense,
04:21corporal punishment,
04:22a small lesson.
04:23The queen smiled and waved.
04:25The three of us stepped forward together.
04:27Allara just refused that proposal herself.
04:29You have both misunderstood her.
04:31A flash of frustration crossed Seraphine's face.
04:34Caelan looked at me with confusion and suspicion,
04:37and said quietly,
04:38Are you still planning something?
04:39Congratulations to the crown prince and his bride.
04:42Since this was all a misunderstanding,
04:44I'll take my leave.
04:45The queen sighed.
04:46The oracle has never been wrong,
04:48but something still unsettles me.
04:50Allara,
04:51stay at the prime minister's estate for now.
04:53If Seraphine cannot tame the serpent,
04:55you will be taken as a concubine.
04:56I breathed in,
04:57bowed my thanks,
04:58and turned to go.
04:59The moment my back was to them,
05:01the heat left my face.
05:03In this life,
05:04I would not let them move me like a piece on a board.
05:08When I walked back to the prime minister's estate,
05:10Caelan and Seraphine had already arrived ahead of me by carriage.
05:14Lady Sura looked at me once,
05:15and gave a cold laugh.
05:17You tried to climb above your station,
05:18and ended up a laughing stock,
05:20using your body to court the powerful.
05:22You are lower than a street rat.
05:24My father's voice was stern.
05:25You committed an offense against the royal household.
05:28If Seraphila had not come forward,
05:30you would have dragged the entire family down.
05:33He stopped,
05:34then issued orders immediately.
05:36Ilara did all of this at her mother's direction.
05:38Move her mother to the servant's quarter.
05:40Lady Sura and Seraphine will take the main rooms.
05:43My mother had broken both legs years ago,
05:45and had been bedridden since.
05:47My father had not visited her once.
05:49Now that Seraphine had secured the crown prince,
05:52he dropped all pretense.
05:54The servants went to take my mother away.
05:56I panicked and ran after them.
05:58My father caught me.
05:59You are also punished.
06:00You will serve dinner tonight.
06:02I had no choice but to stay.
06:04I served dishes,
06:06poured water,
06:06and carried the wash basin.
06:08After the meal,
06:09I was taking the plates to the kitchen
06:10when I turned a corner,
06:12and nearly walked into Caelan,
06:13coming back from the courtyard,
06:15his guards behind him.
06:16I tried to go around him.
06:17He moved fast,
06:18and blocked my way.
06:20Alara,
06:20in the previous life you caused Seraphine's death
06:22and paid with your own.
06:23That debt is settled.
06:25But in this life,
06:26do not think for a moment about interfering
06:27with anything between me and Seraphine.
06:29His next words came out like charity.
06:31If you conduct yourself properly,
06:33I may consider making you a concubine,
06:35as my mother suggested.
06:37You will show Seraphine the respect she is owed.
06:39Every morning you will bow to her
06:41and prepare her tea.
06:42I stepped back.
06:43Your highness,
06:44when did I say I wanted to marry you?
06:46He frowned.
06:48I know you were also reborn.
06:49You deceived my mother in the previous serfs.
06:51You wanted to be crowned princess.
06:53You gave that up today.
06:54It's even liquid you.
06:55I met his eyes.
06:56You and Seraphine belong together.
06:58I have no intention of getting in the way.
07:00Caelan's face flushed with anger.
07:01Don't be ungrateful.
07:03Offering you a place as cogbine
07:05is already far more than you deserve.
07:06If my mother issues a royal decree,
07:08you will come even as a serf.
07:09I will not say this twice.
07:11In five days,
07:12I will come for Seraphine.
07:13I will carry her into the palcate myself.
07:15Don't stand there weeping
07:16and blaming me for leaving you behind.
07:18Seraphine had come to find him.
07:19She found him
07:20and settled into the curve of his arm.
07:22A breeze carried the scent of roses
07:24into the courtyard.
07:26Seraphine sneezed.
07:27That smell is unbearable.
07:28If I have to breathe it every day
07:30after I move into the main rooms,
07:31I won't be able to stand it.
07:32Simple enough.
07:33Pull them all out.
07:34Those roses were my mother's life's work.
07:36Before she came to this estate,
07:38she had run a flower shop
07:39that was known throughout the region.
07:41After marrying my father,
07:42she had spent years cultivating rare varieties
07:44and giving them to him as gifts.
07:46When she lost the use of her legs,
07:48looking at those flowers through the window
07:49was the only comfort she had left.
07:51If they were destroyed,
07:52those varieties would be gone forever.
07:53No one would ever grow them again.
07:55Your mother should hurry up and die.
07:57Do you want to know how she broke her legs?
07:58At the top of the hill,
07:59my mother pushed her.
08:00I lost control.
08:01I slapped Seraphine hard across the face.
08:04Her cheek swelled immediately.
08:06She fell and started crying.
08:07My father walked over at once,
08:09had two guards pin my arms
08:10and struck me across the face ten times.
08:13My head was splitting.
08:15Caelan looked down at me,
08:16his eyes filled with absolute disgust.
08:19You deserve this.
08:20You caused Seraphine suffering in the past.
08:23And in this life,
08:24I will make you pay a thousand times over.
08:26This time,
08:28since he begged to jump straight into the serpent's mouth,
08:30I was more than happy to let him go.
08:32Just wait for me.
08:34Stop.
08:36This is the Prime Minister's estate.
08:37You dare touch anything here without his permission?
08:40The guards hesitated and looked at Caelan.
08:42My father came over at the sound of my voice.
08:44Do as his height miscommands.
08:46Once Lady Sura moves into this courtyard,
08:49keeping those flowers will only displease her.
08:51After my mother lost her legs,
08:52my father had done everything he could to make her happy.
08:54He had tended those flowers himself.
08:57He used to carry her out to the garden
08:58so she could smell them and watch the stars.
09:00But years of her illness had changed him.
09:02My eyes were burning.
09:04I kept my voice quiet.
09:05Give me one day to move them to the building
09:07where my mother's staying.
09:09Can you do that?
09:10Both my father and Caelan hesitated.
09:12Then Seraphine screamed.
09:13Something bit me.
09:15Her hand had been stung,
09:16a red welt rising on the skin.
09:18Caelan caught the insect and waved his hand.
09:21What are y'all standing there for?
09:22Do it now!
09:23My father nodded.
09:24They hurt my daughter.
09:25Those flowers should go.
09:26No!
09:28I threw myself into the rosebush
09:29trying to save the few remaining stones.
09:31But a dozen guards and servants
09:32were already tearing every plant out by the roots,
09:35ripping them into pieces.
09:36I knelt in the mud,
09:37unable to move,
09:38unable to do anything.
09:40Seraphine walked over
09:40and made a show of helping me out.
09:42She leaned down close to my ear.
09:43What are you grieving for?
09:44Those flowers are nothing.
09:46Your mother should hurry up and die.
09:47Do you want to know how she broke her legs?
09:49At the top of the hill,
09:50my mother pushed her.
09:50I couldn't breathe.
09:52My mother had been healthy once.
09:54Since that fall,
09:54she had never been the same.
09:56Half of her life had been taken from her.
09:57I lost control.
09:58I slapped Seraphine hard across the face.
10:01Her cheek swelled immediately.
10:02She fell and started crying.
10:04My father walked over at once,
10:06had two guards pin my arms
10:07and struck me across the face ten times.
10:09My head was splitting.
10:11Through the pain,
10:11I shouted at him.
10:13Lady Sora did this to my mother!
10:15My father's expression shifted
10:16into something strange
10:17and then he said sharply,
10:18Be quiet!
10:19I understood then.
10:20He had already known.
10:22That was why he had been
10:23so attentive to her afterward.
10:24Guilt.
10:25Kaylin had already pulled Seraphine
10:26to her feet.
10:27You hurt her again.
10:28You never change.
10:30I only wanted to help my sister up
10:32and she did this to me.
10:34Maybe she resents me
10:35for telling the queen the truth.
10:37Maybe she resents me
10:38for taking you.
10:39Kaylin kicked me hard in the stomach.
10:41I tasted blood.
10:43You claim you have no interest in me,
10:45yet you hurt her at every opportunity.
10:47Blood dripped from my chin
10:48onto my collar.
10:49His eyes were blank.
10:51I'm going to give you a lesson
10:52you won't forget
10:52for the rest of your life.
10:54Take her out.
10:54A feast display in the town square.
10:56Use her as the offering.
10:57You dare?
10:58I will appeal directly to the queen.
11:01Your mother is alone
11:03in the servants' quarters.
11:04If something were to happen to her,
11:06she would not survive it.
11:07What would you do then?
11:08I heard what the threat actually meant.
11:10Don't touch my mother.
11:11If enduring my own humiliation
11:13would keep her alive,
11:14I would endure it.
11:15I let the guards drag me away.
11:17Before they pulled me out,
11:18I saw it for the first time.
11:19The spirit circle foiled around Kaylin
11:21opened its pleasing eyes.
11:23Then it shifted position
11:24and went back to sleep.
11:26I was still frozen
11:27from that moment of eye contact
11:29when my clothes were stripped
11:30and I was thrown into the town square.
11:31My body arranged with food
11:33as the display.
11:33Hundreds of people surged forward.
11:35Knives and forks cut into my skin.
11:37People scratched me with their fingernails
11:38in the scramble for food.
11:39I was shaking.
11:40Eyes red.
11:41Covered in blood and sauce.
11:43Kaylin addressed the crowd.
11:44This is Alora,
11:45daughter of the Prime Minister.
11:46She fabricated lies
11:47and claimed to be a serpent tamer,
11:49deceiving the royal family.
11:50When her scheme was exposed,
11:52she tried to harm the crown princess.
11:53She deserves no mercy.
11:56I didn't lie to the queen!
11:59I struck Seraphine to avenge my mother!
12:03The crowd didn't listen.
12:05All lies.
12:07Rotten eggs, garbage and stones
12:09flew from every direction.
12:12A woman like this.
12:13Thinking she could be queen?
12:15What a joke!
12:17We'll punish her for the crown, crown prince!
12:20For the crown prince!
12:21I was bruised everywhere,
12:23bleeding from a dozen places.
12:24I wrapped my arms around my head and saw it.
12:26I never tried to compete
12:28with Seraphine for that position.
12:30Why are you doing this to me?
12:32In our previous life,
12:34we were husband and wife.
12:36I carried your child.
12:38The child had never been born.
12:40When Kaylin learned of Seraphine's death
12:42and had me executed,
12:44the child died with me.
12:45Kaylin heard me.
12:46A flash of something like pain
12:48crossed his face,
12:49there and gone in an instant.
12:50Alera, you hate Seraphina.
12:52I cannot allow any harm to come to her.
12:54This lesson will teach you to stay in your place.
12:56Once you come to the palace,
12:58you'll learn to be afraid of her.
12:59He hadn't finished speaking
13:00when several stones struck the back of my head.
13:03As I was losing consciousness,
13:05a figure came close.
13:06A cloak was laid over me.
13:08Someone stood over me,
13:10shielding me from the stones
13:11and flying debris.
13:12Then everything went dark.
13:14When I woke,
13:15I was lying in the crown princess's chambers
13:17inside the palace.
13:18A man stood at my bedside.
13:20There was a black serpent tattoo on his neck.
13:23Dorian, the second prince,
13:25son of the queen consort.
13:27In my first life,
13:28on the day of Kaylin's wedding,
13:29Dorian had given me an heirloom bracelet
13:31of the royal family as a gift.
13:33After Kaylin had me subjected to the rat punishment,
13:35Dorian found my body in the pauper's cemetery.
13:38He buried me himself,
13:39crying until he couldn't speak.
13:41After that,
13:42he opposed Kaylin at every turn,
13:43pushing close to outright rebellion.
13:46But he never found a serpent king.
13:48He died at 20.
13:50You're awake.
13:51Before I could answer,
13:52the queen consort came in
13:54and took both my hands.
13:55Miss Allura, I beg you,
13:57marry my son and save his life.
13:59The tips of Dorian's ears went red.
14:01He glanced at me sideways
14:02and quickly looked away.
14:04I accept.
14:05But I have one condition.
14:07The terms were settled quickly.
14:09The king then summoned Dorian
14:10to the throne room.
14:11I cleaned up
14:13and took the second prince's carriage
14:14back to the estate.
14:15I went to the building
14:17where my mother had been moved.
14:19Seraphine and Lady Sura were already there.
14:21I walked up to my mother.
14:23What are you doing here?
14:24I brought food.
14:26Seraphine nudged the bowl
14:27on the floor with her foot.
14:28My mother is the prime minister's wife.
14:31How dare you give her something like this?
14:33The two of you deserve to eat
14:35whatever the dogs leave behind.
14:37Anger rose in me,
14:38but I didn't want to make a scene
14:39in front of my mother.
14:40I pushed it down.
14:41Your mother doesn't know yet.
14:43Father is planning to throw her
14:44out of the house entirely.
14:46And you, her daughter,
14:47were put on display
14:48in the town square
14:48as a feast offering.
14:50Now you're wanted
14:50throughout the city
14:51for deceiving the royal family
14:53and conspiring against
14:54the crown princess.
14:55Who would ever marry you?
14:56That's enough!
14:57My mother sat up sharply,
14:59breathing hard.
15:00I rubbed her back
15:01and told Seraphine
15:02and Lady Sura to get out.
15:04Letting you stay alive
15:05has always been a problem.
15:07If the queen discovers
15:08I'm not the real serpent tamer,
15:09she'll order the crown prince
15:11to have me eliminated.
15:12You have to die.
15:14Only then will she let it go.
15:16She pulled out a small vial
15:17and reached for my mouth.
15:18Lady Sura grabbed both my wrists.
15:20The pill was nearly forced
15:21between my lips
15:21when my mother lunged
15:22towards Seraphine.
15:23Seraphine stepped aside.
15:24My mother lost her balance
15:26and fell.
15:26Footsteps sounded outside.
15:28Lady Sura let go of me.
15:31Kaelin and my father
15:32walked in.
15:33Seraphine ran to Kaelin
15:35and tucked herself against him,
15:36her eyes bright.
15:37These are medicinal herbs.
15:40I came personally
15:41to bring them for her.
15:42She wouldn't take them.
15:44My sister told her
15:45they were poison
15:46and she attacked me
15:47trying to kill me.
15:48I lifted my mother
15:49from the floor
15:50as gently as I could
15:51and helped her back to the bed.
15:53Kaelin grabbed me
15:54by the throat.
15:55You're too afraid
15:55to cause trouble yourself
15:57so you use your mother
15:58to do it?
15:59Those are poison!
16:01Seraphine was trying
16:02to kill me!
16:04Sister, why do you
16:05always accuse me
16:06of things?
16:07My mother and I
16:08pray for your mother's
16:09recovery every single day.
16:11Father knows this
16:11better than anyone.
16:13Kaelin looked at my father.
16:14My father gave a firm nod.
16:16Seraphine and Lady Sura
16:17are kind-hearted women.
16:19They would never hurt anyone.
16:20Kaelin believed it
16:21without hesitation.
16:22He snatched the pills
16:23from Seraphine's hand
16:24and forced them
16:25into my mother's mouth.
16:27These are herbs, Alara,
16:29and you call them poison.
16:31I screamed and tried
16:32to get to her
16:32but the guards blocked her.
16:34She'll die!
16:35Punish me!
16:37Don't hurt her!
16:39My mother had no strength
16:40to resist.
16:41The poison was already
16:42inside her.
16:43I broke free of the guards
16:44and pressed my fingers
16:45to her throat
16:46trying to make her
16:46bring it back up.
16:47It was useless.
16:49My father gave a disdain
16:50for a sound.
16:51I've always said
16:52Seraphine would never
16:53poison anyone.
16:54Look at her.
16:54She's perfectly fine.
16:56He put his arm
16:57around Lady Sura.
16:57Kaelin held Seraphine.
16:59They walked out
17:00without looking back.
17:01Get the doctor!
17:03I shouted at my mom.
17:05She stumbled out
17:06of the room.
17:06My mother shook her head
17:08and pulled me close.
17:09I couldn't protect you.
17:11Look what they've done
17:12to you.
17:13I don't think
17:13I'm going to make it.
17:15She coughed up
17:15dark blood.
17:18I'll take all the pain
17:20for the rest of my life.
17:21Just stay.
17:23Please stay.
17:24The doctor is coming.
17:25My hand went still.
17:27I pressed my ear
17:28to her chest.
17:29Her heartbeat was gone.
17:30My mother was dead.
17:32The woman I had let myself
17:33be used as a feast offering
17:34to protect was gone forever.
17:36On the day of Kaelin's wedding,
17:38he rode to the estate
17:39on horseback.
17:39He lifted Seraphine
17:41into the palanquin himself,
17:42then looked toward
17:43the servant's building.
17:44I sent a crown princess gown
17:45to Alara yesterday.
17:46Is she dressed?
17:47Tell her to wait.
17:49Once I've seen Seraphine inside,
17:50I'll come for her.
17:51He had sent Seraphine
17:53one hundred boxes of gifts
17:54and me one box.
17:56The gown had been inside it.
17:59Before the steward could reply,
18:01Dorian swept me up in his arms
18:02and carried me out
18:03of the servant's quarters.
18:04I was wearing
18:05a finely embroidered wedding dress,
18:07not the one Kaelin had sent.
18:09The steward leaned close to Kaelin
18:11and said haltingly,
18:12Your Highness,
18:12your thing, Alasirri.
18:14Last night,
18:14Miss Alarcta burned the gown
18:16you sent
18:16and left word that your gift
18:17should be returned to you
18:18after the wedding.
18:19As Dorian passed him,
18:21he reached out to stop him.
18:22Brother, Alara is only marrying you
18:24to spine me.
18:24Do you still want her?
18:26I have admired her for years.
18:28I had planned to ask
18:29the king's permission
18:29to court her myself,
18:31but the queen consort moved first.
18:32As luck would have it,
18:34my brother mistook glass
18:35for a pearl
18:35and handed her over,
18:36and that gave me my chance.
18:38A sharp sound came
18:39from inside the palanquin.
18:41Seraphine had heard her sight
18:42compared to broken glass.
18:44Rapid stomping followed.
18:46Kaelin's face darkened with anger.
18:47You knew I intended
18:48to make her a compine,
18:49and you went behind my back
18:51and did this.
18:52When I take the throne,
18:53you will pay for it.
18:55By then,
18:56you won't be able
18:56to protect yourself,
18:57let alone her.
18:58Through the veil,
18:59I could see clearly.
19:01The spirit serpent on Kaelin
19:02had woken,
19:03barely alive,
19:04but awake.
19:05Its tongue was moving.
19:06It was waiting for the moment
19:07of his birthday
19:08to consume him.
19:09I gave a cold laugh.
19:11Whether you survive tonight,
19:12your highness will see.
19:14Seraphine couldn't hold
19:15herself back any longer.
19:17She burst out of the palanquin.
19:19The crowd gasped.
19:20She stepped out of the carriage
19:22before the ceremony.
19:24That's no good only.
19:25Seraphine didn't care.
19:27Sister,
19:28you invented a story
19:29and convinced yourself
19:30it was true.
19:30The crown prince
19:31will be perfectly fine tonight.
19:33Looking at the woman
19:34who had destroyed
19:35my mother's life,
19:36I felt my hands
19:36crunched tight,
19:37my nails cutting
19:38into my palms.
19:39You say I'm lying.
19:41Then let's make a wager.
19:42If something happens
19:43to the crown prince tonight,
19:45you and your mother
19:46drink the poison.
19:47The same kind
19:48you fed my mother.
19:49Accusing Seraphina
19:51of poisoning again.
19:52Your mother is alive
19:54and living
19:54in the servants' quarters.
19:56Seraphine's eyes sharpened.
19:58She changed her mind.
19:59Fine.
20:00Let's wager.
20:01If you lose,
20:03you and the second prince
20:04crawl into a dog cage
20:05and parade through the streets
20:06three times
20:07as peniments
20:08before the crown prince.
20:09The crowd erupted.
20:10People rushed forward
20:11to place back.
20:12And every single one
20:13of them backed Seraphine.
20:15Kaylin's voice rang out
20:16with satisfaction.
20:18I wage a thousand gold coins.
20:20Seraphine wins.
20:22Dorian had his guard
20:23produce a note worth
20:24ten thousand.
20:26I wager on my bride,
20:27Alara.
20:28Kaylin laughed.
20:30Brother,
20:30you'll be in tears
20:31by tomorrow.
20:32Your estate,
20:34the state
20:34will be eating scraps.
20:36His guards laughed at him.
20:38Dorian paid them
20:38no attention.
20:39He lifted me
20:40into the carriage
20:41and took me
20:42to his estate
20:42where the wedding
20:43was held.
20:44After the wedding
20:45guests had gone,
20:47Dorian and I
20:47drank together.
20:48He lifted me
20:49and carried me
20:50to the bed.
20:50Don't be afraid.
20:52This is just
20:53warm wine.
20:54It won't hurt.
20:55The curtains fell.
20:56In the dark,
20:57the bed made
20:57a soft sound.
21:00When the midnight bell rang,
21:02all other sounds stopped.
21:03I lay still
21:04and watched in the moonlight
21:05as the tattoo
21:06on Dorian's skin
21:07dissolved into points
21:08of light and disappeared.
21:09I let out a slow breath,
21:10then someone pounded
21:11violently on the bedroom door.
21:13Alara,
21:14you are the true serpent tamer,
21:15aren't you?
21:15After Kaylin and Seraphana's
21:16wedding night,
21:17the spirit serpent
21:17is still coiled around him.
21:19Come with me.
21:19You have to help him.
21:20The queen consort's command
21:21was not something
21:22that could be refused.
21:23Dorian and I
21:24rode in the same carriage.
21:25We accompanied her
21:26to the crown prince's estate.
21:28The crowd outside
21:29the palace gates
21:30had not dispersed.
21:31The royal observatory
21:32had already released
21:33a statement.
21:34The crown prince
21:35is critically weakened.
21:36His body is failing.
21:38The oracle says
21:39this is only the beginning.
21:41The spirit serpent
21:42will consume
21:43what remains
21:43of the crown prince's life.
21:47Was the curse
21:47the prime minister's
21:48daughter spoke above
21:49real?
21:50We beat her
21:51because we believed
21:52the crown prince.
21:53We were used.
21:54I bet everything
21:55and lost it all.
21:56This is our punishment.
21:58The carriage sped past,
21:59leaving the noise behind.
22:01When we arrived,
22:02we found the crown prince's
22:03estate in chaos.
22:05People were rushing
22:06toward Kaylin
22:07from every direction.
22:11Dorian looked on
22:12with confusion.
22:14Why does my brother
22:15keep clawing
22:15at his own throat?
22:17Something seems
22:17taking hold of him.
22:19I could see it.
22:20The spirit serpent
22:21had fully woken,
22:22hoiling tighter
22:23and tighter
22:24around Kaylin's body,
22:26alert and hungry.
22:27It opened its mouth
22:28and began drawing
22:29out his soul.
22:30Kaylin screamed.
22:31The queen consort
22:32ran to him.
22:33She saw Seraphine
22:34standing nearby,
22:36frozen,
22:36powerless.
22:37Her fury broke.
22:39You dared to
22:40impersonate
22:41a serpent,
22:42tankster!
22:43Look at what you've
22:43done to my son!
22:45Seraphine had already
22:46collapsed to her knees,
22:47trembling.
22:47I had no idea
22:49it would come to this.
22:50The curse sounded
22:51so absurd.
22:52How could it be real?
22:53It must be Bialara.
22:55She conspired with
22:56the oracle to
22:56arrange all of this.
22:57It has to be her!
22:58Kaylin heard her.
22:59He grabbed a teacup
23:00from nearby
23:01and hurled it at me.
23:02Dorian caught the cup
23:03before it reached me.
23:05You schemed
23:06to trap me.
23:08Mother,
23:08help me.
23:09I can't breathe.
23:11The queen consort
23:12had already crossed
23:13the room to Seraphine.
23:14She slapped her
23:15again and again,
23:16more than a dozen times
23:18unable to stop herself.
23:20You shameless fraud!
23:22I am a serpent
23:23trainer!
23:24I can see the serpent
23:25on my own son!
23:26Are you calling me
23:27a liar too?
23:28Kaylin was drenched
23:29in cold sweat,
23:31his pupils contracting
23:32sharply.
23:33Mother,
23:34is it true?
23:35Is the curse real?
23:37He remembered
23:37his previous life,
23:39his wedding to me,
23:40the life he had
23:41lived before.
23:42Mother,
23:43Elora is the real
23:43serpent tamer.
23:44Let her save me.
23:46I'll give her
23:47the title of
23:47crowned princess.
23:48I'll give her
23:49anything.
23:50The queen consort
23:51knelt before me.
23:53The court attendants
23:54looked on in horror,
23:55their faces drained
23:56of color.
23:57I stepped forward
23:58quickly and helped
23:59her up.
24:00I let out a slow
24:00breath.
24:01Your majesty,
24:02I have to tell you
24:04the truth.
24:05Dorian and I
24:06are already married.
24:07You are a serpent
24:08tamer yourself.
24:09You know what that
24:10means.
24:10I can only tame
24:11the serpent once
24:12and only save
24:13one prince.
24:14After that,
24:15the gift is gone.
24:17The queen consort
24:18noticed Dorian
24:19for the first time.
24:20She stepped back.
24:21It's over.
24:21The tattoo left
24:22Dorian.
24:23He will live
24:24and my son will die.
24:26Halean collapsed
24:26and twisted on the floor
24:28as if trying to throw
24:29the serpent
24:30off his body.
24:31The queen consort's
24:32eyes filled with tears.
24:34No one speaks
24:34of what happened
24:35here tonight.
24:36Anyone who breathes
24:37a word of it
24:38will be beaten
24:38to death.
24:41Dorian brought me
24:42back to the second
24:42prince's estate
24:43in the carriage.
24:45I was never entirely
24:45certain the curse
24:46was real.
24:47When my mother
24:48asked me to marry you
24:49I was glad.
24:50But not because
24:51I needed to be saved.
24:53Years ago I saw you
24:54once at a royal gathering.
24:56I never forgot you.
24:57I didn't expect
24:58that marrying the woman
24:59I had always admired
25:00would also be the thing
25:01that kept me alive.
25:02I couldn't help laughing.
25:03And you
25:04happened to win
25:05more than a million
25:06gold coins
25:07in the process.
25:10Everything at the estate
25:11is yours to manage.
25:13I thought about
25:14my previous life
25:15about what the curse
25:16had done to Dorian
25:17when he turned 20.
25:19I hadn't seen
25:20how he died
25:20but the thought
25:21of him suffering
25:22the way Kaelin
25:23had brought a tension
25:24into my chest
25:24that I hadn't been
25:25prepared for.
25:26You saved me.
25:27You gave my mother
25:28a proper burial.
25:29I can't begin
25:30to repay that.
25:31Without him
25:31she would have been
25:32wrapped in straw matting
25:33and thrown into
25:34the pauper's district.
25:35He drew me
25:36gently toward him
25:37and wiped away
25:38the last trace
25:39of tears
25:39at the corner
25:40of my eye.
25:41That night
25:42I slept better
25:43than I had
25:44in what felt
25:44like a very long time.
25:46The next morning
25:47my father arrived
25:48at the second prince's
25:49estate with Lady Sura.
25:50Both of them
25:51looked haggard
25:52with dark shadows
25:52under their eyes.
25:53Ilara
25:54I didn't expect
25:55things to go
25:55this far.
25:56The queen consort
25:57is furious.
25:57She went to the king.
25:58She went to the king.
26:00She said I encouraged
26:01Seraphine to deceive
26:01the royal family
26:02and demanded
26:03that I be stripped
26:03of my position
26:04and imprisoned.
26:04But I was misled
26:06by Seraphine's words.
26:08If I had known
26:09the truth
26:10how could I have
26:11allowed a prince
26:12of pure blood
26:13to come to harm?
26:15Hmph.
26:16You told everyone
26:17my mother
26:17was behind
26:18my so-called deception
26:19and had her sent
26:20to the servant's quarter.
26:22Now you'll suffer
26:23what she suffered.
26:25My lady
26:26please speak
26:27to the queen consort
26:28on behalf
26:29of the prime minister.
26:30Save him.
26:31Save my daughter.
26:33My poor Seraphina.
26:35The queen consort
26:36sends someone
26:37to flog her every day.
26:39No one is allowed
26:40to visit her.
26:41Her wounds
26:42go untreated.
26:43A fake voice
26:44came from outside
26:45the door.
26:46Good.
26:47She deserves
26:48every bit of it.
26:49Caelan was carried
26:51in on a stretcher
26:52his body gaunt
26:53like a husk
26:53of himself.
26:54I looked at
26:55the spirit serpent
26:56on him.
26:56It had grown
26:57to half again
26:58the size it was
26:59the day before.
27:00Everyone around him
27:01dropped to their knees.
27:03My father saw
27:04the state he was in
27:05and went pale
27:06then crawled forward
27:07still trying
27:07to appear useful.
27:09Your highness
27:09what brings you here?
27:11That woman deceived me
27:12into thinking
27:14she was the serpent
27:15tamer.
27:17You were all
27:18part of it.
27:19I will never
27:20forgive any of you!
27:22His guards
27:23dragged Seraphine in
27:24and threw her
27:25down in the courtyard.
27:26There was not
27:27an uninjured inch
27:28on her body.
27:29Caelan turned to me.
27:31Alara,
27:32I was wrong.
27:33You can save me
27:34the way you did before.
27:35I went rigid.
27:36He had just said it
27:37out loud
27:38in front of everyone.
27:39I looked around quickly.
27:41The people around him
27:42seemed to take it
27:43for the curse speaking.
27:44A sign that his mind
27:45was breaking down.
27:46No one appeared
27:47to understand
27:47what he actually meant.
27:48In the previous life
27:49you saved me
27:50and I repaid you
27:51with cruelty.
27:52I am no longer
27:53fit to call myself
27:54human.
27:55You said you could
27:55only tame the serpent
27:56once.
27:57That's not true,
27:58is it?
27:58You're angry with me.
28:00Divorce Dorian.
28:01Marry me.
28:02Kill me if you want.
28:04Tear me apart.
28:05I don't care.
28:06Everything in the
28:07crown prince's palace
28:07is yours.
28:08Just save me!
28:11Brother,
28:12Ellura is my lawful wife.
28:14Married under royal decree.
28:16I will not divorce her.
28:19You would let me die!
28:21He hurt himself
28:22and caught his mistake.
28:23I swear that once I recover,
28:25I will renounce the title
28:26of crown prince
28:27and withdraw from
28:28the succession entirely.
28:30Please,
28:31help me.
28:32My father added his voice
28:33to the appeal.
28:33Daughter,
28:34if you agree,
28:35I'll bring your mother
28:36back to the estate.
28:37He hesitated.
28:38I went to see her
28:39before I came here.
28:40The servant's room
28:41was empty.
28:42Did you move her?
28:43Prime Minister,
28:45Ellura's mother
28:45passed away.
28:46I have arranged
28:47for her remains,
28:48placed a headstone
28:49and had her buried
28:50in her family's
28:51ancestral grounds.
28:52My father's face
28:53drained of color.
28:54That's not possible.
28:55Kalen also
28:56couldn't believe it.
28:57I only gave her
28:58one pill,
28:59a medicinal herb.
29:00That was enough
29:01to kill her.
29:03I ordered Lady Sura
29:04arrested and searched,
29:06despite her protests.
29:08The guards found
29:08a vial of pills
29:09on her person.
29:11These are the herbs
29:12Seraphine and her mother
29:12claimed to be giving.
29:14Whether they are poison
29:15will need to be tested.
29:16Kalen's physician
29:17was still present.
29:18He examined the pills
29:20carefully,
29:20and when he spoke,
29:21his voice was unsteady.
29:23These are poison,
29:24without any doubt.
29:26Kalen coughed up
29:27dark blood.
29:27His breathing came
29:28in short, rapid bursts.
29:30My father's legs
29:31gave out.
29:32He collapsed,
29:33then crawled
29:33toward Lady Sura
29:34and closed his hands
29:36around her throat.
29:37You and that daughter
29:38of yours
29:39used me
29:40and destroyed everything!
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