- 2 days ago
Keyless Queen
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Short filmTranscript
00:06Leon finally noticed that I had gone three days without asking Lydia for a single key.
00:11He thought I had finally learned to be an obedient queen.
00:15So he sent a servant with a message that sounded more like a royal favor than an apology.
00:21His Majesty says, tonight he will have someone bring you the key to the royal apothetory.
00:26He will also send the royal physician to check on your father again.
00:30But I didn't react at all.
00:32Listening to the royal servant's announcement, I just sat quietly at the table, without the joy he had expected.
00:39His Majesty reminds you to abide by this rule.
00:42Never again employ crude theatrical ploys to threaten the crown.
00:48The gold the late king awarded your father will remain under the royal household's care.
00:54People of your black race should not hold that much gold all at once.
00:58It only invites trouble.
01:00I stood in the grandest chamber of Whitestone Palace and listened quietly.
01:04What Leon did not know was that by the time I received that message.
01:08I had already filed a petition to dissolve our marriage in the Archbishop's court.
01:12My father had died three days ago in his blacksmith shop.
01:16After three years in the palace, the only things I could take with me were the old dress I had
01:20worn when I first entered the palace.
01:23And the little iron hammer my father had forged for me with his own hands.
01:27The servant waited for me to cry, shout, or beg for the king's mercy.
01:31I did none of those things.
01:32I only folded the message once, placed it on the table, and looked toward the locked wardrobe across the room.
01:39No one would believe that Aaliyah, the queen everyone envied, lived in the grandest chamber of Whitestone Palace yet could
01:46not even open her own wardrobe.
01:50My gowns were locked in the West Wing wardrobe.
01:52My jewelry was locked in the queen's jewel room.
01:56My carriage sat in the Eastgate carriage house.
01:58My father's reward money was sealed inside an iron coffer at the bottom of the royal treasury.
02:03Even when I wanted to call a royal physician for my father, I had to ask Lydia for the apothecary
02:09key and permission to leave the palace.
02:11And every one of those keys was in Lydia's hands.
02:14She was the king's chief court lady, and she had grown up with Leon.
02:18Before I appeared, everyone believed she would become the woman who ruled this palace.
02:23Later, on his deathbed, the old king insisted that Leon marry me, because my father, Thomas, had saved the old
02:31king during a winter hunt.
02:33But Leon looked down on my low birth.
02:35He always believed that if a poor family suddenly received wealth, we would waste it the moment it reached our
02:41hands.
02:41The gold will stay in the royal treasury.
02:45It will be released whenever your father truly needs it.
02:50I believed him then.
02:52I thought being queen meant I had finally earned a place where my father would be safe.
02:57Instead, I found myself standing before locked doors, waiting for another woman to decide whether my needs were proper enough.
03:05Three days ago, my father was dying.
03:08I begged Leon to give me the key to my father's gold coffer.
03:11I also begged him to let me take medicine from the royal apothecary.
03:16Lydia kept holding back the treasury key and the apothecary key, again and again, until my father died in his
03:22bed.
03:23All these years, I endured everything so my father could keep receiving treatment from the royal.
03:29Physicians and medicine from the palace apothecary.
03:32Now my father was gone.
03:33There was no reason for me to stay.
03:37When I asked Leon to end our marriage, he refused.
03:40He was in his study, reading the border tax ledgers.
03:44His eyes never left the parchment.
03:46His voice was as cold as if he were scolding a maid who had broken a cup.
03:53Stop making trouble.
03:54He treated it like nothing more than a childish error, not realizing for a moment that I meant every word.
04:00I'm not making trouble.
04:02I've already submitted the petition to the archbishop's court.
04:05I stood before his desk and said calmly.
04:08Only then did Leon look up at me.
04:10His eyes were cold, as though my words were a waste of his time.
04:15About your father.
04:17I was the one who told Lydia not to give you the apothecary key.
04:21It had nothing to do with her.
04:23She was only following my orders.
04:27My fingers twitched at my sides.
04:29In the past, the moment he mentioned my father, I would lower my head.
04:35My father's old wounds flared up every winter.
04:39Village healers could not help him.
04:41He had to rely on the royal physicians and medicine from the palace apothecary to stay.
04:46Alive, that was the reward the late king had promised him.
04:51But after the old king died, Leon said my father did not know how to manage money.
04:55He said a blacksmith who suddenly possessed that much gold would only be cheated, robbed, and perhaps killed for it.
05:02So he locked my father's gold coffer inside the royal treasury.
05:06He said he would release it whenever my father truly needed it.
05:11But every need had to go through Lydia.
05:13His majesty's commands are absolute.
05:15I have no special privileges even when my own father's life was hanging in the balance.
05:22My father was burning with fever.
05:24His old wound rotting open.
05:26I knelt outside the apothecary door and begged Lydia to give me the key.
05:30She wore a pale blue court gown and held a ring of keys in her hand.
05:34Her smile was gentle.
05:36Almost regretful.
05:38Your majesty.
05:39The apothecary key cannot be handed over carrily.
05:44Visa they Thomas, the group and trace police.
05:47Master Thomas is only a commoner.
05:50He does not fall under royal emergency care.
05:54That treatment was promised to him by the late king.
05:57I'm not denying the late king's generosity.
06:00But rules are rules.
06:03Have the village healer write a note describing his condition first.
06:09Then have it sealed by a church physician.
06:12Only then can I open the apothecary.
06:17I brought back the note.
06:19She glanced at it and frowned lightly.
06:21I brought back the note.
06:22She glanced at it and frowned lightly.
06:26The date isn't clear enough.
06:28It only says fever.
06:30It doesn't specify whether his life is in danger.
06:32Your majesty.
06:34I'm not trying to make this hard for you.
06:36Every bottle in the royal apothecary must be recorded.
06:39You are queen now.
06:42You cannot act like you are still in a blacksmith shop, taking whatever you want whenever you want it.
06:47After that, she made me bring a travel permit, a physician's certificate, a written reason for withdrawing from the gold
06:54car.
06:55A statement explaining why my father could not be treated by a village healer.
07:00I ran back and forth again and again.
07:02My father's breathing grew weaker each time.
07:05I returned.
07:06The village healer pressed the last certificate into my hand and whispered that there might still be time if I
07:12hurried.
07:15By the time I returned with the paper, my shoes were soaked through with mud, and Lydia only asked whether
07:21the church seal was placed in the correct corner.
07:29By the time the key finally arrived in the blacksmith shop, my father never opened his eyes again.
07:41So now, when Leon said he would have someone bring me the apothecary key tonight, I found it absurd.
07:47The apothecary no longer mattered.
07:49My father had no use for it anymore.
07:51Leon watched my silence and thought I had finally learned to be afraid.
07:55He closed the parchment in his hand.
07:57Impatient.
07:58Alia.
07:59If you hadn't stormed into the household office a few days ago and shouted at Lydia,
08:03I would never have let her hold back the keys to teach you a lesson.
08:07You are queen, not some little girl throwing a fit in a blacksmith shop.
08:14Last night, I already told her to give you the apothecary key.
08:17My time is precious.
08:19I don't have the patience to watch you lose your temper.
08:22With that, he stood and turned to leave.
08:24He was certain I would lower my head soon enough, just like I had for the past three years,
08:29even when he said in front of the nobles, that I looked desperate to please.
08:33I only smiled and said nothing.
08:36Even when Lydia smiled and took one key after another away from me, I endured it.
08:41I once thought that as long as my father was alive, I could endure anything.
08:46Now my father was gone, and I did not need to stay anymore.
08:49But Leon did not know that he had never been willing to let me finish a sentence.
08:53Later, a maid brought me the celebration ledger Lydia had sent.
08:58His majesty asks your majesty to write a line of praise, so no one Mr. Stans, Lady Lydia.
09:05I sound that joke and laughed.
09:08The maid lowered her eyes, afraid I would tear the ledger apart.
09:12Instead, I took the quill with steady fingers.
09:17I picked up the quill and wrote carefully.
09:20Lady Lydia is diligent indeed.
09:24With one ring of keys, she rules over both the queen and the servants.
09:35Aladia.
09:38May she keep guarding every door, and may she keep guarding the place she hopes to move into one day.
09:45Your majesty, should I really deliver this?
09:49The maid's face went pale.
09:53Deliver it exactly as written.
09:56His majesty wanted praise.
09:58I gave him praise.
10:00After writing it, I closed the ledger.
10:02Then I returned to my chamber and began to pack.
10:05There was not much to pack.
10:06Everything that seemed to belong to me in the palace was locked in someone else's hands.
10:12The only things I could take were the old dress I wore when I entered the palace.
10:15A few faded shirts, and the little hammer my father had given me.
10:20For all these years, I had lived in the palace like a temporary guest.
10:24Only now did I understand.
10:26Even a guest could at least open a door for herself.
10:30I folded the old dress carefully and placed my father's hammer on top of it.
10:34The iron handle was cold, but the weight of it steadied me more than any crown ever had.
10:40Outside.
10:41The bells of White Stone Palace rang for Lydia's private dinner.
10:45Inside.
10:45I closed my trunk and finally felt something like peace.
10:49No longer a queen, no longer in need of anyone's keys.
10:53I am just me the me who can make any decision.
10:57Leon came back very quickly.
10:59Whenever it involved Lydia.
11:01He was always prompt.
11:03He strode into my chamber and did not even notice the small leather trunk at my feet.
11:07I said flatly.
11:09I heard.
11:11I didn't want to.
11:12Leon looked as if I had said something outrageous.
11:14I already told you.
11:17Lydia has managed the palace household well lately, so I held a dinner to reward her.
11:22There are already enough people in the palace misunderstanding her.
11:26After what you wrote in the ledger, how is she supposed to face anyone?
11:30I could not help laugh.
11:34So not everyone is blind.
11:38If people misunderstand her so easily, maybe they already know what she's been doing.
11:43Leon's face darkened.
11:47Aaliyah!
11:47When did you become so vulgar?
11:50You know exactly how hard it is for a young woman without a noble title to rise this far.
11:55Why would you smear another capable woman like this?
12:00Lydia only manages the palace for me.
12:05If you hadn't made a spade a scene in the household office, would people be talking about her now?
12:09He looked at me with exhaustion and blame in his eyes.
12:13If you want to be a queen who knows nothing except how to hold out her hand for keys, I
12:17won't blame you.
12:26For three years, I had wanted him to ask that question sincerely, now that he had finally asked it.
12:33But now, there's no point in my answering anymore.
12:38But if you keep targeting Lydia, don't blame me for being harsh.
12:42Think about your father.
12:46I finally laughed out loud.
12:49It hurt my throat.
12:51Then I opened my trunk right in front of him.
12:57A crown?
12:58A palace?
13:00Dignity?
13:02Leon, look at what my life in your palace has been.
13:07I'm leaving.
13:08And I can't even pack four decent dresses.
13:16If I wanted to change into a ball gown, I had to ask your lady of the court for a
13:20key.
13:23If I wanted to visit my father, I had to explain the reason to Lydia first.
13:28What queen has to live at the mercy of her husband's favorite court lady?
13:32There was not a trace of guilt on Leon's face.
13:35He only frowned and asked, genuinely baffled.
13:39All this over that?
13:43So you were jealous of Lydia and deliberately tried to ruin her name?
13:47My heart went cold, inch by inch.
13:49If he truly thought this was wrong, he would not have let Lydia take my keys again and again for
13:55three years.
13:56He would not have allowed the entire palace to know the queen had no right to open her own doors.
14:01I lowered my eyes.
14:03Fine.
14:04Think whatever you want.
14:07I want our marriage dissolved.
14:09Leon laughed instead.
14:11There was a knowing look in that laugh.
14:13As if he had finally seen through my cheap little trick.
14:16Enough.
14:17I don't have time to coax you through another tantrum.
14:21You're doing all this because of Lydia, aren't you?
14:25Don't assume every woman is like you.
14:28Always fighting over a man.
14:30As he spoke, he smoothed the wrinkle from his sleeve as though making a great concession.
14:37Tomorrow, I will send the royal physician to see your father in person.
14:43In a moment, I'll have Lydia give you the keys to the queen's wardrobe, the jewel room, and the carriage
14:50house.
14:51From now on, your daily expenses won't need to go through the household accounts.
14:57After three years as Leon's wife, I understood him well enough.
15:00For him, this was already the greatest compromise he could offer.
15:04Under normal circumstances, I should have known when to stop.
15:08But I was tired of this marriage of three people.
15:11Just like now.
15:13He had made so many promises.
15:14Yet he never mentioned Lydia holding back the apothecary key.
15:19I don't want anything.
15:21Except to end this marriage.
15:23Leon finally realized I was not acting coy.
15:25His impatience instantly turned into anger.
15:29Aaliyah, don't forget how you became queen.
15:33Your father saved the late king.
15:36That is why the late king rewarded your family with honor.
15:41If you leave me, those rewards, that gold, those properties,
15:48you won't get a single copper oil.
15:51And your father's illness.
15:53Without the royal physicians and the royal apothecary,
15:57how long do you think you can last?
16:00Not long at all.
16:01I knew that better than anyone.
16:03Now everything was only returning to where it should have been.
16:06I fastened.
16:07My trunk again and said lightly.
16:10Do whatever you want.
16:13Leon froze.
16:14He seemed unable to understand why a threat that had always worked on Aaliyah
16:18suddenly had no effect.
16:20But his pride would not let him lower his head again.
16:24So he watched her drag her trunk toward the door with a cold face
16:27when Aaliyah pulled open the chamber doors.
16:30He seemed as if he wanted to call her back.
16:32In the end, he said nothing.
16:35Only later did Aaliyah learn that Lydia went to his study that night.
16:38Your majesty doesn't need to humor her.
16:41Leave her alone for a few days.
16:44She'll come back and apologize.
16:46Her majesty has simply grown too comfortable as queen
16:50and wants to make a scene.
16:52Leon believed her.
16:53He even found a honey mint in his study and thought of Aaliyah.
16:57His throat always hurt Mointer.
16:59So Aaliyah had once learned to make those candies for him.
17:02Leon turned the candy between his fingers for a long while.
17:08She is not completely useless after all.
17:11Lydia lowered her eyes to hide the shadow of jealousy in them.
17:14Even now, even while he was angry,
17:17one small candy was enough to make Leon think of Aaliyah first.
17:21He told himself that Aaliyah was not completely useless after all
17:24when she came back.
17:25He would make her apologize sincerely
17:28and she would never again threaten him with a petition to dissolve their marriage.
17:33After leaving the palace,
17:35I did not leave the kingdom.
17:37I first went to the archbishop's court to confirm that my petition had been filed.
17:43Then, carrying my father's ashes,
17:45I went to the armory camp on the northern border.
17:48That was where my father had worked when he was young.
17:50He used to say that in the north.
17:52People did not ask where you came from.
17:55They only asked whether you were good with your hands.
17:57I did not understand that before.
17:59Now I did.
18:01When I arrived at the armory camp,
18:03dragging my trunk behind me,
18:05the soldier at the gate looked at me with obvious suspicion.
18:11Who are you looking for?
18:14Madam Martha.
18:15Madam Martha was the old blacksmith of the armory camp,
18:18and she had once trained with my father.
18:21Before I married into the palace,
18:23she had come to persuade me not to go.
18:25A place like the palace isn't meant for people like us,
18:29people who live by our hands.
18:31I did not listen then.
18:33Now when I saw her again,
18:35her hair had turned white.
18:37She looked at the trunk in my hand and the urn in my arms.
18:40She did not ask a single question.
18:43Come in.
18:45She simply stepped aside.
18:50My nose stung,
18:51and tears fell before I could stop them.
18:54For the first time since my father's death,
18:57no one asked me for a permit,
18:59a seal,
19:00or a reason.
19:01One door opened because someone chose to open it for me.
19:06After I had cried enough,
19:07Madam Martha said slowly,
19:13Done crying?
19:15Then wash your hands.
19:19I'm sure to lock repairer,
19:21and someone who can mend armor.
19:22If you still remember what your father taught you, stay.
19:25I stared at her.
19:28You're not going to ask why I'm here?
19:31Madam Martha snorted.
19:33Anyone who can walk out of the palace alive
19:36is lucky enough.
19:38What is there to ask?
19:40Or did three years as queen
19:42make you too delicate to hold a hammer?
19:44I smiled through my tears.
19:49I can hold one.
19:50For myself,
19:51I can hold anything.
19:53At first,
19:54I was not used to it.
19:57The wind in the north was hard.
19:59The furnace was scorching.
20:01And the armory camp was nothing like the palace.
20:03No maids came to make my bed.
20:06Blisters soon formed
20:07across my palms.
20:08A young apprentice saw the blood on my fingers
20:10and held out a strip of cloth.
20:14Miss Aurelia,
20:16maybe you should rest.
20:17I wrapped my palm
20:19and picked up the hammer again.
20:24If I stop every time I bleed,
20:26I will never make anything strong.
20:28But as time passed,
20:30the skills carved into my bones
20:32slowly returned.
20:33How to hear the quality of.
20:35Metal,
20:36how to tell where a lock's inner teeth were stuck.
20:38How to shape a horseshoe with the right curve.
20:41How to mend a broken sword.
20:50The more I worked,
20:52the steadier my hands became.
20:54Once,
20:55I repaired a cracked bracer for a night.
20:58He tested it twice
20:59and raised his thumb in surprise.
21:01I smiled.
21:04I thought someone from the palace
21:06would only know how to wear rings.
21:12I couldn't afford rings before.
21:16The soldiers around us froze for a second,
21:18then burst into laughter.
21:21That was the first time I laughed easily
21:23after leaving the palace.
21:24Then an unwelcome voice sounded behind me.
21:28A lady?
21:28I looked up and saw Lydia.
21:30She wore a white fox fur cloak
21:32and stood not far away,
21:33several servants behind her.
21:35Her gaze swept over my hands,
21:37stained with coal and iron dust.
21:39Then over the soldiers beside me,
21:42the corner of her mouth lifted.
21:46So this is why Her Majesty
21:48suddenly made such a fuss
21:49about ending the marriage.
21:51You came back to a place like this.
21:54Some people can wear a crown
21:56and still never forget
21:58they came from a blacksmith's shop.
22:00I would rest on her face.
22:03My face went cold.
22:05The people of the Northern Armory
22:07mended armor,
22:08forged swords,
22:09and repaired gates in wind and snow
22:11to protect the border.
22:13They did not deserve her contempt.
22:18I set down the tongs in my hand.
22:22Lydia,
22:23do you not have a room of your own?
22:25Why are you behind
22:27every door I open?
22:28Lydia's expression changed
22:29at that moment.
22:31A familiar voice
22:32came from behind her.
22:34What happened?
22:37Leon walked over.
22:38He wore black hunting clothes
22:40with the royal cloak
22:41over his shoulders.
22:42So,
22:43he had come to inspect
22:44the northern border.
22:45And of course Lydia
22:46had come with him.
22:48Her eyes reddened
22:49as she lowered her voice.
22:51Nothing, Your Majesty.
22:54I only saw
22:56Her Majesty
22:56away from the palace
22:57for so long,
22:59surrounded by soldiers
23:00and smith
23:01and worried
23:02she might be
23:03taken advantage of.
23:05I tried to advise her,
23:07but she misunderstood me.
23:10Only then
23:11did Leon notice me.
23:13His brows
23:14drew together slightly.
23:15There was that familiar
23:16certainty in his eyes.
23:19Aylia,
23:20did you bully Lydia again?
23:23If you came here
23:24to admit your mistake,
23:25apologize to her first.
23:27I looked at him once,
23:29then turned away
23:30without wasting a word
23:31and picked up my tools.
23:32The young apprentice
23:33beside me whispered,
23:37Miss Aylia,
23:38who is that?
23:39I said coldly,
23:40my blind,
23:41brainless husband.
23:43Leon's face darkened.
23:45Aylia!
23:48You followed me
23:49all the way
23:49to the north.
23:51How long do you plan
23:52to keep this up?
23:54You've been away
23:55from the palace
23:55for so long,
23:57ignoring your father
23:58completely.
24:04Are you really
24:05trying to force me
24:05to never give him
24:06the apothetory key again?
24:09I looked at him,
24:10tired of him
24:11to the bone.
24:14Then don't give it.
24:16That's what you're
24:17best at, isn't it?
24:21Something in my eyes
24:22must have cut Leon.
24:24He turned sharply
24:25to the servant
24:26beside him.
24:27Send orders
24:28back to the capital.
24:30From today on,
24:31Thomas is not to be
24:32given the apothetory key
24:33again.
24:35And the gold coffret
24:37is not to be opened.
24:38Panic flashed
24:39across Lydia's face.
24:41Your Majesty,
24:43perhaps we shouldn't...
24:45Leon coldly pressed
24:46down the hand
24:47she had placed
24:47on his arm.
24:49She needs to be
24:49taught a lesson.
24:51Otherwise,
24:52she will never learn
24:54how to be queen.
24:55The servant's face
24:56went deathly pale
24:57and he did not answer.
24:59Leon frowned.
25:00What?
25:01The servant
25:02lowered his head.
25:03His voice tightened.
25:05Your Majesty,
25:07Master Thomas
25:08has passed away.
25:09Leon froze.
25:10What did you say?
25:12The servant
25:13forced the words out.
25:15Three days ago,
25:18Her Majesty
25:20requested that
25:21the apothetory
25:22be opened,
25:23but the key
25:24was never delivered.
25:25By the time
25:26the physician arrived,
25:28Master Thomas
25:28had already...
25:29He did not finish.
25:32Leon stood there
25:33as if he had
25:34suddenly forgotten
25:34how to understand language.
25:36A long time
25:37passed before
25:38he murmured.
25:39How is that possible?
25:44Why didn't anyone
25:46tell me?
25:49The servant
25:50looked even more
25:51troubled.
25:52Someone did report
25:54it to your Majesty
25:54at the time.
25:55Leon stared at him.
25:58What did I say?
26:00The servant
26:01crunched his jaw.
26:02You said that
26:04while you
26:04and Lady Lydia
26:05were watching
26:06the Winter Lantern
26:07Parade,
26:08you did not want
26:08to hear anything
26:09related to the Queen.
26:10In that instant,
26:11Leon's face went white.
26:13I watched him
26:14finally remember.
26:15That day,
26:16I had burst into
26:17the household office
26:18and begged Lydia
26:19to give me
26:20the apothecary key.
26:21He said I had
26:22shamed the crown.
26:23Later,
26:24to comfort Lydia
26:25after she had been
26:26frightened,
26:27he lit winter lanterns
26:28across the capital
26:29for an entire night.
26:31The nobles
26:31all said
26:32his Majesty
26:32truly favoured
26:33his chief court lady.
26:35My father
26:35took his last breath
26:36that same night.
26:39Leon turned sharply
26:40toward Lydia.
26:41Tears welled
26:42in Lydia's eyes
26:42as if she had
26:43suffered a great
26:44injustice.
26:45Leon,
26:46I didn't mean
26:47to keep it from you.
26:49I only thought
26:51Master Thomas
26:52had already received
26:52so much grace
26:53from the late King.
26:55And her Majesty
26:56always makes things
26:56sound worse
26:57than they are.
26:58I was afraid
26:59she would influence her.
27:01I'm Frohling.
27:03Give me your key ledger.
27:05For the first time,
27:06Leon cut her off.
27:08What?
27:10Lydia froze.
27:14The record
27:15from the account
27:16the treasury key
27:18and the carriage house key
27:20from the past few days.
27:22All of them.
27:24The blood drained
27:26from Lydia's face.
27:27Leon,
27:29these are household affairs.
27:31You've never investigated
27:32me like this before.
27:33What was left to explain.
27:35Everything I had said
27:36was true.
27:37I had not been jealous
27:38of Lydia.
27:39I had not used
27:40my father's illness
27:40to threaten him.
27:42I had truly wanted
27:43to leave.
27:43The way Leon looked
27:44at me finally
27:45began to change.
27:46But,
27:47I only felt tired.
27:49I looked away
27:49and lowered my head
27:50to sort my tools.
27:52Three whole years
27:52had been wrong.
27:54Leon took one step
27:55toward me.
27:55But the soldiers
27:56of the armory camp
27:57shifted almost
27:58at the same time.
28:00No one drew a weapon.
28:01They only stood there,
28:02silent and solid,
28:04between the king
28:05and the woman
28:05he had cornered
28:06for too long.
28:12Aaliyah.
28:13Don't.
28:15That single word
28:16stopped him more sharply
28:17than any royal command.
28:19Lydia's fingers
28:20closed around the edge
28:21of her cloak.
28:23Her Majesty,
28:25I can explain
28:26the ledgers.
28:27Her Majesty
28:28always demanded
28:29things outside procedure.
28:31I was protecting
28:33your reputation.
28:35Leon looked at her
28:35and for once
28:37he did not immediately
28:38believe her.
28:39Then you will explain
28:40them in writing.
28:41Every missing hour.
28:44Every delayed key.
28:47Every sealed door.
28:48I heard those words
28:49and felt nothing
28:50like triumph.
28:51There was no victory
28:52in being believed
28:54after the person
28:55you loved most
28:55was already dead.
29:01Late that night,
29:02I came out of the armory camp
29:04to dump furnace ash
29:05and saw Leon
29:06standing not far away.
29:08The firelight was dim
29:09and snow rested
29:10on his shoulders.
29:11I had only seen him
29:13that afternoon,
29:14yet he looked
29:14as if his soul
29:15had been drained
29:15out of him.
29:16When he saw me,
29:17he stepped toward me
29:18at once.
29:19Aaliyah.
29:19I frowned
29:20and stepped back.
29:21He stopped.
29:23His voice was hoarse.
29:25I've taken all the keys
29:26back from Lydia.
29:26She is no longer
29:27the chief court lady.
29:29About your father,
29:30I didn't know.
29:32Give me a chance
29:32to make it up to you,
29:33all right?
29:34My heart did not soften.
29:35I only found it absurd.
29:36Once,
29:37I had begged him
29:38to listen to one sentence
29:39and he found me annoying.
29:41Now he stood in the snow,
29:43finally willing
29:43to bow his head.
29:44But it was too late.
29:46I looked at him calmly.
29:48Leon,
29:49do you think Lydia
29:49is the only problem
29:50between us?
29:51He seemed caught off guard.
29:54I know I was wrong.
29:55He seemed caught off guard.
29:57I shouldn't have let her
29:58control your keys.
30:00I shouldn't have used
30:02that method
30:02to teach you rules.
30:04I just thought the palace
30:05had always been like this.
30:07Noblemen manage
30:08their common-born wives
30:09this way all the time.
30:12I never thought
30:13it would hurt you.
30:15And I never truly
30:17meant to abandon
30:17your father.
30:19I looked at him.
30:21Leon,
30:22even now,
30:23you still think
30:24that if you are
30:25willing to give,
30:26I should be grateful
30:27enough to take it.
30:28You made me queen
30:29then handed my wardrobe
30:30the apothetry
30:31and my father's
30:31life-saving money
30:32to Lydia.
30:32You saw my humiliation.
30:33You just believed
30:34someone of my birth
30:34had no right
30:35to feel humiliated.
30:36His face turned paler
30:37by the second.
30:38I went on.
30:40We are over.
30:42I don't want anything.
30:44When the Archbip's court
30:45asks for your response,
30:46don't stand in the way.
30:48That's all.
30:49Confusion filled
30:50Leon's eyes.
30:51He seemed unable
30:52to understand
30:53why I refused
30:53to forgive him
30:54when he had already
30:55lowered himself this far.
30:57Carefully,
30:57he asked.
30:58What will it take
30:59for you to come back
31:00with me?
31:02I can give you
31:02the keys
31:03to the queen's wardrobe.
31:04The jewel room,
31:05the treasury,
31:06the apothetory,
31:07all of them.
31:08From today on,
31:09no door in the palace
31:10will stand in your way.
31:13I could not help laughing.
31:15If all you needed
31:16was a vase beside your throne,
31:17you should never have been
31:18kind to me in the beginning.
31:19Yes.
31:21I had loved him once.
31:22During my first year
31:23in the palace,
31:24Leon had not always
31:25been cold.
31:26He taught me
31:27my first court dance.
31:29He taught me
31:29my first court dance.
31:33When noble ladies
31:34mocked my accent,
31:36he took my hand
31:37and walked me
31:37across the entire ballroom.
31:39She is my queen.
31:42In that moment,
31:43I truly believed
31:44I had been chosen.
31:49Leon began to say
31:50I did not understand
31:51the rules,
31:52that I was too sensitive,
31:53too petty,
31:55too embarrassing.
31:56That Lydia
31:57was only helping him.
31:58His tenderness
31:59was like winter fog
32:00on a window.
32:01The moment I touched it,
32:02it disappeared.
32:04I looked at Leon
32:05and said softly,
32:06I don't need
32:07your compensation.
32:08I only need
32:09this marriage
32:10to end.
32:11Leon looked
32:12as if he had
32:13been struck.
32:14He stumbled
32:14one step forward
32:15and reached for me.
32:16I avoided him.
32:18His hand froze
32:19in the air.
32:23Aelia,
32:23even a prisoner
32:24dragged before a court
32:25gets to defend himself once.
32:27His voice
32:27was almost pleading.
32:29You can't deny me
32:30even one chance
32:31to explain.
32:33I gave you
32:33many chances.
32:35I said calmly.
32:37Every time I waited
32:38outside your study.
32:40Every time I went
32:41to the household office
32:42to beg for a key.
32:45Every time I was told
32:46you stake for me
32:47when key.
32:49Every time I told you
32:51Lydia was delaying
32:52me on purpose.
32:54Every time you said
32:55listen to Lydia.
32:58Those were chances.
33:01You were the one
33:01who threw them
33:02all away.
33:03Leon had nothing
33:04left to say.
33:05I knew how stubborn
33:06he was.
33:07I also knew
33:08dissolving our marriage
33:09would not be easy.
33:10But I did not expect
33:11him to arrive
33:12at the armory camp
33:13the next morning
33:14with a train
33:14of carriages.
33:15They were loaded
33:16with silk,
33:17medicine,
33:18gold coffers,
33:19and food.
33:24The northern armory
33:25is always short
33:26on funds.
33:27I've already ordered
33:28the treasurer
33:29to allocate money
33:29to you.
33:33Leon stood in the snow
33:34when he saw me.
33:36There was even
33:36a careful smile
33:37on his face.
33:40These medicines
33:41and iron supplies
33:42are for the camp
33:43as well.
33:43Then he took
33:44a small box
33:45from a servant.
33:47These are
33:47candid figs.
33:48I remember you
33:49used to ask
33:50for them late
33:50at night.
33:51Eat while
33:52they're still warm.
33:52I did not reach
33:53for them.
33:54You don't like them?
33:55The hope in Leon's
33:56eyes stiffened
33:57little by little.
33:58I don't like
33:59candid figs.
34:00Lydia does.
34:01I said lightly.
34:03Leon froze.
34:04I looked at the box
34:06and remembered
34:06long ago
34:07for a period
34:08of time.
34:08He often asked
34:10me to have
34:10the kitchens
34:10make candied figs
34:12late at night.
34:13I thought he liked
34:14sweets while
34:14working late.
34:15Only later did
34:16I learn they were
34:17for Lydia.
34:18Once I saw
34:19her sitting
34:19at the small
34:20table in the
34:20king's study
34:21with my own
34:21eyes.
34:24Your majesty,
34:25please have
34:26the kitchens
34:26make another
34:27serving next
34:27time.
34:28At Leon tried
34:29them and thinks
34:30they're good
34:30too.
34:34That day I
34:35argued with
34:35Leon.
34:38It's just a bit
34:39of food from
34:39the kitchen.
34:41You are queen
34:42and Lydia runs
34:43the palace
34:43household for me.
34:44What's wrong
34:44with rewarding her?
34:45Stop acting
34:46so small-minded.
34:47Now, thinking
34:48back, I found
34:50myself almost
34:50laughable, so I
34:51had once been
34:52that devoted.
34:54I'm sorry, I
34:55remembered wrong.
34:56Leon gave a
34:57difficult smile.
35:00Then what do you
35:00like?
35:01I'll wish to
35:02her it, I'll
35:03have someone
35:03prepare it.
35:04I lowered my
35:05head and
35:05continued inspecting
35:06a broken sword.
35:08No need.
35:09But Leon did not
35:11give up over the
35:12next few days.
35:13He kept sending
35:14gifts.
35:14Sometimes it
35:16was a sapphire
35:16necklace.
35:17Sometimes a
35:18gold-threaded
35:19shawl.
35:20Sometimes white
35:20roses from the
35:21royal greenhouse
35:22once.
35:23He even sent a
35:24pair of ivory
35:25gloves set with
35:26tiny pearls.
35:27I looked at
35:27those things and
35:28became genuinely
35:29curious.
35:30How did a man
35:31who listened this
35:32badly manage to
35:33rule a country?
35:34When the armory
35:35finished repairing a
35:36batch of border
35:36longswords, Leon
35:38came again.
35:39This time, he
35:40carried a delicate
35:41wooden box.
35:44I did not let
35:45him open it.
35:46The palace keys?
35:49His eyes lit up.
35:51How did you
35:52know?
35:52I looked at him
35:53and gave a small
35:54smile.
35:54Because you
35:55finally remembered
35:56that keys were
35:57what I lacked
35:57most for the
35:58past three years.
35:59A hint of joy
36:00appeared on his
36:01face.
36:01As if he thought
36:02he had finally
36:03done something
36:04right, he
36:04opened the box.
36:05Inside lay a
36:06ring of golden
36:07keys, the
36:08wardrobe, the
36:09jewel room, the
36:10apothecary, the
36:11carriage house, the
36:12treasury, the
36:13inner chamber, each
36:14key bore the
36:15queen's crest.
36:18From today on, you
36:20can open every
36:21room in the palace.
36:24A'Lelia, I will
36:27make up for
36:27everything I owe
36:28you.
36:30I looked at
36:31those keys, so
36:33late in coming, and
36:34suddenly felt
36:34exhausted.
36:36Leon, you still
36:36don't understand.
36:37Leon, you still
36:38don't understand.
36:40I wanted keys
36:41before because I
36:42was I was still
36:42trying to survive
36:43inside that
36:44palace.
36:45I don't need
36:46them now.
36:47I never wanted
36:49the keys to
36:49every door in
36:50the palace.
36:51I never want to
36:52go back to that
36:53palace at all.
36:55The color drained
36:56from Leon's face.
36:57I continued.
36:59The sapphire you
37:00sent is what
37:01Lydia likes.
37:02The gold-threaded
37:03shoal is something
37:03she wears often.
37:06White roses sit
37:07in her room all
37:08year.
37:08The ivory gloves
37:10are what she
37:10wears before
37:11every winter
37:11hunt.
37:13See?
37:14You remember
37:15another woman's
37:16taste so clearly.
37:17So why not
37:18dissolve this
37:19marriage smoothly
37:20and marry her?
37:21Leon answered
37:21almost without
37:22thinking.
37:23Thinking.
37:24She cannot be
37:24queen.
37:25Her birth is
37:26not suitable.
37:27She only likes
37:28power and the
37:29things inside the
37:29palace.
37:30I suddenly
37:31understood.
37:32He saw Lydia
37:33clearly.
37:34He had simply
37:34never considered
37:35her someone who
37:36could stand
37:36beside him.
37:37As for me,
37:38I had the late
37:39king's command
37:40and the title
37:40of the savior's
37:41daughter.
37:42My birth was
37:42low, but I
37:44had no noble
37:44family that
37:45could threaten
37:45him.
37:46I was suited to
37:47be a queen
37:47placed beside
37:48his throne.
37:49Perhaps there
37:50was love in his
37:50attachment to me.
37:52But more than
37:53that, he could
37:53not accept that
37:54I had chosen to
37:55leave him.
37:57I looked straight
37:58at Leon.
37:59So you think I
38:00walked away with
38:01nothing because I
38:02loved you?
38:03Because you broke
38:03my heart because I
38:04wanted you to
38:05regret it?
38:06Leon looked away.
38:08I said softly,
38:10you're wrong.
38:12I married you
38:13because my father
38:14needed the
38:15physicians and
38:16medicine the late
38:16king promised
38:17him.
38:18I stayed in the
38:19palace because he
38:20was still alive.
38:24Now he is
38:25dead.
38:26I don't need
38:26your money.
38:27I don't need
38:27your keys.
38:28I don't need
38:28your love.
38:32And I don't
38:33need you,
38:34Leon.
38:37The ruling
38:38from the
38:38archbishop's
38:39court came
38:39sooner than I
38:40expected.
38:41Perhaps because
38:42Leon did not
38:43interfere again.
38:44Perhaps because
38:45too many people
38:46in the capital
38:46already knew
38:47that before
38:47the queen's
38:48father died.
38:49The apothecary
38:50key had been
38:51delayed again
38:51and again.
38:53The marriage
38:53is dissolved
38:54on the grounds
38:55that it was
38:55arranged by the
38:56late king's
38:57command, that
38:58there are no
38:58children, and
39:00that the
39:00relationship has
39:01broken beyond
39:01repair.
39:04Leon did not
39:05appear.
39:06Royal judges
39:07handled everything
39:07on his behalf,
39:08to my surprise.
39:10He did not
39:11leave me with
39:11nothing as he
39:12had once
39:12threatened to
39:13do.
39:13He sent all
39:14the reward money
39:14my father should
39:15have received to
39:16the north.
39:17He also gave
39:17me an estate
39:18near the border,
39:19a box of
39:20jewels,
39:20and everything
39:21that had once
39:22belonged to me
39:22in the queen's
39:23chamber.
39:24I returned to
39:25the palace once,
39:26nothing in that
39:26chamber had been
39:27moved, the
39:28wardrobe stood
39:28open, the
39:29jewel room stood
39:30open.
39:31Even the inner
39:32room I could not
39:33enter for three
39:34years had its
39:34door wide open.
39:35On the table
39:36lay that ring of
39:37golden keys.
39:38Each one had been
39:39polished until it
39:40shone, but I no
39:41longer wanted them.
39:44I spent two days
39:45handing the
39:46gowns, jewelry,
39:47and properties in
39:48the capital over to
39:49the merchants' guild
39:50for auction.
39:51Part of the money
39:52went to repairing
39:52the northern armory
39:53camp, part went to
39:54the families of
39:55fallen border
39:56soldiers.
39:57The rest, I used
39:58to build a small
39:59workshop in my
40:00father's name, one
40:01that would take in
40:02girls with nowhere
40:03else to go and
40:03teach them a trade.
40:05On the third
40:06evening, a royal
40:07servant came to the
40:08armory camp.
40:09He carried a
40:10small gold chest
40:11and looked
40:11uncomfortable.
40:13Miss Aaliyah, his
40:15majesty said the
40:16earlier compensation
40:16was not enough.
40:19These are new
40:20deeds and letters
40:21of credit.
40:22I looked at the
40:23black carriage parked
40:23in the distance.
40:24I took the chest
40:26and walked over.
40:27After a while, the
40:29carriage window
40:29lowered.
40:30Leon sat inside.
40:32He had lost a
40:33great deal of
40:33weight.
40:34Dark stubble
40:35shadowed his jaw
40:36and his eyes were
40:37full of exhaustion.
40:40I handed the chest
40:42back through the
40:42window.
40:46Leon, I am
40:47grateful you
40:48didn't truly send
40:48me away empty
40:49handed.
40:50What you have
40:51already given me
40:52is enough.
40:55But I will still
40:56sell the gowns,
40:57the jewels,
40:59and the houses.
41:01I have enough
41:02money.
41:04I simply don't
41:05want to keep
41:06anything from the
41:07palace.
41:07Leon's voice
41:08was hoarse.
41:10Aaliyah,
41:12I only want
41:13to make it up
41:13to you.
41:16You've already
41:16made up enough.
41:23We owe each
41:24other nothing now.
41:27Leon suddenly
41:28grew agitated.
41:29How can we owe
41:30each other nothing?
41:33your father and
41:34the way I treated
41:35you before.
41:37I wronged you.
41:38I was silent for
41:39a moment.
41:43I did hate you.
41:45My father saved
41:46the late king,
41:47but the reward he
41:49earned was locked
41:49inside the palace.
41:50When he needed
41:51those things to live,
41:52I couldn't even get
41:53a key.
41:55There was a time
41:56when I wanted to
41:57burn that palace
41:58down.
41:58Leon's face
41:59turned pale.
42:01I went on.
42:03But I also have
42:04to admit,
42:05Leon,
42:06that my father
42:07survived those
42:08three years
42:08because of the
42:09royal physicians
42:10and the apothetry.
42:11That was what
42:12the old king
42:13promised him.
42:16And it was
42:16something you
42:17never completely
42:18on.
42:21He never
42:21completely took
42:22away.
42:23Before my father
42:24died,
42:24he held my hand
42:25with the little
42:26strength he had
42:27left.
42:30Alia,
42:32don't spend
42:33your whole life
42:34inside hatred.
42:37My greatest
42:38regret is not
42:39that I never
42:39lived in a
42:40grand house.
42:41It's that I
42:42never got to
42:43see you return
42:44to the forge.
42:46My daughter
42:47could have
42:48made the
42:48finest keys.
42:50When the
42:51finest keys...
42:54At that
42:54moment,
42:55the person I
42:56hated most
42:56became myself.
42:58I hated
42:58myself for
42:59being useless.
43:00I hated
43:01that even
43:01though I
43:02knew the
43:02palace was
43:02not my
43:03home.
43:03I still
43:04endured
43:04three years
43:05there for
43:05my father,
43:06and I
43:06hated that
43:07in the
43:07end.
43:08I still
43:08failed to
43:09save him.
43:10So now
43:11everything is
43:11only returning
43:12to where
43:12it should
43:13be.
43:14And it
43:14was something
43:15you never
43:15completely
43:16took away.
43:21Something
43:21seemed to
43:22shatter in
43:22Leon's
43:23eyes.
43:27We sat
43:28in silence
43:28for a long
43:29time.
43:30In the end,
43:30there was no
43:31unnecessary
43:32farewell.
43:33When the
43:33carriage left,
43:34I did not
43:35look back.
43:36Over the
43:36next few
43:37years, I
43:38poured almost
43:39all my time
43:39into the
43:40armory camp.
43:40I repaired
43:42gates,
43:43adjusted
43:43crossbows,
43:45redesigned
43:45horseshoes
43:46for the
43:46northern
43:46cavalry.
43:47Eventually,
43:48even the
43:49minister of
43:49war in
43:50the capital
43:50heard that
43:51there was
43:51a female
43:52armorer in
43:53the north
43:53who could
43:54make ruined
43:54plates of
43:55armor look
43:55new again.
43:56When
43:57Madame Martha
43:57grew older,
43:58she often
43:59sat by the
43:59forge and
44:00watched me
44:00train apprentices.
44:03Choose
44:03your students
44:04carefully.
44:05I'm too
44:06old to
44:07rescue you
44:07first and
44:08then rescue
44:08your useless
44:09little
44:09apprentices,
44:10too.
44:11My
44:12apprentices
44:12and I
44:13all laughed.
44:15That
44:15winter, I
44:17suddenly received
44:17news, Leon
44:18had been
44:19injured, a
44:20fire had
44:20broken out
44:21in the old
44:21queen's
44:22chamber, and
44:23he had
44:23rushed in
44:24to save
44:24someone.
44:27Half his
44:28face had
44:28been burned,
44:29the messenger
44:30said Lydia
44:30had set the
44:31fire.
44:33After she
44:33was driven
44:34from the
44:34palace, she
44:35never accepted
44:35it.
44:36She
44:37believed
44:37his majesty
44:37refused to
44:38marry her
44:39because you
44:39were still
44:39alive.
44:41and because
44:42he had
44:42kept the
44:42queen's
44:43chamber
44:44untouched.
44:45She used
44:46an old
44:46key she
44:47had secretly
44:47copied, slipped
44:48into White
44:49Stone Palace, and
44:50tried to burn
44:51the chamber
44:51down.
44:52Maybe she
44:53wanted to
44:53kill Leon.
44:54Maybe she
44:54wanted to
44:55kill me.
44:56The woman
44:56she believed
44:57would one
44:57day return.
44:58After
44:59hesitating for
45:00a long time,
45:01I went to
45:01see him once,
45:02my heart
45:03had not
45:03softened.
45:04Some things
45:05simply needed
45:05a real
45:06ending.
45:10Leon lay
45:11in the
45:11palace
45:11infirmary.
45:12Half
45:13of his
45:13face was
45:13wrapped in
45:14white bandages.
45:15The physicians
45:16whispered that
45:17the scar would
45:17likely be
45:18deep.
45:19When he
45:19saw me,
45:20he gave a
45:20smile uglier
45:21than crying.
45:22You came.
45:23I nodded
45:24politely as if
45:25visiting an
45:26old acquaintance.
45:27I heard you
45:28were hurt.
45:29He said,
45:30Lydia will
45:31stand trial.
45:33falsifying the
45:33key ledger,
45:34holding back
45:35the apothetory
45:36key,
45:36hiding the
45:37queen's
45:37travel permits
45:38and arson.
45:40She will
45:40pay for all
45:41of it.
45:42I did not
45:42ask further.
45:43None of
45:44those things
45:44had anything
45:45to do with
45:45me now.
45:46I only
45:46asked a
45:48few polite
45:48questions about
45:49his injuries.
45:54Will the
45:55burn affect
45:55your sight?
46:01The
46:01physicians
46:02say one
46:02eye may
46:03blur in
46:03winter.
46:04It doesn't
46:04matter.
46:06Then follow
46:07their instructions.
46:09When the
46:09next group of
46:10nobles came
46:10in to visit,
46:11I took the
46:12chance to
46:12leave at
46:13the door.
46:14Leon suddenly
46:15called my
46:15name.
46:21Aaliyah.
46:21I stopped
46:22but did not
46:23turn around.
46:24His voice
46:25was low.
46:28That
46:28chamber is
46:29gone.
46:32Everything
46:33from before
46:33is gone
46:34too.
46:35I said
46:35calmly,
46:36that's
46:37alright.
46:38I never
46:39wanted any
46:40of it.
46:41I said
46:42calmly,
46:44behind me
46:45there was
46:46a long
46:46silence.
46:47I opened
46:47the door
46:48and walked
46:48out of
46:48the infirmary.
46:50The sunlight
46:50outside was
46:51bright,
46:51like my
46:52new life.
47:02Lydia's
47:02trial was
47:03held in
47:03the old
47:03judgment
47:04hall of
47:04White Stone
47:05Palace.
47:06She no
47:06longer wore
47:07pale blue
47:07silk or
47:08white fox
47:08fur.
47:09Her wrists
47:10were bound,
47:11her hair
47:11was loose,
47:12and smoke
47:13stains still
47:14clung to the
47:14hem of her
47:15gown.
47:15Lydia,
47:16former
47:17chief court
47:17lady,
47:18you are
47:18accused of
47:19falsifying
47:19household
47:20ledgers,
47:21withholding
47:21royal keys,
47:22concealing
47:22travel permits,
47:24delaying royal
47:24medicine,
47:25and setting
47:25fire to the
47:26Queen's
47:26chamber.
47:27Queen's
47:28chamber?
47:28She was
47:29never worthy
47:30of that
47:30chamber.
47:31The
47:31noble's
47:31whispered
47:32at Leon
47:32sat with
47:33bandages.
47:34He did
47:34not speak.
47:36The
47:37recovered
47:37ledger
47:38shows that
47:39the apothery
47:40key was
47:40requested
47:41five times
47:42on the
47:42night
47:43Master
47:43Thomas
47:44died.
47:45Each
47:46request
47:46was
47:46delayed
47:47under
47:47your
47:48seal.
47:49I
47:49followed
47:50palace.
47:51I
47:51followed
47:52palace
47:53rules.
47:53The
47:54travel
47:54permit
47:54was
47:55also
47:55hidden
47:56under
47:56your
47:56seal.
47:57Because
47:58she
47:59always
47:59wanted
47:59to
48:00run
48:00back
48:00to
48:01that
48:01filthy
48:01forge.
48:03Not
48:04the
48:04furls.
48:06Leon
48:07closed
48:07his eyes.
48:09Lydia
48:09suddenly
48:09turned
48:10toward
48:10the
48:10screen
48:10as
48:11if
48:11she
48:11could
48:11see
48:11him.
48:12Leon
48:13if
48:13Alalia
48:14had
48:14not
48:14appeared
48:14I
48:15would
48:15have
48:15been
48:15queen
48:16long
48:16ago.
48:18You
48:19kept
48:19that
48:19chamber
48:19untouched
48:20because
48:20you
48:20still
48:21dreamed
48:21she
48:21would
48:21return.
48:22If
48:23she
48:23died
48:24everything
48:25would
48:25go
48:26back
48:26to
48:26how
48:26it
48:27was.
48:29The
48:29judgment
48:29hall
48:30fell
48:30silent.
48:31Then
48:31you
48:32admit
48:32you
48:32set
48:32the
48:32fire
48:33knowing
48:33she
48:33might
48:34return.
48:34Lydia
48:35S.
48:35face
48:35twisted.
48:36I
48:37admit
48:37nothing
48:38except
48:38that
48:39she
48:39stole
48:39what
48:39should
48:40have
48:40been
48:40mine.
48:47After
48:48the
48:48trial
48:48Leon
48:49dismissed
48:49every
48:50guard
48:50and
48:50walked
48:51alone
48:51to
48:51the
48:51ruins
48:52of
48:52the
48:52old
48:52queen's
48:52chamber.
48:53The
48:54corridor
48:54still
48:54smelled
48:55of
48:55smoke.
48:56The
48:56portraits
48:57of
48:57past
48:57queens
48:57remained
48:58on
48:58the
48:58walls
48:58but
48:59the
48:59place
49:00where
49:00Alia's
49:00portrait
49:01had
49:01once
49:01hung
49:01was
49:01black
49:02and
49:02empty.
49:04Your
49:04Majesty
49:05the
49:05physician
49:06said
49:06you
49:06should
49:06not
49:06be
49:07near
49:07Ash.
49:11Leave.
49:12The
49:13guard
49:13bowed
49:14and
49:14retreated.
49:15Leon
49:15stepped
49:15over
49:16burned
49:16silk,
49:17broken
49:17beams
49:18and
49:18melted
49:18glass.
49:19The
49:19wardrobe
49:20that
49:20he
49:20had
49:20finally
49:21opened
49:21for
49:21Alia
49:22was
49:22gone.
49:23The
49:23jewel
49:23room
49:24was
49:24gone.
49:24The
49:25table
49:25where
49:25he
49:25had
49:26placed
49:26the
49:26polished
49:26golden.
49:27Keys
49:28was
49:28split
49:28in
49:29half.
49:29A
49:29half
49:30melted
49:30key
49:30lay
49:30in
49:31the
49:31ashes.
49:31Leon
49:32picked
49:33it
49:33up
49:33with
49:33his
49:33bandaged
49:34hand.
49:37Your
49:38majesty,
49:39your
49:39wound
49:39will
49:40reopen.
49:40It
49:41should.
49:41He
49:42looked at
49:42the
49:42twisted
49:43key
49:43and
49:43suddenly
49:44remembered
49:44Alia
49:45standing
49:45before him
49:46with a
49:46small
49:46trunk
49:46at her
49:47feet.
49:51Alia's
49:52voice
49:52seemed to
49:52return
49:53from the
49:53fire.
49:54I
49:54don't
49:55need
49:55them
49:55now.
49:57Leon
49:57pressed
49:58the
49:58key
49:58against
49:58his
49:59palm.
50:00For
50:00years,
50:00he
50:01had
50:01believed
50:01that
50:02if
50:02he
50:02kept
50:02the
50:02chamber,
50:03kept
50:03the
50:04gowns,
50:04kept
50:05the
50:05keys,
50:06he
50:06could
50:06keep
50:06the
50:07possibility
50:07of
50:07her
50:07return.
50:09But
50:10the
50:10chamber
50:10had
50:11burned,
50:11the
50:11portrait
50:11had
50:12burned,
50:12even
50:13the
50:13keys
50:13had
50:13lost
50:14their
50:14shape.
50:15Only
50:16then
50:16did
50:16Leon
50:16understand
50:17that
50:17Alia
50:17had
50:18not
50:18disappeared
50:18from
50:19his
50:19life
50:19because
50:19a
50:20door
50:20had
50:20closed.
50:21She
50:21had
50:21left
50:22because
50:22he
50:23had
50:23never
50:23given
50:23her
50:24one
50:24worth
50:24opening.
50:26The
50:27palace
50:27corridor
50:28looked as
50:28brilliant
50:29as it
50:29had
50:29before,
50:30with
50:30portraits
50:31of
50:31past
50:31queens
50:32hanging
50:32along
50:32the
50:33walls.
50:33There
50:33had
50:34once
50:34been
50:34a
50:34portrait
50:34of
50:35me
50:35there
50:35too
50:35after
50:36the
50:36dissolution.
50:37Leon
50:37never
50:38ordered
50:38it
50:38removed.
50:39Now
50:40that
50:40portrait
50:40had
50:40burned
50:41with
50:41the
50:41chamber.
50:42Good.
50:43Some
50:43things
50:43should
50:44never
50:44have
50:44been
50:44kept
50:44later.
50:45I
50:46heard
50:46that
50:46Lydia
50:46cursed
50:47my
50:47name
50:47throughout
50:47her
50:48trial.
50:49She
50:49said
50:49that
50:50if
50:50it
50:50had
50:50not
50:50been
50:50for
50:51me
50:51she
50:51would
50:51have
50:51been
50:52queen
50:52long
50:52ago.
50:53She
50:53said
50:54that
50:54if
50:54it
50:54had
50:54not
50:54been
50:55for
50:55me.
50:56She
50:57said
50:57that
50:57if
50:57I
50:58died
50:58everything
50:59would
50:59go
50:59back
50:59to
51:00how
51:00it
51:00was
51:00I
51:01only
51:01found
51:01it
51:01ridiculous
51:02in
51:03the
51:03end
51:03they
51:04really
51:04were
51:04a
51:04perfect
51:05match.
51:05One
51:06believed
51:06that
51:06as
51:07long
51:07as
51:07he
51:07kept
51:07the
51:07old
51:08chamber
51:08I
51:09would
51:09one
51:09day
51:09return.
51:10The
51:11other
51:11believed
51:11that
51:11as
51:12long
51:12as
51:12I
51:12disappeared
51:13she
51:13would
51:13be
51:14able
51:14to
51:14walk
51:14through
51:14that
51:15door.
51:15They
51:16were
51:16both
51:16stubbornly
51:17guarding
51:17things
51:17that
51:17did
51:18not
51:18belong
51:18to
51:18them.
51:19Both
51:19of
51:19them
51:19were
51:20trapped
51:20in
51:20the
51:20past
51:21refusing
51:21to
51:22move
51:22on.
51:22What
51:22a
51:23shame
51:23I
51:23had
51:23not
51:23seen
51:24it
51:24sooner.
51:24One
51:25regret
51:25in
51:25a
51:26lifetime
51:26was
51:26enough.
51:27A
51:28young
51:28girl
51:28at
51:28the
51:29work
51:29table
51:29glanced
51:29at
51:30the
51:30messenger's
51:30letter
51:31in
51:31my
51:31hand.
51:32Teacher,
51:33is that
51:33news
51:34from
51:34the
51:34palace?
51:35I
51:36folded
51:36the
51:36letter
51:37and
51:37pushed
51:37it
51:37into
51:37the
51:38fire.
51:40No,
51:42it
51:42is
51:42only
51:42ash.
51:43Madame
51:44Martha
51:44snorted
51:45from
51:45the
51:45corner.
51:46Good
51:46answer.
51:47Now
51:48teach
51:48that
51:48girl
51:48how
51:49to
51:49file
51:52my
51:52tools.
51:52After
51:53that,
51:53I
51:54never
51:54went
51:54back
51:54to
51:54the
51:55palace.
51:55I
51:56never
51:56followed
51:56any
51:56news
51:57of
51:57Leon
51:57again.
51:59Several
52:00months
52:00after
52:01Lydia's
52:01sentence,
52:02the
52:02minister
52:02of
52:03war
52:03placed
52:03a
52:03northern
52:04armory
52:04report
52:05before
52:05Leon.
52:06Your
52:06majesty,
52:07the
52:07border
52:08cavalry
52:08requests
52:08more
52:09horseshoes
52:09from
52:10Miss
52:10Elia's
52:10workshop,
52:11but their
52:12design
52:12has
52:12reduced
52:12winter
52:13injuries
52:13by
52:13nearly
52:14half.
52:15Leon's
52:16fingers
52:16paused
52:16on the
52:17seal.
52:18The
52:18capital
52:18armory
52:19could
52:19use
52:19her
52:19skill.
52:20We
52:21may
52:21invite
52:21her
52:21to
52:21Whitestone
52:22for
52:22a
52:22royal
52:23commission.
52:23For
52:23a
52:24moment,
52:24the
52:24chamber
52:25was
52:25silent.
52:26Then
52:26Leon
52:26said
52:27quietly,
52:27Send
52:28the
52:28invitation.
52:29He
52:29told
52:29himself
52:30it
52:30was
52:30for
52:30the
52:30kingdom.
52:31He
52:31did
52:31not
52:32tell
52:32the
52:32minister
52:32that
52:33he
52:33had
52:33read
52:33every
52:33northern
52:34report.
52:34With
52:35her
52:35name
52:35on
52:35it,
52:36he
52:36did
52:36not
52:37say
52:37that
52:37each
52:37mention
52:37of
52:38Aaliyah's
52:38work
52:38hurt
52:39worse
52:39than
52:39a
52:39scar
52:39across
52:40his
52:40face.
52:49new lock
52:50system
52:50for
52:50Whitestone
52:50Palace.
52:52I
52:52did
52:53not
52:53stop
52:53filing
52:53the
52:54iron
52:54plate
52:54in
52:54my
52:55hand.
52:55Tell
52:56the
52:56ministry
52:56to
52:57send
52:57the
52:57measurements.
52:58I
52:59will
52:59design
52:59what
52:59the
52:59palace
53:00needs
53:00from
53:00here.
53:01His
53:01majesty
53:01hoped
53:02you
53:02would
53:02come
53:02in
53:02person.
53:03I
53:03finally
53:04looked
53:04up.
53:05I
53:05am
53:06an
53:06armature,
53:07not
53:07a
53:07memory
53:07he
53:08can
53:08summon.
53:08That
53:09evening
53:09I
53:09wrote
53:10a
53:10formal
53:10reply.
53:12Thomas'
53:13workshop
53:13accepts
53:14commissions
53:14for
53:15tools,
53:16hinges,
53:17armor
53:20it
53:20does
53:20not
53:20accept
53:21invitations
53:21to
53:22reopen
53:22closed
53:23doors.
53:23When
53:24Leon
53:24received
53:25the
53:25letter,
53:26he
53:26read
53:26the
53:26last
53:26line
53:27three
53:27times,
53:27then
53:28he
53:28folded
53:28it
53:28carefully
53:29and
53:29placed
53:29it
53:29beside
53:30the
53:30ruined
53:30golden
53:30key he
53:31still
53:31kept
53:31in
53:32his
53:32desk.
53:34The
53:35winters
53:35in the
53:35north were
53:36long,
53:36but the
53:37forge
53:37fire never
53:38went
53:38out.
53:39One
53:39of the
53:39new
53:39girls
53:40held up
53:40a
53:40broken
53:41lock
53:41and
53:41asked
53:41softly,
53:42Teacher,
53:43what
53:44should
53:44I
53:44do
53:44if
53:44this
53:44won't
53:50open?
53:50it
53:50won't
53:51open,
53:51replace
53:52it.
53:53Same
53:53with
53:53doors,
53:54same
53:55with
53:55people.
53:55The
53:56fire
53:56rose.
53:57The
53:57red
53:58hot
53:58iron
53:58slowly
53:59took
53:59shape
53:59beneath
53:59the
54:00hammer.
54:00I
54:01suddenly
54:01thought
54:01of
54:01the
54:02night.
54:02I
54:03left
54:03the
54:03palace
54:03three
54:04years
54:04ago,
54:04back
54:05then.
54:06I
54:06thought
54:06I
54:06had
54:07lost
54:07everything.
54:08Only
54:08now
54:08did
54:08I
54:09understand.
54:09I
54:10had
54:10simply
54:10carried
54:11myself
54:11out
54:11of
54:11a
54:12palace
54:12where
54:12I
54:13had
54:13never
54:13been
54:14given
54:14a
54:14key.
54:16From
54:16then
54:16on,
54:17my
54:17life
54:18would
54:18only
54:18move
54:18forward.
54:19I
54:19would
54:19never
54:20look
54:20back.
54:22The
54:22new
54:22girl
54:22stared
54:23at
54:23the
54:23broken
54:23lock
54:24in
54:24her
54:24palm,
54:25then
54:25looked
54:25at
54:25the
54:25iron
54:26glowing
54:26in
54:26the
54:26furnace.
54:28Teacher,
54:29can I
54:30make
54:30my
54:30own
54:30key?
54:31I
54:31handed
54:32her
54:32the
54:32smaller
54:32hammer
54:33my
54:33father
54:33once
54:33made
54:34for
54:34me.
54:36You
54:36can
54:36make
54:36a
54:37key.
54:37You
54:38can
54:38make
54:38a
54:38door.
54:39You
54:39can
54:39even
54:39decide
54:40there
54:40should
54:40be
54:40no
54:40door
54:41there
54:41at
54:41all.
54:41Less
54:42talking,
54:43more
54:43hammering.
54:44The
54:45apprentices
54:45burst
54:45into
54:46laughter.
54:46I
54:47laughed
54:47with
54:47them.
54:48Outside,
54:49the
54:49northern
54:50snow
54:50covered
54:51the
54:51road
54:51to
54:51the
54:51capital.
54:52Inside,
54:53the
54:53forge
54:53burned
54:54brighter
54:54than
54:54any
54:54palace
54:55chandelier
54:55I
54:55had
54:56ever
54:56seen.
54:56I
54:57raised
54:57the
54:57hammer.
54:58The
54:58first
54:58strike
54:59rang
54:59clear,
55:00then
55:00the
55:00second,
55:01then
55:01the
55:02third.
55:02A
55:02new
55:02shape
55:03began
55:03to
55:03form
55:03beneath
55:04my
55:04hands.
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