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