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00:00On the day of our sacred bond ceremony, my original intended, Raphael, stood before the altar in the Hall of
00:08Hymns and announced, in front of every angel in heaven, he had already sealed an angelic bond with Camilla, another
00:16angel from my own home.
00:18The white gold halo ring in my hand had not even reached my finger before the Book of Heaven. Judgment
00:24opened in front of me.
00:25Aileen, the sacred bond ceremony has failed.
00:30The fate binding has collapsed. Under the laws of heaven, your name will be erased from the heavenly archives.
00:39Holy fire poured down from the dome of the Hall of Hymns. I did not even have time to ask
00:45Raphael why he had betrayed me. The judgment circle beneath my feet was already blown.
00:53Raphael, why?
00:56Raphael avoided my eyes.
00:58The bond has already been sealed. There is nothing left to explain.
01:03White gold flames wrapped around the form of my bond, ready to burn my name, my identity, and every record
01:10of my soul out of heaven.
01:12It was Frederick who rushed out of the cloud and shoved me out of the judgment circle.
01:23The holy fire swallowed his wings. He saved me. From that day on, he lost the ability to fly.
01:33Every angel knew that losing one's wings was almost the same as losing one's honor.
01:38Later, heaven allowed me to choose a new sacred bond partner. I agreed to bind myself to Frederick.
01:45I believed the man who had broken his wings for me was the last mercy.
01:50Heaven had left me, but in the third year after our sacred bond was sealed, I learned the truth.
01:56That day, I had just returned from the forbidden border of heaven to find Frederick a potion that could regrow
02:03his wings.
02:04I had broken into the forbidden zone and nearly had half my arm torn apart by fallen angels.
02:10Clutching the small glass bottle of wing restoration potion, I reached the door of the healing hall room and heard
02:17someone inside ask him,
02:19Frederick, Camilla already has a pair of heaven-born ears. Your wings were covered long ago.
02:25Are you still not going to tell Aylan? The room went silent for a moment. Then I heard Frederick's familiar,
02:33cold voice.
02:35I can't. Aileen is still a risk. As long as she still felt guilty towards me, she would pour all
02:43her energy into seeking a magical potion for my sake, leaving Camilla's happiness undisturbed.
02:48I looked down at the wound on my arm, so the fallen angels who had appeared near the forbidden entrance
02:54to steal. The glass bottle had also been arranged by him.
03:00The door opened. Frederick walked out in his cloak, still pretending he could not fly. But the moment he smelled
03:08blood on me, his face changed.
03:11Aileen, you're hurt?
03:13He took my hand, panic flashing across his face as if he truly cared. Once, I would have believed him.
03:21Now, I only felt sick.
03:24It's nothing. I was just careless.
03:28Before I could finish, days of exhaustion drained the last of my strength. Everything went black.
03:34When I woke up, I was lying in his room. My arm had been wrapped in healing white gauze. But
03:41Frederick was gone. I looked for the holy feather note that had fallen near the edge of the table.
03:47But my gaze landed on the black record book on his desk. I opened the first page. Every word was
03:54in his handwriting.
03:55Camilla likes tart, golden apples. After her blessing sessions, walk with her through the white-wing corridor.
04:02Pregnancy blessings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Walk with her in the cordivine light on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
04:11After she gives birth to the heaven-born heirs, her blessing will be unstable. The bottle of wing restoration potion
04:18must be given to her first.
04:19Page after page, it was all CMLA. My tears fell onto the record book, shattering the last of my attachment
04:26to him.
04:29A second sacred bond failure has been detected. Do you choose to leave?
04:34Yes. In three days, carry out the erase judgment. Remove the name Eileen from the heavenly archives.
04:42After gathering myself, I walked out of the room and heard to healing angels whispering at the end of the
04:48corridor.
04:49Frederick treats Camilla so well, he stayed with her through every blessing while she was carrying the heirs.
04:55On the day they were born, he waited outside the healing hall until dawn.
04:59I heard he was so happy when the twin heaven-born heirs arrived that he forgot to keep his cloak
05:04on.
05:05Someone almost saw that his wings had grown back.
05:07I stopped at the door of the healing hall, through the gap.
05:11I saw Frederick carefully holding one of the heirs.
05:15The child had a pair of soft little wings on his back.
05:19Pale light shimmering along the tips, Frederick looked at him with so much tenderness it nearly spilled out of his
05:25eyes.
05:26And I, because of the holy fire judgment five years ago,
05:30had been burned so badly that I had lost the ability to carry heaven-born heirs at all.
05:35Camilla leaned against the healing bed and smiled sweetly.
05:40I feel much better after using the potion you brought.
05:43But Eileen worked so hard to find that bottle.
05:46Will she be angry?
05:48No.
05:48If it helped you, then her effort wasn't wasted.
05:51The empty glass vial shattered through my grip.
05:56All eyes in the room turned toward me.
05:59I turned to leave.
06:01Frederick followed me out.
06:03His steps were quick too quick for an angel who supposedly could no longer fly to higher places.
06:08Then he realized it himself.
06:10He immediately slowed down and pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders.
06:15Eileen, Camilla just gave birth.
06:18Her blessing is unstable.
06:20I didn't mean to hide it from you.
06:22I stared at the faint shape of wings beneath his cloak and almost laughed.
06:27His wings had already recovered, yet he still insisted on playing the broken-winged savior in front of me.
06:34I'm not unreasonable.
06:36Go take care of her.
06:38He visibly relaxed.
06:40Then he lowered his head and kissed my forehead.
06:44You're always the best.
06:46As long as you stay with me.
06:48I don't care if I never fly again.
06:51But Frederick, I no longer wanted to stay with you.
06:54The next morning, he took me to the Hall of Judgment for Camilla's blessing banquet after she left the healing
07:00hall as soon as I entered.
07:02The female attendant of the Hall of Judgment turned a cold look on me.
07:10A female angel who can't even bear heaven-born rates.
07:16How do you still have the nerve to come here?
07:19Both of them came from the Hall of Hines.
07:21Camilla gave birth to twin heaven-born heirs.
07:24While she only managed to ruin Frederick's wings.
07:28She's a curse.
07:30Even the Book of Heavenly Judgment refused to bless her.
07:33I stood under their stairs and finally understood.
07:37Frederick had kept me here so I would always feel lower than Camilla.
07:43After Frederick was pulled away to greet the other angels, I made an excuse and went to the White Wing
07:49Corridor for air.
07:51Camilla followed me almost immediately.
07:53A white-gold cross pendant rested against her throat.
07:58It had been kept by the Hall of Hymns, and it had originally belonged to the former hymn angel who
08:03raised me.
08:05Aileen, are you heartbroken?
08:08She smiled as she touched the pendant.
08:11The blessing seat in the Hall of Hymns is mine now.
08:15The Hall of Judgment protects me too.
08:18Your original sacred bond partner and your current one both love me.
08:25She stepped closer, lowering her voice.
08:31Oh, and the idea of making Frederick pretend to be wingless so he could pursue you.
08:38That was mine too.
08:40My whole body went stiff the year I came of age.
08:43The former hymn angel who raised me left heaven, and Camilla was brought back to the Hall of Hymns.
08:49From then on, the attendants kept saying they owed Camilla for all the years she had been left to fend
08:55for herself.
08:56Everything had to be given to her.
08:59The blessing seat in the Hall of Hymns, my sacred bond, and now even the salvation I had believed in.
09:06All of it was just another trap she had designed.
09:09Aileen, after all these years, you're still useless.
09:14You couldn't protect the angel who raised you.
09:17You couldn't even protect your own sacred bond, partner.
09:21Anger surged up.
09:23I lifted my hand to slap her.
09:30But Camilla suddenly grabbed my wrist and gave me a strange smile.
09:34The next second, she screamed.
09:38Aileen, don't push me.
09:40She dragged my hand and threw herself backward.
09:43Frederick rushed over from the other side of the banquet hall.
09:50Camilla!
09:51In that moment, he forgot to keep pretending.
09:54The wind tore his cloak open.
09:56A pair of fully recovered white wings unfurled behind him.
10:00He swept over the pool of penance and caught Camilla steadily in his arms.
10:04And the force of his body knocking past me sent me straight into the pool of penance.
10:10It was not ordinary water.
10:12It was the pool the Hall of Judgment used to punish fallen or unworthy angels.
10:17The moment the water touched my wings, it sealed my divine power.
10:22I couldn't even lift my wings.
10:25Frederick.
10:27My voice was swallowed by the water.
10:30I sank into the freezing, burning pool, struggling desperately.
10:36The angels on the bank gasped and backed away.
10:39Not one of them came to save me.
10:41Pull her out!
10:42The pool will steal her power completely!
10:45By the time the heavenly guards dragged me out, I was almost unconscious.
10:50Camilla nestled in Frederick's arms, crying delicately.
10:57Frederick, don't blame her.
11:00She only hates me because I once took her sacred bond.
11:04Frederick's face darkened.
11:06Then he turned and saw me soaked through.
11:09Staring at him coldly, only then did he realize what he had done.
11:13He draped his outer robe over me.
11:16After the crowd scattered, he said in a low voice,
11:20Even if you're jealous of her, you shouldn't have tried to hurt her.
11:23She just gave birth to the heirs.
11:25If anything had happened to her...
11:27I held back the pain in my chest and laughed.
11:34At Frederick?
11:35I looked at the wings still spread behind him.
11:41When did your wings grow back?
11:46Why didn't you tell me?
11:49His face froze.
11:52I...
11:53For one moment, he looked as if he wanted to reach for me.
11:57But from the distance, the female attendant of the Hall of Judgment suddenly shouted,
12:03Camilla looks like she's fainting!
12:06Frederick's hand froze halfway toward me.
12:09The next second, he turned and flew to Camilla.
12:13So this is the man I gave three years of my life to.
12:18After the blessing banquet at the Hall of Judgment was cancelled,
12:22I dragged my exhausted body back to the side chamber of the Hall of Judgment.
12:27I pulled out everything Frederick had ever given me, piece by piece.
12:32There was the Holy Seal wooden box he had carved by hand.
12:36There were the images of the sunrise at the cloud's fire,
12:39where he had once taken me with his ruined wings.
12:42There were all the vows he had written for me.
12:45In every image, he looked at me with such devotion.
12:49I used to think that was love.
12:51Now I realized he had only been looking at the part of me that resembled Camilla.
12:56I threw those old things into the holy fire one by one and watched them turn to ash along with
13:02them.
13:02I burned away my love for Frederick.
13:05By dawn, he still had not returned.
13:07He only sent an attendant with a warming potion to keep thee,
13:12cold of the pool of penance from sinking into my bones.
13:16Something came up at the healing hall.
13:20Frederick can't leave right now.
13:23He's still worried about you.
13:26He was afraid the pool of penance might have damaged your wings and divine power.
13:30I drank the bitter potion, then pushed the box on the table toward her.
13:41This is a gift for Frederick.
13:44Please give it to him.
13:46Inside the box was the sacred bond dissolution agreement I had already signed.
13:52An hour later, Frederick sent me a holy feather note.
13:57Apologize to Camilla later for what happened last night.
14:00She just gave birth to the heirs.
14:03Then another holy feather note fell, carrying the location of the holy banquet hall.
14:09My wings officially recover today.
14:12I owe you for all that you've given me these years.
14:15Tonight, let's celebrate properly.
14:18I looked at the golden words floating over the holy feather note and almost admired him.
14:24His act had already been exposed.
14:27Yet he could still keep playing the devoted partner without shame.
14:30I took another copy of the dissolution agreement and went to the banquet hall.
14:36I waited from noon until dusk.
14:38He never came.
14:39All I received was an image record from C.M.
14:42In the image, Frederick was gently soothing a heaven-born heir to sleep.
14:47The tiny wings of the twin heirs rested against his arm,
14:51and the fatherly tenderness in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.
14:56Camilla's holy feather note landed in front of me again.
14:59No need to thank me, Eileen.
15:02I've trained Frederick very well.
15:04He's great at soothing the heirs now.
15:07So this is the celebration he promised me.
15:12A while later, Camilla had an attendant deliver a transfer agreement for Frederick's treasured possessions.
15:19I almost forgot you can't bear heaven-born heirs.
15:23Frederick has already made a contract.
15:26All his treasures will go to my children.
15:29I closed the holy feather note and went to the Hall of Hymns where everything had begun five years ago.
15:35That was where Raphael and I were supposed to have held our sacred bond ceremony.
15:41At that very moment, the Hall of Judgment was holding Camilla's blessing banquet inside the Hall of Hymns.
15:48Frederick and Camilla each held a heaven-born heir as they stood before the altar.
15:52They looked like a real family of four.
15:55A judgment angel smiled at them.
15:59The heirs are blessed.
16:01Camilla truly is heaven's favored angel.
16:04Camilla lowered her head with a gentle smile.
16:08It is all because Aunt Frederick has been caring for us.
16:12Frederick did not deny it.
16:14I stood outside the crowd and took one bite of honeyed golden apple cake.
16:19It was so sweet it tasted bitter.
16:22Five years ago, I lost everything here.
16:24Today, I will leave everything here.
16:28Then I turned and left Dot step by step.
16:31I walked to the judgment steps outside the Hall of Hymns.
16:34Five years ago, that was where the Book of Heavenly Judgment had first declared me a failure.
16:41A cold voice rang in my mind.
16:45The time to leave has arrived.
16:47Do you confirm the oration?
16:49I closed my eyes.
16:51I confirm.
16:52White gold holy fire fell from between the clouds, and the judgment circle opened beneath my feet.
17:00It harmed no innocent soul.
17:02It only wrapped around my shadow, my name, and the records of my soul, erasing the identity of Eileen from
17:10the heavenly archives bit by bit.
17:12From that moment on, Eileen no longer existed in heaven.
17:17At the same time, the holy feather note Frederick had sent was shaken open by the holy fire.
17:23The sound of the flames bursting came through the note.
17:27The white feather turned to ash in his palm.
17:30Inside the banquet hall, Frederick was still holding one of Camilla's heirs.
17:35What was that sound?
17:37An attendant rushed into the banquet hall of the Hall of Hymns in a panic.
17:42Frederick, something happened!
17:44Eileen is accepting the erase judgment outside the Hall of Hymnicks!
17:47The cup in Frederick's hand fell to the floor.
17:51What did you say?
17:53Frederick lost control and rushed out of the Hall of Hymns.
17:58Eileen!
18:00Eileen, where are you?
18:02Heavenly guards stopped him from getting close to the remaining holy fire.
18:06In the distance, the white gold flames had already died out, leaving only a blackened judgment circle behind.
18:13Frederick grabbed the attendant by the collar, his voice trembling.
18:18You must have seen wrong.
18:21There's no way she would really choose a ration.
18:24The attendant's face went pale.
18:26I... I didn't see wrong.
18:28Her holy seal bracelet was left in the center of the judgment circle.
18:34Frederick stumbled.
18:35Camilla followed behind him, still holding her cloak closed, trying to look weak.
18:42Frederick, maybe Eileen is only trying to scare you.
18:46She has always cared about you.
18:48Frederick did not answer.
18:50He threw himself into the remains of the holy fire.
18:54Just as he had done five years ago.
18:56As if burning his wings one more time would bring me back.
19:00Frederick!
19:01The fire is still dangerous!
19:03But this time, there was no trace of me in the sole residue rejected by the holy fire.
19:08The fire burned his hands, but it could not return even one shadow of Eileen to him.
19:16Twenty-four hours later, the judgment court sent back only a few of my belongings.
19:22Among them was the holy seal bracelet I had never taken off.
19:26When Frederick saw it, the last color drained from his face even after he woke.
19:31He refused to believe I had truly left.
19:34The side chamber of the hall of judgment was empty.
19:37No one answered when he called my name.
19:41Alan!
19:42Stop hiding!
19:43Come out!
19:45No one answered.
19:46As he collapsed, he saw the box on the table when he opened it.
19:51The word Sacred Bond Dissolution Agreement cut into his eyes.
19:55An attendant knocked and came in, handing him the repaired image record.
20:03This was recovered near the judgment circle.
20:06My broken voice came from inside.
20:09Frederick, I actually knew your wings had recovered long ago.
20:14But still, congratulations.
20:18And thank you for rushing into the judgment circle five years ago to save me.
20:22But this bond, woven from lies and forcing me to live inside a false happiness, needs to end.
20:32I don't blame you for lying to me.
20:34But I will never forgive you either.
20:37Goodbye, Frederick.
20:39My words were swallowed by the roar of holy fire.
20:43Frederick slammed his fist into the wall.
20:48Eileen.
20:50Over the next week, Frederick sent holy feather notes flying all over the Celestial City,
20:57searching for any sign of me.
20:59He thought everyone would be moved by his devotion.
21:02Whoever finds Eileen, bring word to the Hall of Judgment immediately.
21:06But soon, someone exposed image records of his intimate behavior with Camilla,
21:12along with the old scandal of the stolen Sacred Bond in the Hall of Hymns.
21:17A judgment angel having an affair with his brother's Sacred Bond partner,
21:23while using his own partner as a substitute?
21:26Disgusting.
21:28So the false saintess really is false.
21:31First she stole Eileen's intended,
21:33and now she's clinging to Eileen's Sacred Bond partner.
21:36The outrage spread through the Celestial City.
21:40Quickly, the reputations of the Hall of Judgment
21:43and the Hall of Hymns collapsed one after another.
21:45A heavenly council angel stood before Camilla and read the order aloud.
21:51The heavenly council will re-examine Camilla's saintess status
21:54and all blessing records connected with her heirs.
21:59Camilla staggered.
22:01You cannot do this to me.
22:03I just gave birth to heaven-born heirs.
22:06That does not erase false testimony or stolen blessings.
22:13Raphael, who had been stationed at heaven's border,
22:17rushed back overnight and clashed with Frederick in the Hall of Judgment in front of everyone.
22:22You have no right to search for Eileen now.
22:25Frederick's eyes were bloodshot.
22:27And you do?
22:30You were the first one who betrayed her.
22:33Raphael's jaw tightened.
22:36I made a mistake.
22:38But you used her guilt for three years.
22:41Frederick grabbed Raphael by the collar.
22:44Say that again.
22:46Stop!
22:47This is the Hall of Judgment.
22:50Raphael, Frederick, please stop.
22:53Eileen would not want you to fight.
22:56Both men turned toward her at the same time.
22:59You don't deserve to say her name.
23:01The hall went silent.
23:03Camilla's expression finally cracked.
23:05She had once enjoyed.
23:07Two men fighting for her.
23:09Now they were fighting over the woman she had tried to erase.
23:13Frederick released Raphael and turned toward the open doors.
23:19Keep searching.
23:21I want every sanctuary border post.
23:25When I heard about all of this,
23:27I had not truly disappeared.
23:29The Book of Heavenly Judgment had given me to choices.
23:33One was to continue the sacred bond task and return to those people.
23:37The other was to give up my status in the Hall of Hymns,
23:40my old name,
23:42and every blessing attached to it,
23:44and live as a free angel.
23:46Eileen,
23:48once this choice is confirmed,
23:50the old name will no longer protect you.
23:53Do you still choose freedom?
23:55I chose the second without hesitation.
23:58I choose freedom.
24:00The Heavenly Archives altered my appearance by 30%
24:04and registered me under a new identity as a free angel.
24:08From that day on,
24:10my name was Sophia,
24:11and I moved into the Sanctuary of Free Angels.
24:14Asher was the Guardian Angel of the Sanctuary of Free Angels.
24:18He was also the one who guaranteed my new identity.
24:22From now on,
24:23no one here will call you by the name you left behind,
24:26unless you allow it.
24:29Then let Eileen stay dead.
24:32From then on,
24:33Eileen had died in that heavenly judgment.
24:38Three months later,
24:39I saw Frederick again at a holy banquet.
24:42I had just left the Sanctuary library
24:44and was heading back to the banquet hall when I ran into him,
24:48lost in the corridor.
24:50Hello?
24:52Do you know how to get out of here?
24:54The second he looked up and saw me,
24:56he froze.
24:58Even though my face was no longer exactly the same as before,
25:02he looked as if holy fire had nailed him in place.
25:05The next moment,
25:07he rushed toward me,
25:08his voice shaking.
25:12Eileen,
25:13it's really you.
25:14I finally found you.
25:16Before I could speak,
25:17Asher stepped out from behind me and blocked him.
25:21Frederick,
25:21you've mistaken her for someone else.
25:23Frederick clenched his hand.
25:25I would never mistake her.
25:27I was bonded to her for three years.
25:30I'd know her even if she were Ash.
25:33Asher frowned in disgust.
25:36Then you're not just blind.
25:38You're clearly not thinking straight either.
25:41Asher stood in front of me and announced to every angel present,
25:44She is not the former sacred bond partner you knew as Eileen.
25:49She is Sophia,
25:51a free angel,
25:52accepted by the sanctuary of free angels.
25:56Frederick stood there,
25:57staring hard at my back.
25:59Impossible.
26:01That's my Eileen.
26:04Running into Frederick had been an accident.
26:06I was about to let Asher take me away when Frederick blocked me again.
26:11His eyes were bloodshot,
26:12and his voice was almost pleading.
26:15You're Eileen,
26:16aren't you?
26:17Are you still angry,
26:18so you're pretending not to know me?
26:20I've been cinching for you every day since you disappeared.
26:24If you come to me,
26:25I will never lie to you again.
26:27Every angel at the banquet turned to look everyone knew.
26:31Frederick had been desperately searching for his sacred bond partner.
26:35Everyone knew he had almost lost control.
26:38I looked at him calmly.
26:39Frederick,
26:40I don't know you.
26:42I am not your sacred bond partner.
26:45Words like that damage my reputation,
26:48and I do not want to hear them a third time.
26:51He stared at my face,
26:53trying to find the smallest crack in my expression,
26:56but I stayed perfectly composed.
26:59Asher took one step forward.
27:02You have been warned once.
27:05Do not force the Sanctuary of Free Angels to treat you as a threat.
27:09Frederick's voice turned hoarse.
27:12If you are not her,
27:14why do you look at me with the same hatred?
27:19Maybe because any angel would hate being harassed by a stranger.
27:24Asher was about to go on stage to speak,
27:27and I was just about to leave.
27:29When my body suddenly lifted into the air,
27:32Frederick had grabbed me and carried me by force to the end of the corridor.
27:38Let go of me.
27:40Eileen had a burn scar on her back from the Holy Fire five years ago.
27:44If you're not her,
27:46let me check.
27:47His fingers reached for the clasp at the back of my gown.
27:50They called me to polish.
27:52Asher struck him down with a blast of divine light.
27:55Frederick hid the stone floor hard.
27:58Asher draped the formal robe over my shoulders,
28:00his eyes cold as ice.
28:07Frederick,
28:08do you really think no one in the Sanctuary of Free Animals will protect her?
28:13Heavenly guards pinned Frederick down,
28:15but he was still struggling.
28:17Why are you so afraid?
28:19Is it because she really is, Eileen?
28:22What forbidden spell did you use to make her forget me?
28:25I stopped Asher.
28:26Let him go.
28:27Asher looked at me.
28:29Sofia.
28:31If he wants proof,
28:32I'll give it to him once.
28:35After tonight,
28:36he loses every excuse.
28:39The guards released him.
28:41I removed the outer layer of my gown.
28:44The dress I wore that day happened to reveal my back.
28:47I turned slightly so every angel could see it clearly.
28:51My skin was smooth and unmarked.
28:53There was no scar.
28:54When the erasure judgment took Eileen away,
28:57it had erased every mark that belonged to her past.
29:01I smiled coldly.
29:03Do you see it now?
29:05I'm not her.
29:07Frederick stood frozen,
29:09color draining from his face.
29:11How?
29:12Asher's gaze swept over the watching angels.
29:16Everyone here has seen it.
29:19Sofia is a free angel under the protection of the sanctuary.
29:23Anyone who spreads rumors after tonight
29:25will answer to us.
29:30Understood.
29:30I put the robe back over my shoulders
29:33and turned away, behind me.
29:35Frederick repeated in a low voice,
29:38like a man who had lost his last lifeline.
29:41No.
29:43It can't be.
29:45Frederick.
29:45The angel you are looking for accepted aeration.
29:51Asher's patience with Frederick reached its limit that night.
29:55Heavenly guards came to the holy banquet
29:57and took Frederick away for harassing and assaulting a female angel.
30:03Frederick of the Hall of Judgment,
30:05you are accused of forced restraint,
30:08an attempted violation of a free angel's dignity.
30:12Frederick's eyes stayed fixed on me.
30:15Sofia, tell them.
30:18Tell them you know me.
30:21I know only what everyone saw tonight.
30:24Because Asher refused to settle the matter
30:27and there were image records as evidence,
30:30Frederick was locked in the confinement tower for several days.
30:33At the tower entrance,
30:35Asher stood in front of the guards.
30:38No private visitors.
30:39No holy feather notes to Sofia.
30:42No excuses.
30:43Frederick's voice came from behind the glowing bars.
30:47Asher, you can stop my notes,
30:50but you can't make me stop looking for her.
30:53You are not looking for her.
30:59You are trying to drag a dead woman back
31:03because you cannot bear the consequences of what you did.
31:08Frederick gripped the bars until divine light burned his palms.
31:12But he still did not let go.
31:18Eileen is alive.
31:20I know she is.
31:23When he came out,
31:24he still had not learned his lesson.
31:27He dressed himself properly
31:28and arrived at the sanctuary of free angels
31:31with a bouquet of white.
31:33Lily's white lilies were Camila's favorite flowers.
31:36Ronan walked me back to the sanctuary of free angels.
31:40When I saw Frederick there,
31:42I only found it ironic.
31:44Frederick spoke carefully.
31:51I looked coldly at the flowers in his hand.
31:59I don't accept flowers from strangers.
32:02And I don't need your apology.
32:04Just stop showing up.
32:06His face turned pale.
32:09Then what do you like?
32:10I'll bring you whatever you want tomorrow.
32:13No need.
32:14I took Ronan's arm.
32:16I have already decided to seal a new sacred bond with Aunt Ronan.
32:20The ceremony is next week.
32:22Frederick's eyes went red with shock.
32:25Ronan looked at the white lily.
32:28You brought another woman's favorite flowers
32:31to apologize to Sophia.
32:34That tells us enough.
32:36Frederick's fingers tightened around the stems.
32:40Eileen used to accept anything I gave her.
32:45That is exactly why Eileen is gone.
32:50For the next few days,
32:52Frederick still appeared every day.
32:54White lily, blessed stones.
32:57Transfer agreements for his treasures,
32:59box after box was sent to the sanctuary of free angels.
33:03Sophia, Frederick has sent another box.
33:08Return it untouched.
33:10Ronan was furious enough to have him thrown out,
33:13but I simply told the attendants to send everything back.
33:17You don't have to stay calm for his sake.
33:21I'm not calm for him.
33:24I'm calm because he no longer gets to decide my mood.
33:28Outside the gate,
33:30Frederick watched the boxes being returned.
33:33His expression grew worse with everyone.
33:37She didn't even open them?
33:39Sophia said she does not accept gifts from strangers.
33:43Tell her these are not gifts.
33:45They are what I should have given her years ago.
33:48Then you should have given them years ago.
33:51The attendant closed the gate inside.
33:54Ronan handed me the final design
33:56for the new sacred bond ceremony.
33:59If you change your mind,
34:01I will respect it.
34:05I'm not choosing you to escape him.
34:08I'm choosing because I finally have the right to choose.
34:13The day before the ceremony,
34:15I had just finished trying on my gown
34:17when news came from the Garden of Rest.
34:21Sophia, something happened at the Garden of Rest.
34:25Ronan frowned.
34:26What happened?
34:29The memorial stone of the former hymn angel
34:32who raised Aelin has been destroyed.
34:34The word struck me before I could think.
34:37Take me there.
34:39Sophia, wait.
34:40This may be a trap.
34:44That memorial stone is the only thing
34:46left of the angel who raised me.
34:48I did not think it through.
34:50I went there immediately
34:52as I stood before the memorial stone.
34:54The broken surface reflected pieces of my old name.
35:03Who did this?
35:05A strange scent suddenly drifted from behind me.
35:08My vision went black.
35:10When I woke up,
35:11I found myself in the familiar old side chamber
35:14of the Hall of Judgment.
35:15This was where Frederick and I had
35:18lived after sealing our sacred bond.
35:21He sat in front of me,
35:23his eyes full of wild joy,
35:25as if he had recovered something he had lost.
35:30Eileen,
35:31I knew my instinct was right.
35:34It really is you.
35:36I looked down at the chains around my wrists
35:39and became strangely calm.
35:44So what?
35:46Even if I am Eileen,
35:48what does it change?
35:51Our sacred bond has already been dissolved.
35:55Frederick acted as if he had not heard me.
35:57He took out the white gold halo ring
36:00I had once left in the side chamber
36:02of the Hall of Judgment
36:03and dropped to one knee.
36:05Then I'll ask you for the bond again.
36:08He looked up at me,
36:09his eyes red.
36:11Eileen,
36:14let's seal the sacred bond again.
36:18I almost laughed at how absurd Frederick was being.
36:23You chained me here to propose a sacred bond?
36:27I was afraid you would leave before hearing me out.
36:32That fear should have taught you not to force me.
36:35Instead, it taught you to become worse.
36:37Frederick's hand trembled around the ring.
36:40I didn't understand my own heart before.
36:44I thought I loved Camilla.
36:47Only after you disappeared
36:49did I realize I had fallen in love with you long ago.
36:53Eileen,
36:55give me one more chance.
36:57If you come back to me,
36:59I'll do anything.
37:00I shook my head.
37:02Frederick,
37:03I'm not going back.
37:07Suddenly,
37:07the sound of a holy seal unlocking
37:10came from the door.
37:11The next second,
37:12Camilla burst in.
37:14Frederick!
37:15Why didn't you answer my holy feather note?
37:18Did you find her?
37:19The heirs need a drop of blood
37:21from a close relative
37:22to stabilize their blessing!
37:25Frederick shot to his feet
37:26and covered her mouth.
37:28Shut up.
37:30How did you get access
37:31to my old side chamber
37:32in the Hall of Judgment?
37:34Get out.
37:36Camilla saw me chained
37:38beside the sacred seat
37:39and understood at once.
37:41She laughed coldly.
37:43Regretting it now?
37:45Don't forget,
37:46I was the one
37:46who helped you come up
37:47with the idea
37:48of using that memorial stone
37:49to test her.
37:50Without me,
37:51how could you have confirmed
37:51she was Eileen?
37:52At last,
37:54I understood everything.
37:56Camilla's to heaven-born heirs
37:57were suffering
37:58from blessing failure.
38:00They needed a drop of blood
38:01from a close relative
38:03to stabilize their blessing.
38:05No one from the Hall of Judgment
38:07or the Hall of Hymns
38:08was a match,
38:09so she had placed
38:10her last hope on me,
38:11so all that regret,
38:13all that devotion,
38:14had still been nothing
38:15but another scheme.
38:18So this is what you call love?
38:21Disgusting.
38:22It's not like that.
38:23I only agreed to her plan
38:25as a temporary measure.
38:26I would never let you be in danger.
38:29Camilla's smile twisted.
38:31You said the same thing
38:33when you lied to her
38:34for three years.
38:37Camilla suddenly laughed
38:38as if she had lost her mind.
38:40She pulled an obsidian dagger
38:42from her,
38:43robes,
38:44and stabbed it hard
38:45into Frederick's abdomen.
38:48You liar!
38:51You promised that
38:52if I helped you find Eileen,
38:54you would grant my child
38:55blood blessing!
38:57Blood splashed onto the floor.
38:59Frederick groaned,
39:00but he still shoved her aside
39:02and came to unlock
39:03my chains first.
39:05Eileen,
39:07don't move.
39:10I'll get you out.
39:12You should stop the bleeding.
39:15Not before you're free.
39:17His fingers shook so badly
39:19that the holy lock
39:20clicked twice before opening.
39:22Camilla staggered backward,
39:24staring at his blood
39:25on her hands.
39:27You would rather bleed for her
39:29than let me take
39:29one drop of her blood
39:31for our heirs?
39:32They are not our heirs.
39:34Camilla froze.
39:36They were never mine
39:37to claim in front of Eileen.
39:38Camilla's eyes
39:40filled with hatred.
39:42After everything
39:44I gave you,
39:45you still choose her?
39:49Camilla scrambled up again
39:50and grabbed
39:51a crystal candlestick.
39:53Swinging it at me,
39:54Frederick's pupils contracted.
39:56Without hesitation,
39:58he threw himself
39:59in front of me.
40:00Eileen,
40:01watch out!
40:01The crystal candlestick
40:03struck the back
40:04of his head.
40:04Blood splattered
40:05across my face.
40:06The door to the old side chamber
40:08of the Hall of Judgment
40:09was broken open.
40:11Asher and Ronan
40:12rushed in
40:12with heavenly guards
40:14who forced Camilla
40:15into chains
40:16of divine light.
40:17Let go of me!
40:18She ruined everything!
40:20She should have disappeared!
40:22Ronan helped me up,
40:24his voice tight.
40:27Sophia,
40:28are you hurt?
40:29I shook my head.
40:32I'm fine.
40:34Healing angels
40:35stopped Frederick's bleeding.
40:37Frederick lay on the floor,
40:38trying to keep his eyes open.
40:41Eileen.
40:42Asher stepped between us.
40:45Her name is Sophia.
40:48Frederick's lips moved,
40:50but no sound came out,
40:51as Asher protected me
40:53and led me out.
40:54I turned back
40:55and looked at Frederick
40:56one last time.
40:59Camilla was formally judged
41:01by the Heavenly Court
41:02for forging image records,
41:05conspiring and kidnapping,
41:07destroying a memorial stone
41:09and assault.
41:10Her false sanctions status
41:12was publicly stripped
41:13from her,
41:14her halo shattered,
41:15and she was banished
41:16from the celestial city forever.
41:20Camilla,
41:21from this day forward,
41:23you will no longer receive
41:25the protection
41:26of the Hall of Hymns.
41:27You are forbidden
41:28from entering
41:29the celestial tout.
41:30Camilla fell to her knees.
41:33No!
41:35I am the mother
41:36of heaven-born heirs!
41:38You cannot exile me!
41:40The heirs will be examined
41:42and protected
41:43by neutral healing angels.
41:45They will not be used
41:46as your shield.
41:47Raphael watched
41:48from the side.
41:49Camilla turned
41:51toward him in panic.
41:54Raphael,
41:55help me!
41:56Raphael did not move.
41:58Frederick had been brought
41:59to the court under guard
42:00because of his involvement
42:02in the kidnapping.
42:03His head was bandaged,
42:05his face bloodless.
42:07Camilla looked at him next.
42:11Frederick,
42:12say something.
42:13You loved me!
42:15Frederick's voice
42:16was low.
42:17I protected the wrong person
42:19for too long.
42:20Camilla screamed
42:21as divine chains
42:22dragged her away.
42:25Because Frederick
42:26had kidnapped me,
42:27but also shielded me
42:29from that final blow,
42:30the Hall of Judgment
42:32sent him into exile
42:33at heaven's border.
42:34In exchange
42:35for a lighter ruling,
42:37he was never allowed
42:38to step into
42:38the celestial city again.
42:40Frederick looked at me.
42:41Sophia,
42:42Eileen,
42:43may I speak to you once?
42:45Say it here.
42:46I looked at Frederick
42:47calmly.
42:48Frederick swallowed.
42:50I thought saving you
42:51once meant I could
42:52keep you forever.
42:52I was wrong.
42:53You did not keep me.
42:55You trapped me in guilt.
42:57I know.
42:58Then live with that knowledge.
43:00At the border gate,
43:01his wings opened
43:02in the cold wind.
43:04They were whole now,
43:05bright and useless.
43:07I once wanted you
43:08to see my wings recover.
43:10Now I wish I had told you
43:11before they became
43:12proof of my lie.
43:13The guards led him
43:14through the gate behind him.
43:16The celestial city gates closed.
43:19And this time
43:19no one called him back.
43:23One week later,
43:25Ronan and I completed
43:26our sacred bond ceremony.
43:28The ceremony was nothing
43:29like the Hall of Hymns
43:30had been five years ago.
43:32There was no cold
43:32judgment circle.
43:34No angel waiting
43:35to compare me to Camilla.
43:36No man standing
43:37before the altar
43:38with another woman's name
43:39hidden in his heart.
43:41Asher stood as witness
43:42for the sanctuary
43:43of free angels.
43:45Sophia,
43:47do you enter this sacred bond
43:49by your own will?
43:50I looked at Ronan.
43:54Yes.
43:55By my own will.
43:57Asher turned to Ronan.
43:59Ronan,
44:00do you accept this bond
44:01with respect for Sophia's freedom,
44:03not possession over her past?
44:05I do.
44:05Ronan held out
44:06the new halo ring.
44:07His hands were steady.
44:09He did not rush me.
44:10He did not touch me
44:11until I nodded.
44:11Sophia,
44:12I will not ask you
44:13to forget your past.
44:14I only ask to walk beside
44:15the person you choose to become.
44:17Then walk beside me.
44:18Not in front of me.
44:19Not over me.
44:21Ronan smiled gently.
44:23Always beside you.
44:25The halo ring
44:27settled on my finger.
44:28Warm but not heavy.
44:32That night,
44:33while sorting through
44:34the gifts,
44:35I found one last
44:36anonymous box.
44:37Inside was a transfer agreement
44:39for Frederick's treasures.
44:41Signed by him.
44:42A holy feather note
44:44landed in my palm
44:45before he was exiled.
44:47Frederick S.
44:48Note.
44:48I'm sorry.
44:49I wish you freedom.
44:51Ronan stood beside me
44:53without touching the note.
44:55Do you want to keep it?
44:57I looked at the signature
44:59for a long moment.
45:01No.
45:03Asher read through
45:04the transfer agreement
45:05and confirmed
45:06it was real.
45:07These treasures
45:08are enough to support
45:09several sanctuaries
45:10for a long time.
45:12Then that is where
45:13they should go.
45:14I donated everything
45:15he sent to the
45:16Celestial City's sanctuary
45:17for the abandoned.
45:19The next morning,
45:20young abandoned angels
45:22gathered around the boxes,
45:23their small wings
45:25trembling with disbelief.
45:27Are these really for us?
45:32Yes.
45:34Use them to grow,
45:36to study,
45:37and to leave any place
45:38that makes you feel unwanted.
45:40Ronan stood quietly
45:42at the door.
45:43You turned his apology
45:45into something useful.
45:48That is the only thing
45:49it can be now.
45:50I stepped out of the sanctuary
45:52and looked at the open sky.
45:54The Sophia who survived
45:56belonged only to herself.
45:57And if heaven ever opened
45:59another book to judge me,
46:01I would no longer wait
46:02for someone else to save me.
46:04I would write my own name first.
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