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00:00You taste like summer, peach, sticky hands and salt.
00:04I am the daughter of the true dragon.
00:08But on the day I gave birth, my husband, Varys, carried my children away with his own hands.
00:22The dragon crystal was bitterly cold.
00:25I lay in a pool of blood, my fingertips digging into the seams of the stone,
00:29my voice horny enough to sound like someone else's.
00:33Varys, give me back my children.
00:35The two newborns cried in his arms.
00:37Each cry stabbed her, hurting more than the tearing of flesh and bone during labor.
00:41Isolid stood below the steps of the throne, wrapped in a snow-white cloak.
00:44Her eyes read, as if she were the one who had suffered every injustice.
00:47Sister, don't be like this.
00:49She reached out and took the children, her voice as light as a scythe.
00:53I only want to share your burden.
00:55You have just given birth.
00:56Your body is too weak.
00:59Trembling, I crawled toward her.
01:01They are not a burden.
01:02They are my children.
01:04Varys looked down at me.
01:06There was no tenderness in his eyes, only impatience.
01:08He blocked my hand with one foot.
01:10Enough, Elana.
01:12I clenched my teeth and lifted my head.
01:15I beg you, let me hold them once.
01:18Just once.
01:19Isolid hugged the children tight and took half a step back.
01:23Varys, perhaps I should not have come.
01:26Sister seems to hate me so much.
01:28Varys immediately stood in front of her, as if shielding the most precious treasure in the world.
01:33Her soul is unstable.
01:35She can never bear children.
01:36His voice was cold.
01:38You are her elder sister.
01:40What is wrong with fulfilling her wish this once?
01:42Would you really watch her suffer for the rest of her life?
01:45I laughed until blood spilled from my mouth.
01:47Fulfill her wish with my flesh and blood?
01:51His brows drew tighter.
01:53Do not make yourself sound so pitiful.
01:56You are already the commander's wife.
01:58Is that still not enough?
02:00I looked at the children in his arms.
02:01My little daughter had cried until her face was red.
02:04My little son's dragon arms were no bigger than fingertips, glowing faintly.
02:09They should have been against my chest, listening to my heartbeat.
02:12But Varys turned and left.
02:13When Isolette passed by me, she lowered her head and smiled softly.
02:19Thank you, sister.
02:20In that moment, I learned that when a person's heart is hollowed out, she can still remain alive and grieve.
02:28That was eight years ago.
02:31Eight years later, I finally understood that what had been carried away that day was not only my children, but
02:36also my last hope of ever being loved.
02:41The Dragon King of the Western Realm found me very late.
02:44Before that, I had grown up outside the dragon nest, like an abandoned wild beast.
02:51Later they said I was the lost daughter of the true dragon, and they brought me back to the royal
02:57city, giving me fine clothes, a name, and an old betrothal contract.
03:03When I married Varys, he was the dragon bone commander, cold, powerful, and disgusted by me.
03:09On our wedding night, he did not lift my bridle, Laild.
03:12He only stood by the door and said,
03:14Alana, I married you only because of the betrothal.
03:17I asked softly.
03:19And afterwards?
03:20Do not covet what does not belong to you.
03:22He did not even look at me.
03:25A year later, he married Isloit.
03:27She was a false dragon daughter.
03:29Yet she looked more loved than I ever did.
03:32My parents doted on her.
03:33The servants respected her.
03:35And Varys protected her.
03:37Later, even my children called her mother.
03:40After eight years of marriage, the dragon god appeared again.
03:44A silver spirit body hovered above the outer keep, its light illuminating my empty room.
03:51The trial is over.
03:52Varys' soul love has reached completion.
03:55You may strip away your dragon soul and leave this world.
03:58Or you may remain.
04:00I stared at him blankly.
04:02He loves me.
04:03The words were so absurd, I almost wanted to laugh.
04:06He gave hatred to our wedding night.
04:08Gave my children to Isled.
04:10And gave all his tenderness to someone else.
04:14Dragon god, are you certain you have not seen wrong?
04:17The dragon god's gaze remained gentle.
04:19The love of the soul does not always appear as tenderness.
04:23Then how does it appear?
04:24As humiliation?
04:26Neglect?
04:27Or forcing me to kneel outside the door and listen to my children call another woman mother?
04:30The dragon god was silent.
04:33My tears finally fell.
04:34But not because I could not bear to leave Varys.
04:37I want to leave.
04:38Before the separation you have one day.
04:41The dragon god said.
04:42You may say goodbye.
04:44I thought of Lucian and Avaria.
04:46Even if they refused to acknowledge me.
04:49I wanted to see them one last time.
04:51So I went to the crystal corridor.
04:53Lucian was six.
04:55Standing in the light.
04:56His small dragon horns glimmering faintly.
04:59When he saw me, the first thing he said was...
05:02Why are you here again?
05:05Lucian stepped back warily, as if he had seen something filthy.
05:09Didn't I tell you not to come?
05:10If mother sees me talking to you, she will be sad.
05:14I crouched in front of him and tried to make my smile gentle.
05:18I only came to say goodbye.
05:20He frowned.
05:22Goodbye?
05:23Are you pretending to be pitiful again?
05:25My hand froze in mid-air.
05:30After today, we will not see each other again.
05:34Lucian paused, but his face quickly turned cold again.
05:38You say that every time.
05:40Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you so you can make mother cry?
05:45Lucian.
05:46I called his name softly.
05:47I am not trying to take you away.
05:50You are lying.
05:53Hatred filled his eyes.
05:55Mother said you have always wanted to steal me and my sister back.
05:59Why can't you leave us alone?
06:03Before I could answer, Varys' voice came from behind me.
06:08Elana.
06:10As he approached, the entire corridor seemed to grow colder.
06:16He seized my arm and dragged me into the room beside us.
06:20The door slammed shut, leaving Lucian outside.
06:25What exactly are you trying to do?
06:27Varys lowered his voice.
06:30Lucian and Aurelia were raised by Iselth.
06:32Must you expose their bloodline in front of them and make them suffer?
06:35I wrenched free of his hand.
06:37I am their birth mother.
06:40I only wanted to say goodbye before I die.
06:43Die?
06:44He sneered.
06:45Dragons do not die easily.
06:47Elana, do not use such words to trick others into pitying you.
06:51I am not lying to you.
06:52Then go apologize to Iseleth.
06:55He stared at me.
06:56Promise that from now on you will never disturb her family again.
07:02Her family.
07:03My husband.
07:04My children.
07:05The blood I had shed in childbirth.
07:06In the end, all of it had become her, her family.
07:10Suddenly, I became very calm.
07:16Varys.
07:18If one day I truly died, would you regret it?
07:23A flicker of impatience passed through his eyes.
07:26I would only regret having indulged you too much in the beginning.
07:32I nodded.
07:34All right.
07:35I will remember that.
07:39Outside the door, a maid's panicked voice suddenly rang out.
07:43Commander!
07:43Something is wrong!
07:44Miss Aurelia's dragon breath is unstable!
07:46And she is crying for Lady Elana's scent!
07:49Varys' expression changed, and he turned immediately.
07:52Looking at his back, I whispered.
07:54So she finally still remembers me.
07:57But that one memory almost cost me my life.
08:02Aurelia still remembered my scent.
08:05That alone was enough to make my heart ache.
08:08Until it softened.
08:10I returned to the outer keep and took out a soul crystal.
08:13The stone was cold in my palm.
08:15I cut my wrist open and let true dragon blood seep into it, drop by drop.
08:20When the blood fell into the crystal, silver-blue light flared.
08:24But my chest felt as if it had been torn open, and black dragon blood surged into my throat.
08:30The dragon god's voice sounded.
08:37Before the separation, your soul will split.
08:41Your blood will grow cold.
08:44And life will slowly leave your body.
08:47I wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth.
08:50It does not matter.
08:52I am very good at enduring pain.
08:56A child raised in the bone wasteland learns first not to cry, but to keep silent.
09:04Crying draws monsters.
09:06Saying it hurts only makes others think you are easier to bully.
09:10I carried the soul crystal to Silvermoon Tower.
09:14Inside the tower, warm light shone and soft fragrance drifted, as if it were another world.
09:19Lucian stood at the door and blocked me.
09:23What are you doing here again?
09:25Auraria wants my dragon breath.
09:27I brought it to her.
09:28Leave it here.
09:29He reached out and snatched the soul crystal away.
09:33You cannot go in.
09:34Mother will be unhappy.
09:40I looked at the figures through the crack in the door.
09:44Auradia lay in Isaleth's arms, calling her softly.
09:48Mother.
09:48Isalade lowered her head and kissed her forehead.
09:56Good child.
09:57Mother is here.
09:58Vera sat beside them, tucking Isalem's cloak around her.
10:02His voice was so gentle I nearly failed to recognize it.
10:05You have worked hard.
10:06I stood outside the door, my wrists still bleeding.
10:10Isaleth suddenly lifted her eyes and saw me.
10:13The corner of her mouth curved.
10:16Holding my daughter, she mouthed silently to me.
10:19See?
10:20She only recognizes me.
10:23I lowered my eyes and turned away.
10:28But before I had gone far, a scream suddenly came from inside the tower.
10:33Cups and dishes shattered.
10:35A maid rushed out in the panic.
10:37Something has happened to the soul-calming crystal!
10:40Lady Isalyn is coughing blood!
10:44Before I could return to the Outer Keep, Varys came after me.
10:47He seized my wrist, his grip almost crushing the bones.
10:51Elena, you have grown bold indeed.
10:55Pain darkened my vision.
10:56Let go.
10:57You placed a soul-splitting curse in the crystal.
10:59His voice was as cold as snow.
11:01After Isaleth touched it, her dragon soul became unstable, and Auroria vomited blood as well.
11:05I froze.
11:07Impossible.
11:08There was only my blood inside.
11:12Your blood?
11:13He laughed in fury.
11:15Do you think I would believe that?
11:16You can have the High Priest examine it.
11:18Before the matter is clarified, you will apologize to her first.
11:21He dragged me back to the front of Silvermoon Tower.
11:25Wind and snow struck my face, and I could barely stand.
11:29Lucian rushed out, his eyes frighteningly red.
11:32You hurt my sister!
11:34Lucian, I did not!
11:36You are still arguing!
11:37Flames of a young dragon lit on his little horns, and he slammed fiercely into my abdomen.
11:41I fell into the snow.
11:43My ribs felt broken, and my throat filled with the taste of blood.
11:47I hate you!
11:47He cried.
11:48Why don't you just die if you died?
11:50Mother would never be sad again!
11:52Only after those words fell did Varys finally pull him away.
11:55I looked up at Vase, thinking he would at least say,
11:57Enough.
11:58But he only said coldly,
11:59Until Isaleth and Auraria recover.
12:01Kneel here and reflect on your wrongdoing.
12:03I knelt in the snow.
12:05The blood from my wrist freezing dark red.
12:07Inside Silvermoon Tower, the lamps were warm.
12:10My children were crying there, and my husband was guarding another woman.
12:14What if it turns out it was not me?
12:15He was silent for a moment.
12:17Then I will apologize.
12:19Apologize? Such a light word.
12:21Soon, the High Priest walked out of the tower, his face grave.
12:24Commander, the result is out.
12:27I lifted my head and saw Varys' face finally change.
12:32The High Priest said in a low voice,
12:35There is no curse.
12:36The crystal contains only true dragon blood.
12:39Miss Aurelia was merely frightened,
12:40and Lady Isaleth's dragon soul briefly became unstable because of overexertion.
12:45The sound of snow suddenly seemed very loud.
12:48Varys froze where he stood.
12:49Lucian stood inside the tower door.
12:52Even after hearing the truth,
12:54he only clutched Isaleth's skirt tighter,
12:56and did not look at me.
12:58Varys came toward me as if he meant to help me up.
13:01Elena, I'm sorry.
13:05I did not give him my hand.
13:07He frowned.
13:09Lucian was only worried about his sister.
13:11He does not truly hate you.
13:13I wanted very much to ask.
13:14Then what would count as true hatred?
13:16Was it making me kneel in the snow,
13:18letting my own child curse me to death?
13:20Or asking me to swallow all the pain and then understand them in return?
13:23But I was too tired.
13:25It does not matter.
13:26It will be over soon anyway.
13:28Varys's expression darkened slightly.
13:30What are you saying now?
13:32Before I could answer,
13:34Madam Morwen arrived with guards.
13:37She had been an old attendant by my birth parents' side.
13:40From the first day I returned to the dragon nest,
13:42she had never treated me as a true young lady.
13:45She glanced at me and frowned in disgust.
13:48Lady Ilana,
13:49the dragon king and queen were furious when they heard you had harmed Isaleth.
13:52I am here to carry out family discipline.
13:55Varys said coldly.
13:56The matter has already been investigated.
13:58She did not cast a curse.
14:00But Morwen said indifferently.
14:02Yet Lady Isaleth was indeed frightened because of her.
14:05True dragon blood is filthy and uncontrollable.
14:09It deserves punishment.
14:11I lifted my head.
14:14My blood is filthy.
14:16Morwen waved her hand.
14:18Thirty strips with the dragon one.
14:22When the first lash fell,
14:24I could not even make a sound.
14:26The dragon bit was carved with forbidden runes.
14:29Each strike felt as if my soul were being torn apart.
14:33After thirty trisses,
14:34the snow was dyed red with blood.
14:38Varys finally shouted in anger.
14:40Enough!
14:40But Morwen crouched down and pressed her hand to my chest.
14:43Not enough.
14:44Her most precious heart-guarding scale
14:46will be perfect stabilizing Lady Isaleth's dragon soul.
14:49My eyes widened.
14:50The next moment,
14:51she tore away my heart-guarding scale
14:53with my force.
14:57I am the daughter of the true dragon.
15:01But on the day I gave birth,
15:03my husband, Varys,
15:04carried my children away with his own hands.
15:15The dragon crystal was bitterly cold.
15:18I lay in a pool of blood,
15:20my fingertips digging into the seams of the stone,
15:22my voice horny enough to sound like someone else's.
15:26Varys, give me back my children.
15:28The two newborns cried in his arms.
15:30Each cry stopped hurting more than the tearing of flesh and bone during labor.
15:33Isolid stood below the steps of the throne,
15:36wrapped in a snow-white cloak.
15:37Her eyes red,
15:38as if she were the one who had suffered every injustice.
15:40Sister, don't be like this.
15:42She reached out and took the children,
15:44her voice as light as a sigh.
15:46I only want to share your burden.
15:48You have just given birth.
15:50Your body is too weak.
15:52Trembling, I crawled toward her.
15:54They are not a burden!
15:55They are my children!
15:57Varys looked down at me.
15:59There was no tenderness in his eyes,
16:00only impatience.
16:01He blocked my hand with one foot.
16:03Enough, Elana.
16:05I clenched my teeth and lifted my head.
16:08I beg you, let me hold them once.
16:11Just once.
16:12Isolid hugged the children tight and took half a step back.
16:16Varys, perhaps I should not have come.
16:19Sister seems to hate me so much.
16:21Varys immediately stood in front of her,
16:23as if shielding the most precious treasure in the world.
16:26Her soul is unstable.
16:28She can never bear children.
16:29His voice was cold.
16:31You are her elder sister.
16:33What is wrong with fulfilling her wish this once?
16:35Would you really watch her suffer for the rest of her life?
16:38I laughed until blood spilled from my mouth.
16:41Fulfill her wish with my flesh and blood!
16:44His brows drew tighter.
16:46Do not make yourself sound so pitiful.
16:49You are already the commander's wife.
16:51Is that still not enough?
16:52I looked at the children in his arms.
16:54My little daughter had cried until her face was red.
16:57My little son's dragon arms were no bigger than fingertips, glowing faintly.
17:02They should have been against my chest, listening to my heartbeat.
17:05But Varys turned and left.
17:07When Isolid passed by me, she lowered her head and smiled softly.
17:12Thank you, sister.
17:13In that moment, I learned that when a person's heart is hollowed out, she can still remain alive and breathe.
17:22That was eight years ago.
17:24Eight years later, I finally understood that what had been carried away that day was not only my children, but
17:29also my last hope of ever being loved.
17:34The Dragon King of the Western Realm found me very late.
17:38Before that, I had grown up outside the dragon nest, like an abandoned wild beast.
17:44Later, they said I was the lost daughter of the true dragon, and they brought me back to the royal
17:50city, giving me fine clothes, a name, and an old betrothal contract.
17:56When I married Varys, he was the Dragon Bone Commander, cold, powerful, and disgusted by me.
18:03On our wedding night, he did not lift my bridle, Laild.
18:05He only stood by the door and said,
18:07Alana, I married you only because of the betrothal.
18:10I asked softly.
18:12And afterwards?
18:13Do not covet what does not belong to you.
18:15He did not even look at me.
18:18A year later, he married Isloid.
18:20She was a false dragon daughter, yet she looked more loved than I ever did.
18:25My parents doted on her, the servants respected her, and Varys protected her.
18:30Later, even my children called her mother.
18:34After eight years of marriage, the Dragon God appeared again.
18:37A silver spirit body hovered above the outer keep, its light illuminating my empty room.
18:44The trial is over.
18:45Varys' soul love has reached completion.
18:48You may strip away your dragon soul and leave this world.
18:52Or you may remain.
18:53I stared at him blankly.
18:55He loves me.
18:56The words were so absurd, I almost wanted to laugh.
18:59He gave hatred to our wedding night.
19:01Gave my children to Isloid.
19:03And gave all his tenderness to someone else.
19:07Dragon God, are you certain you have not seen wrong?
19:10The Dragon God's gaze remained gentle.
19:12The love of the soul does not always appear as tenderness.
19:15Then how does it appear?
19:17As humiliation?
19:19Neglect?
19:20Or forcing me to kneel outside the door and listen to my children call another woman mother?
19:24The Dragon God was silent.
19:26My tears finally fell.
19:28But not because I could not bear to leave Varys.
19:30I want to leave.
19:31Before the separation you have one day,
19:34the Dragon God said,
19:35You may say goodbye.
19:37I thought of Lucian and Avaria.
19:39Even if they refused to acknowledge me,
19:42I wanted to see them one last time.
19:44So I went to the Crystal Corridor.
19:46Lucian was six,
19:48standing in the light,
19:49his small dragon horns glimmering faintly.
19:52When he saw me, the first thing he said was,
19:55Why are you here again?
19:58Lucian stepped back warily,
20:00as if he had seen something filthy.
20:02Didn't I tell you not to come?
20:03If Mother sees me talking to you,
20:06she will be sad.
20:07I crouched in front of him and tried to make my smile gentle.
20:11I only came to say goodbye.
20:13He frowned.
20:15Goodbye?
20:16Are you pretending to be pitiful again?
20:18My hand froze in midair.
20:23After today,
20:25we will not see each other again.
20:27Lucian paused,
20:28but his face quickly turned cold again.
20:31You say that every time.
20:33Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you,
20:35so you can make Mother cry?
20:38Lucian.
20:39I called his name softly.
20:40I am not trying to take you away.
20:43You are lying.
20:46Hatred filled his eyes.
20:48Mother said you have always wanted to steal me and my sister back.
20:52Why can't you leave us alone?
20:57Before I could answer,
20:58Varas' voice came from behind me.
21:01Elana.
21:03As he approached,
21:04the entire corridor seemed to grow colder.
21:09He seized my arm and dragged me into the room beside us.
21:13The door slammed shut,
21:15leaving Lucian outside.
21:18What exactly are you trying to do?
21:20Varas lowered his voice.
21:23Lucian and Aurelia were raised by Iselth.
21:25Must you expose their bloodline in front of them
21:27and make them suffer?
21:28I wrenched free of his hand.
21:31I am their birth mother.
21:33I only wanted to say goodbye before I die.
21:36Die.
21:37He sneered.
21:38Dragons do not die easily.
21:40Elana,
21:41do not use such words to trick others into pitying you.
21:44I am not lying to you.
21:45Then go apologize to Iseleth.
21:48He stared at me.
21:49Promise that from now on,
21:51you will never disturb her family again.
21:55Her family.
21:56My husband,
21:57my children,
21:58the blood I had shed in childbirth.
22:00In the end,
22:00all of it had become her,
22:02her family.
22:03Suddenly,
22:04I became very calm.
22:09Varas,
22:11if one day I truly died,
22:14would you regret it?
22:16A flicker of impatience passed through his eyes.
22:19I would only regret having indulged you too much in the beginning.
22:25I nodded.
22:27All right.
22:28I will remember that.
22:32Outside the door,
22:34a maid's panicked voice suddenly rang out.
22:36Commander,
22:37something is wrong.
22:38Miss Aurelia's dragon breath is unstable,
22:39and she is crying for Lady Elana's scent.
22:42Varas' expression changed,
22:44and he turned immediately.
22:45Looking at his back,
22:46I whispered,
22:47so she finally still remembers me.
22:50But that one memory
22:51almost cost me my life.
22:55Aurelia still remembered my scent.
22:58That alone
22:59was enough to make my heart ache
23:01until it softened.
23:03I returned to the outer keep
23:05and took out a soul crystal.
23:07The stone was cold in my palm.
23:09I cut my wrist open
23:10and let true dragon blood
23:11seep into it,
23:12drop by drop.
23:13When the blood fell into the crystal,
23:15silver-blue light flared,
23:17but my chest felt as if it had been torn open
23:19and black dragon blood
23:21surged into my throat.
23:23The dragon god's voice sounded.
23:30Before the separation,
23:32your soul will split,
23:34your blood will grow cold,
23:37and life will slowly leave your body.
23:40I wipe the blood
23:41from the corner of my mouth.
23:43It does not matter.
23:45I am very good
23:47at enduring pain.
23:49A child raised in the bone wasteland
23:52learns first not to cry,
23:55but to keep silent.
23:57Crying draws monsters.
23:59Saying it hurts
24:00only makes others
24:01think you are easier to bully.
24:03I carried the soul crystal
24:05to Silvermoon Tower.
24:07Inside the tower,
24:08warm light shone
24:09and soft fragrance drifted
24:11as if it were another world.
24:13Lucian stood at the door
24:14and blocked me.
24:15What are you doing here again?
24:18Auraria wants my dragon breath.
24:20I brought it to her.
24:21Leave it here.
24:23He reached out
24:24and snatched the soul crystal away.
24:26You cannot go in.
24:27Mother will be unhappy.
24:33I looked at the figures
24:35through the crack in the door.
24:37Auradia lay in Isaleth's arms,
24:39calling her softly.
24:41Mother.
24:41Isalade lowered her head
24:43and kissed her forehead.
24:49Good child.
24:50Mother is here.
24:51Vera sat beside them,
24:53tucking Isalem's cloak around her.
24:55His voice was so gentle
24:56I nearly failed to recognize it.
24:58You have worked hard.
25:00I stood outside the door,
25:01my wrists still bleeding.
25:03Isaleth suddenly lifted her eyes
25:05and saw me.
25:06The corner of her mouth curved.
25:09Holding my daughter,
25:10she mouthed silently to me.
25:12See?
25:13She only recognizes me.
25:16I lowered my eyes
25:17and turned away.
25:21But before I had gone far,
25:23a scream suddenly came
25:25from inside the tower.
25:26Cups and dishes shattered.
25:28A maid rushed out
25:29in the panic.
25:30Something has happened
25:30to the soul calming crystal.
25:33Lady Isalyn is coughing blood.
25:37Before I could return
25:38to the outer keep,
25:39Varys came after me.
25:40He seized my wrist,
25:42his grip almost crushing the bones.
25:44Elena,
25:45you have grown bold indeed.
25:48Pain darkened my vision.
25:49Let go.
25:50You placed a soul-splitting curse
25:52in the crystal.
25:52His voice was as cold as snow.
25:54After Isluit touched it,
25:55her dragon soul became unstable
25:57and Auroria vomited blood as well.
25:59I froze.
26:00Impossible.
26:01There was only my blood inside.
26:05Your blood?
26:06He laughed in fury.
26:08Do you think I would believe that?
26:09You can have the High Priest examine it.
26:11Before the matter is clarified,
26:13you will apologize to her first.
26:15He dragged me back
26:16to the front of Silvermoon Tower.
26:18Wind and snow struck my face
26:20and I could barely stand.
26:22Lucian rushed out,
26:23his eyes frighteningly red.
26:25You hurt my sister!
26:28Lucian, I did not!
26:29You are still arguing!
26:30Flames of a young dragon
26:31lit on his little horns
26:32and he slammed fiercely
26:34into my abdomen.
26:35I fell into the snow.
26:36My ribs felt broken
26:37and my throat filled
26:38with the taste of blood.
26:40I hate you!
26:40He cried.
26:42Why don't you just die
26:43if you died?
26:43Mother would never be sad again!
26:45Only after those words fell
26:46did Varys finally pull him away.
26:48I looked up at Vase,
26:49thinking he would at least say
26:50enough.
26:51But he only said coldly.
26:53Until Isoleth and Auraria recover.
26:55Kneel here and reflect
26:56on your wrongdoing.
26:57I knelt in the snow,
26:58the blood from my wrist
26:59freezing dark red.
27:00Inside Silvermoon Tower,
27:02the lamps were warm.
27:03My children were crying there
27:05and my husband was guarding
27:06another woman.
27:07What if it turns out
27:08it was not me?
27:08He was silent for a moment.
27:10Then I will apologize.
27:12Apologize?
27:13Such a light word.
27:14Soon, the High Priest
27:15walked out of the tower,
27:16his face grave.
27:17Commander,
27:18the result is out.
27:20I lifted my head
27:21and saw Varys' face
27:22finally change.
27:25The High Priest said
27:27in a low voice,
27:28There is no curse.
27:29The crystal contains
27:30only true dragon blood.
27:32Miss Aurelia was
27:33merely frightened
27:33and Lady Isol's
27:34dragon soul
27:35briefly became unstable
27:36because of overexertion.
27:38The sound of snow
27:39suddenly seemed
27:40very loud.
27:41Varys froze
27:42where he stood.
27:43Lucian stood
27:43inside the tower door.
27:45Even after hearing
27:46the truth,
27:47he only clutched
27:48Isolus' skirt tighter
27:49and did not look at me.
27:51Varys came toward me
27:52as if he meant
27:53to help me up.
27:55Elena,
27:55I'm sorry.
27:57I did not give him
27:59my hand.
28:00He frowned.
28:02Lucian was only worried
28:03about his sister.
28:04He does not truly hate you.
28:06I wanted very much to ask.
28:07Then what would count
28:08as true hatred?
28:09Was it making me
28:10me kneel in the snow,
28:11letting my own child
28:12curse me to death?
28:13Or asking me to swallow
28:14all the pain
28:14and then understand
28:15them in return?
28:16But I was too tired.
28:18It does not matter.
28:19It will be over soon anyway.
28:21Varys' expression
28:22darkened slightly.
28:23What are you saying now?
28:25Before I could answer,
28:27Madam Morwen arrived
28:28with guards.
28:30She had been an old attendant
28:31by my birth parent's side.
28:33From the first day
28:34I returned to the dragon nest,
28:36she had never treated me
28:37as a true young lady.
28:38She glanced at me
28:39and frowned in disgust.
28:41Lady Elana,
28:42the dragon king and queen
28:43were furious
28:44when they heard
28:44you had harmed Isoleth.
28:45I am here to carry out
28:46family discipline.
28:48Varys said coldly,
28:49The matter has already
28:50been investigated.
28:51She did not cast a curse.
28:53But Morwen said indifferently,
28:55Yet Lady Isoleth
28:56was indeed frightened
28:57because of her.
28:58True dragon blood
28:59is filthy
29:00and uncontrollable.
29:01It deserves punishment.
29:05I lifted my head.
29:07My blood is filthy.
29:09Morwen waved her hand.
29:11Thirty strips
29:12with the dragon one.
29:15When the first lash fell,
29:17I could not even make a sound.
29:19The dragon bit
29:20was carved
29:20with forbidden runes.
29:22Each strike felt
29:23as if my soul
29:24were being torn apart.
29:26After thirty trisses,
29:27the snow was dyed
29:28red with blood.
29:31Varys finally shouted
29:32in anger.
29:33Enough!
29:33But Morwen crouched down
29:34and pressed her hand
29:35to my chest.
29:36Not enough.
29:37Her most precious
29:38heart-guarding scale
29:39will be perfect
29:40stabilizing Lady Isoleth's
29:41dragon soul.
29:42My eyes widened.
29:43The next moment,
29:44she tore away
29:45my heart-guarding scale
29:46with my force.
29:54I'm sorry.
29:55I am the daughter
29:56of the true dragon.
29:59But on the day
30:00I gave birth,
30:01my husband, Varys,
30:02carried my children
30:03away with his own hands.
30:13The dragon crystal
30:15was bitterly cold.
30:16I lay in a pool of blood,
30:18my fingertips digging
30:19into the seams of the stone,
30:20my voice horny enough
30:21to sound like someone else's.
30:24Varys, give me
30:25back, my children.
30:26The two newborns
30:27cried in his arms.
30:28Each cry stabbed
30:29at her,
30:29hurting more than
30:30the tearing of flesh
30:30and bone during labor.
30:32Isoleth stood below
30:32the steps of the throne,
30:34wrapped in a snow-white cloak.
30:35Her eyes read,
30:36as if she were the one
30:37who had suffered
30:37every injustice.
30:38Sister, don't be like this.
30:40She reached out
30:41and took the children,
30:42her voice as light
30:43as a sigh.
30:44I only want to share
30:45your burden.
30:46You have just
30:47given birth.
30:48Your body is too weak.
30:50Trembling,
30:50I crawled toward her.
30:52They are not a burden.
30:54They are my children.
30:55Varys looked down at me.
30:57There was no tenderness
30:58in his eyes,
30:58only impatience.
30:59He blocked my hand
31:00with one foot.
31:01Enough, Elana.
31:03I clenched my teeth
31:05and lifted my head.
31:06I beg you,
31:07let me hold them once.
31:09Just once.
31:11Isoled hugged the children
31:12tight and took
31:13half a step back.
31:14Varys,
31:15perhaps I should not have come.
31:17Sister seems to hate me
31:18so much.
31:19Varys immediately
31:20stood in front of her,
31:21as if shielding
31:22the most precious treasure
31:23in the world.
31:24Her soul is unstable.
31:26She can never bear children.
31:27His voice was cold.
31:29You are her elder sister.
31:31What is wrong with
31:32fulfilling her wish
31:32this once?
31:33Would you really watch her
31:35suffer for the rest
31:35of her life?
31:36I laughed
31:37until blood spilled
31:38from my mouth.
31:39Fulfill her wish
31:40with my flesh and blood?
31:42His brows drew tighter.
31:44Do not make yourself
31:46sound so pitiful.
31:47You are already
31:48the commander's wife.
31:49Is that still not enough?
31:51I looked at the children
31:52in his arms.
31:53My little daughter
31:54had cried
31:54until her face was red.
31:56My little son's dragon arms
31:57were no bigger
31:58than fingertips,
31:59glowing faintly.
32:00They should have been
32:01against my chest,
32:02listening to my heartbeat.
32:03But Varys turned and left.
32:05When Isoled passed by me,
32:06she lowered her head
32:07and smiled softly.
32:10Thank you, sister.
32:11In that moment,
32:12I learned that
32:13when a person's heart
32:14is hollowed out,
32:15she can still remain alive
32:17and grieve.
32:20That was eight years ago.
32:22Eight years later,
32:23I finally understood
32:24that what had been
32:24carried away that day
32:25was not only my children,
32:27but also my last hope
32:28of ever being loved.
32:32The Dragon King
32:33of the Western Realm
32:34found me very late.
32:36Before that,
32:37I had grown up
32:38outside the dragon nest,
32:40like an abandoned
32:41wild beast.
32:42Later, they said
32:43I was the lost daughter
32:44of the true dragon,
32:46and they brought me back
32:47to the royal city,
32:48giving me fine clothes,
32:50a name,
32:51and an old betrothal contract.
32:54When I married Varys,
32:56he was the dragon bone commander,
32:58cold, powerful,
32:59and disgusted by me.
33:01On our wedding night,
33:02he did not lift
33:02my bridle laild.
33:03He only stood by the door
33:05and said,
33:05Alana, I married you
33:07only because of the betrothal.
33:08I asked softly,
33:10and afterwards,
33:11do not covet what
33:12does not belong to you.
33:13He did not even look at me.
33:16A year later,
33:17he married Isloit.
33:19She was a false dragon daughter,
33:21yet she looked more loved
33:22than I ever did.
33:23My parents doted on her,
33:24the servants respected her,
33:26and Varys protected her.
33:29Later,
33:29even my children
33:30called her mother.
33:32After eight years of marriage,
33:34the dragon god appeared again.
33:35A silver spirit body
33:37hovered above the outer keep,
33:39its light illuminating
33:40my empty room.
33:42The trial is over.
33:43Varys' soul love
33:45has reached completion.
33:46You may strip away
33:47your dragon soul
33:48and leave this world,
33:50or you may remain.
33:51I stared at him blankly.
33:53He loves me.
33:54The words were so absurd,
33:55I almost wanted to laugh.
33:57He gave hatred
33:58to our wedding night,
33:59gave my children
34:00to Isled,
34:01and gave all his tenderness
34:03to someone else.
34:05Dragon god,
34:06are you certain
34:07you have not seen wrong?
34:08The dragon god's gaze
34:09remained gentle.
34:11The love of the soul
34:12does not always appear
34:13as tenderness.
34:14Then how does it appear?
34:15As humiliation?
34:17Neglect?
34:18Or forcing me
34:19to kneel outside the door
34:20and listen to my children
34:20call another woman mother?
34:22The dragon god was silent.
34:24My tears finally fell,
34:26but not because
34:26I could not bear
34:27to leave Varys.
34:28I want to leave.
34:29Before the separation
34:31you have one day,
34:32the dragon god said,
34:33you may say goodbye.
34:35I thought of Lucian
34:36and Avaria,
34:37even if they refused
34:39to acknowledge me.
34:40I wanted to see them
34:41one last time,
34:42so I went to
34:43the crystal corridor.
34:45Lucian was six,
34:46standing in the light,
34:47his small dragon horns
34:49glimmering faintly.
34:50When he saw me,
34:51the first thing he said was,
34:53Why are you here again?
34:57Lucian stepped back warily
34:58as if he had seen
34:59something filthy.
35:00Didn't I tell you
35:01not to come?
35:02If Mother sees me
35:03talking to you,
35:04she will be sad.
35:05I crouched in front of him
35:07and tried to make
35:07my smile gentle.
35:09I only came to say goodbye.
35:11He frowned.
35:13Goodbye?
35:14Are you pretending
35:15to be pitiful again?
35:16My hand froze in mid-air.
35:21After today,
35:23we will not see
35:24each other again.
35:25Lucian paused,
35:27but his face
35:27quickly turned cold again.
35:29You say that every time.
35:31Are you trying to make
35:32me feel sorry for you
35:33so you can make Mother cry?
35:36Lucian.
35:37I called his name softly.
35:39I am not trying
35:40to take you away.
35:41You are lying.
35:44Hatred filled his eyes.
35:46Mother said you have
35:47always wanted to steal
35:48me and my sister back.
35:50Why can't you
35:51leave us alone?
35:55Before I could answer,
35:56Varys' voice came
35:57from behind me.
36:00Elana.
36:01As he approached,
36:02the entire corridor
36:04seemed to grow colder.
36:07He seized my arm
36:08and dragged me
36:09into the room
36:10beside us.
36:11The door slammed shut,
36:13leaving Lucian outside.
36:16What exactly
36:17are you trying to do?
36:18Varys lowered his voice.
36:21Lucian and Aurelia
36:22were raised by Iselth.
36:24Must you expose
36:24their bloodline
36:25in front of them
36:25and make them suffer?
36:26I wrenched free
36:27of his hand.
36:28I am their birth mother.
36:31I only wanted
36:32to say goodbye
36:32before I die.
36:34Die.
36:35He sneered.
36:36Dragons do not die easily.
36:38Elana,
36:39do not use such words
36:40to trick others
36:41into pitying you.
36:42I am not lying to you.
36:44Then go apologize
36:45to Iseleth.
36:46He stared at me.
36:47Promise
36:48that from now on
36:49you will never disturb
36:50her family
36:51again.
36:53Her family,
36:54my husband,
36:55my children,
36:56the blood I had shed
36:57in childbirth.
36:58In the end,
36:59all of it had become
37:00her her family.
37:01Suddenly,
37:02I became very calm.
37:08Varys,
37:09if one day
37:10I truly died,
37:12would you regret it?
37:14A flicker of impatience
37:16passed through his eyes.
37:17I would only regret
37:19having indulged you
37:20too much in the beginning.
37:23I nodded.
37:25All right.
37:26I will remember that.
37:31Outside the door,
37:32a maid's panicked voice
37:33suddenly rang out.
37:34Commander,
37:35something is wrong.
37:36Miss Aurelia's dragon breath
37:37is unstable
37:38and she is crying
37:39for Lady Elana's scent.
37:40Varys' expression changed
37:42and he turned immediately.
37:43Looking at his back,
37:44I whispered,
37:45so she finally
37:47still remembers me.
37:48But that one memory
37:49almost cost me my life.
37:53Aurelia still remembered
37:55my scent.
37:56That alone
37:57was enough
37:58to make my heart ache
37:59until it softened.
38:01I returned to the outer keep
38:03and took out a soul crystal.
38:05The stone was cold
38:06in my palm.
38:07I cut my wrist open
38:08and let true dragon blood
38:09seep into it
38:10drop by drop.
38:11When the blood
38:12fell into the crystal,
38:13silver-blue light flared,
38:15but my chest felt
38:16as if it had been torn open
38:17and black dragon blood
38:19surged into my throat.
38:21The dragon god's voice sounded.
38:28Before the separation,
38:30your soul will split,
38:32your blood will grow cold,
38:35and life will slowly
38:36leave your body.
38:38I wipe the blood
38:40from the corner
38:40of my mouth.
38:41It does not matter.
38:43I am very good
38:45at enduring pain.
38:47A child raised
38:49in the bone wasteland
38:50learns first
38:52not to cry,
38:53but to keep silent.
38:55Crying draws monsters.
38:57Saying it hurts
38:58only makes others
38:59think you are easier
39:00to bully.
39:02I carried the soul crystal
39:03to Silvermoon Tower.
39:05Inside the tower,
39:06warm light shone
39:07and soft fragrance drifted
39:09as if it were another world.
39:11Lucian stood at the door
39:12and blocked me.
39:13What are you doing here again?
39:16Auraria wants my dragon breath.
39:18I brought it to her.
39:19Leave it here.
39:21He reached out
39:22and snatched
39:22the soul crystal away.
39:24You cannot go in.
39:25Mother will be unhappy.
39:32I looked at the figures
39:33through the crack in the door.
39:35Auradia lay in Isaleth's arms,
39:37calling her softly.
39:39Mother.
39:40Isalade lowered her head
39:41and kissed her forehead.
39:47Good child.
39:48Mother is here.
39:49Vera sat beside them,
39:51tucking Isalem's cloak
39:52around her.
39:53His voice was so gentle
39:54I nearly failed
39:55to recognize it.
39:56You have worked hard.
39:58I stood outside the door,
39:59my wrists still bleeding.
40:01Isaleth suddenly lifted her eyes
40:03and saw me.
40:04The corner of her mouth curved.
40:07Holding my daughter,
40:08she mouthed silently to me.
40:11See?
40:12She only recognizes me.
40:13I lowered my eyes
40:16and turned away.
40:19But before I had gone far,
40:21a scream suddenly came
40:23from inside the tower.
40:24Cups and dishes shattered.
40:26A maid rushed out in the panic.
40:28Something has happened
40:29to the soul-calming crystal.
40:31Lady Isalyn is coughing blood.
40:35Before I could return
40:36to the Outer Keep,
40:37Varys came after me.
40:38He seized my wrist,
40:40his grip almost crushing the bones.
40:42Elena,
40:43you have grown bold indeed.
40:46Pain darkened my vision.
40:47Let go.
40:48You placed a soul-splitting curse
40:50in the crystal.
40:50His voice was as cold as snow.
40:52After Isluic touched it,
40:53her dragon soul became unstable
40:55and Auroria vomited blood as well.
40:57I froze.
40:58Impossible.
40:59There was only my blood inside.
41:03Your blood?
41:04He laughed in fury.
41:06Do you think I would believe that?
41:07You can have the High Priest examine it.
41:09Before the matter is clarified,
41:11you will apologize to her first.
41:13He dragged me back
41:14to the front of Silvermoon Tower.
41:16Wind and snow struck my face
41:18and I could barely stand.
41:20Lucian rushed out,
41:21his eyes frighteningly red.
41:24You hurt my sister!
41:26Lucian, I did not!
41:27You are still arguing!
41:28Flames of a young dragon
41:29lit on his little horns
41:30and he slammed fiercely
41:32into my abdomen.
41:33I fell into the snow.
41:34My ribs felt broken
41:35and my throat filled
41:36with the taste of blood.
41:38I hate you!
41:39He cried.
41:40Why don't you just die if you died?
41:41Mother would never be sad again!
41:43Only after those words fell
41:44did Varys finally pull him away.
41:46I looked up at Vase,
41:47thinking he would at least say,
41:48enough.
41:49But he only said coldly,
41:51until Isoleth and Auraria recover.
41:53Kneel here and reflect on your wrongdoing.
41:55I knelt in the snow,
41:56the blood from my wrist
41:57freezing dark red.
41:58Inside Silvermoon Tower,
42:00the lamps were warm.
42:01My children were crying there
42:03and my husband was guarding another woman.
42:05What if it turns out it was not me?
42:07He was silent for a moment.
42:08Then I will apologize.
42:10Apologize?
42:11Such a light word.
42:12Soon,
42:13the High Priest walked out of the tower,
42:15his face grave.
42:16Commander,
42:17the result is out.
42:18I lifted my head
42:19and saw Varys's face
42:20finally change.
42:23The High Priest said in a low voice,
42:26There is no curse.
42:27The crystal contains
42:28only true dragon blood.
42:30Miss Aurelia was merely frightened,
42:31and Lady Izzel's dragon soul
42:33briefly became unstable
42:35because of overexertion.
42:36The sound of snow
42:37suddenly seemed very loud.
42:39Varys froze where he stood.
42:41Lucian stood inside the tower door.
42:43Even after hearing the truth,
42:45he only clutched Izzel's skirt tighter
42:47and did not look at me.
42:49Varys came toward me
42:50as if he meant to help me up.
42:53Elena,
42:53I'm sorry.
42:56I did not give him my hand.
42:58He frowned.
43:00Lucian was only worried
43:01about his sister.
43:02He does not truly hate you.
43:04I wanted very much to ask.
43:05Then what would count as true hatred?
43:07Was it making me me kneel in the snow,
43:09letting my own child curse me to death,
43:11or asking me to swallow all the pain
43:13and then understand them in return?
43:14But I was too tired.
43:16It does not matter.
43:17It will be over soon anyway.
43:19Varys' expression darkened slightly.
43:21What are you saying now?
43:23Before I could answer,
43:25Madam Morwen arrived with guards.
43:28She had been an old attendant
43:30by my birth parents' side.
43:31From the first day
43:32I returned to the dragon nest,
43:34she had never treated me
43:35as a true young lady.
43:36She glanced at me
43:37and frowned in disgust.
43:39Lady Alana,
43:40the dragon king and queen
43:41were furious
43:42when they heard you had harmed Isoleth.
43:43I am here to carry out family discipline.
43:46Varys said coldly.
43:47The matter has already been investigated.
43:49She did not cast a curse.
43:51But Morwen said indifferently.
43:53Yet Lady Isoleth
43:54was indeed frightened because of her.
43:57True dragon blood
43:58is filthy and uncontrollable.
44:00It deserves punishment.
44:02I lifted my head.
44:05My blood is filthy.
44:07Morwen waved her hand.
44:09Thirty strips with the dragon one.
44:13When the first lash fell,
44:15I could not even make a sound.
44:17The dragon bit was carved
44:18with forbidden runes.
44:20Each strike felt as if my soul
44:22were being torn apart.
44:24After thirty trisses,
44:25the snow was dyed red with blood.
44:29Varys finally shouted in anger.
44:31Enough!
44:31But Morwen crouched down
44:33and pressed her hand to my chest.
44:34Not enough.
44:35Her most precious heart-guarding scale
44:37will be perfect stabilizing
44:39Lady Isoleth's dragon soul.
44:40My eyes widened.
44:41The next moment,
44:42she tore away my heart-guarding scale
44:44with my force.
44:48I am the daughter of the true dragon.
44:52But on the day I gave birth,
44:54my husband Varys
44:55carried my children away
44:56with his own hands.
45:06The dragon crystal was bitterly cold.
45:09I lay in a pool of blood,
45:11my fingertips digging
45:12into the seams of the stone,
45:13my voice horny enough
45:14to sound like someone else's.
45:17Varys, give me back my children.
45:19The two newborns cried in his arms.
45:21Each cry stabbed it,
45:22hurting more than the tearing
45:23of flesh and bone during labor.
45:25Isolid stood below the steps
45:26of the throne,
45:27wrapped in a snow-white cloak.
45:28Her eyes read,
45:29as if she were the one
45:30who had suffered every injustice.
45:31Sister, don't be like this.
45:33She reached out
45:34and took the children,
45:35her voice as light as a sigh.
45:37I only want to share your burden.
45:39You have just given birth.
45:41Your body is too weak.
45:43Trembling, I crawled toward her.
45:45They are not a burden.
45:47They are my children.
45:48Varys looked down at me.
45:50There was no tenderness
45:51in his eyes,
45:51only impatience.
45:52He blocked my hand
45:53with one foot.
45:54Enough, Elana.
45:56I clenched my teeth
45:58and lifted my head.
45:59I beg you,
46:01let me hold them once.
46:02Just once.
46:04Isolid hugged the children tight
46:05and took half a step back.
46:07Varys, perhaps I should not have come.
46:10Sister seems to hate me so much.
46:12Varys immediately stood
46:14in front of her,
46:14as if shielding
46:15the most precious treasure
46:16in the world.
46:17Her soul is unstable.
46:19She can never bear children.
46:21His voice was cold.
46:22You are her elder sister.
46:24What is wrong
46:25with fulfilling her wish
46:25this once?
46:26Would you really watch her
46:28suffer for the rest of her life?
46:29I laughed
46:30until blood spilled
46:31from my mouth.
46:32Fulfill her wish
46:33with my flesh and blood?
46:36His brows drew tighter.
46:38Do not make yourself
46:39sound so pitiful.
46:40You are already
46:41the commander's wife.
46:42Is that still not enough?
46:44I looked at the children
46:45in his arms.
46:46My little daughter
46:47had cried
46:47until her face was red.
46:49My little son's dragon arms
46:50were no bigger than fingertips,
46:52glowing faintly.
46:53They should have been
46:54against my chest,
46:55listening to my heartbeat.
46:56But Varys turned and left.
46:58When Isolette passed by me,
46:59she lowered her head
47:00and smiled softly.
47:03Thank you, sister.
47:04In that moment,
47:05I learned that
47:06when a person's heart
47:07is hollowed out,
47:08she can still remain alive
47:10and breathe.
47:13That was eight years ago.
47:15Eight years later,
47:16I finally understood
47:17that what had been
47:17carried away that day
47:19was not only my children,
47:20but also my last hope
47:21of ever being loved.
47:25The Dragon King
47:26of the Western Realm
47:27found me very late.
47:29Before that,
47:30I had grown up
47:31outside the dragon nest,
47:33like an abandoned
47:34wild beast.
47:35Later,
47:36they said
47:36I was the lost daughter
47:37of the true dragon,
47:39and they brought me
47:40back to the royal city,
47:41giving me fine clothes,
47:43a name,
47:44and an old betrothal contract.
47:47When I married Varys,
47:49he was the dragon bone commander,
47:51cold,
47:51powerful,
47:52and disgusted by me.
47:54On our wedding night,
47:55he did not lift
47:55my bridle laild.
47:57He only stood by the door
47:58and said,
47:59Alana,
47:59I married you
48:00only because of the betrothal.
48:01I asked softly,
48:03and afterwards,
48:04do not covet
48:05what does not belong to you.
48:06He did not even look at me.
48:09A year later,
48:10he married Isloit.
48:12She was a false dragon daughter.
48:14Yet she looked more loved
48:15than I ever did.
48:16My parents doted on her,
48:18the servants respected her,
48:19and Varys protected her.
48:22Later,
48:22even my children
48:23called her mother.
48:25After eight years of marriage,
48:27the dragon god
48:28appeared again.
48:29A silver spirit body
48:30hovered above
48:31the outer keep,
48:32its light illuminating
48:33my empty room.
48:35The trial is over.
48:37Varys' soul love
48:38has reached completion.
48:39You may strip away
48:40your dragon soul
48:41and leave this world,
48:43or you may remain.
48:44I stared at him blankly.
48:46He loves me.
48:47The words were so absurd,
48:49I almost wanted to laugh.
48:50He gave hatred
48:51to our wedding night,
48:52gave my children
48:53to Isled,
48:54and gave all his tenderness
48:56to someone else.
48:58Dragon god,
48:59are you certain
49:00you have not seen wrong?
49:01The dragon god's gaze
49:02remained gentle.
49:03The love of the soul
49:05does not always appear
49:06as tenderness.
49:07Then how does it appear?
49:08As humiliation?
49:10Neglect?
49:11Or forcing me
49:12to kneel outside the door
49:13and listen to my children
49:13call another woman mother?
49:15The dragon god was silent.
49:17My tears finally fell,
49:19but not because
49:20I could not bear
49:20to leave Varys.
49:21I want to leave.
49:23Before the separation
49:24you have one day,
49:25the dragon god said,
49:26you may say goodbye.
49:28I thought of Lucian
49:29and Avaria,
49:30even if they refused
49:32to acknowledge me.
49:33I wanted to see them
49:34one last time,
49:35so I went to the
49:36crystal corridor.
49:38Lucian was six,
49:39standing in the light,
49:41his small dragon horns
49:42glimmering faintly.
49:44When he saw me,
49:44the first thing he said was,
49:46Why are you here again?
49:50Lucian stepped back
49:51warily,
49:51as if he had seen
49:52something filthy.
49:53Didn't I tell you
49:54not to come?
49:54If mother sees me
49:56talking to you,
49:57she will be sad.
49:58I crouched in front of him
50:00and tried to make
50:00my smile gentle.
50:02I only came to say goodbye.
50:04He frowned.
50:06Goodbye?
50:07Are you pretending
50:08to be pitiful again?
50:09My hand froze in midair.
50:14After today,
50:16we will not see each other again.
50:18Lucian paused,
50:20but his face
50:20quickly turned cold again.
50:22You say that every time.
50:24Are you trying to make me
50:25feel sorry for you
50:26so you can make mother cry?
50:29Lucian.
50:30I called his name softly.
50:32I am not trying
50:33to take you away.
50:34You are lying.
50:37Hatred filled his eyes.
50:39Mother said you have
50:40always wanted to steal
50:41me and my sister back.
50:43Why can't you
50:44leave us alone?
50:48Before I could answer,
50:50Varys' voice came
50:51from behind me.
50:53Elana.
50:54As he approached,
50:55the entire corridor
50:57seemed to grow colder.
51:00He seized my arm
51:02and dragged me
51:02into the room beside us.
51:05The door slammed shut,
51:06leaving Lucian outside.
51:09What exactly
51:10are you trying to do?
51:11Varys lowered his voice.
51:14Lucian and Aurelia
51:15were raised by Iselth.
51:17Must you expose
51:17their bloodline
51:18in front of them
51:18and make them suffer?
51:19I wrenched free
51:20of his hand.
51:22I am their birth mother.
51:24I only wanted to say
51:25goodbye before I die.
51:27Die.
51:28He sneered.
51:29Dragons do not die easily.
51:31Elana,
51:32do not use such words
51:33to trick others
51:34into pitying you.
51:35I am not lying to you.
51:37Then go apologize to Iseleth.
51:39He stared at me.
51:41Promise that from now on
51:42you will never disturb
51:43her family again.
51:46Her family,
51:48my husband,
51:48my children,
51:49the blood I had shed
51:50in childbirth.
51:51In the end,
51:52all of it had become
51:53her,
51:53her family.
51:54Suddenly,
51:55I became very calm.
52:01Varys,
52:03if one day
52:03I truly died,
52:05would you regret it?
52:07A flicker of impatience
52:09passed through his eyes.
52:11I would only regret
52:12having indulged you
52:13too much in the beginning.
52:16I nodded.
52:18All right.
52:19I will remember that.
52:24Outside the door,
52:25a maid's panicked voice
52:26suddenly rang out.
52:27Commander,
52:28something is wrong.
52:29Miss Aurelia's dragon breath
52:30is unstable
52:31and she is crying
52:32for Lady Elana's scent.
52:33Varys' expression changed
52:35and he turned immediately.
52:36Looking at his back,
52:38I whispered,
52:38so she finally
52:40still remembers me.
52:41But that one memory
52:43almost cost me
52:44my life.
52:46Aurelia still remembered
52:48my scent.
52:49That alone
52:50was enough
52:51to make my heart ache
52:52until it softened.
52:55I returned to the outer keep
52:56and took out a soul crystal.
52:58The stone was cold
52:59in my palm.
53:00I cut my wrist open
53:01and let true dragon blood
53:02seep into it
53:03drop by drop.
53:04When the blood
53:05fell into the crystal,
53:07silver-blue light flared,
53:08but my chest felt
53:09as if it had been
53:10torn open
53:11and black dragon blood
53:12surged into my throat.
53:14The dragon god's voice
53:16sounded.
53:21Before the separation,
53:23your soul will split,
53:25your blood will grow cold,
53:28and life will slowly
53:30leave your body.
53:31I wipe the blood
53:33from the corner of my mouth.
53:34It does not matter.
53:36I am very good
53:38at enduring pain.
53:40A child raised
53:42in the bone wasteland
53:43learns first
53:45not to cry,
53:46but to keep silent.
53:48Crying draws monsters,
53:50saying it hurts
53:51only makes others
53:52think you are easier
53:53to bully.
53:55I carried the soul crystal
53:56to Silvermoon Tower.
53:58Inside the tower,
53:59warm light shone
54:01and soft fragrance
54:02drifted,
54:02as if it were
54:03another world.
54:04Lucian stood at the door
54:05and blocked me.
54:07What are you doing
54:07here again?
54:09Auraria wants
54:10my dragon breath.
54:11I brought it to her.
54:13Leave it here.
54:14He reached out
54:15and snatched
54:15the soul crystal away.
54:17You cannot go in.
54:18Mother will be unhappy.
54:25I looked at the figures
54:26through the crack
54:27in the door.
54:28Auraria lay in
54:29Isoleth's arms,
54:30calling her softly.
54:32Mother.
54:33Isolade lowered her head
54:34and kissed her forehead.
54:40Good child.
54:41Mother is here.
54:42Vera sat beside them,
54:44tucking Isolam's cloak
54:45around her.
54:46His voice was so gentle
54:47I nearly failed
54:48to recognize it.
54:49You have worked hard.
54:51I stood outside the door,
54:52my wrists still bleeding.
54:54Isolade suddenly lifted
54:55her eyes and saw me.
54:57The corner of her mouth
54:58curved.
55:00Holding my daughter,
55:01she mouthed silently
55:03to me.
55:04See?
55:05She only recognizes me.
55:07I lowered my eyes
55:09and turned away.
55:12But before I had gone far,
55:15a scream suddenly came
55:16from inside the tower.
55:17Cups and dishes shattered.
55:19A maid rushed out
55:20in the panic.
55:21Something has happened
55:22to the soul-calming crystal!
55:24Lady Isolin is coughing blood!
55:28Before I could return
55:29to the Outer Keep,
55:30Varys came after me.
55:31He seized my wrist,
55:33his grip almost crushing
55:34the bones.
55:35Elena,
55:36you have grown bold indeed.
55:39Pain darkened my vision.
55:41Let go.
55:41You placed a soul-splitting
55:42curse in the crystal.
55:43His voice was as cold
55:44as snow.
55:45After Isluic touched it,
55:46her dragon soul
55:47became unstable
55:48and Aurora
55:48vomited blood as well.
55:50I froze.
55:51Impossible.
55:52There was only my blood inside.
55:56Your blood?
55:57He laughed in fury.
55:59Do you think
55:59I would believe that?
56:00You can have
56:01the High Priest examine it.
56:02Before the matter
56:03is clarified,
56:04you will apologize
56:05to her first.
56:06He dragged me back
56:07to the front
56:08of Silvermoon Tower.
56:09Wind and snow
56:10struck my face
56:11and I could barely stand.
56:13Lucien rushed out,
56:14his eyes frighteningly red.
56:17You hurt my sister!
56:19Lucien, I did not!
56:20You are still arguing!
56:21Flames of a young dragon
56:22lit on his little horns
56:23and he slammed fiercely
56:25into my abdomen.
56:26I fell into the snow.
56:27My ribs felt broken
56:28and my throat filled
56:30with the taste of blood.
56:31I hate you!
56:32He cried.
56:33Why don't you just die
56:34if you died?
56:35Mother would never be sad again!
56:36Only after those words fell
56:37did Varas finally pull him away.
56:39I looked up at Vase,
56:40thinking he would at least say,
56:42enough.
56:42But he only said coldly,
56:44Until Isoleth and Auraria recover.
56:46Kneel here and reflect
56:47on your wrongdoing.
56:48I knelt in the snow,
56:49the blood from my wrist
56:50freezing dark red.
56:51Inside Silvermoon Tower,
56:53the lamps were warm.
56:54My children were crying there
56:56and my husband
56:57was guarding another woman.
56:58What if it turns out
56:59it was not me?
57:00He was silent for a moment.
57:01Then I will apologize.
57:03Apologize?
57:04Such a light word.
57:05Soon,
57:06the High Priest
57:06walked out of the tower,
57:08his face grave.
57:09Commander,
57:10the result is out.
57:11I lifted my head
57:12and saw Varas' face
57:13finally change.
57:14Come on!
57:16The High Priest said
57:18in a low voice,
57:19There is no curse.
57:20The crystal contains
57:21only true dragon blood.
57:23Miss Aurelia was merely frightened,
57:25and Lady Izzel's dragon soul
57:26briefly became unstable
57:28because of overexertion.
57:29The sound of snow
57:30suddenly seemed very loud.
57:32Varas froze where he stood.
57:34Lucian stood inside
57:35the tower door.
57:36Even after hearing the truth,
57:38he only clutched Izzel's skirt tighter
57:40and did not look at me.
57:42Varas came toward me
57:43as if he meant
57:44to help me up.
57:46Elena,
57:46I'm sorry.
57:49I did not give him my hand.
57:51He frowned.
57:53Lucian was only worried
57:54about his sister.
57:55He does not truly hate you.
57:57I wanted very much to ask.
57:59Then what would count
57:59as true hatred?
58:00Was it making me
58:01me kneel in the snow,
58:02letting my own child
58:03curse me to death?
58:04Or asking me to swallow
58:05all the pain
58:06and then understand them
58:07in return?
58:07But I was too tired.
58:09It does not matter.
58:10It will be over soon anyway.
58:12Varas' expression
58:13darkened slightly.
58:14What are you saying now?
58:16Before I could answer,
58:18Madam Morwen
58:19arrived with guards.
58:21She had been an old attendant
58:23by my birth parent's side.
58:24From the first day
58:25I returned to the dragon nest,
58:27she had never treated me
58:28as a true young lady.
58:29She glanced at me
58:30and frowned in disgust.
58:32Lady Alana,
58:33the dragon king and queen
58:34were furious
58:35when they heard you
58:35had harmed Isoleth.
58:37I am here to carry out
58:38family discipline.
58:39Varys said coldly,
58:40The matter has already
58:41been investigated.
58:42She did not cast a curse.
58:44But Morwen said indifferently,
58:46Yet Lady Isoleth
58:47was indeed frightened
58:48because of her.
58:50True dragon blood
58:51is filthy
58:51and uncontrollable.
58:53It deserves punishment.
58:55I lifted my head.
58:58My blood is filthy.
59:00Morwen waved her hand.
59:02Thirty strips
59:03with the dragon wax.
59:06When the first lash fell,
59:08I could not even make a sound.
59:10The dragon bit was carved
59:11with forbidden runes.
59:13Each strike felt as if
59:14my soul were being torn apart.
59:17After thirty trisses,
59:19the snow was dyed red with blood.
59:22Varys finally shouted in anger.
59:24Enough!
59:25But Morwen crouched down
59:26and pressed her hand to my chest.
59:28Not enough.
59:28Her most precious heart-guarding scale
59:30will be perfect stabilizing
59:32Lady Isoleth's dragon soul.
59:33My eyes widened.
59:34The next moment,
59:35she tore away my heart-guarding scale
59:37with my force.
59:39The next moment,
59:42we were.
59:42The second moment,