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00:00Bold words from a human.
00:02Your father holds a border post, that's all.
00:05This is a good point.
00:07But more than that,
00:08I took out the candlestick spike and cut into my wrist.
00:11There wasn't a single drop of blood on my wrist,
00:13yet black blood began to seep from the Kale's wrist.
00:16Kale looked at me in disbelief.
00:18What did you do to me?
00:20Nothing.
00:22Remember,
00:23I was born evil and cursed.
00:26I am more monstrous than you.
00:28Any harm done to my body can be transferred to others.
00:31Kale dispersed the serpent swarm.
00:33The spider was just a spider.
00:35I won't hold it against you.
00:37Generous.
00:38We still haven't completed the matching ceremony.
00:41You killed my pet, and you want to-
00:44He stopped, stared.
00:45The ceremony isn't finished.
00:47Then it stays unfinished.
00:49Be grateful I'm not having you thrown out.
00:52I smiled and turned toward the crowd.
00:54My eyes landed on the royal physician Idris,
00:56standing near the far pillar.
00:58Young, silver-robed, and cruel.
01:00Watching the spectacle with an expression of profound discomfort.
01:04I walked toward him.
01:05In my past life,
01:06it was him who made Cecilia a living blood clot,
01:09cutting her alive.
01:10If Kale won't complete the ceremony,
01:12perhaps you would be willing to stand in.
01:14Idris was shocked,
01:15looking at Kale in horror.
01:17This was an insult to the king,
01:18though in a passive way.
01:20Execute him.
01:21Anyone suspected of cuckolding the serpent king will never survive.
01:25I said nothing, just waited.
01:27Kale's jaw tightened.
01:28Idris was taken away in despair.
01:30Kale turned back to the altar.
01:32Fine.
01:33He completed the ceremony.
01:34I did not make it easy for him.
01:38That night, he didn't come to the chamber.
01:44In our past life,
01:46Cecilia had waited until dawn,
01:48sitting alone in her wedding dress,
01:49hoping.
01:50I gave him exactly one hour.
01:52Pack his things.
01:54All of them.
01:56If he doesn't want to share the chamber,
01:57we shouldn't inconvenient him by leaving his belongings here.
02:00They didn't hesitate by the time
02:01Sale heard what was happening
02:02and came to the courtyard in a fury.
02:04I was already asleep.
02:06My guards, my father's people,
02:07loyal to me,
02:08blocked the door.
02:09Vesper.
02:10He said my name like a threat.
02:13Open this door!
02:15I didn't respond.
02:16He transformed into a snake
02:17and slithered into the chamber.
02:19Suddenly,
02:20I felt something cold
02:21wrapping itself around my body.
02:28Do you know how the last person
02:30who provoked me like that ended up?
02:33If you want to kill me,
02:35it won't be tonight.
02:36My lord,
02:37you still need the border garrison.
02:39The night was long.
02:40The next morning,
02:41the Queen Mother's attendant arrived before dawn.
02:43She forced me to attend her morning ritual.
02:45I dressed without hurrying.
02:47The moment I stepped into the Queen Mother's chamber,
02:49I saw a pot boiling on the stove.
02:51Hold that pot.
02:52I looked at the Queen Mother
02:53and the boiling pot
02:54in a past life.
02:55I noticed that every time Cecilia came home,
02:58her hands were covered in blisters.
03:00So that's how it was.
03:01Do you really want me to hold it?
03:03You will learn your place here.
03:05I waited until she had finished dressing,
03:07until she was standing in her finest robes,
03:10silver-threaded ancient.
03:11Then,
03:12I calmly walked over
03:13and dipped my arm into the boiling water.
03:17With a blood-curdling scream,
03:19blisters instantly broke out
03:20all over the Queen Mother's arm.
03:22Her shriek brought Seal through the door
03:24in under a minute.
03:25He stood in the doorway
03:25and looked at his mother,
03:27shocked,
03:27furious,
03:28extensive burns on one arm,
03:30and then at me,
03:31standing beside her
03:32with a provocative expression.
03:34Throw her out.
03:36Void the contract.
03:38She's a devil!
03:40We can't.
03:42We need the garrison.
03:44Worthless, Liz!
03:45The Queen Mother slammed her goblet
03:47into Kale's chest
03:48and shrieked that he was good for nothing.
03:50That he didn't even have the spine
03:52to cast me out of the fortress.
03:53She was right.
03:54He didn't.
03:55Call the Serpent King
03:56had pledged his sword
03:57to the Great King of the Ironman,
03:59the most powerful orc warlord on the step.
04:01He needs grain routes,
04:03city gates left unbarred,
04:04and human nobles.
04:05My family controlled the Eastern Pass.
04:07His advisor would have made certain
04:09he understood that
04:10before the betrothal seal was pressed.
04:12In my past life,
04:13he had broken my sister Cecilia slowly
04:15and deliberately
04:16because he had only learned
04:17after the vows were spoken
04:18that she carried no political weight.
04:20This time,
04:21he knew exactly what he was acquiring.
04:23I had made sure of it.
04:24I left the Queen Mother to her collapse
04:26and walked out alongside Kale
04:27into the cold corridor
04:28beyond her chambers.
04:30Three days later
04:31came the customary return
04:32to my family's estate.
04:33Kale had not intended to come.
04:35He had been keeping his nights
04:36at a private house in the lower city
04:38where he kept his first love,
04:40waiting for the right season
04:41to bring her through the fortress gates
04:42and to install her as a favored consort.
04:45In the past life,
04:46he had not returned to Cecilia at all.
04:48She went alone.
04:48Her mother called her useless
04:50for being unable
04:50to manage her own husband.
04:52Cecilia had stood with her eyes downcast
04:54and received every word in silence.
04:56No one had known
04:57what she endured inside these walls.
04:59I found Kale before he could vanish
05:01and had him escorted firmly into the carriage.
05:03He tried his best to control Fury.
05:05Vesper,
05:06have I shown you too much patience?
05:08If Serpent King fails to appear
05:09at my family's estate,
05:10the insult falls on them.
05:12That is not my concern.
05:13I have obligations today.
05:15It is his fox lover,
05:16Lucia's name day,
05:17naturally.
05:19Then stay,
05:20and I'll make sure
05:20to have that fox's daughter
05:22killed before evening bells.
05:23You wouldn't.
05:24I held his gaze
05:25until he understood
05:26I was not performing.
05:27Lady Luisha,
05:28the daughter of the condemned fox moored.
05:31Did you imagine
05:31you could quietly bury her origins
05:33and bring her through the gates
05:34as a consort?
05:35If I had her killed,
05:37your people will love me.
05:38The cell went very still.
05:40He had not known
05:41I had gone that deep.
05:42A condemned lineage
05:43was not something
05:43he could afford to have surfaced.
05:45Not with the great king
05:46of the Iron Maw claim,
05:47still fragile.
05:48The temperature in the carriage dropped.
05:50Sit quietly,
05:51ride with me,
05:52and Luenya lives another day.
05:56If you get out of this carriage,
05:59she's dead.
06:00I raised my hand
06:01and drew one finger
06:02slowly across my own neck.
06:04Kale looked like he wanted
06:05to put his hands around mine.
06:07Viper,
06:08you absolute viper.
06:10He came unwillingly.
06:12When we arrived,
06:13my sister Cecilia
06:13was already there
06:14with her husband,
06:15Lucien,
06:16the Lion Arbiter.
06:17She had brought
06:17half a cartload of gifts,
06:19pressed remedies
06:20and silk
06:20from the eastern provinces.
06:22My mother received them
06:23with polite indifference.
06:25How thoughtful.
06:26And handed everything
06:27to the steward
06:27without looking.
06:28Cecilia's expression
06:29did not change.
06:30She had long since learned
06:31to carry disappointment
06:33without showing it.
06:33but Lucien noticed.
06:35He reached over
06:35and covered her hand
06:36with his tenderly.
06:38Sister.
06:38Cecilia saw me
06:39and smiled.
06:40She inspected me carefully
06:41and then exhaled
06:42when she found me
06:43safe and sound.
06:44Have they treated you bad?
06:46Before I could answer,
06:47Kale stepped forward.
06:49Who would dare?
06:50She's turned
06:51the entire fortress
06:52upside down.
06:53She threatened
06:54to kill me
06:55before we'd been married.
06:56He was still furious
06:57about it.
06:58Cecilia blinked at him.
06:59In the past life,
07:00he had not come here.
07:01His presence surprised her
07:02and scared her.
07:03She flinched.
07:04Lucien noticed her fear.
07:05Come.
07:06Let's walk the garden.
07:07They left together.
07:08Kale watched her go.
07:09Something shifted
07:10in his expression.
07:11Your sister
07:13is gentle,
07:15composed,
07:16gracious.
07:16He turned to look at me.
07:17You and she
07:18share the same blood.
07:19How is it possible
07:20you are so entirely
07:21unlike her?
07:22I should have taken her
07:23instead of you.
07:24I turned to face him.
07:26In the past life,
07:27he had taken Cecilia
07:28and he had unmade her
07:29piece by piece,
07:30season by season
07:31until there was nothing left
07:32that resembled the girl
07:33who had once circled me
07:35in the courtyard,
07:35checking for bruises.
07:36Even his stablemen
07:37could land a hand on her.
07:39He had used her
07:39as a blood vessel
07:40to sustain that Lucia's life.
07:42Regrets?
07:43Say her name once more
07:44and I'll have
07:44Luis's tongue cut out.
07:47I misspoke.
07:48Don't touch her.
07:49Then go.
07:49I need to speak
07:50with my mother.
07:51I left him there
07:52and went inside.
07:54We returned to the fortress
07:55by late afternoon.
07:56Kale still had somewhere
07:57to be tonight.
07:58He went to Lady Lucia's place.
08:00Lucia rose when he entered,
08:02her eyes filling at once.
08:03My lord,
08:04I feared you had forgotten me.
08:06I was detained.
08:08The viper forced my hand.
08:10Of course.
08:12I knew it was she.
08:14She threw herself
08:14into Kale's arms.
08:17Good girl.
08:19Kale's hand slipped
08:20beneath Lucia's clothes
08:21and the two became entwined.
08:23After the tenderness subsided,
08:25Lucia held onto Kale.
08:26Her eyes and cheeks
08:27still flushed
08:28with the afterglow of passion.
08:29Our son is old enough
08:31to find a tutor.
08:32Could I not bring him
08:33to the palace?
08:34Pack your things.
08:36In two days,
08:37I will send for you.
08:38You are coming to the palace.
08:39Lucia lowered her eyes
08:40and smiled.
08:41Thank you, my lord.
08:42And behind the smile,
08:44behind the downcast lashes,
08:45emerged the calculating slyness.
08:47When we returned
08:48to the fortress,
08:49a child came at me
08:50and shouted,
08:52You!
08:53It's because of you
08:54my mother can't come home!
08:55I'll kill you!
08:56A woman came scrambling
08:57after him,
08:58snatching at his collar,
09:00her face white with terror.
09:01It was Lucia.
09:03The son of Lucia,
09:04that bastard,
09:05was brought into my courtyard
09:06screaming threats,
09:07that he would have me expelled,
09:09that his father would come,
09:10that I would regret it.
09:11I let him exhaust himself.
09:13Then I crouched to his level
09:14and closed my hand
09:16around his throat,
09:17not crushing,
09:18just present.
09:19His screaming stopped.
09:20Listen to me carefully.
09:21You are not what you think you are.
09:22You have no title,
09:24no protection
09:24that I cannot remove.
09:25I could end you
09:26and call it a household matter
09:27and no one with any authority
09:28would tell me I was wrong.
09:30He stared at me.
09:31His lip was trembling.
09:32Your mother,
09:33if she ever enters these walls,
09:34will have no standing to raise you.
09:36That right belongs to me,
09:37which means that by every law
09:38in this kingdom,
09:38I am the closest thing
09:39to a mother you have in this house.
09:40You're not my mother!
09:42No, I'm not.
09:45But I am the woman
09:46you will address accordingly,
09:47or you will kneel
09:48in that courtyard
09:49until you change your mind.
09:50He was not stupid.
09:52He could feel my grip.
09:53He went limp.
09:54I released him.
09:55Of course I wouldn't really kill him.
09:57He's just a kid.
09:58I just wanted to make his mother submit.
10:00I kept my promise
10:01and spared Lucia's life,
10:03but she wasn't satisfied.
10:04She still wanted to be
10:05the consort of Kale.
10:07Lucia curtsied did,
10:08holding her hand
10:09over the wound on her chest,
10:11which still ached faintly.
10:12I sipped my wine.
10:13In the past life,
10:15Cecilia had been here,
10:16which meant Lucia had Kale
10:18to lean on.
10:18This life,
10:19with me occupying this position,
10:21Kale didn't dare move
10:22against me openly,
10:24which meant Lucia
10:25had no lever to pull.
10:26Accept me.
10:27So here she was.
10:28Please,
10:29I am asking for a way forward.
10:31We are both women.
10:33You know what it is
10:34to have no ground beneath you.
10:36If I am not brought
10:38into the fortress properly,
10:40I have nowhere to go.
10:41She let her voice break
10:43on the last word.
10:44She was playing the sympathy card
10:46with both hands.
10:47I had no sympathy for Lucia.
10:49She had watched Cecilia
10:51being bled on a schedule
10:52and called it none
10:53of her business.
10:54She had benefited
10:55from every drop.
10:56She can find
10:57no soft feeling in me.
10:59You may stay,
11:00she exhaled.
11:03As a chambermaid.
11:05The exhale stopped.
11:06My lady?
11:07Kale had been summoned
11:09to the Great King.
11:10Roland had seen us
11:11arrive together,
11:12side by side
11:13like a happy couple.
11:15While Kale was inside
11:16with the Great King,
11:17Roland materialized
11:19at my elbow
11:20with the particular expression
11:21of a man
11:22assembling a complaint.
11:24Since when have you
11:24and the Serpent King
11:25become so...
11:29companionally?
11:31Since it suited me.
11:34There's nothing.
11:35He has his uses.
11:36Don't stay too close to him.
11:38Go back to your family's
11:39estate for a while.
11:40Say you're unwell.
11:41A few weeks.
11:42He wasn't asking.
11:43Roland.
11:44He was warning.
11:44He knew about the coup.
11:46If I dissolved my arrangement
11:47with Kale,
11:48formally,
11:49legally me,
11:50would you mate me?
11:51He went still.
11:53You have been mated.
11:54The binding rites
11:55were never completed
11:55at the altar.
11:56Technically...
11:56Vespa!
11:57Is it because I've been
11:58another man's mate?
11:59He turned to look at me.
12:00Eyes darkened.
12:01That is not the reason.
12:04I have never cared
12:05about such things.
12:06If someone devilish like me
12:07could be worth the effort
12:08of becoming better,
12:10it would only ever be
12:11for someone like him.
12:12Then I'll wait for you
12:14to come for me.
12:15And I walked away
12:16before he could answer.
12:17Kale was waiting
12:18when I returned.
12:19Who were you with?
12:20Roland?
12:21Something moved
12:22across his face.
12:23When I have what I owe,
12:25when the throne is settled,
12:26he'll be the first one
12:27I remove.
12:29Then I'll look forward
12:30to that day.
12:31He stared at me.
12:32I went inside.
12:33A fortnight later,
12:34Kale and his allies
12:35moved on the palace.
12:37They were surrounded
12:38before they reached
12:39the inner gates.
12:40I had given Roland
12:41everything.
12:42The documents,
12:44the correspondence,
12:45the names,
12:46the dates.
12:47Roland had gone
12:48to the crow prince.
12:49The crow prince
12:50had gone to my father.
12:52My father had arrived
12:53at the palace first
12:54and waited in the dark
12:55with 15,000 men
12:57at his back.
12:58The coup lasted
12:59approximately one hour.
13:01Kale's household
13:02was seized
13:02three days later.
13:04He looked at me
13:04across the courtyard
13:05of the fortress
13:06he no longer owned
13:07and his expression
13:08dimmed like a smoldering candle.
13:10You gave the evidence
13:11all to Roland.
13:12You were going
13:13to destroy my family.
13:14I wasn't going
13:15to let that happen twice.
13:20The fortress was stripped.
13:22The household condemned.
13:23Those who had served
13:24the coup
13:25were dealt with
13:26according to the law.
13:28Lucia ran.
13:29She took the boy
13:30and tried for the eastern road.
13:32They were caught
13:33before nightfall.
13:34She had miscalculated
13:36as people often do
13:38when they have spent
13:39too long
13:40believing themselves protected.
13:42She had spent years
13:43cultivating Kale
13:44as her shelter.
13:45In the end
13:46he could not shelter
13:47even himself.
13:49The great king
13:50received me personally.
13:52My father
13:53had defended the palace.
13:54I had provided
13:55the intelligence
13:56that made the defense possible.
13:58By every accounting
13:59I had been on the right side
14:00of this from the beginning.
14:02By the following week
14:03I was the talk
14:04of the capital again
14:05though the nature
14:06of the talk had shifted.
14:07Less mockery now.
14:08More of the uneasy fascination.
14:12I'm sorry.
14:13This should have been me.
14:14If I had been the one
14:15you wouldn't have had to.
14:16You have nothing
14:17to apologize for.
14:18You and Lucien are well.
14:20That's enough.
14:23Three days later
14:24two matching ceremonies
14:26were held at once.
14:27Lucien,
14:28the Lion Arbiter
14:28came to collect
14:29Cecilia himself.
14:30He arrived in formal
14:32white and gold.
14:33The kind of man
14:33who made ceremonial dress
14:35look effortless.
14:36Be good to her
14:37I thought
14:38watching him help
14:39Cecilia into the carriage.
14:40She deserves your love.
14:42Then I turned
14:42and stepped into my own.
14:44Kale had not come
14:45to meet me.
14:46He'd spent last night
14:47at a brothel house
14:48with his mistress
14:49and couldn't drag himself
14:51out of bed
14:51before noon.
14:52I thought Kale
14:53not coming to meet
14:54my procession
14:55was insult enough.
14:56It wasn't.
14:57When the matching ceremony
14:58began he still hadn't appeared.
15:01What came in his place
15:02was a spider
15:03larger than my fist
15:04its legs polished black
15:05adorned with a ceremonial ribbon
15:07tied around its midsection.
15:09It was placed
15:10on the altar before me.
15:11Is the Serpent King
15:12really doing this?
15:13A human bride
15:15bound to a pest.
15:16How fitting.
15:17If I were her
15:17I'd kill myself.
15:19What's left to preserve?
15:20Kale's attendant
15:21stepped forward.
15:22My lady
15:22the king was occupied
15:24through the night
15:24and could not rise in time.
15:25This is his most prized companion.
15:27he felt it appropriate
15:28that it stand in his place
15:29for the ceremony.
15:30The king despises me.
15:32Even his servants
15:33don't bother hiding it.
15:34I said nothing.
15:35I looked past him
15:36to the queen mother
15:37seated on the high dais.
15:39Your husband returned
15:39from campaign exhausted.
15:41As his mate
15:42Grace is expected of you.
15:43The guests are waiting.
15:45Complete the ceremony.
15:46This was what Cecilia
15:47had endured
15:48in our past life.
15:49She never told me.
15:51Vespo
15:52stop stalling.
15:54You're asking me
15:55to complete a matching ceremony
15:56with a bug?
15:58So the serpent king
15:59is equivalent to this bug?
16:00How dare you!
16:02I dare nothing.
16:04I came here
16:05to bind myself
16:06to a king
16:06not a bug.
16:08Silence
16:09then scattered laughter.
16:10Nervous
16:11surprised
16:11quickly smothered
16:12the queen mother's
16:13composure cracked
16:14at the edges.
16:15The spider felt
16:16the shift in the air.
16:17It lunged
16:18spitting venom.
16:19I dodged
16:20and drove the candlestick
16:21spike through it
16:22in one clean motion.
16:23A black stain
16:24spread outward
16:25from the altar.
16:26Droplets caught
16:27the front of my
16:28wedding wights.
16:28Dark,
16:29deliberate looking,
16:30like I'd planned it.
16:31The hall erupted.
16:32She killed it!
16:33She killed the king's
16:34companion!
16:35The queen mother
16:36was on her feet.
16:37You!
16:38It attacked me.
16:40I pulled the spike
16:41free and wiped it
16:42on the altar cloth.
16:43What would you
16:43have had me do?
16:44Seize her!
16:45Someone fetch
16:46the king!
16:47The doors opened.
16:48The ground trembled
16:49faintly as K.L.
16:50walked in.
16:51Eyes that swept
16:52the room
16:52and landed on me.
16:53On the crushed creature.
16:54On the stain spreading
16:55across the altar stone.
16:57And the absolute
16:58calm on my face.
16:59You killed my spider.
17:01It started first.
17:03I'm going to kill you.
17:04I smiled.
17:05I knew he'd come
17:06eventually.
17:07K.L.
17:07crossed the hall
17:08in a few strides
17:09and beckoned.
17:09Then thousands of
17:10serpents swarmed forward.
17:12I didn't move.
17:13The guests held
17:14their breath.
17:15Half terrified,
17:16half fascinated.
17:17Wondering if he'd
17:17actually do it.
17:18A swarm of serpents
17:19had crawled up
17:20to my waist.
17:21K.L.
17:22Just before
17:22the A-serpent's tail
17:23stopped an inch
17:24from my throat.
17:25Kill me
17:26and you'll die.
17:27She hauled him back
17:28and turned to leave,
17:29the boy still thrashing
17:30in her arms,
17:31still screaming.
17:32Wait!
17:32She stopped then.
17:34Slowly she sank
17:34to her knees
17:35with the child
17:36still clutched
17:36against her chest.
17:38My lady,
17:38he is only small.
17:40Children say foolish things.
17:42Please,
17:43he means nothing by it.
17:45What do you call him?
17:47The young lord.
17:49My handmaid
17:49quickly stepped forward
17:50and struck Lucia
17:51across the face.
17:53The boy erupted.
17:54Witch!
17:54You hit my mother!
17:56I'll have my father
17:57kill you!
17:58I'll have you all killed!
18:00In the past life,
18:01this same child
18:02had put serpents
18:02in Cecilia's bedchamber.
18:04Serpents in her shoes.
18:05He had tormented her
18:06until she fell ill
18:07with fright
18:08and lay shaking for days.
18:09This life,
18:10I would teach him differently.
18:11I looked at him
18:12for a moment.
18:13Then I crossed the distance
18:14between us
18:15and slapped him.
18:16I had not particularly
18:17wanted to.
18:17but he had raised
18:19his hand to me first
18:20in my own house
18:21and there are rules
18:22about that.
18:23How dare you touch my son?
18:24He's the future lord!
18:26Lucia shrieked in fury.
18:27My handmaid struck her again.
18:29You are confused.
18:30The lady has no children yet.
18:32There is no young lord.
18:34Everyone calls him.
18:36Even the queen mother
18:37has never objected.
18:38Everyone
18:38has been imprecise.
18:40A young lord
18:41is born of a lady
18:42and a king.
18:43You are neither legitimate
18:43nor formally acknowledged.
18:45You are a bastard.
18:46I looked down at the boy
18:47who had gone very still.
18:48And since you are
18:49the king's blood,
18:50however informally,
18:51you will come
18:52and live in my wing.
18:54Lucia suddenly lunged
18:55at me like a madwoman.
18:56If you dare lay a finger
18:58upon my son,
18:59I'll kill you!
19:00In the struggle,
19:01Lucia suddenly took advantage
19:02of my distraction
19:03to snatch the dagger
19:04I was using
19:05for self-defense.
19:06Then gritted her teeth
19:07and plunged it
19:08into her right shoulder,
19:09causing blood
19:10to gush out.
19:12Kale arrived
19:12with a drawn sword.
19:14He crossed the courtyard,
19:15sword leveled,
19:16the markings along his jaw
19:18pulled taut with fury.
19:19Lucia with eyes
19:20already wet
19:21when she saw Shale coming.
19:22She threw herself
19:23into his arms
19:24with all her might.
19:25Kale's eyes
19:25were filled with pity,
19:26and then he looked up
19:28and shot me
19:28an angry glance.
19:29Vesper,
19:31you touched Luia
19:32and my son.
19:32Your son charged at me
19:34in my own hall
19:35and threatened
19:35to kill my servants.
19:37I disciplined him.
19:38That is my right.
19:40Apologize to my son.
19:41I almost laughed.
19:42Or I will end you for this.
19:44Your bastard
19:44has no acknowledged title,
19:46no formal standing,
19:47and no right
19:47to that courtyard
19:48without my lead.
19:49He is here
19:50only because I permit it.
19:51While this bitch,
19:52she deserves to die.
19:54In the past life,
19:55this Lucia
19:55framed my sister
19:56in the same way.
19:57She deliberately
19:58bled herself,
19:59but when she stabbed herself,
20:00she avoided
20:01the vital areas.
20:02Although the wound
20:02looked scary,
20:03it was only
20:04a superficial injury.
20:05But Kale cut Cecilia open
20:06and drained her blood
20:07for Lucia.
20:10Kale, please.
20:11She is the lady
20:12of the house.
20:13You cannot...
20:14But I could tell
20:15she wasn't using
20:16much force.
20:17He shook her off easily
20:18and kept walking.
20:19I stood where I was.
20:21Lucia,
20:22do you really want me to die?
20:24Lucia lowered her head,
20:26pretending not to dare
20:26to see what would happen next.
20:28But her eyes betrayed
20:29an uncontrollable,
20:30triumphant smile.
20:31The sword stayed raised
20:32for another moment.
20:33The tip of the sword
20:34was just an inch away from me.
20:36Seizing the moment,
20:37I grabbed the blade
20:38and thrust it
20:39straight into my chest,
20:41right into my heart.
20:42A blood-curdling scream
20:44rang off the walls.
20:45Not mine,
20:45but Lucia's.
20:46Blood gushed
20:47from Lucia's chest
20:48like a fountain.
20:49Kale faced.
20:50She pressed her hand
20:50against the wound,
20:51only to find the blood
20:52flowing faster and faster.
20:54This can't be...
20:55Lucia!
20:56Mother!
20:57Kale and the boy
20:58rushed over to Lucia
21:00at the same time.
21:01Fetch the royal position!
21:03Kale shouted,
21:04extremely furious.
21:05He looked at me
21:06as if his eyes
21:07were about to shoot fire.
21:09Guards!
21:10Cut this woman
21:11into pieces!
21:12The serpent guards,
21:13after witnessing all this,
21:15none of them dared
21:15to touch me.
21:16Idris was executed.
21:18In your hands.
21:21The look on his face
21:22suddenly changed
21:23into disbelief and fear.
21:25So it was you all along.
21:28You planned this
21:29from the very beginning.
21:30Looks like you're not
21:31all that dumb after all.
21:34But why?
21:36Why are you doing this to me?
21:38We had no history
21:40of conflict before we met!
21:42He cried out in despair.
21:44No conflict?
21:46You seem to have
21:47no recollection
21:48of how you mistreated
21:49my sister.
21:51That really is
21:52a bit unfair.
21:52Here's the deal.
21:53If you want to save
21:54this woman,
21:55come with me
21:56to the spring hunt
21:57organized by Lucien
21:58the Lion-Avouger.
21:59He had no reason
22:00to object.
22:01Lucien organized
22:02a spring hunting expedition.
22:04A riding party
22:05into the hills
22:05beyond the city.
22:07Ostensibly for the season,
22:08practically for the politics.
22:10The guest list reads
22:11like a map
22:12of every alliance
22:13and rivalry
22:14in the capital.
22:15The moment
22:15Cecilia and I appeared,
22:17the whispers started.
22:18Isn't that the serpent king's mate?
22:20The one who was wed
22:21to his pet spider?
22:21She still shows her face.
22:23Remarkable.
22:24He doesn't even
22:24treat her as a person.
22:27I'd have drowned myself.
22:30That last one
22:30came from Lady Maron
22:32from Snake Clan.
22:33Old enemy of mine
22:34and I know she had
22:35a crush on Kale
22:36for years.
22:37She was standing
22:37with a cluster
22:38of other ladies
22:39near the tree line,
22:40not bothering
22:41to lower her voice.
22:42She had never needed
22:43a reason to look
22:44at me with contempt
22:45and today
22:46she considered herself
22:47well supplied.
22:47Cecilia's eyes went red.
22:49My sister has done
22:51nothing wrong.
22:52The fault lies
22:53with the serpent king,
22:54not with her.
22:56I squeezed her hand.
22:57Don't.
22:57In the past life,
22:58they had said
22:59these things to Cecilia.
23:00I only learned later.
23:02Cecilia walking alone
23:03through the snow
23:04while they called
23:05after her.
23:06No one standing beside her.
23:07No one speaking.
23:08I crossed the grass
23:09toward Lady Maron.
23:10She didn't step back.
23:11She thought I wouldn't dare.
23:13Out here,
23:14in front of everyone.
23:15I slapped her.
23:16The crowd went quiet.
23:16somewhere in the trees,
23:18a bird startled
23:19and fled.
23:21You.
23:22You struck me.
23:24Do you know
23:25who my father is?
23:26I know exactly
23:27who your father is.
23:28And when a king's mate
23:29is present,
23:30you bow.
23:31You don't perform
23:31for your friends
23:32at her expense.
23:33Your father failed
23:34to teach you that.
23:35Consider this a correction.
23:37You think you're untouchable?
23:39My cousin is
23:39Serpent King's favorite.
23:41She will discipline you
23:42and your father
23:43and your brothers.
23:44She had been rattled
23:45into saying something
23:46she couldn't take back.
23:48You mean Louisa.
23:50What's so funny?
23:51I called for my maid
23:52and she came in
23:53carrying a tray.
23:56Lady Maron took one look
23:58at the tray
23:58and nearly three.
24:00Lady Maron left.
24:01Quickly and without her friends,
24:03the tray held a fox's paw,
24:04still adorned
24:05with a signet ring.
24:06It was Lucia's.
24:07This is exactly morbid
24:08of you, Vesper.
24:09A gentle but calm voice
24:10rang at my ear.
24:11I looked over my shoulder
24:13and saw a handsome man
24:14wearing dark green riding gear.
24:16Roland,
24:17the prince of the Serpent Clan,
24:18Kale's nephew.
24:19I stood there for a moment,
24:21genuinely caught off guard.
24:22In another life,
24:23when the Serpent King's coup
24:25collapsed
24:25and my father was swept up
24:27in the wreckage,
24:27it had been Roland
24:28who stepped forward.
24:29He had argued my father's case
24:31before the great king
24:32of Iron Ma.
24:33He had taken 30 lashes for it
24:35and 30 lashes
24:36had nearly killed him.
24:37I had never thanked him.
24:38I hadn't known.
24:40Roland, thank you.
24:42I only said you're Morid.
24:44What are you thanking me for?
24:45He turned to go.
24:46I caught his sleeve.
24:49You ran.
24:51When I told you
24:52I wanted to mate you,
24:54you actually ran.
24:58My lady,
24:59I would strongly advise
25:00against pursuing this particular...
25:02I licked his hand.
25:04He went completely still.
25:05Then he pulled his hand back
25:07and stared at me
25:07the way a man stares
25:09at something
25:09that has justified
25:11his understanding
25:11of how the world works.
25:13You...
25:15We are outside.
25:16There are...
25:16There are people.
25:17You cannot simply...
25:18There are horses
25:19the horses can see.
25:21I know.
25:22He stared at me
25:23for another moment,
25:24color climbing steadily
25:25up the back of his neck
25:26and then turned
25:27and walked away
25:28with tremendous dignity
25:29and absolutely no idea
25:30where he was going.
25:32Hale and I
25:33never completed
25:33the binding rites,
25:35nor did we ever
25:35sleep together.
25:37By any strict reading
25:38of the law,
25:39we are not truly wed.
25:40Roland's face
25:41had gone the color
25:42of fresh linen.
25:43Whatever is between you
25:44and the serpent king
25:45has nothing to do with me.
25:46You should not...
25:47You must not...
25:48This is entirely...
25:48He stopped,
25:49seemed to decide
25:50that finishing the sentence
25:51was too dangerous.
25:52Then he turned
25:53and walked away
25:54very quickly.
25:55Roland!
25:55I called after him.
25:57He kept walking.
25:58If you're willing,
25:59once I've dissolved
26:00the arrangement with Kale,
26:02I'd mate you.
26:03He walked faster.
26:04He was almost at the treeline.
26:06I was fairly certain
26:07he was considering
26:08breaking into a run
26:09and had only his dignity
26:10to lose.
26:11Coward, I thought,
26:12with great affection.
26:13Absolute coward.
26:14You viper.
26:15Kale appeared from my left,
26:17materializing out of
26:18the expedition crowd,
26:19setting his teeth on edge.
26:20I'm not dead yet.
26:23You'd like to dissolve
26:24our arrangement
26:25and mate Roland
26:27over my living body.
26:28He had come after all,
26:29some belated instinct
26:31about appearances,
26:32most likely,
26:32and he had arrived
26:33at exactly the wrong moment.
26:35I'm considering my options.
26:38I'm considering.
26:40He said very quietly.
26:44Finding a convenient moment
26:45to have you removed.
26:48Are you?
26:49Yes.
26:50I looked at him.
26:53That would be
26:56a miscalculation.
26:58He stared at me.
26:59His jaw worked.
27:00He knew I was right.
27:01He couldn't touch me
27:02without consequences.
27:03He wasn't prepared to face.
27:05He couldn't risk
27:06to lose my father's support.
27:07And Lucia's fate
27:08lies in my hands.
27:10You asked me
27:10to come here with you.
27:12Was it just so I could
27:13watch you cheat on me?
27:15Not exactly.
27:17Cecilia, come here.
27:19I saw my younger sister
27:20standing not far away,
27:21but I didn't dare
27:22to approach us.
27:23She feared Kale
27:24deep to bone.
27:25She approached cautiously,
27:26holding the sacred
27:27artifact of the Lion Clan,
27:29a deer antler.
27:30In her hands,
27:31it was no ordinary antler.
27:32I picked up the antler
27:33and stabbed the serpent king
27:34with its sharpest point.
27:36You want to kill me?
27:38That would be
27:38too easy for you.
27:39The antler is a relic
27:41of the Lion Clan's prophet.
27:42When it come into contact
27:43with blood,
27:44they reveal the truths
27:45of past lives.
27:46You should repent
27:47for everything you did
27:48to my sister.
27:49Kale, remember this.
27:50It's a fight
27:51to the death between us.
27:52And of course,
27:52you're the one
27:53who's going to die.
27:54But I won't let you
27:55die easily.
27:56Kale left.
27:57Ladder,
27:57someone told me
27:58he had spent
27:59the ride home
27:59in uncharacteristic silence.
28:01I was told he kept
28:02reaching up
28:03to touch the back
28:03of his neck,
28:04as though feeling
28:05a draft from somewhere
28:06he couldn't locate.
28:07Good, I thought.
28:08He should start
28:09getting used
28:09to that feeling.
28:10A condemned Lord's daughter
28:12does not become
28:13a favored Concord.
28:14You have no name,
28:16no title,
28:17and no standing
28:18I am obgraged
28:19to recognize.
28:20I bore him a son.
28:22The softness
28:22had thinned
28:23at the edges now.
28:24That counts for something.
28:25It counts for
28:26the boy's existence.
28:27It does not count
28:28for yours.
28:29You produced
28:30an illegitimate child
28:31outside of any
28:32formal arrangement
28:33and called it a service.
28:34In most households,
28:36that gets you killed.
28:37She stood there,
28:39not quite able
28:40to speak.
28:40In truth,
28:41I didn't particularly
28:43care what she was called.
28:44What I cared about
28:45was Cecilia,
28:46and the years
28:47Lucia had spent
28:48comfortable
28:48while Cecilia bled.
28:51Let her kneel
28:52for a while.
28:53Let her learn
28:53the texture
28:54of the floor.
28:55I understand.
28:56She bowed her head
28:57and went down.
28:58The weeks that followed
28:59had a rhythm.
29:00Lucia came to attend
29:02me every morning,
29:03dutiful and precise,
29:04and every evening
29:05went to Kale
29:06to describe in soft detail
29:08how difficult
29:08I had made her day.
29:10Kale,
29:11caught between
29:11two immovable objects,
29:13eventually lost patience
29:14and snapped at her.
29:17She is the lady.
29:19Serving her
29:20is not beneath you.
29:22I was told
29:22Lucia did not speak
29:24to him
29:24for three days
29:25after that.
29:27Meanwhile,
29:27I worked through
29:28the fortress household
29:29piece by piece,
29:30repositioning those
29:31who could be turned,
29:33removing those
29:33who couldn't,
29:34watching the architecture
29:36of loyalty shift
29:37beneath my hands,
29:38and I watched Kale.
29:39He was planning something.
29:41The signs were there,
29:42meetings that ended
29:43when I entered rooms,
29:45correspondence sealed
29:46with unfamiliar marks,
29:47certain lords
29:48appearing in the fortress
29:49with no announced purpose.
29:51A coup in preparation
29:53moves like weather.
29:55You feel it
29:56before you can name it.
29:57I needed evidence,
29:59which meant
30:00staying close to Kale,
30:01close enough to search,
30:03close enough to be seen,
30:04and there was Roland
30:05as my ally.
30:06little bit of a
30:06little bit of a
30:06little bit of a
30:06little bit of a
30:06little bit of a
30:06little bit of a
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