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00:00The border was in turmoil. My husband, William Ashfield, rode through the chaos to rescue Bianca Moore, leaving my frightened
00:07warhorse to wildly. When warm blood steeped soaked through my skirt, I knew something was slipping away from inside.
00:12The moment the enemy troops charged down, I instinctively reached for the dagger at my yaste. But there were too
00:18many enemies. The escort was scattered in an instant. William swung his sword, cut down two enemies and turned his
00:25horse around. I thought he would come to protect me, but he charged straight toward Bianca, who had been left
00:31alone.
00:32William! He did not look back. He swept Bianca on to his horse and shielded her in his arms. My
00:39warhorse suddenly panicked, its front hooves rearing desperately, the leather-cutting bloody marks and... I heard Bianca creeing out and
00:48William soothing her in a low voice.
00:50Don't be afraid. I'm here.
00:52The tenderness he had never once used with me. Then I was thrown from the horse. I crashed heavily onto
00:57the gravel slope, my left leg striking a nearby tree rock. Agamon had a persimmon through me in an inch.
01:03I felt something down the side of my leg, made it in skirt if it had been tried a finger.
01:07Behind me were Bionna's sobs and Wilbiam's William's low words of comfort.
01:12I heard Brian shouting in the distance, but the sound of William's horse's hooves grew farther and farther away. He
01:18never once looked back.
01:19When I woke again, the familiar brocade canopy was above me. My maid Eileen was bent over beside the bed,
01:27her shoulders trembling. My hand moved to my belly. Flat, soft, there was nothing left.
01:32My lady, you miscarried it. The physician said the child could not be saved.
01:36I heard my own breath break for an instant. How long? For two days. In those two days, my child
01:42had completely turned into a pool of blood and been cleaned away.
01:44There was not even a tiny grave. Where is William? I closed my eyes, and only after a long while
01:49did I ask.
01:50The Lord has returned to the castle. Miss Bianca's frightened, and he's been sat by her side in her room.
01:55Staying by her side, I slowly clenched the bed sheet, my knuckles turning white. Something inside me shattered brutally.
02:02Not my heart, but the version of myself that had still held hope for William.
02:06The clatter of armor sounded outside the door. William pushed the door open and entered.
02:10He had not yet removed his armor, and he carried the smell of blood. He glanced at me, then quickly
02:16looked away.
02:16You're awake?
02:17I stared at him, waiting for him to ask if I was in pain. But what he said was...
02:21About today, you should not have been so reckless. The enemy had clearly set an ambush, yet you rode so
02:26far ahead.
02:27It was your horse's panic that caused the chaos. As the Lord's wife, you should consider the bigger picture instead
02:32of causing trouble during wartime.
02:33My ears rang, and in that instant, my heart felt as if it had been drenched in ice water.
02:37He was actually blaming me. What did you say?
02:40I braced myself against the bed frame, my nails digging into the wood. I caused trouble?
02:46William, at that moment, my horse was about to bolt downhill. If you had only reached out and pulled the
02:51reins, I could have stopped. But you chose to save Bianca.
02:54Bianca had been left alone at the time. She was as endangered than you are my wife.
02:58In a moment of crisis, you should have stood beside me, not quibbled over such things. Besides, aren't you perfectly
03:02fine now? Nothing really happened.
03:04Nothing happened. My child was gone, and he said nothing happened. And he told me not to quibble with Bianca.
03:09My whole body trembled. My eyes bloodshot. Seeing me like this, his pupils suddenly contracted. But he quickly turned his
03:15face away, his tone growing colder.
03:17Bianca was badly frightened. Her mind is unsettled. She needs quiet rest.
03:21Prepare the largest room in the East Tower for her, and use the newly delivered goose-down bedding.
03:24Also, send one to town to fetch Physician Angus. Make sure he arrives tonight.
03:27I was almost laughed into fury. He suddenly turned back, a fleeting trace of embarrassment in his eyes before it
03:33turned into even deeper coldness.
03:35You want me to prepare a room and summon a physician for another? William, do you even have a heart?
03:39You are the Lord's wife. The affairs of the castle should be handled by you. Don't wear your jealous on
03:43your face and disgrace your status.
03:45Before nightfall, I want the room ready and the physician present.
03:47He turned to leave.
03:48If Bianca suffers any lasting illness, you will be held responsible.
03:51When he reached door, he paused, but did not look back.
03:53The sound of the door closing made the candle flame tremble.
03:56I stared at that door, and my tears suddenly fell.
04:00I held my belly and hurried my face in my knees.
04:03Three years.
04:05Since the year I married him, I had managed his territory, soothed his people, and uphold the entire castle while
04:11he was away at war.
04:12In return, I received the words, Disgrace your status, and that child had never even had the chance to see
04:18this world.
04:18I wiped away my tears and called Eileen,
04:21Go tell the steward to prepare the room in the East Tower, as the Lord ordered, and send a fast
04:25horse to fetch the physician.
04:27My lady, you're really going to do it?
04:28Yes.
04:29Whatever he asks me to do, I will do.
04:31Eileen looked at me, then finally withdraw.
04:33The room fell quiet.
04:34I stared at the canopy above and carved the name William out of my heart, bit by bit.
04:39Eileen returned in less than half an hour.
04:41Her expression was terrible.
04:42My lady, Miss Bianca said the room in the East Tower is too far from the Lord's main bedroom.
04:46She is afraid at night and wants to stay in the room on the South Side.
04:49Right next to the Lord's study, it was William's wedding gift to me.
04:52I had arranged it with my own hands, and inside were the books and family manuscripts I had brought as
04:56part of my dowry.
04:57I slowly sat up.
04:58My lower abdomen throbbed, but it could not compare to the fire burning in my chest.
05:02She said that herself?
05:03Yes.
05:04The Lord was there too.
05:05He said that since my lady needs to rest quietly, you have no use for that study, and you should
05:10move out of it.
05:11I laughed.
05:12In the end, I forced myself out of bed.
05:14When the steward brought the key, Eileen was supporting me as I moved step by step towards the study.
05:19With every step, a dragging pain pulled at my lower abdomen, but I could not lie down.
05:24William had said the room had to be ready before nightfall.
05:27I did not want to hear another word of blame from him.
05:29I directed the servants to sweep the dust, make the bed, and move the furniture.
05:32Vianna was afraid of the dark, so I added several more candlesticks.
05:35She was sensitive to the cold, so I had the fire to place stoked high.
05:38I pushed her handle.
05:39William stepped in.
05:40I was bending over to put freshly picked flowers into a vase.
05:43Well done.
05:44Only those three words.
05:46After that, he turned and went out to speak to the servants out.
05:49Invite Miss Bianca in.
05:51The room is ready.
05:52Bianca was soon helped in, still wearing William's cloak over her shoulders.
05:57Isabella, thank you for your trouble.
06:00William helped her sit in the soft chair, personally poured hot water, and handed it to her.
06:07Are you still cold?
06:09I'll have them add more charcoal.
06:11Bianca shook her head and leaned against his arm naturally.
06:14William, will you stay here with me?
06:15I'm still a little scared.
06:17He nodded.
06:18From beginning to end, there was no place for me in their world.
06:22I left the room and stood in the corridor for a while.
06:25A sharp cramp struck, and I bent over, supporting myself against the wall.
06:28My lady, you're bleeding again!
06:30I looked down and saw blood already running down my leg, staining the hem of my skirt red.
06:34Physician Angus happened to be led up the stairs by the steward.
06:37Physician, please examine our lady first.
06:39She has been bleeding non-
06:40Angus, come examine Miss Bianca first.
06:43The physician immediately bowed slightly to me, walked around me, and entered the room.
06:47The door closed before my eyes.
06:49How can they do this?
06:53I pressed her hand and shook my head.
06:55Back in my own bedroom, Eileen brought hot water and helped me clean myself.
06:58Looking at the water in the pad turning red, I suddenly remember what day it was.
07:01Three years ago today, William had placed a ring on my neck in the chapel, and swore to protect me
07:05for a lifetime.
07:06The vow still echoed in my ears, but the man was no longer the one he had been.
07:10I looked toward the dressing table.
07:11Our wedding ring had always remained on my hand.
07:13I slowly slipped it off.
07:14A pale mark was left around my finger.
07:16Placed the ring in a box and locked it.
07:17Eileen looked at me, not daring to speak.
07:19From now on, I was only Isabella Lancaster.
07:20I put it away.
07:21That night, I could not sleep.
07:23Pain pulsed through my lower abdomen in waves.
07:26In the room next door on the south side, servants went in and out delivering soup and medicine.
07:31William's loads of comfort came faintly through the water.
07:33Wait, tomorrow.
07:33Don't be afraid.
07:34Once, shrink the medicine.
07:36You wouldn't feel so bad.
07:38Tomorrow, I'll have someone go to town to buy you candy fruit, the kind you like faced.
07:42My room was as cold as an ice cellar.
07:45From beginning to end, he never came to see me once.
07:48He never asked, are you still in pain?
07:52My child was gone.
07:53My husband was gone too.
07:55I did not know when I finally fell asleep.
07:58When I woke again, the sky was already faintly bright.
08:00Eileen had fallen asleep beside the bed.
08:02I gently sat up, walked to the window and pushed it open.
08:06The morning breeze blew in.
08:08Outside the castle, the people had begun the labour of a new day.
08:11When they saw me, they would bow and call me my lady.
08:15I touched my lower abdomen and stood there, alone.
08:19Since I had lost everything, there was nothing left to fear.
08:23My lady!
08:24Miss Bianca is ill!
08:27At daybreak, the steward urgently knocked on the door.
08:30I opened the door.
08:32The Lord asks you to go over immediately.
08:34I held the doorframe, my nails digging into the wood.
08:37What illness!
08:38They say she is homesick and having palpitations.
08:41She cried all night and cannot even drink water this morning.
08:44The Lord said Miss Bianca misses the sweet soup from her hometown and specifically asked that you cook it yourself.
08:49I laughed.
08:51Homesick, I dragged my body towards the kitchen.
08:54With every step down the stairs, pain tugged at my lower abdomen.
08:59The kitchen was suffocating with heat.
09:01I stood before the stove.
09:03Eileen tried to come help, but the guard at the door stopped her.
09:07The Lord has ordered that only the ladymen handle it.
09:11Sweat slid down my face, stinging my eyes.
09:14The soup was ready.
09:16I carried the tray toward the room on the south side.
09:20My arms were trembling.
09:21The rim of the bowl knocked against the tray, making small clinking sounds.
09:28I pushed open the door.
09:29Bianca was half reclining on the bed while William sat beside her, holding her hand.
09:34When he saw me, his brows frondered.
09:37What took you so long?
09:38Bianca has been waiting all morning.
09:40I did not answer.
09:42I placed the tray on the bedside table.
09:44Isabella, thank you for the trouble.
09:46I truly miss home so badly.
09:48Only drinking this will make me feel better.
09:50She reached out to take the bowl.
09:52Her hand trembled, and the entire bowl of scalding sweeps spilled onto the back of my
09:56hand.
09:56I jerked my hand back, but the back of it had already turned red.
09:59Bianca cried out in shock, tears immediately rolling down.
10:03William, I really didn't mean to.
10:04You frightened her.
10:05She cried until her whole body trembled.
10:07William shoved me away.
10:08I crashed into the bedpole, a dull pain striking my back.
10:11Don't cry.
10:12It's not your fault.
10:13She didn't hold it stately.
10:17Aline finally rushed in.
10:19My lady!
10:20And when she saw my hand, her eyes immediately reddened.
10:23William did not even turn his head.
10:25Cook another bowl.
10:26That evening, Bianca said her chest felt tight and asked someone to go to town to buy fresh
10:31calming herbs.
10:32Send the shoewood immediately.
10:34William sent the shoewood.
10:36At midnight, she said she was cold again and that the fireplace was not burning hot enough.
10:40I dragged my body along, carrying baskets of chole to her room one after another.
10:44On the third trip, I had just entered the room when my vision went black.
10:49When I opened my eyes again, Eileen was pressing a cold cloth to my forehead.
10:53My lady, your wound has opened again.
10:54I looked down.
10:55A small patch of dark red had seeped into my skirt.
10:58She isn't homestick at all.
10:59She's liberate only a few days ago.
11:00Yet she makes you kneel to wipe the floor, comb her hair, and cook soup for her.
11:05I held her hand down.
11:07Don't cry.
11:08Let her keep making trouble.
11:10I took a short charcoal pencil and a piece of parchment from beneath my pillow.
11:14The paper was only the size of a palm.
11:16I wrote four words.
11:17Father, come swiftly to judge.
11:19The handwriting was messy.
11:20I rolled the note tightly and placed it in Eileen's hand.
11:23And the doved hose.
11:25She froze for an instant, then knotted firmly.
11:28After Eileen left, I turned over and lay on my side.
11:32My hand pressed against my lower aftment, feeling the persistent dull ache.
11:35Father once said that if anyone dared bully a daughter of the Lancaster lamb,
11:38he would make that person understand the meaning of regret.
11:41The sound of wings flooding came from outside the window.
11:44A grey pigeon flew into the night.
11:47I closed my eyes and waited.
11:50Three days later, the hoofbeats of envoys from the royal capital shattered the silence of the castle.
11:55They rode in neat formation, carrying the royal banner.
11:58The leading knight dismounted, his voice loud and clear.
12:01By order of the king, we have come to commend the achievements in the border war.
12:04Where is Lord William Ashfield?
12:05William personally came out of the castle to welcome them.
12:08A rare smile appeared on his face.
12:10A banquet was arranged in the hall.
12:12Bianca sat beside William, wearing a newly made satin gown, her smile gentle and lovely.
12:17I sat at the far end of the long table.
12:19No one looked at me.
12:20Halfway through the banquet, Bianca suddenly clutched her chest and swayed.
12:24William, I feel a little dizzy.
12:26Why are you feeling unwell again? Do you want to return to your room and rest?
12:28William immediately supported her.
12:30Bianca shaked her head, her voice delicate.
12:32No, the envoys are still here. I cannot be rude.
12:35As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward me.
12:38The corner of her mouth curved slightly.
12:41Her maid supported her and said she was going out for some air.
12:44Less than 15 minutes later, that maid hurried back, her face deathly pale.
12:48My lord! This was found under Miss Bianca's pillow!
12:50She held up a letter in her hand.
12:52Everyone fell silent.
12:53William took the letter and unfolded it.
12:55His face turned livid bit by bit.
12:57His fingers clenched the letter, his knuckles turning white.
13:00He suddenly turned to look at me, the fury in his eyes almost burning through me.
13:06Isabella, explain this to me!
13:08The letter drifted down to my feet.
13:10I bent down and picked it up.
13:11Unfamiliar handwriting, unfamiliar contents.
13:14The general meaning was that I had secretly corresponded with the enemy commander,
13:17leaked the border defences, and intended to collude from within during the next attack.
13:21At the end of the letter was a blurred seal that bore a slight resemblance to my family press.
13:25I raised my head.
13:26Vianna had already staggered out, her eyes red from crying.
13:29Isabella, how could you, how could you betray the kingdom?
13:31William has treated you so well!
13:33I did not write this.
13:34As she spoke, she fainted again.
13:36Lock the lady in the dungeon, immediately!
13:38William caught her at once and roared at the guards.
13:41I said I did not write this!
13:42The handwriting is wrong, the seal is wrong, are you blind?
13:45You still dare quibble?
13:47This seal is clearly the crest of your Lancaster family.
13:49Bianca merely discovered it by accident and now you want to deny it?
13:52Isabella, I never thought you could be so vicious.
13:54Not me!
13:55She is the younger sister I watched grow up.
13:57You are nothing but a jealous madwoman.
13:59He raised his hand and gave an order.
14:01The hall fell into dead silence.
14:03The envoys exchanged glances, Lort lowered his head.
14:05The servients were silent with fear.
14:07From today onward, Isabella is no longer the lord's wife.
14:09All her authority and all her honours are to be revoked and transferred to Miss Bianca.
14:13Only Bianca, leaning in William's arms with her eyes closed,
14:17had the corners of her mouth slightly lifted.
14:19The guards dragged me by the arms and pulled me out of the hall.
14:21Step by step, I descended the stone stairs into the dungeon.
14:25Behind me came the music from the castle.
14:27The banquet continued.
14:28The dungeon was damp and freezing.
14:30I sat in the corner, leaning against the cold stone wall.
14:33I was thinking about one thing,
14:35something I had once come across by chance long ago in my father's study.
14:39At that time, I was still an unmarried girl flipping through the royal code to pass the time.
14:44There was an ancient law, almost forgotten by everyone.
14:46If a husband dismisses his wife without cause, or strips her of her title and honour on false charges,
14:51the wife may appeal to the king.
14:53If the matter is verified, the marriage shall be dissolved immediately.
14:56The wife shall regain her pre-married identity
14:58and inherit half of her husband's furred and property as compensation for damage to her honour.
15:02After the territory, this law had been issued by the first monarch and had stood for 300 years.
15:07I laughed in the darkness.
15:08Isabella, I will protect you for the rest of your life.
15:10Then Bianca came.
15:11She was the orphan daughter of William's former subordinate.
15:14She is like a younger sister to me.
15:16You must treat her kindly.
15:17I did treat her kindly.
15:18I gave her the best room and had the most expensive clothes made for her.
15:21I taught her to read and shielded her from gossip.
15:24But the time she knelt before me crying,
15:25William rushed in and thought I had bullied her.
15:27That was the first time he shouted at me.
15:29Later, it happened so many times that I lost count.
15:32I will remember that every time he protected her and questioned me.
15:35You are her elder's knee.
15:37How can you not tolerate and were a girl?
15:39How can your heart be so narrow?
15:42You disappoint me too much.
15:44Disappoint?
15:44Who in the end had disappointed whom?
15:46My child was gone and he was keeping her company.
15:49My study was taken and he was coaxing her.
15:51I was falsely accused of treason and he believed her.
15:53I opened my eyes in the dungeon and looked at the pitch black ceiling.
15:56I fumbled and tore off a piece of my skirt.
15:58I used my nails to break the skin of my finger and wrote on the cloth.
16:01The handwriting was crooked and barely legible.
16:04After writing, I folded it carefully and stuffed it through the gap at the bottom of the dungeon's iron door.
16:08Outside came three short bird calls.
16:10Aileen's voice was lowered to a whisper.
16:13My lady, this is...
16:14Go to the Dovenpup and tie it to the Grey Pigeon's leg.
16:17She did not hesitate and quickly walked away.
16:20I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.
16:23At noon on the second day after the Grey Pigeon flew away, the orderly sound of hooves came from outside
16:28the castle.
16:28It was not the light cavalry from when the Royal Capital's envoy had come.
16:32This time it was heavy cavalry.
16:34Their iron-shod hooves made the ground tremble.
16:36From the dungeon I heard the sound of a horn.
16:39Three long blasts, two short ones.
16:41It was the horn of House Lancaster.
16:42Father had come.
16:43I braced myself against the wall and stood up, my legs a little weak.
16:46A commotion came from outside.
16:48People were shouting.
16:49People were running.
16:49The clatter of armor came from the dungeon entrance.
16:51The iron door was pushed open.
16:53Eileen rushed in, clutching the key in her hand, her hands trembling.
16:58My lady!
16:59Duke Lancaster is here!
17:00He brought the Order of Knights!
17:02She opened the cell door.
17:03I leaned on her as we walked out.
17:05When we reached the dungeon exit, the sunlight stung my eyes and made me squint.
17:10In the square before the castle, two forces stood facing each other.
17:13On one side were William's garrison, fewer than fifty men.
17:17On the other side were House Lancaster's black-armored knights.
17:19At least two hundred of them, standing in neat formation, their armor gleaming coldly under the sun.
17:25Father sat on horseback, with two banners behind him, the eagle banner of House Lancaster and the royal family's golden
17:30lion banner.
17:31In his hand, he held a roll of pagement bearing the king's royal seal.
17:34William stood at the castle entrance, his face ashen.
17:37Bianca hid behind him, gripping his cloak tightly.
17:40Duke Lancaster Investigator, what are you doing?
17:42Father did not look at him.
17:44He looked at me.
17:46Isabella.
17:46I took one step forward.
17:49He saw my face, and he saw the dried bloodstains on the hem of my dress.
17:53You've grown thin.
17:55Just those two words.
17:57My eyes instantly burned.
17:59William gritted his teeth.
18:01Isabella committed treason and has already been imprisoned by me.
18:03Your Lancaster family?
18:04Father raised his hand, and the parchment unfolded beneath the sunlight.
18:08The king's royal decree.
18:10Lord William, someone has submitted a petition to the royal capital, accusing you of divorcing your wife on false charges.
18:19William's expression changed sharply.
18:21He suddenly turned his head and looked at me.
18:23You submitted it.
18:24There was shock in his eyes, but even more guilt.
18:26The investigator did not answer.
18:28An attendant dug a wooden box out of the earth.
18:31The box was opened.
18:32Inside was a neatly stacked pile of letters.
18:34The handwriting was exactly the same as a letter previously found at the banquet.
18:38There was also a small bottle of dried ink, and half of an unfinished forged seal bearing the Lancaster creams.
18:44The investigator picked up the forged seal and examined it against the torchlight.
18:48This sealing clay is red earth from the mill outside the city.
18:51The castle's account books happened to contain a record of Miss Bianca's maid purchasing it.
18:55This letter paper came from the eastern trade route, and is commonly used only in Miss Bianca's hometown.
18:59The square fell deathly silent.
19:02All colour drained of William's face.
19:04Impossible!
19:05That letter was clearly found in her room!
19:07She was the one who committed treason!
19:09It was her!
19:10A black-armoured knight swung down from his horse.
19:13He walked up to Bianca and threw the letters in her face.
19:16You bribed a servant to steal blank letter paper from my lady's study and imitated her handwriting.
19:20You had someone go to town to find a down-and-out scholar to forge the letters, paying him three
19:23silver coins.
19:24Who wrote the letters as already confessed?
19:25Bianca's face turned deathly pale.
19:27She grabbed William's arm.
19:28I didn't!
19:29William, believe me!
19:30I really didn't!
19:31The investigator picked up the oldest letter among them.
19:33The corner of the letter had been blurred by water stains.
19:36When Bianca saw the letter in the investigator's hand, her face instantly turned white.
19:40Then she threw herself at William and glung tightly to his leg.
19:42William, it wasn't me!
19:44Isabella framed me!
19:45Believe me!
19:46William lowered his head and looked at her.
19:48Those tearful eyes hers were exactly the same as every time she had pretended to be wronged before.
19:54But this time, for William did not reach out to help her up, he raised his head and looked at
19:58the investigator, his voice hoarse.
20:00Is the evidence conclusive?
20:01The investigator's voice was calm, as if he were reading a report.
20:05The evidence is conclusive.
20:06He unfolded the oldest letter and read it aloud.
20:08During tomorrow's battle, find an opportunity to start an Isabella's horse.
20:12As long as she is separated from the others, I have a way to make William save only me.
20:16The child in her wuth cannot be allowed to remain.
20:18He raised his head and looked at Bianca.
20:20Your maid, the person you found to write the letters and the servant you bribed, the three were interrogated separately
20:25and their testimonies matched.
20:26Lord William, this evidence is sufficient to prove that Bianca forged treasonous letters to frame the Lord's wife and deliberately
20:31plotted to murder the child in her womb.
20:33Do you have anything else to say?
20:36Bianca's lips trembled, but she could not single word.
20:40William's expression completely changed.
20:44This is impossible.
20:46He stepped back as if struck hard by something.
20:48The child!
20:49He repeated those two words.
20:50I felt tired.
20:52My body was tired, and so was my heart.
20:54My lady was already two months pregnant at the time.
20:56That day, when she fell from the horse, the child was lost.
20:59After the miscarriage, my lady bled without stopping.
21:01Physician Angus' records are here.
21:03My lord, when you summoned the physician, why did you make my lady wait?
21:06William's body swayed.
21:07William's hands were trembling.
21:08I didn't know.
21:09I thought she was only lightly injured.
21:10Bianca deliberately delayed the physician, causing my lady's bleeding to Wherton.
21:13When the physician who took us holding us up against the wall and blood had already soaked through the hem
21:16of her dress,
21:17you told the physician to go into Bianca's room first while my lady stood in the corridor waiting.
21:21His voice was very soft.
21:22It sounded like he was talking to himself.
21:24I looked at him.
21:25Did you ever ask me?
21:26He froze.
21:27You worried that Bianca was cold, that Bianca was afraid, that Bianca missed home,
21:31that Bianca had been frightened you asked me once, whether I was in pain.
21:34I spoke very calmly.
21:36William, how many times did you ask me?
21:38His lips moved.
21:39No sound came out.
21:41Not once.
21:42When the child was gone, you were eating with her.
21:45When I was bleeding without stopping, you were covering her with a blanket.
21:48When my fever would not break, you were peeling fruit for her.
21:51I never received a single question from you.
21:53I told him, sentence by sentence, everything he had done over the past few days.
21:57With every sentence I spoke, his face grew a shade paler.
22:00Stop talking!
22:01Why are you acting pitiful?
22:02She slapped toward my face.
22:04I did not dog, because father moved.
22:06He abruptly dismounted, strode over, seized Bianca's wrist, and yanked her away.
22:10Bianca stumbled and fell to the ground.
22:12The person you almost struck just now was the daughter of House Lancaster.
22:16Father looked down at her from above, his voice deep like muffled thunder underground.
22:21William!
22:22William!
22:23She had father is going to hit me!
22:24Why?
22:25Only, I only wanted you to be good to me alone.
22:28How is Isabella worthy of you?
22:30She only relies on her noble family background.
22:32I've liked you since we were children.
22:33I knew you earlier than she did.
22:34Why does she get to be your one?
22:35I can only be your sister!
22:36William's pupils trembled.
22:37Suddenly he laughed.
22:39Sister.
22:39His laugh sounded like crying.
22:41He repeated those two words.
22:43Then he suddenly his head and looked into my eyes, as if he wanted to search for something.
22:46But I gave him nothing.
22:48I moved my gaze away and looked at father.
22:50Father, I want to go home.
22:51William, save me!
22:53They're trying to hurt me!
22:55William, you can't let them take me away!
22:56Bianca screamed and lunged over, clutching Williams' head and looked at her.
23:00Then he slowly crouched down and plied her hands off his leg.
23:03You killed my child.
23:05His voice was trembling.
23:07Bianca, you killed my child.
23:09Bianca froze.
23:10She looked into Williams' eyes as if she suddenly no longer recognized him.
23:13Williams stood up and stepped back.
23:15Take her away.
23:16With a wave of the investigator's hand, two black-armored knights stepped forward and hand-hauled Bianca up.
23:20Bianca finally broke.
23:21She cursed me with the most vicious words she could think of.
23:23Her voice gradually faded as she was dragged away, disappearing toward the city gate.
23:26The carriage father had ordered prepared was parked in the center of the square.
23:30I walked toward the carriage.
23:32Isabella.
23:33I did not stop.
23:35Wait.
23:35I kept walking.
23:36He suddenly grabbed my wrist.
23:38Father stepped forward.
23:40William ignored father's anger.
23:41Isabella.
23:42He knelt straight down before me.
23:44He raised his head, his eyes red-ridden.
23:47I didn't know.
23:48I really didn't know you were carrying a child.
23:50What did you know?
23:51I leaned against the wall and looked down at him from above.
23:54My question choked him into silence.
23:56You only knew that Bianca was afraid of the dark, afraid of the cold, and missed home.
24:00You only knew that when she was frightened, she needed sweet soup, and when she couldn't sleep, she needed the
24:04fireplace lit.
24:04William, you knew everything.
24:06The only thing you didn't know was whether I was alive or dead.
24:08Every word was like a knife.
24:09His shoulders collapsed and his whole body hunched over.
24:11I... I was deceived.
24:13I thought you were jealous.
24:14I thought you couldn't tolerate her.
24:16I didn't mean to.
24:17I suddenly crouched down and looked him in the eye.
24:19Whether you meant no-eyed or not, no longer matters to me.
24:22You only had a pair of ears meant to listen to her.
24:24I pulled my wrist out of his hand.
24:26I got into the carriage and lowered the curtain.
24:30The carriage drove out through the castle gates.
24:34Three days later, the royal capital issued the official ruling.
24:37My marriage to William was legally abhorred.
24:39Half of the territory under William's name, along with its attached properties and produce, was transferred entirely to my name.
24:46This included three manors, two mills, and the mining rights to a copper mine on the border.
24:50At the same time, a royal notice was also issued.
24:53The notice was sternly worded, William, as a border lord, had listened to one side and believed, blindly, falsely accused
24:59his lawful wife, causing her reputation to be humiliated, and the child in her womb to die, affected immediately.
25:06He was stripped of his post as commander of border defense and barred from receiving any royal appointment for ten
25:11years.
25:12When the news reached the castle, according to the messenger who delivered it, William crushed the wine cup in his
25:17hand on the stite.
25:18He stared at the ruling for an entire night.
25:22Later, Brian sent someone to pass on a message to me, saying that the lord wished to invite me back
25:27for a talk.
25:27I replied with three words, no need to talk.
25:30On the fourth day, I personally brought the people responsible for taking over the territory to the castle gate.
25:35William had lost a great deal of weight.
25:37Dark stubble had grown on his chin and his eyes were bloodshot veins.
25:40Isabella, can you truly not forgive me just once?
25:43I walked past him and entered the castle hall.
25:46My people began counting the property and checking the land deeds.
25:50I stood in the center of the hall and looked around.
25:53I recognized every stone tile in this hall.
25:56Three years ago, I had settled disputes among the subjects here for him.
25:59Two years ago, I had received a commendation delegation from the royal county here on his behalf.
26:05One year ago, I had blocked a drunker's knife for him here.
26:08Now it was mine.
26:09I turned my head and looked at William.
26:12I will take back everything that belongs to me.
26:15Move out completely within three days.
26:17William's loprins trembled.
26:19I walked to his desk and picked up the border aplis he had treasure.
26:23On the title page of the book was still written the vow he had made to me back then.
26:27I placed the book over the candle flame.
26:28Tongues of flame licked upward.
26:30The paper curled, blackened, turned to ash, and the ashes drifted down.
26:34Keep those words for yourself and burn them as an offering to the child who was never born.
26:38I turned and walked out.
26:40Just as I reached the entrance, he suddenly rushed forward and blocked my way.
26:43I know I deserve to die, but can you listen to me finish speaking?
26:45Just one latest, all right?
26:46I stopped.
26:47He stared into my eyes, speaking word by word.
26:50The thing I regret most in this life is that on that battlefield I did not pull your reins.
26:53I looked at him.
26:54At last, there was no longer any coldness or candidency in his eyes.
26:58There was only regret, wretchedness, and complete loss of control.
27:01I nodded.
27:02I understand.
27:03Then I walked around him and left the castle.
27:06My lady, do you feel a little better?
27:08I raised my head and glanced at the sky.
27:12His affairs have nothing to do with me anymore.
27:16When the ruling was delivered to Lancaster Territory, I was standing before the window in Father's
27:21study.
27:21Eilin handed me the parchment.
27:23I unfolded it and read it word by word, sentence by sentence.
27:26Then I placed it on the desk.
27:27Father sat in his chair, looking at me.
27:29Are you satisfied?
27:30Not enough took a life.
27:31William ruined three years of mine.
27:33Half is too lenient for them.
27:34You've grown up.
27:36There is a second ruling from the royal capital.
27:39I held it back and did not let them issue it.
27:41I took the letter.
27:42Two thirds of the territory under William's name and its attached tax revenues were transferred
27:47entirely to Isabella.
27:48This included the main castle, all the manors, three copper mines on the border, and the contracts
27:53of the subjects.
27:54This is enough.
27:55I put down the letter.
27:56On the first day of taking over the territory, I rode back to that castle.
28:00The city gates were wide opened.
28:01The steward had led all the servants to kneel in the square.
28:04I dismantled.
28:04Where is he?
28:05I swept my gaze around.
28:06There was no sign of William.
28:07The former lord.
28:08I lowered his head.
28:09I said nothing and walked straight into one sword.
28:11I pushed it open, was empty inside.
28:13Bianca's belongings had been cleared away.
28:15In the fireplace were coals that had not fully burned out.
28:18I walked to the desk by the window.
28:20There was a fresh carving on the surface of the desk.
28:22It had been carved with a knife, crooked and uneven.
28:25Isabella, I was wrong.
28:27I reached out and touched it.
28:29Have the desk in this study removed and replaced with a new one.
28:32Give me the key to the study.
28:33Then I called the steward over, landed in my palm.
28:36Has everything here been confirmed?
28:37Let's go.
28:37There are still three mansions to take over.
28:40In the first month after William moved to the hunting lodge, he sent letters three times.
28:43The first letter, I want to see you once for did you note.
28:46Aline thought I would soften.
28:47But I picked up the pen and wrote one final line in reply.
28:50You will never have the chance to...
28:51After that, no more letters came.
28:53Bianca's sentence was made public one month later.
28:56For deliberately plotting to murder the lord's wife and forging evidence of treason,
29:00multiple crimes were punished together.
29:02She was exiled to the border wastelands, never to return.
29:04On the day the sentence was passed by the square, she was locked in chains, wearing a coarse prison garment.
29:10I lifted the carriage curtain and looked at her close my dyes.
29:13The carriage continued forward.
29:15My hand rested on flat as before.
29:17But that child would live forever in my heart.
29:19I spent half a year reorganizing the territory.
29:21I dismissed William's old cellars and replaced them with trusted people from House Lancaster tripled.
29:26The copper mines resumed operation, and when the first patch of orm was transported to the royal capital,
29:31the king personally wrote a letter of commondation.
29:34In the letter he called me thee.
29:35The subject's bow respected and feared me.
29:38William died that winter.
29:39When the steward of the hunting to report his death, I was calculating year end as such.
29:43My lady lord, the former lord passed away three days ago.
29:46He was very peaceful when he died, and he was clutching this in his hand.
29:49There were only two words on it, is the Bellagio small-piece parchment.
29:52I stared at that piece of paper for a long time.
29:55Finally, I placed it into the fireplace.
29:57The flames rose and burned it completely clean.
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