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00:06Leon finally noticed that I had gone three days without asking Lydia for a single key.
00:11He thought I had finally learned to be an obedient queen.
00:15So he sent a servant with a message that sounded more like a royal favor than an apology.
00:21His Majesty says, tonight he will have someone bring you the key to the royal apothetory.
00:26He will also send the royal physician to check on your father again.
00:30But I didn't react at all.
00:32Listening to the royal servant's announcement, I just sat quietly at the table, without the joy he had expected.
00:39His Majesty reminds you to abide by this rule.
00:42Never again employ crude theatrical ploys to threaten the crown.
00:48The gold the late king awarded your father will remain under the royal household's care.
00:54People of your black race should not hold that much gold all at once.
00:58It only invites trouble.
01:00I stood in the grandest chamber of Whitestone Palace and listened quietly.
01:04What Leon did not know was that by the time I received that message.
01:08I had already filed a petition to dissolve our marriage in the Archbishop's court.
01:12My father had died three days ago in his blacksmith shop.
01:16After three years in the palace, the only things I could take with me were the old dress I had
01:20worn when I first entered the palace.
01:23And the little iron hammer my father had forged for me with his own hands.
01:27The servant waited for me to cry, shout, or beg for the king's mercy.
01:31I did none of those things.
01:32I only folded the message once, placed it on the table, and looked toward the locked wardrobe across the room.
01:39No one would believe that Aaliyah, the queen everyone envied, lived in the grandest chamber of Whitestone Palace yet could
01:46not even open her own wardrobe.
01:50My gowns were locked in the West Wing wardrobe.
01:52My jewelry was locked in the queen's jewel room.
01:56My carriage sat in the Eastgate carriage house.
01:58My father's reward money was sealed inside an iron coffer at the bottom of the royal treasury.
02:03Even when I wanted to call a royal physician for my father, I had to ask Lydia for the apothecary
02:09key and permission to leave the palace.
02:11And every one of those keys was in Lydia's hands.
02:14She was the king's chief court lady, and she had grown up with Leon.
02:18Before I appeared, everyone believed she would become the woman who ruled this palace.
02:23Later, on his deathbed, the old king insisted that Leon marry me, because my father, Thomas, had saved the old
02:31king during a winter hunt.
02:33But Leon looked down on my low birth.
02:35He always believed that if a poor family suddenly received wealth, we would waste it the moment it reached our
02:41hands.
02:41The gold will stay in the royal treasury.
02:45It will be released whenever your father truly needs it.
02:50I believed him then.
02:52I thought being queen meant I had finally earned a place where my father would be safe.
02:57Instead, I found myself standing before locked doors, waiting for another woman to decide whether my needs were proper enough.
03:05Three days ago, my father was dying.
03:08I begged Leon to give me the key to my father's gold coffer.
03:11I also begged him to let me take medicine from the royal apothecary.
03:16Lydia kept holding back the treasury key and the apothecary key, again and again, until my father died in his
03:22bed.
03:23All these years, I endured everything so my father could keep receiving treatment from the royal.
03:29Physicians and medicine from the palace apothecary.
03:32Now my father was gone.
03:33There was no reason for me to stay.
03:37When I asked Leon to end our marriage, he refused.
03:40He was in his study, reading the border tax ledgers.
03:44His eyes never left the parchment.
03:46His voice was as cold as if he were scolding a maid who had broken a cup.
03:53Stop making trouble.
03:54He treated it like nothing more than a childish error, not realizing for a moment that I meant every word.
04:00I'm not making trouble.
04:02I've already submitted the petition to the archbishop's court.
04:05I stood before his desk and said calmly.
04:08Only then did Leon look up at me.
04:10His eyes were cold, as though my words were a waste of his time.
04:15About your father.
04:17I was the one who told Lydia not to give you the apothecary key.
04:21It had nothing to do with her.
04:23She was only following my orders.
04:27My fingers twitched at my sides.
04:29In the past, the moment he mentioned my father, I would lower my head.
04:35My father's old wounds flared up every winter.
04:39Village healers could not help him.
04:41He had to rely on the royal physicians and medicine from the palace apothecary to stay.
04:46Alive, that was the reward the late king had promised him.
04:51But after the old king died, Leon said my father did not know how to manage money.
04:55He said a blacksmith who suddenly possessed that much gold would only be cheated, robbed, and perhaps killed for it.
05:02So he locked my father's gold coffer inside the royal treasury.
05:06He said he would release it whenever my father truly needed it.
05:11But every need had to go through Lydia.
05:13His majesty's commands are absolute.
05:15I have no special privileges even when my own father's life was hanging in the balance.
05:22My father was burning with fever.
05:24His old wound rotting open.
05:26I knelt outside the apothecary door and begged Lydia to give me the key.
05:30She wore a pale blue court gown and held a ring of keys in her hand.
05:34Her smile was gentle.
05:36Almost regretful.
05:38Your majesty.
05:39The apothecary key cannot be handed over carrily.
05:44Visa they Thomas, the group and trace police.
05:47Master Thomas is only a commoner.
05:50He does not fall under royal emergency care.
05:54That treatment was promised to him by the late king.
05:57I'm not denying the late king's generosity.
06:00But rules are rules.
06:03Have the village healer write a note describing his condition first.
06:09Then have it sealed by a church physician.
06:12Only then can I open the apothecary.
06:17I brought back the note.
06:19She glanced at it and frowned lightly.
06:21I brought back the note.
06:22She glanced at it and frowned lightly.
06:26The date isn't clear enough.
06:28It only says fever.
06:30It doesn't specify whether his life is in danger.
06:32Your majesty.
06:34I'm not trying to make this hard for you.
06:36Every bottle in the royal apothecary must be recorded.
06:39You are queen now.
06:42You cannot act like you are still in a blacksmith shop, taking whatever you want whenever you want it.
06:47After that, she made me bring a travel permit, a physician's certificate, a written reason for withdrawing from the gold
06:54car.
06:55A statement explaining why my father could not be treated by a village healer.
07:00I ran back and forth again and again.
07:02My father's breathing grew weaker each time.
07:05I returned.
07:06The village healer pressed the last certificate into my hand and whispered that there might still be time if I
07:12hurried.
07:15By the time I returned with the paper, my shoes were soaked through with mud, and Lydia only asked whether
07:21the church seal was placed in the correct corner.
07:29By the time the key finally arrived in the blacksmith shop, my father never opened his eyes again.
07:41So now, when Leon said he would have someone bring me the apothecary key tonight, I found it absurd.
07:47The apothecary no longer mattered.
07:49My father had no use for it anymore.
07:51Leon watched my silence and thought I had finally learned to be afraid.
07:55He closed the parchment in his hand.
07:57Impatient.
07:58Alia.
07:59If you hadn't stormed into the household office a few days ago and shouted at Lydia,
08:03I would never have let her hold back the keys to teach you a lesson.
08:07You are queen, not some little girl throwing a fit in a blacksmith shop.
08:14Last night, I already told her to give you the apothecary key.
08:17My time is precious.
08:19I don't have the patience to watch you lose your temper.
08:22With that, he stood and turned to leave.
08:24He was certain I would lower my head soon enough, just like I had for the past three years,
08:29even when he said in front of the nobles, that I looked desperate to please.
08:33I only smiled and said nothing.
08:36Even when Lydia smiled and took one key after another away from me, I endured it.
08:41I once thought that as long as my father was alive, I could endure anything.
08:46Now my father was gone, and I did not need to stay anymore.
08:49But Leon did not know that he had never been willing to let me finish a sentence.
08:53Later, a maid brought me the celebration ledger Lydia had sent.
08:58His majesty asks your majesty to write a line of praise, so no one Mr. Stans, Lady Lydia.
09:05I sound that joke and laughed.
09:08The maid lowered her eyes, afraid I would tear the ledger apart.
09:12Instead, I took the quill with steady fingers.
09:17I picked up the quill and wrote carefully.
09:20Lady Lydia is diligent indeed.
09:24With one ring of keys, she rules over both the queen and the servants.
09:35Aladia.
09:38May she keep guarding every door, and may she keep guarding the place she hopes to move into one day.
09:45Your majesty, should I really deliver this?
09:49The maid's face went pale.
09:53Deliver it exactly as written.
09:56His majesty wanted praise.
09:58I gave him praise.
10:00After writing it, I closed the ledger.
10:02Then I returned to my chamber and began to pack.
10:05There was not much to pack.
10:06Everything that seemed to belong to me in the palace was locked in someone else's hands.
10:12The only things I could take were the old dress I wore when I entered the palace.
10:15A few faded shirts, and the little hammer my father had given me.
10:20For all these years, I had lived in the palace like a temporary guest.
10:24Only now did I understand.
10:26Even a guest could at least open a door for herself.
10:30I folded the old dress carefully and placed my father's hammer on top of it.
10:34The iron handle was cold, but the weight of it steadied me more than any crown ever had.
10:40Outside.
10:41The bells of White Stone Palace rang for Lydia's private dinner.
10:45Inside.
10:45I closed my trunk and finally felt something like peace.
10:49No longer a queen, no longer in need of anyone's keys.
10:53I am just me the me who can make any decision.
10:57Leon came back very quickly.
10:59Whenever it involved Lydia.
11:01He was always prompt.
11:03He strode into my chamber and did not even notice the small leather trunk at my feet.
11:07I said flatly.
11:09I heard.
11:11I didn't want to.
11:12Leon looked as if I had said something outrageous.
11:14I already told you.
11:17Lydia has managed the palace household well lately, so I held a dinner to reward her.
11:22There are already enough people in the palace misunderstanding her.
11:26After what you wrote in the ledger, how is she supposed to face anyone?
11:30I could not help laugh.
11:34So not everyone is blind.
11:38If people misunderstand her so easily, maybe they already know what she's been doing.
11:43Leon's face darkened.
11:47Aaliyah!
11:47When did you become so vulgar?
11:50You know exactly how hard it is for a young woman without a noble title to rise this far.
11:55Why would you smear another capable woman like this?
12:00Lydia only manages the palace for me.
12:05If you hadn't made a spade a scene in the household office, would people be talking about her now?
12:09He looked at me with exhaustion and blame in his eyes.
12:13If you want to be a queen who knows nothing except how to hold out her hand for keys, I
12:17won't blame you.
12:26For three years, I had wanted him to ask that question sincerely, now that he had finally asked it.
12:33But now, there's no point in my answering anymore.
12:38But if you keep targeting Lydia, don't blame me for being harsh.
12:42Think about your father.
12:46I finally laughed out loud.
12:49It hurt my throat.
12:51Then I opened my trunk right in front of him.
12:57A crown?
12:58A palace?
13:00Dignity?
13:02Leon, look at what my life in your palace has been.
13:07I'm leaving.
13:08And I can't even pack four decent dresses.
13:16If I wanted to change into a ball gown, I had to ask your lady of the court for a
13:20key.
13:23If I wanted to visit my father, I had to explain the reason to Lydia first.
13:28What queen has to live at the mercy of her husband's favorite court lady?
13:32There was not a trace of guilt on Leon's face.
13:35He only frowned and asked, genuinely baffled.
13:39All this over that?
13:43So you were jealous of Lydia and deliberately tried to ruin her name?
13:47My heart went cold, inch by inch.
13:49If he truly thought this was wrong, he would not have let Lydia take my keys again and again for
13:55three years.
13:56He would not have allowed the entire palace to know the queen had no right to open her own doors.
14:01I lowered my eyes.
14:03Fine.
14:04Think whatever you want.
14:07I want our marriage dissolved.
14:09Leon laughed instead.
14:11There was a knowing look in that laugh.
14:13As if he had finally seen through my cheap little trick.
14:16Enough.
14:17I don't have time to coax you through another tantrum.
14:21You're doing all this because of Lydia, aren't you?
14:25Don't assume every woman is like you.
14:28Always fighting over a man.
14:30As he spoke, he smoothed the wrinkle from his sleeve as though making a great concession.
14:37Tomorrow, I will send the royal physician to see your father in person.
14:43In a moment, I'll have Lydia give you the keys to the queen's wardrobe, the jewel room, and the carriage
14:50house.
14:51From now on, your daily expenses won't need to go through the household accounts.
14:57After three years as Leon's wife, I understood him well enough.
15:00For him, this was already the greatest compromise he could offer.
15:04Under normal circumstances, I should have known when to stop.
15:08But I was tired of this marriage of three people.
15:11Just like now.
15:13He had made so many promises.
15:14Yet he never mentioned Lydia holding back the apothecary key.
15:19I don't want anything.
15:21Except to end this marriage.
15:23Leon finally realized I was not acting coy.
15:25His impatience instantly turned into anger.
15:29Aaliyah, don't forget how you became queen.
15:33Your father saved the late king.
15:36That is why the late king rewarded your family with honor.
15:41If you leave me, those rewards, that gold, those properties,
15:48you won't get a single copper oil.
15:51And your father's illness.
15:53Without the royal physicians and the royal apothecary,
15:57how long do you think you can last?
16:00Not long at all.
16:01I knew that better than anyone.
16:03Now everything was only returning to where it should have been.
16:06I fastened.
16:07My trunk again and said lightly.
16:10Do whatever you want.
16:13Leon froze.
16:14He seemed unable to understand why a threat that had always worked on Aaliyah
16:18suddenly had no effect.
16:20But his pride would not let him lower his head again.
16:24So he watched her drag her trunk toward the door with a cold face
16:27when Aaliyah pulled open the chamber doors.
16:30He seemed as if he wanted to call her back.
16:32In the end, he said nothing.
16:35Only later did Aaliyah learn that Lydia went to his study that night.
16:38Your majesty doesn't need to humor her.
16:41Leave her alone for a few days.
16:44She'll come back and apologize.
16:46Her majesty has simply grown too comfortable as queen
16:50and wants to make a scene.
16:52Leon believed her.
16:53He even found a honey mint in his study and thought of Aaliyah.
16:57His throat always hurt Mointer.
16:59So Aaliyah had once learned to make those candies for him.
17:02Leon turned the candy between his fingers for a long while.
17:08She is not completely useless after all.
17:11Lydia lowered her eyes to hide the shadow of jealousy in them.
17:14Even now, even while he was angry,
17:17one small candy was enough to make Leon think of Aaliyah first.
17:21He told himself that Aaliyah was not completely useless after all
17:24when she came back.
17:25He would make her apologize sincerely
17:28and she would never again threaten him with a petition to dissolve their marriage.
17:33After leaving the palace,
17:35I did not leave the kingdom.
17:37I first went to the archbishop's court to confirm that my petition had been filed.
17:43Then, carrying my father's ashes,
17:45I went to the armory camp on the northern border.
17:48That was where my father had worked when he was young.
17:50He used to say that in the north.
17:52People did not ask where you came from.
17:55They only asked whether you were good with your hands.
17:57I did not understand that before.
17:59Now I did.
18:01When I arrived at the armory camp,
18:03dragging my trunk behind me,
18:05the soldier at the gate looked at me with obvious suspicion.
18:11Who are you looking for?
18:14Madam Martha.
18:15Madam Martha was the old blacksmith of the armory camp,
18:18and she had once trained with my father.
18:21Before I married into the palace,
18:23she had come to persuade me not to go.
18:25A place like the palace isn't meant for people like us,
18:29people who live by our hands.
18:31I did not listen then.
18:33Now when I saw her again,
18:35her hair had turned white.
18:37She looked at the trunk in my hand and the urn in my arms.
18:40She did not ask a single question.
18:43Come in.
18:45She simply stepped aside.
18:50My nose stung,
18:51and tears fell before I could stop them.
18:54For the first time since my father's death,
18:57no one asked me for a permit,
18:59a seal,
19:00or a reason.
19:01One door opened because someone chose to open it for me.
19:06After I had cried enough,
19:07Madam Martha said slowly,
19:13Done crying?
19:15Then wash your hands.
19:19I'm sure to lock repairer,
19:21and someone who can mend armor.
19:22If you still remember what your father taught you, stay.
19:25I stared at her.
19:28You're not going to ask why I'm here?
19:31Madam Martha snorted.
19:33Anyone who can walk out of the palace alive
19:36is lucky enough.
19:38What is there to ask?
19:40Or did three years as queen
19:42make you too delicate to hold a hammer?
19:44I smiled through my tears.
19:49I can hold one.
19:50For myself,
19:51I can hold anything.
19:53At first,
19:54I was not used to it.
19:57The wind in the north was hard.
19:59The furnace was scorching.
20:01And the armory camp was nothing like the palace.
20:03No maids came to make my bed.
20:06Blisters soon formed
20:07across my palms.
20:08A young apprentice saw the blood on my fingers
20:10and held out a strip of cloth.
20:14Miss Aurelia,
20:16maybe you should rest.
20:17I wrapped my palm
20:19and picked up the hammer again.
20:24If I stop every time I bleed,
20:26I will never make anything strong.
20:28But as time passed,
20:30the skills carved into my bones
20:32slowly returned.
20:33How to hear the quality of.
20:35Metal,
20:36how to tell where a lock's inner teeth were stuck.
20:38How to shape a horseshoe with the right curve.
20:41How to mend a broken sword.
20:50The more I worked,
20:52the steadier my hands became.
20:54Once,
20:55I repaired a cracked bracer for a night.
20:58He tested it twice
20:59and raised his thumb in surprise.
21:01I smiled.
21:04I thought someone from the palace
21:06would only know how to wear rings.
21:12I couldn't afford rings before.
21:16The soldiers around us froze for a second,
21:18then burst into laughter.
21:21That was the first time I laughed easily
21:23after leaving the palace.
21:24Then an unwelcome voice sounded behind me.
21:28A lady?
21:28I looked up and saw Lydia.
21:30She wore a white fox fur cloak
21:32and stood not far away,
21:33several servants behind her.
21:35Her gaze swept over my hands,
21:37stained with coal and iron dust.
21:39Then over the soldiers beside me,
21:42the corner of her mouth lifted.
21:46So this is why Her Majesty
21:48suddenly made such a fuss
21:49about ending the marriage.
21:51You came back to a place like this.
21:54Some people can wear a crown
21:56and still never forget
21:58they came from a blacksmith's shop.
22:00I would rest on her face.
22:03My face went cold.
22:05The people of the Northern Armory
22:07mended armor,
22:08forged swords,
22:09and repaired gates in wind and snow
22:11to protect the border.
22:13They did not deserve her contempt.
22:18I set down the tongs in my hand.
22:22Lydia,
22:23do you not have a room of your own?
22:25Why are you behind
22:27every door I open?
22:28Lydia's expression changed
22:29at that moment.
22:31A familiar voice
22:32came from behind her.
22:34What happened?
22:37Leon walked over.
22:38He wore black hunting clothes
22:40with the royal cloak
22:41over his shoulders.
22:42So,
22:43he had come to inspect
22:44the northern border.
22:45And of course Lydia
22:46had come with him.
22:48Her eyes reddened
22:49as she lowered her voice.
22:51Nothing, Your Majesty.
22:54I only saw
22:56Her Majesty
22:56away from the palace
22:57for so long,
22:59surrounded by soldiers
23:00and smith
23:01and worried
23:02she might be
23:03taken advantage of.
23:05I tried to advise her,
23:07but she misunderstood me.
23:10Only then
23:11did Leon notice me.
23:13His brows
23:14drew together slightly.
23:15There was that familiar
23:16certainty in his eyes.
23:19Aylia,
23:20did you bully Lydia again?
23:23If you came here
23:24to admit your mistake,
23:25apologize to her first.
23:27I looked at him once,
23:29then turned away
23:30without wasting a word
23:31and picked up my tools.
23:32The young apprentice
23:33beside me whispered,
23:37Miss Aylia,
23:38who is that?
23:39I said coldly,
23:40my blind,
23:41brainless husband.
23:43Leon's face darkened.
23:45Aylia!
23:48You followed me
23:49all the way
23:49to the north.
23:51How long do you plan
23:52to keep this up?
23:54You've been away
23:55from the palace
23:55for so long,
23:57ignoring your father
23:58completely.
24:04Are you really
24:05trying to force me
24:05to never give him
24:06the apothetory key again?
24:09I looked at him,
24:10tired of him
24:11to the bone.
24:14Then don't give it.
24:16That's what you're
24:17best at, isn't it?
24:21Something in my eyes
24:22must have cut Leon.
24:24He turned sharply
24:25to the servant
24:26beside him.
24:27Send orders
24:28back to the capital.
24:30From today on,
24:31Thomas is not to be
24:32given the apothetory key
24:33again.
24:35And the gold coffret
24:37is not to be opened.
24:38Panic flashed
24:39across Lydia's face.
24:41Your Majesty,
24:43perhaps we shouldn't...
24:45Leon coldly pressed
24:46down the hand
24:47she had placed
24:47on his arm.
24:49She needs to be
24:49taught a lesson.
24:51Otherwise,
24:52she will never learn
24:54how to be queen.
24:55The servant's face
24:56went deathly pale
24:57and he did not answer.
24:59Leon frowned.
25:00What?
25:01The servant
25:02lowered his head.
25:03His voice tightened.
25:05Your Majesty,
25:07Master Thomas
25:08has passed away.
25:09Leon froze.
25:10What did you say?
25:12The servant
25:13forced the words out.
25:15Three days ago,
25:18Her Majesty
25:20requested that
25:21the apothetory
25:22be opened,
25:23but the key
25:24was never delivered.
25:25By the time
25:26the physician arrived,
25:28Master Thomas
25:28had already...
25:29He did not finish.
25:32Leon stood there
25:33as if he had
25:34suddenly forgotten
25:34how to understand language.
25:36A long time
25:37passed before
25:38he murmured.
25:39How is that possible?
25:44Why didn't anyone
25:46tell me?
25:49The servant
25:50looked even more
25:51troubled.
25:52Someone did report
25:54it to your Majesty
25:54at the time.
25:55Leon stared at him.
25:58What did I say?
26:00The servant
26:01crunched his jaw.
26:02You said that
26:04while you
26:04and Lady Lydia
26:05were watching
26:06the Winter Lantern
26:07Parade,
26:08you did not want
26:08to hear anything
26:09related to the Queen.
26:10In that instant,
26:11Leon's face went white.
26:13I watched him
26:14finally remember.
26:15That day,
26:16I had burst into
26:17the household office
26:18and begged Lydia
26:19to give me
26:20the apothecary key.
26:21He said I had
26:22shamed the crown.
26:23Later,
26:24to comfort Lydia
26:25after she had been
26:26frightened,
26:27he lit winter lanterns
26:28across the capital
26:29for an entire night.
26:31The nobles
26:31all said
26:32his Majesty
26:32truly favoured
26:33his chief court lady.
26:35My father
26:35took his last breath
26:36that same night.
26:39Leon turned sharply
26:40toward Lydia.
26:41Tears welled
26:42in Lydia's eyes
26:42as if she had
26:43suffered a great
26:44injustice.
26:45Leon,
26:46I didn't mean
26:47to keep it from you.
26:49I only thought
26:51Master Thomas
26:52had already received
26:52so much grace
26:53from the late King.
26:55And her Majesty
26:56always makes things
26:56sound worse
26:57than they are.
26:58I was afraid
26:59she would influence her.
27:01I'm Frohling.
27:03Give me your key ledger.
27:05For the first time,
27:06Leon cut her off.
27:08What?
27:10Lydia froze.
27:14The record
27:15from the account
27:16the treasury key
27:18and the carriage house key
27:20from the past few days.
27:22All of them.
27:24The blood drained
27:26from Lydia's face.
27:27Leon,
27:29these are household affairs.
27:31You've never investigated
27:32me like this before.
27:33What was left to explain.
27:35Everything I had said
27:36was true.
27:37I had not been jealous
27:38of Lydia.
27:39I had not used
27:40my father's illness
27:40to threaten him.
27:42I had truly wanted
27:43to leave.
27:43The way Leon looked
27:44at me finally
27:45began to change.
27:46But,
27:47I only felt tired.
27:49I looked away
27:49and lowered my head
27:50to sort my tools.
27:52Three whole years
27:52had been wrong.
27:54Leon took one step
27:55toward me.
27:55But the soldiers
27:56of the armory camp
27:57shifted almost
27:58at the same time.
28:00No one drew a weapon.
28:01They only stood there,
28:02silent and solid,
28:04between the king
28:05and the woman
28:05he had cornered
28:06for too long.
28:12Aaliyah.
28:13Don't.
28:15That single word
28:16stopped him more sharply
28:17than any royal command.
28:19Lydia's fingers
28:20closed around the edge
28:21of her cloak.
28:23Her Majesty,
28:25I can explain
28:26the ledgers.
28:27Her Majesty
28:28always demanded
28:29things outside procedure.
28:31I was protecting
28:33your reputation.
28:35Leon looked at her
28:35and for once
28:37he did not immediately
28:38believe her.
28:39Then you will explain
28:40them in writing.
28:41Every missing hour.
28:44Every delayed key.
28:47Every sealed door.
28:48I heard those words
28:49and felt nothing
28:50like triumph.
28:51There was no victory
28:52in being believed
28:54after the person
28:55you loved most
28:55was already dead.
29:01Late that night,
29:02I came out of the armory camp
29:04to dump furnace ash
29:05and saw Leon
29:06standing not far away.
29:08The firelight was dim
29:09and snow rested
29:10on his shoulders.
29:11I had only seen him
29:13that afternoon,
29:14yet he looked
29:14as if his soul
29:15had been drained
29:15out of him.
29:16When he saw me,
29:17he stepped toward me
29:18at once.
29:19Aaliyah.
29:19I frowned
29:20and stepped back.
29:21He stopped.
29:23His voice was hoarse.
29:25I've taken all the keys
29:26back from Lydia.
29:26She is no longer
29:27the chief court lady.
29:29About your father,
29:30I didn't know.
29:32Give me a chance
29:32to make it up to you,
29:33all right?
29:34My heart did not soften.
29:35I only found it absurd.
29:36Once,
29:37I had begged him
29:38to listen to one sentence
29:39and he found me annoying.
29:41Now he stood in the snow,
29:43finally willing
29:43to bow his head.
29:44But it was too late.
29:46I looked at him calmly.
29:48Leon,
29:49do you think Lydia
29:49is the only problem
29:50between us?
29:51He seemed caught off guard.
29:54I know I was wrong.
29:55He seemed caught off guard.
29:57I shouldn't have let her
29:58control your keys.
30:00I shouldn't have used
30:02that method
30:02to teach you rules.
30:04I just thought the palace
30:05had always been like this.
30:07Noblemen manage
30:08their common-born wives
30:09this way all the time.
30:12I never thought
30:13it would hurt you.
30:15And I never truly
30:17meant to abandon
30:17your father.
30:19I looked at him.
30:21Leon,
30:22even now,
30:23you still think
30:24that if you are
30:25willing to give,
30:26I should be grateful
30:27enough to take it.
30:28You made me queen
30:29then handed my wardrobe
30:30the apothetry
30:31and my father's
30:31life-saving money
30:32to Lydia.
30:32You saw my humiliation.
30:33You just believed
30:34someone of my birth
30:34had no right
30:35to feel humiliated.
30:36His face turned paler
30:37by the second.
30:38I went on.
30:40We are over.
30:42I don't want anything.
30:44When the Archbip's court
30:45asks for your response,
30:46don't stand in the way.
30:48That's all.
30:49Confusion filled
30:50Leon's eyes.
30:51He seemed unable
30:52to understand
30:53why I refused
30:53to forgive him
30:54when he had already
30:55lowered himself this far.
30:57Carefully,
30:57he asked.
30:58What will it take
30:59for you to come back
31:00with me?
31:02I can give you
31:02the keys
31:03to the queen's wardrobe.
31:04The jewel room,
31:05the treasury,
31:06the apothetory,
31:07all of them.
31:08From today on,
31:09no door in the palace
31:10will stand in your way.
31:13I could not help laughing.
31:15If all you needed
31:16was a vase beside your throne,
31:17you should never have been
31:18kind to me in the beginning.
31:19Yes.
31:21I had loved him once.
31:22During my first year
31:23in the palace,
31:24Leon had not always
31:25been cold.
31:26He taught me
31:27my first court dance.
31:29He taught me
31:29my first court dance.
31:33When noble ladies
31:34mocked my accent,
31:36he took my hand
31:37and walked me
31:37across the entire ballroom.
31:39She is my queen.
31:42In that moment,
31:43I truly believed
31:44I had been chosen.
31:49Leon began to say
31:50I did not understand
31:51the rules,
31:52that I was too sensitive,
31:53too petty,
31:55too embarrassing.
31:56That Lydia
31:57was only helping him.
31:58His tenderness
31:59was like winter fog
32:00on a window.
32:01The moment I touched it,
32:02it disappeared.
32:04I looked at Leon
32:05and said softly,
32:06I don't need
32:07your compensation.
32:08I only need
32:09this marriage
32:10to end.
32:11Leon looked
32:12as if he had
32:13been struck.
32:14He stumbled
32:14one step forward
32:15and reached for me.
32:16I avoided him.
32:18His hand froze
32:19in the air.
32:23Aelia,
32:23even a prisoner
32:24dragged before a court
32:25gets to defend himself once.
32:27His voice
32:27was almost pleading.
32:29You can't deny me
32:30even one chance
32:31to explain.
32:33I gave you
32:33many chances.
32:35I said calmly.
32:37Every time I waited
32:38outside your study.
32:40Every time I went
32:41to the household office
32:42to beg for a key.
32:45Every time I was told
32:46you stake for me
32:47when key.
32:49Every time I told you
32:51Lydia was delaying
32:52me on purpose.
32:54Every time you said
32:55listen to Lydia.
32:58Those were chances.
33:01You were the one
33:01who threw them
33:02all away.
33:03Leon had nothing
33:04left to say.
33:05I knew how stubborn
33:06he was.
33:07I also knew
33:08dissolving our marriage
33:09would not be easy.
33:10But I did not expect
33:11him to arrive
33:12at the armory camp
33:13the next morning
33:14with a train
33:14of carriages.
33:15They were loaded
33:16with silk,
33:17medicine,
33:18gold coffers,
33:19and food.
33:24The northern armory
33:25is always short
33:26on funds.
33:27I've already ordered
33:28the treasurer
33:29to allocate money
33:29to you.
33:33Leon stood in the snow
33:34when he saw me.
33:36There was even
33:36a careful smile
33:37on his face.
33:40These medicines
33:41and iron supplies
33:42are for the camp
33:43as well.
33:43Then he took
33:44a small box
33:45from a servant.
33:47These are
33:47candid figs.
33:48I remember you
33:49used to ask
33:50for them late
33:50at night.
33:51Eat while
33:52they're still warm.
33:52I did not reach
33:53for them.
33:54You don't like them?
33:55The hope in Leon's
33:56eyes stiffened
33:57little by little.
33:58I don't like
33:59candid figs.
34:00Lydia does.
34:01I said lightly.
34:03Leon froze.
34:04I looked at the box
34:06and remembered
34:06long ago
34:07for a period
34:08of time.
34:08He often asked
34:10me to have
34:10the kitchens
34:10make candied figs
34:12late at night.
34:13I thought he liked
34:14sweets while
34:14working late.
34:15Only later did
34:16I learn they were
34:17for Lydia.
34:18Once I saw
34:19her sitting
34:19at the small
34:20table in the
34:20king's study
34:21with my own
34:21eyes.
34:24Your majesty,
34:25please have
34:26the kitchens
34:26make another
34:27serving next
34:27time.
34:28At Leon tried
34:29them and thinks
34:30they're good
34:30too.
34:34That day I
34:35argued with
34:35Leon.
34:38It's just a bit
34:39of food from
34:39the kitchen.
34:41You are queen
34:42and Lydia runs
34:43the palace
34:43household for me.
34:44What's wrong
34:44with rewarding her?
34:45Stop acting
34:46so small-minded.
34:47Now, thinking
34:48back, I found
34:50myself almost
34:50laughable, so I
34:51had once been
34:52that devoted.
34:54I'm sorry, I
34:55remembered wrong.
34:56Leon gave a
34:57difficult smile.
35:00Then what do you
35:00like?
35:01I'll wish to
35:02her it, I'll
35:03have someone
35:03prepare it.
35:04I lowered my
35:05head and
35:05continued inspecting
35:06a broken sword.
35:08No need.
35:09But Leon did not
35:11give up over the
35:12next few days.
35:13He kept sending
35:14gifts.
35:14Sometimes it
35:16was a sapphire
35:16necklace.
35:17Sometimes a
35:18gold-threaded
35:19shawl.
35:20Sometimes white
35:20roses from the
35:21royal greenhouse
35:22once.
35:23He even sent a
35:24pair of ivory
35:25gloves set with
35:26tiny pearls.
35:27I looked at
35:27those things and
35:28became genuinely
35:29curious.
35:30How did a man
35:31who listened this
35:32badly manage to
35:33rule a country?
35:34When the armory
35:35finished repairing a
35:36batch of border
35:36longswords, Leon
35:38came again.
35:39This time, he
35:40carried a delicate
35:41wooden box.
35:44I did not let
35:45him open it.
35:46The palace keys?
35:49His eyes lit up.
35:51How did you
35:52know?
35:52I looked at him
35:53and gave a small
35:54smile.
35:54Because you
35:55finally remembered
35:56that keys were
35:57what I lacked
35:57most for the
35:58past three years.
35:59A hint of joy
36:00appeared on his
36:01face.
36:01As if he thought
36:02he had finally
36:03done something
36:04right, he
36:04opened the box.
36:05Inside lay a
36:06ring of golden
36:07keys, the
36:08wardrobe, the
36:09jewel room, the
36:10apothecary, the
36:11carriage house, the
36:12treasury, the
36:13inner chamber, each
36:14key bore the
36:15queen's crest.
36:18From today on, you
36:20can open every
36:21room in the palace.
36:24A'Lelia, I will
36:27make up for
36:27everything I owe
36:28you.
36:30I looked at
36:31those keys, so
36:33late in coming, and
36:34suddenly felt
36:34exhausted.
36:36Leon, you still
36:36don't understand.
36:37Leon, you still
36:38don't understand.
36:40I wanted keys
36:41before because I
36:42was I was still
36:42trying to survive
36:43inside that
36:44palace.
36:45I don't need
36:46them now.
36:47I never wanted
36:49the keys to
36:49every door in
36:50the palace.
36:51I never want to
36:52go back to that
36:53palace at all.
36:55The color drained
36:56from Leon's face.
36:57I continued.
36:59The sapphire you
37:00sent is what
37:01Lydia likes.
37:02The gold-threaded
37:03shoal is something
37:03she wears often.
37:06White roses sit
37:07in her room all
37:08year.
37:08The ivory gloves
37:10are what she
37:10wears before
37:11every winter
37:11hunt.
37:13See?
37:14You remember
37:15another woman's
37:16taste so clearly.
37:17So why not
37:18dissolve this
37:19marriage smoothly
37:20and marry her?
37:21Leon answered
37:21almost without
37:22thinking.
37:23Thinking.
37:24She cannot be
37:24queen.
37:25Her birth is
37:26not suitable.
37:27She only likes
37:28power and the
37:29things inside the
37:29palace.
37:30I suddenly
37:31understood.
37:32He saw Lydia
37:33clearly.
37:34He had simply
37:34never considered
37:35her someone who
37:36could stand
37:36beside him.
37:37As for me,
37:38I had the late
37:39king's command
37:40and the title
37:40of the savior's
37:41daughter.
37:42My birth was
37:42low, but I
37:44had no noble
37:44family that
37:45could threaten
37:45him.
37:46I was suited to
37:47be a queen
37:47placed beside
37:48his throne.
37:49Perhaps there
37:50was love in his
37:50attachment to me.
37:52But more than
37:53that, he could
37:53not accept that
37:54I had chosen to
37:55leave him.
37:57I looked straight
37:58at Leon.
37:59So you think I
38:00walked away with
38:01nothing because I
38:02loved you?
38:03Because you broke
38:03my heart because I
38:04wanted you to
38:05regret it?
38:06Leon looked away.
38:08I said softly,
38:10you're wrong.
38:12I married you
38:13because my father
38:14needed the
38:15physicians and
38:16medicine the late
38:16king promised
38:17him.
38:18I stayed in the
38:19palace because he
38:20was still alive.
38:24Now he is
38:25dead.
38:26I don't need
38:26your money.
38:27I don't need
38:27your keys.
38:28I don't need
38:28your love.
38:32And I don't
38:33need you,
38:34Leon.
38:37The ruling
38:38from the
38:38archbishop's
38:39court came
38:39sooner than I
38:40expected.
38:41Perhaps because
38:42Leon did not
38:43interfere again.
38:44Perhaps because
38:45too many people
38:46in the capital
38:46already knew
38:47that before
38:47the queen's
38:48father died.
38:49The apothecary
38:50key had been
38:51delayed again
38:51and again.
38:53The marriage
38:53is dissolved
38:54on the grounds
38:55that it was
38:55arranged by the
38:56late king's
38:57command, that
38:58there are no
38:58children, and
39:00that the
39:00relationship has
39:01broken beyond
39:01repair.
39:04Leon did not
39:05appear.
39:06Royal judges
39:07handled everything
39:07on his behalf,
39:08to my surprise.
39:10He did not
39:11leave me with
39:11nothing as he
39:12had once
39:12threatened to
39:13do.
39:13He sent all
39:14the reward money
39:14my father should
39:15have received to
39:16the north.
39:17He also gave
39:17me an estate
39:18near the border,
39:19a box of
39:20jewels,
39:20and everything
39:21that had once
39:22belonged to me
39:22in the queen's
39:23chamber.
39:24I returned to
39:25the palace once,
39:26nothing in that
39:26chamber had been
39:27moved, the
39:28wardrobe stood
39:28open, the
39:29jewel room stood
39:30open.
39:31Even the inner
39:32room I could not
39:33enter for three
39:34years had its
39:34door wide open.
39:35On the table
39:36lay that ring of
39:37golden keys.
39:38Each one had been
39:39polished until it
39:40shone, but I no
39:41longer wanted them.
39:44I spent two days
39:45handing the
39:46gowns, jewelry,
39:47and properties in
39:48the capital over to
39:49the merchants' guild
39:50for auction.
39:51Part of the money
39:52went to repairing
39:52the northern armory
39:53camp, part went to
39:54the families of
39:55fallen border
39:56soldiers.
39:57The rest, I used
39:58to build a small
39:59workshop in my
40:00father's name, one
40:01that would take in
40:02girls with nowhere
40:03else to go and
40:03teach them a trade.
40:05On the third
40:06evening, a royal
40:07servant came to the
40:08armory camp.
40:09He carried a
40:10small gold chest
40:11and looked
40:11uncomfortable.
40:13Miss Aaliyah, his
40:15majesty said the
40:16earlier compensation
40:16was not enough.
40:19These are new
40:20deeds and letters
40:21of credit.
40:22I looked at the
40:23black carriage parked
40:23in the distance.
40:24I took the chest
40:26and walked over.
40:27After a while, the
40:29carriage window
40:29lowered.
40:30Leon sat inside.
40:32He had lost a
40:33great deal of
40:33weight.
40:34Dark stubble
40:35shadowed his jaw
40:36and his eyes were
40:37full of exhaustion.
40:40I handed the chest
40:42back through the
40:42window.
40:46Leon, I am
40:47grateful you
40:48didn't truly send
40:48me away empty
40:49handed.
40:50What you have
40:51already given me
40:52is enough.
40:55But I will still
40:56sell the gowns,
40:57the jewels,
40:59and the houses.
41:01I have enough
41:02money.
41:04I simply don't
41:05want to keep
41:06anything from the
41:07palace.
41:07Leon's voice
41:08was hoarse.
41:10Aaliyah,
41:12I only want
41:13to make it up
41:13to you.
41:16You've already
41:16made up enough.
41:23We owe each
41:24other nothing now.
41:27Leon suddenly
41:28grew agitated.
41:29How can we owe
41:30each other nothing?
41:33your father and
41:34the way I treated
41:35you before.
41:37I wronged you.
41:38I was silent for
41:39a moment.
41:43I did hate you.
41:45My father saved
41:46the late king,
41:47but the reward he
41:49earned was locked
41:49inside the palace.
41:50When he needed
41:51those things to live,
41:52I couldn't even get
41:53a key.
41:55There was a time
41:56when I wanted to
41:57burn that palace
41:58down.
41:58Leon's face
41:59turned pale.
42:01I went on.
42:03But I also have
42:04to admit,
42:05Leon,
42:06that my father
42:07survived those
42:08three years
42:08because of the
42:09royal physicians
42:10and the apothetry.
42:11That was what
42:12the old king
42:13promised him.
42:16And it was
42:16something you
42:17never completely
42:18on.
42:21He never
42:21completely took
42:22away.
42:23Before my father
42:24died,
42:24he held my hand
42:25with the little
42:26strength he had
42:27left.
42:30Alia,
42:32don't spend
42:33your whole life
42:34inside hatred.
42:37My greatest
42:38regret is not
42:39that I never
42:39lived in a
42:40grand house.
42:41It's that I
42:42never got to
42:43see you return
42:44to the forge.
42:46My daughter
42:47could have
42:48made the
42:48finest keys.
42:50When the
42:51finest keys...
42:54At that
42:54moment,
42:55the person I
42:56hated most
42:56became myself.
42:58I hated
42:58myself for
42:59being useless.
43:00I hated
43:01that even
43:01though I
43:02knew the
43:02palace was
43:02not my
43:03home.
43:03I still
43:04endured
43:04three years
43:05there for
43:05my father,
43:06and I
43:06hated that
43:07in the
43:07end.
43:08I still
43:08failed to
43:09save him.
43:10So now
43:11everything is
43:11only returning
43:12to where
43:12it should
43:13be.
43:14And it
43:14was something
43:15you never
43:15completely
43:16took away.
43:21Something
43:21seemed to
43:22shatter in
43:22Leon's
43:23eyes.
43:27We sat
43:28in silence
43:28for a long
43:29time.
43:30In the end,
43:30there was no
43:31unnecessary
43:32farewell.
43:33When the
43:33carriage left,
43:34I did not
43:35look back.
43:36Over the
43:36next few
43:37years, I
43:38poured almost
43:39all my time
43:39into the
43:40armory camp.
43:40I repaired
43:42gates,
43:43adjusted
43:43crossbows,
43:45redesigned
43:45horseshoes
43:46for the
43:46northern
43:46cavalry.
43:47Eventually,
43:48even the
43:49minister of
43:49war in
43:50the capital
43:50heard that
43:51there was
43:51a female
43:52armorer in
43:53the north
43:53who could
43:54make ruined
43:54plates of
43:55armor look
43:55new again.
43:56When
43:57Madame Martha
43:57grew older,
43:58she often
43:59sat by the
43:59forge and
44:00watched me
44:00train apprentices.
44:03Choose
44:03your students
44:04carefully.
44:05I'm too
44:06old to
44:07rescue you
44:07first and
44:08then rescue
44:08your useless
44:09little
44:09apprentices,
44:10too.
44:11My
44:12apprentices
44:12and I
44:13all laughed.
44:15That
44:15winter, I
44:17suddenly received
44:17news, Leon
44:18had been
44:19injured, a
44:20fire had
44:20broken out
44:21in the old
44:21queen's
44:22chamber, and
44:23he had
44:23rushed in
44:24to save
44:24someone.
44:27Half his
44:28face had
44:28been burned,
44:29the messenger
44:30said Lydia
44:30had set the
44:31fire.
44:33After she
44:33was driven
44:34from the
44:34palace, she
44:35never accepted
44:35it.
44:36She
44:37believed
44:37his majesty
44:37refused to
44:38marry her
44:39because you
44:39were still
44:39alive.
44:41and because
44:42he had
44:42kept the
44:42queen's
44:43chamber
44:44untouched.
44:45She used
44:46an old
44:46key she
44:47had secretly
44:47copied, slipped
44:48into White
44:49Stone Palace, and
44:50tried to burn
44:51the chamber
44:51down.
44:52Maybe she
44:53wanted to
44:53kill Leon.
44:54Maybe she
44:54wanted to
44:55kill me.
44:56The woman
44:56she believed
44:57would one
44:57day return.
44:58After
44:59hesitating for
45:00a long time,
45:01I went to
45:01see him once,
45:02my heart
45:03had not
45:03softened.
45:04Some things
45:05simply needed
45:05a real
45:06ending.
45:10Leon lay
45:11in the
45:11palace
45:11infirmary.
45:12Half
45:13of his
45:13face was
45:13wrapped in
45:14white bandages.
45:15The physicians
45:16whispered that
45:17the scar would
45:17likely be
45:18deep.
45:19When he
45:19saw me,
45:20he gave a
45:20smile uglier
45:21than crying.
45:22You came.
45:23I nodded
45:24politely as if
45:25visiting an
45:26old acquaintance.
45:27I heard you
45:28were hurt.
45:29He said,
45:30Lydia will
45:31stand trial.
45:33falsifying the
45:33key ledger,
45:34holding back
45:35the apothetory
45:36key,
45:36hiding the
45:37queen's
45:37travel permits
45:38and arson.
45:40She will
45:40pay for all
45:41of it.
45:42I did not
45:42ask further.
45:43None of
45:44those things
45:44had anything
45:45to do with
45:45me now.
45:46I only
45:46asked a
45:48few polite
45:48questions about
45:49his injuries.
45:54Will the
45:55burn affect
45:55your sight?
46:01The
46:01physicians
46:02say one
46:02eye may
46:03blur in
46:03winter.
46:04It doesn't
46:04matter.
46:06Then follow
46:07their instructions.
46:09When the
46:09next group of
46:10nobles came
46:10in to visit,
46:11I took the
46:12chance to
46:12leave at
46:13the door.
46:14Leon suddenly
46:15called my
46:15name.
46:21Aaliyah.
46:21I stopped
46:22but did not
46:23turn around.
46:24His voice
46:25was low.
46:28That
46:28chamber is
46:29gone.
46:32Everything
46:33from before
46:33is gone
46:34too.
46:35I said
46:35calmly,
46:36that's
46:37alright.
46:38I never
46:39wanted any
46:40of it.
46:41I said
46:42calmly,
46:44behind me
46:45there was
46:46a long
46:46silence.
46:47I opened
46:47the door
46:48and walked
46:48out of
46:48the infirmary.
46:50The sunlight
46:50outside was
46:51bright,
46:51like my
46:52new life.
47:02Lydia's
47:02trial was
47:03held in
47:03the old
47:03judgment
47:04hall of
47:04White Stone
47:05Palace.
47:06She no
47:06longer wore
47:07pale blue
47:07silk or
47:08white fox
47:08fur.
47:09Her wrists
47:10were bound,
47:11her hair
47:11was loose,
47:12and smoke
47:13stains still
47:14clung to the
47:14hem of her
47:15gown.
47:15Lydia,
47:16former
47:17chief
47:17court
47:17lady,
47:18you are
47:18accused
47:19of
47:19falsifying
47:19household
47:20ledgers,
47:21withholding
47:21royal keys,
47:22concealing
47:22travel permits,
47:24delaying royal
47:24medicine,
47:25and setting
47:25fire to the
47:26queen's
47:26chamber.
47:27How do
47:28you answer?
47:29Lydia lifted
47:30her head
47:30and laughed
47:31shortly.
47:33Queen's
47:34chamber?
47:35She was
47:35never worthy
47:36of that
47:36chamber.
47:37The
47:37noble's
47:37whispered
47:38at
47:38Leon
47:38sat
47:39behind
47:39the
47:39carved
47:39screen,
47:40half
47:41his face
47:41hidden
47:41beneath
47:42bandages.
47:43He did
47:43not speak.
47:45The
47:46recovered
47:46ledger
47:47shows
47:47that
47:48the
47:48apothe-3
47:49key
47:49was
47:49requested
47:50five
47:50times
47:51on
47:51the
47:51night
47:52Master
47:52Thomas
47:53died.
47:54Each
47:55request
47:55was
47:55delayed
47:56under
47:57your
47:57seal.
47:58I
47:58followed
47:59palace.
48:00I
48:00followed
48:01palace
48:02rules.
48:02The
48:03travel
48:03permit
48:03was
48:04also
48:04hidden
48:05under
48:05your
48:05seal.
48:06Because
48:07she
48:08always
48:08wanted
48:08to
48:09run
48:09back
48:09to
48:10that
48:10filthy
48:10forge.
48:12Not
48:13the
48:13furls.
48:15Leon
48:16closed
48:16his
48:17eyes.
48:17Lydia
48:18suddenly
48:18turned
48:19toward
48:19the
48:19screen
48:19as
48:20if
48:20she
48:20could
48:20see
48:20him.
48:22Leon,
48:22if
48:22Allelia
48:23had
48:23not
48:23appeared,
48:24I
48:24would
48:24have
48:24been
48:24queen
48:25long
48:25ago.
48:27You
48:28kept
48:28that
48:28chamber
48:28untouched
48:29because
48:29you
48:29still
48:30dreamed
48:30she
48:30would
48:30return.
48:31If
48:32she
48:32died,
48:33everything
48:34would
48:34go
48:35back
48:35to
48:35how
48:35it
48:36was!
48:38The
48:38judgment
48:38hall
48:39fell
48:39silent.
48:40Then
48:40you
48:41admit
48:41you
48:41set
48:41the
48:41fire
48:42knowing
48:42she
48:42might
48:43return.
48:43Lydia's
48:44face
48:44twisted.
48:46I
48:46admit
48:46nothing
48:47except
48:47that
48:48she
48:48stole
48:48what
48:48should
48:49have
48:49been
48:49mine.
48:56After
48:57the
48:57trial,
48:58Leon
48:58dismissed
48:59every
48:59guard
48:59and
48:59walked
49:00alone
49:00to
49:00the
49:00ruins
49:01of
49:01the
49:01old
49:01queen's
49:01chamber.
49:02The
49:03corridor
49:03still
49:04smelled
49:04of
49:04smoke.
49:05The
49:05portraits
49:06of
49:06past
49:06queens
49:06remained
49:07on
49:07the
49:07walls,
49:08but
49:08the
49:08place
49:09where
49:09Allia's
49:09portrait
49:10had
49:10once
49:10hung
49:10was
49:10black
49:11and
49:11empty.
49:13Your
49:13Majesty,
49:14the
49:14physician
49:15said
49:15you
49:15should
49:15not
49:15be
49:16near
49:16Ash.
49:20Leave.
49:21The
49:22guard
49:22bowed
49:23and
49:23retreated.
49:24Leon
49:24stepped
49:24over
49:25burned
49:25silk,
49:26broken
49:26beams
49:27and
49:27melted
49:27glass.
49:28The
49:28wardrobe
49:29that he
49:29had
49:29finally
49:30opened
49:30for
49:30Allia
49:31was
49:31gone.
49:32The
49:32jewel
49:32room
49:33was
49:33gone.
49:33The
49:34table
49:34where
49:34he
49:34had
49:35placed
49:35the
49:35polished
49:35golden.
49:36Keys
49:37was
49:37split
49:37in
49:38half.
49:38A
49:38half
49:39melted
49:39key
49:39lay
49:39in
49:40the
49:40ashes.
49:41Leon
49:41picked
49:42it
49:42up
49:42with
49:42his
49:42bandaged
49:43hand.
49:47Your
49:47Majesty,
49:48your
49:49should.
49:50He
49:51looked
49:51at
49:51the
49:51twisted
49:52key
49:52and
49:52suddenly
49:53remembered
49:53Aaliyah
49:54standing
49:54before him
49:55with a
49:55small
49:55trunk
49:55at her
49:56feet.
50:00Aaliyah's
50:01voice seemed
50:01to return
50:02from the
50:02fire.
50:03I
50:03don't
50:04need
50:04them
50:04now.
50:06Leon
50:06pressed
50:07the key
50:07against
50:07his
50:08palm.
50:09Four
50:09years,
50:10he
50:10had
50:10believed
50:10that
50:11if
50:11he
50:11kept
50:11the
50:11chamber,
50:12kept
50:12the
50:13gowns,
50:13kept
50:14the
50:14keys,
50:15he
50:15could
50:15keep
50:15the
50:16possibility
50:16of
50:16her
50:17return.
50:18But the
50:19chamber
50:19had
50:20burned,
50:20the
50:20portrait
50:21had
50:21burned,
50:21even
50:22the
50:22keys
50:22had
50:22lost
50:23their
50:23shape.
50:24Only
50:25then did
50:25Leon
50:25understand
50:26that
50:26Aaliyah
50:26had not
50:27disappeared
50:27from his
50:28life because
50:28a door
50:29had
50:29closed.
50:30She
50:30had
50:30left
50:31because
50:31he
50:32had
50:32never
50:32given
50:32her
50:33one
50:33worth
50:33opening.
50:35The
50:36palace
50:36corridor
50:37looked
50:37as
50:37brilliant
50:38as
50:38it
50:38had
50:38before,
50:39with
50:39portraits
50:40of
50:40past
50:40queens
50:41hanging
50:41along
50:41the
50:42walls.
50:42There
50:42had
50:43once
50:43been
50:43a
50:43portrait
50:43of
50:44me
50:44there
50:44too
50:44after
50:45the
50:45dissolution.
50:46Leon
50:47never
50:47ordered
50:47it
50:47removed.
50:48Now
50:49that
50:49portrait
50:49had
50:49burned
50:50with
50:50the
50:50chamber.
50:51Good.
50:52Some
50:52things
50:52should
50:53never
50:53have
50:53been
50:53kept
50:53later.
50:54I
50:55heard
50:55that
50:55Lydia
50:55cursed
50:56my
50:56name
50:56throughout
50:57her
50:57trial.
50:58She
50:58said
50:58that
50:59if
50:59it
50:59had
50:59not
51:04been
51:04for
51:04me.
51:06She
51:06said
51:06that
51:06if
51:06I
51:07died
51:07everything
51:08would
51:08go
51:08back
51:08to
51:09how
51:09it
51:09was.
51:09I
51:10only
51:10found
51:10it
51:10ridiculous
51:11in
51:12the
51:12end.
51:12They
51:13really
51:13were
51:13a
51:13perfect
51:14match.
51:15One
51:15believed
51:15that
51:15as
51:16long
51:16as
51:16he
51:16kept
51:16the
51:17old
51:17chamber
51:17I
51:18would
51:18one
51:18day
51:18return.
51:20The
51:20other
51:20believed
51:20that
51:20as
51:21long
51:21as
51:21I
51:21disappeared
51:22she
51:22would
51:22be
51:23able
51:23to
51:23walk
51:23through
51:23that
51:24door.
51:24They
51:25were
51:25both
51:25stubbornly
51:26guarding
51:26things
51:26that
51:26did
51:27not
51:27belong
51:27to
51:27them.
51:28Both
51:28of
51:28them
51:29were
51:29trapped
51:29in
51:29the
51:29past
51:30refusing
51:30to
51:31move
51:31on.
51:31What a
51:32shame
51:32I
51:32had
51:32not
51:32seen
51:33it
51:33sooner.
51:34One
51:34regret
51:34in a
51:35lifetime
51:35was
51:35enough.
51:36A
51:37young
51:37girl
51:37at
51:38the
51:38work
51:38table
51:38glanced
51:38at
51:39the
51:39messenger's
51:39letter
51:40in
51:40my
51:40hand.
51:41Teacher,
51:42is
51:42that
51:42news
51:43from
51:43the
51:43palace?
51:44I
51:45folded
51:45the
51:45letter
51:46and
51:46pushed
51:46it
51:46into
51:46the
51:47fire.
51:49No,
51:51it
51:51is
51:51only
51:51ash.
51:52Madame
51:53Martha
51:53snorted
51:54from
51:54the
51:54corner.
51:55Good
51:55answer.
51:56Now
51:57teach
51:57that
51:57girl
51:58how
51:58to
51:58file
51:58a
51:58clean
51:59edge
51:59before
52:00she
52:00ruins
52:00my
52:01tools.
52:02After
52:02that,
52:02I
52:03never
52:03went
52:03back
52:03to
52:03the
52:04palace.
52:04I
52:05never
52:05followed
52:05any
52:05news
52:06of
52:06Leon
52:06again.
52:08Several
52:09months
52:09after
52:10Lydia's
52:10sentence,
52:11the
52:11Minister
52:11of
52:12War
52:12placed
52:12a
52:12Northern
52:13Armory
52:13report
52:14before
52:14Leon.
52:15Your
52:15Majesty,
52:16the
52:16Border
52:17Cavalry
52:17requests
52:17more
52:18horseshoes
52:18from
52:19Miss
52:19Alia's
52:19workshop.
52:20Their
52:21design
52:21has
52:21reduced
52:22winter
52:22injuries
52:22by
52:22nearly
52:23half.
52:24Leon's
52:25fingers
52:25paused
52:25on the
52:26seal.
52:27The
52:27capital
52:27armory
52:28could
52:28use
52:28her
52:28skill.
52:29We
52:30may
52:30invite
52:30her
52:30to
52:30Whitestone
52:31for
52:31a
52:31royal
52:32commission.
52:32For
52:32a
52:33moment,
52:33the
52:33chamber
52:34was
52:34silent.
52:35Then
52:35Leon
52:35said
52:36quietly,
52:36Send
52:37the
52:37invitation.
52:38He
52:38told
52:38himself
52:39it
52:39was
52:39for
52:39the
52:39kingdom.
52:40He
52:40did
52:41not
52:41tell
52:41the
52:41minister
52:41that
52:42he
52:42had
52:42read
52:42every
52:42northern
52:43report.
52:43With
52:44her
52:49face.
52:50Days
52:50later,
52:51a
52:51royal
52:52messenger
52:52arrived at
52:53Thomas'
52:53workshop.
52:54Miss
52:55Aylia,
52:56His
52:56Majesty
52:56invites
52:57you to
52:57the
52:57capital
52:57to
52:58oversee
52:58a
52:58new
52:58lock
52:59system
52:59for
52:59Whitestone
52:59Palace.
53:01I
53:01did
53:02not
53:02stop
53:02filing
53:02the
53:03iron
53:03plate
53:03in
53:03my
53:04hand.
53:04Tell
53:05the
53:05ministry
53:05to
53:06send
53:06the
53:06measurements.
53:07I
53:08will
53:08design
53:08what
53:08the
53:08palace
53:09needs
53:09from
53:09here.
53:10His
53:10Majesty
53:10hoped
53:11you
53:11would
53:11come
53:11in
53:11person.
53:12I
53:12finally
53:13looked
53:13up.
53:14I
53:14am
53:15an
53:15amita.
53:16Not
53:16a
53:16memory
53:16he
53:17can
53:17summon.
53:17That
53:18evening,
53:18I
53:18wrote
53:18a
53:19formal
53:19reply.
53:21Thomas'
53:22workshop
53:22accepts
53:23commissions
53:23for
53:24tools,
53:25hinges,
53:26armor
53:26plates,
53:27locks,
53:28and
53:28keys.
53:29It
53:29does
53:29not
53:29accept
53:30invitations
53:30to
53:31reopen
53:31closed
53:32doors.
53:32When
53:33Leon received
53:34the letter,
53:35he read
53:35the last
53:35line
53:36three times,
53:36then he
53:37folded it
53:37carefully and
53:38placed it
53:38beside the
53:39ruined
53:39golden
53:39key he
53:40still
53:40kept
53:40in
53:41his
53:41desk.
53:43The
53:44winters
53:44in the
53:44north
53:44were
53:45long,
53:45but
53:46the
53:46forge
53:46fire
53:46never
53:47went
53:47out.
53:48One
53:48of
53:48the
53:48new
53:48girls
53:49held
53:49up
53:49a
53:49broken
53:50lock
53:50and
53:50asked
53:50softly,
53:51Teacher,
53:52what
53:53should I
53:53do if
53:53this
53:53won't
53:54open?
53:54I
53:55glanced
53:55at it
53:56and
53:56pushed
53:56a
53:56bar
53:56of
53:57iron
53:57into
53:57the
53:57fire.
53:59If
53:59it
53:59won't
54:00open,
54:00replace
54:01it.
54:02Same
54:02with
54:02doors,
54:03same
54:04with
54:04people.
54:04The
54:05fire
54:05rose.
54:06The
54:06red
54:07hot
54:07iron
54:07slowly
54:08took
54:08shape
54:08beneath
54:08the
54:09hammer.
54:09I
54:15thought
54:15I
54:15had
54:16lost
54:16everything.
54:17Only
54:17now
54:17did
54:17I
54:18understand.
54:18I
54:19had
54:19simply
54:19carried
54:20myself
54:20out
54:20of
54:20a
54:21palace
54:21where
54:21I
54:22had
54:22never
54:22been
54:23given
54:23a
54:23key.
54:25From
54:25then
54:25on,
54:26my
54:26life
54:27would
54:27only
54:27move
54:27forward.
54:28I
54:28would
54:29never
54:29look
54:29back.
54:31The
54:31new
54:31girl
54:31stared
54:32at
54:32the
54:32broken
54:32lock
54:33in
54:33her
54:33palm,
54:34then
54:34looked
54:34at
54:34the
54:34iron
54:35glowing
54:35in
54:35the
54:35furnace.
54:37Teacher,
54:38can
54:39I
54:39make
54:39my
54:39own
54:39key?
54:40I
54:40handed
54:41her
54:41the
54:41smaller
54:41hammer
54:42my
54:42father
54:42once
54:42made
54:43for
54:43me.
54:45You
54:45can
54:45make
54:45a
54:46key.
54:46You
54:47can
54:47make
54:47a
54:47door.
54:48You
54:48can
54:48even
54:48decide
54:49there
54:49should
54:49be
54:49no
54:49door
54:50there
54:50at
54:50all.
54:50Less
54:51talking,
54:52more
54:52hammering.
54:53The
54:54apprentices
54:54burst
54:54into
54:55laughter.
54:55I
54:56laughed
54:56with
54:56them.
54:57Outside,
54:58the
54:58northern
54:59snow
54:59covered
55:00the
55:00road
55:00to
55:00the
55:00capital.
55:01Inside,
55:02the
55:02forge
55:02burned
55:03brighter
55:03than
55:03any
55:03palace
55:04chandelier
55:04I
55:04had
55:05ever
55:05seen.
55:09I
55:11the
55:11third.
55:11A
55:11new
55:11shape
55:12began
55:12to
55:12form
55:12beneath
55:13my
55:13hands.
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