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00:00What's your relationship with my fiancé?
00:06That old man must be Amelia's sugar daddy.
00:09Ethan, didn't the boss of the Reesey family help you take over the East District?
00:13You know Mr. Reesey, and he values you so much you have to save me!
00:17Ethan froze. The Reese family had many branches and held power across the country.
00:22Ethan used to be the mere leader of a gang of small-time thugs.
00:25But three years ago, he suddenly received help from the Don of the Reese family and took control of both
00:30the East and West Districts.
00:32The Rolling Stones quickly developed into a small Mafia family in the nation.
00:36I was born with a heart condition. She secretly poured a second high-dose energy drink.
00:41Just to show respect to Charlotte on her big day.
00:44In a panic, I tore open my only emergency medication, but the water I used to take it had been
00:49swapped with more of the same high-caffeine energy drink.
00:51As soon as I swallowed it, a violent wave of nausea hit me.
00:55My vision blurred.
00:57Energy drinks are full of vitamins and caffeine. They help with hangovers and keep you alert and healthy.
01:02Ethan, your fiancé's acting is incredible.
01:05I've been a doctor for years, and I've never seen anyone react like this to a little champagne and a
01:09harmless energy drink.
01:12Honey, please, call an ambulance. I can't take it anymore.
01:16For a moment, Ethan's expression wavered. He looked almost worried and even took half a step forward.
01:21Come on, stop pretending. Nobody dies from a bit of champagne and an energy drink.
01:26Yeah, you're just jealous Charlotte got promoted and didn't want to toast to her.
01:29Ethan's face turned cold again.
01:31Charlotte's a doctor. You'll be fine with her here, right?
01:43What are you doing? We just called you out a bit and now you're trying to post on Instagram to
01:47get people to attack us?
01:51His face was dark, and he looked at me with a cold glare.
01:55Though his brow tritched and his hand instinctively moved toward his pocket again, the pain made my vision go black
02:01at the edges.
02:02I didn't do anything, Ethan. I was born with a heart condition.
02:06Ethan, I think I'm having an attack. Please, call an ambulance.
02:12Ethan finally noticed. Something was wrong. But before he could decide, Charlotte pulled him away.
02:22Ethan, your fiancé's so inconsiderate. Everyone came here to celebrate my promotion, but she's jealous and trying to ruin the
02:28party they threw for me.
02:29I knew Amelia never liked me. I invited her because I wanted to fix things between us, but she didn't
02:36appreciate it.
02:37She's showing everyone how nasty she can be.
02:41Ethan, if I'd known this would happen, I would have solely invited you.
02:46You really know how to act, don't you?
02:48Maybe try using that talent for acting instead of scheming and stirring up trouble.
02:52As a doctor, I can tell when someone's faking it.
02:58But even though it was supposed to be my date with Ethan, Ethan and Charlotte had grown up together.
03:04They had their own tight circle.
03:06Charlotte was unhappy about it.
03:08She often showed up uninvited whenever Ethan and I went out.
03:14Ethan!
03:16Charlotte's like my sister, don't overthink it.
03:19Amelia, I'm only tagging along to help our friends decide if you're right for Ethan.
03:24He's already spent enough time on you.
03:26You can't be this greedy.
03:27Charlotte's words made me feel like if I loved Ethan, I would have to accept all his friends, even Charlotte
03:33herself.
03:34But even though it was supposed to be my date with Ethan, we ended up doing the things Charlotte liked.
03:39I pulled myself back to the present.
03:41Memories of those suffocating dates flashing through my mind.
03:48I get it, Amelia.
03:50You're so used to being in the spotlight that you have to steal the show, don't you?
03:54Today, the focus is on me.
03:56And since no one is cheering for you like your fans would, you're putting on an act just to get
04:00attention.
04:01Remember when we were kids?
04:03You said you'd kill anyone who made me unhappy.
04:06Looks like you've changed.
04:10The guests at the party sneered at me.
04:12They were all Charlotte and Ethan's friends.
04:15They had always thought I was not good enough for Ethan and felt nothing but dislike towards me.
04:24Amelia, I know you don't like Charlotte.
04:26I've already tried to keep you away from her.
04:28But her promotion party only lasts one day.
04:31Can't you just bear with it for a few hours?
04:35The sharp taste helped me stay conscious for a few more seconds.
04:38Instead of just begging, a spark of cold anger rose in me.
04:41I started crawling toward the door, my nails scraping the ground with determination.
04:45I hoped someone outside could help me, and part of me refused to die quietly in front of them.
04:51What's wrong?
04:52You got exposed, and now that Ethan won't defend you anymore, you're embarrassed and trying to run away?
04:59But a couple exchanged uneasy glance.
05:01My weak body hit the champagne tower.
05:04Glasses fell to the ground, and champagne spilled all over me, soaking my clothes and mixing with my cold sweat.
05:15You call yourself the fiancé of a mafia boss?
05:18There's a limit to playing the victim.
05:20Look at yourself, all miserable and pathetic.
05:21You're making Ethan look bad.
05:24Ethan, your fiancé's been causing trouble even before the wedding.
05:27Imagine what she'll be like later.
05:28Today is the perfect chance to teach her a lesson.
05:38Amelia, you've had enough?
05:39Stop pretending and get up!
05:42The next moment, he froze.
05:44My face was deathly pale, lips turning a faint blue.
05:51Amelia's terrified of pain.
05:54Could it really be?
05:55My mind was already fogging over.
05:58It's so hot.
05:59And this is an outdoor party.
06:01She's suffering from heat strike.
06:03Yet she lies on the ground and continues to pretend.
06:06A cold drink will fix her right up.
06:11Suddenly, everything went strangely quiet inside me.
06:14My heart no longer raced.
06:15It stuttered in irregular, terrifying beats.
06:20Not because the pain had eased, but because I seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
06:26She's not actually dying, is she?
06:29Ethan looked at me with worry.
06:30He pushed through the crowd.
06:34Amelia, what's wrong?
06:37Move!
06:38Get out of the way!
06:39Amelia, your next role is a heroine with a heart condition?
06:43It's no wonder your act looks so real.
06:48You really fooled everyone.
06:50Your acting is... impressive.
06:57Ethan glanced at the trailer on Charlotte's phone.
07:00His worry turned to anger.
07:01Amelia, this is Charlotte's celebration party, not your personal show.
07:05Get up, or else...
07:08I was in too much pain to hear the rest.
07:10My face twisted in agony.
07:12Looks like she hasn't changed.
07:14Ethan, teach her a lesson.
07:16You are the mafia boss.
07:18How can you let her ruin my party and make a fool of you?
07:22Listen, Charlotte is the star today.
07:25Whether you like it or not...
07:32Ethan took a glass of strong whiskey from a waiter and held it out to me.
07:38Get up and toast to Charlotte.
07:40I'll overlook the stupid thing you did today.
07:41Tears ran down my face from the pain.
07:45I looked at Ethan's cold, heartless face and forced myself to say...
07:50No!
07:51Amelia, I already finished my drink.
07:53You are really narrow-minded.
07:55Poor Ethan.
07:56He always tries to defend you.
07:58If you love acting so much, I'll help you.
08:06I struggled.
08:07I could only watch helplessly as they poured the whiskey into my mouth.
08:10My heart could not take it.
08:12Sharp pain and suffocating pressure spread through me.
08:21Help, help me, my heart.
08:24Stop pretending, Amelia.
08:26It is just a glass of whiskey.
08:27It can't hurt you.
08:29I've known you for a very long time and never once heard about your heart condition.
08:34I stayed silent because I loved you.
08:36I wanted to give you a chance, but you disappointed me.
08:48Three years ago, I ran away to follow my dream of acting.
08:52One day, I was cornered by street fangs, and Ethan appeared like a hero.
08:59We fell in love at first sight and quickly grew close.
09:02When I learned that Ethan, who seemed cold and de-packed, had lost both his parents to
09:06sudden illness, I decided to hide my own condition so that he would not have to feel
09:10that kind of fear and worry again.
09:13Ethan turned away in disgust and refused to look at me again.
09:19After he turned his back, Charlene grew even more smug.
09:25I was forced to open my bloodshot eyes to look at the cruel woman in front of me.
09:36Why?
09:38Why are you doing this to me?
09:40You don't deserve him.
09:41Ethan is handsome, rich, and the boss of the entire Rolling Stones.
09:45I spent 11 years trying to win his heart and failed.
09:48How can someone like you, a filthy rat who crawled out of the gutter, ever deserve
09:52of him?
09:53A filthy rat, a cold, bitter smile appeared on my lips.
09:57If my father knew I had been humiliated and mistreated like this after leaving home, how
10:02heartbroken would he be?
10:03Sadly, I would never see him again.
10:06My consciousness began to fade.
10:08Through the blur, I saw the pouch of medicine I had dropped near the waiter's feet.
10:11Some emergency medicine was still inside.
10:15Just a few more steps.
10:18Just a few more.
10:22I thought I could reach the pouch.
10:25Even if I could not, I hope this would catch this waiter's attention.
10:32Weren't you just pretending you were about to die?
10:35Look how fat.
10:35You can crawl now.
10:37Amelia, you just couldn't help showing your clumsy trick.
10:41I take back my compliment about your acting.
10:45She raised her voice on purpose to draw everyone's attention.
10:48Ethan glanced at me, then turned away with even more impatience.
10:52I did not care about that.
10:53I bit down on the pain and tried to pull the packet away from under Charlotte's feel.
10:57Charlotte gave me a mocking smile and whispered,
10:59Your heart must hurt so much you nearly died, right?
11:02There's worse pain yet to come.
11:06Charlotte's eyes went cold.
11:07She lifted her foot and kicked my outstretched arm.
11:12I felt numb and could not even make a sound.
11:16The waiter who had been pushed aside pointed under the table and screamed.
11:19There's blood! There's so much blood!
11:23His cry got everyone's attention.
11:25Ethan frowned.
11:26He pushed through the guests and rushed to my side.
11:29When he saw me, he froze.
11:31The small cuts on my arm from the broken glass had been ripped open by Charlotte's heel.
11:35Blood flowed and soaked the grass beneath me.
11:37Amelia! I'll take you to the hospital now!
11:40He did not hesitate and reached to pick me up.
11:44Charlotte showed a flicker of panic.
11:48This is nothing, Ethan. It looks worse than it actually is.
11:50It's just a surface wound.
11:53No need for an emergency. I'm a doctor.
11:55I can treat her faster than going to the hospital.
11:58Charlotte acted concerned and lifted my arm.
12:01Blood ran from the wound and mixed with grass and dirt.
12:04Amelia, you have to stop with the pity party.
12:08You crawled over the glass on purpose to cut yourself, didn't you?
12:11You're taking advantage of Ethan's love for you to make him give in.
12:14I feel sorry for him.
12:20Is that it, Amelia?
12:22You knew I couldn't stand seeing someone close to me hurt, so you used such petty tricks to threaten me?
12:27Can't you even put up with such a small thing as this for me?
12:30Listen, Amelia.
12:31We aren't leaving this place today.
12:33We'll stay until the party ends.
12:35Charlotte, treat her wound.
12:37Whoever helps Amelia will be considered to be against the whole Rolling Stones.
12:40Charlotte grew triumphant.
12:42She lifted my injured arm as if it were a rag doll.
12:45Don't worry, Ethan.
12:47I've treated wounds like these many times before.
12:50First, we need to disinfect them.
12:52She grabbed a glass of liquor and poured it straight onto my wound.
12:59The burning pain made my weak heart stop for a moment.
13:02My mind cleared a little.
13:04I spat up blood and managed to say with difficulty.
13:07My father, Rhys, won't let you get away with this.
13:15Your father?
13:16A junkie from West Street or a drunk from East Street?
13:19My father runs the city hospitals and has close ties with the Rolling Stones.
13:23Don't try to act superior in front of me.
13:26Darkness flickered at the edge of my vision.
13:29I felt numb and could no longer feel the pain.
13:32Rhys?
13:33You mean the Rhys family that controls half the mafia world?
13:36Don't listen to her lies!
13:37It even told me she's a failed actress!
13:39If Ethan hadn't rescued her, who knows where she'd be now!
13:45The Rhys family?
13:47Please!
13:47This woman will say anything to survive!
13:51After hearing Charlotte's words, they laughed cruelly.
13:54Ethan's face grew even darker.
13:57He turned his back on me and walked away.
14:00He did not care about me, even though I was dying.
14:15You're in the direction of a ghost I thought he had a arrest.
14:18Just never mind-looking.
14:19You're in the direction of a ghost.
14:20The Hylsey family was in the direction of a ghost.
14:26People were so sick and they had a ghost.
14:26For me, I was like, you're in the direction of a ghost.
14:27But I think she was in the direction of a ghost.
14:29I thought she was across this.
14:32sponsor? She saw Ethan walk away and grabbed my mud-cocked hair. She slapped me hard.
14:41My world collapsed into dizzying blackness.
14:53Face the truth. Even if you die by our hands, no one's coming to save you.
15:04Just as I closed my eyes in despair, a furious voice rang in my ear. I knew it better than
15:10any
15:10other voice in the world. How dare you torment my daughter? I'll make you pay with your lives!
15:21My father stormed into the party with a group of mafia men behind him.
15:28I was a maid, but every night I took my lady's place in my Don's bed. On the bed,
15:32I begged him to give me a title as one of his mistresses, but he doesn't even look up.
15:36What are you thinking? You're nothing but a debt slave.
15:38I close my eyes against the despair. Everyone knows how Dante Moretti worships his wife.
15:43The next morning, I kneel before the matriarch and make my offer. I'll marry the dying heir,
15:47Simus, Dante's elder brother. The old woman's eyes go wet.
15:51After the ceremony, you'll be a widow forever. Child, are you certain?
15:55No regrets.
15:57In my peripheral vision, Dante and Bianca go white as corpses.
16:02Dante comes to Bianca's room again tonight. They curl together by the fireplace,
16:06all whispered promises and silk robes. Bianca's cheeks flush pink as she slips away to the bathroom.
16:11Before she goes, she kills every light, the usual routine. One cigarette's worth of time later.
16:16I push through the door.
16:17Took you long enough.
16:19He pulls me into his lap, then frowns.
16:21Christ, you're freezing.
16:22I was outside, watching the snow.
16:25I say it quietly, the truth. I've been standing in the hallway in my slip dress,
16:29waiting for my cue to replace her. By dawn, I'm wrecked. I slip out before the sun breaks,
16:34muscles screaming. Bianca waits for me in the adjoining room. I kneel, ignoring the ache in my
16:38spine, and repeat everything Dante said during the night. Word for word, Bianca's eyes drop to the
16:43bruises on my throat. Her expression goes dark. She pads silently back to the bed, sliding in beside
16:48her husband.
16:49Sneaking off to meet some other man?
16:51Playful. Teasing.
16:52Bianca hits his chest, mock offended. I back out of the room before they notice. Bianca is beautiful,
16:57but her body is fragile, breakable. That's why no one proposed to her when she was younger.
17:01At the spring gala, Dante saw her across the garden and fell like a man shot. He married her with
17:06his
17:06family name, full honors, a queen. They were perfect together, a fairy tale. I was her insurance policy,
17:12the debt slave who came with the dowry. I was happy for her, really.
17:15But on their wedding night, Bianca collapsed. Dante's a soldier, a killer, built for violence,
17:20not gentleness. Three nights in a row, they couldn't finish. Overnight, Bianca became a joke
17:25in the Moretti compound. Everyone whispered that she couldn't satisfy him, that the mistresses would
17:29bury her. And maybe they were right. Dante's in his prime, all testosterone and hunger. Even if he
17:35loves her, how long can a man go without? Desperate, Bianca found a solution.
17:41Every night, kill the lights, send in a substitute. In the dark, Dante can't see the face beneath him.
17:46Of all her servants, I'm the only one who matches her build and voice. She promised me three years,
17:51just three years to fix her body, get stronger. After that, she'd pay me off and let me go. I'm
17:56a debt slave. My whole family's lives are in her hands. I never had a choice. An hour later,
18:01Bianca and Dante finally get up. I rest briefly in my room, then return to set out breakfast.
18:05Dante stares at me. Why are you dressed like that? I don't know how to answer. My lips press
18:09together, nervous. Dante's rough in bed. He leaves marks, everywhere. I have to wear high collars to
18:15hide them. Bianca pushes him lightly. Don't you remember? Allada's mute. She can't speak. I nod
18:20quickly. When I'm serving Bianca, I always cross paths with Dante. She's terrified of being exposed,
18:25so she forbids me from talking. Everyone in the compound thinks I'm mute. Your little mute's
18:29actually pretty. Shame. Bianca's smile turns sharp. What's that supposed to mean, husband?
18:34You interested in her? She looks at me with cold, barely concealed violence. Dante laughs.
18:39Don't blame me. Blame yourself. He rolls up his sleeve, showing off his arm. The bite mark. My
18:44body goes rigid. Last night, Dante pushed too hard. I cried myself hoarse, then bit him in desperation
18:49and fury. He's a made man, covered in scars from wars and interrogations. A bite is nothing to him,
18:55but now he's using it as foreplay, a joke between spouses. I kneel on the floor, hands ice cold. I
19:00don't
19:00know how long I stay there. Then scalding tea splashes across my skin. You bitch! How dare you
19:05bite the Don? Are you trying to humiliate me? I don't get a chance to explain. Bianca has me bound
19:12and dragged to the storage basement. No food, no water. Dante's gone to inspect the territories
19:17outside the city. He'll be gone three, maybe five days. However long he's away, that's how long I'm
19:22locked up. When I'm barely conscious, my sister Poppy bribes the guard and brings me soup. She's my
19:26sister, came with me as part of Bianca's dowry. She doesn't know about the substitution arrangement.
19:31Allura, what did you do to make her this angry? I shake my head. I just ask when Dante's coming
19:35back. I heard the housekeeper's talking. The Don's returning tonight. He's going to Bianca's room.
19:40I exhale in relief. Then I ask what else is happening outside. The eldest Maradi, his condition's
19:45gotten worse. The doctors say there's nothing they can do. They're preparing for the end. Dante has an
19:49older brother. Silas was born with a terminal genetic condition, the family curse. He's been dying his
19:54whole life, which is why Dante inherited the position. The eldest has never married.
19:58Poppy sighs softly. The matriarch doesn't want him going to the Drev alone, so she's looking for
20:02someone to marry his corpse. A ghost marriage. The bride follows the groom into death. Silas has days
20:08left, maybe hours. Marry him, and you're a widow for life. No society woman would agree. Not even the
20:13servants or cleaners are willing. I'm released. Allura, I was impulsive. Bianca has food brought to me.
20:19I meant to let you out after a few hours, but things got busy and I forgot. Don't hold it
20:24against me. I murmur that I wouldn't dare. Bianca nods graciously. I want to leave.
20:29You want to leave? Bianca's face changes instantly. Yes. My body isn't recovered yet. Dante still needs
20:36you. I look up shocked. Bianca laughs lightly. If you insist on leaving, I'll just have Poppy replace
20:41you. You're sisters. Same build, same voice. How old is she? 13? Or is it 14?
20:49After a long moment, I hear my own teeth chattering. Then could you give me a title?
20:54Let Dante acknowledge me? You want to be mistress? If I wanted to give Dante a mistress,
20:59I have a hundred options. You wouldn't even make the list. And don't try going to him directly.
21:04He thinks you're a toy. Even if you became his bed warper, I could crush you with one finger.
21:09I can barely breathe. But slaves are supposed to be married off eventually.
21:14Am I supposed to be her body double forever? The gatekeeper's son is your age. When you
21:20turn 16 next year, I'll let you marry him. When Dante returns, I'm still kneeling on the
21:24floor, dazed. Bianca stands, smiling. You're back. These past few days must have been exhausting.
21:30This girl brooded the Persian crystal glasses. I'm having her kneel for 15 minutes. Dante
21:34didn't even glance at me. How's the situation with my brother?
21:37Bianca sighs. I've asked every woman in the compound, but honestly, a ghost marriage is terrifying.
21:42No young woman will agree. What's there to disagree about? Find someone. Leverage her
21:46family. It's done. That kind of coercion? It could anger the matriarch. Offer enough money,
21:51someone will bite. Apply enough pressure, someone will break. Mother doesn't like you. If you handle
21:56this cleanly, she'll change her mind. Bianca murmurs agreement. Every time Dante returns from
22:00patrol, he's insatiable. Tonight, I give him everything I have. It makes him lose control more
22:05than once. What's gotten into you? You miss me or something? I don't answer. I just push myself up,
22:10trembling, and kiss his cheek. I'm never this forward. Dante exhales softly. Good girl.
22:18As dawn approaches, I try to leave. He catches me, pulling me back. Where do you think you're
22:23going? I freeze. Dante nuzzles my face, almost affectionate. I can smell the difference,
22:30you know? I've known about you and Bianca's little game for a while now. No wonder he's gotten rougher
22:34each time. He knew all along it wasn't his wife beneath him, so he didn't have to hold back. I
22:39whisper,
22:39when will you give me a title? Dante laughs. A title? You're Bianca's servant. Only she can
22:46grant you that. If I did it myself, it'd hurt our marriage. Tell me your name. I'll have jewelry
22:51sent to you. When Bianca's recovered, I'll make you a bed warmer. I close my eyes, bitter. Why bother
22:57granting status to someone you can have without commitment? Bianca was right. Sex doesn't earn
23:02love. It earns scraps. When I don't respond, Dante smiles. What, speechless with joy? I laugh,
23:09tears streaming down my face. Thank you for your generosity, Don Morelli. But I don't think I'll
23:16live long enough to enjoy it. He hates greedy women. Don't get greedy just because I've fucked
23:20you a few times. A bed warmer isn't enough. You want to be a mistress? You should consider
23:23your mistress' dignity. Dante keeps mistresses in the compound, gifts from allied families,
23:30all from respectable backgrounds. Someone like me, a debt slave, doesn't qualify. Since marrying
23:36Bianca, he hasn't touched any of them. People praise him for his restraint, his devotion. Dante loves
23:41hearing it. Bianca's father is a powerful senator. He's helped Dante behind the scenes more than once.
23:46If Dante took the senator's daughter's servant as a mistress, it would destroy his reputation.
23:51The more I think about it, the clearer it becomes. Tonight's promises are just post-sex
23:56sentimentality. When he's clear-headed, he'll regret it. He's planning to be Bianca's devoted
24:01husband for life. I say quietly, I'm nothing. I don't deserve a title or your bed. I just hope
24:07you and Bianca live happily ever after. Poppy hears about Bianca's plan to marry me to
24:11the gatekeeper's son. She sobs. After everything we've done for her, how can she be so cruel?
24:16The gatekeeper's son is mentally disabled, functions like a toddler, and violently unstable.
24:21He loves hurting people. Only by marrying me to him can I continue sleeping with Dante
24:25without threatening Bianca. I made my mind now. The next morning, I went straight to the matriarch.
24:31My lady, I volunteer to be Simus' widow.
24:35The matriarch is shocked and delighted. She asks my name, birthdate, hometown. The fortune
24:40teller calculates, nodding repeatedly. This girl's chart matches Silas perfectly. She was
24:44born into hardship. She carries good karma. The marriage will help him in the next life.
24:49Dante and Bianca arrive quickly. As they enter, I'm kneeling beside the matriarch, massaging
24:52her legs. Dante's laugh echoes. This is the girl willing to marry my brother? Bianca smiles
24:57sweetly. I wonder which household she's from. Such a kind heart. Mother should reward her generously.
25:01I turn and bow to them. It's me, Don Moretti. Senora. Dante stares. You're not mute. I shake
25:07my head. I can speak. Bianca just doesn't like my voice. She forbade me from talking. A few
25:11words, and Bianca's face drains of color. The matriarch grips my hand, her weathered face
25:15full of warmth. I had no idea you had such a treasure in your household. What loyalty.
25:19She wipes her eyes. But once you marry him, you'll be a widow for life. Are you sure? I bow
25:24low. No regrets. In my periphery, Dante's hand clenches at his side. He stares at me, disbelief
25:29written across his face. The matriarch pats my hand. Child, what do you want? Money? Jewels?
25:34Anything I can give? I will. I turn to Bianca. My gaze is cold. She forces a smile, unconsciously
25:39stepping back. After a long pause, I lower my eyes. I have a sister. Poppy. Please let her
25:44serve you, matri... Of course. Any servant in this house, I can reassign. With your devotion,
25:49I'll protect her for life. Bianca's smile strains. Mother, Poppy is my servant, part of my dowry.
25:54I don't mean to be selfish, but Dante cuts her off. Voice hard. She's just a servant. If mother wants
25:58her, give her. What's there to discuss? The matriarch's expression sours as she stares at
26:03Bianca. Bianca bites her lip and orders someone to fetch mine and Poppy's contracts. Poppy becomes
26:07the matriarch's personal attendant. The matriarch tells me that before she dies, she'll arrange a
26:13secure future for Poppy. I only wanted to free Poppy from Bianca's control. I didn't expect the matriarch
26:18to plan her entire life. Grateful, I promised to care for Silas with everything I had. At the
26:22mention of her cursed eldest son, the matriarch's eyes fill with tears. She tells me the story.
26:27When she was pregnant with Silas, there was an uprising. Insurgents and traders working together.
26:32The old dawn went to war. The battle was brutal. He nearly died. The matriarch, sick with worry,
26:36went into early labor. Silas was born without breath. By chance, the dawn returned victorious that
26:41night, bringing with him a doctor from the remote mountains. The doctor practiced strange,
26:45ancient medicine. He brought Silas back from death. It should have been a blessing.
26:48But the doctor warned. This was against nature. Silas would only live 30 years. And it was true.
26:53As a boy, Silas was too weak to train as a soldier. But his mind was sharp. He studied,
26:58took exams, excelled. But the older he got, the sicker he became. Eventually, he stopped leaving
27:03the compound. Now he lives in a cabin by the lake. Since I've agreed to marry him, I should stay
27:07by his
27:07side. He doesn't like being attended to, so only the doctor stays with him. The same mountain doctor
27:11from years ago. The doctor leads me into the inner room. Silas is still asleep. My eyes fall on his
27:16trembling lashes. He's two years older than Dante. 27 now. The brothers look nothing alike. Dante's a
27:21soldier. Tan, muscular, hard. Silas is delicate. Pale. Almost beautiful, if you ignore the gender.
27:26I asked the doctor about Silas's preferences. Temperament. Things to avoid. By sunset, Silas
27:31finally wakes. It's time for his medicine. I've spent all afternoon learning to brew it from the doctor.
27:38I kneel in front of him, holding the bowl above my head. You're the woman who's going to marry my
27:43corpse? Yes. He glances at me. Stand up. I rise obediently. Please drink your medicine,
27:50signore. He takes the bowl calmly, then tilts it, pouring the black liquid into a potted plant.
27:55I don't want to. What are you going to do about it? I stare at him in silence. The doctor
28:00told me
28:00Silas is deeply principled. Emotional. I asked what that meant. The doctor stroked his beard and told me an
28:06old story. At 13, Silas passed the civil exams. At 15, he ranked third in the nation. His name was
28:12everywhere. A brilliant political career waited for him. But the night before his appointment,
28:16he went to the lake with Dante. He fell in. His condition flared. He was unconscious for days.
28:21The matriarch, enraged, had every servant near him beaten, crippled, sold off. After that,
28:26the young master refused to let anyone serve him. I understand what the doctor's really saying.
28:30Silas isn't the type to see servants as objects. He was raised on philosophy and ethics. He has
28:35principles. Boundaries. He's different from Dante. The doctor stayed with him all these years without
28:40complaint. That says something about Silas's character. And Silas knows I'm going to marry
28:43him. But he's still lashing out at me. A strange, absurd thought forms in my mind. Seeing me stare,
28:48Silas's smile fades for a moment. Why do you keep looking at me? I quietly brew another bowl of
28:53medicine and return, my tone even. Signore, I can't force you to do anything. But since I'm marrying you
28:58eventually, I might as well. I stir the liquid slowly. I might as well exercise my wifely authority now.
29:05Silas looks genuinely shocked, as if he can't believe I'd say something so audacious.
29:10Either you drink the medicine now, or he almost laughs. Or what? I press my lips together. The
29:14doctor told me Silas hasn't taken his medicine in six months. That's why he's so close to death.
29:19If this continues, he really won't last much longer. I hesitate for only a second. Then I move
29:23quickly. I gulped a big mouth of the medicine. I gripped his jaw. I lean down and feed him the
29:28medicine
29:28mouth to mouth. Soft. Brief. His skin is cold. The moment our breath mingles, I shiver. Silas leans
29:35back slightly. His throat, pale and sharp, looking like it might break through his skin. A few seconds
29:40later, when I pull back, his face has flushed deep red, like mountain mist, at dawn. Those lashes
29:45flutter with indignation. Dante once flirted with a nun at a chapel. The nun's tear-streaked, humiliated
29:50face looked disturbingly like Silas's does now. I feel a flicker of guilt. But I promised the matriarch
29:55I'd take care of him. I suppress my racing heartbeat and force myself to stay calm. If you
29:59don't drink, I'll... I'll do it again. Silas glares at me, furious. After a long moment, he snatches
30:08the bowl from my hands and drains it in one gulp. The doctor, seeing Silas finally taking his medicine,
30:13is overjoyed. I lean forward to wipe the residue from his lips. The proximity makes him tense. In my
30:18periphery, that pale skeletal hand grips the blanket tightly. I speak gently. Signore, you've improved
30:24these past few days. You're not as cold anymore. It's because of the medicine. Silas says coldly,
30:29medicine is useless. I coax him patiently. The doctor works so hard brewing it for you. If you
30:33refuse every time, he'll be heartbroken. I hold out my hands, fingers spread. Look, brewing medicine
30:38requires constant temperature checks to preserve the potency. I've only been doing this a few days,
30:42and my hands already look like this. He's been doing it for years. My once smooth fingers are now
30:47covered in burns and blisters. Silas's gaze lingers on them. He presses his lips together,
30:51then irritably drinks the dregs at the bottom of the bowl. After that, he takes his medicine
30:55without argument. Half a month later, the doctor reports Silas's condition to the matriarch. He's
31:00genuinely improved. He's not teetering on the edge anymore. The matriarch asks cautiously,
31:04how did he recover so quickly? Is it a rally before the end? The doctor smiles, gesturing to me.
31:09Don't worry, matriarch. The young master is truly better. It's thanks to this girl. As I told you
31:14before, her life force is strong. It complements his perfectly. In the sitting room,
31:18all eyes turn to me. The matriarch's expression softens. She beckons me to sit beside her. She
31:23asks Silas, how has Alara been treating you? Silas is quiet for a second. She takes good care of me.
31:28The matriarch nods, pleased, her gaze growing warmer. Silas doesn't know. Alara used to serve
31:33my husband quite well too. The air goes still. I try to stay calm, but my hands shake uncontrollably.
31:41Silas looks at her, expression unreadable. He says evenly, is that how you speak to your future
31:45sister-in-law. The matriarch's warm expression hardens. She says slowly, your young daughter-in-law,
31:50but that's no excuse for disrespect. Dante snaps his head toward Bianca. Mother and my brother are
31:55here. Know your place. Bianca lowered her head. Hurt, her eyes glistening. Days pass. Poppy rushes to find
32:01me, bursting with news. From her, I learn. Bianca found another replacement. This time, she didn't
32:06choose from the household servants. She bought a woman from outside, trained and prepared, with a voice
32:11and build identical to hers. I'm confused. How do you know about this? Poppy says. That night, Dante
32:16suddenly lit every lamp in the room. Then he went insane, beat the woman half to death, and threw her
32:21at Bianca's feet. Bianca fainted. And then, Dante said since she won't share his bed, he won't go to
32:27her rooms anymore. They're sleeping separately now. I murmur acknowledgement. Separate bed words.
32:31That tells the whole compound their marriage is broken. No favor from her husband. No love from her
32:36mother-in-law. No children. No wonder Bianca looks so haggard. But Dante tolerated my substitution for
32:42years. He clearly didn't care about her using a replacement. So why, when she switched to someone
32:46else, did he turn on her? I don't know. And I don't want to know. The lake pavilion is surrounded
32:50by
32:51water, filled with fat coin. Silas sits with the matriarch, feeding the fish, making her laugh. His thin
32:56frame looks fragile in the night wind. I go back inside to fetch a shawl. On my way through the
33:00winding
33:01corridor, someone slams me against a pillar. A hand covers my mouth. I open my eyes wide, helpless.
33:06And in the dark, Dante's face looms close. His eyes are sharp, almost violent, as he demands,
33:12is it you or not? My heart sinks. I struggle. Speak. Or are you going to play mute again? His
33:19hand
33:20feels like a snake coiling around my face. You think staying quiet will save you? His voice drops. I
33:24don't need your voice to know. One night in bed, and I'll have my answer. I stare at him, shocked.
33:29Is he
33:29insane? I'm about to marry his brother. I'm his brother's woman now. How dare he? Dante studies me,
33:35voice ice cold. You've been my bed partner for three years, and now you're actually going to
33:39marry my elder brother. How dare you play us both? Especially me. Wouldn't being my bed warmer be
33:45better than being a widow? You really want to marry a dead man? I finally shove him off. I just
33:49wanted
33:49to survive. If I didn't do this, Bianca would have married me to an imbecile. By then, I'd be another
33:54man's wife. Even if Dante wanted to give me a title, he couldn't. I'd be trapped forever, an invisible
33:59shadow beneath him, satisfying his needs. Never a threat to Bianca. That was her plan. Dante clearly didn't know.
34:05While he's stunned, I stomp on his foot and run. Stumbling, gasping, I reach the light.
34:10Silas' silhouette appears suddenly at the end of the corridor. He's frowning. What took you so long?
34:16My heartbeat slows. The doctor chuckles. The young master was worried. He insisted on coming to find
34:21you. Silas makes a soft dismissive sound. I was worried she'd fall in the lake and disturb the fish.
34:26I build Silas a wheelchair. Pushing him around is better than having him bedridden all day.
34:31There's a small grove along the corridor. On the left, the lake. On the right, a spring trickling
34:35down from a rock formation. Silas likes sitting there. He collects spring water for tea and reads
34:40in the shade. I lean against the rock to rest. Half asleep, I hear Silas' voice. Why did you want
34:45to marry me? I jolt awake. I lean against the rock to rest. I say, I didn't want to marry
34:50an imbecile.
34:51Silas lowers his gaze. I thought as much. He stops talking to me after that. I lean against the rock
34:55to
34:55rest. Silas' condition stabilizes. The doctor needs to gather rare herbs just in case. To prepare for
35:01emergencies, he gives me a small wooden box with a thumb-sized insect inside. It's an old technique
35:07from his homeland. If I crush the box, it sends a signal across any distance. Before leaving, the
35:12doctor teases. Should I start calling you senora now? Please don't joke like that, doctor. A ghost
35:17marriage is not a real marriage. Even after Silas dies, the title of the eldest Moretti son's wife
35:22will never belong to a debt slave. My final destination is a convent, where I'll spend
35:27the rest of my life praying for Silas' soul in the next world. It's the unspoken deal I made
35:31with the matriarch. With the doctor gone, my responsibilities increase. I have to help Silas
35:36dress and bathe. The first time I try to wash him, his ears turn red and he struggles, insisting
35:43he'll do it himself. Staring at his flushed earlobes, I wonder, has he never let a servant bathe
35:50him? Even after marriage, Dante has seven or eight attendants during his baths. He treats
35:54us like cats or dogs. He doesn't care. Silas grits his teeth. Have you no shame? I smile
35:59bitterly where he can't see. If I were an innocent girl, I'd be too embarrassed. But I'm not anymore.
36:04There's a term for women like me. I thought about it for a long time until I finally saw
36:07it in a book. Damaged goods. The storybooks say women who've lost their virtue are damaged
36:12goods. I rest my chin in my hand, staring blankly. Someone drapes a coat over my shoulders.
36:16I turn. Silas' hand presses down on the book's cover. What are you reading now? I hide it
36:21behind my back, embarrassed. Silas has an enormous library. He treasures every book but lets me read
36:26whatever I want. When he's in a good mood, he'll even teach me, pointing out which books are worth
36:29studying. I recite a memorized poem to show off. Wow, our Alara is so talented. His tone is teasing.
36:35I'm annoyed. You're talking to me like I'm a child. How old are you? 18. I'm almost 10 years older
36:39than
36:39you. To me, you are a child. It makes a strange kind of sense. I zone out for a moment.
36:43Without realizing
36:44it, I've been with Silas for nearly two years. In that time, his body has been weak but stable.
36:49The doctor brews new medicines and performs strange rituals in the room, praying for Silas' longevity.
36:54Before the candles one night, the doctor tells Silas to make a wish. You make it for me. I freeze.
36:59A thousand thoughts flash through my mind. I say sincerely, I hope you're happy. What does that
37:04look like? I think for a moment. Healthy. Married to a high-born woman. Children. A successful career.
37:10Something like that. The candlelight flickers. Do you mean it? Our eyes meet. I look away. Does
37:14it matter if I mean it? What matters is that the doctor's prayers seem to work. Silas suddenly
37:19wants to leave the compound. I ask excitedly where we're going. He looks at me for a long
37:25time, then says, today is a special day. I heard there's a lantern festival in the city. Lantern
37:29festivals happen all the time. Nothing special about that. But I haven't been to one since I was sold
37:33to Bianca's household. I want to see it. To avoid alerting anyone, I push Silas out through the back gate
37:38of the lake pavilion. That day, a high-born lady is also touring the city with her entourage. In the
37:43sea of lanterns and people, she spots Silas immediately. The lady is young, passionate,
37:47bold. She walks right up and challenges him to a riddle contest. I don't remember who won. I only
37:52remember her eyes shining as she said, I lost Farron Square. Let me buy you dinner at the best
37:56restaurant in the city. Silas glances at me, asking if I want to go. I sigh quietly. If you go,
38:01I'll wait outside. In front of outsiders, I have to remember my place. The lady doesn't wait for an
38:05answer. She steps past me, delighted, and pushes Silas's wheelchair herself. She doesn't care that
38:10he's in a wheelchair. She doesn't care about his health. So many high-born women rejected Silas
38:14because of his condition. Watching them disappear into the crowd, I feel inexplicably hollow. I never
38:19had him. So why does losing him hurt this much? I stand in the cold wind for a long time.
38:23Then I
38:23remember, today is my birthday. The lady is the regent's only daughter, adored beyond measure. When the
38:30regent and his wife come to propose the match, the matriarch is more shocked than pleased. That's when I
38:34learn the truth. The lady didn't fall for Silas at first sight at the festival. Years ago, when Silas
38:39was still a brilliant young man, she'd already lost her heart to him. After he fell ill, she refused
38:43every suitor, waiting for this day. Silas's marriage becomes the talk of the compound. Even
38:48the news that Dante's mistress is pregnant gets buried. If this match succeeds, the matriarch will
38:52be overjoyed. But Silas already agreed to a ghost marriage. To marry properly now, that arrangement has
38:57to be dissolved. So I know what I have to do. Just like when I knelt before the matriarch and
39:01said I'd marry
39:01Silas in the first place. I go to the matriarch and say calmly, I'm willing to leave. Let Silas
39:05have his happiness. I had the doctor check Silas and the ladies' charts. They're a perfect match.
39:10The lady is high-born, accomplished in every art, and devoted to Silas. Even if he dies,
39:15she's willing to be his widow. There's no reason for me to stay. The matriarch, moved by my
39:19understanding, holds my hand and asks what I want. I hand over all the money I've saved over the years,
39:24then kneel. Please release me from servitude. The matriarch sighs. Child, you could ask me for so much
39:29more. I stay in the bowing position, unmoving. Tears roll down my cheeks, pooling on the stone floor.
39:34Poppy wants to come with me. I refuse. Life outside is hard. Staying here is easier. I tell her. As
39:39long
39:39as she serves the matriarch well and stays out of trouble, she'll have security and happiness. As
39:44her sister, this is the best future I can give her. Poppy nods through tears, shoving money into my bag.
39:49On my last day, many people come to see me off. Old friends, fellow servants. Unexpectedly, Dante is among
39:56them. He looks down at me. If you want, I'll make you my mistress right now. Serve me the way
40:00you used
40:01to, and I'll favor only you. I stare at him for a long time, then laugh bitterly. Dante's expression
40:05hardens. Don't give me that look. What, you think you're too good for me? You waiting for Silas to come
40:09beg you to stay? He sneers. You don't know, do you? The moment you leave, the lady moves into the
40:13lake
40:14pavilion. That's devotion. You took care of Silas so carefully, and for what? The second he's healthy, he
40:19doesn't need you. You did all that work for someone else's happy ending. In a few years, do you think
40:23Silas will even remember you? He's not even here to say goodbye. That's how little you mean to him.
40:27My heart clenches painfully. Under his triumphant gaze, my smile fades. Silas has been cold to me
40:32for a long time now. Our last real conversation ended on the way back from the festival.
40:37He asked if I was happy. I wiped my nose. Yes, Silas looked at me. Happy about the festival? I
40:42thought
40:42about it, then lied. No, I was happy seeing you with that lady. You looked perfect together. My wish is
40:47coming true. Silas's smile vanished instantly. His face went bloodless, expressionless. As he stared at me,
40:52you're happy seeing me with another woman. I rubbed my frozen hands, forcing cheer into my voice. A
40:57woman that beautiful might become the family's first lady. Of course I'm happy. Silas stared at me
41:01for a long time. He said, Alara, you really are heartless.
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