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Died Once She Won T Lose Again Fullepisode Silver Motion Complete Full EPS
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00:00:00My name was Skye Sterling, the last heiress of the Sterling family.
00:00:05But on the night I died, I had no husband beside me, only a cold, sickbed.
00:00:12My lady cannot hold on! Send for Lord Kendington!
00:00:15His lordship is with Lady Serafina. If my lady dies, bury her in the family tomb. Do not disturb him.
00:00:25The nuns lifted the speaking crystal, but Serafina's laughter came through first.
00:00:31Skye is pretending to be ill again. Tonight is Liam's night with me.
00:00:34If she wants to die, let her die. I have council business in the morning.
00:00:38In that moment, I finally understood. The man I had loved for five years found even my last breath inconvenient.
00:00:45Before darkness swallowed me, I had only one thought left.
00:00:49If I could live again, I would make them pay on their knees.
00:00:53When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to five years ago.
00:00:57The day Liam first brought his mistress to a noble banquet.
00:01:01My lady. His lordship ordered you to wear this plain grey gown.
00:01:05Lady Serafina said it would make you look proper.
00:01:09A mistress thinks she can choose my gown?
00:01:12His lordship said you must not steal Lady Serafina's attention tonight.
00:01:17I tore the grey gown apart in front of her.
00:01:20The ripping clothes sounded like my grave splitting open.
00:01:23Have you gone mad? His lordship ordered this himself.
00:01:26I am the lady of this castle. Get out.
00:01:32From the deepest part of my wardrobe, I took out the blood-red velvet gown my father had commissioned from
00:01:37a royal capital tailor.
00:01:39The banquet hall blazed with candlelight.
00:01:41Serafina stood at the entrance on my husband's arm, greeting guests as if she were Lady Kensington.
00:01:46Liam, will Skye really wear that grey gown? I worry people will laugh at her.
00:01:50She belongs quietly in a corner.
00:01:52The next second, the doors opened.
00:01:55Every eye turned to me.
00:01:57Good evening, my husband.
00:01:59And you, mistress.
00:02:02Mistress!
00:02:03Skye, you misunderstood. I'm a guest invited by Liam.
00:02:06Skye, apologize.
00:02:07Shut up. You're not qualified to boss me around.
00:02:10In the second floor gallery, a man raised his last name.
00:02:14Alistair Thorne, the exiled eldest son of House Thorne, and the only man who dared to stand against the Kensingtons.
00:02:20Interesting. The Kensington doormat has grown fangs.
00:02:23The Kensington anniversary banquet was also the preview auction for royal trade charters.
00:02:28The real show had only just begun.
00:02:32Next lot, a royal charter auction.
00:02:34The abandoned Northland quarry.
00:02:36Starting bit, 50,000 gold coins.
00:02:39That poison marsh, I would not take it for free.
00:02:42They did not know that in seven days, the king would build a royal free market there.
00:02:47In my last life, someone made half a kingdom from it.
00:02:51100,000 gold coins.
00:02:54Skye, are you mad? That land is worthless.
00:02:58I am buying it with the sterling money. It has nothing to do with you.
00:03:02Skye, are you only doing this to get Liam's attention?
00:03:05I spend my own money.
00:03:07A mistress does not get a vote!
00:03:09Apologize to her!
00:03:11Fine. I apologize.
00:03:13I should not have called you a mistress.
00:03:16Then what should you call me?
00:03:19Concubine.
00:03:21The nobles laughed under their breath.
00:03:25200,000.
00:03:26Alistair did not want the quarry.
00:03:28He was testing whether I was truly mad or knew something.
00:03:35250,000.
00:03:38Stop bidding. She knows something.
00:03:41250,000 gold coins sold!
00:03:46You will regret this.
00:03:48No, Liam.
00:03:49The one who regrets this will be you.
00:03:54But the royal auction required full payment within three days.
00:03:57After checking my dowry ledgers, I found I was still short 80,000 coins in ready money.
00:04:06Cancel the bid tomorrow morning and apologize to Serafina.
00:04:10Are you ordering me?
00:04:13I am your husband.
00:04:15A husband does not leave his wife to die on a sick bed.
00:04:18What nonsense are you talking about?
00:04:20Of course he did not understand.
00:04:22His cruelty from my last life had not happened to him yet.
00:04:26If you touch the joint reserve vault under Kensington and Sterling, I will freeze your access at once.
00:04:33Thank you for the reminder.
00:04:35I never planned to borrow those 80,000 coins from you.
00:04:44So I went to the Black Box Inn.
00:04:46It was no place for a noblewoman, but it was where monsters made deals.
00:04:50My lady, we do not entertain Kensington ornaments here.
00:04:53I handed the guard a slip of parchment.
00:04:55There was only one line on it.
00:04:57Give this to Alistair Thorn.
00:04:59North Harbor, warehouse number four.
00:05:01Smuggled weapons are hidden in the spice crates.
00:05:0880,000 gold coins?
00:05:10You want my money for one piece of information?
00:05:14Those weapons belong to your rival.
00:05:17If you seize them, he goes to the gallows.
00:05:19Why should I believe you?
00:05:22Because you have not killed me yet.
00:05:24That means you already half believe me.
00:05:26I can give you the money, but I want one condition.
00:05:30Say it.
00:05:31At the King's Trade Charter Ceremony, ruin Seraphina publicly.
00:05:35That is not a condition.
00:05:37It is a reward.
00:05:38Do not disappoint me, little oracle.
00:05:42My blood went cold.
00:05:45Little oracle was the name I had used in the shadows of my last life.
00:05:49How did he know it?
00:05:51The next day, I entered Count Thorn's castle in a gold gown,
00:05:55wearing the sterling emerald necklace.
00:05:57For the King's Trade Charter Ceremony,
00:05:59Liam wanted me modest, and Seraphina wanted me to be a shadow.
00:06:03But today, I chose to be the brightest light in the hall.
00:06:08Skye, you look beautiful today, but perhaps too noticeable?
00:06:14Do not worry.
00:06:15A woman who belongs in the dark only looks like a joke in the light.
00:06:19The moment I finished speaking,
00:06:22Seraphina walked towards Liam with reddened eyes.
00:06:25As she passed me, her shoulder suddenly tilted.
00:06:28Seraphina crashed into the old gardener carrying the reliquary.
00:06:31The reliquary hit the floor, its fragments scattering everywhere.
00:06:36Skye, why did you push me?
00:06:38My lady, Lady Kensington did not push you.
00:06:41You walked into me.
00:06:42How dare you lie for her?
00:06:45That was House Thorn's reliquary!
00:06:48Skye, have you lost your mind?
00:06:50Pushing someone in public?
00:06:54I did not push you.
00:06:56And making such a scene over a fake reliquary only makes you look worse.
00:07:00What did you say?
00:07:04This reliquary is fake.
00:07:05The saint's gesture is reversed.
00:07:07And the true relic would never be placed in a banquet hall.
00:07:11You are lying!
00:07:14My lady is correct.
00:07:16The true relic has always been locked in the chapel vault.
00:07:20She screamed over a fake?
00:07:22And she accused Lady Kensington of pushing her.
00:07:25How ugly.
00:07:28Seraphina, you only know how to cry, not how to behave like a noblewoman.
00:07:33I... I was only frightened.
00:07:37Then sit down.
00:07:39Stop embarrassing Liam.
00:07:43Seraphina's face turned pale.
00:07:45But she still refused to lose.
00:07:47Skye, I heard you play the harp very well.
00:07:50Why don't you play something to calm everyone down?
00:07:53She wanted me to embarrass myself in public.
00:07:55But she did not know that in my last life, I had turned my tears into blades through music.
00:08:00Skye, you are not afraid, are you?
00:08:02It is only one song.
00:08:03Then stand closer, so you can see clearly how you lose.
00:08:07I sat before the harp.
00:08:10I did not play a gentle court melody.
00:08:12I chose a salaband, a battle hymn for the dead.
00:08:17This is not banquet music.
00:08:19It sounds like a funeral bell on a battlefield.
00:08:23When did she learn to play like this?
00:08:27Impossible.
00:08:30A useless noblewoman?
00:08:32I think she looks like a blade just drawn.
00:08:37When the final note fell, the hall was silent except for the candles.
00:08:42Then applause exploded.
00:08:43Before the applause faded, Alistair had already slept to my side.
00:08:47His voice was low, but clear enough for me to hear.
00:08:4980,000 gold coins have been sent to your counting room.
00:08:53That abandoned quarry will become a royal free market.
00:08:56You told me such a valuable secret.
00:08:58Are you not afraid I will steal it?
00:09:01You do not want the quarry.
00:09:02You want to watch me drag House Kensington off its altar.
00:09:05Little Oracle, you keep surprising me.
00:09:07Before I could answer, the attendants at the entrance suddenly knelt.
00:09:10The man who could truly silence the room had arrived.
00:09:14Old Earl Thorne entered with his wolf-headed cane.
00:09:17He was one of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom.
00:09:20One word from him could shift half the capital.
00:09:23Lord Thorne, House Kensington has always hoped to...
00:09:28Move.
00:09:35Lord Thorne.
00:09:37Who are you?
00:09:39I am Seraphina, Liam's most important...
00:09:42Mistress?
00:09:44The hall fell silent.
00:09:48In my day, mistresses stayed in the shadows.
00:09:52Your presence here defiles this hall.
00:09:59On that stormy night, Liam helped the crying Seraphina into his carriage,
00:10:03yet left me, his lawful wife, outside Thorne Castle.
00:10:15Someone paid for your life, and someone wants to see whether your husband will save you.
00:10:20I saw the serpent tattoo.
00:10:21Silas, the former captain of the Thorn Guard, now hired to do noble's dirty work.
00:10:26I was tied to a wooden pillar in an abandoned mill.
00:10:29Barrels of black powder sat at my feet, and the fuse had already burned halfway down.
00:10:35I already sent Liam a letter.
00:10:38The place, the ransom, and your life were written clearly.
00:10:42So you do not want money.
00:10:43You want him to choose in front of me.
00:10:45Clever.
00:10:47Half an hour later, hoofbeats stopped outside the mill.
00:10:51Liam had actually come, but he carried no gold, only a bloodless face.
00:10:55Skye.
00:10:56Liam, cut the rope!
00:10:58The powder is about to explode!
00:11:00I cannot go in!
00:11:01If I enter, I will die!
00:11:03I am your wife!
00:11:05House Kensington cannot lose me!
00:11:08In that moment, I knew for certain that no matter how many lives I lived,
00:11:12Liam would always abandon me.
00:11:14It seems your life is worth less than his reputation.
00:11:20Alistair?
00:11:22The powder is lit!
00:11:24You cannot save her!
00:11:29The mill explosion failed to kill me.
00:11:33Three days later, the Kensington carriage delivered me into another trial.
00:11:39Theatrice Kensington was Liam's grandmother.
00:11:41The true ruler of House Kensington.
00:11:44She threw a parchment letter at my feet.
00:11:46It said my purchase of the Northland quarry for 250,000 gold coins had made me the joke of the
00:11:51city.
00:11:53Explain this.
00:11:55For now, it looks like I misjudged it.
00:11:58I did not explain.
00:12:00The fewer people knew the quarry's true value, the better.
00:12:03Misjudged it?
00:12:04You nearly died in a mill.
00:12:06People are already whispering that Liam lost his nerve,
00:12:09and now you used sterling money to buy wasteland.
00:12:11Do you want to ruin House Kensington's name?
00:12:15That night, he did run.
00:12:17Silence!
00:12:20A man's reputation is worth more than a woman's life.
00:12:24She was the same in my last life.
00:12:27She did not care whether I lived.
00:12:29She only cared whether House Kensington looked clean.
00:12:32The mill incident ends here.
00:12:34To outsiders, it was a bandit attack, and Liam arrived too late.
00:12:38And if I refuse, then I will manage the sterling trading house for you.
00:12:46If you fail to produce an heir within a year, your dowry, castle, and trading house will all pass into
00:12:52my hands.
00:12:53She finally revealed her true purpose.
00:12:56She did not want honor.
00:12:58She wanted the last sterling assets in my hands.
00:13:01There will be a reconciliation dinner tonight.
00:13:04Sit beside Liam and behave like a proper wife.
00:13:07Fine.
00:13:09I will attend.
00:13:12She thought I had lowered my head, but my application had already reached the cathedral school.
00:13:17At tonight's dinner, I would make Liam tear off his own dignity.
00:13:21That night, Beatrice arranged a reconciliation dinner.
00:13:25It was not for peace.
00:13:27It was to force me to cover Liam's cowardice.
00:13:30Three noble ladies will visit tomorrow.
00:13:32Tonight, you must sit beside Liam.
00:13:35As long as you dine with him, people can only say he arrived late, not that he ran.
00:13:41So running away can be dressed up as bravery?
00:13:43Do you still want to keep the sterling trading house?
00:13:47She threatened me with the trading house again.
00:13:49But this time, I already had a way out.
00:13:52Fine.
00:13:53I will eat quietly tonight.
00:13:56My lord, Lady Serafina sent word.
00:13:58She hurt her ankle and only wants to see you.
00:14:02Where is she?
00:14:03Sit down.
00:14:05Grandmother, she is hurt.
00:14:06If you walk out tonight, the whole city will know you abandoned your wife, fresh from an explosion, for your
00:14:15mistress.
00:14:15Then let them talk.
00:14:18He rose and left.
00:14:20Beatrice's face darkened.
00:14:22And for the first time, this dinner tasted good.
00:14:26After dinner, I pushed open the terrace doors.
00:14:28Liam had chosen Serafina again.
00:14:31Good.
00:14:32The more he chose, the more proof I had.
00:14:36You do not look like an abandoned wife.
00:14:39You trespassed just to laugh at me?
00:14:41Half to make sure my ally was still alive.
00:14:46And half to bring you good news.
00:14:48The quarry?
00:14:49Dear Sky,
00:14:50The quarry you bought for 250,000 gold coins will silence the entire capital tomorrow.
00:14:59Ballister placed a rolled parchment on the wrought iron table.
00:15:02The draft decree for that quarry has been entered into the Privy Council records.
00:15:07Sealed on page 400.
00:15:09No one has ever turned to that page.
00:15:11Except you and me.
00:15:13He lifted his hand and brushed a crumb of sauce from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
00:15:18Rough, yet impossibly light.
00:15:20I didn't pull away.
00:15:21I sat on a stone bench in the Cathedral School Courtyard.
00:15:25Before me lay Latin legal codes and debate outlines.
00:15:28Today was my entrance examination.
00:15:32A carriage jerked to a halt at the academy gates.
00:15:36Liam strode across the lawn, students scattering from his path.
00:15:40You want to embarrass me before all the nobles?
00:15:43A Kensington wife has no need to parade herself at the academy.
00:15:49He snatched the parchment from my hand, gripping my wrist.
00:15:54If I keep myself busy with my studies, I won't disturb you and Serafina.
00:15:59I didn't stand.
00:16:00I only looked up at him.
00:16:02Isn't this exactly what you asked for?
00:16:17Not many women dare scold their husbands at the academy gates.
00:16:21Ethan Vance, second son of the Vance family.
00:16:24Famous for gambling away his fortune on horse races and composing doggerels.
00:16:29Lord Vance, you're blocking the passage.
00:16:32I stood, brushed the dust from my skirt, and turned to walk into the examination hall.
00:16:39The examination hall was cold stone.
00:16:42I unrolled my paper, dipped my quill, and began to write.
00:16:47Someone leaned in from the row behind.
00:16:50Ethan Vance's breath was nearly against my nape.
00:16:53What should be written for question three?
00:16:55I'll trade you tonight's wine money for the answer.
00:16:57I didn't turn around.
00:16:59My quill kept moving across the parchment, and at the same moment,
00:17:02my boot heel kicked backward, landing precisely on his calf.
00:17:06His yelp drew every gaze in the silent hall.
00:17:09I kept writing, the corner of my lips barely lifting.
00:17:14My quill kept moving across the parchment.
00:17:16The examination was meant to last three hours.
00:17:19But after only one hour passed, I rose and handed in my paper.
00:17:27The proctor bishop leaped through my parchment, frowning.
00:17:30As I stepped out of the examination hall, a figure stood waiting in the blinding sunlight.
00:17:37Tiffany, Serafina's lackey and confident.
00:17:40She waited outside the examination room just to mock me.
00:17:43Sky Sterling only sat the exam for one hour.
00:17:48She must have bribed the proctor or handed in blank parchment.
00:17:52I stopped walking and looked at her.
00:17:55Public defamation within the cathedral precinct violates the code of conduct.
00:18:00Article 4, Supplemental Clause.
00:18:02Tiffany froze in place.
00:18:03Your citation will reach the disciplinary committee by noon.
00:18:09That evening, the annual Sterling Family Banquet.
00:18:12Thanks you all for coming and witnessing the improvement of the Sterling Trading House under my leadership.
00:18:18Uncle Arthur, he took over the Sterling Trading House after my father died and seized his legacy.
00:18:24I heard you've gone back to academy.
00:18:28The allowance Kensington gives you isn't enough for you?
00:18:31Aunt Petunia looked me up and down.
00:18:35A few distant cousins tittered.
00:18:37Liam set down his cutlery with a deliberate clink.
00:18:41He stood up.
00:18:44Aunt Petunia, Sky scored the highest marks on the entrance examination in a decade.
00:18:49And your son Victor, how much did he owe the gambling dens last month?
00:18:55The table fell immediately silent.
00:18:58Liam continued, as casual as if discussing the weather.
00:19:06By the way, Uncle Arthur, are you planning to quietly sell off 15% of the Sterling Trading House Partnership
00:19:12shares?
00:19:15He said a name.
00:19:17The Prophets Guild.
00:19:19Arthur's face went pale.
00:19:21Liam smiled after showing off his intelligence.
00:19:25But he still had no idea who owned the Prophets Guild.
00:19:30The Prophets Guild.
00:19:31That was my underground intelligence network.
00:19:34Arthur's cutlery trembled in his hands.
00:19:39Aunt Petunia had fallen utterly silent.
00:19:42The eyes of every relative towards me changed to suspicion.
00:19:45Liam was defending me now.
00:19:47They didn't know what any of this meant.
00:19:50The familiar messenger appeared again.
00:19:54Sir, it's Serafina.
00:20:00Liam rose once more.
00:20:02Left once more.
00:20:04I set down my napkin and turned to the attendant, sent by Alistair, who was behind me.
00:20:11Arthur is preparing to sell 15% of the Trading House Partnership shares to the Prophets Guild.
00:20:17Let him sign tonight.
00:20:19He vanished without a sound into the servant's passage.
00:20:23Aunt Petunia glared at me from the far end of the table.
00:20:26Her stare as if she wanted to swallow me whole.
00:20:28I smiled at her and raised my goblet.
00:20:31She had no idea.
00:20:33Once her husband signed that contract tonight, the master of the Sterling Trading House would no longer be him.
00:20:39That night, when Liam returned early from Serafina's tavern banquet, I was in the library of Kensington Castle.
00:20:50He stood in the doorway, collar loose, the smell of drink clinging to him.
00:20:56She was too noisy, and the cake was too sweet.
00:21:00I didn't answer.
00:21:01Kept reading the book in my hand.
00:21:04The next morning, Arthur burst into the breakfast room and slammed a handwritten news sheet before me.
00:21:15He read out the title loudly in front of Beatrice and Liam.
00:21:20Lady Kensington bribes Academy Proctor. Shame on you, Sky.
00:21:24You spent 200,000 gold pieces to buy your entrance exam result?
00:21:29Beatrice picked up the news sheet.
00:21:31Her hawk-headed cane was nearly pressed against my face,
00:21:34forging documents to frame a family member in order to manipulate guild share prices.
00:21:39I raised my head and looked directly at Arthur.
00:21:42In the crown court, that is called insider trading.
00:21:49Would you like me to write to the sheriff right now?
00:21:55Arthur's face drained to ash and pale.
00:21:59He stumbled three steps backward, crashed into the tea trolley behind him.
00:22:04To avoid being disturbed, I shall move to my residence in the city, to focus on my studies.
00:22:11Liam wanted to stop it, but didn't know how.
00:22:15I moved to the resident prepared by Alistair, registered under a shell trading house.
00:22:21The second night after moving in, I pushed open the window, and stepped onto the stone balcony.
00:22:28Isn't this the lady who kicked me in the examination hall?
00:22:33On the neighboring balcony stood a figure that seemed all too familiar.
00:22:38I moved into the most expensive tower in the city, and the only view is you?
00:22:44Lord Vance, this is my balcony, not your private view.
00:22:49He grinned.
00:22:53I turned my back to him, and couldn't help laughing either.
00:22:59She thinks she can escape me just by moving into the city?
00:23:04Just as his words faded, heavy footsteps sounded from the far end of the corridor.
00:23:09It was Serafina's shrill laughter.
00:23:11I have enrolled in the academy courses as well, she can't get rid of me.
00:23:15She was clinging to my husband, passing right by my door, deliberately making every word ring loud and clear.
00:23:24I closed the door and leaned back against the oak.
00:23:27Then I smiled.
00:23:28She was right.
00:23:30I really couldn't get rid of her.
00:23:33But every inch of ground she stood upon, was already in the palm of my hand.
00:23:39The most difficult subject in the cathedral school, canon property law, and Hanseatic League commercial code.
00:23:45I stood at the lectern, presenting my argument.
00:23:47But dark spots appeared before my eyes.
00:23:49I've gone through so many things over the past few days, and my body betraying me.
00:23:55Skye!
00:23:55Open your eyes!
00:23:57My knees hit the stone floor first.
00:23:59Someone caught me in the haze.
00:24:01Ethan lifted me into his arms.
00:24:03The wooden door crashed open.
00:24:05Liam stood there.
00:24:06When he saw me lying in Ethan's arms, his face twisted from shock into pure fury in an instant.
00:24:13Give her to me!
00:24:15She fainted.
00:24:16She needs air.
00:24:18If you touch my wife again, I will have you thrown out of this academy.
00:24:24Liam snatched me from him and carried me toward the door.
00:24:29I only remember one thing.
00:24:31Liam's hands were trembling.
00:24:33The infirmary sister at the Abbey Hospital loosened my clothing to examine me.
00:24:39She has countless wounds on her body, some still healing.
00:24:44Are these from...
00:24:44She fell down the stairs a few days ago.
00:24:47A bad fall.
00:24:48The sister did not dare press further.
00:24:51One did not press a Kensington.
00:24:53Move back to the estate.
00:24:57No.
00:24:58I can have the academy suspend you on medical grounds.
00:25:00Then I shall announce to the entire city that the Kensington family imprisons its wives.
00:25:08You may stay in the tower.
00:25:10I will hire a nutritionist and a coachman.
00:25:12You will dine with me every fortnight.
00:25:15Agreed.
00:25:15He was happy, thinking that I was once again that obedient wife.
00:25:19I needed to stay close enough to track every move of the Kensington Trading House.
00:25:25A few days later, I rode alone to the Black Fox Inn, outside the city walls.
00:25:32Ethan was in a private room on the second floor, surrounded by three minstrel girls laughing at his jokes.
00:25:40Is that Skye?
00:25:41What wind blows you here?
00:25:42I walked up to him and slapped a stack of parchment onto the table.
00:25:46Your records of evading the Lord's tariffs at the flamish trading post.
00:25:50How did you...
00:25:53Retrieve from the wastebasket in Liam's study.
00:25:55Next time, I may not be there to clean up your tracks.
00:26:01Why are you helping me?
00:26:03I need an ally who is not afraid of the Kensingtons.
00:26:06He was silent for a long moment.
00:26:10Then raised his goblet.
00:26:12You are far more terrifying than I imagined.
00:26:15I turned and pushed open the door.
00:26:17All I saw were the same meddlesome scribes.
00:26:21They specifically compiled the whispered conversations they overheard into sharp anonymous letters and sold them to all the noble in
00:26:29the city.
00:26:30Lady Kensington, in a midnight rendezvous with Lord Vance.
00:26:33I quickly made my way through the crowd without explanation.
00:26:41Behind me came the sound of hoofbeats.
00:26:43Alistair's men were sent to escort me.
00:26:45The moment I slipped into the carriage, I took out a note and handed it to the driver.
00:26:51Tell Thorne, Kensington Trading House shares price will full tomorrow.
00:26:55Let him buy it.
00:26:58The next morning, Liam saw the contents of that anonymous letter.
00:27:03Screw you, Ethan!
00:27:05How dare you mess around with a Kensington!
00:27:09He shattered his wine goblet against the wall.
00:27:12The very evening, Liam stood at the door of my tower.
00:27:15A lantern gripped in his hand.
00:27:20You will attend the Lord's banquet with me tomorrow, wearing the dress I give you.
00:27:25No.
00:27:26Then I will withdraw your tuition, and the lease is on this tower.
00:27:29You want a performance?
00:27:31My appearance fee is 5,000 gold pieces.
00:27:34The money belongs to me personally.
00:27:36And I want it right now.
00:27:37He ground his teeth, and wrote out a contract on the spot.
00:27:46The following dusk, the maid he sent arrived in my chamber.
00:27:50Carrying a pale pink satin gown.
00:27:53Docile, sweet.
00:27:54Like the seraphina he had in his mind.
00:27:56I casually threw it on the floor.
00:27:59And then took out another one from my closet.
00:28:04I was not wearing the pink he gave me.
00:28:06I wore a gown of deep crimson velvet.
00:28:08The neckline cut devastatingly low.
00:28:11Bear from collar bow downward.
00:28:13Liam stood at the foot of the stairs.
00:28:15Staring up at me.
00:28:22Let's get in the carriage.
00:28:26When he handed me into the carriage, his hand lingered on my waist far longer than necessary.
00:28:32Inside the carriage, he stared at my bosom.
00:28:35Like a man looking at something he had never truly possessed.
00:28:41At the banquet, I walked on his arm and smiled.
00:28:44He deflected every question for me.
00:28:47When he spoke, his voice carried a note of pride I had never once heard in five years of marriage.
00:28:56When he thought no one was listening, he called me that in a low whisper.
00:29:01I did not answer.
00:29:03I acted as if I didn't hear it.
00:29:05I only looked at the second floor gallery.
00:29:07There sat Alistair.
00:29:09He raised his glass ever so slightly.
00:29:12I will wait for you to finish the whole performance.
00:29:16That night, when we returned to Kensington Castle, Beatrice locked us in the bedroom.
00:29:22I have had the kitchen prepare the family's ancestral tonic.
00:29:26Two bowls of steaming herbal broth were placed on the table.
00:29:29This soup was so familiar, she had forced it upon me in my previous life.
00:29:34Drink every drop, Liam.
00:29:35You as well, Skye.
00:29:37She watched Liam swallow most of his bowl before turning to me.
00:29:41Drink it all.
00:29:43Every last drop.
00:29:44I raised the spoon to my lips, and each time she turned her head to berate a servant,
00:29:48I spat the liquid into the napkin on my lap.
00:29:51Then two guards escorted Liam and me back to the bedroom and locked the door.
00:29:55Liam's face was already flushed crimson.
00:29:58He tore at his collar and stumbled toward me, his gaze unfocused.
00:30:05Sarah.
00:30:05He looked at me with deep affection, saying Serafina's name.
00:30:09I tightened my grip on the candlestack on the table.
00:30:12The moment Liam's hand caught the hem of my gown,
00:30:15I smashed the candlestick onto his head.
00:30:20He crashed onto the carpet.
00:30:28My head.
00:30:29What happened last night?
00:30:31I was already seated in the chair by the window.
00:30:35I handed him a cup of water.
00:30:39You drank grandmother's herbal toner last night and collapsed.
00:30:43You struck your head on the stone mantle.
00:30:46He nodded, didn't press further.
00:30:50I went to the study.
00:30:52On the desk lay an anonymous letter, accusing me of being involved with Ethan.
00:30:58I picked it up.
00:31:00The paper has faint lines on it, belonging to a certain family.
00:31:05Tiffany's family.
00:31:06She was Serafina's attendant.
00:31:10I wrote a letter to Alistair to have him keep an eye on Tiffany.
00:31:14The front gate of the castle was broken open.
00:31:17Arthur and Petunia got out of the carriage and rushed straight to the study.
00:31:21That land was purchased with sterling family fields.
00:31:25It turned out the king had announced that the mine would be officially designated as a royal free market.
00:31:33The profits belong to the family.
00:31:35Your father signed this document before he died.
00:31:39All land transactions must be approved by the family council.
00:31:43Arthur held a parchment in his hand.
00:31:45I took a look.
00:31:46After father's stroke, his right hand had a persistent tremor.
00:31:49This signature is far too steady.
00:31:52He froze where he stood, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
00:31:57Furthermore, I have already sold that land to Alistair.
00:32:01Do you have the courage to go demand it from him?
00:32:08Arthur's face turned pale instantly.
00:32:10That night, I arranged to meet Alistair at the lookout terrace of the grandest hotel in town.
00:32:17Once the market opens, the flow of goods will triple.
00:32:21My mercenaries will clear the mountain passes.
00:32:23You will spread the word.
00:32:24Spread across the chamber was an enormous parchment map.
00:32:27Every trade route of the Northlands traced in full.
00:32:31He stood at the far side of the map, both hands braced on the table's edge.
00:32:35How did you know that abandoned quarry would become a market?
00:32:40So far in advance.
00:32:43I...
00:32:43Because you are the oracle, the shadow who sells intelligence to the highest bidder from
00:32:49the darkness.
00:32:50My hand holding the quill stopped in midair.
00:32:53I spent three years investigating.
00:32:56It was not until I met you that all the threads finally wove together.
00:33:02I will begin purchasing warehousing rights along the route tomorrow morning.
00:33:07His fingers moved across the map while his eyes were fixed on mine.
00:33:12Do not let the Kensingtons reach them first.
00:33:16We stood at the second floor railing of the hotel.
00:33:19The draft contract for the next harbor warehousing rights spread between us.
00:33:23Sky!
00:33:24Liam charged onto the second floor.
00:33:27He saw only me and the other man standing beside me.
00:33:30You're here with this traitor!
00:33:32His mouth opened to roar.
00:33:33I lifted the silver pitcher of ice water from the side table and dashed the entire contents
00:33:39into his face.
00:33:42What?
00:33:44Everyone in the hotel was watching him.
00:33:47The inn's head guard climbed the stairs and placed a firm hand on Liam's shoulder.
00:33:52My lord, this way.
00:33:56I looked down at the damp, wrinkled edge of the contract and smoothed it flat once more.
00:34:02By the third port, on the western shore.
00:34:05That is the location he will think to seize last.
00:34:10Understood.
00:34:16He raised his glass to me with the slightest tilt.
00:34:20Alistair drove me back to the tower.
00:34:26And stood at the foot of the stone steps for a long while.
00:34:31The next morning, my maid returned from the Kensington estate.
00:34:35Last night, his lordship sat alone in the study.
00:34:38The butler passed by and heard him weeping.
00:34:40I did not respond, the maid kept saying.
00:34:43Facing the fireplace.
00:34:45Not a single word spoken.
00:34:48Just being there until dawn.
00:34:50Five years ago.
00:34:51His tears would have kept me awake all night.
00:34:57Now, I only wanted to confirm one thing.
00:35:01Late that night, I changed into a dark riding habit.
00:35:06And rode alone.
00:35:08Back, to Kensington Castle.
00:35:11The night watchman was already passed out drunk in the gatehouse.
00:35:15The whole castle was silent.
00:35:16As a stone sarcophagus, I climbed the stairs barefoot.
00:35:22The will box my mother had left behind, and the emerald ring inside it.
00:35:28I had to find it.
00:35:31The former master chamber had stood empty since I moved out.
00:35:34Dust covered the vanity table.
00:35:36The wardrobe held only a few gray plain dresses.
00:35:39I opened the hidden compartment of the jewelry box.
00:35:41It was empty.
00:35:42You shouldn't have come back.
00:35:44The voice was a ghost.
00:35:46A memory I had tried to bury.
00:35:47You came back.
00:35:48I knew you would come back.
00:35:50I smelled the alcohol.
00:35:51Empty bottles scattered at his feet.
00:35:53Liam sat in the armchair by the window.
00:35:56He rose.
00:35:57And stumbled toward me.
00:35:58Sky.
00:36:00My sky.
00:36:01His fingers twisted into my hair.
00:36:03You are mine.
00:36:05Always have been.
00:36:06He bent his face down, trying to kiss me for the purpose of possession.
00:36:09Let go.
00:36:13I will not let go.
00:36:15You are my wife.
00:36:16I fought back.
00:36:17His hands tightened.
00:36:18My nails raked across his left cheek.
00:36:21You.
00:36:21He stumbled backward.
00:36:23The back of his skull striking the stone mantelpiece with a dull, heavy thunt.
00:36:28You disgust me.
00:36:30I finally found a hidden compartment in the bed.
00:36:32And inside it was precisely that emerald ring.
00:36:35I turned around without hesitation, and stepped directly out of the door.
00:36:39Behind me came the sound of his strangled, broken sobs.
00:36:43Back in my tower, I wrote a formal notice by candlelight.
00:36:46On the envelope, I wrote the Lombard Bank's address.
00:36:49All joint deposit agreements of the Kensington household are suspended from this day forward.
00:36:53Without the personal presence of this lady bearing her seal,
00:36:56no one is authorized to withdraw funds or make purchases on credit.
00:37:00Today a shipment of eastern silk had arrived at the town drapers.
00:37:04I knew Serafina would drag Liam there, to buy.
00:37:07She never missed a chance to show off.
00:37:10Liam!
00:37:11I want this one!
00:37:12Buy the whole bolt!
00:37:14Just as I expected.
00:37:16When I entered the upper gallery, her voice was already drifting up from below.
00:37:20My Sarah deserves the best.
00:37:22First, I'll buy you everything.
00:37:25I leaned against the upper railing and just watched.
00:37:31My lord, the order from the Lombard Banking House arrived this morning.
00:37:35The funds under your name can only be accessed with your wife's consent.
00:37:41What?
00:37:42This must be a misunderstanding!
00:37:45Liam!
00:37:46Tell him it's a misunderstanding!
00:37:49No.
00:37:50It was I who suspended them.
00:37:54I walked slowly down the stairs.
00:37:57The moment Liam saw me, his pupils contracted.
00:38:04You!
00:38:07That bolt of silk.
00:38:08I'll take it.
00:38:09Yes, my lady.
00:38:11Next day, when I walked into the academy courtyard in a fresh new dress,
00:38:15I found the stone walls plastered with news sheets.
00:38:18Lady Kensington's midnight rendezvous with the vaunt scoundrel.
00:38:23Ethan was already standing before the wall,
00:38:25tearing down every sheet one by one.
00:38:30Who posted these?
00:38:32Step forward!
00:38:34Behind the stone pillars of the second floor arcade,
00:38:37Serafina stood there,
00:38:39a smile curling her lips.
00:38:41I pulled down one of the sheets
00:38:46and caught a strange scent.
00:38:49Calm down, Ethan.
00:38:51But they...
00:38:52I'll figure it out.
00:38:53I passed a note to the guard Alistair had assigned me.
00:38:58I wrote down the person who did this
00:39:02and asked Alistair to help me find the evidence.
00:39:05That afternoon, I walked along the path.
00:39:09Jessica and Tiffany each carried a silver tray
00:39:12laden with cream cakes,
00:39:14the cream far darker than normal.
00:39:18Oh!
00:39:19Jessica tripped as she passed me.
00:39:21Her whole body tilted towards me
00:39:23and the cake flew straight at my chest.
00:39:26I sidesteaded.
00:39:27The cream cake crashed onto the ground
00:39:29and splattered all over Tiffany's dress.
00:39:32Ah!
00:39:35My dress!
00:39:36This is brand new!
00:39:38Students heard the sound and gathered around.
00:39:43You two, stay away from her.
00:39:47Ethan stormed through the gate
00:39:49and backed both girls into the corner.
00:39:51Serafina squeezed out from the crowd.
00:39:53A copper coin pinched between her fingers.
00:39:56Skye, this is for you.
00:39:59I heard that you are broke.
00:40:01You must be distressed.
00:40:03I took one step forward,
00:40:05closing the distance
00:40:06until barely a palm's width separated us.
00:40:08Next time you ask Jessica's family workshop
00:40:11to transcribe your little news sheets,
00:40:13tell them not to use their own special ink.
00:40:15That smell, too obvious.
00:40:17The copper coin slipped from her fingers
00:40:20and clinked across the ground
00:40:21into the puddle of grease.
00:40:24She stood rooted where she was,
00:40:26her lips trembling.
00:40:28You are lying.
00:40:30A few days later,
00:40:32I deliberately took a carriage
00:40:34to an estate perched on the seaside cliffs.
00:40:39A property my mother had left behind,
00:40:42held in trust by the abbey all these years.
00:40:48Serafina had followed my carriage
00:40:49all the way to the iron gates.
00:40:53What kind of rural area does she go to?
00:40:56So isolated.
00:40:58She watched me walk through the estate entrance.
00:41:02Gates she could not pass.
00:41:03This estate belongs to the Sterling Family Trust.
00:41:07Purchased 11 years ago
00:41:09by the late Lady Eleanor Sterling.
00:41:12The sole beneficiary
00:41:14is Skye Sterling.
00:41:17Impossible.
00:41:20Liam said you were broke.
00:41:26Serafina clutched the iron bars
00:41:29and sank to her knees on the gravel.
00:41:38You spent all his money
00:41:40and still hanging around there.
00:41:42This estate was left to me by my mother
00:41:45long before I ever knew Liam.
00:41:47The fishermen and estate servants
00:41:50standing nearby
00:41:51exchanged glances.
00:41:53Please!
00:41:55Give him back to me!
00:41:57Give his money back to me!
00:42:00I turned and walked through the gates
00:42:02without looking back.
00:42:04Two days later,
00:42:05the college representative
00:42:06summoned all the people.
00:42:08Jessica Mills.
00:42:10Posting defamatory illustrations.
00:42:12The evidence is conclusive.
00:42:13Suspension for one term.
00:42:15No!
00:42:16It was Serafina!
00:42:18She told me to do it!
00:42:23Jessica!
00:42:24How could you say that?
00:42:26You're lying!
00:42:28Tiffany, you were there!
00:42:30Tiffany kept her head down
00:42:32and said nothing at all.
00:42:34See, I even wrote her letters
00:42:35urging her not to do anything foolish.
00:42:38Serafina pulled out some letters
00:42:40she had clearly prepared long before
00:42:42it read the words he said to Jessica.
00:42:44After the hearing,
00:42:46Jessica sat in a corner,
00:42:47sobbing.
00:42:49I passed by.
00:42:51She was never your friend.
00:42:56You are just a tool.
00:42:58The next day,
00:43:00the debate examination results were posted.
00:43:03Next to my name was written
00:43:05the highest grade.
00:43:07Serafina stood a few paces behind me.
00:43:10Staring fixedly at me,
00:43:12beside her own name
00:43:12was written only one word.
00:43:15Fail.
00:43:17That evening,
00:43:18the Quinn family held a banquet
00:43:20at their cliff castle,
00:43:21celebrating Harper's return.
00:43:23Harper Quinn,
00:43:24my childhood friend,
00:43:26just returned from studying weaving in Milan.
00:43:28Sky, you've finally come!
00:43:30This blue silk gown is stunning!
00:43:32I stood by the terrace
00:43:34and watched Serafina squeeze through a side entrance.
00:43:39She was dragging a man behind her.
00:43:42Alderick,
00:43:43the freight steward of Kensington Trading,
00:43:46notorious for gambling at the dockside taverns.
00:43:49Serafina held an empty glass and walked up to me.
00:43:54Refill.
00:43:55Refill.
00:43:57You may be mistaken.
00:43:59Those wearing black are the servants.
00:44:02I am wearing blue silk.
00:44:05You're nothing but...
00:44:10Stuart Alderick,
00:44:12Kensington's internal audit,
00:44:14is currently reviewing your freight accounts.
00:44:18Are you certain bringing her here tonight
00:44:20was a wise decision?
00:44:22She begged me to bring her!
00:44:24She said if I'd be her escort,
00:44:26she'd help pay my gambling debts!
00:44:28Alderick, shut up!
00:44:29The hall erupted in murmurs.
00:44:33Remove the trash.
00:44:35She's disturbing the guests' enjoyment.
00:44:39Alistair descended the stairs,
00:44:41nodded to the head guard.
00:44:48Lord Kensington has my back!
00:44:51You cannot treat me like this!
00:44:53Let go!
00:44:55She screamed the whole way
00:44:56as two guards dragged her out by the arms.
00:45:02No one looked back.
00:45:04That night,
00:45:06I returned to my tower.
00:45:08The maid brought me the news.
00:45:10My lady,
00:45:12his lordship,
00:45:13has taken Lady Serafina
00:45:14into the castle.
00:45:16He has placed her
00:45:17in one of the guest chambers.
00:45:21Go to my old chamber.
00:45:23Clear out everything
00:45:24that belongs to her.
00:45:27Do not let her scent
00:45:28touch a single thread of mine.
00:45:30The next day,
00:45:31my maid burst into my room.
00:45:35My lady!
00:45:36The Dowager Lady Beatrice
00:45:38would not accept that mistress!
00:45:39She stormed into the castle
00:45:41and threw that mistress out!
00:45:42His lordship even had to sell
00:45:44his personal carriage
00:45:45just to find a place
00:45:47to put her!
00:45:49That evening,
00:45:51I went to a private room
00:45:52on the second floor
00:45:52of the Black Fox Inn.
00:45:54Not for Serafina's misfortune,
00:45:56but to celebrate
00:45:57that the Lombard Banking House
00:45:58had finally made the freeze
00:46:00on all Kensington
00:46:01joint deposit agreements
00:46:02permanent.
00:46:04The door crashed open.
00:46:07Liam stood in the doorway,
00:46:09his eyes bloodshot.
00:46:10Skye!
00:46:12You're here celebrating?
00:46:14How dare you!
00:46:16He charged forward
00:46:18and seized my wrist.
00:46:19I dashed the wine
00:46:20in my glass
00:46:21straight into his face.
00:46:24His head swiveled
00:46:26and he caught sight
00:46:26of Alistair,
00:46:27seated in the corner booth.
00:46:30He threw a punch.
00:46:34Alistair caught the fist
00:46:35with a single hand.
00:46:37He wrenched Liam's arm
00:46:39behind his back
00:46:39and shoved him hard
00:46:40against the stone wall.
00:46:42Go back to your own guest,
00:46:43Kensington.
00:46:48Then he lifted me bodily
00:46:50from the chair.
00:46:53As he carried me past Liam,
00:46:55he glanced down at him once.
00:46:57The next morning,
00:46:58I woke in my own chamber.
00:47:01Alistair was seated
00:47:02in the chair beside my bed,
00:47:04holding a cup of hot tea
00:47:05toward me.
00:47:07You were terribly drunk
00:47:08last night.
00:47:09Drink this tea.
00:47:11My lady,
00:47:12Lord Kensington
00:47:13is downstairs.
00:47:15He says he wishes
00:47:16to see you.
00:47:17From this day forward,
00:47:19I do not receive
00:47:20his messages.
00:47:23Alistair kept his head down,
00:47:25slicing an apple.
00:47:27The corner of his mouth
00:47:29lifted,
00:47:30nearly imperceptible.
00:47:34Beatrice stormed
00:47:35into my tower
00:47:36that very afternoon.
00:47:38Liam's trust fund
00:47:39has been frozen.
00:47:40If you are going to leave,
00:47:41leave quietly.
00:47:44The Kensington Trading House
00:47:46cannot survive
00:47:47a second scandal.
00:47:49Very well.
00:47:50But I have conditions.
00:47:52I took out
00:47:53the two sheets of parchment
00:47:54I had prepared
00:47:55long before
00:47:56and pushed them
00:47:57across the desk.
00:47:59First,
00:47:59the deed to my mother's
00:48:01seaside villa
00:48:02is to be transferred
00:48:03to my name immediately.
00:48:05Second,
00:48:06I will no longer
00:48:07bear any joint guarantee
00:48:09for Kensington's debts.
00:48:10She stared at me
00:48:11for a long,
00:48:12long moment.
00:48:15You,
00:48:16you prepared these
00:48:17ahead of time.
00:48:18Please sign.
00:48:20She signed her name,
00:48:22stroke by stroke.
00:48:23You no longer have
00:48:24the Kensington family's support.
00:48:26No.
00:48:26It is the Kensington family
00:48:28that no longer has me.
00:48:30Liam's messenger
00:48:31still appeared
00:48:31at my tower door
00:48:32every day.
00:48:34He said he wanted
00:48:35to see me.
00:48:36Very well.
00:48:37Let him sign over
00:48:38the right-of-way deed
00:48:39for that old post road
00:48:40to me.
00:48:45What do you want
00:48:46with this useless post road?
00:48:48Sign,
00:48:48or not.
00:48:50I'll sign.
00:48:51But I have one condition.
00:48:53You will attend
00:48:54the Hanseatic League
00:48:55celebration tomorrow
00:48:56with me.
00:48:57And we will be
00:48:58a loving couple.
00:48:59Deal.
00:49:01He didn't know
00:49:02this abandoned post road
00:49:04would become
00:49:04the throat through which
00:49:06all Northland's freight
00:49:07must pass.
00:49:08When I walked into
00:49:09the hall on Liam's arm,
00:49:10the right-of-way deed
00:49:11bearing the Kensington
00:49:12wax seal
00:49:13was already tucked
00:49:14inside my sleeve.
00:49:16He just signed it.
00:49:18Harper's maid
00:49:18intercepted me
00:49:19in the corridor,
00:49:20her voice trembling.
00:49:22My lady,
00:49:23the Quinn family's
00:49:24cargo ship
00:49:25was seized at the harbor.
00:49:26An entire shipment
00:49:27of silk from Milan
00:49:28anonymously reported
00:49:30for concealing contraband.
00:49:32It was Liam.
00:49:35I pushed open
00:49:36the wooden doors
00:49:36of the banquet hall,
00:49:37cut through the crowd,
00:49:39and walked straight up
00:49:40to Liam.
00:49:42I put a sheet of parchment
00:49:44into his palm.
00:49:45What is this?
00:49:47These are
00:49:48the transfer records
00:49:49of paying off
00:49:50the gambling debts
00:49:51of Serafina's mother.
00:49:53Do you want
00:49:53the whole city to know
00:49:54that you used
00:49:56the Kensington's money
00:49:57to support
00:49:58your mistress's family?
00:50:01you?
00:50:02How did you get these?
00:50:05How did you...
00:50:06Withdraw the complaint
00:50:08against the Quinn
00:50:09trading house,
00:50:10or everyone here
00:50:11will know it.
00:50:16I'll send someone
00:50:17to the harbor.
00:50:19Good.
00:50:25That day I went
00:50:26to the seaside estate
00:50:27my mother had left me.
00:50:29Harper came
00:50:30and stayed with me.
00:50:32Another letter
00:50:33from Liam arrived.
00:50:36He's moved in as well?
00:50:37The same estate?
00:50:39The same gate?
00:50:42I looked out of the window
00:50:43and saw a small stone house
00:50:45next to the seaside estate.
00:50:49Liam used the remaining money
00:50:50to buy the place.
00:50:52Today is the day
00:50:53they move in.
00:50:56Sky.
00:50:57Eighty years ago
00:50:58it housed the grooms
00:50:59and laundry women.
00:51:00No fireplace,
00:51:02only a coal stove.
00:51:04Does she know?
00:51:05She's standing at the doorway
00:51:07bossing the servants around.
00:51:09I don't think so.
00:51:17A few days later,
00:51:19I found Ethan
00:51:20in the academy library.
00:51:23I placed a blank invitation
00:51:25to the Vance family's
00:51:26year-end banquet
00:51:27before him.
00:51:28Let Serafina
00:51:29get hold of this.
00:51:30Let her fill in
00:51:31her own name.
00:51:36My brother Julian
00:51:37will check.
00:51:38He won't stop it.
00:51:39And the truth was
00:51:40Julian had already
00:51:41learned everything
00:51:42through his
00:51:43intelligence network.
00:51:44He agreed as well.
00:51:48The night of the banquet,
00:51:51Serafina arrived
00:51:51in an outrageous gown
00:51:53of layered pink tulle.
00:51:55She swept into the hall
00:51:57on Liam's arm.
00:52:00Serafina.
00:52:01Jessica burst out
00:52:02holding a stack
00:52:03of parchment IOU notes
00:52:05high above her head.
00:52:06She owes me money.
00:52:07She swindled
00:52:09even my living allowance
00:52:10to pay off
00:52:11her gambling debts.
00:52:12You're lying.
00:52:13Serafina collapsed
00:52:14dramatically to the floor
00:52:16in a performance
00:52:16worthy of the stage.
00:52:18Sarah,
00:52:18don't embarrass
00:52:19yourself here.
00:52:20Unexpectedly,
00:52:21she was exposed
00:52:22by Liam.
00:52:23Serafina was
00:52:24extremely anxious
00:52:25and desperately
00:52:26sought another way
00:52:27to salvage
00:52:28the situation.
00:52:29Serafina looked
00:52:30around the room
00:52:31and grabbed her own
00:52:31shoulder strapu
00:52:32and tore it
00:52:33with all her strength.
00:52:34the tulle ripped apart
00:52:35at her fingertips
00:52:36with a shriek.
00:52:37Ethan Vance,
00:52:38it was you.
00:52:39You reached out
00:52:40and touched me
00:52:41during the chaos.
00:52:42You tried to rip my gown.
00:52:43What did you say?
00:52:44I never came
00:52:45anywhere near you.
00:52:46Just now,
00:52:47when you pass by me.
00:52:50Ethan,
00:52:51did you touch her?
00:52:52Touch who?
00:52:53I've been standing here
00:52:54the whole time.
00:52:55The nobles murmured
00:52:56among themselves,
00:52:57some gazes already
00:52:58shifting toward Ethan.
00:52:59Her hand remained
00:53:01pressed against
00:53:01the shoulder strap,
00:53:02not to cover it,
00:53:04but to display it.
00:53:05A figure,
00:53:06descended slowly
00:53:07from the spiral staircase,
00:53:09landing on the second floor.
00:53:10My attendant was
00:53:12standing behind
00:53:12the third pillar
00:53:13on the eastern side,
00:53:15his position faced
00:53:16directly towards
00:53:17this lady's skirts.
00:53:18I asked him,
00:53:20who tore the gown?
00:53:23It was this lady.
00:53:25She tore it herself.
00:53:37Take her out.
00:53:46After the banquet ended,
00:53:48Alistair found me
00:53:49on the terrace.
00:53:50Hatred is the stepping stone
00:53:51to indifference.
00:53:53Then he lowered his head
00:53:55and pressed a gentle kiss
00:53:57to my forehead.
00:53:59That very same night,
00:54:00after the banquet ended,
00:54:02Liam cornered me
00:54:03in a bend
00:54:04of the stone corridor.
00:54:07Stop right there.
00:54:12When no one was looking,
00:54:14he ceased to see my hair
00:54:17and shoved me
00:54:18into the shadows
00:54:19where the carriages
00:54:19waited.
00:54:21That post road
00:54:22right of way,
00:54:23you knew it would
00:54:24increase in value.
00:54:25You tricked me.
00:54:27It was a fair trade.
00:54:29No one forced you
00:54:31when you signed.
00:54:32You are mine!
00:54:34You are not to stand
00:54:35beside him!
00:54:37His fingers dug
00:54:38into my throat.
00:54:40His eyes read
00:54:42as a mad dog's.
00:54:44I did not struggle.
00:54:46I looked at him quietly.
00:54:48Squeeze harder.
00:54:50Then tomorrow
00:54:51the whole county
00:54:52will know
00:54:53that Lord Kensington
00:54:54is a murderer.
00:54:56You!
00:54:56He froze.
00:54:57His hand loosened.
00:54:59I drew out
00:54:59the small copper mirror
00:55:00I carried with me
00:55:01and examined
00:55:03the marks
00:55:03blooming on my throat.
00:55:05You'd better pray
00:55:06that everyone believes.
00:55:07These scratches
00:55:08were just an accident.
00:55:10The next morning,
00:55:11Liam appeared
00:55:12at my tower door again.
00:55:13In his hands,
00:55:15a bouquet of white roses
00:55:16and a small velvet box.
00:55:19Skye!
00:55:19Let me in!
00:55:21I've thrown
00:55:22Seraphina out.
00:55:23Let's start over.
00:55:28This ring.
00:55:29It's bigger
00:55:30than the last one.
00:55:32Liam!
00:55:33You can't leave me!
00:55:34Before I could speak,
00:55:36Seraphina came
00:55:36charging up,
00:55:37clutching her skirts.
00:55:39You promised me!
00:55:41Why did you follow me?
00:55:46You came here
00:55:47to give her a ring?
00:55:49What am I to you?
00:55:56I reached out
00:55:57and took the velvet box.
00:55:59Liam's eyes lit up.
00:56:01Then I took two steps
00:56:03toward the door
00:56:03and hurled it out.
00:56:05Get out!
00:56:06Both of you!
00:56:12A few days later,
00:56:14the Kensington family
00:56:15held a charity banquet
00:56:16at the castle.
00:56:18I came,
00:56:19not for Liam,
00:56:21but to announce something.
00:56:23I wore a black gown
00:56:25with a plunging necklight.
00:56:26No jewels adorned my throat,
00:56:28only a thin dusting
00:56:30of pearl powder
00:56:30over the bruise.
00:56:31On her neck?
00:56:33Are those finger marks?
00:56:35Don't stare.
00:56:39Ladies and gentlemen,
00:56:41this is a respected
00:56:42notary clerk
00:56:43of the cathedral
00:56:43and I have invited him
00:56:45to announce the divorce.
00:56:48He stopped in the center
00:56:49of the banquet hall
00:56:50and publicly unfurled
00:56:52a parchment petition.
00:56:54Ahem.
00:56:56Skye Sterling,
00:56:57on grounds of her husband's
00:56:59open concubinage
00:57:00and physical assault.
00:57:02After hearing the reason,
00:57:03the guests stared
00:57:04at my scar
00:57:05and the entire hall
00:57:07fell silent.
00:57:08Hereby formally submits
00:57:09to the diocesan bishop's court
00:57:10a preliminary petition
00:57:12for separation maintenance
00:57:14and annulment.
00:57:15Liam stood at the far end
00:57:17wine glass clutched
00:57:18in his hand,
00:57:19rooted to the spot
00:57:20as if nailed there.
00:57:25Skye,
00:57:26you can't.
00:57:28I already have.
00:57:29After the banquet was over,
00:57:31when I was about
00:57:32to get into the carriage,
00:57:34Liam caught up with me.
00:57:38Skye,
00:57:39have you really made up
00:57:40your mind?
00:57:41I ignored him
00:57:42and got into the carriage
00:57:43directly.
00:57:45He kept standing
00:57:47at the door,
00:57:49but it seemed
00:57:50that he was looking
00:57:51at the carriage
00:57:53rather than at me.
00:58:00After the banquet,
00:58:01my carriage traveled
00:58:02along the coastal mountain road.
00:58:04My lady,
00:58:05the carriage is speeding up,
00:58:06the brake rope is broken.
00:58:10There's a sharp bend ahead.
00:58:14I pulled aside the curtain.
00:58:16Ahead was a sharp bend,
00:58:18beyond it the cliff.
00:58:20The coachman hauled
00:58:21distressfully on the reins,
00:58:22but the brake cord's knot
00:58:23had been cut.
00:58:24Pull to the inside!
00:58:26Scrape the wheels
00:58:27against the cliff
00:58:27to slow down!
00:58:33The carriage came to a halt
00:58:35less than two feet
00:58:36from the cliff's edge.
00:58:41I scrambled out of the carriage
00:58:43and crawled beneath it.
00:58:44The axle pin
00:58:45had been deliberately
00:58:45sawed through.
00:58:47This was no accident.
00:58:50It was murder.
00:58:55I told the coachman
00:58:56to drive straight
00:58:57to the converted
00:58:57servant's quarters,
00:58:59where Liam was living.
00:59:00I pushed open the door.
00:59:01He sat on the chair,
00:59:02staring into a mug
00:59:03of cheap ale.
00:59:06At this hour,
00:59:07I threw the broken fragments
00:59:08of the axle pin
00:59:09onto the floor before him.
00:59:11He stared at the pieces,
00:59:12his eyes wide with shock.
00:59:15You sawed it
00:59:15through yourself
00:59:16to frame me.
00:59:17What did you say?
00:59:20This is exactly
00:59:21the sort of thing
00:59:22you would do.
00:59:22I suddenly laughed.
00:59:24I knew it wasn't him,
00:59:25he didn't dare to do that.
00:59:27It was Victor.
00:59:28My cousin.
00:59:29He holds a grudge
00:59:30against me
00:59:31because I didn't give him
00:59:32his share
00:59:32from the Sterling Trading House.
00:59:37The next morning,
00:59:38I set out
00:59:39for the Sterling Trading House
00:59:40Council of Elders.
00:59:41Victor had stolen a carriage
00:59:43and came charging out
00:59:44from a sidetrack
00:59:45on the mountain road.
00:59:48Go to hell,
00:59:50you bastard!
00:59:51Die!
00:59:52My carriage was shoved
00:59:54toward the cliff's edge.
00:59:57This guy!
00:59:58Watch out!
00:59:58Liam came charging out
01:00:00from the side path
01:00:01on horseback.
01:00:03Pulled me from the carriage
01:00:05and was himself struck
01:00:06by Victor's oncoming cart
01:00:08and thrown violently
01:00:09me through the air.
01:00:11No!
01:00:12No!
01:00:16I was thrown into the brush
01:00:17at the roadside.
01:00:20By the time I staggled
01:00:22to my feet,
01:00:22Victor had already fled.
01:00:25Liam lay sprawled
01:00:26across the stones,
01:00:27his face covered in blood.
01:00:32Sky,
01:00:33did I...
01:00:35did I save you?
01:00:36I knelt beside him,
01:00:38looking down
01:00:39at this man
01:00:39I had once hated.
01:00:41Yes,
01:00:41you saved me.
01:00:43The sisters
01:00:43from the Abbey Infirmary
01:00:45brought Liam
01:00:46into the sick room.
01:00:49I stood outside the door
01:00:51holding a bowl
01:00:51of hot broth.
01:00:53Then I saw
01:00:54Serafina hurrying
01:00:55from the far end
01:00:56of the corridor.
01:00:57She fell to her knees
01:00:58beside his bed
01:00:59at the moment
01:01:00she entered.
01:01:01Liam!
01:01:02Wake up!
01:01:03It's me,
01:01:04Sarah!
01:01:06Skye,
01:01:07where is she?
01:01:10Skye is fine.
01:01:12She doesn't care
01:01:12about you.
01:01:14She's already left.
01:01:15He tightened his grip
01:01:16on Serafina's hand.
01:01:19Liam's eyes
01:01:20were closed.
01:01:21I stood outside
01:01:22the door
01:01:22holding the bowl
01:01:23of broth,
01:01:24silent for a moment.
01:01:25Then I turned around,
01:01:27set the bowl down
01:01:28on the stone ledge
01:01:29in the corridor,
01:01:30and walked away.
01:01:32Three days later,
01:01:33I appeared before
01:01:35the council of elders
01:01:35of the Sterling Trading House,
01:01:37wrapped in a nun's cloak
01:01:39with my arm still banded.
01:01:40Alistair marched Victor in,
01:01:42bruised and bloodied,
01:01:44and laid out the evidence
01:01:46of his attempted murder
01:01:47piece by piece
01:01:48on the long table.
01:01:49It wasn't me!
01:01:51I did nothing!
01:01:52Victor Sterling,
01:01:54you are permanently
01:01:55expelled from the
01:01:56Sterling Trading House.
01:01:58Escort him to the
01:01:59Sheriff's goal.
01:02:01Arthur sat in the corner
01:02:03and said not a single word
01:02:04throughout the entire
01:02:05proceeding.
01:02:06He merely trembled
01:02:08as he signed
01:02:08the last document.
01:02:10All partnership shares
01:02:11of Sterling Firm
01:02:12are hereby fully entrusted
01:02:14to Sky Sterling
01:02:15for management.
01:02:16That evening,
01:02:17I returned to the infirmary.
01:02:19The sister still needed
01:02:20to finish my treatment.
01:02:22I leaned against
01:02:23the headboard,
01:02:24leafing through
01:02:25the Sterling Trading Ledgers.
01:02:28The Ledgers can wait
01:02:29another hour.
01:02:30Let the sister examine
01:02:31your wounds first.
01:02:32What are you doing here?
01:02:34Seeing you.
01:02:35And,
01:02:36and also...
01:02:37He turned and instructed
01:02:38his attendant
01:02:39to summon the sister.
01:02:40Yes, sir.
01:02:41I'll fetch the sister
01:02:42at once,
01:02:43while you stay here
01:02:44in Lady Sterling's room
01:02:45and attend to her personally.
01:02:47Her voice pitched
01:02:48neither loud nor soft,
01:02:49just exactly loud enough
01:02:50to carry down the corridor.
01:02:52You did that on purpose.
01:02:54Of course.
01:02:54In another sick room
01:02:56not far away,
01:02:57Liam lay in his bed.
01:03:01He heard every single word
01:03:03that attendant spoke.
01:03:05A moment later,
01:03:06the sound of a clay water jug
01:03:07shattering against a stone wall
01:03:09was loud enough
01:03:09to reach even my chamber.
01:03:11He's angry.
01:03:12I sat by the candlelight,
01:03:13folding a letter.
01:03:14On the envelope was written
01:03:15to the diocesan bishop's court.
01:03:19Supplemental evidence
01:03:20regarding the petition
01:03:21for separation,
01:03:22maintenance,
01:03:22and annulment.
01:03:24The next day,
01:03:25I returned to the Sterling firm
01:03:26and found a bookkeeper's office
01:03:27to start working.
01:03:29Liam came to the door immediately.
01:03:32If you don't withdraw
01:03:33the separation petition,
01:03:35I'll have every trading house
01:03:37and freight guild
01:03:38in the county blacklist you.
01:03:39I watched him tap his walking stick
01:03:41on the stone floor
01:03:42with a loud thud.
01:03:43Sterling trading
01:03:44won't get a single order.
01:03:47You came all the way here
01:03:49just to say that?
01:03:50I took out a ledger
01:03:51from the drawer.
01:03:55You withdrew
01:03:56a large sum of money
01:03:57from the Kensington firm's
01:03:58bank account
01:03:59to buy a country house
01:04:00for Serafina.
01:04:01You refused to cover
01:04:03the cost of my emergency treatment
01:04:04at the monastery hospital.
01:04:07Everything you ever did to me
01:04:09is recorded here.
01:04:10Every single entry.
01:04:12I pushed the ledger
01:04:13towards him.
01:04:14Go ahead and issue
01:04:15your blacklist.
01:04:16You still don't know
01:04:17who you're messing with.
01:04:20This isn't over.
01:04:21He was silent
01:04:22for a long while,
01:04:24then left those words
01:04:25behind and turned away
01:04:26on his cane.
01:04:28His lame leg
01:04:29caught on the threshold.
01:04:33No one helped him.
01:04:35His revenge
01:04:36came faster
01:04:37than I expected.
01:04:38The next day,
01:04:40the most popular minstrel
01:04:41under the Sterling Harrison
01:04:42came to me.
01:04:49No matter what it takes,
01:04:50I will terminate
01:04:51the contract with you.
01:04:53I didn't fight it.
01:04:54I signed his release
01:04:55without even claiming
01:04:57the penalty fee.
01:04:59Then I sent word
01:05:01to the countryside
01:05:01to find someone
01:05:02every noble castle
01:05:03had turned away.
01:05:04Gabriel,
01:05:05an indigent poet
01:05:06who had offended
01:05:07a lord with his
01:05:08satirical verses
01:05:09and had been
01:05:10unemployable ever since.
01:05:11Shave him,
01:05:13cut his hair,
01:05:17put him in a
01:05:18clean linen shirt.
01:05:19My lady,
01:05:20are you certain
01:05:21it's me you want?
01:05:24It is you.
01:05:26Sign this contract
01:05:27and Sterling Trading
01:05:28will pay for your
01:05:29grandmother's medical care.
01:05:32And you,
01:05:34you only have to sing.
01:05:37My waste quarry
01:05:38was no longer
01:05:39called waste.
01:05:42The king's decree
01:05:43had been issued
01:05:44the royal free market
01:05:45was officially open.
01:05:49Stalls converted
01:05:50from old mine carts
01:05:51lined the stone paved path
01:05:53and at the center
01:05:54stood an open air
01:05:55minstrel stage.
01:05:57My lady,
01:06:00how many people
01:06:01are down there?
01:06:02When Gabriel
01:06:02walked up with his loot,
01:06:04the stage was already
01:06:05surrounded by merchants
01:06:06and travelers
01:06:06who had come from
01:06:07every corner of the land.
01:06:08More than enough.
01:06:10Just sing.
01:06:11And the glory.
01:06:14Halfway through,
01:06:16it began to rain.
01:06:18Raindrops struck his strings
01:06:19and soaked his new clothes.
01:06:22But not a single person left.
01:06:24They didn't leave.
01:06:28I told you,
01:06:30just sing.
01:06:33With the flood of goods
01:06:35pouring in,
01:06:36the partnership
01:06:37shares of sterling trading
01:06:39doubled
01:06:40overnight.
01:06:43The next morning,
01:06:45a banking house messenger
01:06:46stood at the door
01:06:47of my counting room.
01:06:49My lady,
01:06:50it's Lord Kensington.
01:06:53My lady,
01:06:55Lord Kensington
01:06:55has requested
01:06:56that your trading house's
01:06:57credit be suspended.
01:06:59However,
01:06:59our banking house
01:07:00has reviewed the matter.
01:07:01Sterling Trading's
01:07:02deposit agreements
01:07:03are held entirely
01:07:04independently
01:07:04from the Kensington name.
01:07:06Therefore,
01:07:06the Lombard Banking House
01:07:08has no authority
01:07:08to intervene.
01:07:09Yes,
01:07:10and we don't intend
01:07:11to do so.
01:07:12This is the official reply,
01:07:14a copy of which
01:07:15was delivered
01:07:15to Lord Kensington
01:07:16this morning.
01:07:18Please convey my gratitude
01:07:19to your chief steward.
01:07:21After the banking house
01:07:23messenger left,
01:07:24I had a feeling
01:07:25that Liam wouldn't give up.
01:07:27So,
01:07:27I must find a way
01:07:28to completely defeat him.
01:07:30When the Lombard Banking House
01:07:32sent another team of people
01:07:33the next day,
01:07:34I knew it was time.
01:07:37Lord Kensington
01:07:38let you come
01:07:38and negotiate in person.
01:07:41He wants me
01:07:42to come to the castle.
01:07:43So I changed
01:07:44into a plain dress
01:07:45like an obedient wife
01:07:47and returned to the castle
01:07:48I had once fled.
01:07:49I walked to the bookkeeper's
01:07:50office door
01:07:51and saw Liam inside.
01:07:53The joint old debt guarantee
01:07:54account of Kensington
01:07:56and Sterling
01:07:56is not your personal account.
01:07:58You came.
01:07:58It has been frozen.
01:08:00You need to cooperate
01:08:01with me to thaw it.
01:08:02Of course.
01:08:03But,
01:08:04you need to be my assistant
01:08:06for a day.
01:08:07Do whatever I tell you.
01:08:08Is that all?
01:08:09Recopy all of last year's ledgers,
01:08:11sorted by month.
01:08:13The ink on your desk
01:08:14is running dry.
01:08:15Refill it.
01:08:16When you're done,
01:08:17come back
01:08:18and I'll give you
01:08:18the next task.
01:08:19Fine.
01:08:20He leaned back
01:08:21in his chair,
01:08:22waiting for me
01:08:22to explode.
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