Loyalty is a luxury no one can afford. ⚜️ In this gripping scene, a shocking betrayal threatens to tear the hierarchy apart. The power play is brilliant, the acting is majestic, and the tension is absolutely palpable. Watch until the crown falls! 👑💥
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📺 Binge the Imperial Playlist: Ready to watch the entire battle unfold? Head over to our channel playlists to stream this full drama series from the very first episode!
👉 Join the Empire: If you crave high-stakes drama and elite cinematic storytelling, hit the FOLLOW button on Empire.Flicks to secure your notification for the next episode! Drop your thoughts in the comments below. 👇
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Short filmTranscript
00:00When Edlin and I were alone on our covenant night, his personal attendant stumbled and scrambled into the outer hall
00:05of our bridal moon chamber.
00:06My lord, Lady Lyra's mother has just died and she's fainted from grief!
00:11As soon as the words fell, the twin cup moon brew slipped from Edlin's hands and crashed to the floor.
00:16Completely disregarding that tonight was our covenant night, he left the Thornwell main estate and did not return all night.
00:21The next day, while the estate was still draped with moon-white floral vines and silver-gold ribbons,
00:26he brought back a banquet singer dressed in a black gauze morning dress.
00:29Lyra is a banquet singer whom I once saved.
00:31Now that her father has just passed away, she is left all alone with no one to rely on.
00:36And several legerous young nobles want to take her away by force.
00:40While her mourning period is still undergoing, I want to grant her a status so she has a place to
00:45stay.
00:46If you refuse, I will tell her to leave the main estate and wash my hands of her entirely.
00:50He looked at me with deep affection, speaking as if concerned only for my well-being.
00:54Everyone expected me to break down or cause a scene right then and there.
00:57The story of the Lord rescuing of Singer is well known in Silverweed City.
01:01If you only give her the title of a secondary wife, wouldn't that slight your own affections?
01:06Why not open in and honorably make her your primary wife, so the entire royal capital can see just how
01:11profound this love truly is?
01:14My marriage covenant with Evelyn Horne, the Lord of the North, was personally blessed by the High King and recorded
01:19in the royal court's marriage registry.
01:21Even before the marriage covenant was officially sealed, I had heard that he once saved a banquet singer who was
01:26being harassed and assaulted by young nobles.
01:28Her name was Lyra Frost's song.
01:30Lyra Frost's song was born slender and soft, like a twig of a moon tree that would snap at the
01:35slightest breeze.
01:35As if she couldn't even stand steady if the wind blew just a bit harder.
01:39Yet she played the harp exceptionally well, and was quite famous among the banquet halls of Silverleaf City.
01:44Many young nobles made special trips to the Laurel Banquet Hall, just to hear her play a single tune.
01:50Later, someone actually harbored wicked intentions and tried to force her to be their secondary wife.
01:55And it was Edlin who started to rescue her.
01:57This incident quickly became a beautiful tale in Silverleaf City.
02:00When such a story spread through Silverleaf City, it was inevitable that people would say it should end with her
02:05pledging her life to hang a marriage.
02:06But Edlin said that since his official primary wife had not yet entered the estate, he would not give Lyra
02:11a status first.
02:12So as not to slight her.
02:14This matter spread through almost the entire Silverleaf City.
02:17The Queen Mother once asked me if I felt wronged, saying that this marriage covenant could be annulled.
02:22My father and brothers all died in battle in the north.
02:25Grateful for the Caelwyn family's merits in defending the borders,
02:28the Queen Mother kept me by her side to raise me and bestowed upon me the title of Duchess of
02:31Silver Branch.
02:33Pitying me for losing my parents at a young age, the Queen Mother had always been exceptionally fond of me.
02:37My favored status in the Moonlit Palace was in no way inferior, even when compared to the true royal princesses.
02:43But since this marriage covenant was personally blessed by the High King and recorded in the marriage registry,
02:47how could it be annulled so easily?
02:49Not wanting to put the Queen Mother in a difficult position, I knelt before her and said,
02:54I do not feel wronged. This marriage covenant is very good. There is no need to annull it.
02:58Only, I never expected that Lyra would appear precisely on the Covenant night.
03:02The Twin Cup Moonbrew had barely touched our lips when Edlin's personal tenant stumbled into the outer hall.
03:07My lord! Lady Lyra's father has passed away! Lady Lyra has already cried herself into a fate!
03:12As the cups crashed to the floor, Edlin had already dashed out of the door.
03:15Saddle my horse!
03:20His voice faded into the distance.
03:22Have you summoned the physician? Lyra's constitution is weak.
03:25Quickly prepare the Century-Lol Moonjink and the Vital Energy Nourishing Glue.
03:29I have no idea how heartbroken she will be!
03:31I stared blankly at the spilled Moonbrew on the floor.
03:33The old lady-in-waiting's eyes reddened.
03:35My lady Duchess, the Lord is truly going too far. Today was supposed to be your covenant night for a
03:42banquet singer. He left you alone to wait in the bridal moon chamber all night. This is clearly humiliating you
03:47in public!
03:48Almost everyone in Silverleaf City knew that the one Edlin held in his heart was a banquet singer.
03:53Now that I had experienced it myself, I finally understood that she was probably truly the one who kept the
03:58closest place to me.
03:59The Twin Moon wedding lamps burned all night, and Edlin did not return all night.
04:03Early the next morning, I went to pay my respects to the Dowager Lady Thornwell.
04:07Edlin, bringing along Lyra in her black gauze morning dress, was already standing before the Dowager Lady.
04:13Upon seeing me, her eyes were already brimming with tears, like a frightened little fawn.
04:18Her body swayed, and then she knelt before me.
04:20I pay my respects to my lady. Last night was all my fault. I ruined your covenant night.
04:25If my lady wished to punish me, I have no complaints.
04:29After saying this, she bowed deeply, her forehead almost touching the floor.
04:33Edlin looked at me with a conflicted expression.
04:35Lyra is the banquet singer I saved back then.
04:38Now her father has just passed away.
04:40She has no one left to rely on.
04:42And several lecherous young nobles want to take her away by force.
04:45She has nowhere left to go.
04:47I want to take advantage of her mourning period not yet being over to give her a status first,
04:51letting her enter the main estate so she at least has a place to shelter.
04:54If you absolutely refuse, I will tell her to leave the main estates and ignore her from now, Ahan.
04:59Tears rolled down Lyra's cheeks as she gazed at me timidly.
05:02My lady, I beg you, I have nowhere else to go.
05:05If I still cannot find a place to shelter, then my only path left is death.
05:10The dowager lady felt a pang of heartache seeing this, and only raised her eyes to look at me.
05:17Elowyn, now everyone regards you as the future mistress of the Thornwell estate.
05:21The affairs of this hold are naturally yours to decide.
05:24However, the Thornwell family has always been renowned for charity and compassion.
05:30Since you have stepped into this position, you ought to show a broader spirit and keep the family's greater interests
05:36in mind.
05:38Letting her enter the main estate merely means gaining one more secondary wife.
05:44These words were clearly meant as a warning to me.
05:46She cannot surpass position.
05:48If I refused to let Lyra enter the main estate, I would be branded as jealous.
05:53I would be seen as intolerant.
05:55Even so cruel as to refuse to lend a hand to someone driven to a dead end.
05:58It was the lord who saved me that day, and I swore to repay his kindness.
06:02If my lady for the lord's favours is uneasy, afraid that I'm willing to drink a steridity drought,
06:08I will never bear children, and never compete with my lady.
06:11Would that be okay?
06:13Edlin's face showed his distress, and he merely looked at me.
06:17Elowyn, Lyra has a gentle nature.
06:20She doesn't understand all these schemes in the main estate.
06:24You don't need to be so hard on her.
06:28Lyra's maid servant dropped straight to her knees before me.
06:32Pippi, my lady!
06:33Our young miss has long been intimate with Lord's husband and wife,
06:36and now she carries the lord's bloodline in her womb!
06:38She absolutely cannot drink a sterility draith!
06:41As soon as these words came out, the entire room was shocked.
06:45Quick, help her up!
06:46How can she touch a sterility draith when she is pregnant?
06:49This is pure nonsense!
06:51Edlin hurriedly helped her up.
06:52You foolish girl.
06:53Why didn't you tell me sooner?
06:55How long were you planning to hide this alone?
06:57With reddened eyes, Lyra looked at him.
06:59I didn't want to put the lord in a difficult position.
07:01I ruined your marriage covenant ceremony with my lady, and I already felt guilty.
07:06I just wanted to quietly drink a miscarriage draith,
07:09to spare the lord any trouble,
07:10and to prevent my lady from being displeased with him on my account.
07:14Elowyn, the outside world all regards you as the mistress of the Thornwell estate.
07:18Even if Lyra gives birth to a child, that child cannot surpass you.
07:21After all, it is the lord's bloodline, and with the only mother it will recognize in this main nesquite outside,
07:26who wouldn't you are you?
07:27The lord saving a banquet singer has long been a beautiful tale in Silverleaf City.
07:34If you end up only giving her the status of a secondary wife,
07:38wouldn't that slight your own affections?
07:41Why not openly and honorably make her your primary wife?
07:44That would better show just how deep and profound your devotion to Lady Lyra is.
07:49Edlin's expression visibly relaxed.
07:51He was just about to speak when he heard my latter sentence.
07:55And his face changed abruptly.
07:57What primary wife, Elwyn? Lyra and I are not...
08:00Not what?
08:01Not truly in love?
08:03Or is the child in her womb not yours?
08:07I heard the lord saved her from peril back then,
08:09and Lady Lyra allowed her life to you in return.
08:11Now you even have a child together.
08:14So this is what you meant when you said since the primary wife has not yet entered the estate,
08:18I shouldn't give another woman a status first.
08:19Not giving her a title, but keeping her as a mistress on the outside, is that it?
08:23Lyra's face turned ghastly pale.
08:25My lady, I am not the kind of woman to be hidden away on the outside.
08:30I simply adore the lord, and I want nothing more than that.
08:33Not a woman hidden away on the outside?
08:36Then that's even worse.
08:38Without even a status that can be presented in the light of day,
08:40does Lady Lyra want the child in her womb to be born without even qualifying as a recognized illegitimate bloodline?
08:45That's not what I meant!
08:46That's not what I meant!
08:48I nodded at my leisure.
08:49Whether you meant it or not, I will fulfill your deep infatuation.
08:53And I will also fulfill the lord's tender pity for you.
09:00Saying this, I turn to the dowager lady.
09:02Dowager lady, Ed and I failed to complete the knight's ceiling yesterday.
09:06On our covenant knight, he did not stay in the bridal moon chamber, but spent it at Lady Lara's place.
09:11My accompanying maidshades can testify to this, and the servants of the Thornwheel Estate can testify as well.
09:16Therefore, I will petition the royal court to annul this marriage covenant.
09:23I know I was in the wrong last night, but Lycra's father passed away so suddenly,
09:26I had to go and handle the funeral arrangements for her.
09:29Otherwise, what is a lone girl like her supposed to do?
09:31There won't be anything like this ever again.
09:33We will live our days properly.
09:35Elvin, I will definitely make it up to you.
09:37You say you want to annul the marriage covenant?
09:39What do you expect the High King and Queen Mother to do?
09:42I couldn't help but laugh as I listened.
09:43Edlin, our marriage covenant was personally blessed by the High King and recorded in the marriage registry.
09:47Yet precisely on the covenant night, you abandoned your bride to accompany a banquet singer.
09:52The one who truly trampled His Majesty's prestige underfoot is you, not me.
09:57If His Majesty truly wishes to assign blame, he will only condemn the Thornwell family.
10:01What crime have I committed?
10:02I am merely the daughter of border-defending heroes, one who has been publicly humiliated.
10:07You've disgraced the royal court and dishonored the Calowyn family as well.
10:13My words made Edlin's face turn incredibly ugly.
10:16He knew that everything I said was the truth.
10:19If this matter truly spread, the one who would lose face would only be him.
10:23Lyra hastily stepped forward.
10:25My lady, it is all my fault.
10:28Please don't be angry.
10:29It is entirely my mistake.
10:31I will leave the mane of fate right now, and I will never appear before you and the Lord again.
10:37Okay?
10:38I am merely someone who snaps at the slightest breath.
10:40I am not worth my lady and the Lord arguing like this.
10:43Even if those young nobles to take me away by force, at worst I'll just die, but I will never
10:46let them succeed.
10:48I will simply put the Lord in a difficult position again.
10:51Covering her face, she wept.
10:54Edlin's heart was breaking.
10:55Lyra, you don't have to leave.
10:56I am the Lord of this estate.
10:58What I say goes in here.
10:59Moreover, you carry my child.
11:01How could I let you leave?
11:03I merely wanted to give her the status of a secondary wife.
11:07Must you make a fuss until all of Silver Slith City knows?
11:10Which mistress of a noble house would cause such a scene over a secondary wife?
11:15Lyra has a miserable background.
11:17Unlike you, who still have the Queen Mother's doling affection even after losting your father and brothers.
11:22She is all alone now.
11:24I am merely protecting her a little more.
11:26Can you not even tolerate that?
11:29Do you think everyone is like you, still having powerful backers behind them even after loosing their father and brothers?
11:35Edlin, what right do you have to speak of my father and brothers?
11:38Even His Majesty would not lightly mention them in front of me.
11:41And who do you think you are?
11:44He clearly knew I was an orphaned girl, and he assumed I had nowhere else to go.
11:49Therefore, he had long made up his mind that even if he humiliated me like this, I could do nothing
11:55to him.
11:55Edlin held back his fury and gave chase.
11:58Elevane, for all your title as the Duchess of Silver Branch, if you walk out of the Thornwood Estate, where
12:04else can you go?
12:05You must understand, you are not a member of the royal family.
12:10That title is nothing but an empty name.
12:13Do you really think the Queen Mother and His Majesty would heavily punish the Thornwell family?
12:19Just for you?
12:20In his eyes, I was merely a Duchess of Silver Branch with an empty title.
12:24He reckoned the Queen Mother and His Majesty might not genuinely unleash their wrath for my sake.
12:28So what did he have to fear?
12:30However, he was wrong.
12:32My father was the Supreme Commander of the North before his death.
12:35I am the descendant of an illustrious border-defending family, naturally possessing the arrogance in the Kailun family's bloodline.
12:42I commanded sternly,
12:44Guards, pack up my belongings.
12:46Gather all my dowry and treasures, and return to the Kaiwen Ancestral Road.
12:50Everyone was stunned.
12:51The Kailun Ancestral Estate had been sealed shut for over a decade.
12:54Now, I was actually going to unseal the Kailun Ancestral Estate?
13:00Can you stop this nonsense?
13:02Edlin shouted sternly.
13:03Do you think you are still the eldest daughter of the Kailun family who is pampered by everyone, able to
13:08do whatever you please?
13:09The Dowager Lady stood up to smooth things over.
13:12Elevin, I know you are a good child.
13:15Rest assured, as long as I am here.
13:19If Edlin dares to wrong you like this again in the future, I will never let him off lightly.
13:27This is a major matter.
13:28It is a marriage covenant personally blessed by the High King and recorded in the Royal Court's marriage registry.
13:34How can it be dropped so easily?
13:36Today I will arrange for the two of you to complete the night sealing anew.
13:39What do you say?
13:40I will absolutely not let anyone disturb you again.
13:43If you truly cannot tolerate Lyra, then we won't let Edlin give her the status of a secondary wife.
13:49We will just keep her in the main estate as a maidservant.
13:53They seem to have forgotten that even though I had lost my father and brothers, I was still the Duchess
13:57of Silver Branch, personally ennobled by his majesty, and the only direct descendant of the Kailun family.
14:03Back then, my father and brothers held great prestige in the Northern Army.
14:06Even though they had long died in battle, whenever the Kailun father and sons were mentioned now, everyone in the
14:12Royal Court would hail them as heroes.
14:13Did he truly think that I, the sole remaining bloodline of the Kailun family, would allow them to humiliate me
14:19like this?
14:19There is no need, Dowager Lady.
14:22This marriage covenant ends here.
14:25I will grant the Lord of the North and Lady Lyra what they desire.
14:52My words caused Edlin's face to darken, and it also made a gleam of expectation flash in Lyra's eyes.
14:59Elevin, you had better think this through carefully.
15:02If you dare to walk out of this door today, there will be no coming back.
15:08The doors of the Thornwell estate are not something you can just enter whenever you wish.
15:13My lady, please do not leave because of me, okay?
15:17If you wish to blame or punish, direct it all at me.
15:21She leaned close to me.
15:22Lady Kailun, lowering her voice, the person the Lord has truly loved all along is me.
15:27You cannot compete with me.
15:29After saying that...
15:30My lady, if you leave, His Majesty will blame the Lord.
15:34It is all my fault, please do not leave.
15:36If someone truly must leave, it should be me.
15:39Do you truly want me to stay?
15:41I raised my brow and looked at her.
15:43If I stay, you will never be able to enter the Thornwell main estate.
15:47Tears brimming in Lyra's eyes.
15:49Then what should I do, my lady?
15:51Won't you show me?
15:57Seeing my cold expression, Lyra looked toward Edlin with reddened eyes.
16:00My lord, did I do something wrong to displease my lady?
16:03But I no longer have a father and I have no other relatives in this world nor anywhere to go.
16:19I merely wanted to repay the Lord's life-saving grace.
16:22My lord, I ask for nothing at all.
16:25Even if I have no stasis and can only stay in the main estate as the lowest mode shipment shades,
16:31I am willing.
16:36Please, beg my lady for me.
16:37As long as I can enter the main estate, I don't want anything else.
16:41I said I would let you enter the main estate and I will take good care of you and the
16:45child.
16:46Since I have given my word, I will definitely see it done.
17:03Eleven, if you nod and let Lyra stay, I will make sure she continues to place you first in this
17:08household.
17:09Did you really think he was some precious treasure worth fighting over?
17:12My lord, I have already said that this marriage covenant ends here.
17:15From this day forward, you and I will walk our separate paths that have nothing to do with each other.
17:37The Kailwen ancestral estate, after being sealed shut for over a decade, was finally unsealed.
17:43The fact that the Duchess of Silver Branch, on the very day after her marriage covenant ceremony with the Lord
17:48of the North,
17:49had grandly returned to the Kailwen ancestral estate with carriage after carriage of dowry,
17:54instantly spread throughout Silverleaf City.
17:56As soon as my people returned to the ancestral estate, they immediately began tidying and cleaning it anew.
18:02In just a few days, the entire ancestral estate had been restored to a completely new look,
18:07and the Queen Mother's decree soon arrived at the Kailwen estate as well.
18:10I was summoned into the Moonlit Palace.
18:14Kneeling before the Queen Mother with reddened eyes, I said,
18:17Queen Mother, I no longer wish to enter into a marriage covenant with the Lord of the North.
18:21He has long had someone else in his heart.
18:24Furthermore, he and that banquet singer have long pledged themselves to each other in private,
18:28and they even have a child.
18:29My maidservants had already knelt down, tearfully recounting Edlin's actions in the covenant night.
18:34She inevitably added a bit of dramatic embellishment, causing the Queen Mother's eyes to turn red as she listened to
18:38me.
18:42I said Edlin didn't look like a devoted man.
18:44To think that right after the marriage covenant ceremony, he got entangled with this kind of banquet singer.
18:49Elevin, you are a lady born of an ancient noble family.
18:53How could you know the tricks of such people?
18:55These women who sing in banquet halls know best how to manipulate men.
18:58As soon as they spot a young noble, they can come up with countless ways to bore their way into
19:02high society.
19:03The Queen and several noble women who were sitting in attendance in the Queen Mother's Moon pavilion at the time,
19:08all deeply agreed.
19:10Especially those ladies, as if they had finally found an outlet, chimed in one after another.
19:14Women like that are mostly experts at pretending they'll shatter at a touch.
19:18As soon as they see a man, they know how to throw themselves at him.
19:21They also always love to fabricate some pitiful background story.
19:24The men in Manon hears it, he sensibly feels like he became a hero due to someone in distress.
19:27This method is old, but it works the best.
19:30I never thought the Lord of the North would actually be befuddled by such a woman.
19:34Running around for her father, pledging her life in gratitude, it's mostly all just excuses.
19:40The Queen Mother looked at me and sighed.
19:42If you don't marry the Lord of the North, what will you do in the future?
19:45This world is always harsh on women.
19:47I fear people will use this matter to goss about you.
19:52I lifted my head and smiled faintly.
19:54Queen Mother, who did wrong was not me.
19:56I have nothing to fear.
19:58My father and brothers are heroes of the North, and I come from an illustrious portion-defending family.
20:02Naturally, I carry their fiery blood.
20:04I will hold up the Caelwyn family's honor, and I don't mean to agree on anyone.
20:08The Queen Mother nodded.
20:09Truly worthy of being a child of the Caelwyn family.
20:13With you here, the Caelwyn family will stand tall once again.
20:16Upon learning of this, His Majesty soon bestowed gifts upon the Caelwyn ancestral estate.
20:21The winds in Silverleaf City shifted instantly, and the number of noble women and young ladies visiting the Caelwyn estate
20:27began to multiply.
20:28Edlin originally thought that I simply couldn't swallow my pride over what happened on the Covenant night.
20:33He figured that after a few days, when he came to coax me, I would change my mind and return
20:37to the Caelwyn estate.
20:39However, when His Majesty's bestowed gifts arrived at the Caelwyn household, he finally realized things were going badly.
20:44I had absolutely no intention of changing my mind.
20:47Moreover, since I had returned to the Caelwyn ancestral estate, my father and brothers, former comrades-in-arms, old friends,
20:55and several elders all came calling, one after another, taking great care of this orphaned girl.
20:59The wife of a former border commander held my hand tightly and said,
21:02Elevin, our two families are old friends spanning generations.
21:06In the course when you lived in the Moonlit Palace, it was inconvenient for us to meet often.
21:09I said that you've returned to your ancestral estate.
21:12Our family should actually interact more.
21:15Anything comes up, just send someone to find us.
21:16That banquet singer is not worth a second glance.
21:19From now on, Auntie will keep an eye out for you.
21:22There will always be someone better than him.
21:26The news that Lyra was pregnant with a child of the Lord of the North quickly spread until everyone in
21:32Silverleaf City knew.
21:33His Majesty also learned of what happened on the Covenant night.
21:37During a royal court council, he remarked indifferently,
21:40I did not expect the Lord of the North to be so thoroughly captivated by a single person.
21:45Since you are not find of the marriage covenant I blessed for you, then as you wish,
21:48I will grant you my fulfillment with that banquet singer.
21:51This single sentence from His Majesty was almost equivalent to ordaining that Lyra would be the future lady of the
21:55Domain.
21:58Edlin returned to his main estate with an ashen face.
22:01Since His Majesty had already spoken, his future lady could only be Lyra.
22:05He knew that His Majesty was warning and penalizing him for ruining a marriage covenant endorsed by the royal court.
22:11Since he looked down on the Duchess of Silver Branch, who was personally ennobled by His Majesty and highly regarded
22:16by the Queen Mother,
22:17then he might as well go and marry the banquet singer he so deeply longed for.
22:20But in Silverleaf City, which ancient noble household's main estate would ever let a banquet singer become its mistress,
22:26Lyra's pregnancy became more obvious by the day.
22:29Left with no other choice, Edlin could only choose a date to officially finalize the marriage covenant with Lyra.
22:37Lyra was ecstatic.
22:39She originally thought she could at best enter the main estate as a secondary wife.
22:43She never imagined she would end up sitting in the position of Lady Thornwell.
22:48On the day of the marriage covenant ceremony, quite a few people came to observe.
22:52Lyra purposely had her wedding gown custom-made at the Silver Shuttle boutique,
22:55with a loose cut that made it difficult to tell she was already pregnant.
22:58The bride has arrived.
23:00Commence the Sun Vow ceremony.
23:03The maid stepped forward immediately.
23:05The fragrant herb pouch hanging from a maidservant's waist was warmed by the heat in the ceremony hall,
23:10suddenly emitting a strong scent.
23:11She was standing very close to Lyra.
23:14Smelling that sweet, sickly scent mixed with medicinal herbs,
23:17Lyra's stomach immediately churned.
23:19Even through her veil, she couldn't hold it back and let out a low wrench.
23:22The maidservant quickly stood straight and supported her.
23:24What is wrong, my lady?
23:25Are you feeling unwell?
23:27That mixed scent surged forward again.
23:29Lyra's body swayed, and the veil slipped down from her forehead.
23:32Her face deathly paled.
23:34She didn't even have time to cover her mouth.
23:36Bending over, she vomited all the way forward.
23:41The entire hall of guests instantly went into an upwind,
23:44covering their noses and mouths as they backed away.
23:48Several sharp-eyed noblewomen immediately saw through what was going on.
23:51No way.
23:52Looking at her, it seems she has longy prenant.
23:55Could it be she was already with child before the Lord of the North officially entered into a marriage covenant?
24:01No wonder the dunch of Silbradge want to astrol the marriage.
24:04She happened would find disgusting.
24:06The Lord of the North truly has no standards at all.
24:09The primary wife hadn't even entered the estate, but he already let a woman kept on the outside get pregnant.
24:13Now look at this.
24:14He's just marrying her directly as his lady.
24:16To think the Grand Lord of the North is actually entangled with a banquet singer,
24:19and now he even let her take the place as his lady, he has completely become a joke.
24:23So the reason this caused such a big thrust and they rushed the marriage covenant is because of the child.
24:28Just as expected of someone from the banquet halls,
24:30she knows best how to lean into a man's embrace.
24:33They hadn't even officially married, yet she already had a child.
24:36How do you know the child definitely belongs to the Lord of the North?
24:39She used to sing in the Laurel Banquet Hall,
24:41and who knows how many young nobles requested her songs?
24:43Who the father of this child is, is truly hard to say.
24:46Hearing the discussions all around her, Lyra's face turned pale.
24:50Clutching her chest and holding back tears, she looked toward Edlin.
24:54My lord.
24:57Meanwhile, the Dowager Lady's face had already darkened completely,
25:00feeling that her dignity was entirely lost.
25:02She nearly ordered the old lady-in-waiting in a cold voice.
25:05Hurry up and help the lady inside.
25:06Don't let her stand here and embarrass us any further.
25:09To make such a scene during the sun-bow ceremony,
25:12the Thornwell family has practically become the laughingstock of all Silverleaf City.
25:15How can a banquet singer of such lowly group ever stand in the halls of nobility?
25:19I originally thought that letting her into the estate was a secondary wife at the end of it.
25:22I never expected Edrin would actually let her sit in the position of the lady.
25:25She has thrown away every last scrap of my face!
25:27This marriage covenant ceremony belonging to the Lord of the North
25:30ultimately ended hastily in a mess.
25:31And because Edlin hastily finalized his marriage covenant with Lyra,
25:35and she was clearly seen to be already pregnant,
25:37he became the laughingstock of the aristocratic circles.
25:40Lyra, however, was incredibly smug.
25:43She had finally sat in the position of the mistress of the Thornwell estate,
25:46feeling wonderfully motivated.
25:48From now on, she was no longer that lowly banquet singer,
25:51but early the next morning, when she went to pay her respects to the Dowager Lady,
25:55she saw the Dowager Lady holding the hand of a high-born noble lady,
25:58chatting with a face full of smiles.
26:00Seeing her and Edlin come in together,
26:04the young woman charmingly stepped forward to greet them,
26:07hooking her arm through Edlin's and smiling.
26:09Cousin!
26:09The Dowager Lady smiled and said,
26:11This is Selina, Edlin's cousin.
26:13The two of them grew up together since childhood.
26:15If her father hadn't been dispatched to serve in the outer provinces back then,
26:19our two families originally intended to set a marriage covenant for them.
26:22But now she has returned to Silver Reef City with her father,
26:25and she won't be leaving anymore.
26:27Selina says she still prefers the Thornwell main estate,
26:30and wants to move in to keep me company for a while.
26:32It just so happens that Lyra is currently pregnant,
26:35and it is inconvenient for her to manage the affairs of the household.
26:38Selina is someone I've watched grow up since she was a child.
26:41Hitting over the domestic affairs and banquet arrangements to her puts my mind completely at release.
26:46Selina merely looked at her with a smile.
26:48Please do not take offense, my lady.
26:50Arya is merely playing favorites with me.
26:52I have been used to coming to the Thornwell estate since I was little.
26:55It's no different from my own home.
26:56You don't need to be overly polite with me.
26:58I will certainly manage the affairs of the estate properly for you.
27:01Without waiting for Lyra to speak, the Dowager Lady continued.
27:04Lyra, since you are pregnant now,
27:06it's inconvenient for you to keep the Lord company.
27:09It's perfectly timed that's moving a Selene to the estate.
27:12There will be one more person to look after things.
27:14Lyra's face changed instantly.
27:18The Dowager Lady's meaning couldn't have been more obvious.
27:21This cousin Selene was most likely going to be elevated into the main estate
27:25and occupy a permanent place.
27:27She forced a smile and said,
27:29Mother, Lady Selene is also a highborn noble lady.
27:33If she enters the main estate merely as a secondary wife,
27:36wouldn't that be wronging her too much?
27:38The underlying meaning of her words
27:40was nothing more than trying to force Selene to retreat in the face of difficulties
27:43and stop meddling in the Thornwell family.
27:46I was thinking the exact same thing as you.
27:49Merely being a secondary wife would indeed be too much of an injustice for Selene.
27:53She is a highborn noble lady.
27:56How could we only give her the status of a secondary wife?
27:59I think it would be better to pick a day and let Selenium move into the estate
28:03in the capacity of a proxy ceremonial lady, adding her status.
28:07This way, when Edlin goes out to attend banquets or socializes at the royal court,
28:12he will also have a presentable mistress by his side.
28:14With red and eyes, Lyra looked at Edlin.
28:17My lord, didn't you say that you only had me in your heart?
28:22Edlin pulled her into an embrace to decide.
28:24It's just an empty title. Don't overthink it.
28:26I have always just treated Selene as a younger sister.
28:29Even if she moves into the estate, it's merely going through the motions.
28:33I only have you in my heart.
28:35Right now, you should just focus on safely nourishing your pregnancy
28:38and giving birth to the child.
28:39Not having to worry about anything else.
28:41Isn't that more relaxing?
28:43Managing the domestic affairs and banquets of a main estate has never been easy.
28:47You come from a humble background,
28:48and you still need a few more years to learn the rules of these ancient noble houses.
28:52When you've mastered them, I will hand these matters over to you.
28:55Rest assured, I will not treat you or the child poorly.
28:58Only a few days after the Lord of the North finalized his marriage covenant with Lyra,
29:02he welcomed Selene into the main estate as a co-mistress.
29:04When I heard this news, I couldn't help but laugh.
29:07Edlin truly knew how to play his cards.
29:09Selene's father was none other than the newly appointed Minister of Protocol of the Royal Court.
29:13It stood to reason that this would be of great help to Edlin's future prospects in the Royal Court
29:16if Lyra, ultimately, could not be presented in truly high-class settings.
29:20Naturally, he needed a woman with a powerful family backing her to hold up his public image.
29:27Now, everyone in Silverleaf City knew that the inner courtyards of the Thornwell Estate
29:31were exceptionally lively.
29:32A lady and a co-mistress turned the entire inner courtyard upside down, leaving no keys.
29:37Even the simple matter of whose courtyard the Lord stayed in for one extra night
29:40would be blown out of proportion the next day, until everyone in the estate knew about it.
29:44You were nothing but a lowly banquet singer without an ounce of shame.
29:48A jealous woman who clung desperately to the Lord even while heavily pregnant.
29:52You were uselessly occupying the statuses of a high-born noble lady
29:56while using every trick in the book to seduce the Lord every day.
29:59Where was the decency a noble lady should have?
30:01You were simply as frivolous and loose as the women in low-class pleasure houses.
30:05For a time, the inner courtyards of the Thornwell Estate were thrown into utter chaos.
30:09Edlin was given such a splitting headache by the constant arguing
30:11that he didn't even want to set foot in the inner courtyard.
30:14As soon as he returned to the estate,
30:16he would use being busy with affairs as an excuse to sleep in the East Wing study.
30:20This went on until I, following the Queen Mother's decree,
30:23hosted the Early Spring Charity Bank in Silverleaf City.
30:26And because of this, I saw Lyra and Edlin once again.
30:32Because I was the host today,
30:35I deliberately dressed and adorned myself meticulously before making my appearance.
30:39When Edlin saw me, he was visibly stunned for a moment.
30:42Then, looking at Lyra not far away,
30:44whose face was sallow and whose figure had long since lost its former slender grace,
30:49a trace of regret actually flashed in the depths of his eyes.
30:54Elevin, have you been well lately?
30:55I have always wanted to go to the Kaywin Estate to apologize to you,
30:59but I was afraid you would refuse to see me.
31:01Seeing him put on such an affectionate guise,
31:03those who didn't know the truth would probably think
31:05there was truly some lingering old flame between us.
31:07I immediately took a few steps back.
31:09He took another step forward.
31:10Elevin,
31:12I ordered several sets of jeweled tiaras and ornaments for you at the Starlight Jeweler.
31:15I'll have someone send them to the Kaywin Estate tomorrow.
31:18Alright?
31:19Your birthday's coming up, just consider them my birthday gifts to you.
31:21I smiled and said,
31:23My lord, you and I have long had absolutely no ties to each other.
31:27If a man like you sends me jewelry,
31:29word will inevitably spread and cause misunderstanding.
31:31Moreover, you are already married,
31:33and I am a woman who has not yet settled a new marriage covenant.
31:36There is no need for me to involve myself with you.
31:38I must ask the lord to conduct himself with dignity.
31:43The moment Lyra saw Edlin standing with me,
31:45her eyes flickered slightly,
31:47and she immediately hurried over.
31:49Clinging tightly to Edlin's arm as if terrified I might snatch him away,
31:52she smiled at me.
31:54I pay my respects to the Duchess of Silverbreach.
31:57Has my lady been well lately?
31:58I heard His Majesty seems oops inclined to arrange another marriage covenant for you.
32:02This time I do hope my lady doesn't cause another scene with a last-minute ennellment.
32:06Looking at her poorly concealed smugness, I mocked.
32:09Lady Thornwell, rather than concerning yourself with my marriage covenants,
32:12you would be better off worrying about your own position in the main estate.
32:15I heard the Lord's Co-Mistra has been greatly favored lately,
32:18and since she comes from a highborn family,
32:20it stands to reason she will suppress you very soon.
32:23After all, she is the one currently managing the domestic and banquet affairs of the household.
32:27In the eyes of outsiders,
32:28who can truly represent the Thornwell family as most likely her.
32:31When the day comes that she also gives birth to a child,
32:34I'm afraid neither you nor the child and your woman will have any good days left.
32:38Every single sentence of mine stabbed precisely into the places she feared the most.
32:42After finishing, I turned and walked away,
32:44only to hear Lyra interrogating Edlin right behind me.
32:50Hasn't she already annulled the marriage covenant with you?
32:52Why are you still pestering her? Have you regretted it?
32:55Edlin's impatience was plain to see.
32:57You are constantly so suspicious every day.
32:59If I truly wanted her,
33:01why would I have finalized the marriage covenant with you in the first place?
33:04Lyra's pregnancy was already very obvious.
33:07Leaning against Edlin's side,
33:08she thought about my words from just a moment ago with reddened eyes.
33:11She remembered the last time Edlin took Selene to another household's tea banquet.
33:15Selene showed off her skills during the tea-tasting appraiser,
33:18winning the admiration of the entire party and taking first prize.
33:21Edlin instantly felt his prestige rise.
33:24After returning to the estate,
33:25he ended up sleeping in Selene's courtroom for half a month straight.
33:28It was said that Selene had also been having the physician prepare pregnancy stabilizing potions for her recently,
33:33hoping to secure her position by bearing a son.
33:35She had to find a way to earn some face for Edlin and overshadow Selene.
33:39Thinking of this,
33:39she looked at everyone sipping the new spring bud tea,
33:42stood up,
33:42and said softly,
33:43For everyone to just sit here tasting and discussing tea is perhaps a bit dull.
33:48I have recently learned a new tune,
33:49and I am willing to play it once to add some entertainment to today's gathering.
33:55The moment she said this,
33:57Edlin's face changed instantly,
33:59whereas the male guests at the tables enthusiastically applauded and voiced their approval.
34:02The Lord of the North truly has great fortune.
34:05Having married Lady Lyra,
34:07from now on he can hear the harp in his estate every single day.
34:10Isn't that right?
34:11How can any of us compare to the Lord?
34:13Ever since Lady Lyra entered the main estate,
34:16we haven't heard her play for a very long time.
34:18Since you've offered such a fine tune,
34:20naturally a wedding gift should be added.
34:22The crowd grew more and more lively.
34:25Thinking she had already overshadowed Selene,
34:27Lyra had a smug little hum,
34:29hugged her harp,
34:29and walked up to the small stage at the front.
34:32She didn't even wear a veil.
34:33Simply sitting there,
34:34she began to play the new tune.
34:36When the song ended,
34:37the entire hall erupted in cheers.
34:39Down at the table,
34:40I hid the corner of my lips behind a feathered fan,
34:42and smilingly instructed my servants,
34:44Lady Thornwell's tune was truly lovely.
34:47Someone,
34:47have a gold leaf hairpin noted down as a reward in Lady Thornwell's name.
34:51As soon as my words fell,
34:52several noble ladies nearby all chimed in with a smile.
34:55Silver hairpins,
34:57arm bracelets,
34:58copper coins,
34:59silver coins.
34:59All sorts of rewards were given.
35:04A maidservant carried a full tray of jewelry and silver coins to Lyra.
35:08Lady Thornwell's,
35:09these are the ornaments and silver coins
35:11that the Lords and Ladies present
35:13have added as charitable donations in your name.
35:15Smiling,
35:16Lyra instructed the maidservant,
35:18Quickly thank the Lords and Ladies for me
35:20and hurry up and accept them.
35:21She walked back to her seat and soundly,
35:23looking at Edlin with a smile.
35:25My lord,
35:26did I play well?
35:27It had been a long time
35:28since she heard such resounding cheers from the hall.
35:31Back when she sang in the banquet halls,
35:33people would always cheer from her exactly like this.
35:36Hearing these sounds again now
35:37made her rediscover the feeling
35:38of being wildly sought after from before.
35:40In the next second,
35:42Edlin delivered a heavy slap right across her face.
35:44You are the Lady of the Domain now,
35:46not that woman who sang in banquet halls anymore.
35:48You bear the name of the Thornwell family's mistress,
35:50and yet you perform in public for rewards?
35:52Is the Thornwell family too poor to keep you?
35:54Or do you truly need these few coins that badly?
35:57You have thrown away every last bit
35:59of the Thornwell family's dignity.
36:01Guards,
36:02take the Lady back.
36:03Lock her in her courtyard
36:04to reflect on her actions behind closed doors.
36:06Without my permission,
36:06she is not allowed to step out of her quarters.
36:11Lyra froze completely.
36:12My lord,
36:12I didn't mean to.
36:13It was the Duchess of Silverbridge
36:15who said that
36:16if I didn't win your favor,
36:17I would sooner or later
36:19be suppressed by Selene.
36:20She deliberately set a trap
36:22to ruin me.
36:23I covered my lips,
36:24looking utterly asana.
36:25Lady Thornwell,
36:26what are you talking about?
36:27I am a woman
36:28who hasn't even settled
36:29a new marriage covenant.
36:30When would I ever say such things?
36:32You ruined my marriage covenant back then,
36:35and I haven't even settled
36:36that score with you.
36:37Now you come to slander my reputation.
36:39Do you think that I,
36:40the Duchess of Silverbridge,
36:42am someone easy to bully?
36:43I flared at me with red eyes.
36:44You were the one who spoke up first
36:45to have them add rewards for me,
36:47which made them mock me
36:48like an entertainer
36:48in a banquet hall.
36:50You people just looked down
36:51on my background
36:52as a banquet singer
36:53and you deliberately took this chance
36:54to humiliate me.
36:56I widened my eyes.
36:57Lady Thornwell,
36:58do you have any idea
36:59what you are saying?
37:01I took a step forward,
37:02walking toward the edge
37:03of the small stage at the front.
37:04I hosted this early spring
37:06charity banquet today,
37:07following the Queen Mother's decree.
37:09Its very purpose
37:10is to invite noble ladies
37:12to perform
37:12and then let the lords
37:13and ladies present
37:14add charitable donations
37:15in the performers' names
37:16according to their own preferences.
37:18And these jewels,
37:19silver coins,
37:20and ornaments
37:21will all be exchanged
37:22in the name
37:23of performing noble ladies
37:24for grain,
37:25winter cloaks,
37:26medicinal herbs,
37:27and bandages
37:27to be sent to the northern forest keep
37:29for the defenders
37:30who desperately need them.
37:31How could such a noble cause
37:33become an insult
37:34the minute it left your lips?
37:38How could such a noble cause
37:40become an insult
37:41the minute it left your lips?
37:43The people present
37:43nodded one after another.
37:46Before you arrived,
37:47we had already gone through
37:48several rounds
37:48of charitable donations,
37:49but other ladies
37:50who performed
37:51all wore veils.
37:52Lady Thornwell's temperament
37:53is different,
37:54and she refused
37:55to wear one herself,
37:55so naturally
37:56we couldn't say anything.
37:57How has it now become
37:58us deliberately humiliating
37:59you with our charity?
38:01Edlin hadn't paid
38:02any attention
38:02to the movements
38:03in Silverleaf City
38:03these past few days at all.
38:05I purposely had the messengers
38:06deliver the invitation
38:07to the Thornwell estate
38:08absolutely last.
38:09Most likely,
38:10he never even looked closely
38:11at what was written inside,
38:12merely assuming it was
38:14no different
38:14from the tea banquets
38:15of previous years.
38:16Thoroughly disgraced,
38:17Edlin had no choice
38:18but to drag Lyra
38:19away from the banquet
38:19of the cannon,
38:20hurrying back
38:21to the Thornwell estate.
38:22When the dowager lady
38:23opened her,
38:24she clutched her chest
38:25in sheer fury.
38:26Just what kind
38:27of family-ruining
38:28disaster have you
38:29brought back?
38:29You threw away
38:30the Duchess of Silverbridge
38:31whose marriage covenant
38:32was personally blessed
38:33by the High Ming
38:33and who was highly regarded
38:34by the Queen Mother.
38:35All because you insisted
38:37on this unpretentable wretch.
38:41All because you insisted
38:42on this unpretentable wretch.
38:45Taking her outside
38:46will only throw away
38:46the Thornwell family's
38:47face entirely.
38:48Immediately strip her
38:49of her title as the lady
38:49and demote her
38:50to a secondary wife.
38:51From now on,
38:52the only mister in this estate
38:54who can stand before others
38:55needs only B.C. Lynia.
38:57Hearing this,
38:58Lyra couldn't possibly
38:59sit still anymore.
39:00Thrusting her pregnant
39:01belly forward,
39:02she lunged as if to smash
39:03her head against the pillar.
39:04Is the Lord going to strip me
39:06of my position
39:06and devote me
39:07to a secondary wife?
39:08Who was it that said
39:09he would let me sit
39:09in the position of the lady?
39:10And who said our child
39:11would inherit
39:11the Thornwell family's
39:12linie in the future?
39:13They the first
39:14recognize legitimator!
39:16If the Lord regrets it now,
39:18I will smash my head
39:18and die right here!
39:20She reached out to stop her
39:21and the room was
39:21instantly thrown into chaos.
39:23Right at that moment,
39:24the aid servant
39:25ran into chaos.
39:25My Lord, congratulations!
39:26The physician has just
39:27diagnosed Lady Selene
39:28to be pregnant.
39:29Lady Selene is currently
39:30throwing up terribly
39:31in her courtyard.
39:32Please go and see her,
39:32my Lord.
39:34What?
39:35As soon as the word
39:35fell,
39:36Edlin was instantly
39:37overjoyed.
39:38Is this true?
39:39For a moment,
39:40he was distracted
39:41and his grip loosened.
39:46And his grip loosened.
39:48Lyra had merely
39:48pretending to throw herself
39:49at the pillar.
39:50But without any obstruction
39:51this time,
39:52her whole body
39:52genuinely smashed
39:53right into it.
39:54Blood instantly flowed
39:56down the side
39:56of her forehead,
39:57her entire face
39:58turning deathly pale.
39:59She clutched her belly
40:00and curled up on the ground.
40:02My Lord,
40:03my stomach hurts so much.
40:05Save our child.
40:06Before she could even finish,
40:07she went limp
40:07and collapsed.
40:08This is bad!
40:09Lady Lyra has knocked
40:10herself unconscious!
40:12Guards, quickly
40:12summon the physician!
40:14The vulnerable state
40:15was instantly clutched
40:17into sheer pain.
40:18Lyra's collision
40:19had actually become real.
40:21Not only did she
40:21break her forehead,
40:22but she also injured
40:23the child of her womb.
40:24Because of this,
40:25she went into labor prematurely.
40:27Meanwhile,
40:28Selene gritted her teeth
40:29in her own courtyard.
40:30What a shameless rushed.
40:32Knowing perfectly well
40:33that I am also pregnant,
40:34she purposely chose
40:35this exact time
40:36to ram a pillar
40:37and go into premature labor.
40:39She clearly just wants
40:40to hook my cousin's
40:41attention back.
40:42A woman born of a banquet
40:43singer,
40:44does she actually think
40:44she can let the first
40:45recognized heir
40:46of the Thornwell family
40:47be born from her womb?
40:48Lyra's child was already
40:49not yet full term.
40:51And on top of that,
40:51she had injured her forehead.
40:53Halfway through
40:54the harrowing labor,
40:54she had lost all
40:55her strength entirely.
40:57The physician spent
40:57a great deal of effort
40:58to barely stabilize
40:59her breathing.
41:00After enduring pain
41:01for a full day and night,
41:02she gave birth
41:03to a premature daughter
41:03as frail and tiny
41:05as a newborn kitten.
41:06Lyra had passed out.
41:09The physician spent
41:10a great deal of effort
41:10to barely stabilize her breathing.
41:12After enduring pain
41:13for a full day and night,
41:14she gave birth
41:15to a premature daughter
41:16as frail and tiny
41:17as a newborn kitten.
41:19Lyra had passed out.
41:20When she woke up
41:21and saw a baby girl
41:22in her arms,
41:22she instantly shrieked.
41:24I was clearly
41:25carrying a son.
41:26How can it be a daughter?
41:27You must have
41:28swapped my child!
41:30Did Selina send you?
41:31She wants to secure
41:33her position
41:33in the main estate,
41:34so she swapped my son.
41:36Tell her to give
41:37my child back!
41:38She vehemently insisted
41:39that Selina
41:39swap her.
41:41Trying and growing
41:41a fit in Sisal.
41:42She turned the entire
41:44Thornwell family
41:45upside down.
41:46Selina, however,
41:47completely ignored her
41:48and was instead
41:49absolutely thrilled.
41:51This way,
41:51the first recognized
41:52inheriting child
41:53of the Thornwell family
41:54would most likely
41:54be born from her own womb.
41:56But she rejoiced
41:57too soon.
41:57At the one-month
41:58celebration banquet
41:59for the eldest daughter
42:00of the Thornwell family,
42:01Selina drank a bowl
42:02of sweet honey milk broth
42:03to usher in good fortune.
42:04Not long after,
42:04she experienced
42:05unbearable abdominal pain.
42:07Quick!
42:07Breaking out in cold sweats,
42:08she cried out repeatedly.
42:09Save me!
42:12Before the physician
42:13could even arrive,
42:14Selina was already
42:15bleeding heavily.
42:17She experienced
42:18unbearable abdominal pain.
42:19Quick!
42:20Breaking out in cold sweats,
42:21she cried out repeatedly.
42:22Save me!
42:25Before the physician
42:26could even arrive,
42:27Selina was already
42:27bleeding heavily.
42:28The child in her womb,
42:29not even two months along,
42:31could not be saved.
42:32After examining the food
42:33she had consumed,
42:34the physician detected
42:35an abortion herb
42:36in that sweet broth.
42:37Something that should
42:38never appear
42:38in a pregnant woman's diet.
42:39The dosage
42:40was staggeringly heavy,
42:42absolutely not something
42:43that had been mixed
42:43in by accident.
42:44Selina's eyes
42:45turned to a shock.
42:45Tie up that bitch, Lyra,
42:46and drag her here!
42:48Lyra, however,
42:50showed not a shred of fear.
42:52Merely hugging her daughter,
42:53she sneered coldly.
42:54I was the one who did it,
42:55so what?
42:55That bowl of sweet broth
42:57didn't just have
42:57abortion mess in,
42:58it also had something
42:59to cause sterility.
43:01Selina,
43:01you wanted to secure
43:02that position?
43:04Keep dreaming.
43:05The only bloodline
43:06the Thornsfield family
43:07will ever leave behind
43:09from now on
43:09will be my daughter.
43:11She laughed like a maniac,
43:13looking at the hurriedly
43:14arriving Edlin and Mark.
43:15You were the one
43:15who first tricked me
43:16into giving myself to you
43:17and then tricked me
43:18into entering the main estate.
43:19Now you even want
43:20to strip me of my position
43:21and demote me
43:22to a secondary wife.
43:23You deceived me
43:24so many times,
43:24I am merely seeking justice
43:25for myself this one time.
43:27That's fair.
43:28Edlin,
43:29you wronged me first,
43:30so don't blame me
43:31for being ruthless.
43:34Selina ultimately
43:35lost her child
43:36and permanently lost
43:37any possibility
43:37of becoming pregnant again.
43:39The Felwyn family
43:40erupted in fury.
43:44The Felwyn family
43:45erupted in fury,
43:46refusing to look
43:47at her job,
43:47and stubbornly insisted
43:49on handing Lyra over
43:50to the royal court's
43:50judicial department.
43:51Lyra was not afraid
43:52in the slightest.
43:53She merely stated
43:54that if they truly
43:55forced her to die,
43:56before her death,
43:57she would naturally
43:58expose every single secret
43:59within the normal estate
44:00that shouldn't be weak
44:01to the outside world.
44:02Ultimately,
44:03Edlin couldn't bear it.
44:04He racked his brains
44:05and pulled strings
44:05to spare Lyra's life.
44:07The Felwyn family
44:08forced him to agree
44:08to send Lyra
44:09to the grove
44:10of ancestral spirits,
44:11forbidding her
44:12from ever returning
44:12to the main estate
44:13for the rest of her life.
44:14Her daughter would be
44:15handed over to Selina
44:16to raise,
44:17and from then on,
44:18Edlin was forbidden
44:19from giving any other woman
44:20a status,
44:21and forbidden from welcoming
44:22anyone else
44:22into the main estate.
44:23From that moment forward,
44:25Selina would be
44:25the sole recognized mistress
44:27of the Thornwell family.
44:28It was as if
44:29the Thornwell family
44:29had lost all its vitality
44:31overnight,
44:32sinking into complete silence
44:33within Silverleaf City.
44:34By the time the people
44:35I had planted
44:36in the Thornwell estate
44:36delivered this news
44:37to my hands,
44:38two or three months
44:39had already passed.
44:40I heard that Lyra
44:41was sent to the grove
44:42of ancestral spirits.
44:43Meanwhile,
44:44although Selina
44:44kept that child
44:45by her side,
44:46whenever she thought
44:47of how she had been ruined
44:47into her current state,
44:48she would go mad
44:49with hatred,
44:50occasionally feeling
44:51the urge
44:52to strangle the child.
44:53When Lyra found out,
44:54she ultimately hung herself
44:55with a long white silk sash
44:57in the grove
44:57of ancestral spirits.
45:03She ultimately hung herself
45:05with a long white silk sash
45:06in the grove
45:07of ancestral spirits.
45:08She wanted to use
45:09her own life
45:09to buy a path of survival
45:10for her daughter.
45:11When the people
45:12of Silverleaf City
45:12gossiped in private,
45:13they all sighed
45:14that the Lord of the North
45:15had personally blocked off
45:16his own prospects
45:17and all his avenues
45:18of retreat.
45:19His path within the royal court
45:21had likely come to an end.
45:22Later,
45:23he only held
45:23an insignificant post
45:24in the royal court,
45:25and his majesty
45:26simply stopped summoning him
45:27to the councils altogether.
45:28This also meant
45:29that his future prospects
45:30in the royal court
45:31were thoroughly severed.
45:32As for me,
45:33because I had hosted
45:33several charity banquets
45:34with utter propriety,
45:35everyone in Silverleaf City
45:36praised the daughter
45:37of the Kaelin family
45:38as being compassionate,
45:39generous to others,
45:40and a person who truly
45:41accomplished practical deeds.
45:43The Queen Mother asked
45:44what reward I wished to request.
45:45I thought about it
45:46and only asked
45:47the one gracious permission.
45:49A month later,
45:49I followed the royal court's convoy
45:51escorting grain,
45:52winter cloaks,
45:52and medicinal herbs
45:53to the northern forest keep.
45:55I would also establish
45:56an academy for women
45:56in the North,
45:57teaching those surviving
45:58destitute women
45:59how to read,
46:00keep accounts,
46:00identify herbs,
46:01and learn a craft
46:02to settle down
46:03and support themselves.
46:04From then on,
46:05allowing them to also
46:06possess a piece of the world
46:07that belonged entirely
46:07to themselves.
46:08Someone asked me
46:09if I would ever want
46:10to go home in the future.
46:11I smiled faintly.
46:12The world is so vast.
46:14Anywhere can be home.
46:15A
46:15A
46:15A
46:15In
46:16To
46:16B
46:16B
46:16A
46:16A
46:16B
46:16A
46:16A
46:17B
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