Died Once She Won T Lose Again Episode Silver Motion Complete 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.

00:01:06Lady 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.

00:01:27I 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.

00:02:11In 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 Kensington's.

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.

00:02:35The 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?

00:02:56That land. That land is worthless.

00:02:58I am buying it with the sterling money.

00:03:01It 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.

00:03:39Stop bidding. She knows something.

00:03:41250,000 gold coins sold!

00:03:46You will regret this.

00:03:48No, Liam.

00:03:50The 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 sickbed.

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,

00:04:30I 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 Thorne.

00:04:59North Harbor, warehouse number four.

00:05:02Smuggled 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.

00:05:39Do 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 Thorne's castle in a gold gown, wearing the sterling emerald

00:05:56necklace, for the King's Trade Charter Ceremony.

00:05:59Liam wanted me modest, and Seraphina wanted me to be a shadow.

00:06:04But 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.

00:06:16A woman who belongs in the dark only looks like a joke in the light.

00:06:19The moment I finished speaking, Seraphina 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.

00:06:43How dare you lie for her?

00:06:45That was House Thorne'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.

00:07:06The saint's gesture is reversed.

00:07:08And 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 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.

00:08:00Guy, 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.

00:08:14A 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.

00:08:38When 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 stepped to my side.

00:08:47His voice was low, but clear enough for me to hear.

00:08:5080,000 gold coins have been sent to your counting room.

00:08:54That abandoned quarry will become a royal free market.

00:08:56You told me such a valuable secret.

00:08:59Are 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.

00:09:15Old 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.

00:09:24House Kensington has always hoped to...

00:09:28Move.

00:09:34Lord Thorne.

00:09:37Who are you?

00:09:39I am Seraphina.

00:09:41Liam's most important...

00:09:42Mistress?

00:09:44The hall fell silent.

00:09:47In 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,

00:10:17and 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 Thorne Guard,

00:10:24now hired to do nobles' 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,

00:10:31and 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.

00:10:46Clever.

00:10:47Half an hour later,

00:10:49hoofbeats stopped outside the mill.

00:10:51Liam had actually come,

00:10:52but he carried no gold,

00:10:54only a bloodless face.

00:10:55Skye.

00:10:56Liam!

00:10:57Cut the ropes!

00:10:58The powder is about to explode!

00:11:00I cannot go in!

00:11:02If I enter, I will die!

00:11:03I am your wife!

00:11:05House Kensington!

00:11:06Cannot lose me!

00:11:08In that moment,

00:11:09I knew for certain

00:11:10that 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?

00:11:23The powder is lit!

00:11:24You cannot save her!

00:11:29The mill explosion failed to kill me.

00:11:33Three days later,

00:11:34the Kensington carriage delivered me into another trial.

00:11:39Beatrice 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

00:11:48for 250,000 gold coins

00:11:50had made me the joke of the city.

00:11:53Explain this.

00:11:55For now,

00:11:56it looks like I misjudged it.

00:11:58I did not explain.

00:11:59The fewer people knew the quarry's true value,

00:12:03the better.

00:12:04Misjudged it.

00:12:04You nearly died in a mill.

00:12:06People are already whispering

00:12:08that Liam lost his nerve.

00:12:09And now you use sterling money to buy Wasteland.

00:12:11Do you want to ruin House Kensington's name?

00:12:15That night,

00:12:16he did run.

00:12:18Silence!

00:12:20A man's reputation

00:12:22is 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.

00:12:28She only cared whether House Kensington looked clean.

00:12:32The mill incident ends here.

00:12:34To outsiders,

00:12:35it was a bandit attack.

00:12:37And Liam arrived too late.

00:12:39And if I refuse,

00:12:42then I will manage

00:12:43the sterling trading house for you.

00:12:46If you fail to produce an heir within a year,

00:12:48your dowry,

00:12:49castle,

00:12:50and trading house

00:12:51will all pass into my hands.

00:12:53She finally revealed

00:12:55her 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

00:13:05and behave like a proper wife.

00:13:08Fine.

00:13:09I will attend.

00:13:12She thought I had lowered my head,

00:13:14but my application

00:13:15had already reached

00:13:16the cathedral school.

00:13:17At tonight's dinner,

00:13:19I would make Liam

00:13:20tear off his own dignity.

00:13:21That night,

00:13:22Beatrice arranged

00:13:23a reconciliation dinner.

00:13:25It was not for peace.

00:13:27It was to force me

00:13:28to cover Liam's cowardice.

00:13:30Three noble ladies

00:13:31will visit tomorrow.

00:13:33Tonight,

00:13:33you must sit beside Liam.

00:13:35As long as you dine with him,

00:13:37people can only say

00:13:38he arrived late,

00:13:39not that he ran.

00:13:41So running away

00:13:42can be dressed up as bravery?

00:13:44Do you still want to keep

00:13:45the sterling trading house?

00:13:47She threatened me

00:13:48with the trading house again.

00:13:49But this time,

00:13:50I already had a way out.

00:13:52Fine.

00:13:53I will eat quietly tonight.

00:13:56My lord,

00:13:57Lady Serafina sent word.

00:13:58She hurt her ankle

00:14:00and only wants to see you.

00:14:02Where is she?

00:14:03Sit down.

00:14:05Grandmother,

00:14:06she is hurt.

00:14:06If you walk out tonight,

00:14:09the whole city will know

00:14:10you abandoned your wife,

00:14:12fresh from an explosion,

00:14:14for your mistress.

00:14:16Then let them talk.

00:14:18He rose and left.

00:14:20Beatrice's face darkened,

00:14:22and for the first time,

00:14:24this dinner tasted good.

00:14:26After dinner,

00:14:27I pushed open the terrace doors.

00:14:29Liam had chosen Serafina again.

00:14:31Good.

00:14:32The more he chose,

00:14:33the more proof I had.

00:14:36You do not look like

00:14:37an abandoned wife.

00:14:39You trespassed just to laugh at me?

00:14:41Half to make sure

00:14:43my ally was still alive.

00:14:46And half to bring you good news.

00:14:48The quarry?

00:14:49Dear Sky,

00:14:51the quarry you bought

00:14:52for 250,000 gold coins

00:14:54will silence

00:14:55the entire capital tomorrow.

00:14:59Ballister placed a rolled parchment

00:15:01on the wrought iron table.

00:15:03The draft decree for that quarry

00:15:04has been entered

00:15:05into 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

00:15:14and brushed a crumb of sauce

00:15:15from the corner of my mouth

00:15:17with his thumb.

00:15:18Rough,

00:15:18yet impossibly light,

00:15:20I didn't pull away.

00:15:21I sat on a stone bench

00:15:23in the cathedral school courtyard.

00:15:25Before me lay Latin legal codes

00:15:27and debate outlines.

00:15:29Today was my entrance examination.

00:15:32A carriage jerked

00:15:34to a halt at the academy gates.

00:15:36Liam strode across the lawn,

00:15:38students scattering from his path.

00:15:40You want to embarrass me

00:15:41before all the nobles?

00:15:43A Kensington wife

00:15:45has no need

00:15:46to parade herself

00:15:47at the academy.

00:15:49He snatched the parchment

00:15:50from my hand,

00:15:51gripping my wrist.

00:15:54If I keep myself busy

00:15:56with my studies,

00:15:57I won't disturb you and Serafina.

00:15:59I didn't stand.

00:16:01I only looked up at him.

00:16:02Isn't this exactly

00:16:03what you asked for?

00:16:07Hoofbeats splashed

00:16:08through the mud.

00:16:08A young man swung down

00:16:10from his horse.

00:16:12Dark, golden hair

00:16:13slightly tonsilled.

00:16:15Leather boots

00:16:16polished to a gleam.

00:16:18Not many women

00:16:19dare scold their husbands

00:16:20at the academy gates.

00:16:22Ethan Vance,

00:16:23second son of the Vance family,

00:16:25famous for gambling away

00:16:26his fortune on horse races

00:16:27and composing doggerels.

00:16:29Lord Vance,

00:16:30you're blocking the passage.

00:16:32I stood,

00:16:34brushed the dust

00:16:34from my skirt,

00:16:36and turned to walk

00:16:37into the examination

00:16:38hall.

00:16:39The examination hall

00:16:41was cold stone.

00:16:42I unrolled my paper,

00:16:44dipped my quill,

00:16:45and began to write.

00:16:48Someone leaned in

00:16:49from the row behind.

00:16:50Ethan Vance's breath

00:16:51was nearly against my nape.

00:16:53What should be written

00:16:54for question three?

00:16:55I'll trade you tonight's

00:16:56wine money for the answer.

00:16:57I didn't turn around.

00:16:59My quill kept moving

00:17:00across the parchment,

00:17:01and at the same moment,

00:17:03my boot heel kicked backward,

00:17:04landing precisely on his calf.

00:17:06His yelp drew every gaze

00:17:08in the silent hall.

00:17:09I kept writing,

00:17:10the corner of my lips

00:17:12barely lifting.

00:17:14My quill kept moving

00:17:15across the parchment.

00:17:16The examination was meant

00:17:18to last three hours,

00:17:19but after only one hour passed,

00:17:22I rose and handed in my paper.

00:17:27The proctor bishop

00:17:28leaked through my parchment,

00:17:30frowning,

00:17:30as I stepped out

00:17:32of the examination hall.

00:17:33A figure stood waiting

00:17:35in the blinding sunlight.

00:17:37Tiffany,

00:17:38Serafina's lackey

00:17:39and confident,

00:17:40she waited outside

00:17:41the examination room

00:17:42just to mock me.

00:17:44Sky Sterling only sat

00:17:45the exam for one hour!

00:17:48She must have

00:17:49bribed the proctor

00:17:50or handed in

00:17:51blank parchment.

00:17:52I stopped walking

00:17:53and looked at her.

00:17:55Public defamation

00:17:56within the cathedral

00:17:57precinct violates

00:17:58the code of conduct.

00:18:00Article 4,

00:18:01Supplemental Clause.

00:18:02Tiffany froze in place.

00:18:04Your citation will reach

00:18:06the disciplinary committee

00:18:07by noon.

00:18:09That evening,

00:18:10the annual

00:18:11Sterling Family Banquet.

00:18:13Thanks you all for coming

00:18:14and witnessing the improvement

00:18:16of the Sterling Trading House

00:18:17under my leadership.

00:18:18Uncle Arthur,

00:18:19he took over

00:18:20the Sterling Trading House

00:18:21after my father died

00:18:22and seized his legacy.

00:18:24I heard you've gone back

00:18:25to Academy?

00:18:28The allowance

00:18:29Kensington gives you

00:18:30isn't enough for you?

00:18:32Aunt Petunia

00:18:33looked me up and down.

00:18:35A few distant cousins

00:18:36tittered.

00:18:37Liam set down his cutlery

00:18:39with a deliberate clink.

00:18:41He stood up.

00:18:44Aunt Petunia,

00:18:46Sky scored the highest marks

00:18:47on the entrance examination

00:18:48in a decade.

00:18:50And your son, Victor,

00:18:52how much did he owe

00:18:53the gambling dens last month?

00:18:55The table fell

00:18:57immediately silent.

00:18:58Liam continued,

00:19:00as casual as if

00:19:01discussing the weather.

00:19:06By the way,

00:19:07Uncle Arthur,

00:19:08are you planning to

00:19:09quietly sell off

00:19:1015% of the Sterling

00:19:11Trading House

00:19:12partnership shares?

00:19:15He said a name.

00:19:17The Prophets Guild.

00:19:19Arthur's face went pale.

00:19:22Liam smiled

00:19:23after showing off

00:19:24his intelligence,

00:19:25but he still had no idea

00:19:27who owned

00:19:27the Prophets Guild.

00:19:29The Prophets Guild.

00:19:31That was my

00:19:32underground intelligence network.

00:19:34Arthur's cutlery

00:19:35trembled in his hands.

00:19:39Aunt Petunia had fallen

00:19:41utterly silent.

00:19:42The eyes of every relative

00:19:43towards me

00:19:44changed to suspicion.

00:19:46Liam was defending me now.

00:19:47They didn't know

00:19:48what any of this meant.

00:19:50The familiar messenger

00:19:52appeared again.

00:19:54Sir,

00:19:55it's Seraphina.

00:20:00Liam rose once more,

00:20:02left once more.

00:20:04I set down my napkin

00:20:05and turned to the attendant,

00:20:07sent by Alistair,

00:20:08who was behind me.

00:20:11Arthur is preparing

00:20:12to sell 15%

00:20:13of the Trading House

00:20:14partnership shares

00:20:15to the Prophets Guild.

00:20:17Let him sign tonight.

00:20:19He vanished without a sound

00:20:21into the servant's passage.

00:20:23Aunt Petunia glared at me

00:20:24from the far end

00:20:25of the table.

00:20:26Her stare as if

00:20:27she wanted to swallow me whole,

00:20:28I smiled at her

00:20:29and raised my goblet.

00:20:31She had no idea.

00:20:33Once her husband

00:20:34signed that contract tonight,

00:20:36the master of the

00:20:37Sterling Trading House

00:20:38would no longer be him.

00:20:40That night,

00:20:41when Liam returned early

00:20:42from Seraphina's

00:20:43tavern banquet,

00:20:45I was in the library

00:20:46of Kensington Castle.

00:20:50He stood in the doorway,

00:20:52collar loose,

00:20:53the smell of drink

00:20:54clinging to him.

00:20:56She was too noisy,

00:20:58and the cake

00:20:59was too sweet.

00:21:00I didn't answer,

00:21:01kept reading the book

00:21:02in my hand.

00:21:04The next morning,

00:21:06Arthur burst into

00:21:07the breakfast room

00:21:07and slammed a handwritten

00:21:09news sheet before me.

00:21:15He read out the title

00:21:16loudly in front of

00:21:18Beatrice and Liam.

00:21:20Lady Kensington

00:21:21bribes Academy Proctor.

00:21:23Shame on you, Sky.

00:21:24You spent 200,000

00:21:26gold pieces

00:21:27to buy your

00:21:27entrance exam result?

00:21:29Beatrice picked up

00:21:30the news sheet.

00:21:31Her hawk-headed cane

00:21:32was nearly pressed

00:21:33against my face,

00:21:34forging documents

00:21:35to frame a family member

00:21:37in order to manipulate

00:21:38guild share prices.

00:21:39I raised my head

00:21:41and looked directly

00:21:42at Arthur,

00:21:43in the crown court,

00:21:44that is called

00:21:45insider trading.

00:21:49Would you like me

00:21:50to write to the sheriff

00:21:51right now?

00:21:55Arthur's face drained

00:21:56to ash and pale.

00:21:58He stumbled three steps

00:22:00backward,

00:22:01crashed into the tea

00:22:02trolley behind him.

00:22:04To avoid being disturbed,

00:22:06I shall move to my

00:22:07residence in the city

00:22:08to focus on my studies.

00:22:11Liam wanted to stop it,

00:22:13but didn't know how.

00:22:15I moved to the resident

00:22:17prepared by Alistair,

00:22:19registered under a

00:22:20shell trading house.

00:22:22The second night

00:22:23after moving in,

00:22:24I pushed open the window

00:22:25and stepped onto

00:22:27the stone balcony.

00:22:28Isn't this the lady

00:22:30who kicked me

00:22:30in the examination hall?

00:22:33On the neighboring balcony

00:22:35stood a figure

00:22:35that seemed

00:22:36all too familiar.

00:22:38I moved into

00:22:39the most expensive

00:22:40tower in the city

00:22:41and the only view

00:22:42is you?

00:22:44Lord Vance,

00:22:45this is my balcony,

00:22:47not your private view.

00:22:49He grinned.

00:22:53I turned my back

00:22:54to him

00:22:55and couldn't help

00:22:56laughing either.

00:22:59She thinks she can

00:23:01escape me

00:23:01just by moving

00:23:02into the city?

00:23:04Just as his words

00:23:05faded,

00:23:06heavy footsteps

00:23:07sounded from the

00:23:07far end of the corridor.

00:23:09It was Serafina's

00:23:10shrill laughter.

00:23:11I have enrolled

00:23:12in the academy courses

00:23:13as well,

00:23:14she can't get rid of me.

00:23:15She was clinging

00:23:16to my husband,

00:23:17passing right by my door,

00:23:19deliberately making

00:23:20every word ring

00:23:21loud and clear.

00:23:24I closed the door

00:23:25and leaned back

00:23:26against the oak.

00:23:27Then I smiled.

00:23:29She was right.

00:23:30I really couldn't

00:23:31get rid of her.

00:23:34But every inch

00:23:35of ground

00:23:35she stood upon

00:23:36was already

00:23:37in the palm

00:23:38of my hand.

00:23:39The most difficult

00:23:40subject in the

00:23:40cathedral school,

00:23:41canon property law

00:23:42and Hanseatic League

00:23:44commercial code.

00:23:45I stood at the lectern,

00:23:46presenting my argument,

00:23:47but dark spots

00:23:48appeared before my eyes.

00:23:50I've gone through

00:23:51so many things

00:23:52over the past few days

00:23:53and my body

00:23:54betraying me.

00:23:55Skye!

00:23:56Open your eyes!

00:23:57My knees

00:23:57hit the stone floor first.

00:23:59Someone caught me

00:24:00in the haze.

00:24:01Ethan lifted me

00:24:02into his arms.

00:24:03The wooden door

00:24:04crashed open.

00:24:05Liam stood there.

00:24:06When he saw me

00:24:07lying in Ethan's arms,

00:24:09his face twisted

00:24:10from shock

00:24:11into pure fury

00:24:12in an instant.

00:24:13Give her to me!

00:24:15She fainted.

00:24:16She needs air.

00:24:18If you touch

00:24:20my wife again,

00:24:21I will have you

00:24:22thrown out

00:24:23of this academy.

00:24:25Liam snatched me

00:24:26from him

00:24:26and carried me

00:24:27toward the door.

00:24:29I only remember

00:24:30one thing.

00:24:31Liam's hands

00:24:32were trembling.

00:24:33Infirmary sister

00:24:34at the Abbey Hospital

00:24:35loosened my clothing

00:24:36to examine me.

00:24:40She has countless

00:24:41wounds on her body,

00:24:42some still healing.

00:24:44Are these from...

00:24:45she fell down the stairs

00:24:46a few days ago.

00:24:47A bad fall.

00:24:48The sister

00:24:49did not dare

00:24:50press further.

00:24:51One did not

00:24:52press a Kensington.

00:24:53Move back

00:24:54to the estate.

00:24:57No.

00:24:58I can have the academy

00:24:59suspend you

00:25:00on medical grounds.

00:25:01Then I shall announce

00:25:02to the entire city

00:25:03that the Kensington family

00:25:05imprisons its wives.

00:25:08You may stay

00:25:09in the tower.

00:25:10I will hire a nutritionist

00:25:11and a coachman.

00:25:12You will dine with me

00:25:13every fortnight.

00:25:15Agreed.

00:25:16He was happy

00:25:16thinking that I was

00:25:17once again

00:25:18that obedient wife.

00:25:19I needed to stay

00:25:20close enough

00:25:21to track every move

00:25:22of the Kensington

00:25:23trading house.

00:25:25A few days later,

00:25:27I rode alone.

00:25:28The Black Fox Inn

00:25:30outside the city walls.

00:25:32Ethan was in a private room

00:25:34on the second floor.

00:25:35Surrounded by three

00:25:36minstrel girls

00:25:37laughing at his jokes.

00:25:40Is that Skye?

00:25:41What wind blows you here?

00:25:42I walked up to him

00:25:43and slapped a stack

00:25:44of parchment

00:25:45onto the table.

00:25:46Your records of evading

00:25:47the Lord's tariffs

00:25:48at the flamish trading post.

00:25:50How did you...

00:25:53Retrieve from the wastebasket

00:25:55in Liam's study.

00:25:56Next time,

00:25:57I may not be there

00:25:58to clean up your tracks.

00:26:01Why are you helping me?

00:26:03I need an ally

00:26:04who is not afraid

00:26:05of the Kensingtons.

00:26:06He was silent

00:26:08for a long moment.

00:26:10Then raised his goblet.

00:26:12You are far more terrifying

00:26:14than I imagined.

00:26:15I turned and pushed

00:26:16open the door.

00:26:17All I saw

00:26:18were the same

00:26:19meddlesome scribes.

00:26:21They specifically compiled

00:26:23the whispered conversations

00:26:24they overheard

00:26:25into sharp anonymous letters

00:26:27and sold them

00:26:28to all the noble

00:26:29in the city.

00:26:30Lady Kensington

00:26:31in a midnight rendezvous

00:26:32with Lord Vance.

00:26:33I quickly made my way

00:26:34for the crowd

00:26:35without explanation.

00:26:41Behind me came

00:26:42the sound of hoofbeats.

00:26:43Alistair's men

00:26:44were sent to escort me.

00:26:45The moment I slipped

00:26:46into the carriage,

00:26:48I took out a note

00:26:48and handed it

00:26:49to the driver.

00:26:52Tell Thorne,

00:26:53Kensington Trading House

00:26:54shares price will full tomorrow.

00:26:55Let him buy it.

00:26:58The next morning,

00:26:59Liam saw the contents

00:27:00of that anonymous letter.

00:27:03Screw you, Ethan!

00:27:05How dare you mess around

00:27:07with a Kensington!

00:27:09He shattered his wine goblet

00:27:11against the wall.

00:27:12The very evening,

00:27:13Liam stood at the door

00:27:14of my tower.

00:27:15A lantern gripped

00:27:16in his hand.

00:27:21You will attend

00:27:21the Lord's banquet

00:27:22with me tomorrow,

00:27:23wearing the dress

00:27:24I give you.

00:27:25No.

00:27:26Then I will withdraw

00:27:27your tuition

00:27:27and the leases

00:27:28on this tower.

00:27:29You want a performance?

00:27:31My appearance fee

00:27:32is 5,000 gold pieces.

00:27:34The money belongs

00:27:35to me personally

00:27:35and I want it right now.

00:27:37He ground his teeth

00:27:39and wrote out

00:27:40a contract on the spot.

00:27:46The following dusk,

00:27:48the maid he sent

00:27:49arrived in my chamber,

00:27:50carrying a pale pink

00:27:51satin gown.

00:27:53Docile, sweet,

00:27:54like the seraphina

00:27:55he had in his mind.

00:27:56I casually threw it

00:27:58on the floor

00:28:00and then took out

00:28:01another one

00:28:01from my closet.

00:28:04I was not wearing

00:28:05the pink he gave me.

00:28:06I wore a gown

00:28:07of deep crimson velvet.

00:28:09The neckline cut

00:28:09devastatingly low,

00:28:10bare from collarbow downward.

00:28:13Liam stood at the foot

00:28:14of the stairs,

00:28:15staring up at me.

00:28:22Let's get in the carriage.

00:28:26When he handed me

00:28:27into the carriage,

00:28:28his hand lingered

00:28:28on my waist

00:28:29far longer than necessary.

00:28:32Inside the carriage,

00:28:33he stared at my bosom

00:28:35like a man looking

00:28:36at something

00:28:37he had never truly possessed.

00:28:41At the banquet,

00:28:42I walked on his arm

00:28:43and smiled.

00:28:45He deflected

00:28:46every question for me.

00:28:47When he spoke,

00:28:48his voice carried

00:28:49a note of pride

00:28:50I had never once heard

00:28:52in five years of marriage.

00:28:55My dear.

00:28:57When he thought

00:28:57no one was listening,

00:28:59he called me that

00:28:59in a low whisper.

00:29:01I did not answer,

00:29:03acted as if I didn't hear it.

00:29:04I only looked

00:29:06at the second floor gallery.

00:29:07There sat Alistair.

00:29:09He raised his glass

00:29:10ever so slightly.

00:29:12I will wait for you

00:29:14to finish the whole performance.

00:29:17That night,

00:29:18when we returned

00:29:19to Kensington Castle,

00:29:20Beatrice locked us

00:29:21in the bedroom.

00:29:22I have had the kitchen

00:29:23prepare the family's

00:29:24ancestral tonic.

00:29:26Two bowls of steaming

00:29:27herbal broth

00:29:28were placed on the table.

00:29:29This soup was so familiar,

00:29:31she had forced it

00:29:32upon me in my previous life.

00:29:34Drink every drop,

00:29:35Liam.

00:29:35You as well, Sky.

00:29:37She watched Liam

00:29:39swallow most of his bowl

00:29:40before turning to me.

00:29:41Drink it all.

00:29:43Every last drop.

00:29:44I raised the spoon

00:29:45to my lips,

00:29:46and each time

00:29:47she turned her head

00:29:47to berate a servant,

00:29:48I spat the liquid

00:29:49into the napkin on my lap.

00:29:51Then two guards

00:29:52escorted Liam and me

00:29:53back to the bedroom

00:29:54and locked the door.

00:29:55Liam's face

00:29:56was already flushed primson.

00:29:58He tore at his collar

00:29:59and stumbled toward me,

00:30:01his gaze unfocused.

00:30:05Sarah.

00:30:05He looked at me

00:30:06with deep affection,

00:30:08saying Sarah Fina's name.

00:30:09I tightened my grip

00:30:11on the candlestack

00:30:12on the table.

00:30:12The moment Liam's

00:30:14hand caught the hem

00:30:15of my gown.

00:30:16I smashed the candlestick

00:30:17onto 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

00:30:32in the chair by the window.

00:30:35I handed him a cup of water.

00:30:39You drank grandmother's

00:30:41herbal toner last night

00:30:42and collapsed.

00:30:43You struck your head

00:30:45on the stone mantle.

00:30:46He nodded,

00:30:47didn't press further.

00:30:50I went to the study.

00:30:53On the desk lay

00:30:54an anonymous letter,

00:30:55accusing me of being

00:30:56involved with Ethan.

00:30:58I picked it up.

00:31:00The paper has faint lines on it,

00:31:03belonging to a certain family,

00:31:05Tiffany's family.

00:31:06She was Sarah Fina's attendant.

00:31:10I wrote a letter to Alistair

00:31:11to have him keep an eye

00:31:12on Tiffany.

00:31:14The front gate of the castle

00:31:15was broken open.

00:31:17Arthur and Petunia

00:31:18got out of the carriage

00:31:19and rushed straight

00:31:20to the study.

00:31:21That land was purchased

00:31:22with sterling family fields.

00:31:25It turned out

00:31:26the king had announced

00:31:27that the mine

00:31:28would be officially designated

00:31:30as a royal free market.

00:31:32The profits belong

00:31:34to the family.

00:31:35Your father signed

00:31:36this document

00:31:37before he died.

00:31:39All land transactions

00:31:40must be approved

00:31:42by the family council.

00:31:43Arthur held a parchment

00:31:44in his hand.

00:31:45I took a look.

00:31:46After father's stroke,

00:31:47his right hand

00:31:48had a persistent tremor.

00:31:50This signature

00:31:51is far too steady.

00:31:52He froze where he stood,

00:31:54his mouth opening

00:31:55and closing wordlessly.

00:31:57Furthermore,

00:31:58I have already sold

00:31:58that land

00:31:59to Alistair.

00:32:02Do you have the courage

00:32:03to go demand it from him?

00:32:08Arthur's face

00:32:09turned pale instantly.

00:32:10That night,

00:32:11I arranged to meet Alistair

00:32:13at the lookout terrace

00:32:14of the grandest hotel

00:32:16in town.

00:32:17Once the market opens,

00:32:19the flow of goods

00:32:20will triple.

00:32:21My mercenaries

00:32:22will clear the mountain passes.

00:32:23You will spread the word.

00:32:24Spread across the chamber

00:32:25was an enormous

00:32:26parchment map.

00:32:27Every trade route

00:32:29of the Northlands

00:32:29traced in full.

00:32:31He stood at the far side

00:32:32of the map,

00:32:33both hands braced

00:32:34on the table's edge.

00:32:35How did you know

00:32:36that abandoned quarry

00:32:38would become a market

00:32:41so far in advance?

00:32:43I...

00:32:44Because you are

00:32:45the Oracle,

00:32:46the shadow

00:32:47who sells intelligence

00:32:48to the highest bidder

00:32:49from the darkness.

00:32:50My hand holding

00:32:51the quill

00:32:52stopped in midair.

00:32:53I spent three years

00:32:55investigating.

00:32:56It was not

00:32:57until I met you

00:32:59that all the threads

00:33:01finally wove together.

00:33:03I will begin purchasing

00:33:04warehousing rights

00:33:05along the route

00:33:06tomorrow morning.

00:33:08His fingers

00:33:09moved across the map

00:33:10while his eyes

00:33:11were fixed on mine.

00:33:13Do not let the

00:33:14Kensington's

00:33:15reach them first.

00:33:16We stood at the

00:33:17second floor railing

00:33:18of the hotel.

00:33:19The draft contract

00:33:20for the next

00:33:21harbor warehousing

00:33:22rights spread

00:33:23between us.

00:33:24Sky!

00:33:24Liam charged

00:33:25onto the second floor.

00:33:27He saw only me

00:33:28and the other man

00:33:29standing beside me.

00:33:30You're here

00:33:31with this traitor!

00:33:32His mouth opened

00:33:33to roar.

00:33:34I lifted the silver

00:33:35pitcher of ice water

00:33:35from the side table

00:33:36and dashed

00:33:38the entire contents

00:33:39into his face.

00:33:43What?

00:33:44Everyone in the hotel

00:33:45was watching him.

00:33:47The inn's head guard

00:33:48climbed the stairs

00:33:49and placed a firm

00:33:50hand on Liam's

00:33:51shoulder.

00:33:52My lord,

00:33:53this way.

00:33:56I looked down

00:33:57at the damp,

00:33:58wrinkled edge

00:33:58of the contract

00:33:59and smoothed it

00:34:01flat once more

00:34:02by the third port

00:34:03on the western shore.

00:34:05That is the location

00:34:06he will think

00:34:07to seize last.

00:34:10Understood.

00:34:16He raised his glass

00:34:17to me with the slightest

00:34:19tilt.

00:34:20Alistair drove me

00:34:21back to the tower

00:34:26and stood at the foot

00:34:28of the stone steps

00:34:29for a long while.

00:34:31The next morning,

00:34:32my maid returned

00:34:33from the Kensington estate.

00:34:35Last night,

00:34:36his lordship sat alone

00:34:37in the study.

00:34:38The butler passed by

00:34:39and heard him weeping.

00:34:40I did not respond.

00:34:42The maid kept saying,

00:34:43facing the fireplace,

00:34:45not a single word spoken,

00:34:48just being there

00:34:49until dawn.

00:34:50Five years ago,

00:34:51his tears would have

00:34:53kept me awake

00:34:53all night.

00:34:57Now,

00:34:58I only wanted

00:34:59to confirm

00:35:00one thing.

00:35:02Late that night,

00:35:03I changed

00:35:04into a dark

00:35:05riding habit

00:35:06and rode alone

00:35:08back

00:35:08to Kensington Castle.

00:35:11The night watchman

00:35:12was already

00:35:13passed out

00:35:13drunk in the gatehouse.

00:35:15The whole castle

00:35:16was silent

00:35:16as a stone sarcophagus.

00:35:18I climbed

00:35:19the stairs barefoot.

00:35:22The will box

00:35:24my mother

00:35:24had left behind

00:35:25and the emerald ring

00:35:27inside it.

00:35:28I had to find it.

00:35:31The former master chamber

00:35:32had stood empty

00:35:33since I moved out.

00:35:34Dust covered

00:35:35the vanity table.

00:35:36The wardrobe

00:35:37held only a few

00:35:38gray plain dresses.

00:35:39I opened the hidden

00:35:40compartment of the

00:35:40jewelry box.

00:35:41It was empty.

00:35:42You shouldn't

00:35:43have come back.

00:35:44The voice

00:35:45was a ghost,

00:35:45a memory

00:35:46I had tried to bury.

00:35:48You came back.

00:35:48I knew you would

00:35:49come back.

00:35:50I smelled the alcohol,

00:35:52empty bottles

00:35:52scattered at his feet.

00:35:53Liam sat in the

00:35:54armchair by the window.

00:35:56He rose

00:35:56and stumbled

00:35:58toward me.

00:35:59Sky.

00:36:00My sky.

00:36:01His fingers

00:36:02twisted into my hair.

00:36:03You are mine.

00:36:05Always have been.

00:36:06He bent his face down,

00:36:07trying to kiss me

00:36:08for the purpose of possession.

00:36:09Let go.

00:36:14I 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

00:36:19across his left cheek.

00:36:21You.

00:36:22He stumbled backward,

00:36:23the back of his skull

00:36:24striking the stone

00:36:25mantelpiece

00:36:25with a dull,

00:36:26heavy thunt.

00:36:29You disgust me.

00:36:30I finally found

00:36:31a hidden compartment

00:36:32in the bed

00:36:32and inside it

00:36:33was precisely

00:36:34that emerald ring.

00:36:35I turned around

00:36:36without hesitation

00:36:36and stepped directly

00:36:38out of the door.

00:36:39Behind me came

00:36:40the sound of his

00:36:41strangled,

00:36:41broken sobs.

00:36:43Back in my tower,

00:36:44I wrote a formal notice

00:36:45by candlelight.

00:36:46On the envelope,

00:36:47I wrote the Lombard Bank's address.

00:36:49All joint deposit agreements

00:36:50of the Kensington household

00:36:51are suspended

00:36:52from this day forward.

00:36:53Without the personal presence

00:36:54of this lady

00:36:55bearing her seal,

00:36:56no one is authorized

00:36:57to withdraw funds

00:36:58or make purchases

00:36:59on credit.

00:37:00Today,

00:37:01a shipment of eastern silk

00:37:02had arrived

00:37:03at the town drapers.

00:37:04I knew Serafina

00:37:05would drag Liam there

00:37:07to buy.

00:37:07She never missed

00:37:08a 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

00:37:16the upper gallery,

00:37:18her voice was already

00:37:19drifting up from below.

00:37:20My Sarah deserves the best.

00:37:22I'll buy you everything.

00:37:26I leaned against

00:37:27the upper railing

00:37:28and just watched.

00:37:31My lord,

00:37:32the order from the Lombard

00:37:33Banking House

00:37:34arrived this morning.

00:37:36The funds under your name

00:37:37can only be accessed

00:37:38with your wife's consent.

00:37:41What?

00:37:43This must be

00:37:44a misunderstanding!

00:37:46Liam!

00:37:47Tell him it's

00:37:47a misunderstanding!

00:37:49No.

00:37:50It was I

00:37:52who suspended them.

00:37:54I walked slowly

00:37:56down the stairs.

00:37:57The moment Liam saw me,

00:37:59his pupils contracted.

00:38:04You!

00:38:07That bolt of silk.

00:38:08I'll take it.

00:38:10Yes, my lady.

00:38:10Next day,

00:38:12when I walked into

00:38:12the academy courtyard

00:38:13in a fresh new dress,

00:38:15I found the stone walls

00:38:17plastered with news sheets.

00:38:19Lady Kensington's

00:38:20midnight rendezvous

00:38:21with the vaunt scoundrel.

00:38:23Ethan was already

00:38:24standing before the wall,

00:38:26tearing down

00:38:26every sheet

00:38:27one by one.

00:38:30Who posted these?

00:38:32Step forward!

00:38:34Behind the stone pillars

00:38:35of the second floor arcade,

00:38:38Serafina stood there,

00:38:39a smile curling her lips.

00:38:42I pulled down

00:38:43one 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

00:38:54to the guard

00:38:55Alistair had assigned me.

00:38:58I wrote down

00:38:59the person who did this

00:39:02and asked Alistair

00:39:03to help me find

00:39:04the evidence.

00:39:05That afternoon,

00:39:06I walked along the path.

00:39:09Jessica and Tiffany

00:39:10each carried

00:39:11a silver tray

00:39:12laden with cream cakes,

00:39:14the cream far darker

00:39:16than normal.

00:39:18Oh!

00:39:19Jessica tripped

00:39:20as she passed me.

00:39:21Her whole body

00:39:22tilted towards me

00:39:23and the cake

00:39:24flew straight at my chest.

00:39:26I sidesteaded.

00:39:27The cream cake

00:39:28crashed onto the ground

00:39:29and splattered

00:39:30all over Tiffany's dress.

00:39:32Ah!

00:39:35My dress!

00:39:36This is brand new!

00:39:38Students heard the sound

00:39:39and gathered around.

00:39:43You two,

00:39:44stay away from her.

00:39:47Ethan stormed

00:39:48through the gate

00:39:49and backed both girls

00:39:50into the corner.

00:39:51Serafina squeezed out

00:39:52from the crowd,

00:39:53a copper coin

00:39:54pinched between her fingers.

00:39:56Skye,

00:39:57this is for you.

00:39:59I heard

00:40:00that you are broke.

00:40:02You must be distressed.

00:40:03I took one step forward,

00:40:05closing the distance

00:40:06until barely a palm's width

00:40:07separated us.

00:40:09Next time you ask

00:40:10Jessica's family workshop

00:40:11to transcribe

00:40:12your little news sheets,

00:40:13tell them not to use

00:40:14their own special ink.

00:40:15That smell,

00:40:16too obvious.

00:40:17The copper coin

00:40:19slipped from her fingers

00:40:20and clinked across the ground

00:40:22into the puddle of grease.

00:40:24She stood rooted

00:40:26where she was,

00:40:27her lips trembling.

00:40:28You

00:40:29are lying.

00:40:30A few days later,

00:40:32I deliberately

00:40:33took a carriage

00:40:34to an estate

00:40:36perched on the seaside cliffs.

00:40:39A property my mother

00:40:41had left behind,

00:40:42held in trust

00:40:43by the abbey

00:40:43all these years.

00:40:48Serafina had followed

00:40:49my carriage

00:40:50all the way

00:40:50to the iron gates.

00:40:53What kind of rural area

00:40:55does she go to?

00:40:56So isolated.

00:40:58She watched me

00:41:00walk through

00:41:00the estate entrance.

00:41:02Gates she could not pass.

00:41:04This estate belongs

00:41:05to the Sterling Family Trust.

00:41:08Purchased 11 years ago

00:41:09by the late Lady

00:41:10Eleanor 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

00:41:27the iron bars

00:41:29and sank to her knees

00:41:30on the gravel.

00:41:38You've spent

00:41:39all his money

00:41:40and still hanging

00:41:41around there!

00:41:42This estate

00:41:43was left to me

00:41:44by my mother

00:41:45long before

00:41:46I ever knew Liam.

00:41:47The fishermen

00:41:48and 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

00:41:58back to me!

00:42:00I turned

00:42:01and walked

00:42:02through the gates

00:42:03without looking back.

00:42:04Two days later

00:42:05the college representative

00:42:06summoned all the people.

00:42:08Jessica Mills

00:42:09posting defamatory

00:42:11illustrations

00:42:12the evidence

00:42:12is conclusive.

00:42:14Suspension

00:42:14for one term.

00:42:16No!

00:42:16It was Serafina!

00:42:18She told me

00:42:19to do it!

00:42:23Jessica!

00:42:24How could you

00:42:25say that?

00:42:26You're lying!

00:42:28Tiffany!

00:42:28You were there!

00:42:30Tiffany kept

00:42:31her head down

00:42:32and said nothing

00:42:33at all.

00:42:34See,

00:42:34I even wrote

00:42:35her letters

00:42:36urging her

00:42:36not to do

00:42:37anything foolish.

00:42:39Serafina

00:42:39pulled out

00:42:40some letters

00:42:40she had clearly

00:42:41prepared long

00:42:41before

00:42:42it read

00:42:43the words

00:42:43he said

00:42:43to Jessica.

00:42:44After the hearing

00:42:45Jessica sat

00:42:46in a corner

00:42:47sobbing.

00:42:49I passed

00:42:50by.

00:42:51She was

00:42:51never

00:42:51your

00:42:52friend.

00:42:56You are

00:42:57just a tool.

00:42:59The next

00:42:59day

00:43:00the debate

00:43:00examination

00:43:01results

00:43:01were posted.

00:43:03Next

00:43:04to my name

00:43:05was written

00:43:05the highest

00:43:06grade.

00:43:07Serafina

00:43:08stood a few

00:43:08paces

00:43:09behind me

00:43:10staring

00:43:10fixedly

00:43:11at me

00:43:11beside her

00:43:12own name

00:43:13was written

00:43:13only one

00:43:14word

00:43:15fail.

00:43:17That

00:43:18evening

00:43:18the

00:43:19Quinn

00:43:19family

00:43:19held

00:43:20a

00:43:20banquet

00:43:20at

00:43:20their

00:43:21cliff

00:43:21castle

00:43:21celebrating

00:43:22Harper's

00:43:23return.

00:43:24Harper

00:43:24Quinn

00:43:24my

00:43:25childhood

00:43:25friend

00:43:26just

00:43:26returned

00:43:27from

00:43:27studying

00:43:27weaving

00:43:28in

00:43:28Milan.

00:43:28Sky

00:43:29you

00:43:29finally

00:43:29come

00:43:30this

00:43:30blue

00:43:30silk

00:43:31gown

00:43:31is

00:43:31stunning.

00:43:33I

00:43:33stood

00:43:33by the

00:43:34terrace

00:43:34and

00:43:35watched

00:43:36Serafina

00:43:36squeeze

00:43:37through

00:43:37a side

00:43:38entrance.

00:43:39She

00:43:40was

00:43:40dragging

00:43:40a man

00:43:41behind

00:43:41her

00:43:42Alderick

00:43:43the

00:43:43freight

00:43:44steward

00:43:44of

00:43:44Kensington

00:43:45trading

00:43:45notorious

00:43:46for

00:43:47gambling

00:43:47at

00:43:47the

00:43:47dockside

00:43:48taverns.

00:43:49Serafina

00:43:50held an

00:43:50empty

00:43:51glass

00:43:51and

00:43:51walked

00:43:51up

00:43:52to

00:43:52me.

00:43:54Refill

00:43:55quickly.

00:43:57You

00:43:58may be

00:43:58mistaken.

00:44:00Those

00:44:00wearing

00:44:00black

00:44:00are

00:44:01the

00:44:01servants.

00:44:03I

00:44:03am

00:44:03wearing

00:44:03blue

00:44:04silk.

00:44:05You're

00:44:06nothing

00:44:06but

00:44:10Stuart

00:44:11Alderick

00:44:12Kensington's

00:44:13internal

00:44:13audit

00:44:14is

00:44:15currently

00:44:15reviewing

00:44:16your

00:44:16freight

00:44:16accounts.

00:44:18Are

00:44:19you

00:44:19certain

00:44:19bringing

00:44:20her

00:44:20here

00:44:20tonight

00:44:21was

00:44:21a

00:44:21wise

00:44:21decision?

00:44:22She

00:44:23begged

00:44:23me

00:44:23to

00:44:23bring

00:44:23her.

00:44:24She

00:44:24said

00:44:25if

00:44:25I'd

00:44:25be

00:44:25her

00:44:25escort

00:44:26she'd

00:44:27help

00:44:27pay

00:44:27my

00:44:27gambling

00:44:28debts.

00:44:43Alderick

00:44:48lord

00:44:49kensington

00:44:49has

00:44:50my

00:44:51back.

00:44:52You

00:44:52cannot

00:44:52treat

00:44:52me

00:44:53like

00:44:53this.

00:44:54Let

00:44:54go.

00:44:55She

00:44:55screamed

00:44:56the

00:44:56whole

00:44:56way

00:44:56as

00:44:57two

00:44:57guards

00:44:57dragged

00:44:57her

00:44:58out

00:44:58by

00:44:58the

00:44:58arms.

00:45:02No one

00:45:03looked

00:45:03back.

00:45:05That

00:45:05night

00:45:06I

00:45:06returned

00:45:07to my

00:45:07tower.

00:45:08The

00:45:08maid

00:45:09brought

00:45:09me

00:45:09the

00:45:09news.

00:45:10My

00:45:11lady

00:45:11his

00:45:12lordship

00:45:13has

00:45:13taken

00:45:14Lady

00:45:14Serafina

00:45:15into

00:45:15the

00:45:15castle.

00:45:16He

00:45:17has

00:45:17placed

00:45:17her

00:45:17in

00:45:17one

00:45:17of

00:45:18the

00:45:18guest

00:45:18chambers.

00:45:21Go

00:45:22to my

00:45:22old

00:45:22chamber.

00:45:24Clear

00:45:24out

00:45:24everything

00:45:24that

00:45:25belongs

00:45:25to

00:45:25her.

00:45:27Do

00:45:27not

00:45:27let

00:45:28her

00:45:28scent

00:45:28touch

00:45:28a

00:45:29single

00:45:29thread

00:45:29of

00:45:29mine.

00:45:30The

00:45:30next

00:45:31day

00:45:31my

00:45:31maid

00:45:32burst

00:45:32into

00:45:32my

00:45:32room.

00:45:35My

00:45:36lady

00:45:36the

00:45:37dowager

00:45:37Lady

00:45:37Beatrice

00:45:38would

00:45:38not

00:45:38accept

00:45:39that

00:45:39mistress.

00:45:40She

00:45:40stormed

00:45:40into

00:45:40the

00:45:40castle

00:45:41and

00:45:41threw

00:45:41that

00:45:41mistress

00:45:42out.

00:45:42His

00:45:43lordship

00:45:43even

00:45:44had to

00:45:44sell

00:45:44his

00:45:44personal

00:45:45carriage

00:45:46just

00:45:47to

00:45:47find

00:45:47a

00:45:47place

00:45:48to

00:45:48put

00:45:48her.

00:45:50That

00:45:50evening

00:45:50I

00:45:51went

00:45:51to

00:45:51a

00:45:51private

00:45:51room

00:45:52on

00:45:52the

00:45:52second

00:45:52floor

00:45:52of

00:45:53the

00:45:53Black

00:45:53Fox

00:45:53Inn.

00:45:54Not

00:45:54for

00:45:55Serafina's

00:45:55misfortune

00:45:56but

00:45:57to

00:45:57celebrate

00:45:57that

00:45:57the

00:45:57Lombard

00:45:58Banking

00:45:58House

00:45:59had

00:45:59finally

00:45:59made

00:45:59the

00:46:00freeze

00:46:00on

00:46:00all

00:46:00Kensington

00:46:01Joint

00:46:01Deposit

00:46:02Agreements

00:46:02permanent.

00:46:04The

00:46:05door

00:46:05crashed

00:46:06open.

00:46:07Liam

00:46:07stood

00:46:08in

00:46:08the

00:46:08doorway

00:46:08his

00:46:09eyes

00:46:09bloodshot.

00:46:11Skye!

00:46:12You're

00:46:13here

00:46:13celebrating?

00:46:14How dare

00:46:15you?

00:46:16He

00:46:17charged

00:46:17forward

00:46:18and seized

00:46:18my wrist.

00:46:20I

00:46:20dashed

00:46:20the

00:46:20wine

00:46:21in

00:46:21my

00:46:21glass

00:46:21straight

00:46:22into

00:46:22his

00:46:23face.

00:46:24His

00:46:25head

00:46:25swiveled

00:46:26and he

00:46:26caught

00:46:26sight

00:46:27of

00:46:27Alistair

00:46:27seated

00:46:28in

00:46:28the

00:46:28corner

00:46:29booth.

00:46:30He

00:46:30threw

00:46:30a

00:46:31punch.

00:46:34Alistair

00:46:34caught

00:46:35the

00:46:35fist

00:46:35with

00:46:35a

00:46:35single

00:46:36hand.

00:46:37He

00:46:38wrenched

00:46:38Liam's

00:46:39arm

00:46:39behind

00:46:39his

00:46:39back

00:46:40and

00:46:40shoved

00:46:40him

00:46:40hard

00:46:40against

00:46:41the

00:46:41stone

00:46:41wall.

00:46:42Go

00:46:42back

00:46:42to

00:46:42your

00:46:43own

00:46:43guest

00:46:43Kensington.

00:46:48Then

00:46:49he

00:46:49lifted

00:46:49me

00:46:49bodily

00:46:50from

00:46:50the

00:46:50chair.

00:46:53As

00:46:53he

00:46:53carried

00:46:54me

00:46:54past

00:46:54Liam,

00:46:55he

00:46:55glanced

00:46:56down

00:46:56at

00:46:56him

00:46:56once.

00:46:57The

00:46:58next

00:46:58morning

00:46:58I

00:46:59woke

00:46:59in

00:47:00my

00:47:00own

00:47:00chamber.

00:47:01Alistair

00:47:02was

00:47:02seated

00:47:02in

00:47:02the

00:47:03chair

00:47:03beside

00:47:03my

00:47:03bed

00:47:04holding

00:47:04a

00:47:04cup

00:47:05of

00:47:05hot

00:47:05tea

00:47:05toward

00:47:05me.

00:47:07You

00:47:08were

00:47:08terribly

00:47:08drunk

00:47:08last

00:47:09night.

00:47:10Drink

00:47:10this

00:47:10tea.

00:47:11My

00:47:12lady,

00:47:12Lord

00:47:13Kensington

00:47:13is

00:47:13downstairs.

00:47:15He

00:47:15says he

00:47:16wishes

00:47:16to see

00:47:16you.

00:47:18From

00:47:18this

00:47:18day

00:47:18forward,

00:47:19I

00:47:19do

00:47:19not

00:47:20receive

00:47:20his

00:47:20messages.

00:47:23Alistair

00:47:24kept

00:47:24his

00:47:24head

00:47:24down,

00:47:25slicing

00:47:26an

00:47:26apple.

00:47:27The

00:47:28corner

00:47:28of

00:47:29his

00:47:29mouth

00:47:29lifted,

00:47:30nearly

00:47:30imperceptible.

00:47:34Beatrice

00:47:34stormed

00:47:35into my

00:47:35tower that

00:47:36very

00:47:37afternoon.

00:47:38Liam's

00:47:38trust fund

00:47:39has been

00:47:39frozen.

00:47:40If you

00:47:40are going

00:47:41to leave,

00:47:41leave

00:47:42quietly.

00:47:44The

00:47:45Kensington

00:47:45Trading House

00:47:46cannot survive

00:47:47a second

00:47:47scandal.

00:47:49Very

00:47:49well.

00:47:50But I

00:47:51have

00:47:51conditions.

00:47:52I took

00:47:53out the

00:47:53two sheets

00:47:54of parchment

00:47:54I had

00:47:55prepared

00:47:55long

00:47:55before.

00:47:56and

00:47:57pushed

00:47:57them

00:47:57across

00:47:58the

00:47:58desk.

00:47:59First,

00:48:00the deed

00:48:00to my

00:48:01mother's

00:48:01seaside

00:48:02villa is

00:48:03to be

00:48:03transferred

00:48:03to my

00:48:04name

00:48:04immediately.

00:48:05Second,

00:48:06I will

00:48:07no longer

00:48:07bear any

00:48:08joint

00:48:08guarantee

00:48:09for

00:48:09Kensington's

00:48:10debts.

00:48:10hands.

00:48:10She stared

00:48:11at me

00:48:11for a

00:48:12long,

00:48:12long

00:48:13moment.

00:48:15You,

00:48:16you

00:48:17prepared

00:48:17these

00:48:17ahead

00:48:18of

00:48:18time.

00:48:19Please

00:48:19sign.

00:48:20She

00:48:21signed

00:48:21her

00:48:21name,

00:48:22stroke

00:48:22by

00:48:22stroke.

00:48:23You

00:48:23no

00:48:24longer

00:48:24have

00:48:24the

00:48:24Kensington

00:48:25family's

00:48:25support.

00:48:26No,

00:48:26it is

00:48:27the

00:48:27Kensington

00:48:28family that

00:48:29no longer

00:48:29has

00:48:29me.

00:48:30Liam's

00:48:30messenger

00:48:31still appeared

00:48:32at my

00:48:32tower door

00:48:32every day.

00:48:34He said

00:48:35he wanted

00:48:35to see

00:48:35me.

00:48:36very

00:48:36well.

00:48:37Let him

00:48:38sign over

00:48:38the

00:48:38right-of-way

00:48:39deed

00:48:39for that

00:48:40old

00:48:40post

00:48:40road

00:48:40to

00:48:41me.

00:48:45What

00:48:45do you

00:48:46want with

00:48:46this

00:48:46useless

00:48:46post

00:48:47road?

00:48:48Sign

00:48:48or not?

00:48:50I'll

00:48:50sign,

00:48:51but I

00:48:52have one

00:48:52condition.

00:48:53You will

00:48:54attend the

00:48:54Hanseatic

00:48:55League

00:48:55celebration

00:48:56tomorrow

00:48:56with me,

00:48:57and we

00:48:58will be

00:48:58a loving

00:48:58couple.

00:48:59Deal.

00:49:01He

00:49:02didn't

00:49:02know

00:49:02this

00:49:03abandoned

00:49:03post

00:49:04road

00:49:04would

00:49:04become

00:49:05the

00:49:05throat

00:49:05through

00:49:06which

00:49:06all

00:49:06Northland's

00:49:07freight

00:49:07must

00:49:07pass.

00:49:08When I

00:49:08walked

00:49:09into the

00:49:09hall on

00:49:09Liam's

00:49:10arm,

00:49:10the

00:49:11right-of-way

00:49:11deep

00:49:12bearing

00:49:12the

00:49:12Kensington

00:49:13wax seal

00:49:13was already

00:49:14tucked

00:49:14inside my

00:49:15sleeve.

00:49:16He

00:49:16just

00:49:16signed

00:49:16it.

00:49:18Harper's

00:49:18maid

00:49:19intercepted

00:49:19me in

00:49:19the

00:49:19corridor,

00:49:20her

00:49:20voice

00:49:21trembling.

00:49:22My

00:49:22lady,

00:49:23the

00:49:24Quinn

00:49:24family's

00:49:25cargo

00:49:25ship

00:49:25was seized

00:49:26at the

00:49:26harbor.

00:49:26An

00:49:27entire

00:49:27shipment

00:49:27of

00:49:28silk

00:49:28from

00:49:28Milan

00:49:28anonymously

00:49:29reported

00:49:30for

00:49:30concealing

00:49:30contraband.

00:49:32It was

00:49:33Liam.

00:49:35I

00:49:35pushed

00:49:36open the

00:49:36wooden

00:49:36doors of

00:49:37the banquet

00:49:37hall,

00:49:38cut through

00:49:38the crowd,

00:49:39and walked

00:49:39straight up

00:49:40to Liam.

00:49:42I put a

00:49:43sheet of

00:49:43parchment

00:49:44into his

00:49:44palm.

00:49:45What is

00:49:46this?

00:49:47These

00:49:48are the

00:49:49transfer

00:49:49records of

00:49:50paying off

00:49:50the gambling

00:49:50debts of

00:49:51Seraphina's

00:49:52mother.

00:49:53Do you

00:49:53want the

00:49:54whole city

00:49:54to know

00:49:55that you

00:49:55used the

00:49:56Kensington's

00:49:56money to

00:49:58support your

00:49:58mistress's

00:49:59family?

00:50:01You?

00:50:02How did

00:50:03you get

00:50:03these?

00:50:05How did

00:50:06you...

00:50:07Withdraw the

00:50:08complaint against

00:50:09the Quinn

00:50:09Trading House,

00:50:10or everyone

00:50:11here will

00:50:12know it.

00:50:16I'll send

00:50:17someone to

00:50:17the harbor.

00:50:19Good.

00:50:25That day I

00:50:26went to the

00:50:26seaside estate

00:50:27my mother had

00:50:28left me.

00:50:29Harper came

00:50:30and stayed

00:50:31with me.

00:50:33Another letter

00:50:33from Liam

00:50:34arrived.

00:50:36He's moved

00:50:36in as well?

00:50:38The same

00:50:38estate?

00:50:39The same

00:50:40gate?

00:50:42I looked

00:50:43out of the

00:50:43window and

00:50:44saw a small

00:50:44stone house

00:50:45next to the

00:50:46seaside estate.

00:50:49Liam used

00:50:50the remaining

00:50:50money to

00:50:51buy the

00:50:51place.

00:50:52Today is

00:50:53the day

00:50:53they move

00:50:54in.

00:50:56Sky.

00:50:5780 years

00:50:58ago it

00:50:58housed the

00:50:59grooms and

00:50:59laundry

00:51:00women.

00:51:01No

00:51:01fireplace,

00:51:02only a

00:51:02coal stove.

00:51:04Does she

00:51:05know?

00:51:05She's

00:51:06standing at

00:51:06the doorway

00:51:07bossing the

00:51:07servants around.

00:51:09I don't

00:51:10think so.

00:51:17A few

00:51:18days later,

00:51:19I found

00:51:20Ethan in

00:51:20the academy

00:51:21library.

00:51:23I placed

00:51:24a blank

00:51:25invitation to

00:51:25the Vance

00:51:26family's

00:51:26year-end

00:51:27banquet before

00:51:27him.

00:51:28Let

00:51:28Serafina get

00:51:29hold of

00:51:30this.

00:51:30Let her

00:51:31fill in

00:51:31her own

00:51:32name.

00:51:36My

00:51:36brother

00:51:37Julian will

00:51:37check.

00:51:38He won't

00:51:39stop it.

00:51:39And the

00:51:40truth was

00:51:40Julian had

00:51:41already learned

00:51:42everything through

00:51:43his intelligence

00:51:44network.

00:51:44He agreed

00:51:45as well.

00:51:49The night

00:51:49of the

00:51:50banquet,

00:51:51Serafina

00:51:51arrived in

00:51:52an outrageous

00:51:52gown of

00:51:53layered pink

00:51:54tulle.

00:51:55She swept

00:51:56into the

00:51:57hall on

00:51:57Liam's

00:51:58arm.

00:52:00Serafina.

00:52:01Jessica

00:52:02burst out

00:52:02holding a

00:52:03stack of

00:52:03parchment

00:52:04IOU notes

00:52:05high above

00:52:05her head.

00:52:06She owes

00:52:07me money.

00:52:08She swindled

00:52:09even my

00:52:09living allowance

00:52:10to pay off

00:52:11her gambling

00:52:11debts.

00:52:12You're

00:52:13lying.

00:52:13Serafina

00:52:14collapsed

00:52:15dramatically

00:52:15to the

00:52:15floor in

00:52:16a performance

00:52:16worthy of

00:52:17the stage.

00:52:18Sarah,

00:52:19don't

00:52:19embarrass

00:52:19yourself

00:52:20here.

00:52:20Unexpectedly,

00:52:21she was

00:52:22exposed by

00:52:22Liam.

00:52:23Serafina

00:52:24was extremely

00:52:24anxious and

00:52:25desperately

00:52:26sought another

00:52:26way to

00:52:28salvage the

00:52:28situation.

00:52:29Serafina

00:52:30looked around

00:52:30the room

00:52:31and grabbed

00:52:31her own

00:52:32shoulder

00:52:32strapu and

00:52:33tore it

00:52:33with all

00:52:33her strength.

00:52:34The tool

00:52:34ripped apart

00:52:35at her

00:52:35fingertips

00:52:36with a

00:52:36shriek.

00:52:37Ethan

00:52:38Vance,

00:52:38it was

00:52:39you.

00:52:39You reached

00:52:40out and

00:52:41touched me

00:52:41during the

00:52:41chaos.

00:52:42You tried

00:52:42to rip

00:52:43my gown.

00:52:43What did

00:52:44you say?

00:52:44I never

00:52:45came anywhere

00:52:46near you.

00:52:46Just now,

00:52:47when you

00:52:48passed by

00:52:49me.

00:52:50Ethan,

00:52:51did you

00:52:51touch her?

00:52:52Touch who?

00:52:53I've been

00:52:53standing here

00:52:54the whole

00:52:54time.

00:52:55The nobles

00:52:55murmured

00:52:56among themselves.

00:52:57some gazes

00:52:58already shifting

00:52:59toward Ethan.

00:53:00Her hand

00:53:00remained pressed

00:53:01against the

00:53:02shoulder strap,

00:53:03not to cover

00:53:03it, but to

00:53:04display it.

00:53:05A figure

00:53:06descended slowly

00:53:07from the spiral

00:53:08staircase,

00:53:09landing on the

00:53:09second floor.

00:53:11My attendant

00:53:12was standing

00:53:12behind the

00:53:13third pillar

00:53:13on the

00:53:14eastern side,

00:53:15his position

00:53:16faced directly

00:53:17towards this

00:53:17lady's skirts.

00:53:18I asked

00:53:19him,

00:53:21who tore

00:53:21the gown?

00:53:23It was

00:53:24this lady.

00:53:25She tore

00:53:26it herself.

00:53:37Take her

00:53:38out.

00:53:46After the

00:53:47banquet

00:53:47ended,

00:53:48Alistair

00:53:48found me

00:53:49on the

00:53:49terrace.

00:53:50Hatred

00:53:50is the

00:53:51stepping

00:53:51stone

00:53:51to

00:53:52indifference.

00:53:53Then he

00:53:54lowered his

00:53:54head and

00:53:56pressed a

00:53:56gentle kiss

00:53:57to my

00:53:57forehead.

00:53:59That very

00:54:00same night,

00:54:01after the

00:54:01banquet

00:54:01ended,

00:54:02Liam

00:54:03cornered

00:54:03me in

00:54:04a bend

00:54:04of the

00:54:04stone

00:54:05corridor.

00:54:07stop

00:54:08right

00:54:08there.

00:54:12When

00:54:13no one

00:54:13was looking,

00:54:14he

00:54:14ceased

00:54:14my hair

00:54:17and

00:54:17shoved

00:54:18me into

00:54:18the

00:54:18shadows

00:54:19where

00:54:19the

00:54:19carriages

00:54:20waited.

00:54:21That

00:54:22post

00:54:22road

00:54:22right

00:54:22of

00:54:23way,

00:54:23you

00:54:23knew

00:54:23it

00:54:24would

00:54:24increase

00:54:24in

00:54:24value.

00:54:25You

00:54:25tricked

00:54:26me.

00:54:27It

00:54:28was a

00:54:28fair

00:54:28trade.

00:54:29No

00:54:30one

00:54:30forced

00:54:30you

00:54:31when

00:54:31you

00:54:31signed.

00:54:32You

00:54:32are

00:54:33mine!

00:54:34You

00:54:35are

00:54:35not

00:54:35to

00:54:35stand

00:54:35beside

00:54:36him!

00:54:37His

00:54:37fingers

00:54:38dug

00:54:38into

00:54:38my

00:54:39throat.

00:54:41His

00:54:41eyes

00:54:41read

00:54:42as

00:54:42a

00:54:42mad

00:54:42dog's.

00:54:44I

00:54:44did

00:54:45not

00:54:45struggle.

00:54:46I

00:54:46looked

00:54:46at

00:54:46him

00:54:47quietly.

00:54:48Squeeze

00:54:49harder.

00:54:50Then

00:54:51tomorrow

00:54:51the

00:54:51whole

00:54:51county

00:54:52will

00:54:52know

00:54:53that

00:54:54Lord

00:54:54Kensington

00:54:54is

00:54:55a

00:54:55murderer.

00:54:56You!

00:54:56He

00:54:57froze,

00:54:57his

00:54:58hand

00:54:58loosened.

00:54:59I

00:54:59drew

00:54:59out

00:54:59the

00:55:00small

00:55:00copper

00:55:00mirror

00:55:01I

00:55:01carried

00:55:01with

00:55:01me

00:55:02and

00:55:02examined

00:55:03the

00:55:03marks

00:55:03blooming

00:55:04on

00:55:04my

00:55:04throat.

00:55:04You'd

00:55:05better

00:55:06pray

00:55:06that

00:55:06everyone

00:55:07believes

00:55:07these

00:55:08scratches

00:55:09were

00:55:09just

00:55:09an

00:55:09accident.

00:55:10The

00:55:10next

00:55:11morning

00:55:11Liam

00:55:12appeared

00:55:12at

00:55:12my

00:55:12tower

00:55:13door

00:55:13again.

00:55:14In

00:55:14his

00:55:14hands

00:55:15a

00:55:15bouquet

00:55:15of

00:55:16white

00:55:16roses

00:55:16and

00:55:17a

00:55:17small

00:55:17velvet

00:55:18box.

00:55:19Sky!

00:55:20Let

00:55:20me

00:55:20in!

00:55:21I've

00:55:21thrown

00:55:22Seraphina

00:55:22out.

00:55:23Let's

00:55:24start

00:55:24over.

00:55:28This

00:55:28ring

00:55:29ring

00:55:30it's

00:55:30bigger

00:55:30than

00:55:31the

00:55:31last

00:55:31one.

00:55:32Liam

00:55:32you

00:55:33can't

00:55:33leave

00:55:34me.

00:55:34Before

00:55:35I

00:55:35could

00:55:35speak

00:55:35Seraphina

00:55:36came

00:55:37charging

00:55:37up

00:55:37clutching

00:55:38her

00:55:38skirts.

00:55:39You

00:55:40promised

00:55:40me!

00:55:41Why

00:55:41did

00:55:41you

00:55:41follow

00:55:42me?

00:55:46You

00:55:46came

00:55:47here

00:55:47to give

00:55:47her

00:55:47a

00:55:47ring?

00:55:49What

00:55:49am

00:55:49I

00:55:50to

00:55:50you?

00:55:56I

00:55:57reached

00:55:57out

00:55:57and

00:55:57took

00:55:58the

00:55:58velvet

00:55:58box.

00:55:59Liam's

00:56:00eyes

00:56:00lit

00:56:01up.

00:56:01Then

00:56:02I

00:56:02took

00:56:02two

00:56:02steps

00:56:03toward

00:56:03the

00:56:03door

00:56:03and

00:56:04hurled

00:56:04it

00:56:04out.

00:56:05Get

00:56:06out!

00:56:06Both

00:56:07of

00:56:07you!

00:56:12A

00:56:13few

00:56:13days

00:56:13later,

00:56:14the

00:56:14Kensington

00:56:15family

00:56:15held a

00:56:16charity

00:56:16banquet

00:56:16at

00:56:17the

00:56:17castle.

00:56:18I

00:56:19came,

00:56:19not

00:56:20for

00:56:20Liam,

00:56:21but

00:56:21to

00:56:21announce

00:56:22something.

00:56:23I

00:56:24wore

00:56:24a

00:56:24black

00:56:24gown

00:56:25with

00:56:25a

00:56:25plunging

00:56:26neck

00:56:26light.

00:56:26No

00:56:27jewels

00:56:27adorned

00:56:28my

00:56:28throat,

00:56:28only

00:56:29a

00:56:29thin

00:56:29dusting

00:56:30of

00:56:30pearl

00:56:30powder

00:56:31over

00:56:31the

00:56:31bruise.

00:56:32On

00:56:32her

00:56:32neck?

00:56:33Are

00:56:33those

00:56:34finger

00:56:34marks?

00:56:35Don't

00:56:36stare.

00:56:39Ladies

00:56:40and

00:56:40gentlemen,

00:56:41this

00:56:41is a

00:56:42respected

00:56:42notary

00:56:42clerk

00:56:43of

00:56:43the

00:56:43cathedral

00:56:43and

00:56:44I

00:56:44have

00:56:45invited

00:56:45him

00:56:45to

00:56:46announce

00:56:46the

00:56:46divorce.

00:56:48He

00:56:48stopped

00:56:48in the

00:56:49center

00:56:49of the

00:56:49banquet hall

00:56:50and

00:56:51publicly

00:56:51unfurled

00:56:52a

00:56:52parchment

00:56:52petition.

00:56:55Sky

00:56:56Sterling,

00:56:57on

00:56:58grounds of

00:56:58her

00:56:59husband's

00:56:59open

00:56:59concubinage

00:57:00and

00:57:01physical

00:57:01assault.

00:57:02After

00:57:02hearing the

00:57:03reason,

00:57:03the guests

00:57:04stared at

00:57:05my scar

00:57:05and the

00:57:06entire

00:57:06hall

00:57:07fell silent.

00:57:08Hereby

00:57:08formally

00:57:09submits to

00:57:09the

00:57:09diocesan

00:57:10bishop's

00:57:10court,

00:57:11a

00:57:11preliminary

00:57:12petition

00:57:12for

00:57:13separation

00:57:13maintenance

00:57:14and

00:57:15annulment.

00:57:15Liam stood

00:57:16at the

00:57:16far end

00:57:17wine glass

00:57:18clutched

00:57:18in his

00:57:18hand,

00:57:19rooted

00:57:19to the

00:57:20spot

00:57:20as if

00:57:20nailed

00:57:20there.

00:57:25Sky,

00:57:26you

00:57:27can't.

00:57:28I

00:57:28already

00:57:29have.

00:57:30After

00:57:30the banquet

00:57:30was over,

00:57:31when I

00:57:32was about

00:57:32to get

00:57:32into the

00:57:33carriage,

00:57:34Liam

00:57:35caught up

00:57:35with me.

00:57:38Sky,

00:57:39have you

00:57:39really made

00:57:40up your

00:57:40mind?

00:57:41I

00:57:41ignored

00:57:42him

00:57:42and

00:57:42got

00:57:43into

00:57:43the

00:57:43carriage

00:57:43directly.

00:57:46He

00:57:46kept

00:57:46standing

00:57:47at

00:57:47the

00:57:47door,

00:57:49but

00:57:49it

00:57:49seemed

00:57:50that

00:57:50he

00:57:50was

00:57:50looking

00:57:51at

00:57:51the

00:57:51carriage

00:57:53rather

00:57:54than

00:57:54at

00:57:54me.

00:58:00After

00:58:01the

00:58:01banquet,

00:58:02my

00:58:02carriage

00:58:02traveled

00:58:02along

00:58:03the

00:58:03coastal

00:58:03mountain

00:58:03road.

00:58:04My

00:58:04lady,

00:58:05the

00:58:05carriage

00:58:06is

00:58:06speeding

00:58:06up,

00:58:07the

00:58:07brake

00:58:07rope

00:58:07is

00:58:07broken.

00:58:10There's

00:58:10a

00:58:10sharp

00:58:11bend

00:58:11ahead.

00:58:14I

00:58:15pulled

00:58:15aside

00:58:15the

00:58:15curtain.

00:58:17Ahead

00:58:17was

00:58:17a

00:58:17sharp

00:58:17bend,

00:58:18beyond

00:58:18it

00:58:18the

00:58:19cliff.

00:58:20The

00:58:20coachman

00:58:21hauled

00:58:21distressfully

00:58:21on the

00:58:22reins,

00:58:22but the

00:58:22brake

00:58:23cord's

00:58:23knot

00:58:23had

00:58:23been

00:58:23cut.

00:58:24Pull

00:58:25to

00:58:25the

00:58:25inside!

00:58:26Scrape

00:58:26the

00:58:27wheels

00:58:27against

00:58:27the

00:58:27cliff

00:58:27to

00:58:28slow

00:58:28down!

00:58:34The

00:58:34carriage

00:58:34came

00:58:35to a

00:58:35halt,

00:58:35less

00:58:36than

00:58:36two

00:58:36feet

00:58:36from

00:58:36the

00:58:37cliff's

00:58:37edge.

00:58:42scrambled

00:58:42out

00:58:42of

00:58:42the

00:58:43carriage

00:58:43and

00:58:43crawled

00:58:43beneath

00:58:44it.

00:58:44The

00:58:44axle pin

00:58:45had been

00:58:45deliberately

00:58:46sawed

00:58:46through.

00:58:47This

00:58:47was no

00:58:48accident.

00:58:50It

00:58:51was

00:58:51murder.

00:58:55I

00:58:56told the

00:58:56coachman to

00:58:56drive straight

00:58:57to the

00:58:57converted

00:58:58servant's

00:58:58quarters,

00:58:59where Liam

00:58:59was living.

00:59:00I pushed

00:59:00open the

00:59:01door.

00:59:01He sat

00:59:02on the

00:59:02chair,

00:59:03staring

00:59:03into a

00:59:03mug of

00:59:04cheap

00:59:04ale.

00:59:06At

00:59:07this hour,

00:59:07I threw

00:59:08the

00:59:08broken

00:59:08fragments

00:59:09of the

00:59:09axle pin

00:59:09onto the

00:59:10floor

00:59:10before him.

00:59:11He

00:59:11stared at

00:59:11the

00:59:11pieces,

00:59:12his eyes

00:59:13wide with

00:59:13shock.

00:59:15You

00:59:15sought it

00:59:15through

00:59:16yourself

00:59:16to

00:59:16frame me.

00:59:17What

00:59:18did

00:59:18you

00:59:18say?

00:59:20This

00:59:21is

00:59:21exactly

00:59:21the

00:59:21sort

00:59:21of

00:59:22thing

00:59:22you

00:59:22would

00:59:22do.

00:59:23I

00:59:23suddenly

00:59:23laughed.

00:59:24I

00:59:24knew

00:59:25it

00:59:25wasn't

00:59:25him,

00:59:25he

00:59:25didn't

00:59:26dare

00:59:26to

00:59:26do

00:59:26that.

00:59:27It

00:59:27was

00:59:28Victor,

00:59:28my

00:59:29cousin.

00:59:29He

00:59:30holds a

00:59:30grudge

00:59:30against

00:59:31me,

00:59:31because

00:59:31I

00:59:31didn't

00:59:32give him

00:59:32his share

00:59:32from the

00:59:33Stirling

00:59:33Trading

00:59:33House.

00:59:37The

00:59:38next

00:59:38morning,

00:59:38I

00:59:39set

00:59:39out

00:59:39for

00:59:39the

00:59:39Stirling

00:59:40Trading

00:59:40House

00:59:40Council

00:59:41of

00:59:41Elders.

00:59:42Victor

00:59:42had

00:59:42stolen

00:59:43a

00:59:43carriage

00:59:43and

00:59:43came

00:59:44charging

00:59:44out

00:59:44from

00:59:45a

00:59:45side

00:59:45track

00:59:45on

00:59:46the

00:59:46mountain

00:59:46road.

00:59:49Go

00:59:49to

00:59:49hell

00:59:50you

00:59:50bastard!

00:59:52My

00:59:53carriage

00:59:53was

00:59:54shoved

00:59:54toward

00:59:54the

00:59:54cliff's

00:59:55edge.

00:59:58Liam

00:59:59came

00:59:59charging

01:00:00out

01:00:00from

01:00:00the

01:00:00side

01:00:00path

01:00:01on

01:00:01horseback.

01:00:03Pulled

01:00:04me

01:00:04from

01:00:04the

01:00:05carriage

01:00:05and

01:00:05was

01:00:06himself

01:00:06struck

01:00:06by

01:00:07Victor's

01:00:07oncoming

01:00:08cart

01:00:08and

01:00:08thrown

01:00:09violently

01:00:09through

01:00:10the

01:00:10air.

01:00:16I

01:00:16was

01:00:17thrown

01:00:17into

01:00:17the

01:00:17brush

01:00:17at

01:00:18the

01:00:18roadside.

01:00:20By

01:00:21the

01:00:21time

01:00:21I

01:00:21staggled

01:00:22to

01:00:22my

01:00:22feet,

01:00:23Victor

01:00:23had

01:00:23already

01:00:24fled.

01:00:25Liam

01:00:25lay

01:00:25sprawled

01:00:26across

01:00:26the

01:00:26stones,

01:00:28his

01:00:28face

01:00:29covered

01:00:29in

01:00:29blood.

01:00:32Skye,

01:00:33did I

01:00:35save you?

01:00:36I knelt

01:00:37at

01:00:37beside him,

01:00:38looking down

01:00:39at this

01:00:39man I

01:00:40had once

01:00:40hated.

01:00:40Yes,

01:00:42you

01:00:42saved me.

01:00:43The

01:00:43sisters

01:00:44from the

01:00:44abbey

01:00:44infirmary

01:00:45brought

01:00:45Liam

01:00:46into the

01:00:46sick

01:00:46room.

01:00:49I

01:00:50stood

01:00:50outside

01:00:50the

01:00:50door

01:00:51holding

01:00:51a

01:00:51bowl

01:00:52of

01:00:52hot

01:00:52broth.

01:00:53Then

01:00:54I

01:00:54saw

01:00:54Serafina

01:00:55hurrying

01:00:55from the

01:00:55far end

01:00:56of the

01:00:56corridor.

01:00:57She

01:00:57fell to

01:00:58her

01:00:58knees

01:00:58beside

01:00:59his

01:00:59bed

01:00:59at

01:00:59the

01:01:00moment

01:01:00she

01:01:00entered.

01:01:01Liam,

01:01:02wake

01:01:02up!

01:01:03It's

01:01:04me,

01:01:04Sera!

01:01:06Skye,

01:01:07where is

01:01:08she?

01:01:10Skye

01:01:11is fine.

01:01:12She

01:01:12doesn't

01:01:12care

01:01:12about

01:01:13you.

01:01:14She's

01:01:14already

01:01:15left.

01:01:15He

01:01:16tightened

01:01:16his grip

01:01:17on

01:01:17Serafina's

01:01:17hand.

01:01:19Liam's

01:01:20eyes

01:01:20were

01:01:20closed.

01:01:21I

01:01:21stood

01:01:22outside

01:01:22the

01:01:22door,

01:01:23holding

01:01:23the

01:01:23bowl

01:01:23of

01:01:23broth,

01:01:24silent

01:01:24for a

01:01:25moment.

01:01:25Then

01:01:27sat

01:01:27the

01:01:28bowl

01:01:28down

01:01:28on

01:01:28the

01:01:28stone

01:01:29ledge

01:01:29in

01:01:29the

01:01:29corridor

01:01:30and

01:01:31walked

01:01:31away.

01:01:32Three

01:01:33days

01:01:33later,

01:01:34I

01:01:34appeared

01:01:34before

01:01:35the

01:01:35council

01:01:35of

01:01:35elders

01:01:36of

01:01:36the

01:01:36Sterling

01:01:36Trading

01:01:37House,

01:01:37wrapped

01:01:38in a

01:01:38nun's

01:01:38cloak

01:01:39with

01:01:39my

01:01:39arm

01:01:39still

01:01:40banded.

01:01:41Alistair

01:01:41marched

01:01:41Victor

01:01:42in,

01:01:42bruised

01:01:43and

01:01:43bloodied,

01:01:44and

01:01:45laid

01:01:45out

01:01:45the

01:01:45evidence

01:01:46of

01:01:46his

01:01:46attempted

01:01:46murder

01:01:47piece

01:01:47by

01:01:48piece

01:01:48on

01:01:48the

01:01:48long

01:01:49table.

01:01:49It

01:01:50wasn't

01:01:50me!

01:01:51I

01:01:51did

01:01:51nothing!

01:01:52Victor

01:01:57Trading

01:01:57House,

01:01:58escort

01:01:58him

01:01:59to

01:01:59the

01:01:59sheriff's

01:01:59goal.

01:02:01Arthur

01:02:02sat

01:02:02in the

01:02:02corner

01:02:03and

01:02:03said

01:02:03not

01:02:04a

01:02:04single

01:02:04word

01:02:04throughout

01:02:05the

01:02:05entire

01:02:05proceeding.

01:02:06He

01:02:07merely

01:02:07trembled

01:02:08as he

01:02:08signed

01:02:08the

01:02:09last

01:02:09document.

01:02:10All

01:02:10partnership

01:02:11shares

01:02:11of

01:02:11Sterling

01:02:12Firm

01:02:12are

01:02:12hereby

01:02:13fully

01:02:13entrusted

01:02:14to

01:02:14Sky

01:02:14Sterling

01:02:15for

01:02:15management.

01:02:16That

01:02:16evening,

01:02:17I

01:02:17returned

01:02:18to

01:02:18the

01:02:18infirmary.

01:02:19The

01:02:20sister

01:02:20still

01:02:20needed

01:02:21to

01:02:21finish

01:02:21my

01:02:21treatment.

01:02:22I

01:02:23leaned

01:02:23against

01:02:23the

01:02:23headboard,

01:02:24leafing

01:02:24through

01:02:25the

01:02:25Sterling

01:02:25trading

01:02:26ledgers.

01:02:28The

01:02:29ledgers

01:02:29can

01:02:29wait

01:02:29another

01:02:30hour.

01:02:30Let

01:02:31the

01:02:31sister

01:02:31examine

01:02:32your

01:02:32wounds

01:02:32first.

01:02:33What

01:02:33are

01:02:33you

01:02:33doing

01:02:33here?

01:02:34Seeing

01:02:34you.

01:02:35And

01:02:37also...

01:02:37He

01:02:38turned

01:02:38and

01:02:38instructed

01:02:38his

01:02:39attendant

01:02:39to

01:02:39summon

01:02:39the

01:02:40sister.

01:02:40Yes,

01:02:40sir.

01:02:41I'll

01:02:41fetch

01:02:42the

01:02:42sister

01:02:42at

01:02:42once,

01:02:43while

01:02:43you

01:02:43stay

01:02:44here

01:02:44in

01:02:44Lady

01:02:45Sterling's

01:02:45room

01:02:45and

01:02:46attend

01:02:46to

01:02:46her

01:02:46personally.

01:02:47Her

01:02:47voice

01:02:48pitched

01:02:48neither

01:02:48loud

01:02:49nor

01:02:49soft,

01:02:49just

01:02:50exactly

01:02:50loud

01:02:55in

01:02:55another

01:02:56sick

01:02:56room

01:02:56not

01:02:56far

01:02:57away,

01:02:57Liam

01:02:58lay

01:02:58in

01:02:58his

01:02:58bed.

01:03:01He

01:03:02heard

01:03:02every

01:03:02single

01:03:03word

01:03:03that

01:03:03attendant

01:03:04spoke.

01:03:05A moment

01:03:05later,

01:03:06the sound

01:03:06of a

01:03:06clay

01:03:07water

01:03:07jug

01:03:07shattering

01:03:08against

01:03:08a

01:03:08stone

01:03:08wall

01:03:09was

01:03:09loud

01:03:09enough

01:03:10to

01:03:10reach

01:03:10even

01:03:10my

01:03:10chamber.

01:03:11He's

01:03:11angry.

01:03:12I

01:03:12sat

01:03:13by

01:03:13the

01:03:13candlelight,

01:03:14folding

01:03:14a

01:03:14letter.

01:03:15On

01:03:15the

01:03:15envelope

01:03:15was

01:03:15written

01:03:16to

01:03:16the

01:03:17diocesan

01:03:17bishop's

01:03:18court.

01:03:19Supplemental

01:03:20evidence

01:03:20regarding

01:03:20the

01:03:21petition for

01:03:21separation

01:03:22maintenance

01:03:24day,

01:03:25I

01:03:25returned

01:03:25to

01:03:25the

01:03:26sterling

01:03:26firm

01:03:26and

01:03:26found

01:03:26a

01:03:27bookkeeper's

01:03:27office

01:03:27to

01:03:28start

01:03:28working.

01:03:29Liam

01:03:30came to

01:03:30the

01:03:30door

01:03:30immediately.

01:03:32If you

01:03:33don't

01:03:33withdraw

01:03:34the

01:03:34separation

01:03:34petition,

01:03:35I'll

01:03:36have

01:03:36every

01:03:36trading

01:03:37house

01:03:37and

01:03:37freight

01:03:37guild

01:03:38in

01:03:38the

01:03:38county

01:03:38blacklist

01:03:39you.

01:03:39I

01:03:39watched

01:03:40him

01:03:40tap

01:03:40his

01:03:40walking

01:03:40stick

01:03:41on

01:03:41the

01:03:41stone

01:03:42floor

01:03:42with

01:03:42a

01:03:42loud

01:03:42thud.

01:03:43Sterling

01:03:44trading

01:03:44won't

01:03:44get

01:03:44a

01:03:44single

01:03:45order.

01:03:47You

01:03:48came

01:03:48all

01:03:48the

01:03:48way

01:03:49here

01:03:49just

01:03:55You

01:03:55withdrew

01:03:56a

01:03:56large

01:03:56sum

01:03:56of

01:03:56money

01:03:57from

01:03:57the

01:03:57Kensington

01:03:58firm's

01:03:58bank

01:03:58account

01:03:59to

01:04:00buy

01:04:00a

01:04:00country

01:04:00house

01:04:00for

01:04:01Serafina.

01:04:02You

01:04:02refused

01:04:02to

01:04:02cover

01:04:03the

01:04:03cost

01:04:03of

01:04:03my

01:04:03emergency

01:04:04treatment

01:04:04at

01:04:05the

01:04:05monastery

01:04:05hospital.

01:04:07Everything

01:04:08you

01:04:08ever

01:04:08did

01:04:08to

01:04:09me

01:04:09is

01:04:09recorded

01:04:09here.

01:04:10Every

01:04:10single

01:04:11entry.

01:04:12I

01:04:12pushed

01:04:13the

01:04:13ledger

01:04:13towards

01:04:14him.

01:04:14Go

01:04:14ahead

01:04:15and

01:04:15issue

01:04:15your

01:04:15blacklist.

01:04:16You

01:04:17still

01:04:17don't

01:04:17know

01:04:18who

01:04:18you're

01:04:18messing

01:04:18with.

01:04:20This

01:04:20isn't

01:04:24words

01:04:25behind

01:04:25and

01:04:25turned

01:04:26away

01:04:26on

01:04:26his

01:04:26cane.

01:04:28His

01:04:29lame

01:04:29leg

01:04:30caught

01:04:30on

01:04:30the

01:04:30threshold.

01:04:33No

01:04:33one

01:04:34helped

01:04:34him.

01:04:36His

01:04:36revenge

01:04:37came

01:04:37faster

01:04:37than

01:04:38I

01:04:38expected.

01:04:39The

01:04:39next

01:04:39day,

01:04:40the

01:04:40most

01:04:40popular

01:04:41minstrel

01:04:41under

01:04:41the

01:04:42Sterling

01:04:42Harrison

01:04:42came

01:04:43to

01:04:43me.

01:04:49No

01:04:49matter

01:04:50what

01:04:50it

01:04:50takes,

01:04:50I

01:04:51will

01:04:51terminate

01:04:51the

01:04:52contract

01:04:52with

01:04:52you.

01:04:53I

01:04:53didn't

01:04:53fight

01:04:53it.

01:04:54I

01:04:54signed

01:04:55his

01:04:55release

01:04:55without

01:04:56even

01:04:56claiming

01:04:57the

01:04:57penalty

01:04:57fee.

01:04:59Then

01:05:00I

01:05:00sent

01:05:00word

01:05:01to

01:05:01the

01:05:01countryside

01:05:01to

01:05:02find

01:05:02someone

01:05:02every

01:05:03noble

01:05:03castle

01:05:04had

01:05:04turned

01:05:04away.

01:05:05Gabriel,

01:05:06an

01:05:06indigent

01:05:06poet

01:05:07who

01:05:07had

01:05:07offended

01:05:08a

01:05:08lord

01:05:08with

01:05:08his

01:05:08satirical

01:05:09verses

01:05:09and

01:05:10had

01:05:10been

01:05:10unemployable

01:05:11ever

01:05:11since.

01:05:12Shave

01:05:13him,

01:05:13cut

01:05:14his

01:05:14hair,

01:05:17put

01:05:17him

01:05:18in a

01:05:18clean

01:05:18linen

01:05:18shirt.

01:05:19My

01:05:19lady,

01:05:20are you

01:05:21certain

01:05:21it's

01:05:22me you

01:05:22want?

01:05:24It

01:05:24is

01:05:25you

01:05:25sign

01:05:26this

01:05:26contract

01:05:27and

01:05:28sterling

01:05:28trading

01:05:28will

01:05:28pay

01:05:29for

01:05:29your

01:05:29grandmother's

01:05:30medical

01:05:30care.

01:05:32And

01:05:33you,

01:05:34you only

01:05:35have to

01:05:36sing.

01:05:37My

01:05:37waste

01:05:38quarry

01:05:38was no

01:05:39longer

01:05:39called

01:05:40waste.

01:05:42The

01:05:42king's

01:05:43decree

01:05:43had been

01:05:43issued

01:05:44the royal

01:05:44free market

01:05:45was

01:05:45officially

01:05:45open.

01:05:49stall

01:05:50converted

01:05:50from

01:05:50old

01:05:51mine

01:05:51carts

01:05:51lined

01:05:51the

01:05:52stone

01:05:52paved

01:05:52path

01:05:53and

01:05:54at

01:05:54the

01:05:54center

01:05:54stood

01:05:55an

01:05:55open

01:05:55air

01:05:55minstrel

01:05:56stage.

01:05:58My

01:05:58lady,

01:06:00how many

01:06:01people are

01:06:01down there?

01:06:02When

01:06:02Gabriel walked

01:06:03up with

01:06:03his loot,

01:06:04the stage

01:06:04was already

01:06:05surrounded by

01:06:06merchants and

01:06:06travelers who

01:06:07had come from

01:06:07every corner

01:06:08of the

01:06:08land.

01:06:09More

01:06:09than

01:06:09enough.

01:06:10Just

01:06:10sing.

01:06:15Halfway

01:06:15through,

01:06:16it began

01:06:16to rain.

01:06:18Raindrops

01:06:19struck his

01:06:19strings and

01:06:20soaked his

01:06:20new clothes.

01:06:22But not a

01:06:23single person

01:06:24left.

01:06:24They

01:06:25didn't

01:06:26leave.

01:06:28I told

01:06:29you,

01:06:30just sing.

01:06:33With the

01:06:34flood of

01:06:35goods pouring

01:06:35in,

01:06:36the partnership

01:06:38shares of

01:06:38sterling trading

01:06:39doubled.

01:06:41Overnight.

01:06:43The

01:06:44next morning,

01:06:45a banking

01:06:46house messenger

01:06:46stood at the

01:06:47door of my

01:06:47counting room.

01:06:49My

01:06:50lady,

01:06:50it's

01:06:50Lord

01:06:51Kensington.

01:06:53My

01:06:54lady,

01:06:55Lord

01:06:55Kensington

01:06:56has requested

01:06:56that your

01:06:57trading

01:06:57house's

01:06:57credit be

01:06:58suspended.

01:06:59However,

01:06:59our

01:06:59banking

01:07:00house has

01:07:00reviewed

01:07:00the

01:07:01matter.

01:07:01Sterling

01:07:02trading's

01:07:02deposit

01:07:02agreements

01:07:03are held

01:07:03entirely

01:07:04independently

01:07:04from the

01:07:05Kensington

01:07:05name.

01:07:06Therefore,

01:07:06the

01:07:07Lombard

01:07:07Banking

01:07:07House has

01:07:08no

01:07:08authority to

01:07:09intervene.

01:07:09Yes,

01:07:09and we

01:07:10don't

01:07:11intend

01:07:11to

01:07:11do

01:07:11so.

01:07:12This

01:07:13is the

01:07:13official

01:07:13reply,

01:07:14a copy

01:07:15of which

01:07:15was delivered

01:07:16to Lord

01:07:16Kensington

01:07:16this morning.

01:07:18Please convey

01:07:19my gratitude

01:07:19to your

01:07:20chief

01:07:20steward.

01:07:21After the

01:07:22banking

01:07:22house

01:07:23messenger

01:07:23left,

01:07:24I had

01:07:25a feeling

01:07:25that Liam

01:07:26wouldn't

01:07:26give up.

01:07:27So,

01:07:27I must

01:07:28find a

01:07:28way to

01:07:29completely

01:07:29defeat him.

01:07:30When the

01:07:31Lombard

01:07:31Banking

01:07:32House sent

01:07:32another team

01:07:33of people

01:07:33the next

01:07:34day,

01:07:35I knew

01:07:35it was

01:07:35time.

01:07:37Lord

01:07:37Kensington

01:07:38let you

01:07:38come and

01:07:38negotiate

01:07:39in person.

01:07:41He wants

01:07:42me to

01:07:42come to

01:07:43the castle,

01:07:44so I

01:07:44changed into

01:07:45a plain

01:07:45dress,

01:07:46like an

01:07:46obedient

01:07:46wife,

01:07:47and returned

01:07:47to the

01:07:48castle I

01:07:48had once

01:07:49fled.

01:07:49I walked

01:07:50to the

01:07:50bookkeeper's

01:07:50office door,

01:07:51and saw

01:07:52Liam inside.

01:07:53The joint

01:07:54old debt

01:07:54guarantee

01:07:55account of

01:07:55Kensington

01:07:56and Sterling

01:07:56is not

01:07:56your personal

01:07:57account.

01:07:58You came.

01:07:58It has

01:07:59been frozen.

01:08:00You need to

01:08:00cooperate with

01:08:01me to thaw it.

01:08:02Of course.

01:08:04But,

01:08:04you need to

01:08:05be my

01:08:05assistant for

01:08:06a day.

01:08:07Do whatever

01:08:07I tell you.

01:08:08Is that

01:08:09all?

01:08:09Recopy all

01:08:10of last

01:08:11year's

01:08:11ledgers,

01:08:11sorted by

01:08:12month.

01:08:13The ink

01:08:14on your

01:08:14desk is

01:08:14running

01:08:14dry,

01:08:15refill it.

01:08:16When

01:08:17you're done,

01:08:17come back

01:08:18and I'll

01:08:18give you

01:08:18the next

01:08:19task.

01:08:19Fine.

01:08:20He leaned

01:08:21back in

01:08:21his chair,

01:08:22waiting for

01:08:22me to

01:08:23explode.

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