- 28 minutes ago
I Came Back To Break His Bond
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The scandal broke at Lady Whitmore's birthday banquet.
00:03Adrian Whitmore, heir to the Marshak of Whitmore, was caught in a private chamber with a woman.
00:09Mother, Vivian and I are nearly engaged.
00:12We love each other.
00:14This was a mistake made in passion.
00:17Please go to House Sinel and formally seek her hand.
00:20One sentence turned me into a whore.
00:22Soon, the capital buzzed with it.
00:24The Chancellor's daughter had been found half-dressed with the Whitmore urn at his mother's own banquet.
00:30It didn't matter how many times I said I hadn't been there.
00:33No one believed me.
00:34The whispers became a roar.
00:36I couldn't walk through the capital without feeling it.
00:38I drank poison and died.
00:40Adrian stood in front of my trombstone and placed a bouquet of white lilies inside.
00:45Vivian, I needed someone to take the blame.
00:50Lily is low-born.
00:52If anyone found out about us, she'd have had nowhere to go.
00:55I didn't think you'd actually kill yourself over a few rumors.
01:00Consider this an apology.
01:02If there's a next life, I'll make it up to you.
01:05He gave Lily a new identity and married her.
01:08They had children.
01:09They were happy.
01:11Overnight, my parents' hair tear turned completely gray on account of me.
01:15And they both died of illness within a handful of years.
01:18I opened my eyes and found myself reborn on the afternoon of Mrs. Whitmore's birthday party.
01:25In this life, I will change everything and never let the same thing happen again.
01:30I heard the Whitmore heir was caught in one of the back rooms with a woman.
01:34At his own mother's banquet?
01:35Who would do something like that?
01:37Shameless.
01:38Absolutely shameless.
01:40The guests all headed towards Adrian's room on the second floor.
01:43I joined the crowd, stood on my toes, peered over someone's shoulder.
01:48What's happening?
01:49I asked, keeping my voice light and curious.
01:52The women around me turned.
01:54Then, they screamed.
01:56Vivian?
01:57You're here?
01:58But you're supposed to be in there.
01:59If you're out here, then who is that?
02:03Every head turned back toward the open door.
02:05Adrian's face went white.
02:07He had counted on my absence.
02:09I'd sent a note the day before.
02:11A cold.
02:11A regret I wouldn't be attending.
02:14He had built his entire plan around that note.
02:16In my first life, I hadn't been there.
02:18I'd been sick for days and heard nothing until it was already everywhere.
02:22Adrian's version of events spreading the Capitol like fire.
02:26This time, I had come early.
02:28Princess Charlotte leaned toward me with a sharp smile.
02:30The heir just announced that the woman in his arms was you.
02:33Said he was planning to ride a house single tomorrow to seek your hand.
02:37I stepped forward.
02:39She's also named Vivian Sinclair.
02:41I called out, loud enough for everyone to hear.
02:43What exactly is the meaning of this?
02:45Why are you using my name in front of half the Capitol?
02:49A woman's reputation is everything.
02:52Surely you know that.
02:53If I hadn't come today,
02:55if Princess Charlotte hadn't personally invited me this morning,
02:58would your little performance have ruined me completely?
03:01Vivian, you said you weren't feeling well.
03:02You weren't coming.
03:03So you knew I wouldn't be here.
03:05And you chose today on purpose.
03:07Who is she?
03:08Why is she using my name?
03:10What were the two of you planning?
03:12Lady Whitmore stood at the door,
03:14her face the color of ash.
03:15My lady.
03:17You've known me since I was a child.
03:20My parents are away.
03:21There's no one to stand up for me.
03:23Please, help me.
03:25I sank toward the floor.
03:27Several of the ladies caught me before my knees touched.
03:29You'll have justice, Vivian.
03:31Lady Margaret, the Duchess of Warwick,
03:33drew herself to her full height
03:34and fixed Lady Whitman with a look that could have cut glass.
03:38Your son was caught in a compromising situation at your own event.
03:41And then he used an innocent girl's name to cover it.
03:44Do you have an explanation, my lady?
03:46Princess Charlotte raised her voice.
03:48Vivian, don't be afraid.
03:49I'll speak to Queen Isabella personally.
03:52Lady Whitmore was sweating.
03:54She took my hands and pulled me close.
03:57My darling girl,
03:58this was all Adrian's fault.
04:00I'll make him apologize properly.
04:03Drag that woman out!
04:05The maids moved.
04:06The woman was hauled from behind Adrian,
04:09half-dressed,
04:10and her face came into the light.
04:12Lily Carter was the daughter of Lady Whitmore's friend.
04:15She was taken in by the Whitmore family
04:17after her parents passed away.
04:19Help me!
04:21She crawled to Lady Whitmore's feet.
04:24Please, please, I didn't seduce him.
04:26We love each other.
04:28I don't need a title.
04:29I'll be a servant.
04:30I'll be anything.
04:31Just let me stay with him.
04:33You're barely a relation.
04:34I took you in out of pity,
04:36and this is what you do in my house.
04:40You're no family of mine.
04:42Mother, she has nowhere to go.
04:43It was my fault.
04:45I had too much to drink.
04:47Please, just let her stay as a mistress.
04:49Vivian, dear,
04:50you'll be the rightful lady of the entire clan one day.
04:54You shall have the final say in this matter.
04:57There it is, I thought.
04:59Push the blame to me.
05:00Make me the villain either way.
05:02I stepped back and removed my hands from hers.
05:05My lady, with respect,
05:07I have no connection to House Whitmore.
05:09There is no engagement.
05:09There never was.
05:10As for Miss Carter,
05:12if she and the heir have been intimate,
05:13her future is your family's business.
05:15Or perhaps the next Lady Whitman's, not mine.
05:18I'm a guest at this banquet.
05:19Nothing more.
05:20Lady Whitmorester arrived at House Sinclair
05:23the following morning with Adrian at her side,
05:25and enough gifts to fill the courtyard.
05:28Lady Sinclair, please forgive us.
05:30Adrian behaved terribly.
05:32We've punished him severely.
05:34We'll find a match for Lily quickly
05:36and send her out of the house.
05:37She won't be a problem,
05:38and when Vivian comes to us,
05:40she'll have full authority over the household's ward from the first day.
05:44Shall we put this unpleasantness behind us?
05:46Put it behind us?
05:48My lady, there was never an engagement.
05:50Not a word exchanged between our families.
05:53Not a single formal step taken.
05:55What exactly are we putting behind us?
05:58Lady Whitmore opened her mouth.
06:00My lady,
06:00if I hadn't shown up at that banquet,
06:03what would have happened to my reputation?
06:04I think we both know the answer.
06:06Vivian,
06:07you were always so reasonable.
06:09Why are you being like this?
06:10We came here.
06:11We apologized.
06:12I agreed to send Lily away.
06:14What more do you want?
06:15I stared at him.
06:16You're really going to lecture me right now?
06:18You used my name to cover up an affair with that woman
06:21in front of the entire capital,
06:23and your defense is that you were planning to marry me anyway?
06:25You know what that logic sounds like?
06:27It sounds like my reputation doesn't matter at all to you.
06:30Like it never did.
06:33It was a mistake.
06:34I panicked.
06:35And if you've just been a little more understand-
06:37I think you should leave.
06:38We'll keep the gifts as compensation for the distress caused to my daughter.
06:42Consider this matter closed.
06:44Permanently.
06:44Good day.
06:45They left.
06:46The engagement that had never officially existed was dead.
06:50Adrian's reputation in the capital didn't recover.
06:53Every family with a daughter of marriageable age had heard the story.
06:56No one wanted to send their girl into that house.
06:59As for Lily,
07:01Lady Whitmore found her a match and pushed to have her gone,
07:03but Adrian threatened to starve himself,
07:05and eventually his mother gave in.
07:07Lily stayed.
07:08She became his mistress.
07:10The royal ball was about to begin,
07:12and Princess Charlotte came to collect me herself.
07:14I was at jewelry store when I saw Lily again.
07:17Her maid trailing behind her,
07:19her chin tilted up at an angle that suggested she owned the building.
07:23This ruby set.
07:25I'll take it.
07:26Send the bill to House Whitfall.
07:29My lady,
07:30I'm afraid that piece was commissioned by another customer.
07:32House Whitfall outranks whoever it is.
07:35Name your price.
07:36The jeweler spotted me,
07:37and went limp with relief.
07:39Miss Sinclair,
07:40I'm so glad you're here.
07:41This is the piece you ordered.
07:42Lily turned.
07:43For a moment,
07:44she just stared at me.
07:45Then she smiled,
07:46slow and deliberate.
07:47Miss Sinclair,
07:49fancy seeing you here.
07:50That set is a bit mature for someone unmarried,
07:53isn't it?
07:54Very
07:56wifely.
07:57But then I suppose you're running out of options.
07:59She covered her mouth.
08:01I heard there hasn't been a single inquiry to House Sinclair since the banquet.
08:05Are you still hoping Adrian will come to his senses?
08:08Three thousand pounds.
08:10That's what I paid for this set.
08:15Three thousand five hundred.
08:16Wrap it up.
08:17Darling,
08:18you're here.
08:18She was trying to take my-
08:20I'm buying it for Vivian.
08:21The shop went quiet.
08:23Vivian,
08:24you like it?
08:25Let me buy it for you.
08:26He looked at me.
08:27Something moved behind his eyes.
08:29Regret,
08:29maybe?
08:30Or the last flicker of something he'd already lost.
08:32I don't need you to buy anything for me.
08:34Five thousand.
08:35This necklace,
08:36and that sapphire set in the window,
08:38and the pearl collar on the left.
08:40All of it.
08:41Whatever the Whithome heir bids,
08:42I'll go five hundred higher.
08:44Shall we keep going, Whithome?
08:46I have time.
08:48Lucas.
08:49When did you get back?
08:50I hadn't seen Lucas in three years.
08:53Queen Isabella had sent him to the house.
08:55Northern Front to knock the recliteness out of him.
08:57Apparently,
08:58it hadn't worked.
09:00A few days ago,
09:01came to collect my commendation.
09:04Also heard someone had been giving you trouble.
09:06Thought I'd come see for myself.
09:09You came back because of that?
09:10I came back for the commendation.
09:12The other part was a bonus.
09:14Whitmore,
09:15are you gonna keep standing there,
09:16or are you going to move?
09:17This is a private conversation between Vivian and me.
09:19I don't see what it has to do with you, Harrington.
09:21It has everything to do with me.
09:23You're talking to my fiancé.
09:25Your what?
09:26Lucas picked up the case and held it out to me.
09:29We can argue about the ring later.
09:31Right now,
09:32these are yours.
09:33He carried three cases of jewelry out of that shop,
09:36and ended to my maid like it was nothing.
09:39Adrian followed us to the street.
09:41Vivian,
09:41you ended things with me for him.
09:43After everything-
09:44There was nothing to end.
09:45There was never anything between us.
09:47You decided there was without asking me.
09:50And Harrington,
09:51you've known him since childhood.
09:52Don't tell me nothing was happening.
09:55Whitmore,
09:55if I hear you say one more word about Vivian
09:57that isn't an apology,
09:59I will embarrass you in front of every person on this street.
10:02And then I'll do it again tomorrow,
10:03and the day after.
10:05Walk away.
10:06At the Royal Banquet that evening,
10:07Lucas disappeared the moment we arrived.
10:11I sat with the other ladies and listened to them talk.
10:14I heard Whitmore brought that woman to the palace.
10:16He didn't.
10:17As a maid.
10:19Still.
10:19The audacity.
10:21Lily had been admitted to the palace as a servant.
10:23She stood alone near the far wall.
10:25No seat.
10:26No companion.
10:27When she spotted me laughing with the other ladies,
10:29she floated over.
10:31Miss Singlaire,
10:32I wanted to apologize about the jewelry shop.
10:35I was out of line.
10:36Adrian says you're very gracious.
10:38I hope you can forgive me.
10:39And when you do come to House Whitmore,
10:41I promise I won't cause trouble.
10:43You'll have no competition for me.
10:45The ladies around me said nothing.
10:46Their silence was a kind of verdict.
10:48Stop saying things like that.
10:50I have no connection to House Whitmore.
10:52I've told you that.
10:53If you keep implying otherwise,
10:55I won't be polite about it a second time.
10:57I nodded to my maid.
10:59She stepped forward,
11:00and Lily retreated.
11:02Adrian appeared from the other side
11:04of the Royal Palace Banquet Hall.
11:06Vivian,
11:07what exactly is your relationship with Harrington?
11:10Is that why you refused me?
11:11Because you've been meeting with him privately this whole time.
11:14And what gives you the right to stand there
11:16and accuse me of exactly what you did?
11:18I didn't accuse you of anything.
11:19I asked a question.
11:21You implied it.
11:23Loudly.
11:24In front of witnesses.
11:25He grabbed my arm.
11:26The crack of the punch was loud enough
11:28that half the garden flinched.
11:30Adrian went down.
11:32Lucas stood over him
11:33with absolutely no expression on his face.
11:35Whitmore, I told you this afternoon.
11:37If you speak about Vivian again without apologizing,
11:39there are consequences.
11:41You just grabbed her.
11:42In the Royal Palace.
11:44Do you understand how much trouble
11:46I could make for you right now?
11:50You're insane, Harrington.
11:52We're in the palace.
11:54And I just demonstrated that it doesn't matter.
11:57Vivian is my fiancée.
11:59The King just approved it.
12:00So I suggest you think very carefully
12:02before you come near her again.
12:05He put his hand on my back
12:06and steered me away.
12:08When did the King approve it?
12:10About an hour ago.
12:12I walked in,
12:13told them I didn't want a land grant
12:15or a title promotion.
12:16I wanted to marry you.
12:18The Queen said yes
12:19before the King finished reading my petition.
12:21You didn't ask me.
12:23I knew you'd say yes.
12:26Lucas.
12:26Would you have said no?
12:29That's not the point.
12:32It is a little bit the point.
12:34The King announced the betrothal at dinner.
12:36The shift in the room was immediate.
12:38Every pair of eyes
12:39that had carried even a trince of doubt
12:40about me rearranged themselves
12:42into something warmer,
12:44more careful.
12:45Vivian Stanklard,
12:46daughter of the Chancellor,
12:47betrothed to Lucas Harrington,
12:49heir to the Duke of Harrington,
12:50nephew to Queen Isabella.
12:52How Sinclair had just become family to the Crown.
12:54Lucas leaned toward me during the toasting
12:56and said,
12:56in his lowest point,
12:58For the record,
12:58I meant it this afternoon.
13:00I will never fall in love
13:02with any other woman but you.
13:03And when I come back from the North
13:04with my next commendation,
13:05I'm getting you a title to go with it.
13:08You said that when we were twelve.
13:11I know.
13:13I always keep my promises.
13:14The formal betrothal proceedings moved quickly,
13:17as royal betrothes do.
13:19Queen Isabella sent a pair of matched silver broochers as a gift.
13:23House Harrington sent so many carriages of gifts to our courtyard
13:26that my father had to open the side gates.
13:28Three days before the wedding,
13:30a delivery arrived from the jeweler.
13:32My bridal cronet,
13:33paid for and ordered months ago.
13:35The man at the door wasn't from the jeweler.
13:37It was Adrian.
13:38He looked like he hadn't slept in days.
13:40He looked at my dress.
13:42He looked at my hair.
13:43He stood there for a moment without speaking.
13:46I came to apologize.
13:48What I did was unforgivable.
13:50I used your name because I knew you weren't coming.
13:52I told myself it didn't matter.
13:54We were going to be married anyway,
13:55so what was a little scandal?
13:56I'd make it up to you once you were at House Witwith.
13:59I didn't think it would end like this.
14:01You mean you didn't think I'd fight back?
14:04Adrian,
14:05I accepted your apology the first time.
14:07I don't need another one.
14:08What I need is for you to stop coming to my house
14:10three days before my wedding.
14:12I found out last week
14:13that Lily had put something in my drink.
14:15That night,
14:16she planned the whole thing.
14:18Did she?
14:20I've confined her.
14:21She'll be sent to the country estate after-
14:23Adrian,
14:24you've been in that room with her for years.
14:26You threatened your mother into letting her stay.
14:28You chose her every time.
14:30And now that it's over,
14:32you want to blame her for what happened?
14:34Whatever she did or didn't do,
14:35she didn't make you use my name.
14:37That was you.
14:39Go home.
14:40Come to the wedding if you'd like.
14:42Drink the wine.
14:43Be happy for me.
14:44I married Lucas Harrington on a Thursday morning in early spring.
14:48The ceremony was brief and the party was not.
14:50My mother cried for two hours straight.
14:53Lucas's best man spilled wine on the Arpshikip
14:55and spent the rest of the evening apologizing.
14:59Lucas was due back at the Northern Front within the half year.
15:02The king, in a generous mood, gave us leave to go together.
15:07We spent the weeks before our departure ordering supplies and sorting maps and
15:11arguing about which books I was allowed to bring.
15:14Word reached us while we were packing.
15:17House Whitmore had descended into chaos.
15:19Lady Whitmore, having failed to find any respectable family willing to send a daughter to her son,
15:24had reached within her own circle.
15:25The daughter of an undistinguished family, Catherine Blake, had been brought to the capital
15:30and the engagement announced quickly.
15:32Catherine was beautiful, sharp, and she had no intention of sharing her marriage with anyone.
15:38The night of the welcome dinner Lady Whitmore threw in her honor,
15:41Lily appeared in the great hall and refused to leave.
15:44She is nothing but an ordinary woman.
15:47Why should she get to be his wife while I'm forced to hide away in the farthest room of the
15:50house?
15:51Give me the same standing as his wife.
15:53Equal standing.
15:55Or I tell everyone what I know about this family.
15:58Lady Whitmore had no patience left.
16:01Catherine Black had even less.
16:04Say what you need to say and sit down.
16:06Or leave.
16:07Those are your options.
16:08Lily threw a glass.
16:09She was removed from the dinner by force.
16:11On the wedding day, she walked into the ceremony in a white gown.
16:15She knelt in front of Adrian on the stone floor.
16:18I'm three months along.
16:19If you don't don't give me equal standing as your wife,
16:23right now, in front of everyone,
16:25don't blame me for doing something terrible.
16:28Adrian hadn't finished processing the words before Catherine's hand came across Lily's face.
16:32The sound rang off the cathedral ceiling.
16:35Go ahead.
16:36Proceed, please.
16:37Adrian didn't go to Catherine that night.
16:39He sat with Lily until morning.
16:42Catherine locked her room and didn't come out for a day.
16:45When she did, she brought preservans and blankets to Lady Whitmore's sitting room
16:49and spent the next two weeks becoming her mother-in-law's favorite person in the house.
16:52One afternoon, Catherine went to Lily's room with a basket of fruit.
16:58I thought we might call a truce.
17:00Lily threw the basket at her head.
17:02They quarreled for a good ten minutes.
17:05Then suddenly, Lily pounced on Catherine.
17:07Catherine stepped aside.
17:08Lily's foot caught the edge of the rug, and she went down hard,
17:12striking the corner of the bed frame on her way to the floor.
17:14The doctor came within the hour.
17:16The bleeding didn't stop.
17:18By morning, the outcome was clear.
17:20The child was gone.
17:21And the damage was severe enough that there would be no others.
17:24When Adrian came home from his assignment a month later,
17:28Lily was thin and gray.
17:29Catherine was playing chess with his mother in the parlor.
17:32What did you do?
17:33You know what happened.
17:34I know a lot of things, including how many laws your family has broken in the last year,
17:39and which judges are on speaking terms with my father.
17:42Adrian, I am your wife.
17:44I was brought here to run this household, not to compete with your mistress for your attention.
17:48Get your priorities in order.
17:50From that day on, he never went to Catherine's room,
17:53but he didn't kick her out of the house either.
17:56Lily stopped eating.
17:57She stopped leaving her room.
17:59One night, when the servants were asleep,
18:02she slipped into Catherine's sitting room and emptied a vial into the decanager on the sideboard.
18:07It wasn't enough to kill her,
18:09but it was enough to ensure that the footman who found Catherine the next morning
18:13would see exactly what Lily needed him to see.
18:16What followed moved quickly.
18:17Lily was dragged out of her room, screaming.
18:20Catherine stood in the doorway, wrapped in a sheet, and pointed at her.
18:23Huh.
18:24That woman.
18:25The footman confirmed the story.
18:27Two maids confirmed it.
18:29The doctor's report said the substance in the decanager was traceable and deliberate.
18:34Catherine Blake didn't survive the week.
18:37Lily was arrested the same day.
18:39Catherine's family came to House Whitmore on a Sunday.
18:42Her mother arrived first, alone, carrying nothing.
18:46She walked through the front gates without being announced.
18:49Lady Whitmore came out to meet her.
18:51My daughter is dead.
18:54Your family killed her.
18:56Give me a reason not to go to the king today.
18:59Catherine's mother left without an answer, went directly to the palace, and gave a detailed account to the royal chamberlain.
19:06Catherine's father followed with a formal complaint drafted by three barristers.
19:10The hearings moved quickly.
19:12By the time the verdict came, Adrian was sitting and in his study reading the same letter for the fourth
19:17time.
19:18The Whitmore Marquistid was stripped.
19:20The family had 60 days to vacate their properties in the capital.
19:24They could retire to their country estate and live there quietly.
19:27Or they could contest the ruling and lose everything.
19:30We were leaving the capital on the same morning.
19:33Our carriage rolled through the south gate just as the Whitmore convoy came through from the north road.
19:38I saw them through the window.
19:40A long line of covered wagons.
19:42Servants walking alongside.
19:44No banners.
19:45Adrian was in the lead carriage.
19:47His face had aged ten years.
19:49Behind his carriage was a plain black wagon.
19:52Lily died while in custody.
19:54She had been held in prison for four days before her passing.
19:58When Catherine's family arrived at the prison, the guards had not yet received any instructions regarding her security arrangements.
20:06No one came to take her home.
20:08In the end, Adrian took her ashes away.
20:10The two convoys crossed at the gate.
20:13For one moment our carriage windows aligned.
20:16And Adrian looked directly at me.
20:18Lucas was asleep against my shoulder.
20:20I had my hand in his.
20:22Adrian looked at that.
20:23Then he looked away.
20:24His convoy turned onto the road south, toward the country.
20:28Hours passed through the gate and headed north.
20:31We didn't look back.
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