- 28 minutes ago
Died Once She Won'T Lose Again - Ep ✅ FULL [Eng Sub]
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:01My 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!
00:00:16His lordship is with Lady Serafina. If my lady dies, bury her in the family tomb. Do not disturb him.
00:00:26The 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.
00:00:46Before 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, the day Liam first brought his mistress
00:00:59to a noble banquet.
00:01:01My lady, his lordship, ordered you to wear this plain grey gown. Lady Serafina said it would make you look
00:01:08proper.
00:01:09A mistress thinks she can choose my gown? His lordship said you must not steal Lady Serafina's attention tonight.
00:01:17I tore the grey gown apart in front of her. The 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 Skyle 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.
00:01:56Every eye turned to me.
00:01:58Good evening, my husband.
00:01:59And you?
00:02:01Mistress.
00:02:02Mistress!
00:02:03Sky, you misunderstood. I'm-I'm a guest invited by Liam.
00:02:06Sky, apologize.
00:02:08Shut up.
00:02:09You'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 Kensingtons.
00:02:20Interesting.
00:02:21The 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.
00:02:52100,000 gold coins.
00:02:55Sky, are you mad?
00:02:56That land is worthless.
00:02:58I am buying it with the sterling money.
00:03:01It has nothing to do with you.
00:03:02Sky, 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.
00:03:40She 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.
00:04:11Are you ordering me?
00:04:13I am your husband.
00:04:15A husband does not leave his wife to die on a sickbed.
00:04:19What nonsense are you talking about?
00:04:20Of course he did not understand.
00:04:23His cruelty from my last life had not happened to him yet.
00:04:27If you touch the joint reserve vault under Kensington and Sterling, I will freeze your access at once.
00:04:33Thank you for the reminder.
00:04:35I never planned to borrow those 80,000 coins from you.
00:04:44So I went to the Black Box Inn.
00:04:46It was no place for a noblewoman, but it was where monsters made deals.
00:04:50My lady, we do not entertain Kensington ornaments here.
00:04:53I handed the guard a slip of parchment.
00:04:55There was only one line on it.
00:04:58Give this to Alistair Thorne.
00:05:00North Harbor, Warehouse No. 4.
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.
00:05:20Why should I believe you?
00:05:22Because you have not killed me yet.
00:05:24That means you already have believed me.
00:05:27I 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.
00:05:43My blood went cold.
00:05:45Little oracle was the name I had used in the shadows of my last life.
00:05:50How did he know it?
00:05:51The next day, I entered Count Thorne's castle in a gold gown,
00:05:55wearing the sterling emerald necklace.
00:05:57For the King's Trade Charter ceremony,
00:06:00Liam 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,
00:06:22Seraphina walked towards Liam with reddened eyes.
00:06:25As she passed me, her shoulder suddenly tilted.
00:06:28Seraphina crashed into the old gardener carrying the reliquary.
00:06:32The 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?
00:06:51Pushing someone in public?
00:06:55I 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.
00:07:51Why don't you play something to calm everyone down?
00:07:53She wanted me to embarrass myself in public.
00:07:55But she did not know that in my last life, I had turned my tears into blades through music.
00:08:00Skye, you are not afraid, are you?
00:08:02It is only one song.
00:08:04Then 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.
00:08:13I chose a salaband.
00:08:14A battle hymn for the dead.
00:08:18This is not banquet music.
00:08:20It 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?
00:08:33I 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.
00:08:44Before the applause faded, Alistair had already slept to my side.
00:08:47His voice was low, but clear enough for me to hear.
00:08:5080,000 gold coins have been sent to your counting room.
00:08:54That abandoned quarry will become a royal free market.
00:08:57You told me such a valuable secret.
00:08:59Are you not afraid I will steal it?
00:09:01You do not want the quarry.
00:09:03You 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.
00:09:18He 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.
00:09:25House Kensington has always hoped to...
00:09:27Move.
00:09:34Lord Thorne.
00:09:37Who are you?
00:09:39I am Seraphina.
00:09:41Liam's most important...
00:09:43Mistress?
00:09:44The hall fell silent.
00:09:48In my day, mistresses stayed in the shadows.
00:09:52Your presence here defiles this hall.
00:09:59On that stormy night, Liam helped the crying Seraphina into his carriage.
00:10:04Yet left me, his lawful wife, outside Thorne Castle.
00:10:16Someone paid for your life.
00:10:17And someone wants to see whether your husband will save you.
00:10:20I saw the serpent tattoo.
00:10:22Silence.
00:10:22The former captain of the Thorne Guard, now hired to do noble's dirty work.
00:10:26I was tied to a wooden pillar in an abandoned mill.
00:10:30Barrels of black powder sat at my feet.
00:10:32And the fuse had already burned halfway down.
00:10:36I 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.
00:10:44You want him to choose in front of me.
00:10:46Clever.
00:10:47Half an hour later, hoofbeats stopped outside the mill.
00:10:51Liam had actually come.
00:10:53But he carried no gold.
00:10:54Only a bloodless face.
00:10:55Skye.
00:10:57Liam, cut the rope.
00:10:59The powder is about to explode.
00:11:01I cannot go in.
00:11:02If I enter, I will die.
00:11:04I am your wife.
00:11:05House Kensington cannot lose me.
00:11:08In that moment, I knew for certain that no matter how many lives I lived,
00:11:13Liam would always abandon me.
00:11:15It seems your life is worth less than his reputation.
00:11:20Alistair.
00:11:23The powder is lit.
00:11:24The powder is lit.
00:11:25You cannot save her.
00:11:30The mill explosion failed to kill me.
00:11:33Three days later, the Kensington carriage delivered me into another trial.
00:11:39Theatrice Kensington was Liam's grandmother, the true ruler of House Kensington.
00:11:44She threw a parchment letter at my feet.
00:11:47It said my purchase of the Northland quarry for 250,000 gold coins had made me the joke of the
00:11:52city.
00:11:53Explain this.
00:11:55For now, it looks like I misjudged it.
00:11:59I did not explain.
00:12:00The fewer people knew the quarry's true value, the better.
00:12:04Misjudged it.
00:12:05You nearly died in a mill.
00:12:07People are already whispering that Liam lost his nerve.
00:12:09And now you use sterling money to buy Wasteland.
00:12:12Do you want to ruin House Kensington's name?
00:12:16That night, he did run.
00:12:18Silence!
00:12:21A man's reputation is worth more than a woman's life.
00:12:25She was the same in my last life.
00:12:27She did not care whether I lived.
00:12:29She only cared whether House Kensington looked clean.
00:12:32The mill incident ends here.
00:12:35To outsiders, it was a bandit attack.
00:12:37And Liam arrived too late.
00:12:39And if I refuse...
00:12:43Then I will manage the sterling trading house for you.
00:12:46If you fail to produce an heir within a year,
00:12:49your dowry, castle, and trading house will all pass into my hands.
00:12:54She finally revealed her true purpose.
00:12:56She did not want honor.
00:12:58She wanted the last sterling assets in my hands.
00:13:01There will be a reconciliation dinner tonight.
00:13:05Sit beside Liam and behave like a proper wife.
00:13:08Fine.
00:13:09I will attend.
00:13:12She thought I had lowered my head, but my application had already reached the cathedral school.
00:13:17At tonight's dinner, I would make Liam tear off his own dignity.
00:13:22That night, Beatrice arranged a reconciliation dinner.
00:13:25It was not for peace.
00:13:27It was to force me to cover Liam's cowardice.
00:13:30Three noble ladies will visit tomorrow.
00:13:33Tonight, you must sit beside Liam.
00:13:35As long as you dine with him, people can only say he arrived late, not that he ran.
00:13:41So running away can be dressed up as bravery?
00:13:44Do you still want to keep the sterling trading house?
00:13:47She threatened me with the trading house again.
00:13:50But this time, I already had a way out.
00:13:52Fine.
00:13:53I will eat quietly tonight.
00:13:56My lord, Lady Serafina sent word.
00:13:59She hurt her ankle and only wants to see you.
00:14:03Where is she?
00:14:04Sit down.
00:14:06Grandmother, she is hurt.
00:14:07If you walk out tonight, the whole city will know you abandoned your wife,
00:14:13fresh from an explosion, for your mistress.
00:14:16Then let them talk.
00:14:19He rose and left.
00:14:20Beatrice's face darkened.
00:14:22And for the first time, this dinner tasted good.
00:14:26After dinner, I pushed open the terrace doors.
00:14:29Liam had chosen Serafina again.
00:14:31Good.
00:14:32The more he chose, the more proof I had.
00:14:36You do not look like an abandoned wife.
00:14:39You trespassed just to laugh at me?
00:14:42Half to make sure my ally was still alive.
00:14:46And half to bring you good news.
00:14:49The quarry?
00:14:49Dear Sky,
00:14:51The quarry you bought for 250,000 gold coins will silence the entire capital tomorrow.
00:15:00Alistair placed a rolled parchment on the wrought iron table.
00:15:03The draft decree for that quarry has been entered into the Privy Council records.
00:15:07Sealed on page 400.
00:15:10No one has ever turned to that page.
00:15:12Except you and me.
00:15:13He lifted his hand and brushed a crumb of sauce from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
00:15:18Rough, yet impossibly light.
00:15:20I didn't pull away.
00:15:22I sat on a stone bench in the Cathedral School Courtyard.
00:15:25Before me lay Latin legal codes and debate outlines.
00:15:29Today was my entrance examination.
00:15:33A carriage jerked to a halt at the academy gates.
00:15:37Liam strode across the lawn, students scattering from his path.
00:15:41You want to embarrass me before all the nobles?
00:15:44A Kensington wife has no need to parade herself at the academy.
00:15:50He snatched the parchment from my hand, gripping my wrist.
00:15:55If I keep myself busy with my studies, I won't disturb you and Serafina.
00:16:00I didn't stand.
00:16:01I only looked up at him.
00:16:03Isn't this exactly what you asked for?
00:16:07Hoofbeats splashed through the mud.
00:16:09A young man swung down from his horse.
00:16:12Dark golden hair slightly tonsilled.
00:16:15Leather boots polished to a gleam.
00:16:18Not many women dare scold their husbands at the academy gates.
00:16:22Ethan Vance, second son of the Vance family.
00:16:25Famous for gambling away his fortune on horse races and composing doggerels.
00:16:29Lord Vance, you're blocking the passage.
00:16:33I stood, brushed the dust from my skirt, and turned to walk into the examination hall.
00:16:39The examination hall was cold stone.
00:16:43I unrolled my paper, dipped my quill, and began to write.
00:16:48Someone leaned in from the row behind.
00:16:51Ethan Vance's breath was nearly against my nape.
00:16:53What should be written for question three?
00:16:55I'll trade you tonight's wine money for the answer.
00:16:58I didn't turn around.
00:16:59My quill kept moving across the parchment.
00:17:02And at the same moment, my boot heel kicked backward, landing precisely on his calf.
00:17:07His yelp drew every gaze in the silent hall.
00:17:09I kept writing, the corner of my lips barely lifting.
00:17:14My quill kept moving across the parchment.
00:17:17The examination was meant to last three hours.
00:17:20But after only one hour passed, I rose and handed in my paper.
00:17:27The proctor bishop leaped through my parchment, frowning.
00:17:31As I stepped out of the examination hall, a figure stood waiting in the blinding sunlight.
00:17:37Tiffany, Serafina's lackey and confident.
00:17:40She waited outside the examination room just to mock me.
00:17:44Sky Sterling only sat the exam for one hour!
00:17:49She must have bribed the proctor.
00:17:51Or handed in blank parchment.
00:17:53I stopped walking.
00:17:54And looked at her.
00:17:55Public defamation within the cathedral precinct violates the code of conduct.
00:18:00Article 4, Supplemental Clause.
00:18:02Tiffany froze in place.
00:18:04Your citation will reach the disciplinary committee by noon.
00:18:10That evening, the annual Sterling Family Banquet.
00:18:13Thanks you all for coming and witnessing the improvement of the Sterling Trading House under my leadership.
00:18:19Uncle Arthur, he took over the Sterling Trading House after my father died and seized his legacy.
00:18:25I heard you've gone back to academy?
00:18:29The allowance Kensington gives you isn't enough for you?
00:18:33Aunt Petunia looked me up and down.
00:18:35A few distant cousins tittered.
00:18:38Liam set down his cutlery with a deliberate clink.
00:18:42He stood up.
00:18:45Aunt Petunia, Sky scored the highest marks on the entrance examination in a decade.
00:18:50And your son, Victor, how much did he owe the gambling dens last month?
00:18:56The table fell immediately silent.
00:18:59Liam continued, as casual as if discussing the weather.
00:19:07By the way, Uncle Arthur, are you planning to quietly sell off 15% of the Sterling Trading House Partnership
00:19:13shares?
00:19:16He said a name.
00:19:18The Profits Guild.
00:19:20Arthur's face went pale.
00:19:22Liam smiled after showing off his intelligence.
00:19:26But he still had no idea who owned the Profits Guild.
00:19:30The Profits Guild.
00:19:32That was my underground intelligence network.
00:19:35Arthur's cutlery trembled in his hands.
00:19:40Aunt Petunia had fallen utterly silent.
00:19:43The eyes of every relative towards me changed to suspicion.
00:19:46Liam was defending me now.
00:19:48They didn't know what any of this meant.
00:19:51The familiar messenger appeared again.
00:19:54Sir, it's Serafina.
00:20:01Liam rose once more.
00:20:03Left once more.
00:20:04I set down my napkin and turned to the attendant, sent by Alistair, who was behind me.
00:20:12Arthur is preparing to sell 15% of the Trading House Partnership shares to the Profits Guild.
00:20:18Let him sign tonight.
00:20:20He vanished without a sound into the servant's passage.
00:20:23Aunt Petunia glared at me from the far end of the table, her stare as if she wanted to swallow
00:20:28me whole.
00:20:29I smiled at her, and raised my goblet.
00:20:32She had no idea.
00:20:34Once her husband signed that contract tonight, the master of the Sterling Trading House would no longer be him.
00:20:40That night, when Liam returned early from Serafina's tavern banquet, I was in the library of Kensington Castle.
00:20:51He stood in the doorway, collar loose, the smell of drink clinging to him.
00:20:57She was too noisy, and the cake was too sweet.
00:21:01I didn't answer.
00:21:02Kept reading the book in my hand.
00:21:05The next morning, Arthur burst into the breakfast room and slammed a handwritten news sheet before me.
00:21:16He read out the title loudly in front of Beatrice and Liam.
00:21:21Lady Kensington bribes Academy Proctor.
00:21:24Shame on you, Sky.
00:21:25You spent 200,000 gold pieces to buy your entrance exam result?
00:21:30Beatrice picked up the news sheet.
00:21:32Her hawk-headed cane was nearly pressed against my face,
00:21:35forging documents to frame a family member in order to manipulate guild share prices.
00:21:40I raised my head and looked directly at Arthur.
00:21:43In the crown court, that is called insider trading.
00:21:50Would you like me to write to the sheriff right now?
00:21:55Arthur's face drained to ash and pale.
00:21:59He stumbled three steps backward, crashed into the tea trolley behind him.
00:22:05To avoid being disturbed, I shall move to my residence in the city, to focus on my studies.
00:22:12Liam wanted to stop it, but didn't know how.
00:22:16I moved to the resident prepared by Alistair, registered under a shell trading house.
00:22:22The second night after moving in, I pushed open the window and stepped onto the stone balcony.
00:22:29Isn't this the lady who kicked me in the examination hall?
00:22:34On the neighboring balcony stood a figure that seemed all too familiar.
00:22:39I moved into the most expensive tower in the city, and the only view is you?
00:22:45Lord Vance, this is my balcony, not your private view.
00:22:50He grinned.
00:22:54I turned my back to him, and couldn't help laughing either.
00:23:00She thinks she can escape me just by moving into the city?
00:23:05Just as his words faded, heavy footsteps sounded from the far end of the corridor.
00:23:10It was Serafina's shrill laughter.
00:23:12I have enrolled in the academy courses as well, she can't get rid of me.
00:23:16She was clinging to my husband, passing right by my door, deliberately making every word ring loud and clear.
00:23:25I closed the door and leaned back against the oak.
00:23:28Then I smiled.
00:23:29She was right.
00:23:31I really couldn't get rid of her.
00:23:34But every inch of ground she stood upon was already in the palm of my hand.
00:23:40The most difficult subject in the cathedral school, canon property law and Hanseatic League commercial code.
00:23:46I stood at the lectern, presenting my argument, but dark spots appeared before my eyes.
00:23:51I've gone through so many things over the past few days and my body betraying me.
00:23:56Skye, open your eyes.
00:23:58My knees hit the stone floor first.
00:24:00Someone caught me in the haze.
00:24:02Ethan lifted me into his arms.
00:24:04The wooden door crashed open.
00:24:06Liam stood there.
00:24:07When he saw me lying in Ethan's arms, his face twisted from shock into pure fury in an instant.
00:24:14Give her to me.
00:24:16She fainted.
00:24:17She needs air.
00:24:19If you touch my wife again, I will have you thrown out of this academy.
00:24:25Liam snatched me from him and carried me toward the door.
00:24:30I only remember one thing.
00:24:32Liam's hands were trembling.
00:24:34The infirmary sister at the Abbey Hospital loosened my clothing to examine me.
00:24:40She has countless wounds on her body, some still healing.
00:24:45Are these from...
00:24:46She fell down the stairs a few days ago.
00:24:48A bad fall.
00:24:49The sister did not dare press further.
00:24:52One did not press a Kensington.
00:24:54Move back to the estate.
00:24:56Wait.
00:24:58No.
00:24:59I can have the academy suspend you on medical grounds.
00:25:02Then I shall announce to the entire city that the Kensington family imprisons its wives.
00:25:09You may stay in the tower.
00:25:11I will hire a nutritionist and a coachman.
00:25:13You will dine with me every fortnight.
00:25:16Agreed.
00:25:16He was happy, thinking that I was once again that obedient wife.
00:25:20I needed to stay close enough to track every move of the Kensington Trading House.
00:25:26A few days later, I rode alone to the Black Fox Inn outside the city walls.
00:25:33Ethan was in a private room on the second floor, surrounded by three minstrel girls laughing at his jokes.
00:25:41Is that Skye?
00:25:42What wind blows you here?
00:25:43I walked up to him and slapped a stack of parchment onto the table.
00:25:47Your records of evading the Lord's tariffs at the flamish trading post.
00:25:51How did you...
00:25:54Retrieve from the wastebasket in Liam's study.
00:25:57Next time, I may not be there to clean up your tracks.
00:26:02Why are you helping me?
00:26:04I need an ally who is not afraid of the Kensingtons.
00:26:07He was silent for a long moment.
00:26:11Then raised his goblet.
00:26:13You are far more terrifying than I imagined.
00:26:16I turned and pushed open the door.
00:26:18All I saw were the same meddlesome scribes.
00:26:22They specifically compiled the whispered conversations they overheard.
00:26:26Into sharp anonymous letters, and sold them to all the noble in the city.
00:26:31Lady Kensington, in a midnight rendezvous with Lord Vance.
00:26:34I quickly made my way through the crowd without explanation.
00:26:42Behind me came the sound of hoofbeats.
00:26:44Alistair's men were sent to escort me.
00:26:46The moment I slipped into the carriage, I took out a note, and handed it to the driver.
00:26:52Tell Thorne, Kensington Trading House Shares price will full tomorrow.
00:26:56Let him buy it.
00:26:59The next morning, Liam saw the contents of that anonymous letter.
00:27:04Screw you, Ethan!
00:27:06How dare you mess around with a Kensington!
00:27:10He shattered his wine goblet against the wall.
00:27:12That very evening, Liam stood at the door of my tower.
00:27:16A lantern gripped in his hand.
00:27:22You will attend the Lord's banquet with me tomorrow, wearing the dress I give you.
00:27:26No.
00:27:27Then I will withdraw your tuition, and the lease is on this tower.
00:27:30You want a performance?
00:27:32My appearance fee is 5,000 gold pieces.
00:27:35The money belongs to me personally, and I want it right now.
00:27:39He ground his teeth, and wrote out a contract on the spot.
00:27:47The following dusk, the maid he sent arrived in my chamber, carrying a pale pink satin gown.
00:27:54Docile, sweet, like the seraphina he had in his mind.
00:27:57I casually threw it on the floor, and then took out another one from my closet.
00:28:05I was not wearing the pink he gave me.
00:28:07I wore a gown of deep crimson velvet, the neckline cut devastatingly low, bare from collarbow downward.
00:28:14Liam stood at the foot of the stairs, staring up at me.
00:28:23Let's get in the carriage.
00:28:27When he handed me into the carriage, his hand lingered on my waist, far longer than necessary.
00:28:33Inside the carriage, he stared at my bosom, like a man looking at something he had never truly possessed.
00:28:42At the banquet, I walked on his arm and smiled.
00:28:46He deflected every question for me.
00:28:48When he spoke, his voice carried a note of pride I had never once heard in five years of marriage.
00:28:56My dear.
00:28:58When he thought no one was listening, he called me that in a low whisper.
00:29:02I did not answer, acted as if I didn't hear it.
00:29:06I only looked at the second floor gallery.
00:29:09There sat Alistair.
00:29:10He raised his glass ever so slightly.
00:29:13I will wait for you to finish the whole performance.
00:29:18That night, when we returned to Kensington Castle, Beatrice locked us in the bedroom.
00:29:23I have had the kitchen prepare the family's ancestral tonic.
00:29:27Two bowls of steaming herbal broth were placed on the table.
00:29:30This soup was so familiar, she had forced it upon me in my previous life.
00:29:35Drink every drop, Liam.
00:29:37You as well, Skye.
00:29:38She watched Liam swallow most of his bowl before turning to me.
00:29:42Drink it all.
00:29:44Every last drop.
00:29:45I raised the spoon to my lips, and each time she turned her head to berate a servant,
00:29:49I spat the liquid into the napkin on my lap.
00:29:52Then two guards escorted Liam and me back to the bedroom and locked the door.
00:29:56Liam's face was already flushed crimson.
00:29:59He tore at his collar and stumbled toward me, his gaze unfocused.
00:30:06Sarah.
00:30:07He looked at me with deep affection, saying Sarah Fina's name.
00:30:10I tightened my grip on the candlestack on the table.
00:30:14The moment Liam's hand caught the hem of my gown, I smashed the candlestick onto his head.
00:30:21He crashed onto the carpet.
00:30:29My head.
00:30:31What happened last night?
00:30:32I was already seated in the chair by the window.
00:30:36I handed him a cup of water.
00:30:40You drank grandmother's herbal toner last night and collapsed.
00:30:45You struck your head on the stone mantle.
00:30:47He nodded, didn't press further.
00:30:51I went to the study.
00:30:54On the desk lay an anonymous letter, accusing me of being involved with Ethan.
00:31:00I picked it up.
00:31:01The paper has faint lines on it, belonging to a certain family.
00:31:06Tiffany's family.
00:31:07She was Sarah Fina's attendant.
00:31:11I wrote a letter to Alistair to have him keep an eye on Tiffany.
00:31:15The front gate of the castle was broken open.
00:31:18Arthur and Petunia got out of the carriage and rushed straight to the study.
00:31:22That land was purchased with sterling family fields.
00:31:26It turned out the king had announced that the mine would be officially designated as a royal free market.
00:31:34The profits belong to the family.
00:31:36Your father signed this document before he died.
00:31:40All land transactions must be approved by the family council.
00:31:44Arthur held a parchment in his hand.
00:31:46I took a look.
00:31:47After father's stroke, his right hand had a persistent tremor.
00:31:51This signature is far too steady.
00:31:54He froze where he stood, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
00:31:58Furthermore, I have already sold that land to Alistair.
00:32:03Do you have the courage to go demand it from him?
00:32:09Arthur's face turned pale instantly.
00:32:11That night, I arranged to meet Alistair at the lookout terrace of the grandest hotel in town.
00:32:19Once the market opens, the flow of goods will triple.
00:32:22My mercenaries will clear the mountain passes.
00:32:24You will spread the word.
00:32:25Spread across the chamber was an enormous parchment map.
00:32:28Every trade route of the Northlands traced in full.
00:32:32He stood at the far side of the map, both hands braced on the table's edge.
00:32:37How did you know that abandoned quarry would become a market?
00:32:42So far in advance.
00:32:44I...
00:32:45Because you are the oracle.
00:32:47The shadow who sells intelligence to the highest bidder from the darkness.
00:32:51My hand holding the quill, stopped in mid-air.
00:32:55I spent three years investigating.
00:32:58It was not until I met you...
00:33:01That all the threads finally wove together.
00:33:04I will begin purchasing warehousing rights along the route tomorrow morning.
00:33:09His fingers moved across the map.
00:33:12While his eyes were fixed on mine.
00:33:14Do not let the Kensingtons reach them first.
00:33:17We stood at the second floor railing of the hotel.
00:33:20The draft contract for the next harbor warehousing rights spread between us.
00:33:25Sky!
00:33:26Liam charged onto the second floor.
00:33:28He saw only me, and the other man standing beside me.
00:33:32You're here with this traitor!
00:33:33His mouth opened to roar.
00:33:35I lifted the silver pitcher of ice water from the side table,
00:33:38and dashed the entire contents into his face.
00:33:45Everyone in the hotel was watching him.
00:33:48The inn's head guard climbed the stairs and placed a firm hand on Liam's shoulder.
00:33:54My lord, this way.
00:33:57I looked down at the damp, wrinkled edge of the contract,
00:34:00and smoothed it flat once more.
00:34:03By the third port, on the western shore.
00:34:06That is the location he will think to seize last.
00:34:11Understood.
00:34:17He raised his glass to me with the slightest tilt.
00:34:21Alistair drove me back to the tower.
00:34:28And stood at the foot of the stone steps for a long while.
00:34:32The next morning, my maid returned from the Kensington estate.
00:34:37Last night his lordship sat alone in the study.
00:34:39The butler passed by and heard him weeping.
00:34:41I did not respond.
00:34:43The maid kept saying.
00:34:45Facing the fireplace.
00:34:47Not a single word spoken.
00:34:49Just being there until dawn.
00:34:51Five years ago.
00:34:53His tears would have kept me awake all night.
00:34:59Now, I only wanted to confirm one thing.
00:35:03Late that night, I changed into a dark riding habit.
00:35:07And rode alone, back, to Kensington Castle.
00:35:12The night watchman was already passed out drunk in the gatehouse.
00:35:16The whole castle was silent, as a stone sarcophagus.
00:35:20I climbed the stairs barefoot.
00:35:24The will box my mother had left behind, and the emerald ring inside it.
00:35:30I had to find it.
00:35:32The former master chamber had stood empty since I moved out.
00:35:36Dust covered the vanity table.
00:35:38The wardrobe held only a few gray plain dresses.
00:35:40I opened the hidden compartment of the jewelry box.
00:35:43It was empty.
00:35:44You shouldn't have come back.
00:35:45The voice was a ghost.
00:35:47A memory I had tried to bury.
00:35:49You came back.
00:35:50I knew you would come back.
00:35:51I smelled the alcohol.
00:35:53Empty bottles scattered at his feet.
00:35:55Liam sat in the armchair by the window.
00:35:57He rose.
00:35:59And stumbled toward me.
00:36:00Sky.
00:36:01My sky.
00:36:03His fingers twisted into my hair.
00:36:05You are mine.
00:36:06Always have been.
00:36:07He bent his face down, trying to kiss me for the purpose of possession.
00:36:11Let go.
00:36:15I will not let go.
00:36:16You are my wife.
00:36:18I fought back.
00:36:19His hands tightened.
00:36:20My nails raked across his left cheek.
00:36:22You.
00:36:23He stumbled backward.
00:36:24The back of his skull striking the stone mantelpiece with a dull, heavy thunt.
00:36:30You disgust me.
00:36:32I finally found a hidden compartment in the bed, and inside it was precisely that emerald
00:36:36ring.
00:36:36I turned around without hesitation, and stepped directly out of the door.
00:36:41Behind me came the sound of his strangled, broken sobs.
00:36:44Back in my tower, I wrote a formal notice by candlelight.
00:36:48On the envelope, I wrote the Lombard Bank's address.
00:36:50All joint deposit agreements of the Kensington household are suspended from this day forward.
00:36:55Without the personal presence of this lady bearing her seal, no one is authorized to withdraw
00:36:59funds or make purchases on credit.
00:37:01Today, a shipment of eastern silk had arrived at the town draper's.
00:37:06I knew Serafina would drag Liam there, to buy.
00:37:09She never missed a chance to show off.
00:37:11Liam!
00:37:12I want this one!
00:37:14Buy the whole bolt!
00:37:15Just as I expected.
00:37:17When I entered the upper gallery, her voice was already drifting up from below.
00:37:22My Sarah deserves the best.
00:37:24I'll buy you everything.
00:37:27I leaned against the upper railing and just watched.
00:37:32My lord, the order from the Lombard Banking House arrived this morning.
00:37:37The funds under your name can only be accessed with your wife's consent.
00:37:43What?
00:37:44This must be a misunderstanding!
00:37:47Liam, tell him it's a misunderstanding!
00:37:50No.
00:37:52It was I who suspended them.
00:37:56I walked slowly down the stairs.
00:37:59The moment Liam saw me, his pupils contracted.
00:38:06You!
00:38:08That bolt of silk.
00:38:10I'll take it.
00:38:11Yes, my lady.
00:38:12Next day, when I walked into the academy courtyard in a fresh new dress,
00:38:17I found the stone walls plastered with news sheets.
00:38:20Lady Kensington's midnight rendezvous with the vaunt scoundrel.
00:38:24Ethan was already standing before the wall, tearing down every sheet one by one.
00:38:31Who posted these?
00:38:34Step forward!
00:38:35Behind the stone pillars of the second floor arcade,
00:38:39Serafina stood there, a smile curling her lips.
00:38:43I pulled down one of the sheets.
00:38:47And caught a strange scent.
00:38:51Calm down, Ethan.
00:38:53But they...
00:38:54I'll figure it out.
00:38:55I passed a note to the guard Alistair had assigned me.
00:39:00I wrote down the person who did this.
00:39:03And asked Alistair to help me find the evidence.
00:39:06That afternoon, I walked along the path.
00:39:11Jessica and Tiffany each carried a silver tray, laden with cream cakes.
00:39:16The cream far darker than normal.
00:39:20Jessica tripped as she passed me.
00:39:23Her whole body tilted towards me.
00:39:25And the cake flew straight at my chest.
00:39:27I sidesteaded.
00:39:29The cream cake crashed onto the ground and splattered all over Tiffany's dress.
00:39:37My dress!
00:39:38This is brand new!
00:39:40Students heard the sound and gathered around.
00:39:49Ethan stormed through the gate and backed both girls into the corner.
00:39:53Serafina squeezed out from the crowd.
00:39:55A copper coin pinched between her fingers.
00:39:58Skye, this is for you.
00:40:00I heard that you are broke.
00:40:03You must be distressed.
00:40:05I took one step forward, closing the distance until barely a palm's width separated us.
00:40:10Next time you ask Jessica's family workshop to transcribe your little news sheets,
00:40:15tell them not to use their own special ink.
00:40:17That smell, too obvious.
00:40:19The copper coin slipped from her fingers
00:40:21and clinked across the ground into the puddle of grease.
00:40:26She stood rooted where she was, her lips trembling.
00:40:30You are lying!
00:40:32A few days later,
00:40:34I deliberately took a carriage
00:40:36to an estate perched on the seaside cliffs.
00:40:41A property my mother had left behind.
00:40:43Held in trust by the Abbey all these years.
00:40:50Serafina had followed my carriage all the way to the Iron Gates.
00:40:55What kind of rural area does she go to?
00:40:57So isolated!
00:41:00She watched me walk through the estate entrance.
00:41:03Gates she could not pass.
00:41:06This estate belongs to the Sterling Family Trust.
00:41:09Purchased 11 years ago by the late Lady Eleanor Sterling.
00:41:14The sole beneficiary is Skye Sterling.
00:41:19Impossible!
00:41:22Liam said you were broke!
00:41:28Serafina clutched the iron bars
00:41:31and sank to her knees on the gravel.
00:41:40You've spent all his money!
00:41:42And still hanging around there!
00:41:44This estate was left to me by my mother
00:41:46long before I ever knew Liam.
00:41:49The fishermen and estate servants standing nearby
00:41:52exchanged glances.
00:41:55Please!
00:41:56Give him back to me!
00:41:59Give his money back to me!
00:42:01I turned and walked through the gates
00:42:04without looking back.
00:42:06Two days later,
00:42:07the college representative summoned all the people.
00:42:10Jessica Mills.
00:42:12Posting defamatory illustrations.
00:42:14The evidence is conclusive.
00:42:15Suspension for one term.
00:42:17No!
00:42:18It was Serafina!
00:42:19She told me to do it!
00:42:25Jessica!
00:42:26How could you say that?
00:42:28You're lying!
00:42:29Tiffany, you were there!
00:42:32Tiffany kept her head down
00:42:34and said nothing at all.
00:42:35See, I even wrote her letters
00:42:37urging her not to do anything foolish.
00:42:40Serafina pulled out some letters
00:42:42she had clearly prepared long before
00:42:44it read the words he said to Jessica.
00:42:46After the hearing,
00:42:47Jessica sat in a corner, sobbing.
00:42:51I passed by.
00:42:52She was never your friend.
00:42:58You are just a tool.
00:43:00The next day,
00:43:02the debate examination results were posted.
00:43:05Next to my name was written
00:43:07the highest grade.
00:43:09Serafina stood a few paces behind me.
00:43:12Staring fixedly at me,
00:43:13beside her own name was written
00:43:15only one word.
00:43:17Fail.
00:43:19That evening,
00:43:20the Quinn family held a banquet
00:43:22at their cliff castle,
00:43:23celebrating Harper's return.
00:43:25Harper Quinn,
00:43:26my childhood friend,
00:43:28just returned from studying weaving in Milan.
00:43:30Sky, you've finally come!
00:43:32This blue silk gown is stunning!
00:43:34I stood by the terrace
00:43:36and watched Serafina
00:43:38squeeze through a side entrance.
00:43:41She was dragging a man behind her,
00:43:44Alderick,
00:43:45the freight steward of Kensington Trading,
00:43:47notorious for gambling
00:43:49at the dockside taverns.
00:43:51Serafina held an empty glass
00:43:53and walked up to me.
00:43:56Refill.
00:43:57Quickly.
00:43:59You may be mistaken.
00:44:01Those wearing black
00:44:02are the servants.
00:44:04I am wearing blue silk.
00:44:07You're nothing but...
00:44:12Stuart Alderick,
00:44:14Kensington's internal audit,
00:44:16is currently reviewing
00:44:18your freight accounts.
00:44:20Are you certain
00:44:21bringing her here tonight
00:44:22was a wise decision?
00:44:24She begged me to bring her!
00:44:25She said if I'd be her escort,
00:44:28she'd help pay my gambling debts!
00:44:30Alderick, shut up!
00:44:31The hall erupted in murmurs.
00:44:35Remove the trash.
00:44:37She's disturbing
00:44:38the guests' enjoyment.
00:44:40Alistair descended the stairs,
00:44:43nodded to the head guard.
00:44:50Lord Kensington
00:44:51has my back!
00:44:53You cannot treat me like this!
00:44:55Let go!
00:44:57She screamed the whole way
00:44:58as two guards
00:44:59dragged her out by the arms.
00:45:04No one looked back.
00:45:06That night,
00:45:08I returned to my tower.
00:45:10The maid brought me the news.
00:45:12My lady,
00:45:13his lordship,
00:45:15has taken Lady Serafina
00:45:16into the castle.
00:45:18He has placed her
00:45:19in one of the guest chambers.
00:45:23Go to my old chamber.
00:45:25Clear out everything
00:45:26that belongs to her.
00:45:28Do not let her scent
00:45:30touch a single thread of mine.
00:45:32The next day,
00:45:33my maid burst into my room.
00:45:37My lady!
00:45:38The dowager Lady Beatrice
00:45:40would not accept that mistress.
00:45:41She stormed into the castle
00:45:43and threw that mistress out.
00:45:44His lordship even had to sell
00:45:46his personal carriage
00:45:47just to find a place
00:45:49to put her.
00:45:51That evening,
00:45:52I went to a private room
00:45:53on the second floor
00:45:54of the Black Fox Inn.
00:45:56Not for Serafina's misfortune,
00:45:58but to celebrate
00:45:59that the Lombard Banking House
00:46:00had finally made the freeze
00:46:02on all Kensington
00:46:03joint deposit agreements
00:46:04permanent.
00:46:06The door crashed open.
00:46:09Liam stood in the doorway,
00:46:10his eyes bloodshot.
00:46:12Skye!
00:46:14You're here celebrating?
00:46:16How dare you!
00:46:18He charged forward
00:46:19and seized my wrist.
00:46:21I dashed the wine
00:46:22in my glass
00:46:23straight into his face.
00:46:26His head swiveled
00:46:28and he caught sight of Alistair
00:46:29seated in the corner booth.
00:46:31He threw a punch.
00:46:36Alistair caught the fist
00:46:37with a single hand.
00:46:39He wrenched Liam's arm
00:46:41behind his back
00:46:41and shoved him hard
00:46:42against the stone wall.
00:46:44Go back to your own guest,
00:46:45Kensington.
00:46:50Then he lifted me bodily
00:46:52from the chair.
00:46:55As he carried me past Liam,
00:46:57he glanced down at him once.
00:46:59The next morning,
00:47:00I woke in my own chamber.
00:47:03Alistair was seated
00:47:04in the chair beside my bed,
00:47:06holding a cup of hot tea
00:47:07toward me.
00:47:09You were terribly drunk
00:47:10last night.
00:47:11Drink this tea.
00:47:13My lady,
00:47:14Lord Kensington
00:47:15is downstairs.
00:47:17He says he wishes
00:47:18to see you.
00:47:19From this day forward,
00:47:21I do not receive
00:47:22his messages.
00:47:25Alistair kept his head down,
00:47:27slicing an apple.
00:47:29The corner of his mouth
00:47:31lifted,
00:47:32nearly imperceptible.
00:47:36Theatrice stormed
00:47:37into my tower
00:47:38that very afternoon.
00:47:40Liam's trust fund
00:47:41has been frozen.
00:47:42If you are going to leave,
00:47:43leave quietly.
00:47:46The Kensington Trading House
00:47:48cannot survive
00:47:49a second scandal.
00:47:51Very well.
00:47:52But I have conditions.
00:47:54I took out the two sheets
00:47:56of parchment
00:47:56I had prepared
00:47:57long before
00:47:58and pushed them
00:47:59across the desk.
00:48:01First,
00:48:02the deed to my mother's
00:48:03seaside villa
00:48:04is to be transferred
00:48:05to my name immediately.
00:48:07Second,
00:48:08I will no longer bear
00:48:10any joint guarantee
00:48:11for Kensington's debts.
00:48:12She stared at me
00:48:13for a long,
00:48:14long moment.
00:48:17You,
00:48:18you prepared these
00:48:19ahead of time.
00:48:20Please sign.
00:48:22She signed her name,
00:48:24stroke by stroke.
00:48:25You no longer have
00:48:26the Kensington family's
00:48:27support.
00:48:28No.
00:48:29It is the Kensington family
00:48:30that no longer has me.
00:48:32Liam's messenger
00:48:33still appeared
00:48:33at my tower door
00:48:34every day.
00:48:36He said he wanted
00:48:37to see me.
00:48:38Very well.
00:48:39Let him sign over
00:48:40the right-of-way deed
00:48:41for that old post
00:48:42road to me.
00:48:47What do you want
00:48:48with this useless
00:48:48post road?
00:48:50Sign,
00:48:50or not.
00:48:52I'll sign,
00:48:53but I have one condition.
00:48:55You will attend
00:48:56the Hanseatic League
00:48:57celebration tomorrow
00:48:58with me,
00:48:59and we will be
00:49:00a loving couple.
00:49:01Deal.
00:49:03He didn't know
00:49:04this abandoned
00:49:05post road
00:49:06would become
00:49:06the throat
00:49:07through which
00:49:08all Northland's
00:49:09freight must pass.
00:49:10When I walked
00:49:11into the hall
00:49:11on Liam's arm,
00:49:12the right-of-way
00:49:13deep bearing
00:49:14the Kensington
00:49:14wax seal
00:49:15was already
00:49:16tucked inside
00:49:17my sleeve.
00:49:18He just signed it.
00:49:20Harper's maid
00:49:21intercepted me
00:49:21in the corridor,
00:49:22her voice trembling.
00:49:24My lady,
00:49:25the Quinn family's
00:49:27cargo ship
00:49:27was seized
00:49:28at the harbor.
00:49:28An entire shipment
00:49:29of silk from Milan
00:49:30anonymously reported
00:49:32for concealing
00:49:32contraband.
00:49:34It was Liam.
00:49:37I pushed open
00:49:38the wooden doors
00:49:38of the banquet hall,
00:49:40cut through the crowd,
00:49:41and walked
00:49:41straight up
00:49:42to Liam.
00:49:44I put a sheet
00:49:45of parchment
00:49:46into his palm.
00:49:47What is this?
00:49:49These are
00:49:50the transfer records
00:49:51of paying off
00:49:52the gambling debts
00:49:53of Serafina's mother.
00:49:55Do you want
00:49:56the whole city
00:49:56to know
00:49:57that you used
00:49:58the Kensington's
00:49:58money
00:49:59to support
00:50:00your mistress's
00:50:01family?
00:50:03You...
00:50:04How did you
00:50:05get these?
00:50:07How did you...
00:50:09Withdraw the complaint
00:50:10against the
00:50:11Quinn Trading House,
00:50:12or everyone here
00:50:13will know it.
00:50:18I'll send someone
00:50:19to the harbor.
00:50:21Good.
00:50:27That day I went
00:50:28to the seaside estate
00:50:29my mother had
00:50:30left me.
00:50:31Harper came
00:50:32and stayed with me.
00:50:35Another letter
00:50:35from Liam arrived.
00:50:38He's moved in
00:50:39as well?
00:50:39The same estate?
00:50:41The same gate?
00:50:44I looked out
00:50:45of the window
00:50:45and saw a small
00:50:46stone house
00:50:47next to the
00:50:48seaside estate.
00:50:51Liam used
00:50:52the remaining
00:50:52money to buy
00:50:53the place.
00:50:54Today is the
00:50:55day they move
00:50:56in.
00:50:58Sky.
00:50:59Eighty years
00:51:00ago it housed
00:51:01the grooms
00:51:01and laundry
00:51:02women.
00:51:02No fireplace,
00:51:04only a coal
00:51:04stove.
00:51:06Does she know?
00:51:07She's standing
00:51:08at the doorway
00:51:09bossing the
00:51:09servants around.
00:51:11I don't think
00:51:12so.
00:51:19A few days
00:51:20later,
00:51:21I found
00:51:22Ethan in
00:51:22the academy
00:51:23library.
00:51:25I placed
00:51:26a blank
00:51:27invitation to
00:51:27the Vance
00:51:28family's
00:51:28year-end
00:51:29banquet before
00:51:29him.
00:51:30Let Serafina
00:51:31get hold
00:51:31of this.
00:51:32Let her
00:51:33fill in
00:51:33her own
00:51:34name.
00:51:38My brother
00:51:39Julian will
00:51:40check.
00:51:40He won't
00:51:41stop it.
00:51:42And the
00:51:42truth was
00:51:42Julian had
00:51:43already learned
00:51:44everything through
00:51:45his intelligence
00:51:46network.
00:51:46He agreed as
00:51:48well.
00:51:51The night
00:51:52of the banquet,
00:51:53Serafina arrived
00:51:54in an outrageous
00:51:54gown of
00:51:56layered pink
00:51:56tulle.
00:51:57She swept
00:51:58into the
00:51:59hall on
00:51:59Liam's
00:52:00arm.
00:52:02Serafina.
00:52:03Jessica burst
00:52:04out holding a
00:52:05stack of
00:52:06parchment IOU
00:52:06notes high
00:52:07above her
00:52:08head.
00:52:08She owes
00:52:09me money.
00:52:10She swindled
00:52:11even my living
00:52:12allowance to
00:52:12pay off her
00:52:13gambling debts.
00:52:14You're lying.
00:52:16Serafina collapsed
00:52:17dramatically,
00:52:17to the floor
00:52:18in a performance
00:52:19worthy of the
00:52:19stage.
00:52:20Sera,
00:52:21don't embarrass
00:52:22yourself here.
00:52:23Unexpectedly,
00:52:24she was exposed
00:52:24by Liam.
00:52:25Serafina was
00:52:26extremely anxious
00:52:27and desperately
00:52:28sought another
00:52:29way to salvage
00:52:30the situation.
00:52:31Serafina looked
00:52:32around the room
00:52:33and grabbed her
00:52:34own shoulder
00:52:34strapu and tore
00:52:35it with all
00:52:36her strength.
00:52:36The tool ripped
00:52:37apart at her
00:52:38fingertips with a
00:52:38shriek.
00:52:39Ethan Vance,
00:52:41it was you.
00:52:42You reached out
00:52:42and touched me
00:52:43during the chaos.
00:52:44You tried to
00:52:45rip my gown.
00:52:45What did
00:52:46you say?
00:52:47I never
00:52:47came anywhere
00:52:48near you.
00:52:48Just now,
00:52:49when you
00:52:50passed by me.
00:52:52Ethan,
00:52:53did you touch
00:52:54her?
00:52:54Touch who?
00:52:55I've been
00:52:55standing here
00:52:56the whole
00:52:56time.
00:52:57The nobles
00:52:58murmured
00:52:58among themselves,
00:52:59some gazes
00:53:00already shifting
00:53:01toward Ethan.
00:53:02Her hand
00:53:02remained pressed
00:53:03against the
00:53:04shoulder strap,
00:53:05not to cover
00:53:05it,
00:53:06but to display
00:53:07it.
00:53:07A figure
00:53:08descended
00:53:09slowly from
00:53:09the spiral
00:53:10staircase,
00:53:11landing on
00:53:11the second
00:53:12floor.
00:53:13My attendant
00:53:14was standing
00:53:14behind the
00:53:15third pillar
00:53:16on the
00:53:16eastern side,
00:53:17his position
00:53:18faced directly
00:53:19towards this
00:53:19lady's skirts.
00:53:21I asked
00:53:21him,
00:53:23who tore
00:53:24the gown?
00:53:25It was
00:53:26this lady.
00:53:27She tore
00:53:28it herself.
00:53:39Take her
00:53:47out.
00:53:48After the
00:53:49banquet
00:53:49ended,
00:53:50Alistair
00:53:50found me
00:53:51on the
00:53:51terrace.
00:53:52Hatred is
00:53:53the stepping
00:53:53stone to
00:53:54indifference.
00:53:55Then he
00:53:56lowered his
00:53:57head,
00:53:58and pressed
00:53:58a gentle
00:53:59kiss to
00:53:59my forehead.
00:54:01That very
00:54:02same night,
00:54:03after the
00:54:03banquet
00:54:03ended,
00:54:05Liam
00:54:05cornered me
00:54:06in a
00:54:06bend of
00:54:06the stone
00:54:07corridor.
00:54:09Stop
00:54:10right
00:54:10there.
00:54:14When
00:54:15no one
00:54:15was
00:54:15looking,
00:54:16he
00:54:16ceased
00:54:16season
00:54:17hair,
00:54:19and shoved
00:54:20me into
00:54:20the shadows
00:54:21where the
00:54:21carriages
00:54:22waited.
00:54:23That
00:54:24post road
00:54:24right-of-way,
00:54:25you knew
00:54:26it would
00:54:26increase in
00:54:26value.
00:54:27You
00:54:27tricked
00:54:28me.
00:54:30It was a
00:54:30fair trade.
00:54:31no one
00:54:32forced you
00:54:33when you
00:54:33signed.
00:54:34You
00:54:35are
00:54:35mine!
00:54:36You
00:54:37are not
00:54:37to stand
00:54:38beside
00:54:38him!
00:54:39His
00:54:39fingers
00:54:40dug
00:54:40into
00:54:41my
00:54:41throat.
00:54:43His
00:54:43eyes
00:54:44read as
00:54:44a
00:54:44mad
00:54:44dog's.
00:54:46I did
00:54:47not
00:54:47struggle.
00:54:48I
00:54:48looked at
00:54:49him
00:54:49quietly.
00:54:51Squeeze
00:54:51harder.
00:54:52Then
00:54:53tomorrow
00:54:53the whole
00:54:54county
00:54:54will
00:54:54know
00:54:55that
00:54:56Lord
00:54:56Kensington
00:54:57is a
00:54:57murderer.
00:54:58You!
00:54:59He
00:54:59froze,
00:54:59his
00:55:00hand
00:55:00loosened.
00:55:01I
00:55:01drew
00:55:01out
00:55:02the
00:55:02small
00:55:02copper
00:55:03mirror
00:55:03I
00:55:03carried
00:55:03with
00:55:04me
00:55:04and
00:55:04examined
00:55:05the
00:55:05marks
00:55:05blooming
00:55:06on
00:55:06my
00:55:06throat.
00:55:07You'd
00:55:08better
00:55:08pray
00:55:08that
00:55:09everyone
00:55:09believes
00:55:10these
00:55:10scratches
00:55:11were
00:55:11just
00:55:11an
00:55:11accident.
00:55:12The
00:55:13next
00:55:13morning,
00:55:14Liam
00:55:14appeared
00:55:14at my
00:55:15tower
00:55:15door
00:55:15again.
00:55:16In
00:55:16his
00:55:16hands,
00:55:17a
00:55:17bouquet
00:55:18of
00:55:18white
00:55:18roses
00:55:18and
00:55:19a
00:55:19small
00:55:19velvet
00:55:20box.
00:55:21Sky!
00:55:22Let
00:55:22me
00:55:23in!
00:55:23I've
00:55:24thrown
00:55:24Seraphina
00:55:25out.
00:55:25Let's
00:55:26start
00:55:26over.
00:55:30this
00:55:30ring.
00:55:32It's
00:55:32bigger
00:55:33than
00:55:33the
00:55:33last
00:55:33one.
00:55:34Liam!
00:55:35You
00:55:35can't
00:55:36leave
00:55:36me!
00:55:36Before
00:55:37I
00:55:37could
00:55:37speak,
00:55:38Seraphina
00:55:39came
00:55:39charging
00:55:39up,
00:55:40clutching
00:55:40her
00:55:40skirts.
00:55:41You
00:55:42promised
00:55:43me!
00:55:43Why
00:55:43did
00:55:44you
00:55:44follow
00:55:44me?
00:55:48You
00:55:49came
00:55:49here to
00:55:49give her
00:55:50a
00:55:50ring?
00:55:51What
00:55:52am
00:55:52I
00:55:52to
00:55:52you?
00:55:58I
00:55:59reached
00:55:59out
00:55:59and
00:56:00took
00:56:00the
00:56:00velvet
00:56:00box.
00:56:02Liam's
00:56:02eyes
00:56:03lit
00:56:03up.
00:56:04Then
00:56:04I
00:56:04took
00:56:04two
00:56:05steps
00:56:05toward
00:56:05the
00:56:05door
00:56:06and
00:56:06hurled
00:56:06it
00:56:06out.
00:56:07Get
00:56:08out!
00:56:09Both
00:56:09of
00:56:09you!
00:56:14A
00:56:15few
00:56:15days
00:56:15later,
00:56:16the
00:56:16Kensington
00:56:17family
00:56:17held a
00:56:18charity
00:56:18banquet
00:56:19at
00:56:19the
00:56:19castle.
00:56:20I
00:56:21came,
00:56:22not
00:56:22for
00:56:22Liam,
00:56:23but
00:56:23to
00:56:24announce
00:56:24something.
00:56:25I
00:56:26wore a
00:56:26black
00:56:27gown
00:56:27with
00:56:27a
00:56:28plunging
00:56:28neck
00:56:28light.
00:56:29No
00:56:29jewels
00:56:29adorned
00:56:30my
00:56:30throat,
00:56:31only
00:56:31a
00:56:31thin
00:56:32dusting
00:56:32of
00:56:32pearl
00:56:33powder
00:56:33over
00:56:33the
00:56:33bruise.
00:56:34On
00:56:34her
00:56:34neck?
00:56:35Are
00:56:36those
00:56:36finger
00:56:36marks?
00:56:37Don't
00:56:38stare.
00:56:41Ladies
00:56:42and
00:56:42gentlemen,
00:56:43this is
00:56:44a respected
00:56:44notary
00:56:45clerk of
00:56:45the
00:56:45cathedral
00:56:46and
00:56:47I
00:56:47have
00:56:47invited
00:56:47him
00:56:48to
00:56:48announce
00:56:48the
00:56:49divorce.
00:56:49He
00:56:50stopped
00:56:51in
00:56:51the
00:56:51center
00:56:51of
00:56:51the
00:56:52banquet
00:56:52hall
00:56:52and
00:56:53publicly
00:56:53unfurled
00:56:54a
00:56:54parchment
00:56:54petition.
00:56:58Skye
00:56:59Sterling,
00:56:59on
00:57:00grounds
00:57:01of her
00:57:01husband's
00:57:01open
00:57:02concubinage
00:57:03and
00:57:03physical
00:57:03assault.
00:57:04After
00:57:04hearing
00:57:05the
00:57:05reason,
00:57:06the
00:57:06guests
00:57:06stared
00:57:07at
00:57:07my
00:57:07scar
00:57:07and
00:57:08the
00:57:08entire
00:57:08hall
00:57:09fell
00:57:09silent.
00:57:10Hereby
00:57:10formally
00:57:11submits
00:57:11to the
00:57:12diocesan
00:57:12bishop's
00:57:13court,
00:57:13a
00:57:14preliminary
00:57:14petition
00:57:15for
00:57:15separation
00:57:16maintenance
00:57:16and
00:57:17annulment.
00:57:18Liam
00:57:18stood
00:57:19at the
00:57:19far end
00:57:19wineglass
00:57:20clutched
00:57:21in his
00:57:21hand,
00:57:21rooted
00:57:22to the
00:57:22spot
00:57:22as if
00:57:22nailed
00:57:23there.
00:57:27Skye,
00:57:28you can't.
00:57:30I already
00:57:31have.
00:57:32After the
00:57:32banquet was
00:57:33over,
00:57:34when I was
00:57:34about to get
00:57:35into the
00:57:35carriage,
00:57:36Liam caught
00:57:37up with me.
00:57:40Skye,
00:57:41have you really
00:57:42made up your
00:57:42mind?
00:57:43I ignored
00:57:44him and
00:57:45got into
00:57:45the carriage
00:57:45directly.
00:57:48He kept
00:57:49standing at
00:57:49the door,
00:57:51but it
00:57:52seemed that
00:57:52he was
00:57:53looking at
00:57:53the carriage
00:57:56rather than
00:57:56at me.
00:58:03After the
00:58:03banquet,
00:58:04my carriage
00:58:04traveled along
00:58:05the coastal
00:58:05mountain road.
00:58:06My lady,
00:58:07the carriage
00:58:08is speeding
00:58:09up,
00:58:09the brake
00:58:09rope is
00:58:10broken.
00:58:12there's
00:58:13a sharp
00:58:13bend
00:58:13ahead.
00:58:16I pulled
00:58:17aside the
00:58:18curtain.
00:58:19Ahead was
00:58:20a sharp
00:58:20bend,
00:58:20beyond it
00:58:21the cliff.
00:58:22The
00:58:23coachman
00:58:23hauled
00:58:23distressedly
00:58:24on the
00:58:24reins,
00:58:25but the
00:58:25brake
00:58:25cords
00:58:25knot
00:58:26had been
00:58:26cut.
00:58:27Pull
00:58:27to the
00:58:27inside!
00:58:29Scrape
00:58:29the wheels
00:58:29against the
00:58:30cliff
00:58:30to slow
00:58:30down!
00:58:36The
00:58:36carriage
00:58:37came to
00:58:37a halt
00:58:38less than
00:58:38two feet
00:58:39from the
00:58:39cliff's
00:58:39edge.
00:58:44I
00:58:44scrambled
00:58:45out of
00:58:45the
00:58:45carriage
00:58:45and
00:58:45crawled
00:58:46beneath
00:58:46it.
00:58:46The
00:58:47axle pin
00:58:47had been
00:58:48deliberately
00:58:48sawed
00:58:48through.
00:58:49This
00:58:50was no
00:58:50accident.
00:58:53It
00:58:53was
00:58:53murder.
00:58:58I
00:58:58told the
00:58:58coachman
00:58:59to drive
00:58:59straight to
00:59:00the
00:59:00converted
00:59:00servants'
00:59:01quarters,
00:59:01where Liam
00:59:02was living.
00:59:02I
00:59:03pushed
00:59:03open the
00:59:03door.
00:59:04He
00:59:04sat
00:59:04on the
00:59:04chair,
00:59:05staring
00:59:05into a
00:59:06mug of
00:59:06cheap
00:59:06ale.
00:59:09At
00:59:09this
00:59:09hour,
00:59:09I threw
00:59:10the
00:59:10broken
00:59:11fragments
00:59:11of the
00:59:11axle pin
00:59:12onto the
00:59:12floor before
00:59:13him.
00:59:13He
00:59:13stared at
00:59:14the
00:59:14pieces,
00:59:14his eyes
00:59:15wide with
00:59:16shock.
00:59:17You
00:59:18sought it
00:59:18through
00:59:18yourself to
00:59:18frame me.
00:59:19What did
00:59:20you say?
00:59:23This is
00:59:23exactly the
00:59:24sort of thing
00:59:24you would
00:59:24do.
00:59:25I suddenly
00:59:26laughed.
00:59:26I knew it
00:59:27wasn't him,
00:59:28he didn't
00:59:28dare to
00:59:28do that.
00:59:29It was
00:59:30Victor,
00:59:31my cousin.
00:59:32He holds a
00:59:33grudge against
00:59:33me because I
00:59:34didn't give him
00:59:34his share from
00:59:35the Sterling
00:59:36trading house.
00:59:39The next
00:59:40morning,
00:59:41I set out
00:59:41for the
00:59:42Sterling
00:59:42trading house
00:59:43council of
00:59:43elders.
00:59:44Victor had
00:59:45stolen a
00:59:45carriage and
00:59:46came charging
00:59:46out from a
00:59:47side track on
00:59:48the mountain
00:59:48road.
00:59:51Go to hell
00:59:52you bastard!
00:59:53Die!
00:59:55My carriage
00:59:56was shoved
00:59:56toward the
00:59:57cliff's
00:59:57edge.
00:59:59Sky,
01:00:00watch out!
01:00:01Liam came
01:00:02charging out
01:00:02from the
01:00:03side path
01:00:03on horseback.
01:00:06Pulled me
01:00:07from the
01:00:07carriage and
01:00:08was himself
01:00:08struck by
01:00:09Victor's
01:00:10oncoming
01:00:10cart and
01:00:11thrown
01:00:11violently
01:00:12through the
01:00:12air.
01:00:18I was
01:00:19thrown into
01:00:20the brush
01:00:20at the
01:00:20roadside.
01:00:23By the
01:00:24time I
01:00:24staggled to
01:00:24my feet,
01:00:25Victor had
01:00:26already fled.
01:00:27Liam lay
01:00:28sprawled across
01:00:29the stones,
01:00:30his face
01:00:31covered in
01:00:32blood.
01:00:34Skye,
01:00:35did I,
01:00:37did I save
01:00:38you?
01:00:39I knelt
01:00:40at beside
01:00:40him,
01:00:41looking down
01:00:41at this
01:00:42man I
01:00:42had once
01:00:42hated.
01:00:43Yes,
01:00:44you saved
01:00:45me.
01:00:45The sisters
01:00:46from the
01:00:47abbey
01:00:47infirmary
01:00:48brought
01:00:48Liam into
01:00:49the sick
01:00:49room.
01:00:51I stood
01:00:52outside the
01:00:53door holding
01:00:54a bowl of
01:00:54hot broth.
01:00:56Then I
01:00:56saw Serafina
01:00:57hurrying from
01:00:58the far end
01:00:58of the
01:00:59corridor.
01:00:59She fell
01:01:00to her
01:01:01knees beside
01:01:01his bed at
01:01:02the moment
01:01:02she entered.
01:01:03Liam,
01:01:04wake up!
01:01:06It's me,
01:01:07Sera!
01:01:08Skye,
01:01:10where is
01:01:10she?
01:01:13Skye is
01:01:14fine.
01:01:14She doesn't
01:01:15care about
01:01:15you.
01:01:16She's already
01:01:17left.
01:01:18He tightened
01:01:19his grip on
01:01:19Serafina's
01:01:20hand.
01:01:22Liam's eyes
01:01:22were closed.
01:01:23I stood
01:01:24outside the
01:01:25door,
01:01:25holding the
01:01:25bowl of
01:01:26broth,
01:01:27silent for a
01:01:27moment.
01:01:28Then I
01:01:29turned around,
01:01:29set the bowl
01:01:30down on the
01:01:31stone ledge
01:01:31in the
01:01:32corridor and
01:01:33walked away.
01:01:35Three days
01:01:36later, I
01:01:37appeared before
01:01:37the council of
01:01:38elders of the
01:01:38Sterling Trading
01:01:39House, wrapped
01:01:40in a nun's
01:01:41cloak with my
01:01:42arm still
01:01:42banded.
01:01:43Alistair marched
01:01:44Victor in,
01:01:45bruised and
01:01:46bloodied, and
01:01:47laid out the
01:01:48evidence of his
01:01:49attempted murder
01:01:49piece by piece
01:01:50on the long
01:01:51table.
01:01:51It wasn't
01:01:53me.
01:01:53I did
01:01:54nothing.
01:01:55Victor
01:01:55Sterling, you
01:01:57are permanently
01:01:58expelled from the
01:01:59Sterling Trading
01:01:59House.
01:02:01Escort him to the
01:02:01sheriff's goal.
01:02:04Arthur sat in the
01:02:05corner and said
01:02:06not a single word
01:02:07throughout the
01:02:08entire proceeding.
01:02:09He merely
01:02:10trembled as he
01:02:11signed the last
01:02:11document.
01:02:12All partnership
01:02:13shares of
01:02:14Sterling Firm are
01:02:15hereby fully
01:02:16entrusted to
01:02:16Sky Sterling for
01:02:17management.
01:02:18That evening, I
01:02:20returned to the
01:02:21infirmary.
01:02:22The sister still
01:02:23needed to finish
01:02:24my treatment.
01:02:25I leaned against
01:02:26the headboard,
01:02:27leafing through
01:02:27the Sterling
01:02:28Trading Ledgers.
01:02:31The Ledgers can
01:02:32wait another hour.
01:02:33Let the sister
01:02:34examine your wounds
01:02:34first.
01:02:35What are you
01:02:35doing here?
01:02:36Seeing you.
01:02:37And, and also...
01:02:40He turned and
01:02:40instructed his
01:02:41attendant to
01:02:42summon the sister.
01:02:43Yes, sir.
01:02:43I'll fetch the
01:02:44sister at once,
01:02:45while you stay
01:02:46here in Lady
01:02:47Sterling's room and
01:02:48attend to her
01:02:49personally.
01:02:50Her voice pitched
01:02:50neither loud nor
01:02:51soft, just exactly
01:02:53loud enough to
01:02:53carry down the
01:02:54corridor.
01:02:54You did that on
01:02:55purpose?
01:02:56Of course.
01:02:57In another sick
01:02:59room not far away,
01:03:00Liam lay in his
01:03:01bed.
01:03:04He heard every
01:03:05single word that
01:03:06attendant spoke.
01:03:07A moment later,
01:03:08the sound of a
01:03:09clay water jug
01:03:10shattering against a
01:03:11stone wall was loud
01:03:12enough to reach even
01:03:13my chamber.
01:03:14He's angry.
01:03:14I sat by the
01:03:15candlelight, folding a
01:03:17letter.
01:03:17On the envelope was
01:03:18written,
01:03:19to the diocesan
01:03:20bishop's court.
01:03:22Supplemental evidence
01:03:22regarding the petition
01:03:24for separation
01:03:24maintenance and
01:03:25annulment.
01:03:26The next day, I
01:03:28returned to the
01:03:28sterling firm and
01:03:29found a bookkeeper's
01:03:30office to start
01:03:30working.
01:03:32Liam came to the
01:03:33door immediately.
01:03:35If you don't
01:03:36withdraw the
01:03:36separation petition,
01:03:38I'll have every
01:03:39trading house and
01:03:40freight guild in the
01:03:41county blacklist you.
01:03:42I watched him tap
01:03:43his walking stick on
01:03:44the stone floor with
01:03:45a loud thud.
01:03:46Sterling trading won't
01:03:47get a single order.
01:03:50You came all the
01:03:51way here just to say
01:03:52that?
01:03:52I took out a ledger
01:03:54from the drawer.
01:03:57You withdrew a large
01:03:59sum of money from
01:04:00the Kensington firm's
01:04:01bank account to buy a
01:04:03country house for
01:04:03Serafina.
01:04:04You refused to cover
01:04:05the cost of my
01:04:06emergency treatment at
01:04:07the monastery hospital.
01:04:10Everything you ever did
01:04:11to me is required
01:04:12ported here.
01:04:13Every single entry.
01:04:14I pushed the ledger
01:04:16towards him.
01:04:17Go ahead and issue
01:04:18your blacklist.
01:04:19You still don't know
01:04:20who you're messing
01:04:21with.
01:04:22This isn't over.
01:04:24He was silent for a
01:04:26long while, then left
01:04:27those words behind and
01:04:28turned away on his
01:04:29cane.
01:04:31His lame leg caught
01:04:32on the threshold.
01:04:35No one helped him.
01:04:38His revenge came
01:04:40faster than I expected.
01:04:41The next day, the most
01:04:43popular minstrel under
01:04:44the Sterling Harrison
01:04:45came to me.
01:04:51No matter what it
01:04:53takes, I will
01:04:54terminate the contract
01:04:55with you.
01:04:55I didn't fight it.
01:04:57I signed his release
01:04:58without even claiming
01:04:59the penalty fee.
01:05:02Then I sent word to the
01:05:04countryside to find someone
01:05:05every noble castle had
01:05:06turned away.
01:05:07Gabriel, an indigent
01:05:09poet who had offended a
01:05:10lord with his satirical
01:05:11verses and had been
01:05:13unemployable ever since.
01:05:15Shave him.
01:05:16Cut his hair.
01:05:20Put him in a clean linen
01:05:21shirt.
01:05:21My lady, are you certain
01:05:24it's me you want?
01:05:26It is you.
01:05:28Sign this contract, and
01:05:30Sterling Trading will pay
01:05:31for your grandmother's
01:05:32medical care.
01:05:35And you, you only have to
01:05:38sing.
01:05:39My waste quarry was no
01:05:42longer called waste.
01:05:44The king's decree had
01:05:46been issued, the royal
01:05:47free market was
01:05:48officially open.
01:05:52Stalls converted from
01:05:53old mine carts lined the
01:05:54stone paved path, and at
01:05:57the center stood an open
01:05:58air minstrel stage.
01:06:00My lady, how many people
01:06:04are down there?
01:06:05When Gabriel walked up
01:06:06with his loot, the stage
01:06:07was already surrounded by
01:06:08merchants and travelers who
01:06:10had come from every corner
01:06:11of the land.
01:06:11More than enough.
01:06:13Just sing.
01:06:14And the glory.
01:06:17Halfway through, it
01:06:19began to rain.
01:06:21Raindrops struck his
01:06:22strings and soaked his
01:06:23new clothes.
01:06:25But not a single person
01:06:26left.
01:06:27They didn't leave.
01:06:31I told you, just sing.
01:06:36With the flood of goods
01:06:38pouring in, the
01:06:40partnership shares of
01:06:41Sterling Trading doubled.
01:06:43Overnight.
01:06:46The next morning, a banking
01:06:49house messenger stood at the
01:06:50door of my counting room.
01:06:52My lady, it's Lord
01:06:53Kensington.
01:06:56My lady, Lord Kensington has
01:06:59requested that your trading
01:07:00house's credit be suspended.
01:07:01However, our banking house
01:07:03has reviewed the matter.
01:07:04Sterling Trading's deposit
01:07:05agreements are held entirely
01:07:06independently from the
01:07:07Kensington name.
01:07:08Therefore, the Lombard Banking House
01:07:10has no authority to intervene.
01:07:12Yes, and we don't intend to do so.
01:07:15This is the official reply, a copy of which was delivered to Lord Kensington this morning.
01:07:21Please convey my gratitude to your chief steward.
01:07:24After the banking house messenger left, I had a feeling that Liam wouldn't give up.
01:07:30So, I must find a way to completely defeat him.
01:07:33When the Lombard Banking House sent another team of people the next day, I knew it was time.
01:07:40Lord Kensington let you come and negotiate in person.
01:07:45He wants me to come to the castle.
01:07:46So, I changed into a plain dress, like an obedient wife, and returned to the castle I had once fled.
01:07:52I walked to the bookkeeper's office door, and saw Liam inside.
01:07:56The joint old debt guarantee account of Kensington and Sterling is not your personal account.
01:08:00You came.
01:08:01It has been frozen.
01:08:03You need to cooperate with me to thaw it.
01:08:05Of course.
01:08:07But, you need to be my assistant for a day.
01:08:10Do whatever I tell you.
01:08:11Is that all?
01:08:12Recopy all of last year's ledgers, sorted by month.
01:08:16The ink on your desk is running dry.
01:08:18Refill it.
01:08:19When you're done, come back and I'll give you the next task.
01:08:22Fine.
01:08:23He leaned back in his chair, waiting for me to explode.
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