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Short filmTranscript
00:04I was born with a blood scent that could make dragon lords lose control.
00:08Pure breeding blood. The rarest kind in 300 years.
00:11At my mating ceremony, I crawled past the sacred gold offerings and grabbed Crown Prince Caelan between his pants.
00:18This little whore could be a clingy breeder in the future.
00:23He was wrong. Caelan and I became enemies.
00:26For 10 years, I watched his dragon eyes learn to hate my scent.
00:30On my 18th birthday feast, the king called me before the throne.
00:34Freya, choose any dragon lord in Valeria. I will grant him to you.
00:38Before I could answer, Caelan's voice cut across the hall.
00:41I would rather be torn apart by wild dragon niece than mate her.
00:45Something inside me broke. Good. Then make him choke on it.
00:49Then I will leave his fate to the gods. Pay for the price, Crown Prince Caelan.
00:53I thought he didn't mean it. Our betrothal ceremony was beautiful, but Caelan never gave me a glance.
01:00Your scent makes me sick.
01:01Years passed. I gave him no air. The court stopped bowing. Dragonborn ladies spat in my food, ripped my gowns,
01:08and called me a barren human leech.
01:10Caelan only smiled. Then I heard him say it.
01:12She forced this marriage. She deserves karma. No one should pity her.
01:17One week later, he threw me into the velvet quarter.
01:21A useless breeder belongs in a pleasure house.
01:24I died there, bloody and left like rotten meat. His figure was the last thing I saw. He never looked
01:29back.
01:30Then lights split open. I woke on cold marble, gasping. I was reborn at my mating ceremony.
01:36Freya, choose any dragon lord in Valeria. I will grant him to you.
01:41The royal citadel. The feast. I would not risk my life on Caelan again. I took a deep breath.
01:47Your majesty. I respect the Crown Prince as someone I grew up with. Like a brother. I never wanted him.
01:53Not as a man. Not as a husband.
01:56My heart only belongs to dragon crook Lufician Dravenmore. If I couldn't marry him, I'd go finish myself.
02:01The court exploded. I had refused Valeria's golden prince and chosen his uncle. The cursed black silver dragon.
02:07The most fierce dragon who destroyed wild dragonkins for 200 years.
02:14Lucian Dravenmore fell coma since a year ago on the northern warfront.
02:18Hurt by an unseen blade with curse. The healers said he would never wake. I knew they were wrong.
02:23In my last life, Lucian woke during my third year in hellish marriage.
02:28When dragonborn ladies had cornered me in the kitchens, they laughed, tore my sleeves, and called me a barren human
02:34leech.
02:34Then a broken dragon rose from his wheeled chair.
02:37Lucian Dravenmore stood between us. Half crippled, but still terrifying. Back to now.
02:42Little one, marrying Lucian would waste your gift. Choose another lord, someone who can speak to you.
02:48I kept my forehead against the marble floor.
02:50Your majesty, I swore before the old gods. It is Lucian Dravenmore or no one.
02:54I hit my forehead on the floor. Once and once again. The court went quiet. Only left the sound of
03:00my bones crack.
03:01Queen Marianne smiled like she had been handed a gift.
03:03If the human girl wants a sleeping dragon, let her have him.
03:07So be it. Your bloodline is gone. Lucian cannot answer for himself. My queen will arrange the wedding for you
03:14too.
03:14I rose my bloody forehead and crumbling stood up.
03:17I am humbled beyond speech.
03:20I did not look at Caelan. I only felt his gold fire burning behind me. Let him burn. I would
03:25never choose him again.
03:27Lucian is way better than Caelan. Last life, though he's still weak. He's nice to me. I'll save him this
03:32time.
03:32We'll claw our way out of this shithole. Together.
03:35For three days, I slept like someone freed from a cage.
03:39Then came the knock at Ashbourne Hall.
03:41The queen commands your presence at the royal citadel tonight.
03:45My blood went cold.
03:46At dusk, Madam Corvin led me through the royal corridors.
03:51Dragonflowers scented the stone.
03:52Then she stopped and bowed.
03:54Your highness, crown prince.
03:56I lifted my head. It's Caelan.
04:00Caelan stepped into the lamplight.
04:02He looked exactly like a future king.
04:04Proud and untouchable.
04:06Beautiful in the cruel Valorian way.
04:08Your highness.
04:09He looked me over from crown to shoes,
04:10as if searching for the girl who used to chase him through these halls.
04:13That's all?
04:14In my last life, I knew his every habit.
04:16I baked honeycakes for him.
04:18I waited outside Crown Tower just to hand them over.
04:20He always tossed them to the palace drakes.
04:22Stop this pathetic chase, Freya.
04:25You are marrying my uncle now.
04:26Try to have some dignity.
04:28You disgust me.
04:29I am not chasing anyone.
04:31I was only telling the truth to your king father.
04:33I do not love you.
04:34Then you wandered into the royal family's private wing by accident?
04:37The queen summoned me.
04:38Ask Madam Corvin.
04:39His gold fire flared.
04:40So it was true.
04:41I had not come for him.
04:43My uncle is a corpse with a title.
04:46You may be a widow before your wedding bed even cools.
04:49Then I will be the happiest widow in Valoria.
04:52His pupils narrowed.
04:53Then went black.
04:57Queen Marianne heard me out in silence.
04:59And before I had even finished my audience with her,
05:02my wedding to Lucien Dravenmore was set for one week later.
05:06Dravenmore's black silver banners stretched across the road as Gareth Thorne bowed before me.
05:11Lady Ashborough, Darrenmore receives you with honor.
05:14In my last life, Crown Tower never gave me this much respect.
05:17Some nobles called it widowhood with a title.
05:20I ignored them.
05:20Dravenmore had already given me more honor than Crown Tower ever did.
05:24When I reached Dravenmore keep, Gareth Thorne led me straight to the bridal chamber.
05:28Lucien Dravenmore lay on the bed, pale and silent.
05:31But even unconscious, he did not look weak.
05:33His sharp features, silver black hair and quiet dragon pressure,
05:36made him seem less like a dying man and more like a sleeping dragon.
05:39My lady, I prepared another room for you.
05:41I looked at Lucien, my heart steady despite the tension.
05:44No. He is my husband now. I'll stay here.
05:47The room went silent. After they left, I sat beside him.
05:51The air itself seemed to hold its breath.
05:53I leaned closer, feeling the subtle warmth of his body beneath the thin sheets.
05:57You're asleep anyway, so this doesn't count.
05:59I lowered my head and kissed him. His lips were warm.
06:02For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
06:03Then the air broke open.
06:05Dark pressure slammed through the room.
06:07Black silver scales erupted along his neck.
06:09Windows cracked.
06:10His hand shot up and caught my throat.
06:12Not gentle, not soft.
06:13Dragon fire exploded from his body, scorching the ceiling and bed frame.
06:16I gasped, gripping his wrist.
06:18Lucien.
06:19His fingers burned against my skin, yet he didn't push me away.
06:24His eyes were still closed, but his grip was tightening.
06:27Black silver flame tore across the ceiling.
06:29The bed frame split. I grabbed his wrist.
06:32It's me. It's Freya.
06:35His fingers burned against my skin.
06:37Then the fire pulled back. His hand dropped.
06:39The room went dark.
06:40Outside, Draven Moor Keep erupted.
06:42Shouts, running boots, dragon flame lighting up the sky.
06:45Gareth broke through the door.
06:47My lady.
06:48I touched my neck.
06:49It was bruised.
06:50Lucien lay still again, but his breathing had changed.
06:53Deeper. Stronger.
06:54The curse had cracked, but whatever was underneath was not gentle.
06:57I didn't know if I had started to wake him up, or started something worse.
07:01By dawn, healers filled the hall.
07:03Gareth locked down the entire floor.
07:05No one tells the Royal Citadel what happened last night.
07:09The mate Flyam responded to the marriage bond.
07:11That's all anyone needs to know.
07:12The bruise on my neck was already dark.
07:14A healer offered to treat it.
07:16Leave it.
07:17I went back to Lucien's room.
07:18He was still.
07:19Leave it.
07:19But the black silver scales on his hand had not faded.
07:22His dragon blood was fighting something.
07:23The curse.
07:24The medicine.
07:25Maybe both.
07:25I sat beside him.
07:27I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm not leaving.
07:30His fingers moved.
07:32Barely.
07:32The news reached Crown Tower before noon.
07:34Caelan was sparring when a servant ran in.
07:37Your Highness.
07:38Dravenmore's mate Flame answered Freya last night.
07:40Caelan stopped mid-swing.
07:41The whole northern sky lit up.
07:44Goldfire burst from Caelan's palm.
07:46The training post shattered.
07:48He thought the wedding would humiliate me.
07:50Instead, all of Royal Citadel was talking about how Dravenmore's dragon blood had chosen a human bride.
07:55Princess Anya walked in.
07:57So it's true.
07:58She looked at the burned post.
07:59They say Freya looked more like a duchess than a widow.
08:02Careful, Caelan.
08:04People might think you're the one who got left behind.
08:07That afternoon, Caelan called his steward.
08:10The Ashborough war records we archived move them to the sealed vault and send a message to the Royal Pharmacy.
08:14Any requests from Dravenmore go through my office first.
08:18I put on Dravenmore black and silver and walked straight into the main hall.
08:21Selene's housekeeper stepped in front of me.
08:23Lady Selene is waiting in the west parlor.
08:25Then she can come here.
08:26The servants froze.
08:27Davinmore keep is not Seliva Lavas's house, and I am not her guest.
08:31Gareth stood behind me.
08:32He said nothing.
08:33Every servant in the hall understood it.
08:35Gareth supported me as Lady Dravenmore.
08:37Bring me Lucian's healer records, medicine ledgers, and night watch lists now.
08:40Selene arrived with a soft smile.
08:42Freya, you were married yesterday.
08:43Leave the household matters to me.
08:45This isn't household business.
08:46This is my husband's life.
08:47Selene kept smiling, but her eyes didn't.
08:49By sunset, I found the first problem in the medicine logs.
08:52Some herbs were not healing Lucian.
08:54They were suppressing his dragon blood.
08:56He wasn't too weak to wake.
08:57Someone was keeping him asleep.
08:58I needed the source records.
09:00Where the herbs came from.
09:01Who ordered them?
09:01The trail pointed to the royal pharmacy.
09:03I sent a rider to request the purchase records.
09:06The rider came back empty-handed.
09:07Crown Tower denied the request.
09:09They said all pharmaceutical inquiries from Dravenmore require approval from the Crown Prince's office.
09:12I understood.
09:13Selene's confidence didn't come from Dravenmore.
09:15It came from Crown Tower.
09:17That night, Selene heard I had found the local records.
09:19For the first time, she stopped smiling.
09:21Send Rowan.
09:22Let my son teach her what happens to lonely wives in this house.
09:26Rowan Vos waited outside my chamber door.
09:29He smelled of wine.
09:31Lady Dravenmore.
09:32I stopped.
09:32Come on.
09:33Your husband can't even open his eyes.
09:35Don't waste your youth on a sleeping man.
09:38He stepped closer.
09:39Selene runs this keep.
09:40I am her son.
09:42You are just the human bride they sent to warm Lucian's bed.
09:45Then I slapped him.
09:46Servants rushed over.
09:47No one dared speak.
09:48Rowan wiped blood from his lip.
09:50My mother will hear about this.
09:52Good.
09:52Tell Lady Selene I saved her the trouble.
09:55His face twisted.
09:56My mother!
09:56Your mother failed to raise you.
09:58That makes it my problem now.
10:00I turned to the hall.
10:01Freya.
10:02Gareth.
10:03Put him in the lower water cell.
10:05By morning, maybe he'll remember whose keep this is.
10:08The guards moved toward Rowan.
10:10That was when the whole keep understood.
10:11I was Lady Dravenmore.
10:13Below the keep, Rowan shook in freezing water.
10:15My mother knows about Lucian's medicine.
10:18He looked up shaking.
10:19She knows who kept him asleep.
10:20And Crown Tower knows she knows.
10:23At dawn, Gareth brought me Rowan's confession.
10:26He was drunk.
10:27But he said the medicine was switched.
10:28And he said Crown Tower was involved.
10:30I looked at Lucian.
10:31The black silver scales on his hand had faded.
10:33But his fingers were warmer than before.
10:34Bring me every medicine log from the last year.
10:37And find me a healer who doesn't answer to Salona or the Royal Pharmacy.
10:41By breakfast, the hall was full.
10:43Servants stood with their heads down.
10:45Salina sat at the high table, calm as ever.
10:47Freya, you locked my son in a water cell over drunken words.
10:50Now you want to accuse me too?
10:52I want records.
10:54Household records are not toys for a new bride.
10:56I placed the medicine book on the table.
10:58Then explain this.
10:59Her smile stopped.
11:00Lucian's dose changed three months ago.
11:02The healer seal is missing.
11:04The delivery mark belongs to your steward.
11:06Gareth, step beside me.
11:07From today on, no one touches Lucian's food, wine, or medicine unless I see it first.
11:11You think you can run, Darren Moore?
11:13No.
11:14I already am.
11:16A crash came from Lucian's chamber.
11:18We ran back.
11:18The medicine ball had split in half.
11:20Black silver fire burned across the floor.
11:22Lucian's eyes were still closed, but his hand had crushed the bed rail.
11:25That evening, a sealed letter arrived from Crown Tower.
11:27Not a personal note.
11:28An official order with the royal stamp.
11:30Gareth read it aloud.
11:31By the authority of Crown Prince Cailan,
11:33a royal medical delegation will be dispatched to Dragonmore Keep
11:36to evaluate Duke Lucian's condition and review all medical arrangements currently in place.
11:40The room went quiet.
11:41When?
11:42Three days.
11:43I looked at the letter.
11:44If Cailan's doctors walked in here, they would take over Lucian's treatment,
11:47reverse everything I had changed, put Selene's people back in charge,
11:50and I couldn't refuse.
11:51He was using his nephew's health as the excuse.
11:54Then we have three days.
11:56Gareth's contact in Crown Tower sent word.
11:58The delegation was leaving one day early.
12:00I locked the chamber door and sat beside Lucian.
12:03I can handle Selene.
12:04I can handle the servants and the whispers.
12:06But I can't fight your nephew and the Crown at the same time.
12:08Not alone.
12:09His hand was warm.
12:10The scales pulsed.
12:11I need you to wake up.
12:12Silence.
12:13Then his fingers closed around mine.
12:15Freya.
12:16His dark gold eyes opened.
12:17Who came into my keep and thought he could question my wife for protecting me?
12:21Lucian sat up in bed.
12:22Black silver flame tore through the room.
12:24He looked at the bruise on my neck.
12:26Who did this?
12:27You.
12:28When your dragon blood broke through.
12:30He touched the bruise.
12:31Black silver light wrapped around my neck.
12:33It faded under his hand.
12:34Outside, every dragon torch in Dravenmore keep lit at once.
12:37The whole northern sky burned silver.
12:39In Crown Tower, a rider burst through the gate.
12:43Your Highness, Dragon Ownmore's fire just lit the northern line.
12:46All of it.
12:46Caelan stood up.
12:47The Duke is awake.
12:48Caelan's cup shattered in his hand.
12:50The royal medical delegation arrived before noon.
12:53They expected a sleeping duke.
12:55They found Lucian Dravenmore seated in the main hall.
12:57He leaned on a cane.
12:59His face was pale.
13:00But black silver pressure filled the room so hard the candles bent sideways.
13:03The laid physician swallowed.
13:05Your Grace, Crown Prince Caelan sent us to review your treatment.
13:08Lucian looked at him.
13:09My nephew sends doctors into my keep without asking me?
13:11No one answered.
13:13The Crown is concerned for your health.
13:15My wife kept me alive while your prince tried to take control of my medicine.
13:20From today on, Dravenmore's healers answer to me and Lady Derenmore, no one else.
13:23The delegation left before sunset.
13:25Caelan watched from the upper hall, white-faced.
13:28That night, she sent a servant through the east gate with a sealed message.
13:31I watched him disappear into the dark road.
13:33I could stop him, but I didn't.
13:34I want to see who will answer.
13:36Later, Lucian found me by the chamber fire.
13:38How much did they make you carry a loan?
13:40His jaw tightened.
13:43I'll start carrying it with you.
13:45At dawn, Lucian ordered the ledgers sealed.
13:47Gareth brought iron boxes from Selene's office, tax books, supply lists, military payment rolls.
13:52By noon, the truth was on the table.
13:54Northern Rider pay was cut for eight months.
13:57Wintergrain was marked as delivered, but the storehouses never received it.
14:00He placed another page down.
14:02And this money went to the Gilded Den.
14:04Rowan's name was written beside the account.
14:06Selene gripped her sleeve.
14:07My husband died for this house.
14:08I raised my son here.
14:10I made sacrifices.
14:12Lucian looked at her.
14:13You sold my soldiers food and called it sacrifice?
14:16I protected Drevenmoor while you slept.
14:18No.
14:19You fed off it.
14:21The hall went silent.
14:23Rowan was dragged in, bruised and terrified.
14:25Mother, say something.
14:27Selene did not look at him.
14:28Lucian tapped the ledger.
14:30Rowan Vos goes to the dungeon until I decide his sentence.
14:33You can't do this to family!
14:34Family does not touch my wife, steal from my riders, or poison my house.
14:39The guards took him away.
14:42Selene Vox is removed from all household authority.
14:45She will remain under guard in the East Wing.
14:47Then he turned to me.
14:48The accounts are yours now.
14:49Every servant in the hall dropped to one knee.
14:52For the first time, they were not kneeling because Lucian had woken.
14:55They were kneeling because I had won.
14:58The news reached Crown Tower by nightfall.
15:00Kaelin read the report once, then Goldfire burst from his hand.
15:03Half the desk burned before the guards could move.
15:05He threw out my delegation?
15:07The messenger shook.
15:08Yes, your highness.
15:09Lady Selene has been confined.
15:10Rowan Vos is in the dungeon.
15:12Kaelin's eyes went gold.
15:13Freya did this.
15:14Lucian did this.
15:16Freya gave him the knife.
15:17Later, Queen Marion called House Marion into her private chamber.
15:21If Lucian speaks of the Northern War Front, every old wound opens.
15:24A lord leaned close.
15:25Then we strike first.
15:26At court.
15:27Accused him of hiding troops, ignoring royal summons, and using illness to build power in the North.
15:31At the same time, Kaelin went to King Alaric.
15:33Father, Uncle Lucian just woke from a curse.
15:36He should return to the Royal Citadel for treatment.
15:38You sound very concerned.
15:39Kaelin's mouth tightened.
15:40He is family.
15:41Across the hall, Princess Anya heard enough.
15:43That night, she found Edric Ravenshade near the chapel.
15:46Your cousin is walking into a trap.
15:48Which cousin?
15:49The one Freya married.
15:51Try to keep up.
15:51Edric's face changed.
15:53Send word to Dravenmoor.
15:54Tell Lady Dravenmoor the Queen is moving first.
16:00Lucian could stand now.
16:01Not long.
16:02Not without pain.
16:03His dragon blood had broken the curse, but the damage stayed in his legs.
16:06Some nights, his fire turned wild.
16:08One burst split the bedpost.
16:10Another cracked the stone wall.
16:11I worked his legs every morning.
16:13Mixed the new medicine myself.
16:14On the fourth night, the flame surged before I could move.
16:17The force threw me against the floor.
16:19My arm hit broken stone.
16:20Blood ran to my wrist.
16:21Lucian froze.
16:22The fire died at once.
16:23He tried to stand too fast and nearly fell.
16:26It's a scratch.
16:27I hurt you.
16:29The curse hurt me.
16:30Not you.
16:31Do not make this sound easy.
16:33I wrapped cloth around my arm.
16:34I knew what I was choosing when I married you.
16:37He stared at me for a long second.
16:38You should not only be ready to suffer.
16:41His thumb brushed my bandage.
16:42You should be treated well.
16:44I stopped breathing.
16:45For the first time, he wasn't speaking as a duke.
16:47He was speaking as my husband.
16:48The summons arrived three days later.
16:50King Alaric's seal.
16:52Royal parchment.
16:52No room to refuse.
16:54Gareth read it in the hall.
16:56Dragon Duke Lucian Dravenmore and Lady Freya Davenmore are commanded to attend the Royal Citadel.
17:00The servants looked at me.
17:02Lucian took the letter.
17:03So they finally want us in the open.
17:05It could be a trap.
17:06It is a trap.
17:08Then we should not go.
17:09If I refuse, they call it rebellion.
17:11If I go, they have to face me in front of the king.
17:13He looked at me.
17:14And I have things to show my brother.
17:16That night, I packed the evidence myself.
17:18Selene's ledgers.
17:20The medicine logs.
17:21The payment trail to the Royal Pharmacy.
17:23Every page that tied Dravenmore's sickness to Crown Tower and the Royal Citadel.
17:28Mira tied the case shut.
17:29Are you afraid?
17:30I looked at the Royal Seal.
17:31I died in that city once.
17:34Mira went quiet.
17:36I'm not going back as that girl.
17:40Before dawn, I found Lucian on the tower.
17:43Royal Citadel was far beyond the dark hills.
17:46Caelan will be there.
17:47So will the queen.
17:49And me.
17:50He offered his hand.
17:51I took it.
17:52This time, I was not walking into Crown Tower alone.
17:55We returned to the Royal Citadel under black silver banners.
17:58The streets went quiet first.
18:00Then everyone started whispering.
18:01Lucian Dravenmore was not dead.
18:03And I was not the ruined girl Crown Tower once threw away.
18:05Northern dragon riders rode on both sides of our carriage.
18:08Gareth led them with one hand on his sword.
18:10At the palace gate, Caelan stood above the steps.
18:12He looked at Lucian's cane.
18:13Then he looked at me.
18:15I looked past him.
18:16That hurt him more.
18:18Queen Marianne held a welcome feast that night.
18:20Duke Lucian, Valeria is relieved to see you awake.
18:22Relieved enough to send her a suckon?
18:24Her smile tightened.
18:25The king missed his brother.
18:27Then we are happy to answer his majesty.
18:28We brought everything he needs to see.
18:30Her eyes moved to the locked case beside my chair.
18:32How thoughtful.
18:33After dinner, Princess Anya caught my sleeve near the corridor.
18:36Madam Corvik has been going to the Royal Archive every night.
18:39I stopped.
18:41Whatever you brought, she may be trying to burn the matching half.
18:44That night, Lucian closed our chamber door.
18:47Edric confirmed it.
18:49The original letter about your father's march is still sealed in the Archive.
18:53Can we get it?
18:54Only the king can open that vault.
18:58Then we make him want to.
19:00The autumn court filled the royal hall by sunrise.
19:03Dragon lords, human nobles, crown loyalists.
19:05Lucian entered with a cane.
19:07The room still bowed.
19:08Black silver pressure rolled over the floor.
19:10Even House Marianne's men stopped smiling.
19:12Caelan sat in the prince's seat, gold fire flickering under his skin.
19:15A Marianne lord stepped forward first.
19:17Your majesty.
19:17Duke Lucian has been absent from court for a year.
19:19His private dragon riders remain under northern command.
19:22Valeria needs a royal overseer in Drevenmore.
19:24The hall stirred.
19:25So that was their move.
19:25Call Lucian weak.
19:26Call his army dangerous.
19:27Put crown tower inside our key.
19:29Lucian handed Gareth's sealed report to the king's steward.
19:32Current rider count.
19:33Grain stores.
19:34Border patrols.
19:35Tax ledgers.
19:37King Alaric read in silence.
19:39Reports can be dressed up.
19:40So can treason.
19:42The lord froze.
19:43King Alaric lowered the report.
19:45The north appears better managed than half the estates in this room.
19:48No oversaw will be sent.
19:50Caelan's jaw tightened.
19:51After court, he blocked me on the stone steps.
19:54Did you come back just to parade him in front of me?
19:56No.
19:58Then why are you here?
19:59To speak to the king.
20:01I stepped around him.
20:03This has nothing to do with you.
20:05For once, Caelan had no answer.
20:07The next day, the court gathered in the rose dragon garden.
20:10I found the old pool behind the rose wall.
20:13I had fallen in there as a child.
20:15I remembered cold water.
20:17Small hands.
20:18Then a black cloak around my shoulders.
20:20Lucian stopped beside me.
20:21You told me Ashborough girls didn't cry over water.
20:25I turned.
20:26That was you?
20:27You were ten.
20:29Soaked through.
20:30Furious at the pond.
20:31And you remembered that?
20:33I remembered you.
20:34For a second, the court noise faded.
20:35Then Queen Marion's voice cut through the garden.
20:38How charming.
20:39A human duchess among dragonhounds.
20:41Valeria is becoming very generous.
20:43The noble ladies went quiet.
20:45Caelan looked at me.
20:46I did not speak.
20:47Lucian did.
20:48House Ashbird bled for Valeria before half these dragonhouses learned how to hold a border.
20:53Queen Marion's smile cracked.
20:56Freya's bloodline has earned its place here.
20:57A Marion lady muttered.
20:59Human blood is still human blood.
21:02Lucian turned his dark gold eyes on her.
21:04Then pray you never need human soldiers to die for your comfort again.
21:08No one laughed.
21:09I looked at Lucian.
21:10For the first time, I understood.
21:12His silence all these years had never been indifference.
21:15It had been restraint.
21:17Anya's warning was real.
21:18Edric checked the royal archive records for me.
21:21Three nights.
21:22Three visits.
21:24Madame Corvin entered the sealed wing each time with a Marianne clerk.
21:28The exit list is wrong.
21:29Files went in.
21:30Fewer came out.
21:31Which files?
21:32Northern Warfront.
21:33Ashbington Marching Roots.
21:34Dragonblood curse reports.
21:36Lucian's hand tightened on his cane.
21:37They are destroying the trail.
21:39Then we split it.
21:40Lucian went to request royal access from King Alaric.
21:42I sent Edric to the old archive clerk who had served my father.
21:47By midnight, Mira came to my room carrying a basket of white roses.
21:51Don't yell.
21:52I know it looks stupid.
21:53She pulled the cloth aside.
21:55Three copied letters lay under the flowers.
21:57My hands went cold.
21:59One letter marked my father's route through the northern pass.
22:01One confirmed the route had been sent before the ambush.
22:04The last carried a red wax seal.
22:06House Marriand.
22:07Mira stared at it.
22:08My lady.
22:09That's the queen's family.
22:11I closed the letters.
22:14Not just her family.
22:16Lucian entered before dawn.
22:18The king agreed to open the vault tomorrow.
22:19I handed him the copies.
22:21Good.
22:22His face changed as he read.
22:25Because now we know what they'll try to hide.
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