Mood
stared directly at Alton. The skin on my wr
my gesture. He expected
oice low but every word clear and sharp, "this 'wort
nt rebellion.
e didn't like the focus shiftin
allenge. He took a step closer, and the powerful aura of a
e said, "It seems three years of comfor
but fierce. "That's not fair! Lady Blanche is the one who uses her station to steal from others. She has n
Annie. "Do you hear this insolence? This lowly slave dares to lecture me about rank
u are right, Blanche. Such a mouth needs to be silenced." Then he turned his head, his voice
She began to tremble violently. Fifty l
ezed in a fist. I couldn't breathe.
my composure shattering
already there, their large hand
ith terror and filling with tears,
ing wrong!" I begged him, sh
s if he were enjoying the show. "Now you beg? You forced my
a smug smile on her face, sav
away, her eyes filled with despa
again, all the fight had gone out of
turned and shoved the bra
ly steady. "Here is the
"Put it on." She obeyed instantly, fastening the bracelet around her o
e, taunting gesture. The light from th
uards. They released Annie, shoving he
mbled to my feet, grabbing the he
s if all the strength had
d to Blanche. "See? That wasn't so hard. Let's go. No
turned to leave, as if the entire, brutal episode
tely bumped my shoulder. "Remember
g down the long hall, leaving me with n
not just my treasure, but the las
and for the first time, I felt an emoti
re, undil
Montgo
dy, the flames in the hearth had turned to ash. He knelt down
ing girl in her arms, he saw a flash of light in her eyes-there
he city wall, watching her release paper lanterns into the sky. Her laughter was clear, her face radiating carefree happiness. Our eyes met in an instant, and something within me shattered suddenly, something that never h
as completely destroyed. As long as her wounds
dows, observe, and wai
refuse. Not as a prince, not as a lord, but as the
r this. They all
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