nna
ongswords with a metallic rasp, steppi
slowly turned my
ook every inch the vengeful gh
oned warriors broke into cold sweat. Their knuckles turned white, and their sword tips wavered, si
took a slow step forward, looking past the guar
as ash, stammering through blue lips, "Y-You... what debt
-chilling sneer car
altar, looking at her shivering silhouet
ow with a cold scoff and stepped over the inner al
s her bruised face, quickly replaced by a fierce flame of vengeance. She threw her weight against t
blood guests and the Beaumont alchemical envoys were
ing battlements, where an ancient gnarled oak stood in the center like a silent sentinel. Ignoring the cold autumn gale sweeping through the open sky abov
sleeve and whispering in panic, "Madam, you must pro
icker of disdain in her eyes. "Why? Was there
aking. "Kristal and Beatrice saw it with their own
ward. Putting on the air of the lady of the castle, she spoke in a gentle, chiding tone. "Elianna,
At the same time, Vivian tried to ease her tr
hing more than a lowborn vassal concubine. In the presence of the leg
he stone stool. The blood rushed to her face, turning it
looked utterly stunned that the formerly half-witted, Dragonless punching bag
longer an idiot?" I pointed a bloody finger at the co
! How can she treat me like this? I may be a concubine
er off. "Once I finish reckoning the blood debt of who push
ed her lips and said softly, "Sister Vivian, ju
nt white, Vivian retreated
the table-the cheap, Dragonless metal cold beneat
uglas, not even my scattered b
ds seemed to halt in his presence. Features carved sharp as a razor, eyes like unyielding night. Meeting that enigmatic miracle healer at the edge of the abyss hadn't just sal
you should ask how I ended up
nnocence, though the glint in her eyes showed she
you, or what my two dear sisters said
quietly through the narrow side portal, heading for the outer postern gate to signal my moth
anding rigidly by the stone pillar. "Go. Drag T
al authority. Seeing his hesitation, Vivian let out a quiet, spiteful snort from
ard. If those two are not kneeling before this table by the time this tea cools, you wil
ard, and scrambled toward the inner court
e pinned Vivian where she stood. "Vivian. Get
e, not your kitchen slave!" Vivi
ne is a domestic servant by feudal law," I murmured, my voice dropping to a lethal,
ower lip until dark blood welled, she dragged her feet forward, picked up the steaming
, languid sip, establishing absolute
A
ing from the inner corridors shuddered violently under a massive im
AC
h doors were kicked wide open, bouncin
rring the hall doors to play ty
But he hadn't returned alone to grovel-behind him marched a dozen hulking manor enforcers clutching i
ray echoed off the stone vault as the guards fanned out, surrounding my table
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