- 2 days ago
The Alpha King's Human Mate
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Short filmTranscript
00:00At the wedding banquet, Isabella, the one they called my sister, took the opportunity of toasting to lean in close
00:06and give me a taunting smile.
00:08Congratulations on your marriage. I tried out your husband on the wedding bed for you last night.
00:15It was absolutely amazing.
00:18Couldn't stand it and slapped her across the face.
00:21The next second, Dorian, my Bianca, as well as the most reputed Lycan lord in the Ironspire kingdom, gave me
00:27six hard lashes in front of everyone.
00:32Isabella has never offended you. She gave you everything, yet you still can't stand her.
00:42Do you really think you can conceal your filthy past from me?
00:46You slave mongrel. If it weren't for your brothers, I'd rather marry a dog than a shameless ingrate like you.
00:52At his command.
00:55He threw me into a deep, remote forest, and tossed me into a snake den, teeming with venomous snakes to
01:01reflect on my actions.
01:07After seven days of torment, my three older brothers of Ashevale's house came to me.
01:23My eldest brother, the alpha king in the Ironspire kingdom.
01:28The most valiant commander, yet also the most ruthless ruler, who slaughtered the inhabitants of two cities to bring the
01:35north under his control.
01:37Without hesitation, he thrust his sword through my shoulder blade.
01:43Isabella cried all night. I've already decided to name her as the heiress of the kingdom.
01:50My second brother, the dragon justiciar, cold as he was sculpted from a marble stone, once burned thin of features
01:56accused of treason and witchcraft at the stake without batting an eye.
02:00He didn't even take a glance at my battered body, just said coldly,
02:04From now on, only Isabella's name will be recorded in the royal family registry.
02:09As for you, don't even think about being recognized as a member of this family for the rest of your
02:14life.
02:14My third brother, the renowned vampire Hewitt,
02:21was even more ruthless.
02:23His sharp teeth pierced my throat.
02:28Isabella has suffered from scurvius since childhood.
02:34To compensate her.
02:36You must keep giving out your blood to save her.
02:40I heard a cold voice, coarse from ancient.
02:43It is done.
02:44The suffering ordained for this form has run its course.
02:47Not one lash unearned.
02:48Not one sorrow unspend.
02:50Death will not be an ending.
02:52It will be a door.
02:54Dear traveler,
02:55Once this body dies,
02:57you may return to your original world.
03:02Hearing those words,
03:03I suddenly stopped wailing.
03:05My heart shifted from the despair and agony of moments ago
03:07to a sense of relief at the imminent release.
03:10My eldest and second brothers had already left with my blood in a large, exquisite bottle.
03:15In the chilly,
03:16snake-infested den,
03:17only my third brother,
03:19Mortimer,
03:19and I remained.
03:20Blood was still gushing from the incision,
03:22and Mortimer frowned in exasperation as he sutured the wound on my neck.
03:27If you'd cooperated sooner,
03:29we wouldn't have had to do this under such primitive conditions.
03:33It's taking me so much effort.
03:36It's a real hassle.
03:37Just last week,
03:38while Isabella was feeding the puppy which the eldest brother gave to her,
03:42she was scratched by it,
03:44and got a nearly invisible cut.
03:45Mortimer reacted as if the sky had fallen.
03:48He summoned all his assistants from the court to take care of Isabella,
03:51applying the most precious ointment,
03:53and he checked the progress of her wound recovery every three hours.
03:57But now,
03:58facing me,
03:59who had almost lost one's life,
04:01with nothing but a ball of thread I'd torn from my tattered dress,
04:05and a thorn from a bramble bush,
04:07he was still complaining about the hassle of the most basic suturing.
04:11Perhaps seeing that I hadn't moved for a while,
04:14he leaned down,
04:15patted my face.
04:16Stop pretending.
04:18I know you're in great shape.
04:23Aren't you just trying to play the victim to make me feel guilty,
04:27so you can steal my affection for Isabelle?
04:31You're so dark,
04:32and petty.
04:34Since you've been a member of us,
04:36put those petty schemes away.
04:37In the past,
04:39faced with a loved one's misunderstanding,
04:41I would have defended myself with tear-filled eyes,
04:44crying out that I wasn't that kind of person.
04:46But at the time,
04:47I felt only numb calm,
04:49closing my eyes,
04:50I said hoarsely,
04:51You should leave too.
04:53I can wait here alone to die.
04:58Seraphina, you?
04:59Just let me die,
05:00so that I can return to my original world.
05:07For me,
05:08the quickest way to find relief right now
05:10was to die immediately.
05:11But to Mortimer,
05:13those words clearly carried a different meaning.
05:17Seraphina,
05:18what do you mean?
05:19Are you deliberately saying these depressing things
05:21to disgust me?
05:22He deliberately yanked hard on the stitches.
05:25The fragile edges of the wound instantly tightened,
05:28and foul blood gushed out,
05:30bringing excruciating pain
05:31that no normal person could bear.
05:33Seeing me gasp in pain,
05:35my head drenched in cold sweat,
05:37a flicker of pity crossed his eyes,
05:39and he softened his tone.
05:40Don't speak nonsense.
05:42You are not going to die.
05:44At the end of the day,
05:45if you hadn't been so narrow-minded,
05:48refusing to accept Isabelle,
05:50and even hitting her,
05:52you wouldn't be suffering like this.
05:54As long as you promise
05:55not to give Isabelle a hard time
05:56once we get back,
05:57and sincerely apologize to her,
05:59I can take you back to the court
06:01and get you the best treatment.
06:03You won't have to suffer here anymore.
06:05Hearing the condescending tone in his voice,
06:07I felt even more chilled to the bone and mocked.
06:10Although I am a time traveler,
06:12I had been reincarnated into the body of Seraphina
06:14in this world starting from the age of six.
06:17Poor, parentless,
06:18and nearly being sold as a slave.
06:20Before being sold,
06:22the only chance lain before me
06:23was to get adopted.
06:25I was lucky.
06:26That night,
06:27the administrator of the orphanage
06:28with twinklings in her eyes,
06:30said to me,
06:31Lucky sweetie,
06:32there were three anonymous gentlemen
06:34who claimed to be
06:35your biological brothers.
06:40Back then in the orphanage,
06:41in the blackness,
06:42I heard Isabella pull on my dress,
06:44heard her practice my voice,
06:46softening it,
06:47sweetening it.
06:48Before she greeted my brothers
06:49with a pretty curtsy,
06:50a sliver of light
06:51appeared beneath the door,
06:52then vanished.
06:53I can't do anything
06:55because Isabella locked me in the attic.
06:57The carriage wheels faded down the gravel drive,
06:59but no one came.
07:01After I had endured countless hardships,
07:03the Asheville brothers found me presented
07:05on the slave market,
07:07limbs bounded by chains.
07:08They claimed that I was their long lost biological sister
07:11and brought me back to Asheville's house.
07:13But once I returned,
07:15I discovered they had already had a sister Isabella,
07:18that imposter whom they had adopted years ago.
07:20The moment I saw her,
07:21I recognized her.
07:22For 20 years,
07:24Isabella had enjoyed all the care
07:26and love the Asheville house had to offer,
07:28while I had borne all the hardships
07:30and misfortunes in her stead.
07:32Yet whenever she feigns a look of grievance
07:34by furrowing her brow,
07:35my three biological brothers
07:37unconditionally take her side,
07:39accusing me of being petty.
07:40Even my betrothed, Dorian,
07:43would only smile at her
07:44while glaring coldly at me.
07:45I was tired of this entanglement and pain.
07:48I didn't want to waste any more energy arguing,
07:50so I simply raised my hand
07:52and tore open the knife wound
07:54that had just been stitched up.
07:55As blood and intestines gushed out,
07:58Mortimer screamed with voice cracked.
08:01Serafina, you're crazy!
08:03You'll die!
08:07Watching the tears welled up in his eyes,
08:09I curled the corners of my mouth into a smile.
08:12Death?
08:13That would be just fine.
08:14Every second I live longer makes me...
08:18feel sick!
08:19After saying that,
08:20I could no longer keep my eyelids from drooping.
08:23My head lolled to one side,
08:24and I passed out.
08:26I don't know how long it had been
08:27when I woke up from the darkness.
08:29I thought I'd return to my own world,
08:31but I felt I was leaning on a velvet cushion.
08:33When I opened my eyes,
08:35I saw the dome of the palace,
08:37carved with golden grapevines and winged wolves,
08:40and the familiar haughty profile of my elder brother.
08:43Alistair.
08:44You're finally awake.
08:45His eyes were slightly bloodshot.
08:47He looked like he hadn't slept well,
08:49but his tone was brimming with impatience.
08:52You're a grown woman now.
08:54Why do you behave like a kid,
08:55making such a fuss over a trifle?
08:58Where's the dignity of an ash well?
09:01The mere thought of having to deal with this rotten world
09:03left me feeling utterly drained.
09:05I had no interest in defending myself,
09:07so I interrupted him with a vacant stare.
09:11You're right.
09:13I've brought shame upon myself.
09:15I'm unworthy of living.
09:19So, let me die.
09:22Alistair's expression changed abruptly,
09:24and he instinctively gripped me by the neck.
09:27But when he saw my deathly pale face,
09:29devoid of even a hint of color,
09:31he loosened the gripping hand.
09:34Seraphina!
09:35You dare give me that look?
09:37His voice trembled.
09:39The impatience in his eyes faded slightly,
09:41revealing a trace of panic
09:43he didn't even realize he was feeling.
09:45I went to such great length
09:47to rescue you from the slave dealers,
09:49not so you could spout nonsense here!
09:52I tugged at the corner of my mouth,
09:54revealing a smile devoid of any warmth.
09:57Great lengths?
09:58More likely, you were afraid I'd die, don't you?
10:01So no one could serve as a blood provide for Isabella.
10:04No one to let her continue playing
10:06the wronged little flower to her heart's content.
10:08Isn't that your planning?
10:10Just as I was thinking this,
10:11the door swung open,
10:13and third brother Mortimer walked in,
10:15holding a bowl of tea-sane.
10:21Seeing that I was awake,
10:22a flicker of joy flashed in his eyes.
10:25He held the bowl out to me.
10:27Now that you're awake, drink this.
10:28Don't make me force it down your throat.
10:30The liquid was pitch black and reeked of bitterness.
10:33I turned my head away and closed my eyes in refusal.
10:37No, it's a waste of medicine.
10:39Mortimer was so furious his hands were trembling,
10:42yet instead of forcing the tea-sane down my throat
10:44as he usually did.
10:45He gave the bowl to the maid,
10:46You insufferable wretch.
10:48and reached out to examine my wound.
10:51When his fingertips touched the bandage,
10:52his movements were surprisingly gentle.
10:54For the first time,
10:55there was a hint of tenderness and consideration
10:57he usually showed Isabella.
11:00As expected,
11:02with the best medicine,
11:04the recovery is best more faster.
11:07He re-wrapped the bandage
11:09and glared at me menacingly.
11:10You'd better behave myself.
11:12If the shunk re-opens,
11:13I won't seen it up a second time.
11:15His words were harsh,
11:16but I clearly saw the red veins in his eyes
11:18and the barely perceptible tremor in his fingertips.
11:21I suppose he'd watched over me these past few days
11:24regardless of day or night.
11:25In the past,
11:26I would have been moved by this hint of tenderness,
11:29would have thrown my arms around him
11:30and cried out my grievances.
11:31But now,
11:32I only felt irony.
11:34I wrenched my arm free from his grip,
11:36yanked the blanket off,
11:38and was about to tear open the incision again.
11:40Every second of my life right now was torture.
11:43As long as I could die quickly,
11:44anything would do.
11:45Alistair grabbed my arm with such force,
11:47he nearly crushed my bones.
11:48Yet the moment I groaned in pain,
11:50he instantly loosened his grip slightly.
11:53You're crazy!
11:55Serafina,
11:56what on earth are you trying to do?
11:58I want to die.
12:04My tone was calm,
12:05as if I were discussing some trivial matter.
12:07Let me die.
12:08It'll be better for everyone.
12:10You won't have to struggle anymore,
12:12and Isabella can live out her life
12:14as the Ashwell's heiress in peace.
12:16So, please,
12:19do me a favor and let me die quickly.
12:22Those words seemed to strike a nerve with Alistair.
12:24His eyes reddened,
12:25and he raised his hand to slap me,
12:27though it was lighter than any blow
12:29he'd ever dealt me before.
12:31More like a frustrated outburst
12:32at a wayward child.
12:34I won't allow it.
12:35You're the daughter of Ashwell House.
12:38Who dares let you die?
12:39Mortimer panicked too.
12:40He stepped forward,
12:41and pushed me back onto the bed.
12:43Serafina, stop this.
12:45I know you're in pain.
12:47Just focus on getting better.
12:49Later,
12:50later I'll take better care of you, alright?
12:52I looked into the pleading in his eyes
12:54and found it absurd.
12:55Where was that all this time?
12:56When he was forcibly tearing open my throat?
12:59When he was making a mountain
13:00out of a molehill
13:01over Isabella's minor scratch?
13:03Why didn't he think to cherish me then?
13:05I closed my eyes,
13:06refusing to look at them.
13:08I let Mortimer tuck the blanket back around me
13:10and bring the bowl of T-Sane to my lips,
13:12but I stubbornly refused to open my mouth.
13:14As we stood there in a standoff,
13:16my second older brother, Edmund,
13:18pushed open the door,
13:19followed by a pale-faced Dorian.
13:20When Edmund saw me,
13:21his eyes reddened,
13:22and he hurried to the bedside.
13:24Serafina,
13:24I'm so glad you're awake.
13:26You scared the life out of me.
13:29I was first taken back
13:31into the Asheville house by him.
13:33It was he who saved me
13:34before the people lay a hand on me.
13:37His dragon form scared
13:38all the creatures except for me.
13:41He let me ride on his black-scaled back
13:43and rise into the sky.
13:44Not only did he take me on trips
13:46to see the sights,
13:47but he also told me
13:48how much the family had missed
13:49and searched for me over the years.
13:51Whenever he got emotional,
13:52he couldn't help but shed tears.
13:54He was once the tenderest heart of all.
13:56But later,
13:57after Isabella wiped away her tears
13:59and complained that I've stolen
14:00her lover to him several times,
14:02he turned on a dime,
14:03accusing me of being a two-faced schemer
14:05who had betrayed the family's
14:07sincere love for me.
14:08Seeing him again
14:09only made me feel more repulsed,
14:10and I dodged his hand
14:12as he reached out to touch my face.
14:18Edmund's hand,
14:19suspended in mid-air,
14:20froze,
14:20and he withdrew it
14:21with a bitter expression.
14:23Seeing this,
14:24Dorian stepped forward
14:25and took the bowl of T-Sane
14:26from Mortimer's hands.
14:28Let me feed her.
14:28She might listen to me.
14:30It was no wonder
14:31he was so confident.
14:32After all,
14:33over the years,
14:34anyone with eyes
14:35could see just how
14:35endlessly patient
14:36and accommodating
14:37I'd been toward this bionks.
14:38I loved him
14:39to the very core of my being.
14:42But what is the return of my love?
14:44On the day of our wedding ceremony,
14:45he confessed his true intention
14:47behind this convenient marriage.
14:49I remembered how he held
14:50Isabella in his arms,
14:51sneering.
14:52Do you know how I suffered
14:53for these years
14:54just for what your brothers
14:55had promised me?
14:57Even 30 cities
14:58in the Iron Spire
14:59could not make up
14:59for my sufferings
15:00under your endless jibber-jabbles.
15:02What can a bleak manor
15:03in the North do?
15:05Rose Palace.
15:06The manor he contempted
15:07was the only thing
15:08left untouched
15:09by Isabella
15:10for my dowry.
15:11Just as he was
15:12walking toward me,
15:13the door swung open again.
15:14Isabella,
15:15dressed in a thin,
15:16purple gown,
15:17walked in looking
15:17extremely frail.
15:18Sister,
15:20I've come to see you.
15:21Alistair immediately
15:22stood up to support her.
15:24Isabella,
15:24you're still weak.
15:25Why did you come here?
15:26Isabella shook her head,
15:28her gaze falling on me,
15:29filled with feigned remorse.
15:31It's all my fault.
15:32If I hadn't
15:33failed to stop
15:34Sister Serafina that day,
15:35things wouldn't have
15:36escalated to this point.
15:39I felt quilty,
15:40so I had to come
15:41and apologize to her.
15:42As she spoke,
15:43she took the bowl
15:44from Dorian's hands
15:45and sat down
15:45by my bedside.
15:47Serafina,
15:47don't be so hard
15:48on yourself.
15:48Take your medicine
15:49and focus on recovering.
15:50Everyone has been worried
15:51sick about you.
15:52I know you still blame me,
15:53but I really didn't mean
15:54to compete with you
15:55for anything.
15:56I won't have much time left.
15:58Everything in the ash wheel
15:59was meant to be yours anyway.
16:00These words seemed
16:01like a concession,
16:02but in reality,
16:03every sentence implied
16:04that I was narrow,
16:05minded,
16:06clinging to the past,
16:07and deliberately using
16:08my own body
16:09to throw a tantrum.
16:10Before her spoon
16:11could touch my lips,
16:12I raised my hand
16:13and slapped the medicine bowl
16:14out of her hand.
16:15With a clatter,
16:16balding liquid splashed
16:17all over Isabella,
16:18especially her wrist
16:20and the hem of her robe,
16:21which instantly turned red.
16:22Isabella let out
16:23a startled cry.
16:24Her eyes welled up
16:25with tears
16:26and her voice
16:27trembled with emotion.
16:29Sister Serafina,
16:31how could you do this?
16:33I was just trying
16:34to comfort you.
16:35She bit her lip,
16:36looking utterly wronged,
16:37with tears welling up
16:38in her eyes.
16:39A sight that tugged
16:40at the heartstrings.
16:42Serafina,
16:43you've lost your mind!
16:45I instantly recognized
16:46that it was Alistair's voice.
16:52Alistair flew into a rage,
16:53yanking Isabella behind him
16:55and glaring at me
16:56with fury.
16:57Isabella came to see you
16:58out of kindness.
16:59Is this how you treat her?
17:01Mortimer immediately
17:02stepped forward
17:03to examine Isabella's wound,
17:04his voice filled
17:05with anxiety.
17:06How do you feel?
17:08Edmund furrowed his brows,
17:09staring at me,
17:10his eyes brimming
17:11with disappointment.
17:12Serafina,
17:13you've gone too far.
17:13Isabella has already apologized.
17:15How long do you plan
17:16to keep this up?
17:17Dorian hurried over
17:18to Isabella's side,
17:19pulling out a handkerchief
17:20to wipe her face.
17:21Serafina,
17:22can't you be a little
17:23more sensible?
17:24Isabella meant well.
17:25Even if you don't appreciate it,
17:26you shouldn't have hurt her.
17:27The group gathered
17:28around Isabella,
17:29fussing over her,
17:30completely ignoring me.
17:31Leaning against Alistair's chest,
17:33Isabella stole a glance at me.
17:35A flash of smugness
17:36crossed her eyes.
17:37Yet she continued
17:38to feign innocence
17:39as she pleaded,
17:41I'm fine.
17:42Please don't scold
17:43Serafina.
17:44She was just in a bad mood.
17:46But Halia,
17:47then thou act.
17:47In the past,
17:48it would have made me
17:49shake with rage.
17:50But now,
17:51I just find it
17:52laughably absurd.
17:54Such a clumsy ploy
17:55would have been seen
17:55through by anyone else
17:56at a glance.
17:57Yet these four,
17:58elites at the pinnacle
17:59of their respective fields,
18:01were willingly being led
18:02around by the nose
18:02by Isabella.
18:03Or perhaps this is
18:04what they call
18:05one willing to strike,
18:06one willing to be struck.
18:07I am merely a pawn
18:09in their game.
18:10If you feel sorry
18:11for this beast,
18:12please do so outside.
18:14Don't stir my peace.
18:15Hearing my cold voice,
18:16all of them
18:17trembled with rage.
18:18Serafiana,
18:19it seems you haven't
18:21reflected enough.
18:22From now on,
18:23I won't stop
18:24the bleeding for you.
18:25I'll only resume
18:26your medication
18:27when you've come
18:28to your senses
18:28and are willing
18:29to apologize to Isabella.
18:31Mortimer looked at me
18:32with disappointment
18:32etched on his face.
18:34Alistair chimed in.
18:35I shall disown you.
18:36You are no longer
18:38Alpha King's sister
18:39from now on.
18:40I'll name Isabella
18:41as the only heiress
18:42of the kingdom.
18:43Kingdom Deedman sighed,
18:44his eyes filled
18:45with resignation,
18:46yet he offered
18:46no objection.
18:47Dorian stood to the side,
18:49nodding silently,
18:50clearly in agreement
18:51with this decision.
18:52I closed my eyes,
18:53offering neither
18:54rebuttal nor anger.
18:55The pain from my wounds
18:56is nothing compared
18:57to the grievances
18:58and torment
18:59I've endured
18:59over the past 20 years.
19:01But the pain
19:02allows me to wait
19:03for death's arrival
19:04with greater clarity.
19:05The moment
19:06the overwhelming pain struck,
19:08my closest family
19:09and Fiong
19:09all hurriedly gathered
19:10around Isabella
19:11and left the room.
19:12Not a single one
19:13of them looked back,
19:14not even as the door
19:15slammed shut.
19:16I bit back the blood
19:17trickling from the corner
19:18of my mouth,
19:19pulled a shard of porcelain
19:20I'd hidden under my pillow
19:22from earlier
19:23and without hesitation,
19:25slashed at my throat.
19:26I collapsed
19:27once more.
19:31In the magnificent hall,
19:33roasted peacocks,
19:34lark pies,
19:35saffron swans,
19:36all kinds of the most
19:37luxurious delicacies
19:38you could imagine
19:39were served on a long table
19:40that could seat 200 lords.
19:43All were celebrating
19:44the nomination of Isabella
19:46as the royal heiress
19:47of the kingdom.
19:47But Alistair leaning
19:48on the throne
19:49wore a gloomy expression.
19:50He was thinking of Seraphina.
19:52Something just felt wrong,
19:53but he couldn't figure out
19:54what was going wrong.
19:55Your Highness,
19:57now that I've done
19:58what you've told me to do
20:00and your heiress
20:01had got the right blood
20:02to cure her disease.
20:04It's time to keep
20:05your promise to me.
20:06Dorian,
20:07half-drunken,
20:08gave a toast to Alistair.
20:09His voice sounds
20:10to be excited.
20:11Alistair twitched his brows,
20:12questioning in doubt.
20:13What promise?
20:14Dorian made a sycophantic smile.
20:17Control over the three cities
20:19on the border.
20:20You can't just forget it.
20:22Alistair's expression darkened.
20:24Oh, did I?
20:25Both Edmund and Mortimer
20:26turned their heads
20:27towards Dorian.
20:28Dorian seemed to be
20:29much confused.
20:30Voice trembling.
20:31Was it not your will
20:32that I humiliate Seraphina
20:34at my wedding ceremony
20:35and force her to submit
20:36so that she might
20:37offer her blood
20:38to Isabella?
20:39Alistair's smile grew broader,
20:41but the intimidating tone
20:42in his voice
20:42was suffocating.
20:44Did I say anything like this?
20:46Isabella,
20:46now sitting beside the throne,
20:48shivered and turned pale.
20:49At that moment,
20:50a servant suddenly
20:51appeared in the hall.
20:52Mortimer recognized
20:53that he was the one
20:54whom he arranged
20:55to take care of Seraphina
20:56in secret and took sight.
20:58Your Highness Lady Seraphina
20:59has gone!
21:05Alistair jumped up
21:06from the throne.
21:07What?
21:07Shouting out
21:08in impossible rage.
21:09Dare you to say it again!
21:11Edmund,
21:11Mortimer and Dorian
21:12were all in shock
21:13and all the Lycan Lords
21:15present were silenced.
21:16Mortimer murmured.
21:17That cannot be.
21:18The next moment,
21:19all the four rushed out
21:20of the gate of the hall,
21:22leaving Isabella alone
21:23in the empty hall.
21:24But when they pushed
21:25open the door
21:25they had just left,
21:26a pungent,
21:27unmistakable smell of blood
21:29hit them in the face.
21:30The moment my body
21:31was completely dead,
21:32the familiar course
21:33ancient voice sounded.
21:36Congratulations,
21:37dear traveler,
21:38corporeal death confirmed.
21:40The 10 billion bonus
21:41has been credited.
21:42You are now going back
21:43to your original world.
21:45I felt my body grow light,
21:47as if I'd broken free
21:48from heavy shackles,
21:49floating in midair,
21:50In the chamber below,
21:51the stench of blood
21:52filled the air,
21:53accompanied by frantic
21:54cries and screams.
21:55Utter chaos,
21:56Alistair clung desperately
21:57to my corpse,
21:58his usually stern face
21:59streaked with tears.
22:01Fiend,
22:01I'm sorry.
22:02It was all my fault.
22:04Please,
22:05come back.
22:06I'll do anything for you.
22:08Don't leave me.
22:09Edmund knelt on the floor,
22:11saying nothing,
22:12just staring blankly
22:13at me with a vacant gaze.
22:14Mortimer's legs gave way,
22:16and he collapsed
22:17at the doorway,
22:17though he was accustomed
22:18to all manner
22:19of bloody scenes.
22:20He didn't dare
22:21take a single step closer
22:22to examine the state
22:23of my death.
22:24He suddenly reached out
22:25and opened the floor
22:26to ceiling window
22:26in the room.
22:27The blinding midday sunlight
22:28poured in.
22:29His pale skin exposed
22:31to the light
22:31instantly began to rot,
22:33oozing thick blood.
22:34His cheeks quickly swelled
22:35and turned red.
22:37Tears mixed with blood
22:38at the corners of his mouth.
22:39I killed you,
22:40Seraphine.
22:41I personally slit your throat.
22:42I deserve to die.
22:44Come back and scold me
22:46or hit me.
22:46I don't care.
22:47Just please don't leave me
22:49like this.
22:49Only when servants
22:50found his self-kewing gesture
22:52and dragged him
22:53into the darkness
22:53did he broke down
22:54in tears.
22:58Dorian stood frozen
22:59in place for a long time
23:01before suddenly rushing forward
23:02and shoving Alistair aside.
23:04She's not dead!
23:05Seraphine isn't dead!
23:07This is all a lie!
23:08He reached out
23:09to check my breath,
23:10then felt my pulse,
23:11over and over again,
23:13repeating the words
23:14incessantly.
23:16She's still breathing!
23:17Look, she's still breathing!
23:19She's just faking it!
23:20She's doing this on purpose!
23:21A servant nearby
23:22tried to step in
23:23to stop him,
23:24but he shoved him away
23:25like a madman.
23:26His eyes red,
23:27he turned to face
23:27the people in the chamber
23:28and shouted like a lunatic.
23:30Seraphine Ashwil isn't dead!
23:32Even if this person is dead,
23:34it's not really her!
23:35She must be hiding somewhere,
23:36watching.
23:37Watching us cry here,
23:39watching us regret it.
23:40She's laughing at us!
23:41She's always been
23:42so vindictive.
23:44How could she just
23:45die like this?
23:46He scanned the chamber,
23:47his voice a constant howl.
23:50Come out!
23:51If you've got the guts,
23:52come out!
23:53Stop pretending to be dead!
23:55Don't you hate us the most?
23:57Don't you want to see us
23:58suffer more than anything?
24:00Come out!
24:01He grew increasingly hysterical,
24:03screaming and thrashing about
24:04in a fit of despair.
24:06I floated in midair,
24:07watching them
24:08with a cold gaze.
24:08I used to long
24:09for their compassion,
24:10but now I found
24:11their tears and repentance
24:12laughably cheap.
24:13If I hadn't actually died,
24:15they'd probably still
24:16be surrounding Isabella,
24:17pointing their fingers at me
24:18and hurling insults.
24:20Just then,
24:20Isabella,
24:21standing behind the crowd,
24:22stirred.
24:23She quietly took
24:24two steps back.
24:25While everyone was
24:26lost in grief,
24:27she turned to slip out
24:28of the court stuck with him.
24:29Stop right there!
24:32Alistair suddenly looked up,
24:34his bloodshot eyes
24:35fixed intently on Isabella.
24:37It's you!
24:39You're the one
24:40behind all this!
24:41He staggered forward
24:42and grabbed Isabella
24:43by the arm.
24:43Caught off guard,
24:44Isabella stumbled.
24:45Brother, you...
24:46What are you talking about?
24:48His sister is dead,
24:49and I'm heartbroken too!
24:51How could you blame me?
24:52Edmund stepped forward
24:53to block the doorway,
24:54his gaze icy.
24:55Seraphine's death
24:56is suspicious.
24:57You can't leave now.
24:59Mortimer also snapped
25:00out of his breakdown,
25:01wiped the tears and blood
25:02from his face,
25:03and spoke firmly.
25:04Until this is cleared up,
25:06you must stay here.
25:07Isabella turned pale
25:08and struggled to break free.
25:10I didn't do anything.
25:12Sister Serafton
25:13took her own life.
25:14It has nothing to do with me.
25:16She still wore
25:17that aggrieved expression,
25:18but this time,
25:19the three brothers
25:20saw nothing but suspicion
25:21in their eyes.
25:25We never looked into
25:26the details of how
25:27you were adopted
25:28or how Seraphine
25:29went missing back then.
25:31Now that she's dead,
25:33you think you can
25:34just walk away?
25:35Guard!
25:36Arrest her!
25:37I'm sending someone over
25:39to keep an eye on you.
25:40Don't even think about
25:41pulling any tricks.
25:42Isabella watched the guards
25:43closing in on her.
25:44Although she wanted to run,
25:46she didn't dare
25:47make a move.
25:47I floated in midair,
25:49watching this scene unfold,
25:50and found it utterly boring.
25:52The next second,
25:53the scene before me
25:54suddenly warped,
25:55and a strong sensation
25:56of weightlessness
25:57washed over me.
25:58When I opened my eyes again,
25:59what met my gaze
26:00was the ceiling
26:01of a rented apartment.
26:02This was the rental apartment
26:04where I'd lived
26:04for five years
26:05before I time-traveled.
26:06I wiggled my fingers.
26:08My body felt perfectly fine.
26:10I turned back
26:10and looked into
26:11the old vintage
26:12oil painting on the wall.
26:13A design featuring
26:14a wolf,
26:15a dragon,
26:15and a giant bat
26:17arranged in a continuous loop.
26:18That was the place
26:19from where I came back.
26:20I gradually remembered
26:21that I used to be
26:22an antique collector,
26:23and this painting
26:24was bought about
26:24five years ago
26:25in which I invested
26:26all my money.
26:27But a famous connoisseur
26:28stood out.
26:29Out of jealousy,
26:30she publicly claimed
26:31that the painting
26:31was a fake
26:32and that I was a fraud.
26:33I spent every last penny
26:35I had,
26:36only to end up
26:36disgraced and ruined.
26:37In my despair,
26:38I threw the painting
26:39into the shredder,
26:40but unexpectedly found myself
26:41transported into the world
26:43within the painting.
26:44The so-called
26:45iron spire.
26:45Goodbye,
26:46bloody hell,
26:46iron spire,
26:48I thought.
26:51My phone vibrated
26:52on the desk.
26:53The screen lit up.
26:54It was a notification
26:55from my banking app.
26:56Your account ending
26:57in 5,489
26:59has received a deposit
27:00of 10 billion dollar.
27:02Current balance,
27:0410035
27:05621.78
27:06The string of zeros
27:07made my eyes spin.
27:09The coarse voice
27:09sounded again.
27:10The fate granted
27:11you a healthy body,
27:13wishing the traveler
27:14a fresh start in life.
27:15I sat up and stretched
27:17my limbs.
27:18No wounds,
27:18no pain.
27:19My whole body
27:20was brimming with strength.
27:2120 years of pent-up
27:23oppression vanished
27:24in an instant.
27:25I couldn't help
27:25but laugh out loud
27:26as I began planning
27:27for the future.
27:28The 10 billion in my phone
27:29was solid,
27:30tangible confidence.
27:31I didn't rush
27:32to splurge.
27:33First,
27:33I picked up
27:34a low-key family car,
27:35then bought
27:36a mid-rise apartment
27:37near a city park,
27:38a new bookshelf,
27:39a few low-maintenance
27:40houseplants,
27:41and a full set
27:42of cooking utensils
27:43gradually filled
27:44the empty apartment.
27:45Comfortable and at ease,
27:46it became a home
27:47that truly belonged to me.
27:49But the oil painting
27:50that hung beside
27:50the bookshelf
27:51in my study,
27:52still made noises at times.
27:54It haunted me
27:54by day and night,
27:55when I got tired
27:56and was about
27:57to fall asleep.
27:58The nightmare ran to me.
27:59I still can't get through
28:01with that rotten world,
28:02but days passed peacefully,
28:03with a regular daily routine,
28:05and doing what I loved,
28:06slowly shaking off
28:07the shadows left
28:08by that rotten world.
28:09However,
28:10a little over
28:11a month later,
28:12I heard an unexpected
28:13ringing of the doorbell.
28:17It was already midnight.
28:19Who would come
28:20to visit at this time?
28:21A woman wearing
28:22heavy makeup
28:23with two tall bodyguards
28:24stood at the door,
28:25guns in hands.
28:27I almost recognized
28:28the woman at first sight.
28:30Isabella,
28:30also the connoisseur
28:32that framed me.
28:33Long time no see,
28:34Mrs. Arnold,
28:35or shall I call you
28:36dear Serafina Ashwill?
28:38Give me the painting now,
28:39maybe I'll consider
28:40to spare your life.
28:42You may take it
28:43as you wish.
28:43I don't give a shit
28:44of it, honestly.
28:45Isabella bade her bodyguards
28:46to take the painting
28:47quickly from off the wall,
28:48laughing out loudly.
28:50This time,
28:51I shall be the heroine,
28:52the innocent,
28:53helpless Serafina.
28:54Ten billion dollars
28:56shall be mine!
29:00While you,
29:00Mrs. Arnold,
29:02you know your role,
29:03I suddenly felt
29:04a chill run down
29:05my spine.
29:06Dear traveler,
29:07the time tunnel
29:08has been forcibly opened,
29:10and the initial character
29:11swaps have been completed.
29:13Your character this time
29:14is the adopted sister
29:15of Ashwill brothers,
29:17Isabella.
29:21I furrowed my brow.
29:23What did this have to do
29:24with me?
29:24I had long since
29:25wanted nothing to do
29:26with the people
29:27and events of that world.
29:28Not to mention
29:29that this time
29:30I am forced to take
29:31the role of that
29:32vicious villainess.
29:33I dismissed
29:34the echoing voice,
29:35but it wouldn't
29:36let it go.
29:37If you doesn't
29:37accept the role,
29:38the chaos and iron spike
29:40will threaten
29:41the stability
29:41of the real world.
29:42Your ten billion dollars
29:44bonus will also
29:45be withdrawn.
29:46So I'm being forced
29:47to go back.
29:48The system's warning
29:49is no joke.
29:50I couldn't risk
29:51the stability
29:52of the real world
29:53and the bonus
29:53I earned.
29:54After a long
29:55internal struggle,
29:56I finally gave in.
29:57I agree to go back,
29:59but once I've handled this,
30:00I want to completely
30:02sever ties with that world
30:03and have no further
30:04involvement.
30:05No problem,
30:06once order is restored,
30:07the traveler may freely
30:09choose whether to remain
30:10in the mission world
30:11or return to the arena
30:12ladled.
30:17The scene before me
30:18worked once more.
30:20A strong metallic smell
30:22of rust instantly
30:23filled my nostrils,
30:24and I immediately realized
30:26it was the smell
30:26of my own blood.
30:28I felt the coldness
30:29and stiffness
30:29of the iron chains
30:31on my limbs.
30:32This was the dungeon
30:33in the Ashevale's
30:34old castle.
30:34I once heard
30:35that it was used
30:36to punish those
30:37who committed treason.
30:38I lifted my eyes
30:39and saw four familiar faces.
30:41Alistair,
30:42Edmund,
30:43Mortimer,
30:44and Dorian.
30:45Alistair opened his mouth.
30:48What would you say,
30:50Isabella?
30:50Confess your sin.
30:54I had not been used
30:56to this name yet.
30:57After realizing
30:58that he was addressing
30:59to me,
30:59I sneered coldly.
31:01What would I say?
31:02My dear brother,
31:04shouldn't you have figured
31:05out what I did
31:06a long time ago?
31:07Dorian stepped out
31:08in rage.
31:09How dare you,
31:10mongrel?
31:11Do you know
31:12that Seraphine
31:13just passed away
31:14because of your lie?
31:16You killed my beloved,
31:17and I want you
31:18to pay with your life,
31:20bitch!
31:21Dorian clamped his hands
31:23tightly around my neck.
31:24I smiled in a more
31:25sarcastic way.
31:28Mongrel?
31:29Don't you remember
31:30how did you call
31:31your dear Seraphina
31:32by this word?
31:33My words left him
31:34speechless,
31:34and he began
31:35to cry again.
31:37I will hand down
31:38the harshest
31:39sentence possible.
31:40Edmund added coldly.
31:42I suddenly burst out laughing.
31:44I'll be waiting
31:45for you,
31:45your honor.
31:46Such a provocation
31:47left the four of them
31:48staring at each other.
31:49At a loss,
31:50Mortimer just stood beside,
31:52keeping silent
31:52like a sculpture.
31:53His blue eyes
31:54glistening in the darkness,
31:56Mortimer finally spoke.
31:58Isabella,
31:59you've changed.
32:01You never used
32:02to be like this.
32:04It was him
32:05who first discovered
32:05the weirdness of this.
32:07Isabella,
32:08a light,
32:08cheerful patter of footsteps
32:10could be heard,
32:11accompanied by giggling.
32:12The brothers and the husband
32:13turned their heads.
32:14A familiar profile appeared.
32:17Seraphina!
32:21Alistair was the first
32:22to rush to her,
32:23pulling that Seraphina
32:24into a tight embrace.
32:26Seraphine,
32:28you're really back.
32:30Don't ever leave us again.
32:31Edmund stood by her,
32:33his eyes red-rimmed,
32:34holding a small jar
32:35of honeyed grapes,
32:36which I'd longed for
32:37but never got to eat back
32:38when I was at the orphanage.
32:40He held the jar out to me,
32:41his voice choked
32:42with emotion.
32:43I've locked up
32:44that bitch,
32:46Isabella.
32:46She owed you,
32:48and we're here
32:48to get what's yours back.
32:50Mortimer took her hand,
32:52as if to confirm
32:52she was real.
32:53Dorian said passionately,
32:55eyes welling up with tears.
32:56We've locked deep down
32:58in this dungeon,
33:00making her pray for you
33:02day and night
33:03to atone for her sins.
33:06Edmund said,
33:07We've already figured out
33:07that it was Isabella
33:08who deliberately
33:09locked you up
33:10and let you be sold
33:12in the slave market.
33:13In three days,
33:14I will hold
33:14a public trial for her.
33:16As they were saying
33:17about this,
33:17I was staring
33:18at the face
33:19of that Seraphina,
33:20the original Isabella.
33:21I saw the flash
33:22of malice crossing
33:23her cloudy eyes,
33:24followed by a twisted smile.
33:26I could tell
33:26from her lip movements
33:27that she was saying to me,
33:29You're...
33:30dead.