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00:02in the elven kingdom spirit orbs choose our husbands whoever yours flew to was
00:08the man you'd marry at the betrothal ceremony my stepsister Amelia secretly
00:13cast a spell to knock my orb off course hers flew to the second prince while
00:20mine landed with Lawrence the crippled painter everyone mucked but even that
00:24wasn't enough for her soon she had me branded a witch and dragged to the altar
00:29to be sacrificed as the flames reached my feet Lawrence entered the ritual
00:34circle without a limb with one sweep of his hand a hundred golden birds came to
00:39life and tore the altar apart the crowd gasped only royal blood could bring
00:45paintings to life then the royal crest blazed on his hand brother no you've been
00:51dead for years you forged the decree and paid men to kill me you knew this day
00:56would come and she is no sacrifice she's the crown prince's wife everyone who
01:05called for my death dropped to their knees even Amelia had to bow before me
01:24today is the kingdom's annual betrothal ceremony the whole city expects my spirit orb to fly to
01:30Albert the second prince I was promised to marry but right under everyone's nose my
01:37stepsister Amelia secretly casts a spell her orb flies straight to Albert while mine
01:42veers off course and lands in the arms of Lawrence the crippled painter mocked by
01:46the entire city laughter erupts around me well Catherine I guess the oval got it
01:51right a penniless cripple is exactly what you deserve then you won't mind having both
01:56orbs inspected right here right now Albert knows Amelia cheated but he pulls her
02:01closer and glares at me then my father who has always favored her storms over and
02:06slaps me in front of everyone the orb made its choice you got the man you deserve now
02:13you're accusing your sister of cheating and humiliating the prince in front of
02:16everyone are you trying to destroy this family
02:18father I'm your daughter too not anymore you're no daughter of mine now get out before you embarrass
02:28us even more
02:37that night black clade assassins corner me in a dark alley their blades drawn
02:43emilia doesn't just want me gone she wants me dead
02:55pulls me behind him and takes them all down within seconds when the last assassin falls he pulls me
03:02against his chest you're safe now I'm taking you home as he leads me away I watch his steady steps
03:09how much has this cripple been hiding from everyone
03:15the fever leaves me drifting in and out of sleep my head heavy and my thoughts blurred
03:21Lawrence carries me back to the small workshop where he paints
03:26he changes the cool cloth on my forehead and stays by my side all night
03:30no one has cared for me like this since my mother died
03:41last night you fought without your cane and you didn't limp once
03:44is your leg really injured
03:47he pauses then brings the spoon to my lips his voice is gruff but gentle
03:52focus on getting better
03:55you can question me later
04:00as I start to feel better I grow restless
04:06I take a brush and a sheet of paper from his desk then paint a bird huddled in a corner
04:11with a broken wing
04:13why did you give her a broken wing
04:16because that's exactly how I feel
04:18my family threw me out and now I'm hurt alone and have nowhere to go
04:22I don't know how to start over and I can't go back
04:26Lawrence goes quiet
04:27takes the brush from me
04:29and gives the bird two strong wings carrying it above the clouds
04:32a broken wing can heal
04:35once you're better
04:36I'll go anywhere with you
04:37my heart skips at his words
04:41later
04:41I find a painting tucked beneath the water bowl
04:45even the royal court painters aren't this good
04:48how can someone this talented
04:50be the nobody everyone mocks
04:53what are you hiding Lawrence
04:59before I can make sense of it
05:00someone pounds on the door
05:09poor Catherine
05:10stuck in this miserable little workshop
05:13with a cripple who can't even feed you
05:14take the money
05:16you obviously need it
05:17regretting that marriage yet
05:19why would I
05:20Albert didn't show up when I was nearly killed
05:24Lawrence did
05:25if anything I should thank you
05:27you saved me from marrying a coward
05:30touch my wife
05:31and you'll lose that hand
05:39that's Albert's royal treasure
05:41real relics protect their owners
05:43this one is feeding on your blood
05:45ask your prince why he gave you a fake that's killing you
05:48Albert gave it to me himself
05:51you're just a penniless painter who's jealous of him
06:01did you mean it when you said you had no regrets
06:06or were you only trying to shut her up
06:07I meant it
06:09I haven't regretted marrying you for a single second
06:13but she's humiliating you because you married me
06:15Amelia has bullied me since we were children
06:20she'd find an excuse no matter who I married
06:24before whenever she hurt me
06:26no one stood up for me
06:29at least now
06:30you do
06:36and I always will
06:51two days later
06:52the temple orders every painter in the city to help with emergency repairs
06:56Lawrence's name is on the list
06:57Lawrence suspects a trap and refuses to leave me unprotected
07:01but the guards threaten to arrest us both if he disobeys
07:04he reluctantly goes with them
07:06lock the door behind me
07:08I'll be back soon
07:14the moment he leaves
07:16temple guards kick in the door
07:17and pin me to the floor
07:19someone poisoned the sacred tree last night
07:22by morning it had withered
07:24two guards saw you there
07:25that's impossible
07:26I was here all night
07:28Lawrence can prove it
07:30he's your husband
07:31of course he'll cover for you
07:34for all we know
07:35he helped you poison it
07:36then I realized why they were so determined
07:38to take Lawrence away
07:40the repairs were a lie
07:44you sent Lawrence away
07:45so I'd have no one to back me up
07:47he's already in the temple dungeon
07:49for sheltering a witch
07:50you'd better worry about yourself
07:54my father rushes in
07:56and condemns me before the crowd
07:58that witch is no daughter of mine
08:01she poisoned the sacred tree
08:03and she must pay
08:05sacrifice her and appease its wrath
08:13I poisoned the tree
08:14paid off two guards
08:16and locked up the only man
08:18who could clear your name
08:19tell me Catherine
08:21how do you plan to survive this
08:27the guards march me onto the towering altar
08:30a few planted voices whip the crowd into a frenzy
08:33and soon the entire city is screaming for me to be torn apart
08:39the execution ritual roars to life
08:42pitch black runes coil around my body like chains
08:45and begin tearing the life out of me
08:47Albert stands at the center of the circle
08:49staring down at me with ice in his eyes
08:52Albert!
08:53Father!
08:54I never touch the sacred tree
08:55are you really going to sacrifice me
08:57just to bury the truth?
08:58the royal family's honor comes before your life
09:01you have to die
09:02my father turns his head away
09:04he won't even look at me
09:05so this is my family
09:06for power and their own selfish gain
09:09they're willing to kill me with their own hands
09:11Amelia leans close to my ear
09:12and whispers so softly that only I can hear
09:15still think your crippled husband is coming to save you
09:17he can't even escape the dungeon
09:20no one is coming Catherine
09:22close your eyes
09:24soon you'll be nothing but ash
09:26my body feels like it's being torn apart
09:28and I can feel my life draining away with every breath
09:31I look up at the dark heavy sky
09:34is this really the end?
09:35am I going to die here on this cold altar?
09:39then
09:39in the final second before the runes pierce my heart
09:48the temple doors shatter
09:50as a wave of raw power tears through them
10:01as the dust settles
10:03Lawrence strides into the temple without a trace of a limp
10:05his eyes cold and deadly
10:07you broke the seal?
10:09guards!
10:09stop him!
10:11dozens of elite guards charge at him
10:13Lawrence raises one hand
10:14and golden light erupts around him
10:16hurling every last one of them to the ground
10:19while the crowd watches in terror
10:21he shatters the ritual draining my life with a single blow
10:25then he gathers my traveling barely conscious body into his arms
10:30Catherine I'm sorry
10:31I should have gotten here sooner
10:33I clitch his crobe and break down in tears
10:36put her down!
10:38you filthy commoner!
10:40how dare you defy the crown!
10:42Lawrence laughs coldly
10:44golden power surges from him
10:46as the long lost royal crest blazes on the back of his hand
10:49flooding the temple with light
10:50Albert turns pale
10:52his knees nearly giving out
10:55the crown prince's crest
10:57brother?
10:58no!
10:59you died years ago!
11:00the temple goes dead silent
11:02a second later
11:03everyone starts shouting at once
11:05the man the whole city mocked as a penniless cripple
11:08is actually the king's firstborn son
11:10the rightful heir
11:11stripped of his title and presumed dead for years
11:14Lawrence steps in front of me
11:16his golden hair whipping in the wind as he stares down the crowd
11:23years ago you failed to kill me
11:26today don't even think about touching her
11:29take one more step
11:31and it's you who burns on this altar
11:36the golden crest still burns on the back of Lawrence's hand
11:40Albert orders his archers to surround the altar
11:42but no one dares fire
11:44the crest belongs only to the royal family's firstborn son
11:48if it's real
11:49firing would mean attacking the rightful heir
11:51a temple elder rushes forward
11:53and steps between Lawrence and Albert
11:55the royal council must verify the crest through the sacred rates
11:59until then
12:00no one lays a hand on either of them
12:03Albert swallows his anger and glares at Lawrence
12:06his voice dropping to a threat
12:07it's just a crest
12:09it could be a fake
12:11once the council rules
12:13we'll see how long you can keep up this little act
12:15Lawrence doesn't answer
12:17he simply lifts me into his arms
12:18and carries me down from the altar
12:20the crowd parts
12:22and no one dares stand in his way
12:24Albert isn't letting us go out of mercy
12:27with the whole city watching
12:28he can't risk being caught
12:30trying to kill his brother a second time
12:31back at the workshop
12:33Lawrence tends to my wounds in silence
12:35after a long while he finally speaks
12:37the limp
12:38the false name
12:39all of it kept me alive
12:42I hid the truth
12:43because anyone close to me becomes a target
12:46I never wanted that to happen to you
12:48I'm sorry
12:51he pulls a document from inside his robe
12:55he must have written it a while ago
12:58he sets it down beside my hand without looking at me
13:01this ends our marriage
13:04I'm not trying to send you away
13:06but you'll be safer without me
13:08this time the choice is yours
13:09the enelishment papers lie between us
13:12what hurts isn't that Lawrence hid who he was
13:14it's that he's decided what's best for me all over again
13:18without even asking
13:19that night you saved me
13:20did you ever once think about leaving me behind because it was too dangerous
13:24that was different
13:26how
13:29you get to risk your life for me
13:32but the second you're in danger
13:33I'm just supposed to walk away
13:38he has no answer
13:41I pick up the papers
13:42and tear them in half
13:44right in front of him
13:45you lied to me
13:46and yes
13:47I'm furious
13:49but you're still the man who carried me home in the rain
13:52sat by me through my fever
13:54and gave a broken bird its wings back
13:57crown prince or not
13:59you're still Lawrence
14:00if you stay with me
14:02Albert will never leave you alone
14:06he already tried to sacrifice me
14:09you really think walking away from you is going to stop him
14:12Lawrence finally meets my eyes
14:14and he can't hide what's in them
14:16I reach for his clenched fist and cover it with my hand
14:19it trembles faintly beneath my palm
14:21stop calling it protection when what you're really doing is pushing me away
14:24whether I stay or go that's my call
14:28his fist slowly relaxes
14:31and his fingers close around mine
14:35all right
14:36I won't make your choices for you again
14:39three days later
14:41the royal family announces
14:42that the council still hasn't confirmed Lawrence's identity
14:45Albert can't kill him in public
14:47so he changes tactics
14:49he throws a celebration
14:50to welcome his brother home
14:52it makes him look like a devoted brother
14:54while handing him the perfect chance
14:56to humiliate us in front of everyone
15:03Albert wants you both there
15:06what too scared to show your faces
15:09so you used to be the crown prince
15:12and what's that worth now
15:13no title
15:14no fortune
15:15just a broke little painter scraping by
15:20Catherine
15:20are you seriously going to waste
15:23the rest of your life on him
15:24he lost everything
15:25and still has more dignity
15:28than you'll ever have
15:29oh one more thing
15:30that celebration
15:32is for people who actually matter
15:34so don't be shocked
15:36when the guards turn you away at the door
15:44it's a trap
15:46stay away
15:47and Albert brands us guilty
15:48show up
15:49and he humiliates us
15:51in front of everyone
15:52then we're going
15:53I've been hiding from them long enough
15:55I'm done letting them shame me
15:58alright
15:59but once we're inside
16:00you stay close to me
16:02the night before the celebration
16:05Lawrence opens an old wooden chest
16:07and takes out a bolt of sacred silk
16:09he brought from the palace years ago
16:11I expect him to go find a tailor
16:13instead he spreads the silk across his easel
16:16and dips his brush into gold ink
16:18you know how to make dresses too?
16:20I can't sew a single stitch
16:21but I can bring this fabric to life
16:23trust me
16:25he paints a bird in mid-air
16:27and golden thread spills from his brush
16:29onto the silk
16:30the fabric rises as if caught in a breeze
16:33folding and shaping itself
16:35within seconds it becomes a gown
16:38that fits me perfectly
16:39with his final stroke
16:41the birds along the hem flutter their wings
16:43as light ripples through their feathers
16:46I slip on the gown
16:47and just stand there
16:48too stunned to speak
16:50Lawrence steps behind me
16:51and ties the ribbon at my neck
16:53his fingertips brush my skin
16:55and I hold my breath
16:57hold still
16:57I'm almost done
16:58he gently sweeps a loose strand of hair off my shoulder
17:01then moves in front of me to smooth my sleeve
17:04he's so close I can hear him breathe
17:06what are you staring at?
17:08force of habit
17:08every time I finish a piece
17:11I take one last look
17:12to see if anything's missing
17:13so what's this gown missing?
17:15Lawrence pausing as he looks at me
17:17nothing
17:17you look even more beautiful in it
17:19than I imagined
17:20I blush and quickly look away
17:22Lawrence says nothing
17:24he simply reaches up
17:25and gently tucks the loose strand of hair behind my ear
17:29on the day of the celebration
17:31Lawrence leaves to collect his confirmation papers from the council
17:35we agree that he'll come back for me
17:37so we can go together
17:38not long after
17:39a carriage bearing his bird crest stops outside the workshop
17:43the driver hands me a note saying the palace has changed its entry arrangements
17:47I should go ahead
17:48and Lawrence will meet me at the main gate
17:51the birds on the carriage look exactly like the ones on my gown
17:54so I climb in without a second thought
17:58I have no idea that Amelia forged the note to match Lawrence's handwriting
18:02the carriage doesn't take me to the main gate
18:05it circles behind the palace
18:07where's Lawrence?
18:09the driver doesn't say a word
18:10he leaves me there and drives off
18:12by the time I run after him
18:14the carriage is already gone
18:16an attendant hurries me inside
18:17and I keep telling myself
18:19Lawrence will be here any minute
18:20only later do I learn that the real carriage reached the workshop right after I left
18:25Lawrence found the room empty and the forged note on the table
18:28he knew at once
18:29that I'd taken the wrong carriage
18:30by the time I enter the banquet hall
18:33everyone is already seated
18:34Amelia sits beside Albert
18:36looking like she knew all alone
18:38I'd show up alone
18:39Catherine?
18:40where's that husband of yours?
18:42did the poor little painter lose his nerve and send you in alone?
18:47I grip my skirt and refuse to let her see me panic
18:50but the palace gates close for the night
18:53and Lawrence still hasn't appeared
18:54Amelia calls me into the center of the hall and loudly asks about my bird gown
18:59several noble women's recognize the sacred silk and start whispering about how someone living in a shabby little workshop could
19:06ever afford such rare fabric
19:08how strange
19:09a bolt of sacred silk went missing
19:13from the royal storeroom just a few days ago
19:16don't tell me you stole it
19:18to play dress up tonight
19:20Lawrence made this gown
19:22from silk he already had
19:24he was stripped of everything
19:26what could a man like him possibly own?
19:29what could a man like him possibly own?
19:34what could a man like him possibly own?
19:54Lawrence gets here
19:55out in the open
19:56in front of all these people
19:58if he cared so much
20:00why did he let you
20:01come here alone?
20:03she gives a signal
20:04and her people lock the side doors
20:06as I stare at the sealed exits
20:07it all becomes clear
20:08Amelia sent that carriage
20:10it's
20:10it's
20:10it's
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