Stella, once th]]e I`!m^@@pe@%!ria-((l C;`?%apital’#s Ch;ie/.f ;=Judicial Ma
g]$istrate, was framed by a meticulously\^+ ?p])l)=((o %tted co#\nspiracy. Sh e w$)as brande+..d a (traito[*[r to the Cha^]=@mber of++ Com;] merce and blamed?. for the death of_#[) t=he Lord Henry!(,’s parents. /Tormented#[  by d,(espair a_([nd hatred, Henry], who ha-][+d(? on.!ce )!loved her deeply, turned dark‑hearted. He wi-elded.% his aut+$_hority to *,force‑marry St:,ella a
nd ;;sub[je;
cted her to u\.ns*+pea/ kabl;*e ret. ribution: comp\*elli_`ng her!] to kn*eel and kow(
tow, piercing her body w[=@]ith poisoned needles@%, and e
v?en sending her t$%`o the Sh_ad ow M)`[o*?nastery to $(undergo th(e% “(`So!ul Purificati]on Ritua),(l”, a #procedur$*e that s `)/t@(ripp%ed$* ;aw;\[ay memori/^es and emotio*.` ns.
Batte-red^. to the br/ink, St :-,ella lost al#(l ?=-recollec:-tion of love^ a^nd hate. @ ^Sh%\`e.-- signed the contract of) annul_;ment and v+^ani
sh[ed withou,(!t a trace. S. hortly after her depar
)ture, He%]nry u!+\ncov]e[$red -` t?#))h^+e fu`_:l+`l $truth:! the enti]re #scheme h?ad b:[;ee%-n .-orc:*hestrated b\y],(#/ his fiancée+ _ Vi :vian and her fa= mil\[y$%.\^ O-ver=!whelmed* by #r:\@ $emorse, H^!enry sle,/w his enemies=
+at their wedding `ceremony, then!] embark#\@ed on[\ a frantic ), quest*_ to find +\Ste^  l la a`%nd atone f?/or his sins%)(]+. When he % fina
/lly track+ ed h#-
er down i)%n a for\ eign land:, she?
  h\]ad\ built a brand*]‑ne%*w l=`]ife f:or herself`, gua\`\,rd [(ed_
by a gen]t)le -\`knight. Her clear, unclouded ey
\es he/$ld no t`race of him whatsoever. Could a sha]ttered mirror ever be mended_? To(/_ his bela
`ted devotion#? , s]
#he gave her: an^swer with a han`d‑car==ved wooden ring.