Tori was raging inside. She wanted to lash out, but couldn't. To win this, she must be smarter than Prince Cory. She needed to steel herself like how he steeled himself during those times when everyone hated him."No. Duke Castaña made it in time. Tori, what do you want now?"What do I want? After what you told me, I also asked that myself. I buried myself in the misbelieved that no one will be able to protect me. But a strange prince proved me wrong. He defied my fate and took it as his own. So what do I want? "I want to continue his plan. I will usurp the throne.""King Elphaim was the benefactor of the tribes that tried to conquer the Arin Tribe. With his obvious favor to Prince Lauren, we must expect an unfavorable judgment even if we present Tessa as a witness."Prince Yei Lin sat in front of her so she served him tea. "So the trial will just be a farce.""Indeed. Prince Lauren will expect that we brought the influence of the Monakre Kingdom to prepare for the noble trial. But, w
BLACK FEATHERS covered the black silk from her waist and down. Black diamonds formed into flower designs that swirled around her chest while black laces covered her arms to her wrists. The outdoor dress that Queen Aurina specially prepared an outdoor dress that Tori was wearing with the notorious black veil that covered her face for everyone to see."You looked hot. Hot in a way that the Sun God would like to fry." Sarcasm laced Crown Prince Allistair's voice as he watched her being adorned by her handmaidens.Duke Rowan Castaña entered her room after three knocks with Crown Prince Yei Lin in tow. The former brought an elongated box with him which earned the interest of everyone aside from the occupied handmaidens. The young duke went straight to Tori who was standing and surrounded by her handmaidens. "My ladies, will you excuse us for a minute?"As soon as the handmaidens left, the young duke opened the rectangular case. The two princes expected a sword but were left astounded when
PRINCE YEI LIN took his father to his chamber in the pavilion. Lily rushed to prepare her veil. After all, it was time to attend a funeral. Tori who was calmly sipping her tea as she waited for Lily got interrupted by Duke Rowan. "You did great as always, Lady Tori.""Have a seat, Duke Rowan. And yes, the alternative result is not an option for me if I want to win this game that Cory started."The young Duke of Castaña smiled bitterly as he saw the tender way his mistress uttered the second prince's name. "Do you want to visit him?"He saw how Tori visibly went rigid before smiling sadly at him. He could see the changes in her after the second prince sacrificed his everything just to save her, something that the young duke could not do unless he would resort to committing treason. "How can I visit him when I can't free him yet?" Tears flowed from her eyes. She was showing such vulnerability to him. "If I see him suffering, I think I will go crazy. I don't know how to act in front of
THE SAD GOODBYE snapped Tori that to release Cory from those wretched shackles, she must destroy the enemy's root and stem. Walking away from his prison cell was one of the hardest things that Tori did. Steeling herself as she stepped away from him, Tori glanced at Duke Rowan Castaña. "Did you dispose of the bodies?""Disposed and replaced, Lady Tori. I planted my men as the second prince's new guards.""Good." I need to stall Lauren and Merilla's attention from Cory. Tori continued with her line of questions. "How is the Vervain's antidote going?"The young Duke opened the carriage's door for her. Even though he had become the Duke, the highest position along with the Rozenreff Duchy next to the royals, he never forgot to show his respect and loyalty to the first person who trusted him. Deep down, Duke Rowan Castaña knew that he would gladly lay down his life in order to protect Victoria Rozenreff. After all, his life was hers the moment he had performed the knight's oath with all
TORI WALKED away from Duke Luwen Rozenreff without the pent-up disappointment that she used to harbor whenever she spoke to him. As she spoke to Cory, Tori knew that her father was walking a path that he chose. She could even empathize with him since she knew firsthand that Sabina was not the person she portrayed in front of their father. Walking away from them meant that finally drawn the line between friends and foes.As she stepped outside the buzzing cathedral, every eye was on her but it immediately shifted when a looming figure stood before her. Smiling gently, she greeted him with a curtsy for everyone to witness. "Blessings to the Empire's northern lord, Chief Keiran Arin."Collective gasps followed by buzzing whispers resounded around them as Tori and her companions with the newly arrived ragged-looking Chieftain Kieran stood at the middle of the higher echelon's gossip circle."Lady Victoria, Prince Yei Lin, and Duke Castaña." The young Chieftain of the North greeted them wi
Clad in a simple gray-colored indoor dress, Tori guided her newly arrived guests to her chamber's receiving area. Sitting at the head chair at the center, the two followed suit by sitting at both of her sides. Crossing her legs, Tori asked the regal-looking Marchioness. "How is life as the House Zoliel's head?""You know I can't be truly calmed unless the investigation stops, Lady Victoria." The wariness in her voice reflected on her face as she fidgeted with her handkerchief.Lily together with the other two handmaidens came trotting in with the teas in their hands. As the three served them, Tori replied to the Marchioness. "I understand your concern, Marchioness. That is why you are here, right? To foresee everything until the end." Yes, after all, you killed your husband for the fear of being imprisoned or kicked out from a life of luxury. "So, how is the preparation on your end? I received the reports from Prince Yei Lin's side.""I gathered as many witnesses as I can. The food
"How dare you accuse my event of food poisoning? This is a sponsored event of my beloved Prince Lauren!" The weight of her words as she proudly declared the first prince's connection to this alleged poisoning was later on realized when Sabina saw the ghost of a smile on Lord Zeno's face as if he was waiting for those words all along.I have been tricked! But her words could not be retracted anymore. Her palms were drenched with sweat as she clenched them. Biting the inside of her cheeks, Sabina looked frantic much to the young lord's interest.The whispers and the distrusting looks from the masses whipped around Sabina as she struggled to maintain her composure. Shena looked worried but could not butt in due to her status.Opening her mouth to say something, the shrilled voice of the commoners buried her voice. Startled and infuriated, Sabina looked behind her only to stagger backward as she saw one by one the commoners started to lose consciousness. "Marchioness Susana!" Looking at
"Then how can we counter this one?" The prideful duke lowered his pride; he refused to let another daughter of his suffering from the aristocratic faction.Headmaster Eyzana breathed a sigh of relief when the duke snapped from his rampage. "No need. Collect your cool, Duke Luwen. I have already sent my men to check the food that allegedly poisons the common folks. Let us wait for him then.""That is good. My men conducted an investigation but they are yet to give me a favorable result."It is understandable. If that person is the one under this scheme then it is likely that we will find nothing.Though the two influential men did not need to wait any longer when three successive knocks interrupted them. Duke Luwen straightened up before answering, "Come in."A young nobleman with the emblem of the Trifecta Academy came in with papers in his right arm. He bowed to the Duke and then to the Headmaster before speaking. "I have found what caused this illness." His wary voice and fearing ey