THE DINNER after the afternoon incident was quite enjoyable for Tori. It didn't seem like what she usually felt which was suffocating for her.Maybe because I could watch a good comedy show earlier. Well, whatever, as long as the Duke dearest wouldn't open his mouth.Tori didn't like the Duke, nor did she hate him. She just disliked the fact that they easily manipulated the duke.Ah, disappointment is the right term when describing what I feel for him."Victoria. Your birthday is coming. Do you have any requests?" He nonchalantly asked Tori which stopped Sabina too.And there he goes, opening his mouth and ruining my tranquility. So much for hoping he'll shut up, huh? And what? He's asking me for my birthday? Is he sniffing Cannabis?Since Sabina came to the Rozenreff Household, the duke always forgot Victoria's birthday, but never Sabina's. Hence, every year the siblings always compete secretly if who's the best party.What a dumb thing to do, honestly.It surprised Tori since he rem
"I want three things that only the two of you can give me. First, I want some gold under the identity of Benefactor T. Second, I wished to be an unofficial member of the aristocratic faction in which I wanted to gain access to the faction's connection in the future. And third, I want Prince Corean to never forget my deed after I make him king, hence he'll have to grant me a wish and I promise it won't harm him or the Empire."The two realized Tori planned all of these. The second prince even suspected that Tori knew his identity all along. But they didn't know that Tori only took a gamble for the sake of her best course of action.Lady M and the second prince agreed and signed an oath contract. An oath contract was a sacred contract and only a few choose to use this. After signing and reading all the terms and conditions, the three burned the contract together. It was a sign that it was a promise that only the three of them knew. As nobles, Lady M and the second prince respected the o
"That is good news, Victoria! Why did you apply for the Trifecta Academy?" He was genuinely amazed and in awe of his daughter's achievement.Trust me, I wanna know too. What were you thinking, Victoria?Tori tried to remember the scene of the second male lead's flashback. In the Netflix Series, Zeno Mcmillian who's one of the second leads was a top scholar. In the flashback, Zeno prepared a detailed essay about what will he contribute to the Empire should the academy accept him.Then, did Victoria prepare an essay too? And she passed and got even invited? But according to the Netflix Series, only those who are old enough may take the entrance exam. And Zeno was fifteen years old when he came to the academy."I uh, I just want to deserve the Rozenreff name, father." Tori just guessed the reasoning behind the action of the original Victoria.Why do I feel that I am being blindsided by the Netflix Series? Was this revealed in Season 6 which I didn't get to watch? Because I am sure as hel
AS THE TWO NOBLEMEN walked away, the impolite Sabina also walked away without saying a word to Tori. Though Tori didn't miss the deadly glare from Shena, Sabina's maid, Tori just looked forward to their retaliation. The news might have shocked the poor soul since the original Victoria didn't display any trace of intelligence.What a bunch of losers. It would be fun to destroy them, but even insects have a role to play. So, my dear darling sister, please hold on to your head while it lasts.THE DAYS given by the headmaster of Trifecta Academy were well spent by Tori. Duke Luwen Rozenreff checked on her from time to time, and sometimes he would bring new books he gained from the capital of the royal palace. The butler or the head maid would make sure to bring her foods prepared by the head chef or sweets to keep her away from hunger while studying. And her handmaidens were preparing her for the best of baths every evening, which she appreciated. All those days, Sabina never visited her,
TORI STOOD up to hug Sabina, who was still standing. Her face screamed that this was the last place she wanted to be. She was rigid and felt cold when Tori hugged her, which made the latter one grin wider. Tori was savoring every moment as Sabina squirmed before her."What are you afraid of, dearest sister?" Tori whispered to Sabina, which made the latter one flinch. Secretly smirking, Tori offered a seat to Sabina before going back to her seat, which again earned Tori 'the good sister' award in front of everyone.As the head of the family, the Duke would traditionally start eating and the rest of the family would follow. That was the reason Sabina, Mia, and Shena was all fidgeting.You didn't think that things would go wrong, huh?Tori's smiling gaze met the eyes of the three like she was mocking them and she intended to mock them. Just when the Duke was about to get a slice of fruit, Butler Johanes came in together with the chef. The latter one was bringing a dish.The last piece of
IN TORI'S PAST LIFE, she had a knack for copying signatures. She didn't expect that she'd get to use her hobby in her new life."I swear, Your Grace. I didn't know. I only add the spinach because of Lady Sabina's order."Show them. Destroy her last defense."Sabina?" The Duke's voice faltered like he didn't want to believe that his favored daughter was behind, the heir apparent, Victoria's suffering.Tori could hear audible gasps from different people inside the room. She bet they came from the servants."Give me that," The Duke's voice was gruff. He certainly meant the small piece of parchment from the chef."Here it is, Your Grace."The Duke didn't need to affirm if the parchment came from Sabina since everyone heard her earlier when she told Tori that she prepared it for her entrance exam.Aah. I can only imagine the faces of those three. This is the downside of my plan. Is that wench close to lashing out? Poke her more than everyone, remember I almost died."Sabina, can you explai
Sabina just laughed shyly like it was just a joke, but the Marchioness was eyeing Sabina like a hawk. The possibility of foul play playing inside the Marchioness' petty mind and Tori couldn't ask for more.The Marquess shifted the topic immediately after witnessing the Duke's frown. He was not angry about the honesty of Victoria, but he knew that the very thought of foul play which he desperately avoided would circulate in high society. Sabina's reputation would be tarnished, which would make it hard to find her a suitable groom in the future."I heard that the second prince, Prince Corean, will take the entrance exam. The two princes will now stay in the same environment."The Duke nodded with a serious face, "Prince Corean will be of age by next year. It is a favorable time that he'll get the same education as Prince Lauren.""He is just holed up at his northern palace. Surprisingly, he's willingly taking the exam without the aristocrat's push. What do you think, Lady Sabina, Lady V
THE VAST greenery of the surrounding field of the academy astonished Tori as they stopped at the entrance of the school. Every nook and cranny of the architecture of Trifecta Academy screamed Renaissance style in front of them. The old-looking palace preserved history and sophistication the more anyone stared at it. Prince Lauren went out of the carriage first and strode inside the academy like Tori and Prince Corean were not his companion. Jerk Prince Corean offered him his hand, which Tori took since all the royal knights were looking at them as they went out of the carriage. "Thank you, your highness." Prince Corean just smiled gently, but his calculating eyes told her otherwise. Tori just walked behind Prince Corean since they were only going to one place. The royal family is a bunch of psychos. A middle-aged man welcomed the princes and Tori. His stature screamed wisdom and power. His beard was well-trimmed and his eyes were both friendly and knowing. "I welcome you on beh
A YEAR passed by since the coup d'etat happened that sparked the rebellion against King Elphaim and Prince Lauren. But as Grand Duke Rowan Cristof Castaña stared at the sleeping Lilian on his bed, he could not believe what transpired within a year after that fateful day. Rowan stepped out from the bed, careful not to disturb his wife. But no matter how stealthy he thought he was, she woke up. “So early? Where are you going, husband?”He leaned to kiss her forehead before he answered her. “Go back to sleep, wife. I will be late this evening. I have to attend the imperial faction meeting.”“That reminds me, I have to go to the palace to meet Her Majesty,” mumbled Lilian whose eyes sparkled like the stars in a clear night sky upon mentioning the queen. Sometimes Rowan pondered who his wife loved more, him or the queen?Not wanting to depress himself so early in the morning of spring, Rowan decided to leave his wife who was now dozing off.Right after the death of King Elphaim and Prince
PRINCE LAUREN walked with gritted teeth. His jaws clenched as he analyzed the chain of events that led him to his current situation. Why? Everything is going as plan! Until that wench got her head chopped off."Will we die here?""I don't want to die.""Hush, the imperial family might hear you."The whispers among the nobles fueled the first prince's temper. I am the future king yet some entitled boy is wearing the centuries-old crown right now. The passageway they were using was an ancient knowledge passed down only to the members of the royal family. This passage was hidden just behind the royal family's audience room for safety purposes such as today. The pathway was cramped surrounded by stone walls. Torches lit their way, guiding them through the darkness. With five royal knights at most, Prince Lauren knew that they were in a perilous situation.He glanced at the calm former duke of Rozenreff Duchy. The latter was holding Lady Sabina tightly and close to him.Seconds turned to
Prince Corean stared at his father who was grinning from ear to ear. He watched the person he once respected surrender to greed. His gaze shifted to his mother who remained clueless and was now surrounded by her attendants as the latter fainted from stress. Cory clenched his fists from worrying his frail mother but it needed to be done. His gaze then settled on his elder brother. The long enmity between them would not be settled. The second prince knew that he needed to end this now, for his mother and Victoria.Lady Merilla smirked. She signaled the royal knights on stand-by. "What are you waiting for? Arrest him!" Her emerald-colored eyes glinted with every step the royal knights took.Tori stared at the grinning king, and then at Lady Merilla, who was standing a meter away from her at the podium. The noble faction cheered for the royal knights. It's time. Tori turned to the traitor. "Who says you already won?" Tori offered her sweetest smile to Lady Merilla, who replied with a mo
The traitor triumphantly grinned as she saw the reactions within the courtroom. Just like her plan, the tides of favor were on her side. Lady Merilla continued after silencing the courtroom with a raise of her hand. "The internal conflict within the northern region and the unification of the north is the step which aims to usurp the throne. Letters between the three chieftains of the tribes in the north sent letters to the capital months before the said war, it was for their benefactor. Here are the letters with the duchess's name on them as she plotted everything.""All along, I thought it was the duchess so I sent the gathered shreds of evidence to the first prince whom I never thought would help me, a lady from the opposing faction. But Prince Lauren helped me reach my concerns to the king and an arrest was immediately issued to capture the duchess. With the help of Duke Rowan Castaña, the duchess was proven to be framed by the real culprit. Who would have thought that the person I
IT WAS customary for the royal knights to escort the accused, but Tori defied the rules. The royal knights under the banner of the first prince blocked their way out of the prison when she escorted the second prince herself with the Ming Country's knights. Tori stepped forward, her body shielding the nonchalant second prince. "Move," said Tori in a chilling tone. She saw how the royal knights barricaded before her faltered."We are here under the command of the emperor to escort his son to the courthouse." The leader of the royal knights blatantly lied which earned him a cold dead stare from Tori.Liar. You were taken by the first prince to kill the second prince on the way to the courthouse. If Prince Lauren made such drastic action, then he must be feeling anxious in this noble trial. "Oh, you are from the emperor's royal knights? Such a shame to miss them from our collection, right Prince Yei Lin?"The royal knights wondered what she was talking about. The countless eyeballs that
DUKE ROWAN Cristof Castaña spent his entire day just to complete the mission that Tori gave him. The hue of crimson red and purple splashed at the sky as if warning him of the impending battle this day. The young duke knew how Tori prepared for this day. He saw how she neglected her sleep to oversee every detail of her plan. Rowan knew how Tori anticipated every move from the enemies, which strengthened his resolve.This empire needs someone like Tori.For Rowan who came from the slums before he sat on his seat as the Duke of Castaña, he saw firsthand how Tori viewed the empire. In fact, she was seeing things as if she knew how the future would turn out. This made him respect her even more. She was not like the other members of the nobility—she was fair. After all, she took someone like him to the slums.The young duke strode inside the Castaña Duchy. The butler welcomed his return. "Blessings to the Empire's spear and shield, Duke Rowan Castaña.""Prepare me my bath; I have a noble t
"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
"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
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