Lord Sozeni butted in, "How about we shifted the blame to the noble faction? We can argue that the samples are fabricated. He's a magician. The people will think it's a farce from the noble faction to destroy the second prince since the Hunt is coming."Lady M nodded. She was probably considering the idea which made Tori internally smile. Though this was just her backup plan, the results of this one could still benefit Tori in the long run.It is still okay for me. They can prosecute Oswald as long as they will give me an opening to prosecute the Marquess and the Duke. It is still a win-win situation for me, so go on."That is too risky. We are like defending this commoner when everyone in the palace knew what she was doing with the second prince. This plan is a double-edged sword." Lord Helisos interrupted everyone from considering the second plan.Upon realizing the recuperations of the plan, Lady M's sullen face returned. Lord Wolfgang glanced at Tori before speaking about his sug
THE CONNECTION of the Monakre Kingdom lies deeper than anyone could think. This was the proof of how it would be easy for a foreign country to overturn the empire if they deemed it so. Because of the battle of succession between the two princes, the borders had become stagnant – causing the spies from neighboring countries to run rampant within the empire's wall.And Tori was about to take advantage of such spies. With just one word, the knights guarding the cell were easily replaced by Crown Prince Yei Lin's men just for this night. A bag of gold bought the royal knights' said loyalty to the royal family of the empire which was such a shame. But Tori turned her head from the obvious corruption since she would need this leak in the nearest future.Three long strides resonated inside the dingy dark hallway of the cell. They were headed to the most comfortable room inside this prison cell where Tessa was currently held and was guarded by the second prince's most trusted knight. But eve
COURT TRIAL, a trial for the commoners to be judged by the noble council. Unlike the noble trial where the king will judge, an appointed noble will judge this court trial.Tori was among the audience from the high society. Beside her were Crown Prince Yei Lin and Lily sitting behind her. Their seats were situated above the common folk's. Since this trial involved royalty and a commoner, the high society and the commoners flocked to the court trial more. Private seats were also reserved for the queen and the second prince who would attend today's meeting. Their seat was facing their seat which Tori arranged with the help of the queen's connections."Announcing the arrival of Queen Aurina Eckrett and Prince Corean Shuia Eckrett!" Everyone showed their respect to the royal family members. When everyone was seated, the chancellor announced again."Announcing the arrival of the accused, Tessa!" At the same door where Tori entered with a veil a year ago, a clean-looking Tessa with no tear
SERVING ANOTHER ROUND of tea for herself, Tori continued. "Deny Tessa. But the catch is bigger this time. Face your brother's faction heads on. You will shift the blame to them. Tessa will live but she will probably be exiled to a foreign country. The point is she will live. But you can't guarantee for how long since you will face the faction earlier than expected. I told you, you would choose the first one."His face was torn between his mother and the woman he loved. "What can you do for me? You swore your allegiance to me, so I am asking you, what will you do for me?" Prince Corean bore his golden eyes to her.Clasping her hands on her lap, Tori replied with a cunning smile. "Since I anticipated that you will rather choose the first one, I can guarantee the queen's safety with the Monakre and Ming's power in my hands that is an easy task. But the prince will be bigger." Tori knew that the second prince was as cunning as her so she did not need to elaborate more. Understanding dawn
TORI DID not realize when she fell asleep. Well, whatever. She did not open her eyes yet as she tried to control her breathing. She could feel that she was not the only person in the infirmary. Tori wanted to know who were the other people inside her room, so she pretended to be asleep. Well, that was the only thing she was best at ever since she transmigrated: pretending."You are always like this. You are always in front of me no matter how I run to catch up with you. And when I thought I can finally grasp you, I would realize that it's just all a mirage." Heartfelt words of Duke Rowan Castaña echoed inside the room. Tori was taken aback for a split second after noticing the genuine care from the pawn she never really put to mind. This was the road she had chosen in order to survive. Tori herself could not distinguish what was genuine and what was pretense in her actions anymore.She knew that she was being selfish when she decided not to let him know. But she needed him to ge
EVERY SERVANT in the Rozenreff Duchy was frozen on their spot when the furious Duke Luwen Rozenreff slapped the newly arrived Tori. The discreet smirk of Sabrina did not go unnoticed by Tori and Lily but the eldest daughter of the Rozenreff Duchy did not even flinch from the sudden assault.Furious red eyes met Tori's cold ones. "What are you plotting right now? You released the very person who tried to assault the queen! That criminal deserves to be punished along with her accomplice!"Smiling cruelly, Tori replied with a mocking voice. "Accomplice? Do you mean the second prince? And what? Punish him by making him forfeit the crown? Hell will freeze over before that happens, father.""You insolent brat!" The Duke raised his hand to strike her again but Sabrina's voice stopped him midway."Father, please stop! Sister Victoria will take responsibility should that commoner misbehave again, right sister?"You want me to step down if Tessa creates a ruckus again? How absurd."Never forget
She knew that Zeno McMillian was the type of person who disliked facades and charades. He was the type of person who wanted no bullshit. "I can accept that you're in the noble faction but know this Sir Zeno. There are neither factions nor royals that will be affected but those in the Pivet Alley. I know that they're just sewer rats compared to the high society but they're living beings. They should not be the casualties in our power plays."You can't let those innocent dies, can you?In Tori's estimated ring of affected areas around the darted location of the dam construction, the Pivet Alley which was located at the southernmost part of the capital was the only residential area that would be affected. She concluded that the plague that would kill the second prince was an elaborate plan that caused a hundred thousand more casualties around the empire. Just to kill the second prince."No. Your ring of the affected area is too small. If you are following the river that passes through
His frightened eyes were for her. Zeno McMillian was scared for her safety. "Why are you doing this for someone who already loves someone else?"Tori finally stopped walking forward. "That word again. Is that also the reason why you betrayed the House Larat? Because you allegedly love my sister?" Her mocking red eyes sharpened like a predator's eyes in the night."Love is a sentiment that can even ruin an empire and I did not betray my family for that. I did it for something bigger – an obsession that kept me awake at night." He whispered his last words but Tori heard them loud and clear from him. She did not like the way he looked into her eyes so she went back on track to what they were talking about."The dam construction is not your whole plan. You're using the dam to have an excuse to overflow this side of the river, haven't you? This part of the river is already contaminated but this does not ensure his death so you needed it to reach the capital. And the dam construction is the