"I SEE THAT YOUR TRUST issues are rooted in your awful experience, but you are barking at the wrong tree, your highness. After all, how can I bite the hands that will help me become the Queen Regent someday?"
Tori's words struck Yei Lin and Allistair, rendering them frozen for a split second. They never thought of this possibility at all! It was appropriate to say that both princes were stupefied for ever assuming that the Lady was doing this kind of theatrics just to gain their affection. After all, they were both future rulers of their own kingdoms! Who would have thought that Lady Victoria Rozenreff was aiming at the Queen Regent seat – a title with equivalent power to the Eckrett Empire's king?
The silence that engulfed them after Tori's revelation where shattered by the incoming steps of someone, someone Tori did not invite. Just as the darkness unveiled the person, Tori's smile faltered. "Prince Corean, what are you doing here?"
"I was here the whole time. I asked Lord Tofera to do so. Though I hope it won't offend all of you. Let me introduce myself properly. I'm the second prince of the Eckrett Empire, Prince Corean Shuia Eckrett."
Tori finally composed herself. She introduced her companions with a nonchalant smile plastered on her face. "Blessings to the Empire's star, Prince Corean. These are Crown Prince Yei Lin of the Ming Country and the lost prince, Prince Allistair Damon Monakre of the Kingdom of Monakre. Your highnesses, this is the leader of the aristocratic faction, Prince Corean."
"There is no need to be so formal. I am just here as a third party who simply watched Lady Tori with her endeavors, but her cute declaration made me come out. But I do agree with Lady Tori, you can't partake in the politics here, but you can show some support publicly. This would shift the tides of favor from the common folks." Prince Corean's light aura contrasts with Tori's manipulative stance.
Tori spoke in a no-bullshit tone. After all, this would be her first and last chance to convince the two princes. "By supporting the second prince, I can freely move to destroy the noble faction. And I will start it with Duke Rozenreff and his chosen successor, Lady Sabina Rozenreff., my half-sister."
That filthy half-blood.
Tori continued, "I will become queen by winning the Vesta challenge while Prince Corean will become king by winning the Hunt for the Elysian Crown. With the help of the allegiance from the kings of the ironclad countries of Ming and Monakre."
With this, we will start an era for villains.
Allistair nodded at Yei Lin, who later on offered their hands to Prince Corean and Tori. "I will take Alice with me to Ming country before taking him to the Monakre Kingdom. It will take us six months before we can come back here, but when we do, we will announce our support to the second prince and you, Lady Victoria."
"We, Monakres, never break our promise. And this I swear, I will repay you both when the right time comes."
"Thank you for safely securing Alice, Your Highness, Lady Victoria." The two took their turn in kissing the back of her palm and shaking the second prince's hand.
"We will wait for your return." But you will return immediately.
After all, I already sent a letter to both of your fathers under the identity of Benefactor T. That will serve as my insurance until you come back. You may become the king in the future, but I needed the power now.
TODAY IS the last day of spring.
Tori looked outside the windowpanes of the academy's library. Three months passed since the two princes left the premises of the empire. The absence of the Order's president caused quite a ruckus but was immediately stopped when Prince Lauren stepped up to be the temporary president of the Order.
I don't know what he's up to though. There is a big chance that he's planning something new with my father and Sabina, though.
Sabina was busy preparing for the entrance exam that would be held in the following days. The students were also preparing for the examinations. Tori finished reviewing the books that the professors required them to read. She used her remaining time to search for any likely causes of the plague that would cause Prince Corean's death, but she did not find any lead.
Is the plague also a trick from the noble faction? Was the king unaware of it? But with such a large scale, is it possible? Shit, I should have watched Season 6 for any clues.
Touching the window glass as Tori traced Prince Corean's figure from afar, her wariness with the unknown made her want to make a contingency plan.
But how can I make one when I don't have any solid plan regarding the coming plague aside from using Lord Wolfgang?
A plague as big as that. She needed time to prepare.
But how? How can I save you from death? How can change our twisted fate?
A sudden knock on the table she was using stopped her train of thought. Glancing behind her, Tori recognized the headmaster of Trifecta Academy. "May I have a word?"
"Of course, Headmaster Eyzana Valtera." She took the seat in front of him. He was looking curiously at the books on the table that were splattered randomly.
"You are quite interested in epidemics, I suppose. That is a curious hobby for a fourteen-year-old girl." His all-knowing eyes scanned her like he knew everything, but Tori knew he would never know that she transmigrated. Only Gaia knew the purpose she gave Tori. And that was surviving.
Smiling like she usually did, Tori pulled on the same façade as she always did. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Headmaster?"
What was uttered next by the Headmaster faltered her rehearsed smile. "Duke Luwen Rozenreff came to me bearing gifts that were unworthy of me. Along with his obvious attempt to bribe me, your half-sister came. He needed her to have the same standing as you."
You are showing your true colors, father. Behind her newly recovered smile was a fury that was bubbling up. "Oh. My Father has such love for his daughters, Headmaster. Please understand him. I deeply apologize if he offended you with his gifts."
The Headmaster acted as if he did not hear her at all. He continued, "I asked him why he's doing this and he answered he will make your half-sister the heir apparent but he needed her to qualify to compete with you."
Laughing gently, Tori acted that the news was not new to her. For her, it was not new, but still; it surprised her.
I already knew that this would happen, but why am I feeling betrayed?
"I always love healthy competitions, Headmaster. But why are you telling me this?"
What do you gain from telling me? What is your motive?
"You are right, what do I gain from telling you? Simple, I don't like someone underqualified to enter this academy and use this school to earn leverage for some game. My academy is not a stepping stone."
Tori could not hide her grin as she listened to the vindictive tone of the headmaster whom everyone in the empire respected so much.
There's no need to hide, I see. After all, he can see right through me.
"The respected headmaster did not come to me just to moan, right? So tell me, Headmaster Eyzana, what do you want from me?"
Burning a hole in her face, the headmaster replied dominantly to her. "Make sure that your sister will not step foot in this place ever again."
The entrance exam is tomorrow. You want me to stop her?
"And what will I gain by doing this, Headmaster? Please don't tell me my reward is a school-related thing."
By doing what the headmaster wanted, Tori needed to confront her father sooner than she thought. But Tori could not refuse this one-time chance to hold the Headmaster of Trifecta Academy by her hands.
"What do you want me to do for you, Lady Victoria Rozenreff? I know that offering you academic rewards will never suffice since you did not come to this academy to learn but to widen your connection."
Smiling slyly, Tori replied with much fervor. "Let's just say, you owe me one."
The wise Headmaster of Trifecta Academy shook his head in surrender. He knew by a first glance what kind of person the eldest miss of the Rozenreff Dukedom was. Lady Victoria Rozenreff was someone he could not trifle with! Rather than make her an enemy of the Trifecta Academy, it would be best to let her become an ally.
With this favor between them, he knew that Lady Victoria's fate between him had a long way to go. Somehow, he was looking forward to the changes that Lady Victoria would bring to the Eckrett Empire.