CORY'S BODY went rigid after receiving Prince Yei Lin's reports. Merilla was on the move since King Elphaim sent a summons to the aristocratic faction and noble faction that he would invite the candidates to his castle. "Everything is in motion," said Cory while looking outside the windows of Monakre's pavilion.

"And so are the enemies. Lady Sabina Rozenreff was last seen in the Back Alley together with Lady Merill Larat," said Prince Yei Lin, who was standing behind Corean. "Are you absolutely sure about this, Prince Corean? Tori did her best to support you."

Cory glanced at the crown prince. Instead of answering his question, he shrugged. "I want to see her. I can do that, right? I can be selfish just for one night, right?"

Prince Yei Lin understood him. Victoria would hate him more once King Elphaim would summon them. He wanted to hold on as much as he could. "One night? I know how you always sneak into her room and watch her sleep until dawn breaks. The correct term will be your last night sneaking in her room."

Cory hid his emotions as he smiled gently at the crown prince. The latter was right. Since that wretched day when he separated his path from Victoria, Cory compensated his desire to be with her by simply watching her room or sneaking in just to stare at her sleeping soundly.

It pained him to know that even this privilege would be taken away as he drifted apart from her. But this was his choice, a choice that he would be willing to take a million times over just to save her from impending death.

AND SO he did come to her place. For a good hour, Cory just stood under her balcony as he hid behind the shadows of a tree. Cory was about to begin his climb only to be stopped midway when her balcony opened. Clad in her nightgown and bathed in the light of a million stars, Victoria's messy ringlets flowed freely when a gentle breeze welcomed her as she walked rather ungracefully towards the railings. Her attention was towards the night sky while Cory's was into her.

The silence of the night helped Cory to hear what she was saying. "I will get what I deserve. To trust means giving that someone permission to betray you, there's no need to trust anyone just to succeed. I have myself for that thank you very much."

Corean froze. He knew. He knew how Victoria hated the world, but hearing it directly from her still pained him. Cory wanted to try even once. Stepping out to the light, he called her name repeatedly. "Victoria!"

Victoria was about to go inside when she stopped upon hearing his calls. Walking back to the edge of her balcony, Victoria looked down as she gave him a questioning look.

"What do you want, you pompous prince?" Victoria hissed her words. He smiled for a split second upon hearing her genuine feelings for him. She showed with her words that she hated his presence instead of smiling down at him with fake sugary smiles of her.

Cory opened his arms. "Jump! I need to talk to you."

What he did was not out of his whim. He knew it was impossible, but the act of Victoria jumping down would mean absolute trust from her. Knowing the result, Cory still opened his arms for her.

Though impossible, he wanted her to look back at this particular moment. That once upon a time, a not-so-prince-charming wanted her to throw caution to the wind and just trust him to catch her no matter what. "Are you crazy?" Victoria leaned down as she replied to him who was still opening his arms wide.

"First, I'm pompous and now I'm crazy. You need a lesson for disrespecting me. But now, jump."

The moment that Victoria walked inside, not even looking back at her, Cory's smile vanished. Remembering what Prince Yei Lin told me, he climbed to her balcony without hesitation. Fishing out the key that Prince Yei Lin provided him, Cory was able to enter her room with ease.

Even in a dim-lighted room, her golden hair shone for him. Muting his footsteps, Cory leaned to Victoria's back. "You have to get a new lock," whispered Cory. Victoria's hand automatically moved. She grabbed the nearest quill and she sharply turned to aim towards his neck. When their eyes met, he could feel her body tensed followed by the deadly quill falling to the ground.

"I never knew you have a talent for opening what's supposed to be locked," said VictoriaSince Cory knew Victoria's room like the back of his palm, he proceeded to lock the room's door then he came back in front of her. He sat comfortably on her bed while Victoria was sitting a meter away from him. The whole time, Cory saw how Victoria's eyebrows were knotted as she observed him.

Corean could not stand the cold tension from her silence so he spoke the first words that came to his mind. "It was you, right."

What Cory meant was the one behind his supposed abduction by Crown Prince Allistair. He just wanted something to talk about.

"I believe I am not following you well, your highness."

Cory stared at Victoria. Her reply did not even register in her mind, not as he cared about that. He just wanted to curve her image in his mind. He wanted to remember every contour of her face. But he snapped from his daydream when he saw how her façade dropped while staring back at him.

Did I scare her? Is my presence a bother to her? She hates me, I see. Corean thought.

"Okay fine. I planned the accident for this afternoon. No one died so why are you fuming like I killed someone?"

A knock interrupted him from replying. "Lady Tori, I could not find what you are asking. Should I inform the knights?"

Victoria replied immediately, "No need, Lily. You can go now. I won't need the tea, thank you."

"Good night, Lady Tori."

Cory knew what Victoria meant. This afternoon, the Ming's envoy met a small accident to the bridge near the capital. The gifts of the envoy fell to the stream, the same stream where the Vervain would flow to the capital. This incident stopped his brother's plans thanks to Victoria. Because of her, the Eckrett Empire would not suffer thousands of death. But this would earn Victoria the anger of his brother who hated losing among others.

Merilla was now searching for Tessa, whom Victoria shipped to the Ming Country. Like what he rehearsed in his mind, Corean spoke the words that would make Victoria hate him more. "Where is she? If you can control a country like the Ming Country easily without leaving your room, it will be a piece of cake for you to dispose of someone you hate the most. Hate me Lady Victoria but don't touch Tessa. She's under my protection."

Victoria's façade broke like a string being snapped from the shear strength of being stretched too much. She stood up and closed the distance between them, Pushing him down her bed, she straddled him which froze him for the nth time tonight.

Cory's golden eyes widen while above him, Victoria was smiling wickedly while sitting above him. Victoria seductively crouched to his right ear. Both of her hands were both on his sides to balance her body above him as she whispered with malice that made every nerve of his body shot like a cannonball. "She's under your protection? That one person who only existed just to kill you? I am the one who's protecting you this entire time. A simple thank you will suffice your highness."

Her velvety voice held controlled anger. Cory steeled himself to stop his hands from touching her body or else it would be too late for Victoria. He wanted her to lash into him. By doing this, all her bottled emotions would not weigh her down anymore.

"I. Saved. You. Corean Shuia Eckrett. Not her, not them, but for me. So be a good boy and show me some gratitude." Victoria kissed his sharp right jaw harshly. No, she nipped his jaw with her teeth. The little tease above him enjoyed his torment. Clenching his fists until he drew blood when his fingernails pierced his palms, Corean controlled the beast inside him.

But all his resolve vanished into thin air when the little vixen licked his left cheek that incited a low groan from him. This was the final nail to the coffin, Cory let go of his reasonings and surrendered himself to what he truly desired. "Now your-''

Cory cut her words as he flipped her. The next moment, Victoria was the one below him as he straddled her. But unlike what she did, Cory devoured her lips like a beast starved his entire life. He saw her eyes widened but he was too lost to care.

Limbs tangled as they fought for dominance. Victoria surrendered beneath him. Her unmoving lips moved in sync with his. Her wailing limbs which were flailing a second ago stopped like they were melted glaziers touched by molten lava. Closing his eyes, he felt it when she linked her arms around his nape to deepen the searing kiss.

At the stroke of midnight, no power plays and schemes in between them. Just two people stripped with masks and cautions. Corean did not want to stop and if this continued, he knew that this would not end with a deep kiss but much more. If he listened to his heart, he would have to risk her all over again. No, he could not let it happen. Not when everything was set into motion.

Every nerve of his body protested as he distanced away from Victoria. He knew that he must not cause a backlash to his plan with Prince Yei Lin.

I'm sorry, Victoria. Corean thought before he gave her a mocking smile that would seal their distance forever. "At the end, you are only a woman playing politics."

"Is that so? Then why are you acting like a virgin noble lady? I should be the one doing that. Besides, you are my fiancé. You own my body, your highness."

Cory kneeled on the bed and grabbed her shoulders with an insulting smile. His face a few inches above her so Victoria had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. "Keep believing in that, my sweet fiancé. But you will find Tessa, only then, will I consider my betrothal to you."

He leaned to kiss the corner of her lips before he walked away towards the balcony's door where he came in earlier. Without looking back, Cory walked away from her, forever.

"I SUMMONED you all here to announce that anytime now, I will formally call a royal edict to start the Hunt for the Elysian crown and the search for the winner of the Vesta Challenge. Unlike from all the other Hunts and Vesta Challenges you have surely all read from the empire's history books, this generation will be different."

Cory stood before Victoria as they both represented the aristocratic faction. On the other side, his brother and Victoria's sister stood as well.

The King's sapphire eyes scanned the Vesta challengers before gesturing for them to step forward. Now Victoria was standing side by side with Prince Corean. "Now, for the Vestas. You have only one task and that is to help your chosen king. Make him accept you before this week ends and if your chosen king will accept you then you can formally participate in the Vesta Challenge. Should you fail to get the approval meant that you forfeit your one-time chance to be the queen of this empire."

Cory smiled mockingly at Victoria when she looked at him. He knew what she's thinking and he would make it a reality. He had to push Victoria out of this battle arena called the capital. He had to do his best in pushing her out. At that thought, Cory almost winced.

King Elphaim continued, "I will grant your free pass in the royal palace to earn the hearts of my sons. Use it well for there will be no second chances in this game."

"Thank you for your benevolence, Your Majesty. May the blessings of the Goddess Gaia rained down upon you."

"Rise. You ladies can now leave us. I will need to talk to my sons. I will summon you again a week from now."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The moment that the two ladies left, their father looked at them sternly. Gone was his smiling face as he talked to the Vesta challengers earlier. "My empire's stars, my sons, and my legacies step forward." And so they did and bowed to the man who was more of a king than a father for Cory.

"The hunt of the Elysian crown will commence the same day that the Vesta challenge will start officially. A banquet will be held on that day so prepare what you can and be the Empire's sun. Always remember; never help the Vesta challengers as I won't be helping you. Do note that this generation's Hunt will be different."