TORI WANTED to caress Cory but stopped midway. She's scared to see that he suffered this fate instead of her. "If you want to touch me, better do it now."

Her lips parted when the chains around his neck rattled as he lifted his head to meet her teary eyes. Not caring about her endless doubts, Tori crossed the distance between. Her dainty hands gently clasped his swollen face as she was careful with his wounds. "Why did you do it, Cory? Why? No matter how I think about it. Doing this will not benefit you." Tori whispered those words that she wanted to ask him since she learned about his actions, but she could not meet his eyes with shame and fear. A shame since she could not let go of her question, the one question that connected her to the belief that trust was built through exchange value of needs. And fear that he would see the crumbling resolve she once had.

Tori may act strong-willed in front of her vassals like she always did, but deep down, she felt lost now more than ever.

"Benefits. Hmm. Can I call it a benefit if I am contented whenever I see your genuine smile? The one with dimples out, not the closed-eyes sweet smile or the toothy grin."

His golden eyes were smiling even when Tori saw how he winced as he talked. The tremble in her voice was evident when Tori replied to his half-witted reply to her question, a failed attempt to make her swoon.

"You're a lunatic, I tell you." Tori traced the outline of his wounds from the side of his lips to his forehead. She felt him leaned his face to her touch. "Answer me honestly, please."

Cory saw the need in her eyes, the need to be guided. Leaning his forehead to hers, he spoke. "Even if the world becomes your enemy, I will remain steadfast as your protector. Maybe, you did not experience being protected because the goddess knows that once we meet, I will protect you with my whole being. I am not doing this because I want you to love me or I want you to change. I am not doing this because I want something from you. No."

Smiling, Cory continued as he kissed her tears away. "I am doing this because I want to. Because I want to see you smile genuinely, without worrying about that happiness being taken away from you. Always remember this, Victoria. Be who you want to be, but at the end of the day, you have your vassals to lean on. And you have me to show your vulnerable sides. You are only human, Victoria. It is okay to cry in front of me. You will forever remain the feisty noble lady who swept me off my feet the first time we met. So break and let me put you back on."

No amount of lip-biting could stop Tori's sobs as she finally let loose. Hugging his wounded body carefully, she sobbed like she never did. She cried for the life of Talia who was betrayed by her mother. She cried for the original Victoria who only wished to be loved back. And she cried for Tori who was led into ruins by her beliefs only to be saved by the one person who crushed her walls. She finally shattered, but Cory was there for her to catch every piece of her.

He let her cried. Tori did not know how long she spilled her guts out. But after soaking his shin from her tears, she finally quieted down. Sniffling like a five-year-old child, Tori looked up into his smiling face. "How is it? Are you calm now, Victoria?"

Wiping the remnants of her vulnerability, Tori smiled wickedly at Cory. "You bet I am, Prince Corean." Distancing a foot away from him, Tori stared at his eyes. Raw determination washed into her like vengeance. "I will stop at nothing just to free you." Grasping his cheeks, Tori leaned to Cory, closing her eyes midway. His powerful kiss welcomed hers. No agenda. No barriers. Just two bare hearts met for the first time, one with longing and one with a fearful yet determined heart.

Pausing to breathe, Tori whispered against his lips. His growing stables tickling her face. "I ask you for the last time to wait for me. I will burn this empire if need be, you will be released. So please, don't die."

As an answer, Cory captured her lips one more. Closing her eyes once more, Tori bathed with the feelings being poured into that one searing kiss.

She remembered that night when Cory asked her to jump. Should she have trust him that night and jumped right into his arms, maybe Cory would not suffer like this. Tori knew that regrets must be discarded to stay focus, but she could not help but feel disappointed.

But everything is different now. I may still be walking a thorny path to the crown, but I am not alone in this journey. I have people who will offer me their hands if the pain is too much to bear.

THE 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. "How is the Vervain's antidote going?"

The young Duke opened the carriage's door for her. "Zeno McMillian is very cooperative. He also wants you to visit his laboratory. Said he wanted to talk to you."

Tori raised her eyebrows. Hmm. You become so docile after seeing me defeated by your sister's scheme, huh. I guess you are indeed telling the truth when you said that you only wanted me to lose.

"And the poisons?" Tori asked Duke Rowan as soon as the carriage started moving to their next destination.

"King Rei Lin successfully shipped them to the empire. As we speak, they are being moved to the pavilion assisted by the royal knights under Prince Corean."

"Good, proceed as plan." Tori moved the curtains to sneak a peek. The smell of the sea welcomed her immediately. Looking at the sky, she saw Talia circling a large merchant ship in the dock. "They're already here."

Duke Rowan looked beyond the carriage's window. "You have the northern lord at your beck and call, I see. Congratulations, Lady Tori. The north holds the last stronghold of this empire."

And they have the platinum mine that the king seeks.

Tori slyly glanced at the young Duke; the sunlight that penetrated the carriage accentuated her red eyes. I told Cory that I will stop at nothing just to free him. Even if that means declaring coup d'état, I will gladly do so.

"Are you with me, Duke Rowan Castaña?" Her red eyes stared at his cobalt-colored eyes with no-nonsense. He answered by kissing the back of her palm. "I am your spear and shield, Lady Tori. I and your other vassals are at your disposal."

Smiling gently, her dimples showing, Tori knew she was being protected the whole time that she thought she was fighting alone. Though she failed before to recognize these warm hands before, she would make sure not to commit that mistake again.

The moment that Tori stepped out from the carriage, she felt the warm coat of Duke Rowan encased her small figure. The blowing cold sea breeze blocked by the thick coat draped around her. "Thank you," said Tori as she looked up at the smiling young Duke.

"I thought that Lady Victoria has gotten used to the wintery climate of the northernmost mountains. You still hated the cold, yeah?" Akasha's voice rang that surprised Tori in a good way. Though she did not admit it before, she liked Akasha's sunny disposition. It was hard to believe that Akasha was related to the stone-cold chieftain. Where is he, anyway? Glancing around, all Tori could see were the Arin tribe's warriors.

"My brother is talking with the Crown Prince Yei Lin and they're taking so long. Should I send someone to tell them that you are here, yeah?" Akasha clung to her, pushing Duke Rowan out of her way. Tori wanted to burst out laughing as she saw how the young Duke tumbled from being shoved like no one. Only Akasha can do that.

"No need. They're inside the captain's cabin, right? I will go there instead. I have something to talk about with them, anyway." Tori was about to step away when she spun in Duke Rowan's direction. "Oh. And keep Akasha company, please. You will do it, right Duke Rowan?" After all, you just said a while ago that you are at my disposal. Though smiling, Tori could see the reluctance in his eyes as Akasha turned her attention to the shy young Duke.

GRAVE NEWS of the noble faction's pillar of support spread like wildfire in the higher echelon and to the bottom of the caste system. His deaths came into many names. Assassination. Massacre. Crime with Passion. Many whispered but no one knew what happened to the Marquess's sudden death.

The king immediately commanded the noble faction to conduct a discreet investigation and all of it led to the former coachman of the Zoliel Household. The king's royal knights led by the royal guard's captain found a tongue-less criminal and was immediately prosecuted since all the latter could do was shook his head and cried.

After Tori talked with the chieftain, he went on to rest early which astounded Tori. Not minding the chieftain, Tori went straight to the funeral that was about to be held at the capital's cathedral with Duke Rowan and Crown Prince Yei Lin in tow. She held her head high as she stepped out of the carriage.

With her hand being guided by Prince Yei Lin and Duke Rowan Castaña only a step behind them as he acted as her knight, every noble and aristocrat whispered vile words against her. Smiling her favorite mocking smile that was the only thing that could be seen since the veil obstructed her face aside from her lips and down. She walked straight to the standing new head of the House Zoliel.

To put up a show in front of the upper echelon, Tori hugged Marchioness Susana. "You hated him, huh. I saw how you enjoyed killing him," whispered Tori that looked like she was consoling the supposed grieving Marchioness who lost her loving husband. No one will ever know that the real criminal was the new head of the Zoliel Household. "May Goddess Gaia guides Marquess Zoliel's soul," said Tori that the higher echelon heard.

Marchioness Susana nodded her head. "Thank you, Lady Victoria." The Marchioness engulfed Tori into a touching hug. The latter whispered back, "Your father and sister are here. I stalled them as you instructed."

Tori quickly scanned her surroundings and she did found her family. The two were looking at her with cold eyes as if she was not a part of their picture-perfect family anymore. Offering a curtsy to the veiled Marchioness, Tori excused herself and walked towards where the noble faction sat together.

"Father," said Tori as she curtsied in front of her father. "I thought that the last time we'd be seeing each other was during the failed attempt to prosecute me. Guess I'm wrong. How are you, father? Are you sleeping well at night?"

"Father is sleeping well, Sister Victoria." Tori almost raised her eyebrows upon hearing the grated voice of Sabina. "Oh, I did not see you there, Sister Sabina. Your dress camouflaged with the table cloth, you see. Oh, I miss you dearly so."

Duke Luwen Rozenreff stood up and grasped her arms rather painfully as he whispered his words at her right ear. "Let's talk elsewhere," whispered her father to her which she replied with a smile.

"I miss you too, father," Tori replied loudly so everyone could hear. "But unfortunately, I have a very important person waiting for me. And I don't mean Prince Yei Lin or Prince Allistair."

The gritting Sabina was about to reply when the nobles and aristocrats around them started to whisper. "My lady, it is time for us to go." Duke Rowan whispered to her which Tori replied with a nod.

I guess they are here already.

- - - - - 

A/N:

I am so proud of you Tori T_T