TORI WALKED away from Duke Luwen Rozenreff without the pent-up disappointment that she used to harbor whenever she spoke to him. As she spoke to Cory, Tori knew that her father was walking a path that he chose. She could even empathize with him since she knew firsthand that Sabina was not the person she portrayed in front of their father. Walking away from them meant that finally drawn the line between friends and foes.

As she stepped outside the buzzing cathedral, every eye was on her but it immediately shifted when a looming figure stood before her. Smiling gently, she greeted him with a curtsy for everyone to witness. "Blessings to the Empire's northern lord, Chief Keiran Arin."

Collective gasps followed by the buzzing whispers resounded around them as Tori and her companions with the newly arrived ragged-looking Chieftain Kieran stood at the middle of the higher echelon's gossip circle.

"Lady Victoria, Prince Yei Lin, and Duke Castaña." The young Chieftain of the North greeted them with a simple which earned him a soft chuckle from Tori. You never changed, Keiran.

"Are you here to offer your condolence to the Marchioness, Chief Keiran?" Or are you here for me? With the blood dripping from the crate that your warriors are holding behind you, I can see that you already took up my challenge.

The talk Tori had with the Chieftain Keiran with Crown Prince Yei Lin as their audience was something that would place the final nail to the coffin. With only three days to prepare everything, Tori needed all her vassals with her. But she was hesitant if Chief Keiran was willing to go down the same path as her. So she asked him to prove it to her before the day would end.

After the talk, the young chieftain briskly left them in which astounded her, but now Tori finally understood why he left. There was no better place to show her that his oath was true.

"What's in the crate? I believe it's drawing quite the attention of our humble audience, Chieftain Arin." Tori remained passive in front of him, in front of anyone else.

Nodding at the warriors, the crate was presented in front of Tori. The clanking metal sound of the crate being opened in one swing thus allowing her and everyone near her to see its content earning another set of collective gasps from the masses.

Four heads, all were freshly cut as the look upon the corpses' faces showed that whoever killed them was a surprise for them. The widening of their eyes as their pupils dilated and their tongues hanging as if they screamed before they lost their lives, truly gruesome death for the four.

"Aren't they the royal knights that escorted Lady Victoria that day?"

"What will the King say about this?"

"Why did he kill them? Is he offering this to the funeral?"

"No, more like he is offering it to Lady Victoria."

You are the king of the north for a reason, Keiran. Tori thanked the veil that hid the devious glint in her ruby-colored eyes as she stared at the corpses of the royal guards that humiliated her. How did he get them? I heard that Prince Allistair detained them after that day.

"What is this commotion?" The stern voice of the newly arrived king snapped everyone's attention including Tori's. She curtsied after she stepped aside to make way, seeing that she was standing at the center of the path to the cathedral. "Blessings to the Empire's Sun, His Majesty, King Elpaim Eckrett."

Tori observed the chieftain's rigid stupor as he gave way for the king, not even bothering to greet the imperial majesty.

The loincloth of animal skin that the Chief Keiran wore, leaving his body bare for everyone to admire, got the king's attention. "And who are you? Why is a nomad here in my capital?" His offensive words matched his glaring eyes towards the surprisingly calm-looking chieftain.

Tori decided to butt in. "Your Majesty let me present you. Chieftain Keiran Arin, the King of the North."

Her words rang like a warning bell for the king while for the third time collective gasps from the audience were heard. The king's freezing glare shifted from the young chieftain to Tori and the widely opened crate. "And what's this? Did your barbaric brain bring this as an offering to a funeral?"

With a gruff voice, the young chieftain replied to the king. "Is this a funeral? I thought this is a happy occasion, King Elphaim. Pardon my intrusion but I am here for Lady Victoria Rozenreff. It is a common custom for the warriors of the north to offer something to prove their oath of loyalty. And I am here to offer these presents to my chosen, Lady Victoria."

Oh-ho, you are quite the witty one, aren't you Keiran? There is no better way to prove yourself to me, but offer me the heads of those who once oppressed me in front of a flock of nobles. It is as if he is declaring indirectly that those who wished me harm will suffer the same fate as these royal guards.

The king scoffed, clearly displeased with the idea of the northern king bowing down to Tori. "Come visit me in the palace this evening, Chieftain Arin. I have something to discuss with you." The king grasped the young chieftain's shoulder as he whispered while his sapphire eyes were trained on Tori, mocking her openly. "You don't want to bow down to a dead person walking, right? Better be smart with your choices." It was a whisper meant to let her hear, which Tori only replied with a smiling face.

Standing rigidly, Tori knew how the young chieftain was doing everything he could to restrain himself. The king pivoted to face Tori, leaning to her left ear, whispering his vile words. "I heard that you caused quite a commotion in the capital's cell. Be careful, your vassals won't be able to protect you forever."

Tori whispered back, "What can I do? They only see me as their master. You see, Your Majesty, I take care what's mine. But I destroy those who dare step on me. Aren't we all, right Your Majesty?" The higher echelon watching the exchange would only think that the two whispering figures were only greeting each other as the king's face remained passive as Tori was smiling sweetly like she always did.

The king's clenching jaws were enough for Tori as she immediately curtsied in front of the frozen king and leaving him alone immediately. Her vassals immediately followed her as another pair of sapphire eyes watched the commotion from afar.

THE ARISTOCRATIC members that chose to defend the second prince decided to meet at their new rendezvous point, the Monakre's Royal Pavilion where Tori was also staying with Lily. Tori just woke up from an unwanted three-hour sleep. Though she decided yesterday that she would not sleep as she read the flow of her plans again, the coat of the second prince that Lily brought to her after she came back from the dramatic funeral lulled Tori to sleep. The next thing she knew it was already morning. It meant that they only got two days to prepare before the wretched noble trial would commence.

Tori got her job done yesterday. And today, the plan would start turning as the fruits of these plans of her would fully ripen after the third day, the noble trial.

She already knew the result of the noble trial. They would prosecute the second prince no matter how they defended him. Looking outside her windows as the handmaidens surround her while they dressed her up, Tori wanted to finish these plans and take Cory out of that blasted place.

"Lady Tori, you should eat first before meeting the aristocrats. I am sure they can understand that my lady needs nutrients to keep up." The worried voice of Lily made Tori smiled. Tori glanced at the handmaidens around her who were also a part of Lily's promising spy network.

"Hmm. I am sure that time will not wait for me. Though I can talk with them while having breakfast, prepare the necessary immediate preparations Lily after you report to me."

Lily snapped upon realizing that she got to report the results of her spy network inside every manor of the nobles including the Rozenreff Duchy. "Oh right. According to the handmaidens serving the households under the noble faction, the nobles are in chaos. Chieftain Keiran Arin's message was delivered and received well by the intended audience. Though there are new talks that you are in cohorts with Prince Cory's attempt for treason by using the north."

Well, it is not like they guessed wrong in the part that I am attempting treason. Indeed, I am planning to take the throne.

Knocking before entering, Chieftain Keiran together with Marchioness Susana entered Tori's bed chambers. Lily ushered the other handmaidens to exit as the latter followed with the promise of bringing refreshments. "Please, have a seat."

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 the 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 her handkerchief.

Lily together with the other two handmaidens came trotting in with the teas on 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 with the fear of being imprison or being 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 I can. The food giving to the commoners will be done this afternoon with ease. I also made sure that Lady Sabina would join along with the other ladies of the high society. As the remaining Vesta candidate of the same faction of the remaining prince fit to the throne, her attendance is already set in stone."

Tori could not help but gin subtly as she sipped her favorite tea. Prince Yei Lin said so too. In fact, the Vervain's poison has already been ready by the handmaidens from Lily's spy network while Prince Yei Lin's knights readied the antidotes for the commoners. A poisoning this scale from the hands of the future queen will cause a massive distrust when the time comes that I will need it.

"Good. Did Lord Zeno McMillian Larat contact you, Marchioness Susana?" His letter says that he will make sure to arrive in time to stir trouble. Alone with his letter is his handkerchief with his sigil, a sign of his membership to the aristocratic faction. Such an odd man, indeed.

"Yes. He will go there with me, but will remain hidden until it's his time to call off the poison from his food, Lady Victoria, " said Marchioness Susana.

Lord Zeno's reputation soared high as he entered the noble faction. His medical journals were being revered in the medical field. The young lord's achievements have also circulated to the commoner's circle. With him calling out the food will cause enough ruckus. His words will be the key to destroying the masses' trust in the noble faction and the king. With Queen Aurina locked up in her room, I can't use her support at the moment.

Tori turned her attention to the stonecold chieftain who was listening to her the whole time. "How is your privy meeting to the king, Chief Keiran?"

"His words are poisoned. It looks like he knows about the Wall in the north so I have to end his reign through you–"

His straightforward answer got interrupted when Tori chuckled. "I am sorry, Chief Keiran. Your honest answer always makes me laugh."

Her laughing face froze when she saw how the ice-cold young king of the northern region smiled for a split second. Woah!

A knock from Lily interrupted their tea time. Oh, I guess the aristocrats are all here. "Shall we go take breakfast with the aristocratic faction, everyone?"