"THIS IS your fault." Tessa's words rang with malice; her eyes glinted with burning hate for Tori. The latter kept her face calm even with the shame she was feeling as Tessa's words hit her hard. Tori knew that her stubbornness was at fault, but she promised Cory that she would move forward. So she decided not to dwell in her past even her mistakes as she continued to move forward.

Setting the teacup down, Tori replied collectively to Tessa who looked like someone that would murder with the anger from her eyes. Tori's red eyes coldly addressed Tessa. "You talk big for someone who was conspiring against him from the beginning."

Tessa's eyes averted hers, Tori continued. "Is your anger really because of your fear that Cory will die? Or is it because you had hoped? Hope that Cory truly loved you as you fell for him terribly?" Tori smiled slyly at Tessa. Seeing that the latter did not reply, Tori went straight to the reason why she called Tessa. "Well, you are not here to discuss Cory's affairs. You answered my call with the hopes to save him, am I wrong?"

Tessa's obvious anger towards her vanished faded, replaced by a determination that made Tori raised her eyebrows. Tessa replied, "Prince Corean deserves to rule this empire."

Indeed. "How far will you do for him?"

Tessa's eyes were clear from deceit as she locked eyes with Tori's speculative ones. "I am willing to commit treason so whatever you are planning, count me in."

Good.

"Then let me test that."

PORRIDGE ATTEMPTED MASSACRE, the common folks called the incident when Lady Sabina Rozenreff distributed poisoned foods under the sponsorship of the first prince which resulted in hundreds of commoners in critical condition.

The capital's hospital was not enough to accommodate the affected commoners. To save his daughter from the anger of the masses, Duke Luwen Rozenreff set up tents outside the Rozenreff Duchy's estate.

Inside the Duke's office, he argued with the Headmaster Eyzana of Trifacta Academy whom he summoned an hour after Sabina frantically called him from his meeting with the emperor. "It is poison, isn't it? The aristocratic faction prepared for this!" Gone was his rationality as he addressed the well-respected Headmaster with frantic eyes.

Headmaster Eyzana sat calmly, not minding the furious duke. "The commoner faction is one of the three pillars that support the empire. This event that was organized by your daughter and sponsored by the first prince is an attack on the noble faction." A very smart move. "But the commoners do not care about the trifling war between the noble faction and the aristocratic faction. What they know right now, hundreds of commoners are on the verge of dying because of Lady Sabina and Prince Lauren, and the person who planned this knows that. So you must avoid igniting the flame that has sparked because of this incident. People talk and even walls have ears, Duke Luwen. We must be mindful with what we say."

Duke Luwen Rozenreff sat in front of the Headmaster as he tried earnestly to relinquish his anger with the aristocratic faction. He was blaming the opposing faction for everything. Should Victoria listen to him and not those fools in the aristocratic faction, then his first-born daughter should not have suffered this humiliation. And now, the aristocratic faction was targeting his second-born daughter. They were taking his daughters away from him.

"Then how can we counter this one?" The prideful duke lowered his pride; he refused to let another daughter of his suffered from the aristocratic faction.

Headmaster Eyzana breathed a relief one when the duke snapped from his rampage. "No need. Collect your cool, Duke Luwen. I have already sent my men to check the food that allegedly poisons the common folks. Let us wait for him then."

"That is good. My men conducted an investigation but they are yet to give me a favorable result."

It is understandable. If that person is the one under this scheme then it is likely that we will find nothing.

Though the two influential men did not need to wait any longer when three successive knocks interrupted them. Duke Luwen straightened up before answering, "Come in."

A young nobleman with the emblem of the Trifecta Academy came in with papers in his right arms. He bowed to the Duke and then to the Headmaster before speaking. "I have found what caused this illness." His wary voice and fearing eyes as he glanced at the impatient Duke intensified.

"What is it?" Headmaster Eyzana implored the young noble.

He handed the paper to the lords as he started explaining the situation. "It was not the poison being mixed secretly, but poison from an ingredient of the porridge. If you check the second page, it was the copy of Lady Sabina signing that approval of ingredients and one of those is the Vervain. Flowers from the Vervain can be mistaken as cauliflower when mixed with the other vegetables, but it was poisonous enough to kill an elephant when digested."

The weight of the information was enough for the Duke to lose his strength, dropping the papers on the pristine floors of his office. The young noble abruptly stopped talking. Headmaster Eyzana took it as a signal to butt in. "And the antidote?"

Gulping loudly, the young noble answered. "On the third page, is the list of medicine that is needed to save the affected."

Headmaster Eyzana flipped the pages only to be stunned upon reading the availability of the medicine. This scheme, is indeed your style, Victoria Rozenreff.

The Duke saw the rigid stance of the Headmaster. Picking up the papers on the floor, Duek Luwen Rozenreff followed suit.

All of the suppliers were no other than, Baron Wolfgang, a loyalist from the aristocratic faction. "Damn those aristocrats!"

Duke Luwen Rozenreff threw the papers to the young nobleman. "Get out!"

The frightened noble trotted away from the Duke Luwen's sight immediately. Headmaster Eyzana followed the duke's frustrated pacing as the latter fisted his air. "If the affected commoners die, Lady Sabina will suffer. You have to send a request letter to the Baron House of Wolfgang."

Your daughter wanted you to choose. Either abandon your pride or abandon your second daughter.

Headmaster Eyzana stared at the duke who was now pondering things as the former spoke cautiously.

TORI WISTFULLY waited at the Wolfgang Household's estate. After meeting Tessa at the Monakre Kingdom's Pavilion, she went straight to Baron Wolfgang with Lily in tow as she was expecting a very special guest. Her other vassals were on different missions for tomorrow's preparation.

Though Lily always brought her tea bags of Chamomile Tea with her as Tori always travel these past few days, for some odd reason, her tea today tasted better.

Sensing her better mood, Baron Wolfgang spoke. "You look good, Lady Victoria. Everyone worries that you may get sick with how tight your schedule is."

What the Baron said was true, but it made Tori realized that people were worried for her. She knew that it was not her battle alone and Tori became aware of that since she had an understanding with Cory. Smiling carefully, Tori replied. "I am truly thankful for your concern, Lord Wolfgang. But our guest for today will surely bring me joy."

The reason for her better disposition immerged, his brazen footsteps as he strode towards Tori and Lord Wolfgang who were enjoying their first tea time together inside the Baron's abode. The awaited guest did not bother to wait for the butler's announcement.

Oh-ho. Finally, you are here, father.

"Lo-Lord Luwen!"

The dark look of the duke made Baron Wolfgang praised Tori. She already said to the Baron that her father would come within the hour. And, alas! He did. Baron Wolfgang already knew how shrewd she was but she did not know that she would be this sly.

"Victoria, what are you doing here?" Duke Luwen stiffened when he saw his daughter calmly sitting in front of the man whom he thought was behind the scheme against Sabina. But the scene in front of the duke made him pondered that the culprit could be Victoria, who resented Sabina since the beginning. His gaze sharpened.

"What am I doing? I am waiting for you, father?"

Baron Wolfgang interrupted, feeling the tension thickened. "Have a seat, Duke Luwen Rozenreff. Though I was a bit astounded with how this visit is quite sudden."

The duke snapped from his furious stance and sat at the third chair which Tori specifically instructed to the Baron before they have begun their tea time. Now, Baron Wolfgang realized why the lady fuzzed about the chair.

Finally recovering his etiquette, Duke Luwen Rozenreff shifted his attention to the Baron. "I have come to request a supply of the medicines I need. I know that the aristocratic factions might think, but I can give you free access in the Centro without interruption from the Trading Union," said the Duke with a no-nonsense tone.

Tori wanted to raise her eyebrows when her father bluffed perfectly in regards to the Trading Union or it might be that he did not know that the noble faction was losing profits as they chatted.

"The Trading Union? Haven't you heard? Marchioness Susana announced her unwillingness to continue the support of the noble faction. You can't bargain something that you do not own, can you Duke Luwen Rozenreff?"

Setting her teacup down, Tori decided to butt in. "What medicines do you need, father?"

The Duke stared at his first-born daughter for a while before he answered her with a sullen face. "Medicines for Vervain."

"Oh, I can help, father." Her twinkling eyes and confident aura screamed at the duke that she had what he needed. He knew it the moment he saw her sitting in front of the Baron. Watching his daughter now, he could tell that he failed to raise his firstborn like his late wife. Tori continued with a sly grin, "All I need is the correct question from you."

Breathing deeply, the duke entered the deal that would change the history of the empire forever. "What do you want in return?"

"Ooh, that is the right question indeed. Well, you need to make me the Duchess of Rozenreff Duchy before the sun sets." Her cold words silenced even the breathing of the two men around Tori as they gawked at her openly.

Tomorrow will be the beginning of a history that will give birth to a new dynasty.

"And if I refuse?"

Gone was her smiling face when she replied, "Then I will make sure that your precious daughter will die in the guillotine as I enjoy watching her head roll in the capital's ground."