THE CONNECTION of the Monakre Kingdom lies deeper than anyone could think. With just one word, the knights guarding the cell were easily replaced by Crown Prince Yei Lin's men just for this night. A bag of gold bought the royal knights' said loyalty to the royal family of the empire which was such a shame. But Tori turned her head from the obvious corruption since she would need this leak in the nearest future.

Three long strides resonated inside the dingy dark hallway of the cell. They're headed to the most comfortable room inside this prison cell where Tessa was currently held and was guarded by the second prince's most trusted knight. But even the trusted servants would bite their masters when their family is being threatened.

Upon seeing them, the supposedly trusted knight opened the lavish door where Tessa was ludicrously situated. "This way." Bowing to them the entire time, the knight's guilt-stricken form was something that did not warrant any pity from the party.

Tori stepped forward but was stopped by Crown Prince Allistair's voice. "Are you going to go there alone?"

Your worried voice brought summer paradise to me, my dearest Allistair. Protect me, be strong for me, and plunder for me. That way, I can tell myself that you're a great investment.

Smiling to him, Tori gently pried his hand from her. "When you hear me shout your name that would be the time that I need your help." Her eyes settled to the Monakre's prince then next to the serious-looking Yei Lin who just nodded at her as his response.

Though reluctant, Crown Prince Allistair stood still. Tori's confident aura enveloped Tessa's cell. The very first thing that she saw was the sullen look of the crouching Tessa at the corner of her lavish cell. Though the steel bars surrounded Tessa's space screamed prison cell, the comfortable bed down to the clean walls and floors was the second prince's doing.

Right after his outburst from the other day during the covert meeting, Tori received reports from Rowan that the second prince met the noble faction twice.

Tessa's arrival in her plot was both Tori hated and loved. She hated Tessa because she's ruining her smooth plans about Prince Corean. She loved Tessa because she could have the chance to know about the shady death of the second prince from the original plot.

Tori knew that the plot was changing. It was becoming more complicated but the roles of the leads and the villains never changed.

"Look at what we have here." Tori's voice resonated inside the room but the quivering Tessa did not even move from her fatal form. She was still slumped at the corner while covering her face as her small shoulders were wracked with silent sobs.

"Do not act as if you didn't know that this would happen. The moment that you agreed to the first prince's plan, you already signed up for this possibility." Tori walked closer to Tessa as she enjoyed the very sight of her greatest threat.

"How did you know?" Tessa's frightened eyes met Tori's malicious ones. Leaning towards the steel bars as Tori grasped them, she crouched to Tessa's level.

"I have eyes and ears everywhere, my dear. Either way, you will die a terrible death and the second prince's power can't help you but will make your situation even worse, so worse that you'll wish to die a quick death."

Shaking her head with denial, Tessa covered her ears. "No! You're just saying that because you're jealous of me! You are threatened because I'll be queen instead of you!"

Tori's insulting laugh boomed inside the room. Her frantic laughs shocked Tessa and even those who were just listening outside the wooden door.

"Oh, dear. I can see why the fickle-minded prince adores you so much." Tori wiped her tear-stricken eyes from her uncontrollable laughter. She realized that these days she needed a good laugh.

Her laugh died down and was replaced by a sadistic smile that Tori could not help. "You can never be queen when the second prince won't ever be king. Unless I, Victoria Rozenreff, says so then your beloved won't be king."

"You don't love, Cory." Realization dawned upon Tessa as she watched the noble lady's eyes flickered with monstrous ferocity.

Cory?

Tori's brows rose with curiosity as she observed Tessa, really observed her. The way Tessa's eyes softened upon mentioning the second prince, the way she screamed earlier that she will be queen and the way her eyes watered when she knew that prince Corean was having a hard time because of her situation. Tori realized that Tessa did love the second prince.

Tori remembered the way that the second prince glared at her or the way he grasped her shoulders painfully, she then believed that Prince Corean loved the sewer rat.

Ooh, what interesting progress.

"Prince Corean is mine, Tessa. And with me at his back, he will be king. But with you? Oh, you will only bring him his death and eventually your death and the death of everyone you cherish. So it will be like raining deaths everywhere. You see, you are a walking living disaster. He's supposed to be king but you, your love ruin it. But oh well, they say love can conquer all. So let's just see about that, yeah?"

Finally standing up, Tori looked down at Tessa whose tears were rushing down like Tori just beat the shit out of her. "Don't die, Tessa. Do me the favor of watching your beloved Cory groveled upon my feet. After all, I am all of what he has left."

Not looking back even when Tessa called her name, Tori left the room with hatred filling her rotten heart.

Why? Why can anyone have their happy ever after in this wretched plot except Victoria? Why am I feeling this? I already surrendered the path full of unicorns and rainbows. I chose to walk a path full of thorns and glass shards.

DUKE LUWEN Rozenreff's dull-looking face welcomed Tori the moment she returned from her escape from the prison cell. Tori was taken aback by the fact that her father was standing in front of their estate as if he was waiting for something or someone.

Is he waiting for me?

Yeah yeah, and pigs can fly.

Tori curtsied in front of his father. "Good evening, father." Tori's sweet façade never changed even after the incident one year ago. Her caring and sweet gestures were still there for the Rozenreff servants to see but not for her father and sister. Tori knew that the Duke and Sabina already knew of her growing connections to the new Duke of Castaña Duchy and the two crown princes from the east and west countries.

"Where have you been, Victoria?" His cold voice could freeze even molten lava but not Tori.

Shrugging gracefully, Tori just smiled secretly. "Here and there, father. I just discipline an unruly sewer rat. You do know that I have a penchant for punishing those who dare step on my path, father. That rat just crossed my path."

The weight of her words made the Duke remembered what she did with the Duchess. Her smiling red eyes reminded him of a devil spawn, so far from his dearest Camilla.

The judging looks of the Duke did not hurt Tori since he was like this to her since that noble trial. He was treating her as if she's not his daughter anymore. But the fact that he's the king's chosen official heir was something he could not refute.

"Well then, good night father. Send my regards to my dearest aid, Sabina. After all, that will be her role once you stepped down."

Smiling at the Duke innocently who was just clenching his jaws from her sugary mockery, Tori walked away after doing another curtsy.

Lily's worried face welcomed Tori into her room. "Are you hurt anywhere, Lady Tori?"

Smiling from her trusted aide, Tori asked Lily instead. "Did you do what I told you?"

The shift of the air was sudden. The once worried Lily was now smiling knowingly at Tori. Lily did change for the better through the time that they spent together. "You know that I never fail, my lady."

Now let us wait for the fruits of our labor.

COURT TRIAL, a trial for the commoners to be judged by the noble council. Unlike the noble trial where the king will judge, an appointed noble will judge this court trial.

Tori was among the audience from the high society. Beside her was Crown Prince Yei Lin while Lily sitting behind her. Their seats were situated above the common folk's. Since this trial involved royalty and a commoner, the high society and the commoners flocked the court trial more.

Private seats were also reserved for the queen and the second prince who would attend today's meeting. Their seat was facing to their seat in which Tori arranged with the help of the queen's connections.

"Announcing the arrival of Queen Aurina Eckrett and Prince Corean Shuia Eckrett!" Everyone showed their respect to the royal family members. When everyone was seated, the chancellor announced again.

"Announcing the arrival of the accused, Tessa!"

The same door where Tori entered with a veil a year ago, a clean-looking Tessa with no tears from her eyes walked with ease and confidence.

Aah, the confidence. This will make everything worthwhile.

Tell me, did the two of you talk? Did he promise you that everything will be alright? Did he whisper sweet nothings to you?

Tori saw how the second prince looked at Tessa with worry. Even the queen could not believe what she's seeing from his eyes. Worry not, Your Majesty.

Tori's smiling red eyes bore into Tessa as the latter walked right into the center where she would be the judge. The commoners whispered vile things against the accused but Tori knew that deep down they envied Tessa for bagging a royalty. The nobles and aristocrats from high society spoke of vulgar words against Tessa but deep down they also felt the burning jealousy running through their rancid veins.

And right now, Tori was feeling the same emotion the majority of the audience was feeling. She hated the fact that Tessa got easy. The deep burning hate for the wretched plot came back like an avalanche for Tori.

Here you are, Tessa. You were just used by the first prince which led you here but someone would fight tooth and nail just for you to live. What a cozy role, huh.

"Careful, Lady Tori. Your face is getting scary."

Realizing that she's showing her real emotion, Tori just released a heavy sigh before turning to the observant crown prince who was just looking at her the entire time. Her sugary smile came back like a mask in a circus. "I was just wondering how that smug look will change when they both realize the outcome of this pathetic court trial."

The chancellor finally stood above the podium to welcome the court trial's noble judge. With the confidence shown from the second prince's eyes, she could deduct that he rigged the noble who would judge the court trial.

As soon as the chancellor started to open his mouth, Tori shifted her attention to her dear darling prince who's now seriously looking at the happenings below them. "Announcing the noble judge selected by the noble council for this court trial, Duke Rowan Cristof Castaña of the Castaña Duchy!"

Tori enjoyed the way the confident smile slipped slowly from their smug-looking faces. His golden eyes shifted to meet her smiling red eyes.

Tori mouthed one-word ' beg'.