Sabina just laughed shyly like it was just a joke, but the Marchioness was eyeing Sabina like a hawk. The possibility of foul play playing inside the Marchioness' petty mind and Tori couldn't ask for more.

The Marquess shifted the topic immediately after witnessing the Duke's frown. He was not angry about the honesty of Victoria, but he knew that the very thought of foul play which he desperately avoided would circulate in high society. Sabina's reputation would be tarnished, which would make it hard to find her a suitable groom in the future.

"I heard that the second prince, Prince Corean, will take the entrance exam. The two princes will now stay in the same environment."

The Duke nodded with a serious face, "Prince Corean will be of age by next year. It is a favorable time that he'll get the same education as Prince Lauren."

"He is just holed up at his northern palace. Surprisingly, he's willingly taking the exam without the aristocrat's push. What do you think, Lady Sabina, Lady Victoria?"

The Marquess included them in the topic for two things. First, to entertain the younger generation of Rozenref Dukedom, and second to see the potential of the heir candidates of Rozenref Duchy. After all, the Duke has yet to announce the official heir of the Rozenref Duchy, even if technically Victoria was the heir apparent since she's the legitimate daughter.

Sabina answered first. Tori was also curious about how would Sabina view the aristocratic faction since this wench would be the future enemy of the second prince and the aristocrats in the original plot. "I think that Prince Corean is now considering being a proper candidate for the throne."

Hmm, so your mind is still in use, huh?

"I agree with Sister Sabina. Especially that by next year he can take part in the Hunting of the Elysian Crown, he must be preparing for it."

The Marquess smiled at the both of them. "You're right–"

The Marquess stopped talking when Johanes hurriedly whispered something to the Duke, which made him flustered, "What? Who's here?"

"What? What happened?" Marchioness Susana was quite curious about who elicited that kind of reaction from the Duke.

The duke abruptly stood up, announcing the news that shook them all. "The two princes are waiting in their respective carriages. They wanted to escort you, Victoria."

"What?" Tori's weak façade cracked with the sudden crazy news.

Why are those two here? I am shaken by the very thought of my killer as the one escorting me, but the second prince is also here! What's happening with this plot?

"Let's go and greet them. Seeing that they're refusing to come down and greet us meant you are going now with them instead of later, Victoria." The Duke got both astonished and bothered by the sudden appearance of the two princes, especially when Victoria didn't show any hint of attraction toward the two. The Duke was wondering what the two princes were scheming. "Johanes, let Teresa fetch Victoria's belonging. Assemble the assigned knights for Victoria, they're going right now."

The five of them rushed towards the estate's entrance to greet the two Empire's stars. With the Duke and the Marquess leading them, Tori saw how Sabina stole glares toward her whenever the Marchioness was not looking. The walk towards the estate's entrance was quite stiff. It was partly because of the appearance of Prince Corean, who's not welcome in the Rozenreff Duchy. The two princes were above them, so they should pay their respects.

Two grand carriages surrounded by royal knights greeted their sight. Tori tried so hard not to show her confusion and wariness in the unwarranted situation thrust upon her.

The captain of the royal knights greeted them politely. "Blessings to the Empire's spear and shield, Duke Rozenref, and Marquess Zoliel. Greetings to Marchioness Susana, Lady Sabina, and Lady Victoria. Prince Lauren and Prince Corean were inside their respective carriages. They wished to escort Lady Victoria upon hearing the attempt assassination to Lady of Rozenref Duchy."

The Duke glanced at her, "Welcome to Rozenreff Estate, Captain Greyzon. I didn't know that Victoria was friends with the two princes."

The captain knowingly smiled at Tori. The captain could not reply when the two carriages opened simultaneously. Familiar amber eyes met Tori's eyes first. For her, it felt like it's been a long time since they met. Dreading, Tori needed to step forward to greet them, especially the one with the sapphire eyes who are looking intently at her. But greeting them was not her greatest problem.

My fucking problem is, which carriage should I fucking choose?

"BLESSINGS TO the Empire's stars, the first prince and the second prince." Tori showed courtesy to the two as she stood in front of them. She was being the center of attention which Sabina loathed the most, but Tori was just hiding her discomfort from the situation.

She just planned to be sent off by her father and her half-sister while keeping up her façade that she's still weak from the incident. But now, she didn't know how these two royal princes ended up visiting her in her estate and now they were offering to escort her to Trifecta Academy.

How can I dodge this train wreck?

Prince Corean just smile at her while Prince Lauren held her right and kissed it, which shocked everyone that was watching! Her smile faltered for a split second, which the two princes only saw.

"I believe it's time to get going, brother." Prince Corean interfered with a smile towards his older brother. Prince Lauren only cocked his head and let go of her hand.

"You're right, Cory. You two have a test to do. Let me offer you my carriage, Lady Victoria. I can offer you my insights since I have experience with Trifecta Academy's entrance exam."

He offered his hand to me in front of her family. Who can decline that kind of offer? But hell will sell ice cream first before I let myself stay in that damn carriage with the same person who cut this body's neck, no way!

Tori glanced at Prince Corean, who had that gentle smiling face.

I want to wipe that smug face from your wretched face, you piece of shit. Tori seethed while smiling sweetly at Prince Corean as she accepted Prince Lauren's face.

"Then can I ask Prince Corean to accompany us, your highness? After all, he will also take the exam with me," she challenged Prince Lauren with her pretentious generosity. Her eyes were sparkling with defiance, which earned her a chuckle from the first prince.

Bastard.

"I don't mind, Lady Victoria." Prince Corean answered when the first prince nodded. Tori glanced back at the Duke, who only nodded at her.

She then waved at her guests. She also looked at Lily, who was smiling at her with an awed expression. Tori had to let Lily watch Mia for her so she didn't let her come with her. Rowan suffered an hour-long lecture from Lily since Rowan would be the one to accompany Tori in Lily's stead.

Tori also left a very important task for Lily and that's spreading rumors that Lady Victoria almost died not from Mia but from Lady Sabina's hand. She also made sure that speculations from Sabina's former rejections should be considered. With the help of Marchioness Susana and Lily, the rumors would spread to the high society and every common folk of the capital. The Duke would have a hard time with damage control, especially when these were not mere speculations but facts.

Who said that I'll let you off the hook for this scheme, dearest sister?

They used Prince Lauren's carriage. Rowan was riding a white stallion and was standing near the carriage that she would use. Tori nodded at Rowan, to which Rowan replied with a bow. The two princes did not leave this exchange unnoticed.

Inside the carriage, the two princes sat together in front of Tori. Prince Lauren was observing her openly, which irked Tori a lot. His smile couldn't be wiped off his face like he was enjoying the whole situation. Prince Corean, on the other hand, was just reading a book silently like he cared nothing about their current situation. This left Tori in a troublesome situation. She didn't know if she should open a conversation with them or if she should ask the first prince about his offer earlier. The biggest probability was that Prince Lauren was just doing this on purpose.

Which is very likely from this psycho.

Tori just decided to look outside the window when she couldn't bear to endure his mocking gaze any longer. She's afraid that she might bash his psychotic head on his seat.

"Aren't you going to ask me about the test, Lady Victoria Rozenreff?"

Why are you opening that damn mouth of yours? Tori wanted to reply to Prince Lauren but she remained composed as she shook her head.

"I am very grateful for your generosity, your highness. But I don't want to burden you with my lacking ability." She subtly declined his offer just to shut him up. But the persistent prince didn't bother to acknowledge it.

"Then, I shall be the one asking you from here on. What happened that the almost dying heir of Rozenreff Duchy was so healthy in front of me?"

Hmm. Did you catch on my schemes, Prince Lauren? Well, let's play along for now. It is not time yet to show my fangs to this man.

With a glum face, Tori answered the prince. "If I can't endure this much, then how can I utter that I am the Rozenreff's heir apparent? I shall take this exam even with this weakened body, your highness."

Tori answered the first prince safely. Tori simply glanced at the second prince, but like earlier, she didn't get any reaction from him.

Weirdo.

"Hm. So your half-sister didn't plot your demise?" The first prince's face showed malice that was lying dormant all along. It didn't surprise Tori, but it still gave her shivers.

Tori acted surprised by the first prince's speculation as if the very thought was taboo for her. Surprise my ass.

"My sister just fell victim to the coincidence of the situation, your highness. I beg of you not to utter those words again. I'm afraid those words would eternally hurt her if she heard them from you. She adores you, your highness."

She's your future wife, you dickhead. And in the original plot, you chopped my head off so thank you very much.

"You have a very close relationship with your sister huh just like me and my brother, right Cory?"

Prince Corean glanced at them. "I agree with you, brother."

Tori smiled with delight, "I am so glad to be compared to the relationship with the two Empire's stars, your highnesses."

What a joke. To think that you are partly responsible for Prince Corean's future death. But I won't let you kill us, no no no. Not this time, because the villains and side characters will rock this series.