LADY M'S ATTEMPT TO come to her spot was stopped when the chancellor announced the arrival of the royal family. "Announcing the arrival of the royal family! May the blessings of the Goddess Gaia rain upon you!"

King Elphaim and Queen Aurina arrived with the two princes in tow arrived regally. The air of dominance whipped around them with equal grace. All of them showed respect to the highest authority in the empire.

The cast has finally arrived. It is such a shame that Duke Rowan Castaña is busy doing an errand with the two crown princes. I am damn sure that they will enjoy this party.

The aristocratic faction and noble factions flocked around the king and queen.

King Elphaim stood in front of them. "Innovations keep our glorious empire prosperous for many years. With the help of our magicians, the empire led the continent by having the most number of innovative discoveries. Today, I am glad that Duke Luwen Rozenreff found the greatest talent the empire has yet to see! Let me present you, Sir Oswald!"

The booming echoes of the clapping sound from the audience welcomed the smiling Oswald. Tori was as happy as him as she would witness great entertainment before the sun would set.

The old magician walked toward the king as he was being introduced to high society. Only time will tell, you will earn a house name dearest Oswald. And it is all thanks to me.

For a split second, Oswald found Tori's red eyes.

"Though he came from humble origins, he has proven himself useful for the empire. Thus, I would like to let Sir Oswald's benefactor decide on his new house name as we all welcome this magician to the high society!"

Another round of applause erupted while Duke Luwen Rozenreff stepped forward in front of Oswald to grant him a house name. "Starting today, you will be a member of high society. On behalf of the noble faction, I welcome you, Sir Oswald John."

Tori glanced at the members of the aristocratic faction and just like what she expected, they were all not happy that the noble faction got Oswald.

If they only knew who really owns the great magician.

Smiling around her, Tori met Prince Corean's serious-looking golden eyes while Tessa was just a step behind him.

So you really know your place huh, Tessa? But you still coveted my seat. Well, at least the original plot is with you so you can argue that I am the one coveting your beloved lover.

Tori smiled sweetly at the two which was received by the second prince with a cold look while Tessa only looked embarrassed.

You should be.

King Elphaim continued when the applause died down. "To demonstrate the use and samples of the KONON camera, let us have Sir Oswald and Duke Rozenreff showed their samples."

The gasps of excitement were evident for everyone, especially the ladies. The excitement doubled when the servants brought a painting-size frame covered with white silk. Each frame has two servants carrying it. There were a total of three frames that would reveal the samples of the KONON camera.

"Let us call Queen Aurina, Prince Lauren, and Prince Corean to take off the veil from the frames in one go," King Elphaim instructed. The three immediately stood by the side of each frame while holding the veil, ready to take it off at the king's command.

"I give you, the KONON camera!"

The moment the king signaled to the three to take the veils off was also the moment that Tori's cunning red eyes shone with pure malice. Tori had to bite her cheek just to stop herself from smiling the gasps of horror echoed continuously inside the grand assembly hall.

What lay in front of the empire's high society was the scandalous position of the second prince and Tessa from different angles. But each angle only showed that Tessa was the one leaning down her sinful body against the second prince.

The first picture showed Tessa cornering the second prince inside the palace walls. The second picture showed Tessa smiling while gazing at the sleeping prince. And the third picture showed Tessa opening the second prince's buttons. All of the pictures showed how unforgivable she was while the second prince was just a victim of the ambitious woman.

Tori looked at Tessa who was looking so shocked while gazing at the pictures. She then glanced at the queen who also glanced at Tori with a knowing look.

I told you, Your Majesty. I will take care of Tessa in the best way I can. With this, I can show high society how useful the KONON camera is.

Tori's watchful eyes turned to Prince Corean who remained emotionless and motionless. He was cornered not to move.

With all the powerful men and women around them while the Hunt is coming, you can't move, can you?

The king looked so furious while Prince Lauren's gaze immediately fell towards Tori. After all, Tessa was his project to weaken Tori's support for the second prince. But with the noble faction sponsoring the party, the aristocratic faction including Prince Corean would automatically assume that it was Duke Luwen Rozenreff's doing.

No one will though that it is me all along. Thanks to Elisa's minions, she was able to convince Sabina to use this opportunity to weaken my strength. Thus Sabina, who was trusted with the task of preparing the best samples, used the images that I gave to Elisa.

Across the hall, Tori met his golden ones. His eyes held the plea that she was waiting to see.

Are you groveling now, my dearest Cory? Not yet, I think. But because I am benevolent enough, I will help enough.

Opening the parasol that Tori was just holding the entire time just for this moment, she dramatically opened it while walking with confidence and grace toward Tessa who was still standing while crying silently.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will take this lady with me. You can come to the Rozenreff Duchy if you want to interrogate her. Let's go, dear." Her opened parasol served as a shield for them as they existed from the hateful stares. Both Tori's hands supported the fragile shoulders of Tessa.

The people saw how benevolent and just, Tori was, but beneath her smiling face, Tori was secretly talking to Tessa. "Your smell never belonged to the high society, dearest Tessa. I will show you what happens to pests that covet my throne." Tori whispered those words into Tessa's right ear.

THE ARISTOCRATIC faction was in an uproar when Tori stepped foot into the Turvy. Gone were the customers that would usually welcome her and Lily. Instead, the aristocrats were loitering frantically outside the secret room.

Lady M immediately left the counter to welcome the newly arrived Tori. "Let's go to the secret room. Prince Corean is there." Lady M guided her to the familiar room where the round table was located.

"What did he say?"

I am quite curious about the excuse he gave just to ensure Tessa's safety.

"He's talking trash. We all know that he's been fooling around with that commoner. The noble faction is gaining strength through Sir Oswald and now the common folks' support for the second prince will go down from the scandal."

As soon as the door opened, all eyes were on them. Lily like usual just stayed outside. Nodding towards her trusted handmaiden, Tori stepped inside the room that just fell silent.

"Let's begin. The others are still catching up outside but they will just come here after that."

Tori went to her spot which was located on the second prince's side. Tori's sugary smile never faltered even for a second as she trotted gracefully. Everyone was watching her every move critically. They knew about Tori's ambition to sit on the throne. The lords of every house under the banner of the aristocrats supported her. Thus, they knew the scandal had a bigger impact on Tori. What they didn't know was the fact that it was she who orchestrated the entire ordeal just to dismiss Tessa while gaining the sympathy of the common folks.

Commoners have such a simple minds. The last time, they were throwing eggs and tomatoes at me. And now, they are showing sympathy for me and they are even in awe at the rumors about me helping the ambitious servant. Aah, such fickle-minded beings they are.

I just demolished the Cinderella effect of Tessa's love for the second prince.

Lily reported to her that the palace servants started to support what Tori hated the most. By helping Tessa in front of everyone, her benevolence would cover the incident a year ago. As a Vesta candidate from the aristocratic faction, everyone viewed Tori as the second prince's fiancé.

Who would doubt a lady who shielded the very same woman who coveted her seat?

"First, let us come up with a plan to stop the scandal from circulating." Lady M raised the faction's main priority.

Lord Tofera immediately suggested. "Let us create a diversion. Create a bigger scandal for the masses to forget about this."

You can't. I have Rowan spread the rumors about the treacherous Tessa and the pitiful Victoria to every cavern in the Empire. That's what makes him busy together with the two crown princes who were investigating Tessa's colorful background.

"And what type of scandal will be bigger than this?" Lord Harum asked Lord Tofera who later on fell silent after pondering for a good minute.