"Blessings to the Empire's moon, Queen Aurina Eckrett." Tori curtsied in front of the queen.

Lady M excused herself and left Tori alone in front of the queen, who was comfortably sitting. Tori thought she would see Prince Corean. "Cory is not here. He told me to get to know you myself. Take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Tori was just suppressing her sly smile. Gone was the façade of the queen in front of everybody else. The queen sitting before Tori was the real deal.

"I don't know how you convinced my son, but your actions are ruining my plans." Queen Aurina told Tori in a no-nonsense tone. Her golden eyes were sharp and calculating. Now I know where Prince Corean gets that look.

"Your plans for what, Your Majesty? Your plan to keep Prince Corean alive?" Tori took the tea that was served readily in front of her and she sipped it calmly.

"And what's wrong with my plan to keep my son away from this Empire's bloody politics?"

Red eyes met her golden ones, "Then, do you plan to sit back and relax while Prince Lauren becomes the Crown Prince? Did you perhaps agree with him without telling the aristocratic faction, Your Majesty?"

Yes, that bastard Prince Lauren manipulated Queen Aurina's feelings. She believed that bastard's obvious lie, not knowing that he was just buying time to destroy the Elysian Crown. She was just waiting inside her palace to strike, but that's just it. In the end, all she did was wait, but she could never strike. Queen Aurina wasted her powers.

"Are you aware that you are slandering the royalty, Lady Victoria?" Her golden eyes blazed like the sun as the queen was glaring at Tori.

"The moment I gave the Elysian Crown's location to the aristocratic faction, I am already risking my neck, Your Majesty."

The queen could not come up with a reply to her honest words, so Tori continued. "We may have different goals, but we have one thing in common, Your Majesty. Just as much as you wanted your son to live, I wanted him to live too against our common enemies."

"You want him to live, but you wanted him to be king!" Queen Aurina scoffed at her.

"How sure are you, Your Majesty, that when Prince Lauren becomes king he will not turn his blade against his brother? Can you also risk your son's life by just believing one promise that the two of you only knew?"

Tori saw how the queen faltered at her words.

"And why should I believe the words of a traitor?"

Because I don't want to die the second time around. Not when I can do something about it.

Tori already expected this. "Because my father will betray me. His blind love for my half-sister will push him to name her the next heir instead of me. If Sabina will become the next head of the Rozenreff Duchy, my neck will be her next target. After all, politics is bloody as you said, Your Majesty. Who's to say that my sibling will not kill me to secure her seat? Even though I am relying on a mere possibility, having a contingency plan will never be a bad thing. And siding with the aristocratic faction is the best route to take to secure what's rightfully mine."

Understanding washed in her golden eyes. She now realized that I too was like Prince Corean.

"Then what do you want from me, Lady Victoria?"

That is the question I have been waiting for, Your Majesty.

Smiling slyly to the queen, Tori answered. "Be my sponsor, Your Majesty. Use your power to aid me in securing my seat and I will deliver you the Rozenreff Duchy's loyalty to Prince Corean alone." Tori placed her right hand on her heart.

"The queen's power in exchange for the Rozenreff Duchy's support, is that it? Is that all I can get?"

Ooh, greedy queen. I love it.

"Then how about I will give you the reigns that hold your former friend, Marchioness Susana?"

Yes, after all, Marchioness Susana betrayed you. You both loved the Marquess, but she manipulated the aristocratic faction to offer you as the Vesta. Seize this opportunity, Queen Aurina.

It shocked the queen that she knew about her history with the Marchioness. Well, I watched that wretched scene in Season 2.

Tori could see the internal struggle within the queen. So Tori leisurely waited.

"No. I have long moved on from that past, Lady Tori. Though I commend your sources for finding that one. What I want from you is something that only you can give."

Tori did not expect the queen to refuse. "What is it, Your Majesty?"

But she's offering a deal. This is a good thing, right?

"Be the Vesta candidate for the aristocratic faction after you become the heir to the Rozenreff Duchy. That means you must do everything just to let my son be the king."

Fuck

-VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY-

BOTH THE aristocratic faction and noble faction surrounded Queen Aurina soon after the introduction. Everyone already understood that the queen walking side by side with the celebrant meant that Victoria Rozenreff was the selected noble lady to be sponsored by the queen.

Duke Rozenref did not know how to react to his daughter's sponsor. In high society, it was to be expected that his eldest daughter would inherit the Duchy, but Sabina's appearance stopped him from formally announcing Victoria as the official Rozenref's heir apparent. Many nobles from the Empire were expecting him to make the announcement today, but he stalled until next year's coming-of-age ceremonies of his two daughters.

But now he was being forced to make a decision sooner than he thought. He both loved his daughters, but he was just feeling guilty that he was too late to act as a father to Sabina, who suffered so much in the slums. He did not want to deprive her of her right to the Duchy, but he also did not want Victoria to feel that was abandoning her. After all, Victoria was his child from his beloved wife.

The Duke's inner conflict as he was observing the joyous birthday celebration of his eldest daughter did not get unnoticed by Tori, who was busy greeting her guests and well-wishers.

Oh, father.

Tori excused herself from her guests to go to his father. "Father." She hugged him lovingly in front of everyone, but Tori saw how the queen's brows rose. Yeah, yeah, I am a superb actress.

"Why did you leave your gifts unattended?" The Duke patted her back and looked at her straight to her eyes when they distanced from each other.

Because I can't help but laugh in my mind whenever I see you so torn between me and that wench.

"Because I thought I saw how Father is looking at me, you seem tired." Worry laced in Tori's voice.

The Duke forced a smile to hide his problem, "I am just thinking of something else from my work. You must not mind me, Victoria. This is your day, you must enjoy this."

Of course. You don't have to tell me, father dear. Plus, you must remember, that I am the legitimate daughter of House Rozenreff. I am the heir to the Duchy and not your bastard.

Tori saw the House Lords of the noble factions coming closer. So when Tori thought they were near enough, she uttered the words that would shake Sabina the most. Where's Sabina, anyway? She's probably throwing a fit. After all, that dear sister of mine should check her head or something. She's kinda not right in the head.

"Are you proud of me, father? Am I worthy of being the legitimate heir of the Duchy?" Tori's words shocked the Duke. He did not know that her innocent and hopeful eyes were hiding a serpent all along.

Simply put, will you announce me as the official heir father? And gain the respect of the majority. Or will you decline? And put Sabina at the disadvantage when the queen is my ally. After all, I intend to use the queen.

Duke Allaister Von Castaña, who came later than his daughter and the Duchess, butted in when he heard Tori. It immediately put Duke Luwen in a tight spot. "Who wouldn't be proud of you, Lady Victoria? I, Duke Castaña, recognized your achievement in the Trifecta Academy."

"Thank you, Duke Castaña. But I fear that I am always lacking. I just wished that my mother is here with me. She could have guided me as the proper heir apparent."

Red eyes met another set of red eyes, wary ones met hopeful ones, and a father's gaze met his daughter's stare. It took a couple of minutes for the Duke to answer his daughter. "Your mother will also be proud of you, Victoria. And I am proud of you too. I will announce the official heir when you both will come of age."

Tori beamed from her father's answer, but the queen knew that behind that smiling face was a brewing rage. The queen understood why the young lady of Rozenreff Duchy came to her; it was for this purpose. Being the legitimate daughter meant nothing to the Duke. Queen Aurina knew that she must be ready for the first of the many favors that the cunning Lady Victoria would ask her.

"Being proud of me is the best gift father," Tori hugged her father before she faced the lords of the noble faction. With a smiling face, Tori walked away from her the Duke.

Hah! Just like the original plot of the Thorny Crown Series, your sick devotion to that wench always makes me sick to the bones.

The seat to this Duchy is mine to hold and mine to destroy. If you are not giving this to me the easy way, then you give me no choice, but I will use the hard way. You will regret this, father. I gave you the one-time chance to save your beloved Sabina. Now, I will destroy her in front of you and I will enjoy every second of it.

"Lady Tori!" The cheery voice of Marchioness Susana made Tori turn to the part where the voice came from. And standing just a few feet from the assembly hall's entrance, Marchioness Susana came in with Marquess Zoliel. On her hand was a gift that Tori knew what was inside.

Tori knew the Marchioness would come late because of the Jewel Eyes of Rhea. It was so easy for her to use the Marchioness. The incident with Mia made Tori's attempt to earn the Marchioness' good graces so simple.

They believed the Jewel Eyes of Rhea to be the Goddess Gaia's gift to her daughter Rhea. It was said that those who possessed this would have the protection of the goddess. The jewel came in a brooch form.

Sorry to burst your bubble, guys. But I saw the Goddess herself. So I have no particular interest in this jewel, but that prince did the end of our deal, so it is time for me to do so.

And the previous owner of the Jewel Eyes of Rhea was no other than Queen Aurina before she was crowned. She gave this brooch to the Marquess as a symbol of her love, but the Marchioness betrayed the queen and won over the affection of the dashing Marquess. The Marquess giving the Jewel Eyes of Rhea to his future wife was also an act to show the queen that he did not love the queen anymore. Prince Corean might know of this, so he reacted when she mentioned the jewel from the secret meeting.

"Happy birthday, Lady Tori. I got late because I tried to find the best ribbon for this gift box. Here, open it."

The Marchioness' late arrival drew the attention she wanted. Tori wanted the spies from the aristocratic faction to see that she won the wager.

To add suspense, Tori slowly reached out for the box. And when she had the small box in her palm, she slowly opened it. Tori could feel the eyes of the nobles in her. The gasps of those who recognized the jewel overshadowed the fake gasp from Tori. Even Tori's father was already by her side. "The Jewel Eyes of Rhea! Marchioness Susana, won't the future Marchioness of House Zoliel will have this splendid gift?"

The Marchioness gently shook her head. "I cannot find any fine young lady that could have this better than Lady Tori."

Of course, you don't treasure this. After all, you remember your betrayal to Queen Aurina every time you see this jewel. And giving this to me will be the perfect excuse to dispose of this.

"Thank you so much, Marchioness Susana! I will treasure this forever."

Hah, treasure this, my ass.

"Can I put it on?"

The Marchioness immediately agreed, "Of course. Come, let me put this on."

The whole time, Tori could feel the gaze of the nobles. With her being supported by the Queen and the Marchioness, the Duke would be questioned if he would not be Tori the official heir. But there's still a year before the announcement, and that wench could still gain favor.

The bright emerald shone splendidly on the ribbon on her neck. It was a delightful contrast to her dress. And when her eyes met the envious eyes of Sabina, a small smirk slipped from Tori's lips.

I will pluck your wings before you can even learn to fly, dearest sister.

Tori's red eyes shone with promise as she held Sabina's sapphire eyes.