His eyes were all-knowing like he was digging into her mind with the way he was looking at her. Since they did not offer Tori a seat, she remained standing. Oozing with grace and splendor, Tori clenched her teeth behind her regal smile.Arrogant bastard!"I won't beat around the bush then, your highness. I am here to offer you a deal." A pair of daring red-colored eyes met his wise raven ones. Hers was full of confidence, while he was clearly not amused.Leaning to his chair, he looked at her from head to toe and the way he gazed at her would make anyone feel little but not Tori. Though she knew she was gambling on a piece of passing information from what she watched in the Netflix Series, she would use that to corner the prince. "I'll humor your bravery, Lady Rozenreff. What is this deal that you are offering me? What do you want from me? And why do you think that I will play in this nonsensical charade?"Not batting an eyelash, Tori answered. "Give me full access to Oolong Tea from
THE LOOMING look of the members of the aristocratic faction did not hold a candle compared to Crown Prince Lei Yin's mocking stare. Tori did not know if she would feel grateful to him or what. Sipping the tea that she asked, Tori was waiting for Prince Corean's arrival together with Lady M. While doing so, the thick tension enveloped her when the old geezers had a lot to say to her.Perhaps the news about the Jewel Eyes of Rhea and Queen Aurina being my sponsor has reached them already. Oh, I bet it did."A lovely day, isn't it?" Tori broke the silence together with the crashing of the thunder and the sudden poor of heavy rain outside the windowpanes.Lord Wolfgang answered her stoically. "Why does the heir apparent of the Rozenreff Duchy playing tea party here when your daddy dearest is plotting against Lord Tofera?"So they already figured it out? Or the Duke does not have any reason to hide it just to show dominance? So daddy dearest is playing the alpha, huh?Glancing at Lord Tofe
His cerulean eyes regarded her immediately as soon as she was visible to them. Her tattered coat seemed to make him recognize her. "I knew it. A psychotic chic will only pull this shit level like you. You're so desperate to have me, I see." His malicious tone made Rowan draw his sword.Tori stopped Rowan with a wave of her right hand. She was prepared for this savagery after all. "He's not disciplined yet, hmmm. I am looking forward to taming you, pet." Tori crouched down at his level.His glaring eyes welcomed her together with his spit that marred her shoes. "You piece of shit!" Rowan aimed to strike Allistair down for the latter's behavior, but Tori's red eyes regarded her knight with a warning."I need him alive and well, Rowan."Standing up to face the lord of the house, Tori showed them a scroll where Crown Prince Yei Lin's seal lay."Is his records clean?" Tori stared directly into Lord Tofera's eyes. If you dare pull a trick on me, I will destroy your trading company with my o
NOW, IN FRONT of Rowan, Crown Prince Yei Lin, and Allistair, Tori shredded every ounce of pretension she had. Gone was the loving smile she always for as a façade to her raging emotions. Walking back toward the two princes, not minding the way they looked at her, Tori stopped a meter away from them. She took the hood off to show her face without obstruction. She needed to be clear in conveying her honest reason. Here goes nothing. I only have just connected the points of the incident before, but this theory of mine proved to be correct after all when Lady M provided me the information from that incident which resulted in Allistair being separated from his family at a young age. "I'm going to ask you this, Crown Prince Yei Lin, the moment after the mourning of Prince Allistair who was believed to be dead. Who came and reach out their hands for you?" Not waiting for the crown prince to reply, Tori turned to Allistair. "At the time before you were abducted, do you remember which factio
"I SEE THAT YOUR TRUST issues are rooted in your awful experience, but you are barking at the wrong tree, your highness. After all, how can I bite the hands that will help me become the Queen Regent someday?"Tori's words struck Yei Lin and Allistair, rendering them frozen for a split second. They never thought of this possibility at all! It was appropriate to say that both princes were stupefied for ever assuming that the Lady was doing this kind of theatrics just to gain their affection. After all, they were both future rulers of their own kingdoms! Who would have thought that Lady Victoria Rozenreff was aiming at the Queen Regent seat – a title with equivalent power to the Eckrett Empire's king?The silence that engulfed them after Tori's revelation where shattered by the incoming steps of someone, someone Tori did not invite. Just as the darkness unveiled the person, Tori's smile faltered. "Prince Corean, what are you doing here?""I was here the whole time. I asked Lord Tofera to
A DAY BEFORE the much-awaited entrance academy; Duke Luwen Rozenreff called for her. Tori was fresh from her covert meeting with the aristocratic faction when Johanes knocked on her room's door. Together with Lily, she walked the long path toward her father's office. A standing Johanes welcomed them who were waiting for her."Lady Victoria, the servants of the mansion have missed you. Teresa and the kitchen servants prepared all your favorite dishes."So, the servants even Johanes aren't aware of the secret meetings going on in this estate? Or Johanes chose not to side with me? Either way, I pray to Gaia that you are not aware of this Johanes because I can't guarantee your safety when you chose to betray me.Smiling sweetly, Tori replied with equal fervor. "Oh, really? I am so famished by hearing this, Johanes. By the way, what do you think Father wants to talk with me?"Tori's calculating eyes scanned Johanes before her. A wave of disappointment washed over her when she saw the tellt
LILLIAN STOPPED ROWAN'S ARM. "W-Wait! The Duke—Duke of Castaña is interrogating her inside the Duke's office. I feel something is off. After yesterday w-when Lady Tori stormed out of the Duke's office. I heard from Lady Sabina's handmaiden, Shena, that Lady Sabina alone would inherit the Duchy and Lady Tori would act as her support. They said—they said that she poisoned Lady Sabina because of what happened yesterday. But I know her, I know her Rowan!"Calming Lillian, Rowan patted her drenched hair. "I know. She would not do something as obvious as that. If anything, her sister or worse, the Duke might corner her."Running under the heavy rain, Tori's two of the most loyal aides marched like men on a mission to the Rozenreff main house where their beloved master was being interrogated. Rowan knew that there was barely anything they could do against the nobles, but he would gladly lay down his life to save Tori, the very first person who encouraged him to live in this unfair world.Cla
ROWAN WAS uncomfortable with the obvious curiosity of the Duke. He was sitting in front of Rowan while the latter was sitting beside Tori. Silence engulfed the carriage, but Rowan knew that there was turmoil inside Tori's blank eyes."Since when did you become a loyal knight of the Rozenreff Duchy?" The Duke finally broke the silence. Rowan snapped his attention to the Duke while Tori was still looking outside the carriage windows."I am not a loyal knight in the Rozenreff Duchy. I am a loyal subject of Lady Victoria Rozenreff, Your Grace."Cackling with the newly found respect of Rowan, the Duke's grin could not be wiped from his old face. His attention turned to Tori. "What did you do Lady Victoria to earn such a loyal knight?"Looking at him, Tori answered sweetly with a wintry smile that could quench any magma. "I offered him a new life as I picked him up from the slums, Duke Castaña. Isn't he the rawest of gems? Sadly, my father could not see this talent."Her eyes told the Duke