TWO SIDE-CHARACTERS were left alone together after they saw their results. The two were standing under the old Willow Tree as their knights gave them privacy to talk. It was Prince Corean who initiated the talk, which Tori respectfully obliged.

"It did not really surprise me that you got the top score," Prince Corean was facing Tori's back while Tori was facing the Willow Tree's trunk. She was touching and feeling its sturdy surface.

Tori glanced at her back. "Hmm. Your Highness, have you ever thought of your future? The future?"

"That's a trick question, isn't it? The future, I didn't think that far ahead."

Tori's ruby eyes hardened from his reply. 

That is the reason why you and the original Victoria didn't last long in this twisted plot called fate. You are just stupidly going with the flow.

"You talk as if you know you won't live long." Though Tori's words were light, they were heavy to those who heard her.

"Be careful with your words, Lady Tori. You are still talking in front of royalty."

Tori sharply turned to Prince Corean. Gone was the sweet façade. "Am I? With the way things are, you will be very lucky to take part in the Crown's Hunting."

As we speak, the noble faction is working day in and day out just to find the Elysian Crown and proceed to their original plan.

"Your existence is a curious thing. You talk as if you know my future." Prince Corean was looking directly at Tori. His amber eyes glistened every time the sunlight touched him. His calm façade and gentle voice hid the cunning aura he truly emitted. He embodied a king who would bring down countries if he saw fit.

In short, he has the talent to become the king this Empire desires the most.

Ruby eyes answered with equal fervent. "I'm a genius. Forecasting one's future with the right reasoning is not an impossible thing to do. But my question is, are you satisfied with not knowing your future, your highness?"

I mean, are you satisfied not knowing when you will drop dead with your beloved mother?

They exchanged no words as Prince Corean walked away aside from dropping something on the ground. Tori didn't take it immediately, not when a couple of pairs of eyes were on them. But unbeknownst to anyone around them, the crumpled parchment was an invitation for a secret meeting held by the aristocrats.

The headmaster called Prince Corean together with Zeno McMillian Larat to congratulate them. Tori watched the interaction between the three.

Who would have thought that a year from now, Prince Corean and Zeno McMillian Larat would be standing against each other from both opposing sides? Zeno McMillian Larat's betrayal is a turning point for the execution of Victoria's role. If I can't have you by my side, then I shall destroy root and stem.

Tori's ruby eyes looked deadly under the shade of the Willow Tree as she gazed at the young genius lord. Prince Corean saw how she looked at the young lord who was oblivious to the seething look that Tori was giving to Lord Larat.

Her gaze spoke of promise that would be answered in this lifetime.

WORDS TRAVELED fast that the Trifecta Academy would welcome a new genius again. The last time it did, the said genius became Trifecta Academy's current headmaster. And now, the examinees who witnessed the results spread facts about the young genius lady from the Rozenreff Duchy. All nobles from the high society and the common folk from the capital were buzzing with the news the next morning.

Tori, who didn't come home after the dinner prepared by her father, rented a room in an expensive hotel located near the academy. She just gave her letter to Prince Corean's knight to deliver it for her which the latter approved of. The letter contained her apology for not coming home sooner and the reason why. She told the Duke that she was too tired to travel. Her façade hid her actual reasons.

Her first reason was she just couldn't stand to be happily eating with them after she witnessed the original Victoria's death on the very same day. Second, she wanted to ponder about the upcoming aristocratic assembly in which Prince Corean and Lady M would welcome her. There would be a lot of negative notions for her since she's young and she's from the Rozenreff Duchy, which was known for being the noble faction's loyalist. And third, she wanted to visit someone in the area.

With Rowan as her only knight that's guarding her room in the hotel and the others just down the surface, Tori was enjoying her time for herself where no prying eyes would be watching.

"Invitation, huh." Tori had long discarded the parchment in the fire to erase any trace of evidence. She was just staring at the wine in her hands. She would become fourteen years old one week from now, but she didn't feel any bit of happiness or anticipation for the coming event.

Tori missed the velvety and addicting bittersweet taste of wine on her tongue, but in consideration of her current body, she just smelled the wine in her hand rather than taste it.

The fire from the fireplace in front of her seat cackled as the woods turned into ashes. Tori's ruby eyes shone like molten lava in the dimly lighted room.

The only positive thing that can persuade them to welcome me is the fact that I gave them the Elysian Crown's location for their advantage. Me being a genius won't matter to them. I need to propose something for them to make them believe me and support me. If I have the aristocratic faction at my beck and call, then prosecuting the first prince will not be that difficult anymore. I just need to bring the Rozenref Duchy in my hands. And to make me the next head of the Rozenref Dukedom, I must eliminate my enemy to the seat, my dear darling sister.

"I have my work cut out for me." Tori smelled the sweet smell of wine. "Cheers, Victoria. For being the top 1 and for letting them know you are not stupid as they painted you to be."

A soft knock stopped Tori from talking to the imaginative Victoria, "Yes?"

"The royal warden confirmed your permission, Lady Tori." Rowan informed her.

At last.

Tori stood up and left the room after she wore her infamous coat. Rowan stood proudly behind the door. The young knight followed her as soon as he wore the coat that concealed their identities. He didn't ask her why they were using the emergency passage. He didn't ask her either why they were visiting the prison cell even this late. It satisfied Tori that Rowan was now used to her sudden trips.

Perhaps he discovered my actual colors already. Not that I care, he must know all of my sides saved for one, the side which loathed him.

"Let's go."

The coachman Rowan rented for their covert travel awaited them at the back of the hotel. It was a dark and small carriage fit to conceal the identity of the owner. Rowan rode his horse, which was quietly following the carriage towards their destination, the capital's prison cell.

It was uncommon for a noble to visit the prison cells, but it's a much stranger concept to visit this place at night.

Under the veil of the coat, Tori prepared something for the beloved person she was visiting. The trip to the prison cell was quite quick and quiet; something Tori wanted that Rowan knew. Hence, he looked for this specific coachman.

The carriage halted, and three knocks from the coachmen meant Tori arrived already. Rowan opened the carriage for her and helped her descend. Her gloves-covered hand accepted his rough and callous hand.

"Thank you, good sir."

Rowan chuckled, already getting used to Tori's quirks. "This way, my lady."

No royal knights stopped them on their way nor welcomed them as if they made a path just for the two of them to use.

Making use of the situation, Tori asked Rowan about the task she specifically gave him. "Give me the report about our dear merchant."

Tori meant about the KONON camera developer. Rowan was the one who prepared the store in the central square with much discreetness to avoid the prying eyes of Marquess Zoliel.

"The transferring of land and building title went smoothly and discreetly, just like my lady asked me to. The owner's name who suddenly bought an entire block in the busiest part of the capital remained under the identity of Benefactor T."

The money Tori used to support her beloved camera developer came from Lady M as one of the prices she asked for in return for the Elysian Crown's location.

"Good. Thank you for your hard work, Rowan." Tori stopped to give him a smile, which the latter received with a bashful smile.

For someone like him who came from the slums, Rowan knew he owed it all to the lady before him. That's why he decided to follow her every command.

"Do you want me to go with you inside, my lady?" Rowan opened the gates of the prison cell that was intended for visitors.

Tori shook her head, "I want to have a very meaningful conversation with this person."

Rowan nodded with understanding dawning upon him, "Just call my name. I am just here at the door, my lady."

Tori nodded and went inside the metal door. The creaking noise of the metals crashing disturbed every criminal in the cells. Each criminal has one cell allocated to them. Tori didn't flinch from the protruded smell, nor did she stop when some criminal's arms tried to reach her. She kept on walking until she reached the holding cell for the criminals who were sentenced to die.

There were only two criminals inside this part of the prison cell. The one to her right where a kneeling and chained man was tied, and to her left where a haggard-looking Mia was curled up. The man heard Tori's arrival, unlike Mia. His bright blue-green eyes stared at her, which she didn't give a shit at all.

"What a sight. It seems that your beloved master abandoned you," Tori's mocking voice echoed in the prison cell.

Mia spun her gaze towards Tori, who already discarded her hood. "You pretentious bitch!"

Mia dashed to the bars and tried to grab Tori, but the latter just stayed still while watching Mia with contempt. Mia's flailing arms were only an inch away from Tori's face. Tori didn't miss the details that compared to the original Victoria, Mia still has her nails and tongue.

"You planned this all along, haven't you? Everything from the start was all your schemes!" Mia's glare never faltered as she tried her earnest to reach Tori, who was just grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"You have dug your own grave a long time ago, Mia. And trust me, what you experienced now was nothing to what happened to her."

"Lady Sabina will get me out of here and that time I'll expose to everyone how fake you are!"

Tori grinned like the devil from what Mia said. She took out her present for Mia, "You have a pretty little sister. She looked exactly like you. Tell me what should I do to her should her beloved sister irritate the pretentious ole me?"

Dread and anger flashed in Mia's eyes when she realized the gravity of what Tori's words meant. Tori enjoyed the mental torment she saw in Mia as the latter kneeled on the floor with a defeated cry. "Please, my sister is never part of this. She's innocent."

Ha! Innocent! Tori leaned towards the bar and crouched to level Mia. "Did you also think about that when you sentenced her to die?"

"What are you talking about? I did nothing! This was the first time I tried to kill you!" Frantic and doubtful eyes locked with flaring red eyes.

"Shush. Choose, Mia. Your beloved little sister or your beloved little master? Choose wisely. Time is ticking, dear."

Tears falling from her eyes, Mia looked at her and mirrored her answer to Tori's question. "What do you want me to do?"

Tori didn't know that she could grin wider. "I want your tongue and your nails as my trophy. Remove it using this." Tori showed the equipment to the frightened Mia.

Tears and sweat mixed, Mia finally submitted as she kneeled in front of Tori. "Please don't. I beg you, please. I am, I am sorry. Please spare me! Please!"

Did you beg like this, Victoria?

"You are so keen on keeping your tongue. Your sister has an uncanny resemblance to you." Tori turned to leave Mia.

"I'll do it! I'll do it just so please spare her!"

Tori wickedly smiled before turning back towards Mia, "Now do it."

Feel what the original Victoria felt.