Accept My Dominance, My King

THE DINNER after the afternoon incident was quite enjoyable for Tori. It didn't seem like what she usually felt which was suffocating for her.

Maybe because I could watch a good comedy show earlier. Well, whatever, as long as the Duke dearest wouldn't open his mouth.

Tori didn't like the Duke, nor did she hate him. She just disliked the fact that they easily manipulated the duke.

Ah, disappointment is the right term when describing what I feel for him.

"Victoria. Your birthday is coming. Do you have any requests?" He nonchalantly asked Tori which stopped Sabina too.

And there he goes, opening his mouth and ruining my tranquility. So much for hoping he'll shut up, huh? And what? He's asking me for my birthday? Is he sniffing Cannabis?

Since Sabina came to the Rozenreff Household, the duke always forgot Victoria's birthday, but never Sabina's. Hence, every year the siblings always compete secretly if who's the best party.

What a dumb thing to do, honestly.

It surprised Tori since he remembered the same way Sabina got surprised too.

Hmm. Come to think of it, the original Victoria always loses to Sabina. Ooh, my inner cheerleader is coming out from the word 'competition'.

"Thank you for your concern, father." Finally. "But I have thought little about it. I'll just go to your office when I decided something."

There's no way that I'm going to tell you now. Not when a wench is observing.

"The same goes with you, Sabina."

"I'll just come to you like Sister Victoria will do, father. You know how much I looked up to her."

You sly bitch!

"Don't you ever worry, dearest sister. I will always help you with careful consideration about your humble origins since two years aren't enough to memorize what every noble lady knows." Tori and Sabina were smiling, but deep down they were practically clawing each other.

For the nth time today, Tori felt Shena and Mia's heated stare. Tori wanted to gauge their eyeballs out but these two still had roles to play.

Once the plot begins, you two will be the first one I'll eliminate. Your sick loyalty to that wench will be your greatest regret. I will let you two witness the Sabina that will discard you at any given moment. I will show you that you sided with the wrong Rozenreff and I will make you regret your decisions as you take your last breath.

Aah, I have lots to do in these two years before the plot starts, so much work, and hypocrisy. And I have yet to steel myself when coming face to face with my killer, the first prince. I have to get used to him if I wanted everything to run smoothly.

I have to make sure that before the time when I'm supposed to die, I must control the entire Empire from the shadows.

ONE WEEK passed by quickly and the next thing Tori knew, she was now sitting faced-to-face with Lady M again. Rowan and Lily were outside the door like before. But what was new this time was the fact that the vice leader of the Information Guild was present. The vice leader was like in the Netflix Series, an identity that was covered by mysteries. This person was sitting silently next to Lady M who was covered by a big and baggy coat. The only prominent giveaway was this person's height and slim stature.

Oh, how I want to grab this hooligan's hood and expose the actual character behind it. Is it someone from the aristocratic faction? Or someone from the Assassination Guild? This person couldn't be a magician, right?

Magicians were the term used for 'inventors'. They invented things and founded theories. The sudden sprout of magicians in the Empire was bad news for the church, which has neutral power in the sovereign.

"You found it, did you not?" Tori was drinking the Oolong tea calmly. Tori did not cast her hood down since she disliked the appearance of someone she didn't ask to come.

"We confirmed it was there, but we're an Information Guild, my lady. We don't do 'fetch and get' for customers."

You're a stubborn one, huh? Good. You're proving your worth to me.

Tori put the teacup down, "So what do you wish for me to say? Or rather, what information do you intend to get from me?"

Lady M amusingly grinned at her, "I particularly like your wits, my lady. So tell me, why do you want to help the aristocratic faction when your family is a loyalist of the noble faction?"

I knew you'd ask that. Well, there's no point in hiding.

"I wish to decide who gets to become king. This time, I want the second prince to sit on the throne."

Becoming the puppet master will be good, especially when that time comes for me. I won't die again.

"Hearing that from you is strange, but would you risk everything that your family has just for that wish?"

Tori couldn't help but laughed a little, which startled the two in front of her, "You can be quite funny, Lady M. And who says I'm going down with the Rozenreff Duchy? Knowing the Elysian Crown's location is not the only trump card I have. Even if you turned me down, I have a lot of ways to ensure my goal, but you are my best route. Won't you agree to benefit each other? After all, we are pointing our spears at a common enemy."

Deep down, Lady M knew that accepting the hand of this young lady with serpents' eyes would be like accepting a deal from the devil. But she couldn't resist a very tempting offer.

"Should I accept your offer there would still be a problem?"

Oh right, the major reason why aristocratic faction loyalists can't move freely.

"Do you mean about the second prince's cowardice to fight for the throne?" Tori frankly answered Lady M, which caused the latter one to gape openly at her.

Lady M's stance became awkward all of a sudden. Tori wondered for a while before she realized something.

Ooh, so that's how it is. Then let me try something.

"To speak like that about the second prince could be considered treason!"

Tori openly smirked at Lady M and the vice leader, "You're losing your cool, Lady M. regarding your concern, as a loyalist to the aristocratic faction, you can tell his highness this."

"If he wished to protect those around him, he should consider his course of action, especially if it involves the Empress Aurina, the current queen, and the second prince's mother."

Lady M's face contorted to confusion, "Your allegations are—"

Tori cut her, "Are quite true and they do have a basis. Should the first prince become king, do you honestly believe that he won't decapitate those who supported the second prince? In our history, the losing prince always dies along with his loyalists. Do you have a way to stop that?"

"But why concern yourself when you're from the noble faction?" The hooded vice leader finally spoke after being a wallflower throughout their conversation.

So you finally decided to step on the stage.

Second Prince Corean Shuia Eckrett.

He took off his hood. And a pair of amber eyes confronted Tori. It shocked lady M that the prince partook in the negotiation. "Prince Cory!"

Tori decided to take off her hood and paid respect to the prince, "Blessings to Empire's star, the second prince."

Prince Corean, widely known as Prince Cory, stared at her seriously.

Oops! Is he angry that I called him a coward? But I only baited him, well, whatever.

"Care to share with me what pushed you to involve my mother, Lady Rozenreff?" His voice was stern and straight to the point with no nonsense.

So the prince has this kind of side, huh? Very well.

Tori couldn't blame the second prince. The viewers of Thorny Crown widely knew that the kind queen, Empress Aurina, was loved by the second prince. It was also the queen who pushed the second prince to hide his talents to avoid danger, which only caused the prince's death in Season 2.

"It seems that I was only revealing things to you with nothing in return. My generosity can only stretch so much, your highness. I wished to keep the information on my own. Although you can rest assured that I am no threat to all of you. After all, I only have two set courses. First, I will be the head of Rozenref Duchy who will vow loyalty to King Corean Shuia Eckrett. Or, I will destroy the Rozenref Duchy from within. Either way, it won't harm you. So how about you keep those words as a friendly reminder, your highness? Think of it as a gift from your loyalist."

Tori turned to Lady M after it left the second prince silent. "Now, I believed I came here for the negotiations. So Lady M, will you take the Elysian Crown and strike a bargain with me?"

The two were in awe. They couldn't believe that they were hearing these words from a young lady who has yet to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony. Her information about the Elysian Crown was correct. Her words were wise. And her confidence showed as she experienced so much already in life. Lady M glanced at the second prince, to which the latter replied with a reluctant nod.

Lady M reached out for Tori, which the latter gladly accepted. "What compensation do you wish to get from giving us the Elysian Crown's location? Gold? Estate?"

Aah, the words I longed to hear.