TODAY IS the last day of spring.

Tori looked outside the windowpanes of the academy's library. Three months passed since the two princes left the premises of the empire. The absence of the Order's president caused quite a ruckus but was immediately stopped when Prince Lauren stepped up to be the temporary president of the Order.

I don't know what he's up to though. There is a big chance that he's planning something new with my father and Sabina, though.

Sabina was busy preparing for the entrance exam that would be held in the following days. The students were also preparing for the examinations. Tori finished reviewing the books that the professors required them to read. She used her remaining time to search for any likely causes of the plague that would cause Prince Corean's death, but she did not find any lead.

Is the plague also a trick from the noble faction? Was the king unaware of it? But with such a large scale, is it possible? Shit, I should have watched Season 6 for any clues.

Touching the window glass as Tori traced Prince Corean's figure from afar, her wariness with the unknown made her want to make a contingency plan. But how can I make one when I don't have any solid plan regarding the coming plague aside from using Lord Wolfgang?

A plague as big as that. She needed time to prepare. But how? How can I save you from death? How can change our twisted fate?

A sudden knock on the table she was using stopped her train of thoughts. Glancing behind her, Tori recognized the headmaster of Trifecta Academy. "May I have a word?"

"Of course, Headmaster Eyzana Valtera." She took the seat in front of him. He was looking curiously at the books on the table that were splattered randomly.

"You are quite interested in epidemics. That is a curious hobby for a fourteen-year-old girl." His all-knowing eyes scanned her like he knew everything, but Tori knew he would never know that she transmigrated. Only Gaia knew the purpose she gave Tori. And that's surviving.

Smiling like she usually did, Tori pulled on the same façade as she always did. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Headmaster?"

What was uttered next by the Headmaster faltered her rehearsed smile. "Duke Luwen Rozenreff came to me bearing gifts that were unworthy of me. Along with his obvious attempt to bribe me, your half-sister came. He needed her to have the same standing as you."

You are showing your true colors, father. Behind her newly recovered smile was a fury that was bubbling up. "Oh. My father has such love for his daughters, Headmaster. Please understand him. I deeply apologize if he offended you with his gifts."

The Headmaster acted as if he did not hear her at all. He continued, "I asked him why he's doing this and he answered he will make your half-sister the heir apparent but he needed her to qualify to compete with you."

Laughing gently, Tori acted that the news was not new to her. For her, it was not new, but still; it surprised her.

I already knew that this would happen, but why am I feeling betrayed?

"I always love healthy competitions, Headmaster. But why are you telling me this?"

What do you gain from telling me? What is your motive?

"You are right, what do I gain from telling you? Simple, I don't like someone underqualified to enter this academy and use this school to earn leverage for some game. My academy is not a stepping stone."

Tori could not hide her grin as she listened to the vindictive tone of the headmaster whom everyone in the empire respected so much.

There's no need to hide, I see. After all, he can see right through me.

"The respected headmaster did not come to me just to whine like a senile fool, am I right? So tell me, Headmaster Eyzana, what do you want from me?"

Burning a hole in her face, the headmaster replied dominantly to her. "Make sure that your sister will not step foot in this place ever again."

The entrance exam is tomorrow. You want me to stop her?

"And what will I gain by doing this, Headmaster? Please don't tell me my reward is a school-related thing."

By doing what the headmaster wanted, Tori needed to confront her father sooner than she thought. But Tori could not refuse this one-time chance to hold the Headmaster of Trifecta Academy by her hands.

"What do you want me to do for you, Lady Victoria Rozenreff? I know that offering you academic rewards will never suffice since you did not come to this academy to learn but to widen your connection."

Smiling slyly, Tori replied with much fervor. "Let's just say, you owe me one."

A DAY before the much-awaited entrance academy; Duke Luwen Rozenreff called for her. She 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 towards her father's office. A standing Johanes welcomed them who was 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 telltale sign of betrayal from him. His one-second rigidity gave him away.

I thought so.

Still smiling politely at her, Johanes knocked on the Duke's office. "A father can miss his daughter, Lady Victoria. I think that is the case on this summons."

"Let her in," Duke Luwen Rozenreff answered. Tori just nodded with a sweet smile to Johanes, but as soon as she turned her back on him, her smile vanished like it was never there at all. Since it was still a few hours before dinner, the light from the open window welcomed Tori the moment she stepped foot inside her father's office. His looming figure stood near the window while his back was on her. He was just looking outside.

"You called for me, Father?"

Upon hearing her voice, the Duke finally acknowledged her presence by turning to her. The shadows beneath his eyes were the clear evidence that she was victorious in the game they played with the Oolong Tea trends.

As of now, the aristocratic faction dominated the trading of this well-liked tea across the empire and the other countries as well. The aristocratic faction was gaining the power she wanted to support the second prince. Her ten percent profit share helped Tori as Benefactor T with providing the necessary money to support the KONON production and its future marketing expenditure.

Glancing at her father, she could practically hear the headmaster's voice ringing in her ears. Realizing that the man before her already decided to abandon her made Tori want to lash out but couldn't. The looming scene of the original Victoria's head rolling over the ground was like a terrible reminder for her not to lose her cool.

I want to know how much you know about me and how much you regarded me, father.

"Take a seat. I have something to tell you." He took the seat next to hers. Sitting elegantly, she took the liberty to drink the readied tea in front of her. She simply hoped it was chamomile tea.

Sipping the tea elegantly, Tori waited for what she would hear from him.

"Victoria, you are my eldest. I and your mother loved you so much. You grew up with everything from love, respect, and wealth. But Sabina came with nothing but terrible memories from her past." Duke Luwen Rozenreff could not even look straight at her. Her uncanny resemblance to her mother saved her eyes was maybe making him feel guilty.

Shit. He started it immediately!

"Is my seat as the heir apparent being threatened, Father?" Shocked was clearly written on her face with her cracking voice. His identical red eyes met her teary ones. "Do you hate me that much? Do you hate the fact that I resembled mom so much that you chose to hurt me? Am I not enough?"

Those words were the ones that the original Victoria uttered as he left her to die from that wretched plot. Tori unconsciously copied those words.

Am I projecting Victoria's feelings?

But looking at her father, Tori realized she had hope. She hoped she would not reach this part of her plan. She hoped the Duke would not betray Victoria as she changed her attitude for him to see her in a different light. But all of those were for nothing. Tori did not know what that wench pulled off while she was busy with other stuff, but she did a number on Victoria.

Just what did you do, Sabina?

"Listen to me, Victoria. I don't hate you. I just think that your talent will be helpful as you support Sabina. She needs to belong in high society and without her title as the new heir apparent, she will remain as the illegitimate daughter born from a common whore." His eyes were pleading for her to understand, but Tori could never understand it.

Shaking her head as tears fell down freely, Tori lost all sense of façade in front of the man who abandoned his child.

How dare you! Take this pain away! Take it! You are not my father, but why am I feeling this?

"Never forget that I am the legitimate daughter, Father. I have a hold of the law. I will not back out from my right. I have the right to inherit the Duchy!" The teacups clattered to the pristine floor as the tea splashed into her indoor gown.

Tori saw the sign of sympathy that the Duke was feeling for her as he tried to reach for her, but she immediately recoiled from his touch. The very thought of being pitied by the man before her sickened Tori to the core.

"The law will not be applied if a faction supported the heir apparent. Our family belongs to the noble faction, and they supported my decision."

Do you mean they supported Sabina instead of me? Tell me something new, please.

"You called me here father just to tell me that there's nothing I can do and just accept my role as someone to support my half-blood sister?"

"Victoria! She is your sister!" The Duke's voice boomed inside his office followed by the door's sudden burst.

"Father please, stop!" The tear-stricken Sabina entered unannounced with a smirking Shena in tow. The wench hugged her father to stop him from striking Tori. But the moment their eyes met, Sabina slyly smirked at Tori mouthing two words 'you lose'. And that almost made Tori snap again. "Sister Victoria did not mean that. You will support me, right sister? I need you as I succeeded in being the next Duchess, a title that your mother held."

Gritting her teeth, Tori composed herself even with her devastating looks. "I need to think alone, father. Sister Sabina, congratulations." Smiling at the two of them, Tori walked out of the office with her head held high as she muted the Duke's voice calling for her.

Tori for the first time lost her will to feel anything. She felt the never-ending coldness to her core. And she was afraid that she just lost her humanity forever.