THE UNCOMFORTABLE ride of their family’s carriage along with an eerie silence accompanied Tori and Lillian. Aside from the coachman, they only brought one knight. But Lillian worried why Tori asked her to get a hefty amount of gold coins, even if they could tell the tailor shop to put the tab in the Rozenreff Duchy. Tori also tasked Lillian to bring three coats, commonly used to hide one’s identity. She had a bad feeling about this one.

Tori enjoyed the scenery silently. She’s busy secretly comparing her surroundings from the Netflix adaptation of the novel. But Tori could feel the intense gaze laced with worry from her maid. And she knew her requests were rather odd for poor Lily.

Worry not, Lily. Unlike before, this is not something irrational. This is a preemptive measure for my future safeguard.

The Rozenreff Duchy indeed possessed knights on par with the Royal Knights, but these knights were loyal to the Rozenreff Family, not to her, Lady Victoria Rozenreff. She needed someone devoted to his master, which was both a future genius knight and someone with power. And no one would fit like a glove other than the future royal guard captain, Rowan Cristoff Castaña.

Rowan Cristoff Castaña was one of the two second-male leads of this series. At seventeen, the Duke of Castaña Duchy recognized him as his illegitimate son. He could become the youngest captain of the Royal Guard with noble blood. But before the plot started, he was just a poor boy from the slumps of Pivet Alley. If her calculation were correct, by next year at spring, the Duke of Castaña Duchy would take this young talent. It would be a waste to let this raw gem go.

Before you form any ties, I will make you indebted to me. That way, you will keep wondering about my benevolent heart and will choose to serve me as a knight for your entire life. Once the blood oath has been made and when the Duke of Castaña would claim him. The power of the Castaña Duchy will be at my disposal.

“We arrived, Lady Tori,” Lily announced. The knight opened the carriage, and he escorted her down gently. They’re in front of the most sought-after tailor shop in the capital, Millesence.

The owner was the one who escorted her the entire time.

“Lady Victoria, it’s been a while since you came here yourself. Your presence humbles me.” The middle-aged woman bowed slightly to show her respect.

She replied with a perfect noble lady’s courtesy in front of the other noble customers. This was a simple piece for this body since the original Victoria grew up as a noble lady. There was a perfect balance while bending the left knee right behind the right knee, a straight-up posture, and only three fingers holding each side of the dress. “Your flattery indulges me, thank you.”

“Is that the eldest daughter of the Rozenreff Dukedom?”

“She’s the late duchess’ daughter, oh my. What a sight to behold.”

“Is she the heir apparent of the Rozenreff Dukedom? If she is, then she deserves it!”

“I heard she is a spoiled rotten lady?”

“I guess they are just baseless rumors.”

The positive feedback rained as she intended. “What style would you prefer, Lady Victoria?”

“Give me everything that’s something modest yet elegant.”

The owner looked taken aback by her request, but he immediately composed himself. At least he knew not to meddle with trivial matters. That’s why Tori loved merchants. They always exercise a benefit for a benefit.

The tailors measured her swiftly. “Deliver this to the Rozenreff estate and put my tab under the duchy. Thank you.” She smiled sweetly at the tailors and the owner, who was for everyone to see.

As they went back inside their carriage, her sweet innocent smile vanished. “Lily, prepare the coats. And tell the coachman to head to Pivet Alley. Give the other coat to the knight and wear the last one.”

Dread consumed Lilly’s face when she mentioned the wretched place of the slums, also known as Pivet Alley. A noble lady coming to the slums was like practically begging to harass her for gold coins, thus using coats. Visitors of slums who used coats to conceal their identity meant that they had a business with the Assassination Guild hidden inside Pivet Alley. Still, they were only hiding behind the pretext of the coat to deceive the criminals and beggars of Pivet Alley. Tori was aiming for a small junction at the eastern part of the Pivet Alley, where Rowan Cristof lives.

Tori knew this since Rowan Cristof told this personal information to Sabina in Season 3 of the series. Tori would use this information for herself.

Hiding her identity behind the dark baggy coat with two servants after her, the beggars and small-time criminals wisely avoided them as they concluded that they were a guild’s customers.

“Do not make any eye contact,” she whispered to Lily, who was trembling. Tori could not blame her. Lily had lived all her life as a maid in the Rozenreff Duchy since the time that Victoria’s mother, the late duchess, took her from the orphanage. Lily was surely not used to the smelly and dirty alleys as beggars loitered around.

“Yes, my lady.”

Tori asked Lily and the knight, Dean, to address her as ‘my lady’ when they stepped out from the carriage.

I need to find Rowan!

The power struggle became the crucial point of the story after the wretched Sabina successfully eliminated the true heir of the Rozenreff Dukedom, Victoria. After gaining power as the Crown Princess, she aimed to be ‘The Queen’; thus, she manipulated everything to destroy those who opposed her and her dream. For Tori’s past life, upon watching Sabina killing anyone who just dared to look at her in a wrong way, Tori couldn’t watch the Thorny Crown anymore. She loathed the idea of Sabina getting what she wanted.

And now, I have the chance to clip your horns before it sprouts, dearest sister of mine.

“Are we lost, my lady?” Lily piped in.

“If I may, my lady. I can guide you to the guild’s store.” The knight hinted.

They thought she got lost. Partially, they’re correct. But rather than lost, she was wandering while looking for a barely fifteen boy with sandy hair and a pair of cobalt eyes. Hence, she’s walking toward the area where he lives. The chances of meeting him there would be high.

Tori stopped in her tracks when a bony boy with sandy hair and cobalt eyes lay on the dirty ground of the alley. His harsh glare was directed at those young criminals surrounding him, and his stance seemed like he was protecting something underneath him. The surrounding criminals kicked his skinny body, but his harsh glare never faltered for a second.

Ah, there he is.

Tori undoubtedly displayed a triumphant smirk on her face. She couldn’t contain her delight.

He is indeed the rawest of the gems. I can’t wait to polish him.

Tori walked towards them, and when she was a meter away from the sprawled boy, he looked up at her.

“Dean, take care of them. I want the one sprawled on the ground.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Tori’s knight quickly picked up the three gangly criminals away from Rowan. The protests of the three echoed in the narrow alley, but no one dared to help them. The latter kept his head down as he clutched something underneath him, something essential for him. 

Is it food or medicine?

“My lady!” Lily protested when she crouched towards the boy. No one would believe her if she told them that this boy in front of her was already fifteen, much less than if she told them that this would be the future captain of the royal guards.

Tori offered her right hand. “Come with me, boy. I will provide you shelter above your head and a bountiful meal every day if you do. All I ask of you is to come with and get out of this hellhole.”

Rowan’s penetrating gaze pierced her, but she never let go of her gaze on him. She wanted to convey that she was serious and that he could trust her.

“W-what do you want from me?” His voice, though gruff, was indeed trembling, from hunger or for fear, she never knew.

“I’ll tell you after you take my hand.”

“I won’t go with you! You’re just going to sell me like what happened to my friends! Nobles are animals!”

“Why, you insolent brat!” Dean drew his sword.

“My lady, be careful!”

“Put the sword back. You’re scaring him.” Tori coldly brushed her knight. Dean couldn’t do anything but place his sword back. Lily covered her mouth from the shock of the earlier outburst. But Tori remained calm. Now, Rowan was cowering while covering his head for any coming impact.

“You poor boy. Come with me, and I’ll protect you. And when you’re powerful enough, protect me too. How about that?”

Once again, Tori offered her right hand to him. Rowan snuck a peek and was awed by the ruby-eyed woman before him. His gaze alternately changed from her hand to her face and vice versa.

Now, future duke, take my hand.

“Promise?”

Tori grinned, “I promise. And to honor that promise, I’ll give you this.” She took her necklace and placed it around his neck. “This is a symbol of my promise. Now, will you come with me, boy?”

Even with wariness in his heart, he held her hand. A bright smile graced Tori’s lips.

ROWAN WAS inside their carriage. Tori let him wear her used coat to cover his body from the cold. He was now sleeping after staring at her like some odd creature. Tori couldn’t help but smile as she watched her necklace dangling from his neck.

“What will the duke say about this, Lady Tori?”

“Worry not, Lily. I already came up with an idea. After all, I am my mother’s daughter.”

Victoria’s mother was famous for her kind and giving heart back when she was still alive. She could pretend that she inherited that specific trait of her mother.

“Do you know him, Lady Tori?”

She stared at the boy for a long time before she answered Lily. “Yes. I know him from a long time ago.”

Lily felt more bothered. She was positive that Lady Victoria disliked going out of the manor.

Every time you see that necklace, you will remember this goodwill. You will remember it is I who saved you from that horrible place in the future. Not your father, not the king, and not Sabina, but Lady Victoria Rozenreff.

"ARE ALL of my dresses packed, Lily?"

"Yes, Lady Victoria. And I have also gathered the maids from this household excluding Lady Sabina's handmaidens."

Tori couldn't help but suppress her sadistic expression from Lily. She needed Lily to believe that Lady Victoria was changing for the better, that her Lady Victoria could rival Saintess Sabina.

Rival my ass.

"Good. Then let's go to the assembly hall where everyone was waiting."

Tori was in a good mood. To fully use the workforce of this house, she needed to place the seed of deception.

The servants of the household were waiting for her. They greeted Tori politely upon her arrival, to which she replied with an equally polite smile. The kitchen servants, who were more skeptical about the rumors about the change of Lady Victoria's behavior, admitted that there was genuinely a change with the eldest lady of the Rozenreff Household.

Tori signaled Lily to open the large boxes that contained her previous dresses. The packages here were only just half of the total boxes. The other half was for her different plan.

Murmurs erupted when the sight of her overly lavish and expensive dresses. It seems like the rumors of her goodwill were already circulating before she came down here.

Good. Then I don't have to exert myself in explaining.

"You may question my intention for doing this, but I'll only say this once. This is an act of filial piety for the people I have caused so much trouble with. I apologize," Tori slightly bowed her head, which the servants, even the butler, and the head maid, did not expect. To bow to a commoner from a noble's perspective was the most sincere action anyone could show. The young lady's humble efforts touched the servants' hearts.

"And to make amends as a show of my new beginning, I am giving each servant one dress. You can keep it, give it, or even sell it. Though for my handmaidens, I am giving you two dresses each."

"Thank you so much, Lady Victoria!"

"How can I accept this, Lady Tori!"

"I am at your disposal, Lady Tori!"

"I am so thankful, Lady Victoria!"

The gratitude they showed for receiving such an expensive gift was blatant. But the envy their eyes showed when her handmaidens received more was clearer.

Right. Look how I treated my subjects, everyone. Do you want more of it? Then be on my good side. Abandon that wretched Sabina and surrender yourself to me. This way, I will have the entire Household of Rozenreff under my grasp.

After getting their part, Tori's handmaidens were now helping her distribute the dresses. She gave even male servants a dress. Only one could imagine the value of her dresses, which were adorned with jewels and pearls.

"What's this commotion all about?" The stern voice of Shena stopped everyone's excited chatter. The head maid, Teresa, immediately received Lady Sabina, who had just arrived. Judging by the pissed-off attitude of Shena, it meant that Sabina was not happy about being the last one informed.

"My dearest sister!" Tori greeted her half-sister with enthusiasm in front of anyone. She even hugged her for a split moment, which earned Tori a glare from Shena.

"Greetings, Sister Tori. What's the commotion all about?"

It was clear to Tori that Sabina disliked the thought of her earning the favor of the servants. After all, this wench worked hard to destroy Victoria's reputation inside this manor.

"Remember what I told you about donating my previous dresses? I am giving all the servants half of them to compensate for my complex behavior for the past years. After all, I am the benevolent daughter of Duchess Camila. This is nothing from what the servants endured." Tori slyly hinted to Sabina the difference in their standing because of their mothers. While Tori's mother was the Duchess, Sabina's mother was a common whore lucky to carry the Duke of Rozenreff's child.

Blinded by rage that Sabina was holding in from being insulted, she blurted the words that Tori was waiting for. Finally, she took the bait. "Isn't this a bit too much, sister? As the heir apparent of the Rozenreff Duchy, aren't you overspending? I am telling you this because I am your greatest support, Sister Victoria."

Before Tori's rehearsed tears fell, only Sabina saw the sly smile of Tori.

"I-I am sorry, dearest sister! If only I knew you would be upset that I would give my dresses to the servants, I would have held it all in. I am so sorry. Please forgive me! I want you to see that I changed." Tori dramatically fainted as she shed tears for Sabina. And everyone heard and saw how their saintly Lady Sabina tried to deny them the dress given by Lady Victoria, who showed them benevolence. Everyone witnessed that Lady Victoria's act of goodwill got shoved back by Lady Sabina.

And for the first time since Sabina arrived in the household, the servants' view of Sabina darkened a bit, for there was nothing more offensive for a servant than being deprived of reward.

"Lady Tori!"

Tori heard Lily's frantic voice, but Tori didn't open her eyes. She's savoring the murmurs of the servants.

"Lady Sabina is not happy that we received gifts from Lady Tori."

"Maybe because we are commoners like Lady Sabina."

"She's maybe feeling threatened."

"Then she's hiding her true colors then."

Aah, that's the words. Keep going. Destroy the saintess more. Pluck her feathers before she can fly.

A QUIET dinner together with Tori's sister and father was what she enjoyed the most, especially after the commotion that morning. Tori knew her father would interrogate her for two things. Rowan's arrival and the unrest caused her to faint. After all, her mother fainted from time to time since the late Duchess was sickly.

If she would take advantage of the fact that the Duke loved her mother, then the fainting earlier was necessary to control her father.

"Victoria, I heard from Butler Johannes that you fainted while distributing your dresses to the servants." The Duke's tone was indifferent, but she could detect the edge. He was blaming the servants for her fainting. It meant that the one who supplied him with the unnecessary information was his dearest Sabina.

Tori glanced at the wench who was eating peacefully before her. So this is your retaliation, huh? You will make it seem like I created a stir and fainted with my doing.

"Yes, Father. I fainted from shock."

"I thought you changed for the better, Victoria? What's all this about, huh?" His voice boomed. Tori did not falter nor flinched.

I don't need to defend myself anymore because they will do it for me.

Together with the chef, all the kitchen servants kneeled in front of them, which shocked the Duke and Sabina. Though Victoria had to act surprised as well, she expected this. This was the reason she bowed her head earlier, after all.

"Punish us instead, Your Grace! Please!"

"Lady Victoria showed us benevolence like no other!"

"Lady Victoria is like the late Duchess Camila who showed us goodwill!"

"Please, Your Grace!"

The entire time, Tori was happily watching the wretched Sabina, who was biting her lips from her controlled anger. She was also gripping her utensils rather firmly.

Careful, Sabina. You're showing your horns much earlier than expected. You can't, though, because you will entertain me more from now on.

"Johannes?" The Duke asked for his trusted butler's opinion. He looked torn by the mere mention of the late Duchess.

"Yes, Your Grace?" He stepped forward near the Duke, who was now sitting at the head table beside Tori and Sabina.

"What happened?"

"Lady Victoria asked for forgiveness for behaving oddly for the past two years. She gave each manor servant a dress to show how serious she was. Lady Victoria showed nothing but pure goodwill that touched every servant of this manor, including me and the head maid Teresa, Your Grace."

How's that, Sabina? Tori's expression, which was only visible to Sabina, was smug.

As long as Johannes and Teresa view me positively, my father will always believe me in the future.

"Then why did she faint, Johannes?" The edge was long gone, but it replaced the pure worry instead.

That's the question that you should ask first, father. Now, how will you react, Saintly Sabina?

Sabina considerably paled; hence Tori wanted to snicker.

Johannes uncomfortably shifted his gaze toward Sabina, who was now looking sour and grim.

"Speak, Johannes."

"Father, please don't pressure Johannes. Earlier, I was just a little flustered since I was... rejected. I knew I was a little emotional. I mean, I couldn't blame my dear sister Sabina for not believing my actions after I did to her. But I'm okay now, father, I promise."

For the first time since this wench entered this manor, our father raised his voice toward Sabina. It was a sight to behold. Tori wanted to snicker. If only she weren't trying to look sad. In contrast, the wench was bowing her head to hide her anger towards me.

"Your commoner's blood is much stronger than I thought. A noble lady should know when to accept apologies, but you are prideful. Now it resulted in Victoria's fainting. I will inform you now again since you forgot. Victoria is like my Camila, she's fragile, and you have to protect her."

"Understood, father. I am sorry, Sister Victoria." Sabina's voice was weak, but the hidden poison behind her greedy eyes was clear to Tori.

It is the start of my many victories, Sabina dear.

"All is solved now. You don't need to be sad anymore, sister. My joy is only to be closer to you." Tori stood up to reach out for Sabina's hand.

"From now on, Victoria, you must be careful. You have an uncanny resemblance to your mother, I tell you." His voice expressed how he worried about Tori and missed the late Duchess. The kneeling servants were back to their posts as the first concern of Tori's father was done addressing.

"Yes, father. Uhm, Father, won't you ask me about the boy I brought home the other day?" Tori opened the topic in front of everyone for her later purpose.

By setting a deception for everyone, Tori's cutting off a means for Sabina to use Rowan to Tori's disadvantage. That's why she needed to put things here with everyone.

"Yes. I wanted to hear your reason why you sheltered a boy from your shopping stroll."

Tori knew the knight didn't inform her father of the bag of gold coins she bribed him with. Her father learned that she helped the boy from being chased down by human traffickers.

With a voice and face of utter sadness and worry, Tori faced her father. Her father sees her as a weak girl. "Pardon my impudence for bringing someone from the streets, father. But I didn't know why I couldn't turn a blind eye to him. I saw how he bravely fought those criminals, and I saw the passion of a knight. I knew I wanted him to be my bodyguard from that moment on. But of course, he needs to be knighted by you to be one."

Her father's serious face stared at her, which she equally returned. She wanted him to know that she was as serious as him. Her father didn't reply, so Tori continued to speak the words that would make her father agree to her wishes.

"Mother once told me, father. That a wise leader doesn't need to excel in everything but to have a keen eye to judge character and talent."

With the mention of her mother, her father's resolve would soften. And her words were spoken by the king to the Duke of Rozenreff when they were young. These words left a positive mark on the Duke. They revealed this information during Season 3, a few days before Victoria's execution. The Duke coldly spoke these words to her daughter, whom he saw as far from a leader.

But not now. Father, I will be the only heir of this Duchy. Once you agree to this, it is like deciding that I am the perfect heir to the Duchy. But you aren't thinking of Sabina's feelings anymore, right? Since I spoke of the words that made you vow to the king to be a loyal subject to him. Are you seeing the king in me, father? I am not the king. 

I will be better than him, father.

"Spoken like a genuine leader. I am proud of the changes in you, Victoria. You matured. I am glad and at ease. Well, then. Johannes will handle that boy for the time being until he's healthy enough to move to the knights' cabin to begin his training."

"Thank you, father!"

Everyone was glad for Tori except those in Sabina's faction.

"I am happy for you, Sister Victoria."

I am happy to put you in place too, dearest sister of mine.

Tori smiled gently at Sabina.

A PAIR OF cobalt eyes was eerily staring at Tori as she sat on his bed. Tori heard Johannes order Rowan to stay on the bed until his wounds healed. Despite being a fifteen-year-old boy, Rowan was overly malnourished, and he needed strength to become a knight-in-training.

After five days since she brought him with her, this would be the first time that she visited him, though she asked Lily to check on him from time to time. Her father assigned Johannes to aid him, so Tori didn't see the need to interfere yet.

She would let him settle down first and let all his wariness wash away. And now she's here in front of him to clear one thing for him.

"Why did you bring me here?" His voice was sharp. He still didn't trust her, even when the evidence of their promise was dangling from his neck.

She smiled genuinely at him. "Remember when I told you I need you to protect me? I now have full consent from my father, the Duke of Rozenreff, that you will be my knight. I think that would be better than being in the street for your entire life." Tori was lying though because, by next spring, the Duke of Castaña Duchy would acknowledge him as his son.

Though I loathe you, Rowan, for your wretched devotion towards Sabina before, I can't turn a blind eye to your talent and peculiar loyalty. I will make you mine and let that wench experience what Victoria experienced from the second male leads.

"Me? A knight?" A mixture of delight, excitement, and nervousness reflected in his eyes. Tori reached out for his hand and squeezed it.

Tori could feel the heated gaze of Lily. The latter one was so overprotective of her that she wanted to wince. However, Rowan disregarded the heated gaze from Lily and was particularly astonished by her hand on his.

See that, Rowan? I am fucking reaching out for you, so stop being a pussy and man up, dude!

Slowly, he nodded his head. Tori didn't know what that meant, but she took it as good feedback. She smiled at him genuinely, but behind that so-called genuine smile of hers were sharp ruby-red eyes.

A RED outdoor dress with golden embroidery of an Iris flower while Tori's golden ringlets were braided meticulously with red pearls inserted along with her hair and a small cut ruby as her accessories. Tori was a sight to behold. There were no unnecessary frills and laces but an elegant swish of embroidery and jewels. She wanted to look good with her return to high society.

Tori heard from her handmaidens that today was the day that Sabina was first invited to a tea party. They were both invited, but the original Victoria decided not to go because of Sabina's presence, but it was different now. Lily was astonished when she heard from Tori that she was attending, but she made Lily keep the information a secret.

That wench must be excited for her first time in high society. And since Mia, her sent spy, told her previous decision of Victoria towards the tea invitation, then Sabina must think she could dominate the attention.

As if I'll let you do that.

"Lily, did you prepare what I told you to do?" Tori asked her while she was descending the stairs. By now, Sabrina must descend too.

"Yes, Lady Tori."

Good.

Just when they were in the middle of the staircase, a surprised Sabina descended the stairs too, just like she predicted. The all too familiar frown of Shena greeted them, to which Tori replied with a wicked grin.

"You look beautiful, dear sister!" Tori's excited voice towards her half-sister warmth the hearts of the surrounding servants.

Ugh! What are you, a daycare student? What's with the excessive frills and ribbons? What an eyesore!

"You looked fabulous too, Sister Tori!"

I know, right.

"Aw, thank you! It warms me to hear it from you!" Tori linked her right arm with Sabina's left arm, startling the latter.

I knew you're itching to pry my arms away, but you can't, can you? After the uproar you pulled the last day, you can't afford to be on the Duke's nasty side again. Poor saintly Sabina. It's tough to pretend that you're so kind when you're so rotten on the inside.

"Now come along sister dear. We have a tea party to attend. I'm dying to meet the other ladies. It is quite boring with just the two of us, no?"

Her awkward smile was only apparent to Tori. Even Lily got fooled that they were on good terms with her half-sister. Their linked arm was briskly severed by Sabina when they reached the carriage where the knights and Lily witnessed.

Tori could make many interpretations from that, but the good thing was, poor Victoria would be the victim again. This would also show how Saintess Sabina was behaving rather badly. They would trace her behavior to be caused by her filthy origins. After all, a whore's daughter would never have a place in high society, not when the heir apparent was still alive. Hence, the first subject of her schemes would be Tori.

But your hands are tied now, correct? Not after everyone saw how you rejected the late duchess' daughter, who's by the way loved by the household and the Duke. I just cut your power to manipulate me as the 'stupid and ungrateful' sister of the Saintess Sabina. How does it feel, wench? How does it feel to be defeated by your own game? Ooh, I'm looking forward to your alternative plan.

But I will trample your plans. I will always remind you that you are a whore's spawn repeatedly. I will make you feel what the original Victoria felt before her dying moments.

And when I'm done with you, I will destroy the crown prince. He laughed maniacally when Victoria's head fell from the guillotine after all.

Oh, I can't wait to destroy you all.

The entire ride toward Marquess Zoliel's manor was silent. It was awkward for their maids. Sabina was glaring at Tori from time to time. But Tori was calmly looking outside the window with a massive grin on her face.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped right in front of a lilac-painted mansion. The butler of the House of Zoliel was already waiting for them. When Sabina tried to step out first, Tori stopped her by first getting down from the carriage. She offered her hand to the butler.

I'm the heir apparent, so it is only proper etiquette to let me down first.

"The ladies are waiting in the greenhouse, Lady Victoria, Lady Sabina."

"Thank you."

As the butler was now holding her palm, she was now walking in front of Sabina as they entered the extravagant greenhouse of Marchioness Susana of House Zoliel.

Everyone's attention was now on her. Tori didn't shy away like the previous Victoria. She was using the fact that she's the queen bee of her past life's High School. She's so used to attention already.

She did a perfect curtsy to the ladies, leaving everyone in awe. After all, she was yet to debut in high society, but she acted with a grace that only a fully ripen noblewoman could show. They didn't know that this body had memories of its previous life.

Marchioness Susana stood up to welcome them. Sabina took this opportunity to introduce herself.

"It was a pleasure to be invited, Marchioness Susana. I'm Duke Rozenreff's second daughter, Sabina. I am so thankful that I was invited, even if I'm from humble origins." Her voice oozed with uncertainty as Sabina looked ashamed and frightful.

I'll give her an A for her acting skills. Well, let's butt in.

Tori linked her arm again with Sabina, "Worry not, dear sister. I am always here for you. And I already told you that Marchioness Susana looked past a lady's origins. She's so benevolent. That's why they're good friends with my mother, Duchess Camila." Tori's voice showed compassion for her 'troubled' sister that touched the ladies' hearts.

Tori did not know if the Marchioness was indeed friends with the late Duchess, but she saw an embroidered handkerchief of her mother with Lady Susana's name on it. She only made a gamble from that discovery.

The kind Marchioness tapped Sabina's shoulder, "Lady Victoria is correct, Lady Sabina. I sent you an invitation, which means I meant to have you here with us. Please take a seat and be comfortable."

After Sabina reluctantly sat with Lady Elise of Castaña Dukedom, Lady Susana brought Tori to sit next to her. She glanced at the wench who was now glaring at her discreetly.

"Those rumors about you are so cruel, Lady Victoria. I can see my good friend, Camila, in you."

Camila's actual daughter died already, and you weren't even there to console her or help her because you were so afraid to tarnish your reputation. How would everyone react if they knew that the illusion of your kindness and loyalty was only a mask to hide your secret relationship with your butler?

"To be compared to my mother is such an honor, Lady Susana."

"Come to think of it. You looked like your mother except for the eyes of your father."

"They say that the ruby eyes of the Rozenreff Duchy were the trademark of your family."

Everyone was flocking around Tori while Sabina got utterly forgotten. This scene was so familiar because the original Victoria felt the shame of becoming a 'wallflower' in any social event a long time ago.

Your plan to use your origins as a source of pity is gone, Sabina. Not when I am recognized as the late Duchess Camila's daughter. Everyone will think how kind I am to accept you wholeheartedly, even if you result from the Duke's mistake. Never forget Sabina; your origin is the start of your downfall.

"Oh, right. I prepared some gifts for you. My late mother used to teach me this, but I believe my skills are still lacking. But hopefully, you can see the sincerity of my heart." Tori nodded at Lily. A few seconds later, the two knights they brought together with the House Zoliel's servants came in baring opened boxes. They gave one small box to each lady, including Sabina.

As expected, the ladies were in awe of the embroidered handkerchiefs. "I embroidered your house sigil to your handkerchief. I know it is not good, but I made it with the thoughts of gratitude for inviting my sister and me."

Sabina smiled forcefully at her, "Thank you, sister Tori."

"Tori?" Lady Elisa interjected. She was relatively quiet today.

"It was my nickname. My dear sister and I are close."

"That's so sweet of you, Lady Victoria."

Yeah, hurry and tell your mom that I am an exciting person!

Positive feedback rained for them, but mostly it was for her. Tori knew Sabina was seething behind that shy demeanor.

Lady Elisa was the only young lady in the Castaña Duchy. She was pretty close to her mother. She also became good friends with Sabina, who was only using her, but Sabina dropped her like a hot potato after Rowan became her loyal dog.

I can't wait to use you, Elisa, but worry not, I am very caring for my toys.