I collapsed on my bed and released a sigh. It felt really good to be home and back in my own bedroom.

I'm never returning back to that Kingdom ever again.

At first, it was really really fun. Then... Well then it got a bit weird. They are far too.... Friendly. Yes. Friendly. That's how we will put it.

As I stretched out on my bed like a lazy cat, I felt a presence before me. My eyes snapped open and I saw Simon smiling at me with that sadistic look of his. I blinked a few more times and silently slapped myself.

Simon tilted his head, "Why did you just slap yourself?"

I frowned and met his eyes, "Because I thought I was having a nightmare."

"Oh? A nightmare? Not a dream?"

"Yes a nightmare. Now what are you doing in my room?!"

One. How the hell did he even get in here. Two. Why the hell is he in here?! I didn't even sense that he was here a second ago!!!

His fiendish smile grew larger, "It's time."

I paused while staring at his face. My frown was frozen as my brain processed his words. I sat up from bed, pushing away his face from mine. He only smiled as he watched me cross my arms and stare at him.

"It's time?"

He nodded, "Yes. I received the order to complete my mission."

I felt as if there was acid in my mouth as I glared at him, "I see."

He sauntered over to me and reached out to play with my hair. He leaned close to me, "You can't forget the deal you made with me."

"I haven't forgotten."

I smacked away his head and went to my bedside table. I opened a drawer and pulled out a few bundles of papers and handed it to him, "Here. This is a map of the tunnel system to get out of the Imperial Palace without being detected. Once you leave through the tunnel I marked, there will be a store. Look for a man with orange hair. Tell him you are looking for a little birdie. He will understand and sneak you out of the city and over the border."

Simon took the paper with a smile, "I knew you were special. It's really a shame I have to leave you behind. Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

"Not a chance."

He chuckled and reached out to play with my hair teasingly, "If you ever change your mind, just come to the Kingdom and find me." He bent forward and whispered in my ear, "I will even take you as a wife in gratitude. You would become a Princess of the Sanki Kingdom."

I snarled in disgust, "No way in hell."

He chuckled and looked deeply into my eyes, "I have always liked that about you."

He bent down and kissed my forehead, "Just think about it. I will see you again fearless one."

He patted my head and quickly disappeared. I fought off the urge to vomit. I hope I never see that prick again.

Once I was sure that he was long gone, I walked over to my vanity mirror and sat down in front of it. I sighed and covered my face. I looked up at the mirror solemnly and froze. In the reflection wasn't me, but instead the other me. She had her malicious grin as she wore that same old hoodie.

She smiled at me, "Aren't you a wonderful friend? Are you really so surprised William is going to leave you? What kind of friend would kill their friend's father?"

No. No. No.

She continued, "First you deliberately hurt him on the beach. Now you are even helping to get his father assassinated? Tsk tsk. You really are cruel."

I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

She looked at me with cold eyes, "Face it. You really did deserve to die back then."

"NO!"

I stood up in a fury and grabbed the mirror. I ripped it off and threw it on the ground, shattering it into hundreds of pieces. I forced myself not to cry as I walked over to my bed. I lowered my head and clenched my fists, but I could not stop the tears from rolling down my cheek.

Dante heard the crash and rushed into my room. He saw the broken mirror and me crying on the bed. He rushed over to me and began to check my body, "Are you hurt?"

"No..."

Once he was satisfied I didn't cut myself, he sat down next to me. "What's wrong?"

I pressed my lips together. I couldn't tell him the truth. If Simon found out that I told someone other than Bertram, he wouldn't let me off easily. He would reveal every little dirty secret he knew about me. I have committed so many crimes, and Simon has figured out most of them. If not all of them. Even if I am beloved by the King and Queen, they would still have to give me a severe punishment.

It's not that I am being selfish either. If it just affected me, I wouldn't care too much. However, my parents would be charged with crimes as well. Not to mention Bertram and Lona.... There's just too many people involved.

But why should I care if the King dies? It's not like he's a saint or anything.

He's always making William feel inadequate. He's constantly cheating on his wife. He's not even good to his own citizens. All he is good at is catering to the higher class nobility. He's been taxing the commoners so extremely that they barely have any money left over for food. At the same time, he barely taxes the wealthy.

That's why I use so much of my own wealth to help the poorer commoners. If it wasn't for my ability to make money so quickly, I'm afraid the commoners would have already risen up against him. The original novel doesn't mention this, but I have noticed that over the years the commoners hate of the King has been increasing. He's just one cake away from having a revolution on his hands.

So why should I care about the King?...

...Because he's still William's father. Even if they don't have the best relationship, William has always looked up to the King. He has always wanted to prove to the King that he is the best. It's almost painful to watch how hard William works to gain the King's approval.

If William found out I helped Simon kill the King, then he will undoubtedly hate me. It won't matter how long we have been friends. He will still feel betrayed and loathe me as a result. I don't blame him for that either.

I sighed then turned to Dante, "Dante... If there was something you didn't want to do because it meant you would hurt someone close to you, but you still were forced to do it. What would you do?"

Dante was quiet for a moment before speaking, "That seems a bit complicated. Can't you just ask for help?"

I shook my head slowly, "No. You can't tell anyone about it. If someone else finds out, then you and everyone you love would go to jail. And that's only IF you were lucky."

I'd most likely be hanged for treason.

Am I predestined to having my head cut off? Since it didn't happen in the library scene, is it possible that it could happen later? What if something happens and Dante decides he has to kill me?

I subconsciously felt my slender neck.

Dante watched me closely, "However. If that person was you, I'm sure you would find a way. You have never let someone stop you before."

I picked my head up.

That's right.

I smacked my lap and jumped up. "D*mn right! I am mothaf*cking Seri and I yield to NO man!"

You challenge me?

You get death.

Dante smirked as he saw me fired up. He nodded, "I'm glad you feel better. If you need my help, I will do anything. No questions asked."

I rubbed my hands together, "Good. For now, absolute denial is your best friend."

Now I need to figure out just how I can do that. It has to be a perfect plan with everything covered. If Simon found out I was plotting against him, everything would be over. He would immediately sell me out to the King.

I also have to think about the possible dirt he has on me now. There's no way I can erase the Black Death or hide the evidence that reveals that I am actually the mastermind behind the Black Death. Everyone knows I am the apprentice because I accidentally put to much faith in my disguising skills. If it were revealed that the Black Death was actually not real and just someone I invented, I fear that no one would believe me. They would assume I was hiding the identity of the real Black Death. This could possibly endanger someone who is completely innocent.

I can't forget about all the people who died either under my hands or as a result of something that dealt with me. Take Millie for example, she actually killed people for me. Not to mention she killed many MANY nobles including Ilene when she was only a child. Even if I didn't instruct her to, I would still be blamed for these deaths. Then, both Millie and I would suffer as a result. While Millie is good at hiding evidence thanks to her serial killer ways, I worry that maybe she made a slip up somewhere.

Also, William knows.

And William is another problem. He is also unwillingly involved in some of my schemes even if he doesn't know about it. If I get caught, it would no doubt affect William's status. I'm not sure if this would revoke his princely status, but he is sure to encounter a fallout. At the best, he would have to denounce me. The worst, he would die alongside me.

In the end, the problem still comes back to Simon.

That incredibly intelligent, sadistic Simon. He didn't become the King's right hand man within a few years for no reason. He was skilled at deception and manipulation, maybe even more than I am. Not only that, but he also has such amazing skill with the sword, he could even beat Dante. He is like the cliché final boss that is just too powerful.

Not to mention he must have a powerful backer. He has already told me that someone is ordering him to do this. Since he is already a Prince, this person must be higher on the social ladder. Could it be royalty? Or is there someone far stronger hiding in the shadows calling the shots?

If this was a novel, the protagonist would probably come up with some way to take him down. However, Simon succeeded at killing the King in the original novel. The original novel also never mentioned if he was ever caught and punished. This leads me to believe one thing...

It's almost impossible to succeed against Simon.

Luckily for me, I like a challenge. Especially one that might get me killed. It's only moments of high pressure do I truly thrive.

If I am going to win against Simon, I must manipulate the manipulator. I must continue to act like an obedient ally while plotting against him. The only way I can succeed, is if I kill Simon without him ever catching on. Even then, he may have a fail safe in case this happens.

Knowing Simon, he would laugh beyond the grave knowing that he took me down with him.

As I was formulating my plan in my head, I turned around and saw Dante laying on my bed in a suggestive pose. He had a haughty smile on his face, "It's too dangerous to let you sleep alone tonight."

My face twitched.

Just who is more dangerous? Dante or Simon?