THE FAMILIAR renaissance-style building was the first thing that Tori saw as soon as she looked outside the carriage. Days passed by like a blur. After her birthday party, Sabina's birthday came too. The same lords from her birthday came bearing gifts aside from Marchioness Susana, who only greeted that wench with the fakest smile Tori could see. Nothing out of ordinary, everyone already knew that the Duchess of Castaña would be the one to escort Sabina. Tori came and acted like the benevolent sister as she always did. She even gifted the wench with a sapphire-decorated brooch.

Acting almost all day like a caring sister tired the hell out of Tori so the next day she just spent her day lazing around in her room while Rowan was the one who delivered the Jewel Eyes of Rhea with a personal letter for the queen to the Turvy, Information Guild's Headquarters.

The next day, the Duke became so busy, but Tori knew why. If her calculation was correct, according to the original plot in Season 1, a sudden trend for the Oolong Tea happened. Season One's plot would happen two years from now and that would be the time that another trend from the western southern countries would happen, the introduction of coffee beans. Marquess Zoliel would hold the monopoly of Oolong Tea from the Ming Country since he was the ambassador of the Empire to that country he was overpricing the Oolong Tea to the nobles and aristocrats. Later on in the Season 1 plot, the coffee trend would have an enormous impact on the high society since the noble faction traders would still be the ones to take the monopoly of coffee beans, this would eventually weaken Lord Tofera's food trading business. It was later in Season 2 that they revealed that it was a strategy from the noble faction to weaken the aristocrats who were slowly going bankrupt because of the Oolong tea monopoly.

The two trends of Oolong Tea and coffee beans would shake the future of the aristocratic faction's pillar of support. And this plan was made by Duke Luwen Rozenreff and was supported by Marquess Zoliel.

And if it was starting now, she must stop this before it could become a threat. This was the reason Tori decided to leave the Rozenreff Duchy a day before New Year. She would not attend the banquet. When she told the Duke about this, he was at first against it, but when Tori told her that the headmaster called for her, her father could do nothing but agree. That was the power that the head of the Trifecta Academy had.

"We have arrived, Lady Tori. I'll be guarding you until you come inside your dorm room." Rowan held out his hand for her, which Tori accepted gladly.

"Such a kind knight you are," Tori joked casually. Rowan's ears turned crimson red and hid his face away from her by turning in the other direction.

How cute.

"Stop kidding around, Lady Tori. People might hear and misunderstand you."

Tori laughed from his concern. "No one will hear us since it is the night of New Year and everyone will be arriving tomorrow."

Rowan glanced at her. "Exactly, Lady Tori. Why are you celebrating the New Year here? Aren't you going to attend the banquet held by the royal family?"

The royal banquet for the New Year celebration was a celebration of thanksgiving from the previous year and a welcoming for the coming year. The two factions were going to attend, and even that person would attend.

Normally, Tori would bear at it, but the bigger reason why she did not use this chance to market her social standing was because of the Oolong Tea trend. She would use this opportunity to stop the Ming country from supplying a monopolized supply to Marquess Zoliel. With that, Tori needed a third party to intervene for her. And she just had the perfect person in her mind, the headmaster.

But she needed something to use as leverage to strike a deal; Tori knew she must not use the queen's power yet. With the sudden action from the queen on her birthday, the two factions would be watching Queen Aurina closely for some time.

"You know how careful I am, Rowan. I want to get accustomed first before anyone else to gain an advantage." Tori made up a believable excuse for Rowan since he knew the real her with lots of secrets and that she was always careful with everything.

I am telling you just to trust me on this one. That was what Tori wanted to tell him, but decided not to do so.

The nobles' dormitory was situated near the garden of Trifecta Academy. The vast greenery in front of Tori's dorm was worthy of noble's praise. The last part of the academy which was facing the capital was the dormitory for common folks.

Tori also knew that aside from the Ekcrett Empire's noble students, there were also noble families from the neighboring countries who sent their heirs to Trifecta Academy to learn the three teachings of the famous and well-respected Headmaster Eyzana Valtera.

"We're here, Lady Tori. Beyond this, I can't accompany you anymore."The two of them stopped in front of a mansion-like building that would become her home inside this academy.

Turning towards Rowan, Tori waved her hand. "Happy new year, Rowan. I am so lucky to have you." Indeed, I am. It is not every day that I can bag a future duke to become my loyal knight.

Rowan bowed his head while his right hand rested on his chest, a knight's bow. "Happy new year, Tori."

For the very first time, Rowan called her by her nickname, which astounded Tori. Rowan was a stickler for rules, so he followed them like the Holy Grail. But seeing how he just greeted Tori casually pleased her to know that her relationship with him as master and knight was improving towards her desired result.

Tori was smiling at Rowan's retreating form before she finally turned to come inside the mansion-like dormitory for the nobles.

A practiced smile of a working student welcomed Tori, she was wearing the royal blue robe that served as the uniform of Trifecta Academy. Her robe held no emblem, which meant that the one who welcomed Tori was a commoner who worked for the school.

"Good afternoon, Lady Victoria Rozenreff! I'm Tessa, your guide until you got accustomed to the dormitory routines." Her voice matched perfectly with her pale blue eyes and freckled pale skin that was contrasting with her raven hair.

Tori's smile froze when she realized who was standing in front of her. "I will be in your care, Miss Tessa." The dazzling smile of Tori almost left Tessa speechless.

"U-Uhm, this way Lady Victoria." The poor Tessa was very nervous around her so Tori stopped prodding and she just listened as the commoner guide talked about the rules in the dormitory and the school.

"Noble students have a distinct set of rules with the common folks like me. The first rule, the ladies can't sleep together with the lords to uphold the honor and dignity of their noble houses. The second rule, the ladies can have their tea party inside the dormitory since there is an available greenhouse donated by the Duchess of Castaña Duchy. The third rule, classes will start at ten in the morning and will end at three in the afternoon. Fourth rule, the noble's curfew will be at exactly midnight, the same as the commoners. And last, there will be no fight allowed as long as you wear your robes, meaning no fights must happen inside Trifecta Academy."

Different sets of rules, huh? I wonder who the advantageous one is. I know how simple-minded nobles are, as long as their honor will be at the top of the chain.

The whole time they were walking, Tori was silently observing the interior of the noble's dormitory. And it was eerily quiet, but thankfully the hanging candle chandeliers littered the high ceiling of the dormitory's hall. A variety of flags from the different kingdoms surrounded the Eckrett Empire's flag decorated on the hallways' wall.

Different portraits of the royal family from different kingdoms littered every nook and cranny of the hallway up to the second floor.

"Tessa, can I ask if the nobles of the Ming country have already arrived?" Specifically, the Crown Prince.

Tessa looked at her for a brief moment. "Yes. Crown Prince Lei Yin and Prince Rei Yin arrived early in the morning, Lady Victoria. Other nobles from the other countries will arrive tomorrow, Lady Victoria." Though she answered Tori, the latter could see the wariness in her eyes.

Oh, the rumors about my benevolence have yet to reach you, huh? Very well.

Smiling charmingly, Tori grasped Tessa's hands gently."Please don't take this in the wrong way. I am just simply feeling lonely since today is the New Year. I want to spend the New Year with my family, especially my beloved sister, but I have to come here early to do my thing as the heir apparent of the Rozenreff Duchy."Sadness and loneliness laced Tori's voice. When she saw the sympathy in Tessa's eyes, a wicked gleam flashed in Tori's eyes.

"I understand. Just tell me what I can do to help you and I will gladly do so, Lady Victoria." Tessa, now feeling pity for Tori, grasped her hand back.

"Thank you so much, Tessa. If I am lonely, where can I find you?"

Tessa was about to decline her intention, but Tori gave her best sad look. Damn, I look like a puppy wishing to get adopted from a shelter.

"Just look for me at the Student Affairs Office, I am the student assistant there. I hope I can be of help to you."

The innocent smile of Tori fooled the young and just Tessa before she left Tori in front of her room. Tori waved her gloved hand to the retreating form of Tessa and when Tessa's figure could not be seen anymore, Tori's smile faded like it was never there in the first place.

"I never knew I will meet you here. Now everything makes sense from that part." The part where you are crying for Prince Corean's death in Season 2 of Thorny Crown Series.

Going inside her lavish dormitory room, Tessa preoccupied her thoughts that she did not see that her room was decorated like her room in the Rozenreff estate. Tori absentmindedly sat on her bed and pondered hard about Tessa's character.

Tori remembered the part where Tessa's character appeared in the Netflix Series. It was the last part of Season 1 where Tessa showed up. The second prince was secretly meeting her in Pivet Alley. Turns out, they're in a secret relationship.

So you are Prince Corean's love interest.

Since the plot focused on the male and female lead, Tessa's character was not that detailed except because the second prince loved her dearly. He loved her to the point that he disregarded Queen Aurina's warnings. Her appearance before Prince Corean died was when she was leaving away from the capital. It left the second prince in despair, and the next time he showed in the series was when he suffered and eventually died from the plague.

Since this follows the plot, should I intervene? Is his sudden death connected to Tessa? Why did she leave him in the original plot? But one thing is for sure, they fell in love inside this academy.

But things have changed now. Will he still love this Tessa when I take part in the Vesta challenge for him? Or I can use her to forfeit the Vesta challenge?

Tori knew that Sabina could find a way to join the Vesta challenge with the help of the Duchess. Whoever won the challenge would become queen. The Vesta challenge would be Sabina's countermeasure should Tori become the next heir to the Rozenreff Duchy. And if Sabina would take the throne, Tori would still have her head rolling on the plaza's floor.

I think I got a new enemy. Tessa, huh, how should I make you dance? Shall I make you dance until you die?

Walking straight to the gigantic mirror, Tori stared at her reflection. The looming darkness of the room highlighted her blazing red eyes."I feel sorry for the second prince. He might become the king of this Empire, but the one sitting next to him will not be his destined one, it will be me."