CHAPTER 9

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 which was covered by mysteries. This person was sitting silently next to Lady M who's 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 to 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. 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 it 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 the 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 assure 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're 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, 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.

"I want three things that only the two of you can give me. First, I want some gold under the identity of Benefactor T. Second, I wished to be an unofficial member of the aristocratic faction in which I wanted to gain access to the faction's connection in the future. And third, I want Prince Corean to never forget my deed after I make him king, hence he'll have to grant me a wish and I promise it won't harm him or the Empire."

The two realized Tori planned all of these. The second prince even suspected that Tori knew his identity all along. But they didn't know that Tori only took a gamble for the sake of her best course of action.

Lady M and the second prince agreed and signed an oath contract. An oath contract was a sacred contract and only a few choose to use this. After signing and reading all the terms and conditions, the three burned the contract together. It was a sign that it was a promise that only the three of them knew. As nobles, Lady M and the second prince respected the oath contract, leaving Tori to feel secured.

INSTEAD OF going back to the estate, Tori lingered in the Pivet Alley located at the back alley of the capital. After accomplishing her second task, Tori decided not to waste time and used this opportunity to make her third task set into motion. She also knew that someone from the Information Guild was following them, but she instructed Rowan and Lily to pretend that they didn't know.

"Rowan, do you know someone who sells things that is something peculiar? A magician of some sorts."

Rowan stopped to ponder for a while, "I knew nothing of any magician in this alley, but I knew someone who sells something peculiar. I heard he created it too, though it didn't sell."

Of course, it won't sell. The shop is in the Pivet Alley, where prideful nobles never linger for shopping. And the neighborhood won't buy these things since they're too busy to find something to eat. This dirty alley is hiding a gold mine, and that will be exclusively mine to bargain and use.

"Lead the way, kind sir." Tori joked at him, which made him smile.

"Be careful, my lady." Lily reminded her when she clung to Rowan. She was glad that Rowan was now comfortable with her. The loyalty she wished wouldn't feel so far anymore.

Rowan led Tori and Lily to a shop that was smaller than the Turvy. It has no signboard or any sign of customer. When they entered the shop, there was no one to greet but peculiar things varying from the smallest odd things to table-sized ones. What piqued her attention was the covered thing in the corner.

"What are you doing here?" A gruff voice suddenly said. And there a plump old man with a pair of glasses came trotting in.

What a friendly reception. I'm giving you a negative score for the customer service, old man.

"I came here to strike a deal," Tori discreetly showed him her necklace that was bearing the Rozenreff insignia.

"Y-you're!" It startled the old shop owner upon seeing her family crest. "Close the windows and lock the door, young man." The old man instructed Rowan, which the latter immediately followed.

The person sent by the Information Guild was just outside the shop. And the spy would probably go back and report to Lady M and Prince Corean. The two would surely wonder what she's doing in a small and dingy odd shop in the middle of Pivet Alley. If they would investigate this shop, they would only find out that there or nothing special here if they didn't mind the peculiar things the shop sells.

You two will disregard this information after not finding anything, only to be reminded of this information two years from now when the KONON camera became popular in high society. Well, maybe two years too long.

Inside the shop, the owner let them enter his workroom. It was dirty, but full of odd creation, and at the center of it was a box.

It looks like the prototype of the camera has been made.

Rowan and Lily remained outside the workshop while the two sat in a wooden chair.

"I came here upon hearing from my knight that you're a talented magician. Such talent wasn't recognized just because you're born a commoner. It was unfair, and it was such a waste of talent."

Magicians were the titles given to nobles or aristocrats who invented things that made life easier for the citizens of the Empire. It was a special and honorable title that was only given to nobles and aristocrats.

"Why does a noble came here?" He was wary but delighted of her presence. Tori's presence meant opportunity or danger.

"I came here to strike a deal. As you see, I am the eldest daughter of Duke Rozenreff. With my support, you can open the largest store in the center square of the capital. You can sell your things and invent to your heart's content."

His eyes shone with delight at the words Tori said. "In return, you will only need to do three things for me."

"W-what is it?" Wariness was clear in his voice, and Tori couldn't blame him.

"First, they will grant me 30% of your profit. Second, you will not accept any investor. You should be content with me. I am a jealous woman, so let's avoid that. Third, you should tell no one that I am your benefactor. Do you agree?" Tori offered her right hand to him.

For the owner, the terms and conditions were pretty good. The young lady was telling him that his loyalty should be hers alone and he would gladly do that until the day he dies.

"Deal."

Tori beamed from the immediate response, "I will send my maid, Lily, to be my representative as you adjust to your new life. For now, as a token of partnership, this is for you." Tori handed him a purse full of gold coins.

"Never trust unless it was me or the other two with me. Lily was the young woman with me."

"Yes, of course. And thank you for giving me this opportunity. My name is Oswald."

No, thank you for falling into my growing team.

"And I'm Benefactor T."