The King's Rejected Lady

Upside Down

WALKING AWAY WITHOUT looking back, Tori together with her pet, Talia, left the land of the north.

Tori was led to a similar-looking cabin, but unlike before this one had a small glass window. She discarded all her fur clothes and changed into her usual outdoor dress, the ones with fewer ribbons and frills. She took off the pieces of jewelry gifted by Akasha to her while she was in the north.

I am now going back to the capital. It is funny how the north was said to be dangerous yet I felt so secure in that place. Unlike the wretched capital, adorned with lavish activities yet her head could roll in the plaza any minute.

She lay on the bed and closed her eyes as she let the waves lull her to sleep. Tori was about to surrender her body to sleep when a series of loud and rude knocks disturbed her. "What is it?"

But the knocks continued and grew harsher as minutes passed until the door opened forcefully. Looking outside of the window, she saw an enormous ship sailing right beside the merchant ship she was sailing at.

"Arrest her!" The royal knights clad with their swords entered her room uninvited.

"On what grounds are you arresting me?" Tori did not dare to oppose, not when she had no one to protect her or no weapon to defend herself. It was a situation that not even her psychotic mind could predict! This was a utter defeat for her – for now. "Answer me!"

Her head was spinning from the fast transition of the events. One time she was relaxing and the next thing she knew she was being grabbed by the royal knights. They proceeded in dragging her outside her small room to the upper deck. It was as if she was already treated as a criminal without a proper trial!

The sunlight made Tori close her eyes from the sudden change of scenery. They held her arms at her back, twisting her arms painfully. Pushing her to the wooden floor of the deck, Tori landed with a loud thud.

What is happening?

Looking up at the person before her, Tori recognized the captain of the royal knights standing above her and looking down at her with disdain in his eyes. Tori could not help but bite the insides of her cheeks to stop herself from lashing out. She needed to remain calm, especially in this kind of situation. "You do realize that antagonizing me will have recuperations, Captain." She was kneeling in front of him but her eyes remained sharp even being blindsided by the current events.

Is this the result of the shady transactions of the noble faction? But why involve the loyal royal knights who only obeyed the king?

"I will gladly face the said recuperation just to uproot the root of all evil, Lady Victoria Rozenreff. After betraying your family now you betray the empire by planning a siege to the empire. Good thing that King Elphaim learned about this plan of yours!"

What?

Tori's eyes widened like saucers upon hearing him but he continued with his fuming words. "I look forward to how you will twist this just to save your face, but I highly doubt that. Not when the guillotine is waiting upon your arrival." His smug-looking face met her emotionless one.

"Did you get her?" A familiar voice made Tori freeze. Pivoting her head to look at the traitor's face, Tori could not help but shout. "You!"

THE CABIN became her prison cell while sailing back to the capital. Tori was dragged back after she met the captain of the royal guards and the sly snake. She could not help but grin when she remembered the wretched face of the person she underestimated, no, Tori did not underestimate her. Instead, she just chose that they had a mutual understanding. She miscalculated the weight of that person's ambition.

With her hands held tied and mouth gagged as she kneeled on the cabin's floor, Tori was unable to move freely or talk leisurely. Her limbs started to grow numb and her mouth started to ache, but she was long numbed by the shock of betrayal.

I thought I was safe. Ha! If the wretched plot has only a face, he must be laughing like crazy while rolling to the ground. Aah, I want to whack that imaginary grin from that make-believe persona of the wretched plot.

The path I was taking, where did it go wrong? I never trusted anyone. I made it clear to draw the line even from my vassals. And I even followed the rules of equivalent exchange. Just, why?

Not even bothering to knock, the door opened. Restrained, Tori could not turn her head in the direction of the door, but the silhouette of the person who entered giveaway who it was. Steeling herself, Tori's red eyes met familiar emerald eyes.

There was only one family who had that distinct character, the House Larat of the aristocratic faction. The captain of the royal guard walked in next which did not surprise Tori anymore. He walked straight to her with his icy stare, grabbing the cloth behind her head as he briskly pulled it off her.

"Now, talk." The anger behind every word of the royal captain made Tori raise her eyebrows.

You have some serious issues with me.

Tori watched the silhouette of the captain of the royal knights leave the room leaving her alone with the person who betrayed her.

Tori's golden ringlets were in a mess, her dress in disarray, but her mocking ruby red eyes were relentless even with her current state. The captain of the royal guard remained standing at her back while that person took a seat on her bed.

She did not falter nor showed any signs of emotions as she gave her best innocent smile to that person. "What do you want me to say? Congratulations?"

"No, but close. I want to know, how does it feel? How does it feel to be defeated in your own game?"

"I felt ecstatic. The war in the north did not give me this thrill. I am looking forward to this one. So give me an awesome show. Entertain me well, Merilla Larat."

Tori bit her lip discreetly to stop herself from shouting when the lunatic Merilla Larat also known as Lady M placed her soles atop Tori's head. Chuckling to herself, Merilla replied with a mocking tone. "See the difference, Victoria? I am always above you as I am always two steps ahead of you. You belong beneath my feet."

Tori shrugged her head to shake Merilla's feet on her head. "You will pay for this!" Tori's façade broke.

Merilla stood up and placed her right foot on Tori's head as the latter could not move from kneeling on the wooden floor. "How, Victoria? What awaits you in the capital is your death alone."

"What have you done!"

"What have I done? It's quite simple. I fooled you by making you believe that I am loyal to the aristocratic faction. You believed the context that I gave you. And as someone who knew your every move, it was easy to set you up. It is quite easy to manipulate the letters you sent to the king making it s if you are threatening the Imperial Majesty. The siege of the north and the war of the north were orchestrated by you. Of course, King Elphaim knows the truth. He's the benefactor, you know. But who cares, right? Executing will give His Majesty the most prized Wall and the control of the North. With the information by my side, I will always win." Merilla added more force on her foot making Tori crumble on the floor. With the latter's face on the floor, while her limbs were tied, she was in a compromising position. "But you know what is stupid to watch? It is you, tolerating that idiotic lovesick fool. I don't get it, you know. Why are you so hung up with the second prince when you can choose Prince Lauren?" Merilla crossed her arms as she looked down at Tori.

"You stick to him like he is the last man in this world. Is it the looks? Well, I can say that I had fun getting Tessa from Crown Prince Yei Lin. Oh, that reminds me. Tessa announced to the higher echelon that she will marry Prince Corean. Well, she got some nerve after I told her that you won't live long to marry any of the princes."

The audacity!

"You are after the crown, huh? With the House Larat being at the bottom of the power chain, you have to resort to this. Maybe, the reason why you're helping Tessa is that you see yourself in her. How is it, Merilla? Is it satisfying? After all, I can conclude that you have some unrequited feelings for the second prince." Though Tori's words were almost muffled the venom laced in her voice oozed like honey.

Oh, poor you.