Valentina - ( *Snickered* ) I think you don't understand the situation you are in. Who said nobody knows about this? Did you really think that I would just step into this place so mindlessly?

Leader - Nothing matters anymore since you won't be leaving this place alive.

Valentina - Hmm? I think you seriously have some issues with your thinking abilities. Even though the duke doesn't know about the assassination attempt, there are still a few loyal knights who do know about this and just think about it, if the young lady of the Isidor duchy was to disappear a while before her marriage, then won't the guild have to bear everyone's suspicion? Since you were the ones who had tried to kill me a few days ago. So in such a situation, this proof ( the video ) will inevitably be handed over to the duke and what do you think he will do if he gets to know that the guild had tried to attack his dear sister a while ago and they are most likely the ones involved in his sister's disappearance?

Leader - ...

Valentina - Let me tell you, ( *Crossing one leg over the other and sitting back on the chair to assert dominance* ) The raven guild, will be turned into ashes.

Valentina - Realize the situation you are in guild leader...

Leader - ( *With a grudge* ) What does my lady want?

Valentina - ( *Smiled* ) Now that's something I wanted to hear.

Valentina - In return for not reporting all this, you will just have to work for me. Ofcourse I don't expect you to do it for free, so you will be paid generously as well.

Leader - ( *Clueless* ) Eh? What?

Valentina - What? You don't want to do it?

Leader - No! I mean-wait! This doesn't make any sense.

Valentina - What doesn't?

Leader - If you are going to pay me anyway for giving you information, then why did you threaten me with the video in the first place?

Valentina - Well money isn't a problem with me, and I know the guild is all about money then why should I make you work for free?

Leader - Then why do you have this evidence? And what do you want me to do?

Valentina - You are Isabella's informant, aren't you? So I want to use you as a blindfold to cover her eyes. So work for me and report her the things I tell you to. In simple words, you'll pretend that you are on her side but I'll be your true master. And about the video, it's just for safety, you know? I can't afford to let you spoil my plan by informing her about everything, including this exchange. So it's like something I can use to blackmail you, so that if you dare to play as a double agent and help her then I'll destroy your whole guild. From now on, I'll be watching you, so if you even try to backstab me, I'll stab your heart.

Leader - What if I deny to work for the princess?

Valentina - I don't remember giving you an option. Well, nevermind, I will give you two options: Either work for me or...die.

Valentina - ( *Smirked* ) So what do you choose?

Leader - How generous of the princess.

Valentina - Don't mention it, we'll be working together from on, so it's my duty to make it convenient for you, if you want I can even help you to die.

Leader - My lady doesn't need to do that. As the princess said, this guild is all about money, so what reason do I even have to refuse such a good deal?

Valentina - ( *Smiled* ) That's what I expected.

Both of them shook each other's hand and signed on a contract to solidify their partnership and ensure nobody betrays. It was almost time for her to return back, but she decided to stay for a few minutes more since the leader had a few questions for her.

Leader - Now that the deal is done, there's no way I would want to loose such a profitable partner, so shouldn't my lady now try to look for the one who tried to offer a bounty on the princess's head?

Valentina - I already know who it was.

Leader - What? But how? Who is it? We had just received a nameless letter and money, that's why we did it, but we don't know who sent it.

Valentina - I'll give you a small piece of information. There aren't many people in the empire who can offer a bounty to kill me. Precisely there are only three people who can do it, the emperor, duke Isidor and me myself.
But out of these three, the emperor needs me to ensure Isidor's support and duke Isidor will never try to kill me because he loves his sister too much, then...it leaves only one person...

Leader - Her highness offered reward of her own assassination? ( *Unbelievable* )

Valentina - I've already narrowed the suspicion down to only one person, so I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

Valentina said and left the room leaving the room in complete silence.

Leader - I wish I had that much money that I could even make a fake plan for my own murder. ( *Sighing* ) Being rich is seriously the best.

Valentina left the place and sat in the carriage for a ride back home and as soon as she sat, she visibly relaxed.

Valentina - That killing intent...I really thought I was going to die for a second there. The leader is definitely no joke, I should avoid taking such rash decisions in the future. Even though I had magic spells and scrolls with me, I can't deny that it was a dangerous gamble.
( *Sitting back* ) With this, I'll be able to cover up Isabella's eyes till my marriage atleast.

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

Day of the tea party :

It was the day of the tea party, when Alexis was supposed to visit the Isidor duchy and Valentina was quite serious about her job. She wanted everything to be done flawlessly and was making sure that everything was perfect.

Valentina - I welcome you on the behalf of Isidor duchy your grace.

Alexis - ( *Kissed her hand* ) It's an honour to meet you again my lady.

Both of them smiled at each other and walked towards the garden where the preparations were done.
The conversation flowed smoothly and the atmosphere had become quite friendly and comfortable.

Alexis - My younger sister is a fan of romance novels so she makes me read them sometimes, ones she especially loves.

Valentina - ( *Thinking* ) The duke's younger sister? Then it must be lady Artemisia Vaspertine, I think she's my age.

Valentina - The young lady must really enjoy them. ( *Smiled* )

Alexis - She does. I think my lady and misi will really get along well.

Valentina - I hope so. It would be great if I could make a few friends.

Alexis - I was informed that the young lady didn't really prefer getting invited into gatherings but if she is interested then I'll remember to say misi to send an invitation to you the next time she holds a tea party.

Valentina - It would really appreciate it if you could do it. Even I want to meet lady Vaspertine.

Alexis - Yes even I think it would be great if she could have a friend to hang around with. She used to hang out with Ena but she's been really busy these days, so misi misses her a lot.

Valentina - Ena? ( *Confused* )

Alexis - Oh my apologies, I meant marchioness Athena Remetio.

Valentina - Is his grace acquainted with the marchioness?

Alexis - ( *Astonished* )

Valentina - Oh my, did I maybe ask an inappropriate question? I would like to apologise if I did. ( *Stiff* )

Alexis - Oh no no, I must've surprised the princess, please forgive my rudeness. It's just that it's quite known in the capital about mine and Ena's friendship, so almost everyone knows that we are best friends so when the lady said that she didn't know about it, I was a little taken back.

Valentina - There are still a lot of things I haven't caught up with due to my past disinterest this is probably why even though I knew what great feats both the marchioness and duke have achieved I didn't know about their friendship.

Alexis - I see...

Alexis - Then I hope you can visit the Vaspertine dukedom someday and make acquaintance with misi. It's time already I should be going now. And I am grateful for the hospitality my lady has shown me today.

Valentina - I am glad his grace liked it even though it was lacking.

Alexis - Not at all my lady. ( *kissed her hand* ) I hope we can meet sometime soon. ( *Smiled* )

Valentina - ( *warm smile* ) I would be looking forward to that day.

Alexis left for his home while Valentina kept smiling in his direction and as soon as he was out of sight, her smile disappeared and she sighed.

Valentina - I was just hoping to have a good connection with him but that was an unexpected development. I had completely forgotten about his sister, I think meeting her is definitely going to be worthwhile.

Valentine's POV :

Alexis' younger sister is Artemisia Vaspertine the only daughter of Vaspertine duchy. In my past life, she was someone who never tried to mess with me. The lady is quite calculative and likes to often befriend those who can be of help to her. Even though mostly everyone tried to put me down, mock me and humiliate me due to my low self-esteem and behaviour, she was one of the few who never took part in such things and never forgot our positions but that doesn't mean she had ever tried to side with me or save me which I think is fair enough since we had nothing to do with each other anyway. It was a shame that she got used as a sacrificial piece by the emperor.

Valentina - ( *sighed* ) The emperor really has a knack for ruining the lives of everyone.

The emperor pressurized the lady to get married to duke Elois Kartena. Elois was someone who was loyal to the emperor so he tried to marry off the lady to gain control over Vaspertine duchy through lady Artemisia. After their marriage, she was mistreated and tortured but she was too strong to let that waver her, the emperor's intentions of taking control over the duchy didn't work and eventually Artemisia discovered that Elois had been cheating on her with multiple women and not only that he was also involved in child trafficking and a few other illegal businesses as well. She stayed inside the Kartena duchy and started gathering evidence against Elois and once she was done, she handed it all over to Alexis who publicised all the crimes of Elois and fought to put him behind the bars. Elois kept hoping that the emperor would save him but in the end, he was for him nothing but a mere puppet who he didn't bother to save. Elois was served death sentence to shut him down. Fortunately, lady Artemisia returned back to the Vaspertine duchy but fear of societal mockery made her withdraw from the high society. Little by little her existence disappeared somewhere...from what I remember rumours said that she went to a faraway estate to spend the rest of her life there.

Valentina - It seems I have more work for the guild leader. I should send him a letter.

Thank goodness that the goddess had shown me all the events that had happened even after my death till the complete end of my story...

Valentina - ( *Gritted her teeth* ) Till the point where my child was killed.

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

The next month was spent in peace, Valentina had started getting swordsmanship lessons and was performing even better than she had expected. Her magic training was going completely fine as well and the emperor had too much work to bother her, so summing up her life was going pretty smoothly.

A months later :

Valentina - ( *Looking at a letter* ) So it finally arrived.

It was an invitation letter for a tea party that was about to be hosted by lady Vaspertine. It was scheduled to be held 4 days later and even though Valentina was hoping to gain an ally, somewhere she was silently hopeful to gain a friend as well.

Valentina - Lynn prepare well for the party.

She ordered Lynn to prepare everything and after buying a dress and things required to attend a party. She was all set for it.

Valentina - The past me had kept out of such parties from a year or so and it's my first social event after coming to this world, but still I must not let anyone disrespect me. The more forgiving I become, the more confidence I'll be entrusting them with.

In the one month gap, she had remembered the faces and houses of all the noble ladies who had connections with Artemisia and was busy preparing herself to leave an impression over everyone especially Artemisia.

Valentina - Now there's just one important thing left and that is - bringing lady Artemisia over to my side. ( *Determined* )

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

Hey everyone, I really hope you liked this chapter and if you did then don't forget to leave a few words of encouragement or constructive critisism. Love you all<3

Then I'll be back with another chapter, till then byeee~.