~Alexia Thorn~

　　[ON THE DAY OF HER ARRIVAL AT WHISPERING PINES LYCAN KINGDOM]

　　The moment I stepped my foot on the soil of this Kingdom, I felt as though my soul was revoked. My purpose of travel, the deal I've made with someone specific, and my drive to bring someone down have all intensified greatly. The cart which dropped me to the open gates of the kingdom began turning around to leave, having performed its duty.

　　"Name and ID." The guard at the gate asked before I could enter.

　　"Y-yeah." I was slightly distracted with how lively the kingdom was at midday. Fishing out necessary documents and well, a written letter from Leif Lupus, I was allowed inside. Since I'll be representing another pack, there are few formal restrictions on me in the beginning. And so, I had to wait until 2nd trial officially began.

　　"Thank you," I ought to be having a polite demeanor, for I can be reprimanded if not. Scoffing at the guard who 'politely' smiled at me, I checked out the room assigned for me. The grumble which came under my breathe represented my dissatisfaction with the confinement I was assigned. It's too small to accommodate me and my belongings!

　　Pfft! But Aurora, that darn wrench settled here pretty nicely I've heard. If someone like her settled in without complaining, I could do the same.

　　Walking down the hallway towards the dinner hall, for my dietary plan to be made, I caught something strange.

　　It was around evening, a little late and almost towards midnight. I watched Aurora Fangborn walk down the east wing and enter the gymnasium. What a freak! She is too embarrassed to walk out of her room when everyone is out in the hallways, hence chooses an odd hour like this to train herself!

　　Well, as I spectated, I realized from the angle which I was looking into, I could see another silhouette. A buff man, doing a wonderful workout which is almost impossible for regular wolves. Or even alphas for that matter, if the weights are equal on both sides from what I see.

　　Then, I realized the wrench was having a full blown conversation with Prince Emeric Wildhart!

　　How shameless!

　　I knew there was something wrong with her the moment I knew she passed a trial! Aurora Fangborn passing a trial conducted by the harshest kingdom trials on the continent felt so alien and uncanny!

　　I knew it!

　　Well, my interest has piqued from then. I hid behind pillars and spectated all her activities. I had to prove my point that she was indeed using the Prince's help to pass secretly! What is she even offering to him that seems so worthy for him to reveal the secrets to win these trials!?

　　Ugh! I'm so jealous of Aurora.

　　Not only did everything seem like a breeze for her — as I've heard from others — she's also being assisted by many other people! It's not just Prince Emeric trying to help her!

　　But...let me have a wild guess here.

　　She is being assisted by Beta Roman who is not so discreet with his task of 'keeping an eye on her', Commander of the warrior troops is heavily siding with her, letting her out of mistakes and such during their group training, and finally, Guard Captain Kingsley Miller who is probably the best at war tactics...helping her with intellectual stuff?

　　What is happening to this world? It's as if the sun is rising from the west for all idiots of this world! Not for me, however.

　　She's been awfully good around people as well. Day by day...I couldn't help but grow more and more jealous of her. The second trial was close by, and I cannot afford any more leisure of watching the wrench have her way with things.

　　I have to come up with something.

　　Leif gave me an opportunity to hate Aurora in the most cunning, creative way. I shall not disappoint Leif like she did. I will not back down until I've got what I want from her.

　　Revenge.

　　Because...Aurora has had it so easy her entire life! Meanwhile I...I have grown under the shadows of my two elder brothers and mistreated to a great, unspoken extent by my drunkard alpha father. Aurora's sheer existence makes me hate her.

　　For someone who has no talent, no heart and grew up spoiled, the person shouldn't be anywhere close to what Aurora's personality seems to be. They're a disgrace, they're a sore loser at life.

　　I've managed to foresee a cluster of events lined up for us. I was too late to plan for Aurora's distress for the 2nd trial. Hence, I had some leeway and sufficient time to plan my ploy against her in the third trial.

　　This seems perfect, because it is a group mission, I will humiliate her so badly...that she might consider quitting the trials herself!

　　That's right...I will plan it this way. For optimal demise of Aurora Fangborn~

　　I've got my hands on the list of omegas that shall participate in the leadership trial. I've also got my hands on the man who is setting up the draws for taking names of omegas for each contestant. It came to my knowledge that leadership trial has a four man team, meaning, the chance of getting one member after pulling strings is more than thirty percent!

　　This is a great number.

　　I'll just have to manipulate people into favoring me~

　　Four nights prior to the third, leadership trial right before the beginning of Trial of Wits, I contacted the person I needed.

　　I stood under the tree, close to his hut but more closer to the fence where no one can even see me under the shadows. My foot tapped against the grass, crushing them to the soil. At last, he's come.

　　"Lady Alexia," the man whispered, I turned around to confirm his identity. Under the moonlight, his chestnut haired seemed vaguely blue and an unsatisfying color. But the cunning look in his eyes made it easier to confirm how the man was driven by greed of money.

　　"I've told you what you must do. Now, I will brief you what's to be done. It's in extreme detail, so listen carefully. The outer ring has a labyrinth for each of us contestants..." And I kept explaining the plan to him for several minutes.

　　At last, he breathed out loudly.

　　"This is a lot of task, Lady Alexia. And not to forget, we should stay with our team leader until the end of the mission. It may take several hours, and Aurora Fangborn has no wolf. She would take more time, I bet.

　　So...is that money the only payment I'll be receiving? I don't think this..." he shook the bag of gold coins I've handed him in front of my face,

　　"...Is enough to satisfy even one year for me. I ought to have a lot more."

　　Whoa. Men are really the pissant species, aren't they?

　　Twisting and cracking my jaw in disgust, I scoffed and said, "For the task you've given, I wouldn't even give you that advance payment for full. Consider yourself lucky, that I'm letting you live after I've shared my plans with you. Or...I could just find someone else—"

　　"You really plan on killing me if I don't comply?"

　　"I'm planning to erase you...because you know my secrets now." I don't care about the damn money. Leif has sent me enough to buy the whole troop of ground warriors. I've only used a percentage, a fraction on this man for my mission.

　　What a waste of time...

　　"Fine. I'll do it. But I expect my full payment additional to this after completing my task." With an eyebrow raised, he reminded me as I rolled my eyes.

　　"Yes, yes. You'll get your share, ONLY after you've completed your task. But remember...you HAVE to lead her astray from the path. Don't seem too obvious, however. She might smell your intentions, and trust you less. Deceive her, that's up to you now. You're dismissed. I'm heading back to my...room." 

　　"Alright, goodnight, Lady Alexia~"

　　...Pathetic male.

　　"Hey, Cadet Alexia!" Suddenly, a manly voice spoke behind me. I was going back to my room, body covered and a hood on my head. Eyes wide as I tried to regain my composure, I slowly turned around. The man was a high ranking individual.

　　He is the Guard Captain...

　　"Y-Your Highness! What- what are you doing here at this hour, if I may ask?" I have to be polite with him.

　　"Oh. Just trying to keep some books back to where they belong. Where are you headed to? Or rather, coming back from?" He displayed no hostility. But the best liars in the world can always manipulate their facial expressions to fit into the situation!

　　"I wasn't coming back, Captain. I'm just taking a stroll around the hallways, as usual." I lied my way through.

　　"I see. You know, most contestants prefer going out in the woods with the third trials approaching. I'm sure the announcements have made it clear you'll be sent to the labyrinth in the outer ring of dark woods. Might as well become familiar with the leaves and the grass." He jumped his shoulders as I gave him a tight lipped smile.

　　"I might be different than most, I guess. Have a good evening, Captain." Saying, I disappeared from the hallway quickly, taking a turn. Phew! That was close!

　　Out of all people, convincing Kingston Miller is going to be a pain in the ass! That man trusts no one but the Prince!

　　Ugh, anyway. I will have to prepare for the trials like he insisted. I cannot back myself down anymore. Much less, slack off. The second trial was embarrassingly easy...