Thandor, now with a new goal in mind, went to the house the principal's wife had arranged for him. It was quiet, comfortable—perfect for thinking. He leaned back on the couch and exhaled. Alright, time to get serious. He needed a starting point for his business, and more importantly—capital.
The principal's wife might be under his charm, but neither she nor her husband were anywhere near rich enough to fund what he had in mind. He rubbed his temples, thinking hard. Then it hit him like a stray bullet.
Yvonne.
He didn't want to get tangled with her emotions, but right now she was the only connection he had with actual influence. Sophia didn't want him around, so that route was closed. That left Yvonne—the one person who genuinely cared for him. He sighed and accepted the thought. "Guess it can't be helped."
A few hours later, he arrived at the royal palace. As expected, guards tried to stop him, but after confirming with Yvonne, they let him through.
"What… what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice wavering between surprise and excitement.
Thandor smiled faintly. "I need a favor."
Ten minutes later, he was sitting in a lavish guest room, sipping tea, guilt creeping into his chest. Damn, I actually feel bad for this. Yvonne had that aura—a soft, genuine warmth that made any man want to protect her. And yet, here he was, about to take advantage of her feelings.
He forced the guilt away. It's for a good cause. I need to start this business—no matter what.
Before he could think any further, a guard entered the room and saluted. "Sir Thandor, Princess Yvonne has prepared everything you requested. A plot of land, startup capital, basic resources, and a team of workers to assist you."
Thandor froze, blinking twice. "Wait… what?"
The guard repeated himself with pride in his tone, clearly impressed.
Thandor's jaw nearly hit the floor. None of this was in his plan. He expected resistance, maybe negotiation—but instead, she had gone above and beyond.
Yvonne, why do you have to be this kind? he thought bitterly. For the first time in a long while, he felt genuine remorse. He had played countless people before—manipulated, seduced, controlled—but with Yvonne, it felt different. There was innocence there, purity.
Still, he clenched his fists and refocused. "No distractions," he muttered under his breath. "Let's stay on track."
He stood up, walked outside, and looked over the land that would soon be his company's headquarters. The setting sun reflected in his eyes, turning them a sharp, burning gold.
I've got everything I need, he thought with a smirk. Now let's start the revolution of the world