Guilt is a big part when taking revenge like this, your opponent doesn't necessarily have to feel guilt, it can also be people your opponent love. In a high aristocracy, you can use their need to have a good image against them by making people believe they have no heart or making them do something. If you hit rock bottom and there's no way out you have a huge advantage as long as you can work alone or are amazing at making people trust you like Melissa from 'Beware the Villainess' you can do whatever you want but you still have to be careful.
That's all I can say today as I am tired of writing.
It's odd how I have a decent sense of justice yet I still know like 100 ways to take revenge, I don't even have enemies for god's sake