Bernice watched how Olivia clung to Kaizan as she walked in the main hall and how Kaizan gazed at her every now and then with pride, love and tenderness in his eyes. It was as if he couldn't walk with her in any other way. 

Bernice clenched her jaw as her heart burned with jealousy and grudge. She wanted to slap Olivia and pluck her away from Kaizan's arms. 

Even though she was looking at Olivia, Olivia avoided her completely. She greeted her aunt coldly, but was warm with her uncle who had been nothing but courteous. 

"It is such an honor to have you in my humble abode, General Kaizan," Samus said as he bowed.

Kaizan smiled and nodded. Samus guided them to the main hall for a round of drinks, but Kaizan said, "We are in a hurry. Olivia is too tired from all the activity today. We will head back soon." He avoided Bernice and didn't even glance in her direction. He wanted to avoid Fuchsia too, but that was impossible, so he kept his conversation to a minimum. 

"Oh!" Samus jerked his head in surprise. "Then we should proceed to dinner straight," he said, looking at his wife.

Fuchsia nodded vehemently. "Of course! I will ask the servants to lay out the table immediately." She had been waiting for this moment for a long time. When Kaizan mentioned that Olivia was tired and that they would head back soon, hatred in her heart for Olivia rose to the level that she wanted to plunge the knife in her niece's body there and then. She clutched the knife that was hidden behind the folds of her gown on her belt. Masking her hatred, she looked at Olivia and in a sweet voice said, "Come with me, dear. As I lay the dishes, these men can take a walk in our garden and you cousins can talk. We have some rare plants that Kaizan must see." 

Olivia felt a little nervous, but she agreed. When she left Kaizan's arms, he asked, gazing in her sapphire eyes, "Should I come with you?" 

She shook her head and said, "No, I will manage. You must see uncle's garden. They do have rare herbs that we can take with us to the capital and give them to the healer." 

Reluctantly, he left her hand. 

Samus smiled warmly at the young couple. "Captain Samuel will be coming here shortly. If you like, we can wait for him and then go to the garden."

"No!" Fuchsia blurted. Realizing that she sounded a little too obvious, she corrected herself, "They have to go back early, Samus. We shouldn't make them wait for the captain. Why don't you hurry and take Kaizan to the garden? As soon as the food is laid, I will send a servant to call you both." 

"That makes sense, Fuchsia," Samus said. "Captain can see our garden any time he wishes, now that he will be a part of our family soon." 

Bernice clenched her jaw harder. She would kill Samuel with her own hands but never marry a man so low in the ranks. Her eyes raked over Kaizan. That was what she wanted—a man so handsome, sinewy, rich and brawny. 

Her father looked at her with affection over his statement and guising her feelings, she gave him a thin smile. 

"Come on then," Samus said to Kaizan eagerly. 

Kaizan took a deep breath and followed Samuel to the garden he didn't even want to go to. He opened his mind link with Olivia. 'Call me if you sense danger, okay? I don't trust these two vipers.' 

Olivia's face flushed at his lash. Ever since she had marked him, she had suddenly found herself being able to listen to him mentally. And over the days, this trait enhanced. By the end of the week, the two could communicate nicely through their bond. Kaizan had guided her well to reach him through the mind link which he had only opened for her and the royal family. 

'I will. Don't worry so much,' she replied. 

When Kaizan left, Fuchsia took Olivia to the dining hall with Bernice following them. She made Olivia sit in the place she had designated for her—towards the kitchen, from where she would be coming and going often as she instructed her servants. She would take that opportunity to nick Olivia with the knife. Fuchsia had prepared this so many times that her hands itched to slice Olivia's flesh. All she had to do was to wait for Captain Samuel. 

"Sit here Olivia," Fuchsia said as she pulled a chair out enthusiastically. "I was so excited about your visit that I can't tell you!" 

Olivia sat on the chair, feeling awkward at her aunt's over-friendly behavior. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, feeling very uncomfortable. Bernice sat opposite to her. The two looked at each other coldly. Fuchsia left the two and rushed to the kitchen, shouting orders to the servants. 

Bernice lowered her eyes and then in a sad voice said, "I am sorry about my behavior at your house. I shouldn't have done what I did." Bernice had sensed Olivia's discomfort. In order for the plan to succeed, she had to melt the situation as soon as possible so that Olivia was at ease and didn't have her guards on when her mother carried out her plan. 

Olivia looked away from Bernice and poked her tongue in her cheek. She didn't reply, feeling all the more discomforted. Her gaze went to all the flowers that were arranged in the house. The house was smelling with rich scents of jasmine, roses, hyacinths and tulips. 

"Please cousin. You must forgive me," Bernice continued. From the corner of her eye, she watched her mother who was making rounds time and again near Olivia. "I was out of my depth and I deeply apologize." 

"It's fine," Olivia replied curtly with a thin smile. 

The servants had started laying dishes on the table. Tossed green salad, various breads, crab bisque soup, sauteed chicken breast on a bed of rice with garlic beans and radish rosette, fried quail eggs and roast lamb meat. There was apple and brandy crumble for dessert apart from chocolate mousse. 

Bernice lowered her head. "Can we not put this behind us?" On the inside she was waiting for Captain Samuel to show up. The whole plan wagered on his coming on time before Kaizan returned. Every delayed moment was weighing heavily against them. 

"Bernice, I am not in the mood to talk about it. "This is not the place nor the time," Olivia snapped impatiently." 

"But—" Suddenly an intoxicating, mouthwatering smell of rice and plants washed after rain. She whipped her head back. 

Captain Samuel walked in through the main door, and Bernice's heart stopped. A short, stout man wearing a white tunic and breeches with a beer belly stood at the entrance. He had beady, frog-like eyes focused on her, and his thin oiled black hair was tied at the back at the nape. He was at least half a foot shorter than her. "Good evening," he bowed with a wide toothy smile.

Stunned as hell, Bernice's eyes flew wide open. She got up, her instincts screaming, "Mate!" Her hands flew to her mouth as soon as she blurted those words out. 

Fuchsia's hand reached the knife. 

--- 

Music recommendation: "Karma Is A Bitch" by Ana Kohler

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