Levon watched his sister, still looking at the doorway where their father had disappeared with Maryan. He didn't need to ask what she was thinking.
His gaze burned.
He found it very strange that someone blackmailed that man to embrace any girl who entered that part of the garden that was close to the back door of Sia's hall.
Who gives an order about "any random girl"? That only works if the man hasn't seen his target yet. If that's the case, the real target was obviously Sia. The person who gave the order simply assumed she would be the one to show up.
He drew a breath.
"Where were you earlier?"
"The main hall. Waiting for you," Nyasia replied, glancing at him.
After she'd sent Mirelle stumbling toward that trap, she and Fay had slipped away to the main hall. It was Mrs. Reinel who came and told her about Mirelle's fate, and she had to act surprise.
Why had Maryan failed? 'Because she didn't know I've mastered calligraphy.' Or that she could spot a forgery at a glance. And Maryan had chosen to forge Dorian Alexei Varyn's handwriting of all people. 'She must be very confused right now,' Nyasia thought, amused.
Just then, a maid who had hurried from the hall met them at the archway, looking worriedly at Nyasia. She requested that the young lady return to the Paragon Hall to redo her hair and makeup.
...
NYASIA sat before the vanity mirror in the dressing room.Then she heard the soft click of the bedroom door locking. Yet the maid didn't come forward. She waited a minute, then listened to someone's footsteps—and finally saw the person at the doorway. She stopped, almost rose from her seat in annoyance.
But Dorian just moved closer, and closer still, until she could feel the weight of his presence without a single touch. When his head dipped toward the tip of her shoulder, she stopped breathing.
"What are you doing?" Her voice cracked.
"Something I've always wanted to do," he replied, resting his knuckles against the corner of her seat.
She met his gaze in the mirror.
"How did you get in here?" She exhaled, recovering her senses. "Did you do something to make me come here?"
"I'm not that clever." His voice was soft, almost mocking. "Your own guard delivered you to me."
'Did he pressure Lea?' Nyasia wondered.
Dorian Alexei was dangerously clever, and he had a way of making everyone do his bidding. So even someone of Lea's caliber had been brought to heel. She thought bitterly.
"My brother is right outside."
"Oh?"
His voice stayed calm, lazy, as his fingers trailed through the strands of her hair.
"You had fun, didn't you?"
He'd witnessed everything from the window of her bedroom. The screams, the loud tears, and her perfect, icy, ruthless calm. And he couldn't stop smiling. When the garden fell apart, he'd almost laughed out loud.
He'd never wanted her more.
Meanwhile, Nyasia tried to pull away and scrambled for any coherent thought, because his lips had begun to graze her shoulder again.
"Do I look like I'm enjoying myself?" she replied, "I have an aunt who hates me, a cousin who is now my sister. I've had to deal with her little scheme, all thanks to your old note."
His head lifted, and his smile was infuriating. "Well, I almost joined the game. Imagine their faces. The two of us, tangled together in that garden."
"You're insane."
"Saves me the trouble of stealing you away," he said, his lips curved.
He had just stepped onto the carriage when one of his men reported that Nyasia Sofia Rashet still hadn't entered the banquet hall. So he decided not to enter the hall at all. Instead, he went straight to the secret pathway leading into the manor.
"I thought your aunt would be the one causing trouble tonight. Instead, she's too busy licking the elders' boots." His wicked smile widened as his fingers touched his chin. "And your blind father still chooses another daughter over you. Don't you think you'd be better off in Varyn Duchy?" He brushed a corner of her cheek.
He had let this play out, chosen to watch from the shadows, so she could see for herself. How weak the marquis was. How useless.
Then she pouted, reflecting.
But she couldn't think about anything else right now. Not until her brother finally owned the iron mine. She still hadn't figured out what the elders were lying about.
"Oh, and one more thing." He tilted his head, watching the color drain from her face. "The emperor already the marriage decree." Her heart stopped.
Tok!
Tok!
Nyasia's heart jumped. He, however, remained utterly unbothered.
"My lady?" It was Fay's voice. "The young master asks if you're done?"
Nyasia shot Dorian a sharp, reprimanding glare. But he only gave a slow curl of his lips, then finally let go. Then she walked to the door and opened it.
Meanwhile, Fay wondered why the lady's lips was pale—then why the door had been locked. When she about to ask, she saw...
Her eyes widened.
'The duke. Lounging on the lady's bed!' She hurriedly locked the door again. Her lips trembled, as her heart beat wildly. 'This man always gives her a heart attack.'
*