Bernice was gazing at the nightdresses with crazy interest. The seamstress had done a fantastic job at stitching them. And she couldn't believe that it was Kaizan who had designed them for Olivia. Olivia was going to look so hot and sexy in the gowns and Kaizan would go mad seeing her. "No, no, no, no!" Bernice muttered. She couldn't let this situation arise.
She began pacing her room, trying to come up with an idea to stop Kaizan from seeing Olivia in these dresses. What if she tore them? "No!" She shook her head. If she tore them, Kaizan would find out eventually and once again he would be angry with her. What if she hid them? That idea too didn't fit well. Bernice paced her room again and stood in front of the night gowns. "Gods, they are so beautiful!" She knew that if she wore them, she would look extremely attractive. "Wait!" She said aloud, her hands akimbo. This was what she was going to do—wear them. And then what? She started pacing the room again. Her head concocted several scenarios, but each one of them ended with Kaizan getting angry and she was sure that he would throw her out of the house.
Bernice was getting frustrated by the minute. The two nightgowns had become the focus of her life. The idea that formed in her mind was so good that she was excited that it would actually end up throwing Olivia out of Kaizan's life once and forever. With a shaky breath, she sat on the bed next to the gowns and brushed her hand over the silk. "I think I have you in my hands, Kaizan," she muttered as her lips kicked up and a shudder passed through her body. Why didn't she think of this earlier? Her smile converted into a soft laugh. She tipped her head back and crossed her legs and started humming a song. Olivia was too busy in the day. She had gone to the groves for the day where she was monitoring the servants while they pruned the orange trees. She would never come to know about these gowns. Bernice couldn't help thinking that fate had favored her beautifully. She didn't notice the servant who came to light the fire in the hearth. As the flames leaped higher, so did her ambitions.
"Bernie!" Her mother's voice pulled her out of her daydreams. "What are you doing?"
"Mother?" Bernice jerked her head, surprised that she had sat for so long. She looked out of the window and noticed that it was already evening.
Fuchsia took her shawl out and tossed it on the chair, exhaling a heavy breath. She seemed to be thinking something which made Bernice frown. "What is it, Mother?" she asked.
Fuchsia shook her head. "Nothing much," she replied and became quiet. She walked to the bed and sat down while noticing the two nightgowns. "Where did you get these from?" she asked with amusement.
"They are not mine," Bernice said. "They belong to the royal highness, Olivia."
"Oh!" Fuchsia was now stunned. They were pretty outrageous. "What are they doing with you, Bernie? Go, give them to her."
Bernice bit her lip and then laughed. "No, Mother."
"What? Why?" Fuchsia asked with caution. "Kaizan will be mad if he finds that they are with you."
—
"Olivia?" Fuchsia's voice made her snap her head in her direction. Her aunt was sitting in the main hall. "Can you come here for a minute?" She patted the side of the couch gesturing to sit.
Olivia didn't want to talk to Fuchsia and was in fact planning on asking her to leave, but she was waiting for the right opportunity. "Yes, aunt Fuchsia?" Olivia went to sit opposite her. It was already evening and Kaizan was about to come. She had spent the entire day in the groves, monitoring the servants and giving them orders on what to do that Kaizan had requested of her. She was tired and she needed a shower badly.
Fuchsia gave a weary smile to her. "We are planning to go back to the Whiteclaw pack."
Olivia was stunned into silence. She waited for her aunt to speak more.
"Bernice and I think that you both are doing very well in your married life. There is no point in lingering in Silver Vales. There is a lot of work to do back at home," Fuchsia continued. "We will leave tomorrow morning. So, I was wondering if you can come with me to the market. I wanted to take back a souvenir back to the Whiteclaw pack. I don't know whether I will come back to Silver Vales…" her voice trailed off with melancholy.
Surprised as hell at the sudden development, Olivia's mind went blank for a moment. "S—souvenirs?" she asked, clearing her throat.
"Yes," Fuchsia gave her a tired smile.
"We don't have to go to the market. Give me your list and I will send a servant to buy them." She didn't even attempt to stop her from going, feeling so bubbly inside.
Fuchsia raised her brows but then she nodded. "That would be fine too. Can you make the list with me?"
"Sure!" Olivia said. She rushed to the table on the side and took out a paper and lead. For the next half an hour, she helped Fuchsia list all the interesting things. Then she called a servant and gave her the list. "Get them all as soon as possible." She went to her bedroom to get coins, happily. When the servant departed, she said, "Don't worry aunt Fuchsia. You can go and pack. When the souvenirs arrive, I will send them to you."
Fuchsia's face softened. "That is very sweet of you, Olivia." She got up and then went to her room. Olivia too, got up and almost bounced back to her room, joyous that the two critters were leaving on their own. She was getting highly irritated by their presence. Back in the room, she ran hot water in the tub and when she sat down in it, she exhaled a sigh of relief. Good things were going to happen now, she thought and closed her eyes, as her tiredness seeped in the hot water.
—
Kaizan stopped Butterfly right in front of the main door. A stable hand came running to him to take the horse back to the stables. Exhausted from day's work, all Kaizan was thinking of going and taking a hot bath with his wife and then just driving his shaft inside her. That was all he could think of every minute of the day.
When he entered the main hall, he found Bernice sitting on the sofa with a silk robe on. She jumped up with excitement when she saw him and said, "General Kaizan!" He ignored her, but she came to stand in his way. "We are leaving tomorrow." Kaizan's brows knitted. "I made that tea for you. Will you have it with me for the last time?" She pointed at the teapot on the center table.
Kaizan slanted his head at first. "Tomorrow?" This was good news.
She nodded. "Tomorrow morning."
He narrowed his eyes. A pause later, he said, "Okay."
Bernice clapped her hands and jumped like a child.. She dashed to pour hot tea for him.
