Bernice had knelt next to the table to pour the tea for Kaizan as if she was such a humble woman, as if trying to show that this is what he should expect of her if she is his wife.
She had placed the cup in a saucer delicately, schooled a very soft expression and extended it to Kaizan with a heavy sigh, which ensured that her breasts rose a little to show her cleavage. Which man would refuse a woman like her? She was so hot and serving him and she had so many assets that she was showing as if trying to tease him, as if trying to convey to him that she was just as hot as tea while just as flavorful if eaten.
Her lips kicked up and she said, "This is one of my specialties. I know how to make many more types of teas."
When Kaizan bent forward, she knowingly brushed her fingers beneath the saucer and then blushed a little.
"Thank you," said Kaizan and then straightened on the sofa. "Have you made only one cup?" he asked with a frown.
Bernice giggled and fluttered her eyes. "I didn't know that you would want to have more than one cup." She was already swelling with importance. Even though he hadn't had one sip, he was already asking for more. She glanced at Olivia who was watching her with misery splashed all over her face. Bernice was on the seventh cloud. She didn't have to work much and Olivia would be thrown out like a fly in less time she had given to herself.
"No, that's not what I meant," said Kaizan. "Where's the tea for your mother or Olivia? Don't you want them to taste your special tea?"
Bernice's expression went blank for a moment. She looked at her mother. When their gazes met, Fuchsia knew that Bernice was put in a spot. She immediately added, "Oh, I have just had it. I don't want to have more." Then she looked at Olivia as if with a warning that she better pull Bernice out of the situation. But Olivia didn't say anything. Frustrated at her, Fuchsia added, "Olivia isn't very fond of tea."
"I see," Kaizan said and then sipped from his cup. His eyes became wide. "This is wonderful!"
Bernice's face split into a grin. "You like it?" she asked, clasping her hands with excitement.
"Yes," Kaizan nodded. He took another sip. "What all have you added? I can smell orange."
Bernice giggled. "I added the rind of orange and then also a dash of lemon juice after the tea boiled." She gave her insight on the science of making tea. "If you add lemon juice while it is boiling, chances are the flavor would turn bitter. One has to be very careful when making it."
Kaizan sipped more. "This is lovely. I hope my chef has learnt it from you."
Bernice and Fuchsia were elated. He didn't say that he hoped that Olivia learned it from her. This meant that Kaizan was already thinking in the lines of having Bernice as his wife. And why not? She really took care of her man while Olivia, the foolish girl, sat there like a blockhead. Her mother had really never made her learn manners.
"I am sure he has learnt," said Bernice. "And if he hasn't, I will teach him."
"That would be very nice of you," Kaizan said.
Bernice nodded vehemently. She got up from the floor and then went to sit in her place. When she glanced at Olivia, she couldn't help but feel very happy. Olivia looked like she had eaten a pill of misery. She laughed on the inside because she was sure that Olivia was feeling the searing pain of misery burning in her chest. She thanked the god for making a quick decision to come to Silver Vales as soon as Olivia departed. Their journey extended to three days with their entourage of three maids and five soldiers and it was uneventful. No one attacked them. Bernice hoped that at least one rogue attacked them as that would show how important they were. Olivia was attacked twice and that had become the talk of the social circles. She turned her attention back to the man who was going to be her husband… soon. She was going to use every enticement she could.
"Where are your people staying? Your entourage?" asked Kaizan.
Bernice was so happy at his question that she didn't know what to do. Had it been any normal circumstance, she would have hugged him. He was so mindful. He even thought about her servants. "They have all been given accommodation in the servant quarters of your mansion," she said as she looked at Fuchsia. Fuchsia too seemed joyous. This was all going so well.
Kaizan tilted his head and then narrowed his eyes. Then he turned his gaze to Olivia. She was looking so nervous and sad, that his heart plummeted. "Is anything wrong, Olivia?" he asked as he got up from his place and walked to the cushioned single sofa she was sitting on with tea in his hand.
"N—nothing," she replied, watching him cross the table, walk past Bernice and then standing in front of her. She craned her head to look at him as he towered above her. Then he sat on her armrest. She was flustered as to what he was doing.
Both Fuchsia and Bernice gazed at her with strained expressions, their breaths lodged in their throats.
"Here, have this," said Kaizan and gave her the same cup of tea from which he was drinking. "Your cousin has done a great job in making this special tea," he said softly as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
He said with so much affection and tenderness that Olivia blinked at him once and then twice. His warm fire and masculine smell surrounded her. With his one leg touching her thigh and one arm across her shoulders, she felt… intimate. All the nervousness that was building in her system vanished the moment he touched her. "B—but this is for you," she said as she gazed at his handsome face and then her eyes locked with his.
"And you are mine." He placed the cup in front of her lips as if coaxing her to drink.
She couldn't do anything but open her lips as he pressed the cup more for her to drink it. He was so shamelessly exhibiting his love. Olivia sipped a little from it and couldn't help but feel that Bernice indeed made good tea.
"Do you like it?" asked Kaizan. When she nodded, he urged her to have more. As he made her drink it, a drop sluiced from the corner of her mouth and trickled down. He put his thumb over there, slid it up to her lips where the drop ended and then sucked the thumb in his mouth. "It is even better when it comes from your lips," he said suggestively and Olivia blushed like a thousand shades of red. "Finish it," he said. "You look very exhausted." He brought his fingers to her cheek as he trailed her blush. "So beautiful…" he murmured.
Bernice and Fuchsia looked as if they had eaten the bitter rind of lemon and orange. "But—"
