Chapter 216: Kill Her!
Oriana barely noticed when the next song began. Her hands were cold despite the warmth of the hall, and her eyes remained fixed on the far edge of the ballroom where Rhistel and Olivia had disappeared behind a sweeping crimson curtain.
"Quite the scene," a smooth voice drawled beside her.
She turned, startled. Evelyn’s brother stood there, now without a dance partner, holding a glass of dark wine between his fingers like it was a weapon.
"Lady Oriana," he said, bowing his head in a courteous gesture that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "A stunning bride-to-be, left alone at her own celebration. I must admit, I didn’t expect to see her on your future husband’s arm."
Oriana stiffened. "She is my sister. And Lord Rhistel is a gentleman. He was only helping her."
"Helping!?" he echoed with a light scoff, swirling the wine lazily. "If that’s what you’d like to call it. Strange, though! The way she leaned into him. The way he left you behind without a second glance. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say your sister has already stolen the groom."
Her throat tightened, but she didn’t respond.
He smiled thinly, watching her with interest. "If I had been in your place, Lady Oriana..." He leaned closer, voice low and deliberate, "I would’ve killed my sister the moment she threatened to outshine me. Betrayal, after all, starts with blind kindness."
Oriana’s breath caught.