I Don't Want To Be An Omega In My Sister's Trashy Reverse Harem [BL]

Chapter 200: Tea Party of Vipers

The Hertford garden was decorated beautifully, with lace umbrellas and flower-patterned tablecloths stretching across the long arrangement of white tables. The sun was gentle, the breeze soft... everything looked perfect on the outside, exactly the way noble ladies liked it.

But the real poison was not in the cups.

It was in the whispers.

Audrey smiled her polite, harmless smile as she adjusted her teacup, pretending to enjoy the sunshine. In truth, she hated the brightness. It made it harder to hide expressions.

Around them, the other noble ladies chatted lightly, gossiping about fashion and scandals, completely unaware that Audrey had moved her own table far to the left... away from them, but still close enough to avoid suspicion. With her sat Seraphina and Mirielle, both pretending their smiles were natural.

Jane sat far away with the older noblewomen, watching the garden. She was always alert. Audrey couldn’t make the tea party too small, small enough for just her, Seraphina and Mirielle... Jane would know something was up.

So Audrey played the good daughter, invited everyone, dressed pretty, and waited.

Seraphina leaned forward first, hands clasped tightly.

"Audrey," she whispered. "What are we doing here? What did you plan to eliminate Rin?"

Audrey kept stirring her tea slowly, pretending she didn’t hear the edge in Seraphina’s voice.

Mirielle let out a dramatic sigh. "Honestly, Audrey, speak. We’re all going mad here."

Seraphina slammed her palm on the table, making the cups rattle.

"My father hit me because of Rin’s mother! Because of..." She stopped, looking around before lowering her voice. "Because she’s trying to charm him as Rin did to Lucien. I’m trying to stop him and all I got was a slap. Can you imagine?"

Mirielle gasped. "So that’s why your makeup is so heavy? I knew your blush was too thick today."

Seraphina glared. "That’s not the point, Mirielle!"

Mirielle rolled her eyes. "Well, Rin has made my life a mess too! Evan won’t even look at me half the time, but he teaches Rin how to throw a ball? He doesn’t even stand that close to me. And then... then he freed the slaves just because Rin wanted it!"

Seraphina grinned sharply, turning back to Audrey. "You hear us. Now stop being quiet." She jabbed the table. "Speak already."

Audrey took a slow sip of her tea, letting the taste sit on her tongue for a moment before placing the cup down gently. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"Before I say anything..." Audrey began softly, "I want to know what you two want."

Seraphina frowned. "What do you mean?"

Audrey turned to Seraphina first.

"Well, Rin took Lucien away from you, didn’t he? And Rin’s mother is a threat to your father’s life. So, tell me, Seraphina. Do you want Rin to stay away from them or..." her voice lowered... "dead?"

Seraphina stiffened, but the answer was immediate.

"Dead," she hissed. "I want him gone. I want no trace of him to remain in this world again."

Audrey nodded like she expected it and slowly turned her head to Mirielle.

"And you... If Rin were gone, Evan would finally have time for you. You’d have the duke to yourself. So what do you want?"

Mirielle’s expression darkened.

"I want him dead too," she whispered.

Audrey leaned back with a pleased smile. "Good. Then tell me... what is the perfect way to kill him?"

Mirielle tapped her fingers on the table. "I live in the same house as him. I could poison him."

Audrey didn’t answer.

But she remembered earlier that morning... the black crow she had used to watch Rin. She had only wanted to observe, to know about this Rin everybody wants so much. Yet the moment Rin turned his head and looked directly at the crow... it vanished.

It didn’t fly off or die.

Gone.

’He’s not normal,’ Audrey thought.

But she did not share this with the two ladies. Pawn pieces didn’t need everything.

Seraphina slammed her fist lightly. "If poison doesn’t work, I can just stab him. I don’t care how many times. I’ll stab him until my hands hurt!"

Audrey suddenly laughed, loud enough to make them jump.

They stopped talking immediately.

She put her cup down again, the porcelain clinking quietly. "Both of you... You are too impatient. You can’t touch even a hair on Rin."

Mirielle frowned. "Why not?"

"Because," Audrey said, crossing her legs elegantly, "if you want Rin dead, you must bring him to me. I will do the work."

Seraphina blinked. "How? Audrey, Rin is..."

"Strong?" Audrey finished. "Difficult? Hard to trick?"

Both girls nodded quickly.

Audrey leaned in, voice lowering to a whisper. "That’s why I didn’t plan to do it alone."

Seraphina looked unsure. "Then who?"

Audrey’s eyes gleamed with something sharp and hidden.

"My sister," she said quietly as she lied. "She made a contract with a demon."

Seraphina opened her mouth to scream, but Audrey’s hand shot forward, slamming her palm over Seraphina’s mouth.

"Do not shout," she hissed. "Do you want the entire garden to hear?"

Seraphina froze, wide-eyed. Audrey removed her hand slowly.

"If anyone can kill Rin," Audrey continued calmly, "it’s her."

Mirielle bit her lip. "And... if that doesn’t work?"

Audrey’s expression didn’t change. "It will work. Trust me."

But their faces showed doubt. They shifted in their seats, glancing at each other, looking ready to back out.

"Fine," Audrey lifted her cup again, purposely casual, and said lightly. "Whoever brings Rin to me will be safe during the demon attack."

Both ladies froze.

Seraphina’s lips parted. "Demon... attack?"

Mirielle’s eyes widened. "Is that real?"

Audrey looked at them like a teacher watching slow children.

"Of course it’s real. And the only way any of you will survive is if you get Rin for me."

Mirielle jumped to her feet, the chair scraping loudly. "Alright! I’ll do it. I’ll bring him as soon as possible."

Audrey lifted a brow. "Forty-eight hours. Don’t be late. Beyond that... nothing can be done."

Mirielle nodded sharply and hurried away, skirts bouncing as she rushed toward her carriage.

Seraphina stood too, her movements stiff with anger and desperation.

"It won’t even take me that long," she snapped. "I know Rin better than she does. Audrey, wait for me."

She stormed off.

Mirielle glanced over her shoulder at Seraphina, walking faster.

Seraphina narrowed her eyes and sped up too.

Just like that, the two became rivals. Not over love. But over who would drag Rin to his death first.

Audrey watched them go with a small smirk.

"May the worst person win," she murmured.

She then turned her attention back to the remaining ladies around her. Many were staring in confusion after the abrupt exits.

Audrey stood with a pleasant smile.

"Everyone, please continue. Mirielle and Seraphina had urgent matters, that’s all."

After a moment, the garden returned to its soft chatter. Audrey sat down again, feeling the satisfaction curl through her chest.

A maid slowly approached Mirielle’s empty seat, then quickly leaned toward her ear instead.

Audrey turned her head slightly, curious.

The maid whispered something. Mirielle paused, then a wicked smile stretched across her lips.

"My sister really loves me," Mirielle said, almost singing the words. "Prepare my black dress. We have a burial."

The maid bowed and hurried away.

Audrey narrowed her eyes.

’So... the marquess is finally dead. Interesting. Everything was moving faster now.’

Audrey looked down at her reflection in the tea.

She didn’t fear the war. What she feared was being left unprotected when it came.

She whispered to the empty cup:

"I’ll survive this war. Even if it means sacrificing everyone around me."