Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 212: I didn’t

Chapter 212: I didn’t

Olivia sighed, her breath forming a soft cloud in the cold air. Her fingers flexed slightly, then tightened again at her sides.

"Oriana is doubtful." she said quietly. "She kept asking me questions on the way back. About why I mentioned Mother. About Evelyn. I gave her an excuse, but... she knows I’m hiding something. I want to tell her the truth."

"You can not tell anyone until we know who our enemies are!" Rhistel’s brows furrowed. "What exactly did Evelyn say?"

"She said, ’Just like your mother’, before she stopped herself. And then she left, angry. By her looks, she was hiding something. But how does she know about my mother at all? No one in the capital talks about her. No one even knows who she was."

Rhistel’s face darkened subtly, his composed expression sharpening. "Our family... never leaked anything about witches. Not to anyone. That knowledge was buried intentionally."

"Then how—?" Olivia’s voice shook slightly.

"I don’t know. But I will find out," he assured her. his eyes narrowed. "Evelyn is coming to the manor tonight. We’re hosting a dinner for a few of the vassal families to introduce Oriana and the children formally."

Her jaw clenched. "Where is Damian?" she had not seen him the moment they arrived.

Rhistel smiled uneasily. "He had a mission to complete. But do not worry about him, he will be back soon."

"And I will speak to his father about it. But you know, nobles do not speak the truth easily. Even if they were scared of their position. But, you... can.." He paused, stepping closer, his gloved hand resting lightly on the stone ledge between them. "There’s something you can do."

Olivia turned her face toward him slowly, wary of the gleam she saw in his eyes. "What?"

"You can use the memory spell on her tonight."

Her brows shot up. "What? there? In front of others?"

He nodded.

"You are learning to use your powers. A girl is ready to be your muse. Is it not the perfect opportunity to learn what is hidden beneath?" Olivia knew he was enjoying it by the grin on his face and his sparkling eyes. She could not refuse that her own heart thumped at that thought.

But..

"I don’t like using magic in front of people," she said tightly. "Especially not this kind of magic. What if it backfires? What if someone notices?"

"They will be too busy watching Oriana and the children and finding fault in them." Rhistel’s voice softened. "And what could they even see? Just like Evelyn had fallen, no matter how many times she accused you, there is no proof! She would only be proven crazier if she continued accusing you. And in their anger, they often speak the truth."

Olivia’s heart raced, reaching her throat. A strange thrill filled her but she was scared too."

Her eyes flicked away, lips pressed together.

He continued gently, "This could be your chance, Olivia. To find out what Evelyn knows. and more importantly, what you may have forgotten. It’s not a weakness to seek answers."

"We need to take risks sometimes." he whispered softly, leaning closer. Olivia too, a step back. They were standing too close even if they needed to hide their conversation.

She took a step back and looked down, then slowly nodded, though hesitation still shadowed her face.

"I’ll think about it," she murmured.

Rhistel smiled faintly, his gaze lingering on her. "Good. That’s all I ask."

They stood in silence for a moment longer, the sound of laughter from inside drifting faintly to them through the cold air. Then, without another word, Olivia turned and walked toward the manor.

Oriana watched her uneasily as she sat beside them.

"Where were you?" she asked, sounding casual but her grip on the cup tightened.

"I was out there enjoying the snow." Olivia picked up the cup and warmed her hands through the warm tea.

"You were talking to someone there? Did Damien return?" Olivia’s eyes dimmed at that thought. He did not tell her about the mission. He was still keeping secrets from her.

Oriana noticed that her eyes narrowed. But she still forced a smile on her face.

"Tonight, there is a celebratory dinner. I want you to look your best and help me in preparing kids too. Olivia, I want to leave a good impression on everyone so that Rhistel would be happy. This marriage means a lot to me." The last line was said with urgency, but Olivia could understand the urgency.

"I am sure Thistle would protect you. He is smitten by you." Oriana’s smile faltered instead of widening as she looked at Olivia with a strained look,

"How do you know that? You do not even know Lord Rhistel enough. Do you?" her words caught Olivia off guard and a sense of unease filling her chest.

"Or do you know him? Have you met him before? You know I always felt it was strange. He had passed the age of marriage and had many suitors but he never married. And now he offered the marriage to me, a widow with two kids out of everyone. I asked him the reason, but he said he had taken a liking to me. Strangely, I did not see anything he could like." she stared at Olivia with questioning eyes.

Olivia shifted at her place. If she had doubted before, now she was sure that Oriana suspected her for things she had not done.

"Oriana, I was only asking the lord about Damian. He had been missing for three days." The kids noticed the growing tension and stood up.

"Mother, do you know brother is going to marry aunt." Olivia blinked and then pulled Leo in her arms. Oriana looked away too, taking a sip of her to calm herself. Was she going to question her sister about stealing her husband? No, Olivia would never do that!

"Once you get married and settle down, I want to announce my marriage with Damian too. I want to settle down and have my own family now."

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