Mira sat comfortably, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. Her sharp mind, however, was anything but idle.
Every move she made, every glance she threw in Sophia's direction, was calculated.
Her goal was clear: capture the attention of the stunning woman seated beside her. Yet, to Mira's growing frustration, Sophia seemed completely oblivious to her subtle flirtations.
Most of her compliments had been met with same polite, though disinterested, response.
"Thank you, Lady Mira. You're too kind," Sophia had said, her tone pleasant, but her gaze had shifted quickly back to Adrian, as if she were looking at something far more important.
Mira's attempts at small talk throughout breakfast fell similarly flat.
Sophia was unaware of Mira's intentions entirely.
Her thoughts circled around Adrian, the brother she adored, and the surprise she had been planning for him tonight.
She had been scheming for weeks, eager to stand out among the many women who vied for his attention and affection. Being his sister was not enough—Sophia wanted to be special, unique, irreplaceable.
She had trained diligently in secret, preparing herself in a way that none of the others had dared.
She wanted to be the first to offer Adrian something new and exciting, that none of his other women had given him—her other hole.
It had been an intense and delicate process, but Sophia was nothing if not determined.
The thought of doing anal with Adrian, of giving him something no one else had, sent a thrill through her.
She imagined the look of surprise and satisfaction on his face when she finally revealed her gift.
In her mind, this was her way of showing her devotion, setting herself apart from the others.
And she had not stopped there. Once Sophia felt confident that she was ready, she had approached Eve, subtly encouraging her to follow the same path.
They had grown closer as she was the one who had guided Eve, during her first time with Adrian, and Sophia saw Eve as a potential ally in the quiet rivalry that simmered beneath the surface among Adrian's women.
Sophia felt that her mother, Isabella, was her biggest competition for Adrian's love.
Isabella's bond with Adrian was strong, and Sophia feared that her mother's allure and experience might be difficult to match.
By bringing Eve into her fold, Sophia hoped to strengthen her own position and create a united front against her mother, all while solidifying her unique place in Adrian's life.
The delicate balance of ambition and desire drove her actions, but none of this showed on the surface.
Her expression remained calm, her demeanor composed, as she sipped her tea and exchanged polite words with the guests.
She didn't even notice the intensity of Mira's gaze, or the subtle shift in her tone whenever she spoke.
To Sophia, Mira's attentiveness seemed like mere friendliness, the kind of courtesy expected during formal gatherings like these. Mira's advances, though subtle, were completely missed.
Mira also seemed to not realize this fact, she thought Sophia would be like other nobles naive and without knowledge of how things work.
But in reality, Mira was the naive one. Once she had done with Adrian, her everything belonged to him, and only death would do them apart, not Mira or anyone else, not even the high and mighty Gods.
The breakfast itself carried on in a harmonious manner. Adrian, played the part of composed and perceptive host, steered the conversation toward lighter topics, keeping the atmosphere pleasant, unaware of Mira's true intentions and Sophia's surprise waiting for him tonight.
Even Lira, who had been tense earlier, joined in the conversation with a calm demeanor, her own contributions thoughtful and measured.
Mira, though still focused on Sophia, played along, engaging when necessary, all while keeping her eye on the bigger picture.
The Blackthorn family needed to strengthen its alliance with the Everharts, and her sister Lira would be the one to bind them through marriage.
After what felt like an hour, breakfast concluded, and Adrian, ever the gentleman, stood from his seat and gave a polite nod to both Mira and Lira.
"I trust the breakfast was to your liking?" he asked, his deep voice carrying a formal tone.
"Indeed, it was," Mira replied smoothly, rising from her seat. "The hospitality of Everhart Manor is engraved on my heart now. I would love to have Baron Everheart visit us so that we can return this favor."
Lira nodded in agreement, though her eyes lingered on Adrian for a moment longer. There was a slight shift in her expression, a softness that Mira didn't miss.
She hid a smirk. It seemed her younger sister was finally coming to terms with what needed to be done. Lira was, after all, the tool to for getting close to Everhart family that had third class awakened.
Adrian gestured to two maids standing nearby. "Please, show Lady Mira and Lady Lira to their guest rooms so they may rest before we continue our discussions."
One of the maids stepped forward, bowing slightly. "This way, my ladies," she said softly, indicating the direction of the guest rooms.
Mira was about to oblige when Lira spoke up, her voice calm but firm.
"Actually, I'd like to stay behind for a moment, Lord Adrian," she said, her eyes meeting his.
"If it's not too much trouble, there's something I wish to discuss with you privately."
Mira's eyes widened slightly in surprise but quickly narrowed in amusement. She wasn't expecting Lira to be so direct, but it was a good sign.
Her sister had finally accepted the reality of her situation. Perhaps, deep down, she was beginning to see that this marriage could benefit her in more ways than just familial duty.
"Of course," Adrian said, his voice unwavering as he gave a slight nod to Lira. He then glanced at Mira, his gaze neutral. "Will that be alright, Lady Mira?"
Mira, still amused, waved a hand dismissively. "By all means, Lord Adrian. I trust my sister's judgment. Besides, I could use a moment of rest."
With that, Mira followed the maids toward the guest rooms, casting a brief glance back at Lira, who now stood alone with Adrian. Her smile deepened—it seemed her sister had made her move.