Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 49: When A Rose Is Ready To Show Her Thorns

A/N: Continue with the recommended listening "Don't go yet" until the end of the dance.

Orpheus had seen her fight.

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He'd seen her even dare to defy him with words sharper than any blade, but this—this was something else entirely.

Whether her intention was to entice or not, he didn't know, but watching the way her hips dipped up and down alternatively as she shook them made him burn with envy knowing his men were watching.

And from across the table, Maleck, the cousin of Orpheus, also took notice of his liege's reactions.

It amused Maleck enough that he smirked about it, shaking his head.

'The fool is smitten beyond saving,' Maleck thought to himself. 'The lady is like a wild cat; no wonder he is so taken.'

And it wasn't just her dancing that was something otherworldly; Orpheus was enchanted by her singing voice as well.

The lady sang in a language unknown to him, but her voice was so very exuberant and lovely.

It made the men around the table applaud her with clapping and smiles.

"Is that an Irishalan dance?" Siegmund cackled, nodding approvingly as he spoke to Caelum. "Those Irishalan folk are free-spirited and certainly love their music and dances."

"Irishalan?" Caelum arched his brow, unfamiliar with the culture of such people. "I do not know of their dances but if it is anything like what the lady is dancing, I ought to visit Irishalan taverns." He grinned, raising a toast in Lady Karina's praise.

On the other hand, if raging jealousy had a name, it would be Orpheus.

Both of his magical marks on either side of his neck seemed to ignite subtly, showing that he was barely holding on by a thread.

Before dinner, Lady Karina had changed into a more casual black and silver yet equally provocative dress, much like the one she had worn earlier.

The dress did nothing to hide her curves and the plump swell of her bosom.

And when the music had ended, she offered a curtsy.

She was completely out of breath, her cheeks flushed and her chest heaving, but there was an angelic smile on her face.

The Van Merikh knights rewarded her with another round of applause, giving her praises.

It suddenly occurred to the lady that she had boldly danced without consideration for her audience.

She immediately looked at Orpheus, whose expression was quite hardened yet unreadable.

Perhaps she shouldn't have allowed her excitement to get the better of her.

No doubt the man was seething with anger beneath the surface because she had taken the liberty to enjoy herself without permission.

The man stood up and was about to approach her when his attention shifted to something, or rather someone, lingering in the shadows near the kitchen stairs.

And in a blink of an eye, Orpheus was on high alert and moving towards the figure in the shadows.

His actions were so swift and abrupt that Lady Karina couldn't help but follow his movements, forgetting her shoes as she rushed after him.

She barely had time to recognise Lady Drosera before Orpheus was upon her.

The grieving rose possessed something in her hand and whatever it was, it went flying as Orpheus grabbed her wrist, eliciting a scream of pain.

His Black Frost mark flared, preparing to bring about punishment on the lady as his hand reached up to grab Lady Drosera by the throat.

However, Lady Karina was quick to stop him.

"No!" She screamed hysterically. "Please wait!"

All sorts of emotions quickly swelled in her chest: fear, panic, worry, and hopelessness.

Her heart would have lurched out if not for the ribcage protecting it.

Meanwhile, Lady Drosera had collapsed, weeping loudly as Orpheus' hand lingered on her neck, then slowly came away upon hearing Lady Karina.

His dual-coloured eyes snapped sharply to the bold lady, possessing the look of a wild beast in his gaze.

The man was in complete battle mode, with his killer side unleashed.

Yet, Lady Karina mustered her courage and forced herself past the terror his expression provoked, simply grateful that he refrained from snapping Lady Drosera's neck like a twig.

She rushed to her dear friend, falling to her knees in concern as she gathered the woman in her arms.

"Let her go," Lady Karina pleaded to Orpheus and when he did not respond, she looked him dead in the eye and put her hand on his grip. "Please, Orpheus. Let her go."

The murderous glimmer in his eyes slowly faded and he looked at her for a very long moment before slowly and reluctantly complying.

Lady Karina threw her arms around the weeping woman as Orpheus went to retrieve what he had managed to knock out of Lady Drosera's hand.

It was a dagger, small and bejewelled, and he returned with it to the lady.

Lady Karina, cradling her friend against her chest, glanced up at him just as he stopped short of her.

She realised what he held in his hand and her heart nearly sank.

She should have taken Lady Drosera much more seriously and should have done more to ensure her dear friend would not resort to such irrationality.

Orpheus had compromised many things for her, but an attempted assassination?

No knight, general, commander, or warlord would forgive such a treasonous act.

Her father had quelled assassins in the past; they were those who had come to unravel the secrets of Moonveil.

However, Lady Karina was also conflicted due to the fact that Orpheus had murdered her friend's husband.

If anything, it was blood for blood.

"Lady Drosera has gone mad with grief," Lady Karina told him quietly and with desperation. "Please, you must not..."

Orpheus snapped his fingers and Lyall moved forward faster than the eye could see, setting himself into the same battle mode as his liege.

He grabbed Lady Drosera, but surprisingly not as roughly as he had done in the past.

He only briefly glanced at Lady Karina, deciding to treat her friend with respect.

However, Lady Karina was as stubborn as a mule and held on fiercely in a bizzare tug-of-war while Lyall tried not to use too much force.

"No," Lady Karina shouted. "You must not resort to this, my Lord. Lady Drosera is wrought with bereavement and she is ignorant of her actions."