âI didnât think there were any other guests today,â Baron commented as soon as Olivia raised her head from the curtsy.
âWell,â she replied in a matter-of-fact tone, âthatâs because I didnât come today as a guest.â
âI think only the Duchess of Askan should come in, would that be alright with you?â
At Oliviaâs question, Baron and Seira sneaked a glance at each other at the same time with a confused expression. Who was she actually directing the question to?
âGrandmother could get a little uncomfortable with me being in the same room. Iâll wait here,â Baron finally said.
âYes, of course.â
Seira left Baron behind and stepped into the annex building with Olivia. She pondered as she followed her, whose steps were light as they walked.
âOlivia Tellon is the only Omega of the Marquis. She couldnât have come in as Dominaâs lady-in-waiting.â
She had no idea at all, but then it would be quite questionable why she asked Seira to come by herself.
âRight this way.â
An old woman sat on a sofa in a space used as a drawing room inside the first floor of the annex. Olivia let Seira in first, closed the door, and then quietly stationed herself behind Domina.
âWelcome.â
Seira curtsied at the old womanâs greeting, âIt has been a while since I last saw you, your excellency.â
Domina was amused but decided to keep her expression blank and asked, âDo you remember me?â
âOf course,â Seira replied without a second to lose, âTime doesnât seem fair, I still see you from ten years ago.â
A faint smile crept into Dominaâs expressionless face.
âYou were quite cute during the ball back then,â she commented.
âThank you for watching.â
Domina beckoned Seira closer, and she approached to sit opposite her.
âI heard the news. If the Duchessâ father was still alive, he would have held the celebration for a whole year.â
For a moment, Seira only smiled as she recalled her fatherâs spirit.
After exchanging short greetings of pleasantry, Domina immediately brought up the reason she called Seira.
âI wanted to see you today because I have something to suggest,â the old Alpha said. âI thought you might be interested.â
Seira stared at Domina straight in the eyes. She noted the atmosphere has completely changed around her in a snap of a finger, and she said, âSay it.â
âLet me ask you a question first,â Domina started, âIf His Majesty calls you by his side, are you willing to respond now?â
Seiraâs calm expression almost crumbled as her brows started to knit, but she managed to keep calm and reply with a clear voice, âNo.â
âWhy?â
âBecause my relationship with Viseltium has long been over.â
âI see. As expected, it was only a rumor then.â
Unfortunately, many seemed to have misinterpreted the meaning of Seiraâs tears that day. As Domina spoke calmly, Seira cursed inwardly at the people who spread hearsays. There were many other things that they shouldâve attended to than other peopleâs business!
âIf thatâs all you have to say then I shall take my leave now,â Seira said.
Domina mumbled, the corners of her mouth raising as she spoke, âIâll be straightforward now. I want you to give birth to Jeffâs successor.â
For a second, Seira doubted her ears.
âWhat do you mean by that? You want me to give birth to a descendantâ¦â Seira asked, âis this some sort of crazy marriage proposal?â
âNo, thatâs not it,â Domina rebutted flatly. âNow, there is the problem regarding both families joining together in holy matrimony. We only want children.â
The old woman looked Seira straight in the eyes, her expression calculating and swift with her words, âBaronâs child must be birthed by the only pure-blooded Omega of this generation, through you.â
Seiraâs mind raced as she thought back at what was proposed to her. Simply put, did Domina mean Seira must let Baronâs seeds impregnate her and just hand over the child to Jeff that easily?
âTo entice you more, I will pay Askan as much as itâs worth. Also, Jeff will not only protect you until childbirth, but also pay Askanâs taxes until the child comes of age. Askanâs blood will be Jeffâs head in the long run, so it isnât too shabby of a deal if I might say so.â
It was clear to Seira now.
The damage on Jeffâs name would be far too great to involve marriage in the equation. Domina only saw her, Askanâs last living descendant, as a tool to bear Jeffâs heir in the hopes of producing a powerful child with their pure bloods.
Her chin rose high as her teeth clenched in an attempt to keep her emotions suppressed and at bay.
âYeah, itâs not that I didnât know it would come out like this anyways,â she thought at the back of her mind.
Why was Baron Jeff put off from the beginning in the first place? Jeff couldnât have had anything to lose by sticking close to her love affairs.
âHow idiotic⦠I had been so naive on my own,â Seira came to realize.
Thinking back to Baronâs proposal less than an hour ago, she was even saddened that it felt totally absurd.
âI donât think you would entrust the care of a child to Baron.â
Seiraâs eyes shifted to Olivia, who hadnât spoken since the doors had closed inside the drawing room.
âYour guess is right. Iâm planning to make a marriage agreement with Tellon,â Domina confirmed.
âAre you willing to raise another Omegaâs child?â Seiraâs question was directed at Olivia.
Surprised by Seiraâs cold gaze, Olivia replied with a smile on her face, âI take it as a great honor. The child would be extraordinary. He will be the noblest of the next generation.â
âDoes that have anything to do with you?â
âOh, Iâ¦â Oliviaâs cheeks turned red as her gaze lowered.
Soon after several seconds of silence, she spoke again and added, âItâs enough to be an Omega for His Majesty the Duke of Jeff. In the first place, I wouldnât have dared to dream of standing next to him. Iâm just so happy to have this opportunity.â
Seira knew Baron was popular, but that was much about it. It was bound to be amazing.
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