“I didn’t think there were any other guests today,” Baron commented as soon as Olivia raised her head from the curtsy.
“Well,” she replied in a matter-of-fact tone, “that’s because I didn’t come today as a guest.”
“I think only the Duchess of Askan should come in, would that be alright with you?”
At Olivia’s 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?
“Grandmother could get a little uncomfortable with me being in the same room. I’ll wait here,” Baron finally said.
“Yes, of course.”
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.
‘Olivia Tellon is the only Omega of the Marquis. She couldn’t have come in as Domina’s lady-in-waiting.’
She had no idea at all, but then it would be quite questionable why she asked Seira to come by herself.
“Right this way.”
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.
“Welcome.”
Seira curtsied at the old woman’s greeting, “It has been a while since I last saw you, your excellency.”
Domina was amused but decided to keep her expression blank and asked, “Do you remember me?”
“Of course,” Seira replied without a second to lose, “Time doesn’t seem fair, I still see you from ten years ago.”
A faint smile crept into Domina’s expressionless face.
“You were quite cute during the ball back then,” she commented.
“Thank you for watching.”
Domina beckoned Seira closer, and she approached to sit opposite her.
“I heard the news. If the Duchess’ father was still alive, he would have held the celebration for a whole year.”
For a moment, Seira only smiled as she recalled her father’s spirit.
After exchanging short greetings of pleasantry, Domina immediately brought up the reason she called Seira.
“I wanted to see you today because I have something to suggest,” the old Alpha said. “I thought you might be interested.”
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, “Say it.”
“Let me ask you a question first,” Domina started, “If His Majesty calls you by his side, are you willing to respond now?”
Seira’s calm expression almost crumbled as her brows started to knit, but she managed to keep calm and reply with a clear voice, “No.”
“Why?”
“Because my relationship with Viseltium has long been over.”
“I see. As expected, it was only a rumor then.”
Unfortunately, many seemed to have misinterpreted the meaning of Seira’s tears that day. As Domina spoke calmly, Seira cursed inwardly at the people who spread hearsays. There were many other things that they should’ve attended to than other people’s business!
“If that’s all you have to say then I shall take my leave now,” Seira said.
Domina mumbled, the corners of her mouth raising as she spoke, “I’ll be straightforward now. I want you to give birth to Jeff’s successor.”
For a second, Seira doubted her ears.
“What do you mean by that? You want me to give birth to a descendant…” Seira asked, “is this some sort of crazy marriage proposal?”
“No, that’s not it,” Domina rebutted flatly. “Now, there is the problem regarding both families joining together in holy matrimony. We only want children.”
The old woman looked Seira straight in the eyes, her expression calculating and swift with her words, “Baron’s child must be birthed by the only pure-blooded Omega of this generation, through you.”
Seira’s mind raced as she thought back at what was proposed to her. Simply put, did Domina mean Seira must let Baron’s seeds impregnate her and just hand over the child to Jeff that easily?
“To entice you more, I will pay Askan as much as it’s worth. Also, Jeff will not only protect you until childbirth, but also pay Askan’s taxes until the child comes of age. Askan’s blood will be Jeff’s head in the long run, so it isn’t too shabby of a deal if I might say so.”
It was clear to Seira now.
The damage on Jeff’s name would be far too great to involve marriage in the equation. Domina only saw her, Askan’s last living descendant, as a tool to bear Jeff’s 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.
‘Yeah, it’s not that I didn’t know it would come out like this anyways,’ she thought at the back of her mind.
Why was Baron Jeff put off from the beginning in the first place? Jeff couldn’t have had anything to lose by sticking close to her love affairs.
‘How idiotic… I had been so naive on my own,’ Seira came to realize.
Thinking back to Baron’s proposal less than an hour ago, she was even saddened that it felt totally absurd.
“I don’t think you would entrust the care of a child to Baron.”
Seira’s eyes shifted to Olivia, who hadn’t spoken since the doors had closed inside the drawing room.
“Your guess is right. I’m planning to make a marriage agreement with Tellon,” Domina confirmed.
“Are you willing to raise another Omega’s child?” Seira’s question was directed at Olivia.
Surprised by Seira’s cold gaze, Olivia replied with a smile on her face, “I take it as a great honor. The child would be extraordinary. He will be the noblest of the next generation.”
“Does that have anything to do with you?”
“Oh, I…” Olivia’s cheeks turned red as her gaze lowered.
Soon after several seconds of silence, she spoke again and added, “It’s enough to be an Omega for His Majesty the Duke of Jeff. In the first place, I wouldn’t have dared to dream of standing next to him. I’m just so happy to have this opportunity.”
Seira knew Baron was popular, but that was much about it. It was bound to be amazing.
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