8 8. I Made a Mistake

'Is everything alright?'

I feel my whole body constrict in tension.

'Oh, Frank!' Maria breathes out in surprise, I cannot see her face but I imagine her reeling back as she does that.

I bend my neck sideways and try to peek at the door that seems to be miles away from my bed. My vision wobbles and the whole room tips over, side to side, making me feel like throwing up. I take a deep breath in to control it and through a haze, I could see a blurred form of a butler standing by the door.

Frank, if I remember right, is the head butler who came to inform me about the dinner invitation from Elian. I heard from Maria and some maids that he is Elian's exclusive attendant and apparently, his loyalty to Elian rivals that of the Queen's bodyguards.

And you know I don't believe that one bit.

Call me cynical but–

Ugh, another sharp pain shoots through my stomach and I wince, gritting my teeth to bear through this.

Man, it's like I am being punished.

For being unfaithful.

This is...

Isn't this unfair?

'Okay.' I breathe shakily and squeeze my hand close and with it, Sir Dominic's hand that I was holding. He looks at me and I glare back at him,

'Do NOT call Elian.'

He sighs out long and I feel his other hand reaching and then it's on my head, swiping away the sweat-soaked strands of silver hair sticking on my forehead. He sighs again passively, and I am reminded of my mother,

'Sir–'

'I'll fire you.'

I spit the words through my teeth, hoping to scare him. His forehead is suddenly clear, and then his eyebrows go upwards with disbelief. With his hands halting in the air above my forehead, he mutters,

'I don't think you can but...'

.

The voice cuts through again,

'Is everything okay?'

Frank's voice is elevated in a dignified and elevated manner, and he speaks with no weight, like words floating out of his mouth. But as soon as he hangs the question in the air, both Sir Dominic and I jump to answer,

'Yes!' 'No.'

I turn my head towards him immediately and he does the same. Menacingly, I widen my eyes at him as I try to communicate a reminder, 'I'll fire you' through the look. Sir Dominic shakes his head and his eyes roll upwards in disbelief.

I see him opening his mouth to speak, and my pain disappears at the rush of adrenaline through my body, I jump up and cut through him, even before he speaks,

'Everything's quite normal, Frank. Just a slight exhaustion. Nothing big.' I clear my throat to makes sure that my voice sounds normal, 'So what's the matter?'

'Ah, well...Master Elian has requested that you dine with him tonight as well. But Sir, if you feel unwell, I shall decline his offer '

'What?' My voice is jumpy, 'No! I am okay!'

As soon as that got out, I close my eyes in sudden realization.

What did I just do?

Yes, I dug my own grave. Now I have no choice but to sit through dinner with a snobby prick and an unborn baby throwing a tantrum over pheromones.

Never in my life have I imagined that this could even be possible.

Maybe it IS Elian's kid after all.

The Devil's spawn does imitate the devil's way.

'Then,' Frank floats through, 'I shall notify Master that you will be there.'

I flop my hand on the bed in defeat,

'Yea...' I mutter in distaste, suddenly feeling drained as the adrenaline slowly fades away and the pain in my belly starts to return by bits.

Damn it.

I watch as Frank turns around and disappears behind the door. Maria who is also by the door looks over at me worriedly but I guess she decided to join Frank as she also disappears, a glimpse of her hand on the door as she walks away.

'Ahem.'

I hear the insistent sound from beside me, and I turn to the origin of the sound.

And there it is.

Sir Dominic is looking at me with the most disappointed face ever witnessed

'What?' My tone comes off as defensive,

'Adian, you are acting extremely strange.'

'Pshh.' I scoff, trying to sound unfazed. I don't think I could ever tell anyone about my situation and not get labeled as a mentally unsound rich man.

But that doesn't sound so bad...

'Aah...aa-ouchh!' I hiss in pain as another bout hits me full force.

Sir Dominic sighs and leans over, tapping his fingers on my hand once.

'Here, hold my hand.'

Then his warm hand envelopes around mine,

'Squeeze when it hurts.'

My eyes turn into slits and I squint at him hard, my suspicions are tingling and it doesn't go by unnoticed,

'What's wrong?'

'Uhh...' I squint a little more that my eyes are now closing, 'Did we ever like...'

I hesitate and he waits for me to continue. But I don't. I can't say it. It's so ridiculous.

'Ever like what?'

Eh, might as well say it.

'Like, did we ever have sex?'

Sir Dominic chokes immediately on his saliva and he goes into a coughing fit that he snatches his hand away from mine to cover his mouth.

I follow his motion with my eyes as he continues to cough,

'Is that a yes or a no?'

He glances up, his eyes shocked and wide-eyed and he springs up in with,

'No! Never! Why would we...' He flails his finger between the both of us and shakes his head fervently, 'No. Besides I'm just a beta.'

I roll my eyes when he stops, huffing from his reaction and deadpan,

'Okay okay. Quite the reaction that was.'

'No.' He repeats calmly and fixes his shirt, settling back down on the edge of the bed, 'We have never done sexual intercourse.'

'Oh, Lord.' I guffaw loudly, 'He just said intercourse.'

'Yes, and I suggested you refrain from saying sex. It's quite unbecoming, Sir.'

I laugh, in amusement and nod, 'Okay okayeoo..ouchh.'

He doesn't hold my hand or even suggest it again. well, my question definitely was a warning against his action. But he stands up from the bed and reaches out under it, pulling out a thick brown tattered suitcase that looks like the mega version of his tattered notebook.

Systematically, he begins to pick up the instruments splaying out on the bed, and assembles them into the suitcase. He seems to be getting ready to leave. After all, his job here is done.

But I don't want to be alone. I feel nowhere near ready to be all alone again in this huge hollow room and this huge creepy house. Just not yet.

'By the way,' I mumble, maybe this will make him stay, 'What does being a Beta have to do... intercourse?'

He halts midway for a mere second but resumes filling up his thick suitcase almost as soon,

'Well...' He begins and frowns lightly down to his suitcase, 'Nothing, actually.'

'Yeah. Okay.'

'Betas are...we are quite different. Of course, everyone is but we are simply normal. We can't compare to the dynamics between alphas and omegas.'

'I see. So?'

'So betas don't generally associate with omegas or alphas. Even if they do, it is usually fruitless. Omegas tend to feel unsatisfied with betas as their partners.'

I frown, 'I don't see it.'

'Of course no, you have never been with a beta.'

'Really? You know that?' I turn to him, surprised and expecting.

'Truthfully, no. I don't. I am simply assuming since you are already bonded with Lord Elian.'

'Hmm.'

I fall silent, finding no words in reply. But I was desperate for some human interaction and I blurt out anything that comes to my mind,

'I am not bonded with Elian though.'

Sir Dominic flashes his eyes towards me, looking off-guard and stupefied. And finally, he pushes his dear suitcase away and turns his entire body to me, jaw hanging down in shock.

'What?'

'I mean, I just think that's the case.'

'But...but you guys are the Earls of Croyton!'

I stop playing with my fingers and look up at him for a moment, the clock ticking loudly.

'Yeah and...?'

'You subdued the frigid Earl! And it was fate!' He flails his hands around in desperation, 'And there was this grand wedding where he announced his undying love for you in front of everyone!'

I twist my features in disgust.

Elian did that?

The Earl from yesterday?

Then who was that guy who had dinner with me yesterday?

I shake my head in disregard, brushing the matter aside. Whatever it may be in front of everyone, that guy was not playing with me yesterday. That at least I understood from our exchange.

And he didn't even give an alpaca's shit about Adian's fall.

That's telling something.

I lay back down and snuggle over into my blanket. Fatigue is spreading out through my limbs without warning and I felt my mood shift as I tune out Sir Dominic's meltdown beside me. I turn over to my left and close my eyes, I could do with a nap right now.

That's right, I haven't eaten anything yet.

I sigh without opening my eyes. I don't feel the appetite for food or the hunger. I couldn't summon up any energy for that matter. What is this sudden shift? Everything feels as though I have been drained dry and a nagging need for sleep hitting me. Sir Dominic continues to freak out,

'You are really not bonded?!'

'No.' Atleast, I thought so.

'But why...' He wails dramatically and a nerve pops in my head.

Okay

Why is he being so unnecessarily hysterical about this?

The world's not turning upside down.

Calm down, we are not dying.

Geez.

·

'We are not, okay?' I seethe at him, not even turning over to his direction.

'But you guys are fated...'

'Whatever. The baby's not even his.'

God, can you leave now?

I need to be alone now.

I shift my position, trying to get comfortable. I don't need food, I exhale deeply, I just need sleep.

And I wouldn't even go for dinner.

I'll keep that rude guy waiting, waiting, and let him sit in that huge dining hall, all alone and miserable.

I hear a small whisper beside me,

'What did you just say?'

I lift my neck and turn over to my right. Sir Dominic stands with his hands to the side, all solemn and sober. So he hasn't left yet. I scrunch my eyes at him in confusion,

'Excuse me?'

'What did you just say?'

'What did I just say? Excuse m–oh...' My mouth rounded into an 'o' and and I bite my lower lip.

I said...

I might have ruined Adian's reputation in this very weird world. I gulp slowly and look at the equally shocked Sir Dominic,

'Haha.' I clear my throat and look away,

'...you got any painkillers?'

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