Liselotte's eyes narrowed as she furtively kicked her brother Valdemar's leg, her gaze transfixed on the Grand Duke standing before them. All the rumors and whispers of the Duke being a horrendous, demonic creature were utterly unfounded.
The regal figure exuded a captivating presence that was both alluring and sensual. Liselotte felt a stirring within her, an omega's instinctive reaction to the sheer power and dominance radiating from the alpha. She desperately fought the urge to whimper and submit, mesmerized by the Grand Duke's every movement and the captivating timbre of her voice.
"I'll be leaving with Lady Rothschild, Vivianne de Rothschild," the Grand Duke announced, her lips curving into a smile that sent a shiver down Liselotte's spine.
The assembled Rothschilds remained spellbound, rendered speechless by Roxanne de Borgia's magnetic charm. Even the steadfast Valdemar found himself captivated, his gaze transfixed on Roxanne's sublime beauty. In all his life, he had never been so drawn to an alpha, but Roxanne had proven him wrong, shattering his preconceptions with her undeniable allure.
Liselotte's heart raced as she watched the Grand Duke approach Vivianne, an undeniable aura of power and command surrounding the regal figure. Her omega instincts stirred, urging her to submit in the face of such overwhelming alpha presence.
When Roxanne laid a possessive hand on Vivianne's arm, Liselotte felt a pang of jealousy and trepidation. This woman—this alpha—was about to claim her sister, to take her away from the Rothschild family. A primal fear gripped Liselotte, the thought of losing to Vivianne once again unsettling her to the core.
Liselotte's eyes widened as the realization dawned on her—this Grand Duke of Borgia was no ordinary alpha. Even her own omega mother had whispered tales of Roxanne's power, comparing it to the might of the Emperor himself. Yet, as Liselotte witnessed Roxanne's commanding presence up close, she knew those rumors did not do justice to the sheer, unparalleled dominance that radiated from the regal figure.
A shiver of both trepidation and anticipation rippled through Liselotte's body as she observed the Grand Duke's every move. The way Roxanne carried herself, the intensity of her crimson gaze, the effortless grace in her gestures—all of it bespoke a primal, feral strength that eclipsed even the Emperor's formidable presence. This was an alpha among alphas, a force of nature that demanded absolute submission.
Liselotte felt her omega instincts clamoring to kneel, to bare her neck and yield to the alpha's supremacy. The allure was almost overwhelming, a siren's call that tugged at the very core of her being.
She could not deny the growing fascination she felt for Roxanne. Roxanne's beauty was captivating, her presence electric, and Liselotte found herself inexplicably drawn to this alluring alpha. It was as if some invisible force was pulling her closer, tempting her to surrender to the Grand Duke's dominance.
As Roxanne's crimson gaze met hers, Liselotte felt a shiver of anticipation. The Grand Duke's smile held a hint of amusement, as if she could sense the turmoil raging within the young omega.
Roxanne's lips curled into a soft, indulgent smile as she pulled Vivianne closer to her side. "I'll be leaving, and I think none of you can talk me out of it, seeing that all of you are going mute like this," she declared, her deep, husky voice brooking no argument.
The Grand Duke could feel her alpha instincts stirring, intoxicated by Vivianne's delicate, alluring scent. It was a reaction unlike any she had experienced before; not even the young omega behind the Rothschild current head was capable of eliciting such a visceral response.
As Roxanne's gaze drank in Vivianne's exquisite features, she knew the rumors of the Rothschild beauty's unparalleled loveliness were true. The omega in her arms trembled slightly, a whispered plea escaping her lips. "Please, take me away. Don't say yes to any of their words."
Roxanne's expression softened, and she replied with unwavering certainty, "Of course, my lady." The Duke's alpha nature purred with satisfaction, relishing the thought of claiming this precious omega as her own.
Valdemar, the current head of the Rothschild County, stirred from his stunned silence, a trace of unease flickering across his features. Mustering his composure, he stepped forward, clearing his throat to address the formidable Grand Duke.
"Your Grace," Valdemar began, his tone diplomatic yet tinged with a hint of trepidation. "Might I invite you and your knights to join us for tea? It would be an honor to host you, even if but for a brief respite, before you continue on your journey."
The older man's gaze flickered briefly to his sister Liselotte, silently answering her plea to delay the Duke's departure. Though he recognized the futility of challenging Roxanne's evident dominance, Valdemar could not help but cling to the hope of prolonging Vivianne's stay, if only for a little while longer.
Valdemar cleared his throat once more, a hint of sheepishness creeping into his expression. "Forgive me, Your Grace, for my stunned silence earlier. I confess, I was quite taken aback by your... remarkable beauty and presence."
The Rothschild head's gaze flickered momentarily, an uncharacteristic display of vulnerability. "It is not often that one encounters an alpha of such singular poise and command." He paused, offering Roxanne a respectful nod. "I hope you will indulge us, even if for a brief respite, before continuing on your journey with my sister."
Roxanne could feel Vivianne's delicate fingers clutching the fabric of her coat, a subtle yet telling gesture that betrayed the omega's inner turmoil. Though their time together had been brief, she already felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness towards this captivating creature.
Pulling Vivianne closer, Roxanne enveloped the omega in her strong, possessive embrace. "Don't worry," she whispered, her deep, velvety tone soothing the young woman's evident distress.
Turning her attention to the Rothschild patriarch, Roxanne's crimson gaze remained unwavering. "I appreciate the invitation, Lord Rothschild, but I'm afraid I must decline." Her voice held a note of finality, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Lady Vivianne and I have a long journey ahead, and time is of the essence." Roxanne's lips curved into a subtle, apologetic smile. "Please, do not take offense. I simply cannot linger, no matter how tempting the offer of your hospitality may be."
The Grand Duke tightened her hold on Vivianne, a possessive gleam entering her eyes. "The Lady Rothschild is now in my care, and I intend to see her safely to her new home." Her tone left no doubt as to her determination, the unspoken implication that Vivianne's future lay firmly in Roxanne's hands.
Vivianne felt a flutter of relief and gratitude as Roxanne's strong, protective embrace enveloped her. Roxanne's soothing words and unwavering resolve sent a sense of security washing over the young omega, easing the turmoil that had gripped her heart moments earlier.
In the face of Valdemar's desperate invitation, Vivianne had found herself torn, her loyalty to her family warring with the undeniable pull of Roxanne's alpha magnetism. But now, cradled in the Grand Duke's arms, Vivianne knew she had found her true place.
Subtly, Vivianne leaned into Roxanne's embrace, her body language conveying her wholehearted acceptance of the Duke's claim. She's ready to leave the Rothschild estate, the empire, everything. She's going to embrace the unknown that awaited her at Roxanne's side. This is what she chose, and she had never felt more certain.
Liselotte's emerald eyes narrowed, a glint of envy and resentment flickering within their depths. Vivianne's beauty had always been a source of bitter jealousy, a constant reminder of Liselotte's own perceived inadequacies.
"Your Grace," Liselotte began, her voice laced with a desperate edge. "I... I beg you to choose me instead." Her slender fingers curled into trembling fists at her sides, betraying the turmoil raging within her.
"I can be a far better omega for you," she insisted, her eyes alight with a frenzied hunger. "I can prove my worth, my loyalty, in ways that Vivianne never could." The words tumbled from her lips, a thinly veiled attempt to mask her true motivations.
Liselotte knew that her sister's beauty had always captivated those around her, including the most powerful alphas. Now, faced with the prospect of losing to Vivianne, seeing how easy it was for the Grand Duke to be smitten with Vivianne, Liselotte was consumed by a desperate need to make this moment her moment.
Roxanne's crimson gaze narrowed imperceptibly as Liselotte's bold request reached her ears. The young omega's words were laced with a desperate hunger, a thinly veiled attempt to mask her true motivations.
Turning her attention back to Liselotte, Roxanne's crimson eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "And what, pray tell, would you offer me that your sister cannot?" The question was laced with a subtle challenge, an invitation for Liselotte to prove her worth.
On the inside, Roxanne found the younger omega's audacious attempt intriguing. In contrast to the perfectly manicured façade that frequently accosted the high-born omegas of the Empire, Liselotte's raw desperation and jealousy were refreshingly honest. Yet, for Roxanne, it was Vivianne, not Liselotte, who had captured her alpha's attention.
As Liselotte struggled to find the words to convey her alleged superiority, Roxanne's grip on Vivianne tightened ever so slightly. The Grand Duke's decision had already been made, though she remained curious to see how far the other Rothschild sister would go in her bid for the alpha's affection.