Alpha's Cruel Addiction

Ophelia woke up in an empty bed. Her shoulders dropped when she felt the icy spot beside her. Her lips trembled and she bent her head. Was he always going to just fervidly love her in bed and then leave her cold?

"Is this color to your liking, my lady?"

Ophelia stared at the deep purple gown. She slowly shook her head, earning a quirk of a brow from Janette.

"This one, then, my lady?" Janette softly asked after changing the ribbons and dress to an appealing sky blue.

Ophelia timidly nodded. Immediately, Janette smiled and began to braid her hair into a bun that resembled blooming roses. No matter how beautifully Janette dressed Ophelia, she felt ugly through and through. Was that why her husband didn't even want to wake up to her face?

"M-more makeup, p-please."

Janette slowly blinked. The lady was one of the most dazzling women in the entire Mavez Dukedom. An exquisite beauty that warmed the heart of anyone, there was no one who could compare. Because of such, Janette had no need to plaster that much into the lady's face.

"But you're already so lovely, my lady. More make-up won't do you any good."

"M-more, please."

Janette obliged. She held back any complaints and put on more powder, kohl, blush, and rouge. By the end, she was regretful, but the lady seemed satisfied.

"Are you alright, my lady?"

"I-I'd like to eat in my room, please," Ophelia mumbled, whilst pulling her knees to her chest.

Janette's heart broke. She glanced at the enormous bed on the other end of the room. She could only imagine what happened.

"Not with the Alpha?" Janette softly asked. "He will be departing tomorrow morning for the empire."

"T-the empire is only a f-few hours away," Ophelia mumbled.

"Yes, but we do not know how long his stay will be, Madam," Janette softly reminded.

Ophelia said nothing. She shamefully glanced to the ground, for she had just discovered this new piece of information. Once again, she discovered the news from someone else.

"I wish t-to eat alone," Ophelia insisted. This wasn't the first time she woke up alone after a night of passion… was it going to be like this from now on? He'd just pump and dump? Nothing else?

Janette was a young girl when the late madam was still alive, but she heard many horrific stories. She couldn't fathom the Alpha repeating his father's sins, for he had always been celebrated here as a great man. But you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

"As you wish, my lady."

- - - - -

Ophelia spent the entirety of the day coped up in the room. She sat by the window and read half the stack of books she ordered Janette to bring. Ophelia was insistent on not making the same mistakes again.

Ophelia studied a wide variety of flowers, until she could make up her mind on what to order for the garden—something that'd add a nice pop of color and be safe to everyone, but without overspending the budget. Eventually, she decided on three kinds that will add a nice pop of color.

When Janette returned to inform her of the merchants downstairs, Ophelia continued writing.

"I'd like to m-move to a s-separate room now," Ophelia said once she finished dinner in her room.

Janette stilled. Her entire spine went rigid and she slowly turned around. The honeymoon ended this quickly? She said nothing, but knew other people would.

"But my lady, the lord will be departing tomorrow morning, so this room will be vacant, so there is no problem in sleeping here?" Janette said in confusion, glancing worriedly at the lady.

Ophelia had been studying the books all afternoon, for she knew the merchants were coming again today.

"I k-know," Ophelia said.

Janette worriedly glanced at the young lady. The Lady's fingers were black from scribbling with the quill pen, her make-up still intact, and her shoulders weary. For someone who stayed all day in this room, Ophelia was mindful of her appearance.

"Alright, my lady," Janette murmured.

Janette didn't comment anymore. It was clear whatever happened between the lord and lady wouldn't be resolved. Seeing the lady's resolute expression, she could only nod.

"A-and I'm finished w-with lunch, thank you."

Janette stared at the barely touched food. You call that done? She just knew a storm was bound to brew. Picking up the tray of food, she revealed an understanding smile.

"I shall take this downstairs, inform the servants of the move, and bring back your afternoon snack, my lady."

"T-thank you, Janette," Ophelia softly said, but with a blank expression. "B-but I will be meeting the merchants now and have no need for the snack."

Ophelia saw the concern flash on Janette's face, but the young woman said nothing. When Janette left, Ophelia picked up her books and approached the double doors. She knew right away that this was the adjourn room where husbands were allowed to keep their mistresses or wife—whichever pleased them.

Ophelia stopped right before she opened it. Then, she turned and walked straight out of their bedroom and to a room on the far end of the hallway. There was bound to be a day Killorn told her to get up and leave his bed. It was evident he didn't want her to linger under his blankets. Why else would he never wake up beside her?

"H-he must not have t-the heart to t-tell me," Ophelia mumbled to herself.

Ophelia didn't want to overstay her visit. She rose to her feet and went downstairs to greet the merchants whereas Janete would be moving all of the items that Killorn brought for Ophelia to a different room.

- - - - -

This time, a new team of merchants came, for the other one had mysteriously "disappeared" with all of their items still in the town.

Ophelia didn't mind and she worked straight away, placing her books down and pointing at the ones she wrote or circled.

"P-please prepare for the arrival of winterberry bushes, winter j-jasmines shrubs, c-camellias in half bloom, a-and daphne shrubs," Ophelia stated whilst sliding a piece of paper across the table. "The f-first two should be for both the front and b-back garden, then camellias for the f-front, and d-daphne for the back."

Ophelia immediately pulled her hand back to hide the gray staining her fingertips. She had rewritten the slip eight times to correct her messy handwriting. Seeing her order, the merchants' brows rose. This was a new set of people, after the last one fled from Lady Mirabelle's insistent screaming.

"How would you like it arranged, my lady?" A man commented in a polite and respectful tone, his glasses low on his nose.

Ophelia blinked. He was awfully young for a merchant, appearing around the same age as her. Usually, they were older and wiser. Nonetheless, she pulled out another parchment, where she drew and highlighted the location.

"L-like this," Ophelia stated.

Another merchant picked up the paper. A second passed as he imagined everything in his head. Eventually, he nodded with a pleased smile.

"You are bringing spring to winter," he softly said with a chuckle. "Yesterday's snowfall is one of many, my lady."

Ophelia blinked. They were all really young, she noted. Were they scammers? Even so, she tried to offer them a pleased smile.

"A-and another order," Ophelia said whilst pulling out more papers from next to the pillow. She intended to have everything go perfectly. She came prepared for battle.

"S-starting with the c-castle," Ophelia stammered out. She swallowed hard, for her tongue was more unrelenting than usual. She was excited and that upset her nerves.

"T-the theme is p-purple and g-gold for the castle entrance," Ophelia stated whilst cupping her hands together. "T-then, for the rest…"

Ophelia went on to list out every single thing she'd need for redecoration. First, strip the washed-out dining table clothes for something more colorful and welcoming, like a forest screen lined with silver.

Just as Ophelia opened her mouth, she paused. Wait a minute. This was a lot of tasks to give to people she didn't even know the capabilities of.

"And then, my lady?" they pressed.

"J-just the gardens and t-two out of the three dining h-halls for now," Ophelia stated. She deliberately left out the part about using that as a means of testing their efficiency, speed, and attention to detail.

Ophelia needed to make sure these merchants were trustworthy before she dumped an enormous order on them. They nodded their heads sharply at her words, gathering to discuss things.

Ophelia drank the tea and watched them through the rim. In the corner of the room, she made eye-contact with Janette. Upon first glance, Janette bowed her head and hid a pleasant smile. Her heart skipped, realizing she had performed correctly.

"This is our price for everything, my lady. Do you see fit?"

Ophelia blinked. She didn't have a proper concept of money. The conversion made her head dizzy. When she saw the numbers, she slowly blinked. Her hands trembled, for she realized her math was taking too long.

H-how many silvers did one gold equate to? Or, wait, was it copper to silver, and then gold? She blinked at the sight of all three currencies being present.

"G-give me a second."

Ophelia tried to do the math in her mind. She carried the 1, then the 3, then the 9, and eventually she was a jumbled mess. With a trembling hand, she reached for the ink and began to write down her conversion. Eventually, she was growing more awkward from their pressing gaze.

"What a unique way of doing math."

Ophelia's ears burned. When she settled the quill down, she raised her head to see their impressed expression. She blinked, wondering if they were mocking her.

"I've never seen this box method, who taught you this, my lady?"

"M-my father," Ophelia responded, wondering if there was something wrong with her math. When she tried to do it the conventional route, it was difficult. When she used her father's teachings, everything melted together easily.

"This is a very impressive and unique form of mathematics. Please, we'd love to learn the technique, as it seems much more efficient than what we've been doing, my lady," one of them spoke up.

"O-o, well…" Ophelia trailed off, as she turned the paper towards them and began to walk them through the solution.

By the time they were done, the moon began to peek out in the sky and they agreed on a sum. Ophelia was even able to use the empire currency for a better conversion rate. She left the room with a receipt, her chest light and happy.

"Thank you very much for your patronage, my lady, we will have everything here by tomorrow!" the merchants cheerily told her, as they bowed deeply, thanking her for this.

Ophelia left the room light on her feet and happy. She even walked with a skip whilst hugging the order to her chest. She wanted to show off this progress to Maribelle.

Suddenly, a thunderous growl echoed down the hallways. His ferocity was enough to shake the castle walls and crumble the foundation.

Killorn was back and he knew his wife was gone from his bed chambers.

Immediately, she heard Killorn's angry bellow echoing down the hallways.

Her smile fell.

"Where are my wife's belongings and why has it been moved!?"