"Who is he really, Henry?" I asked after I told him again how I met Niccolo in my previous life. That he was the rogue Alpha. He was enveloped with silence after that. "Valerian did not say in his letter that Niccolo Andreu is part of his contingency plan. He only mentioned Demetrius..."I read Valerian's letter carefully. He did not include a name, Niccolo Andreu, to be the next Beta. But Niccolo told everyone he was part of Valerian's contingency plan.Henry cocke.d his head from side to side. "Well, I can answer that." He reclined on his seat. "If you are deemed the first in line to inherit a pack, the descendant has the right to decide who would be his next Beta. He can still choose the current Beta's son. However, since the Nocturnal Crest pack was annihilated, Demetrius designated someone to be his second-in-command to rebuild this pack." He shrugged. "Someone who put his trust and would be a good fit as Beta.""Is that so?" I asked, hesitant.He nodded. "That is how it works, a
"Be certain that her wedding gown shall be envious of by the other nobles," Rorilin told the notorious seamstress, Lorenza Jaime, who was taking my measurement. "I also want the other nobles to envy my son and Dominixe's wedding," she said dreamily. "Right, Harchier?"I stared at Rorilin, Warren's mother, with an almost disgusting expression I could ever express. My hands have been clenching so badly already ever since I was lured to come here to the apparel boutique by Papa.No.I was already threatened to come here to take my measurement since I was already engaged with Warren Porter five months ago.Yes, five months ago.It was the most petrifying news I had come to learn, even though I must expect this already.It never changed. My situation still ended up being engaged with that disgusting man. My previous life and my current life still faced the same dilemma that would torment me for my entire life."Indeed, Rorilin." Papa stood up and eyed me up and down, having an approval wri
I was shocked and immobilized by having Niccolo's face closer to me.How?How did I find myself being in his arms? Why did his arms feel like home?I snapped back when his hand reached me and gently wiped away my tears. "You are crying again..." he said in a distressed tone.Niccolo's words had brought me to tears again. "I-I thought you are V-Valerian..." I said through sobbing. "Your tunic... smelled like his scent..." Now that I realized it, it seemed like a perfume he had on it. Or it seemed like the hyacinth flowers were smeared on his clothes.That ached my heart more since I really expected that it was Valerian.But... how about my wolf? My wolf whispered that scent came from my mate—from Valerian. And it came from this tavern... I couldn't be wrong. I was not having hallucinations...People eating in the tavern looked in our way or, more likely, glared in Niccolo's direction when they knew a lady was crying. Niccolo felt that but did not panic and gently brought me outside."N
"I am your what?" I parroted, not wanting to believe that this was literally happening in my life. What in the Moon Goddess' sake was Henry planning? Why the hell would he decide on something like this? This was not even part of the plan he told me! What the hell was wrong with lycan crown prince? "Unfortunately, I do not repeat myself, Lady Dominixe." I snapped back and looked at Papa. "B-But I do not understand... Papa already betrothed me. R-Right, Papa?" I needed to halt this crown prince's madness. There was no way he would have me as his crown princess, let alone to be his future wife, since he already had his mate! 'What are you planning, Henry?' I asked through mind-link and simply glanced at him. But he was not even looking at me, making me frustrated. "Y-Yes. That is what I am saying. My daughter is engaged with the eldest son of—" "How often do I have to tell you that His Majesty, my father, has implemented a royal decree? Did you know announcing a decree is as strong
"If you need anything, please ring the bell, Lady Dominixe," Sir Lanfrid said after he showed me the chamber where I would sleep from today on."Can I see Henry?" I asked after I waited for all the palace servants to place my luggage in this very chamber of mine. Ever since I arrived here, all I wanted was to speak with him and his half-ass explanation about what he was planning."Unfortunately, His Royal Highness is handling some affairs in the inner court as per the order of His Majesty. He is handling the hunting competition event that shall be happening next week.""Oh..." I almost forgot that the event was near already. "Tell him that I wish to speak with him. It is very urgent," I insisted."Yes, my lady." He bowed before me.He was about to take his leave when I halted him and gripped his arm, smiling sweetly. "Tell Henry I am earnest and need to speak with him as soon as possible. There is no way he would leave me hanging here after announcing to the kingdom that he is marryin
The whole dining hall was surrounded by soft melodious music while we had supper. If no melody were played, everything would be awkward since neither of us was even talking. Or perhaps, it was because His Majesty was busy enjoying the music while he was chuckling when the courtesans were flirting with him. I suddenly felt sick, wanting to leave the dining hall immediately, but Henry and Eustacia seemed alright. The same goes for Demetrius and Niccolo.What surprised me was that these two had lived in the royal palace since they arrived at the mourning ceremony. Henry accommodated them until Demetrius managed to rebuild the Leveaux Duchy and recruit some rogues to be his members in the Nocturnal Crest pack."Since Demetrius has been taking some classes for succession lessons to enhance his leadership skills, he is also preparing for his succession ceremony that shall be happening before the hunting competition. The same goes for Niccolo as the next Beta of the Nocturnal Crest pack,"
Waiting in the training ground before the said time had bestowed me enough time to contemplate as soon as Henry bestowed the reports I needed last night.The reports were detailed as he promised. He never left out any single thing, so I couldn't make his decisions questionable."It will soon be over..." I muttered, looking up at the familiar dawn sky.I felt a presence behind me. I quickly turned around and threw the dagger in that direction."Oops!" My eyes widened upon seeing Demetrius, who fell to the ground—or, more likely, he did that to avoid the dagger that was about to hit in his direction."You're here..." I said and approached my carbon copy with Valerian's eyes.Demetrius accepted my hand with a beaming smile. "Because you are my mentor, Lady Dominixe. You have no idea how I looked forward to being trained by you again!"Looking at this young man... Why did he always look so thrilled to see me? It was kind of annoying, but it was hard for me not to soften."Get that wooden
When Demetrius learned what he did when he passed out, he was embarrassed and distant from me. I felt sorry for him, but I remained as solemn with him as possible, pretending that what he did was not affecting me.Henry had learned what had happened. He was chuckling while I threw the crumpled parchment in his direction. "That boy already had enough. Can you halt, you bastard lycan prince?" I couldn't help myself grimacing."Pardon me..." He wiped the tears that escaped from his eye. "I mean, I am not laughing at him. I am laughing at you."I smiled, a fake one. "Oh, I did not know I was good at spouting jokes," I said. "Good then. Hope you die from laughing." Henry chuckled one more time before he halted when we were interrupted by some knocks. "Your Royal Highnesses?"I frowned and returned from reading the Royal Ordinance Volume Five. It was part of my training to become a Crown Princess. I must memorize all the laws of the Yuanzhong Kingdom.My training was so painful that I had
"Hudson Roly... Alpha of the Dusk Moon pack..." I stated the name of the next Alpha I was about to kill. I returned my gaze to my father, who looked at me with that frigid stare. "This should consider as done, Papa." I smiled, an empty one before I curtsied before him.No emotions.We, the Cantavalle children, were not supposed to have that.Having emotions would make someone weak."I am expecting good news after 90 days, Dominixe. Now, scoot.""Failure is never in my vocabulary, Papa. You have taught me well." I curtsied before him. I raised my head, seeing that he was pleased with my words.After a few days, I was dispatched now to go to where the Dusk Moon pack was. But before my departure, I had come to meet Aurora, Britanny and Maria's mother. She was one of Papa's four wives."Why can't you just die already?" she asked in a bitter tone. She had this ridiculous stare that lingered all over her face."I shall try to do that, Mother Aurora." I bowed my head before her."Mother? You
"Behold to the newlyweds, Duke Valerian Leveaux and Duchess Dominixe Lilith Cantavalle-Leaveux!"The words from High Priest Redgrave kept echoing in my head like a broken record.I was smiling from ear to ear, looking at the purple sapphire wedding ring Valerian bestowed to me on the day we married each other eight years ago. Now I had three rings on my ring finger on my left hand in my care.The promise metal ring, amethyst engagement ring, and purple sapphire wedding ring...They fit perfectly on my ring finger.Valerian really made sure that the engagement ring and wedding ring gemstones' color was purple. He was really considerate of my favorite color.I chuckled before looking up and gasped. "Demetrius, darling, fix your posture when you are holding your sword." I immediately approached Valerian and I's seven-year-old son, Demetrius."Like this, Mother?" Demetrius asked as he fixed his posture by relaxing his shoulders."Yes, that's right, darling." I nodded in approval.Demetriu
"Goddess Elixane?" I parroted, bewildered.Rachelle and the woman in her mid-40s nodded at the same time. "She is our sister. Well, the sixth daughter of Mother." My eyes widened. "And she is from another timeline where the other Dominixe, other Valerian, and Demetrius are.""Huh?" I was getting confused by what she said. "Is this the business you are talking about? And how did you go to another timeline just to... see her." I glanced at Elixane, who was looking at me with longing. Her gaze made me uncomfortable, but she smiled and stepped forward."I have come to the celestial realm as Mother's orders, or I shall say, part of Ragriel's plans," she explained before she looked behind me, where the three of them were still reuniting and discoursing. "And I have come to take Dominixe and Valerian's souls to this timeline so they can reunite with my nephew. I apologize for taking your souls from your bodies, Dameta, Valerian." She bowed her head with her hands clasping together. "This is
"F-Father...?" Demetrius coughed again with blood before slowly turning his head and meeting Valerian's cold expression."Let go," Valerian said, with his tone as cold as the first break of spring. "Val..." I halted him while I was panting heavily. I clung more to Demetrius, feeling like my vision was gradually blurry. "Stop..."But Valerian did not listen to me. Instead, Demetrius shouted in pain when Valerian must have probably gripped his heart. "I am not going to hesitate to kill you, Demetrius. Do not make me say it twice."I slowly heaved out a sigh. The way Demetrius clung to my organs was enough to make me feel the pain. I could handle it somehow. But if he dared to remove his hand, I must do something to stop the bleeding in my stomach by stopping the time of it. Or I could just let it since I would get to heal anyway.But, I felt a burning sensation inside me, and I believed that Demetrius risked his fist to bathe his hand with wolfsbane. It was a high-concentration one,
I knew that She was disappointed, but seeing Her, as the Moon Goddess, slapping a mortal, who happened to be Her mate, was so surprising that I found myself speechless. Even Papa had the same reaction.|I told you to love our Dameta, yet what did you do, Harchier Cantavalle?|I felt this immense chill crawling behind me upon mentioning Papa's full name. It suddenly made me remember when Papa used to call our names whenever he was emphasizing that he was furious while having that frigid tone."Lunaria..." Papa gulped and was about to touch her hand, but Mother jerked it away.I flinched when Mother raised Her head. |Go and finish your business in the mundane realm, Dameta. I am going to handle everything here with your father.| In an instant, Mother was already in front of me before She raised her hand to wipe something off my cheek. |I shall take it from here, my beloved daughter.| She nodded, urging me to go now.I glanced at Papa behind Her and saw his gaze was on the ground. What s
I remained silent at his words, wanting to let him know that silence meant yes. I met his cognac eyes that I inherited from him. In my previous life, I couldn't even dare look into his eyes because of how frightened I was.But at this moment, I failed to see that meeting his eyes was supposed to be the best thing ever. Meeting that filthy gaze of his was enough to bloom the flower of detestation. "I knew you would come, Papa." I wiped the blood that besmirched my hand on my skirt before cocking my head from side to side. Then I curtsied before him.Papa clenched his hand. "Since when did you learn..." He did not continue his words, looking like he was trying to find the proper term for it."You mean if I met Mother already." He flinched upon the mere mention of Mother.Rachelle was right... It seemed like Papa was desperate to see Mother again. However, would he have the same reason as Rachelle's father, who wanted to kill our mother, not wanting to reunite with Her?"You met Her...?
To begin our plans, we would first begin by separating the strongest heir candidates, Arthur and Britanny.Papa dispatched them, as Ismael reported a few days before I imposed that I would attack the mansion. However, Arthur and Britanny would return soon, so I had to handle everything in the Cantavalle mansion before they arrived and Caroline, who was also dispatched for her mission.Also, the rest of my siblings, who opposed the idea of being the object of this household, had raised their swords and started wreaking havoc on this stunning night."What is the meaning of this, Dominixe?! How dare you raise your sword on us?!"It was Zoe, and my blade almost pressed into her delicate skin. Aurora, Natalie, and Josephine were becoming wary since I gathered them in one of the drawing rooms after ruining their night tea party."Do you think that Harchier can even let you go for doing this to us?" Aurora snarled, clenching her hands, wanting to fight back, but as soon as she saw my eyes gl
"Remind me again why you are also tagging along, honeydew."Eyeing myself wearing an all black clothing while looking in the whole body mirror had kept my chest tightly like the laundress squeezed the washed clothing. I could almost convince Valerian I could do this alone, but he wouldn't back down and kept arguing."It is because this is not your battle alone. I am with you, you hardheaded woman," Valerian said, glancing over his shoulder while he had just finished polishing my dagger since he volunteered.I approached him and smiled sheepishly, seeing him frowning. I tiptoed about to kiss his cheek, but Valerian, as mischievous as he was, turned his head in my direction. My lips, which were supposed to land on his cheek, planted on his luscious, crimson lips."Val!" I stepped back, shielding my lips immediately, feeling my cheeks promptly ripening. My wolf squirmed at his action while I had to calm my heart from hammering inside my chest.This time, it was Valerian's turn to smile s
"Huh? What?" Rachelle was the first one who spoke out of nowhere. "It contains the events of the near future?" she parroted."Yes." Valerian nodded. "She listed all the events that were about to happen as long as we followed the course of events." "It means what happened as of this moment is predetermined under Dameta's will," Henry added."Because you have to follow it...?" I concluded, even though Valerian already said it earlier. The two of them nodded at the same time. "Can I see them?" Henry stiffened before he looked at Valerian, who was not saying anything. "Am I not allowed to see it?"The dejected tone caused Valerian to panic when he saw my expression. "Um... Dameta strictly included in her letter that you are not allowed to see it, Lilith...""Why?" I did not know why, but I felt betrayed now that they were the only ones who only knew the course of events I was unaware of."The two of you should coexist by you not being aware and would experience the events and her as she