I got impatient waiting for Niccolo, so I went to the balcony for fresh air. However, that was a wrong move since the moment I stepped outside, I was greeted by ashes and a pitch-black area eaten by the arson.
“Huh…” I stroked my chin, wondering about something. “The arson damaged the balcony, but Valerian’s chamber is…” I paused, looking behind me when I saw that his chamber was exemplary.
It was as if there was no fire capitulated. Even the windows looked unyielding. On the other hand, the mansions and houses beside this manor were fully damaged.
Did the arsonist deliberately leave this? Or was it just a coincidence that Valerian’s chamber was not heavily damaged?
I sniffed the air and smelled a familiar scent from a certain someone. Then I felt a menacing presence behind me. I spun around and held my breath upon seeing…
“Henry…” I blinked, not believing that this man was here. “What are you doing here?” I wondered.
Henry slightly tilted his head before he stepped forward to settle beside me. “I told Demetrius to summon me if Valerian’s mate, Dominixe Lilith Cantavalle, will stop by here.” He leaned in the railings and crossed his arms over his chest. “That is why… I am here.”
I squinted my eyes. “You know that I am coming here?”
He looked up at the sky, sighing. “Your father shall dispatch you to investigate Demetrius and Niccolo.” My eyes widened at his words, couldn’t believe he knew about that. “And I know the ghost Nocturnal Crest pack is the first place you will go. I also know that you are still grieving his death, Domi. So, I told them beforehand that there might be someone who would visit this pack. They should summon me since I feel you will do something drastic.” He shrugged. “It turns out that I am right.”
I looked at him intently. His words sounded alarming. Henry already anticipated my movements, but that was a plausible conclusion. He was sharp and quick-witted to understand me.
Right now, I was easy to read.
I sat on the floor and hugged my knees, realizing I was wearing Valerian’s nightshirt. That made me teary-eyed before I sniffed.
Henry sat beside me. I was initially shocked that he was beside me, but he said nothing.
“It is alright, Dominixe. It is me. Henry. Your friend.” He couldn’t help himself from speaking. He must have noticed that I was wondering why he was beside me.
I saw how earnest he was, as there was sympathy written in my eyes, I knew by then that he was using himself as shoulders to cry on.
My lips were quivering from his words. “Friend…” I blinked as my breath was getting heavy. “I have never gotten to have a friend outside our household…” I was not supposed to make a friendship with him since we were only abiding by my unilateral contract, but… it was not that bad to have a friend to rely on, especially at this moment…
“Aside from the four horsemen and Lanfrid, you are my friend. It is my first time having a woman as a friend.” He shrugged, treating it a trivial matter.
“Should I be thankful for that?” I wiped my tears, arching my eyebrow.
“You are welcome.”
I frowned when he said that. This bastard… He was really an asshole. I could have wished I had smacked his head, but I was not in the mood.
Henry smirked as if he found me amusing before averting his gaze and fished out something from the jetted pocket of his tailored suit. “You must be looking for something closure. Here.” He bestowed me a purple envelope.
“What’s this?” I asked, hesitantly accepting the envelope. I flipped it and saw the seal of the House of Leveaux. My eyes settled at the lower right bottom. “D. L. C.” I muttered and gasped when the realization hit me. “T-These are my initials…” … of my name.
Henry nodded. “Valerian asked Demetrius to bestow that to you in case something happens to him. He said he needs to make one since he does not want to say farewell to the woman he loves without saying anything.”
I stared at it as I took many labored breaths to gather the courage to open it up. My hands were fidgeting as I unfolded the parchment and saw the familiar handwriting of my honeydew. My heart was pounding so fast that I sighed, debating whether I should read it.
In the end, I read it for my peace of mind.
My honeydew,
If you are reading this letter, it means I no longer exist in the same world as you.
It was only the first sentence, but my eyes were already misty. The reality was slapping me profusely and vigorously. My heart was aching more, not wanting to continue it.
I already anticipated that when your father used your name to lure me, I felt something wasn’t right. Seeing that you could withstand that, I injected you with a paralyzed potion so I could kidnap you, at least since you are a hard-headed woman who kept running away from me was enough for me to know that you are not an ordinary woman. I knew there is something more to it since meeting your father after we danced made me conclude that he did not like me.
He did not like me to be with you. That is for certain.
I wasn’t a fool that your father’s invitation was a trap. I knew it. I couldn’t be fooled. However, there is only one person with whom I could be fooled.
You… My Dominixe Lilith Cantavalle.
My beloved mate, whom I have been seeing as my future wife and mother of our pups, as soon as I know that she is my mate.
I will take this risk to know more about you and… will fulfill your goal after Henry tells me what you and he discussed.
I was writing this since I might be dead. And I am trusting the House of Leveaux and the Nocturnal Crest pack to my one and only descendant… Demetrius Leveaux.
You must be wondering who he is. Demetrius was a distant relative of mine from a fallen branch family of the House of Leveaux. He is already my collateral in case something happens to me.
If you are reading this, Demetrius might have already bestowed you with this letter.
I was not really planning to have someone inherit the dukedom and my pack because I am still in my prime, so there is no need to transfer the rights. But just in case, I just want to be prepared.
Do you know why I did not hesitate to make him the Alpha in line?
Because he looks like you, it is as if I am looking in the mirror at my beloved mate.
Dominixe, if we marry and have a son, I want him to inherit your features and my eyes. Or he might inherit my facial features, but his eyes were yours.
If in case that we have a daughter, Valerie is a beautiful name. It will always make me remind me of the time I pretended to be a woman to fool you since you fooled me.
I had already considered asking for your hand when we danced on Henry’s birthday, but you are stopping me. I am really earnest with our mate bond, Dominixe. I really do.
If I am dead the moment you read this, it means I did not make it. I might have promised you a marriage if ever your father brings me to you. I feel we have deepened our mate bond by then, and I told you my feelings.
Don’t cry. It is not over yet. You still have to bring down your household and punish your father. You have Henry as a contingency plan; he will help you until you achieve your goal. You have Demetrius as well. Also, Henry really wants to stop the havoc of the Alpha slayers, so I am willing to help the future Alpha King to fulfill it.
We will reunite again, Lilith. Yes, Lilith. Your second name is so lovely that you have the same name as the lilith flowers I gave you.
Your one and only honeydew,
Valerian Leveaux
P. S. If in case I did not get to admit my true feelings, I just want to say I love you. I really do. In the next life, let’s find each other again, honeydew.
Farewell.
I was sobbing so hard as soon as I finished reading Valerian’s letter. My chest was getting heavy as seconds passed by.
Bitterness succumbed to my whole being. “Closure, you say…” I smiled bitterly. “And he really anticipated that he would die, huh…” I said, sobbing before I carefully returned the letter inside the envelope.
I looked at it and stared at the sealed stamp of the House of Leveaux. I even noticed that the envelope color was my… favorite color.
Purple…
It was a coincidence that Valerian used a purple envelope to bestow it on me. That made my heart ache.
I did not know how long I had been crying. But Henry was only there beside me, sparing me with sympathy. It was hard to accept that he had died. I did not get to see his cadaver.
He was already declared. I could have wished I knew where they disposed of Valerian’s body so I could offer some flowers. But I couldn’t do it. All I could do was mourn.
“Here.” Henry offered me a handkerchief when I stopped crying and stared out of nowhere. “Do you need some time alone?” he asked softly.
I sniffed and wiped my cheeks which were stained with my tears. My eyes were puffy for certain again. I couldn’t stop myself from crying about Valerian’s death.
My wolf and I were having a hard time accepting it.
“I did not get to say that I love him before he had his last match…” That made me feel bitter.
If I only knew that Henry’s plan wouldn’t work, I could have wished that I told Valerian that I loved him even though he knew that I really did. I already told him back then, but I could have wished I had repeated those words.
Henry helped me to stand up. “He knows that you love him, Domi. Fret not.” He smiled and gently caressed my hair.
“No… I want to say those words to him…”
He ushered me to get inside. However, as soon as we arrived, Demetrius and Niccolo were waiting for us. They both bowed their heads before Henry.
“Leave us,” Henry said and took the food tray from Niccolo’s hands. “Dominixe needs some time alone. We shall talk later.”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” they said in unison.
Demetrius sympathetically smiled at me and gently bowed his head before he left. Then, I met Niccolo’s eyes. My heart jumped when his eyes showed… longing before he averted his gaze after bowing his head before us.
Did I see it right? That was the emotion he expressed, right?
“Come and eat here, Domi. You should not starve yourself, or else, Valerian’s ghost will haunt you.”
I did not get to process Niccolo’s expression when Henry ushered me to sit. However, while I was eating, his expression kept lingering in my mind.
Odd…
Why was the rogue Alpha looking at me like that?
Which reminds me…
“That man… Niccolo,” I started. Henry’s attention was on me as soon as I began to talk. “I met him in my previous life.”
“Huh? You did?”
I nodded. “He is…” I paused, not sure how I must form it into words. “He is the one I was talking about. He is the rogue Alpha. He is the one who was beside me before I had my last breath from my sister’s poisoning.”
Henry gasped. “What?!” he exclaimed.