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 sword and spar with me,” I commanded.
Demetrius did not hesitate to pick up the wooden sword lying on the ground. His chartreuse eyes were sparkling before his eyes looked up at me.
“I cannot believe I will spar with you again…”
I creased my forehead in bafflement when Demetrius was muttering something. I ignored it and took the prepared wooden sword.
“Ready when you are.” I beckoned my hand before I oscillated my sword in every direction.
“Hmm!” Demetrius fought, raised his arm, and pulled back his other arm with a wooden sword, positioning it in my direction.
Hold on… That stance…
Why would Demetrius have that stance which was the signature stance of the Cantavalle?
I flinched when he moved swiftly. In an instant, he was already in front of me. I was caught off guard for a moment but managed to block his attack by using my sword before swiftly spinning around to bestow him a roundhouse kick.
Thinking that surprised Demetrius, but I did not see an ounce of emotion from him. His action was making bewildered each second pass by. Even the emotions he was showing were dropped to null.
He attacked earnestly by making me think that the sword would pierce. However, I almost did not see coming to the punch that was coming underneath. It almost hit me in the stomach, but I quickly kicked him away.
After that, Demetrius was tossed violently to the ground as his body created a deep pathway. He even coughed blood from the impact I bestowed.
Using his sword to support himself, Demetrius’s legs were wobbly, and his eyes were getting droopy. I instantly sensed he looked like he was about to pass out.
“Mother…” He smiled before he fainted on the ground.
“Demetrius!” I rushed to him, horrified that I did not hold back from sparring with him. “Dear Moon Goddess… What have I done?”
I was frustrated and scooped him in my arms. He was kind of heavy, but I got a hold of him. I was about to walk away when Niccolo arrived.
“Allow me, Your Royal Highness.”
I arched my eyebrow at him. Niccolo did not hesitate to take Demetrius from my arms. “I can handle it…” I frowned.
“It is a shame if I let the future Crown Princess handle such a delicate young man.”
“Demetrius is not delicate. He is just surprised.”
“Tell that to his mother.” Niccolo shrugged.
I gasped, surprised that he mentioned his mother again. “Is that what she assessed to him? Delicate?” I asked, reluctant.
“How do you assess him? Isn’t he delicate?”
“N-No, he is not.” Niccolo arched his eyebrow, not believing me. “I mean, yes, he is sort of. But Demetrius is strong. He cannot just contain his emotions very well.” I glanced at the unconscious Demetrius. “He seemed thrilled whenever I am around…” I concluded.
“Why, because you look like his mother.”
That certainly surprised me a little. That must not surprise me, but I still couldn’t help it. “Do I really look like her that much?” I couldn’t help the curiosity get the better of me.
“Yes.” Niccolo sighed before his expression softened when he looked at Demetrius. “You look a lot like her… No wonder if one day Demetrius shall call you ‘Mother’ one of these days.”
That rendered me speechless since Demetrius uttered that earlier. I looked at Demetrius while I was following them to his chamber.
“Why are you still following us, Your Royal Highness?”
I frowned, not liking that new honorific. “I am still not married to Henry, so halt from addressing me that.” I never liked being engaged to Henry, but if it were the sake of fulfilling the dream why I regressed, I would allow them to call me that if my marriage with Henry really happened.
But it was apparent that wouldn’t be the case.
“I want to check Demetrius since I am his mentor. I have every right to look after my apprentice.”
Niccolo didn’t say anything and just let me enter Demetrius’ chamber. I sat on the edge of the bed as I fished out my handkerchief to wipe the blood that smeared the corners of his mouth.
“Poor thing…” I caressed his cheek while I felt my chest tighten. “Niccolo, I want to know about his mother. Why does he look like he wants to crave his attention…” I paused when Niccolo drew closer to him the moment he wiped Demetrius’ face with a wet towel. It was also the time he was close to me as well.
I secretly sniffed his musky perfume before he turned to me. “What?” he asked. But our eyes widened when our faces were closer to each other.
My heart flipped out of my ribcage after that. I couldn’t help looking at his emerald green eyes before I smelled peppermint tea on his breath.
When Niccolo’s lips were a few inches away from mine, I couldn’t help licking mine before I did the same thing.
“Mother…? Father…?”
I felt like a bucket of ice poured me as I instantly diverted my head in the other direction. Niccolo even distanced himself and cleared his throat.
“Mother…? You’re here…?”
I turned at Demetrius, who was half awake. “Demetrius, are you alright?” I couldn’t help but feel worried for this boy.
I understood that he would be an Alpha soon, but he was still young. He looked like Ingram for some reason.
He smiled dreamily. “Is that you, Mother?”
“Huh?” I blinked, surprised at his question. Oh no… He wasn’t fully awake yet and mistook me for his mother. “I… Um… I am not-”
“Mother! I have missed you!”
Niccolo gasped. “Demetrius!”
I was frozen when Demetrius hugged me. I did not get to process what was happening when his embrace tightened.
“Mother, please do not be mad at me again…” Demetrius’ voice croaked. “I am here now to fulfill your wish… Will you love me again as your son if I am done? Even if I did not look like Father?” His tears soaked my training uniform. “Mother, please… I may not look like him, but I want you to see me as Demetrius…”
“Demetrius-”
I panicked when Demetrius wailed more in tears. At the same time, my wolf had this instinct that I suddenly wanted to protect this boy. Then I embraced him even though I did not know what I was doing.
“Hush, darling…” I said softly and closed my eyes to cherish this moment as I felt my eyes getting teary-eyed.
“Even if Father died before I was born, I want to say that I am also here for you. It is not the end of the world. You still have me… your son! Mother… Please love me, too…”
My heart broke for this man begging for his mother’s love. His tender, delicate heart couldn’t handle his mother not loving him.
I found myself crying, which surprised me. Perhaps, because we had the same situation, he was not loved by his mother, and my father did not love me.
“Mother…”
I tightened my hold and gently caressed his hair. “It’s alright, Demetrius. Mother is here.” I did not know why I said that, but I had this urge to make him calm down. I even felt Niccolo’s gaze piercing me, but I just let it.
Demetrius gasped and looked at me. “You are going to stay by my side from now on?” he pleaded innocently.
I nodded and held his cheek. “Yes. I hope you forgive your mother for doing terrible things with you.” Ah… I hope his real mother would really say this. I felt terrible that I had to do this to calm Demetrius.
He shook his head and looked at me with a loving gaze from a pup to his mother. That ached my heart for some reason.
“Mother, there is nothing to be apologized for… I just want to be by your side. I want to be there for you when you miss Father… But please don’t push me away. Mother, I am hurt when you compare me to Father…”
My eyes widened from these horrifying things that happened to him. What the hell was wrong with his mother?
She was comparing her son to her deceased mate?
What the hell!
“I won’t do it again. I promise.” I cupped his cheeks and gently wiped his tears before I fished out the paralyzed injection I kept in my thigh holster and pricked him with it. It was good that I always brought something like this with me. “Rest well. It seems you have exhausted yourself from trying to prove your worth.”
That seemed like it. I had a feeling that he had been overworking himself. Because he was holding such a great responsibility, I thought he wanted to meet the people’s expectations of him.
“Because I want you to be so proud of me…”
I nodded and gently laid him back on his bed when his eyes drooped. “Yes, as your mother, I am proud of you, son…” I inhaled sharply for finally calling him that.
There was an aching part in my heart where I saw his face brighten up even though his eyes were trying to keep him awake.
“Mother, do not leave me, alright?” He held my hand. “Please?”
I nodded and couldn’t help to kiss him on his forehead. “Yes… Now, rest, darling. You need some rest…”
“Hmm…” Demetrius nodded as he slowly closed my eyes. “Father told me that he loves you so much, Mother…”
“And I love him, too…” I muttered before I covered my mouth to muffle my cries. I knew I shouldn’t respond, but I couldn’t help it.
His words made me tear up. It felt like he was telling me that Valerian loved me so much.
I stood up and turned to Niccolo. “I shall take my leave as well.” I averted my gaze since my eyes were certainly red right now.
But before I could take another step, Niccolo halted me and spun me around.
“What…?”
My eyes widened when he fished out his handkerchief and gently wiped my tears. “I cannot let a lady shedding tears in the hallway,” he said softly.
I looked up at him, awed at his gentlemanly ways. Niccolo focused his eyes on my cheeks before they settled on my lips. He averted his gaze as he looked up to meet my eyes.
“Done.”
I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by his eyes. Familiarity was written on them, but I remembered who he was in my previous life.
“You appeared after Valerian died in my previous life,” I pointed out. “Then you appeared again when Valerian died for the second time around.” His eyes widened. “And you appeared again when he died for the third time…”
“I-I do not know what you mean…” I heard him gulping. “I do not know what you are saying…”
I squinted my eyes at him and held his cheek. “You are the rogue Alpha… not a Beta, as far as I remember. I do not know who you are, but I am certain you always appeared whenever Valerian died.” I drew my face closer to him. Niccolo looked uncomfortable at it. “I am going to uncover who you are, Niccolo. I am going to know why we have to cross paths again. I believe we are not meeting by coincidence,” I said meaningfully before I stepped back and turned my back to leave.
Right… Something in him made me remind about Valerian…
I couldn’t decipher it yet, but that was how I felt. It had been bothering me.
I needed to observe more before I would conclude anything.
It was the conclusion that Niccolo might be mimicking my honeydew’s behavior. And I wouldn’t accept that so easily.