“No way… It happened again…”
I was in disbelief, seeing that my surrounding had frozen again. I immediately fished out my pocket watch and saw that the hands were not moving. It really froze-the time had frozen!
My eyes scanned the area to ensure that I was only the one moving before my eyes settled on Demetrius, seeing that his jaw dropped looking at me. Even though he looked petrified, his eyes still sparkled as if he was relieved that I was there for him.
Then it hit me that it almost happened to him.
I picked up the arrow that stayed in midair and snapped it in half before I settled my eyes on the gallery.
Even though I did not understand why the time had stopped, I felt that it was natural for me that it had been going like this. I gave myself a boost before leaping to the gallery balcony to see the culprit, who almost dared to shoot Demetrius.
“Now, who are you, bastard?” I squinted my eyes and unveiled the mask that the man was wearing. I snarled upon knowing who it was. “Papa’s henchman…” I did not hesitate to strike that man’s thigh and stole the crossbow to release the arrow that would strike his neck. “How dare you, Papa!” I growled, not liking that he was making his movement again.
I meant that this shouldn’t be surprising that he would not sit still and do nothing. But to think that he was aiming at Demetrius this time was enough for me to know that he wanted the downfall of the House of Leveaux.
I took another arrow to charge it in the crossbow and immediately released it when I felt a presence moving again in front of the throne room. However, I shot no one, which made me vigilant about my surrounding.
The time had stopped, yet I knew I was the only one moving.
But there was a strange presence I felt. I did not know where it was as I even attempted to smell that person’s scent.
However, I failed.
“Show yourself! Do you think that I cannot feel you?” I shouted all over the throne room.
No one was going to scold me since the time had stopped moving. Even Henry and the rest of the royal lycan family were not moving.
‘Mate.’
I inhaled sharply at the loud whisper from my wolf. At the same time, I smelled the scent of hyacinth flowers.
I gasped. That means-
“Valerian?” My chest rose up and down as I looked for that scent. “Honeydew… Is that you?” I couldn’t help getting teary-eyed.
I was not dreaming, wasn’t I?
But the scent was instantly gone, which panicked me. “Valerian!” I jumped from the gallery balcony and looked for it again. I even dropped the crossbow as I heightened my wolf senses to know where that person was.
I kept spinning around as the presence felt like it was moving quicker than I expected.
“Valerian…” I knelt on the ground, giving up. Even with my vigorous training, I couldn’t find who it was.
Then, I felt a presence behind me. This time, I gave up. I did not turn around and let that person overwhelm me. It made me stiffen when I felt that person’s large hands on my shoulders as I could feel his breath fanning over my ear.
“Honeydew, please protect our treasure.” My eyes widened upon hearing Valerian’s voice causing me to get teary-eyed.
“Valerian…” I was about to see him, but he halted me. His hand reached for my left hand and kissed the back of it. I did not get a chance to look at him as he made me stay still.
I could even feel the warmth of his hand as if he was really alive…
“Snap your fingers for me and return to the day before it happens.”
“M-Me?” I parroted as tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Yes…” Then his hands covered my eyes. “You are the only one who can do this, Lilith…” He kissed my nape, which sent shivers down my spine. I knew by then that it was Valerian since only he could make my heart go wild with a simple sensual gesture. “This time… Do not take our treasure to be granted, alright?” he whispered huskily.
“O-Our treasure?” What did he mean by that? Did he mean by the promise ring he bestowed to me?
“Yes…” He purred. “Now, snap your fingers, my beloved Lilith.”
I did not know what had gotten into me, but my hand moved on its own accord, preparing myself to snap my fingers. “Valerian… I missed you…” I sobbed. “I want to be with you…”
“We will be, honeydew. For now, you still have your mission.” I could tell in his voice how much he longed for me. “I also want to be with you, Dominixe… I swear my name to the Moon Goddess.”
That was when I snapped my fingers after hearing those words that fluttered in my heart.
“You are also staring at me.”
I blinked upon meeting Niccolo, shocked that I was brought back to the day when a few days before the succession ceremony and to the day where I met Niccolo in the Luna Queen’s Garden-specifically, the lilith flowers.
My knees were wobbly before I felt myself collapsing.
“Dominixe!” In an instant, I was inside Niccolo’s arms. “Your nose is bleeding!”
My breath was getting heavy as I looked up at him. My mind was feeling light-headed. “Our treasure… What did Valerian leave for me…?” I clung to him. “Niccolo… Tell me…” I muttered before I felt my vision obscured with a dark pitch black.
“We are one step closer to bringing their household down. Dominixe understands that.”
“I know. You are also putting her life in danger.”
“And you are the one who makes her life miserable.”
“What did you say?”
“I am right. Your presence here is making her uneasy.”
“P-Please do not argue here… S-She is still sleeping…”
I groaned, hearing some people arguing. “Damn it… Lambert! Raphael! I swore I would kill the two of you for being so loud in my chamber!” I hissed as I slowly peeled my eyes open, thinking my two brothers were here in my chamber to wreak havoc.
It had been a long time since they were arguing as they really went along.
I thought it was them, but I gasped upon seeing Henry, Demetrius, and Niccolo. That was when I realized I was not in the Cantavalle estate but in the royal palace.
“What happened to me again?”
Demetrius rushed to me and helped me to sit up. I thanked him and smiled, but I gasped when I remembered what had almost happened to him.
I cupped his face and looked at him tenderly. “I am so glad that you are alright, Demetrius…” I pulled him into a hug.
“Huh?”
I was relieved as I felt him stiffen. On the other hand, Henry and Niccolo exchanged glances before Henry stepped forward.
“Domi, what happened, and you are hugging Demetrius?”
I creased my forehead and looked at Demetrius, who looked baffled and, at the same time, delighted. I slightly tilted my head before I returned my gaze to Henry. “What do you mean? Demetrius was almost assassinated at his succession ceremony. Don’t you remember?”
His eyes widened. It was as if what I said had surprised him. Even Demetrius and Niccolo had the same expression.
“Um… L-Lady Dominixe…” I paid heed to Demetrius when he spoke timidly. “The succession ceremony shall be happening three days from now…”
I inhaled sharply before I turned to Henry to confirm it. When he nodded, confirming it, I could have sworn there was a cold air past my nape.
“Don’t tell me…” Henry sat in the bed, wanting to confirm the suspicion he had on his head. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?”
I met his silver-eyed gaze, nodding. “Yes…” I said meekly before looking at Demetrius with a worried gaze.
Demetrius found Henry looking at him before he cleared his throat. “N-Niccolo and I shall get something to eat for Lady Dominixe.” He bowed.
“We shall take our leave, Your Highness,” Niccolo said before his eyes pierced me.
My heart leaped when I saw the concern in them. I watched them leave with my gaze piercing on Niccolo’s back.
“Tell me before you regress, Domi.”
Sighing, I winced my hair, slightly frustrated as I told him what had happened. Henry’s eyes widened when I mentioned that Valerian told me something that I must protect our treasure.
“What treasure?”
“I have no idea…” I looked in the promise ring Valerian had bestowed on me. “He even said I must not take it for granted… It is as if he was talking about a person or something living…” Telling this to him made me feel like I doubted everything.
“Perhaps, Valerian is talking about Demetrius…”
“Huh?” I looked at him in disbelief. “What do you mean? How did that young boy become my treasure? Is Valerian asking me to take care of him?” This was getting more confusing than before.
Henry stayed silent. I watched his forehead furrow while stroking his chin. “This is your fourth time being regressed… Does this mean the rogue Alpha-I mean, Niccolo appeared there?”
I gasped. Hold on…
“I-I did not get to notice that Niccolo was there at that time.” I meant if he was also affected by the time that stopped. “My attention had paid heed on Papa’s henchman, who almost assassinated Demetrius, and to Valerian.”
Speaking of Valerian… I managed to speak with him… Was he alive or dead by that time? He did not even let me look at him. I felt like I was only dreaming back there.
Henry looked like he wanted to solve the puzzle pieces right now with the way he was staring at nowhere. Then he turned to me.
“Can you come with me tomorrow?”
“W-What? Where?” We were talking about my regression, yet he was insinuating another topic.
Henry looked uneasy. “To the divine temple.”
My smile froze. “What are we going to do there?” I did not know why but for some reason, I felt nervous.
He faced me and looked intently. “I wanted to confirm something.”
“Confirm what?” Why was he looking at me like that? It was as if I was a different specie to him.
He silenced for a moment before he felt his surrounding. He was being vigilant. Then he closed his eyes for a moment.
“I want to know if you are being associated with the Moon Goddess,” he revealed. “And what does She want from you?”