Valerian
As promised by Dameta, she had finally introduced me… to the person who connected the two of us more.
I was nervous when I finally met him and surprised that he looked like Dominixe and had my eyes and eye color.
“Greetings, my father in this timeline, Duke Leveaux,” he said formally. “I am Demetrius Onyx Cantavalle, the current head of the House of Cantavalle. I am now the Marquis Cantavalle while my mother became Marchioness Dowager Cantavalle.”
I was rendered speechless just by seeing this young man named Demetrius. My wolf and I had this unexplainable feeling. I felt my heart beating so fast just by eyeing him and seeing that Dominixe from the different timeline had managed to conceive a pup of our own.
Demetrius… Such a handsome name for our son…
“G-Greetings…” I blinked, not knowing what to do next. I glanced at Dameta, who was watching us but keeping her distance.
“Mother said that I shall aid your plans, Your Grace. Please make use of me.” Demetrius bowed his head, still having this restrained smile.
“Um… Yes.” I eyed him up and down, especially in his eyes. I could see his eyes sparkling, but his attitude remained stiff.
Dameta sighed, causing Demetrius to straighten his back. “I shall leave him to you, Valerian. Demetrius is a capable man. I have trained him well. Am I right?” She glanced at him coldly.
Demetrius smiled, nodding. “Yes, Mother. I shall do my best to fulfill your wish.” His eyes looked hopeful.
I was expecting that she would smile warmly, but she averted her gaze to me and had the smile I was expecting. “Well, then, you shall now dispatch to Pran,” she said. “But before that, I must warn you about someone. Demetrius shall fill you in about my older sister, Ragriel. I shall check on this timeline’s progress once in a while.” With that, she vanished before our sight.
We were enveloped with silence after that. My eyes settled on Demetrius, who was Dominixe’s mini-me. My heart fluttered at the sight of him, who looked fascinated by the walls of this inn I was at.
Perhaps, this was what they called blood was thicker than water.
My wolf felt warm about him.
“Shall we take our leave then?” I asked, causing him to startle.
He hesitantly nodded. “Yes…”
Our journey to Pran was relatively quiet. But I could tell Demetrius’ agitated movements that he looked like he wanted to say something.
Arriving at Pran, I checked into the inn with two bedrooms. Demetrius couldn’t help roaming his eyes around the room before he looked out the window.
“I cannot believe Mother has allowed me to travel…” he said out of nowhere.
“How old are you, Demetrius?” I couldn’t help asking.
He jumped to his feet. His eyes looked delighted when our eyes met. “I-I am 15 years old, Father-I mean, Your Grace.” He gasped at his mistake. “P-Please forgive my insolence for calling you that…” He looked panicking. “P-Please do not tell Mother…”
I creased my forehead when his eyes looked frightened. Why would he have that kind of expression, though?
“It is fine. Do not worry.” I urged him to have some tea with me which he gladly obliged. I observed how he drank his tea.
He was refined and polished like a gentleman.
“For such a young age, you became the head of your household in that timeline. Why didn’t Dominixe wait until you reach your coming of age?”
It was bothering me since Dominixe could still handle the family affairs. She still looked in her prime, so why would she easily pass down her noble title?
“Uh…” Demetrius looked like he was caught red-handed. His fingers on the brim of the cup keep tapping. “M-Mother… Mother said I am already ready for this role… to atone for my sins.”
“Atone what?” I arched my eyebrow, bewildered since I did not get to hear those last words. He managed to mouth them, so I failed to hear them, even using my sensitive ears.
He averted his gaze. “N-Nothing, Your Grace…” Then his eyes were filled with sadness.
For some reason, there was this urge of wanting me to protect him. I did not know why, but I wanted to hug this man.
But why, though? Why was I seeing Demetrius, who looked like he had experienced the same treatment as his mother?
I castigated myself. I was confident that he did not experience hardships since Dominixe wouldn’t dare to do the same method her father had gone her through.
“Will you fill me the details about who Ragriel is?” I asked, diverting the topic since Demetrius was getting uncomfortable with each second that passed by.
He flinched at my question. “Ah, yes. Auntie Ray…” He cleared his throat. “Auntie Ray’s mundane name is Rachelle Simon-Alexander. She is the first daughter-”
“Hold on. Rachelle Simon-Alexander?” I parroted, and he nodded afterward. “I-Isn’t she the Luna Queen of the Waevalon Kingdom?!” I exclaimed, shocked.
She also wed to Alpha King Claudian Alexander and had a son.
He blinked. “Mmm. She is.”
“What?!” I was horrified upon learning it. “S-So, she is the first daughter of the Moon Goddess?”
He nodded again. “Yes. She is also known as Ragriel in her deity name. She is the Goddess of Mate Bond.” My eyes widened. “Her abilities are to create, cut, or reconnect a mate bond of a couple,” he explained.
Just by hearing about her abilities was quite frightening. I did not know why, but I felt chills down my spine.
“Mother said we must be wary of her, and I must not meet Auntie Ray and Uncle Claude…” Demetrius looked troubled. “By now, for certain, Grandma Lunaria already alerted Auntie Rachelle that the laws of nature that depend on fate are drastically changing.”
“Why must we be wary of them?” I finally formed a proper sentence after comprehending his words correctly.
He heaved out a sigh, a sign that he was getting distressed. “Auntie Ray would make me return to my original timeline since I would cause a predetermined period… but I do not believe that is the case I am doing.” He looked at me. “You see, Father… I am not meant to exist yet in this world…” He smiled bitterly. My heart clenched hearing him calling me father. “With my arrival here, Mother said I would add more disturbance to this timeline. Auntie Rachelle will be hasty to kick me out of this world.”
“If you are, why did she send you here to help me with my plans?”
“I am crucial, Your Grace. I would become your pawn once you meet your death again…” He inhaled and exhaled. “I am certain Mother explained that to you already.”
“I-Indeed.” I nodded mindlessly.
Demetrius clasped his hands. “You can discard me if your plans are fulfilled, Your Grace. I am willing to accept it.”
My stomach somersaulted, frightened at the words he uttered. “What do you mean discard? Do you mean killing you?” He nodded. “No… Demetrius, I am not going to do that…” I creased my forehead. “Just where on earth did you think I would kill you?” I was getting worried about this child’s thinking.
Demetrius looked alarmed at my question. “M-My apologies…”
I was suspicious about how this young man grew up in his household. I castigated myself since I thought he was not being taken care of properly.
That would be impossible that Dameta would let our son experience the same method she experienced before.
“Let’s take a stroll for the next few days. Then you are coming with me to the underground meeting.”
He gasped. “But… I am not an Alpha…”
I smiled. “I am going to train you to be one. After all, you are my son. However, you did not learn about my existence from your original timeline since I died there.” I stood up and placed my hand on top of his head. “Can you let me make it up to you?” I asked softly.
Demetrius was dumbfounded at my words. His lips quivered before his eyes got misty. Then he quickly wiped his tears.
“M-Mother will get mad if she catches me in this state…” he muttered, gulping before looking up at me. “Yes, please, Your Grace.”
Strolling with him was only a facade. I wanted to observe Demetrius move in public. Something was bizarre with him.
The way he was acting… How he immediately concealed his emotions was familiar. I already saw Dominixe on how she was faking her emotions.
“Your Grace, look! Can I purchase the cotton candy?” Demetrius asked, pointing to the candy shop. He couldn’t help jumping up and down from excitement.
It had been a day since we strolled around, and I had already noticed his behavior. “Of course.” I watched him eating happily, and how he moaned in delight.
He reminded me a lot of Dominixe. Sighing, I couldn’t help placing my hand on his head. Demetrius jumped to his feet before he looked at me.
“You really like your mother…” I muttered softly.
What I said made me freeze to the ground. Fear was evident in his eyes as he shook his head. “P-Please do not say that… I am not like her…” His eyes darted at the cotton candy before he tossed it aside. “I want to be like you! Mother did not want me to be like her!” he exclaimed.
“Huh?” I was shocked at his outburst. “What did you mean by that?”
Demetrius gasped before he stepped back. “Please excuse me…”
“Demetrius!” I got worried when he ran in the other direction.
“Do not follow him.” I halted when Dameta was already beside me. Her tone was as cold as ice, even her eyes.
“What? Why? Don’t you see that he is crying?” I glared at her. “Our son is crying, Dameta.”
Dameta clenched her hand. “It is none of your business,” she said through gritted teeth. “That child can handle it. Let him go. Do not spoil him. Tsk!” She shook her head. “Focus on your meeting later.”
“Dameta-” I was about to hold her arm, but she quickly vanished. I was annoyed that she could quickly disappear before me because she could be in her spirit form. “Damn it…”
I felt like I was missing something. I was missing something between those two. Something was wrong, I could tell.
I diverted my attention by preparing for the upcoming secret gathering later tonight. I would need to speak with Henry privately since it was crucial that I must discuss the things he needed to learn today.
“Demetrius, let’s go.” He became distant after he returned.
He turned at me, smiling meekly. “Yes, Your Grace.” He walked past me with a different facial appearance since he needed to be in disguise. Others must not know that Dominixe had someone who looked like her.
“Oh? Congratulations, Your Grace. It seems that it shall be a matter of time before we can see the future Duchess Leveaux.”
I couldn’t help smirking at that time. And at the same time, the scent of lilith flowers lingered in my nostrils. My eyes simply looked at the servant who had just bestowed me a drink.
I knew immediately that it was Dominixe. The scent of lilith flowers lingered in her hands, so it was enough for me to learn that was her.
And my heart was racing so fast just knowing that she was here. Dameta was right. Dominixe was in the movement to speak with Henry soon. I must do something of talking to Henry first before her.
“Dominic…”
“You have almost the same name as my mate. Her name is Dominixe.”
When ‘Dominic’ turned at me, I could have sworn I wanted to kiss that ‘man.’ Especially since I was caught off guard when I was close to her.
“So, Dominic…” I knew your disguise, my beloved honeydew. Soon, I should show that I could do the same. I would catch you off guard once we meet in the Solacia. “Open the door. Someone is coming in.”
“Huh?” I almost grinned, seeing that Dominixe was affected by my presence. “Of course, Your Grace…”
I wanted to kidnap this woman who was in disguise as a man. I wanted to tie her up, and her scent of lilith flowers made me want to claim her here.
But not right now.
“Greetings to the little sun of the Yuanzhong Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Henricus la Chandelier.”
“Long time no see, Duke Leveaux. It seems that you are doing well.”
The moment Dominixe left to get us some refreshments, it was time I had to let Demetrius come here along with us. Dominixe must not see our son.
At least, not yet.
I knew this had already happened when I was speaking with Henry about some matters that were happening under her father’s reign. But at this moment, I would be discussing it differently.
“So, who is this companion with you?” Henry asked, having an excited smile. “It is my first time seeing you with a different companion, Valerian.”
I glanced at Demetrius, who was not in disguise anymore. But he was sitting beside me. “His name is Demetrius Leveaux.” Henry’s eyes widened. “He will become my last descendant before I shall die soon. And I need your manipulation skills, Henry.”