Valerian
“You know this is a trap, and yet, you will continue going there?” Henry asked in disbelief after he read the letter that Dominixe’s father wished to see me. He mentioned that we would talk about Dominixe since I made a bold move to annoy him back on Henry’s birthday. “Don’t you agree with me, Demetrius?”
“Yes…” Demetrius stepped forward. “Your Grace…”
I halted him. “I have already set the measures. Plus, we have already made our countermeasures.” I sighed. “I have already decided what Dameta told me of what would happen, even if it means causing my death and going back as Niccolo.”
“But we do not know where Goddess Elixane, Valerian…” Henry huffed. Then he turned to Demetrius. “Your son does not want to say where we could meet her.”
Demetrius frowned. “My mother already promised Auntie Elixane that we will not tell her whereabouts. The more we ruin the laws of nature, Grandma Lunaria will make Auntie Rachelle come here. If my aunt makes me return to my original timeline, your plan will fail.” His voice was as cold as ice. “I shall say the same thing once you also have your future daughter. Do not make me her royal playmate in this timeline.”
Henry’s lips stretched out into a condescending smile. “You really hate me that much, huh? Well, if you say my mate and I will have a daughter in the future, I shall pick you to be her royal playmate again.”
“Henry!” I looked at him in disbelief when Henry did not back down.
Demetrius smirked. “Then, shall I tell that I was your daughter’s first kiss, ‘Your Majesty’?”
Henry gasped and grabbed him by his collar. “How dare! You kissed my future daughter?!” he exclaimed angrily.
“Your daughter kissed me,” Demetrius said bravely. “You advised your daughter that you shall claim what is yours. And she did-” His words cut off when his eyes widened before he turned towards the corner of my study room. “M-Mother…”
I creased my forehead when I looked at where he was looking at. Henry did the same, but we did not see Dameta. Henry gasped when Demetrius distanced himself and looked frightened.
“Mother… I did not mean to say everything…”
“Dameta, where are you?” I quickly protected Demetrius. “Where is she, Demetrius? Why can’t we see her?” I panicked when his eyes widened.
“Mother…”
At that moment, someone pushed me away from Demetrius. It was also the moment Henry gasped when we heard a slap.
“Valerian, it’s Dameta!”
I quickly raised my head and saw Dameta, who slapped Demetrius again. “How often do I have to tell you not to reveal that future, Demetrius?!”
“Dominixe!” I halted her before she could slap Demetrius again. “It is my fault that I did not stop him. That is enough,” I begged her.
Henry even stepped forward to help Demetrius. “It is my fault, too, Goddess Dameta. If you want to hurt him, pass it on to me.”
Dameta’s face darkened when she glared at Demetrius, who felt guilty. “Perhaps, I need the help of your Auntie Grizel to change the fate here since my son cannot halt his mouth from acting like a sage. Right, Demetrius? You hated that you were being sent to the royal palace, right? Then, wish granted.”
Demetrius gasped. “N-No… Mother, no…” He quickly clung to her. “Mother…” he begged.
“Unhand me.”
“Dameta!” I couldn’t help raising my tone when she jerked her son’s hand off her.
Dameta smiled bitterly. “He held grudges against Henry’s daughter. So, who am I to be so cold-hearted that I keep letting that child go to the palace to entertain that princess?” Then she turned to Demetrius. “Fret not. Once your mission ends here, you shall no longer be her playmate, as history will change. Thank your auntie Grizel since she is the Goddess of Fate.”
Demetrius was horrified upon hearing it. “No…” His tone died down. “I promise to her that I shall return…” He reached Dameta, but she had already turned her back on us. “Mother…”
“Say your gratitude.”
Demetrius stiffened. He wanted to protest, but he submissively nodded. “T-Thank you, Mother.” His voice croaked.
She scoffed and vanished again. That was when Demetrius knelt on the floor as tears were filled with tears.
“Demetrius…”
He sniffed. “I wish… I wish to be alone…” With that, he did not wait for my approval as he left us.
“Valerian, halt,” Henry said when I attempted to follow my son. “Let him be alone first. You cannot do anything for now.”
“She will forbid my son to meet your daughter in that timeline. Who knows, they might be each other’s mates…”
Henry chuckled nervously. “No… Please. Let us not be in-laws.” He smiled wryly. “I do not wish for both of us to have a dispute in the future if your son becomes an asshole.”
I halted and looked at him in disbelief. But on second thought, that would be a dangerous case. If I ever got to have a daughter with Dominixe, I would feel the same way.
“I’m already dead there anyway…” Sighing, I sat on the couch, silently thinking about today’s events. “Dominixe and Demetrius are a serious case. I cannot find a way to make her love our son…”
“It is not your problem, Valerian. It is hers.”
I combed my hair, feeling frustrated. “I died on their timeline, Henry… Dominixe had been acting like this since she was rebelling against her mother and wanted to see the other me. But that does not justify her having to act abusive against our son…” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “My other self wouldn’t like that this is happening…”
I couldn’t just watch silently while Dameta told me she was hurting him. Why would she have to resort to this?
Henry sat beside me, sighing. “The Dominixe I met isn’t like this. But people changed, huh?” he muttered.
“I wouldn’t let myself be killed. I would also make sure that she will not get pregnant.” I turned at him. “I hadn’t told you where I found your real sister before I regressed.”
Henry stared at the ceiling. “Do not tell me yet. I must keep her safe. Let Eustacia deal with the hardships of being a lycan princess even though she is not. I cannot let my real sister be dragged into this, especially since it will take for her to be accustomed to being in the royal lycan family.” He heaved out a breath. “At least not yet…” He smiled at me and showed me his fist. “Let’s bring down all those Alpha slayers so I can usurp the throne, yeah?”
I nodded and bumped my fist into him. “Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
Since Demetrius was already staying in my mansion, everyone couldn’t believe someone like him could have the same eye color as mine. I told them he was a distant relative who wanted to vacation, so I managed to escape their prying eyes.
Henry, Demetrius, and I were already dealing with the things before everything would be settled. I would see Dominixe’s father, who was Demetrius’ grandfather.
I knocked on Demetrius’ chamber since he hadn’t eaten yet, so I brought a food tray. “Demetrius, can I come in?” I asked softly.
When I did not receive a response, I entered without his permission and happened to see Demetrius lying on Dameta’s lap, sleeping.
“What on earth are you doing here?” I asked in a harsh whisper, alert.
Dameta put her finger on her lips as if silencing me before she lowered her gaze to Demetrius sleeping peacefully. My heart leaped when I saw him smiling as his face was buried in Dameta’s stomach.
“What did you do to him?” I asked, getting suspicious.
“Putting him to sleep.” She kept caressing Demetrius’ hair. She stared at him for a moment before slipping away from his hold.
“Mother… do not leave…” Dameta’s eyes widened when he wrapped her waist with his arms.
Dameta sighed and caressed one more time before the time stopped. My eyes widened in surprise before she finally distanced herself from him.
“I need to go now. For good.”
“What do you mean?” I panicked when Dameta smiled sadly. “Are you saying… you are going to end your life?” I put down the tray and looked at her in disbelief. When she did not answer, I already knew that I was right. “How about Demetrius? Are you just going to leave him on his own, Dominixe? He is still young!”
Dameta looked at the window before her shoulders slumped. “I am already tired, Valerian… I have already endured enough… ” Her voice croaked. “As for that child, I do not want to keep lashing at him anymore. Demetrius wouldn’t stop pestering me, and I wouldn’t want to hurt him anymore…”
“You can still make it up to him if you really regret your actions, Dominixe…” I pleaded. “Please… Demetrius has been wanting to be with you. That is all he asks for…”
I watched Demetrius getting delighted when his mother was arriving but only to have his heart broken whenever Dameta did something that would hurt his feelings. One time, I asked him if he hated his mother.
He told me that he didn’t and never did. He would always love his mother no matter if his feelings were being granted.
Dameta brought out something from her pocket and strode in my direction to bestow it in my hand. I was surprised that a necklace with beguiling shimmers with a crescent moon was glowing in purple.
“Demetrius’ 16th birthday shall be tomorrow. Bestow my galaxy necklace as a gift to him.”
“But why?” I creased my forehead. “Why don’t you bestow it yourself? Is your pride why you cannot even apologize to him?” I was getting tired of her behavior of the way she handled things with Demetrius. “Dameta, answer me.”
“I just want to be with my honeydew in my original timeline.” She ignored my questions. “You can take care of him when I am gone. Or discard him if you find him useless.” Her tone, this time, changed into a dread one.
I could see in her eyes that they were all dead. I could tell that she was within her limits.
As much as I wanted to be angry at her, I couldn’t. I could see that she was already hurting. “He wouldn’t like that he would know that you died…”
“Then do not tell him until he is ready… Until Ragriel is here.” Tears started to fall from her eyes. “I do not deserve that child to be my pup. Valerian might not be able to forgive me if he knows.”
“I know your deed.” I wanted to emphasize that she was talking the Valerian in this timeline, who was well aware of her abusive behavior toward her son.
Dameta smiled, nodding. “I know…” She fished out two envelopes. “Here are the detailed events that shall happen if you keep following the flow of this timeline. And this one…” She was talking about the black envelope. “Bestow it to Demetrius as soon as he learns about my death.”
“Dominixe…” My eyes started to water when I was not too fond of the part where she said farewell and left us.
Dameta approached me and kissed my lips which made my eyes widen. “Be with Dominixe in this timeline and tell her not to repeat the history.” I stiffened when she hugged me. “Remember that I will always love you, Valerian Leveaux. I still hold on to the part that you will marry me…”
When she stepped back, I was about to reach her, but she froze my movements. “No… Dominixe, no! Please! Do not resort to this!” I begged. “Demetrius will get hurt by your actions! Please! For our son’s sake!” I cried.
Dameta approached the sleeping Demetrius before she lowered her head to kiss him on his forehead. “Happy 16th birthday, my dear son. I hope you shall find it to your heart that you forgive me…” she whispered.
“No! Dominixe!” I groaned to attempt to move, but I couldn’t.
Dameta waved her hand at me. “Farewell, honeydew… Perhaps, in the next life, I could be with you…”
“DOMINIXE!” I called her name when she was gradually disappearing. “NO!”