When I woke up, I realized I was being jailed in my chamber in the Cantavalle estate. I only found out that a week had passed since I was missing.
I was bedridden due to the poison Demetrius casually infused in my body with Papa’s permission. The poison was more fatal than before, but it was good that it was not bringing me into a coma, even though I could feel my skin burning.
I even had some red spots on some parts of my body. It was an adverse reaction, but I could still live.
“Mother, it will be only the two of us now.”
My face contorted, having the urge to push Demetrius away from me. Ever since I woke up, I found him hugging me like a leech that was hard to come off.
“Mother…?” Demetrius fluttered his eyelids when he noticed I said nothing.
I only averted my gaze, not wanting to let my emotions obscure me again. But it was hard since Demetrius-who I thought was a sweet little boy turned out to be a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing-had an unexpected outcome.
I still couldn’t believe it, regretting that I did not pay heed to Rachelle’s warning. It was my fault that Demetrius’ action fooled me.
“I want to know where Valerian is.” That was all I could say, having a faint hope that he was still alive.
My Valerian wouldn’t die so quickly. That was impossible… I did not want to believe in it.
“Why?”
Demetrius’ meek tone made me turn my head in his direction. There was pure bitterness lingering on his face before clenching his hands. A death glare was served on me.
“Why? Why? Why? Why do you still think of Father?! Am I not really enough for you?!” My eyes widened with how his attitude changed like a volcano that had enough and was ready to erupt. “Even in this timeline, you do not care about me!”
I creased my forehead, unable to say anything seeing how Demetrius paddled his feet like a child having a tantrum. I even managed to stop the dagger he was about to stab me and gripped his wrist, trying to avoid that sharp blade from grazing my skin again.
“Demetrius, halt!” I was close to being in the underhand state, but I was being kind not to even though his betrayal stabbed my heart.
“Valerian here, Valerian there. All you ever look for is Father!” Demetrius scoffed, injecting more force to create a pathway to absurdity. “It is good that Father is gone now, Mother.” I gasped at his words. “I can never share you. Father is just a hindrance to making you love me as your son!” he said through gritted teeth.
“Demetrius!” I hissed and used my remaining strength before tossing his dagger away.
I could feel my heart clenching as he clenched his teeth before emerging from my chamber. That was when I collapsed in my bed, gradually loosening my strength, not believing I was in a disadvantageous situation.
I almost got stabbed by him again. His temper… His uncontrollable temper was on another level…
“Damn it…” I felt the sting in the corner of my eyes, not believing this was happening right now.
The feeling of being eaten by a foreign creature inside while on the verge of tears, thinking that Valerian was dead again, almost consumed my energy. I did not want to believe this. I did not want to think that Valerian was dead.
Looking into my hands before gripping them tightly as if there was something in it that I was grasping.
“I could turn back time… I must… know how to do it again…” I felt helpless and useless when the moment I wanted to happen the most was not helpful.
I wanted to return to the day I was still in the villa with Valerian. If I only knew that this would have happened, I could have done things that would prevent everything.
“Mother… Moon Goddess… Please help me…” My pleas turned into beads of salty water that kept rolling down my eyes. “I would go insane if I did not know if Valerian is dead for real…” I clasped my hands, hoping this prayer would eventually reach my mother’s ears.
Just when I thought reuniting with him would be our happy ending, other people were still against us.
I just wanted to be with him and create a happy family. Why did this fate have to play with me?
Was I still punished because of what I did to Valerian in our previous life? Couldn’t I be able to change his fate despite the efforts I made?
“Young Mistress Dominixe has arrived.”
Hearing my name being announced before entering the dining hall brought me to this acrimony that gradually poisoned me. Being here had made me put up all the walls again I had built for so many years.
The feeling of being suffocated in this household was enough for me that I couldn’t find this place as my haven. It was hard enough to see that this place was a household in the first place.
“That is not your seat, Dominixe.”
I curved my spine when I joined, sitting beside Caroline at the other table. “I am not fitted to sit there anymore, Papa. Let Caroline join there since she has wanted to be an heir candidate.” My voice had this hint of frigidness, not letting the fear envelop me again.
I was not the same Dominixe who couldn’t lift a head, frightened that I would be punished.
I had had enough in my previous life. So, it would be better to stand up for me even though my fingers were fidgeting under the table, putting myself in danger.
“Why me?” Caroline’s face contorted, seeing how her face flushed in embarrassment. “What is wrong with you, Dominixe?”
I simply shrugged. “Pardon me, sister. I have heard you are doing great, almost on par with Britanny. However, I also heard that Demetrius is way better than you.” I glanced at Demetrius who was even sitting beside Papa. “Right, son?”
A sweet smile would be to conceal the hidden agenda. It was truly remarkable that this way of expressing yourself was to hide your true emotion.
Not only that, this hidden agenda… I needed to find ways to activate my ability to turn back time. I had to save Valerian this time.
And I needed my galaxy moon necklace.
Rachelle told me that I could be transported to the celestial realm to speak to my mother once I wore it. Maybe in this way, I should be able to know Valerian’s status.
It was the only way. I should find the reason to take back my necklace. The necklace bestowed by Rachelle was still in the villa, or perhaps, Demetrius shattered it.
But I discovered he was still keeping the necklace that belonged to my other self. He was safekeeping it to keep it out of my reach.
He was preventing me from communication with my mother.
“Harchier, how did Dominixe even have a son?” It was Zoe who couldn’t keep her mouth shut or her curiosity. “Do you honestly believe that she conceived through all those years?”
Her voice that shaken, conveying alarm on her part.
Having to have a grandpup was truly disheartening on her part since it also indicated that person might be the next head of the House of Cantavalle.
“Right, Papa.” It was Britanny this time. “He might honestly look like Dominixe, but it was impossible that she could have a pup.” The way she glared in my direction meant that she wanted me to know she was already on her limit.
Papa placed his hand on Demetrius’ head. “He is Dominixe’s son. That is for certain,” he said meaningfully while meeting my eyes. “He has the perilous skills that are on par with my 11 children.”
My insides clenched, surprised.
He was on par with us?!
Demetrius giggled. “Thank you for the praise, Grandpa. But thank you to Mother since she trained me since I was five. My efforts had paid off even though she saw me as someone who could not move forward.”
The gripping in my utensils was the same strength to my heart. I knew he was talking about the other Dominixe, but it pained me since that was still me.
However, if this was how Demetrius would play everything, who was I not to accept his invitation to ridicule his skills?
“For someone who is worthless as him and my sole son, it is expected that he must meet my expectation.” Toning it firmly while looking at Demetrius let me see his eyes falter. “And yes. Demetrius must thank me. If I hadn’t taught him, he would be a piece of trash now.”
Even though this was a double-edged sword, I needed to find ways to survive here, and Demetrius was an essential threat to my life. I was not on the verge of breaking down, but if I hadn’t known how Valerian was now, I would go insane.
I might become the Dominixe from the other timeline where only Valerian was the person on her mind.
“Dominixe!”
My lips almost stretched a smile, wondering if Papa was offended because I insulted his grandson or if he saw himself in my shoes.
“I-It’s alright, Grandpa…”
I squinted my eyes, seeing his eyes fidgeting, averting.
Ah… Of course.
Even if he betrayed me and managed to do something behind my back, Demetrius would always be afraid of me. He would flinch whenever I raised my voice or be in a tantrum if I was being resilient with him.
“Papa, this is unacceptable if you are favoring him already when we are still your heir candidates.”
I held my breath when Ingram spoke in a firm tone. It was… unimaginable that he was like this.
Papa smiled, an amuse one. “Fret not, Ingram. Since Dominixe is finally here, we are on the last pace of choosing my next heir.” He kept patting Demetrius, who remained silent.
“Last pace?” Arthur, Britanny, and Ingram asked in unison.
“Yes. Indeed.”
Papa clasped his hands, making us brace ourselves from this deafening silence of anticipation. The way he was smiling would say that it was supposed to be a nightmare.
Was this it?
Was this the part where the battle of the heir candidates by slaughtering the non-candidates?
“Demetrius, shall you tell them our plan?”
My eyes widened in disbelief, having to witness that my father and my son were being in collaborating. No way… Papa easily trusted him with his plans?
“Yes, Grandpa.” Demetrius stood up, putting a big smile on his lips. “Grandmas, aunties, uncles and…” he paused as his chartreuse eyes glinted under the light when our eyes met. “Mother.” The way those orbs piercing on me as if he was telling me to watch him that he was growing now was terrifying to witness. “In the upcoming lunar eclipse, we will usurp the royal lycan family. And we will use the crown prince’s real sister as the hostage.”