The Beginning of Abomination

*Chapter 99*

*Ten years ago... (a month before her sweet 16)*

"My lady, you have done well in your lesson for today."

My face brightened up. "Thank you, Sir Doorman." I closed the book that was all about geopolitics. I finished another one hundred pages and recited the things I learned on it.

Sir Doorman bowed his head. "I shall report your progress to Lord Nigelle. You did great, Lady Novalie."

I nodded my head. "Hmm! I shall head to the training ground right now! Farewell!" I went upstairs to change into my training uniform.

I arrived there seeing Alpha Denzil and spoke to one of our five Gammas, Richardson.

"Greetings, Alpha," I said and bowed my head. "And Richardson."

"Novalie!" Alpha Denzil smiled and acknowledged my greeting. "You are just in time. Richardson shall be your opponent for today's sword training."

My jaw dropped, not believing what he said. Was this for real?

But Richardson took the sword from the compartment and waved it.

I got excited because I would get to make a spar with one of the Gammas I had been looking forward to. I had been wanting an opponent that would last me for longer unlike training with other rookies.

"Yes." I beamed.

"I'm afraid not today, Novalie."

I halted when I heard Father's voice. Alpha Denzil arched his eyebrow looking behind me.

"How's the progress, Nigelle?"

I turned my head to see Father's stoic expression who had just arrived after three days at the convention.

"Father." I smiled and was about to greet him when he ignored me and greeted Alpha Denzil instead.

I lowered my head, embarrassed. But I did not react and just stayed silent.

"Alpha King Azarius is commencing trade between the Sowinski Kingdom and Estasia Eglaria Kingdom. They are already working on the contract before Alpha King Kennedy arrived this month," Father said in his earnest tone.

Alpha Denzil nodded. "I see then. That is good to know."

"Yes, Alpha." Then he turned at me with his droopy eyes. "Novalie, go back home. There is something I wish to discuss with you."

"But my training—"

"Can be continued next time," Father chimed in without waiting for me to finish my words.

"But..." I bit my lower lip when he glared at me. "I-I shall go back..." I said in a dejected tone. "I shall take my leave, Alpha Denzil, and Richardson."

I returned to the manor feeling a little melancholy. I was expecting that I would greet Father today just as I had been practicing so many times but I couldn't even do that again.

"Novalie... It is such a waste..." I murmured.

I waited for Father until he arrived and gestured his head to follow him to his study room. We were enveloped with silence as soon as he sat at his desk and read some documents before he signed them.

Then he checked the calendar like he was looking for the date. "Remember what I said in the past that you will be engaged to someone?" he asked, not sparing me a glance but to the calendar he was checking out.

I opened my mouth to protest that, wanting to back down but I was afraid of my father's reaction. In the end, I nodded. "Yes, Father..." I hope he heard the dejected tone that I did not wish to discuss my marriage. But that was impossible to happen.

Father said that I would be engaged this coming of age. But he hadn't told me who it was.

Father checked his pocket watch, looking impatient before he glanced up at me. "That man who is supposedly engaged to you soon is Alpha King Azarius' youngest brother, Prince Atticus."

My eyes widened. "What?" I parroted. "P-Prince Atticus?" The fifth prince?! I was engaged to him?

He nodded. "On the day of your 16th birthday, I shall announce that you are engaged to him."

I gasped, horrified. My birthday next month? "B-But Father, you said... you said that you are going to announce it on my coming of age. Why is this coming on my birthday?" I panicked, not liking what was happening.

He creased his forehead. "Since when did you ever question my decision, Novalie?" he asked in his stern voice.

I opened my mouth to say another word but he growled a warning at me. I closed my mouth as I felt my eyes getting stung.

Father looked away, not minding I was starting to cry. He looked cold as well.

He never changed.

It felt like he always looked down on me.

"Leave now. This is the end of the discussion. I do not want to hear any complaints from you," he said coldly.

I bit my lower lip and nodded. "Yes, Father..." My voice croaked before I left his study room.

I ran upstairs and to my chamber, crying. I couldn't believe he would haste things right now.

So, could it be that he wanted to get rid of me because I was not a male offspring? That... no one would inherit the marquis title which was why he badly wanted me to get married as soon as possible?

I knew that at my age I was supposed to be engaged in advance. I already accepted my fate as part of the aristocratic society that I would never get to marry my mate just as how my pack members do.

However, on the day of my birthday turning sixteen this first day of spring, Father announced that I was already engaged to Prince Atticus.

His title was Prince of Redwinter, the fifth prince.

I never got to meet him before even from the time I got to visit the royal palace. I only met Alpha King Azarius, Crown Prince Alucard, Prince Alistair, and Prince Alejandro.

On all occasions, I did not get to meet Prince Atticus.

"On behalf of His Highness, Prince Atticus, I, Caspian, was ordered by His Highness to bestow this gift to you, Lady Novalie."

My eyes widened when Sir Caspian, Prince Atticus' personal assistant, bestowed me a small compartment during my birthday party. Guests of my party were already aware that I was engaged to the mysterious fifth prince who never showed himself to the public.

Hesitant, I accepted it. But my hands were certainly fidgeting right now as I tried to smile.

I glanced at Father who was watching me the whole time having his usual stoic expression.

'Open it,' he said through mind link, nodding his head.

I nodded back and slowly opened it. My eyes widened upon seeing a ring.

"It is a pyrope crystal ring, Lady Novalie. That is His Highness's engagement ring to you," Sir Caspian explained. "And he made sure the crystal stone is red just as your favorite color."

I blinked. "He remembered?" Sir Caspian nodded.

I only spoke with Prince Atticus through letters. We became pen pals and got to know each other throughout the time Father told me that Prince Atticus would be my soon-to-be husband.

My heart fluttered. I took it and wore it to my ring finger on my left hand. "This is beautiful..." I heard claps from the people here while my eyes settled on Sir Caspian. "Please tell His Highness that I love this engagement ring."

It made me feel skittish because His Highness knew that my favorite color is red. I could have wished I wore a red color for my birthday today but Father insisted that I must wear a peach ball gown.

Perhaps, I must request it at my coming of age.

"I shall deliver your word, Lady Novalie." He bowed his head.

Until the end of my celebration, I couldn't help staring at my engagement ring. It fitted perfectly on my ring finger.

"I wish I could see you, Your Highness..." I murmured before I looked up in the night sky.

I felt like this was the best birthday gift I ever received.

This also meant that I was truly engaged with Prince Atticus.

Before I went to sleep, I came to write a short thank you letter for His Highness's gift. He had been bestowing me gifts such as luxurious satins, jewels, and a few items from his expedition.

I expressed my gratitude before I went to the messenger hawk.

"Deliver it to Prince Atticus, alright?" I caressed the hawk's wings before I tied up the letter to its foot.

I went and settled on the railings before I let it fly in the middle of the night. I just couldn't wait to hear from him.

I wanted to know what he was doing right now. I wished to talk to him more.

I wanted to know what he really looked like. I hope I can see him soon.

I returned to my chamber and returned the engagement ring to its compartment.

"Huh?" I fluttered my eyes when I removed the cushion from it. My heart jumped when I came to see that there was a small parchment inside of it.

I unfolded it and saw the familiar handwriting of Prince Atticus. I bit my lower lip and read the content of his letter immediately.

*To my lovely goddess, Lady Novalie,*

*If you are reading this, it means you found this letter underneath the cushion.*

*I wish to express the happiest birthday to you. It has come to my notice that you are growing more beautiful and that I could not wait to see you in the near future.*

I giggled softly when he complimented me. I could feel my cheeks tinted in red right now because he knew how to sway his words to perfection.

Also, the way he addressed me as my goddess or my lovely goddess, always stirred something inside me.

"Silly, Your Highness..." I bit my lower lip as I continued reading until the end.

*I hope you like my engagement ring, Lady Novalie. I hope I can see you wearing that. I cannot wait to see you along with the pyrope crystal ring which is specially meant for you.*

*I must be patient because I know we will get to meet soon. I wish to speak with you more. Hopefully, we can get along just as we got along as pen pals.*

*Sincerely yours,*

*AFDC*

As soon as I finished reading it, it was also the time I felt how my heart was pounding so fast. This strange feeling... I only felt it whenever I got to know that he had written a letter for me. His words were always making my stomach somersault.

"I cannot wait to see you, my prince charming..." I mumbled, feeling skittish as I smiled from ear to ear.

I felt like at this moment, I did not need to meet my mate at the coming of age. Right now, all I felt like was Prince Atticus being the lovable man I ever thought he would be.

I would love to get married to him.

However...

Little did I know, the man I thought I loved and who I also thought had the same feelings for me, had become my demise that brought me into an abyss.