Frederick's

*Chapter 102*

**Frederick**

I kept caressing Novalie's hair even though she had already fallen asleep from crying. I gently wiped her wet closed eyes with my hands while I felt my heart breaking more when I heard how until now, the things I did still pained her.

"Good night, my goddess..." I whispered before I planted a soft kiss on her forehead and covered her with a blanket before I decided to carefully storm out of my chamber. I changed my expression to a stoic one when I met Caspian outside. "Tell them to heavily guard the perimeters this time. This is already the second time Novalie dared to abscond," I commanded coldly.

"I have already told them about that matter, Your Highness," he said.

I nodded before I checked my chamber again where I could see Novalie not moving. I slowly closed the door and leaned against it. "She already fell asleep..." I said before I let myself slump down to the floor. Frustrated, I combed my hair and released a sigh.

"Marchioness Argerich must have been tired from crying."

"Indeed..." I secretly gnashed my teeth. Her words kept echoing in my head. The way she sobbed and the way she clung to me, indicated that she hated me yet she was still seeking my comfort.

I must be happy about that but I couldn't find myself doing so.

"Caspian..." My voice became shaky. "When should be the best to tell Novalie the truth about why I have to call off our engagement before?" I inhaled and released a shaky exhale. "She thinks I fooled her when I only did what I think was best at that time."

I blinked so many times when tears wanted to fall from my eyes again.

"You can admit it tomorrow, Your Highness. Or if it is best that Marchioness Argerich is calmed," Caspian answered.

I smiled bitterly. "However, she cannot do it whenever I am around. She kept losing her cool. She cannot even suppress her emotions, unlike the time I was still her slave..."

It was my fault anyway that was why she kept acting like that. I tried to tell her but I don't think she would ever listen to me anyway. For Novalie, what I was going to utter was full of lies again that was why she did not want to believe everything I say.

In short, I ruined her.

"My apologies, Your Highness, but I do not know what to say this time."

I gestured my hand that he did not need to. "No need. Just listen to my whims like before..." I said in a dejected tone. I wiped the tears in my eyes as I smacked my lips. "Any news in the palace?"

"Aside from they were looking for you, Dowager Marquis Argerich is infuriated that you hid his daughter. I heard that he is going to kill you this time," he said. His voice was hinting that he was troubled about it.

"I am sure, he will..." I leaned my head against the wall and looked at the ceiling. "He beat me to a pulp when Novalie rejected me... I couldn't blame him. He was just worried for his daughter. But I couldn't just release Novalie without allowing her to agree that we would get married."

"Your Highness, don't you think this is just your selfish request and you are only doing this for yourself? Haven't you inconvenienced Marchioness Argerich's life already?"

I clenched my hands, not wanting to listen to Caspian's words. "I cannot lose her again... I struggled to have her again..." My chest rose up and down. "You know it, Caspian. I love Novalie. I still love her even though she rejected our mate bond."

My wolf inside me agreed even though he was a bit furious with me because of the schemes I did for Novalie. We couldn't afford to lose Novalie again. We took many risks and created diversions for our plans in order to reach this conclusion.

"Your Highness, how about her happiness?"

"But I can make her happy!" I almost shouted but it was a good thing I halted myself because I did not want to wake Novalie.

"That is not what I mean, Atticus," Caspian uttered and sat beside me. He was finally talking like my friend. Caspian and I grew up together so we became best of friends ever since he was assigned to be my playmate when I was a little. "It is not about you making her happy. I mean the one she truly wants... the one she truly wishes... You should have known that since you have been with her for months."

I released a sigh. "You know what? You return to your quarters and take a rest now. Dispatch a few of my knights and gather some news from the palace."

"Alright." He tapped my shoulder. "You should rest as well, Atticus. It is not good that you have been lacking sleep these days. Have a good night."

I smiled and nodded. "Yes. Have a good night, too." I waved my hand.

Caspian left me alone in the hallway just as I was contemplating the words he said. I stood up and quietly entered my chamber. I changed into my nightshirt and settled beside Novalie's side.

Novalie groaned softly and immediately clung to my arm when I stretched it out so I could caress her face with my knuckles.

"Darling..."

I stirred as my eyes widened. I melted, drawing closer to her. "I am here..." I said softly. I kissed her forehead and she groaned and buried her face in the crook of my neck.

I hugged her frail body. I secretly sniffed her and thought that I could easily crush her with my arms. My breath became heavy because this woman I had in my arms still had a powerful aura to even make me submit to her.

Every time Novalie would make me want to kneel in front of her, I could have sworn I could even let her step on me. I grew this kind of sexual desire of dreaming Novalie to step on me before I pretended to be her slave.

I so wanted her power to look down on me as if I was some sort of speck of dust to her. Her dominating aura always made me want to follow her. I could even humiliate myself in front of other people if Novalie wanted me to be naked at all times.

"Novalie..." I murmured her name softly as I molded my body with her. My hands crawled to wrap them around her.

But then, she moaned which surprised me. She even placed her leg in between my legs causing my cock to be alive with that.

"Fuck..." Halt this, Atticus. This should not be torture for us!

However, Novalie smelled so alluring. The scent of the red peonies was lingering around her when she spent her time there earlier before she decided to abscond. Again.

I could have wished I could smell the scent of freesia on her again. If I smelled that, it would also be a reminder that she became my mate again.

I carefully removed her leg from between my thighs because Novalie was starting to rub herself against my side which made my breath heavier than usual. I sighed in exasperation. This was freaking torture.

It has been a long time since I last touched and pleased her. I had wanted to hear her moans as I sought validation from her if I pleased her right or wrong. I wanted her to tell me how useless I was for her and that... I did not deserve her because she was a goddess and I was a slave.

I would be forever Novalie's slave.

My wolf purred as we both relaxed now that Novalie was with us. But before I closed my eyes and allowed myself to succumb to my sleep, Caspian's words echoed in my mind.

I woke up early and was met with Novalie's sleeping face. I smiled when I heard her soft snore but my smile disappeared when the strap of her nightgown loosened which almost exposed her nipples. I growled softly before I carefully pulled it up so I wouldn't be tempted to latch on her nipples just like I used to.

I planted a soft kiss on her forehead before I decided to get up and walked outside when I was done taking a bath. I nodded my head when two of my royal knights came to guard the door.

"Don't let her out without my permission in case she wakes up," I commanded coldly.

"Yes, Your Highness." They bowed their heads after that.

I went straight to the kitchen area to see that the kitchen workers here had already woken up. They greeted me before the head chef, Roi, came forward.

"Your Highness, what meal do you wish us to prepare?"

"No need. I'll prepare this time. Just prepare the ingredients for rice porridge."

Roi nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."

They didn't question me about the meal I was going to prepare after that. Roi was the one who taught me how to cook. I asked a favor from him years ago.

I wanted to learn to cook not because I needed it when I went on expeditions but to the fact that I wanted to do it for Novalie.

Though it said that a way to a man's heart was through his stomach. Why couldn't I do the same thing to her?

I wanted to coax her through the meals I cooked only for her. That was one of the reasons why I was so in love with her. I endured not going to approach her even though my wolf kept urging me so many times for those ten years I was only watching her from afar.

It pained me when I came to learn that she had been going to a brother for women that was managed by Marchioness Carat. I saw how she changed over the years and how she enjoyed herself being with different men that pleased her.

My wolf and I were so broken every time we saw Novalie being fucked by them. She changed... It was my fault. She became a harlot and didn't care about her reputation anymore.

I wish I could turn back time. But I couldn't. All I could do at this present was correct my mistakes hoping that Novalie would forgive me.

I wanted her to know my reasons why I had to do that. Perhaps, if she knew it, she would be able to forgive me, right?

Suddenly, her words echoed in my mind.

*"I fell in love with you yet you hurt me... Then you returned acting like you did not do something horrible to me. You even wanted me to marry you... Have you ever questioned how horrible you are?"*

I secretly gnashed my teeth as my chest suddenly got heavy when I was sauntering back to my chamber. Yes, I know. I was a horrible person. But I have reasons for that.

I entered my chamber and told the royal knights that they didn't need to guard my chamber.

"I can handle her," I said one more time before I closed the door using my foot.

I placed the tray on the table before I approached Novalie who was still sleeping. My insides were in turmoil right now because I kept thinking of Caspian's words about Novalie's happiness.

My selfish request... Perhaps, I only thought of myself before her happiness. When I was still her slave, I kept hearing her wanting to live a simple lifestyle with nothing to shoulder. I listened and intended to do that.

That was why I kept locking her up until she made her decision to marry me.

I don't care if she couldn't bear a pup. As long as we have each other, I could endure being with her for the rest of my life. We were still a family even if we didn't get to have a pup.

That was how I loved Novalie. I was so ready to risk everything. Even my status as a prince just so I could be with Novalie.

"Good morning, my goddess." My lips stretched out into a wonderful smile when Novalie slowly opened her eyes and rubbed them with her beautiful hands.

Novalie creased her forehead at first at her surroundings before her eyes landed on me, frowning.

Before she could say anything, I spoke. "I prepared you a rice porridge for your morning meal." I held her elbow when she stood up.

I was nervous that she would jerk my hand away from her. I was waiting for it but it did not happen.

That surprised me that she allowed me to touch her without seeing her disgusted expression whenever she faced me.

I guided her to the chair and allowed her to drink some water. "What tea is this?" she asked in a sultry pitch when she looked at the teapot and sniffed it.

I inhaled sharply before I shook my head. "It is white peony tea, my goddess." Her eyes widened.

"White peony tea?"

I stirred seeing how impressed she was. I was happy that I got to see that I caught her off guard. Her innocent, surprised expression was very refreshing. Her hazel eyes were sparkling in astonishment.

Sometimes, Novalie didn't know that she could create one of those lovely expressions.

It was so beautiful I could stare at her forever.

"Yes." I nodded and ushered her down. "It has a sweet taste if you mix it with lemon, MCT oil, and honey," I explained as I poured her teacup. "And I brew that tea myself. I hope it is to your liking," I said nervously.

Novalie blinked before she took and sipped on her tea after I mixed the things that needed to be mixed. I was nervous because Novalie was such an excellent brewer so I did not know if I could meet her expectations.

She gasped softly. "It's sweet..." she complimented.

I almost smiled. It was a good idea then that I picked white peony flowers the other day. It was worth it to see her reaction.

For the days I had been with her, she only frowned, annoyed, irritated, and impatient. However, there were times that she became excited when I caught her off guard for some things she did not expect to know.

At that moment, I melted.

It suddenly reminded me about the first time I came to know that Novalie was my mate.

And it all happened when I was eighteen years old...