Finally

*Chapter 108*

Frederick

"What did you say?" I parroted, looking shocked at Novalie right now.

"Do I have to repeat myself?"

My jaw dropped before I snapped back. "M-My goddess, i-is that true?" I wanted to confirm it. I really wanted to confirm what she said just now.

Novalie looked annoyed before she released a sigh. "I said that I am agreeing to marry you."

I gasped in no time. "Wait..." I felt hyperventilating right now. I wanted to hear it again. But asking it again would make her annoyed. She didn't really like repeating herself so many times. I experienced punishment for that back when I pretended to be her slave. "I-Is that really true?"

I almost dropped the bowl I was holding when Novalie nodded. My wolf even felt ticklish about that. It was... I felt... overwhelmed!

"Yes!" I stood up in no time after I placed down the bowl and held my goddess' hands. "You will never regret this decision, my goddess! I swear! We can get married later!"

Her eyes widened. "L-Later?" There was evidence that she looked surprised. "B-But I thought t-there is a preparation for the wedding?"

I knelt before her and immediately showed the pyrope crystal ring which made her eyes widen.

"How did you..." She couldn't say her words. It was obvious that Novalie was surprised that I got to take this back again.

I smiled sweetly before I inserted the engagement ring into her ring finger on her left hand. Then I rested my cheek on her hand, looking at her lovingly.

"I confided with Holland, Dorian, and Arthur the other day to bring this ring back to me with the help of Caspian, my goddess," I explained.

There was a contorted expression written on her face. It was obvious that she looked displeased and wanted to lash out at me but she calmed herself, releasing a sigh.

My wolf and I were pleased when Novalie, my goddess, caressed her thumb to my undereye. It also made my heart flip upside down while she looked at me with that stoic expression as if she was belittling me with that gaze.

Oh, please, my goddess... I could do anything for you with that cold demeanor of yours.

"We shall get married later," I exclaimed before I mind linked Caspian for the good news.

'Are you certain she agreed?'

'Yes.' I glanced at Novalie who was busy eating the porridge I made for her. 'Caspian, talk to any divine priest or priestess who would be available for an immediate wedding! Hurry!'

'Don't you think that she only agreed because she wanted to escape from here?'

'It doesn't matter. As long as we get married, I will not let her go. I swear.'

I heard a moment of silence. 'Alright. I shall take care of it right now.'

I smiled from ear to ear upon hearing that. I stared at Novalie again as my heart fluttered that I would get to marry her.

Finally.

"Where shall we hold our honeymoon for later, my goddess?" I asked as I calmed myself. I must not exert emotions that I was getting thrilled with.

But who was I to halt myself to feel this? For so long, I had been wanting to marry Novalie. She was the only woman I saw in my mind that I would get to marry and have pups.

Minus the pups since she was infertile. It didn't matter to me now if we couldn't have just one. We could adopt if she wanted to. I could handle that as long as I was with her.

Novalie glanced at me. I stirred when her hazel eyes were piercing on me. Even if she rejected us, my wolf and I were still affected by her gaze and touch. We still wanted her despite everything that happened.

I lowered my eyes when she tapped her thighs. "Come."

I inhaled sharply before I immediately nodded at her earnest tone. I knelt down and climbed to her lap. I buried my face in her stomach which earned her a soft gasp. Then her hand was on my hair, caressing it.

I purred under her touch while admiring her from below.

"Crescent Moon Oceanfront. Let's go there."

I almost gasped. To her private island? "Your private island, my goddess?" Novalie nodded. "I-I shall prepare for it then!" I mind linked Caspian to that. "Is there anything you need?" I asked after a moment while I felt shivers down my spine with her hand kept caressing my hair.

I felt like I was thrown back when I was pretending to be her slave. I had enjoyed every moment of being with her and how I became her favorite concubine. My wolf and I were pleased because I got to finally please her and touch her while she was degrading me.

"Why don't you prepare for my bath, darling? I shall wait here."

I looked hesitant when she said that. I was certain that she might try to coax me and then she would escape again from me. Although my elite knights were easily tackled, I couldn't help this anxious feeling that Novalie might just be fooling me.

"I won't abscond," she said seriously. She must've read what was on my mind.

"Right..." I decided to stand up. I took her hand and kissed her wrist while looking into her eyes. "Do not even think of escaping from me, Novalie. You know that I am not going to tolerate you for the third time," I said earnestly.

I wanted her to know that I won't be fooled by her actions anymore. I wasn't gullible to even think that she would fool me.

"If I do that, then you can violate me, darling," Novalie said with a challenging tone.

"As long as you permit me, then I shall do that," I said darkly as I felt the tightening of my trousers all of a sudden.

Her eyes stirred in excitement before she snapped back and huffed. "Go and prepare a bath." She gestured her hand as if shooing me away.

I slowly stepped back while I turned my back to go to the lavatory to prepare her bath as she commanded. I even tested the temperature in lukewarm water.

It didn't take long for me to finish that and get out. I saw Novalie rummaging in one of the drawers as she had my sketchbook full of her illustrations.

I saw that there was fascination in her eyes. She somehow didn't notice that she was expressing that and I was approaching her. She was so busy admiring my sketches of hers.

"Do you like them, my goddess?" I asked softly as I placed my hands on her shoulders.

She inhaled sharply before her shoulders stiffened then relaxed after. "So, that journal I had with me... It was from you, right?"

I kissed her nape which made her shiver. I secretly smiled because I still had an effect on her. "It is." I placed my chin on her shoulder. "The one you always saw from before was my second brother, Alucard. He bestowed the one you have because he knew that I had been admiring you from afar."

"I see... I didn't know that was him. I mean, I could hardly remember what he looked like. I was so young back then."

"Understandable." I slowly wrapped my hands from behind her. Then I made her lean to my chest which made my wolf stir. I secretly sniffed her. She smelled the forest last night.

"Does this mean you already know I was your mate, Frederick?" I nodded. "At what age were you at that time?"

"Eighteen," I answered.

Novalie gasped. "I was nine by that time!" She turned around. "You already knew?!"

Shyly, I nodded. "Y-Yes..."

She looked shocked as she stepped backward. "So, you knew..." There was bitterness on her smile. "Yet you humiliated me during our engagement before..." There was a pain registered on her face.

I panicked. "A-Allow me to explain why I did that, my goddess... Please..." I must tell her now what could have been the reason why I did that.

I must not ruin this day or else, our wedding later wouldn't be happening because she would be mad at me.

"What excuse do you wish me to believe?" she asked bitterly. She was about to yank her hand back but I didn't let her.

"Please listen to my reason first, Novalie. Then, you can get mad later. But do not decide to revoke that you are not marrying me anymore. I won't allow you that," I said, threatening.

She rolled her eyes. But her eyes looked angry but then it took her a couple of releasing sighs before she nodded.

"Fine."

My face brightened up when she didn't wreak havoc today. It was new... I meant I had always wanted her to listen to me without throwing her getting angry but I found it somehow bizarre that she finally listened to me and remained calm.

I guided her to sit in the bed and told her the reasons while I was kneeling in front of her. I told her why I had to do that. Why did I risk putting her reputation on the line? Because that was the only plan I could think of so they wouldn't push it.

"You were young... You hadn't debuted yet... Must I allow you to ruin the freedom of your teenage years and be betrothed and be married to me?" Her eyes were still wide when she knew all my reasons. I took that as an opportunity to say more. "I know that I ruined you... I know that for a fact and I would forever regret that I did that to you. I am not going to justify my actions, Novalie. As much as I want to protect you, I chose to hurt you so you cannot be married without reaching your coming-of-age..." I said in a difficult tone. "But I always admired you... I know every small detail about you... I watched you from afar and kept regretting that I hurt you as you changed yourself. You hated me and I understand that. It is alright for me if you still feel hatred even if we get married... I hope in time... you would forgive me for my foolish action. I would forever regret it but..." I looked into her eyes which were already glistening with tears. "I would never regret that I loved you for 15 years, Novalie. You are the air that I wanted to breathe and the light of my world. You are always the woman I want to marry and keep loving you."

I sniffed after my voice croaked. I finally said what I had been wanting to say to her. I had been practicing them for so many years and now, I finally said them. My hands were even fidgeting while I held her hands.

Novalie bit her lower lip as she started crying. This time, they were not angry or in melancholy tears. It was in between and I couldn't decipher that emotion well.

"Frederick..." she hiccuped after a while. "I... I do not know what to say. I mean... 15 years is that long..." She sounded surprised.

I let the tears fall from my eyes as I smiled and kissed her hands. "You do not have to say anything. Just allow us to be married and let me love you, alright?"

Her lips were quivering as she slowly nodded. With that, she lowered her head and kissed me.