Duchess or Princess Consort

*Chapter 111*

Frederick and I were having some tea in the garden when Caspian arrived. He greeted us before he stated his business.

"Dowager Marquis Argerich is wreaking havoc in the palace, demanding to enter the gates of the Euthoria Citadel."

I almost gasped. I almost forgot that Father would get to know that I was already here in Frederick's castle.

"Let him in," I said, standing up before Frederick could decide that he was not going to allow it.

Caspian was hesitant but I arched my eyebrow at him. He glanced at Frederick, asking permission. I heard Frederick sigh and nod.

"Just do what she orders," Frederick said as he gently pulled me down to return from sitting on his lap.

My face darkened when Caspian left before I glanced at Frederick. "What's the use of getting married to you if your retainers are not even following my orders and have to always ask your permission?"

"Novalie..." Frederick's expression expressed panicking.

"You know that I do not like it when my authority is being restricted," I said coldly as I removed his hands from wrapping around mine.

I used to have full and absolute authority. I would only allow my authority to be restricted if that person was respectable enough to me. Judging by how they were treating me, it meant that Frederick couldn't trust me yet.

"Novalie, come on." Frederick held my hand, halting me from leaving. "They are still getting used to another master ordering them."

I smiled bitterly, glancing at him. "I'd rather be Marchioness Argerich in my own right than being Duchess de Carteret or Princess Novalie. Others would want me to call because I married Prince Atticus and became a princess consort." I tried to yank my hand back but Frederick wouldn't let it go. "Frederick," I said with a warning tone.

"Let's not fight about the execution of an authority, Novalie." His tone sounded pleading. "All the things I have, they are all yours. You can execute your authority just as you were the Luna from the Lone Crow pack, Beta from the Wall Burgundy pack, and matriarch of the House of Argerich. Please..."

I inhaled and exhaled, calming myself. I could tell that I was ready to burst out of annoyance because I had been feeling this way.

Frederick stood up and embraced me from behind. I didn't react to that but I knew that my heart was racing rapidly. Even my wolf was purring right now.

"I will provide everything you need... Just..."

"Son of a bitch!"

I was startled when I heard Father's voice from afar. I turned my head to see Father having an angry expression before he transformed into his wolf form.

"Shit..." Frederick immediately separated from me when Father attacked him.

"Father!" I almost screamed when he was chasing Frederick now.

I pinched the bridge of my nose because I could tell that Father was unstoppable right now. Even Frederick already transformed into his massive white wolf form just to get away from my ranging father.

"Seize my father!" I ordered Frederick's elite knights when they scurried to see the commotion.

"Yes, Your Highness!" they said as they all transformed into their wolf forms as well.

"It's Your Grace!" I corrected them. I couldn't handle the disrespect that they kept addressing me just because I was a princess consort.

But looked like they were busy and didn't hear what I said as they managed to tackle Father down. I approached them with a stoic expression, looking at Father who showed impudent behavior.

"Father, return from your wolf form," I said. "Let's talk."

Father didn't hesitate to return to his human form. Before he could transform back, he growled to Frederick's wolf form as a sign of a warning that he must not dare to approach us.

"Novalie!" I gasped when Father greeted me with a tight hug which bewildered me because I never got to receive this even from the time I was growing old. He let me see my face by cupping it with his calloused hands, having a concerned expression. "I heard you were here... Did he do something to you? Where did he lock you up? Did he defile you? Did—"

"Father," I called seriously to halt him, seeing his panicking state. It was bizarre for me to see Father who looked so concerned about my welfare. "I married Frederick."

"What?!" He was surprised. Then his face expressed an angry one when he glanced at Frederick who was being surrounded and protected by his elite knights. "Did he force you?!" he asked angrily.

I opened my mouth to answer it but Frederick chimed in. "She agreed to marry me, *Father*." He smiled widely. "I did not force her, right, my goddess?"

"Is that true?" Father asked, creasing his forehead.

I glanced at Frederick. Frederick and I both knew that I only agreed so I could get out of his villa house. If I said that to Father, it would be a disaster again. I would never get to have the peace I had been wanting to have.

I returned my gaze to my father and smiled. "Yes, I married him of my own accord, Father." In my peripheral vision, Frederick released a relieved sigh.

"See?" Frederick said. The knights made a way for him so he could approach me and drape his arm over my shoulders.

Father didn't look convinced. I must convince him and just tell him next time to ask for his help. To do that, I roughly pulled down Frederick's collar to show that I was way more dominant than him.

"See, Father? Look at this prince who is bowing before me," I said in a cold tone. Frederick groaned but looked pleased right now. "In this marriage, Frederick knows that I am the one leading here. Isn't that right, darling?"

His eyes remained on the ground as he nodded. "Yes, my goddess."

That made me smirk at my father whose wrinkles were showing more as he exchanged glances between me, the one who was pulling down his collar so he was bowing before my father, and Frederick, who was so obedient and accepted everything I did to him.

Father sighed in defeat. "There is something I want to do," he said.

In a swift motion, Father punched Frederick causing me to gasp in horror.

"Father!" I screamed in horror and tried to halt him from hurting Frederick.

But Father was unstoppable and kept punching Frederick who didn't fight back and accepted my father's punch. I turned and saw Caspian who was watching them.

"Caspian, do something to halt my father," I said, worried. My wolf was feeling agitated because Frederick was smeared with his own blood.

Caspian settled beside me. "He has been preparing for this day, Your Grace. He knows what should be the consequences of abducting you," he said. His tone was calm and composed. He didn't look alarmed as well.

I just shook my head as an answer and unsheathed Caspian's sword from his scabbard. I immediately pointed the sword to my father's neck and spoke in an authoritative tone, "Step back before I slit your throat, Father."

Father looked at the sword pointed to his neck. He raised his bloody hands, surrendering, and stood up from sitting on top of Frederick.

I bestowed the sword back to Caspian before I tended to Frederick. "Darling..." I looked at him, worried.

He smiled when he saw that I was so worried about him. "I am fine... I will be healed any moment now."

I looked up when Caspian offered a handkerchief. I took it and wiped Frederick's face. When I was finished, it was also the time his face was healed from cuts but his face looked swollen right now.

"Summon the royal doctor," I ordered to Caspian. "And don't look at him to ask permission. Do it now!" I raised my voice at him.

Caspian flinched and nodded. "Y-Yes, Your Grace."

"Novalie." Frederick grabbed my attention as he shook his head, slowly getting up.

"Don't be stubborn," I said coldly before I flicked his forehead causing him to frown at the pain he received.

Father sighed and sat on the bench, shaking his head when the elite knights were surrounding him. But Frederick told them to stay away from him which they did.

I helped Frederick to sit in the chair as I went to the pond to wash the handkerchief and returned to wipe his face again. He couldn't help the smile creeping on his lips seeing that I was taking care of him. Frederick looked pleased as well.

"I should've killed you the moment you humiliated my daughter," Father stated.

I halted and glanced at Father's remark to Frederick. Frederick silenced for a moment. "I have reasons, *Father*."

"Don't you 'Father' me! I am not accepting you as my son-in-law! Your actions are always unforgivable as you always choose to hurt my precious daughter, Atticus!"

My eyes widened upon hearing those words. Did he just call me his precious daughter? Did I hear it, right? I was not deaf, right? I heard it clearly.

"Father..." I thanked myself that I found my voice for that. "Frederick already told me his reasons why he did that." It was all for my sake, I wanted to add.

Father creased his forehead. "And you just accepted it? You hated him so much you wanted him to die, Novalie." Frederick flinched. "Where is that compassion of yours that you wanted to pay him back with the same pain? Rejection is not enough punishment for him, you know that."

I stayed silent which alarmed Frederick. "My goddess..." He held my hand and shook his head. His eyes expressed that he wouldn't like it if I was going to hurt him.

Sighing, I licked my lips and turned at Father. "We already reconciled the past, Father. It is fine."

But Father didn't look happy at my answer. He scoffed after a moment. "I hope you can convince *them* then," he said meaningfully.

"Them?" Frederick asked, perplexed.

My heart leaped out of my ribcage when he said that. "W-What do you mean? *They* are here?" My lips quivered as I gulped.

Father nodded. "Yes, it is."

I gasped, not believing what Father said. I shivered as well.

"What is happening?" Frederick turned at me. "My goddess?"

I ignored him. "Where are *they*?"

Father looked into my eyes. "In the palace. The first one is waiting for you and left a message for me to deliver."

"W-What is it?" Why did I suddenly feel nervous? I should be happy about it, right?

He inhaled and exhaled before he uttered the words that would haunt me right at this moment, "*I have received your message, Noblete. We shall meet each other soon,*" he recited.

I gasped as my eyes widened. "Dear me..."

"What is he talking about, Novalie?" I glanced at Frederick who looked frightened right now as he didn't understand our conversation.

I released a slow sigh, calming myself. "It's about..." I couldn't continue my words. I must be happy but why was I nervous right now?

"About? What?"

I stared at Frederick's eyes. "Father is talking about my sisters. My half-sisters, to be precise."

His eyes widened. "What?!"