Invitation Letter

*Chapter 10*
"Greetings, Lady Novalie Argerich, Viscountess of Erast. I have arrived."
I glanced up to see my secretary. "Ouncy," I called her name and ushered her to sit after my servant helped her to sit.
Ouncy glanced at the flowers that were set on the outdoor dining table. She smiled. "The smell of the peony flowers is rather interesting."
"Indeed." I caressed the petals of its flower, smiling softly. "So... is there something the matter with Argerich Consulting?" I was talking about my consulting firm I made from blood and sweat after graduating with a degree in Business Administration.
From the time I graduated, I used the allowances that I received from my father and kept them from my bank to use to build my own business. Since I am only a daughter and after our mother gave birth to me, he already made a bank account meant for me.
I could lavish them whenever I want. Back when I was an adolescent girl, I frittered my allowance away by purchasing new dresses and suits. I was a spoiled daughter who could do anything I wanted.
I cherished my father so much that although I never met my mother who gave birth to me, I love him so much.
But that, unfortunately, my trust in him started to break when Father set me up for an arranged marriage when I was sixteen years old.
I was betrothed to the man whose age was nine years older than me. That man who I hated the most... and the man I never saw even from the parties I attended before my coming of age.
"I have come here to let you know about the audited financial statements for this year, Lady Novalie. We receive an opinion for it."
I gasped in happiness. "Let me see! Let me see!" I said excitedly.
Ouncy bestowed me the documents. I read it and squealed in joy. "Unqualified opinion? Oh my... We must celebrate this good news."
Ouncy smiled and chuckled. "Yes, my lady. This is such a joyous celebration for your consulting firm," she said politely. "I am happy to work with you throughout these years, Lady Novalie."
Giggling, I sat in my chair calming myself down. It was impressive that I received unqualified opinions for three consecutive years since I started to build my business.
Receiving an unqualified opinion from one of the notorious auditing firms here in the Sowinski Kingdom named Elite Tax Advisors was a great honor.
Unqualified opinion meant that my financial statements were free from material misstatements and they were fairly and appropriately presented.
"We will celebrate tomorrow," I stated and smiled, enjoying my cup of tea.
Ouncy agreed. "My lady, when I arrived at the gate of your pack, there was an envoy who delivered these letters. One for the House of Viscount Westervelt and the other one is for House of Baron Lombroso."
I arched my eyebrow when I saw it, it was the same invitations and there was a sigil of the House of Duke Rosenfield. I grimaced when I saw the contents of it.
"I'll speak about this to Reginald later." I set aside the envelopes and took a sip on my tea. "Did Father visit there?" I asked after a moment of silence.
I glanced at Ouncy when she nodded. "Marquis Argerich is looking for you, Lady Novalie. I have informed him that you only visit our firm if you have some time to ponder."
"Huh..." I snorted. "Why does he look for his daughter? He could have just visited the Lone Crow pack located in Mooneve. It is thirty minutes away from Chambery." I rolled my eyes.
Chambery was a town where the Wall Burgundy pack was located while the Lone Crow pack was located at the town named Mooneve.
"Uh..." I could tell that Ouncy didn't know what to say next. "Perhaps, Lord Nigelle wants you to pay him a visit?" she asked, unsure, smiling wryly.
I looked at her in disbelief. "Me? Visiting Father?" My eyes twitched at her words. I scoffed. "No. Not in a million years."
Ouncy smiled one more time and nodded. "I understand, my lady."
After Ouncy left, I went back inside and ordered Reginald's female servants to take the peony flowers I picked. "Put them in the vase. I want the mansion to smell peony flowers. Do you understand?" I ordered.
They bowed. "Yes, Luna."
"Good." I was about to go inside when I remembered something. "Where's Reginald? Is he in his study room?"
"Yes, Luna. Alpha is speaking with Beta Marius right now."
I nodded my head and went inside to go straight to Reginald's study room which was a few rooms away from my study room. Our study rooms were located on the first floor of the mansion.
As I arrived there, I didn't bother to know and just suddenly barged in seeing Reginald sitting on his chair while Marius was sitting on the couch. Reginald frowned when he saw me.
"Do you not know about the etiquette of knocking first before entering, Novalie?" he said in an annoyed tone. His face even darkened when I was in front of him.
"Didn't you do the same thing the last time you barged in my study room as well?" I asked, arching my eyebrow. "Remember, how you spilled that ink to my—"
"Fine! Fine! Tell me what you want then leave already!"
"Why are you outcasting me? I am the Luna of this pack so I have every right to know what the two of you must talk about." I was about to cross my arms over my chest when I saw Marius stand up and greet me. "Marius, it has been a long time."
Marius smiled and bowed his head. "Forgive my absence, Luna. Thank you for doing the other work on my behalf."
I scoffed. "As if I have a choice." I rolled my eyes. Then I remembered about the letters I have on my hand right now. "Here. Invitation letter from Duke Rosenfield." I bestowed the letter to Reginald who was creasing his forehead. The other one was Marius. Marius Lombroso, Baron of Doress and Beta of the Lone Crow pack. "It is a winter season party so we are invited. The party will be happening this weekend." I shrugged and crossed my arms over my chest.
Reginald placed down the invitation letter after he read it. "I can't go to the party this weekend. I will have to go out of town to negotiate for our food supply this coming winter."
I creased my forehead. "Is this what you two had been discussing?" I sat at his desk, looking at the documents settled on the desk.
Reginald pursed his lips into a thin line. It was obvious that he didn't want to discuss those things with me. Hence, he glanced at Marius, probably mind linking him to tell me about it to me. Once I got to know things Reginald was dealing with, I won't leave until I know about it.
"Alpha needs to go to Lingen and will leave from Mooneve this Friday night, Luna," Marius explained.
"Moreover, you will be attending that party as the emissary for the House of Westervelt," Reginald added.
I squinted my eyes from what I was hearing. Being the emissary again... "I will be having an escort. Not Sharon again," I stated.
Sharon has become my escort every time I need to go somewhere. I need to go to Chambery or sometimes Sharon would come here herself upon the summon of Reginald.
"Why not? Sharon is fine. You cannot just pick an escort that is not approved by me, Novalie." He leaned on his seat and crossed his arms over his chest.
I smiled bitterly, looking at him with a cold facade. "Well, then, no one will represent the House of Westervelt." I shrugged. "I am afraid I will be busy at that time, too." I saddened my voice to annoy Reginald.
He gritted his teeth. "You really know how to provoke me, woman." He sighed in exasperation.
I faked a surprise and gasped, clasping my hands together. "Of course, old man. I was born to make you feel furious and displeased at my actions." I even giggled to annoy him more.
He glared at me. I only shrugged at his reaction. In my peripheral vision, Marius was getting uncomfortable perhaps because of the atmosphere. If there were times that we would be like this, Marius was the one who would chime in to ease this.
"Alpha, it is important that there will be an emissary when coming to Duke Rosenfield's party or else, you and Luna will be the talk of the kingdom again. Remember the last time Luna did when she arrived at Earl and Countess Hayden Yostov's party last year because you did not allow her to have a choice of her escort."
I grinned when I remembered that time. "Ah, yes... I ruined the name of the House of Westervelt by telling them how bad Reginald was in bed and didn't know how to pleasure me." I shrugged like this issue was nothing. I remembered his provocative reaction and how he was embarrassed when I did that after he went back to visit his sister. "I hope Reginald did not forget that."
Reginald slammed his desk, showing how infuriated he was right now.
"Fine! You can pick any escort you want to bring at Duke Rosenfield's party!" he declared through gritted teeth.
"Great!" I clapped my hands to show that I won again. "I shall go to the cabin then to bring one of my pets there."
I was about to leave when Reginald halted me. "What?! Why must you choose to bring your slave?!" He stood up and was about to seize my arm when I quickly fished out my dagger from my thigh holster that was kept under my heavy skirt.
Then I pointed that to him.
"I believe that if you lay your filthy hand on my skin, that hand will be decapitated. What do you think?" I smiled, fluttering my eyes so I could feign ignorance.
Reginald stepped back, glaring at me. "Do not dare to bring your slave there, Novalie. Or else—"
"Else what?" I tilted my head. I stepped forward. "Else what, Regy? Do remember how my mouth works if I start conversing with my fellow nobles there. I can easily manipulate them to ruin your image more," I threatened.
Marius stepped in between us. "Alpha, Luna, please... Do not start brawling and killing each other here. It is not a good example for the people of the pack that the Alpha and Luna of the Lone Crow pack are trying to murder each other. They already have seen worse from both of you so I suggest minimizing interacting with each other to avoid this feud." He sighed.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Why don't you remind your Alpha that he must agree to my suggestion of taking one of my male slaves to be my escort? I am very sure you can make him agree with that, Marius." I turned my back so I could leave.
"Novalie! Don't you dare!"
"I will dare," I smirked and waved my hand when I opened the door. "Good luck for the negotiation, old man." I waved my hand one more time before closing the door when Reginald attempted to follow me behind.
When I made sure that he wouldn't dare open the door of his study room, I went to the stables to take one of the horses there after changing into a horse riding uniform. I smiled upon seeing my favorite horse. His name was...
"Nightsky," I greeted him when I unlocked the wooden cage door for him and put the saddle to his back. I chuckled when Nightsky neighed and leaned on my touch when I caressed his snout. "You missed me that much?" I hugged him and placed a soft kiss on his snout. "I am too lazy to transform into my wolf form so I know you will enjoy having a ride with me, Nightsky," I said as I hopped on his back. "Giddyap!"
I went to the cabin where around fifty male slaves were living there. I built that cabin that was meant for them.
Reginald was opposed to it at first since this was his land but when I agreed to pay for the land title, he eventually agreed albeit he had been complaining how he was humiliated that our fellow nobles knew about the cabin I paid to be built near Calsend Hills.
Calsend Hills was part of Reginald's territory of being the Viscount of Erast. It was perfect to build a resthouse there so Reginald built one. In case either of us wanted to unwind, we could choose to stay there.
Along with Calsend Hills, there was a river called Waveless Brook. It was settled at the foot of the hills where my cabin and Reginald's resthouse were. From its name itself, that brook was waveless. It was too peaceful as well.
I arrived at my cabin seeing lots of men coming in and out. They all looked in my way when they saw me approaching it. I grinned as their eyes widened.
"My goddess, greetings," they all greeted me in unison as soon as I climbed down from Nightsky's back.
"Liam, tie this up," I commanded to one of my male slaves, bestowing the reins of Nightsky to him.
Liam happily took the reins from my hand. He was about to kiss my hand when I kicked him so he could kneel to the ground. He groaned in pain and pleasure as he stood up when I commanded him to stand up.
Annoyed, I fisted his hair and drew him closer to me. "If I did not permit you to kiss my hand, do not even dare to do it." I raised my leg to kick his balls and turned to another male slave. "James!" I ordered angrily while hearing the agony from Liam who was rolling on the ground.
The crowds divided when James showed himself before me and knelt on one knee. "Yes, my goddess?"
"Stand up and come to me." He followed what he said. I bestowed him the reins. "Take Nightsky's reins and tie it up for me."
He obliged and took it. "Yes, my goddess. Your wish is my command."
Some of the male slaves came forth to make a chair for me out of them. Some of them were standing on all fours so they could give me a comfortable seat which was meant for me. I smirked knowing that these men I was sitting at were taking pleasure in being treated like this.
James returned as he knelt before me. I crossed my arms over my chest and bestowed him with my foot. "Worship your goddess for being a good boy," I said, smirking.
"Yes, my goddess. I would be happy to worship you with someone as worthless as me," he said politely before he leaned forward and started kissing my boots.
While he was busy worshipping, I called other men to do the same thing. I even asked two of them to become my seat so I could sit on their laps. I guided their hands to touch me and kissed my shoulders and neck.
"Bring me the new slave I recently purchased." I was enjoying the hands wandering around my body as they unbuttoned my equestrian clothing. "Bring Frederick to me," I commanded.
I moaned when one of their hands entered inside my uniform to fondle my nipples. I leaned on their backs to enjoy more of it as I let the other male slave's hands reach for my inner thighs.
"My goddess, how will we make you happy?" one of them asked.
I inhaled slowly when my nostrils came to smell a faint scent of woody musk fragrance. I shivered in delight as I could feel that he was coming. Ignoring his presence when they presented Frederick to me, I looked down at my male slaves waiting for my command.
"Undress me and pleasure your goddess," I commanded, staring at Frederick whose expression was gloomy and furious at my words.