Reconciliation

*Chapter 119*

After Frederick and I had done the deed in his study room, I fell asleep in his arms. I woke up to find that I was already in our chamber. Alone.

Yawning, I got up, naked. I washed as I could still smell the alluring deed Frederick had done to my body which made me and my wolf insane right now. Sighing, I mind-linked Frederick as to where he was because I needed to dress up.

'I am at the palace at the moment, my goddess.'

Yes, I could mind link Frederick already ever since we marked each other. We could also feel each other's feelings as well.

'I need someone who shall help me dress up here. Or I shall summon one of your butlers to help me right now,' I said as I was walking inside the walk-in closet to pick a new dress.

I clutched my chest when I felt a bitter feeling that boiled inside me. I grinned when I noticed that it was not from me. It was from Frederick.

'Novalie... Don't piss me off. You know that I don't like when another man is seeing you dressed. No male servants or butlers shall help you get dressed. Only I could help you get dressed.' I could already tell that he was frowning. 'Do you get me?'

I giggled as I picked a flowy dress that did not need some corset. It was enough to wear as indoor clothing. 'I already summoned two, you know...' I teased.

I felt jealousy feeling emerged from him. 'Summon maidservants or else...' he threatened, pausing.

'Oh, my darling is threatening me again...' I smirked when I came to see the full body mirror to see if the dress Frederick purchased would be pleasing to my eyes.

'Alright... I am coming back as soon as I am done reporting to my brothers. You are dead to me, Novalie.'

I chuckled as I dressed up using the chemise, not daring to summon any maidservant just as he said so. I was just not comfortable having maidservants to help me get dressed again. I would always feel comfortable having male servants since I had been doing that for years.

I only summoned one maidservant to help me fix my hair before I turned at her. "Have you seen Father coming out from the guest's room?" I asked, trying my best not to give out a hostile attitude.

I had been trying my best to be more polite and considerate to the personnel working here in the Euphoria Citadel since I already promised Frederick not to act like a bitch from the time I was a Luna in the Lone Crow pack and a Beta in the Wall Burgundy pack.

Father took over the Beta position again after he found out that I was not going to return to the Wall Burgundy pack anymore. Not that I would never visit there, it was just that I had been busy for the past few days because Frederick and I had just arrived on honeymoon and my two older sisters had arrived in the Sowinski Kingdom to look for me.

"Lord Argerich is in the garden, Your Highness," she said politely.

I frowned at how she addressed me. "Alright..." I said, dismissing her. But before she could leave, I asked her to help me get dressed. "Frederick would get mad if he knew that a man helped me," I reasoned.

She politely curtsied before me. "Certainly, Your Highness."

I only sighed and rolled my eyes, ignoring that I was being addressed as 'Your Highness' again. Other people treated me as a princess consort. Others were treating me as a duchess.

I went to the garden as soon as I finished dressing up and brewed some tea just for the two of us which was brought by the servants I had with me. "How's your rest, Father?" I asked when I saw him staring at the red peonies planted here in the garden.

Frederick really was devoted to keeping my favorite flower here in the garden. He was the one who oversaw when they changed the flowers and plants planted here. However, there were some bushes and some other plants I was not familiar with so the garden would only not focus on the peonies here.

Father turned around and approached the gazebo where I told the servants to settle all the things we needed to have some snacks and tea. "I manage to rest well," he said when he sat across from me.

"Glad to hear that." I nodded and served him some tea that I brewed. "I am also planning to have Frederick meeting Mother soon," I broke the news.

Father nodded and smelled the tea I prepared for him before his expression softened. "She has been looking forward to your next visit, and will bring Atticus." He scoffed before he took a sip of the tea. "Ah... Still the best tea I ever tasted."

My heart leaped out of my ribcage hearing that compliment coming from Father. I lowered my gaze, couldn't dare to meet my father's gaze. "Thank you for your compliment..." It was hard to be like this but Frederick said that I was already good at expressing myself and being honest.

Then we were enveloped with silence.

I slowly gulped before I took a sip of my tea. How must I initiate a conversation to reconcile with my father now? I could have wished Frederick was here.

"Novalie."

"Father."

We both jumped in our seats when we both spoke in unison. We also looked shocked as well, and didn't expect that we both had to say something to each other. But we also both fell in silence again.

Father cleared his throat to grab my attention. I gazed at him seeing that he was trying to open his mouth. "I..." he paused as he took a breath. "The... Um..."

I scoffed a cackle, finding this hilarious. Father looked embarrassed because he couldn't say anything. "Father, this is surprising that you are not able to construct a sentence," I jested.

He released a nervous sigh. "I know..." One more time, he cleared his throat. "About what I did in the past..." he started. My ears were all on him as soon as he said that. "Your mother said that She already showed you the horrible things I did..."

I nodded. "Yes... She is." I heaved out a soft sigh. I gripped the holder of the teacup, realizing that this was it. This was the time we both needed to resort to our feelings and talk about the past. "You became strict to me because you wished me to fulfill my duty as one of the witnesses of Mother's creation... and as the Goddess of Marriage."

My lips were quivering. I couldn't help shedding tears when I started to speak about the memories of how to gain my father's attention. It was hard to beg for his attention. It was as if he never treated me as his daughter.

My eyes widened as I could finally see and realize the expression he kept expressing every time that I was excited to keep mentioning Alpha Denzil and Luna Helen who always worried about my welfare was a painful expression after all. There were times I kept comparing him to Alpha Denzil because Alpha Denzil meant so much to me, acting more like a father figure than my father.

How could I fail to see it and keep being blinded by anger?

"I am sorry..." Father spoke. His voice croaked. It was like he had been holding back for so long as he also shed tears like me. "I am fully aware that you despise me because of the things I did back then. Your mother is right. The method I used had grown us apart, my daughter. I only thought it was best for you at those moments. I want you to fulfill your duty as I fulfilled my duty to be one of her mates." He paused for a moment and looked at me with teary eyes. "Lunaria left you with me as soon as you were born and She told me what your purpose is." He closed his eyes, sighing. "I was devastated because I felt like your mother used me... There was a moment that I despised you, Novalie."

I could feel my heart slowly breaking apart upon hearing my father's words. My hands were fidgeting, wanting to leave but I wanted to know more.

"So, do you despise me even from the time I was growing up?" My tone laced how I was hurt upon hearing that.

'Novalie? What is happening?' I almost jumped to my seat when Frederick mind linked to me. I could sense the concern in his tone. I blocked him off and ignored him. I even blocked the feelings so he couldn't feel that I was feeling hurt.

I didn't want to worry Frederick. I needed to deal with this alone.

Father shook his head. "No... I don't..."

I smiled bitterly. "But that is not what I saw back then. My efforts were always in vain, trying to please you but you never bat an eye on me, Father."

Father panicked, shaking his head. "No, Novalie. All your efforts, your wins, your losses, your activities, I have written them in my journal. You can see how much I adore you and love you."

Mother was right. Father was really keeping a journal that was all about me. Now that Father said that I wanted to read the journal he had written.

I flinched when Father held my hand. "Novalie... I never neglected you and always watched over you just like what your mother is doing in the celestial realm. From the time you are born, I promise your mother that I will take care of you. But somehow, I was feeling betrayed and did not give my full trust in her..." His eyes were brimming with tears as he covered my hands with his. "She warned me as soon as She bestowed you to me, my daughter. But I did not listen and became selfish. I only wanted you to fulfill your duty because you have the blood of a deity. I hope in time you will forgive your father for his stupidity."

I couldn't help wailing right now as soon as he finished talking. Father stood up and hugged me so tight.

"I love you, my daughter. Your mother and I will always love you. You are our precious treasure... our daughter. My beloved pup," Father said, sobbing.

"Father..." I cried like I was the seven-year-old Novalie who had been wanting to grab her father's hug and caress. I felt like I was thrown back and my attitude right now was more in a child state.

I didn't care.

Father explained and asked for my forgiveness. That was what I had been waiting for for so long. And this was it... The reconciliation I wanted to have.

"I am sorry, my love..." Father whispered. "I have hurt you... It pains me to see you hurting. I did not even tell you before that your favorite slave was Prince Atticus after all." There was full of regret smeared in his tone.

"It took you so long to explain, Father..." I bawled.

Father held my face and wiped the tears from my eyes. At that moment, I saw his gentle fatherly gaze. "Please forgive me... Your father is really a jerk." I nodded, agreeing with him. He chuckled and kissed my forehead. "You are still my little pup even if you are already a grown woman, Novalie."

I cried more and nodded. It was so good to hear these things from my father. His tone did not sense that he was lying. He was being genuine right now with his soft voice.

I stood up so I could hug my father more. Father hugged me back and showed me that he really adored me as his daughter.

"Your father will always be here for you, alright?" I nodded. "If Atticus makes you cry again, I swear, I am going to kill him for good." I couldn't help chuckling as I separated from him. I closed my eyes when Father wiped the tears from my eyes using his hands. "You looked so much like your mother. Even Her attitude... You inherited it from Her."

I sniffed and grinned. "I only got your eye color," I commented.

Father nodded. "Indeed."

We both hugged each other one more time. Then I shivered when I felt a cold breeze pass through. I looked up and gasped seeing Mother who was beside us. She was in her spirit form and was smiling at our reunion.

I was about to call Her when the ground shook. I shuddered when I heard a loud howl coming from afar. Turning my head, I saw Frederick's white wolf form coming toward us. He instantly turned into his human form, having a concerned expression.

"Did something happen?" he asked, worried as he exchanged his eyes between Father and me.

Father and I looked at each other before we both smiled and turned at him. "Nothing." We both gasped when we spoke in unison.

We chuckled after that before Father took my hand and guided me towards where Frederick was standing. "Take care of my daughter, Atticus. Remember that she is my one and only daughter. I swear that I am going to kill you if you hurt Novalie again," he threatened before he bestowed my hand to Frederick.

"Father..." I frowned at his words.

"Um..." Confused, Frederick took my hand. "Of course... I am not going to hurt Novalie anymore. I already promised her that."

Father squinted his eyes at him. "Good." He nodded in approval. "That is good to hear." He glanced at me. "Tell me if ever that he makes you cry, I am not going to let it slide."

Sighing, I playfully rolled my eyes. "Please, Father..." Dear me...

Father wouldn't stop threatening my darling.

Mother... Help me, please.

I stiffened when I heard a soft giggle of a woman. I knew for certain that was my mother which made me smile.