No Basis

*Chapter 45*

"Novalie."

I glanced up at Jonathan who just knocked and opened the door of my study room. I smiled and ushered my hand before I reclined in my seat. "Come on in, brother-in-law."

Jonathan nodded and emerged. He halted when he was surprised to see Frederick kneeling on the floor while his arms were wrapping around my waist.

Obsessively.

I chuckled and caressed Frederick's hair when he shot Jonathan a glare before he scoffed and melted at my touch. "Don't mind him, Jonathan. Come and sit here." I gestured my hand to the empty couch across from me. I glanced at Frederick. "Behave." He nodded.

Jonathan followed what I said. "I want to express my gratitude for granting a few antidotes for Reginald, Novalie."

I gripped Frederick's hair in annoyance as I frowned. "I am not going to say you're welcome or it is my pleasure." I rolled my eyes. "Right, darling?"

Frederick hissed in pain but he looked pleased with it before he nodded. "Yes, my goddess."

Jonathan cleared his throat. He must have felt uncomfortable because of how Frederick and I were intimate with each other. And this man of mine was so needy and clingy, I almost punished him.

"I understand. You and my brother would never get along." He nodded. "Also, I would like to know what will happen once Reginald wakes up. If this shall be—"

"Then it shall be another brawl. However, I cannot promise that he will be alive this time if he keeps provoking me and touching my property." I caressed Frederick's cheek with my knuckles. He purred under my touch which made my stomach somersault. Then I looked at Jonathan. "I would be happy if you would convince that bastard to divorce our marriage peacefully."

His forehead creased. "I will try to convince him with that but I cannot promise if Reginald will listen to me."

I rolled my eyes as an answer. "If you cannot convince him, then he will do something drastic by putting the reputation of the House of Westervelt in shame. I do believe he cherishes it but I think he can put it aside as long as he achieves what he wants."

"And that is?"

"To become a marquis."

Jonathan's eyes widened. "Marquis?" He gasped. "W-What do you mean by that?" Smiling, I told him what I knew so far. What I told Frederick were the same details I bestowed to Jonathan. "What the hell... But why last and will testament? If he eagerly wants that noble status, he should wait until your father dies before you can inherit the Marquis title in your own right, Novalie. And I don't think that should happen since a werewolf can still be alive even if they reached the Centenarian age. He has to wait for a very long time. What is your father's goal for not allowing your marriage to be divorced?" He stood up and started pacing back and forth, panicking.

Frederick and I exchanged glances before I settled myself. "No idea." I shrugged. "I don't know what my father is thinking. Perhaps, he just wants to exhaust his daughter until I completely consume." I chuckled when Frederick shot me a glare. He really didn't like it if I always talked about this kind of topic. It always annoyed him. I glanced up at Jonathan. "Of all the men I had an arranged marriage with, I think Father's favorite son-in-law is Reginald."

What I said made me want to puke right now. I even felt Frederick's hold tighten around my waist which I ignored.

"You have no basis for that, Novalie. I don't think that's it." He looked into my eyes as his ocean blue orbs were sparkling. "Whenever I observe your father and my older brother conversing, I do not see any favoritism behavior in him."

I snorted. "Right..." I rolled my eyes, not wanting to believe what he said because, from my perspective, that was not what I see from Father.

His jaw dropped a little before he cleared his throat. "I think both you and Marquis Argerich have a miscommunication with each other, Novalie."

I creased my forehead. "What the hell are you talking about? Father and I never had a miscommunication."

He looked surprised. "But... I always caught Marquis Argerich looking at you with adoration. As a father is proud of his daughter."

I clenched my hand, ignoring Frederick who looked up at me. "How can you say that... That is not what I see from him," I said through gritted teeth. "He is a cold-hearted father who only sees his daughter as an item in the marriage market." I smiled bitterly. "Because I am a woman. That is a fact, Jonathan. Remember that Reginald placed Patricia in the marriage market as well. She has to attend so many ball parties to find a suitable noble who would match her. Fortunately for her, she found her mate at that time."

There was bitterness poisoning my whole being. It felt so wrong to feel this yet I was engulfed by this sea of envy at Patricia.

"I suggest you need to find your mate soon before Reginald intervenes with you." I shrugged. "Ah, yes. You are already engaged with someone you have never met yet."

He stood up. "W-What?! Me?!" I nodded. He shook his head. "Reginald hasn't mentioned this thing to me yet!" He panicked.

Sighing, I looked down at Frederick who was watching my expression. His expression looked solemn.

"Of course, he will reveal it to you in your coming of age ceremony, Jonathan." I tapped Frederick's shoulder. "Well, since I love spoiling fun, I want to tell this to my brother-in-law as soon as possible." I giggled.

Jonathan still panicked at my words. Then he clutched his hair. "Damn it... I must find my mate before that happens!" He started pacing back and forth.

I glanced at the wall clock and saw that it was already midnight. "Why don't you head back now to the rest house, Jonathan? I believe Patricia needs you there for assurance about Reginald. I'll have Heimon escort you there again."

He halted and faced me. "Novalie... You are not kidding about this, right? This is not one of your mischievous acts, right?"

I laughed shortly. "I am certain that when I conversed with you, I take matters seriously, Jonathan. There is no reason for me to pull some antics on you especially if Reginald is involved here." Shrugging, I smiled at him.

He sighed in exasperation and nodded. "I see..." He massaged his temple. "I must head back. Let's converse tomorrow."

"Alright. Have a good night." I waved my hand at him before he stormed out of my study room. I turned at Frederick who used my head as his pillow while he gently pinched my side. "What do you think, darling? Do you think he is only acting or he is being a genuine person?"

He purred when I caressed his cheek again. He even closed his eyes in submission before he opened them to look at me.

"I don't like him, my goddess. But the emotions he showed earlier is a sign of a person not acting."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

I smiled at his answer. "Good boy. You are correct." It didn't take long for him to be melted at my compliment. "That is why I am comfortable with Jonathan." I tapped the space beside me. "Come and sit here. Don't just sit on the floor, darling."

"Yes, my goddess."

He sat beside me. I opened my arms to allow him to hug me. But Frederick pulled me inside his arms, unlike the usual action I did as having him in my arms.

I tapped his back as I laid my head on his chest, contemplating. "Are you close with your parents, darling?" I asked after a moment of silence.

He stiffened but he answered afterward. "Yes, I am, my goddess."

"Are they still alive?"

"Um..."

"Are you close with your father?" I diverted the question when he stayed silent. I must have hit a nerve.

"I do, my goddess."

I hummed. "That's good... I envy you," I said, closing my eyes. "I could have wished that I was born a commoner having Omega blood, instead of Beta," I murmured as Frederick tightened his hug on me.

He didn't say anything. His hand on my back was busy caressing it. I suddenly felt safe in his arms.

"Next month. I will be attending a masquerade ball party at the Art Institute of Selenium." I peeled my eyes open and distanced myself away from him. "You are not allowed to come inside of that art gallery since it is a prestigious event. But you are coming with me this time. I will have you wait in the carriage with Basil," I explained as I decided to straddle him. "This is just a simple instruction, Frederick. I am having you stay away from Reginald at the moment. Who knows... if I am not bringing you with me, he would have killed you, which I do not want to happen."

There was a sly smile stretched out on his lips. "My goddess, you sound so caring right now. Do you not wish for me to almost die?" He drew closer to my face.

His closeness made me feel intoxicated. His presence was so overwhelming it made my body on fire right now.

I rolled my eyes to ignore this kind of feeling I felt. Then I tapped his cheek, having a cheeky smile on my lips.

"You are so full of yourself, darling. Like I said before, I protect my property. Nothing more, nothing less." I stood up and opened my palm. "Let's go, darling. Let's head back to the chamber. It's already late."

His face brightened up before he intertwined my hand with his. I felt a jolt of electricity every time our skin brushed against each other and every time our hands were intertwining as one. It was making me and my wolf shiver in delight but I learned to ignore and chastise it away.

"My goddess, can I tell when we will have our date and where it shall be?" Frederick asked as soon as we arrived at my chamber. He opened the door and allowed me to come in.

I turned to him as soon as I sat in my bed. "Be certain that it will not be a hindrance to my schedule," I stated when he knelt on one knee.

I raised my foot to stomp his face which Frederick accepted with delight. He took it and placed a sensual kiss on my toe before his olive orbs darted on me. "On the first day of spring. At the Calsend Hills. A picnic date. Just you and me."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "First day of spring?" I asked to confirm. Frederick nodded. "Why first day of spring, darling?" I used my foot to make him look up at me more.

With my question, there was a meaningful smile drawn to his lips before he answered, "It is your birthday, my goddess."