First Day of Spring

*Chapter 53*

"So, how should the date really be going?" I asked, wondering as I watched Frederick laying a blanket on the grass as soon as we arrived at the top of the Calsend Hills.

"Hmm?" Frederick smiled at my question and approached me to offer his hand. "Well, a date is something you should start going to know each other to see if you are both interested in a romantic relationship or if you want to strengthen your mate bond before finally accepting each other."

I arched my eyebrow. This man... "I agree with your wish. I am not interested in being in a relationship or strengthening our mate bond. Even if you say that we are fated mates." I rolled my eyes before I accepted his hand.

He helped me to sit down after I flattened my skirt with my other free hand and gathered it in one place as I sat in the blanket. I blinked when I got to see the nice view of the Lone Crow pack from here.

"This is for you." I turned my head at him when he bestowed me a bouquet of... I sniffed when I smelled floral and sweet-smelling flowers. "This is a bouquet of freesia which has the same scent as you, Novalie."

"So, you are disrespecting me now by calling me by my name?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Come on. Today, you are not my master and I am not your slave. I said that I want us to date like a couple... a man and a woman." He shrugged.

I wanted to frown when my heart reacted at how charming his smile was. Even my wolf was looking and squirming like crazy with his flowery words.

I sighed. "Fine. But this is only for today." I don't think he would ever follow that. I knew that when he had a chance, he would call me by my name, not addressing me as 'my goddess'.

I accepted his bouquet and smelled it. Sweet-scented floral fragrance... So, this was how I smelled... how Frederick distinguished my smell when he knew that I am his mate.

The floral scent of exotic freesia...

I snapped back when Frederick leaned forward. "What—"

He beamed. "And today is the first day of spring. It makes sense why you smelled like the freesia flower because freesia is a spring flower."

My eyes widened from his explanation. I didn't know why but I think I felt my face turn into a crimson red. I even felt my stomach somersaulted. I was even lost with words as I didn't expect that Frederick would have come to this kind of thinking.

Frederick was always full of surprises. No doubt about that.

I was born on the first day of spring which meant that I smelled like a spring flower.

Make sense... I guess.

"Happy birthday, Novalie." I fluttered my eyelids and looked at Frederick who was staring at me with his soft gaze.

My heart felt troubled and my mind went haywire as soon as Frederick drew closer to me until he managed to capture my lips. I couldn't help myself from responding to him. I knew I shouldn't let him since this wasn't the date he asked for but my body was betraying me. It only wanted Frederick's touch.

I felt this should be the best gift I ever received.

I was the first one who broke the kiss, feeling disoriented from that slow, passionate one. My wolf even begged me to crush my lips against Frederick but I halted and blocked her before she could even control my body and she would be the one who would create such a chaotic situation that would make me feel embarrassed again.

I heard Frederick's soft sigh before he took something from the basket. He showed me a flower crown and put it in my head. "There..." He smiled gently. "This matches your white dress, Novalie. It suits you."

I rolled my eyes as I settled down to my white dress. "I am not used to wearing a white dress if you will ask me." I glared at him. "You request to make me wear this."

This morning, after my servants helped me to take a bath, Frederick was the one who prepared for the dress I would wear for our... date. He was even the one who informed Holland to just let my wavy hair be cascaded down while it was loosely tied up in a half-ponytail.

It was uncomfortable that I had to wear a white dress because it made me remind myself back in my teenage years when I had to wear pastel colors. It made me want to look pure and... innocent. That was not me.

I told that to Frederick but his answer to that was...

"Because to me, you became more like a goddess that I want to worship every single day."

I heaved out a sigh. Indeed, he repeated what he said earlier before we arrived here at the hills. I was irritated to see his beaming smile and the way he was looking at me like he would cherish me... forever.

I averted my gaze away from him. I didn't want to expect anything from anyone. I didn't want to grow fond because I knew that people would hurt me in the end.

Frederick must have noticed my silence when he cleared his throat so I turned my attention to him. "So, I prepared for this day and woke up so early." He brought out the food he kept in the basket. "I made a cheddar potato chowder, sandwich, and some sweet snacks."

I caressed my nose when I almost laughed at him. "You know that I do not have a big appetite for this heavy meal, Frederick."

"Who says that you are going to eat this alone?" He grinned. "We will share it together." He winked.

With that, he started serving us the food. I wondered about something of his actions.

"Aren't you acting like a servant of what you are doing?" I asked. I noticed that he was the one who served me. "Is this how a date must be?" I tilted my head in curiosity.

Frederick smiled and sat beside me. "Well, of course, a gentleman must serve his lady. I am the one who asks for the date so I must serve you well, not because I am acting like a servant. This is an act of service in expressing how you cherish your mate."

I smiled wryly. Act of service? Cherish your mate? "What on the Moon Goddess' name are you spouting?" I felt like I was having chills down my spine. I had no idea what the date really was.

He chuckled and spooned the soup. "Say 'ah'."

I distanced my head from the spoon. "I-I can manage to eat by myself." Why did I suddenly feel nervous around Frederick? What he was doing right now was making me disoriented somehow...

Must I panic about this feeling that I was enjoying his company yet I found him bizarre?

"You always do this to me, Novalie. So, why can't I do the same thing?" he teased.

I frowned. "Because that's different." I rolled my eyes.

"How is that different? Because you are not the one feeding me?" He wriggled his eyebrows. "It is not as if I put some love potion here."

I glared at him. This mischievous side of him was getting uncontrollable today. Was this really Frederick's side aside from being a puppy slave?

In the end, I allowed him to feed me albeit I found it bizarre for my own good. I didn't get to experience something like this as I was always the one who fed my slaves.

"This... is actually good." I looked at him after tasting it. "Did you cook it again?" I couldn't hide my excitement because I wanted more. How could he cook so well?

"Indeed. Do you still want some?" I nodded. "Alright." His expression softened as he fed me. "I really prepared them for you. I want to celebrate your birthday with the fact that I am the one who cooked the food we will eat today."

I halted when my wolf suddenly wanted to squirm. I castigated her and shut her up because if she kept doing that, I might ruin the request Frederick asked. If that ruins, he would ask for another one to compensate for ruining it.

"You are really a good cook, I admit," I said as I cleared my throat when I finished the soup.

He beamed a smile. "I am pleased to know that. I actually learned to cook for you."

"What?" I looked at him, surprised.

Frederick stiffened as he chuckled nervously. "I mean..." he paused and scratched his head. "I wanted to learn to cook so if I meet my mate, I would cook for her favorite food." He leaned forward. "What is your favorite food, Novalie? I want to know." He smiled sheepishly.

"Can you distance yourself a little?" I pushed him away because his beaming face was making me shudder. I wasn't used to this attitude of Frederick. It was quite dangerous that he shone too much. I couldn't handle it. "Is this part of a date?" I asked after he chuckled.

Frederick nodded. "Yes. Let's get to know each other."

I pushed his forehead away when he attempted to draw his face near me. "You are creeping me out. I did not know that you were beaming too much."

He suddenly reminded me of Alucard, Alistair, and Alejandro. They had mischievous personalities. They beamed and shone so much I wanted to cover them with black satin.

They were blinding me. That includes Frederick.

"Because I have no restrictions for today. I will not behave since you are mine for today!" he said excitedly as he hugged me.

"Hmm!" I couldn't breathe! He made me bury his face in his chest! Damn it! "...rick!" I punched him on his back when he didn't want to let go of me.

"I am only yours, Novalie. And you... you are only mine."

I halted from punching his back when he spoke earnestly. I even felt chills crawling down my spine at his words.

"I will never let you go anymore. Even if you have come to the point that you will hate me in the near future." I heard his sigh. "Novalie... I cannot hold back anymore. I need to stop this madness I felt for you. You are the poison I want to consume. You are the only woman who I can let trample me... Novalie... My goddess... I only want your happiness. I am willing to give you the world."

I felt my heart was being caressed. Even my wolf was too stunned to even move from this sudden confession of Frederick.

But this confession would put me at a disadvantage soon. I didn't want to expect anything and anyone. It would hurt me in the end.

Let's halt this madness, Novalie. Do not allow anyone to make you vulnerable ever again.

"Frederick..." I called his name and tapped his back. "Let's talk aside from this..."

That earned him a silence but his hug tightened before he sighed. "So, what is your favorite food?" he asked in a beaming tone when he broke the hug.

I shot him a glare. He wouldn't drop that topic, would he?

"Sweet and spicy spareribs," I replied.

His face showed surprise before he blinked and smiled. "Your favorite color is red," he said. He wasn't talking to me. More likely, talking to himself. "How about your favorite flower?"

I frowned. "Is this how you must get to know each other? This is a very childish question..."

He shrugged. "I want to know every little detail about you. It is not that bad, right?" He wriggled his eyebrows.

"I do not know the relevance of needing to know them."

"Because it's you, Novalie. I want to know more about you. I want to pay more attention and remember them all. I shall cherish them while I am busy admiring you."

What he said rendered me speechless.

Bloody hell... Why would my heart jump out of my ribcage right now? His explanation was pretty absurd but why did my heart react just for that? Even my stomach somersaulted.

Was this what they called butterflies in your stomach?

I snapped back when Frederick took my hand and brought it to his lips. "If I were you, I would answer my questions. Say, you choose to be silent all the time, then I shall not consider it as a date. I must demand another since I am not satisfied."

That made my blood boil. I knew it! He was blackmailing me right now. I wanted to retort back but his eyes were telling me not to do that.

I frowned. "Fine..." Damn it! This was so not me! I wasn't used to a man who was the one controlling the situation. I felt vulnerable... I glared at him. "I shall make you pay back for this later tonight, Frederick."

He only smirked and shrugged like it didn't matter to him. "Well?"

"Red peonies," I replied, snorting.

Throughout the whole day, he kept bothering and asking me stupid questions. I even had no choice but to answer them since he kept reasoning that it was getting to know each other.

Wait...

Something was wrong.

"I shall ask, too!" I chimed in with a huge frown sitting on my face.

His lips drew a condescending smile. It seemed like he had been wanting to be asked as well. "Yes? What do you want to know about me?"

"Um..." My heart leaped when Frederick laid down and used my head as a pillow. Then he looked up at me with a smile before he took my hand to place it on his cheek.

"Go on. Continue."

"Uh..." I suddenly got lost in words when Frederick was looking at me intently. His action seemed like he was being attentive and would listen to me.

That made my heart react again. Damn it! I felt like I was sick already because every time I would lay my eyes on Frederick, I felt ticklish inside. It gave me trouble for some reason.

"I..." Speak, Novalie! Speak, you damn woman! "I..." I glanced at Frederick who was waiting patiently. I bit my lower lip as I didn't know what to ask. I wasn't used to doing this. I felt like my mind wasn't working properly right now.

Frederick must have seen how I was panicking and troubled right now. He gently pinched my hand. "It's alright, Novalie. You can take your time. I am not pressuring you, sweetheart."

I shivered at his endearment to me. I knew I heard it somewhere. I already thought that it wasn't Frederick who said that.

But why did it feel so nice to be called that one? It felt like I was his lover already.

I castigated myself for thinking absurdity. Lover... I didn't even know what that was.

"I..." I paused and gathered my courage to tell him. "W-When is your birthday?"

With my question, Frederick's smile gradually dissipated.