To Become the Matriarch

*Chapter 60*

I spent my afternoon having some tea with Father. When I arrived at the gazebo, he bestowed me a meaningful glare. He was likely to suspect that Frederick and I had done something nasty in other parts of the mansion.

"Why did you not bring your knight here then?" Father asked bitterly after a moment of silence.

I looked at him. "Because I only need some peace here in the gazebo, Father. I already have a hunch that you will lash out on my darling," I answered as I simply drank on my tea.

I glanced at Father and saw his contorted face. He must have not liked the idea that I was calling him on an endearment.

Sighing, he reclined to his seat. "I just remember now about your... birthday. It all happened yesterday."

I looked at my reflection from the teacup, arching my eyebrow. "Allow me to guess, you asked Alpha Denzil about it, correct?" I looked up to see him averting his gaze from me. The sign of looking guilty but he won't admit that he was wrong was palpable. He never changed at all. "It is nothing new, Father. I am already used to it. It is not as if this isn't the first time you forgot about it. I almost think that you forgot that you have a daughter."

"Novalie!" His tone raised in annoyance

"It is a fact, Father. Just admit it." I shrugged.

His jaw dropped at my response before he sighed. "In order to compensate for it, what gift do you wish for me to bestow you?" he asked after a moment of silence.

As soon as he asked that, I secretly smiled. This was what I had been waiting for. It was something that I really wanted after all. This was my true agenda.

"I know that you have been refusing to accept any gifts from me. But, I still want to insist on what you want to have. I shall give it to you. And I will not ask for the reason why you choose that."

I tilted my head a little, looking at Father with a small smile. "Actually, there is something that I wish to get, Father."

His face brightened up. "Yes? Anything, my daughter?"

I changed my expression into a stoic one. I did not wish to prolong this any moment. I had been waiting for this. This was my opportunity to take it.

"I wish to become a Marchioness in my own right."

As soon as I said that, Father suddenly coughed from drinking his tea. "What...?" he asked, slightly disoriented as he coughed.

"I wish to become a Marchioness in my own right," I repeated, wanting to sigh in annoyance.

He coughed one more time as he had choked on his saliva while I was sitting there, unfazed by Father's actions. I wonder when he will stop doing that. It was as if he had been taken by surprise.

Or perhaps, what I did was a surprise. He must have thought that I wanted something materialistic, something a spoiled daughter would want. However, that wasn't my goal now. I was no longer the daughter who wanted this and that.

"Am I... hearing it, right? You want to become—"

"Father, how many times do I have to repeat myself? And you are not hearing it wrong," I said casually.

When Father seemed to have calmed down, he massaged his chest before his eyebrows met in one place. "Why? Why all of a sudden you wish to have my noble title, Novalie?"

I clasped my hands and placed my elbows on the table. "Father, you said earlier that you are not going to ask anything as to what could have been the reason why I want it. Have you forgotten about it already?" I fluttered my eyes, emphasizing what he said earlier.

That irked him before he sighed nervously. "I-It's different, Novalie. Passing the marquis title is for—"

"I am your only heiress who shall become the matriarch of the House of Argerich, Father. You even have no male descendants. We all know that Grandpa Miguel doesn't have any relatives," I pointed out. "And besides, who else would inherit your marquis title? That would be me." I leaned forward. "Or perhaps, you have an illegitimate child that I am not aware of." I masked my tone with a cold, fathomless one to instigate something from my father.

He didn't answer. I squinted my eyes with his reaction.

"Which reminds me, did you find *them*?" I asked meaningfully.

Father creased his forehead. "No. That is not what I am tasked for, Novalie. You know that. There is *only one* who must do that."

That made me relieved somehow. I thought he was finding this way to find *them*. "If so, then why are you hesitating to pass down your title, Father? Is there some test I must take in order to be fit that I will serve the royal lycan family?" I reclined to my seat and crossed my arms over my chest. "Which nobles do you wish me to eliminate to inherit it? What sort of test do you wish me to experience so I can be suitable as the matriarch of our family?"

Father placed his elbow on the table and massaged his temple. "I can easily pass down the title to you and you can become Marchioness in your own right, Novalie."

"Then, why are you hesitating?"

He looked at me like he was being troubled. "I am more worried that you will have to accept the task from the royal lycan family..." His hazel orbs I inherited from him locked in mine. "There is a high chance that you have to meet all the lycan princes. That includes Prince Atticus."

I clenched and was about to bark upon hearing that name when Father and I turned our heads in the direction of the bushes. We became alert even though we didn't hear any rustling sound. We knew that someone was eavesdropping right away.

With that, I happened to smell Frederick's scent as my mate which made me want to fume in anger.

"Frederick," I called his name coldly. "Come out there." That made my blood boil when he didn't show himself. I rose from my seat to grab the chair I was sitting at. "You know how impatient I am." I held the armchair and raised it.

I was about to throw it in his direction when he emerged out, panicking. "I-I didn't mean to pry!" He raised both of his hands. "M-My goddess... P-Please forgive me!" With that, he knelt to the grass while his head was pressed to the ground.

I heard Father scoffing. "I didn't know that you have a stubborn knight, Novalie. If I were you, I shall discard him as soon as possible for disobeying his master's orders."

With Father's words, Frederick trembled in fear before he raised his eyes to meet mine. He shook his head. "P-Please don't discard me... Y-You know my loyalty reserves to you..."

"Loyalty, my ass," Father retorted bitterly.

I looked at him deadly, which made him gulp before I decided to place the chair back in its place. "Ten meters away, Frederick," I commanded firmly.

"No, no." I looked at Father when he spoke. "You can let him stay here and listen to our conversation."

"Huh?" I tilted my head a little, confused. "You are going to have a dispute against my knight, Father."

Father's expression changed into a bright one. "No. It's fine. I am not going to lash out at him. We have matters to talk about if you want to inherit my marquis title."

"Are you sure?" I arched my eyebrow before I glanced at Frederick who was begging for forgiveness from eavesdropping. When I saw that Father had assured me, I turned my head again at Frederick. "Come here, darling."

Frederick nodded. "Y-Yes..." He stood up and went beside me.

When our eyes met, I squinted my eyes at him. It meant that he would be dead to me later. He gulped and looked away.

With that, I turned at Father to urge him to continue. He nodded. "In becoming the head of our family, you are required to attend as part of the royal court. This means there is a discussion about implementing a new royal ordinance from Alpha King Azarius' royal decree and other things to discuss such as economic, financial, and political management for the betterment of our kingdom. However, that is not your only role there. You know the Argerich is the—"

"We are one of the swords of the De Carteret royal family," I chimed in and understood what Father was trying to mean.

After all, we had the insignia of orchid and crossed swords. Also, some noble families were considered as the swords of the royal lycan family. We were not the only ones who had the responsibility to be the swords.

Some noble families were considered as shields and spears of the royal lycan family.

Also, did Father think that I did not know the patriarch or matriarch of the noble family must attend the meeting? He must have forgotten that Reginald was also part of the royal court which reminds me that Reginald would always go out every time he was being summoned to the royal palace.

"Indeed." Father nodded. "If His Majesty orders you to eliminate someone, you have no right to question it. We are the swords. We are bound to protect our kingdom by any means."

I clasped my hands together about this topic. "Does this mean you will put me on a test? Which members of the noble families must I eliminate?" I asked, getting excited.

His jaw dropped before he shook his head. He must have not believed that his daughter was being overjoyed with killing. I had been wanting to kill someone. However, I did not want to commit a royal crime.

"If there must be a test, allow me to kill my husband, Father." I giggled.

"Novalie!" I didn't flinch when he slammed the table. "What kind of discourtesy is that?!"

I frowned and shrugged. "I am just jesting," I lied. "You are no fun to talk to." I pretended that I was hurt from my father's words but inside, I was getting ready to kill Reginald any moment. I was just waiting for the right moment where I would explode from Reginald's absurdity.

It was why I was waiting for him to get provoked with my actions. If in time he started to retaliate, there was another reason for me to finish him in an instant. Without fail, for sure.

Father squinted his eyes at me. "Do not even jest that in front of our Alpha King, Novalie. You do not wish to see how he gets furious. Do you understand me?"

That made me behave. The last person I wanted to collide with was Alpha King Azarius, he was the Alpha of the Alphas. I knew well that I mustn't make any mistake in front of him even though I must say that he was a kind-hearted one.

However, Alpha King Azarius was dressed in a sheep's skin. They said that he was merciful but his true colors were different from the ones they usually saw.

"You shall start your training as soon as I manage to set my schedules and your schedules in one place. Until then, you know how strict I am when it comes to this, Novalie."

"Gruesome training to the point that you want yourself to be killed." I smiled furtively. "Fret not, Father. I understand your point since I grew up in this household after all."

I wanted to scoff. Did he think that I would forget those hellish training that I experienced just to be a good noble lady whenever I had to face the nobles?

"Very well." He glanced beside me before he returned his gaze to me. "Also, about meeting the lycan princes. You will have to see your ex-fiancé," he paused.

That made me silent. Father was pausing because he was testing the water if I was good enough to listen to Prince Atticus. I inhaled and exhaled before I spoke.

"Have you... already seen him, Father?" I asked. I heard Frederick inhaling sharply but softly. I ignored it as I transfixed my eyes at my father. "He has never shown himself to the public. I did not even meet back when you arranged my marriage with him..."

I gripped the skirt of my dress when I felt my insides boiling in annoyance. Calm down, Novalie. We must not lose our composure. Do not even make an embarrassing action towards your father.

Father scoffed and smirked. "Ah, yes... Your mysterious ex-fiancé... Of course, he never shows himself to the royal court. I only saw him when I was being summoned by Alpha King Azarius privately. He always goes out for expeditions," he paused a little and exchanged his glance between me and Frederick. "Alpha King Azarius is aware that you hated the last prince, Novalie."

I sealed my lips, not wanting to be scandalous. I was panicking that His Majesty was already aware of it.

"Will it threaten him if he knows that I will become the matriarch soon?"

He shook his head. "It is already understandable if you will hate Prince Atticus. He already understands that." He took a sip of his tea. I also felt relief upon knowing that. "Oh, I remember. His Majesty is furious these days."

I creased my forehead. "What could have been the reason? Are the rogues making a rebellion?" I asked, curious.

That was the plausible reason I could think of.

"Not that." He shook his head. "Prince Atticus hasn't returned to the palace to make his usual report. It means that he has been missing for a few months already."

"Missing?" I asked, perplexed. Then it hit me.

*"Atticus is missing, sister-in-law."*

The Twin Garnets said the same thing to me!

"He asked his other brothers but it seemed that they knew where he was but they did not want to tell His Majesty." He sighed and drew out a small smile. "I am certain that if Prince Atticus won't show himself to his older brother, there would be chaos. I hope Prince Atticus knows that," he said meaningfully.

I just shrugged, undaunted. "Then that must be good news for me." I grinned as I sipped on my tea. "Father, if in case that His Majesty wants to look for His Highness, Prince Atticus, tell him that I am volunteering myself to hunt him down."

There was a sly smile on my lips as he exchanged his glances between me and Frederick. "Oh? Novalie, such a term you used is like His Highness is a wild animal you want to hunt down. You are a bit ruthless. Isn't that right, my daughter's knight?"

I glanced at Frederick who just smiled wryly. "Y-Yes, L-Lord Argerich," he answered, stammering. When Frederick glanced at me, he jumped to his feet and lowered his head. "I-Is there something wrong, m-my goddess?"

I stayed silent while I was hearing the loud pound of his heart. Like it was as if he was caught red-handed. Was he frightened about my words that I am going to hunt down the fifth lycan prince? Hmm... He must be though because I could do the same thing to him.

I returned my gaze to Father.

"Father, I wish to confirm that I will become the Marchioness in my own right, correct?"

"Indeed. You need to train first. I also need to inform His Majesty about passing my inheritance to you." He massaged his nape. "Also, for my son-in-law, Reginald, he needs to become an Argerich and change his surname from Westervelt."

"Will he become a marquis?"

I stopped my breathing to wait for his answer. I hope I wasn't right that he would become a marquis. I was hoping that he would only bear the Argerich surname but he wouldn't be granted a noble title.

"Yes. He will become a marquis."

Father's answer made me clench my hands. "I see..." I heaved out a sigh. I was right then... This was annoying...

However, setting that aside, my agenda has been concluded.

"I hope in passing my title to you in the near future shall make you happy, Novalie. I hope this is enough as compensation for I failed to remember your birthdays for the past years," he said in a dejected tone.

That made me smile sweetly upon hearing it. It also meant that my plans wouldn't put in an idle.

"Of course, Father. This is the best gift I would ever cherish."

Also, this was enough bargain to make me forget what Father did but he must not be at ease that I would ever forgive him for the mistakes he did back then.

Especially since I had been longing for a parental figure which he failed to provide, only Alpha Denzil and Luna Helen were the people I could consider as my parents.