Not Insisting

*Chapter 62*

I finished my lessons for today. Father didn't even hesitate to bestow me tons of work before I would leave from the Wall Burgundy pack. As soon as I arrived there, I was greeted by Frederick whose face brightened up when he saw me.

Ever since I started my training, I made sure that Frederick was being safe here while I was away. I wanted to be certain that Reginald wouldn't dare to touch Frederick again.

It was the last thing I wanted to know.

"How's your progress, Novalie?"

I glanced up when Reginald spoke. We were dining together along with my darling.

"I am doing good. I am already handling the accounting records of the House of Argerich," I answered him, waiting to see his reaction.

There was a sly smile on his lips. "You are taking matters seriously these days. Of all things you must want to have as your birthday present, why would you even choose to have a noble title again?"

I drank some wine before I sliced a piece of meat to munch. "I am tired of being a Viscountess. So, why can't I become a Marchioness? Also, your noble title is lower than my father's title, Reginald. Do not even speak barbarously as if the marquis title is the lowest of them all," I retorted and snorted.

Reginald smiled bitterly. His ocean blue eyes were telling me that he didn't like how I talked back to him. "You always assume that I am the bad guy here. I am just pointing out, Novalie." He shrugged.

"Ah, yes. Because you are also going to benefit here. *It shall be the rise of you*, right?" I copied the tone he said in those words. I would never forget how he spoke so uncouthly from the time he took me so dry.

He snorted arrogantly. "Right..."

I cut a piece of meat and bestowed it to Frederick whose eyes were transfixed to me. He opened his mouth and munched it.

"Have you informed Jonathan? Must he be supposed to train on becoming Viscount Westervelt? You must summon him back from the royal academy," I pointed out.

"Why would I even bestow him on handling the pack affairs? I can even handle everything!" He snapped back.

My lips parted at his sudden outburst which I already expected that he would act like this as soon as I mentioned his youngest sibling's name.

"Relax, dear husband. Why are you so quick-tempered when it comes to Jonathan?" I asked, grinning. "Will that mean you are frightened that Jonathan can surpass your achievements? Such a pity if you are feeling jealousy against him..."

His eyes flared up in annoyance. "Shut up, Novalie. Do not even utter Jonathan here! I am still the head of the Westervelt Family even if I have to change to Argerich!" He slammed the table. "I'm still the head no matter what happens."

I leaned to the table, fluttering my eyes. "But, dear, how are you going to handle being the Alpha here? You shall be demoted to Beta now since we are going to live at the Wall Burgundy pack. Who must be the next Alpha here? Isn't it Jonathan all along?" I toned my voice like I was acting naive from this.

"I said shut up!" His tone raised. The expression on his face was unexplainable. However, it wasn't that hard to see how he was fuming mad right now.

"Alright." I raised both of my hands as if surrendering right now. I sided glance at Frederick to give him a meaningful gaze.

"My goddess, if you will live in the Wall Burgundy pack, then does it mean you will become the Beta, not your husband, right?"

With Frederick's question, the atmosphere heightened to a not-so-good one. But I smiled at Frederick. It was a sweet smile that could annoy Reginald.

"Of course, darling. I will be the Beta of the Wall Burgundy pack." I grazed his cheek using my finger. "My father is not that dumb to allow a third party to take over the Beta of our pack and head position of the Argerich." I glanced at Reginald. "Dear husband, what must you do then? Must I summon Jonathan?"

In an instant, Frederick blocked my way when Reginald threw his dinner knife in my direction. Frederick managed to capture it before it landed to my... left eye.

"Your remarks are making me puke! You really have no boundaries with your bitchy mouth!"

Reginald pulled the sheets off the table and Frederick immediately scooped me in his arms so we could get away from the hot soup that was about to throw in my direction. That made Reginald want to explode in anger because Frederick was so quick to protect me while I was in his arms smiling from ear to ear.

"Fascinating, Reginald," I said as I licked Frederick's side neck which made him shudder and growled softly. "You know that I am right yet you are refusing to accept those facts." I saddened my tone, expressing how disappointed I was. "That shall bring to your demise, Regy. It makes me feel sorrow."

I even pretended that I was crying as I sniffed. I even acted like I was wiping something on my eyes while no tears were forming in them.

Reginald clenched his teeth. "I shall make you pay for all the inconveniences you have caused to my family! What you did to the House of Westervelt, I shall do the same thing to make you taste your own medicine!" he said angrily.

I tapped Frederick's back, signaling him that he could put me down. Then, I faced Reginald with an arrogant expression smearing on my face.

"I dare you to do that," I challenged. "I dare you to do it right in front of Duke Jansen and to my father, Reginald." His face twitched. "Then, tell me if you are not courting your death." I winked at him.

His face darkened while his teeth clenched. "You have the nerve to do this to me and you think I must be frightened of them?! You conniving bitch! Did you really think that—"

"Why don't we go to the Wall Burgundy pack today and see if you can tarnish the House of Argerich? Tell those words to them, Reginald."

That made him avert his gaze. He hissed and turned his back to leave.

"Can't retort back, Regy?" I asked in a loud tone so he could hear me. "Where is that confidence of yours?!" I grinned.

I heard a loud thug from upstairs. It could mean that Reginald knocked something over there because of his annoyance to me.

"Did you like what happened here, everyone?" I asked all the servants who were here witnessing again how Reginald and I must kill each other.

They averted their gazes from me and lowered their heads. They didn't even dare to speak their minds. Even Philea and Heimon couldn't even dare to look at me.

"Let's get ready to go to the town, darling," I said and beckoned my hand to follow me.

"Yes, my goddess."

"Have you enjoyed your supper?" I asked as we arrived at the town square and started to stroll around. We changed our clothes to peasant clothes. I spun around so I could take a look at Frederick who suddenly made my heart go wild when I caught him looking at me intently.

He knelt on one knee and took my hand so he could place a soft kiss at the back of my palm. "Very much so, my goddess. I have enjoyed seeing you so composed whenever you converse with your bastard husband."

I scoffed, grinning. "If you are married for three years, you really know how to retort back to a moron, darling." I winked. "Stand up there and let's enjoy this night."

"Call I call you on your name?" he asked as we were walking side by side.

I arched my eyebrow. "Aren't you asking for too much, darling?"

He rolled his lips inside his mouth before his lips stretched out into a charming smile. "It is not that bad, my goddess."

"No," I said firmly and shook my head. "You are too demanding for a slave. You need to have your own limits," I retorted. "Let's enjoy this night." I opened my palm inviting him to hold my hand.

Frederick looked at my hand before he smiled. Then in an instant, he grabbed my hand as he started to run which surprised me.

"I'll show you something, my goddess! Hurry!"

"W-Wait!"

I blinked as I tried to hastily run with him. I didn't expect that Frederick would run like that. And the fact that he was tugging my hand made it worse because I had to run as well and evade the people we were passing by.

"F-Frederick, slow down," I said, bewildered.

What on earth was this slave think and decided to run? Where were we going after all?

And why was my heart feeling excited about this escapade? It was making me feel rebellious.

I looked at Frederick who was smiling even though we were still both running. Seeing him covered in sweat was making my stomach somersaulted. Why, all of a sudden, was he looking attractive nowadays? I'd been experiencing this aching part in my heart every time I would look at him but somehow, I felt at ease.

Must I really be worried about this? Must I consult this with Timothy?

*'Mate bond.'*

That made my eyes widen when my wolf whispered. I ignored it and was about to bark at Frederick when he stopped running. With his unexpected action, my nose collided with his sturdy back.

"Damn it, Frederick!" I caressed my nose as I sniffed. It was a good thing that I was getting well from the colds. For the cough, I still have it but it wasn't worse, unlike the first day I had it. My father even questioned it.

"Novalie, won't you mind..." Frederick paused and creased his forehead when he saw me caressing my nose. "W-What happened?"

I shot him a glare. Was this man alright? "Nothing." I want to lash out at him but I hate to ruin this weekend for this sulking slave of mine.

"Did I hurt you?" In a blink of an eye, Frederick cupped my face which made me gasp softly.

I couldn't even utter a word when he drew closer to check my face. I knew that I mustn't feel bizarre having Frederick's face closer to me because I used to do this to him but somehow, why did I feel suffocated yet it was making me feel frisky?

"I'm... alright." I stepped back so I could distance myself away from him.

The intimacy was making me feel nervous. This wasn't what I felt when I was the one doing this to Frederick. Damn it!

What has been happening to you lately, Novalie?

"I see." Frederick sighed in relief. "I thought I had done something wrong. Shall we, my goddess?" He took my hand and didn't wait for me to agree. I was left dumbfounded when his hand was clasping in mine.

I glanced at him, hearing him humming happily. Why did he look so happy? Was being with me making him happy?

"Why are you not insisting on me accepting our mate bond?" I asked without thinking. My eyes widened from that and I knew that it was too late for me to revoke what I asked because Frederick suddenly stopped walking.

But his hand on mine tightened before he turned his head at me. "Because you are not divorced yet with your husband," he said earnestly and faced me. Frederick stepped forward and towered over me. "I will not be your concubine forever. I am not going to settle there," he said coldly and huskily.

My lips parted as a small smile appeared on my lips. This was it... Frederick's true colors were showing again.

But his answer was making me feel tingly right now. I didn't know why but I was finding this thrilling.

Ah, Frederick... What else were you hiding from me? You were making me curious about you.

I couldn't help reaching for his cheek and tracing his face with my fingers. Growling, Frederick suddenly made me lean to the wall when I smiled seductively.

"So, there is an exchange of all the orders I told you, then?" I asked, smiling, not minding the people who were passing by and glancing in our direction.

Frederick smirked. "Because I know that in the end, I will have you, sweetheart. We belong to each other after all." He drew his face closer to mine. "Are you not frightened that I will lock you up if you would dare to escape from me after you get divorced? Or even dare to reject our mate bond?"

I licked my lips as I was getting excited about this kind of conversation. "You sound like you know how to corner me. It is as if you know how my mind works."

This was one of the things I didn't like when trusting someone. I had shown Frederick my intelligence and most of the plans I had so I could get away from this marriage with Reginald.

Frederick smiled sweetly. "Of course, my goddess. I paid attention to every little detail when it comes to you. I know what you want. I know what you need."

I smirked. "Oh? Because you will use it against me in the near future?" He didn't answer. "I know that you will betray me in the end, Frederick."

He stared at me before he replied, "I have no ill intention to use them but if it really is necessary and you dare to break our mate bond, then it is time for me to avoid it as much as possible. I am not a naive one, my goddess. I am actually pretty smart." His tone was smeared with arrogance. "I am not allowing you to break our mate bond. I have waited patiently to have you so I am not going to let my efforts be in vain." He lowered his head to leave a sensual kiss to the crook of my neck.

Frederick slowly stepped forward having an icy gaze but his gaze had meaningful intent in them. His gaze was telling me that what he was showing right now was the tip of an iceberg.

I did not know why but he was making me excited. I already knew that there was another personality Frederick wasn't showing to me.

Most of the time he showed was being a submissive slave to me. He also misbehaved and would dare to cry in front of me if he was wrong or begged me.

I had been looking forward to this attitude from him. I already saw this kind of attitude—the conniving, heinous attitude... It was making my clit throbbed in need.

As always.

I wanted him to look at me arrogantly while begging for my attention. I wanted to see him acting so arrogantly as soon as I punished him and see if he would still put that facade on me.

Frederick gently pulled me towards him when I only stared at him. Not that I couldn't say anything. It was just that I was too fascinated by this behavior.

He tucked a few strands of my hair behind my ear before he sighed in relief. "Please refrain from asking about our mate bond until the time you are divorced from your husband. For now, I shall be your stupid, worthless, valueless slave and your knight who is also one of your concubines. But please be reminded that I will not stay and be in a stagnant state of what I am, for now, my goddess. I will get the fruit of the labor I spent."

I squinted my eyes. "It seems like you have been taking a high risk and you are expecting a high return, darling," I retorted, challenging him.

My words brought him to draw out a very meaningful smile. "Indeed, my goddess. Indeed." Before he descended his lips to mine, he whispered, "You do not know what *risks* I had taken just to be here..."