Gloomy News

*Chapter 68*

As the plan went, Reginald and I properly consummated our marriage for the last week before we would leave the Crescent Moon Oceanfront. Then we returned to the Lone Crow pack.

What we must do was to wait for a month to see if I could conceive Reginald's pup. We were expecting some good news after a month...

However, we received dreadful news as soon as I was checked up.

"What in the bloody world did you just say?" Reginald's voice roared all over the manor.

Timothy hastily bowed his head. "I-I have found out r-right now that Luna Novalie is... infertile."

I gasped. "My word!" I blinked before I chuckled and looked at Reginald who had an unexplainable reaction to Timothy's statement. "My, my... This cannot be helped..." I chuckled one more time before I turned at Father who until now had the same reaction as Reginald.

"How did that happen?" Father asked after a moment of silence.

Sighing, Timothy glanced at me asking my permission to say which I nodded. "Luna has been experiencing irregular and abnormal periods. It is why she is taking fertility control which has a combination of hormonal birth control formula. She has gynecological issues of bearing a pup."

"In short, you failed to listen to me when I am trying to say this issue back in the Crescent Moon Oceanfront," I added with a shrug.

Reginald glared at me. "You never said a word, Novalie!" he said angrily.

"You are trying to make us a fool..." It was Father with a rather disappointment in his tone.

I glanced down at Frederick who crawled my lap when I told him earlier even though Father's presence was here. They wanted me to make him storm him out as the discussion didn't need his presence but I said that I never intended to have Frederick out of my sight knowing what he did back on that island.

As punishment, I bestowed upon him the humiliation of appearing in front of the noblewomen wearing a mask while he was naked. Frederick was so embarrassed at that moment and how women were feasting their eyes on his cock as he was wearing the chastity belt.

"I did not make you two a fool," I said and gently caressed Frederick's hair who purred under my touch. "You refused to listen to me because you two are so preoccupied with getting the goal of me conceiving Reginald's pup. How atrocious... Isn't that right, darling?" I grabbed a handful of his hair and coerced him to look at me.

"Yes, my goddess." There was a small winning smile treading on his lips right now.

Back to the island, he was so gloomy and wanted to rebel against me. And now... he looked like he must have listened to the very good news which was why he was having this expression.

"You did not even consult Timothy, perchance, just before we departed to my private island, right, Reginald?" I looked at him, seeing that unsatisfied reaction that I was so eager to see.

"You did not even tell me!" He raised his voice in so much annoyance that I managed to smile sweetly. "You rather keep it to yourself so Father and I can appear idiots and be laughing stocks to your amusement!"

Chuckling, I sighed in contentment. "Certainly." I almost laughed seeing their reactions but I halted myself to be like that. "Perhaps, shall we proceed to pass down the inheritance, Father? Why, of course, Timothy has assured us that I am infertile, and cannot bear any man's pup, I suppose." I fluttered my eyes to indicate that I wished to discuss the matters of being the Marchioness in my own right.

But Reginald, as arsehole as ever, butted in. "Father, we just need a second opinion. I cannot accept this!" Reginald said in a furious tone.

Father held tightly to his crane as he sighed in a most distressed manner. "We must do that..." he stated in a dejected tone.

"Are you certainly cannot trust Timothy's medical opinion?" I frowned upon hearing Reginald's disagreement.

Father stood up and fixed his hat. "I shall summon the doctor who was teaching from the royal academy. He can be trusted," he said, ignoring me as he tapped Reginald's shoulder.

I felt offended at that. "I am certain the medical opinion is still the same," I said calmly.

Reginald sighed and nodded. "Please do that, Father. You must know that I cannot be at ease until Novalie shall bear my pup. I also need a pup who can inherit our family's wealth..." he said in a melancholy tone.

I secretly gritted my teeth but remained my composure. "This shall be the second and last opinion you must ask from a pack doctor or any doctor. I want to proceed on having the noble title with or without Reginald's pup." I stood up and faced them. "I can assure everyone here that I must ruin more of our reputation if you keep being a hindrance. I can put our family names to be on a brink of extinction from the aristocratic faction. Please pay heed to my last warning. I do not wish to prolong this matter anymore..." I stated in a serene yet threatening tone.

I wanted to emphasize that they had kept everything so long. I had been so patient in following their wishes and now, I couldn't stay silent anymore.

I played their games when they coerced me to join. I did the honor and turned the tables to win this.

And the last laugh should be born by me.

"Father, you promised me," I said, gritting my teeth. "Are you backing out on your words? Are you a true gentleman?" I squinted my eyes at him.

Father pinched the bridge of his nose. I silently prayed this would put him to demise already and must agree on my terms.

Sighing, he looked at Reginald. "If this second opinion still says the same thing about Novalie's condition, I'm afraid that the procedure of passing down the marquis title must proceed. You must also proceed by taking care to change your surname to Argerich as well, Reginald."

"Finally! Some progress..." I clapped my hands but I earned a glare from Reginald. But that disappeared immediately as soon as Father caught him with the way Reginald was looking at me as if he wanted to kill me right now.

Reginald stayed silent for a moment before he smiled bitterly. "Right..." That was the only word he said before he stayed silent until Father decided to leave. "You useless doctor!" I didn't falter when he started being scandalous by kicking Timothy to the wall.

"Alpha—"

He grabbed Timothy's collar and drew him closer to him. "You failed to spill the information we needed!"

Horrified, Timothy lowered his head. "I-I tried to tell it, Alpha... But... But you dismissed me at that time..." he cried.

"Bastard!" Reginald said angrily before he started abusing Timothy and telling him that he was an incapable pack doctor.

"My, my... Do not blame Timothy for failing to report it." I tapped Frederick's back, indicating to help Timothy to get away from Reginald's hold which he immediately did, causing Reginald to squint his eyes at Frederick. "You must blame yourself for failing to listen, Reginald." I unfolded my fan to fan myself.

Reginald growled immaculately. "You planned this, didn't you? You made me want to be a laughing stock at your expense!" He towered over me and showed his claws. He was about to hurt me but Frederick was quick to halt his madness by pushing him away from me.

Giggling, I reclined on my seat. "You think that I shall fail miserably, no, Reginald? Perhaps, try to use your head and be wiser this time?" I tapped my head to insult him more.

His nose was flaring as he clenched his hands. "Shame on you, Novalie! Shame on you and die!" He kicked the vase that was displayed here in the living room before he stormed out of the mansion.

"Go back to the infirmary, Timothy." I glanced at him. Then I smiled meaningfully. "I am thinking that you just need some rest after this... dramatic situation if you know what I mean..." I wiggled my eyebrows.

Timothy coerced a smile and bowed his head. "I must do that, Luna... Thank you for your concern." With that, he left.

I decided to stand up as well and stretched out my arms. "Well then, now that everyone knows I am infertile, I am safe to go back to my old ways." I glanced at Frederick who was looking at me intently. "Is there something wrong, darling?" He blinked. I tilted my head a little, arching my eyebrow. "Are you going to say something or must I do something with your mouth so you can speak properly?"

Frederick snapped back and lowered his head. "I did not mean to be rude, my goddess. Please forgive me."

I just stared at him and didn't utter a word. When he looked up to meet my eyes, I saw how uncomfortable he was at that moment. He even averted his gaze from me.

Frederick knew that until now, I was still irritated at his presence because of finding out that he slept with one of the women back on the island. I wasn't a fool that I would never get to find it out if I hadn't checked his quarters at that time.

"You shall remain as a knight from now on," I spoke.

"W-What?" Frederick looked at me, wide-eyed. "Why?" he asked, horrified.

I walked towards him and halted in front of him. "Do you think I am a fool to allow one of my slaves to touch another woman aside from me? Did you even think I would let it slide, Frederick?" I said in a warning tone.

"B-But... But... It was all a misunderstanding, my goddess... I only—"

I didn't let him finish by slapping his cheek. "Trying to find a reason so you can abscond from the punishment?" I asked frigidly.

He immediately knelt on the floor and hugged my waist. "My goddess... Please! Believe me... Please do not remove me from my slave position... I cannot accept—"

I entrapped his mouth by covering it with my hand. "How many times must I witness in making me feel like a fool? You... are no longer part of my slaves. Be grateful because that shall not be your burden from now on. You shall remain as my knight only."

His eyes enlarged in horror as he removed my hand from covering his mouth. "Please! No! I will behave! I swear!"

"You sound like a broken record. I have heard that so many times," I said before I decided to turn my back to leave.

"My goddess, please listen to me!" I couldn't move when he held my arm. "I did not sleep with any woman. I can assure you that I remain my loyalty as your slave and knight only to you... I shall not even dare to even hurt you..." he said as I could hear his voice croaked. "...even if you hurt me," he murmured.

I yanked back my arm without looking at him. "Heimon," I called.

Heimon appeared out of nowhere and bowed before me. "Yes, Luna? Your orders?"

"Train this man on what limits must he act in accordance with knight regulations. Frederick is no longer part of the slave factions under my care but a sole knight who is bound to serve his lady until the day he dies," I said before glancing at Frederick who couldn't even retort back. "Also, he is no longer serving me in bed."

I glared at him when he was about to protest.

"As you wish, Luna. I must meet your expectations for Sir Frederick's improvement of his character."

"You cannot do this to me, my goddess..." He clenched his hands and hissed silently.

"Oh, yes, I can do that," I retorted. "One more thing, do not address me as *my goddess*. It must be *my lady* or *Your Ladyship*," I said before I decided to leave.