Feeling Ill

*Chapter 71*

I woke up this morning catching Frederick looking into my eyes. I summoned my hand to halt him when I saw his lips were smiling from ear to ear.

"Not a word," I warned him before I got up.

I saw that I had worn another nightgown as soon as we returned to my chamber. I changed into a new one because I used that nightgown to wipe Frederick's face which was smeared with blood. Nothing play session happened last night but I absolutely allowed him to sleep on the same bed where I was sleeping. However, he remained naked under the sheets.

I went to my table to sit there and wrote something on the parchment. Frederick followed me and took the comb to brush my hair.

We were both quiet at that moment. But that silence was not as awkward as the last time I had him here. It felt like the heavy atmosphere had been lifted up.

While he was busy brushing my hair, I decided to list down the plans I had. It even had some backup plans in case what I planned beforehand would allow Reginald to make a diversion out of it.

I thought about the male servants I had. They weren't coming with me anymore once I would have to return to the Wall Burgundy pack. Perhaps, I would only bring a few of them to help me get dressed up.

"Alpha Denzil shall not find it bizarre that I am letting men help me get dressed up, no?" I asked while gently tapping the end of the quill pen to my cheek. I shivered when Frederick's hands were lathering on my hair, adoring it carefully.

"Will it be that hard if maidservants are the ones helping you instead, my goddess?"

I nodded. "I'd rather have male servants to help me." I scoffed.

"I found it uncomfortable somehow that you'd rather choose that..."

"I did not ask for your opinion, Frederick." That earned him silence. "It is not you who must decide on who must help me get dressed." I crossed out a few names.

Mostly those names were residing here in the Lone Crow pack.

"Am I... going to be discarded soon?"

I turned at him, arching my eyebrow. "Where on earth did you get that idea?"

Frederick looked away. "Um... Y-You have been discarding some of your possessions, my goddess. I-I was thinking if you have no plans to discard me, too, r-right?" He smiled wryly when he returned his gaze to me.

He looked nervous right now. His eyes were not focusing on me. It also looked like he was on the verge of tears right at this moment.

I chuckled and tapped my lap. His face brightened up as he immediately knelt and crawled to hug my waist. Then he buried his face in my chest. At that moment, he sighed in relief.

"You are my knight, Frederick. Why should I discard you?" I caressed his hair. I came to smell his strong scent along with the scent he applied to his hair. "And you are bound to stay with me until I no longer need your service."

I heard his soft sigh and nodded before he looked up which made my heart flutter. Those strange olive eyes that are always filled with adoration and devotion... I always wondered what I had done to each such kind of emotion he was emitting right now.

Was it because we were fated mates?

Or was it because... he simply adored me?

His words from last night imprinted on my mind. It made my heart race wildly even if I only think of it right now.

"What should you do next, my goddess?" He looked like a puppy right now with his adorable expression.

Kiss me.

I flinched at the intrusive thought that came to my mind. But that thought made my eyes go south to check Frederick's plumped lips.

I combed his hair using my fingers. "I shall relay to you later what must we do," I said softly.

"Yes..." His tone sounded happy.

What happened yesterday about the finality that I was really infertile spread like a wildfire in the Lone Crow pack. Some of our pack members were making such horrendous comments that I wasn't fit to be their Luna anymore but some of them still supported me regardless of my condition.

I already surmised that it wouldn't take long before this news spread to the noble factions. I would be the center of ridicule again.

Not that I cared about it, it was way more important for me to have the succession to become the matriarch of the Marquis Argerich.

While Father was busy handling the ceremony and invitations, I took care of finishing my studies until the day I came to visit the royal palace along with my father for the cabinet conference and for the next agenda that he would announce that I am the next ruler of our family.

"Come again?" I asked, wanting to hear what Frederick said when I got to finish dressing up and the carriage was waiting for me.

"Can I... s-stay here and not come with you, my goddess?"

"Why?" I spoke after finally comprehending what he wanted to say.

Frederick looked away. "Um... I suddenly fell ill..." He chuckled nervously.

"If you are really feeling ill, then why do you look nervous right now?" I crossed my arms over my chest. "I do not see that you are not feeling well right now. You look perfectly fine to me." I stepped forward. "What excuse are you trying to make, darling?"

I had a feeling that he seemed uncomfortable as soon as I told him that I was coming to the royal palace to attend the cabinet conference with Father. When I mentioned that, he began making excuses which were why he was near getting on my nerves already.

And Frederick knew that I wasn't getting happy at his behavior.

"Um... Can I..." He cleared his throat and looked into my eyes. "Can I just wear a mask when going to the royal palace with you?"

"Huh?" I creased my forehead. What on earth was he playing right now? "We are not attending a masquerade ball, Frederick. What is really happening with you?" I was so close to strangling this man and punishing him by tying him to the saltire cross all day.

Frederick didn't say anything but his eyes surely looked guilty right now. I glanced at Holland. "Grant him a mask. It is getting late already," I commanded coldly before I turned to leave.

"M-My goddess, are you mad?" he asked.

But I didn't answer him and continued storming out of my chamber. I already wondered why he was being like that. Was he frightened to meet Alpha King Azarius? Shouldn't I feel that kind of emotion since it has been a while since we last conversed?

I felt my hands fidgeting right now when I got to the carriage as I realized something.

If I was going to the royal palace right now, then... there was a probability that I am going to meet the fifth lycan prince, right?

Would I be able to compose myself if I finally meet him face to face?

"M-My apologies for being late, my goddess."

I snapped back when Frederick hopped on the carriage and sat across from me. I only nodded and told Basil that we needed to go. Before leaving the manor, I saw Reginald who had just come out from our manor and was about to mount his own carriage when he turned at Philea and commanded something from him.

I even saw a few pack warriors gathered as he bestowed orders. I squinted my eyes wondering what was happening. He looked like he was in a hurry right now.

I believe Reginald was going to the royal palace right now since he dressed up so neatly and expensively. If ever that he had a different agenda, my watchers would absolutely inform me about his whereabouts.

We should see if you were going to appear at the cabinet conference, Regy.

It took us a few hours before we reached the royal palace. While on the journey, I could see that Frederick was being uneasy but I only ignored it. But as soon as the carriage door opened and he got down, I heard his shaky breath before I heard him softly cussing.

"Damn it..." he murmured before he turned at me and offered his hand. "Viscountess Argerich."

"Fix yourself. Do not humiliate me with your nervous actions," I said as I got down from the carriage with his help.

Frederick lowered his head. "Yes, Your Ladyship."

Before we entered the royal palace, it was just in time when Father arrived along with Alpha Denzil. I curtsied before Alpha Denzil to greet him and nodded my head at my father.

Then Alpha Denzil released a short cackle. "Ah... Someone is courting his death already."

"Who?" I asked, curious. He suddenly bestowed a meaningful statement to which I didn't know who Alpha Denzil was referring.

Alpha Denzil smiled meaningfully as he glanced at Father, me, and Frederick. "Is Sir Frederick alright? You look somehow nervous." There was a sly smile written on his lips.

I glanced at Frederick who was wearing a mask to cover up his face. His shoulders looked tense right now as he bowed before Alpha Denzil.

"You must be imagining things, Your Grace." When he looked up, his eyes darted toward me before he lowered his eyes, not meeting my eyes.

I only arched my eyebrow when he avoided my eyes.

Alpha Denzil laughed before he tapped Father's back. "I have a feeling this conference would be much more interesting now, Nigelle. I am glad that Novalie shall come with us now."

I couldn't help curtsying one more time with him. "I am honored to work with you as well, Alpha," I said politely.

Father sighed and offered his arm. "We must go now. We must not let Alpha King Azarius wait for us. That is a humiliation if that happens."

I nodded and clung to his arm. Together, along with Alpha Denzil, we entered the royal palace. Even so, I glanced behind me when Frederick's footsteps were somehow different. It wasn't his usual walk but it was something like... he was hesitant when he stepped inside.

Frederick had been acting strange lately. That was for certain. Must it be because he was really feeling unwell as he proclaimed before we left the Lone Crow pack?

And I failed to notice it?