Royal Cabinet Conference

*Chapter 72*

"Where is Reginald?"

I glanced at Father and shrugged as an answer. That made him crease his forehead.

"Did you not see him and speak with your husband?" he asked in a low tone.

I shrugged again. "We don't get along, Father. And I am not interested to know his whereabouts."

I roamed my eyes around as I saw some of the nobles who were the patriarchs and matriarchs of their noble families. I even saw Marquis Zubiri and Count Javelie here in the conference room. I even saw a few of the nobles I knew who were here. They had gathered to attend the hearing of the draft law that was about to become a royal ordinance soon.

But I wondered why Marquis Carrat was not here. Did Alpha King Azarius already depose him from being one of the court officials because of his underground business?

"He is your husband for the Moon Goddess's sake." I could hear the frustration in Father's voice. But something in his words made me feel irritated all of a sudden.

"For the Moon Goddess's sake?" I arched my eyebrow. "Or is it for your sake?" I retorted.

Father shot me a glare. This showed that he was getting annoyed at how I spoke with him. Gone was the respect I bestowed on him ever since I stood up for myself to halt this marriage with Reginald but Father left me with no choice.

"My, my... You two should stop now." Alpha Denzil gently tapped the table. "Novalie, kindly refrain from slandering Nigelle here. Can you do that?"

I immediately bowed my head. "M-My apologies, Alpha." I heaved out a sigh, feeling a little embarrassed.

Alpha Denzil's expression softened. I could already tell that he wanted to tap my head just as he used to along with Luna Helen. But he refrained himself and turned his attention to other fellow nobles. That made me relieved somehow as I glanced at Father who was frowning when our eyes met before he avoided his eyes from me.

"So, the rumors are true. Viscountess Westervelt will become the successor of the House of Marquis Argerich?"

I looked up and frowned upon seeing Duke Rosenfield who was on the other side of the U-shaped conference table. I secretly clenched my hand when he used Reginald's surname, not Argerich. He even had this annoying smile as if he was belittling me.

Bastard... I wish I could kill you.

I was about to retort at his words when Father spoke. "Yes. After all, my daughter deserves to have it. She is my one and only successor and the one who deserves all the wealth of the House of Argerich," he stated and glared at me like he was giving me a warning not to deal with someone like Duke Rosenfield.

My heart leaped seeing how Father sounded so proud of me. It was like he really treated me as his daughter.

Duke Rosenfield chuckled. "Indeed. Then we will have a new member who is a female again."

"You sounded like you did not even want a woman to become the head of their family, Rosenfield." I held my breath seeing Duchess Josephine Hartzer who was the head of the Hartzer Duchy and became the Duchess in her own right. She was the same age as Duke Rosenfield. She was also the daughter of an Alpha from the Oregon Dawn pack and hasn't met her mate yet.

Duke Rosenfield raised his hands. "My apologies if I seemed to offend you, Your Grace, Duchess Hartzer." He smiled.

Duchess Hartzer scoffed and shook her head before her eyes landed on me. "We should grab some tea sometime, Marchioness Argerich. I would love to converse with you."

"I would love that, Your Grace. Thank you for inviting me," I said politely.

Although I knew that she only had an interest in me since I was to become the head of the House of Argerich, Duchess Hartzer and I had never gotten a chance to converse with each other before. It was why it was surprising that she was inviting me for some tea.

But I guess it wouldn't hurt a fly to have some tea with her since I knew that it would be a great help if the House of Hartzer and House of Argerich were going to get along. Her father and my father established a great relationship even if they came from different packs so it was better to establish a good tie with the matriarch of the House of Hartzer.

Besides, when it came to establishing connections, I already have Alpha Denzil who supported me since he was a Duke. If I added Duchess Hartzer to my newly established connection, it would be a great power to have two duchies by my side.

I could use this to tamper with the next rumor about me being infertile.

"His Majesty, Alpha King Azarius has arrived!"

We all snapped back and the chit-chatting died down as soon as the two-way doors opened. It revealed the most powerful and frightening person in the whole kingdom...

Azarius Kingston de Carteret, the 35th Alpha King of the Waevalon Kingdom.

All men deeply bowed and all women curtsied before Alpha King Azarius, the Alpha of the Alphas.

"Greetings to the sun of the kingdom, Alpha King Azarius," we all said in unison.

"All rise," His Majesty ordered. I shivered at the authority of his voice. It was so powerful that you could abide by any of his commands and would make you not defy him. We raised our heads and watched His Majesty going to his seat. "Countess Stallone, brief us about the last meeting."

I glanced at Countess Macedonia Stallone, Alpha King Azarius's one of the retainers and personal assistant. She was also the matriarch of the House of Stallone. "Yes, Your Majesty," she answered politely before she turned to us and started discussing the past meeting.

I listened carefully and watched all the nobles start to discuss. They exchanged their opinions and even decided on voting. I watched them as they expressed everything and how they managed to settle it calmly.

"Your Majesty, what about the commoner's faction?" Alpha Denzil asked.

His Majesty clasped his hands. "There is already an uprising disagreement from them and the other local merchants that the export tax is quite too high, unlike the tariff and duties we set for our importers."

"Indeed." It was Baron Miles. "Though importing can help the small and medium businesses develop and expand by reaching large markets abroad, for our exporters, this shall be an increase for their profit for our large businesses."

His Majesty nodded. "Hmm..." he hummed as his eyes roamed around. Then his eyes widened upon seeing me before he cleared his throat. "If there shall be a price ceiling we impose a tax for the importers, perhaps, the commoner faction will agree with this," he suggested.

I couldn't help but get awed at His Majesty. His facial features were the same features of Grand Alpha King Apollo. He was the young version of our Grand Alpha King.

The meeting adjourned as agreed about the suggestion of the Alpha King for the price ceiling. All nobles started to leave but Father and I, even Alpha Denzil, were left here.

"I did not know that Viscountess Argerich shall pay a visit here," His Majesty said.

I curtsied in front of him. "Please to meet you again, Your Majesty, Alpha King Azarius."

He nodded and turned at Father. "Say, if she is coming here, does this mean that you are really passing down your title, Marquis Argerich?" There was a sly smile smeared on his lips.

That made my heart jump a little because I got to know someone who had the same smile His Majesty was showing right now. It suddenly reminded me of Frederick who was in the parlor room to wait for us.

Father chuckled and nodded. "Indeed, Your Majesty. My daughter shall be the one handling the affairs of the House of Argerich along with my son-in-law."

As soon as Father mentioned Reginald, I could have sworn I saw the contorted expression coming from His Majesty. I could already tell that he never liked Reginald from the moment I married him. He has truly opposed it as... His Majesty supported me in marrying his fifth brother, Prince Atticus.

"Viscount Westervelt is not present today though." His voice turned cold as he stood up. "How rude."

Father and I exchanged glances. He was glaring at me, wanting to know where Reginald was right now. I only shrugged as I really didn't know where he went right now.

"Perhaps, he attended an emergency matter, Your Majesty," Father replied.

Alpha Denzil and I exchanged glances. He didn't like Reginald for me as well so he knew already that Father was just making an excuse to defend Reginald's absence.

"Shall we have some tea?" His Majesty asked after he read something in the clipboard held by Countess Stallone. "It has been a long time since I last conversed with all of you. Especially Lady Novalie." He smiled meaningfully.

"I would be happy to converse with you again, Your Majesty," I said politely. Though I knew that he had a soft spot for me because of what happened to my past engagement with his youngest brother, Alpha King Azarius never blamed me.

"Perfect."

"Your Majesty, I have a letter here that needs your attention." It was Alpha Denzil who stepped forward and bestowed our Alpha King a letter.

"Letter?" He creased his forehead. He opened it and read it. His expression changed into an irritated one. "That bastard... He hasn't gone reporting to me about this past expedition!" I was surprised when he crumpled the letter.

"Well, looks like His Highness, Prince Atticus has another agenda, Your Majesty," Alpha Denzil said and glanced at me meaningfully.

I stiffened upon hearing the fifth lycan prince's name. I felt a cold breeze come past my neck and my hands were sweating profusely right now. Just the mere mention of his name was nerve-wracking.

His Majesty scoffed. "Agenda, my ass."

"Your Majesty, your words..." Countess Stallone nudged him, earning a frown from him.

"That man is a stubborn one, Macedonia." He frowned more. "But I can be stubborn for you." He wiggled his eyebrows. Countess Stallone smiled wryly and nudged His Majesty's stomach one more time. "Hey! That hurts!"

"That is your fault, Azarius." She rolled her eyes.

Father, Alpha Denzil, and I exchanged glances after that. Though we already knew that Alpha King Azarius and Countess Stallone were friends since their childhood, it was still surprising that His Majesty has this mischievous behavior toward her only.

It reminded me of the same behavior of Crown Prince Alucard and the Twin Garnets, Prince Alistair and Prince Alejandro.

But when Alpha King Azarius faced other people, he had this cold, eerie aura emitting from him.

He chuckled and turned to us who remained silent. "Excuse my behavior. Shall we have some tea?" he asked.

"Certainly, Your Majesty," we all said in unison.

We sauntered our way to the hallway as Father, Alpha Denzil, and His Majesty conversed with other matters while Countess Stallone and I were from behind them.

"I heard that your succession to your family shall be happening soon, Viscountess Argerich."

I smiled, feeling at ease because I knew that she was a genuine person. "Indeed, Countess Stallone. I am honored to be the matriarch of the House of Argerich soon."

She smiled. "It will be fulfilling, I tell you." She winked.

"Yes..." We giggled softly. But then I remembered about Frederick who was still in the parlor room. "I shall call my knight first. I will follow all of you later," I said to her.

"Hmm. Of course." She nodded. "I will tell His Majesty."

With her agreement, I went to the parlor room as soon as we happened to pass it by. I opened the door and I heard a loud gasp coming from Frederick who was pacing back and forth. Then he looked up and met my eyes.

"My goddess!" Frederick rushed towards me. "I-Is the cabinet meeting done?"

I nodded. "Yes. We must go now. His Majesty invited us to have some tea," I said before I opened the door and was about to leave when he held me in my arm. I turned to see Frederick who looked frightened right now.

"H-Have some tea with him?" he asked nervously.

"Yes. Is there a problem?" I arched my eyebrow. I could hear the loud beat of his chest like he was nervous about something. "Then, if there is no problem, we must go now. Wear your mask if you want," I said coldly before going out.

I heard Frederick's footsteps from behind me as he followed me. But I could hear his murmur right now.

"I'm dead to him if he finds out... Shit..."

I just ignored it. I didn't even know why he must be so nervous about it. We arrived at the pavilion hearing the laughter of the three men. I curtsied before them.

"Excuse my tardiness. I have come to fetch my knight, Your Majesty," I said politely and looked at Alpha King Azarius.

"Knight?" He creased his forehead. "You have a knight?" I nodded. Then he looked behind me and his knitted forehead deepened. He gasped. "Wait... That scent..." He sniffed and immediately stood up to growl.

I blinked, surprised when His Majesty's expression changed into an irritated one. I stepped back as I didn't understand what happened.

Have I done something wrong? Why was he looking at me angrily? Or was he really looking at me like that?

But if I kept paying attention to it. He wasn't looking at me but to... behind me?

I turned around to follow where His Majesty was looking. With that, I saw that he was looking at Frederick whose eyes were also transfixed to... the Alpha King?

Alright... What was happening right now?