A Bet

*Chapter 73*

I even heard a warning growl coming from His Majesty which alarmed me.

I immediately shielded Frederick when I saw Alpha King Azarius's hands clenched. "What on earth is happening?" I asked, turning my head at Frederick who was still looking intently at His Majesty. He wasn't supposed to do that since staring directly into the Alpha King's eyes meant you were courting death. "Frederick!" I called his name, making him snap back.

He was about to speak when Alpha Denzil spoke. "Now, now... Your Majesty, that is Novalie's knight. You must be mistaking someone."

"Mistaking someone?" I creased my forehead after hearing it from Alpha Denzil. What did he mean by that?

"I heard Brother Azarius has a tea party! May we join?"

I turned my head to see the arrival of Alpha King Azarius's three brothers, Alucard, Alistair, and Alejandro. They were holding wooden swords in their hands and they were clad in their training uniforms.

Alpha King Azarius frowned. "I did not invite the three of you."

The three frowned. "What a cruel brother..." Alucard said with a dramatic tone. He even clutched his chest, acting like he was hurt by His Majesty's words.

Alpha Denzil chuckled. "The more the merrier, Your Majesty. It has been a while since I last saw the three princes." He stood up along with Father and bowed their heads.

"Duke Jansen, Marquis Argerich, you are also here," Alucard said and nodded his head.

"Oh! Sister-in-law is here!"

I grimaced when I turned at the Twin Garnets. I carefully lifted my skirt and curtsied before them. "Greetings, Your Highnesses," I greeted politely. I wanted to strangle these two right now. Did they just do that in front of my father?

I glanced at Father who was creasing his forehead. It must be the first time that he heard that coming from the princes. These three addressed me whenever I unfortunately was with them.

They nodded their heads, acknowledging my greeting before they turned at their first brother, His Majesty who just sighed. "Care to explain what is happening right now, Alucard? What on earth is happening right now and Atticus is—"

"Actually, Atticus has sent me a report about his last expedition, brother," Alucard chimed in and waved the journal he was holding right now. I was surprised because I didn't notice that he was holding that. "And... of course, he cannot return to the palace yet because he is busy with something," he said meaningfully.

"Busy?" His Majesty parroted. "Atticus is standing—"

"He is in a faraway land!" Alistair and Alejandro exclaimed in a loud voice that made me crease my forehead because these three had been acting bizarre.

"What?" His Majesty. "He is right—"

Alucard chimed in by chuckling nervously. "Brother, I have brought a letter that came from him! Quick! Read it!" He used his wolf speed to approach His Majesty to settle beside him and bestowed the letter to him. Then His Majesty started to read it.

I clasped my hands together, anticipating what would happen next. But it was kind of frustrating since I was expecting that I would dare to meet Prince Atticus already. I wanted to get back to him for making me a fool back in the art auction at the Art Institute of Selenium.

And now, I still haven't gotten the chance to meet him. Darn it!

"My goddess." I straightened my back when I heard a husky whisper from Frederick.

"What?" I arched my eyebrow. But I creased my forehead when I saw a relief wash over his olive eyes.

Frederick was about to speak when His Majesty suddenly laughed. "He really took this far," he said, shaking his head. "Atticus, what a risk you take." His Majesty glanced at me and smiled sweetly. "Come now, Lady Novalie. Have a seat."

"A..." Damn! I didn't know what to say now. I mean just like that? I thought His Majesty would get mad at Prince Atticus for neglecting his duty as one of the members of the royal lycan family. "Certainly, Your Majesty." I curtsied before I took my seat.

"I am hoping that His Highness, Prince Atticus stops fooling around, Your Majesty." I glanced up when Father spoke coldly after I was served some tea. "Also, may I suggest that if ever Prince Atticus decides to show himself, he wouldn't dare to do that in front of Novalie." He glanced at me before his eyes returned to Alpha King Azarius. "Knowing what His Highness has done to humiliate my daughter creates a huge impact on the House of Argerich."

The atmosphere became bizarre while I remained quiet and didn't say anything.

"And I know for the fact that Novalie hasn't moved on from that past." I flinched when I felt their eyes were on me after Father said that. And I knew that I was trapped and must tell them what I must feel.

"I wouldn't lie if I said that I hadn't moved on from my very first engagement towards the fifth prince. Until now, my blood is still boiling just by thinking of Prince Atticus and the hatred I felt towards him is palpable." I simply bowed my head at Alpha King Azarius. "Since I shall be the successor of my father's position, it is unavoidable that I will meet His Highness," I said bitterly but with a matter of politeness. "I will try my best to remain professional if I happen to meet him." I coerced a smile.

I sighed, hating this atmosphere. Having their eyes on me made me feel like they wanted to see me break in front of them. I must show them that this shouldn't be a hindrance to my working in the royal palace soon.

Alpha King Azarius sighed and smiled gently. "The next time I see Atticus, I am going to punish him severely for his stupidity." He smiled sweetly. "Tell that to Atticus, will you, Alucard?" He glanced at Alucard who was sitting beside him.

Alucard chuckled nervously as he drank some tea. "T-That's... " He inhaled sharply as he looked at me and at his other brothers. "I must relay it to Caspian."

The atmosphere dramatically changed when we talked about other things. But even so, the three brothers of Alpha King Azarius were teasing Countess Stallone that perhaps, Mother Luna Queen Adeline and Grand Alpha King would decide to betroth her to the Alpha King if His Majesty didn't find his mate yet. The Twin Garnets were the ones who teased the countess.

"I would love to have my assistant become my Luna Queen then," His Majesty said sheepishly which earned a big frown from Countess Stallone.

I chuckled when Countess Stallone flicked His Majesty's forehead which made him frown. "Grow up. You are not getting younger anymore and look for your mate, Your Majesty." She rolled her eyes.

"You haven't met your mate, right? Well, maybe you would like your childhood friend to become your mate, Macedonia." He leaned forward to her to tease her.

"Alistair and I have a bet that Countess Stallone will be Brother Azarius's betrothed," Alejandro said with a grin on his lips.

Countess Stallone sighed in defeat. "Whatever you say, Your Highness," she said, surrendering from this teasing.

I smiled and decided to glance at Frederick to see if he was alright. He was still standing a little distance from me. He looked at me and tilted his head a little when he saw me looking at him.

I mouthed to ask if he was alright seeing he was still wearing his mask. He nodded and winked at me which almost chuckled to me that he was being hilarious again.

My darling.

I suddenly wanted to play with him. It has been a long time since I did that.

I returned my gaze to them when I noticed that it became quiet. But I flinched when I saw them looking at me with a surprised expression.

"What?" I gulped. Why did I suddenly feel uncomfortable with the way they were looking at me? Have I done something wrong and they were giving me bizarre gazes?

His Majesty chuckled. "I want to see what shall happen next," he said meaningfully as he sipped on his tea. "It seems that we will get along more in the near future, Marquis Argerich." He glanced at my father who showed a grimace expression. "I am looking forward to that day."

Father frowned. "That shall never happen, Your Majesty. My daughter is a stubborn woman. She is just not letting this go so easily."

"What are you two talking about?" I asked, getting annoyed at their meaningful conversation.

I knew that they were referring to me. It was just that I didn't know what they were actually talking about.

"His Majesty is putting a bet that you are going to get along with Prince Atticus in the near future, Novalie," Father said.

"What?" I parroted, feeling my blood boil all of a sudden. I was about to bark when I remembered that I was in the presence of His Majesty. I immediately backed down and looked away, sighing. "That shall never happen, Your Majesty," I said, mimicking what my father told him.

"Shall we make a bet?"

I looked at him, surprised when he had a mischievous grin. I felt chills down my spine seeing how certain he was that he was going to win.

"Oh! Oh! A bet! We want that, too!" the Twin Garnets said in unison.

Alucard spoke. "Huehue... If Brother Azarius makes a bet, he is certain that the outcome shall be favorable to him."

I stayed silent, getting dizzy from this bet. It felt strange and it made me want to puke all of a sudden. I felt like I had been disrespected the way it was.

"Shall we call it a day? I think Novalie needs to rest now."

I looked up when Alpha Denzil spoke. I opened my mouth to say that I wasn't finished yet as I was just gathering my strength but Father spoke as well.

"I apologize, Your Majesty but we have to take our leave. I remember that my daughter has to finish her next task and I have to take care of the ceremony for her." He turned at me. "Say your farewell, Novalie."

I gritted my teeth, feeling humiliated all of a sudden. But then, I knew I was saved right now.

I stood up and curtsied before them. "We shall take our leave, Your Majesty, Your Highnesses."

When I looked up, I shivered to see the cold fathomless expression of His Majesty. I could tell that he was offended right now because he was being interrupted.

"Of course." He forced a smile and nodded.

In my peripheral vision, his three brothers exchanged glances and shrugged their shoulders. But I could feel the tension right now.

I returned my gaze to His Majesty and looked at him in his eyes. "What will I get if I join in this bet, Your Majesty?"

There was a cunning smile that appeared on his lips. "If I win, you shall become one of the retainers of Atticus and you will work with him as his personal assistant. You must support him and must not defy his orders."

I clenched my hands at how absurd his words were. Become one of the retainers of Prince Atticus and become his personal assistant? No way! "And if you lose?" I challenged.

"I never lose in a bet, Lady Novalie." He smiled sweetly. "That is impossible." I inhaled slowly with his menacing aura emitting right now.

I huffed and smirked. "If I make that impossible possible and make you lose the bet, you shall grant me a dukedom to rule and grant me a Duchess title in my own right. Then let me have my own pack to rule," I said, holding my head high.

I heard gasps from the people around me. I knew that what I asked from His Majesty was too much as only three noble families had been granted a dukedom to rule. They were the House of Jansen, the House of Rosenfield, and the House of Hartzer.

Each of them had also a pack to rule having great power because of having a duchy.

But I wanted to take this as a chance to rise from the nobility that would surely make the other nobles envy my power.

I heard my father chuckle, amused at this happening. Even Alpha Denzil chuckled as well.

"Very cunning, my daughter," Father said.

"This is interesting," Alpha Denzil said.

Alpha King Azarius stared at me before he nodded with a smile. "Then it shall be a deal, Viscountess Argerich. We must see then." He cocked his head from side to side. "But I know much better that you already lost from this bet at the very start."

I felt insulted at his words but I just scoffed. "Suit yourself, Your Majesty."

I couldn't care less now if I acted disrespectfully. But if someone was challenging me, I should not back down as well.

I would make sure this bet would be favorable to me.

I am looking forward to meeting you in the near future, Prince Atticus.