Marchioness Novalie Argerich

*Chapter 75*

"I am fine, Frederick. There is no need to check my bruises," I said for the nth time but he didn't listen and checked every inch of my body after he asked politely that I must undress.

To make him at ease, I did what he said even though it troubled me and made me annoyed.

"No. I must see very well then I can have the reason to kill him," Frederick insisted, growling. His eyes were glowing, indicating that his wolf was agreeing with him.

I sighed and allowed him what he wished. Though this kind of act I was doing was letting Frederick be more spoiled than before. I had been busy lately, that was why I couldn't manage to control Frederick's behavior.

I flinched when he cupped my face. I was surprised to see how worried he was right now.

"Tell me what happened next. Your father did not forgive him, right?" he asked, worried. His eyes were also telling me that he was willing to turn the world upside down if I answered him that would surely be inappropriate. "Right?"

But somehow, he looked amusing whenever he was being like this and I was making him worry. I could feel the agreement from my wolf.

Smiling meaningfully, I held his cheek. "The result that I have been waiting for, darling."

*"F-Father, this is..." Reginald looked at me. He exchanged his glance between my face and the hands holding my neck. He looked troubled that somehow he got caught.*

*But this was the result I wanted to happen that was why I allowed him to predict and assume my movements.*

*I coughed as I tried to capture my breaths. "G-Get off me!" I tried to make myself have difficulty breathing to let my father see that Reginald had become an insolent bastard to even dare to hurt me.*

*My father must have seen my state. He looked furious as he grabbed Reginald's collar to get him from me.*

*"Father! You misunderstand! Please! Allow me to explain!" Reginald panicked.*

*"Arsehole!"*

*But Father was blinded by anger and punched Reginald. I almost laughed at that if only Alpha Denzil did not tend to me.*

*"Are you alright, Novalie?" Alpha Denzil asked, worried.*

*I nodded. "Yes, Alpha..." He glanced at my neck and I could have sworn his face darkened.*

*My lips almost stretched out a smile when Alpha Denzil stood up and approached Reginald. "You bastard! How insolent of you to hurt my next Beta!" he said angrily.*

"And... just like that, Reginald is stripped out. He shall never become a Beta of Wall Burgundy pack," I explained while Frederick was helping me change into an indoor dress.

"It is a good thing that you thought something to make things worse for him, my goddess," he said happily.

I looked into my reflection and saw the cunning smile on my lips. "Of course, darling. I promise myself that I shall take matters into my own hands."

With Reginald's temperamental attitude, it was easy to frame him. I just need to provoke him as usual then things would go according to the plan.

However, this wasn't enough to implement divorcing our marriage which was my main goal after all.

Father would never approve of that even if I wanted to. Frustrating yet I had to endure it.

That was why I already took some measures, something that Father would never neglect. It should be happening soon.

Patience is a virtue. Things would be chaotic as soon as I became the Marchioness of Timestone.

I looked up when Frederick sighed in relief. "You are always as cunning as I thought, my goddess. I am afraid in the near future, you have something in your mind that will surely end up hurting me."

Our eyes met. No. Frederick made sure that our eyes met by saying those words to grab my attention.

His meaningful words were saying that I would soon discard him as soon as I reached my objective. It also sounded like he was threatening me.

Ah, yes. Whenever he was like this, Frederick would always threaten me if this involved our mate bond. If our mate bond was at risk, he would surely express his disapproval and discomfort.

I almost forgot that Frederick was so smart that he could predict my movement with just a little information he would get. But there was something that he couldn't predict, especially the part that I agreed to consummate my marriage with Reginald back in the Crescent Moon Oceanfront.

It was something I already predicted would happen. But Frederick did not see what would come which was why he looked so down at that time he almost lost his will to live.

"You must be overthinking," I said, dismissing it.

But Frederick knew better that I would do something that would... hurt him.

"You can fool others but you cannot fool me," he uttered with a warning.

"How bold of you to even threaten me again, Frederick."

He smiled sweetly. "You accused me so highly, my goddess. Do not be like that."

I scoffed. I knew it better that he was really threatening me if I put our mate bond in jeopardy. "Rest assured. I shall pay heed to your warning."

Or not.

I felt his gaze following me when I went to my gallery room. I sighed as I roamed my eyes around. I must start covering them as I should renovate one of the rooms back in the Argerich mansion.

Sighing, until now, no one had come to respond about *it*. "I thought *you* were going to find us," I murmured, starting to feel hopeless.

"Who?"

I glanced at Frederick, not surprised at his presence. "Start covering my paintings, darling. I shall have someone deliver them to the Argerich mansion," I said, not answering what he asked.

I heard his sigh. "Yes. I shall do that, my goddess."

I was about to leave when I remembered something. "We haven't had our playing session yet, right?"

He nodded. "Yes, my goddess. Pay no mind about it. It is much better if you focus on your succession ceremony and handling of being the head of the Marquis Argerich Family."

Somehow, I felt blessed with this man for understanding my situation. I suddenly felt ticklish. I felt like I really wanted to see the cunning side of Frederick on how he must deal with me. This kind of warning coming from him was making me feel excited.

On the day of the succession ceremony, the Argerich mansion was a bit chaotic this morning. Since the ceremony should be happening here in the mansion, I brought Frederick here with me. However, Father was against at first that he would sleep here at first but then, he told Frederick that he would allow it if he would stay at the packhouse.

I chuckled because I saw the disappointment on Frederick's face when he agreed with Father's condition.

The ceremony will be happening tonight so I still have time to ponder and make some time to dress up for tonight while the maidservants and butlers rechecked the decoration and the dishes they were going to serve to the nobles who were invited.

As soon as I was done dressing up, Father knocked and entered. "I wish to speak with you before the ceremony starts."

I glanced at my male servants and nodded at them. I looked at Father who was glaring at them when they left.

"Is it necessary to have male servants to help you get dressed?" he asked when the door closed.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. "Father, are we going to argue about what gender who must help me get dressed?" I turned to him. I almost arched my eyebrow but I halted myself since I did not want to ruin my night.

He opened his mouth but no words came out of it. Instead, he just sighed. "Nevermind." Then he fished out something from his pocket. "Here." My eyes widened when he showed me the amethyst ring. "This is our family heirloom that has been passed since your grandfather to the next head of the House of Argerich."

My jaw dropped, leaving me speechless. Father took my right hand and inserted the ring into my middle finger.

"I had it adjusted." Father gazed at me. "Show it to everyone that you are now the matriarch of our family, my daughter."

I was rendered speechless. I didn't notice that my father already left if only Frederick didn't snap me back. "Darling..." I fluttered my eyes, wanting to pinch myself if I was already woken up to reality.

"That is a beautiful ring, my goddess."

I looked down to see the family head ring that I was wearing right now. My emotions were swirling inside me right now. "Pinch me... I think I am still dreaming..." I said as my eyes were glued to the ring I was wearing right now.

"You are not dreaming, my goddess." I looked up when Frederick held my hands. Tiny bits of shivers crawled to my skin as our skin was brushing against each other. "This is it. You are one step ahead now and show the noble faction that even though they think of you as the harlot of our kingdom, you still manage to inherit your father's title. You must be proud of yourself, Novalie. Because if you ask me, I am really... really... proud of you." Frederick smiled softly.

The words he uttered always made my wolf feel giddy. I even questioned myself as to why my heart was reacting whenever Frederick would say these words.

It was annoying that he knew what to say to make me feel at ease. But... aside from that, I was happy that he was by my side.

Nodding, I squeezed his hands one more time to gather strength. "Shall we go now? I have heard that Father is making his speech already," I suggested.

Frederick made a deep bow before he offered his arm. "As you wish, my goddess."

As we sauntered the hallway, I could hear clearly what Father was saying right now.

"I am glad to present to you... The next head of the House of Argerich..." Father paused when he saw me after Frederick left me at the entrance of the door. I nodded my head at him, signaling that I was prepared now for his announcement. "My dearest daughter... Marchioness Novalie Argerich."

As soon as he announced it, I knew that everything should have fallen into its place.

Most especially, this should be the next opportunity that I am divorcing my marriage with Reginald.

And my father...

My father had no power now to stop me because I, Novalie Argerich, am now the matriarch of the House of Argerich. The one who held power to handle the affairs and all of my orders and decision-making were absolute.

Farewell, Viscountess of Erast.

I am now the Marchioness of Timestone.