Dining Hall

*Chapter 89*

The people cheered and clapped their hands as soon as the execution for Reginald was over.

Reginald's dead state looked like a burned crisp of meat that had been left and neglected for many hours. From afar, I saw Patricia hugging Jonathan who looked disheartened at what happened to their older brother.

While me... I remained a stoic expression with a small smile on my lips. I felt relieved that he wouldn't be able to antagonize me since he was dead now.

"It's over."

I didn't turn at Prince Atticus when he spoke. There was no reason for me to act like we were close now. The execution was over.

I glanced at Father to mind link that I wished to go home now. I wanted to celebrate in the manor, not grieve about Reginald's death. But I creased my forehead when he said that we couldn't go home yet.

'Why not?' I asked, bewildered.

'His Majesty invited us to dine with him for lunch. I cannot say no to that.'

I sighed. 'Fine.' I automatically looked at Prince Atticus when I felt his gaze on me. "Is there anything you wish to say, Your Highness?" I asked in an almost hostile tone.

I heard him snickering. "Why are you always cautious when it is me, Marchioness Argerich? Do you hate me that much?" he asked in a teasing tone.

I smiled at him. "Yes, I do hate you, Your Highness," I uttered earnestly. That earned him silence. "Does that answer your question?" I masked my tone with sweetness.

In my peripheral vision, his brothers were exchanging glances. Alucard, Alistair, and Alejandro were even nudging each other. It was as if they were trying to push each other to halt this bizarre atmosphere that was enveloping Prince Atticus and me.

"Let us go back to the palace now. Shall we?" His Majesty chimed in and stood up.

I decided to stand up and approached Father. I didn't want to stay in the same place with Prince Atticus. I couldn't stay in the same place with him. I felt suffocated and at any moment, I could threaten him because the anger I felt did not wash away so easily.

"Would you like to speak with Jonathan and Patricia?" Father asked when we looked their way.

They were crying silently. They wanted to come near to Reginald's cadaver but they couldn't as they were waiting for the people to leave the capital plaza. They had to distance or else they would be targeted by their anger.

"Now is not the time, Father. Perhaps, I might try after Reginald's funeral ceremony." I did not think that it would be best that I would show myself before them. What I could do was communicate with Jonathan only.

Patricia was another story since she would hate me more because of her older brother's death.

We returned to the carriage after that and went straight to the palace. Father looked at me, worried.

"I shall tell His Majesty not to put you in an uncomfortable situation again, Novalie, if you want," he said when we arrived at the palace.

I shook my head. "He is clearly setting me up to Prince Atticus. I would only displease him if we keep making an excuse that I am avoiding His Highness."

"If this keeps up, you shall have no choice but to be Prince Atticus' retainer if you pretend to get along with him. Remember your bet with His Majesty, Novalie. Do not bestow their satisfaction," he said, opening the carriage door.

He helped me to get down when I accepted my father's hand. "I shall remember that then." I nodded in agreement.

"About what you said to Reginald..." Father said when we entered the palace after we saw that the De Carteret brothers had arrived and gone inside already.

I sighed. "He is gone, Father. He would not dare to tell anyone. Plus, he cannot even mind link anyone since he had been banished both from two packs." Lone Crow pack and Wall Burgundy pack decided to exile him after it was spread that the real culprit behind committing treason was Reginald after all.

Jonathan cooperated to exile his older brother and made things right. He would forfeit half of Westervelt's wealth in order to pay for the royal lycan family's honor. That was what Alpha King Azarius and Jonathan made an agreement with at that time.

As we arrived at the dining hall, I turned to the palace guard. "Announce our arrival," I said, ordering him.

The palace guard bowed his head before he held the doorknob and slightly opened the door. "Marchioness Argerich and Dowager Marquis Argerich have arrived," he announced.

All were completed when we arrived except Mother Luna Queen Adeline and Grand Alpha King Apollo. I curtsied before them while Father bowed his head as we greeted them.

"Don't worry. Father and Mother are not here today. If you are looking for them," Alpha King Azarius said with a smile. "Though they are looking forward to meeting you today again, Marchioness Argerich. For old times' sake, they say."

I only smiled. "I can meet them again some other time." Ah, yes. They almost became my parents-in-law. I did not get to speak with them properly ever since Prince Atticus broke the engagement.

He nodded. "Have a seat, Marchioness Argerich, Dowager Marquis Argerich."

We went to the seats where we must settle. I sighed in relief because I was not sitting next to Prince Atticus again. I felt like if they set me up like that again, I would go insane.

However, I was sitting across from Prince Atticus who until now was still wearing that shield-shape mask.

I wonder if he was going to remove that mask while we were going to dine for our noon meal.

I looked at Alpha King Azarius when he clapped his hands. On cue, royal servants entered and served us our soup and meal.

My eyes darted at Prince Atticus when I felt his gaze on me. I looked away and almost rolled my eyes. But even so, I could still feel his gaze no matter what happened.

And that was making me uncomfortable. I hated that he was watching me like that.

"Atticus." I snapped back when His Majesty called.

"Yes, brother?" Prince Atticus asked.

"We are in front of our meal. Can you at least remove your mask? It is very disrespectful and you are acting deviant again."

He stiffened. Then he nervously looked in my way before he chuckled. "Um..." He glanced behind him. "Caspian, I believe I have matters to attend to right now. Is it?"

I inhaled slowly and saw Sir Caspian step forward, looking a little perplexed. Prince Atticus' head moved like he was indicating something.

Caspian chuckled nervously and nodded. "Indeed, Your Highness. You have to meet Lady Briana this noon."

His brothers gasped, looking shocked at what Caspian said. "Are you dating her?" Then they looked in my way as if they were worried about me.

I creased my forehead and glanced at Father. 'Whose daughter from the House of Briana, Father?' I asked through mind link.

'I heard it was the third daughter before.'

'I see.' I suddenly felt bitter when I looked at Prince Atticus. My heart leaped when our eyes met. I heaved out a sigh, wanting to walk out all of a sudden.

Perhaps, Lady Ramona Briana was his mate. I hope he ended up rejected by her.

"No! What the hell!" He stood up in no time. "I need to go. I am rushing right now." He glanced at me after he nodded his head at me. "Marchioness Argerich, I am expecting that you will attend my birthday party."

"Huh?" Why did that come out all of a sudden? What did it have to do with me? And right here? He would bring that up?

"What is so important that I must attend your birthday party? This is the first time you ever invited me. And you are expecting me to come after all the things you have done to me? How absurd you are," I said, couldn't help my mouth right now.

I didn't care now if I was being rude right in front of Alpha King Azarius. I just couldn't hold myself being with their youngest brother who until now, was still the asshole I knew.

The surrounding was enveloped with deafening silence right now. I couldn't hold back now that my anger was afloat at this moment. All the memories that happened back then... I could still remember them like they happened yesterday.

"Novalie..." Prince Atticus said.

"Do not call me by my name as if we are closed!" I raised my tone and slammed the table, irritated right now.

The way he called my name was the same thing as Frederick called me. I clenched my hands, feeling my heart ache. How dare he kept copying what my slave and knight could do.

Was he insulting me?

I stood up and glanced at Alpha King Azarius who was watching us silently which was the same goes for the people present here. "Your Majesty, I am afraid I cannot dine with all of you. I cannot..." My voice croaked. I cleared my throat. "I cannot stay in the same place with His Highness, Prince Atticus. If it is not to be discourteous to you, I wish to take my leave."

His Majesty sighed after a moment of silence. "Of course..." he said in a dejected tone before he glared at Prince Atticus. "I shall discipline this grown-up man later," he paused and glanced at me before he smiled. "You may take your leave." Then he turned at Father who also stood up.

"Father shall stay here," I said. Father creased his forehead, looking at me like he was telling me what I was trying to do again. "The carriage will be back, I promise. Until then..." I paused and curtsied to all of them before I glared at Prince Atticus who was clenching his hands right now. "I shall take my leave."

I didn't wait for their response and stormed out of the dining hall. I just didn't want to pretend that I was fine staying in the same place with Prince Atticus. It was draining the hell out of me.

Just as I was leaving the palace, I heard running footsteps from behind. "Novalie!"

I sighed in exasperation before I spun around and flinched when Prince Atticus was already in front of me. I squinted my eyes realizing he used his wolf speed to come near me.

"Stay away from me," I said, emphasizing each word.

I stepped back and was about to leave but then he held my hand. "I am sorry." My eyes widened. I turned my head to see his reaction but then he slowly removed his hand from me and spun around to leave.

"Huh?" What the hell had just happened?

I glanced at the hand where he held it. I was surprised when there was a parchment he secretly sneaked. My heart was pounding so fast when I slowly opened it and read the context in it.

As soon as I finished reading it, I crumpled up in annoyance when the context had a threatening letter. "Bastard..." I said through gritted teeth.