Chapter 27: The Heir Candidates' Objection

"Lady Dominixe, you are being rough on us for today..." Eric complained when they were still sitting on the grass, panting heavily after I had bestowed them the harsh reality of being near to death experience.

I arched my eyebrow and eyed them, seeing that they were covered with bruises and bathing in their own blood after piercing my sword to the ground to make their eyes widen in horror. "You dare to complain? With your skills, how can you even protect me as your mistress?" I sounded like I was belittling them.

I had no problem with their fighting skills. I only said I wanted to enhance and protect them at all costs, so I had to be rough on them. I just did not want to see them dying before my eyes again. I cherished them, so the vigorous training would help them protect themselves if Papa dared to hunt them with his henchmen.

"But, Lady Dominixe..."

"Oi, Eric. Will you shut up?" Jude hit Eric on his head, who was already frowning. He looked at me and bowed his head, apologizing. "On behalf of him, I would like to apologize for his behavior, Lady Dominixe. If you wish, you can discard him and replace him."

Eric gasped, horrified by his suggestion. He turned at me, vigorously shaking his head, kneeling and placing his head on the ground. "It is the insolence of me that a lowly creature like me is complaining, my lady. Please educate me, but please do not replace me..." He raised his head. "You are the only master I am looking up to," he begged.

I smiled. "Jude's idea is not that bad. It seems that you will be replaced tomorrow," I jested.

He gasped again. "M-My lady..." He looked horrified that I would certainly discard him tomorrow.

Smirking, I squatted in front of them. "If you are that sincere, go and train some of my henchmen. And I want this training ground to be bathed with their blood. Remember not to use wolfsbane in your weapon. I do not want them dead." I tapped their heads. "Jude, guide Eric to behave."

"Yes, Lady Dominixe. Your wish is my command."

Nodding, I decided to stand up and turned my back to leave. I oscillated my sword while leaving the training ground area, but I happened to meet Jethro, my 4th brother, who was not wearing a training uniform.

Jethro bowed his head. "I greet my 1st sister for this morning," he said politely.

"Jethro..." I nodded at him as a sign that I was greeting him. Then I lowered my gaze, seeing that he was holding a book about what it meant to be a messenger of the Moon Goddess. Sighing, I placed my hand on top of his shoulder. "You shall hide that book, dear 4th brother. You know that Papa hates that you are studying Theology."

As far as I remember, Jethro was interested in entering the temple to be a divine priest. But Papa did not allow him since he imprinted in Jethro's mind, or more likely, he brainwashed him, that Jethro was a great sinner for slaughtering mankind. The Moon Goddess would never forgive him, so it was no use that he would be a divine priest, that was what Papa said.

He gasped before he hid the book on his back. "P-Please do not tell Papa, Domi..." His tone sounded timid and bashful. But the looks could be deceiving.

That personality was dangerous since behind that facade was a frightening Alpha slayer that he had. However, he was outsmarted by Britanny in my previous life.

This time, he was one of the people I would save in my second life. So, I must do anything to protect my 4th brother.

"I won't." His face brightened up. "Just do not let Lambert see you were holding that book, or else Papa shall punish you."

Lambert, my 3rd brother, and he had the same mother, Natalie. Also, Natasha, my 3rd sister, was Natalie's first pup. She was the oldest among Lambert and Jethro.

He had to hide that book from Lambert since our 3rd brother was one of the heir candidates. I already knew that Jethro would be punished one of these days once Lambert found out that Jethro was still studying Theology.

He nodded as he felt relieved. "Are you... not going to report me to Papa, Domi?"

I shook my head. "No. I just want you to be careful. I do not want you to get punished, Jethro. Believe me. You know that it was hellish." He nodded, understanding my point of view. "Now, now." I urged him that he should hide that book.

Smiling, he bowed before me. "Also, Natasha told me she likes having tea with you, Britanny, Maria, and Caroline. Please meet them in the pavilion garden tomorrow afternoon."

"Certainly." I looked at him intently before I lowered my head and coerced him to look at me. "4th brother, if you have a problem that you are dealing with right now, you can tell your 1st sister, alright?" He looked shocked. I smiled since I caught him off guard. "Have a nice day, Jethro." I tapped his shoulder before walking past him. "Tea party, huh?" I murmured when I returned to my chamber.

And all of us, the daughters of the Cantavalle patriarch, would be present there.

It was about time to face all of them. Especially Caroline.

I did not have the nerve to face her yet. I felt like if I happened to see her, I would feel this enragement and might attack her in no time. But I was prepared for any scenario in which there might be a moment that I would lose composure.

I just needed to be calmed and composed.

Later this afternoon, Anita and a few of the maidservants helped me to get dressed for the preparation for Crown Prince Henricus' birthday. I would take it as a chance to meet Valerian there finally.

Because by the time we met there, he already knew who I was. He had already investigated me from the moment I left Solacia.

"My lady, we are finished."

I eyed myself in the whole vanity mirror. I was wearing an azure rococo dress with golden laces as the intricate designs on my dress. I wore a ribbon necklace with emerald stone and faux blue sapphire stud earrings. My hair was pulled up in a braided updo with a pearl flower hairpin attached to it.

"Thank you for everyone's hard work." I nodded at them before I turned my head when the door opened and revealed Orion.

"Young mistress Dominixe, Lord Harchier is summoning you. The carriage is already here to depart."

Nodding, I went to see Papa outside and went to the carriage. But I did not see him there but only Arthur and Lambert.

"Where is Papa?" I asked, sitting across them. "And Britanny?"

As heir candidates, we were the only ones who could come with Papa in the same carriage unless he made some exceptions. Our other siblings would be in the other carriage, settling there.

"She is coming," Lambert said, looking outside the window.

I remained composed upon seeing my 2nd sister, who was Papa's third pup, walking her way to the carriage. Britanny was Aurora's first pup and daughter.

The coachman opened the door for me. She looked surprised when Britanny saw me. "Sister, you are here before me... That is new," she said when she mounted the carriage and sat between Arthur and Lambert.

"Change of heart, Britanny," I said nonchalantly.

Just looking at her was enough to make my blood boil. But I wouldn't forget that she was interested in my so-called fiance in my previous life. I would make sure that I wouldn't be engaged with Warren again.

That wouldn't happen until Valerian died, so it was impossible that I would be engaged at this moment.

Britanny scoffed a grin before he turned at Arthur and leaned forward on him. "Dear 1st brother, how do I look today?"

Arthur smiled and nodded. "You are blooming, Brit. Your red gown suits you."

"Well, I made sure I am the only one who must wear this color." She smiled meaningfully before she glanced in my direction. "It shall be a bloodbath if Domi and I shall have the same color of our gown."

I arched my eyebrow, looking at her, smiling. "I should have made a mistake then that I wear a different color. Next time, I shall know first what color you will wear so you and I will be mistaken as twins. That is going to be interesting again. Isn't that right, Britanny?"

The truth was Britanny was the one who wanted to know what color I would wear and would replicate the same color. But she changed herself and ensured that neither of us was making a matching color. She hated that I was being compared to her.

"Halt, Britanny." With her fast hands, Arthur quickly halted her when Britanny stole the knife inside Arthur's suit. "Papa is coming, my dearest sister. You shall not displease him if he sees you bringing out my knives."

Britanny glared at me. "I just want to graze her beautiful face," she said, releasing her hand from holding Arthur's knives before she pushed him away.

"Britanny..." Lambert looked worried.

Britanny and I were yin and yang, up and down, and heaven and earth. With our disparity, Britanny was one of my obstacles. She did not want to be left behind, so she tried to get Papa's attention by raising her status as an heir candidate.

She was feeling ill toward me, that was for certain. Also, she hated me.

She hated me since I did not belong to any of Papa's wives, but I was born before them by my mother, who was not even here with me.

"Let her, Lambert." That was the only thing I said before Papa mounted the carriage. He arched his eyebrow when he must have noticed that the atmosphere was eerie. "Britanny again?"

He already knew who would dare to ruin this atmosphere.

Britanny bowed. "My apologies, Papa."

He squinted his eyes at her, looking displeased. "Next time, you shall know to control your temper, Britanny Aldith Cantavalle." She flinched and lowered her head more.

Arthur, Lambert, and I exchanged glances. We knew that Papa was already irritated once he mentioned our full name.

"Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes, Papa."

Seeing Britanny curling up like a kitten was fascinating. Only Papa could make her curl up like that.

Britanny glared at me before she remained her gaze on her thighs. After that, Papa settled beside me as the carriage started moving.

The whole trip was silent. Neither of us dared to speak. As long as Papa did not begin to speak, neither of the four candidates should speak.

But since I was his favorite, I was an exemption.

"Papa, I have heard that my next target shall be attending the crown prince's birthday." I was talking about Valerian, who would finally make his appearance on His Royal Highness's birthday.

Valerian was busy extending the expedition Alpha King Helio had tasked him for. It was why our paths never crossed because he had to go to each town to conduct some expedition. He would only appear if summoned or to report something to our Alpha King.

Papa nodded and sighed when we made it past the gates of the royal palace. "Good. Finally, he is making his appearance after all these years."

"That is a big task, Papa. That man is powerful, right? Is Dominixe need assistance to infiltrate his pack?" Lambert asked.

"I do not need assistance, Lambert. I can handle him all by myself." I needed to chime in before Papa would agree with it. He might ruin my plans.

Arthur creased his forehead and looked at me as if I was insane already. "He is a duke, Dominixe. One of the people that has been granted a territory to rule. He is also one of the Alpha King's retainers. He is a tough opponent. So, this is not child's play if you see that on him."

"Indeed. Arthur is correct." Britanny had finally chimed in the conversation. "If you need assistance seducing him, I can help you with that, 1st sister." Her lips curled up into a big smirk as if her suggestion was possible.

I squinted my eyes at them, especially Britanny. I knew what they were doing.

They were threatened since Papa had finally made a move to target one of the powerful dukedoms, the Leveaux Duchy. Making us assigned one of them meant that it was highly likely that heir candidate would become the next ruler of the House of Cantavalle.

I did not say anything to make them halt their protest because I already knew what Papa was going to say next.

Papa looked at them, unbothered by their objection. "I trust Dominixe that she can handle this alone. I want to test it first. If she can complete this task alone, I shall assign the next three dukedoms for you to infiltrate."

I almost smiled after that. "Thank you for your trust, Papa." I bowed my head before him, feeling the death stares from my siblings. "I shall not fail you." I smiled meaningfully.

Because the game should begin now.

It was time to begin my plans with the involvement of Valerian.