Chapter 54: Raising Suspicion

"Who is he really, Henry?" I asked after I told him again how I met Niccolo in my previous life. That he was the rogue Alpha. He was enveloped with silence after that. "Valerian did not say in his letter that Niccolo Andreu is part of his contingency plan. He only mentioned Demetrius..."

I read Valerian's letter carefully. He did not include a name, Niccolo Andreu, to be the next Beta. But Niccolo told everyone he was part of Valerian's contingency plan.

Henry cocke.d his head from side to side. "Well, I can answer that." He reclined on his seat. "If you are deemed the first in line to inherit a pack, the descendant has the right to decide who would be his next Beta. He can still choose the current Beta's son. However, since the Nocturnal Crest pack was annihilated, Demetrius designated someone to be his second-in-command to rebuild this pack." He shrugged. "Someone who put his trust and would be a good fit as Beta."

"Is that so?" I asked, hesitant.

He nodded. "That is how it works, actually."

But Niccolo was deemed as the rogue Alpha by Britanny back then.

I was about to say that, but Henry stood up. Then he shoved his body onto Valerian's bed. "I am kind of exhausted. Can I rest for a bit?"

"Um... C-Certainly?" I was uncertain since Henry welcomed himself and laid on his stomach, not caring if I was there. But Henry did not get to reply to me and drew himself to sleep. I noticed that he looked jaded when I first saw him today.

He must have been busy handling the state affairs ever since Valerian died. It meant that his father passed down the works to him again.

I just let him and finished my meal. I still wanted to ask Henry that Niccolo was also an Alpha candidate from the pack I couldn't remember, but hearing his soft snore was enough for me that he needed some rest.

I went to take a bath and wore my clothing that had been washed. That bewildered me since I did not know they already had someone to wash my clothes.

I even attempted dressing up in the same chamber where Henry was. He was sleeping, so I didn't need to worry if he would see me naked or not.

I even kept the purple envelope and kissed it. I even smelled the scent of lilith flowers that made my chest tighten before I quietly stormed out, and I silently bid farewell to Henry's sleeping state.

Walking in the hallway of Valerian's manor filled me with memories of when I was still living here. It felt like I was returning to the day I lived here. All the maids here were scurried here and there to clean the whole manor and serve their Alpha.

I even remembered how Valerian and I used to make love quietly in every corner of this hallway and had so many escapades to fulfill each other's lust and desires.

However, it was unfortunate that they were covered with ashes. What shocked me more that the entire mansion was not dilapidated. The floors that creaked every time my shoes tapped on them had me know that the floors were in good condition.

I even saw some traces of shattered vases, and the paintings were part of the combustion.

My feet brought me to Valerian's study room when I heard some crumble. But my heart jumped out of my ribcage upon seeing Demetrius cleaning the bookshelves as he sneezed from the dust.

Demetrius gasped when he saw me. "Mo—I mean, Lady Dominixe." His face brightened up as he patted his hands on his trousers.

"M-My apologies. I should not have barged in." My eyes roamed around upon seeing the whole study room look unmutilated and intact. That somehow surprised and bewildered me at the same time.

The fire unsullied Valerian's chamber... And now... his study room as well?

What was the meaning of this?

"No, no. It is fine." He patted his hands to wipe off the dust while arranging the books on the shelves. "How may I help you, Lady Dominixe?"

Suspicions were succumbing to my whole being, but I ignored them and flaunted the purple envelope by placing it in between my forefinger and middle finger.

"I want to ask you about Valerian's letter." I did not even bother asking politely if I could talk to him. I was already at the point where I wanted to learn everything about Valerian's contingency plan and who Niccolo was.

I still couldn't trust them, especially him. But the letter Valerian wrote was enough reason that he indeed appointed Demetrius as the one who would inherit his riches.

He ushered me to get inside. "Have a seat." I did as he told me. "What is about my predecessor's letter? Is there something wrong with it?" he asked as he sat across me.

I stared at him and studied his features. Odd... There was something in him that I couldn't grasp a finger on. This young man, smeared with a sense of familiarity to my whole being, was making me feel ticklish.

"Valerian expected that you would relinquish this to me, but instead, Henry was the one who did it."

Demetrius looked surprised, but he smiled dejectedly. "Because I cannot find myself facing you. You have been through a lot. I am embarrassed that I might trigger you about my predecessor's death, so I asked His Royal Highness to bestow that on you. In hopes that... you might find the strength to keep going and fulfill what you need to do."

I lowered my eyes to the envelope and stared at the wax-sealed stamp of the House of Leveaux.

The three blue feathers indicated the benevolence, compassion, and loyalty of the House of Leveaux to the royal lycan family.

"Indeed... With this letter, I finally find what I must do starting today."

I realized that I shouldn't put myself in a worse situation. But it did not mean that I wouldn't miss Valerian. I was still mourning his death.

I wanted to say I had found the initial drive to keep going. I needed to meet the plans I had concocted beforehand.

I must bring down my father's legacy. That was the point why I regressed.

"That is good to hear. I am certain my predecessor will be happy..."

I looked up at him when I sensed of bitter sweet in his tone. It was as if... he was relieved, yet there was a hint of melancholy.

Why?

Why would he have that kind of tone?

Was he relieved that he fulfilled Valerian's last will?

However, I noticed something in him.

I arched my eyebrow. "Why do you keep calling Valerian as 'predecessor'? What is wrong with mentioning his name? Is it taboo for you to utter it?"

It already got on my nerves. I noticed that he was not mentioning my honeydew's name. He kept uttering predecessor here and there.

Demetrius was surprised for a moment before he smiled. My heart leaped since the way he smiled was the same as mine. "I am unworthy to call him—"

"It is a sign of disrespectful that you are not calling his name," I chimed in before he could finish his words.

He was silent for a moment before he softened and nodded. "As you wish. He told me to call him 'Father' actually."

"F-Father?" I parroted, shocked. Demetrius nodded and smiled. That bewildered me. "W-Why did he want you to call him that? A-Are you his b-biological son?" My heart pounded so fast from the conclusion. "And you looked like me, as what they said. Does this mean your birth mother is the same... as mine?"

I almost gasped at my words. That was a plausible reason. Could it be that Valerian met someone? Could it be that the one he impregnated was my mother?

Damn it! I wasn't certain if I was making any sense!

"Same birth mother?" I nodded and told him that I did not know who my mother was. He might actually know it. But Demetrius chuckled, shaking his head. "I am certain we do not have the same mother, Lady Dominixe. But you do certainly look like her. However, as for her eyes, my mother has the same eye color as you."

I gasped. "C-Cognac eye color?" He nodded, which brought chills down my spine.

"Yes. Actually, you look fond to me, Lady Dominixe. It must be because... you look like my mother but in old age. As for my father, my mother told me that he came from the Leveaux branch family with chartreuse orbs." He shrugged.

That made me stare at him, shocked that I had to make sure what he said. "Your mother has the same eye color as me?" I parroted.

"Mmm!" He nodded again.

I blinked, not knowing what to say for a moment. "But... Our eye color only runs if you have Cantavalle blood and my features..." I paused. "My features are mixed with my father's and mother's."

That was what Papa said. My features looked like a combination of him and my unknown mother.

I thought we might have the same mother, but I now remembered what Papa said.

Demetrius had his jaw dropped before his eyes shifted. "I-Is that so?" I nodded.

That was the moment we were enveloped with deafening silence. Neither of us dared to speak as we became aware of each other's presence and the words we uttered.

We were interrupted by knocks on the door before it revealed who it was. "Demetrius, have you seen Dominixe? I only saw Henry in m—" Niccolo halted upon seeing me. His emerald green eyes widened when our eyes met.

I couldn't help creasing my forehead. Did he call Henry by his nickname instead of addressing him as honorific?

Was this just a coincidence, or did Henry allow him to be called by his nickname?

As much as I wanted to ask them, I felt like I would just alarm them.

"Why are you looking for me?" I grimaced, squinting my eyes at him.

I felt uncomfortable with him, but something in him also made my insides clench.

"N-Nothing." Niccolo cleared his throat. "I only saw H-His Royal Highness in Duke Leveaux's master's chamber."

I arched my eyebrow, drawing more suspicion. Now, he just called Henry His Royal Highness...

He and Demetrius were being suspicious of me... I knew that something was not right.

Heaving out a sigh, I decided to stand up. "Henry is tired, so I have let him rest there." I fished out my pocket watch and saw the time before I almost tsked. "I must take my leave. I have to return now." I turned at Demetrius and bowed my head. "I am pleased to meet you, young Duke Leveaux."

I just hope he could handle this responsibility. He was still young to even handle two crucial titles: a duke and an Alpha.

He gasped and stood up. "A-Are you leaving already? C-Can't you stay for a little moment?"

His tone surprised me. He sounded like a child that wanted to let his parent stay from working.

Demetrius must have seen me as his mother based on how his chartreuse eyes were pleading. Perhaps, I really looked like his mother.

Which reminds me... Ismael even suspected that Demetrius might be my son, even though that was impossible. That was even hilarious as I perceived it.

There might be a chance that someone out there had the same features as mine. Perhaps, the cognac eye color was naturally born from that person as well.

I softened and placed his hand on his head. I even caressed it gently. He really reminded me about Ingram. Demetrius and Ingram might become good friends if that happened.

"I can't. However, thank you for... your hospitality and for the letter. I am at ease somehow. Except for the insolent and insensitive remarks from someone," I said meaningfully and glared at Niccolo, who remained silent and silently watching us.

Demetrius looked troubled. He looked like he wanted to halt me, but his eyes were down, nodding. "A-Alright..." He sighed and helplessly gazed at Niccolo. "Niccolo, please see Lady Dominixe off."

Niccolo flinched and bowed. "Lady Dominixe—"

"I do not need it," I said coldly and halted before him. "I do not even wish to speak with you, you barefaced, callous scumbag. Have sympathy for someone who just lost her beloved mate." I looked up at him even though my height was just under his chin before I walked past him after, rendering him speechless.

I transformed into my wolf form and ran through the forest while wondering about Niccolo's height. I did not know why, but it seemed familiar to me.

Why did it look like his height was the same as Valerian's? Was it even like this in my previous life?

That's odd...