Chapter 55: The New Era

"Be certain that her wedding gown shall be envious of by the other nobles," Rorilin told the notorious seamstress, Lorenza Jaime, who was taking my measurement. "I also want the other nobles to envy my son and Dominixe's wedding," she said dreamily. "Right, Harchier?"

I stared at Rorilin, Warren's mother, with an almost disgusting expression I could ever express. My hands had been clenching so badly already ever since I was lured to come here to the apparel boutique by Papa.

No.

I was already threatened to come here to take my measurement since I was already engaged with Warren Porter five months ago.

Yes, five months ago.

It was the most petrifying news I had come to learn, even though I must expect this already.

It never changed. My situation still ended up being engaged with that disgusting man. My previous life and my current life still faced the same dilemma that would torment me for my entire life.

"Indeed, Rorilin." Papa stood up and eyed me up and down, having an approval written on his face before he turned to the catalog, where they had already picked what wedding gown I must wear once it was finished sewing. "Is two months already enough grace period to finish my daughter's wedding gown?"

Lorenza fixed her glasses and curtsied before him. "Indeed, Lord Harchier. Fret not. I shall ensure that Lady Dominixe shall have a majestic wedding dress in the entire century. Just as how I made Lady Natasha's wedding dress eight months ago." Then she glanced at Natasha, who was also here with us.

Natasha smiled, nodding. "Indeed. I agree with Madam Lorenza, Papa," she said softly. "The wedding dress she made for me is really ethereal and breathtaking. I feel like I want to get married again to Lazaro." She sighed dreamily.

Ah, yes. Natasha already married her mate five months ago. She was now bearing Lazaro's surname, Addice.

She was now Natasha Elizabeth Cantavalle-Addice.

However, she was still living under the same roof with us since Papa hadn't agreed that Natasha and Lazaro would move out to the Addice estate.

"Aha! Thank you for your patronage, Lady Natasha!" Lorenza looked so beguiling with my sister's praise.

Natasha clasped her hands the moment everything was finished. "Papa, can Domi and I stay here in the town? I wish to purchase some items I need before returning home."

I looked at her, bewildered since it would be deemed impossible that she could ask to make me stay with her knowing that Papa had had his eyes on me ever since Valerian died.

"Alright. Enjoy your day."

I was surprised at Papa. He agreed? That was easy?

"Thank you, Papa. Farewell, Lady Porter." She curtsied when Papa and Rorilin were going to their carriage.

Papa nodded while Rorilin smiled. "See you soon, Dominixe, and Lady Natasha."

Watching them leaving, I turned at Natasha and flinched when I saw her smiling in my way. "Um... Where should we go?" I asked, unsure.

"Let's eat." Natasha took my hand and dragged me as she started to run.

"Natasha...!"

She giggled and held my hand tighter. "Come on, Domi! Halt from being somber! Let's have fun again, just like the old times!"

I looked at her, seeing how she still wanted to act like the old times even though she was already married. I scoffed a chuckle and got along with her.

But we must avoid being close like this.

I must avoid her fate that her mate was going to get killed and her to be in a miserable fate from losing him.

The fact that this part didn't change might happen anytime soon. I wanted to avoid her being ended up miserable for the second time.

Natasha brought me to the nearest restaurant, where she picked the balcony of the second floor as a place to eat. She rented it so we would have our own privacy outside while enjoying people who kept passing by the restaurant.

"Is the food to your liking?"

I snapped back when Natasha looked at me with her head slightly tilted. I lowered my gaze to my meal and noticed I hadn't touched it. "Ah... I am still full..." But I still tried to eat.

Natasha looked at me, seeing how dreadful I was. "My, my... I have brought you here so we can share some stories and laughter, yet you remain silent there," she complained. But her eyes softened. "Domi, you can approach me if you need someone..."

That was also your statement before Papa tormented me again by ruining our relationship, Natasha.

"You must be careful from now on, Natasha. Being close to you shall bring us to despair." Especially since the heir candidate competition was starting to be at its peak. In the next few months, Britanny would certainly start to kill some of our siblings.

"What do you mean?"

I averted my gaze. "Papa might ruin our close relationship as siblings. You must not let Lazaro insist you leave the manor or else. Death shall await him..."

I couldn't care less now if I revealed what would have happened in the future. I was already dreadful from Valerian's death. She might not believe me, but it would matter that I should have told her what would have happened.

Natasha did not say anything for a long moment. I was expecting she would stay like that, for I did not know how long.

"Ismael..." I glanced up when Natasha spoke. "You two are not sleeping together, right?" I did not answer and looked at my plate. "You two have become close with each other... Papa... made you two fall apart..."

"Ismael and Arthur killed my Valerian..." My chest tightened when I opened it up. "Especially, Izzy... I let him taste his own medicine..." I smiled menacingly, but that soon disappeared when I caught her looking at me. "I mean, that would also happen to you if Papa orders me to kill your mate, Natasha. That is why—"

"Why can't you just be direct that you want my help to bring down Papa?"

My eyes widened. I did not even get to eat the fettuccine Alfredo, surprised at her words. "How did you—"

"Ismael." She immediately chimed in as she clasped her hands together on the table. She looked earnest this time. "So?"

"When did he tell you?" My heart was pounding, not realizing this was happening behind my back.

The hell, Ismael... You couldn't reconcile with me anymore for what you did...

And now this?

"When you killed his mate in your chamber..." she revealed. "He came to me, crying. He told me about the alliance you two have."

"But... I thought that Ismael and I were..."

She sighed and reclined in her seat. "He is guilty. That is for certain." She shrugged. "Izzy is not the type of a person who shall approach anyone as we perceive it." Her eyes were dancing in solemnity and amusement. "He has never cried in front of me, dear sister. He was pleading guilty and felt miserable when you killed Airene."

"Well, our feelings are mutual then. I felt miserable when Valerian died." I scoffed, not wanting to reminisce how they killed my Valerian—how Ismael pierced his back and Arthur set my honeydew on fire. "However, I am not guilty of killing her. He started it in the first place. I just made him taste his own medicine. He should have watched me disposing of her by falling her cadaver on the cliff." My lips stretched out into a menacing one. But I snapped out since that was rude for me to say that in front of my sister, even though she knew how ruthless I was.

Natasha heaved out a sigh, not looking bothered at my action. "What else are you planning then? I am certain you will not just sit around and do nothing, Dominixe." There was an empty smile lingering on her lips. "That is not the Dominixe I knew for the past months I have observed her."

"I do not know what you are trying to mean, Natasha." I kept myself calm.

She chuckled. "Well, I know you have changed from the time being. I cannot figure out when, but I think it started when you threatened Carol." This time, her eyes sparkled. "Well, can't I be considered your ally? Shall you halt pretending that the world is against you, dear 1st sister?"

I looked into her eyes, having the same color as mine. I was surprised that she could decipher that I had been grieving Valerian's death for the past few months. Along that way, I was working on my plans to retaliate and gather some allies.

I just needed help from the outside. I already had Henry, but I needed more contingency plan. Someone like...

Demetrius... and... Niccolo.

Clearing my throat, I maintained my dreadful expression with a soft smile. "Well... since you have—" I immediately paused when my nostrils reached a familiar sweet, robust, and earthy fragrance. "Wait... That scent..."

"What scent?" Natasha asked, bewildered.

The scent was something similar to lavender but slightly sweeter. That was...

"Hyacinth flowers..." As soon as I said that, my eyes widened upon knowing that scent while my wolf was chanting something in my head that kept my heart pounding so fast as that scent made my mind go haywire.

"Um... Dominixe? I do not smell any hyacinth flowers here..."

I stood up as my eyes roamed around the establishments. "No... I can... I can smell it... It really is the scent of hyacinth flowers, Natasha..."

'Mate.'

I shivered at the whisper of my wolf, feeling agitated. "I am sorry, Natasha... But..." I went to the railings of the balcony and attempted to jump. "I need to find where it is!" I did not wait for her to respond and proceeded to jump off the balcony.

There were gasps from the people who had seen me from jumping off the balcony before I scurried and looked for the primary source of the scent. My heart didn't halt from hammering inside my chest since the word 'mate' echoed in my head.

No way...

That was impossible, right?

That scent... Only Valerian had that scent...

I couldn't be wrong.

My insides were clenching from nervousness as I went to the alleyway and looked for it. My lips were already quivering, and my eyes were getting misty.

"Valerian..." I muttered, letting tears cascade down my cheek.

There was no way that someone might own that. Only Valerian... I was certain of it.

I was already a few blocks away from the establishment where I was when the deep-seated and profound scent came from a particular tavern. My feet made haste to look and find the person who owned that and why my wolf was squirming from that scent.

However, just as I was a few meters away from that tavern, the scent was immediately gone that petrified me.

I used my wolf speed, crying profusely as I opened the saloon doors. "Valerian, don't go—"

I was too late to realize I had collided with a washboard chest and almost fell to the floor. However, a robust and muscular arm caught me in no time before I found my face buried in that person's face.

"Are you alright?" A familiar soft, baritone voice had alerted me before I smelled the scented hyacinth on his tunic.

"Valerian..." I did not hesitate to look up, expecting that was my honeydew. But I gasped upon meeting the familiar emerald green eyes of someone I knew. "You?" I asked, shocked that I was inside Niccolo's arms.