Chapter 57: Crown Princess Candidate

"I am your what?" I parroted, not wanting to believe that this was literally happening in my life.

What in the Moon Goddess' sake was Henry planning? Why the hell would he decide on something like this?

This was not even part of the plan he told me! What the hell was wrong with this lycan crown prince?

"Unfortunately, I do not repeat myself, Lady Dominixe."

I snapped back and looked at Papa. "B-But I do not understand... Papa already betrothed me. R-Right, Papa?" I needed to halt this crown prince's madness. There was no way he would have me as his crown princess, let alone to be his future wife, since he already had his mate! 'What are you planning, Henry?' I asked through mind-link and simply glanced at him. But he was not even looking at me, making me frustrated.

"Y-Yes. That is what I am saying. My daughter is engaged with the eldest son of—"

"How often do I have to tell you that His Majesty, my father, has implemented a royal decree? Did you know announcing a decree is as strong as the royal seal? Do you wish your family to be executed since you do not want to abide by it?" Henry asked in a frigid tone, smiling sweetly.

My eyes widened. Hold on... Was he expediting our plans by threatening my father that we would commit treason if Papa disagreed with this?

Was it this easy to bring down my—

"I-I shall inform the House of Porter that... we are canceling the engagement."

I gasped when Papa gave up. "But Papa... A-Are you certain?"

Good.

Good acting, Dominixe.

Just pretend that you were saddened by this, Dominixe. We should get along with this abrupt plan from Henry. I would ask him later once I got a chance to meet him privately.

I would definitely beat the shit out of him for doing this.

Papa, which it was my first time seeing him cornered, nodded in defeat. "Yes..." he said through gritted teeth. "We shall notify them that we are calling off the engagement, Y-Your Royal Highness..." He smiled bitterly.

That certainly bestowed me goosebumps, knowing Henry let my father fall from his trap. I was certain now that him coming here personally was enough for Papa to make him caught off guard.

I looked at Henry, who was smiling from ear to ear, looking triumphant, but there was still humbleness in his expression.

Damn... It was a good thing that he was my ally. I couldn't imagine myself being his opponent in the battle of wittedness. I could already see myself being outsmarted by him.

Now, I knew... Valerian was really looking up to this man.

"Great!" Henry exclaimed and turned to me. "I shall expect that you are going to the royal palace to live there for a month until it is proclaimed that you are ready to become the Crown Princess and plan our marriage." His words horrified me, seeing how his eyes sparkled in mischievousness.

"I-I am going to live in the royal palace? For a month?!" My jaw dropped.

In my peripheral vision, Papa clenched his hand as he sighed in exasperation. "Why have you chosen our household instead of the other noble households that are more influential than us, Your Royal Highness?" I could tell that Papa was near to exploding, knowing that he was being cornered like a predator by Henry.

He must not have expected that Henry had such a capability to execute his authority as the Crown Prince of the Yuanzhong Kingdom as well as the royal decree being bestowed on us.

"Good question." Henry kept nodding before he stroked his chin. "Well, I have realized that I need a noble lady from a noble household without ties to the royal lycan family. Someone who my father cannot easily control and cannot be coerced with the Alpha of their pack." His lips curled up into an animated smile. "Then, I learned that the House of Cantavalle has exiled themselves from their former pack and considers themselves noble but rogues."

I watched how his smile slowly vanished. But his eyes were dancing in curiosity.

"That is why I asked myself. Why not pick this household, let alone have your eldest daughter engage with me? At least, Lady Dominixe and the House of Cantavalle shall not be considered rogues anymore since they will become members of the royal lycan family." He shrugged and turned at me. "After two days, you shall be in the royal palace. Or else, I will come and hunt the House of Cantavalle if things do not go according to my father's plan," he threatened, not looking at me but at Papa. "You know that we do not like that Father shall be displeased, Marquis Cantavalle." His dazzling smile had this menacing intent before he turned to me again as if he was telling me something. "I shall take my leave."

That was it.

Henry left while all of us were rendered speechless. I did not get to process everything since everything felt surreal.

"Goddamn it!" Papa used his fist to ruin the mahogany door as his chest rose up and down from the fury he was feeling.

"Harchier..." Zoey immediately tended to him and ushered him to take a seat.

"Get a glass of water for Harchier. Make haste!" Natalie ordered.

"Yes, my lady."

Josephine even knelt before him and held his hand smeared with his blood. She removed her handkerchief and gently wiped the crimson blood on his fist. "That vile crown prince... I cannot believe he is doing this to us, Harchier..."

Aurora was the one who was fanning Papa. "What must we do, Harchier? Shall we allow Dominixe to be engaged to that lycan prince?" She glared at me, looking unhappy that I was picked instead of her daughter, Britanny.

"Can we not appeal?" Britanny couldn't help herself from speaking. Or, more likely, her mother, Aurora, enlarged her eyes at her to make her say something even though Britanny was still in a state of shock.

I must step up and express my concern. "What if I shall run away, Papa?" I suggested. But I knew better than my words would make things worst.

"Are you dumb, Dominixe, or what?" Zoey, with her impudent mouth, barked. "He already threatens our household, and you are trying to make things worst? What is wrong with you?"

I know, Zoey. I just wanted to show that I was dumb. I wanted to be dumb in this household so Papa would get off his suspicion that I would not do something behind his back.

I believed Henry was the signal that I must start my plan of demoting my father from his position and taking over the House of Cantavalle soon. This was the beginning of a needed change—a fuel to drive me.

"My apologies, Mother Zoey," I said as I glanced at Papa, who was clenching his hands in annoyance. "I just cannot believe that His Royal Highness would take an interest in me..."

"Of all noblewomen, he would pick, why would he even choose Dominixe?" I glanced at Arthur, who spoke now. I could sense his eagerness that he was threatened by it. "Papa, I thought Dominixe would be wed now with Warren Porter?"

Papa gritted his teeth as he eyed all of his children before he darted his gaze to me. Then he averted his gaze. "Jethro, Raphael, Lambert," he called.

"Yes, Papa?" My three brothers stepped forward.

"Go to the Porter estate now and tell them what happened. Execute them without mercy if they refuse to accept that we are calling off Warren and Dominixe's engagement!" he snarled.

I almost gasped at what he said. Did he have any idea what he just ordered? Was he severing the ties with the House of Porter?

Oh, my... That was a wrong move if ever that happened.

"Yes, Papa. As you command." They bowed before him and left the drawing room.

"Now, leave!" he ordered and barked at us, causing us to flinch. "Dominixe, you are going to stay here." He glared at me.

I lowered my gaze to the floor. "Yes, Papa..."

Zoey walked past by and nudged me on my shoulder. "You are really a pest in this household..." she muttered. Her sharp eyes were squinting at me, indicating she was watching my movement.

When they left, Papa pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at me. "Damn that man... He really got me..." He inhaled and exhaled. "Pack your luggage and fulfill what he wants. Then, I want you to marry him and usurp the throne once you become the Luna Queen."

My eyes widened. "U-Usurp the throne?" I blinked, petrified that I was hearing this. "B-But I am not a lycan, Papa... Only lycans are considered royalty."

Darn it... Usurping the throne would make my life would be in danger.

"I don't care! I want you to take it by hook or by crook!" He growled. His fist slammed the coffee table. "That crown prince insulted me! Do what it takes to make him experience hell tenfold! Do it if you want to be forgiven by me, Dominixe Lillith Cantavalle!"

There he goes again.

He mentioned my full name. He was certainly infuriated by Henry's action. It seemed like he was near spitting fire at this moment.

"As you wish, Papa..." I curtsied before him. "I shall make your wish as your command." Or not.

"Now, leave."

Nodding, I left the drawing room. However, as I was marching away, I heard Papa mutter something in frustration.

"Lunaria... Your daughter is a curse to my life. You should not have given birth to her!"

I could have felt my wolf and I crumble from Papa's words. It felt like a heavy object had come to crush me, as if I was just a pest.

Pest...

So, I was really a pest in this household...

That was more painful than I ever thought if the words came from my father. I knew that he never loved me as his daughter, but I couldn't help but feel hurt.

However, it soon diverted when Papa muttered my mother's name. He had finally said her name...

"Lunaria..." I muttered with confusion as my heart started to race rapidly. "I knew I heard that before," I said strangely. "Like the Moon Goddess's deity name?" I concluded, unsure before I felt chills come to pass behind my neck when I was near my chamber.