Chapter 58: Dining Hall

"If you need anything, please ring the bell, Lady Dominixe," Sir Lanfrid said after he showed me the chamber where I would sleep from today on.

"Can I see Henry?" I asked after I waited for all the palace servants to place my luggage in this very chamber of mine. Ever since I arrived here, all I wanted was to speak with him and his half-ass explanation about what he was planning.

"Unfortunately, His Royal Highness is handling some affairs in the inner court as per the order of His Majesty. He is handling the hunting competition event that shall be happening next week."

"Oh..." I almost forgot that the event was near already. "Tell him that I wish to speak with him. It is very urgent," I insisted.

"Yes, my lady." He bowed before me.

He was about to take his leave when I halted him and gripped his arm, smiling sweetly. "Tell Henry I am earnest and need to speak with him as soon as possible. There is no way he would leave me hanging here after announcing to the kingdom that he is marrying me for political reasons. Do you understand me?" I asked, sweetening my voice.

"I shall relay it, my lady." He bowed again and gently yanked back his arm. "Also, please prepare for later. You shall need to present yourself in the supper."

"Alright." Then it meant that I would be seeing Henry later.

I watched him leave, keeping my smile until he was gone. Then I leaped from the ground to land in the bed, shoving my face into the pillow.

Now I had to make an audience for Alpha King Helio, the most irresponsible Alpha King in history.

That night, a couple of servants had come forth in my chamber. Their names were Reese and Fiona. "We are your personal maids until you are going to be wed with His Royal Highness, and become the Crown Princess, Lady Dominixe," they introduced.

These two personal maids were sent by Henry to help me get dressed. However, they were not only personal maids. They were...

"We are also His Royal Highness' elite royal knights in disguise," Fiona said politely.

"We are ordered to protect you at all costs," Reese added.

I smiled bitterly. "I can protect myself. Henry must have forgotten about that." I was close to strangling Henry. He was treating me like a damsel in distress here in this palace.

All I wanted to know was his next plan. I couldn't just let him be the one who was moving the chessboard pieces. I also wanted to participate!

"We are just following His Royal Highness' orders, Lady Dominixe."

I secretly clenched my hands and sighed. "Fine. Do as you wish."

Preparing to represent me to our Alpha King took two hours. I was bathed with goat milk that was said to smoothen and soften my skin. My whole body was accentuated with a mild perfume bottle and scented oils. I even received a message from them.

In short, I was being pampered like a real princess here in this palace.

We were interrupted by knocks on the door as soon as we were done. Reese opened and bowed her head when Henry entered with a teasing smile on his lips.

"Well, well, if it is not my Crown Princess candidate..." He wriggled his eyebrows.

I squinted my eyes and looked behind him when I saw that Eustacia was with him. I scoffed bitterly. "Greetings to the little sun, Crown Prince Henricus, and little moon, Princess Eustacia."

"Leave us," Henry instructed.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," Reese and Fiona said in unison and left.

I curtsied before them the moment they were left before my fist landed on Henry's stomach. He did not see that coming, so he groaned in pain.

"H-Henry..." Eustacia rushed to him, worried before she glared at me. "Why did you do that to my brother? Do you even have an idea—"

"I have an idea that you are an impostor princess, Your Highness." I arched my eyebrow, causing her eyes to widen in shock.

That made her silent. Henry draped his arm over her shoulders. "It's alright, Eustace. She knows our relationship. She is our ally, I told you."

"I can be that if you tell me why you made that stunt, Henry. Do you have any idea what Papa commanded me? He wants me to usurp the throne!" I said in disbelief.

"Really?" He chuckled.

I frowned when it seemed like it did not bother him. "Screw you..." I smiled sweetly, getting impatient. "You did not discuss what you will do, and this is how you shall say that to me?" I asked in a sweet, calm tone.

He smiled sheepishly. "I shall explain later. But for now, I can say it was better that your reaction to what I did is genuine. At least your father did not deem you suspicious. Right?"

What he said was right. I should be thankful for that. He would drop his suspicion on me since Papa thought the crown prince targeted him since he might know something.

"Fine..." Sighing, I turned to Eustacia. "Have you found your real sister? Do you really wish to take the risk that you will be exposed to later on? She will be at risk. Have you thought about that?" I said meaningfully.

Eustacia turned at him. "Henry..."

Henry looked earnest. "No, Eustace shall stay here. We will be careful." His expression softened.

I scoffed. "Suit yourself. But do not blame I did not warn you. Her fate has already been decided. Even I cannot change the fate of Valerian. He still ended up dead." I walked past them, feeling my heart ache for longing for him.

Lucky for them... They still had each other. I just hope Henry would do anything to protect his mate. I just hope his mate wouldn't end up with the same fate as mine because that would be an awful experience.

"Domi."

I turned to Henry, who was already with me. I was bewildered and looked for Eustacia, but she was walking in the opposite direction of ours. 'Why are you not with her?' I asked, arching an eyebrow.

'We have to separate ways and make an entrance through a different door.' He shrugged, sighing. 'Of course, I consider what you said. I do not want to put Eustace in trouble. But I must find my real sister soon so Eustace can step down. Well, do you remember in your previous life when Valerian found my real sister?'

I thought about that. 'No... I did not bother to ask him about that when things had gotten worse on your part. Valerian and I did not get to talk about it since he is busy cleaning the mess you made.' I arched my eyebrow. "You caused him so much trouble. Thanks for your carelessness, Your Royal Highness."

Henry looked surprised, did not get to say about it. He lowered his gaze. "I shall avoid that then..."

We were enveloped with silence when we were in front of the dining hall door. "Announce our presence," Henry told the royal guard.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness." The royal guard inhaled and exhaled before he announced, "His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Henricus, and Her Royal Highness, Future Crown Princess Dominixe have arrived!"

I frowned and had chills down my spine when my new honorific was 'Her Royal Highness, Future Crown Princess.' I had never imagined getting engaged with any member of the royal lycan family.

I did not know my new life would make me end up in this situation. But I should see the benefit of this. I just wanted to know what Henry was planning from now on.

The two-way door swung open as they revealed us. I was clinging to Henry's arm to show that I was engaged to him. I could already see His Majesty, Alpha King Helio, who had several women lingering around him, looking like this dining hall was a brothel made for him.

Disgusting...

What disgusting courtesans...

"Greetings, Father."

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Alpha King Helio."

Henry bowed while I curtsied before his father. I already saw Eustacia sitting at the left of Alpha King Helio.

"Have a seat." We nodded as Henry offered me a chair. I silently thanked him for that before he sat beside me. "Your father is complaining about the abrupt announcement that you will be engaged with Henricus, Lady Dominixe. Do you have anything to say to that?" he asked, looking at me as if he was displeased that his order was being questioned.

Of course, Papa wouldn't sit still and do nothing. He would appeal, but I highly doubted that his appeal would be granted, knowing that the pride of our Alpha King would be at risk here.

"As for that, Your Majesty, please condone my father's behavior. He is still in shock since I was once betrothed and engaged with the eldest son of Marquis and Marchioness Porter," I said politely.

I hoped Papa would make his blood boil so our noble household could be executed. But Papa could avoid that and wouldn't make a drastic move that would leave him at a disadvantage.

As for the House of Porter... A cold war was now happening because of the abrupt calling off of the engagement.

If I would see into it, I thought it might be part of Henry's plan to put the two noble households in a bad-blood situation.

"I shall only forgive him if he is the one who shall say that to me." He squinted his eyes, not liking my response.

Darn it... He was way harder to please than I thought. He should have been drinking so I could easily fool him this time.

I was about to speak when a royal guard entered and announced, "His Grace, Duke Leveaux, and Lord Andreu have arrived!"

My heart leaped as soon as the two people that were connected to Valerian came forth as they made a bow before us.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. We have come forth as per His Royal Highness' invitation," Demetrius said with a gentle smile. When his eyes locked on me, his eyes sparkled, looking like he saw the person he was looking for.

However, as for Niccolo, he was smiling rigidly, but his eyes were in our direction. For some reason, my heart reacted to that before Henry's low chuckle.

"My, my... Someone is mad..." he muttered before he glanced at me, winking.

I was bewildered at his words. Mad? Who was mad? Was he talking about Niccolo?