Chapter 74: Award Ceremony

"Where are you going, Demetrius?" I saw him stepping back before his eyes roamed around as if he was looking for someone. "Demetrius...?" I looked for where he was looking and saw that Niccolo was rushing towards his direction.

"Demetrius..." Niccolo approached him.

"Niccolo..." Demetrius looked at him, still having a horrified expression. "She's here..." he muttered. I was unable to hear it, but I could read his lips. "Auntie Ray is here... She cannot see me. She is going to return me to where I come from. Mother already warned me about her before I arrived here..."

Huh? What?

"What do you mean by that?" I couldn't help stepping forward even though the surrounding was covered with applause. "Who are you talking about?"

Demetrius opened his mouth, but Niccolo chimed in. "I must take you away from this party," he said, rushing to look for the exit. "I am sorry, Dominixe. But Demetrius is not feeling well. I shall come back before the ceremony starts."

"Wait a second..." I tried to catch up with them, but Niccolo had already guided Demetrius in the other direction.

I felt being left out all of a sudden, feeling like having Demetrius being far away from me seemed like I was missing a chance.

But what chance was that?

My gaze landed on the two powerful monarchs greeting our Alpha King. This warm feeling caressed my heart every time my eyes landed on Luna Queen Rachelle.

Luna Queen Rachelle Simon-Alexander... I heard she still held the military position as General even though she was crowned the Luna Queen of the Waevalon Kingdom.

She was the very first Luna Queen who attended and played a big part in the rogue war a few years ago. She became the first female who entered the military and broke society's stereotypical idea that a female couldn't become a part of anything. She proved herself and raised her rank to General.

Not also that she also led the brigade and had created a big gossip all over the kingdoms that she kept her pregnancy from Alpha King Claudian while she was at war. It even said that she gave birth while in the middle of the rogue war.

I couldn't believe I would have to see her now. Even in the past, I did not even get a chance to meet her, even in my previous life.

This was the very first time I would ever meet her. Seeing that she was not wearing a ball gown like the standard etiquette and still wore her military uniform with the crest of the Waevalon Kingdom in her cape, it meant that she was really showing her power as being one of the generals in their kingdom.

"Your Royal Highness, you are being called by His Royal Highness," one of the palace guards said.

"O-Of course." I was hesitant to approach them at first, especially when I saw that they were going to the guest room that was prepared for them.

"Just in time, Domi. I will introduce you to them once the awarding ceremony is over," he said before he looked for someone. "Where's Niccolo? We are about to start."

I was about to say that Niccolo went out for a while, but I felt his presence behind me. "I am here, Your Royal Highness."

I spun around as my heart skipped a beat upon meeting his gaze. "Where's Demetrius?" I asked after Henry instructed us to settle on the dance floor before he could begin the ceremony.

"I let him rest..." Then his eyes looked up to the gallery where the two monarchs from the Waevalon Kingdom were already settling and being served by the palace servants. "Tsk..." He heaved a sigh before jumping to his feet when he sat that I was observing him. "What?"

"Why are you glaring at them?" I glanced at them before I returned my gaze to him. "Are they the reason why Demetrius wished to leave?" I asked cautiously.

"No."

"Fool me again."

Niccolo was silent but didn't say anything anymore. That was starting to get on my nerves.

"I will confirm it myself." I was about to leave when Niccolo halted me immediately.

"N-No, Domi." He held my hand tightly. "Fine. Yes. They are..."

"But why?"

Before he could say anything, Henry began the awarding ceremony.

"We are pleased for our participants who have experienced this year's hunting competition. We are delighted that this has become festive more than we thought." Henry raised his glass. "My father, our Alpha King, wishes everyone to enjoy this ball party prepared for our top three winners."

With that, Henry started to bestow the award to the winners.

I flinched when Niccolo secretly held my hand. I looked at him, but he did not even glance at me while his fingers played with mine. I felt ticklish. Even my wolf did the same.

"Second runner-up team shall be granted each a hundred thousand coins. Please step forward, Lord Oswald and Lord Adolf."

I got distracted the moment Niccolo intertwined our hands. I lowered my gaze when it seemed he would pick up something before brushing his lips at the back of my hand.

Butterflies tickled my stomach after that. Feeling some hot wind running through my face down to my nape bestowed me an unusual sensual feeling. It was growing each second that passed by. The more Niccolo was doing something that only we could know.

"First runner-up team shall be granted land to rule for each of you. Show yourself, Lord Safi and Lord Hansel."

Arousal had built inside me when Niccolo drew closer and leaned to my ear. But before that, I felt his nose graze my bare shoulder up to the crook of my neck before he secretly sniffed me.

"Is it possible I can ravish you tonight, Your Royal Highness?" he whispered huskily.

I gulped, not wanting this to happen. But his invitation was so appealing. "Please..." I muttered. I felt hot with the way he was looking at me hungrily. "In my chamber... Later..." I muttered one more time.

Niccolo's lips curled into a smirk. "As you wish."

"And now, our champion for this year's hunting competition with an award of two blue diamond chalices and one wish only. It is your time to shine, Lady Cantavalle and Lord Andreu."

I quickly removed his hand from mine when Niccolo and I had to step forward. Henry granted us the blue diamond chalices.

However, at the contact of the chalice in my hand was the moment my surrounding changed from the banquet hall to a lavender field.

"What...?" A shiver ran up my spine since the place seemed familiar, but... I knew that I had never been here before. "Where am I...?"

This vast field of lavender... Since when did I come here?

And why did I feel warmth about this place? Why did this place caress my heart as if... Was I home now?

|We have finally met each other...|

I spun around when I heard a divine female voice and gasped upon seeing a woman levitating in the hair with silver wavy hair flowing in the air, and her beautiful face was covered with a blinding light. Also, she was wearing a white dress with Swarovski crystals of crescent moon in Her dress.

"Moon Goddess..." I did not know why I knew that was Her, but that was the first thing that came to my mind.

It seemed like... predetermined that I knew who She was.

She smiled and flew towards me. |You have finally communicated with me... the one who likes to distort the timeline.|

"Huh?" What did She mean by that?

Moon Goddess gently pinched my chin and made me look at Her. |You have disturbed the laws of nature. You are quite a stubborn child, I must say. You are capable of disturbing one timeline...|

"Um... What?" I was starting to feel baffled. I couldn't comprehend what she was saying. "W-What am I doing here?" I was so confused that I did not know what I was saying.

|Be careful. Someone will be in danger soon.|

"Huh? Danger?" I parroted. "Who is in danger?"

She smiled, looking at me with longing. |Someone close to you with your father's involvement,| she said meaningfully. |Now... Farewell, my dear daughter. We will meet again at the right time... once everything has been settled.|

"Wait! Hold on! I did not get to speak with you properly!" I tried to reach for Her but felt myself falling into a void of endless. "Moon Goddess!" I called Her name, but my eyes were obscured with pitch-black darkness. "Mother!" I did not know why I said that, but that came out unexpectedly.

"Dominixe?"

I snapped back and inhaled sharply when someone nudged me. "What...?" I turned at Niccolo, who was looking at me worriedly.

"You have been spacing out..." he whispered. "His Royal Highness is asking us what could have been our wish."

I turned my attention to Henry, who was creasing his forehead. 'Is there a death that happened? Did you return to this moment before something happened?' he asked suspiciously through mind-link.

His questions clicked something in my head when I remembered what the Moon Goddess told me that someone would be in danger soon.

Demetrius was the first person that invaded my mind. I did not know why, but I felt agitated.

And with the involvement of Papa? Was Papa going to try to harm him?!

"Nothing..." I said to Henry before I cleared my throat. "If you allow us, can I say my wish in private, Your Majesty?" I glanced at the bored Alpha King. "...Your Royal Highness?" I turned at Henry.

Henry turned to his father and received a nod from him. "Alright. If that is what my fiancee said, it shall be done." Then he raised his hands, gesturing us to face the crowds. "Let us congratulate the winning team for the hunting competition, ladies and gentlemen!"

We received a round of applause after that. I approached Niccolo when we were out of sight of the sea of people when Henry said everyone could continue dancing on the dance floor.

"Where's Demetrius?" I asked out of nowhere.

"Huh?" Niccolo was confused for a moment. "H-He is in one of the drawing rooms in the east hall. Why?"

"Is he safe?"

"Is there something wrong?" Henry met us in the hallway and saw us.

"Mindlink him. I want to know if he is safe," I said, ignoring him.

Niccolo looked at me in disbelief. But he halted when we were in the gallery and glanced at where the two monarchs from the Waevalon Kingdom were. His eyes widened when he saw that the three-year-old little Crown Prince Claudian Alexander V, son of Alpha King Claudian and Luna Queen Rachelle, was only there with his royal nanny.

"Where are they?" Niccolo panicked when he turned his head at Henry.

"Who?"

"Alpha King Claudian! And most especially, Luna Queen Rachelle!" Niccolo said as he held Henry on his shoulders, who looked like he wanted to slam him to the wall. "Where are they, Henry?"

"Uh..." Henry looked confused about how he acted but answered anyway. "I-In the east hall. They said that they wished to see someone there."

"What?!" Niccolo gasped as soon as he heard that. "No!"

"Why? What happened?" Henry asked when Niccolo sprinted away from us. "Niccolo!"

"Let's go. Let's follow him..." I was nervous since I knew Niccolo was suddenly worried for Demetrius. Then I happened to read Demetrius' lips that he was feeling frightened about the two monarchs.

Why? Why did he mean that one of them would return him to where he came from?

Where the hell did Demetrius come from?

"Demetrius!" Niccolo called when he was near one of the drawing rooms. He picked up the second room and opened it. "Demetrius...!"

Henry and I exchanged glances as we dashed to that room and gasped upon seeing Lady Rachellian pointing a rapier sword towards Demetrius' direction while Lord Claude was sitting on the couch's arm.

"Niccolo..." Demetrius said as he looked at Niccolo before his eyes darted to me. "M-Mother..."

I stepped forward. "Demetrius—"

"Stay right there, Dominixe." I turned at Lady Rachellian or, must I say, Luna Queen Rachelle, who just spoke now. "Do not attempt to take another step. Even you, Niccolo." She sighed and turned to Demetrius. "You know you do not belong here," she said coldly.

Demetrius looked like he was about to cry. "But Auntie Ray..."

She shook her head. "You do not belong in this timeline. You have caused a disturbance in this timeline with your mother's fault."

My chest rose up and down, feeling like I was getting dizzy at what was happening. Why? What was happening?

What did it mean that Demetrius did not belong in this timeline?

"I only follow my mother's wish, auntie! She wants me to save..." he paused and turned to me. "...her."

"Huh?" I gasped, wide-eyed.

Luna Queen Rachelle hissed. "Enough now. This is not your mission. You need to return to your original timeline. Aren't you the current head of your household... Demetrius Leveaux or shall I say... Demetrius Onyx Cantavalle?"