CHAPTER 44 - HARRIET AND MIRIAM GET DOLLED UPLiam stood in front of a painting of his father and mother in that short hallway in the castle.
The cane in his hand had an engraving on the wooden handle, which read, "Theodore Almandine".
The cane in his hand was the same cane his father held in the painting. He remembered his father's words when he was a child when he asked about the Mate of an Alpha Lycan.
"Mate?"
"Our mate is a woman who was created to be the person we are most compatible with within this world. She will support and perfect us, creating the best and strongest version of us."
Liam always remembered his father's words.
Harriet was not Liam's Mate. Even though Liam loved Harriet and Harriet loved him, he now knew why Harriet wasn't his mate. That was because even though the two of them were already perfect on their own, the moment they united, they would destroy each other.
Liam wanted to laugh at himself when he asked Harriet to suffer with him. He wanted to go back in time and slap himself.
"Ugh!"
Liam coughed. Blood was seeping from his fingers as he tried to cover his own mouth with his hand. He lied when he said he could prolong his life at the expense of his monster powers.
All he could really do was endure the pain and accept it as a daily thing if he was awake without a full moon. He could be awake and be with Harriet, but he would be in pain and dying every second.
Self-destruction.
Likewise, Harriet would continue to blame herself as she watched him suffer… and waited for their time to part. The time where it would be the beginning of a new kind of suffering for her.
Harriet was not Liam's Mate. No. Harriet would be the gods' last choice when they searched for the woman who would be born as Liam's Mate.
But did Liam regret it?
Liam's golden eyes came into focus, sharper than ever.
He had made up his mind.
***
Harriet pulled out her jewellery collection. Watching each one of them, Harriet picked up a few pieces of jewellery that matched each other and set them aside. Amelia watched her intently by her side, studying how Harriet chose her jewellery and observed her tastes.
When she was done, Harriet had all her maids put it on her body. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, gem buttons, pins, earrings, and hair jewellery. Her body became the perfect canvas for all that jewellery.
"Madam, do we need to prepare to this extent?" Amelia asked doubtfully.
"Of course, not," said Harriet.
"Ah… then why have you decorated yourself like this?" Amelia looked at Harriet confused.
"Because..." Harriet's words were cut off when they saw a young girl enter the room.
Miriam came into the room with her pink hair in a beautiful bun and her diamond white dress.
"Sister, this dress is so beautiful!" she exclaimed.
Harriet nodded and smiled contentedly.
"Very nice. Now help Miriam put on her jewellery which I have prepared here," said Harriet.
In no time, Miriam's body became even more gleaming. Seeing her sister becoming more and more satisfied the more she got adorned, Miriam blinked in admiration. Did all this jewellery belong to her sister-in-law? Very beautiful.
"Miriam, I thought this would suit you better. Right. Warm or cool colors will suit you very well. So, all the jewellery in this room would suit you best." Harriet nodded happily. "After all this is over, I will give them all to you. Make sure you always wear them, okay?"
Miriam was instantly dizzy at Harriet's sudden words. The young girl tilted her face in confusion. All the jewels in this room? Harrient meant, all the jewels scattered around this room that filled every table, sofa, and bed, and some that were on the floor? All of Harriet's jewellery collection?
Harriet was still smiling happily at how well Miriam was wearing all of this. She didn't seem to care that Miriam's once sparkling eyes were now blank at her words.
"Alright, now that we're ready, let's welcome a guest from the Hyacinth Kingdom," said Harriet softly. She grabbed Miriam's hand and pulled her after ordering the maids to clean up every piece of jewellery in the room and take it to Miriam's closet.
Only then did she begin to put on her perfect smile and warm gaze.
"Umm," Miriam muttered under her breath doubtfully. "What should I do later, Sister?" she asked. She did not know how to deal with guests who were also messengers from their enemy's side.
"Don't speak out loud, and whatever you say, whisper to me, like this." Harriet raised one hand and covered her mouth near Miriam's ear.
"Sister…doesn't that look rude?" Miriam asked.
Harriet nodded. "Right, we have to look very disrespectful."
Harriet explained again that they wouldn't say anything directly to the messengers either. They just had to be present behind the Old Duke and whisper among themselves. If they had to say something to the Old Duke, they should also whisper it into his ear.
In the hall in front of the main door, Harriet saw the Old Duke and her younger brother, Heath, standing side by side, discussing something.
"Where is Young Lord Almandine? Will he not welcome the guests with us?" asked Harriet. She felt strange. But Harriet knew that Liam wasn't in the tower room today.
"Liam is busy looking for something in the castle library. Hasn't he been up from the morning for a week and spent his time there?" asked the Old Duke.
Harriet's eyelids drooped slightly, and she smiled.
"You're right," said Harriet.
Heath looked at his sister with furrowed brows. There was trouble between Liam and Harriet beneath the surface, even though everything seemed to be fine. And Heath knew he was the cause.
"They'll be here in a minute, right?" Miriam asked.
Harriet nodded, and Miriam nervously gripped her hand tighter. She was a werewolf's daughter who lived nomadically on the West Continent and never once had she worn such beautiful clothes and lived in a castle this big. Suddenly, she married a noble and became Goldlane's daughter-in-law...
And now, she must face the man who killed her father.
"We'll be standing there, away from the stairs. If it's still too close, let's go upstairs and just look from the balcony. The important thing is that they can see us," said Harriet.
Miriam looked at Harriet in confusion.
"Why should they be able to see us?" she asked.
"Of course, to show off. What are we even dressing up like this today for?"
As Harriet spoke, the castle gate opened.