Chapter 41

41 Departure

Selma Payne’s POV:

School life was amazing. Honestly, I thought this place was much friendlier than the schools I attended back in the Dark Shadow Pack.

At least no one here would stuff dead rats into my locker because of my unique identity.

“Hey! Selma! There’s a rehearsal at the opera club today. We’re going to help out. Do you want to come?”

“I saw the poster on the noticeboard. You’re going to perform ‘the Butterfly Lady’?” I smiled and held their hands. “But it’s a pity that I can’t go. I have to go for training after school. You know that.”

Mara pouted in frustration and shook my arm like a spoiled child. “Didn’t you say that you only need to train three times a week? So why don’t you free up tonight? I’m begging you, Selma! The props team has made a lot of beautiful costumes and jewelry. It will be a loss for the world if you don’t try them on. Come on, come on!”

My heart softened for a moment, but when I saw Aldrich’s car parked at the door, I could only say, “I’m really sorry, but I can’t tonight.”

Avril and Mara could only watch me leave in frustration.

“Hey, Your Excellency!” I quickly got into the back seat and covered Aldrich’s eyes. “You were kidnapped! Now, do as I say, quickly drive to a place with no one around. Let me teach you a good lesson, you disobedient wolf!”

Aldrich helplessly raised his hands and made a gesture of surrender. “I’ll follow your orders, but can you return me an eye? Otherwise, your humble servant can’t drive.”

We laughed together, and he easily moved me to the passenger seat like he was holding a doll and affectionately rubbed the tip of my nose.

“But how come you have time to pick me up today?” I asked. The management of the army was very strict, and today was not the training day we had originally agreed on.

“Today is the last Friday of the month. The army has a half-day break.” He started the car. “This means I can temporarily take over the driver’s role and buy you a large caramelized biscuit ice cream with pistachios and cranberry on the way back to the palace.”

“Yay!” I cheered. For the sake of the ice cream, I would like to thank the royal doctor Tracy for her kind advice. My parents never allowed me to eat a single bite of highly sugared and fatty desserts.

Holding the ice cream that was hard to come by, I took a big mouthful of it in satisfaction and asked vaguely, “Are we still going to be at the training ground tonight? I somehow feel that training in an open area is a little calmer. Maybe we can change the location and find a breakthrough?”

Aldrich looked at me gently. “Of course, I’m very happy that you’ve started to have your training plan. But I’m sorry, my dear, I can’t help you with extra training tonight.”

“Why not?”

“My father asked me to go home tonight to discuss some things. After that, he might take me on a long trip to another pack.”

“Alright,” I said as I put down the spoon gloomily. The sweet and sour cranberry no longer tasted good. “How long are you going to be gone?”

“I promise it won’t take more than three days, Selma.” Aldrich took advantage of the red light to lean over and kiss my forehead. “My true love, the thought of being away from you for three days is unbearable. I want to turn you into a doll and take you away in my pocket.”

My heart twitched, but I was also a little embarrassed. I could only bluff and stare at him. “Don’t be such a sweet talker.”

We slowly moved closer and exchanged a sweet, pistachios and cranberry-flavored kiss.

We kissed, and our foreheads touched. Then, he whispered in my ear in a low and seductive voice, “My lady, you’re too cute. Perhaps I have to think of a way to keep you with me all the time.”

“I told you not to act like that!” I punched his shoulder angrily. “How ungentlemanly! That was my last piece of the caramelized biscuit!”

Aldrich held the biscuit in his mouth and laughed proudly.

But I was still a little uneasy. Although I’d only met Duke Frank once, I felt he was cunning.

“What’s the matter with Duke Frank?” I couldn’t help but ask Aldrich, “Three days. That doesn’t sound like something small.”

Aldrich shrugged. “Actually, I don’t know either. My father has always been mysterious. If he wanted to hide something from you, then you would not know until the day you die.”

These cheeky words didn’t comfort the unease in my heart, but I knew that as a noble, Duke Frank had the right to keep his secrets or ‘family matters’ to himself. Even my parents couldn’t inquire about it at will, let alone me, who was only a ‘relative of the Queen’.

To be honest, I was getting more and more annoyed at keeping my identity a secret. Lovers shouldn’t lie to each other, right?

“What’s wrong?” Perhaps my gaze was too direct, Aldrich stopped the car by the side of the road and held me in his arms.

I buried my head in his chest and said in a muffled voice, “I don’t want you to go.”

“Oh, my dear.” Aldrich laughed. “Then, I won’t leave.”

“Really?” I straightened my body and saw only deep affection in his silver eyes.

He was serious!