His Dedication

Chapter 80

As soon as Jaromir left, I immediately tended to Alucard and apologized for Jaromir's rudeness while I was serving him some peach blossom tea. However, serving him made Alucard panic.

"No, allow me to be the one serving you, dollface." I was on the verge of protesting, but he took the teapot from my hands, eliciting a frown from me. Yet, Alucard simply winked and proceeded to pour tea into his cup before doing the same for mine. "And I understand Jaromir's intentions, Faustina. If I had a sister, I'd likely issue a similar warning to her mate. And besides..." he paused, locking eyes with me. "I have no desire to hurt you again." Cupping my face, he released a sigh. "But do bear in mind, Faustina, everything I've done in the past has been for your sake. Hmm?"

I could tell that he wanted to explain what happened back then, but he was holding back because he knew that I never wanted to talk about it again. I just forced a smile and directed my attention to the snacks, catching his disappointment.

"Here. Expert brought us some snacks, pudding." I distracted him and used those snacks as an excuse I didn't want to discuss.

"Faustina."

I pursed my lips into a thin line when I was about to take a seat, but he called my attention. My mouth opened to stop him from explaining, but Alucard took my hand and pulled me to sit on his lap, which earned a soft gasp from my lips.

He grinned after he caught me off guard. "I'm more comfortable as your seat than on the couch." He wriggled his eyebrows.

I looked at him in disbelief but couldn't help getting shy from how he was looking at me teasingly. "I can sit alone, Alucard. Don't—" I swallowed my words when he gripped my waist, which made me flinch and almost shriek in shock. "P-Pudding!" I scolded him, frowning as I tried to hide the embarrassment I felt right now.

Alucard chuckled before he drew closer to plant a sensual kiss on my neck, making my eyes widen. "I miss you... and our pups." He sighed and embraced me. "I went to see them first before coming here. Is that alright?" he asked softly.

Despite my initial inclination to break free from his embrace, I found myself melting at the fact that he took the time to visit our triplets, even amidst his busy schedule preparing for an upcoming diplomatic mission next week. He was aware that the jewelry he needed was currently undergoing the polishing process, and I could inform him once it was ready for collection.

This was the reason for his trip preparations. What concerned me the most was that after the upcoming week, during which he would depart, he would be required to stay away for an additional week. It was during that subsequent week that our little Luciana, Lumiere, and Liutrich would be celebrating their birthdays.

"Yes, they really miss you, pudding." I hugged him back. This time, I tightened it to show him how much I longed for his presence. "And I miss you, too."

He growled softly and purred. "I do not wish to be far away from you, Faustina. Can you not come with me?" He huffed, indicating his frustration about our setup.

His pleading voice made me look at him. I could see how he wanted to rebel now.

"Alu... You know that I have to take care of our pups' birthday party. I can't..." I took his hand and intertwined it with me.

Upon mentioning their birthday party, Alucard's expression turned south, exposing guilt on his handsome face. "Damn it... Why did it have to be near our pups' birthday party?"

It might be that he was talking to me, but he was more on talking to himself.

Alucard combed his hair in frustration. "I do not want to be a crown prince anymore... I really want to get out of this responsibility..." Wide-eyed, I couldn't believe what I had just heard from his mouth. He looked at me. "I'm getting out of this, Faustina. Don't worry. I am negotiating with Brother Azarius."

"What?" I almost fell from my seat, but it was good that Alucard supported me. "But... who would be the next successor? Your other brothers?"

He shook his head and brought my hand to his lips. "He's finding Macedonia again." He was talking about Azarius' divorced wife and the former Luna Queen, who also happened to be Azarius' childhood best friend.

"Why would he find her again? I thought he never cared for her."

Alucard scoffed a grin. "No, dollface. He cared for her and is still in love despite what Macedonia did." He shrugged. "He will get her back no matter the cost, and he is near to finding her."

Judging by his words, it seemed like... Azarius had already found her. I was getting curious about how their marriage ended. If Azarius still cared for her, why would they need to divorce?

"That's why he will have a successor soon." He looked at me with those gleaming eyes. "I will get out of this responsibility, Faustina. I promise you that. I will be just a simple lycan prince who is deeply in love with his mate and a father to our pups," he uttered earnestly as he was zoning out before tightly holding my hand. "No one is going to set us apart after that..."

My heart was tugged at his dedication to get out of this problem he was facing. Alucard fed me his actions; whenever he decided something, he would do anything to fulfill it according to his will.

His dedication was something I couldn't reach.

"Pudding?"

"Yes, dollface?" Alucard gazed at me lovingly and dreamily.

I cupped his cheek, making him flinch a little. I nudged my nose to brush it to his cheek. "What have I done to you that you are so dedicated to being with me? I didn't offer you anything aside from bearing our pups..." My eyes closed to feel his breathing fanning my ear.

I anticipated a prolonged pause before he responded, but to my surprise, he spoke, "Because the moment I realized you were my mate, I knew then that you're the only woman I want to be with, Faustina," he whispered and released a slow sigh. "When I believed you were gone, I wanted to follow you. Discovering you were still alive, bearing our pups, made me resolve never to let you go."

I bit my lower lip as I felt some tears start streaming down my face. His tone, which sounded hurtful, broke my heart.

I felt him reaching my face as he gently wiped my tears and kissed my forehead. "If you think you only offered to have our pups, you are wrong, Faustina." He kissed my nose. "Being with you always makes me happy. If people say they don't want us to be together, I would do anything to make us be together." Another kiss was left on my closed, wet eyes. "You are the one for me, and I'm the one for you." Lastly, he left a kiss on my lips, making me peel my eyes open. "You are mine, and I am yours, Faustina."

Tears won't stop cascading from my eyes as I nodded. "You are mine, and I am yours, Alucard..." I copied his last sentence and told him what I felt.

As soon as his eyes grew wide, I was the one who initiated to kiss him fully on his lips before whispering, "Make me the happiest woman in this mundane world, pudding. I want us to be one again... just like before."

Alucard's eyes were getting misty from the consent I granted to him before he signed nervously and kept kissing the back of my hand. "Dollface, you know that your wish is always my command," he sobbed as he lowered his face to begin his promise to make me happy.