Chapter 56: One Year Agreement
From the moment he transformed, Nikolai felt that nothing in life would leave him shocked or unable to deal with it again. However, one thing that made Nikolai feel awkward would be his current situation.
"Nikolai, I never knew you were into bestiality," Selene muttered, her cold, ruby eyes gazing at him while they sat beside each other at the Fenrir dining table, of course, on the opposite side he also contested with. "Nikolai, do you like to sleep with the undead?"
Selene on the left, Nikita on the right, while a furious father and beautiful mother sat opposite them, a cute little Anya and Kurone the baby wolf and Nikita's younger sister.
The atmosphere was both intensely hot and frigid at the same time for the young male. He tried to avoid their gazes and focus on the meal they were sharing, but sadly, after Selene arrived, everything became chaotic.
At first, she began to point and cuss at Nikita, who then threatened her with the most vulgar language before being beaten by Nagisa and dragged inside.
From the moment she woke up, Nikita was sitting beside Nikolai.
"Oi brat, just because you are eating here doesn't mean--Agh?!" The father of Nikita was scolding Nikolai until the sharp elbow from Nagisa hit his abdomen, and he fell onto the desk, his eyes dark and covered in black mist.
"Ahem~ please forgive my husband, Nikolai and our Vampire guest, Miss Selene. I hope you will enjoy our humble Fenrir clan dinner and not cause trouble. Today is a celebration, after all, right Nikita?"
Nagisa gave the most lovely wink to her daughter—though a seductive mistress, when she dealt with her daughters, she became a goddess of maternity.
Nikolai couldn't help but be enchanted. Because of him lacking his mother's love for so long he always enjoyed coming to visit to see Nagisa as a younger boy.
"Oh? What might the occasion be, Madame Nagisa?" Selene's table manners were impeccable, like an aristocrat. She ate her meal with the utmost beauty and elegance, while Nikita just destroyed the steak and enjoyed it with her eyes glowing.
"Well, Nikita is finally an adult now, which means..." Nagisa looked towards Nikolai's face and winked once again before she turned back to Selene. "It's about time that she gets engaged to the one who bonded with her, after all."
"Hehe~ mother, you make me blush." Nikita's little ears fluttered along with her tail as she enjoyed the situation.
However, while the contract sat on the edge of the table, the same type but used by vampires also existed beside it, stamped by all members of the Tepes family... The only ones needed with Ivan's and Nikolai's himself, or rather, Ivan seemed to have already stamped both somehow!
"This is a little complicated then because I've also carried out the same process. Are you telling me to back down as the daughter of the great Tepes clan?"
Selene didn't want to do it purely out of affection and wanted to earn a thicker shield to protect her from other vampires. She felt that the Fenrir family were a little more sincere and felt guilty that Selene prepared her documents at the same time. Though polygamy was legal in this nation, Selene didn't know if she wanted to cause unnecessary drama and issues between the two large families.
"Haha, aren't we getting ahead of ourselves, Selene, don't forget, the Fenrir clan are proud, and not the kind of people who will give in to others."
Nikita spoke, her mouth full of steak as she smiled. However, despite it being a moment of admiration, ignoring the lackeys clapping in the hallways for their young miss. Nikolai felt the situation was tense as the two ladies glared at each other, and yet he didn't feel too stressed. Although he knew Selene's proposal was out of necessity, there was no rush to complete Nikita's anyway.
'Should I just get engaged to both and then see how things go for the next year?'
Nikolai thought, though he felt a little greedy, he didn't care to a certain extent. Besides, he wasn't just a kid, and there was no need to be modest.
"Since the situation is so complicated, why not...."
"Why don't we just have you both get engaged for now? There will be a time limit, and after that time, Nikolai will choose either one of you, both of you or neither?" Nagisa's eyes looked amused as they narrowed, looking at Nikolai. He felt like she said the idea to avoid him from receiving any backlash.
'After all, Nagisa is the best!'
Nikolai felt warm, and although he knew many people who would help him and his father, Nagisa was one of the few who would only help them as needed. She would give them seeds, tools, and water instead of food.
"That sounds good. However, if the Fenrir clan doesn't mind, can I make a request?" Selene spoke, her hands still holding her knife and fork elegantly, her thin fingers cradling the silverware, and her movements looked so delicate, while Nikolai and Nikita didn't bother and just ate with their claws.
"Sure, what is it, Selene?"
"I would like for my engagement to be first and publically to avoid any issues with the vampire clans. Those arrogant fools would definitely target both Nikolai and Nikita should we announce them both at the same time—of course. I don't mind if you slowly slip the rumours and truth about your daughter's engagement afterwards.
At least until I have announced it; otherwise, the Faust family and Brekken family will for sure send powerful squires to get in the way.
Nikita's face became sour for a moment, her tail slapping against the floor. However, Nagisa gave it real thought; she placed her chin on one of her palms while seemingly lost in thought.
"Mother, can't we just ignore her? If they come, I will destroy them!"
"Nikita, think about it: the Tepes family is the largest Vampire coven in the entire world—if we get involved, the Fenrir clan and all our territories might see benefits if we don't enter this aggressively. Though I know how you feel, since Selene announces it first, why don't you ask Nikolai to sign your engagement documents first and then go on a date tomorrow night together?"
"Hmmm....."
"Miss Selene, you seem like you have the Brekken and Faust families for you. Our family has the Hati clan who seek my daughter, and they are quite violent and unpredictable."
Nikolai picked his food—he would make eye contact with Nagisa when each question and answer came, and she wouldn't speak or continue unless he gave a nod or moved his head.
[You have it easy because you're starting to want them both, right?]
'Of course, the strongest vampire and werewolf families at my aid for a Year, and after that, the money to let Dad rest for his entire life. Not to mention two super cute women with different styles!'
[Your dad and the aide are the main reason, right?]
'Ah, Dad seemed to be a friend of both families, so I don't mind for now. Neither is forcing me and in honesty, I always pictured I'd end up with Nikita one day, be it if she locks me in a dungeon and rides me till she's carrying a child.
[What will you do over the next year?]
'Get stronger, more than Nikita, more than Selene and my father!'
'Though, I am surprised that Selene would use me as her scapegoat and have her as a fiancée.'
'Truly, life is full of surprises, and although I am not sure where my life will lead, I'd like to be at the peak, surrounded by at least one of these two beauties in the end.'
[Tsk... damn playboy...]
"I understand. Then what is the best way, Madam Nagisa?"
"If I may, Miss Selene, but if you and Nikolai signed the contract and had your engagement ceremonies first. We can then discuss the finer details afterwards. Of course, we Fenrir are happy with a small gathering of clan members and would be happy to announce it the day after yours, maybe in a month?"
Selene looked towards the warm gaze of Nagisa and nodded her head in agreement.
Her red eyes flickered in thought, but she couldn't read any emotions from her expressions. She turned her head towards Nikolai, her expression a little less frigid compared to before.
"Why do you smell of a female dog?"
"Pfft—" The supposed unconscious father of Nikita couldn't stop himself from laughing. This meant he obviously faked being weaker than his wife and wanted to listen, although it made him angry. He knew his daughter's feelings, and despite the pain, he would wait.
"Ahem~..."
The two adults ignored the awkward moment while Nikita was making her snarky laugh; she tried to cover it with her hands while Nikolai looked away, his eyes dark and mood a little more relaxed, "Well, I had some fun earlier with a little wild wolf, she was a bit wild though."
"Haha!" Nikita burst out laughing, almost falling off her chair as Nagisa looked amused, her face trying to keep a smile and failing.
"I am adding a clause to you that if you go all the way with my daughter, then you will have to forget the year-long period, and she will be your responsibility and future wife no matter what kind of mindset you have in a year's time, Nikolai!"
Her father's serious gaze watched him while the rest of the room stayed silent.
Nikolai himself felt a sudden sense of responsibility. He didn't hate either of the girls, and he wanted to try living life as best he could without limits. Nikolai threw concern out of the window.
"I accept."
Nikolai didn't make them wait. It wasn't long and accepted—he knew it might get more dangerous, but it wasn't fun. He felt like, for the first time in his long life, he was now some kind of main character!