True Alpha's Chosen Mate-Chapter 313: A friend he wished he had

"You cannot disagree with that, will you, Your Majesty?"

Sven scrunched his nose up at how Octavian addressed him. The latter chuckled at the reaction he received from him.

"You said I shouldn’t punish my son if I can’t even touch you," Octavian spoke Sven’s words as he leaned back, holding the glass to his lips. "You surely know when to hurt my pride, Your Majesty."

"Gee... stop calling me that." Sven shivered as he rubbed his shoulders. "If you think that is enough for me to feel remorse in leaving our land, I’m telling you it failed even before you think of it. I am my worst critique and this method is futile."

"I wouldn’t be here indulging with my future father-in-law if that’s effective!" he added in a more sarcastic tone, making Octavian burst out in laughter. Sven looked at the man in dismay, shaking his head as he leaned back lazily, throwing his hand behind his head.

"You said you are not interested in my daughter?" asked the duke with a devious smirk.

"I said, you talk like you are simply giving away your daughter as if she’s not a person," Sven corrected with a knowing expression. "I didn’t say I don’t like her. She’s pretty, smart, and kind."

"I assure you Callie is anything but kind." Octavian chuckled while Sven arched a brow.

"And you seem pleased about that?" Sven blinked twice. "Surely, vampires and werewolves are only similar in terms of their ferocious and wicked nature."

"Your Majesty, you knew the history. And thus, you might’ve heard that we shared the same creator —"

"And so were the rest of the races in this world."

"Well, if that is what you believed."

Sven kept his mouth shut, keeping his eyes on him. He wasn’t really keeping his identity a secret since he didn’t feel the need to. However, among all people he told about his identity, Octavian was the only person who believed him without question asked. Although he told the duke about it when he was already staying in the duchy during his time chatting with this man.

"So, what is it like traveling from place to place after being isolated almost all your life?" Octavian broke the silence with his curiosity. "As you can see, this old man here hadn’t had such a time to go to places since I had my hands full."

"Well, it was fun — worth it to leave my people behind." Sven shrugged.

Octavian narrowed his eyes as the side of his lips curled. "When the time you said you were ’sort of’ important in the isolated land of Ronmin... did you really leave your people behind for the sake of adventure? Or was there a greater reason you are now standing in my fief?"

"I wish it’s the latter." He laughed when Sven sighed heavily. "Werewolves had lived in isolation after the overseer of this world left. It had been many, many years. However, I believed the werewolves shouldn’t hide and had other places in this world to go, see countless opportunities, and understand that to protect nature living in isolation isn’t the path for it. Some wolves left Ronmin to find a place outside our land... I wonder if they succeeded."

"Hah... they didn’t." Octavian shrugged. "If they did, I would’ve heard of them."

"You would’ve heard of them if sought fame and power." He argued. "This may sound ridiculous for a grand man such as yourself, but for me, success isn’t all about fame, power, and wealth. Those things... worth nothing to the afterlife. Whether it is hell or heaven, all those things are worth nothing."

Octavian arched a brow. "Then, what do you think is worthy of the life after death?"

"Memories." Sven’s answer was quick and almost instant. "Although it is still unknown what’s there after death, there’s still a chance that I can take my memories with me. The aforementioned list had no chance, and that’s an unchanging fact."

"Well, my argument with that is I might not take those ’worldly’ things with me, but at least I can leave something behind for my kin."

"I don’t judge."

"Me neither. I believed everyone had their own understanding of life and death and the things that come with it." Octavian paused as he chugged down the mix of wine and blood before picking up the decanter to pour himself another glass. "The only thing that is foolish is those who think they won’t see the face of death someday."

"Agreed."

"How nice to have you in here. You should really marry my daughter and stay in my fief. I give you my word. I will certainly treat you better than any father-in-law you can have." Octavian humored as he raised a glass.

It was rare for him to talk to someone this freely and receive no prejudice or the sort for his actions or beliefs no matter how vile they may be. He didn’t need someone to agree with him, just someone to understand him, just like Sven.

"Callie is by far the best among my daughters, but I can offer you a few of them if you think she’s not enough," he added, making Sven frown at his suggestion. "Right... now that I think about it, you aren’t married yet, are you?"

"Why? You do realize that by suggesting this marriage, it appears as though you want something from Ronmin." Octavian laughed at Sven’s remarks. "If I’m married, I wouldn’t be here pestering her."

The duke arched a brow, watching the latter reclined on the settee while gazing heavenward. Sven had always shown an interest in his daughter, and he would approve of it if only Sven asked. But the werewolf, somehow, didn’t make such a request. It could be because Sven was aware by marrying Callie, he would have no choice but to be part of this family and become one of Octavian’s people. But the duke doubted that.

"Your Grace, although we somehow get along, this matter is not for us to agree on," Sven muttered after a minute of silence. "It’s for your daughter to decide. The only thing we may decide is whether I will be part of this family or she will be part of mine."

Sven dragged his head and set his set on the duke’s devious smirk. "Just like how you are determined to marry me to your family, I will make sure it’s the latter. I’m not going to be your hellhound."

"Well, good luck with that," Octavian smirked as he raised a glass to a toasting gesture before chugging it down.