A Grand Duchess Reborn

As I stood in the garden of the Bellwood estate in the middle of the night, the fragrance of hyacinth flowers filled the air, reminding me of the day my life took a dramatic turn. I smiled, grateful for the unexpected journey fate had laid before me. The scars of the past had faded, replaced by the warmth of love and family surrounding me.

"Faya."

My heart melted upon seeing my mother's arrival. Also, the name, Faya, was her and Father's nickname to me from Faustina. "Mother... Are you not sleepy yet?" I asked softly, seeing how she wrapped herself with a scarf on her chemise.

"I'm about to, but I saw you here."

I offered a gentle smile, feeling the connection between us, a bond that had formed over the past six years. "I couldn't sleep either. The memories were calling me back to this garden," I confessed.

She walked towards me and reached out to touch my cheek with a tender hand. "It has been quite a journey, hasn't it, my dear?"

I nodded, my eyes glistening with emotion. "Yes, it has. A journey that led me to you, this family, and a life I never could have imagined."

Her eyes held joy and sorrow as she pulled me into a warm embrace. "My sweet Faya, we missed so much time together, but I'm grateful fate brought us back together. I regret not being there during your upbringing."

I held her tightly, cherishing the closeness we shared. "It's all right, Mother. I may not have grown up in the Bellwood estate, but I have no regrets. The life I lived and the people I met shaped who I am today."

She pulled back slightly to look into my eyes. "You have become a strong and remarkable woman, Faya. I see your father's strength in you and my resilience as well."

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. "I guess I inherited the best of both worlds. I wouldn't forget to add Edison, Samantha, and Jaromir."

As for my adoptive brother, Jaromir, he was now the Beta of the Moon Oriental pack after fabricating my death. He was meant to be the Beta, after all. However, as for my case, the House of Bellwood was never in a pack.

As aristocrats, our family was not bound to any single pack. Instead, the Bellwood Grand Duchy governed over a vast territory, comprising more than a hundred packs, each led by its own Alpha, while we maintained our oversight over the entire region.

In the last will and testament from Father, Mother passed down to me the Grand Duchess title in my own right while she assumed the title of Dowager Grand Duchess.

A year after giving birth to my triplets, I made my debut in the aristocratic society, stunning everyone as the long-lost daughter of the Dowager Grand Duke Beowulf and Grand Duchess Leanne Bellwood returned.

"Mother, I learned that an envoy from the royal palace has been coming lately to the Velvety Stones for customized jewelry," I told her as she was sitting beside me, glorying herself from the moonlight blessed by the Moon Goddess Herself.

Mother stiffened and glanced at me with a wry smile on her lips. "Yes, darling. They are..." She turned me, panicking. "But I declined them as per your wish."

She knew well why I did not want to deal with them since I knew that there was one specific person who was asking for customized jewelry. It was His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Alucard.

The father of my triplets, Crown Prince Alucard, had been inquiring about customized jewelry, and this fact alone made me hesitant to confront them. The memories of our past and the complexities of our relationship weighed heavily on my heart, making it challenging to face him again.

Velvety Stones, our esteemed jewelry shop, had earned a formidable reputation within royal, aristocratic, and elite circles. Our exquisite craftsmanship and unique designs had garnered us a loyal clientele, but dealing with the royal family presented a different set of challenges.

"Faya, you're well aware that we're still part of the royal lycan family. And... Crown Prince Alucard will likely come to you soon. The royal cabinet meeting is scheduled for the end of this month. Are you absolutely sure you're ready to confront him?"

Indeed, the House of Bellwood played a crucial role as part of the royal lycan family. We actively supported the De Carteret Clan in bringing an end to the thousand-year rogue war, a conflict that nearly led to the total destruction of our nation. Our efforts contributed to the defeat of the rogues, and as a result, we were bestowed the prestigious grand duke title and given control of a grand duchy, tasked with maintaining stability in the northern region of the Sowinski Kingdom, along with a few other dukes.

In the past, the De Carteret Clan was a modest pack comprised of just a few dozen lycans, led by their pack leader, Argus Knight de Carteret. However, they held a unique and special place among werewolves due to their exceptional appearance and the distinct qualities of their blood, setting them apart from regular werewolves and lycans alike.

After that, our status in the royal lycan family elevated further, and we became integral members of the royal cabinet. Following my father's passing due to illness, my mother took on the responsibility of representing our family and attending the important meetings convened by the Alpha King. As the Dowager Grand Duchess, she fulfilled her duties in the royal court, making sure our family's voice was heard and our interests were protected.

Being part of the royal cabinet meant we were involved in critical decisions that shaped the destiny of our kingdom and the well-being of our people. It was an honor and a responsibility we took seriously, knowing that our actions had a significant impact on the lives of many.

With a resolute expression, I assured my mother, "Yes, Mother, I am ready to confront my past." The bitter memories of rejection began to surface, but I pushed them aside with determination. "There is no way he would know about the existence of our triplets, especially after he denied our mate bond."

I knew deep inside that facing the Crown Prince, Alucard, would be a challenging task. The emotions from our past were still raw, but I had to stand strong and protect my children. My heart yearned for closure, and this meeting would be the first step in reclaiming my life and ensuring the happiness of my beloved triplets.

No, I was not meant for closure, I meant for revenge.

With a determined glint in my eyes, I vowed to show him how his actions had shaped me into the strong and resilient person I had become. The pain of rejection had been my catalyst for growth. I would make it clear to Alucard that being without him was the best decision he ever made, for it allowed me to discover my true strength and worth.

Gone were the days of pining for his love and approval. I no longer needed his validation to define my self-worth. The experience of heartache had taught me valuable lessons, and I had emerged from it stronger, wiser, and more self-assured.

As I prepared to face him in the upcoming royal cabinet meeting, I felt a sense of empowerment within me. I would not let him see my vulnerability or weakness. Instead, I would stand tall, showcasing the woman I had become – a woman who no longer needed his love to feel complete.

Alucard's true colors were revealed to me through his rejection, and I had no intention of allowing him to disrupt my newfound happiness and stability. My focus now lay solely on my children and the future I had built for us as the Grand Duchess Bellwood.

The upcoming meeting would serve as a powerful reminder to both of us that life had moved on, and I, Faustina Miles Bellwood, Grand Duchess of Thalren, was no longer the broken-hearted woman he once knew.