The Werewolf King's Bride

(From Blue's Perspective)

"Are you really pregnant? When did you find out?" Evan asked. After everyone left, when I asked him to stay, he agreed right away. So, we were chatting a little while Dem needed to go to his office for a bit.

Evan and I were in the garden. Perita, Calix, and six more knights were with me. Dem was way too serious about my protection now. I understood why he was so worried. We were even sitting right below Dem's window and Dem was literally looking out of his window every minute.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"It's just… Every single month, there was a rumor that you are pregnant. I had never heard rumors like this every month about a Queen. It must be because you two sleep in the same bedroom which most kings and queens don't."

"I know… My dear… niece got confused too… She is the first one… t-to know about my… pregnancy," I said.

I had promised Ava that she would be the first to know about my pregnancy. So, I told Calix to bring her to me, but she had an exam. So, I sent a letter, telling her about my pregnancy. I could not go there myself because Dem was against it.

"Lady Evelyn's daughter?"

"Yeah…"

"… So, this pregnancy… I suppose it was planned?"

"It was," I said. "I'm ready… about this one…"

"I'm a little worried as your friend."

"About… what?" I asked.

"Pregnant mages are the most vulnerable prey, you know. Pregnancy is the most vulnerable state for any werewolf. They don't move around too much. And mages cannot use too much mana, as it will exhaust them. Exhaustion is not okay when you are pregnant."

"Ah, yes… I haven't thought… about it… this way…"

"Since you are the Queen, it is a matter of politics too. Your child might be the next successor. And I don't think I need to tell you how many enemies King Demetrius and you have," he said.

"Yeah, I know… I will be… a target…"

"I am not trying to break your heart. It's just- you need to be careful. I know you will be. Don't go anywhere alone. Take as many knights with you as possible and stay near King Demetrius. If he is not there, go to the master of the magic tower.

If even he is not there, just call me."

"Call you…?" I chuckled. "How?"

"Give me your hand."

I gave him my right hand. He placed something on my palm. It was a bracelet. "With this…?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Just hold the yellow stone for a minute. I will come right away."

"Are you… t-that reliable?" Enjoy new adventures from empire

"Of course. We are friends, after all," he said.

I chuckled. "Alright… Thank you…"

"Welcome, just make sure to accept me as your friend."

"I do…!"

"It's just the first time you did. Remember to do so in the future as well."

"Haha, alright…," I laughed.

I put the bracelet on and stared at it for a while. The yellow stone was not actually round, now that I notice it properly. It was the shape of the earth, or like an orange.

"It looks like a sunset, doesn't it? I made that one," he said.

"It's… cool," I said.

"Darling, it's getting cold. Let's go back."

"You are here already?"

Dem placed a blanket around my shoulders. "It's cold outside. You need to sleep."

"Yeah, it's late. You need to take a rest," Evan said. "Goodnight then. Don't forget to give me a call if you need me."

"She won't need you," Dem said.

"Maybe she will someday," Evan said with a smirk. "You never know when you need someone."

I had to pull Dem away before he started arguing with him. Evan was triggering him on purpose. It looked like he was having fun doing so.

"I don't like him at all! Why did you even tell him to stay?" Dem grumbled.

"Come on, Dem. We invited him from another kingdom."

"Not 'we'. You invited him. I was against it."

"Yes, yes, but he is someone who helped us before. We need him," I said. "It's not like he is our enemy just because he is the king of Trouvaille."

"Hmph… Whatever."

"Dem…"

"Babe, no matter what, I don't like him. That's it!"

I sighed. He was being too stubborn. It was not like Evan did something that made Dem mad.

I washed myself a bit after returning. Dem helped me with my hair. He liked to do these kinds of things. I did not mind as well. I felt spoiled.

"… Dem, there is… one part t-that I haven't… told you yet…"

"Which part?" he asked, combing my hair.

"It's about… your mother…"

"Mother? Is that woman alive?"

I gave a nod. "I met her…"

"You met her?"

"Yes… She… She said some things… From what I understood, she… Do you even want to… hear it?"

"Yes, I want to know why she did it, what's her excuse for controlling her own son's mind? How much fun did she have playing with my head?"

"… She… did it because she… wanted your love. She wanted… you to listen to him no matter what… And after you married me, she was… jealous. She believed… the love you give me was… supposed to be hers."

"Gross! Then, why did she fake her own death? To make me feel guilty?"

"Yeah… That's exactly… what she wanted," I said.

"But she never gets that satisfaction. I hate her! I would never feel guilty!"

Dem was holding my hair too tightly. "Ow…!"

"Ah, I'm sorry," he said, quickly loosening his grasp. "Did I hold it too tightly?"

He massaged my scalp to make sure I was not hurt. "It's fine…," I said. "But are you… okay?"

"I am," he said.

"I know how hard it must be to hear something like this about your parent."

"Actually, it's not," he said. "It's not hard when you already expect it. I expected it anyway. So, it doesn't really affect me."