The Werewolf King's Bride

(From Blue's Perspective)

"It's been a long time, Your Highness," Doctor Dimitri said.

In the end, I could not eat much during lunch, but I tried to since the cook had worked hard to make the dishes I liked. I wanted to eat, but I did not have an appetite.

"It indeed… has…," I said.

"Your voice, Your Highness… It happened before too, right?"

"It has. It was when she was pregnant," Dem said.

"But this time, it is not because of that," Doctor Dimitri said.

"She got hurt and because she used too much power, it kind of affected her voice," Dem said. He did not want me to talk much because my throat hurt a bit.

"I will prescribe some medicine. It will get better soon, so don't worry," Doctor Dimitri said. "And…"

He hesitated a bit. "May I ask what more problems are there?" he asked.

"She can't eat. She has very little appetite almost all the time," Dem said. "She sometimes has a fever, but the red rashes don't appear anymore. And her power is awakened."

"If Her Highness's power is awakened, she will get less sick than before and it's even…"

"She throws up frequently," Dem added.

"I see… Well, Her Highness is usually sick, so it is not much of a surprise. But this time, it's because of two different causes. The first one is that since Her Highness's power is awakened recently, her body is facing some difficulties in coping with it, but it will be fine in no time," he said. "And the second cause is that… Her Highness seems to be pregnant."

"… Wow, you really are very fertile," Dem said in pure astonishment.

"What the… hell, Dem? Who reacts… that way?" I grumbled, slapping him on the arm.

"Judging your reactions, was it planned?"

"Yes, we always planned to try for a kid when her power is awakened," Dem said. "But we never thought she would get pregnant this quick. It has not been a month since we decided this."

"It's kinda… quick…"

"Are you prepared?" Doctor Dimitri asked.

"Yeah… I think…"

"Are you worried because of the last pregnancy?"

"Kind of… Just afraid… What if… it happens again?" I muttered.

"Remember, it did not happen naturally. It was a plan of others," Doctor Dimitri said. "If everything goes well this time, Your Highness and the kid will both be fine. I will check on Your Highness every day."

"I will try to be with her as much as possible. I will increase the number of knights to guard her," Dem said.

Dem and I both knew what kind of life we needed to live if we chose to have a kid. As a King, he needed to have a kid eventually, so that kid could be his successor and the next ruler. But Dem never wished that. He wanted a kid only if I was okay with it and to extend our family.

If we did not have any kids, he wanted to make Ava his successor. Or, maybe just adopt a kid.

"Your Highness, just don't worry. Please stay healthy and make sure to not worry about anything," the doctor said. "If you feel even just the slightest discomfort, make sure to let me know."

"Alright," I gave a nod.

Doctor Dimitri actually looked pretty relieved to see me. He was one of the few people who knew what happened. He reminded me, again and again, to let him know the moment I would feel out of ordinary.

In the afternoon, as Dem was helping me put my dress on, I was informed that Ruby had come to visit me. Dem was clinging to me to the point of not letting the maids dress me up. He wanted to do it himself.

Dem still did not know how to do the makeup properly. He was learning that from my maids. So, at least, my maids were allowed to do my makeup and hair.

"This dress… is really light," I said.

"Yeah, you already have another person in your stomach," Dem said.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"It's… literally a fetus…"

"You think I have put the dress on you in the right way?"

"It is… perfect," I said. "Ruby… is in the living… room. I will go… now."

"I will take you there," he said. I expected it anyway, so I was not surprised.

"It's alright… if you stay…"

"Is it?"

"Uhm… It's not like… we have some… secret or something," I said.

"I won't decline the offer, then," he said and offered me his arm. "Now, darling, let's go, hmm?"

The moment we opened the door, someone almost jumped on me. It was Dem who stopped the person.

"Your Highness!" Perita cried. "I am so sorry, Your Highness! I could not protect you!"

"Perita… What happened… t-to your face?" I asked.

"I sent her on a mission," Dem said.

"On a… mission?"

"It was a very generous punishment His Highness gave me. I should have died instead," Perita said.

"Don't… be like t-that," I said. "I was the one… at fault and no one… else. And I suspect it would not have… helped even if I had… more knights with… m-me."

"You are too kind, Your Highness," Perita said. "From now on, I will never leave your side, Your Highness. I will never make the same mistake again."

"Your Highness!"

I looked to my side, hearing Flint's voice. He looked breathless and even more tired than he usually did.

"Are you alright, Your Highness? Nevermind, you don't look that well," Flint said.

"T-Thank you?"

"It was very weird without you, master. Now that you are back, I guess I can get back to my normal life," he said.

"Why does it… hurt t-to say you missed me? And, don't call… me 'master'."

"What happened to Your Highness's voice?" he asked.

"She got hurt," Dem replied. "Now, we are going somewhere. Talk to her later."

As we passed by, I heard Flint whispering to Perita. "His Highness has gotten kinder. Is it just me?"

"No, I noticed it too," Perita said. "Thank Her Highness."

"Yeah."

We went to the living room. Ruby was walking around and the moment I opened the door, she gasped and broke down in tears. It reminded me of the moment when I got sick and Ruby cried because she was afraid something would happen to me.

She flopped on the couch, kind of in the same way her husband did. I walked up to her and hugged her.

"There there. You… okay?"

"I thought… I thought…"

"It's okay… I'm fine," I said.

"I was so afraid… I was really…"

"Ruby… All that matters… is t-that I'm fine now. I am really okay… So, calm… down, please," I said.

"Are you? Really?" she asked, looking at me with tearful eyes.

"… I am," I said. "If you cry, how… will we talk? Don't cry… It doesn't make… me feel good if you cry…"

"Ah, I am so sorry, Your Highness. I was being too…"

"But, you know, it makes m-me… happy that you all missed… me so much," I said. "It makes… me feel less bad about myself. This place… It is my home now… And the people here are my family. I missed… you all… just as much as you missed m-me."

"Are you really okay, Your Highness? I heard a lot of things from Luc."

"Yeah… A lot of things… indeed happened. B-But I'm fine," I said.

I had to tell Ruby the summary of what happened because she wanted to hear everything from me even though Luc told her everything. Perhaps she was having a hard time believing.

"All these things… Everything happened so fast," she mumbled. "How cruel can Your Highness's father be that he branded his own daughter?"

"He wanted… t-to awaken my power… all at once," I said.

"He only wanted your power, that bastard! Now, the enemy is way too strong."

"He has… weakness too," I said.

"Right, his heart," she said. "But still, it's all just too much."

"Yeah… There is another… thing," I said. "But I will tell you t-that… later. Come to the dinner tonight. I have sent an… invitation t-to Iris and her family as well. Mom… and Dad will come too."

"Tonight?"

"Yeah… Do you have… something tonight?"

"No, not really. We will be there in time," she said. "Just let me know one thing Your Highness- is the news good or bad?"

"… It's good news," I smiled and looked at Dem who gave a nod.