The Werewolf King's Bride

(From Blue's Perspective)

I was a bit worried after hearing that I had transferred a bit of my power to Sapphire. What if she got in trouble because of me? She was not just a cat to me; she was someone who helped me get better. I would not be able to bear losing her.

"Don't worry about the cat much. Worry about yourself and be careful. Not many people are trustworthy," he said. "Anyway, what did the voice say?"

"Nothing much," I said. "Just the same kind of stuff..."

He eyed me as if he did not believe me. It did not matter. I could not just tell him what that voice said. If I did, he would find out about Dem's nature more. Luc had an idea about Dem's nature, but he never truly knew it.

"So, the maid that gave you the aphrodisiac- I reported about her to your husband. Has he told you?"

"No... He hasn't..."

"I told him about it last night when he came here to talk about awakening your power. You both are in the same boat about it now, huh? Anyway, that maid- I found traces of black mana in her heart. She has died because her heart stopped. What I mean is, that her heart had been stopped. It was a dark mage's work.

The black mana could not completely disappear since I checked her body almost immediately."

Usually, Dem told me about everything. Perhaps he could not tell me about it since I was a bit freaked out after hearing the voice and I fell asleep right after having some soup. I could not even have a proper dinner because I did not have much of an appetite.

And in the morning, we did this and that. I fell asleep after that again since Dem played with me a little. There was no time for us to talk.

"I see..."

"Do you know why you were given an aphrodisiac out of all things?"

"I have a theory..."

"We usually think about the same thing at the same time. I want to hear your theory first," he said.

"Well, it seems that someone was trying to make Dem and I have sex. It sounds weird, but I think this is exactly what they wanted. That person surely knows that we did not do it in a very long time. So, they gave me that banned aphrodisiac so we would have no choice but to have sex since the effect won't completely go away until you know what.

And if we do that, Dem and I will actively try to awaken my power so I can take pregnancy-preventing pills again because none of us want a kid right now. We will proceed with the plan that we left behind. So, my theory is that person wants us to awaken my power, at least, try to as soon as possible," I said.

"I was right then. I was thinking the exact same thing," he chuckled. "And another part of my theory is that dark mage wants you to find him yourself."

"I haven't thought about this part. What do you mean?"

"He or she, whoever that dark mage is, knows that you have a huge amount of black mana. Well, at least, my guess is that the amount is very big since even King Ford could not awaken your power and he does not have very little black mana. That dark mage knows that only a very powerful dark mage can awaken your power fully. And that dark mage is very powerful and we have got many proofs of that.

I have a feeling that he showed it on his own accord to let you know how powerful he is and that he can awaken your power. So, you should find him- that's what he wants."

If it was true, then almost everything was clear. From the beginning, the dark mage wanted me. I had a feeling that it was my biological father who I had never seen before. But there was one thing I did not understand. If he wanted me, then why did he not bring me here himself? Why did he have to use Demetrius?

I actually wished he had not. After all, he was now in this state because of how his mind was messed with for seven long years. If it was me, I would have gone mad by now.

"There is a chance that it's your father," Luc said as if he knew what I was thinking about. "To be honest, I am kinda sure that it's him. He is the one who did the experiment eighteen years ago and made you. But why did he use Demetrius? He could have brought you here himself."

"Right? I was thinking the exact same thing. He did not need to use Demetrius at all unless..."

"Unless?"

"... unless he wants to take over the kingdoms one by one," I muttered.

"There is a possibility. But if we think that way, we have to make a person enemy without knowing the truth," he said cautiously.

"Yes," I nodded. "That's why we can't believe that theory yet, but we are not gonna let it go as well. We have to keep it in mind because it can be true. He needed to make me an Alpha's mate controlling his mind. And that is Demetrius. He needed a reason to choose Demetrius as well.

This is the part where we have to make that person our enemy- Mother."

"If Mother was with him, then he would automatically choose Demetrius. Evan's mother was a black-eyed female werewolf as well. Evan said that his mother was with my father. But that dark mage, I mean, my father did not choose him because they could not control Evan's mind since he was also a dark mage.

Evan also said that he thinks the dark mage or group of dark mages wants to take over the kingdoms one by one. This explains most of the things," I added.

"If only we find out if the previous Queen is behind it as well, then everything will be clear. Well, not everything... but most of the things," he said.

I could not spend much more time with Luc. I returned very quickly after that without even having cookies with him like I usually did. This morning, I had practiced as usual with Perita before visiting the magic tower. Swordsmanship was not boring, but it was not that fun either. Still, I was doing it so I could save myself later without anyone's help.

"Where are we going to go now, Your Highness?" Perita asked.

"Let's go to the palace where Evelyn is staying with her family," I said.

Evelyn moved overnight to a side palace last night. Everything happened so fast that I did not even know. It was undoubtedly Dem's doing. Mother moved as well.

"I was wondering why Lady Evelyn and Her Highness, the previous Queen were staying at the main palace. I thought they would move to a side palace or something at least after His Highness gets married. But it did not happen," Perita said. "I am glad it happened now."

"Why?" I asked.

"Well, Imperial Palace is actually a dangerous palace where there is always a war. This war is different than a normal war. Here, even family members try to harm others. I don't mean to be rude, but it's the truth. I understand that Your Highness is close with the Imperial family members of Querencia, but it is still a good idea to keep a reasonable distance from them."

I did not say anything. She was not entirely wrong. Imperial Palace was indeed a hazardous place. After all, Demetrius suspected even his own mother to be against us.

Dem did not feel any connection with his mother. Their relationship was not even fragile; it was already broken beyond repair. Dem expressed many times that he wished he had a normal and loving family. He wished his mother had taken care of him when he was a child. I could not even console him. I did not know how to do so when it came to the matter of a perfect family.

There was no way for me to know what family truly meant. I had a family in name only. In reality, it had never been a family. It was hell.

Even the family I had now was not perfect. But at least, I had someone who loved me more than anyone else.