The Werewolf King's Bride

How could he even say that he could kill them for me? Even though I knew what kind of person he was, it was still too much.

"You are my family," he said.

"Me?"

But I was not his family all the time. Even just two months ago, I was not his wife. They were his family, then and even now.

"Dem, they are your family too. It\'s not just me. I was not your wife all the time," I said. "What about the past? They were the ones who were with you, not me."

"Sweetheart, just because we share the same name and blood does not mean we are family."

"Huh?"

"Family means boding. It is a special bond. But, you see, I never shared this bond with anyone else other than you. My mother- I told you how she was. To be honest, I never felt anything towards her. I was never close to my sister either," he said.

"That\'s why I said it. Nothing and no one matters other than you."

"It\'s... not a good thing."

"Isn\'t that why I said I am sick in the head, my wife?" he chuckled.

"... I want a chocolate milkshake."

"All right, I\'ll have your maid get it for you."

I did not want to continue that conversation any longer. His thoughts were far from normal. Fortunately, Ruby was not present. She always left when it was just Dem and me because Dem did not like others around us much. If Ruby heard those, who knew what she would think? And moreover, if Ruby thought about something bad, Dem would read her thoughts and get angry.

Sapphire rubbed her cheek against my chest. She enjoyed doing it a lot. Well, there was another person who enjoyed doing it, and he was now glaring at the cat.

"Why are you letting her do it?" Dem asked angrily.

"She\'s a cat," I clarified. "Ah, Ruby, thank you."

Ruby had already brought my chocolate milkshake. She first tested it with a potion to see if it was poisoned or not, and then brought it to me. Luc concocted the potion and demonstrated how to test any food with it to her.

"That damned cat is touching weird places," he grumbled.

"Why are you being like that to my Sapphire?"

"... To your Sapphire? You don\'t even call me that lovingly."

"What are you saying? I do!" I protested. "Don\'t I call you lovingly too, my darling Dem?"

Dem\'s face turned bright red in the blink of an eye. I did not think he would have that kind of reaction.

"Pfft... My apologies," Ruby said quickly, controlling her laughter. "I will... I will leave. Please summon me if you need anything, Your Highness."

"Hahaha, you\'re blushing! Are you really that embarrassed?" I burst out laughing.

He was the one who teased me the majority of the time. It felt good to do the same to him. His reactions were also amusing. I had no idea such a handsome and cold man could make such endearing faces.

Perhaps I should do it more frequently from now on.

"Aww, look at my beautiful husband! So cute...!"

"I have some work to do. I will leave now," he said flatly as he stood up. He usually tried to do perverted things at times like this, but since I was sick now, he could not do so. Perhaps he was attempting to flee to hide his embarrassment.

"Why? No, don\'t go."

"You are being naughty right now. If you don\'t stop, I will leave."

"Okay, I will stop," I said, "beautiful."

"That\'s it! I am leaving."

"Why? You call me that too," I said.

"Yes, but when you call me those, it\'s different," he grumbled, glancing at me sideways. "It makes me want to eat you."

"Eh?"

He did not wait anymore. He went out of the room while my face had burned up. Just when I thought I won, he again made me blush.

"Jeez, this guy..."

I tried to forget what he had just said. That was a disturbing thought. The sooner I could forget about it, the better. I just wished that after our child was born, he would love it, or at the very least, care for it, and not talk like that about it.

\'He won\'t, will he? If I tell him, he will listen to me. He has to...\'

"Haa...," I sighed. Sapphire had also dozed off on my lap. To calm myself down, I drank the rest of the chocolate milkshake.

There were no electronic devices here. But we still got plenty of things, like ice, and hot water. They were all made by magic. And it was not difficult magic either. So, even ordinary mages could create ice and hot water, among other things.  That was the reason, having milkshakes, ice creams, or taking a bath in hot water was not hard.

"Your Highness, you have a visitor," Ruby said as she knocked on the door.

"I haven\'t heard about anyone before though. It\'s an uninvited guest. Why did you let them into the palace?"

"It\'s the first prince of Ataraxia, Your Highness."

"He lacks manners," I grumbled. "Tell him I am resting."

"He stated that he wishes to ascertain Your Highness\'s well-being. I must say, he is quite adamant. Should I then tell him to leave?"

"Ugh... It\'s fine. I will meet him," I said.

I had not met the first prince of Ataraxia before. He was away for some reason, I heard. But did he just come to see if I was okay after hearing I was sick? Despite Dem\'s efforts, word of my illness spread quickly, and everyone knew I was sick.  They just did not know the cause.

But to think the crown prince of Ataraxia would come to see me himself, it was pretty strange.

Ruby combed my hair and tied it in a loose ponytail behind my back. I did not bother changing since he knew I was sick, I needed to look sick. Or perhaps he would even ask me for a stroll with him in the garden which would be bothersome.

"Please wrap this blanket around yourself, Your Highness."

Ruby escorted me from my bedroom and downstairs into the living room. Sapphire was sleeping in my arms. I kept her close to me because the feel of her fur in my arms seemed to soothe m

I purposefully squandered some time. He did not notify me beforehand that he was coming. Why would I go out of my way to meet him in time?

"I greet Your Highness, the Queen of Querencia," stood up and greeted me as soon as I entered the room. He had the same silver hair and blue eyes as Prince Caius, Ataraxia\'s second and youngest prince.

"Crown Prince Carey," I said.

\'How come his name appears to be a girl\'s name? Or is it just me?\'

"Please accept my apologies for coming uninvited," he said. "However, when I heard Your Highness was ill, I could not stop myself from coming here as soon as possible."

"So, the crown prince is aware that this rash action was not something you should have done. I cannot say it is alright because it has caused me some inconveniences," I said. "But for now, I can bear with it if the crown prince makes sure not to do something like this again."

"Indeed, Your Highness. I will keep in mind not to do something insolent again," he said, but his eyes did not say he was apologetic at all.

\'I have been so rude, yet he is not leaving. No wonder Ruby said he was very persistent.\'

"But the reason I\'m checking on Your Highness is because," looking sharply at me, "I heard a maid of Ataraxia did something to Your Highness\'s drink recently."

"Your Highness is a guest of Ataraxia. I cannot let it slide," he added. "Ah, why are you still standing there, Your Highness? Please take a seat."

I sighed and took a seat in front of him. "Does the crown prince prefer tea or coffee?" I asked. Even if he came uninvited, it was common courtesy to offer him some refreshments.

"Anything is fine," he said.

"Well then, get us some tea, Ruby," I said.

"Yes, Your Highness."

After Ruby left, I exhaled sharply and tried to adjust to his uncomfortable gaze. I did not like the way he was looking at me. But for the time being, I tried not to care.

"Regarding the maid incident, does the crown prince not know that she is now imprisoned? The King and Queen of Ataraxia have taken care of this," I explained. "Or is it something like, what we call, an excuse?"