The Werewolf King's Bride

Chapter 312: Adoption

(From Blue's Perspective)

"As Your Highness suspected, the boy indeed is allergic to water," Doctor Dimitri said. "At this point, Your Highness can start studying to be a doctor."

"Don't joke about it. I just know a thing or two, but no one can be better than you, Doctor Dimitri," I chuckled.

"It seems the child is quite close to his mother. He kept crying whenever she wasn't around," he said.

"Well, he is a toddler. The Prime Minister's wife might have done something wrong, but she did it for her child and she is a good mother I believe. She is now locked up in her mansion and no one is to contact her from the outside and she can't go outside for a year. Dem said two years, but I reduced it," I said. "Anyway, the kid is going to be with his mother. I hope you have prescribed him something."

"There is no cure, Your Highness. I have come across this disease once before, two years back. It was a woman. She was a middle-aged woman. Because of this, she was devastated. It was not just affecting her physical condition, but also her mentality.

I gave her some ointments for the hives that were caused whenever she came in contact with water. But there is still no permanent cure."

"I see. So, you have done the same for that boy?"

"Yes, this is the best I or any other doctor can do for now," he nodded.

"Hmm, I understand. Thank you, Doctor. You have done your best."

"It is nothing. And I have something else to say regarding Athena's condition."

"Yes?"

"After researching about it, I believe that she has something similar to mana inside her body, but not exactly mana. It is not possible for a doctor to track mana properly if that doctor is not a mage. We usually ask before any treatment if the patient is a mage or something because it will affect the treatment.

We can understand if a child has mana or not based on their physical condition, especially if the amount of mana is too much since it will sometimes cause them to get sick often. Their bodies sometimes cannot cope with the amount of mana. Athena's background makes sure that her parents are not mages and thus, she can never have mana.

That's why I said it is something similar to mana and since the amount is too much, it is causing her health to go downhill often. There is nothing I can do about it as a doctor. It will be a mage's job."

"I understand. Can you please write a report...?"

He cracked a little smile and slid a file towards me. I chuckled. "Then, I don't have anything else to ask for. Thank you for your work. I appreciate it very much. As the doctor has wanted, I will send people to find the plants you need."

"Thank you, Your Highness," he said. "And, is Your Highness taking care of your health?"

"I am. I am taking rest properly," I replied. "And I am not overworking myself. Just as the doctor said, I am eating vegetables and protein proportionally."

"His Highness told me that Your Highness is still not eating enough."

"Everyone says that," I mumbled. "I am trying. But I cannot eat anymore. I am trying. I think it will take time."

"Yes, I also believe it will take time. But just make sure you are actively trying," he said. "Considering Your Highness's past, it is acceptable. Your Highness's health is very important. Your Highness weighs only forty-five kg, which is just not okay for your height and age. When I first weighed Your Highness, it was forty-three.

You gained only two kg. Please keep trying. The number should be at least forty-eight. The perfect is fifty-two."

"I will try more," I said.

"Alright then. I will take my leave then. And I have sent an extra bottle of pills."

"Yeah, thank you."

'Jeez, when he talks about the pills with a straight face... Though he is very professional, I sometimes get embarrassed.'

The advantage of these pills was that they did harm my body now that my power was awakened a bit. In my world, it was not okay to take too many pills. But here, it was different. As long as the body suited, nothing would happen to take the pills. There were no condoms or anything like that here considering the werewolves' physical strength. They would get torn.

I asked Dem about it and he said so.

"Your Highness, His Grace, the duke is here," a maid announced.

"Is he supposed to come today?" Perita asked.

"Hm," I muttered. "Let him in."

"Good morning, Your Majesty," he bowed slightly.

"Good morning, Duke. Is it ready already?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Please take a look at the papers."

He handed me two files. It was the adoption papers of Athena and Abel. They were presented at the court, and both said exactly what they were taught. Everything went smoothly. Well, I had some a hand in it since the Imperial Palace had influence over the justice system even though it was not supposed to be that way.

"Take a seat, Duke," I said as I started to take a look at the files.

I still had not met Abel Jr. since I did not have much time. His hair had also been dyed red. Iris did it. Just like Athena, he was also taking the potion to change his eye color from dark brown to red. Iris wrote in the letter that red hair suited him very well and he did not hate it.

I checked both of the files and found everything in the right order. The duke's work was always faultless. Checking again was unnecessary, but still, it was part of my duty to recheck everything.

"Everything is alright," I said.

"I see. I can be at peace in that case."

"Pff... That line... Has Iris told the duke to talk in that manner?" I asked, trying to control my laughter.

"The duchess believes I am lacking in how I talk to Your Majesty. So, she told me to say these things to express my gratitude. Though I don't understand how Your Majesty found out...," he mumbled, scratching his head.

"That is fine, Duke. The duke doesn't have to try hard to express his gratitude. I know the duke pretty well and I understand your behavior. I don't have any problem with it. So, the duke can behave in the usual way and also tell Iris that I said it is fine," I said.

"That's a relief, then," he sighed in relief. "That was very hard."

"Yes, it can be pretty hard to behave in a way you are not used to. Anyway, tomorrow is the swordsmanship competition."

"Aha, that's right. The Duchess will be attending with me. And I will participate."

'More like, you have to. It is customary for a person from every house to participate if they don't have a serious reason to not participate. Except for the Imperial family, there will be one person from every single house. It will start at six in the morning tomorrow and end in the middle of the night. Dem and I will join the final round which will be around the evening.'

"I heard of that. I am still not fully familiar with the rules, so I am learning a new thing every single day. It is quite fascinating, I must say. That said, has my dear friend truly improved? She said she did in the letter, but I would like to hear it from the duke as well."

"Yes, she has gotten better. Now, she is in the best health. She is taking care of Abel and teaching him whatever he needs to know. We will also get him a tutor. But we have decided that after Athena starts living with us, we will do so," he said.

"I see. I think it would be best if the duke talks to Athena about it and asks her about when she is ready to leave. It is better to ask her opinion as much as possible. Doctor Dimitri also said so. She tends to believe that everyone will make a decision about herself without consulting her and it is normal. We need to make it clear that it is not.

We all have been trying. But there is a long way to go," I said. "... Trauma is not easy to overcome."

"It is not. She is lucky that Your Majesty has been with her and saved her," his lips formed a smile that was very hard to see. "And we are lucky that Your Majesty is our Queen."