(From Blue''s Perspective)


    The duchess talked a lot. So, the breakfast was very lively. I saw the duke ncing at the duchess a lot of times. There was no doubt that he loved her a lot.


    "Actually, His Majesty and I are rtives," she said. "My father is His Majesty''s grandfather''s cousin''s son. In that way, I think I am His Majesty''s aunt though I don''t want to be called that."


    "I would not call the duchess that either," Dem grumbled.


    "Haha, I know that," sheughed it off. "I was very excited when I heard that Her Majesty ising here today. I had a feeling that His Majesty did not know our family history properly. So, I wanted to share this fact with Her Majesty."


    "That''s good. I heard that the duchess and my husband are rtives, but did not know the detail," I said.


    "I also want to show Your Majesty a lot of things. There are a lot of things to discuss between women. I hope Your Majesty will spare me some of your time."


    "Of course. I would like to spend time with the duchess as well," I smiled.


    Dem did not talk much except if it was important. He was always like this when others were around. His talkative self would reveal only in front of me.


    "Eat up well," Dem said. "You are always eating less. You are not feeling well these days after all."


    "I eat as much as I can," I said, defending myself.


    "That''s not enough. Even if you don''t feel like it, eat a bit more."


    "I also think Your Majesty should eat a bit more," the duchess said. "Your Majesty is so thin..."


    After breakfast, Dem went to the underground cells of the duchy with the duke. Dem did not take me with them since my neck was hurting a bit. I told him it was fine, but he did not notice. Moreover, it seemed to me that he did not want to take me there in the first ce and was just looking for an excuse to make me stay here since he could not tell me ''no'' right to my face.


    "Your Majesty, do you want to go to the garden room?" the duchess asked.


    "The garden room?" I repeated.


    "Yes. We have an indoor garden. We can sit and chat there," she said cheerfully.


    "Sure. I would love to," I said.


    The garden was built inside a huge hall room. There were a variety of flowers, but not as much as in the garden of the Imperial Pce. But something about this ce made it look more beautiful than all other gardens I had seen.


    "It''s beautiful...," I said.


    "Right? It was designed by the duke''s sister, my sister-inw. She liked flowers. Can Your Majesty see the vacant ce in the middle? It''s because she liked to dance there. There was a piano here as well, but I got rid of it since it was broken beyond repair.


    I have ordered to make another piano, just like the previous one. The piano is a very important part of this ce, after all," she said.


    "Yes, a piano will suit this ce well. It''s sometimes important to keep the things to bring up memories," I said.


    Continue the experience on m-vle-mpyr


    "Your Majesty, actually, I want to be frank about something," she said.


    "Yes?"


    "I want to be friends with Your Majesty."


    "..."


    I thought it was something serious. I had to admit that she surprised me with this. Besides, her desire to be friends with the Queen herself was pretty admirable since no one ever asked to be friends with me before.


    "Did I make Your Majesty ufortable? My apologies if that''s the case. Actually, I have seen Your Majesty for the first time in the banquetst month."


    I heard that the duke and the duchess had been to the banquet, but I had not met them there since I did not stay for long. It was also because of Dem who did not fail to keep everyone away from me.


    "And I happened to see the little fight between the Queen of Mazazine and Your Majesty. Your Majesty was very badass, sorry for my rude word. Since then, I wanted to be friends with Your Majesty. I requested a personal visit too, but it was declined by His Majesty three weeks ago."


    "I was sick that time. That''s why, the duchess''s request was declined," I said.


    "I heard it from the duke too," she said. "Because of that, I did not send another request recently. I was going to soon though... But then I heard that Your Majesty will visit the duchy. I was very excited. So, if possible, can Your Majesty and I be friends?


    Like real friends?"


    There were a few people who Dem said that I could trust and be close to. Among them, there was Evelyn, Ava, Perita, Ruby, Luc, Kenjo, Doctor Dimitri, the duke, and the duchess. There was no reason for me to decline this.


    "Sure. We can definitely be friends," I said.


    "Then, Your Majesty should call me by my name. I am Iris. It''s my nickname."


    "Alright, Iris," I chuckled. "Actually, you can call me by my name too."


    "But, Your Majesty, how can I..."


    "It will be a secret between us," I said.


    Even if someone found out that the duchess was calling me by my name, it would not be a huge problem. That was why it was fine if she called my name. But it was not the same for Ruby. She was a maid and even if I thought of her as my friend, she would still be considered a maid. Because of that, I could not tell her to call me by my name even if I wanted to.


    It was also doubtful if Ruby would call me by my name even if I told her to.


    "Alright then... Blue, is that okay?"


    "Yeah," I grinned.


    Iris and I chatted a lot, sitting in the garden room. She was very cheerful and liked to talk a lot. Her face resembled Dem a bit. It must be because they were rted.


    "By the way, how old are you, Iris?" I asked.


    "I am twenty. And you are eighteen, right?" she asked and I nodded. "You are very young. It''s very admirable how you are handling the job of a Queen at such a young age, especially when you came to this world just a few months ago. Everyone is praising your abilities."


    It was true that I had been managing some important work, but I never thought that it was something to be praised about. Well, Dem praised me every single hour of the day. He liked to praise me for every little thing even though it was not necessary. I had gotten used to it. But this time, even others were praising me. It was a bit embarrassing to hear someone say it right in front of me.


    "It''s nothing. I have been giving my best to help Dem," I said. "He works too hard. I am worried."


    "Blue surely loves His Majesty," she chuckled and I blushed. "It''s a good thing if there is love in a marriage."


    "You and the duke look like you two are greatly in love with each other as well," I said. "You must be living an amazing marriage life as well."


    "Well, our marriage is life is good. We were best friends. We had always been just friends. So, when he got married to the previous duchess, I did not feel bad, rather I cheered for him. But then, he got suspicious and wrote me a letter about his suspicions about the previous duchess.


    Since I had a friend in the investigation department, I told him to secretly investigate this matter and the duke agreed. Then he found clues and sent them to His Majesty, King Demetrius, rather than to the duke. He is very loyal to the king and he also works for the Royal Pce.


    So, he already had a contract signed with them that he had to report every single detail of every case he had taken, official or unofficial. When His Majesty got involved, he actively helped the duke. With His Majesty''s help, it was easier to prove the previous duchess guilty and even her strong family background could not help. Of course, His Majesty did it so the duke will be indebted to him.


    I don''t me him since it''s the way politics work. After that, the duke needed a wife since he doesn''t have an heir and my family was also pestering me to get married. He and I went to drink one night and then I joked that perhaps we should just get married. At least, we won''t trouble each other and be toxic while we also can ovee our problems.


    I was just joking, but I did not know he would take it seriously."