(From Blue''s Perspective)


    "I will dye your hair now, okay?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty," she nodded.


    I did not know how to dye hair, so I learned it from books. Some of my maids helped me by giving me advice about it. They thought I was going to dye my hair by myself.


    "Ruby, tell me if I do something wrong," I said.


    "Your Highness, just don''t be nervous. Besides, I won''t be much of a help. I don''t know how to dye hair as well. I mean, there is a proper technique to do this. But I don''t know that," she said. "It is not something I was taught when I entered the pce as a maid."


    "How can I not be nervous? It is a permanent hair color. It will not go away no matter what," I said. "Even if you dye your hair again, it will be hard to get the right color because of this red color."


    The permanent hair colors were very expensive. It was also hard to find the red color that Athena wanted. Most of the colors were ck and brown and different shades of these two colors. Red and silver were very rare. There were other colors like purple, blue, and neon green. They were not that rare, but only some adventurous people bought them.


    When I was little, I also wanted to dye my hair purple. Perhaps I would do so if I ever felt like it again.


    "Athena wants red eyes too, right?" Ruby asked.


    "Yeah! Red eyes are so cool!" Athena eximed.


    In my world, people did not have red eyes. But in this world, they did. I saw so with my own eyes in the banquet.


    "Your Majesty, I have found another child with the same skin color and facial features as our Athena," the duke said. He had just arrived and this was the first thing he had to say. We discussed it briefly in the morning and he had already found another kid by the afternoon.


    "I see... That was pretty quick," I said.


    His face was sweaty and he looked exhausted. He must have been walking around the street the whole time since the morning.


    "Ruby, please serve the duke something since he looks very exhausted. Take a seat, Duke," I said. "Tell me about everything when I ask."


    "I am fine, Your Majesty."


    "It was an order," I said and he sat down. "You have something to serve, Ruby, right?"


    "Yes, I will do so," she said.


    "I am dyeing Athena''s hair red right now. She wants her hair red as well as her eyes. I have got Flint to make the potion to change her eye color," I said. Flint had to stay up all night to make the potion. It was a sudden order since I did not know Athena''s choice beforehand. Perhaps I behaved like an evil employer giving him so little time.


    He was in a very bad mood because of it.


    "I see," he said. "Ah, I also have to apologize for the sudden visit. I should have sent a word earlier."


    "That''s fine since it is an emergency right now," I said. "How is my beloved friend by the way? I have not seen her in a while."


    "The Duchess is doing very well. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."


    "I heard from her two days ago and she said she has a slight fever."


    "Yes, it must be because of the weather. It''s hot today and then cold again all of a sudden. She is better now. She said she wille to meet Your Majesty soon," the duke said. "I will also let the duchess know of Your Majesty''s concerns."


    Ruby arrived with cold coffee and some refreshments. She also brought him a towel to wipe off his sweat.


    "Thank you, Lady Ruby," he said.


    "Now, tell me, Duke, what you have to report," I said.


    "I found a boy on the streets. He is a fiery one, but if we give him a proper environment and make sure he can trust us, I believe he will grow up just like any other child. He is eleven and as I said, has the same skin color and facial features as Athena. It won''t be unbelievable if someone hears that they are siblings. That said, does Athena know about it?"


    "Yes, I have told her. She knows."


    "Are you okay with everything, Athena?" the duke asked.


    "Yes, I believe Her Majesty. She knows what is best for me and I trust her," Athena said.


    The duke seemed a bit shocked that Athena believed me unconditionally. But I was not shocked. I knew this feeling too well. After being abused for a long time, when someone finally showed her kindness, she wanted to hold onto that person and believe her.


    No matter how many days would pass and even if she stayed with me at the duchy, I knew for sure that it would be me who she would always trust the most.


    "Where is that kid?" I asked. "And what is his name?"


    "He is at the duchy. He was a beggar and a thief who used to steal bread to feed his other friends. Since he is quick-witted and fast, it''s always him who does the stealing. His name is Abel. Thankfully, he tried to steal from me and I caught him. He tried to bite me, quite feisty.


    Anyway, I told him I would let his friends live in a good ce and provide them with basic needs as long as he listens to what I say."


    "Hm, Abel... I want to meet that kid too. Can the duke manage that?"


    "Sure, as Your Majesty wishes. Should I bring him here? I can use a mage and transport him here," he said.


    "Yes, this is the safest ce to meet up with him," I nodded. "Then, send the date and time to me beforehand."


    "I will do so, Your Highness."


    "Alright... Ah, am I doing everything right, Ruby?"


    "Yes, Your Highness. You are doing everything perfectly," she chuckled.


    The duke went back early because of some work. The look on his face made it somewhat clear that he did not want to leave.


    "The duke will make a great father," Ruby said.


    "There is no doubt about that," I agreed.


    I dyed Athena''s hair red and then put the potion in her eyes that would turn her irises red. Flint made the potion, so there was no fear of it being harmful to her.


    "The eye color will change gradually. It will take a month for the color to changepletely. This potion needs to be put in both of her eyes every single day for twenty days. Three drops in each eye," I said. "Athena, you should keep your eyes closed for at least one hour after using this potion. You might not see the change immediately, but there is nothing to worry about."


    "In that case, can I take a nap now?" Athena asked.


    "Sure. I will wake you up when it''s time for dinner," Ruby said. "Oh, no, you have to wash your hair after one hour. I will wake you up then."


    "Ah, right. I forgot about it too," Athena muttered.


    "Then, take a nap, Athena. Ruby will wake you up after an hour," I said. "I have to leave now. I will see you again soon."


    "Will you be leaving right away, Your Highness?" Ruby asked after we got out of Athena''s room.


    "Why? Do you have something to talk about?"


    "Yes... But if Your Highness is busy, we can talkter too," she said.


    "I am not that busy that I cannot even have a little chat with my friend," I smiled.


    Ruby led me to another room and sat down beside me, but far away. She still respected me as the Queen. She just could not think of me as her friend. Was it because she served me since I came here? But it was not for a long time.


    "Well, it is about... um..."


    "Is it something that will embarrass you?" I asked and she nodded. "A little embarrassment can solve a huge problem. You said something like this to me when Dem and I were having a misunderstanding between us. Now, it''s your time."


    "Haha, Your Highness remembers that thing," sheughed. "Actually, it is about Luc and me."


    "Did you two fight?"


    "No, it''s not like that. Actually, after our marriage, we never talked about kids. Werewolves usually take a child right after getting married. But we never talked about it and I am not sure about his reply. I have been using contraceptives and he has not said anything about it. So, I don''t know what he thinks."