Chapter 123 – Getting Back to the City

*** Yuki, Morning ***

The couch was less than ideal. Maybe I should've brought out that bed from my storage, but I didn't know if they would come out before we did and get mad about me moving their stuff. There is no need to get Kelly worked up even more.

They did offer us to join them in bed. Mai and Kelly took them up on it, but six girls, with two being pregnant, left little room. I'll live; I've done much worse in my life. But I really won't miss this when I finally marry that dragon. I'll have to encourage Alzi to punish that stupid Mistress for selling her off and making this all so much more complicated. Just months away from everything I wanted.

Nakuma and I can handle this easily. The Queen may hate it to start, but I think she'll be happy to wed her family into mine. Of course, she'll see it a bit differently, but she'll find out what she truly did when it's too late.

"Good morning, Yuki," Armirynth says, stepping out of the bedroom. "Would you like breakfast? We normally have a bit to eat but I'm not sure about the schedule with the move and everything."

"It won't take long to take what you all want so we can eat," I say.

At the beginning of her stay, Alzi liked to talk about her Mother's cooking. I doubt breakfast will be a good showing. It will likely be just some fruit, especially if she is worried about time. We will be slow-walking the distance with two pregnant women in the group.

Really wish Nakuma was back so she could make this process easier.

The others filter out of the bedroom, Mai being the last out of the bunch. They all head to the kitchen, so I go to join them. I guess they don't like eating in the living room.

In the kitchen, I find the group huddled around a small table while Armirynth cuts up some fruits at the counter. Heading over to her, I ask, "Would you like some help?"

"Oh, no. This will be the last meal I make in this village most likely. Let me handle it, even if it is just cutting some stuff up," Armirynth says back.

"Ok," I say, heading over to the full table. Mai scoots over in her chair to make room for me. "Mai, you can just scoot the chair over. I have a few chairs I can bring out. There's no need to have pregnant women sitting on half a chair for breakfast."

"Oh, that would be nice. I think we're all a bit tired of being squished together for a while," Mai says, moving the chair over. "It was warm and cozy to start, but when morning came, it wasn't quite as fun as the night."

"I thought that may be the case," I say, pulling out two chairs. They're small and plain, but they'll fit on the table. "Akhae and Ilka, do you have ideas on what you want to take?"

"Yes, my armor, sword, and everything needed to keep it working in order. Most of the tools we have around. We worked hard to get or make them and would rather not throw away that work if that is alright," Ilka says.

"Yes, I don't have much of what you have, so it won't be a problem. I plan on getting a bigger house soon, so we'll have room for it all soon," I say.

"Ok, thanks for this," Ilka says, moving the other chair to her side. "It'll be nice to get more updates about Alzi and see what we can do to help bring her back to us."

"Yes, thank you. It'll be nice having so many friendly faces around to help with the kids, too," Alzi's Mother says, bringing over the plates of food and seating down next to Ilka. "Are we walking to the city? I'm fine walking if needed. I'm just wondering."

"I was hoping Nakuma would be back from her mission, but she was still out when we left to come here, so we will have to walk. Sorry about that," I answer, looking over the fruit. They look fresh, likely the last batch of the season. I just pick a slice at random and get the sweet taste. It was definitely picked recently. "Did you all pick this yourself?"

"Hmm? The fruit. Some of it, yes; others were gifted when I announced my pregnancy with twins and a boy. Do they taste alright?" Armirynth asks.

"Yes, they taste good. Glad I joined in on the meal."

"Good, I'm worried how my cooking will compare to the cooks in the city. Alzi always loved it and I did well in the village even with my limited popularity. Enough to raise the silly girl and not starve," she says with a sigh. "Maybe I shouldn't have made her my little helper. If she just had a friend growing up."

"Oh, don't blame yourself. You raised an amazing daughter. Look at what she did for you and still loves you at the end of it. Right now, she's wishing for you to come save her, I promise," Mai rushes in to say. "She'll be the happiest girl in the world when she watches you come down the aisle in a dress. Maybe we can get the twins to be part of the wedding somehow. I'm sure that will put a big smile on our silly dragon."

"Thanks. I just wish she didn't lose these years to that stupid brothel," Armirynth says, a small frown taking over her face.

"We all have a class now; we should have a lot more years to enjoy with the crazy girl. Some still say the old Queen is still alive in the castle. Some are even bold enough to say it goes two back," I offer up. Really, it is three back for the Queens. It goes back four greats for my family. Not many of the harems make it that long, but the Queens get a lot of opportunities to gain levels and, therefore, years. "Ten years will be nothing compared to the years we get to spend with her after. We just have to be careful to not spend them all pregnant."

"Yes, yes. We still act like these pregnancies are special when she can bloat us up like a balloon in a second if we let her," Armirynth lets out with a sad chuckle.

"Soon, Armirynth. I don't plan on letting her go without us for long. We just all have to put in the work," I assure her.

"Yes," is all she says back, staring into the fruit. I guess I should stay away from mentioning food for a while.

We finish up in silence, likely a mix of the limited sleep the girls got crowded on the bed and the sad turn the conversation took. Hopefully, their mood changes when I take them around to point at things for me to put in a ring.

"I should go down to the guards and let them know I'm moving," Ilka says to the table. "My wives should know everything I need, so if it takes a while for them to let me come back here, it shouldn't hold us up."

"Yes, honey, I can point it all out," Akhae says, and Ilka stands up.

"Thanks, I'll try to get back soon," Ilka says, leaving the kitchen.

The rest of us aren't far behind her, finishing the sweet fruit just a bit after she left.

"Do we want to start in the kitchen and work our way through the living room into the bedroom?" I ask the two remaining dragons.

"That works. I know what we want in here if Akhae wants to start sorting things out in the living room," Armirynth says.

"We can go outside for a bit to give you all more room," Mai says before Kelly says some stupid remark to piss me off.

"That sounds like a plan," Akhae says as we all stand up.

"Alright, let's get started," I say, turning to the brown dragon.

They don't have as many pots and pans as I thought they would. I guess they are harder to come by than I thought out here, or their meals just don't require as many. But it was a quick endeavor to pick them all up. Armirynth did spend a few moments on the utensils. I think Alzi had a special set she always used. I just gave her a soft hug before taking them in. I'm sure Alzi will be happy to use them again once we marry.

The living room remained pretty much the same. There were many tools for repairing their stuff. Everything showed its age and use. I'm not sure how much they will use them after the move, but it's faster to just take them and go than fight over what they truly need to take.

Ilka came back while I was getting all their clothing. She did a quick check to see if we got everything she wanted. It seems Akhae and Armirynth know her well, as she didn't add anything to the ring.

"Ready to go," I ask as I take the last of their underwear out of the drawer.

"I guess," they mumble together. A bit of sadness showed across their faces.

"It won't be that bad," I assure them. "I've moved around a lot. It takes some getting used to, but I think you'll like it. Mai and Kelly can help you find things to do in the city, and you'll see it as home soon enough."

"Are there other dragonkin there?" Ilka asks me.

"Not really. Your village should contain most of the dragonkin in the kingdom. You kind are a bit rare outside of your realm."

"That will probably be the hardest part. We should head out now, or we may end up staying here for hours in fear," Armirynth says, her worried tone shining through. Akhae and Ilka each grab an arm and start walking to the front door.

Outside, Mai and Kelly stand out front, attracting a lot of attention. I guess they don't get many catkins out here, pregnant women even less.

"We're ready to go," I call out.

Ilka takes the lead as Mai and Kelly fall in behind us. Leaving just Akhae to help the pregnant dragon.

"Here, let me help. I can use a bit of mana to help you walk. That should ease a lot of the pain. I'm sorry about not being able to fly; that would be the best option here for you," I say, stepping to her side.

"Oh, thanks. My feet are starting to swell, but the walk should be peaceful," Armirynth says.

"It will be," I say.

Ilka handled getting us out of the gate. The guards looked like they wanted to do something stupid to the foreigner who was taking a boy away from them. But if they cared so much, they should've protected Alzi better. On the road, Mai pestered Ilka and Akhae about the village. Nothing too interesting, just the normal fighting and farming stuff.

The only surprise is how few levels she got with the number of beasts she's killed in her life. I didn't realize just how big a difference the growth is between commoners and nobles. She should have a class or two done based on her kills. I guess her groups are a bit bigger, so that is part of it, but it is still harsh on the growth.

At the end of the surprisingly pleasant march, there was a line to get into the capital. A bunch of merchants were slowly having their wagons and rings checked by the few guards. With two pregnant women, we should be able to skip the line; we don't have anything they need to check.

Well, really, they don't know about the rings they should check and wouldn't dare go looking for them on a Princess.

The group is a bit hesitant to follow, but not wanting to be left behind gets them to follow me.

"I've got two pregnant women in my group," I call out to the guards. "And nothing that needs checking. So, can we get inside, please? We've been traveling for a long time, and they need to rest."

"That is a strange group you've got there. I think we should do a check on you," a guard calls back.

"You see my whitetails, right? Are you sure you want to check with me? I think the Queen is a bit tired of hearing about me right now, and I don't think she'll like a conversation that includes my Mother, the Queen of Kitsunes," I say, stretching my beautiful tails out for them.

"Yuki," another guard calls out in a tired voice. "Go in. We don't have time to be messing with you."

"Thank you," I say, walking past them.

"Is that smart? Threatening the guards?" Kelly asks, of course. "They may..."

I cut the girl off. "They won't dare. If they do anything, then tell me. If they go far enough, it may just shorten this entire process of marrying Alzi."

I lead the group quickly through the city to my house. Nakuma should be home this time. I can give the ring over to Mai and Kelly to sort through everything with the dragons while I go run off and start taking missions again.