Chapter 134 – Lunch

A knock comes on the door. Just a single knock. The maids freeze in my arms, and Aurora just lays there holding me.

With my maids not doing anything, I speak up. "Come in," I call out.Shimmer comes strolling in with a maid following her. She gives us all a little, knowing stare as she fights a growing smile.

"The Princess really is torturing us. That should be your wives that you're cuddling there. Lucky maids," Shimmer says. "On a more serious note. Alzi, don't call us in when you are naked. I may be bringing a guest who shouldn't see you cuddling a bunch of maids naked at noon. Really, you should have your maids call us in. Aurora."

"Sorry, Lady Shimmer," Aurora hurries to say. "I got a little distracted with my daughter resting on top of me naked. I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was."

"That does make sense," Shimmer says. "I'll step out and give you all a chance to get dressed. Alzi, you don't get to tease me with this view and not have me for lunch."

"Ok, " I say. It's not like I've ever told her no before.

Once she leaves, Calli and Shyla hurry off me. They put on their uniforms once they get out of bed. I roll off Aurora and wrap myself in a blanket.

"My Lady, you need to get out of bed to get dressed," Aurora says, already back to her strange motherly tone. "I let you skip your letters lesson. Do not take that as me going soft on your learning. Tomorrow you have a party to attend. You will need to remember the etiquette and implement it. Your failures will reflect on me."

"I could be naked in the brothel," I say, scooting out of the bed.

"Yes, but this is not a brothel," Aurora says. Annoris must have snuck in as I hear two voices talking in my closet, and Calli is just standing by the door. Her tail wagging behind her.

A few moments later, my two lazy maids walk in with my clothing—a simple dress and underwear. The dress must count as my bra, as they don't have anything else for me to wear.

They quickly force me into the clothing and tie the back up tight, my cleavage on full display as they keep pulling it tighter.

"What is this!" I say through my shallow breaths.

"A dress, my Lady," Shyla says, finally deciding it is tight enough.

"I can't breathe in this," I force out. "Loosen it now."

"Fashion requires sacrifice," Shyla dares to say.

"Shyla, loosen it," Aurora says. "We have not gone over corsets with her yet, and that dress is not meant to be that tight. She is going to pop out of that dress, and we will be on the hook for explaining why Shimmer is pregnant."

Shyla doesn't respond to her Mother. She just loosens the dress enough for me to breathe again.

Aurora opens the door and lets Shimmer back into my room with her maid. Another maid comes in with the food cart. Annoris pulls out a chair for me, and I take a seat so Shimmer can sit.

"Now, Alzi, I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself with this ask. But are you willing to do that kind of thing with me and some maids?" Shimmer asks as she sets out her useless napkin.

"Yay," I say, a bit confused by the question. "I don't see why I wouldn't."

"Well, I don't know how much you like me and if you are ok with having a lot of women you don't know in your bed," Shimmer says. "I know you are used to having women you don't know in bed, but you now have some choice in who is in your bed, so I just wanted to check. I have a few maids that I kind of like in this house. The girl behind me was one. I think it would be fun having them join us while you breed me."

"Oh, um. I don't really care when I start getting horny," I admit. "I don't really want to have any of you in my bed, but show up naked or in revealing clothing, and my lust will take over."

The maids get to work setting the table and passing out the food: the standard sandwich, salad, and soup. The ingredients will be different, but the presentation will always be the same.

I normally let Shimmer ramble on as I eat. She likes to talk about random things like her favorite ice cream or what season is better. She did go into detail on heels once, and I found out the Mistress picked the hardest heels for a constantly pregnant woman to walk in.

Fucking bitch.

"I see," Shimmer says, taking a sip of the red wine. "It has just been a week, and I haven't done much to show you my devotion. I have been working on moving my room up here, but Isda and the Princess asked me to wait for my next mission. So next week, the maids should move my stuff up here and give you some company. Though it seems the Princess is going to have us running around a lot. We have to catch up with the first princess, after all."

The maids finish setting the table as Shimmer continues her rambling, "We have a sizeable amount of land supporting our family. A number are interested in us with the Princess having the support of the navy behind her. The hardest is that we need some Duchesses to switch over. Hard to get the lower nobles if the local duchy backs a different princess. They all require a lot of support from them and fear what will happen if they betray the local lord. They wouldn't get hurt if they backed the right Princess, but it is quite the gamble."

"Why would the Queen let them get hurt for backing the wrong Princess?" I ask. Seems kind of stupid.

"Because the Queen would be the Princess they didn't support. We are hoping to have trade increase in the neighboring lands and force all the lower nobles to pressure the Duchesses to flip. Only real way to do it this late in the contest. I hate to say this, but it isn't right to hide it from you," Shimmer says with a sigh. "But you are also important. Showing off your fertility will help as well. A duchess doesn't really struggle to get a man to marry. Duchess Fluvis is a bit rare for not having a husband with her title. But the king, which would be you, is normally the strongest, and they get access to have your kids. Show they can just find a private room during a party or visit and walk away with a kid, and they will be happy to support us. They then have a little fight in their family to see if the kids with their husband or the king are stronger."

"I don't really want to give out more kids anymore," I say. "Don't we have enough maids for me to use?"

"Yes, but we can't handle that many kids or have that many maids pregnant," Shimmer says. "Even if you married your Mother, you would have to give kids out. That is part of a male's job. The Princess is going to have to start scheduling some tea parties for you to host. You will at least get to choose the Mother."

"I guess," I say, picking at my salad.

"My Lady, do not play with your food," Aurora chimes in behind me.

"Sorry for being sad and missing my kids," I say.

"I am sorry, my Lady. But rules do not care about that. I know I can not understand the pain of having children taken from your womb, but the other nobles will not care," the maid continues.

"Why should I care about them?" I ask. "They are the ones that took my children. Forces me to carry kids I won't get to raise. Used me for pleasure. Raped me. Why should I care about what they think?"

"For..."

"You don't need to care, Alzi," Shimmer says. "You don't. They won't take any more from your womb. They won't use you for pleasure. They will have to carry the children from now on. Your womb is for your children now. I ask you to follow the etiquette for yourself. You will be in a noble house even if you divorce this family. They will require you to follow the etiquette. Show you can follow it and you will have an easier life with them. I think following most of the etiquette feels good. Forces you to move your body correctly, making it simpler to just do what you want. I know it feels suffocating right now, but it will become natural soon."

"I guess," I say, switching over to the stupid soup.

"Fluvis has asked us a few times now to have you come over to see your kids. She did try to marry you, but the Mistress of the brothel wouldn't sell you to her. We just need to plan things out so a few of us can go with you as a guard. I know you'll be plenty safe in her house, but traveling is dangerous," Shimmer says. "But let's try a happier topic. Your kids are important, and you have every right to be upset about them. There is nothing I can do to help you with them. Just promise I will work hard to make sure any kids you give birth to from now on aren't ripped from your hands."

How is that a happier topic? Or is her rambling going on too long?

Shimmer continues and shows she really can't stop talking, "Geta shared that you were going to try flying today. I was wondering if you would let me watch it. I know you'll be able to fly. I understand your worry there, but dragons are made to fly. Your body won't let you forget. All that really matters is how pretty you'll look swooping through the sky."

"You can come," I tell Shimmer.

"Thank you," She says. "As I said earlier, your wives are about to go on some journeys for the glory of the family. The house will get a bit empty soon, and I really don't want to have to wait to see you soaring through the sky. I do hope you keep going outside when we all leave. You, Isda, and the Princess are going to be the only wives here, and they'll be too busy to use the grand yard. It would be sad for you to lock yourself away in here and not let the beauty be used. I hope you'll have a warrior's physique when I come back. Right now, I can barely keep myself from jumping you. I think that little nudge will have me begging at your feet, and then I can blame the Princess for picking someone who is just too beautiful for why I'm pregnant."

A knock on the door prevents me from responding to Shimmer. I keep eating and let my maids handle it.

"Alzi, you need to tell your maids if it is ok for them to enter," Shimmer tells me.

"Before you said Aurora can take care of it."

"Yes, she calls them in, but you make it clear that they are allowed in. Aurora will make sure everything is ready for them or shoo them off if they aren't welcome."

"So if I'm fine with them coming in, why can't I just let them in?" I ask.

"In case you aren't clothed or if the situation doesn't let someone enter. The maids know all those rules and will follow them. You just need to know if you want company or not," Shimmer explains.

"You can enter," I call out to the door.

"I don't think I've ever seen someone not take advantage of the power they have," Shimmer says, shaking her head. "You really do need to learn that one. The Princess will not be happy if you invite someone in when they shouldn't be allowed in."

"She isn't wrong there, Alzi," says the newcomer. "Geta said it would be best if I picked you up myself. You can finish lunch. I know I'm a bit early here. I'm just excited to meet with my new wife. Shimmer and Geta have been taking up all your time. I am Syro. Harpy and a mind mage. I am happy to help you learn how to use mana while flying."

"Hi, I'm your slave, Alzi."