Chapter 221 – Meetings With Mothers

I woke up at the bottom of the pile. My maids were nice enough to let my lovers get closer to me, but Aurora was still close enough to wake me up, stirring the rest of the women.

"Sorry, my Lady, but you will have to get ready for the party tonight soon," Aurora says. "I wanted you to be able to spend some of the morning with your Mother and Mai. I will be back soon."

Well, at least getting up early this morning is for a better reason than having to suffer through lessons.

Aurora and Shyla squirm their way out of the tangle of bodies. They dress quickly and bow themselves out as I give Mai and Mother morning kisses.

"Are you two hungry?" I ask.

"Something small would be nice," Mai says. "I don't know how you managed with just one meal with the sizes of your pregnancies."

"I got used to it, I guess," I say. "I should probably go to the door to ask for some food. I don't want to yell in your ears."

They give their version of yes and roll off of me, freeing me up to go ask Aurora or Shyla for some food. I don't know what they normally serve for breakfast, but hopefully, they can make it quickly.

"Hey, Aurora, can we have something for breakfast?" I ask through the door.

"Yes, my Lady," Aurora answers. "Would you like fruit or something to be made?"

"Fruit would be fine," I say, glad it will be quick.

Turning around, I find my lovers already putting on their robes and sitting back down at the table.

"Alzi, will you be alright?" Mommy asks.

"Nobody seems to want me dead. I just need Yuki to keep pushing for us to get married," I say. "If I can get that, I should be fine. I'll just be forced to have sex with more people. I can handle that."

"Ok. I just remember how excited you were when your affinity was announced. You were a ball of energy running around talking about how you were going to help everyone. I just want to see my baby get back to being so happy."

"I will," I say, moving to join them. I'll have to be naked as my maids forgot to give me clothing. Not that I really care. "If the Princess keeps me safe, I'll just have to heal people. I think. They haven't explained how this army thing works. She just said I would be in charge of the healers. I don't think their duties include the bedroom, but I am a slave."

"I'm sure they won't force you into their beds. They will be too stressed and tired from the fighting," Mai says. "Hopefully, it will be a good opportunity for you to learn how to be a healer. You're already great at helping others; it would be nice to have your mana assist you."

"I hope so," I say. I'm sure there is some hidden duty for me. They wouldn't pass up the chance to fuck their whore.

"Food is here," Aurora calls, pushing in the cart. "Just a few simple things that still grow in the winter."

*** Armirynth ***

"Miss, can I try talking with the Princess?" I ask the maid.

"We can try," the maid says. "But she has a meeting before the party, so we must move quickly."

She picks up the pace, not caring about the pregnant women following her. But it is a Princess I am trying to talk to.

It's a short walk to the Princess's room. Should I try calling her daughter? Maybe she will give a simple commoner more thought, or would she yell at me for that?

Take it slow.

"Come in," the Princess answers to the maid. Mai gives me a small smile, and I enter.

"Thank you for seeing me, your Highness," I say, doing my best to bow. I was hoping Yuki would teach me, but she has never been around long enough for that. Hopefully, my pregnancy covers for my lack of knowledge.

"There is no need to be so formal. I am married to your lovely daughter," the Princess says. "You can use Elora or daughter or daughter-in-law if you wish. All are appropriate."

"Thank you," I say, rising back up.The Princess is in the middle of putting on an elaborate red dress. Rubies cover her large chest, which rivals my daughters'. Her blonde hair has been done up to almost look like a crown.

I would love to braid my daughter's hair. Her silky, long hair has waited so long for it.

"Is there something you need?" Elora asks. "I hate to have our first meeting so short and pressured, but I have a busy day today."

"I understand. I'm just a commoner," I say. "It is about my daughter. She. She is not well. I'm worried for her health and sanity. The brothel was worse on her than I thought it would be, and she was meant to be back home with me soon. If too much more happens to her, I don't think she will survive the collar coming off."

"I am working on that," Elora says, her maids working in a flurry around her. "She was not meant to have anything bad happen to her in my care. But things happen. I would have you nearby, but it is not wise to have a pregnant woman with no mana marching to war. That may force you into labor and then the kids... I'm sorry; I really wish I could bring you along or just stop the war. The house is working to keep her together. I promise."

"She is breaking down, even with the collar," I say. "She only did that at the brothel when she was under a lot of stress or the day after she was raped. She is more than a month along with her child, so the rape hasn't happened recently unless you are letting others rape her."

"There was a lot going on, and she met her children from the previous pregnancy. Then, I had to take her away from her kids when she wasn't ready. I hate this, Mother. I hate those moments. It pains me to see her hurt and know that I was part of the cause," Elora says. "I have removed almost all her commands, and she knows that she can put a stop to any sexual act that is happening. I will make sure she is supported, and if you have any suggestions, I welcome you to share them. I want Alzi to be happy and healthy."

"Just keep her safe," I say. "If you can, get her to spend time with friends and watch her stress."

"I will do what I can. Is there anything else?" Elora asks. Her maids start to grab a few fancy boxes.

"Will you marry me and the others she loves?" I ask. "My daughter."

"That is a very bold question to ask, Mother," Elora says, the maids pausing for a moment. "A commoner asking to be engaged to a Princess?"

"Alzi was basically engaged to Yuki before she married you. In fact, this is really just a Princess asking if she may become engaged to another Princess," I say. Oh, please don't kill me. "Princess Yuki is among those I'm asking for."

"Options are being explored," Elora says. "There are many things I'm trying to help Alzi with. She is an important and well-loved member of my harem, and there is almost nothing I wouldn't do to make her happy. I am glad I had a chance to meet with you, but I really must get going. I am to see the Queen; otherwise, I would push it back to keep talking with you. Sorry. The Queen and Alzi are just about the only women I can't push off for you."

"No, no. Thank you for letting me talk with you. If I said something wrong, please do not take it out on my baby. I didn't mean to offend you."

"Do not worry. You did not offend me. Just be careful when talking to royalty. Most are not like Yuki and me," Elora says.

I don't push my luck, bowing myself out.

"Ready," the maid asks.

"Yes."

*** Elora ***

That was just great. Why did my first meeting with her have to be when I had no time and was surrounded by maids? I could have told her yes to the marriage proposal.

Maybe they wouldn't have minded if I had said yes anyway, but if one of them drank a bit too much and shared it, I would be in too much trouble.

Fuck! Mother, you'd better have good news to share, or I'm going to be a real bitch at this party.

"Your Highness, is there anything else you wish for?" Sedriresa asks.

"No, I need to get going," I say. I hope they don't push Alzi into wearing large heels. I would love to be the tallest of the group and for Alzi to start to take it easy. Should I ask her to limit the size of her heels?

The Queen. Worry about the Queen.

I walk out of the room and head towards the front. Armirynth's carriage should have already left. Should I drag her back tonight and marry her? Alzi said she has an affinity, so why didn't I ask her what it was?

I'll just send her a letter if it's something I can make use of at home. Then, when we get a break in the war, I'll pull those three dragons into the harem. The other two can be home guards or something. That'll work.

Mother was nice this time around and gave my house a manor close to the castle. After just a few minutes, I'm making my through the stone halls.

"Princess Elora," one of her maids calls out as I enter one of her studies.

"Welcome back, dear," Mother says from behind her desk. "You couldn't protect her a little better?"

"Fuck you," I say. "You gave me that damn manor. I was working on getting the tunnels fixed, but I didn't think they used the same plans as the other houses that fucker worked on. I killed so many invaders, and even Alzi killed several. Aurora got two. That is not my fault, and yet I blame myself enough, so fucking make this useful. I was talking with her mother, who shows Alzi a lot more love than you have ever shown me."

"Alzi is a fucking CHAMPION! Not some random man or breeder," Mother says, leaning over her desk. "You are making her happy, right? You are fixing your mistake, right? Or do I need to step in?"

"I am working on it," I say, sitting down. "Are you forgetting that I was raped too? I was beaten, tortured, and raped right next to my husband. If you wanted, you could've taken Alzi from the brothel, but you didn't know she was a champion and were too busy spoiling Irlo to care about her then."

"I know. I trained you to be tough, and Alzi is a broken-down slave," Mother says. "I've made a deal with Yuki. If Yuki gets the traitors, she'll get to marry you with a few other women. Keep Alzi nice and safe until then. Once that happens, you'll have the perfect pair to guard Alzi."

"THAT IS THE BEST YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR DAUGHTER?! I am hurting, too. You couldn't spare a minute to comfort me or show you love me? No, you're just telling me that you're breaking yet another rule. You don't get to make deals for my house!"

"This wouldn't be happening if you could keep your husband safe and happy. You should be happy to pick up Yuki and Nakuma," Mother says. "I taught you better than this. War first, and then our feelings. Do you think I want to talk about this? I would love to wrap you up in a hug and cry with you for a bit, but we have business to take care of. I let my feelings control things with Irlo, and now my court is a mess. I will not have it slip further."

"I'll keep my husband safe. Is there any route that doesn't include a war?"

"No, you know we've already declared war," Mother says, slowly getting out of her chair. "War is the only option. We have a dead Princess in our hands and kids with a royal dragon that is a champion. I wouldn't be letting that Princess take any of the kids anyway. Now, promise to take care of Alzi, and the first chance you get to remove that collar, you do it. We need her to stay. Best case, the Kitsunes run off with her, and we have to work out a deal with them. Worst case, the Dragons kill and enslave us all. I would prefer you leave Alzi behind with me."

"You want me to leave the best fucking healer in the Queendom behind? No, fuck that. I'll give her guards. Tell Lyrei not to fuck me over, and Alzi will be perfectly safe."

"Elora, I can't have my mother and grandmother leave the capital," Mother says, taking a deep breath. "I have to worry about the Dragons and the missing Phoenix Princesses. And I think there is another Kitsune hiding in the capital. They have to stay here to defend against that with my extra wives. We don't have the bodies to protect Alzi in a war."

"I do. I'll be with her."

"You're pregnant, and if you can fight, you'll have to take to the battlefield."

"I can fight. They won't get past me and my family. I promise that if Alzi is taken, it will be Lyrei's fault. That will be the only way they can get Alzi. I won't have you interfering with me anymore."

"Fine. You'd better not lose her. Now come here and give Mommy a hug."