Chapter 222 – Starting a Party of War

*** Alzi ***

I watched Mommy and Mai leave. And I'm missing them already. There go three more kids that I don't know when I'll get to see again, along with two women I actually love and care about.

"My Lady," Shyla says. "You will see them again. Right now, we need to figure out what you are going to wear. I have two dresses: one for short heels and one for large heels. Which would you like? Due to your pregnancy, you have a choice in heels."

"Big, I guess." I don't know if I should really keep going with this 'dress as a whore thing,' but I can sit down and think it through later. Right now, I can show off what the Princess has bought.

"How big?" Shyla asks. A red dress starts floating behind her.

"Six or seven should be fine," I say. "I am pregnant."

"We will go with six, my Lady," Shyla says, her mana cleaning me off. "Now, my Mother is planning on doing the same makeup as usual, so we can get started on your clothing. Do you want a wrap, bra, or nothing?"

"Nothing," I say. I thought the Princess would be choosing my clothing for me, what with this being a party with the Queen, not letting me wear a dress. "Why is the dress red?"

"The Queen has stated that a war has been declared, and all who are aiming for the throne are to show unity by wearing red," Shyla says. "Now, time for the stockings."

Shyla works quickly to get me clothed. The dress is a tight fit, my new skill speeding up this pregnancy even further, giving me a bump just big enough to start ruining the abs I just got, but it's nothing crazy like my last pregnancy. Honestly, I don't think I'll get that big this time around. Most won't even connect my belly with the beginning of a small life, but it does remind me of it.

My tits have been pushed up to frame my newest tattoo. The back of the dress is open to let my wings move freely. The skirt flairs out just a tad at my waist, ending just a few inches above my knees, showing off my long legs. Stocking to give them an even tone. Black heels to finish off the look. Then, a couple of golden bracelets and a simple necklace to try to peel some eyes off my collar.

"Ready for the makeup?" Aurora asks, already setting out the supplies.

"I guess." I move over to the desk, Aurora placing a mirror on it near the wall. The second I sit down, she starts, using just a bit of blush before she uses the swirling color to mimic my hair. She doesn't take long to put it all on.

Then she checks over my face, "Is there anything else you want?"

"This is fine," I say. It's nothing new, given what she put on me before.

"Then we should be done here," Aurora says. "You are likely the first one done. Besides Princess Elora, since she had a meeting with the Queen. You all will meet with Princess Elora at the ballroom."

"Great, so I could've had more time with my Mommy?" I say, looking at the tired woman in the mirror. If the Princess thinks a single day with Mai and Mommy will make me like her, she is stupid.

"No, my Lady. Your Mother wanted to talk with the Princess. The only time for that was now," Aurora says. "I am sorry that it was such a short time. The war is going to cause hardship for a lot of people. But you will be able to help end it faster..."

"NO!" I yell. "I will not give up my child. You..."

Aurora puts a finger over my lip to silence me. "That is not what I meant, my Lady. I'm sorry that I've failed you so much that you think I would ask you to do that. I would never dare to take your child away or even suggest such a thing. You will be in the army, helping to keep the women healthy and fighting. Listen to Lady Oriphusa, and do your best to think of how to improve her methods. The healthier the army, the stronger the army is. That is all I meant, my Lady. That child in your womb will be raised by you. None shall take it."

"Just like how I get to choose when and if I get pregnant," I say.

"Yes, if we lose the war, you will likely lose the child," Aurora says. "But short of that, it will be yours."

"The family's," I say.

"All kids are the family's. Yours, Isda's, and Princess Elora's child," Aurora says. "That is what a marriage is."

What a shit definition of marriage. It was meant to be people who love each other coming together.

"Whatever. Take me to the carriage or front or wherever we'll be waiting," I demand.

"Yes, my Lady."

I wasn't the first to be done. I guess I have to give Aurora something for that, though it could be because of our little fight.

Shimmer is the one who beat me, ready with a big, warm smile in her red dress that kind of hides her figure. She only gave me a quick hug before backing off again, giving me some space.

The rest joined us one by one, causing us to repeat the same pleasantries over and over before we walked through the castle grounds to a new building.

Just like with the previous party, I was put in the middle, with Vanya in front and Geta behind. The maids formed their own pack behind us.

The Princess is waiting for us in whatever room they call it—probably a waiting room, if they don't have some fancy name for it. Two more groups of women in red dresses have already gathered in the room by the time we arrive.

No men.

"Look, everyone," a woman calls out. "Her failures of wives have shown themselves."

"Lyrei, nobody besides your wives cares about this banter," another woman calls out.

"They are plunging us into another war," Lyrei says. "Little Elora getting her wish after all these years. Was this your goal? Was your thirst for blood this strong?"

"Dear," Isda says. "Let it go. Everyone knows that traitors are the cause of this war. The Queen provided the proof herself."

"Get ready, Princesses!" a maid calls out.

The group with the second woman moves to the large doors, Lyrei's group moving behind them. Elora gives us a quick look, peaking down at my heels, before moving us up to be third in line.

"The Princesses!" a voice booms out behind the door. The first group moves out to polite clapping.

"Princess Lyrei and her harem!" the voice booms again just as the last Princess steps through the door.

"Princess Elora and her harem!" calls us forward.

Past the doors, I get to see what a royal party looks like.

Maids in fancy outfits move around with drinks and snacks. Women in all kinds of dresses and shapes move about. I recognize more of them than I would like. Even a few that could be carrying my child in their womb. Others, I know for a fact, have my children at home.

We all move out to the middle of the room, a large orchestra starting up on the stage. If only Yuki was playing. Maybe I could convince her to marry the Princess.

The Princess takes my waist and gets in position to dance.

Why did no one think to warn me?

I quickly move my hands to the right positions and wait for her to take a step.

"Sorry, dear," the Princess says. "It will only be a few steps." The orchestra finishes the intro, and we step off into a dance. The pace is faster than what Aurora had me practice with, and that was almost a month ago. I guess I have to thank my stupid high-heel skill for keeping me from stumbling. I feel more than the usual amount of mana moving down to my feet.

We only cycle through a few moves before we end up in two lines, Elora's harem and some of the Princesses on one side. Lyrei's harem and the rest of the Princesses on the other."The Queen, Yumanea Elagwyn!" the voice calls out.

We don't do anything special, just clapping as the Queen walks between us and into the middle of the massive ballroom.

"Welcome, everyone," the Queen says. "I wish we could have gathered for a better reason than war. But the Queendom to the North thinks that it is fine to turn our nobles into traitors and steal our husbands and rape our Princesses. I thought we had taught them the last time that they should not disturb us. But it seems, even with Elora's continued lessons thereafter, that they believe they can poke us and remain unharmed. We will not give them an inch. They have much to pay us for, and I am counting on each of you to help lead our brave warriors in extracting that price. I plan to walk out with more than a few extra wives this time around."

The Queen turns to her daughters, eyeing Lyrei and Elora specifically. "We are all allies in this fight. A single mistake will cost us the lives we are meant to protect, and Greed and shortsightedness will make us lose everything. We all must work together to accomplish the task that lies before us, and there is plenty of glory to gain without causing trouble. The nobles and royals must provide a unified front to enforce the punishment the Edeozia Queendom deserves. Let the Goddesses watch over us."

The polite claps return as more women walk down the aisle we formed, and I quickly spot Nesh leading the pack. To her left is a dryad that feels familiar, and I think her pregnant belly is calling to me. But I can feel more than one belly in this room calling me, so it is hard to tell.

Besides, when would I have gotten the chance to get a member of the Queen's harem pregnant?

They all pair off when they reach the Queen, Elora turning to me again for another dance. I hope this one is just as quick. I really should've predicted they would have us dancing for everyone.

I flutter my wings in surprise when I feel a stronger family connection pass through me.

"Everything ok?" Elora whispers, not missing a step. Something I didn't manage.

"I think one of my daughters is around," I whisper. How? My oldest daughter should be about Nine, maybe ten? I don't know exactly, but that's not old enough to be in a room full of adults talking about war.

"Is the kid in a womb or already born?" Elora asks, a small smile creeping onto her face.

"Born," I say. "I've felt a number of kids in the womb already. I would hardly stutter for something as simple as that."

"I wonder why?" Is all the Princess says, returning our focus to the dance.