Chapter 281 – Freed. For Now

"What do you think you are doing here, demon?" Love says, her body glowing with power. But I ignore her and look over at yet another newcomer.

She has the same black void as Sarania for hair, flowing down her back in a ponytail, contrasting with her pale white skin. Muscular, but not a warrior, not enough definition for that. A soft face hiding the sharp edges ready to cut down everyone in the room. But her eyes ignore them all, focusing on me.

Black, inexplicable marbles that are staring at me.

"My daughter is Alzi's servant," the Demoness says. "Yet she is not among those in this room. So, I took the hint and came myself. Clearly, with this many Goddesses here, this is meant for the powerful, while the two in the marriage are so outclassed that their wishes, desires, and love are pointless. I am here to give my view on these two's marriage."

"You are not welcome here."

"Yet, here I stand. This is your domain, 'Love,' so kick me out if I am unwelcome," the Demoness chuckles. "Kick me out, you pathetic excuse of a Goddess."

"NO, YOU ARE THE PATHETIC BEING. GOING AGAINST THE VERY BEING OF THE WORLD!"

"No, you are. Marriage? What does marriage have to do with Love? It is a simple act, a tying of people together. Love is so much more than that, yet none of it. Love can be one-sided, lacking the care of one party. Warped, leaving everyone alone and afraid. Love is not marriage. Yet here you are, lording over it. Pathetic," the Demoness says with a simple wave. She steps towards me, Fertility's arm clenching around me. The Demoness's black dress shimmers blood red as she moves. She gives me a smile that curves at the end. "Hello, Alzi. I hope my daughter is serving you well. My line has much to do to earn your forgiveness, and I plan for them to earn it."

"Your line?"

"Yes, Zogloraz. Sarania, I suppose, should have at least hinted at it. But that is not for now. I just promise they will make up for the damage they've inflicted. And not in a Goddess of Justice kind of way. No, they'll give a true repayment to you," the Demoness says, pulling me into a hug. Her body is warm and gentle as she peels me away from Fertility. The Goddesses refuse to fight her, letting me go. "I am here to help. There is something I wish for you to do for me. But that is only if it is safe for you to do so. Sarania knows and will bring it up if it is safe. You can refuse, and I will handle it, so do not feel pressured to help me. It is only if you can safely do it, want to do it, and it will not cause you harm."

"Malralloz," Fertility says. "I would like you to release my Champion."

"Hmph. Why should I? You haven't done any better for her than me. I have the power to force the dumbass holding this party to let Alzi go free. You can only ask the idiot to do the right thing. In fact, that is what I should do. Love, let Alzi go free. How many of you have marked Alzi yet failed to do anything for her? Seven, yet only two are truly supporting her."

"Demon, we have beaten you back before," Love says. "Do you think there is anywhere that Nature can't find you? What is going to happen then? Alzi will have no one to protect her and her lovers. It'll be funny watching Justice and Nature beat you up."

"Back then, I was afraid to kill you. I killed one of you Goddesses before, and then the land down below was split. But now. Now, Fertility is doing her job and building out the Goddesses. I think I can kill a few of you and let her make replacements. Maybe that would be a good thing. We'll see if we can get a Goddess of Love that actually lords over just her domain instead of this power trip of a divorce."

"Do not threaten me."

"You have already shown you lack the power to kick me out of your domain. I am but one demon, with just a few children down below, and yet you have failed to kill me. I'm stronger than all of you, and now you are divided. I could go around killing you all as I please. Now, I have given my piece. Does anyone else wish to go against me?"

The Demoness does let me go, shifting to the middle of the room, a sword now at her hip and a large pointy hat on her head.

"You could kill a number of Goddesses," Dragon says. "That is true. But not all of us. We are in a stalemate mainly because we Goddesses don't know how to work together, or maybe we are incapable of truly working together. Do not confuse that with pure weakness. I know you don't; otherwise, you would've killed at least a few more of us over the years. Love, I do agree with the Demoness. Make a ruling, and make it correctly. I think the decision is clear, despite the side I stand on."

Royalty has Elora wrapped up in a hug behind the other desk. Love is leaning over her own, ignoring all the other Goddesses and staring down the black void of a demon.

"Love, we don't have all day."

*** Shimmer ***

Well, Mother is going to kill me after this kid comes out of me. We are supposed to be frozen when the Goddesses take us up, but I swear Elora's face looks sad. I just wonder why it's taking so long. Time should be instant when they go to the divine realm, so this must be a serious fight.

Elora had better not be tossing out any chance we have at getting Alzi to remarry us. I would like to see my kid grow up.

Her pocket mirror flicks up to the table, opening up to the frozen Princess.

Should I answer it? It couldn't hurt. I scoot Elora over and plop down a second chair, and then the mirror shows Queen Yumanea.

"Hello, Your Royal Highness," I say. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Ritual?"

"Yes."

"That idiot."

"It was a group effort. Can't let her take all the credit for this blunder. Should be getting the official answer soon, but no matter what it is, we won't be happy."

"Make sure Alzi doesn't run off. She is still a citizen of my Queendom. The pregnancy isn't letting you hide very well."

"I hate to make this a competition, but I knew you were pregnant well before you found out about my identity. You have a plan?"

"Yes, none of your business, spy. Tell Elora to message me when she wakes up. Push to have Alzi join me in the capital as soon as possible. The war is over, but the armies are still standing. So use the normal declarations."

"Very well, but I doubt Elora will be in any shape to have a conversation with you."

"I don't care. The news I'm getting requires everyone to move quickly to protect Alzi."

*** Alzi ***

"Love, say the correct choice, or I will see if Miss Stupid Dragon here is correct about me killing a few of you," the Demoness says. I should start using her name.

"Fine," Love says, slumping into her chair. "I'll let the divorce go through. Now, get out!"

With a wave of her hand, I'm back in the small room, the Priestess staring at me.

"My Mistress," Sarania says. "Are you ready to leave?"

"Yes," I say. "But where are we going to stay?"

"With the army," Sarania says, pulling me out of the chair. "We can heal some women. We could run off to the capital, but I'm sure Elora will call you into her army immediately so she can keep some control over you. If she is smart, it will just be to keep you in the Queendom. If she is stupid, she'll try to keep acting like you are her slave."

"I see. The army would be good. I can heal some of them. I owe them that."

"This way, my Mistress."

*** Fertility ***

"Space, we need to talk," I say.

Space doesn't say anything but warps us to the edge of Love's domain. An annoyed look on her face is pointed in my direction.

"We just gave Alzi a false sense of hope."

"Yes," I sigh. "But now, she'll get what she wants. Royalty will have no choice but to bend to her whims. Dragon's wish wouldn't go far enough for me. I need Alzi to be offered women who will truly protect her. Elora, Shimmer, Nakuma, and Geta aren't enough for me. Two of them are pregnant, another only has eyes for someone else, and the last is backed by a Goddess who won't care if Geta fails. They'll have to give Alzi everything to keep their status, even if it will be in name only. I have flashes of the monsters I birthed back then. But what will they be like now?"

"You have to break the news."

"I need you to do that. I don't have a way to contact her before it starts."

"You won't stop me from carrying any of Alzi's children, or her, mine."

"Thank you," I say, looking back at the annoying bitch.

*** Elora ***

I failed. Shimmer said I would, but I thought- I was stupid. I am stupid. Useless. Fucking idiot. Pathetic bitch who should've run off to the border and played soldier like the good little dumbass that I am. Let Mother call me back to the capital when she needs a good little soldier to show off to her nobles.

"Elora!" Mother shouts.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," I say. Let your instincts drive this. She drilled them into you before you could even count to a hundred. I could march better than I could spell. Let them do everything; don't embarrass yourself even more.

"So, you let the Champion divorce you."

"A demoness came. I didn't have a chance," I say. Stick to the facts, and keep it brief. The Queen doesn't have time to waste on her lowly soldiers.

"I see. I will have to talk to the temples about her showing up. Call Lady Alzi back into your army as a healer. And bring her to me tomorrow. I've received a message from Yuki and Royalty that promises to fix this mess. This was never going to be pretty, but I just hope we can limit the bloodshed."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

"Cut that out. I'm your Mother, working as your Mother right now. The war is over. The enemy Queen has been captured with her harem. You have the mercenary. Come back, and let Mother fix your relationship. It seems Alzi prefers a Mother's touch, anyway."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

"Shimmer, keep her from doing anything drastic. You have permission to bind her if needed. I need my daughter to come to me alive and well tomorrow."

"Yes, Queen Yumanea."

"Bold. I expect you to swear loyalty to me soon if we don't marry after that. Goodbye, dears."

I give her the salute, and then my head slams onto the desk. "Get someone to give the order to Lady Alzi."

"I've already sent it out. The second she leaves the Temple, she will be directed to the army to heal some of the women. I'm sure Alzi already wants to do that," Shimmer says. "Now, dear. I told you this would happen. You didn't push her, did you?"

"No. I promised her change."

"Good," Shimmer says. I hear her footsteps moving to my side. A soft, warm hand rubs my back. "It is ok to cry. Only your wife is here."

"I failed. I had everything I wanted, and I tripped over myself every step of the way."

"Yes, we failed from the start, really. We had plenty of chances to fix everything, and we stumbled, trying to force Alzi to see it our way instead of just seeing things as she does. We will have another chance. And when that time comes, we'll just have to listen to what she says and do that."

"Why would we get another chance?"