Chapter 297 – Deals Signed

*** Alzi ***

By the time we arrived at the castle, Mai's little ears were soaked with my tears. I don't think anyone is going to have a very fun wedding night now, but I'll get better. I hope.

"Mommy," I say. "Do you think it'll get better?"

"Yes, my baby," Mommy says. "You're a strong woman, and you have plenty of help. We're all here for you, baby."

"Thank you," I say just before the carriage door opens and reveals the castle.

An elven maid is standing just outside the carriage, ready to help us out. "The Queen has had the contracts prepared. We just need you to sign, and then we can begin the wedding," the maid says. "I'll show you the way."

"Thank you," I say. I hope Sarania is a fast reader, because I really can't push the wedding off. If I do that, someone will come and take me, I know it. There has to be some Goddess still looking for a way to take my Mommy from me, and I can't let that happen.

The maid moves swiftly once everyone is out of the carriages, leading us through the grand halls of the castle. Will I really live here? If their little plan works and I become the ruler of three realms, which should I live in? Space can help me travel, but I need a home.

"Here we are," the maid says, giving us a short bow. Just the two Queens are inside. I guess I'll have to use threats to get Shimmer to behave. I would love to take a warm bath with her and maybe with Mommy and her wives. But I guess they'll be my wives. I just hope they aren't uncomfortable with all of this.

"Welcome, Lady Alzi," the Queen says, tossing a packet of paper. Sarania catches it and starts to read. "The basic agreement is that for two years, you will be married to Elora and her wives. You'll meet with them all at least once a month. Then, twice a month, you will meet with up to three women, more intimately. There is no need for sex; just meet with them in a small group so that you can interact with them. In return, my Queendom will help you fight the forces of Nature and the Dragon Realm. The Kitsunes and the Phoenixes will help us in the fight. Yuki and Nakuma will marry Elora and be part of the agreement that way. Shimmer is already married to Elora."

"That is all here," Sarania says. "She does say the negotiations for the next Queen will be decided after the war, but you will get your Aunt as a slave. Is that ok with you, my Mistress?"

"Yes," I say. I don't care about anyone else in that realm, and I'm sure Zarzi can help me out if I'm missing something about it.

"Then all that is missing is the brothel owners," Sarania says. "What of them?"

"I can't put anything down in writing about breaking those deals. You'll have to take my word that they can be slipped away and given to you. The nobles will riot if I do it any other way. Plus, you can always help Elora get my throne and force her to do it yourself."

"Fine," I say. That does cover everything that makes sense to include in the contract. Two years is a long time for me not to like them now that they don't have control, and they'll only care about making me happy. I'll have to be careful with who I pick out if I find any woman that I truly don't want to marry. "Sign it first. Then I'll sign."

"Very well," the Queen says. "Do you know how to sign your name?"

"Aurora, can you help me?"

"Yes, my Lady," Aurora says.

"Then let us begin," the Queen says, taking out a pen. The papers fly back through the air, landing on her desk. She just marks the last page before sending it back.

"Here, my Lady," Aurora says, holding out a pen. "We'll move slowly, and I'll tell you the direction to move your hand, ok? I can't touch your hand for this to count."

I'll need to convince my daughter to change that rule or make this simpler.

"Go to the last page and find the empty line at the bottom. Yes, right there. Put your pen down, a bit above the line, about as high up as the top of the Queen's name. Yes, then..."

Fuck, that was painful. The strokes had to be in the right order so they wouldn't smudge the letters, and I only learned how to recognize the letters, not write them. It's really annoying that Aurora was right about me needing to keep practicing. She really was trying to help me with those stupid lessons. But now everyone has to kiss right between my tits. I think Fertility was having too much fun with her dryads during her pregnancy if this is how I can get our daughter to enforce the contract.

Will destruction require rolling around in bed for her to destroy something for her Champion, then?

"Um, I need you to kiss my mark for this to work," I say.

"Well, that is new," the Queen says. "But if that's what you need."

It's not like she hasn't seen me naked. Shyla rolls my dress down, revealing my daughter's mark. The Queen doesn't wait to kiss it, which causes it to emit a golden light.

"I'll leave you and Kiyomi alone," the Queen says.

"No need. The only promise is the marriage, and then we will discuss kids after we deal with Nature and Justice. I don't think that needs a contract, as we aren't promising you anything besides fighting."

Should I get that in writing?

"We want that in writing," Sarania says. "You can use it to force us to talk about helping you with kids afterward in return."

"That is fine," I say. I should help the women who'll be fighting for me.

The Kitsune Queen throws over a single piece of paper, her name already written down. "There."

Shit, maybe I should've just accepted her deal without this. "Alright, my Lady. Dot over the line, then..."

Why does everything have to be so hard for me? Whatever, I now have the second piece of golden paper and enough allies for the war.

"Shimmer?" I say. "If you fail to help me..."

"I know," Shimmer says. "The Phoenixes are happy to fight the Dragons."

"Fine," I say.

"See you at the wedding," the Queen says. "I am truly sorry about how this turned out. I failed you, and this isn't how our relationship should've been. I know I'm the cause of some of your pain, and this is just the first step of fixing that."

"Where can I get ready?" I ask. "I need to get my hair done up."

"Of course. My maid will show you the way. I'm glad you and your lovers are finally going to be together."

Sure, you are.

*** Elora ***

Mother really did it. I have a chance to marry Alzi. I just need to not fuck it up this time. I can do that. I can be her little dog. It was so nice having her fingers combing through my hair.

"Your Highness," a maid says. "Please, follow me."

"Why? I need to get to my harem and tell them about the marriage and the deals."

"No, they already know and are moving in. You should as well," the maid says.

"Ok," I say. I wish I still had Sedriresa around. Azula De Vil and Esiyae wouldn't share what happened with her or if she is even alive right now. I was hoping Yuki would have her, but she just had the fucking bitches. Why did she get forgiven so easily? She watched Alzi get tortured, raped, and turned into a breeding bitch and did nothing to stop it. I tried to save her. I tried to do everything correctly. I tried so hard to make her life better.

So why wasn't I forgiven as easily as she was?

The maid leads me to my old room, where Rosemary is standing beside my bed.

"Royal Healer," I say. "Is there something you need from me?"

"No, I'm just healing your maid. She's been through a lot, but she'll make it out alright. Yuki gave her several healing potions already, and they seemed to have healed most of the issues."

"Your Highness," Sedriresa groans. "What happened?"

"Alzi divorced me after a war. And now, my Mother made a deal for me to marry Alzi again. I just need to not mess it up this time."

"I've missed a lot," Sedriresa says. Mother Rosemary steps to the side so I can look at my maid. "You're pregnant, even. What has happened while I'm gone?"

"I don't know," I say, shuffling over to my bed. "But- I don't know anymore. I fucked everything up."

"Yes, we did. I'm sorry I didn't help you at all. I have a lot to apologize for as well. Sorry, I should've been around to help you through this. I didn't expect them to come at me like that. But- Oh, it's been that hard, has it?"

I fall beside her and pull her into a hug. "Yes. I just want to make her happy, yet everything I do fails."

"I see. I see."

"I'll leave you two be," Mother Rosemary says. "Don't strain yourself, Sedriresa; another war is coming."

"Thank you. Now, Elora, this is the time to put the right foot forward, ok? We're going to make the most of this second chance and do it correctly this time. I'm sorry for failing you before. This time, I'll be there for you, every step of the way."

"Ok," I mumble.

"We can rest for a bit," Sedriresa says, letting me cry into her shoulder. "Tomorrow, we'll start working on how to understand Alzi and what she wants. Then we can work on improving your relationship."