Chapter 298 – Ready for the Wedding

** Alzi ***

The maid leads us to a room with a bunch of mirrors, with Yuki tagging along.

"Here you are, Lady Alzi," the maid says. "Aurora, just let us know when Lady Alzi is ready. We'll have a few maids stationed here to show the women the way if they're ready at different times."

"Thank you," Aurora says. "My Lady, how would you like us to help? We can handle your lovers while Shyla and your Mother get you ready, or we can help you."

"Shyla, do you have a dress for me? And Sarania, are you ok with taking care of the kids? I'm sorry to leave all of the work to you right now. I'll probably need more maids." Should I keep Esiyae alive so that she can be a maid? I'll need to figure out childcare, as I can't have Sarania doing it all.

"Of course, my Lady," Shyla says. "I can get you into your dress and help your lovers with their clothing as well. I also have some jewelry they can all use."

"Thank you. Aurora, just help them, then. Mommy, can you do my hair?" I ask. I know she said she would do it, but my hair is down to my knees now. Maybe I should cut a few inches off.

"Yes, my baby," Mommy says. "Come on, I've been wanting to do this since you were born. I hope you didn't go too extreme with this design of yours. You know how to get creative with them."

"I tried to keep the braids simple," I mumble as Mommy drags me over to a mirror, and Aurora organizes the rest of my lovers. I hope she's giving them a bit of makeup as well, since we have a chance to be really pretty now. "You don't have to get it perfect. Just a single braid would be fine as long as you are the one to do it."

"I can do more than that. Don't write this old woman off like that," Mommy says. "Shyla, can we see Alzi in the dress?"

"Yes," Shyla says. "Alzi, I know you've told me this a few times, but I just want to be sure, so forgive me. Do you still want to dress that way?"

"You can say it. Mommy knows my classes, and yes," I say. "I'll present myself as the Champion of Fertility and Sex. And let the world see all the other marks the Goddesses wish for me to wear."

"As you wish, my Lady. Then, here we go. I went with white due to the number of Goddesses blessing you."

"Isn't that for those who are pure?"

"No. Well, yes, my Lady. But not in the way you are thinking about it. You have so many Goddesses that have marked you that anyone who says you aren't pure is just stupid, and the Goddesses will strike them down. Something you should honestly try to rely on if you have no way out of a fight. Now, time for the switch."

Shyla's practiced hands have me in my new dress in just a few minutes. Only the tattoos from Space are hidden by the dress, yet everyone will see all the kids in my belly with the dots. And Power's strange circle, Luck's cards, Destruction's mushroom, and Contract's paper all have a window in my dress. And I'm sure Dragon has her mark hidden on my horns. Will the other Goddesses give me more as I look to make them into allies? I'm sure the divine realm will soon be filled with large bellies. Hopefully, they all chip away at Nature's and Justice's power. I would love to see their stupid war strip them of all their extra power.

"I like it," I say, giving it a small twirl. The white dress reaches my knees and flares up a bit when I spin.

"Now, my little rainbow," Mommy says. "Do you have the design?"

"Here," I say, pulling it from my tattoo.

"That is a lot of braids," Mommy says, staring at the page. "A lot of braids. I'll see what I can do, baby."

Her hands get to work, picking a random section of my hair to start braiding it. For the most part, I just had it done up in rings, braided rings. I think the loops will look nice, and hopefully, they'll look good in real life and not just on paper. Maybe Shyla can help me fix it if it does look stupid. She should be thinking about how to do my hair if she wants to be my concubine.

"Your hair is so soft," Mommy says. "It may work against us in trying to get your hair to stay in place."

"I have some pins to keep it in place," Shyla says. "Just let me know if you need them. I'll start helping your lovers, my Lady."

"Thank you."

Mommy slowly makes her way across my back, the loops taking form. The circles don't take shape like I thought they would, since I really thought my hair was more rigid than it is. But it still looks cute, I think; I even dared to give myself a little crown with my braids. I was going to take that out, but now it fits me. And the shifting color and sheer volume of hair should be enough to make it look impressive.

"That is a beautiful smile, baby," Mommy says. "It has been too long since I've seen you smile that much."

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you, too, baby. We're going to work hard to make it so you can smile like that all the time."

"I've waited for this day for so long."

"It's been a long time coming, and I think this will work out well. I was worried, but your hair seems to like me."

"I would have to chop it off if it didn't," I say. "It would never be your fault if it looked bad. But I like it."

"I'm not even halfway, baby. Try to keep still."

"Yes, Mommy." I do my best to stay still. Maybe I should've asked for a chair, but Mommy has to bend far enough down already with me standing up. I really should cut a bit off so it'll be easier to manage, as my hair has started to touch the floor when I sit in some of the shorter chairs. Just a bit to help Mommy, though Aurora and Shyla are probably going to do most of the styling, I imagine. Hopefully, they have some ideas for it or some magic to handle it.

I need to ask Aurora about her Skills and probably Shyla, too. Aurora did something strange with the Duchess and her maid, and I have no idea what Shyla can do, really. How did I not think of that before?

"That's cute," Akhae says. "I've never thought of trying to do something like that before. But I've never had that much hair."

"Yes, I think the shifting color in her hair is what really sells it," Mommy says. "It creates such a beautiful effect. Are you done getting ready?"

"Yes, dear," Akhae says. "Even this is too much for me. I'm a simple girl, it seems."

"The nobles do like to play it up," I say. "If you find an excuse to miss their parties, take it."

"We have to go to at least one to see what it is like," Mommy says. "You'll help us through it, right?"

"I hardly know anything about them; Aurora can teach you about them," I say. "I get treated differently at them, being a man."

"It differs?"

"Yes. The women just want to take my seed as fast as possible at the parties," I say, feeling a little shiver run through me, which annoys Mommy. "I hate that feeling."

"Hmph, who did that to you? I'll fix it," Mai says. She's in a pitch-black dress, like the midnight sky during a new moon. Her tail has a few gold rings near the end. I don't know how they're staying in place as she flicks her tail around, but it looks beautiful, and her sharp, red eyes really stand out against the deep black. "I mean, I'll get Esmeralda to fix it."

"One was her wife. Her wife already said she would fix that," I say. "But she did explain her reasoning for doing it that way, and I can hardly blame her for it, so don't get too mad at Esmeralda, as I did make that deal myself. Another was some dryad noble. She was in some weird heat thing and passed out the second she got my semen, getting me in trouble. Though I should almost thank her for that, since she got me out of the party, and I instead got to sleep with Isda on my lap."

"That is the short girl with golden hair, right?" Akhae asks.

"Yes," I say. "I got her pregnant at the brothel. Apparently, she's an angel of Sex."

"Alzi, you're moving too much."

"Sorry."

"It seems we are causing Armirynth some issues," Akhae says. "Alzi, dear, we'll be waiting in the church so that we won't keep distracting your Mother. Thank you, Alzi, for taking us in. We care deeply for your Mother. We're sorry for ignoring those feelings for so long."

"Thank you for helping her," I say. "I was worried about what would happen to her when I was taken."

"You are the one we all have to worry about, baby," Mommy says. "Now, for real this time, keep your head facing forward. You can admire my reflection for now."

Akhae gives Mommy a quick kiss on the cheek and walks out, with Ilka joining her. Yuki is staring at me from across the room, brushing her tails.

"Come over," I say, careful to keep looking straight ahead.

"I- Yes, Alzi," Yuki says, letting go of her tail.

"Were you lying about why you didn't free me? You've already got your marriage, so tell me the truth."

"No, how was I supposed to know the Queen was stupid enough to let a Champion sit in a brothel undetected for years? I thought she was just letting you stay there because you were giving out kids. The Queen hates me and would find any reason she could to kick me out or punish me. I thought the Mistress would tell the Queen, and she'd force me to leave you there. If I had known, I would've bought you and freed you immediately. I want nothing more than to be your partner."

Partner. Not pet or slave. "If I find out you're lying to me..."

"I'm not that stupid. It would ruin everything for me. This is the truth. I didn't think I would be able to get you and everyone you love into my realm. I thought she would block the sale. I did everything I could to keep you from getting sold. I did the best I could under my assumption that the Queen knew. I'm sorry I was so wrong."

"Dear, she did work hard to get all of us the right to marry you. Give her a little grace."

"Fine," I say. "You'd better make sure the breeding agreement is fair for me."

"That is my job as a member of your house, my love," Yuki says, her tails flaring out behind her. "I'm at your service to help fulfill your dreams."

"You aren't a full member yet," I say. "You're just marrying Elora for now. I'll need more from you."