Chapter 346 – Marry Those you Love
Names. Names are going to be a problem. I have sixteen new names to remember in this nursery and more in my belly. I can never get a full count. Every time I try, I get the feeling that I'm missing some of the babies on the way. But that's probably just me realizing I'm going to be making more expectant mothers soon.
I need to give birth to the Goddess of names or memory or something if I'm going to keep all of them straight. Maybe the Goddess of babies would help? Just a few ideas, little one in my womb. I'm sure you're a Goddess, and mommy needs some help.
The kids and Fluvis hating her Mother got us out of a formal dinner. Instead, the maids brought us a simple dinner so we could keep watching the kids. Geta had to step out to play bodyguard, as Tsunis really wanted that dinner, but it's hard to know what all happened out there since Yuki can block out the sounds. Geta didn't say Tsunis was dead, so whatever. I'll have to help Salis get her revenge when I get the crown, since I think Tsunis is the worst Mother yet.I was their favorite toy. Climbing me, playing with my tail, poking my wings, and if any got near my horns, they would start chewing on them immediately. Oh, and they love to tug at my hair. Definitely the worst thing they've decided to do, but they're too cute for me to stay mad at them for long. I'll just have to figure out some bun that Shyla can put my hair up into so my head isn't getting yanked around by my kids.
And the few that can accidentally use magic are really cute, too. Sneezing and getting their sisters wet, or clapping their hands and getting papers to shift around. A great show, for now. But then I think back to what I would be like if I could use their mana as a kid, and well, I'm scared. Official and completely scared. Fluvis says there are some tricks to get kids to behave when they have mana, and she assured me they don't harm the child or make them hate us, which is a problem we both agree needs to be addressed. My harem has a number of women who don't have a good role model for how to be a parent, and I need to break the cycle. This world would be doomed if I didn't, with how many kids I would be failing at once.
"How about we go see my wives," Fluvis says. "The kids will be asleep for a while, and you should talk to them before the marriage. Shimmer and Geta can watch over the kids and let us know if any of them become hungry."
"Sure," I say. I'm a little scared of losing my distraction. My kids gave me something to focus on, but now... Now I can see the shadows closing in, the Mistress ready to jump out and drag me to a party.
I should've demanded that Nanoka come with us. She's the only one who hasn't stood by and watched me get taken or raped. Even Sarania has stood by and watched. She helped the best she could, but her best didn't stop it. Yuki...
"You're safe," Shyla whispers. "I know we've all failed you. But you are safe. Fluvis never let you get kidnapped, and she fought to bring you back, Your Highness. You can trust her, even if you can't trust the rest of us. Take a deep breath. She is going to show you why you can trust her."
Fluvis did fail me, though. I hardly even count it, but Lottie did jump me. But Fluvis had her pay me back. What does she have waiting for me?
"We'll check in on Estrella first," Fluvis says, taking me through her boat-filled halls. I take Petunia's arm, helping the old pregnant woman keep up with us, and to help keep the shadows at bay, with Shyla, Sarania, and my Shadow silently following us. Three S's. Should I make them a group? "Estrella? Are you decent?"
"She is ready for you," a maid calls back.
Fluvis enters first, checking to make sure the maid wasn't misunderstanding things, then she waves me in.
White. Everything is white.
"No. No. You said I would be safe! Not another one. I can't. No, no, no. Please, Mistress. I can't."
"Your Highness, this isn't a party. You're safe. The Mistress isn't here. Come on, let us get you out of here. Take deep breaths with me. Just like that. Perfect. Deep breaths, and focus on me. Focus on the voice of your maid. Everything is going to be alright."
Someone rubs my back as I'm set down, back in the hallway. Sarania craddles me in her bosom, while Shyla whispers in my ear, and hushed voices argue inside the room.
"I'm sorry," Fluvis says. "I didn't know. I haven't been to- Well, I've heard rumors about a floor in the district. Sorry, her room is meant to look like clouds. Would it be better for my wives to visit you in your room? I heard you asked for your room to be all black back at your house. Is that still true? I'll make sure there are plenty of lights and give you ways to turn on just the ones you need to have."
"Is black alright, Your Highness?" Shyla whispers.
"Yes."
"Then how about we go there and get you into something more comfortable? Then we can have Duchess Fluvis come by and see about her wives."
"Please."
"Of course, Your Highness," Shyla whispers, helping me to my feet.
The room is bright, despite the black paint. Even the corners are filled with light, leaving only the area under the furniture for the shadows to live.
"I cried over a room," I say, sitting down on the bed. "How did I freak out over a room?"
"The mind doesn't care about being rational, my Mistress," Sarania says. "It isn't your fault. It's a natural reaction, and there is nothing we can do about it."
"How about we get you into a simple dress and relax for a bit before going to the wedding? Are you still up for the marriage, Your Highness?" Shyla asks. "You can always call it off. Fluvis will understand. We'll work out another way for you to see your kids."
"It's fine. I just have to figure out how to handle her bedroom."
"You don't have to handle her room. She can come to your room or join you in another room, my Mistress," my Shadow says. "You are the headwife. They have to bend to your needs. Especially when you are building such a big harem, your wives will meet your needs, or they won't have to be paid any attention."
"Some of them, I care about," I say, letting Shyla strip me down. The dress she picked for me to switch into is a simple green sundress. Hopefully, Fluvis isn't intending for this wedding to be a fancy one.
"Then work together with them. The rest have to figure out how to get you to respond to them," my Shadow says. "You don't need to worry about everyone. You care more about the children than the wives, anyway. And they will be available without having to deal with the wife."
I'm glad to know she cared so much about her dead wives. I guess I already don't care about most of my wives.
"Alzi, are you feeling better?" Fluvis asks.
"I guess," I say.
"You can enter," Shyla says.
Fluvis and her wives step inside. Lottie is hiding behind Fluvis and Estrella.
"I'm sorry, Alzi," Estrella says.
"It's fine. I didn't know that would happen, either."
"We are sorry. But to move on to something that should help, I mentioned in the letter that Lottie's punishment would be completed, or at least the final part would start when you came. Lottie."
"Yes, dear," Lottie says, stepping past her wives. "Alzi, I am yours to do with as you please. My actions were wrong. I'm sorry; I had hoped to help, but I made it worse. I thank you for showing me mercy before. I'm now in your service."
"So, like Sarania?"
"Yes."
"Fine. Sarania's deal is that she will almost always be pregnant. You will join her in that regard. I don't need yet another woman following me around, and I can't have a wife be a maid. I'll be taking my Shadow's recommendation and creating an inner circle of women. I expect you to serve them as well."
"I didn't tell you that, my Mistress."
"You did. You said I had women I cared about that I should work with. Is that not an inner circle?"
"I suppose, my Mistress."
"Is that ok, Lottie?"
"Yes, my Mistress."
"Good. Shall we get married? We should go do that before I scare myself again."
"Gladly," Fluvis says. "Lottie, help our future wife up. Let her maids have a break for a bit."
"Let me help you, my Mistress."
...
I hope Love just lets us get married. I really don't want to meet that woman again. The only reason she would bring me up at this point would be for a child or to taunt me.
'Space, can you try to convince Fertility to have like a thousand kids at once or something?'
'I'll convince her to let me carry the kids. I doubt she'll take them all for you.'
'Thanks.'
I'll force that bitch to take any love she can find.
"Ready to go, Your Highness?" Shyla asks.
"Yes," I say.
We didn't go into any special room. I'm just in the last row of pews in the main hall. Fluvis worked to clear out the last few women from the temple so that the only attendees would be her sister and my wives and servants. I'll see if my Shadow joins me at the altar or stays behind. It'll also be interesting to see where she ends up tonight, but it may be best if she ends up in my bed to give me someone to hug. I didn't think Osanna was doing this much work to keep the shadows away. Another woman I should've dragged out here.
Slowly, I make my way up to the altar, doing my best not to pray that Love doesn't take me to her realm. Fluvis, Estrella, and Lottie are standing on one side, and the other side is waiting for me. The Priestess gives me a small smile.Eventually, I make it up there. The Priestess gives us a quick look and starts her short speech, probably wondering why I have an extra woman behind me. My Shadow stays true to her name and joins me by the altar.
"The request was for an informal wedding, so I'll keep this brief. I hope the joining of these two families can bring love into the world. A war has just finished, and another is brewing soon, stemming from hate. Small moments of love may not fix the overwhelming amount of hate, but it is a good place to start. With that hope, I ask, do you all love one another and promise to work together in your marriage?" the Priestess asks. A surprisingly loving message.
"Yes," Fluvis says, holding out her hands.
"Yes," I echo, taking her offered hands.
"Then, be married."
Fluvis pulls me in for a kiss, her wives flanking my sides for a hug. But I don't feel any of it. Instead, Love comes before me.
"I come before you?" Love huffs. "I don't like you. But that doesn't sit well with my nature, so I'll have to learn to forgive you. I heard about Hearth trying to convince you to love your wives, and you denied her. But I'll look past that for now. Your enemies are filled with hate, more than you, somehow. So I'll support you for now. I'm not happy to say it, but it is what I need to do. You are filled with love for some of your wives, so I'll focus on that part of you instead of the darker parts, like what you wish to do to the brothel owners. That is a dark place inside you. Now, have fun with your new wives. You at least like this bunch."
I try to sigh, but Fluvis's tongue is down my throat, and three pairs of hands are exploring my body.
Are we about to fuck right here, at Love's altar?
"Ahem, I love your display of love, but I think you should take this home. I have a few more small weddings to perform that I think would ruin the moment."
"Ah, yes," Fluvis says, pulling back. "That is a good idea. Shall we, my dear?"
"That sounds nice," I say. Lottie can use more than one kid in that growing belly of hers, and Estrella looks quite cute in that blue dress.