Chapter 350 – A Mirroring Morning

"Um, Alzi," Salis says, stirring me from my sleep. "Why- Um, what is going on?"

"Hmm?" comes out, but I don't know to whom that was directed. Sea's ritual thing worked, for last night, at least.

Why is there a third person in the bed? She's matching my position, too, her horned head resting on Salis's chest, with a hand over the new little life in Salis's womb. But the strange woman had golden hair and horns, looking me right in the eyes.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Is she you?" Salis asks. "You both asked the same question."

'Check your Skills,' Space tells me. 'Sorry, Mother told me about something strange coming your way and asked for a bit of help.'

Hat of a Caregiver: Gain an extra body when needing to watch over your kids. The body will share all your memories, and it gives you all the memories it gets. It will answer as you, act as you, and be you in a second place as long as your kids are nearby. If it moves too far from your kids, it will disappear until you are near your kids again.

'What does this mean?'

'You have two bodies now. I'm not sure if you'll get more out of this class, but you now have a body that will let you always help your kids. It does need to sleep and eat, though. However, it can't get pregnant, since that would be too scary with the whole disappearing thing, but almost everything else is possible, like breastfeeding. It shouldn't be able to get women pregnant, and please don't try to change that. We don't need you getting yourself pregnant by accident.'

"Alzi, what is going on?" Salis asks. "It seems like I'm a mirror, if you ignore the color."

"I guess this is what I would look like without all the Goddesses claiming me," I say. I reach out, and both of my bodies move together. The golden body moves her hand under Salis, while my main body moves my hand over her. I feel both my arms being grabbed and getting grabbed.

"This is you?"

"I don't know. My Skill says it is me, so you just have more of me on your breasts?" I suggest. 'Does a pregnant woman count as a kid?'

'No, it is the other kids that are letting the body stick around. Get near your kids, and you'll find it easier to differentiate between the bodies; while some distance will make it easier to control them separately. You'll get into the flow quickly, I think, and I'll start working on making it easier to be close together and use them like your right and left hand. Let it help you get your kids back home while you deal with the silly Phoenixes.'

"You're pregnant, by the way, in case you didn't know," I say.

"Yes. I'm sorry if you felt tricked into it," Salis says. "I- I- Ii haven't been with- with another for a very long time."

"I enjoyed it. I went with a very different approach this time around," I say. "How do you feel? I slept well, somehow."

"I know I'm not my old self, but I have a path now," Salis says. "I'm not scared to have you around me anymore. Mother will be banned from my house. She'll ruin me again if I let her near me, but I can grow into keeping the sea under our control. You still have our house behind you, tied together by a child. Thank you. You helped tear down the walls I don't need anymore. Iii know all my fears are still there. I know we've both still got those to figure out. I don't know how this all works, but we can figure that out together."

"Together works for me. You aren't looking to marry me, are you? I've had a lot of women randomly say they love me," I say.

"It is strange hearing you speak twice. But no, I do not wish to marry you. I need a smaller family. Friends will be nice, though. Good friends."

"Good, I've got too many wives as it is. I would love to be good friends with you. Sorry to leave you so soon after getting you pregnant, but war is coming, and I have some bitches to visit."

"I wish you the best. I'm a little sore, so I'll be a little late this morning."

"That was me going easy on you!"

"Four hours of it is not easy! I'm an old woman, you know. Now let the old get some rest while you figure this thing out."

"Daring to tease a dragon while in her bed. I'll give your punishment to your sister. Shyla! I need an extra dress," I yell out.

The door squeaks open, my maid pokes her head in, and she freezes. "Gold."

"Yes. There are two of me now. I need a dress for her. In fact, I don't know if she can carry anything in a ring, so she may need a maid. Actually, I'll ask about that."

'Hey, Space, does she have rings on her back?'

'No, but she can access your storage space.'

"She can access my rings, so never mind. I just need a bunch of simple dresses for her to wear. She, that body? She is in charge of caring for my children. There's no need to show off, I just need to be able to care for, watch over, and play with my kids."

"The Goddesses gave you a second body, one that looks like you would if you weren't a Champion, Your Highness?"

"Yes."

"Is that body pregnant?"

"No, and it can't get pregnant."

"Ok, ok. Then I need you to stand up, and we'll get you dressed, Your Highness," Shyla says, sliding into the room. "The plan for today is that Fluvis is packing up and getting ready to move to the city. Is your body double able to be away from you, Your Highness? If so, then it should help Fluvis with the move. Then we are going to head off to the Phoenixes' realm. Shimmer thinks it should be a short trip. After that, we head back to the capital. The Queen believes Nature has started the war. She's seeing increased activity at the edge of the forests. The Kitsunes are saying the dragons are moving as well. They'll handle them for now, but it would be best for the Phoenixes to take over. Shimmer has gotten some to join them, but you have to show up before the Queen to get them to really do anything." She works quickly to dress my bodies. She wraps my breasts well, making me wonder if my bodies can have differently-sized breasts. My golden body gets a simple green dress, hiding most of my curves and my cleavage.

Then my main body got dressed. This time, I'm actually meeting a queen instead of a stuck-up, old Duchess. So, it's back to showing off everything I've got. Tits, tattoos, curves, thighs, ass, legs, and anything else Shyla thinks is important. All in a tight, fiery red dress. A rainbow of gemstones in my necklace, a crown braid for my hair, and ten-inch heels to have me towering over everyone. Nobody could miss me, and their eyes wouldn't be leaving my body for a while, with all there is to look at.

"Is this ok, Your Highness?" Shyla asks. "I've got other dresses that are still appropriate to meet a Queen in if you would like to show less."

"No, this is perfect," I say, spinning around in the mirror. I can see myself through my second body, but it is a bit fuzzy and strange to focus on.

"You are a beautiful woman, Alzi," Salis says. "I wish you the best with the Phoenixes."

"Thank you," I say. "And good luck with the Duchy."

"Thank you."

Eventually, I have to stop staring at myself in the mirror and head down. I have to walk down the stairs side-by-side with my bodies so I don't fall over when getting on or off them. I need to learn how to operate them independently soon. Hopefully, Space is right, and I just need space to figure it out. But on the ground floor, I run into Shimmer. I'm guessing Sarania spread the news about my body as she hardly looked at my second body.

She's in a similar dress to mine, just without the windows showing off tattoos.

"Shyla, do you have a collar and leash?" I ask. "I need the Phoenixes to know that I'm going to be in control. Their help is a requirement from the Goddesses and not something they get to decide. There's no better way to show that than by proving that Shimmer is going to be mine completely."

"Here you go, Your Highness," Shyla says, offering me a black leather collar and leash.

"My Mother won't be happy."

"I didn't ask, or are you going back on your promise?"

"I'm yours, and we will help you."

"Good," I say. Shimmer bites her lip but lets me put the collar around her neck. I give the leash a pull, and she follows like a good puppy. I put a hand on her belly and feel my child kick. "Do you think you deserve to be married to me?"

"Yes," Shimmer says. "I helped you. I tried to get Elora to free you and marry your lovers. I did what I could to help the family. I love you and will serve you."

"I did like it when you were pampering me. You were gentle then. But I struggle to believe that you tried to get Elora to marry my Mother."

"We didn't have much time to do it. Will you give me another chance to pamper you? We have a great public bath. I'll service you there personally, however you wish, even with a collar, but it will need to be able to withstand the heat. Everything is allowed, and everyone will see the first Princess doing as you ask."

"Safety?"

"Perfectly safe. You could bend me over and rail me, and no one will bother us. My Mother will hate it, but she will guarantee our safety. I'll bring my maids and Geta to help. Sarania will be there as well."

"Then I'll be expecting it. If it doesn't happen, this will be our only kid together. As it is, I don't know if I want to deal with you after this stupid trip."

"Yes, my Love," Shimmer says. Then she pulls me into a hug. I accept it and use her for balance as I try to get my second body to walk to my kids.

I stumble a lot in the hallway, but the farther I get from my main body, the easier it is to walk. By the time I make it to the nursery, I'm walking like normal, and Petunia is there, waiting for me. She opens the door with a smile, and I get to work helping to provide breakfast for the babies. They don't seem to mind the new body, reacting the same to it as they did with me yesterday, so I accept it. I can feel their love and deal with the stupidity of the world at the same time.

I don't know if I could handle a third body, but I can use two well enough.