Chapter 361 – A Lovely Dinner

The best part of having two bodies is that I can share things with my Mommy and lovers who are also with me, taking care of my kids. I just got Mommy pregnant again, so I have to sleep with her, Ilka, and Akhae. Also, I'll need to work out a time to get Ilka and Akhae pregnant. The amount of work they've done with my kids is amazing, and so is their support of Mommy while I was gone. I think they care about Mommy just as much as I do.

Akhae has been making some blankets for the babies. I don't know if Shyla will get time to teach me how to sew, so maybe I can get Akhae to teach me. Her work is better than mine, and it's a great way to get closer to one of my wives I care about.

I've got those three getting ready for bed. It's a bit early for us to sleep, but we can curl up and pamper Mommy for getting pregnant again. I'm sure Mommy will be a blushing mess by the end of it. Oh, we should spoil the twins as well. Just for a bit, as they won't be awake for long. How are we going to deal with all the toddlers?

That's a problem for later. I'm sure in a century we'll have it all figured out perfectly. Or maybe we'll be dead from exhaustion, and we can say we tried our best. Hopefully, Death is kind to us.

It'll be a great night. We can worry about the future when it comes.

"We are here, my Mistress," Sarania says.

"Thank you," I say.

Aurora is waiting by the door. My mature maid has quite the motherly look to her. She just needs a little kid hiding behind her, so she'll have to have another pregnancy to get the full look for me. For now, she just has her belly that looks ready to pop. She should have just another month or two to go. It's hard to tell how long pregnancies will last with all my Skills affecting them. But her belly fits her well.

I hope she agrees if she wants to be a concubine. Also, maybe I should be in the first group of classes Aurora holds for the kids, and perhaps she has some friends who can help her teach.

"Hello, Your Highness," Aurora says, her body bending in a tiny bow. "Your plan forgot about dinner. I planned it only for those you wished to be with tonight. Would you like any others to join you? Remember, you are pregnant, and the kids will be ready for you after dinner. This is not a fancy one. More like your lunches. Just there to keep you and your kids healthy. Many of your wives are pregnant as well and do not have your mana supply or pregnancy bonuses."

"I guess," I say. I'll get to spend time with the women I want to. I guess this means I don't have to fear going to dinner. "You have to tell me a few days in advance if I'll be having a full dinner."

"No, Your Highness," Aurora says. "You will find a way to avoid them if I do that. I promise they will only be once, maybe twice if something big happens, a month. I will try to give you some months off as well. You need to see your wives. That is part of the agreement. The dinner will have your lovers closer, and the others will be far away, hardly a bother. Or would you prefer they have time with you that lets them interact with you more?"

"Whose side are you on?" I say. Aren't most of the women who are pregnant not the ones I love, for some reason?

"Yours, Your Highness," Aurora says. "Well, this house. That is the job of a maid in the house. I heard Yuki may be giving you a true head maid. After what happened with us at the beginning, I don't think I am fit for that position. But I will do my best to fill in for now."

"You're doing this to become a concubine. But yes, we can add Kelly and Mai for dinner."

"No, I am doing what will help this family succeed long-term, Your Highness. I'll have them come down for dinner."

"I don't believe you."

"I have no reason to lie, Your Highness," Aurora says. "You know the deal requires interactions between you and the rest of the families. Dinner is a good interaction. You will be insulated, and the wives feel it is a bigger deal than you do. It fulfills the requirements in a way that both groups can be happiest with. I do wish to earn my place as a concubine. I am working hard with your children and creating a lesson plan that can account for a large number of kids, and some of your lovers. That was the mission you gave me, and I will complete it. If I wished to force my way in, I would make you join a field day or other event that would force you to be much closer to the Princesses."

I stare her down, but the old noblewoman doesn't move, just showing that small smile they all love to use. I break first and feel our kids. She'll end up as a concubine. I hate to say it, but the dinner plan is probably the best for everyone. I wonder if concubines have a dress code like the maids. That could be cute.

"You look very Motherly," I say.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Aurora says. "I never thought I would look like this. The aches are real, but exciting. Thank you. Now, my motherly looks shouldn't keep you from eating dinner with those you love. This isn't like the family dinners from before."

"Sorry, I just thought about a kid hiding behind your leg and spoke out loud," I say. "Dinner with my loves would be nice."

"Ah, yes, Your Highness," Aurora says. "Shyla is a bit too big to hide behind me with her own growing belly."

"We could try it," I say. "But we can worry about that later."

"If you wish, Your Highness," Aurora says. "This way."

Aurora did give me a small smile at the idea. I'm sure Shyla would do it if I asked. But for now, I get to eat dinner with women I actually care about. We don't go to the dining room. I'm guessing all of my wives have access to that. Instead, we go to some random waiting, study, or eating room. Everyone is waiting for me there when we arrive. My second body is still with my kids.

"Hello, dear," Mommy says. "I'm sorry to hear that you weren't able to heal anyone today."

"I've got the system in place so I can do it safely," I say. "So, tomorrow I can take care of my kids and heal women. Two of the three things I want to do."

"The third is a bit scary," Mai says. "Congratulations on your future children, Armirynth and Alzi."

"It isn't purely breeding," I say. "Just showering you all with love."

"I know, I know. Just a little joke. We all love when you shower us with your love," Mai says. "Shall we eat so we can all bathe in our love together?"

"Yes," I say. I have to sit first; they must've gotten that lesson to remain standing instead of sitting at the table. Quickly, we all sit down, and a few maids bring out dinner. There's plenty of meat, so I'm guessing the killing of Nature's monsters is providing lots of that. A bit strange, but it's better than having to deal with the mana food. Hopefully, the army is able to get some of the meat as well. They deserve the fruits of their labor more than I do.

"How are you feeling?" Kelly asks.

"Mood swings," I say. "But I feel fine. That was the whole point of the ritual. That, despite the size of my pregnancy, I'm going to be fine carrying all of them, especially with all of my Skills and tattoos. Over and over, people try to help my mind, but I don't know if I'm going to break or get fixed."

"They are the hardest injuries to solve," Kelly says. "Mana doesn't fix them without destroying everything and restarting."

"Well, that doesn't work," I say. "The Goddesses just keep messing with it. Dragon and Sea have done something, and I would be surprised if Fertility hasn't tried to do something, too. But then there's the ones who just add to the abuse."

"You're done trying to get them to help you," Mai says. "We've got the help we need."

"I hope so," I say. "They'd better help."

"They will, baby," Mommy says. "They all want to help you. Tomorrow, you need to see Fluvis. I managed to talk to her for a bit; sixteen babies are a lot to handle, and she plans to fight for a little while. Her wives are staying behind as part of your defense, but you should thank her for bringing her kids here so quickly. Traveling isn't easy with little ones."

The list of women I have around really is too big. It's nice that I'm getting more around me who I love instead of tolerating. Is my Skill going to give me a body to please my lovers? My wives would really always be pregnant if that happened. "I'll see her. I should have breakfast with her. Would that work, Aurora?"

"I'm sure it will, Your Highness," Aurora says. "I'll communicate the time to her."

"Thanks."

...

Dinner like this is a lot better than the full 'family' dinner. I don't have to stare at the women I don't like and feel a little bad about them being ignored. I just get to have fun talking to the women I've loved forever.

"Now, time to pamper the newest pregnant one!" I declare.

*** Elora ***

I struggle to clear my vision. The white altar in front of me makes it hard to focus, and I'm sure the lack of food and water isn't helping, either.

"Your Highness," Sedriresa says. "Please, let us return to the castle. We've been here too long. I understand you're hurting and confused. I know. But this is just hurting you."

"She said I can be useful. I just need to birth her a Goddess," I whisper. How many words made it past my dry throat, I'm not sure.

"Come, you've been sleeping for too long. Let us return," Sedriresa says, pulling me into a hug. With new colors coming into view, my eyes start to focus. "Alzi came by the temple with Isda. Isda gave birth, but Sex is causing more problems, so Isda has to stay here. Alzi said to let you be, so I let you stay. But, Your Highness, we need to return. Please."

"Should I..."

"No, we need to return. Please. You're going to get sick if you keep this up."

"I don't know what I'm doing. The Goddesses won't say anything. I don't understand. I don't know what to do. I just want to serve Alzi."

"Oh, dear, come here," Sedriresa says. Her hand rubs my back like she used to do when I was young. So young. "This isn't it. This isn't the right thing to do. Alzi doesn't need you to be perfectly useful. She doesn't want that. No, she wants someone she can love. A friend to laugh with, to hold, to cherish. She wants to know you and your feelings. She wants you to learn her wants and feelings. To prove you know them. To act in a way that mutually helps both of you. Sometimes, even put your desires aside to help her reach her goals. Do that and earn her love, and she'll sometimes put her goals aside to help you reach your goals. Ok? We can still work with the Goddesses. But we have to work with Alzi first."

"I'm trying," I say. "I'm trying."

"I know, dear. How about we sleep in a bed and work out a plan tomorrow?"

"Ok."