Chapter 393 – Speed is Required

There just had to be more issues today.

"Lady Azula," Kou says. "Make it quick, please."

"My wives are scared," Azula says, sitting on my bed in a thin nightgown. "Are you giving them kids every time you use us to refill your mana?"

"Yes," I say. "Works better that way. The mother gets more mana, and I get more. Why wouldn't I do that?"

"You promised we wouldn't die," Azula says. "You torture us every day to keep that portal open, and now you're stuffing them with kids every day. Is this how you handle a family?"

"I didn't want any of you around," I say. "Don't complain about silly things."

"But you have us, and you talked so big before. What happened?"

"I learned from the best," I say. "Like you said, you're my slave."

"Stop, My Princess, a deal is a deal between wives. You'll have to keep them alive. Azula, there is no need to worry. I'll work with Alzi to make sure she keeps her promise. Since you are here, Azula, you should join your wife in bed. Lady Armirynth should be joining shortly. Shyla is on her way as well to help you change, My Princess."

"Azula will not be sleeping with me and my mother," I say.

"Are you sure, My Princess?" Kou asks. "I'll sleep between you two so you don't have to worry about her. But we will have to have a meeting to ease their worries. I won't be letting cracks exist in this house. Ah, Shyla, perfect. Please get our Princess ready for bed, and Lady Armirynth, are you all set as well? I need to change, but I need you all ready before I can do that."

The two women weren't even through the door yet when Kou started asking them. Is she worried I'm about to faint or something? Shyla just gives Kou a nod and lifts my dress off, quickly making me match Azula with a nightgown.

"I'm done. Thank you, Kou," Mommy says, coming to hug me. "Baby, we can let Azula sleep with us. She is married to us. Just for tonight. She's already here."

"Fine," I say. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a flash of light around Kou's waist. "What was that?"

"My Princess, don't worry," Kou says. "It's just a chastity belt."

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? My Princess, look at Shyla or think about Lady Armirynth, or Aurora, or any number of your wives and slaves. We do not have the luxury for me to get pregnant right now. I need to be fully focused on you. So, until you're ready, I'm not going to risk a pregnancy. I know you love my tails, so I can't risk it. This belt is for the protection of my eggs and our time, My Princess."

What the fuck? "Everyone wants kids from me, and now you're doing things so you won't have kids with me? Kiyomi asked me to get her citizens pregnant, and you're going to stop me from getting you pregnant?"

"Yes. I am to serve the house as your head maid. To do that, I must remain child-free for a few years at least. There is too much work to do. If you wish to have sex with me, I have other holes available to use, but I would prefer to be off limits for now. It'll be easier for us both. If you must get someone pregnant, Azula is right here, or your Shadow, or Talindra, or some of your wives."

"You do understand what's going to happen when you finally take that off, right? I won't have a choice."

"I'm well aware of what Yuki is about to go through. I'm well aware of the risks with this assignment, My Princess. Now, please stop talking about getting me pregnant and get into bed. Shyla, if you could join us? I'm sure our Princess would love to help the kids relax. I'll have to have Syro moved to this room as well."

"I'd be happy to join, Your Highness," Shyla says, pushing me and Mommy into the bed.

"Perfect," Kou says. The lights go out in the room, and Shyla and Mommy cuddle up beside me. Kou's tails cover us under the blankets, and I ignore Azula's hand reaching to my belly.

"Goodnight, baby," Mommy whispers.

...

"Turn the lights off," I mumble. "We just went to sleep."

"Why did you think we needed to get to bed, My Princess?" Kou says, already dressed in her black and white uniform, her tails shining behind her. "Women are dying, and you need to help them, and then you need to finish the ritual preparations. The temple says two days, and the Queen doesn't want to take any longer for obvious reasons."

"That sounds nice," I say.

*** Queen Yumanea ***

It's been so long since I've had to bury a wife. And now, almost all of them have died at once, yet we don't have a single complete body to bury. Keya just has her head, and the others don't have anything that resembles any part of their body.

"What would you like to do?" the Priestess of Death asks. "There isn't much here, Your Royal Highness."

"I'll burn them after the blessing," I say. "Nobody wants to be remembered as just body parts."

"Of course. Do you have the vases ready?" the Priestess asks. "I'm sorry you can not have a better funeral for your wives."

"I'm getting more than most," I say. "Thousands lost their lives before my wives died. Three wars, I've overseen. There's no need to worry about me. But here are the vases." They're basically just small cups to save space. Everyone is getting so little out of this war.

"Yes, but I'm talking to you, not the others. All deserve better, and we know the real reason is the Goddesses," the Priestess says. "The first war could be your fault, but the last two aren't. Well, regarding the last one, there were things that you could've done to avoid the war with Edeozia. But the current one is all on the Goddesses. It was coming, no matter who would wear the crown. Let us forget about all of that for a few peaceful moments. The struggle is not done yet."

The struggle ends when the temples give us help, or in a few days when Nature overruns us. "Thank you," I say. Leave it to Death to find peace in these moments.

I offer a short prayer as the Priestess does hers. Nothing special, just hoping that they have peace in the end.

The Priestess does something; I don't know if it actually accomplishes anything, or if it's just to make the living feel better. We're all certain that Death takes souls when we die, not when the Priestesses see to them. But it does make me feel better, even if I don't deserve it.

"The bodies are ready," the Priestess says, backing away to handle the many other bodies that have made their way here from the front lines.

My fire burns the bodies in seconds and scoops the ashes into the vases, now ready to join the many old wives in our crypt. Few Queens don't get the honor of a full burial. But many of our wives die like this, with not enough left to have a respectful burial. Risking their life for someone they may even hate."So dejected," whispers into my brain. "They don't hate you. They're happy to have been able to help you. Even Keya. They have their peace."

"Goddess?" I ask the white void.

"Of course. Not all of us will take you fully up to our realm like Royalty does. I need you to help Alzi get the ritual ready. That is more important than you joining the front line. If it means letting her fuck you in public, I expect you to strip. I don't think it needs to be that severe, but figure it out. You need to open the door for us to help. Nature has hidden her power, and they're coming quickly. Don't let them reach your lines. The dragons are close behind."

"I'll do it, Goddess. Thank you for your words. Alzi will get them ready," I say. "Even if I have to join them."

"Your daughter is a step ahead of you on that."

"What do you mean?" I ask, but the inside of the temple returns. Elora, what are you doing?

Potions. I'll have to release our potions and let that fill in for Alzi today. We don't have enough for multiple days, but if she can do it in a day? I need to hurry. Alzi, please don't get caught up in torturing the women. I promise you'll have any of them that live. Why am I talking to her in my head?

"Sorry, my wives," I say. "I'll lay you to rest after I get Alzi to the Temple of Fertility. Sorry to keep you working for the Queendom after your death."

"I can handle your wives," the Priestess says. "You have work to do; let them rest."

"Thank you," I say. "I'll visit when this is over."

Time to ask Alzi for more help.

...

I should make more room for temples on the castle grounds. It takes too long to reach all the Goddesses as it is. Why did we include Love, but not Death or Fertility? Space is an obvious choice, but why not War? And why is Lensa here in her underwear? Sure, she has a great body, but why do I need to see it right now?

"I thought you would be around. I need a meeting with Alzi," Lensa says.

"I have a war going on right now," I say. "I need Alzi focused, or we're all going to die. Your meeting can wait."

"This is about my death, so no, it is not going to wait."

"Three days. Wait three fucking days! Even the fucking Kitsunes and Phoenixes waited for Alzi to come to them, and you are nowhere near as important as they are."

"Well, they don't have a bunch of dragons inside them, threatening to tear them apart, do they? Or their daughter being kept as a slave and used to keep a portal open."

"Fucking bitch. Fine, come with me, and you can have the meeting on the way to Fertility's Temple if Alzi wishes for you to join us. She is heavily pregnant as well and working hard. You aren't that special here."

"Fine, it won't take much to correct her behavior."

"There is no behavior to correct," I say. "Be nice, or I'll go to some Goddesses to have you kicked out." Yes, I'm sure Alzi will be happy to deal with you right now. But it seems you know what is required to get Alzi to do anything. Fucking whore.Not that I can say much, as I paid for two nights with Alzi.

The smell of blood hits me immediately. Turning the corner, I find Alzi naked, fucking some commoner in the middle of the injured. I've heard that how Alzi heals her patients isn't great, but this? This is what she's forced to do? "Alzi, Alzi!" I shout. "You can stop. I have potions on the way that they will use. Today, you need to finish the preparations for the ritual. Nature isn't going to let us have any more time. It's now or never."

A faint wave of green radiates from the commoner, healing limbs in its wake, and the new mother, I'm sure. A new kitsune helps Alzi out of the pile of blood and over to Shyla, all while ignoring the Queens watching them.

"Your Royal Highness," a woman missing her arm says. "I have the list of injured here. What kinds of potions and what effects do they have? Would Kelly understand the potions? Otherwise, I may need you to stay and help me administer them correctly."

"Kelly should know what to do with them," I say. This must be Petra.

"Very well. Princess Alzi is just getting dressed, and she'll join you shortly," Petra says. "She's a bit tired, Your Royal Highness. She didn't get much sleep."

"I see," I say. "Lensa. You'll have to wait on..." Where did that bitch go? "Geta is around, right?"

"Yes, just behind Princess Alzi, Your Royal Highness," Petra says.