Chapter 415 – The Queens’ Old Toy

*** Alzi, main body ***

We all move quickly out of the temple so that Nanoka can teleport us up to the castle. Mommy has demanded that I get lunch, and Nanoka should eat as well. She's pregnant now. I also need to tell her the count, but probably in private, considering how many I gave her. I'm sure she'll have some words to say about that part.

"Where is the dining room?" I ask. Hopefully, Tharzi or Cisu knows.

"We just need to enter the castle," Tharzi says. "There should be a maid there who will lead us to it. I believe you've already told the kitchen to prepare food."

"I haven't, but a Priestess has," I say. "Which is practically the same thing, I guess."

The castle looks like a prison. Black, jagged edges are everywhere as it towers over the city on a volcano. It's a very different look from all the gold and cheerful colors of the lower realms. The Phoenix's castle wasn't this scary, and the Kitsune's was kind of peaceful.

A few dragons open the door for me. Inside, someone in the usual maid outfit is smiling, waiting for me. The black rock really does seem to be the main decoration, with gold being the only other color in the castle.

"Follow me," the maid says. "The food is ready, Your Majesty. It's just a short walk this way."

"Good, we're all a little hungry," I say.

"Of course. I'm sorry we don't have a feast prepared for your marriage, Your Majesty. Tomorrow night, we'll have it sent to the temple so Lady Zarzi can join you."

"That would be nice," I say.

"So much royalty," the maid says. "It's been so long since we've housed so many, and they're all in our family. I was Phollo's maid, but I'll just be the head maid of the castle until you find someone to replace me."

"You can keep the job," I say. "I'll need all the other maids I find for the kids."

"Yes, the temple has shared that Lady Zarzi gave birth, Your Majesty," the maid says. "Congratulations. It's been too long since we've had a brood. Too many royal mistakes."

"Oh, that sounds interesting," I say. "Royals seem to be making a lot of mistakes these days."

"I suppose it is, Your Majesty. The short of it is rebellious daughters wanting power before they're ready for it and weak mothers, which has caused most of the issues you're facing, I would say."

"Like Phollo and Phrogni."

"Exactly, Your Majesty. Phollo was power-hungry without the strength, and Phrogni was in love with her sister. Never a good combination. Something similar happened with the last generation as well, but it didn't hurt the rest of the realms as much. I'm hoping you can start to change our course for us. We used to be the strongest, but now the Kitsunes are taking over, despite their terrible birth rates."

"I have a lot of realms to help," I say. "I've gotten wrapped up in most of them, if not all of them."

"I'm sure you'll be fair to everyone," the maid says with a bow. "Enjoy your meal. I have something important planned for after the meal. I hope you're willing to give me the time for it. I promise it will be worth it. It's two things, really.""Sure," I say. "I do have something planned, but it can wait until tonight."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty," the maid says. A whisp of her mana comes out, and the doors to the dining room open, revealing a long black table with a golden trim. The chairs seem to be solid blocks of different minerals. They can't be comfortable to sit on, right? The one at the head of the table is golden.

"Is the head chair of the table solid gold?" I ask.

"Yes, they all have enchants to make them comfortable to sit on," Tharzi says. "And easier move."

"Good," I say. I may have to get new chairs anyway. This is kind of scary. Is there going to be a room full of gold coins to swim in? That has to be going too far. Probably just a pool of lava. That would be much more fitting.

The second I sit down in the golden chair, which really feels like I'm sinking into a bed of feathers, maids start streaming in with the food. Like at the temple, there's plenty of meat, but this time I get some greens as well.

Nanoka takes the chair to my right, and Elora dares to take the one on my left. Shimmer sits next to Nanoka and then Geta.

"Well, fuck," Victoria says. "Second damn lunch. You fucking nobles really know how to fucking put on the pounds."

"Am I really the only one that hasn't eaten yet?" I ask. "I guess Nanoka hasn't either."

"It was really just a snack," Elora says. "We knew you hadn't eaten yet, so we haven't had a true meal besides some of us eating breakfast. Sorry, love."

"No, you just had a kid and nearly died. You should eat when you need to," I say. "I just need to get better about eating again. I have a number of reasons to be putting on pounds right now."

"You look great," Nanoka says. "But yes, we will need to have you on a schedule for food."

"I'm working on it," Kou says. "I'll put a higher priority on food. Normally, it's fine to push that around, but for our dear Queen, it will have to be kept to a set schedule, it seems. Maybe we should even have more lunch and dinner meetings rather than the usual entertainment focus. Or more games, since those can combine both. That will be what I'll go with, my Queen."

"Meetings? Isn't the point of putting Elora on the throne instead of me that she'll have the meetings?"

"I'm going on the throne, Love?" Elora asks. "I don't deserve that."

"I don't want to sit on it, so you get to," I say.

"You'll still have meetings, but fewer of them, my Queen," Kou says. "That's the beauty of power."

"I may take after the true dragon," I grumble, taking a bite of my lunch.

"You don't have the strength for that yet, My Queen," Kou says.

"Of course not," I say.

"I'll do what I can to limit your meetings," Elora says. "I promise."

"Just rule well."

"Of course, Love."

I don't know if Victoria was actually complaining or if she was just really worried about her muscles, but she shut up immediately and ate her meal really quickly. I don't know how it turned into just me and Elora talking at the table, with everyone else just focused on their food. Did the maids signal them not to interrupt my eating or something?

"Would you like dessert, Your Majesty?" the maid from before asks after I've finished my meal.

"No, I think Victoria would curse a bit too much with the babies present if I asked for that," I say.

"I fucking wouldn't," Victoria says. "Shit, maybe I fucking would."

"Hopeless," Elyne says.

"How about the ones with babies get shown to a room to relax for a bit, with any others that wish to relax, and the rest join me in completing the tasks you mentioned before?"

"It would be best if it were a small group. Lady Nanoka and Lady Victoria, or the Valkyrie, Your Majesty. They are sensitive matters, like your own."

"Victoria, you always want to rest. So, if Geta is comfortable being the bodyguard?"

"I'm more than capable," Geta says.

"I won't fucking say no to some rest," Victoria says. "Especially if the damn couch or bed is like this fucking chair. I don't know what fucking magic you bitches used to get rock to feel like fucking feathers, but it is fucking fantastic."

"She really is hopeless, Your Majesty. This way, and the other maids will be in shortly to take the rest to some rooms," the maid says.

The maid moves swiftly through the halls to what must be the servants' quarters. What could she possibly have out here for me? Does she want to have an orgy? She invited a Valkyrie of Death, so she can't expect to do anything against me. I should've forced Geta to come with me after the ritual. I'm sure I could've forced enough healing into her that she could've fought. It would've saved us a lot of trouble if she were there to fight the stupid queens. I was so stupid. I move too quickly!

"A word of warning, Your Majesty: be gentle with her. She's been through things you understand well, but for a bit longer than you," the maid says. "Please let me warn her before you go in."

"Ok?" I say.

The maid slowly enters the room. I can hear her whispering something on the other side of the room, and I'm starting to think I should have Geta enter first.

"You'll be fine," Nanoka says. "I've already checked into the room. I just can't believe who it is that appears to be on the other side, and I need to see her in the flesh to confirm it, but there is no one inside that will threaten you. I promise."

"Very well," I say. I've had this weak feeling of family inside the building. Does this room explain that? But she said her, not him, so it can't be my father. But do I even want to see him?

"You can enter, Your Majesty," the maid says. "I hope you can help."

The room is certainly bigger than a maid's room, even a bit larger than my room at the brothel. A whithered golden dragon is lying in the bed. Her face is badly disfigured, and her stomach is showing stretch marks.

"I'm sorry," the woman says. "I'm sorry. I- You're- What? No. No. I-"

"Shh," I say. "I'm not here to hurt you. Will you let me heal you? I can't stand to see you like this. What did they do to you?"

"It can't be," Nanoka says. "I was sure they killed her. How? No. What kind of trick are you playing?"

"When the Goddesses are on your side, many things are possible," the maid says. "Please heal her. She's been like this for too long. But I worry it'll take a few weeks to undo all the damage she's suffered. Not all of it was Phollo, but too much was."

"How did you hide it?" Nanoka asks. "Dragons know their Mother too well for this to go on for so long. How? I thought the Goddess of Dragons hated you too much to do anything to help you. You're really a true idiot. I should've put a damn teleportation rune in your bedroom. It could've saved us all a lot of trouble.""I was surprised she made it until now like this," the maid says. "The sisters didn't have eyes for anyone but themselves. Phollo failed to claim me, her head maid, like she should've. So, I never had to tell them a thing about the women they were breeding."