Chapter 443 – The Bad Drunk

"I thought they couldn't go through steel!" Elora says.

"They can," Ioelena says. "As you now know. Thanks, Nanoka, for helping with the other tricks."

"I guess this is about what I should expect," I say. "I'm really not looking forward to finding out what sex with them is like."

"Probably just them swimming in your cum," Eterna says. "They would need the Goddess of Space to make it work otherwise, and she clearly won't be helping them."

"That's going to be weird. But I can deal with that," I say. "Shall we head inside?"

"Yes, you all packed extra underwear, right?" Ioelena asks. "But yes, we can head inside now. I think I spotted a fairy messing around in the forest, so we should be good for tomorrow. Hopefully, that meeting goes better than this one did. Fairies are more polite."

"They hate you for no reason," I say. "So, they're not that much better. This is a lot different from what I thought it would be like."

I'm the first to get up from the table. I'm guessing Elora is deciding what to do about her armor issue. I'm surprised she didn't notice the disappearance, since metal should be wildly different from what she was wearing underneath. The pixies can't be that good at covering their tracks.

"It wasn't everyone that lost them, right?" I ask.

"It was," Eterna says. "I could've stopped them from taking mine, but it was kind of funny."

"Nanoka?"

"There is a reason I didn't promise to stop all of their pranks," Nanoka says. "It is quite embarrassing, so if we could get to the house, please."

"I can say mine are still intact, My Queen," Kou says. "It seems there are some barriers that they can't bypass."

"They really could've run off with my crown, then," I sigh. "Kou, they probably think your situation is funnier than taking your underwear."

"I don't know what you mean, My Queen," Kou says. "This is perfectly normal when the lady can get the head maid pregnant at will."

"Because you're the only one doing it," I say.

"They could've run off with your crown," Ioelena says. "This meeting was rather tame if you compare it to the rest of them. I think Geta and Eterna really put a damper on their tricks."

"Oh, Geta, did you lose yours?" I ask. That would be bold, to take a Valkyrie of Death's panties from her.

"No, it should be just you and me who are safe," Geta says.

Well, there's not much else to do, so I start walking back through the garden. I'm actually the one wearing all my clothing this time around. But I do wish the pixies hadn't left so upset from my first meeting with an outside power as a Queen.

It's kind of nice being the one dressed correctly instead of being naked in the middle of nobles. I'll have to handle the pixies carefully when I go to heal their people. Not only to reward them for this funny walk, but for their help in the war I kind of brought to them.

Hopefully, the talks are just as short tomorrow, but have a better ending. I don't need both sides to be sad after meeting me.

"You did well," Nanoka says. "They should know better than to try to steal your crown."

"I know."

"You just seem a bit sad," Nanoka says. "You've got what you want, and they're getting plenty in return. They'll feel a lot better after your visit, and I just know you'll leave a good impression on them. You have that kind of energy, after all. They were happy until they hurt themselves. Like Ysa said, they have to be open to their tricks not working."

"I just hope that it doesn't go this way with the fairies," I say.

"It won't," Omylia says. "I just got word that the fairies will meet with you at the same time tomorrow, My Queen."

"Good," I say. "I haven't scheduled a time to meet with the pixies."

"I will work that out with Kou, My Queen," Omylia says. "Don't worry, they should be fine with meeting around lunch, and the fairies can be in the afternoon, after all the negotiations. I'm guessing the fairies will want a similar deal."

"That sounds good," I say. I think fixing things with Fertility is the only way I'm not going to be having children for all my deals. Hopefully, I can get her to add more dicks into the world. Maybe have them look more like her? I should ask her why herms are so rare.

"Dinner?" Omylia asks. "It's a bit early, but we have enough courses to make it worth it."

"That would be great," I say. A long dinner wouldn't be too bad.

...

Dinner is a lot of fun. Honestly, they act more like how I was expecting the pixies to act, with plenty of laughing and teasing, though Ioelena has had a bit of wine to calm down. I have put a lot of stress on Elora's wives, but they deserve some of it. If all of them had sat Elora down, they could've changed how our first meeting went.

Elora was quite friendly with the wine, which did not bring out much from her. She seems more likely to fall asleep than begin the loud storytelling I was expecting. Honestly, it seemed to bring down her mood rather than lighten her burdens, like with Ioelena. Maybe I should stop her? I know our baby will be able to clean up her milk, so I don't have to worry about that. But she's had a lot to drink.

"My Queen," Kou whispers. "This is a request, or more like a plea, from Sedriresa. She hopes you will take Elora to bed. Not for sex or anything like that. Elora is too far gone to be trying that right now. Instead, try to find out what is going on with her. Elora is normally louder while drunk, not quieter. I agree that it would be smart to find out what is going on. Elora was ready to use you to commit suicide. Something is weighing on her mind."

"I suppose that is my job now," I say.

"It can be, My Queen," Kou says. "You could also give the job of harem management to another wife, making it their job to keep everyone happy. I will say it works better if the head wife is caring for the happiness of the harem, but some do manage with someone else handling it."

"I can do it," I say. "I have the extra bodies, but I may need to have some help with each group."

"That would be smart, given your harem's size," Kou says. "I'll work out who would be good choices to handle each group, My Queen."

"It's probably better to do it now," I say. She's not getting any more sober when she has her own bottle of wine.

"Yes, My Queen," Kou says.

"Ehm, sorry, but I need to get some rest. The pregnancy is getting hard on me. Please, keep enjoying the night," I say. "I know I'm turning in for the night a bit earlier than normal. Elora, I would love to spend some time with you."

"Yeess, myyy looove," Elora slurs, her eyes going wide. Sedriresa has to pull Elora out of her chair and help her walk. Elora tries to take the bottle with her, but Sedriresa sneaks it away from her and pulls her over to me.

"Thank you for joining us," Ortis says. "It's a joy having you here. I haven't been through a pregnancy myself, but I've seen how draining they all are. Thank you for staying so long for dinner."

"Thank you, it's been a wonderful dinner," I say. Kou leads our strange group to the bedroom. It's a simple room, but more than enough for my use, and it's even mostly black, so my light doesn't bounce around too much.

Sedriresa quickly strips Elora down, putting a robe on the wavering Princess. "Your Highness," Sedriresa says. "Be careful."

"Yes, yes, yeeeesssss," Elora says. "I'm the biitch."

"That isn't what I'm saying," Sedriresa says. "Just be nice. I know I'm worrying too much. Just- I'm worrying over nothing. I'll just be a call away."

She really isn't showing much confidence in this working. Elora will be fine.

Of course, Kou is busy stripping me as well. It takes a bit longer due to my belly and wings, but soon, it's just me and Elora in the bed. She already seems half asleep, which is a bit weird with how animated the rest of the drunks were at dinner.

"How are you doing?" I ask. I start to rub her back as she rests her head on my shoulder. It would be a cute pose if we were getting painted. Should I do that? Get a family painting? Maybe with all my wives pregnant. That would be funny, having them all heavily pregnant while I'm the only one who's thin. It's something to think about in a few years.

"Should I be happy?" Elora asks.

"I don't know," I say. "Our kid is cute and happy. You're getting the throne. You'll get pregnant again soon. I'm treating you better than even I ever thought I would. So, maybe?"

"I am, sometimes," Elora says. "But, I don't deserve it."

The tears start flowing. Not many, but I can feel them begin to slide down my shoulder.

"The way you treated me was terrible," I say with a soft sigh. "But you did treat me better than I had been in a while. Not much better, since getting taken away from my Mommy hurt a lot, and from Mai too, but I wasn't abused every day. I don't know if I truly would've been happier with you than at the brothel, but you did keep shortening the time left until I'd be marrying Mommy, so I eventually would've been happier with you than at the brothel. So why shouldn't you eventually be happy? I'm forgiving a lot, so I think you should take it. I need a Queen. You can do that for me. I need you to do that for me. Your Mother has done worse to me than you have. She's the one who could've stopped this from ever happening. You came in and made a random change to my terrible situation, but she just sat on her throne, raising my kid for years. Not to mention that I should've obviously been a Champion getting abused in her city, while all she did was use me to get pregnant, twice. You're allowed to be happy. I want you to be happy, if only for our kid. So, I permit you to be happy. We can work on it together. We both need some help with feeling things right. I was stupid to let you try to leave our child without a Mother."

"I'm sorry," Elora says. "I thought that would be better."

"No," I say. "That is the simple answer. I was really mad at you, but I hurt you plenty then, and I think any kid you gave birth to would've made me forgive you enough to just marry you. Seeing them burn. Hearing their screams. Knowing I still have more to give the Mistress. But it's probably mostly Syro, honestly. That all felt good for a moment, and it helped me forgive you, but Syro's work is probably the main reason I can truly smile when I'm not around Mommy and my kids. So go to sleep. When you get crowned as the Queen, I'll take you again, and we'll have another kid together. This one will be easier on you. Work hard for our kids and our future. Do that, and you deserve to be happy. That will fix the mess you created and give you purpose. A good purpose."

"I love you," Elora says.

"I love you, too," I say. It may be a bit of a lie, but it's close enough for now. Or at least I can let it be close enough for now. "Kou, can you have Syro join us when she's done with dinner?"

"Of course, My Queen," Kou says through the door.

I give Elora a soft kiss and snuggle in to go to sleep. Hearth would be proud.