Chapter 465 – Queens and Daughters

"Sorry," Nanoka says. "You don't have to go in. I just feel like I have to try. Yuki is doing fine inside."

"I can poke my head in," I say. "I did say I would check in on her here and there."

"Don't push yourself," Nanoka says. "I'm trying to stay somewhat neutral. I hope you can forgive me for being nice to Yuki."

"I understand. I shouldn't forget about the pair," I say. "The kids will be cute, but I do have to worry about Nakuma passing down her mindset."

"Her mother isn't like that, so it should be fine," Nanoka says.

Enough stalling, Alzi. Pop in, say, 'Hi,' and make sure Nakuma isn't risking my babies, and then get Isda to her kids.

I step into the room and see Nakuma massaging Yuki.

"This isn't too bad," I say. "You make it seem like torture. I'm glad you two are doing well. Nakuma, don't forget you have a bunch in your womb as well, so you need rest, too. Yuki has a lot more, but you also have kids to worry about, Nakuma. Yours are important, too."

"Alzi!" Yuki says. "Please?"

"Nakuma is taking good care of you right now," I say. "You'll be fine. You look healthy, and the kids are fine. Isda, shall we go see some kids?"

"I would like that, Alzi," Isda says.

This is probably a little over the top, showing Yuki someone else who hurt me getting to walk around with me for some reason. I didn't think about that. Nakuma is doing plenty to mess with Yuki; I don't really need to do anything that will get her to hate me. Our kids need loving parents.

"I'll have another body stop by a bit before bed," I say. "Take good care of yourselves. That includes you, Nakuma."

"Yes, yes," Nakuma says. "We're doing just fine."

That girl really is crazy, and I made her a Champion for some reason. I just hope she doesn't have this same obsession with the kids. I'll have to squash out that behavior quickly and completely if she does. Yuki, however, has earned this treatment for a bit.

*** Elora ***

"Why would Mother call me?" I ask Sedriresa, as if she would know better than I.

"Your work with Queen Alzi's children, My Princess," Sedriresa says. "That is the only thing I can think of. There's nothing else you could be doing that would help the ceremony be ready so quickly. Some Goddesses must be pulling some strings as well for this to happen so soon. Now, as I said, the report from the castle is that your Mother is a bit depressed. Kou is worried about how Alzi will handle things once everything slows down. Remember what I said?"

"Yes, don't push her. Just make sure she knows that I'm here to help her," I say. I hope Alzi doesn't fall into a depression, but not because I don't want to be the cause of it. She should just be happy. After all the pain that's come her way, she should just be happy.

Syro was a great choice for a wife. She's been doing some great work with her new Skills for helping Alzi. I just need to focus on being there for Alzi and let Syro do the real work. With all the wives and kids Alzi has, she'll make it out better than she's ever been.

"Good, my Princess," Sedriresa says. "Do you have anything planned for the kids and Alzi?"

"Not really," I say. "Alzi wouldn't appreciate the kids being forced into a structured greeting. I just need to make sure they're all nearby during dinner, and that Alzi has time to play with them. A good surprise for her. Mother won't be happy about that. Alzi will be visibly happier about the kids than the crown. Maybe I can ask her to shorten the ceremony and have Alzi meet the kids first? That would be better. That way, Alzi will look happy throughout. I'm sure the nobles will be happy to be going home faster as well."

"That is a much better plan, my Princess," Sedriresa says. "Alzi will have more time to spend with the kids as well. A maid is coming by now. Make sure to push for your plan. Don't be afraid to bring up some of the pain she's caused you over the years to pressure her if you need to."

"I have plenty of that to remind her about," I say. I doubt Mother will put up much of a fight. I think most of the Queens are now seeing what the future will look like for a bit. Neighbors are hoping that Alzi's desire for peace will save them from being swallowed up by the Empire. Mother will be hoping that she won't get Azula's or Yuki's treatment in the upcoming marriage.

Or maybe we should skip that step? No, I wouldn't mind Mother getting to suffer a bit of pain in this marriage. She is responsible for most of the pain this Queendom brought upon Alzi.

The maid steps in and just looks over for us to follow her. "The Queen is ready to see you, Princess Elora," the maid says.

It's a short walk to the study that Mother is sitting in.

"Hello, Elora. Take a seat," Mother says. "I've had maids do the counts. The seventy-five kids are here. Ten don't have parents due to the war and will stay with Queen Alzi. The rest are working out plans for Queen Alzi to be the mother or father, like she should've been. The Haye family is handling the ten for now. Kids aren't normally factored into the ceremony."

"I was thinking we would shorten it," I say. "We both know that Alzi doesn't care for it. She would rather spend that time with the kids. So, say we want the nobles to be able to get home quickly after the tough wars. Alzi will get to spend more time with the kids that way. So, everyone wins. We don't normally have a large party, so tradition won't be holding us back. The fights before the ceremony were where the real celebration happened. At most, this event is for showing off one last time before getting stuck behind a desk for hours every day. But Alzi has done that enough already in ways she would rather not show off. My powers aren't anything to show off, either. And I doubt any of the ones with real power would love to show off. Eterna is going to be mad about losing her teddy bear, Geta will just bring the nobles to Death's realm if we ask her to, Nanoka won't show up, Shimmer doesn't care to entertain our people, Victoria is Victoria, and so on. The ones that would normally be willing to put on a show aren't going to do anything. Technically, Yzzorres is married to Alzi, and nobody feels like they can show off with Alzi, Geta, Eterna, and Yzzorres in the harem. So we can cut that part out completely. I don't want to speak for you, but we're both feeling it. They were my parents. Our bonds were strained, but it hurts knowing they're gone. I know what I'm feeling is tiny compared to what you must feel. Do you, Nesh, or Lotus want to show off? I know Rosemary won't be going around healing anyone in that hall. She would love to simply be allowed to skip it and go around the city to heal the injured in private."

"No," Mother says, letting out a long sigh. "No."

"Are you good with a short ceremony, then?" I ask.

"Yes," Mother says. "Yes, that is the right way to do it. My reign really is ending with a whimper."

"From what I've heard about the Dragons, your reign is ending pretty well," I say. "The Queendom is still standing and has a bright future. You're alive, the transfer is mostly peaceful, and it's being passed on the way it should be. Things could've been a lot worse. Or are my sisters planning something?"

"No, they saw Yzzorres and heard about the mating thing and Eterna. They're almost as depressed as I am," Mother says. "It seems they were dreaming of a coup."

"Well, things have worked out well for us," I say. "I would rather not kill family at this point."

"I would rather not lose more kids," Mother says.

"My sisters died?" I ask.

"A few, in the last fight," Mother says. "A few. Alzi saved so many. But some of her kids lost their parents. The entire Queendom lost people."

"Any of a certain..."

"One was," Mother says. "We don't have to talk about her. She got what she deserved. The Goddesses willed it. I should've gone with them."

Sedriresa nudges me forward. Mother does look like she's ready to cry.

"No," I say, getting out of the chair. It's nice that we aren't both pregnant right now. We wouldn't fit in the same chair. "You've tried to fix things. I- If they wanted you to die, they would've killed you. They've shown they are more than happy to find ways to kill those who've hurt Alzi. Even other Goddesses can't survive hurting Alzi."

Her eyes track me as I walk over and past her desk. She can't just accept me coming to comfort her, that maybe I want a hug, too?

I should've brought Lactation with me. Mother wouldn't look at me like this if I had her grandkid here.

"Fine," Mother says. "Sedriresa can come over as well, if she wants to." She scoots her chair out and opens her arms for me to join her. "I've been hugging people too much."

"Have you seen Irlo recently?" I ask.

"No."

"Do that, then," I say.

"Do I really deserve to see her?"

"You're her Mother, and Irlo loves you," I say. "Go see her."

*** Kiyomi ***

"Why am I not the one Alzi is going to be fucking?!" my first daughter says.

"Because you have a kid already," I say. "She isn't going to be just fucking women whom I, or whoever is the next Queen, says she should. She gets to pick. The deal is set, and it is fine. Don't think you're stronger than her. I'm picking the first family purely because she said she would give a gift to a woman who fought in the war. I can't even say who in the family will be getting the kid. Alzi has five girls to pick from. Be happy that the family supports you. Do something stupid, and I'll cut those damn tails off your ass and make a coat out of them for Alzi. And then you can work in the fields, praying to the Goddess for her to tell you just how stupid you really are. Have you got anything else you wish to complain about?"

Maybe I've raised my kids to be a little too sure of their strength. Can Nayume really not see that even I'm being careful with Alzi? Or is she letting the desire to have a strong kid override her brain? "If you want a kid with Alzi, make her like you enough for her to give you one. Just be ready for her to be the main caretaker of the child." It's probably for the best if Alzi takes on that role. I think our royal family needs a reset after me.

"I fought in the war!" Nayume says, daring to punch my desk.

"Many did," I say. "But I'm not risking you killing one of your wives if Alzi would rather get one of them pregnant over you. As I said, Alzi has a choice in who she gets pregnant. This isn't a fight you're going to win. I still want to be in power, and even with your wife's help, you're weaker than me. In a decade, you'll understand that Alzi is someone you can't touch. However, it worries me that you can't understand that now. Your next actions need to be carefully thought through. Yumanea has lost some kids, and I wouldn't mind joining her if I have to. I've lost plenty already, so what's a few more idiots?"

"I'll make her like me."

"Good choice," I say. "Now, get out. I have things to do besides babysit adults. Don't force anything, and if Alzi tells you to leave her alone, you leave her alone. You won't get to make mistakes with Alzi. Yuki used them all up."