Chapter 472 – Comfort

*** Victoria ***

I should've fucking forced Alzi to handle the fucking bitch before this. Fuck. I fucked this up. Have I been fucking spending too much damn time around Yuki? Shit, I should've told Kou what the fuck was going on with Ashryn. Why the fuck did I think this would fucking work out? Fuck, I'm shit at dealing with people!

"This way," a Priestess says. At least they know what the fuck to do. Alzi is a damn mess in my arms. Armirynth should've fucking known about this as well. I should've just fucking talked to her! I need to work on my fucking ability to talk to people. I'm getting fucking lazy.

The Priestess walks right through the fucking temple and into some grand bedroom.

"Any family who comes to the temple will be brought here," the Priestess says. "Take your time and be gentle. She'll make it through this. She's stronger than she thinks she is. Just hold her. Fertility has a crowd in her house and should be taking Alzi up soon. Thank you for helping her. You did your best. This is for the best. She should know the truth."

"Thanks," I say. The fucks really do know how to make people feel fine. Fuck, maybe it is right for Alzi to know, but she should've fucking heard about this shit in private. Shit. Nanoka better be the one to fucking cuddle Alzi. I'm too fucking pissed off about this shit.

"Come on, time to cuddle," Nanoka says.

*** Alzi ***

It was all wasted. I didn't have to deal with that. I didn't have to do any of it. I could've just stayed still. I moved too quickly. I'm so stupid!

"Dear, you're not stupid," Fertility says. "Come here. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I should've been there for you. This is on me. You did nothing wrong. There you go, let it out. You did your best. You did everything you could to help those you love. I wasn't there to support you, and others took advantage of you. This isn't on you. I'm sorry. I didn't know, and I should have. I'm sorry."

"Love, I've got you," Space says. "Let your feelings out. We've got you. You're safe now, even if that means I have to become a tyrant. I'll drag Malralloz out into the world with me if that is what it takes to keep you safe. But I know that doesn't help you now. We failed you."

"Did- Did you know?" I ask. They've put me in Fertility's bed, with the Goddesses flanking me.

"No," Space says. "I only got interested in you when Nakuma showed up. Sorry, I was focusing too much on the Kitsune realm. We both like their tails a little too much."

"I really should've," Fertility says. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Not knowing about it isn't any better for my failure to protect you than knowing and not doing anything. I have no excuse."

"I guess," I say. "But why?"

"Money," Space says. "She wanted money. Your Mother couldn't do anything about it. If Ashryn had thought a bit more about things, she would've seen this coming, but she was blinded by money. It normally works out for her, and she didn't know how special you are. Most of the girls from the villages are just special enough to make a lot of money for the brothel, not so special that they can take over the world and give her the same treatment in return."

"I don't know if this will help," Fertility says. "But it did help me stay sane: The time you spent as a slave will be a small blip in your life. You have infinite time ahead of you, plenty of time to be who you want to be and be with the people you love. It takes a long time, but it does start to pass. I'm sorry I can't give you better news, but you're free now. Nobody can do it to you again, which is something I wish I had internalized a long while ago. You have people ready to help and protect you. You met Mai there. You've met all the beautiful kids you had there. And you'll get to spend more time with them. So, not everything about the brothel was bad. Focus on the good moments. The times with Mai. Just let out your feelings."

I guess I saved Mai by going there. "But I could've been a healer."

"You were a healer from the start," Space says. "You healed your Mother. You were healing every woman that you spent time with. You've saved Mai's life multiple times. You're a healer. You'll get to build a wonderful clinic with Rosemary and Kelly. Soon, those classes will disappear. Everything about that screen will disappear, and you'll be free to pick how you feel about everyone, with no more Goddess demanding things from you. It'll all be a part of your past you can forget about. Take the good and throw out the rest. I wish you didn't have to do that, but you can always do that. The screen doesn't mean much. It's just the stupid Goddesses trying to control the world."

*** Goddess of the Sea ***

Something is going on with Alzi. Fertility has quite the crowd in her house. Should I go get Kitsune or Power to join us? I doubt Dragon will be useful for whatever issue we're having. I wish they could spread the message a bit. Maybe Hearth would be a good woman to bring in. Or perhaps I should stay away.

I should just poke my head in and make sure Fertility isn't sticking her foot in her mouth. She still struggles to support people, but she is getting out more.

"Hello?" I call out.

"Alzi found out something about her past," A dryad says.

"Thank you," I say. That's probably not something I need to get involved in. But why are Contract and Sky down here? They should be with Alzi if she's up here. "Contract, come along. I don't know what those two are thinking. Sky is so cute. Those two really can't think about feelings very well."

I scoop up Sky and head to Fertility's room, Contract following me in to find Alzi crying while Space and Fertility hug her.

"Sorry for intruding, but I felt that you could use some more support," I say. "Here's Sky, and Contract, be gentle. Alzi is pregnant. If you need anything, just call. I'll be downstairs."

"Do you want to join?" Alzi says.

"I would love to join," I say. I slot in near Fertility. I hope Alzi can get some rest. Something is always coming up that hurts her. She needs some peace to clear her head. The bodies can only do so much to give her time and space to relax. Her main body has to find some time as well. It's going to be so hard on her, but she'll make it. She's strong.

*** Mai ***

"Alzi? Are you ok?" I ask.

"Yes," Alzi says with a fake smile.

"You don't have to lie," I say. "I was asking if you could tell me about it. You're allowed to be sad in your other bodies as well. Take a break if you need to."

"I just found out that I never needed to become Ashryn's slave," Alzi says. "I- I could've been free with Mommy from the start!"

"Oh," I say. "Your Mother was going to live without Ashryn's help. You- I'm so sorry. Take a break. Please. Come with me. Come here. Alzi, I need you to process this with all of your bodies. Don't hide it from anyone. This has you upset for a good reason. Feel that, and work through it with us all. Let every one of your wives help you. Ok? Your Mother is on her way now. I didn't tell her what was going on, just that you could use her support. I'm sorry, Alzi. It's going to be better now. We're both free, and you're getting your revenge. It'll never be the same as if it never happened, but it'll let us move forward. Together. Will you come with me?"

"Yes," Alzi says. "Don't leave me."

"Never," I say. I wish I were tall enough to hug her head. My face just goes between her breasts as it is. "You promised to come with me. So you're going to come, even if I have to drag you along." Where is her main body? Armirynth should be with that body. I would like to be with that body. Something is always slightly off with these bodies. Like they process the world a little differently or something. This body isn't crying anywhere near enough for the news she just got. I don't know if these Goddesses are helping or hurting Alzi at this point. "Come on. Let's get a bit of privacy."

*** Armirynth ***

I should've told Alzi. I should've said something. I thought I could take it to the grave. If I had said something, I could've said it better. She wouldn't have been in front of everyone. That wasn't the right way for this to happen.

"Hi, baby," I say. "I'm sorry. I wasn't sure what happened. I was ignored and told that I didn't have anything when I brought it up with the court. I- It was probably Justice lying to me. I'm sorry!"

Why isn't her main body here? Where did they take her?

"I need to see Death!" Alzi says. "Justice is the fucking cause of all this shit. I'm- I'll do something to her. I'll bend Death over if I have to. That bitch. It wasn't your fault. The fucking nobles... I'll kill them all."

"Alzi, don't make big decisions right now," I say. "We can figure it out together. We'll figure it all out together. Where is your main body?"

"Nanoka took it to Fertility's temple," Alzi says. "I guess I don't have to kill them all. Just the one or two who wanted to defend Ashryn. Yumanea didn't get them all like she said she did."

"That's a good plan," I say. "We can do that. I'm sorry. I should've done more for you. I could've worked something out. I'm so sorry, baby." Will Alzi ever get good news? Everything just gets worse for her.

*** Elora ***

Shit. This was not the good first court session that I was hoping for. I hope this doesn't discourage Alzi from showing up. I want her to feel the power she now has sometimes.

I have to keep it going. "That settles Ashryn's deal," I say. "Unless someone disagrees with the Goddess's words or the actions taken... I thought so. But as one final word on the matter: the next person who fails to listen to our Empress, or fights against her word, will be promptly killed—no trial, and no chance to defend themselves. You can debate before our Empress makes a decision, but once she has decided, you will follow her word on it. For personal matters, you will just listen, as you all should've done today."

I let that hang in the air for a moment, watching to see who might still find the stupid courage to doubt the crown, before I continue.

"Now, as we've said a few times, the biggest challenge for the Queendom is rebuilding. It will take everyone working together. Petty squabbles will need to stop. We're going to be making sure the money we give out reaches the people it needs to reach, meaning it can't just sit in your vaults. Cities will be rebuilt. Towns will get new walls. Adventures will cut back the forest, and the army won't completely disband. They will also take part in cutting back nature. She's had her time as the scary force that we must be careful around. But the Goddess is now dead. And with that, we must claim more of the land to protect our citizens. I'll need the power of your houses to help us with that. We need to make sure we have a good harvest next year, or we'll all starve. I'll make sure you all go down with the commoners if needed. Now, due to some issues, we won't be able to cover much else until tomorrow. You all know who to blame for this."

"You're doing nothing?" Eterna whispers.

"For today," I say back, doing my best to let my frustration show. "I want them all. Not just the few who spoke up. We have a maid who can use the practice."

"Then it has to be big," Eterna says.

"It will be, I promise," I say. "If you want a part in it, just tell me."

Alzi won't care much about me showing up, but I can get all my wives together to give her some presents or something. We'll make sure she knows just how big her loving family is.