Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard Chapter 14 - A failed attempt - Part 1

"Chase them!" Auriel gasped, clutching her side as her vision swam. "Don’t let them escape!"

Evelyn didn’t need to be told twice. The sight of the goddess faltering sent a surge of anger coursing through her veins, and she took off in the direction of the fleeing figures.

Her long legs carried her swiftly across the cobblestone streets, her heart pounding as she closed the distance between herself and the attackers.

The shadowy figures darted into a narrow alleyway, but Evelyn was relentless. She called upon her magic, channeling her anger into a gust of wind that swept forward, knocking two of the assailants off their feet.

The third turned, brandishing a dagger, but Evelyn was quicker. She raised her hand, and a surge of energy crackled from her palm, sending the weapon clattering to the ground.

"Not so fast," she hissed, her voice sharp with fury.

The attackers struggled against her, but Evelyn’s magical prowess gave her the upper hand. With a wave of her hand, she conjured binds of shimring energy that wrapped around their wrists and ankles, immobilizing them.

She dragged them back toward the scene of the attack, her mind racing with questions.

"Tsk, who would be foolish enough to target so openly? Ah well, I guess I will know once I ask these fools a few questions."

When Evelyn returned, she found Auriel leaning against a tree, her face pale and her breathing labored. Beside her stood Lilith and Carol, their expressions a mix of concern and anger.

"What happened here?" Lilith demanded, her gaze snapping between Auriel and the captured attackers.

Auriel straightened with visible effort, her voice steady despite her weakened state. "There was an attack aid at Lady Evelyn. I intercepted it, but these individuals need to be interrogated to uncover who sent them."

Before Auriel could continue, Evelyn stepped forward, her brow furrowed with worry. "Stop talking. You’re in no condition to handle this right now." Without waiting for permission, she scooped the goddess into her arms, ignoring Auriel’s weak protests.

"I can walk—"

"Be quiet," Evelyn snapped, her tone surprisingly gentle. "You look like you’re about to collapse, and I’m not going to let that happen."

Auriel sighed but didn’t argue further, her exhaustion too great to put up much of a fight. As Evelyn carried her toward the temple, Lilith and Carol turned their attention to the captured attackers.

"Carol," Lilith said, her voice clipped, "secure them in the holding chamber. We’ll question them once we’ve ensured Auriel is stable."

Carol nodded, her usual cheerful deanor replaced with grim determination. "Understood."

______

Inside the temple, Evelyn carried Auriel to her chambers, laying her gently on the bed. The goddess looked up at her, a faint smile playing on her lips despite her exhaustion.

"Thank you," Auriel murmured, her voice soft.

Evelyn’s expression softened for a mont before she quickly masked it with her usual stern deanor. "Rest. Only fools get hurt trying to project soone else. And shouldn’t you be more resilient as a goddess anyway?"

Auriel chuckled weakly, but her insides froze in shock. "You’re quite protective for soone who’s usually so... blunt."

Evelyn rolled her eyes but didn’t reply. Instead, she adjusted the blanket over Auriel before stepping back. "Don’t move until Lilith checks on you."

As Evelyn left the room, she found Lilith waiting just outside, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. "How is she?" the priestess asked.

"She’ll be fine," Evelyn replied. "But she’s pushing herself too hard."

Lilith nodded, her gaze distant. "I see. Well, I don’t know whether to thank you for help or point the bla at you for what happened. Those people were after you."

Evelyn hesitated for a mont before speaking. "Do you think this attack was random?"

"No," Lilith said firmly. "It was too coordinated. Whoever sent those attackers knew exactly where to strike and who to target."

Evelyn’s jaw tightened. "I see. Priestess Lilith, I have a request for you. Please, allow to have a small ’talk’ with these attackers of mine. I am sure we have a lot to talk about."

The order was firm and anyone else would have folded under Evelyn’s harsh gaze. But Lilith was no ordinary human, and she held the penetrating gaze quite well.

"I am afraid that I cannot allow you to do this interrogation alone. However, if you wish to join and Carol during our ti in the dungeon, then you are more than welcod to."

______

In the holding chamber, the three captured attackers were bound securely, their faces covered to prevent them from seeing their surroundings. Carol stood guard, her usually bright eyes now cold and focused. When Lilith and Evelyn entered, she straightened.

"They’ve been secured," Carol reported. "None of them have said a word so far."

Lilith stepped forward, her presence commanding. "That’s about to change."

She approached the nearest prisoner, her voice sharp. "Who sent you? Speak, and I may show rcy."

The man remained silent, his head bowed. Evelyn, standing nearby, scoffed. "rcy? They don’t deserve it."

Lilith shot her a warning look but didn’t disagree. Instead, she turned her attention back to the prisoner. "If you value your life, you’ll answer my questions. Who ordered the attack on Lady Evelyn?"

The man shifted uncomfortably but still said nothing. Evelyn’s patience snapped. She stepped forward, her magic flaring as she grabbed the man’s collar. "Talk, or I’ll make you wish you had."

"Wait," Carol interjected, her voice calm but firm. "Let try."

Evelyn frowned but stepped back, watching as Carol knelt in front of the prisoner. Her deanor softened, her voice taking on a soothing tone. "Listen, we don’t want to hurt you. But you need to tell us who sent you. Otherwise, things will only get worse."

For a mont, the man seed to waver, his body trembling slightly. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice hoarse. "We were hired. A noblewoman. She paid us to eliminate the Greengrass heir."

Evelyn’s eyes widened, her anger flaring anew. "Who? Give a na!"

The man hesitated, then muttered, "Lady Shelly Munero."

The na sent a chill through the room. Lilith’s expression darkened, and Evelyn’s hands clenched into fists.

"So, she’s finally made her move," Evelyn said, her voice low and dangerous.

Lilith turned to Carol. "Inform the temple guards. We need to prepare for whatever cos next."

Carol nodded and hurried off, leaving Lilith and Evelyn to process the revelation. Evelyn’s mind raced with thoughts of revenge, but Lilith placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her.

"We’ll handle this carefully," Lilith said. "Auriel’s safety cos first."

Evelyn nodded, her determination unwavering. "Agreed. But Shelly Munero will answer for this. No one threatens —or the goddess—and gets away with it."

______

Lady Shelly Munero sat in the lavishly adorned garden of her estate, a porcelain teacup in her hand, the delicate floral aroma wafting up as she took a slow sip.

The tranquility of the mont was a stark contrast to the chaos she had carefully orchestrated just a day ago. She reveled in her success—or so she thought.

The sound of hurried footsteps across the polished marble path interrupted her serenity.

Her personal servant, a young man with nervous energy radiating from his every move, approached with urgency. He bowed deeply before speaking, his voice trembling.

"Lady Munero, I bring grave news. The plan to eliminate Lady Evelyn Greengrass has failed."

Shelly froze mid-sip, her teacup clinking softly as she set it down. "Failed?" she repeated, her tone icy but laced with a dangerous edge.

"Yes, milady," the servant continued, his eyes lowered. "Not only were the hired individuals captured, but... Goddess Auriel intervened to save Lady Greengrass. In the process, the goddess herself was injured."

The words hit Shelly like a bolt of lightning. Her ticulously calm facade faltered as her face went pale, her breathing shallow.

"Injured?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. The thought of a goddess, the goddess, being hard because of her actions was not part of her calculation.

She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the stone patio. "This is a disaster," she muttered to herself, pacing in short, agitated steps. The weight of her servant’s gaze pressed on her, but she ignored it, too consud by the implications of her failed sche.

"Prepare the carriage imdiately," she ordered, her voice sharp. "I must et with Goddess Auriel at once."

The servant hesitated, his brow furrowed with confusion. "Milady, would it not be wiser to wait and assess the situation?"

Shelly turned to him, her expression stern.

"Do you think I have ti to wait? The goddess was injured, and I cannot risk this misunderstanding escalating further. If word spreads that I orchestrated this attack, it will be the end of my ambitions—and possibly my life."

The servant nodded quickly and rushed to fulfill her orders, leaving Shelly to collect herself. She clasped her trembling hands together, steeling her resolve. "I must make this right," she murmured, though her stomach churned with dread. The goddess will understand... won’t she?

______

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