*** Alzi ***
I watched Mommy and Mai leave. I'm missing them already. There goes are three more kids I don't know when I'll get to see along with won I actually love and care about.
"My Lady," Shyla says. "You will see them again. Right now, we need to figure out what you are going to wear. I have two dresses: one for short heels and one for large heels. Which would you like? Due to your pregnancy, you have a choice in heels."
"Big, I guess." I don't know if I should really keep going on this 'dress as a whore thing.' But I can sit down and think it through later. Right now, I can show off what the Princess has bought.
"How big?" Shyla asks. A red dress starts floating behind her.
"Six or seven should be fine," I say. "I am pregnant."
"We will go with six, my Lady," Shyla says, her mana cleaning off. "Now, my Mother is planning on doing the sa makeup as usual so we can get started on your clothing. Do you want a wrap, bra, or nothing?"
"Nothing," I say. I thought the Princess would be choosing my clothing out, with this being a party with the Queen, much less letting wear a dress. "Why is the dress red?"
"The Queen has stated that a war has been declared, and all who are aiming for the throne are to show unity by wearing red," Shyla says. "Now, ti for the stockings."
Shyla works quickly to get clothed. The dress is a tight fit, my new skill speeding up this pregnancy even further, giving a bump just big enough to start ruining the abs I just got. Nothing crazy like my last pregnancy. Honestly, I don't think I'll get that big this ti around. Most won't even connect my belly with the beginning of a small life, but it does remind of it.
My tits were pinned up to fra my newest tattoo. The back of the dress is open to let my wings free. The skirt flairs out just a tad at my waist, ending just a few inches above my knee, showing off my long legs. Stocking to give them an even tone. Black heels to finish it off. A couple of golden bracelets and a simple necklace to try and peel so eyes off my collar.
"Ready for the makeup?" Aurora asks, already setting out the supplies.
"I guess." I move over to the desk, Aurora placing a mirror on the back. The second I sit down, she starts. There is just a bit of blush before Aurora gets to the swirling color to mimic my hair. She doesn't take long to put it all on.
She gives my face a check, "Is there anything else you want?"
"This is fine," I say. It's nothing new from what she put on before.
"Then we should be done here," Aurora says. "You are likely the first done. Besides Princess Elora, she had a eting with the Queen. You all will et with Princess Elora at the ballroom."
"Great, so I had more ti with my Mommy?" I say, looking at the tired woman in the mirror. If the Princess thinks a day with Mai and Mommy will make like her, she is stupid.
"No, my Lady. Your Mother wanted to talk with the Princess. The only ti for that was now," Aurora says. "Sorry that it is such a short ti. The war is going to cause a lot of people hardship. But you will be able to help end it faster..."
"NO!" I yell. "I will not give up my child. You..."
Aurora puts a finger over my lip to silence . "That is not what I ant, my Lady. I'm sorry that I've failed you so much that you think I would ask you to do that. I would never dare to take your child away or even suggest such a thing. You will be in the army, helping to keep the won healthy and fighting. Listen to Lady Oriphusa and do your best to think of how to improve her thods. The healthier the army, the strong the army is. That is all I ant, my Lady. That child in your womb will be raised by you. None shall take it."
"Just as I get to choose when if I get pregnant," I say.
"Yes, if we lose the war, you will likely lose the child," Aurora says. "But short of that. It will be yours."
"The families," I say.
"All kids are the families. Yours, Isda's, and Princess Elora's child," Aurora says. "That is what a marriage is."
What a shit definition of a marriage. It was ant to be people who love each other coming together.
"Whatever. Take to the carriage or front or wherever we are waiting," I demand.
"Yes, my Lady."
I wasn't the first. Guess I have to give Aurora sothing for that, though it could be due to our little fight.
Shimr is the one who beat . Ready with a big, warm smile in her red dress that kind of hides her figure. She only gave a quick hug before backing off again, giving so space.
The rest joined us one by one, causing us to repeat the sa pleasantries over and over before we walked through the castle grounds to a new building.
Just like the previous party, I was put in the middle, with Vanya in front and Geta behind. The maids created their own pack behind us.
The Princess is waiting for us in whatever room they call it—probably a waiting room if they don't have so fancy na for it. Two more groups of won in red dresses are gathered.
No n.
"Look, everyone," a woman calls out. "Her failures of wives have shown themselves."
"Lyrei, nobody besides your wives cares about this banter," another woman calls out.
"They are plunging us into another war," Lyrei says. "Little Elora getting her wish after all these years. Was this your goal? Your thirst for blood this strong?"
"Dear," Isda says. "Let it go. Everyone knows that traitors are the cause of this war. The Queen provided the proof herself."
"Get ready, Princesses!" a maid calls out.
The group with the second woman moves to the large doors, Lyrei's moving behind them. Elora gives us a quick look, peaking down at my heels, before moving to third in line.
"The Princesses!" a voice booms out behind the door. The first group moves out to polite clapping.
"Princess Lyrei and her harem!" the voice booms again just as the last Princess steps through the door.
"Princess Elora and her harem!" calls us forward.
Past the doors, I get to see what a royal party looks like.
Maids in fancy outfits move around with drinks and snacks. Won in all kinds of dress and shapes move about. I recognize more of them than I would like. Even a few that could be carrying my child in their womb. Others I know for a fact have children at ho.
We all move out to the middle of the room, a large orchestra starting up on the stage. If only Yuki was playing. Maybe I could convince her to marry the Princess.
The Princess takes my waist and gets in position to dance.
Why did no one think to warn ?
I quickly move my hands to the right position and wait for her to take a step.
"Sorry, dear," the Princess says. "It will only be a few steps." The orchestra finishes the intro, and we step off. The pace is faster than what Aurora had practice with, and that was almost a month ago. I guess I have to thank my stupid high-heel skill for keeping from stumbling. I feel more than the normal amount of mana move to my feet.
We only cycle through a few moves before we end up in two lines, Elora's and so of the Princesses on one side. Lyrei and the rest of the Princesses on the other.
"The Queen Yumanea Elagwyn!" the voice calls out.
We don't do anything special, just clap, as the Queen walks between us and into the middle of the massive ballroom.
"Welco, everyone," the Queen says. "I wish we gathered for a better reason than war. But the Queendom to the North thinks that it is ok to turn our nobles into traitors and steal our husbands and rape our Princesses. I thought we taught them the last ti that they should not disturb us. But it seems, even with Elora's continued lessons thereafter, that they believe they can poke us and remain unhard. We will not give them an inch. They have much to pay us for, and I count on each of you to help lead the brave warriors in extracting that price. I plan to walk out with more than a few extra wives this ti around."
The Queen turns to her daughters, eyeing Lyrei and Elora specifically. "We are all allies in this fight. A single mistake will cost us the lives we are ant to protect. Greed and shortsightedness will make us lose everything. We all must work together to accomplish the task that lies before us. There is plenty of glory to gain without causing trouble. The nobles and royals must provide a unified front to hand out the punishnt the Edeozia Queendom deserves. Let the Goddesses watch over us."
The polite claps return as more won walk down the aisle we made. I quickly spot Nesh leading the pack. To her left is a dryad that feels familiar, and I think her pregnant belly is calling . But I feel more than one belly in this room calling , so it is hard to tell.
Besides, when would I have gotten the chance to get a mber of the Queen's harem pregnant?
They all pair off when they reach the Queen, Elora turning to again for another dance. I hope this one is just as quick. I really should've predicted they would have us dancing for everyone.
I flutter my wings in surprise as I feel a stronger family connection pass through .
"Everything ok?" Elora whispers, not missing a step. Sothing I did not do.
"I think one of my daughters is around," I whisper. How? The oldest daughter should be about Nine, maybe ten? I don't know, but not old enough to be in the room of adults talking about war.
"Kid in a womb or already born?" Elora asks, a small smile creeping to her face.
"Born," I say. "I felt a number of kids in the womb already. I would hardly stutter for sothing so simple as that."
"I wonder why?" Is all the Princess says, returning our focus to the dance.
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