Chapter 190 – The Hopes and Fears of Parenthood
<span style="font-weight:400">Sparing onest nce in the direction of Petros’ workshop, I head back. A single check through my connection with my girls confirms that my amazing duo of receptionists is currently busy talking to Lianne. Judging by their moods, they are actually speaking about business instead of <i><span style="font-weight:400">business</i><span style="font-weight:400">, which is nice. I bet Lyona’s presence influences that a little. Even that little nympho queen wouldn’t let her shamelessness out of its confines in front of a neer.
<span style="font-weight:400">Right?
<span style="font-weight:400">Anyway, with a light sigh and a shake of my head, I wave at my driver, who has been patiently awaiting my return, and jump back into the carriage. I don’t think there’s anything important for me to still take care of in the city so I direct him back to the mansion. Plenty of stuff requires my attention at home. We really can’t catch a moment of rest. Sea monsters, mercenarypany, a new <i><span style="font-weight:400">religion</i><span style="font-weight:400">, and the grand task of escorting Vanessa’s family.
<span style="font-weight:400">No rest for the wicked as they say.
<span style="font-weight:400">My journey back passes uneventfully and we soon reach our destination. I thank the driver and tip handsomely. They are all paid decently well, of course, but there’s nothing wrong with a little kindness between the employee and employer.
<span style="font-weight:400">Many of these men and women have their own families to support and they are even working multiple jobs to scrape by since being a carriage driver isn’t the most lucrative profession in the capital. There’s lots ofpetition. Therefore, we hire many different people who rotate constantly so as to allow everyone to earn some good coin once in a while. If I’m not mistaken, Ria pays them like three to five times more than their usual rates.
<span style="font-weight:400">Naturally, we don’t pick up any random driver off the street and seat them on the front bench. Helping out people in need is good, but the safety of the clients and professionalism are very crucial in every field. There is lots of screening and other procedures to ensure that there are no <i><span style="font-weight:400">idents</i><span style="font-weight:400">. Unfortunately, not all poor citizens are honest in heart.
<span style="font-weight:400">But, there’s nothing to worry about with my lovely wives andpanions, and other partners taking charge of these things. They love what we have managed to build together just as much as I do. And many of them are much more talented than me in multiple fields of expertise. I’m so d I got to meet them.
<span style="font-weight:400">After bidding farewell to the driver, I walk out of the mansion’s premises and step into the building which will soon function as our cosy temple. While I did just say that thedies are talented and knowledgeable and I definitely trust them with my business and life, there are <i><span style="font-weight:400">things</i><span style="font-weight:400"> I actually have little to no trust in with some of them involved in that particr aspect. Therefore, I’m going to make sure that Ailish doesn’t go overboard with decorations and design this time. Personally.
<span style="font-weight:400">My arrival clearly surprises the sly Subus but she tries to downy it by acting her usual slutty self. Humouring thescivious woman for a while, I join her and Elea in preparing our new sanctuary. The horny demon figures out why and does her best to behave in front of me, promised with either a good <i><span style="font-weight:400">reward</i><span style="font-weight:400"> or a fitting <i><span style="font-weight:400">punishment</i><span style="font-weight:400"> for her behaviour and actions.
<span style="font-weight:400">When the abundance orck of dick is on the table, Subi tend to turn really, really obedient and meek.
<span style="font-weight:400">What a shocker.
<span style="font-weight:400">They take me on another tour to show what is already finished and what needs more attention. The entrance hall is more or less done,cking only some sculptures we have been nning for, but that’s going to be solved in just a moment. Currently, the spacious chamber is decorated with lots of purple tapestries bearing my crest. At some point, the heart with horns and tail became our symbol and I didn’t argue. The new addition is a t, vertical, monk-like handprint of a neat palm inside which the sigil is located.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yep. Feels like a damn cult.
<span style="font-weight:400">We onlyck flyers adorned with <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘We Know’</i><span style="font-weight:400"> on them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Besides the hanging cloth and fabric, we currently have four big paintings on the side walls. My eyes tell me that half of them are Shino’s work while the other half belongs to Neira. They must have prepared them ahead of time because there’s no way they can paint this fast. Or maybe I’m just mistakenly putting my Earth Human standards on them. They are both something much more. Especially with my bonuses.
<span style="font-weight:400">Either way, one side is dedicated to Lumina, while the other disys me. The first pair is a simple bust to focus on our faces. They are warm and inviting. It seems like Shino managed to secure the rights to do my depictions this time. I can imagine thempeting over that privilege.
<span style="font-weight:400">As for the second pair, it’s a full body of us covered only by a single, decently wide sash going across our bodies from shoulder to waist. Hers is heavenly white while mine is royal purple. Those pieces of fabric barely hide our privates, but somehow manage to create a somewhat adequate appearance without veering too hard into the too sexual side.
<span style="font-weight:400">The hall ends with a raised stage for public speaking and other events. The room will be filled with benches at ater time so that people can sit downfortably and listen in or wait for their turn to receive whatever service they came for. In terms of those services, the majority will take ce here, but we will offer more private locations for anyone too anxious about being seen or recognised.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, the three of us move to the corridors leading to the sides and visit a few simple rooms dedicated to just that. Not much is in them. A bed in case someone would be tired or experienced anything unusual during blessings or other things. A small corner withfy chairs and sofas to talk casually. And what seems like a little altar to offer prayers in front of, most likely bearing tiny statuettes of me and Lumina soon.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, we head back to the entrance hall and move through the ornate door at the back of the stage. Each wing of the grand gate represents a person. It’s again me and Lumina, of course. We hold hands where the doors meet and extend our other arms towards the observers, weing them into our home.
<span style="font-weight:400">Elea and Ailish exin that every temple needs its sacred chamber, essible only by the highest priest and their direct subordinates, which would be me and her in this case. In theory, this would be the ce where we go pray to our god, so where she would go to pray to me, perhaps with some help from my side if she fancied it. We all know what kind of prayers this would involve.
<span style="font-weight:400">After some tough convincing, they let me in. Their reason for being hesitant is nothing else than it being unfinished and unworthy of my presence. I wave them off and don’t give up. No matter what, I’m going to inspect <i><span style="font-weight:400">everything</i><span style="font-weight:400">. As far as I’m concerned, they could have erected a giant statue of my dick there and I would learn about it on the day of our new beginning.
<span style="font-weight:400">Turns out that I’m thankfully wrong and there’s nothing wrong with this chamber. It’s not as big as the entrance hall, but it’s clearly meant to be much more decorated. And yeah, I can spot the ces where at least two statues are going to stand, judging by the elevated tforms. Something also exists in the very middle but that’s harder to guess. Maybe another statue, but of who?
<span style="font-weight:400">Statues aren’t the only thing missing, though. The chambercks windows, it is for a good reason. From the metal frames I can see, it’s pretty obvious someone decided to put in stained ss mosaics instead. The framework is done, just waiting for the colourful filling. I honestly can’t wait to see them in action.
<span style="font-weight:400">At the end of our tour, we visit some of the staff and service areas, which obviously aren’t as well-decorated, but are still kept in the same theme of white-gold-purple. One day, someone might live here, so such arrangements are being prepared ahead of time. Elea mentioned finding priestesses to work in here and it sounded like a serious idea. Only she will be able to grant blessings and such for a while, but some technical help is wee. Even better if ites from various races.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hitting two birds with one stone.
<span style="font-weight:400">Shortly after we return to the entrance hall, someone knocks on the door and I go check. As expected, it’s Petros. He is a bit more dressed this time, which is appreciated. I was kind of wondering if he would show up almost bare-chested everywhere or if he has some more decorum outside of his workshop.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hey, don’t me me, masters of art tend to be… quirky.
<span style="font-weight:400">I bring him to Elea and Ailish to introduce everyone. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to put up an attitude after our earlier encounter and treats them professionally. I don’t spot any prejudice either, but maybe because of what he is, he just isn’t one to look down too much on his fellow oppressed races.
<span style="font-weight:400">Keeping the fact that he doesn’t know that they know in mind. I don’t want to risk him turning on us after we reveal that we are aware of his true nature. His <i><span style="font-weight:400">natural</i><span style="font-weight:400"> charm clearly doesn’t work on my lovely girls but they try to act kindly and without focusing too much on his vampiric features. After spending some time next to Lyona, I have a bit easier time spotting those hidden cues.
<span style="font-weight:400">Will we tell him one day? Who knows. It would put Lyona under the bus too so this should be her decision first and foremost. I can’t risk Petros figuring out that she is the source of the leak. There’s no guarantee he will believe us when we say that we learned about his kind on our own. So, we’ll see how things go from this point and decideter.
<span style="font-weight:400">The gorgeous duounches into a detailed exnation of what we expect while whipping out a few sketchbooks full of, surprise, sketches portraying me and Lumina in various poses and states of dress and undress. They really came prepared, courtesy of our resident artists. I have a feeling that even our brothel will gain a few new decorations by the end of this cooperation and I might not have much say in that regard.
<span style="font-weight:400">While talking, they lead him through the temple and point at various spots. Petros doesn’t only listen silently but chimes in with his ownments, suggestions, and ideas like a true pro. No one has any doubts that he is much more knowledgeable and experienced in this field than all of usbined. No offence to Shino and Neira, of course. Their artistic minds are as beautiful as their gorgeous figures.
<span style="font-weight:400">Since everything is looking to be under control, and I don’t hear anything about massive dicks or vaginas in any chambers, I excuse myself politely and leave them to their own machinations. My anxiety has been eliminated and I can now fully trust them on this matter.
<span style="font-weight:400">I hope.
<span style="font-weight:400">Also, I’ve sensed Elise and Lyona returning so I stroll to catch them in the headquarters. They are both in the staff room behind the reception counter, with the white-haired Vampire girl taking down some notes. My kinky brothel madame turns to me with a pretty smile and I present her with a tender peck while squeezing her rump. We both wait for our friend to finish.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Man, you never mentioned anything about a devout admirer when introducing me to your guy,” I say with a snicker as she finally looks up at us.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A what?” She furrows her brows lightly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You had to know, right? Dude is so obvious the whole kingdom must be aware.” I raise one of my own brows at her. “He is crazy in love with you. Or at least desires you over anything else in this realm.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Did Petros cause you trouble?” Lyona asks with a twinge of anxiety in her beautiful eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, not really.” I shake my head. “But it seems like he isn’t happy that we know each other. He feels like you became quite talkative after meeting me. It might have hit him where it shouldn’t, really.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s this about? Another secret you’ve been keeping from me?” Elise smirks at her best friend, clearly without any bad feelings behind her words.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lyona sighs softly. “He did court me once in the past but I rejected his advances. I wasn’t interested in him romantically. I thought we parted on good terms but it looks like I was mistaken. I apologise for not thinking this through, Master.”
<span style="font-weight:400">I rest a hand on her shoulder. “That’s not something you could have expected or predicted. He clearly pays much more attention to you than you do to him. He seems to be taking this professionally, though, so all is good. Do you think he might try to fuck us over out of spite?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“He isn’t someone like that,” she denies confidently. “We’ve known each other for a good while. He’s always been a focused and respectful man. That’s why your words surprise me. I’ve never seen him act rash or emotional.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Maybe in front of you.” I grin at her. “Anyway, we just need to avoid appearing too close before him and it should be fine. I’m not sure what his limit is before he snaps.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is a way for him to stop bothering you and ept his position but I don’t think we should take it at this moment,” Lyona ponders out loud.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Telling him what stair is, right?” Elise taps her lips. “Certainly, that could work. You do call him Lord for a reason.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“With all due respect, guys like him are… unpredictable.” I nce at them both. “It might have an adverse effect or no effect at all. If he is crazy in love with Lyona and gets fed up with others being all mushy with her and not him, nothing will stop him fromshing out.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I feel like I’ve brought you only trouble since the moment I joined, Master.” Lyona looks down at her desk.
<span style="font-weight:400">I chuckle and kneel down by her side, cupping up her delicate chin to meet her eyes. “This is nothingpared to the level of usual issues that pop up in my life whatever I do and wherever I go. Just let Elise tell you how much trouble I’ve gone through to secure Ria’s cooperation. And I’m always up for it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She responds to my gentle smile with a tiny tug of the corners of her mouth too and I lean in to ce a peck on her smooth forehead. Shino would most likely have berated me for not going after her sweet-looking lips, but that’s just not my way. And we have to be careful for now.
<span style="font-weight:400">Standing up, I put my hands on my sides. “I don’t think he will try anything unsavoury but I’ll have Hecate stationed as your guard for the duration of his assignment.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hecate?” She nces up at me curiously.
<span style="font-weight:400">I snap my fingers and a certain spidergirl shes into existence in the corner of the ceiling right behind me, causing Lyona to flinch. Holding back my chuckle, I look at our lovely vignte and nod at her to climb down. She rappels herself onto the floor and stands next to me, inviting my hand to start caressing her short hair.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you okay with that?” I ask my silent guardian.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes,” Hecate replies softly. “I will protect Master’s new mate.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Leaving it misinterpreted like that for now, I turn to Lyona. “I hope you don’t mind. You won’t even notice she is there. She is a very nice girl, though not too talkative since she is still learning how to actually speak.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“But why, if I may ask?” Lyona looks between the two of us.
<span style="font-weight:400">“As I said, I don’t think he will do anything, but it’s just in case. He is definitely ying the long game right now. Where Ie from, we have a saying that there are no female friends, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, it’s true in ny-nine percent of cases. He is keeping himself as your understanding and trusted friend but deep down he is hoping that one day you might get <i><span style="font-weight:400">burned</i><span style="font-weight:400"> by one of your rtionships ande to him to find reassurance andfort. Hoping that such a situation might create chinks in your previous belief, making you reconsider your stance and perhaps think if maybe he actually was the right guy for you from the very beginning. And he will be ready for that day to shower you with his undying love. The only question is, how long can he persevere in that conviction of his.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That sounds a tad… creepy.” Elise smiles wryly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“If you liked some guy a lot, perhaps even fell in love with him, but he kindly and respectfully informed you that he isn’t interested in being together, would you just simply forget him and move on or would you hope that maybe someday or something might change his mind?” I turn to her with a raised brow.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well… When you put it like that…” She giggles shyly. “I would like to say that it depends…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course.” Iugh lightly. “It always <i><span style="font-weight:400">depends</i><span style="font-weight:400">. But you get the idea. It’s a bit moremon for guys. They are often the ones who have to <i><span style="font-weight:400">fight</i><span style="font-weight:400"> for affection through their effort where Ie from. Things seem to be a bit more bnced here thanks to different social norms and sses.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I understand.” Lyona nods softly. “I have just one question.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes?” I turn to her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Was she there when we…?” she asked, examining the other pale beauty with her scarlet gaze.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hecate gives a delicate nod and I chuckle quietly. “She is my guardian and practically never leaves my side unless I ask her to. You can safely assume that she is watching me at all times.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s impressive,” Lyonaments. “I felt like my senses were strengthened beyondprehension thanks to your and your friend’s blood, but I have not had the slightest idea she was around.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“With time, you will be able to use the bond that connects all of us to locate her, but without that, it’s true that Hecate is the master of stealth. I guess Arachnes are just that good at it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s kind of exciting.” Elise giggles, joining me in patting the cute spidergirl. “Anyway, we got lots of information from Lianne and should start briefing the squad. They need to be ready in a few days. We are going to depart together from here and head for Vanessa’s homnd on horseback. Carriages will join us on the way back.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Got it. I’ll leave you to it.” With an appreciative smile, I pull her in for a tender kiss thatsts quite a moment and retreat from the room.
<span style="font-weight:400">Now, with these aspects more or less taken care of, I guess I should return to my main business and help out thedies there before we have to depart on a brief journey once more. Even if it will be short and pretty self-exnatory, without any interesting deviations, I’m still excited about it. Mostly because I’ll be joining Shino’s team like in the past. I’m super curious about their growth, and about their new friend.
<span style="font-weight:400">They seem to have a knack for finding capable and trustworthy teammates. I know it’s delusional, but I keep hoping that they won’t really need me to take down Umbra in the future. Well, no one knows what’s going to happen.
<span style="font-weight:400">As I walk the paved path to the entrance, Cornelia opens the door for me, already waiting. She invites me inside and snuggles to my side, entwining her elbow with mine. Presented with so much loving affection from my dear wife, I lean to the side to join our lips in a chaste peck.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you have a moment to talk?” she asks gently.
<span style="font-weight:400">“With you? Always.” I kiss her once more and start heading for our chambers. “What about?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You remember our conversation about the ship? And in the bedroom recently? You see, I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Having kids, I mean,” she begins, looking firmly ahead.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see. Are you still worried about something?” I use my free hand to caress her cheek.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No. Yes. I don’t know.” She sighs heavily. “I’m not sure how to say it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then don’t,” I reply with a little grin. “Say it, I mean.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She finally looks at me and scans my eyes for a moment. Wee to a stop right in front of the door and she turns us to face each other. Putting her slender hands on my chest, Cornelia leans forward and joins our lips in a slow, sensual kiss full of unfiltered love. Her palms unhurriedly trace my front before heading to my back and squeezing me tighter into her body. We exchange gentle pecks for a solid minute before she reluctantly draws her lips back, keeping herself close.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You want children,” I whisper, getting the unspoken message clearly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes,” she whispers back, resting her forehead on my shoulder. “I think.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Delicately scooping her up into a princess carry, I get us inside and sit down on the bed, setting Cornelia in myp with her side to me.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, you know me. I’ll dly oblige if you think we are ready.” I lovingly brush through her hair.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m not so certain about that, but I feel like I never will,” she admits. “You are definitely going to be a great father, but me? I’ve always been so focused on my research and studies. What do I even know about real motherhood?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, that’s too harsh. It’s going to be a first for me too. We would be experiencing it together. There’s only so much that knowledge can help with in regards to parenthood. You can never feel truly ready.” I bring her eyes to mine. “But, if we are talking about getting ready, I think you have much better prospects for that. Are you forgetting about a certain experienceddy amongst our ranks? She will dly answer all your questions about motherhood. Me? See any dude around here? I’m totally on my own. And that’s not super reassuring.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She chuckles beautifully. “Do you mean to say that you worry even more than me?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Woman, I’m shaking in my boots at the very thought of it.” Iugh and steal those delicious lips of hers. “I can only hope to use my own father as a role model, just without the constantck of presence and the sudden disappearance.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Cornelia’s smile fades away and she starts brushing her fingers against my cheek. “You worry that you won’t always be by his or her side due to your work and all the journeys?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That thought did pass through my mind once or twice, yeah,” I admit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This is different, though. You weren’t left with a mother but a pretender. Things would have been different if she was a real mother with bottomless love both for you and your father. It’spletely different here. Your children will have not just one but like a dozen of loving and doting mothers. And that’s without counting all the women who simply respect you and will do anything to make your children feel loved and cared for. You were alone, they won’t be. And I have faith in you and your ability to always return. Plus, you are training the mercenary girls, are you not? In the future, they will be able to take care of your matters whenever necessary. You will be able to stay here and do nothing as much as you want.” She peppers me with loving kisses.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And who is reassuring who now?” I chuckle. “I know you are right, just as you know I’m right. But Human brains are shit, aren’t they?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sheughs sweetly. “They are. So to redirect them away from these negative thoughts, there is something else that made me bring this up.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s curious. Go on.” I smirk at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The grand opening of your new temple. Lumina will share the news with her priests, and they will share it with others, but this is all just word of mouth. People will learn that you can give blessings, but some will definitely need proof that they work. So, <i><span style="font-weight:400">we</i><span style="font-weight:400"> could use the Blessing of Fertility on me as that proof. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I can pull some strings in my academic circles and spread rumours that I’m trying for a child and will make a serious attempt at it on that day,” she exins.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now, that would be a lie.” I snort at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How?” Cornelia furrows her brows a tad.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We are both aware that my abilities assure a hundred percent sess rate of insemination when consciously triggered that way. Especially now that I’m Tier 6 and kind of ascended. I’m a damn demigod. I’m fairly sure I can knock up <i><span style="font-weight:400">anything</i><span style="font-weight:400"> at this point, knowing the history of Primordials,” I reply with an amused smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You are not wrong.” She wrinkles her cute nose. “Then maybe we can test that. The power of your seed, I mean. See if it can pierce the anti-conception magic if you put enough thought into it. I’m actually curious. We can use that along with the blessing, right? I still think it would be a good idea to do one publicly and then show the results right after with that verifying spell we figured out in the past. And I think Elea got ess to something simr from your divine patronage too.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hmmm… Lumina?” I nce up to the ceiling.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">~The magic you are using in the brothel does not collide with the Blessing of Fertility. The former prevents conception by disabling semen and eggs, while thetter guarantees that the recipient gets pregnant as long as they are physically able to,~</i><span style="font-weight:400"> the Goddess responds in my mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So, it won’t help those who are infertile for any physical reason?” I rub my chin while thinking of a certain person.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">~No, it won’t. Think of it as your own ability to ensure pregnancy, only as something you can share with others. It helps those with weak seed or reproductive organs and their surrounding aspects or withpatibility and other potential issues. The power to aid true infertilityester. It’s too much for your current divinity at this moment,~</i><span style="font-weight:400"> she expands further.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then I will be able to do it, just not now. That’s still great news.” I nod to myself with a smile. “Thanks for rifying everything. It will be easier to exin to the people without misleading them.”
<i><span style="font-weight:400">~I believe Cornelia’s idea of using the blessing on her as a trial run is worthy of consideration. You might be cheating a little, but the result would be the same even if you didn’t have your abilities. If there is even the tiniest chance of fertilisation, the blessing will make it happen,~</i><span style="font-weight:400"> Lumina adds.
<span style="font-weight:400">I thank her once more and repeat everything to my lovely wife.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I guess she isn’t wrong. We just have to make it clear what the blessings do and it should be fine.” I scratch my head. “So, ignoring all that for a second, are you sure you are okay working a bit and staying behind with a baby? I kind of considered asking if you would like to join us with Sirgia when we go to her homnd.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Cornelia smiles at me and boops my nose. “You know me. I’m not going to sit idly, at least for as long as my condition allows for it. And even if I wouldn’t get that round in the period of your trip, I believe it should be exclusively Sirgia’s turn. I apanied you just recently and it was great. She deserves her time too. To bepletely honest, I’m kind of excited about this. Staying behind with our child slowly growing inside my belly. I’ve been on numerous expeditions, but this is something I’ve never even dreamed of.”
<span style="font-weight:400">I pull her closer and wrap her in a loving hug. “Very well. Let’s agree on this before either of us gets second thoughts and chickens out. Just don’t me me if my super seed puts twins or triplets in you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sheughs openly and smacks me on the chest. “Do you want to kill me? Bastard. They would wreck me so hard on their way out I would lose feeling in my pussy for a year.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good thing you enjoy the other exit much more.” I grin at her and she smacks me again, this time with a fierce blush surfacing on her cheeks.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, she takes a deep breath and grabs my wrist. “Alright. Let’s go.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What? Where to? Hey!” I chuckle in shock as she yanks me up and starts dragging me away.
<span style="font-weight:400">We move through the mansion with a clear purpose, Cornelia’s hand locking my wrist firmly the entire way. After getting under the ground, we travel through the unfinished tunnel linking the brothel with the headquarters and arrive in front of Sirgia’s relocated workshop. Cornelia stops for a moment, takes another breath, and steps inside.
<span style="font-weight:400">Our adorable Dwarf work addict is currently handling some minor elements necessary for the construction of the projects we have recently undertaken. The pieces seem to be connected to the headquarters, but it’s not like it matters right now. Cornelia brings us closer to Sirgia’s little frame and we wait for our friend to pause her work.
<span style="font-weight:400">It doesn’t take long and we are greeted by her gorgeous brown eyes. “Yes?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sirgia, do you want to have children with stair?” Cornelia asks.
<span style="font-weight:400">I look at her with raised brows, quite unsure of where we are getting with this exactly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes,” Sirgia responds without a hint of hesitation in her quiet voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Okay.” Cornelia nods to herself. “In technical terms, you are his first wife, so the privilege of giving birth to his first descendant belongs to you. Do you want to retain this right until the moment you conceive or are you willing to allow others to step forward before you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">My cute cinnamon-haired shortie looks between the two of us before a spark of realisation shes in her smart gaze. “You want to have a baby with Master?”
<span style="font-weight:400">In turn, my usuallyposed magician takes another deep breath. “Yes. I want to try for a child with stair. No, that’s wrong. I want to have a child with stair. There is no trying with him.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sirgia takes off her cksmithing gloves and struggles out of her heat-resistant apron, appearing in her usual shirt and shorts. “Did you reallye here to ask for my permission?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“As I said, you are his first wife by right. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. Ourmunities might have their differences in terms of family matters, but I believe this part is more or less simr in both harems,” Cornelia exins.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It is.” Sirgia nods adorably. “I do want to have a baby with Master, but… not yet. I can’t. Not until my family acknowledges me. I have been disgraced by my capture and disappearance. I need to regain my honour. And I need to prove to them my worth, which was the goal of my journey as a cksmith. I want our children to have the support of my n. Master’s children deserve it. So, until my creations get acknowledged enough to secure me a ce amongst the most respected individuals in my family, I will be happy to see you give birth to Master’s children first, happy that you can give him something I can’t.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sirgiaunches into a quite long and unusual for her speech, which makes Cornelia sniff more and more. By the end of it, my lovely magician yanks the short girl up and squeezes the Dwarfdy to her chest with a powerful hug.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you! Thank you, so much! I’m so sorry for ever being rude to you! I swear I’m going to do my best for him!” She keeps shaking them from side to side and I can’t help but chuckle a little.
<span style="font-weight:400">As for Sirgia, she returns the affectionate embrace and I spot a hint of a warm smile curling her petite lips. These two have always been close but it seems like the matters of motherhood might bring them even closer. And I have another thing to think about. The matter of Sirgia’s family.
<span style="font-weight:400">If I’m not wrong, she might be nning to shock them during our uing trip.
<span style="font-weight:400">I better do whatever I can to help her out.
<span style="font-weight:400">Having nothing better to do at this very moment, I join the twodies with my own hug, enveloping them both in my embrace. We stay like that for a minute or two before Cornelia starts raining kisses on Sirgia’s cute cheeks and all over my face. That results in lots of chuckling and giggling. And one smouldering gaze after.
<span style="font-weight:400">The following night bes so intensive that I start wondering if Cornelia hasn’t given up on waiting until the big day, but I make sure I’m still shooting nks for the entire session. Hearing the news, all my current mates and wives who are present in the capital join in and it turns into a massive orgy with Cornelia in the centre. It’s all so bizarre, especially with her chatting about parenting stuff with Ria and Lianne while I pound someone else right next to them, or even right when she is getting her backdoor sted open, mid-moan.
<span style="font-weight:400">In the next few days, things progress like clockwork. Petros handles his part of the contract amazingly well and brings us statue after statue of unbelievable quality at a rapid pace, almost impossible for a living being. The furnishing and decoration of the templee along gorgeously well too. Things are all clicking into ce bit by bit.
<span style="font-weight:400">The mercenary girls get a few smallmissions around the city to raise their fame a bit and not remain idle until our uing assignment. The brothel is developing fabulously too. We get more costumes, rooms, and roles from the gathered feedback, slowly inching towards the grand opening of that service too. Though, many already consider it open, I guess. But we haven’t advertised yet.
<span style="font-weight:400">In the meanwhile, a revtion descends upon Lumina’s top believers, priests, and prophets. It’s kind of amazing that she includes all of us in it too, but maybe it shouldn’t be that surprising considering the fact that she most likely can choose anyone for that. The change in the capital’s mood is instant as people start discussing the news amongst themselves, attending the kingdom-hosted announcements, and in general pondering about the future.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lumina gives them details such as my name, appearance, race before ascension, aspect of godhood, how we are in a good rtionship, what it means for all her believers, and most importantly, where to find my first temple. Plenty of curious residents stop by even before it''s open, even if only to gaze upon the new structure.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although, her revtion made me realise one thing. Hopefully, having started in the Human Kingdom and as a Human won’t push other races away too much from us. That would be counterproductive to our current efforts. She did emphasise that we view all beings as equal, but who knows how various people receive this news. It’s toote to go back now and we need to do what we can to salvage the situation if the need arises.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, the day of our first official introduction to the masses arrives. I should have foreseen the fact that the temple would not be enough to house all the interested in its rtively small confines. A massive crowd fills the nearby streets and our mansion’s front yard, which we opened for everyone to take their spots in too. Thankfully, Sirgia whipped out a few voice-transmitting artefacts so the message should reach most if not all of them.
<span style="font-weight:400">As for me, I’m currently standing on the small stage in the entrance hall, which is filled to the brim, as mentioned. I decided to remain in my suit to appear a bit more rtable rather than super divine. I can spot plenty of familiar faces, starting from old friends like Barren, through various acquaintances like Lord Jericho, ending at the King and Queen and some other nobles in the very first row.
<span style="font-weight:400">Talk about stage fright.
<span style="font-weight:400">One small step for a man, one giant leap for Naharren.