Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 35: The Duchess’s Invitation - Part 3

Chapter 35: 35: The Duchess’s Invitation - Part 3

"My dear goddess. Please allow me to show you everything. This feels good, right?"

The Duchess almost kneaded Auriel’s chest, making the female moan.

Auriel’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The warm water surrounding her, combined with Duchess Amara’s touch and presence, left her feeling paralyzed.

Her rational mind screamed at her to push the Duchess away, to say something—anything—to assert herself.

Yet, her body refused to cooperate, caught in an uncomfortable mix of confusion and helplessness.

The Duchess’s hands were soft and skilled, and her voice carried a soothing yet dangerously seductive quality.

"Goddess Auriel, you truly deserve nothing but the best. Allow me to ease your burdens, even if just for tonight."

Auriel swallowed hard, her throat dry despite the steam in the room.

She wanted to tell the Duchess to stop, to leave, but her words were caught in her throat. Her brain felt like it was shutting down, overwhelmed by the situation.

A deep, gnawing guilt started to creep into her chest as she realized how close she was to letting herself make a mistake she’d regret.

Just as Auriel opened her mouth to protest, the door to the bathhouse swung open with an audible creak. The sound echoed through the steamy room, startling both women.

"Goddess Auriel, you’ve been in here for far too long. Are you—"

Carol’s voice cut off abruptly as she took in the scene before her.

The sight of the Duchess, leaning far too close to Auriel with her hands suspiciously placed on the goddess’s naked Chest, caused Carol’s face to twist in immediate rage.

Her fists clenched at her sides as her piercing gaze zeroed in on Duchess Amara.

"What in the world is going on here?"

Carol demanded, her voice sharp and furious.

Auriel scrambled to explain, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and guilt.

"Carol, wait, it’s not what it looks like—"

"Duchess Amara, this is blasphemy"

Carol snapped, cutting Auriel off. Her eyes darted to the Duchess, who was smiling slyly, completely unbothered by the tension in the room.

"Ah, the loyal knight, You misunderstand the situation. I was merely assisting our dear goddess. She seemed so tense, and I couldn’t bear to see her in such discomfort. Surely you can’t fault me for offering my hospitality."

Duchess Amara said smoothly, her tone dripping with amusement.

"Hospitality? That’s what you call this?"

Carol echoed, her voice low and dangerous.

The Duchess took a step closer to Carol, her smile widening.

"You know, you’re quite the striking protector. Fierce, loyal, and passionate. I can see why the goddess keeps you close. Perhaps I could borrow your services sometime"

Her voice dropped into a sultry tone as she added.

Carol’s eyes narrowed, and her hands twitched as if she was considering reaching for her weapon.

"Don’t test me, Duchess. I am underage"

Amara laughed lightly, unfazed by Carol’s anger.

"Underage? Are you sure? Well, nevermind. No need to get so worked up. I was merely teasing. It seems my presence is causing some unnecessary tension. I’ll take my leave for now. Rest well, Goddess Auriel"

She turned back to Auriel, who was still sitting in the bath, looking thoroughly mortified.

Before either Auriel or Carol could respond, Duchess Amara made her graceful exit, leaving behind a lingering scent of floral perfume and an air of mischief.

Once the door clicked shut behind her, the room was silent except for the gentle splashing of water as Auriel shifted uncomfortably. Carol let out a sharp breath, her anger still evident in the hard lines of her face.

"Goddess, please don’t fall for things like these."

Carol began, her voice tight and filled with disappointment.

Auriel lowered her gaze, unable to meet Carol’s piercing eyes.

"It wasn’t what it looked like, Carol. I—I didn’t know how to stop her. She just... forced her way in."

Carol crossed her arms over her chest, her stance rigid.

"You’re the goddess, Auriel. You shouldn’t be letting someone like her take advantage of you like that. You have the authority to tell her no. If you feel uncomfortable, you need to make it clear. You can’t just sit there and let her do whatever she wants."

"I know,"

Auriel said softly, her voice barely above a whisper."

Carol’s expression softened slightly at Auriel’s admission, but her frustration remained. "

Auriel bit her lip, her hands gripping the edges of the bath.

"I didn’t mean for this to happen. Anyway, let’s not talk about it anymore..."

She trailed off, unsure how to articulate the conflicting emotions swirling inside her.

Carol nodded, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.

"Good. Now, let’s get you out of that bath before the Duchess gets any more ideas."

Auriel chuckled weakly, the sound tinged with a mix of relief and lingering discomfort. With Carol’s help, she stepped out of the bath and wrapped herself in a warm towel.

As she dried off and got dressed, Auriel couldn’t help but replay the events in her mind. She felt a renewed determination to assert herself, not just with Duchess Amara but in all aspects of her role as the goddess. She couldn’t afford to let others manipulate or control her.

Carol stayed by her side the rest of the evening, her presence a comforting reminder that Auriel wasn’t alone in navigating the challenges of her position.

And while the encounter with Duchess Amara had left her shaken, Auriel resolved to use it as a lesson—a reminder of the strength she needed to cultivate within herself.

______

After the awkward bath incident, Auriel sat by the fireplace in her chambers, a warm cloak draped around her shoulders.

Her wet hair clung to her back, and the soothing crackle of the fire should have eased her mind, but the tension in the air remained thick.

Carol stood nearby, her arms crossed, the weight of her thoughts evident on her face.

"I looked around the mansion while you were... preoccupied but I couldn’t find anything suspicious,"

Carol began, her tone firm but quiet.

Auriel tilted her head, her curiosity piqued despite her lingering discomfort.

"Nothing? The Duchess promised to show us the hidden tablet. I assumed it would be somewhere prominent, or at least guarded."

Carol shook her head, frustration flashing in her eyes.

"Not a trace. I checked the obvious places—her study, the library, even the wine cellar—but there was nothing. If she’s hiding the tablet, she’s doing a damn good job of it. The servants wouldn’t talk, either. Every time I asked a question, they either pretended not to hear me or gave vague, polite responses."

Auriel frowned, her fingers clutching the edges of her cloak.

"Do you think the Duchess is lying about the tablet’s existence?"

Carol hesitated, her jaw tightening.

"She has no reason to, but Lady Amara is a mystery, even to us. She might be stalling for some reason, or she could be testing us. Either way, I don’t trust her. She’s playing some kind of game, and we’re caught in the middle of it."

Auriel sighed, her mind spinning with possibilities.

"She was so insistent about the tablet being important. I can’t just walk away from this, Carol. If there’s even a chance that it’s connected to the gods, I need to see it."

Carol stepped closer, her expression softening slightly as she looked at Auriel.

"I get that. But you need to be careful. The Duchess isn’t just some noble playing host to a goddess. She’s cunning, manipulative, and clearly has her own agenda. After what happened earlier, I wouldn’t put anything past her."

Auriel’s cheeks flushed at the reminder of the bath incident. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You’re right. I won’t let her catch me off guard again."

Carol’s mouth tightened into a thin line.

"Good. And to make sure of that, I’m keeping watch tonight. I’ll stay by the door and make sure the Duchess doesn’t pull another stunt like that. You deserve to rest without worrying about her barging in."

Auriel looked up at her loyal companion, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the circumstances.

"Thank you, Carol. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Carol shrugged, her usual gruffness returning.

"It is my honor to serve you, Goddess Auriel. Please, make use of me as much as you can."

Auriel let out a soft laugh, the tension in her chest easing just a little.

"Fair point."

As the firelight flickered in the room, Auriel felt a renewed sense of comfort knowing Carol was by her side. Whatever game the Duchess was playing, Auriel knew she wouldn’t face it alone.

But as much as Auriel could trust Carol, she also felt like Carol had her own motivations for coming to her. And none of them felt trustworthy.

There was no reason for Auriel to feel like Carol would betray her, but Auriel still felt like that. It made her feel guilty and regretful, but the feeling did not ease up.