Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 44: The first attempt - Part 3

Chapter 44: 44: The first attempt - Part 3

It was dark at night, and Duchess Amara’s quarters did not have any protection. Yet, the duchess did not have a care in the world as she went to sleep.

Her unguarded state warranted the punishment Carol was about to give her, and it took no time for the younger woman to slip into Duchess Amara’s quarters before she looked down at the sleeping beauty.

Auburn hair and a beautiful face were the first things anyone noticed when they glanced at the duchess. Even Carol was not immune to her charms.

But she could not sit around looking at the duchess forever. She had work to do and a duchess to kill. So Carol raised her knife to bring it down on the unsuspecting duchess.

Her knife almost reached the duchess’s skin when a hand snaked its way around her wrist and held it in place.

"Oh my! What a pleasant surprise to have you in my quarters, Priestess Carol. What can I do for you... well, except dying? I don’t think I am in the mood to end my life."

The duchess smiled as she spoke. Her confident stance made Carol want to take a step back, but there was nowhere for her to go.

Carol could only glance at the female in front of her and let out a small growl of annoyance.

"Tsk, you just lucked out and woke up on time. Now, would you mind dying for me, Duchess Amara? Someone like you is not needed around our Divine One. As a servant of hers, it is my task to clear out unworthy people around her—"

Carol was not finished speaking when she felt the duchess move, and before she knew it, the duchess had her fingers interlocked with Carol’s.

"Hush. Don’t be in such a hurry to declare this, my dear Priestess. This is all the will of the supreme, and we are all its puppets. You should learn to enjoy things you have no control over."

The duchess spoke, and Carol felt goosebumps travel up her arm. She felt like she had to take her hand back from the duchess, but every time she tried, it felt as if her arm was stuck in place.

"You did good, Carol. Now, go to sleep and forget what happened here. It will be better for you since you serve the goddess directly."

"What are you—"

Carol had questions she wanted to ask, but before she could, she felt her eyes close, and she fell asleep.

Once she was asleep, the duchess snapped her fingers, and a maid walked out of the shadows. The maid bowed in front of the duchess, but her eyes looked hardened and unwavering.

"Shall I dispose of her?"

"Don’t touch her. Just make sure our guest gets back to her room just fine. I don’t want the goddess to suspect anything about what happened."

Duchess Amara gave a clear order, and the maid did not ask any further questions. She just bowed before she left with Carol’s unconscious body in her arms.

It was another regular night for the duchess, but unlike all the other nights where she had been threatened, this one was special.

After all, it was not every day one caught the weakness of a priestess. But since Duchess Amara had been so lucky, she would make sure to use it well.

______

Auriel could sense something was amiss with Carol from the moment the sun rose. The priestess, usually so lively and attentive, now looked distant and weighed down by something unseen.

Carol’s sullen mood cast a shadow over their morning routine, but every time Auriel tried to address it, Carol would deflect with forced smiles or hasty reassurances.

"Carol, are you feeling well? You seem... distracted."

Auriel asked gently as they walked through the hallways of the duchess’s manor.

Carol straightened her posture, plastering on a polite expression.

"I’m fine, my goddess. Please don’t trouble yourself over me."

Auriel’s brows knitted together, but before she could press further, Duchess Amara appeared. Her radiant smile filled the room as though she had been waiting for this moment all morning.

"Good morning, Divine One! I trust you slept well?"

Amara’s cheerful demeanor stood in stark contrast to Carol’s gloom, and the two women’s energies clashed like light and shadow.

Auriel offered a kind nod.

"I did, thank you, Duchess. Your hospitality is truly appreciated."

Amara’s smile widened.

"Nothing pleases me more than to serve the goddess herself. I hope you’ll allow me to join you today as you continue to bless my humble territory with your presence"

Her gaze flitted briefly to Carol, her grin deepening ever so slightly as if she were in on a secret no one else knew.

Auriel hesitated. The thought of spending another day with the duchess hovering over her was less than appealing.

"Actually, I was hoping to explore the territory a bit. If you wouldn’t mind, Duchess, I’d like to see the lands you govern. Alone, of course."

Amara’s expression faltered for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered with a melodramatic sigh.

"Alas, I would love nothing more than to accompany you, but I have some pressing matters to attend to today. Please, feel free to wander as you please. My people will welcome you with open arms."

The goddess nodded, hiding her relief.

"Thank you. I’ll be careful."

Before Auriel departed, Carol looked as though she wanted to protest. Her lips parted as if to speak, but she quickly shut them again, opting instead to follow her goddess without another word.

The moment Auriel and Carol stepped outside, the refreshing breeze and picturesque scenery struck the goddess.

The duchess’s territory was well-maintained, with clean streets, vibrant gardens, and a sense of harmony in the air. Villagers smiled and bowed as they passed, their expressions genuinely joyful. It was a sharp contrast to the dark rumors that had surrounded Amara’s name.

"This is unexpected. For someone with her personality, Duchess Amara certainly keeps her lands in impeccable condition"

Auriel murmured, taking in the pristine surroundings.

Carol’s face remained stoic.

"Appearances can be deceiving, my goddess."

Auriel didn’t respond but continued walking, observing everything around her with a critical eye. Her divine senses told her there was nothing inherently wrong with the land, but there was an inexplicable tension lingering just beneath the surface.

As they moved further from the manor, a commotion reached their ears—a chorus of raised voices and the unmistakable clang of metal against metal. Auriel stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward the source of the noise.

"Wait here. We don’t know what’s happening. It could be dangerous"

Carol urged, her tone sharper than usual.

Auriel ignored the priestess’s warning and began walking in the direction of the conflict. Carol followed reluctantly, her hand instinctively moving to the hilt of her weapon.

"Goddess, please reconsider—"

"This is why I’m here. If something is wrong, I need to know."

Auriel interrupted, her voice firm but calm.

They arrived at the edge of a small clearing where several villagers appeared to be in the middle of a heated argument.

Two men stood at the center of the group, swords drawn, their faces red with anger. A woman stood between them, desperately trying to mediate.

"You stole from my family! I won’t let you get away with it!"

One of the men shouted, his blade pointed at the other.

The accused man’s expression twisted with indignation.

"And I’m telling you, I didn’t take anything! You’ve got no proof!"

"Stop this at once. You’re friends! This isn’t who you are!"

the woman pleaded, her voice cracking.

Auriel stepped forward, her presence immediately commanding attention. The villagers turned to her, their expressions shifting from frustration to awe. The two men lowered their weapons, their anger momentarily replaced by confusion.

"What’s happening here?"

Auriel asked, her tone gentle but authoritative.

The woman stepped forward, wringing her hands.

"Dear Priestess, it’s a misunderstanding, I swear. These two have been friends for years, but something’s... something’s come between them."

Auriel was mistaken as a Priestess once more, but with her attire, it was a given this time.

"It’s not a misunderstanding! He’s been sneaking around my property! I know he’s the one who took my livestock!"

The first man snapped, though his voice wavered under Auriel’s gaze.

"I didn’t take anything! You’re just looking for someone to blame!"

The second man shot back.

Auriel raised a hand, silencing them both.

"Enough. I will not tolerate baseless accusations and unnecessary violence. If there is an issue, it will be resolved peacefully. Tell me what happened"

The goddess approached the men, her divine aura washing over the crowd like a calming wave.

As the two men began to recount their sides of the story, Auriel listened intently, her senses reaching out for any hint of deceit or malice. There was none. Both men were genuinely convinced of their innocence, their emotions clouding their judgment.

Carol stood nearby, her expression tense. She kept a close watch on the villagers, her hand never leaving her weapon. Despite her outward vigilance, her thoughts were elsewhere—on the previous night and the failure that still weighed heavily on her heart.