Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 45: A Bad Feeling - Part 1

Chapter 45: 45: A Bad Feeling - Part 1

Auriel closed her eyes briefly, her divine energy extending outward. She could feel the truth buried beneath the confusion, a faint thread of darkness that did not belong. When she opened her eyes, they glowed faintly with celestial light.

"There is more to this than meets the eye. Someone—or something—is interfering with your lives."

She said softly.

The villagers exchanged uneasy glances. The woman who had tried to mediate stepped forward again.

"Priestess, what do you mean? Is there a curse on us?"

Auriel hesitated. She couldn’t be certain, but the faint trace of malevolent energy was undeniable. It wasn’t strong, but it was enough to sow discord among the villagers.

"I will look into this further. In the meantime, you must not let this darkness divide you. Stand together as a community and trust in one another. Why don’t you head home and take a look at your second safe once more? Maybe you will find some clue there."

Auriel said, her tone reassuring.

The villagers nodded, their expressions a mix of hope and apprehension. The two men who had been ready to fight moments earlier exchanged awkward glances, their weapons lowering completely.

As Auriel turned to leave, Carol followed close behind, her thoughts swirling. The goddess had an uncanny ability to calm chaos, but Carol couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more sinister.

The tension in the village was unmistakable.

Every step Auriel took seemed to amplify the unease of the villagers. They lingered in doorways, casting wary glances her way before retreating into their homes.

Murmurs filled the air, too soft for Auriel to catch but heavy with suspicion. Though she was accustomed to reverence or even skepticism in her travels, the cold, guarded atmosphere here was unsettling.

Carol, walking a step behind her, scanned their surroundings with sharp, calculating eyes. The villagers were not openly hostile, but their discomfort was evident, and it wasn’t hard to see why.

Two priestesses—strangers dressed in ceremonial robes—suddenly appearing in their remote village was bound to stir anxiety.

"I can’t say I blame them. Two unknown priestesses wandering in out of nowhere? We must look suspicious"

Carol muttered under her breath, her voice just loud enough for Auriel to hear.

Auriel nodded, her expression calm but thoughtful. "It’s not suspicion that worries me, but fear. Something has these people on edge, and it isn’t us."

Carol hesitated, her lips pursing as if she wanted to argue. Instead, she offered a different suggestion.

"If you want answers, it might be better if I go alone. I don’t look as... formal. They might speak to me more freely."

Auriel studied Carol for a moment, considering her words. The younger priestess’s appearance—a petite frame and youthful face—did make her seem less intimidating.

"That might work. But be cautious. If anything feels off, come find me immediately"

Auriel conceded, her tone tinged with reluctance.

Carol gave a sharp nod, her determination clear.

"I will."

With that, the two split up. Carol slipped into the maze of narrow alleys, disappearing from sight, while Auriel continued along the main street.

She planned to observe the villagers discreetly, hoping to get a sense of their daily lives and what might be troubling them. But her plan was abruptly interrupted when a hand seized her wrist.

Instinctively, Auriel spun around, her free hand already glowing faintly with energy as she prepared to defend herself. Her heart raced, and her mind calculated the quickest way to disable her attacker.

"Calm down, Priestess Auriel. It’s just me."

The familiar voice immediately disarmed her. Auriel blinked, her energy fading as she turned to face Princess Evelyn.

The princess stood there with a sly grin, her hair tucked beneath the hood of a simple cloak. Though her royal demeanor was slightly toned down, the confidence in her stance and the sparkle of mischief in her eyes were unmistakable.

"Princess Evelyn? What are you doing here?"

Auriel’s surprise was genuine.

Evelyn released Auriel’s wrist and stepped back, offering a mock bow.

"I could ask you the same question, but I suppose the better one is: why are you wandering around alone in a place like this?"

Auriel sighed, folding her arms.

"Carol is gathering information. I trust her to handle herself."

The princess tilted her head, her smile softening.

"Perhaps. But still, wandering alone in an unfamiliar village filled with wary strangers? That doesn’t strike me as the wisest choice, even for someone as capable as you."

Auriel resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"I can handle myself, Princess."

"Of that, I have no doubt,"

Evelyn said, her tone light but sincere.

"But even the strongest among us could use a companion now and then."

Auriel hesitated, unsure how to respond. Evelyn’s presence was disarming in a way she hadn’t expected, and the princess’s easy charm made it hard to stay annoyed.

Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Evelyn’s sudden appearance was more than a coincidence.

"What are you actually doing here, Princess? Isn’t this area out of your jurisdiction?"

Auriel asked, her voice firmer now.

Evelyn’s smirk faltered, replaced by a more thoughtful expression.

"I’ve been... keeping an ear to the ground. When I heard about unrest in this area, I decided to see it for myself. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were here, too."

Auriel raised an eyebrow.

"So you just happened to stumble upon this village at the same time as us?"

"That is a coincidence. Actually, I am here because of the reports-"

Evelyn replied with a shrug.

Before Auriel could press further, a commotion erupted down the street. Shouts and cries filled the air, and the villagers scattered, their fear palpable.

Auriel and Evelyn exchanged a quick glance before rushing toward the source of the noise.

They arrived at the town square to find chaos. A group of armed men stood in the center, their faces obscured by dark, tattered cloaks. The villagers cowered at the edges of the square, too afraid to intervene.

Auriel’s eyes narrowed. She could feel an unsettling energy emanating from the men, faint but distinctly unnatural. Evelyn seemed to sense it too, her hand moving instinctively to the hilt of her sword.

The leader of the group stepped forward, his hood falling back to reveal a scarred face and piercing eyes. He sneered as he surveyed the crowd, his gaze eventually settling on Auriel and Evelyn.

"Well, what do we have here? A priestess and her companion. How quaint"

He drawled, his voice dripping with mockery.

Auriel stepped forward, her posture calm but commanding.

"Who are you, and what do you want?"

The man chuckled, his smile cruel.

"We’re just here to collect what’s owed to us. This village has been under our protection for a long time, and it’s time they paid up."

"Protection? Looks more like extortion to me"

Evelyn’s voice was sharp, her grip tightening on her sword.

The man’s smirk vanished, replaced by a scowl.

"Careful, lady. You’re far from home."

Princess Evelyn raised a hand, her voice steady and resolute.

"Leave this village now, and no one will get hurt."

The man hesitated, clearly aware of the power behind her words. But he quickly masked his fear with bravado.

"You think you can scare us? We’ve dealt with worse than you."

Before he could make a move, Evelyn sprang into action, her blade flashing in the sunlight. The armed men scrambled to defend themselves, but Auriel’s energy exploded outward, disarming them with ease.

The fight was over in moments. The men lay defeated, bound by ropes Evelyn had secured from a nearby cart. The villagers watched in awe, their fear giving way to tentative hope.

Evelyn sheathed her sword, glancing at Auriel with a grin.

Auriel smiled faintly, turning to the villagers.

"Are you all right?"

An older man stepped forward, bowing deeply.

"Thank you, Priestess. We don’t know what we would’ve done without you."

Auriel nodded, her expression thoughtful. The immediate danger had passed, but the underlying darkness that plagued this village was still a mystery. She exchanged a glance with Evelyn, both silently agreeing: their work here was far from over.

The bandits had gathered, but they looked out of it.

More importantly, being near them made Auriel’s skin tingle and she felt like she needed to do something. Even her legs felt like they wanted to give up any second because of the sudden feeling in her stomach, making it feel as if Auriel was about to collapse.

"Are you kidding me? Is this dark magic? How did I recognize it until now? Ugh, this feeling-"

Auriel wanted to clutch her stomach and hurl, but she controlled herself and dragged herself to the side to relax. She needed to find her ground and...

"Goodess Auriel, are you alright? If you need any help, then tell me-"

The princess spoke confidently, but Auriel noticed the danger heading her way from the corner of her eyes. Before it could hit the princess, Auriel grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way of that attack.