Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 46: A Bad Feeling - Part 2

Chapter 46: 46: A Bad Feeling - Part 2

The arrow barely missed Princess Evelyn, but she looked more shocked by the fact that she had allowed an assassination attempt to get so close to her than by the fact that it happened.

Once the initial shock subsided, anger took its place, and the princess’s eyes flashed with fury and a need for revenge.

"Goddess Auriel, please wait for me here. I will be back in a second," the princess promised as she ran in the direction from where the arrow had been fired. She looked determined to catch the attacker.

On the other hand, Auriel felt more subdued, and she decided to check on the arrow that had been shot. She reached for the arrow, only to stop halfway and pull her hand back.

Black smoke of corruption covered the arrow, making it hard for Auriel to examine it. Just being near it made her feel like she needed to get away.

"Is this... black magic? Shit! I need to go and help Princess Evelyn. Or else, who knows what could happen to her."

Auriel felt a little worried for the princess, so she decided to head out after her and catch up.

But the princess had already disappeared deep into the forest by the time Auriel decided to act.

______

Princess Evelyn raced through the forest, her boots crunching the underbrush as she followed the faint trail of movement left by the would-be assassin.

Her chest heaved with exertion, but her mind was sharp, fueled by adrenaline and the need to confront whoever had dared to threaten her.

The forest grew darker as she ran deeper, the once-familiar terrain becoming increasingly unrecognizable.

The chirping of crickets and rustling of leaves gave way to an eerie silence, and Evelyn suddenly felt as though she were being watched from all sides. Her steps faltered for a moment, but her resolve burned strong.

"I won’t let them get away."

She muttered to herself, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly as her pace quickened again.

But then, the trees around her began to shift, twisting unnaturally, their shapes elongating and contorting into something entirely unfamiliar.

The forest floor seemed to ripple like water, and Evelyn stumbled, nearly losing her balance. When she looked up, the forest was gone.

In its place stood the grand hall of the royal palace she had grown up in. The tall windows shimmered with sunlight, the marble floors gleamed as though they had just been polished, and the faint scent of lavender—the fragrance her mother had always adored—hung in the air.

Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat.

"No... This can’t be real."

She whispered, her voice trembling.

Yet the scene was perfect, a flawless recreation of her childhood home. She stepped forward cautiously, her boots echoing against the marble, and the familiar warmth of nostalgia tugged at her heart.

Her grip on her sword loosened slightly as her eyes roamed the room.

"Evelyn."

A soft, familiar voice called out, breaking the silence.

Evelyn froze. She knew that voice. Her heart ached as she turned to see the source.

Standing at the far end of the hall, bathed in golden light, was her mother. Her face was radiant, her smile warm and inviting, just as Evelyn had remembered. She wore the same soft blue gown she had often worn when they walked in the palace gardens together.

"Mother?"

Evelyn’s voice cracked, and she took an involuntary step forward.

The woman nodded, her smile widening.

"My dear Evelyn. It’s been so long."

Evelyn’s heart wavered. She knew this couldn’t be real. Her mother had passed away years ago, taken by a sudden illness. And yet, the woman standing before her looked so alive, so tangible.

"How...?"

Evelyn began, her voice faltering as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

"This isn’t real. You’re not real."

Her mother tilted her head, her expression softening.

"Does it matter, my child? I am here now, and I have missed you so much. Come closer."

Princess Evelyn’s resolve wavered as her mother’s warm, inviting smile spread across her face.

The vision was so vivid, so perfect, that Evelyn’s rational mind couldn’t resist the aching temptation in her heart. Her mother, who had been gone for years, stood mere steps away, arms outstretched, her voice soft and familiar.

"Come, Evelyn. I’ve missed you so much, my little star."

Her mother said gently, the words laced with a tenderness Evelyn had long forgotten.

Tears blurred Evelyn’s vision as she took a hesitant step forward, her grip on her sword loosening. She knew this wasn’t real.

Deep down, she knew her mother couldn’t possibly be standing before her. And yet, the longing in her heart drowned out the warnings in her mind.

"Mother...Is it really you?"

Evelyn whispered, her voice trembling.

"It’s me, my darling. Come closer. Let me hold you"

The illusion cooed, her voice like a soothing lullaby.

Evelyn’s breath hitched, and before she could stop herself, her hand began to rise, reaching for the one outstretched toward her. Her fingertips were mere inches away when the air around her rippled violently, and a brilliant light burst through the illusion.

"Princess! Stop!"

Auriel’s commanding voice shattered the spell as a surge of divine energy cut through the barrier. The illusion of the royal palace wavered and cracked like broken glass, revealing the dark, twisted forest once more.

The figure of Evelyn’s mother dissolved into a shadowy wraith, its once-soft voice now a guttural hiss. It recoiled, shrieking in anger as Auriel stepped forward, her presence radiating strength and light.

Evelyn staggered back, her vision clearing as reality rushed back to her. Her heart ached as she realized how close she had come to succumbing to the trap.

The overwhelming warmth of seeing her mother again was replaced with a cold, hollow emptiness.

"No... It wasn’t her."

Evelyn murmured, her voice shaky as she clenched her fists. Tears spilled down her cheeks, her emotions a volatile mix of sadness and anger.

Auriel reached out and placed a steadying hand on Evelyn’s shoulder.

"It’s okay. "That wasn’t your mother, Evelyn. It was a cruel trick, meant to manipulate you"

She said softly, her voice calm and grounding

Evelyn turned to look at Auriel, her gaze filled with pain and frustration.

"I knew it wasn’t real. I knew, but I still... I almost—"

She said, her voice breaking.

"You didn’t. You didn’t give in. And that’s what matters."

Auriel interrupted gently, her eyes filled with understanding.

Evelyn’s chest heaved as she tried to control her emotions, the weight of what had just happened settling over her.

"Why? Why would someone do this? Use her image against me like that?"

Auriel sighed, her expression darkening as she scanned the forest for any lingering traces of corruption.

"There are forces at work here that thrive on exploiting our deepest fears and desires. Whoever is behind this wanted to break you, to make you vulnerable."

Evelyn wiped her tears away, her jaw tightening as anger began to overtake her sadness.

"Well, they failed. I won’t let them use my grief against me. I’ll fight back."

She said, her voice steely.

Auriel smiled faintly, impressed by the princess’s resilience.

"That’s the spirit. But remember, you’re not alone in this fight. I’ll stand with you."

Evelyn’s shoulders relaxed slightly at Auriel’s words, and a small, grateful smile broke through her tough exterior. "Thank you. If you hadn’t shown up when you did..."

She said quietly, her voice sincere.

"You’d still be trapped in that illusion. You’ve been strong to come this far, Evelyn. But sometimes, even the strongest among us need a helping hand."

Auriel finished, her tone gentle but firm.

Evelyn nodded, her resolve renewed.

"You’re right. Thank you for saving me, Auriel. I won’t let myself fall for something like that again."

Auriel gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before letting go.

"Good. Now let’s get out of here before that thing—or whoever sent it—tries something else."

The pair began to make their way back through the forest, the oppressive atmosphere lifting slightly as they moved away from the remnants of the trap.

Though Evelyn still felt the lingering sting of her vulnerability, she also felt a deep gratitude toward Auriel for pulling her back from the brink.

As they walked side by side, Evelyn glanced at the Goddess-turned-priestess and felt a flicker of admiration. Auriel’s calm strength had been exactly what she needed, and it reminded her that even in the face of overwhelming darkness, there was always light to guide the way.

Somewhere from the shadows, a figure watched the pair walk away with amused eyes. The figure waited for the pair to leave before she showed herself and snapped her fingers.

Immediately, the illusion came back around her, but this time, the queen was crying and reaching out her hand toward the sky.

"My dear queen, no amount of prayers are going to save your soul now. You might as well fulfil your promise and bring your daughter to our side as well."

The unknown figure spoke before she made the illusion fade.