Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 49: Blind Faith - Part 2

Chapter 49: 49: Blind Faith - Part 2

After staying another night at the village, the trio headed toward Duchess Amara’s estate. It was a bit far, but the road was easy to travel.

"Tsk, I still say that there is no need for us to visit that self-centered Duchess. The only reason I decided to accompany you is because you insisted on it, Goddess."

Princess Evelyn was in a bad mood, and she complained a lot about the trip. Yet, despite her complaining, she stayed in her place.

Auriel didn’t know whether to feel thankful for this or irritated by the princess’s half-hot, half-cold attitude. What she did know was that Carol was in a similar mood since yesterday, and it was clear the younger girl was still irritated after being left alone.

The silence was awkward, and Auriel felt like she should say something to break it. But before she could open her mouth, the carriage stopped, and their driver knocked on the door.

"Madam, we are here."

The driver informed the trio that they had reached their destination, and Auriel felt thankful for his quick announcement.

She opened the door and got off first, followed by Carol and a reluctant Princess Evelyn.

"Thank you for bringing us here. In return, I would like to give you a blessing. You will have a long life filled with bliss."

Auriel used her divine power to impart this blessing, and her warmth made the driver’s eyes widen.

Blessing humans was an easy task, but it wasn’t done often. While it didn’t require a lot of divine energy, it could get messy if word got around and more people started demanding blessings.

The driver looked awe-struck as Auriel finished blessing him. His eyes shone with tears as he looked at her.

"P-Priestess, I am not deserving of this. But since you decided to bless me, I promise I will work harder to make sure I am worthy of this blessing. May the gods keep an eye on me and protect me."

The driver recited a common prayer, and Auriel forced a smile to stretch across her face.

Suddenly, she felt sorry for this driver and other humans who believed in gods, thinking that the gods were always watching and would help them in their times of need.

In reality, no god was free enough to do that, and they would rather not spend their time on humans if they could avoid it.

But Auriel was a kind soul, so she didn’t say that. She just smiled at the man and watched him leave.

Her two companions didn’t say anything to her either, and it was Auriel who decided it was time for them to head inside the estate.

Immediately, they were greeted by a few maids who offered smiles.

However, their smiles stiffened when they noticed Princess Evelyn. It was clear they were not pleased with her presence, though they tried to mask it.

"I’m not happy to be here either. The only reason I am here is because of Goddess Auriel. You don’t have to look so sour when you see me," the princess remarked, her tone sharp.

Her words caused the maids to blush and quickly look away, realizing they had been caught.

But they didn’t apologize. Instead, they held their heads high and gave the princess a searching look.

"I will go and inform the Duchess of her guests. Please, follow my companion in the meantime, and she will take care of you," the first maid said softly, though her sharp eyes remained fixed on the princess.

Princess Evelyn looked like she had plenty to say, but she held her tongue and decided not to cause a scene—for now.

______

The trio waited in a lavish sitting room filled with soft, plush chairs and adorned with golden-framed portraits of previous duchesses.

The atmosphere was calm, but the tension was palpable between Princess Evelyn and the maids, who hovered nearby with wary eyes.

Auriel sat quietly, her divine aura restrained as much as possible to avoid drawing attention. Carol, on the other hand, seemed content to sip her tea, a calmness in her demeanor that contrasted sharply with the princess’s barely veiled irritation.

The doors to the sitting room finally swung open with a soft creak, and Duchess Amara entered, a radiant vision that instantly drew all eyes.

Dressed in a flowing, shimmering gown of silver and gold, the Duchess carried herself with an air of grace and a knowing smile. Her hair cascaded down her back like a golden waterfall, and her emerald-green eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Well, well, look who’s graced my estate,"

She began, her tone playful and seductive at the same time. Even her look felt like she was in a bedroom and waiting to pounce on her prey.

"Priestess Auriel, you honor me with your presence. And Princess Evelyn—what a delightful surprise. Though you look as though you’ve swallowed a lemon, darling. Was the journey so unpleasant?"

Evelyn’s jaw tightened, her sharp blue eyes narrowing.

Duchess Amara ignored the tension and turned her attention to Carol.

"And you, my dear. What a charming little thing you are. It’s almost unfair how adorable you look sipping tea like a seasoned noble."

Carol blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"I... Thank you, Duchess."

She managed, unsure whether she was being complimented or toyed with.

Auriel, meanwhile, felt the goosebumps rising on her arms as the Duchess’s gaze landed on her. It wasn’t just her beauty—it was the way she carried herself, effortlessly commanding attention and weaving her words like silk threads in a net.

"Duchess Amara, we appreciate your hospitality. But I believe Princess Evelyn has a question for you."

Auriel said with a calm smile.

Evelyn wasted no time.

"What are you going to do with the prisoners?"

The Duchess blinked, her smile never faltering.

"Ah, the bandits. Such a dreary topic for such a lovely afternoon. But rest assured, they’ll be dealt with appropriately. You don’t need to trouble yourselves with such matters."

"I disagree. They attacked innocent villagers. I think I have every right to know what their punishment will be"

Evelyn shot back, crossing her arms.

The Duchess’s smile widened, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"You’re quite fiery, aren’t you? But I assure you, Princess, this is a matter for my jurisdiction. I’ll ensure justice is served."

Evelyn wasn’t buying it.

"I’ll believe it when I see it. If you’re so confident in your abilities, why don’t we settle this with a match? You and me."

The room fell silent.

Auriel’s eyes widened, and even Carol set her teacup down, looking intrigued.

The maids standing behind the Duchess stiffened, their faces darkening. One of them stepped forward.

"How dare you challenge the Duchess? If you insist on such disrespect, we’ll—"

Carol stood abruptly, her small figure radiating authority.

"That’s enough."

The maids faltered, staring at her in confusion.

"You should watch your tone in the presence of the Goddess. Behaving like this before Auriel is not only improper but disrespectful to the temple"

Carol continued, her voice calm but firm.

Auriel felt her heart skip a beat. She hadn’t expected Carol to reveal her identity, but she quickly composed herself, sitting straighter and letting a faint glow of divinity surround her.

"Yes. Let’s not let this escalate further. Duchess Amara, I trust that you’ll handle the situation with the care and justice it deserves."

Auriel said, her voice steady.

The Duchess tilted her head, her smile taking on a more genuine warmth.

"Of course, Goddess Auriel. You have my word."

Evelyn gritted her teeth, clearly unhappy with the resolution, but she finally stepped back.

"Fine. But I’ll be keeping an eye on you."

The matter was settled, but the tension lingered in the air.

The rest of their visit passed uneventfully, though Evelyn’s mood remained sour. When it was finally time to leave, Auriel and Carol prepared to return to the temple. The Duchess saw them off personally, her usual playful demeanor still intact.

"Goddess Auriel, I do hope you’ll visit again. It’s rare to meet someone as enchanting as you."

The Duchess said as they stood at the estate’s grand entrance,

Auriel smiled politely, though her heart raced.

"Thank you, Duchess. I’ll consider it."

The Duchess’s smile widened.

"I’ll hold you to that. Then, until next time, my dear."

As the trio climbed into the carriage, Auriel couldn’t shake the odd feeling that lingered after the Duchess’s words. It wasn’t fear or distrust—it was something deeper, something she couldn’t quite name.

Evelyn and Carol seemed to share none of her unease. The princess stared out the window, her expression pensive, while Carol leaned back, looking relieved to finally be leaving.

As the carriage rolled away, Auriel glanced back at the estate one last time. Duchess Amara stood at the entrance, watching them with a smile that seemed almost... knowing.

Auriel turned away, her thoughts swirling. Whatever the future held, she had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time their paths crossed.