Uggh, where is Mother? She told me to stay put for a while. Now she is gone for like forever! Ugh, I am getting hungry, Fia thought as she rubbed her muscled belly and kept looking up like a dead girl, wearing casual full pants and a shirt.
Suddenly, she tilted her head sideways and remembered her mothers making out at the same place. As she remembered the scene, her hand suddenly slowly moved inside her pants as she closed her eyes and slowly reached the opening by feeling her crotch. And as she was about to put her fingers inside, she suddenly snapped open her eyes. Shit, that's why you don't do it in front of everyone, making me feel weird. As she got up, Geez, I have had enough sitting around. Until Brother wakes up, I'll do some exercise. My body feels so sluggish. Fia got up, going to change to do some workout.
She came back in her tight black sports bra and tight black leather shorts, making her figure look perfect in all senses—a toned, shredded body with muscles, her strong gaze, her short hair with a small bun behind, some hair came down to her forehead, making her look like a warrior who was able to move with impossible precision using her perfect body. She walked outside at her courtyard, felt the wind, and said, "Now this is better than that." She shrugged and started doing some exercise.
.
.
Queen and others came to the palace. Queen, making sure Kyra got treated, sat with all three women together to have some food while talking to each other. As for Grandpa and Leader Remek, they were having their own fun, while Gloomy slipped from the ladies and came to the Queen's room, which was just beside where the three ladies were chatting. He saw Maid Emmy, who was about to go help serve the ladies. She saw Gloomy. Gloomy saw her. Then Gloomy raised his arms. Emmy, seeing this, just gave him Tyra, and Gloomy went inside holding him. Maid Emmy also started working.
Gloomy saw Natalia sleeping peacefully. He yawned and got up on the bed and slept beside her, clearly tired with his adventures. Tyra just took the chance and flew away to play, having been held for so long, making him want to move.
"Are you sure you're okay, Kyra?" Queen asked in concern.
"Hmm, yes, my Queen, I am fine. Please don't worry. It was not much at all for this strong woman," she said while smiling.
"Hmm, then it's okay. Still, don't push yourself too much," Queen ended this talk.
"Hey, what about me? I am tired with all the walking around the city. You can also show me concern ," Mother Veny said while sipping tea and enjoying the delicious food.
"Ara, you look quite good to me, eating everything here, not leaving anything for us ladies," she smiled playfully while showing how Kyra and she were quite pitiful.
"It's not always that I can eat royal delicacies. Hey, Kyra, don't be shy. This woman has eaten so much her flaps are coming out of her dress," she said as she pointed at the Queen's breast cleavage.
"Hahah, then I will be shameless," Kyra said as she also started gulping down.
"Hey, hey, don't you know men tend to love this thickness as they mature? Are you sure Esjar will keep loving you?" Queen said teasingly with a glint in her eyes.
"Don't worry about him. He is head over heels over me and Julia. Think about yourself—still can't get Jorri in your grasp," Mother Veny said jokingly, then with a serious face added, "So how is he? Is he gonna be okay?"
Listening to this, Queen got very sad, looking down, clenching her hand. "He is not fine. I don't know how to treat him. I... I..." Sigghh. "Just leave it. He will be okay, I am sure," Queen suddenly motivated herself.
"That's good spirit, Malina. You have to stay strong at a time like this. It's all those bastards' fault, targeting our little kids," she said as she chewed the bread like a monster.
Kyra suddenly twitched as her hand stopped for a moment. Queen noticed it but didn't say anything. She asked, "What about your husband, Kyra? Did he come with you? And what about kids—do you have any kids?"
"Hmmm, my husband is no more, and yes, I do have a very little boy," Kyra smiled sadly as her eyes lost focus, thinking about her boy.
Queen sighed and didn't ask more.
Mother Veny asked, "Malina, what about those nobles who attacked you? How did they dare to lay hands on the Queen? What are you gonna do about them? And they were also behaving slightly strangely."
"Hmm, they were angry for sure, and also for the right reason. Who doesn't want to move forward? It doesn't matter whether their emotions were enhanced by some power or not, but their complaints were genuine. It's true our city hasn't grown. There are problems in every rock. We don't have special unique things that could entice mainland people, hence had to be dependent on whatever we could grab. And my incompetence led to so much baggage, and because of me, my daughter also..." Sighhh. Queen smiled sadly.
"Mallinna..." Mother Veny wanted to console but didn't know how.
Queen shook her head and said, "Whatever will happen, I have to accept and make sure our kids live better."
Queen, suddenly changing the topic, said to Veny, "Hey, you are here. What about your kids? Did they have anything to eat?"
"Hmmm, it's fine. They are big now. My daughter Fia doesn't know anything except to make her body like her father, but my son, I have trained him personally. He could give shame to any housewife out there," Mother Veny patted her chest proudly.
Seeing them talking about their kids made Kyra envious, but she didn't say anything, just listened and said a few things here and there.
"Hey, Kyra, why not live here and spend time with me? I could use some friends near me. There are hungry people everywhere. If you are here, then I will feel good," Queen said with blazing light in her eyes.
"Huh? Me? No, no, I can't stay here. I'm happy to be here with you for now, but no, I can't." Kyra shook her head, thinking her goal was to befriend the Queen and find a way to create some disturbance during the ceremony when she could find info about the machines for that man. But clinging to her too close was not good. If she blew up, then her child... Kyra shook her head vigorously.
"Hey, don't say no to the Queen. I am asking so sincerely. Are you not worried about this queen?" she said as she made a sad face with fake tears in her eyes.
"I... I..." Kyra hesitated.
"Hey, just live with her. I and other friends of hers can't come here always. You are here for a few days, so stay with her. You are also strong, right? Just protect her while living here. Think of it as a job, will ya!" Mother Veny said loudly while she saw her fidgeting.
"Hmm, hmm, stay pleasseee!" Queen and Mother Veny pressured her so much that she said yes eventually.
"Good, good. Bring your things here afterwards, then we could stay together," Queen was clearly happy as she got a new friend.
"Hmm, I will do that," Kyra said helplessly.
But Kyra said suddenly, "Why are you trusting me so much? I just met you, and you are already bringing me into your home. What if I want to harm you or your daughters?"
"Hmmm, I wonder why?" Queen, putting her hand on her cheeks, said, "If you wanted to kill me, then you had plenty of chances up till now. And if you want to harm my daughters, then you have to kill me first. And friends don't kill each other, right?" Queen smiled warmly.
Kyra, guilty and embarrassed, just nodded and didn't say anything.
Mother Veny just smiled as she saw Maid Emmy standing and working. She called her, "Emmy, my girl, come here," Mother Veny smiled as she waved.
Maid Emmy, with a calm expression, came towards her and bowed respectfully. "Miss Veny, I'm happy to see you doing well," Maid Emmy said with sincerity.
"Geez, you became so uptight while working here. Now I am regretting sending you here to this Malina," she glared at the Queen as she pulled Emmy down and let her sit beside her as she hugged her arm and soaked her sweat from her using her handkerchief.
"Mooo, don't blame me. She is herself too serious about her work. I can't help it, you know. I am really happy to have her here. She takes good care of me and my daughter," Queen also came beside Emmy and fixed her hair gently.
Maid Emmy, surrounded by warmth, suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Umm, I will go and work," she said as she was about to get up. Both women pulled her down and said, "Sit tight, little girl. Don't you dare to move," both mothers said while giggling and embarrassing Emmy as her face started to go red as everyone else was staring at her.
"Did you get the meat Grandpa gave you, Emmy?" Mother Veny asked, now just hugging her arm.
"Hmm, yes, Grandpa gave it to me just some time ago, saying to share with everyone," she said while slightly smiling.
"Yes, share with those little ones. I will also come and meet them soon again," Mother Veny said.
"I just hoped to do more for everyone in this city," Queen sighed as she let her body fall back and rest on the sofa.
"No, my Queen, you have done enough. Doing favors will not suit your position, so I am grateful to stay here and work for you. Everyone has helped us in their own way, and I am happy," Maid Emmy said gratefully.
Sighhh. "You, little girl, having to take care of them all by yourself. I still remember when Grandpa brought Zack to the orphanage and your mother at that time, who was healthy and alive, without any hesitation was ready to accept Zack into the orphanage. If that would have happened, then you, my little Emmy, would be the one who would have to take care of little Zack," she said lovingly.
"Hmmm, I am happy for Lady Sasha. I have enough little ones to take care of," Emmy finally laughed, making the room brighter.
"Wait, did Grandpa really think of putting Zack in an orphanage at first?" Queen said with surprise.
"Ah, yes, just for a moment only, but Sasha cried a lot and didn't leave Zack from her embrace. Haha, that look funny now, seeing back," Mother Veny smiled.
"You guys' bond is so beautiful, taking care of each other," Kyra said lovingly as she heard them talk.
"Hmmm, yes, if you are close enough, then you are all one family. This city is like that. We somehow got close to each other, and now our kids and us are one big family," Queen smiled as she hugged Maid Emmy, making her scream in her thoughts, 'Kyaaaaaa, leave me alone, Queen Mother! How would I work with others if you are so close to me? Leeaveee meeeee!' Maid Emmy thought as her face was trying to calm down.
"So, Emmy, did you find a boy for yourself, haannn? Do you like someone?" Mother Veny nudged her. "You are the same age as Sasha, right? You are legally able to marry anyone, but I will say wait more years," Mother Veny went from joking to a serious tone as she told Emmy.
"No, Miss Veny, I don't have anyone I am currently interested in. I could stay single and take care of little ones, or if the Queen and other mothers found someone suitable for me, then I will marry him. I just want my little ones to be safe," Maid Emmy said seriously with sparks in her eyes, like making marriage a mission.
"Arrraaa, then what was that? Veny, you know, in Natalia's birthday party, I saw her making the sweetest smile to a man, and that man was our son, Oliver. Sigh, she is usually so cold, but in front of him, she made his heart stop for a whole ten minutes. She is a man killer, you know. And even in the morning when I said Oliver's house is in trouble, she said, 'I want to go...'" As Queen was about to say more—
Maid Emmy, who was first shocked and not completely sure what she was talking about, but suddenly her expression changed a lot. For the first time, everyone saw her face showing all kinds of expressions—from confusion, shyness, panic, love, fear. "Uuuwwahhhhh, Queen Mother, please stop! When did I say that? Don't lie to everyone!" Suddenly, Maid Emmy's inner self got out as she tried to close the Queen's mouth with her hands.
"Oohh mmyyy, whattt do we havvee herrreee? Tell me more, tell me more!" Mother Veny, excited, held Maid Emmy down as both ladies pinned her down and asked for details as poor Maid Emmy, not knowing what to do, made all kinds of faces, clearly defeated.
She, with lots of pressure, said, "What are you saying, Queen Mother? That shampoo... I mean, young master Oliver behaves like that with everyone. Don't believe what you saawwww!" Maid Emmy said this with her full force but also felt a tinge of fear in her heart.
Hearing this, both ladies smiled and looked at each other. "It's true that Oliver acts flirty with all the ladies, but he is a good boy," Queen smiled and released Maid Emmy, who sat down properly straight back again.
Mother Veny continued, "Yes, yes, don't you dare think our son Oliver is a womanizer. I have instilled all good things in him whenever he came into my house to stay. Do you think he became so handsome and charming without this lady's food?" she said as she patted herself again proudly.
"Haha, we can tell whether he is being genuine or not. Why not we tell you, Emmy? But you have to say that you want to hear it. If not, then how can we spill our son's secrets to a girl who is clearly not interested in him? Sighhh, what a shame," Queen Mother sighed and made a sad face, teasing Emmy, who, listening to this, again got embarrassed and said, "I don't want to know! I don't want to know! You can have that man's secrets all you want! I am going to work!" Emmy angrily stood up and went away, stomping her feet, speaking in a low voice, "Thhaattt shaammppooo bassstaardd, I amm goonnaa kill hiimmm..."
"Hahah, this girl," both ladies smiled.
Kyra smiled a lot seeing all this, enjoying her time with the ladies as they talked more. Suddenly, the topic shifted again to Crowns.
"So Malina, any idea what you are going to do about those bastard lower Crowns? I mean, before the ceremony, doing something is hard, but still, maybe something that can bring them toward your support if something goes bad?" Mother Veny asked concerningly.
"Hmmm, Kyra, what do you think? What has the Crown of your place done?" Queen asked her new friend in enthusiasm.
"Hmm, the Land of Dreath is not really a good place to live—worse than here—but Crowns do prosper there. If I had to say something, doing something for them is a waste of time. There is no end of greed for a Crown." She bowed slightly to show she was not talking about the Queen herself, then continued, "Rather than giving them a source of money, you have to connect this land to other places so that they could go easily and find their opportunities, reducing the pressure on this place." Kyra answered with diligence.
"Hmm, that's a good thought, but crossing the seas is not an easy task. We personally don't have those big flying tools from which you guys came. We only have some tools that could stick close to the surface, and that is highly dangerous. To be honest, getting your flying tools that rise up in the sky by different energies present in it, is quite hard for us," Queen said, clearly having thought of this before.
"Hmmm, we are back to square one!" Everyone sighed...
As the ladies were talking, Grandpa and Leader Remek were also having a break from everything.
"So, Remek boy, got any taste of booze or something?" Grandpa smiled silly as he signalled a drinking cup with his hand.
"Old man, I don't drink, neither should you. You will die earlier than usual."
"Hey, hey, who said that? Drinking makes you happy. See, my face is glowing like a teenager, and your face looks like rusty dusty," Grandpa said, eating the food while laughing.
"Hmm, I don't think your booze is the reason for that. Anyways, no, I don't have anything for you," Leader Remek said while glancing sideways.
"Oooooo, fine, fine, no problem. Tell me, what's going on here and what's your plan? since Jorri boy is in bed it will be more difficult to deal with those people?" Grandpa asked with seriousness.
"What can we do? Clearly, the Land of Dreath Crown people want this island for themselves. The City of Eirs was lucky when, centuries ago, everyone was at each other's throat. Since this place is in the middle of nowhere, but still it got under the Empire of Echor after the war. But, since centuries ago this place was worse than now, they left it and never bothered much. And Malina's previous generation has done a lot to bring this place now to where it stands. Of course, nothing is perfect, but better than other places. Old man, you have seen the world, right? Under those Crowns, in the name of saving, they have destroyed countless people's lives. The Land of Dreath is such an example where common people are treated as cockroaches," Leader Remek answered calmly.
He continued after taking a bite of the food while thinking, "And now those people want this land, sending a douchebag for the princess with some assassin from behind. The worst case, the princess fails, and we have to evacuate Malina and the princess, leaving this city to the Land of Dreath Crowns. And we can't even retaliate since they are our connection link to Empire of Echor, without them our city would not stand tall in the face of Winds and Overdose"
Sigh, we can't really survive without the machines! Grandpa sighed as he looked at the border.
"Hmm, that's true. We can't!" Leader Remek also sighed.
"So where is your booze hidden?" Grandpa asked calmly.
"Hmm, it's inside the... Huh? I don't have any! Why are you asking this again, old man?!" Leader Remek said in a high-pitched voice, but his face was still and cold.
"Hmm, fine, fine." Grandpa looked at the food as he kept eating while thinking something..
The talks continued - As the sun started reached its peak and slowly going down...
END OF CHAPTER
💖 Unity in Strength 💖
When life's challenges weigh heavily, remember the power of genuine connection. Leaning on your family and friends—whether by blood or bond—builds a foundation of warmth and shared strength that allows you to face any storm.