A knoes on the door. Just a single knock. The maids freeze in my arms, and Aurora just ys there holding me.

  With my maids not doing anything, I speak up. "e in," I call out.Shimmer es strolling in with a maid following her. She gives us all a little, knowing stare as she fights a growing smile.

  "The Princess really is t us. That should be your wives that you're cuddling there. Lucky maids," Shimmer says. "On a more serious note. Alzi, don't call us in when you are naked. I may be bringing a guest who shouldn't see you cuddling a bunaids noon. Really, you should have your maids call us in. Aurora."

  "Sorry, Lady Shimmer," Aurora hurries to say. "I got a little distracted with my daughter resting on top of me naked. I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was."

  "That does make sense," Shimmer says. "I'll step out and give you all a ce to get dressed. Alzi, you don't get to tease me with this view and not have me for lunch."

  "Ok, " I say. It's not like I've ever told her no before.

  Once she leaves, Calli and Shy hurry off me. They put on their uniforms ohey get out of bed. I roll off Aurora and myself in a b.

  "My Lady, you o get out of bed to get dressed," Aurora says, already back to her straherly tone. "I let you skip your letters lesson. Do not take that as me going soft on your learning. Tomorrow you have a party to attend. You will o remember the etiquette and implement it. Your failures will reflee."

  "I could be naked in the brothel," I say, scooting out of the bed.

  "Yes, but this is not a brothel," Aurora says. Annoris must have snu as I hear two voices talking in my closet, and Calli is just standing by the door. Her tail wagging behind her.

  A few moments ter, my two zy maids walk in with my clothing—a simple dress and underwear. The dress must t as my bra, as they don't have anything else for me to wear.

  They quickly force me into the clothing and tie the back up tight, my cleavage on full dispy as they keep pulling it tighter.

  "What is this!" I say through my shallow breaths.

  "A dress, my Lady," Shy says, finally deg it is tight enough.

  "I 't breathe in this," I force out. "Loosen it now."

  "Fashion requires sacrifice," Shy dares to say.

  "Shy, loosen it," Aurora says. "We have not gone over corsets with her yet, and that dress is not meant to be that tight. She is going to pop out of that dress, and we will be on the hook for expining why Shimmer is pregnant."

  Shy doesn't respond to her Mother. She just loosens the dress enough for me to breathe again.

  Aurora opens the door as Shimmer bato my room with her maid. Another maid es in with the food cart. Annoris pulls out a chair for me, and I take a seat so Shimmer sit.

  "Now, Alzi, I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself with this ask. But are you willing to do that kind of thing with me and some maids?" Shimmer asks as she sets out her useless napkin.

  "Yay," I say, a bit fused by the question. "I don't see why I wouldn't."

  "Well, I don't know how much you like me and if you are ok with having a lot of women you don't know in your bed," Shimmer says. "I know you are used to having women you don't know in bed, but you now have some choi who is in your bed, so I just wao check. I have a few maids that I kind of like in this house. The girl behind me was one. I think it would be fun having them join us while you breed me."

  "Oh, um. I don't really care when I start getting horny," I admit. "I don't really want to have any of you in my bed, but show up naked or in revealing clothing, and my lust will take over."

  The maids get to work setting the table and passing out the food: the standard sandwich, sad, and soup. The ingredients will be different, but the presentation will always be the same.

  I normally let Shimmer ramble on as I eat. She likes to talk about random things like her favorite ice cream or what season is better. She did go into detail on heels once, and I found out the Mistress picked the hardest heels for a stantly pregnant woman to walk in.

  Fug bitch.

  "I see," Shimmer says, taking a sip of the red wine. "It has just been a week, and I haven't done much to show you my devotion. I have been w on moving my room up here, but Isda and the Princess asked me to wait for my mission. So week, the maids should move my stuff up here and give you some pany. Though it seems the Princess is going to have us running around a lot. We have to catch up with the first princess, after all."

  The maids finish setting the table as Shimmer tinues her rambling, "We have a sizeable amount of nd supp our family. A number are ied in us with the Princess having the support of the navy behihe hardest is that we need some Duchesses to switch over. Hard to get the lower nobles if the local duchy backs a different princess. They all require a lot of support from them and fear what will happen if they betray the local lord. They wouldn't get hurt if they backed the right Princess, but it is quite the gamble."

  "Why would the Queehem get hurt for bag the wrong Princess?" I ask. Seems kind of stupid.

  "Because the Queen would be the Prihey didn't support. We are hoping to have trade increase in the neighb nds and force all the lower o pressure the Duchesses to flip. Only real way to do it this te in the test. I hate to say this, but it isn't right to hide it from you," Shimmer says with a sigh. "But you are also important. Showing off your fertility will help as well. A duchess doesn't really struggle to get a man to marry. Duchess Fluvis is a bit rare for not having a husband with her title. But the king, which would be you, is normally the stro, and they get access to have your kids. Show they just find a private room during a party or visit and walk away with a kid, and they will be happy to support us. They then have a little fight in their family to see if the kids with their husband or the king are stronger."

  "I don't really want to give out more kids anymore," I say. "Don't we have enough maids for me to use?"

  "Yes, but we 't hahat many kids or have that many maids pregnant," Shimmer says. "Even if you married your Mother, you would have to give kids out. That is part of a male's job. The Princess is going to have to start scheduling some tea parties for you to host. You will at least get to choose the Mother."

  "I guess," I say, pig at my sad.

  "My Lady, do not py with your food," Aurora chimes in behind me.

  "Sorry for being sad and missing my kids," I say.

  "I am sorry, my Lady. But rules do not care about that. I know I ot uand the pain of having children taken from your womb, but the other nobles will not care," the maid tinues.

  "Why should I care about them?" I ask. "They are the ohat took my children. Forces me to carry kids I won't get to raise. Used me for pleasure. Raped me. Why should I care about what they think?"

  "For..."

  "You don't o care, Alzi," Shimmer says. "You don't. They won't take any more from your womb. They won't use you for pleasure. They will have to carry the children from now on. Your womb is for your children now. I ask you to follow the etiquette for yourself. You will be in a noble house even if you divorce this family. They will require you to follow the etiquette. Show you follow it and you will have an easier life with them. I think following most of the etiquette feels good. Forces you to move your body correctly, making it simpler to just do what you want. I know it feels suffog right now, but it will bee natural soon."

  "I guess," I say, switg over to the stupid soup.

  "Fluvis has asked us a few times now to have you e over to see your kids. She did try to marry you, but the Mistress of the brothel wouldn't sell you to her. We just o pn things out so a few of us go with you as a guard. I know you'll be plenty safe in her house, but traveling is dangerous," Shimmer says. "But let's try a happier topic. Your kids are important, and you have every right to be upset about them. There is nothing I do to help you with them. Just promise I will work hard to make sure any kids you give birth to from now o ripped from your hands."

  How is that a happier topic? Or is her rambling going on too long?

  Shimmer tinues and shows she really 't stop talking, "Geta shared that you were going to try flying today. I was w if you would let me watch it. I know you'll be able to fly. I uand your worry there, but dragons are made to fly. Your body won't let you fet. All that really matters is how pretty you'll look swooping through the sky."

  "You e," I tell Shimmer.

  "Thank you," She says. "As I said earlier, your wives are about to go on some journeys for the glory of the family. The house will get a bit empty soon, and I really don't want to have to wait to see you s through the sky. I do hope you keep going outside when we all leave. You, Isda, and the Princess are going to be the only wives here, and they'll be too busy to use the grand yard. It would be sad for you to lock yourself away in here and not let the beauty be used. I hope you'll have a warrior's physique when I e back. Right now, I barely keep myself from jumping you. I think that little nudge will have me begging at your feet, and then I bme the Princess for pig someone who is just too beautiful for why I'm pregnant."

  A kno the door prevents me from responding to Shimmer. I keep eating a my maids ha.

  "Alzi, you o tell your maids if it is ok for them to enter," Shimmer tells me.

  "Before you said Aurora take care of it."

  "Yes, she calls them in, but you make it clear that they are allowed in. Aurora will make sure everything is ready for them or shoo them off if they aren't wele."

  "So if I'm fih them ing in, why 't I just let them in?" I ask.

  "In case you aren't clothed or if the situatio let someoer. The maids know all those rules and will follow them. You just o know if you want pany or not," Shimmer expins.

  "You enter," I call out to the door.

  "I don't think I've ever seen someo take advantage of the power they have," Shimmer says, shaking her head. "You really do o learn that ohe Princess will not be happy if you invite someone ihey shouldn't be allowed in."

  "She isn't wrong there, Alzi," says the newer. "Geta said it would be best if I picked you up myself. You finish lunch. I know I'm a bit early here. I'm just excited to meet with my new wife. Shimmer aa have been taking up all your time. I am Syro. Harpy and a mind mage. I am happy to help you learn how to use mana while flying."

  "Hi, I'm your sve, Alzi."