BXBX NOVEL Chapter 204 203: Visit
Letting it cook, I smoothed out my maid dress and approached the door, wondering who was here.
With a chef\'s knife still in hand, I peered through the small slit in the door, my eyes widening in surprise.
Standing at the door were a few women, each one someone I knew.
The Empress stood in the middle, her pristine white dress and blindfold glowing in the light of dawn.
Beside her was Lady Lorelei Presa, Leone\'s mother, her gray dress complimenting her hair, which was pulled into a braid.
On the Empress\' other side was the Sultana, the tall, lithe Jackalkin wearing her normal black clothing and veil.
Lady Kio Sera stood beside her, staring intently at the door as she smoothed out her dark red skirt.
Seeing four of my six possible mother in laws, I opened the door, remaining stoic as each turned their eyes towards me; or heads, in the case of the Empress and Sultana, since I couldn\'t see their eyes.
"Katherine, right? Are the others awake yet?"
Lady Presa smiled warmly at me, her ruby eyes sweeping across the room behind me.
"Not yet, Lady Presa. Please, come in; I\'ll go wake everyone up."
Bowing, I opened the door more and let the four women enter, each one glancing around the room before looking towards the kitchen.
Closing the door behind me, I heard Kio mutter "Damnit, of course she can cook..."
Laying the knife down on the counter, I undid the apron I wore and hung that up before making my way towards the bedroom, where all three women lay, sprawled out and unconscious on the bed.
Sighing at the smell that hit me like a wall, I closed the door behind me and cast a spell, getting the air moving.
"Mistress."
Poking Jahi\'s cheek, I waited a few moments before poking her again.
"Mistress."
When she still didn\'t stir, I sighed before flicking her cheek, making the woman grumble.
"Mistress, please wake up."
Her eyes flickered open, and she reached for my wrist.
Pulling myself away, I woke Leone and Anput next, watching as all three women slowly got up.
Yawning and stretching, they blearily looked at me, Anput asking "Why... why couldn\'t we sleep..?"
Her voice was low and scratchy, making me sigh.
Raising my hands, I traced the runes for a healing spell and relieved them of their aches and pains, explaining as I did so.
"The Empress, Lady Presa, the Sultana, and Lady Sera are all in the living room."
Jahi froze, while Leone shivered.
As for Anput, her ears drooped, while her tail shook.
Each one seemed a little... afraid.
Which, I understood, considering...
Well, glancing at Anput and Leone\'s bellies, I sighed, gesturing to the bath.
"Please, clean up. I\'ll keep them occupied for the time being."
Nodding, they scrambled for the bath, wanting to wash out as much of the scent as they could.
Returning to the door, I quickly cleaned and aired myself off, before exiting the bedroom.
Lady Sera stood in the kitchen with Lady Presa, both browsing the food I had already made, while the Empress and Sultana had sat down at the table.
Taking a deep breath, I reentered the kitchen, bowing to the two women again.
"Would you like some food? Tea, perhaps?"
Glancing at the pancakes, Lady Sera asked "That\'s what the Marquess raves about all the time, no?"
Seeing me nod, she grinned as she said "Yeah, I\'m a little famished after the long journey here."
Gesturing back to the table, I had her and Lady Presa sit down, joining their partners.
Laying a plate before each of them, I placed three pancakes before them, before pouring each a cup of tea moments later.
When that was done, I returned to the kitchen, starting the process of making more batter.
"Katherine, how has everything been, ever since..."
Gesturing at the air, I nodded to Lady Presa, understanding her question.
"Surprisingly calm, Lady Presa. Besides the most recent... encounter, there has been nothing to report. Though, if I may be so bold, I do believe this is little more than the calm before the storm."
Lady Sera chuckled, nodding.
"Indeed, that\'s likely all this lull is..."
Returning to my batter, I froze for a moment as she added "Which, I suppose, is why you\'ve been marked by Anput?"
"And by Leone?"
Hearing the two women, who were the mothers\' of my two lovers, I nodded gently.
Their tones were neither accusatory nor accepting; they were just stating the facts.
"Yes, I\'ve been accepted by both of them, and I provide whatever relief I can to either."
Finishing the next batch of pancakes, I laid them on the table, ignoring the sharp looks both gave me, their attention focused on my movements and body language.
A small pressure washed over my body, and my body grew slightly sluggish as it grew more and more powerful.
Keeping myself calm under the scrutiny of two extremely strong and influential women, I saw both the Empress and Sultana smirk at me.
"Kio."
"Lorelei."
They spoke at the same time, and their wives flinched, before shyly looking at their partner.
""Y-Yes..?""
The Empress chuckled, while the Sultana remained silent, fixing Kio with a stare.
"Don\'t torment the poor girl; she\'s following not only her heart, but adhering to her duty as well. After all, besides this most recent... event, there has been no problem with Leone inside of the Academy."
Lady Presa nodded, but her eyes were still unconvinced.
Silence descended over the room again, and I returned to preparing breakfast; I still had to feed the other three, which-
Hearing the door open, I glanced over to the bedroom, watching as Jahi strode out, followed by Anput and Leone, the two women glancing tentatively at their mothers\'.
Bowing deeply to the Empress and Sultana, Jahi asked "To what do I owe this please, Empress, Sultana?"
Anput and Leone bowed as well, but they flinched as their mothers smiled \'warmly\' at them, their bodies frozen under the hard gazes.
Setting out the plates for each, I watched on as they all sat down; Anput beside Lady Sera, Leone beside Lady Presa, and Jahi at the other head of the table, opposite the Empress.
The air around the table was still, and I could feel the tension descending.
A charged pressure jumped between each person, making the younger women grit their teeth slightly as they sat still.
While I was still in the kitchen, I could feel some of that pressure directed towards me, coming from the same two women from earlier.
Sighing internally, I wondered how this day would go, glancing between the three \'sets\' of women.
Anput and her mother, Leone and her mother, and the two rulers of two countries staring at Jahi.
This...
Would be an interesting, but draining day.
---
Next three chapters will be Anput, Leone, and Jahi; maybe in that order, I don\'t know.
They\'ll be the talks between them and the \'sets\' listed above, so each will be a shorter chapter; maybe all three will be released in a single day; tomorrow...
---